a' I E>  HA  HY 
OF  THE 

U N I VERS  ITY 
Of  ILLINOIS 


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1881 


REMOTE  S I 


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THE  DEERSLAYER; 


OR, 


THE  FIRST  WAR-PATH. 


A TALE. 


BY 

J.  FENIMORE  COOPER. 


“ Wliat  terrors  round  him  wait ! 
Amazement  in  his  van,  with  Flight  combined, 
And  Sorrow’s  faded  form,  and  Solitude  behind.” 


ILLUSTRATED  FROM  DRAWINGS  BY  F.  0.  G DARLEY. 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

i,  8,  and  5 BOND  STREET. 

1 8 ft  1 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  bv 
D.  APPLETON  & CO., 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington, 


REMOTE  STORAGE 


BV 

JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER, 


NEW  YORK; 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS. 


« Passing  his  hands  round  the  throat  of  his  victim,  he  compressed  them  with  the 

strength  of  a vice,  fairly  doubling  the  head  of  the  Huron  over  the  edge  of  the  platform,” 

® The  Deerslayer,  p.  148. 


aKt  • 'g; 


THE 


LEATHER-STOCKING” 


BY 


JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER. 


I.  THE  DEERSLAYER.  III.  THE  PATHFINDER. 

II.  THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS.  IV.  THE  PIONEERS. 

V.  THE  PRAIRIE. 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

1,  3,  AN'-.  5 BOND  STREET. 

--18  81: 


PREFACE 


TO  THE 


LEATHER-STOCKING  TALES. 


Tins  series  of  stories,  -which  has  obtained  the  name  of  “ The  Leather-Stocking  Tales,  ’ 

' is  been  written  in  a very  desultory  and  inartificial  manner.  The  order'in  which  He 
several  books  appeared  was  essentially  different  from  that  in  which  , they  would  have 
been  presented  to  the  world,  had  the  regular  course  of  their  incidents  been  consulted. 
In  The  Pioneers,”  the  first  of  the  series  written,  the  Leather-Stocking  is  represented 
as  already  old,  and  driven  from  his  early  haunts  in  the  forest,  by  the  sound  of  the  ave, 
and  tii  smoke  of  the  settler.  “The  Last  of  the  Mohicans,”  the  next  book  in  the  order 
of  publication,  carried  the  readers  back  to  a much  earlier  period  in  the  history  of  our 
hero,  r 'resenting  him  as  middle-aged,  and  in  the  fullest  vigor  of  manhood.  I “TL 
Prairie.  ’ his  career  terminates,  and  he  is  laid  in  his  grave.  There,  it  was  originally  the 
Aten  in  n to  leave  him,  in  the  expectation  that,  as  in  the  case  of  the  human  r.  ss,  he 
would  soon  be  forgotten.  But  a latent  regard  for  this  character  induced  the  author  to 
resuscitate  him  in  “ The  Path-finder,”  a book  that  was  not  long  after  succeeded  by  “ The 
Deer  si  aver,”  thus  completing  the  series  as  it  now  exists. 

While  the  five  books  that  have  been  written  were  originally  published  in  the  order 
just  mentioned,  that  of  the  incidents,  insomuch  as  they  are  connected  with  the  career  of 
their  principal  character,  is,  as  has  been  stated,  very  different.  Taking  the  life  ol  the 
Leather- Stocking  as  a guide,  “The  Deerslayer”  should  have  been  the  opening  book,  for 
in  that  ,>  ork  he  is  seen  just  emerging  into  manhood;  to  be  succeeded  by  “The  Last  of 
th  . Mohicans,”  “The  Pathfinder,”  “The  Pioneers,”  and  “The  Prairie.”  This  arrange- 
ment embraces  the  order  of  events,  though  far  from  being  that  in  which  the  books  at 
first  appeared.  “The  Pioneers”  was  published  in  1822;  “The  Deerslayer”  in  1841 ; 
making  the  interval  between  them  nineteen  years.  Whether  these  progressive  yvar, 
have  had  a tendency  to  lessen  the  value  of  the  last-named  book,  by  lessening  the  native 
fire  of  its  author,  or  of  adding  somewhat  in  the  way  of  improved  taste  and  a more  ma- 
tured judgment,  is  for  others  to  decide. 

If  any  thing  from  the  pen  of  the  writer  of  these  romances  is  at  all  to  outlive  himself, 

. it  is,  unquestionably,  the  series  of  “The  Leather-Stocking  Tales.”  To  say  this,  is  not  to 
predict  a very  lasting  reputation  for  the  series  itself,  but  simply  to  express  the  belief  it 
will  outlast  any,  or  all,  of  the  works  from  the  same  hand. 

It  is  undeniable  that  the  desultory  manner  in  which  “ The  Leather-Stocking  Tales  ” 
were  written,  has,  in  a measure,  impaired  their  harmony,  and  otherwise  lessened  their 
interest.  This  is  proved  by  the  fate  of  the  two  books  last  published,  though  probably 
the  two  most  worthy  an  enlightened  and  cultivated  reader’s  notice.  If  the  facts  could 
> be  ascertained,  it  is  probable  the  result  would  show  that  of  all  those  (in  America,  in  pur* 
ticular)  who  have  read  the  first  three  books  of  the  series,  not  one  in  ten  has  a knowledge 
of  the  existence  even  of  the  last  two.  Several  causes  have  tended  to  produce  this  result. 
The  long  interval  of  time  between  the  appearance  of  “The  Prairie”  and  that  of  “The 
Pathfinder,”  was  itself  a reason  why  the  later  books  of  the  series  should  be  overlooked 
There  was  no  longer  novelty  to  attract  attention,  and  the  interest  was  materially  im- 
"paired  by  the  manner  in  which  events  were  necessarily  anticipated,  in  laying  the  last  or 
the  seri  - -s  first  before  the  world.  With  the  generation  that  is  now  coming  on  the  stage  thk 
fault  will  be  partially  removed  by  the  edition  contained  in  the  present  work,  in  which 
the  several  tales  will  be  arranged  solely  in  reference  to  their  connection  with  each  other 

The  author  has  often  been  asked  if  he  had  any  original  in  his  mind,  for  the  character 
of  Leather-Stocking.  In  a physical  sense,  different  individuals  known  to  the  writer  h 
eaL/  life,  certainly  presented  themselves  as  models,  through  his  recollects  ns; 


I 


/ 


PREFACE. 


i sense  this  man  of  the  forest  i?  purely  a creation.  The  idea  of  deli  neat  : . . char- 
til  at  possessed  little  of  civiliza*  on  but  its  highest  principles  as  the\  are  ■ . i bited  in 
uneducated,  and  all  of  savage  life  that  is  not  incompatible  with  these  great"  rules  of 
duct,  is  perhaps  natural  to  the  situation  in  which  Natty  was  placed.  He  is  too  proud 
his  origin  to  sink  into  the  condition  of  the  wild  Indian,  and  too  much  a man  of  the 
woods  not  to  imbibe  as  much  as  was  at  all  desirable,  from  his  friends  and  companions. 
In  a moral  point  of  view  it  was  the  intention  to  illustrate  the  effect  of  seed  scattered  by 
the  way-side.  To  use  his  own  language,  his  “gifts”  were  “white  gifts,”  and  he  was 
not  disposed  to  bring  on  them  discredit.  On  the  other  hand,  removed  from  nearly  all 
the  temptations  of  civilized  life,  placed  in  the  best  associations  of  that  which  is  deemed 
savage,  and  favorably  disposed  by  nature  to  improve  such  advantages,  it  appeared  to  the 
writer  that  his  hero  was  a fit  subject  to  represent  the  better  qualities  of  both  conditions, 
without  pushing  either  to  extremes. 

There  was  no  violent  stretch  of  the  imagination,  perhaps,  in  supposing  one  of  civil- 
ized associations  in  childhood,  retaining  many  of  his  earliest  lessons  amid  the  scenes  of  the 
forest.  Had  these  early  impressions,  however,  not  been  sustained  by  continued  though 
casual  connection  with  men  of  his  own  color,  if  not  of  his  own  caste,  all  our  information 
goes  to  show  he  would  soon  have  lost  every  trace  of  his  origin.  It  is  believed  thar 
sufficient  attention  was  paid  to  the  particular  circumstances  in  which  this  individual  was 
placed,  to  justify  the  picture  of  his  qualities  that  has  been  drawn.  The  Delawares 
early  attracted  the  attention  of  the  missionaries,  and  were  a tribe  unusually  influenced 
by  their  precepts  and  example.  In  many  instances  they  became  Christians,  and  cases 
occurred  in  which  their  subsequent  lives  gave  proof  of  the  efficacy  of  the  great  moral 
changes  that  had  taken  place  within  them. 

A leading  character  in  a work  of  fiction  has  a fair  right  to  the  aid  which  can  he  ob- 
tained from  a poetical  view  of  the  subject.  It  is  in  this  vie1”,  rather  than  in  one  more 
strictly  circumstantial,  that  Leather-Stocking  has  been  drawn.  The  imagination  has  no 
great  task  in  portraying  to  itself  a being  removed  from  the  every-day  inducements  to 
err,  which  abound  in  civilized  life,  while  he  retains  the  best  and  simplest  of  his  early 
impressions:  who  sees  God  in  the  forest;  hears  him  in  the  winds;  hows  to  him  in  the 
firmament  that  o’ercanopies  all;  submits  to  his  sway  in  an  humble  belief  of  his  justice 
and  mercy;  in  a word,  a being  who  finds  the  impress  of  the  Deity  in  all  the  works  of 
Nature,  without  any  of  the  blots  produced  by  die  expedients,  and  passion,  and  mistakes 
of  man.  This  is  the  most  that  has  been  attempted  in  the  character  of  Leather  Stocking. 
Had  this  been  done  without  any  of  the  drawbacks  of  humanity,  the  picture  would  have 
been,  in  all  probability,  more  pleasing  than  just.  In  order  to  preserve  the  rrai  semblablc , 
therefore,  traits  derived  from  the  prejudices,  tastes,  and  even  the  weaknesses  of  his 
youth,  have  been  mixed  up  with  these  higher  qualities  and  longings,  in  a way,  it  is 
hoped,  to  represent  a reasonable  picture  of  human  nature,  without  offering  to  the 
spectator  a “ monster  ” of  goodness. 

It  has  been  objected  to  these  hooks  that  they  give  a more  favorable  picture  of  the 
red  man  than  he  deserves.  The  writer  apprehends  that  much  of  this  objection  arises 
from  the  habits  cf  those  who  have  made  it.  One  of  his  critics,  on  the  appearance  of 
the  first  work  in  which  Indian  character  vTas  portrayed,  objected  that  its  “ characters 
were  Indians  of  the  school  of  Ilecke  welder,  rather  than  of  the  school  of  Nature.”  These 
words  quite  probably  contain  the  substance  of  the  true  answer  to  the  objection.  Ileck- 
ewelder  was  an  ardent,  benevolent  missionary,  bent  on  the  good  of  the  red  man, 
and  seeing  in  him  one  who  had  the  soul,  reason,  and  characteristics  of  a fellow-being. 
The  critic  is  understood  to  have  been  a very  distinguished  agent  of  the  government,  one 
very  familiar  with  Indians,  as  they  are  seen  at  the  councils  to  treat  for  the  sale  of  theii 
lands,  -where  little  or  none  of  their  domestic  qualities  corns  in  play,  and  where,  indeed, 
their  evil  passions  are  known  to  have  the  fullest  scope.  As  just  would  it  *be  to  draw 
conclusions  of  the  general  state  of  American  society  from  the  scenes  of  the  capital,  as  to 
suppose  that  the  negotiating  of  one  of  these  treaties  is  a fair  picture  of  Indian  life. 

It  is  the  privilege  of  all  writers  of  fiction,  more  particularly  when  their  works  aspire 
to  the  elevation  of  romances,  to  present  the  beau  ideal  of  their  characters  to  the  reader. 
This  it  is  which  constitutes  poetry,  and  to  suppose  that  the  red  man  is  to  be  represented 
only  in  the  squalid  misery  or  in  the  degraded  moral  state  that  certainly  more  or  less  be- 
lorigs  to  his  condition,  is,  we  apprehend,  taking  a very  narrow  view, of  an  author’s  privi. 
leges.  Such  criticism  would  have  deprived  the  world  of  even  Homer. 


PREFACE. 


As  has  been  stated  in  the  preface  to  the  series  of  the  Leather-Stocking  Tales,  ‘ The 
Deerslayer  ” is  properly  the  first  in  the  order  of  reading,  though  the  last  in  that  of  pub- 
lication. In  this  book  the  hero  is  represented  as  just  arriving  at  manhood,  with  the 
freshness  of  feeling  that  belongs  to  that  interesting  period  of  life*  and  with  the  power 
to  please  that  properly  characterizes  youth.  As  a consequence,  he  is  loved;  and,  what 
denotes  the  real  waywardness  of  humanity,  more  than  it  corresponds  with  theories  and 
moral  propositions,  perhaps,  he  is  loved  by  one  full  of  art,  vanity,  and  weakness,  and 
loved  principally  for  his  sincerity,  his  modesty,  and  his  unerring  truth  and  probity. 
The  preference  he  gives  to  the  high  qualities  named,  over  beauty,  delirious  passion,  and 
sin,  it  is  hoped,  will  offer  a lesson  that  can  injure  none.  This  portion  of  the  book  is 
intentionally  kept  down,  though  it  is  thought  to  be  sufficiently  distinct  to  convey  its 
moral. 

The  intention  has  been  to  put  the  sisters  in  strong  contrast ; one  admirable  in  person, 
clever,  filled  with  the  pride  of  beauty,  erring,  and  fallen ; the  other,  barely  provided 
with  sufficient  capacity  to  know  good  from  evil,  instinct,  notwithstanding,  with  the  vir- 
tues of  woman,  reverencing  and  loving  God,  and  yielding  only  to  the  weakness  of  her 
sex,  in  admiring  personal  attractions  in  one  too  coarse  and  unobservant  to  distinguish  or 
to  understand  her  quiet,  gentle  feeling  in  his  favor. 

As  for  the  scene  of  this  tale,  it  is  intended  for,  and  believed  to  be  a close  description 
of,  the  Otsego,  prior  to  the  year  1760,  when  the  first  rude  settlement  was  commenced  on 
its  banks,  at  that  time  only  an  insignificant  clearing  near  the  outlet,  with  a small  hut  of 
squared  logs,  for  the  temporary  dwelling  of  the  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 
The  recollections  of  the  writer  carry  him  back  distinctly  to  a time  when  nine-tenths  of 
the  shores  of  this  lake  were  in  the  virgin  forest,  a peculiarity  that  was  owing  to  the 
circumstance  of  the  roads  running  through  the  first  range  of  valleys  removed  from  the 
water-side.  The  woods  and  the  mountains  have  ever  formed  a principal  source  of  beauty 
with  this  charming  sheet  of  water,  enough  of  the  former  remaining  to  this  day  to  relieve 
the  open  grounds  from  monotony  and  tameness. 

In  most  respects  the  descriptions  of  scenery  in  the  tale  are  reasonably  accurate. 
The  rock  appointed  for  the  rendezvous  between  the  Deerslayer  and  his  friend  the  Dela- 
ware still  remains,  bearing  the  name  of  the  Otsego  Rock.  The  shoal  on  which  flutter 
is  represented  as  having  built  his  “ castle”  is  a little  misplaced,  lying,  in  fact,  nearer  to 


6 


PREFACE. 


the  northern  end  of  the  lake,  as  well  as  to  the  eastern  shore,  than  is  stated  in  this  hook. 
Such  a shoal,  however,  exists,  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  deep  water.  In  the  driest 
seasons  a few  rocks  are  seen  above  the  surface  of  the  lake,  and  rushes,  at  most  periods 
of  the  year,  mark  its  locality.  In  a word,  in  all  but  precise  position,  even  this  feature 
of  the  book  is  accurate.  The  same  is  true  of  the  several  points  introduced,  of  the  bay, 
of  the  river,  of  the  mountains,  and  all  the  other  accessories  of  the  place. 

The  legend  is  purely  fiction,  no  authority  existing  for  any  of  its  facts,  characters,  or 
other  peculiarities,  beyond  that  which  was  thought  necessary  to  secure  the  semblance 
of  reality.  Truth  compels  us  to  admit  that  the  book  has  attracted  very  little  notice,  and 
that  if  its  merits  are  to  be  computed'  by  its  popularity,  the  care  that  has  been  bestowed 
on  this  edition  might  as  well  be  spared.  Such,  at  least,  has  been  its  fate  in  America ; 
whether  it  has  met  with  better  success  in  any  other  country  we  have  no  means  of 
knowing. 


THE  DEERSLAYER 


CHAPTER  I. 

* There  is  a pleasure  in  the  pathless  woods, 

There  is  a rapture  on  the  lonely  shore, 

Therms  society  where  none  intrudes, 

By  the  deep  sea,  and  music  in  its  roar ; 

I love  not  man  the  less,  but  Nature  more, 

From  these  our  interviews,  in  which  I steal, 

From  all  I may  be,  or  have  been  before, 

To  mingle  with  the  universe,  and  feel 

What  I can  ne’er  express,  yet  cannot  all  conceal. 

Childe  Hakold. 

On  the  human  imagination,  events  produce 
the  effects  of  time.  Thus,  he  who  has  travelled 
far  and  seen  much,  is  apt  to  fancy  that  he  has 
lived  long ; and  the  history  that  most  abounds  in 
important  incidents,  soonest  assumes  the  aspect 
of  antiquity.  In  no  other  way  can  we  account 
for  the  venerable  air  that  is  already  gathering 
around  American  annals.  When  the  mind  re- 
verts to  the  earliest  days  of  colonial  history,  the 
period  seems  remote  and  obscure,  the  thousand 
changes  that  thicken  along  the  links  of  recollec- 
tions, throwing  back  the  origin  of  the  nation  to  a 
day  so  distant  as  seemingly  to  reach  the  mists  of 
time ; and  yet  four  lives  of  ordinary  duration 
would  suffice  to  transmit,  from  mouth  to  mouth, 
in  the  form  of  tradition,  all  that  civilized  man 
has  achieved  within  the  limits  of  the  republic. 
Although  New  York  alone  possesses  a population 
materially  exceeding  that  of  either  of  the  four 
smallest  kingdoms  of  Europe,  or  materially  ex- 
ceeding that  of  the  entire  Swiss  Confederation,  it 
is  little  more  than  two  centuries  since  the  Dutch 
commenced  their  settlement,  rescuing  the  region 
from  the  savage  state.  Thus,  what  seems  vener- 
able by  an  accumulation  of  changes,  is  reduced  to 
familiarity  when  we  come  seriously  to  consider  it 
solely  in  connection  with  time. 

This  glance  into  the  perspective  of  the  past 
will  prepare  the  reader  to  look  at  the  pictures  we 


are  about  to  sketch,  with  less  surprise  than  ha 
might  otherwise  feel ; and  a few  additional  ex- 
planations may  carry  him  back  in  imagination  to 
the  precise  condition  of  society  that  we  desire  to 
delineate.  It  is  matter  of  history  that  the  settle- 
ments on  the  eastern  shores  of  the  Hudson,  such 
as  Claveraclc,  Kinderhook,  and  even  Poughkeep- 
sie, were  not  regarded  as  safe  from  Indian  incur- 
sions a century  since ; and  there  is  still  standing 
on  the  banks  of  the  same  river,  and  within  mus- 
ket-shot of  the  wharves  of  Albany,  a residence  of 
a younger  branch*  of  the  Yan  Rensselaers,  that 
has  loop-holes  constructed  for  defence  against 
the  same  crafty  enemy,  although  it  dates  from  a 
period  scarcely  so  distant.  Other  similar  me- 
morials of  the  infancy  of  the  country  are  to  be 
found,  scattered  through  what  is  now  deemed  the 
very  centre  of  American  civilization,  affording 
the  plainest  proofs  that  all  we  possess  of  security 
from  invasion  and  hostile  violence  is  the  growth 
of  but  little  more  than  the  time  that  is  frequently 
filled  by  a single  human  life. 

The  incidents  of  this  tale  occurred  between 
the  years  1740  and  1745,  when  the  settled  por- 
tions of  the  colony  of  New  York  were  confined  tc 
the  four  Atlantic  counties,  a narrow  belt  of  coun- 
try on  each  side  of  the  Hudson,  extending  from 
its  mouth  to  the  falls  near  its  head,  and  to  a few 
advanced  “neighborhoods”  on  the  Mohawk  and 
the  Schoharie.  Broad  belts  of  the  virgin  wilder- 
ness not  only  reached  the  shores  of  the  first  river, 
but  they  even  crossed  it,  stretching  away  into 
New  England,  and  affording  forest  covers  to  the 
noiseless  moccasin  of  the  native  warrior^  as  he 
trod  the  secret  and  bloody  war-path.  A bird’s- 
eye  view  of  the  whole  region  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi must  then  have  offered  one  vast  expanse  of 

* It  is  no  more  than  justice  to  say  that  the  Grecnbush 
Yan  Eensselaers  claim  to  be  the  oldest  branch  of  tnat 
ancient  and  respectable  family. 


8 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


woods,  relieved  by  a comparatively  narrow  fringe 
of  cultivation  along  the  sea,  dotted  by  the  glit- 
tering surfaces  of  lakes,  and  intersected  by  the 
waving  lines  of  rivers.  In  such  a vast  picture  of 
solemn  solitude,  the  district  of  country  we  design 
to  paint  sinks  into  insignificance,  though  we  feel 
encouraged  to  proceed  by  the  conviction  that} 
with  slight  and  immaterial  distinctions,  he  who 
succeeds  in  giving  an  accurate  idea  of  any  portion 
of  this  wild  region  must  necessarily  convey  a tol- 
erably correct  notion  of  the  whole. 

Whatever  may  be  the  changes  produced  by 
man,  the  eternal  round  of  the  seasons  is  un- 
broken. Summer  and  winter,  seed-time  and  har- 
vest, return  in  their  stated  order,  with  a sublime 
precision,  affording  to  man  one  of  the  noblest  of 
all  the  occasions  he  enjoys  of  proving  the  high 
powers  of  his  far-reaching  mind,  in  compassing 
the  laws  that  control  their  exact  uniformity,  and 
in  calculating  their  never-ending  revolutions. 
Centuries  of  summer  suns  had  warmed  the  tops 
of  the  same  noble  oaks  and  pines,  sending  their 
heats  even  to  the  tenacious  roots,  when  voices,, 
were  heard  calling  to  each  other,  in  the  depths 
of  a forest,  of  which  the  leafy  surface  lay  bathed 
in  the  brilliant  light  of  a cloudless  day  in  June, 
while  the  trunks  of  the  trees  rose  in  gloomy 
grandeur  in  the  shades  beneath.  The  calls  were 
in  different  tones,  evidently  proceeding  from  two 
men  who  had  lost  their  way,  and  were  searching 
in  different  directions  for  their  path.  At  length 
a shout  proclaimed  success,  and  presently  a man 
of  gigantic  mould  broke  out  of  the  tangled  laby- 
rinth of  a small  swamp,  emerging  into  an  opening 
that  appeared  to  have  been  formed  partly  by  the 
ravages  of  the  wind,  and  partly  by  those  of  fire. 
This  little  area,  which  afforded  a good  view  of  the 
sky,  although  it  was  pretty  well  filled  with  dead 
trees,  lay  on  the  side  of  one  of  the  high  hills,  or 
l®w  mountains,  into  which  nearly  the  whole  sur- 
face of  the  adjacent  country  was  broken. 

“ Here  is  room  to  breathe  in ! ” exclaimed 
the  liberated  forester,  as  soon  as  he  found  him- 
self under  a clear  sky,  shaking  his  huge  frame 
like  a mastiff  that  has  just  escaped  from  a snow- 
bank. “ Hurrah  ! Deerslayer  ; here  is  daylight, 
at  last,  and  yonder  is  the  lake.” 

These  words  were  scarcely  uttered  when  the 
second  forester  dashed  aside  the  bushes  of  the 
8wampy  and  appeared  in  the  area.  After  making 
a hurried  adjustment  of  his  arms  and  disordered 
dress,  he  joined  his  companion,  who  had  already 
begun  his  dispositions  for  a halt. 

“ Do  you  know  this  spot  ? ” demanded  the 
one  called  Deerslayer,  “ or  do  you  shout  at  the 
sight  of  the  sun  ? ” 


“ Both,  lad,  both ; I know  the  spot,  and  am 
not  sorry  to  see  so  useful  a friend  as  the  sun. 
Now  we  have  got  the  p’ints  of  the  compass  in 
our  minds  once  more,  and  ’twill  be  our  own  faults 
if  we  let  any  thing  turn  them  topsy-turvy  ag’in,  as 
has  just  happened.  Hy  name  is  not  Hurry  Harry, 
if  this  be  not  the  very  spot  where  the  land-hunt- 
ers ’camped  the  last  summer,  and  passed  a week. 
See,  yonder  are  the  dead  bushes  of  their  bowei4 
and  here  is  the  spring.  Much  as  I like  the  sun 
boy,  I’ve  no  occasion  for  it  to  tell  me  it  is  noon 
this  stomach  of  mine  is  as  good  a time-piece  as  is 
to  be  found  in  the  colony,  and  it  already  p’ints  to 
half-past  twelve.  So  open  the  wallet,  and  let  us 
wind  up  for  another  six  hours’  run.” 

At  this  suggestion,  both  set  themselves  about 
making  the  preparations  necessary  for  their  usual 
frugal  but  hearty  meal.  We  will  profit  by  this 
pause  in  the  discourse  to  give  the  reader  some 
idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  men,  eacfcof  whom 
is  destined  to  enact  no  insignificant  part  in  our 
legend.  It  would  not  have  been  easy  to  find  a 
more  noble  specimen  of  vigorous  manhood,  than 
was  offered  in  the  person  of  him  who  called  him- 
self Hurry  Harry.  His  real  name  was  Henry 
March  ; but  the  frontier-men  having  caught  the 
practice  of  giving  sobriquets  from  the  Indians, 
the  appellation  of  Hurry  was  far  often  er  applied 
to  him  than  his  proper  designation,  and  not  un- 
frequently  he  was  termed  Hurry  Skurry,  a nick- 
name he  had  obtained  from  a dashing,  reckless, 
off-hand  manner,  and  a physical  restlessness  that 
kept  him  so  constantly  on  the  move,  as  to  cause 
him  to  be  known  along  the  whole  line  of  scat- 
tered habitations  that  lay  between  the  province 
and  the  Canadas.  The  stature  of  Hurry  Harry 
exceeded  six  feet  four,  and  being  unusually  well 
proportioned,  his  strength  fully  realized  the  idea 
created  by  his  gigantic  frame.  The  face  did  no 
discredit  to  the  rest  of  the  man,  for  it  was  both 
good-humored  and  handsome.  His  air  was  free, 
and,  though  his  manner  necessarily  partook  of 
the  rudeness  of  a border-life,  the  grandeur  that 
pervaded  so  noble  a physique  prevented  it  from 
becoming  altogether  vulgar. 

Deerslayer,  as  Hurry  called  his  companion, 
was  a very  different  person  in  appearance,  as  well 
as  in  character.  In  stature,  he  stood  about  six 
feet  in  his  moccasins,  but  his  frame  was  com- 
paratively light  and  slender,  showing  muscles, 
however,  that  promised  unusual  agility,  if  not  um 
usual  strength.  His  face  would  have  had  little 
to  recommend  it  except  youth,  were  it  not  for  an 
expression  that  seldom  failed  to  win  upon  those 
who  had  leisure  to  examine  it,  and  to  yield  to  the 
feeling  of  confidence  it  created.  This  expression 


HURRY  nARRY  AND  IIIS  COMPANION. 


9 


was  simply  that  of  guileless  truth,  sustained  by 
an  earnestness  of  purpose,  and  a sincerity  of 
feeling,  that  rendered  it  remarkable.  At  times 
this  air  of  integrity  seemed  to  be  so  simple  as  to 
awaken  the  suspicion  of  a want  of  the  usual 
means  to  discriminate  between  artifice  and  truth ; 
but  few  came  in  serious  contact  with  the  man, 
without  losing  this  distrust  in  respect  for  his  opin- 
ions and  motives. 

Both  these  frontier-men  were  still  young,  Hur- 
ry having  reached  the  age  of  six  or  eight  and 
twenty,  while  Deerslayer  was  several  years  his 
junior.  Their  attire  needs  no  particular  descrip- 
tion, though  it  may  be  well  to  add  that  it  was 
composed,  in  no  small  degree,  of  dressed  deer- 
skins, and  had  the  usual  signs  of  belonging  to 
those  who  pass  their  time  between  the  skirts  of 
civilized  society  and  the  boundless  forests.  There 
was,  notwithstanding,  some  attention  to  smartness 
and  the  picturesque  in  the  arrangements  of  Deer- 
slayer’s  dress,  more  particularly  with  the  part 
connected  with  his  arms  and  accoutrements. 
His  rifle  was  in  perfect  condition,  the  handle  of 
his  hunting-knife  was  neatly  carved,  his  powder- 
horn  was  ornamented  with  suitable  devices  lightly 
cut  into  the  material,  and  his  shot-pouch  was  deco- 
rated with  wampum.  On  the  other  hand,  Hurry 
Harry,  either  from  constitutional  recklessness,  or 
from  a secret  consciousness  how  little  his  appear- 
ance required  artificial  aids,  wore  every  thing  in  a 
careless,  slovenly  manner,  as  if  he  felt  a noble 
scorn  for  the  trifling  accessories  of  dress  and  or- 
naments. Perhaps  the  peculiar  effect  of  his  fine 
form  and  great  stature  was  increased,  rather  than 
lessened,  by  this  unstudied  and  disdainful  air  of 
indifference. 

“ Come,  Deerslayer,  fall  to,  and  prove  that  you 
have  a Delaware  stomach,  as  you  say  you  have 
had  a Delaware  edication,”  cried  Hurry,  setting 
the  example  by  opening  his  mouth  to  receive  a 
slice  of  cold  venison-steak  that  would  have  made 
an  entire  meal  for  a European  peasant ; “ fall  to, 
lad,  and  prove  your  manhood  on  this  poor  devil 
of  a doe,  with  your  teeth,  as  you’ve  already  done 
with  your  rifle.” 

“Nay,  nay,  Hurry,  there’s  little  manhood  in 
killing  a doe,  and  that  too  out  of  season  ; though 
there  might  be  some  in  bringing  down  a painter 
or  a catamount,”  returned  the  other,  disposing 
himself  to  comply.  “ The  Delawares  have  given 
me  my  name,  not  so  much  on  account  of  a bold 
heart,  as  on  account  of  a quick  eye  and  an  actyve 
foot.  There  may  not  be  any  cowardyce  in  over- 
coming a deer,  but,  sartin  it  is,  there’s  no  great 
valor.” 

“ The  Delawares,  themselves,  are  no  Zeroes,” 


muttered  Hurry  through  his  teeth,  the  mouth  be- 
ing too  full  to  permit  it  to  be  fairly  opened,  “ or 
they  never  would  have  allowed  them  loping  vaga- 
bonds, the  Mingoes,  to  make  them  women.” 

“ That  matter  is  not  rightly  understood — has 
never  been  rightly  explained,”  said  Deerslayer, 
earnestly,  for  he  was  as  zealous  a friend  as  his 
companion  was  dangerous  as  an  enemy ; “ thr 
Mengwe  fill  the  woods  with  their  lies,  and  mis- 
construct  words  and  treaties.  I have  now  lived 
ten  years  with  the  Delawares,  and  know  them  to 
be  as  manful  as  any  other  nation,  when  the  prop- 
er time  to  strike  comes.” 

“ Harkee,  Master  Deerslayer,  since  we  are  on 
the  subject,  we  may  as  well  open  our  minds  to 
each  other  in  a man-to-man  way  ; answer  me  one 
question  : you  have  had  so  much  luck  among  the 
game  as  to  have  gotten  a title,  it  would  seem,  but 
did  you  ever  hit  any  thing  human  or  intelligible  ? 
did  you  ever  pull  trigger  on  an  inimy  that  was 
capable  of  pulling  one  upon  you  ? ” 

This  question  produced  a singular  collision 
between  mortification  and  correct  feeling,  in  the 
bosom  of  the  youth,  that  was  easily  to  be  traced 
in  the  workings  of  his  ingenuous  countenance. 
The  struggle  was  short,  however ; uprightness^of 
heart  soon  getting  the  better  of  false  pride  amd 
frontier  boastfulness. 

“ To  own  the  truth,  I never  did,”  answered 
Deerslayer ; “ seeing  that  a fitting  occasion  nev- 
er offered.  The  Delawares  have  been  peaceable 
since  my  sojourn  with  ’em,  and  I hold  it  to  be 
onlawful  to  take  the  life  of  man,  except  in  open 
and  generous  warfare.” 

“ What ! did  you  never  find  a fellow  thieving 
among  your  traps  and  skins,  and  do  the  law  on 
him  with  your  own  hands,  by  way  of  saving  the 
magistrates  trouble,  in  the  settlements,  and  the 
rogue  himself  the  cost  of  the  suit  ? ” 

“ I am  no  trapper,  Hurry,”  returned  the  young 
man,  proudly ; “ I live  by  the  rifle,  a we’pon  at 
which  I will  not  turn  my  back  on  any  man  of  my 
years,  atwreen  the  Hudson  and  the  St.  Lawrence. 
I never  offer  a skin  that  has  not  a hole  in  its  head 
besides  them  which  Natur’  made  to  see  with,  or  to 
breathe  through.” 

“Ay,  ay,  this  is  all  very  well,  in  the  animal 
way,  though  it  makes  but  a poor  figure  alongside 
of  scalps  and  and-bushes.  Shooting  an  Indian 
from  an  and-bush  is  acting  up  to  his  own  princi- 
ples, and,  now  we  have  what  you  call  a lawful 
war  on  our  hands,  the  sooner  you  wipe  that  dis- 
grace  off  your  character,  the  sounder  will  be  your 
sleep,  if  it  only  come  from  knowing  there  is  one 
inimy  the  less  prowling  in  the  woods.  I shall  not 
frequent  your  society  long,  friend  Natty,  unless 


iO 


THE  DEERSLAYER 


you  look  higher  than  four-footed  beasts  to  prac- 
tise your  rifle  on.” 

“ Our  journey  is  nearly  ended,  you  say,  Mas- 
ter March,  and  we  can  part  to-night,  if  you  see 
occasion.  I have  a fri’nd  waiting  for  me,  who 
will  think  it  no  disgrace  to  consort  with  a fellow- 
creatur’  that  has  never  yet  slain  his  kind.” 

“ I wish  I knew  what  has  brought  that  skulk- 
ing Delaware  into  this  part  of  the  country  so 
early  in  the  season,”  muttered  Hurry  to  himself, 
in  a way  to  show  equally  distrust  and  a reckless- 
ness of  its  betrayal.  “Where  did  you  say  the 
young  chief  was  to  give  you  the  meeting?  ” 

“ At  a small,  round  rock,  near  the  foot  of  the 
lake,  where,  they  tell  me,  the  tribes  are  given  to 
resorting  to  make  their  treaties,  and  to  bury  their 
hatchets.  This  rock  have  I often  heard  the  Del- 
awares mention,  though  lake  and  rock  are  equally 
strangers  to  me.  The  country  is  claimed  by  both 
Min  goes  and  Mohicans,  and  is  a sort  of  common 
territory  to  fish  and  hunt  through,  in  time  of 
peace,  though  what  it  may  become  in  war-time 
the  Lord  only  knows  ! ” 

“ Common  territory  ! ” exclaimed  Hurry,  laugh- 
ing aloud.  “ I should  like  to  know  what  Floating 
Tcm  Hutter  would  say  to  that  ? He  claims  the 
lale  as  his  own  property,  in  vartue  of  fifteen 
years’  possession,  and  will  not  be  likely  to  give  it 
up  to  either  Mingo  or  Delaware  without  a battle 
for  it.” 

“And  what  will  the  colony  say  to  such  a 
quarrel  ? All  this  country  must  have  some  own- 
er, the  gentry  pushing  their  cravings  into  the  wil- 
derness, even  where  they  never  dare  to  ventur’, 
in  their  own  persons,  to  look  at  the  land  they 
own.” 

“ That  may  do  in  other  quarters  of  the  colo- 
ny, Deerslayer,  but  it  will  not  do  here.  Not  a 
human  being,  the  Lord  excepted,  owns  a foot  of 
s’ile  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Pen  was  never 
put  to  paper,  consarning  either  hill  or  valley, 
hereaway,  as  I’ve  heard  old  Tom  say,  time  and 
ag’in,  and  so  he  claims  the  best  right  to  it  of  any 
man  breathing;  and  what  Tom  claims,  he’ll  be 
very  likely  to  maintain.” 

“By  what  I’ve  heard,  Hurry,  this  Floating 
Tom  must  be  an  oncommon  mortal ; neither  Min- 
go, Delaware,  nor  pale-face.  His  possession,  too, 
has  been  long,  by  your  tell,  and  altogether  be- 
yond frontier  endurance.  What’s  the  man’s  his- 
tory and  natur’  ? ” 

“ Why,  as  to  old  Tom’s  human  natur’,  it  is  not 
much  like  other  men’s  human  natur’,  but  more 
like  a musk-rat’s  human  natur’,  seeing  that  he 
takes  more  to  the  ways  of  that  animal  than  to 
the  ways  of  any  other  fellow-creatur’.  Some 


think  he  was  a free  livei  on  the  salt  water,  in  his 
youth,  and  a companion  of  a sartin  Kidd,  who 
was  hanged  for  piracy,  long  afore  you  and  I 
were  born  or  acquainted,  and  that  he  came 
up  into  these  regions,  thinking  that  the  king’s 
cruisers  could  never  cross  the  mountains,  and 
that  he  might  enjoy  the  plunder  peaceably  in  the 
woods.” 

“ Then  he  was  wrong,  Hurry — very  wrong. 
A man  can  enjoy  plunder  peaceably  nowhere.” 

“ That’s  much  as  his  turn  of  mind  may  hap- 
pen to  be.  I’ve  known  them  that  never  could 
enjoy  it  at  all,  unless  it  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
jollification,  and  them  ag’in  that  enjoyed  it  best  in 
a corner.  Some  men  have  no  peace  if  they  don’t 
find  plunder,  and  some  if  they  do.  Human  natur’ 
is  crooked  in  these  matters.  Old  Tom  seems  to 
belong  to  neither  set,  as  he  enjoys  his,  if  plunder 
he  has  really  got,  with  his  darters,  in  a very 
quiet  and  comfortable  way,  and  wishes  for  no 
more.” 

“ Ay,  be  has  darters,  too ; I’ve  heard  the 
Delawares,  who’ve  hunted  this-a-way,  tell  their 
histories  of  these  young  women.  Is  there  no 
mother,  Hurry  ? ” 

“ There  was  once , as  in  reason ; but  she  has 
now  been  dead  and  sunk  these  two  good  years.” 

“ Anan?  ” said  Deerslayer,  looking  up  at  his 
companion  in  a little  surprise. 

“ Dead  and  sunk,  I say,  and  I hope  that’s  good 
English.  The  old  fellow  lowered  his  wife  into  the 
lake,  by  way  of  seeing  the  last  of  her,  as  I can 
testify,  being  an  eye-witness  of  the  ceremony ; 
but  whether  Tom  did  it  to  save  digging,  which  is 
no  easy  job  among  roots,  or  out  of  a consait  that 
water  washes  away  sin  sooner  than  ’arth,  is  more 
than  I can  say.” 

“ Was  the  poor  woman  oncommon  wicked, 
that  her  husband  should  take  so  much  pains  with 
her  body  ? ” 

“ Not  onreasonable ; though  she  had  her 
faults.  I consider  Judith  Hutter  to  have  been  as 
graceful,  and  about  as  likely  to  make  a good  ind, 
as  any  woman  who  had  lived  so  long  beyond  the 
sound  of  church-bells ; and  I conclude  old  Tom 
sunk  her  as  much  by  way  of  saving  pains,  as  by 
way  of  talcing  it.  There  was  a little  steel  in  her 
temper,  it’s  true,  and,  as  old  Hutter  is  pretty 
much  flint,  they  struck  out  sparks  once-and-a 
while  ; but,  on  the  whole,  they  might  be  said  to 
live  amicable-like.  When  they  did  kindle,  the 
listeners  got  some  such  insights  into  their  past 
lives  as  one  gets  into  the  darker  parts  of  the 
woods,  when  a stray  gleam  of  sunshine  finds  it3 
way  down  to  the  roots  of  the  trees.  But  Judith 
I shall  always  esteem,  as  it’s  recommend  enough 


OLD  TOM  IIUTTER’S  DAUGHTERS. 


11 


to  one  woman  to  be  the  mother  of  such  a crea- 
tin'’ as  her  darter,  Judith  Hutter ! ” 

“ Ay,  Judith  was  the  name  the  Delawares 
mentioned,  though  it  was  pronounced  after  a 
fashion  of  their  own.  From  their  discourse,  I do 
not  think  the  girl  would  much  please  my  fancy.” 

“ Thy  fancy ! ” exclaimed  March,  taking  fire 
equally  at  the  indifference  and  at  the  presump- 
tion of  his  companion,  “ what  the  devil  have  you 
to  do  with  a fancy,  and  that,  too,  consarning  one 
like  Judith  ? You  are  but  a boy — a sapling,  that 
has  scarce  got  root.  Judith  has  had  men  among 
her  suitors,  ever  since  she  was  fifteen  ; which  is 
now  near  five  years ; and  will  not  be  apt  even  to 
cast  a look  upon  a half-grown  creatur’  like  you ! ” 

“ It  is  June,  and  there  is  not  a cloud  atween 
us  and  the  sun,  Hurry,  so  all  this  heat  is  not 
wanted,”  answered  the  other,  altogether  undis- 
turbed ; “ any  one  may  have  a fancy,  and  a squir- 
rel has  a right  to  make  up  his  mind  touching  a 
catamount.” 

“ Ay,  but  it  might  not  be  wise,  always,  to  let 
the  catamount  know  it,”  growled  March.  “ But 
you’re  young  and  thoughtless,  and  I’ll  overlook 
your  ignorance.  Come,  Deerslayer,”  he  added, 
with  a good-natured  laugh,  after  pausing  a mo- 
ment to  reflect,  “ come,  Deerslayer,  we  are  sworn 
fri’nds,  and  will  not  quarrel  about  a light-minded, 
jilting  jade,  just  because  she  happens  to  be  hand- 
some; more  especially  as  you  have  never  seen 
her.  Judith  is  only  for  a man  whose  teeth  show 
the  full  marks,  and  it’s  foolish  to  be  afeard  of  a 
boy.  What  did  the  Delawares  say  of  the  hussy ; 
for  an  Indian,  after  all,  has  his  notions  of  woman- 
kind, as  well  as  a white  man  ? ” 

“They  said  she  was  fair  to  look  on,  and 
pleasant  of  speech ; but  over-given  to  admirers, 
and  light-minded.” 

“ They  are  devils  incarnate  ! After  all,  what 
school-master  is  a match  for  an  Indian,  in  looking 
into  natur’  ? Some  people  think  they  are  only 
good  on  a trail  or  the  war-path,  but  I say  that 
they  are  philosophers,  and  understand  a man  as 
well  as  they  understand  a beaver,  and  a woman 
as  well  as  they  understand  either.  Now,  that’s 
Judith  s character  to  a ribbon ! To  own  the 
truth  to  you,  Deerslayer,  I should  have  married 
the  gal  two  years  since,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
two  particular  things,  one  of  which  was  this  very 
light-mindedness.” 

“ And  what  may  have  been  the  other  ? ” de- 
manded the  hunter,  who  continued  to  eat  like 
one  that  took  very  little  interest  in  the  subject. 

“T’other  was  an  insartainty  about  her  having 
me.  The  hussy  is  handsome,  and  she  knows  it. 
Boy,  not  a tree  that  is  growing  in  these  hills  is  I 


straighter,  or  waves  in  the  wind  with  an  easiet 
bend,  nor  did  you  ever  see  the  doe  that  bounded 
with  a more  nat’ral  motion.  If  that  was  all, 
every  tongue  would  sound  her  praises ; but  she 
has  such  failings  that  I find  it  hard  to  overlook 
them,  and  sometimes  I swear  I’ll  never  visit  the 
lake  ag’in.” 

“ Which  is  the  reason  that  you  always  come 
back.  Nothing  is  ever  made  more  sure  by 
swearing  about  it.” 

“ Ah,  Deerslayer,  you  are  a novelty  in  these 
partic’lars  ; keeping  as  true  to  edication  as  if  you 
had  never  left  the  settlements.  With  me  the  case 
is  different,  and  I never  want  to  clinch  an  idee, 
that  I do  not  feel  a wish  to  swear  about  it.  If 
you  know’d  all  that  I know  consarning  Judith, 
you’d  find  a justification  for  a little  cussing. 
Now,  the  officers  sometimes  stray  over  to  the 
lake,  from  the  forts  on  the  Mohawk,  to  fish  and 
hunt,  and  the  creatur’  seems  beside  herself!  You 
can  see  it  in  the  manner  in  which  she  wears  her 
finery,  and  the  airs  she  gives  herself  witn  the 
gallants.” 

“ That  is  unseemly  in  a poor  man’s  darter,” 
returned  Deerslayer,  gravely ; “ the  officers  are  all 
gentry,  and  can  only  look  on  such  as  Judith  with 
evil  intentions.” 

“ There’s  the  unsartinty,  and  the  damper  ! I 
have  my  misgivings  about  a particular  captain, 
and  Jude  has  no  one  to  blame  but  her  own  folly, 
if  I’m  wrong.  On  the  whole,  I wish  to  look  upon 
her  as  modest  and  becoming,  and  yet  the  clouds 
that  drive  among  these  hills  are  not  more  unsar- 
tain.  Not  a dozen  white  men  have  ever  laid  eyes 
upon  her  since  she  was  a child,  and  yet  her  airs, 
with  two  or  three  of  these  officers,  are  extinguish- 
ers ! ” 

“ I would  think  no  more  of  such  a woman, 
but  turn  my  mind  altogether  to  the  forest ; that 
will  not  deceive  you,  being  ordered  and  ruled  by 
a hand  that  never  wavers.” 

“If  you  know’d  Judith,  you  would  see  how 
much  easier  it  is  to  say  this  than  it  would  be  to 
do  it.  Could  I bring  my  mind  to  be  easy  about 
the  officers,  I would  carry  the  gal  off  to  the  Mo- 
hawk by  force,  make  her  marry  me  in  spite  of 
her  whiffling,  and  leave  old  Tom  to  the  care  of 
Hetty,  his  other  child,  who,  if  she  be  not  as 
handsome  or  as  quick-witted  as  her  sister,  is  much 
the  most  dutiful.” 

“Is  there  another  bird  in  the  same  nest?” 
asked  Deerslayer,  raising  his  eyes  with  a species 
of  half-awakened  curiosity — “the  Delawares 
spoke  to  me  only  of  one.” 

“ That’s  nat’ral  enough,  when  Judith  Hatter 
and  Hetty  Hutter  are  in  question.  Hetty  is  only 


12 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


comely,  while  her  sister,  I tell  thee,  boy,  is  such 
another  as  is  not  to  be  found  atween  this  and 
the  sea : Judith  is  as  full  of  wit,  and  talk,  and 
cunning,  as  an  old  Indian  orator,  while  poor 
Hetty  is  at  the  best  but  ‘compass  meant  us.’  ” 

“ Anan  ? ” inquired,  again,  the  Deerslayer. 

“ Why,  what  the  officers  call  ‘ compass  meant 
us,’  which  I understand  to  signify  that  she  means 
always  to  go  in  the  right  direction,  but  sometimes 
doesn’t  know  how.  ‘ Compass  ’ for  the  p’int,  and 
‘ meant  us  ’ for  the  intention.  No,  poor  Hetty  is 
what  I call  on  the  verge  of  ignorance,  and  some- 
times she  stumbles  on  one  side  of  the  line,  and 
sometimes  on  t’other.” 

“ Them  are  beings  that  the  Lord  has  in  His 
’special  care,”  said  Deerslayer,  solemnly;  “for 
he  looks  carefully  to  all  who  fall  short  of  their 
proper  share  of  reason.  The  red-skins  honor  and 
respect  them  who  are  so  gifted,  knowing  that  the 
Evil  Spirit  delights  more  to  dwell  in  an  artful 
body  than  in  one  that  has  no  cunning  to  work 
upon.” 

“ I’ll  answer  for  it,  then,  that  he  will  not  re- 
main long  with  poor  Hetty — for  the  child  is  just 
‘ Compass  meant  us,’  as  I have  told  you.  Old 
Tom  has  a feeling  for  the  gal,  and  so  has  Judith, 
quick-witted  and  glorious  as  she  is  herself ; else 
would  I not  answer  for  her  being  altogether  safe 
among  the  sort  of  men  that  sometimes  meet  on 
the  lake-shore.” 

“ I thought  this  water  an  onknown  and  little- 
frequented  sheet,”  observed  the  Deerslayer,  evi- 
dently uneasy  at  the  idea  of  being  too  near  the 
- world. 

“ It’s  all  that,  lad,  the  eyes  of  twenty  white 
men  never  having  been  laid  on  it ; still,  twenty 
true-bred  frontier-men — hunters,  and  trappers,  and 
scouts,  and  the  like — can  do  a deal  of  mischief  if 
they  try.  ’Twould  be  an  awful  thing  to  me,  Deer- 
slayer, did  I find  Judith  married  after  an  absence 
of  six  months  ! ” 

“ Have  you  the  gal’s  faith,  to  encourage  you 
to  hope  otherwise  ? ” 

“ Not  at  all.  I know  not  how  it  is — I’m  good- 
looking,  boy  ; that  much  I can  see  in  any  spring 
on  which  the  sun  shines — and  yet  I could  never 
get  the  hussy  to  a promise,  or  even  a cordial,  will- 
ing smile,  though  she  will  laugh  by  the  hour.  If 
she  has  dared  to  marry  in  my  absence,  she’ll  be 
like  to  know  the  pleasures  of  widowhood  afore  she 
twenty ! ” 

“ You  would  not  harm  the  man  she  had  chosen, 
Hurry,  simply  because  she  found  him  more  to  her 
liking  than  yourself  ? ” 

“ Why  not  ? If  an  inimy  crosses  my  path, 
Will  I not  beat  him  out  of  it  ? Look  at  me — am 


I a man  like  to  let  any  sneaking,  crawling,  skin- 
trader  get  the  better  of  me  in  a matter  that 
touches  me  as  near  as  the  kindness  of  Judith 
Hutter  ? Besides,  when  we  live  beyond  law,  we 
must  be  our  own  judges  and  executioners.  And 
if  a man  should  be  found  dead  in  the  woods,  who 
is  there  to  say  who  slew  him,  even  admitting  that 
the  colony  took  the  matter  in  hand  and  made  a 
stir  about  it  ? ” 

“ If  that  man  should  be  Judith  Hutter’s  hus- 
band, after  what  has  passed,  I might  tell  enough, 
at  least,  to  put  the  colony  on  the  trail.” 

“ You  !— half  -grown,  venison  - hunting  bant- 
ling ! You  dare  to  think  of  informing  against 
Hurry  Harry  in  so  much  as  a matter  touching  a 
mink  or  a woodchuck  ! ” 

“ I would  dare  to  speak  truth,  Hurry,  consarn- 
ing  you,  or  any  man  that  ever  lived.” 

March  looked  at  his  companion  for  a moment 
in  silent  amazement ; then,  seizing  him  by  the 
throat  with  both  hands,  he  shook  his  compara- 
tively-slight  frame  with  a violence  that  menaced 
the  dislocation  of  some  of  the  bones.  Nor  was 
this  done  jocularly,  for  anger  flashed  from  the 
giant’s  eyes,  and  there  were  certain  signs  that 
seemed  to  threaten  much  more  earnestness  than 
the  occasion  would  appear  to  call  for.  Whatever 
might  be  the  real  intention  of  March,  and  it  is 
probable  there  was  none  settled  in  his  mind,  it  is 
certain  that  he  was  unusually  aroused  ; and  most 
men  who  found  themselves  throttled  by  one  of  a 
mould  so  gigantic  in  such  a mood,  and  in  a soli- 
tude so  deep  and  helpless,  would  have  felt  intimi- 
dated, and  tempted  to  yield  even  the  right.  Not 
so,  however,  with  Deerslayer.  His  countenance 
remained  unmoved  ; his  hand  did  not  shake,  and 
his  answer  was  given  in  a voice  that  did  not  re- 
sort to  the  artifice  of  louder  tones,  even  by  way 
of  proving  its  owner’s  resolution. 

“You  may  shake,  Hurry,  until  you  bring 
down  the  mountain,”  he  said,  quietly,  “ but  noth- 
ing besides  truth  will  you  shake  from  me.  It  is 
probable  that  Judith  Hutter  has  no  husband  to 
slay,  and  you  may  never  have  a chance  to  waylay 
one,  else  would  I tell  her  of  your  threat  in  the 
first  conversation  I held  with  the  gal.” 

March  released  his  gripe,  and-  sat  regarding 
the  other  in  silent  astonishment. 

“ I thought  we  had  been  friends,”  he  at  length 
added — “ but  you’ve  got  the  last  secret  of  mine 
that  will  ever  enter  your  ears.” 

“ I want  none,  if  they  are  to  be  like  this.  I 
know  we  live  in  the  woods,  Hurry,  and  are  thought 
to  be  beyond  human  laws — and  perhaps  we  are 
so,  in  fact,  whatever  it  may  be  in  right — but  there 
is  a law,  and  a law-maker,  that  rule  across  the 


DEERSLAYER’S  SAGACITY. 


whole  continent.  He  that  flies  in  the  face  of 
either,  need  not  call  me  fri’nd.” 

“ Damme,  Deerslayer,  if  I do  not  believe  you 
are,  at  heart,  a Moravian,  and  no  fair-minded, 
plain-dealing  hunter,  as  you’ve  pretended  to 
be  ! ” 

“ Fair-minded  or  not,  Hurry,  you  will  find  me 
as  plain  dealing  in  deeds  as  I am  in  words.  But 
this  giving  way  to  sudden  anger  is  foolish,  and 
proves  how  little  you  have  sojourned  with  the  red 
man.  Judith  Hutter  no  doubt  is  still  single,  and 
you  spoke  but  as  the  tongue  ran,  and  not  as  the 
heart  felt.  There’s  my  hand,  and  we  will  say  and 
think  no  more  about  it.” 

Hurry  seemed  more  surprised  than  ever  ; then 
he  burst  forth  in  a loud,  good-natured  laugh, 
which  brought  tears  to  his  eyes.  After  this,  he 
accepted  the  offered  hand,  and  the  parties  became 
friends. 

“ ’Twould  have  been  foolish  to  quarrel  about 
an  idee,”  March  cried,  as  he  resumed  his  meal, 
“ and  more  like  lawyers  in  the  towns,  than  like 
sensible  men  in  the  woods.  They  tell  me,  Deer- 
slayer, much  ill  blood  grows  out  of  idees  among 
the  people  in  the  lower  counties,  and  that  they 
sometimes  get  to  extremities  upon  them.” 

“ That  do  they — that  do  they ; and  about 
other  matters  that  might  better  be  left  to  take 
care  of  themselves.  I have  heard  the  Moravians 
say  that  there  are  lands  in  which  men  quarrel 
even  consarning  their  religion ; and  if  they  can 
get  their  tempers  up  on  such  a subject,  Hurry, 
the  Lord  have  marcy  on  ’em  ! Howsever,  there  is 
no  occasion  for  our  following  their  example,  and 
more  especially  about  a husband  that  this  Judith 
Hutter  may  never  see,  or  never  wish  to  see.  For 
my  part,  I feel  more  cur’osity  about  the  feeble- 
witted  sister  than  about  your  beauty.  There’s 
something  that  comes  close  to  a man’s  feelin’s, 
when  he  meets  with  a fellow-creatur’  that  has  all 
the  outward  show  of  an  accountable  mortal,  and 
who  fails  of  being  what  he  seems  only  through  a 
lack  of  reason.  This  is  bad  enough  in  a man,  but 
when  it  comes  to  a woman,  and  she  a young,  and 
maybe  a winning  creatur’,  it  touches  all  the  piti- 
ful thoughts  his  natur’  has.  God  knows,  Hurry, 
that  such  poor  things  be  defenceless  enough  with 
all  their  wits  about  ’em ; but  it’s  a cruel  fortun’ 
when  that  great  protector  and  guide  fails  ’em.” 

“ Harkee,  Deerslayer  — you  know  what  the 
hunters,  and  trappers,  and  peltry-men  in  general 
be ; and  their  best  friends  will  not  deny  that  they 
are  headstrong  and  given  to  having  their  own 
way,  without  much  bethinking  ’em  of  other  peo- 
ple’s rights  or  feelin’s — and  yet  I don’t  think  the 
man  is  to  be  found,  in  all  this  region,  who  would 


13 

harm  Hetty  Hutter  if  he  could ; no,  not  even  a 
red-skin.” 

“ Therein,  fri’nd  Hurry,  you  do  the  Delawares, 
at  least,  and  all  their  allied  tribes,  only  justice, 
for  a red-skin  looks  upon  a being  thus  struck  by 
God’s  power,  as  especially  under  his  care.  I re- 
joice to  hear  what  you  say,  howsever,  I rejoice 
to  hear  it ; but  as  the  sun  is  beginning  to  turn 
toward  the  a’temoon’s  sky,  had  we  not  better 
strike  the  trail  ag’in,  and  make  forward,  that  we 
may  get  an  opportunity  of  seeing  these  wonderful 
sisters  ? ” 

Harry  March  giving  a cheerful  assent,  the  rem- 
nants of  the  meal  were  soon  collected  ; then  the 
travellers  shouldered  their  packs,  resumed  their 
arms,  and,  quitting  the  little  area  of  light,  they 
again  plunged  into  the  deep  shadows  of  the  forest. 


CHAPTER  II. 

“ Thou’rt  passing  from  the  lake’s  green  side, 

And  the  hunter’s  hearth  away ; 

For  the  time  of  flowers,  for  the  summer’s  pride, 
Daughter ! thou  canst  not  stay.” 

Kecords  of  'Woman. 

Our  two  adventurers  had  not  far  to  go.  Hur- 
ry knew  the  direction,  as  soon  as  he  had  found 
the  open  spot  and  the  spring,  and  he  now  led  on 
with  the  confident  step  of  a man  assured  of  his 
object.  The  forest  was  dark,  as  a matter  of 
course,  but  it  was  no  longer  obstructed  by  under- 
brush, and  the  footing  was  firm  and  dry.  After 
proceeding  near  a mile,  March  stopped,  and  be- 
gan to  cast  about  him  with  an  inquiring  look,  ex- 
amining the  different  objects  with  care,  and  oc- 
casionally turning  his  eyes  on  the  trunks  of  the 
fallen  trees,  with  which  the  ground  was  well 
sprinkled,  as  is  usually  the  case  in  an  American 
wood,  especially  in  those  parts  of  the  country 
where  timber  has  not  yet  become  valuable. 

“ This  must  be  the  place,  Deerslayer,”  March 
at  length  observed  ; “ here  is  a beech  by  the  side 
of  a hemlock,  with  three  pines  at  hand,  and  yon- 
der is  a white  birch  with  a broken  top  ; and  yet 
I see  no  rock,  nor  any  of  the  branches  bent  down, 
as  I told  you  would  be  the  case.” 

“Broken  branches  are  onskilful  landmarks, 
as  the  least  exper’enced  know  that  branches  don’t 
often  break  of  themselves,”  returned  the  other  ; 
“ and  they  also  lead  to  suspicion  and  discoveries. 
The  Delawares  never  trust  to  broken  branches, 
unless  it  is  in  friendly  times,  and  on  an  open 
trail.  As  for  the  beeches,  and  pines,  and  hem- 
locks, why,  they  are  to  be  seen  on  all  sides  of 


14 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


us,  not  only  by  twos  and  threes,  but  by  forties, 
and  fifties,  and  hundreds.” 

“Very  true,  Deerslayer,  but  you  never  calcu- 
late on  position.  Here  is  a beech  and  a hem- 
lock— ” 

“Yes,  and  there  is  another  beech  and  a hem- 
lock, as  loving  as  two  brothers,  or,  for  that  mat- 
ter, more  loving  than  some  brothers  ; and  yonder 
are  others,  for  neither  tree  is  a rarity  in  these 
woods.  I fear  me,  Hurry,  you  are  better  at  trap- 
ping beaver  and  shooting  bears,  than  at  leading 
on  a blindish  sort  of  a trail.  Ha ! there’s  what 
you  wish  to  find,  a’ter  all ! ” 

“ Now,  Deerslayer,  this  is  one  of  your  Dela-- 
ware  pretensions,  for,  hang  me  if  I see  any  thing 
but  these  trees,  which  do  seem  to  start  up  around 
us,  in  a most  onaccountable  and  perplexing  man- 
ner.” 

“ Look  this-a-way,  Hurry — here,  in  a liue  with 
the  black  oak — don’t  you  see  the  crooked  sap- 
ling that  is  hooked  up  in  the  branches  of  the 
basswood,  near  it  ? Now,  that  sapling  was  once 
snow-ridden,  and  got  the  bend  by  its  weight ; but 
It  never  straightened  itself,  and  fastened  itself  in 
among  the  basswood  branches  in  the  way  you 
see.  The  hand  of  man  did  that  act  of  kindness 
for  it.” 

“ That  hand  was  mine ! ” exclaimed  Hurry  ; 
“ I found  the  slender  young  thing  bent  to  the 
airth,  like  an  unfortunate  creatur’  borne  down  by 
misfortune,  and  stuck  it  up  where  you  see  it. 
After  all,  Deerslayer,  I must  allow,  you’re  getting 
to  have  an  oncommon  good  eye  for  the  woods  ! ” 

“ ’Tis  improving,  Hurry — ’tis  improving,  I 
will  acknowledge  ; but  ’tis  still  only  a child’s  eye, 
compared  to  some  I know.  There’s  Tamenund, 
now,  though  a man  so  old  that  few  remember 
when  he  was  in  his  prime,  Tamenund  lets  nothing 
escape  his  look,  which  is  more  like  the  scent  of  a 
hound  than  the  sight  of  an  eye.  Then  Uncas,* 
the  father  of  Chingachgook,  and  the  lawful  chief 
of  the  Mohicans,  is  another  that  it  is  almost  hope- 
less to  pass  unseen.  I’m  improving,  I will  allow 
— I’m  improving,  but  far  from  being  perfect,  as 
yet.” 

“And  who  is  this  Chingachgook,  of  whom 
you  talk  so  much,  Deerslayer  ? ” asked  Hurry,  as 
he  moved-  off  in  the  direction  of  the  righted  sap- 
ling ; “ a loping  red-skin,  at  the  best,  I make  no 
question.” 

“Not  so,  Hurry,  but  the  best  of  loping  red- 
skins, as  you  call  ’em.  If  he  had  his  rights,  he 

* Lest  the  similarity  of  the  names  should  produce  con- 
fusion, it  may  be  well  to  say  that  the  Uncas  here  mentioned 
is  the  grandfather  of  him  who  plays  so  conspicuous  a part 
In  “ The  Last  of  the  Mohicans.” 


would  be  a great  chief ; but,  as  it  is,  he  is  only  a 
brave  and  just-minded  Delaware  ; respected,  and 
even  obeyed  in  some  things,  ’tis  true,  but  of  a 
fallen  race,  and  belonging  to  a fallen  people. 
Ah ! Harry  March,  ’twould  warm  the  heart  within 
you  to  sit  in  their  lodges  of  a winter’s  night,  and 
listen  to  the  traditions  of  the  ancient  greatness 
and  power  of  the  Mohicans ! ” 

“ Harkee,  fri’nd  Nathaniel,”  said  Hurry,  stop- 
ping short  to  face  his  companion,  in  order  that 
his  words  might  carry  greater  weight  with  them ; 
“ if  a man  believed  all  that  other  people  choose 
to  say  in  their  own  favor,  he  might  get  an  over- 
sized opinion  of  them,  and  an  undersized  opinion 
of  himself.  These  red-skins  are  notable  boasters, 
and  I set  down  more  than  half  of  their  traditions 
as  pure  talk.” 

“ There  is  truth  in  what  you  say,  Hurry,  I’ll 
not  deny  it,  for  I’ve  seen  it,  and  believe  it.  They 
do  boast,  but  then  that  is  a gift  from  Natur’ ; and 
it’s  sinful  to  withstand  nat’ral  gifts.  See  ; this  is 
the  spot  you  come  to  find ! ” 

This  remark  cut  short  the  discourse,  and  both 
the  men  now  gave  all  their  attention  to  the  ob- 
ject immediately  before  them.  Deerslayer  point- 
ed out  to  hi?  companion  the  trunk  of  a huge  lin- 
den, or  basswood,  as  it  is  termed  in  the  language 
of  the  country,  which  had  filled  its  time,  and  fall- 
en by  its  own  weight.  This  tree,  like  so  many 
millions  of  its  brethren,  lay  where  it  had  fallen, 
and  was  mouldering  under  the  slow  but  certain 
influence  of  the  seasons.  The  decay,  however, 
had  attacked  its  centre,  even  while  it  stood  erect 
in  the  pride  of  vegetation,  hollowing  out  its  heart, 
as  disease  sometimes  destroys  the  vitals  of  animal 
life,  even  while  a fair  exterior  is  presented  to  the 
observer.  As  the  trunk  lay  stretched  for  near  a 
hundred  feet  along  the  earth,  the  quick  eye  of  the 
hunter  detected  this  peculiarity,  and  from  this 
and  other  circumstances  he  knew  it  to  be  the 
tree  of  which  March  was  in  search. 

“ Ay,  here  we  have  what  we  want,”  cried  Hur- 
ry, looking  in  at  the  larger  end  of  the  linden ; 
“ every  thing  is  as  snug  as  if  it  had  been  left  in 
an  old  woman’s  cupboard.  Come,  lend  me  a 
hand,  Deerslayer,  and  we’ll  be  afloat"  in  half  an 
hour.” 

At  this  call  the  hunter  joined  his  companion, 
and  the  two  went  to  work  deliberately  and  regu- 
larly, like  men  accustomed  to  the  sort  of  thing  in 
which  they  were  employed.  In  the  first  place, 
Hurry  removed  some  pieces  of  bark  that  lay  be- 
fore the  large  opening  in  the  tree,  and  which  the 
other  declared  to  be  disposed  in  a way  that  would 
have  been  more  likely  to  attract  attention  than 
to  conceal  the  cover,  had  any  straggler  passed 


MUSKRAT  CASTLE. 


15 


that  way.  The  two  then  drew  out  a bark  canoe, 
containing  its  seats,  paddles,  and  other  appli- 
ances, even  to  fishing  lines  and  rods.  This  ves- 
sel was  by  no  means  small ; but  such  was  its 
comparative  lightness,  and  so  gigantic  was  the 
strength  of  Hurry,  that  the  latter  shouldered  it 
with  seeming  ease,  declining  all  assistance,  even 
in  the  act  of  raising  it  to  the  awkward  position  in 
which  he  was  obliged  to  hold  it. 

“ Lead  ahead,  Deei’slayer,”  said  March,  “ and 
open  the  bushes  ; the  rest  I can  do  for  myself.” 

The  other  obeyed,  and  the  men  left  the  spot, 
Deerslayer  clearing  the  way  for  his  companion, 
and  inclining  to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  as  the 
latter  directed.  In  about  ten  minutes  they  both 
broke  suddenly  into  the  brilliant  light  of  the  sun, 
on  a low,  gravelly  point,  that  was  washed  by  wa- 
ter on  quite  half  its  outline. 

An  exclamation  of  surprise  broke  from  the 
lips  of  Deerslayer,  an  exclamation  that  was  low 
and  guardedly  made,  however,  for  his  habits  were 
much  more  thoughtful  and  regulated  than  those 
of  the  reckless  Hurry,  when,  on  reaching  the  mar- 
gin of  the  lake,  he  beheld  the  view  that  unex- 
pectedly met  his  gaze.  It  was,  in  truth,  suffi- 
ciently striking  to  merit  a brief  description.  On 
a level  with  the  point  lay  a broad  sheet  of  water, 
so  placid  and  limpid,  that  it  resembled  a bed  of 
the  pure  mountain  atmosphere,  compressed  into  a 
setting  of  hills  and  woods.  Its  length  was  about 
three  leagues,  while  its  breadth  was  irregular,  ex- 
panding to  half  a league,  or  even  more,  opposite 
to  the  point,  and  contracting  to  less  than  half 
that  distance,  more  to  the  southward.  Of  course, 
its  margin  was  irregular,  being  indented  by  bays, 
and  broken  by  many  projecting,  low  points.  At 
its  northern  or  nearest  end  it  was  bounded  by 
ai  isolated  mountain,  lower  land  falling  off  east 
and  west,  gracefully  relieving  the  sweep  of  the 
outline.  Still  the  character  of  the  country  was 
mountainous  ; high  hills  or  low  mountains  rising 
abruptly  from  the  water,  on  quite  nine  tenths  of 
its  circuit.  The  exceptions,  indeed,  only  served  a 
little  to  vary  the  scene;  and  even  beyond  the 
parts  of  the  shore  that  were  comparatively  low, 
the  background  was  high,  though  more  distant. 

But  the  most  striking  peculiarities  of  this 
scene  were  its  solemn  solitude  and  sweet  repose. 
On  all  sides,  wherever  the  eye  turned,  nothing 
met  it  but  the  mirror-like  surface  of  the  lake,  the 
placid  view  of  heaven,  and  the  dense  setting  of 
woods.  So  rich  and  fleecy  were  the  outlines  of 
the  forest,  that  scarce  an  opening  could  be  seen, 
the  whole  visible  earth,  from  the  rounded  moun- 
tain-top to  the  water’s  edge,  presenting  one  un- 
varied hue  of  unbroken  verdure.  As  if  vegeta- 
2 


tion  were  not  satisfied  with  a triumph  so  com- 
, plete,  the  trees  overhung  the  lake  itself,  shooting 
out  toward  the  light ; and  there  were  miles  along 
its  eastern  shore  where  a boat  might  have  pulled 
beneath  the  branches  of  dark  Rembrandt-looking 
hemlocks,  “ quivering  aspens,”  and  melancholy 
pines.  In  a word,  the  hand  of  man  had  never 
yet  defaced  or  deformed  any  part  of  this  native 
scene,  which  lay  bathed  in  the  sunlight,  a glori- 
ous picture  of  affluent  forest-grandeur,  softened 
by  the  balminess  of  June,  and  relieved  by  the 
beautiful  variety  afforded  by  the  presence  of  so 
broad  an  expanse  of  water. 

“ This  is  grand  ! — ’tis  solemn ! — ’tis  an  edica- 
tion  of  itself  to  look  upon!”  exclaimed  Deer- 
slayer, as  he  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle  and  gazing 
to  the  right  and  left,  north  and  south,  above  and 
beneath,  in  whichever  direction  his  eye  could 
wander;  “not  a tree  disturbed  even  by  red-skin 
hand,  as  I can  discover,  but  every  thing  left  in 
the  ordering  of  the  Lord,  to  live  and  die  accord- 
ing to  His  own  designs  and  laws  ! Hurry,  your 
Judith  ought  to  be  a moral  and  well-disposed 
young  woman  if  she  has  passed  half  the  time  you 
mention  in  the  centre  of  a spot  so  favored.” 

“ That’s  a naked  truth  ; and  yet  the  gal  has 
the  vagaries.  All  her  time  has  not  been  passed 
here,  howsever,  old  Tom  having  the  custom,  afore 
I know’d  him,  of  going  to  spend  the  winters  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  settlers,  or  under  the 
guns  of  the  forts.  No,  no,  Jude  has  caught  more 
than  is  for  her  good  from  the  settlers,  and  es- 
pecially from  the  gallantifying  officers.” 

“If  she  has — if  she  has,  Hurry,  this  is  a 
school  to  set  her  mind  right  ag’in. — But  what  is 
this  I see  off  here,  abreast  of  us,  that  seems  too 
small  for  an  island,  and  too  large  for  a boat, 
though  it  stands  in  the  midst  of  the  water  ? ” 

“ Why,  that  is  what  these  gallanting  gentry, 
from  the  forts,  call  Muskrat  Castle  ; and  old  Tom 
himself  will  grin  at  the  name,  though  it  bears  so 
hard  on  his  own  natur’  and  character.  ’Tis  the 
stationary  house,  there  being  two ; this,  which 
never  moves,  and  the  other,  that  floats,  being 
sometimes  in  one  part  of  the  lake  and  sometimes 
in  another.  The  last  goes  by  the  name  of  the 
ark,  though  what  may  be  the  meaning  of  the 
word  is  more  than  I can  tell  you.” 

“ It  must  come  from  the  missionaries,  Hurry, 
whom  I have  heard  speak  and  read  of  such  a 
thing.  They  say  that  the  ’arth  was  once  covered 
with  water,  and  that  Noah,  with  his  children,  was 
saved  from  drowning  by  building  a vessel  called 
an  ark,  in  which  he  embarked  in  season.  Some 
of  the  Delawares  believe  this  tradition,  and  some 
deny  it ; but  it  behooves  you  and  me,  as  whito 


16 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


men  born,  to  put  our  faith  in  its  truth.  Do  you 
see  any  thing  of  this  ark  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  down  south,  no  doubt,  or  anchored  in 
some  of  the  bays.  But  the  canoe  is  ready,  and 
fifteen  minutes  will  carry  two  such  paddles  as 
your’n  and  mine  to  the  castle.” 

At  this  suggestion,  Deerslayer  helped  bis  com- 
panion to  place  the  different  articles  in  the  canoe, 
which  was  already  afloat.  This  was  no  sooner 
done  than  the  two  frontier-men  embarked,  and, 
by  a vigorous  push,  sent  the  light  bark  some 
eight  or  ten  rods  from  the  shore.  Hurry  now 
took  the  seat  in  the  stern,  while  Deerslayer 
placed  himself  forward,  and,  by  leisurely  but 
steady  strokes  of  the  paddles,  the  canoe  glided 
across  the  placid  sheet  toward  the  extraordinary- 
looking structure  that  the  former  had  styled  Musk- 
rat Castle.  Several  times  the  men  ceased  pad- 
dling and  looked  about  them  at  the  scene  as  new 
glimpses  opened  from  behind  points,  enabling 
them  to  see  farther  down  the  lake,  or  to  get 
broader  views  of  the  wooded  mountains.  The 
only  changes,  however,  were  in  the  new  forms  of 
the  hills,  the  varying  curvature  of  the  bays,  and 
the  wider  reaches  of  the  valley  south ; the  whole 
earth,  apparently,  being’  clothed  in  a gala-dress 
of  leaves. 

“ This  is  a sight  to  warm  the  heart  ! ” ex- 
claimed Deerslayer,  when  they  had  thus  stopped 
for  the  fourth  or  fifth  time  ; “ the  lake  seems 
made  to  let  us  get  an  insight  into  the  noble 
forests ; and  land  and  water*,  alike,  stand  in  the 
beauty  of  God’s  providence ! — Do  you  say,  Hurry, 
that  there  is  no  man  who  calls  himself  lawful 
owner  of  all  these  glories  ? ” 

“ None  but  the  king,  lad.  He  may  pretend 
to  some  right  of  that  natur’,  but  he  is  so  far 
away  that  his  claim  will  never  trouble  old  Tom 
flutter,  who  has  got  possession,  and  is  like  to 
keep  it  as  long  as  his  life  lasts.  Tom  is  no 
squatter,  not  being  on  land  ; I call  him  a floater.” 

“ I invy  that  man  ! — I know  it's  wrong,  and 
I strive  ag’in  the  feelin’,  but  I invy  that  man ! 
Don’t  think,  Hurry,  that  I’m  consarting  any  plan 
to  put  myself  in  his  moccasins,  for  such  a thought 
doesn’t  harbor  in  my  mind but  I can’t  help  a 
little  invy ! ’Tis  a nat’ral  feelin’,  and  the  best  of 
us  are  but  nat’ral  a’ter  all,  and  give  way  to  such 
feelin’s  at  times.” 

“ You’ve  only  to  marry  Hetty  to  inherit  half 
the  estate,”  cried  Hurry,  laughing;  “the  gal  is 
comely ; nay,  if  it  wasn’t  for  her  sister’s  beauty, 
she  would  be  even  handsome ; and  then  her  wits 
are  so  small  that  you  may  easily  convart  her  into 
one  of  your  own  way  of  thinking  in  all  things. 
Do  you  take  Hetty  off  the  old  fellow’s  hands,  and 


i’ll  engage  be’ll  give  you  an  interest  in  every  dee* 
you  can  knock  over  within  five  miles  of  his 
lake.” 

“ Does  game  abound  ? ” suddenly  demanded 
the  other,  who  paid  but  little  attention  to  March’s 
raillery. 

“ It  has  the  country  to  itself.  Scarce  a trig- 
ger is  pulled  on  it ; and  as  for  the  trappers,  this 
is  not  a region  they  greatly  frequent.  I ought 
not  to  be  so  much  here  myself,  but  Jude  pulls 
one  way,  while  the  beaver  pulls  another.  More 
than  a hundred  Spanish  dollars  has  that  creatur’ 
cost  me  the  two  last  seasons ; and  yet  I could 
not  forego  the  wish  to  look  upon  her  face  once 
more.” 

“ Do  the  red  men  often  visit  this  lake,  Hurry  ? ” 
continued  Deerslayer,  pursuing  his  own  train  of 
thought. 

“ Why,  they  come  and  go ; sometimes  in 
parties,  and  sometimes  singly.  The  country 
seems  to  belong  to  no  native  tribe  in  particular  ; 
and  so  it  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Hutter 
tribe.  The  old  man  tells  me  that  some  sharp 
ones  have  been  wheedling  the  Mohawks  for  an 
Indian  deed,  in  order  to  get  a title  out  of  the 
colony ; but  nothing  has  come  of  it,  seeing  that 
no  one,  heavy  enough  for  such  a trade,  ha3  yet 
meddled  with  the  matter.  The  hunters  have  a 
good  life-lease,  still,  of  this  wilderness.” 

“ So  much  the  better — so  much  the  better, 
Hurry.  If  I was  King  of  England,  the  man  that 
felled  one  of  these  trees  without  good  occasion 
for  the  timber,  should  be  banished  to  a desarted 
and  forlorn  region,  in  which  no  four-footed  ani- 
mal ever  trod.  Right  glad  am  I that  Chingach- 
gook  app’inted  our  meeting  on  this  lake,  for, 
hitherto,  eye  of  mine  never  looked  on  such  a 
glorious  spectacle.” 

“ That’s  because  you’ve  kept  so  much  among 
the  Delawares,  in  whose  country  there  are  no 
lakes.  Now,  farther  north,  and  farther  west, 
these  bits  of  water  abound ; and  you’re  young, 
and  may  yet  live  to  see  ’em.  But  though  there 
be  other"  lakes,  Deerslayer,  there’s  no  other 
Judith  Hutter ! ” 

At  this  remark  his  companion  smiled,  and 
then  he  dropped  his  paddle  into  the  water,  as  it 
in  consideration  of  a lover’s  haste.  Both  now 
pulled  vigorously  until  they  got  within  a hundred 
yards  of  the  “ castle,”  as  Hurry  familiarly  called 
the  house  of  Hutter,  when  they  again  ceased  pad- 
dling; the  admirer  of  Judith  restraining  his  im- 
patience the  more  readily,  as  he  perceived  that 
the  building  was  untenanted,  at  the  moment 
This  new  pause  was  to  enable  Deerslayer  to  sur- 
vey the  singular  edifice,  which  was  of  a con- 


PECULIARITIES  OF  HUTTER’S  HABITATION. 


L7 


struction  so  novel  as  to  merit  a particular  descrip- 
tion. 

Muskrat  Castle,  as  the  house  had  been  fa- 
cetiously named  by  some  waggish  officer,  stood 
in  the  open  lake,  at  a distance  of  fully  a quarter 
of  a mile  from  the  nearest  shore.  On  every  other 
side  the  water  extended  much  farther,  the  pre- 
cise position  being  distant  about  two  miles  from 
the  northern  end  of  the  sheet,  and  near,  if  not 
quite,  a mile  from  its  eastern  shore.  As  there 
was  not  the  smallest  appearance  of  any  island, 
but  the  house  stood  on  piles,  with  the  water  flow- 
ing beneath  it,  and  Deerslayer  had  already  dis- 
covered that  the  lake  was  of  a great  depth,  he 
was  fain  to  ask  an  explanation  of  this  singular 
circumstance.  Hurry  solved  the  difficulty  by 
telling  him  that  on  this  spot  alone,  a long,  nar- 
row shoal,  which  extended  for  a few  hundred 
yards  in  a north  and  south  direction,  rose  within 
six  or  eight  feet  of  the  surface  of  the  lake,  and 
that  Hutter  had  driven  piles  into  it,  and  placed 
his  habitation  on  them,  for  the  purpose  of  se- 
curity. 

“ The  old  fellow  was  burnt  out  three  times, 
atween  the  Indians  and  the  hunters ; and  in  one 
affray  with  the  red-skins  he  lost  his  only  son, 
since  which  time  he  has  taken  to  the  water  for 
safety.  No  one  can  attack  him  here,  without 
coming  in  a boat,  and  the  plunder  and  scalps 
would  scarce  be  worth  the  trouble  of  digging  out 
canoes.  Then  it’s  by  no  means  sartin  which 
would  whip  in  such  a scrimmage,  for  old  Tom  is 
well  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  the 
castle,  as  you  may  see,  is  a tight  breast-work 
ag’in  light  shot.” 

Deerslayer  had  some  theoretical  knowledge 
of  frontier  warfare,  though  he  had  never  yet  been 
called  on  to  raise  his  hand  in  anger  against  a 
fellow-creature.  He  saw  that  Hurry  did  not 
overrate  the  strength  of  this  position  in  a military 
point  of  view,  since  it  would  not  be  easy  to  attack 
it  without  exposing  the  assailants  to  the  fire  of 
the  besieged.  A good  deal  of  art  had  also  been 
manifested  in  the  disposition  of  the  timber  of 
which  the  building  was  constructed,  and  which 
afforded  a protection  much  greater  than  was 
usual  to  the  ordinary  log-cabins  of  the  frontier. 
The  sides  and  ends  were  composed  of  the  trunks 
of  large  pines,  cut  about  nine  feet  long,  and 
placed  upright,  instead  of  being  laid  horizontally, 
as  was  the  practice  of  the  country.  These  logs 
were  squared  on  three  sides,  and  had  large  tenons 
on  each  end.  Massive  sills  were  secured  on  the 
heads  of  the  piles,  with  suitable  grooves  dug  out 
of  their  upper  surfaces,  which  had  been  squared 
for  the  purpose,  and  the  lower  tenons  of  the  up- 


right pieces  were  placed  in  those  grooves,  giving 
them  a secure  fastening  below.  Plates  had  been 
laid  on  the  upper  ends  of  the  upright  logs,  and 
were  kept  in  their  places  by  a similar  contrivance ; 
the  several  corners  of  the  structure  being  well 
fastened  by  scarfing  and  pinning  the  sills  and 
plates.  The  floors  were  made  of  smaller  logs, 
similarly  squared,  and  the  roof  was  composed  of 
light  poles,  firmly  united,  and  well  covered  with 
bark.  The  effect  of  this  ingenious  arrangement 
was  to  give  its  owner  a house  that  could  be  ap- 
proached only  by  water,  the  sides  of  which  were 
composed  of  logs  closely  wedged  together,  which 
were  two  feet  thick  in  their  thinnest  parts,  and 
which  could  be  separated  only  by  a deliberate 
and  laborious  use  of  human  hands,  or  by  the 
slow  operation  of  time.  The  outer  surface  of 
the  building  was  rude  and  uneven,  the  logs  being 
of  unequal  sizes  ; but  the  squared  surfaces  within 
gave  both  the  sides  and  floor  as  uniform  an  ap- 
pearance as  was  desired,  either  for  use  or  show. 
The  chimney  was  not  the  least  singular  portion 
of  the  castle,  as  Hurry  made  his  companion  ob- 
serve, while  he  explained  the  process  by  which  it 
had  been  made.  The  material  was  a stiff  clay, 
properly  worked,  which  h&d  been  put  together  in 
a mould  of  sticks,  and  suffered  to  harden,  a foot 
or  two  at  a time,  commencing  at  the  bottom. 
When  the  entire  chimney  had  thus  been  raised, 
and  had  been  properly  bound  in  with  outward 
props,  a brisk  fire  was  kindled,  and  kept  going 
until  it  was  burned  to  something  like  a brick-red. 
This  had  not  been  an  easy  operation,  nor  had  it 
succeeded  entirely ; but,  by  dint  of  filling  the 
cracks  with  fresh  clay,  a safe  fireplace  and  chim- 
ney had  been  obtained  in  the  end.  This  part  of 
the  work  stood  on  the  log-floor,  secured  beneath 
by  air  extra  pile.  There  were  a few  other  pecu- 
liarities about  this  dwelling,  which  will  better  ap- 
pear in  the  course  of  the  narrative. 

“ Old  Tom  is  full  of  contrivances,”  added  Hurry 
“ and  he  set  his  heart  on  the  success  of  his  chim- 
ney, which  threatened  more  than  once  to  give  out 
altogether ; but  parseverance  will  even  overcome 
smoke  ; and  now  he  has  a comfortable  cabin  of  it, 
though  it  did  promise,  at  one  time,  to  be  a chinky 
sort  of  a flue  to  carry  flames  and  fire.” 

“ You  seem  to  know  the  whole  history  of  the 
castle,  Hurry,  chimney  and  sides,”  said  Deerslayer, 
smiling ; “ is  love  so  overcoming  that  it  causes  a 
man  to  study  the  story  of  his  sweetheart’s  habita- 
tion ? ” 

“Partly  that,  lad,  and  partly  eyesight,”  re- 
turned the  good-natured  giant,  laughing;  “thero 
was  a large  gang  of  us,  in  at  the  lake,  the  summer 
the  old  fellow  built,  and  we  helped  him  along  with 


L8 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  job.  I raised  no  small  part  of  the  weight  of 
them  uprights  with  my  own  shoulders,  and  the 
axes  flew,  I can  inform  you,  Master  Natty,  while 
we  were  bee-ing  it  among  the  trees  ashore.  The 
old  devil  is  no  way  stingy  about  food,  and  as  we 
had  often  eat  at  his  hearth,  we  thought  we  would 
just  house  him  comfortably,  afore  we  went  to 
Albany  with  our  skins.  Yes,  many  is  the  meal 
I’ve  swallowed  in  Tom  Hutter’s  cabins ; and 
Hetty,  though  so  weak  in  the  way  of  wits,  has  a 
wonderful  particular  way  about  a frying-pan  or  a 
gridiron ! ” 

* While  the  parties  were  thus  discoursing,  the 
canoe  had  been  gradually  drawing  near  to  the 
“ castle,”  and  was  now  so  close  as  to  require  but 
a single  stroke  of  a paddle  to  reach  the  landing. 
This  was  at  a floored  platform  in  front  of  the 
entrance,  and  might  have  been  some  twenty  feet 
square. 

“ Old  Tom  calls  this  sort  of  a wharf  his  door- 
yard,”  observed  Hurry,  as  he  fastened  the  canoe, 
after  he  and  his  companion  had  left  it ; “ and  the 
gallants  from  the  forts  have  named  it  the  ‘ castle 
court,’  though  what  a ‘ court  ’ can  have  to  do 
here  is  more  than  I can  tell  you,  seeing  there  is 
no  law.  ’Tis  as  I supposed  ; not  a soul  within, 
but  the  whole  family  is  off  ou  a v’y’ge  of  dis- 
covery ! ” 

While  Hurry  was  bustling  about  the  “ door- 
yard,”  examining  the  fishing-spears,  rods,  nets, 
and  other  similar  appliances  of  a frontier  cabin, 
Deerslayer,  whose  manner  was  altogether  more 
rebuked  and  quiet,  entered  the  building,  with  a 
curiosity  that  was  not  usually  exhibited  by  one  so 
long  trained  in  Indian  habits.  The  interior  of  the 
“ castle  ” was  as  faultlessly  neat  as  its  exterior 
was  novel.  The  entire  space,  some  twenty  feet 
by  forty,  was  subdivided  into  several  small  sleep- 
ing-rooms; the  apartment  into  which  he  first 
entered,  serving  equally  for  the  ordinary  uses  of 
its  inmates,  and  for  a kitchen.  The  furniture  was 
of  the  strange  mixture  that  is  not  uncommon  to 
find  in  the  remotely-situated  log-tenements  of  the 
interior.  Most  of  it  was  rude,  and  to  the  last 
degree  rustic;  but  there  was  a clock,  with  a 
handsome  case  of  dark  wood,  in  a corner,  and 
two  or  three  chairs,  with  a table  and  bureau,  that 
had  evidently  come  from  some  dwelling  of  more 
than  usual  pretension.  The  clock  was  industri- 
ously ticking,  but  its  leaden-loolcing  hands  did 
no  discredit  to  their  dull  aspect,  for  they  pointed 
to  the  hour  of  eleven,  though  the  sun  plainly 
showed  it  was  some  time  past  the  turn  of  the  day. 
There  was  also  a dark,  massive  chest.  The 
kitchen  utensils  were  of  the  simplest  kind,  and 
fer  from  numerous,  but  every  article  was  in  its 


place,  and  showed  the  nicest  care  in  its  condi- 
tion. 

After  Deerslayer  had  cast  a look  about  him 
in  the  outer  room,  he  raised  a wooden  latch,  and 
entered  a narrow  passage  that  divided  the  inner 
end  of  the  house  into  two  equal  parts.  Frontier 
usages  being  no  way  scrupulous,  and  his  curiosity 
being  strongly  excited,  the  young  man  now  opened 
a door,  and  found  himself  in  a bedroom.  A sin- 
gle glance  sufficed  to  show  that  the  apartment 
belonged  to  females.  The  bed  was  of  the  feathers 
of  wild-geese,  and  filled  nearly  to  overflowing ; but 
it  lay  in  a rude  bunk,  raised  only  a foot  from  the 
floor.  On  one  side  of*  it  were  arranged,  on  pegs, 
various  dresses,  of  a quality  much  superior  to 
what  one  would  expect  to  meet  in  such  a place, 
with  ribbons  and  other  similar  articles  to  corre- 
spond. Pretty  shoes,  with  handsome  silver 
buckles,  such  as  were  then  worn  by  females  in 
easy  circumstances,  were  not  wanting;  and  no 
less  than  six  fans,  of  gay  colors,  were  placed  half 
open,  in  a way  to  catch  the  eye  by  their  conceits 
and  hues.  Even  the  pillow,  on  this  side  of  the 
bed,  was  covered  with  finer  linen  than  its  compan- 
ion, and  it  was  ornamented  with  a small  ruffle.  A 
cap,  coquettishly  decorated  with  ribbons,  hung 
above  it,  and  a pair  of  long  gloves,  such  as  were 
rarely  used  in  those  days  by  persons  of  the  labor- 
ing-classes, were  pinned  ostentatiously  to  it,  as  if 
with  an  intention  to  exhibit  them  there,  if  they 
could  not  be  shown  on  the  owner’s  arms. 

All  this  Deerslayer  saw,  and  noted  with  a de- 
gree of  minuteness  that  would  have  done  credit 
to  the  habitual  observation  of  his  friends  the 
Delawares.  Nor  did  he  fail  to  perceive  the  dis- 
tinction that  existed  between  the  appearances  on 
the  different  sides  of  the  bed,  the  head  of  which 
stood  against  the  wall.  On  that  opposite  to  the 
one  just  described,  every  thing  was  homely  and 
uninviting,  except  through  its  perfect  neatness. 
The  few  garments  that  were  hanging  from  the 
pegs  were  of  the  coarsest  materials  and  of  the 
commonest  forms,  while  nothing  seemed  made  for 
show.  Of  ribbons  there  was  not  one ; nor  was 
there  either  cap  or  kerchief  beyond  those  which 
Hutter’s  daughters  might  be  fairly  entitled  to 
wear. 

It  was  now  several  years  since  Deerslayer  had 
been  in  a spot  especially  devoted  to  the  uses  of 
females  of  his  own  color  and  race.  The  sight 
brought  back  to  his  mind  a rush  of  childish  rec- 
ollections; and  he  lingered  in  the  room  with  a 
tenderness  of  feeling  to  which  he  had  long  been 
a stranger.  He  bethought  him  of  his  mother, 
whose  homely  vestments  he  remembered  to  have 
seen  hanging  on  pegs  like  those  which  he  felt 


TIIE  GLIMMERGLASS.” 


19 


must  belong  to  Hetty  Hutter ; and  he  bethought 
himself  of  a sister,  whose  incipient  and  native 
taste  for  finery  had  exhibited  itself  somewhat  in 
the  manner  of  that  of  Judith,  though  necessarily 
in  a less  degree.  These  little  resemblances 
opened  a long-hidden  vein  of  sensations,  and,  as 
he  quitted  the  room,  it  was  with  a saddened 
mien.  He  looked  no  farther,  but  returned  slowly 
and  thoughtfully  toward  the  “ door-yard.” 

“ Old  Tom  has  taken  to  a new  calling,  and 
has  been  trying  his  hand  at  the  traps,”  cried 
Hurry,  who  had  been  coolly  examining  the  bor- 
derer’s implements;  “if  that  is  his  humor,  and 
you’re  disposed  to  remain  in  these  parts,  we  can 
make  an  oncommon  comfortable  season  of  it,  for, 
while  the  old  man  and  I out-knowledge  the  bea- 
ver, you  can  fish,  and  knock  down  the  deer,  to 
keep  body  and  soul  together.  We  always  give 
the  poorest  hunters  half  a share,  but  one  as  ac- 
tive and  sartain  as  yourself  might  expect  a full 
one.” 

“Thank’ee,  Hurry;  thanlc’ee,  with  all  my 
heart — but  I do  a little  beavering  for  myself,  as 
occasions  offer.  ’Tis  true,  the  Delawares  call  me 
Deerslayer,  but  it’s  not  so  much  because  I’m 
pretty  fatal  with  the  venison,  as  because  that 
while  I kill  so  many  bucks  and  does,  I’ve  never 
yet  taken  the  life  of  a fellow-ereatur’.  They  say 
their  traditions  do  not  tell  of  another  who  had 
shed  so  much  blood  of  animals  that  had  not  shed 
the  blood  of  man.” 

“I  hope  they/  don’t  account  you  chicken- 
hearted,  lad  ? A faint-hearted  man  is  like  a no- 
tailed  beaver.” 

“ I don’t  believe,  Hurry,  that  they  account  me 
as  out-of-the-way  timorous,  even  though  they  may 
not  account  me  as  out-of-the-way  brave.  But  I’m 
not  quarrelsome,  and  that  goes  a great  way  tow- 
ard keeping  blood  off  the  hands,  among  the 
hunters  and  red-skins ; and,  then,  Harry  March, 
it  keeps  blood  off  the  conscience,  too.” 

“Well,  for  my  part,  I account  game,  a red- 
skin, and  a Frenchman,  as  pretty  much  the  same 
thing,  though  I’m  as  onquarrelsome  a man,  too, 
as  there  is  in  all  the  colonies.  I despise  a quar- 
reller  as  I do  a cur-dog,  but  one  has  no  need  to 
be  over-sc ruplesome  when  it’s  the  right  time  to 
show  the  flint.” 

“ I look  upon  him  as  the  most  of  a man  who 
acts  nearest  the  right,  Hurry.  But  this  is  a glo- 
rious spot,  and  my  eyes  never  a-weary  looking  at 

it ! ” 

“ ’Tis  your  first  acquaintance  with  a lake,  and 
these  idees  come  over  us  all  at  such  times.  Lakes 
have  a general  character,  as  I say,  being  pretty 
much  water  and  land,  and  points  and  bays.” 


As  this  definition  by  no  means  met  the  feel* 
ings  that  were  uppermost  in  the  mind  of  the 
young  hunter,  he  made  no  immediate  answer,  but 
stood  gazing  at  the  dark  hills  and  the  glassy 
water  in  silent  enjoyment. 

“Have  the  governor’s  or  the  king’s  people 
given  this  lake  a name?”  he  suddenly  asked, 
as  if  struck  with  a new  idea.  “ If  they’ve 
not  begun  to  blaze  their  trees,  and  set  up  their 
compasses,  and  line  off  their  maps,  it’s  likely 
they’ve  not  bethought  them  to  disturb  Natur’ 
with  a name.” 

“ They’ve  not  got  to  that  yet ; and  the  last 
time  I went  in  with  skins,  one  of  the  king’s  sur- 
veyors was  questioning  me  consarning  all  the  re- 
gion hereabouts.  He  had  heard  that  there  was  a 
lake  in  this  quarter,  and  had  got  some  general 
notions  about  it,  such  as  that  there  was  water  and 
hills,  but  how  much  of  either,  he  knowed  no  more 
than  you  know  of  the  Mohawk  tongue.  I didn’t 
open  the  trap  any  wider  than  was  necessary,  giv- 
ing him  but  poor  encouragement  in  the  way  of 
farms  and  clearings.  In  short,  I left  on  bis  mind 
some  such  opinion  of  this  country  as  a man  gets 
of  a spring  of  dirty  water,  with  a path  to  it  that 
is  so  muddy  that  one  mires  afore  he  sets  out. 
He  told  me  they  hadn’t  got  the  spot  down  yet  on 
their  maps,  though  I conclude  that  is  a mistake, 
for  he  showed  me  his  parchment,  and  there  is  a 
lake  down  on  it  where  there  is  no  lake,  in  fact, 
and  which  is  about  fifty  miles  from  the  place 
where  it  ought  to  be,  if  they  meant  it  for  this.  I 
don’t  think  my  account  will  encourage  him  to 
mark  down  another,  by  way  of  improvement.” 

Here  Hurry  laughed  heartily,  such  tricks  be- 
ing particularly  grateful  to  a set  of  men  who 
dreaded  the  approaches  of  civilization  as  a cur- 
tailment of  their  own  lawless  empire.  The  egre- 
gious errors  that  existed  in  the  maps  of  the 
day,  all  of  which  were  made  in  Europe,  was, 
moreover,  a standing  topic  of  ridicule  among 
them ; for,  if  they  had  not  science  enough  to 
make  any  better  themselves,  they  had  sufficient 
local  information  to  detect  the  gross  blunders 
contained  in  those  that  existed.  Any  one  who 
will  take  the  trouble  to  compare  these  unanswer- 
able evidences  of  the  topographical  skill  of  our 
fathers  a century  since,  with  the  more  accurate 
sketches  of  our  own  time,  will  at  once  perceive 
that  the  men  of  the  woods  had  a sufficient  justifi- 
cation for  all  their  criticism  on  this  branch  of  the 
skill  of  the  colonial  governments,  which  did  not 
at  all  hesitate  to  place  a river  or  a lake  a degree 
or  two  out  of  the  way,  even  though  they  lay 
within  a day’s  march  of  the  inhabited  parts  of 
the  country. 


20 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“I’m  glad  it  has  no  name,”  resumed  Deer- 
slayer,  “ or,  at  least,  no  pale-face  name,  for  their 
christenings  always  foretell  waste  and  destruc- 
tion. No  doubt,  howsever,  the  red-skins  have 
their  modes  of  knowing  it,  and  the  hunters  and 
trappers,  too  ; they  are  likely  to  call  the  place  by 
something  reasonable  and  resembling.” 

“As  for  the  tribes,  each  has  its  own  tongue, 
and  its  own  way  of  calling  things,  and  they  treat 
this  part  of  the  world  just  as  they  treat  all  others. 
Among  ourselves,  we’ve  got  to  calling  the  place 
the  ‘ Glimmerglass,’  seeing  that  its  whole  basin  is 
often  fringed  with  pines,  cast  upward  from  its 
face,  as  if  it  would  throw  back  the  hills  that  hang 
over  it.” 

“ There  is  an  outlet,  I know,  for  all  lakes  have 
outlets,  and  the  rock  at  which  I am  to  meet  Chin- 
gachook  stands  near  an  outlet.  Has  that  no  col- 
ony-name, yet  ? ” 

“ In  that  particular,  they’ve  got  the  advan- 
tage of  us,  having  one  end,  and  that  the  biggest, 
in  their  own  keeping;  they’ve  given  it  a name 
which  has  found  its  way  up  to  its  source,  names 
nat’rally  working  up-stream.  No  doubt,  Deer- 
slayer,  you’ve  seen  the  Susquehanna,  down  in 
the  Delaware  country  ? ” 

“That  have  I,  and  hunted  along  its  banks  a 
hundred  times.” 

“ That  and  this  are  the  same,  in  fact,  and,  I 
suppose,  the  same  in  sound.  I am  glad  they’ve 
been  compelled  to  keep  the  red  men’s  name,  for 
it  would  be  too  hard  to  rob  them  of  both  land 
and  name ! ” 

Deerslayer  made  no  answer ; but  he  stood 
leaning  on  his  rifle,  gazing  at  the  view  which  so 
much  delighted  him.  The  reader  is  not  to  sup- 
pose, however,  that  it  was  the  picturesque  alone 
which  so  strongly  attracted  his  attention.  The 
spot  was  very  lovely,  of  a truth,  and  it  was  then 
seen  in  one  of  its  most  favorable  moments,  the 
surface  of  the  lake  being  as  smooth  as  glass  and 
as  limpid  as  pure  air,  throwing  back  the  moun- 
tains, clothed  in  dark  pines,  along  the  whole  of 
its  eastern  boundary,  the  points  thrusting  forward 
their  trees  even  to  nearly  horizontal  lines,  while 
the  bays  were  seen  glittering  through  an  occa- 
sional arch  beneath,  left  by  a vault  fretted  with 
branches  and  leaves.  It  was  the  air  of  deep  re- 
pose— the  solitudes,  that  spoke  of  scenes  and 
?orests  untouched  by  the  hands  of  man — the 
reign  of  Nature,  in  a word,  that  gave  so  much 
pure  delight  to  one  of  his  habits  and  turn  of 
mind.  Still,  he  felt,  though  it  was  unconsciously  ^ 
like  a poet  also.  If  he  found  a pleasure  in  study- 
ing this  large,  and,  to  him,  unusual  opening  into 
the  mysteries  and  forms  of  the  woods,  as  one  is 


gratified  in  getting  broader  views  of  any  subject 
that  has  long  occupied  his  thoughts,  he  was  not 
insensible  to  the  innate  loveliness  of  such  a land- 
scape, either,  but  felt  a portion  of  that  soothing 
of  the  spirit  which  is  a common  attendant  of  a 
scene  so  thoroughly  pervaded  by  the  holy  calm 
of  Nature. 


CHAPTER  III. 

“ Come,  shall  we  go  and  kill  us  venison  ? 

And  yet  it  irks  me,  the  poor  dappled  fools — 

Being  native  burghers  of  this  desert  city — 

Should,  in  their  own  confines,  with  forked  heads 
Have  their  round  haunches  gored.” 

SlIAKESPEAEB. 

Hurry  Harry  thought  more  of  the  beauties 
of  Judith  Hutter  than  of  those  of  the  Glimmer- 
glass  and  its  accompanying  scenery.  As  soon  as 
he  had  taken  a sufficiently  intimate  survey  of 
Floating  Tom’s  implements,  therefore,  he  sum. 
moned  his  companion  to  the  canoe,  that  they 
might  go  down  the  lake  in  quest  of  the  family. 
Previously  to  embarking,  however,  Hurry  care- 
fully examined  the  whole  of  the  northern  end  of 
the  water  with  an  indifferent  ship’s  glass,  that 
formed  a part  of  Hutter’s  effects.  In  this  scru- 
tiny, no  part  of  the  shore  was  overlooked ; the 
bays  and  points,  in  particular,  being  subjected  to 
a closer  inquiry  than  the  rest  of  the  wooded 
boundary. 

“ ’Tis  as  I thought,”  said  Hurry,  laying  aside 
the  glass,  “the  old  fellow  is  drifting  about  the 
south  end,  this  fine  weather,  and  has  left  the 
castle  to  defend  itself.  Well,  now  we  know  that 
he  is  not  up  this-a-way,  ’twill  be  but  a small 
matter  to  paddle  down,  and  hunt  him  up  in  his 
hiding-place.” 

“Does  Master  Hutter  think  it  necessary  to 
burrow  on  this  lake  ? ” inquired  Deerslayer,  as 
he  followed  his  companion  into  the  canoe ; “ to 
my  eye,  it  is  such  a solitude  as  one  might  open 
his  whole  soul  in,  and  fear  no  one  to  disarrange 
his  thoughts  or  his  worship.” 

“ You  forget  your  friends  the  Mingoes,  and  all 
the  French  savages.  Is  there  a spot  on  ’arth, 
Deerslayer,  to  which  them  disquiet  rogues  don’t 
go  ? Where  is  the  lake,  or  even  the  deer-lick, 
that  the  blackguards  don’t  find  out ; and,  having 
found  out,  don’t,  sooner  or  later,  discolor  its 
water  with  blood  ? ” 

“ I hear  no  good  character  of  them,  sartainly 
friend  Hurry,  though  I’ve  never  been  called  on,  as 
yet,  to  meet  them,  or  any  other  mortal,  on  the 
war-path.  I dare  to  say  that  such  a lovely  spot 


AN  ANIMATED  DISCUSSION. 


21 


as  this  would  not  be  likely  to  be  overlooked  by 
such  plunderers ; for,  though  I’ve  not  been  in  the 
way  ol'  quarrelling  with  them  tribes  myself,  the 
Delawares  give  me  such  an  account  of  ’em  that 
that  I’ve  pretty  much  set  ’em  down,  in  my  own 
mind,  as  thorough  miscreants.” 

“You  may  do  that  with  a safe  conscience,  or, 
for  that  matter,  any  other  savage  you  may  happen 
to  meet.” 

Here  Deerslayer  protested,  and  as  they  went 
paddling  do-wn  the  lake  a hot  discussion  was 
maintained  concerning  the  respective  merits  of 
the  pale-faces  and  the  red-skins.  Hurry  had  all 
the  prejudices  and  antipathies  of  a white  hunter^ 
who  generally  regards  the  Indian  as  a sort  of 
natural  competitor,  and  not  unfrequently  as  a 
natural  enemy.  As  a matter  of  course,  he  was 
loud,  clamorous,  dogmatical,  and  not  very  argu- 
mentative. Deerslayer,  on  the  other  hand,  mani- 
fested a very  different  temper;  proving,  by  the 
moderation  of  his  language,  the  fairness  of  his 
views,  and  the  simplicity  of  his  distinctions,  that 
he  possessed  every  disposition  to  hear  reason,  a 
strong,  innate  desire  to  do  justice,  and  an  ingenu- 
ousness that  was  singularly  indisposed  to  have 
recourse  to  sophisms  tq  maintain  an  argument,  or 
to  defend  a prejudice.  Still,  he  was  not  altogeth- 
er free  from  the  influence  of  the  latter  feeling. 
This  tyrant  of  the  human  mind,  which  rushes  on 
its  prey  through  a thousand  avenues,  almost  as 
soon  as  men  begin  to  think  and  feel,  and  which 
seldom  relinquishes  its  iron  sway  until  they  cease 
to  do  either,  had  made  some  impression  on  even 
the  just  propensities  of  this  individual,  who  prob- 
ably offered  in  these  particulars  a fair  specimen  of 
what  absence  from  bad  example,  the  want  of 
temptation  to  go  wrong,  and  native  good  feeling, 
can  render  youth. 

“ You  will  allotf,  Deerslayer,  that  a Mingo  is 
more  than  half  devil,”  cried  Hurry,  following  up 
the  discussion  with  an  animation  that  touched 
closely  on  ferocity,  “though  you  want  to  over- 
persuade me  that  the  Delaware  tribe  is  pretty 
much  made  up  of  angels.  Now,  I gainsay  that 
proposal,  consarning  white  men,  even.  All  white 
men  are  not  faultless,  and  therefore  all  Indians 
can’t  be  faultless.  And  so  your  argument  is  out 
at  the  elbow  in  the  start.  But,  this  is  what  I call 
reason : Here’s  three  colors  on  ’arth ; white, 
black,  and  red.  White  is  the  highest  color,  and 
therefore  the  best  man  ; black  comes  next,  and  is 
put  to  live  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  white  man, 
as  tolerable,  and  fit  to  be  made  use  of ; and  red 
comes  last,  which  shows  that  those  that  made  ’em 
never  expect  an  Indian  to  be  accounted  as  more 
than  half  human.” 


“ God  made  all  three  alike,  Hurry.” 

“ Alike ! Do  you  call  a nigger  like  a white 
man,  or  me  like  an  Indian  ? ” 

“ You  go  off  at  half-cock,  and  don’t  hear  me 
out.  God  made  us  all,  white, black,  and  red;  and, 
no  doubt,  had  his  own  wise  intentions  in  coloring 
us  differently.  Still,  he  made  us,  in  the  main, 
much  the  same  in  feelin’s ; though  I’ll  not  deny 
that  he  gave  each  race  its  gifts.  A white  man’s 
gifts  are  Christianized,  while  a red-skin’s  are  more 
for  the  wilderness.  Thus,  it  would  be  a great  of- 
fence for  a white  man  to  scalp  the  dead ; whereas 
it’s  a signal  vartue  in  an  Indian.  Then,  ag’in,  a 
white  man  cannot  amboosh  women  and  children  in 
war,  while  a red-skin  may.  ’Tis  cruel  work,  I’ll 
allow ; but  for  them  it’s  lawful  work  ; while  for  us 
it  would  be  grievous  work.” 

1 “ That  depends  on  your  inimy.  As  for  scalp- 
ing, or  even  skinning  a savage,  I look  upon  them 
pretty  much  the  same  as  cutting  off  the  ears  of 
wolves  for  the  bounty,  or  stripping  a bear  of  its 
hide.  And  then  you’re  out  significantly,  as  to 
taking  the  poll  of  a red-skin  in  hand,  seeing  that 
the  very  colony  has  offered  a bounty  for  the  job  ; 
all  the  same  as  it  pays  for  wolves’  ears  and  crows’ 
heads.” 

“ Ay,  and  a bad  business  it  is,  Hurry.  Even 
the  Indians  themselves  cry  shame  on  it,  seeing 
it’s  ag’in  a white  man’s  gifts.  I do  not  pretend 
that  all  that  white  men  do,  is  properly  Christian- 
ized, and  according  to  the  lights  given  them,  for 
then  they  would  be  what  they  ought  to  be  ; which 
we  know  they  are  not ; but  I will  maintain  that 
tradition,  and  use,  and  color,  and  laws,  make  such 
a difference  in  races  as  to  amount  to  gifts.  I do 
not  deny  that  there  are  tribes  among  the  Indians 
that  are  nat’rally  pervarse  and  wicked,  as  there 
are  nations  among  the  whites.  Now,  I account 
the  Mingoes  as  belonging  to  the  first,  and  the 
Frenchers,  in  the  Canadas,  to  the  last.  In  a 
state  of  lawful  warfare,  such  as  we  have  lately 
got  into,  it  is  a duty  to  keep  down  all  compas- 
sionate feelin’s,  so  far  as  life  goes,  ag’in  either ; 
but  when  it  comes  to  scalps,  it’s  a very  different 
matter.” 

“Just  hearken  to  reason,  if  you  please,  Deer- 
slayer, and  tell  me'  if  the  colony  can  make  an 
onlawful  law  ? Isn’t  an  onlawful  law  more  ag’in 
natur’  than  scalpin’  a savage  ? A iaw  can  no 
more  be  onlawful,  than  truth  can  be  a lie.” 

“ That  sounds  reasonable ; but  it  has  a most 
onreasonable  bearing,  Hurry.  Laws  don’t  all 
come  from  the  same  quarter.  God  has  given  us 
his’n,  and  some  come  from  the  colony,  and  others 
come  from  the  king  and  Parliament.  When  the 
colony’s  laws,  or  even  the  king’s  laws,  run  ag’in 


22 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  laws  of  God,  they  get  to  be  onlawful,  and 
ought  not  to  be  obeyed.  I hold  to  a white 
man’s  respecting  white  laws,  so  long  as  they  do 
not  cross  the  track  of  a law  cornin’  from  a higher 
authority;  and  for  a red  man  to  obey  his  own 
red-skin  usages,  under  the  same  privilege.  But, 
’tis  useless  talking,  as  each  man  will  think  for  him- 
self, and  have  his  say  agreeable  to  his  thoughts. 
Let  us  keep  a good  lookout  for  your  friend  Float- 
ing Tom,  lest  we  pass  him,  as  he  lies  hidden  under 
this  bushy  shore.” 

Deerslayei*  had  not  named  the  borders  of  the 
lake  amiss.  Along  their  whole  length,  the  smaller 
trees  overhung  the  water,  with  their  branches 
often  dipping  in  the  transparent  element.  The 
banks  were  steep,  even  from  the  narrow  strand  ; 
and,  as  vegetation  invariably  struggles  toward 
the  light,  the  effect  was  precisely  that  at  which 
the  lover  of  the  picturesque  would  have  aimed, 
had  the  ordering  of  this  glorious  setting  of  forest 
been  submitted  to  his  control.  The  points  and 
bays,  too,  were  sufficiently  numerous  to  render 
the  outline  broken  and  diversified.  As  the  canoe 
kept  close  along  the  western  side  of  the  lake,  with 
a view,  as  Hurry  had  explained  to  his  companion, 
of  reconnoitring  for  enemies,  before  he  trusted 
himself  too  openly  in  sight,  the  expectations  of 
the  two  adventurers  were  kept  constantly  on  the 
stretch,  as  neither  could  foretell  what  the  next 
turning  of  a point  might  reveal.  Their  progress 
was  swift,  the  gigantic  strength  of  Hurry  enabling 
him  to  play  with  the  light  bark  as  if  it  had  been 
a feather,  while  the  skill  of  his  companion  almost 
equalized  their  usefulness,  notwithstanding  the 
disparity  in  natural  means. 

Each  time  the  canoe  passed  a point,  Hurry 
turned  a look  behind  him,  expecting  to  see  the 
“ ark  ” anchored,  or  beached  in  the  bay.  He 
was  fated  to  be  disappointed,  however ; and  they 
had  got  within  a mile  of  the  southern  end  of  the 
lake,  or  a distance  of  quite  two  leagues  from  the 
“ castle,”  which  was  now  hidden  from  view  by 
half  a dozen  intervening  projections  of  the  land, 
when  he  suddenly  ceased  paddling,  as  if  uncer- 
tain in  what  direction  next  to  steer. 

“It  is  possible  that  the  old  chap  has  dropped 
into  the  river,”  said  Hurry,  after  looking  care- 
fully along  the  whole  of  the  eastern  shore,  which 
<vas  about  a mile  distant,  and  open  to  his  scrutiny 
for  more  than  half  its  length  ; “ for  he  has  taken 
to  trapping  considerable,  of  late,  and,  barring 
flood-wood,  he  might  drop  down  it  a mile  or  so  ; 
though  he  would  have  a most  scratching  time  in 
getting  back  aga’n ! ” 

“ Where  is  this  outlet  ? ” asked  Deerslayer  ; 
“ I see  no  opening  in  the  banks  or  the  trees,  that 


looks  as  if  it  would  let  a river  like  the  Susque- 
hanna run  through  it.” 

“ Ay,  Deerslayer,  rivers  are  like  human  mor- 
tals ; having  small  beginnings,  and  ending  with 
broad  shoulders  and  wide  mouths.  You  don’t 
see  the  outlet,  because  it  passes  atween  high, 
steep  banks ; and  the  pines,  and  hemlocks,  and 
basswoods  hang  over  it,  as  a roof  hangs  over  a 
house.  If  old  Tom  is  not  in  the  ‘ Rat’s  Cove,’  he 
must  have  burrowed  in  the  river ; we’ll  look  for 
him  first  in  the  Cove,  and  then  we’ll  cross  to  the 
outlet.” 

As  they  proceeded,  Hurry  explained  that  there 
was  a shallow  bay,  formed  by  a long,  low  point, 
that  had  got  the  name  of  the  “ Rat’s  Cove,”  from 
the  circumstance  of  its  being  a favorite  haunt  of 
the  musk-rat;  and  which  offered  so  complete  a 
cover  for  the  “ ark,”  that  its  owner  was  fond  of 
lying  in  it,  whenever  he  found  it  convenient. 

“ As  a man  never  knows  who  may  be  his  vis- 
itors, in  this  part  of  the  country,”  continued  Hur- 
ry, “ it’s  a great  advantage  to  get  a good  look  at 
’em  before  they  come  too  near.  How  it’s  war, 
such  caution  is  more  than  commonly  useful,  since 
a Canada  man  or  a Mingo  might  get  into  his  hut 
afore  he  invited  ’em.  Bitt  Hutter  is  a first-rate 
lookouter,  and  can  pretty  much  scent  danger,  as 
a hound  scents  the  deer.” 

“ I should  think  the  castle  so  open,  that  it 
would  be  sartain  to  draw  inimies,  if  any  happened 
to  find  the  lake  ; a thing  onlikely  enough,  I will 
allow,  as  it’s  off  the  trail  of  the  forts  and  settle- 
ments.” 

“ Why,  Deerslayer,  I’ve  got  to  believe  that  a 
man  meets  with  inimies  easier  than  he  meets  with 
fri’nds.  It’s  skearful  to  think  for  how  many  causes 
one  gets  to  be  your  inimy,  and  for  how  few  your 
fri’nd.  Some  take  up  the  hatchet  because  you 
don’t  think  just  as  they  think ; other  some,  be- 
cause you  run  ahead  of  ’em  in  the  same  idees ; 
and  I once  know’d  a vagabond  that  quarrelled 
with  a fri’nd  because  he  didn’t  think  him  hand- 
some. Now,  you’re  no  monument  in  the  way  of 
beauty,  yourself,  Deerslayer,  and  yet  you  wouldn’t 
be  so  onreasonable  as  to  become  my  inimy  for 
just  saying  so.” 

“ I’m  as  the  Lord  made  me ; and  I wish  to  be 
accounted  no  better  nor  any  worse.  Good  looks  I 
may  not  have  ; that  is  to  say,  to  a degree  that  the 
light-minded  and  vain  crave  ; but  I hope  I’m  not 
altogether  without  some  ricommend  in  the  way 
of  good  conduct.  There’s  few  nobler-looking  men 
to  be  seen  than  yourself,  Hurry  ; and  I know  that 
I am  not  to  expect  any  to  turn  their  eyes  on  me, 
when  such  a one  as  you  can  be  gazed  on ; but  I 
do  not  know  that  a hunter  is  less  expart  with  the 


PERSONAL  COMPLIMENTS. 


23 


rifle,  or  less  to  be  relied  on  for  food,  because  he 
doesn’t  wish  to  stop  at  every  shining  spring  he 
may  meet,  to  study  his  own  countenance  in  the 
water.” 

Here  Hurry  burst  into  a fit  of  loud  laughter  ; 
for,  while  he  was  too  reckless  to  care  much  about 
his  own  manifest  physical  superiority,  he  was  well 
aware  of  it,  and,  like  most  men  who  derive  an  ad- 
vantage from  the  accidents  of  birth  or  nature,  he 
waJ  apt  to  think  complacently  on  the  subject, 
whenever  it  happened  to  cross  his  mind. 

“ No,  no,  Deerslayer,  you’re  no  beauty,  as  you 
will  own  yourself,  if  you’ll  look  over  the  side  of 
the  canoe,”  he  cried ; “ Jude  will  say  that  to  your 
face,  if  you  start  her,  for  a parter  tongue  isn’t  to 
be  found  in  any  gal’s  head,  in  or  out  of  the  settle- 
ments, if  you  provoke  her  to  use  it.  My  advice 
to  you  is,  never  to  aggravate  Judith  ; though  you 
may  tell  any  thing  to  Hetty,  and  she’ll  take  it  as 
meek  as  a lamb.  No,  Jude  will  be  just  as  like  as 
not  to  tell  you  her  opinion  consarning  your  looks.” 

“ And  if  she  does,  Hurry,  she  will  tell  me  no 
more  than  you  have  said  already — ” 

“ You’re  not  thick’ning  up  about  a small  re- 
mark, I hope,  Deerslayer,  when  no  harm  is  meant. 
You  are  not  a beauty,  as  you  must  know,  and  why 
shouldn’t  fri’nds  tell  each  other  these  little  trifles  ? 
If  you  was  handsome,  or  ever  like  to  be,  I’d  be 
one  of  the  first  to  tell  you  of  it ; and  that  ought 
to  content  you.  Now,  if  Jude  was  to  tell  me  that 
I’m  as  ugly  as  a sinner,  I’d  take  it  as  a sort  of  ob- 
ligation, and  try  not  to  believe  her.” 

“It’s  easy  for  them  that  Natur’  has  favored, 
fo-  jest  about  such  matters,  Hurry,  though  it  is 
sometimes  hard  for  others.  I’ll  not  deny  but  I’ve 
had  my  cravings  toward  good  look£ ; yes,  I have ; 
but  then  I’ve  always  been  able  to  get  them  down 
by  considering  how  many  I’ve  known  with  fair 
outsides,  who  have  had  nothing  to  boast  of  inward- 
ly. I’ll  not  deny,  Hurry,  that  I often  wish  I’d 
been  created  more  comely  to  the  eye,  and  more 
like  such  a one  as  yourself,  in  them  particulars ; 
but  then  I get  the  feelin’  under  by  remembering 
how  much  better  off  I am,  in  a great  many  re- 
spects, than  some  fellow-mortals.  I might  have 
been  born  lame,  and  onfit  even  for  a squirrel-hunt ; 
or  blind,  which  would  have  made  me  a burden  on 
myself  as  well  as  on  my  fri’nds  ; or  without  hear- 
ing, which  ■would  have  totally  onqualified  me  for 
over  campaigning  or  scouting,  which  I look  forward 
/)  as  part  of  a man’s  duty  in  troublesome  times. 
Tes,  yes ; it’s  not  pleasant,  I will  allow,  to  see 
them  that’s  more  comely,  and  more  sought  a’ter, 
and  honored  than  yourself;  but  it  may  all  be 
borne,  if  a man  looks  the  evil  in  the  face,  and  don’t 
mistake  his  gifts  and  his  obligations.” 


Hurry,  in  the  main,  was  a good-hearted  as  well 
as  good-natured  fellow ; and  the  self-abasement 
of  his  companion  completely  got  the  better  of 
the  passing  feeling  of  personal  vanity.  He  re- 
gretted the  allusion  he  had  made  to  the  other’s 
appearance,  and  endeavored  to  express  as  much, 
though  it  was  done  in  the  uncouth  manner  that 
belonged  to  the  habits  and  opinions  of  the  fron- 
tier. 

“ I meant  no  harm,  Deerslayer,”  he  answered, 
in  a deprecating  manner,  “ and  hope  you’ll  forget 
what  I’ve  said.  If  you’re  not  downright  hand- 
some, you’ve  a sartin  look  that  says,  plainer  than 
any  words,  that  all’s  right  within.  Then  you  set 
no  valie  by  looks,  and  will  the  sooner  forgive  any 
little  slight  to  your  appearance.  I will  not  say 
that  Jude  will  greatly  admire  you,  for  that  might 
raise  hopes  that  would  only  breed  disapp’intment ; 
but  there’s  Hetty,  now,  would  be  just  as  likely  to 
find  satisfaction  in  looking  at  you , as  in  looking 
at  any  other  man.  Then  you’re  altogether  too 
grave  and  considerate-like,  to  care  much  about 
Judith;  for,  though  the  gal  is  oncommon,  she  is 
so  general  in  her  admiration,  that  a man  need  not 
be  exalted  because  she  happens  to  smile.  I some- 
times think  the  hussy  loves  herself  better  than 
she  does  any  thing  else  breathin’ ! ” 

“If  she  did,  Hurry,  she’d  do  no  more,  I’m 
afeard,  than  most  queens  on  their  thrones,  and 
ladies  in  the  towns,”  answered  Deerslayer,  smil- 
ing, and  turning  back  toward  his  companion  with 
every  trace  of  feeling  banished  from  his  honest- 
looking  and  frank  countenance.  “I  never  yet 
know’d  even  a Delaware  of  whom  you  might  not 
say  that  much.  But  here  is  the  end  of  the  long 
p’int  you  mentioned,  and  the  ‘Rat’s  Cove’  can’t 
be  far  off.” 

This  point,  instead  of  thrusting  itself  forward 
like  all  the  others,  ran  in  a line  with  the  main 
shore  of  the  lake,  which  here  swept  within  it,  in 
a deep  and  retired  bay,  circling  round  south 
again,  at  the  distance  of  a quarter  of  a mile,  and 
crossed  the  valley,  forming  the  southern  termina- 
tion of  the  water.  In  this  bay  Hurry  felt  almost 
certain  of  finding  the  ark,  since,  anchored  behind 
the  trees  that  covered  the  narrow  strip  of  the 
point,  it  might  have  lain  concealed  from  prying 
eyes  an  entire  summer.  So  complete,  indeed,  was 
the  cover,  in  this  spot,  that  a boat  hauled  close  to 
the  beach,  within  the  point,  and  near  the  bottom 
of  the  bay,  could  by  possibility  be  seen  from  only 
one  direction  ; and  that  was  from  a densely-wood- 
ed shore  within  the  sweep  of  the  water,  where 
strangers  would  be.little  apt  to  go. 

“We  shall  soon  see  the  ark,”  said  Hurry,  aa 
the  canoe  glided  round  the  extremity  of  the  point, 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


24 

whore  the  water  was  so  deep  as  actually  to  ap- 
pear black  ; “ he  loves  to  burrow  up  among  the 
rushes,  and  we  shall  be  in  his  nest  in  five  minutes, 
although  the  old  fellow  may  be  off  among  the 
traps  himself.” 

March  proved  a false  prophet.  The  canoe 
completely  doubled  the  point,  so  as  to  enable  the 
two  travellers  to  command  a view  of  the  whole 
cove  or  bay,  for  it  was  more  properly  the  last,  and 
no  object,  but  those  that  Nature  had  placed  there, 
became  visible.  The  placid  water  swept  round 
in  a graceful  curve,  the  rushes  bent  gently  toward 
its  surface,  and  the  trees  overhung  it  as  usual ; 
but  all  lay  in  the  soothing  and  sublime  solitude 
of  a wilderness.  The  scene  was  such  as  a poet 
or  an  artist  would  have  delighted  in,  but  it  had 
no  charm  for  Hurry  Harry,  who  was  burning  with 
impatience  to  get  a sight  of  his  light-minded 
beauty. 

The  motion  of  the  canoe  had  been  attended 
with  little  or  no  noise,  the  frontier-men  habitually 
getting  accustomed  to  caution  in  most  of  their 
movements,  and  it  now  lay  on  the  glassy  water 
appearing  to  float  in  air,  partaking  of  the  breath- 
ing stillness  that  seemed  to  pervade  the  entire 
scene.  At  this  instant  a dry  stick  was  heard 
cracking  on  the  narrow  strip  of  land  that  con- 
cealed the  bay  from  the  open  lake.  Both  the  ad- 
venturers started,  and  each  extended  a hand 
toward  his  rifle,  the  weapon  never  being  out  of 
reach  of  the  arm. 

“ ’Twas  too  heavy  for  any  light  creatur’,” 
whispered  Hurry,  “ and  it  sounded  like  the  tread 
of  a man ! ” 

“Not  so — not  so,”  returned Deerslayer ; “ ’twas, 
as  ypu  say,  too  heavy  for  one,  but  it  was  too  light 
for  the  other.  Put  your  paddle  in  the  water,  and 
send  the  canoe  in  to  that  log ; I’ll  land,  and  cut 
off  the  creatur’s  retreat  up  the  p’int,  be  it  a Mingo 
or  be  it  only  a musk-rat.” 

As  Hurry  complied,  Deerslayer  was  soon  on 
the  shore,  advancing  into  the  thicket  with  a moc- 
casined  foot,  and  a caution  that  prevented  the 
least  noise.  In  a minute  he  was  in  the  centre  of 
the  narrow  strip  of  land,  and  moving  slowly  down 
toward  its  end,  the  bushes  rendering  extreme 
watchfulness  necessary.  Just  as  he  reached  the 
centre  of  the  thicket,  the  dried  twigs  cracked 
again,  and  the  noise  was  repeated  at  short  inter- 
vals, as  if  some  creature  having  life  walked  slowly 
toward  the  point.  Hurry  heard  these  sounds  also, 
md,  pushing  the  canoe  off  into  the  bay,  he  seized 
his  rifle  to  watch  the  result.  A breathless  min- 
ute succeeded,  after  which  a noble  buck  walked 
out  of  the  thicket,  proceeded  with  a stately  step 
to  the  sandy  extremity  of  the  point,  and  began  to 


slake  his  thirst  from  the  water  of  the  lake.  Hurry 
hesitated  an  instant ; then,  raising  his  rifle  hastily 
to  his  shoulder,  he  took  sight  and  fired.  The  ef- 
fect of  this  sudden  interruption  of  the  solemn 
stillness  of  such  a scene  was  not  its  least  striking 
peculiarity.  The  report  of  the  weapon  had  the 
usual  sharp,  short  sound  of  the  rifle ; but  when  a 
few  moments  of  silence  had  succeeded  the  sudden 
crack,  dui’ing  which  the  noise  was  floating  in  air 
across  the  water,  it  reached  the  rocks  of  thejop- 
posite  mountain,  where  the  vibrations  accumu- 
lated, and  were  rolled  from  cavity  to  cavity  for 
miles  along  the  hills,  seeming  to  awaken  the  sleep- 
ing thunders  of  the  woods.  The  buck  merely 
shook  his  head  at  the  report  of  the  rifle  and  the 
whistling  of  the  bullet,  for  never  before  had  he 
come  in  contact  with  man ; but  the  echoes  of  the 
hills  awakened  his  distrust,  and,  leaping  forward, 
with  his  four  legs  drawn  under  his  body,  he  fell 
at  once  into  deep  water,  and  began  to  swim  tow- 
ard the  foot  of  the  lake.  Hurry  shouted  and 
dashed  forward  in  chase,  and  for  one  or  two  min- 
utes the  water  foamed  around  the  pursuer  and 
the  pursued.  The  former  was  dashing  past  the 
point,  when  Deerslayer  appeared  on  the  sand,  and 
signed  to  him  to  return. 

“ ’Twas  inconsiderate  to  pull  a trigger  afore 
we  had  reconn’itred  the  shore,  and  made  sartin 
that  no  inimies  harbored  near  it,”  said  the  latter, 
as  his  companion  slowly  and  reluctantly  complied. 

“ This  much  I have  l’arned  from  the  Delawares, 
in  the  way  of  schooling  and  traditions,  even 
though  I’ve  never  yet  been  on  a war-path.  And 
moreover,  venison  can  hardly  be  called  in  season 
now,  and  we  do  not  want  for  food.  They  call  me 
Deerslayer,  I’ll*  own ; and  perhaps  I desarve  the 
name,  in  the  way  of  understanding  the  creatur’a 
habits,  as  well  as  for  sartainty  in  the  aim ; but 
they  can’t  accuse  me  of  killing  an  animal  when 
there  is  no  occasion  for  the  meat  or  the  skin.  I 
may  be  a slayer,  it’s  true,  but  I’m  no  slaughterer.” 

“ ’Twas  an  awful  mistake  to  miss  that  buck ! ” 
exclaimed  Hurry,  doffing  his  cap  and  running  his 
fingers  through  his  handsome  but  matted  curls, 
as  if  he  would  loosen  his  tangled  ideas  by  the 
process ; “ I’ve  not  done  so  onhandy  a thing  since 
I was  fifteen.” 

“ Never  lament  it ; the  creatur's  death  could 
have  done  neither  of  us  any  good,  and  might  have 
done  us  harm.  Them  echoes  are  more  awful  in 
my  ears  than  your  mistake,  Hurry,  for  they  sound 
like  the  voice  of  Natur’  calling  out  ag’in  a waste- 
ful and  onthinking  action.” 

“You’ll  hear  plenty  of  such  calls,  if  you  tarry  • 
long  in  this  quarter  of  the  world,  lad,”  returned 
the  other,  laughing.  “ The  echoes  repeat  pretiv 


ONT  THE  LAKE. 


25 


much  all  that  is  said  or  done  on  the  Glimmerglass, 
in  this  calm  summer  weather.  If  a paddle  falls, 
you  hear  of  it  sometimes  ag’in  and  ag’in,  as  if  the 
hills  were  mocking  your  clumsiness  ; and  a laugh 
or  a whistle  comes  out  of  them  pines,  when  they’re 
in  the  humor  to  speak,  in  a way  to  make  you  be- 
lieve they  can  r’ally  convarse.” 

“ So  much  the  more  reason  for  being  prudent 
and  silent.  I do  not  think  the  inimy  can  have 
found  their  way  into  these  hills  yet,  for  I don’t 
know  what  they  are  to  gain  by  it ; but  all  the 
Delawares  tell  me  that  as  courage  is  a warrior’s 
first  vartue,  so  is  prudence  his  second.  One  such 
call,  from  the  mountains,  is  enough  to  let  a whole 
tribe  into  the  secret  of  our  arrival.” 

“ If  it  does  no  other  good,  it  will  warn  old 
Tom  to  put  the  pot  over,  and  let  him  know  vis- 
itors are  at  hand. — Come,  lad  ; get  into  the  canoe, 
and  we  will  hunt  the  ark  up  while  there  is  yet 
day.” 

Deerslayer  complied,  and  the  canoe  left  the 
spot.  Its  head  was  turned  diagonally  across  the 
lake,  pointing  toward  the  southeastern  curvature 
of  the  sheet.  In  that  direction,  the  distance  to 
the  shore,  or  to  the  termination  of  the  lake,  on 
the  course  the  two  were  now  steering,  was  not 
quite  a mile,  and,  their  progress  being  always 
swift,  it  was  fast  lessening  under  the  skilful  but 
easy  sweeps  of  the  paddles.  When  about  half- 
way across,  a slight  noise  drew  the  eyes  of  the 
men  toward  the  nearest  land,  and  they  saw  that 
the  buck  was  just  emerging  from  the  lake  and 
wading  toward  the  beach.  In  a minute  the  noble 
animal  shook  the  water  from  his  flanks,  gazed 
upward  at  the  covering  of  trees,  and,  bounding 
against  the  bank,  plunged  into  the  forest. 

“ That  creatur’  goes  off  with  gratitude  in  his 
heart,”  said  Deerslayer,  “ for  Natur’  tells  him 
he  has  escaped  a great  danger.  You  ought  to  have 
some  of  the  same  feelin’s,  Hurry,  to  think  your  eye 
wasn’t  truer — that  your  hand  was  onsteady  when 
no  good  could  come  of  a shot  that  was  intended 
onmeaningly,  rather  than  in  reason.” 

“ I deny  the  eye  and  the  hand,”  cried  March, 
with  some  heat.  “ You’ve  got  a little  character, 
down  among  the  Delawares,  there,  for  quickness 
ind  sartainty,  at  a deer ; but  I should  like  to  see 
you  behind  one  of  them  pines,  and  a full-painted 
Mingo  behind  another,  each  with  a cocked  rifle, 
and  a-striving  for  the  chance ! Them’s  the  situ- 
ations, Nathaniel,  to  try  the  sight  and  the  hand, 
for  they  begin  with  trying  the  narves.  I never 
ook  upon  killing  a creatur’  as  an  explite ; but 
killing  a savage  is.  The  time  will  come  to  try 
your  hand,  now  we’ve  got  to  blows  ag’in,  and  we 
shall  soon  know  what  a ven’son  reputation  ean 


do  in  the  field.  I deny  that  either  hand  or  eye 
was  onsteady ; it  was  all  a miscalculation  of  the 
buck,  which  stood  still  when  he  ought  to  have 
kept  in  motion,  and  so  I shot  ahead  of  him.” 

“ Have  it  your  own  way,  Hurry  ; all  I contend 
for  is,  that  it’s  lucky.  I dare  say  I shall  not  pull 
upon  a human  mortal  as  steadily  or  with  as  light 
a heart  as  I pull  upon  a deer.” 

“ Who’s  talking  of  mortals,  or  of  human 
beings  at  all,  Deerslayer  ? I put  the  matter  to 
you  on  the  supposition  of  an  Injin.  I dare  say 
any  man  would  have  his  feelin’s  when  it  got  to  be 
life  or  death  ag’in  another  human  mortal;  but 
there  would  be  no  such  scruples  in  regard  to  an 
Injin;  nothing  but  the  chance  of  his  hitting  you, 
or  the  chance  of  your  hitting  him.” 

“ I look  upon  the  red  men  to  be  quite  as  hu- 
man as  we  are  ourselves,  Hurry.  They  have  their 
gifts  and  their  religion,  it’s  true ; but  that  makes 
no  difference  in  the  end,  when  each  tv  ill  be  judged 
according  to  his  deeds,  and  not  according  to  his 
skin.” 

“ That’s  downright  missionary,  and  will  find 
little  favor  up  in  this  part  of  the  country,  where 
the  Moravians  don’t  congregate.  Now,  skin 
makes  the  man.  This  is  reason ; else  how  are 
people  to  judge  of  each  other  ? The  skin  is  put 
on,  over  all,  in  order  that  when  a creatur’,  or  a 
mortal,  is  fairly  seen,  you  may  Iinow  at  once 
what  to  make  of  him.  You  know  a bear  from  a 
hog  by  his  skin,  and  a gray  squirrel  from  a 
black.” 

“ True,  Hurry,”  said  the  other,  looking  back 
and  smiling,  “ nevertheless,  they  are  both  squir- 
rels.” 

“ Who  denies  it  ? But  you’ll  not  say  that  a 
red  man  and  a white  man  are  both  Injins  ? ” 

“ No ; but  I do  say  they  are  both  men.  Men 
of  different  races  and  colors,  and  having  different 
gifts  and  traditions,  but,  in  the  main,  with  the 
same  natur’  Both  have  souls ; and  both  will  be 
held  accountable  for  their  deeds  in  this  life.” 

Hurry  was  one  of  those  theorists  who  be- 
lieved in  the  inferiority  of  all  the  human  race 
who  were  not  white.  His  notions  on  the  subject 
were  not  very  clear,  nor  were  his  definitions  at 
all  well  settled  ; but  his  opinions  were  none  the 
less  dogmatical  or  fierce.  His  conscience  accused 
him  of  sundry  lawless  acts  against  the  Indians, 
and  he  had  found  it  an  exceedingly  easy  mode  of 
quieting  it  by  putting  the  whole  family  of  red 
men,  incontinently,  without  the  category  of  hu- 
man rights.  Nothing  angered  him  sooner  than 
to  deny  his  proposition,  more  especially  if  the  de- 
rmal were  accompanied  by  a show  of  plausible 
argument ; and  he  did  not  listen  1 o his  com- 


26 


THE  DEERS  LAYER. 


pauion’s  remarks  with  much  composure  of  either 
manner  or  feeling. 

“ You’re  a boy,  Deerslayer,  misled  and  mis- 
consaited  by  Delaware  arts  and  missionary  igno- 
rance ! ” he  exclaimed,  with  his  usual  indiffer- 
ence to  the  forms  of  speech  when  excited.  “ You 
may  account  yourself  as  a red-skin’s  brother,  but 
I hold  ’em  all  to  be  animals ; with  nothing  hu- 
man about  ’em  but  cunning.  That  they  have, 
I’ll  allow  ; but  so  has  a fox,  or  even  a bear.  I’m 
older  than  you,  and  have  lived  longer  in  the 
woods — or,  for  that  matter,  have  lived  always 
there,  and  am  not  to  be  told  what  an  Injin  is  or 
what  he  is  not.  If  you  wish  to  be  considered  a 
savage,  you’ve  only  to  say  so,  and  I’ll  name  you 
as  such  to  Judith  and  the  old  man,  and  then 
we’ll  see  how  you’ll  like  your  welcome.” 

Here  Hurry’s  imagination  did  his  temper 
some  service,  since,  by  conjuring  up  the  recep- 
tion his  semi-aquatic  acquaintance  would  be 
likely  to  bestow  on  one  thus  introduced,  he  burst 
into  a hearty  fit  of  laughter.  Deerslayer  too  well 
knew  the  uselessness  of  attempting  to  convince 
such  a being  of  any  thing  against  his  prejudices, 
to  feel  a desire  to  undertake  the  task ; and  he 
was  not  sorry  that  the  approach  of  the  canoe  to 
the  southeastern  curve  of  the  lake  gave  a new  di- 
rection to  his  ideas.  They  were  now,  indeed, 
quite  near  the  place  that  March  had  pointed  out 
for  the  position  of  the  outlet,  and  both  began  to 
look  for  it  with  a curiosity  that  was  increased  by 
the  expectation  of  finding  the  ark. 

It  may  strike  the  reader  as  a little  singular, 
that  the  place  where  a stream  of  any  size  passed 
through  banks  that  had  an  elevation  of  some 
twenty  feet,  should  be  a matter  of  doubt  with  men 
who  could  not  now  have  been  more  than  two  hun- 
dred yards  distant  from  the  precise  spot.  It  will 
be  recollected,  however,  that  the  trees  and  bushes 
here,  as  elsewhere,  fairly  overhung  the  water, 
making  such  a fringe  to  the  lake  as  to  conceal 
any  little  variations  from  its  general  outline. 

“ I’ve  not  been  down  at  this  end  of  the  lake 
these  two  summers,”  said  Hurry,  standing  up  in 
the  canoe,  the  better  to  look  about  him.  “ Ay, 
there’s  the  rock,  showing  its  chin  above  the  wa- 
ter, and  I know  that  the  river  begins  in  its  neigh- 
borhood.” 

The  men  now  plied  the  paddles  again,  and 
they  were  presently  within  a few  yards  of  the 
rock,  floating  toward  it,  though  their  efforts  were 
suspended.  This  rock  was  not  large,  being  merely 
some  five  or  six  feet  high,  only  half  of  which  ele- 
vation rose  above  the  lake.  The  incessant  wash- 
ing of  the  water  for  centuries  had  so  rounded  its 
summit,  that  it  resembled  a large  beehive  in 


shape,  its  form  being  more  than  usually  regular 
and  even.  Hurry  remarked,  as  they  floated  slowly 
past,  that  this  rock  was  well  known  to  all  the  In- 
dians in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  that  they 
were  in  the  practice  of  using  it  as  a mark  to  des- 
ignate the  place  of  meeting  when  separated  by 
their  hunts  and  marches. 

“And  here  is  the  river,  Deerslayer,”  he  con- 
tinued, “ though  so  shut  in  by  trees  and  bushes 
as  to  look  more  like  an  and-bush  than  the  outlet 
of  such  a sheet  as  the  Glimmerglass.” 

Hurry  had  not  badly  described  the  place, 
which  did  truly  seem  to  be  a stream  lying  in  am- 
bush. The  high  banks  might  have  been  a hun- 
dred feet  asunder ; but,  on  the  western  side,  a 
small  bit  of  lowland  extended  so  far  forward  as 
to  diminish  the  breadth  of  the  stream  to  half  that 
width.  As  the  bushes  hung  in  the  water  be- 
neath, and  pines  that  had  the  stature  of  church- 
steeples  rose  in  tall  columns  above,  all  inclining 
toward  the  light  until  their  branches  intermingled, 
the  eye,  at  a little  distance,  could  not  easily  de- 
tect any  opening  in  the  shore  to  mark  the  egress 
of  the  water.  In  the  forest  above,  no  traces  of 
this  outlet  were  to  be  seen  from  the  lake,  the 
whole  presenting  the  same  connected  and  seem- 
ingly interminable  carpet  of  leaves.  As  the  ca- 
noe slowly  advanced,  sucked  in  by  the  current, 
it  entered  beneath  an  arch  of  trees,  through 
which  the  light  from  the  heavens  struggled  by 
casual  openings,  faintly  relieving  the  gloom  be- 
neath. 

“ This  is  a nat’ral  and-bush,”  half  whispered 
Hurry,  as  if  he  felt  that  the  place  was  devoted  to 
secrecy  and  watchfulness ; “ depend  on  it,  old 
Tom  has  burrowed  with  the  ark  somewhere  in 
this  quarter.  We  will  drop  down  with  the  cur- 
rent a short  distance,  and  ferret  him  out.” 

“This  seems  no  place  for  a vessel  of  any 
size,”  returned  the  other ; “ it  appears  to  me 
that  we  shall  have  hardly  room  enough  for  the 
canoe.” 

Hurry  laughed  at  the  suggestion,  and,  as  it 
soon  appeared,  with  reason ; for  the  fringe  of 
bushes  immediately  on  the  shore  of  the  lake  was 
no  sooner  passed,  than  the  adventurers  found  them- 
selves in  a narrow  stream,  of  a sufficient  depth  of 
limpid  water,  with  a strong  current,  and  a canopy 
of  leaves,  upheld  by  arches  composed  of  the  limbs 
of  hoary  trees.  Bushes  lined  the  shores,  as 
usual,  but  they  left  sufficient  space  between  them 
to  admit  the  passage  of  any  thing  that  did  not 
exceed  twenty  feet  in  width,  and  to  allow  of  a 
perspective  ahead  of  eight  or  ten  times  that  d is* 
tance. 

Neither  of  our  two  adventurers  used  his  pad 


AN  AGREEABLE  SURPRISE. 


die,  except  to  keep  the  light  bark  in  the  centre 
of  the  current,  but  both  watched  each  turning  of 
the  stream,  of  which  there  were  two  or  three 
within  the  first  hundred  yards,  with  jealous  vigi- 
lance. Turn  after  turn,  however,  was  passed,  and 
the  canoe  had  dropped  down  with  the  current 
some  little  distance,  when  Hurry  caught  a bush, 
and  arrested  its  movement,  so  suddenly  and  si- 
lently, as  to  denote  some  unusual  motive  for  the 
act.  Deerslayer  laid  his  hand  on  the  stock  of  his 
rifle,  as  soon  as  he  noted  this  proceeding  ; but  it 
was  quite  as  much  with  a hunter’s  habit  as  from 
any  feeling  of  alarm. 

“ There  the  old  fellow  is ! ” whispered  Hurry, 
pointing  with  a finger,  and  laughing  heartily, 
though  he  carefully  avoided  making  a noise, 
“ ratting  it  away,  just  as  I supposed  ; up  to  his 
knees  in  the  mud  and  water,  looking  to  the  traps 
and  the  bait.  But,  for  the  life  of  me,  I can  see 
nothing  of  the  ark  ; though  I’ll  bet  every  skin  I 
take  this  season,  Jude  isn’t  trusting  her  pretty 
little  feet  in  the  neighborhood  of  that  black  mud. 
The  gal’s  more  likely  to  be  braiding  her  hair  by 
the  side  of  some  spring,  where  she  can  see  her 
own  good  looks,  and  collect  scornful  feelings  ag’in 
us  men.” 

“You  over-judge  young  women — yes,  you  do, 
Hurry — who  as  often  bethink  them  of  their  fail- 
ings as  they  do  of  their  perfections.  I dare  to 
say,  this  Judith,  now,  is  no  such  admirer  of  her- 
self, and  no  such  scorner  of  our  sex,  as  you  seem 
to  think ; and  that  she  is  quite  as  likely  to  be 
sarving  her  father  in  the  house,  wherever  that 
may  be,  as  he  is  to  be  sarving  her  among  the 
traps.” 

“It’s  a pleasure  to  hear  truth  from  a man’s 
tongue,  if  it  be  only  once  in  a girl’s  life,”  cried  a 
pleasant,  rich,  and  yet  soft  female  voice,  so  near 
the  canoe  as  to  make  both  the  listeners  start. 
“ As  for  you,  Master  Hurry,  fair  words  are  so  apt 
to  choke  jou,  that  I no  longer  expect  to  hear 
them  from  your  mouth ; the  last  you  uttered 
Bticking  in  your  throat,  and  coming  near  to  death. 
But  I’m  glad  to  see  you  keep  better  society  than 
formerly,  and  that  they  who  know  how  to  esteem 
and  treat  women  are  not  ashamed  to  journey  in 
your  company.” 

As  this  was  said,  a singularly  handsome  and 
youthful  female  face  was  thrust  through  an  open- 
ing in  the  leaves,  within  reach  of  Deerslayer’s 
paddle.  Its  owner  smiled  graciously  on  the  young 
man ; and  the  frown  that  she  cast  on  Hurry, 
though  simulated  and  pettish,  had  the  effect  to 
render  her  beauty  more  striking,  by  exhibiting 
the  play  of  an  expressive  but  capricious  counte- 
nance ; one  that  seemed  to  change  from  the  soft 


27 

to  the  severe,  the  mirthful  to  the  reproving,  with 
facility  and  indifference. 

A second  look  explained  the  nature  of  the 
surprise.  Unwittingly,  the  men  had  dropped  along- 
side of  the  ark,  which  had  been  purposely  con- 
cealed in  bushes  cut  and  arranged  for  the  pur- 
pose ; and  Judith  Hutter  had  merely  pushed 
aside  the  leaves  that  lay  before  a window,  in  or- 
der to  show  her  face,  and  speak  to  them. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

“ And  that  timid  fawn  starts  not  with  fear, 

When  I steal  to  her  secret  bower ; 

And  that  young  May  violet  to  me  is  dear, 

And  I visit  the  silent  streamlet  near, 

To  look  on  the  lovely  flower.” 

Bryant. 

The  ark,  as  the  floating  habitation  of  the 
Hutters  was  generally  called,  was  a very  simple 
contrivance.  A large  flat,  or  scow,  composed 
the  buoyant  part  of  the  vessel ; and,  in  its  centre, 
occupying  the  whole  of  its  breadth,  and  about 
two-thirds  of  its  length,  stood  a low  fabric,  re- 
sembling the  castle  in  construction,  though  made 
of  materials  so  light  as  barely  to  be  bullet-proof. 
As  the  sides  of  the  scow  were  a little  higher  than 
usual,  and  the  interior  of  the  cabin  had  no  more 
elevation  than  was  necessary  for  comfort,  this 
unusual  addition  had  neither  a very  clumsy  nor  a 
very  obtrusive  appearance.  It  was,  in  short,  lit- 
tle more  than  a modern  canal-boat,  though  more 
rudely  constructed,  of  greater  breadth  than  com- 
mon, and  bearing  about  it  the  signs  of  the  wilder- 
ness, in  its  bark-covered  posts  and  roof.  The 
scow,  however,  had  been  put  together  with  some 
skill,  being  comparatively  light,  for  its  strength, 
and  sufficiently  manageable.  The  cabin  was  di- 
vided into  two  apartments,  one  of  which  served 
for  a parlor  and  the  sleeping-room  of  the  father, 
and  the  other  was  appropriated  to  the  uses  of  the 
daughter.  A very  simple  arrangement  sufficed 
for  the  kitchen,  which  was  in  one  end  of  the 
scow,  and  removed  from  the  cabin,  standing  in 
the  open  air  ; the  ark  being  altogether  a summer 
habitation. 

The  “ and-bush,”  as  Hurry,  in  his  ignorance 
of  English,  termed  it,  is  quite  as  easily  explained. 
In  many  parts  of  the  lake  and  river,  where  the 
banks  were  steep  and  high,  the  smaller  trees  and 
larger  bushes,  as  has  been  already  mentioned, 
fairly  overhung  the  stream,  their  branches  not 
unfrequently  dipping  into  the  water.  In  some 
instances  they  grew  out  in  nearly  horizontal  lines, 


38 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


for  thirty  or  forty  feet.  The  water  being  uni- 
formly deepest  near  the  shores,  where  the  banks 
were  highest  and  the  nearest  to  a perpendicu- 
lar, Hutter  had  found  no  difficulty  in  letting  the 
ark  drop  under  one  of  these  covers,  where  it 
had  been  anchored  with  a view  to  conceal  its  po- 
sition ; security  requiring  some  such  precautions, 
in  his  view  of  the  case.  Once  beneath  the  trees 
and  bushes,  a few  stones  fastened  to  the  ends  of 
the  branches  had  caused  them  to  bend  sufficiently 
to  dip.  into  the  river ; and  a few  severed  bushes, 
properly  disposed,  did  the  rest.  The  reader  has 
seen  that  this  cover  was  so  complete  as  to  deceive 
two  men  accustomed  to  the  woods,  and  who  were 
actually  in  search  of  those  it  concealed ; a cir- 
cumstance that  will  be  easily  understood  by  those 
who  are  familiar  with  the  matted  and  wild  luxuri- 
ance of  a virgin  American  forest,  more  especially 
in  a rich  soil. 

The  discovery  of  the  ark  produced  very  dif- 
ferent effects  on  our  two  adventurers.  As  soon 
as  the  canoe  could  be  got  round  to  the  proper 
opening,  Hurry  leaped  on  board,  and  in  a minute 
was  closely  engaged  in  a gay  and  a sort  of  re- 
criminating discourse'  with  Judith,  apparently 
forgetful  of  the  existence  of  all  the  rest  of  the 
wcp-ld.  Not  so  with  Deerslayer.  He  entered  the 
ark  with  a slow,  cautious  step,  examining  every 
arrangement  of  the  cover  with  curious  and  scru- 
tinizing eyes.  It  is  true,  he  cast  one  admiring 
glance  at  Judith,  which  was  extorted  by  her  brill- 
iant and  singular  beauty ; but  even  this  could 
detain  him  but  a single  instant  from  the  indul- 
gence of  his  interest  in  Hutter’s  contrivances. 
Step  by  step  did  he  look  into  the  construction  of 
the  singular  abode,  investigate  its  fastenings  and 
strength,  ascertain  its  means  of  defence,  and 
make  every  inquiry  that  would  be  likely  to  occur 
to  one  whose  thoughts  dwelt  principally  on  such 
expedients.  Nor  was  the  cover  neglected.  Of 
this  he  examined  the  whole  minutely,  his  com- 
mendation escaping  him  more  than  once,  in  audi- 
ble comments.  Frontier  usages  admitting  of  this 
familiarity,  he  passed  through  the  rooms  as  he  had 
previously  done  at  the  castle ; and,  opening  a 
door,  issued  into  the  end  of  the  scow  opposite  to 
that  where  he  had  left  Hurry  and  Judith.  Here 
he  found  the  other  sister,  employed  on  some 
coarse  needlework,  seated  beneath  the  leafy  can- 
opy of  the  cover. 

As  Deerslayer’s  examination  was  by  this  time 
ended,  he  dropped  the  butt  of  his  rifle,  and,  lean- 
ing on  the  barrel  with  both  hands,  he  turned  tow- 
ard the  girl  with  an  interest  the  singular  beauty 
of  her  sister  had  not  awakened.  He  had  gathered 
‘rom  Hurry’s  remarks  that  Hetty  was  considered 


to  have  less  intellect  than  ordinarily  falls  to  the 
share  of  human  beings ; and  his  education  among 
Indians  had  taught  him  to  treat  those  who  were 
thus  afflicted  by  Providence,  with  more  than 
common  tenderness.  Nor  was  there  any  thing  in 
Hetty  Hutter’s  appearance,  as  so  often  happens, 
to  weaken  the  interest  her  situation  excited.  An 
idiot  she  could  not  properly  be  termed,  her  mind 
being  just  enough  enfeebled  to  lose  most  of  those 
traits  that  are  connected  with  the  more  artful 
qualities,  and  to  retain  its  ingenuousness  and  love 
of  truth.  It  had  often  been  remarked  of  this  girl, 
by  the  few  who  had  seen  her,  and  who  possessed 
sufficient  knowledge  to  discriminate,  that  her  per- 
ception of  the  right  seemed  almost  intuitive,  while 
her  aversion  to  the  wrong  formed  so  distinctive  a 
feature  of  her  mind  as  to  surround  her  with  an 
atmosphere  of  pure  morality;  peculiarities  that 
are  not  unfrequent  with  persons  who  are  termed 
feeble-minded ; as  if  God  had  forbidden  the  evil 
spirits  to  invade  a precinct  so  defenceless,  with 
the  benign  purpose  of  extending  a direct  protec- 
tion to  those  who  had  been  left  without  the  usual 
aids  of  humanity.  Her  person,  too,  was  agree- 
able, having  a strong  resemblance  to  that  of  her 
sister,  of  which  it  was  a subdued  and  humble 
copy.  If  it  had  none  of  the  brilliancy  of  Judith’s, 
the  calm,  quiet,  almost  holy  expression  of  her 
meek  countenance,  seldom  failed  to  win  on  the 
observer ; and  few  noted  it  long,  that  did  not  begin 
to  feel  a deep  and  lasting  interest  in  the  girl.  She 
had  no  color,  in  common,  nor  was  her  simple 
mind  apt  to  present  images  that  caused  her  cheek 
to  brighten ; though  she  retained  a modesty  so 
innate,  that  it  almost  raised  her  to  the  unsuspect- 
ing purity  of  a being  superior  to  human  infirmities. 
Guileless,  innocent,  and  without  distrust,  equally 
by  nature  and  from  her  mode  of  life,  Providence 
had,  nevertheless,  shielded  her  from  harm  by  a 
halo  of  moral  light,  as  it  is  said  to  “ temper  the 
wind  to  the  shorn  lamb.” 

“You  are  Hetty  Hutter,”  said  Deerslayer,  in 
the  way  one  puts  a question  unconsciously  to 
himself,  assuming  a kindness  of  tone  and  manner 
that  were  singularly  adapted  to  win  the  confidence 
of  her  he  addressed.  “ Hurry  Harry  has  told  me 
of  you,  and  I know  you  must  be  the  child  ? ” 

“Yes,  I’m  Hetty  Hutter,”  returned  the  girl, 
in  a low,  sweet  voice,  which  Nature,  aided  by 
some  education,  had  preserved  from  vulgarity  of 
tone  and  utterance;  “I’m  Hetty;  Judith  Hutter’s 
sister,  and  Thomas  Hutter’s  youngest  daughter.” 

“ I know  your  history,  then,  for  Hurry  Harry 
talks  considerable,  and  he  is  free  of  speech,  when 
he  can  find  other  people’s  consarns  to  dwell  on 
You  pass  most  of  your  life  on  the  lake,  Hetty  ? ” 


HETTY  HOTTER  AND  THE  STRANGER. 


29 


“Certainly.  Mother  is  dead;  father  is  gone 
strapping,  and  Judith  and  I stay  at  home. 
What’s  your  name  ? ” 

“ That’s  a question  more  easily  asked  than  it 
is  answered,  young  woman ; seeing  that  I’m  so 
young,  and  yet  have  borne  more  names  than  some 
of  the  greatest  chiefs  in  all  America.” 

“But  you’ve  got  a name — you  don’t  throw 
away  one  name  before  you  come  honestly  by 
another  ? ” 

“I  hope  not,  gal — I hope  not.  My  names 
have  come  nat’ rally ; and  I suppose  the  one  I bear 
uow  will  be  of  no  great  lasting,  since  the  Dela- 
wares seldom  settle  on  a man’s  ra’al  title,  until 
such  time  as  he  has  an  opportunity  of  showing 
his  true  natur’,  in  the  council  or  on  the  war-path ; 
which  has  never  behappened  me : seeing,  firstly, 
because  I’m  not  born  a red-skin,  and  have  no  right 
to  sit  in  their  councillings,  and  am  much  too 
humble  to  be  called  on  for  opinions  from  the  great 
of  my  own  color ; and,  secondly,  because  this  is 
the  first  war  that  has  befallen  in  my  time,  and  no 
inimy  has  yet  inroaded  far  enough  into  the  colony, 
to  be  reached  by  an  arm  even  longer  than  mine.” 

“ Tell  me  your  names,”  added  Hetty,  looking 
up  at  him  artlessly,  “and,  maybe,  I’ll  tell  you 
your  character.” 

“ There  is  some  truth  in  that,  I’ll  not  deny, 
though  it  often  fails.  Men  are  deceived  in  other 
men’s  characters,  and  frequently  give  ’em  names 
they  by  no  means  desarve.  You  can  see  the 
truth  of  this  in  the  Mingo  names,  which,  in  their 
own  tongue,  signify  the  same  things  as  the  Dela- 
ware names — at  least,  so  they  tell  me,  for  I know 
little  of  that  tribe,  unless  it  be  by  report — and 
no  one  can  say  they  are  as  honest  or  as  upright 
■\  nation.  I put  no  great  dependence,  therefore, 
on  names.” 

“ Tell  me  all  your  names,”  repeated  the  girl, 
earnestly,  for  her  mind  was  too  simple  to  separate 
things  from  professions,  and  she  did  attach  im- 
portance to  a name;  “I  want  to  know  what  to 
think  of  you.” 

“Well,  sartain;  I’ve  no  objection,  and  you 
shall  hear  them  all.  In  the  first  place,  then,  I’m 
Christian,  and  white-born,  like  yourself,  and  my 
parents  had  a name  that  came  down  from  father 
to  son,  as  is  a part  of  their  gifts.  My  father  was 
called  Bumppo ; and  I was  named  after  him,  of 
course,  the  given  name  being  Nathaniel,  or  Natty, 
as  most  people  saw  fit  to  tarm  it.” 

“Yes,  yes — Natty — and  Hetty  ” — interrupted 
the  girl  quickly,  and,  looking  up  from  her  work 
again,  with  a smile ; “ you  are  Natty,  and  I’m 
Hetty — though  you  are  Bumppo,  and  I’m  Hutter. 
Bumppo  isn’t  as  pretty  as  Hutter,  is  it?” 


“ Why,  that’s  as  people  fancy.  Bumppo  has 
no  loftly  sound,  I admit ; and  yet  men  have 
bumped  through  the  world  with  it.  I did  not  go 
by  this  name,  however,  very  long ; for  the  Dela- 
wares soon  found  out,  or  thought  they  found  out, 
that  I was  not  given  to  lying,  and  they  called  me. 
firstly,  Straight-tongue.” 

“That’s  a good  name,”  interrupted  Hetty, 
earnestly,  and  in  a positive  manner ; “ don’t  tell 
me  there’s  no  virtue  in  names  ! ” 

“ I do  not  say  that , for  perhaps  I desarved  to 
be  so  called,  lies  being  no  favorites  with  me,  as 
they  are  with  some.  After  a while  they  found 
out  that  I was  quick  of  foot,  and  then  they  called 
me  ‘ The  Pigeon ; ’ which,  you  know,  has  a swift 
wing,  and  flies  in  a direct  line.” 

“ That  was  a •pretty  name ! ” exclaimed  Hetty ; 
“ pigeons  are  pretty  birds  ! ” 

“ Most  things  that  God  has  created  are  pretty, 
in  their  way,  my  good  gal,  though  they  get  to  be 
deformed  by  mankind,  so  as  to  change  their  na- 
tur’s,  as  well  as  their  appearance.  From  carry- 
ing messages,  and  striking  blind  trails,  I got,  at 
last,  to  following  the  hunters,  when  it  was  thought 
I was  quicker  and  surer  at  finding  the  game  than 
most  lads,  and  then  they  called  me  the  ‘ Lap-ear  ; ’ 
as,  they  said,  I partook  of  the  sagacity  of  a 
hound.” 

“ That’s  not  so  pretty,”  answered  Hetty  ; “ I 
hope  you  didn’t  keep  that  name  long.” 

“ Not  after  I was  rich  enough  to  buy  a rifle,” 
returned  the  other,  betraying  a little  pride 
through  his  usually  quiet  and  subdued  manner ; 
“ then  it  was  seen  I could  keep  a wigwam  in 
ven’son  ; and,  in  time,  I got  the  name  of  ‘ Deer- 
slayer,’  which  is  that  I now  bear ; homely  as 
some  will  think  it,  who  set  more  valie  on  the 
scalp  of  a fellow-mortal  than  on  the  horns  of  a 
buck.” 

“ Well,  Deerslayer,  I’m  not  one  of  them,”  an- 
swered Hetty,  simply ; “ Judith  likes  soldiers, 
and  flary  coats,  and  fine  feathers  ; but  they’re  all 
naught  to  me.  She  says  the  officers  are  great, 
and  gay,  and  of  soft  speech  ; but  they  make  me 
shudder,  for  their  business  is  to  kill  their  fellow- 
creatures.  I like  your  calling  better ; and  your 
last  name  is  a very  good  one — better  than  Natty 
Bumppo.” 

“ This  is  nat’ral,  in  one  of  your  turn  of  mind, 
Hetty,  and  much  as  I should  have  expected. 
They  tell  me  your  sister  is  handsome — oncom- 
mon,  for  a mortal ; and  beauty  is  apt  to  seek  ad- 
miration.” 

“ Did  you  never  see  Judith  ? ” demanded  the 
girl,  with  quick  earnestness  ; “ if  you  never  have, 
go  at  once  and  look  at  her  Even  Hurry  Harry 


30 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


isn’t  more  pleasant  to  look  at ; though  she  is  a 
woman,  and  he  is  a man.” 

Deer  slayer  regarded  the  girl,  for  a moment, 
with  concern.  Her  pale  face  had  flushed  a little, 
and  her  eye,  usually  so  mild  and  serene,  bright- 
ened as  she  spoke,  in  the  way  to  betray  the  in- 
ward impulses. 

“ Ay,  Hurry  Harry,”  he  muttered  to  himself, 
as  he  walked  through  the  cabin,  toward  the  other 
end  of  the  boat ; “ this  comes  of  good  looks,  if 
a light  tongue  has  had  no  consarn  in  it.  It’s  easy 
to  see  which  way  that  poor  creatur's  feelin’s  are 
leanin’,  whatever  may  be  the  case  with  your 
Jude’s.” 

But  an  interruption  was  put  to  the  gallantry 
of  Hurry — the  coquetry  of  his  mistress — the 
thoughts  of  Deerslayer,  and  the  gentle  feelings 
of  Hetty,  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  canoe 
of  the  ark’s  owner,  in  the  narrow  opening  among 
the  bushes,  that  served  as  a sort  of  moat  to  his 
position.  It  would  seem  that  Hutter,  or  Floating 
Tom,  as  he  was  familiarly  called  by  all  the  hunt- 
ers who  knew  his  habits,  recognized  the  canoe  of 
Hurry,  for  he  expressed  no  surprise  at  finding 
him  in  the  scow.  On  the  contrary,  his  reception 
was  such  as  to  denote  not  only  gratification,  but 
a pleasure,  mingled  with  a little  disappointment 
at  his  not  having  made  his  appearance  some  days 
sooner. 

“ I looked  for  you  last  week,”  he  said,  in  a 
half-grumbling,  half-welcoming  manner ; “ and 
was  disappointed  uncommonly  that  you  didn’t 
arrive.  There  came  a runner  through,  to  warn 
all  the  trappers  and  hunters  that  the  colony  and 
the  Canadas  were  again  in  trouble ; and  I felt 
lonesome,  up  in  these  mountains,  with  three 
scalps  to  see  to,  and  only  one  pair  of  hands  to 
protect  them.” 

“ That’s  reasonable,”  returned  March  ; “ and 
’twas  feeling  like  a parent.  No  doubt,  if  I had 
two  such  darters  as  Judith  and  Hetty,  my  exper’- 
ence  would  tell  the  same  story,  though,  in  gin’ral, 
I am  just  as  well  satisfied  with  having  the  near- 
est neighbor  fifty  miles  olf,  as  when  he  is  within 
call.” 

“ Notwithstanding,  you  didn’t  choose  to  come 
into  the  wilderness  alone,  now  you  knew  that  the 
Canada  savages  are  likely  to  be  stirring,”  re- 
turned Hutter,  giving  a sort  of  distrustful,  and  at 
the  same  time  inquiring  glance  at  Deerslayer. 

“ Why  should  I ? They  say  a bad  companion, 
on  a journey,  helps  to  shorten  the  path  ; and  this 
young  man  I account  to  be  a reasonably  good 
one. — This  is  Deerslayer,  old  Tom,  a noted  hunter 
among  the  Delawares,  and  Christian-born,  and 
Christian  edicated,  too,  like  you  and  me.  The 


lad  is  not  parfcct,  perhaps,  but  there’s  worse  men 
in  the  country  that  he  came  from,  and  it’s  likely 
he’ll  find  some  that’s  no  better,  in  this  part  of 
the  world.  Should  we  have  occasion  to  defend 
our  traps,  and  the  territory,  he’ll  be  useful  in 
feeding  us  all;  for  he’s  a regular  dealer  in 
ven’son.” 

“ Young  man,  you  are  welcome,”  growled 
Tom,  thrusting  a hard,  bony  hand  toward  the 
youth,  as  a pledge  of  his  sincerity;  “in  such 
times,  a white-face  is  a friend’s,  and  I count  on 
you  as  a support.  Children  sometimes  make  a 
stout  heart  feeble,  and  these  two  daughters  of 
mine  give  me  more  concern  than  all  my  traps, 
and  skins,  and  rights  in  the  country.” 

“ That’s  nat’ral ! ” cried  Hurry. — “ Yes,  Deer- 
slayer, you  and  I don’t  know  it  yet  by  experi- 
ence ; but,  on  the  whole,  I consider  that  as 
nat’ral.  If  we  had  darters,  it’s  more  than  prob- 
able we  should  have  some  such  feelin’s ; and  I 
honor  the  man  that  owns  ’em. — As  for  Judith, 
old  man,  I enlist,  at  once,  as  her  soldier,  and 
here  is  Deerslayer  to  help  you  to  take  care  of 
Hetty.” 

“Many  thanks  to  you,  Master  March,”  re- 
turned the  beauty,  in  a full,  rich  voice,  and  with 
an  accuracy  of  intonation  and  utterance  that  she 
shared  in  coifimon  with  her  sister,  and  which 
showed  that  she  had  been  better  taught  than  her 
father’s  life  and  appearance  would  give  reason  to 
expect — “ many  thanks  to  you ; but  J udith  Hut- 
ter has  the  spirit  and  the  experience  that  will 
make  her  depend  more  on  herself  than  on  good- 
looking  rovers  like  you.  Should  there  be  need 
to  face  the  savages,  do  you  land  with  my  father, 
instead  of  burrowing  in  the  huts,  under  .the  show 
of  defending  us  females,  and—  ” 

“ Girl — girl,”  interrupted  the  father,  “ quiet 
that  glib  tongue  of  thine,  and  hear  the  truth. 
There  are  savages  on  the  lake-shore  already,  and 
no  man  can  say  how  near  to  us  they  may  be  at 
this  very  moment,  or  when  we  may  hear  more 
from  them ! ” 

“ If  this  be  true,  Master  Hutter,”  said  Hurry, 
whose  change  of  countenance  denoted  how  seri- 
ous he  deemed  the  information,  though  it  did  not 
denote  any  unmanly  alarm,  “if  this  be  true,  your 
ark  is  in  a most  misfortunate  position,  for,  though 
the  cover  did  deceive  Deerslayer  and  myself,  it 
would  hardly  be  overlooked  by  a full-blooded 
Injin,  who  was  out  seriously  in  s’arch  of  scalps  ! ” 

“ I think  as  you  do,  Hurry,  and  wish,  with  all 
my  heart,  we  lay  anywhere  else,  at  this  moment, 
than  in  this  narrow,  crooked  stream,  which  has 
many  advantages  to  hide  in,  but  which  is  almost 
fatal  to  them  that  are  discovered.  The  savages 


DEERSLAYER’S  APPOINTMENT  WITH  CHINGACHGOOK. 


31 


are  near  us,  moreover,  and  the  difficulty  is,  to  get 
out  of  the  river  without  being  shot  down  like 
deer  standing  at  a lick ! ” 

“ Are  you  sartin,  Master  Hutter,  that  the  red- 
skins you  dread  are  ra’al  Canadas  ? ” asked 
Deerslayer,  in  a modest  but  earnest  manner. 
“ Have  you  seen  any,  and  can  you  describe  their 
paint  ? ” 

“ I have  fallen  in  with  the  signs  of  their  be- 
ing in  the  neighborhood,  but  have  seen  none  of 
’em.  I was  down-stream  a mile  or  so,  looking  to 
my  traps,  when  I struck  a fresh  trail,  crossing 
the  corner  of  a swamp,  and.  moving  northward. 
The  man  had  not  passed  an  hour ; and  I know’d 
it  for  an  Indian  footstep,  by  the  size  of  the  foot, 
and  the  intoe,  even  before  I found  a worn  mocca- 
sin, which  its  owner  had  dropped  as  useless. 
For  that  matter,  I found  the  spot  where  he  halted 
to  make  a new  one,  which  was  only  a few  yards 
from  the  place  where  he  had  dropped  the  old 
one.” 

“ That  doesn’t  look  much  like  a red-skin  on 
the  war-path,”  returned  the  other,  shaking  his 
head.  “ An  exper’enced  warrior,  at  least,  would 
have  burned,  or  buried,  or  sunk  in  the  river,  such 
3igns  of  his  passage ; and  your  trail  is,  quite  like- 
ly, a peaceable  trail.  But  the  moccasin  may 
greatly  relieve  my  mind,  if  you  bethought  you 
of  bringing  jt  off.  I’ve  come  here  to  meet  a 
young  chief  myself;  and  his  course  would  be 
much  in  the  direction  you’ve  mentioned.  The 
trail  may  have  been  his’n.” 

Hurry  Harry,  you’re  well  acquainted  with 
this  young  man,  I hope,  who  has  meetings  with 
savages  in  a part  of  the  country  where  he  has 
never  been  before  ? ” demanded  Hutter,  in  a tone 
and  in  a manner  that  sufficiently  indicated  the 
motive  of  the  question  ; these  rude  beings  seldom 
hesitating,  on  the  score  of  dodcacy,  to  betray 
their  feelings.  “ Treachery  is  an  Indian  virtue  ; 
and  the  whites,  that  live  much  in  their  tribes, 
soon  catch,  their  ways  and  practices.” 

“ True — true  as  the  Gospel,  onl  Tom  ; but  not 
personable  to  Deerslayer,  who’s  a young  man  of 
truth,  if  he  has  no  other  ricommend.  I’ll  answer 
for  his  honesty,  whatever  I may  do  for  his  valor  in 
battle.” 

“ I should  like  to  know  his  errand  in  this 
strange  quarter  of  the  country.” 

“ That  is  soon  told,  Master  Hutter,”  said  the 
young  man,  with  the  composure  of  one  who  kept 
a clean  conscience.  “ I think,  moreover,  you’ve 
a right  to  ask  it.  The  father  of  two  such  darters, 
who  occupies  a lake,  after  your  fashion,  has  just 
the  same  right  to  inquire  into  a stranger’s  busi- 
ness in  his  neighborhood,  as  the  colony  would 


have  to  demand  the  reason  why  the  French  era 
put  more  rijiments  than  common  along  the  line3. 
No,  no,  I’ll  not  deny  your  right  to  know  why  a 
stranger  comes  into  your  habitation  or  country 
in  times  as  serious  as  these.” 

“ If  such  is  your  way  of  thinking,  friend,  let 
me  hear  your  story  without  more  words.” 

“ ’Tis  soon  told,  as  I said  afore  ; and  shall  be 
honestly  told.  I’m  a young  man,  and  as  yet  have 
never  been  on  a war-path  ; but  no  sooner  did  the 
news  come  among  the  Delawares  that  wampum 
and  a hatchet  were  about  to  be  sent  into  the  tribe, 
than  they  wished  me  to  go  out  among  the  people 
of  my  own  color,  and  get  the  exact  state  of  things 
for  ’em.  This  I did ; and,  after  delivering  my 
talk  to  the  chiefs,  on  my  return  I met  an  officer 
of  the  crown  on  the  Schoharie,  who  had  moneys 
to  send  to  some  of  the  friendly  tribes,  that  live 
farther  west.  This  was  thought  a good  occasion 
for  Chingachgook,  a young  chief  who  has  never 
struck  a foe,  and  myself,  to  go  on  our  first  war- 
path in  company  ; and  an  app’intment  was  made 
for  us,  by  an  old  Delaware,  to  meet  at  the  rock 
near  the  foot  of  this  lake.  I’ll  not  deny  that 
Chingachgook  has  another  object  in  view,  but  it 
has  no  consarn  with  any  here,  and  i 3 his  secret, 
and  not  mine ; therefore,  I’ll  say  no  more  about 
it.” 

“ ’Tis  something  about  a young  woman,”  in- 
terrupted Judith,  hastily ; then  laughing  at  her 
own  impetuosity,  and  even  having  the  grace  to 
color  a little  at  the  manner  in  which  she  had  be- 
trayed her  readiness  to  impute  such  a motive. 
“ If  ’tis  neither  war  nor  a hunt,  it  must  be  love.” 

“ Ay,  it  comes  easy  for  the  young  and  hand 
some,  who  hear  so  much  of  them  feelin’s,  to  sup- 
pose that  they  lie  at  the  bottom  of  most  proceed- 
in’s  ; but,  on  that  head,  I say  nothin’.  Chingach- 
gook is  to  meet  me  at  the  rock  an  hour  afore  sun- 
set to-morrow  evening,  after  which  we  shall  go 
our  way  together,  molesting  none  but  the  king’s 
iniinies,  who  are  lawfully  our  own.  Knowing 
Hurry  of  old,  who  once  trapped  in  our  hunting- 
grounds,  and  falling  in  with  him  on  the  Schoharie, 
just  as  he  was  on  the  p’int  of  starting  for  his  sum- 
mer ha’nts,  we  agreed  to  journey  in  company ; 
not  so  much  from  fear  of  the  Mingoes  as  from  good 
fellowship,  and,  as  he  says,  to  shorten  a long 
road.” 

“ And  you  think  the  trail  I saw  may  have 
been  that  of  your  friend,  ahead  of  his  time  ? ” 
said  Hutter. 

“ That’s  my  idee ; which  may  be  wrong,  but 
which  may  be  right.  If  I saw  the  moccasin,  how- 
ever, I could  tell  in  a minute  whether  it  is  made 
in  the  Delaware  fashion  or  not.” 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


52 

“ Here  it  is,  then,”  said  the  quick-witted  Ju- 
dith, who  had  already  gone  to  the  canoe  in  quest 
of  it ; “ tell  us  what  it  says,  friend  or  enemy. 
Y ou  look  honest ; and  / believe  all  you  say,  what- 
ever father  may  think.” 

“That’s  the  way  with  you,  Jude;  forever 
finding  out  friends,  where  I distrust  foes,”  grum- 
bled Tom. — “ But  speak  out  young  man,  and  tdll 
us  what  you  think  of  the  moccasin.” 

“ That’s  not  Delaware-made,”  returned  Deer- 
slayer,  examining  the  worn  and  rejected  covering 
for  the  foot  with  a cautious  eye ; “ I’m  too  young 
on  a war-path  to  be  positive,  but  I should  say 
that  moccasin  has  a northern  look,  and  comes 
from  beyond  the  great  lakes.” 

‘ If  such  is  the  case,  we  ought  not  to  lie  here 
a minute  longer  than  is  necessary,”  said  Huttei', 
glancing  through  the  leaves  of  his  cover,  as  if  he 
already  distrusted  the  presence  of  an  enemy  on 
the  opposite  shore  of  the  narrow  and  sinuous 
stream.  “It  wants  but  an  hour  or  so  of  night, 
and  to  move  in  the  dark  will  be  impossible,  with- 
out making  a noise  that  would  betray  us.  Did 
you  hear  the  echo  of  a piece  in  the  mountains, 
half  an  hour  since  ? ” 

“Yes,  old  man,  and  heard  the  piece  itself,” 
answered  Hurry,  who  now  felt  the  indiscretion 
of  which  he  had  been  guilty,  “ for  the  last  was 
fired  from  my  own  shoulder.” 

“ I feared  it  came  from  the  French  Indians  ; 
still,  it  may  put  them  on  the  lookout,  and  be  a 
means  of  discovering  us.  You  did  wrong  to  fire, 
in  war-time,  unless  there  was  good  occasion.” 

“ So  I begin  to  think  myself,  Uncle  Tom  ; and 
yet,  if  a man  can’t  trust  himself  to  let  olf  his  rifle 
in  a wilderness  that  is  a thousand  miles  square, 
lest  some  iniiny  should  hear  it,  where ’s  the  use 
in  carrying  one  ? ” 

Hutter  now  held  a long  consultation  with  his 
two  guests,  in  which  the  parties  came  to  a true 
understanding  of  their  situation.  He  explained 
the  difficulty  that  would  exist  m attempting  to 
get  the  ark  out  of  so  swift  and  narrow  a stream, 
in  the  dark,  without  making  a noise  that  could 
not  fail  to  attract  Indian  ears.  Any  strollers,  in 
their  vicinity,  would  keep  near  the  river  or  the 
lake ; but  the  former  had  swampy  shores  in  many 
places,  and  was  both  so  crooked  and  so  fringed 
with  bushes,  that  it  was  quite  possible  to  move 
by  daylight  without  incurring  much  danger  of 
being  seen.  More  was  to  be  apprehended,  per- 
haps, from  the  ear  than  from  the  eye,  especially 
as  long  as  they  were  in  the  short,  straitened,  and 
canopied  reaches  of  the  stream. 

“ I never  drop  down  into  this  cover,  which  is 
handy  to  my  traps,  and  safer  than  the  lake,  from 


curious  eyes,  without  providing  the  means  of  get- 
ting out  ag’in,”  continued  this  singular  being ; 
“ and  that  is  easier  done  by  a pull  than  a push. 
My  anchor  is  now  lying  above  the  suction,  in  the 
open  lake ; and  here  is  a line,  you  see,  to  haul  us 
up  to  it.  Without  some  such  help,  a single  pair 
of  hands  would  make  heavy  work,  in  forcing  a 
scow  like  this  up-stream.  I have  a sort  of  a crab, 
too,  that  lightens  the  pull,  on  occasion.  Jude  can 
use  the  oar  astarn,  as  well  as  myself;  and,  when 
we  fear  no  enemy,  to  get  out  of  the  river  gives 
us  but  little  trouble  ” 

“ What  should  ,we  gain,  Master  Hutter,  by 
changing  the  position  ? ” asked  Deerslayer,  with 
a good  deal  of  earnestness  ; “ this  is  a safe  cover ; 
and  a stout  defence  might  be  made  from  the  in- 
side of  this  cabin.  I’ve  never  fou’t,  unless  in  the 
way  of  tradition ; but,  it  seems  to  me,  we  might 
beat  off  twenty  Mingoes  with  palisades  like  them 
afore  us.” 

“ Ay,  ay  ; you’ve  never  fought,  except  in  tra- 
ditions, that’s  plain  enough,  young  man  ! Did 
you  ever  see  as  broad  a sheet  of  water  as  this 
above  us,  before  you  came  in  upon  it  with 
Hurry  ? ” 

“ I can’t  say  that  I ever  did,”  Deerslayer  an- 
swered, modestly.  “ Youth  is  the  time  to  l’aru  ; 
and  I’m  far  from  wishing  to  raise  my  voice  in 
counsel,  afore  it  is  justified  by  expw’ence.” 

“Well,  then,  I’ll  teach  you  the  disadvantage 
of  fighting  in  this  position,  and  the  advantage  of 
taking  to  the  open  lake.  Here,  you  may  see,  the 
savages  will  know  where  to  aim  every  shot ; .and 
it  would  be  too  much  to  hope  that  some  would  not 
find  their  way  through  the  crevices  of  the  logs. 
Now,  on  the  other  hand,  we  should  have  nothing 
but  a forest  to  aim  at.  Then  we  are  not  safe  from 
fire  here  ; the  bark  of  this  roof  being  little  better 
than  so  much  kindling-wood.  The  castle,  too. 
might  be  entered  and  ransacked,  in  my  absence, 
and  all  my  possessions  overrun  and  destroyed. 
Once  in  the  lake,  we  can  be  attacked  only  in 
boats,  or  on  rafts — shall  have  a fair  chance  with 
the  enemy — and  can  protect  the  castle  with  the 
ark.  Do  you  understand  this  reasoning,  young- 
ster ? ” 

“ It  sounds  well — yes,  it  has  a rational  sound  ; 
and  I’ll  not  gainsay  it.” 

“Well,  old  Tom,”  cried  Hurry,  “if  we  are  to 
move,  the  sooner  we  make  a beginning,  the  sooner 
we  shall  know  whether  we  are  to  have  our  scalps 
for  nightcaps,  or  not.” 

As  this  proposition  was  self-evident,  no  one 
denied  its  justice.  The  three  men,  after  a short 
preliminary  explanation,  now  set  about  their  prep- 
arations to  move  the  ark  in  earnest.  The  slight 


AN  INDIAN  INTRUSION. 


33 


fastenings  were  quickly  loosened ; and,  by  haul- 
ing on  the  line,  the  heavy  craft  slowly  emerged 
from  the  cover.  It  tvas  no  sooner  free  from  the 
encumbrance  of  the  branches,  than  it  swung  into 
the  stream,  sheering  quite  close  to  the  western 
shore,  by  the  force  of  the  current.  Not  a soul  on 
board  heard  the  rustling  of  the  branches,  as  the 
cabin  came  against  the  bushes  and  trees  of  the 
western  bank,  without  a feeling  of  uneasiness ; 
for  no  one  knew  at  what  moment,  or  in  what  place, 
a secret  and  murderous  enemy  might  unmask  him- 
self. Perhaps  the  gloomy  light  that  still  struggled 
through  the  impending  canopy  of  leaves,  or  found 
its  way  through  the  narrow,  ribbon-like  opening, 
which  seemed  to  mark,  jn  the  air  above,  the 
course  of  the  river  that  flowed  beneath,  aided  in 
augmenting  the  appearance  of  danger  ; for  it  was 
little  more  than  sufficient  to  render  objects  visi- 
ble, without  giving  up  all  their  outlines  at  a glance. 
Although  the  sun  had  not  absolutely  set,  it  had 
withdrawn  its  direct  rays  from  the  valley;  and 
the  hues  of  evening  were  beginning  to  gather 
around  objects  that  stood  uncovered,  rendering 
those  within  the  shadows  of  the  woods  still  more 
sombre  and  gloomy. 

No  interruption  followed  the  movement,  how- 
ever, and,  as  the  men  continued  to  haul  on  the 
line,  the  ark  passed  steadily  ahead,  the  great 
breadth  of  the  scow  preventing  its  sinking  into 
the  water,  and  from  offering  much  resistance  to 
the  progress  of  the  swift  element  beneath  its  bot- 
tom. Hutter,  too,  had  adopted  a precaution,  sug- 
gested by  experience,  which  might  have  done 
credit  to  a seaman,  and  which  completely  prevent- 
ed any  of  the  annoyances  and  obstacles  which 
otherwise  would  have  attended  the  short  turns  of 
the  river.  As  the  ark  descended,  heavy  stones, 
attached  to  the  line,  were  dropped  in  the  centre 
of  the  stream,  forming  local  anchors,  each  of  which 
was  kept  from  dragging  by  the  assistance  of  those 
above  it,  until  the  uppermost  of  all  was  reached, 
which  got'  its  “ backing  ” from  the  anchor,  or 
grapnel,  that  lay  well  out  in  the  lake.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  expedient,  the  ark  floated  clear  of 
the  encumbrances  of  the  shore,  against  which  it 
would  otherwise  have  been  unavoidably  hauled  at 
every  turn,  producing  embarrassments  that  Hut- 
ter, single-handed,  would  have  found  it  very  diffi- 
cult to  overcome. 

Favored  by  this  foresight,  and  stimulated  by 
the  apprehension  of  discovery,  Floating  Tom  and 
hi3  two  athletic  companions  hauled  the  ark  ahead 
with  quite  as  much  rapidity  as  comported  with 
the  strength  of  the  line.  At  every  turn  in  the 
stream,  a stone  was  raised  from  the  bottom,  when 
;he  direction  of  the  scow  changed  to  one  that 


pointed  toward  the  stone  that  lay  above.  In  this 
manner,  with  the  channel  buoyed  out  for  him,  as 
a sailor  might  term  it,  did  Hutter  move  forward, 
occasionally  urging  his  friends,  in  a low  and 
guarded  voice,  to  increase  their  exertions,  and 
then,  as  occasions  offered,  warning  them  against 
efforts  that  might,  at  particular  moments,  endan- 
ger all  by  too  much  zeal.  In  spite  of  their  long 
familiarity  with  the  woods,  the  gloomy  character 
of  the  shaded  river  added  to  the  uneasiness  that 
each  felt;  and  when  the  ark  reached  the  first 
bend  in  the  Susquehanna,  and  the  eye  caught  a 
glimpse  of  the  broader  expanse  of  the  lake,  all 
felt  a relief  that  perhaps  none  would  have  been 
willing  to  confess.  Here  the  last  stone  was  raised 
from  the  bottom,  and  the  line  led  directly  toward 
the  grapnel,  which,  as  Hutter  had  explained,  was 
dropped  above  the  suction  of  the  current. 

“Thank  God!”  ejaculated  Hurry,  “ there  is 
daylight,  and  we  shall  soon  have  a chance  of  see- 
ing our  inimies,  if  we  are  to  feel  ’em.” 

“ That  is  more  than  you  or  any  man  can  say,” 
growled  Hutter.  “ There  is  no  spot  so  likely  to 
harbor  a party  as  the  shore  around  the  outlet ; 
and  the  moment  we  clear  these  trees  and  get  into 
open  water,  will  be  the  most  trying  time,  since  it 
will  leave  the  enemy  a cover  while  it  puts  us  out 
of  one. — Judith,  girl,  do  you  and  Hetty  leave  the 
oar  to  take  care  of  itself,  and  go  within  the  cabin  ; 
and  be  mindful  not  to  show  your  faces  at  a win- 
dow ; for  they  who  will  look  at  them  won’t  stop 
to  praise  their  beauty. — And  now,  Hurry,  we’ll 
step  into  this  outer  room  ourselves,  and  haul 
through  the  door,  where  we  shall  all  be  safe,  from 
a surprise  at  least. — Friend  Deerslayer,  as  the  cur- 
rent is  lighter,  and  the  line  has  all  the  strain  on 
it  that  is  prudent,  do  you  keep  moving  from  win- 
dow to  window,  taking  care  not  to  let  your  head 
be  seen,  if  you  set  any  value  on  life.  No  one 
knows  when  or  where  we  shall  hear  from  our 
neighbors.” 

Deerslayer  complied,  with  a sensation  that  had 
nothing  in  common  with  fear,  but  which  had  all 
the  interest  of  a perfectly  novel  and  a most  excit- 
ing situation.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he 
was  in  the  vicinity  of  enemies,  or  had  good  reason 
to  think  so  ; and  that,  too,  under  all  the  thrilling 
circumstances  of  Indian  surprises  and  Indian  arti- 
fices. As  he  took  his  stand  at  a window,  the  ark 
was  just  passing  through  the  narrowest  part  of  the 
stream,  a point  where  the  water  first  entered 
what  was  properly  termed  the  river,  and  where 
the  trees  fairly  interlocked  overhead,  causing 
the  current  to  rush  into  an  arch  of  verdure ; 
a feature  as  appropriate  and  peculiar  to  the 
country,  perhaps,  as  that  of  Switzerland,  where 


34 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  rivers  come  rushing  literally  from  chambers 
of  ice. 

The  ark  was  in  the  act  of  passing  the  last 
curve  of  this  leafy  entrance,  as  Deerslayer,  having 
examined  all  that  could  be  seen  of  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  river,  crossed  the  room  to  look  from 
the  opposite  window,  at  the  western.  His  arri- 
val at  this  aperture  was  most  opportune,  ;x>r  he 
had  no  sooner  placed  his  eye  at  a crack,  than  a 
sight  met  his  gaze  that  might  well  have  alarmed 
a sentinel  so  young  and  inexperienced.  A sap- 
ling overhung  the  water,  in  nearly  half  a circle, 
having  first  grown  toward  the  light,  and  then  been 
pressed  down  into  this  form  by  the  weight  of 
the  snows  ; a circumstance  of  common  occurrence 
in  the  American  woods.  On  this  no  less  than  six 
Indians  had  already  appeared,  others  standing 
ready  to  follow  them,  as  they  left  room ; each 
evidently  bent  on  running  out  on  the  trunk,  and 
dropping  on  the  roof  of  the  ark  as  it  passed  be- 
neath. This  would  have  been  an  exploit  of  no 
great  difficulty,  the  inclination  of  the  tree  admit- 
ting of  an  easy  passage,  the  adjoining  branches 
offering  ample  support  for  the  hands,  and  the 
fall  being  too  trifling  to  be  apprehended.  When 
Deerslayer  first  saw  this  party,  it  was  just  un- 
masking itself,  by  ascending  the  part  of  the  tree 
nearest  to  the  earth,  or  that  which  was  the  most 
difficult  to  overcome ; and  his  knowledge  of 
Indian  habits  told  him  at  once  that  they  were  all 
in  their  war-paint,  and  belonged  to  a hostile 
tribe. 

“ Pull,  Hurry,”  he  cried  ; “ pull  for  your  life, 
and  as  you  love  Judith  flutter ! Pull,  man, 
pull ! ” 

This  call  was  made  to  one  that  the  young  man 
knew  had  the  strength  of  a giant.  It  was  so 
earnest  and  solemn,  that  both  Hutter  and  March 
felt  it  was  not  idly  given,  and  they  applied  all  their 
force  to  the  line  simultaneously,  and  at  a most 
critical  moment.  The  scow  redoubled  its  motion, 
and  seemed  to  glide  from  under  the  tree  as  if  con- 
scious of  the  danger  that  was  impending  over- 
head. Perceiving  that  they  were  discovered,  the 
Indians  uttered  the  fearful  war-whoop,  and,  run- 
ning forward  on  the  tree,  leaped  desperately  tow- 
ard their  fancied  prize.  There  were  six  on  the 
tree,  and  each  made  the  effort.  All  but  their 
leader  fell  into  the  river  more  or  less  distant  from 
the  ark,  as  they  came,  sooner  or  later,  to  the  leap- 
ing-place.  The  chief,  who  had  taken  the  danger- 
ous post  in  advance,  having  an  earlier  opportunity 
than  the  others,  struck  the  scow  just  within  the 
stern.  The  fall  proving  so  much  greater  than  he 
had  anticipated,  he  was  slightly  stunned,  and  for 
a moment  he  remained  half  bent  and  unconscious 


of  his  situation.  At  this  instant  Judith  rushed 
from  the  cabin,  her  beauty  heightened  by  the 
excitement  that  produced  the  bold  act,  which 
flushed  her  cheek  to  crimson,  and,  throwing  all 
her  strength  into  the  effort,  she  pushed  the  in- 
truder over  the  edge  of  the  scow,  headlong  into 
the  river.  This  decided  feat  was  no  sooner  ac- 
complished than  the  woman  resumed  her  sway ; 
Judith  looked  over  the  stern  to  ascertain  what 
had  become  of  the  man,  and  the  expression  of 
her  eyes  softened  to  concern ; next,  her  cheek  crim- 
soned between  shame  and  surprise,  at  her  own 
temerity ; and  then  she  laughed  in  her  own  merry 
and  sweet  manner.  All  this  occupied  less  than  a 
minute,  when  the  arm  of  Deerslayer  was  thrown 
around  her  waist,  and  she  was  dragged  swiftly 
within  the  protection  of  the  cabin.  This  retreat 
was  not  effected  too  soon.  Scarcely  were  the  two 
in  safety,  when  the  forest  was  filled  with  yells, 
and  bullets  began  to  patter  against  the  logs. 

The  ark  being  in  swift  motion  all  this  while, 
it  was  beyond  the  danger  of  pursuit  by  the  time 
these  little  events  had  occurred  ; and  the  savages, 
as  soon  as  the  first  burst  of  their  anger  had  sub- 
sided, ceased  firing,  with  the  consciousness  that 
they  were  expending  their  ammunition  in  vain. 
When  the  scow  came  up  over  her  grapnel,  Hutter 
tripped  the  latter,  in  a way  not  to  impede  the 
motion ; and  being  now  beyond  the  influence  of 
the  current,  the  vessel  continued  to  drift  ahead, 
until  fairly  in  the  open  lake,  though  still  near 
enough  to  the  land  to  render  exposure  to  a rifle- 
bullet  dangerous.  Hutter  and  March  got  out  two 
small  sweeps,  and,  covered  by  the  cabin,  they 
soon  urged  the  ark  far  enough  from  the  shore  to 
leave  no  inducement  to  their  enemies  to  make 
any  further  attempt  to  injure  them. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

“ Wliy,  let  the  stricken  deer  go  weep,’ 

The  hart  ungalled  play, 

For  some  must  watch,  while  some  must  sleep, 
Thus  runs  the  world  away.” 

Shakespeare. 

Another  consultation  took  place  in  the  for- 
ward part  of  the  scow,  at  which  both  Judith  and 
Hetty  were  present.  As  no  danger  could  now 
approach  unseen,  immediate  uneasiness  had  given 
place  to  the  concern  which  attended  the  convic- 
tion that  enemies  were,  in  considerable  force,  on 
the  shores  of  the  lake,  and  that  they  might  be 
sure  no  practicable  means  of  accomplishing  their 
own  destruction  would  be  neglected.  As  a matter 
of  course,  Hutter  felt  these  truths  the  deepest, 


FLOATING  TOM’S  ANXIETY. 


35 


his  daughters  having  an  habitual  reliance  on  his 
resources,  and  knowing  too  little  to  appreciate 
rully  all  the  risks  they  ran ; while  his  male  com- 
panions were  at  liberty  to  quit  him  at  any  mo- 
ment they  saw  fit.  His  first  remark  showed  that 
he  had  an  eye  to  the  latter  circumstance,  and 
might  have  betrayed,  to  a keen  observer,  the  ap- 
prehension that  was  just  then  uppermost. 

“ We’ve  a great  advantage  over  the  Iroquois, 
or  the  enemy,  whoever  they  are,  in  being  afloat,” 
he  said.  “ There’s  not  a canoe  on  the  lake  that 
I don’t  know  where  it’s  hid ; and  now  yours  is 
here,  Hurry,  there  are  but  three  more  on  the  land, 
and  they’re  so  snug  in  hollow  logs  that  I don’t 
believe  the  Indians  could  find  them,  let  them  try 
ever  so  long.” 

“There’s  no  telling  that — no  one  can  say 
that,”  put  in  Deerslayer ; “ a hound  is  not  more 
sartain  on  the  scent  than  a red-skin,  when  he  ex- 
pects to  get  any  thing  by  it.  Let  this  party  see 
scalps  afore  ’em,  or  plunder,  or  honor,  accordin’ 
to  their  idees  of  what  honor  is,  and  ’twill  be  a 
tight  log  that  hides  a canoe  from  their  eyes.” 

“You’re  right,  Deerslayer,”  cried  Harry 
March ; “ you’re  downright  gospel  in  this  matter, 
and  I rej’ice  that  my  bunch  of  bark  is  safe  enough 
here,  within  reach  of  ray  arm. — I calcilate  they’ll 
be  at  all  the  rest  of  the  canoes  afore  to-morrow 
night,  if  they  are  in  ra’al  ’arnest  to  smoke  you 
out,  old  Tom,  and  we  may  as  well  overhaul  our 
paddles,  for  a pull.” 

Hutter  made  no  immediate  reply.  He  looked 
about  him  in  silence  for  quite  a minute,  examin- 
ing the  sky,  the  lake,  and  the  belt  of  forest  which 
enclosed  it,  as  it  might  be  hermetically,  like  one 
consulting  their  signs.  Nor  did  he  find  any  alarm- 
ing symptoms.  The  boundless  woods  were  sleep- 
ing in  the  deep  repose  of  Nature,  the  heavens 
were  placid,  but  still  luminous  with  the  light  of 
the  retreating  sun,  while  the  lake  looked  more 
lovely  and  calm  than  it  had  before  done  that  day. 
It  was  a scene  altogether  soothing,  and  of  a char- 
acter to  lull  the  passions  into  a species  of  holy 
calm.  How  far  this  effect  was  produced,  however, 
on  the  party  in  the  ark,  must  appear  in  the  prog- 
ress of  our  narrative. 

“ J udith,”  called  out  the  father,  when  he  had 
taken  this  close  but  short  survey  of  the  omens, 
“night  is  at  hand ; find  our  friends  food  ; a long 
inarch  gives  a sharp  appetite.” 

“We’re  not  starving,  Master  Hutter,”  March 
observed,  “ for  we  filled  up  just  as  we  reached 
the  lake,  and,  for  one,  I prefar  the  company  of 
Jude  even  to  her  supper.  This  quiet  evening  is 
very  agreeable  to  sit  by  her  side.” 

“Natur’  is  natur,”  objected  Hutter,  “and 


must  be  fed. — Judith,  see  to  the  meal,  and  take 
your  sister  to  help  you. — I’ve  a little  discourse  to 
hold  with  you,  friends,”  he  continued,  as  soon  as 
his  daughters  were  out  of  hearing,  “ and  wish  the 
girls  away.  You  see  my  situation ; and  I should 
like  to  hear  your  opinions  concerning  what  is 
best  to  be  done.  Three  times  have  I been  burnt 
out  already,  but  that  was  on  the  shore ; and  I’ve 
considered  myself  as  pretty  safe  ever  since  I got 
the  castle  built,  and  the  ark  afloat.  My  other 
accidents,  however,  happened  in  peaceable  times, 
being  nothing  more  than  such  flurries  as  a man 
must  meet  with,  in  the  woods ; but  this  matter 
looks  serious,  and  your  ideas  would  greatly  relieve 
my  mind.” 

“ It’s  my  notion,  old  Tom,  that  you,  and  your 
huts,  and  your  traps,  and  your  whole  possessions, 
hereaway,  are  in  desperate  jippardy,”  returned 
the  matter-of-fact  Hurry,  who  saw  no  use  in  con- 
cealment. “Accordin’  to  my  idees  of  valie, 
they’re  altogether  not  worth  half  as  much  to-day 
as  they  were  yesterday,  nor  would  I give  much 
for  ’em,  taking  the  pay  in  skins.” 

“ Then  I’ve  children ! ” continued  the  father, 
making  the  allusion  in  a way  that  might  have 
puzzled  even  an  indifferent  observer  to  say  was 
intended  as  a bait,  or  as  an  exclamation  of  pa- 
ternal concern,  “ daughters,  as  you  know,  Hurry, 
and  good  girls  too,  I may  say,  though  I am  their 
father.” 

“A  man  may  say  any  thing,  Master  Hutter, 
particularly  when  pressed  by  time  and  circum- 
stances. You’ve  darters,  as  you  say,  and  one  of 
them  hasn’t  her  equal  on  the  frontiers  for  good 
looks,  whatever  she  may  have  for  good  behavior. 
As  for  poor  Hetty,  she’s  Hetty  Hutter,  and  that’s 
as  much  as  one  can  say  about  the  poor  thing. 
Give  me  Jude,  if  her  conduct  was  only  equal  tc 
her  looks ! ” 

“ I see,  Harry  March,  I can  only  count  on  you 
as  a fair-weather  friend  ; and  I suppose  that  your 
companion  will  be  of  the  same  way  of  thinking,” 
returned  the  other,  with  a slight  show  of  pride, 
that  was  not  altogether  without  dignity ; “ well,  I 
must  depend  on  Providence,  which  will  not  turn 
a deaf  ear,  perhaps,  to  a father’s  prayers.” 

“ If  you’ve  understood  Hurry,  here,  to  mean 
that  he  intends  to  desart  you,”  said  Deerslayer, 
with  an  earnest  simplicity  that  gave  double  as- 
surance of  its  truth,  “ I think  you  do  him  injustice, 
as  I know  you  do  me,  in  supposing  I would  follow 
him  was  he  so  ontrue-hearted  as  to  leave  a family 
of  his  own  color  in  such  a strait  as  this.  I’ve 
come  on  this  lake,  Master  Hutter,  to  rende’vous 
a fri’nd,  and  I only  wish  he  was  here  himself,  as 
I make  no  doubt  he  will  be  at  sunset  to-morrow, 


86 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


when  you’d  have  another  rifle  to  aid  you  ; an  in- 
exper’enced  one,  I’ll  allow,  like  my  own,  but  one 
that  has  proved  true  so  often  ag’in  the  game,  big 
and  little,  that  I’ll  answer  for  its  sarvice  ag’in 
mortals.” 

“ May  I depend  on  you  to  stand  by  me  and  my 
daughters,  then,  Deerslayer  ? ” demanded  the  old 
man,  with  a father’s  anxiety  in  his  countenance. 

“ That  may  you,  Floating  Tom,  if  that’s  your 
name,  and  as  a brother  would  stand  by  a sister, 
a husband  his  wife,  or  a suitor  his  sweetheart. 
In  this  strait  you  may  count  on  me,  through  all 
advarsities,  and  I think  Hurry  does  discredit  to 
his  natur’  and  wishes,  if  you  can’t  count  on  him.” 

“ Not  he,”  cried  Judith,  thrusting  her  hand- 
some face  out  of  the  door ; “ his  nature  is  hurry, 
as  well  as  his  name,  and  he’ll  hurry  off,  as  soon  as 
he  thinks  his  fine  figure  in  danger.  Neither  ‘ old 
Tom,’  nor  his  ‘ gals,’  will  depend  much  on  Master 
March,  now  they  know  him,  but  you  they  will 
rely  on,  Deerslayer,  for  your  honest  face  and  your 
honest  heart  tell  us  that  what  you  promise  you 
will  perform.” 

This  was  said,  as  much,  perhaps,  in  affected 
scorn  for  Hurry,  as  in  sincerity.  Still,  it  was  not 
said  without  feeling.  The  fine  face  of  Judith 
sufficiently  proved  the  latter  circumstance,  and  if 
the  conscious  March  fancied  that  he  had  never 
seen  in  it  a stronger  display  of  contempt — a feel- 
ing in  which  the  beauty  was  apt  to  indulge — than 
while  she  was  looking  at  him,  it  seldom  exhibited 
more  of  womanly  softness  and  sensibility,  than 
when  her  speaking  blue  eyes  were  turned  on  his 
travelling  companion. 

“ Leave  us,  Judith,”  Hutter  ordered,  sternly, 
before  either  of  the  young  men  could  reply; 
“leave  us,  and  do  not  return  until  you  come  with 
the  venison  and  fish. — The  girl  has  been  spoilt  by 
the  flattery  of  the  officers,  who  sometimes  find 
their  way  up  here,  Master  March,  and  you’ll  not 
think  any  harm  of  her  silly  words.” 

“You  never  said  truer  syllable,  old  Tom,”  re- 
torted Hurry,  who  smarted  under  Judith’s  obser- 
vations ; “ the  devil-tongued  youngsters  of  the 
garrison  have  proved  her  undoing!  I scarce 
know  Jude  any  longer,  and  shall  soon  take  to 
admiring  her  sister,  who  is  getting  to  be  much 
more  to  my  fancy.” 

“I  am  glad  to  hear  this,  Harry,  and  look  upon 
:t  as  a sign  that  you’re  coming  to  your  right 
senses.  Hetty  would  make  a much  safer  and 
more  rational  companion  than  Jude,  and  would 
he  much  the  most  likely  to  listen  to  your  suit,  as 
the  officers  have,  I greatly  fear,  unsettled  her  sis- 
ter’s mind.” 

“ No  man  need  a safer  wife  than  Hetty,”  said 


Hurry,  laughing,  “though  I’ll  not  answer  for  he 
being  of  the  most  rational.  But  no  matter; 
Deerslayer  has  not  misconceived  me,  when  he 
told  you  I should  be  found  'at  my  post.  I’ll  not 
quit  you , Uncle  Tom,  just  now,  whatever  may  be 
my  feelin’s  and  intentions  respecting  your  eldest 
darter.” 

Hurry  had  a respectable  reputation  for  prow- 
ess among  his  associates,  and  Hutter  heard  this 
pledge  with  a satisfaction  that  was  not  concealed. 
Even  the  great  personal  strength  of  such  an  aid 
became  of  moment,  in  moving  the  ark,  as  well  as 
in  the  species  of  hand-to-hand  conflicts  that  were 
not  unfrequent  in  the  woods ; and  no  commander 
who  was  hard  pressed  could  feel  more  joy  at  hear- 
ing of  the  arrival  of  reenforcements,  than  the 
borderer  experienced  at  being  told  this  important 
auxiliary  was  not  about  to  quit  him.  A minute 
before,  Hutter  would  have  been  well  content  to 
compromise  his  danger,  by  entering  into  a com- 
pact to  act  only  on  the  defensive,  but  no  sooner 
did  he  feel  some  security  on  this  point,  than  the 
restlessness  of  man  induced  him  to  think  of  the 
means  of  carrying  the  war  into  the  enemy’s  coun- 
try. 

“ High  prices  are  offered  for  scalps,  on  both 
sides,”  he  observed,  with  a grim  smile,  as  if  he 
felt  the  force  of  the  inducement,  at  the  very  time 
he  wished  to  affect  a superiority  to  earning 
money  by  means  that  the  ordinary  feelings  of 
those  who  aspire  to  be  civilized  men,  repudiated, 
even  while  they  were  adopted.  “ It  isn’t  right, 
perhaps,  to  take  gold  for  human  blood,  and  yet, 
when  mankind  is  busy  in  killing  one  another, 
there  can  be  no  great  harm  in  adding  a little  bit 
of  skin  to  the  plunder.  What’s  your  sentiments, 
Hurry,  touching  these  p’ints  ? ” 

“ That  you’ve  made  a vast  mistake,  old  man, 
in  calling  savage  blood,  human  blood,  at  all.  I 
think  no  more  of  a red-skin’s  scalp  than  I do  of 
a pair  of  wolfs  ears  ; and  would  just  as  lief  finger 
money  for  the  one  as  for  the  other.  With  white 
people  ’tis  different,  for  they’ve  a nat’ral  avarsion 
to  being  scalped  ; whereas  your  Indian  shaves  his 
head  in  readiness  for  the  knife,  and  leaves  a lock 
of  hair  by  way  of  braggadocio,  that  one  can  lay 
hold  of  in  the  bargain.” 

“ That’s  manly,  however,  and  I felt  from  the 
first  that  we  had  only  to  get  you  on  our  side,  to 
have  you,  heart  and  hand,”  returned  Tom,  losing 
all  his  reserve,  as  he  gained  a renewed  confidence 
in  the  disposition  of  his  companion.  “ Something 
more  may  turn  up  from  this  inroad  of  the  red- 
skins than  they  bargained  for. — Deerslayer,  I 
conclude  you’re  of  Hurry’s  way  of  thinking,  and 
look  upon  money  ’arned  in  this  way  as  being  as 


A DISCUSSION  ON  CHRISTIAN  ETHICS. 


37 


likely  to  pass  as  money  ’arned  in  trapping  or 
hunting.” 

“ I’ve  no  such  feelin’,  nor  any  wish  to  harbor 
it,  not  I,”  returned  the  other.  “ My  gifts  are  not 
scalpers’  gifts,  but  such  as  belong  to  my  religion 
and  color.  I’ll  stand  by  you,  old  man,  in  the  ark 
or  in  the  castle,  the  canoe  or  the  woods,  but  I’ll 
not  unhumanize  my  natur’  by  falling  into  ways 
that  God  intended  for  another  race.  If  you  and 
Hurry  have  got  any  thoughts  that  lean  toward 
the  colony’s  gold,  go  by  yourselves  in  s’arch  of  it, 
and  leave  the  females  to  my  care.  Much  as  I 
must  differ  from  you  both  on  all  gifts  that  do  not 
properly  belong  to  a white  man,  we  shall  agree 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  strong  to  take  care  of 
the  weak,  especially  when  the  last  belong  to  them 
that  natur’  intended  man  to  protect  and  console 
by  his  gentleness  and  strength.” 

“ Hurry  Harry,  that  is  a lesson  you  might 
learn  and  practise  on  to  some  advantage,”  said 
the  sweet  but  spirited  voice  of  Judith,  from  the 
cabin ; a proof  that  she  had  overheard  all  that 
had  hitherto  been  said. 

“ No  more  of  this,  Jude,”  called  out  the  fa- 
ther, angrily.  “ Move  farther  off ; we  are  about 
to  talk  of  matters  unfit  for  a woman  to  listen  to.” 

Hutter  did  not  take  any  steps,  however,  to 
ascertain  whether  he  was  obeyed  or  not,  but, 
dropping  his  voice  a little,  he  pursued  the  dis- 
course. 

“The  young  man  is  right,  Hurry,”  he  said; 
“ and  we  can  leave  the  children  in  his  care.  Now, 
my  idea  is  just  this  ; and  I think  you’ll  agree  that 
it  is  rational  and  correct : There’s  a large  party 
^f  these  savages  on  the  shore ; and,  though  I 
didn’t  tell  it  before  the  girls,  for  they’re  woman- 
ish, and  apt  to  be  troublesome  when  any  thing 
like  real  work  is  to  be  done,  there’s  women  among 
’em.  This  I know  from  moccasin-prints  ; and 
’tis  likely  they  are  hunters,  after  all,  who  have 
been  out  so  long  that  they  know  nothing  of  the 
war,  or  of  the  bounties.” 

“ In  which  case,  old  Tom,  why  was  their  first 
salute  an  attempt  to  cut  all  our  throats  ? ” 

“We  don’t  know  that  their  design  was  so 
bloody.  It’s  natural  and  easy  for  an  Indian  to 
fall  into  ambushes  and  surprises  ; and,  no  doubt, 
they  wished  to  get  on  board  the  ark  first,  and  to 
make  their  conditions  afterward.  That  a disap- 
p’inted  savage  should  fire  at  us,  is  in  rule  ; and  I 
think  nothing  of  that.  Besides,  how  often  have 
they  burned  me  out,  and  robbed  my  traps — ay, 
*ird  pulled  trigger  on  me,  in  the  most  peaceful 
times ! ” 

“ The  blackguards  will-  do  such  things,  I must 
allow  ; and  we  pay  ’em  off  pretty  much  in  their 


own  c’ine.  Women  would  not  be  on  the  war- 
path, sartainly ; and,  so  far,  there’s  reason  in 
your  idee.” 

“ Nor  would  a hunter  be  in  his  war-paint,”  re- 
turned Deerslayer.  “ I saw  the  Mingoes,  and 
know  that  they  are  out  on  the  trail  of  mortal 
men  ; and  not  for  beaver  or  deer.” 

“ There  you  have  it  ag’in,  old  fellow,”  said 
Hurry.  “ In  the  way  of  an  eye,  now,  I’d  as  soon 
trust  this  young  man  as  trust  the  oldest  settler  in 
the  colony  ; if  he  says  paint,  why  paint  it  was.” 

“ Then  a hunting-party  and  a war-party  have 
met,  for  women  must  have  been  with  ’em.  It’s 
only  a few  days  since  the  runner  went  through 
with  the  tidings  of  the  troubles  ; and  it  may  be 
that  warriors  have  come  out  to  call  in  their 
women  and  children,  and  to  get  an  early  blow.” 

“ That  would  stand  the  courts,  and  is  just  the 
truth,”  cried  Hurry  ; “ you’ve  got  it  now,  old  Tom, 
and  I should  like  to  hear  what  you  mean  to  make 
out  of  it.” 

“ The  bounty,”  returned  the  other,  looking  up 
at  his  attentive  companion,  in  a cool,  sullen  man- 
ner, in  which,  however,  heartless  cupidity  and 
indifference  to  the  means  were  far  more  conspic- 
uous than  any  feelings  of  animosity  or  revenge. 
“ If  there’s  women,  there’s  children  ; and  big 
and  little  have  scalps ; the  colony  pays  for  all 
alike.” 

“ More  shame  to  it,  that  it  should  do  so,”  in- 
terrupted Deerslayer  ; “ more  shame  to  it,  that  it 
don’t  understand  its  gifts,  and  pay  greater  atten- 
tion to  the  will  of  God.” 

“ Hearken  to  reason,  lad,  and  don’t  cry  out 
afore  you  understand  a case,”  returned  the  unmoved 
Hurry;  “the  savages  scalp  your  fri’nds,  the 
Delawares,  or  Mohicans,  whichever  they  may  be, 
among  the  rest ; and  why  shouldn’t  we  scalp  ? I 
will  own,  it  would  be  ag’in  right  for  you  and  me, 
now,  to  go  into  the  settlements  and  bring  out 
scalps,  but  it’s  a very  different  matter  as  con- 
cerns Indians.  A man  shouldn’t  take  scalps,  if 
he  isn’t  ready  to  be  scalped  himself,  on  fitting 
occasions.  One  good  turn  desarves  another,  all 
the  world  over.  That’s  reason,  and  I believe  it 
to  be  good  religion.” 

“ Ay,  Master  Hurry,”  again  interrupted  the 
rich  voice  of  Judith,  “ is  it  religion  to  say  that 
one  bad  turn  deserves  another  ? ” 

“I’ll  never  reason  ag’in  you,  Judy,  for  you 
beat  me  with  beauty,  if  you  can’t  with  sense. 
Here’s  the  Canadas  paying  their  Injins  for  scalps, 
and  why  not  we  pay — ” 

“ Our  Indians  ! ” exclaimed  the  girl,  laughing 
with  a sort  of  melancholy  merriment. — “ Father 
father ! think  no  more  of  this,  and  listen  to  the 


38 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


advice  of  Deerslayer,  who  has  a conscience ; 
which  is  more  than  I can  say  or  think  of  Harry 
March.” 

Hutternow  rose,  and,  entering  the  cabin,  he 
compelled  his  daughters  to  go  into  the  adjoining 
room,  when  he  secured  both  the  doors,  and  re- 
turned. Then  he  and  Hurry  pursued  the  sub- 
ject ; but,  as  the  purport  of  all  that  was  material 
in  this  discourse  will  appear  in  the  narrative,  it 
need  not  be  related  here  in  detail.  The  reader, 
however,  can  have  no  difficulty  in  comprehending 
the  morality  that  presided  over  their  conference. 
It  was,  in  truth,  that  which,  in  some  form  or 
other,  rules  most  of  the  acts  of  men,  and  in  which 
the  controlling  principle  is  that  one  wrong  will 
justify  another.  Their  enemies  paid  for  scalps, 
and  this  was  sufficient  to  justify  the  colony  for 
retaliating.  It  is  true,  the  French  used  the  same 
argument — a circumstance,  as  Hurry  took  occa- 
sion to  observe  in  answer  to  one  of  Deerslayer’s 
objections,  that  proved  its  truth,  as  mortal  ene- 
mies would  not  be  likely  to  have  recourse  to  the 
same  reason  unless  it  were  a good  one.  But 
neither  Hutter  nor  Hurry  was  a man  likely  to 
stick  at  trifles  in  matters  connected  "with  the 
right  of  the  aborigines,  since  it  is  one  of  the  con- 
sequences of  aggression  that  it  hardens  the  con- 
science, as  the  only  means  of  quieting  it.  In  the 
most  peaceable  state  of  the  country,  a species  of 
warfare  was  carried  on  between  the  Indians,  es- 
pecially those  of  the  Canadas,  and  men  of  their 
caste ; and  the  moment  an  actual  and  recognized 
warfare  existed,  it  was  regarded  as  the  means  of 
lawfully  revenging  a thousand  wrongs,  real  and 
imaginary.  Then,  again,  there  was  some  truth, 
and  a good  deal  of  expediency,  in  the  principle 
of  retaliation,  of  which  they  both  availed  them- 
selves, in  particular,  to  answer  the  objections  of 
their  juster-minded  and  more  scrupulous  com- 
panion. 

“ You  must  fight  a man  with  his  own  we’pons, 
Deerslayer,”  cried  Hurry,  in  his  uncouth  dialect, 
and  in  his  dogmatical  manner  of  disposing  of  all 
moral,  propositions  ; “if  he’s  f’erce,  you  must  be 
f ercer ; if  he’s  stout  of  heart,  you  must  be  stout- 
er. This  is  the  way  to  get  the  better  of  Christian 
or  savage  : by  keeping  up  to  this  trail,  you’ll  get 
soonest  to  the  ind  of  your  journey.” 

“ That’s  not  Moravian  doctrine,  which  teaches 
that  all  are  to  be  judged  according  to  their  talents 
or  Taming — the  Injin  like  an  Injin,  and  the 
white  man  like  a white  man.  Some  of  their 
teachers  say  that  if  you’re  struck  on  the  cheek, 
it’s  a duty  to  turn  the  other  side  of  the  face,  and 
take  another  blow,  instead  of  seeking  revenge, 
whereby  I understand — ” 


“ That’s  enough  ! ” shouted  Hurry ; **  that’s 
all  I want  to  prove  a man’s  doctrine ! How  long 
would  it  take  to  kick  a man  through  the  colony 
— in  at  one  ind,  and  out  at  the  other,  on  that  prin- 
ciple ? ” 

“Don’t  mistake  me,  March,”  returned  the 
young  hunter,  with  dignity ; “ I don’t  understand 
by  this  any  more  than  that  it’s  best  to  do  this,  if 
possible.  Revenge  is  an  Injin  gift,  and  forgive- 
ness a white  man’s.  That’s  all.  Overlook  all 
you  can  is  what’s  meant ; and  not  revenge  all  you 
can.  As  for  kicking,  Master  Hurry,”  and  Deer- 
slayer’s sunburnt  cheek  flushed  as  he  continued, 
“ into  the  colony,  or  out  of  the  colony,  that’s 
neither  here  nor  there,  seeing  no  one  proposes  it, 
and  no  one  would  be  likely  to  put  up  with  it. 
What  I wish  to  say  is,  that  a red-skin’s  scalping 
don’t  justify  a pale-face’s  scalping.” 

“ Do  as  you’re  done  by,  Deerslayer ; that’s 
ever  the  Christian  parson’s  doctrine.” 

“ No,  Hurry,  I’ve  asked  the  Moravians  con- 
sarning  that ; and  it’s  altogether  different.  ‘Do 
as  you  would  be  done  by,’  they  tell  me  is  the  true 
saying,  while  men  practise  the  false.  They  think 
all  the  colonies  wrong  that  offer  bounties  for 
scalps,  and  believe  no  blessing  will  follow  the 
measures.  Above  all  things,  they  forbid  re- 
venge.” 

“ That  for  your  Moravians ! ” cried  March, 
snapping  his  fingers  ; “ they’re  the  next  thing  to 
Quakers ; and  if  you’d  believe  al  they  tell  you, 
not  even  a ’rat  would  be  skinneu  out  of  ruarcy. 
Who  ever  heard  of  marcy  on  a musk-rat ! ” 

The  disdainful  manner  of  Hurry  prevented  a 
reply,  and  he  and  the  old  man  Tesumed  the  dis- 
cussion of  their  plans  in  a more  quiet  and  confi- 
dential manner.  This  confidence  lasted  until 
Judith  appeared,  bearing  the  simple  but  savory 
supper.  March  observed,  with  a little  surprise, 
that  she  placed  the  choicest  bits  before  Deer- 
slayer, and  that  in  the  little  nameless  attentions 
it  was  in  her  power  to  bestow,  she  quite  obviously 
manifested  a desire  to  let  it  be  seen  that  she 
deemed  him  the  honored  guest.  Accustomed, 
however,  to  the  waywardness  and  coquetry  of  the 
beauty,  this  discovery  gave  him  little  concern, 
and  he  ate  with  an  appetite  that  was  in  no  de- 
gree disturbed  by  any  moral  causes.  The  easily- 
digested  food  of  the  forests  offering  the  fewest 
possible  obstacles  to  the  gratification  of  this 
great  animal  indulgence,  Deerslayer,  notwith- 
standing the  hearty  meal  both  had  taken  in  the 
woods,  was  in  no  manner  behind  his  companion 
in  doing  justice  to  the  viands. 

An  hour  later  the  scene  had  greatly  changed. 
The  lake  was  still  placid  and  glassy,  but  the 


HETTY  AND  HER  FATHER. 


39 


gloom  of  the  hour  had  succeeded  to  the  soft 
twilight  of  a summer  evening,  and  all  within  the 
dark  setting  of  the  woods  lay  in  the  quiet  repose 
of  night.  The  forests  gave  up  no  song,  or  cry,  or 
even  murmur,  but  looked  down  from  the  hills  on 
the  lovely  basin  they  encircled  in  solemn  still- 
ness ; and  the  only  sound  that  was  audible  was 
the  regular  dip  of  the  sweeps,  at  which  Hurry 
and  Deerslayer  lazily  pushed,  impelling  the  ark 
toward  the  castle.  Hutter  had  withdrawn  to  the 
stern  of  the  scow  in  order  to  steer,  but,  finding 
that  the  young  men  kept  even  strokes,  and  held 
the  desired  course  by  their  own  skill,  he  per- 
mitted the  oar  to  drag  in  the  water,  took  a seat 
on  the  end  of  the  vessel,  and  lighted  his  pipe. 
He  had  not  been  thus  placed  many  minutes,  ere 
Hetty  came  stealthily  out  of  the  cabin,  or  house, 
as  they  usually  termed  that  part  of  the  ark,  and 
placed  herself  at  his  feet,  on  a little  bench  that 
she  brought  with  her.  As  this  movement  was 
by  no  means  unusual  in  his  feeble-minded  child, 
the  old  man  paid  no  other  attention  to  it  than  to 
lay  his  hand  kindly  on  her  head  in  an  affection- 
ate and  approving  manner — an  act  of  grace  that 
the  girl  received  in  meek  silence. 

After  a pause  of  several  minutes,  Hetty  began 
to  sing.  Her  voice  was  low  and  tremulous,  but 
it  was  earnest  and  solemn.  The  words  and  the 
time  were  of  the  simplest  form,  the  first  being  a 
hymn  that  she  had  been  taught  by  her  mother, 
and  the  last  one  of  those  natural  melodies  that 
find  favor  with  all  classes,  in  every  age,  coming 
from  and  being  addressed  to  the  feelings.  Hut- 
ter never  listened  to  this  simple  strain  without 
finding  his  heart  and  manner  softened  ; facts  that 
his  daughter  well  knew,  and  by  which  she  had 
often  profited,  through  the  sort  of  holy  instinct 
that  enlightens  the  weak  of  mind,  more  especially 
in  their  aims  toward  good. 

Hetty’s  low,  sweet  tones  had  not  been  raised 
many  moments,  when  the  dip  of  the  oars  ceased, 
and  the  holy  strain  arose  singly  on  the  breathing 
silence  of  the  wilderness.  As  if  she  gathered 
courage  with  the  theme,  her  powers  appeared  to 
increase  as  she  proceeded ; and,  though  nothing 
vulgar  or  noisy  mingled  in  her  melody,  its 
strength  and  melancholy  tenderness  grew  on  the 
ear,  until  the  air  was  filled  with  this  simple  homage 
of  a soul  that  seemed  almost  spotless.  That  the 
men  forward  were  not  indifferent  to  this  touching 
interruption,  was  proved  by  their  inaction ; nor 
did  their  oars  again  dip  until  the  last  of  the 
sweet  sounds  had  actually  died  among  the  re- 
markable shores,  which,  at  that  witching  hour, 
would  waft  even  the  lowest  modulations  of  the 
human  voice  more  than  a mile.  Hutter  was 


much  affected ; for,  rude  as  he  was  by  early 
habits,  and  even  ruthless  as  he  had  got  to  be  by 
long  exposure  to  the  practices  of  the  wilderness, 
his  nature  was  of  that  fearful  mixture  of  good  and 
evil  that  so  generally  enters  into  the  moral  com- 
position of  man. 

“You  are  sad  to-night,  child,”  said  the  fa- 
ther, whose  manner  and  language  usually  as- 
sumed some  of  the  gentleness  and  elevation  of  the 
civilized  life  he  had  led  in  youth  when  he  thus 
communed  with  this  particular  child  ; “we  have 
just  escaped  from  enemies,  and  ought  rather  to 
rejoice.” 

“You  can  never  do  it,  father!”  said  Hetty, 
in  a low,  remonstrating  manner,  taking  his  hard, 
knotty  hand  into  both  her  own ; “ you  have 
talked  long  with  Harry  March ; but  neither  of 
you  have  the  heart  to  do  it ! ” 

“ This  is  going  beyond  your  means,  foolish 
child ; you  must  have  been  naughty  enough  to 
have  listened,  or  you  could  know  nothing  of  our 
talk.” 

“ Why  should  you  and  Hurry  kill  people— es- 
pecially women  and  children  ? ” 

“ Peace,  girl,  peace  ; we  are  at  war,  and  must 
do  to  our  enemies  as  our’ enemies  would  do  to 
us.” 

“ That’s  not  it,  father  ! I heard  Deerslayer 
say  how  it  was.  You  must  do  to  your  enemies 
as  you  wish  your  enemies  would  do  to  you.  No 
man  wishes  his  enemies  to  kill  him.” 

“We  kill  our  enemies  in  war,  girl,  lest  they 
should  kill  us.  One  side  or  the  other  must  be- 
gin ; and  them  that  begin  first  are  most  apt  to 
get  the  victory.  You  know  nothing  about  these 
things,  poor  Hetty,  and  had  best  say  nothing.” 

“ Judith  says  it  is  wrong,  father;  and  Judith 
has  sense,  though  I have  none.” 

“ Jude  understands  better  than  to  talk  to  me 
of  these  matters  ; for  she  has  sense,  as  you  say, 
and  knows  I’ll  not  bear  it.  Which  would  you 
prefer,  Hetty ; to  have  your  scalp  taken  and  sold 
to  the  French,  or  that  we  should  kill  our  enemies 
and  keep  them  from  harming  us  ? ” 

“ That’s  not  it,  father ! Don’t  kill  them,  nor 
let  them  kill  us.  Sell  your  skins,  and  get  more, 
if  you  can  ; but  don’t  sell  human  blood.” 

“ Come,  come,  child ; let  us  talk  of  matters 
you  understand.  Are  you  glad  to  see  our  old 
friend  March  back  again?  You  like  Hurry, 
and  must  know  that  one  day  he  may  be  your 
brother — if  not  something  nearer.” 

“That  can’t  b$,  father,”  returned  the  girl, 
after  a considerable  pause  ; “ Hurry  has  had  one 
father  and  one  mother ; and  people  never  have 
two.” 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


40 


“ So  much  for  your  weak  mind,  Hetty.  When 
Jude  marries,  her  husband’s  father  will  be  her  fa- 
ther, and  her  husband’s  sister  her  sister.  If  she 
should  marry  Hurry,  then  he  will  be  your  broth- 
er.” 

“ Judith  will  never  have  Hurry,”  returned  the 
girl,  mildly  but  positively;  “Judith  don’t  like 
Hurry.” 

“ That’s  more  than  you  can  know,  Hetty. 
Harry  March  is  the  handsomest,  and  the  strong- 
est, and  the  boldest  young  man  that  ever  visits 
the  lake ; and,  as  Jude  is  the  greatest  beauty, 

I don’t  see  why  they  shouldn’t  come  together. 
He  has  as  much  as  promised  that  he  will  enter 
into  this  job  with  me  on  condition  that  I’ll  con- 
sent.” 

Hetty  began  to  move  her  body  back  and  forth, 
and  otherwise  to  express  mental  agitation,  but 
she  made  no  answer  for  more  than  a minute. 
Her  father,  accustomed  to  her  manner,  and  sus- 
pecting no  immediate  cause  of  concern,  contin- 
ued to  smoke  with  the  apparent  phlegm  which 
would  seem  to  belong  to  that  particular  species  | 
of  enjoyment. 

“ Hurry  is  handsome,  father,”  said  Hetty,  with 
a simple  emphasis,  that  she  might  have  hesitated 
about  using,  had  her  mind  been  more  alive  to  the 
inferences  of  others. 

“ I told  you  so,  child,”  muttered  old  Hutter, 
without  removing  the  pipe  from  between  his 
teeth;  “he’s  the  likeliest  youth  in  these  parts, 
and  Jude  is  the  likeliest  young  woman  I’ve  met 
with  since  her  poor  mother  was  in  her  best  days.” 

“ Is  it  wicked  to  be  ugly,  father  ? ” 

“One  might  be  guilty  of  worse  things — but 
you’re  by  no  means  ugly,  though  not  so  comely 
as  Jude.” 

“Is  Judith  any  happier  for  being  so  hand- 
some ? ” 

“ She  may  be,  child ; and  she  may  not  be. 
But  talk  of  other  matters,  now ; for  you  hardly 
understand  these,  poor  Hetty.  How  do  you  like 
our  new  acquaintance,,  Deerslayer  ? ” 

“ He  isn’t  handsome,  father.  Hurry  is  far 
handsomer  than  Deerslayer ! ” 

“ That’s  true,  but  they  say  he  is  a noted  hunt- 
er ! His  fame  had  reached  me  before  I ever 
saw  him,  and  I did  hope  he  would  prove  to  be  as 
stout  a warrior  as  he  is  dexterous  with  the  deer. 
Ill  men  are  not  alike,  howsever,  child,  and  it 
takes  time,  as  I know  by  experience,  to  give  a 
man  a true  wilderness  heart.” 

“ Have  I got  a wilderness  heart,  father — and 
Hurry,  is  his  heart  true  wilderness  ? ” 

“You  sometimes  ask  queer  questions,  Hetty! 
Your  heart  is  good,  child,  and  fitter  for  the  settle- 


ments than  for  the  woods,  while  your  reason  is 
fitter  for  the  woods  than  for  the  settlements.” 

“Why  has  Judith  moie  reason  than  I, 
father  ? ” 

“ Heaven  help  thee,  child — this  is  more  than 
I can  answer.  God  gives  sense,  and  appearance, 
and  all  these  things,  and  he  grants  them  as  he 
seeth  fit.  Dost  thou  wish  for  more  sense  ? ” 

“Not  I.  The  little  I have,  troubles  me;  for 
when  I think  the  hardest,  then  I feel  the  unhap- 
piest.  I don’t  believe  thinking  is  good  for  me, 
though  I do  wish  I was  as  handsome  as  Judith ! ” 

“ Why  so,  poor  child  ? Thy  sister’s  beauty 
may  cause  her  trouble,  as  it  caused  her  mother 
before  her.  It’s  no  advantage,  Hetty,  to  be 
so  marked  for  any  thing  as  to  become  an  object 
of  envy,  or  to  be  sought  after  more  than  others.” 

“ Mother  was  good,  if  she  was  handsome,” 
returned  the  girl,  the  tears  starting  to  her  eyes, 
as  usually  happened,  when  she  adverted  to  her 
deceased  parent. 

Old  Hutter,  if  not  equally  affected,  was  moody 
' and  silent  at  this  allusion  to  his  wife.  He  con- 
tinued smoking,  without  appearing  disposed  to 
make  any  answer,  until  his  simple-minded  daugh- 
ter repeated  her  remark,  in  a way  to  show  that 
she  felt  uneasiness  lest  he  might  be  inclined  to 
deny  her  assertion.  Then  he  knocked  the  ashes 
out  of  his  pipe,  and,  laying  his  hand  in  a sort 
of  rough  kindness  on  the  girl’s  head,  he  made  a 
reply. 

“ Thy  mother  was  too  good  for  this  world,” 
he  said;  “though  others  might  not  think  so. 
Her  good  looks  did  not  befriend  her,  and  you 
have  no  occasion  to  mourn  that  you  are  not  as 
much  like  her  as  your  sister.  Think  less  of  beau- 
ty, child,  and  more  of  your  duty,  and  you’ll  be  as 
happy  on  this  lake  as  you  could  be  in  the  king’s 
palace.” 

“ I know  it,  father ; but  Hurry  says  beauty  is 
every  thing  in  a young  woman.” 

Hutter  made  an  ejaculation  expressive  of  dis- 
satisfaction, and  went  forward,  passing  through 
the  house,  in  order  to  do  so.  Hetty’s  simple  be- 
trayal of  her  weakness  in  behalf  of  March  gave 
him  uneasiness  on  a subject  concerning  which 
he  had  never  felt  before,  and  he  determined  to 
come  to  an  explanation  at  once  with  his  visitor ; 
for  directness  of  speech,  and  decision  in  conduct, 
were  two  of  the  best  qualities  of  this  rude  being, 
in  whom  the  seeds  of  a better  education  seemed 
to  be  constantly  struggling  upward,  to  be  choked 
by  the  fruits  of  a life  in  which  his  hard  struggles 
for  subsistence  and  security  had  steeled  his  feel- 
ings and  indurated  his  nature.  When  he  reached 
the  forward  end  of  the  scow,  he  manifested  an 


JUDITH  AND  HER  NEW  ACQUAINTANCE. 


41 


intention  to  relieve  Deerslayer  at  the  oar,  direct- 
ing the  latter  to  take  his  own  place  aft.  By 
these  changes,  the  old  man  and  Hurry  were 
again  left  alone,  while  the  young  hunter  was 
transferred  to  the  other  end  of  the  ark. 

Hetty  had  disappeared  when  Deerslayer  reached 
his  new  post,  and  for  some  little  time  he  directed 
the  course  of  the  slow-moving  craft  by  himself. 
It  was  not  long,  however,  before  Judith  came  out 
of  the  cabin,  as  if  disposed  to  do  the  honors  of 
the  place  to  a stranger  engaged  in  the  service  of 
her  family.  The  starlight  was  sufficient  to  per- 
mit objects  to  be  plainly  distinguished  when  near 
at  hand,  and  the  bright  eyes  of  the  girl  had  an 
expression  of  kindness  in  them,  when  they  met 
those  of  the  youth,  that  the  latter  was  easily  en- 
abled to  discover.  Her  rich  hair  shaded  her 
spirited  and  yet  soft  countenance,  even  at  that 
hour  rendering  it  the  more  beautiful — as  the  rose 
is  loveliest  when  reposing  amid  the  shadows  and 
contrasts  of  its  native  foliage.  Little  ceremony 
is  used  in  the  intercourse  of  the  woods;  and  Ju- 
dith had  acquired  a readiness  of  address,  by  the 
admiration  that  she  so  generally  excited,  which, 
if  it  did  not  amount  to  forwardness,  certainly  in 
no  degree  lent  to  her  charms  the  aid  of  that  re- 
tiring modesty  on  which  poets  love  to  dwell. 

“ I thought  I should  have  killed  myself  with 
laughing,  Deerslayer,”  the  beauty  abruptly  but 
coquettishly  commenced,  “when  I saw  that  In- 
dian dive  into  the  river ! He  was  a good-looking 
savage,  too  ” — the  girl  always  dwelt  on  personal 
beauty  as  a sort  of  merit — “and  yet  one  couldn’t 
stop  to  consider  whether  his  paint  would  stand 
water ! ” 

“ And  I thought  they  would  have  killed  you 
with  their  we’pons,  Judith,”  returned  Deerslayer. 
“ it  was  an  awful  risk  for  a female  to  run  in  the 
face  of  a dozen  Mingoes  ! ” 

“Did  tJiat  make  you  come  out  of  the  cabin,  in 
spite  of  their  rifles,  too  ? ” asked  the  girl,  with 
more  real  interest  than  she  would  have  cared  to 
betray,  though  with  an  indifference  of  manner 
that  was  the  result  of  a good  deal  of  practice 
united  to  native  readiness. 

“ Men  ar’n’t  apt  to  see  females  in  danger,  and 
not  come  to  their  assistance.  Even  a Mingo 
knows  that.” 

This  sentiment  was  uttered  with  as  much  sim- 
plicity of  manner  as  of  feeling,  and  Judith  re- 
warded it  with  a smile  so  sweet  that  even  Deer- 
slayer, who  had  imbibed  a prejudice  against  the 
girl  in  consequence  of  Hurry’s  suspicions  of  her 
levity,  felt  its  charm,  notwithstanding  half  its  win- 
ning influence  was  lost  in  the  feeble  light.  It  at 
once  created  a sort  of  confidence  between  them, 


and  the  discourse  was  continued  on  the  part  of 
the  hunter  without  the  lively  consciousness  of  the 
character  of  this  coquette  of  the  wilderness,  with 
which  it  had  certainly  commenced. 

“ You  are  a man  of  deeds  and  not  of  words,  I 
see  plainly,  Deerslayer,”  continued  the  beauty, 
taking  her  seat  near  the  spot  where  the  other 
stood,  “ and  I foresee  we  shall  be  very  good 
friends.  Hurry  Harry  has  a tongue,  and,  giant 
as  he  is,  he  talks  more  than  he  performs.” 

“ March  is  your  fri’nd,  Judith ; and  fri’nds 
should  be  tender  of  each  other,  when  apart.” 

“We  all  know  what  Hurry’s  friendship  comes 
to ! Let  him  have  his  own  way  in  every  thing, 
and  he’s  the  best  fellow  in  the  colony  ; but  ‘head 
him  off,’  as  you  say  of  the  deer,  and  he  is  master 
of  every  thing  near  him  but  himself.  Hurry  is 
no  favorite  of  mine,  Deerslayer ; and,  I dare  say, 
if  the  truth  was  known,  and  his  conversation 
about  me  repeated,  it  would  be  found  that  he 
thinks  no  better  of  me  than  I own  I do  of  him.” 

The  latter  part  of  this  speech  was  not  uttered 
without  uneasiness.  Had  the  girl’s  companion 
been  more  sophisticated,  he  might  have  observed 
the  averted  face,  the  manner  in  which  the  pretty 
little  foot  was  agitated,  and  other  signs  that,  for 
some  unexplained  reason,  the  opinions  of  Mai'ch 
were  not  quite  as  much  matter  of  indifference  to 
her  as  she  thought  fit  to  pretend.  Whether  this 
was  no  more  than  the  ordinary  working  of  female 
vanity,  feeling  keenly  even  when  it  affected  not  to 
feel  at  all,  or  whether  it  proceeded  from  that 
deeply-seated  consciousness  of  right  and  wrong 
which  God  himself  has  implanted  in  our  breasts 
that  we  may  know  good  from  evil,  will  be  made 
more  apparent  to  the  reader  as  we  proceed  in  the 
tale.  Deerslayer  felt  embarrassed.  He  well  re- 
membered the  cruel  imputations  left  by  March’s 
distrust ; and,  while  he  did  not  wish  to  injure  his 
associate’s  suit  by  exciting  resentment  against 
him,  his  tongue  was  one  that  literally  knew  no 
guile.  To  answer  without  saying  more  or  less 
than  he  wished,  was  consequently  a delicate  duty. 

“ March  has  his  say  of  all  things  in  Natur’, 
whether  of  fri’nd  or  foe,”  slowly  and  cautiously 
rejoined  the  hunter.  “ He’s  one  of  them  that 
speak  as  they  feel  while  the  tongue’s  a-going,  and 
that’s  sometimes  different  from  what  they’d  speak 
if  they  took  time  to  consider.  Give  me  a Dela- 
ware, Judith,  for  one  that  reflects  and  ruminates 
on  his  idees  ! Inmity  has  made  ’em  thoughtful, 
and  a loose  tongue  is  no  ricommend  at  their  coun- 
cil-fires.” 

“ I dare  say  March’s  tongue  goes  free  enough 
when  it  gets  on  the  subject  of  Judith  Hutter  and 
her  sister,”  said  the  girl,  rousing  herself  as  if  in 


*2 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


careless  disdain.  “ Yeung  women’s  good  names 
are  a pleasant  matter  of  discourse  with  some  that 
wouldn’t  dare  to  be  so  open-mouthed  if  there  was 
a brother  in  the  way.  Master  March  may  find  it 
pleasant  to  traduce  us,  but  sooner  or  later  he’ll 
repent ! ” 

“Nay,  Judith,  this  is  taking  the  matter  up  too 
much  in  ’arnest.  Hurry  has  never  whispered  a 
syllable  ag’in  the  good  name  of  Hetty,  to  begin 
with—” 

“I  see  how  it  is — I see  how  it  is” — impetu- 
ously interrupted  Judith,  “/am  the  one  he  sees 
fit  to  scorch  with  his  withering  tongue ! — Hetty, 
indeed ! — Poor  Hetty ! ” — she  continued,  her  voice 
sinking  into  low,  husky  tones,  that  seemed  nearly 
to  stifle  her  in  the  utterance — “ she  is  beyond  and 
above  his  slanderous  malice ! Poor  Hetty  ! If 
God  has  created  her  feeble-minded,  the  weakness 
lies  altogether  on  the  side  of  errors  of  which  she 
seems  to  know  nothing.  The  earth  never  held  a 
purer  being  than  Hetty  Hutter,  Deerslayer.” 

“I  can  believe  it — yes,  I can  believe  that , Ju- 
dith, and  I hope  ’arnestly  that  the  same  can  be 
said  of  her  handsome  sister.” 

There  was  a soothing  sincerity  in  the  voice  of 
Deerslayer,  which  touched  the  girl’s  feelings ; nor 
did  the  allusion  to  her  beauty  lessen  the  effect 
with  one  who  only  knew  too  well  the  power  of 
her  personal  charms.  Nevertheless,  the  still, 
small  voice  of  conscience  was  not  hushed,  and  it 
prompted  the  answer  which  she  made  after  giving 
herself  time  to  reflect. 

“ I dare  say  Hurry  had  some  of  his  vile  hints 
about  the  people  of  the  garrisons,”  she  added. 
“He  knows  they  are  gentlemen,  and  can  never 
forgive  any  one  for  being  what  he  feels  he  can 
never  become  himself.” 

“ Not  in  the  sense  of  a king’s  officer,  Judith, 
sartainly,  for  March  has  no  turn  that-a-way ; but, 
in  the  sense  of  reality,  why  may  not  a beaver- 
hunter  be  as  respectable  as  a governor  ? Since 
you  speak  of  it  yourself,  I’ll  not  deny  that  he  did 
complain  of  one  as  humble  as  you  being  so  much 
in  the  company  of  scarlet  coats  and  silken  sashes. 
But  ’twas  jealousy  that  brought  it  out  of  him,  and 
I do  think  that  he  mourned  over  his  own  thoughts 
as  a mother  would  have  mourned  over  her  child.” 

Perhaps  Deerslayer  was  not  aware  of  the  full 
meaning  that  his  earnest  language  conveyed.  It 
is  certain  that  he  did  not  see  the  color  that  crim- 
soned the  whole  of  Judith’s  fine  face,  nor  detect 
the  uncontrollable  distress  that  immediately  after 
changed  its  hue  to  a deadly  paleness.  A minute 
or  two  elapsed  in  profound  stillness,  the  splash  of 
the  water  seeming  to  occupy  all  the  avenues  of 
sound ; and  then  Judith  arose,  and  grasped  the 


hand  of  the  hunter,  almost  convulsively,  with  one 
of  her  own. 

“ Deerslayer,”  she  said,  hurriedly,  “ I’m  glad 
the  ice  is  broke  between  U3.  They  say  that  sud- 
den friendships  lead  to  long  enmities,  but  I do  not 
believe  it  will  turn  out  so  with  us.  I know  not 
how  it  is — but  you  are  the  first  man  I ever  met, 
who  did  not  seem  to  wish  to  flatter — to  wish  my 
ruin — to  be  an  enemy  in  disguise — never  mind  ; 
say  nothing  to  Hurry,  and  another  time  we’ll  talk 
together  again.” 

As  the  girl  released  her  grasp,  she  vanished 
in  the  house,  leaving  the  astonished  young  man 
standing  at  the  steering-oar,  as  motionless  as  one 
of  the  pines  on  the  hills.  So  abstracted,  indeed, 
had  his  thoughts  become,  that  he  was  hailed  by 
Hutter  to  keep  the  scow’s  head  in  the  right  direc- 
tion, before  he  remembered  his  actual  situation. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

“ So  spoke  the  apostate  angel,  though  in  pain, 

Taunting  aloud,  but  racked  with  deep  despair  I ” 

Milton. 

Shortly  after  the  disappearance  of  Judith,  a 
light  southerly  air  arose,  and  Hutter  set  a large 
square-sail,  that  had  once  been  the  flying  top-sail 
of  an  Albany  sloop,  but  which,  having  become 
threadbare  in  catching  the  breezes  of  Tappan, 
had  been  condemned  and  sold.  He  had  a light 
tough  spar  of  tamarack  that  he  could  raise  on  oc- 
casion, and,  with  a little  contrivance,  his  duck  was 
spread  to  the  wind  in  a sufficiently  professional 
manner.  The  effect  on  the  ark  was  such  as  to 
supersede  the  necessity  of  rowing  ; and  in  about 
two  hours  the  castle  was  seen,  in  the  darkness, 
rising  out  of  the  water,  at  the  distance  of  a hun- 
dred yards.  The  s^il  was  then  lowered,  and  by 
slow  degrees  the  scow  drifted  up  to  the  building, 
and  was  secured. 

No  one  had  visited  the  house  since  Hurry  and 
his  companion  left  it.  The  place  was  found  in 
the  quiet  of  midnight,  a sort  of  type  of  the  soli- 
tude of  a wilderness.  As  an  enemy  was  known 
to  be  near,  Hutter  directed  his  daughters  to  ab- 
stain from  the  use  of  lights,  luxuries  in  which 
they  seldom  indulged  during  the  warm  months, 
lest  they  might  prove  beacons  to  direct  their  foes 
where  they  might  be  found. 

“ In  open  daylight  I shouldn’t  fear  a host  of 
savages  behind  these  stout  logs,  and  they  without 
any  cover  to  skulk  into,”  added  Hutter,  when  he 
had  explained  to  his  guests  the  reason  why  he 
forbade  the  use  of  lights  ; “ for  I’ve  three  or  foui 


PRECAUTION. 


43 


trusty  weapons  always  loaded,  and  Kill-deer,  in 
particular,  is  a piece  that  never  misses.  But  it’s 
a different  thing  at  night.  A canoe  might  get 
upon  us  unseen,  in  the  dark;  and  the  savages 
have  so  many  cunning  ways  of  attacking,  that  I 
look  upon  it  as  bad  enough  to  deal  with  ’em  under 
a bright  sun.  I built  this  dwelling  in  order  to  have 
'em  at  arm’s  length,  in  case  we  should  ever  get  to 
blows  again.  Some  people  think  it’s  too  open 
and  exposed,  but  I’m  for  anchoring  out  here,  clear 
of  underbrush  and  thickets,  as  the  surest  means 
of  making  a safe  berth.” 

“You  was  once  a sailor,  they  tell  me,  old 
Tom  ? ” said  Hurry,  in  his  abrupt  manner,  struck 
by  one  or  two  expressions  that  the  other  had  just 
used,  “ and  some  people  believe  you  could  give 
us  strange  accounts  of  inimies  and  shipwrecks, 
if  you’d  a mind  to  come  out  with  all  you  know  ? ” 

“ There  are  people  in  this  world,  Hurry,”  re- 
turned the  other,  evasively,  “who  live  on  other 
men’s  thoughts ; and  some  such  often  find  their 
way  into  the  woods.  What  I’ve  been,  or  what 
I’ve  seen  in  youth,  is  of  less  matter  now  than 
what  the  savages  are.  It’s  of  more  account  to 
find  out  what  will  happen  in  the  next  twenty-four 
hours  than  to  talk  over  what  happened  twenty- 
four  years  since.” 

“ That’s  judgment,  Deerslayer ; yes,  that’s 
sound  judgment.  Here’s  Judith  and  Hetty  to 
take  care  of,  to  say  nothing  of  our  own  top-knots ; 
and,  for  my  part,  I can  sleep  as  well  in  the  dark 
as  I could  under  a noonday  sun.  To  me  it’s  nb 
great  matter  whether  there  is  light  or  not,  to  see 
to  shut  my  eyes  by.” 

As  Deerslayer  seldom  thought  it  necessary  to 
answer  his  companion’s  peculiar  vein  of  humor, 
and  Hutter  was  evidently  indisposed  to  dwell 
longer  on  the  subject,  its  discussion  ceased  with 
this  remark.  The  latter  had  something  more  on 
his  mind,  however,  than  recollections.  His  daugh- 
ters had  no  sooner  left  them,  with  an  expressed 
intention  of  going  to  bed,  than  he  invited  his  two 
companions  to  follow  him  again  into  the  scow. 
Here  the  old  man  opened  his  project,  keeping 
back  the  portion  that  he  had  reserved  for  execu- 
tion by  Hurry  and  himself. 

“ The  great  object  for  people  posted  like  our. 
selves  is  to  command  the  water,”  he  commenced. 
“ So  long  as  there  is  no  other  craft  on  the  lake, 
a bark  canoe  is  as  good  as  a man-of-war,  since 
the  castle  will  not  be  easily  taken  by  swimming. 
Now,  there  are  but  five  canoes  remaining  in  these 
parts,  two  of  which  are  mine,  and  one  is  Hurry’s. 
These  three  we  have  with  us  here ; one  being 
fastened  in  the  canoe-dock  beneath  the  house,  and 
Hie  other  two  being  alongside  the  scow.  The  other 


canoes  are  housed  on  the  shore,  in  hollow  logs, 
and  the  savages,  who  are  such  venomous  enemies, 
will  leave  no  likely  place  unexamined  in  the  morn- 
ing, if  they're  serious  in  s’ arch  of  bounties” — 

“Now,  friend  Hutter,”  interrupted  Hurry, 
“ the  Indian  don’t  live  that  can  find  a canoe  that 
is  suitably  wintered.  I’ve  done  something  at  this 
business  before  now,  and  Deerslayer  here  knows 
that  I am  one  that  can  hide  a craft  in  such  a way 
that  I can’t  find  it  myself.” 

“Very  true,  Hurry,”  put  in  the  person  to 
whom  the  appeal  had  been  made,  “ but  you  over- 
look the  sarcumstance  that  if  you  couldn’t  see 
the  trail  of  the  man  who  did  the  job,  I could.  I’m 
of  Master  Hutter’s  mind,  that  it’s  far  wiser  to  mis- 
trust a savage’s  ingenuity,  than  to  build  any  great 
expectations  on  his  want  of  eyesight.  If  these 
two  canoes  can  be  got  off  to  the  castle,  therefore, 
the  sooner  it’s  done  the  better.” 

“ Will  you  be  of  the  party  that’s  to  do  it  ? ” 
demanded  Hutter,  in  a way  that  showed  that  the 
proposal  both  surprised  and  pleased  him. 

“ Sartin.  I’m  ready  to  enlist  in  any  enter- 
prise that’s  not  ag’in  a white  man’s  lawful  gifts. 
Natur’  orders  us  to  defend  our  lives,  and  the  lives 
of  others,  too,  when  there’s  occasion  and  oppor- 
tunity. I’ll  follow  you,  Floating  Tom,  into  the 
Mingo  camp,  on  such  an  ar’r’nd,  and  will  strive  to 
do  my  duty,  should  we  come  to  blows ; though, 
never  having  been  tried  in  battle,  I don’t  like  to 
promise  more  than  I may  be  able  to  perform. 
We  all  know  our  wishes,  but  none  know  their 
might  till  put  to  the  proof.” 

“ That’s  modest  and  suitable,  lad,”  exclaimed 
Hurry.  “ You’ve  never  yet  heard  the  crack  of 
an  angry  rifle;  and,  let  me  tell  you,  ’tis  as  differ- 
ent from  the  persuasion  of  one  of  your  venison- 
speechers,  as  the  laugh  of  Judith  Hutter,  in  her 
best  humor,  is  from  the  scolding  of  a Dutch 
housekeeper  on  the  Mohawk.  I don’t  expect 
you’ll  prove  much  of  a warrior,  Deerslayer,  though 
your  equal  with  the  bucks  and  the  does  don’t 
exist  in  all  these  parts.  As  for  the  ra’al  sarvice, 
however,  you’ll  turn  out  rather  rearward,  accord- 
ing to  my  consait.” 

“We’ll  see,  Hurry,  we’ll  see,”  returned  the 
other  meekly ; so  far  as  human  eye  could  dis- 
cover, not  at  all  disturbed  by  these  expressed 
doubts  concerning  his  conduct  on  a point  on 
which  men  are  sensitive,  precisely  in  the  degree 
that  they  feel  the  consciousness  of  demerit ; 
“ having  never  been  tried,  I’ll  wait  to  know,  be- 
fore I form  any  opinion  myself ; and  then  there’ll 
be  sartainty  instead  of  bragging.  I’ve  heard  of 
them  that  was  valiant  afore  the  fight,  who  did  lit 
tie  in  it;  and  of  them  that  waited  to  know  their 


44 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


own  tempers,  and  found  that  they  weren’t  as  bad 
as  some  expected,  when  put  to  the  proof.” 

“ At  any  rate,  we  know  you  can  use  a paddle, 
young  man,”  said  Hutter,  “ and  that’s  all  we  shall 
ask  of  you  to-night.  Let  us  waste  no  more  time, 
but  get  into  the  canoe,  and  do  in  place  of  talk- 
ing,” 

As  Hutter  led  the  way,  in  the  execution  of 
his  project,  the  boat  was  soon  ready,  with  Hurry 
and  Deerslayer  at  the  paddles.  Before  the  old 
man  embarked  himself,  however,  he  held  a con- 
ference of  several  minutes  with  Judith,  entering 
the  house  for  that  purpose ; then,  returning,  he 
took  his  place  in  the  canoe,  which  left  the  side 
of  the  ark  at  the  next  instant. 

Had  there  been  a temple  reared  to  God,  in 
that  solitary  wilderness,  its  clock  would  have  told 
the  hour  of  midnight  as  the  party  set  forth  on 
their  expedition.  The  darkness  had  increased,' 
though  the  night  was  still  clear,  and  the  light  of 
the  stars  sufficed  for  all  the  purposes  of  the  ad- 
venturers. Hutter  alone  knew  the  places  where 
the  canoes  were  hid,  and  he  directed  the  course, 
while  his  two  athletic  companions  raised  and 
dipped  their  paddles  with  proper  caution,  lest  the 
sound  should  be  carried  to  the  ears  of  their  ene- 
mies, across  that  sheet  of  placid  water,  in  the 
stillness  of  deep  night.  But  the  bark  was  too 
light  to  require  any  extraordinary  efforts,  and, 
skill  supplying  the  place  of  strength,  in  about 
half  an  hour  they  were  approaching  the  shore, 
at  a point  near  a league  from  the  castle. 

“ Lay  on  your  paddles,  men,”  said  Hutter,  in 
a low  voice,  “ and  let  us  look  about  us  for  a mo- 
ment. We  must  now  be  all  eyes  and  ears,  for 
these  vermin  have  noses  like  bloodhounds.” 

The  shores  of  the  lake  were  examined  closely, 
in  order  to  discover  any  glimmering  of  light  that 
might  have  been  left  in  a camp ; and  the  men 
strained  their  eyes,  in  the  obscurity,  to  see  if 
some  thread  of  smoke  was  not  still  stealing  along 
the  mountain-side,  as  it  arose  from  the  dying 
embers  of  a fire.  Nothing  unusual  could  be 
traced  ; and  as  the  position  was  at  some  distance 
from  the  outlet,  or  the  spot  where  the  savages 
had  been  met,  it  was  thought  safe  to  land.  The 
paddles  were  plied  again,  and  the  bows  of  the 
canoe  ground  upon  the  gravelly  beach  with  a 
gentle  motion,  and  a sound  barely  audible.  Hut- 
ter and  Hurry  immediately  landed,  the  former 
carrying  his  own  and  his  friend’s  rifle,  leaving 
Deerslayer  in  charge  of  the  canoe.  The  hollow 
log  lay  a little  distance  up  the  side  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  the  old  man  led  the  way  toward  it, 
using  so  much  caution  as  to  stop  at  every  third 
or  fourth  step,  to  listen  if  any  tread  betrayed  the 


presence  of  a foe.  The  same  death  like  stillness, 
however,  reigned  on  the  midnight  scene,  and  the 
desired  place  was  reached  without  an  occurrence 
to  induce  alarm. 

“ This  is  it,”  whispered  Hutter,  laying  a foot 
on  the  trunk  of  a fallen  linden  ; “ hand  me  the 
paddles  first,  and  draw  the  boat  out  with  care, 
for  the  wretches  may  have  left  it  for  a bait,  af- 
ter all.” 

“ Keep  my  rifle  handy,  butt  toward  me,  old 
fellow,”  answered  March.  “ If  they  attack  me 
loaded,  I shall  want  to  unload  the  piece  at  ’em, 
at  least.  And  feel  if  the  pan  is  full.” 

“ All’s  right,”  muttered  the  other ; “ move  slow 
when  you  get  your  load,  and  let  me  lead  the 
way.” 

The  canoe  was  drawn  out  of  the  log  with  the 
utmost  care,  raised  by  Hurry  to  his  shoulder,  and 
the  two  began  to  return  to  the  shore,  moving  but 
a step  at  a time,  lest  they  should  tumble  down 
the  steep  declivity.  The  distance  was  not  great, 
but  the  descent  was  extremely  difficult ; and,  tow- 
ard the  end  of  their  little  journey,  Deerslayer  was 
obliged  to  land  and  meet  them,  in  order  to  aid  in 
lifting  the  canoe  through  the  bushes.  With  his 
assistance  the  task  was  successfully  accomplished, 
and  the  light  craft  soon  floated  by  the  side  of  the 
other  canoe.  This  was  no  sooner  done,  than  all 
three  turned  anxiously  toward  the  forest  and  the 
mountain,  expecting  an  enemy  to  break  out  of 
the  one,  or  to  come  rushing  down  the  other.  Still 
the  silence  was  unbroken,  and  they  all  embarked 
with  the  caution  that  had  been  used  in  coming 
ashore. 

Hutter  now  steered  broad  off  toward  the  cen- 
tre of  the  lake.  Having  got  a sufficient  distance 
from  the  shore,  he  cast  his  prize  loose,  knowing 
that  it  would  drift  slowly  up  the  lake  before  the 
light  southerly  air,  and  intending  to  find  it  on  his 
return.  Thus  relieved  of  his  tow,  the  old  man 
held  his  way  down  the  lake,  steering  toward  the 
very  point  where  Hurry  had  made  his  fruitless 
attempt  on  the  life  of  the  deer.  As  the  distance 
from  this  point  to  the  outlet  was  less  than  a mile, 
it  was  like  entering  an  enemy’s  country  ; and  re- 
doubled caution  became  necessary.  They  reached 
the  extremity  of  the  point,  however,  and  landed 
in  safety  on  the  little  gravelly  beach  already  men- 
tioned. Unlike  the  last  place  at  which  they  had 
gone  ashore,  here  was  no  acclivity  to  ascend,  the 
mountains  looming  up  in  the  darkness  quite  a 
quarter  of  a mile  farther  west,  leaving  a margin 
of  level  ground  between  them  and  the  strand. 
The  point  itself,  though  long,  and  covered  witb 
tall  trees,  was  nearly  flat,  and,  for  some  distance, 
only  a few  yards  in  width.  Hutter  and  Hum 


AN  INDIAN  ENCAMPMENT. 


45 


uinded,  as  before,  leaving  their  companion  in 
charge  of  the  boat. 

Pn  this  instance,  the  dead  tree  that  contained 
the  canoe  of  which  they  had  come  in  quest  lay 
about  half-way  between  the  extremity  of  the  nar- 
row slip  of  land  and  the  place  where  it  joined  the 
main  shore  ; and,  knowing  that  there  was  water 
go  near  him  on  his  left,  the  old  man  led  the  way 
along  the  eastern  side  of  the  belt  with  some  con- 
fidence, walking  boldly,  though  still  with  caution. 
He  had  landed  at  the  point  expressly  to  get  a 
glimpse  into  the  bay,  and  to  make  certain  that 
the  coast  was  clear;  otherwise  he  would  have 
come  ashore  directly  abreast  of  the  hollow  tree. 
There  was  no  difficulty  in  finding  the  latter,  from 
which  the  canoe  was  drawn  as  before,  and,  in- 
stead of  carrying  it  down  to  the  place  where 
Deerslayer  lay,  it  was  launched  at  the  nearest 
favorable  spot.  As  soon  as  it  was  in  the  water, 
Hurry  entered  it,  and  paddled  round  to  the  point, 
whither  Hutter  also  proceeded,  following  the 
beaeh.  As  the  three  men  had  now  in  their  pos- 
session all  the  boats  on  the  lake,  their  confidence 
was  greatly  increased,  and  there  was  no  longer 
the  same  feverish  desire  to  quit  the  shore,  or  the 
same  necessity  for  extreme  caution.  Their  posi- 
tion on  the  extremity  of  the  long,  narrow  bit  of 
land,  added  to  the  feeling  of  security,  as  it  per- 
mitted an  enemy  to  approach  in  only  one  direc- 
tion, that  in  their  front,  and  under  circumstances 
that  would  render  discovery,  with  their  habitual 
vigilance,  almost  certain.  The  three  now  landed 
together,  and  stood  grouped  in  consultation  on 
the  gravelly  point. 

“We’ve  fairly  tree’d  the  scamps,”  said  Hurry, 
chuckling  at  their  success ; “ if  they  wish  to 
visit  the  castle,  let  ’em  wade  or  swim ! Old  Tom, 
that  idee  of  your’n,  in  burrowing  out  in  the  lake, 
wa3  high  proof,  and  carries  a fine  bead.  There 
be  men  who  would  think  the  land  safer  than  the 
water ; but,  after  all,  reason  shows  it  isn’t ; the 
beaver,  and  rats,  and  other  l’arned  creatur’s  tak- 
ing to  the  last  when  hard  pressed.  I call  our 
position  now,  intrenched,  and  set  the  Canadas  at 
defiance.” 

“ Let  us  paddle  along  this  south  shore,”  said 
Hutter,  “ and  see  if  there’s  no  sign  of  an  encamp- 
ment ; but,  first,  let  me  have  a better  look  into 
the  bay,  for  no  one  has  been  far  enough  round 
the  inner  shor.e  of  the  point  to  make  sure  of  that 
quarter  yet.” 

As  Hutter  ceased  speaking,  all  tnree  moved 
in  the  direction  he  had  named.  Scarce  had  they 
fairly  opened  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  when  a 
general  start  proved  that  their  eyes  had  lighted 
on  a common  object  at  the  same  instant.  It  was 


no  more  than  a dying  brand,  giving  out  its  flick- 
ering and  failing  light ; but  at  that  hour,  and  in 
that  place,  it  was  at  once  as  conspicuous  as  “ a 
good  deed  in  a naughty  world.”  There  was  not 
a shadow  of  doubt  that  this  fire  had  been  kindled 
at  an  encampment  of  the  Indians.  The  situa- 
tion, sheltered  from  observation  on  all  sides  but 
one,  and  even  on  that  except  for  a very  short 
distance,  proved  that  more  care  had  been  taken 
to  conceal  the  spot  than  would  be  used  for  ordi- 
nary purposes;  and  Hutter,  who  knew  that  a 
spring  was  near  at  hand,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
best  fishing-stations  on  the  lake,  immediately  in- 
ferred that  this  encampment  contained  the  wom- 
en and  children  of  the  party. 

“ That’s  not  a warrior’s  encampment,”  he 
growled  to  Hurry ; “ and  there’s  bounty  enough 
sleeping  round  that  fire  to  make  a heavy  division 
of  head-money.  Send  the  lad  to  the  canoes,  for 
there’ll  come  no  good  of  him  in  such  an  onset, 
and  let  us  take  the  matter  in  hand  at  once,  like 
men.” 

“ There’s  judgment  in  your  notion,  old  Tom, 
and  I like  it  to  the  backbone. — Deerslayer,  do 
you  get  into  the  canoe,  lad,  and  paddle  off  into  the 
lake  with  the  spare  one,  and  set  it  adrift,  as  we 
did  with  the  other ; after  which  you  can  float  along- 
shore, as  near  as  you  can  get  to  the  head  of  the 
bay,  keeping  outside  the  point,  howsever,  and  out- 
side the  rushes,  too.  You  can  hear  us  when  we 
want  you ; and  if  there’s  any  delay,  I’ll  call  like  a 
loon — yes,  that’ll  do  it — the  call  of  a loon  shall 
be  the  signal.  If  you  hear  rifles,  and  feel  like 
sogering,  why,  you  may  close  in,  and  see  if  you 
can  make  the  same  hand  with  the  savages  that 
you  do  with  the  deer.” 

“ If  my  wishes  could  be  followed,  this  matter 
would  not  be  undertaken,  Hurry — ” 

“ Quite  true — nobody  denies  it,  boy ; but  your 
wishes  can't  be  followed ; and  that  inds  the  matter. 
So  just  canoe  yourself  off  into  the  middle  of  the 
lake,  and  by  the  time  you  get  back  there’ll  be 
movements  in  that  camp ! ” 

The  young  man  set  about  complying  with 
great  reluctance  and  a heavy  heart.  He  knew  the 
prejudices  of  the  frontier-men  too  well,  however, 
to  attempt  a remonstrance.  The  latter,  indeed, 
under  the  circumstances,  might  prove  dangerous, 
as  it  would  certainly  prove  useless.  He  paddled 
the  canoe,  therefore,  silently,  and  with  the  former 
caution,  to  a spot  near  the  centre  of  the  placid 
sheet  of  water,  and  set  the  boat  just  recovered 
adrift,  to  float  toward  the  castle,  before  the  light 
southerly  air.  This  expedient  had  been  adopted, 
in  both  cases,  under  the  certainty  that  the  drift 
could  not  carry  the  light  barks  more  than  a league 


*6 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


or  two,  before  the  return  of  light,  when  they 
might  easily  be  overtaken.  In  order  to  prevent 
any  wandering  savage  from  using  them,  by  swim- 
ming off  and  getting  possession,  a possible  but 
scarcely  a probable  event,  all  the  paddles  were 
retained. 

No  sooner  had  he  set  the  recovered  canoe 
adrift,  than  Deerslayer  turned  the  bows  of  his 
own  toward  the  point  on  the  shore  that  had  been 
indicated  by  Hurry.  So  light  was  the  movement 
of  the  little  craft,  and  so  steady  the  sweep  of  its 
master’s  arm,  that  ten  minutes  had  not  elapsed 
ere  it  was  again  approaching  the  land,  having,  in 
that  brief  time,  passed  over  fully  half  a mile  of 
distance.  As  soon  as  Deerslayer’s  eye  caught  a 
glimpse  of  the  rushes,  of  which  there  were  many 
growing  in  the  water  a hundred  feet  from  the 
shore,  he  arrested  the  motion  of  the  canoe,  and 
anchored  his  boat  by  holding  fast  to  the  delicate 
but  tenacious  stem  of  one  of  the  drooping  plants. 
Here  he  remained,  awaiting,  with  an  intensity  of 
suspense  that  can  be  easily  imagined,  the  result 
of  the  hazardous  enterprise. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  convey  to  the  minds  of 
those  who  have  never  witnessed  it,  the  sublimity 
that  characterizes  the  silence  of  a solitude  as  deep 
as  that  which  now  reigned  over  the  Glimmerglass. 
In  the  present  instance,  this  sublimity  was  in- 
creased by  the  gloom  of  night,  which  threw  its 
shadowy  and  fantastic  forms  around  the  lake,  the 
forest,  and  the  hills.  It  is  not  easy,  indeed,  to 
conceive  of  any  place  more  favorable  to  heighten 
these  natural  impressions,  than  that  Deerslayer 
now  occupied.  The  size  of  the  lake  brought  all 
within  the  reach  of  human  senses,  while  it  dis- 
played so  much  of  the  imposing  scene  at  a single 
view,  giving  up,  as  it  might  be,  at  a glance,  a suf- 
ficiency to  produce  the  deepest  impressions.  As 
has  been  said,  this  was  the  first  lake  Deerslayer 
had  ever  seen.  Hitherto,  his  experience  had  been 
limited  to  the  courses  of  rivers  and  smaller 
streams,  and  never  before  had  he  seen  so  much 
of  that  wilderness  which  he  so  well  loved,  spread 
before  his  gaze.  Accustomed  to  the  forest,  how- 
ever, his  mind  was  capable  of  portraying  all  its 
hidden  mysteries,  as  he  looked  upon  its  leafy 
surface.  This  was  also  the  first  time  he  had  been 
on  a trail  where  human  lives,  depended  on  the  is- 
sue. His  ears  had  often  drunk  in  the  traditions 
of  frontier  warfare,  but  he  had  never  yet  been 
confronted  with  an  enemy. 

The  reader  will  readily  understand,  therefore, 
how  intense  must  have  been  the  expectation  of 
the  young  man,  as  he  sat  in  his  solitary  canoe, 
endeavoring  to  catch  the  smallest  .sound  that 
might  denote  the  course  of  things  on  shore.  His 


training  had  been  perfect,  so  far  as  theory  could 
go,  and  his  self-possession,  notwithstanding  the 
high  excitement,  that  was  the  fruit  of  novelty, 
would  have  done  credit  to  a veteran.  The  visible 
evidences  of  the  existence  of  the  camp,  or  of  the 
fire,  could  not  be  detected  from  the  spot  where 
the  canoe  lay,  and  he  was  compelled  to  depend 
on  the  sense  of  hearing  alone.  He  did  not  feel 
impatient,  for  the  lessons  he  had  heard  taught  him 
the  virtue  of  patience,  and,  most  of  all,  inculcated 
the  necessity  of  wariness  in  conducting  any  covert 
assault  on  the  Indians.  Once  he  thought  he  heard 
the  cracking  of  a dried  twig,  but  expectation  was 
so  intense  it  might  mislead  him.  In  this  manner 
minute  after  minute  passed,  until  the  whole  time 
since  he  left  his  companions  was  extended  to 
quite  an  hour.  Deerslayer  knew  not  whether  to 
rejoice  in  or  to  mourn  over  this  cautious  delay, 
for,  if  it  augured  security  to  his  associates,  it  fore- 
told destruction  to  the  feeble  and  innocent. 

It  might  have  been  an  hour  and  a half  after 
his  companions  and  he  had  parted,  when  Deer- 
slayer was  aroused  by  a sound  that  filled  him 
equally  with  concern  and  surprise.  The  quaver- 
ing call  of  a loon  arose  from  the  opposite  side  of 
the  lake,  evidently  at  no  great  distance  from  its 
outlet.  There  was  no  mistaking  the  note  of  this 
bird,  which  is  so  familiar  to  all  who  know  ths 
sounds  of  the  American  lakes.  Shrill,  tremulous, 
loud,  and  sufficiently  prolonged,  it  seems  the  very 
cry  of  warning.  It  is  often  raised,  also,  at  night 
— an  exception  to  the  habits  of  most  of  the  other 
feathered  inmates  of  the  wilderness ; a circum- 
stance which  had  induced  Hurry  to  select  it  as 
his  own  signal.  There  had  been  sufficient  time, 
certainly,  for  the  two  adventurers  to  make  their 
way  by  land,  from  the  point  where  they  had  been 
left  to  that  whence  the  call  had  come,  but  it  was 
not  probable  that  they  would  adopt  such  a course. 
Had  the  camp  been  deserted,  they  would  have 
summoned  Deerslayer  to  the  shore,  and,  did  it 
prove  to  be  peopled,  there  could  be  no  sufficient 
motive  for  circling  it,  in  order  to  reembark  at  so 
great  a distance.  Should  he  obey  the  signal,  and 
be  drawn  away  from  the  landing,  the  lives  of 
those  who  depended  on  him  might  be  the  forfeit 
— and,  should  he  neglect  the  call,  on  the  suppo- 
sition that  it  had  been  really  made,  the  conso- 
quences  might  be  equally  disastrous,  though  from 
a different  cause.  In  this  indecision  he  waited 
trusting  that  the  call,  whether  feigned  or  natural, 
would  be  speedily  renewed.  Nor  was  he  mis- 
taken. A very  few  minutes  elapsed  before  the 
same  shrill,  warning  cry  was  repeated,  and  from 
the  same  part  of  the  lake.  This  time,  being  on 
the  alert,  his  senses  were  not  deceived.  Although 


HUTTER  AND  HURRY  CAPTURED. 


47 


fie  had  often  heard  admirable  imitations  of  this 
bird,  and  was  no  mean  adept  himself  in  raising 
its  notes,  he  felt  satisfied  that  Hurry,  to  whose 
efforts  in  that  way  he  had  attended,  could  never 
so  completely  and  closely  follow  Nature.  He 
determined,  therefore,  to  disregard  that  cry,  and 
to  wait  for  one  less  perfect  and  nearer  at  hand. 

Deerslayer  had  hardly  come  to  this  determi- 
nation, when  the  profound  stillness  of  night  and 
solitude  was  broken  by  a cry  so  startling,  as  to 
drive  all  recollection  of  the  more  melancholy  call 
of  the  loon  from  the  listener’s  mind.  It  was  a 
shriek  of  agony,  that  came  either  from  one  of  the 
female  sex,  or  from  a boy  so  young  as  not  yet  to 
have  attained  a manly  voice.  This  appeal  could 
not  be  mistaken.  Heart-rending  terror — if  not 
writhing  agony — was  in  the  sounds,  and  the  an- 
guish that  had  awakened  them  was  as  sudden  as 
it  was  fearful.  The  young  man  released  his  hold 
of  the  rush,  and  dashed  his  paddle  into  the  water ; 
to  do,  he  knew  not  what — to  steer,  he  knew  not 
whither.  A very  few  moments,  however,  re- 
moved his  indecision.  The  breaking  of  branches, 
the  cracking  of  dried  sticks,  and  the  fall  of  feet 
were  distinctly  audible  ; the  sounds  appearing  to 
approach  the  water,  though  in  a direction  that 
led  diagonally  toward  the  shore,  and  a little  far- 
ther north  than  the  spot  that  Deerslayer  had  been 
ordered  to  keep  near.  Following  this  clew,  the 
young  man  urged  the  canoe  ahead,  paying  but 
little  attention  to  the  manner  in  which  he  might 
betray  its  presence.  He  had  reached  a part  of 
the  shore  where  its  immediate  bank  was  tolerably 
high  and  quite  steep.  Men  were  evidently  thresh- 
ing through  the  bushes  and  trees  on  the  summit 
of  this  bank,  following  the  line  of  the  shore,  as 
if  those  who  fled  sought  a favorable  place  for  de- 
scending. Just  at  this  instant. five  or  six  rifles 
flashed,  and  the  opposite  hills  gave  back  as  usual 
the  sharp  reports  in  prolonged,  rolling  echoes. 
One  or  two  shrieks,  like  those  which  escape  the 
bravest  when  suddenly  overcome  by  unexpected 
anguish  and  alarm,  followed  ; and  then  the  thresh- 
ing among  the  bushes  was  renewed,  in  a way  to 
show  that  man  was  grappling  with  man. 

“ Slippery  devil ! ” shouted  Hurry,  with  the 
fury  of  disappointment — “ his  skin’s  greased  ! I 
sha’n’t  grapple  ! — Take  that  for  your  cunning  ! ” 

The  words  were  followed  by  the  fall  of  some 
heavy  object  among  the  smaller  trees  that  fringed 
the  bank,  appearing  to  Deerslayer  as  if  his  gigan- 
tic associate  had  hurled  an  enemy  from  him  in 
this  unceremonious  manner.  Again  the  flight  and 
pursuit  were  renewed,  and  then  the  young  man 
Baw  a human  form  break  down  the  hill,  and  rush 
several  yards  into  the  water.  At  this  critical  mo- 
4 


j ment  the  canoe  was  just  near  enough  to  the  spot 
to  allow  this  movement,  which  was  accompanied 
by  no  little  noise,  to  be  seen ; and  feeling  that 
there  he  must  take  in  his  companion,  if  anywhere, 
Deerslayer  urged  the  canoe  forward  to  the  rescue. 
His  paddle  had  not  been  raised  twice,  when  the 
voice  of  Hurry  was  heard,  filling  the  air  with  im- 
precations, and  he  rolled  on  the  narrow  beach, 
literally  loaded  down  with  enemies.  While  pros- 
trate, and  almost  smothered  with  his  foes,  the 
athletic  frontier-man  gave  his  loon-call,  in  a man- 
ner that  would  have  excited  laughter  under  cir- 
cumstances less  terrific.  The  figure  in  the  water 
seemed  suddenly  to  repent  his  own  flight,  and 
rushed  to  the  shore  to  aid  his  companion,  but  was 
met  and  immediately  overpowered  by  half  a dozen 
fresh  pursuers,  who  just  then  came  leaping  down 
the  bank. 

“ Let  up,  you  painted  riptyles — let  up  ! ” cried 
Hurry,  too  hard  pressed  to  be  particular  about 
the  terms  he  used ; “ isn’t  it  enough  that  I am 
withed  like  a saw-log  that  ye  must  choke  too  ! ” 

This  speech  satisfied  Deerslayer  that  his 
friends  were  prisoners,  and  that  to  land  would  be 
to  share  their  fate.  He  was  already  within  a hun- 
dred feet  of  the  shore,  when  a few  timely  strokes 
of  the  paddle  not  only  arrested  his  advance,  but 
forced  him  olf  to  six  or  eight  times  that  distance 
from  his  enemies.  Luckily  for  him,  all  of  the 
Indians  had  dropped  their  rifles  in  the  pursuit,  or 
this  retreat  might  not  have  been  effected  with 
impunity  ; though  no  one  had  noted  the  canoe  in 
the  first  confusion  of  the  melee. 

“ Keep  off  the  land,  lad,”  called  out  Hutter ; 
“ the  girls  depend  only  on  you,  now : you  will 
want  all  your  caution  to  escape  these  savages. 
Keep  off,  and  God  prosper  you,  as  you  aid  my 
children ! ” 

There  was  little  sympathy  in  general  between 
Hutter  and  the  young  man,  but  the  bodily  and 
mental  anguish  with  which  this  appeal  was  made 
served  at  the  moment  to  conceal  from  the  latter 
the  former’s  faults.  He  saw  only  the  father-  in 
his  sufferings,  and  resolved  at  once  to  give  a 
pledge  of  fidelity  to  his  interests,  and  to  be  faith- 
ful to  his  word. 

“Put  your  heart  at  ease,  Master  Hutter,”  he 
called  out ; “ the  gals  shall  be  looked  to,  as  well 
as  the  castle.  The  inimy  has  got  the  shore,  ’tig 
no  use  to  deny,  but  he  hasn’t  got  the  water. 
Providence  has  the  charge  of  all,  and  no  one  can 
say  what  will  come  of  it ; but,  if  good-will  can 
sarve  you  and  your’n,  depend  on  that  much.  My 
exper’ence  is  small,  but  my  will  is  good.” 

“Ay — ay,  Deerslayer,”  returned  Hurry,  in 
his  stentorian  voice,  which  was  losing  some  of 
/ * 


18 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


its  heartiness,  notwithstanding — “ ay,  ay,  Deer- 
slayer,  you  mean  well  enough,  but  what  can  you 
do  ? You’re  no  great  matter  in  the  best  of  times, 
and  such  a person  is  not  likely  to  turn  out  a mira- 
cle in  the  worst.  If  there’s  , one  savage  on  this 
lake-shore  there’s  forty,  and  that’s  an  army  you 
ar’n’t  the  man  to  overcome.  Tne  best  way,  in 
my  judgment,  will  be  to  make  a straight  course 
to  the  castle  ; get  the  gals  into  the  canoe,  with  a 
few  eatables ; then  strike  off  for  the  corner  of 
the  lake  where  we  came  in,  and  take  the  best 
trail  for  the  Mohawk.  These  devils  won’t  know 
where  to  look  for  you  for  some  hours,  and  if 
they  did,  and  went  off  hot  in  the  pursuit,  they 
must  turn  either  the  foot  or  the  head  of  the  lake 
to  get  at  you.  That’s  my  judgment  in  the  mat- 
ter ; and  if  old  Tom  here  wishes  to  make  his  last 
will  and  testament  in  a manner  favorable  to  his 
darters,  he’ll  say  the  same.” 

“ ’Twill  never  do,  young  man,”  rejoined  Hut- 
ter.  “ The  enemy  has  scouts  out  at  this  mo- 
ment, looking  for  canoes,  and  you’ll  be  seen  and 
taken.  Trust  to  the  castle ; and,  above  all  things, 
keep  clear  of  the  land.  Hold  out  a week,  and 
parties  from  the  garrisons  will  drive  the  savages 
off.” 

“ ’Twon’t  be  four-and-twenty  hours,  old  fel- 
low, afore  these  foxes  will  be  rafting  off  to  storm 
your  castle,”  interrupted  Hurry,  with  more  of  the 
heat  of  argument  than  might  be  expected  from  a 
man  who  was  bound  and  a captive,  and  about 
whom  nothing  could  be  called  free  but  his  opin- 
ions and  his  tongue.  “ Your  advice  has  a stout 
sound,  but  it  will  have  a fatal  tarmination.  If 
you  or  I was  in  the  house,  we  might  hold  out  a 
few  days,  but  remember  that  this  lad  has  never 
seen  an  inimy  afore  to-night,  and  is  what  you 
yourself  called  settlement-conscienced  ; though, 
for  my  part,  I think  the  consciences  in  the  settle- 
ments pretty  much  the  same  as  they  are  out  here 
in  the  woods.  These  savages  are  making  signs, 
Deerslayer,  for  me  to  encourage  you  to  come 
ashore  with  the  canoe;  but  that’ll  never  do,  as 
it’s  ag’in  reason  and  Natur’.  As  for  old  Tom  and 
myself,  whether  they’ll  scalp  us  to-night,  keep  us 
for  the  torture  by  fire,  or  carry  us  to  Canada,  is 
more  than  any  one  knows  but  the  devil  that  ad- 
vises them  how  to  act.  I’ve  such  a big  and  bushy 
head  that  it’s  quite  likely  they’ll  indivor  to  get 
two  scalps  off  it,  for  the  bounty  is  a tempting 
thing,  or  old  Tom  and  I wouldn’t  be  in  this  scrape. 
Ay — there  they  go  with  their  signs  ag’in,  but  if  I 
advise  you  to  land  may  they  eat  me  as  well  as 
roast  me  ! No,  no,  Deerslayer — do  you  keep  off 
where  you  are,  and,  after  daylight,  on  no  account 
come  within  two  hundred  yards — ” 


This  injunction  of  Hurry’s  was  stopped  by  a 
hand  being  rudely  slapped  against  his  mouth,  the 
certain  sign  that  some  one  in  the  party  sufficient- 
ly understood  English  to  have  at-  length  detected 
the  drift  of  his  discourse.  Immediately  after, 
the  whole  group  entered  the  forest,  flutter  a..d 
Hurry  apparently  making  no  resistance  to  the 
movement.  Just  as  the  sounds  of  the  cracking 
bushes  were  ceasing,  however,  the  voice  of  the 
father  was  again  heard. 

“As  you’re  true  to  my  children,  God  prosper 
you,  young  man  ! ” were  the  words  that  reached 
Deerslayer’s  ears  ; after  which  he  found  himself 
left  to  follow  the  dictates  of  his  own  discretion. 

Several  minutes  elapsed,  in  death-like  still- 
ness, when  the  party  on  the  shore  had  disappeared 
in  the  woods.  Owing  to  the  distance,  rather 
more  than  two  hundred  yards,  and  the  obscurity. 
Deerslayer  had  been  able  barely  to  distinguish 
the  group,  and  to  see  it  retiring ; but  even  this 
dim  connection  with  human  forms  gave  an  anima- 
tion to  the  scene  that  was  strongly  in  contrast  to 
the  absolute  solitude  that  remained.  Although 
the  young  man  leaned  forward  to  listen,  holding 
his  breath  and  condensing  every  faculty  in  the 
single  sense  of  hearing,  not  another  sound  reached 
his  ears  to  denote  the  vicinity  of  human  beings 
It  seemed  as  if  a silence  that  had  never  been 
broken  reigned  on  the  spot  again ; and,  for  an 
instant,  even  that  piercing  shriek  which  had  so 
lately  broken  the  stillness  of  the  forest,  or  the  exe- 
crations of  March,  would  have  been  a relief  to 
the  feeling  of  desertion  to  which  it  gave  rise. 

This  paralysis  of  mind  and  body,  however, 
could  not  last  long  in  one  constituted  mentally 
and  physically  like  Deerslayer.  Dropping  his 
paddle  into  the  water,  he  turned  the  head  of  the 
canoe,  and  proceeded  slowly,  as  one  who  thinks 
intently,  toward  the  centre  of  the  lake.  When 
he  believed  himself  to  have  reached  a point  in  a 
line  with  that  where  he  had  set  the  last  canoe 
adrift,  he  changed  his  direction  northward,  keep- 
ing the  light  air  as  nearly  on  his  back  as  possible. 
After  paddling  a quarter  of  a mile  in  this  direc- 
tion, a dark  object  became  visible  on  the  lake,  a 
little  to  the  right;  and,  turning  on  one  side  for 
the  purpose,  he  had  socn  secured  his  lost  prize 
to  his  own  boat.  Deerslayer  now  examined  the 
heavens,  the  course  of  the  air,  and  the  position 
of  the  two  canoes.  Finding  nothing  in  either  to 
induce  a change  of  plan,  he  lay  down  and  pre- 
pared to  catch  a few  hours’  sleep,  that  the  mor- 
row might  find  him  equal  to  its  exigencies. 

Although  the  hardy  and  the  tired  sleep  pro- 
foundly, even  in  scenes  of  danger,  it  was  some 
time  before  Deerslayer  lost  his  recollection.  Hia 


A DANGEROUS  POSITION. 


49 


mind  dwelt  on  what  had  passed,  and  his  half- 
conscious faculties  kept  figuring  the  events  of  the 
night,  in  a sort  of  waking  dream.  Suddenly  he 
was  up  and  alert,  for  he  fancied  he  heard  the 
preconcerted  signal  of  Hurry  summoning  him  to 
the  shore.  But  all  was  still  as  the  grave  again. 
The  canoes  were  slowly  drifting  northward,  the 
thoughtful  stars  were  glimmering  in  their  mild 
glory  over  his  head,  and  the  forest-bound  sheet 
of  water  lay  embedded  between  its  mountains,  as 
calm  and  melancholy  as  if  never  troubled  by  the 
winds,  or  brightened  by  a noonday  sun.  Once 
more  the  loon  raised  his  tremulous  cry,  near  the 
foot  of  the  lake,  and  the  mystery  of  the  alarm 
was  explained.  Deerslayer  adjusted  his  hard  pil- 
low, stretched  his  form  in  the  bottom  of  the  ca- 
noe, and  slept. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


“Clear,  placid  Leman!  Thy  contrasted  lake 
With  the  wide  world  I dwelt  in,  is  a thing 
Which  warns  me,  with  its  stillness,  to  forsake 
Earth’s  troubled  waters  for  a purer  spring. 

This  quiet  sail  is  as  a noiseless  wing 
To  waft  me  from  distraction : once  I loved 
Torn  ocean’s  roar,  but  thy  soft  murmuring 
Sounds  sweet  as  if  a sister’s  voice  reproved, 

That  I with  stem  delights  should  e’er  have  been  so 
moved.” 


Byron. 


Day  had  fairly  dawned  before  the  young  man, 
whom  we  have  left  in  the  situation  described  in 
the  last  chapter,  again  opened  his  eyes.  This 
was  no  sooner  dene,  than  he  started  up,  and 
looked  about  him  with  the  eagerness  of  one  who 
suddenly  felt  the  importance  of  accurately  ascer- 
taining his  precise  position.  His  rest  had  been 
deep  and  undisturbed ; and  when  he  awoke,  it 
was  with  a clearness  of  intellect  and  a readiness 
of  resources  that  were  much  needed  at  that  par- 
ticular moment.  The  sun  had  not  risen,  it  is 
true,  but  the  vault  of  heaven  was  rich  with  the 
winning  softness  that  “ brings  and  shuts  the  day,” 
while  the  whole  air  was  filled  with  the  carols  of 
birds,  the  hymns  of  the  feathered  tribe.  These 
sounds  first  told  Deerslayer  the  risks  he  ran. 
The  air,  for  wind  it  could  scarce  be' called,  was 
still  light,  it  is  true,  but  it  had  increased  a little 
in  the  course  of  the  night,  and  as  the  canoes  were 
mere  feathers  on  the  water,  they  had  drifted 
twice  the  expected  distance  ; and,  -what  was  still 
more  dangerous,  had  approached  so  near  the 
base  of  the  mountain  that  here  rose  precipitously 
from  the  eastern  shore,  as  to  render  the  carols 
of  the  birds  plainly  audible.  This  was  not  the 
4 


worst.  The  third  canoe  had  taken  the  same  di- 
rection, and  was  slowly  drifting  toward  a point 
where  it  must  inevitably  touch,  unless  turned 
aside  by  a shift  of  wind,  or  human  hands.  In 
other  respects,  nothing  presented  itself  to  attract 
attention,  or  to  awaken  alarm.  The  castle  stood 
on  its  shoal,  nearly  abreast  of  the  canoes,  for  the 
drift  had  amounted  to  miles  in  the  course  of  the 
night,  and  the  ark  lay  fastened  to  its  piles,  as 
both  had  been  left  so  many  hours  before. 

As  a matter  of  course,  Deerslayer’s  attention 
was  first  given  to  the  canoe  ahead.  It  was  al- 
ready quite  near  the  point,  and  a very  few  strokes 
of  the  paddle  sufficed  to  tell  him  that  it  must 
touch  before  he  could  possibly  overtake  it.  Just 
at  this  moment,  too,  the  wind  inopportunely 
freshened,  rendering  the  drift  of  the  light  craft 
much  more  rapid  and  certain.  Feeling  the  im- 
possibility of  preventing  a contact  with  the  land, 
the  young  man  wisely  determined  not  to  heat 
himself  with  unnecessary  exertions ; but,  first 
looking  to  the  priming  of  his  piece,  he  proceeded 
slowly  and  warily  toward  the  point,  taking  care 
to  make  a little  circuit,  that  he  might  be  exposed 
on  only  one  side  as  he  approached. 

The  canoe  adrift,  being  directed  by  no  such 
intelligence,  pursued  its  proper  way,  and  grounded 
on  a small  sunken  rock  at  the  distance  of  three 
or  four  yards  from  the  shore.  Just  at  that  mo- 
ment Deerslayer  had  got  abreast  of  the  point, 
and  turned  the  bows  of  his  own  boat  to  the  land  ; 
first  casting  loose  his  tow,  that  his  movements 
might  be  unencumbered.  The  canoe  hung  an 
instant  on  the  rock ; then  it  rose  a hair’s-breadth 
on  an  almost  imperceptible  swell  of  the  water, 
swung  round,  floated  clear,  and  reached  the 
strand.  All  this  the  young  man  noted,  but  it 
neither  quickened  his  pulses  nor  hastened  his 
hand.  If  any  one  had  been  lying  in  wrait  for  the 
arrival  of  the  waif,  he  must, be  seen,  and  the  ut- 
most caution  in  approaching  the  shore  became 
indispensable ; if  no  one  was  in  ambush,  hurry 
was  unnecessary.  The  point  being  nearly  diago- 
nally opposite  to  the  Indian  encampment,  he 
hoped  the  last,  though  the  former  was  not  only 
possible,  but  probable ; for  the  savages  were 
prompt  in  adopting  all  the  expedients  of  their 
particular  modes  of  warfare,  and  quite  likely  had 
many  scouts  searching  the  shores  for  craft  to 
carry  them  off  to  the  castle.  As  a glance  at  the 
lake  from  any  height  or  projection  would  expose 
the  smallest  object  on  its  surface,  there  was  little 
hope  that  either  of  the  canoes  could  pass  un- 
seen ; and  Indian  sagacity  needed  no  instruction 
to  tell  which  way  a boat  or  a log  would  drift 
when  the  direction  of  the  wind  was  known.  As 


50 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


Deerslayer  drew  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  land, 
the  stroke  of  his  paddle  grew  slower,  his  eye  be- 
came more  watchful,  and  his  ears  and  nostrils 
almost  dilated  with  the  effort  to  detect  any  lurk- 
ing danger.  ’Twas  a trying  moment  for  a novice, 
nor  was  there  the  encouragement  which  even  the 
timid  sometimes  feel  when  conscious  of  being  ob- 
served and  commended.  He  was  entirely  alone, 
thrown  on  his  own  resources,  and  was  cheered  by 
no  friendly  eye,  emboldened  by  no  encouraging 
voice.  Notwithstanding  all  these  circumstances, 
the  most  experienced  veteran  in  forest  warfare 
could  not  have  behaved  better.  Equally  free 
from  recklessness  and  hesitation,  his  advance  was 
marked  by  a sort  of  philosophical  prudence  that 
appeared  to  render  him  superior  to  all  motives 
but  those  which  were  best  calculated  to  effect  his 
purpose.  Such  was  the  commencement  of  a ca- 
reer in  forest  exploits  that  afterward  rendered 
this  man,  in  his  way,  and  under  the  limits  of  his 
habits  and  opportunities,  as  renowned  as  many  a 
hero  whose  name  has  adorned  the  pages  of  works 
more  celebrated  than  legends  simple  as  ours  can 
ever  become. 

When  about  a hundred  yards  from  the  shore, 
Deerslayer  rose  in  the  canoe,  gave  three  or  four 
vigorous  strokes  with  the  paddle,  sufficient  of 
themselves  to  impel  the  bark  to  land,  and  then, 
quickly  laying  aside  the  instrument  of  labor,  he 
seized  that  of  war.  He  was  in  the  very  act  of 
raising  the  rifle,  when  a sharp  report  was  followed 
by  the  buzz  of  a bullet  that  passed  so  near  his 
body  as  to  cause  him  involuntarily  to  start.  The 
next  instant  Deerslayer  staggered,  and  fell  his 
whole  length  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe.  A yell 
— it  came  from  a single  voice — followed,  and  an 
Indian  leaped  from  the  bushes  upon  the  open 
area  of  the  point,  bounding  toward  the  canoe. 
This ‘was  the  moment  the  young  man  desired. 
He  rose  on  the  instant  and  levelled  his  own  rifle 
at  his  uncovered  foe  ; but  his  finger  hesitated 
about  pulling  the  trigger  on  one  whom  he  held  at 
such  a disadvantage.  This  little  delay,  probably, 
saved  the  life  of  the  Indian,  who  bounded  back 
into  the  cover  as  swiftly  as  he  had  broken  out  of 
it.  In  the  mean  time  Deerslayer  had  been  swiftly 
approaching  the  land,  and  his  own  canoe  reached 
the  point  just  as  his  enemy  disappeared.  As  its 
movements  had  not  been  directed,  it.  touched  the 
shore  a few  yards  from  the  other  boat;  and, 
though  the  rifle  of  his  foe  had  to  be  loaded,  there 
was  not  time  to  secure  his  prize  and  to  carry  it 
beyond  danger  before  he  would  be  exposed  to 
another  shot.  Under  the  circumstances,  there- 
fore, he  did  not  pause  an  instant,  but  dashed  into 
the  woods  and  sought  a cover. 


On  the  immediate  point  there  was  a small 
open  area,  partly  in  native  grass,  and  partly 
beach,  but  a dense  fringe  of  bushes  lined  its 
upper  side.  This  narrow  belt  of  dwarf  vegeta- 
tion passed,  one  issued  immediately  into  the  high 
and  gloomy  vaults  of  the  forest.  The  land  was 
tolerably  level  for  a few  handred  feet,  and  then 
it  rose  precipitously  in  a mountain-side.  The 
trees  were  tall,  large,  and  so  free  from  under- 
brush, that  they  resembled  vast  columns,  irregu- 
larly scattered,  upholding  a dome  of  leaves.  Al- 
though they  stood  tolerably  close  together  for 
their  ages  and  size,  the  eye  could  penetrate  to 
considerable  distances  ; and  bodies  of  men,  even, 
might  have  engaged  beneath  their  cover  with 
concert  and  intelligence. 

Deerslayer  knew  that  his  adversary  must  be 
employed  m reloading,  unless  he  had  fled.  The 
former  proved  to  be  the  case,  for  the  young  man 
had  no  sooner  placed  himself  behind  a tree,  than 
he  caught  a glimpse  of  the  arm  of  the  Indian,  his 
body  being  concealed  by  an  oak,  in  the  very  act 
of  forcing  the  leathered  bullet  home.  Nothing 
would  have  been  easier  than  to  spring  forward 
and  decide  the  affair  by  a close  assault  on  his  un- 
prepared foe  ; but  every  feeling  of  Deerslayer  re- 
volted at  such  a step,  although  his  own  life  bad 
just  been  attempted  from  a cover.  He  was  yet 
unpractised  in  the  ruthless  expedients  of  savage 
warfare,  of  which  he  knew  nothing  except  by 
tradition  and  theory,  and  it  struck  him  as  an  un- 
fair advantage  to  assail  an  unarmed  foe.  His 
color  had  heightened,  his  eye  frowned,  his  lips 
were  compressed,  and  all  his  energies  were  col- 
lected and  ready ; but,  instead  of  advancing  to 
fire,  he  dropped  his  rifle  to  the  usual  position  of 
a sportsman  in  readiness  to  catch  his  aim,  and 
muttered  to  himself,  unconscious  that  he  was 
speaking : 

“ No,  no — that  may  be  red-skin  warfare,  but 
it’s  not  a Christian’s  gifts.  Let  the  miscreant 
charge,  and  then  we’ll  take  it  out  like  men ; for 
the  canoe  he  must  not,  and  shall  not  have.  No, 
no ; let  him  have  time  to  load,  and  God  will  take 
care  of  the  right ! ” 

All  this  time  the  Indian  had  been  so  intent  on 
his  own  movements,  that  he  was  even  ignorant 
that  his  enemy  was  in  the  woods.  His  only  ap- 
prehension was,  that  the  canoe  would  be  re- 
covered and  carried  away  before  he  might  be  in 
readiness  to  prevent  it.  He  had  sought  the 
cover  from  habit,  but  was  within  a few  feet  of 
the  fringe  of  bushes,  and  could  be  at  the  margin 
of  the  forest  in  readiness  to  fire  in  a moment. 
The  distance  between  him  and  his  enemy  was 
about  fifty  yards,  and  the  trees  were  so  arranged 


INDIAN  TREACHERY. 


51 


by  Nature  that  the  line  of  sight  was  not  inter- 
rupted except  by  the  particular  trees  behind 
which  each  party  stood. 

His  rifle  was  no  sooner  loaded,  than  the  sav- 
age glanced  around  him,  and  advanced  incau- 
tiously as  regarded  the  real,  but  stealthily  as  re- 
spected the  fancied  position  of  his  enemy,  until 
he  was  fairly  exposed.  Then  Deerslayer  stepped 
from  behind  his  own  cover,  and  hailed  him. 

“ This-a-way,  red-skin ; this-a-way  if  you’re 
looking  for  me,”  he  called  out.  “ I’m  young  in 
war,  but  not  so  young  as  to  stand  on  an  open 
beach  to  be  shot  down  like  an  owl  by  daylight. 
It  rests  on  yourself  whether  it’s  peace  or  war 
atween  us  ; for  my  gifts  are  white  gifts,  and  I’m 
not  one  of  them  that  thinks  it  valiant  to  slay  hu- 
man mortals,  singly,  in  the  woods.” 

The  savage  was  a good  deal  startled  by  this 
sudden  discovery  of  the  danger  he  ran.  He  had 
a little  knowledge  of  English,  however,  and  caught 
the  drift  of  the  other’s  meaning.  He  was  also 
too  well  schooled  to  betray  alarm,  but,  dropping 
the  butt  of  his  rifle  to  the  earth  with  an  air  of 
confidence,  he  made  a gesture  of  lofty  courtesy. 
All  this  was  done  with  the  ease  and  self-posses- 
sion of  one  accustomed  to  consider  no  man  his 
superior.  In  the  midst  of  this  consummate  act- 
ing, however,  the  volcano  that  raged  within 
caused  his  eyes  to  glare  and  his  nostrils  to  di- 
.ate  like  those  of  some  wild  beast  that  is  sudden- 
ly prevented  from  taking  the  fatal  leap. 

“ Two  canoe,”  he  said,  in  the  deep,  guttural 
tones  of  his  race,  holding  up  the  number  of  fin- 
gers he  mentioned,  by  way  of  preventing  mis- 
takes ; “ one  for  you — one  for  me.” 

“No,  no,  Mingo,  that  will  never  do.  You 
own  neither,  and  neither  shall  you  have,  as  long 
as  1 can  prevent  it.  I know  it’s  war  atween  your 
people  and  mine,  but  that’s  no  reason  why  human 
mortals  should  slay  each  other,  like  savage  crea- 
tur’s  that  meet  in  the  woods ; go  your  way,  then, 
and  leave  me  to  go  mine.  The  world  is  large 
enough  for  us  both,  and  when  we  meet  fairly  in 
battle,  why,  the  Lord  will  order  the  fate  of  each 
of  us.” 

“ Good  ! ” exclaimed  the  Indian ; “ my  brother 
missionary — great  talk  ; all  about  Manitou.” 

“Not  so — not  so,  warrior.  I’m  not  good 
enoughs  for  the  Moravians,  and  am  too  good  for 
most  of  the  other  vagabonds  that  preach  about 
in  the  woods.  No,  no,  I’m  only  a hunter,  as  yet, 
though  afore  the  peace  is  made,  ’tis  like  enough 
there’ll  be  occasion  to  strike  a blow  at  some  of 
your  people.  Still,  I wish  it  to  be  done  in  fair 
fight,  and  not  in  a quarrel  about  the  ownership 
of  a miserable  canoe.” 


“ Good  ! My  brother  very  young — but  he  very 
wise.  Little  warrior — great  talker.  Chief,  some- 
times, in  council.” 

“I  don’t  know  this,  nor  do  I say  it,  Injin,” 
returned  Deerslayer,  coloring  a little  at  the  ill- 
concealed  sarcasm  of  the  other’s  manner ; “ I 
look  forward  to  a life  in  the  woods,  and  I only 
hope  it  may  be  a peaceable  one.  All  young 
men  must  go  on  the  war-path,  when  there’s  occa- 
sion, but  war  isn’t  needfully  massacre.  I’ve  seen 
enough  of  the  last,  this  very  night,  to  know  that 
Providence  frowns  on  it,  and  I now  invite  you  to 
go  your  own  way,  while  I go  mine,  and  hope  that 
we  may  part  fri’nds.” 

“ Good ! My  brother  has  two  scalp — gray 
hair  under  t’other.  Old  wisdom — young  tongue.” 

Here  the  savage  advanced  with  confidence, 
his  hand  extended,  his  face  smiling,  and  his  whole 
bearing  denoting  amity  and  respect.  Deerslayer 
met  his  offered  friendship  in  a proper  spirit,  and 
they  shook  hands  cordially,  each  endeavoring  to 
assure  the  other  of  his  sincerity  and  desire  to  be 
at  peace. 

“All  have  his  own,”  said  the  Indian;  “my 
canoe,  mine ; your  canoe,  your’n.  Go  look ; if 
your’n,  you  keep ; if  mine,  I keep.” 

“ That’s  just,  red-skin ; thougn  you  must  be 
wrong  in  thinking  the  canoe  your  property. 
Howsever,  seein’  is  believin’,  and  we’ll  go  down 
to  the  shore,  where  you  may  look  with  your  own 
eyes;  for  it’s  likely  you’ll  object  to  trustin’  alto- 
gether to  mine.” 

The  Indian  uttered  his  favorite  exclamation 
of  “ Good ! ” and  then  they  walked,  side  by  side, 
toward  the  shore.  There  was  no  apparent  dis- 
trust in  the  manner  of  either,  the  Indian  moving 
in  advance,  as  if  he  wished  to  show  his  compan- 
ion that  he  did  not  fear  turning  his  back  to  him. 
As  they  reached  the  open  ground,  the  former 
pointed  toward  Deerslayer’s  boat  and  said,  em- 
phatically : 

“No  mine — pale-face  canoe.  This  red  man’s. 
No  want  other  man’s  canoe — want  his  own.” 

“You’re  wrong,  red-skin,  you’re  altogether 
wrong.  This  canoe  was  left  in  old  Hutter’s  keep- 
ing, and  is  his’n  according  to  all  law,  red  or  white, 
till  its  owner  comes  to  claim  it.  Here’s  the  seats 
and  the  stitching  of  the  bark  to  speak  for  them- 
selves. No  man  ever  know’d  an  Injin  to  turn  off 
such  work.” 

“ Good  l My  brother  little  ole — big  wisdom. 
Injin  no  make  him.  White  man’s  work.” 

“ I’m  glad  you  think  so,  for  holding  out  to  the 
contrary  might  have  made  ill  blood  atween  us ; 
every  one  having  a right  to  take  possession  of 
his  own.  I’ll  just  shove  the  canoe  out  of  reach 


52 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


of  dispute  at  once,  as  the  quickest  way  of  settling 
difficulties.” 

While  Deerslayer  was  speaking,  he  put  a foot 
against  the  end  of  the  light  boat,  and,  giving  a 
vigorous  shove,  he  sent  it  out  into  the  lake  a 
hundred  feet  or  more,  where,  taking  the  true  cur- 
rent, it  would  necessarily  float  past  the  point,  and 
be  in  no  further  danger  of  coming  ashore.  The 
savage  started  at  this  ready  and  decided  expedi- 
ent, and  his  companion  saw  that  he  cast  a hurried 
and  fierce  glance  at  his  own  canoe,  or  that  which 
contained  the  paddles.  The  change  of  manner, 
however,  was  but  momentary,  and  then  the  Iro- 
quois resumed  his  air  of  friendliness  and  a smile 
of  satisfaction. 

“ Good ! ” he  repeated,  with  stronger  empha- 
sis than  ever.  “ Young  head,  old  mind.  Know 
how  to  settle  quarrel.  Farewell,  brother.  He 
go  to  house  in  water — musk-rat  house — Injin  go 
to  camp  ; tell  chiefs  no  find  canoe.” 

Deerslayer  was  not  sorry  to  hear  this  propo- 
sal, for  he  felt  anxious  to  join  the  females,  and 
he  took  the  offered  hand  of  the  Indian  very 
willingly.  The  parting  words  were  friendly,  and, 
while  the  red  man  walked  calmly  toward  the 
wood,  with  the  rifle  in  the  hollow  of  his  arm,  with- 
out once  looking  back  in  uneasiness  or  distrust, 
the  white  man  moved  toward  the  remaining  canoe, 
carrying  his  piece  in  the  same  pacific  manner,  it 
is  true,  but  keeping  his  eyes  fastened  on  the  move- 
ments of  the  other.  This  distrust,  however, 
seemed  to  be  altogether  uncalled  for,  and,  as  if 
ashamed  to  have  entertained  it,  the  young  man 
averted  his  look,  and  stepped  carelessly  up  to  his 
boat.  Here  he  began  to  push  the  canoe  from  the 
-shore,  and  to  make  his  other  preparations  for  de- 
parting. He  might  have  been  thus  employed  a 
minute,  when,  happening  to  turn  his  face  toward 
the  land,  his  quick  and  certain  eye  told  him,  at  a 
glance,  the  imminent  jeopardy  in  which  his  life 
was  placed.  The  black,  ferocious  eyes  of  the 
ravage  were  glancing  on  him,  like  those  of  the 
crouching  tiger,  through  a small  opening  in  the 
bushes,  and  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle  seemed  already 
to  be  opening  in  a line  with  his  own  body. 

Then,  indeed,  the  long  practice  of  Deerslayer 
as  a hunter  did  him  good  service.  Accustomed 
to  fire  with  the  deer  on  the  bound,  and  often 
when  the  precise  position  of  the  animal’s  body 
had  in  a manner  to  be  guessed  at,  he  used  the 
same  expedients  here.  To  cock  and  poise  his 
rifle  were  the  acts  of  a single  moment  and  a sin- 
gle motion ; then,  aiming  almost  without  sight- 
ing, he  fired  into  the  bushes  where  he  knew  a 
body  ought  to  be  in  order  to  sustain  the  appall- 
ing countenance  which  alone  was  visible.  There 


was  not  time  to  raise  the  piece  any  higher  or  ta 
take  a more  deliberate  aim.  So  rapid  were  his 
movements,  that  bbth  parties  discharged  their 
pieces  at  the  same  instant,  the  concussions  min- 
gling in  one  report.  The  mountains,  indeed,  gave 
back  but  a single  echo.  Deerslayer  dropped  his 
piece,  and  stood,  with  head  erect,  steady  as  one 
of  the  pines  in  the  calm  of  a June  morning, 
watching  the  result ; while  the  savage  gave  the 
yell  that  has  become  historical  for  its  appalling 
influence,  leaped  through  the  bushes,  and  came 
bounding  across  the  open  ground  flourishing  a 
tomahawk.  Still  Deerslayer  moved  not,  but 
stood  with  his  unloaded  rifle  fallen  against  his 
shoulders,  while,  with  a hunter’s  habits,  his  hands 
were  mechanically  feeling  for  the  powder-horn 
and  charger.  When  about  forty  feet  from  his 
enemy,  the  savage  hurled  his  keen  weapon ; but 
it  was  with  an  eye  so  vacant,  and  a hand  so  un- 
steady and  feeble,  that  the  young  man  caught  it 
by  the  handle  as  it  was  flying  past  him.  At  that 
instant  the  Indian  staggered  and  fell  his  whole 
length  on  the  ground. 

“ I know’d  it — I know’d  it ! ” exclaimed  Deer- 
slayer, who  was  already  preparing  to  force  a fresh 
bullet  into  his  rifle  ; “ I know’d  it  must  come  to 
this  as  soon  as  I had  got  the  range  from  the 
creatur’s  eyes.  A man  sights  suddenly  and  fires 
quick  when  his  own  life’s  in  danger ; yes,  I 
know’d  it  would  come  to  this.  I was  about  the 
hundredth  part  of  a second  too  quick  for  him,  or 
it  might  have  been  bad  for  me ! The  riptyle’s 
bullet  has  just  grazed  my  side — but,  say  what  you 
will  for  or  ag’in  ’em,  a red-skin  is  by  no  means  as 
sartain  with  powder  and  ball  as  a white  man. 
Their  gifts  don’t  seem  to  lie  that-a-way.  Even 
Chingachgook,  great  as  he  is  in  other  matters, 
isn’t  downright  deadly  with  the  rifle.” 

By  this  time  the  piece  was  reloaded,  and  Deer- 
slayer, after  tossing  the  tomahawk  into  the  canoe, 
advanced  to  his  victim,  and  stood  over  him,  lean- 
ing on  his  rifle,  in  melancholy  attention.  It  was 
the  first  instance  in  which  he  had  seen  a man  fall 
in  battle — it  was  the  first  fellow-creature  against 
whom  he  had  ever  seriously  raised  his  own  hand. 
The  sensations  were  novel ; and  regret,  with  the 
freshness  of  our  better  feelings,  mingled  with  his 
triumph.  The  Indian  was  not  dead,  though  shot 
directly  through  the  body  He  lay  on  his  back 
motionless,  but  his  eyes,  now  full  of  conscious- 
ness, watched  each  action  of  his  victor — as  the 
fallen  bird  regards  the  fowler — jealous  of  every 
movement.  The  man  probably  expected  the  fatal 
blow  which  was  to  precede  the  loss  of  his  scalp  ; 
or  perhaps  he  anticipated  that  this  latter  act  of 
cruelty  would  precede  his  death.  Deerslayer  read 


THE  DYING  WARRIOR. 


53 


his  thoughts  ; and  he  found  a melancholy  satis- 
raction  in  relieving  the  apprehensions  of  the  help- 
less savage. 

“ No,  no,  red-skin,”  he  said ; “ you’ve  nothing 
more  to  fear  from  me.  I am  of  a Christian  stock, 
and  scalping  is  not  of  my  gifts.  I’ll  just  make 
sartain  of  your  rifle,  and  then  come  back  and  do 
you  what  sarvice  I can.  Though  here  I can’t 
stay  much  longer,  as  the  crack  of  three  rifles  will 
be  apt  to  bring  some  of  your  devils  down  upon 
me.” 

The  close  of  this  was  said  in  a sort  of  a solilo- 
quy, as  the  young  man  went  in  quest  of  the  fallen 
rifle.  The  piece  was  found  where  its  owner  had 
dropped  it,  and  was  immediately  put  into  the 
canoe.  Laying  his  own  rifle  at  its  side,  Deer- 
slayer  then  returned  and  stood  over  the  Indian 
again. 

“ All  inmity  atween  you  and  me’s  at  an  ind, 
red-skin,”  he  said  ; “ and  you  may  set  your  heart 
at  rest  on  the  score  of  the  scalp,  or  any  further 
injury.  My  gifts  are  white,  as  I’ve  told  you  ; and 
I hope  my  conduct  will  be  white  also  ! ” 

Could  looks  have  conveyed  all  they  meant,  it 
is  probable  Deerslayer’s  innocent  vanity  on  the 
subject  of  color  would  have  been  rebuked  a little ; 
but  he  comprehended  the  gratitude  that  was  ex- 
pressed in  the  eyes  of  the  dying  savage,  without 
in  the  least  detecting  the  bitter  sarcasm  that 
struggled  with  the  better  feeling. 

“ Water ! ” ejaculated  the  thirsty  and  unfortu- 
nate creature ; “ give  poor  Injin  water.” 

“ Ay,  water  you  shall  have,  if  you  drink  the 
lake  dry.  I’ll  just  carry  you  down  to  it,  that  you 
may  take  your  fill.  This  is  the  way,  they  tell  me, 
with  all  wounded  people — water  is  their  greatest 
comfort  and  delight.” 

So  saying,  Deerslayer  raised  the  Indian  in  his 
\rms,  and  carried  him  to  the  lake.  Here  he  first 
helped  him  to  take  an  attitude  in  which  he  could 
appease  his  burning  thirst ; after  which  he  seated 
himself  on  a stone,  and  took  the  head  of  his 
wounded  adversary  in  his  own  lap,  and  endeav- 
ored to  soothe  his  anguish  in  the  best  manner  he 
could. 

“ It  would  be  sinful  in  me  to  tell  you  your 
time  hadn’t  come,  warrior,”  he  commenced,  “ and 
therefore  I’ll  not  say  it.  You’ve  passed  the  mid- 
dle age  already,  and,  considerin’  the  sort  of  lives 
ye  lead,  your  days  have  been  pretty  well  filled. 
The  principal  thing  now  is,  to  look  forward  to 
what  comes  next.  Neither  red-skin  nor  pale-face, 
on  the  whole,  calculates  much  on  sleepin’  forever ; 
but  both  expect  to  live  in  another  world.  Each 
has  his  gifts,  and  will  be  judged  by  ’em,  and,  I 
suppose,  you’ve  thought  these  matters  over 


enough,  not  to  stand  in  need  of  sarmons  when 
the  trial  comes.  You’ll  find  your  happy  hunting- 
grounds,  if  you’ve  been  a just  Injin  ; if  an  onjust, 
you’ll  meet  your  dcsarts  in  another  way.  I’ve 
my  own  idees  about  these  things  ; but  you’re  too 
old  and  cxper’enced  to  need  any  explanations 
from  one  as  young  as  I.” 

“ Good  ! ” ejaculated  the  Indian,  whose  voice 
retained  its  depth  even  as  life  ebbed  away ; 
“ young  head — ole  wisdom  ! ” 

“ It’s  sometimes  a consolation,  when  the  ind 
comes,  to  know  that  them  we’ve  harmed,  or  tried 
to  harm,  forgive  us.  I suppose  natur’  seeks  this 
relief,  by  way  of  getting  a pardon  on  ’arth ; as 
we  never  can  know  whether  He  pardons,  who  is 
all  in  all,  till  judgment  itself  comes.  It’s  soothing 
to  know  that  any  pardon  at  such  times  ; and  that, 
I conclude,  is  the  secret.  Now,  as  for  myself,  I 
overlook  altogether  your  designs  ag’in  my  life : 
first,  because  no  harm  came  of  ’em  ; next,  because 
it’s  your  gifts,  and  natur’,  and  trainin’,  and  I 
ought  not  to  have  trusted  you  at  all ; and,  finally 
and  chiefly,  because  I can  bear  no  ill-will  to  a 
dying  man,  whether  heathen  or  Christian.  So 
put  your  heart  at  ease,  so  far  as  I’m  consarned  ; 
you  know  best  what  other  matters  ought  to  trou- 
ble you,  or  what  ought  to  give  you  satisfaction  in 
so  trying  a moment.”  ♦ 

It  is  probable  that  the  Indian  had  some  of  the 
fearful  glimpses  of  the  unknown  state  of  being 
which  God  in  mercy  seems  at  times  to  afford  to 
all  the  human  race  ; but  they  were  necessarily  in 
conformity  with  his  habits  and  prejudices.  Like 
most  of  his  people,  and  like  too  many  of  our  own, 
he  thought  more  of  dying  in  a way  to  gain  ap- 
plause among  those  he  left  than  to  secure  a better 
state  of  existence  hereafter.  While  Deerslayer 
was  speaking,  his  mind  was  a little  bewildered, 
though  he  felt  that  the  intention  was  good  ; and 
when  he  had  done,  a regret  passed  over  his  spirit 
that  none  of  his  own  tribe  were  present  to  wit- 
ness his  stoicism,  under  extreme  bodily  suffering, 
and  the  firmness  with  which  he  met  his  end. 
With  the  high  innate  courtesy  that  so  often  dis- 
tinguishes the  Indian  warrior  before  he  becomes 
corrupted  by  too  much  intercourse  with  the  worst 
class  of  the  white  men,  he  endeavored  to  express 
his  thankfulness  for  the  other’s  good  intentions, 
and  to  let  him  understand  that  they  were  appre- 
ciated. 

“ Good ! ” he  repeated,  for  this  was  an  Eng- 
lish word  much  used  by  the  savages — “ good — 
young  head  ; young  heart , too.  Old  heart  tough  ; 
no  shed  tear.  Hear  Indian  when  he  die,  and  no 
want  to  lie — what  he  call  him  ? ” 

“ Deerslayer  is  the  name  I bear  now,  though 


54 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  Delawares  have  said  that,  when  I get  back 
from  this  war-path,  I shall  have  a more  manly 
title,  provided  I can  ’arn  one.” 

“ That  good  name  for  boy — poor  name  for 
warrior.  He- get  better  quick.  No  fear  there” 
— the  savage  had  strength  sufficient,  under  the 
strong  excitement  he  felt,  to  raise  a hand  and  tap 
the  young  man  on  his  breast — “ eye  sartain — fin- 
ger lightning — aim,  death — great  warrior  soon. 
N o Deerslayer — Hawkeye — Hawkeye — Hawkeye. 
Shake  hand.” 

Deerslayer — or  Hawkeye,  as  the  youth  was 
then  first  named,  for  in  after-years  he  bore  the 
appellation  throughout  all  that  region — Deerslay- 
er took  the  hand  of  the  savage,  whose  last  breath 
was  drawn  in  that  attitude,  gazing  in  admiration 
at  the  countenance  of  a stranger,  who  had  shown 
so  much  readiness,  skill,  and  firmness,  in  a scene 
that  was  equally  trying  and  novel.  When  the 
reader  remembers  it  is  the  highest  gratification 
an  Indian  can  receive  to  see  his  enemy  betray 
weakness,  he  will  be  better  able  to  appreciate 
the  conduct  which  had  extorted  so  great  a con- 
cession at  such  a moment. 

“ His  spirit  has  fled  ! ” said  Deerslayer,  in  a 
suppressed,  melancholy  voice.  “ Ah’s  me ! Well, 
to  this  we  must  all  come,  sooner  or  later  ; and  he 
is  happiest,  let  his  skin  be  of  what  color  it  may, 
who  is  best  fitted  to  meet  it.  Here  lies  the  body 
of  no  doubt  a brave  warrior,  and  the  soul  is  al- 
ready flying  toward  its  heaven  or  hell,  whether 
that  be  a happy  hunting-ground,  a place  scant  of 
game  ; regions  of  glory,  according  to  Moravian 
doctrine,  or  flames  of  fire ! So  it  happens,  too, 
as  regards  other  matters.  Here  have  old  Hutter 
and  Hurry  Harry  got  themselves  into  difficulty, 
if  they  haven’t  got  themselves  into  torment  and 
death,  and  all  for  a bounty  that  luck  offers  to  me 
in  what  many  would  think  a lawful  and  suitable 
manner.  But  not  affarthing  of  such  money  shall 
cross  my  hand.  White  I was  born,  and  white 
will  I die ; clinging  to  color  to  the  last,  even 
though  the  king’s  majesty,  his  governors,  and  all 
his  councils,  both  at  home  and  in  the  colonies, 
forget  from  what  they  come,  and  where  they  hope 
to  go,  and  all  for  a little  advantage  in  warfare. 
No,  no — warrior,  hand  of  mine  shall  never  molest 
your  scalp,  and  so  your  soul  may  rest  in  peace  on 
the  p’int  of  making  a decent  appearance,  when 
the  body  comes  to  join  it,  in  your  own  land  of 
spirits.” 

Deerslayer  arose  as  soon  as  he  had  spoken. 
Then  he  placed  the  body  of  the  dead  man  in  a 
sitting  posture,  with  its  back  against  the  little 
rock,  taking  the  necessary  care  to  prevent  it  from 
falling  or  in  any  way  settling  into  an  attitude  that 


might  be  thought  unseemly  by  the  sensitive 
though  wild  notions  of  a savage.  When  this  duty 
was  performed,  the  young  man  stood  gazing  at 
the  grim  countenance  of  his  fallen  foe  in  a sort 
of  melancholy  abstraction.  As  was  his  practice, 
however,  a habit  gained  by  living  so  much  alone 
in  the  forest,  he  then  began  again  to  give  utter- 
ance to  his  thoughts  and  feelings  aloud. 

“ I didn’t  wish  your  life,  red-skin,”  he  said, 
“ but  you  left  me  no  choice  atween  killing  or  be- 
ing killed.  Each  party  acted  according  to  his 
gifts,  I suppose,  and  blame  can  light  on  neither. 
You  were  treacherous,  according  to  your  natur’ 
in  war,  and  I was  a little  over-sightful,  as  I’m  apt 
to  be  in  trusting  others.  Well,  this  is  my  first 
battle  with  a human  mortal,  though  it’s  not  likely 
to  be  the  last.  I have  fou’t  most  of  the  creatur’s 
of  the  forest,  such  as  bears,  wolves,  painters,  and 
catamounts,  but  this  is  the  beginning  with  the 
red-skins.  If  I was  Injin  bom,  now,  I might  tell 
of  this,  or  carry  in  the  scalp,  and  boast  of  the 
expl’ite  afore  the  whole  tribe  ; or,  if  my  inimy  had 
only  been  even  a bear,  ’twould  have  been  nat’ral 
and  proper  to  let  everybody  know  what  had  hap- 
pened ; but  I don’t  well  see  how  I’m  to  let  even 
Chingachgook  into  this  secret,  so  long  as  it  can 
be  done  only  by  boasting  with  a white  tongue. 
And  why  should  I wish  to  boast  of  it  a’ ter  all? 
It’s  slaying  a human,  although  he  was  a savage ; 
and  how  do  1 know  that  he  was  a just  Injin ; and 
that  he  has  not  been  taken  away  suddenly  to  any 
thing  but  happy  hunting-grounds  ? When  its  on- 
sartain  whether  good  or  evil  has  been  done,  the 
wisest  way  is  not  to  be  boastful — still,  I should 
like  Chingachgook  to  know  that  I haven’t  dis- 
credited the  Delawares  or  my  training  ! ” 

Part  of  this  was  uttered  aloud,  while  part  was 
merely  muttered  between  the  speaker’s  teeth ; 
his  more  confident  opinions  enjoying  the  first  ad- 
vantage, while  his  doubts  were  expressed  in  the 
latter  mode.  Soliloquy  and  reflection  received  a 
startling  interruption,  however,  by  the  sudden 
appearance  of  a second  Indian  on  the  lake-shore, 
a few  hundred  yards  from  the  point.  This  man, 
evidently  another  scout,  who  had  probably  been 
drawn  to  the  place  by  the  reports  of  the  rifles, 
broke  out  of  the  forest  with  so  little  caution  that 
Deerslayer  caught  a view  of  his  person  before  he 
was  himself  discovered.  When  the  latter  event 
did  occur,  as  was  the  case  a moment  later,  the 
savage  gave  a loud  yell,  which  was  answered  by 
a dozen  voices  from  different  parts  of  the  moun 
tain-side.  There  was  no  longer  any  time  for 
delay ; in  another  minute  the  boat  was  quitting 
the  shore  under  long  and  steady  sweeps  of  the 
paddle. 


A SURPRISED  MINGO. 


55 


As  soon  as  Deerslayer  believed  himself  to  be 
at  a safe  distance,  he  ceased  his  efforts,  permit- 
ting the  little  bark  to  drift,  while  he  leisurely 
took  a survey  of  the  state  of  things.  The  canoe 
first  sent  adrift  was  floating  before  the  air,  quite 
a quarter  of  a mile  above  him,  and  a little  nearer 
to  the  shore  than  he  wished,  now  that  he  knew 
more  of  the  savages  were  so  near  at  hand.  The 
canoe  shoved  from  the  point  was  within  a few 
yards  of  him,  he  having  directed  his  own  course 
toward  it  on  quitting  the  land.  The  dead  Indian 
lay  in  grim  quiet  where  he  had  left  him,  the  war- 
rior who  had  shown  himself  from  the  forest  had 
already  vanished,  and  the  woods  themselves  were 
as  silent  and  seemingly  deserted  as  the  day  they 
came  fresh  from  the  hands  of  their  great  Crea- 
tor. This  profound  stillness,  however,  lasted  but 
a moment.  When  time  had  been  given  to  the 
scouts  of  the  enemy  to  reconnoitre,  they  burst 
out  of  the  thicket  upon  the  naked  point,  filling 
the  air  with  yells  of  fury  at  discovering  the  death 
of  their  companion.  These  cries  were  immedi- 
ately succeeded  by  shouts  of  delight  when  they 
reached  the  body  and  clustered  eagerly  around 
it.  Deerslayer  was  a sufficient  adept  in  the 
usages  of  the  natives  to  understand  the  reason  of 
the  change.  The  yell  was  the  customary  lamen- 
tation at  the  loss  of  a warrior,  the  shout  a sign 
of  rejoicing  that  the  conqueror  had  not  been  able 
to  secure  the  scalp ; the  trophy,  without  which  a 
victory  is  never  considered  complete.  The  dis- 
tance at  which  the  canoes  lay  probably  prevented 
any  attempts  to  injure  the  conqueror,  the  Ameri- 
can Indian,  like  the  panther  of  his  own  woods, 
seldom  making  any  effort  against  his  foe  unless 
tolerably  certain  it  is  under  circumstances  that 
may  be  expected  to  prove  effective. 

As  the  young  man  had  no  longer  any  motive 
to  remain  near  the  point,  he  prepared  to  collect 
his  canoes,  in  order  to  tow  them  off  to  the  castle. 
That  nearest  was  soon  in  tow,  when  he  proceeded 
in  quest  of  the  other,  which  was  all  this  time  float- 
ing up  the  lake.  The  eye  of  Deerslayer  was  no  soon- 
er fastened  on  this  last  boat,  than  it  struck  him 
that  it  was  nearer  to  the  shore  than  it  would  have 
been  had  it  merely  followed  the  course  of  the  gen- 
tle current  of  air.  He  began  to  suspect  the  influ- 
ence of  some  unseen  current  in  the  water,  and  he 
quickened  his  exertions,  in  order  to  regain  pos- 
session of  it  before  it  could  drift  in  to  a danger- 
ous proximity  to  the  woods.  On  getting  nearer 
he  thought  that  the  canoe  had  a perceptible  mo- 
tion through  the  water,  and,  as  it  lay  broadside 
to  the  air,  that  this  motion  was  taking  it  toward 
the  land.  A few  vigorous  strokes  of  the  paddle 
oarried  him  still  nearer,  when  the  mystery  was 


explained.  Something  was  evidently  in  motion 
on  the  off-side  of  the  canoe  or  that  which  was 
farthest  from  himself,  and  closer  scrutiny  showed 
that  it  was  a naked  human  arm.  An  Indian  was 
lying  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  and  was  pro- 
pelling it  slowly,  but  certainly,  to  the  shore, 
using  his  hand  as  a paddle.  Deerslayer  under- 
stood the  whole  artifice  at  a glance.  A savage 
had  swum  off  to  the  boat  while  he  was  occupied 
with  his  enemy  on  the  point,  got  possession,  and 
was  using  these  means  to  urge  it  to  the  shore. 

Satisfied  that  the  man  in  the  canoe  could 
have  no  arms,  Deerslayer  did  not  hesitate  to  dash 
close  alongside  of  the  retiring  boat,  without 
deeming  it  necessary  to  raise  his€own  rifle.  As 
soon  as  the  wash  of  the  water,  which  he  made  in 
approaching,  became  audible  to  the  prostrate 
savage,  the  latter  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  uttered 
an  exclamation  that  proved  how  completely  he 
was  taken  by  surprise. 

“If  you’ve  enj’yed  yourself  enough  in  that 
canoe,  red-skin,”  Deerslayer  coolly  observed,  stop- 
ping his  own  career  in  sufficient  time  to  prevent 
an  absolute  collision  between  the  two  boats — “ if 
you’ve  enj’yed  yourself  enough  in  that  canoe, 
you’ll  do  a prudent  act  by  taking  to  the  lake 
ag’in.  I’m  reasonable  in  these  matters,  and 
don’t  crave  your  blood,  though  there’s  them 
about  that  would  look  upon  you  more  as  a due- 
bill  for  the  bounty  than  a human  mortal.  Take  to 
the  lake  this  minute,  afore  we  get  to  hot  words.” 

The  savage  was  one  of  those  who  did  not 
understand  a word  of  English,  and  he  was  in- 
debted to  the  gestures  of  Deerslayer,  and  to  the 
expression  of  an  eye  that  did  not  often  deceive, 
for  an  imperfect  comprehension  of  his  meaning. 
Perhaps,  too,  the  sight  of  the  rifle  that  lay  so 
near  the  hand  of  the  white  man  quickened  his 
decision.  At  all  events,  he  crouched  like  a tiger 
about  to  take  his  leap,  uttered  a yell,  and  the 
next  instant  his  naked  body  disappeared  in  the 
water.  When  he  rose  to  take  breath,  it  was  at 
the  distance  of  several  yards  from  thp  canoe,  and 
the  hasty  glance  he  threw  behind  him  denoted 
how  much  he  feared  the  arrival  of  a fatal  mes- 
senger from  the  rifle  of  his  foe.  But  the  young 
man  made  no  indication  of  any  hostile  intention. 
Deliberately  securing  the  canoe  to  the  others,  he 
began  to  paddle  from  the  shore ; and  by  the 
time  the  Indian  reached  the  land,  and  had  shaken 
himself,  like  a spaniel  on  quitting  the  water,  his 
dreaded  enemy  was  already  beyond  rifle-shot  on 
his  way  to  the  castle.  As  was  so  much  his  prac- 
tice, Deerslayer  did  not  fail  to  soliloquize  on  what 
had  just  occurred,  while  steadily  pursuing  his 
course  toward  the  point  of  destination. 


56 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“ Well,  well  ” — he  commenced  — “ ’twould 
have  been  wrong  to  kill  a human  mortal  without 
an  object.  Scalps  are  of  no  account  with  me, 
and  life  is  sweet,  and  ought  not  to  be  taken  mar- 
cilessly  by  them  that  have  white  gift3.  The  sav- 
age was  a Mingo,  it’s  true  ; and  I make  no  doubt 
he  is,  and  will  be  as  long  as  he  lives,  a ra’al 
riptyle  and  vagabond;  but  that’s  no  reason  I 
should  forget  my  gifts  and  color.  No,  no — let 
him  go ; if  ever  we  meet  ag’in,  rifle  in  hand,  why 
then  ’twill  be  seen  which  has  the  stoutest  heart 
and  the  quickest  eye. — Hawkey e ! That’s  not  a 
bad  name  for  a warrior,  sounding  much  more 
manful  and  valiant  than  Deerslayer  ! ’Twouldn’t 
be  a bad  title  t$>  begin  with,  and  it  has  been  fair- 
ly ’arned.  If  ’twas  Chingachgook,  now,  he  might 
go  home,  and  boast  of  his  deeds,  and  the  chiefs 
would  name  him  Hawkeye  in  a minute ; but  it 
don’t  become  white  blood  to  brag,  and  ’tisn’t  easy 
to  see  how  the  matter  can  be  known  unless  I do. 
Well,  well — every  thing  is  in  the  hands  of  Provi- 
dence ; this  affair  as  well  as  another ; I’ll  trust 
to  that  for  getting  my  desarts  in  all  things.” 

Having  thus  betrayed  what  might  be  termed 
his  weak  spot,  the  young  man  continued  to  pad- 
dle in  silence,  making  his  way  diligently,  and  as 
fast  as  his  tows  would  allow  him,  toward  the  cas- 
tle. By  this  time  the  sun  had  not  only  risen,  but 
it  had  appeared  over  the  eastern  mountains,  and 
was  shedding  a flood  of  glorious  light  on  this  as 
yet  unchristened  sheet  of  water.  The  whole 
scene  was  radiant  with  beauty ; and  no  one  un- 
accustomed to  the  ordinary  history  of  the  woods 
would  fancy  it  had  so  lately  witnessed  incidents 
so  ruthless  and  barbarous.  As  he  approached 
the  building  of  old  Hutter,  Deerslayer  thought,  or 
rather  felt , that  its  appearance  was  in  singular 
harmony  with  all  the  rest  of  the  scene.  Although 
nothing  had  been  consulted  but  strength  and  se- 
curity, the  rude,  massive  logs,  covered  with  their 
rough  bark,  the  projecting  roof,  and  the  form, 
would  contribute  to  render  the  building  pictu- 
resque in  almost  any  situation,  while  its  actual  po- 
sition added  novelty  and  piquancy  to  its  other 
points  of  interest. 

When  Deerslayer  drew  nearer  to  the  castle, 
however,  objects  of  interest  presented  themselves 
that  at  once  eclipsed  any  beauties  that  might 
have  distinguished  the  scenery  of  the  lake,  and 
the  site  of  the  singular  edifice.  Judith  and  Hetty 
stood  on  the  platform  before  the  door,  Hurry’s 
door-yard,  awaiting  his  approach  with  manifest 
anxiety  ; the  former,  from  time  to  time,  taking  a 
survey  of  his  person  and  of  the  canoes  through 
the  old  ship’s  spy-glass  that  has  been  already 
mentioned.  Never,  probably,  did  this  girl  seem 


more  brilliantly  beautiful  than  at  that  moment ; 
the  flush  of  anxiety  and  alarm  increasing  her 
color  to  its  richest  tints,  while  the  softness  of  her 
eyes,  a charm  that  even  poor  Hetty  shared  with 
her,  was  deepened  by  intense  concern.  Such,  at 
least,  without  pausing  or  pretending  to  analyze 
motives,  or  to  draw  any  other  very  nice  distinc- 
tions between  cause  and  effect,  were  the  opinions 
of  the  young  man,  as  his  canoes  reached  the  side 
of  the  ark,  where  he  carefully  fastened  all  three 
before  he  put  his  foot  on  the  platform. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

“ His  words  are  bonds,  his  oaths  are  oracles ; 

His  love  sincere,  his  thoughts  immaculate  ; 

His  tears  pure  messengers  sent  from  his  heart , 

His  heart  as  far  from  fraud  as  heaven  from  earth.” 

Shakespeare. 

Neither  of  the  girls  spoke  as  Deerslayer  stood 
before  them  alone,  his  countenance  betraying  all 
tlm  apprehension  he  felt  on  account  of  the  two 
absent  members  of  their  party. 

“Father!”  Judith  at  length  exclaimed,  suc- 
ceeding in  uttering  the  word,  as  it  might  be  by  a 
desperate  effort. 

“He’s  met  with  misfortune,  and  there’s  no 
use  in  concealing  it,”  answered  Deerslayer,  in  his 
direct  and  simple-minded  manner.  “ He  and 
Hurry  are  in  Mingo  hands,  and  Heaven  only 
knows  what’s  to  be  the  tarmination.  I’ve  got 
the  canoes  safe,  and  that’s  a consolation,  since 
the  vagabonds  will  have  to  swim  for  it,  or  raft 
off,  to  come  near  this  place.  At  sunset  we’ll  be 
reenforced  by  Chingachgook,  if  I can  manage  to 
get  him  into  a canoe ; and  then,  I think,  we  two 
can  answer  for  the  ark  and  the  castle,  till  some 
of  the  officers  in  the  garrisons  hear  of  this  war- 
path, which  sooner  or  later  must  be  the  case, 
when  we  may  look  for  succor  from  that  quarter, 
if  from  no  other.” 

“ The  officers ! ” exclaimed  Judith,  impatient- 
ly, her  color  deepening,  and  her  eye  expressing  a 
lively  but  passing  emotion.  “ Who  thinks  or 
speaks  of  the  heartless  gallants  now? — We  are 
sufficient  of  ourselves  to  defend  the  castle— but 
what  of  my  father  and  of  poor  Hurry  Harry  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  natural  you  should  feel  this  consarn  for 
your  own  parent,  Judith,  and  I suppose  its 
equally  so  that  you  should  feel  it  for  Hurry  Har- 
ry too.” 

Deerslayer  then  commenced  a succinct  but 
clear  narrative  of  all  that  occurred  during  tha 
night,  in  no  manner  concealing  what  had  befallei 


THE  HUNTER’S  RETURN  TO  THE  CASTLE. 


57 


hia  two  companions,  or  his  own  opinion  of  what 
might  prove  to  be  the  consequences.  The  girls 
listened  with  profound  attention,  but  neither  be- 
trayed that  feminine  apprehension  and  concern 
which  would  have  followed  such  a communication 
when  made  to  those  who  were  less  accustomed  to 
the  hazards  and  accidents  of  a frontier  life.  To 
the  surprise  of  Deerslayer,  Judith  seemed  the 
most  distressed,  Hetty  listening  eagerly,  but  ap- 
pearing to  brood  over  the  facts  in  melancholy  si- 
lence, rather  than  betraying  any  outward  signs 
of  feeling.  The  former’s  agitation,  the  young 
mail  did  not  fail  to  attribute  to  the  interest  she 
felt  in  Hurry,  quite  as  much  as  to  her  filial  love, 
while  Hetty’s  apparent  indifference  was  ascribed 
to  that  mental  darkness  which,  in  a measure,  ob- 
scured her  intellect,  and  which  possibly  prevented 
her  from  foreseeing  all  the  consequences.  Little 
was  said,  however,  by  either,  Judith  and  her  sis- 
ter busying  themselves  in  making  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  morning  meal,  as  they  who  habitu- 
ally attend  to  such  matters  toil  on  mechanically 
even  in  the  midst  of  suffering  and  sorrow.  The 
plain  but  nutritious  breakfast  was  taken  by  all 
three  in  sombre  silence.  The  girls  ate  little,  but 
Deerslayer  gave  proof  of  possessing  one  material 
requisite  of  a good  soldier,  that  of  preserving  his 
appetite  in  the  midst  of  the  most  alarming  and 
embarrassing  circumstances.  The  meal  was 
nearly  ended  before  a syllable  was  uttered  ; then, 
however,  Judith  spoke  in  the  convulsive  and  hur- 
ried manner  in  which  feeling  breaks  through  re- 
straint, after  the  latter  has  become  more  painful 
than  even  the  betrayal  of  emotion. 

“ Father  would  have  relished  this  fish ! ” she 
exclaimed  ; “ he  says  the  salmon  of  the  lakes  is 
almost  as  good  as  the  salmon  of  the  sea.” 

“ Your  father  has  been  acquainted  with  the 
sea,  they  tell  me,  Judith,”  returned  the  young 
man,  who  could  not  forbear  throwing  a glance  of 
inquiry  at  the  girl ; for,  in  common  with  all  who 
knew  Hutter,  he  had  some  curiosity  on  the  sub- 
ject of  his  early  history.  “ Hurry  Harry  tells 
me  he  was  once  a sailor.” 

Judith  first  looked  perplexed ; then,  influenced 
by  feelings  that  were  novel  to  her,  in  more  ways 
than  ^me,  she  became  suddenly  communicative, 
and  seemingly  much  interested  in  the  discourse. 

“ If  Hurry  knows  any  thing  of  father’s  histo- 
ry, I would  he  had  told  it  to  me ! ” she  cried. 
M Sometimes  I think,  too,  he  was  once  a sailor, 
and  then  again  I think  he  was  not.  If  that  chest 
were  open,  or  if  it  could  speak,  it  might  let  us  into 
his  whole  history.  But  its  fastenings  are  too 
Strong  to  be  broken  like  packthread.” 

Deerslayer  turned  to  the  chest  in  question, 


and  for  the  first  time  examined  it  closely.  Al- 
though discolored,  and  bearing  proofs  of  having 
received  much  ill  treatment,  he  saw  that  it  was  of 
materials  and  workmanship  altogether  superior  to 
any  thing  of  the  same  sort  he  had  ever  before  be- 
held. The  wood  was  dark,  rich,  and  had  once  been 
highly  polished,  though  the  treatment  it  had  re- 
ceived left  little  gloss  on  its  surface,  and  various 
scratches  and  indentations  proved  the  rough  col- 
lisions that  it  had  encountered  with  substances 
still  harder  than  itself.  The  corners  were  firmly- 
bound  with  steel,  elaborately  and  richly  wrought, 
while  the  locks,  of  which  it  had  no  less  than  three, 
and  the  hinges,  were  of  a fashion  and  workmanship 
that  would  have  attracted  attention  even  in  a ware- 
house of  curious  furniture.  This  chest  was  quite 
large ; and  when  Deerslayer  arose,  and  endeavored 
to  raise  an  end  by  its  massive  handle,  he  found 
that  the  weight  fully  corresponded  with  the  exter- 
nal appearance. 

“Did  you  never  see  that  chest  opened,  Ju- 
dith ? ” the  young  man  demanded  with  frontier 
freedom,  for  delicacy  on  such  subjects  was  little 
felt  among  the  people  on  the  verge  of  civilization, 
in  that  age,  even  if  it  be  to-day. 

“ Never.  Father  has  never  opened  it  in  my 
presence,  if  he  ever  opens  it  at  all.  No  one  here 
has  ever  seen  its  lid  raised,  unless  it  be  father . 
nor  do  I even  know  that  he  has  ever  seen  it.” 

“Now,  you’re  wrong,  Judith,”  Hetty  quietly 
answered.  “ Father  has  raised  the  lid,  and  Tve 
seen  him  do  it.” 

A feeling  of  manliness  kept  the  mouth  of 
Deerslayer  shut ; for,  while  he  would  not  have 
hesitated  about  going  far  beyond  what  would  be 
thought  the  bounds  of  propriety,  in  questioning 
the  elder  sister,  he  had  just  scruples  about  taking 
what  might  be  thought  an  advantage  of  the  feeble 
intellect  of  the  younger.  Judith,  being  under  no 
such  restraint,  however,  turned  quickly  to  the 
last  speaker,  and  continued  the  discourse. 

“ When  and  where  did  you  see  that  chest 
opened,  Hetty  ? ” 

“Here,  and  again  and  again.  Father  often 
opens  it  when  you  are  away,  though  he  don’t  in 
the  least  mind  my  being  by,  and  seeing  all  he 
does,  as  well  as  hearing  all  he  says.” 

“ And  what  is  it  that  he  does,  and  what  does 
he  say  ? ” 

“That  I cannot  tell  you , Judith,”  returned  the 
other  in  a low  but  resolute  voice.  “ Father's 
secrets  are  not  my  secrets.” 

“ Secrets ! This  is  stranger  still,  Deerslayer, 
that  father  should  tell  them  to  Hetty  and  not  tell 
them  to  me  ! ” 

“ There’s  good  reason  for  that,  Judith,  thougL 


58 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


youTre  not  to  know  it.  Father’s  not  here  to  an- 
swer for  himself,  and  I’ll  say  no  more  about  it.” 

Judith  and  Deerslayer  looked  surprised,  and, 
for  a minute,  the  first  seemed  pained.  But,  sud- 
denly recollecting  herself,  she  turned  away  from 
her  sister,  as  if  in  pity  for  her  weakness,  and  ad- 
dressed the  young  man. 

“ You’ve  told  but  half  your  story,”  she  said, 
“ breaking  off  at  the  place  where  you  went  to  sleep 
in  the  canoe — or  rather  where  you  rose  to  listen 
to  the  cry  of  the  loon.  We  heard  the  call  of 
the  loons,  too,  and  thought  their  cries  might 
bring  a storm,  though  we  are  little  used  to  tem- 
pests on  this  lake,  at  this  season  of  the  year.” 

“ The  winds  blow  and  the  tempests  howl  as 
God  pleases ; sometimes  at  one  season,  and  some- 
times at  another,”  answered  Deerslayer ; “ and 
the  loons  speak  accordin’  to  their  natur’.  Better 
would  it  be  if  men  where  as  honest  and  frank. 
After  I rose  to  listen  to  the  birds,  finding  it  could 
not  be  Hurry’s  signal,  I lay  down  and  slept. 
When  the  day  dawned  I was  up  and  stirring  as 
usual,  and  then  I went  in  chase  of  the  two  canoes* 
lest  the  Mingoes  should  lay  hands  on  ’em,” 

“You  have  not  told  us  all,  Deerslayer,”  said 
Judith,  earnestly.  “We  heard  rifles  under  the 
eastern  mountain ; the  echoes  were  full  and  long, 
and  came  so  soon  after  the  reports,  that  the  pieces 
must  have  been  fired  on  or  quite  near  to  the  shore. 
Our  ears  are  used  to  these  signs,  and  are  not  to 
be  deceived.” 

“ They’ve  done  their  duty,  gal,  this  time ; 
yes,  they’ve  done  their  duty.  Rifles  have  been 
sighted  this  morning,  ay,  and  triggers  pulled,  too, 
though  not  as  often  as  they  might  have  been. 
One  warrior  has  gone  to  his  happy  hunting- 
grounds,  and  that’s  the  whole  of  it.  A man  of 
white  blood  and  white  gifts  is  not  to  be  expected 
to  boast  of  his  expl’ites,  and  to  flourish  scalps.” 

Judith  listened  almost  breathlessly ; and  when 
Deerslayer,  in  his  quiet,  modest  manner,  seemed 
disposed  to  quit  the  subject,  she  rose  and,  cross- 
ing the  room,  took  a seat  by  his  side.  The 
manner  of  the  girl  had  nothing  forward  about  it, 
though  it  betrayed  the  quick  instinct  of  a female’s 
affection,  and  the  sympathizing  kindness  of  a 
woman’s  heart.  She  even  took  the  hard  hand  of 
the  hunter,  and  pressed  it  in  both  her  own,  uncon- 
sciously to  herself,  perhaps,  while  she  looked  ear- 
nestly and  even  reproachfully  into  his  sunburnt 
face. 

“You  have  been  fighting  the  savages,  Deer- 
slayer, singly  and  by  yourself !”  she  said.  “In 
your  wish  to  take  care  of  us — of  Hetty — of  me, 
perhaps,  you’ve  fought  the  enemy  bravely,  with 
no  eye  to  encourage  your  deeds,  or  to  witness 


your  fall,  had  it  pleased  Providence  to  suffer  s* 
great  a calamity  ! ” 

“ I’ve  fou’t,  Judith ; yes,  I have  fou’t  the 
inimy,  and  that,  too,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life. 
These  things  must  be,  and  they  bring  with  ’em  a 
mixed  feelin’  of  sorrow  and  triumph.  Human 
natur’  is  a fightin’  natur’,  I suppose,  as  all  nations 
kill  in  battle,  and  we  must  be  true  to  our  rights 
and  gifts.  What  has  yet  been  done  is  no  great 
matter,  but  should  Chingachgook  come  to  the 
rock  this  evening,  as  is  agreed  atween  us,  and  I 
get  him  off  it  onbeknown  to  the  savages,  or,  if 
known  to  them,  ag’in  their  wishes  and  designs, 
then  may  we  all  look  to  something  like  warfare, 
afore  the  Mingoes  shall  get  possession  of  either 
the  castle  or  the  ark,  or  yourselves.” 

“ Who  is  this  Chingachgook ; from  what  place 
does  he  come,  and  why  does  he  come  here  ? ” 

“ The  questions  are  nat’ral  and  right,  I sup- 
pose, though  the  youth  has  a great  name,  already, 
in  his  own  part  of  the  country.  Chingachgook, 
is  a Mohican  by  blood,  consorting  with  the  Dela- 
wares by  usage,  as  is  the  case  with  most  of  his 
tribe,  which  has  long  been  broken  up  by  the  in- 
crease of  our  color.  He  is  one  of  the  family  of 
the  great  chiefs,  Uncas,  his  father,  having  been 
the  considerablest  warrior  and  counsellor  of  his 
people.  Even  old  Tamenund  honors  Chingach- 
gook,  though  he  is  thought  to  be  yet  too  young 
to  lead  in  war ; and  then  the  nation  is  so  dis- 
parsed  and  diminished,  that  chieftainship  among 
’em  has  got  to  be  little  more  than  a name.  Well, 
this  war  having  commenced  in  ’amest,  the  Delaware 
and  I rendezvous’d  an  app’intment,  to  meet  this 
evening  at  sunset  on  the  rendezvous-rock  at  the 
foot  of  this  very  lake,  intending  to  come  out  on 
our  first  hostile  expedition  ag’in  the  Mingoes. 
Why  we  come  exactly  this-a-way  is  our  own 
secret ; but  thoughtful  young  men  on  a war-path, 
as  you  may  suppose,  do  nothpg  without  a calcu- 
lation and  a design.” 

“ A Delaware  can  have  no  unfriendly  inten- 
tions toward  us,”  said  Judith,  after  a moment’s 
hesitation,  “ and  we  know  you  to  be  friendly.” 

“ Treachery  is  the  last  crime  I hope  to  be 
accused  of,”  returned  Deerslayer,  hurt  at  the 
gleam  of  distrust  that  had  shot  through  Judith’s 
mind ; “ and,  least  of  all,  treachery  to  my  own 
color.” 

“No  one  suspects  you,  Deerslayer,”  the  girl 
inpetuously  cried.  “ No — no — your  honest  coun- 
tenance would  be  sufficient  surety  for  the  truth 
of  a thousand  hearts  ! If  all  men  had  as  honest 
tongues,  and  no  more  promised  what  they  did  not 
mean  to  perform,  there  would  be  less  wrong  done 
in  the  world,  and  fine  feathers  and  scarlet  cloaks 


A USEFUL  FRIEND. 


59 


would  not  be  thought  excuses  for  baseness  and 
deception.” 

The  girl  spoke  with  strong,  nay,  even  with 
convulsed  feeling,  and  her  fine  eyes,  usually  so 
soft  and'tilluring,  flashed  fire  as  she  concluded. 
Deerslayer  could  not  but  observe  this  extraordi- 
nary emotion  ; but,  with  the  tact  of  a courtier,  he 
avoided  not  only  any  allusion  to  the  circumstance, 
but  succeeded  in  concealing  the  effect  of  his  dis- 
covery on  himself.  Judith  gradually  grew  calm 
again,  and,  as  she  was  obviously  anxious  to  ap- 
pear to  advantage  in  the  eyes  of  the  young  man, 
she  was  soon  able  to  renew  the  conversation  as 
composedly  as  if  nothing  had  occurred  to  disturb 
her. 

“ I have  no  right  to  look  into  your  secrets,  or 
the  secrets  of  your  friend,  Deerslayer,”  she  con- 
tinued, “ and  am  ready  to  take  all  you  say  on 
trust.  If  we  can  really  get  another  male  ally  to 
join  us  at  this  trying  moment,  it  will  aid  us  much ; 
and  I am  not  without  hope  that  when  the  savages 
find  we  are  able  to  keep  the  lake,  they  will  offer 
to  give  up  their  prisoners  in  exchange  for  skins, 
or  at  least  for  the  keg  of  powder  that  we  have  in 
the  house.” 

The  young  man  had  the  words  “ scalps  ” and 
“ bounty,”  on  his  lips,  but  a reluctance  to  alarm 
the  feelings  of  the  daughters  prevented  him  from 
making  the  allusion  he  had  intended  to  the  prob- 
able fate  of  their  father.  Still,  so  little  was  he 
practised  in  the  arts  of  deception,  that  his  ex- 
pressive countenance  was,  of  itself,  understood  by 
the  quick-witted  Judith,  whose  intelligence  had 
been  sharpened  by  the  risks  and  habits  of  her  life. 

“ I understand  what  you  mean,”  she  contin- 
ued, hurriedly,  “ and  what  you  would  say,  tmt  for 
the  fear  of  hurting  me — us , I mean ; for  Hetty 
loves  her  father  quite  as  well  as  I do.  But  this 
is  not  as  we  think  of  Indians.  They  never  scalp 
an  unhurt  prisoner,  but  would  rather  take  him 
away  alive,  unless,  indeed,  the  fierce  wish  for  tor- 
turing should  get  the  mastery  of  them.  I fear 
nothing  for  my  father’s  scalp,  and  little  for  his 
life.  Could  they  steal  on  us  in  the  night,  we  should 
all  probably  suffer  in  this  way ; but  men  taken 
in  open  strife  are  seldom  injured  ; not,  at  least, 
until  the  time  of  torture  comes.” 

“ That’s  tradition,  I’ll  allow,  and  it’s  accordin’ 
to  practice — but,  Judith,  do  you  know  the  ’ar’nd 
on  which  your  father  and  Hutter  went  ag’in  the 
savages  ? ” 

“I  do ; and  a cruel  errand  it  was  ! But  what 
will  you  have  ? Men  will  be  men,  and  some  even 
that  flaunt  in  their  gold  and  silver,  and  carry  the 
king’s  commission  in  their  pockets,  are  not  guilt- 
less of  equal  cruelty.”  Judith’s  eye  again  flashed, 


but  by  a desperate  struggle  she  resumed  her  com- 
posure. “ I get  warm  when  I think  of  all  the 
wrong  that  men  do,”  she  added,  affecting  to  smile, 
an  effort  in  which  she  only  succeeded  indifferent- 
ly well.  “ All  this  is  silly.  What  is  done  is  done, 
and  it  cannot  be  mended  by  complaints.  But  the 
Indians  think  so  little  of  the  shedding  of  blood, 
and  value  men  so  much  for  the  boldness  of  their 
undertakings,  that,  did  they  know-  the  business  on 
which  their  prisoners  came,  they  would  be  more 
likely  to  honor  than  to  injure  them  for  it.” 

“ For  a time,  Judith  ; yes,  I allow  that,  for  a 
time.  But,  when  the  feelin’  dies  away,  then  will 
come  the  love  of  revenge.  We  must  indivour, 
Chingachgook  and  I,  we  must  indivour  to  see 
what  we  can  do  to  get  Hurry  and  your  father  free ; 
for  the  Mingoes  will,  no  doubt,  hover  about  this 
lake  some  days,  in  order  to  make  the  most  of 
their  success.” 

“ You  think  this  Delaware  can  be  depended 
on,  Deerslayer?  ” demanded  the  girl,  thoughtfully. 

“ As  much  as  I can  myself.  You  say  you  do 
not  suspect  me , Judith  ? ” 

“ You  ! ” taking  his  hand  again,  and  pressing 
it  between  her  own,  with  a warmth  that  might 
have  awakened  the  vanity  of  one  less  simple- 
minded,  and  more  disposed  to  dwell  on  his  own 
good  qualities,  “ I would  as  soon  suspect  a broth- 
er ! I have  known  you  but  a day,  Deerslayer, 
but  it  has  awakened  the  confidence  of  a year. 
Your  name,  however,  is  not  unknown  to  me  ; for 
the  gallants  of  the  garrison  frequently  speak  of  the 
lessons  you  have  given  them  in  hunting,  and  all 
proclaim  your  honesty.” 

“ Do  they  ever  talk  of  the  shooting,  gal  ? ” in- 
quired the  other  eagerly,  after,  however,  laughing 
in  a silent  but  heart-felt  manner.  “ Do  they  ever 
talk  of  the  shooting?  I want  to  hear  nothing 
about  my  own,  for  if  that  isn’t  sartified  to  by  this 
time,  in  all  these  parts,  there’s  little  use  in  being 
skilful  and  sure ; but  what  do  the  officers  say  of 
their  own — yes,  what  do  they  say  of  their  own  ? 
Arms,  as  they  call  it,  is  their  trade,  and  yet  there’s 
some  among  ’em  that  know  very  little  how  to  use 
’em ! ” 

“ Such  I hope  will  not  be  the  case  with  your 
friend  Chingachgook,  as  you  call  him — what  is  the 
English  of  his  Indian  name  ? ” 

“Big  Sarpent — so  called  for  his  wisdom  and 
cunning.  Uncas  is  his  ra’al  name — all  his  family 
being  called  Uncas,  until  they  get  a title  that  has 
been  ’arned  by  deeds.” 

“ If  he  has  all  this  wisdom,  we  may  expect  a 
useful  friend  in  him,  unless  his  own  business  in 
this  part  of  the  country  should  prevent  him  from 
serving  us.” 


60 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“ I see  no  great  harm  in  telling  you  his  ar’n’d, 
a’ter  all,  and,  as  you  may  find  means  to  help  us,  I 
will  let  you  and  Hetty  into  the  whole  matter,  trust- 
ing that  you’ll  keep  the  secret  as  if  it  was  your 
own.  You  must  know  that  Chingachgook  is  a 
comely  Injin,  and  is  much  looked  upon  and  ad- 
mired by  the>  young  women  of  his  tribe,  both  on 
account  of  his  family,  and  on  account  of  himself. 
Now,  there  is  a chief  that  has  a daughter  called 
Wah-ta  !-Wah,  which  is  intarpreted  into  Hist-oh  !- 
Hist,  in  the  English  tongue,  the  rarest  gal  among 
the  Delawares,  and  the  one  most  sought  a’ter  and 
craved  for  a wife  by  all  the  young  warriors  of  the 
nation.  Well,  Chingachgook,  among  others,  took 
a fancy  to  Wah-ta  !-Wah,  and  Wah-ta  !-Wah  took 
a fancy  to  him.”  Here  Deerslayer  paused  an  in- 
stant ; for,  as  he  got  thus  far  in  his  tale,  Hetty 
Hutter  arose,  approached,  and  stood  attentive  at 
his  knee,  as  a child  draws  near  to  listen  to  the  le- 
gends of  its  mother.  “ Yes,  he  fancied  Aer,  and 
she  fancied  Aim,”  resumed  Deerslayer,  casting  a 
friendly  and  approving  glance  at  the  innocent  and 
interested  girl ; “ and  when  that  is  the  case,  and 
all  the  elders  are  agreed,  it  does  not  often  happen 
that  the  young  couple  keep  apart.  Chingachgook 
couldn’t  well  carry  off  such  a prize  without 
making  inimies  among  them  that  wanted  her  as 
much  as  he  did  himself.  A sartain  Briarthom,  as 
we  call  him  in  English,  or  Yocommon,  as  he  is 
tarmed  in  Injin,  took  it  most  to  heart,  and  we 
mistrust  him  of  having  a hand  in  all  that  followed. 
Wah-ta!- Wall  went  with  her  father  and  mother 
two  moons  ago  to  fish  for  salmon  on  the  western 
streams,  where  it  is  agreed  by  all  in  these  parts 
that  fish  most  abounds,  and  while  thus  empl’y’d 
the  gal  vanished.  For  several'  weeks  we  could 
get  no  tidings  of  her ; but  here,  ten  days  since,  a 
runner  that  came  through  the  Delaware  country, 
brought  us  a message,  by  which  we  l’arn  that 
Wah-ta  !-Wah  was  stolen  from  her  people — we 
think,  but  do  not  know  it,  by  Briarthorn’s  sar- 
cumventions — and  that  she  was  now  with  the  in- 
imy,  who  had  adopted  her,  and  wanted  her  to 
marry  a young  Mingo.  The  message  said  that  the 
party  intended  to  hunt  and  forage  through  this 
region  for  a month  or  two,  afore  it  went  back  into 
the  Canadas,  and  that  if  we  could  contrive  to  get 
on  a scent  in  this  quarter,  something  might  turn 
up  that  would  lead  to  our  getting  the  maiden 
off.” 

“And  how  does  that  concern  you , Deer- 
slayer ? ” demanded  Judith,  a little  anxiously. 

“ It  consarns  me,  as  all  things  that  touches  a 
fri’nd  consarns  a fri’nd.  I’m  here  as  Chingach- 
gook’s  aid  and  helper,  and  if  we  can  get  the  young 
maiden  he  likes  back  ag’in,  it  will  give  me  almost 


as  much  pleasur«  as  if  I had  got  back  my  own 
sweetheart.” 

“ And  where,  then,  is  your  sweetheart,  Deer- 
slayer ? ” 

“She’s  in  the  forest,  Judith — hanging  frcta 
the  boughs  of  the  trees,  in  a soft  rain — in  the  dew 
on  the  open  grass — the  clouds  that  float  about  in 
the  blue  heavens — the  birds  that  sing  iu  the 
woods — the  sweet  springs  where  I slake  my  thirst 
— and  in  all  the  other  glorious  gifts  that  come 
from  God’s  providence ! ” 

“ You  mean  that,  as  yet,  you’ve  never  loved 
one  of  pay  sex,  but  love  best  your  haunts  and 
your  own  manner  of  life?  ” 

“ That’s  it — that’s  just  it.  I am  white — have 
a white  heart,  and  can’t,  in  reason,  love  a red- 
skinned maiden,  who  must  have  a red-skin  heart 
and  feelin’s.  No,  no,  I’m  sound  enough  in  them 
partic’lars,  and  hope  to  remain  so,  at  least  till 
this  war  is  over.  I find  my  time  too  much  taken 
up  with  Chingachgook’s  affairs  to  wish  to  have 
one  of  my  own  on  my  hands  afore  that  is  settled.” 

“The  girl  that  finally  wins  you,  Deerslayer, 
will  at  least  win  an  honest  heart — one  without 
treachery  or  guile ; and  that  will  be  a victory 
that  most  of  her  sex  ought  to  envy.” 

As  Judith  uttered  this,  her  beautiful  face  had 
a resentful  frown  on  it ; while  a bitter  smile 
lingered  around  a mouth  that  no  derangement  of 
the  muscles  could  render  any  thing  but  hand- 
some. Her  companion  observed  the  change,  and 
though  little  skilled  in  the  workings  of  the  fe- 
male heart,  he  had  sufficient  native  delicacy  to 
understand  that  it  might  be  well  to  drop  the  sub- 
ject. 

As  the  hour  when  Chingachgook  was  ex- 
pected still  remained  distant,  Deerslayer  had  time 
enough  to  examine  into  the  state  of  the  defences, 
and  to  make  such  additional  arrangements  a& 
were  in  his  power,  and  the  exigency  of  the  mo- 
ment seemed  to  require.  The  experience  and 
foresight  of  Hutter  had  left  little  to  be  done  in 
these  particulars ; still,  several  precautions  sug- 
gested themselves  to  the  young  man,  who  may  be 
said  to  have  studied  the  art  of  frontier  warfare 
through  the  traditions  and  legends  of  the  people 
among  whom  he  had  so  long  lived.  The  distance 
between  the  castle  and  the  nearest  point  on  the 
shore  prevented  any  apprehension  on  the  sub- 
ject of  rifle-bullets  thrown  from  the  land.  The 
house  was  within  musket-shot  in  one  sense,  it 
was  true,  but  aim  was  entirely  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, and  even  Judith  professed  a perfect  disi'e- 
gard  of  any  danger  from  that  source.  So  long, 
then,  as  the  party  remained  in  possession  of  the 
fortress  they  were  safe,  unless  their  assailants 


PREPARATIONS  TO  MEET  CHINGACHGOOK. 


61 


could  find  the  means  to  come  off  and  carry  it  by 
fire  or  storm ; or  by  some  of  the  devices  of  In- 
dian cunning  and  Indian  treachery.  Against  the 
first  source  of  danger  Hutter  had  made  ample 
provision,  and  the  building  itself,  the  bark  roof 
excepted,  was  not  very  combustible.  The  floor 
was  scuttled  in  several  places,  and  buckets  pro- 
vided with  ropes  were  in  daily  use,  in  readiness 
for  any  such  emergency.  One  of  the  girls  could 
easily  extinguish  any  fire  that  might  be  lighted, 
provided  it  had  not  time  to  make-  much  headway. 
Judith,  who  appeared  to  understand  all  her  fa- 
ther’s schemes  of  defence,  and  who  had  the  spirit 
to  take  no  unimportant  share  in  the  execution  of 
them,  explained  all  these  details  to  the  young 
man,  who  was  thus  saved  much  time  and  labor  in 
making  his  investigations. 

Little  was  to  be  apprehended  during  the  day. 
In  possession  of  the  canoes  and  of  the  ark,  no 
other  vessel  was  to  be  found  on  the  lake.  Never- 
theless, Deerslayer  well  knew  that  a raft  was  soon 
made,  and,  as  dead  trees  were  to  be  found  in 
abundance  near  the  water,  did. the  savages  seri- 
ously contemplate  the  risk  of  an  assault,  it  would 
not  be  a very  difficult  matter  to  find  the  neces- 
sary means.  The  celebrated  American  axe,  a 
tool  that  is  quite  unrivalled  in  its  way,  was  then 
not  very  extensively  known,  and  the  savages 
were  far  from  expert  in  the  use  of  its  hatchet- 
like substitute ; still  they  had  sufficient  practice  in 
crossing  streams  by  this  mode  to  render  it  certain 
they  would  construct  a raft  should  they  deem  it 
expedient  to  expose  themselves  to  the  risks  of  an 
assault.  The  death  of  their  warrior  might  prove 
a sufficient  incentive,  or  might  act  as  a caution ; 
but  Deerslayer  thought  it  more  than  possible  that 
the  succeeding  night  would  bring  matters'  to  a 
crisis,  and  in  this  precise  way.  This  impression 
caused  him  to  wish  ardently  for  the  presence  and 
succor  of  his  Mohican  friend,  and  to  look  forward 
to  the  approach  of  sunset  with  an  increasing  anx- 
iety. 

As  the  day  advanced,  the  party  in  the  castle 
matured  their  plans  and  made  their  preparations. 
Judith  was  active,  and  seemed  to  find  pleasure  in 
consulting  and  advising  with  her  new  acquaint- 
ance, whose  indifference  to  danger,  manly  devo- 
tion to  herself  and  sister,  guilelessness  of  manner, 
and  truth  of  feeling,  had  won  rapidly  on  both  her 
imagination  and  her  affections.  Although  the 
hours  appeared  long  in  some  respects  to  Deer- 
slayer, Judith  did  not  find  them  so,  and,  when 
the  sun  began  to  descend  toward  the  pine-clad 
summits  of  the  western  hills,  she  felt  and  ex- 
pressed her  surprise  that  the  day  should  so  soon 
be  drawing  to  a close.  On  the  other  hand,  Hetty 


was  moody  and  silent.  She  was  never  loqua- 
cious, or,  if  she  occasionally  became  communica- 
tive, it  was  under  the  influence  of  some  temporary 
excitement  that  served  to  arouse  her  unsophisti 
cated  mind  ; but,  for  hours  at  a time,  in  the 
course  of  this  all-important  day,  she  seemed  to 
have  absolutely  lost  the  use  of  her  tongue.  Nor 
did  apprehension  on  account  of  her  father  ma- 
terially affect  the  manner  of  either  sister.  Neither 
appeared  seriously  to  dread  any  evil  greater  than 
captivity,  and  once  or  twice,  when  Hetty  did 
speak,  she  intimated  the  expectation  that  Hutter 
would  find  the  means  to  liberate  himself.  Al- 
though Judith  was  less  sanguine  on  this  head, 
she  too  betrayed  the  hope  that  propositions  for  a 
ransom  would  come  when  the  Indians  discovered 
that  the  castle  set  their  expedients  and  artifices 
at  defiance.  Deerslayer,  however,  treated  these 
passing  suggestions  as  the  ill-digested  fancies  of 
girls,  making  his  own  arrangements  as  steadily, 
and  brooding  over  the  future  as  seriously,  as  if 
they  had  never  fallen  from  their  lips. 

At  length  the  hour  arrived  when  it  became 
necessary  to  proceed  to  the  place  of  rendezvous 
appointed  with  the  Mohican,  or  Delaware,  as 
Chingachgook  was  more  commonly  called.  As 
the  plan  had  been  matured  by  Deerslayer,  and 
fully  communicated  to  his  companions,  all  three 
set  about  its  execution  in  concert,  and  intelligent- 
ly. Hetty  passed  into  the  ark,  and,  fastening 
two  of  the  canoes  together,  she  entered  one  and 
paddled  up  to  a sort  of  gate-way  in  the  pali- 
sadoes  that  surrounded  the  building,  through 
which  she  carried  both  ; securing  them  beneath 
the  house  by  chains  that  were  fastened  within  the 
building.  These  palisadoes  were  trunks  of  trees 
driven  firmly  into  the  mud,  and  served  the  double 
purpose  of  a small  enclosure  that  was  intended  to 
be  used  in  this  very  manner,  and  to  keep  any 
enemy  that  might  approach  in  boats  at  arm’s- 
length.  Canoes  thus  docked  were,  in  a measure, 
hid  from  sight,  and,  as  the  gate  was  properly 
barred  and  fastened,  it  would  not  be  an  easy  task 
to  remove  them,  even  in  the  event  of  their  being 
seen.  Previously,  however,  to  closing  the  gate, 
Judith  also  entered  within  the  enclosure  with  the 
third  canoe,  leaving  Deerslayer  busy  in  securing 
the  door  and  windows  inside  the  building  ovei 
her  head.  As  every  thing  was  massive  and 
strong,  and  small  saplings  were  used  as  bars,  it 
would  have  been  the  work  of  an  hour  or  two  to 
break  into  the  building  when  Deerslayer  had 
ended  his  task,  even  allowing  the  assailants  the 
use  of  any  tools  but  the  axe,  and  to  be  unresist 
ed.  This  attention  to  security  arose  from  Hut 
ter’s  having  been  robbed  once  or  twice  by  the 


62 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


lawless  whites  of  the  frontiers  during  some  of  his 
many  absences  from  home. 

As  soon  as  all  was  fast  in  the  inside  of  the 
dwelling,  Deerslayer  appeared  at  a trap,  from 
which  he  descended  into  the  canoe  of  Judith. 
When  this  was  done,  he  fastened  the  door  with  a 
massive  staple  and  stout  padlock.  Hetty  was 
then  received  in  the  canoe,  which  was  shoved 
outside  of  the  palisadoes.  The  next  precaution 
was  to  fasten  the  gate,  and  the  keys  were  carried 
into  the  ark.  The  three  were  now  fastened  out 
of  the  dwelling,  which  could  only  be  entered  by 
violence,  or  by  following  the  course  taken  by  the 
young  man  in  quitting  it. 

The  glass  had  been  brought  outside  as  a pre- 
liminary step,  and  Deerslayer  next  took  a care- 
ful survey  of  the  entire  shore  of  the  lake  as  far 
as  his  own  position  would  allow.  Not  a living 
thing  was  visible,  a few  birds  excepted,  and  even 
the  last  fluttered  about  in  the  shades  of  the  trees, 
as  if  unwilling  to  encounter  the  heat  of  a sultry 
afternoon.  All  the  nearest  points,  in  particular, 
were  subjected  to  severe  scrutiny,  in  order  to 
make  certain  that  no  raft  was  in  preparation ; 
the  result  everywhere  giving  the  same  picture  of 
calm  solitude.  A few  words  will  explain  the 
greatest  embarrassment  belonging  to  the  situation 
of  our  party.  Exposed  themselves  to  the  obser- 
vation of  any  watchful  eyes,  the  movements  of 
their  enemies  were  concealed  by  the  drapery  of  a 
dense  forest.  While  the  imagination  would  be 
very  apt  to  people  the  latter  with  more  warriors 
than  it  really  contained,  their  own  weakness  must 
be  too  apparent  to  all  who  might  chance  to  cast 
a glance  in  their  direction. 

“ Nothing  is  stirring,  howsever,”  exclaimed 
Deerslayer,  as  he  finally  lowered  the  glass,  and 
prepared  to  enter  the  ark  ; “ if  the  vagabonds  do 
harbor  mischief  in  their  minds,  they  are  too  cun- 
ning to  let  it  be  seen ; it’s  true,  a raft  may  be  in 
preparation  in  the  woods,  but  it  has  not  yet  been 
brought  down  to  the  lake.  They  can’t  guess  that 
we  are  about  to  quit  the  castle,  and,  if  they  did, 
they’ve  no  means  of  knowing  where  we  intend  to 


go.” 


“ This  is  so  true,  Deerslayer,”  returned  Ju- 
dith, “ that  now  all  is  ready,  we  may  proceed,  at 
once,  boldly,  and  without  the  fear  of  being  fol- 
lowed— else  we  shall  be  behind  our  time.” 

“No — np — the  matter  needs  management — 
for,  though  the  savages  are  in  the  dark  as  to 
Chingachgook  and  the  rock,  they’ve  eyes  and 
legs,  and  will  see  in  what  direction  we  steer,  and 
will  be  sartain  to  follow  us.  I shall  strive  to 
baffle  ’em,  hows’ever,  by  heading  the  scow  in  all 
manner  of  ways,  first  in  one  quarter  and  then  in 


another,  until  they  get  to  be  a-leg-weary,  and 
tired  of  tramping  a’ter  us.” 

So  far  as  it  was  in  his  power,  Deerslayer  was 
as  good  as  his  word.  In  less  than  five  minutes 
after  this  speech  was  made,  the  whole  party  was 
in  the  ark,  and  in  motion.  There  was  a gentle 
breeze  from  the  north,  and  boldly  hoisting  the 
sail,  the  young  man  laid  the  head  of  the  unwieldy 
craft  in  such  a direction,  as,  after  making  a lib- 
eral but  necessary  allowance  for  leeway,  would 
have  brought  it  ashore  a couple  of  miles  down 
the  lake,  and  on  its  eastern  side.  The  sailing  of 
the  ark  was  never  very  swift,  though,  floating  as 
it  did  on  the  surface,  it  was  not  difficult  to  get  it 
in  motion,  or  to  urge  it  along  over  the  water  at 
the  rate  of  some  three  or  four  miles  in  the  hour. 
The  distance  between  the  castle  and  the  rock 
was  a little  more  than  two  leagues.  Knowing  the 
punctuality  of  an  Indian,  Deerslayer  had  made 
his  calculations  closely,  and  had  given  himself  a 
little  more  time  than  was  necessary  to  reach  the 
place  of  rendezvous,  with  a view  to  delay  or  press 
his  arrival,  as  might  prove  most  expedient.  When 
he  hoisted  the  sail,  the  sun  lay  above  the  western 
hills,  at  an  elevation  that  promised  rather  more 
than  two  hours  of  day  ; and  a few  minutes  satis- 
fied him  that  the  progress  of  the  scow  was  such 
as  to  equal  his  expectations. 

It  was  a glorious  June  afternoon,  and  never 
did  that  solitary  sheet  jof  water  seem  less  like  an 
arena  of  strife  and  bloodshed.  The  light  air 
scarce  descended  as  low  as  the  bed  of  the  lake, 
hovering  over  it,  as  if  unwilling  to  disturb  its  deep 
tranquillity,  or  to  ruffle  its  mirror-like  sui'face. 
Even  the  forests  appeared  to  be  slumbering  in  the 
sun,  and  a few  piles  of  fleecy  clouds  had  lain  for 
hours  along  the  northern  horizon  like  fixtures  in 
the  atmosphere,  placed  there  purely  to  embellish 
the  scene.  A few  aquatic  fowls  occasionally 
skimmed  along  the  water,  and  a single  raven  was 
visible,  sailing  high  above  the  trees,  and  keeping 
a watchful  eye  on  the  forest  beneath  him,  in  or- 
der to  detect  any  thing  having  life  that  the  mys- 
terious woods  might  offer  as  prey. 

The  reader  will  probably  have  observed  that, 
amid  the  frankness  and  abruptness  of  manner 
which  marked  the  frontier  habits  of  Judith,  hei 
language  was  superior  to  that  used  by  her  male 
companions,  her  own  father  included.  This  dif 
ference  extended  as  well  to  pronunciation  as  t« 
the  choice  of  words  and  phrases.  Perhaps  nothing 
so  soon  betrays  the  education  and  association  as 
the  modes  of  speech ; and  few  accomplishments 
so  much  aid  the  charm  of  female  beauty  as  a 
graceful  and  even  utterance,  while  nothing  so 
soon  produces  the  disenchantment  that  necessa. 


THE  PLACE  OP  RENDEZVOUS. 


63 


rily  follows  a discrepancy  between  appearance 
and  manner,  as  a mean  intonation  of  voice,  or  a 
vulgar  use  of  words.  Judith  and  her  sister  were 
marked  exceptions  to  all  the  girls  of  their  class, 
along  that  whole  frontier ; the  officers  of  the 
nearest  garrison  having  often  flattered  the  former 
with  the  belief  that  few  ladies  of  the  towns  ac- 
quitted themselves  better  than  herself,  in  this  im- 
portant particular.  This  was  far  from  being  lit- 
erally true,  but  it  was  sufficiently  near  the  fact  to 
give  birth  to  the  compliment.  The  girls  were  in- 
debted to  their  mother  for  this  proficiency,  having 
acquired  from  her,  in  childhood,  an  advantage 
that  no  subsequent  study  or  labor  can  give  with- 
out a drawback,  if  neglected  beyond  the  earlier 
periods  of  life.  Who  that  mother  was,  or  rather 
had  been,  no  one  but  Hutter  knew.  She  had 
now  been  dead  two  summers,  and,  as  was  stated 
by  Hurry,  she  had  been  buried  in  the  lake ; 
whether  in  indulgence  of  a prejudice,  or  from  a 
reluctance  to  take  the  trouble  to  dig  her  grave, 
had  frequently  been  a matter  of  discussion  be- 
tween the  rude  beings  of  that  region.  Judith 
had  never  visited  the  spot,  but  Hetty  was  present 
at  the  interment,  and  she  often  paddled  a canoe, 
about  sunset,  or  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  to  the 
place,  and  gaze  down  into  the  limpid  water,  in  the 
hope  of  being  able  to  catch  a glimpse  of  a form 
that  she  had  so  tenderly  loved  from  infancy  to 
the  sad  hour  of  their  parting. 

u Must  we  reach  the  rock  exactly  at  the  mo- 
ment the  sun  sets  ? ” Judith  demanded  of  the 
young  man,  as  they  stood  near  each  other,  Deer- 
slayer  holding  the  steering-oar,  and  she  working 
with  a needle  at  some  ornament  of  dress,  that 
much  exceeded  her  station  in  life,  and  was  alto- 
gether a novelty  in  the  woods.  “ Will  a few 
minutes,  sooner  or  later,  alter  the  matter  ? It  will 
be  very  hazardous  to  remain  long  as  near  the 
shore  as  that  rock.” 

“ That’s  it,  Judith  ; that’s  the  very  difficulty  ! 
The  rock’s  within  p’int  blank  for  a shot-gun,  and 
’twill  never  do  to  hover  about  it  too  close  and  too 
long.  When  you  have  to  deal  with  an  Injin,  you 
must  calculate  and  manage,  for  a red  natur’  dear- 
ly likes  sarcumvention.  Now  you  see,  Judith, 
that  I do  not  steer  toward  the  rock  at  all,  but 
here  to  the  eastward  of  it,  whereby  the  savages 
will  be  tramping  off  in  that  direction,  and  get 
their  legs  a-wearied,  and  all  for  no  advantage.” 

“ You  think,  then,  they  see  us,  and  watch  our 
movements,  Deerslayer?  I was  in  hopes  they 
might  have  fallen  back  into  the  woods,  and  left 
us  to  ourselves  for  a few  hours.” 

“ That’s  altogether  a woman’s  consait.  There’s 
no  lct-up  in  an  In  jin’s  watchfulness  when  he’s  on 


a war-path ; and  eyes  are  on  us  at  this  minute, 
though  the  lake  presarves  us.  We  must  draw 
near  the  rock  on  a calculation,  and  indivor  to  get 
the  miscreants  on  a false  scent.  The  Mingoes 
have  good  noses,  they  tell  me ; but  a white 
man’s  reason  ought  always  to  equalize  their  in- 
stinct.” 

Judith  now  entered  into  a desultory  discourse 
with  Deerslayer,  in  which  the  girl  betrayed  her 
growing  interest  in  the  young  man  ; an  interest 
that  his  simplicity  of  mind  and  her  decision  of 
character,  sustained  as  it  was  by  the  conscious- 
ness awakened  by  the  consideration  her  'personal 
charms  so  universally  produced,  rendered  her 
less  anxious  to  conceal  than  might  otherwise  have 
been  the  case.  She  was  scarcely  forward  in  her 
manner,  though  there  was  sometimes  a freedom 
in  her  glances  that  it  required  all  the  aid  of  her 
exceeding  beauty  to  prevent  from  awakening  sus- 
picions unfavorable  to  her  discretion,  if  not  to 
her  morals.  With  Deerslayer,  however,  these 
glances  were  rendered  less  obnoxious  to  so  un- 
pleasant a construction ; for  she  seldom  looked 
at  him,  without  discovering  much  of  the  sincerity 
and  nature  that  accompany  the  purest  emotions 
of  woman.  It  was  a little  remarkable  that,  as 
his  captivity  lengthened,  neither  of  the  girls 
manifested  any  great  concern  for  her  father ; 
but,  as  has  been  said  already,  their  habits  gave 
them  confidence,  and  they  looked  forward  to  his 
liberation,  by  means  of  a ransom,  with  a con- 
fidence that  might,  in  a great  degree,  account  for 
their  apparent  indifference.  Once  before,  Hutter 
had  been  in  the  hands  of  the  Iroquois,  and  a few 
skins  had  readily  effected  his  release.  This 
event,  however,  unknown  to  the  sisters,  had  oc- 
curred in  a time  of  peace  between  England  and 
France,  and  when  the  savages  were  restrained, 
instead  of  being  encouraged  to  commit  their  ex- 
cesses, by  the  policy  of  the  different  colonial 
governments. 

While  Judith  was  loquacious  and  caressing  in 
her  manner,  Hetty  remained  thoughtful  and  si- 
lent. Once,  indeed,  she  drew  near  to  Deerslayer, 
and  questioned  him  a little  closely  as  to  his  in- 
tentions, as  well  as  concerning  the  mode  of  effect- 
ing his  purpose  ; but  her  wish  to  converse  went 
no  further.  As  soon  a§  her  simple  queries  were 
answered — and  answered  they  all  were  in  the 
fullest  and  kindest  manner — she  withdrew  to  her 
seat,  and  continued  to  work  on  a coarse  garment 
that  she  was  making  for  her  father,  sometimes 
humming  a low,  melancholy  air,  and  frequently 
sighing. 

In  this  manner  the  time  passed  away ; and 
when  the  sun  was  beginning  to  glow  behind  the 


64 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


fringe  of  pines  that  bounded  the  western  hill,  or 
about  twenty  minutes  before  it  actually  set,  the 
ark  was  nearly  as  low  as  the  point  where  Hutter 
and  Hurry  had  been  made  prisoners.  By  sheer- 
ing first  to  one  side  of  the  lake,  and  then  to  the 
other,  Deerslayer  managed  to  create  an  uncertain- 
ty as  to  his  object ; and,  doubtless,  the  savages, 
who  were  unquestionably  watching  his  move- 
ments, were  led  to  believe  that  his  aim  was  to 
communicate  with  them,  at  or  near  this  spot,  and 
would  hasten  in  that  direction,  in  order  to  be  in 
readiness  to  profit  by  circumstances.  This  arti- 
fice was  well  managed;  since  the  sweep  of  the 
bay,  the  curvature  of  the  lake,  and  the  low, 
marshy  land  that  intervened,  would  probably 
allow  the  ark  to  reach  the  rock  before  its  pursu- 
ers, if  really  collected  near  the  point,  could  have 
time  to  make  the  circuit  that  would  be  required 
to  get  there  by  land.  With  a view  to  aid  this  de- 
ception, Deerslayer  stood  as  near  the  western 
shore  as  was  at  all  prudent ; and  then  causing 
Judith  and  Hetty  to  enter  the  house,  or  cabin, 
and  crouching  himself  so  as  to  conceal  his  person 
by  the  frame  of  the  scow,  he  suddenly  threw  the 
head  of  the  latter  round,  and  began  to  make  the 
best  of  his  way  toward  the  outlet.  Favored  by 
an  increase  in  the  wind,  the  progress  of  the  ark 
was  such  as  to  promise  the  complete  success  of 
this  plan,  though  the  crab-like  movement  of  the 
craft  compelled  the  helmsman  to  keep  its  head 
looking  in  a direction  very  different  from  that  in 
which  it  was  actually  moving. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

“ Yet  art  thou  prodigal  of  smiles— 

Smiles  sweeter  than  thy  frowns  are  stern : 

Earth  sends  from  all  her  thousand  isles, 

A shout  at  thy  return. 

The  glory  that  comes  down  from  thee 
Bathes,  in  deep  joy,  the  land  and  sea.” 

The  Skies. 

It  may  assist  the  reader  in  understanding  the 
events  we  are  about  to  record,  if  he  has  a rapidly- 
sketched  picture  of  the  scene,  placed  before  his 
eyes  at  a single  view.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
the  lake  was  an  irregularly-shaped  basin,  of  an 
outline  that,  in  the  main,  was  oval,  but  with  bays 
and  points  to  relieve  its  formality  and  ornament 
its  shores.  The  surface  of  this  beautiful  sheet  of 
water  was  now  glittering  like  a gem,  in  the  last 
rays  of  the  evening  sun,  and  the  setting  of  the 
whole — hills  clothed  in  the  richest  forest  verdure 
— was  lighted  up  with  a sort  of  radiant  smile  that 
is  best  described  in  the  beautiful  lines  we  have 


placed  at  the  head  of  this  chapter.  As  the  banks, 
with  few  exceptions,  rose  abruptly  from  the  water, 
even  where  the  mountain  did  jnot  immediately 
bound  the  view,  there  was  a nearly  unbroken 
fringe  of  leaves  overhanging  the  placid  lake — the 
trees  starting  out  of  the  acclivities,  inclining  to 
the  light,  until  in  many  instances  they  extended 
their  long  limbs  and  straight  trunks  some  forty  or 
fifty  feet  beyond  the  line  of  the  perpendicular. 
In  these  cases  we  allude  only  to  the  giants  of  the 
forest — pines  of  a hundred  or  a hundred  and  fifty 
feet  in  height — for,  of  the  smaller  growth,  very 
many  inclined  so  far  as  to  steep  their  lower 
branches  in  the  water. 

In  the  position  in  which  the  ark  had  now  got, 
the  castle  was  concealed  from  view  by  the  pro- 
jection of  a point,  as  indeed  was  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  the  lake  itself.  A respectable  moun- 
tain, forest-clad,  and  rounded  like  all  the  rest, 
limited  the  view  in  that  direction,  stretching  im- 
mediately across  the  whole  of  the  fair  scene,  with 
the  exception  of  a deep  bay  that  passed  its  west- 
ern end,  lengthening  the  basin  for  more  than  a 
mile.  The  manner  in  which  the  water  flowed  out 
of  the  lake,  beneath  the  leafy  arches  of  the  trees 
that  lined  the  sides  of  the  stream,  has  already 
been  mentioned,  and  it  has  also  been  said  that  the 
rock,  which  was  a favorite  place  of  rendezvous 
throughout  all  that  region,  and  where  Deerslayer 
now  expected  to  meet  his  friend,  stood  near  this 
outlet,  and  at  no  great  distance  from  the  shore. 
It  was  a large  isolated  stone  that  rested  on  the 
bottom  of  the  lake,  apparently  left  there  when  the 
waters  tore  away  the  earth  from  around  it,  in 
forcing  for  themselves  a passage  down  the  river, 
and  which  had  obtained  its  shape  from  the  action 
of  the  elements,  during  the  slow  progress  of  centu- 
ries. The  height  of  this  rock  could  scarcely  equal 
six  feet,  and,  as  has  been  said,  its  shape  was  not 
unlike  that  which  is  usually  given  to  beehives  or 
to  a hay-cock.  The  latter,  indeed,  gives  the  best 
idea  not  only  of  its  form  but  of  its  dimensions. 
It  stood,  and  still  stands — for  we  are  writing  of 
real  scenes — within  fifty  feet  of  the  bank,  and  in 
water  that  was  only  two  feet  in  depth,  though 
there  were  seasons  in  which  its  rounded  apex,  if 
such  a term  can  properly  be  used,  was  covered 
by  the  lake.  Many  of  the  trees  stretched  so  far 
forward  as  almost  to  blend  the  rock  with  the 
shore,  when  seen  from  a little  distance ; and  one 
tall  pine  in  particular  overhung  it  in  a way  to 
form  a noble  and  appropriate  canopy  to  a seat 
that  had  held  many  a forest  chieftain,  during  the 
long  succession  of  unknown  ages,  in  which  Amer- 
ica and  all  it  contained  existed  apart,  in  myste- 
rious solitude,  a world  by  itself;  equally  without 


A NARROW  ESCAPE. 


65 


a familiar  history,  and  without  an  origin  that  the 
annals  of  man  can  reach. 

When  distant  some  two  or  three  hundred  feet 
from  the  shore,  Deerslayer  took  in  his  sail,  and 
he  dropped  his  grapnel,  as  soon  as  he  found  the 
ark  had  drifted  in  a line  that  was  directly  to 
windward  of  the  rock.  The  motion  of  the  scow 
was  then  checked,  when  it  was  brought  head  to 
wind  by  the  action  of  the  breeze.  As  soon  as 
this  was  done,  Deerslayer  “ paid  out  line,”  and 
suffered  the  vessel  to  “set  down”  upon  the  rock, 
as  fast  as  the  light  air  would  force  it  to  leeward. 
Floating  entirely  on  the  surface,  this  was  soon 
effected,  and  the  young  man  checked  the  drift 
when  he  was  told  that  the  stern  of  the  scow  was 
within  fifteen  or  eighteen  feet  of  the  desired 
spot. 

In  executing  this  manoeuvre,  Deerslayer  had 
proceeded  promptly ; for  while  he  did  not  in  the 
least  doubt  that  he  was  both  watched  and  fol- 
lowed by  the  foe,  he  believed  he  had  distracted 
their  movements  by  the  apparent  uncertainty  of 
his  own,  and  he  knew  they  could  have  no  means 
of  ascertaining  that  the  rock  was  his  aim,  unless, 
indeed,  one  of  the  prisoners  had  betrayed  him ; a 
chance  so  improbable  in  itself  as  to  give  him  no 
concern.  Notwithstanding  the  celerity  and  de- 
cision of  his  movements,  he  did  not,  however, 
venture  so  near  the  shore  without  taking  due  pre- 
cautions to  effect  a retreat,  in  the  event  of  its  be- 
coming necessary.  He  held  the  line  in  his  hand, 
and  Judith  was  stationed  at  a loop  on  the  side  of 
the  cabin  next  the  shore,  where  she  could  watch 
the  beach  and  the  rocks,  and  give  timely  notice 
of  the  approach  of  either  friend  or  foe.  Hetty 
was  also  placed  on  watch,  but  it  was  to  keep  the 
trees  overhead  in  view,  lest  some  enemy  might 
ascend  one,  and,  by  completely  commanding  the 
interior  of  the  scow,  render  the  defences  of  the 
hut  or  cabin  useless. 

The  sun  had  disappeared  from  the  lake  and 
valley  when  Deerslayer  checked  the  ark  in  the 
manner  mentioned.  Still  it  wanted  a few  minutes 
to  the  true  sunset,  and  he  knew  Indian  punctu- 
ality too  well  to  anticipate  any  unmanly  haste  in 
his  friend.  The  great  question  was,  whether, 
surrounded  by  enemies  as  he  was  known  to  be, 
he  had  escaped  their  toils.  The  occurrences  of 
the  last  twenty-four  hours  must  be  a secret  to 
him,  and,  like  himself,  Chingachgook  was  yet 
young  on  a war-path.  It  was  true,  he  came  pre- 
pared to  encounter  the  party  that  withheld  his 
promised  bride,  but  he  had  no  means  of  ascertain- 
ing the  extent  of  the  danger  he  ran,  or  the  precise 
positions  occupied  by  either  friends  or  foes.  In 
a word,  the  trained  sagacity  and  untiring  caution 
5 


of  an  Indian  were  all  he  had  to  rely  on,  amid  the 
critical  risks  he  unavoidably  ran. 

“ Is  the  rock  empty,  Judith  ? ” inquired  Deer- 
slayer, as  soon  as  he  had  checked  the  drift  of  the 
ark,  deeming  it  imprudent  to  venture  unneces- 
sarily near  the  shore.  “ Is  any  thing  to  be  seen 
of  the  Delaware  chief?  ” 

“Nothing,  Deerslayer.  Neither  rock,  shore, 
tree,  nor  lake,  seems  to  have  ever  held  a human 
form.” 

“Keep  close,  Judith — keep  close,  Hetty — a 
rifle  has  a prying  eye,  a nimble  foot,  and  a des- 
perate fatal  tongue.  Keep  close,  then,  but  keep 
up  active  looks,  and  be  on  the  alart.  ’T would 
grieve  me  to  the  heart  did  any  harm  befall  either 
of  you.” 

“ And  you , Deerslayer  ! ” exclaimed  Judith, 
turning  her  handsome  face  from  the  loop,  to  be- 
stow a gracious  and  grateful  look  on  the  young 
man ; “ do  you  ‘ keep  close,’  and  have  a proper 
care  that  the  savages  do  not  catch  a glimpse  of 
you  ! A bullet  might  be  as  fatal  to  you  as  to  one 
of  us  ; and  the  blow  that  you  felt  would  be  felt 
by  all.” 

“ No  fear  of  me,  Judith — no  fear  of  me,  my 
good  gal.  Do  not  look  this-a-way,  although  you 
look  so  pleasant  and  comely,  but  keep  your  eyes 
on  the  rock,  and  the  shore,  and  the — ” 

Deerslayer  was  interrupted  by  a slight  excla- 
mation from  the  girl,  who,  in  obedience  to  his 
hurried  gestures,  as  much  as  in  obedience  to  his 
words,  had  immediately  bent  her  looks  again  in 
the  opposite  direction. 

“ What  is’t  ? — what  is’t,  Judith  ? ” he  hastily 
demanded.  “ Is' any  thing  to  be  seen  ? ” 

“ There  is  a man  on  the  rock ! — an  Indian 
warrior  in  his  paint,  and  armed ! ” 

“ Where  does  he  wear  his  hawk’s  feather  ? ” 
eagerly  added  Deerslayer,  relaxing  his  hold  of  the 
line,  in  readiness  to  drift  nearer  to  the  place  of 
rendezvous.  “ Is  it  fast  to  the  war-lock,  or  does 
he  carry  it  above  the  left  ear  ? ” 

“,’Tis  as  you  say,  above  the  left  ear ; he 
smiles,  too,  and  mutters  the  word  ‘ Mohican.’  ” 
“God  be  praised, ’tis  the  Sarpent  at  last!” 
exclaimed  the  young  man,  suffering  the  line  to  slip 
through  his  hands,  until,  hearing  a light  bound  in 
the  other  end  of  the  craft,  he  instantly  checked 
the  rope,  and  began  to  haul  it  in  again,  under 
the  assurance  that  his  object  was  effected. 

At  that  moment  the  door  of  the  cabin  was 
opened  hastily,  and  a warrior,  darting  through 
the  little  room,  stood  at  Deerslayer’s  side,  simply 
uttering  the  exclamation  “ Hugh  ! ” At  the  next 
instant  Judith  and  Hetty  shrieked,  and  the  air 
was  filled  with  the  yell  of  twenty  savages,  wh« 


66 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


came  leaping  through  the  branches  down  the 
bank,  some  actually  falling  headlong  into  the  wa- 
ter in  their  haste. 

“ Pull,  Deerslayer,”  cried  Judith,  hastily  bar- 
ring the  door,  in  order  to  prevent  an  inroad  by 
the  passage  through  which  the  Delaware  had  just 
entered ; “ pull  for  life  and  death — the  lake  is 
full  of  savages  wading  after  us  ! ” 

The  young  men — for  Chingachgook  immedi- 
ately came  to  his  friend’s  assistance — needed  no 
second  bidding,  but  they  applied  themselves  to 
their  task  in  a way  that  showed  how  urgent  they 
deemed  the  occasion.  The  great  difficulty  was 
in  suddenly  overcoming  the  vis  inertice  of  so  large 
a mass  ; for,  once  in  motion,  it  was  easy  to  cause 
the  scow  to  skim  the  water  with  all  the  necessary 
speed. 

“ Pull,  Deerslayer,  for  Heaven’s  sake ! ” cried 
Judith  again  at  the  loop.  “ These  wretches  rush 
into  the  water  like  hounds  following  their  prey  ! 
Ah ! — the  scow  moves  ! and  now  the  water  deep- 
ens to  the  arm-pits  of  the  foremost;  still  they 
rush  forward,  and  will  seize  the  ark  1 ” 

A slight  scream,  and  then  a joyous  laugh  fol- 
lowed from  the  girl ; the  first  produced  by  a des- 
perate effort  of  their  pursuers,  and  the  last  by  its 
failure ; the  scow,  which  had  now  got  fairly  in 
motion,  gliding  ahead  into  deep  water  with  a 
velocity  that  set  the  designs  of  their  enemies  at 
naught.  As  the  two  men  were  prevented  by  the 
position  of  the  cabin  from  seeing  what  passed 
astern,  they  were  compelled  to  inquire  of  the 
girls  into  the  state  of  the  chase. 

“ What  now,  Judith  ? — what  next  ? Do  the 
Mingoes  still  follow,  or  are  we  quit  of  ’em  for 
the  present  ? ” demanded  Deerslayer,  when  he 
felt  the  rope  yielding,  as  if  the  scow  was  going 
fast  ahead,  and  heard  the  scream  and  the  laugh 
of  the  girl  almost  in  the  same  breath. 

“ They  have  vanished  1 — one,  the  last,  is  just 
burying  himself  in  the  bushes  of  the  bank — 
there,  he  has  disappeared  in  the  shadows  of  the 
trees  ! You  have  got  your  friend,  and  we  are  all 
safe ! ” 

The  two  men  now  made  another  great  effort, 
pulled  the  ark  up  swiftly  to  the  grapnel,  tripped 
it,  and  when  the  scow  had  shot  some  distance, 
and  lost  its  way,  they  let  the  anchor  drop  again  ; 
then,  for  the  first  time  since  their  meeting,  they 
ceased  their  efforts.  As  the  floating  house  now 
.ay  several  hundred  feet  from  the  shore,  and  of- 
fered a complete  protection  against  bullets,  there 
was  no  longer  any  danger,  or  any  motive  for  im- 
mediate exertion. 

The  manner  in  which  the  two  friends  now 
recognized  each  other  was  highly  characteristic. 


Chingachgook,  a noble,  tall,  handsome,  and  ath 
letic  young  Indian  warrior,  first  examined  his  rifle 
with  care,  opening  the  pan  to  make  sure  the 
priming  was  not  wet ; and,  assured  of  this  impor- 
tant fact,  he  next  cast  furtive  but  observant 
glances  around  him  at  the  strange  habitation  and 
at  the  two  girls ; still  he  spoke  not,  and  most  of 
all  did  he  avoid  the  betrayal  of  a womanish  curi- 
osity by  asking  questions. 

“ Judith  and  Hetty,”  said  Deerslayer,  with  an 
untaught,  natural  courtesy,  “ this  is  the  Mohican 
chief  of  whom  you’ve  heard  me  speak ; Chin- 
gachgook, as  he  is  called,  which  signifies  the  Big 
Sarpent ; so  named  for  his  wisdom,  and  prudence, 
and  cunning;  my  ’arliest  and  latest  friend.  I 
know’d  it  must  be  he,  by  the  hawk’s  feather  over 
the  left  ear,  most  other  warriors  wearing  ’em  on 
the  war-lock.” 

As  Deerslayer  ceased  speaking,  he  laughed 
heartily,  excited  more  perhaps  by  the  delight  of 
having  got  his  friend  safe  at  his  side,  under  cir- 
cumstances so  trying,  than  by  any  conceit  that 
happened  to  cross  his  fancy,  and  exhibiting  this 
outbreaking  of  feeling  in  a manner  that  was  a 
little  remarkable,  since  his  merriment  was  not 
accompanied  by  any  noise.  Although  Chingach- 
gook both  understood  and  spoke  English,  he  wag 
unwilling  to  communicate  his  thoughts  in  it,  like 
most  Indians  ; and  when  he  had  met  Judith’s 
cordial  shake  of  the  hand,  and  Hetty’s  milder 
salute,  in  the  courteous  manner  that  became  a 
chief,  he  turned  away,  apparently  to  await  the 
moment  when  it  might  suit  his  friend  to  enter 
into  an  explanation  of  his  future  intentions,  and 
to  give  a narrative  of  what  had  passed  since  their 
separation.  The  other  understood  his  meaning, 
and  discovered  his  own  mode  of  reasoning  in  the 
matter  by  addressing  the  girls. 

“This  wind  will  soon  die  away  altogether, 
now  the  sun  is  down,”  he  said,  “ and  there  is  no 
need  of  rowing  ag’in  it.  In  half  an  hour  or  so, 
it  will  either  be  a flat  calm  or  the  air  will  come 
off  from  the  south  shore,  when  we  will  begin  our 
journey  back  ag’in  to  the  castle ; in  the  mean 
while,  the  Delaware  and  I will  talk  over  matters, 
and  get  correct  idees  of  each  other’s  notions 
consarning  the  course  we  ought  to  take.” 

No  one  opposed  this  proposition,  and  the 
girls  withdrew  into  the  cabin  to  prepare  the  even- 
ing meal,  while  the  two  young  men  took  their 
seats  on  the  head  of  the  scow,  and  began  to  con- 
verse. The  dialogue  was  in  the  language  of  the 
Delawares.  As  that  dialect,  however,  is  but  lit- 
tle understood,  even  by  the  learned,  we  shall,  not 
only  on  this  but  on  all  subsequent  occasions,  ren- 
der such  parts  as  it  may  be  necessary  to  give 


NEWS  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


67 


closely  into  liberal  English ; preserving,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  idioms  and  peculiarities  of  the  re- 
spective speakers,  by  way  of  presenting  the  pic- 
tures in  the  most  graphic  forms  to  the  minds  of 
the  readers. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  the  details  first 
related  by  Deerslayer,  who  gave  a brief  narrative 
of  the  facts  that  are  already  familiar  to  those  who 
have  read  our  pages.  In  relating  these  events, 
however,  it  may  be  well  to  say  that  the  speaker 
touched  only  on  the  outlines,  more  particularly 
abstaining  from  saying  any  thing  about  his  en- 
counter with  and  victory  over  the  Iroquois,  as 
well  as  his  own  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  deserted 
young  women.  When  Deerslayer  ended,  the 
Delaware  took  up  the  narrative  in  turn,  speaking 
Bententiously,  and  with  great  dignity.  His  ac- 
count was  both  clear  and  short,  nor  was  it  em- 
bellished by  any  incidents  that  did  not  directly 
concern  the  history  of  his  departure  from  the 
villages  of  his  people,  and  his  arrival  in  the  val- 
ley of  the  Susquehanna.  On  reaching  the  latter, 
which  was  at  a point  only  half  a mile  south  of  the 
outlet,  he  had  soon  struck  a trail,  which  gave  him 
notice  of  the  probable  vicinity  of  enemies.  , Being 
prepared  for  such  an  occurrence,  the  object  of 
the  expedition  calling  him  directly  into  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  party  of  Iroquois  that  was  known 
to  be  out,  he  considered  the  discovery  as  fortu- 
nate, rather  than  the  reverse,  and  took  the  usual 
precautions  to  turn  it  to  account.  First  following 
the  river  to  its  source,  and  ascertaining  the  posi- 
tion of  the  rock,  he  met  another  trail,  and  had 
actually  been  hovering  for  hours  ©n  the  flanks  of 
his  enemies,  watching  equally  for  an  opportunity 
to  meet  his  mistress  and  to  take  a scalp  ; and  it 
may  be  questioned  which  he  most  ardently  de- 
sired. He  kept  near  the  lake,  and  occasionally  he 
ventured  to  some  spot  where  he  could  get  a view 
of  what  was  passing  on  its  surface.  The  ark  had 
been  seen  and  watched  from  the  moment  it  hove 
in  sight,  though  the  young  chief  was  necessarily 
ignorant  that  it  was  to  be  the  instrument  of  ef- 
fecting the  desired  junction  with  his  friend.  The 
uncertainty  of  its  movements,  and  the  fact  that  it 
was  unquestionably  managed  by  white  men,  led 
him  to  conjecture  the  truth,  however,  and  he  held 
himself  in  readiness  to  get  on  boapd  whenever  a 
suitable  occasion  might  offer.  As  the  sun  drew 
near  the  horizon,  he  repaired  to  the  rock,  where, 
on  emerging  from  the  forest,  he  was  gratified  in 
finding  the  ark  laying  apparently  in  readiness  to 
receive  him.  The  manner  of  his  appearance,  and 
of  his  entrance  into  the  craft,  is  known. 

Although  Chingachgook  had  been  closely 
watching  his  enemies  for  hours,  their  sudden  and 


close  pursuit,  as  he  reached  the  scow,  was  as 
much  a matter  of  surprise  to  himself  as  it  had 
been  to  his  friend.  He  could  only  account  for  it 
by  the  fact  of  their  being  more  numerous  than  he 
had  at  first  supposed,  and  by  their  having  out 
parties,  of  the  existence  of  which  he  was  ignorant. 
Their  regular  and  permanent  encampment,  if  the 
word  permanent  can  be  applied  to  the  residence 
of  a party  that  intended  to  remain  out,  in  all 
probability,  but  a few  weeks,  was  not  far  from 
the  spot  where  Hutter  and  Hurry  had  fallen  into 
their  hands,  and,  as  a matter  of  course,  near  a 
spring. 

“Well,  Sarpent,”  asked  Deerslayer,  when  the 
other  had  ended  his  brief  but  spirited  narrative, 
speaking  always  in  the  Delaware  tongue,  which, 
for  the  reader’s  convenience  only,  we  render  into 
the  peculiar  vernacular  of  the  speaker. 

“Well,  Sarpent,  as  you’ve  been  scouting 
around  these  Mingoes,  have  you  any  thing  to  tell 
us  of  their  captyves ; the  father  of  these  young 
women  and  another,  who,  I somewhat  conclude, 
is  the  lovyer  of  one  of  ’em.” 

“ Chingachgook  has  seen  them.  An  old  man 
and  a young  warrior — the  falling  hemlock  and  the 
tall  pine.” 

“ You’re  not  so  much  out,  Delaware  ; you’re 
not  so  much  out.  Old  Hutter  is  decaying,  of  a 
sartainty,  though  many  solid  blocks  might  be 
hewn  out  of  his  trunk  yet;  and,  as  for  Hurry 
Harry,  so  far  as  height,  and  strength,  and  comeli- 
ness go,  he  may  be  called  the  pride  of  the  human 
forest.  Were  the  men  bound,  or  in  any  manner 
suffering  torture  ? I ask  on  account  of  the  young 
women  — who,  I dare  say,  would  be  glad  to 
know.” 

“It  is  not  so,  Deerslayer.  The  Mingoes  are 
too  many  to  cage  their  game.  Some  watch,  some 
sleep,  some  scoutf  some  hunt.  The  pale-faces  are 
treated  like  brothers  to-day ; to-morrow  they 
will  lose  their  scalps.” 

“ Yes,  that’s  red  natur’,  and  must  be  sub- 
mitted to  ! — Judith  and  Hetty,  here’s  comforting 
tidings  for  you,  the  Delaware  telling  me  that 
neither  your  father  nor  Hurry  Harry  is  in  suffer- 
ing; but,  bating  the  loss  of  liberty,  as  well  off 
as  we  are  ourselves.  Of  course  they  are  kept  in 
the  camp ; otherwise  they  do  much  as  they 
please.” 

“ I rejoice  to  hear  this,  Deerslayer,”  returned 
Judith,  “ and  now  we  are  joined  by  your  friend, 
I make  no  manner  of  question  that  we  shall 
find  an  opportunity  to  ransom  the  prisoners.  If 
there  are  any  women  in  the  camp,  I have  articles 
of  dress  that  will  catch  their  eyes ; and,  should 
the  worst  come  to  the  worst,  we  can  open  thd 


68 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


good  chest,  which,  I think,  will  be  found  to  con- 
tain things  that  may  tempt  the  chiefs.” 

“Judith,”  said  the  young  man,  looking  up  at 
her  with  a smile,  and  an  expression  of  earnest 
curiosity,  that,  spite  of  the  growing  obscurity, 
did  not  escape  the  watchful  looks  of  the  girl, 
“ can  you  find  it  in  your  heart  to  part  with  your 
own  finery  to  release  prisoners ; even  though  one 
be  your  own  father,  and  the  other  is  your  sworn 
suitor  and  lovyer  ? ” 

The  flush  on  the  face  of  the  girl  arose  in  part 
from  resentment,  but  more  perhaps  from  a gentler 
and  novel  feeling,  that,  with  the  capricious  way- 
wardness of  taste,  had  been  rapidly  rendering  her 
more  sensitive  to  the  good  opinion  of  the  youth 
who  questioned  her,  than  to  that  of  any  other 
person.  Suppressing  the  angry  sensation,  with 
instinctive  quickness,  she  answered  with  a readi- 
ness and  truth  that  caused  her  sister  to  draw 
near  to  listen,  though  the  obtuse  intellect  of  the 
latter  was  far  from  comprehending  the  workings 
of  a heart  as  treacherous,  as  uncertain,  and  as 
impetuous  in  its  feelings,  as  that  of  the  spoiled  and 
flattered  beauty. 

“ Deerslayer,”  answered  Judith,  after  a mo- 
ment’s pause,  “ I shall  be  honest  with  you.  I 
confess  that  the  time  has  been  when  what  you  call 
finery  was  to  me  the  dearest  thing  on  earth  ; but 
I begin  to  feel  differently.  Though  Hurry  Harry 
is  naught  to  me,  nor  ever  can  be,  I would  give  all 
I own  to  set  him  free.  If  I would  do  this  for  blus- 
tering, bullying,  talking  Hurry,  who  has  nothing 
but  good  looks  to  recommend  him,  you  may  judge 
what  I would  do  for  my  own  father.” 

“ This  sounds  well,  and  is  according  to  wom- 
an’s gifts.  Ah’s  me  ! The  same  feelin’s  is  to  be 
found  among  the  young  women  of  the  Delawares. 
I’ve  known  ’em,  often  and  often,  sacrifice  their 
vanity  to  their  hearts.  ’Tis  as  it  should  be — ’tis 
as  it  should  be,  I suppose,  in  both  colors.  Wom- 
an was  created  for  the  feelin's,  and  is  pretty  much 
ruled  by  feelin’ ! ” 

“Would  the  savages  let  father  go,  if  Judith 
and  I gave  them  all  our  best  things  ? ” demanded 
Hetty,  in  her  innocent,  mild  manner. 

“ Their  women  might  interfere,  good  Hetty ; 
yes,  their  women  might  interfere  with  such  an 
ind  in  view. — But,  tell  me,  Sarpent,  how  is  it  as 
to  squaws  among  the  knaves ; have  they  many  of 
their  own  women  in  the  camp  ? ” 

The  Delaware  heard  and  understood  all  that 
passed ; though  with  Indian  gravity  and  finesse 
he  had  sat,  with  averted  face,  seemingly  inatten-  j 
live  to  a discourse  in  which  he  had  no  direct  con. 
ccm.  Thus  appealed  to,  however,  he  answered 
his  friend  in  his  ordinary  sententious  manner. 


“ Six,”  he  said,  holding  up  all  the  fingers  of 
one  hand,  and  the  thumb  of  the  other  ; “ besides 
this”  The  last  number  denoted  his  betrothed 5 
whom,  with  the  poetry  and  truth  of  nature,  he 
described  by  laying  his  hand  on  his  owji  heart. 

“ Did  you  see  her,  chief  — did  you  get  a 
glimpse  of  her  pleasant  countenance,  or  come  close 
enough  to  her  ear,  to  sing  in  it  the  song  she  loves 
to  hear  ? ” 

“No,  Deerslayer — the  trees  were  too  many 
and  leaves  covered  their  boughs,  like  clouds  hid- 
ing the  heavens,  in  a storm.  But  ” — and  the  young 
warrior  turned  his  face  toward  his  friend,  with  a 
smile  on  it  that  illuminated  its  fierce-looking  paint, 
and  naturally  stern  lineaments,  with  a bright 
gleam  of  human  feeling — “ Chingachgook  heard 
the  laugh  of  Wah-ta  !-Wah  ; he  knew  it  from  the 
laugh  of  the  women  of  the  Iroquois.  It  sounded 
in  his  ears  like  the  chirp  of  the  wren.” 

“ Ay,  trust  a lovyer’s  ear  for  that ; and  a 
. Delaware’s  ear  for  all  sounds  that  are  ever  heard 
in  the  woods.  I know  not  why  it  is  so,  Judith, 
but  when  young  men — and  I dares  to  say  it  may 
be  all  the  same  with  young  women,  too — but 
when  they  get  to  have  kind  feelin’s  toward  each 
other  it’s  wonderful  how  pleasant  they  laugh,  or 
the  speech  becomes  to  the  other  person.  I’ve  seen 
grim  warriors  listening  to  the  chattering  and  the 
laughing  of  young  gals  as  if  it  was  church-music  ; 
such  as  is  heard  in  the  old  Dutch  church  that 
stands  in  the  great  street  of  Albany,  where  I’ve 
been  more  than  once,  with  peltry  and  game.” 

“And  you.,  Deerslayer,”  said  Judith,  quickly, 
and  with  more  sensibility  than  marked  her  usual- 
ly light  and  thoughtless  manner ; “ have  you  nev- 
er felt  how  pleasant  it  is  to  listen  to  the  laugh  of 
the  girl  you  love  ? ” 

“ Lord  bless  you,  gal ! — why,  I’ve  never  lived 
enough  among  my  own  color  to  drop  into  them 
sort  of  feelin’s — no,  never  ! I dares  to  say,  they 
are  nat’ral  and  right ; but  to  me  there’s  no  music 
so  sweet  as  the  sighing  of  the  wind  in  the  tree- 
tops,  and  the  rippling  of  a stream  from  a full 
sparkling  nat yve  fountain  of  pure  fresh  water  ; 
unless,  indeed,”  he  continued,  dropping  his  head 
for  an  instant  in  a thoughtful  manner — “ unless, 
indeed,  it  be  the  open  mouth  of  a sartain  hound, 
when  I’m  on  the  track  of  a fat  buck.  As  for  un 
sartain  dogs,  I care  little  for  their  cries,  seein 
they  are  as  likely  to  speak  when  the  deer  is  not 
in  sight  as  when  it  is.” 

Judith  walked  slowly  and  pensively  away,  nor 
was  there  any  of  her  ordinary  calculating  coquetry 
in  the  light,  tremulous  sigh  that,  unconsciously  to 
herself,  arose  to  her  lips.  On  the  other  hand, 
Hetty  listened  with  guileless  attention;  though 


CHARACTER  OF  JUDITH  AND  HER  FRIEND. 


69 


't  struck  her  simple  mind  as  singular  that  the 
young  man  should  prefer  the  melody  of  the  woods 
to  the  songs  of  girls,  or  even  to  the  laugh  of  inno- 
cence and  joy.  Accustomed,  however,  to  defer  in 
most  things  to  her  sister,  she  soon  followed  Judith 
into  the  cabin,  where  she  took  a seat,  and  re- 
mained pondering  intensely  over  some  occurrence, 
or  resolution,  or  opinion,  which  was  a secret  to  all 
but  herself.  Left  alone,  Deerslayer  and  his  friend 
resumed  their  discourse. 

“ Has  the  young  pale-face  hunter  been  long  on 
this  lake  ? ” demanded  the  Delaware,  after  cour- 
teously waiting  for  the  other  to  speak  first. 

“ Only  since  yesterday  noon,  Sarpent ; though 
that  has  been  long  enough  to  see  and  do  much.” 

The  gaze  that  the  Indian  fastened  on  his  com- 
panion was  so  keen  that  it  seemed  to  mock  the 
gathering  darkness  of  the  night.  As  the  other 
furtively  returned  his  look,  he  saw  the  two  black 
eyes  glistening  on  him,  like  the  balls  of  the  pan- 
ther, or  those  of  the  penned  wolf.  He  understood 
the  meaning  of  this  glowing  gaze,  and  answered 
evasively,  as  he  fancied  would  best  become  the 
modesty  of  a white  man’s  gifts. 

“ ’Tis  as  you  suspect,  Sarpent ; yes,  ’tis  some- 
what that-a-wav.  I have  fell  in  with  the  inimy, 
and  I suppose  it  may  be  said  I’ve  fou’t  them,  too.” 

An  exclamation  of  delight  and  exultation  es- 
caped the  Indian  ; and  then,  laying  his  hand  ea- 
gerly on  the  arm  of  his  friend,  he  asked  if  there 
were  any  scalps  taken. 

“ That  I will  maintain,  in  the  face  of  all  the 
Delaware  tribe,  old  Tamenund,  and  your  father, 
the  great  Uncas,  as  well  as  the  rest,  is  ag’in  white 
gifts  ! My  scalp  is  on  my  head,  as  you  can  see, 
Sarpent,  and  that  was  the  only  scalp  that  was  in 
danger,  when  one  side  was  altogether  Christian 
and  white.” 

“ Did  no  warrior  fall  ? — Deerslayer  did  not  get 
his  name  by  being  slow  of  sight,  or  clumsy  with 
the  rifle ! ” 

“ In  that  particular,  chief,  you’re  nearer  rea- 
son, and,  therefore,  nearer  being  right.  I may 
say  one  Mingo  fell.” 

“A  chief!”  demanded  the  other,  with  star- 
tling vehemence. 

“Nay,  that’s  more  than  I know  or  can  say. 
He  was  artful,  and  treacherous,  and  stout-hearted, 
and  may  well  have  gained  popularity  enough  with 
his  people  to  be  named  to  that  rank.  The  man 
fou’t  well,  though  his  eye  wasn’t  quick  enough 
for  one  who  had  had  his  schooling  in  your  com- 
pany, Delaware.” 

“ My  brother  and  friend  struck  the  body  ? ” 

“ That  was  uncalled  for,  seeing  that  the  Min- 
go died  in  my  arms.  The  truth  may  as  well  be 


said  at  once ; he  fou’t  like  a man  of  red  gifts,  and 
I fou’t  like  a man  with  gifts  of  my  own  color. 
God  gave  me  the  victory ; I couldn’t  fly  in  the 
face  of  his  providence  by  forgetting  my  birth  and 
natur’.  White  he  made  me,  and  white  I shall 
live  and  die.” 

“ Good ! Deerslayer  is  a pale-face,  and  has 
pale-face  hands.  A Delaware  will  look  for  the 
scalp,  and  hang  it  on  a pole,  and  sing  a song  in 
his  honor,  when  we  go  back  to  our  people.  The 
honor  belongs  to  the  tribe ; it  must  not  be  lost.” 

“ This  is  easy  talking,  but  ’twill  not  be  as  easy 
doing.  The  Mingo’s  body  is  in  the  hands  of  his 
fri’nds,  and,  no  doubt,  is  hid  in  some  hole,  where 
Delaware  cunning  will  never  be  able  to  get  at  the 
scalp.” 

The  young  man  then  gave  his  friend  a succinct 
but  clear  account  of  the  event  of  the  morning,  con- 
cealing nothing  of  any  moment,  and  yet  touching 
on  every  thing  modestly,  and  with  a careful  atten- 
tion to  avoid  the  Indian  habit  of  boasting.  Chin- 
gachgook  again  expressed  his  satisfaction  at  the 
honor  won  by  his  friend,  and  then  both  arose,  the 
hour  having  arrived  when  it  became  prudent  to 
move  the  ark  farther  from  the  land. 

It  was  now  quite  dark ; the  heavens  having 
become  clouded,  and  the  stars  hid.  The  north  wind 
had  ceased,  as  was  usual,  with  the  setting  of  the  sun, 
and  a light  air  arose  from  the  south.  This  change 
favoring  the  design  of  Deerslayer,  he  lifted  his 
grapnel,  and  the  scow  immediatly  and  quite  per- 
ceptibly began  to  drift  more  into  the  lake.  The 
sail  was  set,  when  the  motion  of  the  craft  in- 
creased to  a rate  not  much  less  than  two  miles  in 
the  hour.  As  this  superseded  the  necessity  of 
rowing — an  occupation  that  an  Indian  would  not 
be  likely  to  desire — Deerslayer,  Chingachgook, 
and  Judith,  seated  themselves  in  the  stern  of  the 
scow,  where  the  first  governed  its  movements  by 
holding  the  oar.  Here  they  discoursed  on  their 
future  movements,  and  on  the  means  that  ought 
to  be  used  in  order  to  effect  the  liberation  of  their 
friends. 

In  this  dialogue  Judith  held  a material  part ; 
the  Delaware  readily  understanding  all  she  said, 
while  his  own  replies  and  remarks,  both  of  which 
were  few  and  pithy,  were  occasionally  rendered 
into  English  by  his  friend.  Judith  rose  greatly  in 
the  estimation  of  her  companions,  in  the  half  hour 
that  followed.  Prompt  of  resolution  and  firm  of 
purpose,  her  suggestions  and  expedients  partook 
of  her  spirit  and  sagacity,  both  of  which  were  of 
a character  to  find  favor  with  men  of  the  frontier 
The  events  that  had  occurred  since  their  meeting, 
as  well  as  her  isolated  and  dependent  situation, 
induced  the  girl  to  feel  toward  Deerslayer  like  tha 


70 


THE  DEERSLAYER 


friend  of  a year,  instead  of  an  acquaintance  of  a 
day  ; and  so  completely  had  she  been  won  by  his 
guileless  truth  of  character  and  of  feeling — pure 
novelties  in  our  sex,  as  respected  her  own  experi- 
ence— that  his  peculiarities  excited  her  curiosity, 
and  created  a confidence  that  had  never  been 
awakened  by  any  other  man.  Hitherto  she  had 
been  compelled  to  stand  on  the  defensive,  in  her 
intercourse  with  men — with  what  success  was 
best  known  to  herself ; but  here  had  she  been  sud- 
denly thrown  into  the  society,  and  under  the  pro- 
tection, of  a youth  who  evidently  as  little  contem- 
plated evil  toward  herself  as  if  he  had  been  her 
brother.  The  freshness  of  his  integrity,  the  poe- 
try and  truth  of  his  feelings,  and  even  the  quaint- 
ness of  his  forms  of  speech,  all  had  their  influence, 
and  aided  in  awakening  an  interest  that  she  found 
as  pure  as  it  was  sudden  and  deep.  Hurry’s  fine 
face  and  manly  form  had  never  compensated  for 
his  boisterous  and  vulgar  turn;  and  her  inter- 
course with  the  officers  had  prepared  her  to  make 
comparisons  under  which  even  his  great  natural 
advantages  suffered.  But  this  very  intercourse 
with  the  officers  who  occasionally  came  upon  the 
lake  to  fish  and  hunt,  had  an  effect  in  producing 
her  present  sentiments  toward  the  young  stranger. 
With  them,  while  her  vanity  had  been  gratified, 
and  her  self-love  strongly  awakened,  she  had 
many  causes  deeply  to  regret  the  acquaintance — 
if  not  to  mourn  over  it' in  secret  sorrow — for  it 
was  impossible  for  one  of  her  quick  intellect  not 
to  perceive  how  hollow  was  the  association  be- 
tween superior  and  inferior,  and  that  she  was  re- 
garded as  the  plaything  of  an  idle  hour,  rather 
than  as  an  equal  and  a friend,  by  even  the  best 
intentioned  and  least  designing  of  her  scarlet-clad 
admirers.  Deerslayer,  on  the  other  hand,  had  a 
window  in  his  breast,  through  which  the  light  of 
his  honesty  was  ever  shining ; and  even  his  indif- 
ference to  charms  that  so  rarely  failed  to  produce 
a sensation  piqued  the  pride  of  the  girl,  and  gave 
him  an  interest  that  another,  seemingly  more  fa- 
vored by  Nature,  might  have  failed  to  excite. 

In  this  manner  half  an  hour  passed,  during 
which  time  the  ark  had  been  slowly  stealing  over 
the  water,  the  darkness  thickening  around  it ; 
though  it  was  easy  to  see  that  the  gloom  of  the 
forest  at  the  southern  end  of  the  lake  was  getting 
to  be  distant,  while  the  mountains  that  lined  the 
sides  of  the  beautiful  basin  were  overshadowing 
it,  nearly  from  side  to  side.  There  was,  indeed, 
a narrow  stripe  of  water,  in  the  centre  of  the 
lake,  where  the  dim  light  that  was  still  shed  from 
the  heavens  fell  upon  its  surface,  in  a line  extend- 
ing north  and  south  ; and  along  this  faint  tract 
— a sort  of  inverted  milky-way,  in  which  the  ob- 


scurity was  not  quite  as  dense  as  in  other  places 
— the  scow  held  her  course,  he  who  steered  well 
knowing  that  it  led  in  the  direction  he  wished  to 
go.  The  reader  is  not  to  suppose,  however,  that 
any  difficulty  could  exist  as  to  the  course.  This 
would  have  been  determined  by  that  of  the  air, 
had  it  not  been  possible  to  distinguish  the  moun- 
tains, as  well  as  by  the  dim  opening  to  the  south, 
which  marked  the  position  of  the  valley  in  that 
quarter,  above  the  plain  of  tall  trees,  by  a sort  of 
lessened  obscurity ; the  difference  between  the 
darkness  of  the  forest,  and  that  of  the  night,  as 
seen  only  in  the  air.  The  peculiarities  at  length 
caught  the  attention  of  Judith  and  the  Deer- 
slayer, and  the  conversation  ceased,  to  allow  each 
to  gaze  at  the  solemn  stillness  and  deep  repose  of 
Nature. 

“ ’Tis  a gloomy  night,”  observed  the  girl,  after 
a pause  of  several  minutes.  “ I hope  we  shall  be 
able  to  find  the  castle.” 

“ Little  fear  of  our  missing  that , if  we  keep 
this  path,  in  the  middle  of  the  lake,”  returned 
the  young  man.  “ Natur’  has  made  us  a road 
here,  and,  dim  as  it  is,  there’ll  be  little  difficulty 
in  following  it.” 

“Do  you  hear  nothing,  Deerslayer?  It 
seemed  as  if  the  water  was  stirring  quite  near 
us ! ” 

“ Sartainly  something  did  move  the  water, 
oncommon  like ; it  must  have  been  a fish.  Them 
creatur’s  prey  upon  each  other  like  men  and  ani- 
mals on  the  land  ; one  has  leaped  into  the  air, 
and  fallen  back  hard  into  his  own  clement.  ’Tis 
of  little  use,  Judith,  for  any  to  strive  to  get  out 
of  their  elements,  since  it’s  natur’  to  stay  in  ’em  ; 
and  Natur’  will  have  its  way.  Ha ! that  sounds 
like  a paddle,  used  with  more  than  common  cau- 
tion !” 

At  this  moment  the  Delaware  bent  forward 
and  pointed  significantly  intq,  the  boundary  of  the 
gloom,  as  if  some  object  had  suddenly  caught  his 
eye.  Both  Deerslayer  and  Judith  followed  the 
direction  of  his  gesture,  and  each  got  a view  of  a 
canoe  at  the  same  instant.  The  glimpse  of  this 
startling  neighbor  was  dim,  and,  to  eyes  less 
practised,  it  might  have  been  uncertain ; though 
to  those  in  the  ark,  the  object  was  evidently  a 
canoe,  with  a single  individual  in  it ; the  latter 
standing  erect  and  paddling.  How  many  lay  con- 
cealed in  its  bottom,  of  course  could  not  be 
known.  Flight,  by  means  of  oars,  from  a bark 
canoe  impelled  by  vigorous  and  skilful  hands, 
was  utterly  impracticable,  and  each  of  the  men 
seized  his  rifle  in  expectation  of  a conflict. 

“I  can  easily  bring  down  the  paddler,”  whis- 
pered Deerslayer,  “ but  we’ll  first  hail  him  and 


STRANGE  CONDUCT  OF  HETTY. 


71 


ask  liis  ar’nd.”  Then,  raising  his  voice,  he  con- 
tinued in  a solemn  manner : “ Hold ! If  you  come 
nearer  I must  fire,  though  contrary  to  my  wishes, 
and  then  sartain  death  will  follow.  Stop  pad- 
dling, and  answer ! ” 

“ Fire,  and  slay  a poor  defenceless  girl,”  re- 
turned a soft,  tremulous  female  voice,  “ and  God 
will  never  forgive  you ! Go  your  way,  Deerslayer, 
and  let  me  go  mine.” 

“ Hetty ! ” exclaimed  the  young  man  and  Ju- 
dith in  a breath  ; and  the  former  sprang  instantly 
to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  the  canoe  they  had 
been  towing.  It  was  gone,  and  he  understood 
the  whole  affair.  As  f^r  the  fugitive,  frightened 
at  the  menace,  she  ceased  paddling,  and  remained 
dimly  visible,  resembling  a spectral  outline  of  a 
human  form,  standing  on  the  water.  At  the  next 
moment  the  sail  was  lowered  to  prevent  the  ark 
from  passing  the  spot  where  the  canoe  lay.  This 
last  expedient,  however,  was  not  taken  in  time ; 
for  the  momentum  of  so  heavy  a craft  and  the  im- 
pulsion of  the  air  soon  set  her  by,  bringing  Hetty 
directly  to  windward,  though  still  visible,  as  the 
change  in  the  positions  of  the  two  boats  now 
placed  her  in  that  species  of  milky- way  which  has 
been  mentioned. 

“What  can  this  mean,  Judith?”  demanded 
Deerslayer.  “Why  has  your  sister  taken  the 
canoe,  and  left  us  ? ” 

“You  know  she  is  feeble-minded,  poor  girl! 
and  she  has  her  own  ideas  of  what  ought  to  be 
done.  She  loves  her  father  more  than  most  chil- 
dren love  their  parents — and  then — ” 

“ Then,  what,  gal  ? This  is  a trying  moment ; 
one  in  which  truth  must  be  spoken  ? ” 

Judith  felt  a generous  and  womanly  regret  at 
betraying  her  sister,  and  she  hesitated  ere  she 
spoke  again.  But  once  more  urged  by  Deerslay- 
er, and  conscious  herself  of  all  the  risks  the  whole 
party  was  running  by  the  indiscretion  of  Hetty, 
she  could  refrain  no  longer. 

“ Then,  I fear,  poor,  weak-minded  Hetty  has 
not  been  altogether  able  to  see  the  vanity,  and 
madness,  and  folly,  that  lie  hid  behind  the  hand- 
some face  and  fine  form  of  Hurry  Harry.  She 
talks  of  him  in  her  sleep,  and  sometimes  betrays 
the  inclination  in  her  waking  moments.” 

“You  think,  Judith,  that  your  sister  is  now 
bent  on  some  mad  scheme  to  serve  her  father  and 
Hurry,  which  will,  in  all  likelihood,  give  them 
riptyies,  the  Mingoes,  the  mastership  of  a ca- 
noe? ” 

“ Such,  1 fear,  will  turn  out  to  be  the  fact, 
Deerslayer.  Poor  Hetty  has  hardly  sufficient 
cunning  to  outwit  a savage.” 

All  this  while  the  canoe,  with  the  form  of 


Hetty  erect  in  one  end  of  it,  was  dimly  percep- 
tible ; though  the  greater  drift  of  the  ark  ren- 
dered it  at  each  instant  less  and  less  distinct.  It 
was  evident  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  lest  it  should 
altogether  disappear.  The  rifles  were  now  laid 
aside  as  useless ; the  two  men  seizing  the  oars, 
and  sweeping  the  head  of  the  scow  round  in  the 
direction  of  the  canoe.  Judith,  accustomed  to 
the  office,  flew  to  the  other  end  of  the  ark  and 
placed  herself  at  what  might  be  called  the  helm. 
Hetty  took  the  alarm  at  these  preparations,  which 
could  not  be  made  without  noise,  and  started  off 
like  a bird  that  had  been  suddenly  put  up  by  the 
approach  of  unexpected  danger. 

As  Deerslayer  and  his  companion  rowed  with 
the  energy  of  those  who  felt  the  necessity  of 
straining  every  nerve,  and  Hetty’s  strength  was 
impaired  by  a nervous  desire  to  escape,  the 
chase  would  have  quickly  terminated  in  the  cap- 
ture of  the  fugitive  had  not  the  girl  made  several 
short  and  unlooked-for  deviations  in  her  course. 
These  turnings  gave  her  time,  and  they  had  also 
the  effect  of  gradually  bringing  both  the  canoe 
and  ark  within  the  deeper  gloom  cast  by  the 
shadows  from  the  hills.  They  also  gradually  in- 
creased the  distance  between  the  fugitive  and  her 
pursuers,  until  Judith  called  out  to  her  compan- 
ions to  cease  rowing,  for  she  had  completely  lost 
sight  of  the  canoe. 

When  this  mortifying  announcement  was 
made,  Hetty  was  actually  so  near  as  to  under- 
stand every  syllable  her  sister  uttered ; though 
the  latter  had  used  the  precaution  of  speaking  as 
low  as  circumstances  would  allow  her  to  do,  and 
make  herself  heard.  Hetty  stopped  paddling  at 
the  same  moment,  and  waited  the  result  with  an 
impatience  that  was  breathless,  equally  from  her 
late  exertions  and  her  desire  to  land.  A dead  si- 
lence immediately  fell  on  the  lake  ; during  which 
the  three  in  the  ark  were  using  their  senses  dif- 
ferently in  order  to  detect  the  position  of  the 
canoe.  Judith  leaned  forward  to  listen,  in  the 
hope  of  catching  some  sound  that  might  betray 
the  direction  in  which  her  sister  was  stealing 
away ; while  her  two  companions  brought  their 
eyes  as  near  as  possible  to  a level  with  the  wa- 
ter, in  order  to  detect  any  object  that  might  be 
floating  on  its  surface.  All  was  vain,  however, 
for  neither  sound  nor  sight  rewarded  their  efforts. 
All  this  time,  Hetty,  who  had  not  the  cunning  to 
sink  into  the  canoe,  stood  erect,  a finger  pressed 
on  her  lips,  gazing  in  the  direction  in  which  the 
voices  had  been  heard,  resembling  a statue  of 
profound  and  timid  attention.  Her  ingenuity  had 
barely  sufficed  to  enable  her  to  seize  the  canoe 
and  to  quit  the  ark  in  the  noiseless  manner  re- 


72 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


lated ; and  then  it  appeared  to  be  momentarily 
exhausted.  Even  the  doublings  of  the  canoe  had 
been  as  much  the  consequence  of  an  uncertain 
hand,  and  of  nervous  agitation,  as  of  any  crafti- 
ness or  calculation. 

The  pause  continued  several  minutes  ; during 
which  Deerslayer  and  the  Delaware  conferred  to- 
gether in  the  language  of  the  latter.  Then  the 
oars  dipped  again,  and  the  ark  moved  away,  row- 
ing with  as  little  noise  as  possible.  It  steered 
westward,  a little  southerly,  or  in  the  direction 
of  the  encampment  of  the  enemy.  Having 
reached  a point  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
shore,  and  where  the  obscurity  was  intense,  on 
account  of  the  proximity  of  the  land,  it  lay  there 
near  an  hour,  in  waiting  for  the  expected  approach 
of  Hetty ; who,  it  was  thought,  would  make  the 
best  of  her  way  to  that  spot  as  soon  as  she  be- 
lieved herself  relieved  from  the  danger  of  pursuit. 
No  success  rewarded  this  little  blockade,  how- 
ever ; neither  appearance  nor  sound  denoting  the 
passage  of  the  canoe.  Disappointed  at  this  fail- 
ure, and  conscious  of  the  importance  of  getting 
possession  of  the  fortress  before  it  could  be  seized 
by  the  enemy,  Deerslayer  now  took  his  way  tow- 
ard the  castle,  with  the  apprehension  that  all  his 
foresight  in  securing  the  canoes  would  be  defeated 
by  this  unguarded  and  alarming  movement  on  the 
p*  rt  of  the  feeble-minded  Hetty. 


CHAPTER  X. 

•“ But  who  in  this  wild-wood 

May  credit  give  to  either  eye  or  ear  ? 

From  rocky  precipice  or  hollow  cave, 

’Mid  the  confused  sound  of  rustling  leaves, 

And  crackling  boughs,  and  cries  of  nightly  birds, 
Returning  seeming  answer.” 

Joanna  BaiiAie. 

Fear,  as  much  as  calculation,  had  induced 
Hetty  to  cease  paddling,  when  she  found  that  her 
pursuers  did  not  know  in  which  direction  to  pro- 
ceed. She  remained  stationary,  until  the  ark  had 
pulled  in  near  the  encampment,  as  has  been  re- 
lated in  the  preceding  chapter ; when  she  resumed 
the  paddle,  and  with  cautious  strokes  made  the 
best  of  her  way  toward  the  western  shore.  In 
order  to  avoid  her  pursuers,  however,  who,  she 
rightly  suspected,  would  soon  be  rowing  along 
that  shore  themselves,  the  head  of  the  canoe  was 
pointed  so  far  north  as  to  bring  her  to  land  on  a 
point  that  thrust  itself  into  the  lake,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  near  a league  from  the  outlet.  Nor  was 
this  altogether  the  result  of  a desire  to  escape ; 
for,  feeble-minded  as  she  was,  Hetty  Hutter  had 


a good  deal  of  that  instinctive  caution  which  so 
often  keeps  those  whom  God  has  thus  visited  from 
harm.  She  was  perfectly  aware  of  the  importance 
of  keeping  the  canoes  from  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  Iroquois  ; and  long  familiarity  with  the 
lake  had  suggested  one  of  the  simplest  expedients, 
by  which  this  great  object  could  be  rendered  com- 
patible with  her  own  purpose. 

The  point  in  question  was  the  first  projection 
that  offered  on  that  side  of  the  lake,  where  a 
canoe,  if  set  adrift  with  a southerly  air,  would 
float  clear  of  the  land  ; and  where  it  would  be  no 
great  violation  of  probabilities  to  suppose  it  might 
even  hit  the  castle ; the  lftter  lying  above  it,  al- 
most in  a direct  line  with  the  wind.  Such,  then, 
was  Hetty’s  intention ; and  she  landed  on  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  gravelly  point,  beneath  an  over- 
hanging oak,  with  the  express  intention  of  shov- 
ing the  canoe  off  from  the  shore,  in  order  that  it 
might  drift  up  toward  her  father’s  insulated  abode. 
She  knew,  too,  from  the  logs  that  occasionally 
floated  about  the  lake,  that,  did  it  miss  the  castle 
and  its  appendages,  the  wind  would  be  likely  to 
change  before  the  canoe  could  reach  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  lake,  and  that  Deerslayer  might 
have  an  opportunity  of  regaining  it  in  the  morn- 
ing, when  no  doubt  he  would  be  earnestly  sweep- 
ing the  surface  of  the  water,  and  the  whole  of  ita 
wooded  shores,  with  the  glass.  In  all  this,  too, 
Hetty  was  less  governed  by  any  chain  of  reason- 
ing than  by  her  habits  ; the  latter  often  supplying 
the  defects  of  mind  in  human  beings,  as  they  per- 
form the  same  office  for  animals  of  the  infefior 
classes. 

The  girl  was  quite  an  hour  finding  her  way  to 
the  point,  the  distance  and  the  obscurity  equally 
detaining  her  ; but  she  was  no  sooner  on  the  grav- 
elly beach  than  she  prepared  to  set  the  canoe 
adrift  in  the  manner  mentioned.  While  in  the 
act  of  pushing  it  from  her,  she  heard  low  voices 
that  seemed  to  come  from  among  the  trees  be- 
hind her.  Startled  at  this  unexpected  danger, 
Hetty  was  on  the  point  of  springing  into  the 
canoe  again,  in  order  to  seek  safety  in  flight,  when 
she  thought  she  recognized  the  tones  of  Judith’s 
melodious  voice.  Bending  forward  so  as  to  catch 
the  sounds  more  directly,  they  evidently  came 
from  the  water ; and  then  she  understood  that 
the  ark  was  approaching  from  the  south,  and  so 
close  in  with  the  western  shore  as  necessarily  to 
cause  it  to  pass  the  point  within  twenty  yards  of 
the  spot  where  she  stood.  Here,  then,  was  all 
she  could  desire ; the  canoe  was  shoved  off  into 
the  lake,  leaving  its  late  occupant  alone  on  the 
narrow  strand. 

When  this  act  of  self-devotion  was  performed 


A SINGULAR  PROJECT. 


73 


Hetty  did  not  retire.  The  foliage  of  the  over- 
hanging trees  and  bushes  would  have  almost  con- 
cealed her  person,  had  there  been  light ; but  in 
that  obscurity,  it  was  utterly  impossible  to  dis- 
cover any  object  thus  shaded  at  the  distance  of 
a few  feet.  Flight,  too,  was  perfectly  easy,  as 
twenty  steps  would  effectually  bury  her  iu  the 
forest.  She  remained,  therefore,  watching  with 
intense  anxiety  the  result  of  her  expedient,  intend- 
ing to  call  the  attention  of  the  others  to  the  canoe 
with  her  voice,  should  they  appear  to  pass  with- 
out observing  it.  The  ark  approached  under  its 
sail  again ; Deerslayer  standing  in  its  bow,  with 
Judith  near  him,  and  the  Delaware  at  the  helm. 
It  would  seem  that,  in  the  bay  below,  it  had  got 
too  close  to  the  shore,  in  the  lingering  hope  of 
intercepting  Hetty ; for,  as  it  came  nearer,  the 
latter  distinctly  heard  the  directions  that  the 
young  man  forward  gave  to  his  companion,  in 
order  to  clear  the  point. 

“ Lay  her  head  more  off  the  shore,  Delaware,” 
said  Deerslayer,  for  the  third  time,  speaking  in 
English,  that  his  fair  companion  might  understand 
his  words;  “lay  her  hea4  well  off  shore.  We 
have  got  embayed  here,  and  needs  keep  the  mast 
clear  of  the  trees. — Judith,  there’s  a canoe  ! ” 

The  last  words  were  uttered  with  great  ear- 
nestness, and  Deerslayer’s  hand  was  on  his  rifle  ere 
they  were  fairly  out  of  his  mouth.  But  the  truth 
flashed  on  the  mind  of  the  quick-witted  girl,  and 
she  instantly  told  her  companion  that  the  boat 
must  be  that  in  which  her  sister  had  fled. 

“'Keep  the  scow  straight,  Delaware  ; steer  as 
straight  as  your  bullet  flies  when  sent  ag’in  a 
buck;  there — I have  it.” 

The  canoe  was  seized,  and  immediately  se- 
cured again  to  the  side  of  the  ark.  At  the  next 
moment  the  sail  was  lowered,  and  the  motion  of 
the  ark  arrested,  by  means  of  the  oars. 

“ Hetty  ! ” called  out  Judith,  concern,  even 
affection,  betraying  itself  in  her  tones  ; “ are  you 
within  hearing,  sister — for  God’s  sake  answer,  and 
let  me  hear  the  sound  of  your  voice  again  ! Het- 
ty ! — dear  Hetty  ! ” 

“I’m  here,  Judith — here  on  the  shore,  where 
it  will  be  useless  to  follow  me  ; as  I will  hide  in 
the  woods.” 

“ 0 Hetty ! what  is’t  you  do  ? Remember, 
’tis  drawing  near  midnight,  and  that  the  woods 
are  filled  with  savages  and  wild  beasts  ! ” 

“ Neither  will  harm  a poor,  half-witted  girl, 
Judith.  God  is  as  much  with  me  here  as  He 
would  be  in  the  ark  or  in  the  hut.  I am  going 
to  help  my  father  and  poor  Hurry  Harry,  who 
will  be  tortured  and  slain  unless  some  One  cares 
for  them.” 


“ We  all  care  for  them,  and  intend  to-morrow 
to  send  them  a flag  of  truce  to  buy  their  ransom. 
Come  back,  then,  sister;  trust  to  us,  who  have 
better  heads  than  you,  and  who  will  do  all  we 
can  for  father.” 

“ I know  your  head  is  better  than  mine,  Ju- 
dith, for  mine  is  very  weak,  to  be  sure ; but  1 
must  go  to  father  and  poor  Hurry.  Do  you  and 
Deerslayer  keep  the  castle,  sister ; leave  me  in 
the  hands  of  God.” 

“ God  is  with  us  all,  Hetty — in  the  castle,  or 
on  the  shore — father  as  well  as  ourselves ; and 
it  is  sinful  not  to  trust  to  his  goodness.  You 
can  do  nothing  in  the  dark  ; will  lose  your  way 
in  the  forest,  and  perish  for  want  of  food.” 

“ God  will  not  let  that  happen  to  a poor  child 
that  goes  to  serve  her  father,  sister.  I must  try 
and  find  the  savages.” 

“Come  back,  for  this  night  only;  in  the 
morning  we  will  put  you  ashore,  and  leave  you  to 
do  as  you  may  think  right.” 

“You  say  so,  Judith,  and  you  think  so;  but 
you  would  not.  Your  heart  would  soften,  and 
you’d  see  tomahawks  and  scalping-knives  in  the 
air.  Besides,  I’ve  got  a thing  to  tell  the  Indian 
chief  that  will  answer  all  our  wishes;  and  I’m 
afraid  I may  forget  it  if  I don’t  tell  it  to  him  at 
once.  You’ll  see  that  he  will  let  father  go  as 
soon  as  he  hears  it ! ” 

“ Poor  Hetty ! What  can  you  say  to  a fero- 
cious savage  that  will  be  likely  to  change  his 
bloody  purpose  ? ” 

“ That  which  will  frighten  him  and  make  him 
let  father  go,”  returned  the  simple-minded  girl, 
positively.  “ You’ll  see,  sister ; you’ll  see  how 
soon  it  will  bring  him  to,  like  a gentle  child  ! ” 

“ Will  you  tell  me,  Hetty,  what  you  intend  to 
say  ? ” asked  Deerslayer  ; “ I know  the  savages 
well,  and  can  form  some  idee  how  far  fair  words 
will  be  likely  or  not  to  work  on  their  bloody  na- 
tur’s.  If  it’s  not  suited  to  the  gifts  of  a red-skin, 
’twill  be  of  no  use  ; for  reason  goes  by  gifts  as 
well  as  conduct.” 

“Well,  then,”  answered  Hetty,  dropping  her 
voice  to  a low,  confidental  tone — for  the  stillness 
of  the  night  and  the  nearness  of  the  ark  per- 
mitted her  to  do  this  and  still  to  be  heard — 
“well,  then,  Deerslayer,  as  you  seem  a good  and 
honest  young  man,  I will  tell  you.  I mean  not  to 
say  a word  to  any  of  the  savages  until  I get  face 
to  face  with  their  head  chief,  let  them  plague  me 
with  as  many  questions  as  they  please ; no — I’ll 
answer  none  of  them,  unless  it  be  to  tell  them  to 
lead  me  to  their  wisest  man.  Then,  Deerslayer, 
I’ll  tell  him  that  God  will  not  forgive  murder  and 
thefts  ; and  that,  if  father  and  Hurry  did  go  after 


n 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  scalps  of  the  Iroquois,  he  must  return  good 
for  evil,  for  so  the  Bible  commands,  else  he  will 
go  into  everlasting  punishment.  When  he  hears 
this,  and  feels  it  to  be  true,  as  feel  it  he  must, 
how  long  will  it  be  before  he  sends  father,  and 
Hurry,  and  me,  to  the  shore,  opposite  the  castle  ; 
telling  us  all  three  to  go  our  way  in  peace  ? ” 

The  last  question  was  put  in  a triumphant 
manner ; and  then  the  simple-minded  girl  laughed 
at  the  impression  she  never  doubted  that  her  pro- 
ject had  made  on  her  auditors.  Deerslayer  was 
dumfounded  at  this  proof  of  guileless  feebleness 
of  mind  ; but  Judith  had  suddenly  bethought  her 
of  a means  of  counteracting  this  wild  project  by 
acting  on  the  very  feelings  that  had  given  it  birth. 
Without  adverting  to  the  closing  question,  or  the 
laugh,  therefore,  she  hurriedly  called  to  her  sister 
by  name  as  one  suddenly  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  what  she  had  to  say.  But  no  answer 
was  given  to  the  call. 

By  the  snapping  of  twigs,  and  the  rustling  of 
leaves,  Hetty  had  evidently  quitted  the  shore,  and 
was  already  burying  herself  in  the  forest.  To 
follow  would  have  been  bootless,  since  the  dark- 
ness, as  well  as  the  dense  cover  that  the  woods 
everywhere  afforded,  would  have  rendered  her 
capture  next  to  impossible ; and  there  was  also 
the  never-ceasing  danger  of  falling  into  the  hands 
of  their  enemies.  After  a short  and  melancholy 
discussion,  therefore,  the  sail  was  again  set,  and 
the  ark  pursued  its  course  toward  its  habitual 
moorings ; Deerslayer  silently  felicitating  him- 
self on  the  recovery  of  the  canoe,  and  brooding 
over  his  plans  for  the  morrow.  The  wind  rose 
as  the  party  quitted  the  point,  and  in  less  than 
an  hour  they  reached  the  castle.  Here  all  was 
found  as  it  had  been  left ; and  the  reverse  of  the 
ceremonies  had  to  be  taken  in  entering  the  build- 
ing, that  had  been  used  on  quitting  it.  Judith 
occupied  a solitary  bed  that  night,  bedewing  the 
pillow  with  her  tears  as  she  thought  of  the  inno- 
cent and  hitherto  neglected  creature  who  had 
been  her  companion  from  childhood  ; and  bitter 
regrets  came  over  her  mind,  from  more  causes 
than  one,  as  the  weary  houi-s  passed  away,  mak- 
ing it  nearly  morning  before  she  lost  her  recol- 
lection in  sleep.  Deerslayer  and  the  Delaware 
took  their  rest  in  the  ark,  where  we  shall  leave 
them,  enjoying  the  deep  sleep  of  the  honest,  the 
healthful,  and  fearless,  to  return  to  the  girl  we 
have  last  seen  in  the  midst  of  the  forest. 

When  Hetty  left  the  shore,  she  took  her  way 
unhesitatingly  into  the  woods  with  a nervous  ap- 
prehension of  being  followed.  Luckily,  this 
course  was  the  best  she  could  have  nit  on  to  ef- 
fect her  own  purpose,  since  it  was  the  only  one  | 


that  led  her  from  the  point.  The  night  was  so 
intensely  dark,  beneath  the  branches  of  the  trees, 
that  her  progress  was  very  slow,  and  the  direc- 
tion she  went  altogether  a matter  of  chance  after 
the  first  few  yards.  The  formation  of  the  ground, 
however,  did  not  permit  her  to  deviate  far  from 
the  line  in  which  she  desired  to  proceed.  On  one 
hand,  it  was  soon  bounded  by  the  acclivity  of  the 
hill ; while  the  lake  on  the  other  served  as  a 
guide.  For  two  hours  did  this  single-hearted  and 
simple-minded  girl  toil  through  the  mazes  of  the 
forest ; sometimes  finding  herself  on  the  brow 
of  the  bank  that  bounded  the  water,  and  at  others 
struggling  up  an  ascent  that  warned  her  to  go  no 
farther  in  that  direction,  since  it  necessarily  ran 
at  right  angles  to  the  course  on  which  she  wished 
to  proceed.  Her  feet  often  slid  from  beneath  her, 
and  she  got  many  falls,  though  none  to-  do  her 
injury ; but,  by  the  end  of  the  period  mentioned, 
she  had  become  so  weary  as  to  wrant  strength  to 
go  any  farther.  Rest  was  indispensable ; and 
she  set  about  preparing  a bed  with  the  readiness 
and  coolness  of  one  to  whom  the  wilderness  pre- 
sented no  unnecessary  terrors.  She  knew  that 
wild  beasts  roamed  through  all  the  adjacent 
forest,  but  animals  that  preyed  on  the  human 
species  were  rare,  and  of  dangerous  serpents 
there  were  literally  none.  These  facts  had  been 
taught  her  by  her  father ; and  whatever  her 
feeble  mind  received  at  all,  it  received  so  con- 
fidingly as  to  leave  her  no  uneasiness  from  any 
doubts  or  skepticism.  To  her  the  sublimity  of 
the  solitude  in  which  she  was  placed  was  sooth- 
ing rather  than  appalling ; and  she  gathered  a 
bed  of  leaves,  with  as  much  indifference  to  the  cir- 
cumstances that  would  have  driven  the  thoughts 
of  sleep  entirely  from  the  minds  of  most  of  her 
sex,  as  if  she  had  been  preparing  her  place  of 
nightly  rest  beneath  the  paternal  roof. 

As  soon  as  Hetty  had  collected  a sufficient 
number  of  the  dried  leaves  to  protect  her  person 
from  the  damps  of  the  ground,  she  kneeled  be- 
side the  humble  pile,  clasped  her  raised  hands  in 
an  attitude  of  deep  devotion,  and  in  a soft,  low, 
but  audible  voice  repeated  the  Lord’s  prayer. 
This  was  followed  by  those  simple  and  devout 
verses,  so  familiar  to  children,  in  which  she  rec- 
ommended her  soul  to  God  should  it  be  called 
away  to  another  state  of  existence  ere  the  return 
of  morning.  This  duty  done,  she  lay  down  and 
disposed  herself  to  sleep.  The  attire  of  the  girl, 
though  suited  to  the  season,  was  sufficiently  warm 
for  all  ordinary  purposes  ; but  the  forest  is  ever 
cool,  and  the  nights  of  that  elevated  region  of 
country  have  always  a freshness  about  them  that 
renders  clothing  more  necessary  than  is  common- 


HETTY  AND  THE  BEARS. 


75 


!y  the  case  in  the  summers  of  a low  latitude. 
This  had  been  foreseen  by  Hetty,  who  had 
brought  with  her  a coarse,  heavy  mantle,  which, 
when  laid  over  her  body,  answered  all  the  use- 
ful purposes  of  a blanket.  Thus  protected,  she 
dropped  asleep  in  a few  minutes  as  tranquilly 
as  if  watched  over  by  the  guardian  care  of 
that  mother  who  had  so  recently  been  taken 
from  her  forever  — affording,  in  this  particu- 
lar, a most  striking  contrast  between  her  own 
humble  couch  and  the  sleepless  pillow  of  her 
sister. 

Hour  passed  after  hour,  in  a tranquillity  as 
undisturbed  and  a rest  as  sweet  as  if  angels,  ex- 
pressly commissioned  for  that  object,  watched 
around  the  bed  of  Hetty  Hutter.  Not  once  did 
her  soft  eyes  open,  until  the  gray  of  the  dawn 
came  struggling  through  the  tops  of  the  trees, 
falling  on  their  lids,  and,  united  to  the  freshness 
of  a summer’s  morning,  giving  the  usual  summons 
to  awake.  Ordinarily,  Hetty  was  up  ere  the  rays 
of  the  sun  tipped  the  summits  of  the  mountains  ; 
but,  on  this  occasion,  her  fatigue  had  been  so 
great,  and  her  rest  was  so  profound,  that  the 
customary  warnings  failed  of  their  effect.  The 
girl  murmured  in  her  sleep,  threw  an  arm  for- 
ward, smiled  as  gently  as  an  infant  in  its  cradle, 
but  still  slumbered.  In  making  this  unconscious 
gesture,  her  hand  fell  on  some  object  that  was 
warm,  and,  in  the  half-unconscious  state  in  which 
she  lay,  she  connected  the  circumstance  with 
her  habits.  At  the  next  moment,  a rude  attack 
was  made  on  her  side,  as  if  a rooting  animal 
were  thrusting  its  snout  beneath,  with  a desire 
to  force  her  position ; and  then,  uttering  the 
name  of  “ Judith,”  she  awoke.  As  the  startled 
girl  arose  to  a sitting  attitude,  she  perceived  that 
some  dark  object  sprang  from  her,  scattering  the 
leaves  and  snapping  the  fallen  twigs  Ih  its  haste. 
Opening  her  eyes,  and  recovering  from  the  first 
confusion  and  astonishment  of  her  situation,  Het- 
ty perceived  a cub,  of  the  common  American 
brown  bear,  balancing  itself  on  its  hinder  legs, 
and  still  looking  toward  her,  as  if  doubtful 
whether  it  would  be  safe  to  trust  itself  near  her 
person  again.  The  first  impulse  of  Hetty,  who 
had  been  mistress  of  several  of  these  cubs,  was 
to  run  and  seize  the  little  creature  as  a prize,  but 
a loud  growl  warned  her  of  the  danger  of  such  a 
procedure.  Recoiling  a few  steps,  the  girl  looked 
hurriedly  round,  and  perceived  the  dam  watching 
her  movements,  with  fiery  eyes,  at  no  great  dis- 
tance. A hollow  tree,  that  had  once  been  the 
home  of  bees,  having  recently  fallen,  the  mother, 
with  two  more  cubs,  was  feasting  on  the  dainty 
food  that  this  accident  had  placed  within  her 


reach  ; while  the  first  kept  a jealous  eye  on  the 
situation  of  its  truant  and  reckless  young. 

It  would  exceed  all  the  .means  of  human 
knowledge  to  pretend  to  analyze  the  influences 
that  govern  the  acts  of  the  lower  animals.  On 
this  occasion,  the  dam,  though  proverbially  fierce 
when  its  young  is  thought  to  be  in  danger,  mani- 
fested no  intention  to  attack  the  girl.  It  quitted 
the  honey,  and  advanced  to  a place  within  twenty 
feet  of  her,  where  it  raised  itself  on  its  hinder 
legs,  and  balanced  its  body  in  a sort  of  angry 
growling  discontent,  but  approached  no  nearer 
Happily,  Hetty  did  not  fly.  On  the  contrary, 
though  not  without  terror,  she  knelt  with  her 
face  toward  the  animal,  and,  with  clasped  hands 
and  uplifted  eyes,  repeated  the  prayer  of  the  pre- 
vious night.  This  act  of  devotion  was  not  the 
result  of  alarm  ; it  was  a duty  she  never  neglect- 
ed to  perform  ere  she  slept,  and  when  the  return 
of  consciousness  awoke  her  to  the  business  of  the 
day.  As  the  girl  arose  from  her  knees,  the  bear 
dropped  on  his  feet  again,  and,  collecting  its  cubs 
around  her,  permitted  them  to  draw  their  natu- 
ral sustenance.  Hetty  was  delighted  with  this 
proof  of  tenderness  in  an  animal  that  has  but  a 
very  indifferent  reputation  for  the  gentler  feel- 
ings ; and  as  a cub  would  quit  its  mother  to  frisk 
and  leap  about  in  wantonness,  she  felt  a strong 
desire  again  to  catch  it  up  in  her  arms,  and  play 
with  it.  But,  admonished  by  the  growl,  she  had 
self-command  sufficient  not  to  put  this  dangerous 
project  in  execution ; and,  recollecting  her  errand 
among  the  hills,  she  tore  herself  away  from  the 
group,  and  proceeded  on  her  course,  along  tne 
margin  of  the  lake,  of  which  she  now  caught 
glimpses  again  through  the  trees.  To  her  sur- 
prise, though  not  to  her  alarm,  the  family  of 
bears  arose  and  followed  her  steps,  keeping  a 
short  distance  behind  her ; apparently  watching 
every  movement,  as  if  they  had  a near  interest  in 
all  she  did. 

In  this  manner,  escorted  by  the  dam  and  cubs, 
the  girl  proceeded  nearly  a mile,  thrice  the  dis- 
tance she  had  been  able  to  achieve  in  the  dark- 
ness, during  the  same  period  of  time.  She  then 
reached  a brook  that  had  dug  a channel  for  itself 
into  the  earth,  and  went  brawling  into  the  lake, 
between  steep  and  high  banks,  covered  with  trees. 
Here  Hetty  performed  her  ablutions  ; then,  drink- 
ing of  the  pure  mountain-water,  she  went  her  way, 
refreshed  and  lighter  of  heart,  still  attended  bj 
her  singular  companions.  Her  course  now  lay 
along  a broad  and  nearly  level  terrace  which 
stretched,  from  the  top  of  the  bank  that  bounded 
the  water,  to  a low  acclivity  that  rose  to  a sec- 
ond and  irregular  platform  above.  This  was  at  a 


76 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


part  of  the  valley  where  the  mountains  ran 
obliquely,  forming  the  commencement  of  a plain 
that  spread  between  the  hills,  southward  of  the 
sheet  of  water.  Hetty  knew,  by  this  circum- 
stance, that  she  was  getting  near  to  the  encamp- 
ment, and,  had  she  not,  the  bears  would  have 
given  her  warning  of  the  vicinity  of  human  be- 
ings. Snuffing  the  air,  the  dam  refused  to  follow 
any  farther,  though  the  girl  looked  back  and  in- 
vited her  to  come  by  childish  signs,  and  even  by 
direct  appeals  made  in  her  own  sweet  voice.  It 
was  while  making  her  way  slowly  through  some 
bushes,  in  this  manner,  with  averted  face,  and 
eyes  riveted  on  the  immovable  animals,  that  the 
girl  suddenly  found  her  steps  arrested  by  a hu- 
man hand,  that  was  laid  lightly  on  her  shoulder. 

“ Where  go  ? ” said  a soft  female  voice, 
speaking  hurriedly,  and  in  concern.  “Indian 
— red  man  — savage  — wicked  warrior  — that-a- 
way.” 

This  unexpected  salutation  alarmed  the  girl 
no  more  than  the  presence  of  the  fierce  inhab- 
itants of  the  woods.  It  took  her  a little  by  sur- 
prise, it  is  true,  but  she  was  in  a measure  pre- 
pared for  some  such  meeting ; and  the  creature 
who  stopped  her  was  as  little  likely  to  excite 
terror  a3  any  who  ever  appeared  in  the  guise  of 
an  Indian.  It  was  a girl  not  much  older  than 
herself,  whose  smile  was  sunny  as  Judith’s  in  her 
brightest  moments,  whose  voice  was  melody  it- 
self, and  whose  accents  and  manner  had  all  the 
rebuked  gentleness  that  characterizes  the  sex 
among  a people  who  habitually  treat  their  wom- 
en as  the  attendants  and  servitors  of  the  war- 
riors. Beauty  among  the  women  of  the  aboriginal 
Americans,  before  they  have  become  exposed  to 
the  hardships  of  wives  and  mothers,  is  by  no 
means  uncommon.  In  this  particular,  the  origi- 
nal owners  of  the  country  were  not  unlike  their 
more  civilized  successors  ; Nature  appearing  to 
have  bestowed  that  delicacy  of  mien  and  outline 
that  forms  so  great  a charm  in  the  youthful  fe- 
male, but  of  which  they  are  so  early  deprived ; 
and  that,  too,  as  much  by  the  habits  of  domestic 
life,  as  from  any  other  cause. 

The  girl  who  had  so  suddenly  arrested  the 
steps  of  Hetty,  was  dressed  in  a calico  mantle, 
that  effectually  protected  all  the  upper  part  of  her 
person,  while  a short  petticoat  of  blue  cloth 
edged  with  gold  lace,  that  fell  no  lower  than  her 
knees,  leggings  of  the  same,  and  moccasins  of 
deer-skin,  completed  her  attire.  Her  hair  fell  in 
long,  dark  braids  down  her  shoulders  and  back, 
md  was  parted  above  a low,  smooth  forehead,  in 
a way  to  soften  the  expression  of  eyes  that  were 
full  of  archness  and  natural  feeling.  Her  face 


I was  oval,  with  delicate  features ; the  teeth  were 
even  and  white;  while  the  mouth  expressed  a 
melancholy  tenderness,  as  if  it  wore  this  peculiar 
meaning  in  intuitive  perception  of  the  fate  of  a 
being  who  was  doomed  from  birth  to  endure  a 
woman’s  sufferings,  relieved  by  a woman’s  affec- 
tions. Her  voice,  as  has  been  already  intimated, 
was  soft  as  the  sighing  of  the  night  air,  a charac- 
teristic of  the  females  of  her  race,  but  which  was 
so  conspicuous  in  herself  as  to  have  procured  for 
her  the  name  of  Wah-ta  !-Wah  ; which  rendered 
into  English  means  Hist-oh  !-Hist. 

In  a word,  this  was  the  betrothed  of  Chin- 
gachgook  ; who,  having  succeeded  in  lulling  their 
suspicions,  was  permitted  to  wander  around  the 
encampment  of  her  captors.  This  indulgence 
was  in  accordance  with  the  general  policy  of  the 
red  man,  who  well  knew,  moreover,  that  her 
trail  could  have  been  followed  in  the  event  of 
flight. 

It  will  also  be  remembered  that  the  Iroquois, 
or  Hurons,  as  it  would  be  better  to  call  them, 
were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  proximity  of  her 
lover ; a fact,  indeed,  that  she  did  not  know  her 
self. 

It  is  not  easy  to  say  which  manifested  the 
most  self-possession  at  this  unexpected  meeting ; 
the  pale-face  or  the  red  girl.  But,  though  a little 
surprised,  Wah-ta  !-Wah  was  the  most  willing  to 
speak,  and  far  the  readier  in  foreseeing  conse- 
quences, as  well  as  in  devising  means  to  avert 
them.  Her  father,  during  her  childhood,  had 
been  much  employed  as  a warrior  by  the  authori- 
ties of  the  colony ; and,  dwelling  for  several  years 
near  the  forts,  she  had  caught  a knowledge  of  the 
English  tongue,  which  she  spoke  in  the  usual  ab  - 
breviated  manner  of  an  Indian,  but  fluently,  and 
without  any  of  the  ordinary  reluctance  of  her 
people.  • 

“ Where  go  ? ” repeated  Wah-ta  !-Wah,  re- 
turning the  smile  of  Hetty,  in  her  own  gentle, 
winning  manner;  “ wicked  warrior  that-a-way — 
good  warrior  far  off.” 

“ What’s  your  name  ? ” asked  Hetty,  with  the 
simplicity  of  a child. 

“ Wah-ta  !-Wah.  I no  Mingo — good  Delaware 
— Yengeese  friend.  Mingo  cruel,  and  love  scalp 
for  blood — Delaware  love  him  for  honor.  Conn 
here,  where  no  eyes.” 

Wah-ta  !-Wah  now  led  her  companion  toward 
the  lake,  descending  the  bank  so  as  to  place  ita 
overhanging  trees  and  bushes  between  them  and 
any  probable  observers ; nor  did  she  stop  until 
they  were  both  seated,  side  by  side,  on  a fallen 
log,  one  end  of  which  actually  lay  buried  in  the 
water. 


THE  BETROTHED  OF  C1IINGACHGOOK. 


77 


“ Why  you  come  foi  ? ” the  young  Indian  eager- 
y inquired ; “ where  you  come  from  ? ” 

Hetty  told  her  tale  in  her  own  simple  and 
truth-loving  manner.  She  explained  the  situation 
of  her  father,  and  stated  her  desire  to  serve  him, 
and,  if  possible,  to  procure  his  release. 

“ Why  your  father  come  to  Mingo  camp  in 
night  ? ” asked  the  Indian  girl,  with  a directness 
which,  if  not  borrowed  from  the  other,  partook 
largely  of  its  sincerity.  “ He  know  it  war-time, 
and  he  no  boy — he  no  want  beard — no  want  to 
be  told  Iroquois  carry  tomahawk,  and  knife,  and 
rifle.  Why  he  come  night-time,  seize  me  by  hair, 
and  try  to  scalp  Delaware  girl?  ” 

“You!”  said  Hetty,  almost  sickening  with 
horror;  “did  he  seize  you — did  he  try  to  scalp 
you?" 

“ Why  no  ? Delaware  scalp  sell  for  much  as 
Mingo  scalp,  governor  no  tell  difference.  Wicked 
t’ing  for  pale-face  to  scalp.  No  his  gifts,  as  the 
good  Deerslayer  alsvay  tell  me.” 

“And  do  yon  know  the  Deerslayer ?”  said 
Hetty,  coloring  with  delight  and  surprise,  forget- 
ting her  regrets  at  the  moment,  in  the  infl  uence  of 
this  new  feeling.  “ I know  him,  too.  He  is  now  in 
the  ark,  with  Judith,  and  a Delaware  who  is 
called  the  Big  Serpent.  A bold  and  handsome 
warrior  is  this  Serpent,  too ! ” 

Spite  of  the  rich  deep  color  that  Nature  had 
bestowed  on  the  Indian  beauty,  the  tell-tale  blood 
deepened  on  her  cheeks,  until  the  blush  gave  new 
animation  and  intelligence  to  her  jet-black  eyes. 
Raising  a finger  in  an  attitude  of  warning,  she 
dropped  her  voice,  already  so  soft  and  sweet, 
nearly  to  a whisper,  as  she  continued  the  dis- 
course. 

“ Chingachgook  !”  returned  the  Delaware 
girl,  sighing  out  the  harsh  name,  in  sounds  so 
softly  guttural  as  to  cause  it  to  reach  the  ear  in 
melody.  “ His  father,  Uncas — great  chief  of  the 
Mahicanni — next  to  old  Tamenu  nd  ! More  as 
warrior,  not  so  much  gray  hair,  and  less  at 
council-fire.  You  know  Serpent  ? ” 

“He  joined  us  last  evening,  and  was  in  the 
ark  with  me  for  two  or  three  hours  before  I left 
it.  I’m  afraid,  Hist--”  Hetty  could  not  pro- 
nounce the  Indian  name  of  her  new  friend,  but, 
having  heard  Deerslayer  give  her  this  familiar 
appellation,  she  used  it  without  any  of  the 
ceremony  of  civilized  life ; “ I’m  afraid,  Hist,  he 
has  come  after  scalps  as  well  as  my  poor  father 
acH  Hurry  Harry ! ” 

“ Why  he  shouldn’t,  ha  ? Chingachgook  red 
warrior,  very  red — scalp  make  his  honor — be 
sure  he  take  him.” 

“ Then,”  said  Hetty,  earnestly,  “ he  will  be  aa 


wicked  as  any  other.  God  will  not  pardon  in  a 
red  man  what  he  will  not  pardon  in  a white  man.” 

“No  true,”  returned  the  Delaware  girl,  with  a 
warmth  that  nearly  amounted  to  passion ; “ no 
true,  I tell  you ! The  Manitou  smile  and  please 
when  he  see  young  warrior  come  back  from  the 
war-path,  with  two,  ten,  hundred  scalp  on  a pole  ! 
Chingachgook  father  take  scalp,  grandfather  take 
scalp — all  old  chief  take  scalp ; and  Chingachgook 
take  as  many  scalp  as  he  can  carry,  himself  ! ” 

“ Then,  Hist,  his  sleep  of  nights  must  be  ter- 
rible to  think  of ! No  one  can  be  cruel  and  hope 
to  be  forgiven.” 

“ No  cruel — plenty  forgiven,”  returned  Wah- 
ta!-Wah,  stamping  her  little  foot  on  the  stony 
strand,  and  shaking  her  head  in  a way  to  show 
how  completely  feminine  feeling,  in  one  of  its  as- 
pects, had  got  the  better  of  feminine  feeling  in 
another.  “ I tell  you,  Serpent  brave ; he  go  home 
this  time  with  four,  yes,  two  scalp.” 

“ And  is  that  his  errand  here  ? Did  he  really 
come  all  this  distance,  across  mountains  and  val- 
leys, rivers  and  lakes,  to  torment  his  fellow-crea- 
tures, and  do  so  wicked  a thing  ? ” 

This  question  at  once  appeased  the  growing 
ire  of  the  half-offended  Indian  beauty.  It  com- 
pletely got  the  better  of  the  prejudices  of  educa- 
tion, and  turned  all  her  thoughts  to  a gentler  and 
more  feminine  channel.  At  first,  she  looked 
around  her  suspiciously,  as  if  distrusting  eaves- 
droppers ; then  she  gazed  wistfully  into  the  face 
of  her  attentive  companion  ; after  which  this  ex- 
hibition of  girlish  coquetry  and  womanly  feeling 
terminated  by  her  covering  her  face  with  both 
her  hands  and  laughing  in  a strain  that  might 
well  be  termed  the  melody  of  the  woods.  Dread 
of  discovery,  however,  soon  put  a stop  to  this 
naive  exhibition  of  feeling,  and,  removing  her 
hands,  this  creature  of  impulses  gazed  again  wist- 
fully into  the  face  of  her  companion,  as  if  inquir- 
ing how  far  she  might  trust  a stranger  with  her 
secret.  Although  Hetty  had  no  claim  to  her 
sister’s  extraordinary  beauty,  many  thought  hei 
countenance  the  most  winning  of  the  two.  It  ex- 
pressed all  the  undisguised  sincerity  of  her  char- 
acter, and  it  was  totally  free  from  any  of  the  un- 
pleasant physical  accompaniments  that  so  fre- 
quently attend  mental  imbecility.  It  is  true  that 
one  accustomed  to  closer  observation  than  com- 
mon might  have  detected  the  proofs  of  her  feeble- 
ness of  intellect  in  the  .anguage  of  her  sometimes 
vacant  eyes  ; but  they  were  signs  that  attracted 
sympathy  by  their  total  want  of  guile  rather  than 
by  any  other  feeling.  The  effect  on  Hist,  to  use 
the  English  and  more  familiar  translation  of  the 
name,  wa*  favorable ; and,  yielding  to  an  inv 


78 


THE  DEERSLAYER 


pulse  of  tenderness,  she  threw  her  arms  around 
Hetty  and  embraced  her  with  an  outpouring  emo- 
tion so  natural  that  it  was  only  equalled  by  its 
warmth. 

“ You  good,”  whispered  the  young  Indian ; 
“ you  good,  I know  ; it’s  so  long  since  Wah-ta  !- 
Wah  have  a friend — a sister — anybody  to  speak 
her  heart  to ! you  Hist  friend ; don’t  I say 
trut’  ? ” 

“ I never  had  a friend,”  answered  Hetty,  re- 
turning the  warm  embrace  with  unfeigned  ear- 
nestness ; “ I’ve  a sister,  but  no  friend.  Judith 
loves  me,  and  I love  Judith ; but  that’s  natural, 
and  as  -we  are  taught  in  the  Bible ; but  I should 
like  to  have  a friend  ! I’ll  be  your  friend  with 
all  my  heart ; for  I like  your  voice,  and  your 
smile,  and  your  way  of  thinking  in  every  thing 
except  about  the  scalps — ” 

“No  t’ink  more  of  him — no  say  more  of 
scalp,”  interrupted  Hist,  soothingly  ; “ you  pale- 
face, I red-skin ; we  bring  up  different  fashion. 
Deerslayer  and  Chingachgook  great  friend,  and 
no  the  same  color ; Hist  and — what  your  name, 
pretty  pale-face  ? ” 

“ I am  called  Hetty,  though  when  they  spell 
the  name  in  the  Bible  they  always  spell  it  Es- 
ther.” 

“ What  that  make? — no  good,  no  harm.  No 
need  to  spell  name  at  all.  Moravian  try  to  make 
Wah-ta  !-Wah  spell,  but  no  won’t  let  him.  No 
good  for  Delaware  girl  to  know  too  much — know 
more  than  warrior  some  time  ; that  great  shame. 
My  name  Wah-ta  !-Wah — that  say  Hist  in  your 
tongue ; you  call  him  Hist — I call  him  Hetty.” 

These  preliminaries  settled  to  their  mutual 
satisfaction,  the  two  girls  began  to  discourse  of 
their  several  hopes  and  projects.  Hetty  made 
her  new  friend  more  fully  acquainted  with  her 
intentions  in  behalf  of  her  father  ; and,  to  one  in 
the  least  addicted  to  prying  into  the  affairs  of 
others,  Hist  would  have  betrayed  her  own  feel- 
ings and  expectations  in  connection  with  the 
young  warrior  of  her  own  tribe.  Enough  was  re- 
vealed on  both  sides,  however,  to  let  each  party 
get  a tolerable  insight  into  the  views  of  the 
other,  though  enough  still  remained  in  mental 
reservation  to  give  rise  to  the  following  questions 
and  answers,  with  which  the  interview  in  effect 
closed.  As  the  quickest-witted,  Hist  was  the  first 
with  her  interrogatories.  Folding  an  arm  about 
the  waist  of  Hetty,  she  bent  her  head  so  as  to 
look  up  playfully  into  the  face  of  the  other ; and, 
laughing,  as  if  her  meaning  were  to  be  extracted 
from  her  looks,  she  spoke  more  plainly. 

“ Hetty  got  broder,  as  well  as  fader  ? ” she 
said  ; “ why  no  talk  of  broder  as  well  as  fader  ? ” 


“I  have  no  brother,  Hist.  I had  one  once, 
they  sgv ; but  he  is  dead  many  a year,  and  lies 
buried  in  the  lake  by  the  side  of  mother.” 

“ No  got  broder — got  a young  warrior ; lov«> 
him  almost  as  much  as  fader,  eh?  Very  hand- 
some and  brave-looking  ; fit  to  be  chief  if  he 
good  as  he  seem  to  be.” 

“ It’s  wicked  to  love  any  man  as  well  as  I 
love  my  father,  and  so  I strive  not  to  do  it,  Hist,” 
returned  the  conscientious  Hetty,  who  knew  not 
how  to  conceal  an  emotion  by  an  approach  to  an 
untruth  as  venial  as  an  evasion,  though  power- 
fully tempted  by  female  shame  to  err ; “ though 
I sometimes  think  that  wickedness  will  get  the 
better  of  me  if  Hurry  comes  so  often  to  the  lake. 
I must  tell  you  the  truth,  dear  Hist,  because  you 
ask  me ; but  I should  fall  down  and  die  in  the 
woods  if  he  knew  it ! ” 

“Why  he  no  ask  you  himself?  Brave-look- 
ing— why  not  bold-speaking  ? Young  warrior 
ought  to  ask  young  girl ; no  make  young  girl 
speak  first.  Mingo  girls  too  shame  for  that” 

This  was  said  indignantly,  and  with  the  gen- 
erous warmth  a young  female  of  spirit  would  be 
apt  to  feel  at  what  she  deemed  an  invasion  of  her 
sex’s  most  valued  privilege.  It  had  little  influ- 
ence on  the  simple-minded  but  algo  just-minded 
Hetty ; who,  though  inherently  feminine  in  all 
her  impulses,  was  much  more  alive  to  the  work- 
ings of  her  own  heart  than  to  any  of  the  usages 
with  which  convention  has  protected  the  sensi- 
tiveness of  her  sex. 

“Ask  me  what?  ” the  startled  girl  demanded, 
with  a suddenness  that  proved  how  completely 
her  fears  had  been  aroused.  “ Ask  me  if  I like 
him  as  well  as  I do  my  own  father  ! Oh  ! I hope 
he  will  never  put  such  a question  to  me,  for  I 
should  have  to  answer,  and  that  would  kill  me ! ” 

“No — no — no  kill,  quite  almost,”  returned 
the  other,  laughing  in  spite  of  herself.  “ Make 
blush  come — make  shame  come,  too  ; but  he  no 
stay  great  while;  then  feel  happier  than  ever. 
Youug  warrior  must  tell  young  girl  he  want  to 
make  wife,  else  never  can  live  in  his  wigwam.” 

“ Hurry  don’t  want  to  marry  me — nobody  will 
ever  want  to  marry  me,  Hist.” 

“ How  you  can  know  ? P’r’aps  everybody 
want  to  marry  you,  and  by-and-by  tongue  say 
what  heart  feel.  Why  nobody  want  to  marry 
you  ? ” 

“ I am  not  fuL-witted,  they  say.  Father  often 
tells  me  this ; and  so  does  Judith  sometimes, 
when  she  is  vexed ; but  I shouldn’t  so  much 
mind  them  as  I did  mother.  She  said  so  once : 
and  then  she  cried  as  if  her  heart  would  break  t 
and  so  I know  I’m  not  full-witted.” 


THE  INDIAN  MAID  AND  HER  COMPANION. 


79 


Hist  gazed  at  the  gentle,  simple  girl  for  quite 
a minute  without  speaking ; when  the  truth  ap- 
peared to  flash  all  at  once  on  the  mind  of  the 
young  Indian  maid.  Pity,  reverence,  and  tender- 
ness, seemed  struggling  together  in  her  breast; 
then,  rising  suddenly,  she  indicated  a wish  to  her 
companion  that  she  would  accompany  her  to  the 
camp,  which  was  situated  at  no  great  distance. 
This  unexpected  change,  from  the  precaution  that 
Hist  had  previously  manifested  a desire  to  use  in 
order  to  prevent  being  seen,  to  an  open  exposure 
of  the  person  of  her  friend,  arose  from  the  perfect 
conviction  that  no  Indian  would  harm  a being 
whom  the  Great  Spirit  had  disarmed  by  depriv- 
ing it  of  its  strongest  defence,  reason.  In  this 
respect,  nearly  all  unsophisticated  nations  re- 
semble each  other ; appearing  to  offer  sponta- 
neously, by  a feeling  creditable  to  human  nature, 
that  protection  by  their  own  forbearance  which 
has  been  withheld  by  the  inscrutable  wisdom  of 
Providence.  Wah-ta  !-Wah,  indeed,  knew  that 
in  many  tribes  the  mentally  imbecile  and  the  mad 
were  held  in  a species  of  religious  reverence : re- 
ceiving from  the  untutored  inhabitants  of  the 
forest  respect  and  honors  instead  of  the  contume- 
ly and  neglect  that  it  is  their  fortune  to  meet 
with  among  the  more  pretending  and  sophisti- 
cated. 

Hetty  accompanied  her  new  friend  without 
apprehension  or  reluctance.  It  was  her  wish  to 
reach  the  camp ; and,  sustained  by  her  motives, 
she  felt  no  more  concern  for  the  consequences 
than  did  her  companion  herself,  now  the  latter 
was  apprised  of  the  character  of  the  protection 
that  the  pale-face  maiden  carried  with  her.  Still, 
as  they  proceeded  slowly  along  a shore  that  was 
tangled  with  overhanging  bushes,  Hetty  continued 
the  discourse,  assuming  the  office  of  interrogat- 
ing, which  the  other  had  instantly  dropped  as 
soon  as  she  ascertained  the  character  of  the  mind 
to  which  her  questions  had  been  addressed. 

“ But  you  are  nolf  half-witted,”  said  Hetty ; 

“ and  there’s  no  reason  why  the  Serpent  should 
not  marry  you” 

“Hist,  prisoner,  and  Mingo  got  big  ear.  No 
speak  of  Chingachgook  when  they  by.  Promise 
Hist  that,  good  Hetty.” 

“ I know — I know,”  returned  Hetty,  half- 
wliispering  in  her  eagerness  to  let  the  other  see 
she  understood  the  necessity  of  caution.  “ I 
know — Deerslayer  and  the  Serpent  mean  to  get 
you  away  from  the  Iroquois ; and  you  wish  me 
not  to  tell  the  secret.” 

“ How  you  know  ? ” said  Hist,  hastily  ; vexed 
at  the  moment  that  the  other  was  not  even  more 
feeble-minded  than  was  actually  the  case.  “ How 


you  know  ? Better  not  talk  of  any  but  fader  and 
Hurry ; Mingo  understand  dat ; he  no  under- 
stand t'udder.  Promise  you  no  talk  about  what 
you  no  understand.” 

“ But  I do  understand  this,  Hist ; and  so  1 
must  talk  about  it.  Deerslayer  as  good  as  told 
father  all  about  it,  in  my  presence ; and  as  no- 
body told  me  not  to  listen,  I overheard  it  all,  as 
I did  Hurry  and  father’s  discourse  about  the 
scalps.” 

“ Very  bad  for  pale-face  to  talk  about  scalps, 
and  very  bad  for  young  woman  to  hear ! Now 
you  love  Hist,  I know,  Hetty,  and  so,  among  In- 
jins, when  love  hardest  never  talk  most.” 

“ That’s  not  the  way  among  white  people, 
who  talk  most  about  them  they  love  best.  I sup- 
pose it’s  because  I’m  only  half-witted  that  I don’t 
see  the  reason  why  it  should  be  so  different  among 
red  people.” 

“ That  what  Deerslayer  call  gift.  One  gift  to 
talk  ; t’udder  gift  to  hold  tongue.  Hold- tongue 
your  gift,  among  Mingoes.  If  Serpent  want  to 
see  Hist,  so  Hetty  want  to  see  Hurry.  Good  girl 
never  tell  secret  of  friend.” 

Hetty  understood  this  appeal ; and  she  prom- 
ised the  Delaware  girl  not  to  make  any  allusion 
to  the  presence  of  Chingachgook,  or  to  the  mo- 
tive of  his  visit  to  the  lake. 

“ Maybe  he  get  off  Hurry  and  fader,  as  well  as 
Hist,  if  let  him  have  his  'way,”  whispered  Wah- 
ta  !-Wah  to  her  companion,  in  a confiding,  flatter- 
ing way,  just  as  they  got  near  enough  to  the  en- 
, campment  to  hear  the  voices  of  several  of  their 
own  sex,  who  were  apparently  occupied  in  the 
usual  toils  of  women  of  their  class.  “ T’ink  of 
dat,  Hetty,  and  put  two,  twenty  finger  on  mouth. 
No  get  friends  free  without  Serpent  do  it.” 

A better  expedient  could  not  have  been 
adopted  to  secure  the  silence  and  discretion  of 
Hetty  than  that  which  was  now  presented  to  her 
mind.  As  the  liberation  of  her  father  and  the 
young  frontier-man  was  the  great  object  of  her  ad- 
venture, she  felt  the  connection  between  it  and  the 
services  of  the  Delaware ; and,  with  an  innocent 
laugh,  she  nodded  her  head,  and  in  the  same 
suppressed  manner  promised  a due  attention  to 
the  wishes  of  her  friend.  Thus  assured,  Hist  tar 
ried  no  longer,  but  immediately  and  openly  led 
the  way  into  the  encampment  of  her  captors. 


80 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

“ The  great  King  of  kings 
Hath  in  the  table  of  his  law  commanded, 

That  thou  shalt  do  no  murder. 

Take  heed,  for  he  holds  vengeance  in  his  hand, 

To  hurl  upon  their  heads  that  break  his  law.” 

Shakespeare. 

That  the  party  to  which  Hist  compulsorily 
belonged  was  not  one  that  was  regularly  on  the 
war-path  was  evident  by  the  presence  of  females. 
It  was  a small  fragment  of  a tribe  that  had  been 
hunting  and  fishing  within  the  English  limits, 
where  it  was  found  by  the  commencement  of  hos- 
tilities, and,  after  passing  the  winter  and  spring 
by  living  on  what  was  strictly  the  property  of  its 
enemies,  it  chose  to  strike  a hostile  blow  before 
it  finally  retired.  There  was  also  deep  Indian 
sagacity  in  the  manoeuvre  which  had  led  them  so 
far  into  the  territory  of  their  foes.  When  the 
runner  arrived  who  announced  the  breaking  out 
of  hostilities  between  the  English  and  French — a 
struggle  that  was  certain  to  carry  with  it  all  the 
tribes  that  dwelt  within  the  influence  of  the  re- 
spective belligerents — this  particular  party  of  the 
Iroquois  w'ere  posted  on  the  shores  of  the  Oneida, 
a lake  that  lies  some  fifty  miles  nearer  to  their 
own  frontier  than  that  which  is  the  scene  of  our 
tale.  To  have  fled  in  a direct  line  for  the  Cana- 
das would  have  exposed  them  to  the  dangers  of  a 
direct  pursuit ; and  the  chiefs  had  determined  to 
adopt  the  expedient  of  penetrating  deeper  into  a 
region  that  had  now  become  dangerous,  in  the 
hope  of  being  able  to  retire  in  the  rear  of  their 
pursuers,  instead  of  having  them  on  their  trail. 
The  presence  of  the  women  had  induced  the  at- 
tempt at  this  ruse  ; the  strength  of  these  feebler 
members  of  the  party  being  unequal  to  the  effort 
of  escaping  from  the  pursuit  of  warriors.  When 
the  reader  remembers  the  vast  extent  of  the 
American  wilderness  at  that  early  day,  he  will 
perceive  that  it  was  possible  for  even  a tribe  to 
remain  months  undiscovered  in  particular  por- 
tions of  it ; nor  was  the  danger  of  encountering 
a foe,  the  usual  precautions  being  observed,  as 
great  in  the  woods  as  it  is  on  the  high-seas,  in  a 
time  of  active  warfare. 

The  encampment  being  temporary,  it  offered 
to  the  eye  no  more  than  the  rude  protection  of  a 
bivouac,  relieved  in  some  slight  degree  by  the  in- 
genious expedients  which  suggested  themselves 
to  the  readiness  of  those  who  passed  their  lives 
amid  similar  scenes.  One  fire  that  had  been  kin- 
dled against  the  roots  of  a living  oak  sufficed  for 
the  whole  party ; the  weather  being  too  mild  to 
require  it  for  any  purpose  but  cooking.  Scat- 


tered around  this  centre  of  attraction  were  somt 
fifteen  or  twenty  low  huts — perhaps  kenncla 
would  be  a better  word — into  which  their  differ- 
ent owners  crept  at  night,  and  which  were  also 
intended  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  a storm. 
These  little  huts  were  made  of  the  branches  of 
trees,  put  together  with  some  ingenuity,  and  they 
were  uniformly  topped  with  bark  that  had  been 
stripped  from  fallen  trees  ; of  which  every  virgin 
forest  possesses  hundreds,  in  all  stages  of  decay. 
Of  furniture,  they  had  next  to  none.  Cooking- 
utensils  of  the  simplest  sort  were  lying  near  the 
fire ; a few  articles  of  clothing  were  to  be  seen  in 
or  around  the  huts ; rifles,  horns,  and  pouches 
leaned  against  the  trees,  or  were  suspended  from 
the  lower  branches ; and  the  carcasses  of  two  or 
three  deer  were  stretched  to  view  on  the  same 
natural  shambles. 

As  the  encampment  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
dense  wood,  the  eye  could  not  take  in  its  lout 
ensemble  at  a glance ; but  hut  after  hut  started 
out  of  the  gloomy  picture,  as  one  gazed  about 
him  in  quest  of  objects.  There  was  no  centre, 
unless  the  fire  might  be  so  considered — no  open 
area  where  the  possessors  of  this  rude  village 
might  congregate ; but  all  was  dark,  covert,  and 
cunning,  like  its  owners.  A few  children  strayed 
from  hut  to  hut,  giving  the  spot  a little  the  air  of 
domestic  life ; and  the  suppressed  laugh  and  low 
voices  of  the  women  occasionally  broke  in  upon 
the  deep  stillness  of  the  sombre  forest.  As  for 
the  men,  they  either  ate,  slept,  or  examined  their 
arms.  They  conversed  but  little,  and  then  usu- 
ally apart,  or  in  groups  withdrawn  from  the  fe- 
males; while  an  air  of  untiring,  innate  watch- 
fulness and  apprehension  of  danger  seemed  to  be 
blended  even  with  their  slumbers. 

As  the  two  girls  neared  the  encampment, 
Hetty  uttered  a slight  exclamation  on  catching 
a view  of  the  person  of  her  father.  He  was  seated 
on  the  ground,  with  his  back  to  a tree,  and  Hurry 
stood  near  him,  indolently  Whittling  a twig.  Ap- 
parently, they  were  as  much  at  liberty  as  any 
others  in  or  about  the  camp  ; and  one  unaccus- 
tomed to  Indian  usages  would  have  mistaken 
them  for  visitors,  instead  of  supposing  them  to 
be  captives.  Wah-ta  !-Wah  led  her  new  friend 
quite  near  them,  and  then  modestly  withdrew, 
that  her  own  presence  might  be  no  restraint  cn 
her  feelings.  But  Hetty  was  not  sufficiently  fa- 
miliar with  caresses  or  outward  demonstrations 
of  fondness,  to  indulge  in  any  outbreaking  of 
feeling.  She  merely  approached  and  stood  at 
her  father’s  side  without  speaking,  resembling  a 
silent  statue  of  filial  affection.  The  old  man  ex- 
pressed neither  alarm  nor  surprise  at  her  sudden 


HETTY’S  INTERVIEW  WITH  HER  FATHER. 


81 


appearance.  In  these  particulars  he  had  caught 
the  stoicism  of  the  Indians;  well  knowing  that 
there  was  no  more  certain  mode  of  securing  their 
respect  than  by  imitating  their  self-command. 
Nor  did  the  savages  themselves  betray  the  least 
sign  of  surprise  at  this  sudden  appearance  of  a 
stranger  among  them.  In  a word,  this  arrival 
produced  much  less  visible  sensation,  though  oc- 
curring under  circumstances  so  peculiar,  than 
would  be  seen  in  a village  of  higher  pretensions 
to  civilization,  did  any  ordinary  traveller  drive  up 
to  the  door  of  its  principal  inn.  Still  a few  war- 
riors collected,  and  it  was  evident,  by  the  manner 
in  which  they  glanced  at  Hetty  as  they  conversed 
together,  that  she  was  the  subject  of  their  dis- 
course, and  probable  that  the  reasons  of  her  un- 
looked-for appearance  were  matters  of  discussion. 
This  phlegm  of  manner  is  characteristic  of  the 
North  American  Indian — some  say  of  his  white 
successor  also — but,  in  this  case,  much  should  be 
attributed  to  the  peculiar  situation  in  which  the 
party  was  placed.  The  force  in  the  ark,  the  pres- 
ence of  Chingachgook  excepted,  was  well  known, 
no  tribe  or  body  of  troops  was  believed  to  be  near, 
and  vigilant  eyes  were  posted  round  the  entire 
lake,  watching  day  and  night,  the  slightest  move- 
ment of  those  whom  it  would  not  be  exaggerated 
now  to  term  the  besieged. 

Hutter  was  inwardly  much  moved  by  the  con- 
duct of  Hetty,  though  he  affected  so  much  in- 
difference of  manner.  He  recollected  her  gentle 
appeal  to  him  before  he  left  the  ark,  and  misfor- 
tune rendered  that  of  weight  which  might  have 
been  forgotten  amid  the  triumph  of  success.  Then 
he  knew  the  simple,  single-hearted  fidelity  of  his 
child,  and  undei’stood  why  she  had  come,  and  the 
total  disregard  of  self  that  reigned  in  all  her  acts. 

“ This  is  not  well,  Hetty,”  he  said,  deprecating 
the  consequences  to  the  girl  herself  more  than  any 
other  evil.  “ These  are  fierce  Iroquois,  and  are 
as  little  apt  to  forget  an  injury  as  a favor.” 

“ Tell  me,  father,”  returned  the  girl,  looking 
furtively  about  her,  as  if  fearful  of  being  over- 
heard, “ did  God  let  you  do  the  cruel  errand  on 
which  you  came  ? I want  much  to  know  this,  that 
I may  speak  to  the  Indians  plainly  if  he  did  not.” 

“You  should  not  have  come  hither,  Hetty; 
these  brutes  will  not  understand  your  nature  or 
your  intentions ! ” 

“ How  was  it,  father  ? ” neither  you  nor  Hurry 
seems  to  have  any  thing  that  looks  like  scalps.” 

“ If  that  will  set  your  mind  at  peace,  child,  I 
can  answer  you  no.  I ljad  caught  the  young 
creatur’  who  came  here  with  you,  but  her 
screeches  soon  brought  down  upon  me  a troop 
of  the  wild-cats  that  was  too  much  for  any  single 


Christian  to  withstand.  If  that  will  do  you  any 
good,  we  are  as  innocent  of  having  taken  a scalp 
this  time  as  I make  no  doubt  we  shall  also  be  inno- 
cent of  receiving  the  bounty.” 

“ Thank  you  for  that,  father ! Now  I can 
speak  boldly  to  the  Iroquois,  and  with  an  easy 
conscience.  I hope  Hurry,  too,  has  not  been  able 
to  harm  any  of  the  Indians  ? ” 

“ Why,  as  to  that  matter,  Hetty,”  returned 
the  individual  in  question,  “ you’ve  put  it  pretty 
much  in  the  natyve  character  of  the  religious 
truth.  Hurry  has  not  been  able , and  that  is  the 
long  and  short  of  it.  I’ve  seen  many  squalls,  old 
fellow,  both  on  land  and  on  the  water,  but  never 
did  I feel  one  as  lively  and  as  snappish  as  that 
which  come  down  upon  us  night  afore  last,  in  the 
shape  of  an  Indian  hurrah-boys ! Why,  Hetty, 
you’re  no  great  matter  at  a reason  or  an  idee 
that  lies  a little  deeper  than  common,  but  you’re 
human  and  have  some  human  notions ; now,  I’ll 
just  ask  you  to  look  at  these  circumstances. 
Here  was  old  Tom,  your  father,  and  myself  bent 
on  a legal  operation,  as  is  to  be  seen  in  the  words 
of  the  law  and  the  proclamation,  thinking  no 
harm,  when  we  were  set  upon  by  critturs  that 
were  more  like  a pack  of  hungry  wolves  than 
mortal  savages  even,  and  there  they  had  us  tethered 
like  two  sheep  in  less  time  than  it  has  taken  me 
to  tell  you  the  story.” 

“You  are  free,  now,  Hurry,”  returned  Hetty, 
glancing  timidly  at  the  fine,  unfettered  limbs  ol 
the  young  giant.  “You  have  no  cords  or  withes 
to  pain  your  arms  or  legs  now.” 

“ Not  I,  Hetty.  Natur’  is  natur’,  and  freedom 
is  natur’,  too.  My  limbs  have  a free  look,  but 
that’s  pretty  much  the  amount  of  it,  sin’  I can’t 
use  them  in  the  way  I should  like.  Even  these 
trees  have  eyes ; ay,  and  tongues,  too ; for,  was 
the  old  man  here  or  I to  start  one  single  rod  beyond 
our  jail  limits,  sarvice  would  be  put  on  the  bail 
afore  we  could  ‘ gird  up  our  loins  ’ for  a race ; 
and,  like  as  not,  four  or  five  rifle-bullets  would  be 
travelling  arter  us  carrying  so  many  invitations 
to  curb  our  impatience.  There  isn’t  a jail  in  the 
colony  as  tight  as  this  we  are  now  in  ; for  I’ve  tried 
the  vartue  of  two  or  three  on  ’em,  and  I know 
the  mater’als  they  are  made  of  as  well  as  the  men 
that  made  ’em ; takin’  down  being  the  next  step 
in  schoolin’  to  puttin’  up,  in  all  such  fabrications.” 

Lest  the  reader  should  get  an  exaggerated 
opinion  of  Hurry’s  demerits  from  this  boastful 
and  indiscreet  revelation,  it  may  be  well  to  say 
that  his  offences  were  confined  to  assaults  and 
batteries,  for  several  of  which  he  had  been  im- 
prisoned, when,  as  he  had  just  said,  he  often  es« 
caped  by  demonstrating  the  flimsiness  of  the  con- 


52 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


structions  in  which  he  was  confined,  by  opening 
for  himself  doors  in  spots  where  the  architects  had 
neglected  to  place  them.  But  Hetty  had  no 
knowledge  of  jails,  and  little  of  the  nature  of 
crime,  beyond  what  her  unadulterated  and  almost 
instinctive  perceptions  of  right  and  wrong  taught 
her,  and  this  sally  of  the  rude  being  who  had 
spoken  was  lost  upon  her.  She  understood  his 
general  meaning,  however,  and  answered  in  refer- 
ence to  that  alone. 

“ It’s  so  best,  Hurry,”  she  said.  “ It  is  best 
father  and  you  should  be  quiet  and  peaceable  till  I 
have  spoken  to  the  Iroquois,  when  all  will  be  well 
and  happy.  I don’t  wish  either  of  you  to  follow, 
but  leave  me  to  myself.  As  soon  as  all  is  settled, 
and  you  are  at  liberty  to  go  back  to  the  castle,  I 
will  come  and  let  you  know  it.” 

Hetty  spoke  with  so  much  simple  earnestness, 
seemed  so  confident  of  success,  and  wore  so  high 
an  air  of  moral  feeling  and  truth,  that  both  the 
listeners  felt  more  disposed  to  attach  an  impor- 
tance to  her  mediation  than  might  otherwise  have 
happened.  When  she  manifested  an  intention  to 
quit  them,  therefore,  they  offered  no  obstacle, 
though  they  saw  she  was  about  to  join  the  group 
of  chiefs  who  were  consulting  apart,  seemingly  on 
the  manner  and  motive  of  her  own  sudden  ap- 
pearance. 

When  Hist — for  so  we  love  best  to  call  her — 
quitted  her  companion,  she  strayed  near  one  or 
two  of  the  elder  warriors  who  had  shown  her  most 
kindness  in  her  captivity — the  principal  man  of 
whom  had  even  offered  to  adopt  her  as  his  child, 
if  she  would  consent  to  become  a Huron.  In 
taking  this  direction  the  shrewd  girl  did  so  to  in- 
vite inquiry.  She  was  too  well  trained  in  the 
habits  of  her  people,  to  obtrude  the  opinions  of 
one  of  her  sex  and  years  on  men  and  warriors  ; 
but  Nature  had  furnished  a tact  and  ingenuity 
that  enabled  her  to  attract  the  attention  she  de- 
sired, without  wounding  the  pride  of  those  whom 
it  was  her  duty  to  defer  to  and  respect.  Even 
her  affected  indifference  stimulated  curiosity ; 
and  Hetty  had  hardly  reached  the  side  of  her 
father  before  the  Delaware  girl  -\yas  brought  with- 
in the  circle  of  the  warriors  by  a secret  but  sig- 
nificant gesture.  Here  she  was  questioned  as  to 
the  presence  of  her  companion,  and  the  motives 
that  had  brought  her  to  the  camp.  This  was  all  that 
Hist  desired.  She  explained  the  manner  in  which 
she  had  detected  the  weakness  of  Hetty’s  reason, 
rather  exaggerating  than  lessening  the  deficiency 
in  her  intellect ; and  then  she  related,  in  general 
terms,  the  object  of  the  girl  in  venturing  among 
her  enemies.  The  effect  was  all  that  the  speaker 
expected  ; her  account  investing  the  person  and 


character  of  their  visitor  with  a sacredness  and 
respect  that  she  well  knew  would  prove  her  pro- 
tection. As  soon  as  her  own  purpose  was  at- 
tained, Hist  withdrew  to  a distance,  where,  with  fe- 
male consideration  and  a sisterly  tenderness,  she 
set  about  the  preparation  of  a meal,  to  be  offered  to 
her  new  friend  as  soon  as  the  latter  might  be  at 
liberty  to  partake  of  it.  While  thus  occupied, 
however,  the  ready  girl  in  no  degree  relaxed  in 
her  watchfulness,  noting  every  change  of  counte- 
nance among  the  chiefs,  every  movement  of 
Hetty,  and  the  smaller  occurrences  that  could  be 
likely  to  affect  her  own  interests  or  that  of  her 
new  friend. 

As  Hetty  approached  the  chiefs,  they  opened 
their  little  circle  with  an  ease  and  deference  of 
manner  that  would  have  done  credit  to  men  of 
more  courtly  origin.  A fallen  tree  lay  near,  and 
the  oldest  of  the  warriors  made  a quiet  sign  for 
the  girl  to  be  seated  on  it,  taking  his  place  at  her 
side  with  the  gentleness  of  a father.  The  others 
arranged  themselves  around  the  two  with  grave 
dignity  ; and  then  the  girl,  who  had  sufficient  ob- 
servation to  perceive  that  such  a course  was  ex- 
pected of  her,  began  to  reveal  the  object  of  heT 
visit.  The  moment  she  opened  her  mouth  to 
speak,  however,  the  old  chief  gave  a gentle  sign 
for  her  to  forbear,  said  a few  words  to  one  of  his 
juniors,  and  then  waited  in  silent  patience  until 
the  latter  had  summoned  Hist  to  the  party.  This 
interruption  proceeded  from  the  chiefs  having 
discovered  that  there  existed  a necessity  for  an 
interpreter ; few  of  the  Hurons  present  under- 
standing the  English  language,  and  they  but  im- 
perfectly. 

Wah-ta  !-Wah  was  not  sorry  to  be  called  upon 
to  be  present  at  the  interview,  and  least  of  all  in 
the  character  in  which  she  was  now  wanted.  She 
was  aware  of  the  hazards  she  ran  in  attempting 
to  deceive  one  or  two  of  the  party  ; but  was  none 
the  less  resolved  to  use  every  means  that  offered, 
and  to  practise  every  artifice  that  an  Indian  edu- 
cation could  supply,  to  conceal  the  facts  of  the 
vicinity  of  her  betrothed,  and  of  the  errand  on 
which  he  had  come.  One  unpractised  in  the  ex- 
pedients and  opinions  of  savage  life,  would  not 
have  suspected  the  readiness  of  invention,  the 
wariness  of  action,  the  high  resolution,  the  noble 
impulses,  the  deep  self-devotion,  and  the  feminine 
disregard  of  self,  where  the  affections  were  con- 
cerned, that  lay  concealed  beneath  the  demure 
looks,  the  mild  eyes,  and  the  sunny  smiles  of  this 
young  Indian  beauty.  As  she  approached  them, 
the  grim  old  warriors  regarded  her  with  pleasure, 
for  they  had  a secret  pride  in  the  hope  of  engraft- 
ing  so  rare  a scion  on  the  stock  of  their  own  na- 


APPLICATION  OF  CHRISTIAN  PRINCIPLES. 


83 


tion ; adoption  being  as  regularly  practised  and 
as  distinctly  recognized  among  the  tribes  of  Amer- 
ica as  it  ever  had  been  among  those  nations  that 
submit  to  the  sway  of  the  civil  law. 

As  soon  as  Hist  was  seated  by  the  side  of 
Hetty,  the  old  chief  desired  her  to  ask  “ the  fair, 
young  pale-lace  ” what  had  brought  her  among 
the  Iroquois,  and  what  they  could  do  to  serve  her. 

“ Tell  them,  Hist,  who  I am — Thomas  Hutter’s 
youngest  daughter ; Thomas  Hutter,  the  oldest 
of  their  two  prisoners  ; he  who  owns  the  castle 
and  the  ark,  and  who  has  the  best  right  to  be 
thought  the  owner  of  these  hills,  and  that  lake, 
since  he  has  dwelt  so  long,  and  trapped  so  long, 
and  fished  so  long,  among  them.  They’ll  know 
whom  you  mean  by  Thomas  Hutter,  if  you  tell 
them  that.  And  then  tell  them  that  I’ve  come 
here  to  convince  them  they  ought  not  to  harm  fa- 
ther and  Hurry,  but  let  them  go  in  peace,  and  to 
treat  them  as  brothers,  rather  than  as  enemies. 
Now  tell  them  all  this  plainly,  Hist,  and  fear  noth- 
ing for  yourself  or  me  ; God  will  protect  us.” 

Wah-ta  !-Wah  did  as  the  other  desired  ; tak- 
ing care  to  render  the  words  of  her  friend  as  liter- 
ally as  possible  into  the  Iroquois  tongue,  a lan- 
guage she  used  with  a readiness  almost  equal  to 
that  with  which  she  spoke  her  own.  The  chiefs 
iieard  this  opening  explanation  with  grave  deco- 
rum ; the  two  who  had  a little  knowledge  of  Eng- 
lish intimating  their  satisfaction  with  the  inter- 
preter by  -furtive  but  significant  glances  of  the 
eyes. 

“ And  now,  Hist,”  continued  Hetty,  as  soon  as 
it  was  intimated  to  her  that  she  might  proceed  ; 
“ and  now,  Hist,  I wish  you  to  tell  these  red  men, 
word  for  word,  what  I am  about  to  say.  Tell 
them,  first,  that  father  and  Hurry  came  here  with 
an  intention  to  take  as  many  scalps  as  they  could  ; 
for  the  wicked  governor  and  the  province  have 
offered  money  for  scalps  ; whether  of  warriors  or 
women,  men  or  children ; and  the  love  of  gold 
was  too  strong  for  their  hearts  to  withstand  it. 
Tell  them  this,  dear  Hist,  just  as  you  have  heard 
it  from  me,  word  for  word.” 

Wah-ta  !-Wah  hesitated  about  rendering  this 
speech  as  literally  as  had  been  desired  ; but,  de- 
tecting the  intelligence  of  those  who  understood 
English,  and  apprehending  even  a greater  knowl- 
edge than  they  actually  possessed,  she  found  her- 
self compelled  to  comply.  Contrary  to  what  a 
civilized  man  would  have  expected,  the  admission 
)f  the  motives  and  of  the  errands  of  their  pris- 
oners produced  no  visible  effect  on  either  the 
countenances  or  the  feelings  of  the  listeners. 
They  probably  considered  the  act  meritorious, 
and  that  which  neither  of  them  would  have  hesi- 


tated to  perform  in  his  own  person,  he  would  not 
be  apt  to  censure  in  another. 

“ And  now,  Hist,”  resumed  Hetty,  as  soon  as 
she  perceived  that  her  first  speeches  were  under- 
stood by  the  chiefs,  “ you  can  tell  them  more. 
They  know  that  father  and  Hurry  did  not  suc- 
ceed ; and,  therefore,  they  can  bear  them  no 
grudge  for  any  harm  that  has  been  done.  If  they 
had  slain  their  children  and  wives,  it  would  not 
alter  the  matter ; and  I’m  not  certain  that  what 
I am  about  to  tell  them  would  not  have  more 
weight  had  there  been  mischief  done.  But  ask 
them  first,  Hist,  if  they  know  there  is  a God  who 
reigns  over  the  whole  earth,  and  is  ruler  and  chief 
of  all  who  live,  let  them  be  red  or  white,  or  what 
color  they  may  ? ” 

Wah-ta  !-Wah  looked  a little  surprised  at  this 
question  ; for  the  idea  of  the  Great  Spirit  is  sel- 
dom long  absent  from  the  mind  of  an  Indian  girl. 
She  put  the  question  as  literally  as  possible,  how- 
ever, and  received  a grave  answer  in  the  affirma- 
tive. 

“ This  is  right,”  continued  Hetty,  “ and  my 
duty  will  now  be  light.  This  Great  Spirit,  as  you 
call  our  God,  has  caused  a book  to  be  written, 
that  we  call  a Bible  ; and  in  this  book  have  been 
set  down  all  his  commandments,  and  his  holy 
will  and  pleasure,  and  the  rules  by  which  all  men 
are  to  live,  and  directions  how  to  govern  the 
thoughts  even,  and  the  wishes,  and  the  will. 
Here,  this  is  one  of  these  holy  books,  and  you 
must  tell  the  chiefs  what  I am  about  to  read  to 
them  from  its  sacred  pages.” 

As  Hetty  concluded,  she  reverently  unrolled  a 
small  English  Bible  from  its  envelope  of  coarse 
calico ; treating  the  volume  with  the  sort  of  ex- 
ternal respect  that  a Romanist  would  be  apt  to 
show  to  a religious  relic.  As  she  slowly  pro- 
ceeded in  her  task,  the  grim  warriors  watched 
each  movement  with  riveted  eyes  ; and,  when  they 
saw  the  little  volume  appear,  a slight  expression 
of  surprise  escaped  one  or  two  of  them.  But 
Hetty  held  it  out  toward  them  in  triumph,  as  if 
she  expected  the  sight  would  produce  a visible 
miracle  ; and  then,  without  betraying  either  sur- 
prise or  mortification  at  the  stoicism  of  the  In- 
dians, she  turned  eagerly  to  her  new  friend  in  or- 
der to  renew  the  discourse. 

“ This  is  the  sacred  volume,  Hist,”  she  said, 
“ and  these  words,  and  lines,  and  verses,  and 
chapters,  all  came  from  God  ! ” 

“ Why  Great  Spirit  no  send  book  to  Injin 
too  ? ” demanded  Hist,  with  the  directness  of  a 
mind  that  was  totally  unsophisticated. 

“ Why  ? ” answered  Hetty,  a little  bewildered 
by  a question  so  unexpected.  “ Why  • — Ah  5 


54 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


you  know  the  Indians  don’t  know  how  to 
read.” 

If  Hist  was  not  satisfied  with  this  explanation, 
she  did  not  deem  the  point  of  sufficient  impor- 
tance to  be  pressed.  Simply  bending  her  body, 
in  gentle  admission  of  the  truth  of  what  she  heard, 
she  sat  patiently  awaiting  the  further  arguments 
of  the  pale-face  enthusiast. 

“You  can  tell  these  chiefs  that,  throughout 
this  book,  men  are  ordered  to  forgive  their  ene- 
mies ; to  treat  them  as  they  would  brethren ; and 
never  to  injure  theiy  fellow-creatures,  more  es- 
pecially on  account  of  revenge,  or  any  evil  passion. 
Do  you  think  you  can  tell  them  this,  so  that  they 
will  understand  it,  Hist  ? ” 

“ Tell  him  well  enough  ; but  he  no  very  easy 
to  understand.” 

Hist  then  conveyed  the  ideas  of  Hetty  in  the 
best  manner  she  could  to  the  attentive  Indians  ; 
who  heard  her  words  with  some  such  surprise  as 
an  American  of  our  own  times  would  be  apt  to 
betray  at  a suggestion  that  the  great  modern  but 
vacillating  ruler  of  things  human,  public  opinion, 
might  be  wrong.  One  or  two  of  their  number, 
however,  having  met  with  missionaries,  said  a few 
words  in  explanation,  and  then  the  group  gave  all 
its  attention  to  the  communications  that  were  to 
follow.  Before  Hetty  resumed,  she  inquired 
earnestly  of  Hist  if  the  chiefs  had  understood  her, 
and,  receiving  an  evasive  answer,  was  fain  to  be 
satisfied. 

“ I will  now  read  to  the  warriors  some  of  the 
verses  that  it  is  good  for  them  to  know,”  con- 
tinued the  girl,  whose  manner  grew  more  solemn 
and  earnest  as  she  proceeded ; “ and  they  will  re- 
member that  they  are  the  words  of  the  Great 
Spirit.  First,  then,  ye  are  commanded  to  ‘ Love 
thy  neighbor  as  thyself.'1  Tell  them  that,  dear 
Hist.” 

“ Neighbor  ’for  Injin  no  mean  pale-face,”  an- 
swered the  Delaware  girl,  with  more  decision  than 
3he  had  hitherto  thought  it  necessary  to  use. 
“ Neighbor  mean  Iroquois  for  Iroquois,  Mohican 
for  Mohican,  pale-face  for  pale-face.  No  need  tell 
chief  any  thing  else.” 

“ You  forget,  Hist,  these  are  the  words  of  the 
Great  Spirit,  and  the  chiefs  must  obey  them  as 
well  as  others.  Here  is  another  commandment : 
4 Whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on  the  right  cheek,  turn 
to  him  the  other  also .’  ” 

“ What  that  mean  ? ” demanded  Hist,  with  the 
quickness  of  lightning. 

Hetty  explained  that  it  was  an  order  not  to 
resent  injuries,  but  rather  to  submit  to  receive 
fresh  wrongs  from  the  offender. 

“ And  hear  this  too,  Hist,”  she  added,  “ ‘ Love 


your  enemies , bless  them  that  curse  you , do  good  to 
them  that  hate  you , and  pray  for  them  which  de- 
spilefully  use  you  and  persecute  you .’  ” 

By  this  time  Hetty  had  become  excited ; her 
eye  gleamed  with  the  earnestness  of  her  feelings, 
her  cheeks  flushed,  and  her  voice,  usually  so  low 
and  modulated,  became  stronger  and  more  im- 
pressive. With  the  Bible  she  had  been  early 
made  familiar  by  her  mother  ; and  she  now  turned 
from  passage  to  passage  with  surprising  rapidity, 
taking  care  to  cull  such  verses  as  taught  the  sub- 
lime lessons  of  Christian  charity  and  Christian 
forgiveness.  To  translate  half  she  said  in  her 
pious  , earnestness,  W ah-ta  !-Wah  would  have 
found  impracticable,  had  she  made  the  effort; 
but  wonder  held  her  tongue-tied,  equally  with  the 
chiefs ; and  the  young,  simple-minded  enthusiast 
had  fairly  become  exhausted  with  her  own  efforts, 
before  the  other  opened  her  mouth  again  to  utter 
a syllable.  Then,  indeed,  the  Delaware  girl  gave 
a brief  translation  of  the  substance  of  what  had 
been  both  read  and  said,  confining  herself  to  one 
or  two  of  the  more  striking  of  the  verses,  those 
that  had  struck  her  own  imagination  as  the  most 
paradoxical,  and  which  certainly  would  have  been 
the  most  applicable  to  the  case,  could  the  unin- 
structed  minds  of  the  listeners  embrace  the  great 
moral  truths  they  conveyed. 

It  will  be  scarcely  necessary  to  tell  the  reader 
the  effect  that  such  novel  duties  would  be  likely 
to  produce  among  a group  of  Indian  warriors, 
with  whom  it  was  a species  of  religious  principle 
never  to  Ibrget  a benefit  or  to  forgive  an  injury. 
Fortunately,  the'  previous  explanations  of  Hist 
had  prepared  the  minds  of  the  Hurons  for  some- 
thing extravagant;  and  most  of  that  which  to 
them  seemed  inconsistent  and  paradoxical  was 
accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  speaker  pos- 
sessed a mind  that  was  constituted  differently 
from  those  of  most  of  the  human  race.  Still 
there  were  one  or  two  old  men  who  had  heard 
similar  doctrines  from  the  missionaries,  and  they 
felt  a desire  to  occupy  an  idle  moment  by  pursu- 
ing a subject  they  found  so  curious. 

“ This  is  the  Good  Book  of  the  pale-faces,” 
observed  one  of  these  chiefs,  taking  the  volume 
from  the  unresisting  hand  of  Hetty,  who  gazed 
anxiously  at  his  face,  while  he  turned  the  leaves, 
as  if  she  expected  to  witness  some  visible  results 
from  the  circumstance.  “ This  is  the  law  by  ,« 
which  my  white  brethren  profess  to  live  ? ” 

Hist,  to  whom  this  question  was  addressed,  if 
it  might  be  considered  as  addressed  to  any  one 
in  particular,  answered  simply  in  the  affirmative ; 
adding  that  both  the  French  of  the  Canadas  and 
I the  Yengeese  of  the  British  provinces  equally  ad- 


A HURON  CHIEF’S  LOGIC. 


85 


jnitted  its  authority,  and  affected  to  revere  its 
principles. 

“ Tell  my  young  sister,”  said  the  Huron,  look- 
ing directly  at  Hist,  “ that  I will  open  my  mouth 
and  say  a few  words.” 

“ The  Iroquois  chief  go  to  speak — my  pale- 
face friend  listen,”  said  Hist. 

“I  rejoice  to  hear  it!”  exclaimed  Hetty. 
M God  has  touched  his  heart,  and  he  will  now  let 
Cither  and  Hurry  go  ! ” 

“This  is  the  pale-face  law,”  resumed  the 
chief.  “It  tells  him  to  do  good  to  them  that 
hurt  him  ; when  his  brother  asks  him  for  his  rifle, 
to  give  him  the  powder-horn  too.  Such  is  the 
pale-face  law  ? ” 

“ Not  so — not  so,”  answered  Hetty  earnestly, 
when  these  words  had  been  interpreted.  “ There  is 
not  a word  about  rifles  in  the  whole  book ; and  pow- 
der and  bullets  give  offence  to  the  Great  Spirit.” 

“ Why,  then,  does  the  pale-face  use  them  ? 
If  he  is  ordered  to  give  double  to  him  that  asks  only 
for  one  thing,  why  does  he  take  double  from  the  poor 
Indians,  who  asks  for  no  thing  ? He  comes  from 
beyond  the  rising  sun,  with  his  book  in  his  hand, 
and  he  teaches  the  red  man  to  read  it ; but  why 
does  he  forget  himself  all  it  says  ? When  the  In- 
dian gives,  he  is  never  satisfied ; and  now  he  of- 
fers gold  for  the  scalps  of  our  women  and  children, 
though  he  calls  us  beasts  if  we  take  the  scalp  of  a 
warrior  killed  in  open  war.  My  name  is  Rivenoak.” 

When  Hetty  had  got  this  formidable  question 
fairly  presented  to  her  mind  in  the  translation, 
and  Hist  did  her  duty  with  more  than  usual  readi- 
ness on  this  occasion,  it  scarcely  need  be  said 
that  she  was  sorely  perplexed.  Abler  heads  than 
that  of  this  poor  girl  have  frequently  been  puzzled 
by  questions  of  a similar  drift ; and  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that,  with  all  her  own  earnestness  and  sin- 
cerity, she  did  not  know  what  answer  to  make. 

“ What  shall  I tell  them,  Hist  ? ” she  asked 
imploringly ; “ I know  that  all  I have  read  from 
the  book  is  true ; and  yet  it  wouldn’t  seem  so, 
would  it,  by  the  conduct  of  those  to  whom  the 
book  was  given  ? ” 

“Give  ’em  pale-face  reason,”  returned  Hist, 
ironically;  “that  always  good  for  one  side; 
though  be  bad  for  t’other.” 

“No,  no,  Hist,  there  can’t  be  two  sides  to 
truth — and  yet  it  does  seem  strange ! I’m  certain 
I have  read  the  verses  right,  and  no  one  would 
be  so  wicked  as  to  print  the  word  of  God  wrong. 
That  can  never  be,  Hist.” 

“Well,  to  poor  Injin  girl  it  seem  every  thing 
e an  be  to  pale-faces,”  returned  the  other,  coolly. 
w One  time  ’ey  say  white,  and  one  time  ’ey  say 
black.  Why,  never  can  be?  ” 


Hetty  was  more  and  more  embarrassed,  until, 
overcome  with  the  apprehension  that  she  had 
failed  in  her  object,  and  that  the  lives  of  her 
father  and  Hurry  would  be  the  forfeit  of  some 
blunder  of  her  own,  she  burst  into  tears.  From 
that  moment  the  manner  of  Hist  lost  all  its  irony 
and  cool  indifference,  and  she  became  the  fond; 
caressing  friend  again.  Throwing  her  arms  around 
the  afflicted  girl,  she  attempted  to  soothe  her  sor 
rows  by  the  scarcely  ever  failing  remedy  of  female 
sympathy. 

“ Stop  cry — no  cry,”  she  said,  wiping  the  tears 
from  the  face  of  Hetty,  as  she  would  have  per- 
formed the  same  office  for  a child,  and  stopping 
to  press  her,  occasionally,  to  her  own  warm  bosom 
with  the  affection  of  a sister ; “ why  you  so 
trouble  ? You  no  make  he  book,  if  he  be  wrong ; 
and  you  no  make  he  pale-face,  if  he  be  wicked. 
There  wicked  red  man  and  wicked  white  man — 
no  color  all  good — no  color  all  wicked.  Chiefs 
know  that  well  enough.” 

Hetty  soon  recovered  from  this  sudden  burst 
of  grief,  and  then  her  mind  reverted  to  the  pur- 
pose of  her  visit,  with  its  single-hearted  earnest- 
ness. Perceiving  that  the  grim-looking  chiefs 
were  still  standing  around  hex',  in  gi-ave  attention, 
she  hoped  that  another  effort  to  convince  them  of 
the  right  might  be  successful. 

“ Listen,  Hist,”  she  said,  stniggling  to  suppress 
her  sobs,  and  to  speak  distinctly  ; “ tell  the  chiefs 
that  it  matters  not  what  the  wicked  do — right  is 
right — the  woi’ds  of  the  Great  Spirit  are  the  words 
of  the  Great  Spirit — and  no  one  can  go  hai’mless 
for  doing  an  evil  act,  because  another  has  done  it 
before  him  ! * Render  good  for  evil,'1  says  this 

book ; and  that  is  the  law  for  the  red  man  as  well 
as  for  the  whPe  man.” 

“ Never  hear  such  law  among  Delaware,  or 
among  Iroquois,”  answered  Hist,  soothingly.  “No 
good  to  tell  chiefs  any  such  law  as  dak  Tell  ’em 
somet’ing  they  believe.” 

Hist  was  about  to  pi'oceed,  notwithstanding, 
when  a tap  on  the  shouldei’,  from  the  finger  of 
the  oldest  chief,  caused  her  to  look  up.  She  then 
perceived  that  one  of  the  warriors  had  left  the 
group,  and  was  already  returning  to  it  with  Hut- 
ter  and  Hurry.  Understanding  that  the  last  two 
were  to  become  parties  in  the  inquiry,  she  became 
mute,  with  the  unhesitating  obedience  of  an  Indian 
woman.  In  a few  seconds  the  prisoners  stood 
face  to  face  with  the  principal  men  of  the  captors. 

“ Daughter,”  said  the  senior  chief  to  the  young 
Delaware,  “ ask  this  graybeard  why  he  came  intc 
our  camp  ? ” 

The  question  was  put  by  Hist,  in  her  own  im- 
perfect English,  but  in  a way  that  was  easy  to  be 


86 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


understood.  Hutter  was  too  stern  and  obdurate, 
by  nature,  to  shrink  from  the  consequences  of  any 
of  his  acts,  and  he  was  also  too  familiar  with  the 
opinions  of  the  savages  not  to  understand  that 
nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  equivocation,  or  an 
unmanly  dread  of  their  anger.  Without  hesitat- 
ing, therefore,  he  avowed  the  purpose  with  which 
he  had  landed,  merely,  justifying  it  by  the  fact 
that  the  government  of  the  province  had  bid  high 
for  scalps.  This  frank  avowal  was  received  by  the 
Iroquois  with  evident  satisfaction,  not  so  much, 
however,  on  account  of  the  advantage  it  gave 
them  in  a moral  point  of  view,  as  by  proving  that 
they  had  captured  a man  worthy  of  occupying 
their  thoughts,  and  of  becoming  a subject  of  their 
revenge.  Hurry,  when  interrogated,  confessed 
the  truth,  though  he  would  have  been  more  dis- 
posed to  concealment  than  his  sterner  companion, 
did  the  circumstances  very  well  admit  of  its  adop- 
tion. But  he  had  tact  enough  to  discover  that 
equivocation  would  be  useless  at  that  moment, 
and  he  made  a merit  of  necessity  by  imitating  a 
frankness  which,  in  the  case  of  Hutter,  was  the 
offspring  of  habits  of  indifference,  acting  on  a dis- 
position that  was  always  ruthless  and  reckless  of 
personal  consequences. 

As  soon  as  the  chiefs  had  received  the  an- 
swers to  their  questions  they  walked  away  in  si- 
lence, like  men  who  deemed  the  matter  disposed 
of,  all  Hetty’s  dogmas  being  thrown  away  on  be- 
ings trained  in  violence  from  infancy  to  manhood. 
Hetty  and  Hist  were  now  left  alone  with  Hutter 
and  Hurry,  no  visible  restraint  being  placed  on 
<;he  movements  of  either ; though  all  four,  in  fact, 
were  vigilantly  and  unceasingly  watched.  As  re- 
spects the  men,  care  was  had  to  prevent  them 
from  getting  possession  of  any  of  the  rifles  that 
lay  scattered  about,  their  own  included  ; and  there 
all  open  manifestations  of  watchfulness  ceased. 
But  they,  who  were  so  experienced  in  Indian 
practices,  knew  too  well  how  great  was  the  dis- 
tance between  appearances  and  reality,  to  become 
the  dupes  of  this  seeming  carelessness.  Although 
both  thought  incessantly  on  the  means  of  escape, 
and  this  without  concert,  each  was  aware  of  the 
uselessness  of  attempting  any  project  of  the  sort 
that  was  not  deeply  laid  and  promptly  executed. 
They  had  been  long  enough  in  the  encampment, 
and  were  sufficiently  observant  to  have  ascer- 
tained  that  Hist,  also,  was  a sort  of  captive ; and, 
presuming  on  the  circumstance,  Hutter  spoke  in 
her  presence  more  openly  than  he  might  other- 
wise have  thought  it  prudent  to  do ; inducing 
Hurry  to  be  equally  unguarded  by  his  example. 

“ I’ll  not  blame  you,  Hetty,  for  coming  on  this 
errand  which  was  well  meant,  if  not  very  wisely 


planned,”  commenced  the  father,  seating  himself 
by  the  side  of  his  daughter,  and  taking  her  hand ; 
a sign  of  affection  that  this  rude  being  was  accus- 
tomed to  manifest  to  this  particular  child  ; “ but 
preaching  and  the  Bible  are  not  the  means  to  turn 
an  Indian  from  his  ways.  Has  Deerslayer  sent 
any  message ; or  has  he  any  scheme  by  which  he 
thinks  to  get  us  free  ? ” 

“ Ay , that’s  the  substance  of  it  ? ” put  in  Hur- 
ry ; “ if  you  can  help  us,  gal,  to  half  a mile  of 
freedom,  or  even  a good  start  of  a short  quarter, 
I’ll  answer  for  the  rest.  Perhaps  the  old  man 
may  want  a little  more,  but  for  one  of  my  height 
and  years  that  will  meet  all  objections.” 

Hetty  looked  distressed,  turning  her  eyes  from 
one  to  the  other ; but  she  had  no  answer  to  give 
to  the  question  of  the  reckless  Hurry. 

“ Father,”  she  said,  “ neither  Deerslayer  nor 
Judith  knew  of  my  coming,  until  I had  left  the 
ark.  They  are  afraid  the  Iroquois  will  make  a 
raft,  and  try  to  get  off  to  the  hut,  and  think  more 
of  defending  that , than  of  coming  to  aid  you.” 

“ No — no — no,”  said  Hist,  hurriedly,  though 
in  a low  voice,  and  with  her  face  bent  toward  the 
earth,  in  order  to  conceal  from  those  whom  she 
knew  to  be  watching  them  the  fact  of  her  speak- 
ing at  all.  “ No,  no,  no,  Deerslayer  different  man. 
He  no  t’ink  of  defending  ’self,  with  friend  in  dan- 
ger. Help  one  another,  and  all  get  to  hut.” 

“This  sounds  well,  old  Tom,”  said  Hurry, 
winking  and  laughing,  though  he  too  used  tho 
precaution  to  speak  low.  “ Give  me  a ready-wit- 
ted squaw  for  a fri’nd,  and  though  I’ll  not  down- 
right defy  an  Iroquois,  I think  I wrould  defy  the 
devil.” 

“ No  talk  loud,”  said  Hist ; “ some  Iroquois 
got  Yengeese  tongue,  and  all  got  Yengeese  ear.” 

“ Have  we  a friend  in  you,  young  woman  ? ” 
inquired  Hutter,  with  an  increasing  interest  in 
the  conference.  “ If  so,  you  may  calculate  on  a 
solid  reward ; and  nothing  will  be  easier  than  to 
send  you  to  your  own  tribe,  if  we  can  once  fairly 
get  you  off  with  us  to  the  castle.  Give  us  the  ark 
and  the  canoes,  and  we  can  command  the  lake, 
spite  of  all  the  savages  in  the  Canadas.  Nothing 
but  artillery  could  drive  us  out  of  the  castle,  if 
we  can  get  back  to  it.” 

“ S’pose  ’ey  come  ashore  to  take  scalp  ? ” re- 
torted Hist,  with  cool  irony,  at  which  the  girl  ap- 
peared to  be  more  expert  than  is  common  for  her 
sex. 

“ Ay,  ay — that  was  a mistake ; but  there  is 
little  use  in  lamentations,  and  less  still,  young 
woman,  in  flings.” 

“ Father,”  said  Hetty,  “ Judith  thinks  of  break- 
ing open  the  big  chest,  in  hopes  of  finding  some- 


THE  THREE  ISLANDERS. 


87 


tiling  in  that  which  may  buy  your  freedom  of  the 
savages.” 

A dark  look  came  over  Hutter,  at  the  an- 
nouncement of  this  fact,  and  he  muttered  his  dis- 
satisfaction in  a way  to  render  it  intelligible 
enough. 

“ What  for  no  break  open  chest  ? ” put  in 
Hist.  “ Life  sweeter  than  old  chest — scalp  sweet- 
er than  old  chest.  If  no  tell  darter  to  break  him 
open,  Wah-ta  !-Wah  no  help  him  to  run  away.” 

“-Ye  know  not  what  ye  ask — ye  are  but  silly 
girls,  and  the  wisest  way  for  ye  both  is  to  speak  of 
what  ye  understand,  and  to  speak  of  nothing  else. 
— I little  like  this  cold  neglect  of  the  savages,  Hur- 
ry; it’s  a proof  that  they  think  of  something  se- 
rious, and,  if  we  are  to  do  any  thing,  we  must  do 
it  soon.  Can  we  count  on  this  young  woman, 
think  you  ? ” 

“ Listen,”  said  Hist,  quickly,  and  with  an  ear- 
nestness that  proved  how  much  her  feelings  were 
concerned  ; “ Wah-ta  !-Wah  no  Iroquois — all  over 
Delaware — got  Delaware  heart — Delaware  feeling. 
She  prisoner,  too.  One  prisoner  help  t’udder  pris- 
oner. No  good  to  talk  more,  now.  Darter  stay 
with  fader — Wah-ta  !-Wah  come  and  see  friend — 
all  look  right — then  tell  what  he  do.” 

This  was  said  in  a low  voice,  but  distinctly, 
and  in  a manner  to  make  an  impression.  As  soon 
as  it  was  uttered,  the  girl  arose  and  left  the 
group,  walking  composedly  toward  the  hut  she 
occupied,  as  if  she  had  no  further  interest  in  what 
might  pass  between  the  pale-faces. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

“ She  speaks  much  of  her  father ; says  she  hears 
There's  tricks  i’  the  world ; and  hems,  and  heats  her  heart ; 
Spurns  enviously  at  straws : speaks  things  in  doubt, 

That  carry  but  half  sense ; her  speech  is  nothing, 

Yet  the  unsuspected  use  of  it  doth  move 
The  hearers  to  collection.” 

Shakespeare. 

We  left  the  occupants  of  the  castle  and  the 
ark  buried  in  sleep.  Once  or  twice,  in  the  course 
of  the  night,  it  is  true,  Deerslayer  or  the  Dela- 
ware arose  and  looked  out  upon  the  tranquil  lake, 
when,  finding  all  safe,  each  returned  to  his  pallet, 
and  slept  like  a man  who  was  not  easily  deprived 
of  his  natural  rest.  At  the  first  signs  of  the  dawn 
the  former  arose,  however,  and  made  his  personal 
arrangements  for  the  day  ; though  his  companion, 
whose-  nights  had  not  been  tranquil  or  without 
disturbance  of  late,  continued  on  his  blanket  un- 
til the  sun  had  fairly  risen.  Judith,  too,  was  later 


than  common  that  morning,  for  the  earlier  hours 
of  the  night  had  brought  her  little  of  either  re- 
freshment or  sleep.  But  ere  the  sun  had  shown 
himself  over  the  eastern  hills,  these  too  were  up 
and  afoot ; even  the  tardy,  in  that  region,  seldom 
remaining  on  their  pallets  after  the  appearance 
of  the  great  luminary. 

Chingachgook  was  in  the  act  of  arranging  his 
forest  toilet,  when  Deerslayer  entered  the  cabin 
of  the  ark,  and  threw  him  a few  coarse  but  light 
summer  vestments  that  belonged  to  Hutter. 

“ Judith  hath  given  me  them  for  your  use, 
chief,”  said  the  latter,  as  he  cast  the  jacket  and 
trousers  at  the  feet  of  the  Indian  ; “ for  its  ag’in 
all  prudence  and  caution  to  be  seen  in  your  war- 
dress and  paint.  Wash  off  all  them  fiery  streaks 
from  your  cheeks,  put  on  these  garments,  and 
here  is  a hat,  such  as  it  is,  that  will  give  you  an 
awful  oncivilized  sort  of  civilization,  as  the  mis- 
sionaries call  it.  Remember  that  Hist  is  at  hand, 
and  what  we  do  for  the  maiden  must  be  done 
1 while  we  are  doing  for  others.  I know  it’s  ag’in 
your  gifts  and  your  natur’  to  wear  clothes  unless 
they  are  cut  and  carried  in  a red  man’s  fashion, 
but  make  a vartue  of  necessity,  and  put  these  on 
at  once,  even  if  they  do  rise  a little  in  your  throat.” 

Chingachgook,  or  the  Serpent,  eyed  the  vest- 
ments with  strong  disgust ; but  he  saw  the  use- 
fulness of  the  disguise,  if  not  its  absolute  neces- 
sity. Should  the  Iroquois  discover  a red  man  in 
or  about  the  castle,  it  might  indeed  place  them 
more  on  their  guard,  and  give  their  suspicions  a 
direction  toward  their  female  captive.  Any  thing 
was  better  than  a failure,  as  it  regarded  his  be- 
trothed, and,  after  turning  the  different  gannents 
round  and  round,  examining  them  with  a species 
of  grave  irony,  affecting  to  draw  them  on  in  a way 
that  defeated  itself,  and  otherwise  manifesting  the 
reluctance  of  a young  savage  to  confine  his  limbs 
in  the  usual  appliances  of  civilized  life,  the  chief 
submitted  to  the  directions  of  his  companion,  and 
finally  stood  forth,  so  far  as  the  eye  could  detect, 
a red  man  in  color  alone.  Little  was  to  be  appre- 
hended from  this  last  peculiarity,  however,  the 
distance  from  the  shore  and  the  want  of  glasses 
preventing  any  very  close  scrutiny,  and  Deerslay- 
er himself,  though  of  a brighter  and  fresher  tint, 
had  a countenance  that  was  burned  by  the  sun  to 
a hue  scarcely  less  red  than  that  of  his  Mohican 
companion.  The  awkwardness  of  the  Delaware, 
in  his  new  attire,  caused  his  friend  to  smile  more 
than  once  that  day,  but  he  carefully  abstained 
from  the  use  of  any  of  those  jokes  which  would 
have  been  bandied  among  white  men  on  such  an 
occasion ; the  hab*its  of  a chief,  the  dignity  of  a 
warrior  on  his  first  path,  and  the  gravity  of  the 


88 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed,  uniting 
to  render  so  much  levity  out  of  season. 

The  meeting  at  the  morning  meal  of  the  three 
islanders,  if  we  may  use  the  term,  was  silent, 
grave,  and  thoughtful.  Judith  showed  by  her 
looks  that  she  had  passed  an  unquiet  night,  while 
the  two  men  had  the  future  before  them,  with  its 
unseen  and  unknown  events.  A few  words  of 
courtesy  passed  between  Deerslayer  and  the  girl 
in  the  course  of  the  breakfast,  but  no  allusion 
was  made  to  their  situation.  At  length  Judith, 
whose  heart  was  full,  and  whose  novel  feelings 
disposed  her  to  entertain  sentiments  more  gentle 
and  tender  than  common,  introduced  the  subject, 
and  this  in  a way  to  show  how  much  of  her 
thoughts  it  had  occupied  in  the  course  of  the  last 
sleepless  night. 

“ It  would  be  dreadful,  Eeerslayer,”  the  girl 
abruptly  exclaimed,  “ should  any  thing  serious  be- 
fall my  father  and  Hetty  ! We  cannot  remain 
quietly  here  and  leave  them  in  the  hands  of  the 
Iroquois,  without  bethinking  us  of  some  means 
of  serving  them.” 

“ I’m  ready,  Judith,  to  sarve  them,  and  all 
others  who  are  in  trouble,  could  the  way  to  do  it 
be  pointed  out.  It’s  no  trifling  matter  to  fall  into 
red-skin  hands,  when  men  set  out  on  an  a’r’nd 
like  that  which  took  Hutter  and  Hurry  ashore ; 
that  I know  as  well  as  another ; and  I wouldn’t 
wish  my  worst  inimy  in  such  a strait,  much  less 
them  with  whom  I’ve  journeyed,  and  eat,  and 
slept.  Have  you  any  scheme  that  you  would  like 
to  have  the  Sarpent  and  me  indivor  to  carry  out  2 ” 

“ I know  of  no  other  means  to  release  the 
prisoners  than  by  bribing  the  Iroquois.  They  are 
not  proof  against  presents ; and  we  might  offer 
enough,  perhaps,  to  make  them  think  it  better  to 
carry  away  what  to  them  will  be  rich  gifts  than 
to  carry  away  poor  prisoners ; if,  indeed,  they 
should  carry  them  away  at  all ! ” 

“ This  is  well  enough,  Judith ; yes,  it’s  well 
enough,  if  the  inimy  is  to  be  bought,  and  we  can 
find  articles  to  make  the  purchase  with.  Your 
father  has  a- convenient  lodge,  and  it  is  most  cun- 
ningly placed  ; though  it  doesn’t  seem  overstocked 
with  riches  that  will  be  likely  to  buy  his  ransom. 
There’s  the  piece  he  calls  Kill-deer  might  count 
for  something,  and  I understand  there’s  a keg  of 
powder  about,  which  might  be  a rnake-weight, 
sartain  ; and  yet  two  able-bodied  men  are  not  to 
be  bought  off  for  a trifle  ; besides — ” 

“ Besides  what  ? ” demanded  Judith,  impatient- 
ly, observing  that  the  other  hesitated  to  proceed, 
probably  from  a reluctance  to  distress  her. 

“ Why,  Judith,  the  Frenchers  offer  Bounties 
as  well  as  our  own  side;  and  the  price  of  two 


scalps  would  purchase  a keg  of  powder  and  a 
rifle ; though  I’ll  not  say  one  of  the  latter  alto- 
gether as  good  as  Kill-deer  there,  which  your 
father  va’nts  as  oncommon,  and  onequalled,  like. 
But  fair  powder,  and  a pretty  sartain  rifle  ; theD 
the  red  men  are  not  the  expartest  in  fire-arms, 
and  don’t  always  know  the  difference  atwixt  that 
which  is  ra’al,  and  that  which  is  seeming.” 

“ This  is  horrible ! ” muttered  the  girl,  struck 
by  the  homely  manner  in  which  her  companion 
was  accustomed  to  state  his  facts.  “But  you 
overlook  my  own  clothes,  Deerslayer ; and  they,  I 
think,  might  go  far  with  the  women  of  tbe  Iro- 
quois.” 

“No  doubt  they  would ; no  doubt  they  "would, 
Judith,”  returned  the  other,  looking  at  her  keen- 
ly, as  if  he  would  ascertain  whether  she  "were 
really  capable  of  making  such  a sacrifice.  “ But 
are  you  sartain,  gal,  you  could  find  it  in  your 
heart  to  part  with  your  own  finery  for  such  a pur- 
pose? Many  is  the  man  who  has  thought  he 
was  valiant  till  danger  stared  him  in  the  face ; I’ve 
known  them  too  that  consaited  they  were  kind 
and  ready  to  give  away  all  they  had  to  the  poor, 
when  they’ve  been  listening  to  other  people’s 
hard-heartedness,  but  whose  fists  have  clinched  as 
tight  as  the  riven  hickory,  when  it  came  to  down- 
right offerings  of  their  own.  Besides,  Judith, 
you’re  handsome — oncommon  in  that  way,  one 
might  obsarve,  and  do  no  harm  to  the  truth — and 
they  that  have  beauty  like  to  have  that  which 
will  adorn  it.  Are  you  sartain  you  could  find  it 
in  your  heart  to  part  with  your  own  finery  ? ” 

The  soothing  allusion  to  the  personal  charms 
of  the  girl  was  well-timed,  to  counteract  the  effect 
produced  by  the  distrust  that  the  young  man  ex- 
pressed of  Judith’s  devotion  to  her  filial  duties. 
Had  another  said  as  much  as  Deerslayer,  the 
compliment  would  most  probably  have  been  over- 
looked, in  the  indignation  awakened  by  the 
doubt3;  but  even  the  unpolished  sincerity,  that 
so  often  made  this  simple-minded  hunter  bare  his 
thoughts,  had  a charm  for  the  girl;  and,  while 
she  colored,  and  for  an  instant  her  eyes  flashed 
fire,  she  could  not  find  it  in  her  heart  to  be  really 
angry  with  one  whose  very  soul  seemed  truth  and 
manly  kindness.  Look  her  reproaches  she  did ; 
but,  conquering  the  desire  to  retort,  she  succeeded 
in  answering  in  a mild  and  friendly  manner. 

“You  must  keep  all  your  favorable  opinions 
for  the  Delaware  girls,  Deerslayer,  if  you  serious- 
ly think  thus  of  those  of  your  own  color,”  she 
said,  affecting  to  laugh.  “But,  U-y  me;  if  you 
find  that  I regret  either  ribbon  or  feather,  silk  or 
muslin,  then  may  you  think  what  you  please  of 
my  heart,  and  say  what  you  think.” 


TOM  GUTTER'S  CHEST. 


89 


“That’s  justice  ! The  rarest  thing  to  find  on 
larth  is  a truly  j ust  man.  So  says  Tamenund,  the 
wisest  prophet  of  the  Delawares ; and  so  all 
must  think  that  have  occasion  to  see,  and  talk, 
and  act  among  mankind. — I love  a just  man,  Sar- 
pent ; his  eyes  are  never  covered  with  darkness 
toward  his  inemies,  while  they  are  all  sunshine 
and  brightness  toward  his  fri’nds.  He  uses  the 
reason  that  God  has  given  him,  and  he  uses  it 
with  a feelin’  of  his  being  ordered  to  look  at,  and 
to  consider  things  as  they  are , and  not  as  he 
loants  them  to  be.  It’s  easy  enough  to  find  men 
who  cafi  themselves  just ; but  it’s  wonderfully  on- 
common  to  find  them  that  are  the  very  thing  in 
fact. — How  often  have  I seen  Indians,  gal,  who 
believed  they  were  lookin’  into  a matter  agreeable 
to  the  will  of  the  Great  Spirit,  when,  in  truth, 
they  were  only  striving  to  act  up  to  their  own 
will  and  pleasure,  and  this,  half  of  the  time,  with 
a temptation  to  go  wrong,  that  could  no  more  be 
seen  by  themselves,  than  the  stream  that  runs  in 
the  next  valley  can  be  seen  by  us  through  yonder 
mountain ; though  any  looker-on  might  have  dis- 
covered 4 as  plainly  as  we  can  discover  the 
parch  that  are  swimming  around  this  hut.” 

“ Very  true,  Deerslayer,”  rejoined  Judith,  los- 
ing every  trace  <?f  displeasure  in  a bright  smile, 
“ very  true ; and  I hope  to  see  you  act  on  this 
love  of  justice,  in  all  matters  in  which  I am  con- 
cerned. Above  all,  I hope  you  will  judge  for 
yourself,  and  not  believe  every  evil  story  that  a 
prating  idler,  like  Hurry  Harry,  may  have  to  tell, 
that  goes  to  touch  the  good  name  of  any  young 
woman  who  may  not  happen  to  have  the  same 
opinions  of  his  face  and  person  that  the  bluster- 
ing gallant  has  of  himself.” 

“ Hurry  Harry’s  idees  do  not  pass  for  gospel 
with  me,  Judith ; but  even  worse  than  he  may 
have  eyes  and  ears,”  returned  the  other,  gravely. 

“ Enough  of  this  ! ” exclaimed  Judith,  with 
flashing  eye,  and  a flush  that  mounted  to  her 
temples ; “ and  more  of  my  father  and  his  ran- 
som. ’Tis  as  you  say,  Deerslayer ; the  Indians 
will  not  be  likely  to  give  up  their  prisoners  with- 
out a heavier  bribe  than  my  clothes  can  offer, 
and  father’s  rifle  and  powder.  There  is  the 
chest.” 

“ Ay,  there  is  the  chist,  as  you  say,  Judith  ; 
and  when  the  question  gets  to  be  between  a se- 
cret and  a scalp,  I should  think  most  men  would 
prefar  keeping  the  last.  Did  your  father  ever 
give  you  any  downright  command  consarning 
that  chist  ? ” 

“ Never.  He  has  always  appeared  to  think 
its  locks,  and ‘its  steel  bands,  and  its  strength,  its 
best  protection.” 


“ ’Tis  a rare  chist,  and  altogether  of  curious 
build,”  returned  Deerslayer,  rising  and  approach- 
ing the  thing  in  question,  on  which  he  seated 
himself,  with  a view  to  examine  it  with  greater 
ease. — “ Chingachgook,  this  is  no  wood  that  comes 
of  any  forest  that  you  or  I have  ever  trailed 
through  ! ’Tisn’t  the  black  walnut ; and  yet  it’s 
quite  as  comely,  if  not  more  so,  did  the  smoke 
and  the  treatment  give  it  fair  play.” 

The  Delaware  drew  near,  felt  of  the  wood, 
examined  its  grain,  endeavored  to  indent  the  sur- 
face with  a nail,  and  passed  his  hand  curiously 
over  the  steel  bands,  the  heavy  padlocks,  and  the 
other  novel  peculiarities  of  the  massive  box. 

“No — nothing  like  this  grows  in  these  re- 
gions,” resumed  Deerslayer  ; “ I’ve  seen  all  the 
oaks,  both  the  maples,  the  elms,  the  basswood, 
all  the  walnuts,  the  butternuts,  and  every  tree 
that  has  a substance  and  color,  wrought  into  some 
form  or  other ; but  never  have  I before  seen  such  a 
wood  as  this  ! — Judith,  the  chist  itself  would  buy 
your  father’s  freedom ; or  Iroquois  cur’osity  isn’t 
as  strong  as  red-skin  cur’osity,  in  general ; espe- 
cially in  the  matter  of  wroods.” 

“ The  purchase  might  be  cheaper  made,  per- 
haps, Deerslayer.  The  chest  is  full,  and  it  would 
be  better  to  part  with  half  than  to  part  with  the 
whole.  Besides,  father — I know  not  why — but 
father  values  that  chest  highly.” 

“ He  would  seem  to  prize  what  it  holds  more 
than  the  chist  itself,  judging  by  the  manner  in 
which  he  treats  the  outside  and  secures  the  in- 
side. Here  are  three  locks,  Judith ; is  there  no 
key  ? ” 

“ I’ve  never  seen  one ; and  yet  key  there  must 
be,  since  Hetty  told  us  she  had  often  seen  the 
chest  opened.” 

“ Keys  no  more  lie  in  the  air,  or  float  on  the 
water,  than  humans,  gal ; if  there  is  a key,  there 
must  be  a place  in  which  it  is  kept.” 

“ That  is  true,  and  it  might  not  be  difficult  to 
find  it,  did  we  dare  to  search  ; ” 

“ This  is  for  you,  Judith;  it  is  altogether  for 
you.  The  chist  is  your’n,  or  your  father’s ; and 
Hutter  is  your  father,  not  mine.  Cur’osity  is  a 
woman’s,  and  not  a man’s  failing ; and  there  you 
have  got  all  the  reasons  before  you.  If  the  chist 
has  articles  for  ransom,  it  seems  to  me  they 
would  be  wisely  used  in  redeeming  their  owner’s 
life,  or  even  in  saving  his  scalp  ; but  that  is  a mat- 
ter for  your  judgment,  and  not  for  our’n.  When 
the  lawful  owner  of  a trap,  or  a buck,  or  a canoe, 
isn’t  present,  his  next  of  kin  becomes  his  ripri- 
sentatyve,  by  all  the  laws  of  the  woods.  We 
therefore  leave  you  to  say  whether  the  chist  shall 
or  shall  not  be  opened.” 


90 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“ I hope  you  do  not  believe  I can  hesitate, 
when  my  father’s  life’s  in  danger,  Deerslayer  ! 11 

“Why,  it’s  pretty  much  putting  a scolding 
ag’in  tears  and  mourning.  It’s  not  onreasonable 
to  foretell  that  old  Tom  may  find  fault  with  what 
you’ve  done,  when  he  sees  himself  once  more  in 
his  hut,  here  ; but  there’s  nothing  unusual  in 
men’s  falling  out  with  what  has  been  done  for 
their  own  good ; I dare  to  say  that  even  the  moon 
would  seem  a different  thing  from  what  it  now 
does,  could  we  look  at  it  from  the  other  side.” 

“ Deerslayer,  if  we  can  find  the  key,  I will 
authorize  you  to  open  the  chest,  and  to  take  such 
things  from  it  as  you  may  think  will  buy  father’s 
ransom.” 

“ First  find  the  key,  gal ; we’ll  talk  of  the 
rest  a’terward. — Sarpent,  you’ve  eyes  like  a fly, 
and  a judgment  that’s  seldom  out:  can  you  help 
us,  in  calculating  where  Floating  Tom  would  be 
apt  to  keep  the  key  of  a chist  that  he  holds  to 
be  as  private  as  this  ? ” 

The  Delaware  had  taken  no  part  in  the  dis- 
course, until  he  was  thus  directly  appealed  to, 
when  he  quitted  the  chest,  which  had  continued 
to  attract  his  attention,  and  cast  about  him  for  the 
place  in  which  a key  would  be  likely  to  be  con- 
cealed under  such  circumstances.  As  Judith  and 
Deerslayer  were  not  idle  the  while,  the  whole 
three  were  soon  engaged  in  an  anxious  and  spir- 
ited search.  As  it  was  certain  that  the  desired 
key  was  not  to  be  found  in  any  of  the  common 
drawers  or  closets,  of  which  there  were  several 
in  the  building,  none  looked  there,  but  all  turned 
their  inquiries  to  those  places  that  struck  them  as 
ingenious  hiding-places,  and  more  likely  to  be 
used  for  such  a purpose.  In  this  manner  the 
outer  room  was  thoroughly  but  fruitlessly  ex- 
amined ; when  they  entered  the  sleeping  apart- 
ment of  Hutter.  This  part  of  the  rude  building 
was  better  furnished  than  the  rest  of  the  struct- 
ure, containing  several  articles  that  had  been 
especially  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  deceased 
wife  of  its  owner  ; but  as  Judith  had  all  the  rest 
of  the  keys,  it  was  soon  rummaged,  without  bring- 
ing to  light  the  particular  key  desired. 

They  now  entered  the  bedroom  of  the  daugh- 
ters. Chingachgook  was  immediately  struck  with 
the  contrast  between  the  articles,  and  the  arrange- 
ment of  that  side  of  the  room  that  might  be 
called  Judith’s,  and  that  which  more  properly 
belonged  to  Hetty.  A slight  exclamation  escaped 
him,  and,  pointing  in  each  direction,  he  alluded  to 
the  fact  in  a low  voice,  speaking  to  his  friend  in 
the  Delaware  tongue. 

“As  you  think,  Sarpent,”  answered  Deer- 
slayer,  whose  remarks  we  always  translate  into 


English,  preserving  as  much  as  possible  of  the 
peculiar  phraseology  and  manner  of  the  man. 

“ ’Tis  just  so,  as  any  one  may  see ; and  ’tis  all 
founded  in  natur’.  One  sister  loves  finery,  some 
say,  overmuch  ; while  t’other  is  as  meek  and  low- 
ly as  God  ever  created  goodness  and  truth.  Yet, 
after  all,  I dare  say  that  Judith  has  her  vartues, 
and  Hetty  has  her  failin’s.” 

“ And  the  ‘ Feeble-Mind  ’ has  seen  the  chest 
opened  ? ” inquired  Chingachgook,  with  curiosity 
in  his  glance. 

“ Sartain ; that  much  I’ve  heard  from  her  own 
lips ; and,  for  that  matter,  so  have  you.  It  seems 
her  father  doesn’t  misgive  her  discretion,  though 
he  does  that  of  Jiis  eldest  darter.” 

“ Then  the  key  is  hid  only  from  the  Wild 
Rose  ? ” for  so  Chingachgook  had  begun  gallant- 
ly to  term  Judith,  in  his  private  discourse  with 
his  friend. 

“ That’s  it ! That’s  just  it ! One  he  trusts 
and  the  other  he  doesn’t.  There’s  red  and  white 
in  that,  Sarpent ; all  tribes  and  nations  agreeing 
in  trusting  some  and  refusing  to  trust  other  some. 
It  depends  on  character  and  judgment.” 

“ Where  could  a key  be  put,  so  little  likely  to 
be  found  by  the  Wild  Rose,  as  among  coarse 
clothes  ? ” 

Deerslayer  started,  and  turning  to  his  friend 
with  admiration  expressed  in  every  lineament  of 
his  face,  he  fairly  laughed,  in  his  silent  but  hearty 
manner,  at  the  ingenuity  and  readiness  of  the 
conjecture. 

“ Your  name’s  well  bestowed,  Sarpent — yes, 
’tis  well  bestowed  ! Sure  enough,  where  would  a 
lover  of  finery  be  so  little  likely  to  s’arch,  as 
among  garments  as  coarse  and  unseemly  as  these 
of  poor  Hetty  ? I dares  to  say  Judith’s  delicate 
fingers  haven’t  touched  a bit  of  cloth  as  rough 
and  oncomely  as  that  petticoat,  now,  since  she 
fir§t  made  acquaintance  with  the  officers  ! Yet, 
who  knows  ? the  key  may  be  as  likely  to  be  on 
the  same  peg  as  in  any  other  place.  Take  down 
the  garment,  Delaware,  and  let  us  see  if  you  are 
r a’ ally  a prophet.” 

Chingachgook  did  as  desired,  but  no  key  was 
found.  A coarse  pocket,  apparently  empty,  hung 
on  the  adjoining  peg,  and  this  was  next  examined. 
By  this  time,  the  attention  of  Judith  was  called 
in  that  direction,  and  she  spoke  hurriedly,  and 
like  one  who  wished  to  save  unnecessary  trouble. 

“ These  are  only  the  clothes  of  poor  Hetty, 
dear  simple  girl ! ” she  said ; “ nothing  we  seek, 
would  be  likely  to  be  there.” 

The  words  were  hardly  out  of  the  handsome 
mouth  of  the  speaker,  when  Chingachgook  drew 
the  desired  key  from  the  pocket.  Judith  was 


A MYSTERY  EXPLAINED. 


91 


too  quick  of  apprehension  not  to  understand  the 
reason  a hiding-place  so  simple  and  exposed  had 
been  used.  The  blood  rushed  to  her  face,  as 
much  with  resentment,  perhaps,  as  with  shame  ; 
and  she  bit  her  lip,  though  she  continued  silent. 
Deerslayer  and  his  friend  now  discovered  the  deli- 
cacy of  men  of  native  refinement,  neither  smiling, 
or  even  by  a glance  betraying  how  completely  he 
understood  the  motives  and  ingenuity  of  this 
clever  artifice.  The  former,  who  had  taken  the 
key  from  the  Indian,  led  the  way  into  the  adjoin- 
ing room,  and,  applying  it  to  a lock,  ascertained 
that  the  right  instrument  had  actually  been  found. 
There  were  three  padlocks,  each  of  which,  how- 
ever, was  easily  opened  by  this  single  key.  Deer- 
slayer removed  them  all,  loosened  the  hasps, 
raised  the  lid  a little  to  make  certain  it  was  loose, 
and  then  he  drew  back  from  the  chest  several 
feet,  signing  to  his  friend  to  follow. 

“ This  is  a family  chist,  Judith,”  he  said ; 
“ and  ’tis  like  to  hold  family  secrets.  The  Sar- 
pent  and  I will  go  into  the  ark,  and  look  to  the 
canoes,  and  paddles,  and  oars ; while  you  can  ex- 
amine it  by  yourself,  and  find  out  whether  any 
thing  that  will  be  a make-weight  in  a ransom  is 
or  is  not  among  the  articles.  When  you’ve  got 
through,  give  us  a call,  and  we’ll  all  sit  in  council 
together,  touching  the  valie  of  the  articles.” 

“ Stop,  Deerslayer,”  exclaimed  the  girl,  as  he 
was  about  to  withdraw  ; “ not  a single  thing  will 
I touch — I will  not  even  raise  the  lid — unless  you 
are  present.  Father  and  Hetty  have  seen  fit  to 
keep  the  inside  of  this  chest  a secret  from  me, 
and  I am  much  too  proud  to  pry  into  their  hidden 
treasures,  unless  it  were  for  their  own  good.  But 
on  no  account  will  I open  the  chest  alone.  Stay 
with  me,  then  ; I want  witnesses  of  what  I do.” 

“ I rather  think,  Sarpent,  that  the  gal  is  right ! 
Confidence  and  reliance  beget  security,  but  sus- 
picion is  like  to  make  us  all  wary.  Judith  has  a 
right  to  ask  us  to  be  present ; and  should  the 
chist  hold  any  of  Master  Hutter’s  secrets,  they 
will  fall  into  the  keeping  of  two  as  close-mouthed 
young  men  as  are  to  be  found. — We  will  stay  with 
you,  Judith — but  first  let  us  take  a look  at  the 
lake  and  the  shore,  for  this  chist  will  not  be  emp- 
tied in  a minute.” 

The  two  men  now  went  out  on  the  platform, 
and  Deerslayer  swept  the  shore  with  the  glass, 
while  the  Indian  gravely  turned  his  eye  on  the 
water  and  the  woods  \n  quest  of  any  sign  that 
might  betray  the  machinations  of  their  enemies. 
Nothing  was  visible,  and,  assured  of  their  tempo- 
rary security,  the  three  collected  around  the  chest 
again,  with  the  avowed  object  of  opening  it. 

Judith  had  held  this  chest,  and  its  unknown 


contents,  in  a species  of  reverence  as  long  as  she 
could  remember.  Neither  hex  father  nor  her 
mother  ever  mentioned  it  in  her  presence ; and 
there  appeared  to  be  a silent  convention,  that  in 
naming  the  different  objects  that  occasionally 
stood  near  it,  or  even  lay  on  its  lid,  care  should 
be  bad  to  avoid  any  allusion  to  the  chest  itself. 
Habit  rendered  this  so  easy,  and  so  much  a mat- 
ter of  course,  that  it  was  only  quite  recently  the 
girl  had  begun  even  to  muse  on  the  singularity  of 
the  circumstance.  But  there  had  never  been  suf- 
ficient intimacy  between  Hutter  and  his  eldest 
daughter  to  invite  confidence.  At  times,  he  was 
kind,  but  in  general,  with  her  more  especially,  he 
was  stern  and  morose.  Least  of  all  had  his  au- 
thority been  exercised  in  a way  to  embolden  his 
child  to  venture  on  the  liberty  she  was  about  to 
take,  Avithout  many  misgivings  of  the  conse- 
quences, although  the  liberty  proceeded  from  a 
desire  to  serve  himself.  Then  Judith  was  not  ah 
together  free  from  a little  superstition  on  the  sub- 
ject of  this  chest,  which  had  stood  a sort  of  ta- 
booed relic  before  her  eyes  from  childhood  to  the 
present  hour.  Nevertheless,  the  time  had  come 
when  it  would  seem  that  this  mystery  was  to  be 
explained,  and  that  under  circumstances,  too, 
which  left  her  very  little  choice  in  the  matter. 

Finding  that  both  her  companions  were  watch- 
ing her  movements  in  grave  silence,  Judith  placed 
a hand  on  the  lid,  and  endeavored  to  raise  it. 
Her  strength,  however,  was  insufficient,  and  it 
appeared  to  the  girl,  who  was  fully  aware  that  all 
the  fastenings  were  removed,  that  she  was  resisted 
in  an  unhallowed  attempt  by  some  supernatural 
power. 

“ I cannot  raise  the  lid,  Deerslayer,”  she 
said ; “ had  we  not  better  give  up  the  attempt, 
and  find  some  other  means  of  releasing  the  pris- 
oners ? ” 

“ Not  so,  Judith  ; not  so,  gal.  No  means  are 
as  sartain  and  easy  as  a good  bribe,”  answered 
the  other.  “ As  for  the  lid,  ’tis  held  by  nothing 
but  its  own  weight,  which  is  prodigious  for  so 
small  a piece  of  wood,  loaded  with  iron,  as  it  is.” 

As  Deerslayer  spoke,  he  applied  his  own 
strength  to  the  effort,  and  succeeded  in  raising 
the  lid  against  the  timbers  of  the  house,  where  he 
took  care  to  secure  it  by  a sufficient  prop.  Ju- 
dith fairly  trembled,  as  she  cast  her  first  glance 
at  the  interior  ; and  she  felt  a temporary  relief  in 
discovering  that  a piece  of  canvas  that  was  care- 
fully tucked  in  around  the  edges  effectually  con- 
cealed all  beneath  it.  The  chest  was  apparently 
well  stored,  however,  the  canvas  lying  within  an 
inch  of  the  lid. 

“Here’s  a full  cargo,”  said  Deerslayer,  eying 


92 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  arrangement ; “ and  we  had  needs  go  to  work 
leisurely,  and  at  our  ease.  Sarpent,  bring  some 
stools,  while  I spread  this  blanket  on  the  floor,  and 
then  we’ll  begin  work  orderly  and  in  comfort.” 

The  Delaware  complied ; Deerslayer  civilly 
placed  a stool  for  Judith,  took  one  himself,  and 
commenced  the  removal  of  the  canvas  covering. 
This  was  done  deliberately,  and  in  as  cautious  a 
manner  as  if  it  were  believed  that  fabrics  of  a 
delicate  construction  lay  hidden  beneath.  When 
the  canvas  was  removed,  the  first  articles  that 
came  in  view  were  some  of  the  habiliments  of 
the  male  sex.  These  were  of  fine  materials,  and, 
according  to  the  fashions  of  the  age,  were  gay  in 
colors  and  rich  in  ornaments.  One  coat,  in  par- 
ticular, was  of  scarlet,  and  had  button-holes 
worked  in  gold  thread.  Still  it  was  not  military, 
but  was  part  of  the  attire  of  a civilian  of  condi- 
tion at  a period  when  social  rank  was  rigidly  re- 
spected in  dress.  Chingachgook  could  not  re- 
frain from  an  exclamation  of  pleasure,  as  soon  as 
Deerslayer  opened  this  coat,  and  held  it  up  to 
view ; for,  notwithstanding  all  his  trained  self- 
command,  the  splendor  of  the  vestment  was  too 
much  for  the  philosophy  of  an  Indian.  Deer- 
slayer turned  quickly,  and  he  regarded  his  friend 
with  a momentary  displeasure,  as  this  burst  of 
weakness  escaped  him  ; and  then  he  soliloquized, 
as  was  his  practice  whenever  any  strong  feeling 
suddenly  got  the  ascendency. 

“ ’Tis  his  gift ! — yes,  ’tis  the  gift  of  a red-skin 
to  love  finery,  and  he  is  not  to  be  burned.  This 
is  an  extr’ornary  garment,  too  ; and  extr’ornary 
things  get  up  extr’ornary  feelin’s. — I think  this 
will  do,  Judith,  for  the  Indian  heart  is  hardly  to 
be  found  in  all  America  that  can  withstand  colors 
like  these  and  glitter  like  that.  If  this  coat  was 
ever  made  for  your  father,  you’ve  come  honestly 
by  the  taste  for  finery,  you  have.” 

“ That  coat  was  never  made  for  father,”  an- 
swered the  girl,  quickly  ; “ it  is  much  too  long  ; 
while  father  is  short  and  square.” 

“ Cloth  was  plenty,  if  it  was,  and  glitter 
cheap,”  answered  Deerslayer,  with  his  silent,  joy- 
ous laugh. — “ Sarpent,  this  garment  was  made  for 
a man  of  your  size,  and  I should  like  to  it  on 
your  shoulders.” 

Chingachgook,  nothing  loath,  submitted  to 
the  trial ; throwing  aside  the  coarse  and  thread- 
bare jacket  of  Hutter,  to  deck  his  person  in  a 
coat  that  was  originally  intended  for  a gentle- 
man. The  transformation  was  ludicrous  ; but  as 
men  are  seldom  struck  with  incongruities  in  their 
own  appearance  any  more  than  in  their  own  con- 
duct, the  Delaware  studied  this  change  in  a com- 
mon glass,  by  which  Hutter  was  in  the  habit  of 


shaving,  with  grave  interest.  At  that  moment  he 
thought  of  Hist,  and  we  owe  it  to  truth  to  say 
though  it  may  militate  a little  against  the  stern 
character  of  a warrior  to  own  it,  that  he  wished 
he  could  be  seen  by  her  in  his  present  improved 
aspect. 

“ Off  with  it,  Sarpent — off  with  it,”  resumed 
the  inflexible  Deerslayer ; “ such  garments  as 
little  become  you  as  they  would  become  me. 
Your  gifts  are  for  paint,  and  hawk’s  feathers,  and 
blankets,  and  wampum ; and  mine  are  for  doub- 
lets of  skins,  tough  leggings,  and  sarviceable 
moccasins. — I say  moccasins,  Judith,  for  though 
white,  living  as  I do  in  the  woods,  it’s  necessary 
to  take  to  some  of  the  practices  of  the  woods,  for 
comfort’s  sake  and  cheapness.” 

“ I see  no  reason,  Deerslayer,  why  one  man 
may  not  wear  a scarlet  coat  as  well  as  another,” 
returned  the  girl.  “ I wish  I could  see  you  in 
this  handsome  garment.” 

“ See  me  in  a coat  fit  for  a lord ! Well,  Ju- 
dith, if  you  wait  till  that  day,  you’ll  wait  until 
you  see  me  beyond  reason  and  memory.  No — no 
—gal,  my  gifts  are  my  gifts,  and  I’ll  live  and  die 
in  ’em,  though  I never  bring  down  another  deer 
or  spear  another  salmon.  What  have  I done  that 
you  should  wish  to  see  me  in  such  a flaunting 
coat,  Judith  ? ” 

“ Because  I think,  Deerslayer,  that  the  false- 
tongued  and  false-hearted  young  gallants  of  the 
garrison  ought  not  alone  to  appear  in  fine  feath- 
ers ; but  that  truth  and  honesty  have  their  claims 
to  be  honored  and  exalted.” 

“ And  what  exaltification — ” The  reader  will 
have  remarked  that  Deerslayer  had  not  very  criti- 
cally studied  his  dictionary — “and  what  exaltifi- 
cation would  it  be  to  me,  Judith,  to  be  bedizened 
and  bescarleted  like  a Mingo  chief  that  has  just 
got  his  presents  up  from  Quebec  ? No — no — I’m 
well  as  I am;  and  if  not,  I can  be  no  better. 
— Lay  the  coat  down  on  the  blanket,  Sarpent,  and 
let  us  look  further  into  the  chist.” 

The  tempting  garment,  one  surely  that  was 
never  intended  for  Hutter,  was  laid  aside,  and  the 
examination  proceeded.  The  male  attire,  all  of 
which  corresponded  with  the  coat  in  quality,  was 
soon  exhausted,  and  then  succeeded  female.  A 
beautiful  dress  of  brocad.e,  a little  the  worse  from 
negligent  treatment,  followed ; and  this  time  open 
exclamations  of  delight  escaped  the  lips  of  Ju- 
dith. Much  as  the  girl  had  been  addicted  tc 
dress,  and  favorable  as  had  been  her  opportunitie. 
of  seeing  some  little  pretension  in  that  way 
among  the  wives  of  the  different  commandants, 
and  other  ladies  of  the  forts,  never  before  had 
she  beheld  a tissue  or  tints  to  equal  those  that 


SEARCHING  FOR  A RANSOM. 


93 


were  now  so  unexpectedly  placed  before  her  eyes. 
Her  rapture  was  almost  childish ; nor  would  she 
allow  the  inquiry  to  proceed  until  she  had  attired 
her  person  in  a robe  so  unsuited  to  her  habits 
and  her  abode.  With  this  end  she  withdrew  into 
her  own  room,  where,  with  hands  practised  in  such 
offices,  she  soon  got  rid  of  her  own  neat  gown  of 
linen,  and  stood  forth  in  the  gay  tints  of  the  bro- 
cade. The  dress  happened  to  fit  the  fine,  full  per- 
son of  Judith,  and  certainly  it  had  never  adorned 
a being  better  qualified,  by  natural  gifts,  to  do 
credit  to  its  really  rich  hues  and  fine  texture. 
When  she  returned,  both  Deerslayer  and  Chin- 
gachgook,  who  had  passed  the  brief  time  of  her 
absence  in  taking  a second  look  at  the  male  gar- 
ments, arose  in  surprise,  each  permitting  excla- 
mations of  wonder  and  pleasure  to  escape  him, 
in  a way  so  unequivocal  as  to  add  new  lustre  to 
the  eyes  of  Judith,  by  flushing  her  cheeks  with  a 
glow  of  triumph.  Affecting,  however,  not  to  no- 
tice the  impression  she  had  made,  the  girl  seated 
herself  with  the  stateliness  of  a queen,  desiring 
that  the  chest  might  be  looked  into  further. 

“ I don’t  know  a better  way  to  treat  with  the 
Mingoes,  gal,”  cried  Deerslayer,  “ than  to  send 
you  ashore  as  you  be,  and  to  tell  ’em  that  a queen 
has  arrived  among  ’em  ! They’ll  give  up  old  Hut- 
ter,  and  Hurry,  and  Hetty,  too,  at  such  a spec- 
tacle ! ” 

“ I thought  your  tongue  too  honest  to  flatter, 
Deerslayer,”  returned  the  girl,  gratified  at  this 
admiration  more  than  she  would  have  cared  to 
own.  “ One  of  the  chief  reasons  of  my  respect 
for  you  was  your  love  for  truth.” 

“ And  ’tis  truth,  and  solemn  truth,  Judith, 
and  nothing  else.  Never  did  eyes  of  mine  gaze 
on  as  glorious  a lookin’  creatur’  as  you  be  your- 
self, at  this  very  moment ! I’ve  seen  beauties  in 
my  time,  too,  both  white  and  red  ; and  them  that 
was  renowned  and  talked  of,  far  and  near ; but 
never  have  I beheld  one  that  could  hold  any  com- 
parison with  what  you  are  at  this  blessed  instant, 
Judith — never.” 

The  glance  of  delight  which  the  girl  bestowed 
on  the  frank-speaking  hunter,  in  no  degree  less- 
ened the  effect  of  her  charms  ; and,  as  the  humid 
eyes  blended  with  it  a look  of  sensibility,  per- 
haps Judith  never  appeared  more  truly  lovely 
than  at  what  the  young  man  had  called  that 
“ blessed  instant.”  He  shook  his  head,  held  it 
suspended  a moment  over  the  open  chest  like  one 
in  doubt,  and  then  proceeded  with  the  examina- 
tion. 

Several  of  the  minor  articles  of  female  dress 
eame  next,  all  of  a quality  to  correspond  with  the 
gown.  These  were  laid  at  Judith’s  feet,  in  si- 


lence, as  if  she  had  a natural  claim  to  their  pos- 
session. One  or  two,  such  as  gloves  and  lace,  the 
girl  caught  up,  and  appended  to  her  already  rich 
attire,  in  affected  playfulness,  but  with  the  real 
design  of  decorating  her  person  as  far  as  circum- 
stances would  allow.  When  these  two  remarkable 
suits,  male  and  female  they  might  be  termed,  were 
removed,  another  canvas  covering  separated  the 
remainder  of  the  articles  from  the  part  of  the 
chest  which  they  had  occupied.  As  soon  as  Deer- 
slayer perceived  this  arrangement,  he  paused, 
doubtful  of  the  propriety  of  proceeding  any  fur- 
ther. 

“ Every  man  has  his  secrets,  I suppose,”  he 
said,  “ and  all  men  have  a right  to  their  enj’y- 
ment ; we’ve  got  low  enough  in  this  chist,  in  my 
judgment,  to  answer  our  wants,  and  it  seems  to 
me  we  should  do  well  by  going  no  further ; and 
by  letting  Master  Hutter  have  to  himself,  and  his 
own  feelin’s,  all  that’s  beneath  this  cover.” 

“Do  you  mean,  Deerslayer,  to  offer  these 
clothes  to  the  Iroquois  as  ransom  ? ” demanded 
Judith,  quickly. 

“ Sartain.  What  are  we  prying  into  another 
man’s  chist  for,  but  to  sarve  its  owner  in  the  best 
way  we  can  ? This  coat,  alone,  would  be  very 
apt  to  gain  over  the  head-chief  of  the  riptyles  ; 
and  if  his  wife  or  darter  should  happen  to  be  out 
with  him,  that  there  gownd  would  soften  the 
heart  of  any  woman  that  is  to  be  found  atween 
Albany  and  Montreal.  I do  not  see  that  we  want 
a larger  stock  in  trade  than  them  two  articles.” 

“ To  you  it  may  seem  so,  Deerslayer,”  re- 
turned the  disappointed  girl ; “ but  of  what  use 
could  a dress  like  this  be  to  any  Indian  woman  ? 
She  could  not  wear  it  among  the  branches  of  the 
trees  ; the  dirt  and  smoke  of  the  wigwam  would 
soon  soil  it ; and  how  would  a pair  of  red  arms  ap- 
pear thrust  through  these  short,  laced  sleeves  ? ” 

“ All  very  true,  gal ; and  you  might  go  on  and 
say  it  is  altogether  out  of  time,  and  place,  and 
season,  in  this  region  at  all.  What  is  it  to  us 
how  the  finery  is  treated,  so  long  as  it  answers 
our  wishes  ? I do  not  see  that  your  father  can 
make  any  use  of  such  clothes  ; and  it’s  lucky  he 
has  things  that  are  of  no  valie  to  himself,  that 
will  bear  a high  price  with  others.  We  car 
make  no  better  trade  for  him  than  to  offer  these 
duds  for  his  liberty.  We’ll  throw  in  the  light 
frivol’ties,  and  get  Hurry  off  in  the  bargain ! ” 

“Then  you  think,  Deerslayer,  that  Thomas 
Hutter  has  no  one  in  his  family — no  child — no 
daughter,  to  whom  this  dress  may  be  thought  be- 
coming, and  whom  you  could  wish  to  see  in  it 
once  and  a while,  even  though  it  should  be  at 
long  intervals,  and  only  in  playfulness  ? ” 


94 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“ I understand  you,  Judith — yes,  I now  under- 
derstand  your  meaning ; and,  I think  I can  say, 
your  wishes.  That  you  are  as  glorious  in  that  dress 
as  the  sun  when  it  rises  or  sets  in  a soft  October 
day,  I’m  ready  to  allow ; and  that  you  greatly 
become  it  is  a good  deal  more  sartin  than  that  it 
becomes  you.  There’s  gifts  in  clothes  as  well  as 
in  other  things.  Now  I do  not  think  that  a war- 
rior on  his  first  path  ought  to  lay  on  the  same 
awful  paints  as  a chief  that  has  had  his  virtue 
tried,  and  knows  from  exper’ence  he  will  not  dis- 
grace his  pretensions.  So  it  is  with  all  of  us,  red 
or  white.  You  are  Thomas  Hutter’s  darter,  and 
that  gownd  was  made  for  the  child  of  some  gov- 
ernor, or  a lady  of  high  station  ; and  it  was  in- 
tended to  be  worn  among  fine  furniture  and  in 
rich  company.  In  my  eyes,  Judith,  a modest 
maiden  never  looks  more  becoming  than  when 
becomingly  clad,  and  nothing  is  suitable  that  is 
out  of  character.  Besides,  gal,  if  ther’s  a crea- 
tur’  in  the  colony  that  can  afford  to  do  without 
finery,  and  to  trust  to  her  own  good  looks  and 
sweet  countenance,  it’s  yourself.” 

“ I’ll  take  off  the  rubbish  this  instant,  Deer- 
slayer,”  cried  the  girl,  springing  up  to  leave  the 
room ; “ and  never  do  I wish  to  see  it  on  any  hu- 
man being  again.” 

“ So  it  is  with  ’em  all,  Sarpent,”  said  the 
other,  turning  to  his  friend  and  laughing,  as  soon 
as  the  beauty  had  disappeared.  “ They  like  fin- 
ery, but  they  like  their  native  charms  most  of  all. 
I’m  glad  the  gal  has  consented  to  lay  aside  her 
furbelows,  howsever,  for  it’s  ag’in  reason  for  one 
of  her  class  to  wear  ’em ; and  then  she  is  hand- 
some enough,  as  I call  it,  to  go  alone.  Hist 
would  show  oncommon  likely,  too,  in  such  a 
gownd,  Delaware ! ” 

“ Wah-ta  !-Wah  is  a red-skin  girl,  Deerslayer,” 
returned  the  Indian  “ like  the  young  of  the 
pigeon  she  is  to  b^.  known  by  her  own  feathers. 
I should  pass  by  without  knowing  her,  were  she 
dressed  in  such  a skin.  It’s  wisest  always  to  be 
so  clad  that  our  friends  need  not  ask  us  for  our 
names.  The  ‘ Wild  Rose  ’ is  very  pleasant,  but 
she  is  no  sweeter  for  so  many  colors.” 

“ That’s  it ! — that’s  natur’,  and  the  true  foun- 
dation for  love  and  protection.  When  a man 
stops  to  pick  a wild  strawberry,  he  does  not  ex- 
pect to  find  a melon;  and  when  he  wishes  to 
gather  a melon,  he’s  disapp’inted  if  it  proves 
to  be  a squash ; though  squashes  be  often  bright- 
er to  the  eye  than*  melons.  That’s  it,  and  it 
means,  stick  to  your  gifts  and  your  gifts  will  stick 
to  you.” 

The  two  men  had  now  a little  discussion  to- 
gether, touching  the  propriety  of  penetrating  any 


further  into  the  chest  of  Hutter,  when  Judith  re- 
appeared, divested  of  her  robes,  and  in  her  own 
simple  linen  frock  again. 

“Thank  you,  Judith,”  said  Deerslayer,  taking 
her  kindly  by  the  hand ; “ for  I know  it  went  a 
little  ag’in  the  nat’ral  cravings  of  woman  to  lay 
aside  so  much  finery  as  it  might  be  in  a lump. 
But  you’re  more  pleasing  to  the  eye  as'  you  stand, 
you  be,  than  if  you  had  a crown  on  your  head, 
and  jewels  dangling  from  your  hair.  The  ques- 
tion now  is,  whether  to  lift  this  covering,  to  see 
what  will  be  ra’ally  the  best  bargain  we  can 
make  for  Master  Hutter ; for  we  must  do  as  we 
think  he  would  be  willing  to  do,  did  he  stand  here 
in  our  places.” 

Judith  looked  very  happy.  Accustomed  as 
she  was  to  adulation,  the  humble  homage  of  Deer- 
slayer had  given  her  more  true  satisfaction  than 
she  had  ever  yet  received  from  the  tongue  of 
man.  It  was  not  the  terms  in  which  this  admi- 
ration had  been  expressed,  for  they  were  simple 
enough,  that  produced  so  strong  an  impression; 
nor  yet  their  novelty,  or  their  warmth  of  manner, 
nor  any  of  those  peculiarities  that  usually  give 
value  to  praise ; but  the  unflinching  truth  of  the 
speaker,  that  carried  his  words  so  directly  to  tho 
heart  of  the  listener.  This  is  one  of  the  great  ad- 
vantages of  plain  dealing  and  frankness.  The 
habitual  and  wily  flatterer  may  succeed  until  his 
practices  recoil  on  himself,  and,  like  other  sweets, 
his  aliment  cloys  by  its  excess ; but  he  who  deals 
honestly,  though  he  often  necessarily  offend,  pos- 
sesses a power  of  praising  that  no  quality  but  sin- 
cerity can  bestow ; since  his  words  go  directly  to 
the  heart,  finding  their  support  in  the  understand- 
ing. Thus  it  was  with  Deerslayer  and  Judith ; so 
soon  and  so  deeply  did  this  simple  hunter  impress 
those  who  knew  him  with  a>  conviction  of  his  un- 
bending honesty,  that  all  he  uttered  in  commen- 
dation was  as  certain  to  please,  as  all  he  uttered 
in  the  way  of  rebuke  was  as  certain  to  rankle  and 
excite  enmity  where  his  character  had  not  awak- 
ened a respect  and  affection,  that  in  another  sense 
rendered  it  painful.  In  after-life,  when  the  career 
of  this  untutored  being  brought  him  in  contact 
with  officers  of  rank,  and  others  intrusted  with 
the  care  of  the  interests  of  the  State,  this  same  in- 
fluence was  exerted  on  a wider  field ; even  generals 
listening  to  his  commendations  with  a glow  of 
pleasure  that  it  was  not  always  in  the  power  of 
their  official  superiors  to  awaken.  Perhaps  Ju- 
dith was  the  first  individual  of  his  own  color  who 
fairly  submitted  to  this  natural  consequence  of 
truth  and  fair-dealing,  on  the  part  of  Deerslayer. 
She  had  actually  pined  for  his  praise,  and  she  had 
now  received  it ; and  that  in  the  form  which  was 


A TRIAL  OF  SKILL. 


95 


most  agreeable  to  her  weaknesses  and  habits  of 
thought.  The  result  will  appear  in  the  course  of 
the  narrative. 

“ If  we  knew,  all  that  chest  holds,  Deerslayer,” 
returned  the  girl,  when  she  had  a little  recovered 
from  the  immediate  effect  produced  by  his  com- 
mendations of  her  personal  appearance,  “ we 
could  better  determine  on  the  course  we  ought  to 
take.” 

“That’s  not  onreasonable,  gal,  though  it’s 
more  a pale-face  than  a red-skin  gift,  to  be  pry- 
ing into  other  people’s  secrets.” 

“ Curiosity  is  natural,  and  it  is  expected  that 
all  human  beings  should  have  human  failings. 
Whenever  I’ve  been  at  the  garrisons,  I’ve  found 
that  most,  in  and  about  them,  had  a longing  to 
learn  their  neighbors’  secrets.” 

“ Yes,  and  sometimes  to  fancy  them,  when 
they  couldn’t  find  ’em  out ! That’s  the  difference 
atween  an  Indian  gentleman  and  a white  gentle- 
man. The  Sarpent,  here,  would  turn  his  head 
aside,  if  he  found  himself  onknowingly  lookin’ 
into  another  chief’s  wigwam;  whereas,  in  the 
settlements,  while  all  pretend  to  be  great  people, 
most  prove  they’ve  got  betters,  by  the  manner 
in  which  they  talk  of  their  consarns.  I’ll  be 
bound,  Judith,  you  wouldn’t  get  the  Sarpent, 
there,  to  confess  there  was  another  in  the  tribe 
so  much  greater  than  himself  as  to  become  the 
subject  of  his  idees,  and  to  empl’y  his  tongue  in 
conversation  about  his  movements,  and  ways,  and 
food,  and  all  the  other  little  matters  that  occupy 
a man  when  he’s  not  empl’y’d  in  his  greater 
duties.  He  who  does  this,  is  but  little  better  than 
a blackguard  in  the  grain,  and  them  that  en- 
courages him  is  pretty  much  of  the  same  kidney, 
iet  them  wear  coats  as  fine  as  they  may,  or  of 
what  dye  they  please.” 

“ But  this  is  not  another  man’s  wigwam ; it 
belongs  to  my  father ; these  are  his  things,  and 
they  are  wanted  in  his  service.” 

“ That’s  true,  gal,  that’s  true ; and  it  carries 
weight  with  it.  Well,  when  all  is  before  us,  we 
may,  indeed,  best  judge  which  to  offer  for  the 
ransom,  and  which  to  "withhold.” 

Judith  was  not  altogether  as  disinterested  in 
her  feelings  as  she  affected  to  be.  She  remem- 
bered that  the  curiosity  of  Hetty  had  been  in- 
dulged, in  connection  with  this  chest,  while  her 
own  had  been  disregarded ; and  she  was  not  sor- 
ry to  possess  an  opportunity  of  being  placed  on 
a level  with  her  less-gifted  sister,  in  this  one  par- 
ticular. It  appearing  to  be  admitted  all  round 
that  the  inquiry  into  the  contents  of  the  chest 
ought  to  be  renewed,  Deerslayer  proceeded  to  re- 
move the  second  covering  of  canvas. 

7 


The  articles  that  lay  uppermost,  when  the 
curtain  was  again  raised  on  the  secrets  of  the 
chest,  were  a pair  of  pistols,  curiously  inlaid  with 
silver.  Their  value  would  have  been  considerable 
in  one  of  the  towns,  though  as  weapons,  in  the 
woods,  they  were  a species  of  arms  seldom  em. 
ployed ; never,  indeed,  unless  it  might  be  by  some 
officer  from  Europe,  who  visited  the  colonies,  as 
many  were  then  wont  to  do,  so  much  impressed 
with  the  superiority  of  the  usages  of  London,  as 
to  fancy  they  were  not  to  be  laid  aside  on  the 
frontiers  of  America.  What  occurred  on  the  dis- 
covery of  these  weapons,  will  appear  in  the  suc- 
ceeding chapter. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

‘ An  oaken,  broken,  elbow-chair ; 

A caudle-cup  without  an  ear ; 

A battered,  shattered,  ash  bedstead 

A box  of  deal  without  a lid ; 

A pair  of  tongs,  but  out  of  joint ; 

A back-sword  poker,  without  point ; 

A dish  which  might  good  meat  afford  once ; 

An  Ovid,  and  an  old  Concordance.” 

Dean  Swift’s  Inventory. 

No  sooner  did  Deerslayer  raise  the  pistols, 
than  he  turned  to  the  Delaware,  and  held  them 
up  for  his  admiration. 

“ Child-gun,”  said  the  Serpent,  smiling,  while 
he  handled  one  of  the  instruments  as  if  it  had 
been  a toy. 

“Not  it,  Sarpent;  not  it.  ’Tis  made  for  a 
man,  and  would  satisfy  a giant  if  rightly  used. 
But  stop ; white  men  are  remarkable  for  their 
carelessness  in  putting  away  fire-arms  in  chists 
and  corners.  Let  me  look  if  care  has  been  given 
to  these.” 

As  Deerslayer  spoke,  he  took  the  weapon 
from  the  hand  of  his  friend  and  opened  the  pan. 
The  last  was  filled  with  priming,  caked  like  a bit 
of  cinder,  by  time,  moisture,  and  compression. 
An  application  of  the  ramrod  showed  that  both 
the  pistols  were  charged,  although  Judith  could 
testify  that  they  had  probably  lain  for  years  in 
the  chest.  It  is  not  easy  to  portray  the  surprise 
of  the  Indian  at  this  discovery,  for  he  was  in  the 
practice  of  renewing  his  priming  daily,  and  of 
looking  to  the  contents  of  his  piece  at  other  short 
intervals. 

“ This  is  white  neglect,”  said  Deerslayer,  shak- 
ing his  head,  “ and  scarce  a season  goes  by  that 
some  one  in  the  settlements  doesn’t  suffer  from  it. 
-•—It’s  extr’ornary  too,  Judith — yes,  it’s  downright 
extr’omary  that  the  owner  shall  fire  his  piece  at 


96 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


a deer,  or  some  other  game,  or  perhaps  at  an 
inimy,  and  twice  out  of  three  times  he’ll  miss ; 
but  let  him  catch  an  accident  with  one  of  these 
forgotten  charges,  and  he  makes  it  sartin  death 
to  a child,  or  a brother,  or  afri’nd!  Well,  we 
shall  do  a good  turn  to  the  owner  if  we  fire  these 
pistols  for  him ; and  as  they’re  novelties  to  you 
and  me,  Sarpent,  we’ll  try  our  hand  at  a mark. 
Freshen  that  priming,  and  I’ll  do  the  same  with 
this,  and  then  we’ll  see  who  is  the  best  man  with 
a pistol ; as  for  the  rifle,  that’s  long  been  settled 
atween  us.” 

Deerslayer  laughed  heartily  at  his  own  con- 
ceit, and,  in  a minute  or  two,  they  were  both 
standing  on  the  platform,  selecting  some  object  in 
the  ark  for  their  target.  Judith  was  led  by  curi- 
osity to  their  side. 

“ Stand  back,  gal,  stand  a little  back  ; these 
we’pons  have  been  long  loaded,”  said  Deerslayer, 
“ and  some  accident  may  happen  in  the  discharge.’’ 

“ Then  you  shall  not  fire  them  ! Give  them 
both  to  the  Delaware ; or  it  would  be  better  to 
unload  them  without  firing.” 

“That’s  ag’in  usage — and  some  people  say 
ag’in  manhood ; though  I hold  to  no  such  silly 
doctrine.  We  must  fire  ’em,  Judith;  yes,  we 
must  fire  ’em  ; though  I foresee  that  neither  will 
have  any  great  reason  to  boast  of  his  skill.” 

Judith,  in  the  main,  was  a girl  of  great  per- 
sonal spirit,  and  her  habits  prevented  her  from 
feeling  any  of  the  terror  that  is  apt  to  come  over 
her  sex  at  the  report  of  fire-arms.  She  had  dis- 
charged many  a rifle,  and  had  even  been  known 
to  kill  a deer,  under  circumstances  that  were 
favorable  to  the  effort.  She  submitted,  therefore, 
falling  a little  back  by  the  side  of  Deerslayer, 
giving  the  Indian  the  front  of  the  platform  to  him- 
self. . Chingachgook  raised  the  weapon  several 
times,  endeavored  to  steady  it  by  using  both 
hands,  changed  his  attitude,  from  one  that  was 
awkward  to  another  still  more  so,  and  finally  drew 
the  trigger  with  a sort  of  desperate  indifference, 
without  having,  in  reality  secured  any  aim  at  all. 
The  consequence  was  that,  instead  of  hitting  the 
knot,  which  had  been  selected  for  the  mark,  he 
missed  the  ark  altogether ; the  bullet  skipping 
along  the  water  like  a stone  that  was  thrown  by 
hand. 

“Well  done,  Sarpent — well  done,”  cried  Deer- 
slayer, laughing  with  his  noiseless  glee,  “ you’ve 
hit  the  lake,  and  that’s  an  expl’ite,  for  some  men ! 
I know’d  it,  and  as  much  as  said  it,  here,  to  Ju- 
dith ; for  your  short  we’pons  don’t  belong  to  red- 
skin gifts.  You’ve  hit  the  lake,  and  that’s  better 
than  only  hitting  the  air  ! Now,  stand  back,  and 
let  us  see  what  white  gifts  can  do  with  a white 


we’pon.  A pistol  isn’t  a trifle;  but  color  is 
color.” 

The  aim  of  Deerslayer  was  both  quick  and 
steady,  and  the  report  followed  almost  as  soon 
as  the  weapon  rose.  Still  the  pistol  hung  fire,  as 
it  is  termed,  and  fragments  of  it  flew  in  a dozen 
directions,  some  falling  on  the  roof  of  the  castle, 
others  in  the  ark,  and  one  in  the  water.  Judith 
screamed,  and  when  the  two  men  turned  anxious- 
ly toward  the  girl,  she  was  as  pale  as  death, 
trembling  in  every  limb. 

“ She’s  wounded — yes,  the  poor  gal’s  wound- 
ed, Sarpent,  though  one  couldn’t  foresee  it,  stand- 
ing where  she  did.  We’ll  lead  her  into  a seat, 
and  we  must  do  the  best  for  her  that  our  knowl- 
edge and  skill  can  afford.” 

Judith  allowed  herself  to  be  supported  to  a 
seat,  swallowed  a mouthful  of  the  water  that  the 
Delaware  offered  to  her  in  a gourd,  and,  after  a 
violent  fit  of  trembling,  that  seemed  ready  to 
shake  her  fine  frame  to  dissolution,  she  burst 
into  tears. 

“ The  pain  must  be  borne,  poor  Judith — yes, 
it  must  be  borne,”  said  Deerslayer,  soothingly ; 
“ though  I am  far  from  wishing  you  not  to  weep ; 
for  weeping  often  lightens  galish  feelin’s. — Where 
can  she  be  hurt,  Sarpent?  I see  no  signs  of 
blood,  nor  any  rent  of  skin  or  garments.” 

“I  am  uninjured,  Deerslayer,”  stammered  the 
girl  through  her  tears.  “It’s  fright — nothing 
more,  I do  assure  you  ; and,  God  be  praised  ! no 
one,  I find,  has  been  harmed  by  the  accident.” 

“ This  is  extr’ornary ! ” exclaimed  the  unsus- 
pecting and  simple-minded  hunter.  “ I thought, 
Judith,  you’d  been  above  settlement  weaknesses, 
and  that  you  was  a gal  not  to  be  frightened  by 
the-  sound  of  a bursting  we’pon.  No — I didn’t 
think  you  so  skeary ! Hetty  might  well  have 
been  startled ; but  you’ve  too  much  judgment 
and  reason  to  be  frightened  when  the  danger’s 
all  over. — They’re  pleasant  to  the  eye,  chief,  and 
changeful,  but  very  unsartain  iu  their  feelin’s  ! ” 

Shame  kept  Judith  silent.  There  had  been 
no  acting  in  her  agitation,  but  all  had  fairly  pro- 
ceeded from  sudden  and  uncontrollable  alarm — 
an  alarm  that  she  found  almost  as  inexplicable  to 
herself,  as  it  proved  to  be  to  her  companions. 
Wiping  away  the  traces  of  tears,  however,  she 
smiled  again,  and  was  soon  able  to  join  in  the 
laugh  at  her  own  folly. 

“ And  you,  Deerslayer,”  she  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  saying,  “ are  you,  indeed,  altogether  un- 
hurt ? It  seems  almost  miraculous  that  a pistol 
should  have  burst  in  your  hand,  and  you  escape 
without  the  loss  of  a limb,  if  not  of  life  ! ” 

“ Such  wonders  ar’n’t  oncommon,  at  all, 


THE  HUNTER’S  MISTAKE. 


97 


among  worn-out  arms.  The  first  rifle  they  gave 
me  played  the  same  trick,  and  yet  I lived  through 
it,  though  not  as  onharmless  as  I’ve  got  out  of 
this  affair.  Thomas  Hutter  is  master  of  one  pis- 
tol less  than  he  was  this  morning  ; but,  as  it  hap- 
pened in  trying  to  sarve  him,  there’s  no  ground 
of  complaint.  Now,  draw  near,  and  let  us  look 
further  into  the  inside  of  the  chist.” 

Judith,  by  this  time,  had  so  far  got  the  better 
of  her  agitation  as  to  resume  her  seat,  and  the 
examination  went  on.  The  next  article  that  of- 
fered was  enveloped  in  cloth,  and,  on  opening  it, 
it  proved  to  be  one  of  the  mathematical  instru- 
ments that  were  then  in  use  among  seamen,  pos- 
sessing the  usual  ornaments  and  fastenings  in 
brass.  Deerslayer  and  Chingachgook  expressed 
their  admiration  and  surprise  at  the  appearance 
of  the  unknown  instrument,  which  was  bright 
and  glittering,  having  apparently  been  well  cared 
for. 

“This  goes  beyond  the  surveyors,  Judith,” 
Deerslayer  exclaimed,  after  turning  the  instru- 
ment several  times  in  his  hands.  “ I’ve  seen  all 
their  tools  often,  and  wicked  and  heartless  enough 
are  they,  for  they  never  come  into  the  forest  but  to 
lead  the  way  to  waste  and  destruction ; but  none 
of  them  have  as  designing  a look  as  this  ! I fear 
me,  after  all,  that  Thomas  Hutter  has  journeyed 
into  the  wilderness  with  no  fair  intentions  toward 
its  happiness.  Did  you  ever  see  any  of  the  carv- 
ings of  a surveyor  about  your  father,  gal  ? ” 

“ He  is  no  surveyor,  Deerslayer,  nor  does  he 
know  the  use  of  that  instrument,  though  he  seems 
to  own  it.  Do  you  suppose  that  Thomas  Hutter 
ever  wore  that  coat  ? It  is  as  much  too  large  for 
him  as  this  instrument  is  beyond  his  learning.'’ 

“ That’s  it — that  must  be  it,  Sarpent ; and  the 
old  fellow,  by  some  onknown  means,  has  fallen 
heir  to  another  man’s  goods ! They  say  he  has 
been  a mariner,  and  no  doubt  this  chist  and  all  it 
holds — Ha  ! what  have  we  here  ? This  far  out- 
does the  brass  and  black  wood  of  the  tool ! ” 

Deerslayer  had  opened  a small  bag,  from 
which  he  was  taking,  one  by  one,  the  pieces  of  a 
set  of  chessmen.  They  were  of  ivory,  much  lar- 
ger than  common,  and  exquisitely  wrought.  Each 
piece  represented  the  character  or  thing  after 
which  it  is  named ; the  knights  being  mounted, 
the  castles  stood  on  elephants,  and  even  the 
pawns  possessed  the  heads  and  busts  of  men. 
The  set  was  not  complete,  and  a few  fractures  be- 
trayed bad  usage  ; but  all  that  was  left  had  been 
carefully  put  away  and  preserved.  Even  Judith 
expressed  wonder  as  these  novel  objects  were 
placed  before  her  eyes,  and  Chingachgook  fairly 
forgot  his  Indian  dignity  in  admiration  and  de- 
7 


light.  The  latter  took  up  each  piece  and  ex- 
amined  it  with  never-tiring  satisfaction,  pointing 
out  to  the  girl  the  more  ingenious  and  striking 
portions  of  the  workmanship.  But  the  elephants 
gave  him  the  greatest  pleasure.  The  “ Hughs  ” 
that  he  uttered  as  he  passed  his  fingers  over  their 
trunks  and  ears  and  tails  were  very  distinct ; nor 
did  he  fail  to  note  the  pawns,  which  were  armed 
as  archers.  This  exhibition  lasted  several  min- 
utes, during  which  time  Judith  and  the  Indian 
had  all  the  rapture  to  themselves.  Deerslayer 
sat  silent,  thoughtful,  and  even  gloomy,  though 
his  eyes  followed  each  movement  of  the  two 
principal  actors,  noting  every  new  peculiarity 
about  the  pieces  as  they  were  held  up  to  view. 
Not  an  exclamation  of  pleasure  nor  a word  of 
condemnation  passed  his  lips.  At  length  his 
companions  observed  his  silence,  and  then,  for 
the  first  time  since  the  chessmen  had  been  dis- 
covered, did  he  speak. 

“ Judith,”  he  asked  earnestly,  but  with  a con- 
cern that  amounted  almost  to  tenderness  of  man- 
ner, “ did  your  parents  ever  talk  to  you  of  reli- 
gion ? ” 

The  girl  colored,  and  the  flashes  of  crimson 
that  passed  over  her  beautiful  countenance  were 
like  the  wayward  tints  of  a Neapolitan  sky  in 
N ovember.  Deerslayer  had  given  her  so  strong 
a taste  for  truth,  however,  that  she  did  not  waver 
in  her  answer,  replying  simply  and  with  sin- 
cerity : 

“My  mother  did,  often,”  she  said;  “my  fa- 
ther, never.  I thought  it  made  my  mother  sor- 
rowful to  speak  of  Our  prayers  and  duties,  but 
my  father  has  never  opened  his  mouth  on  such 
matters  before  or  since  her  death.” 

“ That  I can  believe — that  I can  believe.  He 
has  no  God — no  such  God  as  it  becomes  a man 
of  white  skin  to  worship,  or  even  a red-skin. 
Them  things  are  idols  ! ” 

Judith  started,  and  for  a moment  she  seemed 
seriously  hurt.  Then  she  reflected,  and  in  the 
end  she  laughed. 

“ And  you  think,  Deerslayer,  that  these  ivory 
toys  are  my  father’s  gods  ? I have  heard  of  idols, 
and  know  what  they  are.” 

“ Them  are  idols  ! ” repeated  the  other  posi- 
tively. “ Why  should  your  father  keep  ’em  if  he 
doesn’t  worship  ’em  ? ” 

“Would  he  keep  his  gods  in  a bag,  and 
locked  up  in  a chest  ? No,  no,  Deerslayer ; my 
poor  father  carries  his  god  with  him  wherever  he 
goes,  and  that  is  in  his  own  cravings.  These 
things  may  really  be  idols — I think  they  are,  my- 
self, from  what  I have  heard  and  read  of  idolatry, 
but  they  have  come  from  some  distant  countrys 


98 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


like  all  the  other  Juticj.es,  and  have  fallen  into 
Thomas  Hutter’s  hands  when  he  was  a sailor.” 

“ I’m  glad  of  it — I am  downright  glad  to  hear 
it,  Judith,  for  I do  not  think  I could  have  mus- 
tered the  resolution  to  strive  to  help  a white 
idolater  out  of  his  difficulties  ! The  old  man  is 
of  my  color  and  nation,  and  I wish  to  sarve  him ; 
but,  as  one  who  denied  all  his  gifts  in  the  way  of 
religion,  it  would  have  come  hard  to  do  so. — That 
animal  seems  to  give  you  great  satisfaction,  Sar- 
pent,  though  it’s  an  idolatrous  head  at  the  best.” 

“It  is  an  elephant,”  interrupted  Judith,  “I’ve 
often  seen  pictures  of  such  animals  at  the  garri- 
son ; and  mother  had  a book  in  which  there  was 
a printed  account  of  the  creature.  Father  burnt 
that,  with  all  the  other  books,  for  he  said  mother 
loved  reading  too  well.  This  was  not  long  before 
mother  died,  and  I’ve  sometimes  thought  that  the 
loss  hastened  her  end.” 

This  was  said  equally  without  levity  and  with- 
out any  deep  feeling.  It  was  said  without  levity, 
for  Judith  was  saddened  by  her  recollections, 
and  yet  she  had  been  too  much  accustomed  to 
live  for  self,  and  for  the  indulgence  of  her  own 
vanities,  to  feel  her  mother’s  wrongs  very  heavi- 
ly. It  required  extraordinary  circumstances  to 
awaken  a proper  sense  of  her  situation,  and  to 
stimulate  the  better  feelings  of  this  beautiful  but 
misguided  girl ; and  these  circumstances  had  not 
yet  occurred  in  her  brief  existence. 

“ Elephant,  or  no  elephant,  ’tis  an  idol,”  re- 
turned the  hunter,  “ and  not  fit  to  remain  in  Chris- 
tian keeping.” 

“ Good  for  Iroquois  ! ” said  Chingachgook, 
parting  with  one  of  the  castles  with  reluctance, 
as  his  friend  took  it  from  him  to  replace  it  in  the 
bag.  “ Elephon  buy  whole  tribe — buy  Delaware, 
almost ! ” 

“Ay,  that  it  would,  as  any  one  who  compre- 
hends red-skin  natur’  must  know,”  answered 
Deerslayer ; “ but  the  man  that  passes  false  mon- 
ey, Sarpent,  is  as  bad  as  he  who  makes  it.  Did 
you  ever  know  a just  Injin  that  wouldn’t  scorn  to 
sell  a coon-skin  for  the  true  martin,  or  to  pass  off 
a mink  for  a beaver.  I know  that  a few  of  these 
idols,  perhaps  one  of  them  elephants,  would  go  far 
toward  buying  Thomas  Hutter’s  liberty,  but  it 
goes  ag’in  conscience  to  pass  such  counterfeit 
money.  Perhaps  no  Injin  tribe,  hereaway,  is 
downright  idolaters,  but  there’s  some  that  come 
so  near  it,  that  white  gifts  ought  to  be  particular 
about  encouraging  them  in  their  mistake.” 

“ If  idolatry  is  a gift,  Deerslayer,  and  gifts  are 
what  you  seem  to  think  them,  idolatry  in  such 
people  can  hardly  be  a sin,”  said  Judith,  with 
more  smartness  than  discrimination. 


“ God  grants  no  such  gifts  to  any  of  his  crea 
tur’s,  Judith,”  returned  the  hunter,  seriously.  “ Ht 
must  be  adored,  under  some  name  or  other,  and 
not  creatur’s  of  brass  or  ivory.  It  matters  not 
whether  the  Father  of  all  is  called  God  or  Manitou, 
Deity  or  Great  Spirit,  He  is  none  the  less  our  com- 
mon Maker  and  Master;  nor  does  it  count  for 
much  whether  the  souls  of  the  just  go  to  para- 
dise or  happy  hunting-grounds,  since  he  may 
send  each  his  own  way,  as  suits  his  own  pleasure 
and  wisdom ; but  it  curdles  my  blood,  when  I find 
human  mortals  so  bound  up  in  darkness  and  con- 
sait,  as  to  fashion  the  ’arth,  or  wood,  or  bones — 
things  made  by  their  own  hands — into  motionless, 
senseless  effigies,  and  then  fall  down  before  them, 
and  worship  ’em  as  a Deity ! ” 

“ After  all,  Deerslayer,  these  pieces  of  ivory 
may  not  be  idols  at  all.  I remember,  now,  to 
have  seen  one  of  the  officers  at  the  garrison,  with 
a set  of  fox  and  geese  made  in  some  such  a 
design  as  these;  and  here  is  something  hard, 
wrapped  in  cloth,  that  may  belong  to  youi  idols.” 

Deerslayer  took  the  bundle  the  girl  gave  him, 
and,  unrolling  it,  he  found  the  board  within. 
Like  the  pieces,  it  was  large,  rich,  and  inlaid  with 
ebony  and  ivory.  Putting  the  whole  in  conjunc- 
tion, the  hunter,  though  not  without  many  mis- 
givings, slowly  came  over  to  Judith’3  opinion,  and 
finally  admitted  that  the  fancied  idols  mu3t  be 
merely  the  curiously-carved  men  of  some  unknown 
game.  Judith  had  the  tact  to  use  her  victory 
with  great  moderation;  nor  did  she  once,  even 
in  the  most  indirect  manner,  allude  to  the  ludi- 
crous mistake  of  her  companion. 

This  discovery  of  the  uses  of  the  extraordina- 
ry-looking little  images  settled  the  affair  of  the 
proposed  ransom.  It  was  agreed  generally — and 
all  understood  the  weaknesses  and  tastes  of  In- 
dians— that  nothing  could  be  more  likely  to  tempt 
the  cupidity  of  the  Iroquois,  than  the  elephants, 
in  particular.  Luckily,  the  whole  of  the  castles 
were  among  the  pieces,  and  these  four  tower- 
bearing animals  it  was  finally  determined  should 
be  the  ransom  offered.  The  remainder  of  the  men, 
and,  indeed,  all  the  rest  of  the  articles  in  the  chest, 
were  to  be  kept  out  of  view,  and  to  be  resorted 
to  only  as  a last  appeal.  As  soon  as  these  pre- 
liminaries were  settled,  every  thing  but  those  in- 
tended for  the  bribe  was  carefully  replaced  in  the 
chest,  and  all  the  covers  were  “ tucked  in  ” as 
they  had  been  found  ; and  it  was  quite  possible, 
could  Hutter  have  been  put  in  possession  of  the 
castle  again,  that  he  might  have  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  in  it,  without  even  suspecting 
the  invasion  that  had  been  made  on  the  privacy 
of  the  chest.  The  rent  pistol  would  have  beec 


HETTY’S  RETURN  TO  THE  CASTLE. 


99 


the  most  likely  to  reveal  the  secret ; but  this  was 
placed  by  the  side  of  its  fellow,  and  all  were 
pressed  down  as  before — some  half  a dozen  pack- 
ages in  the  bottom  of  the  chest  not  having  been 
opened  at  all.  When  this  was  done,  the  lid  was 
lowered,  the  padlocks  replaced,  and  the  key 
turned.  The  latter  was  then  replaced  in  the  pock- 
et from  which  it  had  been  taken. 

Moie  than  an  hour  was  consumed  in  settling 
the  course  proper  to  be  pursued,  and  in  returning 
every  thing  to  its  place.  The  pauses  to  converse 
were  frequent;  and  Judith,  who  experienced  a 
lively  pleasure  in  the  open,  undisguised  admira- 
tion with  which  Deerslayer’s  honest  eye  gazed  at 
her  handsome  face,  found  the  means  to  prolong 
the  interview  with  a dexterity  that  seems  to  be 
innate  in  female  coquetry.  Deerslayer,  indeed, 
appeared  to  be  the  first  who  was  conscious  of  the 
time  that  had  been  thus  wasted,  and  to  call  the 
attention  of  his  companions  to  the  necessity  of 
doing  something  toward  putting  the  plan  of  ran- 
soming into  execution.  Chingachgook  had  re- 
mained in  Hutter’s  bedroom,  where  the  elephants 
were  laid,  to  feast  his  eyes  with  the  images  of 
animals  so  wonderful  and  so  novel.  Perhaps  an 
instinct  told  him  that  his  presence  would  not  be 
as  acceptable  to  his  companions  as  this  holding 
himself  aloof ; for  Judith  had  not  much  reserve 
in  the  manifestations  of  her  preferences,  and  the 
Delaware  had  not  got  so  far  as  one  betrothed 
without  acquiring  some  knowledge  of  the  symp- 
toms of  the  master-passion. 

“Well,  Judith,”  said  Deerslayer,  rising,  after 
the  interview  had  lasted  much  longer  than  even 
he  himself  suspected,  “ ’tis  pleasant  convarsing 
with  you,  and  settling  all  these  matters,  but  duty 
calls  us  another  way,  All  this  time  Hurry  and 
your  father,  not  to  say  Hetty — ” 

The  word  was  cut  short  in  the  speaker’s 
mouth,  for,  at  that  critical  moment,  a light  step 
was  heard  on  the  platform  or  court-yard,  a human 
figure  darkened  the  door-way,  and  the  person 
last  mentioned  stood  before  him.  The  low  excla- 
mation that  escaped  Deerslayer,  and  the  slight 
stream  of  Judith,  were  hardly  uttered,  when  an 
Indian  youth,  between  the  ages  of  fifteen  and 
sevenrcen,  stood  beside  her.  These  two  entrances 
had  been  made  with  moccasined  feet,  and  conse- 
quently almost  without  noise ; but,  unexpected 
and  stealthy  as  they  were,  they  had  not  the  effect 
to  disturb  Deerslayer’s  self-possession.  His  first 
measure  was  to  speak  rapidly  in  Delaware  to  his 
friend,  cautioning  him  to  keep  out  of  sight,  while 
he  stood  on  his  guard ; the  second  was  to  step 
to  the  door  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  danger. 
Ko  one  else,  however,  had  come ; and  a simple 


contrivance,  in  the  shape  of  a raft,  that  lay  float- 
ing at  the  side  of  the  ark,  at  once  explained  the 
means  that  had  been  used  in  bringing  Hetty  off. 
Two  dead  and  dry,  and  consequently  buoyant, 
logs  of  pine  were  bound  together  with  pins  and 
withes,  and  a little  platform  of  riven  chestnut  had 
been  rudely  placed  on  their  surfaces.  Here  Hetty 
had  been  seated  on  a billet  of  wood,  while  the 
young  Iroquois  had  rowed  the  primitive  and  slow- 
moving  but  perfectly  safe  craft  from  the  shore. 
As  soon  as  Deerslayer  had  taken  a close  survey 
of  this  raft,  and  satisfied  himself  nothing  else  was 
near,  he  shook  his  head,  and  muttered  in  his  so- 
liloquizing way : 

“ This  comes  of  prying  into  another  man’s 
chist ! Had  we  been  watchful  and  keen-eyed, 
such  a surprise  could  never  have  happened  ; and 
getting  this  much  from  a boy,  teaches  us  what  we 
may  expect  when  the  old  warriors  set  themselves 
fairly  about  their  sarcumventions.  It  opens  the 
way,  howsever,  to  a treaty  for  the  ransom,  and  1 
will  hear  what  Hetty  has  to  say.” 

Judith,  as  soon  as  her  surprise  and  alarm  had 
a little  abated,  discovered  a proper  share  of  affec- 
tionate joy  at  the  return  of  her  sister.  She  folded 
her  to  her  bosom  and  kissed  her,  as  had  been  her 
wont  in  the  days  of  their  childhood  and  innocence. 
Hetty  herself  was  less  affected,  for  to  her  there 
was  no  surprise,  and  her  nerves  were  sustained 
by  the  purity  and  holiness  of  her  purpose.  At 
her  sister’s  request  she  took  a seat,  and  entered 
into  an  account  of  her  adventures  since  they  had 
parted.  Her  tale  commenced  just  as  Deerslayer 
returned,  and  he  also  became  an  attentive  listener, 
while  the  young  Iroquois  stood  near  the  door, 
seemingly  as  indifferent  to  what  was  passing  as 
one  of  its  posts. 

The  narrative  of  the  girl  was  sufficiently  clear, 
until  she  reached  the  time  where  we  left  her  in 
the  camp,  after  the  interview  with  the  chiefs,  and 
at  the  moment  when  Hist  quitted  her  in  the  ab- 
rupt manner  already  stated.  The  sequel  of  the 
story  may  be  told  in  her  own  language. 

“ When  I read  the  texts  to  the  chiefs,  Judith, 
you  could  not  have  seen  that  they  made  any 
changes  on  their  minds,”  she  said,  “ but  if  seed 
is. planted,  it  will  grow.  God  planted  the  seeds  of 
all  the  trees — ” 

“ Ay,  that  did  he — that  did  he,”  muttered 
Deerslayer ; “ and  a goodly  harvest  has  fol- 
lowed.” 

“ God  planted  the  seeds  of  all  the  trees,”  con- 
tinued Hetty,  after  a moment’s  pause,  “ and  you 
see  to  what  a height  and  shade  they  have  grown ! 
So  it  is  with  the  Bible.  You  may  read  a versa 
this  year  and  forget  it,  and  it  will  come  back  to 


100 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


you  a year  hence,  when  you  least  expect  to  re- 
member it.” 

“ And  did  you  find  any  thing  of  this  among 
the  savages,  poor  Hetty  ? ” 

“ Yes,  Judith,  and  sooner  and  more  fully  than 
I had  even  hoped.  I did  not  stay  long  with  father 
and  Hurry,  but  went  to  get  my  breakfast  with 
Hist.  As  soon  as  we  had  done,  the  chiefs  came 
to  us,  and  then  we  found  the  fruits  of  the  seed 
that  had  been  planted.  They  said  what  I had 
read  from  the  good  book  was  right — it  must  be 
right — it  sounded  right ; like  a sweet  bird  singing 
in  their  ears  ; and  they  told  me  to  come  back  and 
say  as  much  to  the  great  warrior  who  had  slain 
one  of  their  braves  ; and  to  tell  it  to  you,  and  to 
say  how  happy  they  should  be  to  come  to  church 
here,  in  the  castle,  or  to  come  out  in  the  sun,  and 
hear  me  read  more  of  the  sacred  volume — and  to 
tell  you  that  they  wish  you  would  lend  them  some 
canoes,  that  they  can  bring  father  and  Hurry, 
and  their  women,  to  the  castle,  that  we  might  all 
sit  on  the  platform  there,  and  listen  to  the  sing- 
ing of  the  pale-face  Manitou. — There,  Judith  ; did 
you  ever  know  of  any  thing  that  so  plainly  shows 
the  power  of  the  Bible  as  that  ? ” 

“ If  it  were  true  ’twould  be  a miracle,  indeed, 
Hetty.  But  all  this  is  no  more  than  Indian  cun- 
ning and  Indian  treachery,  striving  to  get  the  bet- 
ter of  us  by  management,  when  they  find  it  is  not 
to  be  done  by  force.” 

“Bo  you  doubt  the  Bible,  sister,  that  you 
judge  the  savages  so  harshly  ? ” 

“ I do  not  doubt  the  Bible,  poor  Hetty,  but  I 
much  doubt  an  Indian  and  an  Iroquois. — What 
do  you  say  to  this  visit,  Deerslayer?  ” 

“ First  let  me  talk  a little  with  Hetty,”  re- 
turned the  party  appealed  to. — “Was  this  raft 
made  a’ter  you  had  got  your  breakfast,  gal ; and 
did  you  walk  from  the  camp  to  the  shore  opposite 
to  us  here  ? ” 

“ Oh ! no,  Deerslayer.  The  raft  was  ready 
made,  and  in  the  water — could  that  have  been  by 
a miracle,  Judith?  ” 

“ Yes' — yes — an  Indian  miracle,”  rejoined  the 
hunter.  “They’re  expart  enough  in  them  sort 
of  miracles.  And  you  found  the  raft  ready  made 
to  your  hands,  and  in  the  water,  and  in  waiting- 
like for  its  cargo  ? ” 

“ It  was  all  as  you  say.  The  raft  was  near 
the  camp,  and  the  Indians  put  me  on  it,  and  had 
ropes  of  bark,  and  they  dragged  me  to  the  place 
opposite  to  the  castle,  and  then  they  told  that 
young  man  to  row  me  off  here.” 

“And  the  woods  are  full  of  the  vagabonds, 
waiting  to  know  what  is  to  be  the  upshot  of  the 
miracle.  We  comprehend  this  affair,  now,  Judith 


— but  I’ll  first  get  rid  of  this  young  Canadian 
blood-sucker,  and  then  we’ll  settle  our  own  course. 
Do  you  and  Hetty  leave  us  together,  first  bringing 
me  the  elephants,  which  the  Sarpent  is  admiring  * 
for  ’twill  never  do  to  let  this  loping  deer  be  alone 
for  a minute,  or  he’ll  borrow  a canoe  without  ask- 
ing.” 

Judith  did  as  desired,  first  bringing  the  pieces, 
and  retiring  with  her  sister  into  their  own  room. 
Deerslayer  had  acquired  some  knowledge  of  most 
of  the  Indian  dialects  of  that  region,  and  he  knew 
enough  of  the  Iroquois  to  hold  a dialogue  in  the 
language.  Beckoning  to  the  lad,  therefore,  he 
caused  him  to  take  a seat  on  the  chest,  when  he 
placed  two  of  the  castles  suddenly  before  him. 
Up  to  this  moment,  this  youthful  savage  had  not 
expressed  a single  intelligible  emotion  or  fancy. 
There  were  many  things  in  and  about  the  place 
that  were  novelties  to  him,  but  he  had  maintained 
his  self-command  with  philosophical  composure. 
It  is  true,  Deerslayer  had  detected  his  dark  eye 
scanning  the  defences  and  the  arms,  but  the  scru- 
tiny had  been  made  with  such  an  air  of  innocence, 
in  such  a gaping,  indolent,  boyish  manner,  that 
no  one  but  a man  who  had  himself  been  taught  in 
a similar  school  would  have  suspected  his  object. 
The  instant,  however,  the  eyes  of  the  savage  fell 
upon  the  wrought  ivory,  and  the  images  of  the 
wonderful,  unknown  beasts,  surprise  and  admira- 
tion got  the  mastery  of  him.  The  manner  in 
which  the  natives  of  the  South-Sea  Islands  first 
beheld  the  toys  of  civilized  life,  has  been  often 
described ; but  the  reader  is  not  to  confound  it 
with  the  manner  of  an  American  Indian  under 
similar  circumstances.  In  this  particular  case, 
the  young  Iroquois,  or  Huron,  permitted  an  ex- 
clamation of  rapture  to  escape  him,  and  then  he 
checked  himself,  like  one  who  had  been  guilty  of 
an  indecorum.  After  this,  his  eye  ceased  to  wan- 
der, but  became  riveted  on  the  elephants,  one  of 
which,  after  a short  hesitation,  he  even  presumed 
to  handle.  Deerslayer  did  not  interrupt  him  for 
quite  ten  minutes ; knowing  that  the  lad  was  tak- 
ing such  note  of  the  curiosities  as  would  enable 
him  to  give  the  most  minute  and  accurate  de- 
scription of  their  appearance  to  his  seniors,  on 
his  return.  When  he  thought  sufficient  time  had 
been  allowed  to  produce  the  desired  effect,  th« 
hunter  laid  a finger  on  the  naked  knee  of  the 
youth,  and  drew  his  attention  to  himself. 

“Listen,”  he  said;  “I  want  to  talk  with  my 
young  friend  from  the  Canadas.  Let  him  forget 
that  wonder  for  a minute.” 

“Where  ’tother  pale  brother?”  demanded 
the  boy,  looking  up,  and  letting  the  idea  that  had 
been  most  prominent  in  his  mind,  previously  tc 


THE  YOUNG  IROQUOIS. 


101 


the  introduction  of  the  chessmen,  escape  him  in- 
voluntarily. 

“ He  sleeps— or  if  he  isn’t  fairly  asleep,  he  is 
in  the  room  where  the  men  do  sleep,”  returned 
Deerslaver.  “ How  did  my  youDg  friend  know 
there  was  another?  ” 

“ See  him  from  the  shore.  Iroquois  have  got 
long  eyes — see  beyond  the  clouds — see  the  bottom 
of  the  great  spring  ! ” 

“ Well,  the  Iroquois  are  welcome.  Two  pale- 
faces are  prisoners  in  the  camp  of  your  fathers, 
boy.” 

The  laa  nodded,  treating  the  circumstance 
with  great  apparent  indifference ; though  a mo- 
ment after  he  laughed  as  if  exulting  in  the  superior 
address  of  his  own  tribe. 

“ Can  you  tell  me,  boy,  what  your  chiefs  in- 
tend to  do  with  these  capty  ves ; or  haven’t  they 
made  up  their  minds  ? ” 

The  lad  looked  a moment  at  the  hunter  with 
a little  surprise ; then  he  coolly  put  the  end  of 
his  forefinger  on  his  own  head,  just  above  the 
left  ear,  and  passed  it  round  his  crown,  with  an 
accuracy  and  readiness  that  showed  how  well  he 
had  been  drilled  in  the  peculiar  art  of  his  race. 

“ When  ? ” demanded  Deerslayer,  whose  gorge 
rose  at  this  cool  demonstration  of  indifference  to 
human  life.  “ And  why  not  take  them  to  your 
wigwams  ? ” 

“ Road  too  long,  and  full  of  pale-faces.  Wig- 
wam full,  and  scalps  sell  high.  Small  scalp,  much 
gold.” 

“ Well,  that  explains  it — yes,  that  does  explain 
it.  There’s  no  need  of  being  any  plainer.  Now, 
you  know,  lad,  that  the  oldest  of  your  prisoners  is 
the  father  of  these  two  young  women;* and  the 
other  is  the  suitor  of  one  of  them.  The  gals 
nat’rally  wish  to  save  the  scalps  of  such  fri’nds> 
and  they  will  give  them  two  ivory  ereatur’s  as 
ransom ; one  for  each  scalp.  Go  back  and  tell 
this  to  your  chiefs,  and  bring  me  the  answer 
hefore  the  sun  sets.” 

The  boy  entered  zealously  into  this  project, 
and  with  a sincerity  that  left  no  doubt  of  his 
executing  his  commission  with  intelligence  and 
promptitude.  For  a moment  he  forgot  his  love 
of  honor,  and  all  his  clannish  hostility  to  the 
British  and  their  Indians,  in  his  wish  to  have 
Buck  a treasure  in  his  tribe,  and  Deerslayer  was 
satisfied  with  the  impression  he  had  made.  It  is 
true,  the  lad  proposed  to  carry  one  of  the  ele- 
phants with  him,  as  a specimen  of  the  other,  but 
to  this  his  brother  negotiator  was  too  sagacious 
to  consent;  well  knowing  that  it  might  never 
reach  its  destination  if  confided  to  such  hands. 
This  little  difficulty  was  soon  arranged,  and  the 


boy  prepared  to  depart.  As  he  stood  on  the 
platform  ready  to  step  aboard  of  the  raft,  he 
hesitated,  and  turned  short  with  a proposal  to 
borrow  a canoe,  as  the  means  most  likely  to 
shorten  the  negotiation.  Deerslayer  quietly  re- 
fused the  request,  and,  after  lingering  a little  lon- 
ger, the  boy  rowed  slowly  away  from  the  castle, 
taking  the  direction  of  a thicket  on  the  shore,  that 
lay  less  than  half  a mile  distant.  Deerslayer 
seated  himself  on  a stool,  and  watched  the  progress 
of  the  ambassador ; sometimes  closely  scanning 
the  whole  line  of  the  shore,  as  far  as  eye  could 
reach,  and  .then,  placing  an  elbow  on  a knee,  he  re- 
mained a long  time  with  his  chin  resting  on  the 
hand. 

During  the  interview  between  Deerslayer  and 
the  lad,  a different  scene  took  place  in  the  ad- 
joining room.  Hetty  had  inquired  for  the  Dela- 
ware, and,  being  told  why  and  where  he  remained 
concealed,  she  joined  him.  The  reception  which 
Chingachgook  gave  his  visitor  was  respectful  and 
gentle.  He  understood  her  character;  and,  no 
doubt,  his  disposition  to  be  kind  to  such  a being 
was  increased  by  the  hope  of  learning  some 
tidings  of  his  betrothed.  As  soon  as  the  girl 
entered  she  took  a seat,  and  invited  the  Indian  to 
place  himself  near  her;  then  she  continued  silent, 
as  if  she  thought  it  decorous  for  him  to  ques- 
tion her,  before  she  consented  to  speak  on  the 
subject  she  had  on  her  mind.  But,  as  Chingach- 
gook did  not  understand  this  feeling,  he  re- 
mained respectfully  attentive  to  any  thing  she 
might  be  pleased  to  tell  him. 

“ You  are  Chingachgook — the  Great  Serpent 
of  the  Delawares,  ar’n’t  you  ? ” the  girl  at  length 
commenced,  in  her  own  simple  way,  losing  her 
self-command  in  the  desire  to  proceed,  but  anxious 
first  to  make  sure  of  the  individual. 

“ Chingachgook,”  returned  the  Delaware,  with 
grave  dignity.  “ That  say  Great  Sarpent  in  Deer-  ■ 
slayer  tongue.” 

“Well,  that  is  my  tongue.  Deerslayer,  and 
father,  and  Judith,  and  I,  and  poor  Hurry  Harry 
— do  you  know  Henry  March,  Great  Serpent  ? I 
know  you  don’t, ^ however,  or  he  would  have 
spoken  of  yow,  too.” 

“ Did  any  tongue  name  Chingachgook,  Droop- 
ing-Lily  ? ” for  so  the  chief  had  named  poor  Hetty^ 

“ Was  his  name  sung  by  a little  bird  among  the 
Iroquois  ? ” 

Hetty  did  not  answer  at  first ; but  with  that 
indescribable  feeling  that  awakens  sympathy  and 
intelligence  among  the  youthful  and  unpractised 
of  her  sex,  she  hung  her  head,  and  the  blood 
suffused  her  cheek  ere  she  found  her  tongue.  It 
would  have  exceeded  her  stock  of  intelligence  ta 


102 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


explain  this  embarrassment ; but,  though  poor 
Hetty  could  not  reason  on  every  emergency,  she 
could  always  feel.  The  color  slowly  receded  from 
her  cheek,  and  the  girl  looked  up  archly  at  the 
Indian,  smiling  with  the  innocence  of  a child, 
mingled  with  the  interest  of  a woman. 

“My  sister,  the  Drooping-Lily,  hear  such 
bird ! ” Chingachgook  added,  and  this  with  a 
gentleness  of  tone  and  manner  that  would  have 
astonished  those  who  sometimes  heard  the  dis- 
cordant cries  that  often  came  from  the  same 
throat ; these  transitions  from  the  harsh  and  gut- 
tural to  the  soft  and  melodious  not  being  infre- 
quent in  ordinary  Indian  dialogues.  “ My  sister’s 
ears  were  open — has  she  lost  her  tongue  ? ” 

“ You  are  Chingachgook — you  must  be ; for 
there  is  no  other  red  man  here,  and  she  thought 
Chingachgook  would  come.” 

“ Chin-gach-gook,”  pronouncing  the  name 
slowly,  and  dwelling  on  each  syllable ; “ Great 
Sarpent,  Yengeese*  tongue.” 

“ Chin-gach-gook,”  repeated  Hetty,  in  the 
same  deliberate  manner.  “ Yes,  so  Hist  called 
it,  and  you  must  be  the  chief.” 

“ Wah-ta  !-Wah,”  added  the  Delaware. 

“ Wah-ta  !-Wah,  or  Hist-oh  !-Hist.  I think 
Hist  prettier  than  Wah,  and  so  I call  her  Hist.” 

“ Wah ! very  sweet  in  Delaware  ears ! ” 

“ You  make  it  sound  differently  from  me.  But 
never  mind ; I did  hear  the  bird  you  speak  of 
sing,  Great  Serpent.” 

“ Will  my  sister  say  words  of  song  ? What 
she  sing  most — how  she  look — often  she  laugh  ? ” 

“She  sang  Chin-gach-gook  oftener  than  any 
thing  else ; and  she  laughed  heartily  when  I told 
how  the  Iroquois  waded  into  the  water  after  us, 
and  couldn’t  catch  us.  I hope  these  logs  haven’t 
ears,  Serpent ! ” 

“ No  fear  logs ; fear  sister  next  room.  No 
fear  Iroquois ; Deerslayer  stuff  his  eyes  and  ears 
with  strange  beast.” 

“ I understand  you,  Serpent,  and  I understood 


* It  is  singular  there  should  be  any  question  concerning 
the  origin  of  the  well-known  sobriquet  of  “Yankees.” 
Nearly  all  the  old  writers  who  speak  of  the  Indians  first 
known  to  the  colonists  make  them  pronounce  the  word 
“English”  as  “Yengedse.”  Even  at  this  day,  it  is  a pro- 
vincialism of  New  England  to  say  “ English  ” instead  of 
“ 7»glish,”  and  there  is  a close  conformity  of  sound  between 
“.English”  and  “Yengeese,”  more  especially  if  the  latter 
word,  as  was  probably  the  case,  be  pronounced  short.  The 
transition  from  “Yengeese,”  thus  pronounced,  to  “Yan- 
kees ” is  quite  easy.  If  the  former  is  pronounced  “ Yangis,1’ 
it  is  almost  identical  with  “ Yankees,”  an  1 Indian  words  have 
seldom  been  spelt  as  they  are  pronounced.  Thus  the  scene 
of  this  tale  is  spelt  “ Otsego,”  and  is  properly  pronounced 
“ Ot sago."  The  liquids  of  the  Indians  would  easily  convert 
*En ” into  “Yen.” 


Hist.  Sometimes  I think  I’m  Lot  half  as  feeble- 
minded as  they  say  I am.  Now,  do  you  look  up 
at  the  roof,  and  I’ll  tell  you  all.  But  you  frighten 
me,  you  look  so  eager  when  I speak  of  Hist.” 

The  Indian  controlled  his  looks,  and  affected 
to  comply  with  the  simple  request  of  the  girl. 

“ Hist  told  me  to  say,  in  a very  low  voice, 
that  you  mustn’t  trust  the  Iroquois  in  any  thing. 
They  are  more  artful  than  any  Indians  she  knows. 
Then  she  says  that  there  is  a large  bright  star 
that  comes  over  the  hill,  about  an  hour  after  dark  ” 
— (Hist  had  pointed  out  the  planet  Jupiter,  with- 
out knowing  it) — “ and  just  as  that  star  comes  in 
sight,  she  will  be  on  the  point  where  I landed  last 
night,  and  that  you  must  come  for  her,  in  a canoe.” 

“ Good  — Chingachgook  understand  well 
enough,  now;  but  he  understand  better  if  my 
sister  sing  to  him  ag’in.” 

Hetty  repeated  her  words,  more  fully  explain- 
ing what  star  was  meant,  and  mentioning  the  part 
of  the  point  where  he  was  to  venture  ashore.  She 
now  proceeded  in  her  own  unsophisticated  way  to 
relate  her  intercourse  with  the  Indian  maid,  and 
to  repeat  several  of  her  expressions  and  opinions 
that  gave  great  delight  to  the  heart  of  her  be- 
trothed. She  particularly  renewed  her  injunctions 
to  be  on  their  guard  against  treachery ; a warn- 
ing that  was  scarcely  needed,  however,  as  ad- 
dressed to  men  as  wary  as  those  to  whom  it  was 
sent.  She  also  explained,  with  sufficient  clear- 
ness— for  on  all  such  subjects  the  mind  of  the 
girl  seldom  failed  her — the  present  state  of  the 
enemy  and  the  movements  they  had  made  since 
morning.  Hist  had  been  on  the  raft  with  her, 
until  it  quitted  the  shore ; and  was  now  some- 
where in  the  woods,  opposite  to  the  castle,  and 
did  not  intend  to  return  to  the  camp  until  night 
approached  ; when  she  hoped  to  be  able  to  slip 
away  from  her  companions,  as  they  followed  the 
shore  on  their  way  home,  and  conceal  herself  on 
the  point.  No  one  appeared  to  suspect  the  pres- 
ence of  Chingachgook,  though  it  was  necessarily 
known  that  an  Indian  had  entered  the  ark  the 
previous  night,  and  it  was  suspected  that  he  had 
since  appeared  in  and  about  the  castle,  in  the 
dress  of  a pale-face.  Still  some  little  doubt  ex- 
isted on  the  latter  point,  for,  as  this  was  the  sea- 
son when  white  men  might  be  expected  to  arrive, 
there  was  some  fear  that  the  garrison  of  the  castle 
was  increasing  by  these  ordinary  means.  All 
this  had  Hist  communicated  to  Hetty  while  the 
Indians  were  draggipg  them  along  shore ; the 
distance,  which  exceeded  six  miles,  affording 
abundance  of  time. 

“ Hist  don’t  know,  herself,  whether  they  sus- 
pect her  or  not,  or  whether  they  suspect  you , but 


A COUNCIL  OF  WAR. 


103 


ilie  hopes  neither  is  the  case.  And  now,  Ser- 
pent, since  I have  told  you  so  much  from  your 
betrothed,”  continued  Hetty,  unconsciously  taking 
one  of  the  Indian’s  hands,  and  playing  with  the 
fingers,  as  a child  is  often  seen  to  play  with  those 
of  a parent,  “ you  must  let  me  tell  you  something 
from  myself.  When  you  marry  Hist,  you  must 
be  kind  to  her,  and  smile  on  her,  as  you  do  now 
on  me ; and  not  look  cross,  as  some  of  the  chiefs 
do  at  their  squaws.  Will  you  promise  this  ? ” 

“Always  good  to  Wah! — too  tender  to  twist 
hard ; else  she  break.” 

“Yes,  and  smile,  too;  you  don’t  know  how 
much  a girl  craves  smiles  from  them  she  loves. 
Father  scarce  smiled  on  me  once,  while  I was 
with  him — and,  Hurry — yes — Hurry  talked  loud, 
and  laughed ; but  I don’t  think  he  smiled  once 
either.  You  know  the  difference  between  a smile 
and  a laugh  ? ” 

“ Laugh,  best.  Hear  Wah ! laugh,  think  bird 
sing.” 

“ I know  that ; her  laugh  is  pleasant,  but  you 
must  smile.  And  then,  Serpent,  you  mustn’t  make 
ber  carry  burdens  and  hoe  corn,  as  so  many  In- 
dians do ; but  treat  her  more  as  the  pale-faces 
treat  their  wives.” 

“Wah-ta!-Wah  no  pale-face — got  red  skin; 
red  heart,  red  feelin’s.  All  red ; no  pale-face. 
jfust  carry  papoose.” 

“ Every  woman  is  willing  to  carry  her  child,” 
said  Hetty,  smiling ; “ and  there  is  no  harm  in 
that.  But  you  must  love  Hist,  and  be  gentle, 
and  good  to  her ; for  she  is  gentle  and  good  her- 
self.” 

Chingachgook  gravely  bowed,  and  then  he 
seemed  to  think  this  part  of  the  subject  might  be 
dismissed.  Before  there  was  time  for  Hetty  to 
resume  her  communications,  the  voice  of  Deer- 
slayer  was  heard  calling  on  his  friend  in  the  outer 
room.  At  this  summons  the  Serpent  arose  to 
obey,  and  Hetty  joined  her  sister. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

“ ‘ A stranger  animal,’  cries  one, 

‘Sure  never  lived  beneath  the  sun ; 

A lizard’s  body,  lean  and  long, 

A fish’s  head,  a serpent’s  tongue, 

Its  foot,  with  triple  claw  disjoined ; 
i if,  And  what  a length  of  tail  behind ! ’ ” 

Merrick. 

The  first  act  of  the  Delaware,  on  rejoining  his 
friend,  was  to  proceed  gravely  to  disencumber 
himself  of  his  civilized  attire,  and  to  stand  forth 
an  Indian  warrior  again.  The  protest  of  Deer- 


slayer  was  met  by  his  communicating  the  fact 
that  the  presence  of  an  Indian  in  the  hut  was 
known  to  the  Iroquois,  and  that  his  maintaining 
the  disguise  "would  be  more  likely  to  direct  sus- 
picions to  his  real  object,  than  if  he  came  out 
openly  as  a member  of  a hostile  tribe.  When 
the  latter  understood  the  truth,  and  was  told  that 
he  had  been  deceived  in  supposing  the  chief  had 
succeeded  in  entering  the  ark  undiscovered,  he 
cheerfully  consented  to  the  change,  since  further 
attempt  at  concealment  was  useless.  A gentler 
feeling  than  the  one  avowed,  however,  lay  at  the 
bottom  of  the  Indian’s  desire  to  appear  as  a son 
of  the  forest.  He  had  been  told  that  Hist  was 
on  the  opposite  shore;  and  Nature  so  far  tri- 
umphed over  all  distinctions  of  habit,  and  tribes, 
and  people,  as  to  reduce  this  young,  savage  war- 
rior to  the  level  of  a feeling  which  would  have 
been  found  in  the  most  refined  inhabitant  of  a 
town,  under  similar  circumstances.  There  was  a 
mild  satisfaction  in  believing  that  she  he  loved 
could  see  him  ; and  as  he  walked  out  on  the  plat- 
form in  his  scanty  native  attire,  an  Apollo  of  the 
wilderness,  a hundred  of  the  tender  fancies  that 
fleet  through  lovers’  brains  beset  his  imagination 
and  softened  his  heart. 

All  this  was  lost  on  Deerslayer,  who  was  no 
great  adept  in  the  mysteries  of  Cupid,  but  whose 
mind  was  far  more  occupied  with  the  concerns 
that  forced  themselves  on  his  attention,  than  with 
any  of  the  truant  fancies  of  love.  He  soon  re- 
called his  companion,  therefore,  to  a sense  of  their 
actual  condition,  by  summoning  him  to  a sort  of 
council  of  war,  in  which  they  were  to  settle  their 
future  course.  In  the  dialogue  that  followed,  the 
parties  mutually  made  each  other  acquainted  with 
what  had  passed  in  their  sevqj-al  interviews.  Chin- 
gachgook was  told  the  history  of  the  treaty  about 
the  ransom ; and  Deerslayer  heard  the  whole  of 
Hetty’s  communications.  The  latter  listened  with 
generous  interest  to  his  friend’s  hopes,  and  prom- 
ised cheerfully  all  the  assistance  he  could  lend. 

“ ’Tis  our  main  ar’n’d,  Sarpent,  as  you  know ; 
this  battling  for  the  castle  and  old  Hutter’s  dar- 
ters, coming  in  as  a sort  of  accident.  Yes — yes 
— I’ll  be  active  in  helping  little  Hist,  who’s  not 
only  one  of  the  best  and  handsomest  maidens  of 
the  tribe,  but  the  very  best  and  handsomest.  I’ve 
always  encouraged  you,  chief,  in  that  liking ; and 
it’s  proper,  too,  that  a great  and  ancient  race  like 
your’n  shouldn’t  come  to  an  end.  If  a woman  of 
red  skin  and  red  gifts  could  get  to  be  near  enough 
to  me  to  wish  her  for  a wife,  I’d  s’arch  for  just 
such  another,  but  that  can  never  be;  no,  that  can 
never  be.  I’m  glad  Hetty  has  met  with  Hist, 
howsever,  for  though  the  first  is  a little  short  in 


104 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


«vit  and  understanding,  the  last  has  enough  for 
both.  Yes,  Sarpent,”  laughing  heartily,  “put 
’em  together,  and  two  smarter  gals  isn’t  to  be 
found  in  all  York  colony ! ” 

“ I will  go  to  the  Iroquois  camp,”  returned 
the  Delaware,  gravely.  “ No  one  knows  Chin- 
gachgook  but  Wah!,  and  a treaty  for  lives  and 
scalps  should  be  made  by  a chief  ! Give  me  the 
strange  beasts,  and  let  me  take  a canoe.” 

Deerslayer  dropped  his  head,  and  played  with 
the  end  of  a fish-pole  in  the  water,  as  he  sat  dan- 
gling his  legs  over  the  edge  of  the  platform,  like 
a man  who  was  lost  in  thought  by  the  sudden  oc- 
currence of  a novel  idea.  Instead  of  directly 
answering  the  proposal  of  his  friend,  he  began  to 
soliloquize : a circumstance,  however,  that  in  no 
manner  rendered  his  words  more  true,  as  he  was 
remarkable  for  saying  what  he  thought,  whether 
the  remarks  were  addressed  to  himself  or  to  any 
one  else. 

“ Yes — yes,”  he  said,  “ this  must  be  what 
they  call  love ! I’ve  heard  say  that  it  sometimes 
upsets  reason  altogether,  leaving  a young  man  as 
helpless,  as  to  calculation  and  caution,  as  a brute 
beast.  To  think  that  the  Sarpent  should  be  so 
lost  to  reason,  and  cunning,  and  wisdom!  We 
must,  sartainly,  manage  to  get  Hist  off,  and  have 
’em  married  as  soon  as  we  get  back  to  the  tribe, 
or  this  war  will  be  of  no  more  use  to  the  chief 
than  a hunt  a little  oncommon  and  extr’ornary. 
Yes — yes — he’ll  never  be  the  man  he  was  till  this 
matter  is  off  his  mind  and  he  comes  to  his  senses, 
like  all  the  rest  of  mankind. — Sarpent,  you  can’t 
be  in  airnest,  and  therefore  I shall  say  but  little 
to  your  offer.  But  you’re  a chief,  and  will  soon 
be  sent  out  on  the  war-path  at  the  head  of  parties, 
and  I’ll  just  ask  if  you’d  think  of  putting  your 
forces  into  the  inimy’s  hands,  afore  the  battle  is 
fou’t  ? ” 

“ Wah  ! ” ejaculated  the  Indian. 

“ Ay — Wah ! — I know  well  enough  it’s  Wah  ! 
and  altogether  Wah  ! Ra’aly,  Sarpent,  I’m  con- 
sarned  and  mortified  about  you ! I never  heard 
so  weak  an  idea  come  from  a chief,  and  he,  too, 
one  that’s  already  got  a name  for  being  wise, 
young  and  inexper’enced  as  he  is.  Canoe  you 
eha’n’t  have,  so  long  as  the  v’ice  of  fri’ndship  and 
warning  can  count  for  any  thing.” 

“ My  pale-face  friend  is  right.  A cloud  came 
over  the  face  of  Chingachgook,  and  weakness  got 
into  his  mind,  while  his  eyes  were  dim.  My 
brother  has  a good  memory  for  good  deeds,  and 
a weak  memory  for  bad.  He  will  forget.” 

“ Yes,  that’s  easy  enough.  Say  no  more  about 
it,  chief ; but  if  another  of  them  clouds  blow  near 
yuu  do  your  endivor  to  get  out  of  its  way.  Clouds 


are  bad  enough  in  the  weather ; but  when  they 
come  to  the  reason  it  gets  to  be  serious.  Now 
sit  down  by  me  here,  and  let  us  calculate  our 
movements  a little,  for  we  shall  soon  either  have 
a truce  and  a peace,  or  we  shall  come  to  an  actyve 
and  bloody  war.  You  see  the  vagabonds  can 
make  logs  sarve  their  turn,  as  well  as  the  best 
raftsmen  on  the  rivers ; and  it  would  be  no  great 
expl’ite  for  them  to  invade  us  in  a body.  I’ve 
been  thinking  of  the  wisdom  of  putting  all  old 
Tom’s  stores  into  the  ark,  of  barring  and  locking 
up  the  castle,  and  of  taking  to  the  ark  altogether. 
That  is  movable,  and,  by  keeping  the  sail  up,  and 
shifting  places,  we  might  worry  through  a great 
many  nights,  without  them  Canada  wolves  finding 
a way  into  our  sheepfold.” 

Chingachgook  listened  to  this  plan  with  ap- 
probation. Did  the  negotiation  fail  there  was  now 
little  hope  that  the  night  would  pass  without  an 
assault ; and  the  enemy  had  sagacity  enough  to 
understand,  that,  in  carrying  the  castle,  they 
would  probably  become  masters  of  all  it  contained, 
the  offered  ransom  included,  and  still  retain  the 
advantages  they  had  hitherto  gained.  Some  pre- 
caution of  the  sort  appeared  to  be  absolutely 
necessary;  for,  now  the  numbers  of  the  Iroquois 
were  known,  a night  attack  could  scarcely  be  suc- 
cessfully met.  It  would  be  impossible  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  getting  possession  of  the  canoes 
and  the  ark,  and  the  latter  itself  would  be  a hold 
in  which  the  assailants  would  be  as  effectually 
protected  against  bullets  as  were  those  in  the 
building.  For  a few  minutes  both  the  men 
thought  of  sinking  the  ark  in  the  shallow  water, 
of  bringing  the  canoes  into  the  house,  and  of  de- 
pending altogether  on  the  castle  for  protection. 
But  reflection  satisfied  them  that,  in  the  end,  this 
expedient  would  fail.  It  was  so  easy  to  collect 
logs  on  the  shore,  and  to  construct  a raft  of  al- 
most any  size,  that  it  was  certain  the  Iroquois, 
now  they  had  turned  their  attention  to  such 
means,  would  resort  to  them  seriously,  so  long  as 
there  was  the  certainty  of  success  by  perseverance 
After  deliberating  maturely,  and  placing  all  the 
considerations  fairly  before  them,  the  two  young 
beginners  in  the  art  of  forest  warfare  settled 
down  into  the  opinion  that  the  ark  offered  the 
only  available  means  of  security.  This  decision 
was  no  sooner  come  to,  than  it  was  communicated 
to  Judith.  The  girl  had  no  serious  objection  to 
make,  and  all  four  set  about  the  measures  ne^s- 
sary  to  carrying  the  plan  into  execution. 

The  reader  will  readily  understand  that  Float- 
ing Tom’s  worldly  goods  were  of  no  great  amount. 
A couple  of  beds,  some  wearing-apparel,  the  arms 
and  ammunition,  a few  cooking-utensils,  with  th« 


VISIT  OF  RIVENOAK. 


105 


mysterious  but  half-examined  chest,  formed  the 
principal  items.  These  were  all  soon  removed, 
the  ark  having  been  hauled  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  building,  so  that  the  transfer  could  be  made 
without  being  seen  from  the  shore.  It  was 
thought  unnecessary  to  disturb  the  heavier  and 
coarser  articles  of  furniture,  as  they  were  not  re- 
quired in  the  ark,  and  were  of  but  little  value  in 
themselves.  As  great  caution  was  necessary  in 
removing  the  different  objects,  most  of  which 
were  passed  out  of  a window  with  a view  to  con- 
ceal what  was  going  on,  it  required  two  or  three 
hours  before  all  could  be  effected.  By  the  expi- 
ration of  that  time  the  raft  made  its  appearance, 
moving  from  the  shore.  Deerslayer  immediately 
had  recourse  to  the  glass,  by  the  aid  of  which  he 
perceived  that  two  warriors  were  on  it,  though 
they  appeared  to  be  unarmed.  The  progress  of 
the  raft  was  slow,  a circumstance  that  formed  one 
of  the  great  advantages  that  would  be  possessed 
by  the  scow,  in  any  future  collision  between  them ; 
the  movements  of  the  latter  being  comparatively 
swift  and  light.  As  there  was  time  to  make  the 
dispositions  for  the  reception  of  the  two  danger- 
ous visitors,  every  thing  was  prepared  for  them, 
long  before  they  had  got  near  enough  to  be  hailed. 
The  Serpent  and  the  girls  retired  into  the  build- 
ing, where  the  former  stood  near  the  door,  well 
provided  with  rifles ; while  Judith  watched  the 
proceedings  without  through  a loop.  As  for 
Deerslayer,  he  had  brought  a stool  to  the  edge  of 
the  platform,  at  the  point  toward  which  the  raft 
was  advancing,  and  taken  his  seat,  with  his  rifle 
leaning  carelessly  between  his  legs. 

As  the  raft  drew  nearer,  every  means  pos- 
sessed by  the  party  in  the  castle  wras  resorted  to, 
in  order  to  ascertain  if  their. visitors  had  any  fire- 
arms. Neither  Deerslayer  nor  Chingachgook 
could  discover  any ; but  Judith,  unwilling  to  trust 
to  simple  eyesight,  thrust  the  glass  through  the 
loop,  and  directed  it  toward  the  hemlock-boughs 
that  lay  between  the  two  logs  of  the  raft,  forming 
a sort  of  flooring,  as  well  as  a seat  for  the  use  of 
the  rowers.  When  the  heavy-moving  craft  was 
within  fifty  feet  of  him,  Deerslayer  hailed  the 
Hurons,  directing  them  to  cease  rowing,  it  not 
being  his  intention  to  permit  them  to  land.  Com- 
pliance, of  course,  was  necessary,  and  the  two 
grim-looking  warriors  instantly  quitted  their  seats, 
though  the  raft  continued  slowly  to  approach, 
until  it  had  driven  in  much  nearer  to  the  plat- 
form. 

“ Are  ye  chiefs  ? ” demanded  Deerslayer,  with 
dignity.  “ Are  ye  chiefs  ? — or  have  the  Mingoes 
Bent  me  warriors  without  names,  on  such  an 
ar’n’d  ? If  so,  the  sooner  ye  go  back,  the  sooner 


the  one  will  be  likely  to  come  that  a warrior  can 
talk  with.” 

“Hugh!”  exclaimed  the  elder  of  the  two 
on  the  raft,  rolling  his  glowing  eyes  over  the  dif- 
ferent objects  that  were  visible  in  and  about  the 
castle,  with  a keenness  that  showed  how  little 
escaped  him.  “ My  brother  is  very  proud,  but 
Rivenoak  ” (we  use  the  literal  translation  of  the 
tenn,  writing  as  we  do  in  English)  “ is  a name  to 
make  a Delaware  turn  pale.” 

“ That’s  true,  or  it’s  a lie,  Rivenoak,  as  it  may 
be ; but  I am  not  likely  to  turn  pale,  seeing  that 
I was  born  pale.  What’s  your  ar’n’d,  and  why  do 
you  come  among  light  bark  canoes  on  logs  that 
are  not  even  dug  out  ? ” 

“The  Iroquois  are  not  ducks,  to  walk  on 
water  ! Let  the  pale-faces  give  them  a canoe,  and 
they’ll  come  in  a canoe.” 

“ That’s  more  rational,  than  likely  to  come  to 
pass.  We  have  but  four  canoes,  and,  being  four 
persons,  that’s  only  one  for  each  of  us.  We 
thank  you  for  the  offer,  howsever,  though  we  ask 
leave  not  to  accept  it.  You  are  welcome,  Iroquois, 
on  your  logs ! ” 

“ Thanks — my  young  pale-face  warrior — he 
has  got  a name — how  do  the  chiefs  call  him  ? ” 

Deerslayer  hesitated  a moment,  and  a gleam  of 
pride  and  human  weakness  came  over  him.  He 
smiled,  muttered  between  his  teeth,  and  then,  look- 
ing up  proudly,  he  said  : 

“ Mingo,  like  all  who  are  young  and  actyve, 
I’ve  been  known  by  different  names,  at  different 
times.  One  of  your  warriors,  whose  spirit  start- 
ed for  the  happy-grounds  of  your  people  as  lately 
as  yesterday  morning,  thought  I desarved  to  be 
known  by  the  name  of  Hawkeye;  and  this  be- 
cause my  sight  happened  to  be  quicker  than  his 
own,  when  it  got  to  be  life  or  death  atween  us.” 

' Chingachgook,  who  was  attentively  listening 
to  all  that  passed,  heard  and  understood  this 
proof  of  passing  weakness  in  his  friend,  and  on  a 
future  occasion  he  questioned  him  more  closely 
concerning  the  transaction  on  the  point  where 
Deerslayer  had  first  taken  human  life.  When  he 
had  got  the  whole  truth,  he  did  not  fail  to  com- 
municate it  to  the  tribe,  from  which  time  the 
young  hunter  was  universally  known  among  the 
Delawares  by  an  appellation  so  honorably  earned. 
As  this,  however,  was  a period  posterior  to  all  the 
incidents  of  this  tale,  we  shall  continue  to  call 
the  young  hunter  by  the  name  under  which  he  has 
been  first  introduced  to  the  reader.  Nor  was  the 
Iroquois  less  struck  with  the  vaunt  of  the  white 
man.  He  knew  of  the  death  of  his  comrade,  and 
had  no  difficulty  in  understanding  the  allusion ; 
the  intercourse  between  the  conqueror  and  his  vie- 


106 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


tim  on  that  occasion  having  been  seen  by  several 
savages  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  who  had  been 
stationed  at  different  points  just  within  the  mar- 
gin of  the  bushes,  to  watch  the  drifting  canoes, 
and  who  had  not  time  to  reach  the  scene  of 
action  ere  the  victor  had  retired.  The  effect  on 
this  rude  being  of  the  forest  was  an  exclamation 
of  surprise ; then  such  a smile  of  courtesy  and 
wave  of  the  hand  succeeded,  as  would  have  done 
credit  to  Asiatic  diplomacy.  The  two  Iroquois 
spoke  to  each  other  in  low  terms,  and  both  drew 
near  the  end  of  the  raft  that  was  closest  to  the 
platform. 

“ My  brother,  Hawkeye,  has  sent  a message 
to  the  Hurons,”  resumed  Rivenoak,  “ and  it  has 
made  their  hearts  very  glad.  They  hear  he  has 
images  of  boasts  with  two  tails  ! Will  he  show 
them  to  his  friends  ? ” 

“ Inimies  would  be  truer,”  returned  Deer- 
slayer  ; “ but  sound  isn’t  sense,  and  does  little 
harm.  Here  is  one  of  the  images ; I toss  it  to 
you  under  faith  of  treaties.  If  it’s  not  returned, 
the  rifle  will  settle  the  p’int  atween  us.” 

The  Iroquois  seemed  to  acquiesce  in  the  con- 
ditions, and  Deerslayer  arose  and  prepared  to 
toss  one  of  the  elephants  to  the  raft,  both  parties 
using  all  the  precaution  that  was  necessary  to  pre- 
vent its  loss.  As  practice  renders  men  expert  in 
such  things,  the  little  piece  of  ivory  was  soon  suc- 
cessfully transferred  from  one  hand  to  the  other ; 
and  then  followed  another  scene  on  the  raft,  in 
which  astonishment  and  delight  got  the  mastery 
of  Indian  stoicism.  These  two  grim  old  warriors 
manifested  even  more  feeling,  as  they  examined 
the  curiously- wrought  chessman,  than  had  been 
betrayed  by  the  boy ; for,  in  the  case  of  the  lat- 
ter, recent  schooling  had  interposed  its  influence ; 
while  the  men,  like  all  who  are  sustained  by  well- 
established  characters,  were  not  ashamed  to  let 
some  of  their  emotions  be  discovered.  For  a few 
minutes  they  apparently  lost  the  consciousness  of- 
their  situation  in  the  intense  scrutiny  they  be- 
stowed on  a material  so  fine,  work  so  highly 
wrought,  and  an  animal  so  extraordinary.  The 
lip  of  the  moose  is,  perhaps,  the  nearest  approach 
to  the  trunk  of  the  elephant  that  is  to  be  found 
in  the  American  forest ; but  this  resemblance  was 
far  from  being  sufficiently  striking  to  bring  the 
new  creature  within  the  range  of  their  habits  and 
ideas,  and  the  more  they  studied  the  image,  the 
greater  was  their  astonishment.  Nor  did  these 
children  of  the  forest  mistake  the  structure  on 
the  back  of  the  elephant  for  a part  of  the  animal. 
They  were  familiar  with  horses  and  oxen,  and 
had  seen  towers  in  the  Canadas,  and  found  noth- 
ing surprising  in  creatures  of  burden.  Still,  by  a 


very  natural  association,  they  supposed  the  carv- 
ing meant  to  represent  that  the  animal  they  saw 
was  of  a strength  sufficient  to  carry  a fort  on  its 
back ; a circumstance  that  in  no  degree  lessened 
their  wonder. 

“ Has  my  pale-lace  brother  any  more  such 
beasts  ? ” at  last  the  senior  of  the  Iroquois  asked, 
in  a sort  of  petitioning  manner. 

“ There’s  more  where  them  came  from,  Min- 
go,” was  the  answer ; “ one  is  enough,  however, 
to  buy  off  fifty  scalps.” 

“ One  of  my  prisoners  is  a great  warrior — tall 
as  a pine — strong  as  the  moose — active  as  a deer 
— fierce  as  the  panther.  Some  day  he’ll  be  a 
great  chief,  and  lead  the  army  of  King  George ! ” 

“Tut — tut — Mingo;  Harry  Hurry  is  Harry 
Hurry,  and  you’ll  never  make  more  than  a cor- 
poral of  him,  if  you  do  that.  He’s  tall  enough, 
of  a sartainty;  but  that’s  of  no  use,  as  he  only 
hits  his  head  ag’in  the  branches  as  he  goes  through 
the  forest.  He’s  strong,  too;  but  a strong  body 
isn’t  a strong  head,  and  the  king’s  generals  are 
not  chosen  for  their  sinews.  He’s  swift,  if  you 
will,  but  a rifle-bullet  is  swifter ; and  as  for  Ferce- 
ness,  it’s  no  great  ricommend  to  a soldier ; they 
that  think  they  feel  the  stoutest,  often  givin’  out 
at  the  pinch.  No — no — you’ll  never  make  Hur- 
ry’s scalp  pass  for  more  than  a good  head  of  cur- 
ly hair,  and  a rattlepate  beneath  it !” 

“ My  old  prisoner  very  wise — king  of  the  lake 
— great  warrior,  wise  counsellor ! ” 

“Well,  there’s  them  that  might  gainsay  all 
this,  too,  Mingo.  A very  wise  man  wouldn’t  be 
apt  to  be  taken  in  so  foolish  a manner  as  befell 
Master  Hutter ; and,  if  he  gives  good  counsel,  he 
must  have  listened  to  very  bad  in  this  affair. 
There’s  only  one  king  of  this  lake,  and  he’s  a long 
way  off,  and  isn’t  likely  ever  to  see  it.  Floating 
Tom  is  some  such  king  of  this  region,  as  the  wolf 
that  prowls  through  the  woods  is  king  of  the  for- 
est. A beast  with  two  tails  is  well  worth  two  Such 
scalps ! ’V 

“But  my  brother  has  another  beast V — He 
will  give  two,”  holding  up  as  many  fingers,  “ for 
old  father.” 

“ Floating  Tom  is  no  father  of  mine,  but  he’ll 
fare  none  the  worse  for  that.  As  for  giving  two 
beasts  for  his  scalp,  and  each  beast  with  two  tails, 
it  is  quite  beyond  reason.  Think  yourself  well 
off,  Mingo,  if  you  make  a much  worse  trade.” 

By  this  time  the  self-command  of  Rivenoak 
had  got  the  better  of  his  wonder,  and  he  began 
to  fall  back  on  his  usual  habits  of  cunning,  in  or- 
der to  drive  the  best  bargain  he  could.  It  would 
be  useless  to  relate  more  than  the  substance  of 
the  desultory  dialogue  that  followed,  in  which  th« 


ATTEMPTS  AT  NEGOTIATION. 


107 


*udiau  manifested  no  little  management,  in  en- 
deavoring to  recover  the  ground  lost  under  the 
influence  of  surprise.  He  even  affected  to  doubt 
whether  any  original  for  the  image  of  the  beast 
existed,  and  asserted  that  the  oldest  Indian  had 
never  heard  a tradition  of  any  such  animal.  Lit- 
tle did  either  of  them  imagine  at  the  time  that 
long  ere  a century  elapsed,  the  progress  of 
civilization  would  bring  even  much  more  extraor- 
dinary and  rare  animals  into  that  region,  as  curi- 
osities to  be  gazed  at  by  the  curious,  and  that  the 
particular  beast  about  which  the  disputants  con- 
tended, would  be  seen  laving  its  sides  and  swim- 
ming in  the  very  sheet  of  water  on  which  they 
had  met. 5,5  As  is  not  uncommon  on  such  occa- 
sions, one  of  the  parties  got  a little  warm  in  the 
course  of  the  discussion ; for  Deerslayer  met  all 
the  arguments  and  prevarications  of  his  subtle 
opponent  with  his  own  cool  directness  of  manner 
and  unmoved  love  of  truth.  What  an  elephant 
was  he  knew  little  better  than  the  savage ; but 
he  perfectly  understood  that  the  carved  pieces  of 
ivory  must  have  some  such  value  in  the  eyes  of 
an  Iroquois  as  a bag  of  gold,  or  a package  of 
beaver-skins,  would  in  those  of  a trader.  Under 
the  circumstances,  therefore,  he  felt  it  to  be  pru- 
dent not  to  concede  too  much  at  first,  since  there 
existed  a nearly  unconquerable  obstacle  to  mak- 
ing the  transfers,  even  after  the  contracting  par- 
ties had  actually  agreed  upon  the  terms.  Keep- 
ing this  difficulty  in  view,  he  held  the  extra  chess- 
men in  reserve  as  a means  of  smoothing  any  diffi- 
culty in  the  moment  of  need. 

At  length  the  savage  pretended  that  further 
negotiation  was  useless,  since  he  could  not  be  so 
unjust  to  his  tribe  as  to  part  with  the  honor  and 
emoluments  of  two  excellent,  full  grown  male 
scalps,  for  a consideration  so  trifling  as  a toy  like 
that  he  had  seen — and  he  prepared  to  take  his 
departure.  Both  parties  now  felt  as  men  are 
wont  to  feel,  when  a bargain  that  each  is  anxious 
to  conclude,  is  on  the  eve  of  being  broken  off  in 
consequence  of  too  much  pertinacity  in  the  way 
of  management.  The  effect  of  the  disappointment 
was  very  different,  however,  on  the  respective  in- 
dividuals. Deerslayer  was  mortified,  and  filled 
with  regret ; for  he  not  only  felt  for  the  prisoners, 
but  he  also  felt  deeply  for  the  two  girls.  The 
conclusion  of  the  treaty,  therefore,  left  him  mel- 
ancholy and  full  of  regret.  With  the  savage,  his 
defeat  produced  the  desire  of  revenge.  In  a mo- 
ment of  excitement,  he  loudly  announced  his  in- 

*  The  Otsego  is  a favorite  place  for  the  caravan-keepers 
to  let  their  elephants  bathe.  The  writer  has  seen  two  at  a 
time,  since  the  publication  of  this  book,  swimming  about  in 
company, 


tention  to  say  no  more ; and  he  felt  equally  en- 
raged with  himself  and  with  his  cool  opponent, 
that  he  had  permitted  a pale-face  to  manifest 
more  indifference  and  self-command  than  an  In- 
dian chief.  When  he  began  to  urge  his  raft  away 
from  the  platform,  his  countenance  lowered,  and 
his  eye  glowed  even  while  he  affected  a smile  of 
amity  and  a gesture  of  courtesy,  at  parting. 

It  took  some  little  time  to  overcome  the  vis  iner- 
tia? of  the  logs,  and  while  this  was  doing  by  the  silent 
Indian,  Rivenoak  stalked  over  the  hemlock-boughs 
that  lay  between  the  logs,  in  sullen  ferocity,  ey- 
ing keenly  the  while  the  hut,  the  platform,  and 
the  person  of  his  late  disputant.  Once  he  spoke 
in  low,  quick  terms  to  his  companion,  and  he 
stirred  the  boughs  with  his  feet,  like  an  animal 
that  is  restive.  At  that  moment  the  watchfulness 
of  Deerslayer  had  a little  abated,  for  he  sat  mus- 
ing on  the  means  of  renewing  the  negotiation 
without  giving  too  much  advantage  to  the  other 
side.  It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for  him  that  the 
keen  and  bright  eyes  of  Judith  were  as  vigilant 
as  ever.  At  the  instant  when  the  young  man  was 
least  on  his  guard,  and  his  enemy  was  the  most 
on  the  alert,  she  called  out  in  a warning  voice  tc 
the  former,  most  opportunely  giving  the  alarm.  * 

“ Be  on  your  guard,  Deerslayer,”  the  girl  cried ; 
“ I see  rifles,  with  the  glass,  beneath  the  hemlock- 
brush, and  the  Iroquois  is  loosening  them  with 
his  feet ! ” 

It  would  seem  that  the  enemy  had  carried 
their  artifices  so  far  as  to  employ  an  agent  whe 
understood  English.  The  previous  dialogue  had 
taken  place  in  his  own  language,  but  it  was  evi- 
dent, by  the  sudden  manner  in  which  his  feel 
ceased  their  treacherous  occupation,  and  in  which 
the  countenance  of  Rivenoak  changed  from  sul- 
len ferocity  to  a smile  of  courtesy,  that  the  call 
of  the  girl  was  understood.  Signing  to  his  com- 
panion to  cease  his  efforts  to  set  the  logs  in  mo- 
tion, he  advanced  to  the  end  of  the  raft  which 
was  nearest  to  the  platform,  and  spoke. 

“ Why  should  Rivenoak  and  his  brother  leave 
any  cloud  between  them  ? ” he  said.  “ They  are 
both  wise,  both  brave,  and  both  generous ; they 
ought*  to  part  friends.  One  beast  shall  be  the 
price  of  one  prisoner.” 

“ And,  Mingo,”  answered  the  other,  delighted 
to  renew  the  negotiation  on  almost  any  terms,  and 
determined  to  clinch  the  bargain  if  possible  by  a 
little  extra  liberality,  “ you’ll  see  that  a pa,le-face 
knows  how  to  pay  a full  price,  when  he  trades 
with  an  open  heart  and  an  open  hand.  Keep  the 
beast  that  you  had  forgotten  to  give  back  to  me, 
as  you  was  about  to  start,  and  which  I forgot  to 
ask  for,  on  account  of  consarn  at  parting  in  a» 


108 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


ger.  Show  it  to  your  chiefs.  When  you  bring  us 
our  fri’nds,  two  more  shall  be  added  to  it — and — ” 
hesitating  a moment  in  distrust  of  the  expedi- 
ency of  so  great  a concession,  then  deciding  in  its 
favor — ■“  and,  if  we  see  them  afore  the  sun  sets, 
we  may  fir.d  a fourth  to  make  up  an  even  num- 
ber.” 

This  settled  the  matter.  Every  gleam  of  dis- 
content vanished  from  the  dark  countenance  of 
the  Iroquois,  and  he  smiled  as  graciously,  if  not 
as  sweetly,  as  Judith  Hutter  herself.  The  piece 
already  in  his  possession  was  again  examined,  and 
an  ejaculation  of  pleasure  showed  how  much  he 
was  pleased  with  this  unexpected  termination  of 
the  affair.  In  point  of  fact,  both  he  and  Deer- 
slayer  had  momentarily  forgotten  what  had  be- 
come of  the  subject  of  their  discussion,  in  the 
warmth  of  their  feelings  ; but  such  had  not  been 
the  case  with  Rivenoak’s  companion.  This  man 
retained  the  piece,  and  had  fully  made  up  his 
mind,  were  it  claimed  under  such  circumstances 
as  to  render  its  return  necessary,  to  drop  it  in 
the  lake,  trusting  to  his  being  able  to  find  it  again 
at  some  future  day.  This  desperate  expedient, 
however,  was  no  longer  necessary ; and,  after  re- 
p'eating  the  terms  of  agreement,  and  professing  to 
understand  them,  the  two  Indians  finally  took 
their  departure,  moving  slowly  toward  the  shore. 

“ Can  any  faith  be  put  in  such  wretches  ? ” 
asked  Judith,  when  she  and  Hetty  had  come  out 
on  the  platform,  and  were  standing  at  the  side  of 
Deerslayer,  watching  the  dull  movement  of  the 
logs.  “ Will  they  not  rather  keep  the  toy  they 
have,  and  send  us  off  some  bloody  proofs  of  their 
getting  the  better  of  us  in  cunning,  by  way  of 
boasting  ? I’ve  heard  of  acts  as  bad  as  this.” 

“ No  doubt — Judith  ; no  manner  of  doubt,  if 
it  wasn’t  for  Indian  natur’.  But  I’m  no  judge  of 
a red-skin,  if  that  two-tailed  beast  doesn’t  set  the 
whole  tribe  in  some  such  stir  as  a stick  raises  in 
a beehive ! Now,  there’s  the  Sarpent ; a man 
with  narves  -like  flint,  and  no  more  cur’osity  in 
every-day  consarns  than  is  befitting  prudence. — 
Why,  he  was  so  overcome  with  the  sight  of  the 
creatur’,  carved  as  it  is  in  bone,  that  I felt 
ashamed  for  him  ! That’s  just  their  gifts,  how- 
ever, and  one  can’t  well  quarrel  with  a man  for 
his  gifts,  when  they  are  lawful.  Chingachgook  will 
soon  get  over  his  weakness,  and  remember  that 
he’s  a chief,  and  that  he  comes  of  a great  stock, 
and  has  a renowned  name  to  support  and  uphold  ; 
but,  as  for  yonder  scamps,  there’ll  be  no  peace 
among  ’em,  until  they  think  they’ve  got  posses- 
sion of  every  thing  of  the  natur’  of  that  bit  of 
carved  bone  that’s  to  be  found  among  Thomas 
Hutter’s  stores ! ” 


“ They  only  know  of  the  elephants,  and  can 
have  no  hopes  about  the  other  things.” 

“ That’s  true,  Judith  ; still,  covetousness  is  a 
craving  feelin’.  They’ll  say,  ‘ If  the  pale-faces  have 
these  curious  beasts  with  two  tails,  who  knows 
but  they’ve  got  some  with  three,  or,  for  that  mat- 
ter, with  four  ! ’ That’s  what  the  school-masters 
call  nat'ral  arithmetic,  and  ’twill  be  sartain  to  be- 
set the  feelin’s  of  savages.  They’ll  never  be  easy 
till  the  truth  is  known.” 

“ Do  you  think,  Deerslayer,”  inquired  Hetty, 
in  her  simple  and  innocent  manner,  “ that  the 
Iroquois  won’t  let  father  and  Hurry  go  ? — I read 
to  them  several  of  the  very  best  verses  in  the 
whole  Bible,  and  you  see  what  they  have  done 
already.” 

The  hunter,  as  he  always  did,  listened  kindly 
and  even  affectionately  to  Hetty’s  remarks  ; then 
he  mused  a moment  in  silence.  There  was  some- 
thing like  a flush  on  his  cheek  as  he  answered, 
after  quite  a minute  had  passed  : 

“ I don’t  know  whether  a white  man  ought  to 
be  ashamed  or  not,  to  own  he  can’t  read ; but 
such  is  my  case,  Judith.  You  are  skilful,  I find, 
in  all  sqch  matters,  while  I have  only  studied  the 
hand  of  God,  as  it  is  seen  in  the  hills  and  the  val- 
leys, the  mountain-tops,  the  streams,  the  forest, 
and  the  springs.  Much  I’arning  may  be  got  in 
this  way,  as  well  as  out  of  books ; and  yet,  I 
sometimes  think,  it  is  a white  man’s  gift  to  read. 
When  I hear  from  the  mouths  of  the  Moravians 
the  words  of  which  Hetty  speaks,  they  raise  a 
longing  in  my  mind,  and  I think  I will  know  how 
to  read  ’em  myself;  but  the  game  in  summer,  and 
the  traditions,  and  lessons  in  war,  and  other  mat- 
ters, have  always  kept  me  behindhand.” 

“ Shall  I teach  you,  Deerslayer  ? ” asked  Het- 
ty, earnestly.  “ I’m  weak-minded,  they  say,  but 
I can  read  as  well  as  Judith.  It  might  save  your 
fife  to  know  how  to  read  the  Bible  to  the  savages, 
and  it  will  certainly  save  your  soul ; for  mother 
told  me  that , again  and  again ! ” 

“ Thankee,  Hetty — yes,  thankee,  with  all  my 
heart.  There  are  like  to  be  too  stirring  times  for 
much  idleness  ; but,  after  it’s  peace,  and  I come 
to  see  you  ag’in  on  this  lake,  then  I’ll  give  my- 
self up  to  it,  as  if  ’twas  pleasure  and  profit,  in  a 
single  business. — Perhaps  I ought  to  be  ashamed, 
Judith,  that  ’tis  so  ; but  truth  is  truth.  As  for 
these  Iroquois,  ’tisn’t  very  likely  they’ll  forget  a 
beast  with  two  tails,  on  account  of  a varse  or  two 
from  the  Bible.  I rather  expect  they’ll  give  up 
the  prisoners,  and  trust  to  some  sarcumvent.ion 
or  other  to  get  ’em  back  ag’in,  with  us  and  all 
in  the  castle,  and  the  ark  in  the  bargain.  Hows- 
ever,  we  must  humor  the  vagabonds  first,  to  ge< 


THE  TWO  RANSOMED  PRISONERS. 


109 


jrour  father  and  Hurry  out  of  their  hands,  and 
next,  to  keep  the  peace  atween  us,  until  such 
time  as  the  Sarpent  there  can  make  out  to  get 
off  his  betrothed  wife.  If  there’s  any  sudden 
outbreakin’  of  anger  and  ferocity,  the  Indians  will 
send  off  all  their  women  and  children  to  the  camp 
at  once  ; whereas,  by  keeping  ’em  calm  and  trust- 
ful, we  may  manage  to  meet  Hist  at  the  spot  she 
has  mentioned.  Rather  than  have  the  bargain 
fall  through  now,  I’d  throw  in  half  a doz^n  of 
them  effigy  bow-and-arrow  men,  such  as  we’ve  in 
plenty  in  the  chist.” 

Judith  cheerfully  assented,  for  she  would  have 
resigned  even  the  flowered  brocade,  rather  than 
not  redeem  her  father  and  please  Deerslayer. 

The  prospects  of  success  were  now  so  encour- 
aging as  to  raise  the  spirits  of  all  in  the  castle, 
though  a due  watchfulness  on  the  movements  of 
the  enemy  was  maintained.  Hour  passed  after 
hour,  notwithstanding,  and  the  sun  had  once  more 
begun  to  fall  toward  the  summits  of  the  western 
hills,  and  yet  no  signs  were  seen  of  the  return  of 
the  raft.  By  dint  of  sweeping  the  shore  with  the 
glass,  Deerslayer  at  length  discovered  a place  in 
the  dense  and  dark  woods,  where,  he  entertained 
no  doubt,  the  Iroquois  were  assembled  in  consid- 
erable numbers.  It  was  near  the  thicket  whence 
the  raft  had  issued,  and  a little  rill  that  trickled 
into  the  lake  announced  the  vicinity  of  a spring. 
Here,  then,  the  savages  were  probably  holding 
their  consultation,  and  the  decision  was  to  be 
made  that  went  to  settle  the  question  of  life  or 
death  for  the  prisoners.  There  was  one  ground 
for  hope  in  spite  of  the  delay,  however,  that  Deer- 
glayer  did  not  fail  to  place  before  his  anxious  com- 
panions. It  was  far  more  probable  that  the  In- 
dians had  left  their  prisoners  in  the  camp,  than 
that  they  had  encumbered  themselves  by  causing 
them  to  follow  through  the  woods  a party  that 
was  out  on  a merely  temporary  excursion.  If 
cuch  was  the  fact,  it  required  considerable  time 
to  send  a messenger  the  necessary  distance,  and 
to  bring  the  two  white  men  to  the  spot  where 
they  were  to  embark.  Encouraged  by  these  re- 
flections, a new  stock  of  patience  was  gathered, 
and  the  declension  of  the  sun  was  viewed  with 
less  alarm. 

The  result  justified  Deerslayer’s  conjecture. 
Not  long  before  the  sun  had  finally  disappeared, 
the  two  logs  were  seen  coming  out  of  the  thicket 
again ; and,  as  it  drew  near,  Judith  announced 
that  her  father  and  Hurry,  both  of  them  pinioned, 
lay  on  the  bushes  in  the  centre.  As  before,  the 
Indians  were  rowing.  The  latter  seemed  to  be 
conscious  that  the  lateness  of  the  hour  demanded 
unusual  exertions,  and,  contrary  to  the  habits  of 


their  people,  who  are  ever  averse  to  toil,  they 
labored  hard  at  the  rude  substitutes  for  oars.  In 
consequence  of  this  diligence,  the  raft  occupied 
its  old  station  in  about  half  the  time  that  had 
been  taken  in  the  previous  visits. 

Even  after  the  conditions  were  so  well  under- 
stood, and  matters  had  proceeded  so  far,  the  act- 
ual transfer  of  the  prisoners  was  not  a duty  to  be 
executed  without  difficulty.  The  Iroquois  were 
compelled  to  place  great  reliance  on  the  good 
faith  of  their  foes,  though  it  was  reluctantly  given, 
and  was  yielded  to  necessity  rather  than  to  confi- 
dence. As  soon  as  Hutter  and  Hurry  should  be 
released,  the  party  in  the  castle  numbered  two  to 
one,  as  opposed  to  those  on  the  raft,  and  escape 
by  flight  was  out  of  the  question,  as  the  former 
had  three  bark  canoes,  to  say  nothing  of  the  de- 
fences of  the  house  and  the  ark.  All  this  was 
understood  by  both  parties,  and  it  is  probable  the 
arrangement  never  could  have  been  completed, 
had  not  the  honest  countenance  and  manner  of 
Deerslayer  wrought  their  usual  effect  on  Riven- 
oak. 

“ My  brother  knows  I put  faith  in  Aim,”  said 
the  latter  as  he  advanced  with  Hutter,  whose  legs 
had  been  released  to  enable  the  old  man  to  ascend 
the  platform.  “ One  scalp — one  more  beast.” 

“ Stop,  Mingo,”  interrupted  the  hunter,  “ keep 
your  prisoner  a moment.  I have  to  go  and  seek 
the  means  of  payment.” 

This  excuse,  however,  though  true  in  part,  was 
principally  a fetch.  Deerslayer  left  the  platform, 
and,  entering  the  house,  he  directed  Judith  to 
collect  all  the  arms,  and  to  conceal  them  in  her 
own  room.  He  then  spoke  earnestly  to  the 
Delaware,  who  stood  on  guard  as  before,  near 
the  entrance  of  the  building,  put  the  three  re- 
maining castles  in  his  pocket,  and  returned. 

“You  are  welcome  back  to  your  old  abode, 
Master  Hutter,”  said  Deerslayer,  a3  he  helped  the 
other  up  on  the  platform,  slyly  passing  into  the 
hand  of  Rivenoak,  at  the  same  time,  another 
of  the  castles.  “ You’ll  find  your  darters  right 
glad  to  see  you  ; and  here’s  Hetty  come  herself  to 
say  as  much  in  her  own  behalf.” 

Here  the  hunter  stopped  speaking,  and  broke 
out  into  a hearty  fit  of  his  silent  and  peculiar 
laughter.  Hurry’s  legs  were  just  released,  and  he 
had  been  placed  on  his  feet.  Sc  tightly  had  the 
ligatures  been  drawn,  that  the  use  of  his  limbs 
was  not  immediately  recovered,  and  the  young 
giant  presented,  in  good  sooth,  a very  helpless 
and  a somewhat  ludicrous  picture.  It  was  this 
unusual  spectacle,  particularly  the  bewildered 
countenance,  that  excited  the  merriment  of  Deer- 
slayer. 


110 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“ You  look  like  a girdled  pine  in  a clearin’, 
Harry  Hurry,  that  is  rocking  in  a gale,”  said 
Deerslayer,  checking  his  unseasonable  mirth,  more 
from  delicacy  to  the  others  than  from  any  respect 
to  the  liberated  captive.  “ I’m  glad,  howsever,  to 
see  that  you  haven’t  had  your  hair  dressed  by  any 
of  the  Iroquois  barbers,  in  your  late  visit  to  their 
camp.” 

“ Harkee,  Deerslayer,”  returned  the  other,  a 
little  fiercely,  “ it  will  be  prudent  for  you  to  deal 
less  in  mirth  and  more  in  friendship  on  this  occa- 
sion. Act  like  a Christian  for  once,  and  not  like 
a laughing  gal  in  a country  school,  when  the 
master’s  back  is  turned,  and  just  tell  me  whether 
there’s  any  feet  or  not  at  the  end  of  these  legs  of 
mine.  I think  I can  see  them,  but  as  for  feelin', 
they  might  as  well  be  down  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mohawk,  as  where  they  seem  to  be.” 

“You’ve  come  off  whole,  Hurry,  and  that’s 
not  a little,”  answered  the  other,  secretly  passing 
to  the  Indian  the  remainder  of  the  stipulated  ran- 
som, and  making  an  earnest  sign,  at  the  same  mo- 
ment, for  him  to  commence  his  retreat.  “ You’ve 
come  off  whole,  feet  and  all,  and  are  only  a little 
numb,  from  a tight  fit  of  the  withes.  Natur’  ’ll 
soon  set  the  blood  in  motion,  and  then  you  may 
begin  to  dance,  to  celebrate  what  I call  a most 
wonderful  and  onexpected  deliverance  from  a den 
of  wolves.” 

Deerslayer  released  the  arms  of  his  friends,  as 
each  landed,  and  the  two  were  now  stamping  and 
limping  about  on  the  platform,  growling,  and  ut- 
tering denunciations,  as  they  endeavored  to  help 
the  returning  circulation.  They  had  been  teth- 
ered too  long,  however,  to  regain  the  use  of  their 
limbs  in  a moment ; and,  the  Indians  being  quite 
as  diligent  on  their  return  as  on  their  advance, 
the  raft  was  fully  a hundred  yards  from  the  castle 
when  Hurry,  turning  accidentally  in  that  direc- 
tion, discovered  how  fast  it  was  getting  beyond 
the  reach  of  his  vengeance.  By  this  time  he 
could  move  with  tolerable  facility,  though  still 
numb  and  awkward.  Without  considering  his 
own  situation,  however,  he  seized  the  rifle  that 
leaned  against  the  shoulder  of  Deerslayer,  and  at- 
tempted to  cock  and  present  it.  The  young 
hunter  was  too  quick  for  him.  Seizing  the  piece, 
he  wrenched  it  from  the  hands  of  the  giant ; not, 
however,  until  it  had  gone  off  in  the  struggle, 
when  pointed  directly  upward.  It  is  probable 
that  Deerslayer  could  have  prevailed  in  such  a 
contest,  on  account  of  the  condition  of  Hurry’s 
limbs ; but  the  instant  the  gun  went  off  the  latter 
yielded,  and  stumped  toward  the  house,  raising 
his  legs  at  each  step  quite  a foot  from  the  ground, 
from  an  uncertainty  of  the  actual  position  of  his 


feet.  But  he  had  been  anticipated  by  Judith. 
The  whole  stock  of  Hutter’s  arms,  which  had 
been  left  in  the  building  as  a resource  in  the 
event  of  a sudden  outbreaking  of  hostilities,  had 
been  removed,  and  were  already  secreted,  agree- 
ably to  Deerslayer’s  directions.  In  consequence 
of  this  precaution,  no  means  offered  by  which 
March  could  put  his  designs  into  execution. 

Disappointed  in  his  vengeance,  Hurry  seated 
himself,  and  like  Hutter,  for  half  an  hour,  he  was 
too  much  occupied  in  endeavoring  to  restore  the 
circulation,  and  in  regaining  the  use  of  his  limbs, 
to  indulge  in  any  other  reflections.  By  the  end 
of  this  time  the  raft  had  disappeared,  and  night 
was  beginning  to  throw  her  shadows  once  more 
over  the  whole  sylvan  scene.  Before  darkness 
had  completely  set  in,  and  wrhile  the  girls  were 
preparing  the  evening  meal,  Deerslayer  related  to 
Hutter  an  outline  of  the  events  that  had  taken 
place,  and  gave  him  a history  of  the  means  he 
bad  adopted  for  the  security  of  his  children  and 
property. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

“ As  long  as  Edwarde  rules  thya  lande, 

Ne  quiet  you  wy lie  know ; 

Your  sonnes  and  husbandes  shall  be  slayne, 

And  brookes  with  bloode  shall  flowe.” 

“ You  leave  youre  goode  and  lawfulle  kynge, 
Whenne  ynne  adversitye ; 

Like  me,  untoe  the  true  cause  stycke, 

And  for  the  true  cause  dye.” 

Chatteston. 

The  calm  of  evening  was  again  in  singular 
contrast,  while  its  gathering  gloom  was  in  as  sin- 
gular unison  with  the  passions  of  men.  The  sun 
set,  and  the  rays  of  the  retiring  luminary  ceased 
to  gild  the  edges  of  the  few  clouds  that  had  suffi- 
cient openings  to  admit  the  passage  of  its  fading 
light.  The  canopy  overhead  was  heavy  and 
dense,  promising  another  night  of  darkness,  but 
the  surface  of  the  lake  was  scarcely  disturbed  by 
a ripple.  There  was  a little  air,  though  it  scarce 
deserved  to  be  termed  wind.  Still,  being  damp 
and  heavy,  it  had  a certain  force.  The  party  in 
the  castle  were  as  gloomy  and  silent  as  the  scene. 
The  two  ransomed  prisoners  felt  humbled  and 
dishonored,  but  their  humility  partook  of  the 
rancor  of  revenge.  They  were  far  more  disposed 
to  remember  the  indignity  with  which  they  had 
been  treated  during  the  last  few  hours  of  their 
captivity,  than  to  feel  grateful  for  the  previous 
indulgence.  Then  that  keen-sighted  monitor  con- 
science, by  reminding  them  of  the  retributive  ju» 


A DECLARATION  OF  WAR. 


Ill 


tice  of  all  they  had  endured,  goaded  them  rather 
to  turn  the  tables  on  their  enemies  than  to  accuse 
themselves.  As  for  the  others,  they  were  thought- 
ful equally  from  regret  and  joy.  Deerslayer  and 
Judith  felt  most  of  the  former  sensation,  though 
from  very  different  causes,  while  Hetty,  for  the 
moment,  was  perfectly  happy.  The  Delaware  had 
also  lively  pictures  of  fSlicity  in  the  prospect  of 
so  soon  regaining  his  betrothed.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances, and  in  this  mood,  all  were  taking  the 
evening  meal. 

“ Old  Tom ! ” cried  Hurry,  bursting  into  a fit 
of  boisterous  laughter,  “you  looked  amazin’ly 
like  a tethered  bear,  as  you  was  stretched  on 
them  hemlock-boughs,  and- 1 only  wonder  you 
didn’t  growl  tnore.  Well,  it’s  over,  and  eyth’s 
aud  lamentations  won’t  mend  the  matter.  There’s 
the  blackguard  Rivenoak,  he  that  brought  us  off, 
has  an  oncommon  scalp,  and  I’d  give  as  much  for 
it  myself  as  the  colony.  Yes,  I feel  as  rich  as 
the  governor,  in  these  matters  now,  and  will  lay 
down  with  them  doubloon  for  doubloon. — Judith, 
darling,  did  you  mourn  for  me  much,  when  I was 
in  the  hands  of  the  Philipsteins  ? ” 

The  last  were  a family  of  German  descent  on 
the  Mohawk,  to  whom  Hurry  had  a great  an- 
tipathy, and  whom  he  had  confounded  with  the 
enemies  of  Judea. 

“ Our  tears  have  raised  the  lake,  Harry  March, 
as  you  might  have  seen  by  the  shore ! ” returned 
Judith,  with  a feigned  levity  that  she  was  far 
from  feeling.  “ That  Hetty  and  I should  have 
grieved  for  father,  was  to  be  expected ; but  we 
fairly  rained  tears  for  you.” 

“We  were  sorry  for  poor  Hurry,  as  well  as 
for  father,  Judith ! ” put  in  her  innocent  and  un- 
conscious sister. 

“ True,  girl,  true ! but  we  feel  sorrow  for  ever- 
body  that’s  in  trouble,  you  know,”  returned  the 
other  in  a quick,  admonitory  manner,  and  a low 
tone. — “ Nevertheless,  we  are  glad  to  see  you, 
Master  March,  and  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Philip- 
steins, too.” 

“Yes,  they’re  a bad  set,  and  so  is  the  other 
brood  of  ’em,  down  on  the  river.  It’s  a wonder- 
ment to  me  how  you  got  us  off,  Deerslayer;  and 
I forgive  you  the  interference  that  prevented  my 
doin’  justice  on  that  vagabond,  for  this  small 
sarvice.  Let  us  into  the  secret,  that  we  may  do 
you  the  same  good  turn,  at  need.  Was  it  by  lying, 
or  by  coaxing  ? ” 

“By  neither,  Hurry,  but  by  buying.  We 
paid  a ransom  for  you  both,  and  that,  too,  at  a 
price  so  high,  you  had  well  be  on  your  guard  ag’in 
another  captyvement,  lest  our  stock  of  goods 
shouldn’t  hold  out.” 


“ A ransom ! — Old  Tom  has  paid  tfie  fiddler, 
then,  for  nothing  of  mine  would  have  bought  off 
the  hair,  much  less  the  skin.  I didn’t  think  men 
as  keen  set  as  them  vagabonds  would  let  a fellow 
up  so  easy,  when  they  had  him  fairly  at  a close 
hug,  and  floored.  But  money  is  money,  and  some- 
how it’s  unnat’ral  hard  to  withstand.  Injin,  or 
white  man,  ’tis  pretty  much  the  same. — It  must 
be  owned,  Judith,  there’s  a considerable  of  hu- 
man natur’  in  mankind  ginirally,  after  all ! ” 

Hutter  now  rose,  and,  signing  to  Deerslayer, 
he  led  him  to  an  inner  room,  where,  in  answer  to 
his  questions,  he  first  learned  the  price  that  had 
been  $aid  for  his  release.  The  old  man  ex 
pressed  neither  resentment  nor  surprise  at  the  in- 
road that  had  been  made  on  his  chest,  though  he 
did  manifest  some  curiosity  to  know  how  far  the 
investigation  of  its  contents  had  been  carried. 
He  also  inquired  where  the  key  had  been  found. 
The  habitual  frankness  of  Deerslayer  prevented 
any  prevarication,  and  the  conference  soon  termi- 
nated by  the  return  of  the  two  to  the  outer  room, 
or  that  which  served  for  the  double  purpose  of 
parlor  and  kitchen. 

“I  wonder  if  it’s  peace  or  war  between  us 
and  the  savages ! ” exclaimed  Hurry,  just  as 
Deerslayer,  who  had  paused  for  a single  instant, 
listened  attentively,  and  was  passing  through  the 
outer  door  without  stopping.  “This  givin’  up 
captives  has  a friendly  look,  and  when  men  have 
traded  together,  on  a fair  and  honorable  footing, 
they  ought  to  part  fri’nds,  for  that  occasion,  at 
least.  Come  back,  Deerslayer,  and  let  us  have 
your  judgment,  for  I’m  beginnin’  to  think  more 
of  you,  since  your  late  behavior,  than  I used  to 
do.” 

“ There’s  an  answer  to  your  question,  Hurry, 
since  you’re  in  such  haste  to  come  ag’in  to  blows.” 

As  Deerslayer  spoke,  he  threw  on  the  table,  on 
which  the  other  was  reclining  with  one  elbow,  a 
sort  of  miniature  fagot,  composed  of  a dozen 
sticks  bound  tightly  together  with  a deer-skin 
thong.  March  seized  it -eagerly,  and  holding  it 
close  to  a blazing  knot  of  pine  that  lay  on  the 
hearth,  and  which  gave  out  all  the  light  there 
was  in  the  room,  ascertained  that  the  ends  of  the 
several  sticks  had  been  dipped  in  blood. 

“ If  this  isn’t  plain  English,”  said  the  reck 
less  frontier  man,  “ it’s  plain  Injin  ! Here’s  wha 
they  call  a dicliration  of  war,  down  at  Fork,  Ju 
dith. — How  did  you  come  by  this  defiance,  Deer- 
slayer ? ” 

“ Fairly  enough.  It  lay,  not  a minut’  since, 
in  what  you  call  Floatin’  Tom’s  door-yard.” 

“ How  came  it  there  ? It  never  fell  from  the 
clouds,  Judith,  as  little  toads  sometimes  do,  and 


112 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


then  it  don’t  rain. — You  must  prove  where  it 
come  from,  or,  Deerslayer,  we  shall  suspect  some 
design  to  shear  them  that  would  have  lost  their 
wits  long  ago,  if  fear  could  drive  ’em  away.” 

Deerslayer  had  approached  a window,  and 
cast  a glance  out  of  it  on  the  dark  aspect  of  the 
lake.  As  if  satisfied  with  what  he  beheld,  he 
drew  near  Hurry  and  took  the  bundle  of  slicks 
into  his  own  hand,  examining  it  attentively. 

“ Yes,  this  is  an  Indian  declaration  of  war, 
sure  enough,”  he  said,  “ and  it’s  a proof  how  lit- 
tle you’re  suited  to  be  on  the  path  it  has  trav- 
elled, Harry  March,  that  it  has  got  here,  and  you 
never  the  wiser  as  to  the  means.  The  Ravages 
may  have  left  the  scalp  on  your  head,  but  they 
must  have  taken  off  the  ears  ; else  you’d  have 
heard  the  stirring  of  the  water  made  by  the  lad 
4s  he  came  off  ag’in  on  his  two  logs.  His  ar’n’d 
was  to  throw  these  sticks  at  our  door,  as  much 
as  to  say,  ‘We’ve  struck  the  war-post  since  the 
trade,  and  the  next  thing  will  be  to  strike 
you ” 

“ The  prowling  wolves  ! — But  hand  me  that 
rifle,  J udith,  and  I’ll  send  an  answer  back  to  the 
vagabonds  through  their  messenger.” 

“Not  while  I stand  by,  Master  March,”  coolly 
put  in  Deerslayer,  motioning  for  the  other  to  for- 
bear. “ Faith  is  faith,  whether  given  to  a red- 
skin or  to  a Christian.  The  lad  lighted  a knot, 
and  came  off  fairly,  under  its  blaze,  to  give  us 
this  warning ; and  no  man  here  should  harm  him 
while  empl’yed  on  such  an  ar’n’d.  There’s  no 
use  in  words,  for  the  boy  is  too  cunning  to  leave 
the  knot  burning,  now  his  business  is  done,  and 
the  night  is  already  too  dark  for  a rifle  to  have 
any  sartainty.” 

“ That  may  be  true  enough,  as  to  a gun,  but 
there’s  virtue  still  in  a canoe,”  answered  Hurry, 
passing  toward  the  door  with  enormous  strides, 
carrying  a rifle  in  his  hands.  “ The  being  doesn’t 
live  that  shall  stop  me  from  following,  and  bring- 
ing back  that  riptyle's  scalp.  The  more  on  ’em 
that  you  crush  in  the  egg,  the  fewer  there’ll  be  to 
dart  at  you  in  the  woods  ! ” 

Judith  trembled  like  the  aspen,  she  scarce 
knew  why  herself,  though  there  was  the  prospect 
of  a scene  of  violence ; “ for,  if  Hurry  was  fierce 
and  overbearing  in  the  consciousness  of  his  vast 
strength,  Deerslayer  had  about  him  the  calm  de- 
termination that  promises  greater  perseverance, 
and  a resolution  more  likely  to  effect  its  object. 
It  was  the  stern,  resolute  eye  of  the  latter,  rather 
than  the  noisy  vehemence  of  the  first,  that  ex- 
cited her  apprehensions.  Hurry  soon  reached 
the  spot  where  the  canoe  was  fastened,  but  not 
before  Deerslayer  had  spoken  in  & quick,  earnest 


voice  to  the  Serpent,  in  Delaware.  The  lattei 
had  been  the  first,  in  truth,  to  hear  the  sounds 
of  the  oars,  and  he  had  gone  upon  the  platform 
in  jealous  watchfulness.  The  light  satisfied  him 
that  a message  was  coming,  and  when  the  boy 
cast  his  bundle  of  sticks  at  his  feet,  it  neither 
moved  his  anger  nor  induced  surprise.  He  merely 
stood  at  watch,  rifle  in  hand,  to  make  certain  that 
no  treachery  lay  behind  the  defiance.  As  Deer- 
slayer now  called  to  him,  he  stepped  into  the  ca 
noe,  and  quick  as  thought  removed  the  paddles. 
Hurry  was  furious  when  he  found  that  he  w as 
deprived  of  the  means  of  proceeding.  He  first 
approached  the  Indian  with  loud  menaces,  and 
even  Deerslayer  stood  aghast  at  the  probable 
consequences.  March  shook  his  sledge-hammer 
fists  and  flourished  his  arms,  as  he  drew  near  the 
Indian,  and  all  expected  he  would  attempt  to  fell 
the  Delaware  to  the  earth  ; one  of  them,  at  least, 
was  well  aware  that  such  an  experiment  would 
be  followed  by  immediate  bloodshed.  But  even 
Hurry  was  awed  by  the  stern  composure  of  the 
chief,  and  he,  too,  knew  that  such  a man  was  not 
to  be  outraged  with  impunity ; he,  therefore, 
turned  to  vent  his  rage  on  Deerslayer,  where  he 
foresaw  no  consequences  so  terrible.  What  might 
have  been  the  result  of  this  second  demonstra- 
tion, if  completed,  is  unknown,  since  it  was  never 
made. 

“ Hurry,”  said  a gentle,  soothing  voice  at  his 
elbow,  “ it’s  wicked  to  be  so  angry,  and  God  will 
not  overlook  it.  The  Iroquois  treated  you  well, 
and  they  didn’t  take  your  scalp,  though  you  and 
father  wanted  to  take  theirs .” 

The  influence  of  mildness  on  passion  is  well 
known.  Hetty,  too,  had  earned  a sort  of  con- 
sideration, that  had  never  before  been  enjoyed  by 
her,  through  the  self-devotion  and  decision  of  her 
recent  conduct.  Perhaps  her  established  mental 
imbecility,  by  removing  all  distrust  of  a wish  to 
control,  aided  her  influence.  Let  the  cause  be 
as  questionable  as  it  might,  the  effect  was  suffi- 
ciently certain.  Instead  of  throttling  his  old  fel- 
low-traveller, Hurry  turned  to  the  girl,  and 
poured  out  a portion  of  his  discontent,  if  non** 
of  his  anger,  in  her  attentive  ears. 

“ ’Tis  too  bad,  Hetty ! ” he  exclaimed  ; “ as 
bad  as  a county  jail,  or  a lack  of  beaver,  to  get 
a creatur’  into  your  very  trap,  and  then  to  see  it 
get  off.  As  much  as  six  first-quality  skins,  in 
valie,  has  paddled  off  on  them  clumsy  logs,  when 
twenty  strokes  of  a well-turned  paddle  would 
overtake  ’em.  I say  in  valie,  for  as  to  the  boy 
in  the  way  of  natur’,  he  is  only  a boy,  and  is 
worth  neither  more  nor  less  than  one. — Deer- 
slayer, you’ve  been  ontrue  to  your  fri’nds  in  let. 


PRIVATE  CONFERENCES. 


113 


ting  such  a chance  slip  through  my  fingers  as 
well  as  your  own.” 

The  answer  was  given  quietly,  but  Avith  a 
voice  as  steady  as  a fearless  nature  and  the 
consciousness  of  rectitude  could  make  it.  “I 
should  have  been  ontrue  to  the  right,  had  I done 
otherwise,”  returned  Deerslayer,  steadily;  “and 
neither  you  nor  any  other  man  has  authority  to 
demand  that  much  of  me.  The  lad  came  on  a 
lawful  business,  and  the  meanest  red-skin  that 
roams  the  woods  would  be  ashamed  of  not  re- 
specting his  ar’n’d.  But  he’s  now  far  beyond 
your  reach,  Master  March,  and  there’s  little  use 
in  talking,  like  a couple  of  women,  of  what  can 
no  longer  be  helped.” 

So  saying,  Deerslayer  turned  away,  like  one 
resolved  to  waste  no  more  Avords  on  the  subject, 
while  Hutter  pulled  Harry  by  the  sleeve,  and  led 
him  into  the  ark.  There  they  sat  long  in  private 
conference.  In  the  mean  time,  the  Indian  and  his 
friend  had  their  secret  consultation  ; for,  though 
it  wanted  some  three  or  four  hours  to  the  rising 
of  the  star,  the  former  could  not  abstain  from 
canvassing  his  scheme,  and  from  opening  his 
heart  to  the  other.  Judith,  too,  yielded  to  her 
softer  feelings,  and  listened  to  the  whole  of  Het- 
ty’s artless  narrative  of  what  occurred  after  she 
had  landed.  The  woods  had  few  terrors  for  either 
of  these  girls,  educated  as  they  had  been,  and 
accustomed  as  they  were  to  look  out  daily  at 
4 their  rich  expanse,  or  to  wander  beneath  their 
dark  shades ; but  the  elder  sister  felt  that  she 
would  have  hesitated  about  thus  venturing  alone 
into  an  Iroquois  camp.  Concerning  Hist,  Hetty 
was  not  very  communicative.  She  spoke  of  her 
kindness  and  gentleness,  and  of  the  meeting  in 
the  forest ; but  the  secret  of  Chingachgook  was 
guarded  with  a shrewdness  and  fidelity  that 
many  a sharper-witted  girl  might  have  failed  to 
display. 

At  length  the  several  conferences  were  broken 
up  by  the  reappearance  of  Hutter  on  the  plat- 
form. Here  he  assembled  the  whole  party,  and 
communicated  as  much  of  his  intentions  as  he 
deemed  expedient.  Of  the  arrangement  made 
by  Deerslayer,  to  abandon  the  castle  during  the 
night,  and  to  take  refuge  in  the  ark,  he  entirely 
approved.  It  struck  him,  as  it  had  the  others,  as 
the  only  effectual  means  of  escaping  destruction. 
Noav  that  the  savages  had  turned  their  attention 
to  the  construction  of  rafts,  no  doubt  could  exist 
of  their  at  least  making  an  attempt  to  carry  the 
building,  and  the  message  of  the  bloody  sticks 
sufficiently  shoAved  their  confidence  in  their  own 
success.  In  short,  the  old  man  viewed  the  night 
as  critical,  and  he  called  on  all  to  get  ready  as 
8 


soon  as  possible,  in  order  to  abandon  the  dwell- 
ing, temporarily  at  least,  if  not  forever. 

These  communications  made,  every  thing  pro- 
ceeded promptly,  and  with  intelligence ; the  castle 
was  secured  in  the  manner  already  described,  the 
canoes  were  withdrawn  from  the  dock  and  fastened 
to  the  ark  by  the  side  of  the  other ; the  few  neces- 
saries that  had  been  left  in  the  house  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  cabin,  the  fire  was  extinguished,  and 
all  embarked. 

The  vicinity  of  the  hills,  with  their  drapery 
of  pines,  had  the  effect  to  render  nights  that  were 
obscure  darker  than  common  on  the  lake.  As 
usual,  however,  a belt  of  comparative  light  was 
stretched  through  the  centre  of  the  sheet,  AvhiJe  it 
was  within  the  shadows  of  the  mountains  that  the 
gloom  rested  most  heavily  on  the  water.  The 
island  or  castle  stood  in  this  belt  of  comparative 
light,  but  still  the  night  Avas  so  dark  as  to  cover 
the  departure  of  the  ark.  At  the  distance  of  an 
observer  on  the  shore,  her  movements  could  not 
be  seen  at  all,  more  particularly  as  a background 
of  dark  hill-side  filled  up  the  perspective  of  every 
view  that  was  taken  diagonally  or  directly  across 
the  water.  The  prevalent  Avind  on  the  lakes  of 
that  region  is  west,  but  owing  to  the  avenues 
formed  by  the  mountains,  it  is  frequently  impos- 
sible to  tell  the  true  direction  of  the  currents,  as; 
they  often  vary  within  short  distances,  and  brief 
differences  of  time.  This  is  truer  in  light  fluctu- 
ating puffs  of  air  than  in  steady  breezes  ; though 
the  squalls  of  even  the  latter  are  familiarly  known 
to  be  uncertain  and  baffling  in  all  mountainous 
regions  and  narrow  waters.  On  the  present  oc- 
casion, Hutter  himself  (as  he  shoved  the  ark  from 
her  berth  at  the  side  of  the  platform)  was  at  a 
loss  to  pronounce  which  way  the  wind  blew.  In 
common,  this  difficulty  was  solved  by  the  clouds, 
which,  floating  high  above  the  hill-tops,  as  a mat- 
ter of  course  obeyed  the  currents ; but  now  the 
whole  vault  of  heaven  seemed  a mass  of  gloomy 
wall.  Not  an  opening  of  any  sort  was  visible, 
and  Chingachgook  was  already  trembling  lest  the 
non-appearance  of  the  star  might  prevent  his  be- 
trothed from  being  punctual  to  her  appointment 
Under  these  circumstances,  Hutter  hoisted  his 
sail,  seemingly  with  the  sole  intention  of  getting 
away  from  the  castle,  as  it  might  be  dangerous  to 
remain  much  longer  in  its  vicinity.  The  air  soon 
filled  the  cloth,  and  when  the  scow  was  got  under 
command,  and  the  sail  was  properly  trimmed,  it 
Avas  found  that  the  direction  was  southerly,  inclin- 
ing toward  the  eastern  shore.  No  better  course 
offering  for  the  purposes  of  the  party,  the  singular 
craft  was  suffered  to  skim  the  surface  of  the  water 
in  this  direction  for  more  than  an  hour,  when  u 


114 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


change  in  the  currents  of  the  air  drove  them  over 
toward  the  camp. 

Deerslayer  watched  all  the  movements  of  flut- 
ter and  Harry  with  jealous  attention.  At  first  he 
did  not  know  -whether  to  ascribe  the  course  they 
had  held  to  accident  or  design  ; but  he  now  began 
to  suspect  the  latter.  Familiar  as  Hutter  was 
with  the  lake,  it  was  easy  to  deceive  one  who  had 
little  practice  on  the  water;  and,  let  his  intentions 
be  what  they  might,  it  was  evident,  ere  two  hours 
had  elapsed,  that  the  ark  had  got  over  sufficient 
space  to  be  within  a hundred  yards  of  the  shore, 
directly  abreast  of  the  known  position  of  the 
camp.  For  a considerable  time  previously  to 
reaching  this  point,  Hurry,  who  had  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  Algonquin  language,  had  been  in  close 
conference  with  the  Indian,  and  the  result  was 
now  announced  by  the  latter  to  Deerslayer,  who 
had  been  a cold,  not  to  say  distrusted  looker-on 
of  all  that  passed. 

“ My  old  father  and  my  young  brother,  the 
Big  Pine  ” — ■ for  so  the  Delaware  had  named 
March — “ want  to  see  Huron  scalps  at  their  belts,” 
said  Chingachgook  to  his  friend.  “ There  is  room 
for  some  on  the  girdle  of  the  Serpent,  and  his  peo- 
ple will  look  for  them  when  he  goes  back  to  his 
village.  Their  eyes  must  not  be  left  long  in  a fog, 
but  they  must  see  what  they  look  for.  I know 
that  my  brother  has  a white  hand  ; he  will  not 
gtrike  even  the  dead.  He  will  wait  for  us  ; when 
we  come  back  he  will  not  hide  his  face  from 
shame  for  his  friend.  The  great  Serpent  of  the 
Mohicans  must  be  worthy  to  go  on  the  war-path 
with  Hawkeye.” 

“Ay,  ay,  Sarpent,  I see  how  it  is  ; that  name’s 
to  stick,  and,  in  time,  I shall  get  to  be  known  by 
it  instead  of  Deerslayer  ; well,  if  such  honors  will 
come,  the  humblest  of  us  all  must  be  willing  to 
abide  by  ’em.  As  for  your  looking  for  scalps,  it 
belongs  to  your  gifts,  and  I see  no  harm  in  it. 
Be  marciful  Sarpent,  however  ; be  marciful,  I be- 
seech you.  It  surely  can  do  no  harm  to  a red- 
skin’s honor  to  show  a little  marcy.  As  for  the  old 
man,  the  father  of  two  young  women,  who  might 
ripen  better  feelin’s  in  his  heart,  and  Harry  March 
here,  who,  pine  as  he  is,  might  better  bear  the 
fruit  of  a more  Christianized  tree,  as  for  them  two> 

I leave  them  in  the  hands  of  the  white  man’s  God. 
Wasn’t  it  for  the  bloody  sticks,  no  man  should  go 
ag’in  the  Mingoes  this  night,  seein’  that  it  would 
dishonor  our  faith  and  characters ; but  them  that 
crave  blood  can’t  complain  if  blood  is  shed  at 
their  call.  Still,  Sarpent,  you  can  be  marciful. 
Don’t  begin  your  career  with  the  wails  of  women 
and  the  cries  of  children.  Bear  yourself  so  that 
Hist  will  smile,  and  not  weep,  when  she  meets  j 


you.  Go,  then  ; and  the  Manitou  pre3arv« 
you ! ” 

“ My  brother  will  stay  here  with  the  scow. 
Wah  ! will  soon  be  standing  on  the  shore  waiting, 
and  Chingachgook  must  hasten.” 

The  Indian  then  joined  his  two  co-adventurers, 
and,  first  lowering  the  sail,  they  all  three  entered 
a canoe,  and  left  the  side  of  the  ark.  Neither 
Hutter  nor  March  spoke  to  Deerslayer  concerning 
their  object,  or  the  probable  length  of  their  ab- 
sence. All  this  had  been  confided  to  the  Indian, 
who  had  acquitted  himself  of  the  trust  with  char- 
acteristic brevity.  As  soon  as  the  canoe  was 
out  of  sight,  and  that  occurred  ere  the  paddles 
had  given  a dozen  strokes,  Deerslayer  made  the 
best  dispositions  he  could  to  keep  the  ark  as 
nearly  stationary  as  possible ; and  then  he  sat 
down  in  the  end  of  the  scow,  to  Chew  the  cud  of 
his  own  bitter  reflections.  It  was  not  long,  how- 
ever, before  he  was  joined  by  Judith,  who  sought 
every  occasion  to  be  near  him,  managing  her  at- 
tack on  his  affections  with  the  address  that  was 
suggested  by  native  coquetry,  aided  by  no  little 
practice,  but  which  received  much  of  its  most 
dangerous  power  from  the  touch  of  feeling  that 
threw  around  her  manner,  voice,  accents,  thoughts 
and  acts,  the  indescribable  witchery  of  natural 
tenderness.  Leaving  the  young  hunter  exposed 
to  these  dangerous  assailants,  it  has  become  our 
more  immediate  business  to  follow  the  party  in 
the  canoe  to  the  shore. 

The  controlling  influence  that  led  Hutter  and 
Hurry  to  repeat  their  experiment  against  the 
camp  was  precisely  that  which  induced  the  first 
attempt,  a little  heightened,  perhaps,  by  the  de- 
sire of  revenge.  But  neither  of  these  two  rude 
beings,  go  ruthless  in  all  things  that  touched  the 
rights  and  interests  of  the  red  man,  though  pos- 
sessing veins  of  human  feeling  on  other  matters, 
was  much  actuated  by  any  other  desire  than  a 
heartless  longing  for  profit.  Hurry  had  felt 
angered  at  his  sufferings,  when  first  liberated,  it 
is  true,  but  that  emotion  soon  disappeared  in  the 
habitual  love  of  gold,  which  he  sought  with  the 
reckless  avidity  of  a needy  spendthrift,  rather 
than  with  the  ceaseless  longings  of  a miser.  In 
short,  the  motive  that  urged  them  both  so  soon  to 
go  against  the  Hurons,  was  an  habitual  contempt 
of  their  enemy,  acting  on  the  unceasing  cupidity 
of  prodigality.  The  additional  chances  of  success, 
however,  had  their  place  in  the  formation  of  the 
second  enterprise.  It  was  known  that  a large 
portion  of  the  warriors — perhaps  all — were  en- 
camped for  the  night  abreast  of  the  castle,  and  it 
was  hoped  that  the  scalp3  of  helpless  victim? 
would  be  the  consequence.  To  confess  the  truth 


PROWLING  AFTER  SCALPS. 


115 


Hutter  in  particular — he  who  had  just  left  two 
daughters  behind  him — expected  to  find  few  be- 
sides women  and  children  in  the  camp.  This  fact 
had  been  but  slightly  alluded  to  in  his  communi- 
cations with  Hurry,  and  with  Chingachgook  it  had 
been  kept  entirely  out  of  view.  If  the  Indian 
thought  of  it  at  all,  it  was  known  only  to  himself. 

Hutter  steered  the  canoe ; Hurry  had  manfully 
taken  his  post  in  the  bows,  and  Chingachgook 
stood  in  the  centre.  We  say  stood,  for  all  three 
were  so  skilled  in  the  management  of  that  species 
of  frail  bark,  as  to  be  able  to  keep  erect  positions 
in  the  midst  of  the  darkness.  The  approach  to 
the  shore  was  made  Avith  great  caution,  and  the 
landing  effected  in  safety.  The  three  now  prepared 
their  arms,  and  began  their  tiger-like  approach 
upon  the  camp.  The  Indian  was  on  the  lead, 
his  two  companions  treading  in  his  footsteps,  with 
a stealthy  cautiousness  of  manner,  that  rendered 
their  progress  almost  literally  noiseless.  Occasion- 
ally a dried  twig  snapped  under  the  heavy  weight 
of  the  gigantic  Hurry,  or  the  blundering  clumsiness 
of  the  old  man ; but,  had  the  Indian  walked  on 
air,  hi3  step  could  not  have  seemed  lighter.  The 
great  object  was  first  to  discover  the  position  of 
the  fire,  which  Avas  knOAvn  to  be  the  centre  of 
the  whole  encampment.  At  length  the  keen  eye 
of  Chingachgook  caught  a glimpse  of  this  im- 
portant guide.  It  was  glimmering  at  a distance 
among  the  trunks  of  trees.  There  was  no  blaze, 
but  merely  a single  smouldering  brand,  as  suited 
the  hour,  the  savages  usually  retiring  and  rising 
Avith  the  revolutions  of  the  sun. 

As  soon  as  a view  was  obtained  of  this  beacon, 
thd  progress  of  the  adventurers  became  swifter 
and  more  certain.  In  a few  minutes  they  got  to 
the  edge  of  the  circle  of  little  huts.  Here  they 
stopped  to  survey  their  ground,  and  to  concert 
their  movements.  The  darkness  was  so  deep  as 
to  render  it  difficult  to  distinguish  any  thing  but 
the  gloAving  brand,  the  trunks  of  the  nearest 
trees,  and  the  endless  canopy  of  leaves  that  veiled 
the  clouded  heaven.  It  Avas  ascertained,  how- 
ever, that  a hut  was  quite  near,  and  Chingach- 
gook attempted  to  reconnoitre  its  interior.  The 
manner  in  Avhich  the  Indian  approached  the  place 
that  was  supposed  to  contain  enemies,  resembled 
the  Avily  advances  of  the  cat  on  the  bird.  As  he 
drew  near,  he  stooped  to  his  hands  and  knees, 
for  the  entrance  was  so  low  as  to  require  this 
attitude,  even  as  a convenience.  Before  trusting 
his  head  inside,  however,  he  listened  long  to  catch 
the  breathing  of  sleepers.  No  sound  was  audible, 
and  this  human  Serpent  thrust  his  head  in  at  the 
door,  or  opening,  as  another  serpent  would  have 
peered  in  on  the  nest.  Nothing  rewarded  the 


hazardous  experiment ; for,  after  feeling  cautious- 
ly with  a hand,  the  place  was  found  to  be  empty. 

The  DelaAvare  proceeded  in  the  same  guarded 
manner  to  one  or  two  more  of  the  huts,  finding 
all  in  the  same  situation.  He  then  returned  to 
his  companions,  and  informed  them  that  the  Hu- 
rons  had  deserted  their  camp.  A little  further 
inquiry  corroborated  this  fact,  and  it  only  re- 
mained to  return  to  the  canoe.  The  different 
manner  in  which  the  adventurers  bore  the  dis- 
appointment, is  worthy  of  a passing  remark.  The 
chief,  who  had  landed  solely  with  the  hope  of 
acquiring  renown,  stood  stationary,  leaning  against 
a tree,  waiting  the  pleasure  of  his  companions. 
He  was  mortified,  and  a little  surprised,  it  is 
true  ; but  he  bore  all  Avith  dignity,  falling  back 
for  support  on  the  sweeter  expectations  that  still 
lay  in  reserve  for  that  evening.  It  was  true,  he 
could  not  now  hope  to  meet  his  mistress  Avith  the 
proofs  of  his  daring  and  skill  on  his  person,  but 
he  might  still  hope  to  meet  her  ; and  the  warrior, 
who  was  zealous  in  the  search,  might  always  hope 
to  be  honored.  On  the  other  hand,  Hutter  and 
Hurry,  who  had  been  chiefly  instigated  by  the 
basest  of  all  human  motives,  the  thirst  of  gain, 
could  scarce  control  their  feelings.  They  went 
prowling  among  the  huts,  as  if  they  expected  to 
find  some  forgotten  child  or  careless  sleeper  ; and 
again  and  again  did  they  vent  their  spite  on  the 
insensible  huts,  several  of  Avhich  were  actually 
torn  to  pieces,  and  scattered  about  the  place. 
Nay,  they  even  quarrelled  with  each  other,  and 
fierce  reproaches  passed  between  them.  It  is 
possible  some  serious  consequences  might  have 
occurred,  had  not  the  Delaware  interfered  to  re- 
mind them  of  the  danger  of  being  so  unguarded, 
and  of  the  necessity  of  returning  to  the  ark. 
This  checked  the  dispute,  and  in  a feAv  minutes 
they  were  paddling  sullenly  back  to  the  spot 
where  they  hoped  to  find  that  vessel. 

It  has  been  said  that  Judith  took  her  place  at 
the  side  of  Deerslayer,  soon  after  the  adventurers 
departed.  For  a short  time  the  girl  Avas  silent, 
and  the  hunter  was  ignorant  Avhich  of  the  sisters 
had  approached  him  ; but  he  soon  recognized  the 
rich,  full-spirited  voice  of  the  elder,  as  her  feel- 
ings escaped  in  words. 

“ This  is  a terrible  life  for  women,  Deerslay- 
er ! ” she  exclaimed.  “ Would  to  Heaven  I could 
see  an  end  of  it ! ” 

“ The  life  is  well  enough,  Judith,”  was  the 
answer,  “being  pretty  much  as  it  is  used  or 
abused.  What  would  you  wish  to  sec  in  its 
place  ? ” 

“ I should  be  a thousand  times  happier  to  live 
nearer  to  civilized  beings — where  there  are  farms 


116 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


and  churches,  and  houses  built  as  it  might  be  by 
Christian  hands ; and  where  my  sleep  at  night 
would  be  sweet  and  tranquil.  A dwelling  near 
one  of  the  forts  would  be  far  better  than  this 
dreary  place  where  we  live.” 

“Nay,  Judith,  I can’t  agree  too  lightly  in  the 
truth  of  all  this.  If  forts  are  good  to  keep  off 
inimies,  they  sometimes  hold  inimies  of  their  own. 
I don’t  think  ’twould  be  for  your  good,  or  the 
good  of  Hetty,  to  live  near  one ; and  if  I must  say 
what  I think,  I’m  afeard  you  are  a little  too  near 
as  it  is.”  Deerslayer  went  on,  in  his  own  steady, 
earnest  manner,  for  the  darkness  concealed  the 
tints  that  colored  the  cheeks  of  the  girl  almost 
to  the  brightness  of  crimson,  while  her  own  great 
efforts  suppressed  the  sounds  of  the  breathing 
that  nearly  choked  her.  “As  for  farms,  they  have 
their  uses,  and  there’s  them  that  like  to  pass 
their  lives  on  ’em ; but  what  comfort  can  a man 
look  for  in  a clearin’,  that  he  can’t  find  in  double 
quantities  in  the  forest  ? If  air,  and  room,  and 
light,  are  a little  craved,  the  windrows  and  the 
streams  will  furnish  ’em,  or  here  are  the  lakes  for 
such  as  have  bigger  longings  in  that  way ; but 
where  are  you  to  find  your  shades,  and  laughing 
springs,  and  leaping  brooks,  and  vinerable  trees, 
a thousand  years  old,  in  a clearin’  ? You  don’t 
find  them,  but  you  find  their  disabled  trunks, 
marking  the  ’arth  like  head-stones  in  a grave- 
yard. It  seems  to  me  that  the  people  who  live 
in  such  places  must  be  always  thinkin’  of  their 
own  inds,  and  of  univarsal  decay ; and  that,  too, 
not  of  the  • decay  that  is  brought  about  by  time 
and  Natur’,  but  the  decay  that  follows  waste  and 
violence.  Then  as  to  churches,  they  are  good, 
I suppose,  else  wouldn’t  good  men  uphold  ’em. 
But  they  are  not  altogether  necessary.  They 
call  ’em  the  temples  of  the  Lord;  but,  Judith,  the 
whole  ’arth  is  a temple  of  the  Lord  to  such  as 
have  the  right  mind.  Neither  forts  nor  churches 
make  people  happier  of  themselves.  More- 
over, all  is  contradiction  in  the  settlements,  while 
all  is  concord  in  the  woods.  Forts  and  churches 
almost  always  go  together,  and  yet  they’re  down- 
right contradictions ; churches  being  for  peace, 
and  forts  for  war.  No,  no — give  me  the  strong 
places  of  the  wilderness,  which  is  the  trees,  and 
the  churches,  too,  which  are  arbors  raised  by  the 
hand  of  Natur’.” 

“Woman  is  not  made  for  scenes  like  these, 
Deerslayer ; scenes  of  which  we  shall  have  no 
end,  as  long  as  this  war  lasts.” 

“ If  you  mean  women  of  white  color,  I rather 
think  you’re  not  far  from  the  truth,  gal ; but  as 
for  the  females  of  the  red  men,  such  visitations 
are  quite  in  character.  Nothing  would  make 


Hist,  now,  the  bargained  wife  of  yonder  Dela. 
ware,  happier  than  to  know  that  he  is  at  this  mo- 
ment prowling  around  his  nat’ral  inimies,  striving 
after  a scalp.” 

“ Surely,  surely,  Deerslayer,  she  cannot  be  a 
woman,  and  not  feel  concern  when  she  thinks  the 
man  she  loves  is  in  danger ! ” 

“She  doesn’t  think  of  the  danger,  Judith, but 
of  the  honor  ; and,  when  the  heart  is  desperately 
set  on  such  feelin’s,  why  there  is  little  room  to 
crowd  in  fear.  Hist  is  a kind,  gentle,  laughing, 
pleasant  creatur’,  but  she  loves  honor,  as  well  as 
any  Delaware  gal  I ever  know’d.  She’s  to  meet 
the  Sarpent  an  hour  hence,  on  the  p’int  where 
Hetty  landed,  and  no  doubt  she  has  her  anxiety 
about  it,  like  any  other  woman ; but  she’d  be  all 
the  happier  did  she  know  that  her  lover  was  at 
this  moment  waylaying  a Mingo  for  his  scalp.” 

“If  you  really  believe  this,  Deerslayer,  no 
wonder  you  lay  so  much  stress  on  gifts.  Certain 
am  I,  that  no  white  girl  could  feel  any  thing  but 
misery  while  she  believed  her  betrothed  in  dan- 
ger of  his  life.  Nor  do  I suppose  even  you,  un- 
moved and  calm  as  you  ever  seem  to  be,  could 
be  at  peace  if  you  believed  your  Hist  in  danger.” 

“ That’s  a different  matter — ’tis  altogether  a 
different  matter,  Judith.  Woman  is  too  weak 
and  gentle  to  be  intended  to  run  such  risks,  and 
man  must  feel  for  her.  Yes,  I rather  think  that’s 
as  much  red  natur’  as  it’s  white.  But  I have  no 
Hist,  nor  am  I like  to  have  ; for  I hold  it  wrong 
to  mix  colors,  any  way,  except  in  friendship  and 
sarvices.” 

“In  that  you  are  and  feel  as  a white  man 
should ! As  for  Hurry  Harry,  Ido  think  it  would 
be  all  the  same  to  him  whether  his  wife  were  a 
squaw  or  a governor’s  daughter,  provided  she  was 
a little  comely,  and  could  help  to  keep  his  craving 
stomach  full.” 

“You  do  March  injustice,  Judith;  yes,  you 
do.  The  poor  fellow  dotes  on  you , and  when  a 
man  has  ra’aly  set  his  heart  on  such  a creatur’, 
it  isn’t  a Mingo,  or  even  a Delaware  gal,  that’R 
be  likely  to  unsettle  his  mind.  You  may  laugh 
at  such  men  as  Hurry  and  I,  for  we’re  rough,  and 
unteached  in  the  way  of  books  and  other  knowl- 
edge ; but  we’ve  our  good  p’ints  as  well  as  our 
bad  ones.  An  honest  heart  is  not  to  be  despised, 
gal,  even  though  it  be  not  varsed  in  all  the  nice- 
ties that  please  a female  fancy.” 

“ You,  Deerslayer ! — And  do  you — can  you, 
for  an  instant,  suppose  I place  you  by  the  side  of 
Harry  March  ? No,  no.  I am  not  so  far  gone  in 
dulness  as  that.  No  one — man  or  woman — could 
think  of  naming  your  honest  heart,  manly  nature, 
and  simple  truth,  with  the  boisterous  selfishness 


THE  HURON  CAMP  DESERTED. 


117 


greedy  avarice,  and  overbearing  ferocity  of  Hen- 
ry March.  The  very  best  that  can  be  said  of  him, 
is  to  be  found  in  his  name  of  Hurry  Skurry, 
which,  if  it  means  no  great  harm,  means  no  great 
good.  Even  my  father,  following  his  feelings  with 
the  other,  as  he  is  doing  at  this  moment,  well 
knows  the  difference  between  you.  This  I know , 
for  he  has  said  as  much  to  me,  in  plain  language.” 

Judith  was  a girl  of  quick  sensibilities  and 
of  impetuous  feelings;  and,  being  under  few  of 
the  restraints  that  curtail  the  manifestations  of 
maiden  emotions  among  those  who  are  educated 
in  the  habits  of  civilized  life,  she  sometimes  be- 
trayed the  latter  with  a freedom  that  was  so  pure- 
ly natural  as  to  place  it  as  far  above  the  wiles  of 
coquetry  as  it  was  superior  to  its  heartlessness. 
She  had  now  even  taken  one  of  the  hard  hands 
of  the  hunter  and  pressed  it  between  both  her 
own,  with  a warmth  and  earnestness  that  proved 
how  sincere  was  her  language.  It  was  perhaps 
fortunate  that  she  was  checked  by  the  very  excess 
of  her  feelings,  since  the  same  power  might  have 
urged  her  on  to  avow  all  that  her  father  had  said 
— the  old  man  not  having  been  satisfied  with* 
making  a comparison  favorable  to  Deerslayer,  as 
between  the  hunter  and  Hurry,  but  having  actu- 
ally, in  his  blunt,  rough  way,  briefly  advised  his 
daughter  to  cast  off  the  latter  entirely,  and  to 
think  of  the  former  as  a husband.  Judith  would 
not  willingly  have  said  this  to  any  other  man,  but 
there  was  so  much  confidence  awakened  by  the 
guileless  simplicity  of  Deerslayer,  that  one  of  her 
nature  found  it  a constant  temptation  to  overstep 
the  bounds  of  habit.  She  went  no  furthex*,  how- 
ever, immediately  relinquishing  the  hand,  and 
falling  back  on  a reserve  that  Avas  more  suited  to 
her  sex,,and,  indeed,  to  her  natural  modesty. 

“ Thank’ee,  Judith,  thank’ee  with  all  my 
heart,”  returned  the  hunter,  whose  humility  pre- 
vented him  from  placing  any  flattering  interpre- 
tation on  either  the  conduct  or  the  language  of 
the  girl.  “ Thank’ee  as  much  as  if  it  was  all  true. 
Harry’s  sightly — yes,  he’s  as  sightly  as  the  tallest 
pine  of  these  mountains,  and  the  Sarpent  has 
named  him  accordingly;  howsever,  some  fancy 
good  looks,  and  some  fancy  good  conduct,  only. 
Hurry  has  one  advantage,  and  it  depends  on  him- 
self whether  he’ll  have  t’other  or — Hark ! that’s 
your  father’s  voice,  gal,  and  he  speaks  like  a 
man  who’s  riled  at  something.” 

“ God  save  us  from  any  more  of  these  horrible 
scenes!”  exclaimed  Judith,  bending  her  face  to 
her  knees,  and  endeavoring  to  exclude  the  dis- 
cordant sounds,  by  applying  her  hands  to  her 
cars.  “ I sometimes  wish  I had  no  father ! ” 

This  was  bitterly  said,  and  the  repinings  which 


extorted  the  words  were  bitterly  felt.  It  is  im 
possible  to  say  what  might  next  have  escaped  her 
had  not  a gentle,  low  voice  spoken  at  her  elbow. 

“ Judith,  I ought  to  have  read  a chapter  to 
father  and  Hurry ! ” said  the  innocent,  but  terri- 
fied speaker,  “ and  that  would  have  kept  them 
from  going  again  on  such  an  errand. — Do  you  call 
to  them,  Deerslayer,  and  tell  them  I want  them, 
and  that  it  will  be  good  for  them  both  if  they’ll 
return  and  hearken  to  my  words.” 

“ Ah’s  me ! — poor  Hetty,  you  little  know  the 
cravin’s  for  gold  and  revenge,  if  you  believe  they 
are  so  easily  turned  aside  from  their  longin’s  ! — ■ 
But  this  is  an  uncommon  business  in  more  ways 
than  one,  Judith ! I hear  your  father  and  Hurry 
growling  like  bears,  and  yet  no  noise  comes  from 
the  mouth  of  the  young  chief.  There’s  an  ind  of 
secrecy,  and  yet  his  whoop,  which  ought  to  ring 
in  the  mountains,  accordin’  to  rule  in  such  sar- 
cumstances,  is  silent ! ” 

“Justice  may  have  alighted  on  him,  and  his 
death  have  saved  the  lives  of  the  innocent.” 

“ Not  it — not  it — the  Sarpent  is  not  the  one 
to  suffer  if  that's  to  be  the  law.  Sartainly  there 
has  been  no  onset,  and  ’tis  most  likely  that  the 
camp’s  deserted,  and  the  men  are  coming  back 
disapp’inted.  That  accounts  for  the  growls  of 
Hurry  and  the  silence  of  the  Sarpent.” 

Just  at  this  instant  a fall  of  a paddle  was 
heard  in  the  canoe,  for  vexation  made  March 
reckless.  Deei'slayer  felt  convinced  that  his  con- 
jecture was  true.  The  sail  being  down,  the  ark 
had  not  drifted  far;  and  ere  many  minutes  he 
heard  Chingachgook,  in  a low,  quiet  tone,  direct- 
ing Hutter  how  to  steer  in  order  to  reach  it.  In 
less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  the  fact,  the  canoe 
touched  the  scow,  and  the  adventurers  entered 
the  latter.  Neither  Hutter  nor  Hurry  spoke  of 
what  had  occurred.  But  the  Delaware,  in  pass- 
ing his  friend,  merely  uttered  the  words  “ Fire’s 
out,”  which,  if  not  literally  true,  sufficiently  ex- 
plained the  truth  to  his  listener. 

It  was  now  a question  as  to  the  course  to  be 
steered.  A short,  surly  conference  was  held, 
when  Hutter  decided  that  the  wisest  way  would 
be  to  keep  in  motion  as  the  means  most  likely  to 
defeat  any  attempt  at  a sui'prise — announcing  his 
own  and  March’s  intention  to  requite  themselves 
for  the  loss  of  sleep  during  their  captivity,  by  ly- 
ing down.  As  the  air  still  baffled  and  continued 
light,  it  was  finally  determined  to  sail  before  it, 
let  it  come  in  what  direction  it  might,  so  long  as 
it  did  not  blow  the  ark  upon  the  strand.  This 
point  settled,  the  released  prisoners  helped  to 
hoist  the  sail,  and  then  they  threw  themselves  on 
two  of  the  pallets,  leaving  Deerslayer  and  his 


118 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


friend  to  look  after  the  movements  of  the  craft. 
As  neither  of  the  latter  was  disposed  to  sleep,  on 
account  of  the  appointment  with  Hist,  this  ar- 
rangement was  acceptable  to  all  parties.  That 
Judith  and  Hetty  remained  up  also,  in  no  manner 
impaired  the  agreeable  features  of  this  change. 

For  some  time  the  scow  rather  drifted  than 
sailed  along  the  western  shore,  following  a light 
southerly  current  of  the  air.  The  progress  was 
slow — not  exceeding  a couple  of  miles  in  the  hour 
— but  the  two  men  perceived  that  it  was  not  only 
carrying  them  toward  the  point  they  desired  to 
reach,  but  at  a rate  that  was  quite  as  fast  as  the 
hour  yet  rendered  necessary.  But  little  was  said 
the  while  even  by  the  girls ; and  that  little  had 
more  reference  to  the  rescue  of  Hist  than  to  any 
other  subject.  The  Indian  was  calm  to  the  eye, 
but  as  minute  after  minute  passed  his  feelings 
became  more  and  more  excited,  until  they  reached 
a state  that  might  have  satisfied  the  demands  of 
even  the  most  exacting  mistress.  Deerslayer 
kept  the  craft  as  much  in  the  bays  as  was  pru- 
dent, for  the  double  purpose  of  sailing  within  the 
shadows  of  the  woods,  and  of  detecting  any  signs 
of  an  encampment  they  might  pass  on  the  shore. 
In  this  manner  they  doubled  one  low  point,  and 
were  already  in  the  bay  that  was  terminated 
north  by  the  goal  at  which  they  aimed.  • The  lat- 
ter was  still  a quarter  of  a mile  distant,  when 
Chingachgook  came  silently  to  the  side  of  his 
friend  and  pointed  to  a place  directly  ahead.  A 
small  fire  was  glimmering  just  within  the  verge 
of  the  bushes  that  lined  the  shore  on  the  south- 
ern side  of  the  point — leaving  no  doubt  that  the 
Indians  had  suddenly  removed  their  camp  to  the 
very  place,  or  at  least  the  very  projection  of  land, 
where  Hist  had  given  them  the  rendezvous. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

“ I hear  thee  babbling  to  the  vale 
Of  sunshine  and  of  flowers, 

But  unto  me  thou  bring' st  a tale 
Of  visionary  hours.” 

Wordsworth. 

The  discovery  mentioned  at  the  close  of  the 
preceding  chapter  was  of  great  moment  in  the 
eyes  of  Deerslayer  and  his  friend.  In  the  first 
place,  there  was  the  danger,  almost  the  certainty, 
that  Hutter  and  Hurry  would  mak<^  a fresh  at- 
tempt on  this  camp  should  they  awake  and  ascer- 
tain its  position.  Then  there  was  the  increased 
risk  of  landing  to  bring  off  Hist ; and  there 
were  the  general  uncertainty  and  additional  haz- 


ards that  must  follow  from  the  circumstance  that 
their  enemies  had  begun  to  change  their  posi- 
tions. As  the  Delaware  was  aware  that  the  bout 
was  near  when  he  ought  to  repair  to  the  rendez- 
vous, he  no  longer  thought  of  trophies  torn  from 
his  foes  ; and  one  of  the  first  things  arranged  be- 
tween him  and  his  associate  was  to  permit  the 
two  others  to  sleep  on,  lest  they  should  disturb 
the  execution  of  their  plans,  by  substituting  some 
of  their  own.  The  ark  moved  slowly,  and  it 
would  have  taken  fully  a quarter  of  an  hour  to 
reach  the  point,  at  the  rate  at  which  they  were 
going,  thus  affording  time  fora  little  forethought 
The  Indians,  in  the  wish  to  conceal  their  fire  from 
those  who  were  thought  to  be  still  in  the  castle, 
had  placed  it  so  hiear  the  southern  side  of  the 
point  as  to  render  it  extremely  difficult  to  shut 
it  in  by  the  bushes,  though  Deerslayer  varied  the 
direction  of  the  scow,  both  to  the  right  and  to  the 
left,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  effect  that  ob- 
ject. 

“There’s  one  advantage,  Judith,  in  finding 
that  fire  so  near  the  water,”  he  said,  while  executing 
'these little  manoeuvres;  “since  it  shows  the  Min- 
goes  believe  we  are  in  the  hut,  and  our  coming 
on  ’em  from  this  quarter  will  be  an  onlooked-for 
event.  But  ’tis  lucky  Harry  March  and  your  fa- 
ther are  asleep,  else  we  should  have  ’em  prowling 
after  scalps  ag’in.  Ha ! there — the  bushes  are 
beginning  to  shut  in  the  fire — and  now  it  can’t  be 
seen  at  all ! ” 

Deerslayer  waited  a little  to  make  certain  that 
he  had  at  last  gained  the  desired  position,  when 
he  gave  the  signal  agreed  on,  and  Chingachgook 
let  go  the  grapnel  and  lowered  the  sail. 

The  situation  in  which  the  ark  now  lay  had 
its  advantages  and  its  disadvantages.  The  fire 
had  been  hid  by  sheering  toward  the  shore,  and 
the  latter  was  nearer,  perhaps,  than  was  desir- 
able. Still  the  water  was  known  to  be  very  deep 
farther  off  in  the  lake,  and  anchoring  in  deep  wa- 
ter, under  the  circumstances  in  which  the  party 
was  placed,  was  to  be  avoided,  if  possible.  It 
was  also  believed  no  raft  could  be  within  miles  ; 
and,  though  the  trees  in  the  darkness  appeared 
almost  to  overhang  the  scow,  it  would  not  be 
easy  to  get  off  to  her  without  using  a boat.  The 
intense  darkness  that  prevailed  so  close  in  with 
the  forest,  too,  served  as  an  effectual  screen ; and 
so  long  as  care  was  had  not  to  make  a noise, 
there  was  little  or  no  danger  of  being  detected. 
All  these  things  Deerslayer  pointed  out  to  Judith, 
instructing  her  as  to  the  course  she  was  to  follow 
in  the  event  of  an  alarm ; for  it  was  thought  to 
the  last  degree  inexpedient  to  arouse  the  sleepers, 
unless  it  might  be  in  the  greatest  emergencv. 


AN  ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  THE  DELAWARE  MAID. 


119 


“And  now,  Judith,  as  we  understand  one  an- 
other, it  is  time  the  Sarpent  and  I had  taken  to 
the  canoe,”  the  hunter  concluded.  “ The  star 
lias  not  risen  yet,  it’s  true,  but  it  soon  must ; 
though  none  of  us  are  likely  to  be  any  the  wiser 
for  it,  to-night,  on  account  of  the  clouds.  Hows- 
ever,  Hist  has  a ready  mind,  and  she’s  one  of 
them  that  doesn’t  always  need  to  have  a thing  afore 
her  to  see  it.  I’ll  warrant  you  she’ll  not  be  either 
two  minutes  or  two  feet  out  of  the  way,  unless 
them  jealous  vagabonds,  the  Mingoes,  have  taken 
the  alarm  and  put  her  as  a stool-pigeon  to  catch 
us ; or  have  hid  her  away,  in  order  to  prepare 
her  mind  for  a Huron  instead  of  a Mohican  hus- 
band.” 

“ Deerslayer,”  interrupted  the  girl,  earnestly, 
“ this  is  a most  dangerous  service ; why  do  you 
go  on  it  at  all  ? ” 

“ Anan  ! — Why,  you  know,  gal,  we  go  to  bring 
off  Hist,  the  Sarpent’s  betrothed — the  maid  he 
means  to  marry,  as  soon  as  we  get  back  to  the 
tribe.” 

“ That  is  all  right  for  the  Indian — but  you  do 
not  mean  to  marry  Hist — you  are  not  betrothed, 
and  why  should  two  risk  their  lives  and  liberties, 
to  do  that  which  one  can  just  as  well  perform  ? ” 

“ Ah ! — now  I understand  you,  Judith — yes, 
now  I begin  to  take  the  idee.  You  think  as  Hist 
is  the  Sarpent’s  betrothed,  as  they  call  it,  and  not 
mine,  it’s  altogether  his  affair ; and,  as  one  man 
can  paddle  a canoe,  he  ought  to  be  left  to  go  af- 
ter his  gal  alone!  But  you  forget  this  is  our 
ar’n’d  here,  on  the  lake,  and  it  would  not  tell  well 
to  forget  an  ar’n’d  just  at  the  pinch.  Then,  if 
love  does  count  for  so  much  with  some  people, 
particularly  with  young  women,  fri’ndship  counts 
for  something,  too,  with  other  some.  I dares  to 
say,  the  Delaware  can  paddle  a canoe  by  himself, 
and  can  bring  off  Hist  by  himself,  and  perhaps  he 
would  like  that  quite  as  well  as  to  have  me  with 
him ; but  he  couldn’t  sarcumvent  sarcumventions, 
or  stir  up  an  ambushment,  or  fight  with  the  sav- 
ages, and  get  his  sweetheart  at  the  same  time,  as 
well  by  himself  as  if  he  had  a fri’nd  with  him,  to 
depend  on,  even  if  that  fri’nd  is  no  better  than 
myself.  No — no — Judith,  you  wouldn’t  desart 
one  that  counted  on  you , at  such  a moment,  and 
you  can’t,  in  reason,  expect  me  to  do  it.” 

“ I fear — I believe  you  are  right,  Deerslayer  ; 
yet  I wish  you  were  not  to  go  ! Promise  me  one 
thing,  at  least,  and  that  is,  not  to  trust  yourself 
among  the  savages,  or  to  do  any  thing  more  than 
to  save  the  girl.  That  will  be  enough  for  once, 
and  with  that  you  ought  to  be  satisfied.” 

Lord  bless  you,  gal;  one  would  think  it  was 
Hetty  that’s  talking,  and  not  the  quick-witted  and 


wonderful  Judith  Hutter!  But  fright  makes  ths 
wise  silly,  and  the  strong  weak.  Yes,  I’ve  seen 
proofs  of  that,  time  and  ag’in ! Well,  it’s  kind 
and  soft-hearted  in  you,  Judith,  to  feel  this  con 
sarn  for  a fellow-creatur’,  and  I shall  always  say 
that  you  are  kind  and  of  true  feelin’s,  let  them 
that  invy  your  good  looks  tell  as  many  idle  stories 
of  you  as  they  may.” 

“ Deerslayer ! ” hastily  said  the  girl,  interrupt- 
ing him,  though  nearly  choked  by  her  emotions  ; 
“ do  you  believe  all  you  hear  about  a poor,  moth- 
erless girl  ? Is  the  foul  tongue  of  Hurry  Harry  to 
blast  my  life  ? ” 

“Not  it,  Judith — not  it.  I’ve  told  Hurry  it 
wasn’t  manful  to  backbite  them  he  couldn’t  win 
by  fair  means  ; and  that  even  an  Indian  is  al- 
ways tender,  touching  a young  woman’s  good 
name.” 

“ If  I had  a brother,  he  wouldn’t  dare  to  do 
it,”  exclaimed  Judith,  her  eyes  flashing  fire. 
“ But,  finding  me  without  any  protector  but  an 
old  man,  whose  ears  are  getting  to  be  as  dull  as 
his  feelings,  he  has  his  way  as  he  pleases.” 

“ Not  exactly  that,  Judith  ; no,  not  exactly 
that,  neither ! No  man,  brother  or  stranger, 
would  stand  by  and  see  as  fair  a gal  as  yourself 
hunted  down,  without  saying  a word  in  her  be- 
half. Hurry’s  in  ’arnest  in  wanting  to  make  you 
his  wife,  and  the  little  he  does  let  out  ag’in  you, 
comes  more  from  jealousy,  like,  than  from  any 
thing  else.  Smile  on  him  when  he  awakes,  and 
squeeze  his  hand  only  about  half  as  hard  as  you 
squeezed  mine  a bit  ago,  and,  my  life  on  it,  the 
poor  fellow  will  forget  every  thing  but  your  come- 
liness. Hot  words  don’t  always  come  from  the 
heart,  but  oftener  from  the  stomach,  than  any- 
where else.  Try  him,  Judith,  when  he  wakes, 
and  see  the  vartue  of  a smile.” 

Deerslayer  laughed,  in  his  own  manner,  as 
he  concluded,  and  then  he  intimated  to  the  pa- 
tient-looking but  really  impatient  Chingachgook 
his  readiness  to  proceed.  As  the  young  man  en- 
tered the  canoe,  the  girl  stood  immovable  as 
stone,  lost  in  the  musings  that  the  language  and 
manner  of  the  other  were  likely  to  produce.  The 
simplicity  of  the  hunter  had  completely  put  her 
at  fault ; for,  in  her  narrow  sphere,  Judith  was 
an  expert  manager  of  the  other  sex  ; though,  in 
the  present  instance,  she  was  far  more  actuated 
by  impulses,  in  all  she  had  said  and  done,  than 
by  calculation.  We  shall  not  deny  that  some  of 
Judith’s  reflections  were  bitter,  though  the  se- 
quel of  the  tale  must  be  referred  to,  in  order  to 
explain  how  merited  or  how  keen  were  her  suf- 
ferings. 

Chingachook  and  his  pale-face  friend  set  fortli 


120 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


on  their  hazardous  and  delicate  enterprise  with  a 
coolness  and  method  that  would  have  done  credit 
to  men  who  were  on  their  twentieth  instead  of 
being  on  their  first  war-path.  As  suited  his  rela- 
tion to  the  pretty  fugitive,  in  whose  service  they 
were  engaged,  the  Indian  took  his  place  in  the 
head  of  the  canoe,  while  Deerslayer  guided  its 
movements  in  the  stern.  By  this  arrangement,  the 
former  would  be  first  to  land,  and  of  course  the 
first  to  meet  his  mistress.  The  latter  had  taken 
his  post  without  comment,  but  in  secret  influenced 
by  the  reflection  that  one  who  had  so  much  at 
stake  as  the  Indian,  might  not  possibly  guide  the 
canoe  with  the  same  steadiness  and  intelligence 
as  another  who  had  more  command  of  his  feel- 
ings. From  the  instant  they  left  the  side  of  the 
ark,  the  movements  of  the  two  adventurers  were 
like  the  manoeuvres  of  highly-drilled  soldiers, 
who  for  the  first  time  were  called  on  to  meet  the 
enemy  in  the  field.  As  yet,  Chingachgook  had 
never  fired  a shot  in  anger,  and  the  debut  of  his 
companion  in  warfare  is  known  to  the  reader. 
It  is  true,  the  Indian  had  been  hanging  about  his 
enemy’s  camp  for  a few  hours,  on  his  first  arrival, 
and  he  had  even  once  entered  ify  as  related  in  the 
last  chapter,  but  no  consequences  had  followed 
either  experiment.  Now,  it  was  certain  that  an 
important  result  was  to  be  effected,  or  a mortify- 
ing failure  was  to  ensue.  The  rescue,  or  the  con- 
tinued captivity  of  Hist,  depended  on  the  enter- 
prise. In  a word,  it  was  virtually  the  maiden 
expedition  of  these  two  ambitious  young  forest 
soldiers ; and  while  one  of  them  set  forth,  im- 
pelled by  sentiments  that  usually  carry  men  so 
far,  both  had  all  their  feelings  of  pride  and  man- 
hood enlisted  in  their  success. 

Instead  of  steering  in  a direct  line  to  the 
point,  then  distant  from  the  ark  less  than  a quar- 
ter of  a mile,  Deerslayer  laid  the  head  of  his 
canoe  diagonally  toward  the  centre  of  the  lake, 
with  a view  to  obtain  a position  from  which  he 
might  approach  the  shore,  having  his  enemies  in 
his  front  only.  The  spot  where  Hetty  had  land- 
ed, and  where  Hist  had  promised  to  meet  them, 
moreover,  was  on  the  upper  side  of  the  projec- 
tion, rather  than  on  the  lower ; and  to  reach  it, 
would  have  required  the  adventurers  to  double 
nearly  the  whole  point,  close  in  with  the  shore, 
had  not  this  preliminary  step  been  taken.  So 
well  was  the  necessity  for  this  measure  under- 
stood, that  Chingachgook  quietly  paddled  on, 
although  it  was  adopted  without  consulting  him, 
and  apparently  was  taking  him  in  a direction 
nearly  opposite  to  that  one  might  think  he  most 
wished  to  go.  A few  minutes  sufficed,  however, 
to  carry  the  canoe  the  necessary  distance,  when 


both  the  young  men  ceased  paddling,  as  it  were, 
by  instinctive  consent,  and  the  boat  became  sta- 
tionary. 

The  darkness  increased  rather  than  dimin- 
ished,  but  it  was  still  possible,  from  the  place 
where  the  adventurers  lay,  to  distinguish  the  out- 
lines of  the  mountains.  In  vain  did  the  Delaware 
turn  his  head  eastward,  to  catch  a glimpse  of  the 
promised  star ; for,  notwithstanding  the  clouds 
broke  a little  near  the  horizon  in  that  quarter  of 
the  heavens,  the  curtain  continued  so  far  drawn 
as  effectually  to  conceal  all  behind  it.  In  front, 
as  was  known  by  the  formation  of  land  above 
and  behind  it,  lay  the  point,  at  a distance  of 
about  a thousand  feet.  No  signs  of  the  castle, 
could  be  seen,  nor  could  any  movement  in  that 
quarter  of  the  lake  reach  the  ear.  The  latter 
circumstance  might  have  been  equally  owing  to 
the  distance,  which  was  several  miles,  or  to  the 
fact  that  nothing  was  in  motion.  As  for  the  ark, 
though  scarcely  farther  from  the  canoe  than  the 
point,  it  lay  so  completely  buried  in  the  shadows 
of  the  shore,  that  it  would  not  have  been  visible 
even  had  th^re  been  many  degrees  more  of  light 
than  actually  existed. 

The  adventurers  now  held  a conference  in 
low  voices,  consulting  together  as  to  the  prob- 
able time.  Deerslayer  thought  it  wanted  yet 
some  minutes  to  the  rising  of  the  star,  while  the 
impatience  of  the  chief  caused  him  to  fancy  the 
night  farther  advanced,  and  to  believe  that  his 
betrothed  was  already  waiting  his  appearance  on 
the  shore.  As  might  have  been  expected,  the 
opinion  of  the  latter  prevailed,  and  his  friend 
disposed  himself  to  steer  for  the  place  of  ren- 
dezvous. The  utmost  skill  and  precaution  now 
became  necessary  in  the  management  of  the  ca- 
noe. The  paddles  were  lifted  and  returned  to 
the  water  in  a noiseless  manner ; and,  when  with- 
in a hundred  yards  of  the  beach,  Chingachgook 
took  in  his  altogether,  laying  his  hand  on  his  rifle 
in  its  stead.  As  they  got  still  more  within  the 
belt  of  darkness  that  girded  the  woods,  it  was 
seen  that  they  were  steering  too  far  north,  and 
the  course  was  altered  accordingly.  The  canoe 
now  seemed  to  move  by  instinct,  so  cautious  and 
deliberate  were  all  its  motions.  Still  it  con- 
tinued to  advance,  until  its  bows  grated  on  the 
gravel  of  the  beach,  at  the  precise  spot  where 
Hetty  had  landed,  and  whence  her  voice  had  is- 
sued, the  previous  night,  as  the  ark  was  passing 
There  was,  as  usual,  a narrow  strand,  but  bushes 
fringed  the  woods,  and  in  most  places  overhung 
the  water. 

Chingachgook  stepped  upon  the  beach,  and 
cautiously  examined  it,  for  some  distance,  on 


RECONNOITRING  THE  INDIAN  CAM!. 


121 


each  side  of  the  canoe.  In  order  to  do  this,  he 
was  often  obliged  to  wade  to  his  knees  in  the 
lake.  No  Hist  rewarded  his  search.  When  he 
returned,  he  found  his  friend  also  on  the  shore. 
They  next  conferred  in  whispers,  the  Indian  ap- 
prehending that  they  must  have  mistaken  the 
place  of  rendezvous.  Deerslayer  thought  it  was 
probable  they  had  mistaken  the  hour.  While  he 
was  yet  speaking,  he  grasped  the  arm  of  the 
Delaware,  caused  him  to  turn  his  head  in  the 
direction  of  the  lake,  and  pointed  toward  the 
summits  of  the  eastern  mountains.  The  clouds 
had  broken  a little,  apparently  behind  rather 
than  above  the  hills,  and  the  selected  star  was 
glittering  among  the  branches  of  a pine.  This 
was  every  way  a flattering  omen,  and  the  young 
men  leaned  on  their  rifles,  listening  intently  for 
the  sound  of  approaching  footsteps.  Voices  they 
often  heard,  and  mingled  with  them  were  the  sup- 
pressed cries  of  children,  and  the  low  but  sweet 
laugh  of  Indian  women.  As  the  native  Ameri- 
cans are  habitually  cautious,  and  seldom  break 
out  in  loud  conversation,  the  adventurers  knew 
by  these  facts  that  they  must  be  very  near  the 
/encampment.  It  was  easy  to  perceive  that  there 
■was  a fire  within  the  woods,  by  the  manner  in 
which  some  of  the  upper  branches  of  the  trees 
were  illuminated,  but  it  was  not  possible,  where 
they  stood,  to  ascertain  exactly  how  near  it  was 
to  themselves.  Once  or  twice  it  seemed  as  if 
stragglers  from  around  the  fire  were  approaching 
the  place  of  rendezvous  ; but  these  sounds  were 
either  altogether  illusion,  or  those  who  had  drawn 
near  returned  again  without  coming  to  the  shore. 
A quarter  of  an  hour  was  passed  in  this  state  of 
intense  expectation  and  anxiety,  when  Deerslayer 
proposed  that  they  should  circle  the  point  in  the 
canoe ; and  by  getting  a position  close  in,  where 
the  camp  could  be  seen,  reconnoitre  the  Indians, 
and  thus  enable  themselves  to  form  some  plau- 
sible conjectures  for  the  non-appearance  of  Hist. 
The  Delaware,  however,  resolutely  refused  to  quit 
the  spot,  plausibly  enough  offering  as  a reason, 
the  disappointment  of  the  girl,  should  she  arrive 
in  his  absence.  Deerslayer  felt  for  his  friend’s 
concern,  and  offered  to  make  the  circuit  of  the 
point  by  himself,  leaving  the  latter  concealed  in 
the  bushes  to  await  the  occurrence  of  any  fortu- 
nate event  that  might  favor  his  views.  With  this 
understanding,  then,  the  parties  separated. 

As  soon  as  Deerslayer  was  at  his  post  again, 
in  the  stern  of  the  canoe,  he  left  the  shore  with 
the  same  precautions,  and  in  the  same  noiseless 
manner  as  lie  had  approached  it.  On  this  occa- 
sion he  did  not  go  far  from  the  land,  the  bushes 
affording  sufficient  cover,  by  keeping  as  close  in 


as  possible.  Indeed,  it  would  not  have  been  easy 
to  devise  any  means  more  favorable  to  reconnoi- 
tring round  an  Indian  camp,  than  those  afforded 
by  the  actual  state  of  things.  The  formation  of 
the  point  permitted  the  place  to  be  circled  on 
three  of  its  sides,  and  the  progress  of  the  boat 
was  so  noiseless  as  to  remove  any  apprehension 
from  an  alarm  through  sound.  The  most  prac- 
tised and  guarded  foot  might  stir  a bunch  of 
leaves  or  snap  a dried  stick  in  the  dark,  but  a 
bark  canoe  could  be  made  to  float  over  the  sur- 
face of  smooth  water,  almost  with  the  instinctive 
readiness,  and  certainly  with  the  noiseless  move- 
ments, of  an  aquatic  bird. 

Deerslayer  had  got  nearly  in  a line  between 
the  camp  and  the  ark,  before  he  caught  a glimpse 
of  the  fire.  This  came  upon  him  suddenly,  and 
a little  unexpectedly,  at  first  causing  an  alarm, 
lest  he  had  incautiously  ventured  within  the  cir- 
cle of  light  it  cast.  But,  perceiving  at  a second 
glance  that  he  was  certainly  safe  from  detection, 
so  long  as  the  Indians  kept  near  the  centre  of  the 
illumination,  he  brought  the  canoe  to  a state  of 
rest,  in  the  most  favorable  position  he  could  find, 
and  commenced  his  observations. 

We  have  written  much,  but  in  vain,  concern- 
ing this  extraordinary  being,  if  the  reader  re- 
quires now  to  be  told  that,  untutored  as  he  was 
in  the  learning  of  the  world,  and  simple  as  he 
ever  showed  himself  to  be  in  all  matters  touching 
the  subtleties  of  conventional  taste,  he  was  a man 
of  strong,  native,  poetical  feeling.  He  loved  the 
woods  for  their  freshness,  their  sublime  solitudes, 
their  vastness,  and  the  impress  that  they  every- 
where bore  of  the  divine  hand  of  their  Crea- 
tor. He  rarely  moved  through  them,  without 
pausing  to  dwell  on  some  peculiar  beauty  that 
gave  him  pleasure,  though  seldom  attempting  to 
investigate  the  causes ; and  never  did  a day  pass 
without  his  . communing  in  Spirit,  and  this,  too, 
without  the  aid  of  forms  or  language,  with  the  in- 
finite source  of  all  he  saw,  felt,  and  beheld.  Thus 
constituted  in  a moral  sense,  and  of  a steadiness 
that  no  danger  could  appall  or  any  crisis  disturb, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  the  hunter  felt  a pleasure 
at  looking  on  the  scene  he  now  beheld,  that  mo- 
mentarily caused  him  to  forget  the  object  of  his  vis- 
it. This  will  more  fully  appear  when  we  describe  it. 

The  canoe  lay  in  front  of  a natural  vista,  not 
only  through  the  bushes  that  lined  the  shore,  but 
of  the  trees  also,  that  afforded  a clear  view  of  the 
camp.  It  was  by  means  of  this  same  opening 
that  the  light  had  been  first  seen  from  the  ark. 
In  consequence  of  their  recent  change  of  ground, 
the  Indians  had  not  yet  retired  to  their  huts, 
but  had  been  delayed  by  their  preparations,  which 


122 


THE  DEERSLAYER, 


included  lodging  as  well  as  food.  A large  fire 
had  been  made,  as  much  to  answer  the  purpose 
of  torches,  as  for  the  use  of  their  simple.cookery  ? 
and  at  this  precise  moment  it  was  blazing  high 
and  bright,  having  recently  received  a large  supply 
of  dried  brush.  The  effect  was  to  illuminate  the 
arches  of  the  forest,  and  to  render  the  whole  area 
occupied  by  the  camp  as  light  as  if  hundreds  of 
tapers  were  burning.  Most  of  the  toil  had  ceased, 
and  even  the  hungriest  child  had  satisfied  its  ap- 
petite. In  a word,  the  time  was  that  moment  of 
relaxation  and  general  indolence  which  is  apt  to 
succeed  a hearty  meal,  and  when  the  labors  of 
the  day  have  ended.  The  hunters  and  the  fisher- 
men had  been  equally  successful ; and  food,  that 
one  great  requisite  of  savage  life,  being  abundant, 
every  other  care  appeared  to  have  subsided  in 
the  sense  of  enjoyment  dependent  on  this  all-im- 
portant fact. 

Deerslayer  saw  at  a glance  that  many  of  the 
warriors  were  absent.  His  acquaintance,  Riven- 
oak,  however,  was  present,  being  seated  in  the 
foreground  of  a picture  that  Salvator  Rosa  would 
have  delighted  to  draw,  his  swarthy  features  illu- 
minated as  much  by  pleasure  as  by  the  torch-like 
flame,  while  he  showed  another  of  the  tribe  one 
of  the  elephants  that  had  caused  so  much  sensa- 
tion among  his  people.  A boy  was  looking  over 
his  shoulder,  in  dull  curiosity,  completing  the 
group.  More  in  the  background,  eight  or  ten 
warriors  lay  half  recumbent  on  the  ground,  or  sat 
with  their  backs  inclining  against  trees,  so  many 
types  of  indolent  repose.  Their  arms  were  near 
them,  sometimes  leaning  against  the  same  trees  as 
themselves,  or  were  lying  across  their  bodies,  in 
careless  preparation.  ' But  the  group  that  most  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  Deerslayer  was  that  com- 
posed of  the  women  and  children.  All  the  fe- 
males appeared  to  be  collected  together,  and, 
almost  as  a matter  of  course,  their  young  were 
near  them.  The  former  laughed  and  chatted  in 
their  rebuked  and  quiet  manner,  though  one  who 
knew  the  habits  of  the  people  might  have  de- 
tected that  every  thing  was  not  going  on  in  its 
usual  train.  Most  of  the  young  women  seemed 
to  be  light-hearted  enough ; but  one  old  hag  was 
seated  apart,  with  a watchful,  soured  aspect,  which 
the  hunter  at  once  knew  betokened  that  some 
duty  of  an  unpleasant  character  had  been  assigned 
her  by  the  chiefs.  What  that  duty  was  he  had 
no  means  of  knowing ; but  he  felt  satisfied  it  must 
be,  in  some  measure,  connected  with  her  own  sex, 
the  aged  among  the  women  generally  being  chosen 
or  such  offices,  and  no  other. 

As  a matter  of  course,  Deerslayer  looked 
eagerly  and  anxiously  for  the  form  of  Hist.  She 


was  nowhere  visible,  though  the  light  penetrated 
to  considerable  distances  in  all  directions  around 
the  fire.  Once  or  twice  he  started,  as  if  he 
thought  he  recognized  her  laugh;  but  his  ear3 
were  deceived  by  the  soft  melody  that  is  so  com- 
mon to  the  Indian  female  voice.  At  length  the 
old  woman  spoke  loud  and  angry,  and  then  he 
caught  a glimpse  of  one  or  two  dark  figures,  in  the 
background  of  trees,  which  turned  as  if  obedi- 
ent to  the  rebuke,  and  walked  more  within  the 
circle  of  the  light.  A young  warrior’s  form  first 
came  fairly  into  view  ; then  followed  two  youthful 
females,  one  of  whom  proved  to  be  the  Delaware 
girl.  Deerslayer  now  comprehended  it  all.  Hist 
was  watched,  possibly  by  her  young  companion, 
certainly  by  the  old  woman.  The  youth,  was 
probably  some  suitor  of  either  her  or  her  com- 
panion; but  even  his  discretion  was  distrusted 
under  the  influence  of  his  admiration.  The  known 
vicinity  of  those  who  might  be  supposed  to  be  her 
friends,  and  the  arrival  of  a strange  red  man  on 
the  lake,  had  induced  more  than  the  usual  care, 
and  the  girl  had  not  been  able  to  slip  away  from 
those  who  watehed  her,  in  order  to  keep  her  ap- 
pointment. Deerslayer  t-raced  her  uneasiness,  by 
her  attempting,  once  or  twice,  to  look  up  through 
the  branches  of  the  trees,  as  if  endeavoring  to 
get  glimpses  of  the  star  she  had  herself  named  as 
the  sign  for  meeting.  All  was  vain,  however,  and 
after  strolling  about  the  camp  a little  longer,  in 
affected  indifference,  the  two  girls  quitted  their 
male  escort,  and  took  seats  among  their  own  sex. 
As  soon  as  this  was  done,  the  old  sentinel  changed 
her  place  to  one  more  agreeable  to  herself,  a 
certain  proof  that  she  had  hitherto  been  exclu- 
sively on  watch. 

Deerslayer  now  felt  greatly  at  a loss  how  to 
proceed.  He  well  knew  that  Chingachgook  could 
never  be  persuaded  to  return  to  the  ai'k,  without 
making  some  desperate  effort  for  the  recovery  of 
his  mistress,  and  his  own  generous  feelings  well 
disposed  him  to  aid  in  such  an  undertaking.  He 
thought  he  saw  the  signs  of  an  intention  among 
the  females  to  retire  for  the  night ; and  should  he 
remain,  and  the  fire  continued  to  give  out  its 
light,  he  might  discover  the  particular  hut,  or 
arbor,  under  which  Hist  reposed  ; a circumstance 
that  would  be  of  infinite  use  in  their  future  pro- 
ceedings. Should  he  remain,  however,  much  lon- 
ger where  he  was,  there  was  great  danger  that 
the  impatience  of  his  friend  would  drive  him  into 
some  act  of  imprudence.  At  each  instant,  indeed, 
he  expected  to  see  the  swarthy  form  of  the  Dela- 
ware appearing  in  the  background,  like  the  tiger 
prowling  around  the  fold.  Taking  all  things  into 
consideration,  therefore,  he  came  to  the  couclu- 


CAUTIOUS  ADVANCE  OF  THE  TWO  FRIENDS. 


123 


6ion  it  would  bo  better  to  rejoin  his  friend,  and 
endeavor  to  temper  his  impetuosity  by  some  of  his 
own  coolness  aud  discretion.  It  required  but  a 
minute  or  two  to  put  this  plan  in  execution,  the 
canoe  returning  to  the  strand  some  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  after  it  had  left  it. 

Contrary  to  his  expectations,  perhaps,  Deer- 
•slayer  found  the  Indian  at  his  post,  from  which 
he  had  not  stirred,  fearful  that  his  betrothed 
might  arrive  during  his  absence.  A conference 
followed,  in  which  Chingachgook  was  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  state  of  things  in  the  camp. 
When  Hist  named  the  point  as  the  place  of  meet- 
ing, it  was  with  the  expectation  of  making  her 
escape  from  the  old  position,  and  of  repairing  to 
a spot  that  she  expected  to  find  without  any  oc- 
cupants ; but  the  sudden  change  of  localities  had 
disconcerted  all  her  plans.  A much  greater  degree 
of  vigilance  than  had  been  previously  required, 
was  now  necessary  ; and  the  circumstance  that  an 
aged  woman  was  on  watch,  also  denoted  some 
special  grounds  of  alarm.  All  these  considera- 
tions, and  many  more  that  will  readily  suggest 
themselves  to  the  reader,  were  briefly  discussed, 
before  the  young  men  come  to  any  decision.  The 
occasion,  however,  being  one  that  required  acts 
instead  of  words,  the  course  to  be  pursued  was 
soon  chosen. 

Disposing  of  the  canoe  in  such  a manner  that 
Hist  must  see  it,  should  she  come  to  the  place  of 
meeting  previously  to  their  return,  the  young  men 
looked  to  their  arms,  and  prepared  to  enter  the 
wood.  The  whole  projection  into  the  lake  con- 
tained about  two  acres  of  land ; and  the  part  that 
formed  the  point,  and  on  which  the  camp  was 
placed,  did  not  compose  a surface  of  more  than 
half  that  size.  It  was  principally  covered  with 
oaks,  which,  as  is  usual  in  the  American  forests, 
grew  to  a great  height  without  throwing  out  a 
branch,  and  then  arched  in  a dense  and  rich  foli- 
age. Beneath,  except  the  fringe  of  thick  bushes 
along  the  shore,  there  was  very  little  underbrush ; 
though,  in  consequence  of  their  shape,  the  trees 
were  closer  together  than  is  common  in  regions 
where  the  axe  has  been  freely  used,  resembling 
tall,  straight,  rustic  culumns,  upholding  the  usual 
canopy  of  leaves.  The  surface  of  the  land  was 
tolerably  even,  but  it  had  a small  rise  near  its 
centre,  which  divided  it  into  a northern  and  south- 
ern half.  On  the  latter  the  Hurons  had  built 
their  fire,  profiting  by  the  formation  to  conceal  it 
from  their  enemies,  who,  it  will  be  remembered, 
were  supposed  to  be  in  the  castle,  which  bore 
northerly.  A brook  also  came  brawling  down 
the  sides  of  the  adjacent  hills,  and  found  its  way 
Into  the  lake  on  the  southern  side  of  the  point. 


It  had  cut  for  itself  a deep  passage  through  some 
of  the  higher  portions  of  the  ground,  and,  in  later 
days,  when  the  spot  has  become  subjected  to  the 
uses  of  civilization,  by  its  windings  and  shaded 
banks,  it  has  become  no  mean  accessory  in  con- 
tributing to  the  beauty  of  the  place.  This  brook 
lay  west  of  the  encampment,  and  its  waters  found 
their  way  into  the  great  reservoir  of  that  region 
on  the  same  side,  and  quite  near  to  the  spot  chosen 
for  the  fire.  All  these  peculiarities,  so  far  as  cir- 
cumstances allowed,  had  been  noted  by  Deerslay- 
er,  and  explained  to  his  friend. 

The  reader  will  understand  that  the  little  rise 
in  the  ground  that  lay  behind  the  Indian  encamp- 
ment, greatly  favored  the  secret  advance  of  the 
two  adventurers.  It  prevented  the  light  of  the 
fire  diffusing  itself  on  the  ground  directly  in  the 
rear,  although  the  land  fell  away  toward  the  wa- 
ter, so  as  to  leave  what  might  be  termed  the  left, 
or  eastern  flank  of  the  position,  unprotected  by 
this  covering.  We  have  said  “ unprotected,” 
though  that  is  not  properly  the  word,  since  the 
knoll  behind  the  huts  and  the  fire  offered  a cover 
for  those  who  were  now  stealthily  approaching, 
rather  than  any  protection  to  the  Indians.  Deer- 
slayer  did  not  break  through  the  fringe  of  bushes 
immediately  abreast  of  the  canoe,  which  might 
have  brought  him  too  suddenly  within  the  influ- 
ence of  the  light,  since  the  hillock  did  not  ex- 
tend to  the  water ; but  he  followed  the  beach  north- 
erly until  he  had  got  nearly  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  tongue  of  land,  which  brought  him  under 
the  shelter  of  the  low  acclivity,  and,  consequently, 
more  in  shadow. 

As  soon  as  the  friends  emerged  from  the  bush- 
es, they  stopped  to  reconnoitre.  The  fire  was  still 
blazing  behind  the  little  ridge,  casting  its  light 
upward  into  the  tops  of  the  trees,  producing  an 
effect  that  was  more  pleasing  than  advantageous. 
Still  the  glare  had  its  uses  ; for,  while  the  back- 
ground was  in  obscurity,  the  foreground  was  in 
strong  light,  exposing  the  savages  and  conceal- 
ing their  foes.  Profiting  by  the  latter  circum- 
stance, the  young  men  advanced  cautiously  tow- 
ard the  ridge,  Deerslayer  in  front,  for  he  insisted 
on  this  arrangement,  lest  the  Delaware  should  be 
led  by  his  feelings  into  some  indiscretion.  It  re- 
quired but  a moment  to  reach  the  foot  of  the  lit- 
tle ascent,  and  then  commenced  the  most  critical 
part  of  the  enterprise.  Moving  with  exceeding 
caution,  and  trailing  his  rifle,  both  to  keep  its 
barrel  out  of  view,  and  in  readiness  for  service, 
the  hunter  put  foot  before  foot,  until  he  had  got 
sufficiently  high  to  overlook  the  summit,  his  own 
head  being  alone  brought  into  the  light.  Chin- 
gachgook was  at  his  side,  and  both  paused  to 


124 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


take  another  close  examination  of  the  camp.  In 
order,  however,  to  protect  themselves  against  any 
straggler  in  the  rear,  they  placed  their  bodies 
against  the  trunk  of  an  oak,  standing  on  the  side 
next  the  fire. 

The  view  that  Deerslayer  now  obtained  of  the 
camp,  was  exactly  the  reverse  of  that  he  had  per- 
ceived from  the  water.  The  dim  figures  which  he 
had  formerly  discovered  must  have  been  on  the 
summit  of  the  ridge,  a few  feet  in  advance  of  the 
spot  where  he  was  now  posted.  The  fire  was  still 
blazing  brightly,  and  around  it  were  seated  on 
iogs  thirteen  warriors,  which  accounted  for  all 
whom  he  had  seen  from  the  canoe.  They  were 
conversing  with  much  earnestness  among  them- 
selves, the  image  of  the  elephant  passing  from 
hand  to  hand.  The  first  burst  of  savage  wonder 
had  abated,  and  the  question  now  under  discus- 
sion was  the  probable  existence,  the  history  and 
habits  of  so  extraordinary  an  animal.  We  have 
not  leisure  to  record  the  opinions  of  these  rude 
men  on  a subject  so  consonant  to  their  lives  and 
experience ; but  little  is  hazarded  in  saying  tjiat 
they  were  quite  as  plausible,  and  far  more  ingen- 
ious, than  half  the  conjectures  that  precede  the 
demonstrations  of  science.  However  much  they 
may  have  been  at  fault,  as  to  their  conclusions 
and  inferences,  it  is  certain  that  they  discussed 
the  questions  with  a zealous  and  most  undivided 
attention.  For  the  time  being,  all  else  was  forgot- 
ten, and  our  adventurers  could  not  have  ap- 
proached at  a more  fortunate  instant. 

The  females  were  collected  near  each  other, 
■much  as  Deerslayer  had  last  seen  them,  nearly  in 
a line  between  the  place  where  he  now  stood  and 
the  fire.  The  distance  from  the  oak  against 
which  the  young  men  leaned  and  the  warriors, 
was  about  thirty  yards ^ the  women  may  have 
been  half  that  number  of  yards  nigher.  The  lat- 
ter, indeed,  were  so  near  as  to  make  the  utmost 
circumspection,  as  to  motion  and  noise,  indispen- 
sable. Although  they  conversed  in  their  low,  soft 
voices,  it  was  possible,  in  the  profound  stillness 
of  the  woods,  even  to  catch  passages  of  the  dis- 
course ; and  the  light-hearted  laugh  that  escaped 
the  girls  might  occasionally  have  reached  the 
canoe.  Deerslayer  felt  the  tremor  that  passed 
through  the  frame  of  his  friend,  when  the  latter 
first  caught  the  sweet  sounds  that  issued  from  the 
plump,  pretty  lips  of  Hist.  He  even  laid  a hand 
on  the  shoulder  of  the  Indian,  as  a sort  of  admo- 
nition to  command  himself.  As  the  conversation 
grew  more  earnest,  each  leaned  forward  to  listen. 

“ The  Hurons  have  more  curious  beasts  than 
that,”  said  one  of  the  girls,  contemptuously ; for, 
like  the  men,  they  conversed  of  the  elephant  and 


his  qualities.  “The  Delawares  will  think  this 
creature  wonderful,  but  to-morrow  no  Huron 
tongue  will  talk  of  it.  Our  young  men  will 
find  him  if  the  animal  dares  to  come  near  our 
wigwams ! ” 

This  was  in  fact  addressed  to  Wah-ta  !-Wah, 
though  she  who  spoke  uttered  her  words  with  an 
assumed  diffidence  and  humility  that  prevented 
her  looking  at  the  other. 

“ The  Delawares  are  so  far  from  letting  such 
creatures  come  into  their  country,”  returned  Hist, 
“ that  no  one  has  even  seen  their  images  there ! 
Their  young  men  would  frighten  away  the  images 
as  well  as  the  beasts .” 

“ The  Delaware  young  men ! — the  nation  is 
women — even  the  deer  walk  when  they  hear  their 
hunters  coming ! Who  has  ever  heard  the  name 
of  a young  Delaware  warrior  ? ” 

This  was  said  in  good-humor,  and  with  a 
laugh ; but  it  was  also  said  bitingly.  That  Hist 
so  felt  it,  was  apparent  by  the  spirit  betrayed  in 
her  answer. 

“ Who  has  ever  heard  the  name  of  a young 
Delaware ! ” she  repeated  earnestly.  “ Tamenund, 
himself,  though  now  as  old  as  the  pines  on  the 
hill,  or  as  the  eagle  in  the  air,  was  once  young ; 
his  name  was  heard  from  the  great  salt  lake  to 
the  sweet  waters  of  the  west.  What  is  the  family 
of  Uncas  ? Where  is  another  as  great,  though 
the  pale-faces  have  ploughed  up  its  graves,  and 
trodden  on  its  bones  ? Do  the  eagles  fly  as  high, 
is  the  deer  as  swift,  or  the  panther  as  brave  ? Is 
there  no  young  warrior  of  that  race  ? Let  the 
Huron  maidens  open  their  eyes  wider,  and  they 
may  see  one  called  Chingachgook,  who  is  as 
stately  as  a young  ash,  and  as  tough  as  the 
hickory.” 

As  the  girl  used  her  figurative  language,  and 
told  her  companions  to  “ open  their  eyes  and  they 
would  see  ” the  Delaware,  Deerslayer  thrust  his 
fingers  into  the  sides  of  his  friend,  and  indulged 
in  a fit  of  his  hearty,  benevolent  laughter.  The 
other  smiled ; but  the  language  of  the  speaker 
was  too  flattering,  and  the  tones  of  her  voice  too 
sweet,  for  him  to  be  led  away  by  any  accidental 
coincidence,  however  ludicrous.  The  speech  of 
Hist  produced  a retort,  and  the  dispute,  though 
conducted  in  good-humor,  and  without  any  of 
the  coarse  violence  of  tone  and  gesture  that  often 
impairs  the  charms  of  the  sex  in  what  is  called 
civilized  life,  grew  warm  and  slightly  clamorous. 
In  the  midst  of  this  scene  the  Delaware  caused 
his  friend  to  stoop,  so  as  completely  to  conceal 
himself,  and  then  he  made  a noise  so  closely  re- 
sembling the  little  chirrup  of  the  smallest  species 
of  the  American  squirrel,  that  Deerslayer  him- 


ESCAPE  OF  THE  DELAWARE  AND  HIS  BETROTHED. 


125 


self,  though  he  had  heard  the  imitation  a hun- 
dred times,  actually  thought  it  came  from  one  of 
the  little  animals  skipping  about  over  his  head. 
The  sound  is  so  familiar  in  the  woods  that  none 
of  the  Hurons  paid  it  the  least  attention.  Hist, 
however,  instantly  ceased  talking,  and  sat  motion- 
less. Still,  she  had  sufficient  self-command  to 
abstain  from  turning  her  head.  She  had  heard 
the  signal  by  which  her  lover  so  often  called  her 
from  the  wigwam  to  the  stolen  interview,  it 
came  over  her  senses  and  her  heart,  as  the  sere- 
nade affects  the  maiden  in  the  land  of  song. 

From  that  moment  Chingachgook  felt  certain 
that  his  presence  was  known.  This  was  effecting 
much,  and  he  could  now  hope  for  a bolder  line 
of  conduct  on  the  part  of  his  mistress  than  she 
might  dare  to  adopt  under  an  uncertainty  of  his 
situation.  It  left  no  doubt  of  her  endeavoring 
to  aid  him  in  his  effort  to  release  her.  Deerslayer 
arose  as  soon  as  the  signal  was  given,  and  though 
he  had  never  held  that  sweet  communion  which 
_s  known  only  to  lovers,  he  was  not  slow  to  de- 
tect the  great  change  that  had  come  over  the 
manner  of  the  girl.  She  still  affected  to  dispute, 
though  it  was  no  longer  with  spirit  and  ingenuity, 
but  what  she  said  was  uttered  more  as  a lure  to 
draw  her  antagonists  on  to  an  easy  conquest,  than 
with  any  hopes  of  succeeding  herself.  Once  or 
twice,  it  is  true,  her  native  readiness  suggested 
a retort  or  an  argument  that  raised  a laugh,  and 
gave  her  a momentary  advantage  ; but  these  lit- 
tle sallies,  the  offspring  of  mother  wit,  served  the 
better  to  conceal  her  real  feelings,  and  to  give  to 
the  triumph  of  the  party  a more  natural  air  than 
it  might  have  possessed  without  them.  At  length 
the  disputants  became  wearied,  and  they  rose  in 
a body  as  if  about  to  separate.  It  was  now  that 
Hist,  for  the  first  time,  ventured  to  turn  her  face 
in  the  direction  whence  the  signal  had  come.  In 
doing  this,  her  movements  were  natural  but 
guarded,  and  she  stretched  her  arm  and  yawned, 
as  if  overcome  with  a desire  to  sleep.  The  chir- 
rup was  again  heard,  and  the  girl  felt  satisfied  as 
to  the  position  of  her  lover,  though  the  strong 
light  in  which  she  herself  was  placed,  and  the 
comparative  darkness  in  which  the  adventurers 
stood,  prevented  her  from  seeing  their  heads,  the 
only  portions  of  thei^  forms  that  appeared  above 
the  ridge  at  all.  The  tree  against  w«hich  they 
were  posted  had  a dark  shadow  cast  upon  it  by 
the  intervention  of  an  enormous  pine  that  grew 
between  it  and  the  fire,  a circumstance  which 
alone  would  have  rendered  objects  within  its 
cloud  invisible  at  any  distance.  Thi3  Deerslayer 
well  knew,  and  it  was  one  of  the  reasons  why  he 
nad  selected  this  particular  tree. 


The  moment  was  near  when  it  became  neces- 
sary for  Hist  to  act.  She  was  to  sleep  in  a small 
hut,  or  bower,  that  had  been  built  near  the  spot 
where  she  stood,  and  her  companion  was  the  aged 
hag  already  mentioned.  Once  within  the  hut, 
with  this  sleepless  old  woman  stretched  across 
the  entrance,  as  was  her  nightly  practice,  the 
hope  of  escape  was  nearly  destroyed,  and  she 
might,  at  any  moment,  be  summoned  to  her  bed. 
Luckily,  at  this  instant,  one  of  the  warriors  called 
to  the  old  woman  by  name,  and  bade  her  bring 
him  water  to  drink.  There  was  a delicious  spring 
on  the  northern  side  of  the  point,  and  the  hag 
took  a gourd  from  a branch,  and,  summoning 
Hist  to  her  side,  she  moved  toward  the  summit 
of  the  ridge,  intending  to  descend  and  cross  the 
point  to  the  natural  fountain.  All  this  was  seen 
and  understood  by  the  adventurers,  and  they  fell 
back  into  the  obscurity,  concealing  their  persons 
by  trees,  until  the  two  females  had  passed  them. 
In  walking,  Hist  was  held  tightly  by  the  hand. 
AS  she  moved  by  the  tree  that  hid  Chingachgook 
and  his  friend,  the  former  felt  for  his  tomahawk, 
with  the  intention  to  bury  it  in  the  brain  of  the 
woman.  But  the  other  saw  the  hazard  of  such 
a measure,  since  a single  scream  might  bring  all 
the  warriors  upon  them,  and  he  was  averse  to 
the  act  on  considerations  of  humanity.  His  hand, 
therefore,  prevented  the  blow.  Still  as  the  two 
moved  past,  the  chirrup  was  repeated,  and  the 
Huron  woman  stopped  and  faced  the  tree  whence 
the  sounds  seemed  to  proceed,  standing,  at  the 
moment,  within  six  feet  of  her  enemies.  She 
expressed  her  surprise  that  a squirrel  should  be 
in  motion  at  so  late  an  hour,  and  said  it  boded 
evil.  Hist  answered  that  she  had  heard  the 
same  squirrel  three  times  within  the  last  twenty 
minutes,  and  that  she  supposed  it  was  waiting  to 
obtain  some  of  the  crumbs  left  from  the  late  sup- 
per. This  explanation  appeared  satisfactory,  and 
they  moved  toward  the  spring,  the  men  following 
stealthily  and  closely.  The  gourd  was  filled,  and 
the  old  woman  was  hurrying  back,  her  hand  still 
grasping  the  wrist  of  the  girl,  when  she  was  sud- 
denly seized  so  violently  by  the  throat,  as  to 
cause  her  to  release  her  captive,  and  to  prevent 
her  making  any  other  sound  than  a sort  of  gur- 
gling, suffocating  noise.  The  Serpent  passed  his 
arm  round  the  waist  of  his  mistress,  and  dashed 
through  the  bushes  with  her,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  point.  Here  he  immediately  turned  along 
the  beach  and  ran  toward  the  canoe.  A more 
direct  course  could  have  been  taken,  but  it  might 
have  led  to  a discovery  of  the  place  of  embark 
ing. 

Deerslayer  kept  playing  on  the  throat  of  the 


126 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


old  woman,  like  the  keys  of  an  organ,  occasion- 
ally allowing  her  to  breathe,  and  then  compress- 
ing his  fingers  again  nearly  to  strangling.  The 
brief  intervals  for  breath,  however,  were  well 
improved,  and  the  hag  succeeded  in  letting  out 
a screech  or  two  that  served  to  alarm  the  camp. 
The  tramp  of  the  warriors,  as  they  sprang  from 
the  fire,  was  plainly  audible;  and,  at  the  next 
moment,  three  or  four  of  them  appeared  on  the 
top  of  the  ridge,  drawn  against  the  background 
of  light,  resembling  the  dim  shadows  of  the 
phantasmagoria.  It  was  now  quite  time  for  the 
hunter  to  retreat.  Tripping  up  the  heels  of  his 
captive,  and  giving  her  throat  a parting  squeeze, 
quite  as  much  in  resentment  at  her  indomitable 
efforts  to  sound  the  alarm,  as  from  any  policy,  he 
left  her  on  her  back,  and  moved  toward  the 
bushes ; his  rifle  at  a poise,  and  his  head  over 
his  shoulders,  like  a lion  at  bay. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

“ There,  ye  wise  saints,  behold  your  light,  your  star ! 

Te  would  be  dupes  and  victims,  and  ye  are. 

Is  it  enough  ? or  must  I,  while  a thrill 
, Lives  in  your  sapient  bosoms,  cheat  you  still  ? ” 

Moore. 

The  fire,  the  canoe,  and  the  spring,  near  which 
Deerslayer  commenced  his  retreat,  would  have 
stood  in  the  angles  of  a triangle  of  tolerably  equal 
sides.  The  distance  from  the  fire  to  the  boat  was 
a little  less  than  the  distance  from  the  fire  to  the 
spring,  while  the  distance  from  the  spring  to  the 
boat  was  about  equal  to  that  between  the  two 
points  first  named.  This,  however,  was  in  straight 
lines — a means  of  escape  to  which  the  fugitives 
could  not  resort.  They  were  obliged  to  have  re- 
course to  a detour  in  order  to  get  the  cover  of  the 
bushes,  and  to  follow  the  curvature  of  the  beach. 
Under  these  disadvantages,  then,  the  hunter  com- 
menced his  retreat — disadvantages  that  he  felt  to 
be  so  much  the  greater,  from  his  knowledge  of 
the  habits  of  all  Indians,  who  rarely  fail  in  cases 
of  sudden  alarm,  more  especially  when  in  the 
midst  of  cover,  immediately  to  throw  out  flankers, 
with  a view  to  meet  their  foes  at  all  points,  and 
if  possible  to  turn  their  rear.  That  some  such 
course  was  now  adopted,  he  believed  from  the 
tramp  of  feet,  which  not  only  came  up  the  ascent, 
as  related,  but  were  also  heard,  under  the  faint 
impulse,  diverging  not  only  toward  the  hill  in  the 
rear,  but  toward  the  extremity  of  the  point,  in  a 
direction  opposite  to  that  he  was  about  to  take 
himself.  Promptitude  consequently  became  a 


matter  of  the  last  importance,  as  the  parties  might 
meet  on  the  strand  before  the  fugitive  could  reach 
the  canoe. 

Notwithstanding  the  pressing  nature  of  the 
emergency,  Deerslayer  hesitated  a single  instant, 
ere  he  plunged  into  the  bushes  that  lined  the 
shore.  His  feelings  had  been  awakened  by  the 
whole  scene,  and  a sternness  of  purpose  had  come 
over  him,  to  which  he  was  ordinarily  a stranger. 
Four  dark  figures  loomed  on  the  ridge,  drawn 
against  the  brightness  of  the  fire,  and  an  enemy 
might  have  been  sacrificed  at  a glance.  The  In- 
dians had  paused  to  gaze  into  the  gloom  in  search 
of  the  screeching  hag ; and,  with  many  a man  less 
given  to  reflection  than  the  hunter,  the  death  of 
one  of  them  would  have  been  certain.  Luckily, 
he  was  more  prudent.  Although  the  rifle  dropped 
a little  toward  the  foremost  of  his  pursuers,  he 
did  not  aim  or  fire,  but  disappeared  in  the  cover. 
To  gain  the  beach,  and  to  follow  it  round  to  the 
place  where  Chingachgook  was  already  in  the 
canoe  with  Hist,  anxiously  waiting  his  appearance, 
occupied  but  a moment.  Laying  his  rifle  in  the 
bottom  of  the  canoe,  Deerslayer  stooped  to  give 
the  latter  a vigorous  shove  from  the  shore,  when 
a powerful  Indian  leaped  through  the  bushes, 
alighting  like  a panther  on  his  back.  Every  thing 
was  now  suspended  by  a hair ; a false  step  ruin- 
ing all.  With  a generosity  that  would  have  ren- 
dered a Roman  illustrious  throughout  all  time — 
but  which,  in  the  career  of  one  so  simple  and 
humble,  would  have  been  forever  lost  to  the 
world,  but  for  this  unpretending  legend,  Deer- 
slayer threw  all  his  force  into  a desperate  effort, 
shoved  the  canoe  off  with  a power  that  sent  it  a 
hundred  feet  from  the  shore  as  it  might  be  in  an 
instant,  and  fell  forward  into  the  lake,  himself, 
face  downward  ; his  assailant  necessarily  follow- 
ing him. 

Although  the  water  was  deep  within  a few 
yards  of  the  beach,  it  was  not  more  than  breast- 
high  as  close  in  as  the  spot  where  the  two  com- 
batants fell.  Still  this  was  quite  sufficient  to  de- 
stroy one  who  had  sunk  under  the  great  disad- 
vantages in  which  Deerslayer  was  placed.  His 
hands  were  free,  however,  and  the  savage  was 
compelled  to  relinquish  his  hug  to  keep  his  own 
face  above  the  surface.  Fqr  half  a minute  there 
was  a desperate  struggle,  like  the  floundering  of 
an  alligator  that  has  just  seized  some  powerfu. 
prey,  and  then  both  stood  erect  grasping  each 
other’s  arms,  in  order  to  prevent  the  use  of  th« 
deadly  knife  in  the  darkness.  What  might  have 
been  the  issue  of  this  severe  personal  struggle 
cannot  be  known,  for  half  a dozen  savages  came 
leaping  into  the  water  to  the  aid  of  their  friend. 


THE  HUNTER  AMONG  THE  HURONS. 


127 


and  Deerslayer  yielded  himself  a prisoner  with  a 
dignity  that  was  as  remarkable  as  his  self-de- 
votion. 

To  quit  the  lake  and  lead  their  new  captive  to 
the  fire,  occupied  the  Indians  but  another  minute. 
So  much  engaged  were  they  all  with  the  struggle 
and  its  consequences  that  the  canoe  was  unseen, 
though  it  still  lay  so  near  the  shore  as  to  render 
every  syllable  that  was  uttered  perfectly  intelli- 
gible to  the  Delaware  and  his  betrothed ; and  the 
whole  party  left  the  spot,  some  continuing  the 
pursuit  after  Hist,  along  the  beach,  though  most 
proceeded  to  the  light.  Here  Deerslayer’s  an- 
tagonist so  far  recovered  his  breath  and  his  recol- 
lection, for  he  had  been  throttled  nearly  to  stran- 
gulation, as  to  relate  the  manner  in  which  the  girl 
had  got  off.  It  was  now  too  late  to  assail  the 
other  fugitives,  for  no  sooner  was  his  friend  led 
into  the  bushes  than  the  Delaware  placed  his  pad- 
dle into  the  water,  and  the  light  canoe  glided 
noiselessly  away,  holding  its  course  toward  the 
centre  of  the  lake,  until  safe  from  shot,  after 
which  it  sought  the  ark. 

When  Deerslayer  reached  the  fire,  he  found 
himself  surrounded  by  no  less  than  eight  grim 
savages,  among  whom  was  his  old  acquaintance 
Rivenoak.  As  soon  as  the  latter  caught  a glimpse 
of  the  captive’s  countenance,  he  spoke  apart  to 
his  companions,  and  a low  but  general  exclamation 
of  pleasure  and  surprise  escaped  them.  They 
knew  that  the  conqueror  of  their  late  friend,  he 
who  had  fallen  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake, 
was  in  their  hands,  and  subject  to  their  mercy  or 
vengeance.  There  was  no  little  admiration  min- 
gled in  the  ferocious  looks  that  were  thrown  on 
the  prisoner,  an  admiration  that  was  as  much  ex- 
cited by  his  present  composure  as  by  his  past 
deeds.  This  scene  may  be  said  to  have  been  the 
commencement  of  the  great  and  terrible  repu- 
tation that  Deerslayer,  or  Hawkeye,  as  he  was 
afterward  called,  enjoyed  among  all  the  tribes  of 
New  York  and  Canada ; a reputation  that  was 
certainly  more  limited  in  its  territorial  and  nu- 
merical extent,  than  those  which  are  possessed  in 
civilized  life,  but  which  was  compensated  for  what 
it  wanted  in  these  particulars,  perhaps,  by  its 
greater  justice,  and  the  total  absence  of  mystifi- 
cation and  management. 

The  arms  of  Deerslayer  were  not  pinioned, 
and  he  was  left  the  free  use  of  his  hands,  his 
knife  having  been  first  removed.  The  only  pre- 
caution that  was  taken  to  secure  his  person  was 
untiring  watchfulness,  and  a strong  rope  of  bark 
that  passed  from  ankle  to  ankle,  not  so  much  to 
prevent  his  walking  as  to  place  an  obstacle  in  the 
way  of  his  attempting  to  escape  by  any  sudden 
9 


leap.  Even  this  extra  provision  against  flight 
was  not  made  until  the  captive  had  been  brought 
to  the  light  and  his  character  ascertained.  It 
was,  in  fact,  a compliment  to  his  prowess,  and  he 
felt  proud  of  the  distinction.  That  he  might  be 
bound  when  the  warriors  slept  he  thought  prob- 
able, but  to  be  bound  in  the  moment  of  capture 
showed  that  he  tyas  already,  and  thus  early,  at- 
taining a name.  While  the  young  Indians  were 
fastening  the  rope,  he  wondered  if  Chingachgook 
would  have  been  treated  in  the  same  manner  had 
he  too  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Nor 
did  the  reputation  of  the  young  pale-face  rest  al- 
together on  his  success  in  the  previous  combat, 
or  in  his  discriminating  and  cool  manner  of  man- 
aging the  late  negotiation ; for  it  had  received  a 
great  accession  by  the  occurrences  of  the  night. 
Ignorant  of  the  movements  of  the  ark,  and  of  the 
accident  that  had  brought  their  fire  into  view,  the 
Iroquois  attributed  the  discovery  of  their  new 
camp  to  the  vigilance  of  so  shrewd  a foe.  The 
manner  in  which  he  ventured  upon  the  point,  the 
abstraction  or  escape  of  Hist,  and  most  of  all 
the  self-devotion  of  the  prisoner,  united  to  the 
readiness  with  which  he  had  sent  the  canoe 
adrift,  were  so  many  important  links  in  the  chain 
of  facts  on  which  his  growing  fame  was  found- 
ed. Many  of  these  circumstances  had  been  seen, 
some  had  been  explained,  and  all  were  under- 
stood. 

While  this  admiration  and  these  honors  were 
so  unreservedly  bestowed  on  Deerslayer,  he  did 
not  escape  some  of  the  penalties  of  his  situation. 
He  was  permitted  to  seat  himself  on  the  end  of  a 
log,  near  the  fire,  in  order  to  dry  his  clothes,  his 
late  adversary  standing  opposite,  now  holding 
articles  of  his  own  scanty  vestments  to  the  heat, 
and  now  feeling  his  throat,  on  which  the  marks 
of  his  enemy’s  fingers  were  still  quite  visible. 
The  rest  of  the  warriors  consulted  together,  near 
at  hand,  all  those  who  had  been  out  having  re- 
turned to  report  that  no  signs  of  any  other  prowl- 
ers near  the  camp  were  to  be  found.  In  this 
state  of  things,  the  old  woman,  whose  name  was 
Shebear,  in  plain  English,  approached  Deerslayer, 
with  her  fists  clinched  and  her  eyes  flashing  fire. 
Hitherto  she  had  been  occupied  with  screaming, 
an  employment  at  which  she  had  played  her  part 
with  no  small  degree  of  success,  but,  having  sue 
ceeded  in  effectually  alarming  all  within  reach  of 
a pair  of  lungs  that  had  been  strengthened  by 
long  practice,  she  next  turned  her  attention  to 
the  injuries  her  own  person  had  sustained  in  the 
struggle.  These  were  in  no  manner  material, 
though  they  were  of  a nature  to  arouse  all  the 
fury  of  a woman  who  had  long  ceased  to  attract 


128 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


by  means  of  the  gentler  qualities,  and  who  was 
much  disposed  to  revenge  the  hardships  she  had 
so  long  endured,  as  the  neglected  wife  and  mother 
of  savages,  on  all  who  came  within  her  power. 
If  Deerslayer  had  not  permanently  injured  her, 
he  had  temporarily  caused  her  to  suffer,  and  she 
was  not  a person  to  overlook  a wrong  of  this  na- 
ture on  account  of  its  motive. 

“ Skunk  of  the  pale-faces,”  commenced  this 
exasperated  and  semi-poetic  fury,  shaking  her 
fist  under  the  nose  of  the  impassable  hunter, 
“ you  are  not  even  a woman.  Your  friends,  the 
Delawares,  are  only  women,  and  you  are  their 
sheep.  Your  own  people  will  not  own  you,  and 
no  tribe  of  red  men  would  have  you  in  their  wig- 
wams ; you  skulk  among  petticoated  warriors. 
You  slay  our  brave  friend  who  has  left  us  ! — no 
— his  great  soul  scorned  to  fight  you,  and  left  his 
body  rather  than  have  the  shame  of  slaying  you  / 
But  the  blood  that  you  spilt  when  the  spirit  was 
not  looking  on  has  not  sunk  into  the  ground.  It 
must  be  buried  in  your  groans — what  music  do  I 
hear  ? Those  are  not  the  wailings  of  a red  man  ! 
— no  red  warrior  groans  so  much  like  a hog. 
They  come  from  a pale-face  throat — a Yengeese 
bosom,  and  sound  as  pleasant  as  girls  singing. 
Dog — skunk — woodchuck  — mink — hedgehog — 
pig — toad — spider — Yengee — ” 

Here  the  old  woman,  having  expended  her 
breath,  and  exhausted  her  epithets,  was  fain  to 
pause  a moment,  though  both  her  fists  were 
shaken  in  the  prisoner’s  face,  and  the  whole  of 
her  wrinkled  countenance  was  filled  with  fierce 
resentment.  Deerslayer  looked  upon  these  im- 
potent attempts  to  arouse  him  as  indifferently  as 
a gentleman  in  our  own  state  of  society  regards 
the  vituperative  terms  of  a blackguard : the  one 
party  feeling  that  the  tongue  of  an  old  woman 
could  never  injure  a warrior,  and  the  other  know- 
ing that  mendacity  and  vulgarity  can  only  per- 
manently affect  those  who  resort  to  their  use ; 
but  he  was  spared  any  further  attack  at  present 
by  the  interposition  of  Rivenoak,  who  shoved 
aside  the  hag,  bidding  her  quit  the  spot,  and  pre- 
pared to  take  his  seat  at  the  side  of  his  prisoner. 
The  old  woman  withdrew,  but  the  hunter  well 
understood  that  he  was  to  be  the  subject  of  all 
her  means  of  annoyance,  if  not  of  positive  injury, 
so  long  as  he  remained  in  the  power  of  his  ene- 
mies ; for  nothing  rankles  so  deeply  as  the  con- 
sciousness that  an  attempt  to  irritate  has  been 
met  by  contempt,  a feeling  that  is  usually  the 
most  passive  of  any  that  is  harbored  in  the  hu- 
man breast.  Rivenoak  quietly  took  the  seat  we 
have  mentioned,  and,  after  a short  pause,  he  com- 
menced a dialogue,  which  we  translate  as  usual 


for  the  benefit  of  those  readers  who  have  not 
studied  the  North- American  languages. 

“ My  pale-face  friend  is  very  welcome,”  said 
the  Indian,  with  a familiar  nod,  and  a smile  so 
covert  which  it  required  all  Deerslayer’s  vigilance 
to  detect,  and  not  a little  of  his  philosophy  to 
detect  unmoved ; “ he  is  welcome.  The  Hurons 
keep  a hot  fire  to  dry  the  white  man’s  clothes.” 

“ I thank  you,  Huron — or  Mingo,  as  I most 
like  to  call  you,”  returned  the  other ; “ I thank 
you  for  the  welcome,  and  I thank  you  for  the  fire. 
Each  is  good  in  its  way,  and  the  last  is  very  good 
when  one  has  been  in  a spring  as  cold  as  the 
Glimmerglass.  Even  Huron  warmth  may  be 
pleasant,  at  such  a time,  to  a man  with  a Dela- 
ware heart.” 

“ The  pale-face — but  my  brother  has  a name  ? 
So  great  a warrior  would  not  have  lived  without 
a name  ? ” 

“Mingo,”  said  the  hunter,  a little  of  the 
weakness  of  human  nature  exhibiting  itself  in  the 
glance  of  his  eye  and  the  color  on  his  cheek — 
“ Mingo,  your  brave  called  me  Hawkeye,  I sup- 
pose on  account  of  a quick  and  sartain  aim,  when 
he  was  lying  with  his  head  in  my  lap,  afore  his 
spirit  started  for  the  happy  hunting-grounds.” 

“ ’Tis  a good  name  I The  hawk  is  sure  of  his 
blow.  Hawkeye  is  not  a woman ; why  does  he 
live  with  the  Delawares  ? ” 

“ I understand  you,  Mingo,  but  we  look  on  all 
that  as  a sarcumvention  of  some  of  your  subtle 
devils,  and  deny  the  charge.  Providence  placed 
me  among  the  Delawares  young;  and,  ’bating 
what  Christian  usages  demand  of  my  color  and 
gifts,  I hope  to  live  and  die  in  their  tribe.  Still, 

I do  not  mean  to  throw  away  altogether  my 
native  rights,  and  shall  strive  to  do  a pale-face’s 
duty  in  red-skin  society.” 

“ Good ! a Huron  is  a red-skin  as  well  as  a 
Delaware.  Hawkeye  is  more  of  a Huron  than  of 
a woman.” 

“ I suppose  you  know,  Mingo,  your  own  mean- 
ing ; if  you  don’t,  I make  no  question  ’tis  well 
known  to  Satan.  But  if  you  wish  to  get  any 
thing  out  of  me,  speak  plainer,  for  bargains  can 
not  be  made  blindfolded  or  tongue-tied.” 

“Good!  Hawkeye  has  not  a forked  tongue, 
and  he  likes  to  say  what  he  thinks.  He  is  an 
acquaintance  of  the  Muskrat  ” — this  was  a name 
by  which  all  the  Indians  designated  Hutter — 

“ and  he  has  lived  in  his  wigwam ; but  he  is  not 
a friend.  He  wants  no  scalps,  like  a miserable 
Indian,  but  fights  like  a stout-hearted  pale-face. 
The  Muskrat  is  neither  white  nor  red  ; neither  a 
beast  nor  a fish.  He  is  a water-snake;  some- 
times in  the  spring  and  sometimes  on  the  land 


RIVENOAK’S  INTERVIEW  WITH  HAWKEYE. 


129 


He  looks  for  scalps  like  an  outcast.  Hawkeye 
can  go  back  and  tell  him  how  he  has  outwitted 
the  Hurons,  how  he  has  escaped ; and,  when  his 
eyes  are  in  a fog,  when  he  can’t  see  as  far  as 
from  his  cabin  to  the  woods,  then  Hawkeye  can 
open  the  door  for  the  Hurons.  And  how  will  the 
plunder  be  divided  ? Why,  Hawkeye  will  carry 
away  the  most,  and  the  Hurons  will  take  what  he 
may  choose  to  leave  behind  him.  The  scalps  can 
go  to  Canada,  for  a pale-face  has  no  satisfaction 
in  them .” 

“Well,  well,  Rivenoak — for  so  I hear  ’em 
tarm  you — this  is  plain  English  enough,  though 
spoken  in  Iroquois.  I understand  all  you  mean, 
now,  and  must  say  it  out  - devils  even  Mingo 
deviltry ! No  doubt  ’twould  be  easy  enough  to 
go  back  and  tell  the  Muskrat  that  I had  got  away 
from  you,  and  gain  some  credit,  too,  by  the  ex- 
pl’ite.” 

“ Good  ! that  is  what  I want  the  pale-face  to 
do.” 

“Yes  — yes  — that’s  plain  enough.  I know 
what  you  want  me  to  do  without  more  words. 
When  inside  the  house,  and  eating  the  Muskrat’s 
bread,  and  laughing  and  talking  with  his  pretty 
darters,  I might  put  his  eyes  into  so  thick  a fog 
that  he  couldn’t  even  see  the  door,  much  less  the 
land.” 

“ Good ! Hawkeye  should  have  been  born  a 
Huron.  His  blood  is  not  more  than  half  white ! ” 

“ There  you’re  out,  Huron ; yes,  there  you’re 
as  much  out  as  if  you  mistook  a wolf  for  a cata- 
mount. I’m  white  in  blood,  heart,  natur’,  and 
gifts,  though  a little  red-skin  in  feelin’s  and 
habits.  But  when  old  Hutter’s  eyes  are  well  be- 
fogged, and  his  pretty  darters,  perhaps,  in  a deep 
sleep,  and  Hurry  Harry,  the  Great  Pine,  as  you 
Indians  tarm  him,  is  dreaming  of  any  thing  but 
mischief,  and  all  suppose  Hawkeye  is  acting  as  a 
faithful  sentinel,  all  I have  to  do  is  to  set  a torch 
somewhere  in  sight  for  a signal,  open  the  door, 
and  let  in  the  Hurons  to  knock  ’em  all  on  the 
head.” 

“ Surely  my  brother  is  mistaken ; he  cannot 
be  white ! He  is  worthy  to  be  a great  chief 
among  the  Hurons  ! ” 

“ That  is  true  enough,  I dares  to  say,  if  he 
could  do  all  this.  Now,  harkee,  Huron,  and  for 
once  hear  a few  honest  words  from  the  mouth  of 
a plain  man.  I am  a Christian  born,  and  them 
that  come  of  such  a stock,  and  that  listen  to  the 
words  that  were  spoken  to  their  fathers,  and  will 
be  spoken  to  their  children  until  ’arth  and  all  it 
holds  perishes,  can  never  lend  themselves  to  such 
wickedness.  Sarcumventions  in  war  may  be,  and 
are,  lawful ; but  sarcumventions,  and  deceit,  and 


treachery,  among  fri’nds,  are  fit  only  for  the  pale- 
face devils.  I know  that  there  are  white  men 
enough  to  give  you  this  wrong  idee  of  our  natur’, 
but  such  are  ontrue  to  their  blood  and  gifts,  and 
ought  to  be,  if  they  are  not,  outcasts  and  vaga- 
bonds. No  upright  pale-face  could  do  what  you 
wish,  and,  to  be  as  plain  with  you  as  I wish  to  be, 
in  my  judgment  no  upright  Delaware  either ; 
with  a Mingo  it  may  be  different.” 

The  Huron  listened  to  his  rebuke  with  obvious 
disgust ; but  he  had  his  ends  in  view,  and  was 
too  wily  to  lose  all  chance  of  effecting  them  by  a 
precipitate  avowal  of  resentment.  Affecting  to 
smile,  he  seemed  to  listen  eagerly,  and  he  then 
pondered  on  what  he  had  heard. 

“ Does  Hawkeye  love  the  Muskrat  ? ” he  ab- 
ruptly demanded;  “or  does  he  love  his  daugh- 
ters ? ” 

“ Neither,  Mingo.  Old  Tom  is  not  a man  to 
gain  my  love;  and  as  for  the  darters,  they  are 
comely  enough  to  gain  the  liking  of  any  young 
man ; but  there’s  reason  ag’in  any  very  great  love 
for  either.  Hetty  is  a good  soul,  but  natur’  has 
laid  a heavy  hand  on  her  mind,  poor  thing ! ” 

“And  the  Wild  Rose ! ” exclaimed  the  Huron 
— for  the  fame  of  Judith’s  beauty  had  spread 
among  those  who  could  travel  the  wilderness  as 
well  as  the  highway,  by  means  of  old  eagles’ 
nests,  rocks,  and  riven  trees,  known  to  them  by 
report  and  tradition,  as  well  as  among  the  white 
borderers — “ and  the  Wild  Rose ; is  she  not 
sweet  enough  to  be  put  in  the  bosom  of  my  broth- 
er ?” 

Deerslayer  had  far  too  much  of  the  innate 
gentleman  to  insinuate  aught  against  the  fair 
fame  of  one  who,  by  nature  and  position,  was  so 
helpless  ; and  as  he  did  not  choose  to  utter  an  un- 
truth, he  preferred  being  silent.  The  Huron  mis- 
took the  motive,  and  supposed  that  disappointed 
affection  lay  at  the  bottom  of  his  reserve.  Still 
bent  on  corrupting  or  bribing  his  captive,  in  order 
to  obtain  possession  of  the  treasures  with  which 
his  imagination  filled  the  castle,  he  persevered  in 
his  attack. 

“ Hawkeye  is  talking  with  a friend,”  he  con- 
tinued. “ He  knows  that  Rivenoak  is  a man  of 
his  word,  for  they  have  traded  together,  and  trade 
opens  the  soul.  My  friend  has  come  here  on  ac- 
count of  a little  string  held  by  a girl,  that  can 
pull  the  whole  body  of  the  stoutest  warrior  ? ” 

“You  are  nearer  the  truth  now,  Huron,  than 
you’ve  been  afore,  since  we  began  to  talk.  This 
is  true.  But  one  end  of  that  string  was  not  fast 
to  my  heart,  nor  did  the  Wild  Rose  hold  the 
other.” 

“ This  is  wonderful ! Does  my  brother  love 


130 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


in  his  head,  and  not  in  his  heart  ? And  can  the 
Feeble-Mind  pull  so  hard  against  so  stout  a war- 
rior ? ” 

“ There  it  is  ag’in ; sometimes  right  and  some- 
times wrong ! The  string  you  mean  is  fast  to  the 
heart  of  a great  Delaware ; one  of  the  Mohican 
stock  in  fact,  living  among  the  Delawares  since 
the  dispersion  of  his  own  people,  and  of  the  fam- 
ily of  Uncas— Chingachgook  by  name,  or  Great 
Sarpent,  He  has  come  here,  led  by  the  string, 
and  I’ve  followed,  or  rather  come  afore,  for  I got 
here  first,  pulled  by  nothing  stronger  than  fri’nd- 
ship  ; which  is  strong  enough  for  such  as  are  not 
niggardly  of  their  feelin’s,  and  are  willing  to  live 
a little  for  their  fellow-creatur’s  as  wTell  as  for 
themselves.” 

“ But  a string  has  two  ends — one  is  fast  to 
the  mind  of  a Mohican,  and  the  other — ? ” 

“ Why,  the  other  was  here  close  to  the  fire, 
half  an  hour  since.  Wah-ta  !-Wah  held  it  in  her 
hand,  if  she  didn’t  hold  it  to  her  heart.” 

“ I understand  what  you  mean,  my  brother,” 
Returned  the  Indian  gravely,  for  the  first  time 
catching  a direct  clew  to  the  adventures  of  the 
evening.  “ The  Great  Serpent  being  strongest, 
pulled  the  hardest,  and  Hist  was  forced  to  leave  us.” 

“ I don’t  think  there  was  much  pulling  about 
it,”  answered  the  other,  laughing,  always  in  his 
silent  manner,  with  as  much  heartiness  as  if  he 
were  not  a captive,  and  in  danger  of  torture  or 
death.  “ I don’t  think  there  was  much  pulling 
about  it ; no,  I don’t.  Lord  help  your  Huron  ! 
he  likes  the  gal,  and  the  gal  likes  him,  and  it  sur- 
passed Huron  sarcumventions  to  keep  two  young 
people  apart,  when  there  was  so  strong  a feelin’ 
to  bring  ’em  together.” 

“ And  Hawkeye  and  Chingachgook  came  into 
our  camp  on  this  errand  only  ? ” 

“ That’s  a question  that’ll  answer  itself,  Min- 
go! Yes,  if  a question  could  talk,  it  would  an- 
swer itself  to  your  perfect  satisfaction.  For  what 
else  should  we  come  ? And  yet,  it  isn’t  exactly 
so,  neither ; for  we  didn’t  come  into  your  camp  at 
all,  but  only  as  far  as  that  pine,  there,  that  you 
see  on  the  other  . side  of  the  ridge,  where  we 
stood  watching  your  movements  and  conduct  as 
long  as  we  liked.  When  we  were  ready  the  Sar- 
pent gave  his  signal,  and  then  all  went  just  as  it 
should,  down  to  the  moment  when  yonder  vaga- 
bond leaped  upon  my  back.  Sartain ; we  came 
for  that,  and  for  no  other  purpose,  and  we  got 
what  we  came  for;  there’s  no  use  in  pretending 
otherwise.  Hist  is  off  with  a man  who’s  the  next 
thing  to  her  husband,  and,  come  what  will  to  me, 
that's  one  good  thing  detarmined.” 

“ What  sign  or  signal  told  the  young  maiden 


that  her  lover  was  nigh  ? ” asked  the  old  Huron, 
with  more  curiosity  than  it  was  usual  for  him  to 
betray. 

Deerslayer  laughed  again,  and  seemed  to  en- 
joy the  success  of  the  exploit  with  as  much  glee 
as  if  he  had  not  been  its  victim. 

“ Your  squirrels  are  great  gadabouts,  Mingo ! ’ 
he  cried,  still  laughing — “yes,  they’re  sartainly 
great  gadabouts ! Yv  hen  other  folks’  squirrels 
are  at  home  and  asleep,  yourn  keep  in  motion 
among  the  trees,  and  chirrup  and  sing  in  a way 
that  even  a Delaware  gal  can  understand  their 
music!  Well,  there’s  four-legged  squirrels,  and 
there’s  two-legged  squirrels,  and  give  me  the  last, 
when  there’s  a good  tight  string  atween  two  hearts. 
If  one  brings  ’em  together,  t’other  tells  when  to 
pull  the  hardest.” 

The  Huron  looked  vexed,  though  he  succeeded 
in  suppressing  any  violent  exhibition  of  resent- 
ment. He  soon  quitted  his  prisoner,  and,  joining 
the  rest  of  his  warriors,  he  communicated  the 
substance  of  what  he  had  learned.  As  in  his  own 
case,  admiration  was  mingled  with  anger  at  the 
boldness  and  success  of  their  enemies.  Three  or 
four  of  them  ascended  the  little  acclivity  and 
gazed  at  the  tree  where  it  was  understood  the  ad- 
venturers had  posted  themselves,  and  one  even 
descended  to  and  examined  for  footprints  around 
its  roots,  in  order  to  make  sure  that  the  state- 
ment  was  time.  The  result  confirmed  the  story 
of  the  captive,  and  they  all  returned  to  the  fire 
with  increased  wonder  and  respect.  The  messen- 
ger, who  had  arrived  with  some  communication 
from  the  party  above  while  the  two  adventurers 
were  watching  the  camp,  was  now  dispatched 
with  some  answer,  and  doubtless  bore  with  him 
the  intelligence  of  all  that  had  happened. 

Down  to  this  moment,  the  young  Indian  who 
had  been  seen  walking  in  company  with  Hist  and 
another  female,  had  made  no  advances  to  any 
communications  with  Deerslayer.  He  had  held 
himself  aloof  from  his  friends  even,  passing  near 
the  bevy  of  younger  women  who  were  clustering 
together,  apart  as  usual,  and  conversed  In  low 
tones  on  the  subject  of  the  escape  of  their  late 
companion.  Perhaps  it  would  be  true  to  say,  that 
these  last  were  pleased  as  well  as  vexed  at  what 
had  just  occurred.  Their  female  sympathies  were 
with  the  lovers,  while  their  pride  was  bound  up 
in  the  success  of  their  own  tribe.  It  is  possible, 
too,  that  the  superior  personal  advantages  of  Hist 
rendered  her  dangerous  to  some  of  the  younger 
part  of  the  group,  and  they  were  not  sorry  to 
find  she  was  no  longer  in  the  way  of  their  own 
ascendency.  On  the  whole,  however,  the  better 
feeling  was  most  prevalent ; for  neither  the  wild 


THE  MENACES  OF  CATAMOUNT. 


131 


condition  in  which  they  lived,  the  clannish  pre- 
judices of  tribes,  nor  their  hard  fortunes  as  In- 
dian women,  could  entirely  conquer  the  inex- 
tinguishable leaning  of  their  sex  to  the  affections. 
One  of  the  girls  even  laughed  at  the  disconsolate 
look  of  the  swain  who  might  fancy  himself  de- 
serted, a circumstance  that  seemed  snddenly  to 
arouse  his  energies,  and  induced  him  to  move 
toward  the  log  on  which  the  prisoner  was  still 
seated,  drying  his  clothes. 

“ This  is  Catamount ! ” said  the  Indian,  strik- 
ing his  hand  boastfully  on  his  naked  breast  as  he 
uttered  the  words,  in  a manner  to  show  how 
much  weight  he  expected  them  to  carry. 

“This  is  Hawkeye,”  quietly  returned  Deer- 
slayer,  adopting  the  name  by  which  he  knew  he 
would  be  known  in  future  among  all  the  tribes  of 
the  Iroquois.  “ My  sight  is  keen : is  my  brother’s 
eap  long  ? ” 

“ From  here  to  the  Delaware  villages. 
Hawkeye  has  stolen  my  wife : he  must  bring  her 
back,  or  his  scalp  will  hang  on  a pole  and  dry  in 
my  wigwam.” 

“Hawkeye  has  stolen  nothing,  Huron.  He 
doesn’t  come  of  a thieving  breed,  nor  has  he 
thieving  gifts.  Your  wife,  as  you  callWah-ta!- 
Wah,  will  never  be  the  wife  of  any  red-skin  of 
the  Canadas  ; her  mind  is  in  the  cabin  of  a Dela- 
ware, and  her  body  has  gone  to  find  it.  The 
catamount  is  act ?/ve,  I know ; but  its  legs  can’t 
keep  pace  with  a woman’s  wishes.” 

“ The  Serpent  of  the  Delawares  is  a dog  : he 
is  a poor  bull-pout  that  keeps  in  the  water ; he  is 
afraid  to  stand  on  the  hard  earth  like  a brave 
Indian ! ” 

“Well,  well,  Huron,  that’s  pretty  impudent, 
considering  it’s  not  an  hour  since  the  Sarpent 
stood  within  a hundred  feet  of  you,  and  would 
have  tried  the  toughness  of  your  skin  with  a rifle- 
bullet,  when  I pointed  you  out  to  him,  hadn’t  I 
laid  the  weight  of  a little  judgment  on  his  hand. 
You  may  take  in  timersome  gals  in  the  settle- 
ments with  your  catamount  whine  ; but  the  ears 
of  a man  can  tell  truth  from  ontruth.” 

“ Hist  laughs  at  him  ! She  sees  he  is  lame, 
and  a poor  hunter,  and  he  has  never  been  on  a 
war-path.  She  will  take  a man  for  a husband, 
and  not  a fool.” 

“ How  do  you  know  that,  Catamount  ? how  do 
you  know  that  ? ” returned  Deerslayer,  laughing. 

“ She  has  gone  into  the  lake,  you  see,  and  maybe 
she  prefers  a trout  to  a mongrel  cat.  As  for  war- 
paths, neither  the  Sarpent  nor  I have  much  expe- 
r’ence,  we  are  ready  to  own  ; but  if  you  don’t  call 
this  one,  you  must  tarm  it  what  the  gals  in  the 
ettlements  tarm  it,  the  high-road  to  matrimony. 


Take  my  advice,  Catamount,  and  s’arch  for  a wife 
among  the  Huron  women  ; you’ll  never  get  one 
with  a willing  mind  from  among  the  Delawares.” 
Catamount’s  hand  felt  for  his  tomahawk,  and 
when  the  fingers  reached  the  handle  they  worked 
convulsively,  as  if  their  owner  hesitated  between 
policy  and  resentment.  At  this  critical  moment 
Rivenoak  approached,  and,  by  a gesture  of  au- 
thority, induced  the  young  man  to  retire,  as- 
suming his  former  position  himself  on  the  log,  at 
the  side  of  Deerslayer.  Here  he  continued  silent 
for  a little  time,  maintaining  the  grave  reserve  of 
an  Indian  chief. 

“ Hawkeye  is  right,”  the  Iroquois  at  length  be- 
gan ; “ his  sight  is  so  strong  that  he  can  see  truth 
in  a dark  night,  and  our  eyes  have  been  blinded. 
He  is  an  owl,  darkness  hiding  nothing  from  him. 
He  ought  not  to  strike  his  friends.  He  is  right.” 

“ I’m  glad  you  think  so,  Mingo,”  returned  the 
other,  “for  a traitor,  in  my  judgment,  is  worse 
than  a coward.  I care  as  little  for  the  Muskrat 
as  one  pale-face  ought  to  care  for  another ; but  I 
care  too  much  for  him  to  ambush  him  in  the  way 
you  wished.  In  short,  according  to  my  idees,  any 
sarcumvention,  except  open-war  sarcumventions, 
are  ag’in  both  law,  and  what  we  whites  call  ‘gos- 
pel,’ too.” 

“ My  pale-face  brother  is  right ; he  is  no  In- 
dian to  forget  his  Manitou  and  his  color.  The 
Hurons  know  that  they  have  a great  warrior  for 
their  prisoner,  and  they  will  treat  him  as  one.  If 
he  is  to  be  tortured,  his  torments  shall  be  such 
as  no  common  man  can  bear ; if  he  is  to  be  treat- 
ed as  a friend,  it  will  be  the  friendship  of  chiefs.” 

As  the  Huron  uttered  this  extraordinary  as- 
surance of  consideration,  his  eye  furtively  glanced 
at  the  countenance  of  his  listener,  in  order  to  dis- 
cover how  he  stood  the  compliment ; though  his 
gravity  and  apparent  sincerity  would  have  pre- 
vented any  man  but  one  practised  in  artifices 
from  detecting  his  motives.  Deerslayer  belonged 
to  the  class  of  the  unsuspicious ; and  acquainted 
with  the  Indian  notions  of  what  constituted  re- 
spect, in  matters  connected  with  the  treatment  of 
captives,  he  felt  his  blood  chill  at  the  announce- 
ment, even  while  he  maintained  an  aspect  so 
steeled  that  his  quick-sighted  enemy  could  dis- 
cover in  it  no  signs  of  weakness. 

“ God  has  put  me  in  your  hands,  Huron,”  the 
captive  at  length  answered,  “ and  I suppose  you 
will  act  your  will  on  me.  I shall  not  boast  of 
what  I can  do,  under  torment,  for  I’ve  never  been 
tried,  and  no  man  can  say  till  he  has  been  ; but 
I’ll  do  my  indivors  not  to  disgrace  the  people 
among  whom  I got  my  training.  Howsever,  I 
wish  you  now  to  bear  witness,  that  I’m  altogether 


132 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


of  white  blood,  and,  in  a nat’ral  way,  of  white 
gifts,  too ; so,  should  I be  overcome  and  forget 
- myself,  I hope  you’ll  lay  the  fault  where  it  prop- 
erly belongs ; and  in  no  manner  put  it  on  the 
Delawares,  -or  their  allies  and  friends  the  Mo- 
hicans. We’re  all  created  with  more  or  less 
weakness,  and  I’m  afeard  it’s  a pale-face’s  to  give 
in  under  great  bodily  torment,  when  a red-skin 
will  sing  his  songs,  and  boast  of  his  deeds,  in  the 
very  teeth  of  his  foes  ! ” 

“ We  shall  see.  Hawkeye  has  a good  coun- 
tenance, and  he  is  tough.  But  why  should  he  be 
tormented  when  the  Hurons  love  him  ? He  is 
not  born  their  enemy  ; and  the  death  of  one  war- 
rior will  not  cast  a cloud  between  them  forever.” 

“ So  much  the  better,  Huron ; so  much  the 
better.  Still,  I don’t  wish  to  owe  any  thing  to  a 
mistake  about  each  other’s  meaning.  It  is  so 
much  the  better  that  you  bear  no  malice  for  the 
loss  of  a warrior  who  fell  in  war ; and  yet  it  is 
ontrue  that  there  is  no  inmity — lawful  inmity,  I 
mean,  atween  us.  So  far  as  I have  red-skin  feel- 
in’s  at  all,  I’ve  Delaware  feelin’s  ; and  I leave  you 
to  judge  for  yourself  how  far  they  are  likely  to 
be  fri’ndly  to  the  Mingoes — ” 

Deerslayer  ceased,  for  a sort  of  spectre  stood 
before  him  that  put  a stop  to  his  words,  and,  in- 
deed, caused  him  for  a moment  to  doubt  the 
fidelity  of  his  boasted  vision.  Hetty  flutter  was 
standing  at  the  side  of  the  fire,  as  quietly  as  if 
she  belonged  to  the  tribe. 

As  the  hunter  and  the  Indian  sat  watching 
the  emotions  that  were  betrayed  in  each  other’s 
countenance,  the  girl  had  approached  unnoticed, 
doubtless  ascending  from  the  beach  on  the  south- 
ern side  of  the  point,  or  that  next  to  the  spot 
where  the  ark  had  anchored,  and  had  advanced 
to  the  fire  with  the  fearlessness  that  belonged 
to  her  simplicity,  and  which  was  certainly  justi- 
fied by  the  treatment  formerly  received  from  the 
Indians.  As  soon  as  Rivenoak  perceived  the 
girl,  she  was  recognized,  and,  calling  to  two  or 
three  of  the  younger  warriors,  the  chief  sent  them 
out  to  reconnoitre,  lest  her  appearance  should  be 
the  forerunner  of  another  attack.  He  then  mo- 
tioned to  Hetty  to  draw  near. 

“ I hope  your  visit  is  a sign  that  the  Sarpent 
and  Hist  are  in  safety,  Hetty,”  said  Deerslayer, 
as  soon  as  the  girl  had  complied  with  the  Hu- 
ron’s request.  “ I don’t  think  you’d  come  ashore 
ag’in  on  the  ar’n’d  that  brought  you  here  afore.” 

“ Judith  told  me  to  come  this  time,  Deerslay- 
er,” Hetty  replied  ; “ she  paddled  me  ashore  her- 
self, in  a canoe,  as  soon  as  the  Serpent  had  shown 
her  Hist,  and  told  his  story.  How  handsome 
Hist  is  to-night,  Deerslayer,  and  how  much  hap- 


pier she  looks  than  when  she  was  with  the  Hu- 
rons ! ” 

“ That’s  natur’,  gal ; yes,  that  may  be  set 
down  as  human  natur’.  She’s  with  her  betrothed, 
and  no  longer  fears  a Mingo  husband.  In  my 
judgment,  Judith  herself  would  lose  most  of  her 
beauty  if  she  thought  she  was  to  bestow  it  all  on 
a Mingo ! Content  is  a great  fortifier  of  good 
looks ; and,  I’ll  warrant  you,  Hist  is  contented 
enough,  now  she  is  out  of  the  hands  of  these  mis- 
creants and  with  her  chosen  warrior  ! — Did  you 
say  that  your  sister  told  you  to  come  ashore — 
why  should  Judith  do  that  ? ” 

“ She  bid  me  come  to  see  you,  and  to  try 
and  persuade  the  savages  to  take  more  elephants 
to  let  you  off ; but  I’ve  brought  the  Bible  with 
me — that  will  do  more  than  all  the  elephants  in 
father’s  chest ! ” 

“And  your  father,  good  little  Hetty — and 
Hurry ; did  they  know  of  your  ar’n’d  ? ” 

“ Nothing.  Both  are  asleep  ; and  Judith  and 
the  Serpent  thought  it  best  they  should  not  be 
woke,  lest  they  might  want  to  come  again  after 
scalps,  when  Hist  had  told  them  how  few  war- 
riors, and  how  many  women  and  children,  there 
were  in  the  camp.  Judith  would  give  me  no 
peace  till  I had  come  ashore,  to  see  what  had 
happened  to  you .” 

“ Well,  that’s  remarkable  as  consarns  Ju- 
dith ! Why  should  she  feel  so  much  unsartainty 
about  me  ? Ah,  I see  how  it  is  now  ; yes,  I see 
into  the  whole  matter  now.  You  must  under- 
stand, Hetty,  that  your  sister  is  oneasy  lest  Har- 
ry March  should  wake,  and  come  blundering  here 
into  the  hands  of  the  inimy  ag’in,  under  some 
idee  that,  being  a travelling  comrade,  he  ought 
to  help  me  in  this  matter  ! Hurry  is  a blunderer, 
I will  allow ; but  I don’t  think  he’d  risk  as  much 
for  my  sake  as  he  would  for  his  own.” 

“ Judith  don’t  care  for  Hurry,  though  Hurry 
cares  for  her,”  replied  Hetty,  innocently,  but 
quite  positively. 

“ I’ve  heard  you  say  as  much  as  that  afore  ; 
yes,  I’ve  heard  that  from  you  afore,  gal ; and 
yet  it  isn’t  true.  One  don’t  live  in  a tribe,  not  to 
see  something  of  the  way  in  which  liking  worlds 
in  a woman’s  heart.  Though  no  way  given  to 
marrying  myself,  I’ve  been  a looker-on  among  the 
Delawares,  and  this  is  a matter  in  which  pale-face 
and  red-skin  gifts  are  all  as  one  and  the  same. 
When  the  feelin’  begins,  the  young  woman  is 
thoughtful,  and  has  no  eyes  or  ears  onless  for  the 
warrior  that  has  taken  her  fancy ; then  follows 
melancholy  and  sighing,  and  such  sort  of  actions ; 
after  which,  especially  if  matters  don’t  come  to 
plain  discourse,  she  often  flies  round  to  backbit 


HETTY  REVISITING  THE  INDIANS. 


13a 


mg  and  fault-finding,  blaming  the  youth  for  the 
rery  things  she  likes  best  in  him.  Some  young 
creatur’s  are  forward  in  this  way  of  showing  their 
love,  and  I’m  of  opinion  Judith  is  one  of  ’em. 
Now,  I’ve  heard  her  as  much  as  deny  that  Hurry 
was  good-looking ; and  the  young  woman  who 
could  do  that,  must  be  far  gone  indeed.” 

“ The  young  woman  who  liked  Hurry  would 
own  that  he  is  handsome.  I think  Hurry  very 
handsome,  Deerslayer,  and  I’m  sure  everybody 
must  think  so  that  has  eyes.  Judith  don’t  like 
Harry  March,  and  that’s  the  reason  she  finds  fault 
with  him.” 

“ Well — well — my  good  little  Hetty,  have  it 
your  own  way ; if  we  should  talk  from  now  till 
winter,  each  would  think  as  at  present ; and 
there’s  no  use  in  words.  I must  believe  that  Ju- 
dith is  much  wrapped  up  in  Hurry,  and  that, 
sooner  or  later,  she’ll  have  him  ; and  this,  too, 
all  the  more  from  the  manner  in  which  she  abuses 
him ; and,  I dare  say,  you  think  just  the  con- 
trary. But  mind  what  I now  tell  you,  gal,  and 
pretend  not  to  know  it,”  continued  this  being, 
who  was  so  obtuse  on  a point  on  which  men  are 
usually  quick  enough  to  make  discoveries,  and  so 
acute  in  matters  that  would  baffle  the  observation 
of  much  the  greater  portion  of  mankind  ; “ I see 
how  it  is  with  them  vagabonds.  Rivenoak  has 
left  us,  you  see,  and  is  -talking  yonder  with  his 
young  men ; and,  though  too  far  to  be  heard,  I 
can  see  what  he  is  telling  them.  Their  orders  is 
to  watch  your  movements,  and  to  find  where  the 
canoe  is  to  meet  you,  to  take  you  back  to  the 
ark,  and  then  to  seize  all  and  what  they  can.  I’m 
sorry  Judith  sent  you,  for  I suppose  she  wants 
you  to  go  back  ag’in.” 

“ All  that’s  settled,  Deerslayer,”  returned  the 
girl  in  a low,  confidential,  and  meaning  manner ; 
M and  you  may  trust  me  to  outwit  the  best  Indian 
of  them  all.  I know  I am  feeble-minded,  but 
I’ve  got  some  sense,  and  you’ll  see  how  I’ll  use  it 
in  getting  back  when  my  errand  is  done  ! ” 

“Ah’s  me!  poor  girl;  I’m  afeard  all  that’s 
easier  said  than  done.  They’re  a venomous  set 
of  riptyles,  and  their  p’ison’s  none  the  milder  for 
the  loss  of  Hist.  Well,  I’m  glad  the  Sarpent  was 
the  one  to  get  off  with  the  gal ; for  now  ther’ll 
be  two  happy,  at  least ; whereas,  had  he  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  Mingoes,  there’d  be  two 
miserable,  and  another  far  from  feelin’  as  a man 
likes  to  feel.” 

“ Now  you  put  me  in  mind  of  a part  of  my 
errand,  that  I had  almost  forgotten,  Deerslayer. 
Judith  told  me  to  ask  you  what  you  thought  the 
Hurons  would  do  with  you  if  you  couldn’t  be 
bought  off,  and  what  she  had  best  do  to  serve 


you.  Yes,  this  was  the  most  important  part  of 
the  errand — what  she  had  best  do  in  order  to 
serve  you.” 

“ That’s  as  you  think,  Hetty  ; but  it’s  no  mat- 
ter. Young  women  are  apt  to  lay  most  stress  on 
what  most  touches  their  feelin’s  ; but  no  matter  ; 
have  it  your  own  way,  so  you  be  but  careful  not 
to  let  the  vagabonds  get  the  mastery  of  a canoe. 
When  you  get  back  to  the  ark,  tell  ’em  to  keep 
close,  and  to  keep  moving  too,  most  especially  at 
night.  Many  hours  can’t  go  by  without  the 
troops  on  the  river  hearing  of  this  party,  and 
then  your  fri’nds  may  look  for  relief  ’Tis  but  a 
day’s  march  from  the  nearest  garrison,  and  true 
soldiers  will  never  lie  idle  with  the  foe  in  their 
neighborhood.  This  is  my  advice,  and  you  may 
say  to  your  father  and  Hurry  that  scalp-hunting 
will  be  a poor  business  now,  as  the  Mingoes  are 
up  and  awake,  and  nothing  can  save  ’em  ’till  the 
troops  come,  except  keeping  a good  belt  of  water 
atween  ’em  and  the  savages.” 

“What  shall  I tell  Judith  about  you,  Deer- 
slayer ? I know  she  will  send  me  back  again,  if 
I don’t  bring  her  the  truth  about  you.” 

“ Then  tell  her  the  truth.  I see  no  reason 
Judith  Hutter  shouldn’t  hear  the  truth  about  me 
as  well  as.  a lie.  I’m  a captyve  in  Indian  hands, 
and  Providence  only  knows  what  will  come  of  it ! 
Hark’ee,  Hetty — ” dropping  his  voice  and  speak- 
ing still  more  confidentially,  “ you  are  a little 
weak-minded,  it  must  be  allowed,  but  you  know 
something  of  Injins.  Here  I am  in  their  hands, 
after  having  slain  one  of  their  stoutest  warriors, 
and  they’ve  been  endivering  to  work  upon  me, 
through  fear  of  consequences,  to  beti’ay  your  fa- 
ther and  all  in  the  ark.  I understand  the  black- 
guards as  well  as  if  they  told  it  all  out  plainly 
with  their  tongues.  They  hold  up  avarice  afore 
me  on  one  side,  and  fear  on  t’other,  and  think 
honesty  will  give  way  atween  ’em  both.  But  let 
your  father  and  Hurry  know  ’tis  all  useless  ; as 
for  the  Sarpent,  he  knows  it  already.” 

“ But  what  shall  I tell  Judith  ? She  will  cer- 
tainly send  me  back  if  I don’t  satisfy  her  mind. 

“ Well,  tell  Judith  the  same.  No  doubt  the 
savages  will  try  the  torments  t®  make  me  give  in, 
and  to  revenge  the  loss  of  their  warrior,  but  I 
must  hold  out  ag’in  nat’ral  weakness  in  the  best 
manner  I can.  You  may  tell  Judith  to  feel  no 
consarn  on  my  account — it  will  come  hard,  I 
know,  seeing  that  a white  man’s  gifts  don’t  run 
to  boasting  and  singing  under  torment,  for  he 
generally  feels  smallest  when  he  suffers  most — 
but  you  may  tell  her  not  to  have  any  consarn.  I 
think  I shall  make  out  to  stand  it ; and  she  may 
rely  on  this,  let  me  give  in  as  much  as  I may,  and 


134 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


prove  completely  that  I am  white,  by  wailings, 
and  howlings,  and  even  tears,  yet  I’ll  never  fall 
so  far  as  to  betray  my  fri’nds.  When  it  gets  to 
burning  holes  in  the  flesh  with  heated  ramrods, 
and  to  hacking  the  body,  and  tearing  the  hair 
out  by  the  roots,  Natur’  may  get  the  upperhand, 
so  far  as  groans  and  complaints  are  consarned, 
but  there  the  triumph  of  the  vagabonds  will  ind ; 
nothing  short  of  God’s  abandoning  him  to  the 
devils,  can  make  an  honest  man  ontrue  to  his 
color  and  duty.” 

Hetty  listened  with  great  attention,  and  her 
mild  but  speaking  countenance  manifested  a 
strong  sympathy  in  the  anticipated  agony  of  the 
supposititious  sufferer.  At  first  she  seemed  at  a 
loss  how  to  act ; then,  taking  a hand  of  Deer- 
slayer’s,  she  affectionately  recommended  to  him 
to  borrow  her  Bible,  and  to  read  it  while  the 
savages  were  inflicting  their  torments.  When  the 
other  honestly  admitted  that  it  exceeded  his  pow- 
er to  read,  she  even  volunteered  to  remain  with 
him,  and  to  perform  this  holy  office  in  person. 
The  offer  was  gently  declined,  and,  Rivenoak  be- 
ing about  to  join  them,  Deerslayer  requested  the 
girl  to  leave  him,  first  enjoining  her  again  to  tell 
those  in  the  ark  to  have  full  confidence  in  his 
fidelity.  Hetty  now  walked  away,  and  approached 
the  group  of  females  with  as  much  confidence 
and  self-possession  as  if  she  were  a native  of  the 
tribe.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Huron  resumed 
his  seat  by  the  side  of  his  prisoner,  the  one 
continuing  to  ask  questions  with  all  the  wily  in- 
genuity of  a practised  Indian  counsellor,  and  the 
other  baffling  him  by  the  very  means  that  are 
known  to  be  the  most  efficacious  in  defeating  the 
finesse  of  the  more  pretending  diplomacy  of  civil- 
ization, or  by  confining  his  answers  to  the  truth, 
and  the  truth  only. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

“Thus  died  she ; never  more  on  her 
Shall  sorrow  light,  or  shame.  She  was  not  made 
Through  years  or  moons  the  inner  weight  to  bear, 
Which  colder  hearts  endure  till  they  are  laid 
By  age  in  earth ; her  days  and  pleasures  were 
Brief  but  delightful — such  as  had  not  stayed 
Long  with  her  destiny ; but  she  sleeps  well 
By  the  sea-shore  whereon  she  loved  to  dwell.” 

Byeon. 

The  young  men  who  had  been  sent  out  to 
reconnoitre,  on  the  sudden  appearance  of  Hetty, 
soon  returned  to  report  their  want  of  success  in 
making  any  discovery.  One  of  them  had  even  been 
along  the  beach  as  far  as  the  spot  opposite  to  the 


ark,  but  the  darkness  completely  concealed  that 
vessel  from  his  notice.  Others  had  examined  in 
different  directions,  and  everywhere  the  stillness 
of  night  was  added  to  the  silence  and  solitude  of 
the  woods.  It  was  consequently  believed  that 
the  girl  had  come  alone,  as  on  her  former  visit, 
and  op  some  similar  errand.  The  Iroquois  were 
ignorant  that  the  ark  had  left  the  castle,  and 
there  were  movements  projected,  if  not  in  the 
course  of  actual  execution  by  this  time,  which 
also  greatly  added  to  the  sense  of  security.  A 
watch  was  set,  therefore,  and  all  but  the  senti- 
nels disposed  themselves  to  sleep. 

Sufficient  care  was  had  to  the  safe  keeping  of 
the  captive,  without  inflicting  on  him  any  unne- 
cessary suffering ; and,  as  for  Hetty,  she  was  per- 
mitted to  find  a place  among  the  Indian  girls,  in 
the  best  manner  she  could.  She  did  not  find  the 
friendly  offices  of  Hist,  though  her  character  not 
only  bestowed  impunity  from  pain  and  captivity, 
but  it  procured  for  her  a consideration  and  an 
attention  that  placed  her,  on  the  score  of  com- 
fort, quite  on  a level  with  the  wild  but  gentle  be- 
ings around  her.  She  was  supplied  with  a skin, 
and  made  her  own  bed  on  a pile  of  boughs  a lit- 
tle apart  from  the  huts.  Here  she  was  soon  in  a 
profound  sleep,  like  all  around  her. 

There  were  now  thirteen  men  in  the  party, 
and  three  kept  watch  at  a time.  One  remained 
in  shadow,  not  far  from  the  fire,  however.  His 
duty  was  to  guard  the  captive,  to  take  care  that 
the  fire  neither  blazed  up  so  as  to  illuminate  the 
spot,  nor  yet  become  wholly  extinguished ; and 
to  keep  an  eye  generally  on  the  state  of  the  camp. 
Another  passed  from  one  beach  to  the  other, 
crossing  the  base  of  the  point ; while  the  third 
kept  moving  slowly  around  line  strand  on  its 
outer  extremity,  to  prevent  a repetition  of  the 
surprise  that  had  already  taken  place  that  night. 
This  arrangement  was  far  from  being  usual  among 
savages,  who  ordinarily  rely  more  on  the  secrecy 
of  their  movements  than  on  vigilance  of  this  na- 
ture ; but  it  had  been  called  for  by  the  peculiari- 
ty of  the  circumstances  in  which  the  Hurons 
were  now  placed.  Their  position  was  known  to 
their  foes,  and  it  could  not  easily  be  changed  at 
an  hour  which  demanded  rest.  Perhaps,  too, 
they  placed  most  of  their  confidence  on  the 
knowledge  of  what  they  believed  to  be  passing 
higher  up  the  lake,  and  which,  it  was  thought, 
would  fully  occupy  the  whole  of  the  pale-faces, 
who  were  at  liberty,  with  their  solitary  Indian 
ally.  It  was  also  probable  Rivenoak  was  aware, 
that,  in  holding  his  captive,  he  had  in  his  own 
hands  the  most  dangerous  of  all  his  enemies. 

The  precision  with  which  those  accustomed 


THE  HURON  SENTINELS. 


135 


to  watchfulness,  or  lives  of  disturbed  rest,  sleep, 
is  not  the  least  of  the  phenomena  of  our  mysteri- 
ous being.  The  head  is  no  sooner  on  the  pillow 
than  consciousness  is  lost ; and  yet,  at  a neces- 
sary hour  the  mind  appears  to  arouse  the  body 
as  promptly  as  if  it  had  stood  sentinel  over  it  the 
while.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  they  who  are 
thus  roused  awake  by  the  influence  of  thought 
over  matter,  though  the  mode  in  which  this  in- 
fluence is  exercised  must  remain  hidden  from  our 
curiosity,  until  it  shall  be  explained,  should  that 
hour  ever  arrive,  by  the  entire  enlightenment  of  the 
soul  on  the  subject  of  all  human  mysteries.  Thus 
it  was  with  Hetty  Hutter.  Feeble  as  the  imma- 
terial portion  of  her  existence  was  thought  to  be, 
it  was  sufficiently  active  to  cause  her  to  open  her 
eyes  at  midnight.  At  that  hour  she  awoke,  and, 
leaving  her  bed  of  skin  and  boughs,  she  walked 
innocently  and  openly  to  the  ambers  of  the  fire, 
stirring  the  latter,  as  the  coolness  of  the  night 
and  the  woods,  in  connection  with  an  exceedingly 
unsophisticated  bed,  had  a little  chilled  her.  As 
the  flame  shot  up,  it  lighted  the  swarthy  counte- 
nance of  the  Huron  on  watch,  whose  dark  eyes 
glistened  under  its  light,  like  the  balls  of  the  pan- 
ther that  is  pursued  to  his  den  with  burning 
brands.  But  Hetty  felt  no  fear,  and  she  ap- 
proached the  spot  where  the  Indian  stood.  Her 
movements  were  so  natural,  and  so  perfectly  de- 
void of  any  of  the  stealthiness  of  cunning  or 
deception,  that  he  imagined  she  had  merely  arisen 
on  account  of  the  coolness  of  the  night,  a com- 
mon occurrence  in  a bivouac,  and  the  one  of  all 
others,  perhaps,  the  least  likely  to  excite  suspi- 
cion. Hetty  spoke  to  him,  but  he  understood  no 
English.  She  then  gazed  near  a minute  at  the 
sleeping  captive,  and  moved  slowly  away  in  a 
sad  and  melancholy  manner. 

The  girl  took  no  pains  to  conceal  her  move- 
ments. Any  ingenious  expedient  of  this  nature, 
quite  likely,  exceeded  her  powers  ; still  her  step 
was  habitually  light,  and  scarcely  audible.  As  she 
took  the  direction  of  the  extremity  of  the  point, 
or  the  place  where  she  had  landed  in  the  first  ad- 
venture, and  where  Hist  had  embarked,  the  senti- 
nel saw  her  light  form  gradually  disappear  in  the 
gloom  without  uneasiness  or  changing  his  own 
position.  He  knew  that  others  were  on  the  look- 
out, and  he  did  not  believe  that  one  who  had 
twice  come  into  the  camp  voluntarily,  and  had 
already  left  it  openly,  would  take  refuge  in  flight. 
In  short,  the  conduct  of  the  girl  excited  no  more 
attention  than  that  of  any  person  of  feeble  intellect 
would  excite  in  civilized  society,  while  her  person 
met  with  more  consideration  and  respect. 

Hetty  certainly  had  no  very  distinct  notions 


of  the  localities,  but  she  found  her  way  to  the 
beach,  which  she  reached  on  the  same  side  of  the 
point  as  that  on  which  the  camp  had  been  made. 
By  following  the  margin  of  the  water,  taking  a 
northern  direction,  she  soon  encountered  the 
Indian  who  paced  the  strand  as  sentinel.  This 
was  a young  warrior,  and  when  he  heard  her 
light  tread  coming  along  the  gravel  he  approached 
swiftly,  though  with  any  thing  but  menace  in  hia 
manner.  The  darkness  was  so  intense  that  it  Avas 
not  easy  to  discover  forms,  within  the  shadows 
of  the  woods,  at  the  distance  of  tAventy  feet,  and 
quite  impossible  to  distinguish  persons  until  near 
enough  to  touch  them.  The  Huron  manifested 
disappointment  when  he  found  whom  he  had  met ; 
for,  truly  to  say,  he  was  expecting  his  favorite, 
who  had  promised  to  relieve  the  ennui  of  a mid- 
night watch  with  her  presence.  This  man  was 
also  ignorant  of  English,  but  he  was  at  no  loss  to 
understand  why  the  girl  should  be  up  at  that 
hour.  Such  things  were  usual  in  an  Indian  village 
and  camp,  where  sleep  is  as  irregular  as  the  meals. 
Then  poor  Hetty’s  known  imbecility,  as  in  most 
things  connected  with  the  savages,  stood  her 
friend  on  this  occasion.  Vexed  at  his  disappoint- 
ment, and  impatient  of  the  presence  of  one  he 
thought  an  intruder,  the  warrior  signed  for  the 
girl  to  move  forward,  holding  the  direction  of  the 
beach.  Hetty  complied ; but,  as  she  walked 
aAvay,  she  spoke  aloud  in  English,  in  her  usual 
soft  tones,  which  the  stillness  of  the  night  made 
audible  at  some  little  distance. 

“ If  you  took  me  for  a Huron  girl,  warrior,” 
she  said,  “ I don’t  wonder  you  are  so  little  pleased. 
I am  Hetty  Hutter,  Thomas  Hutter’s  daughter,  and 
have  never  met  any  man  at  night,  for  mother 
always  said  it  was  Avrong,  and  modest  young  wom- 
en should  never  do  it ; modest  young  women  of 
the  pale-faces,  I mean  ; for  customs  are  different 
in  different  parts  of  the  world,  I know.  No,  no ; 
I’m  Hetty  Hutter,  and  wouldn’t  meet  even  Hurry 
Harry,  though  he  should  fall  down  on  his  knees 
and  ask  me ! mother  said  it  was  wrong.”  * 

By  the  time  Hetty  had  said  this,  she  reached 
the  place  where  the  canoes  had  come  ashore,  and, 
owing  to  the  curvature  of  the  land  and  the  bushes, 
Avould  have  been  completely  hid  from  the  sight  of 
the  sentinel,  had  it  been  broad  day.  But  another 
footstep  caught  the  lover’s  ear,  and  he  was  already 
nearly  beyond  the  girl’s  silvery  voice.  Still  Hetty, 
bent  only  on  her  own  thoughts  and  purposes,  con- 
tinued to  speak,  though  the  gentleness  of  her 
tones  prevented  the  sounds  from  penetrating  far 
into  the  woods.  On  the  water  they  were  more 
widely  diffused. 

“ Here  I am,  Judith,”  she  added,  “ and  there 


136 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


is  no  one  near  me.  The  Huron  on  watch  has  gone 
to  meet  his  sweetheart,  who  is  an  Indian  girl,  you 
know,  and  never  had  a Christian  mother  to  tel 
her  how  wrong  it  is  to  meet  a man  at  night — ” 

Hetty’s  voice  was  hushed  by  a “hist ! ” that 
came  from  the  water,  and  then  she  caught  a dim 
view  of  the  canoe,  which  approached  noiselessly, 
and  soon  grated  on  the  shingle  with  its  bow. 
The  moment  the  weight  of  Hetty  was  felt  in  the 
light  craft,  the  canoe  withdrew,  stern  foremost,  as 
if  possessed  of  life  and  volition,  until  it  was  a hun- 
dred yards  from  the  shore.  Then  it  turned,  and 
making  a -wide  sweep,  as  much  to  prolong  the 
passage  as  to  get  beyond  the  sound  of  voices,  it 
held  its  way  toward  the  ark.  For  several  minutes 
nothing  was  uttered  ; but,  believing  herself  to  be 
in  a favorable  position  to  confer  with  her  sister, 
Judith,  who  alone  sat  in  the  stern,  managing  the 
canoe  with  a skill  little  short  of  that  of  a man, 
began  a discourse,  which’she  had  been  burning  to 
commence  ever  since  they  quitted  the  point. 

“ Here  we  are  safe,  Hetty,”  she  said,  “ and 
may  talk  without  the  fear  of  being  overheard. 
You  must  speak  low,  however,  for  sounds  are 
heard  far  on  the  water  in  a still  night.  I was  so 
close  to  the  point,  some  of  the  time,  while  you 
were  on  it,  that  I have  heard  the  voices  of  the 
warriors,  and  I heard  your  shoes  on  the  gravel  of 
the  beach,  even  before  you  spoke.” 

“ I don’t  believe,  Judith,  the  Hurons  know  I 
have  left  them.” 

“ Quite  likely  they  do  not,  for  a lover  makes 
a poor  sentry,  unless  it  be  to  watch  for  his  sweet- 
heart! But  tell  me,  Hetty,  did  you  see  and  speak 
with  Deerslayer  ? ” 

“ Oh,  yes — there  he  was  seated  near  the  fire} 
with  his  legs  tied,  though  they  left  his  arms  free 
to  move  them  as  he  pleased.” 

“Well,  what  did  he  tell  you,  child  ? Speak 
quick ; I am  dying  to  know  what  message  he 
sent  me.” 

“ What  did  he  tell  me  ? why,  what  do  you 
think,  Judith  ; he  told  me  that  he  couldn’t  read  ! 
Only  think  of  that ! a white  man,  and  not  know 
how  to  read  his  Bible,  even ! He  never  could 
have  had  a mother,  sister  ! ” 

“Never  mind  that,  Hetty.  All  men  can’t 
read ; though  mother  knew  so  much,  and  taught 
us  so  much,  father  knows  very  little  about  books, 
and  he  can  barely  read  the  Bible,  you  know.” 

“ Oh ! I never  thought  fathers  could  read  much} 
but  mothers  ought  all  to  read,  else  how  can  they 
teach  their  children?  Depend  on  it,  Judith, 
Deerslayer  could  never  have  had  a mother,  else 
he  would  know  how  to  read.” 

“Did  you  tell  him  /sent  you  ashore,  Hetty, 


and  how  much  concern  I feel  for  his  misfortune  ? * 
asked  the  other,  impatiently. 

“ I believe  I did,  Judith ; but  you  know  I am 
feeble-minded,  and  I may  have  forgotten.  I did 
tell  him  you  brought  me  ashore.  And  he  told 
me  a great  deal  that  I was  to  say  to  you,  which  I 
remember  well,  for  it  made  my  blood  run  cold  to 
hear  him.  He  told  me  to  say  that  his  friends — I 
suppose  you  are  one  of  them,  sister — ? ” 

“How  can  you  torment  me  thus,  Hetty? 
Certainly,  I am  one  of  the  truest  friends  he  has 
on  earth.” 

“ Torment  you ! yes,  now  I remember  all  about 
it.  I am  glad  you  used  that  word,  Judith,  for  it 
brings  it  all  back  to  my  mind.  Well,  he  said  he 
might  be  tormented  by  the  savages,  but  he  would 
try  to  bear  it  as  becomes  a Christian  white  man, 
and  that  no  one  need  be  afeard — why  does  Deer- 
slayer call  it  afeard,  when  mother  always  taught 
us  to  say  afraid  ? ” 

“ Never  mind,  dear  Hetty,  never  mind  that 
now,”  cried  the  other,  almost  gasping  for  breath. 
“ Did  Deerslayer  really  tell  you  that  he  thought 
the  savages  would  put  him  to  the  torture  ? Recol- 
lect now,  well,  Hetty,  for  this  is  a most  awful 
and  serious  thing.” 

“Yes,  he  did;  and  I remember  it  by  your 
speaking  about  my  tormenting  you.  Oh ! I felt 
very  sorry  for  him,  and  Deerslayer  took  all  so 
quietly  and  without  noise ! Deerslayer  is  not  as 
handsome  as  Hurry  Harry,  Judith,  but  he  is  more 
quiet.” 

“ He’s  worth  a million  Hurrys ! yes,  he’s 
worth  all  the  young  men  who  ever  came  upon  the 
lake  put  together,”  said  Judith,  with  an  energy 
and  positiveness  that  caused  her  sister  to  wonder. 
“ He  is  true.  There  is  no  lie  about  Deerslayer. 
You,  Hetty,  may  not  know  what  a merit  it  is  in  a 
man  to  have  truth,  but  when  you  get — no — I hope 
you  will  never  know  it.  Why  should  one  like 
you  be  ever  made  to  learn  the  hard  lesson  to  dis- 
trust and  hate  ? ” 

Judith  bowed  her  face,  dark  as  it  was,  and 
unseen  as  she  must  have  been,  by  any  eye  but 
that  of  Omniscience,  between  her  hands,  and 
groaned.  This  sudden  paroxysm  of  feeling,  how- 
ever, lasted  but  for  a moment,  and  she  continued 
more  calmly,  still  speaking  frankly  to  her  sister, 
whose  intelligence  and  whose  discretion  in  any 
thing  that  related  to  herself,  she  did  not  in  the 
least  distrust.  Her  voice,  however,  was  low  and 
husky,  instead  of  having  its  former  clearness  and 
animation. 

“ It  is  a hard  thing  to  fear  truth,  Hetty,”  she 
said ; “ and  yet  do  I more  dread  Deerslayer’s 
truth  than  any  enemy  ! One  cannot  tamper  with 


THE  SISTERS’  PRIVATE  OPINIONS. 


Buch  truth — so  much  honesty — such  obstinate  up- 
rightness  ! But  we  are  not  altogether  unequal, 
sister — Deerslayer  and  I ? He  is  not  altogether 
my  superior  ? ” 

It  was  not  usual  for  Judith  so  far  to  demean 
herself  as  to  appeal  to  Hetty’s  judgment.  Nor 
did  she  often  address  her  by  the  title  of  sister,  a 
distinction  that  is  commonly  given  by  the  junior 
to  the  senior,  even  where  there  is  perfect  equality 
in  all  other  respects.  As  trifling  departures  from 
habitual  deportment  oftener  strike  the  imagina- 
tion than  more  important  changes,  Hetty  per- 
ceived the  circumstances,  and  wondered  at  them 
in  her  own  simple  way. 

Her  ambition  was  a little  quickened,  and  the 
answer  was  as  much  out  of  the  usual  course  of 
things  as  the  question ; the  poor  girl  attempting 
to  refine  beyond  her  strength. 

“ Superior,  Judith  1 ” she  repeated  with  pride. 
“ In  what  can  Deerslayer  be  your  superior  ? Are 
you  not  mother’s  child — and  does  he  know  how 
to  read — and  wasn’t  mother  before  any  woman  in 
all  this  part ’of  the  world  ? I should  think,  so 
far  from  supposing  himself  your  superior,  he 
would  hardly  believe  himself  mine.  You  are 
handsome,  and  he  is  ugly — ” 

“No,  not  ugly,  Hetty,”  interrupted  Judith. 
“ Only  plain.  But  his  honest  face  has  a look 
in  it  that  is  far  better  than  beauty.  In  my 
eyes  Deerslayer  is  handsomer  than  Hurry  Har- 
ry.” 

“ Judith  Hutter!  you  frighten  me.  Hurry  is 
the  handsomest  mortal  in  the  world — even  hand- 
somer than  you  are  yourself ; because  a man’s 
good  looks,  you  know,  are  always  better  than  a 
woman’s  good  looks.”  * 

This  little  innocent  touch  of  natural  taste  did 
not  please  the  elder  sister  at  the  moment,  and  she 
did  not  scruple  to  betray  it. 

“Hetty,  you  now  speak  foolishly,  and  had 
better  say  no  more  on  this  subject,”  she  answered. 
“ Hurry  is  not  the  handsomest  mortal  in  the  world, 
by  many ; and  there  are  officers  in  the  garri- 
sons— ” Judith  stammered  at  the  words — “ there 
are  officers  in  the  garrisons  near  us,  far  comelier 
than  he.  But,  why  do  you  think  me  the  equal  of 
Deerslayer — speak  of  that , for  I do  not  like  to  hear 
you  show  so  much  admiration  of  a man  like  Hur- 
ry Harry,  who  has  neither  feelings,  manners,  nor 
conscience.  You  are  too  good  for  him,  and  he 
ought  to  be  told  it  at  once.” 

“ I!  Judith,  how  you  forget ! Why  I am  not 
beautiful,  and  am  feeble-minded.” 

“ You  are  good , Hetty,  and  that  is  more  than 
can  be  said  of  ^Eenry  March.  He  may  have  a 
face , and  a body , but  he  has  no  heart.  But  enough 


13? 

of  this,  for  the  present.  Tell  me  what  raises  me 
to  an  equality  with  Deerslayer.” 

“ To  think  of  you  asking  me  this,  Judith ! He 
can’t  read,  and  you  can.  He  don’t  know  how  to 
talk,  but  speaks  worse  than  Hurry  even ; for,  sis- 
ter, Harry  doesn’t  always  pronounce  his  words 
right ! Did  you  ever  notice  that  ? ” 

“ Certainly,  he  is  as  coarse  in  speech  as  in 
every  thing  else.  But,  I fear  you  flatter  me,  Het- 
ty, when  you  think  I can  be  justly  called  the  equal 
of  a man  like  Deerslayer.  It  is  true,  I have  been 
better  taught ; in  one  sense  am  more  comely ; and 
perhaps  might  look  higher  ; but  then  his  truth — 
his  truth — makes  a fearful  difference  between  us  ! 
Well,  I will  talk  no  more  of  this;  and  we  will  be- 
think us  of  the  means  of  getting  him  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  Hurons.  'We  have  father’s  chest  in 
the  ark,  Hetty,  and  might  try  the  temptation  of 
more  elephants  ; though  I fear  such  bawbles  will 
not  buy  the  liberty  of  a man  like  Deerslayer.  I 
am  afraid  father  and  Hurry  will  not  be  as  willing 
to  ransom  Deerslayer,  as  Deerslayer  was  to  ran- 
som them ! ” 

“ Why  not,  Judith  ? Hurry  and  Deerslayer 
are  friends,  and  friends  should  always  help  one 
another.” 

“ Alas  ! poor  Hetty,  you  little  know  mankind ! 
Seeming  friends  are  often  more  to  be  dreaded 
than  open  enemies  ; particularly  by  females.  But 
you’ll  have  to  land  in  the  morning,  and  try  again 
what  can  be  done  for  Deerslayer.  Tortured  he 
shall  not  be,  while  Judith  Hutter  lives,  and  can 
find  means  to  prevent  it.” 

The  conversation  now  grew  desultory,  and  was 
drawn  out,  until  the  elder  sister  had  extracted 
from  the  younger  every  fact  that  the  feeble  facul- 
ties ofthejatter  permitted  her  to  retain,  and  to 
communicate.  When  Judith  was  satisfied — 
though  she  could  never  be  said  to  be  satisfied, 
whose  feelings  seemed  to  be  so  interwoven  with 
all  that  related  to  the  subject  as  to  have  excited 
a nearly  inappeasable  curiosity — but,  when  Judith 
could  think  of  no  more  questions  to  ask,  without 
resorting  to  repetition,  the  canoe  was  paddled 
toward  the  scow.  The  intense  darkness  of  the 
night,  and  the  deep  shadows  which  the  hills  and 
forest  cast  upon  the  water,  rendered  it  difficult  to 
find  the  vessel,  anchored,  as  it  had  been,  as  close 
to  the  shore  as  a regard  to  safety  rendered  pru- 
dent. Judith  was  expert  in  the  management  of  a 
bark  canoe,  the  lightness  of  which  demanded 
skill  rather  than  strength ; and  she  forced  her 
own  little  vessel  swiftly  over  the  water,  the  mo- 
ment she  had  ended  her  conference  with  Hetty, 
and  had  come  to  the  determination  to  return. 
Still  no  ark  was  seen.  Several  times  the  sisters 


138 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


fancied  they  saw  it,  looming  up  in  the  obscurity, 
like  a low  black  rock,  but  on  each  occasion  it  was 
found  to  be  either  an  optical  illusion,  or  vsome 
swell  of  the  foliage  on  the  shore.  After  a search 
that  lasted  half  an  hour,  the  girls  were  forced  to  the 
unwelcome  conviction  that  the  ark  had  departed. 

Most  young  women  would  have  felt  the  awk- 
wardness of  their  situation,  in  a physical  sense, 
under  the  circumstances  in  which  the  sisters  were 
left,  more  than  any  apprehensions  of  a different 
nature.  Not  so  with  Judith,  however  ; and  even 
Hetty  felt  more  concern  about  the  motives  that 
might  have  influenced  her  father  and  Hurry,  than 
any  fears  for  her  own  safety. 

“It  cannot  be,  Hetty,”  said  Judith,  when  a 
thorough  search  had  satisfied  them  both  that  no 
ark  was  to  be  found,  “ it  cannot  be  that  the  In- 
dians have  rafted,  or  swum  off,  and  surprised  our 
friends  as  they  slept  ? ” 

“ I don’t  believe  that  Hist  and  Chingachgook 
would  sleep  until  they  had  told  each  other  all 
they  had  to  say  after  so  long  a separation — do 
you,  sister?  ” 

“Perhaps  not,  child.  There  was  much  to 
keep  them  awake,  but  one  Indian  may  have  been 
surprised  even  when  not  asleep,  especially  as  his 
thoughts  may  have  been  on  other  things.  Still 
we  should  have  heard  a noise ; for,  in  a night  like 
this,  an  oath  of  Harry  Hurry’s  would  have  echoed 
in  the  eastern  hills  like  a clap  of  thunder.” 

“ Hurry  is  sinful  and  thoughtless  about  his 
words,  Judith,”  Hetty  meekly  and  sorrowfully 
answered. 

“ No — no ; ’tis  impossible  the  ark  could  be 
taken  and  I not  hear  the  noise.  It  is  not  an  hour 
since  I left  it,  and  the  whole  time  I have  been  at- 
tentive to  the  smallest  sound.  And  yet,  it  is  not 
easy  to  believe  a father  would  willingly  abandon 
his  children ! ” 

“ Perhaps  father  has  thought  us  in  our  cabin 
asleep,  Judith,  and  has  moved  away  to  go  hoYne. 
You  know  we  often  move  the  ark  in  the  night.” 

“ This  is  true,  Hetty,  and  it  must  be  as  you 
suppose.  There  is  a little  more  southern  air  than 
there  was,  and  they  have  gone  up  the  lake — ” 

Judith  stopped,  for,  as  the  last  word  was  on 
her  tongue,  the  scene  was  suddenly  lighted, 
though  only  for  a single  instant,  by  a flash. 
The  crack  of  a rifle  succeeded,  and  then  followed 
the  roll  of  the  echo  along  the  eastern  mountains. 
Almost  at  the  same  moment  a piercing  female  cry 
arose  in  the  air  in  a prolonged  shriek.  The  aw- 
ful stillness  that  succeeded  was,  if  possible,  more 
appalling  than  the  fierce  and  sudden  interruption 
of  the  deep  silence  of  midnight.  Resolute  as  she 
was,  both  by  nature  and  habit,  Judith  scarce 


breathed,  while  poor  Hetty  hid  her  face  and 
trembled.” 

“ That  was  a woman’s  cry,  Hetty,”  said  the 
former,  solemnly,  “ and  it  was  a cry  of  anguish  I 
If  the  ark  has  moved  from  this  spot,  it  can  only 
have  gone  north  with  this  air,  and  the  gun  and 
shriek  came  from  the  point.  Can  any  thing  have 
befallen  Hist  ? ” 

“ Let  us  go  and  see,  Judith ; she  may  want 
our  assistance — for,  besides  herself,  there  are 
none  but  men  in  the  ark.” 

It  was  not  a moment  for  hesitation,  and,  ere 
Judith  had  ceased  speaking,  her  paddle  was  in 
the  water.  The  distance  to  the  point,  in  a direct 
line,  was  not  great,  and  the  impulses  under  which 
the  girls  worked  were  too  exciting  to  allow  them 
to  waste  the  precious  moments  in  useless  precau- 
tions. They  paddled  incautiously  for  them,  but 
the  same  excitement  kept  others  from  noting 
their  movements.  Presently  a glare  of  light 
caught  the  eye  of  Judith  through  an  opening  in 
the  bushes,  and  steering  by  it  she  so  directed  the 
canoe  as  to  keep  it  visible,  while  sh£  got  as  near 
the  land  as  was  either  prudent  or  necessary. 

The  scene  that  was  now  presented  to  the  ob- 
servation of  the  girls  was  within  the  woods,  on 
the  side  of  the  declivity  so  often  mentioned,  and 
In  plain  view  from  the  boat.  Here  all  in  the 
camp  were  collected,  some  six  or  eight  carrying 
torches  of  fat-pine,  which  cast  a strong  but 
funereal  light  on  all  beneath  the  arches  of  the 
forest.  With  her  back  supported  against  a tree, 
and  sustained  on  one  side  by  the  young  sentinel 
whose  remissness  had  suffered  Hetty  to  escape, 
sat  the  female  whose  expected  visit  had  produced 
his  delinquency.  the  glare  of  the  torch  that 
was  held  near  her  face,  it  was  evident  that  she 
was  in  the  agonies  of  death,  while  the  blood  that 
trickled  from  her  bared  bosom  betrayed  the  na- 
ture of  the  injuries  she  had  received.  The  pun- 
gent, peculiar  smell  of  gunpowder,  too,  was  still 
quite  perceptible  in  the  heavy,  damp  night  air. 
There  could  be  no  question  that  she  had  been 
shot.  Judith  understood  it  all  at  a glance.  The 
streak  of  light  had  appeared  on  the  water  a short 
distance  from  the  point,  and  either  the  rifle  had 
been  discharged  from  a canoe  hovering  near  the 
land,  or  it  had  been  fired  from  the  ark  in  passing. 
An  incautious  exclamation  or  laugh  may  have  pro- 
duced the  assault,  for  it  was  barely  possible  that 
the  aim  had  been  assisted  by  any  other  agent 
than  sound.  As  to  the  effect,  that  was  soon  still 
more  apparent,  the  head  of  the  victim  dropping, 
and  the  body  sinking  in  death.  Then  all  the 
torches  but  one  were  extinguished — a measure  of 
prudence;  and  the  melanchol*:  train  that  bore 


HURRY’S  RANDOM  SHOT. 


the  body  to  the  camp  was  mst  to  be  distinguished 
by  the  glimmering  light  that  remained. 

Judith  sighed  heavily  and  shuddered  as  her 
paddle  again  dipped,  and  the  canoe  moved  cau- 
tiously around  the  point.  A sight  had  afflicted 
her  senses,  and  now  haunted  her  imagination, 
that  was  still  harder  to  be  borne  than  even  the 
untimely  fate  and  passing  agony  of  the  deceased 
girl.  She  had  seen,  under  the  strong  glare  of  all 
the  torches,  the  erect  form  of  Deerslayer,  stand- 
ing, with  commiseration,  and,  as  she  thought, 
with  shame  depicted  on  liis  countenance,  near  the 
dying  female.  He  betrayed  neither  fear  nor 
backwardness  himself ; but  it  was  apparent  by 
the  glances  cast  at  him  by  the  warriors  that  fierce 
passions  were  struggling  in  their  bosoms.  All 
this  seemed  to  be  unheeded  by  the  captive,  but  it 
remained  impressed  on  the  memory  of  Judith 
throughout  the  night. 

No  canoe  was  met  hovering  near  the  point. 
A stillness  and  darkness,  as  complete  as  if  the 
silence  of  the  forest  had  never  been  disturbed,  or 
the  sun  had  never  shone  on  that  retired  region, 
now  reigned  on.  the  point,  and  on  the  gloomy 
water,  the  slumbering  woods,  and  even  the  murky 
sky.  No  more  oould  be  done,  therefore,  than  to 
seek  a place  of  safety ; and  this  was  only  to  be 
found  in  the  centre  of  the  lake.  Paddling,  in  si- 
lence, to  that  spot,  the  canoe  was  suffered  to  drift 
northerly,  while  the  girls  sought  such  repose  as 
their  situation  and  feelings  would  permit. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

“ Stand  to  your  arms,  and  guard  the  door — all’s  lost 
Unless  that  fearful  bell  be  silenced  soon. 

The  officer  hath  missed  his  path,  or  purpose, 

Or  met  some  unforeseen  and  hideous  obstacle. 
Anselmo,  with  thy  company  proceed 
Straight  to  the  tower ; the  rest  remain  with  me.” 

Marino  Faliero. 

The  conjecture  of  Judith  Hutter,  concerning 
the  manner  in  which  the  Indian  girl  had  met  her 
death,  was  accurate  in  the  main.  After  sleeping 
several  hours,  her  father  and  March  awoke.  This 
occurred  a few  minutes  after  she  had  left  the  ark 
to  go  in  quest  of  her  sister,  and  when  of  course 
Chingachgook  and  his  betrothed  were  on  board. 
From  the  Delaware  the  old  man  learned  the  po- 
sition of  the  camp  and  the  recent  events,  as  well 
as  the  absence  of  his  daughters.  The  latter  gave 
him  no  concern  ; for  he  relied  greatly  on  the  sa- 
gacity of  the  eldest,  and  the  known  impunity  with 
which  the  younger  passed  among  the  savages. 
Long  familiarity  with  danger,  too,  had  blunted 


his  sensibilities.  Nor  did  he  seem  much  to  regret 
the  captivity  of  Deerslayer ; for,  while  he  knew 
how  material  his  aid  might  be  in  a defence,  the 
difference  in  their  views  on  the  morality  of  the 
woods  had  not  left  much  sympathy  between  them. 
He  would  have  rejoiced  to  know  the  position  of 
the  camp  before  it  had  been  alarmed  by  the  es- 
cape of  Hist,  but  it  would  be  too  hazardous  now 
to  venture  to  land;  and  he  reluctantly  relin- 
quished for  the  night  the  ruthless  designs  that 
captivity  and  revenge  had  excited  him  to  enter- 
tain. In  this  mood  Hutter  took  a seat  in  the 
head  of  the  scow,  where  he  was  quickly  joined  by 
Hurry;  leaving  the  Serpent  and  Hist  in  quiet 
possession  of  the  other  extremity  of  the  vessel. 

“ Deerslayer  has  shown  himself  a boy  in  going 
among  the  savages  at  this  hour,  and  letting  him- 
self fall  into  their  hands  like  a deer  that  tumbles 
into  a pit,”  growled  the  old  man,  perceiving  as 
usual  the  mote  in  his  neighbor’s  eyes,  while  he 
overlooked  the  beam  in  his  own.  “ If  he  is  left 
to  pay  for  his  stupidity  with  his  own  flesh,  he 
can  blame  no  one  but  himself.” 

“ That’s  the  way  of  the  world,  Old  Tom,”  re- 
turned Hurry.  “ Every  man  must  meet  his  own 
debts,  and  answer  for  his  own  sins.  I’m  amazed, 
however,  that  a lad  as  skilful  and  watchful  as 
Deerslayer,  should  have  been  caught  in  such  a 
trap ! Didn’t  he  know  any  better  than  to  go 
prowling  about  a Huron  camp,  at  midnight,  with 
no  place  to  retreat  to  but  a lake  ? or  did  he  think 
himself  a buck,  that  by  taking  to  the  water  could 
throw  off  the  scent  and  swim  himself  out  of  dif- 
ficulty ? I had  a better  opinion  of  the  boy’s 
judgment,  I’ll  own ; but  we  must  overlook  a little 
ignorance  in  'a  raw  hand.  I say,  Master  Hut- 
ter, do  you  happen  to  know  what  has  become  of 
the  gals  — I see  no  signs  of  Judith  or  Hetty, 
though  I’ve  been  through  the  ark,  and  looked  in- 
to all  its  living  creatur’s  ? ” 

Hutter  briefly  explained  the  manner  in  which 
his  daughters  had  taken  to  the  canoe,  as  it  had 
been  related  by  the  Delaware,  as  well  as  the  re- 
turn of  Judith  after  landing  her  sister,  and  her 
second  departure. 

“ This  comes  of  a smooth  tongue,  Floating 
Tom,”  exclaimed  Hurry,  grating  his  teeth  in  pure 
resentment — “ this  comes  of  a smooth  tongue, 
and  a silly  gal’s  inclinations — and  you  had  best 
look  into  the  matter ! You  and  I were  both 
prisoners  ” — Hurry  could  recall  that  circumstance 
now — “ you  and  I were  both  prisoners,  and  yet 
Judith  never  stirred  an  inch  to  do  us  any  sar- 
vice ! She  is  bewitched  with  this  lank-looking 
Deerslayer ; and  he,  and  she,  and  you,  and  all  of 
us,  had  best  look  to  it.  I am  not  a man  to  put 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


up  with  such  a wrong  quietly,  and  do  say,  all  the 
parties  had  best  look  to  it ! Let’s  up  kedge,  old 
fellow,  and  move  nearer  to  this  point,  and  see 
how  matters  are  getting  on.” 

Hutter  had  no  objections  to  this  movement, 
and  the  ark  was  got  under  way,  in  the  usual  man- 
ner, care  being  taken  to  make  no  noise.  The 
wind  was  passing  northward,  and  the  sail  soon 
swept  the  scow  so  far  up  the  lake  as  to  render 
the  dark  outlines  of  the  trees  that  clothed  the 
point  dimly  visible.  Floating  Tom  steered,  and 
he  sailed  along  as  near  the  land  as  the  depth  of 
the  water  and  the  overhanging  branches  would 
allow.  It  was  impossible  to  distinguish  anything 
that  stood  within  the  shadows  of  the  shore  ; but 
the  forms  of  the  sail  and  of  the  hut  were  dis- 
cerned by  the  young  sentinel  on  the  beach,  who 
has  been  already  mentioned.  In  the  moment  of 
sudden  surprise,  a deep  Indian  exclamation  es- 
caped him.  In  the  spirit  of  recklessness  and  fe- 
rocity that  formed  the  essence  of  Hurry’s  charac- 
ter, this  man  dropped  his  rifle  and  fired.  The  ball 
was  sped  by  accident,  or  by  that  overruling  Provi- 
dence which  decides  the  fate  of  all,  and  the  girl 
fell.  Then  followed  the  scene  with  the  torches, 
which  has  just  been  described. 

At  the  precise  moment  when  Hurry  committed 
this  act  of  unthinking  cruelty,  the  canoe  of  Judith 
was  within  a hundred  feet  of  the  spot  from 
which  the  ark  had  so  lately  moved.  Her  own 
course  has  been  described,  and  it  has  now  be- 
come our  office  to  follow  that  of  her  father  and 
his  companions.  The  shriek  announced  the  ef- 
fects of  the  random  shot  of  March,  and  it  also 
proclaimed  that  the  victim  was  a woman.  Hurry 
himself  was  startled  at  these  unlodked-for  conse- 
quences ; and,  for  a moment,  he  was  sorely  dis- 
turbed by  conflicting  sensations.  At  first  he 
laughed,  in  reckless  and  rude-minded  exultation  ; 
and  then  conscience,  that  monitor  planted  in  our 
breasts  by  God,  and  which  receives  its  more  gen- 
eral growth  from  the  training  bestowed  in  the 
tillage  of  childhood,  shot  a pang  to  his  heart. 
For  a minute  the  mind  of  this  creature,  equally 
of  civilization  and  barbarism,  was  a sort  of  chaos 
as  to  feeling,  not  knowing  what  to  think  of  its 
own  act ; and  then  the  obstinacy  and  pride  of 
one  of  his  habits  interposed  to  assert  their  usual 
ascendency.  He  struck  the  butt  of  his  rifle  on 
the  bottom  of  the  scow  with  a species  of  defiance, 
and  began  to  whistle  a low  air  with  an  affectation 
of  indifference.  All  this  time  the  ark  was  in  mo- 
tion, and  it  was  already  opening  the  bay  above 
the  point,  and  was  consequently  quitting  the 
land. 

Hurry’s  companions  did  not  view  his  conduct 


with  the  same  indulgence  as  that  with  which  he 
appeared  disposed  to  regard  it  himself.  Hutter 
growled  out  his  dissatisfaction,  for  the  act  led  to 
no  advantage,  while  it  threatened  to  render  the 
warfare  more  vindictive  than  ever ; and  none 
censure  motiveless  departures  from  the  right  more 
severely  than  the  mercenary  and  unprincipled. 
Still  he  commanded  himself,  the  captivity  of  Deer- 
slayer  rendering  the  arm  of  the  offender  of  double 
consequence  to  him  at  that  moment.  Chingach- 
gook  arose,  and,  for  a single  instant,  the  ancient 
animosity  of  tribes  was  forgotten  in  a feeling  of 
color ; but  he  recollected  himself  in  season  to 
prevent  any  of  the  fierce  consequences  that  for  a 
passing  moment  he  certainly  meditated.  Not  so 
with  Hist.  Rushing  through  the  hut,  or  cabin, 
the  girl  stood  at  the  side  of  Hurry,  almost  as  soon 
as  his  rifle  touched  the  bottom  of  the  scow  ; and, 
with  a fearlessness  that  did  credit  to  her  heart, 
she  poured  out  her  reproaches  with  the  generous 
warmth  of  a woman. 

“ What  for  you  shoot  ? ” she  said.  “ What 
Huron  gal  do,  dat  you  kill  him  ? What  you  t’ink 
Manitou  say?  What  you  t’ink  Manitou  feel? 
What  Iroquois  do?  No  get  honor — no  get  camp 
— no  get  prisoner — no  get  battle — no  get  scalp — 
no  get  not’ing  at  all.  Blood  come  after  blood  ! 
How  you  feel  your  wife  killed  ? Who  pity  you 
when  tear  come  for  moder  or  sister  ? You  big 
as  great  pine — Huron  gal  little  slender  birch — 
why  you  fall  on  her  and  crush  her  ? You  t’ink 
Huron  forget  it  ? No ; red-skin  never  forget. 
Never  forget  friend ; never  forget  enemy.  Red 
man  Manitou  in  dat.  Why  you  so  wicked,  great 
pale-face  ? ” 

Hurry  had  never  been  so  daunted  as  by  this 
close  and  warm  attack  of  the  Indian  girl.  It  is 
true  that  she  had  a powerful  ally  in  his  con- 
science ; and  while  she  spoke  earnestly,  it  was  in 
tones  so  feminine  as  to  deprive  him  of  any  pre- 
text for  unmanly  anger.  The  softness  of  her 
voice  added  to  the  weight  of  her  remonstrance, 
by  lending  to  the  latter  an  air  of  purity  and 
truth.  Like  most  vulgar-minded  men,  he  had 
only  regarded  the  Indians  through  the  medium 
of  their  coarser  and  fiercer  characteristics.  It 
had  never  struck  him  that  the  affections  are 
human ; that  even  high  principles — modified  by 
habits  and  prejudices,  but  not  the  less  elevated 
within  their  circle  — can  exist  in  the  savage 
state  ; and  that  the  warrior  who  is  most  ruthless 
in  the  field,  can  submit  to  the  softest  and  gen 
tlest  influences  in  the  moments  of  domestic 
quiet.  In  a word,  it  was  the  habit  of  his  mine 
to  regard  all  Indians  as  being  only  a slight  de 
gree  removed  from  the  wild  beasts  that  ioame< 


NATURE  IN  THE  MORNING  TWILIGHT. 


141 


Ihe  woods,  and  to  feel  disposed  to  treat  them  ac- 
cordingly, whenever  interest  or  caprice  supplied 
a motive  or  an  impulse.  Still,  though  daunted 
by  these  reproaches,  the  handsome  barbarian 
could  hardly  be  said  to  be  penitent.  He  was 
too  much  rebuked  by  conscience  to  suffer  an 
outbreak  of  temper  to  escape  him  ; and  perhaps 
he  felt  that  he  had  already  committed  an  act 
that  might  justly  bring  his  manhood  in  ques- 
tion. Instead  of  resenting,  or  answering  the 
simple  but  natural  appeal  of  Hist,  he  walked 
away  like  one  who  disdained  entering  into  a con- 
troversy with  a woman. 

In  the  mean  while  the  ark  swept  onward,  and, 
by  the  time  the  scene  with  the  torches  was  en- 
acting beneath  the  trees,  it  had  reached  the  open 
lake ; Floating  Tom  causing  it  to  sheer  farther 
from  the  land,  with  a sort  of  instinctive  dread  of 
retaliation.  An  hour  now  passed  in  gloomy  si- 
lence, no  one  appearing  disposed  to  break  it. 
Hist  had  retired  to  her  pallet,  and  Chingachgook 
lay  sleeping  in  the  forward  part  of  the  scow. 
Hutter  and  Hurry  alone  remained  awake,  the  for- 
mer at  the  steering-oar,  while  the  latter  brooded 
over  his  own  conduct  with  the  stubbornness  of 
one  little  given  to  a confession  of  his  errors  and 
the  secret  goadings  of  the  worm  that  never  dies. 
This  was  at  the  moment  when  Judith  and  Hetty 
reached  the  centre  of  the  lake,  and  had  lain  down 
to  endeavor  to  sleep  in  their  drifting  canoe. 

The  night  was  calm,  though  so  much  obscured 
by  clouds.  The  season  was  not  one  of  storms, 
and  those  which  did  occur  in  the  month  of  June 
on  that  embedded  water,  though  frequently  vio- 
lent, were  always  of  short  continuance.  Never- 
theless, there  was  the  usual  current  of  heavy, 
damp  night  air,  which,  passing  over  the  summits 
of  the  trees,  scarcely  appeared  to  descend  so  low 
as  the  surface  of  the  glassy  lake,  but  kept  mov- 
ing a short  distance  above  it,  saturated  with  the 
humidity  that  constantly  arose  from  the  woods, 
and  apparently  never  proceeding  far  in  any  one 
direction.  The  currents  were  influenced  by  the 
formation  of  the  hills,  as  a matter  of  course — a 
circumstance  that  rendered  even  fresh  breezes 
baffling,  and  which  reduced  the  feebler  efforts  of 
the  night  air  to  be  a sort  of  capricious  and  fickle 
sighings  of  the  woods.  Several  times  the  head 
of  the  ark  pointed  east,  and  once  it  actually 
turned  toward  the  south  again  ; but,  on  the  whole, 
it  worked  its  way  north,  Hutter  making  always  a 
fair  wind,  if  wind  it  could  be  called,  his  principal 
motive  appearing  to  be  a wish  to  keep  in  motion, 
in  order  to  defeat  any  treacherous  design  of  his 
enemies.  He  now  felt  some  little  concern  about 
hia  daughters,  and  perhaps  as  much  about  the 


canoe  ;■  but,  on  the  whole,  this  uncertainty  did 
not  much  disturb  him,  as  he  had  the  reliance  al- 
ready mentioned  on  the  intelligence  of  Judith. 

It  was  the  season  of  the  shortest  nights,  and 
it  was  not  long  before  the  deep  obscurity  which 
precedes  the  day  began  to  yield  to  the  returning 
light.  If  any  earthly  scene  could  be  presented  to 
the  senses  of  man  that  might  soothe  his  passions 
and  temper  his  ferocity,  it  was  that  which  grew 
upon  the  eyes  of  Hutter  and  Hurry  as  the  hours 
advanced,  changing  night  to  morning.  There 
were  the  usual  soft  tints  of  the  sky  in  which 
neither  the  gloom  of  darkness  nor  the  brilliancy 
of  the  sun  prevails,  and  under  which  objects  ap- 
pear more  unearthly,  and  we  might  add,  holy, 
than  at  any  other  portion  of  the  twenty-four 
hours.  The  beautiful  and  soothing  calm  of  even- 
tide has  been  extolled  by  a thousand  poets,  and 
yet  it  does  not  bring  with  it  the  far-reaching  and 
sublime  thoughts  of  the  half-hour  that  precedes 
the  rising  of  a summer’s  sun.  In  the  one  case 
the  panorama  is  gradually  hid  from  the  sight* 
while  in  the  other  its  objects  start  out  from  the 
unfolding  picture,  first  dim  and  misty,  then 
marked  in,  in  solemn  background  ; next  seen  in 
the  witchery  of  an  increasing,  a thing  as  different 
as  possible  from  the  deceasing  twilight,  and  final- 
ly mellow,  distinct,  and  luminous  as  the  rays  of 
the  great  centre  of  light  diffuse  themselves  in  the 
atmosphere.  The  hymns  of  birds,  too,  have  no 
novel  counterpart  in  the  retreat  to  the  roost,  or 
the  flight  to  the  nest ; and  these  invariably  ac- 
company the  advent  of  the  day,  until  the  appear- 
ance of  the  sun  itself 

“ Bathes  in  deep  joy  the  land  and  sea.” 

All  this,  however,  Hutter  and  Hurry  witnessed 
without  experiencing  any  of  that  calm  delight 
which  the  spectacle  is  wont  to  bring  when  the 
thoughts  are  just  and  the  aspirations  pure.  They 
not  only  witnessed  it,  but  they  witnessed  it  under 
circumstances  that  had  a tendency  to  increase  its 
power  and  to  heighten  its  charms.  Only  one  soli- 
tary object  became  visible  in  the  returning  light, 
that  had  received  its  form  or  uses  from  human 
taste  or  human  desires,  which  as  often  deform  as 
beautify  a landscape.  This  was  the  castle;  all 
the  rest  being  native,  and  fresh  from  the  hand  of 
God.  That  singular  residence,  too,  was  in  keep 
ing  with  the  natural  objects  of  the  view,  starting 
out  from  the  gloom,  quaint,  picturesque,  and  or 
namental.  Nevertheless,  the  whole  was  lost  01 
the  observers,  who  knew  no  feeling  of  poetry,  hat 
lost  their  sense  of  natural  devotion  in  lives  of  ob 
durate  and  narrow  selfishness,  and  had  little  othei 
sympathy  with  Nature  than  that  which  originated 
writh  her  lowest  wants. 


142 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


As  soon  as  the  light  was  sufficiently  strong  to 
allow  of  a distinct  view  of  the  lake,  and  more  par- 
ticularly of  its  shores,  Hutter  turned  the  head 
of  the  ark  directly  toward  the  castle,  with  the 
avowed  intention  of  taking  possession  for  the  day 
at  least,  as  the  place  most  favorable  for  meeting 
his  daughters,  and  for  carrying  on  his  operations 
against  the  Indians.  By  this  time,  Chingachgook 
was  up,  and  Hist  was  heard  stirring  among  the 
furniture  of  the  kitchen.  The  place  for  which 
they  steered  was  distant  only  a mile,  and  the  air 
was  sufficiently  favorable  to  permit  it  to  be  neared 
by  means  of  the  sail.  At  ^his  moment,  too,  to 
render  the  appearances  generally  auspicious,  the 
canoe  of  Judith  was  seen  floating  northward  in 
the  broadest  part  of  the  lake ; having  actually 
passed  the  scow  in  the  darkness,  in  obedience  to 
no  other  power  than  that  of  the  elements.  Hut- 
ter got  his  glass,  and  took  a long  and  anxious 
survey  to  ascertain  if  his  daughters  were  in  the 
light  craft  or  not ; and  a slight  exclamation  like 
that  of  joy  escaped  him,  as  he  caught  a glimpse 
of  what  he  rightly  conceived  to  be  a part  of  Ju- 
dith’s dress  above  the  top  of  the  canoe.  At  the 
next  instant,  the  girl  arose,  and  was  seen  gazing 
about  her,  like  one  assuring  herself  of  her  situa- 
tion. A minute  later,  Hetty  was  seen  on  her 
knees,  in  the  other  end  of  the  canoe,  repeating 
the  prayers  that  had  been  taught  her,  in  child- 
hood, by  a misguided  but  repentant  mother.  As 
Hutter  laid  down  the  glass,  still  drawn  to  its  focus, 
the  Serpent  raised  it  to  his  eye  and  turned  it  tow- 
ard the  canoe.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever 
used  such  an  instrument,  and  Hist  understood  by 
his  “ Hugh ! ” the  expression  of  his  face,  and  his 
entire  mien,  that  something  wonderful  had  excited 
his  admiration.  It  is  well  known  that  the  Amer- 
ican Indians,  more  particularly  those  of  superior 
character  and  stations,  singularly  maintain  their 
self-possession  and  stoicism,  in  the  midst  of  the 
flood  of  marvels  that  present  themselves  in  their 
occasional  visits  to  the  abodes  of  civilization; 
and  Chingachgook  had  imbibed  enough  of  this 
impassibility  to  suppress  any  very  undignified 
manifestations  of  surprise.  With  Hist,  however, 
no  such  law  was  binding,  and  when  her  lover  man- 
aged to  bring  the  glass  in  a line  with  the  canoe, 
and  her  eye  was  applied  to  the  smaller  end,  the 
girl  started  back  in  alarm ; then  she  clapped  her 
hands  with  delight,  and  a laugh,  the  usual  attend- 
ant of  untutored  admiration,  followed.  A few 
minutes  sufficed  to  enable  this  quick-witted  girl 
to  manage  the  instrument  for  herself,  and  she  di- 
rected it  at  every  prominent  object  that  struck 
her  fancy.  Finding  a rest  in  one  of  the  windows} 
she  and  the  Delaware  first  surveyed  the  lake, 


then  the  shores,  the  hills,  and  finally  the  castle 
attracted  their  attention.  , After  a long,  steady 
gaze  at  the  latter,  Hist  took  away  her  eye,  and 
spoke  to  her  lover  in  a low,  earnest  manner. 
Chingachgook  immediately  placed  his  eye  to  the 
glass,  and  his  look  even  exceeded  that  of  his  be- 
trothed in  length  and  intensity.  Again  they 
spoke  together  confidentially,  appearing  to  com- 
pare  opinions,  after  which  the  glass  was  laid  aside, 
and  the  young  warrior  quitted  the  cabin  to  join 
Hutter  and  Hurry. 

The  ark  was  slowly  but  steadily  advancing, 
and  the  castle  was  materially  within  half  a mile, 
when  Chingachgook  joined  the  two  white  men 
in  the  stern  of  the  scow.  His  manner  was  calm, 
but  it  was  evident  to  the  others,  who  were  famil- 
iar with  the  habits  of  the  Indians,  that  he  had 
something  to  communicate.  Hurry  was  general- 
ly prompt  to  speak,  and,  according  to  custom,  he 
took  the  lead  on  this  occasion. 

“ Out  with  it,  red-skin,”  he  cried,  in  his  usual 
rough  manner.  “Have  you  discovered  a chip- 
munk in  a tree,  or  is  there  a salmon-trout  swim- 
ming under  the  bottom  of  the  scow?  You  find 
what  a pale-face  can  do  in  the  way  of  eyes,  now, 
Sarpent,  and  musn’t  wonder  that  they  can  see  the 
land  of  the  Indians  from  afar  off.” 

“ No  good  to  go  to  castle,”  put  in  Chingach- 
gook with  emphasis,  the  moment  the  other  gave 
him  an  opportunity  of  speaking.  “ Huron  there.” 

“ The  devil  he  isl — If  this  should  turn  out  to 
be  true,  Floating  Tom,  a pretty  trap  were  we 
about  to  pull  down  on  our  heads  ! Huron  there ! 
— well,  this  may  be  so ; but  no  signs  can  I see 
of  any  thing  near  or  about  the  old  hut  but  logs, 
water,  and  bark — ’bating  two  or  three  windows 
and  one  door.” 

Hutter  called  for  the  glass  and  took  a careful 
survey  of  the  spot  before  he  ventured  an  opinion 
at  all ; then  he  somewhat  cavalierly  expressed  his 
dissent  from  that  given  by  the  Indian. 

“ You’ve  got  this  glass  wrong  end  foremost, 
Delaware,”  continued  Hurry;  “neither  the  old 
man  nor  I can  see  any  trail  in  the  lake.” 

“No  trail — water  make  no  trail,”  said  Hist, 
eagerly.  “Stop  boat — no  go  too  near — Huron 
there ! ” 

“ Ay,  that’s  it ! Stick  to  the  same  tale  and 
more  people  will  believe  you. — I hope,  Sarpent, 
you  and  your  gal  will  agree  in  telling  the  same 
story  arter  marriage  as  well  as  you  do  now.  Hu- 
ron there  ! — whereabouts  is  he  to  bd  seen — in  the 
padlock,  or  the  chains,,  or  the  logs  ? There  isn’t 
a jail  in  the  colony  that  has  a more  lock-up  look 
about  it  than  old  Tom’s  chiente  : and  I kno%’ 
something  about  jails  from  exper’ence.” 


A TELL-TALE  MOCCASIN 


143 


“ No  see  moccasin  ? ” said  Hist,  impatiently ; 
* why  no  look  and  see  him  ? ” « 

“ Give  me  the  glass,  Harry,”  interrupted  Hut- 
ter,  “ and  lower  the  sail.  It  is  seldom  that  an 
Indian  woman  meddles,  and  when  she  does  there 
is  generally  a cause  for  it.  There  is,  truly,  a 
moccasin  floating  against  one  of  the  piles ; and  it 
may  or  may  not  be  a sign  that  the  castle  hasn’t 
escaped  visitors  in  our  absence.  Moccasins  are 
no  rarities,  however,  for  I wear  ’em  myself,  and 
Deerslayer  wears  ’em,  and  you  wear  ’em,  March ; 
and  for  that  matter,  so  does  Hetty,  quite  as  often 
as  she  does  shoes ; though  I never  yet  saw  Judith 
trust  her  pretty  foot  in  a moccasin.” 

Hurry  had  lowered  the  sail,  and  by  this  time 
the  ark  was  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the 
castle,  setting  in  nearer  and  nearer  each  moment, 
but  at  a rate  too  slow  to  excite  any  uneasiness. 
Each  now  took  the  glass  in  turn,  and  the  castle 
and  every  thing  near  it  was  subjected  to  a scrutiny 
still  more  rigid  than  ever.  There  the  moccasin 
lay,  beyond  a question,  floating  so  lightly  and  pre- 
serving its  form  so  well  that  it  was  Scarcely  wet. 
It  had  caught  by  a piece  of  the  rough  bark  of  one 
of  the  piles  on  the  exterior  of  the  water-palisade 
that  formed  the  dock  already  mentioned,  which 
circumstance  alone  prevented  it  from  drifting 
away  before  the  air.  There  were  many  modes, 
however,  of  accounting  for  the  presence  of  the 
moccasin  without  supposing  it  to  have  been 
dropped  by  an  enemy.  It  might  have  fallen  from 
the  platform  even  while  Hutter  was  in  possession 
of  the  place,  and  drifted  to  the  spot  where  it  was 
now  seen,  remaining  unnoticed  until  detected  by 
the  acute  vision  of  Hist.  It  might  have  drifted 
from  a distance,  up  or  down  the  lake,  and  acci- 
dentally become  attached  to  the  pile  or  palisade. 
It  might  have  been  thrown  from  a window  and 
alighted  in  that  particular  place ; or  it  might 
certainly  have  fallen  from  a scout  or  an  assailant 
during  the  past  night,  who  was  obliged  to  abandon 
it  to  the  lake  in  the  deep  obscurity  which  then 
prevailed. 

All  these  conjectures  passed  from  Hutter  to 
Hurry,  the  former  appearing  disposed  to  regard 
the  omen  as  a little  sinister,  while  the  latter  treated 
it  with  his  usual  reckless  disdain.  As  for  the  In- 
dian, he  was  of  opinion  that  the  moccasin  should 
be  viewed  as  one  would  regard  a trail  in  the 
woods  which  might  or  might  not  equally  prove  to 
be  threatening.  Hist,  however,  had  something 
available  to  propose.  She  declared  her  readiness 
to  take  a canoe  to  proceed  to  the  palisade  and 
bring  away  the  moccasin,  when  its  ornaments 
would  show  whether  it  came  from  the  Canadas  or 
not  Both  the  white  men  were  disposed  to  ac- 

10 


cept  this  offer ; but  the  Delaware  interfeied  to 
prevent  the  risk.  If  such  a service  was  to  be 
undertaken,  it  best  became  a warrior  to  expose 
himself  in  its  execution ; and  he  gave  his  refusal 
to  let  his  betrothed  proceed,  much  in  the  quiet 
but  brief  manner  in  which  an  Indian  husband 
issues  his  commands. 

“Well,  then,  Delaware,  go  yourself  if  you’re 
so  tender  of  your  squaw,”  put  in  the  unceremoni- 
ous Hurry.  “ That  moccasin  must  be  had,  or 
Floating  Tom  will  keep  off  here  at  arm’s  length 
till  the  hearth  cools  in  his  cabin.  It’s  but  a little 
deer-skin  arter  all,  and  cut  this-a-way  or  that-a- 
way,  it’s  not  a skear-crow  to  frighten  true  hunters 
from  their  game.  What  say  you,  Sarpent,  shall 
you  or  I canoe  it  ? ” 

“ Let  red  man  go.  Better  eyes  than  pale-face 
— know  Huron  trick  better,  too.” 

“ That  I’ll  gainsay,  to  the  hour  of  my  death  ! 
A white  man’s  eyes,  and  a white  man’s  nose,  and 
for  that  matter  his  sight  and  ears,  are  all  better 
than  an  Injin’s,  when  fairly  tried.  Time  and  ag’in 
have  I put  that  to  the  proof,  and  what  is  proved 
is  sartin.  Still  I suppose  the  poorest  vagabond 
going;  whether  Delaware  or  Huron,  can  find  his 
way  to  yonder  hut  and  back  ag’in  ; and  so,  Sar- 
pent, use  your  paddle  and  welcome.” 

Chmgachgook  was  already  in  the  canoe,  and 
he  dipped  the  implement  the  other  named,  into 
the  water,  just  as  Hurry’s  limber  tongue  ceased. 
Wah-ta  !-Wah  saw  the  departure  of  her  warrior 
on  this  occasion  with  the  submissive  silence  of 
an  Indian  girl,  but  with  most  of  the  misgivings 
and  apprehensions  of  her  sex.  Throughout  the 
whole  of 'the  past  night,  and  down  to  the  moment 
when  they  used  the  glass  together  in  the  hut, 
Chingachgoolc  had  manifested  as  much  manly 
tenderness  toward  his  betrothed  as  one  of  the 
most  refined  sentiments  could  have  shown  under 
similar  . circumstances ; but  now  every  sign  of 
weakness  was  lost  in  an  appearance  of  stern 
resolution.  Although  Hist  timidly  endeavored  to 
catch  his  eye,  as  the  canoe  left  the  side  of  the  ark 
the  pride  of  a warrior  would  not  permit  him  to 
meet  her  fond  and  anxious  looks.  The  canoe  de- 
parted, and  not  a wandering  glance  rewarded  her 
solicitude. 

Nor  were  the  Delaware’s  care  and  gravity  mis- 
placed, under  the  impressions  with  which  he  pro- 
ceeded on  this  enterprise.  If  the  enemy  had  really 
gained  possession  of  the  building,  he  was  obliged 
to  put  himself  under  the  very  muzzles  of  their 
rifles,  as  it  were,  and  this  too  without  the  pro- 
tection of  any  of  that  cover  which  forms  so  es- 
sential an  ally  in  Indian  warfare.  It  is  scarce!} 
possible  to  conceive  of  a service  more  dangerous 


144 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


and  had  the  Serpent  been  fortified  by  the  experi- 
ence of  ten  more  years,  or  had  his  friend  the 
Deerslayer  been  present,  it  never  would  have 
been  attempted ; the  advantages  in  no  degree 
compensating  for  the  risk.  But  the  pride  of  an 
Indian  chief  was  acted  on  by  the  rivalry  of  color  ; 
and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the  presence  of  the 
very  creature  from  whom  his  ideas  of  manhood 
prevented  his  receiving  a single  glance,  overflow- 
ing as  he  was  with  the  love  she  so  well  merited, 
had  no  small  influence  on  his  determination. 

Chingachgook  paddled  steadily  toward  the 
palisades,  keeping  his  eye  on  the  different  loops 
of  the  building.  Each  instant  he  expected  to  see 
the  muzzle  of  a rifle  protruded,  or  to  hear  its  sharp 
crack  ; but  he  succeeded  in  reaching  the  piles  in 
safety.  Here  he  was,  in  a measure,  protected, 
having  the  heads  of  the  palisades  between  him 
and  the  hut ; and  the  chances  of  any  attempt  on 
his  life,  while  thus  covered,  were  greatly  dimin- 
ished. The  canoe  had  reached  the  piles  with  its 
head  inclining  northward,  and  at  a short  distance 
from  the  moccasin.  Instead  of  turning  to  pick 
up  the  latter,  the  Delaware  slowly  made  the  cir- 
cuit of  the  whole  building,  deliberately  examining 
every  object  that  should  betray  the  presence  of 
enemies,  or  the  commission  of  violence.  Not  a 
single  sign  could  be  discovered,  however,  to  con- 
firm the  suspicions  that  had  been  awakened.  The 
stillness  of  desertion  pervaded  the  building  ; not 
a fastening  was  displaced  ; not  a window  had  been 
broken.  The  door  looked  as  secure  as  at  the 
hour  when  it  was  closed  by  Hutter,  and  even  the 
gate  of  the  dock  had  all  the  customary  fastenings. 
In  short,  the  most  wary  and  jealous  eye  could  de- 
tect no  other  evidence  of  the  visit  of  enemies, 
than  that  which  was  connected  with  the  appear- 
ance of  the  floating  moccasin. 

The  Delaware  was  now  greatly  at  a loss  how 
to  proceed.  At  one  moment,  as  he  came  round 
in  front  of  the  castle,  he  was  on  the  point  of 
stepping  upon  the  platform,  and  applying  his  eye 
to  one  of  the  loops,  with  a view  of  taking  a direct 
personal  inspection  of  the  state  of  things  within ; 
but  he  hesitated.  Though  of  little  experience  in 
such  matters,  himself,  he  had  heard  so  much  of 
Indian  artifices  through  traditions,  had  listened 
' with  such  breathless  interest  to  the  narration  of 
the  escapes  of  the  elder  warriors,  and,  in  short, 
was  so  well  schooled  in  the  theory  of  his  calling, 
that  it  was  almost  as  impossible  for  him  to  make 
any  gross  blunder  on  such  an  occasion,  as  it  was 
for  a well-grounded  scholar,  who  had  commenced 
correctly,  to  fail  in  solving  his  problem  in  mathe- 
matics. Relinquishing  the  momentary  intention 
to  land,  the  chief  slowly  pursued  his  course  round 


! the  palisades.  As  he  approached  the  moccasin — 
having  now  nearly  completed  the  circuit  of  the 
building — he  threw  the  ominous  article  into  the 
canoe,  by  a dexterous  and  almost  imperceptible 
movement  of  his  paddle.  He  was  now  ready  to 
depart;  but  retreat  wa3  even  more  dangerous 
than  the  approach,  as  the  eye  could  no  longer  be 
riveted  on  the  loops.  If  there  was  really  any  one 
in  the  castle,  the  motive  of  the  Delaware  in  re- 
connoitring must  be  understood ; and  it  was  the 
wisest  way,  however  perilous  it  might  be,  to  re- 
tire with  an  air  of  confidence,  as  if  all  distrust 
were  terminated  by  the  examination.  Such,  ac- 
cordingly, was  the  course  adopted  by  the  Indian 
who  paddled  deliberately  away,  taking  the  direc- 
tion of  the  ark,  suffering  no  nervous  impulse  to 
quicken  the  motions  of  his  arms,  or  to  induce  him 
to  turn  even  a furtive  glance  behind  him. 

No  tender  wife,  reared  in  the  refinements  of 
the  highest  civilization,  ever  met  a husband  on 
his  return  from  the  field,  with  more  of  sensibility 
in  her  countenance,  than  Hist  discovered,  as  she 
saw  the  Great  Serpent  of  the  Delawares  step,  un- 
harmed, into  the  ark.  Still  she  repressed  her 
emotions,  though  the  joy  that  sparkled  in  her 
dark  eyes,  and  the  smile  that  lighted  her  pretty 
mouth,  spoke  a language  that  her  betrothed  could 
understand. 

“Well,  Sarpent,”  cried  Hurry,  always  the 
first  to  speak,  “ what  news  from  the  Muskrats  ? 
Did  they  show  their  teeth,  as  you  surrounded  their 
dwelling  ? ” 

“ I no  like  him  ” — sententiously  returned  the 
Delaware.  “ Too  still.  So  still,  can  see  silence  ! ” 

“ That’s  downright  Injin — as  if  any  thing 
could  make  less  noise  than  nothing ! If  you’ve 
no  better  reason  than  this  to  give,  old  Tom  had 
better  hoist  his  sail,  and  go  and  get  his  breakfast 
under  his  own  roof.  What  has  become  of  the 
moccasin  ? ” 

“ Here,”  returned  Chingachgook,  holding  up 
his  prize  for  the  general  inspection. 

The  moccasin  was  examined,  and  Hist  confi- 
dently pronounced  it  to  be  Huron,  by  the  manner 
in  which  the  porcupine’s  quills  were  arranged  on 
its  front.  Hutter,  and  the  Delaware,  too,  were 
decidedly  of  the  same  opinion.  Admitting  all 
this,  however,  it  did  not  necessarily  follow  that 
its  owners  were  in  the  castle.  The  moccasin 
might  have  drifted  from  a distance,  or  it  might 
have  fallen  from  the  foot  of  some  scout,  who  had 
quitted  the  place  when  his  errand  was  accom- 
plished. In  short,  it  explained  nothing,  while  it 
awakened  so  much  distrust. 

Under  the  circumstances,  Hutter  and  Hurry 
were  not  men  to  be  long  deterred  from  proceed- 


INDIANS  IN  POSSESSION  OF  THE  CASTLE. 


145 


mg,  by  proofs  as  slight  as  that  of  the  moccasin. 
They  hoisted  the  sail  again,  and  the  ark  was  soon 
in  motion,  heading  toward  the  castle.  The  wind, 
or  air,  continued  light,  and  the  movement  was 
sufficiently  slow  to  allow  of  a deliberate  survey 
of  the  building  as  the  scow  approached. 

The  same  death-like  silence  reigned,  and  it 
was  difficult  to  fancy  that  any  thing  possessing 
animal  life  could  be  in  or  around  the  place.  Un- 
like the  Serpent,  whose  imagination  had  acted 
through  his  traditions  until  he  was  ready  to  per- 
ceive an  artificial  in  a natural  stillness,  the  others 
saw  nothing  to  apprehend  in  a tranquillity  that, 
in  truth,  merely  denoted  the  repose  of  inanimate 
objects.  The  accessories  of  the  scene,  too,  were 
soothing  and  calm,  rather  than  exciting.  The  day 
had  not  yet  advanced  so  far  as  to  bring  the  sun 
above  the  horizon,  but  the  heavens,  the  atmos- 
phere, and  the  woods  and  lake,  were  all  seen  un- 
der that  softened  light  which  immediately  pre- 
cedes his  appearance,  and  which,  perhaps,  is  the 
most  witching  period  of  the  four  - and  - twenty 
hours.  It  is  the  moment  when  every  thing  is  dis- 
tinct, even  the  atmosphere  seeming  to  possess  a 
liquid  lucidity,  the  hues  appearing  gray  and  soft- 
ened, with  the  outlines  of  objects  diffused,  and 
the  perspective  just  as  moral  truths,  that  are  pre- 
sented in  their  simplicity  without  the  meretri- 
cious aids  of  ornament  or  glitter.  In  a word,  it  is 
the  moment  when  the  senses  seem  to  recover  their 
powers  in  the  simplest  and  most  accurate  forms, 
like  the  mind  emerging  from  the  obscurity  of 
doubts  into  the  tranquillity  and  peace  of  demon 
stration.  Most  of  the  influence  that  such  a scene 
is  apt  to  produce  on  those  who  are  properly  con- 
stituted in  a moral  sense,  was  lost  on  Hutter  and 
Hurry  ; but  both  the  Delawares,  though  too  much 
accustomed  to  witness  the  loveliness  of  morn- 
ing tide,  to  stop  to  analyze  their  feelings,  were 
equally  sensible  of  the  beauties  of  the  hour, 
though  it  was  probably  in  a way  unknown  to 
themselves.  It  disposed  the  young  warrior  to 
peace  ; and  never  had  he  felt  less  longings  for  the 
glory  of  the  combat  than  when  he  joined  Hist  in 
the  cabin,  the  instant  the  scow  rubbed  against 
the  side  of  the  platform.  From  the  indulgence 
of  such  gentle  emotions,  however,  he  was  aroused 
by  a rude  summons  from  Hurry,  who  called  on 
him  to  come  forth  and  help  to  take  in  the  sail 
and  to  secure  the  ark. 

Chingachgook  obeyed ; and,  by  the  time  he 
had  reached  the  head  of  the  scow,  Hurry  was  on 
the  platform  stamping  his  feet,  like  one  glad  to 
touch  what,  by  comparison,  might  be  called  terra 
firma , and  proclaiming  his  indifference  to  the 
whole  Huron  tribe,  in  his  customary  noisy,  dog- 


matical manner.  Hutter  had  hauled  a canoe  up 
to  the  head  of  the  scow,  and  was  already  about 
to  undo  the  fastenings  of  the  gate,  in  order  to 
enter  within  the  dock.  March  had  no  other  mo- 
tive in  landing  than  a senseless  bravado,  and,  hav- 
ing shaken  the  door  in  a manner  to  put  its  solid- 
ity to  the  proof,  he  joined  Hutter  in  the  canoe, 
and  began  to  aid  him  in  opening  the  gate.  The 
reader  will  remember  that  this  mode  of  entrance 
was  rendered  necessary  by  the  manner  in  which 
the  owner  of  this  singular  residence  habitually 
secured  it  whenever  it  was  left  empty  ; more  par- 
ticularly at  moments  when  danger  was  appre- 
hended. Hutter  had  placed  a line  in  the  Dela- 
ware’s hand,  on  entering  the  canoe,  intimating 
that  the  other  was  to  fasten  the  ark  to  the  plat- 
form and  to  lower  the  sail.  Instead  of  following 
these  directions,  however,  Chingachgook  left  the 
sail  standing,  and,  throwing  the  bight  of  the  rope 
over  the  head  of  a pile,  he  permitted  the  ark  to 
drift  round  until  it  lay  against  the  defences  in  a 
position  where  it  could  be  entered  only  by  means 
of  a boat,  or  by  passing  along  the  summits  of  the 
palisades  ; the  latter  being  an  exploit  that  re- 
quired some  command  of  the  feet,  and  which  was 
not  to  be  attempted  in  the  face  of  a resolute 
enemy. 

In  consequence  of  this  change  in  the  position 
of  the  scow,  which  was  effected  before  Hutter  had 
succeeded  in  opening  the  gate  of  his  dock,  the 
ark  and  the.  castle  lay,  as  sailors  would  express  it, 
yard-arm  and  yard-arm,  kept  asunder  some  ten  or 
twelve  feet  by  means  of  the  piles.  As  the  scow 
pressed  close  against  the  latter,  their  tops  formed 
a species  of  breastwork  that  rose  to  the  height 
of  a man’s  head,  covering  in  a certain  degree  the 
parts  of  the  scow  that  were  not  protected  by  the 
cabin.  The  Delaware  surveyed  this  arrangement 
with  great  satisfaction,  and,  as  the  canoe  of  Hut- 
ter passed  through  the  gate  into  the  dock,  he 
thought  that  he  might  defend  his  position  against 
any  garrison  in  the  castle,  for  a sufficient  time, 
could  he  but  have  had  the  helping  arm  of  his 
friend  Deerslayer.  As  it  was,  he  felt  compara- 
tively secure,  and  no  longer  suffered  the  keen  ap- 
prehensions he  had  lately  experienced  in  behalf 
of  Hist. 

A single  shove  sent  the  canoe  from  the  gate 
to  the  trap  beneath  the  castle.  Here  Hutter 
found  all  fast,  neither  padlock,  nor  chain,  nor  bar, 
having  been  molested.  The  key  was  produced, 
the  locks  removed,  the  chain  loosened,  and  the 
trap  pushed  upward.  Harry  now  thrust  his  head 
in  at  the  opening;  the  arms  followed,  and  the 
colossal  legs  rose  without  any  apparent  effort. 
At  the  next  instant,  his  heavy  foot  was  heard 


146 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


stamping  in  the  passage  above ; that  which  sepa- 
rated the  chambers  of  the  father  and  daughters, 
and  into  which  the  trap  opened.  He  then  gave  a 
shout  of  triumph. 

“ Come  on,  old  Tom,”  the  reckless  woodsman 
called  out  from  within  the  building — “ here’s  your 
tenement,  safe  and  sound  ; ay,  and  as  empty  as 
a nut  that  has  passed  half  an  hour  in  the  paws  of 
a squirrel ! The  Delaware  brags  of  being  able  to 
see  silence;  let  him  come  here,  and  he  may  feel  it 
in  the  bargain.” 

“Any  silence  where  you  are,  Hurry  Harry,” 
returned  Hutter,  thrusting  his  head  in  at  the  hole, 
as  he  uttered  the  last  word,  which  instantly 
caused  his  voice  to  sound  smothered  to  those 
without — “ any  silence  where  you  are  ought  to 
be  both  seen  and  felt,  for  it’s  unlike  any  other  si- 
lence.” 

“ Come,  come — old  fellow ; hoist  yourself  up, 
and  we’ll  open  door  and  windows  and  let  in  the 
fresh  air  to  brighten  up  matters.  Few  words,  in 
troublesome  times,  make  men  the  best  fri’nds. 
Your  darter  Judith  is  what  I call  a misbehaving 
young  woman,  and  the  hold  of  the  whole  family 
on  me  is  so  much  weakened  by  her  late  conduct, 
that  it  wouldn’t  take  a speech  as  long  as  the  ten 
commandments  to  send  me  off  to  the  river,  leav- 
ing you  and  your  traps,  your  ark  and  your  chil- 
dren, your  man-servants  and  your  maid-servants, 
your  oxen  and  your  asses,  to  fight  this  battle  with 
the  Iroquois,  by  yourselves.  Open  that  window, 
Floating  Tom,  and  I’ll  blunder  through  and  do 
the  same  job  to  the  front  door.” 

A moment  of  silence  succeeded,  and  a noise 
like  that  produced  by  the  fall  of  a heavy  body 
followed.  A deep  execration  from  Hurry  suc- 
ceeded, and  then  the  whole  interior  of  the  build- 
ing seemed  alive.  The  noises  that  now  so  sud- 
denly, and  we  may  add  so  unexpectedly  even  to 
the  Delaware,  broke  the  stillness  within,  could 
not  be  mistaken.  They  resembled  those  that 
would  be  produced  by  a struggle  between  tigers 
in  a cage.  Once  or  twice  the  Indian  yell  was 
given,  but  it  seemed  smothered,  and  as  if  it  pro- 
ceeded from  exhausted  or  compressed  throats; 
and,  in  a single  instance,  a deep  and  another 
shockingly  revolting  execration  came  from  the 
throat  of  Hurry.  It  appeared  as  if  bodies  were 
constantly  thrown  upon  the  floor  with  violence, 
as  often  rising  to  renew  the  struggle.  Chingach- 
gook  felt  greatly  at  a loss  what  to  do.  He  had 
all  the  arms  in  the  ark,  Hutter  and  Hurry  having 
proceeded  without  their  rifles  ; but  there  was  no 
means  of  using  them,  or  of  passing  them  to  the 
hands  of  their  owners.  The  combatants  were 
literally  caged,  rendering  it  almost  as  impossible, 


under  the  circumstances,  to  get  out  as  to  get 
into  the  building.  Then  there  was  Hist  to  em- 
barrass his  movements,  and  to  cripple  his  efforts. 
With  a view  to  relieve  himself  from  this  disad- 
vantage, he  told  the  girl  to  take  the  remaining 
canoe,  and  to  join  Hutter’s  daughters,  who  were 
incautiously  but  deliberately  approaching,  in  or- 
der to  save  herself  and  to  warn  the  others  of 
their  danger.  But  the  girl  positively  and  firmly 
refused  to  comply.  At  that  moment,  no  human 
power,  short  of  an  exercise  of  superior  physical 
force,  could  have  induced  her  to  quit  the  ark. 
The  exigency  of  the  moment  did  not  admit  of 
delay,  and  the  Delaware,  seeing  no  possibility  of 
serving  his  friends,  cut  the  line,  and  by  a strong 
shove  forced  the  scow  some  twenty  feet  clear  of 
the  piles.  Here  he  took  the  sweeps  and  succeeded 
in  getting  a short  distance  to  windward,  if  any 
direction  could  be  thus  termed  in  so  light  an  air, 
but  neither  the  time,  nor  his  skill  at  the  oars, 
allowed  the  distance  to  be  great.  When  he 
ceased  rowing  the  ark  might  have  been  a hun- 
dred yards  from  the  platform,  and  half  that  dis- 
tance to  the  southward  of  it,  the  sail  being  low- 
ered. Judith  and  Hetty  had  now  discovered  that 
something  was  wrong,  and  were  stationary  a 
thousand  feet  farther  north. 

All  this  while  the  furious  struggle  continued 
within  the  house.  In  scenes  like  these,  events 
thicken  in  less  time  than  they  can  be  related. 
From  the  moment  when  the  first  fall  was  heard 
within  the  building,  to  that  when  the  Delaware 
ceased  his  awkward  attempts  to  row,  it  might 
have  been  three  or  four  minutes,  but  it  had  evi- 
dently served  to  weaken  the  combatants.  The 
oaths  and  execrations  of  Hurry  were  no  longer 
heard,  and  even  the  struggles  had  lost  some  of 
their  force  and  fury ; nevertheless,  they  still  con- 
tinued with  unabated  perseverance.  At  this  in- 
stant the  door  flew  open  and  the  fight  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  platform,  the  light,  and  the  open 
air. 

A Huron  had  undone  the  fastenings  of  the 
door,  and  three  or  four  of  his  tribe  rushed  after 
him  upon  the  narrow  space,  as  if  glad  to  escape 
from  some  terrible  scene  within.  The  body  of 
another  followed,  pitched  headlong  through  the 
door,  with  terrific  violence.  Then  March  ap- 
peared, raging  like  a lion  at  bay,  and  for  an  in- 
stant freed  from  his  numerous  enemies.  Hutter 
was  already  a captive  and  bound.  There  was  now 
a pause  in  the  struggle,  which  resembled  a lull  in 
a tempest.  The  necessity  of  breathing  was  com- 
mon to  all,  and  the  combatants  stood  watching 
each  other,  like  mastiffs  that  have  been  driven 
from  their  holds,  and  are  waiting  for  a faverabk 


A DESPERATE  STRUGGLE. 


147 


apportunity  of  renewing  them.  We  shall  profit 
by  this  pause,  to  relate  the  manner  in  which  the 
Indians  had  obtained  possession  of  the  castle; 
and  this  the  more  willingly,  because  it  may  be 
necessary  to  explain  to  the  reader,  why  a conflict 
which  had  been  so  close  and  fierce,  should  have 
also  been  so  comparatively  bloodless. 

Rivenoak  and  his  companion,  particularly  the 
latter,  who  had  appeared  to  be  a subordinate  and 
occupied  solely  with  his  raft,  had  made  the  clos- 
est observations  in  their  visits  to  the  castle; 
even  the  boy  had  brought  away  minute  and  valu- 
able information.  By  these  means  the  Hurons 
obtained  a general  idea  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  place  was  constructed  and  secured,  as  well  as 
>f  details  that  enabled  them  to  act  intelligently 
.n  the  dark.  Notwithstanding  the  care  that  Sut- 
ter had  taken  to  drop  the  ark  on  the  east  side  of 
the  building,  when  he  was  in  the  act  of  transfer- 
ring the  furniture  from  the  former  to  the  latter, 
he  had  been  watched  in  a way  to  render  the  pre- 
caution useless.  Scouts  were  on  the  lookout  on 
the  eastern  as  well  as  on  the  western  shore  of  the 
lake,  and  the  whole  proceeding  had  been  noted. 
As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  rafts  like  that  already 
described  approached  from  both  shores  to  re- 
connoitre, and  the  ark  had  passed  within  fifty 
feet  of  one  of  them,  without  its  being  discovered ; 
the  men  it  held,  lying  at  thsir  length  on  the  logs, 
so  as  to  blend  themselves  and  their  slow-moving 
machine  with  the  water.  When  these  two  sets 
of  adventurers  drew  near  the  castle,  they  encoun- 
tered each  other,  and  after  communicating  their 
respective  observations,  they  unhesitatingly  ap- 
proached the  building.  As  had  been  expected,  it 
was  found  empty.  The  rafts  were  immediately 
sent  for  reenforcement  to  the  shore,  and  two  of 
the  savages  remained  to  profit  by  their  situation. 
These  men  succeeded  in  getting  on  the  roof,  and, 
by  removing  some  of  the  bark,  in  entering  what 
might  be  termed  the  garret.  Here  they  were 
found  by  their  companions.  Hatchets  now 
opened  a hole  through  the  square  logs  of  the  up- 
per floor,  through  which  no  less  than  eight  of 
the  most  athletic  of  the  Indians  dropped  into  the 
room  beneath.  Here  they  were  left,  well  sup- 
plied with  arms  and  provisions,  either  to  stand  a 
siege,  or  to  make  a sortie,  as  the  case  might  re- 
quire. The  night  was  passed  in  sleep,  as  is  usual 
with  Indians  in  a state  of  inactivity.  The  return- 
ing day  brought  them  a view  of  the  approach  of 
the  ark,  through  the  loops,  the  only  manner  in 
which  light  and  air  were  now  admitted,  the  win- 
dows being  closed  most  effectually  with  plank, 
rudelj  fashioned  to  fit.  As  soon  as  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  the  two  white  men  were  about  to 


I enter  by  the  trap,  the  chief,  who  directed  the 
proceedings  of  the  Hurons,  took  his  measures 
accordingly.  He  removed  all  the  arm3  from  his 
own  people,  even  to  the  knives,  in  distrust  of 
savage  ferocity,  when  awakened  by  personal  in- 
juries, and  he  hid  them  where  they  could  not  be 
found  without  a search.  Ropes  of  bark  were 
then  prepared,  and,  taking  their  stations  in  the 
three  different  rooms,  they  all  waited  for  the  sig- 
nal to  fall  upon  their  intended  captives.  As 
soon  as  the  party  had  entered  the  building,  men 
without  replaced  the  bark  of  the  roof,  removed 
every  sign  of  their  visit  with  care,  and  then  de- 
parted for  the  shore.  It  was  one  of  these  who 
had  dropped  his  moccasin,  which  he  had  not  been 
able  to  find  again,  in  the  dark.  Had  the  death 
of  the  girl  been  known,  it  is  probable  nothing 
could  have  saved  the  lives  of  Hurry  and  Hutter ; 
but  that  event  occurred  after  the  ambush  was 
laid,  and  at  a distance  of  several  miles  from  the 
encampment  near  the  castle.  Such  were  the 
means  that  had  been  employed  to  produce  the 
state  of  things  we  shall  continue  to  describe. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

“ Now  all  is  done  that  man  can  do, 

And  all  is  done  in  vain  1 
My  love  I my  native  land,  adieu, 

For  I must  cross  the  main ; 

My  dear, 

For  I must  cross  the  main.” 

Scottish  Ballad. 

In  the  last  chapter  we  left  the  combatants 
breathing  in  their  narrow  lists.  Accustomed  to 
the  rude  sports  of  wrestling  and  jumping,  then  so 
common  in  America,  more  especially  on  the  fron- 
tiers, Hurry  possessed  an  advantage,  in  addition 
to  his  prodigious  strength,  that  had  rendered  the 
struggle  less  unequal  than  it  might  otherwise  ap- 
pear to  be.  This  alone  had  enabled  him  to  hold 
out  so  long  against  so  many  enemies  ; for  the  In- 
dian is  by  no  means  remarkable  for  his  skill  or 
force  in  athletic  exercises.  As  yet,  no  one  had 
been  seriously  hurt,  though  several  of  the  sav- 
ages had  received  severe  falls ; and  he,  in  particu- 
lar, who  had  been  thrown  bodily  upon  the  plat- 
form, might  be  said  to  be  temporarily  hors  de 
combat.  Some  of  the  rest  were  limping;  and 
March  himself  had  not  entirely  escaped  from 
bruises,  though  want  of  breath  was  the  principal 
loss  that  both  sides  wished  to  repair. 

Under  circumstances  like  those  in  which  the 
parties  were  placed,  a truce,  let  it  come  from 
what  cause  it  might,  could  not  well  be  of  long 


L48 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


continuance.  The  arena  was  too  confined,  and  i 
the  distrust  of  treachery  too  great,  to  admit  of 
this.  Contrary  to  what  might  be  expected  in  his 
situation,  Hurry  was  the  first  to  recommence  hos- 
tilities. Whether  this  proceeded  from  policy  or 
an  idea  that  he  might  gain  some  advantage  by 
making  a sudden  and  unexpected  assault,  or  was 
the  fruit  of  irritation  and  his  undying  hatred  of 
an  Indian,  it  is  impossible  to  say.  His  onset  was 
furious,  however,  and  at  first  it  carried  all  before 
it.  He  seized  the  nearest  Huron  by  the  waist, 
raised  him  entirely  from  the  platform,  and  hurled 
him  into  the  water  as  if  he  had  been  a child.  In 
half  a minute  two  more  were  at  his  side,  one  of 
whom  received  a grave  injury  by  falling  on  the 
friend  who  had  just  preceded  him.  But  four 
enemies  remained,  and  in  a hand-to-hand  conflict, 
in  which  no  arms  were  used  but  those  which  Na- 
ture had  furnished,  Hurry  believed  himself  fully 
able  to  cope  with  that  number  of  red-skins. 

“Hurrah!  old  Tom,”  he  shouted;  “the  ras- 
cals are  taking  to  the  lake,  and  I’ll  soon  have  ’em 
all  swimming  ! ” As  these  words  were  uttered,  a 
violent  kick  in  the  face  sent  back  the  injured  In- 
dian, who  had  caught  at  the  edge  of  the  platform 
and  was  endeavoring  to  raise  himself  to  its  level, 
helplessly  and  hopelessly  into  the  water.  When 
the  affray  was  over,  his  dark  body  was  seen, 
through  the  limpid  element  of  the  Glimmerglass, 
lying,  with  outstretched  arms,  extended  on  the 
bottom  of  the  shoal  on  which  the  castle  stood, 
clinging  to  the  sands  and  weeds  as  if  life  were  to 
be  retained  by  this  frenzied  grasp  of  death.  A 
blow,  sent  into  the  pit  of  another’s  stomach, 
doubled  him  up  like  a worm  that  had  been 
trodden  on ; and  but  two  able-bodied  foes  re- 
mained to  be  dealt  with.  One  of  these,  however, 
was  not  only  the  largest  and  strongest  of  the  Hu- 
rons,  but  he  was  also  the  most  experienced  of  the 
warriors  present,  and  that  one  whose  sinews  were 
the  best  strung  in  fights  and  by  marches  on  the 
war-path.  This  man  fully  appreciated  the  gigan- 
tic strength  of  his  opponent,  and  had  carefully 
husbanded  his  own.  He  was  also  equipped  in 
the  best  manner  for  such  a conflict,  standing  in 
nothing  but  his  breech-cloth,  the  model  of  a na- 
ked and  beautiful  statue  of  agility  and  strength. 
To  grasp  him  required  additional  dexterity  and 
unusual  force.  Still  Hurry  did  not  hesitate ; but 
the  kick,  that  had  actually  destroyed  one  fellow- 
creature,  was  no  sooner  given  than  he  closed  in 
with  this  formidable  antagonist,  endeavoring  to 
force  him  into  the  water  also.  The  struggle  that 
succeeded  was  truly  frightful.  So  fierce  did  it 
Immediately  become,  and  so  quick  and  change- 
ful were  the  evolutions  of  the  athletae,  that  the 


remaining  savage  had  no  chance  for  interfering 
had  he  possessed  the  desire ; but  wonder  and 
apprehension  held  him  spellbound.  He  was  an 
inexperienced  youth,  and  his  blood  curdled  as  he 
witnessed  the  fell  strife  of  human  passions,  ex- 
hibited, too,  in  an  unaccustomed  form. 

Hurry  first  attempted  to  throw  his  antago- 
nist. With  this  view  he  seized  him  by  the  throat 
and  an  arm,  and  tripped  with  the  quickness  and 
force  of  an  American  borderer.  The  effect  was 
frustrated  by  the  agile  movements  of  the  Huron, 
who  had  clothes  to  grasp  by,  and  whose  feet 
avoided  the  attempt  with  a nimbleness  equal  to 
that  with  which  it  was  made.  Then  followed  a 
sort  of  melee , if  such  a term  can  be  applied  to  a 
struggle  between  two  in  which  no  efforts  were 
distinctly  visible,  the  limbs  and  bodies  of  the 
combatants  assuming  so  many  attitudes  and  con- 
tortions as  to  defeat  observation.  This  confused 
but  fierce  rally  lasted  less  than  a minute,  how- 
ever, when  Hurry,  furious  at  having  his  strength 
baffled  by  the  agility  and  nakedness  of  his  foe, 
made  a desperate  effort,  which  sent  the  Huron 
from  him,  hurling  his  body  violently  against  the 
logs  of  the  hut.  The  concussion  was  so  great  as 
momentarily  to  confuse  the  latter’s  faculties.  The 
pain,  too,  extorted  a deep  groan — an  unusual  con 
cession  to  agony  to  escape  a red  man  in  the  heat 
of  battle.  Still  he  rushed  forward  again  to  meet 
his  enemy,  conscious  that  his  safety  rested  on  his 
resolution.  Hurry  now  seized  the  other  by  the 
waist,  raised  him  bodily  from  the  platform,  and 
fell  with  his  own  great  weight  on  the  form  be- 
neath. This  additional  shock  so  far  stunned  the 
sufferer  that  his  gigantic  white  opponent  now  had 
him  completely  at  his  mercy.  Passing  his  hands 
round  the  throat  of  his  victim,  he  compressed 
them  with  the  strength  of  a vice,  fairly  doubling 
the  head  of  the  Huron  over  the  edge  of  the  plat- 
form, until  the  chin  was  uppermost,  with  the  in- 
fernal strength  he  expended.  An  instant  sufficed 
to  show  the  consequences.  The  eyes  of  the  suf- 
ferer seemed  to  start  forward,  his  tongue  pro- 
truded, and  his  nostrils  dilated  nearly  to  split- 
ting. At  this  instant  a rope  -of  bark,  having  an 
eye,  was  passed  dexterously  within  the  two  arms  of 
Hurry  ; the  end  threaded  the  eye,  forming  a noose, 
and  his  elbows  were  drawn  together  behind  his 
back  with  a power  that  all  his  gigantic  strength 
could  not  resist.  Reluctantly,  even  under  such 
circumstances,  did  the  exasperated  borderer  see 
his  hands  drawn  from  their  deadly  grasp,  for  aT 
the  evil  passions  were  then  in  the  ascendant 
Almost  at  the  same  instant  a similar  fastening 
secured  his  ankles,  and  his  body  was  rolled  to 
the  centre  of  the  platform  as  helplessly  and  as 


HURRY’S  DEFEAT. 


149 


<?avalierly  as  if  it  were  a log  of  wood.  His  res- 
cued antagonist,  however,  did  not  rise,  for,  while 
he  began  again  to  breathe,  his  head  still  hung 
helplessly  over  the  edge  of  the  logs,  and  it  was 
thought  at  first  that  his  neck  was  dislocated.  He 
recovered  gradually  only,  and  it  was  hours  before 
he  could  walk.  Some  fancied  that  neither  his 
body  nor  his  mind  ever  totally  recovered  from 
this  near  approach  to  death. 

Hurry  owed  his  defeat  and  capture  to  the  in- 
tensity with  which  he  had  concentrated  all  his 
powers  on  his  fallen  foe.  While  thus  occupied, 
the  two  Indians  he  had  hurled  into  the  water 
mounted  to  the  heads  of  the  piles,  along  which 
they  passed  and  joined  their  companion  on  the 
platform.  The  latter  had  so  far  rallied  his  facul- 
ties as  to  have  got  the  ropes,  which  were 'in  readi- 
ness for  use  as  the  others  appeared,  and  they 
were  applied  in  the  manner  related  as  Hurry  lay 
pressing  his  enemy  down  with  his  whole  weight, 
intent  only  on  the  horrible  office  of  strangling 
him.  Thus  were  the  tables  turned  in  a single 
moment ; he,  who  had  been  so  near  achieving  a 
victory  that  would  have  been  renowned  for  ages, 
by  means  of  tradition,  throughout  all  that  region, 
lying  helpless,  bound,  and  a captive.  So  fearful 
had  been  the  efforts  of  the  pale-face,  and  so  pro- 
digious the  strength  he  exhibited,  that  even  as  he 
lay,  tethered  like  a sheep  before  them,  they  re- 
garded him  with  respect  and  not  without  dread. 
The  helpless  body  of  their  stoutest  warrior  was 
still  stretched  on  the  platform  ; and,  as  they  cast 
their  eyes  toward  the  lake,  in  quest  of  the  com- 
rade that  had  been  hurled  into  it  so  unceremoni- 
ously, and  of  whom  they  had  lost  sight  in  the 
confusion  of  the  fray,  they  perceived  his  lifeless 
form  clinging  to  the  grass  on  the  bottom,  as  al- 
ready described.  These  several  circumstances 
contributed  to  render  the  victory  of  the  Hurons 
almost  as  astounding  to  themselves  as  a defeat. 

Chingachgook  and  his  betrothed  witnessed  the 
whole  of  this  struggle  from  the  ark.  When  the 
three  Hurons  wrere  about  to  pass  the  cords  around 
the  arms  of  the  prostrate  Hurry,  the  Delaware 
sought  his  rifle  ; but,  before  he  could  use  it,  the 
white  man  was  bound,  and  the  mischief  was  done. 
He  might  still  bring  down  an  enemy,  but  to  ob- 
tain the  scalp  was  impossible ; and  the  young 
chief,  who  would  so  freely  risk  his  own  life  to  ob- 
tain such  a trophy,  hesitated  about  taking  that 
of  a foe,  without  such  an  object  in  view.  A 
glance  at  Hist,  and  the  recollection  of  what  might 
follow,  checked  any  transient  wish  for  revenge. 
The  reader  has  been  told  that  Chingachgook 
could  scarcely  be  said  to  know  how  to  manage 
the  oars  of  the  ark  at  all,  however  expert  he 


might  be  in  the  use  of  the  paddle.  Perhaps 
there  is  no  manual  labor  at  which  men  are  so 
bungling  and  awkward,  as  in  their  first  attempts 
to  pull  an  oar,  even  the  experienced  mariner,  or 
boatman,  breaking  down  in  his  efforts  to  figure 
with  the  celebrated  rullock  of  the  gondolier.  In 
short,  it  is  temporarily  an  impracticable  thing  for 
a new  beginner  to  succeed  with  a single  oar ; but, 
in  this  case,  it  was  necessary  to  handle  two  at 
the  same  time,  and  those  of  great  size.  Sweeps, 
or  large  oars,  however,  are  sooner  rendered  of 
use  by  the  raw  hand  than  lighter  implements,  and 
this  was  the  reason  that  the  Delaware  had  suc- 
ceeded in  moving  the  ark  as  well  as  he  did,  in  a 
first  trial.  That  trial,  notwithstanding,  sufficed 
to  produce  distrust,  and  he  was  fully  aware  of 
the  critical  situation  in  which  Hist  and  himself 
were  now  placed,  should  the  Hurons  take  to  the 
canoe  that  was  still  lying  beneath  the  trap,  and 
come  against  them.  At  one  moment  he  thought 
of  putting  Hist  into  the  canoe  in  his  own  posses- 
sion, and  of  taking  to  the  eastern  mountain,  in 
the  hope  of  reaching  the  Delaware  villages  by  di- 
rect flight.  But  many  considerations  suggested 
themselves  to  put  a stop  to  this  indiscreet  step. 
It  was  almost  certain  that  scouts  watched  the 
lake  on  both  sides,  and  no  canoe  could  possibly 
approach  the  shore  without  being  seen  from  the 
hills.  Then  a trail  could  not  be  concealed  from 
Indian  eyes,  and  the  strength  of  Hist  was  un- 
equal to  a flight  sufficiently  sustained  to  outstrip 
the  pursuit  of  trained  warriors.  This  was  a part 
of  America  in  which  the  Indians  did  not  know 
the  use  of  horses,  and  every  thing  would  depend 
on  the  physical  energies  of  the  fugitives.  Last, 
but  far  from  being  least,  were  the  thoughts  con- 
nected with  the  situation  of  Deerslayer,  a friend 
who  was  not  to  be  deserted  in  his,  extremity. 

Hist,  in  some  particulars,  reasoned,  and  even 
felt,  differently,  though  she  arrived  at  the  same 
conclusions.  Her  own  danger  disturbed  her  less 
than  her  concern  for  the  two  sisters,  in  whose  be- 
half her  womanly  sympathies  were  now  strongly 
enlisted.  The  canoe  of  the  girls,  by  the  time  the 
struggle  on  the  platform  had  ceased,  was  within 
three  hundred  yards  of  the'  castle,  and  here  Ju- 
dith ceased  paddling,  the  evidences  of  strife  first 
becoming  apparent  to  the  eyes.  She  and  Hetty 
were  standing  erect,  anxiously  endeavoring  to  as- 
certain what  had  occurred,  but  unable  to  satisfy 
their  doubts,  from  the  circumstance  that  the 
building,  in  a great  measure,  concealed  the  scene 
of  action. 

The  parties  in  the  ark  and  in  the  canoe  were 
indebted  to  the  ferocity  of  Hurry’s  attack,  for 
their  momentary  security.  In  any  ordinary  case, 


150 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  girls  would  have  been  immediately  captured  ; 
a measure  easy  of  execution,  now  the  savages 
had  a canoe,  were  it  not  for  the  rude  check  the 
audacity  of  the  Hurons  had  received  in  the  re- 
cent struggle.  It  required  some  little  time  *o  re- 
cover from  the  effects  of  this  violent  scene  ; and 
this  so  much  the  more,  because  the  principal  man 
of  the  party,  in  the  way  of  personal  prowess,  at 
least,  had  been  so  great  a sufferer.  Still  it  was 
of  the  last  importance  that  Judith  and  her  sister 
should  seek  immediate  refuge  in  the  ark,  where 
the  defences  offered  a temporary  shelter  at  least ; 
and  the  first  step  was  to  devise  the  means  of  in- 
ducing them  to  do  so.  Hist  showed  herself  in  the 
stern  of  the  scow,  and  made  many  gestures  and 
signs,  in  vain,  in  order  to  induce  the  girls  to  make 
a circuit  to  avoid  the  castle,  and  to  approach  the 
ark  from  the  eastward.  But  these  signs  were 
distrusted  or  misunderstood.  It  was  probable 
Judith  was  not  yet  sufficiently  aware  of  the  real 
state  of  things,  to  put  full  confidence  in  either 
party.  Instead  of  doing  as  desired,  she  rather 
kept  more  aloof ; paddling  slowly  back  to  the 
north,  or  into  the  broadest  part  of  the  lake, 
where  she  could  command  the  widest  view,  and 
had  the  fairest  field  for  flight  before  her.  At 
this  instant  the  sun  appeared  above  the  pines  of 
the  eastern  range  of  mountains,  and  a light, 
southerly  breeze  arose,  as  was  usual  enough  at 
that  season  and  hour. 

Chingachgook  lost  no  time  in  hoisting  the 
sail.  Whatever  might  be  in  reserve  for  him, 
there  could  be  no  question  that  it  was  every  way 
desirable  to  get  the  ark  at  such  a distance  from 
the  castle  as  to  reduce  his  enemies  to  the  neces- 
sity of  approaching  the  former  in  the  canoe, 
which  the  chances  of  war  had  so  inopportunely, 
for  his  wishes,  and  security,  thrown  into  their 
hands.  The  appearance  of  the  opening  duck 
seemed  first  to  arouse  the  Hurons  from  their 
apathy  ; and,  by  the  time  the  head  of  the  scow 
had  fallen  off  before  the  wind,  which  it  did,  un- 
fortunately, in  the  wrong  direction,  bringing  it 
within  a few  yards  of  the  platform,  Hist  found  it 
necessary  to  warn  her  lover  of  the  importance  of 
covering  his  person  against  the  rifles  of  his  foes. 
This  was  a danger  to  be  avoided  under  all  circum- 
stances, and  so  much  the  more,  because  the  Dela- 
ware found  that  Hist  would  not  take  to  the  cover 
herself,  so  long  as  he  remained  exposed.  Ac- 
cordingly, Chingachgook  abandoned  the  scow  to 
ts  own  movements,  forced  Hist 'into  the  cabin, 
khe  doors  of  which  he  immediately  secured,  and 
then  he  looked  about  him  for  the  rifles. 

The  situation  of  the  parties  was  now  so  sin- 
gular as  to  merit  a particular  description.  The 


] ark  was  within  sixty  yards  of  the  castle,  a little 
to  the  southward,  or  to  windward  of  it,  with  its 
I sail  full,  and  the  steering-oar  abandoned.  The 
latter,  fortunately,  was  loose,  so  that  it  produced 
no  great  influence  on  the  crab-like  movements  cf 
the  unwieldy  craft.  The  sail  being  set,  as  sailors 
term  it,  flying,  or  having  no  braces,  the  air  forced 
the  yard  forward,  though  both  sheets  were  fast. 
The  effect  was  threefold  on  a boat  with  a bottom 
that  was  perfectly  flat,  and  which  drew  merely 
some  three  or  four  inches  of  water.  It  pressed 
the  head  slowly  round  to  leeward,  it  forced  the 
whole  fabric  bodily  in  the  same  direction  at  the 
same  time,  and  the  w'ater  that  unavoidably  gath- 
ered under  the  lee  gave  the  scow  also  a forward 
movement.  All  these  changes  were  exceedingly 
slow,  however,  for  the  wind  was  not  only  light, 
but  it  was  baffling,  as  usual,  and  twice  or  thrice 
the  sail  shook.  Once  it  was  absolutely  taken 
aback. 

Had  there  been  any  keel  to  the  ark,  it  would 
inevitably  have  run  foul  of  the  platform,  bows 
on,  when  it  is  probable  nothing  could  have  pre- 
vented the  Hurons  from  carrying  it ; more  par- 
ticularly as  the  sail  would  have  enabled  them  to 
approach  under  cover.  As  it  was,  the  scow  wore 
slowly  round,  barely  clearing  that  part  of  the 
building.  The  piles  projecting  several  feet,  they 
were  not  cleared,  but  the  head  of  the  slow-mov- 
ing craft  caught  between  two  of  them  by  one  of 
its  square  corners,  and  hung.  At  this  moment, 
the  Delaware  was  vigilantly  watching  through  a 
loop  for  an  opportunity  to  fire,  while  the  Hurons 
kept  within  the  building,  similarly  occupied. 
The  exhausted  warrior  reclined  against  the  hut, 
there  having  been  no  time  to  remove  him,  and 
Hurry  lay,  almost  as  helpless  as  a log,  tethered 
like  a sheep  on  its  way  to  the  slaughter,  near  the 
middle  of  the  platform.  Chingachgook  could 
have  slain  the  first  at  any  moment,  but  his  scalp 
would  have  been  safe,  and  the  young  chief  dis- 
dained to  strike  a blow  that  could  lead  to  neither 
honor  nor  advantage. 

“ Run  out  one  of  the  poles,  Sarpent,  if  Sarpent 
you  be,”  said  Hurry,  amid  the  groans  that  the 
tightness  of  the  ligatures  was  beginning  to  extort 
from  him — “ run  out  one  of  the  poles,  and  shove 
the  head  of  the  scow  off,  and  you’ll  drift  clear  of 
us — and,  when  you’ve  done  that  good  turn  for 
yourself  , just  finish  this  gagging  blackguard  for 
me.” 

The  appeal  of  Hurry,  however,  had  no  other 
effect  than  to  draw  the  attention  of  Hist  to  his 
situation.  This  quick-witted  creature  compre 
hended  it  at  a glance.  His  ankles  were  bound 
with  several  turns  of  stout  bark  rope,  and  his 


CHINGACHGOOK’S  MOVEMENTS. 


151 


arms,  above  the  elbows,  were  similarly  secured 
behind  his  back,  barely  leaving  him  a little  play 
of  the  hands  and  wrists.  Putting  her  mouth 
near  a loop,  she  said,  in  a low  but  distinct  voice  : 

“Why  don’t  you  roll  here,  and  fall  in  scow  ? 
Chingachgook  shoot  Huron  if  he  chase  ! ” 

“ By  the  Lord,  gal,  that’s  a judgmatical 
thought,  and  it  shall  be  tried,  if  the  starn  of  your 
scow  will  come  a little  nearer.  Put  a bed  at  the 
bottom  for  me  to  fall  on.” 

This  was  said  at  a happy  moment,  for,  tired 
of  waiting,  all  the  Indians  made  a rapid  discharge 
of  their  rifles,  almost  simultaneously,  injuring  no 
one,  though  several  bullets  passed  through  the 
loops.  Hist  had  heard  part  of  Hurry’s  words, 
but  most  of  what  he  said  was  lost  in  the  sharp 
report  of  the  fire-arms.  She  undid  th£  bar  of 
the  door  that  led  to  the  stern  of  the  scow,  but 
did  not  dare  to  expose  her  person.  All  this  time 
the  head  of  the  ark  hung,  but  by  a gradually  de- 
creasing hold,  as  the  other  end  swung  slowly  round, 
nearer  and  nearer  to  the  platform.  Hurry,  who 
now  lay  with  his  face  toward  the  ark,  occasionally 
writhing  and  turning  over  like  one  in  pain,  evolu- 
tions he  had  performed  ever  since  he  was  secured, 
watched  every  change,  and,  at  last,  he  saw  that 
the  whole  vessel  was  free,  and  was  beginning  to 
grate  slowly  along  the  sides  of  the  piles.  The 
attempt  was  desperate,  but  it  seemed  the  only 
chance  for  escaping  torture  and  death,  and  it 
suited  the  reckless  daring  of  the  man’s  character. 
Waiting  to  the  last  moment,  in  order  that  the 
stern  of  the  scow  might  fairly  rub  against  the 
platform,  he  began  to  writhe  again,  as  if  in  in- 
tolerable suffering,  execrating  all  Indians  in  gen- 
eral, and  Hurons  in  particular,  and  then  he  sud- 
denly and  rapidly  rolled  over  and  over,  taking  the 
direction  of  the  stern  of  the  scow.  Unfortunately, 
Hurry’s  shoulders  required  more  space  to  revolve 
in  than  his  feet,  and,  by  the  time  he  reached  the 
edge  of  the  platform,  his  direction  had  so  far 
changed  as  to  carry  him  clear  of  the  ark  altogether ; 
and  the  rapidity  of  his  revolutions,  and  the  emer- 
gency, admitting  of  no  delay,  he  fell  into  the  water. 
At  this  instant,  Chingachgook,  by  an  understand- 
ing with  his  betrothed,  drew  the  fire  of  the  Hurons 
again,  not  a man  of  whom  saw  the  manner  in 
which  one,  whom  they  knew  to  be  effectually 
tethered,  had  disappeared.  But  Hist’s  feelings 
were  strongly  interested  in  the  success  of  so  bold 
r scheme,  and  she  watched  the  movements  of 
Hurry  as  the  cat  watches  the  mouse.  The  mo- 
ment he  was  in  motion  she  foresaw  the  con- 
sequences, and  this  the  more  readily,  as  the  scow 
was  now  beginning  to  move  with  some  steadiness, 
tnd  she  bethought  her  of  the  means  of  saving  him.  | 


With  a sort  of  instinctive  readiness,  she  opened 
the  door  at  the  very  moment  the  rifles  were  ring- 
ing in  her  ears,  and,  protected  by  the  intervening 
cabin,  she  stepped  into  the  stern  of  the  scow  in 
time  to  witness  the  fall  of  Hurry  into  the  lake. 
Her  foot  was  unconsciously  placed  on  the  end  of 
one  of  the  sheets  of  the  sail,  which  was  fastened 
aft,  and  catching  up  all  the  spare  rope,  with  the 
awkwardness,  but  also  with  the  generous  resolu- 
tion, of  a woman,  she  threw  it  in  the  direction 
of  the  helpless  Hurry.  The  line  fell  on  the  head 
and  body  of  the  sinking  man,  and  he  not  only 
succeeded  in  grasping  separate  parts  of  it  with 
his  hands,  but  he  actually  got  a portion  of  it  be- 
tween his  teeth.  Hurry  was  an  expert  swimmer, 
and,  tethered  as  he  was,  he  resorted  to  the  very 
expedient  that  philosophy  and  reflection  would 
have  suggested.  He  had  fallen  on  his  back,  and, 
instead  of  floundering  and  drowning  himself  by 
desperate  efforts  to  walk  on  the  water,  he  per- 
mitted his  body  to  sink  as  low  as  possible,  and 
was  already  submerged,  with  the  exception  of 
his  face,  when  the  line  reached  him.  In  this 
situation  he  might  possibly  have  remained  until 
rescued  by  the  Hurons,  using  his  hands  as  fishes 
use  their  fins,  had  he  received  no  other  succor ; 
but  the  movement  of  the  ark  soon  tightened  the 
rope,  and  of  course  he  was  dragged  gently  ahead, 
holding  even  pace  with  the  scow.  The  motion 
aided  in  keeping  his  face  above  the  surface  of  the 
water,  and  it  would  have  been  possible  for  one 
accustomed  to  endurance  to  have  been  towed  a 
mile  in  this  singular  but  simple  manner. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  Hurons  did  not  ob- 
serve the  sudden  disappearance  of  Hurry.  In  his 
present  situation  he  was  not  only  hid  from  view 
by  the  platform,  but  as  the  ark  drew  slowly  ahead, 
impelled  by  a sail  that  was  now  filled,  he  received 
the  same  friendly  service  from  the  piles.  The 
Hurons,  indeed,  were  too  intent  on  endeavoring 
to  slay  their  Delaware  foe,  by  sending  a bullet 
through  some  one  of  the  loops  or  crevices  of  the 
?abin,  to  bethink  them  at  all  of  one  whom  they 
fancied  so  thoroughly  tied.  Their  great  concern 
was,  the  manner  in  which  the  ark  rubbed  past 
the  piles,  although  its  motion  was  lessened  at 
least  one  half  by  the  friction,  and  they  passed  into 
the  northern  end  of  the  castle,  in  order  to  catch 
opportunities  of  firing  through  the  loops  of  that 
part  of  the  building.  Chingachgook  was  similarly 
occupied,  and  remained  as  ignorant  as  his  enemies 
of  the  situation  of  Hurry.  As  the  ark  grated 
along,  the  rifles  sent  their  little  clouds  of  smoke 
from  one  cover  to  the  other,  but  the  eyes  and 
movements  of  the  opposing  parties  were  too  quick 
to  permit  any  injury  to  be  done.  At  length  on« 


152 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


side  had  the  mortification,  and  the  other  the  pleas- 
ure, of  seeing  the  scow  swing  clear  of  the  piles 
altogether,  when  it  immediately  moved  away, 
with  a materially  accelerated  motion,  toward  the 
north. 

Chingachgook  now  first  learned  from  Hist,  the 
critical  condition  of  Hurry.  To  have  exposed 
either  of  their  persons  in  the  stern  of  the  scow 
would  have  been  certain  death  ; but,  fortunately, 
the  sheet  to  which  the  man  clung,  led  forward  to 
the  foot  of  the  sail.  The  Delaware  found  means 
to  unloosen  it  from  the  cleet  aft ; and  Hist,  who  was 
already  forward  for  that  purpose,  immediately  be- 
gan to  pull  upon  the  line.  At  this  moment  Hurry 
was  towing  fifty  or  sixty  feet  astern,  with  nothing 
but  his  face  above  water.  As  he  was  dragged 
out  clear  of  the  castle  and  the  piles,  he  was  first 
perceived  by  the  Hurons,  who  raised  a hideous 
yell,  and  commenced  a fire  on  what  may  very 
well  be  termed  the 'floating  mass.  It  was  at  the 
same  instant  that  Hist  began  to  pull  upon  the 
line  forward — a circumstance  that  probably  saved 
Hurry’s  life,  aided  by  his  own  self-possession  and 
border  readiness.  The  first  bullet  struck  the 
water  directly  on  the  spot  where  the  broad  chest 
of  the  young  giant  was  visible  through  the  pure 
element,  and  might  have  pierced  his  heart  had 
the  angle  at  which  it  was  fired  been  less  acute. 
Instead  of  penetrating  the  lake,  however,  it  glanced 
from  its  smooth  surface,  rose,  and  actually  buried 
itself  in  the  logs  of  the  cabin,  near  the  spot  at 
which  Chingachgook  had  shown  himself  the  min- 
ute before,  while  clearing  the  line  from  the  cleet. 
A second,  and  a third,  and  a fourth  bullet  fol- 
lowed, all  meeting  with  the  same  resistance  from 
the  surface  of  the  water ; though  Hurry  sensibly 
felt  the  violence  of  the  blows  they  struck  upon 
the  lake  so  immediately  above,  and  so  near  his 
breast.  Discovering  their  mistake,  the  Hurons 
now  changed  their  plan,  and  aimed  at  the  un- 
covered face ; but,  by  this  time,  Hist  was  pulling 
on  the  line,  the  target  advanced,  and  the  deadly 
missiles  still  fell  upon  the  water.  In  another 
moment  the  body  was  dragged  past  the  end  of 
the  scow,  and  became  concealed.  As  for  the 
Delaware  and  Hist,  they  worked  perfectly  covered 
by  the  cabin,  and  in  less  time  than  it  requires  to 
tell  it  they  had  hauled  the  huge  frame  of  Hurry 
to  the  place  they  occupied.  Chingachgook  stood 
in  readiness  with  his  keen  knife,  and,  bending  over 
the  side  of  the  scow,  he  soon  severed  the  bark  that 
bound  the  limbs  of  the  borderer.  To  raise  him 
high  enough  to  reach  the  edge  oi  the  boat,  and  to 
aid  him  in  entering,  were  less  easy  tasks,  as 
Hurry’s  arms  were  still  nearly  useless  ; but  both 
were  done  in  time,  when  the  liberated  man  stag- 


gered forward,  and  fell,  exhausted  and  helpless: 
into  the  bottom  of  the  scow.  Here  we  shall  leave 
him  to  recover  his  strength  and  the  due  circula- 
tion of  his  blood,  while  we  proceed  with  the  nar- 
rative of  events  that  crowd  upon  us  too  fast  to 
admit  of  any  postponement. 

The  moment  the  Hurons  lost  sight  of  the  body 
of  Hurry,  they  gave  a common  yell  of  disappoint- 
ment, and  three  of  the  most  active  of  their  number 
ran  to  the  trap  and  entered  the  canoe.  It  re- 
quired some  little  delay,  however,  to  embark  with 
their  Aveapons,  to  find  the  paddles,  and,  if  we  may 
use  a phrase  so  purely  technical,  “ to  get  out  of 
dock.”  By  this  time  Hurry  was  in  the  scow, 
and  the  Delaware  had  his  rifles  again  in  readiness. 
As  the  ark  necessarily  sailed  before  the  wind,  it 
had  gol  by  this  time  quite  two  hundred  yards 
from  the  castle,  and -was  sliding  away  each  instant 
farther  and  farther,  though  with  a motion  so  easy 
as  scarcely  to  stir  the  water.  The  canoe  of  the 
girls  was  quite  a quarter  of  a mile  distant  from 
the  ark,  obviously  keeping  aloof,  in  ignorance  of 
Avhat  had  occurred,  and  in  apprehension  of  the 
consequences  of  venturing  too  near.  They  had 
taken  the  direction  of  the  eastern  shore,  endeavor- 
ing at  the  same  time  to  get  to  windward  of  the 
ark,  and  in  a manner  between  the  two  parties,  as 
if  distrusting  which  was  to  be  considered  a friend, 
and  Avhich  an  enemy.  The  girls,  from  long  habit, 
used  the  paddles  with  great  dexterity ; and  Ju- 
dith, in  particular,  had  often  sportively  gained 
races,  in  trials  of  speed,  with  the  youths  that  oc- 
casionally visited  the  lake. 

When  the  three  Hurons  emerged  from  behind 
the  palisades,  and  found  themselves  on  the  open 
lake,  and  under  the  necessity  of  advancing  un- 
protected on  the  ark,  if  they  persevered  in  the 
original  design,  their  ardor  sensibly  cooled.  In  a 
bark  canoe,  they  were  totally  without  cover,  and 
Indian  discretion  was  entirely  opposed  to  such  a 
sacrifice  of  life  as  would  most  probably  follow 
any  attempt  to  assault  an  enemy  intrenched  as 
effectually  as  the  Delaware.  Instead  of  following 
the  ark,  therefore,  these  three  warriors  inclined 
toward  the  eastern  shore,  keeping  at  a safe  dis- 
tance from  the  rifles  of  Chingachgook.  But  this 
manoeuvre  rendered  the  position  of  the  girls  ex- 
ceedingly critical.  It  threatened  to  place  them, 
if  not  between  two  fires,  at  least  between  two  dan- 
gers, or  what  they  conceived  to  be  dangers ; and, 
instead  of  permitting  the  Hurons  to  enclose  her, 
in  what  she  fancied  a sort  of  net,  Judith  imme- 
diately commenced  her  retreat,  in  a southern  di- 
rection, at  no  very  great  distance  from  the  shore. 
She  did  not  dare  to  land ; if  such  an  expedient 
were  to  be  resorted  to  at  all,  she  could  only  ven- 


A STERN  CHASE. 


153 


lure  on  it  in  the  last  extremity.  At  first  the  In- 
dians paid  little  or  no  attention  to  the  other  canoe ; 
for,  fully  apprised  of  its  contents,  they  deemed 
its  capture  of  comparatively  little  moment ; while 
the  ark,  with  its  imaginary  treasures,  the  persons 
of  the  Delaware  and  of  Hurry,  and  its  means  of 
movement  on  a large  scale,  was  before  them. 
But  this  ark  had  its  dangers  as  well  as  its  tempta- 
tions ; and  after  wasting  near  an  hour  in  vacillat- 
ing evolutions,  always  at  a safe  distance  from  the 
rifle,  the  Hurons  seemed  suddenly  to  take  their 
resolution,  and  began  to  display  it  by  giving  eager 
chase  to  the  girls. 

When  this  last  design  was  adopted,  the  cir- 
cumstances of  all  parties,  as  connected  with  their 
relative  positions,  were  materially  changed.  The 
ark  had  sailed  and  drifted  quite  half  a mile,  and 
was  nearly  that  distance  due  north  of  the  castle. 
As  soon  as  the  Delaware  perceived  that  the  girls 
avoided  him,  unable  to  manage  his  unwieldy  craft, 
and  knowing  that  flight  from  a bark  canoe,  in  the 
event  of  pursuit,  would  be  a useless  expedient  if 
attempted,  he  had  lowered  his  sail,  in  the  hope  it 
might  induce  the  sisters  to  change  their  plan,  and 
to  seek  refuge  in  the  scow.  This  demonstration 
produced  no  other  effect  than  to  keep  the  ark 
nearer  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  to  enable  those 
in  her  to  become  witnesses  of  the  chase.  The 
canoe  of  Judith  was  about  a quarter  of  a mile 
south  of  that  of  the  Hurons,  a little  nearer  to  the 
east  shore,  and  about  the  same  distance  to  the 
southward  of  the  castle  as  it  was  from  the  hostile 
canoe,  a circumstance  which  necessarily  put  the 
last  nearly  abreast  of  Hutter’s  fortress.  With  the 
several  parties  thus  situated,  the  chase  commenced. 

At  the  moment  when  the  Hurons  so  suddenly 
changed  their  mode  of  attack,  their  canoe  was 
not  in  the  best  possible  racing-trim.  There  were 
but  two  paddles,  and  the  third  man  was  so  much 
extra  and  useless  cargo.  Then  the  difference  in 
weight  between  the  sisters  and  the  other  two  men, 
more  especially  in  vessels  so  extremely  light,  al- 
most neutralized  any  difference  that  might  pro- 
ceed from  the  greater  strength  of  the  Hurons, 
and  rendered  the  trial  of  speed  far  from  being  as 
unequal  as  it  might  seem.  Judith  did  not  com- 
mence her  exertions  until  the  near  approach  of 
the  other  canoe  rendered  the  object  of  the  move- 
ment certain,  and  then  she  excited  Hetty  to  aid 
her  with  her  utmost  skill  and  strength. 

“ Why  should  we  run,  Judith  ? ” asked  the 
simple-minded  girl;  “the  Hurons  have  never 
harmed  me , nor  do  I think  they  ever  will.” 

“That  may  be  true  as  to  you,  Hetty,  but  it 
will  prove  very  different  with  me.  Kneel  down 
and  say  your  prayer,  and  then  rise  and  do  your 


utmost  to  help  escape.  Think  of  me,  dear  girl, 
too,  as  you  pray.” 

Judith  gave  these  directions  from  a mixed 
feeling : first,  because  she  knew  that  her  sister 
ever  sought  the  support  of  her  Great  Ally  in 
trouble  ; and  next,  because  a sensation  of  feeble- 
ness and  dependence  suddenly  came  over  her 
own  proud  spirit  in  that  moment  of  apparent  de- 
sertion and  trial.  The  prayer  was  quickly  said, 
however,  and  the  canoe  was  soon  in  rapid  mo- 
tion. Still,  neither  jparty  resorted  to  their  great- 
est exertions  from  the  outset,  both  knowing  that 
the  chase  was  likely  to  be  arduous  and  long. 
Like  two  vessels-of-war  that  are  preparing  for  an 
encounter,  they  seemed  desirous  of  first  ascertain- 
ing their  respective  rates  of  speed,  in  order  that 
they  might  know  how  to  graduate  their  exertions 
previously  to  the  great  effort.  A few  minutes 
sufficed  to  show  the  Hurons  that  the  girls  were 
expert,  and  that  it  would  require  all  their  skill 
and  energies  to  overtake  them. 

Judith  had  inclined  toward  the  eastern  shore 
at  the  commencement  of  the  chase,  with  a vague 
determination  of  landing  and  flying  to  the  woods 
as  a last  resort ; but,  as  she  approached  the  land, 
the  certainty  that  scouts  must  be  watching  her 
movements,  made  her  reluctance  to  adopt  such  an 
expedient  unconquerable.  Then  she  was  still 
fresh,  and  had  sanguine  hopes  of  being  able  to 
tire  out  her  pursuers.  With  such  feelings,  she 
gave  a sweep  with  her  paddle,  and  sheered  off 
from  the  fringe  of  dark  hemlocks,  beneath  the 
shades  of  which  she  was  so  near  entering,  and 
held  her  way  again  more  toward  the  centre  of  the 
lake.  This  seemed  the  instant  favorable  for  the 
Hurons  to  make  their  push,  as  it  gave  them  the 
entire  breadth  of  the  sheet  to  do  it  in  ; and  this, 
too,  in  the  widest  part,  as  soon  as  they  had  got 
between  the  fugitives  and  the  land.  The  canoes 
now  flew  ; Judith  making  up  for  what  she  wanted 
in  strength  by  her  great  dexterity  and  self-com- 
mand. For  half  a mile  the  Indians  gained  no  ma- 
terial advantage,  but  the  continuance  of  so  great 
exertions  for  so  many  minutes  sensibly  affected 
all  concerned.  Here  the  Indians  resorted  to  an  ex- 
pedient that  enabled  them  to  give  one  of  their 
party  time  to  breathe,  by  shifting  their  paddles 
from  hand  to  hand,  and  this,  too,  without  sensibly 
relaxing  their  efforts.  Judith  occasionally  looked 
behind  her,  and  she  saw  this  expedient  practised. 
It  caused  her  immediately  to  distrust  the  result, 
since  her  powers  of  endurance  were  not  likely  to 
hold  out  against  those  of  men  who  had  the  means 
of  relieving  each  other  ; still  she  persevered,  al- 
lowing no  very  visible  consequences  immediately 
to  follow  the  change. 


154 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


As  yet,  the  Indians  had  not  been  able  to  get 
nearer  to  the  girls  than  two  hundred  yards, 
though  they  were  what  seamen  would  term  “ in 
their  wake;”  or  in  a direct  line  behind  them, 
passing  over  the  same  track  of  water.  This 
made  the  pursuit  what  is  technically  called  a 
“ stern  chase,”  which  is  proverbially  a “ long 
chase ; ” the  meaning^!  which  is,  that,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  relative  positions  of  the  parties,  no 
change  becomes  apparent,  except  that  which  is  a 
direct  gain  in  the  nearest  possible  approach. 

“ Long  ” as  this  species  of  chase  is  admitted  to 
be,  however,  Judith  was  enabled  to  perceive  that 
the  Hurons  were  sensibly  drawing  nearer  and 
nearer  before  she  had  gained  the  centre  of  the 
lake.  She  was  not  a girl  to  despair ; but  there 
was  an  instant  when  she  thought  of  yielding,  with 
the  wish  of  being  carried  to  the  camp  where  she 
knew  the  Deerslayer  to  be  a captive ; but  the 
considerations  connected  with  the  means  she 
hoped  to  be  able  to  employ,  so  as  to  procure 
his  release,  immediately  interposed,  in  order  to 
stimulate  her  to  renewed  exertions.  Had  there 
been  any  one  there  to  note  the  progress  of  the 
two  canoes,  he  would  have  seen  that  of  Judith 
flying  swiftly  away  from  its  pursuers,  as  the  girl 
gave  it  freshly-impelled  speed,  while  her  mind  was 
thus  dwelling  on  her  own  ardent  and  generous 
schemes.  So  material,  indeed,  was  the  difference 
in  the  rate  of  going  between  the  two  canoes,  for 
the  next  five  minutes,  that  the  Hurons  began  to 
be  convinced  all  their  powers  must  be  exerted,  or 
they  would  suffer  the  disgrace  of  being  baffled  by 
women.  Making  a furious  effort,  under  the  mor- 
tification of  such  a conviction,  one  of  the  stronger 
of  their  party  broke  his  paddle  at  the  very  mo- 
ment when  he  had  taken  it  from  the  hand  of  a 
comrade  to  relieve  him.  This  at  once  decided 
the  matter ; a canoe  containing  three  men,  and 
having  but  one  paddle,  being  utterly  unable  to 
overtake  fugitives  like  the  daughters  of  Thomas 
Hutter. 

“ There,  Judith ! ” exclaimed  Hetty,  who  saw 
the  accident — “ I hope,  now,  you  will  own  that 
praying  is  useful!  The  Hurons  have  broke  a 
paddle,  and  they  never  cart  overtake  us.” 

“ I never  denied  it,  poor  Hetty ; and  some- 
times wish,  in  bitterness  of  spirit,  that  I had 
prayed  more  myself  and  thought  less  of  my  beau- 
ty. As  you  say,  we  are  now  safe,  and  need  only 
go  a little  south  and  take  breath.” 

This  was  done  ; the  enemy  giving  up  the  pur- 
suit, as  suddenly  as  a ship  that  has  lost  an  impor- 
tant spar,  the  instant  the  accident  occurred.  In- 
stead of  following  Judith’s  canoe,  which  was  now 
lightly  skimming  over  the  water  toward  the  south, 


the  Hurons  turned  their  bows  toward  the  castle, 
where  they  soon  arrived  and  landed.  The  girls, 
fearful  that  some  spare  paddles  might  be  found 
in  or  about  the  building,  continued  on  ; nor  did 
they  stop  until  so  distant  from  their  enemies  as 
to  give  them  every  chance  of  escape  should  the 
chase  be  renewed.  It  would  seem  that  the  sav- 
ages meditated  no  such  design,  but  at  the  end  of 
an  hour  their  canoe,  filled  with  men,  was  seen 
quitting  the  castle  and  steering  toward  the  shore. 
The  girls  were  without  food,  and  they  now  drew 
nearer  to  the  buildings  and  the  ark,  having  finally 
made  up  their  minds,  from  its  manoeuvres,  that 
the  latter  contained  friends. 

Notwithstanding  the  seeming  desertion  of  the 
castle,  Judith  approached  it  with  extreme  cau- 
tion. The  ark  was  now  quite  a mile  to  the 
northward,  but  sweeping  up  toward  the  build- 
ings ; and  this,  too,  with  a regularity  of  motion 
that  satisfied  Judith  a white  man  was  at  the  oars. 
When  within  a hundred  yards  of  the  building, 
the  girls  began  to  encircle  it,  in  order  to  make 
sure  that  it  was  empty.  No  canoe  was  nigh,  and 
this  emboldened  them  to  draw  nearer  and  nearer, 
until  they  had  gone  round  the  piles  and  reached 
the  platform. 

“ Do  you  go  into  the  house,  Hetty,”  said  Ju- 
dith, “ and  see  that  the  savages  are  gone.  They 
will  not  harm  you ; and,  if  any  of  them  are  still 
here,  you  can  give  me  the  alarm.  I do  not  think 
they  will  fire  on  a poor,  defenceless  girl,  and  I at 
least  may  escape,  until  I shall  be  ready  to  go 
among  them  of  my  own  accord.” 

Hetty  did  as  desired — Judith  retiring  a few 
yards  from  the  platform  the  instant  her  sister 
landed,  in  readiness  for  flight.  But  the  last  was 
unnecessary,  not  a minute  elapsing  before  Hetty 
returned  to  communicate  that  all  was  safe. 

“ I’ve  been  in  all  the  rooms,  Judith,”  said  the 
latter,  earnestly,  “ and  they  are  empty,  except  fa- 
ther’s ; he  is  in  his  own  chamber  sleeping,  though 
not  as  quietly  as  we  could  wish.” 

“ Has  any  thing  happened  to  father  ? ” de- 
manded Judith,  as  her  foot  touched  the  platform, 
speaking  quick,  for  her  nerves  were  in  a state  to 
be  easily  alarmed. 

Hetty  seemed  concerned,  and  she  looked  fur- 
tively about  her,  as  if  unwilling  any  one  but  a 
child  should  hear  what  she  had  to  communicate, 
and  even  that  she  should  learn  it  abruptly. 

“ You  know  how  it  is  with  father,  sometimes, 
Judith,”  she  said.  “ When  overtaken  with  liquor 
he  doesn’t  always  know  what  he  says  or  does — 
and  he  seems  to  be  overtaken  with  liquor  now.” 

“ That  is  strange ! Would  the  savages  havo 
drunk  with  him  and  then  leave  him  behind  ? 


TOM  HUTTER  SCALPED. 


155 


But  ’tis  a grievous  sight  to  a child,  Hetty,  to 
witness  such  a failing  in  a parent,  and  we  will 
not  go  near  him  till  he  wakes.” 

A groan  from  the  inner  room,  however,  changed 
this  resolution,  and  the  girls  ventured  near  a 
parent,  whom  it  was  no  unusual  thing  for  them  to 
find  in  a condition  that  lowers  a man  to  the  level 
of  brutes.  He  was  seated,  reclining  in  a corner 
of  a narrow  room,  with  his  shoulders  supported 
by  the  angle,  and  his  head  fallen  heavily  on  his 
chest.  Judith  moved  forward,  with  a sudden  im- 
pulse, and  removed  a canvas  cap  that  was  forced 
so  low  on  his  head  as  to  conceal  his  face,  and,  in- 
deed, all  but  his  shoulders.  The  instant  this  ob- 
stacle was  taken  away,  the  quivering  and  raw 
flesh,  the  bared  veins  and  muscles,  and  all  the 
other  disgusting  signs  of  mortality,  as  they  are 
revealed  by  tearing  away  the  skin,  showed  he  had 
been  scalped,  though  still  living. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

“Lightly  they’ll  talk  of  the  spirit  that’s  gone, 

And  o’er  his  cold  ashes  upbraid  him ; 

But  nothing  he’ll  reck,  if  they  let  him  sleep  on, 

In  the  grave  where  a Briton  has  laid  him.” 

Disputed. 

The  reader  must  imagine  the  horror  that 
daughters  would  experience  at  unexpectedly  be- 
holding the  shocking  spectacle  that  was  placed  be- 
fore the  eyes  of  Judith  and  Esther,  as  related  in  the 
close  of  the  last  chapter.  We  shall  pas3  over  the 
first  emotions,  the  first  acts  of  filial  piety,  and  pro- 
ceed with  the  narrative,  by  imagining  rather  than 
relating  most  of  the  revolting  features  of  the  scene. 
The  mutilated  and  ragged  head  was  bound  up, 
the  unseemly  blood  was  wiped  from  the  face  of 
the  sufferer,  the  other  appliances  required  by  ap- 
pearances and  care  were  resorted*  to,  and  there 
was  time  to  inquire  into  the  more  serious  circum- 
stances of  the  case.  The  facts  were  never  known 
until  years  later,  in  all  their  details,  simple  as  they 
were ; but  they  may  as  well  be  related  here,  as  it 
can  be  done  in  a few  words.  In  the  struggle 
with  the  Hurons,  Hutter  had  been  stabbed  by  the 
knife  of  the  old  warrior,  who  had  used  the  discre- 
tion to  remove  the  arms  of  every  one  but  him- 
self. Being  hard  pushed  by  his  sturdy  foe,  his 
knife  settled  the  matter.  This  occurred  just  as 
the  door  was  opened  and  Hurry  burst  out  upon 
the  platform,  as  has  been  previously  related.  This 
was  the  secret  of  neither  party’s  having  appeared 
in  the  subsequent  struggle ; Hutter  having  been 
literally  disabled,  and  his  conqueror  being  ashamed 


to  be  seen  with  the  traces  of  blood  about  him, 
after  having  used  so  many  injunctions  to  con- 
vince his  young  warriors  of  the  necessity  of  taking 
their  prisoners  alive.  When  the  three  Hurons  re- 
turned from  the  chase,  and  it  was  determined  to 
abandon  the  castle  and  join  the  party  on  the  land, 
Hutter  was  simply  scalped,  to  secure  the  usual 
trophy,  and  was  left  to  die  by  inches,  as  has  been 
done  in  a thousand  similer  instances  »by  the  ruth- 
less warriors  of  this  part  of  the  American  Con- 
tinent. Had  the  injpry  of  Hutter  been  confined 
to  his  head,  he  might  have  recovered,  however ; 
for  it  was  the  blow  of  the  knife  that  proved 
mortal. 

There  are  moments  of  vivid  consciousness, 
when  the  stern  justice  of  God  stands  forth  in  col- 
ors so  prominent  as  to  defy  any  attempts  to  veil 
them  from  the  sight,  however  unpleasant  they 
may  appear,  or  however  anxious  we  may  be  to 
avoid  recognizing  it.  Such  was  now  the  fact 
with  Judith  and  Hetty,  who  both  perceived  the 
decrees  of  a retributive  Providence,  in  the  man- 
ner of  their  father’s  suffering,  as  a punishment  for 
his  own  recent  attempts  on  the  Iroquois.  This 
was  seen  and  felt  by  Judith,  with  the  keenness 
of  perception  and  sensibility  that  were  suited  to 
her  character;  while  the  impression  made- on  the 
simpler  mind  of  her  sister  was  perhaps  less  lively, 
though  it  might  well  have  proved  more  lasting. 

“0  Judith!”  exclaimed  the  weak-minded 
girl,  as  soon  as  their  first  care  had  been  bestowed 
on  the  sufferer.  “Father  went  for  scalps,  him- 
self, and  now  where  is  his  own  ? The  Bible  might 
have  foretold  this  punishment ! ” 

“ Hush — Hetty — hush,  poor  sister — he  opens 
his  eyes ; he  may  hear  and  understand  you.  ’Tis 
as  you  say  and  think ; but  ’tis  too  dreadful  to 
speak  of ! ” 

“Water — ” ejaculated  Hutter,  as  it  might  be 
by  a desperate  effort,  that  rendered  his  voice 
frightfully  deep  and  strong,  for  one  as  near  death 
as  he  evidently  was — “ water — foolish  girls — will 
you  let  me  die  of  thirst  ? ” 

Water  was  brought  and  administered  to  the 
sufferer ; the  first  he  had  tasted  in  hours  of  phys- 
ical anguish.  It  had  the  double  effect  of  clear- 
ing his  throat,  and  of  momentarily  reviving  his 
sinking  system.  His  eyes  opened  with  that  anx- 
ious, distended  gaze,  which  is  apt  to  accompany 
the  passage  of  a soul  surprised  by  death,  and  he 
seemed  disposed  to  speak. 

“Father — ’’  said  Judith,  inexpressibly  pained 
by  his  deplorable  situation,  and  this  so  much  the 
more  from  her  ignorance  of  what  remedies  ought 
to  be  applied — “father,  can  we  do  any  thing  fo? 
you  ? Can  Hetty  and  I relieve  your  pain  ? ” 


156 


THE  DEE11SLAYER. 


“ Father ! ” slowly  repeated  the  old  man. 
“No,  Judith — no,  Hetty — I’m  no  father.  She 
was  your  mother,  but  I’m  no  father.  Look  in  the 
chest — ’tis  all  there — give  me  more  water.” 

The  girls  complied ; and  Judith,  whose  early 
recollections  extended  farther  back  than  her  sis- 
ter’s, and  who,  on  every  account,  had  more  dis- 
tinct impressions  of  the  past,  felt  an  uncontrol- 
lable impulse  of  joy  as  she  heard  these  words. 
There  had  never  been  much  sympathy  between 
her  reputed  father  and  herself,  and  suspicions  of 
this  very  truth  had  often  glanced  across  her  mind, 
in  consequence  of  dialogues  she  had  overheard 
between  Hutter  and  her  mother.  It  might  be  go- 
ing too  far  to  say  that  she  had  never  loved  him  ; 
but  it  is  not  so  to  add  that  she  rejoiced  it  was  no 
longer  a duty.  With  Hetty  the  feeling  was  dif- 
ferent. Incapable  of  making  all  the  distinctions 
of  her  sister,  her  very  nature  was  full  of  affection, 
and  she  had  loved  her  reputed  parent,  though  far 
less  tenderly  than  the  real  parent ; and  it  grieved 
her,  now,  to  hear  him  declare  he  was  not  natural- 
ly entitled  to  that  love.  She  felt  a double  grief, 
as  if  his  death  and  his  words  together  were  twice 
depriving  her  of  parents.  Yielding  to  her  feel- 
ings, the  poor  girl  went  aside  and  wept. 

The  /very  opposite  emotions  of  the  two  girls 
kept  both  silent  for  a long  time.  J udith  gave  wa- 
ter to  the  sufferer  frequently,  but  she  forbore  to 
urge  him  with  questions,  in  some  measure  out  of 
consideration  for  bis  condition ; but,  if  truth  must 
be  said,  quite  as  much  lest  something  he  should 
add,  in  the  way  of  explanation,  might  disturb  her 
pleasing  belief  that  she  was  not  Thomas  Ilutter’s 
child.  At  length  Hetty  dried  her  tears,  and 
came  and  seated  herself  on  a stool  by  the  side  of 
the  dying  man,  who  had  been  placed  at  his  length 
on  the  floor,  with  his  head  supported  by  some  worn 
vestments  that  had  been  left  in  the  house. 

“ Father,”  she  said,  “ you  will  let  me  call  you 
father,  though  you  say  you  are  not  one — father, 
shall  I read  the  Bible  to  you — mother  always  said 
the  Bible  was  good  for  people  in  trouble.  She 
was  often  in  trouble  herself,  and  then  she  made 
me  read  the  Bible  to  her ; for  Judith  wasn’t  as 
fond  of  the  Bible  as  I am — and  it  always  did  her 
good.  Many  is  the  time  I’ve  known  mother  be- 
gin to  listen  with  the  tears  streaming  from  her 
eyes,  and  end  with  smiles  and  gladness.  0 fa- 
ther, you  don’t  know  how  much  good  the  Bible 
can  do,  for  you’ve  never  tried  it — now,  I’ll  read  a 
chapter,  and  it  will  soften  your  heart,  as  it  soft- 
ened the  hearts  of  the  Hurons.” 

While  poor  Hetty  had  so  much  reverence  for, 
and  faith  in,  the  virtue  of  the  Bible,  her  intellect 
was  too  shallow  to  enable  her  fully  to  appreciate 


its  beauties,  or  to  fathom  its  profound  and  some, 
times  mysterious  wisdom.  That  instinctive  sense 
of  right,  which  appeared  to  shield  her  from  the 
commission  of  wrong,  and  even  cast  a mantle  of 
moral  loveliness  and  truth  around  her  character, 
could  not  penetrate  abstrusities,  or  trace  the  nice 
affinities  between  cause  and  effect,  beyond  their 
more  obvious  and  indisputable  connection,  though 
she  seldom  failed  to  see  the  latter,  and  to  defer 
to  all  their  just  consequences.  In  a word,  she 
was  one  of  those  who  feel  and  act  correctly,  with- 
out being  able  to  give  a logical  reason  for  it,  even 
admitting  revelation  as  her  authority.  Her  selec- 
tions from  the  Bible,  therefore,  were  commonly 
distinguished  by  the  simplicity  of  her  own  mind, 
and  were  oftener  marked  for  containing  images 
of  known  and  palpable  things,  than  for  any  of 
the  higher  cast  of  moral  truths  with  which  the 
pages  of  that  wonderful  book  abound — wonder- 
ful and  unequalled,  even  without  referring  to  its 
divine  origin,  as  a work  replete  with  the  pro- 
foundest  philosophy,  expressed  in  the  noblest  lan- 
guage. Her  mother,  with  a connection  that  will 
probably  strike  the  reader,  had  been  fond  of  the 
book  of  Job  ; and  Hetty  had,  in  a great  measure, 
learned  to  read  by  the  frequent  lessons  she  had 
received  from  the  different  chapters  of  this  vener- 
able and  sublime  poem — now  believed  to  be  the 
oldest  book  in  the  world.  On  this  occasion,  the 
poor  girl  was  submissive  to  her  training,  and  she 
turned  to  that  well-known  part  of  the  sacred  vol- 
ume with  the  readiness  with  which  the  practised 
counsel  would  cite  his  authorities  from  the  stores 
of  legal  wisdom.  In  selecting  the  particular  chap- 
ter, she  was  influenced  by  the  caption,  and  she 
chose  that  which  stands  in  our  English  version, 
as  “ Job  excuseth  his  desire  of  • death .”  This  she 
read  steadily,  from  beginning  to  end,  in  a sweet, 
low,  and  plaintive  voice ; hoping  devoutly  that 
the  allegorical  and  abstruse  sentences  might  con- 
vey to  the  heart  of  the  sufferer  the  consolation 
he  needed.  It  is  another  peculiarity  of  the  com- 
prehensive wisdom  of  the  Bible,  that  scarce  a 
chapter,  unless  it  be  strictly  narrative,  can  be 
turned  to,  that  does  not  contain  some  searching 
truth  that  is  applicable  to  the  condition  of  every 
human  heart,  as  well  as  to  the  temporal  state  of 
its  owner,  either  through  the  workings  of  that 
heart,  or  even  in  a still  more  direct  form.  In  this 
instance,  the  very  opening  sentence — “ Is  there 
not  an  appointed  time  to  man  on  earth  ? ” — was 
startling ; and  as  Hetty  proceeded,  Hutter  applied, 
or  fancied  he  could  apply,  many  aphorisms  and 
figures  to  his  own  worldly  and  mental  cqndition. 
As  life  is  ebbing  fast,  the  mind  clings  eagerly  to 
hope,  when  it  is  not  absolutely  crushed  bv  d*. 


CONSOLATIONS  OF  JUDITH  AND  HETTY. 


157 


fcpair.  The  solemn  words — “ I have  sinned  ; what 
thall  I do  unto  thee , 0 thou  preserver  of  men  ? 
Why  hast  thou  set  me  as  a mark  against  thee , so  that 
I am  a burden  to  myself  ?”  struck  Hutter  more 
perceptibly  than  the  others ; and,  though  too  ob- 
scure for  one  of  his  blunted  feelings  and  obtuse 
mind  either  to  feel  or  to  comprehend  in  their 
fullest  extent,  they  had  a directness  of  application 
to  his  own  state  that  caused  him  to  wince  under 
them. 

“ Don’t  you  feel  better  now,  father  ? ” asked 
Hetty,  closing  the  volume.  “ Mother  was  always 
better  when  she  had  read  the  Bible.” 

“ Water,”  returned  Hutter ; “ give  me  water, 
Judith.  I wonder  if  my  tongue  will  always  be 
so  hot ! Hetty,  isn’t  there  something  in  the  Bible 
about  cooling  the  tongue  of  a man  who  was  burn- 
ing in  hell-fire  ? ” 

Judith  turned  away,  shocked ; but  Hetty  ea- 
gerly sought  the  passage,  which  she  read  aloud 
to  the  conscience-stricken  victim  of  his  own  ava- 
ricious longings. 

“That’s  it,  poor  Hetty;  yes,  that’s  it.  My 
tongue  wants  cooling,  now  ; what  will  fit  be  here- 
after ? ” 

This  appeal  silenced  even  the  confiding  Hetty, 
for  she  had  no  answer  ready  for  a confession  so 
fraught  with  despair.  Water,  so  long  as  it  could 
relieve  the  sufferer,  it  was  in  the  power  of  the  sis- 
ters to  give ; and,  from  time  to  time,  it  was  of- 
fered to  the  lips  of  the  sufferer,  as  he  asked  for 
it.  Even  Judith  prayed.  As  for  Hetty,  as  scon 
as  she  found  that  her  efforts  to  make  her  father 
listen  to  her  texts  were  no  longer  rewarded  with 
success,  she  knelt  at  his  side,  and  devoutly  re- 
peated the  words  which  the  Saviour  has  left  be- 
hind him  as  a model  for  human  petitions.  This 
she  continued  to  do,  at  intervals,  as  long  as  it 
seemed  to  her  that  the  act  could  benefit  the  dy- 
ing man.  Hutter,  however,  lingered  longer  than 
the  girls  had  believed  possible,  wjien  they  first 
found  him.  At  times  he  spoke  intelligibly,  though 
his  lips  oftener  moved  in  utterance  of  sounds  that 
carried  no  distinct  impressions  to  the  mind.  Ju- 
dith listened  intently,  and  she  heard  the  words 
“husband,”  “death,”  “ pirate,”  “ law,”  “scalps,” 
and  several  others  of  a similar  import,  though 
there  was  no  sentence  to  tell  the  precise  connec- 
tion in  which  they  were  used.  Still  they  were 
sufficiently  expressive  to  be  understood  by  one 
whose  ears  had  not  escaped  all  the  rumors  that 
had  been  circulated  to  her  reputed  father’s  dis- 
credit, and  whose  comprehension  was  as  quick  as 
her  faculties  were  attentive. 

During  the  whole  of  the  painful  hour  that 
succeeded,  neither  of  the  sisters  bethought  her 


sufficiently  of  the  Hurons  to  dread  their  return. 
It  seemed  as  if  their  desolation  and  grief  placed 
them  above  the  danger  of  such  an  interruption ; 
and  when  the  sound  of  oars  was  at  length  heard, 
even  Judith,  who  alone  had  any  reason  to  appre- 
hend the  enemy,  did  not  start,  but  at  once  under- 
stood that  the  ark  was  near.  She  went  upon  the 
platform  fearlessly ; for,  should  it  turn  out  that 
Hurry  was  hot  there,  and  that  the  Hurons  were 
masters  of  the  scow  also,  escape  was  impossible 
Then  she  had  the  sort  of  confidence  that  is  in- 
spired by  extreme  misery.  But  there  was  no 
cause  for  any  new  alarm — Chingaehgook,  Hist, 
and  Hurry,  all  standing  in  the  open  part  of  the 
scow,  cautiously  examining  the  building,  to  make 
certain  of  the  absence  of  the  enemy.  They,  too, 
had  seen  the  departure  of  the  Hurons,  as  well  as 
the  approach  of  the  canoe  of  the  girls  to  the  cas- 
tle, and,  presuming  on  the  latter  fact,  March  had 
swept  the  scow  up  to  the  platform.  A word 
sufficed  to  explain  that  there  was  nothing  to  be 
apprehended,  and  the  ark  was  soon  moored  in 
her  old  berth. 

Judith  said  not  a word  concerning  the  con- 
dition of  her  father,  but  Hurry  knew  her  too  well 
not  to  understand  that  something  was  more  than 
usually  wrong.  He  led  the  way,  though  with 
less  of  his  confident  bold  manner  than  usual,  into 
the  house,  and  penetrating  to  the  inner  room, 
found  Hutter  lying  on  his  back,  with  Hetty  sit- 
ting at  his  side,  fanning  him  with  pious  care. 
The  events  of  the  morning  had  sensibly  changed 
the  manner  of  Hurry.  Notwithstanding  his  skill 
as  a swimmer,  and  the  readiness  with  which  he 
had  adopted  the  only  expedient  that  could  possi- 
bly save  him,  the  helplessness  of  being  in  the 
water,  bound  hand  and  foot,  had  produced  some 
such  an  effect  on  him  as  the  near  approach  of 
punishment  is  known  to  produce  on  most  crimi- 
nals, leaving  a vivid  impression  of  the  horrors  of 
death  upon  his  mind,  and  this,  too,  in  connection 
with  a picture  of  bodily  helplessness  ; the  daring 
of  this  man  being  far  more  the  offspring  of  vast 
physical  powers  than  of  the  energy  of  the  will,  or 
even  of  natural  spirit.  Such  heroes  invariably 
lose  a large  portion  of  their  courage  with  the  fail- 
ure of  their  strength ; and,  though  Hurry  was 
now  unfettered,  and  as  vigorous  as  ever,  events 
were  too  recent  to  permit  the  recollection  of  his 
late  deplorable  condition  to  be  at  all  weakened 
Had  he  lived  a century,  the  occurrences  of  the 
few  momentous  minutes  during  which  he  was 
in  the  lake,  would  have  produced  a chastening 
effect  on  his  character,  if  not  always  on  his 
manner. 

Hurry  was  not  only  shocked  when  he  found 


158 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


his  late  associate  in  this  desperate  situation,  but 
he  was  greatly  surprised.  During  the  struggle  in 
the  bunding,  he  had  been  far  too  much  occupied 
himself  to  learn  what  had  befallen  his  comrade, 
and,  as  no  deadly  weapon  had  been  used  in  his 
particular  case,  but  every  effort  had  been  made 
to  capture  him  without  injury,  he  naturally  be- 
lieved that  Hutter  had  been  overcome,  while  he 
owed  his  own  escape  to  his  great  bodily  strength, 
and  to  a fortunate  concurrence  of  extraordinary 
circumstances.  Death,  in  the  silence  and  solem- 
nity of  a chamber,  was  a novelty  to  him.  Though 
accustomed  to  scenes  of  violence,  he  had  been 
unused  to  sit  by  the  bedside  and  watch  the  slow 
beating  of  the  pulse  as  it  gradually  grew  weaker 
and  weaker.  Notwithstanding  the  change  in  his 
feelings,  the  manners  of  a life  could  not  be  alto- 
gether cast  aside  in  a moment,  and  the  unexpect- 
ed scene  extorted  a characteristic  speech  from 
the  borderer. 

“ How  now  ? old  Tom,”  he  said,  “ have  the 
vagabonds  got  you  at  an  advantage,  where  you’re 
not  only  down,  but  are  likely  to  be  kept  down ! 
I thought  you  a captyve,  it’s  true,  but  never  sup- 
posed you  so  hard  run  as  this  ! ” 

Hutter  opened  his  glassy  eyes,  and  stared 
wildly  at  the  speaker.  A flood  of  confused  rec- 
ollections rushed  on  his  wavering  mind  at  the 
sight  of  his  late  comrade.  It  was  evident  that 
he  struggled  with  his  own  images,  and  knew  not 
the  real  from  the  unreal. 

“ Who  are  you  ? ” he  asked  in  a husky  whis- 
per, his  failing  strength  refusing  to  aid  him  in  a 
louder  effort  of  his  voice.  “ Who  are  you  ? You 
look  like  the  mate  of  the  Snow — he  was  a giant, 
too,  and  near  overcoming  us.” 

“I’m  your  mate,  Floating  Tom,  and  your 
comrade,  but  have  nothing  to  do  with  any  snow. 
It’s  summer  now,  and  Harry  March  always  quits 
the  hills  as  soon  after  the  frosts  set  in  as  is  con- 
venient.” 

“ I know  you — Hurry  Skurry— I’ll  sell  you  a 
scalp ! a sound  one,  and  of  a full-grown  man — 
what’ll  you  give  ? ” 

“ Poor  Tom ! That  scalp  business  hasn’t 
turned  out  at  all  profitable,  and  I’ve  pretty  much 
concluded  to  give  it  up,  and  to  follow  a less 
bloody  calling.” 

“ Have  you  got  any  scalp  ? Mine’s  gone — 
how  does  it  feel  to  have  a scalp  ? I know  how  it 
feels  to  lose  one — fire  and  flames  about  the  brain 
— and  a wrenching  at  the  heart — no,  no — kill  first 
Hurry,  and  scalp  afterward 

“ What  does  the  old  fellow  mean,  Judith  ? 
He  talks  like  one  that  is  getting  tired  of  the  busi- 
ness as  well  as  myself.  Why  have  you  bound  up 


his  head  ? or  have  the  savages  tomahawked  him 
about  the  brains  ? ” 

“ They  have  done  that  for  him  which  you  and 
he,  Harry  March,  would  have  so  gladly  done  for 
them.  His  skin  and  hair  have  been  torn  from  his 
head  to  gain  money  from  the  Governor  of  Canada, 
as  you  would  have  torn  theirs  from  the  heads  of 
the  Hurons,  to  gain  money  from  the  Governor 
of  York.” 

Judith  spoke  with  a strong  effort  to  appear 
composed,  but  it  was  neither  in  her  nature,  nor 
in  the  feeling  of  the  moment,  to  speak  altogether 
without  bitterness.  The  strength  of  her  emphasis, 
indeed,  as  well  as  her  manner,  caused  Hetty  to 
look  up  reproachfully. 

“ These  are  high  words  to  come  from  Thomas 
Hutter’s  darter,  as  Thomas  Hutter  lies  dying  be- 
fore her  eyes,”  retorted  Hurry. 

“ God  be  praised  for  that ! — whatever  re- 
proach it  may  bring  on  my  poor  mother,  I am 
not  Thomas  Hutter’s  daughter.” 

“ Not  Thomas  Hutter’s  darter  ! Don’t  disown 
the  old  fellow  in  his  last  moments,  Judith,  for 
thafs  a sin  the  Lord  will  never  overlook.  If 
you’re  not  Thomas  Hutter’s  darter,  whose  darter 
be  you  ? ” 

This  question  rebuked  the  rebellious  spirit  of 
Judith;  for,  in  getting  rid  of  a parent  whom  she 
felt  it  was  a relief  to  find  she  might  own  she  had 
never  loved,  she  overlooked  the  important  cir- 
cumstance that  no  substitute  was  ready  to  supply 
his  place. 

“I  cannot  tell  you,  Harry,  who  my  father 
was,”  she  answered  more  mildly  ; “ I hope  he  was 
an  honest  man,  at  least.” 

“ Which  is  more  than  you  think  was  the  case 
with  old  Hutter  ? Well,  Judith,  I’ll  not  deny 
that  hard  stories  were  in  circulation  consuming 
Floating  Tom,  but  who  is  there  that  doesn’t  get 
a scratch  when  an  inimy  holds  the  rake  ? There’s 
them  that  say  hard  things  of  me  ; and  even  you, 
beauty  as  you  be,  don’t  always  escape.” 

This  was  said  with  a view  to  set  up  a species 
of  community  of  character  between  the  parties, 
and,  as  the  politicians  are  wont  to  express  it, 
with  ulterior  intentions.  What  might  have  been 
the  consequences  with  one  of  Judith’s  known 
spirit,  as  well  as  her  assured  antipathy  to  the 
speaker,  it  is  not  easy  to  say  ; for,  just  then,  Hut- 
ter gave  unequivocal  signs  that  his  last  moment 
was  nigh.  Judith  and  Hetty  had  stood  by  the 
dying  bed  of  their  mother,  and  neither  needed  a 
monitor  to  warn  them  of  the  crisis,  and  every 
sign  of  resentment  vanished  from  the  face  of  the 
first.  Hutter  opened  his  eyes,  and  even  tried  to 
feel  about  him  with  his  Lands,  a sign  that  sight 


THE  FUNERAL. 


159 


iv aa  failing.  A minute  later  his  breathing  grew 
ghastly ; a pause  totally  without  respiration  fol- 
lowed ; and,  then,  succeeded  the  last,  long-drawn 
sigh,  on  which  the  spirit  is  supposed  to  quit  the 
body.  This  sudden  termination  of  the  life  of  one 
who  had  hitherto  filled  so  important  a place  in 
the  narrow  scene  on  which  he  had  been  an  actor, 
put  an  end  to  all  discussion. 

The  day  passed  by  without  further  interrup- 
tion, the  Hurons,  though  possessed  of  a canoe, 
appearing  so  far  satisfied  with  their  success  as  to 
have  relinquished  all  immediate  designs  on  the 
castle.  It  would  not  have  been  a safe  undertak- 
ing, indeed,  to  approach  it  under  the  rifles  of 
those  it  was  now  known  to  contain,  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  truce  was  more  owing  to  this 
circumstance  than  to  any  other.  In  the  mean 
while,  the  preparations  were  made  for  the  inter- 
ment of  Hutter.  To  bury  him  on  the  land  was 
impracticable,  and  it  was  Hetty’s  wish  that  his 
body  should  lie  by  the  side  of  that  of  her  mother, 
in  the  lake.  She  had  it  in  her  power  to  quote 
one  of  his  speeches,  in  which  he  himself  had 
called  the  lake  the  “ family  burying-ground,”  and 
luckily  this  was  done  without  the  knowledge  of 
her  sister,  who  would  have  opposed  the  plan,  had 
she  known  it,  with  unconquerable  disgust.  But 
J udith  had  not  meddled  with  the  arrangement, 
and  every  necessary  disposition  was  made  with- 
out her  privity  or  advice. 

The  hour  chosen  for  the  rude  ceremony  was 
just  as  the  sun  was  setting,  and  a moment  and  a 
scene  more  suited  to  paying  the  last  office  to  one 
of  calm  and  pure  spirit,  could  not  have  been 
chosen.  There  are  a mystery  and  a solemn  dig- 
nity in  death,  that  dispose  the  living  to  regard 
the  remains  of  even  a malefactor  with  a certain 
degree  of  reverence.  All  worldly  distinctions 
have  ceased  ; it  is  thought  that  the  veil  has  been 
removed,  and  that  the  character  and  destiny  of 
the  departed  are  now  as  much  beyond  human 
opinions  as  they  are  beyond  human  ken.  In 
nothing  is  death  more  truly  a leveller  than  in 
this,  since,  while  it  may  be  impossible  absolutely 
to  confound  the  great  with  the  low,  the  worthy 
with  the  unworthy,  the  mind  feels  it  to  be  arro- 
gance to  assume  a right  to  judge  of  those  who 
are  believed  to  be  standing  at  the  judgment-seat 
of  God.  When  Judith  was  told  that  all  was 
ready,  she  went  upon  the  platform,  passive  to  the 
request  of  her  sister,  and  then  she  first  took  heed 
of  the  arrangement.  The  body  was  in  the  scow, 
enveloped  in  a sheet,  and  quite  a hundred-weight 
of  stones,  that  had  been  taken  from  the  fireplace, 
were  enclosed  with  it  in  order  that  it  might  sink. 
No  other  preparation  seemed  to  be  thought  neces- 
11 


sary,  though  Hetty  carried  her  Bible  beneath  her 
arm. 

When  all  were  on  board  the  ark,  this  singu- 
lar habitation  of  the  man  whose  body  it  now  bore 
to  its  final  abode,  was  set  in  motion.  Hurry  was 
at  the  oars.  In  his  powerful  hands,  indeed,  they 
seemed  little  more  than  a pair  of  sculls,  which 
were  wielded  without  effort,  and,  as  he  was  ex- 
pert in  their  use,  the  Delaware  remained  a pas- 
sive spectator  of  the  proceedings.  The  progress 
of  the  ark-  had  something  of  the  stately  solem- 
nity of  a funeral  procession,  the  dip  of  the  oars 
being  measured,  and  the  movement  slow  and 
steady.  The  wash  of  the  water,  as  the  blades 
rose  and  fell,  kept  time  with  the  efforts  of  Hurry, 
and  might  have  been  likened  to  the  measured 
tread  of  mourners.  Then  the  tranquil  scene  was 
in  beautiful  accordance  with  a rite  that  ever  as- 
sociates with  itself  the  idea  of  God.  At  that  in- 
stant, the  lake  had  not  even  a single  ripple  on  its 
glassy  surface,  and  the  broad  panorama  of  woods 
seemed  to  look  down  on  the  holy  tranquillity  of 
the  hour  and  ceremony  in  melancholy  stillness. 
Judith  was  affected  to  tears,  and  even  Hurry, 
though  he  hardly  knew  why,  was  troubled.  Het- 
ty preserved  the  outward  signs  of  tranquillity,  but 
her  inward  grief  greatly  surpassed  that  of  her 
sister,  since  her  affectionate  heart  loved  more 
from  habit  and  long  association,  than  from  the 
usual  connections  of  sentiment  and  taste.  She 
was  sustained  by  religious  hope,  however,  which 
in  her  simple  mind  usually  occupied  the  space 
that  worldly  feelings  filled  in  that  of  Judith  ; and 
she  was  not  without  an  expectation  of  witnessing 
some  open  manifestation  of  divine  power,  on  an 
occasion  so  solemn.  Still,  she  was  neither  mysti- 
cal nor  exaggerated,  her  mental  imbecility  deny- 
ing both.  Nevertheless  her  thoughts  had  gener- 
ally so  much  of  the  purity  of  a better  world  about 
them,  that  it  was  easy  for  her  to  forget  earth  al- 
together, and  to  think  only  of  heaven.  Hist  was 
serious,  attentive,  and  interested,  for  she  had  of- 
ten seen  the  interments  of  the  pale-faces,. though 
never  one  that  promised  to  be  as  peculiar  as 
this ; while  the  Delaware,  though  grave,  and  also 
observant  in  his  demeanor,  was  stoical  and  calm 

Hetty  acted  as  pilot,  directing  Hurry  how  to 
proceed,  to  find  that  spot  in  the  lake  Avhich  sh< 
was  in  the  habit  of  terming  “ mother’s  grave.’ 
The  reader  will  remember  that  the  castle  stood 
near  the  southern  extremity  of  a shoal  that  ex- 
tended near  half  a mile  northerly,  and  it  was  at 
the  farthest  end  of  this  shallow  water  that  Float- 
ing Tom  had  seen  fit  to  deposit  the  remains  of 
his  wife  and  child*  His  own  were  now  in  the 
course  of  being  placed  at  their  side.  Hetty  had 


160 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


marks  on  the  land  by  which  she  usually  found 
the  spot,  although  the  position  of  the  buildings, 
the  general  direction  of  the  shoal,  and  the  beau- 
tiful transparency  of  the  water,  all  aided  her,  the 
latter  even  allowing  the  bottom  to  be  seen.  By 
these  means  the  girl  was  enabled  to  note  their 
progress,  and  at  the  proper  time  she  approached 
March,  whispering — 

“ Now,  Hurry,  you  can  stop  rowing.  We 
have  passed  the  stone  on  the  bottom,  and  moth- 
er’s grave  is  near.” 

March  ceased  his  efforts,  immediately  drop- 
ping the  hedge,  and  taking  the  warp  in  his  hand, 
in  order  to  check  the  scow.  The  ark  turned  slowly 
round  under  this  restraint,  and  when  it  was  quite 
stationary,  Hetty  was  seen  at  its  stern,  pointing 
into  the  water,  the  tears  streaming  from  her  eyes, 
in  ungovernable  natural  feeling.  Judith  had  been 
present  at  the  interment  of  her  mother,  but  she 
had  never  visited  the  spot  since.  This  neglect 
proceeded  from  no  indifference  to  the  memory  of 
the  deceased  ; for  she  had  loved  her  mother,  and 
bitterly  had  she  found  occasion  to  mourn  her  loss ; 
but  she  was  averse  to  the  contemplation  of  death ; 
and  there  had  been  passages  in  her  own  life  since 
the  day  of  that  interment  which  increased  this 
feeling,  and  rendered  her,  if  possible,  still  more 
reluctant  to  approach  the  spot  that  contained  the 
remains  of  one  whose  severe  lessons  of  female 
morality  and  propriety  had  been  deepened  and 
rendered  doubly  impressive  by  remorse  for  her 
own  failings.  With  Hetty,  the  case  had  been 
very  different.  To  her  simple  and  innocent  mind, 
the  remembrance  of  her  mother  brought  no  other 
feeling  than  one  of  gentle  sorrow  ; a grief  that  is 
so  often  termed  luxurious,  even,  because  it  asso- 
ciates with  itself  the  images  of  excellence,  and 
the  purity  of  a better  state  of  existence.  For  an 
entire  summer,  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of  re- 
pairing to  the  place  after  nightfall ; and,  care- 
fully anchoring  her  canoe  so  as  not  to  disturb  the 
body,  she  would  sit  and  hold  fancied  conversa- 
tions with  the  deceased,  sing  sweet  hymns  to  the 
evening  air,  and  repeat  the  orisons  that  the  be- 
ing who  now  slumbered  below  Bad  taught  her  in 
infancy.  Hetty  had  passed  her  happiest  hours 
in  this  indirect  communion  with  the  spirit  of  her 
mother  ; the  wildness  of  Indian  traditions  and  In- 
dian opinions,  unconsciously  to  herself,  mingling 
with  the  Christian  lore  received  in  childhood. 
Once  she  had  even  been  so  far  influenced  by  the 
former,  as  to  have  bethought  her  of  performing 
some  of  those  physical  rites  at  her  mother’s 
grave,  which  the  red  men  are  known  to  observe  ; 
but  the  passing  feeling  had  been  obscured  by  the 
steady  though  mild  light  of  Christianity,  which 


never  ceased  to  burn  in  her  gentle  bosom.  Now, 
her  emotions  were  merely  the  natural  outpourings 
of  a daughter  that  wept  for  a mother  whose  love 
was  indelibly  impressed  on  the  heart,  and  whose 
lessons  had  been  too  earnestly  taught  to  be  easily 
forgotten  by  one  who  had  so  little  temptation  to 
err. 

There  was  no  other  priest  than  Nature  at  that 
wild  and  singular  funeral  rite.  March  cast  his 
eyes  below,  and  through  the  transparent  medium 
of  the  clear  water,  which  was  almost  as  pure  as 
air,  he  saw  what  Hetty  was  accustomed  to  call 
“mother’s  grave.”  It  was  a low,  straggling 
mound  of  earth,  fashioned  by  no  spade,  out  of  a 
corner  of  which  gleamed  a bit  of  the  white  cloth 
that  formed  the  shroud  of  the  dead.  The  body 
had  been  lowered  to  the  bottom,  and  Hutter 
brought  earth  from  the  shore  and  let  it  fall  upon 
it  until  all  was  concealed.  In  this  state  the  place 
had  remained  until  the  movement  of  the  waters 
revealed  the  solitary  sign  of  the  uses  of  the  spot 
that  has  just  been  mentioned. 

Even  the  most  rude  and  brawling  are  chast- 
ened by  the  ceremonies  of  a funeral.  March  felt 
no  desire  to  indulge  his  voice  in  any  of  its  coarse 
outbreakings,  and  was  disposed  to  complete  the 
office  he  had  undertaken  in  decent  sobriety. 
Perhaps  he  reflected  on  the  retribution  that  had 
alighted  on  his  late  comrade,  and  bethought  him 
of  the  frightful  jeopardy  in  which  his  own  life 
had  so  lately  been  placed.  He  signified  to  Judith 
that  all  was  ready,  received  her  directions  to  pro- 
ceed, and,  with  no  other  assistant  than  his  own 
vast  strength,  raised  the  body  and  bore  it  to  the 
end  of  the  scow.  Two  parts  of  a rope  were 
passed  beneath  the  legs  and  shoulders,  as  they 
are  placed  beneath  coffins,  and  then  the  corpse 
was  slowly  lowered  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
lake. 

“Not  there — Harry  March — no,  not  there,” 
said  Judith,  shuddering  involuntarily ; “ do  not 
lower  it  quite  so  near  the  spot  where  mother 
lies ! ” 

“ Why  not,  Judith  ? ” asked  Hetty,  earnestly. 
“ They  lived  together  in  life,  and  should  lie  to- 
gether in  death.” 

“ No — no — Harry  March,  farther  off — farther 
off.— Poor  Hetty,  you  know  not  what  you  say 
Leave  me  to  order  this.” 

“ I know  I am  weak-minded,  Judith,  and  that 
you  are  clever — but  surely  a husband  should  be 
placed  near  a wife.  Mother  always  said  that 
this  was  the  way  they  bury  in  Christian  church* 
yards.” 

This  little  controversy  was  conducted  ear- 
nestly, but  in  smothered  voices,  as  if  the  sneakers 


MARCH’S  PROPOSAL  TO  JUDITH. 


161 


feared  that  the  dead  might  overhear  them.  Ju- 
dith could  not  contend  with  her  sister,  at  such  a 
moment,  but  a significant  gesture  from  her  in- 
duced March  to  lower  the  body  at  a little  dis- 
tance from  that  of  the  wife  ; when  he  withdrew 
the  cords,  and  the  act  was  performed.  0 

“ There’s  an  end  of  Floating  Tom ! ” exclaimed 
Hurry,  bending  over  the  scow,  and  gazing  through 
the  water  at  the  body.  “ He  was  a brave  com- 
panion on  a scout,  and  a notable  hand  with 
traps.  Don’t  weep,  Judith — don’t  be  overcome, 
Hetty,  for  the  righteousest  of  us  all  must  die ; 
and  when  the  time  comes,  lamentations  and  tears 
can’t  bring  the  dead  to  life.  Your  father  will  be 
a loss  to  you,  no  doubt ; most  fathers  are  a loss, 
especially  to  onmarried  darters ; but  there’s  a 
way  to  cure  that  evil,  and  you’re  both  too  young 
and  handsome  to  live  long  without  finding  it  out. 
When  it’s  agreeable  to  hear  what  an  honest  and 
onpretending  man  has  to  say,  Judith,  I should 
like  to  talk  a little  with  you  apart.” 

Judith  had  scarce  attended  to  this  rude  at- 
tempt of  Hurry’s  at  consolation,  although  she  ne- 
cessarily understood  its  general  drift,  and  had  a 
tolerably  acute  notion  of  its  manner.  She  was 
weeping  at  the  recollection  of  her  mother’s  early 
tenderness,  and  painful  images  of  long-forgotten 
lessons  and  neglected  precepts  were  crowding 
her  mind.  The  words  of  Hurry,  however,  re- 
called her  to  the  present  time,  and,  abrupt  and 
unseasonable  as  was  their  import,  they  did  not 
produce  those  signs  of  distaste  that  one  might 
have  expected,  from  the  girl’s  character.  On  the 
contrary,  she  appeared  to  be  struck  with  some 
sudden  idea,  gazed  intently  for  a moment  at  the 
young  man,  dried  her  eyes,  and  led  the  way  to 
the  other  end  of  the  scow,  signifying  her  wish  for 
him  to  follow.  Here  she  took  a seat,  and  mo- 
tioned for  March  to  place  himself  at  her  side. 
The  decision  and  earnestness  with  which  all  this 
was  done  a little  intimidated  her  companion,  and 
Judith  found  it  necessary  to  open  the  subject  her- 
self. 

“ You  wish  to  speak  to  me  of  marriage,  Harry 
March,”  she  said,  “ and  I have  come  here,  over 
the  grave  of  my  parents,  as  it  might  be — no,  no 
—over  the  grave  of  my  poor,  dear,  dear  mother, 
to  hear  what  you  have  to  say.” 

“ This  is  oncommon,  and  you  have  a skeerful 
way  with  you,  this  evening,  Judith,”  answered 
Hurry,  more  disturbed  than  he  would  have  cared 
to  own ; “ but  truth  is  truth,  and  it  shall  come 
out,  let  what  will  follow.  You  well  know,  gal, 
that  I’ve  long  thought  you  the  comeliest  young 
woman  my  eyes  ever  beheld,  and  that  I’ve  made 
no  secret  of  that  fact,  either  here  on  the  lake,  out 
11 


among  the  hunters  and  trappers,  or  in  the  settle- 
ments.” 

“ Yes — yes,  I’ve  heard  this  before,  and  I sup- 
pose it  to  be  true,”  answered  Judith,  with  a sort 
of  feverish  impatience. 

“ When  a young  man  holds  such  language  of 
any  particular  young  woman,  it’s  reasonable  to 
calculate  he  sets  store  by  her.” 

“ True — true,  Hurry — all  this  you’ve  told  me, 
again  and  again.” 

“Well,  if  it’s-  agreeable,  I should  think  a 
woman  couldn’t  hear  it  too  often.  They  all  tell 
me  this  is  the  way  with  your  sex — that  nothing 
pleases  them  more  than  to  repeat,  over  and  over, 
for  the  hundredth  time,  how  much  you  like  ’em, 
unless  it  be  to  talk  to  ’em  of  their  good  looks ! ” 

“ No  doubt — we  like  both  on  most  occasions ; 
but  this  isf  an  uncommon  moment,  Hurry,  and 
vain  words  should  not  be  too  freely  used.  I 
would  rather  hear  you  speak  plainly.” 

“ You  shall  have  your  own  way,  Judith,  and  I 
some  suspect  you  always  will.  I’ve  often  told 
you  that  I not  only  like  you  better  than  any 
other  young  woman  going,  or,  for  that  matter, 
better  than  all  the  young  women  going  ; but  you 
must  have  obsarved,  Judith,  that  I’ve  never  asked 
you,  in  up-and-down  tarms,  to  marry  me.” 

“ I have  observed  both,”  returned  the  girl,  a 
smile  struggling  about  her  beautiful  mouth,  in 
spite  of  the  singular  and  engrossing  intentness 
which  caused  her  cheeks  to  flush  and  lighted  her 
eyes  with  a brilliancy  that  was  almost  dazzling — 
“I  have  observed  both,  and  have  thought  the 
last  remarkable  for  a man  of  Harry  March’s  de- 
cision and  fearlessness.” 

“ There’s  been  a reason,  gal,  and  it’s  one  that 
troubles  me  even  now — nay,  don’t  flush  up  so, 
and  look  fiery -like,  for  there  are  thoughts  which 
will  stick  long  in  any  man’s  mind,  as  there  be  words 
that  will  stick  in  his  throat — but  then,  ag’in, 
there’s  feelin’s  that  will  get  the  better  of  ’em  all, 
and  to  these  feelin’s  I find  I must  submit.  You’ve 
no  longer  a father,  or  a mother,  Judith  ; and  it’s 
morally  impossible  that  you  and  Hetty  could  live 
here,  alone,  allowing  it  was  peace  and  the  Iro- 
quois was  quiet ; but,  as  matters  stand,  not  only 
would  you  starve,  but  you’d  both  be  prisoners, 
or  scalped,  afore  a week  was  out.  It’s  time  to 
think  of  a change  and  a husband,  and,  if  you’ll 
accept  of  me,  all  that’s  past  shall  be  forgotten, 
and  there’s  an  end  on’t.” 

Judith  had  difficulty  in  repressing  her  imp  a 
tience  until  this  rude  declaration  and  offer  were 
made,  which  she  evidently  wished  to  hear,  and 
which  she  now  listened  to  with  a willingness  that 
might  well  have  excited  hope.  She  hardly  a!- 


L62 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


lowed  the  young  man  to  conclude,  so  eager  was 
she  to  bring  him  to  the  point,  and  so  ready  to 
answer. 

“ There,  Hurry,  that’s  enough,”  she  said,  rais- 
ing a hand,  as  if  to  stop  him  ; “ I understand  you 
as  well  as  if  you  were  to  talk  a month.  You 
prefer  me  to  other  girls,  and  you  wish  me  to  be- 
come your  wife.” 

“ You  put  it  in  better  words  than  I can  do, 
Judith,  and  I wish  you  to  fancy  them  said,  just 
as  you  most  like  to  hear  ’em.” 

“ They’re  plain  enough,  Hurry,  and  ’tis  fitting 
they  should  be  so.  This  is  no  place  to  trifle  or 
deceive  in.  Now,  listen  to  my  answer,  which 
shall  be,  in  every  tittle,  as  sincere  as  your  offer. 
There  is  a reason,  March,  why  I should  never — ” 

“ I suppose  I understand  you,  Judith  ; but  if 
I’m  willing  to  overlook  that  reason,  it’s  no  one’s 
consarn  but  mine.  Now,  don’t  brighten  up  like 
the  sky  at  sundown  ; for  no  offence  is  meant,  and 
none  should  be  taken.” 

“I  do  not  brighten  up,  and  will  not  take  of- 
fence,” said  Judith,  struggling  to  repress  her  in- 
dignation, in  a way  she  had  never  found  it  neces- 
sary to  exert  before.  “ There  is  a reason  why  I 
should  not,  cannot , ever  be  your  wife,  Hurry,  that 
you  seem  to  overlook,  and  which  it  is  my  duty 
now  to  tell  you,  as  plainly  as  you  have  asked  me 
to  consent  to  become  so.  I do  not,  and  I am 
certain  that  I never  shall  love  you  well  enough  to 
marry  you.  No  man  can  wish  for  a wife  who 
does  not  prefer  him  to  all  other  men  ; and  when 
I tell  you  this  frankly,  I suppose  you  yourself  will 
thank  me  for  my  sincerity.” 

“ 0 Judith,  them  flaunting,  gay,  scarlet-coated 
officers  of  the  garrison  have  done  all  this  mis- 
chief! ” 

■“  Hush,  March  ! do  not  calumniate  a daughter 
over  her  mother’s  grave.  Ho  not,  when  I only 
wish  to  treat  you  fairly,  give  me  reason  to  call  for 
evil  on  your  head,  in  bitterness  of  heart ! Do 
not  forget  that  I am  a woman,  and  that  you  are  a 
man  ; and  that  I have  neither  father  nor  brother 
fco  revenge  your  words.” 

“ Well,  there  is  something  in  the  last,  .and  I’ll 
aay  no  more.  Take  time,  Judith,  and  think  bet- 
ter on  this.” 

“ I want  no  time ; my  mind  has  long  been 
made  up,  and  I have  only  waited  for  you  to  speak 
plainly,  to  answer  plainly.  We  now  understand 
each  other,  and  there  is  no  use  in  saying  any  more.” 

The  impetuous  earnestness  of  the  girl  awed 
the  young  man,  for  never  before  had  he  seen  her 
so  serious  and  determined.  In  most  of  their 
previous  interviews  she  had  met  his  advances 
fcdth  evasion  or  sarcasm ; but  these  Hurry  had 


mistaken  foi  female  coquetry,  and  had  supposed 
might  easily  be  converted  into  consent.  The 
struggle  had  been  with  himself,  about  offering ; 
nor  had  he  ever  seriously  believed  it  possible  that 
Judith  would  refuse  to  become  the  wife  of  the 
handsomest  man  on  all  that  frontier.  Now  that 
the  refusal  came,  and  that  in  terms  so  decided  as 
to  put  all  cavilling  out  of  the  question,  if  not  ab- 
solutely dumfounded,  he  was  so  much  mortified 
and  surprised  as  to  feel  no  wish  to  attempt  to 
change  her  resolution. 

“ The  Glimmerglass  has  now  no  great  call  for 
me,”  he  exclaimed,  after  a minute’s  silence. 

“ Old  Tom  is  gone ; the  Hurons  are  as  plenty  on 
shore  as  pigeons  in  the  woods,  and,  altogether,  it 
is  getting  to  be  an  onsuitable  place.” 

“ Then  leave  it.  You  see  it  surrounded  by 
dangers,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  you  should 
risk  your  life  for  others.  Nor  do  I know  that 
you  can  be  of  any  service  to  us.  Go  to-night ; 
we’ll  never  accuse  you  of  having  done  any  thing 
forgetful  or  unmanly.” 

“ If  I go,  ’twill  be  with  a heavy  heart  on  your 
account,  Judith ; I would  rather  take  you  with 
me.” 

“ That  is  not  to  be  spoken  of  any  longer, 
March  ; but  I will  land  you  in  one  of  the  canoes, 
as  soon  as  it  is  dark,  and  you  can  strike  a trail 
for  the  nearest  garrison.  When  you  reach  the 
fort,  if  you  send  a party — ” 

Judith  smothered  the  words,  for  she  felt  that 
it  was  humiliating  to  be  thus  exposing  herself  to 
the  comments  and  reflections  of  one  who  was  not 
disposed  to  view  her  conduct  in  connection  with 
all  in  these  garrisons  with  an  eye  of  favor.  Hur- 
ry, however,  caught  the  idea ; and,  without  per- 
verting it,  as  the  girl  dreaded,  he  answered  to  the 
purpose. 

“ I understand  what  you  would  say,  and  why 
you  don’t  say  it,”  he  replied.  “ If  I get  safe  to 
the  fort,  a party  shall  start  on  the  trail  of  these 
vagabonds,  and  I’ll  come  with  it  myself ; foy  I 
should  like  to  see  you  and  Hetty  in  a place  of 
safety,  before  we  part  forever.” 

“Ah,  Harry  March,  had  you  always  spoken 
thus,  felt  thus,  my  feelings  toward  yot  might 
have  been  different ! ” 

“ Is  it  too  late,  now,  Judith  ? I’m  rough,  and 
a woodsman ; but  we  all  change  under  different 
treatment  from  what  we  have  been  used  to.” 

“It  is  too  late,  March.  I can  never  feel 
toward  you,  or  any  other  man  but  owe,  as  you 
would  wish  to  have  me.  There,  I’ve  said  enough, 
surely,  and  you  will  question  me  no  further.  As 
soon  as  it  is  dark,  I or  the  Delaware  will  put  you 
on  the  shore ; you  will  make  the  best  of  your  wav 


THE  SISTERS’  CONFERENCE. 


163 


to  the  Mohawk  and  the  nearest  garrison,  and  send 
all  you  can  to  our  assistance.  And,  Hurry,  we  are 
now  friends,  and  I may  trust  you,  may  I not  ? ” 

“ Sartain,  Judith ; though  our  fri’ndship 
would  have  been  all  the  warmer,  could  you  look 
upon  me  as  I look  upon  you.” 

Judith  hesitated,  and  some  powerful  emotion 
was  struggling  within  her.  Then,  as  if  determined 
to  look  down  all  weaknesses,  and  accomplish 
her  purposes  at  every  hazard,  she  spoke  more 
plainly : 

“You  will  find  a captain  of  the  name  of 
Warley,  at  the  nearest  post,”  she  said,  pale  as 
death,  and  even  trembling  as  she  spoke ; “ I think 
it  likely  he  will  wish  to  head  the  party  ; I would 
greatly  prefer  it  should  be  another.  If  Captain 
Warley  can  be  kept  back,  ’twould  make  me  very 
happy.” 

“That’s  easier  said  than  done,  Judith;  for 
these  officers  do  pretty  much  as  they  please.  The 
major  will  order,  and  captains,  and  lieutenants, 
and  ensigns,  must  obey.  I know  the  officer  you 
mean;  a red-faced,  gay,  oh !-be-joyful  sort  of  a 
gentleman,  who  swallows  Madeira  enough  to 
drown  the  Mohawk,  and  yet  a pleasant  talker. 
All  the  gals  in  the  valley  admire  him  ; and  they 
say  he  admires  all  the  gals.  I don’t  wonder  he  is 
your  dislike,  Judith,  for  he’s  a very  gin’ral  lover, 
if  he  isn’t  a gin’ral  officer.” 

Judith  did  not  answer,  though  her  frame 
shook,  and  her  color  changed  from  pale  to  crim- 
son, and  from  crimson  back  again  to  the  hue  of 
death. 

“Alas!  my  poor  mother!”  she  ejaculated 
mentally,  instead  of  uttering  it  aloud ; “ we  are 
over  thy  grave,  but  little  dost  thou  know  how 
much  thy  lessons  have  been  forgotten ; thy  care 
neglected ; thy  love  defeated.” 

As  this  goading  of  the  worm  that  never  dies 
was  felt,  she  arose,  and  signified  to  Hurry  that 
she  had  no  more  to  communicate. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

“ That  point 

In  misery,  which  makes  the  oppressed  man 
Regardless  of  his  own  life,  makes  him  too 
Lord  of  the  oppressor’s — ” 

Coleridge. 

All  this  time  Hetty  had  remained  seated  in 
the  head  of  the  scow,  looking  sorrowfully  into 
.he  water,  which  held  the  body  of  her  mother,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  man  whom  she  had  been 
taugnt  to  consider  her  father.  Hist  stood  near 


her  in  gentle  quiet,  but  had  no  consolation  to 
offer  in  words.  The  habits  of  her  people  taught 
her  reserve  in  this  respect ; and  the  habits  of  her 
sex  induced  her  to  wait  patiently  for  a moment 
when  she  might  manifest  some  soothing  sympa- 
thy by  means  of  acts,  rather  than  of  speech. 
Chingachgook  held  himself  a little  aloof,  in  grave 
reserve,  looking  like  a warrior,  but  feeling  like  a 
man. 

Judith  joined  her  sister  with  an  air  of  digni- 
ty and  solemnity  it  was  not  her  practice  to  show  ; 
and,  though  the  gleamings  of  anguish  were  still 
visible  on  her  beautiful  face,  when  she  spoke  it 
was  firmly  and  without  tremor.  At  that  instant, 
Hist  and  the  Delaware  withdrew,  moving  toward 
Hurry,  in  the  other  end  of  the  boat. 

“Sister,”  said  Judith,  kindly,  “I  have  much 
to  say  to  you ; we  will  get  into  this  canoe,  and 
paddle  off  to  a distance  from  the  ark — the  secrets 
of  two  orphans  ought  not  to  be  heard  by  every 
ear.” 

“ Certainly,  Judith,  by  the  ears  of  their  par- 
ents. Let  Hurry  lift  the  grapnel,  and  move  away 
with  the  ark,  and  leave  us  here,  near  the  graves 
of  father  and  mother,  to  say  what  we  may  have 
to  say.” 

“Father!  ” repeated  Judith,  slowly,  the  blood 
for  the  first  time  since  her  parting  with  March, 
mounting  to  her  cheeks  ; “ he  was  no  father  of 
ours,  Hetty ! That  we  had  from  his  own  mouth, 
and  in  his  dying  moments.” 

“Are  you  glad,  Judith,  to  find  you  had  no 
father  ? He  took  care  of  us,  and  fed  us,  and  clothed 
us,  and  loved  us ; a father  could  have  done  no  more. 
I don’t  understand  why  he  wasn’t  a father.” 

“ Never  mind,  dear  child,  but  let  us  do  as  you 
have  said.  It  may  be  well  to  remain  here,  and 
let  the  ark  move  a little  away.  Do  you  prepare 
the  canoe,  and  I will  tell  Hurry  and  the  Indians 
our  wishes.” 

This  was  soon  and  simply  done ; the  ark  mov- 
ing, with  measured  strokes  of  the  sweeps,  a hun- 
dred yards  from  the  spot,  leaving  the  girls  float- 
ing, seemingly  in  air,  above  the  place  of  the  dead ; 
so  buoyant  was  the  light  vessel  that  held  them, 
and  so  limpid  the  element  by  which  it  was  sus- 
tained. 

“ The  death  of  Thomas  Hutter,”  Judith  com- 
menced, after  a short  pause  had  prepared  her  sis- 
ter to  receive  her  communications,  “ has  altered 
all  our  prospects,  Hetty.  If  he  was  not  our  fa- 
ther, we  are  sisters , and  must  feel  alike  and  live 
together.” 

“ How  do  I know,  Judith,  that  you  wouldn’t 
be  as  glad  to  find  I am  not  your  sister,  as  you  are 
in  finding  that  Thomas  Hutter,  as  you  call  him, 


164 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


was  not  your  father  ? I am  only  half-witted,  and 
few  people  like  to  have  half-witted  relations ; and 
then  I’m  not  handsome — at  least,  not  as  hand- 
some as  you — and  you  may  wish  a handsomer 
sister.” 

“ No,  no,  Hetty.  You,  and  you  only,  are  my 
sister — my  heart,  and  my  love  for  you,  tell  me 
that — and  mother  was  my  mother — of  that,  too, 
am  I glad  and  proud ; for  she  was  a mother  to  be 
proud  of — but  father  was  not  father ! ” 

“Hush,  Judith ! His  spirit  maybe  near;  it 
would  grieve  it  to  hear  his  children  talking  so, 
and  that,  too,  over  his  very  grave.  Children 
should  never  grieve  parents,  mother  often  told 
me,  and  especially  when  they  are  dead ! ” 

“ Poor  Hetty ! They  are  happily  removed  be- 
yond all  cares  on  our  accounts.  Nothing  that  I 
can  do  or  say  will  cause  mother  any  sorrow  now 
— there  is  some  consolation  in  that,  at  least ! — 
and  nothing  you  can  say  or  do,  will  make  her 
smile,  a3  she  used  to  smile  on  your  good  conduct 
when  living.” 

“ You  don’t  know  that,  Judith.  Spirits  can 
see,  and  mother  may  see  as  well  as  any  spirit. 
She  always  told  us  that  God  saw  all  we  did,  and 
that  we  should  do  nothing  to  offend  him ; and 
now  she  has  left  us,  I strive  to  do  nothing  that 
can  displease  her.  Think  how  her  spirit  would 
mourn  and  feel  sorrow,  Judith,  did  it  see  either 
of  us  doing  what  is  not  right ; and  spirits  may 
see,  after  all;  especially  the  spirits  of  parents 
that  feel  anxious  about  their  children.” 

“Hetty,  Hetty— you  know  not  what  you 
say ! ” murmured  Judith,  almost  livid  with  emo- 
tion. “ The  dead  cannot  see,  and  know  nothing 
of  what  passes  here ! But  we  will  not  talk  of 
this  any  longer.  The  bodies  of  mother  and 
Thomas  Hutter  lie  together  in  the  lake,  and  we 
will  hope  that  the  spirits  of  both  are  with  God. 
That  we,  the  children  of  one  of  them,  remain  on 
earth  is  certain ; it  is  now  proper  to  know  what 
we  are  to  do  in  future.” 

“If  we  are  not  Thomas  Hutter’s  children,  Ju- 
dith, no  one  will  dispute  our  right  to  his  property. 
We  have  the  castle,  and  the  ark,  and  the  canoes, 
and  the  woods,  and  the  lakes,  the  same  as  when 
he  IVas  living;  and  what  can  prevent  us  from 
staying  here,  and  passing  our  lives  just  as  we  ever 
have  done  ? ” 

“No,  no— poor  sister.  This  can  no  longer 
be.  Two  girls  would  not  be  safe  here,  even 
should  these  Hurons  fail  in  getting  us  into  their 
power.  Even  father  had  as  much  as  he  eould 
sometimes  do  to  keep  peace  upon  the  lake ; and 
we  should  fail  altogether.  We  must  quit  this 
spot,  Hetty,  and  remove  into  the  settlements.” 


“ I am  sorry  you  think  so,  Judith,”  returned 
Hetty,  drooping  her  head  on  her  bosom,  and  look- 
ing thoughtfully  down  at  the  spot  where  the  fu- 
neral-pile of  her  mother  could  just  be  seen.  “ I 
am  very  sorry  to  hear  it.  I would  rather  stay 
here,  where,  if  I wasn’t  bom,  I’ve  passed  my  life. 

I don’t  like  the  settlements — they  are  full  of 
wickedness  and  heart-burnings,  while  God  dwells 
unoffended  in  these  hills ! I love  the  trees,  and 
the  mountains,  and  the  lake,  and  the  springs  ; all 
that  his  bounty  has  given  us,  and  it  would  grieve 
me  sorely,  Judith,  to  be  forced  to  quit  them. 
You  are  handsome,  and  not  at  all  half-witted,  and 
one  day  you  will  marry,  and  then  you  will  have  a 
husband,  and  I a brother,  to  take  care  of  us,  if 
women  can’t  really  take  care  of  themselves  in 
such  a place  as  this.” 

“ Ah ! if  this  could  be  so,  Hetty,  then,  indeed, 
I could  now  be  a thousand  times  happier  in  these 
woods  than  in  the  settlements ! Once  I did  not 
feel  thus,  but  now  I do.  Yet,  where  is  the  man 
to  turn  this  beautiful  place  into  such  a garden  of 
Eden  for  us  ? ” 

“Harry  March  loves  you,  sister,”  returned 
poor  Hetty,  unconsciously  picking  the  bark  off 
the  canoe  as  she  spoke.  “ He  would  be  glad  to 
be  your  husband,  I’m  sure  ; and  a stouter  and  a 
braver  youth  is  not  to  be  met  with  the  whole 
country  round.” 

“ Harry  March  and  I understand  each  other, 
and  no  more  need  be  said  about  him.  There  is 
one — but  no  matter.  It  is  all  in  the  hands  of 
Providence,  and  we  must  shortly  come  to  some 
conclusion  about  our  future  manner  of  living. 
Remain  here — that  is,  remain  here  alone,  we  can- 
not— and  perhaps  no  occasion  will  ever  offer  for 
remaining  in  the  manner  you  think  of.  It  is 
time,  too,  Hetty,  we  should  learn  all  we  can  con- 
cerning our  relations  and  family.  It  is  not  prob- 
able we  are  altogether  without  relations,  and  they 
may  be  glad  to  see  us.  The  old  chest  is  now  our 
property,  and  we  have  a right  to  look  into  it  and 
learn  all  we  can  by  what  it  holds.  Mother  was 
so  very  different  from  Thomas  Hutter  that,  now  I 
know  we  are  not  his  children,  I burn  with  a de- 
sire to  know  whose  children  we  can  be.  There 
are  papers  in  that  chest,  I am  certain,  and  those 
papers  may  tell  us  all  about  our  parents  and  natu- 
ral friends.” 

“ Well,  Judith,  you  know  best,  for  you  are 
cleverer  than  common,  mother  always  said,  and  I 
am  only  half-witted.  Now  father  and  mother  are 
dead,  I don’t  much  care  for  any  relations  but  you, 
and  don’t  think  I could  love  them  I never  saw  as 
well  as  I ought.  If  you  don’t  like  to  marry  Hur- 
ry,  I don’t  see  who  you  can  choose  for  a husband. 


HETTY’S  PIETY. 


165 


and  then  I fear  we  shall  have  to  quit  the  lake 
after  all.” 

“ What  do  you  think  of  Deerslayer,  Hetty  ? ” 
asked  Judith,  bending  forward  like  her  unsophis- 
ticated sister,  and  endeavoring  to  conceal  her  em- 
barrassment in  a similar  manner.  “Would  be 
not  make  a brother-in-law  to  your  liking  ? ” 

“ Deerslayer ! ” repeated  the  other,  looking 
up  in  unfeigned  surprise ; “ why,  Judith,  Deer- 
slayer  isn’t  in  the  least  comely,  and  is  altogether 
unfit  for  one  like  j'ou  ! ” 

“ He  is  not  ill-looking,  Hetty  ; and  beauty  in 
a man  is  not  of  much  matter.” 

“ Do  you  think  so,  Judith  ? I know  that 
beauty  is  of  no  great  matter,  in  man  or  woman, 
in  the  eyes  of  God  ; for  mother  has  often  told  me 
so  when  she  thought  I might  have  been  sorry  I 
was  not  as  handsome  as  you — though  she  needn’t 
have  been  uneasy  on  that  account,  for  I never 
coveted  any  thing  that  is  yours,  sister ; but  tell 
me  so  she  did ; still,  beauty  is  very  pleasant  to 
the  eye  in  both.  I think,  if  I were  a man,  I 
should  pine  more  for  good  looks  than  I do  as  a 
girl.  A handsome  man  is  a more  pleasing  sight 
than  a handsome  woman.” 

“ Poor  child  ! you  scarce  know  what  you  say 
or  what  you  mean ! Beauty  in  our  sex  is  some- 
thing, but  in  man  it  passes  for  little.  To  be  sure, 
a man  ought  to  be  tall,  but  others  are  tall  as  well 
as  Hurry ; and  active — I think  I know  those  that 
are  more  active ; and  strong — well,  he  hasn’t  all 
the  strength  in  the  world ; and  brave — I am  cer- 
tain I can  name  a youth  who  is  braver.” 

“This  is  strange,  Judith.  I didn’t  think  the 
earth  held  a handsomer,  or  a stronger,  or  a more 
ictive,  or  a braver  man,  than  Harry  Hurry.  I am 
sure  1 never  met  his  equal  in  either  of  these 
things.” 

“ Well,  well,  Hetty — say  no  more  of  this.  I 
dislike  to  hear  you  talking  in  this  manner.  ’Tis 
not  suitable  to  your  innocence,  and  truth,  and 
warm-hearted  sincerity.  Let  Harry  March  go. 
He  quits  U3  to-night,  and  no  regret  of  mine  will 
follow  him,  unless  it  be  that  he  has  stayed  so 
long  and  to  so  little  purpose.” 

“Ah ! Judith,  that  is  what  I’ve  long  feared ; and 
I did  so  hope  he  might  be  my  brother-in-law  ! ” 

“ Never  mind  it  now  ; let  us  tolk  of  our  poor 
mother  and  of  Thomas  Hutter.” 

“ Speak  kindly,  then,  sister,  for  you  can’t  be 
quite  certain  that  spirits  don’t  both  hear  and  see. 
If  father  wasn’t  father,  he  was  good  to  us,  and 
gave  us  food  and  shelter.  We  can’t  put  any 
stones  over  their  graves  here  in  the  water  to  tell 
people  all  this,  and  so  we  ought  to  say  it  with  our 
tongues.” 


“ They  will  care  little  for  that,  girl.  ’Tis  a 
great  consolation  to  know,  Hetty,  that  if  mother 
ever  did  commit  any  heavy  fault  when  young,  she 
lived  sincerely  to  repent  of  it ; no  doubt  her  sins 
were  forgiven  her.” 

“ ’Tisn’t  right,  Judith,  for  children  to  talk  of 
their  parents’  sins.  We  had  better  talk  of  our 
own.” 

“ Talk  of  your  sins,  Hetty ! If  there  ever  was 
a creature  on  earth  without  sin,  it  is  you ! I wish 
I could  say  or  think  the  same  of  myself ; but  we 
shall  see.  No  one  knows  what  changes  affection 
for  a good  husband  can  make  in  a woman’s  heart. 
I don’t  think,  child,  I have  even  now  the  same 
love  for  finery  I once  had.” 

“It  would  be  a pity,  Judith,  if  you  did  think 
of  clothes  over  your  parents’  graves!  We  will 
never  quit  this  spot,  if  you  say  so,  and  will  let 
Hurry  go  where  he  pleases.” 

“ I am  willing  enough  to  consent  to  the  last, 
but  cannot  answer  for  the  first,  Hetty.  We  must 
live,  in  future,  as  becomes  respectable  young 
women,  and  cannot  remain  here  to  be  the  talk  and 
jest  of  all  the  rude  and  foul-tongued  trappers  and 
hunters  that  may  come  upon  the  lake.  Let  Hur- 
ry go  by  himself,  and  then  I’ll  find  the  means  to 
see  Deerslayer,  when  the  future  shall  be  soon 
settled.  Come,  girl,  the  sun  has  set,  and  the  ark 
is  drifting  away  from  us  ; let  us  paddle  up  to  the 
scow  and  consult  with  our  friends.  This  night  I 
shall  look  into  the  chest,  and  to-morrow  shall  de- 
termine what  we  are  to  do.  As  for  the  Hurons, 
now  we  can  use  our  stores  without  fear  of  Thom- 
as Hutter,  they  will  be  easily  bought  off.  Let  me 
get  Deerslayer  once  out  of  their  hands,  and  a 
single  hour  shall  bring  things  to  an  understand- 
ing.” 

Judith  spoke  with  decision,  and  she  spoke 
with  authority,  a habit  she  had  long  practised 
toward  her  feeble-minded  sister.  But,  while  thus 
accustomed  to  have  her  way,  by  the  aid  of  man- 
ner and  a readier  command  of  words,  Hetty  oc- 
casionally checked  her  impetuous  feelings  and 
hasty  acts  by  the  aid  of  those  simple  moral  truths 
that  were  so  deeply  engrafted  in  all  her  own 
thoughts  and  feelings,  shining  through  both  with 
a mild  and  beautiful  lustre  that  threw  a sort  of 
holy  halo  around  so  much  of  what  she  both  said 
and  did.  On  the  present  occasion,  this  healthful 
ascendency  of  the  girl  of  weak  intellect,  over  her 
of  a capacity  that,  in  other  situations,  might  have 
become  brilliant  and  admired,  was  exhibited  in 
the  usual  simple  and  earnest  manner. 

“You  forget,  Judith,  what  has  brought  ua 
here,”  she  said,  reproachfully.  “ This  is  mother’s 
grave,  and  we  have  just  laid  the  body  of  father  by 


166 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


her  side.  We  have  done  wrong  to  talk  so  much 
of  ourselves  at  such  a spot,  and  ought  now  to 
pray  God  to  forgive  us,  and  ask  him  to  teach  us 
where  we  are  to  go,  and  what  we  are  to  do.” 

Judith  involuntarily  laid  aside  her  paddle, 
while  Hetty  dropped  on  her  knees  and  was  soon 
lost  in  her  devout  but  simple  petitions.  Her  sis- 
ter did  not  pray.  This  she  had  long  ceased  to  do 
directly,  though  anguish  of  spirit  frequently 
wrung  from  her  mental  and  hasty  appeals  to  the 
great  source  of  benevolence,  for  support,  if  not 
for  a change  of  spirit.  Still,  she  never  beheld 
Hetty  on  her  knees,  that  a feeling  of -tender  recol- 
lection, as  well  as  of  profound  regret  at  the 
deadness  of  her  own  heart,  did  not  come  over  her. 
Thus  had  she  herself  done  in  childhood,  and  even 
down  to  the  hour  of  her  ill-fated  visits  to  the  gar- 
risons ; and  she  would  willingly  have  given  worlds, 
at  such  moments,  to  be  able  to  exchange  her  pres- 
ent sensations,  for  that  confiding  faith,  those  pure 
aspirations,  and  the  gentle  hope  that  shone 
through  every  lineament  and  movement  of  her 
otherwise  less  favored  sister.  All  she  could  do, 
however,  was  to  drop  her  head  to  her  bosom,  and 
assume  in  her  attitude  some  of  that  devotion  in 
which  her  stubborn  spirit  refused  to  unite. 

When  Hetty  rose  from  her  knees,  her  counte- 
nance had  a glow  and  serenity  that  rendered  a 
face  that  was  always  agreeable,  positively  hand- 
some. Her  mind  was  at  peace,  and  her  con- 
science acquitted  her  of  a neglect  of  duty. 

“Now  you  may  go,  if  you  want  to,  Judith,” 
she  said ; “ God  has  been  kind  to  me,  and  lifted 
a burden  off  my  heart.  Mother  had  many  such 
burdens,  she  used  to  tell  me,  and  she  always  took 
them  off  in  this  way.  ’Tis  the  only  way,  sister, 
such  things  can  be  done.  You  may  raise  a stone, 
or  a log,  with  your  hands  ; but  the  heart  must  be 
lightened  by  prayer.  I don’t  think  you  pray  as 
often  as  you  used  to  do  when  younger,  Judith ! ” 

“ Never  mind — never  mind,  child  ” — answered 
the  other,  huskily — “ ’tis  no  matter,  now.  Mother 
is  gone,  and  Thomas  Hutter  is  gone,  and  the  time 
has  come  when  we  must  think  and  act  for  our- 
selves.” 

As  the  canoe  moved  slowly  away*  from  the 
place,  under  the  gentle  impulsion  of  the  elder  sis- 
ter’s paddle,  the  younger  sat  musing,  as  was  her 
wont,  whenever  her  mind  was  perplexed  by  any 
idea  more  abstract  and  difficult  of  comprehension 
than  common. 

“ I don’t  know  what  you  mean  by  future,  Ju- 
dith,” she  at  length  suddenly  observed.  “ Mother 
used  to  call  heaven  the  future,  but  you  seem  to 
think  it  means  next  week,  or  to-morrow ! ” 

“ It  means  both,  dear  sister ; every  thing  that 


is  yet  to  come,  whether  in  this  world  or  another. 
It  is  a solemn  word.  Hetty,  and  most  so,  I fear,  to 
them  that  think  the  least  about  it.  Mother’s  fu- 
ture is  eternity;  ours  may  yet  mean  what  will 
happen  while  we  live  in  this  world — is  not  that  a 
canoe  just  passing  behind  the  castle  ? — here, 
more  in  the  direction  of  the  point,  I mean  ; it  is 
hid,  now — but,  certainly,  I saw  a canoe  stealing 
behind  the  logs.” 

“ I’ve  seen  it  some  time,”  Hetty  quietly  an- 
swered, for  the  Indians  had  few  terrors  for  her, 
“but  I did  not  think  it  right  to  talk  about  such 
things  over  mother’s  grave.  The  canoe  came 
from  the  camp,  Judith,  and  was  paddled  by  a sin- 
gle man;  he  seemed  to  be  Deerslayer,  and  no 
Iroquois.” 

t “ Deerslayer  ! ” returned  the  other,  with  much 
of  her  native  impetuosity.  “ That  can’t  be ! 
Deerslayer  is  a prisoner,  and  I have  been  think- 
ing of  the  means  of  setting  him  free.  Why  did 
you  fancy  it  Deerslayer,  child  ? ” 

“You  can  look  for  yourself,  sister;  there 
comes  the  canoe  in  sight  again,  on  this  side  of 
the  hut.” 

Sure  enough,  the  light  boat  had  passed  the 
building,  and  was  now  steadily  advancing  tow- 
ard the  ark ; the  persons  on  board  of  which  were 
already  collecting  in  the  head  of  the  scow  to  re- 
ceive their  visitor.  A single  glance  sufficed  to 
assure  Judith  that  her  sister  was  right,  and  that 
Deerslayer  was  alone  in  the  canoe.  His  approach 
was  so  calm  and  leisurely,  however,  as  to  fill  her 
with  wonder,  since  a man  who  had  effected  his 
escape  from  enemies,  by  either  artifice  or  vio- 
lence, would  not  be  apt  to  move  with  the  steadi- 
ness and  deliberation  with  which  his  paddle  swept 
the  water.  By  this  time  the  day  was  fairly  de- 
parting, and  objects  were  already  seen  dimly  un- 
der the  shores.  In  the  broad  lake,  however,  the 
light  still  lingered,  and  around  the  immediate 
scene  of  the  present  incidents,  which  was  less 
shaded  than  most  of  the  sheet,  being  in  its  broad- 
est part,  it  cast  a glare  that  bore  some  faint  re- 
semblance to  the  warm  tints  of  an  Italian  or 
Grecian  sunset.  The  logs  of  the  hut  and  ark  had 
a sort  of  purple  hue,  blended  with  the  growing 
obscurity,  and  the  bark  of  the  hunter’s  boat  was 
losing  its  distinctness,  in  colors  richer,  but  moro 
mellowed,  than  those  it  showed  under  a bright 
sun.  As  the  two  canoes  approached  each  other 
— for  Judith  and  her  sister  had  plied  their  pad- 
dles so  as  to  intercept  the  unexpected  visitor  ere 
he  reached  the  ark — even  Deerslayer’s  sunburnt 
countenance  wore  a brighter  aspect  than  com- 
mon, under  the  pleasing  tints  that  seemed  to 
dance  in  the  atmosphere.  Judith  fancied  that 


THE  HUNTER’S  FURLOUGH. 


167 


delight  at  meeting  her  had  some  share  in  this  un- 
usual and  agreeable  expression.  She  was  not 
aware  that  her  own  beauty  appeared  to  more  ad- 
vantage than  common,  from  the  same  natural 
cause ; nor  did  she  understand,  what  it  would 
have  given  her  so  much  pleasure  to  know,  that 
the  young  man  actually  thought  her,  as  she  drew 
near,  the  loveliest  creature  of  her  sex,  his  eyes 
had  ever  dwelt  on. 

“ Welcome — welcome,  Deerslayer ! ” exclaimed 
the  girl  as  the  canoes  floated  at  each  other’s 
sides ; “we  have  had  a melancholy — a fright- 
ful day — but  your  return  is,  at  least,  one  mis- 
fortune the  less.  Have  the  Hurons  become  more 
humane  and  let  you  go,  or  have  you  escaped 
from  the  wretches  by  your  own  courage  and 
skill?” 

“Neither,  Judith — neither  one  nor  t’other. 
The  Mingoes  are  Mingoes  still,  and  will  live  and  die 
Mingoes ; it  is  not  likely  their  natur’s  will  ever 
undergo  much  improvement.  Well,  they’ve  their 
gifts,  and  we’ve  our’n,  Judith,  and  it  doesn’t 
much  become  either  to  speak  ill  of  what  the  Lord 
has  created ; though,  if  the  truth  must  be  said,  I 
find  it  a sore  trial  to  think  kindly  or  to  talk  kind- 
ly of  them  vagabonds.  As  for  outwitting  them, 
that  might  have  been  done,  and  it  was  done,  too, 
atween  the  Sarpent,  yonder,  and  me,  when  we 
were  on  the  trail  of  Hist — ” here  the  hunter 
stopped  to  laugh  in  his  own  silent  fashion — “ but 
it’s  no  easy  matter  to  sarcumvent  the  sarcum- 
vented.  Even  the  fa’ans  get  to  know  the  tricks 
of  the  hunters  afore  a single  season  is  over  ; and 
an  Injin,  whose  eyes  have  once  been  opened  by 
a sarcumvention,  never  shuts  them  ag’in  in  pre- 
cisely the  same  spot.  I’ve  known  whites  to  do 
that,  but  never  a red-skin.  What  they  l’arn 
comes  by  practice,  and  not  by  books  ; and,  of  all 
school-masters,  exper’ence  gives  lessons  that  are 
the  longest  remembered.” 

“ All  this  is  true,  Deerslayer ; but  if  you  have 
not  escaped  from  the  savages,  how  came  you 
here  ? ” 

“ That’s  a nat’ral  question,  and  charmingly 
put.  You  are  wonderful  handsome  this  evening, 
Judith,  or  Wild  Rose,  as  the  Sarpent  calls  you, 
and  I may  as  well  say  it,  since  I honestly  think 
it.  You  may  well  call  them  Mingoes  savages,  too, 
for  savage  enough  do  they  feel,  and  savage  enough 
will  they  act,  if  you  once  give  them  an  opportu- 
nity. They  feel  their  loss  here,  in  the  late  scrim- 
mage, to  their  hearts’  cores,  and  are  ready  to  re- 
venge it  on  any  creatur’  of  English  blood  that 
may  fall  in  their  way.  Nor,  for  that  matter,  do 
I much  think  they  will  stand  at  taking  their  sat- 
isfaction out  of  a Dutchman.” 


“ They  have  killed  father ; that  ought  to  sat- 
isfy their  wicked  cravings  for  blood,”  observed 
Hetty,  reproachfully. 

“ I know  it,  gal — I know  the  whole  story — 
partly  from  what  I’ve  seen  from  the  shore,  since 
they  brought  me  up  from  the  point,  and  partly 
from  their  threats  ag’in  myself,  and  their  other 
discourse.  Well,  life  is  unsartain  at  the  best,  and 
we  all  depend  on  the  breath  of  our  nostrils  for 
it,  from  day  to  day.  If  you’ve  lost  a Stanch 
fri’nd,  as  I make  no  doubt  you  have,  Providence 
will  raise  up  new  ones  in  his  stead ; and  since 
our  acquaintance  has  begun  in  this  oncommon 
manner,  I shall  take  it  as  a hint  that  it  will  be  a 
part  of  my  duty  in  futur’,  should  the  occasion  of- 
fer, to  see  you  don’t  suffer  for  want  of  food  in  the 
wigwam.  I can’t  bring  the  dead  to  life,  but  as  to 
feeding  the  living,  there’s  few  on  all  this  frontier 
can  outdo  me,  though  I say  it  in  the  way  of  pity 
and  consolation  like,  and,  in  no  particular,  in  the 
way  of  boasting.” 

“We  understand  you,  Deerslayer,”  returned 
Judith  hastily,  “ and  take  all  that  falls  from  your 
lips,  as  it  is  meant,  in  kindness  and  friendship. 
Would  to  Heaven  all  men  had  tongues  as  true, 
and  hearts  as  honest ! ” 

“In  that  respect  men  do  differ,  of  a sartainty, 
Judith.  I’ve  known  them  that  wasn’t  to  be 
trusted  any  further  than  you  can  see  them  ; and 
others  ag’in  whose  messages,  sent  with  a small 
piece  of  wampum,  perhaps,  might  just  as  much 
be  depended  on,  as  if  the  whole  business  was 
finished  afore  your  face.  Yes,  Judith,  you  never 
said  truer  words,  than  when  you  said  some  men 
might  be  depended  on,  asid  some  others  might 
not.” 

“You  are  an  unaccountable  being,  Deerslay- 
er,” returned  the  girl,  not  a little  puzzled  with 
the  childish  simplicity  of  character  that  the  hunt- 
er so  often  betrayed — a simplicity  so  striking, 
that  it  frequently  appeared  to  place  him  nearly 
on  a level  with  the  fatuity  of  poor  Hetty,  though 
always  relieved  by  the  beautiful  moral  truth  that 
shone  through  all  that  this  unfortunate  girl  both 
said  and  did.  “You  are  a most  unaccountable 
man,  and  I often  do  not  know  how  to  understand 
you.  But  never  mind,  just  now  ; you  have  forgot- 
ten to  tell  us  by  what  means  you  are  here.” 

“ I ! — oh  ! That’s  not  very  onaccountable,  if 
I am  myself,  Judith.  I’m  out  on  furlough.” 

“ Furlough  ! — That  word  has  a meaning  among 
the  soldiers  that  I understand ; I cannot  tell  what 
it  signifies  when  used  by  a prisoner.” 

“It  means  just  the  same.  You’re  right 
enough ; the  soldiers  do  use  it,  and  just  in  the 
same  way  as  I use  it.  A furlough  is  when  a man 


L68 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


has  leave  to  quit  a camp,  or  a garrison,  for  a sar- 
tain  specified  time ; at  the  end  of  which  he  is  to 
come  back  and  shoulder  his  musket,  or  submit  to 
his  torments,  just  as  he  may  happen  to  be  a sol- 
dier or  a captive.  Being  the  last,  I must  take  the 
chances  of  a prisoner.” 

« Have  the  Hurons  suffered  you  to  quit  them 
m this  manner,  without  watch  or  guard  ? ” 

“ Sartain — I couldn’t  have  come  in  any  other 
manner,  unless,  indeed,  it  had  been  by  a bold  ris- 
ing, or  a sarcumvention.” 

“ What  pledge  have  they  that  you  will  ever 
return?” 

“My  word,”  answered  the  hunter,  simply. 

“ Yes,  I own  I gave  ’em  that , and  big  fools  would 
they  have  been  to  let  me  come  without  it ! Why, 
in  that  case,  I shouldn’t  have  been  obliged  to  go 
back  and  ondergo  any  deviltries  their  fury  may 
invent,  but  might  have  shouldered  my  rifle,  and 
made  the  best  of  my  way  to  the  Delaware  villages. 
But,  Lord ! Judith,  they  know’d  this,  just  as  well 
as  you  and  I do,  and  would  no  more  let  me  cdine 
away,  without  a promise  to  go  back,  than  they 
would  let  the  wolves  dig  up  the  bones  of  their 
fathers ! ” 

“ Is  it  possible  you  mean  to  do  this  act  cf  ex- 
traordinary self-destruction  and  recklessness  ? ” 

“ Anan ! ” 

“ I ask  if  it  can  be  possible  that  you  expect  to 
be  able  to  put  yourself  again  in  the' power  of  such 
ruthless  enemies,  by  keeping  your  word?  ” 

Deerslayer  looked  at  his  fair  questioner  for  a 
moment  with  stern  displeasure.  Then  the  ex- 
pression of  his  honest  and  guileless  face  suddenly 
changed,  lighting  as  by  a quick  illumination  of 
thought ; after  which  he  laughed  in  his  ordinary 
manner. 

“ 1 didn’t  understand  you,  at  first,  J udith ; no, 
I didn’t.  You  believe  that  Chingachgook  and 
Hurry  Harry  won’t  suffer  it ; but  you  don’t  know 
mankind  thoroughly  yet,  I see.  The  Delaware 
would  be  the  last  man  on  ’arth  to  offer  any  objec- 
tions to  what  he  knows  is  a duty  ; and,  as  for 
March,  he  doesn’t  care  enough  about  any  crea- 
tur’  but  himself  to  spend  many  words  on  such  a 
subject.  If  he  did,  ’twould  make  no  great  differ- 
ence, howsever  ; but  not  he — for  he  thinks  more 
of  his  gains  than  of  even  his  own  word.  As 
for  my  promises,  or  your’n,  Judith,  or  any- 
body else’s,  they  give  him  no  consarn.  Don’t 
be  under  any  oneasiness,  therefore,  gal ; I shall 
be  allowed  to  go  back  according  to  the  fur- 
lough; and  if  difficulties  was  made,  I’ve  not 
been  brought  up,  and  edicated,  as  one  may  say, 
in  the  woods,  without  knowing  how  to  look  ’em 
down.” 


Judith  made  no  answer  for  some  little  tima 
All  her  feelings  as  a woman — and  as  a woman 
who,  for  the  first  time  in  her  life,  was  beginning 
to  submit  to  that  sentiment  which  has  so  much 
influence  on  the  happiness  or  misery  of  her  sex- 
revolted  at  the  cruel  fate  that  she  fancied  Deer- 
slayer was  drawing  down  upon  himself,  while  the 
sense  of  right,  which  God  has  implanted  in  every 
human  breast,  told  her  to  admire  an  integrity  as 
indomitable  and  unpretending  as  that  which  the 
other  so  unconsciously  displayed.  Argument, 
she  felt,  would  be  useless ; nor  was  she,  at  that 
moment,  disposed  to  lessen  the  dignity  and  high 
principle  that  were  so  striking  in  the  intentions 
of  the  hunter,  by  any  attempt  to  turn  him  from 
his  purpose.  That  something  might  yet  occur  to 
supersede  the  necessity  for  this  self-immolation, 
she  tried  to  hope;  and  then  she  proceeded  to  as- 
certain the  facts,  in  order  that  her  own  conduct 
might  be  regulated  by  her  knowledge  of  circum- 
stances. 

“When  is  your  furlough  out,  Deerslayer ? ” 
she  asked,  after  both  canoes  were  heading  toward 
the  ark,  and  moving,  with  scarcely  a perceptible 
effort  of  the  paddles,  through  the  water. 

“ To-morrow  noon ; not  a minute  afore ; and 
you  may  depend  on  it,  Judith,  I sha’n’t  quit  what 
I call  Christian  company,  to  go  and  give  myself 
up  to  them  vagabonds,  an  instant  sooner  than 
is  downright  necessary.  They  begin  to  fear  a 
visit  from  the  garrisons,  and  wouldn’t  lengthen 
the  time  a moment ; and  it’s  pretty  well  under- 
stood atween  us,  that,  should  I fail  in  my  ar’n’d, 
the  torments  are  to  take  place  when  the  sun  be- 
gins to  fall,  that  they  may  strike  upon  their  home- 
trail  as  soon  as  it  is  dark.” 

This  was  said  solemnly,  as  if  the  thought  of 
what  was  believed  to  be  in  reserve  duly  weighed 
on  the  prisoner’s  mind,  and  yet  so  simply,  and 
without  a parade  of  suffering,  as  rather  to  repel 
than  to  invite  any  open  manifestations  of  sympa- 
thy. 

“ Are  they  bent  on  revenging  their  losses  ? ” 
Judith  asked,  faintly,  her  own  high  spirit  yield- 
ing to  the  influence  of  the  other’s  quiet  but  dig- 
fied  integrity  of  purpose. 

“ Downright,  if  I can  judge  of  Injin  inclina- 
tions by  the  symptoms.  They  think,  howsever,  I 
don’t  suspect  their  designs,  I do  believe ; but  one 
that  has  lived  so  long  among  men  of  red-skin 
gifts  is  no  more  likely  to  be  misled  in  Injin  feelin’s 
than  a true  hunter  is  like  to  lose  his  trail,  or  a 
stanch  hound  his  scent.  My  own  judgment  is 
greatly  ag’in  my  own  escape  ; for  I see  the  wom- 
en are  a good  deal  enraged  on  behalf  of  Hist, 
though  I say  it,  perhaps,  that  shouldn’t  sav  it— 


JUDITH’S  GIFT. 


169 


6eein’  that  I had  a considerable  hand  myself  in 
getting  the  gal  off.  Then  there  was  a cruel  mur- 
der in  their  camp  last  night,  and  that  shot  might 
just  as  well  have  been  fired  into  my  breast. 
Howsever,  come  what  will,  the  Sarpent  and  his 
wife  will  be  safe,  and  that  is  some  happiness,  in 
any  case.” 

“0  Deerslayer,  they  will  think  better  of 
this,  since  they  have  given  you  until  to-morrow 
noon  to  make  up  your  mind  ! ” 

“I  judge  not,  Judith;  yes,  I judge  not.  An 
Injin  is  an  Injin,  gal,  and  it’s  pretty  much  hope- 
less to  think  of  swarving  him,  when  he’s  got  the 
scent  and  follows  it  with  his  nose  in  the  air.  The 
Delawares,  now,  are  a half-Christianized  tribe — 
not  that  I think  such  sort  of  Christians  much 
better  than  your  whole-blooded  disbelievers — but, 
nevertheless,  what  good  half- Christianizing  can  do 
to  a man  some  among  ’em  have  got,  and  yet  re- 
venge clings  to  their  hearts  like  the  wild  creepers 
here  to  the  tree ! Then  I slew  one  of  the  best 
and  boldest  of  their  warriors,  they  say,  and  it  is 
too  much  to  expect  that  they  should  captivate  the 
man  who  did  this  deed,  in  the  very  same  scouting 
on  which  it  was  performed,  and  they  take  no  ac- 
count of  the  matter.  Had  a month  or  so  gone 
by,  their  feelin’s  would  have  been  softened  down, 
and  we  might  have  met  in  a more  friendly  way ; 
but  it  is  as  it  is.  Judith,  this  is  talking  of  noth- 
ing but  myself  and  my  own  consarns,  when  you 
have  had  trouble  enough,  and  may  want  to  con- 
sult a fri’nd  a little  about  your  own  matters.  Is 
the  old  man  laid  in  the  water,  where  I should 
think  his  body  would  like  to  rest  ? ” 

“It  is,  Deerslayer,”  answered  Judith,  almost 
inaudibly.  “ That  duty  has  just  been  performed. 
You  are  right  in  thinking  that  I wish  to  consult  a 
friend ; and  that  friend  is  yourself.  Hurry  Har- 
ry is  about  to  leave  us ; when  he  is  gone,  and  we 
have  got  a little  over  the  feelings  of  this  solemn 
office,  I hope  you  will  give  me  an  hour  alone. 
Hetty  and  I are  at  a loss  what  to  do.” 

“ That’s  quite  natural,  coming  as  things  have, 
suddenly  and  fearfully.  But  here’s  the  ark,  and 
we’ll  say  more  of  this  when  there  is  a better  op 
portunity.” 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

“ The  winde  is  gmt  upon  the  highest  hilles ; 

The  quiet  life  is  in  the  dale  below ; 

Who  tread  on  ice  shall  slide  against  their  willes ; 

They  want  not  cares,  that  curious  arts  should  know ; 

Who  lives  at  ease  and  can  content  him  so, 

Is  perfect  wise,  and  Bets  us  all  to  schoole ; 

Who  hates  this  lore  may  well  be  called  a foole.” 

CnuBcnvAKD. 

The  meeting  between  Deerslayer  and  his  friends 
in  the  ark  was  grave  and  anxious.  The  two  In- 
dians, in  particular,  read  in  his  manner  that  he 
was  not  a successful  fugitive,  and  a few  senten- 
tious words  sufficed  to  let  them  comprehend  the 
nature  of  what  their  friend  had  termed  his 
“ furlough.”  Chingachgook  immediately  became 
thoughtful;  while  Hist,  as  usual,  had  no  better 
mode  of  expressing  her  sympathy  than  by  those 
little  attentions  which  mark  the  affectionate  man- 
ner of  woman. 

In  a few  minutes,  however,  something  like  a 
general  plan  for  the  proceedings  of  the  night  was 
adopted,  and,  to  the  eye  of  an  uninstructed  ob- 
server, things  would  be  thought  to  move  in  their 
ordinary  train.  It  was  now  getting  to  be  dark, 
and  it  was  decided  to  sweep  the  ark  up  to  the 
castle,  and  secure  it  in  its  ordinary  berth.  This 
decision  was  come  to,  in  some  measure,  on  ac- 
count of  the  fact  that  all  the  canoes  were  again  in 
the  possession  of  their  proper  owners,  but  princi- 
pally from  the  security  that  was  created  by  the 
representations  of  Deerslayer.  He  had  examined 
the  state  of  things  among  the  Hurons,  and  felt 
satisfied  that  they  meditated  no  further  hostilities 
during  the  night,  the  loss  they  had  met  having  in- 
disposed them  to  further  exertions  for  the  mo- 
ment. Then  he  had  a proposition  to  make — the 
object  of  his  visit ; and,  if  this  were  accepted,  the 
war  would  at  once  terminate  between  the  parties ; 
and  it  was  improbable  that  the  Hurons  would  an- 
ticipate the  failure  of  a project  on  which  their 
chiefs  had  apparently  set  their  hearts,  by  having 
recourse  to  violence  previously  to  the  return  of 
their  messenger. 

As  soon  as  the  ark  was  properly  secured,  the 
different  members  of  the  party  occupied  them- 
selves in  their  several  peculiar  manners ; haste  in 
council,  or  in  decision,  no  more  characterizing  the 
proceedings  of  the  border  whites,  than  it  did 
those  of  their  red  neighbors.  The  women  busied 
themselves  in  preparations  for  the  evening  meal, 
sad  and  silent,  but  ever  attentive  to  the  first 
wants  of  Nature. 

Hurry  set  about  repairing  his  moccasins,  by 
the  light  of  a blazing  knot ; Chingachgook  seated 


170 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


himself  in  gloomy  thought;  while  Deerslayer  pro- 
ceeded, in  a manner  equally  free  from  affectation 
and  concern,  to  examine  “ Killdeer,”  the  rifle  of 
Hutter,  that  has  been  already  mentioned,  and 
which  subsequently  became  so  celebrated  in  the 
hands  of  the  individual  who  was  now  making  a 
survey  of  its  merits.  The  piece  was  a little  longer 
than  usual,  and  had  evidently  been  turned  out 
from  the  workshop  of  some  manufacturer  of  a su- 
perior order.  It  had  a few  silver  ornaments ; 
though,  on  the  whole,  it  would  have  been  deemed 
a plain  piece  by  most  frontier-men;  its  great 
merit  consisting  in  the  accuracy  of  its  bore,  the 
perfection  of  the  details,  and  the  excellence  of  the 
metal.  Again  and  again  did  the  hunter  apply  the 
breech  to  his  shoulder,  and  glance  his  eye  along 
the  sights,  and  as  often  did  he  poise  his  body,  and 
raise  the  weapon  slowly,  as  if  about  to  catch  an 
aim  at  a deer,  in  order  to  try  the  weight,  and  to 
ascertain  its  fitness  for  quick  and  accurate  firing. 
All  this  was  done  by  the  aid  of  Hurry’s  torch, 
simply,  but  with  an  earnestness  and  abstraction 
that  would  have  been  found  touching  by  any 
spectator  who  happened  to  know  the  real  situ- 
ation of  the  man. 

“ ’Tis  a glorious  we’pon,  Hurry ! ” Deerslayer 
at  length  exclaimed,  “ and  it  may  be  thought  a 
pity  that  it  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  women. 
The  hunters  have  told  me  of  its  expl’ites,  and,  by 
all  I have  heard,  I should  set  it  down  as  sartain 
death  in  exper’enced  hands.  Hearken  to  the  tick 
of  this  lock — a wolf-trap  hasn’t  a livelier  spring  ; 
pan  and  cock  speak  together,  like  two  singing- 
masters  undertaking  a psalm  in  meetin’.  I never 
did  see  so  true  a bore,  Hurry,  that’s  sartain.” 

“ Ay,  old  Tom  used  to  give  the  piece  a charac- 
ter, though  he  wasn’t  the  man  to  particularize  the 
ra’al  natur’  of  any  sort  of  fire-arms  in  practice,” 
returned  March,  passing  the  deer’s  thongs  through 
the  moccasin  with  the  coolness  of  a cobbler. 
“ He  was  no  marksman,  that  we  must  all  allow  ; 
but  he  had  his  good  p’ints  as  well  as  his  bad  ones. 
I have  had  hopes  that  Judith  might  consait  the 
idee  of  giving  Killdeer  to  me.” 

“ There’s  no  saying  what  young  women  may 
do,  that’s  a truth,  Hurry;  and  I suppose  you’re 
as  likely  to  own  the  rifle  as  another.  Still,  when 
things  are  so  very  near  perfection,  it’s  a pity  not 
to  reach  it  entirely.” 

“ What  do  you  mean  by  that  ? Would  not  that 
piece  look  as  well  on  my  shoulder  as  on  any  man’s  ? ’ * 

“As  for  looks,  I say  nothing.  You  are  both 
good-looking,  and  might  make  what  is  called  a 
good-looking  couple.  But  the  true  p’int  is  as  to 
conduct.  More  deer  would  fall  in  one  day,  by 
that  piece,  in  some  men’s  hands,  than  would  fall 


in  a week  in  your’n,  Hurry!  I’ve  seen  you  try; 
you  remember  the  buck,  t’other  day  ? ” 

“ That  buck  was  out  of  season ; and  who 
wishes  to  kill  venison  out  of  season?  I was 
merely  trying  to  frighten  the  creatur’,  and  I think 
you  will  own  that  he  was  pretty  well  skeared  at 
any  rate.” 

“Well,  well,  have  it  as  you  say.  But  this  is 
a lordly  piece,  and  would  make  a steady  hand  and 
quick  eye  the  King  of  the  Woods.” 

“ Then  keep  it,  Deerslayer,  and  become  King 
of  the  Woods,”  said  Judith,  earnestly,  who  had 
heard  the  conversation,  and  whose  eye  was  never 
long  averted  from  the  honest  countenance  of  the 
hunter.  “ It  can  never  be  in  better  hands  than  it 
is  at  this  moment ; there  I hope  it  will  remain 
these  fifty  years.” 

“ Judith,  you  can’t  be  in  ’arnest ! ” exclaimed 
Deerslayer,  taken  so  much  by  surprise,  as  to  be- 
tray more  emotion  than  it  was  usual  for  him  to 
manifest  on  ordinary  occasions.  “Such  a gift 
would  be  fit  for  a ra’al  king  to  make ; yes,  and 
for  a ra’al  king  to  receive.” 

“ I never  was  more  in  earnest  in  my  life,  Deer- 
slayer, and  I am  as  much  in  earnest  in  the  wish  as 
in  the  gift.” 

“ Well,  gal,  well ; we’ll  find  time  to  talk  of 
this  ag’in. — You  mustn’t  be  down-hearted,  Hurry, 
for  Judith  is  a sprightly  young  woman,  and  she 
has  a quick  reason  ; she  known  that  the  credit  of 
her  father’s  rifle  is  safer  in  my  hands  than  it  can 
possibly  be  in  your’n ; and,  therefore,  you  mustn’t 
be  down-hearted.  In  other  matters,  more  to  your 
liking,  too  you’ll  find  she’ll  give  you  the  prefer- 
ence.” 

Hurry  growled  out  his  dissatisfaction ; but  he 
was  too  intent  on  quitting  the  lake,  and  in  making 
his  preparations,  to  waste  his  breath  on  a subject 
of  this  nature.  Shortly  after,  the  supper  was 
ready ; it  was  eaten  in  silence,  as  is  so  much  the 
habit  of  those  who  consider  the  table  as  merely  a 
place  of  animal  refreshment.  On  this  occasion, 
however,  sadness  and  thought  contributed  their 
share  to  the  general  desire  not  to  converse ; for 
Deerslayer  was  so  far  an  exception  to  the  usages 
of  men  of  his  cast,  as  not  only  to  wish  to  hold 
discourse  on  such  occasions,  but  as  often  to  create 
a similar  desire  in  his  companions. 

The  meal  ended,  and  the  humble  preparations 
removed,  the  whole  party  assembled  on  the  plat- 
form to  hear  the  expected  intelligence  from  Deer- 
slayer on  the  subject  of  his  visit.  It  had  been 
evident  he  was  in  no  haste  to  make  his  communi- 
cations ; but  the  feelings  of  Judith  would  no  lon- 
ger admit  of  delay.  Stools  were  brought  from 
the  ark  and  the  hut,  and  the  whole  six  placet* 


A MESSAGE  FROM  THE  HURONS. 


171 


themselves  in  a circle,  near  the  door,  watching 
each  other’s  countenances,  as  best  they  could,  by 
the  scanty  means  that  were  furnished  by  a lovely 
starlight  night.  Along  the  shore,  beneath  the 
mountains,  lay  the  usual  body  of  gloom ; but  in 
the  broad  lake  no  shadow  was  cast,  and  a thousand 
mimic  stars  were  dancing  in  the  limpid  element, 
that  was  just  stirred  enough  by  the  evening  air  to 
set  them  all  in  motion. 

“ Now,  Deerslayer,”  commenced  Judith,  whose 
impatience  resisted  further  restraint ; “ now,  Deer- 
slayer, tell  us  all  the  Hurons  have  to  say,  and  the 
reason  why  they  have  sent  you  on  parole,  to  make 
us  some  offer.” 

“Furlough,  Judith — furlough  is  the  word 
and  it  carries  the  same  meaning  with  a captyve 
at  large  as  it  does  with  a soldier  who  has  leave  to 
quit  his  colors.  In  both  cases  the  word  is  passed 
to  come  back  : and  low  I remember  to  have  heard 
that’s  the  ra’al  signification,  ‘ furlough  ’ meaning 
a ‘ word  ’ passed  for  the  doing  of  any  thing,  or  the 
like.  Parole,  I rather  think,  is  Dutch,  and  has 
something  to  do  with  the  tattoos  of  the  garrisons. 
But  this  makes  no  great  difference,  since  the  var- 
tue  of  a pledge  lies  in  the  idee,  and  not  the  word. 
Well,  then,  if  the  message  must  be  given,  it  must ; 
and  perhaps  there  is  no  use  in  putting  it  off. 
Hurry  will  soon  be  wanting  to  set  out  on  his  jour- 
ney to  the  river,  and  the  star^kase  and  set,  just  as 
if  they  cared  for  neither  Injin  nor  message.  Ah’s 
me ! ’tisn’t  a pleasant,  and  I know  it’s  a useless 
ar’n’d ; but  it  must  be  told.” 

“ Harkee,  Deerslayer,”  put  in  Hurry,  a little 
authoritatively  ; “ you’re  a sensible  man  in  a hunt, 
and  as  good  a fellow  on  a march  as  a sixty-miler- 
a-day  could  wish  to  meet  with ; but  you’re  on- 
common  slow  about  messages,  especially  them 
that  you  think  won’t  be  likely  to  be  well  received. 
When  a thing  is  to  be  told,  why,  tell  it,  and  don’t 
hang  back  like  a Yankee  lawyer  pretending  he 
can’t  understand  a Dutchman’s  English,  just  to 
get  a double  fee  out  of  him.” 

“I  understand  you,  Hurry,  and  well  are  you 
named  to-night,  seeing  you’ve  no  time  to  lose. 
But  let  us  come  at  once  to  the  p’int,  seeing  that’s 
the  object  of  this  council ; for  council  it  may  be 
called,  though  women  have  seats  among  us.  The 
simple  fact  i3  this : When  the  party  came  back 
from  the  castle,  the  Mingoes  held  a council,  and 
bitter  thoughts  were  uppermost,  as  was  plainly  to 
be  seen  by  their  gloomy  faces.  No  one  likes  to  be 
beaten,  and  a red-skin  as  little  as  a pale-face. 
Well,  when  they  had  smoked  upon  it,  and  made 
their  speeches,  and  their  council-fire  had  burnt 
iow,  the  matter  came  out.  It  seems  the  elders 
among  ’em  consaited  I was  a man  to  be  trusted 


on  a furlough.  They’re  wonderful  obsarvant, 
them  Mingoes ; that  their  worst  inimies  must  allow ; 
but  they  consaited  I was  such  a man  ; and  it  isn’t 
often — ” added  the  hunter,  with  a pleasing  con- 
sciousness that  his  previous  life  justified  this  im- 
plicit reliance  on  his  good  faith — “ it  isn’t  often 
they  consait  any  thing  so  good  of  a pale-face ; 
but  so  they  did  with  me,  and  therefore  they  didn’t 
hesitate  to  speak  their  minds,  which  is  just  this  : 
You  see  the  state  of  things.  The  lake  and  all  on 
it,  they  fancy,  lie  at  their  marcy.  Thomas  Hutter 
is  deceased,  and  as  for  Hurry,  they’ve  got  the  idee 
he  has  been  near  enough  to  death  to-day  not  to 
wish  to  take  another  look  at  him  this  summer. 
Therefore  they  count  all  your  forces  as  reduced  to 
Chingachgook  and  the  two  young  women,  and, 
while  they  know  the  Delaware  to  be  of  a high 
race,  and  a born  warrior,  they  know  he’s  now  on 
his  first  war-path.  As  for  the  gals,  of  course 
they  set  them  down  much  as  they  do  women  in 
gin’ral.” 

“ You  mean  that  they  despise  us  ! ” interrupted 
Judith,  with  eyes  that  flashed  so  brightly  as  to  be 
observed  by  all  present. 

“That  will  be  seen  in  the  ind.  They  hold 
that  all  on  the  lake  lies  at  their  marcy,  and,  there- 
fore, they  send  by  me  this  belt  of  wampum,” 
showing  the  article  in  question  to  the  Delaware, 
as  he  spoke,  “ with  these  words : ‘ Tell  the  Sar- 
pent,’  they  say,  ‘ that  he  has  done  well  for  a begin- 
ner ; he  may  now  strike  across  the  mountains,  for 
his  own  villages,  and  no  one  shall  look  for  his 
trail.  If  he  has  found  a scalp,  let  him  take  it 
with  him ; the  Huron  braves  have  hearts,  and  can 
feel  for  a young  warrior  who  doesn’t  wish  to  go 
home  empty-handed.  If  he  is  nimble,  he  is  wel 
come  to  lead  out  a party  in  pursuit.  Hist,  how- 
ever, must  go  back  to  the  Hurons ; when  she  left 
them  in  the  night,  she  carried  away,  by  mistake, 
that  which  doesn’t  belong  to  her.’  ” 

“ That  cant  be  true ! ” said  Hetty,  earnestly. 
“ Hist  is  no  such  girl — but  one  that  gives  every- 
body his  due — ” 

How  much  more  she  would  have  said,  in  re- 
monstrance, cannot  be  known,  inasmuch  as  Hist, 
partly  laughing,  and  partly  hiding  her  face  in 
shame,  put  her  own  hand  across  the  speaker’s 
mouth,  in  a way  to  check  the  words. 

“ You  don’t  understand  Mingo  messages,  poor 
Hetty,”  resumed  Deerslayer,  “ which  seldom  mean 
what  lies  exactly  uppermost.  Hist  has  brought 
away  with  her  the  inclinations  of  a young  Huron, 
and  they  want  her  back  again,  that  the  poor  young 
man  may  find  them  where  he  last  saw  them  ! The 
Sarpent,  they  say,  is  too  promising  a young  war- 
rior not  to  find  as  many  wives  as  he  wants,  but 


m 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


this  one  he  cannot  have.  That’s  their  meaning, 
and  nothing  else,  as  I understand  it.” 

“ They  are  very  obliging  and  thoughtful,  in 
supposing  a young  woman  can  forget  all  her  own 
inclinations  in  order  to  let  this  unhappy  youth 
find  his  ! ” said  Judith,  ironically ; though  her 
manner  became  more  bitter  as  she  proceeded : 
“ I suppose  a woman  is  a woman,  let  her  color  be 
white  or  red ; and  your,  chiefs  know  little  of  a 
woman’ s heart,  Deerslayer,  if  they  think  it  can 
ever  forgive  when  wronged,  or  ever  forget  when 
it  fairly  loves.” 

“ I suppose  that’s  pretty  much  the  truth,  with 
some  women,  Judith,  though  I’ve  known  them 
that  could  do  both.  The  next  message  is  to  you. 
They  say  the  Muskrat,  as  they  call  your  father, 
has  dove  to  the  bottom  of  the  lake  ; and  he  will 
never  come  up  again,  and  that  his  young  will 
soon  be  in  want  of  wigwams  if  not  of  food.  The 
Huron  huts,  they  think,  are  better  than  the  huts 
of  York ; they  wish  you  to  come  and  try  them. 
Your  color  is  white,  they  own,  but  they  think 
young  women  who’ve  lived  so  long  in  the  woods, 
would  lose  their  way  in  the  clearin’s.  A great 
warrior  among  them  has  lately  lost  his  wife,  and 
he  would  be  glad  to  put  the  Wild  Rose  on  her 
bench  at  his  fireside.  As  for  the  Feeble-Mind, 
she  will  always  be  honored  and  take;*  care  of  by 
red  warriors.  Your  father’s  goods,  they  think, 
ought  to  go  to  enrich  the  tribe ; but  your  own 
property,  which  is  to  include  every  thing  of  a fe- 
male natur’,  will  go,  like,  that  of  all  wives,  into 
the  wigwam  of  the  husband.  Moreover,  they’ve 
lost  a young  maiden  by  violence,  lately,  and  ’twill 
take  two  pale-faces  to  fill  her  seat.” 

“ And  do  you  bring  such  a message  to  me  ? ” 
exclaimed  Judith,  though  the  tone  in  which  the 
words  were  uttered  had  more  in  it  of  sorrow 
than  of  anger.  “ Am  I a girl  to  be  an  Indian’s 
slave  ? ” 

“ If  you  wish  my  honest  thoughts  on  this 
p’int,  Judith,  I shall  answer  that  I don’t  think 
you’ll  willingly  ever  become  any  man’s  slave,  red- 
skin or  white.  You’re  not  to  think  hard,  hows- 
cver,  of  my  bringing  the  message,  as  near  as  I 
could,  in  the  very  words  in  which  it  was  given  to 
me.  Them  was  the  conditions  on  which  I got 
my  furlough,  and  a bargain  is  a bargain,  though 
it  is  made  with  a vagabond.  I’ve  told  you  what 
they've  said,  but  I’ve  not  yet  told  you  what  I 
think  you  ought,  one  and  all,  to  answer.” 

“ Ay  ; let’s  hear  that,  Deerslayer,”  put  in 
Hurry.  “ My  cur’osity  is  up  on  that  considera- 
tion, and  I should  like  right  well  to  hear  your 
;dees  of  the  reasonableness  of  the  reply.  For  my 
Dart,  though,  my  own  mind  is  pretty  much  settled 


on  the  p’int  of  my  own  answer,  which  shall  be 
made  known  as  soon  as  necessary. 

“ And  so  is  mine,  Hurry,  on  all  the  different 
heads,  and  on  no  one  is  it  more  sartainly  settled 
than  on  your’n.  If  I was  you,  I should  say  ; 
‘ Deerslayer,  tell  them  scamps  they  don’t  know 
Harry  March  ! He  is  human  ; and  having  a white 
skin  he  has  also  a white  natur’,  which  natur’ 
won’t  let  him  desart  females  of  his  own  race  and 
gifts,  in  their  greatest  need.  So  set  me  down  as  one 
that  will  refuse  to  come  into  your  treaty,  though 
you  should  smoke  a hogshead  of  tobacco  over  it.’  ” 

March  was  a little  embarrassed  at  this  rebuke, 
which  was  uttered  with  sufficient  warmth  of  man- 
ner, and  with  a point  that  left  no  doubt  of4  the 
meaning.  Had  Judith  encouraged  him,  he  would 
not  have  hesitated  about  remaining  to  defend  her 
and  her  sister,  but,  under  the  circumstances,  a 
feeling  of  resentment  rather  i*rged  him  to  abandon 
them.  At  all  events,  there  was  not  a sufficiency 
of  chivalry  in  Hurry  Harry  to  induce  him  to  haz- 
ard the  safety  of  his  own  person,  unless  he  could 
see  a direct  connection  between  the  probable  con- 
sequences and  his  own  interests.  It  is  no  won- 
der, therefore,  that  his  answer  partook  equally 
of  his  intention,  and  of  the  reliance  he  so  boast- 
ingly  placed  on  his  gigantic  strength,  which,  if 
it  did  not  always  make  him  courageous,  usually 
made  him  impuderffas  respects  those  with  whom 
he  conversed : 

“ Fair  words  make  long  friendships,  Master 
Deerslayer,”  he  said,  a little  menacingly.  “ You’re 
but  a stripling,  and  you  know,  by  exper’ence, 
what  you  are  in  the  hands  of  a man.  As  you’re 
not  me,  but  only  a go-between,  sent  by  the  sav- 
ages to  us  Christians,  you  may  tell  your  empl’v- 
ers  that  they  do  not  know  Harry  March,  which  is 
a proof  of  their  sense  as  well  as  his.  He’s  human 
enough  to  follow  human  natur’,  and  that  tells  him 
to  see  the  folly  of  one  man’s  fighting  a whole 
tribe.  If  females  desart  him,  they  must  expect 
to  be  deserted  by  him,  whether  they’re  of  his  own 
gifts  or  another  man’s  gifts.  Should  Judith  see 
fit  to  change  her  mind,  she’s  welcome  to  my  com- 
pany to  the  river,  and  Hetty  with  her;  but 
shouldn’t  she  come  to  this  conclusion,  I start  as 
soon  as  I think  the  enemy’s  scouts  are  beginning 
to  nestle  themselves  in  among  the  brush  and  leaves 
for  the  night.” 

“ Judith  will  not  change  her  mind,  and  she 
does  not  ask  your  company,  Master  March,”  re- 
turned the  girl,  with  spirit. 

“ That  p’int’s  settled,  then,”  resumed  Deer- 
slayer, unmoved  by  the  other’s  warmth.  “ Hur- 
ry Harry  must  act  for  himself,  and  do  that  which 
will  be  most  likely  to  suit  his  own  fancy.  The 


WAH-TA  I-WAH’S  ANSWER. 


173 


course  he  meana  to  take  will  give  him  an  easy 
race,  if  it  don’t  give  him  an  easy  conscience.  Next 
comes  the  question  with  Hist — what  say  you,  gal  ? 
— will  you  desart  your  duty,  tcAo,  and  go  back  to 
the  Mingoes  and  take  a Huron  husband ; and  all, 
not  for  the  love  of  the  man  you’re  to  marry,  but 
for  the  love  of  your  own  scalp  ? ” 

“ Why  you  talk  so  to  Hist  ? ” demanded  the 
girl,  half  offended.  “ Y ou  t’ink  a red-skin  girl  made 
like  captain’s  lady,  to  laugh  and  joke  with  any 
officer  that  come.” 

“ What  I think,  Hist,  is  neither  here  nor  there, 
in  this  matter.  I must  carry  back  your  answer, 
and,  in  order  to  do  so,  it  is  necessary  that  you 
should  send  it.  A faithful  messenger  gives  his 
ar’n’d  word  for  word.” 

Hist  no  longer  hesitated  to  speak  her  mind 
fully.  In  the  excitement  she  rose  from  her  bench, 
and,  naturally  recurring  to  that  language  in  which 
she  expressed  herself  the  most  readily,  she  deliv- 
ered her  thoughts  and  intentions,  beautifully  and 
with  dignity,  in  the  tongue  of  her  own  people. 

“ Tell  the  Hurons,  Deerslayer,”  she  said,  “ that 
they  are  as  ignorant  as  moles ; they  don’t  know 
the  wolf  from  the  dog.  Among  my  people,  the 
rose  dies  on  the  stem  where  it  budded  ; the  tears 
of  the  child  fall  on  the  graves  of  its  parents ; the 
corn  grows  where  the  seed  has  been  planted. 
The  Delaware  girls  are  not  messengers,  to  be  sent, 
like  belts  of  wampum,  from  tribe  to  tribe.  They 
are  honeysuckles,  that  are  sweetest  in  their  own 
woods ; their  own  young  men  carry  them  away  in 
their  bosoms,  because  they  are  fragrant ; they  are 
sweetest  when  plucked  from  their  native  stems. 
Even  the  robin  and  the  marten  come  back,  year 
after  year,  to  their  old  nests  ; shall  a woman  be 
less  true-hearted  than  a bird  ? Set  the  pine  in 
the  clay,  and  it  will  turn  yellow ; the  willow  will 
not  flouilsh  on  the  hill;  the  tamarack  is  healthi- 
est in  the  swamp ; the  tribes  of  the  sea  love  best 
to  hear  the  winds  that  blow  over  the  salt  water. 
As  for  a Huron  youth,  what  is  he  to  a maiden  of 
the  Lenni-Lenape  ? He  may  be  fleet,  but  her 
eyes  do  not  follow  him  in  the  race ; they  look 
back  toward  the  lodges  of  the  Delawares.  He 
may  sing  a sweet  song  for  the  girls  of  Canada,  but 
there  is  no  music  for  Wah,  but  in  the  tongue  she 
has  listened  to  from  childhood.  Were  the  Huron 
born  of  the  people  that  once  roamed  the  shores 
of  the  salt  lake,  it  would  be  in  vain,  unless  he 
were  of  the  family  of  Uncas.  The  young  pine 
will  rise  to  be  as  high  as  any  of  its  fathers.  Wah- 
ta!-Wah  has  but  one  heart,  and  it  can  love  but 
one  husband.” 

Deerslayer  listened  to  this  characteristic  mes- 
sage, which  was  given  with  an  earnestness  suited 


to  the  feelings  from  which  it  sprang,  with  undis- 
guised delight ; meeting  the  ardent  eloquence  of 
the  girl,  as  she  concluded,  with  one  of  his  own 
heart-felt,  silent,  and  peculiar  fits  of  laughter. 

“ That’s  worth  all  the  wampum  in  the  woods  ! ” 
he  exclaimed. — “ You  don’t  understand  it,  I sup- 
pose, Judith;  but  if  you’ll  look  into  your  feel 
in’s,  and  fancy  that  an  inimy  had  sent  to  tell  you 
to  give  up  the  man  of  your  ch’ice,  and  to  take  up 
with  another  that  wasn’t  the  man  of  your  ch’ice, 
you’ll  get  the  substance  of  it,  I’ll  warrant ! Give 
me  a woman  for  ra’al  eloquence,  if  they’ll  only 
make  up  their  minds  to  speak  what  they  feel. 
By  speakin’,  I don’t  mean  chatterin’,  howsever ; 
for  most  of  them  will  do  that  by  the  hour ; but 
cornin’  out  with  their  honest,  deepest  feelin’s,  in 
proper  words.  And  now,  Judith,  having  got  the 
answer  of  a red-skin  girl,  it  is  fit  that  I should  get 
that  of  a pale-face,  if,  indeed,  a countenance  that 
is  as  blooming  as  your’n  can  in  any  wise  so  be 
tarmed.  You  are  well  named  the  Wild  Rose, 
and,  so  far  as  color  goes,  Hetty  ought  to  be  called 
the  Honeysuckle.” 

“ Did  this  language  come  from  one  of  the  gar- 
rison gallants,  I should  deride  it,  Deerslayer ; 
but ’coming  from  you , I know  it  can  be  depended 
on,”  returned  Judith,  deeply  gratified  by  his  un- 
meditated and  characteristic  compliments.  “ It 
is  too  soon,  however,  to  ask  my  answer ; the 
Great  Serpent  has  not  yet  spoken.” 

“ The  Sarpent  ? Lord  ! I could  carry  back  his 
speech  without  hearing  a word  of  it ! I didn’t 
think  of  putting  the  question  to  him  at  all,  I will 
allow  ; though  ’twould  be  hardly  right  either,  see- 
ing that  truth  is  truth,  and  I’m  bound  to  tell 
these  Mingoes  the  fact,  and  nothing  else. — So, 
Chingachgook,  let  us  hear  your  mind  on  this  mat- 
ter— are  you  inclined  to  strike  across  the  hills 
toward  your  village,  to  give  up  Hist  to  a Huron, 
and  to  tell  the  chiefs  at  home  that,  if  they’re 
actyve  and  successful,  they  may  possibly  get  on 
the  end  of  the  Iroquois  trail  some  two  or  three 
days  a’ter  the  inimy  has  got  off  of  it  ? ” 

Like  his  betrothed,  the  young  chief  arose, 
that  his  answer  might  be  given  with  due  dis- 
tinctness and  dignity.  Hist  had  spoken  with  her 
hands  crossed  upon  her  bosom,  as  if  to  suppress 
the  emotions  within ; but  the  warrior  stretched  an 
arm  before  him,  with  a calm  energy  that  aided  in 
giving  emphasis  to  his  expressions. 

“Wampum  should  be  sent  for  wampum,”  h« 
said  ; “ a message  must  be  answered  by  a me& 
sage.  Hear  what  the  Great  Serpent  of  the  Dela 
wares  has  to  say  to  the  pretended  wolves  from 
the  great  lakes  that  are  howling  through  our 
woods.  They  are  no  wolves  ; they  are  dogs  that 


174 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


have  come  to  get  their  tails  and  ears  cropped  by 
the  hands  of  the  Delawares.  They  are  good  at 
stealing  young  women : bad  at  keeping  them. 
Chingachgook  takes  his  own  where  he  finds  it ; 
he  asks  leave  of  no  cur  from  the  Canadas.  If  he 
has  a tender  feeling  in  his  heart,  it  is  no  busi- 
ness of  the  Hurons.  He  tells  it  to  her  who  most 
likes  to  know  it ; he  will  not  bellow  it  in  the  for- 
est for  the  ears’  of  those  that  only  understand 
yells  of  terror.  What  passes  in  his  lodge  is  not 
for  the  chiefs  of  his  own  people  to  know ; still 
less  for  Mingo  rogues — ” 

“ Call  ’em  vagabonds,  Sarpent,”  interrupted 
Deerslayer,  unable  to  restrain  his  delight — “ yes, 
just  call  ’em  up-and-down  vagabonds,  which  is  a 
word  easily  intarpreted,  and  the  most  hateful  to 
all  their  ears,  it’s  so  true.  Never  fear  me ; I’ll 
give  ’em  your  message  syllable  for  syllable,  sneer 
for  sneer,  idee  for  idee,  scorn  for  scorn — and  they 
desarve  no  better  at  your  hands.  Only  call  ’em 
vagabonds  once  or  twice,  and  that  will  set  the  sap 
mounting  in  ’em  from  their  lowest  roots  to  the 
uppermost  branches.” 

“Still  less  for  Mingo  vagabonds!”  resumed 
Chingachgook,  quite  willingly  complying  with  his 
friend’s  request.  “ Tell  the  Huron  dogs  to  howl 
louder  if  they  wish  a Delaware  to  find  them  in  the 
woods,  where  they  burrow  like  foxes,  instead  of 
hunting  like  warriors.  When  they  had  a Dela- 
ware maiden  in  their  camp,  there  was  a reason 
for  hunting  them  up ; now  they  will  be  forgotten 
unless  they  make  a noise.  Chingachgook  don’t 
like  the  trouble  of  going  to  his  villages  for  more 
warriors  ; he  can  strike  their  runaway  trail ; un- 
less they  hide  it  underground,  he  will  follow  it  to 
Canada  alone.  He  will  keep  Wah-ta  !-Wah  with 
him  to  cook  his  game ; they  two  will  be  Dela- 
wares enough  to  scare  all  the  Hurons  back  to 
their  own  country.” 

“ That’s  a grand  dispatch,  as  the  officers  call 
them  things  ! ” cried  Deerslayer  ; “ ’twill  set  all 
the  Huron  blood  in  motion ; most  particularly 
that  part  where  he  tells  ’em  Hist,  too,  will  keep 
on  their  heels  till  they’re  fairly  driven  out  of  the 
country.  Ah’s  me  ! big  words  ar’n’t  always  big 
deeds  notwithstanding.  The  Lord  send  that  we 
be  able  to  be  only  one  half  as  good  as  we  promise 
to  be ! — And  now,  Judith,  it’s  your  turn  to  speak, 
for  them  miscreants  will  expect  an  answer  from 
each  person,  poor  Hetty,  perhaps,  excepted.” 

“ And  why  not  Hetty,  Deerslayer  ? She  often 
speaks  to  the  purpose ; the  Indians  may  respect  her 
words,  for  they  feel  for  people  in  her  condition.” 

“ That  is  true,  Judith,  and  quick-thoughted  in 
you.  The  red-skins  do  respect  misfortunes  of  all 
kinds,  and  Hetty’s  in  particular. — So,  Hetty,  if 


you  have  any  thing  to  say,  I’ll  carry  it  to  the  Hu- 
rons  as  faithfully  as  if  it  was  spoken  by  a school- 
master or  a missionary.” 

The  girl  hesitated  a moment,  and  then  she  an- 
swered in  her  own  gentle,  soft  tones,  as  earnestly 
as  any  who  had  preceded  her. 

“ The  Hurons  can’t  understand  the  difference 
between  white  people  and  themselves,”  she  said, 
“ or  they  wouldn’t  ask  Judith  and  me  to  go  and 
live  in  their  villages.  God  has  given  one  country 
to  the  red  men,  and  another  to  us.  He  meant  us 
to  live  apart.  Then  mother  always  said  that  we 
should  never  dwell  with  any  but  Christians  if 
possible,  and  that  is  a reason  why  we  can’t  go. 
This  lake  is  ours,  and  we  won’t  leave  it.  Fa- 
ther’s and  mother’s  graves  are  in  it,  and  even  the 
worst  Indians  love  to  stay  near  the  graves  of 
their  fathers.  I will  come  and  see  them  again, 
if  they  wish  me  to,  and  read  more  out  of  the  Bible 
to  them,  but  I can’t  quit  father’s  and  mother’s 
graves.” 

“ That  will  do— that  will  do,  Hetty,  just  as 
well  as  if  you  sent  them  a message  twice  as  long,’’ 
interrupted  the  hunter.  “ I’ll  tell  ’em  all  you’ve 
said,  and  all  you  mean,  and  I’ll  answer  for  it  that 
they’ll  be  easily  satisfied. — Now,  Judith,  your 
turn  comes  next,  and  then  this  part  of  my  ar’n’d 
will  be  tarminated  for  the  night.” 

Judith  manifested  a reluctance  to  give  her 
reply,  that  had  awakened  a little  curiosity  in  the 
messenger.  Judging  from  her  known  spirit,  he 
had  never  supposed  the  girl  would  be  less  true  to 
her  feelings  and  principles  than  Hist  or  Hetty ; 
and  yet  there  was  a visible  wavering  of  purpose 
that  rendered  him  slightly  uneasy.— Even  now, 
when  directly  required  to  speak,  she  seemed  to 
hesitate  ; nor  did  she  open  her  lips  until  the  pro- 
found silence  told  her  how  anxiously  her  words 
were  expected.  Then,  indeed,  she  spoke,  but  it 
was  doubtingly  and  with  reluctance. 

“Tell  me,  first  — tell  ws,  first,  Deerslayer,” 
she  commenced,  repeating  the  words  merely  to 
change  the  emphasis — “ what  effect  will  our  an- 
swers have  on  your  fate  ? If  you  are  to  be  the 
sacrifice  of  our  spirit,  it  would  have  been  better 
had  we  all  been  more  wary  as  to  the  language  we 
use.  What,  then,  are  likely  to  be  the  conse- 
quences to  yourself?  ” 

“Lord,  Judith,  you  might  as  well  ask  m« 
which  way  the  wind  will  blow  next  week,  or  what 
will  be  the  age  of  the  next  deer  that  will  be  shot ! 

I can  only  say  that  their  faces  look  a little  dark 
upon  me,  but  it  doesn’t  thunder  every  time  a 
black  cloud  rises,  nor  does  every  puff  of  wind 
blow  up  rain.  That’s  a question,  therefore,  much 
more  easily  put  than  answered.” 


MARCH’S  DEPARTURE. 


175 


“So  is  th'13  message  of  the  Iroquois  to  me,” 
Answered  Judith,  rising,  as  if  she  had  determined 
on  her  own  course  for  the  present.  “ My  answer 
shall  be  given,  Deerslayer,  after  you  and  I have 
talked  together  alone,  when  the  others  have  laid 
themselves  down  for  the  night.” 

There  was  a decision  in  the  manner  of  the  girl 
that  disposed  Deerslayer  to  comply,  and  this  he 
did  the  more  readily  as  the  delay  could  produce 
no  material  consequences  one  way  or  the  other. 
The  meeting  now  broke  up,  Hurry  announcing 
his  resolution  to  lejive  them  speedily.  During  the 
hour  that  was  suffered  to  intervene,  in  order  that 
the  darkness  might  deepen  before  the  frontier- 
man  took  his  departure,  the  different  individuals 
occupied  themselves  in  their  customary  modes, 
the  hunter,  iu  particular,  passing  most  of  the 
time  in  making  further  inquiries  into  the  per- 
fection of  the  rifle  already  mentioned. 

The  hour  of  nine  soon  arrived,  however,  and 
then  it  had  been  determined  that  Hurry  should 
commence  his  journey.  Instead  of  making  his 
adieus  frankly  and  in  a generous  spirit,  the  little 
he  thought  it  necessary  to  say  was  uttered  sul- 
lenly and  in  coldness.  Resentment  at  what  he 
considered  Judith’s  obstinacy,  was  blended  with 
mortification  at  the  career  he  had  run  since  reach- 
ing the  lake  ; and,  as  is  usual  with  the  vulgar  and 
narrow-minded,  he  was  more  disposed  to  reproach 
others  -with  his  failures  than  to  censure  himself. 
Judith  gave  him  her  hand,  but  it  was  quite  as 
much  in  gladness  as  with  regret,  while  the  two 
Delawares  Avere  not  sorry  to  find  he  was  leaving 
them.  Of  the  whole  party,  Hetty  alone  betrayed 
any  real  feeling.  Bashfulness  and  the  timidity 
of  her  sex  and  character,  kept  even  her  aloof,  so 
that  Hurry  entered  the  canoe,  where  Deerslayer 
was  already  waiting  for  him,  before  she  ventured 
near  enough  to  be  observed.  Then,  indeed,  the 
girl  came  into  the  ark,  and  approached  its  end 
just  as  the  little  bark  was  turning  from  it  with  a 
movement  so  light  and  steady  as  to  be  almost 
imperceptible.  An  impulse  of  feeling  now  over- 
came her  timidity,  , and  Hetty  spoke. 

“ Good-by,  Hurry  ” — she  called  out  in  her 
sweet  voice — “ good-by,  dear  Hurry.  Take  care 
of  yourself  in  the  woods,  and  don’t  stop  once  till 
you  reach  the  garrison.  The  leaves  on  the  trees 
are  scarcely  plentier  than  the  Hurons  round  the 
lake,  and  they’d  not  treat  a strong  man  like  you 
as  kindly  as  they  treat  me.” 

The  ascendency  which  March  had  obtained 
over  this  feeble-minded  but  right-thinking  and 
right-feeling  girl,  arose  from  a law  of  Nature. 
Her  senses  had  been  captivated  by  his  personal 
advantages  ; and  her  moral  communications  with 

12 


him  had  never  been  sufficiently  intimate  to  coun- 
teract an  effect  that  must  have  been  otherwise 
lessened,  even  with  one  whose  mind  was  as  ob- 
tuse as  her  own.  Hetty’s  instinct  of  right,  if  such 
a term  can  be  applied  to  one  who  seemed  taught 
by  some  kind  spirit  hoAV  to  steer  her  course  with 
unerring  accuracy  between  good  and  evil,  would 
have  revolted  at  Hurry’s  character,  on  a thou- 
sand points,  had  there  been  opportunities  to  en- 
lighten her ; but  while  he  conversed  and  trifled 
with  her  sister,  at  a distance  from  herself,  "his 
perfection  of  form  and  feature  had  been  left  to 
produce  their  influence  on  her  simple  imagina- 
tion and  naturally  tender  feelings,  without  suffer- 
ing by  the  alloy  of  his  opinions  and  coarseness. 
It  is  true,  she  found  him  rough  and  rude ; but 
her  father  Avas  that,  and  most  of  the  other  men 
she  had  seen  ; and  that  which  she  believed  to 
belong  to  all  of  the  sex,  struck  her  less  unfavor- 
ably in  Hurry’s  character,  than  it  might  otherwise 
have  done.  Still,  it  was  not  absolutely  love  that 
Hetty  felt  for  Hurry,  nor  do  Ave  wish  so  to  por- 
tray it,  but  merely  that  awakening  sensibility  and 
admiration,  Avhich,  under  more  propitious  circum- 
stances, and  always  supposing  no  untoward  revela- 
tions of  character  on  the  part  of  the  young  man 
had  supervened  to  prevent  it,  might  soon  have 
ripened  into  that  engrossing  feeling.  She  felt  for 
him  an  incipient  tenderness,  but  scarcely  any  pas- 
sion. Perhaps  the  nearest  approach  to  the  latter 
that  Hetty  had  manifested,  was  to  be  seen  in  the 
sensitiveness  which  had  caused  her  to  detect 
March’s  predilection  for  her  sister ; for,  among 
Judith’s  many  admirers,  this  was  the  only  in- 
stance in  which  the  dull  mind  of  the  girl  had 
been  quickened  into  an  observation  of  the  cir- 
cumstance. 

Hurry  received  so  little  sympathy  at  his  de- 
parture, that  the  gentle  tones  of  Hetty,  as  she 
thus  called  after  him,  sounded  soothingly.  He 
checked  the  canoe,  and,  Avith  one  sweep  of  his 
powerful  arm,  brought  it  back  to  the  side  of  the 
ark.  This  was  more  than  Hetty,  whose  courage 
had  risen  with  the  departure  of  our  hero,  expect- 
ed, and  she  now  shrank  timidly  back  at  his  un- 
expected return. 

“You’re  a good  gal,  Hetty,  and  I can’t  quit 
you  without  shaking  hands,”  said  March,  kindly. 
“ Judith,  a’ ter  all,  isn’t  worth  as  much  as  you, 
though  she  may  be  a trifle  better-looking.  As  to 
wits,  if  honesty  and  fair-dealing  with  a young  man 
is  a sign  of  sense  in  a young  woman,  you’re  worth 
a dozen  Judiths  ; ay,  and  for  that  matter,  most 
young  women  of  my  acquaintance.” 

“ Don’t  say  any  thing  against  Judith,  Harry,” 
returned  Hetty,  imploringly.  “Father’s  gone,  and 


176 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


mother’s  gone,  and  nobody’s  left  but  Judith  and  i 
me,  and  it  isn’t  right  for  sisters  to  speak  evil,  or 
to  hear  evil,  of  each  other.  Father’s  in  the  lake, 
and  so  is  mother,  and  wo  should  all  fear  God, 
for  we  don’t  know  when  we  may  be  in  the  lake, 
too.” 

“ That  sounds  reasonable,  child,  as  does  most 
you  say.  Well,  if  we  ever  meet  again,  Hetty, 
you’d  find  a fri’nd  in  me,  let  your  sister  do  what 
she  may.  I was  no  great  fri’nd  of  your  mother, 
I’ll  allow,  for  we  didn’t  think  alike  on  most  p’ints ; 
but  then  your  father,  old  Tom,  and  I,  fitted  each 
other  as  remarkably  as  a buckskin  garment  will 
fit  any  reascnable-built  man.  I’ve  always  been 
unanimous  of  opinion  that  old  Floating  Tom  Hut- 
ter,  at  the  bottom,  was  a good  fellow,  and  will 
maintain  that  ag’in  all  inimies  for  his  sake,  as 
well  as  for  your’n.” 

“ Good-by,  Hurry,”  said  Hetty,  who  now  want- 
ed to  hasten  the  young  man  off,  as  ardently  as 
she  had  wished  to  keep  him  only  the  moment 
before,  though  she  could  give  no  clearer  account 
of  the  latter  than  of  the  former  feeling— “ good- 
by,  Hurry  ; take  care  of  yourself  in  the  woods  ; 
don’t  halt  till  you  reach  the  garrison.  I’ll  read 
a chapter  in  the  Bible  for  you,  before  I go  to  bed, 
and  think  of  you  in  my  prayers.” 

This  was  touching  a point  on  which  March 
had  no  sympathies,  and  without  more  words  he 
shook  the  girl  cordially  by  the  hand,  and  reen- 
tered the  canoe.  In  another  minute  the  two  ad- 
venturers were  a hundred  feet  from  the  ark,  and 
half  a dozen  had  not  elapsed  before  they  were 
completely  lost  to  view.  Hetty  sighed  deeply, 
and  rejoined  her  sister  and  Hist. 

For  some  time  Deerslayer  and  his  companion 
paddled  ahead  in  silence.  It  had  been  determined 
to  land  Hurry  at  the  precise  point  where  he  is 
represented,  in  the  commencement  of  our  tale,  as 
having  embarked  ; not  only  as  a place  little  like- 
ly to  be  watched  by  the  Hurons,  but  because  he 
was  sufficiently  familiar  with  the  signs  of  the 
woods,  at  that  spot,  to  thread  his  way  through 
them  in  the  dark.  Thither,  then,  the  light  craft 
proceeded,  being  urged  as  diligently  and  as  swift- 
ly as  two  vigorous  and  skilful  canoe-men  could 
force  their  little  vessel  through,  or  rather  over , 
the  water.  Less  than  a quarter  of  an  hour  suf- 
ficed for  the  object ; and,  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
being  within  the  shadows  of  the  shore,  and  quite 
near  the  point  they  sought,  each  ceased  his  ef- 
forts in  order  to  make  their  parting  communica- 
tions out  of  ear-shot  of  any  straggler  who  might 
happen  to  be  in  the  neighborhood. 

“ You  will  do  well  to  persuade  the  officers  at 
the  garrison  to  lead  out  a party  ag’in  these  vaga- 


bonds, as  soon  as  you  get  in,  Hurry,”  Deerslayer 
commenced  ; “ and  you’ll  do  better  if  you  volun- 
teer to  guide  it  up  yourself.  You  know  the  paths, 
and  the  shape  of  the  lake,  and  the  natur’  of  the 
land,  and  can  do  it  better  than  a common,  gin’r- 
alizing  scout.  Strike  at  the  Huron  camp  first, 
and  follow  the  signs  that  will  then  show  them- 
selves. A few  looks  at  the  hut  and  the  ark  will 
satisfy  you  as  to  the  state  of  the  Delaware  and 
the  women ; and,  at  any  rate,  there’ll  be  a fine 
opportunity  to  fall  on  the  Mingo  trail,  and  to 
make  a mark  on  the  memories  pi  the  blackguards 
that  they’ll  be  apt  to  carry  with  ’em  a long  time. 
It  won’t  be  likely  to  make  much  difference  with  me, 
since  that  matter  will  be  detarmined  afore  to-mor- 
row’s sun  has  set ; but  it  may  make  a great  change 
in  Judith  and  Hetty’s  hopes  and  prospects ! ” 

“ And  as  for  yourself,  Nathaniel,”  Hurry  in- 
quired with  more  interest  than  he  was  accustomed 
to  betray  in  the  welfare  of  others — “ and  as  for 
yourself,  what  do  you  think  is  likely  to  turn 
up  ? ” 

“ The  Lord,  in  his  wisdom,  only,  can  tell,  Hen- 
ry March  ! The  clouds  look  black  and  threaten- 
ing, and  I keep  my  mind  in  a state  to  meet  the 
worst.  Yengeful  feelin’s  are  uppermost  in  the 
hearts  of  the  Mingoes,  and  any  little  disapp’int- 
ment  about  the  plunder,  or  the  prisoners,  or 
Hist  may  make  the  torments  sartain.  The  Lord, 
in  his  wisdom,  can  only  detarmine  my  fate,  or 
your’n ! ” 

“ This  is  a black  business,  and  ought  to  be 
put  a stop  to,  in  some  way  or  other,”  answered 
Hurry,  confounding  the  distinctions  between  right 
and  wrong,  as  is  usual  with  selfish  and  vulgar 
men.  “ I heartily  wish  old  Hutter  and  I had 
scalped  every  creatur’  in  their  camp,  the  night 
we  first  landed  with  that  capital  object!  Had 
you  not  held  back,  Deerslayer,  it  might  have 
been  done ; then  you  wouldn’t  have  found  your- 
self, at  the  last  moment,  in  the  desperate  condi- 
tion you  mention.” 

“ ’Twould  have  been  better  had  you  said,  you 
wished  you  had  never  attempted  to  do  what  it 
little  becomes  any  white  man’s  gifts  to  undertake; 
in  which  case,  not  only  might  we  have  kept  from 
coming  to  blows,  but  Thomas  Hutter  would  now 
have  been  living,  and  the  hearts  of  the  savagi  s 
would  be  less  given  to  vengeance.  The  death  o. 
that  young  woman,  too,  was  oncalled  for,  Henry 
March,  and  leaves  a heavy  load  on  our  names,  if 
not  on  our  consciences  ! ” 

This  was  so  apparent,  and  it  seemed  so  ob- 
vious to  Hurry  himself,  at  the  moment,  that  he 
dashed  his  paddle  into  the  water,  and  began  to 
urge  the  canoe  toward  the  shore,  as  if  bent  only 


EXAMINATION  OF  HUTTER’S  CHEST. 


177 


on  running  away  from  his  own  lively  remorse. 
His  companion  humored  this  feverish  desire  for 
change,  and,  in  a minute  or  two,  the  bows  of  the 
boat  grated  lightly  on  the  shingle  of  the  beach. 
To  land,  shoulder  his  pack  and  rifle,  and  to  get 
ready  for  his  march,  occupied  Hurry  but  an  in- 
stant, and,  with  a growling  adieu,  he  had  already 
commenced  his  march,  when  a sudden  twinge  of 
feeling  brought  him  to  a dead  stop,  and  immedi- 
ately after  to  the  other’s  side. 

“ You  cannot  mean  to  give  yourself  up  ag’in 
to  them  murdering  savages,  Deerslayer ! ” he 
said,  quite  as  much  in  angry  remonstrance  as 
with  generous  feeling.  “ ’Twould  be  the  act  of  a 
madman  or  a fool ! ” 

“ There’s  them  that  thinks  it  madness  to  keep 
their  words,  and  there’s  them  that  don’t,  Hurry 
Harry.  You  may  be  one  of  the  first,  but  I’m  one 
of  the  last.  No  red-skin  breathing  shall  have  it 
in  his  power  to  say  that  a Mingo  minds  his  word 
more  than  a man  of  white  blood  and  white  gifts, 
in  any  thing  that  consarns  me.  I’m  out  on  a 
furlough,  and,  if  I’ve  strength  and  reason,  I’ll  go 
in  on  a furlough  afore  noon  to-morrow  ! ” 

“ What’s  an  Injin,  or  a word  passed,  or  a fur- 
lough taken  from  creatur’s  like  them,  that  have 
neither  souls  nor  names  ? ” 

“ If  they’ve  neither  souls  nor  names,  you  and 
I have  both,  Harry  March,  and  one  is  account- 
able for  the  other.  This  furlough  is  not,  as  you 
seem  to  think,  a .matter  altogether  atween  me 
and  the  Mingoes,  seeing  it  is  a solemn  bargain 
made  atween  me  and  God.  He  who  thinks  that 
he  can  say  what  he  pleases,  in  his  distress,  and 
that  ’twill  all  pass  for  nothing,  because  ’tis  ut- 
tered in  the  forest,  and  into  red  men’s  ears, 
knows  little  of  his  situation,  and  hopes,  and 
wants.  The  words  are  said  to  the  ears  of  the 
Almighty.  The  air  is  his  breath,  and  the  light 
of  the  sun  is  little  more  than  a glance  of  his  eye. 
Farewell,  Harry  ; we  may  not  meet  ag’in ; but  I 
would  wish  you  never  to  treat  a furlough,  or  any 
other  solemn  thing  that  your  Christian  God  has 
been  called  on  to  witness,  as  a duty  so  light  that 
it  may  be  forgotten  according  to  the  wants  of 
the  body,  or  even  according  to  the  cravings  of 
the  spirit.” 

March  was  now  glad  again  to  escape.  It  was 
quite  impossible  that  he  could  enter  into  the  sen- 
timents that  ennobled  his  companion,  and  he 
broke  away  from  both  with  an  impatience  that 
caused  him  secretly  to  curse  the  folly  that  could 
induce  a man  to  rush,  as  it  were,  on  his  own  de- 
struction. Deerslayer,  on  the  contrary,  mani- 
fested no  such  excitement.  Sustained  by  his 
principles,  inflexible  in  the  purpose  of  acting  up 


to  them,  and  superior  to  any  unmanly  apprehen- 
sion, he  regarded  all  before  him  as  a matter  of 
course,  and  no  more  thought  of  making  any  un- 
worthy attempt  to  avoid  it,  than  a Mussulman 
thinks  of  counteracting  the  decrees  of  Provi- 
dence. He  stood  calmly  on  the  shore,  listening 
to  the  reckless  tread  with  which  Hurry  betrayed 
his  progress  through  the  bushes,  shook  his  head 
in  dissatisfaction  at  the  want  of  caution,  and 
then  stepped  quietly  into  his  canoe.  Before  he 
dropped  the  paddle  again  into  the  water,  the 
young  man  gazed  about  him  at  the  scene  pre- 
sented by  the  starlit  night.  This  was  the  spot 
where  he  had  first  laid  his  eyes  on  the  beautiful 
sheet  of  water  on  which  he  floated.  If  it  was 
then  glorious  in  the  bright  light  of  summer’s 
noontide,  it  was  now  sad  and  melancholy  under 
the  shadows  of  night.  The  mountains  rose 
around  it,  like  black  barriers  to  exclude  the  out- 
er world ; and  the  gleams  of  pale  light  that  rested 
on  the  broader  parts  of  the  basin  were  no  bad 
symbols  of  the  faintness  of  the  hopes  that  were 
so  dimly  visible  in  his  own  future.  Sighing 
heavily,  he  pushed  the  canoe  from  the  land,  and 
took  his  way  back,  with  steady  diligence,  toward 
the  ark  and  the  castle. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

“ Tliy  secret  pleasures  turned  to  open  shame; 

Thy  private  feasting  to  a public  fast ; 

Thy  smoothing  titles  to  a ragged  name ; 

Thy  sugared  tongue  to  bitter  wormwood  taste ; 

Thy  violent  vanities  can  never  last.” 

Rape  of  Lttceece. 

Judith  was  waiting  the  return  of  Deerslayer, 
on  the  platform,  with  stifled  impatience,  when  the 
latter  reached  the  hut.  Hist  and  Hetty  were  both 
in  a deep  sleep,  on  the  bed  usually  occupied  by 
the  two  daughters  of  the  house,  and  the  Dela- 
ware was  stretched  on  the  floor  of  the  adjoining 
room,  his  rifle  at  his  side,  and  a blanket  over 
him,  already  dreaming  of  the  events  of  the  last 
few  days.  There  was  a lamp  burning  in  the  ark ; 
for  the  family  was  accustomed  to  indulge  in  this 
luxury  on  extraordinary  occasions,  and  possessed 
the  means,  the  vessel  being  of  a form  and  mate- 
rial to  render  it  probable  it  had  once  been  an 
occupant  of  the  chest. 

As  soon  as  the  girl  got  a glimpse  of  the  canoe, 
she  ceased  her  hurried  walk  up  and  down  the 
platform,  and  stood  ready  to  receive  the  young 
man,  whose  return  she  had  now  been  anxiously 
expecting  for  some  time.  She  helped  him  to  fast- 
en the  canoe,  and  by  aiding  in  the  other  little 


178 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


3imilar  employments,  manifested  her  desire  to 
reach  a moment  of  liberty  as  soon  as  possible. 
When  this  was  done,  in  answer  to  an  inquiry  of 
his  she  informed  him  of  the  manner  in  which 
their  companions  had  disposed  of  themselves. 
He  listened  attentively ; for  the  manner  of  the 
girl  was  so  earnest  and  impressive  as  to  apprise 
him  that  she  had  something  on  her  mind  of  more 
than  common  concern. 

“And  now,  Deerslayer,”  Judith  continued, 
“ you  see  I have  lighted  the  lamp,  and  put  it  in 
the  cabin  of  the  ark.  That  is  never  done  with 
us,  unless  on  great  occasions,  and  I consider  this 
night  as  the  most  important  of  my  life.  Will  you 
follow  me  and  see  what  I have  to  show  you — 
hear  what  I have  to  say  ? ” 

The  hunter  was  a little  surprised  ; but  mak- 
ing no  objections,  both  were  soon  in  the  scow, 
and  in  the  room  that  contained  the  light.  Here 
two  stools  were  placed  at  the  side  of  the  chest, 
with  the  lamp  on  another,  and  a table  near  by  to 
receive  the  different  articles  as  they  might  be 
brought  to  view.  This  arrangement  had  its  rise 
in  the  feverish  impatience  of  the  girl,  which  could 
brook  no  delay  that  it  was  in  her  power  to  obvi- 
ate. Even  all  the  padlocks  were  removed,  and  it 
only  remained  to  raise  the  heavy  lid,  and  to  expose 
the  treasures  of  this  long-secreted  hoard. 

“ I see,  in  part,  what  all  this  means,”  ob- 
served Deerslayer,  “ yes,  I see  through  it,  in  part. 
But  why  is  not  Hetty  present?  Now  Thomas 
Hutter  is  gone,  she  is  one  of  the  owners  of  these 
cur’osities,  and  ought  to  see  them  opened  and 
handled.” 

“Hetty  sleeps,”  answered  Judith,  hastily. 
“ Happily  for  her,  fine  clothes  and  riches  have  no 
charms.  Besides,  she  has  this  night  given  her 
share  of  all  that  the  chest  may  hold,  to  me,  that 
I may  do  with  it  as  I please.” 

“Is  poor  Hetty  composs  enough  for  that,  Ju- 
dith ? ” demanded  the  just-minded  young  man. 
“It’s  a good  rule,  and  a righteous  one,  never  to 
take  when  those  that  give  don’t  know  the  valie 
of  their  gifts ; and  such  as  God  has  visited  heavi- 
ly in  their  wits,  ought  to  be  dealt  with  as  care- 
fully as  children  that  haven’t  yet  come  to  their 
understandings.” 

Judith  was  hurt  at  this  rebuke,  coming  from 
the  person  it  did  ; but  she  would  have  felt  it  far 
more  keenly,  had  not  her  conscience  fully  ac- 
quitted her  of  any  unjust  intentions  toward  her 
feeble-minded  but  confiding  sister.  It  was  not  a 
moment,  however,  to  betray  any  of  her  usual 
mountings  of  the  spirit,  and  she  smothered  the 
passing  sensation  in  the  desire  to  come  to  the 
great  object  she  had  in  view. 


“Hetty  will  not  be  wronged,”  she  mildly  an- 
swered ; “ she  even  knows,  not  only  what  I am 
about  to  do,  Deerslayer,  but  why  I do  it.  So  take 
your  seat,  raise  the  lid  of  the  chest,  and  this  time 
we  will  go  to  the  bottom.  I shall  be  disappointed 
if  something  is  not  found  to  tell  us  more  of  the 
history  of  Thomas  Hutter  and  my  mother.” 

“Why  Thomas  Hutter,  Judith,  and  not  your 
father  ? The  dead  ought  to  meet  with  as  much 
reverence  as  the  living  ! ” 

“ I have  long  suspected  that  Thomas  Hutter 
was  not  my  father,  though  I did  think  he  might 
have  been  Hetty’s ; but  now  we  know  he  was 
the  father  of  neither.  He  acknowledged  that 
much  in  his  dying  moments.  I am  old  enough  to 
remember  better  things  than  we  have  seen  on 
this  lake,  though  they  are  so  faintly  impressed  on 
my  memory,  that  the  earlier  part  of  my  life  seems 
like  a dream.” 

“ Dreams  are  but  miserable  guides  when  one 
has  to  detarmine  about  realities,  Judith,”  returned 
the  other,  admonishingly.  “ Fancy  nothing  and 
hope  nothing  on  their  account ; though  I’ve 
known  chiefs  that  thought  ’em  useful.” 

“ I expect  nothing  for  the  future  from  them, 
my  good  friend,  but  cannot  help  remembering 
what  has  been.  This  is  idle,  however,  when  half 
an  hour  of  examination  may  tell  us  all,  or  even 
more  than  I want  to  know.” 

Deerslayer,  who  comprehended  the  girl’s  im- 
patience, now  took  his  seat,  and  proceeded  once 
more  to  bring  to  light  the  different  articles  that 
the  chest  contained.  As  a matter  of  course,  all 
that  had  been  previously  examined  were  found 
where  they  had  been  last  deposited;  and  they 
excited  much  less  interest  or  comment  than  when 
formerly  exposed  to  view.  Even  Judith  laid  aside 
the  rich  brocade  with  an  air  of  indifference,  for 
she  had  a far  higher  aim  before  her  than  the  in- 
dulgence of  vanity,  and  was  impatient  to  come  at 
the  still  hidden,  or  rather  unknown,  treasures. 

“ All  these  we  have  seen  before,”  she  said, 
“ and  will  not  stop  to  open.  The  bundle  under 
your  hand,  Deerslayer,  is  a fresh  one;  that  we 
will  look  into.  God  send  it  may  contain  some 
thing  to  tell  poor  Hetty  and  myself  who  we  really 
are ! ” 

“Ay,  if  some  bundles  could  speak,  they 
might  tell  wonderful  secrets,”  returned  the  young 
man,  deliberately  undoing  the  folds  of  another 
piece  of  coarse  canvas,  in  order  to  come  at  the 
contents  of  the  roll  that  lay  on  his  knees; 
“though  this  doesn’t  seem  to  be  one  of  that  fam- 
ily, seeing  ’tis  neither  more  nor  less  than  a sort 
of  flag ; though  of  what  nation,  it  passes  my 
l’amin’  to  say.” 


A SAD  HISTORY. 


179 


“ That  flag  must  have  some  meaning  to  it,” 
Judith  hurriedly  interposed.  “ Open  it  wider, 
Deerslayer,  that  We  may  see  the  colors.” 

“ Well,  I pity  the  ensign  that  has  to  shoulder 
this  cloth,  and  to  parade  it  about  in  the  field. 
Why,  ’tis  large  enough,  Judith,  to  make  a dozen 
of  them  colors  the  king’s  officers  set  so  much 
gtore  by.  These  can  be  no  ensign’s  colors,  but 
a gin’ral’s ! ’ 

“ A ship  might  carry  it,  Deerslayer ; and  ships 
I know  do  use  such  things.  Have  you  never 
heard  any  fearful  stories  about  Thomas  Hutter’s 
having  once  been  concerned  with  the  people  they 
call  buccaneers  ? ” 

“ Buck-and-near ! Not  I — not  I — I never 
heard  him  mentioned  as  good  at  a buck  far  off, 
or  near  by.  Hurry  Harry  did  tell  me  something 
about  its  being  supposed  that  he  had  formerly,  in 
some  way  or  other,  dealings  with  sartain  sea- 
robbers  ; but,  Lord,  Judith,  it  can’t  surely  give 
you  any  satisfaction  to  make  out  that  ag’in  your 
mother’s  own  husband,  though  he  isn’t  your 
father  ? ” 

“Any  thing  will  give  me  satisfaction  that 
tells  me  who  I am,  and  helps  to  explain  the 
dreams  of  childhood.  Hy  mother’s  husband  ! 
Yes,  he  must  have  been  that,  though  why  a wom- 
an like  her  should  have  chosen  a man  like  him , 
is  more  than  mortal  reason  can  explain.  You 
never  saw  mother,  Deerslayer,  and  can’t  feel  the 
vast,  vast  difference  there  was  between  them ! ” 

“ Such  things  do  happen,  howsever — yes,  they 
io  happen;  though  why  Providence  lets  them 
come  to  pass,  is  more  than  I understand.  I’ve 
knew  the  Percest  warriors  with  the  gentlest  wives 
of  any  in  the  tribe,  and  awful  scolds  fall  to  the 
lot  of  Injins  fit  to  be  missionaries.” 

“ That  was  net  it,  Deerslayer ; that  was  not 
it.  Oh  ! if  it  should  prove  that — no ; I cannot 
wish  she  should  not  have  been  his  wife  at  all. 
That  no  daughter  can  wish  for  her  own  mother ! 
Go  on,  now,  and  let  us  see  what  the  square-look- 
ing bundle  holds.” 

Deerslayer  complied,  and  he  found  that  it  con- 
tained a small  trunk  of  pretty  workmanship,  but 
fastened.  The  next  point  was  to  find  a key ; but 
search  proving  ineffectual,  it  was  determined  to 
force  the  lock.  This  Deerslayer  soon  effected  by 
the  aid  of  an  iron  instrument,  and  it  was  found 
that  the  interior  was  nearly  filled  with  papers. 
Many  were  letters ; some  fragments  of  manu- 
scripts, memorandums,  accounts,  and  other  simi- 
lar documents.  The  hawk  does  not  pounce  upon 
the  chicken  with  a more  sudden  swoop  than  Judith 
sprang  forward  to  seize  this  mine  of  hitherto  con- 
cealed knowledge.  Her  education,  as  the  reader 


will  have  perceived,  was  far  superior  to  her  situ- 
ation in  life,  and  her  eye  glanced  over  page  af- 
ter page  of  the  letters,  with  a readiness  that 
her  schooling  supplied,  and  with  an  avidity  that 
found  its  origin  in  her  feelings.  At  first,  it  was 
evident  that  the  girl  was  gratified,  and,  we  may 
add,  with  reason ; for  the  letters,  written  by  fe- 
males, in  innocence  and  affection,  were  of  a char- 
acter to  cause  her  to  feel  proud  of  those  with 
whom  she  had  every  reason  to  think  she  was 
closely  connected  by  the  ties  of  blood.  It  does 
not  come  within  the  scope  of  our  plan  to  give 
more  of  these  epistles,  however,  than  a general 
idea  of  their  contents,  and  this  will  best  be  done 
by  describing  the  effect  they  produced  on  the 
manner,  appearance,  and  feeling  of  her  who  was 
so  eagerly  perusing  them. 

It  has  been  said,  already,  that  Judith  was 
much  gratified  with  the  letters  that  first  met  her 
eye.  They  contained  the  correspondence  of  an 
affectionate  and  intelligent  mother  to  an  absent 
daughter,  with  such  allusions  to  the  answers  as 
served,  in  a great  measure,  to  fill  up  the  vacuum 
left  by  the  replies.  They  were  not  without  ad- 
monitions and  warnings,  however,  and  Judith 
felt  the  blood  mounting  to  her  temples,  and  a 
cold  shudder  succeeding,  as  she  read  one  in  which 
the  propriety  of  the  daughter’s  indulging  in  as 
much  intimacy,  as  had  evidently  been  described 
in  one  of  the  daughter’s  own  letters,  with  an 
officer  “who  came  from  Eprope,  and  who  could 
hardly  be  supposed  to  wish  to  form  an  honorable 
connection  in  America,”  was  rather  coldly  com- 
mented on  by  the  mother.  What  rendered  it  sin- 
gular, was  the  fact  that  the  signatures  had  been 
carefully  cut  from  every  one  of  these  letters,  and 
wherever  a name  occurred  in  the  body  of  the 
epistles,  it  had  been  erased  with  so  much  dili- 
gence as  to  render  it  impossible  to  read  it.  They 
had  all  been  enclosed  in  envelopes,  according  to 
the  fashion  of  the  age,  and  not  an  address  either 
was  to  be  found.  Still,  the  letters  themselves  had 
been  religiously  preserved,  and  Judith  thought 
she  could  discover  traces  of  tears  remaining  on 
several.  She  now  remembered  to  have  seen  the 
little  trunk  in  her  mother’s  keeping,  previously 
to  her  death,  and  she  supposed  it  had  first  been 
deposited  in  the  chest,  along  with  the  other  for- 
gotten or  concealed  objects,  when  the  letters 
could  no  longer  contribute  to  that  parent’s  grief 
or  happiness. 

Next  came  another  bundle,  and  these  were 
filled  with  the  protestations  of  love,  written  with 
passion  certainly,  but  also  with  that  deceit  which 
men  so  often  think  it  justifiable  to  use  to  the 
other  sex.  Judith  had  shed  tears  abundantly 


180 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


over  the  first  packet,  but  now  she  felt  a senti- 
ment of  indignation  and  pride  better  sustaining 
her.  Her  hand  shook,  however,  and  cold  shivers 
again  passed  through  her  frame,  as  she  discov- 
ered a few  points  of  strong  resemblance  between 
these  letters  and  some  it  had  been  her  own  fate 
to  receive.  Once,  indeed,  she  laid  the  packet 
down,  bowed  her  head  to  her  knees,  and  seemed 
nearly  convulsed.  All  this  time,  Deerslayer  sat  a 
silent  but  attentive  observer  of  every  thing  that 
passed.  As  Judith  read  a letter,  she  put  it  into 
his  hands  to  hold,  until  she  could  peruse  the 
next ; but  this  seemed  in  no  degree  to  enlighten 
her  companion,  as  he  was  totally  unable  to  read. 
Nevertheless,  he  was  not  entirely  at  fault  in  dis- 
covering the  passions  that  were  contending  in  the 
bosom  of  the  fair  creature  by  bis  side,  and,  as 
occasional  sentences  escaped  her  in  murmurs,  he 
was  nearer  the  truth,  in  his  divinations  or  con- 
jectures, than  the  girl  would  have  been  pleased 
at  discovering. 

Judith  had  commenced  with  the  earliest  let- 
ters, luckily  for  a ready  comprehension  of  the  tale 
^ they  told;  for  they  were  carefully  arranged  in 
chronological  order,  and,  to  any  one  who  would 
take  the  trouble  to  peruse  them,  would  have  re- 
vealed a sad  history  of  gratified  passion,  coldness, 
and,  finally,  of  aversion.  As  she  obtained  the 
clew  to  their  import,  her  impatience  could  not 
admit  of  delay,  and  she  soon  got  to  glancing  her 
eyes  over  a page,  by  way  of  coming  at  the  truth 
in  the  briefest  manner  possible.  By  adopting 
this  expedient,  one  to  which  all  who  are  eager  to 
arrive  at  results,  without  encumbering  themselves 
with  details,  are  so  apt  to  resort,  Judith  made  a 
vapid  progress  in  this  melancholy  revelation  of 
her  mother’s  failings  and  punishment.  She  saw 
that  the  period  of  her  own  birth  was  distinctly 
referred  to,  and  even  learned  that  the  homely 
name  she  bore  was  given  her  by  the  father  of 
whose  person  she  retained  so  faint  an  impression 
ns  to  resemble  a dream.  This  name  was  not  ob- 
literated from  the  text  of  the  letters,  but  stood  as 
if  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  erasing  it.  Het- 
ty’s birth  was  mentioned  once,  and  in  that  in- 
stance the  name  was  the  mother’s ; but  ere  this 
period  was  reached  came  the  signs  of  coldness, 
shadowing  forth  the  desertion  that  was  so  soon 
to  follow.  It  was  in  this  stage  of  the  correspond- 
ence that  her  mother  had  recourse  to  the  plan  of 
copying  her  own  epistles.  They  were  but  few, 
but  were  eloquent  with  the  feelings  of  blighted 
affection  and  contrition.  Judith  sobbed  over 
them  until  again  and  again  she  felt  compelled  to 
lay  them  aside,  from  sheer  physical  inability  to 
see,  her  eyes  being  literally  obscured  with  tears.. 


Still  she  returned  to  the  task,  with  increasing 
interest,  and  finally  succeeded  in  reaching  the  end 
of  the  last  communication  that  had  probably  ever 
passed  between  her  parents. 

All  this  occupied  fully  an  hour ; for  near  a 
hundred  letters  were  glanced  at,  and  some  twenty 
had  been  closely  read.  The  truth  now  shone 
clear  upon  the  acute  mind  of  Judith,  so  far  as  her 
own  birth  and  that  of  Hetty  were  concerned.  She 
sickened  at  the  conviction,  and,  for  the  moment, 
the  rest  of  the  world  seemed  to  be  cut  off  from 
her,  and  she  had  now  additional  reasons  for  wish- 
ing to  pass  the  remainder  of  her  life  on  the  lake, 
where  she  had  already  seen  so  many  bright  and 
so  many  sorrowing  days. 

There  yet  remained  more  letters  to  examine. 
Judith  found  these  were  a correspondence  between 
her  mother  and  Thomas  Hovey.  The  originals 
of  both  parties  were  carefully  arranged,  letter  and 
answer,  side  by  side ; and  they  told  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  connection  between  the  ill-assorted  pair 
far  more  plainly  than  Judith  wished  to  learn  it. 
Her  mother  made  the  advances  toward  a marriage, 
to  the  surprise,  not  to  say  horror,  of  her  daughter ; 
and  she  actually  found  a relief  when  she  dis- 
covered traces  of  what  struck  her  as  insanity,  or 
a morbid  disposition,  bordering  on  that  dire  ca- 
lamity, in  the  earlier  letters  of  that  ill-fated  woman. 
The  answers  of  Hovey  were  coarse  and  illiterate, 
though  they  manifested  a sufficient  desire  to  ob- 
tain the  hand  of  a woman  of  singular  personal 
attractions,  and  whose  great  error  he  was  willing 
to  overlook,  for  the  advantage  of  possessing  one 
every  way  so  much  his  superior,  and  who,  it  also 
appeared,  was  not  altogether  destitute  of  money. 
The  remainder  of  this  part  of  the  correspondence 
wa3  brief ; and  it  was  soon  confined  to  a few  com- 
munications on  business,  in  which  the  miserable 
wife  hastened  the  absent  husband  in  his  prepara- 
tions to  abandon  a world  which  there  was  a 
sufficient  reason  to  think  was  as  dangerous  to  one 
of  the  parties  as  it  was  disagreeable  to  the  other. 
But  a single  expression  had  escaped  her  mother, 
by  which  Judith  could  get  a clew  to  the  motives 
that  had  induced  her  to  marry  Hovey,  or  Hutter ; 
and  this  she  found  was  that  feeling  of  resentment 
which  so  often  tempts  the  injured  to  inflict  wrongs 
on  themselves,  by  way  of  heaping  coals  on  the 
heads  of  those  through  whom  they  have  suffered. 
Judith  had  enough  of  the  spirit  of  that  mother  to 
comprehend  this  sentiment,  and  for  a moment  did 
she  see  the  exceeding  folly  which  permitted  such 
revengeful  feelings  to  get  the  ascendency. 

There,  what  may  be  called  the  historical  part 
of  the  papers  ceased.  Among  the  loose  fragments, 
however,  was  an  old  newspaper  that  contained  a 


THE  COLONIAL  GOVERNOR’S  PROCLAMATION. 


181 


proclamation  offering  a reward  for  the  apprehen- 
sion of  certain  freebooters  by  name,  among  which 
was  that  of  Thomas  Hovey.  The  attention  of  the 
girl  was  drawn  to  the  proclamation,  and  to  this 
particular  name,  by  the  circumstance  that  black 
lines  had  been  drawn  under  both  in  ink.  Noth- 
ing else  was  found  among  the  papers  that  could 
lead  to  a discovery  of  either  the  name  or  the  place 
of  residence  of  the  wife  of  Hutter.  All  the  dates, 
signatures,  and  addresses,  had  been  cut  from  the 
letters,  and  wherever  a word  occurred  in  the  body 
of  the  communications  that  might  furnish  a clew, 
it  was  scrupulously  erased.  Thus  Judith  found 
all  her  hopes  of  ascertaining  who  her  parents 
were,  defeated,  and  she  was  obliged  to  fall  back 
on  her  own  resources  and  habits  for  every  thing 
connected  with  the  future.  Her  recollection  of 
her  mother’s  manners,  conversation,  and  suffer- 
ings, filled  up  many  a gap  in  the  historical  facts 
she  had  now  discovered ; and  the  truth  in  its  out- 
lines stood  sufficiently  distinct  before  her  to  take 
away  all  desire,  indeed,  to  possess  any  more 
details.  Throwing  herself  back  in  her  seat,  she 
simply  desired  her  companion  to  finish  the  ex- 
amination of  the  other  articles  in  the  chest,  as  it 
might  yet  contain  something  of  importance. 

“I’ll  do  it,  Judith — I’ll  do  it,”  returned  the 
patient  Deerslayer;  “but  if  there’s  many  more 
letters  to  read,  we  shall  see  the  sun  ag’in  afore 
you’ve  got  through  with  the  reading  of  them ! 
Two  good  hours  have  you  been  looking  at  them 
bits  of  papers ! ” 

“ They  tell  me  of  my  parents,  Deerslayer,  and 
have  settled  my  plans  for  life.  A girl  may  be 
excused,  who  reads  about  her  own  father  and 
mother,  and  that  too  for  the  first  time  in  her  life ! 
I am  sorry  to  have  kept  you  waiting.” 

“Never  mind  me,  gal;  never  mind  me.  It 
matters  little  whether  I sleep  or  watch  ; but 
though  you  be  pleasant  to  look  at,  and  are  so 
handsome,  Judith,  it  is  not  altogether  agreeable 
to  sit  so  long  to  behold  you  shedding  tears.  I 
know  that  tears  don’t  kill,  and  that  some  people 
are  better  for  shedding  a few  now  and  then,  espe- 
cially women ; but  I’d  rather  see  you  smile  any 
time,  Judith,  than  see  you  weep.” 

This  gallant  speech  was  rewarded  with  a sweet 
though  a melancholy  smile;  and  then  the  girl 
again  desired  her  companion  to  finish  the  exami- 
nation .of  the  chest.  The  search  necessarily  con- 
tinued some  time,  during  which  Judith  collected 
her  thoughts  and  regained  her  composure.  She 
took  no  part  in  the  search,  leaving  every  thing  to 
the  young  man,  looking  listlessly  herself,  at  the 
different  articles  that  came  uppermost.  Nothing 
further  of  much  interest  or  value,  however,  was 


found.  A sword  or  two,  such  as  were  then  worn 
by  gentlemen,  some  buckles  of  silver,  or  so  richly 
plated  as  to  appear  silver,  and  a few  handsome 
articles  of  female  dress,  composed  the  principal 
discoveries.  It  struck  both  Judith  and  the  Deer- 
slayer, notwithstanding,  that  some  of  these  things 
might  be  made  useful  in  effecting  a negotiation 
with  the  Iroquois,  though  the  latter  saw  a dif- 
ficulty in  the  way  that  was  not  so  apparent  to  the 
former.  The  conversation  was  first  renewed  in 
connection  with  this  point. 

“ And  now,  Deerslayer,”  said  Judith,  “ we  may 
talk  of  yourself,  and  of  the  means  of  getting  you 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  Hurons.  Any  part,  or 
all  of  what  you  have  seen  in  the  chest,  will  be 
cheerfully  given  by  me  and  Hetty  to  set  you  at 
liberty.” 

“Well,  that’s  ginerous — yes,  ’tis  downright 
free-hearted,  and  free-handed  and  ginerous.  This 
is  the  way  with  women ; when  they  take  up  a 
fri’ndship,  they  do  nothing  by  halves,  but  are  as 
willing  to  part  with  their  property  as  if  it  had  no 
valie  in  their  eyes.  Howsever,  while  I thank  you 
both,  just  as  much  as  if  the  bargain  was  made, 
and  Rivenoak,  or  any  of  the  other  vagabonds,  was 
here  to  accept  and  close  the  treaty,  there’s  two 
principal  reasons  why  it  can  never  come  to  pass, 
which  may  be  as  well  told  at  once,  in  order  no 
onlikely  expectations  may  be  raised  in  you,  or 
any  onjustifiable  hopes  in  me.” 

“ What  reason  can  there  be,  if  Hetty  and  I 
are  willing  to  part  with  the  trifles  for  your  sake, 
and  the  savages  are  willing  to  receive  them  ? ” 

“That’s  it,  Judith — you’ve  got  the  idees,  but 
they’re  a little  out  of  their  places,  as  if  a hound 
should  take  the  back’ard  instead  of  the  leading 
scent.  That  the  Mingoes  will  be  willing  to  re- 
ceive them  things,  or  any  more  like  ’em,  you  may 
have  to  offer,  is  probable  enough ; but  whether 
they’ll  pay  valie  for  ’em  is  quite  another  matter. 
Ask  yourself,  Judith,  if  any  one  should  send  you 
a message  to  say  that,  for  such  or  such  a price, 
you  and  Hetty  might  have  that  chist  and  all  it 
holds,  whether  you’d  think  it  worth  your  while  to 
waste  many  words  on  the  bargain  ? ” 

“ But  this  chest  and  all  it  holds  are  already 
ours ; there  is  no  reason  why  we  should  purchase 
what  is  already  our  own.” 

“Just  so  the  Mingoes  calculate!  They  say 
the  chist  is  theirs  already ; or  as  good  as  theirs, 
and  they’ll  not  thank  anybody  for  the  key.” 

“ I understand  you,  Deerslayer ; surely  we  are 
yet  in  possession  of  the  lake,  and  we  can  keep  pos- 
session of  it  until  Hurry  sends  troops  to  drive  off 
the  enemy.  This  we  may  certainly  do,  provided 
you  will  stay  with  us,  instead  of  going  back  and 


L82 


the  deers layer 


giving  yourself  up  a prisoner  again,  as  you  now 
seem  determined  on.” 

“ That  Hurry  Harry  should  talk  in  this  way, 
is  natr’al  and  according  to  the  gifts  of  the  man. 
He  knows  no  better,  and,  therefore,  he  is  little 
likely  to  feel  or  to  act  any  better ; but,  Judith,  I 
put  it  to  your  heart  and  conscience— woufd  you, 
could  you  think  of  me  as  favorably  as  I hope  and 
believe  you  now  do,  was  I to  forget  my  furlough 
and  not  go  back  to  the  camp  ? ” 

“ To  think  more  favorably  of  you  than  I now 
do,  Deerslayer,  would  not  be  easy ; but  I might 
continue  to  think  as  favorably — at  least  it  seems 
so— I hope  I could ; for  a world  wouldn’t  tempt 
me  to  let  you  do  any  thing  that  might  change  my 
real  opinion  of  you.” 

“ Then  don’t  try  to  entice  me  to  overlook  my 
furlough,  gal ! A furlough  is  a sacred  thing 
among  warriors,  and  men  that  carry  their  lives  in 
their  hands,  as  we  of  the  forests  do ; and  what  a 
grievous  disapp’intment  would  it  be  to  old  Tame- 
nund,  and  to  Uncas,  the  father  of  the  Sarpent,  and 
to  my  other  fri’nds  in  the  tribe,  if  I was  so  to  dis- 
grace myself  on  my  very  first  war-path  ? This  you 
will  parceive,  moreover,  Judith,  is  without  laying 
any  stress  on  nat’ral  gifts,  and  a white  man’s  du- 
ties, to  say  nothing  of  conscience.  The  last  is  king 
with  me,  and  I try  never  to  dispute  his  orders.” 

“I  believe  you  are  right,  Deerslayer,”  re- 
turned the  girl,  after  a little  reflection,  and  in  a 
saddened  voice ; “ a man  like  yon  ought  not  to 
act  as  the  selfish  and  dishonest  would  be  apt  to 
act ; you  must,  indeed,  go  back.  W e will  talk  no 
more  of  this,  then ; should  I persuade  yQu  to  any 
thing  for  which  you  would  be  sorry  hereafter,  my 
own  regret  would  not  be  less  than  yours.  You 

shall  not  have  it  to  say,  Judith 1 scarce 

know  by  what  name  to  call  myself,  now ! ” 

“And  why  not? — why  not,  gal?  Children 
take  the  names  of  their  parents  nat’rally  and  by 
a sort  of  gift,  like ; and  why  shouldn’t  you  and 
Hetty  do  as  others  have  done  afore  ye  ? Hutter 
was  the  old  man’s  name,  and  Hutter  should  be 
the  name  of  his  darters— at  least  until  you  are 
given  away  in  lawful  and  holy  wedlock.” 

“ I am  Judith,  and  Judith  only,”  returned  the 
girl,  positively ; “ until  the  law  gives  me  a right 
to  another  name.  Never  will  I use  that  of  Thom- 
as Hutter  again;  nor,  with  my  consent,  shall 
Hetty ! Hutter  was  not  his  own  name,  I find ; 
but  had  he  a thousand  rights  to  it,  it  would  give 
none  to  me.  He  was  not  my  father,  thank  Heav- 
en ; though  I may  have  no  reason  to  be  proud  of 
him  that  was  /” 

“This  is  strange,”  said  Deerslayer,  looking 
steadily  at  the  excited  girl,  anxious  to  know  more, 


but  unwilling  to  inquire  into  matters  that  did  not 
properly  concern  him  ; “ yes,  this  is  very  strange 
and  oncommon  ! Thomas  Hutter  wasn’t  Thomas 
Hutter,  and  his  darters  weren’t  his  darters ! Who, 
then,  could  Thomas  Hutter  be,  and  who  are  his 
darters  ? ” 

“Did  you  never  hear  any  thing  whispered 
against  the  former  life  of  this  person,  Deer- 
slayer ? ” demanded  Judith.  “ Passing,  as  I did, 
for  his  child,  such  reports  reached  even  me.’* 

“ I’ll  not  deny  it,  Judith ; no,  I’ll  not  deny  it. 
Sartain  things  have  been  said,  as  I’ve  told  you; 
but  I’m  not  very  credible  as  to  reports.  Young 
as  I am,  I’ve  lived  long  enough  to  l’arn  there’s 
two  sorts  of  characters  in  the  world.  Them  that 
is  ’arned  by  deeds,  and  them  that  is  ’arned  by 
tongues ; and  so  I prefer  to  see  and  judge  for 
myself,  instead  of  letting  every  jaw  that  chooses 
to  wag  become  my  judge.  Hurry  Harry  spoke 
pretty  plainly  of  the  whole  family,  as  we  jour- 
neyed this-a-way ; and  he  did  hint  something  con- 
sarning  Thomas  Hutter’s  having  been  a free-liver 
on  the  water,  in  his  younger  days.  By  free-liver, 

I mean  that  he  made  free  to  live  on  other  men’s 
goods.” 

“ He  told  you  he  was  a pirate — there  4s  no 
need  of  mincing  matters  between  friends.  Read 
that,  Deerslayer,  and  you  will  see  that  he  told  you 
no  more  than  the  truth.  This  Thomas  Hovey 
was  the  Thomas  Hutter  you  knew,  as  is  seen  by 
these  letters.” 

As  Judith  spoke,  with  a flushed  cheek  and 
eyes  dazzling  with  the  brilliancy  of  excitement, 
she  held  the  newspaper  toward  her  companion, 
pointing  to  the  proclamation  of  a colonial  gov- 
ernor, already  mentioned. 

“Bless  you,  Judith!”  answered  the  other, 
laughing;  “you  might  as  well  ask  me  to  print 
that— or,  for  that  matter,  to  write  it.  My  edi- 
cation  has  been  altogether  in  the  woods ; the  only 
book  I read,  or  care  about  reading,  is  the  one 
which  God  has  opened  afore  all  his  creatur’s  in 
the  noble  forests,  broad  lakes,  rolling  rivers,  blue 
skies,  and  the  winds,  and  tempests,  and  sunshine, 
and  other  glorious  marvels  of  the  land!  This 
book  I can  read,  and  I find  it  full  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge.” 

“I  crave  your  pardon,  Deerslayer,”  said  Ju- 
dith, earnestly,  more  abashed  than  was  her  wont, 
in  finding  that  she  had  inadvertently  made  an  ap- 
peal that  might  wound  her  companion’s  pride. 
“ I had  forgotten  your  manner  of  life,  and  least 
of  all  did  I wish  to  hurt  your  feelings.” 

“ Hurt  my  feelin’s !— why  should  it  hurt  my 
feelin’s  to  ask  me  to  read,  when  I can’t  read  ? 
I’m  a hunter— and  I may  now  begin  to  say  a war 


MARRIAGE  SPECULATIONS. 


183 


rior,  and  no  missionary ; and,  therefore,  books 
and  papers  are  of  no  account  with  such  as  I. 
No,  no,  Judith” — and  here  the  young  man  laughed 
cordially — “not  even  for  wads,  seeing  that  your 
true  deerkiller  always  uses  the  hide  of  a fa’an,  if 
he’s  got  one,  or  some  other  bit  of  leather  suitably 
prepared.  There’s  some  that  do  say,  all  that 
stands  in  print  is  true ; in  which  case,  I’ll  own  an 
unl’arned  man  must  be  somewhat  of  a loser; 
nevertheless,  it  can’t  be  truer  than  that  which 
God  has  printed  with  his  own  hand,  in  the  sky, 
and  the  woods,  and  the  rivers,  and  the  springs.” 

“ Well,  then,  Hutter,  or  Hovey,  was  a pirate ; 
and,  being  no  father  of  mine,  I cannot  wish  to  call 
him  one.  His  name  shall  no  longer  be  my  name.” 

“ If  you  dislike  the  name  of  that  man,  there’s 
the  name  of  your  mother,  Judith.  Her  name  may 
sarve  you  just  as  good  a turn.” 

“I  do  not  know  it.  I’ve  looked  through 
those  papers,  Deerslayer,  in  the  hope  of  finding 
some  hint  by  which  I might  discover  who  my  moth- 
er was ; but  there  is  no  more  trace  of  the  past, 
in  that  respect,  than  the  bird  leaves  in  the  air.” 

“That’s  both  oncommon  and  onreasonable. 
Parents  are  bound  to  give  their  offspring  a name, 
even  though  they  give  ’em  nothing  else.  Now,  I 
come  of  a humble  stock,  though  we  have  white 
gifts  and  a white  natur’ ; but  we  are  not  so  poor- 
ly off  as  to  have  no  name.  Bumppo  we  are  called, 
and  I’ve  heard  it  said,”-a  touch  of  human  vanity 
glowing  on  his  cheek-,  “ that  the  time  has  been 
when  the  Bumppos  had  more  standing  and  note 
among  mankind  than  they  have  just  now.” 

“ They  never  deserved  them  more,  Deerslayer, 
and  the  name  is  a good  one ; either  Hetty  or 
myself  would  a thousand  times  rather  be  called 
Hetty  Bumppo  or  Judith  Bumppo,  than  to  be 
called  Hetty  or  Judith  Hutter.” 

“That’s  a moral  impossible,”  returned  the 
hunter,  good-humoredly,  “unless  one  of  you 
should  so  far  demean  herself  as  to  marry  me.” 

Judith  could  not  refrain  from  smiling  when 
she  found  how  simply  and  naturally  the  conversa- 
tion had  come  round  to  the  very  point  at  which 
she  had  aimed  to  bring  it.  Although  far  from 
unfeminine  or  forward  either  in  her  feelings  or 
her  habits,  the  girl  was  goaded  by  a sense  of 
wrongs  not  altogether  merited,  incited  by  the 
helplessness  of  a future  that  seemed  to  contain  no 
resting-place,  and  still  more  influenced  by  feel- 
ings that  were  as  novel  to  her  as  they  proved  to 
be  active  and  engrossing.  The  opening  was  too 
good,  therefore,  to  be  neglected,  though  she  came 
to  the  subject  with  much  of  the  indirectness,  and, 
perhaps,  justifiable  address  of  a woman. 

“ I do  not  think  Hetty  will  ever  marry,  Deer- 


slayer,” she  said  ; “ if  your  name  is  to  be  borne  by 
either  of  us,  it  must  be  borne  by  me.” 

“ There’s  been  handsome  women,  too,  they 
tell  me,  among  the  Bumppos,  Judith,  afore  now, 
and  should  you  take  up  with  the  name,  oncom- 
mon as  you  be,  in  this  particular,  them  that 
knows  the  family  won’t  be  altogether  surprised.” 

“ This  is  not  talking  as  becomes  either  of  us, 
Deerslayer ; for  whatever  is  said  on  such  a subject 
between  man  and  woman,  should  be  said  serious- 
ly, and  in  sincerity  of  heart.  Forgetting  the  shame 
that  ought  to  keep  girls  silent  until  spoken  to  in 
most  cases,  I will  deal  with  you  as  frankly  as  I 
know  one  of  your  generous  nature  will  most  like 
to  be  dealt  by.  Can  you — do  you  think,  Deer- 
slayer, that  you  could  be  happy  with  such  a wife 
as  a woman  like  myself  would  make  ? ” 

“ A woman  like  you,  Judith ! But  where’s 
the  sense  in  trifling  about  such  a thing  ? A wom- 
an like  you,  that  is  handsome  enough  to  be  a cap- 
tain’s lady,  and  fine  enough,  and,  so  far  as  I 
know,  edication  enough,  would  be  little  apt  to 
think  of  becoming  my  wife.  I suppose  young 
gals  that  feel  themselves  to  be  smart,  and  know 
themselves  to  be  handsome,  find  a sartain  satis- 
faction in  passing  their  jokes  ag’in  them  that’s 
"neither,  like  a poor  Delaware  hunter.” 

This  was  said  good-naturedly,  but  not  with- 
out a betrayal  of  feeling  which  showed  that  some- 
thing like  mortified  sensibility  was  blended  with 
the  reply.  Nothing  could  have  occurred  more 
likely  to  awaken  all  Judith’s  generous  regrets,  or 
to  aid  her  in  her  purpose  by  adding  the  stimulant 
of  a disinterested  desire  to  atone  to  her  other 
impulses,  and  clothing  all  under  a guise  so  win- 
ning and  natural  as  greatly  to  lessen  the  unpleas- 
ant feature  of  a forwardness  unbecoming  the  sex. 

“ You  do  me  injustice  if  you  suppose  I have 
any  such  thought  or  wish,”  she  answered,  ear- 
nestly. “ Never  was  I more  serious  in  my  life,  or 
more  -willing  to  abide  by  any  agreement  that  we 
may  make  to-night.  I have  had  many  suitors, 
Deerslayer — nay,  scarce  an  unmarried  trapper  or 
hunter  has  been  in  at  the  lake  these  four  years, 
who  has  not  offered  to  take  me  away  with  him, 
and  I fear  some  that  were  married,  too — ” 

“Ay,  I’ll  warrant  that!”  interrupted  the 
other — “ I’ll  warrant  all  that ! Take  ’em  as  a 
body,  Judith,  ’arth  don’t  hold  a set  of  men  more 
given  to  theirselves  and  less  given  to  God  and  the 
law.” 

“ Not  one  of  them  would  I — could  I listen  to ; 
happily  for  myself,  perhaps,  has  it  been  that  such 
was  the  case.  There  have  been  well-looking 
youths  among  them,  too,  as  you  may  have  seen 
in  your  acquaintance,  Henry  March.” 


184 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“ Yes,  Harry  is  sightly  to  the  eye,  though,  to 
my  idees,  less  so  to  the  judgment,  I thought,  at 
first,  you  meant  to  have  him,  Judith,  I did  ; but, 
afore  he  went,  it  was  easy  enough  to  verify  that 
the  same  lodge  wouldn’t  be  big  enough  for  you 
both.” 

“You  have  done  me  justice  in  that,  at  least, 
Deerslayer.  Hurry  is  a man  I could  never  marry, 
though  he  were  ten  times  more  comely  to  the  eye, 
and  a hundred  times  more  stout  of  heart  than  he 
really  is.” 

“Why  not,  Judith— why  not?  I own  I’m 
cur’ous  to  know  why  a youth  like  Hurry 
shouldn’t  find  favor  with  a maiden  like  you  ? ” 

“ Then  you  shall  know,  Deerslayer,”  returned 
the  girl,  gladly  availing  herself  of  the  opportunity 
of  extolling  the  qualities  which  had  so  strongly 
interested  her  in  her  listener ; hoping  by  these 
means  covertly  to  approach  the  subject  nearest 
her  heart.  “ In  the  first  place,  looks  in  a man 
are  of  no  importance  with  a woman,  provided  he 
is  manly,  and  not  disfigured  or  deformed.” 

“There  I can’t  altogether  agree  with  you,” 
returned  the  other,  thoughtfully,  for  he  had  a 
very  humble  opinion  of  his  own  personal  appear- 
ance ; “ I have  noticed  that  the  comeliest  warriors 
commonly  get  the  best-looking  maidens  of  the 
tribe  for  wives ; and  the  Sarpent,  yonder,  who  is 
sometimes  wonderful  in  his  paint,  is  a gineral 
favorite  with  all  the  Delaware  young  women, 
though  he  takes  to  Hist,  himself,  as  if  she  was 
the  only  beauty  on  ’art'h  ? ” 

“ It  may  be  so  with  Indians,  but  it  is  different 
with  white  girls.  So  long  as  a young  man  has  a 
straight  and  manly  frame,  that  promises  to  make 
him  able  to  protect  a woman,  and  to  keep  want 
from  the  door,  it  is  all  they  ask  of  the  figure. 
Giants  like  Hurry  may  do  for  grenadiers,  but  are 
of  little  account  as  lovers.  Then  as  to  the  face, 
an  honest  look,  one  that  answers  for  the  heart 
within,  is  of  more  value  than  any  shape,  or  color, 
or  eyes,  or  teeth,  or  trifles  like  them.  The  last 
may  do  for  girls,  but  who  thinks  of  them  at  all  in 
a hunter,  or  a warrior,  or  a husband  ? If  there 
are  women  so  silly,  Judith’s  not  among  them.” 

“Well,  this  is  wonderful!  I always  thought 
that  handsome  liked  handsome,  as  riches  love 
riches ! ” 

“ It  may  be  so  with  you  men,  Deerslayer,  but 
it  is  not  always  so  with  us  women.  We  like  stout- 
hearted men,  but  we  wish  to  see  them  modest ; 
sure  on  a hunt  or  the  war-path,  ready  to  die  for 
the  right,  and  unwilling  to  yield  to  the  wrong. 
Above  all,  we  wish  for  honesty — tongues  that  are 
not  used  to  say  what  the  mind  does  not  mean, 
and  hearts  that  fc-e*  a little  for  others  as  well  as 


for  themselves.  A true-hearted  girl  could  die  foi 
such  a husband!  while  the  boaster,  and  the 
double-tongued  suitor,  gets  to  be  as  hateful  to 
the  sight  as  he  is  to  the  mind.” 

Judith  spoke  bitterly,  and  with  her  usual 
force,  but  her  listener  was  too  much  struck  with 
the  novelty  of  the  sensations  he  experienced  to 
advert  to  her  manner.  There  was  something  so 
soothing  to  the  humility  of  a man  of  his  tempera- 
ment to  hear  qualities  that  he  could  not  but  unow 
he  possessed  himself  thus  highly  extolled  by  tne 
loveliest  female  he  had  ever  beheld,  that,  for  the 
moment,  his  faculties  seemed  suspended  in  a 
natural  and  excusable  pride.  Then  it  was  that 
the  idea  of  the  possibility  of  such  a creature  as 
Judith  becoming  his  companion  for  Lie,  first 
crossed  his  mind.  The  image  was  so  pleasant 
and  so  novel,  that  he  continued  completely  ab- 
sorbed by  it  for  more  than  a minute,  totally  re- 
gardless of  the  beautiful  reality  that  »vas  seated 
before  him,  watching  the  expression  ol  his  up- 
right and  truth-telling  countenance  with  a keen- 
ness that  gave  her  a very  fair  if  not  an  absolutely 
accurate  clew  to  his  thoughts.  Never  before  had 
so  pleasing  a vision  floated  before  the  mind’s  eye 
of  the  young  hunter ; but,  accustomed  most  to 
practical  things,  and  little  addicted  to  submitting 
to  the  power  of  his  imagination,  even  while  pos 
sessed  of  so  much  true  poetical  feeling  in  con- 
nection with  natural  objects  in  particulai , he  soon 
recovered  his  reason,  and  smiled  at  his  o wn  weak- 
ness as  the  fancied  picture  faded  from  hu  mental 
sight,  and  left  him  the  simple,  untaught,  but 
highly-moral  being  he  was,  seated  in  the  ark  of 
Thomas  Hutter,  at  midnight,  with  the  lovely 
countenance  of  its  late  owner’s  reputed  daughter 
beaming  on  him  with  anxious  scrutiny  by  the 
light  of  the  solitary  lamp. 

“You’re  wonderful  handsome,  and  enticing, 
and  pleasing  to  look  on,  Judith ! ” he  exclaimed, 
in  his  simplicity,  as  fact  resumed  its  ascendency 
over  fancy.  “Wonderful!  I don’t  remember 
ever  to  have  seen  so  beautiful  a gal,  even  among 
the  Delawares  ; and  I’m  not  astonished  that  Hurry 
Harry  went  away  soured  as  well  as  disapp’inted ! ” 
“Would  you  have  had  me,  Deerslayer,  be- 
come the  wife  of  such  a man  as  Henry  March  ? ” 
“There’s  that  which  is  in  bis  favor,  and 
there’s  that  which  is  ag’in  him.  To  my  taste, 
Hurry  wouldn’t  make  the  best  of  husbands,  but  I 
fear  that  the  tastes  of  most  young  women,  here- 
away, wouldn’t  be  so  hard  upon  him.” 

“No no — Judith,  without  a name,  would 

never  consent  to  be  called  Judith  March ! Any 
thing  would  be  better  than  that ! ” 

“ Judith  Bumppo  wouldn’t  sound  as  well,  gal ; 


GOOD  SENSE  AND  KIND  ADVICE. 


185 


and  there’s  many  names  that  would  fall  short  of 
March,  in  pleasing  the  ear.” 

“ Ah ! Deerslayer,  the  pleasantness  of  the 
sound,  in  such  cases,  does  not  come  through  the 
heart.  Every  thing  is  agreeable  when  the  heart 
is  satisfied.  Were  Natty  Bumppo  Henry  March, 
and  Henry  March  Natty  Bumppo,  I might  think 
the  name  of  March  better  than  it  is : or  were  he 
you,  I should  fancy  the  name  of  Bumppo  hor- 
rible ! ” 

“ That’s  just  it — yes,  that’s  the  reason  of  the 
matter.  Now  I’m  nat’rally  averse  to  sarpents, 
and  I hate  even  the  word  which,  the  mission- 
aries tell  me,  comes  from  human  natur’,  on  ac- 
count of  a sartain  sarpent  at  the  creation  of  the 
’arth,  that  outwitted  the  first  woman ; yet,  ever 
since  Chingachgook  has  ’arned  the  title  he  bears, 
why,  the  sound  is  as  pleasant  to  my  ears  as  the 
whistle  of  the  whippoorwill  of  a calm  evening — it 
is.  The  feelin’s  make  all  the  difference  in  the 
world,  Judith,  in  the  natur’  of  sounds;  ay,  even 
in  that  of  looks,  too.” 

“ That  is  so  true,  Deerslayer,  that  I am  sur- 
prised you  should  think  it  remarkable  a girl,  who 
may  have  some  comeliness  herself,  should  not 
think  it  necessary  that  her  husband  should  have 
the  same  advantage,  or  what  you  fancy  an  ad- 
vantage. To  me,  looks  in  a man  are  nothing, 
provided  his  countenance  be  as  honest  as  his 
heart.” 

“Yes,  honesty  is  a great  advantage,  in  the 
long-run  ; and  they  that  are  the  most  apt  to  for- 
get it,  in  the  beginning,  are  the  most  apt  to  l’arn 
it  in  the  ind.  Nevertheless,  there’s  more,  Judith, 
that  look  to  present  profit  than  to  the  benefit  that 
is  to  come  after  a time.  One  they  think  a sar- 
tainty,  and  the  other  an  onsartainty.  I’m  glad, 
howsever,  that  you  look  at  the  thing  in  its  true 
light,  and  not  in  the  way  in  which  so  many  is  apt 
to  deceive  themselves.” 

“ I do  thus  look  at  it,  Deerslayer,”  returned 
the  girl  with  emphasis,  still  shrinking  with  a 
woman’s  sensitiveness  from  a direct  offer  of  her 
hand,  “and  can  say,  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart,  that  I would  rather  trust  my  happiness  to  a 
man  whose  truth  and  feelings  may  be  depended 
on,  than  to  a false-tongued  and  false-hearted 
wretch  that  had  chests  of  gold,  and  houses  and 
lands — yes,  though  he  were  even  seated  on  a 
throne ! ” 

“These  are  brave  words,  Judith;  they’re 
downright  brave  words;  but  do  you  think  that 
the  feelin’s  would  keep  ’em  company,  did  the 
ch’ice  actually  lie  afore  you  ? If  a gay  gallant  in 
a scarlet  coat  stood  on  one  side,  with  his  head 
smelling  like  a deer’s  foot,  his  face  smooth  and 


blooming  as  your  own,  his  hands  as  white  and 
soft  as  if  God  hadn’t  bestowed  ’em  that  man 
might  live  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow,  and  his  step 
as  lofty  as  dancing-teachers  and  a light  heart 
could  make  it ; and  on  the  other  side  stood  one 
that  has  passed  his  days  in  the  open  air  till  hia 
forehead  is  as  red  as  his  cheek ; had  cut  his  way 
through  swamps  and  bushes  till  his  hand  was  as 
rugged  as  the  oaks  he  slept  under ; had  trodden 
on  the  scent  of  game  till  his  step  was  as  stealthy 
as  the  catamount’s,  and  had  no  other  pleasant 
odor  about  him  than  such  as  Natur’  gives  in  the 
free  air  and  the  forest — now,  if  both  these  men 
stood  here,  as  suitors  for  your  feelin’s,  which  do 
you  think  would  win  your  favor  ? ” 

Judith’s  fine  face  flushed  ; for  the  picture 
that  her  companion  had  so  simply  drawn  of  a 
gay  officer  of  the  garrisons  had  once  been  par- 
ticularly grateful  to  her  imagination,  though  ex- 
perience and  disappointment  had  not  only  chilled 
all  her  affections,  but  given  them  a backward  cur- 
rent, and  the  passing  image  had  a momentary  in- 
fluence on  her  feelings ; but  the  mounting  color  was 
succeeded  by  a paleness  so  deadly  as  to  make 
her  appear  ghastly. 

“ As  God  is  my  judge,”  the  girl  solemnly  an- 
swered, “ did  both  these  men  stand  before  me,  as 
I may  say  one  of  them  does,  my  choice,  if  I know 
my  own  heart,  would  be  the  latter.  I have  no 
wish  for  a husband  who  is  any  way  better  than 
myself.” 

“ This  is  pleasant  to  listen  to,  and  might  lead 
a young  man,  in  time,  to  forget  his  own  onwor- 
thiness,  Judith ! Howsever,  you  hardly  think  all 
that  you  say.  A man  like  me  is  too  rude  and  ig- 
norant for  one  that  has  had  such  a mother  to 
teach  her  ; vanity  is  nat’ral,  I do  believe ; but 
vanity  like  that  would  surpass  reason ! ” 

“ Then  you  do  not  know  of  what  a woman’s 
heart  is  capable ! Rude  you  are  not,  Deerslayer ! 
nor  can  one  be  called  ignorant  that  has  studied 
what  is  before  his  eyes  as  closely  as  you  have 
done.  When  the  affections  are  concerned,  all 
things  appear  in  their  pleasantest  colors,  and 
trifles  are  overlooked,  or  are  forgotten.  When 
the  heart  feels  a sunshine,  nothing  is  gloomy,  even 
dull-looking  objects  seeming  gay  and  bright ; and 
so  it  would  be  between  you  and  the  woman  who 
should  love  you,  even  though  your  wife  might 
happen,  in  some  matters,  to  possess  what  the 
world  calls  the  advantage  over  you.” 

“ Judith,  you  come  from  people  altogether 
above  mine,  in  the  world ; and  onequal  matches, 
like  onequal  fri’ndships,  can’t  often  tarminate 
kindly.  I speak  of  this  matter  altogether  as  a 
fanciful  thing,  since  it’s  not  very  likely  that  yout 


186 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


at  least,  would  be  able  to  treat  it  as  a matter  that 
can  ever  come  to  pass.” 

Judith  fastened  her  deep-blue  eyes  on  the 
open,  frank  countenance  of  her  companion,  as  if 
she  would  read  his  soul.  Nothing  there  betrayed 
any  covert  meaning,  and  she  was  obliged  to  ad- 
mit to  herself  that  he  regarded  the  conversation 
as  argumentative,  rather  than  positive,  and  that 
he  was  still  without  any  active  suspicion  that  her 
feelings  were  seriously  involved  in  the  issue.  At 
first  she  felt  offended ; then  she  saw  the  injustice 
of  making  the  self-abasement  and  modesty  of  the 
hunter  a charge  against  him ; and  this  novel 
difficulty  gave  a piquancy  to  the  state  of  affairs 
that  rather  increased  her  interest  in  the  young 
man.  At  that  critical  instant,  a change  of  plan 
flashed  on  her  mind,  and,  with  a readiness  of  in- 
vention that  is  peculiar  to  the  quick-witted  and 
ingenious,  she  adopted  a scheme  by  which  she 
hoped  effectually  to  bind  him  to  her  person.  This 
scheme  partook  equally  of  her  fertility  of  inven- 
tion, and  of  the  decision  and  boldness  of  her  char- 
acter. That  the  conversation  might  not  terminate 
too  abruptly,  however,  or  ally  suspicion  of  her  de- 
sign exist,  she  answered  the  last  remark  of  Deer- 
slayer  as  earnestly  and  as  truly  as  if  her  original 
intention  remained  unaltered. 

“ I,  certainly,  have  no  reason  to  boast  of 
parentage,  after  what  I have  seen  this  night, 
said  the  girl,  in  a saddened  voice.  “ I had  a 
mother,  it  is  true ; but  of  her  name,  even,  I am 
ignorant  •,  and  as  for  my  father,  it  is  better,  per- 
haps, that  I should  never  know  who  he  was,  lest 
I speak  too  bitterly  of  him  ! ” 

“Judith,”  said  Deerslayer,  taking  her  hand 
kindly,  and  with  a manly  sincerity  that  went  di- 
rectly to  the  girl’s  heart,  “’tis  better  to  say  no 
more  to-night.  Sleep  on  what  you’ve  seen  and 
felt ; in  the  morning,  things  that  now  look  gloomy 
may  look  move  cheerful.  Above  all,  never  do 
any  thing  in  bitterness,  or  because  you  feel  as  if 
you’d  like  to  take  revenge  on  yourself  for  other 
people’s  backslidings.  All  that  has  been  said  or 
done  atwcen  us,  this  night,  is  your  secret,  and 
shall  never  be  talked  of  by  me,  even  with  the  Sar- 
pent ; and  you  may  be  sartain  if  he  can’t  get  it 
out  of  me,  no  man  can.  If  your  parents  have 
been  faulty,  let  the  darter  be  less  so  ; remember 
that  you’re  young,  and  the  youthful  may  always 
hope  for  better  times ; that  you’re  more  quick- 
witted than  usual,  and  such  gin’rally  get  the  bet- 
ter of  difficulties ; and  that  as  for  beauty,  you’re 
oncommon  ; this  is  an  advantage  with  all.  It  is 
time  to  get  a little  rest,  for  to-morrow  is  like  to 
prove  a trying  day  to  some  of  us.” 

Deerslayer  arose  as  he  spoke,  and  Judith  had 


no  choice  b it  to  comply.  The  chest  was  dosed 
and  secured,  and  they  parted  in  silence  ; she  tc 
take  her  plac^by  the  side  of  Hist  and  Hetty,  and 
he  to  seek  a blanket  on  the  floor  of  the  cabin  he 
was  in.  It  was  not  five  minutes  ere  the  young 
man  was  in  a deep  sleep ; but  the  girl  continued 
awake  for  a long  time.  She  scarcely  knew 
whether  to  lament,  or  to  rejoice,  at  having  failed  in 
making  herself  understood.  On  the  one  band,  were 
her  womanly  sensibilities  spared ; on  the  other, 
was  the  disappointment  of  defeated  or  at  least  of 
delayed  expectations,  and  the  uncertainty  of  a 
future  that  looked  so  dark.  Then  came  the  new 
resolution  and  the  bold  project  for  the  morrow ; 
and  when  drowsiness  finally  shut  her  eyes,  they 
closed  on  a scene  of  success  and  happiness,  that 
was  pictured  by  the  fancy,  under  the  influence  of 
a sanguine  temperament  and  a happy  invention 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

“ But,  motlier,  now  a shade  has  past 
Athwart  my  brightest  visions  here, 

A cloud  of  darkest  gloom  has  wrapt 
The  remnant  of  my  brief  career ! 

No  song,  no  echo  can  I win ; 

The  sparkling  fount  has  dried  within.” 

Margaret  Davidson. 

Hist  and  Hetty  arose  with  the  return  of  light, 
leaving  Judith  still  buried  in  sleep.  It  took  but 
a minute  for  the  first  to  complete  her  toilet.  Her 
long  coal-black  hair  was  soon  adjusted  in  a simple 
kno°t,  the  calico  dress  belted  tight  to  her  slender 
waist,  and  her  little  feet  concealed  in  their  gaudily- 
ornamented  moccasins.  When  attired,  she  left 
her  companion  employed  in  household  affaiis,  and 
went  herself  on  the  platform,  to  breathe  the  pure 
air  of  the  morning.  Here  she  found  Chingach- 
gook  studying  the  shores  of  the  lake,  the  moun- 
tains, and  the  heavens,  with  the  sagacity  of  a man 
of  the  woods,  and  the  gravity  of  an  Indian. 

The  meeting  between  the  two  lovers  was  sim- 
ple but  affectionate.  The  chief  showed  a manly 
kindness,  equally  removed  from  boyish  weakness 
and  haste ; while  the  girl  betrayed  in  her  smile 
and  half-averted  looks  the  bashful  tenderness  of 
her  sex.  Neither  spoke,  unless  it  were  with  the 
eyes,  though  each  understood  the  other  as  fully 
as  if  a vocabulary  of  words  and  protestations  had 
been  poured  out.  Hist  seldom  appeared  to  more 
advantage  than  at  that  moment ; for,  just  from 
her  rest  and  ablutions,  there  was  a freshness  about 
her  youthful  form  and  face  that  the  toils  of  the 
I wood  do  not  always  permit  to  be  exhibited  by 


HIST  AND  HER  HUSBAND 


even  the  juvenile  and  pretty.  Then  Judith  had 
not  only  imparted  some  of  her  own  skill  in  the 
toilet,  during  their  short  intercourse,  but  she  had 
actually  bestowed  a few  well-selected  ornaments 
from  her  own  stores,  that  contributed  not  a little 
to  set  off  the  natural  graces  of  the  Indian  maid. 
All  this  the  lover  saw  and  felt,  and  for  a moment 
his  countenance  was  illuminated  with  a look  of 
pleasure ; but  it  soon  grew  grave  again,  and  be- 
came saddened  and  anxious.  The  stools  used  the 
previous  night  were  still  standing  on  the  platform  ; 
placing  two  against  the  walls  of  the  hut,  he  seated 
himself  on  one,  making  a gesture  to  his  compan- 
ion to  take  the  other.  This  done,  he  continued 
thoughtful  and  silent  for  quite  a minute,  maintain- 
ing the  reflecting  dignity  of  one  born  to  take  his 
seat  at  the  council-fire,  while  Hist  was  furtively 
watching  the  expression  of  his  face,  patient  and 
submissive,  as  became  a woman  of  her  people. 
Then  the  young  warrior  stretched  his  arm  befor'e 
him,  as  if  to  point  out  the  glories  of  the  scene  at 
that  witching  hour,  when  the  whole  panorama,  as 
usual,  was  adorned  by  the  mellow  distinctness  of 
early  morning,  sweeping  with  his  hand  slowly  over 
lake,  hills,  and  heavens.  The  girl  followed  the 
movement  with  pleased  wonder,  smiling  as  each 
new  beauty  met  her  gaze. 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  the  chief,  in  admiration 
of  a scene  so  unusual  even  to  him,  for  this  was  the 
first  lake  he  had  ever  beheld.  “ This  is  the  coun- 
try of  the  Manitou  ! It  is  too  good  for  Mingoes, 
Hist ; but  the  curs  of  that  tribe  are  howling  in 
packs  through  the  woods.  They  think  that  the 
Delawares  are  asleep,  over  the  mountains.” 

“ All  but  one  of  them  is,  Chingachgook. 
There  is  one  here  ; and  he  is  of  the  blood  of  Un- 
cas ! ” 

“ What  is  one  warrior  against  a tribe  ? — The 
path  to  our  villages  is  very  long  and  crooked,  and 
we  shall  travel  it  under  a cloudy  sky.  I am 
afraid,  too,  Honeysuckle  of  the  Hills,  that  we 
6hall  travel  it  alone  ! ” 

Hist  understood  the  allusion,  and  it  made  her 
sad  ; though  it  sounded  sweet  to  her  ears  to  be 
compared,  by  the  warrior  she  so  loved,  to  the 
most  fragrant  and  the  pleasantest  of  all  the  wild 
flowers  of  her  native  woods.  Still  she  continued 
silent,  as  became  her  when  the  allusion  was  to  a 
grave  interest  that  men  could  best  control,  though 
it  exceeded  the  power  of  education  to  conceal 
the  smile  that  gratified  feeling  brought  to  her 
pretty  mouth. 

“ When  the  sun  is  thus,”  continued  the  Dela- 
ware, pointing  to  the  zenith,  by  simply  casting 
upward  a hand  and  finger,  by  a play  of  the  wrist, 
“ the  great  hunter  of  our  tribe  will  go  back  to  the 


187  . 

Hurons  to  be  treated  like  a bear,  that  they  roast 
and  skin,  even  on  full  stomachs.” 

“ The  Great  Spirit  may  soften  their  hearts, 
and  not  suffer  them  to  be  so  bloody-minded.  1 
have  lived  among  the  Hurons,  and  know  them. 
They  have  hearts,  and  will  not  forget  their  own 
children,  should  they  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Delawares.” 

“ A wolf  is  forever  howling ; a hog  will  al- 
ways eat.  They  have  lost  warriors ; even  their 
women  will  call  out  for  vengeance.  The  pale- 
face has  the  eyes  of  an  eagle,  and  can  see  into  a 
Mingo’s  heart ; he  looks  for  no  mercy.  There  is 
a cloud  over  his  spirit,  though  it  is  not  before  his 
face.” 

A long,  thoughtful  pause  succeeded,  during 
which  Hist  stealthily  took  the  hand  of  the  chief, 
as  if  seeking  his  support,  though  she  scarce  ven- 
tured to  raise  her  eyes  to  a countenance  that  was 
now  literally  becoming  terrible,  under  the  con- 
flicting passions  and  stem  resolution  that  were 
struggling  in  the  breast  of  its  owner. 

“ What  will  the  son  of  Uncas  do  ? ” the  girl 
at  length  timidly  asked.  “ He  is  a chief,  and  is 
already  celebrated  in  council,  though  so  young ; 
what  does  his  heart  tell  him  is  wisest  ? does  the 
head,  too,  speak  the  same  words  as  the  heart  ? ” 

“What  does  Wali-ta!-Wah  say,  at  a moment 
when  my  dearest  friend  is  in  danger  ? The  small- 
est birds  sing  the  sweetest ; it  is  always  pleasant 
to  hearken  to  their  songs.  I wish  I could  hear 
the  Wren  of  the  Woods  in  my  difficulty  ; its  note 
would  reach  deeper  than  the  ear.” 

Again  Hist  experienced  the  profound  grati- 
fication that  the  language  of  praise  can  always 
awaken,  when  uttered  by  those  we  love.  The 
“ Honeysuckle  of  the  Hills  ” was  a term  often  ap- 
plied to  the  girl,  by  the  young  men  of  the  Dela- 
wares, though  it  never  sounded  so  sweet  in  her 
ears  as  from  the  lips  of  Chingachgook  ; but  the 
latter  alone  had  ever  styled  her  the  Wren  of  the 
Woods.  With  him,  however,  it  had  got  to  be  a 
familiar  phrase,  and  it  was  past  expression  pleas- 
ant to  the  listener,  since  it  conveyed  to  her  mind 
the  idea  that  her  advice  and  sentiments  were  as 
acceptable  to  her  future  husband,  as  the  tones  oi 
her  voice  and  modes  of  conveying  them  were 
agreeable ; uniting  the  two  things  most  prized 
by  an  Indian  girl,  as  coming  from  her  betrothed, 
admiration  for  a valued  physical  advantage,  with 
respect  for  her  opinion.  She  pressed  the  hand 
she  held  between  both  her  own,  and  answered  : 

“ Wali-ta  !-Wah  says  that  neither  she  nor  the 
Great  Serpent  could  ever  laugh  again,  or  ever 
sleep  without  dreaming  of  the  Hurons,  should  the 
Deerslayer  die  under  a Mingo  tomahawk,  and 


188 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


they  do  nothing  to  save  him.  She  would  rath- 
er  go  back,  and  start  on  her  long  path  alone, 
than  let  such  a dark  cloud  pass  before  her  happi- 
ness.” 

“ Good  ! The  husband  and  the  wife  will  have 
but  one  heart ; they  will  see  with  the  same  eyes, 
and  feel  with  the  same  feelings.” 

What  further  was  said,  need  not  be  related 
here.  That  the  conversation  was  of  Deerslayer, 
and  his  hopes,  has  been  seen  already,  but  the 
decision  that  was  come  to,  will  better  appear  in 
the  course  of  the  narrative.  The  youthful  pair 
were  yet  conversing  when  the  sun  appeared  above 
the  tops  of  the  pines,  and  the  light  of  a brilliant 
American  day  streamed  down  into  the  valley, 
bathing  “ in  deep  joy  ” the  lake,  the  forests,  and 
the  mountain-sides..  Just  at  this  instant  Deer- 
slayer came  out  of  the  cabin  of  the  ark,  and 
stepped  upon  the  platform.  His  first  look  was 
at  the  cloudless  heavens,  then  his  rapid  glance 
took  in  the  entire  panorama  of  land  and  water, 
when  he  had  leisure  for  a friendly  nod  at  his 
friends,  and  a cheerful  smile  for  Hist. 

“ Well,”  he  said,  in  his  usual  composed  man- 
ner and  pleasant  voice  ; “ he  that  sees  the  sun 
set  in  the  west,  and  wakes  early  enough  in  the 
morning,  will  be  sartain  to  find  him  coming  back 
ag’in  in  the  east,  like  a buck  that  is  hunted  round 
his  ha’nts.  I dare  say,  now,  Hist,  you’ve  beheld 
this,  time  and  ag’in,  and  yet  it  never  entered  your 
galish  mind  to  ask  the  reason  ? ” 

Both  Chingachgook  and  his  betrothed  looked 
up  at  the  luminary,  with  an  air  that  betokened 
sudden  wonder,  and  then  they  gazed  at  each 
other,  as  if  to  seek  the  solution  of  the  difficulty. 
Familiarity  deadens  the  sensibilities,  even  as  con- 
nected with  the  gravest  natural  phenomena  ; and 
never  before  had  these  simple  beings  thought  of 
inquiring  into  a movement  that  was  of  daily  oc- 
currence, however  puzzling  it  might  appear  on 
investigation.  When  the  subject  was  thus  sud- 
denly started,  it  struck  both  alike,  and  at  the 
same  instant,  with  some  such  force  as  any  new 
and  brilliant  proposition  in  the  natural  sciences 
would  strike  the  scholar.  Chingachgook  alone 
saw  fit  to  answer. 

“ The  pale-faces  know  every  thing,”  he  said  ; 
“ can  they  tell  us  why  the  sun  hides  his  face, 
when  he  goes  back,  at  night  ? ” 

“Ay,  that  is  downright  red-skin  lamin’,”  re- 
turned the  other,  laughing ; though  he  was  not 
altogether  insensible  to  the  pleasure  of  proving 
the  superiority  of  his  race,  by  solving  the  diffi- 
culty, which  he  set  about  doing,  in  his  own  pe- 
culiar manner.  “ Hark’ee,  Sarpent,”  he  contin- 
aed  more  gravely,  though  too  simply  for  affecta- 


tion ; “ this  is  easierly  explained  than  an  Indian 
brain  may  fancy.  The  sun,  while  he  seems  tc 
keep  travelling  in  the  heavens,  never  budges,  but 
it  is  the  ’arth  that  turns  round  ; and  any  one  can 
understand,  if  he  is  placed  on  the  side  of  a mill- 
wheel, for  instance,  when  it’s  in  motion,  that  he 
must  sometimes  see  the  heavens,  while  he  is  at 
other  times  under  the  water.  There’s  no  great 
secret  in  that,  but  plain  natur’ ; the  difficulty  be- 
ing in  setting  the  ’arth  in  motion.” 

“ How  does  my  brother  know  that  the  earth 
turns  round  ? ” demanded  the  Indian.  “ Can  he 
see  it  ? ” 

“Well,  that’s  been  a puzzler,  I will  own, 
Delaware  ; for  I’ve  often  tried  it,  but  never  could 
fairly  make  it  out.  Sometimes  I’ve  consaited 
that  I could ; and  then,  ag’in,  I’ve  been  obliged 
to  own  it  an  onpossibility.  Howsever,  turn  it 
does,  as  all  my  people  say,  and  you  ought  to  be- 
lieve ’em,  since  they  can  foretell  eclipses,  and 
other  prodigies,  that  used  to  fill  the  tribes  with 
terror,  according  to  your  own  traditions  of  such 
things.” 

“ Good.  This  is  true ; no  red  man  will  deny 
it.  When  a wheel  turns,  my  eyes  can  see  it — 
they  do  not  see  the  earth  turn.” 

“ Ay,  that’s  what  I call  sense-obstinacy  ! See- 
ing is  believing,  they  say ; and  what  they  can’t 
see,  some  men  won’t  in  the  least  give  credit  to. 
Nevertheless,  chief,  that  isn’t  quite  as  good  rea- 
son as  it  may  at  first  seem.  You  believe  in  the 
Great  Spirit,  I know;  and  yet,  I conclude,  it 
would  puzzle  you  to  show'  where  you  see  him ! ” 

“ Chingachgook  can  see  him  everywhere — 
everywhere  in  good  things — the  Evil  Spirit  in  bad. 
Here,  in  the  lake ; there,  in  the  forest ; yonder, 
in  the  clouds ; in  Hist,  in  the  son  of  Uncas,  in 
Tamenund,  in  Deerslayer.  The  Evil  Spirit  is  in 
the  Mingoes.  That  I know ; I do  not  see  the 
earth  turn  round.” 

“ I don’t  wonder  they  call  you  the  Sarpent, 
Delaware ; no,  I don’t ! There’s  always  a mean- 
ing in  your  words,  and  there’s  often  a meaning  in 
your  countenance,  too  ! Notwithstanding,  your 
answers  doesn’t  quite  meet  my  idee.  That  God 
is  obsarvable  in  all  nat’ral  objects  is  allowable ; 
but  then  he  is  not  parceptible  in  the  way  I mean. 
You  knowr  there  is  a Great  Spirit,  by  his  works, 
and  the  pale-faces  know  that  the  ’arth  turns 
round  by  its  works.  This  is  the  reason  of  the 
matter,  though  how  it  is  to  be  explained,  is  more 
than  I can  exactly  tell  you.  This  I know ; all 
my  people  consait  that  fact;  and  what  all  the 
pale-faces  consait,  is  very  likely  to  be  true.” 

“ When  the  sun  is  in  the  top  of  that  pine  to* 
morrow,  where  will  my  brother  Deerslayer  be  ? ” 


THE  DELAWARE  CHIEF’S  FRIENDSHIP. 


189 


The  hunter  started,  and  he  looked  intently, 
though  totally  without  alarm,  at  his  friend.  Then 
he  signed  for  him  to  follow,  and  led  the  way  into 
the  ark,  where  he  might  pursue  the  subject  un- 
heard by  those  whose  feelings  he  feared  might 
get  the  mastery  over  their  reason.  Here  he 
stopped,  and  pursued  the  conversation  in  a more 
confidential  tone. 

“ ’Twas  a little  onreasonable  in  you,  Sarpent,” 
he  said,  “ to  bring  up  such  a subject  afore  Hist, 
and  when  the  young  woman  of  my  own  color 
might  overhear  what  was  said.  Yes,  ’twas  a lit- 
tle more  onreasonable  than  most  things  that  you 
do.  No  matter;  Hist  didn’t  comprehend,  and 
the  other  didn’t  hear.  However,  the  question  is 
easier  put  than  answered.  No  mortal  can  say 
where  he  will  be  when  the  sun  rises  to-morrow. 
I will  ask  you  the  same  question,  Sarpent,  and 
should  like  to  hear  what  answer  you  can  give.” 

“ Chingachgook  will  be  with  his  friend,  Deer- 
slayer  ; if  he  be  in  the  land  of  spirits,  the  Great 
Serpent  will  crawl  at  his  side,  if  beneath  yonder 
sun,  its  warmth  and  light  shall  fall  on  both.” 

“ I understand  you,  Delaware,”  returned  the 
other,  touched  with  the  simple  self-devotion  of 
his  friend.  “Such  language  is  as  plain  in  one 
tongue  as  in  another ; it  comes  from  the  heart, 
and  goes  to  the  heart,  too.  ’Tis  well  to  think  so, 
and  it  may  be  well  to  say  so,  for  that  matter,  but 
it  would  not  be  well  to  do  so,  Sarpent.  You  are 
no  longer  alone  in  life ; for,  though  you  have  the 
lodges  to  change,  and  other  ceremonies  to  go 
through,  afore  Hist  becomes  your  lawful  wife, 
yet  are  you  as  good  as  married,  in  all  that  bears 
on  the  feelin’s,  and  joy,  and  misery.  No,  no ; 
Hist  must  not  be  desarted,  because  a cloud  is 
passing  atween  you  and  me,  a little  onexpectedly, 
and  a little  darker  than  we  may  have  looked  for.” 

“ Hist  is  a daughter  of  the  Mohicans : she 
knows  how  to  obey  her  husband.  Where  he  goes 
6he  will  follow.  Both  will  be  with  the  Great 
Hunter  of  the  Delawares,  when  the  sun  shall  be 
in  the  pine  to-morrow.” 

“ The  Lord  bless  and  protect  you ! Chief, 
this  is  downright  madness.  Can  either  or  both 
of  you  alter  a Mingo  natur’  ? Will  your  grand 
looks,  or  Hist’s  tears  and  beauty,  change  a wolf 
into  a squirrel,  or  make  a catamount  as  innocent 
as  a fa’ an  ? No,  Sarpent,  you  will  think  better 
of  this  matter,  and  leave  me  in  the  hands  of  God. 
A’ter  all,  it’s  by  no  means  sartain  that  the  scamps 
design  the  torments,  for  they  may  yet  be  pitiful, 
and  bethink  them  of  the  wickedness  of  such  a 
course ; though  it  is  but  a hopeless  expectation 
to  look  forward  to  a Mingo’s  turning  aside  from 
evil,  and  letting  marcy  get  uppermost  in  his  heart. 


Nevertheless,  no  one  knows  to  a sartainty  what 
will  happen;  and  young  creatur’s,  like  Hist, 
ar’n’t  to  be  risked  on  unsartainties.  This  marry- 
ing is  altogether  a different  undertaking  from 
what  some  young  men  fancy.  Now,  if  you  was 
single,  or  as  good  as  single,  Delaware,  I should 
expect  you  to  be  active  and  stirring  about  the 
camp  of  the  vagabonds,  from  sunrise  to  sunset, 
sar cum venting,  and  contriving,  as  restless  as  a 
hound  off  the  scent,  and  doing  all  manner  of 
things  to  help  me,  and  to  distract  the  inimy ; but 
two  are  often  feebler  than  one,  and  we  must  take 
things  as  they  are,  and  not  as  we  want  ’em  to 
be.” 

“ Listen,  Deerslayer,”  returned  the  Indian, 
with  an  emphasis  so  decided  as  to  show  how 
much  he  was  in  earnest.  “ If  Chingachgook  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  Hurons,  what  would  my  pale- 
face brother  do  ? Sneak  off  to  the  Delaware  vil- 
lages, and  say  to  the  chiefs,  and  old  men,  and 
young  warriors — ‘See;  here  is  Wah-ta!-wah; 
she  is  safe,  but  a little  tired  ; and  here  is  the  Son 
of  Uncas,  not  as  tired  as  the  Honeysuckle,  being 
stronger,  but  just  as  safe.’  Would  he  do  this  ? ” 

“Well,  that’s  oncommon  ingen’ ous  ; it’s  cun- 
ning enough  for  a Mingo  himself.  The  Lord  only 
knows  what  put  it  into  your  head  to  ask  such  a 
question.  What  would  I do  ? Why,  in  the  first 
place,  Hist  wouldn’t  be  likely  to  be  in  my  com- 
pany at  all,  for  she  would  stay  as  near  you  as 
possible,  and  therefore  all  that  part  about  her 
couldn’t  be  said  without  talking  nonsense.  As 
for  her  being  tired,  that  would  fall  through  too, 
if  she  didn’t  go,  and  no  part  of  your  speech  would 
be  likely  to  come  from  me ; so,  you  see,  Sarpent, 
reason  is  ag’in  you,  and  you  may  as  well  give  it 
up,  since  to  hold  out  ag’in  reason,  is  no  way  be- 
coming a chief  of  your  character  and  repitation.” 

“ My  brother  is  not  himself ; he  forgets  that 
he  is  talking  to  one  who  has  sat  at  the  copncil- 
fires  of  his  nation,”  returned  the  other,  kindly. 
“ When  men  speak,  they  should  say  that  which 
does  not  go  in  at  one  side  of  the  head,  and  out 
at  the  other.  Their  words  shouldn’t  be  feathers, 
so  light  that  a wind,  which  does  not  ruffle  the 
water,  can  blow  them  away.  He  has  not  an- 
swered my  question ; when  a chief  puts  a ques- 
tion, his  friend  should  not  talk  of  other  things.” 

“ I understand  you,  Delaware ; I understand 
well  enough  what  you  mean,  and  truth  won’t 
allow  me  to  say  otherwise.  Still,  it’s  not  as  easy 
to  answer  as  you  seem  to  think,  for  this  plaii 
reason  : You  wish  me  to  say  what  I would  do  il 
I had  a betrothed,  as  you  have,  here,  on  the  lake, 
and  a fri’nd  yonder,  in  the  Huron  camp,  in  dan- 
ger of  the  torments.  That’s  it,  isn’t  it  ? ” 


190 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


The  Indian  bowed  his  head  silently,  and  al- 
ways with  unmoved  gravity,  though  his  eye 
twinkled  at  the  'sight  of  the  other’s  embarrass- 
ment. 

“Well,  I never  had  a betrothed;  never  had 
the  kind  of  feelin’s  toward  any  young  woman  that 
you  have  toward  Hist ; though  the  Lord  knows 
my  feelin’s  kind  enough  toward  ’em  all ! Still, 
my  heart,  as  they  call  it,  in  such  matters  isn’t 
touched,  and  therefore  I can’t  say  what  I would 
do.  A fri’nd  pulls  strong ; that  I know  by  ex- 
per’ence,  Sarpent ; but,  by  all  that  I’ve  seen  and 
heard  consarning  love,  I’m  led  to  think  that  a 
betrothed  pulls  stronger.” 

“ True ; but  the  betrothed  of  Chingachgook 
does  not  pull  toward  the  lodges  of  the  Delawares ; 
she  pulls  toward  the  camp  of  the  Hurons.” 

“ She’s  a noble  gal,  for  all  her  little  feet  and 
hands  that  an’t  bigger  than  a child’s,  and  a voice 
that’s  as  pleasant  as  a mocker’s ; she’s  a noble 
gal,  and  like  the  stock  of  her  sires  ! Well,  what 
is  it,  Sarpent  ? for  I conclude  she  hasn’t  changed 
her  mind  and  means  to  give  herself  up,  and  turn 
Huron  wife.  What  is  it  you  want  ? ” 

“ Wah-ta  !-Wah  will  never  live  in  the  wigwam 
of  an  Iroquois,”  answered  the  Delaware,  dryly. 
“ She  has  little  feet,  but  they  can  carry  her  to 
the  villages  of  her  people  ; she  has  small  hands, 
too,  but  her  mind  is  large.  My  brother  will  see 
what  we  can  do,  when  the  time  shall  come,  rather 
than  let  him  die  under  Mingo  torments.” 

“ Attempt  nothing  heedlessly,  Delaware,”  said 
the  other  earnestly;  “I  suppose  you  must  and 
will  have  your  way ; and,  on  the  whole,  it’s  right 
you  should ; for  you’d  neither  be  happy  unless 
something  was  undertaken.  But  attempt  nothing 
heedlessly.  I didn’t  expect  you’d  quit  the  lake 
while  my  matter  remained  in  unsartainty ; but  re- 
member, Sarpent,  that  no  torments  that  Mingo 
ingenuity  can  invent,  no  ta’ntings  and  revilings 
no  burnings  and  roastings  and  nail-tearings,  nor 
any  other  onhuman  contrivance,  can  so  soon  break 
down  my  spirit,  as  to  find  that  you  and  Hist  have 
fallen  into  the  power  of  the  inemy,  in  striving  to 
do  something  for  my  good.” 

“ The  Delawares  are  prudent.'  The  Deerslayer 
will  not  find  them  running  into  a strange  camp 
with  their  eyes  shut.” 

Here  the  dialogue  terminated.  Hetty  an- 
nounced that  the  breakfast  was  ready,  and  the 
whole  party  were  soon  seated  around  the  simple 
board,  in  the  usual  primitive  manner  of  borderers. 
Judith  was  the  last  to  take  her  seat,  pale,  silent, 
and  betraying  in  her  countenance  that  she  had 
passed  a painful  if  not  a sleepless  night.  At  this 
meal  scarce  a syllable  was  exchanged,  all  the 


females  manifesting  want  of  appetite,  though  the 
two  men  were  unchanged  in  this  particular.  It 
was  early  when  the  party  arose,  and  there  still  re- 
mained several  hours  before  it  would  be  necessary 
for  the  prisoner  to  leave  his  frieids.  The  knowl- 
edge of  this  circumstance,  and  the  interest  all  felt 
in  his  welfare,  induced  the  whole  to  assemble  on 
the  platform  again,  in  the  desire  to  be  near  the 
expected  victim,  to  listen  to  his  discourse,  and, 
if  possible,  to  show  their  interest  in  him  by  anti- 
cipating his  wishes.  Deerslayer  himself,  so  far 
as  human  eyes  could  penetrate,  was  wholly  un- 
moved, conversing  cheerfully  and  naturally, 
though  he  avoided  any  direct  allusion  to  the 
expected  and  great  event  of  the  day.  If  any  evi- 
dence could  be  discovered  of  his  thoughts  revert- 
ing to  that  painful  subject  at  all,  it  was  in  the 
manner  in  which  he  spoke  of  death  and  the  last 
great  change. 

“ Grieve  not,  Hetty,”  he  said — for  it  was  while 
consoling  this  simple-minded  girl  for  the  loss  of 
her  parents  that  he  thus  betrayed  his  feelings — 
“ since  God  has  app’inted  that  all  must  die.  Your 
parents,  or  them  you  fancied  your  parents,  which 
is  the  same  thing,  have  gone  afore  you  ; this  is 
only  in  the  order  of  natur’,  my  good  gal,  for  the 
aged  go  first  and  the  young  follow.  But  one  that 
had  a mother  like  your’n,  Hetty,  can  be  at  no  loss 
to  hope  the  best,  as  to  how  matters  will  turn  out 
in  another  world.  The  Delaware  here  and  Hist 
believe  in  happy  hunting-grounds,  and  have  ideea 
befitting  their  notions  and  gifts  as  red-skins  ; but 
we,  who  are  of  white  blood,  hold  altogether  to  a 
different  doctrine.  Still,  I rather  conclude  our 
heaven  is  their  land  of  spirits,  and  that  the  path 
which  leads  to  it  will  be  travelled  by  all  colors 
alike.  ’Tis  onpossible  for  the  wicked  to  enter  on 
it,  I will  allow ; but  fri’nds  can  scarce  be  separated, 
though  they  are  not  of  the  same  race  on  ’arth. 
Keep  up  your  spirits,  poor  Hetty,  and  look  for- 
ward to  the  day  when  you  will  meet  your  mother 
ag’in,  and  that  without  pain  or  sorrowing.” 

“ I do  expect  to  see  mother,”  returned  the 
truth-telling  and  simple  girl,  “ but  what  will  be- 
come of  father  ? ” 

“That’s  a non-plusser,  Delaware,”  said  the 
hunter  in  the  Indian  dialect — “yes,  that  is  a 
downright  non-plusser ! The  Muskrat  was  not  a 
saint  on  ’arth,  and  it’s  fair  to  guess  he’ll  not  be 
much  of  one  hereafter  ! — Howsever,  Hetty  ” — 
dropping  into  the  English  by  an  easy  transition 
— “howsever,  Hetty,  we  must  all  hope  for  tho 
best.  This  is  wisest,  and  it  is  much  the  easiest 
to  the  mind,  if  one  can  only  do  it.  I ricommend 
to  you  trusting  to  God,  and  putting  down  all  mis- 
givings and  faint-hearted  feelin’s.-  -It’s  wonderful 


THE  HAPPY  HUNTING-GROUNDS. 


191 


Judith,  how  different  people  have  different  notions 
about  the  futur’,  some  fancying  one  change  and 
some  fancying  another.  I’ve  known  white  teach- 
ers that  have  thought  all  was  spirit  hereafter ; 
and  them,  ag’in,  that  believed  the  body  will  be 
transported  to  another  world,  much  as  the  red- 
skins themselves  imagine,  and  that  we  shall  walk 
about  in  the  flesh  and  know  each  other,  and  talk 
together,  and  be  fri’nds  there  as  we’ve  been  fri’nds 
here.” 

“ Which  of  these  opinions  is  most  pleasing  to 
you , Deerslayer  ? ” asked  the  girl,  willing  to  in- 
dulge his  melancholy  mood,  and  far  from  being 
free  from  its  influence  herself.  “Would  it  be 
disagreeable  to  think  that  you  should  meet  all 
who  are  now  on  this  platform  in  another  world  ? 
Or  have  you  known  enough  of  us  here,  to  be  glad 
to  see  us  no  more  ? ” 

“ The  last  would  make  death  a bitter  portion ; 
yes,  it  would.  It’s  eight  good  years  since  the 
Sarpent  and  I began  to  hunt  together,  and  the 
thought  that  we  were  never  to  meet  ag’in /would 
be  a hard  thought  to  me.  He  looks  forward  to 
the  time  when  he  shall  chase  a sort  of  spirit-deer, 
in  company,  on  plains  where  there’s  no  thorns,  or 
brambles,  or  marshes,  or  other  hardships  to  over- 
come ; whereas,  I can’t  fall  into  all  these  notions, 
seeing  that  they  appear  to  be  ag’in  reason.  Spirits 
can’t  eat,  nor  have  they  any  use  for  clothes ; and 
deer  can  only  rightfully  be  chased  to  be  slain,  or 
slain,  unless  it  be  for  the  venison  or  the  hides. 
Now  I find  it  hard  to  suppose  that  blessed  spirits 
can  be  put  to  chasing  game  without  an  object, 
tormenting  the  dumb  animals  just  for  the  pleasure 
and  agreeableness  of  their  own  amusements.  I 
never  yet  pulled  a trigger  on  buck  or  doe,  Judith, 
unless  when  food  or  clothes  was  wanting.” 

“ The  recollection  of  which,  Deerslayer,  must 
now  be  a great  consolation  to  you.” 

“ It  is  the  thought  of  such  things,  my  fri’nds, 
that  enables  a man  to  keep  his  furlough.  It  might 
be  done  without  it,  I own ; for  the  worst  red-skins 
sometimes  do  their  duty  in  this  matter ; but  it 
makes  that  which  might  otherwise  be  hard,  easy, 
if  not  altogether  to  our  liking.  Nothing  truly 
makes  a bolder  heart  than  a light  conscience.” 

Judith  turned  paler  than  ever,  but  she  strug- 
gled for  self-command  and  succeeded  in  obtaining 
it.  The  conflict  had  been  severe,  however,  and 
it  left  her  so  little  disposed  to  speak,  that  Hetty 
pursued  the  subject.  This  was  done  in  the  simple 
manner  natural  to  the  girl. 

“ It  would  be  cruel  to  kill  the  poor  deer,”  she 
said,  “ in  this  world  or  any  other,  when  you  don’t 
want  their  venison  or  their  skins.  No  good  white 
man  and  no  good  red  man  would  do  it.  But  it’s 


wicked  for  a Christian  to  ta.k  about  chasing  any 
thing  in  heaven.  Such  things  are  not  done  before 
the  face  of  God,  and  the  missionary  that  teaches 
these  doctrines  can’t  be  a true  missionary.  He 
must  be  a wolf  in  sheep’s  clothing.  I suppose 
you  know  what  a sheep  is,  Deerslayer  ? ” 

“ That  I do,  gal ; and  a useful  creature  it  is  to 
such  as  like  cloths  better  than  skins  for  winter- 
garments.  I understand  the  natur’  of  sheep, 
though  I’ve  had  but  little  to  do  with  ’em ; and 
the  natur’  of  wolves  too,  and  can  take  the  idee 
of  a wolf  in  the  fleece  of  a sheep,  though  I think 
it  would  be  likely  to  prove  a hot  jacket  for  such 
a beast  in  the  warm  months.” 

“And  sin  and  hypocrisy  are  hot  jackets,  as 
they  will  find  who  put  them  on,”  returned  Hetty, 
positively ; “ so  the  wolf  would  be  no  worse  off 
than  the  sinner.  Spirits  don’t  hunt,  nor  trap,  nor 
fish,  nor  do  any  thing  that  vain  men  undertake, 
since  they’ve  none  of  the  longings  of  this  world 
to  feed.  Oh  ! mother  told  me  all  that  years  ago, 
and  I didn’t  wish  to  hear  it  denied.” 

“Well,  my  good  Hetty,  in  that  case  you’d 
better  not  broach  your  doctrine  to  Hist  when  she. 
and  you  are  alone,  and  the  young  Delaware  maiden 
is  inclined  to  talk  religion.  It’s  her  fixed  idee,  I 
know,  that  the  good  warriors  do  nothing  but  hunt 
and  fish  in  the  other  world ; though  I don’t  believe 
that  she  fancies  any  of  them  are  brought  down  to 
trapping,  which  is  no  empl’yment  for  a brave. 
But  of  hunting  and  fishing,  accordin’  to  her  notion, 
they’ve  their  fill,  and  that,  too,  over  the  most 
agreeablest  hunting-grounds  and  among  gamo 
that  is  never  out  of  season,  and  which  is  just 
active  and  instinctive  enough  to  give  a pleasure 
to  death.  So  I wouldn’t  ricommend  it  to  you  to 
start  Hist  on  that  idee.” 

“ Hist  can’t  be  so  wicked  as  to  believe  any 
such  thing,”  returned  the  other,  earnestly.  “No 
Indian  hunts  after  he  is  dead.” 

“No  wicked  Indian,  I grant  you ; no  wicked 
Indian  sartainly.  He  is  obliged  to  carry  the  am- 
munition, and  to  look  on  without  sharing  in  the 
sport,  and  to  cook,  and  to  light  the  fires,  and  to 
do  every  thing  that  isn’t  manful.  Now  mind,  I 
don’ t tell  you  these  are  my  idees,  but  they  are 
Hist’s  idees,  and  therefore,  for  the  sake  of  peace, 
the  less  you  say  to  her  ag’in  ’em  the  better.” 

“ And  what  are  your  ideas  of  the  fate  of  an 
Indian  in  the  other  world  ? ” demanded  Judith, 
who  had  just  found  her  voice. 

“Ah!  gal,  any  thing  but  that!  I am  too 
Christianized  to  expect  any  thing  so  fanciful  as 
hunting  and  fishing  after  death  ; nor  do  I believe 
there  is  one  Manitou  for  the  red-skin,  and  another 
for  a pale-face.  You  find  different  color  on  ’arth, 


192 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


as  any  one  may  see,  but  you  don’t  find  different 
natur’s.  Different  gifts,  but  only  one  natur’.” 

“ In  what  is  a gift  different  from  a nature  ? 
Is  not  Nature  itself  a gift  from  God  ? ” 

“Sartain;  that’s  quick-thoughted  and  credit- 
able, Judith,  though  the  main  idee  is  wrong.  A 
natur’  is  the  creatur’  itself;  its  wishes,  wants, 
idees,  and  feelin’s,  as  all  are  born  in  him.  This 
natur’  never  can  be  changed  in  the  main,  though 
it  may  undergo  some  increase  or  lessening.  Now, 
gifts  come  of  sarcumstances.  Thus,  if  you  put 
a man  in  a town,  he  gets  town  gifts  ; in  a settle- 
ment, settlement  gifts ; in  a forest,  gifts  of  the 
woods.  A soldier  has  soldierly  gifts,  and  a mis- 
sionary preaching  gifts.  All  these  increase  and 
strengthen  until  they  get  to  fortify  natur’  as  it 
might  be,  and  excuse  a thousand  acts  and  idees. 
Still  the  creatur’  is  the  same  at  the  bottom  ; just 
as  a man  who  is  clad  in  regimentals  is  the  same 
as  the  man  that  is  clad  in  skins.  The  garments 
make  a change  to  the  eye,  and  some  change  in 
the  conduct  perhaps ; but  none  in  the  man. 
Herein  lies  the  apology  for  gifts ; seein’  that  you 
expect  different  conduct  from  one  in  silks  and 
satins  from  one  in  homespun  ; though  the  Lord, 
who  didn’t  make  the  dresses,  but  who  made  the 
creatur’s  themselves  looks  only  at  his  own  work. 
This  isn’t  ra’al  missionary  doctrine,  but  it’s  as 
near  it  as  a man  of  white  color  need  be.  Ah’s 
me  1 little  did  I think  to  be  talking  of  such  mat- 
ters to-day,  but  it’s  one  of  our  weaknesses  never 
to  know  what  will  come  to  pass. — Step  into  the 
ark  with  me,  Judith,  for  a minute.  I wish  to 
convarse  with  you.” 

Judith  complied  with  a willingness  she  could 
scarce  conceal.  Following  the  hunter  into  the 
cabin,  she  took  a seat  on  a stool,  while  the  young 
man  brought  Killdeer,  the  rifle  she  had  given  him, 
out  of  a corner,  and  placed  himself  on  another, 
with  the  weapon  laid  upon  his  knees.  After  turn- 
ing the  piece  round  and  round,  and  examining  its 
lock  and  its  breech  with  a sort  of  affectionate  as- 
siduity, he  laid  it  down  and  proceeded  to  the 
subject  which  had  induced  him  to  desire  the  in- 
terview. 

“I  understand  you,  Judith,  to  say  that  you 
gave  me  this  rifle,”  he  said.  “ I agreed  to  take 
it  because  a young  woman  can  have  no  particular 
use  for  fire-arms.  The  we’pon  has  a great  name, 
and  it  desarves  it,  and  ought  of  right  to  be  car- 
ried by  some  known  and  sure  hand,  for  the  best 
reputation  may  be  lost  by  careless  and  thought- 
less handling.” 

“ Can  it  be  in  better  hands  than  those  in  which 
it  is  now,  Deerslayer  ? Thomas  Hutter  seldom 
missed  with  it : with  you  it  must  turn  out  to  be — ” 


“ Sartin  death  ! ” interrupted  the  hunter, 
laughing.  “I  once  know’d  a beaver-man  that 
had  a piece  called  by  that  very  name,  but  ’twas 
all  boastfulness,  for  I’ve  seen  Delawares  that  were 
as  true  with  arrows  at  a short  range.  Howsever, 
I’ll  not  deny  my  gifts — for  this  is  a gift,  Judith, 
and  not  natur’ — but  I’ll  not  deny  my  gifts,  and 
therefore  allow  that  the  rifle  couldn’t  well  be  in 
better  hands  than  it  is  at  present.  But  how  long 
will  it  be  likely  to  remain  there  ? Atween  us, 
the  truth  may  be  said,  though  I shouldn’t  like  to 
have  it  known  to  the  Sarpent  and  Hist ; but  to 
you  the  truth  may  be  spoken,  since  your  feelin’s 
will  not  be  as  likely  to  be  tormented  by  it  as 
those  of  them  that  have  known  me  longer  and 
better.  How  long  am  I like  to  own  this  rifle  or 
any  other  ? That  is  a serious  question  for  our 
thoughts  to  rest  on,  and  should  that  happen  which 
is  so  likely  to  happen,  Killdeer  would  be  without 
an  owner.” 

Judith  listened  with  apparent  composure, 
though  the  conflict  within  came  near  overpower- 
ing her.  Appreciating  the  singular  character  of 
her  companion,  however,  she  succeeded  in  ap- 
pearing calm ; though,  had  not  his  attention  been 
drawn  exclusively  to  the  rifle,  a man  of  his  keen- 
ness of  observation  could  scarce  have  failed  to 
detect  the  agony  of  mind  with  which  the  girl  had 
hearkened  to  his  words.  Her  great  self-command, 
notwithstanding,  enabled  her  to  pursue  the  sub- 
ject in  a way  still  to  deceive  him. 

“ What  would  you  have  me  do  with  the  weap- 
on,” she  asked,  “ should  that  which  you  seem  to 
expect,  take  place  ? ” 

“ That’s  just  what  I wanted  to  speak  to  you 
about,  Judith — that’s  just  it.  There’s  Chingach- 
gook,  now,  though  far  from  being  parfect  sar- 
tainty  with  a rifle — for  few  red-skins  ever  get  to 
be  that — though  far  from  being  parfect  sartainty, 
he  is  respectable,  and  is  coming  on.  Neverthe- 
less, he  is  my  fri’nd ; and  all  the  better  fri’nd, 
perhaps,  because  there  never  can  be  any  hard 
feelin’s  atween  us,  touchin’  our  gifts ; his’n  bein’ 
red,  and  mine  bein’  altogether  white.  Now,  I 
should  like  to  leave  Killdeer  to  the  Sarpent, 
should  any  thing  happen  to  keep  me  from  doing 
credit  and  honor  to  your  precious  gift,  Judith.” 

“Leave  it  to  whom  you  please,  Deerslayer; 
the  rifle  is  your  own,  to  do  with  as  you  please ; 
Chingachgook  shall  have  it,  should  you  never  re- 
turn to  claim  it,  if  that  be  your  wish.” 

“ Has  Hetty  been  consulted  in  this  matter  ? 
Property  goes  from  the  parent  to  the  children, 
and  not  to  one  child  in  partic’lar.” 

“ If  you  place  your  right  on  that  of  the  law, 
Deerslayer,  I fear  none  of  us  can  claim  to  be 


TRIAL  OF  KILLDEER’S  MERIT. 


193 


the  owner.  Thomas  Hutter  was  no  more  the  fa- 
ther of  Esther,  than  he  was  the  father  of  Judith. 
Judith  and  Esther  we  are,  truly,  having  no  other 
name.” 

“ There  may  be  law  in  that,  but  there's  no 
great  reason,  gal.  Accordin’  to  the  custom  of 
families,  the  goods  are  your’n,  and  there’s  no  one 
here  to  gainsay  it.  If  Hetty  would  only  say  that 
she  is  willing,  my  mind  would  be  quite  at  ease  in 
the  matter.  It’s  true,  Judith,  that  your  sister 
has  neither  your  beauty  nor  your  wit ; but  we 
should  be  the  tenderest  of  the  rights  and  welfare 
of  the  most  weak-minded.” 

The  girl  made  no  answer ; but,  placing  herself 
at  a window,  she  summoned  her  sister  to  her  side. 
When  the  question  was  put  to  Hetty,  her  simple- 
minded  and  affectionate  nature  cheerfully  assent- 
ed to  the  proposal  to  confer  on  Deerslayer  a full 
right  of  ownership  to  the  much-coveted  rifle. 
The  latter  now  seemed  perfectly  happy,  for  the 
time  being,  at  least ; and,  after  again  examining 
and  reexamining  his  prize,  he  expressed  a deter- 
mination to  put  its  merits  to  a practical  test  be- 
fore he  left  the  spot.  No  boy  could  have  been 
more  eager  to  exhibit  the  qualities  of  his  trumpet 
or  his  cross-bow,  than  this  simple  forester  was  to 
prove  those  of  his  rifle.  Returning  to  the  plat- 
form, he  first  took  the  Delaware  aside  and  in- 
formed him  that  this  celebrated  piece  was  to  be- 
come his  property,  in  the  event  of  any  thing 
serious  befalling  himself. 

“ This  is  a new  reason  why  you  should  be 
wary,  Sarpent,  and  not  run  into  any  oncalculated 
danger,”  the  hunter  added,  “ for  it  will  be  a vic- 
tory of  itself,  to  a tribe,  to  own  such  a piece  as 
this ! The  Mingoes  will  turn  green  with  envy ; 
and,  what  is  more,  they  will  not  ventur’  heed- 
lessly neai  a village  where  it  is  known  to  be 
kept.  So  look  well  to  it,  Delaware,  -and  remem- 
ber that  you’ve  now  to  watch  over  a thing  that 
has  all  the  valie  of  a creatur’,  without  its  failin’s. 
Hist  may  be,  and  should  be  precious  to  you,  but 
Killdeer  will  have  the  love  and  veneration  of  the 
whole  people.” 

One  rifle  like  another,  Deerslayer,”  returned 
the  Indian,  in  English,  the  language  used  by  the 
other,  a little  hurt  at  his  friend’s  lowering  his 
betrothed  to  the  level  of  a gun.  “ All  kill ; all 
wood  and  iron.  Wife  dear  to  heart;  rifle  good 
to  shoot.” 

“ And  what  is  a man  in  the  woods  without 
something  to  shoot  with  ? — a miserable  trapper, 
or  a forlorn  broom  and  basket  maker,  at  the  best. 
Such  a man  may  hoe  corn,  and  keep  soul  aud 
body  together,  but  he  can  never  know  the  savory 
morsels  of  venison,  or  tell  a bear’s  ham  from  a 

13 


hog’s.  Come,  my  fri’nd,  such  another  occasion 
may  never  offer  ag’in,  and  I feel  a strong  craving 
for  a trial  with  this  celebrated  piece.  You  shall 
bring  out  your  own  rifle,  and  I will  just  sight 
Killdeer  in  a careless  way,  in  order  that  we  may 
know  a few  of  its  secret  vartues.” 

As  this  proposition  served  to  relieve  the 
thoughts  of  the  whole  party,  by  giving  them  a 
new  direction,  while  it  was  likely  to  produce  no 
unpleasant  result,  every  one  was  willing  to  enter 
into  it ; the  girls  bringing  forth  the  fire-arms  with 
an  alacrity  bordering  on  cheerfulness.  Hutter’s 
armory  was  well  supplied,  possessing  several 
rifles,  all  of  which  were  habitually  kept  loaded,  in 
readiness  to  meet  any  sudden  demand  for  their 
use.  On  the  present  occasion,  it  only  remained 
to  freshen  the  primings  and  each  piece  was  in  a 
state  for  service.  This  was  soon  done,  as  all  as- 
sisted in  it,  the  females  being  as  expert  in  this' 
part  of  the  system  of  defence  as  their  male  com- 
panions. 

“Now,  Sarpent,  we’ll  begin  in  an  humble  way, 
using  old  Tom’s  commoners  first,  and  coming  to 
your  we’pon  and  Killdeer  as  the  winding-up  ob- 
servations,” said  Deerslayer,  delighted  to  be 
again,  weapon  in  hand,  ready  to  display  his  skill. 
“ Here’s  birds  in  abundance,  some  in,  and  some 
over  the  lake,  and  they  keep  at  just  a good  range, 
hovering  round  the  hut.  Speak  your  mind,  Dela- 
ware, and  p’int  out  the  creatur’  you  wish  to 
alarm.  Here’s  a diver,  nearest  in,  off  to  the 
eastward,  and  that’s  a creatur’  that  buries  itself 
at  the  flash,  and  will  be  like  enough  to  try  both 
piece  and  powder.” 

Chingachgook  was  a man  of  few  words.  No 
sooner  was  the  bird  pointed  out  to  him  than  he 
took  his  aim  and  fired.  The  duck  dived  at  the 
flash,  as  had  been  expected,  and  the  bullet  skip- 
ped harmlessly  along  the  surface  of  the  lake,  first 
striking  the  water  within  a few  inches  of  the  spot 
where  the  bird  had  so  lately  swum.  Deerslayer 
laughed  cordially  and  naturally;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  he  threw  himself  into  an  attitude  of  prepa- 
ration, and  stood  keenly  watching  the  sheet  of 
placid  water.  Presently  a dark  spot  appeared, 
and  then  the  duck  arose  to  breathe,  and  shook 
its  wings.  While  in  this  act,  a bullet  passed  di- 
rectly through  its  breast,  actually  turning  it  over 
lifeless  on  its  back.  At  the  next  moment,  Deer- 
slayer stood  with  the  breech  of  his  rifle  on  the 
platform,  as  tranquil  as  if  nothing  had  happened, 
though  laughing  in  his  own  peculiar  manner. 

“ There’s  no  great  trial  of  the  pieces  in  that ! ” 
he  said,  as  if  anxious  to  prevent  a false  impression 
of  his  own  merit.  “No,  that  proofs  neither  for 
nor  ag’in  the  rifles,  seeing  it  was  all  quicknegs  of 


194 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


band  and  eye  I took  the  bird  at  a disadvantage, 
or  he  might  have  got  under  again  afore  the  bullet 
reached  him.  But  the  Sarpent  is  too  wise  to 
mind  such  tricks,  having  long  been  used  to 
them. — Do  you  remember  the  time,  chief,  when 
you  thought  yourself  sartain  of  the  wild-goose, 
and  I took  him  out  of  your  very  eyes,  as  it  might 
be,  with  a little  smoke  ? — Howsever,  such  things 
pass  for  nothing  atween  fri’nds,  and  young  folk 
will  have  their  fun,  Judith.  Ay,  here’s  just  the 
bird  we  want,  for  it’s  as  good  for  the  fire  as  it  is 
for  the  aim,  and  nothing  should  be  lost  that  can 
be  turned  to  just  account. — There,  farther  north, 
Delaware.” 

The  latter  looked  in  the  required  direction, 
and  *he  soon  saw  a large  black  duck,  floating  in 
stately  repose  on  the  water.  At  that  distant  day, 
when  so  few  men  were  present  to  derange  the 
harmony  of  the  wilderness,  all  the  smaller  lakes, 
with  which  the  interior  of  New  York  so  abounds, 
were  places  of  resort  for  the  migratory  aquatic 
birds ; and  this  sheet,  like  the  others,  had  once 
been  much  frequented  by  all  the  varieties  of  the 
duck,  by  the  goose,  the  gull,  and  the  loon.  On 
the  appearance  of  Hutter,  the  spot  was  compara- 
tively deserted  for  other  sheets  more  retired  and 
remote,  though  some  of  each  species  continued  to 
resort  thither,  as  indeed  they  do  to  the  present 
hour.  At  that  instant,  a hundred  birds  were 
visible  from  the  castle,  sleeping  on  the  water, 
or  laving  their  feathers  in  the  limpid  element, 
though  no  other  offered  so  favorable  a mark 
as  that  Deerslayer  had  just  pointed  out  to  his 
friend.  Chingachgook,  as  usual,  spared  his 
words,  and  proceeded  to  execution.  This  time 
his  aim  was  more  careful-  than  before,  and  his 
success  in  proportion.  The  bird  had  a wing  crip- 
pled, and  fluttered  along  the  water  screaming, 
materially  increasing  its  distance  from  its  ene- 
mies. 

“That  bird  must  be  put  out  of  pain,”  ex- 
claimed Deerslayer,  the  moment  the  animal  en- 
deavored to  rise  on  the  wing ; “ and  this  is  the 
rifle  and  the  eye  to  do  it.” 

The  duck  was  still  floundering  along  when  the 
fatal  bullet  overtook  it,  severing  the  head  from 
the  neck  as  neatly  as  if  it  had  been  done  with  an 
axe.  Hist  bad  indulged  in  a low  cry  of  delight 
at  the  success  of  the  young  Indian ; but  now  she 
affected  to  frown  and  resent  the  greater  skill  of 
his  friend.  The  chief,  on  the  contrary,  uttered 
the  usual  exclamation  of  pleasure;  and  his  smile 
proved  how  much  he  admired,  and  how  little  he 
envied. 

“Never  mind  the  gal,  Sarpent;  never  mind 
Hist’s  feelin’s,  which  will  neither  choke  nor  drown, 


slay  nor  beautify,”  said  Deerslayer,  laughing 
“ ’Tis  nat’ral  for  women  to  enter  into  their  hus- 
band’s victories  and  defeats,  and  you  are  as  good 
as  man  and  wife,  so  far  as  prejudice  and  fri’nd- 
ship  go.  Here  is  a bird  overhead  that  will  put 
the  pieces  to  the  proof ; I challenge  you  to  an  up- 
ward aim  with  a flying  target.  That’s  a ra’al 
proof,  and  one  that  needs  sartain  rifles,  as  well  as 
sartain  eyes.” 

The  species  of  eagle  that  frequents  the  water, 
and  lives  on  fish,  was  also  present,  and  one  was 
hovering  at  a considerable  height  above  the  hut, 
greedily  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  make  a 
swoop;  its  hungry  young  elevating  their  heads 
from  a nest  that  was  in  sight,  in  the  naked  sum- 
mit of  a dead  pine.  Chingachgook  silently  turned 
a new  piece  against  this  bird,  and,  after  carefully 
watching  his  time,  fired.  A wider  circuit  than 
common  denoted  that  the  messenger  had  passed 
through  the  air  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
bird,  though  it  missed  its  object.  Deerslayer, 
whose  aim  was  not  more  true  than  it  was  quick, 
fired  as  soon  ag  it  was  certain  his  friend  had 
missed,  and  the  deep  swoop  that  followed  left  it 
momentarily  doubtful  whether  the  eagle  was  hit 
or  not.  The  marksman  himself,  however,  pro- 
claimed his  own  want  of  success,  calling  on  hi3 
friend  to  seize  another  rifle,  for  he  saw  signs  on  the 
part  of  the  bird  of  an  intention  to  quit  the  spot. 

“ I made  him  wink,  Sarpent ; I do  think  his 
feathers  were  ruffled,  but  no  blood  has  yet  been 
drawn,  nor  is  that  old  piece  fit  for  so  nice  and 
quick  a sight.  Quick,  Delaware ; “ you’ve  now 
a better  rifle,  and,  Judith,  bring  out  Killdeer,  for 
this  is  the  occasion  to  try  his  merits,  if  he  has 
’em ! ” 

A general  movement  followed,  each  of  the 
competitors  got  ready,  and  the  girls  stood  in 
eager  expectation  of  the  result.  The  eagle  had 
made  a wide  circuit  after  his  low  swoop,  and,  fan- 
ning his  way  upward,  once  more  hovered  neariy 
over  the  hut,  at  a distance  even  greater  than  be- 
fore. Chingachgook  gazed  at  him,  and  then  ex- 
pressed his  opinion  of  the  impossibility  of  strik- 
ing a bird  at  that  great  height,  and  while  he  was 
so  nearly  perpendicular,  as  to  the  range.  But  a 
low  murmur  from  Hist  produced  a sudden  im- 
pulse, and  he  fired.  The  result  showed  how  well 
he  had  calculated,  the  eagle  not  even  varying  his 
flight,  sailing  round  and  round  in  his  airy  circle, 
and  looking  down,  as  if  in  contempt,  at  his  foes. 

“Now,  Judith,”  cried  Deerslayer,  laughing, 
with  glistening  and  delighted  eye,  “ we’ll  see  if 
Killdeer  isn’t  Killeagle  too  ! — Give  me  room,  Sar- 
pent, and  watch  the  reason  of  the  aim,  for  by 
reason  any  thing  may  be  1’arned.” 


NATURAL  FEELINGS. 


195 


A careful  sight  followed,  and  was  repeated 
again  and  again,  the  bird  continuing  to  rise  high- 
er and  higher.  Then  followed  the  flash  and  the 
report.  The  swift  messenger  sped  upward,  and, 
at  the  next  instant,  the  bird  turned  on  its  side, 
and  came  swooping  down,  now  struggling  with 
one  wing  and  then  with  the  other,  sometimes 
whirling  in  a circuit,  next  fanning  desperately  as 
if  conscious  of  its  injury,  until,  having  described 
several  complete  circles  around  the  spot,  fell 
heavily  into  the  end  of  the  ark.  On  examining 
the  body,  it  was  found  that  the  bullet  had  pierced 
it  about  half-way  between  one  of  its  wings  and 
„he  breastbone. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

u Upon  two  stony  tables,  spread  before  her, 

She  leaned  her  bosom,  more  than  stony  hard ; 

There  slept  the  impartial  judge,  and  strict  restorer 
Of  wrong  or  right,  with  pain  or  with  reward ; 

There  hung  the  score  of  all  our  debts,  the  card 
Where  good,  and  bad,  and  life,  and  death,  were  painted ; 
Was  never  heart  of  mortal  so  untainted, 

But  when  the  roll  was  read,  with  thousand  terrors  fainted.” 

Giles  Fletcher. 

“ We’ve  done  an  onthoughtful  thing,  Sarpent 
— yes,  Judith,  we’ve  done  an  onthoughtful  thing 
in  taking  life  with  an  object  no  better  than  vani- 
ty ! ” exclaimed  Deerslayer,  when  the  Delaware 
held  up  the  enormous  bird  by  its  wings,  and  ex- 
hibited the  dying  eyes  riveted  on  its  enemies  with 
the  gaze  that  the  helpless  ever  fasten  on  their  de- 
stroyers. “’Twas  more  becomin’  two  boys  to 
gratify  their  feelin’s  in  this  onthoughtful  manner, 
than  two  warriors  on  a war-path,  even  though  it 
be  their  first.  Ah’s  me  ! well,  as  a punishment, 
I’ll  quit  you  at  once,  and  when  I find  myself  alone 
with  them  bloody-minded  Mingoes,  it’s  more  than 
like  I’ll  have  occasion  to  remember  that  life  is 
sweet,  even  to  the  beasts  of  the  woods  and  the 
fowls  of  the  air. — Here,  Judith  ; there’s  Killdeer ; 
take  him  back  ag’in,  and  keep  him  for  some  hand 
that’s  more  desarving  to  own  such  a piece.” 

“ I know  of  none  as  deserving  as  your  own, 
Deerslayer,”  answered  the  girl  in  haste  ; “ none 
but  yours  shall  keep  the  rifle.” 

“ If  it  depended  on  skill,  you  might  be  right 
enough,  gal,  but  we  should  know  when  to  use  fire- 
arms as  well  as  how  to  use  ’em.  I haven’t  larn’t 
the  first  duty  yet,  it  seems  ; so  keep  the  piece  till 
I have.  The  sight  of  a dyin’  and  distressed 
creatur’,  even  though  it  be  only  a bird,  brings 
wholesome  thoughts  to  a man  who  don’t  know 


how  soon  his  own  time  may  come,  and  who  is 
pretty  sartain  that  it  will  come  afore  the  sun 
sets  ; I’d  give  back  all  my  vain  feelin’s  and  re- 
j’icin’s  in  hand  and  eye,  if  that  poor  eagle  was 
only  on  its  nest  ag’in  with  its  young,  praisin’  the 
Lord,  for  any  thing  that  we  can  know  about  the 
matter,  for  health  and  strength  ! ” 

The  listeners  were  confounded  with  this  proof 
of  sudden  repentance  in  the  hunter,  and  that,  too, 
for  an  indulgence  so  very  common,  that  men  sel- 
dom stop  to  weigh  its  consequences,  or  the  physi- 
cal suffering  it  may  bring  on  the  unoffending  and 
helpless.  The  Delaware  understood  what  he 
said,  though  he  scarce  understood  the  feelings 
which  had  prompted  the  words,  and,  by  way  of 
disposing  of  the  difficulty,  he  drew  his  keen 
knife  and  severed  the  head  of  the  sufferer  from 
its  body. 

“ What  a thing  is  power ! ” continued  the 
hunter,  “ and  what  a thing  it  is  to  have  it,  and 
not  to  know  how  to  use  it ! It’s  no  wonder,  Ju- 
dith, that  the  great  so  often  fail  of  their  duties, 
when  even  the  little  and  the  humble  find  it  so 
hard  to  do  what’s  right,  and  not  to  do  what’s 
wrong.  Then,  how  one  evil  act  brings  others 
a’ ter  it ! Now,  wasn’t  it  for  this  furlough  of 
mine,  which  must  soon  take  me  back  to  the  Min- 
goes, I’d  find  this  creatur’s  nest,  if  I travelled  the 
woods  a fortnight — though  an  eagle’s  nest  is  soon 
found  by  them  that  understands  the  bird’s  natur’ 
— but  I’d*  travel  a fortnight  rather  than  not  find 
it,  just  to  put  the  young,  too,  out  of  their  pain.” 

“ I’m  glad  to  hear  you  say  this,  Deerslayer,” 
observed  Hetty,  “ and  God  will  be  more  apt  to 
remember  your  sorrow  for  what  you’ve  done, 
than  the  wickedness  itself.  I thought  how  wick- 
ed it  was  to  kill  harmless  birds  while  you  were 
shooting,  and  meant  to  tell  you  so  ; but,  I don’t 
know  how  it  happened — I was  so  curious  to  see 
if  you  could  hit  an  eagle  at  so  great  a height, 
that  I forgot  altogether  to  speak  till  the  mischief 
was  done.” 

“ That’s  it ; that’s  just  it,  my  good  Hetty. 
We  can  all  see  our  faults  and  mistakes  when  it’s 
too  late  to  help  them  ! Howsever,  I’m  glad  you 
didn’t  speak,  for  I don’t  think  a word  or  two 
would  have  stopped  me  just  at  that  moment ; and 
so  the  sin  stands  in  its  nakedness,  and  not  aggra- 
vated by  any  unheeded  calls  to  forbear.  Well, 
well,  bitter  thoughts  are  hard  to  be  borne  at  all 
times,  but  there’s  times  when  they’re  harder  than 
at  others.” 

Little  did  Deerslayer  know,  while  thus  indulg- 
ing in  feelings  that  were  natural  to  the  man,  and  so 
strictly  in  accordance  with  his  own  unsophisti- 
cated and  just  principles,  that,  in  the  course  of 


196 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


the  inscrutable  Providence  which  so  uniformly 
and  yet  so  mysteriously  covers  all  events  with  its 
mantle,  the  very  fault  he  was  disposed  so  severely 
to  censure,  was  to  be  made  the  means  of  deter- 
mining his  own  earthly  fate.  The  mode  and  the 
moment  in  which  he  was  to  feel  the  influence  of 
this  interference,  it  would  be  premature  to  relate, 
but  both  will  appear  in  the  course  of  the  succeed- 
ing chapters.  As  for  the  young  man,  he  now 
slowly  left  the  ark,  like  one  sorrowing  for  his 
misdeeds,  and  seated  himself  in  silence  on  the 
platform.  By  this  time  the  sun  had  ascended  to 
Borne  height,  and  its  appearance,  taken  in  con- 
nection with  his  present  feelings,  induced  him  to 
prepare  to  depart.  The  Delaware  got  the  canoe 
ready  for  his  friend  as  soon  as  apprised  of  his  in- 
tention, while  Hist  busied  herself  in  making  the 
few  arrangements  that  were  thought  necessary  to 
his  comfort.  All  this  was  done  without  ostenta- 
tion, but  in  a way  that  left  Deerslayer  fully  ac- 
quainted with,  and  equally  disposed  to  appreciate 
the  motive.  When  all  was  ready,  both  returned 
to  the  side  of  Judith  and  Hetty — neither  of  whom 
had  moved  from  the  spot  where  the  young  hunter 
sat. 

“ The  best  fri’nds  must  often  part,”  the  last 
began,  when  he  saw  the  whole  party  grouped 
around  him.  “ Yes,  fri’ndship  can’t  alter  the 
ways  of  Providence ; and  let  our  feelin’s  be  as 
they  may,  we  must  part.  I’ve  often  thought 
there’s  moments  when  our  words  dwell  Ibnger  on 
the  mind  than  common,  and  when  advice  is  re- 
membered, just  because  the  mouth  that  gives  it, 
isn’t  likely  to  give  it  ag’in.  No  one  knows  what 
will  happen  in  the  world  ; and,  therefore,  it  may 
be  well,  when  fri’nds  separate  under  a likelihood 
that  the  parting  may  be  long,  to  say  a few  words 
in  kindness,  as  a sort  of  keepsakes.  If  all  but 
one  will  go  into  the  ark,  I’ll  talk  to  each  in  turn, 
and,  what  is  more,  I’ll  listen  to  what  you  may  have 
to  say  back  ag’in  ; for  it’s  a poor  counsellor  that 
won’t  take  as  well  as  give.” 

As  the  meaning  of  the  speaker  was  under- 
stood, the  two  Indians  immediately  withdrew  as 
desired,  leaving  the  sisters,  however,  still  stand- 
ing at  the  young  man’s  side.  A look  of  Deer- 
slayer’s  induced  Judith  to  explain. 

“You  can  advise  Hetty  as  you  land,”  she 
said,  hastily ; “ I intend  that  she  shall  accompany 
you  to  the  shore.” 

“ Is  this  wise,  Judith  ? It’s  true  that,  under 
common  sarcumstances,  a feeble  mind  is  a great 
protection  among  red-skins  ; but  when  their  feel- 
in’s  are  up,  and  they’re  bent  on  revenge,  it’s  hard 
to  say  what  may  come  to  pass.  Besides — ” 

“ What  were  you  about  to  say,  Deerslayer  ? ” 


asked  Judith,  whose  gentleness  of  voice  and  man 
ner  amounted  nearly  to  tenderness,  though  she 
struggled  hard  to  keep  her  emotions  and  appre- 
hensions in  subjection. 

“ Why,  simply  that  there  are  sights  and  doin’s 
that  one  even  as  little  gifted  with  reason  and 
memory  as  Hetty,  here,  might  better  not  wit- 
ness. So,  Judith,  you  would  do  well  to  let  me 
land  alone,  and  to  keep  your  sister  back.” 

“ Never  fear  for  me,  Deerslayer,”  put  in  Het- 
ty, who  comprehended  enough  of  the  discourse 
to  know  its  general  drift ; “ I’m  feeble-minded, 
and  that,  they  say,  is  an  excuse  for  going  any- 
where ; and  what  that  won’t  excuse  will  be  over- 
looked on  account  of  the  Bible  I always  carry. — 
It  is  wonderful,  Judith,  how  all  sorts  of  men,  the 
trappers  as  well  as  the  hunters,  red  men  as  well 
as  white,  Mingoes  as  well  as  Delawares,  do  rever- 
ence and  fear  the  Bible ! ” 

“ I think  you  have  not  the  least  ground  to 
fear  any  injury,  Hetty,”  answered  the  sister, 
“ and  therefore  I shall  insist  on  your  going  to 
the  Huron  camp  with  our  friend.  Your  being 
there  can  do  no  harm,  not  even  to  yourself,  and 
you  may  do  great  good  to  Deerslayer.” 

“This  is  not  a moment,  Judith,  to  dispute; 
and  so  have  the  matter  your  own  way,”  returned 
the  young  man. — “ Get  yourself  ready,  Hetty, 
and  go  into  the  canoe,  for  I’ve  a few  parting 
words  to  say  to  your  sister,  which  can  do  you  no 
good.” 

Judith  and  her  companion  continued  silent  un- 
til Hetty  had  so  far  complied  as  to  leave  them 
alone,  when  Deerslayer  took  up  the  subject  as 
if  it  had  been  interrupted  by  some  ordinary  oc- 
currence, and  in  a very  matter-of-fact  way. 

“Words  spoken  at  parting,  and  which  may 
be  the  last  we  ever  hear  from  a fri’nd,  are  not 
soon  forgotten,”  he  repeated,  “ and  so,  Judith,  I 
intend  to  speak  to  you  like  a brother,  seein’  I’m 
not  old  enough  to  be  your  father.  In  the  first 
place,  I wish  to  caution  you  ag’in  your  inimies, 
of  which  two  may  be  said  to  ha’nt  your  very  foot- 
steps, and  to  beset  your  ways.  The  first  is  on- 
common  good  looks,  which  is  as  dangerous  a foe 
to  some  young  women  as  a whole  tribe  of  Mingoes 
could  prove,  and  which  calls  for  great  watchful- 
ness ; not  to  admire  and  praise,  but  to  distrust 
and  sarcumvent.  Yes,  good  looks  may  be  sar- 
cum vented,  and  fairly  outwitted,  too.  In  order 
to  do  this,  you’ve  only  to  remember  that  they 
melt  like  the  snows  ; and,  when  once  gone,  they 
never  come  back  ag’in.  The  seasons  come  and 
go,  Judith ; and  if  we  have  winter,  with  storms 
and  frosts,  and  spring,  with  chills  and  leafless 
trees,  we  have  summer,  with  its  sun  and  glorious 


THE  HUNTER’S  FAREWELL  COUNSELS. 


19? 


skies,  and  fall,  with  its  fruits,  and  a garment 
thrown  over  the  forest  that  no  beauty  of  the  town 
could  rummage  out  of  all  the  shops  in  America. 
’Arth  is  an  eternal  round,  the  goodness  of  God 
bringing  back  the  pleasant  when  we’ve  had  enough 
of  the  onpleasant.  But  it’s  not  so  with  good 
looks.  They  are  lent  for  a short  time  in  youth, 
to  be  used  and  not  abused ; and,  as  I never  met 
with  a young  woman  to  Avhom  Providence  has 
been  as  bountiful  as  it  has  to  you,  Judith,  in  this 
partic’lar,  I warn  you,  as  it  might  be  with  my  dy- 
in’  breath,  to  beware  of  the  inimy ; fri’nd  or  ini- 
my,  as  we  deal  with  the  gift.” 

It  was  so  grateful  to  Judith  to  hear  these  un- 
equivocal admissions  of  her  personal  charms,  that 
much  would  have  been  forgiven  to  the  man  who 
made  them,  let  him  be  who  he  might.  But,  at 
that  moment,  and  from  a far  better  feeling,  it 
would  not  have  been  easy  for  Deerslayer  serious- 
ly to  offend  her ; and  she  listened  with  a patience 
which,  had  it  been  foretold  only  a week  earlier, 
it  would  have  excited  her  indignation  to  hear. 

“ I understand  your  meaning,  Deerslayer,”  re- 
turned the  girl,  with  a meekness  and  humility 
that  a little  surprised  her  listener,  “ and  hope  to 
be  able  to  profit  by  it.  But  you  have  mentioned 
only  one  of  the  enemies  I have  to  fear  ; who,  or 
what,  is  the  other  ? ” 

“ The  other  is  givin’  way  afore  your  own  good 
sense  and  judgment,  I find,  Judith;  yes,  he’s  not 
as  dangerous  as  I supposed.  Howsever,  havin’ 
opened  the  subject,  it  will  be  as  well  to  end  it 
honestly.  The  first  inimy  you  have  to  be  watch- 
ful of,  as  I’ve  already  told  you,  Judith,  is  oncom- 
mon  good  looks,  and  the  next  is  an  oncommon 
knowledge  of  the  sarcumstance.  If  the  first  is 
bad,  the  last  doesn’t,  in  any  way,  mend  the 
matter,  so  far  as  safety  and  peace  of  mind  are 
consumed.” 

How  much  longer  the  young  man  would  have 
gone  on  in  his  simple  and  unsuspecting  but  well- 
intentioned  manner,  it  might  not  be  easy  to  say, 
had  he  not  been  interrupted  by  his  listener’s 
bursting  into  tears,  and  giving  way  to  an  out- 
break of  feeling,  which  was  so  much  the  more 
violent  from  the  fact  that  it  had  been  with  so 
much  difficulty  suppressed.  At  first  her  sobs 
were  so  violent  and  uncontrollable  that  Deei  slay- 
er was  a little  appalled,  and  he  was  abundantly 
repentant  from  the  instant  that  he  discovered  how 
much  greater  was  the  effect  produced  by  his 
words  than  he  had  anticipated.  Even  the  aus- 
tere and  exacting  are  usually  appeased  by  the 
signs  of  contrition,  but  the  nature,  of  Deerslayer 
did  not  require  proofs  of  intense  feeling  so  strong, 
in  order  to  bring  him  down  to  a level  with  the  re- 


grets felt  by  the  girl  herself.  He  arose  as  if  an 
adder  had  stung  him,  and  the  accents  of  the  moth- 
er that  soothes  her  child  were  scarcely  more  gen- 
tle and  winning  than  the  tones  of  his  voice,  as  he 
now  expressed  his  contrition  at  having  gone  so  far. 

“ It  was  well  meant,  Judith,”  he  said,  “ but  it 
was  not  intended  to  hurt  your  feelin’s  so  much. 
I have  overdone  the  advice,  I see ; yes,  I’ve  over- 
done it,  and  I crave  your  pardon  for  the  same. 
Fri’ndship’s  an  awful  thing ! Sometimes  it  chides 
us  for  not  having  done  enough  ; and  then  ag’in 
it  speaks  in  strong  words  for  havin’  done  too 
much.  Howsever,  I acknowledge  I’ve  overdone 
the  matter,  and,  as  I’ve  a ra’al  and  strong  regard 
for  you,  I rejoice  to  say  it,  inasmuch  as  it  proves 
how  much  better  you  are  than  my  own  vanity 
and  consaits  had  made  you  out  to  be.” 

Judith  now  removed  her  hands  from  her  face ; 
her  tears  had  ceased,  and  she  unveiled  a counte- 
nance so  winning,  with  the  smile  which  rendered 
it  even  radiant,  that  the  young  man  gazed  at  her, 
for  a moment,  with  speechless  delight. 

' “Say  no  more,  Deerslayer,”  she  hastily  inter- 
posed, “ it  pains  me  to  hear  you  find  fault  with 
yourself.  I know  my  own  weakness  all  the  better, 
now  I see  that  you  have  discovered  it ; the  lesson, 
bitter  as  I have  found  it  for  a moment,  shall  not 
be  forgotten.  We  will  not  talk  any  longer  of  these 
things,  for  I do  not  feel  myself  brave  enough  for 
the  undertaking,  and  I should  not  like  the  Dela- 
wares, or  Hist,  or  even  Hetty,  to  notice  my  weak- 
ness. Farewell,  Deerslayer ; may  God  bless  and 
protect  you  as  your  honest  heart  deserves  bless- 
ing and  protection,  and  as  I must  think  he  will ! ” 

Judith  had  so  far  regained  the  superiority  that 
properly  belonged  to  her  better  education,  high 
spirit,  and  surpassing  personal  advantages,  as  to 
preserve  the  ascendency  she  had  thus  accidentally 
obtained,  and  effectually  prevented  any  return  to 
the  subject  that  was  as  singularly  interrupted  as 
it  had  been  singularly  introduced.  The  young 
man  permitted  her  to  have  every  thing  her  own 
way,  and  when  she  pressed  his  hard  hand  in  both 
her  own,  he  made  no  resistance,  but  submitted  to 
the  homage  as  quietly,  and  with  quite  as  matter 
of  course  a manner,  as  a sovereign  would  have  re- 
ceived a similar  tribute  from  a subject,  or  the  mis- 
tress from  her  suitor.  Feeling  had  flushed  the 
face  and  illuminated  the  whole  countenance  of  the 
girl,  and  her  beauty  was  never  more  resplendent 
than  when  she  cast  a parting  glance  at  the  youth. 
That  glance  was  filled  with  anxiety,  interest,  and 
gentle  pity.  At  the  next  instant  she  darted  into 
the  hut  and  was  seen  no  more  ; though  she  spoke 
to  Hist  from  a window,  to  inform  her  that  theii 
friend  expected  her  appearance. 


L98 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“ You  know  enough  of  red-skin  natur’  and 
red-skin  usages,  Wah-ta!-Wah,  to  see  the  con. 
dition  I am  in  on  account  of  this  furlough,”  com- 
menced the  hunter,  in  Delaware,  as  soon  as  the 
patient  and  submissive  girl  of  that  people  had 
moved  quietly  to  his  side ; “ you  will  therefore 
best  onderstand  how  onlikely  I am  ever  to  talk 
with  you  ag’in.  I’ve  but  little  to  say  ; but  that 
little  comes  from  long  livin’  among  your  people 
and  from  havin’  obsarved  and  noted  their  usages- 
The  life  of  a woman  is  hard  at  the  best,  but,  I 
must  own,  though  I’m  not  opinionated  in  favor 
of  my  own  color,  that  it  is  harder  among  the 
red  men  than  it  is  among  the  pale-faces.  This  is 
a p’int  on  which  Christians  may  well  boast,  if 
boasting  can  be  set  down  for  Christianity  in  any 
manner  or  form,  which  I rather  think  it  cannot. 
Howsever,  all  women  have  their  trials.  Red 
women  have  their’n  in  what  I should  call  the 
nat’ral  way,  while  white  women  take  ’em  inocu- 
lated like.  Bear  your  burden,  Hist,  becomingly, 
and  remember,  if  it  be  a little  toilsome,  how  much 
lighter  it  is  than  that  of  most  Indian  women.  I 
know  the  Sarpent  well — what  I call  cordially — 
and  he  will  never  be  a tyrant  to  any  thing  he  loves, 
though  he  will  expect  to  be  treated  himself  like 
a Mohican  chief.  There  will  be  cloudy  days  in 
your  lodge,  I suppose,  for  they  happen  under  all 
usages,  and  among  all  people ; but,  by  keepin’ 
the  windows  of  the  heart  open,  there  will  always 
be  room  for  the  sunshine  to  enter.  You  come  of 
a great  stock  yourself,  and  so  does  Chingachgook- 
It’s  not  very  likely  that  either  will  ever  forget  the 
sarcumstance,  and  do  any  thing  to  disgrace  your 
forefathers.  Nevertheless,  likin’  is  a tender  plant, 
and  never  thrives  long  when  watered  with  tears. 
Let  the  ’arth  around  your  married  happiness  be 
moistened  by  the  dews  of  kindness.” 

“ My  pale  brother  is  very  wise ; Wah  will  keep 
in  her  mind  all  that  his  wisdom  tells  her.” 

“ That’s  judicious  and  womanly,  Hist.  Care 
in  listening,  and  stout-heartedness  in  holding  to 
good  counsel,  is  a wife’s  good  protection.  And, 
now,  ask  the  Sarpent  to  come  and  speak  with  me, 
for  a moment,  and  carry  away  with  you  all  my 
best  wishes  and  prayers.  I shall  think  of  you, 
Hist,  and  of  your  intended  husband,  let  what  may 
come  to  pass,  and  always  wish  you  wpll,  here  and 
hereafter,  whether  the  last  is  to  be  according  to 
Indian  idees  or  Christian  doctrines.” 

Hist  shed  no  tear  at  parting.  She  was  sus- 
tained by  the  high  resolution  of  one  who  had  de- 
cided on  her  course ; but  her  dark  eyes  were  lumi- 
nous with  the  feelings  that  glowed  within,  and  her 
pretty  countenance  beamed  with  an  expression  of 
determination  that  was  in  marked  and  singular 


contrast  to  its  ordinary  gentleness.  It  was  but  « 
minute  ere  the  Delaware  advanced  to  the  side  of 
his  friend  with  the  light,  noiseless  tread  of  an  In 
dian. 

“ Come  this-a-way,  Sarpent,  here  more  out  of 
sight  of  the  women,”  commenced  the  Deerslayer 
“ for  I’ve  several  things  to  say  that  musn’t  so 
much  as  be  suspected,  much  less  overheard. 
You  know  too  well  the  natur’  of  furloughs  and 
Mingoes  to  have  any  doubts  or  misgivin’s  con- 
samin’  what  is  likely  to  happen,  when  I get  back 
to  the  camp.  On  them  two  p’ints,  therefore,  a 
few  words  will  go  a great  way.  In  the  first 
place,  chief,  I wish  to  say  a little  about  Hist,  and 
the  manner  in  which  you  red  men  treat  your 
wives.  I suppose  its  accordin’  to  the  gifts  of 
your  people  that  the  women  should  work,  and 
the  men  hunt ; but  there’s  such  a thing  as  mod- 
eration in  all  matters.  As  for  huntin’,  I see  no 
good  reason  why  any  limits  need  be  set  to  that , 
but  Hist  comes  of  too  good  a stock  to  toil  like  a 
common  drudge.  One  of  your  means  and  stand- 
in’  need  never  want  for  corn,  or  potatoes,  or  any 
thing  that  the  fields  yield ; therefore,  I hope  the 
hoe  will  never  be  put  into  the  hands  of  any  wife 
of  your’n.  You  know  I am  not  quite  a beggar, 
and  all  I own,  whether  in  ammunition,  skins, 
arms,  or  calicoes,  I give  to  Hist,  should  I not 
come  back  to  claim  them  by  the  end  of  the  sea- 
son. This  will  set  the  maiden  up,  and  will  buy 
labor  for  her,  for  a long  time  to  come.  I sup- 
pose I needn’t  tell  you  to  love  the  young  woman, 
for  that  you  do  already,  and  whomsoever  the 
man  ra’ally  loves,  he’ll  be  likely  enough  to  cher- 
ish. Nevertheless,  it  can  do  no  harm  to  say  that 
kind  words  never  rankle,  while  bitter  words  do. 
I know  you’re  a man,  Sarpent,  that  is  less  apt  to 
talk  in  his  own  lodge  than  to  speak  at  the  coun- 
cil-fire ; but  forgetful  moments  may  overtake  us 
all,  and  the  practice  of  kind  doin’,  and  kind 
talkin’,  is  a wonderful  advantage  in  lceepin’  peace 
in  a cabin,  as  well  as  on  a hunt.” 

“ My  ears  are  open,”  returned  the  Delaware, 
gravely  ; “ the  words  of  my  brother  have  entered 
so  far  that  they  never  can  fall  out  again.  They 
are  like  rings  that  have  no  end,  and  cannot  drop. 
Let  him  speak  on  ; the  song  of  the  wren  and  the 
voice  of  a friend  never  tire.” 

“ I will  speak  a little  longer,  chief,  but  you 
will  excuse  it  for  the  sake  of  old  companionship, 
should  I now  talk  about  myself.  If  the  worst 
comes  to  the  worst,  it’s  not  likely  there’ll  be 
much  left  of  me  but  ashes ; so  a grave  would  be 
useless,  and  assort  of  vanity.  On  that  score  I’m 
no  way  partic’lar,  though  it  might  be  well  enough 
to  take  a look  at  the  remains  of  the  pile,  and 


DISCUSSION  OF  MISSIONARY  DOCTRINES. 


199 


»hould  any  bones  or  pieces  be  found,  ’twould  be 
more  decent  to  gather  them  together  and  bury 
them  than  to  let  them  lie  for  the  wolves  to  gnaw  at 
and  howl  over.  These  matters  can  make  no  great 
difference  in  the  ind,  but  men  of  white  blood  and 
Christian  feelin’s  have  rather  a gift  for  graves.” 

“ It  shall  be  done  as  my  brother  says,”  re- 
turned the  Indian,  gravely.  “ If  his  mind  is  full, 
let  him  empty  it  iu  the  bosom  of  a friend.” 

“ Thank  you,  Sarpent ; my  mind’s  easy 
enough ; yes,  it’s  tolerable  easy.  * Idees  will 
come  uppermost  that  I’m  not  apt  to  think  about 
in  common,  it’s  true  ; but  by  striving  ag’in  some 
and  lettin’  others  come  out,  all  will  be  right  in 
the  long-run.  There’s  one  thing,  howsever,  chief, 
that  does  seem  to  be  (treasonable,  and  ag’in  na- 
tur’,  though  the  missionaries  say  it’s  true ; and 
bein’  of  my  religion  and  color,  I feel  bound  to 
believe  them.  They  say  an  Injin  may  torment 
and  tortur’  the  body  to  the  heart’s  content,  and 
scalp,  and  cut,  and  tear,  and  burn,  and  consume 
all  his  inventions  and  deviltries,  until  nothin’  is 
left  but  ashes,  and  they  shall  be  scattered  to  the 
four  winds  of  heaven,  yet,  when  the  trumpet  of 
God  shall  sound,  all  will  come  together  ag’in,  and 
the  man  will  stand  forth  in  his  flesh  the  same 
creatur’  as  to  looks,  if  not  as  to  feelin’s,  that  he 
was  afore  he  was  harmed  ! ” 

“ The  missionaries  are  good  men  ; they  mean 
well,”  returned  the  Delaware,  courteously  ; “ they 
are  not  great  medicines.  They  think  all  they 
say,  Deerslayer ; that  is  no  reason  why  warriors 
and  orators  should  be  all  ears.  When  Chingacli- 
gook  shall  see  the  father  of  Tamenund  standing 
in  his  scalp,  and  paint,  and  war-lock,  then  will  he 
believe  the  missionaries.” 

“ Seein’  is  believin’,  of  a sartainty — ah’s  me  ! 
and  some  of  us  may  see  these  things  sooner  than 
we  thought.  I comprehend  your  meanin’  about 
Tamenund’s  father,  Sarpent, ’and  the  idee’s  a 
close  idee.  Tamenund  is  now  an  elderly  man, 
say  eighty,  every  day  of  it ; and  his  father  was 
scalped,  and  tormented,  and  burnt  when  the  pres- 
ent prophet  was  a youngster.  Yes,  if  one  could 
see  that  come  to  pass,  there  wouldn’t  be  much 
difficulty  in  yieldin’  faith  to  all  that  the  mission- 
aries say.  Howsever,  I’m  not  ag’in  the  opinion 
now ; for  you  must  know,  Sarpent,  that  the  great 
principle  of  Christianity  is  to  believe  without  see- 
ing ; and  a man  should  always  act  up  to  his  re- 
ligion and  principles,  let  them  be  what  they 
may.” 

“ That  is  strange  for  a wise  nation,”  said  the 
Delaware,  with  emphasis.  “ The  red  man  looks 
aard,  that  he  may  see  and  understand.” 

MYes,  that’s  plauserble  and  is  agreeable  to 


mortal  pride ; but  it’s  not  as  deep  as  it  seems. 
If  we  could  understand  all  we  see,  Sarpent,  there 
might  be  not  only  sense,  but  safety,  in  refusin’ 
to  give  faith  to  any  one  thing  that  we  might  find 
oncomprehensible ; but  when  there’s  so  many 
things  about  which  it  may  be  said  we  know  noth- 
ing at  all,  why,  there’s  little  use  and  no  reason 
in  bein’  difficult  touchin’  any  one  in  partic’lar. 
For  my  part,  Delaware,  all  my  thoughts  haven’t 
been  on  the  game,  when  outlyin’  in  the  hunts  and 
scoutin’s  of  our  youth.  Many’s  the  hour  I’ve 
passed,  pleasantly  enough,  too,  in  what  is  tarmed 
conterplation  by  my  people.  On  such  occasions 
the  mind  is  active,  though  the  body  seems  lazy 
and  listless.  An  open  spot  on  a mountain-side, 
where  a wide  look  can  be  had  at  the  heavens  and 
the  ’arth,  is  a most  judicious  place  for  a man  to 
get  a just  idee  of  the  power  of  the  Manitou,  and 
of  his  own  littleness.  At  such  times  there  isn’t 
any  great  disposition  to  find  fault  with  little  dif- 
ficulties in  the  way  of  comprehension,  as  there 
are  so  many  big  ones  to  hide  them.  Believin’ 
comes  easy  enough  to  me,  at  such  times  ; and  if 
the  Lord  made  man  first,  out  of  ’arth,  as  they 
tell  me  it  is  written  in  the  Bible,  then  turns  him 
into  dust  at  death,  I see  no  great  difficulty  in  the 
way  to  bringin’  him  back  in  the  body,  though 
ashes  be  the  only  substance  left.  These  things 
lie  beyond  our  understandin’,  though  they  may 
and  do  lie  so  close  to  our  feelin’s.  But  of  all 
the  doctrines,  Sarpent,  that  which  disturbs  me, 
and  disconsarts  my  mind  the  most,  is  the  one 
which  teaches  us  to  think  that  a pale-face  goes 
to  one  heaven  and  a red-skin  to  another  ; it  may 
separate  in  death  them  which  lived  much  to- 
gether, and  loved  each  other  well  in  life  ! ” 

“ Do  the  missionaries  teach  their  white  breth- 
ren to  think  it  is  so  ? ” demanded  the  Indian, 
with  serious  earnestness.  “ The  Delawares  be- 
lieve that  good  men  and  brave  warriors  will  hunt 
together  in  the  same  pleasant  woods,  let  them  be- 
long to  whatever  tribe  they  may  ; that  all  the  un- 
just Indians,  and  cowards,  will  have  to  sneak  in 
with  the  dogs  and  the  wolves,  to  get  venison  for 
their  lodges.” 

“ ’Tis  wonderful  how  many  consaits  mankind 
have  consarnin’  happiness  and  misery,  hereaf- 
ter ! ” exclaimed  the  hunter,  borne  away  by  the 
power  of  his  own  thoughts.  “ Some  believe  in 
burnin’s  and  flames,  and  some  think  punishment 
is  to  eat  with  the  wolves  and  dogs.  Then,  ag’in, 
some  fancy  heaven  to  be  only  the  carryin’  out  of 
their  own  ’arthly  longin’s ; while  others  fancy  it 
all  gold  and  shinin’  lights  ! Well,  I’ve  an  idee 
of  my  own,  in  that  matter,  which  is  just  this,  Sar- 
pent. Whenever  I’ve  done  wrong,  I’ve  ginirally 


200 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


found  ’twas  owin’  to  some  blindness  of  tbe  mind, 
which  hid  the  right  from  view,  and  when  sight 
has  returned,  then  has  come  sorrow  and  repent- 
ance. ^Tow,  I consait  that,  after  death,  when  the 
body  is  laid  aside,  or,  if  used  at  all,  is  purified 
and  without  its  longin’s,  the  spirit  sees  all  things, 
in  their  ra’al  light,  and  never  becomes  blind  to 
truth  and  justice.  Such  bein’  the  case,  all  that 
has  been  done  in  life,  is  beheld  as  plainly  as  the 
sun  is  seen  at  noon  ; the  good  brings  joy  while 
the  evil  brings  sorrow.  There’s  nothin’  onreason- 
able  in  that,  but  it’s  agreeable  to  every  man’s  ex- 
perience.” 

“I  thought  the  pale-faces  believed  all  men 
were  wicked  ; who,  then,  could  ever  find  the  white 
man’s  heaven  ? ” 

“That’s  ingen’ous,  but  it  falls  short  of  the 
missionary  teachin’s.  You’ll  be  Christianized  one 
day,  I make  no  doubt,  and  then  ’twill  all  come 
plain  enough.  You  must  know,  Sarpent,  that 
there’s  been  a great  deed  of  salvation  done,  that, 
by  God’s  help,  enables  all  men  to  find  a pardon 
for  their  wickedness,  and  that  is  the  essence  of 
the  white  man’s  religion.  I can’t  stop  to  talk 
this  matter  over  with  you  any  longer,  for  Hetty’s 
in  the  canoe,  and  the  furlough  takes  me  away ; 
but  the  time  will  come,  I hope,  when  you’ll  feel 
these  things ; for,  after  all,  they  must  be  felt, 
rather  than  reasoned  about.  Ah’s  me ! well, 
Delaware,  there’s  my  hand ; you  know  it’s  that 
of  a fri’nd,  and  will  shake  it  as  such,  though  it 
never  has  done  you  one-half  the  good  its  owner 
wishes  it  had.” 

The  Indian  took  the  offered  hand,  and  re- 
turned its  pressure  warmly.  Then  falling  back 
on  his  acquired  stoicism  of  manner,  which  so 
many  mistake  for  constitutional  indifference,  he 
drew  up  in  reserve,  and  prepared  to  part  from  his 
friend  with  dignity.  Deerslayer,  however,  was 
more  natural ; nor  would  he  have  at  all  cared 
about  giving  way  to  his  feelings,  had  not  the  re- 
cent conduct  and  language  of  Judith  given  him 
some  secret  though  ill-defined  apprehensions  of  a 
scene.  He  was  too  humble  to  imagine  the  truth 
concerning  the  actual  feelings  of  that  beautiful 
girl,  while  he  was  too  observant  not  to  have  noted 
the  struggle  she  had  maintained  with  herself,  and 
which  had  so  often  led  her  to  the  very  verge  of 
discovery.  That  something  extraordinary  was 
concealed  in  her  breast,  he  thought  obvious 
enough  ; and,  through  a sentiment  of  manly  deli- 
cacy that  would  have  done  credit  to  the  highest 
human  refinement,  he  shrank  from  any  exposure 
of  her  secret  that  might  subsequently  cause  re- 
gret to  the  girl  herself.  He,  therefore,  deter- 
mined to  depart,  now,  and  that  without  any  fur- 


ther manifestations  of  feeling  either  from  himself 
or  from  others.  « 

“ God  bless  you,  Sarpent — God  bless  you  ! ” 
cried  the  hunter,  as  the  canoe  left  the  side  of  the 
platform.  “Your  Manitou  and  my  God  only 
know  when  and  where  we  shall  meet  ag’in ; I 
shall  count  it  a great  blessing,  and  a full  reward 
for  any  little  good  I may  have  done  on  ’arth,  if 
we  shall  be  permitted  to  know  each  other,  and  to 
consort  together,  hereafter,  as  we  have  so  long 
done  in  these  pleasant  woods  afore  us ! ” 

Chingachgook  waved  his  hand.  Drawing  the 
light  blanket  he  wore  over  his  head,  as  a Roman 
would  conceal  his  grief  in  his  robes,  he  slowly 
withdrew  into  the  ark,  in  order  to  indulge  his 
sorrow  and  his  musings  alone.  Deerslayer  did 
not  speak  again,  until  the  canoe  was  half-way  to 
the  shore.  Then  he  suddenly  ceased  paddling,  at 
an  interruption  that  came  from  the  mild,  musical 
voice  of  Hetty. 

“ Why  do  you  go  back  to  the  Hurons,  Deer- 
slayer ? ” demanded  the  girl.  “ They  say  I am 
feeble-minded,  and  such  they  never  harm;  but 
you  have  as  much  sense  as  Hurry  Harry ; and 
more  too,  Judith  thinks,  though  I don’t  see  hew 
that  can  well  be.” 

“Ah!  Hetty,  afore  we  land,  I must  convarse 
a little  with  you,  child ; and,  that,  too,  on  matters 
touching  your  own  welfare,  principally.  Stop 
paddling — or,  rather,  that  the  Mingoes  needn’t 
think  we  are  plotting  and  contriving,  and  so  treat 
us  accordingly,  just  dip  your  paddle  lightly,  and 
give  the  canoe  a little  motion  and  no  more. 
That’s  just  the  idee  and  the  movement;  I see 
you’re  ready  enough  at  an  appearance,  and  might 
be  made  useful  at  a sarcumvention,  if  it  was  law- 
ful now  to  use  one — that’s  just  the  idee  and  the 
movement ! Ah’s  me ! Desait  and  a false  tongue 
are  evil  things,  and  altogether  onbecoming  our 
color,  Hetty ; but  «it  is  a pleasure  and  a satis- 
faction to  outdo  the  contrivances  of  a red-skin,  ip 
the  strife  of  lawful  warfare.  My  path  has  been 
short,  and  is  like  soon  to  have  an  ind ; but  I can 
see  that  the  wanderings  of  a warrior  ar’n’t  alto- 
gether among  brambles  and  difficulties.  There’s 
a bright  side  to  a war-path,  as  well  as  to  most 
other  things,  if  we’ll  only  have  the  wisdom  to  see 
it,  and  the  ginerositv  to  own  it.” 

“ And  why  should  your  war-path,  as  you  call 
it,  come  so  near  to  an  end,  Deerslayer  ? ” 

“ Because,  my  good  girl,  my  furlough  comes 
so  near  to  an  ind.  They’re  likely  to  have  pretty 
much  the  same  tarmination,  as  regards  time- 
one  following  on  the  heels  of  the  other,  as  a mat> 
ter  of  course.” 

“I  don’t  understand  your  meaning,  Deer* 


A POINT  OF  HONOR. 


201 


i layer,”  returned  the  girl,  looking  a little  bewil- 
dered. “Mother  always  said  people  ought  to 
speak  more  plainly  to  me  than  to  most  other  per- 
sons, because  I’m  feeble-minded.  T^hose  that  are 
feeble-minded  don’t  understand  as  easily  as  those 
that  have  sense.” 

“Well,  then,  Hetty,  the  simple  truth  is  this: 
You  know  that  I’m  now  a captyve  to  theHurons, 
and  captyves  can’t  do,  in  all  things,  as  they 
please — ” 

“ But  how  can  you  be  a captive,”  eagerly  in- 
terrupted the  girl,  “ when  you  are  out  here  on 
the  lake,  in  father’s  bark  canoe,  and  the  Indians 
are  in  the  woods,  with  no  canoe  at  all  ? That 
can’t  be  true,  Deerslayer  ? ” 

“ I wish  with  all  my  heart  and  soul,  Hetty, 
that  you  was  right,  and  that  I was  wrong,  instead 
of  your  bein’  all  wrong,  and  my  bein’  only  too 
near  the  truth.  Free  as  I seem  to  your  eyes, 
gal,  I’m  bound  hand  and  foot,  in  ra’ality.” 

“Well,  it  is  a great  misfortune  not  to  have 
sense ! Now,  I can’t  see,  or  understand,  that  you 
are  a captive,  or  bound  in  any  manner.  If  you 
are  bound,  with  what  are  your  hands  and  feet 
fastened  ? ” 

“ With  a furlough,  gal ; that’s  a thong  that 
binds  tighter  than  any  chain.  One  may  be  bro- 
ken, but  the  other  can’t.  Ropes  and  chains  allow 
of  knives,  and  desait,  and  contrivances:  but  a 
furlough  can  be  neither  cut,  slipped,  nor  sarcum- 
vented.” 

“ What  sort  of  a thing  is  a furlough,  then,  if 
it  be  stronger  than  hemp  or  iron  ? I never  saw 
a furlough.” 

“ I hope  you  may  never  feel  one,  gal ; the  tie 
is  altogether  in  the  feelin’s,  in  these  matters,  and 
therefore  is  to  be  felt  and  not  seen.  You  can 
understand  what  it  is  to  give  a promise,  I dare  to 
say,  good  little  Hetty  ? ” 

“ Certainly.  A promise  is  to  say  you  will  do 
a thing,  and  that  binds  you  to  be  as  good  as  your 
word.  Mother  always  kept  her  promises  to  me, 
and  then  she  said  it  would  be  wicked  if  I didn’t 
keep  my  promises  to  her,  and  to  everybody  else.” 

“ You  have  had  a good  mother,  in  some  mat- 
ters, child,  whatever  she  may  have  been  in  other 
some.  That  is  a promise,  and,  as  you  say,  it 
must  be  kept.  Now,  I fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Mingoes  last  night,  and  they  let  me  come  off  to 
see  my  fri’nds  and  send  messages  in  to  my  own 
coloi,  if  any  such  feel  consarn  on  my  account,  on 
condition  that  I shall  be  back,  when  the  sun  is 
up  to-day,  and  take  whatever  their  revenge  and 
hatred  can  contrive,  in  the  way  of  torments,  in 
satisfaction  for  the  life  of  a warrior  that  fell  by 
my  rifle,  as  well  as  for  that  of  the  young  woman 


shot  by  Hurry,  and  other  disapp’intments  met 
with  on  and  about  this  lake.  What  is  called  a 
promise  atween  a mother  and  darter,  or  even 
atween  strangers,  in  the  settlements,  is  called  a 
furlough,  when  given  by  one  soldier  to  another, 
on  a war-path.  And  now  I suppose  you  under- 
stand my  situation,  Hetty  ? ” 

The  girl  made  no  answer  for  some  time,  but 
she  ceased  paddling  altogether,  as  if  the  novel 
idea  distracted  her  mind  too  much  to  admit  of 
other  employment.  Then  she  resumed  the  dia- 
logue earnestly  and  with  solicitude. 

“ Ho  you  think  the  Hurons  will  have  the 
heart  to  do  what  you  say,  Deerslayer?”  she 
asked.  “ I have  found  them  kind  and  harmless.” 

“ That’s  true  enough  as  consarns  one  like  you, 
Hetty,  but  it’s  a very  different  affair  when  it 
comes  to  an  open  inimy,  and  he  too  the  owner  of 
a pretty  sartain  rifle.  I don’t  say  that  they  bear 
me  special  malice  on  account  of  any  expl’ites  al- 
ready performed,  for  that  would  be  bragging,  as 
it  might  be,  on  the  varge  of  the  grave ; but  it’s 
no  vanity  to  believe  that  they  know  one  of  their 
bravest  and  cunnin’est  chiefs  fell  by  my  hands. 
Such  bein’  the  case,  the  tribe  would  reproach 
them  if  they  failed  to  send  the  spirit  of  a pale- 
face to  keep  the  company  of  the  spirit  of  their 
red  brother  ; always  supposin’  that  he  can  catch 
it.  I look  for  no  marcy,  Hetty,  at  their  hands  ; 
and  my  principal  sorrow  is,  that  such  a calamity 
should  befall  me  on  my  first  war-path : that  it 
would  come  sooner  or  later,  every  soldier  counts 
on  and  expects.” 

“ The  Hurons  shall  not  harm  you,  Deerslayer,” 
cried  the  girl,  much  excited.  “ ’Tis  wicked  as 
well  as  cruel;  I have  the  Bible  here  to  tell  them 
so.  Do  you  think  I would  stand  by  and  see  you 
tormented  ? ” 

“ I hope  not,  my  good  Hetty,  I hope  not ; 
and,  therefore,  when  the  moment  comes,  I expect 
you  will  move  off  and  not  be  a witness  of  what 
you  can’t  help,  while  it  would  grieve  you.  But 
I haven’t  stopped  the  paddles  to  talk  of  my 
own  afflictions  and  difficulties,  but  to  speak  a 
little  plainly  to  you,  gal,  consarnin’  your  own 
matters.” 

“What  can  you  have  to  say  to  me,  Deer- 
slayer ? Since  mother  died,  few  talk  to  me  of 
such  things.” 

“ So  much  the  worse,  poor  gal ; yes,  ’tis  so 
much  the  worse,  for  one  of  your  state  of  mind 
needs  frequent  talking  to  in  order  to  escape  the 
snares  and  desaits  of  this  wicked  world.  You 
haven’t  forgotten  Hurry  Harry,  gal,  so  soon,  I 
calculate  ? ” 

“ I ! — I forget  Henry  March ! ” — exclaimed 


202 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


Hetty,  starting.  “Why  should  I forget  him, 
Deerslayer,  when  he  is  our  friend,  and  only  left 
us  last  night  ? Then,  the  large  bright  star  that 
mother  loved  so  much  to  gaze  at,  was  just  over 
the  top  of  yonder  tall  pine  on  the  mountain,  as 
Hurry  got  into  the  canoe ; and  when  you  landed 
him  on  the  point,  near  the  east  bay,  it  wasn’t 
more  than  the  length  of  Judith’s  handsomest  rib- 
bon above  it.” 

“And  how  can  you  know  how  long  I was 
gone,  or  how  far  I went  to  land  Hurry,  seein’  you 
were  not  with  us,  and  the  distance  was  so  great, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  night  ? ” 

“ Oh ! I knew  when  it  was  well  enough,”  re- 
turned Hetty,  positively.  “ There’s  more  ways 
than  one  for  counting  time  and  distance.  When 
the  mind  is  engaged,  it  is  better  than  any  clock. 
Mine  is  feeble,  I know,  but  it  goes  true  enough 
in  all  that  touches  poor  Hurry  Harry.  Judith 
will  never  marry  March,  Deerslayer.” 

“ That’s  the  p’int,  Hetty ; that’s  the  very  p’int 
I want  to  come  to.  I suppose  you  know  that  it’s 
nat’ral  for  young  people  to  have  kind  feelin’s  for 
one  another,  more  especially  when  one  happens 
to  be  a youth  and  t’other  a maiden.  Now  one  of 
your  years  and  mind,  gal,  that  has  neither  father 
nor  mother,  and  who  lives  in  a wilderness  fre- 
quented by  hunters  and  trappers,  needs  to  be  on 
her  guard  against  evils  she  little  dreams  of.” 

“ What  harm  can  it  be  to  think  well  of  a fel- 
low-creature ? ” returned  Hetty,  simply,  though 
the  conscious  blood  was  stealing  to  her  cheeks  in 
spite  of  a spirit  so  pure  that  it  scarce  knew  why 
it  prompted  the  blush;  “the  Bible  tells  us  to 
love  them  who  despitefully  use  us,  and  why 
shouldn’t  we  like  them  that  do  not  ? ” 

“ Ah ! Hetty,  the  love  of  the  missionaries 
isn’t  the  sort  of  likin’  I mean.  Answer  me  one 
thing,  child;  do  you  believe  yourself  to  have 
mind  enough  to  become  a wife  and  a mother  ? ” 

“ That’s  not  a proper  question  to  ask  a young 
woman,  Deerslayer,  and  I’ll  not  answer  it,”  re- 
turned the  girl,  in  a reproving  manner — much  as 
a parent  rebukes  a child  for  an  act  of  indiscre- 
tion. “ If  you  have  any  thing  to  say  about  Hur- 
ry, I’ll  hear  that — but  you  must  not  speak  evil  of 
him ; he  is  absent,  and  ’tis  unkind  to  talk  evil  of 
the  absent.” 

“Your  mother  has  given  you  so  many  good 
lessons,  Hetty,  that  my  fears  for  you  are  not  as 
great  as  they  were.  Nevertheless,  a young  wom- 
an without  parents,  in  your  state  of  mind,  and 
who  is  not  without  beauty,  must  always  be  in 
danger  in  such  a lawless  region  as  this.  I would 
say  nothin’  amiss  of  Hurry,  who,  in  the  main,  is 
not  a bad  man  for  one  of  his  callin’,  but  you  ought 


to  know  one  thing,  which  it  may  not  be  altogether 
pleasant  to  tell  you,  but  which  must  be  said. 
March  has  a desperate  likin’  for  your  sister  Ju- 
dith.” 

“Well,  what  of  that?  Everybody  admires 
Judith,  she’s  so  handsome,  and  Hurry  has  told 
me,  again  and  again,  how  much  he  wishes  to  marry 
her.  But  that  will  never  come  to  pass,  for  Judith 
don’t  like  Hurry.  She  likes  another,  and  talks 
about  him  in  her  sleep  ; though  you  need  not  ask 
me  who  he  is,  for  all  the  gold  in  King  George’s 
crown,  and  all  the  jewels  too,  wouldn’t  tempt  me 
to  tell  you  his  name.  If  sisters  can’t  keep  each 
other’s  secrets,  who  can  ? ” 

“ Sartainly ; I do  not  wish  you  to  tell  me, 
Hetty,  nor  would  it  be  any  advantage  to  a dyin’ 
man  to  know.  What  the  tongue  says  when  the 
mind’s  asleep,  neither  head  nor  heart  is  answer- 
able  for.” 

“ I wish  I knew  why  Judith  talks  so  much  in 
her  sleep  about  officers,  and  honest  hearts,  and 
false  tongues  ; but  I suppose  she  don’t  like  to  tell 
me,  as  I’m  feeble-minded.  Isn’t  it  odd,  Deer- 
slayer, that  Judith  don’t  like  Hurry — he,  who  is 
the  bravest-looking  youth  that  ever  comes  upon 
the  lake,  and  is  as  handsome  as  she  is  herself? 
Father  always  said  they  would  be  the  comeliest 
couple  in  the  country,  though  mother  didn’t  fancy 
March  any  more  than  Judith.  There’s  no  telling 
what  will  happen,  they  say,  until  things  actually 
come  to  pass.” 

“ Ah’s  me ! — well,  poor  Hetty,  ’tis  of  no  great 
use  to  talk  to  them  that  can’t  understand  you,  and 
so  I’ll  say  no  more  about  what  I did  wish  to 
speak  of,  though  it  lay  heavy  on  my  mind.  Put 
the  paddle  in  motion  ag’in,  gal,  and  we’ll  push 
for  the  shore,  for  the  sun  is  nearly  up,  and  my 
furlough  is  almost  out.” 

The  canoe  now  glided  ahead,  holding  its  way 
toward  the  *point  where  Deerslayer  well  knew 
that  his  enemies  expected  him,  and  where  he  now 
began  to  be  afraid  he  might  not  arrive  in  season 
to  redeem  his  plighted  faith.  Hetty,  perceiving 
his  impatience,  without  very  clearly  comprehend- 
ing its  cause,  however,  seconded  his  efforts  in  a 
way  that  soon  rendered  their  timely  return  no  lon- 
ger a matter  of  doubt.  Then,  and  then  only,  did 
the  young  man  suffer  his  exertions  to  flag,  and 
Hetty  began  again  to  prattle  in  her  simple,  con- 
fiding manner,  though  nothing  further  was  ut> 
tered  that  it  may  be  thought  necessary  to  relate 


DEERSLAYER  AS  GOOD  AS  HIS  WORD. 


!03 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Thou  hast  been  busy,  Death,  this  day,  and  yet 
But  half  thy  work  is  done ! The  gates  of  hell 
Are  thronged,  yet  twice  ten  thousand  spirits  more, 
"Who,  from  their  warm  and  healthful  tenements, 

Fear  no  divorce,  must,  ere  the  sun  go  down, 

Enter  the  world  of  woe  1 11 

Southey. 

One  experienced  in  the  signs  of  the  heavens, 
would  have  seen  that  the  sun  wanted  but  two  or 
three  minutes  of  the  zenith,  when  Deerslayer 
landed  on  the  point  where  the  Hurons  were  now 
encamped,  nearly  abreast  of  the  castle.  This  spot 
was  similar  to  the  one  already  described,  with  the 
exception  that  the  surface  of  the  land  was  less 
broken  and  less  crowded  with  trees.  Owing  to 
these  two  circumstances,  it  was  all  the  better 
suited  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  had  been  select- 
ed, the  space  beneath  the  branches  bearing  some 
resemblance  to  a densely-wooded  lawn.  Favored 
by  its  position  and  its  spring,  it  had  been  much 
resorted  to  by  savages  and  hunters,  and  the  nat- 
ural grasses  had  succeeded  their  fires,  leaving  an 
appearance  of  sward  in  places,  a very  unusual 
accompaniment  of  the  virgin  forest.  Nor  was  the 
margin  of  water  fringed  with  bushes,  as  on  so 
much  of  its  shore,  but  the  eye  penetrated  the 
woods  immediately  on  reaching  the  strand,  com- 
manding nearly  the  whole  area  of  the  projection. 

If  it  was  a point  of  honor  with  the  Indian 
warrior  to  redeem  his  word,  when  pledged  to  re- 
turn and  meet  his  death  at  a given  hour,  so  was 
it  a point  of  characteristic  pride  to  show  no  wom- 
anish impatience,  but  to  reappear  as  nearly  as 
possible  at  the  appointed  moment.  It  was  well 
not  to  exceed  the  grace  accorded  by  the  generosity 
of  the  enemy,  but  it  was  better  to  meet  it  to  a 
minute.  Something  of  this  dramatic  effect  mingles 
with  most  of  the  graver  usages  of  the  American 
aborigines,  and  no  doubt,  like  the  prevalence  of  a 
similar  feeling  among  people  more  sophisticated 
and  refined,  may  be  referred  to  a principle  of 
nature.  We  all  love  the  wonderful,  and  when  it 
comes  attended  by  chivalrous  self-devotion  and  a 
rigid  regard  to  honor,  it  presents  itself  to  our 
admiration  in  a shape  doubly  attractive.  As 
respects  Deerslayer,  though  he  took  a pride  in 
showing  his  white  blood,  by  often  deviating  from 
the  usages  of  the  red  men,  he  frequently  dropped 
into  their  customs,  and  oftener  into  their  feelings, 
unconsciously  to  himself,  in  consequence  of  hav- 
ing no  other  arbiters  to  appeal  to,  than  their 
judgments  and  tastes.  On  the  present  occasion, 
he  would  have  abstained  from  betraying  a fever- 
ish haste  by  a too  speedy  return,  since  it  would 


have  contained  a tacit  admission  that  the  time 
asked  for  was  more  than  had  been  wanted ; but, 
on  the  other  hand,  had  the  idea  occurred  to  him, 
he  would  have  quickened  his  movements  a little, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  dramatic  appearance  of  re- 
turning at  the  precise  instant  set  as  the  utmost 
limit  of  his  absence.  Still,  accident  had  interfered 
to  defeat  the  last  intention,  for  when  the  young 
man  put  his  foot  on  the  point,  and  advanced  with 
a steady  tread  toward  the  group  of  chiefs  that 
was  seated  in  grave  array  on  a fallen  tree,  the 
oldest  of  their  number  cast  his  eye  upward  at  an 
opening  in  the  trees,  and  pointed  out  to  his  com- 
panions the  startling  fact  that  the  sun  was  just 
entering  a space  that  was  known  to  mark  the 
zenith.  A common  but  low  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise and  admiration  escaped  every  mouth,  and 
the  grim  warriors  looked  at  each  other ; some 
with  envy  and  disappointment,  some  with  astonish- 
ment, at  the  precise  accuracy  of  their  victim,  and 
others  with  a more  generous  and  liberal  feeling. 
The  American  Indian  always  deemed  his  moral 
victories  the  noblest,  prizing  the  groans  and  yield- 
ing of  his  victim  under  torture  more  than  the 
trophy  of  his  scalp ; and  the  trophy  itself  more 
than  his  life.  To  slay,  and  not  to  bring  off  the 
proof  of  victory,  indeed,  was  scarcely  deemed 
honorable ; even  these  rude  and  fierce  tenants  of 
the  forest,  like  their  more  nurtured  brethren  of 
the  court  and  the  camp,  having  set  up  for  them- 
selves imaginary  and  arbitrary  points  of  honor,  to 
supplant  the  conclusions  of  the  right,  and  the 
decisions  of  reason. 

The  Hurons  had  been  divided  in  their  opinions 
concerning  the  probability  of  their  captive’s  re- 
turn. Most  among  them,  indeed,  had  not  expected 
it  possible  for  a pale-face  to  come  back  volun- 
tarily, and  meet  the  known  penalties  of  an  Indian 
torture ; but  a few  of  the  seniors  expected  better 
things  from  one  who  had  already  shown  himself 
so  singularly  cool,  brave,  and  upright.  The  party 
had  come  to  its  decision,  however,  less  in  the 
expectation  of  finding  the  pledge  redeemed,  than 
in  the  hope  of  disgracing  the  Delawares  by  cast- 
ing into  their  teeth  the  delinquency  of  one  bred 
in  their  villages.  They  would  have  greatly  pre- 
ferred that  Chingachgook  should  be  their  prisoner, 
and  prove  the  traitor ; but  the  pale-face  scion  of 
the  hated  stock  was  no  bad  substitute,  for  their 
purposes,  failing  in  their  designs  against  the  an- 
cient stem.  With  a view  to  render  the  triumph  . 
as  signal  as  possible,  in  the  event  of  the  hour’s 
passing  without  the  reappearance  of  the  hunter, 
all  the  warriors  and  scouts  of  the  party  had  been 
called  in ; and  the  whole  band,  men,  women,  and 
children,  was  now  assembled  at  this  single  point, 


204 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


to  be  a witness  of  the  expected  scene.  As  the 
castle  was  in  plain  view,  and  by  no  means  distant) 
it  was  easily  watched  by  daylight ; and  it  being 
thought  that  its  inmates  were  now  limited  to 
Hurry,  the  Delaware,  and  the  two  girls,  no  appre- 
hensions were  felt  of  their  being  able  to  escape 
unseen.  A lai'ge  raft,  having  a breastwork  of 
logs,  had  been  prepared,  and  was  in  actual  readi- 
ness to  be  used  against  either  ark  or  castle,  as 
occasion  might  require,  so  soon  as  the  fate  of 
Deerslayer  was  determined ; the  seniors  of  the 
party  having  come  to  the  opinion  that  it  was  get- 
ting to  be  hazardous  to  delay  their  departure  for 
Canada  beyond  the  coming  night.  In  short,  the 
band  waited  merely  to  dispose  of  this  single  affair, 
ere  it  brought  matters  to  a crisis,  and  prepared  to 
commence  its  retreat  toward  the  distant  waters 
of  Ontario. 

It  was  an  imposing  scene  into  which  Deer- 
slayer  now  found  himself  advancing.  All  the 
older  warriors  were  seated  on  the  trunk  of  the 
fallen  tree,  waiting  his  approach  with  grave  deco- 
rum. On  the  right,  stood  the  young  men,  armed, 
while  the  left  was  occupied  by  the  women  and 
children.  In  the  centre  was  an  open  space  of 
considerable  extent,  always  canopied  by  leaves, 
but  from  which  the  underbrush,  dead  wood,  and 
other  obstacles,  had  been  carefully  removed.  The 
more  open  area  had  probably  been  much  used  by 
former  parties,  for  this  was  the  place  where  the 
appearance  of  a sward  was  the  most  decided. 
The  arches  of  the  woods,  even  at  high  noon,  cast 
their  sombre  shadows  on  the  spot,  which  the 
brilliant  rays  of  the  sun  that  struggled  through 
the  leaves  contributed  to  mellow,  and,  if  such  an 
expression  can  be  used,  to  illuminate.  It  was 
probably  from  a similar  scene  that  the  mind  of 
man  first  got  its  idea  of  the  effects  of  Gothic 
tracery  and  churchly  hues  ; this  temple  of  Nature 
producing  some  such  effect,  so  far  as  light  and 
shadows  were  concerned,  as  the  well-known  off- 
spring of  human  invention. 

As  was  not  unusual  among  the  tribes  and 
wandering  bands  of  the  aborigines,  two  chiefs 
shared,  in  nearly  equal  degrees,  the  principal  and 
primitive  authority  that  was  wielded  over  these 
children  of  the  forest.  There  were  several  who 
might  claim  the  distinction  of  being  chief  men, 
but  the  two  in  question  were  so  much  superior  to 
all  the  rest  in  influence,  that,  when  they  agreed, 

. no  one  disputed  their  mandates ; and  when  they 
were  divided,  the  band  hesitated,  like  men  who 
had  lost  their  governing  principle  of  action.  It 
was  also  in  conformity  with  practice— perhaps  we 
might  add,  in  conformity  with  Nature,  that  one  of 
the  chiefs  was  indebted  to  his  mind  for  his  influ- 


ence, whereas  ti  e other  owed  his  distinction  alto* 
gether  to  qualities  that  were  physical.  One  was  a 
senior  well  known  for  eloquence  in  debate,  wisdom 
in  council,  and  prudence  in  measures ; while  his 
great  competitor,  if  not  his  rival,  was  a brave,  dis- 
tinguished in  war,  notorious  for  ferocity,  and  re- 
markable, in  the  way  of  intellect,  for  nothing  but 
the  cunning  and  expedients  of  the  war-path.  The 
first  was  Rivenoak,  who  has  already  been  intro- 
duced to  the  reader,  while  the  last  was  called  le 
Panthere,  in  the  language  of  the  Canadas ; or  tho 
Panther,  to  resort  to  the  vernacular  of  the  Eng- 
lish colonies.  The  appellation  of  the  fighting 
chief  was  supposed  to  indicate  the  qualities  of  the 
warrior,  agreeably  to  a practice  of  the  red  man’s 
nomenclature;  ferocity,  cunning,  and  treachery 
being,  perhaps,  the  distinctive  features  of  his 
character.  The  title  had  been  received  from  the 
French,  and  was  prized  so  much  the  more  from 
that  circumstance,  the  Indian  submitting  profound- 
ly to  the  greater  intelligence  of  his  pale-face  allies, 
in  most  things  of  this  nature.  How  well  the 
sobriquet  was  merited,  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel. 

Rivenoak  and  the  Panther  sat  side  by  side, 
awaiting  the  approach  of  their  prisoner,  as  Deer- 
slayer put  his  moccasined  foot  on  the  strand ; nor 
did  either  move  or  utter  a syllable  until  the  young 
man  had  advanced  into  the  centre  of  the  area, 
and  proclaimed  his  presence  with  his  voice.  This 
was  done  firmly,  though  in  the  simple  manner 
that  marked  the  character  of  the  individual. 

“ Here  I am,  Hingoes,”  he  said,  in  the  dialect 
of  the  Delawares,  a language  that  most  present 
understood ; u here  I am,  and  there  is  the  sun. 
One  is  not  more  true  to  the  laws  of  Natur’,  than 
the  other  has  proved  true  to  his  word.  I am  your 
prisoner  ; do  with  me  what  you  please.  My  busi- 
ness with  man  and  ’arth  is  settled ; nothing  re- 
mains now  but  to  meet  the  white  man’s  God,  ac- 
cordin’ to  a white  man’s  duties  and  gifts.” 

A murmur  of  approbation  escaped  even  the 
women,  at  this  address,  and,  for  an  instant,  there 
was  a strong  and  pretty  general  desire  to  adopt 
into  the  tribe  one  who  owned  so  brave  a spirit 
Still  there  were- dissenters  from  this  wish,  among 
the  principal  of  whom  might  be  classed  the  Pan- 
ther, and  his  sister,  le  Sumach,  so  called  from  the 
number  of  her  children,  who  was  the  widow  of  le 
Loup  Cervier,  now  known  to  have  fallen  by  the 
hand  of  the  captive.  Native  ferocity  held  one  in 
subjection,  while  the  corroding  passion  of  revenge 
prevented  the  other  from  admitting  any  gentler 
feeling  at  the  moment.  Not  so  with  Rivenoak. 
This  chief  arose,  stretched  his  arm  before  him,  in 
a gesture  of  courtesy,  and  paid  his  compliments 
with  an  ease  and  dignity  that  a prince  might  have 


THE  CAPTIVE  BEFORE  HIS  JUDGES. 


205 


envied.  As,  in  that  band,  his  wisdom  and  elo- 
quence were  confessedly  without  rivals,  he  knew 
that  on  himself  would  properly  fall  the  duty  of 
first  replying  to  the  speech  of  the  pale-face. 

“ Pale-face,  you  are  honest,”  said  the  Huron 
orator.  “ My  people  are  happy  in  having  cap- 
tured a man,  and  not  a skulking  fox.  We  now 
know  you  ; we  shall  treat  you  like  a brave.  If 
you  have  slain  one  of  our  warriors,  and  helped  to 
kill  others,  you  have  a life  of  your  own  ready  to 
give  away  in  return.  Some  of  my  young  men 
thought  that  the  blood  of  the  pale-face  was  too 
thin  ; that  it  would  refuse  to  run  under  the  Hu- 
ron knife.  You  will  show  them  it  is  not  so  ; your 
heart  is  stout  as  well  as  your  body.  It  is  a pleas- 
ure to  make  such  a prisoner  ; should  my  warriors 
say  that  the  death  of  le  Loup  Cervier  ought  not  to 
be  forgotten,  and  that  he  cannot  travel  toward  the 
land  of  spirits  alone,  that  his  enemy  must  be  sent 
to  overtake  him,  they  will  remember  that  he  fell 
by  the  hand  of  a brave,  and  send  you  after  him 
with  such  signs  of  our  friendship  as  shall  not 
made  him  ashamed  to  keep  your  company.  I 
have  spoken  ; you  know  what  I have  said.” 

True'  enough,  Mingo,  all  true  as  the  gospel,” 
returned  the  simple-minded  hunter  ; “ you  have 
spoken,  and  I do  know,  not  only  what  you  have 
said,  but,  what  is  still  more  important,  what  you 
mean.  I dare  to  say  your  warrior,  the  Lynx,  was 
a stout-hearted  brave,  and  worthy  of  your  fri’nd- 
ship  and  respect,  but  I do  not  feel  unworthy  to 
keep  his  company,  without  any  passport  from 
your  hands.  Nevertheless,  here  I am,  ready  to 
receive  judgment  from  your  council,  if,  indeed, 
the  matter  was  not  detarmined  among  you  afore  I 
got  back.” 

“ My  old  men  would  not  sit  in  council  over  a 
pale-face  until  they  saw  him  among  them,”  an- 
swered Rivenoalc,  looking  around  him  a little 
ironically  ; “ they  said  it  would  be  like  sitting  in 
council  over  the  winds  ; they  go  where  they  will, 
and  come  back  as  they  see  fit,  and  not  otherwise. 
There  was  one  voice  that  spoke  in  your  favor, 
Dcerslayer,  but  it  was  alone,  like  the  song  of  the 
wren  whose  mate  has  been  struck  by  the  hawk.” 

“ I thank  that  voice,  whosever  it  may  have 
been,  Mingo,  and  will  say  it  was  as  true  a voice,  as 
the  rest  were  lying  voices.  A furlough  is  as  bind- 
ing on  a pale-face,  if  he  be  honest,  as  it  is  on  a 
red-skin  ; and  was  it  not  so,  I would  never  bring 
disgrace  on  the  Delawares,  among  whom  I may 
be  said  to  have  received  my  edication.  But  words 
are  useless,  and  lead  to  braggin’  feelin’s  ; here  I 
am  : act  your  will  on  me.” 

Rivenoak  made  a sign  of  acquiescence,  and 
then  a short  conference  was  privately  held  among 


the  chiefs.  As  soon  as  the  latter  ended,  three  or 
four  young  men  fell  back  from  among  the  armed 
group,  and  disappeared.  Then  it  was  signified  to 
the  prisoner  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  go  at  large 
on  the  point,  until  a council  was  held  concerning 
his  fate.  There  was  more  of  seeming,  than  of 
real  confidence,  however,  in  this  apparent  liber- 
ality, inasmuch  as  the  young  men  mentioned 
already  formed  a line  of  sentinels  across  the 
breadth  of  the  point,  inland,  and  escape  from 
any  other  part  was  out  of  the  question.  Even 
the  canoe  was  removed  beyond  this  line  of  senti- 
nels, to  a spot  where  it  was  considered  safe  from 
any  sudden  attempt.  These  precautions  did  not 
proceed  from  a failure  of  confidence,  but  from  the 
circumstance  that  the  prisoner  had  now  complied 
with  all  the  required  conditions  of  his  parole,  and 
it  would  have  been  considered  a commendable 
and  honorable  exploit  to  escape  from  his  foes. 
So  nice,  indeed,  were  the  distinctions  drawn  by 
the  savages,  in  cases  of  this  nature,  that  they  of- 
ten gave  their  victims  a chance  to  evade  the  tor- 
ture, deeming  it  as  creditable  to  the  captors  to 
overtake,  or  to  outwit  a fugitive,  when  his  exer- 
tions were  supposed  to  be  quickened  by  the  ex- 
treme jeopardy  of  his  situation,  as  it  was  for  him 
to  get  clear  from  so  much  extraordinary  vigilance. 

Nor  was  Deerslayer  unconscious  of,  or  forget- 
ful of,  his  rights  and  of  his  opportunities.  Could 
he  now  have  seen  any  probable  opening  for  an 
escape,  the  attempt  would  not  have  been  delayed 
a minute.  But  the  case  seemed  desperate.  He 
was  aware  of  the  line  of  sentinels,  and  felt  the 
difficulty  of  breaking  through  it,  unharmed.  The 
lake  offered  no  advantages,  as  the  canoe  would 
have  given  his  fops  the  greatest  facilities  for 
overtaking  him ; else  would  he  have  found  it  no 
difficult  task  to  swim  as  far  as  the  castle.  As  he 
walked  about  the  point,  he  even  examined  the 
spot  to  ascertain  if  it  offered  no  place  of  con- 
cealment ; but  its  openness,  its  size,  and  the  hun- 
dred watchful  glances  that  were  turned  toward 
him,  even  while  those  who  made  them  affected 
not  to  see  him,  prevented  any  such  expedient 
from  succeeding.  The  dread  and  disgrace  of 
failure  had  no  influence  on  Deerslayer,  whe 
deemed  it  ever  a point  of  honor  to  reason  and 
feel  like  a white  man,  rather  than  as  an  Indian^ 
and  who  felt  it  a sort  of  duty  to  do  all  he  could 
that  did  not  involve  a dereliction  from  principle, 
in  order  to  save  his  life.  Still  he  hesitated  about 
making  the  effort,  for  he  also  felt  that  he  ought 
to  see  the  chance  of  success  before  he  commit- 
ted himself. 

In  the  mean  time  the  business  of  the  camp 
appeared  to  proceed  in  its  regular  train.  The 


206 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


chiefs  consulted  apart,  admitting  no  one  but  the 
Sumach  to  their  councils ; for  she,  the  widow  of  the 
fallen  warrior,  had  an  exclusive  right  to  be  heard 
on  such  an  occasion.  The  young  men  strolled 
about  in  indolent  listlessness,  awaiting  the  result 
with  Indian  impatience,  while  the  females  pre- 
pared the  feast  that  was  to  celebrate  the  termina- 
tion of  the  affair,  whether  it  proved  fortunate  or 
otherwise  for  our  hero.  No  one  betrayed  feel- 
ing ; and  an  indifferent  observer,  beyond  the  ex- 
treme watchfulness  of  the  sentinels,  would  have 
detected  no  extraordinary  movement  or  sensa- 
tion to  denote  the  real  state  of  things.  Two  or 
three  old  women  put  their  heads  together,  and  it 
appeared  unfavorably  to  the  prospect  of  Deer- 
slayer,  by  their  scowling  looks  and  angry  ges- 
tures ; but  a group  of  Indian  girls  were  evidently 
animated  by  a different  impulse,  as  was  apparent 
by  stolen  glances  that  expressed  pity  and  regret. 
In  this  condition  of  the  camp,  an  hour  soon 
glided  away. 

Suspense  is,  perhaps,  the  feeling,  of  all  others, 
that  is  most  difficult  to  be  supported.  When 
Deerslayer  landed,  he  fully  expected  in  the 
course  of  a few  minutes  to  undergo  the  tortures 
of  an  Indian  revenge,  and  he  was  prepared  to 
uieet  his  fate  manfully  ; but  the  delay  proved  far 
more  trying  than  the  nearer  approach  of  suffer- 
ing, and  the  intended  victim  began  seriously  to 
meditate  some  desperate  effort  at  escape,  as  it 
might  be  from  sheer  anxiety  to  terminate  the 
scene,  when  he  was  suddenly  summoned  to  ap- 
pear, once  more,  in  front  of  his  judges,  who  had 
already  arranged  the  band  in  its  former  order,  in 
in  readiness  to  receive  him. 

“ Killer  of  the  Deer,”  commenced  Rivenoak, 
as  soon  as  his  captive  stood  before  him,  “ my 
aged  men  have  listened  to  wise  words ; they  are 
ready  to  speak.  You  are  a man  whose  fathers 
came  from  beyond  the  rising  sun ; we  are  children 
of  the  setting  sun ; we  turn  our  faces  toward  the 
Great  Sweet  Lakes  when  we  look  toward  our 
villages.  It  may  be  a wise  country  and  full  of 
riches  toward  the  morning,  but  it  is  very  pleas- 
ant toward  the  evening.  We  love  most  to  look 
in  that  direction.  When  we  gaze  at  the  east  we 
feel  afraid,  canoe  after  canoe  bringing  more  and 
more  of  your  people  in  the  track  of  the  sun,  as 
if  their  land  was  so  full  as  to  run  over.  The  red 
men  are  few  already ; they  have  need  of  help. 
One  of  our  best  lodges  has  lately  been  emptied 
by  the  death  of  its  master  ; it  will  be  a long  time 
before  his  son  can  grow  big  enough  to  sit  in  his 
place.  There  is  his  widow  ! she  will  want  venison 
to  feed  her  and  her  children,  for  her  sons  are  yet 
like  the  young  of  the  robin  before  they  quit  the 


nest.  By  your  hand  has  this  great  calamity  be- 
fallen her.  She  has  two  duties  : one  to  le  Loup 
Cervier,  and  one  to  his  children.  Scalp  for  scalp, 
life  for  life,  blood  for  blood,  is  one  law ; to  feed 
her  young,  another.  We  know  you,  Killer  of  the 
Deer.  You  are  honest ; when  you  say  a thing  it 
is  so.  You  have  but  one  tongue,  and  that  is  not 
forked  like  a snake’s.  Your  head  is  never  hid  in 
the  grass  ; all  can  see  it.  What  you  say  that  will 
you  do.  You  are  just.  When  you  have  done 
wrong,  it  is  your  wish  to  do  right  again  as  soon 
as  you  can.  Here  is  the  Sumach ; she  is  alone  in 
her  wigwam,  with  children  crying  around  her  for 
food  ; yonder  is  a rifle,  it  is  loaded  and  ready  to  be 
fired.  Take  the  gun ; go  forth  and  shoot  a deer ; 
bring  the  venison  and  lay  it  before  the  widow  of 
le  Loup  Cervier  ; feed  her  children ; call  yourself 
her  husband.  After  which,  your  heart  will  no 
longer  be  Delaware  but  Huron ; le  Sumach’s  ears 
will  not  hear  the  cries  of  her  children ; my  people 
will  count  the  proper  number  of  warriors.” 

“ I feared  this,  Rivenoak,”  answered  Deer- 
slayer, when  the  other  had  ceased  speaking ; 
“yes,  I did  dread  that  it  would  come  to  this. 
Howsever,  the  truth  is  soon  told,  and  that  will  put 
an  end  to  all  expectations  on  this  head.  Mingo, 
I’m  white,  and  Christian-born ; ’twould  ill  become 
me  to  take  a wife,  under  red-skin  forms,  from 
among  heathen.  That  which  I wouldn’t  do  in 
peaceable  times,  and  under  a bright  sun,  still  less 
would  I do  behind  clouds,  in  order  to  save  my 
life.  I may  never  marry ; most  likely  Providence, 
in  putting  me  up  here  in  the  woods,  has  intended 
I should  live  single,  and  without  a lodge  of  my 
own ; but  should  such  a thing  come  to  pass,  none 
but  a woman  of  my  own  color  and  gifts  shall 
darken  the  door  of  my  wigwam.  As  for  feeding 
the  young  of  your  dead  warrior,  I would  do  that 
cheerfully,  could  it  be  done  without  discredit ; 
but  it  cannot,  seeing  that  I can  never  live  in  a 
Huron  village.  Your  own  young  men  must  find 
the  Sumach  in  venison,  and  the  next  time  she 
marries,  let  her  take  a husband  whose  legs  are  not 
long  enough  to  overrun  territory  that  don’t  be- 
long to  him.  We  fou’t  a fair  battle,  and  he  fell; 
in  this  there  is  nothin’  but  what  a brave  expects, 
and  should  be  ready  to  meet.  As  for  getting  a 
Mingo  heart,  as  well  might  you  expect  to  see  gray 
hairs  on  a boy,  or  the  blackberry  growing  on  the 
pine.  No,  no,  Huron ; my  gifts  are  white  so  far  as 
wives  are  consarned  ; it  is  Delaware  in  all  things 
touchin’  Injins.” 

These  words  were  scarcely  out  of  the  mouth 
of  Deerslayer  before  a common  murmur  betrayed 
the  dissatisfaction  with  which  they  had  been 
heard.  The  aged  women,  in  particular,  were 


DEATH  OF  AN  IROQUOIS  CHIEF. 


207 


loud  in  their  expressions  of  disgust ; and  the  gen- 
tle Sumach  herself,  a woman  quite  old  enough  to 
be  our  hero’s  mother,  was  not  the  least  pacific  in 
her  denunciations.  But  all  the  other  manifesta- 
tions of  disappointment  and  discontent  were 
thrown  into  the  background  by  the  fierce  resent- 
ment of  the  Panther.  This  grim  chief  had 
thought  it  a degradation  to  permit  his  sister  to 
become  the  wife  of  a pale-face  of  the  Yengeese, 
at  all,  and  had  only  given  a reluctant  consent  to 
the  arrangement — one  by  no  means  unusual 
among  the  Indians,  however — at  the  earnest 
solicitations  of  the  bereaved  widow ; and  it  goad- 
ed him  to  the  quick,  to  find  his  condescension 
slighted,  the  honor  he  had  with  so  much  regret 
been  persuaded  to  accord,  contemned.  The  ani- 
mal from  which  he  got  his  name  does  not  glare 
on  his  intended  prey  with  more  frightful  ferocity, 
than  his  eyes  gleamed  on  the  captive ; nor  was 
his  arm  backward  in  seconding  the  fierce  resent- 
ment that  almost  consumed  his  breast. 

“ Dog  of  the  pale-faces ! ” he  exclaimed,  in 
Iroquois,  “ go  yell  among  the  curs  of  your  own 
evil  hunting-grounds ! ” 

The  denunciation  was  accompanied  by  an  ap- 
propriate action.  Even  while  speaking,  his  arm 
was  lifted,  and  the  tomahawk  hurled.  Luckily 
the  loud  tones  of  the  speaker  had  drawn  the  eye 
of  Deerslayer  toward  him,  else  would  that  mo- 
ment have  probably  closed  his  career’.  So  great 
was  the  dexterity  with  which  this  dangerous 
weapon  was  thrown,  and  so  deadly  the  intent,  that 
it  would  have  riven  the  skull  of  the  prisoner,  had 
he  not  stretched  forth  an  arm,  and  caught  the 
handle  in  one  of  its  turns,  with  a readiness  quite 
aa  remarkable  as  the  skill  with  which  the  missile 
had  been  hurled.  The  projectile  force  was  so 
great,  notwithstanding,  that  when  Deerslayer’s 
arm  was  arrested,  his  hand  was  raised  above  and 
behind  his  own  head,  and  in  the  very  attitude 
necessary  to  return  the  attack.  It  is  not  certain 
whether  the  circumstance  of  finding  himself  un- 
expectedly in  this  menacing  posture  and  armed, 
tempted  the  young  man  to  retaliate,  or  whether 
sudden  resentment  overcame  his  forbearance  and 
prudence.  His  eye  kindled,  however,  and  a 
small  red  spot  appeared  on  each  cheek,  while  he 
cast  all  his  energy  into  the  effort  of  his  arm  and 
threw  back  the  weapon  at  his  assailant.  The  un- 
expectedness of  this  blow  contributed  to  its  suc- 
cess ; the  Panther  neither  raising  an  arm  nor 
bending  his  head  to  avoid  it.  The  keen  little  axe 
struck  the  victim  in  a perpendicular  line  with  the 
nose,  directly  between  the  eyes,  literally  braining 
him  on  the  spot.  Sallying  forward,  as  the  ser- 
pent darts  at  it3  enemy  even  while  receiving  its 
14 


own  death-wound,  this  man  of  powerful  frame 
fell  his  length  into  the  open  area  formed  by  the 
circle,  quivering  in  death.  A common  rush  to 
his  relief  left  the  captive,  for  a single  instant, 
quite  without  the  crowd  ; and,  willing  to  make 
one  desperate  effort  for  life,  he  bounded  off  with 
the  activity  of  a deer.  There  was  but  a breathless 
instant,  when  the  whole  band,  old  and  young, 
women  and  children,  abandoning  the  lifeless  body 
of  the  Panther  where  it  lay,  raised  the  yell  of 
alarm,  and  followed  in  pursuit. 

Sudden  as  had  been  the  event  which  induced 
Deerslayer  to  make  this  degperate  trial  of  speed, 
his  mind  was  not  "wholly  unprepared  for  the  fear- 
ful emergency.  In  the  course  of  the  past  hour, 
he  had  pondered  well  on  the  chances  of  such  an 
experiment)  and  had  shrewdly  calculated  all  the 
details  of  success  and  failure.  At  the  first  leap, 
therefore,  his  body  was  completely  under  the  di- 
rection of  an  intelligence  that  turned  all  its  efforts 
to  the  best  account,  and  prevented  every  thing  like 
hesitation  or  indecision,  at  the  important  instant 
of  the  start.  To  this  alone  was  he  indebted  for 
the  first  great  advantage,  that  of  getting  through 
the  line  of  sentinels  unharmed.  The  manner  in 
which  this  was  done,  though  sufficiently  simple, 
merits  a description. 

Although  the  shores  of  the  point  were  not 
fringed  with  bushes,  as  was  the  case  with  most 
of  the  others  on  the  lake,  it  was  owing  alto- 
gether to  the  circumstance  that  the  spot  had  been 
so  much  used  by  hunters  and  fishermen.  This 
fringe- commenced  on  what  might,  be  termed  the 
main  land,  and  was  as  dense  as  usual,  extending 
in  long  lines  both  north  and  south.  In  the  latter 
direction,  then,  Deerslayer  held  his  way  ; and,  as 
the  sentinels  were  a little  without  the  commence- 
ment of  this  thicket  before  the  alarm  was  clearly 
communicated  to  them,  the  fugitive  had  gained 
its  cover.  To  run  among  the  bushes,  however, 
was  out  of  the  question,  and  Deerslayer  held  his 
way  for  some  forty  or  fifty  yards  in  the  water, 
which  was  barely  knee-deep,  offering  as  great  an 
obstacle  to  the  speed  of  his  pursuers  as  it  did  to 
his  own.  As  soon  as  a favorable  spot  presented, 
he  darted  through  the  line  of  bushes,  and  issued 
into  the  open  woods. 

Several  rifles  were  discharged  at  Deerslayer 
while  in  the  water,  and  more  followed  as  he  came 
out  into  the  comparative  exposure  of  the  clear  for- 
est. But  the  direction  of  his  line  of  flight,  which 
partially  crossed  that  of  the  fire,  the  haste  with 
which  the  weapons  had  been  aimed,  and  the  gener- 
al confusion  that  prevailed  in  the  camp,  prevented 
any  harm  from  being  done.  Bullets  whistled  past 
him,  and  many  cut  twigs  from  the  branches 


208 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


at  his  side,  but  not  one  touched  even  his  dress. 
The  delay  caused  by  these  fruitless  attempts  was  of 
great  service  to  the  fugitive,  who  had  gained  more 
than  a hundred  yards  on  even  the  leading  men  of 
the  Hurons,  ere  something  like  concert  and  order 
had  entered  into  the  chase.  To  think  of  follow- 
ing with  rifle  in  hand  was  out  of  the  question ; 
and,  after  emptying  their  pieces  in  vague  hopes 
of  wounding  their  captive,  the  best  runners  of  the 
Indians  threw  them  aside,  calling  out  to  the  wom- 
en and  boys  to  recover  and  load  them  again,  as 
soon  as  possible. 

Deerslayer  knew  too  well  the  desperate  nature 
of  the  struggle  in  which  he  was  engaged,  to  lose 
one  of  the  precious  moments.  He  also  knew  that 
his  only  hope  was  to  run  in  a straight  line,  for  as 
soon  as  he  began  to  turn,  or  double,  the  greater 
number  of  his  pursuers  would  put  escape  out  of 
the  question.  He  held  his  way,  therefore,  in  a 
diagonal  direction,  up  the  acclivity,  which  was 
neither  very  high  nor  very  steep,  in  this  part  of 
the  mountain,  but  which  was  sufficiently  toilsome 
for  one  contending  for  life,  to  render  it  painfully 
oppressive.  There,  however,  he  slackened  his 
speed,  to  recover  breath,  proceeding  even  at  a 
quick  walk,  or  slow  trot,  along  the  more  difficult 
parts  of  the  way.  The  Hurons  were  whooping 
and  leaping  behind  him  ; but  this  he  disregarded^ 
well  knowing  they  must  overcome  the  difficulties 
he  had  surmounted,  ere  they  could  reach  the  ele- 
vation to  which  he  had  attained.  The  summit  of 
the  first  hill  was  now  quite  near  him,  and  he  saw, 
by  the  formation  of  the  land,  that  a deep  glen  in- 
tervened, before  the  base  of  a second  hill  could  be 
reached.  Walking  deliberately  to  the  summit,  he 
glanced  eagerly  about  him  in  every  direction,  in 
quest  of  a cover.  None  offered  in  the  ground ; 
but  a fallen  tree  lay  near  him,  and  desperate  cir- 
cumstances required  desperate  remedies.  This  tree 
lay  in  a line  parallel  to  the  glen,  at  the  brow  of 
the  hill ; to  leap  on  it,  and  then  to  force  his  per- 
son as  close  as  possible  under  its  lower  side,  took 
but  a moment.  Previously  to  disappearing  from 
his  pursuers,  however,  Deerslayer  stood  on  the 
height,  and  gave  a cry  of  triumph,  as  if  exulting 
at  the  sight  of  the  descent  that  lay  before  him. 
In  the  next  instant  he  was  stretched  beneath  the 
tree.  ’ 

No  sooner  was  this  expedient  adopted,  than 
the  young  man  ascertained  how  desperate  had 
been  his  own  efforts,  by  the  violence  of  the  pulsa- 
tions in  his  frame.  He  could  hear  his  heart  beat, 
and  his  breathing  was  like  the  action  of  a bellows 
in  quick  motion.  Breath  was  gamed,  however, 
and  the  heart  soon  ceased  to  throb  as  if  about  to 
break  through  its  confinement.  The  footsteps  of 


those  who  toiled  up  the  opposite  side  of  the  ac- 
clivity were  now  audible,  and  presently  voices  and 
treads  announced  the  arrival  of  the  pursuers. 
The  foremost  shouted  as  they  reached  the  height ; 
then,  fearful  that  their  enemy  would  escape  under 
favor  of  the  descent,  each  leaped  upon  the  fallen 
tree,  and  plunged  into  the  ravine,  trusting  to  get 
a sight  of  the  pursued,  ere  he  reached  the  bottom. 
In  this  manner  Huron  followed  Huron,  until  Nat- 
ty began  to  hope  the  whole  had  passed.  Others 
succeeded,  however,  until  quite  forty  had  leaped 
over  the  tree ; and  then  he  counted  them,  as  the 
surest  mode  of  ascertaining  how  many  could  be 
behind.  Presently  all  were  in  the  bottom  of  the 
glen,  quite  a hundred  feet  below  him,  and  some 
had  even  ascended  part  of  the  opposite  hill,  when 
it  became  evident  an  inquiry  was  making  as  to 
the  direction  he  had  taken.  This  was  the  criti- 
cal moment ; and  one  of  nerves  less  steady,  or  of 
a training  that  had  been  neglected,  would  have 
seized  it  to  rise  and  fly.  Not  so  with  Deerslayer. 
He  lay  quiet,  watching  with  jealous  vigilance 
every  movement  below,  and  fast  regaining  his 
breath. 

The  Hurons  now  resembled  a pack  of  hounds 
at  fault.  Little  was  said,  but  each  man  ran  about, 
examining  the  dead  leaves,  as  the  hound  hunts 
for  the  lost  scent.  The  great  number  of  mocca- 
sins that  had  passed  made  the  examination  diffi- 
cult, though  the  in-toe  of  an  Indian  was  easily  to 
be  distinguished  from  the  freer  and  wider  step  of 
a white  man.  Believing  that  no  more  pursuers 
remained  behind,  and  hoping  to  steal  away  unseen, 
Deerslayer  suddenly  threw  himself  over  the  tree, 
and  fell  on  the  upper  side.  This  achievement 
appeared  to  be  effected  successfully,  and  hope 
beat  high  in  the  bosom  of  the  fugitive.  Rising 
to  his  hands  and  feet,  after  a moment  lost  in  lis- 
tening to  the  sounds  in  the  glen,  in  order  to  as- 
certain if  he  had  been  seen,  the  young  man  next 
scrambled  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  a distance  of 
only  ten  yards,  in  the  expectation  of  getting  its 
brow  between  him  and  his  pursuers,  and  himself 
so  far  under  cover.  Even  this  was  effected,  and 
he  rose  to  his  feet,  walking  swiftly  but  steadily 
along  the  summit,  in  a direction  opposite  to  that 
in  which  he  had  first  fled.  The  nature  of  the 
calls  in  the  glen,  however,  soon  made  him  uneasy, 
and  he  sprang  upon  the  summit,  again,  in  order 
to  reconnoitre.  No  sooner  did  he  reach  the 
height  than  he  was  seen,  and  the  chase  renewed. 
As  it  was  better  footing  on  the  level  ground, 
Deerslayer  now  avoided  the  side-hill,  holding  his 
flight  along  the  ridge ; while  the  Hurons,  judging 
from  the  general  formation  of  the  land,  saw  that 
the  ridge  would  soon  melt  into  the  hollow,  and 


A RUN  FOR  LIFE. 


209 


kept  to  the  latter,  as  the  easiest  mode  of  heading 
the  fugitive.  A few,  at  the  same  time,  turned 
south,  with  a view  to  prevent  his  escaping  in  that 
direction ; while  some  crossed  his  trail  toward 
the  water,  in  order  to  prevent  his  retreat  by  the 
lake,  running  southerly. 

The  situation  of  Deerslayer  was  now  more 
critical  than  it  ever  had  been.  He  was  virtually 
surrounded  on  three  sides,  having  the  lake  on  the 
fourth.  But  he  had  pondered  well  on  all  the 
chances,  and  took  his  measures  with  coolness, 
even  while  at  the  top  of  his  speed.  As  is  gener- 
ally the  case  with  the  vigorous  border-men,  he 
could  outrun  any  single  Indian  among  his  pur- 
suers, who  were  principally  formidable  to  him  on 
account  of  their  numbers,  and  the  advantages  they 
possessed  in  position;  and  he  would  not  have 
hesitated  to  break  off,  in  a straight  line,  at  any 
spot,  could  he  have  got  the  whole  band  again 
fairly  behind  him.  But  no  such  chance  did,  or 
indeed  could,  now  offer ; and  when  he  found  that 
he  was  descending  toward  the  glen,  by  the  melt- 
ing away  of  the  ridge,  he  turned  short,  at  right 
angles  to  his  previous  course,  and  went  down  the 
declivity  with  tremendous  velocity,  holding  his 
way  toward  the  shore.  Some  of  his  pursuers 
came  panting  up  the  hill,  in  direct  chase,  while 
most  still  kept  on,  in  the  ravine,  intending  to  head 
him  at  its  termination. 

Deerslayer  had  now  a different  though  a des- 
perate project  in  view.  Abandoning  all  thoughts 
of  escape  by  the  woods,  he  made  the  best  of  his 
way  toward  the  canoe.  He  knew  where  it  lay  : 
could  it  be  reached,  he  had  only  to  run  the  gant- 
let of  a few  rifles,  and  success  would  be  certain. 
None  of  the  warriors  had  kept  their  weapons, 
which  would  have  retarded  their  speed,  and 
the  risk  would  come  either  from  the  uncertain 
hands  of  the  women,  or  from  those  of  some  well- 
grown  boy ; though  most  of  the  latter  were 
already  out  in  hot  pursuit.  Every  thing  seemed 
propitious  to  the  execution  of  this  plan,  and,  the 
course  being  a continued  descent,  the  young  man 
went  over  the  ground  at  a rate  that  promised  a 
speedy  termination  to  his  toil. 

As  Deerslayer  approached  the  point,  several 
women  and  children  were  passed,  but,  though  the 
former  endeavored  to  cast  dried  branches  between 
his  legs,  the  terror  inspired  by  his  bold  retaliation 
on  the  redoubted  Panther  was  so  great,  that  none 
dared  come  near  enough  seriously  to  molest  him. 
He  went  by  all  triumphantly,  and  reached  the 
fringe  of  bushes.  Plunging  through  these,  our 
hero  found  himself  once  more  in  the  lake  and 
Trithin  fifty  feet  of  the  canoe.  Here  he  ceased  to 
•un,  for  he  well  understood  that  his  breath  was 

14 


now  all-important  to  him.  He  even  stooped,  as 
he  advanced,  and  cooled  his  parched  mouth,  by 
scooping  up  water  in  his  hand  to  drink.  Still  the 
moments  pressed,  and  he  soon  stood  at  the  side 
of  the  canoe.  The  first  glance  told  him  that  the 
paddles  had  been  removed ! This  was  a sore 
disappointment  after  all  his  efforts,  and,  for  a 
single  moment,  he  thought  of  turning  and  of 
facing  his  foes  by  walking  with  dignity  into  the 
centre  of  the  camp  again.  But  an  infernal  yell, 
such  as  the  American  savage  alone  can  raise, 
proclaimed  the  quick  approach  of  the  nearest  of 
his  pursuers,  and  the  instinct  of  life  triumphed. 
Preparing  himself  duly,  and  giving  a right  direc- 
tion to  its  bows,  he  ran  off  into  the  water  bearing 
the  canoe  before  him,  and  threw  all  his  strength 
and  skill  into  a last  effort,  and  cast  himself  for- 
ward so  as  to  fall  into  the  bottom  of  the  light 
craft,  without  materially  impeding  its  way.  Here 
he  remained  on  his  back,  both  to  regain  his 
breath  and  to  cover  his  person  from  the  deadly 
rifle.  The  lightness,  which  was  such  an  advantage 
in  paddling  the  canoe,  now  operated  unfavorably. 
The  material  was  so  like  a feather  that  the  boat 
had  no  momentum;  else  would  the  impulse  in 
that  smooth  and.  placid  sheet  have  impelled  it  to 
a distance  from  the  shore,  that  would  have  ren- 
dered paddling  with  the  hands  safe.  Could  such 
a point  once  be  reached,  Deerslayer  thought  he 
might  get  far  enough  out  to  attract  the  attention 
of  Chingachgook  and  Judith,  who  would  not  fail 
to  come  to  his  relief  with  other  canoes,  a circum- 
stance that  promised  every  thing.  As  the  young 
man  lay  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  he  watched 
its  movements,  by  studying  the  tops  of  the  trees 
on  the  mountain-side,  and  judged  of  his  distance 
by  the  time  and  the  motion.  Voices  on  the  shore 
were  now  numerous,  and  he  heard  something  said 
about  manning  the  raft,  which  fortunately  for  the 
fugitive  lay  at  a considerable  distance  on  the 
other  side  of  the  point. 

Perhaps  the  situation  of  Deerslayer  had  not 
been  more  critical  that  day  than  it  was  at  this 
moment.  It  certainly  had  not  been  one  half  as 
tantalizing.  He  lay  perfectly  quiet  for  two  or 
three  minutes,  trusting  to  the  single  sense  of 
hearing,  confident  that  the  noise  in  the  lake 
would  reach  his  ears,  did  any  one  venture  to  ap- 
proach by  swimming.  Once  or  twice  he  fancied 
that  the  element  was  stirred  by  the  cautious 
movement  of  an  arm,  and  then  he  perceived  it 
was  the  wash  of  the  water  on  the  pebbles  of  the 
strand ; for,  in  mimicry  of  the  ocean,  it  is  seldom 
that  those  little  lakes  are  so  totally  tranquil,  as 
not  to  possess  a slight  heaving  and  setting  on 
their  shores.  Suddenly  all  the  voices  ceased,  and 


THE  DEE  RSL AYER. 


210 

a death-like  stillness  pervaded  the  spot ; a quiet- 
ness as  profound  as  if  all  lay  in  the  repose  of 
inanimate  life.  By  this  time  the  canoe  had  drifted 
so  far  as  to  render  nothing  visible  to  Deerslayer, 
as  he  lay  on  his  back,  except  the  blue  void  of 
space,  and  a few  of  those  brighter  rays  that  pro- 
ceed from  the  effulgence  of  the  sun,  marking  his 
proximity.  It  was  not  possible  to  endure  this 
uncertainty  long.  The  young  man  well  knew  that 
the  profound  stillness  foreboded  evil,  the  savages 
never  being  so  silent  as  when  about  to  strike  a 
blow  ; resembling  the  stealthy  foot  of  the  panther 
ere  he  takes  his  leap.  He  took  out  a knife,  and 
was  about  to  cut  a hole  through  the  bark  in  order 
to  get  a view  of  the  shore,  when  he  paused  from 
a dread  of  being  seen  in  the  operation,  which 
would  direct  the  enemy  where  to  aim  their  bullets. 
At  this  instant  a rifle  was  fired,  and  the  ball 
pierced  both  sides  of  the  canoe,  within  eighteen 
inches  of  the  spot  where  his  head  lay.  This  was 
close  work,  but  our  hero  had  too  lately  gone 
through  that  which  was  closer  to  be  appalled. 
He  lay  still  half  a minute  longer,  and  then  he  saw 
the  summit  of  an  oak  coming  slowly  within  his 
narrow  horizon. 

Unable  to  account  for  this  change,  Deerslayer 
could  restrain  his  impatience  no  longer.  Hitching 
his  body  along,  with  the  utmost  caution,  he  got 
his  eye  at  the  bullet-hole,  and  fortunately  com- 
manded a very  tolerable  view  of  the  point.  The 
canoe,  by  one  of  those  imperceptible  impulses 
that  so  often  decide  the  fate  of  men,  as  well  as 
the  course  of  things,  had  inclined  southerly,  and 
was  slowly  drifting  down  the  lake.  It  was  lucky 
that  Deerslayer  had  given  it  a shove  sufficiently 
vigorous  to  send  it  past  the  end  of  the  point  ere 
it  took  this  inclination, . or  it  must  have  gone 
ashore  again.  As  it  was,  it  drifted  so  near  it  as 
to  bring  the  tops  of  two  or  three  trees  within  the 
range  of  the  young  man’s  view,  as  has  been  men- 
tioned, and,  indeed,  to  come  in  quite  as  close 
proximity  with  the  extremity  of  the  point  as  was 
at  all  safe.  The  distance  could  not  much  have 
exceeded  a hundred  feet,  though  fortunately  a 
light  current  of  air  from  the  southwest  began 
to  set  it  slowly  off-shore. 

Deerslayer  now  felt  the  urgent  necessity  of 
resorting  to  some  expedient  to  get  farther  from 
his  foes,  and,  if  possible,  to  apprise  his  friends  of 
his  situation.  The  distance  rendered  the  last  dif- 
ficult, while  the  proximity  to  the  point  rendered 
the  first  indispensable.  As  was  usual  in  such 
craft,  a large,  round,  smooth  stone  was  in  each 
end  of  the  canoe,  for  the  double  purpose  of  seats 
and  ballast ; one  of  these  was  within  reach  of  his 
feet.  The  stone  he  contrived  to  get  so  far  be- 


tween his  legs  as  to  reach  it  with  his  hands,  and 
then  he  managed  to  roll  it  to  the  side  of  its  fel- 
low in  the  bows,  where  the  two  served  to  keep 
the  trim  of  the  light  boat,  while  he  worked  his 
own  body  as  far  aft  as  possible.  Before  quitting 
the  shore,  and  as  soon  as  he  perceived  that  the 
paddles  were  gone,  Deerslayer  had  thrown  a bit 
of  dead  branch  into  the  canoe,  and  this  was  with- 
in reach  of  his  arm.  Removing  the  cap  he  wore, 
he  put  it  on  the  end  of  this  stick,  and  just  let  it 
appear  over  the  edge  of  the  canoe,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible from  his  own  person.  This  ruse  was  scarce- 
ly adopted,  before  the  young  man  had  a proof 
how  much  he  had  underrated  the  intelligence  of 
his‘ enemies.  In  contempt  of  an  artifice  so  shal- 
low and  commonplace,  a bullet  was  fired  directly 
through  another  part  of  the  canoe,  which  actually 
razed  his  skin.  He  dropped  the  cap,  and  instant- 
ly raised  it  immediately  over  his  head,  as  a safe- 
guard. It  would  seem  that  this  second  artifice 
was  unseen,  or,  what  was  more  probable,  the  Hu- 
rons,  feeling  certain  of  recovering  their  captive, 
wished  to  take  him  alive. 

Deerslayer  lay  passive  a few  minutes  longer 
his  eye  at  the  bullet-hole,  however,  and  much  did 
he  rejoice  at  seeing  that  he  was  drifting  gradually 
farther  and  farther  from  the  shore.  When  he 
looked  upward,  the  tree-tops  had  disappeared, 
but  he  soon  found  that  the  canoe  was  slowly  turn- 
ing, so  as  to  prevent  his  getting  a view  of  any 
thing  at  his  peep-hole,  but  of  the  two  extremities 
of  the  lake.  He  now  bethought  him  of  the  stick, 
which  was  crooked,  and  offered  some  facilities  foi 
rowing,  without  the  necessity  of  rising.  The  ex- 
periment succeeded,  on  trial,  better  even  than  he 
had  hoped,  though  his . great  embarrassment  was 
to  keep  the  canoe  straight.  That  his  present 
manoeuvre  was  seen,  soon  became  apparent  by 
the  clamor  on  the  shore,  and  a bullet,  entering  the 
stern  of  the  canoe,  traversed  its  length,  whistling 
between  the  arms  of  our  hero,  and  passed  out  at 
the  head.  This  satisfied  the  fugitive  that  he  wa3 
getting  away  with  tolerable  speed,  and  induced 
him  to  increase  his  efforts.  He  was  making  a 
stronger  push  than  common,  when  another  mes- 
senger from  the  point  broke  the  stick  out-board, 
and  at  once  deprived  him  of  his  oar.  As  the 
sound  of  voices  seemed  to  grow  more  and  more 
distant,  however,  Deerslayer  determined  to  leave 
all  to  the  drift,  until  he  believed  himself  beyond 
the  reach  of  bullets.  This  was  nervous  work, 
but  it  was  the  wisest  of  all  the  expedients  that 
offered ; and  the  young  man  was  encouraged  to 
persevere  in  it,  by  the  circumstance  that  he  felt 
his  face  fanned  by  the  air,  a proof  that  there  was 
a little  more  wind. 


THE  RECAPTURE. 


211 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Uor  widows’  tears,  nor  tender  orphans’  cries. 

Can  stop  th’  invaders’  force ; 

Nor  swelling  seas,  nor  threatening  skies, 

Prevent  the  pirate’s  course : 

Their  lives  to  selfish  ends  decreed, 

Through  blood  and  rapine  they  proceed ; 

No  anxious  thought  of  ill-repute, 

Suspend  the  impetuous  and  unjust  pursuit ; 

But  power  and  wealth  obtained,  guilty  and  great, 

Their  fellow-creatures’  fears  they  raise,  or  urge  their  hate.” 

Congkeve. 

By  this  time,  Deerslayer  had  been  twenty 
minutes  in  the  canoe,  and  he  began  to  grow  a 
little  impatient  for  some  signs  of  relief  from  his 
friends.  The  position  of  the  boat  still  prevented 
his  seeing  in  any  direction,  unless  it  were  up  or 
down  the  lake ; and,  though  he  knew  that  his  line 
of  sight  must  pass  within  a hundred  yards  of  the 
castle,  it,  in  fact,  passed  that  distance  to  the 
westward  of  the  buildings.  The  profound  still- 
ness troubled  him  also,  for  he  knew  not  whether 
to  ascribe  it  to  the  increasing  space  between  him 
and  the  Indians,  or  to  some  new  artifice.  At 
length,  wearied  with  fruitless  watchfulness,  the 
young  man  turned  himself  on  his  back,  closed  his 
eyes,  and  awaited  the  result  in  determined  acqui- 
escence. If  the  savages  could  so  completely  con- 
trol their  thirst  for  revenge,  he  was  resolved  to 
be  as  calm  as  themselves,  and  to  trust  his  fate  to 
the  interposition  of  the  currents  and  air. 

Some  additional  ten  minutes  may  have  passed 
in  this  quiescent  manner,  on  both  sides,  when 
Deerslayer  thought  he  heard  a slight  noise,  like  a 
low  rubbing  against  the  bottom  of  his  canoe.  He 
opened  his  eyes  of  course,  in  expectation  of  see- 
ing the  face  or  arm  of  an  Indian  rising  from  the 
water,  and  found  that  a canopy  of  leaves  was 
impending  directly  over  his  head.  Starting  to  his 
feet,  the  first  object  that  met  his  eye  was  Riven- 
oak,  who  had  so  far  aided  the  slow  progress  of 
the  boat,  as  to  draw  it  on  the  point,  the  grating 
on  the  strand  being  the  sound  that  had  first  given 
our  hero  the  alarm.  The  change  in  the  drift  of 
the  canoe  had  been  altogether  owing  to  the  baf- 
fling nature  of  the  light  currents  of  air,  aided  by 
some  eddies  in  the  water. 

“ Come,”  said  the  Huron,  with  a quiet  gesture 
of  authority  to  order  his  prisoner  to  land  ; “ my 
young  friend  has  sailed  about  till  he  is  tired ; he 
will  forget  how  to  run  again,  unless  he  uses  his 
iegs.” 

“You’ve  the  best  of  it,  Huron,”  returned 
Deerslayer,  stepping  steadily  from  the  canoe,  and 
passively  following  his  leader  to  the  open  area  of 


the  point;  “Providence  has  helped  you  in  an 
onexpected  manner.  I’m  your  prisoner  ag’in, 
and  I hope  you’ll  allow  that  I’m  as  good  at  break- 
ing jail  as  I am  at  keeping  furloughs.” 

“ My  young  friend  is  a moose ! ” exclaimed  the 
Huron.  “ His  legs  are  very  long ; they  have 
given  my  young  men  trouble.  But  he  is  not  a 
fish ; he  cannot  find  his  way  in  the  lake.  We  did 
not  shoot  him ; fish  are  taken  in  nets,  and  not 
killed  by  bullets.  When  he  turns  moose  again 
he  will  be  treated  like  a moose.” 

“ Ay,  have  your  talk,  Rivenoak ; make  the 
most  of  your  advantage.  ’Tis  your  right,  I sup- 
pose, and  I know  it  is  your  gift.  On  that  p’int 
there’ll  be  no  words  atween  us  ; for  all  men  must 
and  ought  to  follow  their  gifts.  Howsever,  when 
your  women  begin  to  ta’nt  and  abuse  me,  as  I 
suppose  will  soon  happen,  let  ’em  remember  that 
if  a pale-face  struggles  for  life  so  long  as  it’s  law- 
ful and  manful,  he  knows  how  to  loosen  his  hold 
on  it,  decently,  when  he  feels  that  the  time  has 
come.  I’m  your  captyve ; work  your  will  on  me.” 

“ My  brother  has  had  a long  run  on  the  hills, 
and  a pleasant  sail  on  the  water,”  returned  Riven- 
oak,  more  mildly,  smiling,  at  the  same  time,  in  a 
way  that  his  listener  knew  denoted  pacific  inten- 
tion's. “ He  has  seen  the  woods ; he  has  seen  the 
water ; which  does  he  like  best  ? Perhaps  he  has 
seen  enough  to  change  his  mind  and  make  him 
hear  reason.” 

“Speak  out,  Huron.  Something  is  in  your 
thoughts,  and  the  sooner  it  is  said,  the  sooner 
you’ll  get  my  answer.” 

“ That  is  straight ! There  is  no  turning  in 
the  talk  of  my  pale-face  friend,  though  he  is  a 
fox  in  running.  I will  speak  to  him  ; his  ears  are 
now  open  wider  than  before,  and  his  eyes  are  not 
shut.  The  Sumach  is  poorer  than  ever.  Once 
she  had  a brother  and  a husband.  She  had  chil- 
dren too.  The  time  came,  and  the  husband 
started  for  the  happy  hunting-grounds,  without 
saying  farewell ; he  left  her  alone  with  his  chil- 
dren. This  he  could  not  help,  or  he  would  not 
have  done  it ; le  Loup  Cervier  was  a good  hus- 
band. It  was  pleasant  to  see  the  venison,  and 
wild  ducks,  and  geese,  and  bear’s  meat,  that  hung 
in  his  lodge,  in  winter.  It  is  now  gone ; it  will 
not  keep  in  warm  weather.  Who  shall  bring  it 
back  again  ? Some  thought  the  brother  would 
not  forget  his  sister,  and  that,  next  winter,  he 
would  see  that  the  lodge  should  not  be  empty. 
We  thought  this ; but  the  Panther  yelled,  and 
followed  the  husband  on  the  path  of  death.  They 
are  now  trying  which  shall  first  reach  the  happy 
hunting-grounds.  Some  think  the  Lynx  can  run 
fastest,  and  some  think  the  Panther  can  jump  the 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


m 

farthest.  The  Sumach  thinks  both  will  travel  so 
fast  and  so  far  that  neither  will  ever  come  back. 
Who  shall  feed  her  and  her  young  ? The  man 
who  told  her  husband  and  her  brother  to  quit 
her  lodge,  that  there  might  be  room  for  him  to 
come  into  it.  He  is  a great  hunter,  and  we  know 
that  the  woman  will  never  want.” 

“Ay,  Huron,  this  is  soon  settled,  accordin’ 
to  your  notions  ; but  it  goes  sorely  ag’in  the  grain 
of  a white  man’s  feelin’s.  I’ve  heard  of  men  sav- 
ing their  lives  this-away,  and  I’ve  know’d  them 
that  would  prefer  death  to  such  a sort  of  captiv- 
ity. Por  my  part,  I do  not  seek  my  end ; nor  do 
I seek  matrimony.” 

“ The  pale-face  will  think  of  this  while  my 
people  get  ready  for  the  council.  He  will  be  told 
what  will  happen.  Let  him  remember  how  hard 
it  is  to  lose  a husband  and  a brother.  Go  : when 
we  want  him,  the  name  of  Deers! ayer  will  be 
called.” 

This  conversation  had  heen  held  with  no  one 
near  but  the  speakers.  Of  all  the  band  that  had 
so  lately  thronged  the  place,  Rivenoak  alone  was 
visible.  The  rest  seemed  to  have  totally  aban- 
doned the  spot.  Even  the  furniture,  clothes, 
arms,  and  other  property  of  the  camp,  had  entire- 
ly disappeared,  and  the  place  bore  no  other 
proofs  of  the  crowd  that  had  so  lately  occupied 
it,  than  the  traces  of  their  fires  and  resting- 
places,  and  the  trodden  earth,  that  still  showed 
the  marks  of  their  feet.  So  sudden  and  unex- 
pected a change  caused  Deerslayer  a good  deal 
of  surprise  and  some  uneasiness,  for  he  had  never 
known  it  to  occur,  in  the  course  of  his  experi- 
ence among  the  Delawares.  He  suspected,  how- 
ever, and  rightly,  that  a change  of  encampment 
was  intended,  and  that  the  mystery  of  the  move- 
ment was  resorted  to,  in  order  to  work  on  his  ap- 
prehensions. 

Rivenoak  walked  up  the  vista  of  trees,  as 
soon  as  he  ceased  speaking,  leaving  Deerslayer 
by  himself.  The  chief  disappeared  behind  the 
covers  of  the  forest,  and  one  unpractised  in  such 
scenes  might  have  believed  the  prisoner  left  to 
the  dictates  of  his  own  judgment.  But  the  young 
man,  while  he  felt  a little  amazement  at  the  dra- 
matic aspect  of  things,  knew  his  enemies  too 
well  to  fancy  himself  at  liberty,  or  a free  agent. 
Still  he  was  ignorant  how  far  the  Ilurons  meant 
to  carry  their  artifices,  and  he  determined  to 
bring  the  question,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  the 
proof.  Affecting  an  indifference  he  was  far  from 
feeling,  he  strolled  about  the  area,  gradually 
getting  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  spot  where  he 
had  landed,  when  he  suddenly  quickened  his  pace, 
though  carefully  avoiding  all  appearance  of  flight, 


and,  pushing  aside  the  bushes,  he  stepped  upon 
the  beach.  The  canoe  was  gone,  nor  could  ha 
see  any  traces  of  it,  after  walking  to  the  northern 
and  southern  verges  of  the  point,  and  examining 
the  shores  in  both  directions.  It  was  evidently 
removed  beyond  his  reach  and  knowledge,  and 
under  circumstances  to  show  that  such  had  been 
the  intention  of  the  savages. 

Deerslayer  now  better  understood  his  actual 
situation.  He  was  a prisoner  on  the  narrow 
tongue  of  land,  vigilantly  watched  beyond  a ques- 
tion, and  with  no  other  means  of  escape  than  that 
of  swimming.  He  again  thought  of  this  last  expe- 
dient, but  the  certainty  that  the  canoe  would  be 
sent  in  chase,  and  the  desperate  nature  of  the 
chances  of  success,  deterred  him  from  the  under- 
taking. While  on  the  strand,  he  came  to  a spot 
where  the  bushes  had  been  cut,  and  thrown  into 
a small  pile.  Removing  a few  of  the  upper 
branches,  he  found  beneath  them  the  dead  body 
of  the  Panther.  He  knew  that  it  was  kept  until 
the  savages  might  find  a place  to  inter  it,  when 
it  would  be  beyond  the  reach  of  the  scalping- 
knife.  He  gazed  wistfully  toward  the  castle,  but 
there  all  seemed  to  be  silent  and  desolate ; and  a 
feeling  of  loneliness  and  desertion  came  over  him 
to  increase  the  gloom  of  the  moment. 

“ God’s  will  be  done  ! ” murmured  the  young 
man,  as  he  walked  sorrowfully  away  from  the 
beach,  entering  again  beneath  the  arches  of  the 
wood ; “ God’s  will  be  done,  on  ’arth  as  it  is  in 
heaven  ! I did  hope  that  my  days  would  not  be 
numbered  so  soon ! but  it  matters  little,  a’ter  all. 
A few  more  winters,  and  a few  more  summers, 
and  ’twould  have  been  over,  accordin’  to  natur’. 
Ah’s  me!  the  young  and  active  seldom  think 
death  possible,  till  he  grins  in  their  faces  and 
tells  ’em  the  hour  is  come  ! ” 

While  this  soliloquy  was  being  pronounced, 
the  hunter  advanced  into  the  area,  where,  to  his 
surprise,  he  saw  Hetty  alone,  evidently  awaiting 
his  return.  The  girl  carried  the  Bible  under  her 
arm,  and  her  face,  over  which  a shadow  of  gentle 
melancholy  was  usually  thrown^  now  seemed  sad 
and  downcast.  Moving  nearer,  Deerslayer  spoke. 

“ Poor  Hetty,”  he  said,  “ times  have  been  so 
troublesome  of  late,  that  I’d  altogether  forgotten 
you ; we  meet,  as  it  might  be,  to  mourn  over  what 
is  to  happen.  I wonder  what  has  become  of 
Chingachgook  and  Wah  ! ” 

“ Why  did  you  kill  the  Huron,  Deerslayer  ? ” 
returned  the  girl,  reproachfully.  “ Don’t  you  know 
your  commandments,  which  say,  ‘ Thou  shall  not 
kill ! ’ They  tell  me  you  have  now  slain  the  wom- 
an’s husband  and  brother.” 

“ It’s  true,  my  good  Hetty,  ’tis  gospel  truth, 


THE  PRISONER’S  DEFENCE. 


213 


and  I’ll  not  deny  what  has  come  to  pass.  But, 
you  must  remember,  gal,  that  many  things  are 
lawful  in  war,  which  would  be  onlawful  in  peace. 
The  husband  was  shot  in  open  fight ; or  open  so 
far  as  I was  consumed,  while  he  had  a better 
cover  than  common ; and  the  brother  brought  his 
ind  on  himself,  by  casting  his  tomahawk  at  an 
unarmed  prisoner.  Did  you  witness  that  deed, 
gal?” 

“ I saw  it,  and  was  sorry  it  happened,  Deer- 
slayer  ; for  I hoped  you  wouldn’t  have  returned 
blow  for  blow,  but  good  for  evil.” 

“ Ah,  Hetty,  that  may  do  among  the  mission- 
aries, but  ’twould  make  an  onsartain  life  in  the 
woods.  The  Panther  craved  my  blood,  and  he 
was  foolish  enough  to  throw  arms  into  my  hands 
at  the  very  moment  he  was  striving  a’ter  it. 
’Twould  have  been  a’gin  natur’  not  to  raise  a 
hand  in  such  a trial,  and  ’twould  have  done  dis- 
credit to  my  training  and  gifts.  No,  no  ; I’m  as 
willing  to  give  every  man  his  own,  as  another ; 
and  so  I hope  you’ll  testify  to  them  that  will  be 
likely  to  question  you  as  to  what  you’ve  seen  this 
day.” 

“ Deerslayer,  do  you  mean  to  marry  Sumach, 
now  she  has  neither  husband  nor  brother  to  feed 
her  ? ” 

“ Are  such  your  idees  of  matrimony,  Hetty  ? 
Ought  the  young  to  wive  with  the  old — the  pale- 
face with  the  red-skin — the  Christian  with  the 
heathen  ? It’s  ag’in  reason  and  natur’,  and  so 
you’ll  see,  if  you  think  of  it  a moment.” 

“ I’ve  • always  heard  mother  say,”  returned 
Hetty,  averting  her  face,  more  from  a feminine 
instinct,  than  from  any  consciousness  of  wrong, 
“ that  people  should  never  marry  until  they 
loved  each  other  better  than  brothers  and  sis- 
ters ; and  I suppose  that  is  what  you  mean. 
Sumach  is  old  and  you  are  young.” 

•“  Ay,  and  she’s  red  and  I’m  white.  Besides, 
Hetty,  suppose  you  was  a wife,  now,  having  mar- 
ried some  young  man  of  your  own  years,  and 
State,  and  color — Hurry  Harry,  for  instance” — 
Deerslayer  selected  this  example,  simply  from 
the  circumstance  that  he  was  the  only  young  man 
known  to  both — “ and  that  he  had  fallen  on  a 
war-path,  would  you  wish  to  take  to  your  bosom, 
for  a husband,  the  man  that  slew  him  ? ” 

“ Oh ! no,  no,  no,”  returned  the  girl,  shudder- 
ing. “ That  would  be  wicked,  as  well  as  heart- 
less ! No  Christian  girl  could  or  would  do  that. 
I never  shall  be  the  wife  of  Hurry,  I know  ; but 
were  he  my  husband,  no  man  should  ever  be  it 
again  after  his  death.” 

“ I thought  it  would  get  to  this,  Hetty,  when 
you  came  to  understand  sarcumstances.  ’Tis  a 


moral  impossibility  that  I should  ever  marry  Su- 
mach  ; and  though  Injin  weddin’s  have  no  priests, 
and  not  much  religion,  a white  man,  who  knows 
his  gifts  and  duties,  can’t  profit  by  that,  and  so 
make  his  escape  at  the  fitting  time.  I do  think 
death  would  be  more  nat’ral  like,  and  welcome, 
than  wedlock  with  this  woman.” 

“ Don’t  say  it  too  loud,”  interrupted  Hetty, 
impatiently;  “ I suppose  she  will  not  like  to  hear 
it.  I’m  sure  Hurry  would  rather  marry  even  me, 
than  suffer  torments,  though  I am  feeble-minded ; 
and  I am  sure  it  would  kill  me  to  think  he’d  pre- 
fer death  to  being  my  husband.” 

“ Ay,  gal ; you  ain’t  Sumach,  but  a comely 
young  Christian,  with  a good  heart,  pleasant 
smile,  and  kind  eye.  Hurry  might  be  proud  to 
get  you,  and  that,  too,  not  in  misery,  and  sor- 
row, but  in  his  best  and  happiest  days.  Hows- 
ever,  take  my  advice,  and  never  talk  to  Hurry 
about  these  things ; he’s  only  a borderer,  at  the 
best.” 

“ I wouldn’t  tell  him  for  the  world ! ” ex- 
claimed the  girl,  looking  about  her,  like  one 
affrighted,  and  blushing  she  knew  not  why. 
“ Mother  always  said  young  women  shouldn’t  be 
forward,  and  speak  their  minds  before  they’re 
asked  ; oh ! I never  forget  what  mother  told  me. 
’Tis  a pity  Hurry  is  so  handsome,  Deerslayer ; I 
do  think  fewer  girls  would  like  him  then,  and  he 
would  sooner  know  his  own  mind.” 

“Poor  gal,  poor  gal,  it’s  plain  enough  how  it 
is ; but  the  Lord  will  bear  in  mind  one  of  your 
simple  heart  and  kind  feelin’s ! We’ll  talk  no 
more  of  these  things  ; if  you  had  reason,  you’d 
be  sorrowful  at  having  let  others  so  much  into 
your  secret.  Tell  me,  Hetty,  what  has  become 
of  all  the  Hurons,  and  why  they  let  you  roam 
about  the  p’int,  as  if  you,  too,  was  a prisoner  ? ” 

“ I’m  no  prisoner,  Deerslayer,  but  a free  girl, 
and  go  when  and  where  I please.  Nobody  dare 
hurt  me  ! If  they  did,  God  would  be  angry — as 
I can  show  them  in  the  Bible.  No — no — Hetty 
Hutter  is  not  afraid ; she's  in  good  hands.  The 
Hurons  are  up  yonder  in  the  woods,  and  keep  a 
good  watch  on  us  both,  I’ll  answer  for  it,  since 
all  the  women  and  children  are  on  the  lookout. 
Some  are  burying  the  body  of  the  poor  girl  who 
was  shot,  so  that  the  enemy  and  the  wild  beasts 
can’t  find  it.  I told  ’em  that  father  and  mother 
lay  in  the  lake,  but  I wouldn’t  let  them  know  in 
what  part  of  it,  for  Judith  and  I don’t  want  any 
of  their  heathenish  company  in  our  burying- 
ground.” 

“Ah’s  me  ! Well,  it  is  an  awful  dispatch  to 
be  standing  here,  alive  and  angry,  and  with  the 
feelin’s  up  and  furious,  one  hour,  and  then  to  bt 


214 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


carried  away  at  the  next,  and  put  out  of  sight 
of  mankind  in  a hole  in  the  ’arth.  No  one 
knows  what  will  happen  to  him  on  a war-path, 
that’s  sartain.” 

Here  the  stirring  of  leaves  and  the  crack- 
ing of  dried  twigs  interrupted  the  discourse,  and 
apprised  Deerslayer  of  the  approach  of  his  ene- 
mies. The  Hurons  closed  around  the  spot  that 
had  been  prepared  for  the  coming  scene,  and  in 
the  centre  of  which  the  intended  victim  now 
stood,  in  a circle — the  armed  men  being  so  dis- 
tributed among  the  feebler  members  of  the  band, 
that  there  was  no  safe  opening  through  which 
the  prisoner  could  break.  But  the  latter  no  lon- 
ger contemplated  flight ; the  recent  trial  having 
satisfied  him  of  his  inability  to  escape,  when  pur- 
sued so  closely  by  numbers.  On  the  contrary, 
all  his  energies  were  aroused,  in  order  to  meet 
his  expected  fate  with  a calmness  that  should  do 
credit  to  his  color  and  his  manhood  ; one  equally 
removed  from  recreant  alarm  and  savage  boast- 
ing. 

When  Rivenoak  reappeared  in  the  circle,  he 
occupied  his  old  place  at  the  head  of  the  area. 
Several  of  the  elder  warriors  stood  near  him; 
but,  now  that  the  brother  of  Sumach  had  fallen, 
there  was  no  longer  any  recognized  chief  pres- 
ent whose  influence  and  authority  offered  a dan- 
gerous rivalry  to  his  own.  Nevertheless,  it  is 
well  known  that  little  which  could  be  called  mo- 
narchical or  despotic,  entered  into  the  politics  of 
the  North- American  tribes,  although  the  first 
colonists,  bringing  with  them  to  this  hemisphere 
the  notions  and  opinions  of  their  own’  countries, 
often  dignified  the  chief  men  of  those  primitive 
nations  with  the  titles  of  kings  and  princes. 
Hereditary  influence  did  certainly  exist;  but 
there  is  much  reason  to  believe  it  existed  rath- 
er as  a consequence  of  hereditary  merit  and 
acquired  qualifications,  than  as  a birthright. 
Rivenoak,  however,  had  not  even  this  claim — 
having  risen  to  consideration  purely  by  the  force 
of  talents,  sagacity,  and,  as  Bacon  expresses  it, 
in  relation  to  all  distinguished  statesmen,  “ by  a 
union  of  great  and  mean  qualities ; ” a truth  of 
which  the  career  of  the  profound  Englishman 
himself  furnishes  so  apt  an  illustration. 

Next  to  arms,  eloquence  offers  the  great 
avenue  to  popular  favor,  whether  it  be  in  civil- 
ized or  savage  life ; and  Rivenoak  had  succeed- 
ed, as  so  many  have  succeeded  before  him,  quite 
us  much  by  rendering  fallacies  acceptable  to  his 
listeners,  -as  by  any  profound  or  learned  exposi- 
tions of  truth,  or  the  accuracy  of  his  logic. 
Nevertheless,  he  had  influence  ; and  was  far  from 
fleing  altogether  without  just  claims  to  its  pos- 


session. Like  most  men  who  reason  more  that 
they  feel,  the  Huron  was  not  addicted  to  the  in- 
dulgence  of  the  mere  ferocious  passions  of  his 
people ; he  had  been  commonly  found  on  the  side 
of  mercy,  in  all  the  scenes  of  vindictive  torture 
and  revenge  that  had  occurred  in  his  tribe  since 
his  own  attainment  to  power.  On  the  present 
occasion,  he  was  reluctant  to  proceed  to  extremi- 
ties, although  the  provocation  was  so  great ; still 
it  exceeded  his  ingenuity  to  see  how  that  alter- 
native could  well  be  avoided.  Sumach  resented 
her  rejection  more  than  she  did  the  deaths  of 
her  husband  and  brother,  and  there  was  little 
probability  that  the  woman  would  pardon  a man 
who  had  so  unequivocally  preferred  death  to  her 
embraces.  Without  her  forgiveness,  there  was 
scarce  a hope  that  the  tribe  could  be  induced  to 
overlook  its  loss ; and  even  to  Rivenoak  him- 
self, much  as  he  was  disposed  to  pardon,  the  fate 
of  our  hero  now  appeared  to  be  almost  hopelessly 
sealed. 

When  the  whole  band  "was  arrayed  around 
the  captive,  a grave  silence,  so  much  the  more 
threatening  from  its  profound  quiet,  pervaded 
the  place.  Deerslayer  perceived  that  the  women 
and  boys  had  been  preparing  splinters  of  the  fat 
pine-roots,  which  he  well  knew  were  to  be  stuck 
into  his  flesh  and  set  in  flames,  while  two  oi 
three  of  the  young  men  held  the  thongs  of  bark 
with  which  he  was  to  be  bound.  The  smoke  of 
a distant  fire  announced  that  the  burning  brands 
were  in  preparation,  and  several  of  the  elder 
warriors  passed  their  fingers  over  the  edges  of 
their  tomahawks,  as  if  to  prove  their  keenness 
and  temper.  Even  the  knives  seemed  loosened 
in  their  sheaths,  impatient  for  the  bloody  and 
merciless  work  to  begin. 

“Killer  of  the  Deer” — recommenced  Riven- 
oak, certainly  without  any  signs  of  sympathy  or 
pity  in  his  manner,  though  with  calmness  .and 
dignity — “ Killer  of  the  Deer,  it  is  time  that  my 
people  knew  their  minds.  The  sun  is  no  longer 
over  our  heads  : tired  of  waiting  on  the  Hurons, 
he  has  begun  to  fall  near  the  pines  on  this  side 
of  the  valley.  He  is  travelling  fast  toward  the 
country  of  our  French  fathers  ; it  is  to  warn  his 
children  that  their  lodges  are  empty,  and  that 
they  ought  to  be  at  home.  The  roaming  wolf 
has  his  den,  and  he  goes  to  it  when  he  wishes  to 
see  his  young.  The  Iroquois  are  not  pooler  than 
the  wolves.  They  have  villages,  and  wigwams, 
and  fields  of  corn ; the  good  spirits  will  be  tired 
of  watching  them  alone.  My  people  must  go 
back  and  see  to  their  own  business.  There  will 
be  joy  in  the  lodges  when  they  hear  our  whoop 
from  the  forest ! It  will  be  a sorrowful  whoop  * 


SUMACH’S  APPEAL. 


215 


when  it  is  understood,  grief  will  come  after  it. 
There  will  be  one  scalp-whoop,  but  there  will  be 
only  one.  We  have  the  fur  of  the  Muskrat ; his 
body  is ' among  the  fishes.  Deerslayer  must  say 
whether  another  scalp  shall  be  on  our  pole.  Two 
lodges  are  empty  ; a scalp,  living  or  dead,  is  want- 
ed at  each  door.” 

“Then  take  ’em  dead,  Huron,”  firmly,  but 
altogether  without  dramatic  boasting,  returned 
the  captive.  “ My  hour  is  come,  I do  suppose  ; 
and  what  must  be,  must.  If  you  are  bent  on  the 
tortur’,  I’ll  do  my  indivors  to  bear  up  ag’in  it, 
though  no  man  can  say  how  far  his  natur’  will 
stand  pain,  until  he’s  been  tried.” 

“ The  pale-face  cur  begins  to  put  his  tail  be- 
tween his  legs ! ” cried  a young  and  garrulous 
savage,  who  bore  the  appropriate  title  of  the 
Corbeau  Rouge — a sobriquet  he  had  gained  from 
the  French,  by  his  facility  in  making  unseasonable 
noises,  and  an  undue  tendency  to  hear  his  own 
voice — “ he  is  no.  warrior  ; he  has  killed  the  Loup 
Cervier  when  looking  behind  him  not  to  see  the 
flash  of  his  own  rifle.  He  grunts  like  a hog,  al- 
ready ; when  the  Huron  women  begin  to  torment 
him,  he  will  cry  like  the  young  of  the  catamount. 
He  is  a Delaware  woman,  dressed  in  the  skin  of  a 
Yengeese ! ” 

“ Have  your  say,  young  man ; have  your  say,” 
returned  Deerslayer,  unmoved;  “you  know  no 
better,  and  I can  overlook  it.  Talking  may 
aggravate  women,  but  can  hardly  make  knives 
sharper,  fire  hotter,  or  rifles  more  gartain.” 

Rivenoak  now  interfered,  reproving  the  Red 
Crow  for  his  premature  interference,  and  then 
directing  the  proper  persons  to  bind  the  captive. 
This  expedient  was  adopted,  not  from  any  appre- 
hensions that  he  would  escape,  or  from  any  neces- 
sity, that  was  yet  apparent,  of  his  being  unable  to 
endure  the  torture  with  his  limbs  free,  but  from 
an  ingenious  design  of  making  him  feel  his  help- 
lessness, and  of  gradually  sapping  his  resolution, 
by  undermining  it,  as  it  might  be,  little  by  little. 
Deerslayer  offered  no  resistance  He  submitted 
his  arms  and  legs,  freely  if  not  cheerfully,  to  the 
ligaments  of  bark,  which  were  bound  around 
them,  by  order  of  the  chief,  in  a way  to  produce 
as  little  pain  as  possible.  These  directions  were 
secret,  and  given  in  a hope  that  the  captive  would 
finally  save  himself  from  any  serious  bodily  suffer- 
ing, by  consenting  to  take  the  Sumach  for  a wife. 
As  soon  as  the  body  of  Deerslayer  was  withed  in 
bark  sufficiently  to  create  a lively  sense  of  help- 
lessness, he  was  literally  carried  to  a young  tree, 
and  bound  against  it,  in  a way  that  effectually  pre- 
vented him  from  moving,  as  well  as  from  falling. 
The  hands  were  laid  flat  against  the  legs,  and 


thongs  were  passed  over  all,  in  a way  nearly  to 
incorporate  the  prisoner  with  the  tree.  His  cap 
was  then  removed,  and  he  was  left  half-standing, 
half-sustained  by  his  bonds,  to  face  the  coming 
scene  in  the  best  manner  he  could. 

Previously  to  proceeding  to  any  thing  like 
extremities,  it  was  the  wish  of  Rivenoak  to  put 
his  captive’s  resolution  to  the  proof,  by  renewing 
the  attempt  at  a compromise.  This  could  be 
effected  only  in  one  manner,  the  acquiescence  of 
the  Sumach  being  indispensably  necessary  to  a 
compromise  of  her  right  to  be  revenged.  With 
this  view,  then,  the  woman  was  next  desired  to 
advance,  and  to  look  to  her  own  interest;  no 
agent  being  considered  as  efficient  as  the  principal 
herself  in  this  negotiation.  The  Indian  females, 
when  girls,  are  usually  mild  and  submissive,  with 
musical  tones,  pleasant  voices,  and  merry  laughs ; 
but  toil  and  suffering  generally  deprive  them  of 
most  of  these  advantages  by  the  time  they  have 
reached  an  age  which  the  Sumach  had  long  beforo 
passed.  To  render  their  voices  harsh,  it  would 
seem  to  require  active,  malignant  passions,  though, 
when  excited,  their  screams  can  rise  to  a suffi- 
ciently conspicuous  degree  of  discordancy  to  as- 
sert their  claim  to  possess  this  distinctive  pecul- 
iarity of  the  sex.  The  Sumach  was  not  altogethei 
without  feminine  attraction,  however,  and  had  so 
recently  been  deemed  handsome  in  her  tribe,  as 
not  to  have  yet  learned  the  full  influence  that 
time  and  exposure  produce  on  man  as  well  as  on 
woman.  By  an  arrangement  of  Rivenoak’s  some 
of  the  women  around  her  had  been  employing  the 
time  in  endeavoring  to  persuade  the  bereaved 
widow  that  there  was  still  a hope  Deerslayer 
might  be  prevailed  on  to  enter  her  wigwam,  in 
preference  to  entei*ing  the  world  of  spirits,  and 
this,  too,  with  a success  that  previous  symptoms 
scarcely  justified.  All  this  was  the  result  of  a 
resolution  on  the  part  of  the  chief  to  leave  no 
proper  means  unemployed,  in  order  to  get  the 
greatest  hunter  that  was  then  thought  to  exist  in 
all  that  region,  transferred  to  his  own  nation  as 
well  as  a husband  for  a woman  who  he  felt  would 
be  likely  to  be  troublesome,  were  any  of  her  claims 
to  the  attention  and  care  of  the  tribe  overlooked. 

In  conformity  with  this  scheme,  the  Sumach 
had  been  Secretly  advised  to  advance  into  the 
circle,  and  to  make  her  appeal  to  the  prisoner’s 
sense  of  justice  before  the  band  had  recourse  to 
the  last  experiment.  The  woman,  nothing  loath, 
consented  ; for  there  was  some  such  attraction, 
in  becoming  the  wife  of  a noted  hunter,  among 
the  females  of  the  tribes,  as  is  experienced  by  the 
sex  in  more  refined  life  when  they  bestow  their 
hands  on  the  affluent.  As  the  duties  of  a mother 


216 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


were  thought  to  be  paramount  to  all  other  con- 
siderations, the  widow  felt  none  of  that  embarrass- 
ment in  preferring  her  claims,  to  which  even  a 
female  fortune-hunter  among  ourselves  might  be 
liable.  When  she  stood  forth  before  the  whole 
party,  therefore,  the  children  that  she  led  by  the 
hand  fully  justified  all  she  did. 

“ You  see  me  before  you,  cruel  pale-face,”  the 
woman  commenced  ; “ your  spirit  must  tell  you 
my  errand.  I have  found  you ; I cannot  find 
le  Loup  Cervier,  nor  the  Panther  ; I have  looked 
for  them  in  the  lake,  in  the  woods,  in  the  clouds. 
I cannot  say  where  they  have  gone.” 

“No  man  knows,  good  Sumach,  no  man 
knows,”  interposed  the  captive.  “When  the 
spirit  leaves  the  body  it  passes  into  a world  be- 
yond our  knowledge,  and  the  wisest  way  for  them 
that  are  left  behind  is  to  hope  for  the  best.  No 
doubt  both  your  warriors  have  gone  to  the  happy 
hunting-grounds,  and  at  the  proper  time  you  will 
see  ’em  ag’in  in  their  improved  state.  The  wife 
and  sister  of  braves  must  have  looked  forward  to 
some  such  tarmination  of  their  ’arthly  careers.” 

“ Cruel  pale-face,  what  had  my  warriors  done 
that  you  should  slay  them  ? They  were  the  best 
hunters  and  the  boldest  young  men  of  their  tribe ; 
the  Great  Spirit  intended  that  they  should  five 
until  they  withered  like  the  branches  of  the  hem- 
lock, and  fell  of  their  own  weight.” 

“ Nay,  nay,  good  Sumach,”  interrupted  the 
Deerslayer,  whose  love  of  truth  was  too  indomi- 
table to  listen  to  such  hyperbole  with  patience, 
even  though  it  came  from  the  torn  breast  of  a 
widow — “ nay,  nay,  good  Sumach,  this  is  a little 
outdoing  red-skin  privileges.  Young  man  was 
neither,  any  more  than  you  can  be  called  a young 
woman  ; and,  as  to  the  Great  Spirit’s  intending 
that  they  should  fall  otherwise  than  they  did, 
that’s  a grievous  mistake,  inasmuch  as  what  the 
Great  Spirit  intends  is  sartain  to  come  to  pass. 
Then,  ag’in,  it’s  plain  enough  neither  of  your 
fri’nds  did  me  any  harm : I raised  my  hand  ag’in 
’em  on  account  of  what  they  were  striving  -0  do, 
rather  than  what  they  did.  This  is  nat’ral  law, 
‘ to  do,  lest  you  should  be  done  by.’  ” 

“It  is  so.  Sumach  has  but  one  tongue;  she 
can  tell  but  one  story.  The  pale-face  struck  the 
Hurons,  lest  the  Hurons  should  strike  him.  The 
Hurons  are  a just  nation ; they  will  forget  it.  The 
chiefs  will  shut  their  eyes,  and  pretend  not  to 
have  seen  it.  The  young  men  will  believe  the 
Panther  and  the  Lynx  have  gone  to  far-off  hunts ; 
and  the  Sumach  will  take  her  children  by  the 
hand,  and  go  into  the  lodge  of  the  pale-face,  and 
Bay,  ‘ See ; these  are  your  children— they  are  also 
mine ; feed  us,  and  we  will  live  with  you.’  ” 


“ The  tarms  are  onadmissible,  woman ; and, 
though  I feel  for  your  losses,  which  must  be  hard 
to  bear,  the  tarms  cannot  be  accepted.  As  to 
givin’  you  ven’son,  in  case  we  lived  near  enough 
together,  that  would  be  no  great  expl’ite ; but  as 
for  becomin’  your  husband,  and  the  father  of  your 
children,  to  be  honest  with  you,  I feel  no  callin’ 
that-a-way.” 

“ Look  at  this  boy,  cruel  pale-face ; he  has  no 
father  to  teach  him  to  kill  the  deer,  or  to  take 
scalps.  See  this  girl ; what  young  man  will  come 
to  look  for  a wife  in  a lodge  that  has  no  head  ? 
There  are  more  among  my  people  in  the  Canadas, 
and  the  Killer  of  Deer  will  find  as  many  mouths 
to  feed  as  his  heart  can  wish  for.” 

“I  tell  you,  woman,”  exclaimed  Deerslayer, 
whose  imagination  was  far  from  seconding  the 
appeal  of  the  widow,  and  who  began  to  grow 
restive  under  the  vivid  pictures  she  was  drawing, 
“ all  this  is  nothing  to  me.  People  and  kindred 
must  take  care  of  their  own  fatherless,  leaving 
them  that  have  no  children  to  their  own  loneliness. 
As  for  me,  I have  no  offspring,  and  I want  no 
wife.  Now,  go  away,  Sumach ; leave  me  in  the 
hands  of  your  chiefs ; for  my  color,  and  gifts,  and 
natur’  itself,  cry  out  ag’in  the  idee  of  taking  you 
for  a wife.” 

It  is  unnecessary  to  expatiate  on  the  effect  of 
this  downright  refusal  of  the  woman’s  proposals. 
If  there  was  any  thing  like  tenderness  in  her  bo- 
som— and  no  woman  was,  probably,  ever  entirely 
without  that  feminine  quality — it  all  disappeared 
at  this  plain  announcement.  Fury,  rage,  morti- 
fied pride,  and  a volcano  of  wrath,  burst  out  at 
one  explosion,  converting  her  into  a sort  of  ma- 
niac, as  it  might  be  at  the  touch  of  a magician’s 
wand.  Without  deigning  a reply  in  words,  she 
made  the  arches  of  the  forest  ring  with  screams, 
and  then  flew  forward  at  her  victim,  seizing  him 
by  the  hair,  which  she  appeared  resolute  to  draw 
out  by  the  roots.  It  was  some  time  before  her 
grasp  could  be  loosened.  Fortunately  for  the  pris- 
oner, her  rage  was  blind,  since  his  total  helpless- 
ness left  him  entirely  at  her  mercy ; had  it  been 
better  directed,  it  might  have  proved  fatal  before 
any  relief  could  have  been  offered.  As  it  was, 
she  did  succeed  in  wrenching  out  two  or  three 
handfuls  of  hair,  before  the  young  men  could  tear 
her  away  from  her  victim. 

The  insult  that  had  been  offered  to  the  Su- 
mach was  deemed  an  insult  to  the  whole  tribe ; 
not  so  much,  however,  on  account  of  any  respect 
that  was  felt  for  the  woman,  as  on  account  of  the 
honor  of  the  Huron  nation.  Sumach,  herself,  was 
generally  considered  to  be  as  acid  as  the  berry 
from  which  she  derived  her  name ; and  now  that 


HURLING  THE  TOMAHAWK. 


217 


her  great  supporters,  her  husband  and  brother, 
«rere  both  gone,  few  cared  about  concealing  their 
aversipn.  Never theless,  it  had  become  a point  of 
honor  to  punish  the  pale-face  who  disdained  a 
Huron  woman,  and,  more  particularly,  one  who 
coolly  preferred  death  to  relieving  the  tribe  from 
the  support  of  a widow  and  her  children.  The 
young  men  showed  an  impatience  to  begin  to  tor- 
ture, that  Rivenoak  understood ; and,  as  his  elder 
associates  manifested  no  disposition  to  permit  any 
longer  delay,  he  was  compelled  to  give  the  signal 
for  the  infernal  work  to  proceed. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

“ The  ugly  bear  now  minded  not  the  stake, 

Nor  how  the  cruel  mastiffs  do  him  tear ; 

The  stag  lay  still,  unroused  from  the  brake, 

The  foamy  boar  feared  not  the  hunter’s  spear ; 

All  thing  was  still  in  desert,  bush,  and  brier.” 

Lord  Dorset. 

It  was  one  of  the  common  expedients  of  the 
savages,  on  such  occasions,  to  put  the  nerves  of 
their  victims  to  the  severest  proofs.  On  the  oth- 
er hand,  it  was  a matter  of  Indian  pride  to  betray 
no  yielding  to  terror  or  pain ; but  for  the  prison- 
er to  provoke  his  enemies  to  such  acts  of  vio- 
lence as  would  soonest  produce  death.  Many  a 
warrior  had  been  known  to  bring  his  own  suffer- 
ings to  a more  speedy  termination,  by  taunting 
reproaches  and  reviling  language,  when  he  found 
that  his  physical  system  was  giving  way  under 
the  agony  of  sufferings,  produced  by  a hellish  in- 
genuity that  might  well  eclipse  all  that  has  been 
said  of  the  infernal  devices  of  religious  persecu- 
tion. This  happy  expedient  of  taking  refuge 
from  the  ferocity  of  his  foes  in  their  passions, 
was  denied  Deerslayer,  however,  by  his  peculiar 
notions  of  the  duty  of  a white  man ; and  he  had 
stoutly  made  up  his  mind  to  endure  every  thing, 
in  preference  to  disgracing  his  color. 

No  sooner  did  the  young  men  understand  that 
they  were  at  liberty  to  commence,  than  some  of 
the  boldest  and  most  forward  among  them  sprang 
into  the  arena,  tomahawk  in  hand.  Here  they 
prepared  to  throw  that  dangerous  weapon,  the 
object  being  to  strike  the  tree  as  near  as  possible 
to  the  victim’s  head,  without  absolutely  hitting 
him.  This  was  so  hazardous  an  experiment,  that 
none  but  those  who  were  known  to  be  exceeding- 
ly expert  with  the  weapon  were  allowed  to  enter 
the  lists  at  all,  lest  an  early  death  might  interfere 
with  the  expected  entertainment.  In  the  truest 
hands,  it  was  seldom  that  the  captive  escaped  in- 
;ury  in  these  trials ; and  it  often  happened  that 


death  followed,  even  when  the  blow  was  not  pre- 
meditated. In  the  particular  case  of  our  hero, 
Rivenoak  and  the  older  warriors  were  apprehen- 
sive that  the  example  of  the  Panther’s  fate  might 
prove  a motive  with  some  fiery  spirit,  suddenly  to 
sacrifice  his  conqueror,  when  the  temptation  of 
effecting  it  in  precisely  the  same  manner,  and  pos- 
sibly with  the  identical  weapon  with  which  the 
warrior  had  fallen,  offered.  This  circumstance, 
of  itself,  rendered  the  ordeal  of  the  tomahawk 
doubly  critical  for  the  Deerslayer. 

It  would  seem,  however,  that  all  who  now  en- 
tered what  we  shall  call  the  lists,  were  more  dis- 
posed to  exhibit  their  own  dexterity  than  to  re- 
sent the  deaths  of  their  comrades.  Each  prepared 
himself  for  the  trial,  with  the  feelings  of  rivalry, 
rather  than  with  the  desire  for  vengeance ; and, 
for  the  first  few  minutes,  the  prisoner  had  little 
more  connection  with  the  result,  than  grew  out 
of  the  interest  that  necessarily  attached  itself  to 
a living  target.  The  young  men  were  eager,  in- 
stead of  being  fierce,  and  Rivenoak  thought  he 
still  saw  signs  of  being  able  to  save  the  life  of  the 
captive,  when  the  vanity  of  the  young  men  had 
been  gratified  ; always  admitting  that  it  was  not 
sacrificed  to  the  delicate  experiments  that  were 
about  to  be  made. 

TLj£  first  youth  who  presented  himself  for  the 
trial,  wras  called  the  Raven,  having  as  yet  had  no 
opportunity  of  obtaining  a more  warlike  sobriquet . 
He  was  remarkable  for  high  pretension  rather 
than  for  skill  or  exploits  ; and  those  who  knew 
his  character,  thought  the  captive  in  imminent 
danger,  when  he  took  his  stand  and  poised  the 
tomahawk.  Nevertheless,  the  young  man  was 
good-natured,  and  no  thought  was  uppermost  in 
his  mind,  other  than  the  desire  to  make  a better 
cast  than  any  of  his  fellows.  Deerslayer  got  an 
inkling  of  this  warrior’s  want  of  reputation,  by 
the  injunctions  that  he  had  received*  from  the  sen- 
iors ; who,  indeed,  would  have  objected  to  his  ap- 
pearing in  the  arena  at  all,  but  for  an  influence 
derived  from  his  father,  an  aged  warrior  of  great 
merit,  who  was  then  in  the  lodges  of  the  tribe. 
Still,  our  hero  maintained  an  appearance  of  self- 
possession.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  that  his 
hour  was  come,  and  it  would  have  been  a mercy, 
instead  of  a calamity,  to  fall  by  the  unsteadiness 
of  the  first  hand  that  was  raised  against  him. 
After  a suitable  number  of  flourishes  and  gestic- 
ulations, that  promised  much  more  than  he  could 
perform,  the  Raven  let  the  tomahawk  quit  his  hand. 
The  weapon  whirled  through  the  air,  with  the  usual 
evolutions,  cut  a chip  from  the  sapling  to  which 
the  prisoner  was  bound,  within  a few  inches  of 
his  cheek,  and  stuck  in  a large  oak  that  grew 


218 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


several  yards  behind  him.  This  was  decidedly 
a bad  effort,  and  a common  sneer  proclaimed  as 
much,  to  the  great  mortification  of  the  young 
man.  On  the  other  hand,  there  was  a general 
but  suppressed  murmur  of  admiration  at  the 
steadiness  with  which  the  captive  stood  the  trial. 
The  head  was  the  only  part  he  could  move,  and 
this  had  been  purposely  left  free,  that  the  tor- 
mentors  might  have  the  amusement,  and  the  tor- 
mented endure  the  shame,  of  dodging,  and  other- 
wise attempting  to  avoid  the  blows.  Deerslayer  dis- 
appointed these  hopes,  by  a command  of  n-rve 
that  rendered  his  whole  body  as  immovable  as  the 
tree  to  which  he  was  bound.  Nor  did  he  even 
adopt  the  natural  and  usual  expedient  of  shutting 
his  eyes : the  firmest  and  oldest  warrior  of  the 
red  men  never  having  more  disdainfully  denied  him- 
self this  advantage,  under  similar  circumstances. 

The  Raven  had  no  sooner  made  his  unsuc- 
cessful and  puerile  effort,  than  he  was  succeeded 
by  le  Daim-Mose , or  the  Moose ; a middle-aged 
warrior,  who  was  particularly  skilful  in  the  use 
of  the  tomahawk,  and  from  whose  attempt  the 
spectators  confidently  looked  for  gratification. 
This  man  had  none  of  the  good-nature  of  the  Ra- 
ven, but  he  would  gladly  have  sacrificed  the  cap- 
tive to  his  hatred  of  the  pale-faces  generally, 
were  it  not  for  the  greater  interest  he  felt  in  his 
own  success  as  one  particularly  skilful  in  the  use 
of  this  weapon.  He  took  his  stand  quietly,  but 
with  an  air  of  confidence,  poised  his  little  axe  but 
a single  instant,  advanced  a foot  with  a quick 
motion,  and  threw.  Deerslayer  saw  the  keen  in- 
strument whirling  toward  him,  and  believed  all 
was  over ; still  he  was  not  touched.  The  toma- 
hawk had  actually  bound  the  head  of  the  captive 
to  the  tree,  by  carrying  before  it  some  of  his 
hair ; having  buried  itself  deep  beneath  the  soft 
bark.  A general  yell  expressed  the  delight  of 
the  spectators,  and  the  Moose  felt  his  heart  soft- 
en a little  toward  the  prisoner,  whose  steadiness 
of  nerve  alone  enabled  him  to  give  this  evidence 
of  his  consummate  skill. 

Le  Daim-Mose  was  succeeded  by  the  Bound- 
ing Boy,  or  le  Garmon  qui  Bondi,  who  came  leap- 
ing into  the  circle  like  a hound  or  a goat  at  play. 
This  was  one  of  those  elastic  youths  whose  mus- 
cles seemed  always  in  motion,  and  who  either  af- 
fected, or  who  from  habit  was  actually  unable  to 
move  in  any  other  manner,  than  by  showing  the 
antics  just  mentioned.  Nevertheless,  he  was  both 
brave  and  skilful,  and  had  gained  the  respect  of 
ais  people  by  deeds  in  war  as  well  as  success  in  the 
hunts.  A far  nobler  name  would  long  since  have 
fallen  to  his  share,  had  not  a Frenchman  of  rank 
inadvertently  given  him  this  sobriquet , which  he 


religiously  preserved  a9  coming  from  his  great 
father,  who  lived  beyond  the  wide  salt  lake.  The 
Bounding  Boy  skipped  about  in  front  of  the  cap- 
tive, menacing  him  with  his  tomahawk,  now  on  one 
side  and  now  on  another,  and  then  again  in  front, 
in  the  vain  hope  of  being  able  to  extort  some 
sign  of  fear,  by  this  parade  of  danger.  At  length 
Deerslayer’s  patience  became  exhausted  by  all 
this  mummery,  and  he  spoke  for  the  first  time 
since  the  trial  had  actually  commenced. 

“ Throw  away,  Huron ! ” he  cried,  “ or  your 
tomahawk  will  forget  its  ar’n’d.  Why  do  you 
keep  loping  about  like  a fa’an  that’s  showing  its 
dam  how  well  it  can  skip,  when  you’re  a warrior 
grown,  yourself,  and  a warrior  grown  defies  you 
and  all  your  silly  antics  ? Throw,  or  the  Huron 
gals  will  laugh  in  your  face.” 

Although  not  intended  to  produce  such  an 
effect,  the  last  words  aroused  the  “ Bounding  ” 
warrior  to  fury.  The  same  nervous  excitability 
which  rendered  him  so  active  in  his  person,  made 
it  difficult  to  repress  his  feelings,  and  the  words 
were  scarcely  past  the  lips  of  the  speaker,  than 
the  tomahawk  left  the  hand  of  the  Indian.  Nor 
was  it  cast  without  good  will,  and  a fierce  deter- 
mination to  slay.  Had  the  intention  been  less 
deadly,  the  danger  might  have  been  greater.  The 
aim  was  uncertain,  and  the  weapon  glanced  near 
the  cheek  of  the  captive,  slightly  cutting  the 
shoulder  in  its  evolutions.  This  was  the  first  in- 
stance in  which  any  other  object  than  that  of 
terrifying  the  prisoner,  and  of  displaying  skill, 
had  been  manifested ; and  the  Bounding  Boy  was 
immediately  led  from  the  arena,  and  warmly  re- 
buked for  his  intemperate  haste,  which  had  come 
so  near  defeating  all  the  hopes  of  the  band. 

To  this  irritable  person  succeeded  several 
other  young  warriors,  who  not  only  hurled  the 
tomahawk,  but  who  cast  the  knife,  a far  more 
dangerous  experiment,  with  reckless  indifference ; 
yet  they  always  manifested  a skill  that  prevented 
any  injury  to  the  captive.  Several  times  Deer- 
slayer was  grazed,  but  in  no  instance  did  he  re- 
ceive what  might  be  termed  a wound.  The  un- 
flinching firmness  with  which  he  faced  his  assail- 
ants, more  especially  in  the  sort  of  rally  with 
. which  this  trial  terminated,  excited  a profound 
respect  in  the  spectators;  and  when  the  chiefs 
announced  that  the  prisoner  had  well  withstood 
the  trials  of  the  knife  and  the  tomahawk,  there 
was  not  a single  individual  in  the  band  who 
really  felt  any  hostility  toward  him,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Sumach  and  the  Bounding  Boy.  These 
two  discontented  spirits  got  together,  it  is  true, 
feeding  each  other’s  ire;  but,  as  yet,  their  malig- 
nant feelings  were  confined  very  much  to  them- 


HETTY’S  INTERCESSION. 


219 


selves,  though  there  existed  the  danger  that  the 
others,  ere  long,  could  not  fail  to  be  excited  by 
their  own  efforts  into  that  demoniacal  state  which 
usually  accompanied  all  similar  scenes  among  the 
red  men. 

Rivenoak  now  told  his  people  that  the  pale- 
face had  proved  himself  to  be  a man.  He  might 
live  with  the  Delawares,  but  he  had  not  been 
made  woman  with  that  tribe.  He  wished  to  know 
whether  it  was  the  desire  of  the  Hurons  to  pro- 
ceed any  further.  Even  the  gentlest  of  the  fe- 
males, however,  had  received  too  much  satis- 
faction in  the  late  trials  to  forego  their  expecta- 
tions of  a gratifying  exhibition;  and  there  was 
but  one  voice  in  the  request  to  proceed.  The  pol- 
itic chief,  who  had  some  such  desire  to  receive 
so  celebrated  a hunter  into  his  tribe  as  a Euro- 
pean minister  has  to  devise  a new  and  available 
means  of  taxation,  sought  every  plausible  means 
of  arresting  the  trial  in  season ; for  he  well  knew, 
if  permitted  to  go  far  enough  to  arouse  the  more 
ferocious  passions  of  the  tormentors,  it  would  be 
as  easy  to  dam  the  waters  of  the  great  lakes  of 
his  own  region  as  to  attempt  to  arrest  them  in 
their  bloody  career.  He  therefore  called  four  or 
five  of  the  best  marksmen  to  him,  and  bade  them 
put  the  captive  to  the  proof  of  the  rifle,  while,  at 
the  same  time,  he  cautioned  them  touching  the 
necessity  of  their  maintaining  their  own.  credit, 
by  the  closest  attention  to  the  manner  of  exhibit- 
ing their  skill. 

When  Deerslayer  saw  the  chosen  warriors  step 
into  the  circle,  with  their  arms  prepared  for  ser- 
vice, he  felt  some  such  relief  as  the  miserable  suf- 
ferer, who  has  long  endured  the  agonies  of  dis- 
ease, feels  at  the  certain  approach  of  death.  Any 
trifling  variance  in  the  aim  of  this  formidable 
weapon  would  prove  fatal ; since,  the  head  being 
the  target,  or  rather  the  point  it  was  desired  to 
graze  without  injury,  an  inch  or  two  of  difference 
in  the  line  of  projection  must  at  once  determine 
the  question  of  life  or  death. 

In  the  torture  by  the  rifle  there  was  none  of 
the  latitude  permitted  that  appeared  in  the  case 
of  even  Gessler’s  apple,  a hair’s-breadth  being,  in 
fact,  the  utmost  limits  that  an  expert  marksman 
would  allow  himself  on  an  occasion  like  this. 
Victims  were  frequently  shot  through  the  head  by 
too  eager  or  unskilful  hands ; and  it  often  oc- 
curred that,  exasperated  by  the  fortitude  and 
taunts  of  the  prisoner,  death  was  dealt  intention- 
ally in  a moment  of  ungovernable  irritation.  All 
this  Deerslayer  well  knew,  for  it  was  in  relating 
the  traditions  of  such  scenes,  as  well  as  of  the 
battles  and  victories  of  their  people,  that  the  old 
men  beguiled  the  long  winter  evenings  in  their 


cabins.  He  now  fully  expected  the  end  of  his 
career,  and  experienced  a sort  of  melancholy 
pleasure  in  the  idea  that  he  was  to  fall  by  a weap- 
on as  much  beloved  as  the  rifle.  A slight  inter- 
ruption, however,  took  place  before  the  business 
was  allowed  to  proceed. 

Hetty  Hutter  witnessed  all  that  passed,  and 
the  scene  at  first  had  pressed  upon  her  feeble 
mind  in  a way  to  paralyze  it  entirely ; but  by  this 
time  she  had  rallied,  and  was  growing  indignant 
at  the  unmerited  suffering  the  Indians  were  in- 
flicting on  her  friend.  Though  timid  and  shy  as 
the  young  of  the  deer,  on  so  many  occasions,  this 
right-feeling  girl  was  always  intrepid  in  the  cause 
of  humanity ; the  lessons  of  her  mother,  and  the 
impulses  of  her  own  heart — perhaps  we  might 
say  the  promptings  of  that  unseen  and  pure  spirit 
that  seemed  ever  to  watch  over  and  direct  her  ac- 
tions— uniting  to  keep  down  the  apprehensions 
of  woman,  and  to  impel  her  to  be  bold  and  reso- 
lute. She  now  appeared  in  the  circle,  gentle, 
feminine,  even  bashful  in  mien,  as  usual,  but  ear- 
nest in  her  words  and  countenance,  speaking  like 
one  who  knew  herself  to  be  sustained  by  the  high 
authority  of  God. 

“ Why  do  you  torment  Deerslayer,  red  men  ? ” 
she  asked.  “ What  has  he  done  that  you  trifle 
with  his  life ; who  has  given  you  the  right  to  be 
his  judges?  Suppose  one  of  your  knives  or 
tomahawks  had  hit  him ; what  Indian  among  you 
all  could  cure  the  wound  you  would  make?  Be- 
sides, in  harming  Deerslayer,  you  injure  your  own 
friend  ; when  father  and  Hurry  Harry  came  after 
your  scalps,  he  refused  to  be  of  the  party,  and 
stayed  in  the  canoe  by  himself.  You  are  tor- 
menting your  friend,  in  tormenting  this  young 
man  ! ” 

The  Hurons  listened  with  grave  attention,  and 
one  among  them,  who  understood  English,  trans- 
lated what  had  been  said  into  their  native  tongue. 
As  soon  as  Rivenoak  was  made  acquainted  with 
the  purport  of  her  address,  he  answered  it  in  his 
own  dialect ; the  interpreter  conveying  it  to  the 
girl  in  English. 

“ My  daughter  is  very  welcome  to  speak,”  said 
the  stern  old  orator,  using  gentle  intonations,  and 
smiling  as  kindly  as  if  addressing  a child — “ the 
Hurons  are  glad  to  hear  her  voice ; they  listen  to 
what  she  says.  The  Great  Spirit  often  speaks  to 
men  with  such  tongues.  This  time  her  eyes  have 
not  been  open  wide  enough,  to  see  all  that  has 
happened.  Deerslayer  did  not  come  for  our 
scalps,  that  is  true ; why  did  he  not  come  ? Here 
they  are,  on  our  heads ; the  war-locks  are  ready 
to  be  taken  hold  of;  a bold  enemy  ought  to 
stretch  out  his  hand  to  seize  them.  The  Iroquois 


220 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


are  too  great  a nation  to  punish  men  that  take 
scalps.  What  they  do  themselves,  they  like  to 
see  others  do.  Let  my  daughter  look  around 
her,  and  count  my  warriors.  Had  I as  many 
hands  as  four  warriors,  their  fingers  would  be 
fewer  than  my  people,  when  they  came  into  your 
hunting-grounds.  Now,  a whole  hand  is  missing. 
Where  are  the  fingers  ? Two  have  been  cut  off 
by  this  pale-face ; my  Hurons  wish  to  see  if  he 
did  this  by  means  of  a stout  heart,  or  by  treach- 
ery ; like  a skulking  fox,  or  like  a leaping  pan- 
ther.” 

“You  know  yourself,  Huron,  how  one  of  them 
fell.  I saw  it,  and  you  all  saw  it,  too.  ’Tvvas  too 
bloody  to  look  at ; but  it  was  not  Deerslayer’s 
fault.  Your  warrior  sought  his  life,  and  he  de- 
fended himself.  I don’t  know  whether  the  good 
book  says  that  it  was  right,  but  all  men  will  do 
that.  Come,  if  you  want  to  know  which  of  you 
can  shoot  best,  give  Deerslayer  a rifle,  and  then 
you  will  find  how  much  more  expert  he  is  than 
any  of  your  warriors ; yes,  than  all  of  them  to- 
gether ! ” 

Could  one  have  looked  upon  such  a scene  with 
indifference,  he  would  have  been  amused  at  .the 
gravity  with  which  the  savages  listened  to  the 
translation  of  this  unusual  request.  No  taunt,  no 
smile,  mingled  with  their  surprise ; for  Hetty  had 
a character  and  a manner  too  saintly  to  subject 
her  infirmity  to  the  mockings  of  the  rude  and  fe- 
rocious. On  the  contrary,  she  was  answered  with 
respectful  attention. 

“My  daughter  does  not  always  talk  like  a 
chief  at  a council-fire,”  returned  Rivenoak,  “ or 
she  would  not  have  said  this.  Two  of  my  war- 
riors have  fallen  by  the  blows  of  our  prisoner ; 
their  grave  is  too  small  to  hold  a third.  The  Hu- 
rons do  not  like  to  crowd  their  dead.  If  there  is 
another  spirit  about  to  set  out  for  the  far-off 
world,  it  must  not  be  the  spirit  of  a Huron;  it 
must  be  the  spirit  of  a pale-face.  Go,  daughter, 
and  sit  by  Sumach,  who  is  in  grief ; let  the  Hu- 
ron warriors  show  how  well  they  can  shoot ; let 
the  pale-face  show  how  little  he  cares  for  their 
bullets.” 

Hetty’s  mind  was  unequal  to  a sustained  dis- 
cussion, and,  accustomed  to  defer  to  the  direc- 
tions of  her  seniors,  she  did  as  told,  seating  her- 
self passively  on  a log  by  the  side  of  the  Sumach, 
and  averting  her  face  from  the  painful  scene  that 
was  occurring  within  the  circle. 

The  warriors,  as  soon  as  this  interruption  had 
ceased,  resumed  their  places,  and  again  prepared 
to  exhibit  their  skill,  as  there  was  a double  ob- 
ject in  view,  that  of  putting  the  constancy  of  the 
captive  to  the  proof,  and  that  of  showing  how 


steady  were  the  hands  of  the  marksmen  undei 
circumstances  of  excitement.  The  'distance  was 
small,  and,  in  one  sense,  safe.  But,  in  diminishing 
the  distance  taken  by  the  tormentors,  the  trial 
to  the  nerves  of  the  captive  was  essentially  in- 
creased. The  face  of  Deerslayer,  indeed,  was 
just  removed  sufficiently  from  the  ends  of  the 
guns  to  escape  the  effects  of  the  flash,  and  his 
3teady  ©ye  was  enabled  to  look  directly  into  their 
muzzles,  as  it  might  be,  in  anticipation  of  the  fa- 
tal messenger  that  was  to  issue  from  each.  The 
cunning  Hurons  well  knew  this  fact ; and  scarce 
one  levelled  his  piece  without  first  causing  it  to 
point  as  near  as  possible  at  the  forehead  of  the 
prisoner,  in  the  hope  that  his  fortitude  would  fail 
him,  and  that  the  band  would  enjoy  the  triumph 
of  seeing  a victim  quail  under  their  ingenious 
cruelty.  Nevertheless,  each  of  the  competitors 
was  still  careful  not  to  injure ; the  disgrace  of 
striking  prematurely  being  second  only  to  that 
of  failing  altogether  in  attaining  the  object.  Shot 
after  shot  was  made ; all  the  bullets  coming  in 
close  proximity  to  the  Deerslayer’s  head,  without 
touching  it.  Still  no  one  could  detect  even  the 
twitching  of  a muscle  on  the  part  of  the  captive, 
or  the  slightest  winking  of  an  eye.  This  indomi- 
table resolution,  which  so  much  exceeded  every 
thing  of  its  kind  that  any  present  had  before  wit- 
nessed^  might  be  referred  to  three  distinct  causes. 
The  first  was  resignation  to  his  fate,  blended  with 
natural  steadiness  of  deportment ; for  our  hero 
had  calmly  made  up  his  mind  that  he  must  die, 
and  preferred  this  mode  to  any  other;  the  sec- 
ond was  his  great  familiarity  writh  this  particular 
weapon,  which  deprived  it  of  all  the  terror  that 
is  usually  connected  with  the  mere  form  of  the 
danger ; and  the  third  was  this  familiarity  carried 
out  in  practice,  to  a degree  so  nice  as  to  enable 
the  intended  victim  to  tell,  within  an  inch,  the 
precise  spot  where  each  bullet  must  strike,  for  he 
calculated  its  range  by  looking  in  at  the  bore  of 
the  piece.  So  exact  was  Deerslayer’s  estimation 
of  the  line  of  fire,  that  his  pride  of  feeling  finally 
got  the  better  of  his  resignation,  and,  when  five 
or  six  had  discharged  their  bullets  into  the  tree, 
he  could  not  refrain  from  expressing  his  contempt 
at  their  want  of  hand  and  eye. 

“ You  may  call  this  shotting,  Mingocs,”  he 
exclaimed,  “ but  we’ve  squaws  among  the  Dela- 
wares, and  I have  known  Dutch  gals  on  the  Mo- 
hawk, that  could  outdo  your  greatest  indivors. 
Ondo  these  arms  of  mine,  put  a rifle  into  my 
hands,  and  I’ll  pin  the  thinnest  warlock  in  your 
party,  to  any  tree  you  can  show  me  ; and  this  at 
a hundred  yards  : ay,  or  at  two  hundred,  if  the 
object  can  be  seen,  nineteen  shots  in  twenty : or. 


THE  CAPTIVE’S  TEMPORARY  RELEASE. 


221 


for  that  matter,  twenty  m twenty,  if  the  piece  is 
creditable  and  trusty  ! ” 

A low,  menacing  murmur  followed  this  cool 
taunt ; the  fire  of  the  warriors  kindled  at  listen- 
ing  to  such  a reproach  from  one  who  so  far  dis- 
dained their  efforts  as  to  refuse  even  to  wink, 
when  a rifle  was  discharged  as  near  his  face  as 
could  be  done  without  burning  it.  Rivenoak  per- 
ceived that  the  moment  was  critical,  and,  still 
retaining  his  hope  of  adopting  so  noted  a hunt- 
er into  his  tribe,  the  politic  old  chief  interposed 
in  time,  probably,  to  prevent  an  immediate  resort 
to  that  portion  of  the  torture  which  must  neces- 
sarily have  produced  death,  through  extreme 
bodily  suffering,  if  in  no  other  manner.  Moving 
into  the  centre  of  the  irritated  group,  he  ad- 
dressed them  with  his  usual  wily  logic  and  plaus- 
ible manner,  at  once  suppressing  the  fierce  move- 
ment that  had  commenced. 

“I  see  how  it  is,”  he  said.  “We  have  been 
like  the  pale-faces  when  they  fasten  their  doors 
at  night,  out  of  fear  of  the  red  man.  They  use 
so  many  bars,  that  the  fire  comes  and  burns  them 
before  they  can  get  out.  We  have  bound  the 
Deerslayer  too  tight ; the  thongs  keep  his  limbs 
from  shaking,  and  his  eyes  from  shutting.  Loos- 
en him ; let  us  see  what  his  own  body  is  really 
made  of.” 

It  is  often  the  case,  when  we  are  thwarted  in 
a cherished  scheme,  that  any  expedient,  however 
unlikely  to  succeed,  is  gladly  resorted  to,  in  pref- 
erence to  a total  abandonment  of  the  project. 
So  it  was  with  the  Hurons.  The  proposal  of  the 
chief  found  instant  favor ; and  several  hands  were 
immediately  at  work  cutting  and  tearing  the  ropes 
of  bark  from  the  body  of  our  hero.  In  half  ,a 
minute,  Deerslayer  stood  as  free  from  bonds  as 
when,  an  hour  before,  he  had  commenced  his 
flight  on  the  side  of  the  mountain.  Some  little 
time  was  necessary  that  he  should  recover  the  use 
of  his  limbs,  the  circulation  of  the  blood  having 
been  checked  by  the  tightness  of  the  ligatures  ; 
and  this  was  accorded  to  him  by  the  politic  Riv- 
enoak, under  the  pretence  that  his  body  would 
be  more  likely  to  submit  to  apprehension,  if  its 
true  tone  were  restored;  though  really  with  a 
view  to  give  time  to  the  fierce  passions  which  had 
been  awakened  in  the  bosoms  of  his  young  men, 
to  subside.  This  ruse  succeeded  ; and  Deerslayer, 
by  rubbing  his  limbs,  stamping  his  feet,  and  mov- 
ing about,  soon  regained  the  circulation ; recov- 
ering all  his  physical  powers  as  effectually  as  if 
nothing  had  occurred  to  disturb  them. 

It  is  seldom  men  think  of  death  in  the  pride 
©t  their  health  and  strength.  So  it  was  with 
Deerslayer.  Having  been  helplessly  bound,  and, 


as  he  had  every  reason  to  suppose,  so  lately  or 
the  very  verge  of  the  other  world,  to  find  him. 
self  so  unexpectedly  liberated,  in  possession  of 
his  strength,  and  with  a full  command  of  limb, 
acted  on  him  like  a sudden  restoration  to  life,  re- 
animating hopes  that  he  had  once  absolutely 
abandoned.  From  that  instant  all  his  plans 
changed.  In  this  he  simply  obeyed  a law  of  Na- 
ture ; for,  while  we  have  wished  to  represent  our 
hero  as  being  resigned  to  his  fate,  it  has  been  far 
from  our  intention  to  represent  him  as  anxious  to 
die.  From  the  instant  that  his  buoyancy  of  feel- 
ing revived,  his  thoughts  were  keenly  bent  on 
the  various  projects  that  presented  themselves  as 
modes  of  evading  the  designs  of  his  enemies; 
and  he  again  became  the  quick-witted,  ingenious, 
and  determined  woodsman,  alive  to  all  his  own 
powers  and  resources.  The  change  was  so  great, 
that  his  mind  resumed  its  elasticity ; and,  no 
longer  thinking  of  submission,  it  dwelt  only  on 
the  devices  of  the  sort  of  warfare  in  which  he  was 
engaged. 

As  soon  as  Deerslayer  was  released,  the  band 
divided  itself  in  a circle  around  him,  in  order  to 
hedge  him  in ; and  the  desire  to  break  down  his 
spirit  grew  in  them,  precisely  as  they  saw  proofs 
of  the  difficulty  there  would  be  in  subduing  it. 
The  honor  of  the  band  was  now  involved  in  the 
issue ; and  even  the  sex  lost  all  its  sympathy 
with  suffering,  in  the  desire  to  save  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  tribe.  The  voices  of  the  girls,  soft 
and  melodious  as  Nature  had  made  them,  were 
heard  mingling  with  the  menaces  of  the  men ; 
and  the  wrongs  of  Sumach  suddenly  assumed  the 
character  of  injuries  inflicted  on  every  Huron  fe- 
male. Yielding  to  this  rising  tumult,  the  men 
drew  back  a little,  signifying  to  the  females  that 
they  left  the  captive,  for  a time,  in  their  hands ; 
it  being  a common  practice,  on  such  occasions, 
for  the  women  to  endeavor  to  throw  the  victim 
into  a rage,  by  their  taunts  and  revilings,  and 
then  to  turn  him  suddenly  over  to  the  men,  in  a 
state  of  mind  that  was  little  favorable  to  resist- 
ing the  agony  of  bodily  suffering.  Nor  was  this 
party  without  the  proper  instruments  for  effect- 
ing such  a purpose.  Sumach  had  a notoriety  as 
a scold;  and  one  or  two  crones,  like  the  She 
Bear,  had  come  out  with  the  party,  most  proba- 
bly as  the  conservators  of  its  decency  and  moral 
discipline ; such  things  occurring  in  savage  as 
well  as  civilized  life.  It  is  unnecessary  to  repeal 
all  that  ferocity  and  ignorance  could  invent  foi 
such  a purpose;  the  only  difference  between  this 
outbreaking  of  feminine  anger,  and  a similar  scene 
among  ourselves,  consisting  in  the  figures  of 
speech  and  the  epithets ; the  Huron  women  call- 


222 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


mg  their  prisoner  by  the  names  of  the  lower  and 
least  respected  animals  that  were  known  to  them- 
selves. 

But  Deerslayer’s  mind  was  too  much  occupied 
to  permit  him  to  be  disturbed  by  the  abuse  of 
excited  hags ; and  their  rage  necessarily  increas- 
ing with  his  indifference,  as  his  indifference  in- 
creased with  their  rage,  the  furies  soon  rendered 
themselves  impotent  by  their  own  excesses.  Per- 
ceiving that  the  attempt  was  a complete  failure, 
the  warriors  interfered  to  put  a stop  to  this  scene ; 
and  this  so  much  the  more,  because  preparations 
were  now  seriously  making  for  the  commence- 
ment of  the  real  tortures,  or  that  which  wrould  put 
the  fortitude  of  the  sufferer  to  the  test  of  sevei’e 
bodily  pain.  A sudden  and  unlooked-for  an- 
nouncement, that  proceeded  from  one  of  the  look- 
outs, a boy  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  however,  put 
a momentary  check  to  the  whole  proceedings. 
As  this  interruption  has  a close  connection  with 
the  denoument  of  our  story,  it  shall  be  given  in  a 
separate  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

“ So  deem’st  thou— so  each  mortal  deems 
Of  that  which  is  from  that  which  seems ; 

But  other  harvest  here 
Than  that  which  peasant’s  scythe  demands, 

Was  gathered  in  by  sterner  hands, 

With  bayonet,  blade,  and  spear.” 

Scott. 

It  exceeded  Deerslayer’s  power  to  ascertain 
what  had  produced  the  sudden  pause  in  the 
movements  of  his  enemies,  until  the  fact  was  re- 
vealed in  the  due  course  of  events.  He  perceived 
that  much  agitation  prevailed  among  the  women 
in  particular,  while  the  warriors  rested  on  their 
arms,  in  a sort  of  dignified  expectation.  It  was 
plain  no  alarm  was  excited,  though  it  was  not 
equally  apparent  that  a friendly  occurrence  pro- 
duced the  delay.  Rivenoak  was  evidently  ap- 
prised of  all,  and  by  a gesture  of  his  arm  he 
appeared  to  direct  the  circle  to  remain  unbroken, 
and  for  each  person  to  await  the  issue  in  the 
situation  he  or  she  then  occupied.  It  required 
but  a minute  or  two,  to  bring  an  explanation  of 
this  singular  and  mysterious  pause,  which  was 
soon  terminated  by  the  appearance  of  Judith,  on 
the  exterior  of  the  line  of  bodies,  and  her  ready 
admission  within  its  circle. 

If  Deerslayer  was  startled  by  this  unexpected 
arrival,  well  knowing  that  the  quick-witted  girl 
could  claim  none  of  that  exemption  from  the 


penalties  of  captivity  that  was  so  cheerfully  ac- 
corded to  her  feeble-minded  sister,  he  was  equally 
astonished  at  the  guise  in  which  she  came.  All 
her  ordinary  forest  attire,  neat  and  becoming  as 
this  usually  was,  had  been  laid  aside  for  the  bro- 
cade that  has  been  already  mentioned,  and  which 
had  once  before  wrought  so  great  and  magical 
an  effect  in  her  appearance.  Nor  was  this  all. 
Accustomed  to  see  the  ladies  of  the  garrison,  in 
the  formal  gala  attire  of  the  day,  and  familiar 
with  the  more  critical  niceties  of  these  matters, 
the  girl  had  managed  to  complete  her  dress,  in  a 
way  to  leave  nothing  strikingly  defective  in  its 
details,  or  even  to  betray  an  incongruity  that 
would  have  been  detected  by  one  practised  in  the 
mysteries  of  the  toilet.  Head,  feet,  arms,  hands, 
bust,  and  drapery,  were  all  in  harmony,  as  female 
attire  was  then  deemed  attractive  and  harmoni- 
ous ; and  the  end  she  aimed  at,  that  of  imposing 
on  the  uninstructed  senses  of  the  savages,  by 
causing  them  to  believe  their  guest  was  a woman 
of  rank  and  importance,  might  well  have  succeed- 
ed with  those  whose  habits  had  taught  them  to 
discriminate  between  persons.  Judith,  in  addi- 
tion to  her  rare  native  beauty,  had  a singular 
grace  of  person,  and  her  mother  had  imparted 
enough  of  her  own  deportment  to  prevent  any 
striking  or  offensive  vulgarity  of  manner ; so  that, 
sooth  to  say,  the  gorgeous  dress  might  have  been 
worse  bestowed  in  nearly  every  particular.  Had 
it  been  displayed  in  a capital,  a thousand  might 
have  worn  it  before  one  could  have  been  found 
to  do  more  credit  to  its  gay  colors,  glossy  satins, 
and  rich  laces,  than  the  beautiful  creature  whose 
person  it  now  aided  to  adorn. 

. The  effect  of  such  an  apparition  had  not  been 
miscalculated.  The  instant  Judith  found  her- 
self within  the  circle,  she  was  in  a degree  com- 
pensated for  the  fearful  personal  risk  she  ran,  by 
the  unequivocal  sensation  of  surprise  and  ad- 
miration produced  by  her  appearance.  The  grim 
old  warriors  uttered  their  favorite  exclamation, 
“ Hugh ! ” The  younger  men  were  still  more  sen- 
sibly overcome,  and  even  the  women  were  not 
backward  in  letting  open  manifestations  of  pleas- 
ure escape  them.  It  was  seldom  that  these  un- 
tutored children  of  the  forest  had  ever  seen  any 
white  female  above  the  commonest  sort,  and,  as 
to  dress,  never  before  had  so  much  splendor 
shone  before  their  eyes.  The  gayest  uniforms 
of  both  French  and  English  seemed  dull  com- 
pared with  the  lustre  of  the  brocade ; and,  while 
the  rare  person  il  beauty  of  the  wearer  added  to 
the  effect  produced  by  its  hues,  the  attire  did 
not  fail  to  adorn  that  beauty  in  a way  which  sur- 
passed even  the  hopes  of  its  wearer.  Deerslaver 


JUDITH’S  ARTIFICE. 


223 


hftnself  was  astounded,  and  this  quite  as  much 
by  the  brilliant  picture  the  girl  presented,  as  at 
the  indifference  to  consequences  with  which  she 
had  braved  the  danger  of  the  step  she  had  taken. 
Under  such  circumstances,  all  waited  for  the  vis- 
itor to  explain  her  object,  which  to  most  of  the 
spectators  seemed  as  inexplicable  as  her  appear- 
ance. 

“ Which  of  these  warriors  is  the  principal 
chief?  ” demanded  Judith  of  Deerslayer,  as  soon 
as  she  found  it  was  expected  that  she  should 
open  the  communication ; “ my  errand  is  too  im- 
portant to  be  delivered  to  any  of  inferior  rank. 
First  explain  to  the  Hurons  what  I say;  then 
give  an  answer  to  the  question  I have  put.”  ^ 

Deerslayer  quietly  complied,  his  auditors 
greedily  listening  to  the  interpretation  of  the  first 
words  that  fell  from  so  extraordinary  a vision. 
The  demand  seemed  perfectly  in  character  for 
one  who  had  every  appearance  of  an  exalted 
rank  herself.  Rivenoak  gave  an  appropriate  re- 
ply, by  presenting  himself  before  his  fair  visitor 
in  a way  to  leave  no  doubt  that  he  was  entitled 
to  all  the  consideration  he  claimed. 

“ I can  believe  this,  Huron,”  resumed  Judith, 
enacting  her  assumed  part  with  a steadiness  and 
dignity  that  did  credit  to  her  powers  of  imitation, 
for  she  strove  to  impart  to  her  manner  the  con- 
descending courtesy  she  had  once  observed  in  the 
wife  of  a general  officer,  at  a similar  though  a 
more  amicable  scene — “ I can  believe  you  to  be 
the  principal  person  of  this  party  ; I see  in  your 
countenance  the  marks  of  thought  and  reflection. 
To  you,  then,  I must  make  my  communication.” 

“Let  the  Flower  of  the  Woods  speak,”  re- 
turned the  old  chief,  courteously,  as  soon  as  her 
address  had  been  translated  so  that  all  might  un- 
derstand it.  “ If  her  words  are  as  pleasant  as  her 
looks,  they  will  never  quit  my  ears ; I shall  hear 
them  long  after  the  winter  in  Canada  has  killed  the 
flowers,  and  frozen  all  the  speeches  of  summer.” 

This  admiration  was  grateful  to  one  consti- 
tuted like  Judith,  and  contributed  to  aid  her  self- 
possession  quite  as  much  as  it  fed  her  vanity. 
Smiling  involuntarily,  or  in  spite  of  her  wish  to 
seem  reserved,  she  proceeded  in  her  plot. 

“ Now,  Huron,”  she  continued,  “ listen  to  my 
words.  Your  eyes  tell  you  that  I am  no  common 
woman.  I will  not  say  I am  queen  of  this  coun- 
try ; she  is  afar  off,  in  a distant  land ; but  under 
our  gracious  monarchs  there  are  many  degrees  of 
rank ; one  of  these  I fill.  What  that  rank  is  pre- 
cisely it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say,  since  you 
would  not  understand  it.  For  that  information 
you  must  trust  your  eyes.  You  see  what  I am ; you 
must  feel  that,  in  listening  to  my  words,  you  lis- 
15 


ten  to  one  who  can  be  vour  friend  or  your  enemy, 
as  you  treat  her.” 

This  was  well  uttered,  with  a due  attention  to 
manner  and  a steadiness  of  tone  that  was  really 
surprising,  considering  all  the  circumstances  of 
the  case.  It  was  well  though  simply  rendered 
into  the  Indian  dialect,  too,  and  it  was  received 
with  a respect  and  gravity  that  augured  favorably 
for  the  girl’s  success.  But  Indian  thought  is  not 
easily  traced  to  its  sources.  Judith  waited  with 
anxiety  to  hear  the  answer,  filled  with  hope  even 
while  she  doubted.  Rivenoak  was  a ready  speak- 
er, and  he  answered  as  promptly  as  comported 
with  the  notions  of  Indian  decorum  ; that  pecul- 
iar people  seeming  to  think  a short  delay  respect- 
ful, inasmuch  as  it  manifests  that  the  words  al- 
ready heard  have  been  duly  weighed. 

“ My  daughter  is  handsomer  than  the  wild- 
roses  of  Ontario  ; her  voice  is  pleasant  to  the  ear 
as  the  song  of  the  wren,”  answered  the  cautious 
and  wily  chief,  who  of  all  the  band  stood  alone  in 
not  being  fully  imposed  on  by  the  magnificent  and 
unusual  appearance  of  Judith,  but  who  distrust- 
ed even  while  he  wondered ; “ the  humming-bird 
is  not  much  larger  than  the  bee ; yet  its  feathers 
are  as  gay  as  the  tail  of  the  peacock.  The  Great 
Spirit  sometimes  puts  very  bright  clothes  on  very 
little  animals.  Still,  he  covers  the  moose  with 
coarse  hair.  These  things  are  beyond  the  under- 
standing of  poor  Indians,  who  can  only  compre- 
hend what  they  see  and  hear.  No  doubt  my 
daughter  has  a very  large  wigwam  somewhere 
about  the  lake ; the  Hurons  have  not  found  it  on 
account  of  their  ignorance  ? ” 

“I  have  told  you,  chief,  that  it  would  be  use- 
less to  state  my  rank  and  residence,  inasmuch  as 
you  would  not  comprehend  them.  You  must 
trust  to  your  eyes  for  this  knowledge ; what  red 
man  is  there  that  cannot  see  ? This  blanket  that 
I wear  is  not  the  blanket  of  a common  squaw ; 
these  ornaments  are  such  as  the  wives  and  daugh- 
ters of  chiefs  only  appear  in.  Now  listen  and 
hear  why  I have  come  alone  among  your  people, 
and  hearken  to  the  errand  that  has  brought  me 
here.  The  Yengeese  have  young  men  as  well  as 
the  Hurons ; and  plenty  of  them,  too ; this  you 
well  know.” 

“ The  Yengeese  are  as  plenty  as  the  leaves  on 
the  trees ! This  every  Huron  knows  and  feels.” 

“ I understand  you,  chief  Had  I brought  a 
party  with  me  it  might  have  caused  trouble.  My 
young  men  and  your  young  men  would  have 
looked  angrily  at  each  other  ; especially  had 
my  young  men  seen  that  pale-face  bound  for  the 
tortures.  He  is  a great  hunter,  and  is  much  loved 
by  all  the  garrisons,  far  and  near.  There  would 


v24 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


have  been  blows  about  him,  and  the  trail  of  the 
[roquois  back  to  the  Canadas  would  have  been 
marked  with  blood.” 

“ There  is  so  much  blood  on  it  now,”  returned 
the  chief,  gloomily,  “ that  it  blinds  our  eyes.  My 
young  men  see  that  it  is  all  Huron.” 

“ Mo  doubt ; and  more  Huron  blood  would  be 
spilt,  had  I come  surrounded  with  pale-faces.  I 
have  heard  of  Rivenoak,  and  have  thought  it 
would  be  better  to  send  him  back  in  peace  to  his 
village,  that  he  might  leave  his  women  and  chil- 
dren behind  him  ; if  he  then  wished  to  come  for 
our  scalps,  we  would  meet  him.  He  loves  animals 
made  of  ivory,  and  little  rifles.  See ; I have 
brought  some  with  me  to  show  him.  I am  his 
friend.  When  he  has  packed  up  these  things 
among  his  goods,  he  will  start  for  his  village,  be- 
fore any  of  my  young  men  can  overtake  him; 
and  then  he  will  show  his  people  in  Canada  what 
riches  they  can  come  to  seek,  now  that  our 
great  father^,  across  the  salt  lake,  have  sent  each 
other  the  war-hatchet.  I will  lead  back  with  me 
this  great  hunter,  of  whom  I have  need  to  keep 
my  house  in  venison.” 

Judith,  who  was  sufficiently  familiar  with  In- 
dian phraseology,  endeavored  to  express  her  ideas 
in  the  sententious  manner  common  to  those  peo- 
ple ; and  she  succeeded  even  beyond  her  own  ex- 
pectations. Deerslayer  did  her  full  justice  in  the 
, translation,  and  this  so  much  the  more  readily 
since  the  girl  carefully  abstained  from  uttering 
any  direct  untruth;  a homage  she  paid  to  the 
young  man’s  known  aversion  to  falsehood,  which 
he  deemed  a meanness  altogether  unworthy  of  a 
white  man’s  gifts.  The  offering  of  the  two  re- 
maining elephants,  and  of  the  pistols  already 
mentioned,  one  of  which  was  all  the  worse  for  the 
recent  accident,  produced  a lively  sensation  among 
the  Hurons  generally,  though  Rivenoak  received 
it  coldly,  notwithstanding  the  delight  with  which 
he  had  first  discovered  the  probable  existence  of' 
a creature  with  two  tails.  In  a word,  this  cool 
and  sagacious  savage  was  not  so  easily  imposed 
on  as  his  followers ; and,  with  a sentiment  of 
honor  that  half  the  civilized  world  would  have 
deemed  supererogatory,  he  declined  the  accept- 
ance of  a bribe  that  he  felt  no  disposition  to 
earn  by  a compliance  with  the  donor’s  wishes. 

“ Let  my  daughter  keep  her  two-tailed  hog  to 
eat  when  venison  is  scarce,”  he  dryly  answered ; 
“ and  the  little  gun  which  has  two  muzzles.  The 
Hurons  will  kill  deer  when  they  are  hungry  ; and 
they  have  long  rifles  to  fight  with.  This  hunter 
cannot  quit  my  young  men  now ; they  wish  to 
know  if  he  is  as  stout-hearted  as  he  boasts  him- 
self to  be.” 


“ That  I deny,  Huron,”  interrupted  Deerslay 
er,  with  warmth ; “ yes,  that  I downright  deny 
as  ag’in  truth  and  reason.  No  jnan  has  heard 
me  boast , and  no  man  shall,  though  ye  flay  me 
alive,  and  then  roast  the  quivering  flesh  with  your 
own  infamal  devices  and  cruelties ! I may  bo 
humble,  and  misfortunate,  and  your  prisoner; 
but  I’m  no  boaster,  by  my  very  gifts.” 

“ My  young  pale-face  boasts  he  is  no  boaster,” 
returned  the  crafty  chief ; “ he  must  be  right.  I 
hear  a strange  bird  singing.  It  has  very  rich 
feathers.  No  Huron  ever  before  saw  such  feath- 
ers. They  will  be  ashamed  to  go  back  to  their 
village  and  tell  their  people  that  they  let  their 
prisoner  go  on  account  of  the  song  of  this  strange 
bird,  and  not  be  able  to  give  the  name  of  the 
bird.  They  do  not  know  how  to  say  whether  it 
is  a wren  or  a cat-bird.  This  would  be  a great 
disgrace ; my  young  men  would  not  be  allowed  to 
travel  in  the  woods  without  taking  their  mothers 
with  them  to  tell  them  the  names  of  the  birds.” 

“You  can  ask  my  name  of  your  prisoner,” 
returned  the  girl.  “It  is  Judith  ; and  there  is  a 
great  deal  of  the  history  of  Judith  in  the  pale- 
faces’ best  book,  the  Bible.  If  I am  a bird  of 
fine  feathers,  I have  also  my  name.” 

“No,”  answered  the  wily  Huron,  betraying 
the  artifice  he  had  so  long  practised  by  speaking 
in  English  with  tolerable  accuracy ; “ I not  ask 
prisoner.  He  tired ; he  want  rest.  I ask  my 
daughter  with  feeble-mind.  She  speak  truth.— 
Come  here,  daughter  ; you  answer.  Your  name 
Hetty  ? ” 

“Yes,  that’s  what  they  call  me,”  returned 
the  girl ; “ though  it’s  written  Esther,  in  the 
Bible.” 

“ He  write  him  in  Bible,  too  ? All  write  in 
Bible.  No  matter — what  her  name  ? ” 

“ That’s  Judith,  ^nd  it’s  so  written  in  the  Bi- 
ble, though  father  sometimes  called  her  Jude. 
That’s  my  sister  Judith,  Thomas  Hutter’s  daugh- 
ter— Thomas  Hutter,  whom  you  called  the  Musk- 
rat ; though  he  Avas  no  muskrat,  but  a man,  like 
yourself — he  lived  in  a house  on  the  water,  and 
that  was  enough  for  you .” 

A smile  of  triumph  gleamed  on  the  hard- 
wrinkled  countenance  of  the  chief  when  he  found 
how  completely  his  appeal  to  the  truth-loving 
Hetty  had  succeeded.  As  for  Judith  herself,  the 
moment  her  sister  was  questioned,  she  saw  all 
was  lost;  for  no  sign,  or  even  entreaty,  could 
have  induced  the  right-feeling  girl  to  utter,  a 
falsehood.  To  attempt  to  impose  a daughter  of 
the  Muskrat  on  the  savages  as  a princess  or  a 
great  lady  she  knew  would  be  idle  ; and  she  saw 
her  bold  and  ingenious  expedient  for  liberating 


HIST’S  SUDDEN  RETURN. 


225 


the  captive  fail  through  one  of  the  simplest  and 
most  natural  causes  that  could  be  imagined.  She 
turned  her  eye  on  Deerslayer,  therefore,  as  if  im- 
ploring him  to  interfere  to  save  them  both. 

“ It  will  not  do,  Judith,”  said  the  young  man, 
in  answer  to  this  appeal,  which  he  understood, 
though  he  saw  its  uselessness ; “it  will  not  do. 
’Twas  a bold  idee,  and  fit  for  a general’s  lady ; 
but  yonder  Mingo — ” Rivenoak  had  withdrawn 
to  a little  distance,  and  was  out  of  ear-shot — 
“ but  yonder  Mingo  is  an  oneommon  man,  and  not 
to  be  deceived  by  any  unnat’ral  sarcumventions. 
Things  must  come  afore  him  in  their  right  order 
to  draw  a cloud  afore  his  eyes ! ’Twas  too  much 
to  attempt  making  him  fancy  that  a queen  or  a 
great  lady  lived  in  these  mountains ; and  no 
doubt  he  thinks  the  fine  clothes  you  wear  are 
some  of  the  plunder  of  your  own  father — or,  at 
least,  of  him  who  once  passed  for  your  father ; as 
quite  likely  it  was,  if  all  they  say  is  true.” 

“ At  all  events,  Deerslayer,  my  presence  here 
will  save  you  for  a time.  They  will  hardly  at- 
tempt torturing  you  before  my  face ! ” 

“ Why  not,  Judith  ? Do  you  think  they  will 
treat  a woman  of  the  pale-faces  more  tenderly 
than  they  treat  their  own  ? It’s  true  that  your 
sex  will  most  likely  save  you  from  the  torments, 
but  it  will  not  save  your  liberty,  and  may  not 
save  your  scalp.  I wish  you  hadn’t  come,  my 
good  Judith ; it  can  do  no  good  to  me,  while  it 
may  do  great  harm  to  yourself.” 

“I  can  share  your  fate,”  the  girl  answered, 
with  generous  enthusiasm.  “ They  shall  not  in- 
jure you  while  I stand  by,  if  in  my  power  to  pre- 
vent it ; besides — ” 

“Besides  what,  Judith?  What  means  have 
you  to  stop  Injin  cruelties,  or  to  avart  Injin  devil- 
tries ? ” 

“None,  perhaps,  Deerslayer,”  answered  the 
girl,  with  firmness ; “ but  I can  suffer  with  my 
friends — die  with  them  if  necessary.” 

“Ah!.  Judith — suffer  you  may;  but  die  you 
will  not  until  the  Lord’s  time  shall  come.  It’s 
little  likely  that  one  of  your  sex  and  beauty  will 
meet  with  a harder  fate  than  to  become  the  wife 
of  a chief,  if  indeed  your  white  inclinations  can 
stoop  to  match  with  an  Injin.  ’Twould  have  been 
better  had  you  stayed  in  the  ark  or  the  castle ; 
but  what  has  been  done,  is  done.  You  was  about 
to  say  something,  when  you  stopped  at  ‘be- 
sides ? ’ ” 

“It  might  not  be  safe  to  mention  it  here, 
Deerslayer,”  the  girl  hurriedly  answered,  moving 
past  him  carelessly,  that  she  might  speak  in  a low 
tone;  “half  an  hour  is  all  in  all  to  us.  None  of 
four  friends  are  idle.” 

15 


The  hunter  replied  merely  by  a grateful  look. 
Then  he  turned  toward  his  enemies,  as  if  ready 
again  to  face  the  torments.  A short  consultation 
had  passed  among  the  elders  of  the  band,  and  by 
this  time  they  also  were  prepared  with  their  de- 
cision. The  merciful  purpose  of  Rivenoak  had 
been  much  weakened  by  the  artifice  of  Judith, 
which,  failing  of  its  real  object,  was  likely  to  pro- 
duce results  the  very  opposite  of  those  she  had 
anticipated.  This  was  natural ; the  feeling  being 
aided  by  the  resentment  of  an  Indian,  who  found 
how  near  he  had  been  to  becoming  the  dupe  of 
an  inexperienced  girl.  By  this  time  Judith’s  real 
character  was  fully  understood — the  wide-spread 
reputation  of  her  beauty  contributed  to  the  ex- 
posure. As  for  the  unusual  attire,  it  was  con- 
founded with  the  profound  mystery  of  the  animals 
with  two  tails,  and,  for  the  moment,  lost  its  in- 
fluence. 

When  Rivenoak,  therefore,  faced  the  captive 
again,  it  was  with  an  altered  countenance.  He 
had  abandoned  the  wish  of  saving  him,  and  was 
no  longer  disposed  to  retard  the  more  serious  part 
of  the  torture.  This  change  of  sentiment  was,  in 
effect,  communicated  to  the  young  men,  who  were 
already  eagerly  engaged  in  making  their  prepara- 
tions for  the  contemplated  scene.  Fragments  of 
dried  wood  were  rapidly  collected  near  the  sap- 
ling, the  splinters  which  it  was  intended  to  thrust 
into  the  flesh  of  the  victim,  previously  to  lighting,  * 
were  all  collected,  and  the  thongs  were  already 
produced  that  were  again  to  bind  him  to  the  tree. 
All  this  was  done  in  profound  silence,  Judith 
watching  every  movement  with  breathless  expec- 
tation, while  Deerslayer  himself  stood  seemingly 
as  unmoved  as  one  of  the  pines  of  the  hills. 
When  the  warriors  advanced  to  bind  him,  how- 
ever, the  young  man  glanced  at  Judith,  as  if  to 
inquire  whether  resistance  or  submission  were 
most  advisable.  By  a significant  gesture  she 
counselled  the  last ; and,  in  a minute,  he  was  once 
more  fastened  to  the  tree,  a helpless  object  of  any 
insult  or  wrong  that  might  be  offered.  So  eager- 
ly did  every  one  now  act,  that  nothing  was  said. 
The  fire  was  immediately  lighted  in  the  pile,  and 
the  end  of  all  was  anxiously  expected. 

It  was  not  the  intention  of  the  Hurons  abso- 
lutely to  destroy  the  life  of  their  victim  by  means 
of  fire.  They  designed  merely  to  put  his  physi- 
cal fortitude  to  the  severest  proofs  it  could  en- 
dure, short  of  that  extremity.  In  the  end,  they 
fully  intended  to  carry  his  scalp  with  them  into 
their  village,  but  it  was  their  wish  first  to  break 
down  his  resolution,  and  to  reduce  him  to  the 
level  of  a complaining  sufferer.  With  this  view, 
the  pile  of  brush  and  brarithes  had  been  placed  at 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


226 

a proper  distance,  or  one  at  which  it  was  thought 
.he  heat  would  soon  become  intolerable,  though 
it  might  not  be  immediately  dangerous.  As  often 
happened,  however,  on  these  occasions,  this  dis- 
tance had  been  miscalculated,  and  the  flames  be- 
gan to  wave  their  forked  tongues  in  a proximity 
to  the  face  of  the  victim  that  would  have  proved 
fatal,  in  another  instant,  had  not  Hetty  rushed 
through  the  crowd,  armed  with  a stick,  and  scat- 
tered the  blazing  pile  in  a dozen  directions. 
More  than  one  hand  was  raised  to  strike  the  pre- 
sumptuous intruder  to  the  earth  ; but  the  chiefs 
prevented  the  blows  by  reminding  their  irritated 
followers  of  the  state  of  her  mind.  Hetty,  her- 
self, was  insensible  to  the  risk  she  ran ; but,  as 
soon  as  she  had  performed  this  bold  act,  she 
stood  looking  about  her  in  frowning  resentment, 
as  if  to  rebuke  the  crowd  of  attentive  savages  for 
their  cruelty. 

“ God  bless  you,  dearest  sister,  for  that  brave 
and  ready  act  I”  murmured  Judith,  herself  un- 
nerved so  much  as  to  be  incapable  of  exertion ; 
“ Heaven  itself  has  sent  you  on  its  holy  errand.” 

“ ’Twas  well  meant,  Judith,”  rejoined  the  vic- 
tim ; “ ’twas  excellently  meant,  and  ’twas  timely, 
though  it  may  prove  ontimely  in  the  ind  ! What 
is  to  come  to  pass  must  come  to  pass  soon,  or 
’twill  quickly  be  too  late.  Had  I drawn  in  one 
mouthful  of  that  flame  in  breathing,  the  power 
of  man  couldn’t  save  my  life ; and  you  see  that 
this  time  they’ve  so  bound  my  forehead  as  not  to 
leave  my  head  the  smallest  chance.  ’Twas  well 
meant ; but  it  might  have  been  more  marciful  to 
let  the  flames  act  their  part.” 

“Cruel,  heartless  Hurons!”  exclaimed  the 
still  indignant  Hetty ; “ would  you  burn  a man 
and  a Christian  as  you  would  burn  a log  of  wood  ? 
Do  you  never  read  your  Bibles  ? or  do  you  tnink 
God  will  forget  such  things  ? ” 

A gesture  from  Rivenoak  caused  the  scat- 
tered brands  to  be  collected;  fresh  wood  was 
brought,  even  the  women  and  children  busying 
themselves  eagerly  in  the  gathering  of  dried 
sticks.  The  flame  was  just  kindling  a second 
time,  when  an  Indian  female  pushed  through  the 
circle,  advanced  to  the  heap,  and  with  her  foot 
dashed  aside  the  lighted  twigs  in  time  to  prevent 
the  conflagration.  A yell  followed  this  second 
disappointment;  but  when  the  offender  turned 
toward  the  circle,  and  presented  the  countenance 
of  JTist,  it  wras  succeeded  by  a common  exclama- 
tion of  pleasure  and  surprise.  For  a minute,  all 
thought  of  pursuing  the  business  in  band  was 
forgotten,  and  young  and  old  crowded  around  the 
girl,  in  haste  to  demand  an  explanation  of  her 
sudden  and  unlook ed-^tr  return.  It  was  at  this 


critical  moment  that  Hist  spoke  to  J adith  in  a 
low  voice,  placed  some  small  object,  unseen,  in 
her  hand,  and  then  turned  to  meet  the  salutations 
of  the  Huron  girls,  with  whom  she  was  personally 
a great  favorite.  Judith  recovered  her  self-pos- 
session, and  acted  promptly.  The  small,  keen- 
edged  knife,  that  Hist  had  given  to  the  other,  waa 
passed  by  the  latter  into  the  hands  of  Hetty,  as 
the  safest  and  least-suspected  medium  of  trans- 
ferring it  to  Deerslayer.  But  the  feeble  intellect 
of  the  last  defeated  the  well-grounded  hopes  of 
all  three.  Instead  of  first  cutting  loose  the  hands 
of  the  victim,  and  then  concealing  the  knife  in 
his  clothes,  in  readiness  for  action  at  the  most 
available  instant,  she  went  to  work  herself,  with 
earnestness  and  simplicity,  to  cut  the  thongs  that 
bound  his  head,  that  he  might  not  again  be  in 
danger  of  inhaling  flames.  Of  course  this  delib- 
erate procedure  was  seen,  and  the  hands  of  Hetty 
were  arrested  ere  she  had  more  than  liberated  the 
upper  portion  of  the  captive’s  body,  not  including 
his  arms,  below  the  elbows.  This  discovery  at 
once  pointed  distrust  toward  Hist ; and,  to  Ju- 
dith’s surprise,  when  questioned  on  the  subject, 
that  spirited  girl  was  not  disposed  to  deny  her 
agency  in  what  had  passed.' 

“ Why  should  I not  help  the  Deerslayer  ? ” 
the  girl  demanded,  in  the  tones  of  a firm-minded 
woman.  “ He  is  a brother  of  a Delaware  chief ; 
my  heart  is  all  Delaware.  Come  forth,  miserable 
Briarthorn,  and  wash  the  Iroquois  paint  from 
your  face;  stand  before  the  Hurons,  the  crow 
that  you  are  ; you  would  eat  the  carrion  of  your 
own  dead  rather  than  starve.  Put  him  face  to 
face  with  Deerslayer,  chiefs  and  warriors ; I will 
show  you  how  great  a knave  you  have  been  keep- 
ing in  your  tribe.” 

This  bold  language,  uttered  in  their  own  dia- 
lect, and  with  a manner  full  of  confidence,  pro- 
duced a deep  sensation  among  the  Hurons. 
Treachery  is  always  liable  to  distrust;  and, 
though  the  recreant  Briarthorn  had  endeavored 
to  serve  the  enemy  well,  his  exertions  and  assidui- 
ties had  gained  for  him  little  more  than  tolera- 
tion. His  wish  to  obtain  Hist  for  a wife  had  first 
induced  him  to  betray  her  and  his  own  people  ; 
but  serious  rivals  to  his  first  project  had  arisen 
up  among  his  new  friends,  weakening  still  more 
their  sympathies  with  treason.  In  a word,  Briar- 
thorn  had  been  barely  permitted  to  remain  in  the 
Huron  encampment,  where  he  was  as  closely  and 
as  jealously  watched  as  Hist  herself ; seldom  ap- 
pearing before  the  chiefs,  and  sedulously  keeping 
out  of  view  of  Deerslayer,  who,  until  this  moment, 
was  ignorant  even  of  his  presence.  Thus  sum- 
moned, however,  it  was  impossible  to  remain  in 


THE  HURONS  DEFEATED. 


the  background.  “ Wash  the  Iroquois  paint 
from  his  face,”  he  did  not ; for  when  he  stood  in 
the  centre  of  the  circle,  he  was  so  disguised  in 
these  new  colors,  that,  at  first,  the  hunter  did  not 
recognize  him.  He  assumed  an  air  of  defiance, 
notwithstanding,  and  haughtily  demanded  what 
any  could  say  against  “ Briarthom.” 

“Ask  yourself  that,”  continued  Hist,  with 
epirit,  though  her  manner  grew  less  concentrated ; 
and  there  was  a slight  air  of  abstraction  that  be- 
came observable  to  Deerslayer  and  Judith,  if  to 
no  others.  “ Ask  that  of  your  own  heart,  sneak- 
ing woodchuck  of  the  Delawares  ; come  not  here 
with  the  face  of  an  innocent  man.  Go- look  in 
the  spring;  see  the  colors  of  your  enemies  on 
your  lying  skin  ; and  then  come  back  and  boast 
how  you  ran  from  your  tribe,  and  took  the  blanket 
of  the  French  for  your  covering.  Paint  yourself 
as  bright  as  the  humming-bird,  you  will  still  be 
black  as  the  crow.” 

Hist  had  been  so  uniformly  gentle  while  living 
with  the  Hurons,  that  they  now  listened  to  her 
language  with  surprise.  As  for  the  delinquent, 
his  blood  boiled  in  his  veins  ; and  it  was  well  for 
the  pretty  speaker  that  it  was  not  in  his  power  to 
execute  the  -revenge  he  burned  to  inflict  on  her, 
in  spite  of  his  pretended  love. 

“ Who  wishes  Briarthorn  ? ” he  sternly  asked. 
“ If  this  pale-face  is  tired  of  life ; if  afraid  of  In- 
dian torments,  speak,  Rivenoak ; I will  send  him 
after  the  warriors  we  have  lost.” 

“ No,  chief,  no,  Rivenoak,”  eagerly  inter- 
rupted Hist.  “ The  Deerslayer  fears  nothing ; 
ieast  of  all  a crow!  Unbind  him — cut  his 
withes — place  him  face  to  face  with  this  caw- 
ing bird ; then  let  us  see  which  of  them  is  tired 
of  life.” 

Hist  made  a forward  movement,  as  if  to  take 
a knife  from  a young  man,  and  perform  the  office 
she  had  mentioned  in  person  ; but  an  aged  war- 
rior interposed,  at  a sign  from  Rivenoak.  This 
chief  watched  all  the  girl  did,  with  distrust ; for, 
even  while  speaking  in  her  most  boastful  language 
and  in  the  steadiest  manner,  there  was  an  air  of 
uncertainty  and  expectation  about  her,  that  could 
not  escape  so  close  an  observer.  She  acted  well ; 
but  two  or  three  of  the  old  men  were  equally  sat- 
isfied that  it  was  merely  acting.  Her  proposal 
to  release  Deerslayer,  therefore,  was  rejected ; 
and  the  disappointed  Hist  found  herself  driven 
back  from  the  sapling  at  the  very  moment  she 
fancied  herself  about  to  be  successful.  At  the  same 
time,  the  circle,  which  had  got  to  be  crowded 
and  confused,  was  enlarged,  and  brought  once 
more  into  order.  Rivenoak  now  announced  the 
intention  of  the  old  men  again  to  proceed ; the 


227 

delay  having  been  continued  long  enough,  and 
leading  to  no  result. 

“Stop,  Huron;  stay,  chiefs ! ” exclaimed  Ju- 
dith, scarcely  knowing  what  she  said,  or  why  she 
interposed,  unless  to  obtain  time ; “ for  God’s 
sake,  a single  minute  longer — ” 

The  words  were  cut  short  by  another  and  a 
still  more  extraordinary  interruption.  A young 
Indian  came  bounding  through  the  Huron  ranks, 
leaping  into  the  very  centre  of  the  circle,  m a 
way  to  denote  the  utmost  confidence,  or  a temer- 
ity bordering  on  fool-hardiness.  Five  or  six  sen- 
tinels were  still  watching  the  lake  at  different  and 
distant  points  ; and  it  was  the  first  impression  of 
Rivenoak  that  one  of  these  had  come  in  with  tid- 
ings of  import.  Still,  the  movements  of  the  stran- 
ger were  so  rapid,  and  his  war-dress,  which  scarce- 
ly left  him  more  drapery  than  an  antique  statue, 
had  so  little  distinguishing  about  it,  that,  at  the 
first  moment,  it  was  impossible  to  ascertain  wheth- 
er he  were  friend  or  foe.  Three  leaps  carried 
this  warrior  to  the  side  of  Deerslayer,  whose 
withes  were  cut  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  with 
a quickness  and  precision  that  left  the  prisoner 
perfect  master  of  his  limbs.  Not  till  this  was  ef- 
fected did  the  stranger  bestow  a glance  on  any 
other  object ; then  he  turned  and  showed  the  as- 
tonished Hurons  the  noble  brow,  fine  person,  and 
eagle  eye  of  a young  warrior,  in  the  paint  and 
panoply  of  a Delaware.  He  held  a rifle  in  each 
hand,  the  butts  of  both  resting  on  the  earth, 
while  from  one  dangled  its  proper  pouch  and  horn. 
This  was  Killdeer,  which,  even  as  he  looked  bold- 
ly and  in  defiance  on  the  crowd  around  him,  he 
suffered  to  fall  back  into  the  hands  of  its  proper 
owner.  The  presence  of  two  armed  men,  though 
it  was  in  their  midst,  startled  the  Hurons.  Their 
rifles  were  scattered  about  against  the  different 
trees,  and  their  only  weapons  were  their  knives 
and  tomahawks.  Still,  they  had  too  much  self- 
possession  to  betray  fear.  It  was  little  likely 
that  so  small  a force  would  assail  so  strong  a 
band  ; and  each  man  expected  some  extraordina- 
ry proposition  to  succeed  so  decisive  a step.  The 
stranger  did  not  seem  disposed  to  disappoint 
them  ; he  prepared  to  speak. 

“ Hurons,”  he  said,  “ this  earth  is  very  big. 
The  great  lakes  are  big,  too ; there  is  room  be- 
yond them  for  the  Iroquois ; there  is  room  for 
the  Delawares  on  this  side.  I am  Chingachgook, 
the  son  of  Uncas ; the  kinsman  of  Tamenund. 
This  is  my  betrothed  ; that  pale-face  is  my  friend. 
My  heart  was  heavy  when  I missed  him ; I fol- 
lowed him  to  your  camp  to  see  that  no  harm  hap- 
pened to  him.  All  the  Delaware  girls  are  wait- 
jng  forWah;  they  wonder  that  she  stays  away 


228 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


so  long.  Come,  let  us  say  farewell,  and  go  on 
our  path.” 

“ Hurons,  this  is  your  mortal  enemy,  the 
Great  Serpent  of  them  you  hate!”  cried  Briar- 
thorn.  “ If  he  escape,  blood  will  be  in  your 
moccasin-prints  from  this  spot  to  the  Canadas. 
7 am  all  Huron.” 

As  the  last  words  were  uttered,  the  traitor 
cast  his  knife  at  the  naked  breast  of  the  Dela- 
ware. A quick  movement  of  the  arm,  on  the  part 
of  Hist,  who  stood  near,  turned  aside  the  blow, 
the  dangerous  weapon  burying  its  point  in  a pine. 
At  the  next  instant,  a similar  weapon  glanced  from 
the  hand  of  the  Serpent,  and  quivered  in  the  re- 
creant’s heart.  A minute  had  scarcely  elapsed 
from  the  moment  in  which  Chingachgook  bounded 
into  the  circle,  and  that  in  which  Briarthom  fell, 
like  a log,  dead  in  his  tracks.  The  rapidity  of 
events  prevented  the  Hurons  from  acting;  but 
this  catastrophe  permitted  no  further  delay.  A 
common  exclamation  followed,  and  the  whole  par- 
ty was  in  motion.  At  this  instant,  a sound  un- 
usual to  the  woods  was  heard,  and  every  Huron, 
male  and  female,  paused  to  listen,  with  ears  erect 
and  faces  filled  with  expectation.  The  sound  was 
regular  and  heavy,  as  if  the  earth  were  struck 
with  beetles.  Objects  became  visible  among  the 
trees  of  the  background,  and  a body  of  troops 
was  seen  advancing  with  measured  tread.  They 
came  upon  the  charge,  the  scarlet  of  the  king’s 
livery  shining  among  the  bright-green  foliage  of 
the  forest. 

The  scene  that  followed  is  not  easily  described. 
It  was  one  in  which  wild  confusion,  despair,  and 
frenzied  efforts,  were  so  blended  as  to  destroy 
the  unity  and  distinctness  of  the  action.  A gen- 
eral yell  burst  from  the  enclosed  Hurons ; it  was 
succeeded  by  the  hearty  cheers  of  England.  Still, 
not  a musket  or  rifle  was  fired,  though  that  steady, 
measured  tramp  continued,  and  the  bayonet  was 
seen  gleaming  in  advance  of  a line  that  counted 
nearly  sixty  men.  The  Hurons  were  taken  at  a 
fearful  disadvantage.  On  three  sides  was  the 
water,  while  their  formidable  and  trained  foes  cut 
them  off  from  flight  on  the  fourth.  Each  warrior 
rushed  for  his  arms,  and  then  all  on  the  point, 
man,  woman,  and  child,  eagerly  sought  the  covers. 
In  this  scene  of  confusion  and  dismay,  however, 
nothing  could  surpass  the  discretion  and  coolness 
of  Deerslayer.  His  first  care  was  to  place  Judith 
and  Hist  behind  trees,  and  he  looked  for  Hetty ; 
but  she  had  been  hurried  away  in  the  crowd  of 
Huron  women.  This  effected,  he  threw  himself 
on  a flank  of  the  retiring  Hurons,  who  were  in- 
clining off  toward  the  southern  margin  of  the 
point,  in  the  hope  of  escaping  through  the  water. 


Deerslayer  watched  his  opportunity,  and  finding 
two  of  his  recent  tormentors  in  a range,  his  rifle 
first  broke  the  silence  of  the  terrific  scene.  The 
bullet  brought  down  both  at  one  discharge.  This 
drew  a general  fire  from  the  Hurons,  and  the  rifle 
and  war-cry  of  the  Serpent  were  heard  in  the 
clamor.  Still  the  trained  men  returned  no  an- 
swering volley,  the  whoop  and  piece  of  Hurry 
alone  being  heard  on  their  side,  if  we  except  the 
short,  prompt  word  of  authority,  and  that  heavy, 
measured,  and  menacing  tread.  Presently,  how- 
ever, the  shrieks,  groans,  and  denunciations  that 
usually  accompany  the  use  of  the  bayonet,  fol- 
lowed. That  terrible  and  deadly  weapon  was 
glutted  in  vengeance.  The  scene  that  succeeded 
was  one  of  those,  of  which  so  many  have  occurred 
in  our  own  times,  in  which  neither  age  nor  sex 
forms  an  exemption  to  the  lot  of  a savage  warfare. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

“ The  flower  that  smiles  to-day 
To-morrow  dies ; 

All  that  we  wish  to  stay, 

Tempts  and  then  flies ; 

What  is  this  world’s  delight  ?*- 
Lightning  that  mocks  the  night, 

Brief  even  as  bright.” 

Sheluet. 

The  picture  next  presented  by  the  point  of 
land  that  the  unfortunate  Hurons  had  selected  for 
their  last  place  of  encampment,  need  scarcely  be 
laid  before  the  eyes  of  the  reader.  Happily  for 
the  more  tender-minded  and  the  more  timid,  the 
trunks  of  the  trees,  the  leaves,  and  the  smoke, 
had  concealed  much  of  that  which  passed ; and 
night  shortly  after  drew  its  veil  over  the  lake, 
and  the  whole  of  that  seemingly  interminable 
wilderness,  which  may  be  said  to  have  then 
stretched,  with  far  and  immaterial  interruptions, 
from  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  to  the  shores  of 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  Our  business  carries  us  into 
the  following  day,  when  light  returned  upon  the 
earth,  as  sunny  and  as  smiling  as  if  nothing  ex- 
traordinary had  occurred. 

When  the  sun  rose  on  the  following  morning, 
every  sign  of  hostility  and  alarm  had  vanished 
from  the  basin  of  the  Glimmerglass.  The  fright- 
ftu  event  of  the  preceding  evening  had  left  no 
impression  on  the  placid  sheet,  and  the  untiring 
hours  pursued  their  course  in  the  placid  order 
prescribed  by  the  powerful  hand  that  set  them  in 
motion.  The  birds  were  again  skimming  the 
water,  or  were  seen  poised  on  the  wing  high 
above  the  tops  of  the  tallest  pines  of  the  moun- 
tains, ready  to  make  their  swoops  in  obedience 


CAPTAIN  WARLEY. 


229 


lo  the  irresistible  laws  of  their  nature.  In  a 
word,  nothing  was  changed  but  the  air  of  move- 
ment and  life  that  prevailed  in  and  around  the 
castle.  Here,  indeed,  was  an  alteration  that  must 
have  struck  the  least  observant  eye.  A sentinel, 
who  wore  the  light-infantry  uniform  of  a royal 
regiment,  paced  the  platfonn  with  measured  tread, 
and  some  twenty  men  of  the  same  corps  lounged 
about  the  place,  or  were  seated  in  the  ark.  Their 
arms  were  stacked  under  the  eye  of  their  comrade 
on  post.  Two  officers  stood  examining  the  shore 
with  the  ship’s  glass  so  often  mentioned.  Their 
looks  were  directed  to  that  fatal  point,  where 
scarlet  coats  were  still  to  be  seen  gliding  among 
the  trees,  and  where  the  magnifying  power  of  the 
instrument  also  showed  spades  at  work,  and  the 
sad  duty  of  interment  going  on.  Several  of  the 
common  men  bore  proofs  on  their  persons  that 
their  enemies  had  not  been  overcome  entirely 
without  resistance ; and  the  youngest  of  the  two 
officers  on  the  platform  wore  an  arm  in  a sling. 
His  companion,  who  commanded  the  party,  had 
been  more  fortunate.  He  it  was  that  used  the 
glass,  in  making  the  reconnoissances  in  which  the 
two  were  engaged. 

A sergeant  approached  to  make  a report. 
He  addressed  the  senior  of  these  officers  as  Cap- 
tain Warley,  while  the  other  Was  alluded  to  as 

Mr. , which  was  equivalent  to  Ensign 

Thornton.  The  former,  it  will  at  once  be  seen, 
was  the  officer  who  had  been  named  with  so  much 
feeling  in  the  parting  dialogue  between  Judith 
and  Hurry.  He  was,  in  truth,  the  very  individual 
with  whom  the  scandal  of  the  garrisons  had  most 
freely  connected  the  name  of  this  beautiful  but 
indiscreet  girl.  He  was  a hard-featured,  red-faced 
man,  of  about  five-and-thirty,  ^>ut  of  a military 
carriage,  and  with  an  air  of  fashion  that  nlight 
easily  impose  on  the  imagination  of  one  as  igno- 
rant of  the  world  as  Judith. 

“ Craig  is  covering  us  with  benedictions,”  ob- 
served this  person  to  his  young  ensign,  with  an 
air  of  indifference,  as  he  shut  the  glass  and  handed 
it  to  his  servant ; “ to  say  the  truth,  not  without 
reason  ; it  is  certainly  more  agreeable  to  be  here 
in  attendance  on  Miss  Judith  Hutter,  than  to  be 
burying  Indians  on  a point  of  the  lake,  however 
romantic  the  position  or  brilliant  the  victory.  By- 
the-way,  Wright,  is  Davis  still  living?  ” 

“ He  died  about  ten  minutes  since,  your 
honor,”  returned  the  sergeant,  to  whom  this  ques- 
tion was  addressed.  “ I knew  how  it  would  be, 
as  soon  as  I found  the  bullet  had  touched  the 
stomach.  I never  knew  a man  who  could  hold 
.ut  long,  if  he  had  a hole  in  his  stomach.” 

“No;  it  is  rather  inconvenient  for  carrying 


away  any  thing  very  nourishing,”  observed  War- 
ley,  gaping. — “ This  being  up  two  nights  de  suite, 
Arthur,  plays  the  devil  with  a man’s  faculties ! 
I’m  as  stupid  as  one  of  those  Dutch  parsons  on 
the  Mohawk — I hope  your  arm  is  not  painful,  my 
dear  boy  ? ” 

“ It  draws  a few  grimaces  from  me,  sir,  as  I 
suppose  you  see,”  answered  the  youth,  laughing 
at  the  very  moment  his  countenance  was  a little 
awry  with  pain.  “But  it  may  be  borne.  I sup- 
pose Graham  can  spare  a few  minutes,  soon,  to 
look  at  my  hurt  ? ” 

“ She  is  a lovely  creature,  this  Judith  Hutter, 
after  all,  Thornton ; and  it  shall  not  be  my  fault, 
if  she  is  not  seen  and  admired  in  the  parks ! ” 
resumed  Warley,  who  thought  little  of  his  com- 
panion’s wound.  “ Your  arm,  eh ! Quite  true. — 
Go  into  the  ark,  sergeant,  and  tell  Dr.  Graham  I 
desire  he  would  look  at  Mr.  Thornton’s  injury  as 
soon  as  he  has  done  with  the  poor  fellow  with  the 
broken  leg. — A lovely  creature  ! and  she  looked 
like  a queen  in  that  brocade  dress  in  which  we 
met  her.  I find  all  changed  here ; father  and 
mother  both  gone,  the  sister  dying,  if  not  dead, 
and  none  of  the  family  left  but  the  beauty ! This 
has  been  a lucky  expedition  ail  round,  and  prom- 
ises to  terminate  better  than  Indian  skirmishes 
in  general.” 

“ Am  I to  suppose,  sir,  that  you  are  about  to 
desert  your  colors,  in  the  great  corps  of  bachelorsi 
and  close  the  campaign  with  matrimony  ? ” 

“I,  Tom  Warley,  turn  Benedict!  Faith,  my 
dear  boy,  you  little  know  the  corps  you  speak  of, 
if  you  fancy  any  such  thing.  I do  suppose  there 
are  women  in  the  colonies  that  a captain  of  light- 
infantry  need  not  disdain  ; but  they  are  not  to  be 
found  up  here  on  a mountain-lake  ; or  even  down 
on  the  Dutch  river  where  we  are  posted.  It  is 
true  my  uncle,  the  general,  once  did  me  the  favor 
to  choose  a wife  for  me,  in  Yorkshire;  but  she 
had  no  beauty — and  I would  not  marry' a princess 
unless  she  were  handsome.” 

“ If  handsome,  you  would  marry  a beggar?  ” 

“ Ay,  these  are  the  notions  of  an  ensign ! 
Love  in  a cottage — doors — and  windows — the  old 

story,  for  the  hundredth  time.  The  twenty tn 

don’t  marry.  We  are  not  a marrying  corps,  my 
dear  boy.  There’s  the  colonel,  old  Sir  Edwin  - — , 
now  ; though  a full  general,  he  has  never  thought 
of  a wife ; and  when  a man  gets  as  high  as  a 
lieutenant-general,  without  matrimony,  he  is 
pretty  safe.  Then  the  lieutenant-colonel  is  con- 
firmed, as  I tell  my  cousin,  the  bishop.  The  ma- 
jor is  a widower,  having  tried  matrimony  for 
twelve  months  in  his  youth ; and  we  look  upon 
him,  now,  as  one  of  our  most  certain  men.  Out 


830 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


of  ten  captains,  but  one  is  in  the  dilemma  ; and 
he,  poor  devil,  is  always  kept  at  regimental  head- 
quarters, as  a sort  of  memento  mori  to  the  young 
men  as  they  join.  As  for  the  subalterns,  not  one 
has  ever  yet  had  the  audacity  to  speak  of  intro- 
ducing a wife  into  the  regiment.  But  your  arm 
is  troublesome,  and  we’ll  go  ourselves  and  see 
what  has  become  of  Graham.” 

The  surgeon  who  had  accompanied  the  party 
was  employed  very  differently  from  what  the 
captain  supposed.  When  the  assault  was  over, 
and  the  dead  and  wounded  were  collected,  poor 
Hetty  had  been  found  among  the  latter.  A rifle- 
bullet  had  passed  through  her  body,  inflicting  an 
injury  that  was  known  at  a glance  to  be  mortal. 
How  this  wound  was  received,  no  one  knew  ; it 
was  probably  one  of  those  casualties  .that  ever 
accompany  scenes  like  that  related  in  the  previ- 
ous chapter.  The  Sumach,  all  the  elderly  women, 
some  of  the  Huron  girls,  had  fallen  by  the  bayo- 
net ; either  in  the  confusion  of  the  melee}  or  from 
the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  the  sexes,  where 
the  dress  was  so  simple.  Much  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  warriors  suffered  on  the  spot.  A few 
had  escaped,  however,  and  two  or  three  had  been 
taken  unharmed.  As  for  the  wounded,  the  bay- 
onet saved  the  surgeon  much  trouble.  Rivenoak 
had  escaped  with  life  and  limb  ; but  was  injured 
and  a prisoner.  As  Captain  Warley  and  his  en- 
sign went  into  the  ark,  they  passed  him,  seated 
in  dignified  silence,  in  one  end  of  the  scow,  his 
head  and  leg  bound,  but  betraying  no  visible 
signs  of  despondency  ox  despair.  That  he 
mourned  the  loss  of  his  tribe,  is  certain  ; still,  he 
did  it  in  a manner  that  best  became  a warrior 
and  a chief. 

The  two  soldiers  found  their  surgeon  in  the 
principal  room  of  the  ark.  He  was  just  quitting 
the  pallet  of  Hetty,  with  an  expression  of  sorrow- 
ful regret  on  his  hard,  pock-marked,  Scottish  fea- 
tures, that  it  was  not  usual  to  see  there.  All 
his  assiduity  had  been  useless,  and  he  was  com- 
pelled reluctantly  to  abandon  the  expectation  of 
seeing  the  girl  survive  many  hours.  Dr.  Graham 
was  accustomed  to  death-bed  scenes,  and  ordi- 
narily they  produced  but  little  impression  on  him. 
In  all  that  relates  to  religion,  his  was  one  of 
those  minds  which,  in  consequence  of  reasoning 
much  on  material  things,  logically  and  consecu- 
tively, and  overlooking  the  total  want  of  premises 
which  such  a theory  must  ever  possess,  through 
its  want  of  a primary  agent,  had  become  skepti- 
cal ; leaving  a vague  opinion  concerning  the  ori- 
gin of  things,  that,  with  high  pretensions  to  phi- 
.osophy,  failed  in  the  first  of  all  philosophical  prin- 
ciples, a cause.  To  him  religious  dependence  ap- 


peared a weakness  ; but  when  he  found  one  gen 
tie  and  young  like  Hetty,  with  a mind  beneath 
the  level  of  her  race,  sustained  at  such  a moment 
by  these  pious  sentiments,  and  that,  too,  in  a way 
that  many  a sturdy  warrior  and  reputed  here 
might  have  looked  upon  with  envy,  he  found  him- 
self affected  by  the  sight,  to  a degree  that  he 
would  have  been  ashamed  to  confess.  Edinburgh 
and  Aberdeen,  then  as  now,  supplied  no  small  por- 
tion of  the  medical  men  of  the  British  service  ; and 
Dr.  Graham,  as  indeed  his  name  and  countenance 
equally  indicated,  was,  by  birth,  a North  Briton. 

“ Here  is  an  extraordinary  exhibition  for  • a 
forest,  and  one  but  half-gifted  with  reason,”  he 
observed,  with  a decided  Scotch  accent,  as  War- 
ley  and  the  ensign  entered ; “ I just  hope,  gentle- 
men, that  when  we  three  shall  be  called  on  to  quit 

the  twenty th,  we  may  be  found  as  resigned 

to  go  on  the  half-pay  of  another  existence  as  this 
poor  demented  chiel ! ” 

“ Is  there  no  hope  that  she  can  survive  the 
hurt  ? ” demanded  Warley,  turning  his  eyes  tow- 
ard the  pallid  Judith,  on  whose  cheeks,  however, 
two  large  spots  of  red  had  settled  as  soon  as  he 
came  into  the  cabin. 

“ No  more  than  there  is  for  Chairlie  Stuart. 
Approach  and  judge  for  yourselves,  gentlemen ; 
ye’ll  see  faith  exemplified  in  an  exceeding  and 
wonderful  manner.  There  is  a sort  of  arbitrium 
between  life  and  death,  in  actual  conflict  in  the 
poor  girl’s  mind,  that  renders  her  an  interesting 
study  to  a philosopher. — Mr.  Thornton,  I’m  at 
your  service  now  ; we  can  just  look  at  the  arm, 
in  the  next  room,  while  we  speculate  as  much  as 
we  please  on  the  operations  and  sinuosities  of  the 
human  mind.” 

The  surgeon  and  ensign  retired,  and  Warley 
had*an  opportunity  of  looking  about  him  more  at 
leisure,  and  with  a better  understanding  of  the 
nature  and  feelings  of  the  group  collected  in  the 
cabin.  Poor  Hetty  had  been  placed  on  her  own 
simple  bed,  and  was  reclining  in  a half-seated  at- 
titude, with  the  approaches  of  death  on  her  coun- 
tenance, though  they  were  singularly  dimmed  by 
the  lustre  of  an  expression  in  which  all  the  intel- 
ligence of  her  entire  being  appeared  to  be  con- 
centrated. Judith  and  Hist  were  near  her ; the 
former  seated  in  deep  grief,  the  latter  standing, 
in  readiness  to  offer  any  of  the  gentle  attentions 
of  feminine  care.  Deerslayer  st'ood  at  the  end  of 
the  pallet,  leaning  on  Killdeer,  unharmed  in  per- 
son ; all  the  fine,  martial  ardor  that  had  so  lately 
glowed  in  his  countenance,  having  given  place  to 
the  usual  look  of  honesty  and  benevolence ; qual- 
ities of  which  the  expression  was  now  softened 
by  manly  regrdt  and  pity.  The  Serpent  was  in 


AN  AFFECTING  SCENE. 


231 


the  background  of  the  picture,  erect  and  motion- 
less as  a statue;  but  so  observant  that  not  a look 
of  the  eye  escaped  his  own  keen  glance.  Hurry 
completed  the  group ; being  seated  on  a stool 
near  the  door,  like  one  who  felt  himself  out  of 
place  in  such  a scene,  but  who  was  ashamed  to 
quit  it  unbidden. 

“ Who  is  that  in  scarlet  ? ” asked  Hetty,  as 
soon  as  the  captain’s  uniform  caught  her  eye. 
“ Tell  me,  Judith,  is  it  the  friend  of  Hurry  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  the  officer  who  commands  the  troops, 
that  have  rescued  us  all  from  the  hands  of  the 
Hurons,”  was  the  low  answer  of  the  sister. 

“ Am  I rescued,  too  ? — I thought  they  said  I 
was  shot,  and  about  to  die.  Mother  is  dead,  and 
so  is  father  ; but  you  are  living,  Judith,  and  so  is 
Hurry.  I was  afraid  Hurry  would  be  killed,  when 
I heard  him  shouting  among  the  soldiers.” 

“ Never  mind — never  mind,  dear  Hetty,”  in- 
terrupted Judith,  sensitively  alive  to  the  preser- 
vation of  her  sister’s  secret,  more,  perhaps,  at  such 
a moment  than  at  any  other.  “ Hurry  is  well,  and 
Deerslayer  is  well,  and  the  Delaware  is  well,  too.” 

“ How  came  they  to  shoot  a poor  girl  like  me, 
and  let  so  many  men  go  unharmed  ? I didn’t 
know  that  the  Hurons  were  so  wicked,  Judith ! ” 

“ ’Twas  an  accident,  poor  Hetty ; a sad  acci- 
dent it  has  been!  No  one  would  willingly  have 
injured  you.” 

“ I’m  glad  of  that — I thought  it  strange : I am 
feeble-minded,  and  the  red  men  have  never  harmed 
me  before.  I should  be  sorry  to  think  that  they 
had  changed  their  minds.  I am  glad,  too,  Judith, 
that  they  haven’t  hurt  Hurry.  Deerslayer,  I don’t 
think  God  will  suffer  any  one  to  harm.  It  was 
very  fortunate  the  soldiers  came  as  they  did, 
though,  for  fire  will  burn ! ” 

“ It  was,  indeed,  fortunate,  my  sister ; God’s 
holy  name  be  forever  blessed  for  the  mercy  ! ” 

u I dare  say,  Judith,  you  know  some  of  the 
officers ; you  used  to  know  so  many.” 

Judith  made  no  reply ; she  hid  her  face  in  her 
hands  and  groaned.  Hetty  gazed  at  her  in  won- 
der ; but  naturally  supposing  her  own  situation 
was  the  cause  of  this  grief,  she  kindly  offered  to 
console  her  sister. 

“ Don’t  mind  me,  dear  Judith,”  said  the  affec- 
tionate and  pure-hearted  creature — “ I don’t  suf- 
fer, if  I do  die ; why,  father  and  mother  are  both 
dead,  and  what  happens  to  them  may  well  happen 
to  me.  You  know  I am  of  less  account  than  any 
of  the  family;  therefore,  few  will  think  of  me 
after  I’m  in  the  lake.” 

“ No,  no,  no — -poor,  dear,  dear  Hetty  ! ” ex- 
claimed Judith,  in  an  uncontrollable  burst  of  sor- 
row— I,  at  least,  will  ever  think  of  you ; and 


gladly,  oh,  how  gladly,  would  I exchange  places 
with  you,  to  be  the  pure,  excellent,  sinless  creature 
you  are  ! ” 

Until  now,  Captain  Warley  had  stood  leaning 
against  the  door  of  the  cabin ; when  this  out- 
break of  feeling,  and  perchance  of  penitence, 
escaped  the  beautiful  girl,  he  walked  slowly  and 
thoughtfully  away ; even  passing  the  ensign,  then 
suffering  under  the  surgeon’s  care,  without  noti- 
cing him. 

“ I have  got  my  Bible  here,  Judith  ! ” re- 
turned her  sister,  in  a voice  of  triumph.  “ It’s 
true,  I can’t  read  any  longer  ; there’s  something 
the  matter  with  my  eyes — you  look  dim  and  dis- 
tant— and  so  does  Hurry,  now  I look  at  him ; 
well,  I never  could  have  believed  that  Henry 
March  would  have  so  dull  a look.  What  can  be 
the  reason,  Judith,  that  I see  so  badly  to-day  ? 
I,  who  mother  always  said  had  the  best  eyea 
in  the  whole  family.  Yes,  that  was  it ; my  mind 
was  feeble — what  people  call  half-witted  — but 
my  eyes  were  so  good.” 

Again  Judith  groaned ; this  time  no  feeling 
of  self,  no  retrospect  of  the  past,  caused  the 
pain.  It  was  the  pure,  heart-felt  sorrow  of  sis- 
terly love,  heightened  by  a sense  of  the  meek 
humility  and  perfect  truth  of  the  being  before 
her.  At  that  moment,  she  would  gladly  have 
given  up  her  own  life  to  save  that  of  Hetty.  As 
the  last,  however,  was  beyond  the  reach  of  hu- 
man power,  she  felt  there  was  nothing  left  her 
but  sorrow.  At  this  moment  Warley  returned 
to  the  cabin,  drawn  by  a secret  impulse  he  could 
not  withstand,  though  he  felt,  just  then,  as  if  he 
would  gladly  abandon  the  American  Continent 
forever,  were  it  practicable.  Instead  of  pausing 
at  the  door,  he  now  advanced  so  near  the  pallet 
of  the  sufferer  as  to  come  more  plainly  within 
her  gaze.  Hetty  could  still  distinguish  large  ob- 
jects, and  her  look  soon  fastened  on  him. 

“ Are  you  the  officer  that  came  with  Hurry  ? ” 
she  asked.  “ If  you  are,  we  ought  all  to  thank 
you ; for,  though  I am  hurt,  the  rest  have  saved 
their  lives.  Did  Harry  March  tell  you  where  to 
find  us,  and  how  much  need  there  was  for  your 
services  ? ” 

“ The  news  of  the  party  reached  us  by  means 
of  a friendly  runner,”  returned  the  captain,  glad 
to  relieve  his  feelings  by  this  appearance  of  a 
friendly  communication ; “ and  I was  immediate- 
ly sent  out  to  cut  it  off.  It  was  fortunate,  cer- 
tainly, that  we  met  Hurry  Harry,  as  you  call  him, 
for  he  acted  as  a guide ; and  it  was  not  less  for- 
tunate that  we  heard  a firing,  which  I now  un- 
derstand was  merely  a shooting  at  the  mark,  for 
it  not  only  quickened  our  march,  but  called  us 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


m 

to  the  right  side  of  the  lake.  The  Delaware  saw 
us  on  the  shore,  with  the  glass,  it  w'ould  seem ; 
and  he  and  Hist,  as  I find  his  squaw  is  named, 
did  us  excellent  service. — It  was,  really,  alto- 
gether a fortunate  concurrence  of  circumstances, 
Judith.” 

“ Talk  not  to  me  of  any  thing  fortunate,  sir,” 
returned  the  girl,  huskily,  again  concealing  her 
face.  “ To  me  the  world  is  full  of  "misery.  I 
wish  never  to  hear  of  marks,  or  rifles,  or  sol- 
diers, or  men  again.” 

“ Do  j'ou  know  my  sister  ? ” asked  Hetty,  ere 
the  rebuked  soldier  had  time  to  rally  for  an  an- 
swer. “How  came  you  to  know  that  her  name 
is  Judith  ? You  are  right,  for  that  is  her  name  ; 
and  I am  Hetty  ; Thomas  Hutter’s  daughters.” 

“ For  Heaven’s  sake,  dearest  sister ; for  my 
sake,  beloved  Hetty,”  interposed  Judith,  implor- 
ingly, “ say  no  more  of  this  ! ” 

Hetty  looked  surprised;  but,  accustomed  to 
comply,  she  ceased  her  awkward  and  painful  in- 
terrogatories of  Warley,  bending  her  eyes  toward 
the  Bible,  which  she  still  held  between  her  hands, 
as  one  would  cling  to  a casket  of  precious  stones, 
in  a shipwreck  or  a conflagration.  Her  mind 
now  reverted  to  the  future,  losing  sight,  in  a 
great  measure,  of  the  scenes  of  the  past. 

1 We  shall  not  long  be  parted,  Judith,”  she 
said ; “ when  you  die,  you  must  be  brought  and 
buried  in  the  lake,  by  the  side  of  mother,  too.” 

“Would  to  God,  Hetty,  that  I lay  there  at 
this  moment ! ” 

“ No ; that  cannot  be,  Judith  ; people  must  die 
before  they  have  any  right  to  be  buried.  ’Twould 
be  wicked  to  bury  you,  or  for  you  to  bury  your- 
self while  living.  Once  I thought  of  burying 
myself.  God  kept  me  from  that  sin.” 

“ You  ! — you,  Hetty  Hutter,  think  of  such  an 
act  ? ” exclaimed  Judith,  looking  up  in  uncon- 
trollable surprise,  for  she  well  knew  nothing 
passed  the  lips  of  her  conscientious  sister  that 
was  not  religiously  true. 

“Yes,  I did,  Judith;  but  God  has  forgotten 
— no,  he  forgets  nothing — but  he  has  forgiven 
it,”  returned  the  dying  girl,  with  the  subdued 
manner  of  a repentant  child.  “ ’Twas  after 
mother’s  death  ; I felt  I had  lost  the  best  friend 
I had  on  earth,  if  not  the  only  friend.  ’Tis  true, 
you  and  father  were  kind  to  me,  Judith,  but  I 
was  so  feeble-minded  I knew  I should  only  give 
you  trouble ; and  then  you  were  so  often  ashamed 
of  such  a sister  and  daughter ; and  ’tis  hard  to 
live  in  a world  where  all  look  upon  you  as  below 
them.  I thought  then  if  I could  bury  myself  by 
the  side  of  mother,  I should  be  happier  in  the 
lake  than  in  the  hut.” 


“ Forgive  me — pardon  me,  dearest  Hetty ; on 
my  bended  knees,  I beg  you  to  pardon  me,  sweet 
sister,  if  any  word  or  act  of  mine  drove  you  to 
so  maddening  and  cruel  a thought.” 

“ Get  up,  Judith ; kneel  to  God — don’t  kneel 
to  me.  Just  so  I felt  when  mother  was  dying. 

I remembered  every  thing  I had  said  and  done 
to  vex  her,  and  could  have  kissed  her  feet  foi 
forgiveness.  I think  it  must  be  so  with  all  dy. 
ing  people ; though,  now  I think  of  it,  I don’t 
remember  to  have  had  such  feelings  on  account 
of  father.” 

Judith  arose,  hid  her  face  in  her  apron,  and 
wept.  A long  pause — one  of  more  than  two 
hours — succeeded,  during  which  Warley  entered 
and  left  the  cabin  several  times ; apparently  un- 
easy when  absent,  and  yet  unable  to  remain.  He 
issued  various  orders,  which  his  men  proceeded 
to  execute ; and  there  was  an  air  of  movement 
in  the  party,  more  especially  as  Mr.  Craig,  the 
lieutenant,  had  got  through  the  unpleasant  duty 
of  burying  the  dead,  and  had  sent  for  instruc- 
tions from  the  shore,  desiring  to  know  what  he 
was  to  do  with  his  detachment.  During  this 
interval,  Hetty  slept  a little,  and  Deerslayer  and 
Chingachgook  left  the  ark  to  confer  together. 
But,  at  the  end  of  the  time  mentioned,  the  sur- 
geon passed  upon  the  platform ; and  with  a de- 
gree of  feeling  his  comrades  had  never  before 
observed  in  one  of  his  habits,  he  announced  that 
the  patient  was  rapidly  drawing  near  her  end. 
On  receiving  this  intelligence,  the  group  collected 
again ; curiosity  to  witness  such  a death — or  a 
better  feeling — drawing  to  the  spot  men  who  had 
so  lately  been  actors  in  a scene  seemingly  of  so 
much  greater  interest  and  moment.  By  this  time 
Judith  had  got  to  be  inactive,  through  grief ; and 
Hist  alone  was  performing  the  little  offices  of 
feminine  attention  that  are  so  appropriate  to  the 
sick-bed.  Hetty  herself  had  undergone  no  other 
apparent  change,  than  the  general  failing  that  in- 
dicated the  near  approach  of  dissolution.  All 
that  she  possessed  of  mind  was  as  clear  as  ever ; 
and,  in  some  respects,  her  intellect,  perhaps,  was 
more  than  usually  active. 

“ Don’t  grieve  for  me  so  much,  Judith,”  said 
the  gentle  sufferer,  after  a pause  in  her  remarks ; 
“ I shall  soon  see  mother  ; I think  I see  her  now  ; 
her  face  is  just  as  sweet  and  smiling  as  it  used  to 
be  ! Perhaps  when  I’m  dead,  God  will  give  me 
all  my  mind,  and  I shall  become  a more  fitting 
companion  for  mother  than  I ever  was  before.” 

“You  will  be  an  angel  in  heaven,  Hetty,” 
sobbed  the  sister ; “ no  spirit  there  will  be  more 
worthy  of  its  holy  residence  ! ” 

“ I don’t  understand  it  quite  ; still  I know  it 


HETTY’S  DEATH. 


233 


must  be  all  true ; I’ve  read  it  in  the  Bible.  How 
dark  it’s  becoming  ! Can  it  be  night  so  soon  ? 
I can  hardly  see  you  at  all ; where  is  Hist  ? ” 

“ I here,  poor  girl ; why  you  no  see  me  ? ” 

“ I do  see  you ; but  I couldn’t  tell  whether 
’twas  you  or  Judith.  I believe  I sha’n’t  see  you 
much  longer,  Hist.” 

“ Sorry  for  that,  poor  Hetty.  Never  mind ; 
pale-face  got  a heaven  for  girl  as  well  as  for  war- 
rior.” 

“Where’s  the  Serpent?  Let  me  speak  to 
nim ; give  me  his  hand ; so ; I feel  it. — Delaware, 
will  you  love  and  cherish  this  young  Indian 
woman ; I know  how  fond  she  is  of  you  ; and  you 
must  be  fond  of  her.  Don’t  treat  her  as  some  of 
your  people  treat  their  wives  ; be  a real  husband 
to  her. — Now  bring  Deerslayer  near  me  ; give  me 
his  hand.” 

This  request  was  complied  with,  and  the 
nunter  stood  by  the  side  of  the  pallet,  submitting 
to  the  wishes  of  the  girl  with  the  docility  of  a child. 

“ I feel,  Deerslayer,”  she  resumed,  “ though 
I couldn’t  tell  why — but  I feel  that  you  and  I are 
not  going  to  part  forever.  ’Tis  a strange  feel- 
ing ! I never  had  it  before ; I wonder  what  it 
comes  from  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  God  encouraging  you  in  extremity, 
Hetty ; as  such  it  ought  to  be  harbored  and  re- 
spected. Yes,  we  shall  meet  ag’in,  though  it  may 
be  a long  time  first,  and  in  a far-distant  land.” 

“ Do  you  mean  to  be  buried  in  the  lake,  too  ? 
If  so,  that  may  account  for  the  feeling.” 

‘“*Tis  little  likely,  gal;  ’tis  little  likely:  but 
there’s  a region  for  Christian  souls  where  there’s 
no  lakes  nor  woods,  they  say ; though  why  there 
should  be  none  of  the  last , is  more  than  I can 
account  for ; seeing  that  pleasantness  and  peace 
is  the  object  in  view.  My  grave  will  be  found  in 
the  forest,  most  likely,  but  I hope  my  spirit  will 
not  be  far  from  your’n.” 

“ So  it  must  be,  then.  I am  too  weak-minded 
to  understand  these  things,  but  I feel  that  you 
and  I will  meet  again. — Sister,  where  are  you  ? 
I can’t  see  now  any  thing  but  darkness.  It  must 
be  night,  surely ! ” 

“ 0 Hetty ! I am  here  at  your  side ; these  are 
my  arms  that  are  around  you,”  sobbed  Judith. 
“Speak,  dearest;  is  there  any  thing  you  wish 
to  say,  or  have  done,  in  this  awful  moment  ? ” 

By  this  time  Hetty’s  sight  had  entirely  failed 
her.  Nevertheless,  death  approached  with  less 
than  usual  of  its  horrors,  as  if  in  tenderness  to 
one  of  her  half-endowed  faculties.  She  was  pale 
as  a corpse,  but  her  breathing  was  easy  and  un- 
broken, while  her  voice,  though  lowered  almost 
to  a whisper,  remained  clear  and  distinct.  When 


her  sister  put  this  question,  howevei,  a blush  dif- 
fused itself  over  the  features  of  the  dying  girl ; so 
faint,  however,  as  to  be  nearly  imperceptible ; 
resembling  that  hue  of  the  rose  which  is  thought 
to  portray  the  tint  of  modesty,  rather  than  the 
dye  of  the  flower  in  its  richer  bloom.  No  one 
but  Judith  detected  this  expression  of  feeling, 
one  of  the  gentle  expressions  of  womanly  sensi- 
bility, even  in  death.  On  her,  however,  it  was  not 
lost,  nor  did  she  conceal  from  herself  the  cause. 

“ Hurry  is  here,  dearest  Hetty,”  whispered  the 
sister,  with  her  face  so  near  the  sufferer  as  to 
keep  the  words  from  other  ears.  “Shall  I tell 
him  to  come  and  receive  your  good  wishes  ? ” 

A gentle  pressure  of  the  hand  answered  in 
the  affirmative,  and  then  Hurry  was  brought  to 
the  side  of  the  pallet.  It  is  probable  that  this 
handsome  but  rude  woodsman  had  never  before 
found  himself  so  awkwardly  placed,  though  the 
inclination  which  Hetty  felt  for  him  (a  sort  of 
secret  yielding  to  the  instincts  of  nature,  rather 
than  any  unbecoming  impulse  of  an  ill-regulated 
imagination)  was  too  pure  and  unobtrusive  to 
have  created  the  slightest  suspicion  of  the  circum- 
stance in  his  mind.  He  allowed  Judith  to  put 
his  hard,  colossal  hand  between  those  of  Hetty, 
and  stood  waiting  the  result  in  awkward  silence. 

“ This  is  Hurry,  dearest,”  whispered  Judith, 
bending  over  her  sister,  ashamed  to  utter  the 
words  so  as  to  be  audible  to  herself ; “ speak  to 
him  and  let  him  go.” 

“ What  shall  I say,  Judith  ? ” 

“ Nay,  whatever  your  own  pure  spirit  teaches, 
my  love.  Trust  to  that,  and  you  need  fear 
nothing.” 

“ Good-by,  Hurry,”  murmured  the  girl,  with 
a gentle  pressure  of  his  hand.  “I  wish  you 
would  try  and  be  more  like  Deerslayer.” 

These  words  were  uttered  with  difficulty ; a 
faint  flush  succeeded  them  for  a single  instant, 
then  the  hand  was  relinquished,  and  Hetty  turned 
her  face  aside,  as  if  done  with  the  world.  The 
mysterious  feeling  that  bound  her  to  the  young 
man,  a sentiment  so  gentle  as  to  be  almost  im- 
perceptible to  herself,  and  which  could  never  have 
existed  at  all,  had  her  reason  possessed  more 
command  over  her  senses,  was  forever  lost  in 
thoughts  of  a more  elevated,  though  scarcely  of 
a purer  character. 

“ Of  what  are  you  thinking,  my  sweet  sister  ? ” 
whispered  Judith ; “ tell" me,  that  I may  aid  you 
at  this  moment.” 

“Mother — I see  mother,  now,  and  bright 
beings  around  her  in  the  lake.  Why  isn’t  father 
there?  It’s  odd  that  I can  see  mother  when  I 
can’t  see  you  ! Farewell,  Judith.” 


234 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


These  last  words  were  uttered  after  a pause, 
and  her  sister  had  hung  over  her  some  time.,  in 
anxious  watchfulness,  before  she  perceived  that 
the  gentle  spirit  had  departed.  Thus  died  Hetty 
Hutter,  one  of  those  mysterious  links  between  the 
material  and  immaterial  world,  which,  while  they 
appear  to  be  deprived  of  so  much  that  is  es- 
teemed, and  necessary  for  this  state  of  being,  draw 
so  near  to,  and  offer  so  beautiful  an  illustration 
of,  the  truth,  purity,  and  simplicity  of  another. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

“ A baron’s  chylde  to  be  begylde ! it  were  a cursed  dede : 

To  be  felawe  with  an  outlawe  I Almighty  God  forbede  I 
Yea,  better  were,  the  poor  squyere,  alone  to  forest  yede, 
Than  ye  sholde  say,  another  dayf  that  by  my  cursed  dede 
Ye  were  betrayed : wherefore,  good  mayde,  the  best  rede 
that  I can 

Is,  that  I to  the  grene  wode  go,  alone,  a banyshed  man.” 

Notbeowne  Mayde. 

The  day  that  followed  proved  to  be  melan- 
choly, though  one  of  much  activity.  The  soldiers, 
who  had  so  lately  been  employed  in  interring  their 
victims,  were  now  called  on  to  bury  their  own 
dead.  The  scene  of  the  morning  had  left  a sad- 
dened feeling  on  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  party, 
and  the  rest  felt  the  influence  of  a similar  sensa- 
tion, hi  a variety  of  ways,  and  from  many  causes. 
Hour  dragged  on  after  hour  until  evening  arrived, 
and  then  came  the  last  melancholy  offices,  in 
honor  of  poor  Hetty  Hutter.  The  body  was  laid 
in  the  lake  by  the  side  of  that  mother  she  had  so 
loved  and  reverenced ; the  surgeon,  though  act- 
ually an  unbeliever,  so  far  complying  with  the 
received  decencies  of  life  as  to  read  the  funeral 
service  over  her  grave,  as  he  had  previously 
done  over  those  of  the  other  Christian  slain.  It 
mattered  not — that  all-seeing  eye  which  reads  the 
heart,  could  not  fail  to  discriminate  between  the 
living  and  the  dead,  and  the  gentle  soul  of  the 
unfortunate  girl  was  already  far  removed  beyond 
the  errors  or  deceptions  of  any  human  ritual. 
These  simple  rites,  however,  were  not  wholly 
wanting  in  suitable  accompaniments.  The  tears 
of  Judith  and  Hist  were  shed  freely,  and  Deer- 
slayer  gazed  upon  the  limpid  water  that  now 
flowed  over  one  whose  spirit  was  even  purer  than 
its  own  mountain-springs,  with  glistening  eyes. 
Even  the  Delaware  turned  aside  to  conceal  his 
weakness,  while  the  common  men  gazed  on  the 
ceremony  with  wondering  eyes  and  chastened 
feelings. 

The  business  of  the  dav  closed  with  this  pi- 


ous office.  By  order  of  the  commanding  officei 
all  retired  early  to  rest,. for  it  was  intended  to  be- 
gin the  march  homeward  "with  the  return  of  light. 
One  party  indeed,  bearing  the  wounded,  the  pris- 
oners, and  the  trophies,  had  left  the  castle  m the 
middle  of  the  day,  under  the  guidance  of  Hurry, 
intending  to  reach  the  fort  by  shorter  marches. 
It  had  been  landed  on  the  point  so  often  men- 
tioned, or  that  described  in  our  opening  pages  ; 
and,  when  the  sun  set,  was  already  encamped  on 
the  brow  of  the  long,  broken,  and  ridgy  hills  that 
fell  away  toward  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk.  The 
departure  of  this  detachment  had  greatly  simpli- 
fied the  duty  of  the  succeeding  day,  disencumber- 
ing its  march  of  its  baggage  and  wounded,  and 
otherwise  leaving  him  who  had  issued  the  order 
greater  liberty  of  action. 

Judith  held  no  communication  with  any  but 
Hist,  after  the  death  of  her  sister,  until  she  re- 
tired for  the  night.  Her  sorrow  had  been  re- 
spected, and  both  the  females  had  been  left  with 
the  body  unintruded  on  to  the  last  moment.  The 
rattling  of  the  drum  broke  the  silence  of  that 
tranquil  water,  and  the  echoes  of  the  tattoo  were 
heard  among  the  mountains  so  soon  after  the 
ceremony  was  over  as  to  preclude  the  danger  of 
interruption.  That  star  which  had  been  the 
guide  of  Hist,  rose  on  a scene  a3  silent  as  if  the 
quiet  of  Nature  had  never  yet  been  disturbed  by 
the  labors  or  passions  of  man.  One  solitary  sen- 
tinel, with  his  relief,  paced  the  platform  through- 
out the  night ; and  morning  was  ushered  in,  as 
usual,  by  the  martial  beat  of  the  reveille. 

Military  precision  succeeded  to  the  desultory 
proceedings  of  border-men,  and,  when  a hasty 
and  frugal  breakfast  was  taken,  the  party  began 
its  movement  toward  the  shore  with  a regularity 
and  order  that  prevented  noise  or  confusion.  Of 
all  the  officers,  Warley  alone  remained.  Craig 
headed  the  detachment  in  advance,  Thornton  was 
with  the  wounded,  and  Graham  accompanied  his 
patients,  as  a matter  of  course.  Even  the  chest 
of  Hutter,  with  all  the  more  valuable  of  his  ef- 
fects, was  borne  away,  leaving  nothing  behind 
that  was  worth  the  labor  of  a removal.  Judith 
was  not  sorry  to  see  that  the  captain  respected 
her  feelings,  and  that  he  occupied  himself  entirely 
with  the  duty  of  his  command,  leaving  her  to  her 
own  discretion  and  feelings.  It  was  understood 
by  all  that  the  place  was  to  be  totally  abandoned ; 
but  beyond  this  no  explanations  were  asked  01 
given. 

The  soldiers  embarked  in  the  ark,  with  the 
captain  at  their  head.  He  had  inquired  of  Ju- 
dith in  what  way  she  chose  to  proceed,  and,  un- 
derstanding her  wish  to  remain  with  Hist  to  the 


A PLAIN  PROPOSAL. 


235 


l&st  moment,  he  neither  molested  her  with  re- 
quests, nor  offended  her  with  advice.  There  was 
but  one  safe  and  familiar  trail  to  the  Mohawk ; 
and  on  that,  at  the  proper  hour,  he  doubted  not 
that  they  should  meet  in  amity,  if  not  in  renewed 
intercourse. 

When  all  were  on  board,  the  sweeps  were 
manned,  and  the  ark  moved  in  its  sluggish  man- 
ner toward  the  distant  point.  Deerslayer  and 
Chingachgook  now  lifted  two  of  the  canoes  from 
the  water  and  placed  them  in  the  castle.  The 
windows  and  door  were  then  barred,  and  the 
house  was  left,  by  means  of  the  trap,  in  the  man- 
ner already  described.  On  quitting  the  palisades, 
Hist  was  seen  in  the  remaining  canoe,  where  the 
Delaware  immediately  joined  her  and  paddled 
away,  leaving  Judith  standing  alone  on  the  plat- 
form. Owing  to  this  prompt  proceeding,  Deer- 
slayer found  himself  alone  with  the  beautiful  and 
still-weeping  mourner.  Too  simple  to  suspect 
any  thing,  the  young  man  swept  the  light  boat 
round  and  received  its  mistress  in  it,  when  he 
followed  the  course  already  taken  by  his  friend. 

The  direction  to  the  point  led  diagonally  past, 
and  at  no  great  distance  from,  the  graves  of  the 
dead.  As  the  canoe  glided  by,  Judith,  for  the 
first  time  that  morning,  spoke  to  her  companion. 
She  said  but  little,  merely  uttering  a simple  re- 
quest to  stop  for  a minute  or  two  ere  she  left  the 
place. 

“ I may  never  see  this  spot  again,  Deerslayer,” 
she  said,  “ and  it  contains  the  bodies  of  my  moth- 
er and  sister  ! Is  it  not  possible,  think  you,  that 
the  innocence  of  one  of  these  beings  may  answer, 
in  the  eyes  of  God,  for  the  salvation  of  both  ? ” 

“I  don’t  understand  it  so,  Judith;  though 
I’m  no  missionary,  and  am  but  poorly  taught. 
Each  spirit  answers  for  its  own  backslidings ; 
though  a hearty  repentance  will  satisfy  God’s 
laws.” 

“Then  must  my  poor,  poor  mother  be  in 
heaven  ? — Bitterly — bitterly  — has  she  repented 
of  her  sins  ; and  surely  her  sufferings  in  this  life 
ought  to  count  as  something  against  her  suffer- 
ings in  the  next ! ” 

“All  this  goes  beyond  me,  Judith.  I strive 
to  do  right  here,  as  the  surest  means  of  keeping 
all  right  hereafter.  Hetty  was  oncommon,  as  all 
that  know’d  her  must  allow  ; and  her  soul  was  as 
fit  to  consort  with  angels  the  hour  it  left  its  body, 
as  that  of  any  saint  in  the  Bible  ! ” 

“ I do  believe  you  only  do  her  justice  ! Alas  ! 
— alas  ! — that  there  should  be  so  great  differences 
between  those  who  were  nursed  at  the  same 
breast,  slept  in  the  same  bed,  and  dwelt  -under 
the  same  roof!  But,  no  matter — move  the  ca- 


noe a little  farther  east,  Deerslayer — the  sun  so 
dazzles  my  eyes  that  I cannot  see  the  graves 
This  is  Hetty’s,  on  the  right  of  mother’s  ? ” 

“ Sartain — you  asked  that  of  us ; and  all  are 
glad  to  do  as  you  wish,  Judith,  when  you  do  that 
which  is  right.” 

The  girl  gazed  at  him  near  a minute  in  silent 
attention ; then  she  turned  her  eyes  backward  at 
the  castle. 

“This  lake  will  soon  be  entirely  deserted, s 
she  said,  “ and  this,  too,  at  a moment  when  it 
will  be  a more  secure  dwelling-place  than  ever. 
What  has  so  lately  happened  will  prevent  the 
Iroquois  from  venturing  again  to  visit  it  for  a 
long  time  to  come.” 

“ That  it  will ! — yes,  that  may  be  set  down  as 
settled.  I do  not  mean  to  pass  this-a-way  ag’in 
so  long  as  the  war  lasts ; for,  to  my  mind,  no  Hu- 
ron moccasin  will  leave  its  print  on  the  leaves  of 
this  forest  until  their  traditions  have  forgotten  to 
tell  their  young  men  of  their  disgrace  and  rout.” 

“ And  do  you  so  delight  in  violence  and  blood- 
shed ? I had  thought  better  of  you,  Deerslayer — 
believed  you  one  who  could  find  his  happiness  in 
a quiet,  domestic  home,  with  an  attached  and  lov- 
ing wife  ready  to  study  your  wishes,  and  healthy 
and  dutiful  children  anxious  to  follow  in  your 
footsteps,  and  to  become  as  honest  and  just  as 
yourself.” 

“ Lord,  Judith,  what  a tongue  you’re  mistress 
of!  Speech  and  looks  go  hand  in  hand  like ; and 
what  one  can’t  do,  the  other  is  pretty  sartain  to 
perform ! Such  a gal,  in  a month,  might  spoil 
the  stoutest  warrior  in  the  colony.” 

“ And  am  I then  so  mistaken  ? Do  you  really 
love  war,  Deerslayer,  better  than  the  hearth  and 
the  affections  ? ” 

“ I understand  your  meaning,  gal ; yes,  I do 
understand  what  you  mean,  I believe,  though  I 
don’t  think  you  altogether  understand  me.  War- 
rior I may  call  myself,  I suppose,  for  I’ve  both 
fou’t  and  conquered,  which  is  sufficient  for  the 
name ; neither  will  I deny  that  I’ve  feelin’s  for  the 
callin’,  which  is  both  manful  and  honorable,  when 
; carried  on  accordin’  to  nat’ral  gifts — but  I’ve  no 
relish  for  blood.  Youth  is  youth,  howsever,  and  a 
Mingo  is  a Mingo.  If  the  young  men  of  this  region 
stood  by  and  suffered  the  vagabonds  to  overrun 
the  land,  why,  we  might  as  well  all  turn  Frenehers 
at  once,  and  give  up  country  and  kin.  I’m  no 
fire-eater,  Judith,  or  one  that  likes  fightin’  for 
fightin’s  sake ; but  I can  see  no  great  difference 
atween  givirC  up  territory  afore  a war,  out  of  a 
dread  of  war,  and  givin ’ it  up  a? ter  a war,  because 
we  can’t  help  it — onless  it  be  that  the  last  is  the  most 
manful  and  honorable 


236 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


“No  woman  would  ever  wish  to  see  her  hus- 
band or  brother  stand  by  and  submit  to  insult 
and  wrong,  Deerslayer,  however  she  might  mourn 
the  necessity  of  his  running  into  the  dangers  of 
battle.  But  you’ve  done  enough  already  in  clear- 
ing this  region  of  the  Hurons ; since  to  you  is 
principally  owing  the  credit  of  our  late  victory. 
Now,  listen  to  me  patiently,  and  answer  me  with 
that  native  honesty  which  it  is  as  pleasant  to  re- 
gard in  one  of  your  sex  as  it  is  unusual  to  meet 
with.” 

Judith  paused  ; for,  now  that  she  was  on  the 
very  point  of  explaining  herself,  native  modesty 
asserted  its  power,  notwithstanding  the  encour- 
agement and  confidence  she  derived  from  the 
great  simplicity  of  her  companion’s  character. 
Her  cheeks,  which  had  so  lately  been  pale, 
flushed,  and  her  eyes  lighted  with  some  of  their 
former  brilliancy.  Feeling  gave  expression  to 
her  countenance,  and  softness  to  her  voice,  ren- 
dering her  who  was  always  beautiful,  trebly  se- 
ductive and  winning. 

“Deerslayer,”  she  said,  after  a considerable 
pause,  “ this  is  not  a moment  for  affectation,  de- 
ception, or  a want  of  frankness  of  any  sort. 
Here,  over  my  mother’s  grave,  and  over  the  grave 
of  truth-loving,  truth-telling  Hetty,  every  thing 
like  unfair  dealing  seems  to  be  out  of  place.  I 
will  therefore  speak  to  you  without  any  reserve, 
and  without  any  dread  of  being  misunderstood. 
You  are  not  an  acquaintance  of  a week,  but  it  ap- 
pears to  me  as  if  I had  known  you  for  years.  So 
much,  and  so  much  that  is  important,  has  taken 
place  within  that  short  time,  that  the  sorrows,  and 
dangers,  and  escapes  of  a whole  life  have  been 
crowded  into  a few  days ; and  they  who  have  suf- 
fered and  acted  together  in  such  scenes,  ought 
not  to  feel  like  strangers.  I know  that  what  I 
am  about  to  say  might  be  misunderstood  by  most 
men,  but  I hope  for  a generous  construction  of 
my  course  from  you.  We  are  not  here  dwelling 
among  the  arts  and  deceptions  of  the  settlements, 
but  young  people  who  have  no  occasion  to  de- 
ceive each  other,  in  any  manner  or  form.  I hope 
I make  myself  understood  ? ” 

“ Sartain,  Judith;  few  convarse  better  than 
yourself,  and  none  more  agreeable,  like.  Your 
words  are  as  pleasant  as  your  looks.” 

“ It  is  the  manner  in  which  you  have  so  often 
praised  those  looks,  that  gives  me  courage  to  pro- 
ceed. Still,  Deerslayer,  it  is  not  easy  for  one  of 
my  sex  and  years  to  forget  all  her  lessons  of  in- 
fancy, all  her  habits,  and  her  natural  diffidence, 
and  say  openly  what  her  heart  feels ! ” 

“Why  not,  Judith?  Why  shouldn’t  women 
as  well  as  men  deal  fairly  and  honestly  by  their 


fellow-creatur’s  ? I see  no  reason  why  you  should 
not  speak  as  plainly  as  myself,  when  there  is  any 
thing  ra’ally  important  to  be  said.” 

This  indomitable  diffidence,  which  still  pre- 
vented the  young  man  from  suspecting  the  truth, 
would  have  completely  discouraged  the  girl,  had 
not  her  whole  soul,  as  well  as  her  whole  heart, 
been  set  upon  making  a desperate  effort  to  rescue 
herself  from  a future  that  she  dreaded  with  a hor- 
ror as  vivid  as  the  distinctness  with  which  she 
fancied  she  foresaw  it.  This  motive,  however, 
raised  her  above  all  common  considerations,  and 
she  persevered  even  to  her  own  surprise,  if  not  to 
her  great  confusion. 

“ I will — I must  deal  as  plainly  with  you,  as  I 
would  with  poor,  dear  Hetty,  were  that  sweet 
child  living!”  she  continued,  turning  pale,  instead 
of  blushing,  the  high  resolution  by  which  she  was 
prompted  reversing  the  effect  that  such  a pro- 
cedure would  ordinarily  produce  on  one  of  her 
sex ; “ yes,  I will  smother  all  other  feelings  in 
the  one  that  is  now  uppermost ! You  love  the 
woods  and  the  life  that  we  pass  here,  in  the  wil- 
derness, away  from  the  dwellings  and  towns  of 
the  whites  ? ” 

“ As  I loved  my  parents,  Judith,  when  they 
was  living ! This  very  spot  would  be  all  creation 
to  me,  could  this  war  be  fairly  over,  once ; and 
the  settlers  kept  at  a distance.” 

“Why  quit  it,  then?  It  has  no  owner— at 
least  none  who  can  claim  a better  right  than 
mine,  and  that  I freely  give  to  you.  Were  it  a 
kingdom,  Deerslayer,  I think  I should  delight  to 
say  the  same.  Let  us  then  return  to  it,  after  we 
have  seen  the  priest  at  the  fort,  and  never  quit  it 
again,  until  God  calls  us  away  to  that  world 
where  we  shall  find  the  spirits  of  my  poor  moth- 
er and  sister.” 

A long,  thoughtful  pause  succeeded  ; Judith 
having  covered  her  face  with  both  hands,  after 
forcing  herself  to  utter  so  plain  a proposal,  and 
Deerslayer  musing  equally  in  sorrow  and  surprise, 
on  the  meaning  of  the  language  he  had  just  heard. 
At  length  the  hunter  broke  the  silence,  speaking 
in  a tone  that  was  softened  to  gentleness  by  his 
desire  not  to  offend. 

“You  haven’t  thought  well  of  this,  Judith,” 
he  said ; “ no,  your  feelin’s  are  awakened  by  all 
that  has  lately  happened,  and  believin’  yourself  to 
be  without  kindred  in  the  world,  you  are  in  too 
great  haste  to  find  some  to  fill  the  places  of  them 
that’s  lost.” 

“ Were  I living  in  a crowd  of  friends,  Deer- 
slayer, I should  still  think,  as  1 now  think — say 
as  I now  say,”  returned  Judith,  speaking  with  hci 
hands  still  shading  her  lovely  face. 


REJECTED. 


237 


“ Thank  you,  gal — thank  you,  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart.  Howsever,  I am  not  one  to  take 
advantage  of  a weak  moment,  when  you’re  forget- 
ful of  your  own  great  advantages,  and  fancy  ’arth 
and  all  it  holds,  is  in  this  little  canoe.  No — no 
— Judith,  ’twould  be  onginerous  in  me;  what 
you’ve  offered  can  never  come  to  pass ! ” 

“ It  all  may  be,  uid  that  without  leaving  cause 
of  repentance  to  any,”  answered  Judith,  with  an 
impetuosity  of  feeling  and  manner  that  at  once 
unveiled  her  eyes.  “ We  can  cause  the  soldiers 
to  leave  our  goods  on  the  road,  till  we  return, 
when  they  can  easily  be  brought  back  to  the 
house ; the  lake  will  be  no  more  visited  by  the 
enemy  this  war,  at  least ; all  your  skins  may  be 
readily  sold  at  the  garrison ; there  you  can  buy 
the  few  necessaries  we  shall  want,  for  I wifeh 
never  to  see  the  spot  again;  and,  Deerslayer,” 
added  the  girl,  smiling  with  a sweetness  and  nature 
that  the  young  man  found  it  hard  to  resist ; “ as 
a proof  how  wholly  I am  and  wish  to  be  yours — 
how  completely  I desire  to  be  nothing  but  your 
wife,  the  very  first  fire  that  we  kindle,  after  our 
return,  shall  be  lighted  with  the  brocade  dress, 
and  fed  by  every  article  I have  that  you  may 
think  unfit  for  the  woman  you  wish  to  live  with ! ” 

“Ah’s  me! — you’re  a winning  and  a lovely 
creatur’,  Judith ; yes,  you  are  all  that,  and  no  one 
can  deny  it,  and  speak  truth.  These  pictur’s  are 
pleasant  to  the  thoughts,  but  they  mightn’t  prove 
so  happy  as  you  now  think  ’em.  Forget  it  all, 
therefore,  and  let  us  paddle  after  the  Sarpent  and 
Hist,  as  if  nothing  had  been  said  on  the  subject.” 

Judith  was  deeply  mortified,  and,  what  is 
more,  she  was  profoundly  grieved.  Still  there 
was  a steadiness  and  quiet  in  the  manner  of  Deer- 
slayer that  completely  smothered  her  hopes,  and 
told  her  that,  for  once,  her  exceeding  beauty  had 
failed  to  excite  the  admiration  and  homage  it  was 
wont  to  receive.  Women  are  said  seldom  to  for- 
give those  who  slight  their  advances;  but  this 
high-spirited  and  impetuous  girl  entertained  no 
shadow  of  resentment,  then  or  ever,  against  the 
fair-dealing  and  ingenuous  hunter.  At  the  mo- 
ment, the  prevailing  feeling  was  the  wish  to  be 
certain  that  there  was  no  misunderstanding.  After 
another  painful  pause,  therefore,  she  brought  the 
matter  to  an  issue,  by  a question  too  direct  to 
admit  of  equivocation. 

“ God  forbid  that  we  lay  up  regrets  in  after- 
life, through  any  want  of  sincerity  now  !”  she  said. 
“ I hope  we  understand  each  other  at  least.  You 
will  not  accept  me  for  a wife,  Deerslayer  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  better  for  both  that  I shouldn’t  take 
advantage  of  your  own  forgetfulness,  Judith.  We 
can  never  marry.”' 


“You  do  not  love  me — cannot  find  it  in  your 
heart,  perhaps,  to  esteem  me,  Deerslayer ! ” 

“ Every  thing  in  the  way  of  fri’ndship,  Judith 
— every  thing,  even  to  sarvices  and  life  itself. 
Yes,  I’d  risk  as  much  for  you,  at  this  moment,  as 
I would  risk  in  behalf  of  Hist : and  that  is  sayin* 
as  much  as  I can  say  of  any  darter  of  woman.  I 
do  not  think  I feel  toward  either — mind  I say 
either  y Judith — as  if  I wished  to  quit  father  and 
mother — if  father  and  mother  was  livin’ ; which, 
however,  neither  is — but  if  both  was  livin’,  I do 
not  feel  toward  any  woman  as  if  I wish’d  to  quit 
’em  in  order  to  cleave  unto  her.” 

“ This  is  enough ! ” answered  Judith,  in  a re- 
buked and  smothered  voice;  “I  understand  all 
that  you  mean.  Marry  you  cannot,  without  lov- 
ing ; and  that  love  you  do  not  feel  for  me.  Make 
no  answer  if  I am  right,  for  I shall  understand 
your  silence.  That  will  be  painful  enough  of  it- 
self.” 

Deerslayer  obeyed  her,  and  lie  made  no  reply. 
For  more  than  a minute  the  girl  riveted  her  bright 
eyes  on  him  as  if  to  read  his  soul ; while  he  sat 
playing  with  the  water,  like  a corrected  school- 
boy. Then  Judith  herself  dropped  the  end  of 
her  paddle,  and  urged  the  canoe  away  from  the 
spot,  with  a movement  as  reluctant  as  the  feelings 
which  controlled  it.  Deerslayer  quietly  aided  the 
effort,  however,  and  they  were  soon  on  the  track- 
less line  taken  by  the  Delaware. 

In  their  way  to  the  point,  not  another  syl- 
lable was  exchanged  between  Deerslayer  and  his 
fair  companion.  As  Judith  sat  in  the  bow  of  the 
canoe,  her  back  was  turned  toward  him,  else  it 
is  probable  the  expression  of  her  countenance 
might  have  induced  him  to  venture  some  sooth- 
ing terms  of  friendship  and  regard.  Contrary  to 
what  would  have  been  expected,  resentment  was 
still  absent,  though  the  color  frequently  changed 
from  the  deep  flush  of  mortification  to  the  pale- 
ness of  disappointment.  Sorrow,  deep,  heart- 
felt sorrow,  however,  was  the  predominant  emo- 
tion, and  this  was  betrayed  in  a manner  not  to  be 
mistaken. 

As  neither  labored  hard  at  the  paddle,  the 
ark  had  already  arrived,  and  the  soldier’s  had  dis- 
embarked before  the  canoe  of  the  two  loiterers 
reached  the  point.  Chingachgook  had  preceded 
it,  and  was  already  some  distance  in  the  wood,  at 
a spot  where  the  two  trails,  that  to  the  garrison 
and  that  to  the  villages  of  the  Delawares,  sepa- 
rated. The  soldiers,  too,  had  taken  up  their  line 
of  march  ; first  setting  the  ark  adrift  again,  with 
a reckless  disregard  of  its  fate.  All  this  Judith 
saw,  but  she  heeded  it  not.  The  Glimmerglass 
had  no  longer  any  charms  for  her ; and  when 


238 


THE  DEERSLAYER. 


she  put  her  foot  on  the  strand,  she  immediately 
proceeded  on  the  trail  of  the  soldiers,  without 
casting  a single  glance  behind  her.  Even  Hist, 
was  passed  unnoticed  ; that  modest  young  crea- 
ture shrinking  from  the  averted  face  of  Judith, 
as  if  guilty  herself  of  some  wrong-doing. 

“ Wait  you  here,  Sarpent,”  said,  Deerslayer,  as 
he  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the  dejected 
beauty,  while  passing  hi3  friend.  “ I will  just 
see  Judith  among  her  party,  and  come  and  j’ine 
you.” 

A hundred  yards  had  hid  the  couple  from 
those  in  front,  as  well  as  those  in  the  rear,  when 
Judith  turned  and  spoke. 

“ This  will  do,  Deerslayer,”  she  said,  sadly. 
“ I understand  your  kindness,  but  shall  not  need 
it.  In  a few  minutes  I shall  reach  the  soldiers. 
As  you  cannot  go  with  me  an  the  journey  of  life, 

I do  not  wish  you  to  go  farther  on  this.  But  stop  ; 
before  we  part  I would  ask  you  a single  question. 
And  I require  of  you,  as  you  fear  God,  and  reverence 
the  truth,  not  to  deceive  me  in  your  answer.  I 
know  you  do  not  love  another ; and  I can  see  but 
one  reason  why  you  cannot,  will  not  love  me. 
Tell  me,  then,  Deerslayer—”  The  girl  paused, 
the  words  she  was  about  to  utter,  seeming  to 
choke  her.  Then  rallying  all  her  resolution,  with 
a face  that  flushed  and  paled  at  every  breath  she 
drew,  she  continued : “ Tell  me,  then,  Deerslayer, 
if  any  thing  light  of  me,  that  Henry  March  has 
said,  may  not  have  influenced  your  feelings  ? ” 

Truth  was  the  Deerslayer’s  polar  star.  He 
ever  kept  it  in  view  ; and  it  was  nearly  impossible 
for  him  to  avoid  uttering  it,  even  when  prudence 
demanded  silence.  Judith  read  his  answer  in  his 
countenance ; and  with  a heart  nearly  broken  by 
the  consciousness  of  undeserving,  she  signed  to 
him  an  adieu,  and  buried  herself  in  the  woods. 
For  some  time  Deerslayer  was  irresolute  as  to  his 
course  , but  in  the  end,  he  retraced  his  steps  and 
joined  the  Delaware.  That  night,  the  three 
“camped”  on  the  head-waters  of  their  own  river, 
and  the  succeeding  evening  they  entered  the  vil_ 
lage  of  the  tribe;  Chingachgook  and  his  be- 
trothed, in  triumph ; their  companion  honored  and 
admired,  but  in  a sorrow  that  it  required  months 
of  activity  to  remove. 

The  war  that  then  had  its  rise  was  stirring 
and  bloody.  The  Delaware  chief  rose  among  his 
people,  until  his  name  was  never  mentioned  with- 
out eulogiums : while  another  Uncas,  the  last  of 
his  race,  was  added  to  the  long  line  of  warriors 
who  bore  that  distinguished  appelation.  As  for 
the  Deerslayer,  under  the  sobriquet  of  Hawkeye, 
he  made  his  fame  spread  far  and  near,  until  the 
crack  of  his  rifle  became  as  terrible  to  the  ears 


of  the  Mingoes  as  the  thunders  of  the  Maniton 
His  services  were  soon  required  by  the  officers  of 
the  crown,  and  he  especially  attached  himself,  in 
the  field,  to  one  in  particular,  with  whose  after- 
life he  had  a close  and  important  connection. 

Fifteen  years  had  passed  away,  ere  it  was  in 
the  power  of  the  Deerslayer  to  revisit  the  Glim- 
merglass.  A peace  had  intervened,  and  it  was  on 
the  eve  of  another,  and  still  more  important  war, 
when  he  and  his  constant  friend,  Chingachgook, 
were  hastening  to  the  forts  to  join  their  allies. 
A stripling  accompanied  them,  for  Hist  already 
slumbered  beneath  the  pines  of  the  Delawares, 
and  the  three  survivors  had  now  become  insepa- 
rable. They  reached  the  lake  just  as  the  sun  was 
setting.  Here  all  was  unchanged ; the  river  still 
rushed  through  its  bower  of  trees ; the  little  rock 
was  wasting  away  by  the  slow  action  of  the  waves 
in  the  course  of  centuries ; the  mountains  stood 
in  their  native  dress,  dark,  rich,  and  mysterious  ; 
while  the  sheet  glistened  in  its  solitude,  a beauti- 
ful gem  of  the  forest. 

The  following  morning  the  youth  discovered 
one  of  the  canoes  drifted  on  the  shore,  in  a state 
of  decay.  A little  labor  put  it  in  a state  for 
service,  and  they  all  embarked,  with  a desire  to 
examine  the  place.  All  the  points  were  passed, 
and  Chingachgook  pointed  out  to  his  son  the 
spot  where  the  Hurons  had  first  encamped,  and 
the  point  whence  he  had  succeeded  in  stealing  his 
bride.*  Here  they  even  landed  ; but  all  traces  of 
the  former  visit  had  disappeared.  Next  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  scene  of  the  battle,  and  there  they 
found  a few  of  the  signs  that  linger  around  such 
localities.  Wild  beasts  had  disinterred  many  of 
the  bodies,  and  human  bones  were  bleaching  in 
the  rains  of  summer.  Uncas  regarded  all  with 
reverence  and  pity,  though  traditions  were  al- 
readv  rousing  his  young  mind  to  the  ambition  and 
sternness  of  a warrior. 

From  the  point,  the  canoe  took  its  way  toward 
the  shoal,  where  the  remains  of  the  castle  were 
still  visible,  a picturesque  ruin.  The  storms  of 
winter  had  long  sinee  unroofed  the  house,  and 
decay  had  eaten  into  the  logs.  All  the  fastenings 
were  untouched,  but  the  seasons  rioted  in  the 
place,  as  if  in  mockery  at  the  attempt  to  exclude 
them.  The  palisades  were  rotting,  as  were  the 
piles ; and  it  was  evident  that  a few  more  recur 
rences  of  winter,  a few  more  gales  and  tempests, 
would  sweep  all  into  the  lake,  and  blot  the  build- 
ing from  the  face  of  that  magnificent  solitude. 
The  graves  could  not  be  found.  Either  the  ele- 
ments had  obliterated  their  traces,  or  time  had 
caused  those  who  looked  for  them,  to  forget  their 
position. 


GLIMMERGLASS,  AFTER  FIFTEEN  YEARS. 


239 


The  ark  was  discovered  stranded  on  the  east- 
ern shore,  where  it  had  long  before  been  driven, 
with  the  prevalent  northwest  winds.  It  lay  on 
the  sandy  extremity  of  a long,  low  point,  that  is 
situated  about  two  miles  from  the  *outlet,  and 
which  is  itself  fast  disappearing  before  the  action 
of  the  elements.  The  scow  was  filled  with  water, 
the  cabin  unroofed,  and  the  logs  were  decaying. 
Some  of  its  coarser  furniture  still  remained,  and 
the  heart  of  Deerslayer  beat  quick,  as  he  found  a 
ribbon  of  Judith’s  fluttering  from  a log.  It  re- 
called all  her  beauty,  and,  we  may  add,  all  her 
failings.  Although  the  girl  had  never  touched 
his  heart,  the  Hawkeye,  for  so  we  ought  now  to 
call  him,  still  retained  a kind  and  sincere  interest 
in  her  welfare.  He  tore  away  the  ribbon,  and 
knotted  it  to  the  stock  of  Killdeer,  which  had 
been  the  gift  of  the  girl  herself. 

A few  miles  farther  up  the  lake  another  of  the 
canoes  was  discovered ; and  on  the  point  where 
the  party  finally  landed,  were  found  those  which 
had  been  left  there  upon  the  shore.  That  in 
which  the  present  navigation  was  made,  and  the 
one  discovered  on  the  eastern  shore,  had  dropped 
through  the  decayed  floor  of  the  castle,  drifted 
past  the  falling  palisades,  and  had  been  thrown 
as  waifs  upon  the  beach. 

From  all  these  signs,  it  was  probable  the  lake 
had  not  been  visited  since  the  occurrence  of  the 
final  scene  of  our  tale.  Accident  or  tradition  had 
rendered  it  again  a spot  sacred  to  Nature ; the 
frequent  wars,  and  the  feeble  population  of  the 
colonies,  still  confining  the  settlements  within 
narrow  boundaries.  Chingachgook  and  his  friend 
left  the  spot  with  melancholy  feelings.  It  had 
been  the  region  of  their  First  War-Path,  and  it 
carried  back  the  minds  of  both  to  scenes  of  tender- 
ness as  well  as  to  hours  of  triumph.  They  held 
their  way  toward  the  Mohawk  in  silence,  however, 


to  rush  into  new  adventures,  as  stirring  and  as 
remarkable  as  those  which  had  attended  their 
opening  career  on  this  lovely  lake.  At  a later 
day  they  returned  to  the  place,  where  the  Indian 
found  a grave. 

Time  and  circumstance  have  drawn  an  im- 
penetrable mystery  around  all  else  connected 
with  the  Hutters.  They  lived,  erred,  died,  and 
are  forgotten.  None  connected  have  felt  sufficient 
interest  in  the  disgraced  and  disgracing,  to  with- 
draw the  veil ; and  a century  is  about  to  erase 
even  the  recollection  of  their  names.  The  history 
of  crime  is  ever  revolting,  and  it  is  fortunate  that 
few  love  to  4well  on  its  incidents.  The  sins  of 
the  family  have  long  since  been  arraigned  at  the 
judgment-seat  of  God,  or  are  registered  for  the 
terrible  settlement  of  the  last  great  day. 

The  same  fate  attended  Judith.  When  Hawk- 
eye  reached  the  garrison  on  the  Mohawk,  he  in- 
quired anxiously  after  that  lbvelv  but  misguided 
creature.  None  knew  her — even  her  person  was 
no  longer  remembered.  Other  officers  had  again 
and  again  succeeded  the  Warleys  and  Craigs  and 
Grahams  ; though  an  old  sergeant  of  the  garrison, 
who  had  lately  come  from  England,  was  enabled 
to  tell  our  hero  that  Sir  Robert  Warley  lived  on 
his  paternal  estates,  and  that  there  was  a lady  of 
rare  beauty  in  the  lodge,  who  had  great  influence 
over  him,  though  she  did  hot  bear  his  name. 
Whether  this  was  Judith,  relapsed  into  her  early 
failing,  or  some  other  victim  of  the  soldier’s, 
Hawkeye  never  knew,  nor  would  it  be  pleasant 
or  profitable  to  inquire.  We  live  in  a world  of 
transgressions  and  selfishness,  and  no  pictures 
that  represent  us  otherwise  can  be  true ; though, 
happily  for  human  nature,  gleamings  of  that  pure 
spirit  in  whose  likeness  man  has  been  fashioned, 
are  to  be  seen,  relieving  its  deformities,  and  miti- 
gating, if  not  excusing  its  crimes. 


16 


T U K 


KND. 


THE 


LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER.  ' 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 


“ More  than  one  savage  rushed  toward  them,  thinking  to  rifle  the  unprotected  sisters 
of  their  attire,  and  bear  away  their  scalps ; but  when  they  found  this  strange  and  unmovedi 
figure  riveted  to  his  post,  they  paused  to  listen.” 


.Last  of  the  Mohicans,  p.  88. 


THE 


LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 

A NARRATIVE  OF  1757. 


BY 

J.  PENIMOKE  COOPER. 


i(  Mislike  me  not  for  my  complexion, 

The  shadowed  livery  of  the  burnished  sun.” 


ILLUSTRATED  FROM  DRAWINGS  BY  F.  0.  G DARLEY, 


HEW  YORK: 

D . APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

1,  3,  and  5 BOND  STREET. 

18  8 1. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 
D.  APPLETON  & CO., 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  believed  that  the  scene  of  this  tale,  and  most  of  the  information  necessary  to 
snderstand  its  allusions,  are  rendered  sufficiently  obvious  to  the  reader  in  the  text  itself, 
or  in  the  accompanying  notes.  Still  there  is  so  much  obscurity  in  the  Indian  traditions, 
and  so  much  confusion  in  the  Indian  names,  as  to  render  some  explanation  useful. 

Few  men  exhibit  greater  diversity,  or,  if  we  may  so  express  it,  greater  antithesis  of 
character,  than  the  native  warrior  of  North  America.  In  war,  he  is  daring,  boastful, 
cunning,  ruthless,  self-denying,  and  self-devoted;  in  peace,  just,  generous,  hospitable, 
revengeful,  superstitious,  modest,  and  commonly  chaste.  These  are  qualities,  it  is  true, 
which  do  not  distinguish  all  alike ; but  they  are  so  far  the  predominating  traits  of  these 
remarkable  people,  as  to  be  characteristic. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  the  Aborigines  of  the  American  Continent  have  an 
Asiatic  origin.  There  are  many  physical  as  well  as  moral  facts  which  corroborate  this 
opinion,  and  some  few  that  would  seem  to  weigh  against  it. 

The  color  of  the  Indian,  the  writer  believes,  is  peculiar  to  himself ; and  while  his 
cheek-bones  have  a very  striking  indication  of  a Tartar  origin,  his  eyes  have  not.  Cli- 
mate may  have  had  great  influence  on  the  former,  but  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  it  can 
have  produced  the  substantial  difference  which  exists  in  the  latter.  The  imagery  of  the 
Indian,  both  in  his  poetry  and  his  oratory,  is  Oriental — chastened,  and  perhaps  im- 
proved, by  the  limited  range  of  his  practical  knowledge.  He  draws  his  metaphors  from 
the  clouds,  the  seasons,  the  birds,  the  beasts,  and  the  vegetable  world.  In  this,  perhaps, 
he  does  no  more  than  any  other  energetic  and  imaginative  race  would  do,  being  com- 
pelled to  set  bounds  to  fancy  by  experience ; but  the  North  American  Indian  clothes  his 
ideas  in  a dress  which  is  different  from  that  of  the  African,  and  is  Oriental  in  itself.  His 
language  has  the  richness  and  sententious  fulness  of  the  Chinese.  He  will  express  a 
phrase  in  a word,  and  he  will  qualify  the  meaning  of  an  entire  sentence  by  a syllable ; he 
will  even  convey  different  significations  by  the  simplest  inflections  of  the  voice. 

Philologists  have  said  that  there  are  but  two  or  three  languages,  properly  speaking, 
among  all  the  numerous  tribes  which  formerly  occupied  the  country  that  now  composes 
the  United  States.  They  ascribe  the  known  difficulty  one  people  have  in  understanding 
another  to  corruptions  and  dialects.  The  writer  remembers  to  have  been  present  at  an 
interview  between  two  chiefs  of  the  Great  Prairies  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  when  an 
interpreter  was  in  attendance  who  spoke  both  their  languages.  The  warriors  appeared 
to  be  on  the  most  friendly  terms,  and  seemingly  conversed  much  together ; yet,  accord- 
ing to  the  account  of  the  interpreter,  each  was  absolutely  ignorant  of  what  the  other 
said.  They  were  hostile  tribes,  brought  together  by  the  influence  of  the  American  Gov- 
ernment; and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  a common  policy  led  them  both  to  adopt  the 
same  subject.  They  mutually  exhorted  each  other  to  be  of  use  in  the  event  of  the 
chances  of  war  throwing  either  of  the  parties  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  "Whatever 
may  be  the  truth,  as  respects  the  root  and  the  genius  of  the  Indian  tongues,  it  is  quite 
certain  they  are  now  so  distinct  in  their  words  as  to  possess  most  of  the  disadvantages 
of  strange  languages ; hence  much  of  the  embarrassment  that  has  arisen  in  learning  their 
histories,  and  most  of  the  uncertainty  which  exists  in  their  traditions. 


INTRODUCTION. 


4- 


Like  nations  of  higher  pretensions,  the  American  Indian  gives  a very  different  ac- 
count of  his  own  tribe  or  race  from  that  which  is  given  by  other  people.  He  is  much 
addicted  to  over-estimating  his  own  perfections,  and  to  undervaluing  those  of  his  rival 
or  his  enemy ; a trait  which  may  possibly  be  thought  corroborative  of  the  Mosaic  ac- 
count of  the  creation. 

The  Whites  have  assisted  greatly  in  rendering  the  traditions  of  the  Aborigines  more 
obscure  by  their  own  manner  of  corrupting  names.  Thus,  the  term  used  in  the  title  of 
this  book  has  undergone  the  changes  of  Mahicanni,  Mohicans,  and  Mohegans ; the  latter 
being  the  word  commonly  used  by  the  Whites.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the  Dutch 
(who  first  settled  New  York),  the  English,  and  the  French,  all  gave  appellations  to  the 
tribes  that  dwelt  within  the  country  which  is  the  scene  of  this  story,  and  that  the  Indi- 
ans not  only  gave  different  names  to  their  enemies,  but  frequently  to  themselves,  the 
cause  of  the  confusion  will  be  understood. 

In  these  pages,  Lenni-Lenape,  Lenope,  Delawares,  Wapanachki,  and  Mohicans,  all 
mean  the  same  people,  or  tribes  of  the  same  stock.  The  Mengwe,  the  Maquas,  the  Min- 
goes,  and  the  Iroquois,  though  not  all  strictly  the  same,  are  identified  frequently  by  the 
speakers,  being  politically  confederated  and  opposed  to  those  just  named.  Mingo  was  a 
term  of  peculiar  reproach,  as  were  Mengwe  and  Maqua  in  a less  degree. 

The  Mohicans  were  the  possessors  of  the  country  first  occupied  by  the  Europeans  in 
this  portion  of  the  continent.  They  were,  consequently,  the  first  dispossessed;  and  the 
seemingly  inevitable  fate  of  all  these  people,  who  disappear  before  the  advances,  or  it 
might  be  termed  the  inroads  of  civilization,  as  the  verdure  of  their  native  forests  falls 
before  the  nipping  frost,  is  represented  as  having  already  befallen  them.  There  is  suffi- 
cient historical  truth  in  the  picture  to  justify  the  use  that  has  been  made  of  it. 

In  point  of  fact,  the  country  which  is  the  scene  of  the  following  tale  has  undergone 
as  little  change,  since  the  historical  events  alluded  to  had  place,  as  almost  any  other 
district  of  equal  extent  within  the  whole  limits  of  the  United  States.  There  are  fashion- 
able and  well-attended  watering-places  at  and  near  the  spring  where  Hawk-eye  halted 
to  drink,  and  roads  traverse  the  forests  where  he  and  his  friends  were  compelled  to  jour- 
ney without  even  a path.  Glenn’s  has  a large  village;  and,  while  William  Henry,  and 
even  a fortress  of  later  date,  are  only  to  be  traced  as  ruins,  there  is  another  village  on 
the  shores  of  the  Horican.  But,  beyond  this,  the  enterprise  and  energy  of  a people  who 
have  done  so  much  in  other  places  have  done  little  here.  The  whole  of  that  wilderness, 
in  which  the  latter  incidents  of  the  legend  occurred,  is  nearly  a wilderness  still,  though 
the  red  man  has  entirely  deserted  this  part  of  the  State.  Of  all  the  tribes  named  in  these 
pages,  there  exist  only  a few  half-civilized  beings  of  the  Oneidas,  on  the  reservations  of 
their  people  in  New  York.  The  rest  have  disappeared,  either  from  the  regions  in  which 
their  fathers  dwelt,  or  altogether  from  the  earth. 

There  is  one  point  on  which  we  would  wish  to  say  a word  before  closing  this  preface. 
Hawk-eye  calls  the  Lac  du  Saint  Sacrement , the  “Horican.”  As  we  believe  this  to  be 
an  appropriation  of  the  name  that  has  its  origin  with  ourselves,  the  time  has  arrived, 
perhaps,  when  the  fact  should  be.  frankly  admitted.  While  writing  this  book,  fully  a 
quarter  of  a century  since,  it  occurred  to  us  that  the  French  name  of  this  lake  was  too 
complicated,  the  American  too  commonplace,  and  the  Indian  too  unpronounceable,  for 
either  to  be  used  familiarly  in  a work  of  fiction.  Looking  over  an  ancient  map,  it  was 
ascertained  that  a tribe  of  Indians,  called  “Les  Iloricans  ” by  the  French,  existed  in  the 
neighborhood  of  this  beautiful  sheet  of  water.#  As  every  word  uttered  by  Natty  Bump- 
po  was  not  to  be  received  as  rigid  truth,  we  took  the  liberty  of  putting  the  “ Horican  ” 
into  his  mouth,  as  the  substitute  for  “Lake  George.”  The  name  has  appeared  to  find 
favor,  and,  all  things  considered,  it  may  possibly  be  quite  as  well  to  let  it  stand,  instead 
of  going  back  to  the  house  of  Hanover  for  the  appellation  of  our  finest  sheet  of  water. 
We  relieve  our  conscience  by  the  confession,  at  all  events,  leaving  it  to  exercise  its  au- 
thority as  it  may  see  fit. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS, 


CHAPTER  I. 

Mine  ear  is  open,  and  my  heart  prepared : 

The  worst  is  worldly  loss  thou  canst  unfold : 

Say,  is  my  kingdom  lost’  ” 

Shakespeare. 

It  was  a feature  peculiar  to  the  colonial  wars 
of  North  America,  that  the  toils  and  dangers  of 
the  wilderness  were  to  be  encountered  before  the 
adverse  hosts  could  meet.  A wide  and  apparent- 
ly an  impervious  boundary  of  forests  severed  the 
possessions  of  the  hostile  provinces  of  France  and 
England.  The  hardy  colonist,  and  the  trained 
European  who  fought  at  his  side,  frequently  ex- 
pended months  in  struggling  against  the  rapids 
of  the  streams,  or  in  effecting  the  rugged  passes 
of  the  mountains,  in  quest  of  an  opportunity  to 
exhibit  their  courage  in  a more  martial  conflict. 
But,  emulating  the  patience  and  self-denial  of  the 
practised  native  warriors,  they  learned  to  over- 
come every  difficulty ; and  it  would  seem  that,  in 
time,  there  was  no  recess  of  the  woods  so  dark, 
nor  any  secret  place  so  lovely,  that  it  might  claim 
exemption  from  the  inroads  of  those  who  had 
pledged  their  blood  to  satiate  their  vengeance,  or 
to  uphold  the.cold  and  selfish  policy  of  the  dis- 
tant monarchs  of  Europe. 

Perhaps  no  district  throughout  the  wide  ex- 
tent of  the  intermediate  frontiers  can  furnish  a 
livelier  picture  of  the  cruelty  and  fierceness  of 
the  savage  warfare  of  those  periods  than  the 
country  which  lies  between  the  head-waters  of 
the  Hudson  and  the  adjacent  lakes. 

The  facilities  which  Nature  had  there  offered 
to  the  march  of  the  combatants  were  too  obvious 
to  be  neglected.  The  lengthened  sheet  of  the 
Champlain  stretched  from  the  frontiers  of  Canada, 
deep  within  the  borders  of  the  neighboring  prov- 
ince of  New  York,  forming  a natural  passage 
across  half  the  distance  that  the  French  were 


compelled  to  master  in  order  to  strike  their  ene- 
mies. Near  its  southern  termination,  it  received 
the  contributions  of  another  lake,  whose  waters 
were  so  limpid  as  to  have  been  exclusively  select- 
ed by  the  J esuit  missionaries  to  perform  the  typi- 
cal purification  of  baptism,  and  to  obtain  for  it 
the  title  of  lake  “ du  Saint  Sacrement.”  The  less 
zealous  English  thought  they  conferred  a suf- 
ficient honor  on  its  unsullied  fountains,  when  they 
bestowed  the  name  of  their  reigning  prince,  the 
second  of  the  house  of  Hanover.  The  two  united 
to  rob  the  untutored  possessors  of  its  wooded 
scenery  of  their  native  right  to  perpetuate  its 
original  appellation  of  “ Horican.”* 

Winding  its  way  among  countless  islands,  and 
embedded  in  mountains,  the  “ holy  lake  ” extend- 
ed a dozen  leagues  still  farther  to  the  south. 
With  the  high  plain  that  there  interposed  itself 
to  the  further  passage  of  the  water,  commenced  a 
portage  of  as  many  miles,  which  conducted  the 
adventurer  to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  at  a 
point  where,  with  the  usual  obstructions  of  the 
rapids,  or  rifts,  as  they  were  then  termed  in  the 
language  of  the  country,  the  river  became  navi- 
gable to  the  tide. 

While,  in  the  pursuit  of  their  daring  plans  of 
annoyance,  the  restless  enterprise  of  the  French 
even  attempted  the  distant  and  difficult  gorges  of 
the  Alleghany,  it  may  easily  be  imagined  that 
their  proverbial  acuteness  would  not  overlook  the 
natural  advantages  of  the  district  we  have  just 
described.  It  became,  emphatically,  the  bloody 

* As  each  nation  of  the  Indians  had  either  its  language 
or  its  dialect,  they  usually  gave  different  names  to  the  same 
places,  though  nearly  all  of  their  appellations  were  descrip- 
tive of  the  object.  Thus,  a literal  translation  of  the  name 
of  this  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  used  by  the  tribe  that 
dwelt  on  its  banks,  would  be  “The  Tail  of  the  Lake.” 
Lake  George,  as  it  is  vulgarly,  and  now  indeed  legally,  called, 
forms  a sort  of  tail  to  Lake  Champlain,  when  viewed  on  tlui 
map.  Hence  the  name. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


arena,  in  which  most  of  the  battles  for  the  mas- 
tery of  the  colonies  were  contested.  Forts  were 
erected  at  the  different  points  that  commanded 
the  facilities  of  the  route,  and  were  taken  and  re- 
taken, rased  and  rebuilt,  as  victory  alighted  on 
the  hostile  banners.  While  the  husbandman 
shrank  back  from  the  dangerous  passes,  within 
the  safer  boundaries  of  the  more  ancient  settle- 
ments, armies  larger  than  those  that  had  often 
disposed  of  the  sceptres  of  the  mother-countries, 
were  seen  to  bury  themselves  in  these  forests, 
whence  they  rarely  returned  but  in  skeleton  bands, 
that  were  haggard  with  care,  or  dejected  by  de- 
feat. Though  the  arts  of  peace  were  unknown  to 
this  fatal  region,  its  forests  were  alive  with  men  ; 
its  shades  and  glens  rang  with  the  sounds  of  mar- 
tial music,  and  the  echoes  of  its  mountains  threw 
back  the  laugh,  or  repeated  the  wanton  cry,  of 
many  a gallant  and  reckless  youth,  as  he  hurried 
by  them,  in  the  noontide  of  his  spirits,  to  slumber 
in  a long  night  of  forgetfulness. 

It  was  in  this  scene  of  strife  and  bloodshed 
that  the  incidents  we  shall  attempt  to  relate  oc- 
curred, during  the  third  year  of  the  war  which 
England  and  France  last  waged  for  the  possession 
of  a country  that  neither  was  destined  to  retain. 

The  imbecility  of  her  military  leaders  abroad, 
and  the  fatal  want  of  energy  in  her  councils  at 
home,  had  lowered  the  character  of  Great  Britain 
from  the  proud  elevation  on  which  it  had  been 
placed,  by  the  talents  and  enterprise  of  her  former 
warriors  and  statesmen.  No  longer  dreaded  by 
her  enemies,  her  servants  were  fast  losing  the 
confidence  of  self-respect.  In  this  mortifying 
abasement  the  colonists,  though  innocent  of  her 
imbecility,  and  too  humble  to  be  the  agents  of 
her  blunders,  were  but  the  natural  participators. 
They  had  recently  seen  a chosen  army  from  that 
country,  which,  reverencing  as  a mother,  they 
had  blindly  believed  invincible — an  army  led  by 
a chief  who  had  been  selected  from  a crowd  of 
trained  warriors,  for  his  rare  military  endowments, 
disgracefully  routed  by  a handful  of  French  and 
Indians,  and  only  saved  from  annihilation  by  the 
coolness  and  spirit  of  a Virginian  boy,  whose 
riper  fame  has  since  diffused  itself,  with  the  steady 
influence  of  moral  truth,  to  the  uttermost  confines 
of  Christendom.*  A wide  frontier  had  been  laid 

* Washington:  who,  after  uselessly  admonishing  the 
European  general  of  the  danger  into  which  he  was  heed- 
lessly running,  saved  the  remnants  of  the  British  army,  on- 
this  occasion,  by  his  decision  and  courage.  The  reputation 
earned  by  Washington  in  this  battle  was  the  principal  cause 
of  his  being  selected  to  command  the  American  armies  at  a 
later  day.  It  is  a circumstance  worthy  of  observation  that, 
while  all  America  rang  with  his  well-merited  reputation,  his 
name  does  not  occur  in  any  European  account  of  the  bat- 


naked  by  this  unexpected  disaster,  and  more  sub- 
stantial evils  were  preceded  by  a thousand  fanci- 
ful and  imaginary  dangers.  The  alarmed  colo- 
nists believed  that  the  yells  of  the  savages  mingled 
with  every  fitful  gust  of  wind  that  issued  from 
the  interminable  forests  of  the  West.  The  ter- 
rific character  of  their  merciless  enemies  increased 
immeasurably  the  natural  horrors  of  warfare. 
Numberless  recent  massacres  were  still  vivid  in 
their  recollections  ; nor  was  there  any  car  in  the 
provinces  so  deaf  as  not  to  have  drunk  in  with 
avidity  the  narrative  of  some  fearful  tale  of  mid- 
night murder,  in  which  the  natives  of  the  forests 
were  the  principal  and  barbarous  actors.  As  the 
credulous  and  excited  traveller  related  the  haz- 
ardous chances  of  the  wilderness,  the  blood  of 
the  timid  curdled  with  terror,  and  mothers  cast 
anxious  glances  even  at  those  children  which 
slumbered  within  the  security  of  the  largest 
towns.  In  short,  the  magnifying  influence  of 
fear  began  to  set  at  naught  the  calculations  of 
reason,  and  to  render  those  who  should  have  re- 
membered their  manhood,  the  slaves  of  the  basest 
of  passiops.  Even  the  most  confident  and  the 
stoutest  hearts  began  to  think  the  issue  of  the 
contest  was  becoming  doubtful ; and  that  abject 
class  was  hourly  increasing  in  numbers,  who 
thought  they  foresaw  all  the  possessions  of  the 
English  crown  in  America  subdued  by  their 
Christian  foes,  or  laid  waste  by  the  inroads  of 
their  relentless  allies. 

When,  therefore,  intelligence  was  received  at 
the  fort,  which  covered  the  southern  termination 
of  the  portage  between  the  Hudson  and  the  lakes, 
that.  Montcalm  had  been  seen  moving  up  the 
Champlain,  with  an  army  “ numerous  as  the 
leaves  on  the  trees,”  its  truth  was  admitted  with 
more  of  the  craven  reluctance  of  fear  than  with 
the  stern  joy  that  a warrior  should  feel,  in  finding 
an  enemy  within  reach  of  his  blow.  The  news 
had  been  brought,  toward  the  decline  of  a day  in 
midsummer,  by  an  Indian  runner,  who  also  bore 
an  urgent  request  from  Munro,  the  commander 
of  a work  on  the  shore  of  the  “ holy  lake,”  for  a 
speedy  and  powerful  reenforcement.  It  has  al- 
ready been  mentioned  that  the  distance  between 
these  two  posts  was  less  than  five  leagues.  The 
rude  path,  which  originally  formed  their  line  of 
communication,  had  been  widened  for  the  pas- 
sage of  wagons  ; so  that  the  distance  which  had 
been  travelled  by  the  son  of  the  forest  in  two 
hours,  might  easily  be  effected  by  a detachment 
of  troops,  with  their  necessary  baggage,  between 

tie ; at  least,  the  author  has  searched  for  it  without  success 
In  this  manner  does  the  mother-country  absorb  even  th* 
fame,  under  that  system  of  rule. 


ADVANCE  OF  MONTCALM. 


7 


the  rising  and  setting  of  a summer  sun.  The  loy- 
al servants  of  the  British  crown  had  given  to  one 
of  these  forest  fastnesses  the  name  of  William 
Henry,  and  to  the  other  that  of  Fort  Edward  ; 
calling  each  after  a favorite  prince  of  the  reigning 
family.  The  veteran  Scotchman  just  named  held 
the  first,  with  a regiment  of  regulars  and  a few 
orovincials  ; a force  really  by  far  too  small  to 
make  head  against  the  formidable  power  that 
Montcalm  was  leading  to  the  foot  of  his  earthen 
mounds.  At  the  latter,  however,  lay  General 
Webb,  who  commanded  the  armies  of  the  king 
in  the  northern  provinces,  with  a body  of  more 
than  five  thousand  men.  By  uniting  the  several 
detachments  of  his  command,  this  officer  might 
have  arrayed  nearly  double  that  number  of  com- 
batants against  the  enterprising  Frenchman,  who 
had  ventured  so  far  from  his  reenforcements,  with 
an  army  but  little  superior  in  numbers. 

But,  under  the  influence  of  their  degraded  for- 
tunes, both  officers  and  men  appeared  better  dis- 
posed to  await  the  approach  of  their  formidable 
antagonists  within  their  works,  than  to  resist  the 
progress  of  their  march,  by  emulating  the  success- 
ful example  of  the  French  at  Fort  du  Quesne,  and 
striking  a blow  on  their  advance. 

After  the  first  surprise  of  the  intelligence  had 
a little  abated,  a rumor  was  spread  through  the 
intrenched  camp,  which  stretched  along  the  mar- 
gin of  the  Hudson,  forming  a chain  of  outworks 
to  the  body  of  the  fort  itself,  that  a chosen  de- 
tachment of  fifteen  hundred  men  was  to  depart, 
with  the  dawn,  for  William  Henry,  the  post  at 
the  northern  extremity  of  the  portage.  That 
which  at  first  was  only  rumor,  soon  became  cer- 
tainty, as  orders  passed  from  the  quarters  of  the 
commander-in-chief  to  the  several  corps  he  had 
selected  for  this  service,  fto  prepare  for  their 
speedy  departure.  All  doubt  as  to  the  intention 
of  Webb  now  vanished,  and  an  hour  or  two  of 
hurried  footsteps  and  anxious  faces  succeeded. 
The  novice  in  the  military  art  flew  from  point  to 
point,  retarding  his  own  preparations  by  the  ex- 
cess of  his  violent  and  somewhat  distempered 
zeal ; while  the  more  practised  veteran  made  his 
arrangements  with  a deliberation  that  scorned 
every  appearance  of  haste ; though  his  sober 
lineaments  and  anxious  eye  sufficiently  betrayed 
that  he  had  no  very  strong  professional  relish  for 
the  as  yet  untried  and  dreaded  warfare  of  the 
wilderness.  At  length  the  sun  set  in  a flood  of 
glory  behind  the  distant  western  hills,  and,  as 
darkness  drew  its  veil  around  the  secluded  spot, 
the  sounds  of  preparation  diminished;  the  last 
fight  finally  disappeared  from  the  log-cabin  of 
some  officer ; the  trees  cast  their  .deeper  shadows 


over  the  mounds  and  the  rippling  stream,  and  a 
silence  soon  pervaded  the  camp,  as  deep  as  that 
which  reigned  in  the  vast  forest  by  which  it  was 
environed. 

According  to  the  orders  of  the  preceding 
night,  the  heavy  sleep  of  the  army  was  broken 
by  the  rolling  of  the  warning  drums,  whose  rat- 
tling echoes  were  heard  issuing,  on  the  damp 
morning  air,  out  of  every  vista  of  the  woods,  just 
as  day  began  to  draw  the  shaggy  outlines  of  some 
tall  pines  of  the  vicinity,  on  the  opening  bright- 
ness of  a soft  and  cloudless  eastern  sky.  In  an 
instant  the  whole  camp  was  in  motion  ; the  mean- 
est soldier  arousing  from  his  lair  to  witness  the 
departure  of  his  comrades,  and  to  share  in  the 
excitement  and  incidents  of  the  hour.  The  sim- 
ple array  of  the  chosen  band  was  soon  completed. 
While  the  regular  and  trained  hirelings  of  the 
king  marched  with  haughtiness  to  the  right  of 
the  line,  the  less  pretending  colonists  took  their 
humbler  position  on  its  left,  with  a docility  that 
long  practice  had  rendered  easy.  The  scouts  de- 
parted ; strong  guards  preceded  and  followed 
the  lumbering  vehicles  that  bore  the  baggage ; 
and,  before  the  gray  light  of  the  morning  was 
mellowed  by  the  rays  of  the  sun,  the  main  body 
of  the  combatants  wheeled  into  column,  and  left 
the  encampment  with  a show  of  high  military 
bearing,  that  served  to  drown  the  slumbering  ap- 
prehensions of  many  a novice,  who  was  now  about 
to  make  his  first  essay  in  arms.  While  in  view 
of  their  admiring  comrades,  the  same  proud  front 
and  ordered  array  was  observed,  until  the  notes 
of  their  fifes  growing  fainter  in  distance,  the  for- 
est at  length  appeared  to  swallow  up  the  living 
mass  which  had  slowly  entered  its  bosom. 

The  deepest  sounds  of  the  retiring  and  invisi- 
ble column  had  ceased  to  be  borne  on  the  breeze 
to  the  listeners,  and  the  latest  straggler  had  al- 
ready disappeared  in  pursuit ; but  there  still  re- 
mained the  signs  of  another  departure,  before  a 
log-cabin  of  unusual  size  and  accommodations,  in 
front  of  which  those  sentinels  paced  their  rounds, 
who  were  known  to  guard  the  person  of  the  Eng- 
lish general.  At  this  spot  were  gathered  some 
half-dozen  horses,  caparisoned  in  a manner  which 
showed  that  two  at  least  were  destined  to  bear 
the  persons  of  females,  of  a rank  that  it  was  not 
usual  to  meet  so  far  in  the  wilds  of  the  country. 
A third  wore  the  trappings  and  arms  of  an  officer 
of  the  staff ; while  the  rest,  from  the  plainness 
of  the  housings,  and  the  travelling-mails  with 
which  they  were  encumbered,  were  evidently  fit- 
ted for  the  reception  of  as  many  menials,  who 
were,  seemingly,  already  awaiting  the  pleasure 
of  those  they  served.  At  a respectful  distance 


3 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


from  this  unusual  show  were  gathered  divers 
groups  of  curious  idlers  ; some  admiring  the  blood 
and  bone  of  the  high-mettled  military  charger, 
and  others  gazing  at  the  preparations  with  the 
dull  wonder  of  vulgar  curiosity.  There  was  one 
man,  however,  who,  by  his  countenance  and  ac- 
tions, formed  a marked  exception  to  those  who 
composed  the  latter  class  of  spectators,  being 
neither  idle,  nor  seemingly  very  ignorant. 

The  person  of  this  individual  was  to  the  last 
degree  ungainly,  without  being  in  any  particular 
manner  deformed.  He  had  all  the  bones  and 
joints  of  other  men,  without  any  of  their  propor- 
tions. Erect,  his  stature  surpassed  that  of  his 
fellows ; though,  seated,  he  appeared  reduced 
within  the  ordinary  limits  of  the  race.  The 
same  contrariety  in  his  members  seemed  to  exist 
throughout  the  whole  man.  His  head  was  large  ; 
his  shoulders  narrow ; his  arms  long  and  dan- 
gling ; while  his  hands  were  small,  if  not  delicate. 
His  legs  and  thighs  were  thin,  nearly  to  emacia- 
tion, but  of  extraordinary  length  ; and  his  knees 
would  have  been  considered  tremendous,  had  they 
not  been  outdone  by  the  broader  foundations  on 
which  this  false  superstructure  of  blended  human 
orders  was  so  profanely  reared.  The  ill-assorted 
and  injudicious  attire  of  the  individual  only  served 
to  render  his  awkwardness  more  conspicuous.  A 
sky-blue  coat,  with  short  and  broad  skirts  and  low 
cape,  exposed  a long,  thin  neck,  and  longer  and 
thinner  legs,  to  the  worst  animadversions  of  the 
evil-disposed.  His  nether  garment  was  of  yellow 
nankeen,  closely  fitted  to  the  shape,  and  tied  at 
his  bunches  of  knees  by  large  knots  of  white  rib- 
bon, a good  deal  sullied  by  use.  Clouded  cotton 
stockings,  and  shoes,  on  one  of  the  latter  of  which 
was  a plated  spur,  completed  the  costume  of  the 
lower  extremity  of  this  figure,  no  curve  or  angle 
of  which  was  concealed,  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
studiously  exhibited,  through  the  vanity  or  sim- 
plicity of  its  owner.  From  beneath  the  flap  of 
an  enormous  pocket  of  a soiled  vest  of  embossed 
silk,  heavily  ornamented  with  tarnished  silver 
lace,  projected  an  instrument,  which,  from  being 
seen  in  such  martial  company,  might  have  been 
easily  mistaken  for  some  mischievous  and  un- 
known implement  of  war.  Small  as  it  was,  this 
uncommon  engine  had  excited  the  curiosity  of 
most  of  the  Europeans  in  the  camp,  though  sev- 
eral of  the  provincials  were  seen  to  handle  it,  not 
only  without  fear,  but  with  the  utmost  familiar- 
ity. A large,  civil  cocked  hat,  like  those  worn 
by  clergymen  within  the  last  thirty  years,  sur- 
mounted the  whole,  furnishing  dignity  to  a good- 
natured  and  somewhat  vacant  countenance,  that 
apparently  needed  such  artificial  aid  to  support 


the  gravity  of  some  high  and  extraordinary 
trust. 

While  the  common  herd  stood  aloof,  in  defer- 
ence to  the  quarters  of  Webb,  the  figure  we  have 
described  stalked  into  the  centre  of  the  domes- 
tics, freely  expressing  his  censures  or  commenda- 
tions on  the  merits  of  the  horses,  as  by  chanoe 
they  displeased  or  satisfied  his  judgment. 

“ This  beast,  I rather  conclude,  friend,  is  not 
of  home-raising,  but  is  from  foreign  lands,  or  per- 
haps from  the  little  island  itself,  over  the  blue 
water  ? ” he  said,  in  a voice  remarkable  for  the 
softness  and  sweetness  of  its  tones,  as  was  his 
person  for  its  rare  proportions  : “ I may  speak  of 
these  things,  and  be  no  braggart ; for  I have  been 
down  at  both  havens ; that  which  is  situate  at 
the  mouth  of  Thames,  and  is  named  after  the 
capital  of  Old  England,  and  that  which  is  called 
‘ Haven,’  with  the  addition  of  the  word  ‘ New ; ’ 
and  have  seen  the  snows  and  brigantines  collect- 
ing their  droves,  like  the  gathering  to  the  ark, 
being  outward  bound  to  the  Island  of  Jamaica, 
for  the  purpose  of  barter  and  traffic  in  four-footed 
animals  ; but  never  before  have  I beheld  a beast 
which  verified  the  true  Scripture  war-horse  like 
this : ‘ He  paweth  in  the  valley,  and  rejoiceth  in 
his  strength : he  goeth  on  to  meet  the  armed 
men.  He  saith  among  the  trumpets,  Ha,  ha  ; and 
he  smelleth  the  battle  afar  off,  the  thunder  of  the 
captains,  and  the  shouting.’ — It  would  seem  that 
the  stock  of  the  horse  of  Israel  has  descended  to 
our  own  time  ; would  it  not,  friend  ? ” 

Keceiving  no  reply  to  this  extraordinary  ap- 
peal, which,  in  truth,  as  it  was  delivered  with  the 
vigor  of  full  and  sonorous  tones,  merited  some 
sort  of  notice,  he  who  had  thus  sung  forth  the 
language  of  the  holy  book  turned  to  the  silent 
figure  to  whom  he  had  unwittingly  addressed  him- 
self, and  found  a new  and  more  powerful  subject 
of  admiration  in  the  object  that  encountered  his 
gaze.  His  eyes  fell  on  the  still,  upright,  and  rigid 
form  of  the  “ Indian  runner,”  who  had  borne  to 
the  camp  the  unwelcome  tidings  of  the  preceding 
evening.  Although  in  a state  of  perfect  repose, 
and  apparently  disregarding,  with  characteristic 
stoicism,  the  excitement  and  bustle  around  him, 
there  was  a sullen  fierceness  mingled  with  the 
quiet  of  the  savage,  that  was  likely  to  arrest  the 
attention  of  much  more  experienced  eyes  than 
those  which  now  scanned  him,  in  unconcealed 
amazement.  The  native  bore  both  the  tomahawk 
and  knife  of  his  tribe ; and  yet  his  appearance 
was  not  altogether  that  of  a warrior.  On  the 
contrary,  there  was  an  air  of  neglect  about  his 
person,  like  that  which  might  have  proceeded 
from  great  and  recent  exertion,  which  he  had 


AN  INDIAN  RUNNER. 


9 


not  yet  found  leisure  to  repair.  The  colors  of 
the  war-paint  had  blended  in  dark  confusion 
about  his  fierce  countenance,  and  rendered  his 
swarthy  lineaments  still  more  savage  and  repul- 
sive, than  if  art  had  attempted  an  effect,  which 
had  been  thus  produced  by  chance.  Hi3  eye, 
alone,  which  glistened  like  a fiery  star  amid  low- 
ering clouds,  was  to  be  seen  in  its  state  of  native 
wildness.  For  a single  instant,  his  searching  and 
yet  wary  glance  met  the  wondering  look  of  the 
other,  and  then  changing  its  direction,  partly  in 
cunning,  and  partly  in  disdain,  it  remained  fixed, 
as  if  penetrating  the  distant  air. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  what  unlooked-for  re- 
mark this  short  and  silent  communication,  be- 
tween two  such  singular  men,  might  have  elicited 
from  the  white  man,  had  not  his  active  curiosity 
been  again  drawn  to  other  objects.  A general 
movement  among  the  domestics,  and  a low  sound 
of  gentle  voices,  announced  the  approach  of  those 
whose  presence  alone  was  wanted  to  enable  the 
cavalcade  to  move.  The  simple  admirer  of  the 
war-horse  instantly  fell  back  to  a low,  gaunt, 
switch-tailed  mare,  that  was  unconsciously  glean- 
ing the  faded  herbage  of  the  camp  nigh  by; 
where,  leaning  with  one  elbow  on  the  blanket 
that  concealed  an  apology  for  a saddle,  he  be- 
came a spectator  of  the  departure,  while  a foal 
was  quietly  making  its  morning  repast,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  same  animal. 

A young  man,  in  the  dress  of  an  officer,  con- 
ducted to  their  steeds  two  females,  who,  as  it 
was  apparent  by  their  dresses,  were  prepared  to 
encounter  the  fatigues  of  a journey  in  the  woods. 
One,  and  she  was  the  most  juvenile  in  her  ap- 
pearance, though  both  were  young,  permitted 
glimpses  of  her  dazzling  complexion,  fair 'golden 
hair,  and  bright-blue  eyes,  to  be  caught,  as  she 
artlessly  suffered  the  morning  air  to  blow  aside 
the  green  veil  which  descended  low  from  her 
beaver.  The  flush  which  still  lingered  above  the 
pines  in  the  Western  sky  was  not  more  bright  nor 
delicate  than  the  bloom  on  her  cheek ; nor  was 
the  opening  day  more  cheering  than  the  animated 
smile  which  she  bestowed  on  the  youth,  as  he  as- 
sisted her  into  the  saddle.  The  other,  who  ap- 
peared to  share  equally  in  the  attentions  of  the 
young  officer,  concealed  her  charms  from  the 
gaze  of  the  soldiery  with  a care  that  seemed  bet- 
ter filled  to  the  experience  of  four  or  five  ad- 
ditional years.  It  could  be  seen,  howevei’,  that 
her  person,  though  moulded  with  the  same  ex- 
quisite proportions,  of  which  none  of  the  graces 
were  lost  by  the  travelling-dress  she  wore,  was 
rather  fuller  and  more  mature  than  that  of  her 
companion. 


No  sooner  were  these  females  seated,  than 
their  attendant  sprang  lightly  into  the  saddle  of 
the  war-horse,  when  the  whole  three  bowed  to 
Webb,  who,  in  courtesy,  awaited  their  parting  on 
the  threshold  of  his  cabin,  and,  turning  their 
horses’  heads,  they  proceeded  at  a slow  amble, 
followed  by  their  train,  toward  the  northern  en- 
trance of  the  encampment.  As  they  traversed 
that  short  distance,  not  a voice  was  heard  among 
them ; but  a slight  exclamation  proceeded  from 
the  younger  of  the  females,  as  the  Indian  runner 
glided  by  her,  unexpectedly,  and  led  the  way 
along  the  military  road  in  her  front.  Though 
this  sudden  and  startling  movement  of  the  Indian 
produced  no  sound  from  the  other,  in  the  sur- 
prise, her  veil  also  was  allowed  to  open  its  folds, 
and  betrayed  an  indescribable  look  of  pity,  admi- 
ration, and  horror,  as  her  dark  eye  followed  the 
easy  motions  of  the  savage.  The  tresses  of  this 
lady  were  shining  and  black,  like  the  plumage  of 
the  raven.  Her  complexion  was  not  brown,  but 
it  rather  appeared  charged  with  the  color  of  the 
rich  blood  that  seemed  ready  to  burst  its  bounds. 
And  yet  there  was  neither  coarseness  nor  want 
of  shadowing  in  a countenance  that  was  exqui- 
sitely regular  and  dignified,  and  surpassingly  beau- 
tiful. She  smiled,  as  if  in  pity  at  her  own  mo- 
mentary forgetfulness,  discovering  by  the  act  a 
row  of  teeth  that  would  have  shamed  the  purest 
ivory ; when,  replacing  the  veil,  she  bowed  her 
face,  and  rode  in  silence,  like  one  whose  thoughts 
were  abstracted  from  the  scene  around  her. 


CHAPTER  II. 

“ Sola,  sola,  wo  ha,  ho,  sola  I ” 

Shakespeare. 

While  one  of  the  lovely  beings  we  have  so 
cursorily  presented  to  the  reader  was  thus  lost  in 
thought,  the  other  quickly  recovered  from  the 
alarm  which  induced  the  exclamation,  and,  laugh- 
ing at  her  own  weakness,  she  inquired  of  the 
youth  who  rode  by  her  side : 

“Are  such  spectres  frequent  in  the  woods, 
Heyward ; or  is  this  sight  an  especial  entertain- 
ment ordered  on  our  behalf?  If  the  latter,  grati- 
tude must  close  our  mouths  ; but  if  the  former, 
both  Cora  and  I shall  have  need  to  draw  largely 
on  that  stock  of  hereditary  courage  which  we 
boast,  even  before  we  are  made  to  encounter  the 
redoubtable  Montcalm.” 

“Yon  Indian  is  a ‘ runner  ’ of  the  army  ; and, 
after  the  fashion  of  his  people,  he  may  be  ac 


to 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


counted  a hero,”  returned  the  officer.  “ He  has 
volunteered  to  guide  us  to  the  lake,  by  a path  but 
little  known,  sooner  than  if  we  followed  the  tardy 
movements  of  the  column ; and,  by  consequence, 
more  agreeably.” 

“ I like  him  not,”  said  the  lady,  shuddering, 
partly  in  assumed,  yet  more  in  real  terror.  “ You 
know  him,  Duncan,  or  you  would  not  trust  your- 
self so  freely  to  his  keeping  ? ” 

“Say,  rather,  Alice,  that  I would  not  trust 
you.  I do  know  him,  or  he  would  not  have  my 
confidence,  and  least  of  all  at  this  moment.  He 
is  said  to  be  a Canadian  too ; and  yet  he  served 
with  our  friends  the  Mohawks,  who,  as  you  know, 
are  one  of  the  six  allied  nations.*  He  was  brought 
among  us,  as  I have  heard,  by  some  strange  acci- 
dent in  which  your  father  was  interested,  and  in 
which  the  savage  was  rigidly  dealt  by — but  I for- 
get the  idle  tale  ; it  is  enough  that  he  is  now  our 
friend.” 

“ If  he  has  been  my  father’s  enemy,  I like  him 
still  less ! ” exclaimed  the  now  really  anxious  girl. 
“Will  you  not  speak  to  him,  Major  Heyward, 
that  I may  hear  his  tones  ? Foolish  though  it 
may  be,  you  have  often  heard  me  avow  my  faith 
in  the  tones  of  the  human  voice ! ” 

“ It  would  be  in  vain ; and  answered,  most 
probably,  by  an  ejaculation.  Though  he  may 
understand  it,  he  ajfects,  like  most  of  his  people, 
to  be  ignorant  of  the  English ; and  least  of  all 
will  he  condescend  to  speak  it  now,  that  war 
demands  the  utmost  exercise  of  his  dignity.  But 
he  stops ; the  private  path  by  which  we  are  to 
journey  is,  doubtless,  at  hand.” 

The  conjecture  of  Major  Heyward  was  true. 
When  they  reached  the  spot  where  the  Indian 
stood,  pointing  into  the  thicket  that  fringed  the 
military  road,  a narrow  and  blind  path,  which 
might,  with  some  little  inconvenience,  receive  one 
person  at  a time,  became  visible. 

“Here,  then,  lies  our  way,”  said  the  young 


* There  existed  for  a long  time  a confederation  among 
the  Indian  tribes  which  occupied  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  colony  of  New  York,  which  was  at  first  known  as  the 
“ Five  Nations.”  At  a later  day  it  admitted  another  tribe, 
when  the  appellation  was  changed  to  that  of  the  “ Six 
Nations.”  The  original  confederation  consisted  of  the  Mo- 
hawks, the  Oneidas,  the  Senecas,  the  Oayugas,  and  the  Onon- 
dagoes.  The  sixth  tribe  was  the  Tuscaroras.  There  are 
remnants  of  all  these  people  still  living  on  lands  secured  to 
them  by  the  State ; but  they  are  daily  disappearing,  either 
by  deaths  or  by  removals  to  scenes  more  congenial  to  their 
habits.  In  a short  time  there  will  be  no  remains  of  these 
extraordinary  people,  in  those  regions  in  which  they  dwelt  for 
centuries,  but  their  names.  The  State  of  New  York  has 
counties  named  after  all  of  them  but  the  Mohawks  and  the 
Tuscaroras.  The  second  river  of  that  State  is  called  the 
Mohawk. 


man,  in  a low  voice.  “ Manifest  no  distrist,  or 
you  may  invite  the  danger  you  appear  to  appre- 
hend.” 

“ Cora,  what  think  you  ? ” asked  the  reluctant 
fair  one.  “ If  we  journey  with  the  troops,  though 
we  may  find  their  presence  irksome,  shall  we  not 
feel  better  assurance  of  our  safety  ? ” 

“ Being  little  accustomed  to  the  practices  of 
the  savages,  Alice,  you  mistake  the  place  of  real 
danger,”  said  Heyward.  “ If  enemies  have 
reached  the  portage  at  all,  a thing  by  no  means 
probable,  as  our  scouts  are  abroad,  they  will 
surely  be  found  skirting  the  column,  where  scalps 
abound  the  most.  The  route  of  the  detachment 
is  known,  while  ours,  having  been  determined 
within  the  hour,  must  still  be  secret.” 

“ Should  we  distrust  the  man  because  his 
manners  are  not  our  manners,  and  that  his  skin 
is  dark  ! ” coldly  answered  Cora. 

Alice  hesitated  no  longer ; but  giving  her  Nar- 
raganset  * a smart  cut  of  the  whip,  she  was  the 
first  to  dash  aside  the  slight  branches  of  the 
bushes,  and  to  follow  the  runner  along  the  dark 
and  tangled  pathway.  The  young  man  regarded 
the  last  speaker  in  open  admiration,  and  even 
permitted  her  fairer,  though  certainly  not  more 
beautiful,  companion  to  proceed  unattended,  while 
he  sedulously  opened  the  way  himself  for  the  pas- 
sage of  her  who  had  been  called  Cora.  It  would 
seem  that  the  domestics  had  been  previously  in- 
structed ; for,  instead  of  penetrating  the  thicket, 
they  followed  the  route  of  the  column  ; a measure 
which  Heyward  stated  had  been  dictated  by  the 
sagacity  of  their  guide,  in  order  to  diminish  the 
marks  of  their  trail,  if,  haply,  the  Canadian  sav- 
ages should  be  lurking  so  far  in  advance  of  their 
army.  * For  many  minutes  the  intricacy  of  the 
route  admitted  of  no  further  dialogue;  after 
which  they  emerged  from  the  broad  border  of 
underbrush  which  grew  along  the  line  of  the  high- 
way, and  entered  under  the  high  but  dark  arches 
of  the  forest.  Here  their  progress  was  less  inter- 
rupted ; and  the  instant  the  guide  perceived  that 
the  females  could  command  their  steeds,  he  moved 

* In  the  State  of  Ehode  Island  there  is  a bay  called  Nar- 
raganset,  so  named  after  a powerful  tribe  of  Indians,  which 
formerly  dwelt  on  its  banks.  Accident,  or  one  of  those  un- 
accountable freaks  which  Nature  sometimes  plays  in  tho 
animal  world,  gave  rise  to  a breed  of  horses  which  were 
once  well  known  in-  America  by  the  name  of  the  Narragan- 
sets.  They  were  small,  commonly  of  the  color  called  sorrel 
in  America,  and  distinguished  by  their  habit  of  pacing. 
Horses  of  this  race  were,  and  are  still,  in  much  request  at 
saddle-horses,  on  account  of  their  hardiness  and  the  ease  of 
their  movements.  As  they  were  also  sure  of  foot,  the  Nar- 
ragansets  were  greatly  sought  for  by  females  who  were 
obliged  to  travel  over  the  roots  and  holes  in  the  “ new  coun- 
tries.” 


ALICE  AND  CORA’S  ESCORT. 


11 


on,  at  a pace  between  a trot  and  a walk,  and  at 
0 rate  which  kept  the  sure-footed  and  peculiar 
animals  they  rode,  at  a fast  yet  easy  amble. 
The  youth  had  turned  to  speak  to  the  dark- 
eyed Cora,  when  the  distant  sounds  of  horses’ 
hoofs,  clattering  over  the  roots  of  the  broken 
way  in  his  rear,  caused  him  to  check  his  charger  ; 
and,  as  his  companions  drew  their  reins  at  the 
same  instant,  the  whole  party  came  to  a halt,  in 
order  to  obtain  an  explanation  of  the  unlooked- 
for  interruption. 

In  a few  moments  a colt  was  seen  gliding,  like 
a fallow  deer,  among  the  straight  trunks  of  the 
pines  ; and,  in  another  instant,  the  person  of  the 
ungainly  man  described  in  the  preceding,  chap- 
ter, came  into  view,  writh  as  much  rapidity  as  he 
could  excite  his  meagre  beast  to  endure  without 
coming  to  an  open  rupture.  Until  now  this  per- 
sonage had  escaped  the  observation  of  the  trav- 
ellers. If  he  possessed  the  power  to  arrest  any 
wandering  eye  when  exhibiting  the  glories  of  his 
altitude  on  foot,  his  equestrian  graces  were  still 
more  likely  to  attract  attention.  Notwithstand- 
ing a constant  application  of  his  one-armed  heel 
to  the  flanks  of  the  mare,  the  most  confirmed 
gait  that  he  could  establish  was  a Canterbury 
gallop  with  the  hind-legs,  in  which  those  more 
forward  assisted  for  doubtful  moments,  though 
generally  content  to  maintain  a loping  trot.  Per- 
haps the  rapidity  of  the  changes  from  one  of 
these  paces  to  the  other  created  an  optical  il- 
lusion, which  might  thus  magnify  the  powers  of 
the  beast ; for  it  is  certain  that  Heyward,  who 
possessed  a true  eye  for  the  merits  of  a horse, 
was  unable,  with  his  utmost  ingenuity,  to  decide 
by  what  sort  of  movement*  his  pursuer  worked 
his  sinuous  way  on  his  footsteps  with  such  perse- 
vering hardihood. 

The  industry  and  movements  of  the  rider 
were  not  less  remarkable  than  those  of  the  rid- 
den. At  each  change  in  the  evolutions  of  the 
latter,  the  former  raised  his  tall  person  in  the 
stirrups ; producing,  in  this  manner,  by  the  un- 
due elongation  of  his  legs,  such  sudden  growths 
and  diminishings  of  the  stature,  as  baffled  every 
conjecture  that  might  be  made  as  to  his  dimen- 
sions. If  to  this  be  added  the  fact  that,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  ex  parte  application  of  the  spur, 
one  side  of  the  mare  appeared  to  journey  faster 
than  the  other  ; and  that  the  aggrieved  flank  was 
resolutely  indicated  by  unremitted  flourishes  of  a 
bushy  tail,  we  fiuish  the  picture  of  both  horse 
and  man. 

The  frown  which  had  gathered  around  the 
handsome,  open,  and  manly  brow  of  Heyward, 
gradually  relaxed,  and  his  lips  curled  into  a slight 


smile,  as  he  regarded  the  stranger.  Alice  made 
no  very  powerful  effort  to  control  her  merri- 
ment ; and  even  the  dark,  thoughtful  eye  of  Cora 
lighted  with  a humor  that,  it  would  seem,  the 
habit,  rather  than  the  nature,  of  its  mistress  ro 
pressed. 

“ Seek  you  any  here  ? ” demanded  Heyward; 
when  the  other  had  arrived  sufficiently  nigh  to 
abate  his  speed  ; “ I trust  you  are  no  messenger 
of  evil  tidings  ? ” 

“ Even  so,”  replied  the  stranger,  making  dili- 
gent use  of  his  triangular  castor,  to  produce  a 
circulation  in  the  close  air  of  the  woods,  and 
leaving  his  hearers  in  doubt  to  which  of  the  young 
man’s  questions  he  responded ; when,  however, 
he  had  cooled  his  face,  and  recovered  his  breath, 
he  continued  : “ I hear  you  are  riding  to  William 
Henry ; as  I am  journeying  thitherward  myself,  I 
concluded  good  company  would  seem  consistent 
to  the  wishes  of  both  parties.” 

“ You  appear  to  possess  the  privilege  of  a 
casting  vote,”  returned  Heyward  ; “we  are  three, 
while  you  have  consulted  no  one  but  yourself.” 

“ Even  so.  The  first  point  to  be  obtained  i3 
to  know  one’s  own  mind.  Once  sure  of  that,  and 
where  women  are  concerned  it  is  not  easy,  the 
next  is,  to  act  up  to  the  decision.  I have  en- 
deavored to  do  both,  and  here  I am.” 

“ If  you  journey  to  the  lake,  you  have  mis- 
taken your  route,”  said  Heyward,  haughtily ; 
“ the  highway  thither  is  at  least  half  a mile  be- 
hind you.” 

“ Even  so,”  returned  the  stranger,  nothing 
daunted  by  this  cold  reception ; “ I have  tarried 
at  ‘ Edward  ’ a week,  and  I should  be  dumb  not  to 
have  inquired  the  road  I was  to  journey  ; and  if 
dumb,  there  would  be  an  end  to  my  calling.” 
After  simpering  in  a small  way,  like  one  whose 
modesty  prohibited  a more  open  expression  of 
his  admiration  of  a witticism  that  was  perfectly 
unintelligible  to  his  hearers,  he  continued  : “ It  is 
not  prudent  for  any  one  of  my  profession  to  be 
too  familiar  with  those  he  has  to  instruct ; for 
which  reason  I follow  not  the  line  of  the  army  : 
besides  which,  I conclude  that  a gentleman  of 
your  character  has  the  best  judgment  in  matters 
of  wayfaring ; I have  therefore  decided  to  join 
company,  in  order  that  the  ride  may  be  made 
agreeable,  and  partake  of  social  communion.” 

“ A most  arbitrary,  if  not  a hasty  decision ! ” 
exclaimed  Heyward,  undecided  whether  to  give 
vent  to  his  growing  anger,  or  to  laugh  in  the 
other’s  face.  “But  you  speak  of  instruction, 
and  of  a profession ; are  you  an  adjunct  to  the 
provincial  corps,  as  a master  of  the  noble  science 
of  defence  and  offence ; or,  perhaps,  you  are  one 


12 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


who  draws  lines  and  angles,  under  the  pretence 
of  expounding  the  mathematics  ? ” 

The  stranger  regarded  his  interrogator  a mo- 
ment, in  wonder;  and  then,  losing  every  mark  of 
self-satisfaction  in  an  expression  of  solemn  hu- 
mility, he  answered : 

“ Of  offence,  I hope  there  is  none,  to  either 
party : of  defence,  I make  none — by  God’s  good 
mercy,  having  committed  no  palpable  sin  since 
last  entreating  His  pardoning  grace.  I under- 
stand not  your  allusions  about  lines  and  angles  ; 
and  I leave  expounding  to  those  who  have  been 
called  and  set  apart  for  that  holy  office.  I lay 
claim  to  no  higher  gift  than  a small  insight  into 
the  glorious  art  of  petitioning  and  thanksgiving, 
as  practised  in  psalmody.” 

“ The  man  is,  most  manifestly,  a disciple  of 
Apollo,”  cried  the  amused  Alice,  “ and  I take 
him  under  my  own  especial  protection.  Nay, 
throw  aside  that  frown,  Heyward,  and,  in  pity  to 
my  longing  ears,  suffer  him  to  journey  in  our 
train.  Besides,”  she  added,  in  a low  and  hurried 
voice,  casting  a glance  at  the  distant  Cora,  who 
slowly  followed  the  footsteps  of  their  silent  but 
sullen  guide,  “ it  may  be  a friend  added  to  our 
strength,  in  time  of  need.” 

“ Think  you,  Alice,  that  I would  trust  those  I 
love  by  this  secret  path,  did  I imagine  such  need 
could  happen  ? ” 

“ Nay,  nay,  I think  not  of  it  now ; but  this 
strange  man  amuses  me ; and  if  he  ‘ hath  music 
in  his  soul,’  let  us  not  churlishly  reject  his  com- 
pany.” She  pointed  persuasively  along  the  path 
with  her  riding-whip,  while  their  eyes  met  in  a 
look  which  the  young  man  lingered  a moment  to 
prolong  , then  yielding  to  her  gentle  influence,  he 
clapped  his  spurs  into  his  charger,  and  in  a few 
bounds  was  again  at  the  side  of  Cora. 

“ I am  glad  to  encounter  thee,  friend,”  con- 
tinued tne  maiden,  waving  her  hand  to  the 
stranger  to  proceed,  as  she  urged  her  Narragan- 
set  to  renew  its  amble.  “ Partial  relatives  have 
almost  persuaded  me  that  I am  not  entirely 
worthless  in  a duet  myself;  and  we  may  enliven 
our  wayfaring  by  indulging  in  our  favorite  pur- 
suit. It  might  be  of  signal  advantage  to  one, 
ignorant  as  I,  to  hear  the  opinions  and  experience 
of  a master  in  the  art.” 

“ It  is  refreshing  both  to  the  spirits  and  to  the 
body  to  indulge  in  psalmody,  in  befitting  sea- 
sons,” returned  the  master  of  song,  unhesitatingly 
complying  with  her  intimation  to  follow ; “ and 
nothing  would  relieve  the  mind  more  than  such  a 
consoling  communion.  But  four  parts  are  alto- 
gether necessary  to  the  perfection  of  melody. 
You  have  all  the  manifestations  of  a soft  and  rich 


treble ; I can,  by  especial  aid,  carry  a full  tenor 
to  the  highest  letter ; but  we  lack  counter  and 
bass  ! Yon  officer  of  the  king,  who  hesitated  to 
admit  me  to  his  company,  might  fill  the  latter,  if 
one  may  judge  from  the  intonations  of  his  voice 
in  common  dialogue.” 

“Judge  not  too  rashly  from  hasty  and  de- 
ceptive appearances,”  said  the  lady,  smiling; 
“ though  Major  Heyward  can  assume  such  deep 
notes  on  occasion,  believe  me,  his  natural  tones 
are  better  fitted  for  a mellow  tenor  than  the  bass 
you  heard.” 

“Is  he,  then,  much  practised  in  the  art  of 
psalmody  ? ” demanded  her  simple  companion. 

Alice  felt  disposed  to  laugh,  though  she  suc- 
ceeded in  suppressing  her  merriment,  ere  she  an- 
swered : 

“ I apprehend  that  he  is  rather  addicted  to 
profane  song.  The  chances  of  a soldier’s  life  are 
but  little  fitted  for  the  encouragement  of  more 
sober  inclinations.” 

“ Man’s  voice  is  given  to  him,  like  his  other 
talents,  to  be  used,  and  not  to  be  abused.  None 
can  say  they  have  ever  known  me  neglect  my 
gifts  ! I am  thankful  that,  though  my  boyhood 
may  be  said  to  have  been  set  apart,  like  the 
youth  of  the  royal  David,  for  the  purposes  of 
music,  no  syllable  of  rude  verse  has  ever  pro- 
faned my  lips.” 

“You  have,  then,  limited  your  efforts  to  sa- 
cred song  ? ” 

“ Even  so.  As  the  psalms  of  David  exceed 
all  other  language,  so  does  the  psalmody  that  has 
been  fitted  to  them  by  the  divines  and  sages  of 
the  land,  surpass  all  vain  poetry.  Happily,  I may 
say  that  I utter  nothing  but  the  thoughts  and  the 
wishes  of  the  King  of  Israel  himself ; for  though 
the  times  may  call  for  some  slight  changes,  yet 
does  this  version,  which  we  use  in  the  colonies  of 
New  England,  so  much  exceed  all  other  versions, 
that,  by  its  richness,  its  exactness,  and  its  spirit- 
ual simplicity,  it  approacheth,  as  near  as  may 
be,  to  the  great  work  of  the  inspired  writer,  i 
never  abide  in  any  place,  sleeping  or  waking, 
without  an  example  of  this  gifted  work.  ’Tis  the 
six-and-twentieth  edition,  promulgated  at  Boston, 
Anno  Domini  1744  ; and  is  entitled,  ‘The  Psalms, 
Hymns,  and  Spiritual  Songs  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments;  faithfully  translated  into  English 
Metre,  for  the  Use,  Edification,  and  Comfort  of 
the  Saints,  in  Public  and  Private,  especially  in 
New  England.’  ” 

During  this  eulogium  on  the  rare  production 
of  his  native  poets,  the  stranger  had  drawn  the 
book  from  his  pocket,  and  fitting  a pair  of  iron- 
rimmed  spectacles  to  his  nose,  opened  the  volume 


AN  INTRUSION. 


13 


*rith  a care  and  veneration  suited  to  its  sacred 
purposes.  Then,  without  circumlocution  or 
apology,  first  pronouncing  the  word  “ Standish,” 
and  placing  the  unknown  engine,  already  de- 
scribed, to  his  mouth,  from  which  he  drew  a 
high,  shrill  sound,  that  was  followed  by  an  octave 
below,  from  his  own  voice,  he  commenced  sing- 
ing the  following  words,  in  full,  sweet,  and  melo- 
dious tones,  that  set  the  music,  the  poetry,  and 
even  the  uneasy  motion  of  his  ill-trained  beast 
at  defiance : 

“ How  good  it  is,  O see, 

And  how  it  pleaseth  well, 

* Together,  e’en  in  unity, 

For  brethren  so  to  dwell. 

It’s  like  the  choice  ointment, 

From  the  head  to  th’  beard  did  go : 

Down  Aaron’s  beard,  that  downward  went, 

His  garment’s  skirts  unto.” 

The  delivery  of  these  skilful  rhymes  was  ac- 
companied, on  the  part  of  the  stranger,  by  a 
regular  rise  and  fall  of  his  right  hand,  which  ter- 
minated at  the  descent,  by  suffering  the  fingers  to 
dwell  a moment  on  the  leaves  of  the  little  vol- 
ume ; and  on  the  ascent,  by  such  a flourish  of  the 
member  as  none  but  the  initiated  may  ever  hope 
to  imitate.  It  would  seem  that  long  practice  had 
rendered  this  manual  accompaniment  necessary  ; 
for  it  did  not  cease  until  the  preposition  which 
the  poet  had  selected  for  the  close  of  his  verse, 
had  been  duly  delivered  like  a word  of  two  sylla- 
bles. 

Such  an  innovation  on  the  silence  and  retire- 
ment of  the  forest  could  not  fail  to  enlist  the 
ears  of  those  who  journeyed  at  so  short  a dis- 
tance in  advance.  The  Indian  muttered  a few 
words  in  broken  English  to  Heyward,  who,  in 
his  turn,  spoke  to  the  stranger ; at  once  interrupt- 
ing, and,  for  the  time,  closing  his  musical  efforts. 

“ Though  we  are  not  in  danger,  common  pru- 
dence would  teach  us  to  journey  through  this 
wilderness  in  as,  quiet  a manner  as  possible.  You 
will,  then,  pardon  me,  Alice,  should  I diminish 
your  enjoyments,  by  requesting  this  gentleman 
to  postpone  his  chant  until  a safer  opportunity.” 

“ You  will  diminish  them,  indeed,”  returned 
the  arch  girl,  “ for  never  did  I hear  a more  un- 
worthy conjunction  of  execution  and  language, 
than  that  to  which  I have  been  listening  ; and  I 
was  far  gone  in  a learned  inquiry  into  the  causes 
of  such  an  unfitness  between  sound  and  sense, 
when  you  broke  the  charm  of  my  musings  by 
Shat  bass  of  yours,  Duncan  ! ” 

“ I know  not  what  you  call  my  bass,”  said 
Heyward,  piqued . at  her  remark,  “ but  I know 
that  your  safety,  and  that  of  Cora,  is  far  dearer 
to  me  than  could  be  any  orchestra  of  Handel’s 


music.”  He  paused  and  turned  his  head  quickly 
toward  a thicket,  and  then  bent  his  eyes  suspi- 
ciously on  their  guide,  who  continued  his  steady 
pace,  in  undisturbed  gravity.  The  young  man 
smiled  to  himself,  for  he  believed  he  had  mistaken 
some  shining  berry  of  the  woods  for  the  glistening 
eyeballs  of  a prowling  savage,  and  he  rode  for- 
ward, continuing  the  conversation  which  had 
been  interrupted  by  the  passing  thought. 

Major  Heyward  was  mistaken  only  in  suffering 
his  youthful  and  generous  pride  to  suppress  his 
active  Avatchfulness.  The  cavalcade  had  not 
long  passed,  before  the  branches  of  the  bushes 
that  formed  the  thicket  were  cautiously  moved 
asunder,  and  a human  visage,  as  fiercely  wild  as 
savage  art  and  unbridled  passions  could  make  it, 
peered  out  on  the  retiring  footsteps  of  the  travel- 
lers. A gleam  of  exultation  shot  across  the 
darkly-painted  lineaments  of  the  inhabitant  of 
the  forest,  as  he  traced  the  route  of  his  intended 
victims,  who  rode  unconsciously  onward ; the 
light  and  graceful  forms  of  the  females  waving 
among  the  trees,  in  the  curvatures  of  their  path, 
followed  at  each  bend  by  the  manly  figure  of 
Heyward,  until,  finally,  the  shapeless  person  of 
the  singing-master  was  concealed  behind  the 
numberless  trunks  of  trees,  that  rose  in  dark 
lines  in  the  intermediate  space. 


CHAPTER  III. 

“Before  these  fields  were  shorn  and  tilled 
Full  to  the  brim  our  rivers  flowed ; 

The  melody  of  waters  filled 
The  fresh  and  boundless  wood ; 

And  torrents  dashed,  and  rivulets  played, 

And  fountains  spouted  in  the  shade.” 

Bryant. 

Leaving  the  unsuspecting  Heyward  and  his 
confiding  companions  to  penetrate  still  deeper 
into  a forest  that  contained  such  treacherous  in- 
mates, we  must  use  an  author’s  privilege,  and 
shift  the  scene  a few  miles  to  the  westward  of  the 
place  where  we  have  last  seen  them. 

On  that  day,  two  men  were  lingering  on  the 
banks  of  a small  but  rapid  stream,  within  an 
hour’s  journey  of  the  encampment  of  Webb,  like 
those  who  awaited  the  appearance  of  an  absent 
person,  or  the  approach  of  some  expected  event. 
The  vast  canopy  of  woods  spread  itself  to  the 
margin  of  the  river,  overhanging  the  water,  and 
shadowing  its  dark  current  with  a deeper  hue. 
The  rays  of  the  sun  were  beginning  to  grow  less 
fierce,  and  the  intense  heat  of  the  day  was  less- 


14 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ened,  as  the  cooler  vapors  of  the  springs  and 
fountains  rose  above  their  leafy  beds,  and  rested 
in  the  atmosphere.  Still  that  breathing  silence, 
which  marks  the  drowsy  sultriness  of  an  Ameri- 
can landscape  in  July,  pervaded  the  secluded 
spot,  interrupted  only  by  the  low  voices  of  the 
men,  the  occasional  and  lazy  tap  of  a woodpecker, 
the  discordant  cry  of  some  gaudy  jay,  or  a swell- 
ing on  the  ear,  from  the  dull  roar  of  a distant 
water-fall. 

These  feeble  and  broken  sounds  were,  how- 
ever, too  familiar  to  the  foresters,  to  draw  their 
attention  from  the  more  interesting  matter  of 
their  dialogue.  While  one  of  these  loiterers 
showed  the  red  skin  and  wild  accoutrements  of  a 
native  of  the  woods,  the  other  exhibited,  through 
the  mask  of  his  rude  and  nearly  savage  equip- 
ments, the  brighter,  though  sunburnt  and  long- 
faded  complexion  of  one  who  might  claim  descent 
from  a European  parentage.  The  former  was 
seated  on  the  end  of  a mossy  log,  in  a posture 
that  permitted  him  to  heighten  the  effect  of  his 
earnest  language,  by  the  calm  but  expressive  ges- 
tures of  an  Indian  engaged  in  debate.  His  body, 
which  was  nearly  naked,  presented  a terrific  em- 
blem of  death,  drawn  in  intermingled  colors  of 
white  and  black.  His  closely-shaved  head,  on 
which  no  other  hair  than  the  well-known  and 
chivalrous  scalping-tuft*  was  preserved,  was 
without  ornament  of  any  kind,  with  the  exception 
of  a solitary  eagle’s  plume,  that  crossed  his  crown, 
and  depended  over  the  left  shoulder.  A toma- 
hawk and  scalping-knife,  of  English  manufacture, 
were  in  his  girdle  ; while  a short  military  rifle,  of 
that  sort  "with  which  the  policy  of  the  whites 
armed  their  savage  allies,  lay  carelessly  across 
his  bare  and  sinewy  knee.  The  expanded  chest, 
full-formed  limbs,  and  grave  countenance  of  this 
warrior,  would  denote  that  he  had  reached  the 
vigor  of  his  days,  though  no  symptoms  of  decay 
appeared  to  have  yet  weakened  his  manhood. 

The  frame  of  the  white  man,  judging  by  such 
parts  as  were  not  concealed  by  his  clothes,  was 
like  that  of  one  who  had  known  hardships  and 
exertion  from  his  earliest  youth.  His  person, 
though  muscular,  was  rather  attenuated  than 
full ; but  every  nerve  and  muscle  appeared  strung 

* The  North  American  warrior  caused  the  hair  to  be 
plucked  from  his  whole  body ; a small  tuft,  only,  was  left 
on  the  crown  of  his  head,  in  order  that  his  enemy  might 
avail  himself  of  it,  in  wrenching  off  the  scalp  in  the  event  of 
his  fall.  The  scalp  was  the  only  admissible  trophy  of  vic- 
tory. Thus,  it  was  deemed  more  important  to  obtain  the 
scalp  than  to  kill  the  man.  Some  tribes  lay  great  stress  on 
the  honor  of  striking  a dead  body.  These  practices  have 
nearly  disappeared  among  the  Indians  of  the  Atlantic 
States. 


and  indurated  by  unremitted  exposure  and  toil 
He  wore  a hunting-shirt  of  forest-green,  fringed 
with  faded  yellow,  * and  a summer  cap  of  skins 
which  had  been  shorn  of  their  fur.  He  also  bore 
a knife  in  a girdle  of  wampum,  like  that  which 
confined  the  scanty  garments  of  the  Indian,  but 
no  tomahawk.  His  moccasins  were  ornamented 
after  the  gay  fashion  of  the  natives,  while  the 
only  part  of  his  underdress  which  appeared  below 
the  hunting-frock,  was  a pair  of  buckskin  leg- 
gins,  that  laced  at  the  sides,  and  which  were  gar- 
tered above  the  knees,  with  the  sinews  of  a deer. 
A pouch  and  horn  completed  his  personal  accou- 
trements, though  a rifle  of  great  length,  which 
the  theory  of  the  more  ingenious  whites  had 
taught  them  was  the  most  dangerous  of  all  fire- 
arms, leaned  against  a neighboring  sapling.  The 
eye  of  the  hunter,  or  scout,  whichever  he  might  be, 
was  small,  quick,  keen,  and  restless,  roving  while 
he  spoke,  on  every  side  of  him,  as  if  in  quest  of 
game,  or  distrusting  the  sudden  approach  of  some 
lurking  enemy.  Notwithstanding  these  symp- 
toms of  habitual  suspicion,  his  countenance  was 
not  only  without  guile,  but,  at  the  moment  at 
which  he  is  introduced,  it  was  charged  with  an 
expression  of  sturdy  honesty. 

“ Even  your  traditions  make  the  case  in  my 
favor,  Chingachgook,”  he  said,  speaking  in  the 
tongue  which  was  known  to  all  the  natives  who 
formerly  inhabited  the  country  between  the  Hud- 
son and  the  Potomac,  and  of  which  we  shall 
give  a free  translation  for  the  benefit  of  the  read- 
er ; endeavoring,  at  the  same  time,  to  preserve 
some  of  the  peculiarities,  both  of  the  individual 
and  of  the  language.  “Your  fathers  came  from 
the  setting  sun,  crossed  the  big  river, + fought 
the  people  of  the  country,  and  took  the  land ; 
and  mine  came  from  the  red  sky  of  the  morning, 
over  the  salt  lake,  and  did  their  work  much  after 
the  fashion  that  had  been  set  them  by  yours ; 
then  let  God  judge  the  matter  between  us,  and 
friends  spare  their  words  ! ” 

11  My  fathers  fought  with  the  naked  red  man  ! ” 
returned  the  Indian,  sternly,  in  the  same  language. 

* The  hunting-shirt  is  a picturesque  smock-frock,  being 
shorter,  and  ornamented  with  fringes  and  tassels.  The 
colors  are  intended  to  imitate  the  hues  of  the  wood,  with  a 
view  to  concealment.  Many  corps  of  American  riflemen 
have  been  thus  attired ; and  the  dress  is  one  of  the  most 
striking  of  modern  times.  The  hunting-shirt  is  frequently 
white. 

t The  rifle  of  the  army  is  short;  that  of  the  hunter  is 
always  long. 

$ The  Mississippi.  The  scout  alludes  to  a tradition 
which  is  very  popular  among  the  tribes  of  the  Atlantic 
States.  Evidence  of  their  Asiatic  origin  is  deduced 
from  the  circumstances,  though  great  uncertainty  hangs 
over  the  whole  history  of  the  Indians. 


CHIN GACHGOOK  AND  THE  SCOUT. 


15 


“Is  there  no  difference,  Hawk-eye,  between  the 
stone-headed  arrow  of  the  warrior,  and  the  leaden 
bullet  with  which  you  kill  ? ” 

“ There  is  reason  in  an  Indian,  though  Nature 
has  made  him  with  a red  skin  ! ” said  the  white 
man,  shaking  his  head  like  one  on  whom  such  an 
appeal  to  his  justice  was  not  thrown  away.  For 
a moment  he  appeared  to  be  conscious  of  having 
the  worst  of  the  argument,  then,  rallying  again? 
he  answered  the  objection  of  his  antagonist  in 
the  best  manner  his  limited  information  would 
allow : “ I am  no  scholar,  and  I care  not  who 
knows  it ; but  judging  from  what  I have  seen, 
at  deer-chases  and  squirrel-hunts,  of  the  sparks 
below,  I should  think  a rifle  in  the  hands  of  their 
grandfathers  was  not  so  dangerous  as  a hickory 
bow  and  a good  flint-head  might  be,  if  drawn 
with  Indian  judgment,  and  sent  by  an  Indian  eye.” 

“ You  have  the  story  told  by  your  fathers,” 
returned  the  other,  coldly  waving  his  hand. 
“What  say  your  old  men?  do  they  tell  the 
young  warriors,  that  the  pale-faces  met  the  red 
men,  painted  for  war  and  armed  with  the  stone 
hatchet  and  wooden  gun  ? ” 

“ I am  not  a prejudiced  man,  nor  one  who 
vaunts  himself  on  his  natural  privileges,  though 
the  worst  enemy  I have  on  earth,  and  he  is  an 
Iroquois,  daren’t  deny  that  I am  genuine  white,” 
the  scout  replied,  surveying,  with  secret  satis- 
faction, the  faded  color  of  his  bony  and  sin- 
ewy hand ; “ and  I am  willing  to  own  that  my 
people  have  many  ways,  of  which,  as  an  honest 
man,  I can’t  approve.  It  is  one  of  their  customs 
to  write  in  books  what  they  have  done  and  seen, 
instead  of  telling  them  in  their  villages,  where 
the  lie  can  be  given  to  the  face  of  a cowardly 
boaster,  and  the  brave  soldier  can  call  on  his 
comrades  to  witness  for  the  truth  of  his  words, 
in  consequence  of  this  bad  fashion,  a man  who  is 
too  conscientious  to  misspend  his  days  among  the 
women,  in  learning  the  names  of  black  marks, 
may  never  hear  of  the  deeds  of  his  fathers,  nor 
feel  a pride  in  striving  to  outdo  them.  For 
myself,  I conclude  all  the  Bumppos  could  shoot,  for 
I have  a natural  turn  with  a rifle,  which  must 
have  been  handed  down  from  generation  to  gener- 
ation, as,  our  holy  commandments  tell  us,  all  good 
and  evil  gifts  are  bestowed ; though  I should  be 
ioath  to  answer  for  other  people  in  such  a matter. 
But  every  story  has  its  two  sides : so  I ask  you, 
Chingaehgook,  what  passed,  according  to  the  tra- 
ditions of  the  red  men,  when  our  fathers  first 
met  ? ” 

A silence  of  a minute  succeeded,  during  which 
the  Indian  sat  mute  ; then,  fall  of  the  dignity  of 
his  office,  he  commenced  his  brief  tale,  with  a so- 
17 


lemnity  that  served  to  heighten  its  appearance  of 
truth. 

“Listen,  Hawk-eye,  and  your  ear  shall  drink 
no  lie.  ’Tis  what  my  fathers  have  said,  and  what 
the  Mohicans  have  done.”  He  hesitated  a single 
instant,  and,  bending  a cautious  glance  toward 
his  companion,  he  continued,  in  a manner  that 
was  divided  between  interrogation  and  assertion  • 
“ Does  not  this  stream  at  our  feet  run  toward  the 
summer,  until  its  waters  grow  salt,  and  the  cur- 
rent flows  upward  ? ” 

“ It  can’t  be  denied  that  your  traditions  tell 
you  true  in  both  these  matters,”  said  the  white 
man ; “ for  I have  been  there,  and  have  seen 
them ; though,  why  water,  which  is  so  sweet  in 
the  shade,  should  become  bitter  in  the  sun,  is  an 
alteration  for  which  I have  never  been  able  tc 
account.” 

“And  the  current!”  demanded  the  Indian, 
who  expected  his  reply  with  that  sort  of  interest 
that  a man  feels  in  the  confirmation  of  testi- 
mony, at  which  he  marvels  even  while  he  re- 
spects it ; “ the  fathers  of  Chingaehgook  have  not 
lied ! ” 

“ The  holy  Bible  is  not  more  true,  and  that  is 
the  truest  thing  in  Nature.  They  call  this  up- 
stream current  the  tide,  which  is  a thing  soon  ex- 
plained, and  clear  enough.  Six  hours  the  waters 
run  in,  and  six  hours  they  run  out,  and  the  rea- 
son is  this : when  there  is  higher  water  in  the  sea 
than  in  the  river,  they  run  in  until  the  river  gets 
to  be  highest,  and  then  it  runs  out  again.” 

“ The  waters  in  the  woods,  and  on  the  great 
lakes,  run  downward  until  they  lie  like  my  hand,” 
said  the  Indian,  stretching  the  limb  horizontally 
before  him,  “ and  then  they  run  no  more.” 

“No  honest  man  will  deny  it,”  said  the  scout, 
a little  nettled  at  the  implied  distrust  of  his  ex- 
planation of  the  mystery  of  the  tides ; “ and  I 
grant  that  it  is  true  on  the  small  scale,  and  where 
the  ground  is  level.  But  every  thing  depends  on 
what  scale  you  look  at  things.  Now,  on  the 
small  scale,  the  ’arth  is  level ; but  on  the  large 
scale  it  is  round.  In  this  manner,  pools  and 
ponds,  and  even  the  great  fresh-water  lakes,  may 
be  stagnant,  as  you  and  I both  know  they  are, 
having  seen  them  ; but  when  you  come  to  spread 
water  over  a great  tract,  like  the  sea,  where  the 
earth  is  round,  how  in  reason  can  the  water  be 
quiet?  You  might  as  well  expect  the  river  to  lie 
still  on  the  brink  of  those  black  rocks  a mile 
above  us,  though  your  own  ears  tell  you  that  it  is 
tumbling  over  them  at  this  very  moment ! ” 

If  unsatisfied  by  the  philosophy  of  his  com- 
panion,  the  Indian  was  far  too  dignified  to  betray 
his  unbelief.  He  listened  like  one  who  was  con 


16 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


vinced,  and  resumed  his  narrative  in  his  former 
solemn  manner. 

“We  came  from  the  place  where  the  sun  is 
hid  at  night,  over  great  plains  where  the  buffaloes 
live,  until  we  reached  the  big  river.  There  we 
fought  the  Alligewi,  till  the  ground  was  red  with 
their  blood.  From  the  banks  of  the  big  river  to 
the  shores  of  the  salt  lake,  there  was  none  to 
meet  us.  The  Maquas  followed  at  a distance. 
We  said  the  country  should  be  ours  from  the 
place  where  the  water  runs  up  no  longer  on  this 
stream  to  a river  twenty  suns’  journey  toward  the 
summer.  The  land  we  had  taken  like  warriors  we 
kept  like  men.  We  drove  the  Maquas  into  the 
woods  with  the  bears.  They  only  tasted  salt  at  the 
licks  ; they  drew  no  fish  from  the  great  lake : we 
threw  them  the  bones.” 

“ All  this  I have  heard  and  believe,”  said  the 
white  man,  observing  that  the  Indian  paused ; 
“ but  it  was  long  before  the  English  came  into 
the  country.” 

“A  pine-tree  grew  then  where  this  chestnut 
now  stands.  The  first  pale-faces  who  came 
among  us  spoke  no  English.  They  came  in  a 
large  canoe,  when  my  fathers  had  buried  the  tom- 
ahawk with  the  red  men  around  them.  Then, 
Hawk-eye,”  he  continued,  betraying  his  deep 
emotion,  only  by  permitting  his  voice  to  fall  to 
those  low,  gutteral  tones,  which  render  his  lan- 
guage, as  spoken  at  times,  so  very  musical ; “ then, 
Hawk-eye,  we  were  one  people,  and  we  were  hap- 
py. The  salt  lake  gave  us  its  fish,  the  wood  its 
deer,  and  the  air  its  birds.  We  took  wives  who 
bore  us  children ; we  worshipped  the  Great  Spir- 
it ; and  we  kept  the  Maquas  beyond  the  sound  of 
our  songs  of  triumph  ! ” 

“ Know  you  any  thing  of  your  own  family  at 
that  time?”  demanded  the  white.  “But  you 
are  a just  man,  for  an  Indian  ! and,  as  I suppose 
you  hold  their  gifts,  your  fathers  must  have  been 
brave  warriors,  and  wise  men  at  the  council- 
fire.” 

“My  tribe  is  the  grandfather  of  nations,  but 
[ am  an  unmixed  man.  The  blood  of  chiefs  is  in 
my  veins,  where  it  must  stay  forever.  The  Dutch 
landed,  and  gave  my  people  the  fire-water  ; they 
drank  until  the  heavens  and  the  earth  seemed  to 
meet,  and  they  foolishly  thought  they  had  found 
the  Great  Spirit.  Then  they  parted  with  their 
land.  Foot  by  foot,  they  were  driven  back  from 
the  shores,  until  I,  that  am  a chief  and  a saga- 
more, have  never  seen  the  sun  shine  but  through 
the  trees,  and  have  never  visited  the  graves  of 
my  fathers ! ” 

“ Graves  bring  solemn  feelings  over  the  mind,” 
returned  the  scout,  a good  deal  touched  at  the 


calm  suffering  of  his  companion ; “ and  they 
often  aid  a man  in  his  good  intentions ; though, 
for  myself,  I expect  to  leave  my  own  bones  un- 
buried, to  bleach  in  the  woods,  or  to  be  tom 
asunder  by  the  wolves.  But  where  are  to  be 
found  those  of  your  race  who  came  to  their 
kin  in  the  Delaware  country,  so  many  summers 
since  ? ” 

“ Where  are  th£  blossoms  of  those  summers ! 
— fallen,  one  by  one : so  all  of  my  family  de- 
parted, each  in  his  turn,  to  the  land  of  spirits.  1 
am  on  the  hill-top,  and  must  go  down  into  the 
valley ; and,  when  Uncas  follows  in  my  foot- 
steps, there  will  no  longer  be  any  of  the  blood 
of  the  sagamores,  for  my  boy  is  the  last  of  the 
Mohicans.” 

“ Uncas  is  here ! ” said  another  voice,  in  the 
same  soft,  guttural  tones,  near  his  elbow  ; “ who 
speaks  to  Uncas  ? ” 

The  Avhite  man  loosened  his  knife  in  his 
leathern  sheath,  and  made  an  involuntary  move- 
ment of  the  hand  toward  his  rifle,  at  this  sudden 
interruption ; but  the  Indian  sat  composed,  and 
without  turning  his  head  at  the  unexpected 
sounds. 

At  the  next  instant,  a youthful  warrior  passed 
between  them,  with  a noiseless  step,  and  seated 
himself  on  the  bank  of  the  rapid  stream.  No  ex- 
clamation of  surprise  escaped  the  father,  nor  was 
any  question  asked,  or  reply  given,  for  several 
minutes;  each  appearing  to  await  the  moment 
when  he  might  speak  without  betraying  woman- 
ish curiosity  or  childish  impatience.  The  white 
man  seemed  to  take  counsel  from  their  customs, 
and,  relinquishing  his  grasp  of  the  rifle,  he  also 
remained  silent  and  reserved.  At  length  Chin- 
gachgook  turned  his  eyes  slowly  toward  his  son 
and  demanded : 

“ Do  the  Maquas  dare  to  leave  the  print  of 
their  moccasins  in  these  woods  ? ” 

“ I have  been  on  their  trail,”  replied  the 
young  Indian,  “ and  know  that  they  number  as 
many  as  the  fingers  of  my  two  hands  ; but  they 
lie  hid  like  cowards.” 

“ The  thieves  are  outlying  for  scalps  and 
plunder ! ” said  the  white  man,  whom  we  shall 
call  Hawk-eye,  after  the  manner  of  his  compan- 
ions. “ That  busy  Frenchman,  Montcalm,  will 
send  his  spies  into  our  very  camp,  but  he  will 
know  what  road  we  travel ! ” 

“ ’Tis  enough  ! ” returned  the  father,  glancing 
his  eye  toward  the  setting  sun ; “ they  shall  be 
driven  like  deer  from  their  bushes.  Hawk-eye, 
let  us  eat  to-night,  and  show  the  Maquas  that  we 
are  man  to-morrow.” 

“ I am  as  ready  to  do  the  one  as  the  other : but 


UNCAS. 


17 


lo  fight  the  Iroquois  ’tis  necessary  to  find  the 
skulkers ; and  to  eat,  ’tis  necessary  to  get  the 
game — talk  of  the  devil  and  he  will  come ; there 
.s  a pair  of  the  biggest  antlers  I have  seen  this 
season,  moving  the  bushes  below  the  hill ! Now, 
Uncas,”  he  continued  in  a half  whisper,  and 
laughing  with  a kind  of  inward  sound,  like  one 
who  had  learned  to  be  watchful,  “ I will  bet  my 
charger  three  times  full  of  powder,  against  a foot 
of  wampum,  that  I take  him  atwix  the  eyes,  and 
nearer  to  the  right  than  to  the  left.” 

“ It  cannot  be ! ” said  the  young  Indian, 
springing  to  his  feet  with  youthful  eagerness ; 
“ all  but  the  tips  of  his  horns  are  hid  ! ” 

“ He’s  a boy  ! ” said  the  white  man,  shaking 
his  head  while  he-  spoke,  and  addressing  the  fa- 
ther. “ Does  he  think,  when  a hunter  sees  a 
part  of  the  creatur’,  he  can’t  tell  where  the  rest 
of  him  should  be  ? ” 

Adjusting  his  rifle,  he  was  about  to  make  an 
exhibition  of  that  skill,  on  which  he  so  much 
valued  himself,  when  the  warrior  struck  up  the 
piece  with  his  hand,  saying  : 

“ Hawk-eye  ! will  you  fight  the  Maquas  ? ” 

“ These  Indians  know  the  nature  of  the  woods, 
as  it  might  be  by  instinct ! ” returned  the  scout, 
dropping  his  rifle,  and  turning  away  like  a man 
who  was  convinced  of  his  error.  I must  leave 
the  buck  to  your  arrow,  Uncas,  or  we  may  kill  a 
deer  for  them  thieves,  the  Iroquois,  to  eat.” 

The  instant  the  father  seconded  this  intima- 
tion by  an  expressive  gesture  of  the  hand,  Uncas 
threw  himself  on  the  ground,  and  approached  the 
animal  with  wary  movements.  When  within  a 
few  yards  of  the  cover,  he  fitted  an  arrow  to  his 
bow  with  the  utmost  care,  while  the  antlers 
moved,  as  if  their  owner  snuffed  an  enemy  in  the 
tainted  air.  In  another  moment  the  twang  of 
the  cord  was  heard,  a white  streak  was  seen 
glancing  into  the  bushes,  and  the  wounded  buck 
plunged  from  the  cover  to  the  very  feet  of  fiis 
hidden  enemy.  Avoiding  the  horns  of  the  infuri- 
ated animal,  Uncas  darted  to  his  side,  and  passed 
his  knife  across  the  throat,  when,  bounding  to 
the  edge  of  the  river,  it  fell,  dyeing  the  waters 
with  i£s  blood. 

“’Twas  done  with  Indian  skill,”  said  the 
scout,  laughing  inwardly,  but  with  vast'  satisfac- 
tion ; “ and  ’twas  a pretty  sight  to  behold  ! 
Though  an  arrow  is  a near  shot,  and  needs  a 
knife  to  fihish  the  work.” 

“ Hugh  ! ” ejaculated  his  companion,  turning 
quickly,  like  a hound  who  scented  game. 

“ By  the  Lord,  here  is  a drove  of  them  ! ” ex- 
claimed the  scout,  whose  eyes  began  to  glisten 
with  the  ardor  of  his  usual  occupation  ; “ if  they 
2 


come  within  range  of  a bullet  I will  drop  one, 
though  the  whole  Six  Nations  should  be  lurking 
within  sound ! What  do  you  hear,  G'hingach- 
gook  ? for  to  my  ears  the  woods  are  dumb.” 

“ There  is  but  one  deer,  and  he  is  dead,”  said 
the  Indian,  bending  his  body  till  his  ear  nearly 
touched  the  earth.  “ I hear  the  sounds  of  feet ! ” 

“ Perhaps  the  wolves  have  driven  the  buck  to 
shelter,  and  are  following  on  his  trail.” 

“ No.  The  horses  of  white  men  are  coming  ! ” 
returned  the  other,  raising  himself  with  dignity, 
and  resuming  his  seat  on  the  log  with  his  former 
composure.  “ Hawk-eye,  they  are  your  brothers ; 
speak  to  them.” 

“ That  will  I,  and  in  English  that  the  king 
needn’t  be  ashamed  to  answer,”  returned  the 
hunter,  speaking  in  the  language  of  which  he 
boasted  ; “ but  I see  nothing,  nor  do  I hear  the 
sounds  of  man  or  beast ; ’tis  strange  that  an  In- 
dian should  understand  white  sounds  ^better  than 
a man  who,  his  very  enemies  will  own,  has  no 
cross  in  his  blood,  although  he  may  have  lived 
with  the  red-skins  long  enough  to  be  suspected  ! 
Ha  ! there  goes  something  like  the  cracking  of  a 
dry  stick,  too — now  I hear  the  bushes  move — yes, 
yes,  there  is  a trampling  that  I mistook  for  the 
falls — and — but  here  they  come  themselves  ; God 
keep  them  from  the  Iroquois  ! ” 


CHAPTER  IV. 

“Well,  go  thy  way;  thou  shalt  not  from  this  grove 

Till  I torment  thee  for  this  injury.”  _ 

Midsummer-Night's  Dream. 

The  words  were  still  in  the  mouth  of  the 
scout,  when  the  leader  of  the  party,  whose  ap- 
proaching footsteps  had  caught  the  vigilant  ear  of 
the  Indian,  came  openly  into  view.  A beaten  path, 
such  as  those  made  by  the  periodical  passage  of 
the  deer,  wound  through  a little  glen  at  no  grea 
distance,  and  struck  the  river  at  the  point  where 
the  white  man  and  his  red  companions  had  posted 
themselves.  Along  this  track  the  travellers,  who 
had  produced  a surprise  so  unusual  in  the  depths 
of  the  forest,  advanced  slowly  toward  the  hunter, 
who  was  in  front  of  hi3  associates,  in  readiness 
to  receive  them. 

“ Who  comes  ? ” demanded  the  scout,  throw- 
ing his  rifle  carelessly  across  his  left  arm,  and 
keeping  the  fore-finger  of  his  right  hand  on  the 
trigger,  though  he  avoided  all  appearance  of  men- 
ace in  the  act — “ who  comes  hither,  among  the 
beasts  and  dangers  of  the  wilderness  ? ” 


IS 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ Believers  in  religion,  and  friends  to  the  law 
and  to  the  king,”  returned  he  who  rode  foremost. 
“Men  who  have  journeyed  since  the  rising  sun, 
in  the  shades  of  this  forest,  without  nourishment, 
and  are  sadly  tired  of  their  wayfaring.” 

“ You  are,  then,  lost,”  interrupted  the  hunter, 

“ and  have  found  how  helpless  ’tis  not  to  know 
whether  to  take  the  right  hand  or  the  left  ? ” 

“Even  so;  sucking  babes  are  not  more  de- 
pendent on  those  who  guide  them  than  we  who 
are  of  larger  growth,  and  who  may  now  be  said 
to  possess  the  stature  without  the  knowledge  of 
men.  Know  you  the  distance  to  a post  of  the 
crown  called  William  Henry  ? ” 

“Hoot!”  shouted  the  scout, i who  did  not 
3pare  his  open  laughter,  though,  instantly  check- 
ing the  dangerous  sounds,  he  indulged  his  merri- 
ment at  less  risk  of  being  overheard  by  any  lurk- 
ing enemies.  “ You  are  as  much  off  the  scent  as 
a hound  would  be,  with  Horican  atwixt  him  and 
the  deer.  William  Henry,  man ! if  you  are  friends 
to  the  king,  and  have  business  with  the  army, 
your  better  way  would  be  to  follow  the  river  down 
to  Edward,  and  lay  the  matter  before  Webb  ; who 
tarries  there,  instead  of  pushing  into  the  defiles, 
and  driving  this  saucy  Frenchman  back  across 
Champlain,  into  his  den  again.” 

Before  the  stranger  could  make  any  reply  to 
this  unexpected  proposition,  another  horseman 
dashed  the  bushes  aside,  and  leaped  his  charger 
into  the  pathway,  in  front  of  his  companion. 

“What,  then,  may  be  our  distance  from  Fort 
Edward  ? ” demanded  a new  speaker  ; “ the  place 
you  advise  us  to  seek  we  left  this  morning,  and 
our  destination  is  the  head  of  the  lake.” 

“ Then  you  must  have  lost  your  eyesight  afore 
losing  your  way,  for  the  road  across  the  portage 
is  cut  to  a good  two  rods,  and  is  as  grand  a path, 
I calculate,  as  any  that  runs  into  London,  or  even 
before  the  palace  of  the  king  himself.” 

“ We  will  not  dispute  concerning  the  excel- 
lence of  the  passage,”  returned  Heyward,  smiling ; 
for,  as  the  reader  has  anticipated,  it  was  he.  “ It 
s enough,  for  the  present,  that  we  trusted  to  an 
. ndian  guide  to  take  us  by  a nearer,  though  blind- 
er path,  and  that  we  are  deceived  in  his  knowl- 
edge. In  plain  words,  we  know  not  where  we 
are.” 

“ An  Indian  lost  in  the  woods  ? ” said  the 
scout,  shaking  his  head  doubtingly ; “ when  the 
gun  is  scorching  the  tree-tops,  and  the  water 
courses  are  full ; when  the  moss  on  every  beech 
he  sees,  will  tell  him  in  which  quarter  the  north 
star  will  shine  at  night ! The  woods  are  full  of 
deer-paths  which  run  to  the  streams  and  licks, 
places  well  known  to  everybody;  nor  have  the 


geese  done  their  flight  to  the  Canada  waters  alto- 
gether ! ’Tis  strange  that  an  Indian  should  be 
lost  atwixt  Horican  and  the  bend  in  the  river! 
Is  he  a Mohawk  ? ” 

“Not  by  birth,  though  adopted  in  that  tribe ; 

I think  his  birthplace  was  farther  north,  and  he 
is  one  of  those  you  call  a Huron.” 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  the  two  companions  of 
the  scout,  who  had  continued  until  this  part  of 
the  dialogue,  seated  immovable,  and  apparently 
indifferent  to  what  passed,  but  who  now  sprang 
to  their  feet  with  an  activity  and  interest  that 
had  evidently  got  the  better  of  their  reserve,  by 
surprise. 

“ A Huron ! ” repeated  the  sturdy  scout,  once 
more  shaking  his  head  in  open  distrust ; “ they 
are  a thievish  race,  nor  do  I care  by  whom  they 
are  adopted  ; you  can  never  make  any  thing  of 
them  but  skulks  and  vagabonds.  Since  you 
trusted  yourself  to  the  care  of  one  of  that  nation, 
I only  wonder  that  you  have  not  fallen  in  with 
more.”  . 

“ Of  that  there  is  little  danger,  since  William 
Henry  is  so  many  miles  in  our  front.  You  forget 
that  I have  told  you  our  guide  is  now  a Mohawk, 
and  that  he  serves  with  our  forces  as  a friend.” 

“ And  I tell  you  that  he  who  is  born  a- Mingo 
will  die  a Mingo,”  returned  the  other,  positively. 
“ A Mohawk  ! No,  give  me  a Delaware  or  a Mo- 
hican for  honesty;  and  when  they  will  fight, 
which  they  won’t  all  do,  having  suffered  their 
cunning  enemies,  the  Maquas,  to  make  them 
women— but  when  they  will  fight  at  all,  look  to 
a Delaware,  or  a Mohican,  for  a warrior ! ” 

“ Enough  of  this,”  said  Heyward,  impatient- 
ly; “I  wish  not  to  inquire  into  the  character  of 
a man  that  I know,  and  to  whom  you  must  be  a 
stranger.  You  have  not  yet  answered  my  ques- 
tion ; what  is  our  distance  from  the  main  army 
at  Edward  ? ” 

* “ It  seems  that  may  depend  on  who  is  your 
guide.  One  would  think  such  a horse  as  that 
might  get  over  a good  deal  of  ground  atwixt  sun- 
up and  sun-down.” 

“ I wish  no  contention  of  idle  words  with  you, 
friend,”  said  Heyward,  curbing  his  dissatisfied 
manner,  and  speaking  in  a more  gentle  voice ; 
“ if  you  will  tell  me  the  distance  to  Fort  Edward, 
and  conduct  me  thither,  your  labor  shall  not  go 
without  its  reward.” 

“ And  in  so  doing,  how  know  I that  I don’t 
guide  an  enemy,  and  a spy  of  Montcalm,  to  the 
works  of  the  army?  It  is  not  every  man  who 
can  speak  the  English  tongue  that  is  an  honest 
subject.” 

“If  you  serve  with  the  troops,  of  whom  • 


MAGUA’S  TREACHERY. 


19 


judge  you  to  be  a scout,  you  should  know  of 
rueh  a regiment  of  the  king  as  the  60th.” 

“The  60th!  you  can  tell  me  little  of  the 
Royal  Americans  that  I don’t  know,  though  I do 
wear  a hunting-shirt  instead  of  a scarlet  jacket.” 

“Well,  then,  among  other  things,  you  may 
know  the  name  of  its  major  ? ” 

“ Its  major  ! ” interrupted  the  hunter,  elevat- 
ing his  body  like  one  who  is  proud  of  his  trust. 
“ If  there  is  a man  in  the  country  who  knows 
Major  Effingham,  he  stands  before  you.” 

“It  is  a corps  which  has  many  majors  ; the 
gentleman  you  name  is  the  senior,  but  I speak  of 
he  junior  of  them  all;  he  who  commands  the 
:ompanies  in  garrison  at  William  Henry.” 

“ Yes,  yes,  I have  heard  that  a young  gentle- 
uan  of  vast  riches,  from  one  of  the  provinces 
ar  south,  has  got  the  place.  He  is  over-young, 
too,  to  hold  such  rank,  and  to  be  put  above  men 
whose  heads  are  beginning  to  bleach  ; and  yet 
they  say  he  is  a soldier  in  his  knowledge,  and  a 
gallant  gentleman  ! ” 

“ Whatever  he  may  be,  or  however  he  may 
be  qualified  for  his  rank,  he  now  speaks  to  you, 
and  of  course  can  be  no  enemy  to  dread.” 

The  scout  regarded  Heyward  in  sui-prise,  and 
then,  lifting  his  cap,  he  answered,  in  a tone  less 
confident  than  before — though  still  expressing 
doubt : 

“ I have  heard  a party  was  to  leave  the  en- 
campment this  morning,  for  the  lake-shore  ? ” 

“ You  have  heard  the  truth ; but  I preferred 
a nearer  route,  trusting  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
Indian  I mentioned.” 

“ And  he  deceived  you,  and  then  deserted  ? ” 

“Neither,  as  I believe;  certainly  not  the  lat- 
ter, for  he  is  to  be  found  in  the  rear.” 

“ I should  like  to  look  at  the  creatur’ ; if  it  is 
a true  Iroquois  I can  tell  him  by  his  knavish  look, 
and  by  his  paint,”  said  the  scout,  stepping  past 
the  charger  of  Heyward,  and  entering  the  path 
behind  the  mare  of  the  singing-master,  whose  foal 
had  taken  advantage  of  the  halt  to  exact  the 
maternal  contribution.  After  shoving  aside  the 
bushes,  and  proceeding  a few  paces,  he  encoun- 
tered the  females,  who  awaited  the  result  of  the 
conference  with  anxiety,  and  not  entirely  without 
apprehension.  Behind  these,  the  runner  leaned 
against  a tree,  where  he  stood  the  close  examina- 
tion of  the  scout  with  an  air  unmoved,  though 
with  a look  so  dark  and  savage,  that  it  might  in 
itself  excite  fear.  Satisfied  with  his  scrutiny,  the 
hunter  soon  left  him.  As  he  repassed  the  fe- 
males, he  paused  a moment  to  gaze  upon  their 
beauty,  answering  to  the  smile  and  nod  of  Alice 
"rith  a look  of  open  pleasure.  Thence  he  went  to 


the  side  of  the  motherly  animal,  and,  spending  a 
minute  in  a fruitless  inquiry  into  the  character 
of  her  rider,  he  shook  his  head  and  returned  to 
Heyward. 

“ A Mingo  is  a Mingo,  and,  God  having  made 
him  so,  neither  the  Mohawks  nor  any  other  tribe 
can  alter  him,”  he  said,  when  he  had  regained 
his  former  position.  “ If  we  were  alone,  and  you 
would  leave  that  noble  horse  at  the  mercy  of  the 
wolves  to-night,  I could  show  you  the  way  to 
Edward,  myself,  within  an  hour,  for  it  lies  only 
about  an  hour’s  journey  hence ; but  with  such 
ladies  in  your  company  ’tis  impossible ! ” 

“ And  why  ? they  are  fatigued,  but  they  are 
quite  equal  to  a ride  of  a few  more  miles.” 

“ ’Tis  a natural  impossibility  ! ” repeated  the 
scout ; “ I wouldn’t  walk  a mile  in  these  woods 
after  night  gets  into  them,  in  company  with  that 
runner,  for  the  best  rifle  in  the  colonies.  They 
are  full  of  outlying  Iroquois,  and  your  mongrel 
Mohawk  knows  where  to  find  them  too  well  to  be 
my  companion.” 

“ Think  you  so  ? ” said  Heyward,  leaning 
forward  in  the  saddle,  and  dropping  his  voice 
nearly  to  a whisper ; “ I confess  I have  not  been 
without  my  own  suspicions,  though  I have  en- 
deavored to  conceal  them,  and  affected  a confi- 
dence I have  not  always  felt,  on  account  of  my 
companions.  It  was  because  I suspected  him 
that  I would  follow  no  longer ; making  him,  as 
you  see,  follow  me.” 

“ I knew  he  was  one  of  the  cheats  as  soon  as 
I laid  eyes  on  him ! ” returned  the  scout,  placing 
a finger  on  his  nose  in  sign  of  caution.  “ The 
thief  is  leaning  against  the  foot  of  the  sugar  sap- 
ling t^iat  you  can  see  over  them  bushes ; his 
right  leg  is  in  a line  with  the  bark  of  the  tree, 
and,”  tapping  his  rifle,  “I  can  take  him  from 
where  I stand  between  the  ankle  and  the  knee 
' with  a single  shot,  putting  an  end  to  his  tramping 
through  the  woods  for  at  least  a month  to  come. 
If  I should  go  back  to  him,  the  cunning  varmint 
would  suspect  something,  and  be  dodging  through 
the  trees  like  a frightened  deer.” 

“ It  will  not  do.  He  may  be  innocent,  and  I 
dislike  the  act.  Though,  if  I felt  confident  of  his 
treachery — ” 

“ ’Tis  a safe  thing  to  calculate  on  the  knavery 
of  an  Iroquois,”  said  the  scout,  throwing  his  rifle 
forward  by  a sort  of  instinctive  movement. 

“Hold!”  interrupted  Heyward,  “it  will  not 
do — we  must  think  of  some  other  scheme ; and 
yet  I have  much  reason  to  believe  the  rascal  has 
deceived  me.” 

The  hunter,  who  had  already  abandoned  his 
intention  of  maiming  the  runner,  mused  a moment 


20 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


and  then  made  a gesture,  which  instantly  brought 
his  two  red  companions  to  his  side.  They  spoke 
together  earnestly  in  the  Delaware  language, 
though  in  an  under-tone ; and,  by  the  gestures 
of  the  white  man,  which  were  frequently  directed 
toward  the  top  of  the  sapling,  it  was  evident  he 
pointed  out  the  situation  of  their  hidden  enemy. 
His  companions  were  not  long  in  comprehending 
his  wishes,  and,  laying  aside  their  fire-arms,  they 
parted,  taking  opposite  sides  of  the  path,  and 
burying  themselves  in  the  thicket  with  such  cau- 
tious movements  that  their  steps  were  inaudible. 

“ Now,  go  you  back,”  said  the  hunter,  speak- 
ing again  to  Heyward,  “ and  hold  the  imp  in 
talk  ; these  Mohicans  here  will  take  him  without 
breaking  his  paint.” 

“Nay,”  said  Heyward,  proudly,  “I  will  seize 
him  myself.” 

“ Hist ! what  could  you  do,  mounted,  against 
an  Indian  in  the  bushes  ? ” 

“ I will  dismount.” 

“ And,  think  you,  when  he  saw  one  of  your 
feet  out  of  the  stirrup,  he  would  wait  for  the 
other  to  be  free  V Whoever  comes  into  the 
woods  to  deal  with  the  natives,  must  use  Indian 
ashions,  if  he  would  wish  to  prosper  in  his  un- 
dertakings. Go,  then  ; talk  openly  to  the  miscre- 
ant, and  seem  to  believe  him  the  truest  friend 
you  have  on  ’arth.” 

Heyward  prepared  to  comply,  though  with 
strong  disgust  at  the  nature  of  the  office  he  was 
compelled  to  execute.  Each  moment,  however, 
pressed  upon  him  a conviction  of  the  critical 
situation  in  which  he  had  suffered  his  invaluable 
trust  to  be  involved  through  his  own  confidence. 
The  sun.  had  already  disappeared,  and  the  woods, 
suddenly  deprived  of  his  light,*  were  assuming  a 
dusky  hue,  which  keenly  reminded  him  that  the 
hour  the  savage  usually  chose  for  his  most  bar- 
barous and  remorseless  acts  of  vengeance  or  hos- 
tility, was  speedily  drawing  near.  Stimulated  by 
apprehension,  he  left  the  scout,  “who  immediately 
entered  into  a loud  conversation  with  the  stranger 
that  had  so  unceremoniously  enlisted  himself  in 
the  party  of  travellers  that  morning.  In  passing 
his  gentler  companions  Heyward  uttered  a few 
words  of  encouragement,  and  was  pleased  to  find 
that,  though  fatigued  with  the  exercise  of  the 
day,  they  appeared  to  entertain  no  suspicion  that 
their  present  embarrassment  was  other  than  the 
result  of  accident.  Giving  them  reason  to  be- 
ieve  he  was  merely  employed  in  a consultation 
concerning  the  future  route,  he  spurred  his  char- 
ger, and  drew  the  reins  again,  when  the  animal 

* Tfcs  scene  of  this  tale  was  in  the  42d  degree  of  lati- 
tude* whore  the  twilight  i3  ne^er  of  long  contir  nance. 


had  carried  him  within  a few  yards  of  the  place 
where  the  sullen  runner  still  stood,  leaning 
against  the  tree. 

“ You  may  see,  Magua,”  he  said,  endeavoring 
to  assume  an  air  of  freedom  and  confidence, 
“ that  the  night  is  closing  around  us,  and  yet  we 
are  no  nearer  to  William  Henry  than  when  we 
left  the  encampment  of  Webb  with  the  rising  sun. 
You  have  missed  the  way,  nor  have  I been  more 
fortunate.  But,  happily  we  have  fallen  in  with  a 
hunter,  he  whom  you  hear  talking  to  the  singer, 
that  is  acquainted  with  the  deer-paths  and  by-ways 
of  the  woods,  and  who  promises  to  lead  us  to  a 
place  where  we  may  rest  securely  till  the  morn- 
ing.” 

The  Indian  riveted  his  glowing  eyes  on  Hey- 
ward as  he  asked,  in  his  imperfect  English,  “ Is 
he  alone  ? ” 

“ Alone ! ” hesitatingly  answered  Heyward,  to 
whom  deception  was  too  new  to  be  assumed 
without  embarrassment.  “ Oh ! not  alone,  sure- 
ly, Magua,  for  you  know  that  we  are  with  him.” 

“ Then  le  Renard  Subtil  will  go,”  returned  the 
runner,  coolly  raising  his  little  wallet  from  the 
place  where  it  had  lain  at  his  feet ; “ and  the  pale 
faces  will  see  none  but  their  own  color.” 

“ Go  ! Whom  call  you  le  Renard  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  the  name  his  Canada  fathers  have  given 
to  Magua,”  returned  the  runner,  with  an  air  that 
manifested  his  pride  at  the  distinction.  “ Night 
is  the  same  as  day  to  le  Subtil,  when  Munro 
waits  for  him.” 

“ And  what  account  will  le  Renard  give  the 
chief  of  William  Henry  concerning  his  daugh- 
ters ? Will  he  dai’e  to  tell  the  hot-blooded  Scots 
man  that  his  children  are  left  without  a guide, 
though  Magua  promised  to  be  one  ? ” 

“ Though  the  gray  head  has  a loud  voice,  and 
a long  arm,  le  Renard  will  not  hear  him,  nor  feel 
him,  in  the  woods.” 

“ But  what  will  the  Mohawks  say  ? They  will 
make  him  petticoats,  and  bid  him  stay  in  the  wig- 
wam with  the  women,  for  he  is  no  longer  to  be 
trusted  with  the  business  of  a man.” 

“ Le  Subtil  knows  the  path  to  the  great  lakes, 
and  he  can  find  the  bones  of  his  fathers,”  was 
the  answer  of  the  unmoved  runner. 

“ Enough,  Magua,”  said  Heyward ; “ are  we 
not  friends  ? Why  should  there  be  bitter  words 
between  us  ? Munro  has  promised  you  a gift  for 
your  services  when  performed,  and  I shall  be 
your  debtor  for  another.  Rest  your  weary  limbs, 
then,  and  open  your  wallet  to  eat.  We  have  a 
few  moments  to  spare  ; let  us  not  waste  them  in 
talk  like  wrangling  women.  When  the  ladies  ar® 
refreshed,  we  will  proceed.” 


4 


FLIGHT  OF  THE  INDIAN  GUIDE. 


21 


“ The  pale-faces  make  themselves  dogs  to 
their  women,”  muttered  the  Indian,  in  his  native 
language,  “and,  when  they  want  to  eat,  their 
warriors  must  lay  aside  the  tomahawk  to  feed 
their  laziness.” 

“ What  say  you,  Renard  ? ” 

“ Le  Subtil  says  it  is  good.” 

The  Indian  then  fastened  his  eyes  keenly  on 
the  open  countenance  of  Heyward,  but,  meeting 
his  glance,  he  turned  them  quickly  away,  and, 
seating  himself  deliberately  on  the  ground,  he 
drew  forth  the  remnant  of  some  former  repast, 
and  began  to  eat,  though  not  without  first  bend- 
ing his  looks  slowly  and  cautiously  around  him. 

“ This  is  well,”  continued  Heyward ; “ and  le 
Renard  will  have  strength  and  sight  to  find  the 
path  in  the  morning ; ” he  paused,  for  sounds 
like  the  snapping  of  a dried  stick  and  the  rus- 
tling of  leaves  rose  from  the  adjacent  bushes, 
but,  recollecting  himself  instantly,  he  continued  : 

‘ We  must  be  moving  before  the  sun  is  seen,  or 
Montcalm  may  lie  in  our  path,  and  shut  us  out 
from  the  fortress.” 

The  hand  of  Magua  dropped  from  his  mouth 
to  his  side,  and  though  his  eyes  were  fastened  on 
the  ground,  his  head  was  turned  aside,  his  nos- 
trils expanded,  and  his  ears  seemed  even  to  stand 
more  erect  than  usual,  giving  to  him  the  appear- 
ance of  a statue  that  was  made  to  represent  in- 
tense attention. 

Heyward,  who  watched  his  movements  with  a 
vigilant  eye,  carelessly  extricated  one  of  his  feet 
from  the  stirrup,  while  he  passed  a hand  toward 
the  bear-skin  covering  of  his  holsters.  Every 
effort  to  detect  the  point  most  regarded  by  the 
runner  was  completely  frustrated  by  the  tremu- 
lous glances  of  his  organs,  which  seemed  not  to 
rest  a single  instant  on  any  particular  object,  and 
which,  at  the  same  time,  could  be  hardly  said  to 
move.  While  he  hesitated  how  to  proceed,  le 
Subtil  cautiously  raised  himself  to  his  feet,  though 
with  a motion  "so  slow  and  guarded,  that  not  the 
slightest  noise  was  produced  by  the  change. 
Heyward  felt  it  had  now  become  incumbent  on 
him  to  act.  Throwing  his  leg  over  the  saddle, 
he  dismounted,  with  a determination  to  advance 
and  seize  his  treacherous  companion,  trusting  the 
result  to  his  own  manhood.  In  order,  however, 
to  prevent  unnecessary  alarm,  he  still  preserved 
an  air  of  calmness  and  friendship. 

“ Le  Renard  Subtil  does  not  eat,”  he  said,  us- 
ing the  appellation  he  had  found  most  flattering 
to  the  vanity  of  the  Indian.  “ His  corn  is  not 
well  parched,  and  it  seems  dry.  Let  me  examine  ; 
perhaps  something  may  be  found  among  my  own 
provisions  that  r'U  help  his  appetite.” 


Magua  held  out  the  wallet  to  the  proffer  of 
the  other.  He  even  suffered  their  hands  to  meet, 
without  betraying  th$  least  emotion,  or  varying 
his  riveted  attitude  of  attention.  But  when  he 
felt  the  fingers  of  Heyward  moving  gently  along 
his  own  naked  arm,  he  struck  up  the  limb  of  the 
young  man,  and,  uttering  a piercing  cry  as  he 
darted  beneath  it,  plunged,  at  a single  bound,  into 
the  opposite  thicket.  At  the  next  instant  the 
form  of  Chingachgook  appeared  from  the  bushes, 
looking  like  a spectre  in  its  paint,  and  glided 
across  the  path  in  swift  pursuit.  Next  followed 
the  shout  of  Uncas,  when  the  woods  were  lighted 
by  a sudden  flash,  that  was  accompanied  by  the 
sharp  report  of  the  hunter’s  rifle. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

“ In  such  a night 

Did  Thisbe  fearfully  o’ertrip  the  dew ; 

And  saw  the  lion’s  shadow  ere  himself.” 

Mebchant  of  Venice. 

The  suddenness  of  the  flight  of  his  guide,  and 
the  wild  cries  of  the  pursuers,  caused  Heyward  to 
remain  fixed,  for  a few  moments,  in  inactive  sur- 
prise. Then,  recollecting  the  importance  of  se- 
curing the  fugitive,  he  dashed  aside  the  surround- 
ing bushes,  and  pressed  eagerly  forward  to  lend 
his  aid  in  the  chase.  Before  he  had,  however, 
proceeded  a hundred  yards,  he  met  the  three 
foresters  already  returning  from  their  unsuccess- 
ful pursuit. 

“ Why  so  soon  disheartened  ? ” he  exclaimed  ; 
“ the  scoundrel  must  be  concealed  behind  some 
of  these  trees,  and  may  yet  be  secured.  We  are 
not  safe  while  he  goes  at  large.” 

“ Would  you  set  a cloud  to  chase  the  wind  ? ” 
returned  the  disappointed  scout ; “I  heard  the 
imp  brushing  over  the  dry  leaves  like  a black 
snake,  and,  blinking  a glimpse  of  him,  just  over 
ag’in  yon  big  pine,  I pulled  as  it  might  be  on  the 
scent ; but  ’twouldn’t  do  ! and  yet,  for  a reason- 
ing aim,  if  anybody  but  myself  had  touched  the 
trigger,  I should  call  it  a quick  sight ; and  I may 
be  accounted  to  have  experience  in  these  mat- 
ters, and  one  who  ought  to  know.  Look  at  this 
sumach  ; its  leaves  are  red,  though  everybody 
knows  the  fruit  is  in  the  yellow  blossom  in  the 
month  of  July ! ” 

“ ’Tis  the  blood  of  le  Subtil ! he  is  hurt,  and 
may  yet  fall ! ” 

“ No,  no,”  returned  the  scout,  in  decided  dis- 
approbation of  this  opinion,  “ I rubbed  the  bark 
off  a limb,  perhaps,  but  the  creatur’  leaped  thr 


22 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


longer  for  it.  A rifle-bullet  acts  on  a running 
animal,  when  it  barks  him,  much  the  same  as 
one  of  your  spurs  on  a hor^i ; that  is,  it  quickens 
motion,  and  puts  life  into  the  flesh,  instead  of 
taking  it  away.  But  when  it  cuts  the  ragged 
hole,  after  a bound  or  two,  there  is,  commonly,  a 
stagnation  of  further  leaping,  be  it  Indian  or  be 
it  deer ! ” 

“ We  are  four  able  bodies,  to  one  wounded 
man ! ” 

“ Is  life  grievous  to  you  ? ” interrupted  the 
scout.  “ Yonder  red  devil  would  draw  you  with- 
in swing  of  the  tomhawks  of  his  comrades  before 
you  were  heated  in  the  chase.  It  was  an  un- 
thoughtful act  in  a man  who  has  so  often  slept 
with  the  war-whoop  ringing  in  the  air,  to  let  off 
his  piece  within  sound  of  an  ambushment ! But 
then  it  was  a natural  temptation,  ’twas  very  natu- 
ral ! Come,  friends,  let  us  move  our  station,  and 
in  such  a fashion,  too,  as  will  throw  the  cunning 
of  a Mingo  on  a wrong  scent,  or  our  scalps  will 
be  drying  in  the  wind  in  front  of  Montcalm’s 
marquee  ag’in  this  hour  to-morrow.” 

This  appalling  declaration,  which  the  scout 
uttered  with  the  cool  assurance  of  a man  who 
fully  comprehended,  while  he  did  not  fear  to  face 
the  danger,  served  to  remind  Heyward  of  the 
importance  of  the  charge  with  which  he  himself 
had  been  intrusted.  Glancing  his  eyes  around, 
with  a vain  effort  to  pierce  the  gloom  that  was 
Sickening  beneath  the  leafy  arches  of  the  forest, 
he  felt  as  if,  cut  off  from  human  aid,  his  unre- 
sisting companions  would  soon  lie  at  the  entire 
mercy  of  those  barbarous  enemies,  who,  like 
beasts  of  prey,  only  waited  till  the  gathering 
darkness  might  render  their  blows  more  fatally 
certain.  His  awakened  imagination,  deluded  by 
the  deceptive  light,  converted  each  waving  bush, 
or  the  fragment  of  some  fallen  tree,  into  human 
forms,  and  twenty  times  he  fancied  he  could  dis- 
tinguish the  horrid  visages  of  his  lurking  foes 
peering  from  their  hiding-places  in  never-ceasing 
watchfulness  of  the  movements  of  his  party. 
Looking  upward,  he  found  that  the  thin,  fleecy 
clouds,  which  evening  had  painted  on  the  blue 
sky,  were  already  losing  their  faintest  tints  of 
rose-color,  while  the  embedded  stream,  which 
glided  past  the  spot  where  he  stood,  was  to  be 
traced  only  by  the  dark  boundary  of  its  wooded 
banks. 

“ What  is  to  be  done  ? ” he  said,  feeling  the 
utter  helplessness  of  doubt  in  such  a pressing 
strait ; “ desert  me  not,  for  God’s  sake ! remain 
to  defend  those  I escort,  and  freely  name  your 
own  reward!” 

His  companions,  who  conversed  apart  in  the 


language  of  their  tribe,  heeded  not  this  sudden 
and  earnest  appeal.  Though  their  dialogue  was 
maintained  in  low  and  cautious  sounds,  but  little 
above  a whisper,  Heyward,  who  now  approached, 
could  easily  distinguish  the  earnest  tones  of  the 
younger  warrior  from  the  more  deliberate  speech- 
es of  his  seniors.  It  was  evident  that  they  de- 
bated on  the  propriety  of  some  measure,  that 
nearly  concerned  the  welfare  of  the  travellers. 
Yielding  to  his  powerful  interest  in  the  subject, 
and  impatient  of  a delay  that  seemed  fraught  with 
so  much  additional  danger,  Heyward  drew  still 
nigher  to  the  dusky  group,  with  an  intention  of 
making  his  offers  of  compensation  more  definite, 
when  the  white  man,  motioning  with  his  hand, 
as  if  he  conceded  the  disputed  point,  turned 
away,  saying  in  a sort  of  soliloquy,  and  in  the 
English  tongue : 

“ Uncas  is  right ! it  would  not  be  the  act  of 
men  to  leave  such  harmless  things  to  their  fate, 
even  though  it  breaks  up  the  harboring-place  for 
ever.  If  you  would  save  these  tender  blossoms 
from  the  fangs  of  the  worst  of  sarpents,  gentle- 
man, you  have  neither  time  to  lose  nor  resolution 
to  throw  away  ! ” 

“ How  can  such  a wish  be  doubted ! have  I 
not  already  offered — ” 

“ Offer  your  prayers  to  Him,  who  can  give  ua 
wisdom  to  circumvent  the  cunning  of  the  devils 
who  fill  these  woods,”  calmly  interrupted  the  scout, 
“ but  spare  your  offers  of  money,  which  neither 
you  may  live  to  realize,  nor  I to  profit  by.  These 
Mohicans  and  I will  do  what  man’s  thoughts  can 
invent,  to  keep  such  flowers,  which,  though  so 
sweet,  were  never  made  for  the  wilderness,  from 
harm,  and  that  without  hope  of  any  other  recom- 
pense but  such  as  God  always  gives  to  upright 
dealings.  First,  you  must  promise  two  things, 
both  in  your  own  name  and  for  your  friends,  or, 
without  serving  you,  we  shall  only  injure  our- 
selves ! ” 

“Name  them.” 

“ The  one  is,  to  be  still  as  these  sleeping 
woods,  let  what  will  happen ; and  the  other  is,  to 
keep  the  place  where  we  shall  take  you  forever 
a secret  from  all  mortal  men.” 

“ I will  do  my  utmost  to  see  both  these  con- 
ditions fulfilled.” 

“ Then  follow,  for  we  are  losing  moments  tnat 
are  as  precious  as  the  heart’s  blood  to  a stricken 
deer ! ” 

Heyward  could  distinguish  the  impatient  ges- 
ture of  the  scout,  through  the  increasing  shadows 
of  the  evening,  and  he  moved  in  his  footsteps, 
swiftly,  toward  the  place  where  he  had  left  the 
remainder  of  his  partv.  When  they  rejoined  the 


HAWK-EYE  AND  HIS  NEW  COMPANIONS- 


23 


expecting  and  anxious  females,  he  briefly  acquaint- 
ed them  with  the  conditions  of  their  new  guide, 
and  with  the  necessity  that  existed  for  their  hush- 
ing every  apprehension,  in  instant  and  serious 
exertions.  Although  his  alarming  communication 
was  not  received  without  much  secret  terror  by 
the  listeners,  his  earnest  and  impressive  manner, 
aided  perhaps  by  the  nature  of  the  danger,  suc- 
ceeded in  bracing  their  nerves  to  undergo  some 
unlooked-for  and  unusual  trial.  Silently,  and 
without  a moment’s  delay,  they  permitted  him  to 
assist  them  from  their  saddles,  when  they  de- 
scended quickly  to  the  water’s  edge  where  the 
Bcout  had  collected  the  rest  of  the  party,  more 
by  the  agency  of  expressive  gestures  than  by  any 
use  of  words. 

“ What  to  do  with  these  dumb  creatures  ! ” 
muttered  the  white  man,  on  whom  the  sole  con- 
trol of  their  future  movements  appeared  to  de- 
volve ; “ it  would  be  time  lost  to  cut  their  throats, 
and  cast  them  into  the  river ; and  to  leave  them 
here,  would  be  to  tell  the  Mingoes  that  they  have 
not  far  to  seek  to  find  their  owners  ! ” 

“ Then  give  them  their  bridles,  and  let  them 
range  the  woods,”  Heyward  ventured  to  suggest. 

“ No ; it  would  be  better  to  mislead  the  imps, 
and  make  them  believe  they  must  equal  a horse’s 
speed  to  run  down  their  chase.  Ay,  ay,  that 
will'  blind  their  fire-balls  of  eyes ! Chingach — 
Hist ! what  stirs  the  bush  ? ” 

“ The  colt.” 

“ That  colt,  at  least,  must  die,”  muttered  the 
scout,  grasping  at  the  mane  of  the  nimble  beast, 
which  easily  eluded  his  hand  ; “ Uncas,  your  ar- 
rows ! ” 

“ Hold  ! ” exclaimed  the  proprietor  of  the 
condemned  animal,  aloud,  without  regard  to  the 
whispering  tones  used  by  the  others  ; “ spare  the 
foal  of  Miriam! 'it  is  the  comely  offspring  of  a 
faithful  dam,  and  would  willingly  injure  naught.” 

“ When  men  struggle'  for  the  single  life  God 
has  given  them,”  said  the  scout,  sternly,  “ even 
their  own  kind  seem  no  more  than  the  beasts  of 
the  wood.  If  you  speak  again,  I shall  leave  you 
to  the  mercy  of  the  Maquas ! — Draw  to  your  ar- 
row’s head,  Uncas ; we  have  no  time  for  second 
blows.” 

The  low,  muttering  sounds  of  his  threatening 
voice  were  still  audible,  when  the  wounded  foal, 
first  rearing  on  its  hinder  legs,  plunged  forward 
to  its  knees.  It  was  met  by  Chingachgook, 
whose  knife  passed  across  its  throat  quicker  than 
thought,  and  then,  precipitating  the  motions  of 
the  struggling  victim,  he  dashed  it  into  the  river, 
down  whose  stream  it  glided  away,  gasping  audi- 
bly for  breath  with  its  ebbing  life.  This  deed  of 


apparent  cruelty,  but  of  real  necessity,  fell  upof 
the  spirits  of  the  travellers  like  a terrific  warning 
of  the  peril  in  which  they  stood,  heightened  as  it 
was  by  the  calm  though  steady  resolution  of  the 
actors  in  the  scene.  The  sisters  shuddered  and 
clung  closer  to  each  other,  while  Heyward  in- 
stinctively laid  his  hand  on  one  of  the  pistols  he 
had  just  drawn  from  their  holsters,  as  he  placed 
himself  between  his  charge  and  those  dense  shad- 
ows that  seemed  to  draw  an  impenetrable  veil 
before  the  bosom  of  the  forest. 

The  Indians,  however,  hesitated  hot  a moment, 
but,  taking  the  bridles,  they  led  the  frightened 
and  reluctant  horses  into  the  bed  of  the  river. 

At  a short  distance  from  the  shore  they 
turned,  and  were  soon  concealed  by  the  projec- 
tion of  the  bank,  under  the  brow  of  which  they 
moved,  in  a direction  opposite  to  the  course  of 
the  waters.  In  the  mean  time,  the  scout  drew  a 
canoe  of  bark  from  its  place  of  concealment  be- 
neath some  low  bushes,  whose  branches  were 
waving  with  the  eddies  of  the  current,  into  which 
he  silently  motioned  for  the  females  to  enter. 
They  complied  without  hesitation,  though  many 
a fearful  and  anxious  glance  was  thrown  behind 
them  toward  the  thickening  gloom,  which  now 
lay  like  a dark  barrier  along  the  margin  of  the 
stream. 

So  soon  as  Cora  and  Alice  were  seated,  the 
scout,  without  regarding  the  element,  directed 
Heyward  to  support  one  side  of  the  frail  vessel, 
and,  posting  himself  at  the  other,  they  bore  it  up 
against  the  stream,  followed  by  the  dejected  owner 
of  the  dead  foal.  In  this  manner  they  proceeded, 
for  many  rods,  in  a silence  that  was  only  inter- 
rupted by  the  rippling  of  the  water,  as  its  eddies 
played  around  them,  or  the  low  dash  made  by 
their  own  cautious  footsteps.  Heyward  yielded 
the  guidance  of  the  canoe  implicitly  to  the  scout, 
who  approached  or  receded  from  the  shore,  to 
avoid  the  fragments  of  rocks,  or  deeper  parts  of 
the  river,  with  a readiness  that  showed  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  route  they  held.  Occasionally  he 
would  stop  ; and,  in  the  midst  of  a breathing  still- 
ness, that  the  dull  but  increasing  roar  of  the  wa- 
ter-fall only  served  to  render  more  impressive,  ho 
would  listen  with  painful  intenseness  to  catch 
any  sounds  that  might  arise  from  the  slumbering 
forest.  When’  assured  that  all  was  still,  and  un- 
able to  detect,  even  by  the  aid  of  his  practised 
senses,  any  sign  of  his  approaching  foes,  he  would 
deliberately  assume  his  slow  and  guarded  prog- 
ress. At  length  they  reached  a point  in  the 
river,  where  the  roving  eye  of  Heyward  became 
riveted  on  a cluster  of  black  objects,  collected  at 
a spot  where  the  high  bank  threw  a deeper  shad 


u 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


3\v  than  usual  on  the  dark  waters.  Hesitating  to 
advance,  he  pointed  out  the  place  to  the  attention 
of  his  companion. 

“Ay,”  returned  the  composed  scout,  “ the  In- 
dians have  hid  the  beasts  with  the  judgment  of 
natives ! Water  leaves  no  trail,  and  an  owl’s 
eyes  would  be  blinded  by  the  darkness  of  such  a 
hole.” 

The  whole  party  was  soon  reunited,  and  an- 
other consultation  was  held  between  the  scout 
and  his  new  comrades,  during  which  they,  whose 
fates  depended  on  the  faith  and  ingenuity  of 
these  unknown  foresters,  had  a little  leisure  to 
observe  their  situation  more  minutely. 

The  river  was  confined  between  high  and 
cragged  rocks,  one  of  which  impended  above  the 
spot  where  the  canoe  rested.  As  these,  again, 
were  surmounted  by  tall  trees,  •frhich  appeared  to 
totter  on  the  brows  of  the  precipice,  it  gave  the 
stream  the  appearance  of  running  through  a deep 
and  narrow  dell.  All  beneath  the  fantastic  limbs 
and  ragged  tree-tops,  which  were,  here  and  there, 
dimly  painted  against  the  starry  zenith,  lay  alike 
in  shadowed  obscurity.  Behind  them,  the  curva- 
ture of  the  banks  soon  bounded  the  view,  by  the 
same  dark  and  wooded  outline ; but  in  front,  and 
apparently  at  no  great  distance,  the  water  seemed 
piled  against  the  heavens,  whence  it  tumbled  into 
caverns,  out  of  which  issued  those  sullen  sounds 
that  had  loaded  the  evening  atmosphere.  It 
seemed,  in  truth,  to  be  a spot  devoted  to  seclu- 
sion, and  the  sisters  imbibed  a soothing  impres- 
sion of  security,  as  they  gazed  upon  its  romantic 
though  not  unappalling  beauties.  A general 
movement  among  their  conductors,  however,  soon 
recalled  them  from  a contemplation  of  the  wild 
charms  that  night  had  assisted  to  lend  the  place, 
to  a painful  sense  of  their  real  peril. 

The  horses  had  been  secured  to  some  scatter- 
ing shrubs  that  grew  in  the  fissures  of  the  rocks, 
where,  standing  in  the  water,  they  were  left  to 
pass  the  night.  The  scout  directed  Heyward  and 
his  disconsolate  fellow-travellers  to  seat  themselves 
in  the  forward  end  of  the  canoe,  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  other  himself,  as  erect  and  steady  as 
if  he  floated  in  a vessel  of  much  firmer  materials. 
The  Indians  warily  retraced  their  steps  toward 
the  place  they  had  left,  when  the  scout,  placing 
his  pole  against  a rock,  by  a powerful  shove, 
sent  his  frail  bark  directly  into  the  centre  of  the 
turbulent  stream.  For  many  minutes  the  strug- 
gle between  the  light  bubble  in  which  they  floated, 
and  the  swift  current,  was  severe  and  doubtful. 
Forbidden  to  stir  even  a hand,  and  almost  afraid 
to  breathe,  lest  they  should  expose  the  frail  fabric 
to  the  fury  of  the  stream,  the  passengers  watched 


the  glancing  waters  in  feverish  suspense.  Twenty 
times  they  thought  the  whirling  eddies  were 
sweeping  them  to  destruction,  when  the  master- 
hand  of  their  pilot  would  bring  the  bows  of  the 
canoe  to  stem  the  rapid.  A long,  a vigorous, 
and,  as  it  appeared  to  the  females,  a desperate 
effort,  closed  the  struggle.  Just  as  Alice  veiled 
her  eyes  in  horror,  under  the  impression  that 
they  were  about  to  be  swept  within  the  vortex  at 
the  foot  of  the  cataract,  the  canoe  floated,  sta- 
tionary, at  the  side  of  a flat  rock,  that  lay  on  a 
level  with  the  water. 

“ Where  are  we  ? and  what  is  next  to  be 
done  ? ” demanded  Heyward,  perceiving  that  the 
exertions  of  the  scout  had  ceased. 

“ You  are  at  the  foot  of  Glenn’s,”  returned 
the  other,  speaking  aloud,  without  fear  of  conse- 
quences, within  the  roar  of  the  cataract;  “and 
the  next  thing  is  to  make  a steady  landing,  lest 
the  canoe  upset,  and  you  should  go  down  again  the 
hard  road  we  have  travelled,  faster  than  you  came 
up  ; ’tis  a hard  rift  to  stem,  when  the  river  is  a 
little  swelled ; and  five  is  an  unnatural  number  to 
keep  dry,  in  the  hurry-skurry,  with  a little  birch- 
en bark  and  gum.  There,  go  you  all  on  the  rock, 
and  I will  bring  up  the  Mohicans  with  the  venison. 
A man  had  better  sleep  without  his  scalp,  than 
famish  in  the  midst  of  plenty.” 

His  passengers  gladly  complied  with  these 
directions.  As  the  last  foot  touched  the  rock, 
the  canoe  whirled  from  its  station,  when  the  tall 
form  of  the  scout  was  seen,  for  an  instant,  gliding 
above  the  waters,  before  it  disappeared  in  the  im- 
penetrable darkness  that  rested  on  the  bed  of  the 
river.  Left  by  their  guide,  the  travellers  remained 
a few  minutes  in  helpless  ignorance,  afraid  even 
to  move  along  the  broken  rocks,  lest  a false  step 
should  precipitate  them  down  some  one  of  the 
many  deep  and  roaring  caverns,  into  which  the 
water  seemed  to  tumble,  on  every  side  of  them. 
Their  suspense,  however,  was  soon  relieved ; for, 
aided  by  the  skill  of  the  natives,  the  canoe  shot 
back  into  the  eddy,  and  floated  again  at  the  side 
of  the  low  rock,  before  they  thought  the  scout 
had  even  time  to  rejoin  his  companions. 

“We  are  now  fortified,  garrisoned,  and  pro- 
visioned,” cried  Heyward,  cheerfully,  “and  may 
set  Montcalm  and  his  allies  at  defiance.  How 
now,  my  vigilant  sentinel,  can  you  see  any  thing 
of  those  you  call  the  Iroquois,  on  the  main-land  ? ” 

“ I call  them  Iroquois,  because  to  me  every 
native,  who  speaks  a foreign  tongue,  is  account- 
ed an  enemy,  though  he  may  pretend  to  serve  the 
king!  If  Webb  wants  faith  and  honesty  in  an 
Indian,  let  him  bring  out  the  tribes  of  the  Dela- 
wares, and  send  these  greedy  and  lying  Mohawk* 


A HIDING-PLACE  FROM  THE  MINGOES. 


25 


iud  Oneidas,  with  their  six  nations  of  varlets, 
where  in  nature  they  belong,  among  the  French ! ” 

“ We  should  then  exchange  a warlike  for  a 
useless  friend ! I have  heard  that  the  Delawares 
have  laid  aside  the  hatchet,  and  are  content  to 
be  called  women ! ” 

“ Ay,  shame  on  the  Hollanders  * and  Iro- 
quois, who  circumvented  them  by  their  deviltries, 
into  such  a treaty  ! But  I have  known  them  for 
twenty  years,  and  I call  him  liar,  that  says  cow- 
ardly blood  runs  in  the  veins  of  a Delaware.  You 
have  driven  their  tribes  from  the  sea-shore,  and 
would  now  believe  what  their  enemies  say,  that 
you  may  sleep  at  night  upon  an  easy  pillow.  No, 
no ; to  me,  every  Indian  who  speaks  a foreign 
tongue  is  an  Iroquois,  whether  the  castle  \ of  his 
tribe  be  in  Canada,  or  be  in  York.” 

Heyward,  perceiving  that  the  stubborn  adhe- 
rence of  the  scout  to  the  cause  of  his  friends  the 
Delawares  or  Mohicans,  for  they  were  branches 
of  the  same  numerous  people,  was  likely  to  pro- 
long a useless  discussion,  changed  the  subject. 

“ Treaty  or  no  treaty,  I know  full  well  that 
your  two  companions  are  brave  and  cautious  war- 
riors ! Have  they  heard  or  seen  any  thing  of  our 
enemies  ? ” 

“ An  Indian  is  a mortal  to  be  felt  afore  he  is 
seen,”  returned  the  scout,  ascending  the  rock, 
and  throwing  the  deer  carelessly  down.  “ I trust 
to  other  signs  than  such  as  come  in  at  the  eye, 
when  I am  outlying  on  the  trail  of  the  Mingoes.” 

“ Do  your  ears  tell  you  that  they  have  traced 
our  retreat  ? ” 

“ I should  be  sorry  to  think  they  had,  though 
this  is  a spot  that  stout  courage  might  hold  for  a 
smart  skrimmage.  I will  not  deny,  however,  but 
the  horses  cowered  when  I passed  them,  as  though 
they  scented  the  wolves ; and  a wolf  is  a beast 
that  is  apt  to  hover  about  an  Indian  ambushment, 
craving  the  offals  of  the  deer  the  savages  kill.” 

“ You  forget  the  buck  at  your  feet ! or,  may 
we  not  owe  thfeir  visit  to  the  dead  colt  ? Ha ! 
what  noise  is  that  ? ” 

“ Poor  Miriam  ! ” murmured  the  stranger  ; 
“ thy  foal  was  foreordained  to  become  a prey  to 
ravenous  beasts  ! ” Then,  suddenly  lifting  up  his 
voice,  amid  the  eternal  din  of  the  waters,  he  sang 
aloud — 

“ First  born  of  Egypt,  smite  did  he, 

Of  mankind,  and  of  beast  also ; 

O Egypt!  wonders  sent  ’midst  thee, 

On  Pharaoh  and  his  servants  too ! ” 

* The  reader  will  remember  that  New  Tork  was  origi- 
nally a colony  of  the  Dutch. 

t The  principal  villages  of  the  Indians  are  still  called 
“castles”  by  the  whites  of  New  York.  “Oneida  castle” 
is  ho  more  than  a scattered  hamlet;  but  the  name  is  in 
feoeral  use. 


“ The  death  of  the  colt  sits  heavy  on  the 
heart  of  its  owner,”  said  the  scout ; “ but  it’s  a 
good  sign  to  see  a man  account  upon  his  dumb 
friends.  He  has  the  religion  of  the  matter,  in 
believing  what  is  to  happen  will  happen ; and 
with  such  a consolation,  it  won’t  be  long  afore  he 
submits  to  the  rationality  of  killing  a four-footed 
beast,  to  save  the  lives  of  human  men.  It  may 
be  as  you  say,”  he  continued,  reverting  to  the 
purport  of  Heyward’s  last  remark ; “ and  the 
greater  the  reason  why  we  should  cut  our  steaks, 
and  let  the  carcass  drive  down  the  stream,  or  we 
shall  have  the  pack  howling  along  the  cliffs,  be- 
grudging every  mouthful  we  swallow.  Besides, 
though  the  Delaware  tongue  is  the  same  as  a book 
to  the  Iroquois,  the  cunning  varlets  are  quick 
enough  at  understanding  the  reason  of  a wolf’s 
howl.” 

The  scout,  while  making  his  remarks,  was 
busied  in  collecting  certain  necessary  implements ; 
as  he  concluded,  he  moved  silently  by  the  group 
of  travellers,  accompanied  by  the  Mohicans,  who 
seemed  to  comprehend  his  intentions  with  in- 
stinctive readiness,  when  the  whole  three  dis- 
appeared in  succession,  seeming  to  vanish  against 
the  dark  face  of  a perpendicular  rock,  that  rose 
to  the  height  of  a few  yards,  within  as  many  feet 
of  the  water’s  edge. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

“ Those  strains  that  once  did  sweet  in  Zion  glide ; 

He  wales  a portion  with  judicious  care ; 

And  ‘let  us  worship  God,’  he  says,  with  solemn  air.” 

Burns. 

Iir’YWARD,  and  his  female  companions,  wit- 
nessed this  mysterious  movement  with  secret  un- 
easiness; for,  though  the  conduct  of  the  white 
man  had  hitherto  been  above  reproach,  his  rude 
equipments,  blunt  address,  and  strong  antipathies, 
together  with  the  character  of  his  silent  associ- 
ates, were  all  causes  for  exciting  distrust  in  minds 
that  had  been  so  recently  alarmed  by  Indian 
treachery. 

The  stranger  alone  disregarded  the  passing  in- 
cidents. He  seated  himself  on  a projection  of 
the  rocks,  whence  he  gave  no  other  signs  of  con- 
sciousness than  by  the  struggles  of  his  spirit,  as 
manifested  in  frequent  and  heavy  sighs.  Smoth- 
ered voices  were  next  heard,  as  though  men  called 
to  each  other  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  when  a 
sudden  light  flashed  upon  those  without,  and  laid 
bare  the  much-prized  secret  of  the  place. 

At  the  farther  extremity  of  a narrow,  deep 
cavern  in  the  rock,  whose  length  appeared  much 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


?6 

extended  by  the  perspective  and  the  nature  of  the 
light  by  which  it  was  seen,  was  seated  the  scout, 
holding  a blazing  knot  of  pine.  The  strong  glarp 
of  the  fire  fell  full  upon  his  sturdy,  weather-beat- 
en countenance  and  forest  attire,  lending  an  air 
of  romantic  wildness  to  the  aspect  of  an  individ- 
ual, who,  seen  by  the  sober  light  of  day,  would 
have  exhibited  the  peculiarities  of  a man  remark- 
able for  the  strangeness  of  his  dress,  the  iron-like 
inflexibility  of  his  frame,  and  the  singular  com- 
pound of  quick,  vigilant  sagacity,  and  of  exqui- 
site simplicity,  that  by  turns  usurped  the  posses- 
sion of  his  muscular  features.  At  a little  dis- 
tance in  advance  stood  Uncas,  his  whole  person 
thrown  powerfully  into  view.  The  travellers  anx- 
iously regarded  the  upright,  flexible  figure  of  the 
young  Mohican,  graceful  and  unrestrained  in  the 
attitudes  and  movements  of  nature.  Though  his 
person  was  more  than  usually  screened  by  a green 
and  fringed  hunting-shirt,  like  that  of  the  white 
man,  there  was  no  concealment  to  his  dark,  glan- 
cing, fearless  eye,  alike  terrible  and  calm;  the 
bold  outline  of  his  high,  haughty  features,  pure 
in  their  native  red ; or  to  the  dignified  elevation 
of  his  receding  forehead,  together  with  all  the 
finest  proportions  of  a noble  head,  bared  to  the 
generous  scalping-tuft.  It  was  the  first  oppor- 
tunity possessed  by  Duncan  and  his  companions, 
to  view  the  marked  lineaments  of  either  of  their 
Indian  attendants,  and  each  individual  of  the 
party  felt  relieved  from  a burden  of  doubt,  as  the 
proud  and  determined,  though  wild  expression  of 
the  features  of  the  young  warrior  forced  itself  on 
their  notice.  They  felt  it  might  be  a being  par- 
tially benighted  in  the  vale  of  ignorance,  but  it 
could  not  be  one  who  would  willingly  devote  his 
rich  natural  gifts  to  the  purposes  of  wanton 
treachery.  The  ingenuous  Alice  gazed  at  his  free 
air  and  proud  carriage,  as  she  would  have  looked 
upon  some  precious  relic  of  the  Grecian  chisel, 
to  which  life  had  been  imparted  by  the  inter- 
vention of  a miracle  ; while  Heyward,  though  ac- 
customed to  see  the  perfection  of  form  which 
abounds  among  the  uncorrupted  natives,  openly 
expressed  his  admiration  at  such  an  unblemished 
specimen  of  the  noblest  proportions  of  man. 

“ I could  sleep  in  peace,”  whispered  Alice,  in 
reply,  “ with  such  a fearless  and  generous-looking 
youth  for  my  sentinel.  Surely,  Duncan,  those 
cruel  murders,  those  terrific  scenes  of  torture,  of 
which  we  read  and  hear  so  much,  are  never  acted 
in  the  presence  of  such  as  he  ! ” 

“ This,  certainly,  is  a rare  and  brilliant  in- 
stance of  those  natural  qualities  in  which  these 
peculiar  people  are  said  to  excel,”  he  answered. 
47 1 agree  with  you,  Alice,  in  thinking  that  such 


a front  and  eye  were  formed  rather  to  intimidate 
than  to  deceive  ; but  let  us  not  practise  a decep- 
tion upon  ourselves,  by  expecting  any  other  ex- 
hibition of  what  we  esteem  virtue  than  according 
to  the  fashion  of  a savage.  As  bright  examples 
of  good  qualities  are  but  too  uncommon  among 
Christians,  so  are  they  singular  and  solitary  with 
the  Indians  ; though,  for  the  honor  of  our  com- 
mon nature,  neither  are  incapable  of  producing 
them.  Let  us  then  hope  that  this  Mohican  may 
not  disappoint  our  wishes,  but  prove,  what  his 
looks  assert  liim  to  be,  a brave  and  constant 
friend.” 

“ Now  Major  Heyward  speaks  as  Major  Hey- 
ward should,”  said  Cora ; “ who,  that  looks  at 
this  creature  of  Nature,  remembers  the  shade  of 
his  skin  ? ” 

A short  and  apparently  an  embarrassed  si- 
lence succeeded  this  remark,  which  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  scout  calling  to  them  aloud  to  enter. 

“ This  fire  begins  to  show  too  bright  a flame,” 
he  continued,  as  they  complied,  “ and  might  light 
the  Mingoes  to  our  undoing. — TJncas,  drop  the 
blanket,  and  show  the  knaves  its  dark  side.  This 
is  not  such  a supper  as  a major  of  the  Royal 
Americans  has  a right  to  expect,  but  I’ve  known 
stout  detachments  of  the  corps  glad  to  eat  then 
venison  raw,  and  without  a relish,  too.*  Here, 
you  see,  we  have  plenty  of  salt,  and  can  make  a 
quick  broil.  There’s  fresh  sassafras  boughs  for 
the  ladies  to  sit  on,  which  may  not  be  as  proud 
as  their  my-hog-guinea  chairs,  but  which  sends 
up  a sweeter  flavor  than  the  skin  of  any  hog  can 
do,  be  it  'of  Guinea,  or  be  it  of  any  other  land.— 
Come,  friend,  don’t  be  mournful  for  the  colt; 
’twas  an  innocent  thing,  and  had  not  seen  much 
hardship.  Its  death  will  save  the  creature  many 
a sore  back  and  weary  foot ! ” 

Uncas  did  as  the  other  had  directed,  and, 
when  the  voice  of  Hawk-eye  ceased,  the  roar  of 
the  cataract  sounded  like  the  rumbling  of  distant 
thunder.  , 

“ Are  we  quite  safe  in  this  cavern  ? ” demand- 
ed  Heyward.  “ Is  there  no  danger  of  surprise  ? 
A single  armed  man  at  its  entrance  would  hold 
us  at  his  mercy.” 

A spectral-looking  figure  stalked  from  out  the 
darkness  behind  the  scout,  and,  seizing  a blazing 

* In  vulgar  parlance,  the  condiments  of  a repast  aro 
called  by  the  American  “ a relish,”  substituting  the  thing 
for  its  effect.  These  provincial  terms  are  frequently  put  in 
the  mouths  of  the  speakers,  according  to  their  several  con- 
ditions in  life.  Most  of  them  are  of  local  use,  and  others 
quite  peculiar  to  the  particular  class  of  men  to  which  the 
character  belongs.  In  the  present  instance,  the  scout  uses 
the  word  with  immediate  reference  to  the  “salt,”  with 
which  his  own  party  was  so  fortunate  as  to  be  provided. 


GLENN’S  FALLS. 


2? 


brand,  held  it  toward  the  farther  extremity  of 
their  place  of  retreat.  Alice  uttered  a faint 
shriek,  and  even  Cora  rose  to  her  feet,  as  this 
appalling  object  moved  into  the  light;  but  a sin- 
gle word  from  Heyward  calmed  them,  with  the 
assurance  it  was  only  their  attendant,  Chingach- 
gook,  who,  lifting  another  blanket,  discovered 
that  the  cavern  had  two  outlets.  Then,  holding 
the  brand,  he  crossed  a deep,  narrow  chasm  in 
the  rocks,  which  ran  at  right  angles  with  the 
passage  they  were  in,  but  which,  unlike  that,  was 
open  to  the  heavens,  and  entered  another  cave, 
answering  to  the  description  of  the  first,  in  -every 
essential  particular. 

“ Such  old  foxes  as  Chingachgook  and  myself 
are  not  often  caught  in  a burrow  with  one  hole,” 
said  Hawk-eye,  laughing ; “ you  can  easily  see 
the  cunning  of  the  place — the  rock  is  black  lime- 
stone, which  everybody  knows  is  soft;  it  makes 
no  uncomfortable  pillow,  where  brush  and  pine- 
wood  is  scarce ; well,  the  fall  was  cnee  a few 
yards  below  us,  and  I dare  to  say  was,  in  its  time, 
as  regular  and  as  handsome  a sheet  of  water  as 
any  along  the  Hudson.  But  old  age  is  a great 
injury  to  good  looks,  as  these  sweet  young  ladies 
have  yet  to  l’arn  ! The  place  is  sadly  changed  ! 
These  rocks  are  full  of  cracks,  and  in  some  places 
they  are  softer  than  at  othersome,  and  the  water 
has  worked  out  deep  hollows  for  itself,  until  it 
has  fallen  back,  ay,  some  hundred  feet,  breaking 
here  and  wearing  there,  until  the  falls  have  nei- 
ther shape  nor  consistency.” 

“ In  what  part  of  them  are  we  ? ” asked  Hey- 
ward. 

“ Why,  we  are  nigh  the  spot  that  Providence 
first  placed  them  at,  but  where,  it  seems,  they 
were  too  rebellious  to  stay.  The  rock  proved 
softer  on  each  side  of  us,  and  so  they  left  the  cen- 
tre of  the  river  bare  and  dry,  first  working  out 
these  two  little  holes  for  us  to  hide  in.” 

“We  are  then  on  an  island  ? ” 

“ Ay  ! there  are  the  falls  on  two  sides  of  us, 
and  the  river  above  and  below.  If  you  had  day- 
light, it  would  be  worth  the  trouble  to  step  up  on 
the  height  of  this  rock,  and  look  at  the  perversity 
of  the  water.  It  falls  by  no  rule  at  all ; some- 
times it  leaps,  sometimes  it  tumbles ; there,  it 
'skips  ; here,  it  shoots  ; in  one  place  ’tis  white  as 
snow,  and  in  another,  ’tis  green  as  grass  ; here- 
abouts, it  pitches  into  deep  hollows,  that  rumble 
and  quake  the ’arth  ; and  thereaway,  it  ripples  and 
sings  like  a brook,  fashioning  whirlpools  and  gullies 
in  the  old  stone,  as  if  ’twas  no  harder  than  trod- 
den clay.  The  whole  design  of  the  river  seems  dis- 
concerted. First,  it  runs  smoothly,  as  if  meaning 
to  go  down  the  descent  as  things  were  ordered  ; 


then  it  angles  about,  and  faces  the  shores  ; nor 
are  there  places  wanting  where  it  looks  back- 
ward, as  if  unwilling  to  leave  the  wilderness,  to 
mingle  with  the  salt ! — Ay,  lady,  the  fine,  cob- 
web-looking cloth  you  wear  at  your  throat,  is 
coarse,  and  like  a fish-net,  to  little  spots  I can 
show  you,  where  the  river  fabricates  all  sorts  of 
images,  as  if,  having  broke  loose  from  order,  it 
would  try  its  hand  at  every  thing.  And  yet  what 
does  it  amount  to  ? After  the  water  has  been 
suffered  to  have  its  will,  for  a time,  like  a head- 
strong man,  it  is  gathered  together  by  the  hand 
that  made  it,  and,  a few  rods  below,  you  may  see 
it  all,  flowing  on  steadily  toward  the  sea,  as  was 
foreordained  from  the  first  foundation  of  the 
’arth ! ” 

While  his  auditors  received  a cheering  assur- 
ance of  the  security  of  their  place  of  concealment, 
from  this  untutored  description  of  Glenn’s,*  they 
were  much  inclined  to  judge  differently  from 
Hawk-eye,  of  its  wild  beauties.  But  they  were 
not  in  a situation  to  suffer  their  thoughts  to  dwell 
on  the  charms  of  natural  objects ; and,  as  the 
scout  had  not  found  it  necessary  to  cease  his  cu- 
linary labors  while  he  spoke,  unless  to  point  out, 
with  a broken  fork,  the  direction  of  some  particu- 
larly obnoxious  point  in  the  rebellious  stream, 
they  now  suffered  their  attention  to  be  drawn  to 
the  necessary  though  more  vulgar  consideration 
of  their  supper. 

The  repast,  which  was  greatly  aided  by  the 
addition  of  a few  delicacies  that  Heyward  had 
the  precaution  to  bring  with  him  when  they  left 
their  horses,  was  exceedingly  refreshing  to  the 
wearied  party.  Uncas  acted  as  attendant  to  the 
females,  performing  all  the  little  offices  within 
his  power,  with  a mixture  of  dignity  and  anxious, 
grace  that  served  to  amuse  Heyward,  who  well 
knew  that  it  was  an  utter  innovation  on  the  In- 
dian customs,  which  forbid  their  warriors  to  de- 
scend to  any  menial  employment,  especially  in 
favor  of  their  women.  Ah  the  rites  of  hospitality 
were,  however,  considered  sacred  among  them, 

* Glenn’s  Falls  are  on  the  Hudson,  some  forty  or  fifty 
miles  above  the  head  of  tide,  or  the  place  where  the  river 
becomes  navigable  for  sloops.  The  description  of  this  pic- 
turesque and  remarkable  little  cataract,  as  given  by  the 
scout,  is  sufficiently  correct,  though  the  application  of  the 
water  to  the  uses  of  civilized  life  has  materially  injured  its 
beauties.  The  rocky  island  and  the  two  caverns  are  well 
known  to  every  traveller,  since  the  former  sustains  a pier  of 
a bridge,  which  is  now  thrown  across  the  river,  immediately 
above  the  fall.  In  explanation  of  the  taste  of  Hawk-eyo,  it 
should  be  remembered  that  men  always  prize  that  most 
which  is  least  enjoyed.  Thus,  in  a new  country,  the  woods 
and  other  objects,  which,  in  an  old  country  would  be  main 
tained  at  great  cost,  are  got  rid  of,  simply  with  a view  ol 
“ improving,”  as  it  is  called. 


38 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


this  little  departure  from  the  dignity  of  manhood 
excited  no  audible  comment.  Had  there  been 
one  there  sufficiently  disengaged  to  become  a close 
observer,  he  might  have  fancied  that  the  services 
of  the  young  chief  were  not  entirely  impartial ; 
that  while  he  tendered  to  Alice  the  gourd  of 
sweet  water,  and  the  venison  in  a trencher,  neatly 
carved  from  the  knot  of  the  pepperidge,  with 
sufficient  courtesy,  in  performing  the  same  office 
to  her  sister,  his  dark  eye  lingered  on  her  rich, 
speaking  countenance.  Once  or  twice  he  was 
compelled  to  speak,  to  command  the  attention  of 
those  he  served.  In  such  cases,  he  made  use  of 
English,  broken  and  imperfect,  but  sufficiently  in- 
telligible, and  which  he  rendered  so  mild  and  mu- 
sical, by  his  deep,*  guttural  voice,  that  it  never 
failed  to  cause  both  ladies  to  look  up  in  admira- 
tion and  astonishment.  In  the  course  of  these 
civilities,  a few  sentences  were  exchanged,  that 
served  to  establish  the  appearance  of  an  amicable 
intercourse  between  the  parties. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  gravity  of  Chingach- 
gook  remained  immovable.  He  had  seated  him- 
self more  within  the  circle  of  light,  where  the  fre- 
quent, uneasy  glances  of  his  guests  were  better 
enabled  to  separate  the  natural  expression  of  his 
face  from  the  artificial  terrors  of  the  war-paint. 
They  found  a strong  resemblance  between  father 
and  son,  with  the  difference  that  might  be  expect- 
ed from  age  and  hardships.  The  fierceness  of  his 
countenance  now  seemed  to  slumber,  and  in  its 
place  was  to  be  seen  the  quiet,  vacant  composure 
which  distinguishes  an  Indian  warrior,  when  his 
faculties  are  not  required  for  any  of  the  greater 
purposes  of  his  existence.  It  was,  however,  easy 
to  be  seen,  by  the  occasional  gleams  that  shot 
, across  his  swarthy  visage,  that  it  was  only  neces- 
sary to  arouse  his  passions,  in  order  to  give  full 
effect  to  the  terrific  device  which  he  had  adopted 
to  intimidate  his  enemies.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  quick,  roving  eye  of  the  scout  seldom  rested. 
He  ate  and  drank  with' an  appetite  that  no  sense 
of  danger  could  disturb,  but  his  vigilance  seemed 
never  to  desert  him.  Twenty  times  the  gourd  or 
the  venison  was  suspended  before  his  lips,  while 
his  head  was  turned  aside,  as  though  he  listened 
to  some  distant  and  distrusted  sounds — a move- 
ment that  never  failed  to  recall  his  guests  from 
regarding  the  novelties  of  their  situation,  to  a 
recollection  of  the  alarming  reasons  that  had 
driven  them  to  seek  it.  As  these  frequent  pauses 
were  never  followed  by  any  remark,  the  momen- 
tary uneasiness  they  created  quickly  passed  away, 
and  for  a time  was  forgotten. 

* The  meaning  of  Indian  words  is  much  governed  by 
the  emphasis  and  tones. 


“ Come,  friend,”  said  Hawk-eye,  drawing  oui 
a keg  from  beneath  a cover  of  leaves,  toward  the 
close  of  the  repast,  and  addressing  the  stranger 
who  sat  at  his  elbow,  doing  great  justice  to  hia 
culinary  skill,  “ try  a little  spruce ; ’twill  wash 
away  all  thoughts  of  the  colt,  and  quicken  the 
life  in  your  bosom.  I drink  to  our  better  friend 
ship,  hoping  that  a little  horse-flesh  may  leave  no 
heartburnings  atween  us.  How  do  you  name  your- 
self ? ” 

“ Gamut — David  Gamut,”  returned  the  sing- 
ing-master, preparing  to  wash  down  his  sorrows 
in  a powerful  draught  of  the  woodman’s  high-fla- 
vored and  well-laced  compound. 

“ A very  good  name,  and,  I dare  say,  handed 
down  from  honest  forefathers.  I’m  an  admirator 
of  names,  though  the  Christian  fashions  fall  far 
below  savage  customs  in  this  particular.  The 
biggest  coward  I ever  knew  was  called  Lyon ; 
and  his  wife,  Patience,  would  scold  you  out  of 
hearing  in  less  time  than  a hunted  deer  would 
run  a rod.  With  an  Indian  ’tis  a matter  of  con- 
science ; what  he  calls  himself  he  generally  is — 
not  that  Chingachgook,  which  signifies  big  sar- 
pent,  is  really  a snake,  big  or  little ; but  that  he 
understands  the  windings  and  turnings  of  human 
natur’,  and  is  silent,  and  strikes  his  enemies  when 
they  least  expect  him.  What  may  be  your  call- 
ing?” 

“I  am  an  unworthy  instructor  in  the  art  of 
psalmody.” 

“ Anan ! ” 

“ I teach  singing  to  the  youths  of  the  Con- 
necticut levy.” 

“ You  might  be  better  employed.  The  young 
hounds  go  laughing  and  singing  too  much  already 
through  the  woods,  when  they  ought  not  to 
breathe  louder  than  a fox  in  his  cover.  Can  you 
use  the  smooth-bore,  or  handle  the  rifle  ? ” 

“ Praised  be  God,  I have  never  had  occasion 
to  meddle  with  murderous  implements ! ” 

“ Perhaps  you  understand  the  compass,  and 
lay  down  the  water-courses  and  mountains  of  the 
wilderness  on  paper,  in  order  that  they  who  fol* 
low  may  find  places  by  their  given  names  ? ” 

“ I practise  no  such  employment.” 

“ You  have  a pair  of  legs  that  might  make  a 
long  path  seem  short ! you  journey  sometimes,  I 
fancy,  with  tidings  for  the  general  ? ” 

“ Never ; I follow  no  other  than  my  own  higi 
vocation,  which  is  instruction  in  sacred  music ! ” 
“ ’Tis  a strange  calling ! ” muttered  Hawk 
eye,  with  an  inward  laugh,  “ to  go  through  life, 
like  a cat-bird,  mocking  all  the  ups  and  downs 
that  may  happen  to  come  out  of  other  men’s 
throats.  Well,  friend,  I suppose  it  is  your  gift, 


THE  EVENING  HYMN. 


29 


and  mustn't  bo  denied  any  more  than  if  ’twas 
Bhooting,  or  some  other  better  inclination.  Let 
us  hear  what  you  can  do  in  that  way ; ’twill  be  a 
friendly  manner  of  saying  good-night,  for  ’tis 
time  that  these  ladies  should  bo  getting  strength 
for  a hard  and  a long  push,  in  the  pride  of  the 
morning,  afore  the  Maquas  are  stirring.” 

“ With  a joyful  pleasure  do  I consent,”  said 
David,  adjusting  his  iron-rimmed  spectacles,  and 
producing  his  beloved  little  volume,  which  he  im- 
mediately tendered  to  Alice.  “ What  can  be 
more  fitting  and  consolatory  than  to  offer  up 
evening  praise  after  a day  of  such  exceeding 
jeopardy  ? ” 

Alice  smiled ; but,  regarding  Heyward,  she 
blushed  and  hesitated. 

“ Indulge  yourself,”  he  whispered  ; “ ought 
not  the  suggestion  of  the  worthy  namesake  of  the 
Psalmist  to  have  its  weight  at  such  a moment  ? ” 

Encouraged  by  his  opinion,  Alice  did  what 
her  pious  inclinations,  and  her  keen  relish  for 
gentle  sounds,  had  before  so  strongly  urged. 
The  book  was  opened  at  a hymn  not  ill  adapted 
to  their  situation,  and  in  which  the  poet,  no  longer 
goaded  by  his  desire  to  excel  the  inspired  King 
of  Israel,  had  discovered  some  chastened  and  re- 
spectable powers.  Cora  betrayed  a disposition 
to  support  her  sister,  and  the  sacred  song  pro- 
ceeded, after  the  indispensable  preliminaries  of 
the  pitch-pipe,  and  the  tune  had  been  duly  at- 
tended to  by  the  methodical  David. 

The  air  was  solemn  and  slow.  At  times  it 
rose  to  the  fullest  compass  of  the  rich  voices  of 
the  females,  who  hung  over  their  little  book  in 
holy  excitement,  and  again  sank  so  low  that  the 
rushing  of  the  waters  ran  through  their  melody 
like  a hollow  accompaniment.  The  natural  taste 
and  true  ear  of  David  governed  and  modified  the 
sounds  to  suit  the  confined  cavern,  every  crevice 
and  cranny  of  which  was  filled  with  the  thrilling 
notes  of  their  flexible  voices.  The  Indians  riveted 
their  eyes  on  the  rocks,  and  listened  with  an  at- 
tention that  seemed  to  turn  them  into  stone.  But 
the  scout,  who  had  placed  his  chin  in  his  hand, 
with  an  expression  of  cold  indifference,  gradually 
suffered  his  rigid  features  to  relax,  until,  as  verse 
succeeded  verse,  he  felt  his  iron  nature  subdued, 
while  his  recollection  was  carried  back  to  boy- 
hood, when  his  ears  had  been  accustomed  to  lis- 
ten to  similar  sounds  of  praise  in  the  settlements 
of  the  colony.  His  roving  eyes  began  to  moisten ; 
and,  before  the  hymn  was  ended,  scalding  tears 
rolled  out  of  fountains  that  had  long  seemed  dry, 
and  followed  each  other  down  those  cheeks  that 
had  oftener  felt  the  storms  of  heaven  than 
any  testimonials  of  weakness.  The  singers  were 


dwelling  on  one  of  those  low,  dying  chords,  which 
the  ear  devours  with  such  greedy  rapture,  as  if 
conscious  that  it  is  about  to  lose  them,  when  a 
cry,  that  seemed  neither  human  nor  earthly,  rose 
in  the  outward  air,  penetrating  not  only  the  re- 
cesses of  the  cavern,  but  to  the  inmost  hearts  of 
all  who  heard  it.  It  was  followed  by  a stillness 
apparently  as  deep  as  if  the  waters  had  been 
checked  in  their  furious  progress  at  such  a horrid 
and  unusual  interruption. 

“ What  is  it  ? ” murmured  Alice,  after  a few 
moments  of  terrible  suspense. 

“ What  is  it  ? ” repeated  Heyward  aloud. 

Neither  Hawk-eye  nor  the  Indians  made  any 
reply.  They  listened,  as  if  expecting  the  sound 
would  be  repeated,  with  a manner  that  expressed 
their  own  astonishment.  At  length  they  spoke 
together,  earnestly,  in  the  Delaware  language, 
when  Uncas,  passing  by  the  inner  and  most  con- 
cealed aperture,  cautiously  left  the  cavern.  When 
he  had  gone,  the  scout  first  spoke  in  English. 

“What  it  is,  or  what  it  is  not,  none  here  can 
tell ; though  two  of  us  have  ranged  the  woods 
for  more  than  thirty  years.  I did  believe  there 
was  no  cry  that  Indian  or  beast  could  make  that 
my  ears  had  not  heard  ; but  this  has  proved  that 
I was  only  a vain  and  conceited  mortal ! ” 

“Was  it  not,  then,  the  shout  the  warriors 
make  when  they  wish  to  intimidate  their  ene- 
mies ? ” asked  Cora,  who  stood  drawing  her  veil 
about  her  person,  with  a calmness  to  which  her 
agitated  sister  was  a stranger. 

“No,  no;  this  was  bad  and  shocking,  and 
had  a sort  of  unhuman  sound ; but  when  you 
once  hear  the  war-whoop,  you  will  never  mistake 
it  for  anything  else! — Well,  Uncas!”  speaking 
in  Delaware  to  the  young  chief  as  he  reentered, 
“ what  see  you  ? do  our  lights  shine  through  the 
blankets  ? ” 

The  answer  was  short,  and  apparently  decided, 
being  given  in  the  same  tongue. 

“ There  is  nothing  to  be  seen  without,”  con- 
tinued Hawk-eye,  shaking  his  head  in  discontent ; 
“ and  our  hiding-place  is  still  in  darkness.  Pass 
into  the  other  cave,  you  that  need  it,  and  seek 
for  sleep  ; we  must  be  afoot  long  before  the  sun, 
and  make  the  most  of  our  time  to  get  to  Edward 
while  the  Mingoes  are  taking  their  morning  nap.’ 

Cora  set  the  example  of  compliance  with  a 
steadiness  that  taught  the  more  timid  Alice  the 
necessity  of  obedience.  Before  leaving  the  place, 
however,  she  whispered  a request  to  Duncan  that 
he  would  follow.  Uncas  raised  the  blanket  for 
their  passage,  and,  as  the  sisters  turned  to  thank 
him  for  this  act  of  attention,  they  saw  the  scout 
seated  again  before  the  dying  embers,  with  his 


so 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


face  resting  on  his  hands,  in  a manner  which 
showed  how  deeply  he  brooded  on  the  unaccount- 
able interruption  which  had  broken  up  their 
evening  devotions. 

Heyward  took  with  him  a blazing  knot,  which 
threw  a dim  light  through  the  narrow  vista  of 
their  new  apartment.  Placing  it  in  a favorable 
position,  he  joined  the  females,  who  now  found 
themselves  alone  with  him  for  the  first  time  since 
they  had  left  the  friendly  ramparts  of  Fort  Ed- 
ward. 

“ Leave  us  not,  Duncan,”  said  Alice ; “ we 
cannot  sleep  in  such  a place  as  this  with  that 
horrid  cry  still  ringing  in  our  ears  ! ” 

“ First  let  us  examine  into  the  security  of  your 
fortress,”  he  answered,  “ and  then  we  will  speak 
of  rest.” 

He  approached  the  farther  end  of  the  cavern 
to  an  outlet,  which,  like  the  others,  was  con- 
cealed by  blankets,  and,  removing  the  thick 
screen,  breathed  the  fresh  and  reviving  air  from 
the  cataract.  One  arm  of  the  river  flowed 
through  a deep,  narrow  ravine,  which  its  current 
had  worn  in  the  soft  rock  directly  beneath  his 
feet,  forming  an  effectual  defence,  as  he  believed, 
against  any  danger  from  that  quarter ; the  wa- 
ter, a few  rods  above  them,  plunging,  glancing, 
and  sweeping  along  in  its  most  violent  and  broken 
manner. 

“ Nature  has  made  an  impenetrable  barrier  on 
this  side,”  he  continued,  pointing  down  the  per- 
pendicular declivity  into  the  dark  current,  before 
he  dropped  the  blanket ; “ and  as  you  know  that 
good  men  and  true  are  on  guard  in  front,  I see  no 
reason  why  the  advice  of  our  honest  ho3t  should 
be  disregarded.  I am  certain  Cora  wdll  join  me 
in  saying  that  sleep  is  necessary  to  you  both.” 

“ Cora  may  submit  to  the  justice  of  your 
opinion,  though  she  cannot  put  it  in  practice,” 
returned  the  elder  sister,  who  had  placed  herself 
by  the  side  of  Alice,  on  a couch  of  sassafras ; 
“ there  would  be  other  causes  to  chase  away  sleep} 
though  we  had  been  spared  the  shock  of  this 
mysterious  noise.  Ask  yourself,  Heyward,  can 
daughters  forget  the  anxiety  a father  must  endure, 
whose  children  lodge,  he  knows  not  where  or 
how,  in  such  a wilderness,  and  in  the  midst  of  so 
many  perils ! ” 

“ He  is  a soldier,  and  knows  how  to  estimate 
the  chances  of  the  woods.” 

“ He  is  a father,  and  cannot  deny  his  pature.b 

“ How  kind  has  he  ever  been  to  all  my  follies  ! 
how  tender  and  indulgent  to  all  my  wishes  ! ” 
Bobbed  Alice.  “We  have  been  selfish,  sister,  in 
urging  our  visit  at  such  hazard  ! ” 

“ I may  have  been  rash  in  pressing  his  con- 


sent in  a moment  of  so  much  embarrassment 
but  I would  have  proved  to  him,  that  however 
others  might  neglect  him  in  his  strait,  his  children 
at  least  were  faithful ! ” 

“ When  he  heard  of  your  arrival  at  Edward, 
said  Heyward,  kindly,  “ there  was  a powerful 
struggle  in  his  bosom  between  fear  and  love  ; 
though  the  latter,  heightened,  if  possible,  by  so 
long  a separation,  quickly  prevailed.  ‘ It  is  the 
spirit  of  my  noble-minded  Cora  that  leads  them, 
Duncan,’  he  said,  ‘ and  I will  not  balk  it.  Would 
to  God  that  he  who  holds  the  honor  of  our  royal 
master  in  his  guardianship,  would  show  b.ut  half 
her  firmness  ! ’ ” 

“And  did  he  not  speak  of  me,  Heyward  ? ” 
demanded  Alice,  with  jealous  affection.  “ Surely, 
he  forgot  not  altogether  his  little  Elsie ! ” 

“ That  was  impossible,”  returned  the  young 
man ; “ he  called  you  by  a thousand  endearing 
epithets,  that  I may  not  presume  to  use,  but  to 
the  justice  of  which  I can  warmly  testify.  Once, 
indeed,  he  said — ” 

Duncan  ceased  speaking ; for,  while  his  eyes 
were  riveted  on  those  of  Alice,  who  had  turned 
toward  him  with  the  eagerness  of  filial  affection, 
to  catch  his  words,  the  same  strong,  horrid  cry, 
as  before,  filled  the  air,  and  rendered  him  mute. 
A long,  breathless  silence  succeeded,  during 
which  each  looked  at  the  others  in  fearful  expec- 
tation of  hearing  the  sound  repeated.  At  length, 
the  blanket  was  slowly  raised,  and  the  scout  stood 
in  the  aperture  with  a countenance  whose  firm- 
ness evidently  began  to  give  way,  before  a mys- 
tery which  seemed  to  threaten  some  danger, 
against  which  all  his  cunning  and  experience 
might  prove  of  no  avail. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

“They  do  not  sleep. 

On  yonder  cliffs,  a grizzly  band, 

I see  them  sit.”  Geat. 

“ ”Twould  be  neglecting  a warning  that  is 
given  for  our  good,  to  lie  hid  any  longer,”  said 
Hawk-eye,  “ when  such  sounds  are  raised  in  the 
forest ! These  gentle  ones  may  keep  close,  but 
the  Mohicans  and  I will  watch  upon  the  rock, 
where  I suppose  a major  of  the  60th  would  wish 
to  keep  us  company.” 

“Is  then  our  danger  so  pressing?”  asked 
Cora. 

“ He  who  makes  strange  sounds,  and  gives 
them  out  for  man’s  information,  alone  knows  our 
danger.  I should  think  myself  wicked,  unto 


AN  UNACCOUNTABLE  INTERRUPTION. 


31 


rebellion  against  his  will,  was  I to  burrow  with 
such  warnings  in  the  air!  Even  the  weak  soul 
who  passes  his  days  in  singing,  is  stirred  by  the 
cry,  and,  as  he  says,  is  ‘ ready  to  go  forth  to  the 
battle.’  If  ’twere  only  a battle,  it  would  be  a thing 
understood  by  us  all,  and  easily  managed  ; but  I 
have  heard  that  when  such  shrieks  are  atween 
heaven  and  ’arth,  it  betokens  another  sort  of 
warfare  ! ” 

“ If  all  our  reasons  for  fear,  my  friend,  are 
confined  to  such  as  proceed  from  supernatural 
causes,  we  have  but  little  occasion  to  be  alarmed,” 
continued  the  undisturbed  Cora  ; “ are  you  cer- 
tain that  our  enemies  have  not  invented  some 
new  and  ingenious  method  to  strike  us  with 
terror,  that  their  conquest  may  become  more 
easy  ? ” 

“Lady,”  returned  the  scout,  solemnly,  “I 
have  listened  to  all  the  sounds  of  the  woods  for 
thirty  years,  as  a man  will  listen,  whose  life  and 
death  depend  on  the  quickness  of  his  ears. 
There  is  no  whine  of  the  panther ; no  whistle  of 
the  cat-bird ; nor  any  invention  of  the  devilish 
Mingoes,  that  can  cheat  me ! I have  heard  the 
forest  moan  like  mortal  men  in  their  affliction ; 
often,  and  again,  have  I listened  to  the  wind 
playing  its  music  in  the  branches  of  the  girdled 
trees;  and  I have  heard  the  lightning  cracking 
in  the  air,  like  the  snapping  of  blazing  brush, 
as  it  spitted  forth  sparks  and  forked  flames  ; but 
never  have  I thought  that  I heard  more  than  the 
pleasure  of  Him  who  sported  with  the  things  of 
His  hand.  But  neither  the  Mohicans,  nor  I , who 
am  a white  man  without  a cross,  can  explain  the 
cry  just  heard.  We,  therefore,  believe  it  a sign 
given  for  our  good.” 

“ It  is  extraordinary ! ” said  Heyward,  taking 
his  pistols  from  the  place  where  he  had  laid  them 
on  entering ; “ be  it  a sign  of  peace  or  a signal  of 
war,  it  must  be  looked  to.  Lead  the  way,  my 
friend ; I follow.” 

On  issuing  from  their  place  of  confinement, 
the  whole  party  instantly  experienced  a grateful 
renovation  of  spirits,  by  exchanging  the  pent  air 
of  the  hiding-place  for  the  cool  and  invigorating 
atmosphere  which  played  around  the  whirlpools 
and  pitches  of  the  cataract.  A heavy  evening 
breeze  swept  along  the  surface  of  the  river,  and 
aeemed  to  drive  the  roar  of  the  falls  into  the 
recesses  of  their  own  caverns,  whence  it  issued 
heavily  and  constant,  like  thunder  rumbling 
beyond  the  clistant  hills.  The  moon  had  risen, 
and  its  light  was  already  glancing  here  and  there 
on  the  waters  above  them ; but  the  extremity  of 
the  rock  where  they  stood  still  lay  in  shadow. 
With  the  exception  of  the  sounds  produced  by 

18 


the  rushing  waters,  and  an  occasional  breathing 
of  the  air,  as  it  murmured  past  them  in  fitful  cur- 
rents, the  scene  was  as  still  as  night  and  solitude 
could  make  it.  In  vain  were  the  eyes  of  each 
individual  bent  along  the  opposite  shores,  in 
quest  of  some  signs  of  life,  that  might  explain  the 
nature  of  the  interruption  they  had  heard.  Their 
anxious  and  eager  looks  were  baffled  by  the  decep- 
tive light,  or  rested  only  on  naked  rocks,  and 
straight  and  immovable  trees. 

“ Here  is  nothing  to  be  seen  but  the  gloom 
and  quiet  of  a lovely  evening,”  whispered  Dun- 
can ; “ how  much  should  we  prize  such  a scene, 
and  all  this  breathing  solitude,  at  any  other  mo- 
ment, Cora ! Fancy  yourselves  in  security,  and 
what  now,  perhaps,  increases  your  terror,  may  be 
made  conducive  to  enjoyment — ” 

“ Listen ! ” interrupted  Alice. 

The  caution  was  unnecessary.  Once  more  the 
same  sound  arose,  as  if  from  the  bed  of  the  river, 
and  having  broken  out  of  the  narrow  bounds  of 
the  cliffs,  was  heard  undulating  through  the  for 
est,  in  distant  and  dying  cadences. 

“ Can  any  here  give  a name  to  such  a cry  ? ” 
demanded  Hawk-eye,  when  the  last  echo  was  lost 
in  the  woods  ; “ if  so,  let  him  speak ; for  myself, 
I judge  it  not  to  belong  to  ’arth  ! ” 

“ Here,  then,  is  one  who  can  undeceive  you,” 
said  Duncan : “ I know  the  sound  full  well,  for 
often  have  I heard  it  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  in 
situations  which  are  frequent  in  a soldier’s  life. 
’Tis  the  horrid  shriek  that  a horse  will  give  in  his 
agony  ; oftener  drawn  from  him  in  pain,  though 
sometimes  in  terror.  My  charger  is  either  a prey 
to  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  or  he  sees  his  danger, 
without  the  power  to  avoid  it.  The  sound  might 
deceive  me  in  the  cavern,  but  in  the  open  air  I 
know  it  too  well  to  be  wrong.” 

The  scout  and  his  companions  listened  to  this 
simple  explanation  with  the  interest  of  men  who 
imbibe  new  ideas,  at  the  same  time  that  they  get 
rid  of  old  ones,  which  had  proved  disagreeable 
inmates.  Th ; two  latter  uttered  their  usual  and 
expressive  exclamation,  “ Hugh  ! ” as  the  truth 
first  glanced  upon  their  minds,  while  the  former, 
after  a short,  musing  pause,  took  upon  himself  to 
reply. 

“ I cannot  deny  your  words,”  he  said ; “ for  I 
am  little  skilled  in  horses,  though  born  where 
they  abound.  The  wolves  must  be  hovering 
above  their  heads  on  the  bank,  and  the  timor- 
some  creatures  are  calling  on  man  for  help,  in  the 
best  manner  they  are  able. — Uncas  ” — he  spoke 
in  Delaware — “ Uncas,  drop  down  in  the  canoe, 
and  whirl  a brand  among  the  pack ; or  fear  may 
do  what  the  wolves  can’t  get  at  to  perform,  and 


32 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


leave  us  without  horses  in  the  morning,  when  we 
shall  have  so  much  need  to  journey  swiftly!  ” 

The  young  native  had  already  descended  to 
the  water,  to  comply,  when  a long  howl  was  raised 
on  the  edge  of  the  river,  and  was  borne,  swiftly 
off  into  the  depths  of  the  forest,  as  though  the 
beasts,  of  their  own  accord,  were  abandoning 
their  prey  in  sudden  terror.  Uncas,  with  instinc- 
tive quickness,  receded,  and  the  three  foresters 
held  another  of  their  low,  earnest  conferences. 

“We  have  been  like  hunters  who  have  lost 
the  points  of  the  heavens,  an4  from  whom  the 
sun  has  been  hid  for  days,”  said  Hawk-eye,  turn- 
ing away  from  his  companions ; “ now  we  begin 
again  to  know  the  signs  of  our  course,  and  the 
paths  are  cleared  from  briers  ! Seat  yourselves 
in  the  shade  which  the  moon  throws  from  yonder 
beech — ’tis  thicker  than  that  of  the  pines — and 
let  us  wait  for  that  which  the  Lord  may  choose  to 
send  next.  Let  all  your  conversation  be  in  whis- 
pers ; though  it  would  be  better,  and  perhaps,  in 
the  end,  wiser,  if  each  one  held  discourse  with 
his  own  thoughts,  for  a time.” 

The  manner  of  the  scout  was  seriously  im- 
pressive, though  no  longer  distinguished  by  any 
signs  of  unmanly  apprehension.  It  was  evident 
that  his  momentary  weakness  had  vanished  with 
the  explanation  of  a mystery  which  his  own  ex- 
perience had  not  served  to  fathom  ; and,  though 
he  now  felt  all  the  realities  of  their  actual  con- 
dition, that  he  was  prepared  to  meet  them  with 
the  energy  of  his  hardy  nature.  This  feeling 
seemed  also  common  to  the  natives,  who  placed 
themselves  in  positions  which  commanded  a full 
view  of  both  shores,  while  their  own  persons 
were  effectually  concealed  from  observation.  In 
such  circumstances,  common  prudence  dictated 
that  Heyward  and  his  companions  should  imitate 
a caution  that  proceeded  from  so  intelligent  a, 
source.  The  young  man  drew  a pile  of  the  sas- 
safras from  the  cave,  and  placing  it  in  the  chasm 
which  separated  the  two  caverns,  it  was  occupied 
by  the  sisters  ; who  were  thus  protected  by  the 
rocks  from  any  missiles,  while  their  anxiety  was 
relieved  by  the  assurance  that  no  danger  could 
approach  without  a warning.  Heyward  himself 
was  posted  at  hand,  so  near  that  he  might  com- 
municate with  his  companions  without  raising  his 
voice  to  a dangerous  elevation ; while  David,  in 
imitation  of  the  woodsmen,  bestowed  his  person 
in  such  a manner  among  the  fissures  of  the  rocks, 
that  his  ungainly  limbs  were  no  longer  offensive 
fco  the  eye. 

In  this  manner,  hours  passed  by  without  fur- 
ther interruption.  The  moon  reached  the  zenith, 
and  shed  its  mild  light  perpendicularly  on  the 


lovely  sight  of  the  sisters  slumbering  peacefully 
in  each  other’s  arms.  Duncan  cast  the  wide 
shawl  of  Cora  before  a spectacle  he  so  much 
loved  to  contemplate,  and  then  suffered  his  own 
head  to  seek  a pillow  on  the  rock.  David  began 
to  utter  sounds  that  would  have  shocked  his  deli- 
cate organs  in  more  wakeful  moments  ; in  short, 
all  but  Hawk-eye  and  the  Mohicans  lost  every 
idea  of  consciousness,  in  uncontrollable  drowsi- 
ness. But  the  watchfulness  of  these  vigilant 
protectors  neither  tired  nor  slumbered.  Immov- 
able as  that  rock,  of  which  each  appeared  to  form 
a part,  they  lay,  with  their  eyes  roving,  without 
intermission,  along  the  dark  margin  of  trees  that 
bounded  the  adjacent  shores  of  the  narrow 
stream.  Not  a sound  escaped  them ; the  most 
subtle  examination  could  not  have  told  they 
breathed.  It  was  evident  that  this  excess  of 
caution  proceeded  from  an  experience  that  no 
subtlety  on  the  part  of  their  enemies  could  de- 
ceive. It  was,  however,  continued  without  any 
apparent  consequences,  until  the  moon  had  set, 
and  a pale  streak  above  the  tree-tops,  at  the  bend 
of  the  river  a little  below,  announced  the  ap- 
pi’oach  of  day. 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  Hawk-eye  was  seen 
to  stir.  He  crawled  along  the  rock,  and  shook 
Duncan  from  his  heavy  slumbers. 

“ Now  is  the  time  to  journey,”  he  whispered  •, 
“ awake  the  gentle  ones,  and  be  ready  to  get  into 
the  canoe  when  I bring  it  to  the  landing-place.” 

“ Have  you  had  a quiet  night  ? ” said  Hey- 
ward ; “ for  myself,  I believe  sleep  has  got  the 
better  of  my  vigilance.” 

“ All  is  yet  still  as  midnight.  Be  silent,  but 
be  quick.” 

By  this  time  Duncan  was  thoroughly  awake, 
and  he  immediately  lifted  the  shawl  from  the 
sleeping  females.  The  motion  caused  Cora  to 
raise  her  hand  as  if  to  repulse  him,  while  Alice 
murmured,  in  her  soft,  gentle  voice : “ No,  no, 
dear  father,  we  were  not  deserted ; Duncan  was 
with  us ! ” 

“ Yes,  sweet  innocence,”  whispered  the  youth ; 
“ Duncan  is  here,  and  while  life  continues  or  dan- 
ger remains,  he  will  never  quit  thee.  Cora ! 
Alice  ! awake  ! The  hour  has  come  to  move  ! ” 

A loud  shriek  from  the  younger  of  the  sisters, 
and  the  form  of  the  other  standing  upright  before 
him  in  bewildered  horror,  was  the  unexpected 
answer  he  received.  While  the  words  were  still 
on  the  lips  of  Heyward,  there  had  arisen  such  a 
tumult  of  yells  and  cries  as  served  to  drive  the 
swift  currents  of  his  own  blood  back  from  its 
bounding  course  into  the  fountains  of  his  heart. 
It  seemed,  for  near  a minute,  as  if  the  demons  of 


FIGHTING  WITH  THE  IROQUOIS. 


33 


hell  had  possessed  themselves  of  the  air  about 
them,  and  were  venting  their  savage  humors  in 
barbarous  sounds.  The  cries  came  from  no  par- 
ticular direction,  though  it  was  evident  they  filled 
the  woods,  and,  as  the  appalled  listeners  easily 
imagined,  the  caverns  of  the  falls,  the  rocks,  the 
bed  of  the  river,  and  the  upper  air.  David  raised 
his  tall  person  in  the  midst  of  the  infernal  din, 
with  a hand  on  either  ear,  exclaiming  : 

“ Whence  comes  this  discord  ? Has  hell 
broke  loose,  that  man  should  utter  sounds  like 
these  ! ” 

The  bright  flashes  and  the  quick  reports  of  a 
dozen  rifles,  from  the  opposite  banks  of  the 
stream,  followed  this  incautious  exposure  of  his 
person,  and  left  the  unfortunate  singing-master 
senseless  on  that  rock  where  he  had  been  so  long 
slumbering.  The  Mohicans  boldly  sent  back  the 
intimidating  yell  of  their  enemies,  who  raised  a 
shout  of  savage  triumph  at  the  fall  of  Gamut. 
The  flash  of  rifles  was  then  quick  and  close  be- 
tween them,  but  either  party  was  too  well  skilled 
to  leave  even  a limb  exposed  to  the  hostile  aim. 
Duncan  listened  with  intense  anxiety  for  the 
strokes  of  the  paddle,  believing  that  flight  was 
now  their  only  refuge.  The  river  glanced  by 
with  its  ordinary  velocity,  but  the  canoe  was  no- 
where to  be  seen  on  its  dark  waters.  He  had 
just  fancied  they  were  cruelly  deserted  by  the 
scout,  as  a stream  of  flame  issued  from  the  rock 
beneath  him,  and  a fierce  yell,  blended  with  a 
shriek  of  agony,  announced  that  the  messenger 
of  death,  sent  from  the  fatal  weapon  of  Hawk- 
eye,  had  found  a victim.  At  this  slight  repulse 
the  assailants  instantly  withdrew,  and  gradually 
the  place  became  as  still  as  before  the  sudden 
tumult. 

Duncan  seized  the  favorable  moment  to  spring 
to  the  body  of  Gamut,  which  he  bore  within  the 
shelter  of  the  narrow  chasm  that  protected  the 
sisters.  In  another  minute  the  whole  party  was 
collected  in  this  spot  of  comparative  safety 

“ The  poor  fellow  has  saved  his  scalp,”  said 
Hawk-eye,  coolly  passing  his  hand  over  tire  head 
of  David  ; “ but  he  is  a proof  that  a man  may  be 
born  with  too  long  a tongue  ! ’Twas  downright 
madness  to  show  six  feet  of  flesh  and  blood,  on  a 
naked  rock,  to  the  raging  savages.  I only  won- 
der he  has  escaped  with  life.” 

“ Is  he  not  dead  ! ” demanded  Cora,  in  a voice 
whose  husky  tones  showed  how  powerfully  natu- 
ral horror  struggled  with  her  assumed  firmness. 
11  Can  we  do  aught  to  assist  the  wretched  man  ? ” 

“ No,  no ! the  life  is  in  his  heart  yet,  and  after 
he  has  slept  a while  he  will  come  to  himself,  and 
be  a wiser  man  for  it,  till  the  hour  of  his  real 


time  shall  come,”  returned  Hawk-eye,  casting  an- 
other oblique  glance  at  the  insensible  body,  while  he 
filled  his  charger  with  admirable  nicety. — “ Carry 
him  in,  Uncas,  and  lay  him  on  the  sassafras. 
The  longer  his  nap  lasts  the  better  it  will  be  for 
him,  as  I doubt  whether  he  can  find  a proper 
cover  for  such  a shape  on  these  rocks  ; and  sing- 
ing won’t  do  any  good  with  the  Iroquois.” 

“You  believe,  then,  the  attack  will  be  re- 
newed ? ” asked  Heyward. 

“ Do  I expect  a hungry  wolf  will  satisfy  his 
craving  with  a mouthful ! They  have  lost  a man, 
and  ’tis  their  fashion,  when  they  meet  a loss,  and 
fail  in  the  surprise,  to  fall  back ; but  we  shall 
have  them  on  again,  with  new  expedients  to  cir- 
cumvent us,  and  master  our  scalps.  Our  main 
hope,”  he  continued,  raising  his  rugged  counte- 
nance, across  which  a shade  of  anxiety  just  then 
passed  like  a darkening  cloud,  “ will  be  to  keep 
the  rock  until  Munro  can  send  a party  to  our 
help ! God  send  it  may  be  soon,  and  under  a 
leader  that  knows  the  Indian  customs  ! ” 

“ You  hear  our  probable  fortunes,  Cora,”  said 
Duncan ; “ and  you  know  we  have  every  thing  to 
hope  from  the  anxiety  and  experience  of  your 
father.  Come,  then,  with  Alice,  into  this  cavern, 
where  you,  at  least,  will  be  safe  from  the  murder- 
ous  rifles  of  our  enemies,  and  where  you  may  b©. 
stow  a care,  suited  to  your  gentle  natures,  on  or* 
unfortunate  comrade.” 

The  sisters  followed  him  into  the  outer  cave, 
where  David  was  beginning,  by  his  sighs,  to  give 
symptoms  of  returning  consciousness  ; and  then 
commending  the  wounded  man  to  their  attention, 
he  immediately  prepared  to  leave  them. 

“ Duncan  ! ” said  the  tremulous  voice  of  Cora, 
when  he  had  reached  the  mouth  of  the  cavern. 
He  turned,  and  beheld  the  speaker,  whose  color 
had  turned  to  a deadly  paleness,  and  whose  lip 
quivered,  gazing  after  him,  with  an  expression  of 
interest  which  immediately  recalled  him  to  her 
side.  “ Remember,  Duncan,  how  necessary  your 
safety  is  to  our  own — how  you  bear  a father’s 
sacred  trust — how  much  depends  on  your  discre- 
tion and  care — in  short,”  she  added,  while  the 
tell-tale  blood  stole  over  her  features,  crimsoning 
her  very  temples,  “ how  very  deservedly  dear  you 
are  to  all  of  the  name  of  Munro.” 

“ If  any  thing  could  add  to  my  own  base  love 
of  life,”  said  Heyward,  suffering  his  unconscious 
eyes  to  wander  to  the  youthful  form  of  the  silent 
Alice,  “ it  would  be  so  kind  an  assurance.  As  ma- 
jor of  the  60th,  our  honest  host  will  tell  you  I must 
take  my  share  of  the  fray ; but  our  task  will  be 
easy  : it  i3  merely  to  keep  these  blood-hounds  at 
bay  for  a few  hours.” 


34 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


Without  waiting  for  reply,  he  tore  himself 
from  the  presence  of  the  sisters,  and  joined  the 
scout  and  his  companions,  who  still  lay  within  the 
protection  of  the  little  chasm  between  the  two 
caves. 

“ I tell  you,  Uncas,”  said  the  former,  as  Hey- 
ward joined  them,  “ you  are  wasteful  of  your  pow- 
der, and  the  kick  of  the  rifle  disconcerts  your 
aim  ! Little  powder,  light  lead,  and  a long  arm, 
seldom  fail  of  bringing  the  death-screech  from  a 
Mingo  ! At  least,  such  has  been  my  experience 
with  the  creatur’s. — Come,  friends  ; let  us  to  our 
covers,  for  no  man  can  tell  when  or  where  a Ma- 
qua  * will  strike  his  blow.” 

The  Indians  silently  repaired  to  their  appoint- 
ed stations,  which  were  fissures  in  the  rocks, 
whence  they  could  command  the  approaches  to 
the  foot  of  the  falls.  In  the  centre  of  the  little 
island,  a few  short  and  stunted  pines  had  found 
root,  forming  a thicket,  into  which  Hawk-eye 
darted  with  the  swiftness  of  a deer,  followed  by 
the  active  Duncan.  Here  they  secured  them- 
selves, as  well  as  circumstances  would  permit, 
among  the  shrubs  and  fragments  of  stone  that 
were  scattered  about  the  place.  Above  them  was 
a bare,  rounded  rock,  on  each  side  of  which  the 
water  played  its  gambols,  and  plunged  into  the 
abysses  beneath,  in  the  manner  already  described. 
As  the  day  had  now  dawned,  the  opposite  shores 
no  longer  presented  a confused  outline,  but  they 
were  able  to  look  into  the  woods,  and  distinguish 
objects  beneath  the  canopy  of  gloomy  pines. 

A long  and  anxious  watch  succeeded,  but 
without  any  further  evidences  of  a renewed  at- 
tack ; and  Duncan  began  to  hope  that  their  fire 
had  proved  more  fatal  than  was  supposed,  and 
that  their  enemies  had  been  effectually  repulsed. 
When  he  ventured  to  utter  this  impression  to  his 
companion,  it  was  met  by  Hawk-eye  with  an  in- 
credulous shake  of  the  head. 

“ You  know  not  the  nature  of  a Maqua,  if  you 
think  he  is  so  easily  beaten  back  without  a 
scalp  ! ” he  answered.  “ If  there  was  one  of  the 
imps  yelling  this  morning,  there  were  forty  ! and 
they  know  our  number  and  quality  too  well  to 
give  up  the  chase  so  soon.  Hist ! look  into  the 
water  above,  just  where  it  breaks  over  the  rocks. 
I am  no  mortal,  if  the  risky  devils  haven’t  swam 
down  upon  the  very  pitch,  and,  as  bad  luck  would 
have  it,  they  have  hit  the  head  of  the  island. 
Hist ! man,  keep  close ! or  the  hair  will  be  off 
your  crown  in  the  turning  of  a knife.” 

* It  will  be  observed  that  Hawk-eye  applies  different 
aames  to  his  enemies.  Mingo  and  Maqua  are  terms  of  con- 
tempt, and  Iroquois  is  a name  given  by  the  French.  The 
.ndians  rarely  use  the  same  name  when  different  tribes 
bpcak  of  each  other. 


Heyward  lifted  his  head  from  the  cover,  and 
beheld  what  he  justly  considered  a prodigy  of 
rashness  and  skill.  The  river  had  wore  away  the 
edge  of  the  soft  rock  in  such  a manner  as  to  ren- 
der its  first  pitch  less  abrupt  and  perpendicular 
than  is  usual  at  water-falls.  With  no  other  guide 
than  the  ripple  of  the  stream  where  it  met  the 
head  of  the  island,  a party  of  their  insatiable  foes 
had  ventured  into  the  current,  and  swam  down 
upon  this  point,  knowing  the  ready  access  it 
would  give,  if  successful,  to  their  intended  vic- 
tims. As  Hawk-eye  ceased  speaking,  four  human 
heads  could  be  seen  peering  above  a few  logs  of 
drift-wood  that  had  lodged  on  these  naked  rocks, 
and  which  had  probably  suggested  the  idea  of  the 
practicability  of  the  hazardous  undertaking.  At 
the  next  moment,  a fifth  form  was  seen  floating 
over  the  green  edge  of  the  fall,  a little  from  the 
line  of  the  island.  The  savage  struggled  power- 
fully to  gain  the  point  of  safety,  and,  favored  by 
the  glancing  water,  he  was  already  stretching 
forth  an  arm  to  meet  the  grasp  of  his  companions, 
when  he  shot  away  again  with  the  whirling  cur- 
rent, appeared  to  rise  into  the  air,  with  uplifted 
arms  and  starting  eyeballs,  and  fell,  with  a sullen 
plunge,  into  that  deep  and  yawning  abyss  over 
which  he  hovered.  A single,  wild,  despairing 
shriek  rose  from  the  cavern,  and  all  was  hushed 
again,  as  the  grave. 

The  first  generous  impulse  of  Duncan,  was  to 
rush  to  the  rescue  of  the  hapless  wretch  ; but  he 
felt  himself  bound  to  the  spot  by  the  iron  grasp 
of  the  immovable  scout. 

“ Would  ye  bring  certain  death  upon  us,  by  tell- 
ing the  Mingoes  where  we  lie  ? ” demanded  Hawk- 
eye,  sternly ; “ ’tis  a charge  of  powder  saved, 
and  ammunition  is  as  precious  now  as  breath  to 
a worried  deer  ! Freshen  the  priming  of  your 
pistols — the  mist  of  the  falls  is  apt  to  dampen 
the  brimstone — and  stand  firm  for  a close  strug- 
gle, while  I fire  on  their  rush.” 

He  placed  a finger  in  his  mouth,  and  drew  a 
long,  shrill  whistle,  which  was  answered  from  the 
rocks  that  were  guarded  by  the  Mohicans.  Dun- 
can caught  glimpses  of  heads  above  the  scattered 
drift-wood,  as  this  signal  rose  on  the  air,  but 
they  disappeared  again  as  suddenly  as  they  had 
glanced  upon  his  sight.  A low,  rustling  sound, 
next  drew  his  attention  behind  him,  and,  turning 
’ his  head,  he  beheld  Uncas  within  a few  feet, 
creeping  to  his  side.  Hawk-eye  spoke  to  him  in 
Delaware,  when  the  young  chief  took  his  position 
with  singular  caution  and  undisturbed  coolness. 
To  Heyward  this  was  a moment  of  feverish  and 
impatient  suspense  ; though  the  scout  saw  fit  to 
select  it  as  a fit  occasion  to  road  a lecture  to  hia 


A desperate  struggle. 


35 


more  youthful  associates  on  the  art  of  using  fire- 
arms with  discretion. 

“ Of  all  we’pons,”  he  commenced,  “ the  long- 
barrelled,  true-grooved,  soft-metalled  rifle,  is  the 
most  dangerous  in  skilful  hands,  though  it  wants 
a strong  arm,  a quick  eye,  and  great  judgment  in 
charging,  to  put  forth  all  its  beauties.  The  gun- 
smiths can  have  but  little  insight  into  their  trade, 
when  they  make  their  fowling-pieces  and  short 
horsemen’s — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  low  but  expressive 
“ Hugh  ” of  Uncas. 

“ I see  them,  boy,  I see  them ! ” continued 
Hawk-eye*;  “ they  are  gathering  for  the  rush,  or 
they  would  keep  their  dingy  backs  below  the 
logs.  Well,  let  them,”  he  added,  examining  his 
flint ; “ the  leading  man  certainly  comes  on  to  his 
death,  though  it  should  be  Montcalm  himself!  ” 

At  that  moment  the  woods  were  filled  with 
another  burst  of  cries ; and,  at  the  signal,  four 
savages  sprang  from  the  cover  of  the  drift-wood. 
Heyward  felt  a burning  desire  to  rush  forward  to 
meet  them,  so  intense  was  the  delirious  anxiety  of 
the  moment ; but  he  was  restrained  by  the  de- 
iberate  examples  of  the  scout  and  Uncas.  When 
their  foes,  who  leaped  over  the  black  rocks  that 
divided  them,  with  long  bounds,  uttering  the 
wildest  yells,  were  within  a few  rods,  the  rifle  of 
Hawk-eye  slowly  rose  among  the  shrubs,  and 
poured  out  its  fatal  contents.  The  foremost 
Indian  bounded  like  a stricken  deer,  and  fell 
headlong  among  the  clefts  of  the  island. 

“ Now,  Uncas  ! ” cried  the  scout,  drawing  his 
long  knife,  while  his  quick  eyes  began  to  flash 
with  ardor,  “take  the  last  of  the  screeching 
imps  ; of  the  other  two  we  are  sartain ! ” 

He  was  obeyed ; and  but  two  enemies  re- 
mained to  be  overcome.  Heyward  had  given  one 
of  his  pistols  to  Hawk-eye,  and  together  they 
rushed  down  a little  declivity  toward  their  foes  ; 
they  discharged  their  weapons  at  the  same  in- 
stant, and  equally  without  success. 

“ I know’d  it,  and  I said  it ! ” muttered  the 
scout,  whirling  the  despised  little  implement  over 
the  falls  with  bitter  disdain.  “Come  on,  ye 
bloody-minded  hell-hounds  ! ye  meet  a man  with- 
out a cross ! ” 

The  words  were  barely  uttered  when  he  en- 
countered a savage  of  gigantic  stature,  and  of  the 
fiercest  mien.  At  the  same  moment  Duncan 
found  himself  engaged  with  the  other  in  a similar 
contest  of  hand  to  hand.  With  ready  skill, 
Hawk-eye  and  his  antagonist  each  grasped  that 
uplifted  arm  of  the  other  which  held  the  danger- 
ous knife.  For  nearly  a minute  they  stood  look- 
ing one  another  in  the  eye,  and  gradually  exerting 


the  power  of  their  muscles  for  the  mastery.  At 
length,  the  toughened  sinews  of  the  white  man 
prevailed  over  the  less-practised  limbs  of  the 
native.  The  arm  of  the  latter  slowly  gave  way 
before  the  increasing  force  of  the  scout,  who,  sud- 
denly wresting  his  armed  hand  from  the  grasp  of 
his  foe,  drove  the  sharp  weapon  through  his  naked 
bosom  to  the  heart.  In  the  mean  time,  Heyward 
had  been  pressed  in  a more  deadly  struggle.  His 
slight  sword  was  snapped  in  the  first  encounter. 
As  he  was  destitute  of  any  other  means  of  de- 
fence, his  safety  now  depended  entirely  on  bodily 
strength  and  resolution.  Though  deficient  in 
neither  of  these  qualities,  he  had  met  an  enemy 
every  way  his  equal.  Happily,  he  soon  suc- 
ceeded in  disarming  his  adversary,  whose  knife 
fell  on  the  rock  at  their  feet ; and  from  this  mo- 
ment it  became  a fierce  struggle  who  should  cast 
the  other  over  the  dizzy  height  into  a neighbor- 
ing cavern  of  the  falls.  Every  successive  strug- 
gle brought  them  nearer  to  the  verge,  where  Dun- 
can perceived  the  final  and  conquering  effort 
must  be  made.  Each  of  the  combatants  threw 
all  his  energies  into  that  effort,  and  the  result 
was,  that  both  tottered  on  the  brink  of  the  preci- 
pice. Heyward  felt  the  grasp  of  the  other  at  his 
throat,  and  saw  the  grim  smile  the  savage  gave, 
under  the  revengeful  hope  that  he  hurried  his 
enemy  to  a fate  similar  to  his  own,  as  he  felt  his 
body  slowly  yielding  to  a resistless  power,  and 
the  young  man  experienced  the  passing  agony  of 
such  a moment  in  all  its  horrors.  At  that  instant 
of  extreme  danger,  a dark  hand  and  glancing 
knife  appeared  before  him ; the  Indian  released 
his  hold,  as  the  blood  flowed  freely  from  around 
the  severed  tendons  of  his  wrist;  and,  while 
Duncan  was  drawn  backward  by  the  saving  arm 
of  Uncas,  his  charmed  eyes  were  still  riveted  on 
the  fierce  and  disappointed  countenance  of  his 
foe,  who  fell  sullenly  and  disappointed  down  the 
irrecoverable  precipice. 

“ To  cover ! to  cover ! ” cried  Hawk-eye,  who 
just  then  had  dispatched  his  enemy ; “ to  cover, 
for  your  lives  ! the  work  is  but  half  ended  ! ” 

The  young  Mohican  gave  a shout  of  triumph 
and,  followed  by  Duncan,  he  glided  up  the  accliv- 
ity they  had  descended  to  the  combat,  and  sought 
the  friendly  shelter  of  the  rocks  and  shrubs. 


36 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

“ They  linger  yet, 

Avengera  of  their  native  land.” 

Gbay. 

The  warning  call  of  the  scout  was  not  uttered 
without  occasion.  During  the  occurrence  of  the 
deadly  encounter  just  related,  the  roar  of  the  falls 
was  unbroken  by  any  human  sound  whatever.  It 
would  seem  that  interest  in  the  result  had  kept 
the  natives  on  the  opposite  shores  in  breathless 
suspense,  while  the  quick  evolutions  and  swift 
changes  in  the  positions  of  the  combatants,  effect- 
ually prevented  a fire  that  might  prove  danger- 
ous alike  to  friend  and  enemy.  But  the  moment 
the  struggle  was  decided,  a yell  arose  as  fierce 
and  savage  as  wild  and  revengeful  passions  could 
throw  into  the  air.  It  was  followed  by  the  swift 
flashes  of  the  rifles,  which  sent  their  leaden  mes- 
sengers across  the  rock  in  volleys,  as  though  the 
assailants  would  pour  out  their  impotent  fury  on 
the  insensible  scene  of  the  fatal  contest. 

A steady  though  deliberate  return  was  made 
from  the  rifle  of  Chingachgook,  who  had  main- 
tained his  post  throughout  the  fray  with  unmoved 
resolution.  When  the  triumphant  shout  of  Un- 
cas  was  borne  to  his  ears,  the  gratified  father 
raised  his  voice  in  a single  responsive  cry,  after 
which  his  busy  piece  alone  proved  that  he  still 
guarded  his  pass  with  unwearied  diligence.  In 
this  manner  many  minutes  flew  by  with  the  swift- 
ness of  thought : the  rifles  of  the  assailants 
sneaking,  at  times,  in  rattling  volleys,  and  at 
others  in  occasional,  scattering  shots.  Though 
the  rock,  the  trees,  and  the  shrubs,  were  cut  and 
torn  in  a hundred  places  around  the  besieged,  their 
cover  was  so  close,  and  so  rigidly  maintained, 
that,  as  yet,  David  had  been  the  only  sufferer  in 
their  little  band. 

“ Let  them  burn  their  powder,”  said  the  de- 
liberate scout,  while  bullet  after  bullet  whizzed 
by  the  place  where  he  securely  lay ; “ there  will 
be  a fine  gathering  of  lead  when  it  is  over,  and  I 
fancy  the  imps  will  tire  of  the  sport,  afore  these 
old  stones  cry  out  for  mercy  ! — Uncas,  boy,  you 
waste  the  kernels  by  overcharging : and  a kick- 
ing rifle  never  carries  a true  bullet.  I told  you 
to  take  that  loping  miscreant  under  the  line  of 
white  paint;  now,  if  your  bullet  went  a hair’s 
breadth,  it  went  two  inches  above  it.  The  life 
lies  low  in  a Mingo,  and  humanity  teaches  us  to 
make  a quick  end  of  the  sarpents.” 

A quiet  smile  lighted  the  haughty  features 
of  the  young  Mohican,  betraying  his  knowledge 
of  the  English  language,  as  well  as  of  the  other’s 


meaning ; but  he  suffered  it  to  pass  away  without 
vindication  or  reply. 

“ I cannot  permit  you  to  accuse  Uncas  of  want 
of  judgment  or  of  skill,”  said  Duncan ; “he  saved 
my  life  in  the  coolest  and  readiest  manner,  and 
he  has  made  a friend  who  never  will  require  to  be 
reminded  of  the  debt  he  owes.” 

Uncas  partly  raised  his  body,  and  offered  his 
hand  to  the  grasp  of  Heyward.  During  this  act 
of  friendship,  the  two  young  men  exchanged 
looks  of  intelligence  which  caused  Duncan  to  for- 
get the  character  and  condition  of  his  wild  asso- 
ciate. In  the  mean  while,  Hawk-eye,  who  looked 
on  this  burst  of  youthful  feeling  with  a cool  but 
kind  regard,  made  the  following  reply  : 

“ Life  is  an  obligation  which  friends  often  owe 
to  each  other  in  the  wilderness.  I dare  say  I 
may  have  served  Uncas  some  such  turn  myself 
before  now ; and  I very  well  remember  that  he 
has  stood  between  me  and  death  five  different 
times:  three  times  from  the  Mingoes,  once  in 
crossing  Horican,  and — ” 

“That  bullet  was  better  aimed  than  com- 
mon ! ” exclaimed  Duncan,  involuntarily  shrink- 
ing from  a shot  which  struck  the  rock  at  his  side 
with  a smart  rebound. 

Hawk-eye  laid  his  hand  on  the  shapeless 
metal,  and  shook  his  head,  as  he  examined  it, 
saying,  “ Falling  lead  is  never  flattened ! had  it 
come  from  the  clouds  this  might  have  hap- 
pened.” 

But  the  rifle  of  Uncas  was  deliberately  raised 
toward  the  heavens,  directing  the  eye  of  his  com- 
panions to  a point  where  the  mystery  was  imme- 
diately explained.  A ragged  oak  grew  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  to  their 
position,  which,  seeking  the  freedom  of  the  open 
space,  had  inclined  so  far  forward,  that  its  upper 
branches  overhung  that  arm  of  the  stream  which 
flowed  nearest  to  its  own  shore.  Among  the  top- 
most leaves,  which  scantily  concealed  the  gnarled 
and  stunted  limbs,  a savage  was  nestled,  partly 
concealed  by  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  and  partly 
exposed,  as  though  looking  down  upon  them  to 
ascertain  the  effect  produced  by  his  treacherous 
aim. 

“ These  devils  will  scale  heaven  to  circumvent 
us  to  our  ruin,”  said  Hawk-eye ; “ keep  him  in 
play,  boy,  until  I can  bring  ‘ kill-deer  ’ to  bear, 
when  we  will  try  hi3  metal  on  each  side  of  the 
tree  at  once.” 

Uncas  delayed  his  fire  until  the  scout  uttered 
the  word.  The  rifles  flashed,  the  leaves  and  bark 
of  the  oak  flew  into  the  air,  and  were  scattered 
by  the  wind,  but  the  Indian  answered  their  as- 
sault by  a taunting  laugh,  sending  down  upon  them 


AN  ADVENTUROUS  HURON. 


37 


another  bullet  in  return,  that  struck  the  cap  of 
Hawk-eye  from  his  head.  Once  more  the  savage 
yells  burst  out  of  the  woods,  and  the  leaden  hail 
whistled  above  the  heads  of  the  besieged,  as  if  to 
confine  them  to  a place  where  they  might  become 
easy  victims  to  the  enterprise  of  the  warrior  who 
bad  mounted  the  tree. 

“ This  must  be  looked  to  ! ” said  the  scout, 
glancing  about  him  with  an  anxious  eye.  “ Un- 
cas,  call  up  your  father ; we  have  need  of  all  our 
we’pons  to  bring  the  cunning  varment  from  his 
roost.” 

The  signal  was  instantly  given ; and,  before 
Hawk-eye  had  reloaded  his  rifle,  they  were  joined 
by  Chingachgook.  When  his  son  pointed  out  to 
the  experienced  warrior  the  situation  of  their 
dangerous  enemy,  the  usual  exclamatory  “ Hugh  ” 
burst  from  his  lips ; after  which,  no  further  ex- 
pression of  surprise  or  alarm  was  suffered  to  es- 
cape him.  Hawk-eye  and  the  Mohicans  con- 
versed earnestly  together  in  Delaware  for  a few 
moments,  when  each  quietly  took  his  post,  in  or- 
der to  execute  the  plan  they  had  speedily  de- 
7ised. 

The  warrior  in  the  oak  had  maintained  a 
quick  though  ineffectual  fire,  from  the  moment  of 
his  discovery.  But  his  aim  was  interrupted  by 
the  vigilance  of  his  enemies,  whose  rifles  instan- 
taneously bore  on  any  part  of  his  person  that  was 
left  exposed.  Still  his  bullets  fell  in  the  centre 
of  the  crouching  party.  The  clothes  of  Heyward, 
which  rendered  him  peculiarly  conspicuous,  were 
repeatedly  cut,  and  once  blood  was  di'awn  from  a 
slight  wound  in  his  arm. 

At  length,  emboldened  by  the  long  and  pa- 
tient watchfulness  of  his  enemies,  the  Huron  at- 
tempted a better  and  more  fatal  aim.  The  quick 
eyes  of  the  Mohicans  caught  the  dark  line  of  his 
lower  limbs  incautiously  exposed  through  the  thin 
foliage,  a few  inches  from  the  trunk  of  the  tree. 
Their  rifles  made  a common  report,  when,  sinking 
on  his  wounded  limb,  part  of  the  body  of  the 
savage  came  into  view.  Swift  as  thought,  Hawk- 
eye  seized  the  advantage,  and  discharged  his  fa- 
tal weapon  into  the  top  of  the  oak.  The  leaves 
were  unusually  agitated  ; the  dangerous  rifle  fell 
from  its  commanding  elevation,  and,  after  a few 
moments  of  vain  struggling,  the  form  of  the  sav- 
age was  seen  swinging  in  the  wind,  while  he  still 
grasped  a ragged  and  naked  branch  of  the  tree, 
with  hands  clinched  in  desperation. 

“ Give  him,  in  pity  give  him,  the  contents  of 
mother  rifle  ! ” cried  Duncan,  turning  away  his 
eyes  in  horror  from  the  spectacle  of  a fellow 
creature  in  such  awful  jeopardy. 

“ Not  a kamel ! ” exclaimed  the  obdurate 


Hawk-eye ; “ his  death  is  certain,  and  we  have 
no  powder  to  spare,  for  Indian  fights  sometimes 
last  for  days  ; ’tis  their  scalps  or  ours  ! — and 
God,  who  made  us,  has  put  into  our  natures  the 
craving  to  keep  the  skin  on  the  head  ! ” 

Against  this  stern  and  unyielding  morality, 
supported  as  it  was  by  such  visible  policy,  there 
was  no  appeal.  From  that  moment  the  yells  in 
the  forest  once  more  ceased,  the  fire  was  suffered 
to  decline,  and  all  eyes,  those  of  friends  as  wel1 
as  enemies,  became  fixed  on  the  hopeless  con- 
dition of  the  wretch  who  was  dangling  between 
heaven  and  earth.  The  body  yielded  to  the  cur- 
rents of  air,  and,  though  no  murmur  or  groan  es- 
caped the  victim,  there  were  instants  when  he 
grimly  faced  his  foes,  and  the  anguish  of  cold 
despair  might  be  traced,  through  the  intervening 
distance,  in  possession  of  his  swarthy  lineaments. 
Three  several  times  the  scout  raised  his  piece  in 
mercy,  and  as  often,  prudence  getting  the  better 
of  his  intention,  it  was  again  silently  lowered. 
At  length  one  hand  of  the  Huron  lost  its  hold  and 
dropped  exhausted  to  his  side.  A desperate  and 
fruitless  struggle  to  recover  the  branch  succeed- 
ed, and  then  the  savage  was  seen  for  a fleeting 
instant  grasping  wildly  at  the  empty  air.  The 
lightning  is  not  quicker  than  was  the  flame  from 
the  rifle  of  Hawk-eye ; the  limbs  of  the  victim 
trembled  and  contracted,  the  head  fell  to  the 
bosom,  and  the  body  parted  the  foaming  waters 
like  lead  when  the  element  closed  above  it  in  its 
ceaseless  velocity,  and  every  vestige  of  the  un- 
happy Huron  was  lost  forever. 

No  shout  of  triumph  succeeded  this  impor- 
tant advantage,  but  even  the  Mohicans  gazed  at 
each  other  in  silent  horror.  A single  yell  burst 
from  the  woods,  and  all  was  again  still.  Hawk- 
eye,  who  alone  appeared  to  reason  on  the  occa- 
sion, shook  his  head  at  his  own  momentary  weak- 
ness, even  uttering  his  self-disapprobation  aloud. 

“ ’Twas  the  last  charge  in  my  horn,  and  the 
last  bullet  in  my  pouch,  and  ’twas  the  act  of  a 
boy  ! ” he  said  ; “ what  mattered  it  whether  he 
struck  the  rock  living  or  dead ! feeling  would 
soon  be  over.  Uncas,  lad,  go  down  to  the  canoe, 
and  bring  up  the  big  horn  ; it  is  all  the  powder 
we  have  left,  and  we  shall  need  it  to  the  last 
grain,  or  I am  ignorant  of  the  Mingo  nature.” 

The  young  Mohican  complied,  leaving  the 
scout  turning  over  the  useless  contents  of  his 
pouch,  and  shaking  the  empty  horn  with  renewed 
discontent.  From  this  unsatisfactory  examina- 
tion, however,  he  was  soon  called  by  a loud  and 
piercing  exclamation  from  Uncas,  that  sounded, 
even  to  the  unpractised  ears  of  Duncan,  as  the 
signal  of  some  new  and  unexpected  calamity 


88 


THE  LAST  OF  THL  MOHICANS. 


Every  thought  filled  with  apprehension  for  the 
precious  treasure  he  had  concealed  in  the  cavern, 
the  young  man  started  to  his  feet,  totally  regard- 
less of  the  hazard  he  incurred  by  such  an  expos- 
ure. As  if  actuated  by  a common  impulse,  his 
movement  was  imitated  by  his  companions,  and, 
together,  they  rushed  down  the  pass  to  the  friend- 
ly chasm,  with  a rapidity  that  rendered  the  scat- 
teving  fire  of  their  enemies  perfectly  harmless. 
The  unwonted  cry  had  brought  the  sisters,  to- 
gether with  the  wounded  David,  from  their  place 
of  refuge  ; and  the  whole  party,  at  a single  glance, 
was  made  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  dis- 
aster that  had  disturbed  even  the  practised  stoi- 
cism of  their  youthful  Indian  protector. 

At  a short  distance  from  the  rock,  their  little 
bark  was  to  be  seen  floating  across  the  eddy, 
toward  the  swift  current  of  the  river,  in  a manner 
which  proved  that  its  course  was  directed  by 
some  hidden  agent.  The  instant  this  unwelcome 
sight  caught  the  eye  of  the  scout,  his  rifle  was 
levelled,  as  by  instinct,  but  the  barrel  gave  no 
answer  to  the  bright  sparks  of  the  flint. 

“ ’Tis  too  late,  ’tis  too  late ! ” Hawk-eye  ex- 
claimed, dropping  the  useless  piece  in  bitter  dis- 
appointment ; “ the  miscreant  has  struck  the 

rapid ; and,  had  we  powder,  it  could  hardly  send 
the  lead  swifter  than  he  now  goes ! ” 

The  adventurous  Huron  raised  his  head  above 
the  shelter  of  the  canoe,  and  while  it  glided  swift- 
ly down  the  stream,  he  waved  his  hand,  and  gave 
forth  the  shout,  which  was  the  known  signal  of 
success.  His  cry  was  answered  by  a yell  and  a 
laugh  from  the  woods,  as  tauntingly  exulting  as 
if  fifty  demons  were  uttering  their  blasphemies  at 
the  fall  of  some  Christian  soul. 

“ Well  .may  you  laugh,  ye  children  of  the 
devil ! ” said  the  scout,  seating  himself  on  a pro- 
jection of  the  rock,  and  suffering  his  gun  to  fall 
neglected  at  his  feet,  “ for  the  three  quickest  and 
truest  rifles  in  these  woods  are  no  better  than  so 
many  stalks  of  mullen,  or  the  last  year’s  horns  of 
a buck ! ” 

“ What  is  to  be  done  ? ” demanded  Duncan, 
losing  the  first  feeling  of  disappointment  in  a 
more  manly  desire  for  exertion  ; “ what  will  be- 
come of  us  ? ” 

Hawk-eye  made  no  other  reply  than  by  pass- 
ing his  finger  around  the  crown  of  his  head,  in  a 
manner  so  significant,  that  none  who  witnessed 
the  action  could  mistake  its  meaning. 

“ Surely,  surely,  our  case  is  not  so  desperate  ! ” 
axclaimed  the  youth  ; “ the  Hurons  are  not  here ; 
we  may  make  good  the  caverns  ; we  may  oppose 
their  landing.” 

“ With  what  ? ” coolly  demanded  the  scout. 


“ Thu)  arrows  of  Uncas,  or  such  tears  as  women 
shed ! No,  no ; you  are  young,  and  rich,  and 
have  friends,  and  at  such  an  age  I know  it  is  hard 
to  die  ! But,”  glancing  his  eyes  at  the  Mohicans, 
“ let  us  remember  we  are  men  without  a cross, 
and  let  us  teach  these  natives  of  the  forest  that 
white  blood  can  run  as  freely  as  red,  when  the 
appointed  hour  is  come.” 

Duncan  turned  quickly  in  the  direction  indi- 
cated by  the  other’s  eyes,  and  read  a confirma- 
tion of  his  worst  apprehensions  in  the  conduct 
of  the  Indians.  Chingachgook,  placing  himself 
in  a dignified  posture  on  another  fragment  of  the 
rock,  had  already  laid  aside  his  knife  and  toma- 
hawk, and  was  in  the  act  of  taking  the  eagle’s 
plume  from  his  head,  and  smoothing  the  solitary 
tuft  of  hair  in  readiness  to  perform  its  last  and 
revolting  office.  His  countenance  was  composed, 
though  thoughtful,  while  his  dark  gleaming  eyes 
were  gradually  losing  the  fierceness  of  the  com- 
bat in  an  expression  better  suited  to  the  change 
he  expected  momentarily  to  undergo. 

“ Our  case  is  not,  cannot  be  so  hopeless  ! ” 
said  Duncan  ; “ even  at  this  very  moment  succor 
may  be  at  hand.  I see  no  enemies  ! they  have 
sickened  of  a struggle  in  which  they  risk  so  much 
with  so  little  prospect  of  gain.  ” 

“ It  may  be  a minute,  or  it  may  be  an  hour, 
afore  the  wily  sarpents  steal  upon  us,  and  it  is 
quite  in  natur’  for  them  to  be  laying  within  hear- 
ing at  this  moment,”  said  Hawk-eye ; <c  but  come 
they  will,  and  in  such  a fashion  as  will  leave  us 
nothing  to  hope  ! — Chingachgook  ” — he  spoke  in 
Delaware — “ my  brother,  we  have  fought  our  last 
battle  together,  and  the  Maquas  will  triumph  in 
the  death  of  the  sage  man  of  the  Mohicans,  and 
of  the  pale-face,  whose  eyes  can  make  night  as 
day,  and  level  the  clouds  to  the  mists  of  the 
spi'ings ! ” 

“ Let  the  Mingo  women  go  weep  over  their 
slain  ! ” returned  the  Indian,  with  characteristic 
pride  and  unmoved  firmness  ; “ the  Great  Snake 
of  the  Mohicans  has  coiled  himself  in  their  wig- 
wams, and  has  poisoned  their  triumph  with  the 
wailings  of  children,  whose  fathers  have  not  re- 
turned ! Eleven  warriors  lie  hid  from  the  graves 
of  their  tribes  since  the  snows  have  melted,  and 
none  will  tell  where  to  find  them  when  the  tongue 
of  Chingachgook  shall  be  silent ! Let  them  draw 
the  sharpest  knife,  and  whirl  the  swiftest  toma- 
hawk, for  their  bitterest  enemy  is  in  their  hands. 
— Uncas,  topmost  branch  of  a noble  trunk,  call  on 
the  cowards  to  hasten,  or  their  hearts  will  soften, 
and  they  will  change  to  women  ! ” 

“ They  look  among  the  fishes  for  their  dead  ! ” 
returned  the  low,  soft  voice  of  the  youthful  chief- 


CORA  MUNRO’S  FORTITUDE. 


39 


lain ; “ the  Hurons  float  with  the  slimy  eels ! 
They  dvop  from  the  oaks  like  fruit  that  is  ready 
to  be  eaten  ; and  the  Delawares  laugh  ! ” 

“ Ay,  ay,”  muttered  the  scout,  who  had  lis- 
tened to  this  peculiar  burst  of  the  natives  with 
deep  attention ; “ they  have  warmed  their  In- 
dian feelings,  and  they’ll  soon  provoke  the  Ma- 
quas  to  give  them  a speedy  end.  As  for  me,  who 
am  of  the  whole  blood  of  the  whites,  it  is  befitting 
that  I should  die  as  becomes  my  color,  with  no 
words  of  scoffing  in  my  mouth,  and  without  bit- 
terness at  the  heart ! ” 

“ Why  die  at  all  ? ” said  Cora,  advancing  from 
the  place  where  natural  horror  had,  until  this 
moment,  held  her  riveted  to  the  rock  ; “ the  path 
is  open  on  every  side ; fly,  then,  to  the  woods, 
and  call  on  God  for  succor ! Go,  brave  men,  we 
owe  you  too  much  already ; let  us  no  longer  in- 
volve you  in  our  hapless  fortunes  ! ” 

“You  but  little  know  the  craft  of  the  Iro- 
quois, lady,  if  you  judge  they  have  left  the  path 
open  to  the  woods ! ” returned  Hawk-eye,  who, 
however,  immediately  added  in  his  simplicity : 
“ the  down-stream  current,  it  is  cei’tain,  might 
soon  sweep  us  beyond  the  reach  of  their  rifles  or 
the  sounds  of  their  voices.” 

“ Then  try  the  river.  Why  linger,  to  add  to 
the  number  of  the  victims  of  our  merciless  ene- 
mies ? ” 

“ Why  ? ” repeated  the  scout,  looking  about 
him,  proudly ; “ because  it  is  better  for  a man  to 
die  at  peace  with  himself  than  to  live  haunted  by 
an  evil  conscience  ! What  answer  could  we  give 
Murro,  when  he  asked  us  where  and  how  we  left 
his  children  ? ” 

“ Go  to  him,  and  say  that  you  left  them  with 
a message  to  hasten  to  their  aid,”  returned  Cora, 
advancing  nigher  to  the  scout,  in  her  generous 
ardor ; “ that  the  Hurons  bear  them  into  the  north- 
ern wilds,  but  that  by  vigilance  and  speed  they 
may  yet  be  rescued ; and  if,  after  all,  it  should 
please  Heaven  that  his  assistance  come  too  late, 
bear  to  him,”  she  continued,  her  voice  gradually 
.owering,  until  it  seemed  nearly  choked,  “ the 
-ove,  the  blessings,  the  final  prayers  of  his  daugh- 
ters, and  bid  him  not  mourn  their  early  fate,  but 
to  look  forward  with  humble  confidence  to  the 
Christian’s  goal  to  meet  his  children.” 

The  hard,  weather-beaten  features  of  the  scout 
begah  to  work,  and,  when  she  had  ended,  he 
dropped  his  chin  to  his  hand,  like  a man  musing 
profoundly  on  the  nature  of  the  proposal. 

“ There  is  reason  in  her  words  ! ” at  length 
broke  from  his  compressed  and  trembling  lips ; 
“ay,  and  they  bear  the  spirit  of  Christianity; 
what  might  be  right  and  proper  in  a red-skin, 


may  be  sinful  in  a man  who  has  not  even  a cross 
in  blood  to  plead  for  his  ignorance. — Chingach- 
gook  ! Uncas  ! hear  you  the  talk  of  the  dark-eyed 
woman  ? ” 

He  now  spoke  in  Delaware  to  his  companions, 
and  his  address,  though  calm  and  deliberate, 
seemed  very  decided.  The  elder  Mohican  heard 
him  with  deep  gravity,  and  appeared  to  ponder 
on  his  words,  as  though  he  felt  the  importance 
of  their  import.  After  a moment  of  hesitation, 
he  waved  his  hand  in  assent,  and  uttered  the  Eng- 
lish word  “ Good  ” with  the  peculiar  emphasis 
of  his  people.  Then,  replacing  his  knife  and 
tomahawk  in  his  girdle,  the  warrior  moved  si- 
lently to  the  edge  of  the  rock  which  was  most 
concealed  from  the  banks  of  the  river.  Here  he 
paused  a moment,  pointed  significantly  to  the 
woods  below,  and,  saying  a few  words  in  his  own 
language,  as  if  indicating  his  intended  route,  he 
dropped  into  the  water,  and  sank  from  before  the 
eyes  of  the  witnesses  of  his  movements. 

The  scout  delayed  his  departure  to  speak  to 
the  generous  girl,  whose  breathing  became  light- 
er as  she  saw  the  success  of  her  remonstrance. 

“Wisdom  is  sometimes  given  to  the  young, 
as  well  as  to  the  old,”  he  said  ; “ and  what  you 
.have  spoken  is  wise,  not  to  call  it  by  a better 
word.  If  you  are  led  into  the  woods,  that  is, 
such  of  you  as  may  be  spared  for  a while,  break 
the  twigs  on  the  bushes  as  you  pass,  and  make  the 
marks  of  your  trail  as  broad  as  you  can,  when, 
if  mortal  eyes  can  see  them,  depend  on  having  a 
friend  who  will  follow  to  the  ends  of  ’arth  afore 
he  desarts  you.” 

He  gave  Cora  an  affectionate  shake  of  the 
hand,  lifted  his  rifle,  and  after  regarding  it  a mo- 
ment with  melancholy  solicitude,  laid  it  carefully 
aside,  and  descended  to  the  place  where  Chin- 
gachgook  had  just  disappeared.  For  an  instant 
he  hung  suspended  by  the  rock ; and  looking 
about  him,  with  a countenance  of  peculiar  care, 
he  added,  bitterly,  “ Had  the  powder  held  out, 
this  disgrace  could  never  have  befallen ! ” then, 
loosening  his  hold,  the  water  closed  above  his 
head,  and  he  also  became  lost  to  view. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  on  Uncas,  who 
stood  leaning  against  the  ragged  rock,  in  immov- 
able composure.  After  waiting  a short  time,  Cora 
pointed  down  the  river,  and  said : 

“ Your  friends  have  not  been  seen,  and  are 
now,  most  probably,  in  safety  ; is  it  not  time  for 
you  to  follow  ? ” 

“Uncas  will  stay,”  the  young  Mohican  calmly 
answered  in  English. 

“ To  increase  the  horror  of  our  capture,  and 
to  diminish  the  chances  of  our  release  ! Go,  gem 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


±0 

erous  young  man,”  Cora  continued,  lowering  her 
eyes  under  the  gaze  of  the  Mohican,  and,  per- 
haps, with  an  intuitive  consciousness  of  her  pow- 
er ; “ go  to  my  father,  as  I have  said,  and  be  the 
most  confidential  of  my  messengers.  Tell  him  to 
trust  you  with  the  means  to  buy  the  freedom  of 
his  daughters.  Go  ! ’tis  my  wish,  ’tis  my  prayer, 
that  you  will  go  ! ” 

The  settled,  calm  look  of  the  young  chief 
changed  to  an  expression  of  gloom,  but  he  no 
longer  hesitated.  With  a noiseless  step  he  crossed 
the  rock,  and  dropped  into  the  troubled  stream. 
Hardly  a breath  was  drawn  by  those  he  left  be- 
hind, until  they  caught  a glimpse  of  his  head 
emerging  for  air,  far  down  the  current,  when  he 
again  sank,  and  was  seen  no  more. 

These  sudden  and  apparently  successful  ex- 
periments had  all  taken  place  in  a few  minutes 
of  that  time  which  had  now  become  so  precious. 
After  the  last  look  at  Uncas,  Cora  turned,  and, 
with  a quivering  lip,  addressed  herself  to  Hey- 
ward : 

I have  heard  of  your  boasted  skill  in  the 
water,  too,  Duncan,”  she  said;  “follow,  then,  the 
wise  example  set  you  by  these  simple  and  faithful 
beings.”  , 

“ Is  such  the  faith  that  Cora  Munro  would  ex- 
act from  her  protector  ? ” said  the  young  man, 
smiling  mournfully,  but  with  bitterness. 

“ This  is  not  a time  for  idle  subtleties  and 
false  opinions,”  she  answered ; “ but  a moment 
when  every  duty  should  be  equally  considered. 
To  us  you  can  be  of  no  further  service  here,  but 
your  precious  life  may  be  saved  for  other  and 
nearer  friends.” 

He  made  no  reply,  though  his  eyes  fell  wistful- 
ly on  the  beautiful  form  of  Alice,  who  was  cling- 
ing to  his  arm  with  the  dependency  of  an  infant. 

“Consider,”  continued  Cora,  after  a pause 
during  which  she  seemed  to  struggle  with  a pang 
even  more  acute  than  any  that  her  fears  had  ex- 
cited, “ that  the  worst  to  us  can  be  but  death  ; a 
tribute  that  all  must  pay  at  the  good  time  of 
God’s  appointment.” 

“ There  are  evils  worse  than  death,”  said  Dun- 
can, speaking  hoarsely,  and  as  if  fretful  at  her 
importunity,  “but  which  the  presence  of  one 
who  would  die  in  your  behalf  may  avert.” 

Cora  ceased  her  entreaties ; and,  veiling  her 
face  in  her  shawl,  drew  the  nearly  insensible  Alice 
after  her  into  the  deepest  reces3  of  the  inner  cav- 
»rn. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

“ Be  gay  securely ; 

Dispel,  my  fair,  with  smiles,  the  tim’rous  clouda, 

That  hang  on  thy  clear  brow.” 

Death  of  Agbippina. 

The  sudden  and  almost  magical  change,  from 
the  stirring  incidents  of  the  combat  to  the  still- 
ness that  now  reigned  around  him,  acted  on  the 
heated  imagination  of  Heyward  like  some  excit- 
ing  dream.  While  all  the  images  and  events  he 
had  witnessed  remained  deeply  impressed  on  his 
memory,  he  felt  a difficulty  in,  persuading  himself 
of  their  truth.  Still  ignorant  of  the  fate  of  those 
who  had  trusted  to  the  aid  of  the  swift  current, 
he  at  first  listened  intently  to  any  signal,  or  sounds 
of  alarm,  which  might  announce  the  good  or  evil 
fortune  of  their  hazardous  undertaking.  His  at- 
tention was,  however,  bestowed  in  vain  ; for,  with 
the  disappearance  of  Uncas,  every  sign  of  the  ad- 
venturers had  been  lost,  leaving  him  in  total  un- 
certainty of  their  fate. 

In  a moment  of  such  painful  doubt,  Duncan 
did  not  hesitate  to  look  about  him,  without  con- 
sulting that  protection  from  the  rocks  which  just 
before  had  been  so  necessary  to  his  safety.  Every 
effort,  however,  to  detect  the  least  evidence  of  the 
approach  of  their  hidden  enemies,  was  as  fruitless 
as  the  inquiry  after  his  late  companions.  The 
wooded  banks  of  the  rivers  sfeemed  again  deserted 
by  every  thing  possessing  animal  life.  The  up- 
roar which  had  so  lately  echoed  through  the  vaults 
of  the  forest  was  gone,  leaving  the  rush  of  the 
waters  to  swell  and  sink  on  the  currents  of  the 
air,  in  the  unmingled  sweetness  of  Nature.  A fish- 
liawk,  which,  secure  on  the  topmost  branches  of 
a dead  pine,  had  been  a distant  spectator  of  the 
fray,  now  stooped  from  his  high  and  ragged  perch, 
and  soared,  in  wide  sweeps,  above  his  prey; 
while  a jay,  whose  noisy  voice  had  been  stilled 
by  the  hoarser  cries  of  the  savages,  ventured 
again  to  open  his  discordant  throat,  as  though 
once  more  in  undisturbed  possession  of  his  wild 
domains.  Duncan  caught  from  these  natural  ac- 
companiments of  the  solitary  scene  a glimmering 
of  hope ; and  he  began  to  rally  his  faculties  to  re- 
newed exertions,  with  something  like  a reviving 
confidence  of  success. 

“The  Hurons  are  not  to  be  seen,”  he. said 
addressing  David,  who  had  by  no  means  recov 
ered  from  the  effects  of  the  stunning  blow  he  bad 
received  ; “ let  us  conceal  ourselves  in  the  cv*Tem, 
and  trust  the  rest  to  Providence.” 

I remember  to  have  united  with  two  comely 
maidens  in  lifting  up  our  voices  is  praise  and 


THE  SINGING-MASTER. 


41 


thanksgiving,”  returned  the  bewildered  singing- 
master  ; “ since  which  time  I have  been  visited 
by  a heavy  judgment  for  my  sins.  I have  beeu 
mocked  with  the  likeness  of  sleep,  while  sounds 
of  discord  have  rent  my  ears,  such  as  might  mani- 
fest the  fulness  of  time,  and  that  N ature  had  for- 
gotten her  harmony.” 

“ Poor  fellow  ! thine  own  period  was,  in  truth, 
near  its  accomplishment ! But  arouse,  and  come 
with  me  ; I will  lead  you  where  all  other  sounds 
but  those  of  your  own  psalmody  shall  be  ex- 
cluded.” 

. “ There  is  melody  in  the  fall  of  the  jataract, 
and  the  rushing  of  many  waters  is  sweet  to  the 
senses ! ” said  David,  pressing  his  hand  confus- 
edly on  his  brow.  “ Is  not  the  air  yet  filled  with 
shrieks  and  cries,  as  though  the  departed  spirits 
of  the  damned — ” 

“ N ot  now,  not  now,”  interrupted  the  impa- 
tient Heyward,  “ they  have  ceased,  and  they  who 
raised  them,  I trust  in  God,  they  are  gone  too ! 
every  thing  but  the  water  is  still  and  at  peace ; 
in,  then,  where  you  may  create  those  sounds  you 
love  so  well  to  hear.” 

David  smiled  sadly,  though  not  without  a mo- 
mentary gleam  of  pleasure,  at  this  allusion  to  his 
beloved  vocation.  He  no  longer  hesitated  to  be 
led  to  a spot  which  promised  such  unalloyed  grat- 
ification to  his  wearied  senses ; and,  leaning  on 
the  arm  of  his  companion,  he  entered  the  narrow 
mouth  of  the  cave.  Duncan  seized  a pile  of  the 
sassafras,  which  he  drew  before  the  passage,  studi- 
ously concealing  every  appearance-  of  an  aperture. 
Within  this  fragile  barrier  he  arranged  the  blank- 
ets abandoned  by  the  foresters,  darkening  the 
inner  extremity  of  the  cavern,  while  its  outer 
received  a chastened  light  from  the  narrow  ravine, 
through  which  one  arm  of  the  river  rushed,  to 
form  the  junction  with  its  sister-branch,  a few 
rods  below. 

“I  like  not  that  principle  of  the  natives, 
which  teaches  them  to  submit  without  a struggle, 
in  emergencies  that  appear  desperate,”  he  said, 
while  busied  in  this  employment ; “ our  own  max- 
im, which  says,  ‘ while  life  remains  there  is  hope,’ 
is  more  consoling,  and  better  suited  to  a soldier’s 
temperament.  To  you,  Cora,  I will  urge  no  words 
of  idle  encouragement  ; your  own  fortitude  and 
undisturbed  reason  will  teach  you  all  that  may 
become  your  sex ; but  cannot  we  dry  the  tears  of 
that  trembling  weeper  on  your  bosom  ? ” 

“I  am  calmer,  Duncan,”  said  Alice,  raising 
herself  from  the  arms  of  her  sister,  and  forcing 
an  appearance  of  composure  through  her  tears  ; 

“ much  calmer,  now.  Surely,  in  this  hidden  spot 
we  are  safe,  we  are  secret,  free  from  injury ; we  i 


will  hope  every  thing  from  those  geneious  men 
who  have  risked  so  much  already  in  our  behalf.' 

“Now  does  our  gentle  Alice  speak  like  a 
daughter  of  Munro  ! ” said  Heyward,  pausing  to 
press  her  hand  as  he  passed  toward  the  outer  en- 
trance of  the  cavern.  “ With  two  such  examples 
of  courage  before  him,  a man  would  be  ashamed 
to  prove  other  than  a hero.”  He  then  seat- 
ed himself  in  the  centre  of  the  cavern,  grasping 
his  remaining  pistol  with  a hand  convulsively 
clinched,  while  his  contracted  and  frowning  eye 
announced  the  sullen  desperation  of  his  purpose. 
“ The  Hurons,  if  they  come,  may  not  gain  our 
position  so  easily  as  they  think,”  he  lowly  mut- 
tered ; and,  dropping  his  head  back  against  the 
rock,  he  seemed  to  await  the  result  in  patience, 
though  his  gaze  was  unceasingly  bent  on  the  open 
avenue  to  their  place  of  retreat. 

With  the  last  sound  of  his  voice,  a deep,  a 
long,  and  almost  breathless  silence  succeeded. 
The  fresh  air  of  the  morning  had  penetrated  the 
recess,  and  its  influence  was  gradually  felt  on  the 
spirits  of  its  inmates.  As  minute  after  minute 
passed  by,  leaving  them  in  undisturbed  security, 
the  insinuating  feeling  of  hope  was  gradually 
gaining  possession  of  every  bosom,  though  each 
one  felt  reluctant  to  give  utterance  to  expecta- 
tions that  the  next  moment  might  so  fearfully 
destroy. 

David  alone  formed  an  exception  to  these 
varying  emotions.  A gleam  of  light  from  the 
opening  crossed  his  wan  countenance,  and  fell 
upon  the  pages  of  the  little  volume,  whose  leaves 
he  was  again  occupied  in  turning,  as  if  searching 
for  some  song  more  fitted  to  their  condition  than 
any  that  had  yet  met  his  eye.  He  was,  most 
probably,  acting  all  this  time  under  a confused 
recollection  of  the  promised  consolation  of  Dun- 
can. At  length,  it  would  seem,  his  patient  indus- 
try found  its  reward ; for,  without  explanation  or 
apology,  he  pronounced  aloud  the  words  “ Isle  of 
Wight,”  drew  a long,  sweet  sound  from  his  pitch- 
pipe,  and  then  ran  through  the  preliminary  modu- 
lations of  the  air,  whose  name  he  had  just  men- 
tioned, with  the  sweeter  tones  of  his  own  musical 
voice. 

“ May  not  this  prove  dangerous  ? ” asked 
Cora,  glancing  her  dark  eye  at  Major  Heyward. 

“ Poor  fellow ! his  voice  is  too  feeble  to  be 
heard  amid  the  din  of  the  falls,”  was  the  answer ; 
“ besides,  the  cavern  will  prove  his  friend.  Let 
him  indulge  his  passion,  since  it  may  be  done 
without  hazard.” 

“ Isle  of  Wight ! ” repeated  David,  looking 
about  him  with  that  dignity  with  which  he  had 
long  been  wont  to  silence  the  whispering  echoes 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


12 

of  his  school ; “ ’tis  a brave  tune,  and  set  to  sol- 
emn words ; let  it  be  sung  with  meet  respect ! ” 

After  allowing  a moment  of  stillness  to  enforce 
his  discipline,  the  voice  of  the  singer  was  heard, 
• in  low,  murmuring  syllables,  gradually  stealing  on 
the  ear,  until  it  filled  the  narrow  vault  with 
sounds  rendered  trebly  thrilling  by  the  feeble  and 
tremulous  utterance  produced  by  his  debility. 
The  melody,  which  no  weakness  could  destroy, 
gradually  wrought  its  sweet  influence  on  the 
senses  of  those  who  heard  it.  It  even  prevailed 
over  the  miserable  travesty  of  the  song  of  David 
which  the  singer  had  selected  from  a volume  of 
similar  effusions,  and  caused  the  sense  to  be  for- 
gotten in  the  insinuating  harmony  of  the  sounds. 
Alice  unconsciously  dried  her  tears,  and  bent  her 
melting  eyes  on  the  pallid  features  of  Gamut, 
with  an  expression  of  chastened  delight  that  she 
neither  affected  nor  wished  to  conceal.  Cora  be- 
stowed an  approving  smile  on  the  pious  efforts  of 
the  namesake  of  the  Jewish  prince,  and  Heyward 
soon  turned  his  steady,  stern  look  from  the  outlet 
of  the  cavern,  to  fasten  it,  with  a milder  charac- 
ter, on  the  face  of  David,  or  to  meet  the  wander- 
ing beams  which  at  moments  strayed  from  the 
humid  eyes  of  Alice.  The  open  sympathy  of  the 
listeners  stirred  the  spirit  of  the  votary  of  music, 
whose  voice  regained  its  richness  and  volume, 
without  losing  that  touching  softness  which  proved 
its  secret  charm.  Exerting  his  renovated  powers 
to  their  utmost,  he  was  yet  filling  the  arches  of 
the  cave  with  long  and  full  tones,  when  a yell 
burst  into  the  air  without,  that  instantly  stilled 
his  pious  strains,  choking  his  voice  suddenly,  as 
though  his  heart  had  literally  bounded  into  the 
passage  of  his  throat. 

“We  are  lost!”  exclaimed  Alice,  throwing 
herself  into  the  arras  of  Cora. 

“ Not  yet,  not  yet,”  returned  the  agitated  but 
undaunted  Heyward ; “ the  sound  came  from  the 
centre  of  the  island,  and  it  has  been  produced  by 
the  sight  of  their  dead  companions.  We  are  not 
yet  discovered,  and  there  is  still  hope.” 

Faint  and  almost  despairing  as  was  the  pros- 
pect of  escape,  the  words  of  Duncan  were  not 
thrown  away,  for  it  awakened  the  powers  of  the 
sisters  in  such  a manner  that  they  awaited  the 
result  in  silence.  A second  yell  soon  followed 
the  first,  when  a rush  of  voices  was  heard  pour- 
ing down  the  island,  from  its  upper  to  its  lower 
extremity,  until  they  reached  the  naked  rock 
above  the  caverns,  where,  after  a shout  of  savage 
triumph,  the  air  continued  full  of  horrible  cries 
and  screams,  such  as  man  alone  can  utter,  and  he 
only  when  in  a state  of  the  fiercest  barbarity. 

The  sounds  quickly  spread  around  them  in 


I every  direction.  Some  called  to  their  fellows  from 
the  water’s  edge,  and  were  answered  from  the 
heights  above.  Cries  were  heard  in  the  startling 
vicinity  of  the  chasm  between  the  two  caves, 
which  mingled  with  hoarser  yells  that  arose  out 
of  the  abyss  of  the  deep  ravine.  In  short,  so 
rapidly  had  the  savage  sounds  diffused  themselves 
over  the  barren  rock,  that  it  was  not  difficult  fojr 
the  anxious  listeners  to  imagine  they  could  be 
heard  beneath,  as  in  truth  they  were  above,  and 
on  every  side  of  them. 

In  the  midst  of  this  tumult,  a triumphant  yell 
was  raised  within  a few  yards  of  the  hidden  en- 
trance to  the  cave.  Heyward  abandoned  every 
hope,  with  the  belief  it  was  the  signal  that  they 
were  discovered.  Again  the  impression  passed 
away,  as  he  heard  the  voices  collect  near  the  spot 
where  the  white  man  had  so  reluctantly  abandoned 
his  rifle.  Amid  the  jargon  of  the  Indian  dialects 
that  he  now  plainly  heard,  it  was  easy  to  distin- 
guish not  only  words,  but  sentences,  in  the  patois 
of  the  Canadas.  A burst  of  voices  had  shouted 
simultaneously,  “La  longue  Carabine!”  causing 
the  opposite  woods  to  reecho  with  a name  which, 
Heyward  well  remembered,  had  been  given  by  his 
enemies  to  a celebrated  hunter  and  scout  of  the 
English  camp,  and  who,  he  now  learned  for  the 
first  time,  had  been  his  late  companion. 

“ La  longue  Carabine ! la  longue  Carabine ! ” 
passed  from  mouth  to  mouth,  until  the  whole  band 
appeared  to  be  collected  around  a trophy  which 
would  seem  to  announce  the  death  of  its  formi- 
dable owner.  After  a vociferous  consultation, 
which  was,  at  times,  deafened  by  bursts  of  savage 
joy,  they  again  separated,  filling  the  air  with  the 
name  of  a foe,  whose  body,  Heyward  could  col- 
lect from  their  expressions,  they  hoped  to  find 
concealed  in  some  crevice  of  the  island. 

“Now,”  he  whispered  to  the  trembling  sisters, 
“ now  is  the  moment  of  uncertainty ! if  our  place 
of  retreat  escape  this  scrutiny,  we  are  still  safe  ! 
In  every  event,  we  are  assured,  by  what  has  fallen 
from  our  enemies,  that  our  friends  have  escaped, 
and  in  two  short  hours  we  may  look  for  succor 
from  Webb.” 

There  were  now  a few  minutes  of  fearful  still- 
ness, during  which  Heyward  well  knew  that  the 
savages  conducted  their  search  with  greater  vigi- 
lance and  method.  More  than  once  he  could  dis- 
tinguish their  footsteps,  as  they  brushed  the  sas- 
safras, causing  the  faded  leaves  to  rustle,  and  the 
branches  to  snap.  At  length,  the  pile  yielded  a 
little,  a comer  of  a blanket  fell,  and  a faint  raj 
of  light  gleamed  into  the  inner  part  of  the  cave 
Cora  folded  Alice  to  her  bosom  in  agony,  and 
Duncan  sprang  to  his  feet.  A shout  was  at  that 


ON  THE  TRACK  OF  THE  REFUGEES. 


43 


moment  heard,  as  if  issuing  from  the  centre  of 
the  rock,  announcing  that  the  neighboring  cavern 
had  at  length  been  entered.  In  a minute,  the 
number  and  loudness  of  the  voices  indicated  that 
the  whole  party  was  collected  in  and  around  that 
secret  place. 

As  the  inner  passages  to  the  two  caves  were 
so  close  to  each  other,  Duncan,  believing  that  es- 
cape was  no  longer  possible,  passed  David  and 
the  sisters,  to  place  himself  between  the  latter 
and  the  first  onset  of  the  terrible  meeting.  Grown 
desperate  by  his  situation,  he  drew  nigh  the  slight 
barrier  which  separated  him  only  by  a few  feet 
from  his  relentless  pursuers,  and,  placing  his  face 
to  the  casual  opening,  he  even  looked  out,  with  a 
sort  of  desperate  indifference,  on  their  movements. 

Within  reach  of  his  arm  was  the  brawny 
shoulder  of  a gigantic  Indian,  whose  deep  and 
authoritative  voice  appeared  to  give  directions  to 
the  proceedings  of  his  fellows.  Beyond  him 
again,  Duncan  could  look  into  the  vault  opposite, 
which  was  filled  with  savages,  upturning  and 
rifling  the  humble  furniture  of  the  scout.  The 
wound  of  David  had  dyed  the  leaves  of  sassafras 
with  a color  that  the  natives  well  knew  was  antici- 
pating the  season.  Over  this  sign  of  their  suc- 
cess, they  set  up  a howl,  like  an  opening  from  so 
many  hounds  who  had  recovered  a lost  trail. 
After  this  yell  of  victory,  they  tore  up  the  fra- 
grant bed  of  the  cavern,  and  bore  the  branches 
into  the  chasm,  scattering  the  boughs,  as  if  they 
suspected  them  of  concealing  the  person  of  the 
man  they  had  so  long  hated  and  feared.  One  fierce 
and  wild-looking  warrior  approached  the  chief, 
bearing  a load  of  the  brush,  and  pointing,  exulting- 
» ly,  to  the  deep-red  stains  with  which  it  was 
sprinkled,  uttered  his  joy  in  Indian  yells,  whose 
meaning  Heyward  was  only  enabled  to  compre- 
hend by  the  frequent  repetition  of  the  nance  of 
“ La  longue  Carabine ! ” When  his  triumph  had 
ceased,  he  cast  the  brush  on  the  slight  heap  that 
Duncan  had  made  before  the  entrance  of  the  sec- 
ond cavern,  and  closed  the  view.  His  example 
was  followed  by  others,  who,  as  they  drew  the 
branches  from  the  cave  of  the  scout,  threw  them 
into  one  pile,  adding,  unconsciously,  to  the  se- 
curity of  those  they  sought.  The  very  slightness 
of  the  defence  was  its  chief  merit,  for  no  one 
thought  of  disturbing  a mass  of  brush,  which  all  of 
them  believed,  in  that  moment  of  hurry  and  con- 
fusion, had  been  accidentally  raised  by  the  hands 
of  their  own  party. 

As  the  blankets  yielded  before  the  outward 
pressure,  and  the  branches  settled  in  the  fissure 
of  the  rock  by  their  own  weight,  forming  a com- 
pact body,  Duncan  once  more  breathed  freely. 


With  a light  step,  and  lighter  heart,  he  returned 
to  the  centre  of  the  cave,  and  took  the  place  he 
had  left,  where  he  could  command  a view  of  the 
opening  next  the  river.  While  he  was  in  the  act 
of  making  this  movement,  the  Indians,  as  if 
changing  their  purpose  by  a common  impulse, 
broke  away  from  the  chasm  in  a body,  and  were 
heard  rushing  up  the  island  again,  toward  the 
point  whence  they  had  originally  descended. 
Here  another  wailing  cry  betrayed  that  they 
were  again  collected  around  the  bodies  of  their 
dead  comrades. 

Duncan  now  ventured  to  look  at  his  compan- 
ions ; for,  during  the  most  critical  moments  of 
their  danger,  he  had  been  apprehensive  that  the 
anxiety  of  his  countenance  might  communicate 
some  additional  alarm  to  those  who  were  so  little 
able  to  sustain  it. 

“ They  are  gone,  Cora ! ” he  whispered ; “Alice, 
they  are  returned  whence  they  came,  and  we  are 
saved ! To  Heaven,  that  has  alone  delivered  us 
from  the  grasp  of  so  merciless  an  enemy,  be  all 
the  praise ! ” 

“ Then  to  Heaven  will  I return  my  thanks  ! ” 
exclaimed  the  younger  sister,  rising  from  the  en- 
circling arms  of  Cora,  and  casting  herself  with 
enthusiastic  gratitude  on  the  naked  rock;  “to 
that  Heaven  who  has  spared  the  tears  of  a gray- 
headed father  ; has  saved  the  lives  of  those  I so 
much  love — ” 

Both  Heyward,  and  the  more  tempered  Cora, 
witnessed  the  act  of  involuntary  emotion  with 
powerful  sympathy,  the  former  secretly  believing 
that  piety  had  never  worn  a form  so  lovely  as  it 
had  now  assumed  in  the  youthful  person  of  Alice. 
Her  eyes  were  radiant  with  the  glow  of  grateful 
feelings  ; the  flush  of  her  beauty  was  again  seated 
on  her  cheeks,  and  her  whole  soul  seemed  ready 
and  anxious  to  pour  out  its  thanksgivings,  through 
the  medium  of  her  eloquent  features.  But  when 
her  lips  moved,  the  words  they  should  have  uttered 
appeared  frozen  by  some  new  and  sudden  chill. 
Her  bloom  gave  place  to  the  paleness  of  death  ; 
her  soft  and  melting  eyes  grew  hard,  and  seemed 
contracting  with  horror;  while  those  hands, 
which  she  had  raised,  clasped  in  each  other,  tow- 
ard heaven,  dropped  in  horizontal  lines  before 
her,  the  fingers  pointed  forward  in  convulsed  mo 
tion.  Heyward  turned,  the  instant  she  gave  a 
direction  to  his  suspicions,  and,  peering  jusi 
above  the  ledge  which  formed  the  threshold  of 
the  open  outlet  of  the  cavern,  he  beheld  the  malig- 
nant, fierce,  and  savage  features  of  Le  Renard 
Subtil. 

In  that  moment  of  surprise,  the  self-possession 
of  Heyward  did  not  desert  him.  He  observed  bj 


14 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


the  vacant  expression  cf  the  Indian’s  counte- 
nance, that  his  eye,  accustomed  to  the  open  air, 
had  not  yet  been  able  to  penetrate  the  dusky 
light  which  pervaded  the  depth  of  the  cavern.  He 
had  even  thought  of  retreating  beyond  a curvature 
in  the  natural  wall,  which  might  still  conceal  him 
and  his  companions,  when,  by  the  sudden  gleam 
of  intelligence  that  shot  across  the  features  of  the 
savage,  he  saw  it  was  too  late,  and  that  they 
were  betrayed. 

The  look  of  exultation  and  brutal  triumph 
which  announced  this  terrible  truth  was  irresisti- 
bly irritating.  Forgetful  of  every  thing  but  the 
impulses  of  his  hot  blood,  Duncan  levelled  his 
pistol  and  fired.  The  report  of  the  weapon  made 
the  cavern  bellow  like  an  eruption  from  a volcano ; 
and  when  the  smoke  it  vomited  had  been  driven 
away  before  the  current  of  air  which  issued  from 
the  ravine,  the  place  so  lately  occupied  by  the 
features  of  his  treacherous  guide  was  vacant. 
Rushing  to  the  outlet,  Heyward  caught  a glimpse 
of  his  dark  figure,  stealing  around  a low  and  nar- 
row ledge,  which  soon  hid  him  entirely  from 
eight. 

Among  the  savages,  a frightful  stillness  suc- 
ceeded the  explosion,  which  had  just  been  heard 
bursting  from  the  bowels  of  the  rock.  But 
when  Le  Renard  raised  his  voice  in  a long  and 
intelligible  whoop,  it  was  answered  by  a sponta- 
neous yell  from  the  mouth  of  every  Indian  within 
hearing  of  the  sound.  The  clamorous  noises 
again  rushed  down  the  island  ; and,  before  Dun- 
can had  time  to  recover  from  the  shock,  his  fee- 
ble barrier  of  brush  was  scattered  to  the  winds, 
the  cavern  was  entered  at  both  its  extremities, 
and  he  and  his  companions  were  dragged  from 
their  shelter  and  borne  into  the  day,  where  they 
stood  surrounded  by  the  whole  band  of  the  tri- 
umphant Hurons. 


CHAPTER  X. 

“ I fear  we  shall  outsleep  the  coming'  morn, 

As  much  as  we  this  night  have  overwatched  1 ” 

Midsummer  Night’s  Dream. 

The  instant  the  shock  of  this  sudden  misfor- 
tune had  abated,  Duncan  b§gan  to  make  his  ob- 
servations on  the  appearance  and  proceedings  of 
their  captors.  Contrary  to  the  usages  of  the 
natives  in  the  wantonness  of  their  success,  they 
had  respected,  not  only  the  persons  of  'the  trem- 
bling sisters,  but  his  own.  The  rich  ornaments 
of  his  military  attire  had  indeed  been  repeatedly 
aandled  by  different  individuals  of  the  tribe  with 


eyes  expressing  a savage  longing  to  possess  the 
bawbles ; but,  before  the  customary  violence  could 
be  resorted  to,  a mandate  in  the  authoritative  voice 
of  the  large  warrior  already  mentioned,  stayed 
the  uplifted  hand,  and  convinced  Heyward  that 
they  were  to  be  reserved  for  some  object  of  par- 
ticular moment. 

While,  however,  these  manifestations  of  weak- 
ness were  exhibited  by  the  young  and  vain  of  the 
party,  the  more  experienced  warriors  continued 
their  search  throughout  both  caverns,  with  an 
activity  that  denoted  they  were  far  from  being 
satisfied  with  those  fruits  of  their  conquest  which 
had  already  been  brought  to  light.  Unable  to 
discover  any  new  victim,  these  diligent  workers 
of  vengeance  soon  approached  their  male  prisoners, 
pronouncing  the  name  of  “ La  longue  Carabine,” 
with  a fierceness  that  could  not  easily  be  mistaken. 
Duncan  affected  not  to  comprehend  the  meaning 
of  their  repeated  and  violent  interrogatories, 
while  his  companion  was  spared  the  effort  of  a 
similar  deception  by  his  ignorance  of  French. 
Wearied,  at  length,  by  their  importunities,  and 
apprehensive  of  irritating  his  captors,  by  too  stub- 
born a silence,  the  former  looked  about  him  in 
quest  of  Magua,  who  might  interpret  his  answers 
to  questions  which  were,  at  each  moment,  becom- 
ing more  earnest  and  threatening. 

The  conduct  of  this  savage  had  formed  a soli- 
tary exception  to  that  of  all  his  fellows.  While 
the  others  were  busily  occupied  in  seeking  to 
gratify  their  childish  passion  for  finery,  by  plun- 
dering even  the  miserable  effects  of  the  scout,  or 
had  been  searching,  with  such  blood-thirsty  ven 
ance  in  their  looks,  for  their  absent  owner,  Le 
Renard  had  stood  at  a little  distance  from  the 
prisoners,  with  a demeanor  so  quiet  and  satisfied, 
as  to  betray  that  he  had  already  effected  the 
grand  purpose  of  his  treachery.  When  the  eyes 
of  Heyward  first  met  those  of  his  recent  guide,  he 
turned  them  away  in  horror  at  the  sinister  though 
calm  look  he  encountered.  Conquering  his  dis- 
gust, however,  he  was  able,  with  an  averted  face, 
to  address  his  successful  enemy. 

“ Le  Renard  Subtil  is  too  much  of  a warrior, ”- 
said  the  reluctant  Heyward,  “ to  refuse  telling  an 
unarmed  man  what  his  conquerors  say.” 

“ They  ask  for  the  hunter  who  knows  tin 
paths  through  the  woods,”  returned  Magua,  in 
his  broken  English,  laying  his  hand,  at  the  same 
time,  with  a ferocious  smile,  on  the  bundle  of 
leaves  with  which  a wound  on  his  own  shoulder  was 
bandaged.  “ La  longue  Carabine ! his  rifle  is 
good,  and  his  eye  never  shut ; but,  like  the  short 
gun  of  the  white  chief,  it  is  nothing  against  the 
life  of  Le  Subtil ! ” 


REAPPEARANCE  OF  MAGUA. 


45 


“Le  Renard  is  too  brave  to  remember  the 
hurts  received  in  war,  or  the  hands  that  gave 
them ! ” 

“Was  it  war  when  the  tired  Indian  rested  at 
the  sugar-tree  to  taste  his  corn ! who  filled  the 
bushes  with  creeping  enemies ! who  drew  the 
knife  ! whose  tongue  was  peace,  while  his  heart 
was  colored  with  blood ! Did  Magua  say  that 
the  hatchet  was  out  of  the  ground,  and  that  his 
hand  had  dug  it  up  ? ” 

As  Duncan  dared  not  retort  upon  his  accuser 
by  reminding  him  of  his  own  premeditated  treach- 
ery, and  disdained  to  deprecate  his  resentment  by 
any  words  of  apology,  he  remained  silent.  Magua 
seemed  also  content  to  rest  the  controversy  as 
well  as  all  further  communication  there,  for  he 
resumed  the  leaning  attitude  against  the  rock, 
from  which,  in  momentary  energy  he  had  arisen. 
But  the  cry  of  “ La  longue  Carabine  ” was  re- 
newed the  instant  the  impatient  savages  perceived 
that  the  short  dialogue  was  ended. 

“You  hear,”  said  Magua,  with  stubborn  indif- 
ference ; “ the  red  Hurons  call  for  the  life  of  ‘ The 
long  Rifle,’  or  they  will  have  the  blood  of  them 
that  keep  him  hid ! ” 

“He  is  gone — escaped;  he  is  far  beyond 
tneir  reach.” 

Renard  smiled  with  cold  contempt,  as  he  an- 
swered : 

“ When  the  white  man  dies,  he  thinks  he  is  at 
peace ; but  the  red  men  know  how  to  torture  even 
the  ghosts  of  their  enemies.  Where  is  his  body  ? 
Let  the  Hurons  see  his  scalp  ! ” 

“ He  is  not  dead,  but  escaped.” 

Magua  shook  his  head  incredulously. 

“ Is  he  a bird,  to  spread  his  wings  ; or  is  he 
a fish,  to  swim  without  air ! The  white  chief 
reads  in  his  books,  and  he  believes  the  Hurons 
are  fools ! ” 

“ Though  no  fish,  ‘ The  long  Rifle  ’ can  swim. 
He  floated  down  the  stream  when  the  powder  was 
all  burnt,  and  when  the  eyes  of  the  Hurons  were 
behind  a cloud.” 

“ And  why  did  the  white  chief  stay  ? ” de- 
manded the  still  incredulous  Indian.  “ Is  he  a 
stone  that  goes  to  the  bottom,  or  does  the  scalp 
burn  his  head  ? ” 

“ That  I am  not  a stone,  your  dead  comrade, 
who  fell  into  the  falls,  might  answer,  were  the  life 
still  in  him,”  said  the  provoked  young  man,  using, 
in  his  anger,  that  boastful  language  which  was 
most  likely  to  excite  the  admiration  of  an  Indian. 
“ The  white  man  thinks  none  but  cowards  desert 
their  women.” 

. Magua  muttered  a few  words,  inaudiblv,  be- 
tween his  teeth,  before  he  continued,  aloud.- 


“ Can  the  Delawares  swim,  too,  as  well  as 
crawl  in  the  bushes?  Where  is ‘'Le  gros  Ser- 
pent ? ’ ” 

Duncan,  who  perceived  by  the  use  of  these 
Canadian  appellations,  that  his  late  companions 
were  much  better  known  to  his  enemies  than  to 
himself,  answered,  reluctantly,  “ He  also  is  gone 
down  with  the  water.” 

“ ‘ Le  Cerf  agile  ’ is  not  here  ? ” 

“ I know  not  whom  you  call  ‘ The  nimble 
Deer,’  ” said  Duncan,  gladly  profiting  by  any  ex- 
cuse to  create  delay. 

“ Uncas,”  returned  Magua,  pronouncing  the 
Delaware  name  with  even  greater  difficulty  than 
he  spoke  his  English  words.  “ ‘ Bounding  Elk  ’ 
is  what  the  white  man  says,  when  he  calls  to  the 
Young  Mohican.” 

“ Here  is  some  confusion  in  names  between 
us,  Le  Renard,”  said  Duncan,  hoping  to  provoke 
a discussion.  “ Daim  is  the  French  for  deer,  and 
cerf  for  stag ; elan  is  the  true  term,  when  one 
would  speak  of  an  elk.:: 

“Yes,”  muttered  the  Indian,  in  his  native 
tongue;  “the  pale-faces  are  prattling  women! 
they  have  two  words  for  each  thing,  while  a red- 
skin will  make  the  sound  of  his  voice  speak  for 
him.”  Then  changing  his  language,  he  continued, 
adhering  to  the  imperfect  nomenclature  of  hie 
provincial  instructors:  “The  deer  is  swift,  but 
weak;  the  elk  is  swift,  but  slrong;  and  the  son 
of  ‘ Le  Serpent  ’ is  ‘ Le  Cerf  agile.’  Has  he  leaped 
the  river  to  the  woods  ? ” 

“If  you  mean  the  younger  Delaware,  he  too 
is  gone  down  with  the  water.” 

As  there  was  nothing  improbable  to  an  Indian 
in  the  manner  of  the  escape,  Magua  admitted  the 
truth  of  what  he  had  heard,  with  a readiness 
that  afforded  additional  evidence  how  little  he 
would  prize  such  worthless  captives.  With  his 
companions,  however,  the  feeling  was  manifestly 
different. 

The  Hurons  had  awaited  the  result  of  this 
short  dialogue  with  characteristic  patience,  and 
with  a silence  that  increased  until  there  was  a 
general  stillness  in  the  band.  When  Heyward 
ceased  to  speak,  they  turned  their  eyes,  as  one 
man,  on  Magua,  demanding,  in  this  expressive 
manner,  an  explanation  of  what  had  been  said 
Their  interpreter  pointed  to  the  river  and  madt 
them  acquainted  with  the  result,  as  much  by  the 
action  as  by  the  few  words  he  uttered.  When 
the  fact  was  generally  understood,  the  savages 
raised  a frightful  yell,  which  declared  the  extent 
of  their  disappointment.  Some  ran  furiously  to 
the  water’s  edge,  beating  the  air  with  frantic  ges- 
tures, while  others  spat  upon  the  element,  to  r& 


46 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


sent  the  supposed  treason  it  had  committed  against 
their  acknowledged  rights  as  conquerors.  A few, 
and  they  not  the  least  powerful  and  terrific  of  the 
band,  threw  lowering  looks,  in  which  the  fiercest 
passion  was  only  tempered  by  habitual  self-com- 
mand, at  those  captives  who  still  remained  in 
their  power  ; while  one  or  two  even  gave  vent  to 
their  malignant  feelings  by  the  most  menacing 
gestures,  against  which  neither  the  sex  nor  the 
beauty  of  the  sisters  was  any  protection.  The 
young  soldier  made  a desperate  but  fruitless  ef- 
fort to  spring  to  the  side  of  Alice,  when  he  saw 
the  dark  hand  of  a savage  twisted  in  the  rich 
tresses  which  were  flowing  in  volumes  over  her 
shoulders,  while  a knife  was  passed  around  the 
head  from  which  they  fell,  as  if  to  denote  the 
horrid  manner  in  which  it  was  about  to  be  robbed 
of  its  beautiful  ornament.  But  his  hands  were 
bound ; and  at  the  first  movement  he  made,  he 
felt  the  grasp  of  the  powerful  Indian  who  direct- 
ed the  band,  pressing  his  shoulder  like  a vice. 
Immediately  conscious  how  unavailing  any  strug- 
gle against  such  an  overwhelming  force  must 
prove,  he  submitted  to  his  fate,  encouraging  his 
gentle  companions  by  a few  low  and  tender  assur- 
ances, that  the  natives  seldom  failed  to  threaten 
more  than  they  performed. 

But,  while  Duncan  resorted  to  these  words 
of  consolation  to  quiet  the  apprehensions  of  the 
sisters,  he  was  not  so  weak  as  to  deceive  himself. 
He  well  knew  that  the  authority  of  an  Indian 
chief  was  so  little  conventional,  that  it  was  oftener 
maintained  by  physical  superiority  than  by  any 
moral  supremacy  he  might  possess.  The  danger 
was,  therefore,  magnified  exactly  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  the  savage  spirits  by  which 
they  were  surrounded.  The  most  positive  man- 
date from  him  who  seemed  the  acknowledged 
leader,  was  liable  to  be  violated  at  each  moment, 
by  any  rash  hand  that  might  choose  to  sacrifice 
a victim  to  the  manes  of  some  dead  friend  or 
relative.  While,  therefore,  he  sustained  an  out- 
ward appearance  of  calmness  and  fortitude,  his 
heart  leaped  into  his  throat,  whenever  any  of 
their  fierce  captors  drew  nearer  than  common  to 
the  helpless  sisters,  or  fastened  one  of  their  sul- 
len wandering  looks  on  those  fragile  forms  which 
were  so  little  able  to  resist  the  slightest  assault. 

His  apprehensions  were,  however,  greatly  re- 
lieved when  he  saw  that  the  leader  had  summoned 
his  warriors  to  himself  in  council.  Their  de- 
liberations were  short,  and  it  would  seem,  by  the 
silence  of  most  of  the  party,  the  decision  unani- 
mous. By  the  frequency  with  which  the  few 
speakers  pointed  in  the  direction  of  the  encamp- 
ment of  Webb,  it  was  apparent  they  dreaded  the 


approach  of  danger  from  that  quarter.  This  con- 
sideration probably  hastened  their  determina- 
tion, and  quickened  the  subsequent  movements. 

During  this  short  conference,  Heyward,  find- 
ing a respite  from  his  greatest  fears,  had  leisure 
to  admire  the  cautious  manner  in  which  the  Hu- 
rons  had  made  their  approaches,  even  after  hos- 
tilities had  ceased. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  upper 
half  of  the  island  was  a naked  rock,  and  desti- 
tute of  any  other  defences  than  a few  scattered 
logs  of  drift-wood.  They  had  selected  this  point 
to  make  their  descent,  having  borne  the  canoe 
through  the  wood  around  the  cataract  for  that 
purpose.  Placing  their  arms  in  the  little  vessel, 
a dozen  men,  clinging  to  its  sides,  had  trusted 
themselves  to  the  direction  of  the  canoe,  which 
was  controlled  by  two  of  the  most  skilful  warriors, 
in  attitudes  that  enabled  them  to  command  a 
view  of  the  dangerous  passage.  Favored  by  this 
arrangement,  they  touched  the  head  of  the  island 
at  that  point  which  had  proved  so  fatal  to  their 
first  adventurers,  but  with  the  advantages  of 
superior  numbers,  and  the  possession  of  fire-arms. 
That  such  had  been  the  manner  of  their  descent, 
was  rendered  quite  apparent  to  Duncan  ; for  they 
now  bore  the  light  bark  from  the  upper  end  of 
the  rock,  and  placed  it  in  the  water  near  the 
mouth  of  the  outer  cavern.  As  soon  as  this 
change  was  made,  the  leader  made  signs  to  the 
prisoners  to  descend  and  enter. 

As  resistance  was  impossible,  and  remon- 
strance useless,  Heyward  set  the  example  of  sub- 
mission by  leading  the  way  into  the  canoe,  where 
he  was  soon  seated  with  the  sisters  and  the  still 
wondering  David.  Notwithstanding  the  Hurons 
were  necessarily  ignorant  of  the  little  channels 
among  the  eddies  and  rapids  of  the  stream,  they 
knew  the  common  signs  of  such  a navigation  too 
well  to  commit  any  material  blunder.  When  the 
pilot,  chosen  for  the  task  of  guiding  the  canoe, 
had  taken  his  station,  the  whole  band  plunged 
again  into  the  river,  the  vessel  glided  down  the 
current,  and  in  a few  moments  the  captives  found 
themselves  on  the  south  bank  of  the  stream, 
nearly  opposite  to  the  point  where  they  had 
struck  it  the  preceding  evening. 

Here  was  held  another  short  but  earnest  con- 
sultation, during  which  the  horses,  to  whose  panic 
their  owners  ascribed  their  heaviest  misfortune 
were  led  from  the  cover  of  the  woods,  and 
brought  to  the  sheltered  spot.  The  band  now 
divided.  The  great  chief  so  often  mentioned, 
mounting  the  charger  of  Heyward,  led  the  way 
directly  across  the  river,  followed  by  most  of  his 
people,  and  disappeared  in  the  woods,  leaving  the 


CAPTURE  OF  HEYWARD  AND  HIS  PARTY. 


4? 


prisoners  in  charge  of  six  savages,  at  whose  head 
was  Le  Renard  Subtil.  Duncan  witnessed  all 
their  movements  with  renewed  uneasiness. 

He  had  been  fond  of  believing,  from  the  un- 
common forbearance  of  the  savages,  that  he  was 
reserved  as  a prisoner  to  be  delivered  to  Mont- 
calm. As  the  thoughts  of  those  who  are  in 
misery  seldom  slumber,  and  the  invention  is 
never  more  lively  than  when  it  is  stimulated  by 
hope,  however  feeble  and  remote,  he  had  even 
imagined  that  the  parental  feelings  of  Munro 
were  to  be  made  instrumental  in  seducing  him 
from  his  duty  to  the  king.  For,  though  the 
French  commander  bore  a high  character  for 
courage  and  enterprise,  hs  was  also  thought  to 
be  expert  in  those  political  practices  which  do 
not  always  respect  the  nicer  obligations  of  mo- 
rality, and  which  so  generally  disgraced  the 
European  diplomacy  of  that  period. 

All  those  busy  and  ingenious  speculations 
were  now  annihilated  by  the  conduct  of  his  cap- 
tors.  That  portion  of  the  band  who  had  followed 
the  huge  warrior,  took  the  route  toward  the  foot 
of  the  Horican,  and  no  other  expectation  was 
left  for  himself  and  companions  than  that  they 
were  to  be  retained  as  hopeless  captives  by  their 
Gavage  conquerors.  Anxious  to  know  the  worst, 
&nd  willing,  in  such  an  emergency,  to  try  the 
potency  of  gold,  he  overcame  his  reluctance  to 
speak  to  Magua.  Addressing  himself  to  his 
former  guide,  who  hacf  now  assumed  the  authority 
and  manner  of  one  who  was  to  direct  the  future 
movements  of  the  party,  he  said,  in  tones  as 
friendly  and  confiding  as  he  could  assume  : 

“ I would  speak  to  Magua  what  is  fit  only  for 
so  great  a chief  to  hear.” 

The  Indian  turned  his  eyes  on  the  young 
soldier  scornfully,  as  he  answered  : 

“ Speak ; trees  have  no  ears  ! ” 

“ But  the  red  Hurons  are  not  deaf ; and  coun- 
sel that  is  fit  for  the  great  men  of  a nation  would 
make  the  young  warriors  drunk.  If  Magua  will 
not  listen,  the  officer  of  the  king  knows  how  to 
be  silent.” 

The  savage  spoke  carelessly  to  his  comrades, 
who  were  busied,  after  their  awkward  manner,  in 
preparing  the  horses  for  the  reception  of  the 
sisters,  and  moved  a little  to  one  side,  whither,  by 
a cautious  gesture,  he  induced  Heyward  to  fol- 
low. 

“ Now  speak,”  he  said  ; “ if  the  words  are 
Such  as  Magua  should  hear.” 

“ Le  Renard  Subtil  has  proved  himself  worthy 
of  the  honorable  name  given  to  him  by  his 
Canada  fathers,”  commenced  Heyward ; “ I see 
his  wisdom,  and  all  that  he  has  done  for  us,  and 
19 


shall  remember  it  when  the  hour  to  reward  him 
arrives.  Yes  ! Renard  has  proved  that  he  is  not 
only  a great  chief  in  council,  but  one  who  knows 
how  to  deceive  his  enemies  ! ” 

“ What  has  Renard  done  ? ” coldly  demanded 
the  Indian. 

“What!  has  he  not  seen  that  the  woods 
were  filled  with  outlying  parties  of  the  enemies, 
and  that  the  serpent  could  not  steal  through 
them  without  being  seen  ? Then,  did  he  not  lose 
his  path  to  blind  the  eyes  of  the  Hurons?  Did 
he  not  pretend  to  go  back  to  his  tribe,  who  had 
treated  him  ill  and  driven  him  from  their  wig- 
wams like  a dog  ? And,  when  we  saw  what  he 
wished  to  do,  did  we  not  aid  him  by  making  a 
false  face,  that  the  Hurons  might  think  the  white 
man  believed  that  his  friend  was  his  enemy  ? Is 
not  all  this  true  ? And  when  Le  Subtil  had  shut 
the  eyes  and  stopped  the  ears  of  his  nation  by  his 
wisdom,  did  they  not  forget  that  they  had  once 
done  him  wrong,  and  forced  him  to  flee  to  the 
Mohawks  ? And  did  they  not  leave  him  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river,  with  their  prisoners, 
while  they  have  gone  foolishly  on  the  north? 
Does  not  Renard  mean  to  turn  like  a fox  on  his 
footsteps,  and  carry  to  the  rich  and  gray-headed 
Scotchman  his  daughters  ? Yes,  Magua,  I see  it 
all,  and  I have  already  been  thinking  how  so 
much  wisdom  and  honesty  should  be  repaid. 
First,  the  chief  of  William  Henry  will  give  as  a 
great  chief  should  for  such  a service.  The 
medal  * of  Magua  will  no  longer  be  of  tin,  but 
of  beaten  gold  ; his  horn  will  run  over  with  pow- 
der ; dollars  will  be  as  plenty  in  his  pouch  as 
pebbles  on  the  shore  of  Horican ; and  the  deer 
will  lick  his  hand,  for  they  will  know  it  to  be 
vain  to  fly  from  the  rifle  he  will  carry ! As  for 
myself,  I know  not  how  to  exceed  the  gratitude 
of  the  Scotchman,  but  I — yes,  I will — ” 

“ What  will  the  young  chief  who  comes  from 
toward  the  sun,  give?”  demanded  the  Huron, 
observing  that  Heyward  hesitated  in  his  desire  to 
end  the  enumeration  of  benefits  with  that  which 
might  form  the  climax  of  an  Indian’s  wishes. 

“ He  will  make  the  fire-water  from  the  islands 
in  the  salt  lake  flow  before  the  wigwam  of  Magua 
until  the  heart  of  the  Indian  shall  be  lighter  than 
the  feathers  of  the  humming-bird,  and  his  breath 
sweeter  than  the  wild  honeysuckle.” 

Le  Renard  had  listened  gravely  as  Heyward 


* It  has  long  been  a practice  with  the  whites  to  conc.fi- 
ate  the  important  men  of  the  Indians  by  presenting  med- 
als, which  are  worn  in  the  place  of  their  own  rude  orna- 
ments. Those  given  by  the  English  generally  bear  tho 
impression  of  the  reigning  king,  and  those  given  by  th« 
Americans  that  of  the  president. 


48 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


slowly  proceeded  in  this  subtle  speech.  *When 
the  young  man  mentioned  the  artifice  he  sup- 
posed the  Indian  to  have  practised  on  his  own 
nation,  the  countenance  of  the  listener  was  veiled 
in  an  expression  of  cautious  gravity.  At  the  al- 
lusion to  the  injury  which  Duncan  affected  to  be- 
lieve had  driven  the  Huron  from  his  native  tribe, 
a gleam  of  such  ungovernable  ferocity  flashed 
from  the  other’s  eyes,  as  induced  the  adventurous 
speaker  to  believe  he  had  struck  the  proper 
chord.  And  by  the  time  he  reached  the  part 
where  he  so  artfully  blended  the  thirst  of  ven- 
geance with  the  desire  of  gain,  he  had,  at  least, 
obtained  a command  of  the  deepest  attention  of 
the  savage.  The  question  put  by  Le  Renard  had 
been  calm,  and  with  all  the  dignity  of  an  Indian ; 
but  it  was  quite  apparent,  by  the  thoughtful  ex- 
pression of  the  listener’s  countenance,  that  the 
answer  was  most  cunningly  devised.  The  Huron 
mused  a few  moments,  and  then,  laying  his  hand 
on  the  rude  bandages  of  his  wounded  shoulder, 
he  said,  with  some  energy  : 

“ Do  friends  make  such  marks  ? ” 

• “Would  ‘La  longue  Carabine’  cut  one  so 
light  on  an  enemy  ? ” 

“ Do  the  Delawares  crawl  upon  those  they 
love  like  snakes,  twisting  themselves  to  strike  ? ” 

“ Would  ‘ Le  gros  Serpent  ’ have  been  heard 
by  the  ears  of  one  he  wished  to  be  deaf?  ” 

“ Does  the  white  chief  burn  his  powder  in  the 
faces  of  his  brothers  ? ” 

“ Does  he  ever  miss  his  aim,  when  seriously 
bent  to  kill  ? ” returned  Duncan,  smiling  with 
well-acted  sincerity. 

Another  long  and  deliberate  pause  succeeded 
these  sententious  questions  and  ready  replies. 
Duncan  saw  that  the  Indian  hesitated.  In  order 
to  complete  his  victory,  he  was  in  the  act  of  re- 
commencing the  enumeration  of  the  rewards, 
when  Magua  made  an  expressive  gesture  and  said : 

“ Enough ; Le  Renard  is  a wise  chief,  and 
what  he  does  will  be  seen.  Go  and  keep  the 
mouth  shut.  When  Magua  speaks,  it  will  be  the 
time  to  answer.” 

Heyward,  perceiving  that  the  eyes  of  his  com- 
panion were  warily  fastened  on  the  rest  of  the 
band,  fell  back  immediately,  in  order  to  avoid  the 
appearance  of  any  suspicious  confederacy  with 
their  leader.  Magua  approached  the  horses,  and 
affected  to  be  well  pleased  with  the  diligence  and 
ingenuity  of  his  comrades.  He  then  signed  to 
Heyward  to  assist  the  sisters  into  the  saddles,  for 
he  seldom  deigned  to  use  the  English  tongue,  un- 
less urged  by  some  motive  of  more  than  usual 
moment. 

There  was  no  longer  any  plausible  pretext  for 


delay ; and  Duncan  was  obliged,  however  reluc- 
tantly,  to  comply.  As  he  performed  this  office, 
he  whispered  his  reviving  hopes  in  the  ears  of 
the  trembling  females,  who,  through  dread  of  en- 
countering the  savage  countenances  of  their  cap- 
tors,  seldom  raised  their  eyes  from  the  ground* 
The  mare  of  David  had  been  taken  with  the  fol 
lowers  of  the  large  chief ; in  consequence  its  owner, 
as  well  as  Duncan,  were  compelled  to  journey  on 
foot.  The  latter  did  not,  however,  so  much  re- 
gret this  circumstance,  as  it  might  enable  him  to 
retard  the  speed  of  the  party  ; for  he  still  turned 
his  longing  looks  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Edward, 
in  the  vain  expectation  of  catching  some  sound 
from  that  quarter  of  the  forest,  which  might  de- 
note the  approach  of  succor. 

When  all  were  prepared,  Magua  made  the  sig- 
nal to  proceed,  advancing  in  front  to  lead  the 
party  in  person.  Next  followed  David,  who  was 
gradually  coming  to  a true  sense  of  his  condition, 
as  the  effects  of  the  wound  became  less  and  less 
apparent.  The  sisters  rode  in  his  rear,  with  Hey- 
ward at  their  side,  while  the  Indians  flanked  the 
party,  and  brought  up  the  close  of  the  march, 
with  a caution  that  seemed  never  to  tire. 

In  this  manner  they  proceeded  in  uninter- 
rupted silence,  except  when  Heyward  addressed 
some  solitary  word  of  comfort  to  the  females,  or 
David  gave  vent  to  the  moanings  of  his  spirit,  in 
piteous  exclamations,  which  he  intended  should 
express  the  humility  of  resignation.  Their  direc- 
tion lay  toward  the  south,  and  in  a course  nearly 
opposite  to  the  road  to  William  Henry.  Notwith- 
standing this  apparent  adherence  in  Magua  to  the 
original  determination  of  his  conquerors,  Heyward 
could  not  believe  his  tempting  baft  was  so  soon 
forgotten ; and  he  knew  the  windings  of  an  In- 
dian path  too  well  to  suppose  that  its  apparent 
course  led  directly  to  its  object,  when  artifice  was 
at  all  necessary.  Mile  after  mile  was,  however, 
passed  through  the  boundless  woods  in  this  pain- 
ful maimer,  without  any  prospect  of  a termination 
to  their  journey.  Heyward  watched  the  sun,  as 
he  darted  his  meridian  rays  through  the  branches 
of  the  trees,  and  pined  for  the  moment  when  the 
policy  of  Magua  should  change  their  route  to  one 
more  favorable  to  his  hopes.  Sometimes  he  fan- 
cied the  wary  savage,  despairing  of  passing  the 
army  of  Montcalm  in  safety,  was  holding  his  way 
toward  a well-known  border-settlement,  where  a, 
distinguished  officer  of  the  crown,  and  a favored 
friend  of  the  Six  Nations,  held  his  large  posses- 
sions, as  well  as  his  usual  residence.  To  be  de- 
livered into  the  hands  of  Sir  William  Johnson, 
was  far  preferable  to  being  led  into  the  wilds  of 
Canada ; but  in  order  to  effect  even  the  former, 


FALSE  HOPES  OF  SAFETY. 


49 


it  would  be  necessary  to  traverse  the  forest  for 
many  weary  leagues,  each  step  of  which  was  car- 
rying him  farther  from  the  scene  of  the  war,  and 
consequently  from  the  post,  not  only  of  honor, 
but  of  duty. 

Cora  alone  remembered  the  parting  injunc- 
tions of  the  scout,  and,  whenever  an  opportunity 
offered,  she  stretched  forth  her  arm  to  bend  aside 
the  twigs  that  met  her  hands.  But  the  vigilance 
of  the  Indians  rendered  this  act  of  precaution 
both  difficult  and  dangerous.  She  was  often 
defeated  in  her  purpose,  by  encountering  their 
watchful  eyes,  when  it  became  necessary  to  feign 
an  alarm  she  did  not  feel,  and  occupy  the  limb 
by  some  gesture  of  feminine  apprehension.  Once, 
and  once  only,  was  she  completely  successful ; 
when  she  broke  down  the  bough  of  a large  su- 
mach, and,  by  a sudden  thought,  let  her  glove 
fall  at  the  same  instant.  This  sign,  intended  for 
those  that  might  follow,  was  observed  by  one  of 
her  conductors,  who  restored  the  glove,  broke 
the  remaining  branches  of  the  bush  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  appeared  to  proceed  from  the 
struggling  of  some  beast  in  its  branches,  and 
then  laid  his  hand  on  his  tomahawk,  with  a look 
so  significant  that  it  put  an  effectual  end  to  these 
stolen  memorials  of  their  passage. 

As  there  were  horses,  to  leave  the  prints  of 
their  footsteps,  in  both  bands  of  the  Indians,  this 
interruption  cut  off  any  probable  hopes  of  assist- 
ance being  conveyed  through  the  means  of  their 
trail. 

Heyward  would  have  ventured  a remonstrance, 
had  there  been  any  thing  encouraging  in  the 
gloomy  reserve  of  Magua.  But  the  savage,  dur- 
ing all  this  time,  seldom  turned  to  look  at  his 
followers,  and  never  spoke.  With  the  sun.  for 
his  only  guide,  or  aided  by  such  blind  marks  as 
are  only  known  to  the  sagacity  of  a native,  he 
held  his  way  along  the  barrens  of  pine,  through 
occasional  little  fertile  vales,  across  brooks  and 
rivulets,  and  over  undulating  hills,  with  the  ac- 
curacy of  instinct,  and  nearly  with  the  directness 
of  a bird.  He  never  seemed  to  hesitate.  Whether 
the  path  was  hardly  distinguishable,  whether  it 
disappeared,  or  whether  it  lay  beaten  and  plain 
before  him,  made  no  sensible  difference  in  his 
speed  or  certainty.  It  seemed  as  if  fatigue  could 
not  affect  him.  Whenever  the  eyes  of  the  wearied 
travellers  rose  from  the  decayed  leaves  over  which 
they  trod,  his  dark  form  was  to  be  seen  glan- 
cing among  the  stems  of  the  trees  in  front,  his 
head  immovably  fastened  in  a forward  position, 
with  the  light  plume  on  his  crest  fluttering  in  a 
current  of  air  made  solely  by  the  swiftness  of 
hi»  own  motion. 


But  all  this  diligence  and  speed  were  not  with- 
out an  object.  After  crossing  a low  vale,  through 
which  a gushing  brook  meandered,  he  suddenly 
ascended  a hill,  so  steep  and  difficult  of  ascent, 
that  the  sisters  were  compelled  to  alight,  in  order 
to  follow.  When  the  summit  was  gained,  they 
found  themselves  on  a level  spot,  but  thinly 
covered  with  trees,  under  one  of  which  Magua 
had  thrown  his  dark  form,  as  if  willing  and  ready 
to  seek  '■that  rest  which  was  so  much  needed  by 
the  whole  party. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

“ Cursed  be  my  tribe 

If  I forgive  him ! 11  Shylock. 

The  Indian  had  selected,  for  this  desirable 
purpose,  one  of  those  steep,  pyramidal  hills,  which 
bear  a strong  resemblance  to  artificial  mounds, 
and  which  so  frequently  occur  in  the  valleys  of 
America.  The  one  in  question  was  high  and 
precipitous ; its  top  flattened  as  usual ; but  with 
one  of  its  sides  more  than  ordinarily  irregular. 
It  possessed  no  other  apparent  advantage,  for  a 
resting-place,  than  in  its  elevation  and  form, 
which  might  render  defence  easy,  and  surprise 
nearly  impossible.  As  Heyward,  however,  no 
longer  expected  that  rescue  which  time  and  dis- 
tance now  rendered  so  improbable,  he  regarded 
these  little  peculiarities  with  an  eye  devoid  of 
interest,  devoting  himself  entirely  to  the  comfort 
and  condolence  of  his  feebler  companions.  The 
Narragansets  were  suffered  to  browse  on  the 
branches  of  the  trees  and  shrubs  that  were  thin- 
ly scattered  over  the  summit  of  the  hill,  while 
the  remains  of  their  provisions  were  spread  un- 
der the  shade  of  a beech,  that  stretched  its  hori- 
zontal limbs  like  a canopy  above  them. 

Notwithstanding  the  swiftness  of  their  flight, 
one  of  the  Indians  had  found  an  opportunity  to 
strike  a straggling  fawn  with  an  arrow,  and  had 
borne  the  more  preferable  fragments  of  the  vic- 
tim, patiently  on  his  shoulders,  to  the  stopping- 
place.  Without  any  aid  from  the  science  of 
cookery,  he  was  immediately  employed,  in  com- 
mon with  his  fellows,  in  gorging  himself  with  this 
digestible  sustenance.  Magua  alone  sat  apart, 
without  participating  in  the  revolting  meal,  and 
apparently  buried  in  the  deepest  thought. 

This  abstinence,  so  remarkable  in  an  Indian, 
when  he  possessed  the  means  of  satisfying  hun- 
ger,  at  length  attracted  the  notice  of  Heyward. 
The  young  man  willingly  believed  that  the  Huron 
deliberated  on  the  most  eligible  manner  of  elud 


4 


50 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ing  the  vigilance  of  his  associates.  With  a view 
to  assist  his  plans,  by  any  suggestion  of  his  own, 
and  to  strengthen  the  temptation,  he  left  the 
beech,  and  straggled,  as  if  without  an  object,  to 
the  spot  where  Le  Renard  was  seated. 

“ Has  not  Magua  kept  the  sun  in  his  face 
long  enough  to  escape  all  danger  from  the  Ca- 
nadians ? ” he  asked,  as  though  no  longer 
doubtful  of  the  good  intelligence  established  be- 
tween them  ; “ and  will  not  the  chief  of  William 
Henry  be  better  pleased  to  see  his  daughters  be- 
fore another  night  may  have  hardened  his  heart 
to  their  loss,  to  make  him  less  liberal  in  his  re- 
ward ? ” 

“ Do  the  pale-faces  love  their  children  less  in 
the  morning  than  at  night  ? ” asked  the  Indian, 
coldly. 

“ By  no  means,”  returned  Heyward,  anxious 
to  recall  his  error,  if  he  had  made  one ; “ the 
white  man  may,  and  does,  often  forget  the  burial- 
place  of  his  fathers ; he  sometimes  ceases  to  re- 
member those  he  should  love,  and  has  promised 
to  cherish  ; but  the  affection  of  a parent  for  his 
child  is  never  permitted  to  die.” 

“ And  is  the  heart  of  the  white-headed  chief 
soft,  and  will  he  think  of  the  babes  that  his 
squaws  have  given  him?  He  is  hard  to  his  war- 
riors, and  his  eyes  are  made  of  stone  ! ” 

“ He  is  severe  to  the  idle  and  wicked,  but  to 
the  sober  and  deserving  he  is  a leader,  both  just 
and  humane.  I have  known  many  fond  and  ten- 
der parents,  but  never  have  I seen  a man  whose 
heart  was  softer  toward  his  child.  You  have  seen 
the  gray-head  in  front  of  his  warriors,  Magua ; 
but  I have  seen  his  eyes  swimming  in  water, 
when  he  spoke  of  those  children  who  are  now  in 
your  power ! ” 

Heyward  paused,  for  he  knew  not  how  to 
construe  the  remarkable  expression  that  gleamed 
across  the  swarthy  features  of  the  attentive  In- 
dian. At  first  it  seemed  as  if  the  remembrance 
of  the  promised  reward  grew  vivid  in  his  mind, 
while  he  listened  to  the  sources  of  parental  feel- 
ing which  were  to  assure  its  possession ; but  as 
Duncan  proceeded,  the  expression  of  joy  became 
so  fiercely  malignant,  that  it  was  impossible  not 
to  apprehend  it  proceeded  from  some  passion 
more  sinister  than  avarice. 

“ Go,”  said  the  Huron,  suppressing  the  alarm- 
ing exhibition  in  an  instant,  in  a death-like  calm- 
ness of  countenance ; “ go  to  the  dark-haired 
daughter,  and  say,  Magua  waits  to  speak.  The 
father  will  remember  what  the  child  promises.” 

Duncan,  who  interpreted  this  speech  to  ex- 
press a wish  for  some  additional  pledge  that  the 
promised  gifts  should  not  be  withheld,  slowly 


and  reluctantly  repaired  to  the  place  where  the 
sisters  were  now  resting  from  their  fatigue,  to 
communicate  its  purport  to  Cora. 

“You  understand  the  nature  of  an  Indian’s 
wishes,”  he  concluded,  as  he  led  her  toward  the 
place  where  she  was  expected,  “ and  must  be 
prodigal  of  your  offers  of  powder  and  blankets. 
Ardent  spirits  are,  however,  the  most  prized  by 
such  as  he  ; nor  would  it  be  amiss  to  add  some 
boon  from  your  own  hand,  with  that  grace 'you  so 
well  know  how  to  practise.  Remember,  Cora, 
that  on  your  presence  of  mind  and  ingenuity  even 
your  life,  as  well  as  that  of  Alice,  may  in  some 
measure  depend.” 

“ Heyward,  and  yours  ! 

“ Mine  is  of  little  moment ; it  is  already  sold 
to  my  king,  and  is  a prize  to  be  seized  by  any 
enemy  who  may  possess  the  power.  I have  no 
father  to  expect  me,  and  but  few  friends  to  la- 
ment a fate  which  I have  courted  with  the  unsa- 
lable longings  of  youth  after  distinction.  But 
hush  ! we  approach  the  Indian. — Magua,  the  lady 
with  whom  you  wish  to  speak,  is  here.” 

The  Indian  rose  slowly  from  his  seat,  and 
stood  for  near  a minute  silent  and  motionless. 
He  then  signed  with  his  hand  for  Heyward  to  re- 
tire, saying  coldly : 

“ When  the  Huron  talks  to  the  women,  hie 
tribe  shut  their  ears.” 

Duncan,  still  lingering,  as  if  refusing  to  com- 
ply, Cora  said,  with  a calm  smile : 

“You  hear,  Heyward,  and  delicacy  at  least 
should  urge  you  to  retire.  Go  to  Alice,  and  com- 
fort her  with  our  reviving  prospects.” 

She  waited  until  he  had  departed,  and  then 
turning  to  the  native,  with  the  dignity  of  her  sex 
in  her  voice  and  manner,  she  added,  “ What 
would  Le  Renard  say  to  the  daughter  of  Mun- 
ro?” 

“Listen,”  said  the  Indian,  laying  his  hand 
firmly  upon  her  arm,  as  if  willing  to  draw  her  ut- 
most attention  to  his  words;  a movement  that 
Cora  as  firmly  but  quietly  repulsed,  by  extricating 
the  limb  from  his  grasp — “Magua  was  born  a 
chief  and  a warrior  among  the  red  Hurons  of  the 
lakes  ; he  saw  the  suns  of  twenty  summers  make 
the  snows  of  twenty  winters  run  off  in  the  streams, 
before  he  saw  a pale-face ; and  he  was  happy ! 
Then  his  Canada  fathers  came  into  the  woods, 
and  taught  him  to  drink  the  fire-water,  and  he 
became  a rascal.  The  Hurons  drove  him  from 
the  graves  of  his  fathers,  as  they  would  chase  the 
hunted  buffalo.  He  ran  down  the  shores  of  the 
lakes,  and  followed  their  outlet  to  the  ‘ city  of 
cannon.’  There  he  hunted  and  fished,  till  the 
people  chased  him  again  through  the  woods  into 


THE  HURON  CHIEF’S  PROPOSAL. 


51 


the  arms  of  his  enemies.  The  chief,  who  was 
boru  a Huron,  was  at  last  a warrior  among  the 
Mohawks ! ” 

“Something  like  this  I had  heard  before,’’ 
said  Cora,  observing  that  he  paused  to  suppress 
those  passions  which  began  to  bum  with  too 
bright  a flame,  as  he  recalled  the  recollection  of 
his  supposed  injuries. 

“ "Was  it  the  fault  of  Le  Renard  that  his  head 
was  not  made  of  rock  ? Who  gave  him  the  fire- 
water ? who  made  him  a villain  ? ’Twas  the  pale- 
faces, the  people  of  your  own  color.” 

“ And  am  I answerable  that  thoughtless  and 
unprincipled  men  exist,  whose  shades  of  counte- 
nance may  resemble  mine  ? ” Cora  calmly  de- 
manded of  the  excited  savage. 

“No  ; Magua  is  a man,  and  not  a fool ; such 
as  you  never  open  their  lips  to  the  burning  stream : 
the  Great  Spirit  has  given  you  wisdom ! ” 

“ What  then  have  I to  do,  or  say,  in  the  mat- 
ter of  your  misfortunes,  not  to  say  of  your  er- 
rors ? ” 

“ Listen,”  repeated  the  Indian,  resuming  his 
earnest  attitude ; “ when  his  English  and  French 
fathers  dug  up  the  hatchet,  Le  Renard  struck  the 
war-post  of  the  Mohawks,  and  went  out  against 
his  own  nation.  The  pale-faces  have  driven  the 
red-skins  from  their  hunting-grounds,  and  now, 
when  they  fight,  a white  man  leads  the  way.  The 
old  chief  at  Horican,  your  father,  was  the  great 
captain  of  our  war-party.  He  said  to  the  Mo- 
hawks do  this,  and  do  that,  and  he  was  minded. 
He  made  a law,  that  if  an  Indian  swallowed  the 
fire-water,  and  came  into  the  cloth  wigwams  of 
his  warriors,  it  should  not  be  forgotten.  Magua 
foolishly  opened  his  mouth,  and  the  hot  liquor 
led  him  into  the  cabin  of  Munro.  What  did. the 
gray-head  ? let  his  daughter  say.” 

“ He  forgot  not  his  words,  and  did  justice,  by 
punishing  the  offender,”  said  the  undaunted 
daughter. 

“ Justice  ! ” repeated  the  Indian,  casting  an 
oblique  glance  of  the  most  ferocious  expression 
at  her  unyielding  countenance  ; “ is  it  justice  to 
make  evil,  and  then  punish  for  it  ? Magua  was 
not  himself ; it  was  the  fire-water  that  spoke  and 
acted  for  him ! but  Munro  did  not  believe  it. 
The  Huron  chief  was  tied  up  before  all  the  pale- 
faced  warriors,  and  whipped  like  a dog.” 

Cora  remained  silent,  for  she  knew  not  how 
to  palliate  this  imprudent  severity  on  the  part  of 
her  father,  in  a manner  to  suit  the  comprehension 
of  an  Indian. 

“ See ! ” continued  Magua,  tearing  aside  the 
6light  calico  that  very  imperfectly  concealed  his 
painted  breast ; “ here  are  scars  given  by  knives  and 


bullets — of  these  a warrior  may  boast  before  his 
nation  ; but  the  gray-head  has  left  marks  on  the 
back  of  the  Huron  chief,  that  he  must  hide,  like 
a squaw,  under  this  painted  cloth  of  the  whites.” 

“ I had  thought,”  resumed  Cora,  “ that  an  In- 
dian warrior  was  patient,  and  that  his  spirit  felt 
not,  and  knew  not,  the  pain  his  body  suffered  ? ” 
“ When  the  Chippewas  tied  Magua  to  tho 
stake,  and  cut  this  gash,”  said  the  other,  laying 
his  finger  on  a deep  scar,  “ the  Huron  laughed 
in  their  faces,  and  told  them,  women  struck  so 
light ! His  spirit  was  then  in  the  clouds  ! But 
when  he  felt  the  blows  of  Munro,  his  spirit  lay 
under  the  birch.  The  spirit  of  a Huron  is  never 
drunk  ; it  remembers  forever ! ” 

“ But  it  may  be  appeased.  If  my  father  has 
done  you  this  injustice,  show  him  how  an  Indian 
can  forgive  an  injury,  and  take  back  his  daugh- 
ters. You  have  heard  from  Major  Heyward — ” 
Magua  shook  his  head,  forbidding  the  repeti- 
tion of  offers  he  so  much  despised. 

“ What  would  you  have  ? ” continued  Cora, 
after  a most  painful  pause,  while  the  conviction 
forced  itself  on  her  mind  that  the  too  sanguine 
and  generous  Duncan  had  been  cruelly  deceived 
by  the  cunning  of  the  savage. 

“ What  a Huron  loves — good  for  good  ; bad 
for  bad ! ” 

“ You  would  then  revenge  the  injury  inflicted 
by  Munro  on  his  helpless  daughters.  Would  it 
not  be  more  like  a man  to  go  before  his  face,  and 
take  the  satisfaction  of  a warrior  ? ” 

“ The  arms  of  the  pale-faces  are  long,  and 
their  knives  sharp  ! ” returned  the  savage,  with  a 
malignant  laugh;  “why  should  Le  Renard  go 
among  the  muskets  of  his  warriors,  when  he  holds 
the  spirit  of  the  gray-head  in  his  hand  ? ” 

“Name  your  intention,  Magua,”  said  Cora, 
struggling  with  herself  to  speak  with  steady 
calmness.  “ Is  it  to  lead  us  prisoners  to  the 
woods,  or  do  you  contemplate  even  some  greater 
evil  ? Is  there  no  reward,  no  means  of  palliating 
the  injury,  and  of  softening  your  heart?  At 
least,  release  my  gentle  sister,  and  pour  out  all 
your  malice  on  me.  Purchase  wealth  by  her 
safety,  and  satisfy  your  revenge  with  a single  vic- 
tim. The  loss  of  both  his  daughters  might  bring 
the  aged  man  to  his  grave,  and  where  would  then 
be  the  satisfaction  of  Le  Renard  ? ” 

“ Listen,”  said  the  Indian  again.  “ The  light 
eyes  can  go  back  to  the  Horican,  and  tell  the  old 
chief  what  has  been  done,  if  the  dark-haired 
woman  will  swear  by  the  Great  Spirit  of  her  fa- 
thers to  tell  no  lie.” 

“What  must  I promise?”  demanded  Cora, 
still  maintaining  a secret  ascendency  over  the 


52 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


fierce  native,  by  the  collected  and  feminine  dig- 
nity of  her  presence. 

“ When  Magua  left  his  people,  his  wife  was 
given  to  another  chief ; he  has  now  made  friends 
with  the  Hurons,  and  will  go  back  to  the  graves 
of  his  tribe,  on  the  shores  of  the  great  lake.  Let 
the  daughter  of  the  English  chief  follow,  and  live 
in  his  wigwam  forever.” 

However  revolting  a proposal  of  such  a char- 
acter might  prove  to  Cora,  she  retained,  notwith- 
standing her  powerful  disgust,  sufficient  self-com- 
mand to  reply,  without  betraying  the  weakness. 

“And  what  pleasure  would  Magua  find  in 
sharing  his  cabin  with  a wife  he  did  not  love ; 
one  who  would  be  of  a nation  and  color  different 
from  his  own  ? It  would  be  better  to  take  the 
gold  of  Munro,  and  buy  the  heart  of  some  Huron 
maid  with  his  gifts.” 

The  Indian  made  no  reply  for  near  a minute, 
but  bent  his  fierce  looks  on  the  countenance  of 
Cora,  in  such  wavering  glances,  that  her  eyes 
sank  with  shame,  under  an  impression,  that,  for 
the  first  time,  they  had  encountered  an  expression 
that  no  chaste  female  might  endure.  While  she 
was  shrinking  within  herself,  in  dread  of  having 
her  ears  wounded  by  some  proposal  still  more 
shocking  than  the  last,  the  voice  of  Magua  an- 
swered, in  its  tones  of  deepest  malignancy  : 

“ When  the  blows  scorched  the  back  of  the 
Huron,  he  would  know  where  to  find  a woman  to 
feel  the  smart.  The  daughter  of  Munro  would 
draw  his  water,  hoe  his  corn,  and  cook  his  veni- 
son. The  body  of  the  gray-head  would  sleep 
among  his  cannon,  but  his  heart  would  lie  within 
reach  of  the  knife  of  Le  Subtil.” 

“ Monster ! well  dost  thou  deserve  thy  treach- 
erous name ! ” cried  Cora,  in  an  ungovernable 
burst  of  filial  indignation.  “None  but  a fiend 
could  meditate  such  a vengeance  ! But  thou  over- 
ratest  thy  power  ! You  shall  find  it  is,  in  truth, 
the  heart  of  Munro  you  hold,  and  that  it  will 
defy  your  utmost  malice  ! ” 

The  Indian  answered  this  bold  defiance  by  a 
ghastly  smile,  that  showed  an  unaltered  purpose, 
while  he  motioned  her  away,  as  if  to  close  the 
conference  forever.  Cora,  already  regretting  her 
precipitation,  was  obliged  to  comply ; for  Magua 
instantly  left  the  spot,  and  approached  his  glut- 
tonous comrades.  Heyward  flew  to  the  side  of 
the  agitated  female,  and  demanded  the  result  of  a 
dialogue  that  he  had  watched  at  a distance  with 
so  much  interest.  But,  unwilling  to  alarm  the 
fears  of  Alice,  she  evaded  a direct  reply,  betray- 
ing only  by  her  countenance  her  utter  want  of 
success,  and  keeping  her  anxious  looks  fastened 
on  the  slightest  movements  of  their  captors.  To 


the  reiterated  and  earnest  questions  of  her  s\stcr, 
concerning  their  probable  destination,  she  made 
no  other  answer  than  by  pointing  toward  the  dark 
group,  with  an  agitation  she  could  not  control, 
and  murmuring,  as  she  folded  Alice  to  her 
bosom : 

“ There,  there ; read  our  fortunes  in  their 
faces  ; we  shall  see  ; we  shall  see ! ” 

The  action,  and  the  choked  utterance  of  Cora, 
spoke  more  impressively  than  any  words,  and 
quickly  drew  the  attention  of  her  companions  on 
that  spot,  where  her  own  was  riveted  with  an  in- 
tenseness that  nothing  but  the  importance  of  the 
stake  could  create. 

When  Magua  reached  the  cluster  of  lolling 
savages,  who,  gorged  with  their  disgusting  meal, 
lay  stretched  on  the  earth  in  brutal  indulgence, 
he  commenced  speaking  with  the  dignity  of  an 
Indian  chief.  The  first  syllables  he  uttered  had 
the  effect  to  cause  his  listeners  to  raise  them- 
selves in  attitudes  of  respectful  attention.  As 
the  Huron  used  his  native  language,  the  prisoners, 
notwithstanding  the  caution  of  the  natives  had 
kept  them  within  fhe  swing  of  their  tomahawks, 
could  only  conjecture  the  substance  of  his  ha- 
rangue, from  the  nature  of  those  significant  ges- 
tures with  which  an  Indian  always  illustrates  hia 
eloquence. 

At  first  the  language,  as  well  as  the  action  of 
Magua,  appeared  calm  and  deliberative.  When 
he  had  succeeded  in  sufficiently  awakening  the 
attention  of  his  comrades,  Heyward  fancied,  by 
his  pointing  so  frequently  toward  the  direction  of 
the  great  lakes,  that  he  spoke  of  the  land  of  their 
fathers,  and  of  their  distant  tribe.  Frequent  in- 
dications of  applause  escaped  the  listeners,  who, 
as  they  uttered  the  expressive  “ Hugh  ! ” looked 
at  each  other  in  commendation  of  the  speaker. 
Le  Renard  was  too  skilful  to  neglect  his  advan- 
tage. He  now  spoke  of  the  long  and  painful 
route  by  which  they  had  left  those  spacious 
grounds  and  happy  villages  to  come  and  battle 
against  the  enemies  of  their  Canadian  fathers. 
He  enumerated  the  warriors  of  the  party ; their 
several  merits  ; their  frequent  services  to  the  na- 
tion ; their  wounds,  and  the  number  of  the  scalps 
they  had  taken.  Whenever  he  alluded  to  any 
present  (and  the  subtle  Indian  neglected  none), 
the  dark  countenance  of  the  flattered  individual 
gleamed  with  exultation,  nor  did  he  even  hesitate 
to  assert  the  truth  of  the  words  by  gestures  of 
applause  and  confirmation.  Then  the  voice  of 
the  speaker  fell,  and  lost  the  loud,  animated  tones 
of  triumph  with  which  he  had  enumerated  their 
deeds  of  success  and  victory.  He  described  tha 
cataract  of  Glenn’s  ; the  impregnable  position  of 


EFFECT  OF  MAGUA’S  ADDRESS. 


53 


fta  rocky  island,  with  its  caverns  and  its  numer- 
ous rapids  and  whirlpools ; he  named  the  name 
of  “ La  longue  Carabine,”  and  paused  until  the 
forest  beneath  them  had  sent  up  the  last  echo  of 
a loud  and  long  yell,  with  which  the  hated  ap- 
pellation was  received.  He  pointed  toward  the 
youthful,  military  captive,  and  described  the 
death  of  a favorite  warrior,  who  had  been  precipi- 
tated into  the  deep  ravine  by  his  hand.  He  not 
only  mentioned  the  fate  of  him  who,  hanging  be- 
tween heaven  and  earth,  had  presented  such  a 
spectacle  of  horror  to  the  whole  band,  but  he 
acted  anew  the  terrors  of  his  situation,  his  reso- 
lution, and  his  death,  on  the  branches  of  a sap- 
ling ; and,  finally,  he  rapidly  recounted  the  man- 
ner in  which  each  of  their  friends  had  fallen, 
never  failing  to  touch  upon  their  courage,  and 
their  most  acknowledged  virtues.  When  this 
recital  of  events  was  ended,  his  voice  once  more 
changed,  and  became  plaintive,  and  even  musical, 
in  its  low,  guttural  sounds.  He  now  spoke  of 
the  wives  and  children  of  the  slain  ; their  destitu- 
tion ; their  misery,  both  physical  and  moral ; their 
distance  ; and,  at  last,  of  their  unavenged  wrongs. 
Then  suddenly  lifting  his  voice  to  a pitch  of  ter- 
rific energy,  he  concluded  by  demanding : 

“ Are  the  Hurons  dogs  to  bear  this  ? Who 
shall  say  to  the  wife  of  Menowgua  that  the  fishes 
have  his  scalp,  and  that  his  nation  have  not  taken 
revenge  ? Who  will  dare  meet  the  mother  of 
Wassawattimie,  that  scornful  woman,  with  his 
hands  clean  ? What  shall  be  said  to  the  old  men 
when  they  ask  us  for  scalps,  and  we  have  not  a 
hair  from  a white-head  to  give  them  ? The  wom- 
en will  point  their  fingers  at  us.  There  is  a dark 
spot  on  the  names  of  the  Hurons,  and  it  must  be 
hid  in  blood  ! — ” 

His  voice  was  no  longer  audible  in  the  burst 
of  rage  which  now  broke  into  the  air,  as  if  the 
wood,  instead  of  containing  so  small  a band,  was 
filled  with  the  nation.  During  the  foregoing  ad- 
dress, the  progress  of  the  speaker  was  too  plainly 
read  by  those  most  interested  in  his  success, 
through  the  medium  of  the  countenances  of  the 
men  he  addressed.  They  had  answered  his  melan- 
choly and  mourning  by  sympathy  and  sorrow ; 
his  assertions,  by  gestures  of  confirmation ; and 
his  boastings,  with  the  exultation  of  savages. 
When  he  spoke  of  courage,  their  looks  were  firm 
and  responsive ; when  he  alluded  to  their  injuries, 
their  eyes  kindled  with  fury  ; when  he  mentioned 
the  taunts  of  the  women,  they  dropped  their  heads 
in  shame  ; but  when  he  pointed  out  their  means 
of  vengeance,  he  struck  a chord  which  never 
failed  to  thrill  in  the  breast  of  an  Indian.  With 
the  first  intimation  that  it  was  within  their  reach, 


the  whole  band  sprang  upon  their  feet  as  one 
man ; giving  utterance  to  their  rage  in  the  most 
frantic  cries,  they  rushed  upon  their  prisoners  in 
a body  with  drawn  knives  and  uplifted  toma- 
hawks. Heywarc^threw  himself  between  the  sis- 
ters and  the  foremost,  whom  he  grappled  with  a 
desperate  strength  that  for  a moment  checked  his 
violence.  This  unexpected  resistance  gave  Magua 
time  to  interpose,  and,  with  rapid  enunciation  and 
animated  gesture,  he  drew  the  attention  of  the 
band  again  to  himself.  In  that  language  he  knew 
so  well  how  to  assume,  he  diverted  his  comrades 
from  their  instant  purpose,  and  invited  them  to 
prolong  the  misery  of  their  victims.  His  pro- 
posal was  received  with  acclamations,  and  exe- 
cuted with  the  swiftness  of  thought. 

Two  powerful  warriors  cast  themselves  on 
Heyward,  while  another  was  occupied  in  securing 
the  less  active  singing-master.  Neither  of  the 
captives,  however,  submitted  without  a desperate 
though  fruitless  struggle.  Even  David  hurled  his 
assailant  to  the  earth  ; nor  was  Heyward  secured 
until  the  victory  over  his  companion  enabled  the 
Indians  to  direct  their  united  force  to  that  object. 
He  was  then  bound  and  fastened  to  the  body  of 
the  sapling,  on  whose  branches  Magua  had  acted 
the  pantomime  of  the  falling  Huron.  When  the 
young  soldier  regained  his  recollection,  he  had 
the  painful  certainty  before  his  eyes  that  a com- 
mon fate  was  intended  for  the  whole  party.  On 
his  right  was  Cora,  in  a durance  similar  to  his 
own,  pale  and  agitated,  but  with  an  eye  whose 
steady  look  still  read  the  proceedings  of  their  en- 
emies. On  his  left,  the  withes  which  bound  her 
to  a pine,  performed  that  office  for  Alice  which 
her  trembling  limbs  refused,  and  alone  kept  her 
fragile  form  from  sinking.  Her  hands  were 
clasped  before  her  in  prayer,  but  instead  of  look- 
ing upward  toward  that  power  which  alone  could 
rescue  them,  her  unconscious  looks  wandered  to 
the  countenance  of  Duncan  with  infantile  depend- 
ency. David  had  contended,  and  the  novelty  of 
the  circumstance  held  him  silent,  in  deliberation 
on  the  propriety  of  the  unusual  occurrence. 

The  vengeance  of  the  Hurons  had  now  taken 
a new  direction,  and  they  prepared  to  execute  it 
with  that  barbarous  ingenuity  with  which  they 
were  familiarized  by  the  practice  of  centuries. 
Some  sought  knots,  to  raise  the  blazing  pile ; one 
was  riving  the  splinters  of  pine,  in  order  to  pierce 
the  flesh  of  their  captives  with  the  burning  frag- 
ments ; and  others  bent  the  tops  of  two  saplings 
to  the  earth,  in  order  to  suspend  Heyward  by  the 
arms  between  the  recoiling  branches.  B ut  the 
vengeance  of  Magua  sought  a deeper  and  a mora 
malignant  enjoyment. 


54 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


While  the  less  refined  monsters  of  the  band 
prepared,  before  the  eyes  of  those  who  were  to 
suffer,  these  well-known  and  vulgar  means  of  tor- 
ture, he  approached  Cora,  and  pointed  out,  with 
the  most  malign  expression  countenance,  the 
speedy  fate  that  awaited  her. 

“Ha!”  he  added,  “what  says  the  daughter 
of  Munro  ? Her  head  is  too  good  to  find  a pil- 
low in  the  wigwam  of  Le  Renard ; will  she  like  it 
better  when  it  rolls  about  this  hill  a plaything  for 
the  wolves  ? Her  bosom  cannot  nurse  the  chil- 
dren of  a Huron ; she  will  see  it  spit  upon  by  In- 
dians ! ” 

“ What  means  the  monster ! ” demanded  the 
astonished  Heyward. 

“Nothing!”  was  the  firm  reply.  “He  is  a 
savage,  a barbarous  and  ignorant  savage,  and 
knows  not  what  he  does.  Let  us  find  leisure, 
with  our  dying  breath,  to  ask  for  him  penitence 
and  pardon.” 

“ Pardon ! ” echoed  the  fierce  Huron,  mistak- 
ing, in  his  anger,  the  meaning  of  her  words ; “ the 
memory  of  an  Indian  is  longer  than  the  arm  of 
the  pale-faces ; his  mercy  shorter  than  their  jus- 
tice ! Say ; shall  I send  the  yellow-hair  to  her 
father,  and  will  you  follow  Magua  to  the  great 
lakes,  to  carry  his  water,  and  feed  him  with  corn  ? ” 

Cora  beckoned  him  away,  with  an  emotion  of 
disgust  she  could  not  control. 

“ Leave  me,”  she  said,  with  a solemnity  that 
for  a moment  checked  the  barbarity  of  the  Indian ; 
“ you  mingle  bitterness  in  my  prayers ; you  stand 
between  me  and  my  God  ! ” 

The  slight  impression  produced  on  the  savage 
was,  however,  soon  forgotten,  and  he  continued 
pointing  with  taunting  irony  toward  Alice. 

“ Look ! the  child  weeps  ! She  is  young  to 
die ! Send  he*  to  Munro,  to  comb  his  gray  hairs, 
and  keep  life  in  the  heart  of  the  old  man.” 

Cora  could  not  resist  the  desire  to  look  upon 
her  youthful  sister,  in  whose  eyes  she  met  an  im- 
ploring glance,  that  betrayed  the  longings  of  na- 
ture. 

“ What  says  he,  dearest  Cora  ? ” asked  the 
trembling  voice  of  Alice.  “Did  he  speak  of 
sending  me  to  our  father  ? ” 

For  many  moments  the  elder  sister  looked 
upon  the  younger,  with  a countenance  that  wa- 
vered with  powerful  and  contending  emotions. 
At  length  she  spoke,  though  her  tones  had  lost 
their  rich  and  calm  fulness,  in  an  expression  of 
tenderness  that  seemed  maternal. 

“ Alice,”  she  said,  “ the  Huron  offers  us  both 
life — nay,  more  than  both ; he  offers  to  restore 
Duncan — our  invaluable  Duncan,  as  well  as  you, 
to  our  friends — to  our  father — to  our  heart-strick- 


en, childless  father,  if  I will  bow  dojm  this  re 
bellious,  stubborn  pride  of  mine,  and  consent—  ’ 

Her  voice  became  choked,  and  clasping  her 
hands,  she  looked  upward,  as  if  seeking,  in  her 
agony,  intelligence  from  a wisdom  that  was  infi- 
nite. 

“Say  on,”  cried  Alice;  “to  what,  dearest 
Cora  ? Oh ! that  the  proffer  were  made  to  me ! to 
save  you,  to  cheer  our  aged  father ! to  restore 
Duncan,  how  cheerfully  could  I die  ! ” 

“ Die ! ” repeated  Cora,  with  a calmer  and  a 
firmer  voice,  “ that  were  easy ! Perhaps  the  al- 
ternative may  not  be  less  so.  He  would  have 
me,”  she  continued,  her  accents  sinking  under  a 
deep  consciousness  of  the  degradation  of  the  pro- 
posal, “ follow  him  to  the  wilderness ; go  to  the 
habitations  of  the  Hurons ; to  remain  there : in 
short,  to  become  his  wife  ! Speak,  then,  Alice  ; 
child  of  my  affections ! sister  of  my  love  ! And 
you,  too,  Major  Heyward,  aid  my  weak  reason 
with  your  counsel.  Is  life  to  be  purchased  by 
such  a sacrifice  ? Will  you,  Alice,  receive  it  at 
my  hands  at  such  a price  ? And  you , Duncan  ; 
guide  me ; control  me  between  you  ; for  I am 
wholly  yours.” 

“Would  I!”  echoed  the  indignant  and  as- 
tonished youth.  “ Cora ! Cora ! you  jest  with  our 
misery ! Name  not  the  horrid  alternative  again ; 
the  thought  itself  is  worse  than  a thousand  deaths.” 

“That  such  would  be  your  answer,  I well 
knew ! ” exclaimed  Cora,  her  cheeks  flushing,  and 
her  dark  eyes  once  more  sparkling  with  the 
lingering  emotions  of  a woman.  “ What  says  my 
Alice  ? for  her  will  I submit  without  another  mur- 
mur.” 

Although  both  Heyward  and  Cora  listened 
with  painful  suspense  and  the  deepest  attention, 
no  sounds  were  heard  in  reply.  It  appeared  as 
if  the  delicate  and  sensitive  form  of  Alice  would 
shrink  into  itself,  as  she  listened  to  this  proposal. 
Her  arms  had  fallen  lengthwise  before  her,  the 
fingers  moving  in  slight  convulsions ; her  head 
dropped  upon  her  bosom,  and  her  whole  person 
seemed  suspended  against  the  tree,  looking  like 
some  beautiful  emblem  of  the  wounded  delicacy 
of  her  sex,  devoid  of  animation,  and  yet  keenly 
conscious.  In  a few  moments,  however,  her 
head  began  to  move  slowly,  in  a sign  of  deep, 
unconquerable  disapprobation. 

“No,  no,  no ; better  that  we  die  as  we  have 
lived,  together ! ” 

“ Then  die ! ” shouted  Magua,  hurling  his  toma- 
hawk with  violence  at  the  unresisting  speaker, 
and  gnashing  his  teeth  with  a rage  that  could  no 
longer  be  bridled,  at  this  sudden  exhibition  of 
firmness  in  the  one  he  believed  the  weakest  of  th« 


HAWK-EYE’S  ATTACK  AND  VICTORY. 


55 


party  The  axe  cleaved  the  air  in  front  of  Hey- 
ward, and,  cutting  some  of  the  flowing  ringlets  of 
Alice,  quivered  in  the  tree  above  her  head.  The 
sight  maddened  Duncan  to  desperation.  Collect- 
ing all  his  energies  in  one  effort,  he  snapped  the 
twigs  which  bound  him,  and  rushed  upon  another 
savage,  who  was  preparing,  with  loud  yells,  and  a 
more  deliberate  aim,  to  repeat  the  blow.  They 
encountered,  grappled,  and  fell  to  the  earth  to- 
gether. The  naked  body  of  his  antagonist  afford- 
ed Heyward  no  means  of  holding  his  adversary, 
who  glided  from  his  grasp,  and  rose  again  with 
one  knee  on  his  chest,  pressing  him  down  with 
the  weight  of  a giant.  Duncan  already  saw  the 
knife  gleaming  in  the  air,  when  a whistling  sound 
swept  past  him,  and  was  rather  accompanied,  than 
followed,  by  the  sharp  crack  of  a rifle.  He  felt 
his  breast  relieved  from  the  load  it  had  endured  ; 
he  saw  the  savage  expression  of  his  adversary’s 
countenance  change  to  a look  of  vacant  wildness, 
when  the  Indian  fell  dead  on  the  faded  leaves  by 
his  side. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

“ Clo. — I am  gone,  sir, 

And  anon,  6ir, 

I'll  be  with  you  again.” 

Twelfth  Night. 

The  Hurons  stood  aghast  at  this  sudden  visi- 
tation of  death  on  one  of  their  band.  But,  as 
they  regarded  the  fatal  accuracy  of  an  aim  which 
had  dared  to  immolate  an  enemy  at  so  much 
hazard  to  a friend,  the  name  of  “ La  longue 
Carabine”  burst  simultaneously  from  every  lip, 
and  was  succeeded  by  a wild  and  a sort  of  plain- 
tive howl.  The  cry  was  answered  by  a loud 
shout  from  a little  thicket,  where  the  incautious 
party  had  piled  Jheir  arms ; and,  at  the  next  mo- 
ment, Hawk-eye,  too  eager  to  load  the  rifle  he 
had  regained,  was  seen  advancing  upon  them, 
brandishing  the  clubbed  weapon,  and  cutting  the 
air  with  wide  and  powerful  sweeps.  Bold  and 
rapid  as  was  the  progress  of  the  scout,  it  was 
exceeded  by  that  of  a light  and  vigorous  form, 
which,  bounding  past  him,  leaped,  with  incredi- 
ble activity  and  daring,  into  the  very  centre  of 
the  Hurons,  where  it  stood,  whirling  a tomahawk 
and  flourishing  a glittering  knife,  with  fearful 
menaces,  in  front  of  Cora.  Quicker  than  the 
thoughts  could  follow  these  unexpected  and  au- 
dacious movements,  an  image,  armed  in  the  em- 
blematic panoply  of  death,  glided  before  their 
eyes,  and  assumed  a threatening  attitude  at  the 


other’s  side.  The  savage  tormentors  recoiled  be- 
fore these  warlike  intruders,  and  uttered,  as  they 
appeared  in  such  quick  succession,  the  often-re- 
peated and  peculiar  exclamation  of  surprise, 
followed  by  the  well-known  and  dreaded  ap- 
pellations of — 

“ Le  Cerf  agile ! Le  gros  Serpent ! ” 

But  the  wary  and  vigilant  leader  of  the  Hu* 
rons  was  not  so  easily  disconcerted.  Casting  his 
keen  eyes  around  the  little  plain,  he  compre- 
hended the  nature  of  the  assault  at  a glance,  and, 
encouraging  his  followers  by  his  voice  as  well  as 
by  his  example,  he  unsheathed  his  long  and  dan- 
gerous knife  and  rushed,  with  a loud  whoop, 
upon  the  expecting  Chingachgook.  It  was  the 
signal  for  a general  combat.  Neither  party  had 
fire-arms,  and  the  contest  was  to  be  decided  in 
the  deadliest  manner  ; hand  to  hand,  with  weap- 
ons of  offence,  and  none  of  defence. 

Uncas  answered  the  whoop,  and,  leaping  on 
an  enemy,  with  a single,  well-directed  blow  of 
his  tomahawk,  cleft  him  to  the,  brain.  Heyward 
tore  the  weapon  of  Magua  from  the  sapling  and 
rushed  eagerly  toward  the  fray.  As  the  com- 
batants were  now  equal  in  number,  each  singled 
an  opponent  from  the  adverse  band.  The  rush 
and  blows  passed  with  the  fury  of  a whirlwind 
and  the  swiftness  of  lightning.  Hawk-eye  soon 
got  another  enemy  within  reach  of  his  arm,  and 
with  one  sweep  of  his  formidable  weapon  ho 
beat  down  the  slight  and  inartificial  defences  of 
his  antagonist,  crushing  him  to  the  earth  with 
the  blow.  Heyward  ventured  to  hurl  the  toma- 
hawk he  had  seized,  too  ardent  to  await  the  mo- 
ment of  closing.  It  struck  the  Indian  he  had  se- 
lected on  the  forehead,  and  checked  for  an  in- 
stant his  onward  rush.  Encouraged  by  this 
slight  advantage,  the  impetuous  young  man  con- 
tinued his  onset,  and  sprang  upon  his  enemy  with 
naked  hands.  A single  instant  was  sufficient  to 
assure  him  of  the  rashness  of  the  measure,  for  he 
immediately  found  himself  fully  engaged,  with  all 
his  activity  and  courage,  in  endeavoring  to  ward 
the  desperate  thrusts  made  with  the  knife  of  the 
Huron.  Unable  longer  to  foil  an  enemy  so  alert 
and  vigilant,  he  threw  his  arms  about  him,  and 
succeeded  in  pinning  the  limbs  of  the  other  to 
his  side  with  an  iron  grasp,  but  one  that  was  far 
too  exhausting  to  himself  to  continue  long.  In 
this  extremity  he  heard  a voice  near  him  shout- 
ing : 

“ Extarminate  the  varlets ! no  quarter  to  an 
accursed  Mingo  ! ” 

At  the  next  moment  the  breech  of  Hawk-eye’s 
rifle  fell  on  the  naked  head  of  his  adversary, 
whose  muscles  appeared  to  wither  under  the 


56 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


shock  as  he  sank  from  the  arms  of  Duncan  flexi- 
ble and  motionless. 

When  TJncas  had  brained  his  first  antagonist, 
ne  turned,  like  a hungry  lion,  to  seek  another. 
The  fifth  and  only  Huron  disengaged  at  the  first 
onset  had  paused  a moment,  and  then  seeing  that 
all  around  him  were  employed  in  the  deadly 
strife,  he  had  sought,  with  hellish  vengeance,  to 
complete  the  baffled  work  of  revenge.  Raising  a 
shout  of  triumph,  he  sprang  toward  the  defence- 
less Cora,  sending  his  keen  axe  as  the  dreadful 
precursor  of  his  approach.  The  tomahawk 
grazed  her  shoulder;  and,  cutting  the  withes 
which  bound  her  to  the  tree,  left  the  maiden  at 
liberty  to  fly.  She  eluded  the  grasp  of  the  sav- 
age, and,  reckless  of  her  own  safety,  threw  her- 
self on  the  bosom  of  Alice,  striving,  with  con- 
vulsed and  ill-directed  fingers,  to  tear  asunder 
the  twigs  which  confined  the  person  of  her  sister. 
Any  other  than  a monster  would  have  relented  at 
such  an  act  of  generous  devotion  to  the  best  and 
purest  affection;  but  the  breast  of  the  Huron 
was  a stranger  to  sympathy.  Seizing  Cora  by 
the  rich  tresses  which  fell  in  confusion  about  her 
form,  he  tore  her  from  her  frantic  hold,  and 
bowed  her  down  with  brutal  violence  to  her 
knees.  The  savage  drew  the  flowing  curls 
through  his  hand,  and,  raising  them  on  high  with 
an  outstretched  arm,  he  passed  the  knife  around 
the  exquisitely -moulded  head  of  his  victim  with  a 
taunting  and  exulting  laugh.  But  he  purchased 
this  moment  of  fierce  gratification  with  the  loss 
of  the  fatal  opportunity.  It  was  just  then  the 
sight  caught  the  eye  of  IJncas.  Bounding  from 
his  footsteps  he  appeared  for  an  instant  darting 
through  the  air,  and,  descending  in  a ball,  he  fell 
on  the  chest  of  his  enemy,  driving  him  many 
yards  from  the  spot  headlong  and  prostrate.  The 
violence  of  the  exertion  cast  the  young  Mohican 
at  his  side.  They  arose  together,  fought,  and 
bled,  each  in  his  turn.  But  the  conflict  was  soon 
decided ; the  tomahawk  of  Heyward  and  the 
rifle  of  Hawk-eye  descended  on  the  skull  of  the 
Huron,  at  the  same  moment  that  the  knife  of 
IJncas  reached  his  heart. 

The  battle  was  now  entirely  terminated,  with 
the  exception  of  the  protracted  struggle  between 
‘ Le  Renard  Subtil”  and  “ Le  gros  Serpent.” 
Well  did  these  barbarous  warriors  prove  that  they 
deserved  those  significant  names  which  had  been 
bestowed  for  deeds  in  former  wars.  When  they 
engaged,  some  little  time  was  lost  in  eluding  the 
quick  and  vigorous  thrusts  which  had  been  aimed 
at  their  lives.  Suddenly  darting  on  each  other,  they 
closed,  and  came  to  the  earth,  twisted  together 
ike  twining  serpents,  in  pliant  and  subtle  folds.  | 


At  the  moment  when  the  victors  found  them* 
selves  unoccupied,  the  spot  where  these  experi- 
enced and  desperate  combatants  lay  could  only 
be  distinguished  by  a cloud  of  dust  and  leaves 
which  moved  from  the  centre  of  the  little  plain 
toward  its  boundary,  as  if  raised  by  the  passage 
of  a whirlwind.  Urged  by  the  different  motives 
of  filial  affection,  friendship,  and  gratitude,  Hey 
ward  and  his  companions  rushed  with  one  accord 
to  the  place,  encircling  the  little  canopy  of  dust 
which  hung  above  the  warriors.  In  vain  did  Un- 
cas  dart  around  the  cloud,  with  a wish  to  strike 
his  knife  into  the  heart  of  his  father’s  foe  ; the 
threatening  rifle  of  Hawk-eye  was  raised  and  sus- 
pended in  vain,  while  Duncan  endeavored  to  seize 
the  limbs  of  the  Huron  with  hands  that  appeared 
to  have  lost  their  power.  Covered,  as  they  were, 
with  dust  and  blood,  the  swift  evolutions  of  the 
combatants  seemed  to  incorporate  their  bodies 
into  one.  The  death-like  looking  figure  of  the 
Mohican,  and  the  dark  form  of  the  Huron,  gleamed 
before  their  eyes  in  such  quick  and  confused  succes- 
sion, that  the  friends  of  the  former  knew  not 
"where  nor  when  to  plant  the  succoring  blow.  It 
is  true  there  were  short  and  fleeting  moments, 
when  the  fiery  eyes  of  Magua  were  seen  glittering, 
like  the  fabled  organs  of  the  basilisk,  through  the 
dusty  wreath  by  which  he  was  enveloped,  and  he 
read  by  those  short  and  deadly  glances  the  fate 
of  the  combat  in  the  presence  of  his  enemies ; 
ere,  however,  any  hostile  hand  could  descend  on 
his  devoted  head,  its  place  was  filled  by  the  scowl- 
ing visage  of  Chingachgook.  In  this  manner,  the 
scene  of  the  combat  was  removed  from  the  centre 
of  the  little  plain  to  its  verge.  The  Mohican  now 
found  an  opportunity  to  make  a powerful  thrust 
with  his  knife ; Magua  suddenly  relinquished  his 
grasp,  and  fell  backward  without  motion,  and 
seemingly  without  life.  His  adversary  leaped  on 
his  feet,  making  the  arches  of  the  forest  ring  with 
the  sounds  of  triumph. 

“ Well  done  for  the  Delawares  ! victory  to  the 
Mohican  ! ” cried  Hawk-eye,  once  more  elevating 
the  butt  of  the  long  and  fatal  rifle  ; “ a finishing 
blow  from  a man  without  a cross  will  never  tell 
against  his  honor,  nor  rob  him  of  his  right  to  the 
scalp.” 

But,  at  the  very  moment  when  the  dangerous 
weapon  was  in  the  act  of  descending,  the  subtle 
Huron  rolled  swiftly  from  beneath  the  danger, 
over  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  and,  falling  on  his 
feet,  was  seen  leaping,  with  a single  bound,  into 
the  centre  of  a thicket  of  low  bushes,  which  clung 
along  its  sides.  The  Delawares,  who  had  be- 
lieved their  enemy  dead,  uttered  their  exclama- 
I tion  of  surprise,  and  were  following  with  speed 


GAMUT’S  SONG  OF  THANKSGIVING. 


5? 


and  clamor,  like  hounds  in  open  view  of  a deer, 
when  a shrill  and  peculiar  cry  from  the  scout  in- 
stantly changed  their  purpose,  and  recalled  them 
to  the  summit  of  the  hill. 

“ ’Twas  like  himself,”  cried  the  inveterate  for- 
ester, whose  prejudices  contributed  so  largely  to 
veil  his  natural  sense  of  justice  in  all  matters 
which  concerned  the  Mingoes  ; “ a lying  and  deceit- 
ful varlet  as  he  is.  An  honest  Delaware  now,  being 
fairly  vanquished,  would  have  lain  still,  and  been 
knocked  on  the  head,  but  these  knavish  Maquas 
cling  to  life  like  so  many  cats-o’-the-mountain. 
Let  him  go — let  him  go ; ’tis  but  one  man,  and 
he  without  a rifle  or  bow,  many  a long  mile  from 
his  French  commerades  ; and,  like  a rattler  that 
has  lost  his  fangs,  he  can  do  no  further  mischief, 
until  such  time  as  he,  and  we  too,  may  leave  the 
prints  of  our  moccasins  over  a long  reach  of  sandy 
plain.  — See,  Uncas,”  he  added,  in  Delaware, 
“your  father  is  flaying  the  scalps  already.  It 
may  be  well  to  go  round  and  feel  the  vagabonds 
that  are  left,  or  we  may  have  another  of  them 
loping  through  the  woods,  and  screeching  like  a 
jay  that  has  been  winged.” 

So  saying,  the  honest  but  implacable  scout 
made  the  circuit  of  the  dead,  into  whose  senseless 
bosoms  he  thrust  his  long  knife,  with  as  much 
coolness  as  though  they  had  been  so  many  brute 
carcasses.  He  had,  however,  been  anticipated  by 
the  elder  Mohican,  who  had  already  torn  the 
emblems  of  victory  from  the  unresisting  heads  of 
the  slain. 

But  Uncas,  denying  his  habits,  we  had  almost 
said  his  nature,  flew  with  instinctive  delicacy,  ac- 
companied by  Heyward,  to  the  assistance  of  the 
females,  and,  quickly  releasing  Alice,  placed  her 
in  the  arms  of  Cora.  We  shall  not  attempt  to 
describe  the  gratitude  to  the  Almighty  Disposer 
of  events  which  glowed  in  the  bosoms  of  the  sis- 
ters, who  were  thus  unexpectedly  restored  to  life 
and  to  each  other.  Their  thanksgivings  were 
deep  and  silent ; the  offerings  of  their  gentle 
spirits,  burning  brightest  and  purest  on  the  se- 
cret altars  of  their  hearts ; and  their  renovated 
and  more  earthly  feelings  exhibiting  themselves 
in  long  and  fervent,  though  speechless  caresses. 
As  Alice  rose  from  her  knees,  where  she  had  sunk 
by  the  side  of  Cora,  she  threw  herself  on  the 
bosom  of  the  latter,  and  sobbed  aloud  the  name 
of  their  aged  father,  while  her  soft,  dove-like  eyes, 
iparkled  with  the  rays  of  hope. 

“We  are  saved!  we  are  saved!”  she  mur- 
mured ; “ to  return  to  the  arms  of  our  dear,  dear 
father,  and  his  heart  will  not  be  broken  with 
grief.  And  you  too,  Cora,  my  sister  ; my  more 
than  sister,  my  mother  ; you  too  are  spared. — 


And  Duncan,”  she  added,  looking  round  upon  the 
youth  with  a smile  of  ineffable  innocence,  “ even 
our  own  brave  and  noble  Duncan  has  escaped 
without  a hurt.” 

To  these  ardent  and  nearly  incoherent  words, 
Cora  made  no  other  answer  than  by  straining  the 
youthful  speaker  to  her  heart,  as  she  bent  over 
her,  in  melting  tenderness.  The  manhood  of 
Heyward  felt  no  shame  in  dropping  tears  over 
this  spectacle  of  affectionate  rapture  ; and  Uncas 
stood,  fresh  and  blood-stained  from  the  combat,  a 
calm,  and,  apparently,  an  unmoved  looker-on,  it 
is  true,  but  with  eyes  that  had  already  lost  their 
fierceness,  and  were  beaming  with  a sympathy 
that  elevated  him  far  above  the  intelligence,  and 
advanced  him  probably  centuries  before  the  prac- 
tices of  his  nation. 

During  this  display  of  emotions  so  natural  in 
their  situation,  Hawk-eye,  whose  vigilant  distrust 
had  satisfied  itself  that  the  Hurons,  who  disfig- 
ured the  heavenly  scene,  no  longer  possessed  the 
power  to  interrupt  its  harmony,  approached  Da- 
vid, and  liberated  him  from  the  bonds  he  had, 
until  that  moment,  endured  with  the  most  exem- 
plary patience. 

“ There,”  exclaimed  the  scout,  casting  the  last 
withe  behind  him,  “ you  are  once  more  master  of 
your  own  limbs,  though  you  seem  not  to  use  them 
With  much  greater  judgment  than  that  in  which 
they  were  first  fashioned.  If  advice  from  one 
who  is  not  older  than  yourself,  but  who,  having 
lived  most  of  his  time  in  a wilderness,  may  be 
said  to  have  experience  beyond  his  years,  will 
give  no  offence,  you  arc  welcome  to  my  thoughts  ; 
and  these  are,  to  part  with  the  little  tooting  in- 
strument in  your  jacket  to  the  first  fool  you  meet 
with,  and  buy  some  useful  we’pon  with  the  money, 
if  it  be  only  the  barrel  of  a horseman’s  pistol. 
By  industry  and  care,  you  might  thus  come  to 
some  prefarment ; for  by  this  time,  I should  think, 
your  eyes  would  plainly  tell  you  that  a carrion 
crow  is  a better  bird  than  a mocking  thresher. 
The  one  will,  at  least,  remove  foul  sights  from  be- 
fore the  face  of  man,  while  the  other  is  only  good 
to  brew  disturbances  in  the  woods,  by  cheating 
the  ears  of  all  that  hear  them.” 

“ Arms  and  the  clarion  for  the  battle,  but  the 
song  of  thanksgiving  to  the  victory ! ” answered 
the  liberated  David.  “ Friend,”  he  added,  thrust- 
ing forth  his  lean,  delicate  hand  toward  Hawk- 
eye,  in  kindness,  while  his  eyes  twinkled  and 
grew  moist,  “ I thank  thee  that  the  hairs  of  my 
head  still  grow  where  they  were  first  rooted  by 
Providence  ; for,  though  those  of  other  men  may 
be  more  glossy  and  curling,  I have  ever  found 
mine  own  well  suited  to  the  brain  they  shelter. 


58 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


That  I did  not  join  myself  to  the  battle,  was  less 
owing  to  disinclination,  than  to  the  bonds  of  the 
heathen.  Valiant  and  skilful  hast  thou  proved 
thyself  in  the  conflict,  and  I hereby  thank  thee, 
before  proceeding  to  discharge  other  and  more 
important  duties,  because  thou  hast  proved  thy- 
self well  worthy  of  a Christian’s  piaise.” 

“ The  thing  is  but  a trifle,  and  what  you  may 
often  see,  if  you  tarry  long  among  us,”  returned 
the  scout,  a good  deal  softened  toward  the  man 
of  song,  by  this  unequivocal  expression  of  grati- 
tude. “ I have  got  back  my  old  companion, 
‘ kill-deer,’  ” he  added,  striking  his  hand  on  the 
breach  of  his  rifle ; “ and  that  in  itself  is  a vic- 
tory. These  Iroquois  are  cunning,  but  they  out- 
witted themselves  when  they  placed  their  fire- 
arms out  of  reach ; and  had  Uncas  or  his  father 
been  gifted  with  only  their  common  Indian  pa- 
tience, we  should  have  come  in  upon  the  knaves 
with  three  bullets  instead  of  one,  and  that  would 
have  made  a finish  of  the  whole  pack ; yon  lop- 
ing varlet,  as  well  as  his  commerades.  But  ’twas 
all  fore-ordered,  and  for  the  best.” 

“Thou  sayest  well,”  returned  David,  “and 
hast  caught  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity.  He 
that  is  to  be  saved  will  be  saved,  and  he  that  is 
predestined  to  be  damned  will  be  damned.  This 
is  the  doctrine  of  truth,  and  most  consoling  and 
refreshing  it  is  to  the  true  believer.” 

The  scout,  who  by  this  time  was  seated,  ex- 
amining into  the  state  of  his  rifle  ■with  a species 
of  parental  assiduity,  now  looked  up  at  the 
other  in  a displeasure  that  he  did  not  affect  to 
conceal,  roughly  interrupting  further  speech. 

“ Doctrine  or  no  doctrine,”  said  the  stui  ly 
woodsman,  “’tis  the  belief  of  knaves,  and  the 
curse  of  an  honest  man.  I can  credit  that  yonder 
Huron  was  to  fall  by  my  hand,  for  with  my  own 
eyes  I have  seen  it ; but  nothing  short  of  being  a 
witness,  will  cause  me  to  think  he  has  met  with 
any  reward,  or  that  Chingachgook,  there,  will  be 
condemned  at  the  final  day.” 

“ You  have  no  warranty  for  such  an  audacious 
doctrine,  nor  any  covenant  to  support  it,”  cried 
David,  who  was  deeply  tinctured  with  the  subtle 
distinctions  which,  in  his  time,  and  more  es- 
pecially in  his  province,  had  been  drawn  around 
the  beautiful  simplicity  of  revelation,  by  endeavor- 
ing to  penetrate  the  awful  mystery  of  the  divine 
nature,  supplying  faith  by  self-sufficiency,  and,  by 
consequence,  involving  those  who  reasoned  from 
such  human  dogmas  in  absurdities  and  doubt; 
‘‘  your  temple  is  reared  on  the  sands,  and  the 
first  tempest  will  wash  away  its  foundation.  I 
demand  your  authorities  for  such  an  uncharitable 
assertion  ” (like  other  advocates  of  a system,  David 


was  not  always  accurate  in  his  use  of  terms} 
“ Name  chapter  and  verse  ; in  which  of  the  holy 
books  do  you  find  language  to  support  you  ? ” 

“ Book  ! ” repeated  Hawk-eye,  with  singular 
and  ill-concealed  disdain  ; “ do  you  take  me  for 
a whimpering  boy  at  the  apron-string  of  one  of 
your  old  gals ; and  this  good  rifle  on  my  knee  for 
the  feather  of  a goose’s  wing,  my  ox’s  horn  for  a 
bottle  of  iuk,  and  my  leathern  pouch  for  a cross- 
barred  handkercher  to  carry  my  dinner  ? Book  ! 
what  have  such  as  I,  who  am  a warrior  of  the 
wilderness,  though  a man  withoht  a cross,  to  do 
with  books  ? I never  read  but  in  one,  and  the 
words  that  are  written  there  are  too  simple  and 
too  plain  to  need  much  schooling ; though  I may 
boast  that  of  forty  long  and  hard-working  years.” 

“What  call  you  the  volume?”  said  David, 
misconceiving  the  other’s  meaning. 

“ ’Tis  open  before  your  eyes,”  returned  the 
scout ; “ and  he  who  owns  it  is  not  a niggard  of 
its  use.  I have  heard  it  said  that  there  are  men 
who  read  in  books  to  convince  themselves  there 
is  a God.  I know  not  but  man  may  so  de- 
form his  works  in  the  settlements,  as  to  leave 
that  which  is  so  clear  in  the  wilderness  a matter 
of  doubt  among  traders  and  priests.  If  any  such 
there  be,  and  he  will  follow  me  from  sun  to  sun, 
through  the  windings  of  the  forest,  he  shall  see 
enough  to  teach  him  that  he  is  a fool,  and  that 
the  greatest  of  his  folly  lies  in  striving  to  rise  to 
the  level  of  one  he  can  never  equal,  be  it  in  good- 
ness, or  be  it  in  power.” 

The  instant  David  discovered  that  he  battled 
with  a disputant  who  imbibed  his  faith  from  the 
lights  of  Nature,  eschewing  all  subtleties  of  doc- 
trine, he  willingly  abandoned  a controversy,  from 
which  he  believed  neither  profit  nor  credit  was  to 
be  derived.  While  the  scout  was  speaking,  he  had 
also  seated  himself,  and  producing  the  ready  little 
volume  and  the  iron-rimmed  spectacles,  he  pre- 
paired to  discharge  a duty,  which  nothing  but  the 
unexpected  assault  he  had  received  in  his  ortho- 
doxy could  have  so  long  suspended.  He  was,  in 
truth,  a minstrel  of  the  Western  Continent — of  a 
much  later  day,  certainly,  than  those  gifted  bards 
who  formerly  sang  the  profane  renown  of  baron 
and  prince,  but  after  the  spirit  of  his  own  age  and 
country ; and  he  was  now  prepared  to  exerqise 
the  cunning  of  his  craft,  in  celebration  of,  oi 
rather  in  thanksgiving  for,  the  recent  victory.  He 
waited  patiently  for  Hawk-eye  to  cease,  then  lifting 
his  eyes,  together  with  his  voice,  he  said,  aloud : 

“ I invite  you,  friends,  to  join  in  praise  for 
this  signal  deliverance  from  the  hands  of  barba- 
rians and  infidels,  to  the  comfortable  and  solemn 
tones  of  the  tune  called  ‘ Northampton.’  ” 


WHAT  LED  TO  THE  UNEXPECTED  RESCUE. 


59 


He  next  named  the  page  and  verse  where  the 
rhymes  selected  were  to  be  found,  and  applied 
♦he  pitch-pipe  to  his  lips,  with  the  decent  gravity 
that  he  had  been  wont  to  use  in  the  temple.  This 
time  he  was,  however,  without  any  accompani- 
ment, for  the  sisters  were  just  then  pouring  out 
those  tender  effusions  of  affection  which  have 
been  already  alluded  to.  Nothing  deterred  by 
the  smallness  of  his  audience,  which  in  truth  con- 
sisted only  of  the  discontented  scout,  he  raised 
his  voice,  commencing  and  ending  the  sacred  song 
without  accident  or  interruption  of  any  kind. 

Hawk-eye  listened,  while  he  coolly  adjusted 
his  flint  and  reloaded  his  rifle ; but  the  sounds, 
wanting  the  extraneous  assistance  of  scene  and 
sympathy,  failed  to  awaken  his  slumbering  emo- 
tions. Never  minstrel,  or  by  whatever  more  suit- 
able name  David  should  be  known,  drew  upon  his 
talents  in  the  presence  of  more  insensible  audi- 
tors ; though,  considering  the  singleness  and  sin- 
cerity of  his  motive,  it  is  probable  that  no  bard 
of  profane  song  ever  uttered  notes  that  ascended 
so  near  to  that  throne  where  all  homage  and 
praise  is  due.  The  scout  shook  his  head,  and, 
muttering  some  unintelligible  words,  among  which 
“ Throat  ” and  “ Iroquois  ” were  alone  audible, 
he  walked  away,  to  collect  and  to  examine  into 
the  state  of  the  captured  arsenal  of  the  Hurons. 
In  this  office  he  was  now  joined  by  Chingach- 
gook,  who  found  his  own,  as  well  as  the  rifle  of 
his  son,  among  the  arms.  Even  Heyward  and 
David  were  furnished  with  weapons  ; nor  was 
ammunition  wanting  to  render  them  all  effectual. 

When  the  foresters  had  made  their  selection, 
and  distributed  the  prizes,  the  scout  announced 
that  the  hour  had  arrived  when  it  was  necessary 
to  move.  By  this  time  the  song  of  Gamut  had 
ceased,  and  the  sisters  had  learned  to  still  the 
exhibition  of  their  emotions.  Aided  by  Duncan 
and  the  younger  Mohican,  the  two  latter  descended 
the  precipitous  sides  of  that  hill  which  they  had 
so  lately  ascended  under  so  very  different  auspices, 
and  whose  summit  had  so  nearly  proved  the  scene 
of  their  massacre.  At  the  foot,  they  found  the 
Narragansets  browsing  the  herbage  of  the  bushes  ; 
and,  having  mounted,  they  followed  the  move- 
ments of  a guide,  who,  in  the  most  deadly  straits, 
had  so  often  proved  himself  their  friend.  The 
journey  was,  however,  short.  Hawk-eye,  leaving 
the  blind  path  that  the  Hurons  had  followed, 
turned  short  to  his  right,  and,  entering  the  thicket, 
he  crossed  a babbling  brook,  and  halted  in  a nar- 
row dell,  under  the  shade  of  a few  water-elms. 
Their  distance  from  the  base  of  the  fatal  hill  was 
but  a few  rods,  and  the  steeds  had  been  service- 
able only  in  crossing  the  shallow  streanq. 


The  scout  and  the  Indians  appeared  to  be  fa- 
miliar with  the  sequestered  place  where  they  now 
were ; for,  leaning  their  rifles  against  the  trees 
they  commenced  throwing  aside  the  dried  leaves, 
and  opening  the  blue  clay,  out  of  which  a clear 
and  sparkling  spring  of  bright,  glancing  water, 
quickly  bubbled.  The  white  man  then  looked 
about  him,  as  though  seeking  for  some  object, 
which  was  not  to  be  found  as  readily  as  he  ex- 
pected : 

“ Them  careless  imps,  the  Mohawks,  with 
their  Tuscarora  and  Onondaga  brethren,  havo 
been  here  slaking  their  thirst,”  he  muttered, 
“ and  the  vagabonds  have  thrown  away  the  gourd ! 
This  is  the  way  with  benefits,  when  they  are  be 
stowed  on  such  disremembering  hounds  ! Here 
has  the- Lord  laid  his  hand,  in  the  midst  of  the 
howling  wilderness,  for  their  good,  and  raised 
a fountain  of  water  from  the  bowels  of  the  ’arth, 
that  might  laugh  at  the  richest  shop  of  apothe- 
cary’s ware  in  all  the  colonies ; and  see ! the 
knaves  have  trodden  in  the  clay,  and  deformed 
the  cleanliness  of  the  place,  as  though  they  were 
brute  beasts,  instead  of  human  men.” 

Uncas  silently  extended  toward  him  the  de- 
sired gourd,  which  the  spleen  of  Hawk-eye  had 
hitherto  prevented  him  from  observing,  on  a 
branch  of  an  elm.  Filling  it  with  water,  he  re- 
tired a short  distance,  to  a place  where  the 
ground  was  more  firm  and  dry ; here  he  coolly 
seated  himself,  and,  after  taking  a long  and  appar- 
ently a grateful  draught,  he  commenced  a very 
strict  examination  of  the  fragments  of  food  left 
by  the  Hurons,  which  had  hung  in  a wallet  on  his 
arm. 

“ Thank  you,  lad  ! ” he  continued,  returning 
the  empty  gourd  to  Uncas ; “ now  we  will  see 
how  these  rampaging  Hurons  lived,  when  outly- 
ing in  ambushments.  Look  at  this  ! The  varlets 
know  the  better  pieces  of  the  deer ; and  one 
would  think  they  might  carve  and  roast  a saddle, 
equal  to  the  best  cook  in  the  land  ! But  every 
thing  is  raw,  for  the  Iroquois  are  thorough  sav- 
ages. Uncas,  take  my  steel,  and  kindle  a fire  ; a 
mouthful  of  a tender  broil  will  give  natur’  a help- 
ing hand,  after  so  long  a trail.” 

Heyward,  perceiving  that  their  guides  now  set 
about  their  repast  in  sober  earnest,  assisted  the 
ladies  to  alight,  and  placed  himself  at  their  side, 
not  unwilling  to  enjoy  a few  moments  of  grateful 
rest,  after  the  bloody  scene  he  had  just  gone 
through.  While  the  culinary  process  was  in 
hand,  curiosity  induced  him  to  inquire  into  the 
circumstances  which  had  led  to  their  timely  and 
unexpected  rescue : 

“ How  is  it  that  we  see  you  so  soon,  my  gen- 


80 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS, 


erous  friend,”  he  asked,  “ and  without  aid  from 
the  garrison  of  Edward  ? ” 

“ Had  we  gone  to  the  bend  in  the  river,  we 
might  have  been  in  time  to  rake  the  leaves  over 
your  bodies,  but  too  late  to  have  saved  your 
scalps,”  coolly  answered  the  scout.  “ No,  no ; 
instead  of  throwing  away  strength  and  opportu- 
nity by  crossing  to  the  fort,  we  lay  by,  under  the 
bank  of  the  Hudson,  waiting  to  watch  the  move- 
ments of  the  Hurons.” 

“ You  were,  then,  witnesses  of  all  that  passed  ?” 

“Not  of  all ; for  Indian  sight  is  too  keen  to 
be  easily  cheated,  and  we  kept  close.  A difficult 
matter  it  was,  too,  to  keep  this  Mohican  boy  snug 
in  the  ambushment. — Ah ! Uncas,  Uncas,  your 
behavior  was  more  like  that  of  a curious  woman 
than  of  a warrior  on  his  scent.” 

Uncas  permitted  his  eyes  to  turn  for  an  in- 
stant on  the  sturdy  countenance  of  the  speaker, 
but  he  neither  spoke  nor  gave  any  indication  of 
repentance.  On  the  contrary,  Heyward  thought 
the  manner  of  the  young  Mohican  was  disdainful, 
if  not  a little  fierce,  and  that  he  suppressed  pas- 
sions that  were  ready  to  explode,  as  much  in 
compliment  to  the  listeners,  as  from  the  defer- 
ence he  usually  paid  to  his  white  associate. 

“ You  saw  our  capture  ? ” Heyward  next  de- 
manded. 

“We  heard  it,”  was  the  significant  answer. 

An  Indian  yell  is  plain  language  to  men  who 
have  passed  their  days  in  the  woods.  But  when 
you  landed,  we  were  driven  to  crawl,  like  sar- 
pents,  beneath  the  leaves  ; and  then  we  lost  sight 
of  you  entirely,  until  we  placed  eyes  on  you  again, 
trussed  to  the  trees,  and  ready  bound  for  an  In- 
dian massacre.” 

“ Our  rescue  was  the  deed  of  Providence.  It 
was  nearly  a miracle  that  you  did  not  mistake 
the  path,  for  the  Hurons  divided,  and  each  band 
had  its  horses.” 

“Ay!  there  we  were  thrown  off  the  scent, 
and  might,  indeed,  have  lost  the  trail,  had  it  not 
been  for  Uncas  ; we  took  the  path,  however,  that 
led  into  the  wilderness ; for  we  judged,  and 
judged  rightly,  that  the  savages  would  hold  that 
course  with  their  prisoners.  But  when  we  had 
followed  it  without  finding  a single  twig  broken, 
as  I had  advised,  my  mind  misgave  me ; espe- 
cially as  all  the  footsteps  had  the  prints  of  moc- 
casins.” 

“ Our  captors  had  the  precaution  to  see  us 
shod  like  themselves,”  said  Duncan,  raising  a 
foot,  and  exhibiting  the  buckskin  he  wore. 

“ Ay  ! ’twas  judgmatical,  and  like  themselves  , 
though  we  were  too  expert  to  be  thrown  from  a 
trail  by  so  common  an  invention.” 


“ To  what,  then,  are  we  indebted  foi  our 
safety  ? ” 

“ To  what,  as  a white  man  who  has  no  taint 
of  Indian  blood,  I should  be  ashamed  to  own  ; to 
the  judgment  of  the  young  Mohican,  in  matters 
which  I should  know  better  than  he,  but  which 
I can  now  hardly  believe  to  be  true,  though  my 
own  eyes  tell  me  it  is  so.” 

“ ’Tis  extraordinary ! will  you  not  name  the 
reason?  ” 

“ Uncas  was  bold  enough  to  say,  that  the 
beasts  ridden  by  the  gentle  ones,”  continued 
Hawk-eye,  glancing  his  eyes,  not  without  curious 
interest,  on  the  fillies  of  the  ladies,  “ planted  the 
legs  of  one  side  on  the  ground  at  the  same  time, 
which  is  contrary  to  the  movements  of  all  trotting 
four-footed  animals  of  my  knowledge,  except  the 
bear.  And  yet  here  are  horses  that  always  jour- 
ney in  this  manner,  as  my  own  eyes  have  seen, 
and  as  their  trail  has  shown  for  twenty  long 
miles.” 

“ ’Tis  the  merit  of  the  animal ! They  come 
from  the  shores  of  Narraganset  Bay,  in  the  small 
province  of  Providence  Plantations,  and  are  cele- 
brated for  their  hardihood  and  the  ease  of  this 
peculiar  movement ; though  other  horses  are  not 
unfrequently  trained  to  the  same.” 

“ It  may  be — it  may  be,”  said  Hawk-eye,  who 
had  listened  with  singular  attention  to  this  ex- 
planation ; “ though  I am  a man  who  has  the  full 
blood  of  the  whites,  my  judgment  in  deer  and 
beaver  is  greater  than  in  beasts  of  burden.  Ma- 
jor Effingham  has  many  noble  chargers,  but  I 
have  never  seen  one  travel  after  such  a sideling 
gait.” 

“ True ; for  he  would  value  the  animals  for 
very  different  properties.  Still  is  this  a breed 
highly  esteemed,  and,  as  you  witness,  much 
honored  with  the  burdens  it  is  often  destined  to 
bear.” 

The  Mohicans  had  suspended  their  operations 
about  the  glimmering  fire,  to  listen ; and,  when 
Duncan  had  done,  they  looked  at  each  other 
significantly,  the  father  uttering  the  never-failing 
exclamation  of  surprise.  The  scout  ruminated, 
like  a man  digesting  his  newly-acquired  knowl- 
edge, and  once  more  stole  a curious  glance  at  the 
horses. 

“ I dare  to  say  there  are  even  stranger  sights 
to  be  seen  in  the  settlements ! ” he  said,  at 
length ; “ Natur’  is  sadly  abused  by  man  when 
he  once  gets  the  mastery.  But,  go  sideling  or  go 
straight,  Uncas  had  seen  the  movement,  and  their 
trail  led  us  on  to  the  broken  bush.  The  outer 
branch,  near  the  prints  of  one  of  the  horses,  was 
bent  upward,  as  a lady  breaks  a flower  from  its  * 


BALLSTON  SPRINGS. 


61 


Btem,  but  all  the  rest  were  ragged  and  broken 
down,  as  if  the  strong  hand  of  man  had  been 
tearing  them  ! So  I concluded  that  the  cunning 
varments  had  seen  the  twig  bent,  and  had  torn 
the  rest  to  make  us  believe  a buck  had  been  feel- 
ing the  boughs  with  his  antlers.” 

“ I do  believe  your  sagacity  did  not  deceive 
you  ; for  some  such  thing  occurred.” 

“ That  was  easy  to  see,”  added  the  scout,  in 
no  degree  conscious  of  having  exhibited  any  ex- 
traordinary sagacity  ; “ and  a very  different  mat- 
ter it  was  from  a waddling  horse  ! It  then  struck 
me  the  Mingoes  would  push  for  this  spring,  for 
the  knaves  well  knew  the  virtue  of  its  waters  ! ” 

“ Is  it,  then,  so  famous  ? ” demanded  Hey- 
ward, examining,  with  a more  curious  eye,  the 
secluded  dell  with  its  bubbling  fountain,  sur- 
rounded, as  it  was,  by  earth  of  a deep,  dingy 
brown. 

“ Few  red-skins  who  travel  south  and  east  of 
the  great  lakes  but  have  heard  of  its  qualities. 
Will  you  taste  for  yourself?  ” 

Heyward  took  the  gourd,  and,  after  swallow- 
ing a little  of  the  water,  threw  it  aside  with  gri- 
maces of  discontent.  The  scout  laughed  in  his 
silent,  but  heart-felt  manner,  and  shook  his  head 
with  vast  satisfaction. 

“ Ah  ! you  want  the  flavor  that  one  gets  by 
habit ; the  time  was  when  I liked  it  as  little  as 
yourself ; but  I have  come  to  my  taste,  and  I now 
crave  it  as  a deer  does  the  licks.  * Your  high- 
spiced  wines  are  not  better  liked  than  a red-skin 
relishes  this  water  ; especially  when  his  natur’  is 
ailing.  But  Uncas  has  made  his  fire,  and  it  is 
time  we  think  of  eating,  for  our  journey  is  long, 
and  all  before  us.” 

Interrupting  the  dialogue  by  this  abrupt  tran- 
sition, the  scout  had  instant  recourse  to  the  frag- 
ments of  food  which  had  escaped  the  voracity 
of  the  Hurons.  A very  summary  process  com- 
pleted the  simple  cookery,  when  he  and  the  Mo- 
hicans commenced  their  humble  meal  with  the 
silence  and  characteristic  diligence  of  men  who 
ate  in  order  to  enable  themselves  to  endure  great 
and  unremitting  toil. 

When  this  necessary,  and,  happily,  grateful 
duty  had  been  performed,  each  of  the  foresters 
stooped  and  took  a long  and  parting  draught  at 
that  solitary  and  silent  spring,  f around  which 

* Many  of  the  animals  of  the  American  forests  resort  to 
those  spots  where  salt-springs  are  found.  These  are  called 
“licks,”  or  “salt-licks,”  in  the  language  of  the  country, 
from  the  circumstance  that  the  quadruped  is  often  obliged 
to  lick  the  earth  in  order  to  obtain  the  saline  particles. 
These  licks  are  great  places  of  resort  with  the  hunters,  who 
waylay  their  game  near  the  paths  that  lead  to  them. 

t The  scene  of  the  foregoing  incidents  is  on  the  spot  ! 


and  its  sister-fountains,  within  fifty  years,  the 
wealth,  beauty,  and  talents,  of  a hemisphere  were 
to  assemble  in  throngs  in  pursuit  of  health  and 
pleasure.  Then  Hawk-eye  announced  his  de- 
termination to  proceed.  The  sisters  resumed 
their  saddles ; Duncan  and  David  grasped  their 
rifles,  and  followed  on  their  footsteps  ; the  scout 
leading  the  advance,  and  the  Mohicans  bringing 
up  the  rear.  The  whole  party  moved  swiftly 
through  the  narrow  path  toward  the  north,  leav- 
ing the  healing  waters  to  mingle  unheeded  with 
the  adjacent  brook,  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead  to 
fester  on  the  neighboring  mount  without  the  rites 
of  sepulture — a fate  but  too  common  to  the 
warriors  of  the  woods  to  excite  either  commisera- 
tion or  comment. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

“I’ll  seek  a readier  path.” 

Paenell. 

The  route  taken  by  Hawk-eye  lay  across  those 
sandy  plains  relieved  by  occasional  valleys  and 
swells  of  land,  which  had  been  traversed  by  their 
party  on  the  morning  of  the  same  day  with  the 
baffled  Magua  for  their  guide.  The  sun  had  now 
fallen  low  toward  the  distant  mountains ; and,  as 
their  journey  lay  through  the  interminable  forest, 
the  heat  was  no  longer  oppressive.  Their  prog- 
ress, in  consequence,  was  proportionate ; and 
long  before  the  twilight  gathered  about  them  they 
had  made  good  many  toilsome  miles  on  their  re- 
turn. 

The  hunter,  like  the  savage  whose  place  he 
filled,  seemed  to  select  among  the  blind  signs  of 
their  wild  route  with  a species  of  instinct,  seldom 
abating  his  speed,  and  never  pausing  to  deliber- 
ate. A rapid  and  oblique  glance  at  the  moss  on 
the  trees,  with  an  occasional  upward  gaze  toward 
the  setting  sun,  or  a steady  but  passing  look  at 
the  direction  of  the  numerous  water  - courses 
through  which  he  waded,  were  sufficient  to  de- 
termine liis  path  and  remove  his  greatest  diffi- 
culties. In  the  mean  time,  the  forest  began  to 
change  its  hues,  losing  that  lively  green  which 
had  embellished  its  arches  in  the  graver  ligh^ 
which  is  the  usual  precursor  of  the  close  of  day. 

While  the  eyes  of  the  sisters  were  endeavor 
ing  to  catch  glimpses  through  the  trees  of  th< 
flood  of  golden  glory  which  formed  a glittering 
halo  around  the  sun,  tinging  here  and  there  with 
ruby  streaks,  or  bordering  with  narrow  edgings 

where  the  village  of  Ballston  now  stands ; one  of  the  two 
principal  watering-places  of  America. 


62 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


of  shining  yellow,  a mass  of  clouds  that  lay  piled 
at  no  great  distance  above  the  western  hills, 
Hawk-eye  turned  suddenly,  and,  pointing  upward 
toward  the  gorgeous  heavens,  he  spoke : 

“ Yonder  is  the  signal  given  to  man  to  seek 
his  food  and  natural  rest,”  he  said  ; “ better  and 
wiser  would  it  be,  if  he  could  understand  the 
signs  of  Natur’,  and  take  a lesson  from  the  fowls 
of  the  air,  and  the  beasts  of  the  fields ! Our 
night,  however,  will  soon  be  over ; for,  with  the 
moon,  we  must  be  up  and  moving  again.  I re- 
member to  have  fout  the  Maquas,  hereaway s,  in 
the  first  war  in  which  I ever  drew  blood  from 
man ; and  we  threw  up  a work  of  blocks,  to  keep 
the  ravenous  varments  from  handling  our  scalps. 
If  my  marks  do  not  fail  me,  we  shall  find  the 
place  a few  rods  farther  to  our  left.” 

Without  waiting  for  an  assent,  or,  indeed,  for 
any  reply,  the  sturdy  hunter  moved  boldly  into  a 
dense  thicket  of  young  chestnuts,  shoving  aside 
the  branches  of  the  exuberant  shoots  which 
nearly  covered  the  ground,  like  a man  who  ex- 
pected, at  each  step,  to  discover  some  object  he 
had  formerly  known.  The  recollection  of  the 
scout  did  not  deceive  him.  After  penetrating 
through  the  brush,  matted  as  it  was  with  briers, 
for  a few  hundred  feet,  he  entered  an  open  space, 
that  surrounded  a low,  green  hillock,  which  was 
crowned  by  the  decayed  block-house  in  question. 
This  rude  and  neglected  building  was  one  of  those 
deserted  works,  which,  having  been  thrown  up 
on  an  emergency,  had  been  abandoned  with  the 
disappearance  of  danger,  and  was  now  quietly 
crumbling  in  the  solitude  of  the  forest,  neglect- 
ed, and  nearly  forgotten,  like  the  circumstances 
which  had  caused  it  to  be  reared.  Such  memori- 
als of  the  passage  and  struggles  of  man  are  yet 
frequent  throughout  the  broad  barrier  of  wilder- 
ness which  once  separated  the  hostile  provinces, 
and  form  a species  of  ruins  that  are  intimately 
associated  with  the  recollections  of  colonial  his- 
tory, and  which  are  in  appropriate  keeping  with 
the  gloomy  character  of  the  surrounding  scenery.* 

* Seme  years  since,  the  writer  was  shooting  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  ruins  of  Fort  Oswego,  which  stands  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Ontario.  His  game  was  deer,  and  his  chase 
a forest  that  stretched,  with  little  interruption,  fifty  miles 
inland.  Unexpectedly  he  came  upon  six  or  eight  ladders 
lying  in  the  woods  within  a short  distance  of  each  other. 
They  were  rudely  made  and  much  decayed.  Wondering 
what  could  have  assembled  so  many  of  these  instruments 
in  such  a place,  he  sought  an  old  man  who  resided  near  for 
explanation. 

During  the  war  of  1776  Fort  Oswego  was  held  by  the 
British.  An  expedition  had  been  sent  two  hundred  miles 
through  the  wilderness  to  surprise  the  fort  It  appears 
that  the  Americans,  on  reaching  the  spot  named,  which 
was  within  a mile  or  two  of  the  fort,  first  learned  that  they 


The  roof  of  bark  had  long  since  fallen,  and  min 
gled  with  the  soil ; but  the  huge  logs  of  pine, 
which  had  been  hastily  thrown  together,  still  pre- 
served their  relative  positions,  though  one  angle 
of  the  work  had  given  way  under  the  pressure, 
and  threatened  a speedy  downfall  to  the  remain- 
der of  the  rustic  edifice.  While  Heyward  and 
his  companions  hesitated  to  approach  a building 
so  decayed,  Hawk-eye  and  the  Indians  entered 
within  the  low  walls,  not  only  without  fear,  but 
with  obvious  interest.  While  the  former  sur- 
veyed the  ruins,  both  internally  and  externally, 
with  the  curiosity  of  one  whose  recollections 
were  reviving  at  each  moment,  Chingachgook 
related  to  his  son,  in  the  language  of  the  Dela- 
wares, and  with  the  pride  of  a conqueror,  the 
brief  history  of  the  skirmish  which  had  been 
fought,  in  his  youth,  in  that  secluded  spot.  A 
strain  of  melancholy,  however,  blended  with  his 
triumph,  rendering  his  voice,  as  usual,  soft  and 
musical. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  sisters  gladly  dismount- 
ed, and  prepared  to  enjoy  their  halt  in  the  cool- 
ness of  the  evening,  and  in  a security  which  they 
believed  nothing  but  the  beasts  of  the  forest 
could  invade. 

“ Would  not  our  resting-place  have  been  more 
retired,  my  worthy  friend,”  demanded  the  more 
vigilant  Duncan,  perceiving  that  the  scout  had 
already  finished  his  short  survey,  “ had  we  chosen 
a spot  less  known,  and  one  more  rarely  visited 
than  this  ? ” 

“Few  live  who  know  the  block-house  was 
ever  raised,”  was  the  slow  and  musing  answer ; 
“ ’tis  not  often  that  books  are  made,  and  narra- 
tives written,  of  such  a skrimmage  as  was  here 
fout  atween  the  Mohicans  and  the  Mohawks,  in 
a war  of  their  own  waging.  I was  then  a younk- 
er,  and  went  out  with  the  Delawares,  because  I 
know’d  they  were  a scandalized  and  wronged  race. 
Forty  days  and  forty  nights  did  the  imps  crave 
our  blood  around  this  pile  of  logs,  which  I de- 
signed and  partly  reared,  being,  as  you’ll  re- 
member, no  Indian  myself,  but  a man  without  a 
cross.  The  Delawares  lent  themselves  to  the 
work,  and  we  make  it  good,  ten  to  twenty,  until 
our  numbers  were  nearly  equal,  and  then  we  sal- 
lied out  upon  the  hounds,  and  not  a man  of  them 
ever  got  back  to  tell  the  fate  of  his  party.  Yes, 
yes ; I was  then  young,  and  new  to  the  sight  of 
blood ; and  not  relishing  the  thought  that  crea-' 
tures  who  had  spirits  like  myself  should  lay  on 

were  expected,  and  in  great  danger  of  being  cut  off.  They 
threw  away  their  scaling-ladders,  and  made  a rapid  retreat 
These  ladders  had  lain  unmolested  thirty  years,  in  tbo  spot 
where  they  had  thus  been  cast. 


A NIGHT  IN  THE  RUINED  BLOCK-HOUSE, 


63 


the  naked  ground,  to  be  torn  asunder  by  beasts, 
or  to  bleach  in  the  rains,  I buried  the  dead  with 
my  own  hands,  under  that  very  little  hillock 
where  you  have  placed  yourselves ; and  no  bad 
seat  does  it  make  neither,  though  it  be  raised  by 
the  bones  of  mortal  men.” 

Heyward  and  the  sisters  arose,  on  the  instant, 
from  the  grassy  sepulchre ; nor  could  the  two  latter, 
notwithstanding  the  terrific  scenes  they  had  so  re- 
cently passed  through,  entirely  suppress  an  emo- 
tion of  natural  horror,  when  they  found  themselves 
in  such  familiar  contact  with  the  grave  of  the 
dead  Mohawks.  The  gray  light,  the  gloomy  little 
area  of  dark  grass,  surrounded  by  its  border  of 
brush,  beyond  which  the  pines  rose,  in  breathing 
silence,  apparently,  into  the  very  clouds,  and  the 
death-like  stillness  of  the  vast  forest,  were  all  in 
unison  to  deepen  such  a sensation. 

“ They  are  gone,  and  they  are  harmless,”  con- 
tinued Hawk-eye,  waving  his  hand,  with  a melan- 
choly smile,  at  their  manifest  alarm;  “they’ll 
never  shout  the  war-whoop  nor  strike  a blow  with 
the  tomahawk  again ! And  of  all  those  who  aided 
in  placing  them  where  they  lie,  Chingachgook  and 
I only  are  living ! The  brothers  and  family  of 
the  Mohican  formed  our  war-party ; and  you  see 
Before  you  all  that  are  now  left  of  his  race.” 

The  eyes  of  the  listeners  involuntarily  sought 
the  forms  of  the  Indians,  with  a compassionate  in- 
terest in  their  desolate  fortune.  Their  dark  per- 
sons were  still  to  be  seen  within  the  shadows  of 
the  block-house,  the  son  listening  to  the  relation 
of  his  father  with  that  sort  of  intenseness  which 
would  be  created  by  a narrative  that  redounded  so 
much  to  the  honor  of  those  whose  names  he  had 
long  revered  for  their  courage  and  savage  virtues. 

“ I had  thought  the  Delawares  a pacific  peo- 
ple,” said  Duncan,  “ and  that  they  never  waged 
war  in  person ; trusting  the  defence  of  their  lands 
to  those  very  Mohawks  that  you  slew ! ” 

“ ’ Tis  true  in  part,”  returned  the  scout,  “ and 
yet,  at  the  bottom,  ’tis  a wicked  lie.  Such  a 
treaty  was  made  in  ages  gone  by,  through  the 
deviltries  of  the  Dutchers,  who  wished  to  disarm 
the  natives  that  had  the  best  right  to  the  country, 
where  they  had  settled  themselves.  The  Mohi- 
cans, though  a part  of  the  same  nation,  having  to 
deal  with  the  English,  never  entered  into  the  silly 
bargain,  but  kept  to  their  manhood ; as  in  truth 
did  the  Delawares,  when  their  eyes  were  opened 
to  their  folly.  You  see  before  you  a chief  of  the 
great  Mohican  sagamores ! Once  his  family  could 
chase  their  deer  over  tracts  of  country  wider  than 
tnat  which  belongs  to  the  Albany  Patteroon,  with- 
out crossing  brook  or  hill  that  was  not  their 
own-  but  what  is  left  to  their  descendant?  He 

. 20 


may  find  his  six  feet  of  eai  th  when  God  chooses, 
and  keep  it  in  peace,  perhaps,  if  he  has  a friend 
who  will  take  the  pains  to  sink  his  head  so  low, 
that  the  ploughshares  cannot  reach  it ! ” 

“ Enough ! ” said  Heyward,  apprehensive  that 
the  subject  might  lead  to  a discussion  that  would 
interrupt  the  harmony  so  necessary  to  the  preser- 
vation of  his  fair  companions ; “ we  have  jour- 
neyed far,  and  few  among  us  are  blessed  with 
forms  like  that  of  yours,  which  seems  to  know 
neither  fatigue  nor  weakness.” 

“ The  sinews  and  bones  of  a man  cany  me 
through  it  all,”  said  the  hunter,  surveying  his 
muscular  limbs  with  a simplicity  that  betrayed 
the  honest  pleasure  the  compliment  afforded  him  ; 
“ there  are  larger  and  heavier  men  to  be  found  in 
the  settlements,  but  you  might  travel  many  days 
in  a city  before  you  could  meet  one  able  to  walk 
fifty  miles  without  stopping  to  take  breath,  or 
who  has  kept  the  hounds  within  hearing  during 
a chase  of  hours.  However,  as  flesh  and  blood 
are  not  always  the  same,  it  is  quite  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  the  gentle  ones  are  willing  to  rest, 
after  all  they  have  seen  and  done  this  day. — Uncas, 
clear  out  the  spring,  while  your  father  and  I make 
a cover  for  their  tender  heads  of  those  chestnut- 
shoots,  and  a bed  of  grass  and  leaves.” 

The  dialogue  ceased,  while  the  hunter  and  his 
companions  busied  themselves  in  preparations  for 
the  comfort  and  protection  of  those  they  guided. 
A spring,  which  many  long  years  before  had  in- 
duced the  natives  to  select  the  place  for  their 
temporary  fortification,  was  soon  cleared  of  leaves, 
and  a fountain  of  crystal  gushed  from  the  bed, 
diffusing  its  waters  over  the  verdant  hillock.  A 
corner  of  the  building  was  then  roofed  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  exclude  the  heavy  dew  of  the  cli- 
mate, and  piles  of  sweet  shrubs  and  dried  leaves 
were  laid  beneath  it  for  the  sisters  to  repose  on. 

While  the  diligent  woodsmen  were  employed 
in  this  manner,  Cora  and  Alice  partook  of  that 
refreshment  which  duty  required  much  more  than 
inclination  prompted  them  to  accept.  They  then 
retired  within  the  walls,  and  first  offering  up 
their  thanksgivings  for  past  mercies,  and  petition- 
ing for  a continuance  of  the  Divine  favor  through- 
out the  coming  night,  they  laid  their  tender  forms 
on  the  fragrant  couch,  and  in  spite  of  recollec- 
tions and  forebodings,  soon  sank  into  those  slum- 
bers which  Nature  so  imperiously  demanded,  and 
which  were  sweetened  by  hopes  for  the  morrow 
Duncan  had  prepared  himself  to  pass  the  night  in 
watchfulness  near  them,  just  without  the  ruin,  but 
the  scout,  perceiving  his  intention,  pointed  toward 
Chingachgook,  as  he  coolly  disposed  his  own  pen 
son  on  the  grass,  and  said  : 


C4  the  last  of 

“ The  eyes  of  a white  man  are  too  heavy  and 
too  blind  for  such  a watch  as  this ! The  Mohican 
will  be  our  sentinel ; therefore,  let  us  sleep.” 

I proved  myself  a sluggard  on  my  post  dur- 
ing the  past  nighA,”  said  Heyward,  “and  have 
less  need  of  repose  than  you,  who  did  more  credit 
to  the  character  of  a soldier.  Let  all  the  party 
seek  their  rest,  while  I hold  the  guard.” 

“ If  we  lay  among  the  white  tents  of  the  60th, 
and  in  front  of  an  enemy  like  the  French,  I could 
not  ask  for  a better  watchman,”  returned  the 
scout ; “ but  in  the  darkness  and  among  the  signs 
of  the  wilderness,  your  judgment  would  be  like 
the  folly  of  a child,  and  your  vigilance  thrown 
away.  Do,  then,  like  Uncas  and  myself,  sleep, 
and  sleep  in  safety.” 

Heyward  perceived,  in  truth,  that  the  younger 
Indian  had  thrown  his  form  on  the  side  of  the 
hillock  while,  they  were  talking,  like  one  who 
sought  to  make  the  most  of  the  time  allotted  to 
rest,  and  that  his  example  had  been  followed  by 
David,  whose  voice  literally  “ clove  to  his  jaws  ” 
with  the  fever  of  his  wound,  heightened  as  it  was 
by  their  toilsome  march.  Unwilling  to  prolong  a 
useless  discussion,  the  young  man  affected  to 
comply,  by  posting  his  back  against  the  logs  of 
the  block-house,  in  a half-recumbent  posture, 
though  resolutely  determined,  in  his  own  mind, 
not  to  close  an  eye  until  he  had  delivered  his  pre- 
cious charge  into  the  arms  of  Munro  himself. 
Hawk-eye,  believing  he  had  prevailed,  soon  fell 
asleep,  and  a silence  as  deep  as  the  solitude  in 
which  they  had  found  it,  pervaded  the  retired 
spot. 

For  many  minutes  Duncan  succeeded  in  keep- 
ing his  senses  on  the  alert,  and  alive  to  every 
moaning  sound  that  arose  from  the  forest.  His 
vision  became  more  acute  as  the  shades  of  even- 
ing settled  on  the  place  ; and  even  after  the  stars 
were  glimmering  above  his  head,  he  was  able  to 
distinguish  the  recumbent  forms  of  his  compan- 
ions, as  they  lay  stretched  on  the  grass,  and  to 
note  the  person  of  Chingachgook,  who  sat  up- 
right and  motionless  as  one  of  the  trees  which 
formed  the  dark  barrier  on  every  side  of  them. 
He  still  heard  the  gentle  breathings  of  the  sis- 
ters, who  lay  within  a few  feet  of  him,  and  not  a 
leaf  was  ruffled  by  the  passing  air,  of  which  his 
ear  did  not  detect  the  whispering  sound.  At 
length,  however,  the  mournful  notes  of  a whip- 
poor-will  became  blended  with  the  moanings  of 
an  owl ; his  heavy  eyes  occasionally  sought  the 
bright  rays  of  the  stars,  and  then  he  fancied  he 
saw  them  through  the  fallen  lids.  At  instants  of 
momentary  wakefulness  he  mistook  a bush  for 
his  associate  sentinel ; his  head  next  sank  upon 


THE  MOHICANS. 

his  shoulder,  which,  in  its  turn,  sought  the  sup. 
port  of  the  ground  ; and,  finally,  his  whole  per- 
son became  relaxed  and  pliant,  and  the  young 
man  sank  into  a sleep,  dreaming  that  he  was  a 
knight  of  ancient  chivalry,  holding  his  midnight 
vigils  before  the  tent  of  a recaptured  princess, 
whose  favor  he  did  not  despair  of  gaining,  by 
such  a proof  of  devotion  and  watchfulness. 

How  long  the  tired  Duncan  lay  in  this  insen- 
sible state  he  never  knew  himself,  but  his  slum- 
bering visions  had  been  long  lost  in  total  forget- 
fulness, when  he  was  awakened  by  a light  tap  on 
the  shoulder.  Aroused  by  this  signal,  slight  as  it 
was,  he  sprang  upon  his  feet  with  a confused  recol- 
lection of  the  self-imposed  duty  he  had  assumed 
with  the  commencement  of  the  night. 

“ Who  comes  ? ” he  demanded,  feeling  for  his 
sword,  at  the  place  where  it  was  usually  suspend- 
ed. “ Speak ! friend  or  enemy  ? ” 

“Friend,”  replied  the  low  voice  of  Chingach- 
gook ; who,  pointing  upward  at  the  luminary 
which  was  shedding  its  mild  light  through  the' 
opening  in  the  trees,  directly  on  their  bivouac,  im- 
mediately added,  in  his  rude  English,  “moon 
comes,  and  white  man’s  fort  far — far  off ; time  to 
move,  when  sleCp  shuts  both  eyes  of  the  French- 
man ! ” 

“You  say  true!  call  up  your  friends,  and  bri- 
die  the  horses,  while  I prepare  my  own  companion* 
for  the  march ! ” 

“We  are  awake,  Duncan,”  said  the  soft,  sil- 
very tones  of  Alice  within  the  building,  “ and 
ready  to  travel  very  fast,  after  so  refreshing  a 
sleep ; but  you  have  watched  through  the  tedious 
night  in  our  behalf,  after  having  endured  so  much 
fatigue  the  livelong  day ! ” 

“ Say,  rather,  I would  have  watched,  but  my 
treacherous  eyes  betrayed  me ; twice  have  I proved 
myself  unfit  for  the  trust  I bear.” 

“ Nay,  Duncan,  deny  it  not,”  interrupted  the 
smiling  Alice,  issuing  from  the  shadows  of  the 
building  into  the  light  of  the  moon,  in  all  the 
loveliness  of  her  freshened  beauty ; “ I know  you 
to  be  a heedless  one,  when  self  is  the  object  of 
your  care,  and  but  too  vigilant  in  favor  of  others. 
Can  we  not  tarry  here  a little  longer,  while  you 
find  the  rest  you  need  ? Cheerfully,  most  cheer- 
fully, will  Cora  and  I keep  the  vigils,  while  you, 
and  all  these  brave  men,  endeavor  to  snatch  a 
little  sleep ! ” 

“ If  shame  could  cure  me  of  my  drowsiness,  I 
should  never  close  an  eye  again,”  said  the  uneasy 
youth,  gazing  at  the  ingenuous  countenance  of 
Alice,  where,  however,  in  its  sweet  solicitude,  he 
read  nothing  to  confirm  his  half-awakened  sus- 
picion. “It  is  but  too  true  that,  after  leading 


REAPPEARANCE  OF  THE  HURONS. 


C5 


you  into  danger  by  my  heedlessness,  I have  not 
even  the  merit  of  guarding  your  pillows  as  should 
become  a soldier.” 

“No  one  but  Duncan  himself  should  accuse 
Duncan  of  such  a weakness.  Go,  then,  and  sleep ; 
believe  me,  neither  of  us,  weak  girls  as  we  are, 
will  betray  our  watch.” 

The  young  man  was  relieved  from  the  awk- 
wardness of  making  any  further  protestations  of 
his  own  demerits,  by  an  exclamation  from  Chin- 
gachgook,  and  the  attitude  of  riveted  attention 
assumed  by  his  son. 

“ The  Mohicans  hear  an  enemy  ! ” whispered 
Hawk-eye,  who,  by  this  time,  in  common  with  the 
whole  party,  was  awake  and  stirring.  “ They 
scent  danger  in  the  wind  ! ” 

“ God  forbid  ! ” exclaimed  Heyward.  “ Surely 
we  have  had  enough  of  bloodshed  ! ” 

While  he  spoke,  however,  the  young  soldier 
seized  his  rifle,  and,  advancing  toward  the  front, 
prepared  to  atone  for  his  venial  remissness,  by 
freely  exposing  his  life  in  defence  of  those  he  at- 
tended. 

“’Tis  some  creature  of  the  forest  prowling 
around  us  in  quest  of  food,”  he  said,  in  a whisper, 
as  soon  as  the  low  and  apparently  distant  sounds, 
which  had  startled  the  Mohicans,  reached  his  own 
ears. 

“ Hist ! ” returned  the  attentive  scout ; “ ’tis 
man ; even  I can  now  tell  his  tread,  poor  as  my 
senses  are  when  compared  to  an  Indian’s  ! That 
scampering  Huron  has  fallen  in  with  one  of  Mont- 
calm’s outlying  parties  and  they  have  struck  upon 
our  trail.  I shouldn’t  like,  myself,  to  spill  more 
human  blood  in  this  spot,”  he  added,  looking 
around  with  anxiety  in  his  features,  at  the  dim 
objects  by  which  he  was  surrounded  ; “ but  what 
must  be,  must ! — Lead  the  horses  into  the  block- 
house, IJncas ; and,  friends,  do  you  follow  to  the 
same  shelter.  Poor  and  old  as  it  is,  it  offers  a 
cover,  and  has  rung  with  the  crack  of  a rifle  afore 
to-night ! ” 

He  was  instantly  obeyed,  the  Mohicans  leading 
■he  Narragansets  within  the  ruin,  whither  the 
whole  party  repaired,  with  the  most  guarded 
silence.  The  sounds  of  approaching  footsteps 
were  now  too  distinctly  audible,  to  leave  any 
doubts  as  to  the  nature  of  the  interruption.  They 
were  soon  mingled  with  voices  calling  to  each 
other  in  an  Indian  dialect  which  the  hunter,  in  a 
whisper,  affirmed  to  Heyward  was  the  language 
of  the  Hurons.  When  the  party  reached  the 
point  where  the  horses  had  entered  the  thicket 
which  surrounded  the  block-house,  they  were 
evidently  at  fault,  having  lost  those  marks  which, 
until  this  moment,  had  directed  their  pursuit. 

5 


It  would  seem  by  the  voices  that  twenty  men 
were  soon  collected  at  that  one  spot,  mingling 
their  different  opinions  and  advice  in  noisy 
clamor. 

“ The  knaves  know  our  weakness,”  whispered 
Hawk-eye,  who  stood  by  the  side  of  Heyward,  in 
deep  shade,  looking  through  an  opening  in  the 
logs,  “ or  they  wouldn’t  indulge  their  idleness  in 
such  a squaw’s  march.  Listen  to  the  reptiles  ! 
each  man  among  them  seems  to  have  two  tongues, 
and  but  a single  leg.” 

Duncan,  brave  as  he  was  in  combat,  could  not, 
in  such  a moment  of  painful  suspense,  make  any 
reply  to  the  cool  and  characteristic  remark  of 
the  scout.  He  only  grasped  his  rifle  more  firmly, 
and  fastened  his  eyes  upon  the  narrow  open- 
ing, through  which  he  gazed  upon  the  moonlight 
view  with  increasing  anxiety.  The  deeper  tones 
of  one  who  spoke  as  having  authority  were  next 
heard,  amid  a silence  that  denoted  the  respect 
with  which  his  orders,  or  rather  advice,  was  re- 
ceived. After  which,  by  the  rustling  leaves,  and 
cracking  of  dried  twigs,  it  was  apparent  the  sav- 
ages were  separating  in  pursuit  of  the  lost  trail. 
Fortunately  for  the  pursued,  the  light  of  the  moon, 
while  it  shed  a flood  of  mild  lustre  upon  the  little 
area  around  the  ruin,  was  not  sufficiently  strong 
to  penetrate  the  deep  arches  of  the  forest,  where 
the  objects  still  lay  in  deceptive  shadow.  The 
search  proved  fruitless  ; for  so  short  and  sudden 
had  been  the  passage  from  the  faint  path  the 
travellers  had  journeyed  into  the  thicket,  that 
every  trace  of  their  footsteps  was  lost  in  the  ob- 
scurity of  the  woods. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  restless 
savages  were  heard  beating  the  brush,  and  gradu- 
ally approaching  the  inner  edge  of  that  dense 
border  of  young  chestnuts  which  encircled  the 
little  area. 

“ They  are  coming,”  muttered  Heyward,  en- 
deavoring to  thrust  his  rifle  through  the  chink  in 
the  logs ; “ let  us  fire  on  their  approach.” 

“Keep  every  thing  in  the  shade,”  returned 
the  scout ; “ the  snapping  of  a flint,  or  even  the 
smell  of  a single  karnel  of  the  brimstone,  would, 
bring  the  hungry  varlets  upon  us  in  a body. 
Should  it  please  God  that  we  must  give  battle 
for  the  scalps,  trust  to  the  experience  of  men 
who  know  the  ways  of  the  savages,  and  who 
are  not  often  backward  when  the  war-whoop  is 
howled.” 

Duncan  cast  his  eyes  behind  him,  and  saw 
that  the  trembling  sisters  were  cowering  in  the 
far  corner  of  the  building,  while  the  Mohicans 
stood  in  the  shadow,  like  two  upright  posts,  ready, 
and  apparently  willing,  to  strike,  when  the  blow 


56 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


should  bo  needed.  Curbing  his  impatience,  he 
again  looked  out  upon  the  area,  and  awaited  the  re- 
sult in  silence.  At  that  instant,  the  thicket  opened, 
and  a tall  and  armed  Huron  advanced  a few  paces 
into  the  open  space.  As  he  gazed  upon  the  silent 
block-house,  the  moon  fell  full  upon  his  swarthy 
countenance,  and  betrayed  its  surprise  and  curi- 
osity. He  made  the  exclamation  which  usually 
accompanies  the  former  emotion  in  an  Indian, 
and,  calling  in  a low  voice,  soon  drew  a compan- 
ion to  his  side. 

These  children  of  the  woods  stood  together 
for  several  moments  pointing  at  the  crumbling 
edifice,  and  conversing  in  the  unintelligible  lan- 
guage of  their  tribe.  They  then  approached, 
though  with  slow  and  cautious  steps,  pausing 
every  instant  to  look  at  the  building,  like  startled 
deer,  whose  curiosity  struggled  powerfully  with 
their  awakened  apprehensions  for  the  mastery. 
The  foot  of  one  of  them  suddenly  rested  on  the 
mound,  and  he  stooped  to  examine  its  nature. 
At  this  moment,  Heyward  observed  that  the  scout 
loosened  his  knife  in  its  sheath,  and  lowered  the 
muzzle  of  his  rifle.  Imitating  these  movements, 
the  young  man  prepared  himself  for  the  struggle, 
which  now  seemed  inevitable. 

The  savages  were  so  near,  that  the  least  mo- 
tion in  one  of  the  horses,  or  even  a breath  louder 
than  common,  would  have  betrayed  the  fugitives. 
But,  in  discovering  the  character  of  the  mound, 
the  attention  of  the  Hurons  appeared  directed  to 
a different  object.  They  spoke  together,  and  the 
sounds  of  their  voices  were  low  and  solemn,  as  if 
influenced  by  a reverence  that  was  deeply  blended 
with  awe.  Then  they  drew  warily  back,  keeping 
their  eyes  riveted  on  the  ruin,  as  if  they  expected 
to  see  the  apparitions  of  the  dead  issue  from  its 
silent  walls,  until,  having  reached  the  boundary 
of  the  area,  they  moved  slowly  into  the  thicket, 
and  disappeared. 

Hawk-eye  dropped  the  breech  of  his  rifle  to 
the  earth,  and  drawing  a long,  free  breath,  ex- 
claimed in  an  audible  whisper : 

“ Ay  ! they  respect  the  dead,  and  it  has  this 
Jtime  saved  their  own  lives,  and,  it  may  be,  the 
lives  of  better  men  too.” 

Heyward  lent  his  attention,  for  a single  mo- 
ment, to  his  companion,  but,  without  replying,  he 
again  turned  toward  those  who  just  then  inter- 
ested him  more.  He  heard  the  two  Hurons  leave 
ihe  bushes,  and  it  was  soon  plain  that  all  the  pur- 
suers were  gathered  about  them,  in  deep  attention 
to  their  report.  After  a few  minutes  of  earnest 
and  solemn  dialogue,  altogether  different  from 
the  noisy  mamor  with  which  they  had  first  col- 
lected about  the  spot,  the  sounds  grew  fainter 


and  more  distant,  and  finally  were  lost  in  the 
depths  of  the  forest. 

Hawk-eye  waited  until  a signal  from  the  listen- 
ing Chingachgo6k  assured  him,  that  every  sound 
from  the  retiring  party  was  completely  swallowed 
by  the  distance,  when  he  motioned  to  Heyward 
to  lead  forth  the  horses,  and  to  assist  the  sister* 
into  their  saddles.  The  instant  this  was  done, 
they  issued  through  the  broken  gate- way,  and, 
stealing  out  by  a direction  opposite  to  the  one 
by  which  they  had  entered,  they  quitted  the  spot> 
the  sisters  casting  furtive  glances  at  the  silent 
grave  and  crumbling  ruin,  as  they  left  the  soft 
light  of  the  moon,  to  bury  themselves  in  the  gloom 
of  the  woods. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

“ Guard— Qui  est  la ? 

“Puc.— Paisans,  pauvres  geus  de  France. 

King  Henky  VI. 

During  the  rapid  movement  from  the  block- 
house, and  until  the  party  was  deeply  buried  in 
the  forest,  each  individual  was  too  much  inter- 
ested in  the  escape  to  hazard  a word  even  in 
whispers.  The  scout  resumed  his  post  in  the  ad- 
vance, though  his  steps,  after  he  had  thrown  a 
safe  distance  between  himself  and  his  enemies, 
were  more  deliberate  than  in  their  previous  march, 
in  consequence  of  his  utter  ignorance  of  the  lo- 
calities of  the  surrounding  woods.  More  than 
once  he  halted  to  consult  with  his  confederates, 
the  Mohicans,  pointing  upward  at  the  moon,  and 
examining  the  barks  of  the  trees  with  care.  In 
these  brief  pauses,  Heyward  and  the  sisters  lis- 
tened, with  senses  rendered  doubly  acute  by  the 
danger,  to  detect  any  symptoms  which  might  an- 
nounce the  proximity  of  their  foes.  At  sueh  mo- 
ments, it  seemed  as  if  a vast  range  of  country  lay 
buried  in  eternal  sleep  ; not  the  least  sound  aris- 
ing from  the  forest,  unless  it  was  the  distant  and 
scarcely-audible  rippling  of  a water-course.  Birds, 
beasts,  and  man,  appeared  to  slumber  alike,  if, 
indeed,  any  of  the  latter  were  to  be  found  in  that 
wide  tract  of  wilderness.  But  the  sounds  of  the 
rivulet,  feeble  and  murmuring  as  they  were,  re- 
lieved the  guides  at  once  from  no  trifling  embar- 
rassment, and  toward  it  they  immediately  held 
their  way. 

When  the  banks  of  the  little  stream  were 
gained,  Hawk-eye  made  another  halt ; and,  tak- 
ing the  moccasins  from  his  feet,  he  invited  Hey- 
ward and  Gamut  to  follow  his  example.  He  then 
entered  the  water,  and  for  near  an  hour  they 


THE  BLOODY  POND/ 


67 


travelled  in  the  bed  of  the  brook,  leaving  no  trail. 
The  moon  had  already  sunk  into  an  immense  pile 
of  black  clouds,  which  lay  impending  above  the 
western  horizon,  when  they  issued  from  the  low 
and  devious  water-course  to  rise  again  to  the 
night  and  level  of  the  sandy  but  wooded  plain. 
Here  the  scout  seemed  to  be  once  more  at  home, 
for  he  held  on  his  way  with  the  certainty  and 
diligence  of  a man  who  moved  in  the  security  of 
his  own  knowledge.  The  path  soon  became  more 
uneven,  and  the  travellers  could  plainly  perceive 
that  the  mountains  drew  nigher  to  them  on  each 
hand,  and  that  they  were,  in  truth,  about  enter- 
ing one  of  their  gorges.  Suddenly,  Haw^-eye 
made  a pause,  and,  waiting  until  he  was  joined  by 
the  whole  party,  he  spoke,  though  in  tones  so  low 
and  cautious  that  they  added  to  the  solemnity 
of  his  words,  in  the  quiet  and  darkness  of  the 
place. 

“It  is  easy  to  know  the  pathways,  and  to 
find  the  licks  and  water-courses  of  the  wilder- 
ness,” he  said ; “ but  who  that  saw  this  spot 
could  venture  to  say  that  a mighty  army  was  at 
rest  among  yonder  silent  trees  and  barren  moun- 
tains ? ” 

“We  are,  then,  at  no  great  distance  from 
William  Henry?”  said  Heyward,  advancing 
nigher  to  the  scout. 

“ It  is  yet  a long  and  weary  path,  and  when 
and  where  to  strike  it  is  now  our  greatest  difficulty. 
See,”  he  said,  pointing  through  the  trees  toward 
a spot  where  a little  basin  of  water  reflected  the 
stars  from  its  placid  bosom,  “here  is  the  ‘bloody 
pond ; ’ and  I am  on  ground  that  I have  not  only 
often  travelled,  but  over  which  I have  fou’t  the 
enemy,  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun.” 

“Ha!  that  sheet  of  dull  and  dreary  water, 
then,  is  the  sepulchre  of  the  brave  men  who  fell 
in  the  contest.  I haVe  heard  it  named,  but  never 
have  I stood  on  its  banks  before.” 

“ Three  battles  did  we  make  with  the  Dutch- 
Frenchman*  in  a day,”  continued  Hawk-eye, 
pursuing  the  train  of  his  own  thoughts,  rather 
than  replying  to  the  remark  of  Duncan.  “ He 
met  us  hard  by,  in  our  outward  march  to  ambush 
his  advance,  and  scattered  us,  like  driven  deer, 
through  the  defile,  to  the  shores  of  Horican. 
Then  we  rallied  behind  our  fallen  trees,  and  made 
head  against  him,  under  Sir  William — who  was 
made  Sir  William  for  that  very  deed ; and  well 
did  we  pay  him  for  the  disgrace  of  the  morning. 
Hundreds  of  Frenchmen  saw  the  sun  that  day 

* Baron  Dieskau,  a German,  in  the  service  of  France. 
L few  years  previously  to  the  period  of  the  tale,  this  offi- 
eer  was  defeated  by  Sir  "William  Johnson,  of  Johnstown, 
New  York,  on  the  shores  of  Lake  George. 


for  the  last  time ; and  even  their  leader,  Dieskau, 
himself,  fell  into  our  hands,  so  cut  and  torn  with 
the  lead,  that  he  has  gone  back  to  his  own  coun- 
try, unfit  for  further  acts  in  war.” 

“ ’Twas  a noble  repulse ! ” exclaimed  Heyward, 
in  the  heat  of  his  youthful  ardor  ; “ the  fame  of 
it  reached  us  early,  in  our  southern  army.” 

“ Ay  ! but  it  did  not  end  there.  I was  sent 
by  Major  Effingham,  at  Sir  William’s  own  bid- 
ding, to  outflank  the  French,  and  carry  the  tid- 
ings of  their  disaster  across  the  portage,  to  the 
fort  on  the  Hudson.  Just  hereaway,  where  you 
see  the  trees  rise  into  a mountain -swell,  I met  a 
party  coming  down  to  our  aid,  and  I led  them 
where  the  enemy  were  taking  their  meal,  little 
dreaming  that  they  had  not  finished  the  bloody 
work  of  the  day.” 

“And  you  surprised  them  ? ” 

“ If  death  can  be  a surprise  to  men  who  are 
thinking  only  of  the  cravings  of  their  appetites. 
We  gave  them  but  little  breathing-time,  for  they 
had  borne  hard  upon  us  in  the  fight  of  the  morn- 
ing, and  there  were  few  in  our  party  who  had  not 
lost  friend  or  relative  by  their  hands.  When  all 
was  over,  the  dead,  and  some  say  the  dying,  were 
cast  into  that  little  pond.  These  eyes  have  seen 
its  waters  colored  with  blood,  as  natural  water 
never  yet  flowed  from  the  bowels  of  the  ’arth.” 

“ It  was  a convenient,  and,  I trust,  will  prove 
a peaceful  grave  for  a soldier.  You  have,  then, 
seen  much  service  on  this  frontier  f” 

“ I ! ” said  the  scout,  erecting  his  tall  person 
with  an  air  of  military  pride ; “ there  are  not 
many  echoes  among  these  hills  that  haven’t  rung 
with  the  crack  of  my  rifle,  nor  is  there  the  space 
of  a square  mile  atwixt  Horican  and  the  river, 
that  ‘ Kill  Deer  ’ hasn’t  dropped  a living  body  on, 
be  it  an  enemy  or  be  it  a brute  beast.  As  for 
the  grave  there  being  as  quiet  as  you  mention,  it 
is  another  matter.  There  are  them  in  the  camp 
who  say  and  think,  man,  to  lie  still,  should  not 
be  buried  while  the  breath  is  in  the  body  ; and 
certain  it  is  that  in  the  hurry  of  that  evening, 
the  doctors  had  but  little  time  to  say  who  was 
living  and  who  was  dead.  Hist ! see  you  nothing 
walking  on  the  shore  of  the  pond  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  not  probable  that  any  are  as  houseless 
as  ourselves,  in  this  dreary  forest.” 

“ Such  as  he  may  care  but  little  for  house  or 
shelter,  and  night  dew  can  never  wet  a body  that 
passes  its  day§  in  the  water,”  returned  the  scout, 
grasping  the  shoulder  of  Heyward  with  such  con- 
vulsive strength  as  to  make  the  young  soldier 
painfully  sensible  how  much  superstitious  terror 
had  got  the  mastery  of  a man  usually  so  daunt- 
less. 


58 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ By  Heaven  ! there  is  a human  form,  and  it 
approaches ! Stand  to  your  arms,  my  friends  ; for 
we  know  not  whom  we  encounter.” 

“ Qui  vive  ? ” demanded  a stern,  quick  voice, 
which  sounded  like  a challenge  from  another 
world,  issuing  out  of  that  solitary  and  solemn 
place. 

“ What  says  it  ? ” whispered  the  scout ; “ it 
speaks  neither  Indian  nor  English  ! ” 

“ Qui  vive  ? ” repeated  the  same  voice,  which 
was  quickly  followed  by  the  rattling  of  arms,  and 
a menacing  attitude. 

“France!”  cried  Heyward,  advancing  from 
the  shadow  of  the  trees  to  the  shore  of  the  pond, 
within  a few  yards  of  the  sentinel. 

“ D’ou  venez-vous — ou  allez-vous,  d’aussi 
bonne  heure  ? ” demanded  the  grenadier,  in  the 
language  and  with  the  accent  of  a man  from  old 
France. 

“ Je  viens  de  la  decouverte,  et  je  vais  me 
coucher.” 

“ Etes-vous  officier  du  roi  ? ” 

“ Sans  doute,  mon  camarade ; me  prends-tu 
pour  un  provincial ! Je  suis  capitaine  de  chas- 
seurs ” (Heyward  well  knew  that  the  other  was  of 
a regiment  in  the  line) — “j’ai  ici,  avec  moi,  les 
lilies  du  commandant  de  la  fortification.  Aha ! tu 
en  as  entendu  parler  ! je  les  ai  fait  prisonnieres 
pres  de  l’autre  fort,  et  je  les  conduis  au  general.” 

“ Ma  foi ! mesdames  ; j’en  suis  fache  pour 
vous,”  exclaimed  the  young  soldier,  touching  his 
cap  with  grace  ; “ mais  — fortune  de  guerre  ! 
vous  trouverez  notre  general  un  brave  homme,  et 
bien  poli  avec  les  dames.” 

“ C’est  le  caractere  des  gens  de  guerre,”  said 
Cora,  with  admirable  self-possession.  “Adieu, 
mon  ami;  je  vous  souhaiterais  un  devoir  plus 
agreable  k remplir.” 

The  soldier  made  a low  and  humble  ac- 
knowledgment for  her  civility ; and  Heyward  add- 
ing a “ bonne  nuit,  mon  camarade,”  they  moved 
deliberately  forward,  leaving  the  sentinel  pacing 
the  banks  of  the  silent  pond,  little  suspecting  an 
enemy  of  so  much  effrontery,  and  humming  to 
himself  those  words,  which  were  recalled  to  his 
mind  by  the  sight  of  women,  and  perhaps  by 
recollections  of  his  own  distant  and  beautiful 
France — 

“Yive  le  vin,  vive  l’amour,”  etc.,  etc. 

“ ’Tis  well  you  understand  the  knave ! ” whis- 
pered the  scout  when  they  had  gained  a little 
distance  from  the  place,  and  letting  his  rifle  fall 
into  the  hollow  of  his  arm  again ; “ I soon  saw  that 
he  was  one  of  them  uneasy  Frenchers ; and  well 
for  him  it  was  that  his  speech  was  friendly  and  his 


wishes  kind,  or  a place  might  have  been  fount* 
for  his  bones  among  those  of  his  countrymen.” 

He  was  interrupted  by  a long  and  heavy  groan 
which  arose  from  the  little  basin,  as  though,  in 
truth,  the  spirits  of  the  departed  lingered  about 
their  watery  sepulchre. 

“ Surely  it  was  of  flesh  ! ” continued  the  scout ; 
“ no  spirit  could  handle  its  arms  so  steadily ! ” 

“ It  was  of  flesh  ; but  whether  the  poor  fellow 
still  belongs  to  this  world  may  well  be  doubted,” 
said  Heyward,  glancing  his  eyes  around  him,  and 
missing  Chingachgook  from  their  little  band. 
Another  groan  more  faint  than  the  former,  was 
succeeded  by  a heavy  and  sullen  plunge  into  the 
water,  and  all  was  as  still  again  as  if  the  borders 
of  the  dreary  pool  had  never  been  awakened 
from  the  silence  of  creation.  While  they  yet 
hesitated  in  uncertainty,  the  form  of  the  Indian 
was  seen  gliding  out  of  the  thicket.  As  the  chief 
rejoined  them,  with  one  hand  he  attached  the 
reeking  scalp  of  the  unfortunate  young  French- 
man to  his  girdle,  and  with  the  other  he  replaced 
the  knife  and  tomahawk  that  had  drunk  his  blood. 
He  then  took  his  wonted  station,  with  the  air  of 
a man  who  believed  he  had  done  a deed  of  merit. 

The  scout  dropped  one  end  of  his  rifle  to  the 
earth,  and  leaning  his  hands  on  the  other,  he 
stood  musing  in  profound  silence.  Then,  shaking 
his  head  in  a mournful  manner,  he  muttered  : 

“’Twould  have  been  a cruel  and  an  unhuman 
act  for  a white  man  ; but  ’tis  the  gift  and  natur’ 
of  an  Indian,  and  I suppose  it  should  not  be  de- 
nied. I could  wish,  though,  it  had  befallen  an 
accursed  Mingo,  rather  than  that  gay  young  boy 
from  the  old  countries.” 

“ Enough ! ” said  Heyward,  apprehensive  the 
unconscious  sisters  might  comprehend  the  nature 
of  their  detention,  and  conquering  his  disgust  by 
a train  of  reflections  very  much  like  that  of  the 
hunter ; “ ’tis  done ; and,  though  better  it  were 
left  undone,  cannot  be  amended.  You  see  we 
are,  too  obviously,  within  the  sentinels  of  the 
enemy ; what  course  do  you  propose  to  follow  ? ” 

“ Yes,”  said  Hawk-eye,  rousing  himself  again, 
“ ’tis,  as  you  say,  too  late  to  harbor  further 
thoughts  about  it.  Ay,  the  French  have  gathered 
around  the  fort  in  good  earnest,  and  we  have  a 
delicate  needle  to  thread  in  passing  them.” 

“ And  but  little  time  to  do  it  in,”  added  Hey. 
ward,  glancing  his  eyes  upward,  toward  the  bank 
of  vapor  that  concealed  the  setting  moon. 

“ And  little  time  to  do  it  in  ! ” repeated  the 
scout.  “ The  thing  may  be  done  in  two  fashions, 
by  the  help  of  Providence,  without  which  it  ma? 
not  be  done  at  all.” 

“ Name  them  quickly,  for  time  presses.’ 


A DANGEROUS  SITUATION. 


69 


“ One  would  be  to  dismount  the  gentle  ones, 
Mid  let  their  beasts  range  the  plain ; by  sending 
the  Mohicans  in  front,  we  might  then  cut  a lane 
through  their  sentries,  and  enter  the  fort  over  the 
dead  bodies.” 

“ It  will  not  do — it  will  not  do  ! ” interrupted 
the  generous  Heyward  ; Xl  a soldier  might  force  his 
way  in  this  manner,  but  never  with  such  a convoy.” 

“ ’Twould  be,  indeed,  a bloody  path  for  such 
tender  feet  to  wade  in,”  returned  the  equally  re- 
luctant scout ; “ but  I thought  it  befitting  my 
manhood  to  name  it.  We  must  then  turn  on  our 
trail,  and  get  without  the  line  of  their  lookouts, 
when  we  will  bend  short  to  the  west,  and  enter 
the  mountains ; where  I can  hide  you,  so  that  all 
the  devil’s  hounds  in  Montcalm’s  pay  would  be 
thrown  off  the  scent  for  months  to  come.” 

“Let  it  be  done,  and  that  instantly.” 

Further  words  were  unnecessary ; for  Hawk- 
eye,  merely  uttering  the  mandate  to  “follow,” 
moved  along  the  route  by  which  they  had  just 
entered  their  present  critical  and  even  dangerous 
situation.  Their  progress,  like  their  late  dialogue, 
was  guarded,  and  without  noise ; for  none  knew 
at  what  moment  a passing  patrol,  or  a crouching 
picket,  of  the  enemy,  might  rise  upon  their  path. 
As  they  held  their  silent  way  along  the  margin  of 
the  pond,  again  Heyward  and  the  scout  stole  fur- 
tive glances  at  its  appalling  dreariness.  They 
looked  in  vain  for  the  form  they  had  so  recently 
seen  stalking  along  its  silent  shores,  while  a low 
and  regular  wash  of  the  little  waves,  by  announc- 
ing that  the  waters  were  not  yet  subsided,  fur- 
nished a frightful  memorial  of  the  deed  of  blood 
they  had  just  witnessed.  Like  all  that  passing 
and  gloomy  scene,  the  low  basin,  however,  quick- 
ly melted  in  the  darkness,  and  became  blended 
with  the  mass  of  black  objects  in  the  rear  of  the 
travellers. 

Hawk-eye  soon  deviated  from  the  line  of  their 
retreat,  and,  striking  off  toward  the  mountains 
which  form  the  western  boundary  of  the  narrow 
plain,  he  led  his  followers,  with  swift  steps,  deep 
within  the  shadows  that  were  cast  from  their  high 
and  broken  summits.  The  route  was  now  pain- 
ful; lying  over  ground  ragged  with  rocks,  and 
intersected  with  ravines,  and  their  progress  pro- 
portionately slow.  Bleak  and  black  hills  lay  on 
every  side  of  them,  compensating  in  some  degree 
for  the  additional  toil  of  the  march,  by  the  sense 
of  security  they  imparted.  At  length  the  party 
began  slowly  to  rise  a steep  and  rugged  ascent, 
by  a path  that  curiously  wound  among  rocks  and 
trees,  avoiding  the  one,  and  supported  by  the 
other,  in  a manner  that  showed  it  had  been  de- 
vised by  men  long  practised  in  the  arts  of  the 


wilderness.  As  they  gradually  rose  from  the 
level  of  the  valleys,  the  thick  darkness  which  usu- 
ally precedes  the  approach  of  day  began  to  dis- 
perse, and  objects  were  seen  in  the  plain  and  pal- 
pable colors  with  which  they  had  been  gifted  by 
Nature.  When  they  issued  from  the  stunted 
woods  which  clung  to  the  barren  sides  of  the 
mountain,  upon  a flat  and  mossy  rock  that  formed 
its  summit,  they  met  the  morning,  as  it  came 
blushing  above  the  green  pines  of  a hill  that  lay 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley  of  the  Horican. 

The  scout  now  told  the  sisters  to  dismount ; 
and  taking  the  bridles  from  the  mouths,  and  the 
saddles  off  the  backs  of  the  jaded  beasts,  he 
turned  them  loose,  to  glean  a scanty  subsistence 
among  the  shrubs  and  meagre  herbage  of  that 
elevated  region. 

“ Go,”  he  said,  “ and  seek  your  food  where 
Natur’  gives  it  you ; and  beware  that  you  become 
not  food  to  ravenous  wolves  yourselves,  among 
these  hills.” 

“Have  we  no  further  need  of  them?”  de- 
manded Heyward. 

“See,  and  judge  with  your  own  eyes,”  said 
the  scout,  advancing  toward  the  eastern  brow  of 
the  mountain,  whither  he  beckoned  for  the  whole 
party  to  follow  ;*  “ if  it  was  as  easy  to  look  into 
the  heart  of  man  as  it.  is  to  spy  out  the  nakedness 
of  Montcalm’s  camp  from  this  spot,  hypocrites 
would  grow  scarce,  and  the  cunning  of  a Mingo 
might  prove  a losing  game,  compared  to  the  hon- 
esty of  a Delaware.” 

When  the  travellers  reached  the  verge  of  the 
precipice,  they  saw  at  a glance  the  truth  of  the 
scout’s  declaration,  and  the  admirable  foresight 
with  which  he  had  led  them  to  their  commanding 
station. 

The  mountain  on  which  they  stood,  elevated, 
perhaps,  a thousand  feet  in  the  air,  was  a high 
cone  that  rose  a little  in  advance  of  that  range 
which  stretches  for  miles  along  the  western  shores 
of  the  lake,  until  meeting  its  sister-piles,  beyond 
the  water,  it  ran  off  toward  the  Canadas,  in  con- 
fused and  broken  masses  of  rock  thinly  sprinkled 
with  evergreens.  Immediately  at  the  feet  of  the 
party,  the  southern  shore  of  the  Horican  swept 
in  a broad  semicircle,  from  mountain  to  mountain, 
marking  a wide  strand,  that  soon  rose  into  an 
uneven  and  somewhat  elevated  plain.  To  the 
north,  stretched  the  limpid,  and,  as  it  appeared 
from  that  dizzy  height,  the  narrow  sheet  of  the 
“holy  lake,”  indented  with  numberless  bays,  em- 
bellished by  fantastic  headlands,  and  dotted  with 
countless  islands.  At  the  distance  of  a few 
leagues,  the  bed  of  the  waters  became  lost  among 
mountains,  or  was  wrapped  in  the  masses  of  va- 


ro 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


por  that  came  slowly  rolling  along  their  bosom, 
before  a light  morning  air.  But  a narrow  open- 
ing between  the  crests  of  the  hills  pointed  out  the 
passage  by  which  they  found  their  way  still  far- 
ther north,  to  spread  their  pure  and  ample  sheets 
again,  before  pouring  out  their  tribute  into  the 
distant  Champlain.  To  the  south  stretched  the 
defile,  or  rather  broken  plain,  so  often  mentioned. 
For  several  miles  in  this  direction,  the  mountains 
appeared  reluctant  to  yield  their  dominion,  but 
within  reach  of  the  eye  they  diverged,  and  finally 
melted  into  the  level  and  sandy  lands,  across 
which  we  have  accompanied  our  adventurers  in 
their  double  journey.  Along  both  ranges  of  hills, 
which  bounded  the  opposite  sides  of  the  lake  and 
valley,  clouds  of  light  vapor  were  rising  in  spiral 
wreaths  from  the  uninhabited  woods,  looking 
like  the  smokes  of  hidden  cottages ; or  rolled 
lazily  down  the  declivities,  to  mingle  with  the 
fogs  of  the  lower  land.  A single,  solitary,  snow- 
white  cloud  floated  above  the  valley,  and  marked 
the  spot  beneath  which  lay  the  silent  pool  of  the 
“ bloody  pond.” 

Directly  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  and  nearer 
to  its  western  than  to  its  eastern  margin,  lay  the 
extensive  earthen  ramparts  and  low  buildings  of 
William  Henry.  Two  of  the  sweeping  bastions 
appeared  to  rest  on  the  water  which  washed  their 
bases,  while  a deep  ditch  and  extensive  morasses 
guarded  its  other  sides  and  angles.  The  land  had 
been  cleared  of  wood  for  a reasonable  distance 
around  the  work,  but  every  other  part  of  the  scene 
lav  in  the  green  livery  of  Nature,  except  where  the 
Limpid  water  mellowed  the  view,  or  the  bold  rocks 
thrust  their  black  and  naked  heads  above  the  un- 
dulating outline  of  the  mountain-ranges.  In  its 
front  might  be  seen  the  scattered  sentinels,  who 
held  a weary  watch  against  their  numerous  foes  ; 
and,  within  the  walls  themselves,  the  travellers 
looked  down  upon  men  still,  drowsy  with  a night 
of  vigilance.  Toward  the  southeast,  but  in  im- 
mediate contact  with  the  fort,  was  an  intrenched 
camp,  posted  on  a rocky  eminence,  that  would 
have  been  far  more  eligible  for  the  work  itself,  in 
which  Hawk-eye  pointed  out  the  presence  of 
those  auxiliary  regiments  that  had  so  recently 
left  the  Hudson  in  their  company.  From  the 
woods,  a little  farther  to  the  south,  rose  numerous 
dark  and  lurid  smokes,  that  were  easily  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  purer  exhalations  of  the 
springs,  and  which  the  scout  also  showed  to  Hey- 
ward, as  evidences  that  the  enemy  lay  in  force  in 
that  direction. 

But  the  spectacle  which  most  concerned  the 
young  soldier  was  on  the  western  bank  of  the 
lake,  though  quite  near  to  its  southern  termina- 


tion. On  a strip  of  land,  which  appeared,  fron. 
his  stand,  too  narrow  to  contain  such  an  army, 
but  which,  in  truth,  extended  many  hundreds  of 
yards  from  the  shores  of  the  Horican  to  the  base 
of  the  mountain,  were  to  be  seen  the  white  tents 
and  military  engines  of  an  encampment  of  ten 
thousand  men.  Batteries  were  already  thrown 
up  in  their  front,  and  even  while  the  spectators 
above  them  were  looking  down,  with  such  differ- 
ent emotions,  on  a scene  which  lay  like  a map  be- 
neath their  feet,  the  roar  of  artillery  rose  from  the 
valley,  and  passed  off  in  thundering  echoes  along 
the  eastern  hills. 

“ Morning  is  just  touching  them  below,”  said 
the  deliberate  and  musing  scout,  “ and  the  watch- 
ers have  a mind  to  wake  up  the  sleepers  by  the 
sound  of  cannon.  We  are  a few  hours  too  late! 
Montcalm  has  already  filled  the  woods  with  his 
accursed  Iroquois.” 

“The  place  is,  indeed,  invested,”  returned 
Duncan,  “but  is  there  no  expedient  by  which  we 
may  enter  ? Capture  in  the  works  would  be  far 
preferable  to  falling  again  into  the  hands  of  roving 
Indians.” 

“ See  ! ” exclaimed  the  scout,  unconsciously 
directing  the  attention  of  Cora  to  the  quarters  of 
her  own  father,  “ how  that  shot  has  made  the 
stones  fly  from  the  side  of  the  commandant’s 
house ! Ay ! these  Frenchers  will  pull  it  to 
pieces  faster  than  it  was  put  together,  solid  and 
thick  though  it  ba” 

“ Heyward,  I sicken  at  the  sight  of  danger 
that  I cannot  share,”  said  the  undaunted  but 
anxious  daughter.  “ Let  us  go  to  Montcalm  and 
demand  admission  : he  dare  not  deny  a child  the 
boon.” 

“ You  would  scarce  find  the  tent  of  the  French- 
man with  the  hair  on  your  head,”  said  the  blunt 
scout.  “ If  I had  but  one  of  the  thousand  boats 
which  lie  empty  along  that  shore,  it  might  be 
done.  Ha  ! here  will  soon  be  an  end  of  the  fir- 
ing, for  yonder  comes  a fog  that  will  turn  day  to 
night,  and  make  an  Indian  arrow  more  dangerous 
than  a moulded  cannon.  Now,  if  you  are  equal 
to  the  work  and  will  follow,  I will  make  a push  ; 
for  I long  to  get  down  into  that  camp,  if  it  be 
only  to  scatter  some  Mingo  dogs  that  I see  lurk- 
ing in  the  skirts  of  yonder  thicket  of  birch.” 

“We  are  equal,”  said  Cora,  firmly:  “on  such 
an  errand  we  will  follow  to  any  danger.” 

The  scout  turned  to  her  with  a smile  of  honest 
and  cordial  approbation,  as  he  answered : 

“ I would  I had  a thousand  men,  of  brawny 
limbs  and  quick  eyes,  that  feared  death  as  little 
as  you ! I’d  send  them  jabbering  Frenchers  back 
into  their  den  again  afore  the  week  was  ended 


SAFE  ARRIVAL 

aowling  like  so  many  fettered  hounds  or  hungry 
wolves. — But  stir,”  he  added,  turning  from  her  to 
the  rest  of  the  party,  “ the  fog  comes  rolling  down 
so  fast  we  shall  have  but  just  the  time  to  meet  it 
on  the  plain  and  use  it  as  a cover.  Remember, 
if  any  accident  should  befall  me,  to  keep  the  air 
blowing  on  your  left  cheeks — or,  rather,  follow 
the  Mohicans  ; they’d  scent  their  way  be  it  in  day 
or  be  it  at  night.” 

He  then  waved  his  hand  for  them  to  follow, 
and  threw  himself  down  the  steep  declivity  with 
free  but  careful  footsteps.  Heyward  assisted  the 
sisters  to  descend,  and  in  a few  minutes  they  were 
all  far  down  a mountain  whose  sides  they  had 
climbed  with  so  much  toil  and  pain. 

The  direction  taken  by  Hawk-eye  soon  brought 
the  travellers  to  the  level  of  the  plain,  nearly  op- 
posite to  a sally-port  in  the  western  curtain  of 
the  fort,  which  lay,  itself,  at  the  distance  of  about 
half  a mile  from  the  point  where  he  halted  to  al- 
low Duncan  to  come  up  with  his  charge.  In  their 
eagerness,  and  favored  by  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
they  had  anticipated  the  fog,  which  was  rolling 
heavily  down  the  lake,  and  it  became  necessary  to 
pause  until  the  mists  had  wrapped  the  camp  of 
the  enemy  in  their  fleecy  mantle.  The  Mohicans 
profited  by  the  delay  to  steal  out  of  the  woods, 
and  to  make  a survey  of  surrounding  objects. 
They  were  followed  at  a little  distance  by  the 
scout,  with  a view  to  profit  early  by  their  report, 
and  to  obtain  some  faint  knowledge,  for  himself, 
of  the  more  immediate  localities. 

In  a very  few  moments  he  returned,  his  face 
reddened  with  vexation,  while  he  muttered  his 
disappointment  in  words  of  no  very  gentle  im- 
port. 

“ Here  has  the  cunning  Frenchman  been  post- 
ing a picket  directly  in  our  path,”  he  said  ; “ red- 
skins and  whites ; and  we  shall  be  as  likely  to 
fall  into  their  midst  as  to  pass  them  in  the  fog  ! ” 

“ Cannot  we  make  a circuit  to  avoid  the  dan- 
ger,” asked  Heyward,  “ and  come  into  our  path 
again  when  it  is  passed  ? ” 

“ Who  that  once  bends  from  the  line  of  his 
march  in  a fog  can  tell  when  or  ho*v  to  turn  to 
find  it  again  ? The  mists  of  Horican  are  not  like 
the  curls  from  a peace-pipe,  or  the  smoke  which 
settles  above  a mosquito-fire.” 

He  was  yet  speaking  when  a crashing  sound 
was  heard,  and  a cannon-ball  entered  the  thicket, 
striking  the  body  of  a sapling  and  rebounding  to 
the  earth,  its  force  being  much  expended  by  pre- 
vious resistance.  The  Indians  followed  instantly 
like  busy  attendants  on  the  terrible  messenger, 
and  Uncas  commenced  speaking  earnestly,  and 
with  much  action,  in  the  Delaware  tongue. 


AT  THE  FORT.  71 

“It  may  be  so,  lad,”  muttered  the  scout, 
when  he  had  ended ; “ for  desperate  fevers  are 
not  to  be  treated  like  a toothache. — Come,  then, 
the  fog  is  shutting  in.” 

“ Stop  ! ” cried  Heyward  ; “ first  explain  your 
expectations.” 

“ ’Tis  soon  done,  and  a small  hope  it  is ; but 
it  is  better  than  nothing.  This  shot  that  you 
see,”  added  the  scout,  kicking  the  harmless  iron 
with  his  foot,  “ has  ploughed  the  ’arth  in  its  road 
from  the  fort,  and  we  shall  hunt  for  the  furrow  it 
has  made  when  all  other  signs  may  fail.  No 
more  words,  but  follow,  or  the  fog  may  leave  us 
in  the  middle  of  our  path  a mark  for  both  armies 
to  shoot  at.” 

Heyward  perceiving  that,  in  fact,  a crisis  had 
arrived  when  acts  were  more  required  than  words, 
placed  himself  between  the  sisters  and  drew  them 
swiftly  forward,  keeping  the  dim  figure  of  their 
leader  in  his  eye.  It  was  soon  apparent  that 
Hawk-eye  had  not  magnified  the  power  of  the 
fog,  for  before  they  had  pi'oceeded  twenty  yards, 
it  was  difficult  for  the  different  individuals  of  the 
party  to  distinguish  each  other  in  the  vapor. 

They  had  made  their  little  circuit  to  the  left, 
and  were  already  inclining  again  toward  the  right, 
having,  as  Heyward  thought,  got  over  nearly  half 
the  distance  to  the  friendly  works,  when  his  ears 
were  saluted  with  the  fierce  summons,  apparently 
within  twenty  feet  of  them,  of — 

“ Qui  va  1&  ? ” 

“ Push  on ! ” whispered  the  scout,  once  more 
bending  to  the  left. 

“ Push  on  ! ” repeated  Heyward  ; when  the 
summons  was  renewed  by  a dozen  voices,  each 
of  which  seemed  charged  with  menace. 

“ C’est  moi,”  cried  Duncan,  dragging,  rather 
than  leading,  those  he  supported  swiftly  onward. 

“ Betel— qui  ?— moi ! ” 

“Ami  de  la  France.” 

“ Tu  m’as  plus  l’air  d’un  ennemx  de  la  France ; 
arrete ! ou  pardieu  je  te  ferai  ami  du  diable. 
Non ! feu,  camarades ; feu  ! ” 

The  order  was  instantly  obeyed,  and  the  fog 
was  stirred  by  the  explosion  of  fifty  muskets. 
Happily,  the  aim  was  bad,  and  the  bullets  cut  the 
air  in  a direction  a little  different  from  that  taken 
by  the  fugitives  ; though  still  so  nigh  them  that, 
to  the  unpractised  ears  of  David  and  the  two 
females,  it  appeared  as  if  they  whistled  within  a 
few  inches  of  the  organs.  The  outcry  was  re- 
newed, and  the  order,  not  only  to  fire  again,  but 
to  pursue,  was  too  plainly  audible.  When  Hey- 
ward briefly  explained  the  meaning  of  the  words 
they  heard,  Hawk-eye  halted  and  spoke  with 
quick  decision  and  great  firmness. 


72 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“Let  us  deliver  our  fire,”  he  said  ; “they  will 
relieve  it  a sortie  and  give  way,  or  they  will  wait 
for  reenforcements.” 

The  scheme  was  well  conceived,  but  failed  in 
its  effect.  The  instant  the  French  heard  the 
pieces,  it  seemed  as  if  the  plain  was  alive  with 
men,  muskets  rattling  along  its  whole  extent, 
from  the  shores  of  the  lake  Jo  the  farthest  boun- 
dary of  the  woods. 

“We  shall  draw  their  entire  army  upon  us, 
and  bring  on  a general  assault,”  said  Duncan. 
“ Lead  on,  my  friend,  for  your  own  life  and  ours.” 

The  scout  seemed  willing  to  comply ; but,  in 
the  hurry  of  the  moment,  and  in  the  change  of 
position,  he  had  lost  the  direction.  In  vain  he 
turned  either  cheek  toward  the  light  air ; they 
felt  equally  cool.  In  this  dilemma  Uncas  lighted 
on  the  furrow  of  the  cannon-ball,  where  it  had 
cut  the  ground  in  three  adjacent  ant-hills. 

“ Give  me  the  range ! ” said  Hawk-eye,  bend- 
ing to  catch  a glimpse  of  the  direction,  and  then 
instantly  moving  onward. 

Cries,  oaths,  voices  calling  to  each  other,  and 
the  reports  of  muskets,  were  now  quick  and  in- 
cessant, and,  apparently,  on  every  side  of  them. 
Suddenly,  a strong  glare  of  light  flashed  across 
the  scene,  the  fog  rolled  upward  in  thick  wreaths, 
and  several  cannon  belched  across  the  plain,  and 
the  roar  was  thrown  heavily  back  from  the  bel- 
lowing echoes  of  the  mountain. 

“ ’Tis  from  the  fort ! ” exclaimed  Hawk-eye, 
turning  short  on  his  tracks  ; “ and  we,  like  strick- 
en fools,  were  rushing  to  the  woods,  under  the 
very  knives  of  the  Maquas.” 

The  instant  their  mistake  was  rectified,  the 
whole  party  retraced  the  error  with  the  utmost 
diligence.  Duncan  willingly  relinquished  the  sup- 
port of  Cora  to  the  arm  of  Uncas,  and  Cora  as 
readily  accepted  the  welcome  assistance.  Men, 
hot  and  angry  in  pursuit,  were  evidently  on  their 
footsteps,  and  each  instant  threatened  their  cap- 
ture, if  not  their  destruction. 

“ Point  de  quartier  aux  coquins ! ” cried  an 
eager  pursuer,  who  seemed  to  direct  the  opera- 
tions of  the  enemy. 

“ Stand  firm,  and  be  ready,  my  gallant  60ths ! ” 
suddenly  exclaimed  a voice  above  them  ; “ wait 
to  see  the  enemy ; fire  low,  and  sweep  the  gla- 
cis.” 

“Father  ! father  ! ” exclaimed  a piercing  cry 
from  out  the  mist ; “ it  is  I ! Alice  ! thy  own  El- 
sie ! Spare,  oh ! save  your  daughters ! ” 

“ Hold  ! ” shouted  the  former  speaker,  in  the 
awful  tones  of  parental  agony,  the  sound  reaching 
even  to  the  woods,  and  rolling  back  in  solemn 
echo  “ ’Tis  she ! God  has  restored  me  my  chil- 


dren ! Throw  open  the  sally-port ; to  the  field 
60ths,  to  the  field  ; pull  not  a trigger,  lest  ye  kil 
my  lambs  ! Drive  off  these  dogs  of  France  with 
your  steel.” 

Duncan  heard  the  grating  of  the  rusty  hinges, 
and  darting  to  the  spot,  directed  by  the  sound,  he 
met  a long  line  of  dark-red  warriors,  passing 
swiftly  toward  the  glacis.  He  knew  them  for  hi« 
own  battalion  of  the  royal  Americans,  and  flying 
to  their  head,  seon  swept  every  trace  of  his  pur- 
suers from  before  the  works. 

For  an  instant,  Cora  and  Alice  had  stood 
trembling  and  bewildered  by  this  unexpected  de- 
sertion ; but,  before  either  had  leisure  for  speech, 
or  even  thought,  an  officer  of  gigantic  frame, 
whose  locks  were  bleached  with  years  and  ser- 
vice, but  whose  air  of  military  grandeur  had  been 
rather  softened  than  destroyed  by  time,  rushed 
out  of  the  body  of  the  mist,  and  folded  them  to 
his  bosom,  while  large  scalding  tears  rolled  down 
his  pale  and  wrinkled  cheeks,  and  he  exclaimed, 
in  the  peculiar  accent  of  Scotland  : 

“For  this  I thank  Thee,  Lord  ! Let  danger 
come  as  it  will,  Thy  servant  is  now  prepared  l ” 


CHAPTER  XV. 

“ Then  we  go  in,  to  know  his  embassy ; 

Which  I could,  with  ready  guess,  declare, 

Before  the  Frenchman  speak  a word  of  it.” 

King  Henst  Y. 

A few  succeeding  days  were  passed  amid  the 
privations,  the  uproar,  and  the  dangers  of  the 
siege,  which  was  vigorously  pressed  by  a power 
against  whose  approaches  Munro  possessed  no 
competent  means  of  resistance.  It  appeared  as 
if  Webb,  with  his  army,  which  lay  slumbering  on 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  had  utterly  forgotten 
the  strait  to  which  his  countrymen  were  reduced. 
Montcalm  had  filled  the  woods  of  the  portage 
with  his  savages,  every  yell  and  whoop  from 
whom  rang  through  the  British  encampment, 
chilling  the  hearts  of  men  who  were  already  but 
too  much  disposed  to  magnify  the  danger. 

Not  so,  however,  with  the  besieged.  Ani- 
mated by  the  words,  and  stimulated  by  the  ex- 
amples of  their  leaders,  they  had  found  their 
courage,  and  maintained  their  ancient  reputation, 
with  a zeal  that  did  justice  to  the  stern  character 
of  their  commander.  As  if  satisfied  with  the  toil 
of  marching  through  the  wilderness  to  encounter 
his  enemy,  the  French  general,  though  of  approved 
skill,  had  neglected  to  seize  the  adjacent  moun* 
tains  ; whence  the  besieged  might  have  been  ex- 


THE  SCOUT  IN  CUSTODY. 


73 


terminated  with  impunity,  and  which,  in  the  more 
modern  warfare  of  the  country,  would  not  have 
been  neglected  for  a single  hour.  This  sort  of 
contempt  for  eminences,  or  rather  dread  of  the 
labor  of  ascending  them,  might  have  been  termed 
the  besetting  weakness  of  the  warfare  of  the  pe- 
riod. It  originated  in  the  simplicity  of  the  Indian 
contests,  in  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  com- 
bats, and  the  density  of  the  forests,  fortresses 
were  rare,  and  artillery  next  to  useless.  The 
carelessness  engendered  by  these  usages  descend- 
ed even  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  lost  the 
States  the  important  fortress  of  Ticonderoga, 
opening  a way  for  the  army  of  Burgoyne  into 
what  was  then  the  bosom  of  the  country.  .We 
look  back  at  this  ignorance,  or  infatuation,  which- 
ever it  may  be  called,  with  wonder,  knowing  that 
the  neglect  of  an  eminence,  whose  difficulties,  like 
those  of  Mount  Defiance,  have  been  so  greatly  ex- 
aggerated, would,  at  the  present  time,  prove  fatal 
to  the  reputation  of  the  engineer  who  had  planned 
the  works  at  their  base,  or  to  that  of  the  general 
whose  lot  it  was  to  defend  them. 

The  tourist,  the  valetudinarian,  or  the  amateur 
of  the  beauties  of  Nature,  who,  in  the  train  of  his 
four-in-hand,  now  rolls  through  the  scenes  we 
have  attempted  to  describe,  in  quest  of  informa- 
tion, health,  or  pleasure,  or  floats  steadily  toward 
his  object  on  those  artificial  waters  which  have 
sprung  up  under  the  administration  of  a states- 
man * who  has  dared  to  stake  his  political  char- 
acter on  the  hazardous  issue,  is  not  to  suppose 
that  his  ancestors  traversed  those  hills,  or  strug- 
gled with  the  same  currents,  with  equal  facility. 
The  transportation  of  a single  heavy  gun  was  of- 
ten considered  equal  to  a victory  gained  ; if,  hap- 
pily, the  difficulties  of  the  passage  had  not  so  far 
separated  it  from  its  necessary  concomitant,  the 
ammunition,  as  to  render  it  no  more  than  a use- 
less tube  of  unwieldy  iron. 

The  evils  of  this  state  of  things  pressed  heav- 
ily on  the  fortunes  of  the  resolute  Scotsman  who 
now  defended  William  Henry.  Though  this  ad- 
versary neglected  the  hills,  he  had  planted  his 
batteries  with  judgment  on  the  plain,  and  caused 
them  to  be  served  with  vigor  and  skill.  Against 
this  assault,  the  besieged  could  only  oppose  the 
.mperfect  and/hasty  preparations  of  a fortress  in 
the  wilderness. 

It  was  in  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth  day  of  the 
siege,  and  the  fourth  of  his  own  service  in  it,  that 
Major  Heyward  profited  by  a parley  that  had  just 
been  beaten,  by  repairing  to  the  ramparts  of  one 
of  the  water-bastions,  to  breathe  the  cool  air  from 

* Evidently  the  late  De  Witt  Clinton,  who  died  Governor 
of  New  York,  in  1828. 


the  lake,  and  to  take  a survey  of  the  progress  of 
the  siege.  He  was  alone,  if  the  solitary  sentinel 
who  paced  the  mound  be  excepted ; for  the  ar- 
tillerists had  hastened  also  to  profit  by  the  tem- 
porary suspension  of  their  arduous  duties.  The 
evening  was  delightfully  calm,  and  the  light  air 
from  the  limpid  water  fresh  and  soothing.  It 
seemed  as  if,  with  the  termination  to  the  roar  of 
artillery,  and  the  plunging  of  shot,  Nature  had 
also  seized  the  moment  to  assume  her  mildest  and 
most  captivating  form.  The  sun  poured  down  his 
parting  glory  on  the  scene,  without  the  oppres- 
sion of  those  fierce  rays  that  belong  to  the  cli- 
mate and  the  season.  The  mountains  looked 
green,  and  fresh,  and  lovely  ; tempered  with  the 
milder  light,  or  softened  in  shadow,  as  thin  vapors 
floated  between  them  and  the  sun.  The  numerous 
islands  rested  on  the  bosom  of  the  Horican,  some 
low  and  sunken,  as  if  embedded  in  the  waters, 
and  others  appearing  to  hover  above  the  element, 
in  little  hillocks  of  green  velvet ; among  which 
the  fishermen  of  the  beleaguering  army  peacefully 
rowed  their  skiffs,  or  floated  at  rest  on  the  glassy 
mirror,  in  quiet  pursuit  of  their  employment. 

The  scene  was  at  once  animated  and  still.  All 
that  pertained  to  Nature  was  sweet,  or  simply 
grand  ; while  those  parts  which  depended  on  the 
temper  and  movements  of  man  were  lively  and 
playful. 

Two  littlo  spotless  flags  were  abroad,  the  one 
on  a salient  angle  of  the  fort,  and  the  other  on 
the  advanced  battery  of  the  besiegers  ; emblems 
of  the  truce  which  existed,  not  only  to  the  acts, 
but  it  would  seem,  also,  to  the  enmity  of  the  com- 
batants. 

Behind  these,  again,  swung,  heavily  opening 
and  closing  in  silken  folds,  the  rival  standards  of 
England  and  France. 

A hundred  gay  and  thoughtless  young  French- 
men were  drawing  a net  to  the  pebbly  beach, 
within  dangerous  proximity  to  the  sullen  but  si- 
lent cannon  of  the  fort,  while  the  eastern  moun- 
tain was  sending  back  the  loud  shouts  and  gay 
merriment  that  attended  their  sport.  Some  were 
rushing  eagerly  to  enjoy  the  aquatic  games  of  the 
lake,  and  others  were  already  toiling  their  way  up 
the  neighboring  hills,  with  the  restless  curiosity 
of  their  nation.  To  all  these  sports  and  pursuits, 
those  of  the  enemy  who  watched  the  besieged, 
and  the  besieged  themselves,  were,  however,  mere- 
ly the  idle  though  sympathizing  spectators.  Here 
and  there  a picket  had,  indeed,  raised  a song,  01 
mingled  in  a dance,  which  had  drawn  the  dusky 
savages  around  them  from  their  lairs  in  the  for- 
est. In  short,  every  thing  wore  rather  the  ap- 
pearance of  a day  of  pleasure  than  of  an  hour 


74 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


stolen  from  the  dangers  and  toil  of  a bloody  and 
vindictive  warfare. 

Duncan  had  stood  in  a musing  attitude,  con- 
templating this  scene  a few  minutes,  when  his 
eyes  were  directed  to  the  glacis  in  front  of  the 
sally-port  already  mentioned  by  the  sounds  of  ap- 
proaching footsteps.  He  walked  to  an  angle  of 
the  bastion,  and  beheld  the  scout  advancing,  un- 
der the  custody  of  a French  officer,  to  the  body 
of  the  fort.  The  countenance  of  Hawk-eye  was 
haggard  and  careworn,  and  his  air  dejected,  as 
though  he  felt  the  deepest  degradation  at  having 
fallen  into  the  power  of  his  enemies.  He  was 
without  his  favorite  weapon,  and  his  arms  were 
even  bound  behind  him  with  thongs  made  of  the 
skin  of  a deer.  The  arrival  of  flags,  to  cover  the 
messengers  of  summons,  had  occurred  so  often 
of  late,  that,  when  Heyward  first  threw  his  care- 
less glance  on  this  group,  he  expected  to  see 
another  of  the  officers  of  the  enemy,  charged  with 
a similar  office ; but  the  instant  he  recognized 
the  tall  person,  and  still  sturdy  though  downcast 
features  of  his  friend  the  woodsman,  he  started 
with  surprise,  and  turned  to  descend  from  the 
bastion  into  the  bosom  of  the  work. 

The  sounds  of  other  voices,  however,  caught 
his  attention,  and  for  a moment  caused  him  to 
forget  his  purpose.  At  the  inner  angle  of  the 
mound  he  met  the  sisters,  walking  along  the  para- 
pet, in  search,  like  himself,  of  air  and  relief  from 
confinement.  They  had  not  met  since  that  pain- 
ful moment  when  he  deserted  them  on  the  plain, 
only  to  assure  their  safety.  He  had  parted  from 
them  worn  with  care,  and  jaded  with  fatigue  ; he 
now  saw  them  refreshed  and  blooming,  though 
timid  and  anxious.  Under  such  an  inducement, 
it  will  cause  no  surprise  that  the  young  man  lost 
sight  for  a time  of  other  objects  in  order  to  ad- 
dress them.  He  was,  however,  anticipated  by 
the  voice  of  the  ingenuous  and  youthful  Alice. 

“ Ah ! thou  truant ! thou  recreant  knight ! he 
who  abandons  his  damsels  in  the  very  lists ! ” 
she  cried  ; “ here  have  we  been  days,  nay,  ages, 
expecting  you  at  our  feet,  imploring  mercy  and 
forgetfulness  of  your  craven  backsliding,  or,  I 
should  rather  say,  back-running — for  verily  you 
fled  in  a manner  that  no  stricken  deer,  as  our 
worthy  friend  the  scout  would  say,  could  equal ! ” 

“ You  know  that  Alice  means  our  thanks  and 
our  blessings,”  added  the  graver  and  more 
thoughtful  Cora.  “ In  truth,  we  have  a little  won- 
dered why  you  should  so  rigidly  absent  yourself 
from  a place  where  the  gratitude  of  the  daugh- 
ters might  receive  the  support  of  a parent’s 
thanks.” 

“Your  father  himself  could  tell  you  that, 


though  absent  from  your  presence,  I have  nol 
been  altogether  forgetful  of  your  safety,”  re- 
turned the  young  man ; “ the  mastery  of  yonder 
village  of  huts,”  pointing  to  the  neighboring  en- 
trenched camp,  “ has  been  keenly  disputed  ; and 
he  who  holds  it  is  sure  to  be  possessed  of  this 
fort,  and  that  which  it  contains.  My  days  and 
my  nights  have  all  been  passed  there  since  we 
separated,  because  I thought  that  duty  called  me 
thither.  But,”  he  added  with  an  air  of  chagrin, 
which  he  endeavored,  though  unsuccessfully  to 
conceal,  “ had  I been  aware  that  what  I then  be- 
lieved a soldier’s  conduct  could  be  so  construed, 
shame  would  have  been  added  to  the  list  of  rea- 
sons.” 

“ Heyward ! — Duncan  ! ” exclaimed  Alice, 
bending  forward  to  read  his  half-averted  coun- 
tenance, until  a lock  of  her  golden  hair  rested 
on  her  flushed  cheek,  and  nearly  concealed  the 
tear  that  had  started  to  her  eye ; “ did  I think 
this  idle  tongue  of  mine  had  pained  you,  I would 
silence  it  forever.  Cora  can  say,  if  Cora  would, 
how  justly  we  have  prized  your  services,  and  how 
deep — I had  almost  said,  how  fervent — is  our 
gratitude.” 

“ And  will  Cora  attest  the  truth  of  this  ? ” 
cried  Duncan,  suffering  the  cloud  to  be  chased 
from  his  countenance  by  a smile  of  open  pleas- 
ure. “ What  says  our  graver  sister  ? Will  she 
find  an  excuse  for  the  neglect  of  the  knight  in 
the  duty  of  a soldier-?  ” 

Cora  made  no  immediate  answer,  but  turned 
her  face  toward  the  water,  as  if  looking  on  the 
sheet  of  the  Horican.  When  she  did  bend  her 
dark  eyes  on  the  young  man,  they  were  yet 
filled  with  an  expression  of  anguish  that  at  once 
drove  every  thought  but  that  of  kind  solicitude 
from  his  mind. 

“You  are  not  well,  dearest  Miss  Munro  ! ” he 
exclaimed ; “ we  have  trifled  while  you  are  in 
suffering.’  ’ 

“ ’Tis  nothing,”  she  answered,  refusing  his 
offered  support  with  feminine  reserve.  “ That  I 
cannot  see  the  sunny  side  of  the  picture  of  life, 
like  this  artless  but  ardent  enthusiast,”  she  add- 
ed, laying  her  hand  lightly,  but  affectionately, 
on  the  arm  of  her  sister,  “ is  the  penalty  of  ex- 
perience, and,  perhaps,  the  misfortune  of  my 
nature.  See,”  she  continued,  as  if  determined 
to  shake  off  infirmity,  in  a sense  of  duty ; “ look 
around  you,  Major  Heyward,  and  tell  me  what  a 
prospect  is  this  for  the  daughter  of  a soldier 
whose  greatest  happiness  is  his  honor  and  his 
military  renown.” 

“Neither  ought  nor  shall  be  tarnished  by  cir- 
cumstances over  which  he  has  had  no  control/ 


THE  FRENCH  GENERAL’S  CIVILITY. 


75 


Duncan  warmly  implied.  “ But.your  words  recall 
me  to  my  own  duty.  I go  now  to  your  gallant 
father,  to  hear  his  determination  in  matters  of 
he  last  moment  to  the  defence.  God  bless  you 
tn  every  fortune,  noble — Cora — I may,  and  must 
call  you.”  She  frankly  gave  him  her  hand,  though 
her  lip  quivered,  and  her  cheeks  gradually  be- 
came of  an  ashy  paleness.  “In  every  fortune, 
I know  you  will  be  an  ornament  and  honor  to 
your  sex. — -Alice,  adieu  ” — his  tone  changed  from 
admiration  to  tenderness — “ adieu,  Alice ; we 
shall  soon  meet  again;  as  conquerors,  I trust, 
and  amid  rejoicings ! ” 

Without  waiting  for  an  answer  from  either, 
the  young  man  threw  himself  down  the  grassy 
steps  of  the  bastion,  and  moving  rapidly  across 
the  parade,  he  was  quickly  in  the  presence  of 
their  father.  Munro  was  pacing  his  narrow 
apartment  with  a disturbed  air  and  gigantic 
strides  as  Duncan  entered. 

“You  have  anticipated  my  wishes,  Major 
Heyward,”  he  said  ; “ I was  about  to  request  this 
favor. 

“ I am  sorry  to  see,  sir,  that  the  messenger  I 
so  warmly  recommended,  has  returned  in  custody 
of  the  French  ! I hope  there  is  no  reason  to  dis- 
trust his  fidelity  ? ” 

“ The  fidelity  of  4 The  Long  Rifle  ’ is  well 
known  to  me,”  returned  Munro,  “ and  is  above 
suspicion  ; though  his  usual  good  fortune  seems, 
at  last,  to  have  failed.  Montcalm  has  got  him, 
and  with  the  accursed  politeness  of  his  nation,  he 
has  sent  him  in  with  a doleful  tale,  of  ‘ knowing 
how  I valued  the  fellow,  he  could  not  think  of  re- 
taining him.’  A Jesuitical  way,  that,  Major  Dun- 
can Heyward,  of  telling  a man  of  his  misfor- 
tunes ! ” 

“ But  the  general  and  his  succor  ? — ” 

“ Did  ye  look  to  the  south  as  ye  entered,  and 
could  ye  not  see  them  ? ” said  the  old  soldier, 
laughing  bitterly.  “ Hoot ! hoot ! you’re  an  im- 
patient boy,  sir,  and  cannot  give  the  gentlemen 
leisure  for  their  march  ! ” 

“ They  are  coming,  then  ? The  scout  has 
said  as  much  ? ” 

“ When  ? and  by  what  path  ? for  the  dunce 
bas  omitted  to  tell  me  this.  There  is  a letter,  it 
would  seem,  too  ; and  that  is  the  only  agreeable 
part  of  the  matter.  For  the  customary  attentions 
of  your  Marquis  of  Montcalm — I warrant  me, 
Duncan,  that  he  of  Lothian  would  buy  a dozen 
such  marquisates — but,  if  the  news  of  the  letter 
were  bad,  the  gentility  of  this  French  monsieur 
would  certainly  compel  him  to  let  us  know  it.” 

“ He  keeps  the  letter,  then,  while  he  releases 
the  messenger  ? ” 


“ Ay,  that  does  he,  and  all  for  the  sake  of 
what  you  call  your  4 bonhommie.’  I would  ven- 
ture, if  the  truth  was  known,  the  fellow’s  grand- 
father taught  the  noble  science  of  dancing.” 

“ But  what  says  the  scout  ? he  has  eyes  ana 
ears,  and  a tongue : what  verbal  report  does  he 
make  ? ” 

“ Oh ! sir,  he  is  not  wanting  in  natural  or- 
gans, and  he  is  free  to  tell  all  that  he  has  seen  and 
heard.  The  whole  amount  is  this  : there  is  a fort 
of  his  majesty’s  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson, 
called  Edward,  in  honor  of  his  gracious  highness 
of  York,  you’ll  know ; and  it  is  well  filled  with 
armed  men,  as  such  a work  should  be.” 

“ But  was  there  no  movement,  no  signs  of  any 
intention  to  advance  to  our  relief?  ” 

“There  were  the  morning  and  evening  pa- 
rades ; and  when  one  of  the  provincial  loons — 
you’ll  know,  Duncan,  you’re  half  a Scotsman 
yourself — when  one  of  them  dropped  his  powder 
over  his  parritch,  if  it  touched  the  coals,  it  just 
burnt ! ” Then,  suddenly  changing  his  bitter, 
ironical  manner,  to  one  more  grave  and  thought- 
ful, he  continued : “ And  yet  there  might,  and 
must  be,  something  in  that  letter  which  it  would 
be  well  to  know ! ” 

“ Our  decision  should  be  speedy,”  said  Dun- 
can, gladly  availing  himself  of  this  change  of  hu- 
mor, to  press  the  more  important  objects  of  their 
interview  ; “I  cannot  conceal  from  you,  sir,  that 
the  camp  will  not  be  much  longer  tenable  ; and 
I am  sorry  to  add  that  things  appear  no  betteri 
in  the  fort — more  than  half  the  guns  are  burstJ 
ed.”  r 

“ And  how  should  it  be  otherwise  ? Some  were 
fished  from  the  bottom  of  the  lake ; some  have 
been  rusting  in  the  woods  since  the  discovery  of 
the  country  ; and  some  were  never  guns  at  all — 
mere  privateersmen’s  playthings  ! Do  you  think, 
sir,  you  can  have  Woolwich  Warren  in  the  midst 
of  a wilderness,  three  thousand  mile3  from  Great 
Britain  ? ” 

“ The  walls  are  crumbling  about  our  ears,  and 
provisions  begin  to  fail  us,”  continued  Heyward, 
without  regarding  this  new  burst  of  indignation  ; 
“ even  the  men  show  signs  of  discontent  and 
alarm.” 

“ Major  Heyward,”  said  Munro,  turning  to 
his  youthful  associate  with  the  dignity  of  his 
years  and  superior  rank,  “I  should  have  served 
his  majesty  for  half  a century,  and  earned  thest 
gray  hairs,  in  vain,  were  I ignorant  of  all  you  say 
and  of  the  pressing  nature  of  our  circumstances  , 
still,  there  is  every  thing  due  to  the  honor  of  tha 
king’s  arms  and  something  to  ourselves.  While 
there  is  hope  of  succor,  this  fortress  will  I defend 


76 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


though  it  be  to  be  done  with  pebbles  gathered  on 
the  lake-shore.  It  is  a sight  of  the  letter,  there- 
fore, that  we  want,  that  we  may  know  the  inten- 
tions of  the  man  the  Earl  of  Loudon  has  left 
among  us  as  his  substitute  ? ” 

“And  can  I be  of  service  in  the  matter  ? ” 

“ Sir,  you  can  ; the  Marquis  of  Montcalm  has, 
in  addition  to  his  other  civilities,  invited  me  to  a 
personal  interview  between  the  works  and  his 
own  camp.;  in  order,  as  he  says,  to  impart  some 
additional  information.  Now,  I think  it  would 
not  be  wise  to  show  any  undue  solicitude  to  meet 
him,  and  I would  employ  you,  an  officer  of  rank, 
as  my  substitute ; for  it  would  but  ill  comport 
with  the  honor  of  Scotland  to  let  it  be  said  one 
of  her  gentlemen  was  outdone  in  civility  by  a na- 
tive of  any  other  country  on  earth.” 

Without  assuming  the  supererogatory  task  of 
entering  into  a discussion  of  the  comparative 
merits  of  national  courtesy,  Duncan  cheerfully  as- 
sented to  supply  the  place  of  the  veteran  in  the 
approaching  interview.  A long  and  confidential 
communication  now  succeeded,  during  which  the 
young  man  received  some  additional  insight  into 
his  duty,  from  the  experience  and  native  acute- 
ness of  his  commander,  and  then  the  former  took 
his  leave. 

As  Duncan  could  only  act  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  commandant  of  the  fort,  the  ceremo- 
nies which  should  have  accompanied  a meeting 
between  the  heads  of  the  adverse  forces  were  of 
course  dispensed  with.  The  truce  still  existed, 
«id  with  a roll  and  beat  of  the  drum,  and  covered 
try  a little  white  flag,  Duncan  left  the  sally-port, 
within  ten  minutes  after  his  instructions  were 
ended.  He  was  received  by  the  French  officer  in 
advance  with  the  usual  formalities,  and  immedi- 
ately accompanied  to  a distant  marquee  of  the  re- 
nowned soldier  who  led  the  forces  of  France. 

The  general  of  the  enemy  received  the  youth- 
ful messenger,  surrounded  by  his  principal  offi- 
cers, and  by  a swarthy  band  of  the  native  chiefs, 
who  had  followed  him  to  the  field,  with  the  war- 
riors of  their  several  tribes.  Heyward  paused 
short,  when,  in  glancing  his  eyes  rapidly  over  the 
dark  group  of  the  latter,  he  beheld  the  malignant 
countenance  of  Magua,  regarding  him  with  the 
calm  but  sullen  attention  which  marked  the  ex- 
pression of  that  subtle  savage.  A slight  excla- 
mation of  surprise  even  burst  from  the  lips  of  the 
young  man;  but,  instantly  recollecting  his  er- 
rand, and  the  presence  in  which  he  stood,  he  sup- 
pressed every  appearance  of  emotion,  and  turned 
to  the  hostile  leader,  who  had  already  advanced  a 
step  to  receive  him. 

The  Marquis  of  Montcalm  was,  at  the  period 


of  which  we  write,  in  the  flower  of  his  age,  and, 
it  may  be  added,  in  the  zenith  of  his  fortunes. 
But,  even  in  that  enviable  situation,  he  was  affa- 
ble, and  distinguished  as  much  for  his  attention 
to  the  forms  of  courtesy,  as  for  that  chivalrous 
courage  which,  only  two  short  years  afterward, 
induced  him  to  throw  away  his  life  on  the  plains 
of  Abraham.  Duncan,  in  turning  his  eyes  from 
the  malign  expression  of  Magua,  suffered  them  to 
rest  with  pleasure  on  the  smiling  "and  polished 
features,  and  the  noble  military  air,  of  the  French 
general. 

“Monsieur,”  said  the  latter,  “j’ai  beaucoup 
de  plaisir  — bah  ! — off  est  cet  interprSte  ? h 

“ Je  crois,  monsieur,  qu’il  ne  sera  pas  neces- 
saire,”  Heyward  modestly  replied;  “je  parle  un 
peu  Fran9ais.” 

“Ah  ! j’en  suis  bien  aise,”  said  Montcalm,  tak- 
ing Duncan  familiarly  by  the  arm,  and  leading 
him  deep  into  the  marquee,  a little  out  of  ear 
shot;  “je  deteste  ces  fripons-ld,  ; on  ne  salt  ja- 
mais sur  quel  pie  on  est  avec  eux.  Eh,  bien ! 
monsieur,”  he  continued,  still  speaking  in  French ; 
“ though  I should  have  been  proud  of  receiving 
your  commandant,  I am  very  happy  that  he  has 
seen  proper  to  employ  an  officer  so  distinguished, 
and  who,  I am  sure,  is  so  amiable,  as  yourself.” 

Duncan  bowed  low,  pleased  with  the  compli- 
ment, in  spite  of  a most  heroic  determination  to 
suffer  no  artifice  to  allure  him  into  forgetfulness 
of  the  interest  of  his  prince  ; and  Montcalm,  af- 
ter a pause  of  a moment,  as  if  to  collect  his 
thoughts,  proceeded  : 

“ Your  commandant  is  a brave  man,  and  well 
qualified  to  repel  my  assault.  Mais,  monsieur,  is 
it  not  time  to  begin  to  take  more  counsel  of  hu- 
manity, and  less  of  your  courage  ? The  one  as 
strongly  characterizes  the  hero  as  the  other.” 

“ We  consider  the  qualities  as  inseparable,” 
returned  Duncan,  smiling ; “ but  while  we  find  in 
the  vigor  of  your  excellency  every  motive  to  stim- 
ulate the  one,  we  can,  as  yet,  see  no  particular 
call  for  the  exercise  of  the  other.” 

Montcalm,  in  his  turn,  slightly  bowed,  but  it 
was  with  the  air  of  a man  too  practised  to  remem- 
ber the  language  of  flattery.  After  musing  a mo- 
ment, he  added : 

“ It  is  possible  my  glasses  have  deceived  me, 
and  that  your  works  resist  our  cannon  better  than 
I had  supposed.  You  know  our  force  ? ” 

“ Our  accounts  vary,”  said  Duncan,  carelessly ; 
“ the  highest,  however,  has  not  exceeded  twenty 
thousand  men.” 

The  Frenchman  bit  his  lip,  and  fastened  his 
eyes  keenly  on  the  other  as  if  to  read  his  thoughts  ; 
then,  with  a readiness  peculiar  to  himself,  he  con* 


HEYWARD’S  INTERVIEW  WITH  MONTCALM. 


7? 


tinued,  as  if  assenting  to  the  truth  of  the  enumer- 
ation which  quite  doubled  his  army  : 

“ It  is  a poor  compliment  to  the  vigilance  of 
us  soldiers,  monsieur,  that,  do  what  we  will,  we 
never  can  conceal  our  numbers.  If  it  were  to  be 
done  at  all,  one  would  believe  it  might  succeed  in 
these  woods.  Though  you  think  it  too  soon  to 
listen  to  the  calls  of  humanity,”  he  added,  smiling 
archly,  “ I may  be  permitted  to  believe  that  gal- 
lantry is  not  forgotten  by  one  so  young  as  your- 
self. The  daughters  of  the  commandant,  I learn, 
have  passed  into  the  fort  since  it  was  invested  ? ” 
“ It  is  true,  monsieur  ; but,  so  far  from  weak- 
ening our  efforts,  they  set  us  an  example  of  cour- 
age in  their  own  fortitude.  Were  nothing  but 
resolution  necessary  to  repel  so  accomplished  a 
soldier  as  M.  de  Montcalm,  I would  gladly  trust 
the  defence  of  William  Henry  to  the  elder  of 
those  ladies.” 

“We  have  a wise  ordinance  in  our  Salique 
laws,  which  says,  ‘ the  crown  of  France  shall  never 
degrade  the  lance  to  the  distaff,’  ” said  Montcalm, 
dryly,  and  with  a little  hauteur ; but  instantly 
adding,  with  his  former  frank  and  easy  air,  “as 
all  the  nobler  qualities  are  hereditary,  I can  easily 
credit  you ; though,  as  I said  before,  courage  has 
its  limits,  and  humanity  must  not  be  forgotten. 
I trust,  monsieur,  you  come  authorized  to  treat 
for  the  surrender  of  the  place  ? ” 

“ Has  your  excellency  found  our  defence  so 
feeble  as  to  believe  the  measure  necessary  ? ” 

“ I should  be  sorry  to  have  the  defence  pro- 
tracted in  such  a manner  as  to  irritate  my  red 
friends  there,”  continued  Montcalm,  glancing  his 
eyes  at  the  group  of  grave  and  attentive  Indians, 
without  attending  to  the  other’s  question;  “I  find 
it  difficult,  even  now,  to  limit  them  to  the  usages 
of  war.” 

Heyward  was  silent;  for  a painful  recollec- 
tion of  the  dangers  he  had  so  recently  escaped 
came  over  his  mind,  and  recalled  the  images  of 
those  defenceless  beings  who  had  shared  in  all 
his  sufferings. 

“ Ces  raessieurs-l&,”  said  Montcalm,  following 
up  the  advantage  which  he  conceived  he  had 
gained,  “ are  most  formidable  when  baffled ; and 
it  is  unnecessary  to  tell  you  with  what  difficulty 
they  are  restrained  in  their  anger.  Eh  bien,  mon- 
sieur ! shall  we  speak  of  the  terms  ? ” 

“ I fear  your  excellency  has  been  deceived  as 
to  the  strength  of  William  Henry,  and  the  re- 
sources of  the  garrison.” 

“ I have  not  sat  down  before  Quebec,  but  an 
earthen  work,  that  is  defended  by  twenty-three 
Hundred  gallant  men,”  was  the  laconic  reply. 

“ Our  mounds  are  earthen,  certainly — nor  are 


they  seated  on  the  rocks  of  Cape  Diamond  ; but 
they  stand  on  that  shore  which  proved  so  destruc- 
tive to  Dieskau  and  his  army.  There  is  also  a 
powerful  force  within  a few  hours’  march  of  us, 
which  we  account  upon  as  part  of  our  means.” 

“ Some  six  or  eight  thousand  men,”  returned 
Montcalm,  with  much  apparent  indifference. 
“ whom  their  leader  wisely  judges  to  be  safer  in 
their  works  than  in  the  field.” 

It  was  now  Heyward’s  turn  to  bite  his  lip  with 
vexation,  as  the  other  so  coolly  alluded  to  a force 
which  the  young  man  knew  to  be  overrated. 
Both  mused  a little  while  in  silence,  when  Mont 
calm  renewed  the  conversation,  in  a way  that 
showed  he  believed  the  visit  of  his  guest  was 
solely  to  propose  terms  of  capitulation.  On  the 
other  hand,  Heyward  began  to  throw  sundry  in- 
ducements in  the  way  of  the  French  general,  to 
betray  the  discoveries  he  had  made  through  the 
intercepted  letter.  The  artifice  of  neither,  how- 
ever, succeeded ; and  after  a protracted  and  fruit- 
less interview,  Duncan  took  his  leave,  favorably 
impressed  with  an  opinion  of  the  courtesy  and 
talents  of  the  enemy’s  captain,  but  as  ignorant  of 
what  he  came  to  learn  as  when  he  arrived. 
Montcalm  followed  him  as  far  as  the  entrance  of 
the  marquee,  renewing  his  invitations  to  the  com- 
mandant of  the  fort  to  give  him  an  immediate 
meeting  in  the  open  ground,  between  the  two 
armies. 

There  they  separated,  and  Duncan  returned  to 
the  advanced  post  of  the  French,  accompanied  as 
before ; whence  he  instantly  proceeded  to  the  fort, 
and  to  the  quarters  of  his  own  commander. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

“ Edg . — Before  you  fight  the  battle,  ope  this  letter.” 

Lear. 

Major  Heyward  found  Munro  attended  only 
by  his  daughters.  Alice  sat  upon  his  knee,  part- 
ing the  gray  hairs  on  the  forehead  of  the  old  man 
with  her  delicate  fingers ; and,  whenever  he  af- 
fected to  frown  on  her  trifling,  appeasing  his  as- 
sumed anger  by  pressing  her  ruby  lips  fondly  on 
his  wrinkled  brow.  Cora  was  seated  nigh  them, 
a calm  and  amused  looker-on  ; regarding  the  way- 
ward movements  of  her  more  youthful  sister  with 
that  species  of  maternal  fondness  which  charac- 
terized her  love  for  Alice.-  Not  only  the  dangers 
through  which  they  had  passed,  but  those  which 
still  impended  above  them,  appeared  to  be  mo- 
mentarily forgotten  in  the  soothing  indulgence  of 
such  a family  meeting.  It  seemed  as  if  they  had 


78 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


profited  by  the  short  truce  to  devote  an  instant  to 
the  purest  and  best  affections  : the  daughters  for- 
getting their  fears,  and  the  veteran  his  cares,  in 
the  security  of  the  moment.  Of  this  scene  Dun- 
can, who  in  his  eagerness  to  report  his  arrival  had 
entered  unannounced,  stood  many  moments  an 
unobserved  and  a delighted  spectator.  But  the 
quick  and  dancing  eyes  of  Alice  soon  caught  a 
glimpse  of  his  figure  reflected  from  a glass,  and 
she  sprang  blushing  from  her  father’s  knee  ex- 
claiming, aloud : 

“ Major  Heyward  ! ” 

“What  of  the  lad?”  demanded  her  father; 
“ I have  sent  him  to  crack  a little  with  the  French- 
man.— Ha ! sir,  you  are  young,  and  you’re  nim. 
ble ! — Away  with  you,  ye  baggage ; as  if  there 
were  not  troubles  enough  for  a soldier  without 
having  his  camp  filled  with  such  prattling  hussies 
as  yourself ! ” 

Alice  laughingly  followed  her  sister,  who  instant- 
ly led  the  way  from  an  apartment  where  she  per- 
ceived their  presence  was  no  longer  desirable. 
Munro,  instead  of  demanding  the  result  of  the  young 
man’s  mission,  paced  the  room  for  a few  moments 
with  his  hands  behind  his  back,  and  his  head  in- 
clined toward  the  floor,  like  a man  lost  in  thought. 
At  length  he  raised  his  eyes,  glistening  with  a 
father’s  fondness,  and  exclaimed : 

“ They  are  a pair  of  excellent  girls,  Heyward, 
and  such  as  any  one  may  boast  of.” 

“You  are  not  now  to  learn  my  opinion  of 
your  daughters,  Colonel  Munro.” 

“ True,  lad,  true,”  interrupted  the  impatient 
old  man ; “ you  were  about  opening  your  mind 
more  fully  on  that  matter  the  day  you  got  in ; but 
I did  not  think  it  becoming  in  an  old  soldier  to  be 
talking  of  nuptial  blessings  and  wedding-jokes 
when  the  enemies  of  his  king  were  likely  to  be 
unbidden  guests  at  the  feast ! But  I was  wrong, 
Duncan,  boy,  I was  wrong  there ; and  I am  now 
ready  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say.” 

“ Notwithstanding  the  pleasure  your  assurance 
gives  me,  d :ar  sir,  I have,  just  now,  a message 
from  Montcalm — ” 

“ Let  the  Frenchman  and  all  his  host  go  to 
the  devil,  sir!”  exclaimed  the  hasty  veteran. 
“ He  is  not  yet  master  of  William  Henry,  nor 
shall  he  ever  be,  provided  Webb  proves  himself 
the  man  he  should.  No,  sir ! thank  Heaven,  we 
are  not  yet  in  such  a strait  that  it  can  belaid 
Munro  is  too  much  pressed  to  discharge  the  little 
domestic  duties  of  his  own  family.  Your  mother 
was  the  only  child  of  my  bosom  friend,  Duncan  ; 
and  I’ll  just  give  you  a hearing,  though  all  the 
knights  of  St.  Louis  were  in  a body  at  the  sally- 
port, with  the  French  saint  at  their  head,  craving 


to  speak  a word  under  favor.  A pretty  degree  01 
knighthood,  sir,  is  that  which  can  be  bought  with 
sugar-hogsheads  ! and  then  your  two-penny  mar- 
quisates ! The  thistle  is  the  order  for  dignity 
and  antiquity ; the  veritable  ‘ nemo  me  impune 
lacessit  ’ of  chivalry ! Ye  had  ancestors  in  that 
degree,  Duncan,  and  they  were  an  ornament  to 
the  nobles  of  Scotland.” 

Heyward,  who  perceived  that  his  superior 
took  a malicious  pleasure  in  exhibiting  his  con- 
tempt for  the  message  of  the  French  general,  was 
fain  to  humor  a spleen  that  he  knew  would  be 
short-lived ; he,  therefore,  replied  with  as  much 
indifference  as  he  could  assume  on  such  a sub- 
ject : 

“ My  request,  as  you  know,  sir,  went  so  far 
as  to  presume  to  the  honor  of  being  your  son.” 

“ Ay,  boy,  you  found  words  to  make  yourself 
very  plainly  comprehended.  But,  let  me  ask  ye, 
sir,  have  you  been  as  intelligible  to  the  girl  ? ” 

“ On  my  honor,  no  ! ” exclaimed  Duncan, 
warmly ; “ there  would  have  been  an  abuse  of  a 
confided  trust  had  I taken  advantage  of  my  situ- 
ation for  such  a purpose.” 

“ Your  notions  are  those  of  a gentleman,  Ma- 
jor Heyward,  and  well  enough  in  their  place. 
But  Cora  Munro  is  a maiden  too  discreet,  and  of 
a mind  too  elevated  and  improved,  to  need  the 
guardianship  even  of  a father.” 

“ Cora ! ” 

“ Ay — Cora ! we  are  talking  of  your  preten- 
sions to  Miss  Munro,  are  we  not,  sir  ? ” 

“I — I — I was  not  conscious  of  having  men- 
tioned her  name,”  said  Duncan,  stammering. 

“ And  to  marry  whom,  then,  did  you  wish  my 
consent,  Major  Heyward  ? ” demanded  the  old 
soldier,  erecting  himself  in  the  dignity  of  offended 
feeling. 

“ You  have  another,  and  not  less  lovely  child.” 

“ Alice  ! ” exclaimed  the  father,  in  an  aston- 
ishment equal  to  that  with  which  Duncan  had 
just  repeated  the  name  of  her  sister. 

“ Such  was  the  direction  of  my  wishes,  sir.” 

The  young  man  awaited  in  silence  the  result 
of  the  extraordinary  effect  produced  by  a com- 
munication which,  as  it  now  appeared,  was  so 
unexpected.  For  several  minutes  Munro  paced 
the  chamber  with  long  and  rapid  strides,  his 
rigid  features  working  convulsively,  and  every 
faculty  seemingly  absorbed  in  the  musings  of  his 
own  mind.  At  length  he  paused  directly  in  front 
of  Heyward,  and,  riveting  his  eyes  upon  those 
of  the  other,  he  said,  with  a lip  that  quivered 
violently : 

“Duncan  Heyward,  I have  loved  you  for  the 
sake  of  him  whose  blood  is  in  your  veins  ; I have 


COLONEL  MUNRO’S  HISTORY. 


79 


loved  you  for  your  own  good  qualities ; and  I 
have  loved  you,  because  I thought  you  would 
contribute  to  the  happiness  of  my  ehild.  But  all 
this  love  would  turn  to  hatred,  were  I assured 
that  what  I so  much  apprehend  is  true.” 

“ God  forbid  that  any  act  or  thought  of  mine 
should  lead  to  such  a change ! ” exclaimed  the 
young  man,  whose  eye  never  quailed  under  the 
penetrating  look  it  encountered.  Without  ad- 
verting to  the  impossibility  of  the  other’s  com- 
prehending those  feelings  which  were  hid  in  his 
own  bosom,  Munro  suffered  himself  to  be  ap- 
peased by  the  unaltered  countenance  he  met, 
and,  with  a voice  sensibly  softened,  he  contin- 
ued : 

“ You  would  be  my  son,  Duncan,  and  you’re 
ignorant  of  the  history  of  the  man  you  wish  to 
call  your  father.  Sit  ye  down,  young  man,  and  I 
will  open  to  you  the  wounds  of  a seared  heart  in 
as  few  words  as  may  be  suitable.” 

By  this  time,  the  message  of  Montcalm  was  as 
much  forgotten  by  him  wTho  bore  it  as  by  the 
man  for  whose  ears  it  was  intended.  Each  drew 
a chair,  and  while  the  veteran  communed  a few 
moments  with  his  own  thoughts,  apparently  in 
sadness,  the  youth  suppressed  his  impatience  in 
a look  and  attitude  of  respectful  attention.  At 
length  the  former  spoke  : 

“ You’ll  know,  already,  Major  Heyward,  that 
my  family  was  both  ancient  and  honorable,” 
commenced  the  Scotsman  ; “ though  it  might  not 
altogether  be  endowed  with  that  amount  of  wealth 
that  should  correspond  with  its  degree.  It  was, 
maybe,  such  a one  as  yourself  when  I plighted 
my  faith  to  Alice  Graham : the  only  child  of  a 
neighboring  laird  of  some  estate.  But  the  con- 
nection was  disagreeable  to  her  father,  on  more 
accounts  than  my  poverty.  I did  therefore  what 
an  honest  man  should — restored  the  maiden  her 
troth,  and  departed  the  country  in  the  service  of 
my  king.  I had  seen  many  regions,  and  had  shed 
much  blood  in  different  lands,  before  duty  called 
me  to  the  islands  of  the  "West  Indies.  There  it 
was  my  lot  to  form  a connection  with  one  who  in 
time  became  my  wife,  and  the  mother  of  Cora. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  a gentlemen  of  those 
isles,  by  a lady  whose  misfortune  it  was,  if  you 
will,”  said  the  old  man,  proudly,  “ to  be  descend- 
ed, remotely,  from  that  unfortunate  class  who  are 
so  basely  enslaved  to  administer  to  the  wants  of 
a luxurious  people.  Ay,  sir,  that  is  a curse  en- 
tailed on  Scotland  by  her  unnatural  union  with  a 
foreign  and  trading  people.  But  could  I find  a 
man  among  them  who  would  dare  to  reflect  on 
my  child,  he  should  feel  the  weight  of  a father’s 
anger  ! Ha  ! Major  Heyward,  you  are  yourself 


born  at  the  south,  where  these  unfortunate  be- 
ings are  considered  of  a race  inferior  to  youi 
own.” 

“ ’Tis  most  unfortunately  true,  sir,”  said  Dun- 
can, unable  any  longer  to  prevent  his  eyes  from 
sinking  to  the  floor  in  embarrassment. 

“ And  you  cast  it  on  my  child  as  a reproach  i 
You  scorn  to  mingle  the  blood  of  the  Hey 
wards  with  one  so  degraded — lovely  and  virtuous 
though  she  be  ? ” fiercely  demanded  the  jealous 
parent. 

“ Heaven  protect  me  from  a prejudice  so  un- 
worthy of  my  reason  ! ” returned  Duncan,  at  the 
same  time  conscious  of  such  a feeling,  and  that 
as  deeply  rooted  as  if  it  had  been  ingrafted  in  his 
nature.  “ The  sweetness,  the  beauty,  the  witch- 
ery of  your  younger  daughter,  Colonel  Munro, 
might  explain  my  motives  without  imputing  to 
me  this  injustice.” 

“ Ye  are  right,  sir,”  returned  the  old  man, 
again  changing  his  tones  to  those  of  gentleness, 
or  rather  softness ; “ the  girl  is  the  image  of 
what  her  mother  was  at  her  years,  and  before  she 
had  become  acquainted  with  grief.  When  death 
deprived  me  of  my  wife  I returned  to  Scotland, 
enriched  by  the  marriage  ; and,  would  you  think 
it,  Duncan  ? the  suffering  angel  had  remained  in 
the  heartless  state  of  celibacy  twenty  long  years, 
and  that  for  the  sake  of  a man  who  could  forget 
her ! She  did  more,  sir ; she  overlooked  my 
want  of  faith,  and,  all  difficulties  being  now  re- 
moved, she  took  me  for  her  husband.” 

“ And  became  the  mother  of  Alice  ? ” ex- 
claimed Duncan,  with  an  eagerness  that  might 
have  proved  dangerous  at  a moment  when  the 
thoughts  of  Munro  were  less  occupied  than  at 
present. 

“ She  did,  indeed,”  said  the  old  man,  “ and 
dearly  did  she  pay  for  the  blessing  she  bestowed. 
But  she  i3  a saint  in  heaven,  sir ; and  it  ill  be- 
comes one  whose  foot  rests  on  the  grave  to  mourn 
a lot  so  blessed.  I had  her  but  a single  year, 
though ; a short  term  of  happiness  for  one  who 
had  seen  her  youth  fade  in  hopeless  pining.” 

There  was  something  so  commanding  in  the 
distress  of  the  old  man,  that  Heyward  did  not 
dare  to  venture  a syllable  of  consolation.  Munro 
sat  utterly  unconscious  of  the  other’s  presence, 
his  features  exposed  and  working  with  the  an- 
guish of  his  regrets,  while  heavy  tears  fell  from 
his  eyes,  and  rolled  unheeded  from  his  cheeks  to 
the  floor.  At  length  he  moved,  as  if  suddenly 
recovering  his  recollection ; when  he  arose,  and 
taking  a single  turn  across  the  room,  he  ap- 
proached his  companion  with  an  air  of  military 
grandeur,  and  demanded : 


so 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ Have  you  not,  Major  Heyward,  some  com- 
munication that  I should  hear  from  the  Marquis 
de  Montcalm  ? ” 

Duncan  started,  in  his  turn,  and  immediately 
commenced,  in  an  embarrassed  voice,  the  half- 
forgotten  message.  It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell 
upon  the  evasive  though  polite  manner  with 
which  the  French  general  had  eluded  every  at- 
tempt of  Heyward  to  worm  from  him  the  purport 
of  the  communication  he  had  proposed  making, 
or  on  the  decided  though  still  polished  message 
by  which  he  now  gave  his  enemy  to  understand 
that,  unless  he  chose  to  receive  it  in  person,  he 
should  not  receive  it  at  all.  As  Munro  listened 
to  the  detail  of  Duncan,  the  excited  feelings  of 
the  father  gradually  gave  way  before  the  obliga- 
tions of  his  station,  and  when  the  other  was  done, 
he  saw  before  him  nothing  but  the  veteran,  swell- 
ing with  the  wounded  feelings  of  a soldier. 

“ You  have  said  enough,  Major  Heyward ! ” ex- 
claimed the  angry  old  man ; “ enough  to  make  a 
volume  of  commentary  on  French  civility.  Here 
has  this  gentleman  invited  me  to  a conference, 
and  when  I send  him  a capable  substitute,  for 
ye’re  all  that,  Duncan,  though  your  years  are  but 
few,  he  answers  me  with  a riddle.” 

“ He  may  have  thought  less  favorably  of  the 
substitute,  my  dear  sir ; and  you  will  remember 
that  the  invitation,  which  he  now  repeats,  was  to 
the  commandant  of  the  works,  and  not  to  his  sec- 
ond.” 

“ Well,  sir,  is  not  a substitute  clothed  with  all 
the  power  and  dignity  of  him  who  grants  the 
commission  ? He  wishes  to  confer  with  Munro  ! 
Faith,  sir,  I have  much  inclination  to  indulge  the 
man,  if  it  should  only  be  to  let  him  behold  the 
tirm  countenance  we  maintain  in  spite  of  his  num- 
bers and  his  summons.  There  might  be  no  bad 
policy  in  such  a stroke,  young  man.” 

Duncan,  who  believed  it  of  the  last  impor- 
tance that  they  should  speedily  come  at  the  con- 
tents of  the  letter  borne  by  the  scout,  gladly  en- 
couraged this  idea. 

“Without  doubt,  he  could  gather  no  confi- 
dence by  witnessing  our  indifference,”  he  said. 

“You  never  said  truer  words.  I could  wish, 
sir,  that  he  would  visit  the  works  in  open  day, 
and  in  the  form  of  a storming-party : that  is  the 
least  failing  method  of  proving  the  countenance 
of  an  enemy,  and  would  be  far  preferable  to  the 
battering  system  he  has  chosen.  The  beauty  and 
manliness  of  warfare  has  been  much  deformed, 
Major  Heyward,  by  the  arts  of  your  Monsieur 
Yauban.  Our  ancestors  were  far  above  such 
scientific  cowardice ! ” 

“ It  may  be  very  true,  sir ; but  we  are  now 


obliged  to  repel  art  by  art.  What  is  your  pleas, 
ure  in  the  matter  of  the  interview  ? ” 

“ I will  meet  the  Frenchman,  and  that  without 
fear  or  delay;  promptly,  sir,  as  becomes  a ser- 
vant of  my  royal  master.  Go,  Major  Heyward, 
and  give  them  a flourish  of  the  music ; and  send 
out  a messenger  to  let  them  know  who  is  coming. 
W e will  follow  with  a small  guard,  for  such  re- 
spect is  due  to  one  who  holds  the  honor  of  his 
king  in  keeping ; and  hark’ee,  Duncan,”  he  added, 
in  a half  whisper,  though  they  were  alone,  “ it 
may  be  prudent  to  have  some  aid  at  hand,  in  case 
there  should  be  treachery  at  the  bottom  of  it 
all.” 

The  young  man  availed  himself  of  this  order 
to  quit  the  apartment ; and,  as  the  day  was  fast 
coming  to  a close,  he  hastened,  without  delay,  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements.  A very  few 
minutes  only  were  necessary  to  parade  a few  files, 
and  to  dispatch  an  orderly  with  a flag  to  an- 
nounce the  approach  of  the  commandant  of  the 
fort.  When  Duncan  had  done  both  these  he  led 
the  guard  to  the  sally-port,  near  which  he  found 
his  superior  ready,  waiting  his  appearance.  As 
soon  as  the  usual  ceremonials  of  a military  de- 
parture were  observed,  the  veteran  and  his  more 
youthful  companion  left  the  fortress,  attended  by 
the  escort. 

They  had  proceeded  only  a hundred  yards 
from  the  works,  when  the  little  array  which  at- 
tended the  French  general  to  the  conference,  was 
seen  issuing  from  the  hollow  way  which  formed 
the  bed  of  a brook  that  ran  between  the  batteries 
of  the  besiegers  and  the  fort.  From  the  moment 
that  Munro  left  his  own  works  to  appear  in  front 
of  his  enemies,  his  air  had  been  grand,  and  his 
sfep  and  countenance  highly  military.  The  in- 
stant he  caught  a glimpse  of  the  white  plume  that 
waved  in  the  hat  of  Montcalm,  his  eye  lighted, 
and  age  no  longer  appeared  to  possess  any  in- 
fluence over  his  vast  and  still  muscular  person. 

“ Speak  to  the  boys  to  be  watchful,  sir,”  he 
said,  in  an  under-tone  to  Duncan  ; “ and  to  look 
well  to  their  flints  and  steel,  for  one  is  never  safe 
with  a servant  of  these  Louis ; at  the  same  time 
we  will  show  them  the  front  of  men  in  deep  se- 
curity. Ye’ll  understand  me,  Major  Heyward  ? ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  clamor  of  a drum 
from  the  approaching  Frenchmen,  which  was  im- 
mediately answered,  when  each  party  pushed  an 
orderly  in  advance  bearing  a white  flag,  and  the 
wary  Scotsman  halted  with  his  guard  close  at  his 
back.  As  soon  as  this  slight  salutation  had  passed* 
Montcalm  moved  toward  them  with  a quick  but 
graceful  step,  baring  his  head  to  the  veteran,  and 
dropping  his  spotless  plume  nearly  to  the  earth  in 


GENERAL  WEBB’S  LETTER. 


81 


courtesy.  If  the  air  of  Munro  was  more  com- 
manding and  manly,  it  wanted  both  the  ease  and 
insinuating  polish  of  that  of  the  Frenchman. 
Neither  spoke  for  a few  moments,  each  regard- 
ing the  other  with  curious  and  interested  eyes. 
Then,  as  became  his  superior  rank  and  the  nature 
of  the  interview,  Montcalm  broke  the  silence. 
After  uttering  the  usual  words  of  greeting,  he 
turned  to  Duncan,  and  continued,  with  a smile  of 
recognition,  speaking  always  in  French  : 

“ I am  rejoiced,  monsieur,  that  you  have  given 
ns  the  pleasure  of  your  company  on  this  occasion. 
There  will  be  no  necessity  to  employ  an  ordinary 
interpreter ; for,  in  your  hands,  I feel  the  same 
security  as  if  I spoke  your  language  myself.” 

Duncan  acknowledged  the  compliment,  when 
Montcalm,  turning  to  his  guard,  which,  in  imita- 
tion of  that  of  their  enemies,  pressed  close  upon 
him,  continued : 

“ En  arriere,  mes  enfans — il  fait  chaud ; re- 
tirez-vous  un  peu.” 

Before  Major  Heyward  would  imitate  this 
proof  of  confidence,  he  glanced  his  eyes  around 
the  plain,  and  beheld  with  uneasiness  the  numer- 
ous dusky  groups  of  savages,  who  looked  out 
from  the  margin  of  the  surrounding  woods,  curi- 
ous spectators  of  the  interview. 

“ Monsieur  de  Montcalm  will  readily  acknowl- 
edge the  difference  in  our  situation,”  he  said,  with 
some  embarrassment,  pointing  at  the  same  time 
toward  those  dangerous  foes  who  were  to  be  seen 
in  almost  every  direction.  “Were  we  to  dismiss 
our  guard,  we  should  stand  here  at  the  mercy  of 
our  enemies.” 

“Monsieur,  you  have  the  plighted  faith  of 
‘ un  gentilhomme  Fran<;ais  ’ for  your  safety,”  re- 
turned Montcalm,  laying  his  hand  impressively  on 
his  heart ; “ it  should  suffice.” 

“ It  shall. — Fall  back,”  Duncan  added  to  the 
officer  who  led  the  escort ; “ fall  back,  sir,  be- 
yond hearing,  and  wait  for  orders.” 

Munro  witnessed  this  movement  with  manifest 
uneasiness  ; nor  did  he  fail  to  demand  an  instant 
explanation. 

“ Is  it  not  our  interest,  sir,  to  betray  no  dis- 
trust ? ” retorted  Duncan.  “ Monsieur  de  Mont- 
calm pledges  his  word  for  our  safety,  and  I have 
ordered  the  men  to  withdraw  a little  in  order  to 
prove  how  much  we  depend  on  his  assurance.” 

“ It  may  be  all  right,  sir,  but  I have  no  over- 
weening reliance  on  the  faith  of  these  marquesses, 
or  marquis,  as  they  call  themselves.  Their 
patents  of  nobility  are  too  common  to  be  certain 
that  they  bear  the  seal  of  true  honor.” 

“You  forget,  dear  sir,  that  we  confer  with  an 
officer,  distinguished  alike  in  Europe  and  Amer- 
6 


ica,  for  his  deeds.  From  a soldier  of  his  reputa- 
tion we  can  have  nothing  to  apprehend.” 

The  old  man  made  a gesture  of  resignation, 
though  his  rigid  features  still  betrayed  his  obsti- 
nate adherence  to  a distrust,  which  he  derived 
from  a sort  of  hereditary  contempt  of  his  enemy, 
rather  than  from  any  present  signs  which  might 
warrant  so  uncharitable  a feeling.  Montcalm 
waited  patiently  until  this  little  dialogue  in  demi- 
voice  was  ended,  when  he  drew  nigher,  and  opened 
the  subject  of  their  conference. 

“ I have  solicited  this  interview  from  your 
superior,  monsieur,”  he  said,  “ because  I believe 
he  will  allow  himself  to  be  persuaded  that  he  has 
already  done  every  thing  that  is  necessary  for  the 
honor  of  his  prince,  and  will  now  listen  to  the 
admonitions  of  humanity.  I will  forever  bear 
testimony  that  his  resistance  has  been  gallant, 
and  was  continued  as  long  as  there  was  hope.” 

When  this  opening  was  translated  to  Munro, 
he  answered  with  dignity,  but  with  sufficient 
courtesy : 

“ However  I may  prize  such  testimony  from 
Monsieur  Montcalm,  it  will  be  more  valuable 
when  it  shall  be  better  merited.” 

The  French  general  smiled,  as  Duncan  gave 
him  the  purport  of  this  reply,  and  observed  : 

“ What  is  now  so  freely  accorded  to  approved 
courage  may  be  refused  to  useless  obstinacy. 
Monsieur  would  wish  to  see  my  camp,  and  wit- 
ness, for  himself,  our  numbers,  and  the  impossi- 
bility of  resisting  them,  with  success  ? ” 

“I  know  that  the  King  of  France  is  well 
served,”  returned  the  unmoved  Scotsman,  as  soon 
as  Duncan  ended  his  translation  ; “ but  my  royal 
master  has  as  many  and  as  faithful  troops.” 

“Though  not  at  hand,  fortunately  for  us,” 
said  Montcalm,  without  waiting,  in  his  ardor,  for 
the  interpreter.  “ There  is  a destiny  in  war,  to 
which  a brave  man  knows  how  to  submit,  with 
the  same  courage  that  he  faces  his  foes.” 

“ Had  I been  conscious  that  Monsieur  Mont- 
calm was  master  of  the  English,  I should  have 
spared  myself  the  trouble  of  so  awkward  a trans- 
lation,” said  the  vexed  Duncan,  dryly ; remember- 
ing instantly  his  recent  by-play  with  Munro. 

“ Your  pardon,  monsieur,”  rejoined  the  French- 
man, suffering  a slight  color  to  appear  on  his 
dark  cheek.  “ There  is  a vast  difference  between 
understanding  and  speaking  a foreign  tongue; 
you  will,  therefore,  please  to  assist  me  still.” 
Then,  after  a short  pause,  he  added : “ These  hills 
afford  us  every  opportunity  of  reconnoitring  your 
works,  messieurs,  and  I am  possibly  as  well  ac- 
quainted with  your  weak  condition  as  you  can 
be  yourselves.” 


82 


TEE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“Ask  the  French  general  if  his  glasses  can 
reach  to  the  Hudson,”  said  Munro,  proudly ; “ and 
if  he  knows  when  and  where  to  expect  the  army 
of  Webb.” 

“Let  General  Webb  be  his  own  interpreter,” 
returned  the  politic  Montcalm,  suddenly  extending 
an  open  letter  toward  Munro,  as  he  spoke  ; “ you 
will  there  learn,  monsieur,  that  his  movements 
are  not  likely  to  prove  embarrassing  to  my  army.” 

The  veteran  seized  the  offered  paper,  without 
waiting  for  Duncan  to  translate  the  speech,  and 
with  an  eagerness  that  betrayed  how  important 
he  deemed  its  contents.  As  his  eye  passed 
hastily  over  the  words,  his  countenance  changed 
from  its  look  of  military  pride  to  one  of  deep 
chagrin : his  lip  began  to  quiver ; and,  suffering 
the  paper  to  fall  from  his  hand,  his  head  dropped 
upon  his  chest,  like  that  of  a man  whose  hopes  were 
withered  at  a single  blow.  Duncan  caught  the 
letter  from  the  ground,  and,  without  apology  for 
the  liberty  he  took,  he  read  at  a glance  its  cruel 
purport.  Their  common  superior,  so  far  from  en- 
couraging them  to  resist,  advised  a speedy  sur- 
render, urging  in  the  plainest  language  as  a reason, 
the  utter  impossibility  of  his  sending  a single  man 
to  their  rescue. 

“Here  is  no  deception!”  exclaimed  Duncan, 
examining  the  billet  both  inside  and  out ; “ thi3 
is  the  signature  of  Webb,  and  must  be  the  cap- 
tured letter.” 

“ The  man  has  betrayed  me ! ” Munro  at  length 
bitterly  exclaimed ; “ he  has  brought  dishonor  to 
the  door  of  one  where  disgrace  was  never  before 
known  to  dwell,  and  shame  has  he  heaped  heavily 
on  my  gray  hairs.” 

“ Say  not  so,”  cried  Duncan  ; “ we  are  yet 
masters  of  the  fort,  and  of  our  honor.  Let  us, 
then,  sell  our  lives  at  such  a rate  as  shall  make 
our  enemies  believe  the  purchase  too  dear.” 

“ Boy,  I thank  thee,”  exclaimed  the  old  man, 
rousing  himself  from  his  stupor ; “ you  have,  for 
once,  reminded  Munro  of  his  duty.  We  will  go 
back  and  dig  our  graves  behind  those  ramparts.” 

“ Messieurs,”  said  Montcalm,  advancing  tow- 
ard them  a step,  in  generous  interest,  “ you  little 
know  Louis  de  St.  Veran,  if  you  believe  him 
eapable  of  profiting  by  this  letter  to  humble  brave 
men,  or  to  build  up  a dishonest  reputation  for 
himself.  Listen  to  my  terms  before  you  leave 
me.” 

“ What  says  the  Frenchman  ? ” demanded  the 
veteran,  sternly ; “ does  he  make  a merit  of  having 
captured  a scout,  with  a note  from  headquarters  ? 
Sir,  he  had  better  raise  this  siege,  to  go  and  sit 
down  before  Edward,  if  he  wishes  to  frighten  his 
enemy  with  words.”  g 


Duncan  explained  the  other’s  meaning. 

“ Monsieur  de  Montcalm,  we  will  hear  you,* 
the  veteran  added,  more  calmly,  as  Duncan  ended. 

“ To  retain  the  fort  is  now  impossible,”  said  his 
liberal  enemy.  “ It  is- necessary  to  the  interests 
of  my  master  that  it  should  be  destroyed  ; but,  as 
for  yourselves,  and  your  brave  comrades,  there  is 
no  privilege  dear  to  a soldier  that  shall  be  de- 
nied.” 

“ Our  colors  ? ” demanded  Heyward. 

“ Carry  them  to  England,  and  show  them  to 
your  king.” 

“ Our  arms  ? ” 

“ Keep  them  ; none  can  use  them  better.” 

“ Our  march ; the  surrender  of  the  place  ? ” 

“ Shall  all  be  done  in  a way  most  honorable 
to  yourselves.” 

Duncan  now  turned  to  explain  these  proposals 
to  his  commander,  who  heard  him  with  amaze- 
ment, and  a sensibility  that  was  deeply  touched 
by  so  unusual  and  unexpected  generosity. 

“Go  you,  Duncan,”  he  said;  “go  with  this 
marquess,  as  indeed  marquess  he  should  be ; go  to 
his  marquee,  and  arrange  it  all.  I have  lived  to 
see  two  things  in  my  old  age,  that  never  did  I ex- 
pect to  behold — an  Englishman  afraid  to  support 
a friend,  and  a Frenchman  too  honest  to  profit 
by  his  advantage.” 

So  saying,  the  veteran  again  dropped  his  head 
to  his  chest,  and  returned  slowly  toward  the  fort, 
exhibiting,  by  the  dejection  of  his  air,  to  the 
anxious  garrison,  a harbinger  of  evil  tidings. 

From  the  shock  of  this  unexpected  blow  the 
haughty  feelings  of  Munro  never  recovered  ; but 
from  that  moment  there  commenced  a change  in 
his  determined  .character,  which  accompanied  him 
to  a speedy  grave.  Duncan  remained  to  settle 
the  terms  of  the  capitulation.  He  was  seen  to  re- 
enter the  works  during  the  first  watches  of  the 
night,  and,  immediately  after  a private  conference 
with  the  commandant,  to  leave  them  again.  It 
was  then  openly  announced  that  hostilities  must 
cease — Munro  having  signed  a treaty,  by  which 
the  place  was  to  be  yielded  to  the  enemy,  with 
the  morning ; the  garrison  to  retain  their  arms, 
their  colors,  and  their  baggage,  and  consequently 
according  to  military  opinion,  their  honor 


MONTCALM  AND  MAGUA. 


83 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

“ Weave  we  the  woof.  The  thread  is  spuD. 

The  web  is  wove.  The  work  is  done.” 

Grat. 

The  hostile  armies,  which  lay  in  the  wilds  of 
llie  Horican,  passed  the  night  of  the  9th  of  Au- 
gust, 1757,  much  in  the  manner  they  would  had 
they  encountered  on  the  fairest  field  of  Europe. 
While  the  conquered  were  still,  sullen,  and  de- 
jected, the  victors  triumphed.  But  there  are 
limits,  alike,  to  grief  and  joy ; and,  long  before 
the  watches  of  the  morning  came,  the  stillness 
of  those  boundless  woods  was  only  broken  by  a 
gay  call  from  some  exulting  young  Frenchman  of 
the  advanced  pickets,  or  a menacing  challenge 
from  the  fort,  which  sternly  forbade  the  approach 
of  any  hostile  footsteps  before  the  stipulated 
moment.  Even  these  occasional  threatening 
sounds  ceased  to  be  heard  in  that  dull  hour  which 
precedes  the  day,  at  which  period  a listener 
might  have  sought  in  vain  any  evidence  of  the 
presence  of  those  armed  powers  that  then  slum- 
bered on  the  shores  of  the  “ holy  lake.” 

It  was  during  these  moments  of  deep  silence, 
that  the  canvas  which  concealed  the  entrance  to 
a spacious  marquee  in  the  French  encampment 
was  shoved  aside,  and  a man  issued  from  beneath 
the  drapery  into  the  open  air.  He  was  enveloped 
in  a cloak  that  might  have  been  intended  as  a 
protection  from  the  chilling  damps  of  the  woods, 
but  which  served  equally  well  as  a mantle,  to 
conceal  his  person.  He  was  permitted  to  pass 
the  grenadier,  who  watched  over  the  slumbers 
of  the  French  commander,  without  interruption, 
the  man  making  the  usual  salute  which  betokens 
military  deference,  as  the  other  passed  swiftly 
through  the  little  city  of  tents,  in  the  direction 
of  William  Henry.  Whenever  this  unknown  in- 
dividual encountered  one  of  the  numberless  sen- 
tinels who  crossed  his  path,  his  answer  was 
prompt,  and  as  it  appeared  satisfactory ; for  he 
was  uniformly  allowed  to  proceed,  without  fur- 
ther interrogation. 

With  the  exception  of  such  repeated,  but 
brief  interruptions,  he  had  moved,  silently,  from 
the  centre  of  the  camp,  to  its  most  advanced 
outposts,  when  he  drew  nigh  the  soldier  who  held 
his  watch  nearest  to  the  works  of  the  enemy. 
As  he  approached  he  was  received  with  the  usual 
challenge : 

“ Qui  vive  ? ” 

“ France,”  was  the  reply. 

“Le  mot  d’ordre  ? ” 

“La  victoire,”  said  the  other,  drawing  so 
nigh  as  to  be  heard  in  a loud  whisper. 


“ O’est  bien,”  returned  the  sentinel,  throwing 
his  musket  from  the  charge  to  his  shoulder : 
“ vous  vous  promenez  bien  matin,  monsieur ! ” 

“ H est  necessaire  d’etre  vigilant,  mon  en- 
fant,” the  other  observed,  dropping  a fold  of  his 
cloak,  and  looking  the  soldier  close  in  the  face, 
as  he  passed  him,  still  continuing  his  way  tow- 
ard the  British  fortification.  The  man  started ; 
his  arms  rattled  heavily,  as  he  threw  them  for- 
ward, in  the  lowest  and  most  respectful  salute  ; 
and,  when  he  had  again  recovered  his  piece,  he 
turned  to  walk  his  post,  muttering  between  his 
teeth : 

“ II  faut  etre  vigilant,  en  verity  ! je  crois  que 
nous  avons  1&,  un  caporal  qui  ne  dort  jamais  ! ” 

The  officer  proceeded,  without  affecting  to 
hear  the  words  which  escaped  the  sentinel  in  his 
surprise ; nor  did  he  again  pause  until  he  had 
reached  the  low  strand,  and  in  a somewhat  dan- 
gerous vicinity  to  the  western  water-bastion  of 
the  fort.  The  light  of  an  obscure  moon  was  just 
sufficient  to  render  objects,  though  dim,  percep- 
tible in  their  outlines.  He,  therefore,  took  the 
precaution  to  place  himself  against  the  trunk  of 
a tree,  where  he  leaned  for  many  minutes,  and 
seemed  to  contemplate  the  dark  and  silent 
mounds  of  the  English  works  in  profound  atten- 
tion. His  gaze  at  the  ramparts  was  not  that  of  a 
curious  or  idle  spectator;  but  his  looks  wan- 
dered from  point  to  point,  denoting  his  knowl- 
edge of  military  usages,  and  betraying  that  his 
search  was  not  unaccompanied  by  distrust.  At 
length  he  appeared  satisfied  ; and,  having  cast  his 
eyes  impatiently  upward  toward  the  summit  of 
the  eastern  mountain,  as  if  anticipating  the  ap- 
proach of  the  morning,  he  was  in  the  act  of  turn- 
ing on  his  footsteps,  when  a light  sound  on  the 
nearest  angle  of  the  bastion  caught  his  ear,  and 
induced  him  to  remain. 

Just  then  a figure  was  seen  to  approach  the 
edge  of  the  rampart,  where  it  stood,  apparently 
contemplating  in  its  turn  the  distant  tents  of  the 
French  encampment.  Its  head  was  then  turned 
toward  the  east,  as  though  equally  anxious  for 
the  appearance  of  light,  when  the  form  leaned 
against  the  mound,  and  seemed  to  gaze  upon  the 
glassy  expanse  of  the  waters,  which,  like  a sub- 
marine firmament,  glittered  with  its  thousand 
mimic  stars.  The  melancholy  air,  the  hour,  to- 
gether with  the  vast  frame  of  the  man  who  thus 
leaned,  in  musing,  against  the  English  ramparts, 
left  no  doubt  as  to  his  person,  in  the  mind  of  the 
observant  spectator.  Delicacy,  no  less  than  pru- 
dence, now  urged  him  to  retire ; and  he  had 
moved  cautiously  round  the  body  of  the  tree  for 
that  purpose,  when  another  sound  drew  his  at* 


84 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


tention,  and  once  more  arrested  his  footsteps.  It 
was  a low  and  almost  inaudible  movement  of  the 
water,  and  was  succeeded  by  a grating  of  pebbles 
one  against  the  other.  In  a moment  he  saw  a 
dark  form  rise,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  lake,  and 
steal  without  further  noise  to  the  land,  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  place  where  he  himself  stood.  A 
rifle  next  slowly  rose  between  his  eyes  and  the 
watery  mirror ; but  before  it  could  be  discharged 
his  own  hand  was  on  the  lock. 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  the  savage,  whose  treach- 
erous aim  was  so  singularly  and  so  unexpectedly 
interrupted. 

Without  making  any  reply,  the  French  officer 
laid  his  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  the  Indian,  and 
led  him  in  profound  silence  to  a distance  from 
the  spot,  where  their  subsequent  dialogue  might 
have  proved  dangerous,  and  where  it  seemed  that 
one  of  them,  at  least,  sought  a victim.  Then, 
throwing  open  his  cloak,  so  as  to  expose  his  uni- 
form, and  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  which  was  sus- 
pended at  his  breast,  Montcalm  sternly  demand- 
ed : 

“ What  means  this  ? does  not  my  son  know 
that  the  hatchet  is  buried  between  the  English 
and  his  Canadian  father  ? ” 

“ What  can  the  Hurons  do  ? ” returned  the 
savage,  speaking  also,  though  imperfectly,  in  the 
French  language.  “Not  a warrior  has  a scalp, 
and  the  pale-faces  make  friends ! ” 

“ Ha  ! Le  Renard  Subtil ! Methinks  this  is 
an  excess  of  zeal  for  a friend  who  was  so  late  an 
enemy  ! How  many  suns  have  set  since  Le  Re- 
nard  struck  the  war-post  of  the  English  ? ” 

“ Where  is  that  sun  ? ” demanded  the  sullen 
savage.  “ Behind  the  hill ; and  it*  is  dark  and 
cold.  But,  when  he  comes  again,  it  will  be  bright 
and  warm.  Le  Subtil  is  the  sun  of  his  tribe. 
There  have  been  clouds,  and  many  mountains  be- 
tween him  and  his  nation ; but  now  he  shines, 
and  it  is  a clear  sky  ! ” 

“ That  Le  Renard  has  power  with  his  people, 
I well  know,”  said  Montcalm  ; “ for  yesterday  he 
hunted  for  their  scalps,  and  to-day  they  hear  him 
at  the  council-fire.” 

“ Magua  is  a great  chief.” 

“ Let  him  prove  it,  by  teaching  his  nation 
how  to  conduct  toward  our  new  friends.” 

“ Why  did  the  chief  of  the  Canadas  bring  his 
young  men  into  the  woods,  and  fire  his  cannon  at 
the  earthen  house?”  demanded  the  subtle  In- 
dian. 

“ To  subdue  it.  My  master  owns  the  land, 
and  your  father  was  ordered  to  drive  off  these 
English  squatters.  They  have  consented  to  go, 
and  now  he  calls  them  enemies  no  longer.” 


“ ’Tis  well.  Magua  took  the  hatchet  to  coloi 
it  with  blood.  It  is  now  bright ; when  it  is  red, 
it  shall  be  buried.” 

“ But  Magua  is  pledged  not  to  sully  the  lilies 
of  France.  The  enemies  of  the  great  king  across 
the  salt  lake  are  his  enemies ; his  friends,  the 
friends  of  the  Hurons.” 

“ Friends ! ” repeated  the  Indian,  in  scorn. 
“ Let  his  father  give  Magua  a hand.” 

Montcalm,  who  felt  that  his  influence  over  the 
warlike  tribes  he  had  gathered  was  to  be  main- 
tained by  concession  rather  than  by  power,  com- 
plied reluctantly  with  the  other’s  request.  The 
savage  placed  the  finger  of  the  French  com- 
mander on  a deep  scar  in  his  bosom,  and  then  ex- 
ultingly  demanded : 

“ Does  my  father  know  that  ? ” 

“ What  warrior  does  not  ? ’tis  where  a leaden 
bullet  has  cut.” 

“ And  this  ? ” continued  the  Indian,  who  had 
turned  his  naked  back  to  the  other,  his  body  be- 
ing without  its  usual  calico  mantle. 

“ This  ! — my  son  has  been  badly  injured  here. 
Who  has  done  this  ? ” 

“ Magua  slept  hard  in  the  English  wigwams, 
and  the  sticks  have  left  their  mark,”  returned  the 
savage,  with  a hollow  laugh,  which  did  not  con- 
ceal thfe  fierce  temper  that  nearly  choked  him. 
Then,  recollecting  himself,  with  sudden  and  na- 
tive dignity,  he  added  : “ Go  ; teach  your  young 
men,  it  is  peace.  Le  Renard  Subtil  knows  how 
to  speak  to  a Huron  warrior.” 

Without  deigning  to  bestow  further  words,  or 
to  wait  for  any  answer,  the  savage  cast  his  rifle 
into  the  hollow  of  his  arm,  and  moved  silently 
through  the  encampment  toward  the  woods  where 
his  own  tribe  was  known  to  lie.  Every  few  yards, 
as  he  proceeded,  he  was  challenged  by  the  senti- 
nels ; but  he  stalked  sullenly  onward,  utterly  dis- 
regarding the  summons  of  the  soldiers,  who  only 
spared  his  life  because  they  knew  the  air  and 
tread  no  less  than  the  obstinate  daring  of  an  In- 
dian. 

Montcalm  lingered  long  and  melancholy  on 
the  strand,  where  he  had  been  left  by  his  com- 
panion, brooding  deeply  on  the  temper  which  his 
ungovernable  ally  had  just  discovered.  Already 
had  his  fair  fame  been  tarnished  by  one  horrid 
scene,  and  in  circumstances  fearfully  resembling 
those  under  which  he  now  found  himself.  As  he 
mused,  he  became  keenly  sensible  of  the  deep  re- 
sponsibility they  assume  who  disregard  the  means 
to  attain  their  end,  and  of  all  the  danger  of  set- 
ting in  motion  an  engine  which  it  exceeds  human 
power  to  conti  ol.  Then  shaking  off  a train  of  re- 
flections that  he  accounted  a weakness  in  such  a 


SURRENDER  OF  THE  BRITISH  FORT. 


85 


moment  of  triumph,  he  retraced  his  steps  toward 
his  tent,  giving  the  order,  as  he  passed,  to  make 
the  signal  that  should  arouse  the  army  from  its 
slumbers. 

The  first  tap  of  the  French  drums  was  echoed 
from  the  bosom  of  the  fort,  and  presently  the  val- 
ley was  filled  with  the  strains  of  martial  music, 
rising  long,  thrilling,  and  lively,  above  the  rattling 
accompaniment.  The  horns  of  the  victors  sound- 
ed merry  and  cheerful  flourishes,  until  the  last 
laggard  of  the  camp  was  at  his  post ; but,  the  in- 
stant the  British  fifes  had  blown  their  shrill  sig- 
nal, they  became,  mute.  In  the  mean  time  the 
day  had  dawned,  and,  when  the  line  of  the  French 
army  was  ready  to  receive  its  general,  the  rays 
of  a brilliant  sun  were  glancing  along  the  glitter- 
ing array.  Then,  that  success  which  was  already 
so  well  known,  was  officially  announced ; the  fa- 
vored band  who  were  selected  to  guard  the  gates 
of  the  fort  were  detailed,  and  defiled  before  their 
chief ; the  signal  of  their  approach  was  given,  and 
all  the  usual  preparations  for  a change  of  masters 
were  ordered  and  executed  directly  under  the 
guns  of  the  contested  works. 

A very  different  scene  presented  itself  within 
the  lines  of  the  Anglo-American  army.  As  soon 
as  the  warning  signal  was  given,  it  exhibited  all 
the  signs  of  a hurried  and  forced  departure.  The 
sullen  soldiers  shouldered  their  empty  tubes  and 
fell  into  their  places,  like  men  whose  blood  had 
been  heated  by  the  past  contest,  and  who  only 
desired  the  opportunity  to  revenge  an  indignity 
which  was  still  wounding  to  their  pride,  concealed 
as  it  was  under  all  the  observances  of  military 
etiquette.  Women  and  children  ran  from  place 
to  place,  some  bearing  the  scanty  remnants  of 
their  baggage,  and  others  searching  in  the  ranks 
for  those  countenances  they  looked  up  to  for  pro- 
tection. 

Munro  appeared  among  his  silent  troops  firm 
but  dejected.  It  was  evident  that  the  unexpected 
blow  had  struck  deep  into  his  heart,  though  he 
struggled  to  sustain  his  misfortune  with  the  port 
of  a man. 

Duncan  was  touched  at  the  quiet  and  impres- 
sive exhibition  of  his  grief.  He  had  discharged 
his  own  duty,  and  he  now  pressed  to  the  side  of 
the  old  man,  to  know  in  what  particular  he  might 
serve  him. 

“ My  daughters,”  was  the  brief  but  expressive 

reply. 

“ Good  Heavens ! are  not  arrangements  already 
made  for  their  convenience  ? ” 

“ To-day  I am  only  a soldier,  Major  Heyward,” 
said  the  veteran.  “ All  that  you  see  here  claim 
alike  to  be  my  children.” 


Duncan  had  heard  enough.  Without  losing 
one  of  those  moments  which  had  now  become  so 
precious,  he  flew  toward  the  quarters  of  Munro  in 
quest  of  the  sisters.  He  found  them  on  the  thresh- 
old of  the  low  edifice,  already  prepared  to  depart, 
and  surrounded  by  a clamorous  and  weeping  as- 
semblage of  their  own  sex,  that  had  gathered  about 
the  place  with  a sort  of  instinctive  consciousness 
that  it  was  the  point  most  likely  to  be  protected. 
Though  the  cheeks  of  Cora  were  pale,  and  her 
countenance  anxious,  she  had  lost  none  of  her 
firmness ; but  the  eyes  of  Alice  were  inflamed, 
and  betrayed  how  long  and  bitterly  she  had  wept. 
They  both,  however,  received  the  young  man  with 
undisguised  pleasure ; the  former,  for  a novelty, 
being  the  first  to  speak. 

“ The  fort  is  lost,”  she  said,  with  a melan- 
choly smile ; “ though  our  good  name,  I trust, 
remains.” 

“ ’Tis  brighter  than  ever.  But,  dearest  Miss 
Munro,  it  is  time  to  think  less  of  others,  and  to 
make  some  provision  for  yourself.  Military  usage 
— pride — that  pride  on  which  you  so  much  value 
yourself,  demands  that  your  father  and  I should 
for  a little  while  continue  with  the  troops.  Then 
where  to  seek  a proper  protector  for  you  against 
the  confusion  and  chances  of  such  a scene  ? ” 

“ None  is  necessary,”  returned  Cora ; “ who 
will  dare  to  injure  or  insult  the  daughter  of  such 
a father  at  a time  like  this  ? ” 

“ I would  not  leave  you  alone,”  continued  the 
youth,  looking  about  him  in  a hurried  manner, 
“ for  the  command  of  the  best  regiment  in  the 
pay  of  the  king.  Remember,  our  Alice  is  not 
gifted  with  all  your  firmness,  and  God  only  knows 
the  terror  she  might  endure.” 

“You  may  be  right,”  Cora  replied,  smiling 
again,  but  far  more  sadly  than  before.  “ Listen  ; 
chance  has  already  sent  us  a friend  when  he  is 
most  needed.” 

Duncan  did  listen,  and  on  the  instant  compre- 
hended her  meaning.  The  low  and  serious  sounds 
of  the  sacred  music,  so  well  known  to  the  eastern 
provinces,  caught  his  ear,  and  instantly  drew  him 
to  an  apartment  in  an  adjacent  building,  which 
had  already  been  deserted  by  its  customary  ten- 
ants. There  he  found  David  pouring  out  his  pious 
feelings  through  the  only  medium  in  which  he 
ever  indulged.  Duncan  waited,  until,  by  the 
cessation  of  the  movement  of  the  hand,  he  be- 
lieved the  strain  was  ended,  when,  by  touching 
his  shoulder,  he  drew  the  attention  of  the  other 
to  himself,  and  in  a few  words  explained  his 
wishes. 

“ Even  so,”  replied  the  single-minded  disciple 
of  the  King  of  Israel,  when  the  young  man  had 


86 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ended ; “ I have  found  much  that  is  comely  and 
melodious  in  the  maidens,  and  it  is  fitting  that  we, 
who  have  consorted  in  so  much  peril,  should  abide 
together  in  peace.  I will  attend  them  when  I 
have  completed  my  morning  praise,  to  which 
nothing  is  now  wanting  but  the  doxology.  Wilt 
thou  bear  a part,  friend  ? The  metre  is  common, 
and  the  tune  ‘ Southwell.’  ” 

Then,  extending  the  little  volume,  and  giving 
the  pitch  of  the  air  anew  with  considerate  atten- 
tion, David  recommenced  and  finished  his  strains 
with  a fixedness  of  manner  that  it  was  not  easy  to 
interrupt.  Heyward  was  fain  to  wait  until  the 
verse  was  ended ; when,  seeing  David  relieving 
himself  from  the  spectacles  and  replacing  the 
book,  he  continued  : 

“ It  will  be  your  duty  to  see  that  none  dare 
to  approach  the  ladies  with  any  rude  intention, 
or  to  offer  insult  or  taunt  at  the  misfortune  of 
their  brave  father.  In  this  task  you  will  be 
seconded  by  the  domestics  of  their  household.” 

“ Even  so.” 

“ It  is  possible  that  tne  Indians  and  stragglers 
of  the  enemy  may  intrude,  in  which  case,  you  will 
remind  them  of  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  and 
threaten  to  report  their  conduct  to  Montcalm.  A 
word  will  suffice.” 

“ If  not,  I have  that  here  which  shall,”  re- 
turned David,  exhibiting  his  book  with  an  air  in 
which  meekness  and  confidence  were  singularly 
blended.  “ Here  are  words  which,  uttered,  or  rath- 
er thundered,  with  proper  emphasis,  and  in  meas- 
ured time,  shall  quiet  the  most  unruly  temper — 

“ 1 Why  rage  the  heathen  furiously  1 1 ” — 

“ Enough,”  said  Heyward,  interrupting  the 
burst  of  his  musical  invocation  : “ we  understand 
each  other  ; it  is  time  that  we  should  now  assume 
our  respective  duties.” 

Gamut  cheerfully  assented,  and  together  they 
sought  the  females.  Cora  received  her  new  and 
somewhat  extraordinary  protector  courteously  at 
least ; and  even  the  pallid  features  of  Alice  lighted 
again  with  some  of  their  native  archness  as  she 
thanked  Heyward  for  his  care.  Duncan  took  oc- 
casion to  assure  them  he  had  done  the  best  that 
circumstances  permitted,  and,  as  he  believed, 
quite  enough  for  the  security  of  their  feelings ; 
of  danger  there  was  none.  He  then  spoke  gladly 
of  his  intention  to  rejoin  them  the  moment  he 
had  led  the  advance  a few  miles  toward  the  Hud- 
son, and  immediately  took  his  leave. 

By  this  time  the  signal  of  departure  had  been 
given,  and  the  head  of  the  English  column  was  in 
motion.  The  sisters  started  at  the  sound,  and, 
glancing  their  eyes  around,  they  saw  the  white 
uniforms  of  the  French  grenadiers,  who  had  al- 


ready taken  possession  of  the  gates  of  the  fort. 
At  that  moment  an  enormous  cloud  seemed  tc 
pass  suddenly  above  their  heads,  and,  looking  up- 
ward, they  discovered  that  they  stood  beneath 
the  wide  folds  of  the  standard  of  France. 

“ Let  us  go,”  said  Cora ; “ this  is  no  longer 
a fit  place  for  the  children  of  an  English  officer.” 

Alice  clung  to  the  arm  of  her  sister,  and  to- 
gether they  left  the  parade,  accompanied  by  the 
moving  throng  that  surrounded  them. 

As  they  passed  the  gates,  the  French  officers, 
who  had  learned  their  rank,  bowed  often  and  low, 
forbearing,  however,  to  intrude  4 those  attentions 
which  they  saw,  with  peculiar  tact,  might  not  be 
agreeable.  As  every  vehicle  and  each  beast  of 
burden  was  occupied  by  the  sick  and  wounded, 
Cora  had  decided  to  endure  the  fatigues  of  a foot- 
march  rather  than  interfere  with  their  comforts. 
Indeed,  many  a maimed  and  feeble  soldier  was 
compelled  to  drag  his  exhausted  limbs  in  the  rear 
of  the  columns  for  the  want  of  the  necessary  means 
of  conveyance  in  that  wilderness.  The  whole,  how- 
ever, was  in  motion ; the  weak  and  wounded  groan- 
ing, and  in  suffering;  their  comrades,  silent  and 
sullen ; and  the  women  and  children  in  terror 
they  knew  not  of  what.  • 

As  the  confused  and  timid  throng  left  the  pro- 
tecting mounds  of  the  fort  and  issued  on  the  open 
plain,  the  whole  scene  was  at  once  presented  to 
their  eyes.  At  a little  distance  on  the  right,  and 
somewhat  in  the  rear,  the  French  army  stood  to 
their  arms,  Montcalm  having  collected  his  parties 
so  soon  as  his  guards  had  possession  of  the  works. 
They  were  attentive  but  silent  observers  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  vanquished,  failing  in  none  of 
the  stipulated  military  honors,  and  offering  no 
taunt  or  insult,  in  their  success,  to  their  less  for- 
tunate foes.  Living  masses  of  the  English,  to  the 
amount  in  the  whole  of  near  three  thousand, 
were  moving  slowly  across  the  plain  toward  the 
common  centre,  and  gradually  approached  each 
other,  as  they  converged  to  the  point  of  their 
march,  a vista  cut  through  the  lofty  trees,  where 
the  road  to  the  Hudson  entered  the  forest. 
Along  the  sweeping  borders  of  the  woods  hung 
a dark  cloud  of  savages,  eying  the  passage  of 
their  enemies,  and  hovering,  at  a distance,  like 
vultures,  who  were  only  kept  from  stooping  on 
their  prey  by  the  presence  and  restraint  of  a su- 
perior army.  A few  had  straggled  among  the 
conquered  columns,  where  they  stalked  in  sullen 
discontent ; attentive,  though,  as  yet,  passive 
observers  of  the  moving  multitude. 

The  advance,  with  Heyward  at  its  head,  had 
already  reached  the  defile,  and  was  slowly  disap- 
pearing, when  the  attention  of  Cora  was  drawn 


A REVOLTING  SCENE. 


S’? 


10  a collection  of  stragglers,  by  the  sounds  of 
contention.  A truant  provincial  was  paying  the 
forfeit  of  his  disobedience,  by  being  plundered 
of  those  very  effects  which  had  caused  him  to 
desert  his  place  in  the  ranks.  The  man  was  of 
powerful  frame,  and  too  avaricious  to  part  with 
his  goods  without  a struggle.  Individuals  from 
either  party  interfered  ; the  one  side  to  prevent, 
and  the  other  to  aid  in  the  robbery.  Voices  grew 
loud  and  angry,  and  a hundred  savages  appeared, 
as  it  were  by  magic,  where  a dozen  only  had  been 
seen  a minute  before.  It  was  then  that  Cora  saw 
the  form  of  Magua  gliding  among  his  countrymen, 
and  speaking  with  his  fatal  and  artful  eloquence. 
The  mass  of  women  and  children  stopped,  and 
hovered  together  like  alarmed  and  fluttering 
birds.  But  the  cupidity  of  the  Indian  was  soon 
gratified,  and  the  different  bodies  again  moved 
slowly  onward. 

The  savages  now  fell  back,  and  seemed  con- 
tent to  let  their  enemies  advance  without  further 
molestation.  But  as  the  female  crowd  approached 
them,  the  gaudy  colors  of  a shawl  attracted  the 
eyes  of  a wild  and  untutored  Huron.  He  ad- 
vanced to  seize  it  without  the  least  hesitation. 
The  woman,  more  in  terror  than  through  love 
of  the  ornament,  wrapped  her  child  in  the  cov- 
eted article,  and  folded  both  more  closely  to  her 
bosom.  Cora  was  in  the  act  of  speaking,  with 
an  intent  to  advise  the  woman  to  abandon  the 
trifle,  when  the  savage  relinquished  his  hold  of 
the  shawl,  and  tore  the  screaming  infant  from 
her  arms.  Abandoning  every  thing  to  the  greedy 
grasp  of  those  around  her,  the  mother  darted, 
with  distraction  in  her  mien,  to  reclaim  her  child. 
The  Indian  smiled  grimly,  and  extended  one  hand, 
in  sign  of  a willingness  to  exchange,  while,  with 
the  other,  he  flourished  the  babe  over  his  head, 
holding  it  by  the  feet  as  if  to  enhance  the  value 
of  the  ransom. 

“ Here  — here  — there  — all  — any  — every 
thing  ! ” exclaimed  the  breathless  woman ; tear- 
ing the  lighter  articles  of  dress  from  her  person, 
with  ill-directed  and  trembling  fingers  ; “ take  all, 
but  give  me  my  babe ! ” 

The  savage  spurned  Jhe  worthless  rags,  and 
perceiving  that  the  shawl  had  already  become  a 
prize  to  another,  his  bantering  but  sullen  smile 
changing  to  a gleam  of  ferocity,  he  dashed  the 
head  of  the  infant  against  a rock,  and  cast  its 
quivering  remains  to  her  very  feet.  For  an  in 
Btant,  the  mother  stood,  like  a statue  of  despair, 
looking  wildly  down  at  the  unseemly  object, 
which  had  so  lately  nestled  in  her  bosom  and 
smiled  in  her  face ; and  then  she  raised  her  eyes 
and  countenance  toward  heaven,  as  if  calling  on 


God  to  curse  the  perpetrator  of  the  foul  deed. 
She  was  spared  the  sin  of  such  a prayer ; for, 
maddened  at  his  disappointment,  and  excited  at 
the  sight  of  blood,  the  Huron  mercifully  drove 
his  tomahawk  into  her  own  brain.  The  mother 
sank  under  the  blow,  and  fell,  grasping  at  her 
child,  in  death,  with  the  same  engrossing  love 
that  had  caused  her  to  cherish  it  when  living. 

At  that  dangerous  moment  Magua  placed  his 
hands  to  his  mouth,  and  raised  the  fatal  and  ap- 
palling whoop.  The  scattered  Indians  started  at 
the  well-known  cry,  as  coursers  bound  at  the  sig- 
nal to  quit  the  goal ; and,  directly,  there  arose 
such  a yell  along  the  plain,  and  through  the  arch- 
es of  the  wood,  as  seldom  burst  from  human 
lips  before.  They  who  heard  it,  listened  with  a 
curdling  horror  at  the  heart,  little  inferior  to  that 
dread  which  may  be  expected  to  attend  the 
blasts  of  the  final  summons. 

More  than  two  thousand  raving  savages  broke 
from  the  forest  at  the  signal,  and  threw  them- 
selves across  the  fatal  plain  with  instinctive  alac- 
rity. We  shall  not  dwell  on  the  revolting  hor- 
rors that  succeeded.  Death  was  everywhere,  and 
in  his  most  terrific  and  disgusting  aspects.  Re- 
sistance only  served  to  inflame  the  murderers, 
who  inflicted  their  furious  blows  long  after  their 
victims  were  beyond  the  power  of  their  resent- 
ment. The  flow  of  blood  might  be  likened  to 
the  outbreaking  of  a torrent ; and  as  the  natives 
became  heated  and  maddened  by  the  sight,  many 
among  them  even  kneeled  to  the  earth,  and  drank 
freely,  exultingly,  hellishly,  of  the  crimson  tide. 

The  trained  bodies  of  the  troops  threw  them- 
selves quickly  into  solid  masses,  endeavoring  to 
awe  their  assailants  by  the  imposing  appearance 
of  a military  front.  The  experiment  in  some 
measure  succeeded,  though  far  too  many  suffered 
their  unloaded  muskets  to  be  torn  from  their 
hands,  in  the  vain  hope  of  appeasing  the  sav- 
ages. 

In  such  a scene  none  had  leisure  to  note  the 
fleeting  moments.  It  might  have  been  ten  min- 
utes (it  seemed  an  age),  that  the  sisters  had 
stood  riveted  to  one  spot,  horror-stricken,  and 
nearly  helpless.  When  the  first  blow  was  struck, 
their  screaming  companions  had  pressed  upon 
them  in  a body,  rendering  flight  impossible  ; and 
now  that  fear  or  death  had  scattered  most,  if  not 
all,  from  around  them,  they  saw  no  avenue  open, 
but  such  as  conducted  to  the  tomahawks  of  their 
foes.  On  every  side  arose  shrieks,  groans,  ex- 
hortations, and  curses.  At  this  moment,  Alice 
caught  a glimpse  of  the  vast  form  of  her  father, 
moving  rapidly  across  the  plain,  in  the  direction 
of  the  French  army.  He  was,  in  truth,  proceed- 


88 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ing  to  Montcalm,  fearless  of  every  danger,  to 
claim  the  tardy  escort  for  which  he  had  before 
conditioned.  Fifty  glittering  axes  and  barbed 
spears  were  offered  unheeded  at  his  life,  but  the 
savages  respected  his  rank  and  calmness,  even  in 
their  fury.  The  dangerous  weapons  were  brushed 
aside  by  the  still  nervous  arm  of  the  veteran,  or 
fell  of  themselves,  after  menacing  an  act  that  it 
would  seem  no  one  had  courage  to  perform.  For- 
tunately, the  vindictive  Magua  was  searching  for 
his  victim  in  the  very  band  the  veteran  had  just 
quitted. 

“ Father  — father — we  are  here  ! ” shrieked 
Alice,  as  he  passed,  at  no  great  distance,  without 
appearing  to  heed  them.  “ Come  to  us,  father, 
or  we  die ! ” 

The  cry  was  repeated,  and  in  terms  and  tones 
that  might  have  melted  a heart  of  stone,  but  it 
was  unanswered.  Once,  indeed,  the  old  man  ap- 
peared to  catch  the  sounds,  for  he  paused  and 
listened  ; but  Alice  had  dropped  senseless  on  the 
earth,  and  Cora  had  sunk  at  her  side,  hovering  in 
untiring  tenderness  over  her  lifeless  form.  Munro 
shook  his  head  in  disappointment,  and  proceed- 
ed, bent  on  the  high  duty  of  his  station. 

“ Lady,”  said  Gamut,  who,  helpless  and  use- 
less as  he  was,  had  not  yet  dreamed  of  deserting 
his  trust,  “ it  is  the  jubilee  of  the  devils,  and  this 
is  not  a meet  place  for  Christians  to  tarry  in. 
Let  us  up  and  fly.” 

“ Go,”  said  Cora,  still  gazing  at  her  uncon- 
scious sister  ; “ save  thyself.  To  me  thou  canst 
not  be  of  further  use.” 

David  comprehended  the  unyielding  character 
of  her  resolution,  by  the  simple  but  expressive 
gesture  that  accompanied  her  words.  He  gazed, 
for  a moment,  at  the  dusky  forms  that  were  act- 
ing their  hellish  rites  on  every  side  of  him,  and 
his  tall  person  grew  more  erect,  while  his  chest 
heaved,  and  every  feature  swelled,  and  seemed  to 
speak  with  the  power  of  the  feelings  by  which 
he  was  governed. 

“If  the  Jewish  boy  might  tame  the  evil  spirit 
of  Saul  by  the  sound  of  his  harp,  and  the  words 
of  sacred  song,  it  may  not  be  amiss,”  he  said, 
“ to  try  the  potency  of  music  here.” 

Then  raising  his  voice  to  its  highest  tones,  he 
poured  out  a strain  so  powerful  as  to  be  heard  even 
amid  the  din  of  that  bloody  field.  More  than  one 
savage  rushed  toward  them,  thinking  to  rifle  the 
unprotected  sisters  of  their  attire,  and  bear  away 
their  scalps ; but  when  they  found  this  strange 
and  unmoved  figure  riveted  to  his  post,  they 
paused  to  listen.  Astonishment  soon  changed  to 
admiration,  and  they  passed  on  to  other  and  less 
courageous  victims,  openly  expressing  their  satis- 


faction at  the  firmness  with  which  :he  white  war. 
rior  sang  his  death-song.  Encouraged  and  de- 
luded  by  his  success,  David  exerted  all  his 
powers  to  extend  what  he  believed  so  holy  an 
influence.  The  unwonted  sounds  caught  the  ears 
of  a distant  savage,  who  flew  raging  from  group 
to  group,  like  one  who,  scorning  to  touch  the 
vulgar  herd,  hunted  for  some  victim  more  wor- 
thy  of  his  renown.  It  was  Magua,  who  uttered 
a yell  of  pleasure  when  he  beheld  his  ancitnt 
prisoners  again  at  his  mercy. 

“ Come,”  he  said,  laying  his  soiled  hands  on 
the  dress  of  Cora,  “ the  wigwam  of  the  Huron  is 
still  open.  Is  it  not  better  than  this  place  ? ” 

“Away! ’’cried  Cora,  veiling  her  eyes  from 
his  revolting  aspect. 

The  Indian  laughed  tauntingly,  as  he  held  up 
his  reeking  hand,  and  answered  : 

“ It  is  red,  but  it  comes  from  white  veins ! ” 

“ Monster  ! there  is  blood,  oceans  of  blood,  up- 
on thy  soul ; thy  spirit  has  moved  this  scene.” 

“ Magua  is  a great  chief ! ” returned  the  ex- 
ulting savage ; “ will  the  dark-hair  go  to  his 
tribe  ? ” 

“ Never  ! strike  if  thou  wilt,  and  complete  thy 
revenge.” 

He  hesitated  a moment ; and  then  catching 
the  light  and  senseless  form  of  Alice  in  his  arms, 
the  subtle  Indian  moved  swiftly  across  the  plain 
toward  the  woods. 

“ Hold  ! ” shrieked  Cora,  following  wildly  on 
his  footsteps  ; “release  the  child  ! wretch  ! what 
is’t  you  do  ? ” 

But  Magua  was  deaf  to  her  voice ; or  rather 
he  knew  his  power,  and  was  determined  to  main- 
tain it. 

“ Stay — lady — stay,”  called  Gamut,  after  the 
unconscious  Cora.  “The  holy  charm  is  begin- 
ning to  be  felt,  and  soon  shalt  thou  see  this  hor- 
rid tumult  stilled.” 

Perceiving  that,  in  his  turn,  he  was  unheeded, 
the  faithful  David  followed  the  distracted  sister, 
raising  his  voice  again  in  sacred  song,  and  sweep- 
ing the  air  to  the  measure,  with  his  long  arm,  in 
diligent  accompaniment.  In  this  manner  they 
traversed  the  plain,  through  the  flying,  the 
wounded,  and  the  dead.  The  fierce  Huron  was,- 
at  any  time,  sufficient  for  himself  and  the  victim 
that  he  bore ; though  Cora  would  have  fallen, 
more  than  once,  under  the  blows  of  her  savage 
enemies,  but  for  the  extraordinary  being  who 
stalked  in  her  rear,  and  who  now  appeared  to  the 
astonished  natives  gifted  with  the  protecting 
spirit  of  madness. 

Magua,  who  knew  how  to  avoid  the  more 
pressing  dangers,  and  also  to  elude  pursuit,  en> 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


89 


tered  the  woods  through  a low  ravine,  where  he 
quickly  found  the  Narragansets,  which  the  travel- 
lers had  abandoned  so  shortly  before,  awaiting 
his  appearance,  in  custody  of  a savage  as  fierce 
and  as  malign  in  his  expression  as  himself.  Lay- 
ing Alice  on  one  of  the  horses,  he  made  a sign  to 
Cora  to  mount  the  other. 

Notwithstanding  the  horror  excited  by  the 
presence  of  her  captor,  there  was  a present  relief 
in  escaping  from  the  bloody  scene  enacting  on  the 
plain,  to  which  Cora  could  not  be  altogether  in- 
sensible. She  took  her  seat,  and  held  forth  her 
arms  for  her  sister,  with  an  air  of  entreaty  and 
love  that  even  the  Huron  could  not  deny.  Pla- 
cing Alice,  then,  on  the  same  animal  with  Cora,  he 
seized  the  bridle,  and  commenced  his  route  by 
plunging  deeper  into  the  forest.  David,  perceiv- 
ing that  he  was  left  alone,  utterly  disregarded  as 
a subject  too  worthless  even  to  destroy,  threw  his 
long  limb  across  the  saddle  of  the  beast  they  had 
deserted,  and  made  such  progress  in  the  pursuit 
as  the  difficulties  of  the  path  permitted. 

They  soon  began  to  ascend ; but  as  the  mo- 
tion had  a tendency  to  revive  the  dormant  facul- 
ties of  her  sister,  the  attention  of  Cora  was  too 
much  divided  between  the  tenderest  solicitude  in 
her  behalf,  and  in  listening  to  the  cries  which 
were  still  too  audible  on  the  plain,  to  note  the 
direction  in  which  they  journeyed.  When,  how- 
ever, they  gained  the  flattened  surface  of  the 
mountain-top,  and  approached  the  eastern  preci- 
pice, she  recognized  the  spot  to  which  she  had 
once  before  been  led  under  the  more  friendly  au- 
spices of  the  scout.  Here  Magua  suffered  them  to 
dismount;  and,  notwithstanding  their  own  cap- 
tivity, the  curiosity  which  seems  inseparable  from 
horror,  induced  them  to  gaze  at  the  sickening 
sight  below. 

The  cruel  work  was  still  unchecked.  On 
every  side  the  captured  were  flying  before  their 
relentless  persecutors,  while  the  armed  columns  of 
the  Christian  king  stood  fast  in  an  apathy  which 
has  never  been  explained,  and  which  has  left  an 
immovable  blot  on  the  otherwise  fair  escutcheon 
of  their  leader.  Nor  was  the  sword  of  death 
stayed  until  cupidity  got  the  mastery  of  revenge. 
Then,  indeed,  the  shrieks  of  the  wounded  and  the 
yells  of  their  murderers  grew  less  frequent,  until, 
finally,  the  cries  of  horror  were  lost  to  their  ear, 
or  were  drowned  in  the  loud,  long,  and  piercing 
whoops  of  the  triumphant  savages.* 


* The  accounts  of  the  number  who  fell  in  this  unhappy 
tffair  vary  between  five  and  fifteen  hundred. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

•“  Why,  any  thing : 

An  honorable  murderer,  if  you  will ; 

For  naught  I did  in  hate,  but  all  in  honor.” 

. Othello. 

The  bloody  and  inhuman  scene  rather  incident- 
ally mentioned  than  described  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  is  conspicuous  in  the  pages  of  colonial 
history,  by  the  merited  title  of  “ The  Massacre  of 
William  Henry.”  It  so  far  deepened  the  stain 
which  a previous  and  very  similar  event  had  left 
upon  the  reputation  of  the  French  commander, 
that  it  was  not  entirely  erased  by  his  early  and 
glorious  death.  It  is  now  becoming  obscured  by 
time ; and  thousands,  who  know  that  Montcalm 
died  like  a hero  on  the  plains  of  Abraham,  have 
yet  to  learn  how  much  he  was  deficient  in  that 
moral  courage  without  which  no  man  can  be  truly 
great.  Pages  might  be  written  to  prove,  from 
this  illustrious  example,  the  defects  of  human 
excellence ; to  show  how  easy  it  is  for  generous 
sentiments,  high  courtesy,  and  chivalrous  courage, 
to  lose  their  influence  beneath  the  chilling  blight 
of  selfishness,  and  to  exhibit  to  the  world  a man 
who  was  great  in  all  the  minor  attributes  of  char- 
acter, but  who  was  found  wanting  when  it  be- 
came necessary  to  prove  how  much  principle  is 
superior  to  policy.  But  the  task  would  exceed 
our  prerogatives ; and,  as  history,  like  love,  is  so 
apt  to  surround  her  heroes  with  an  atmosphere 
of  imaginary  brightness,  it  is  probable  that  Louis 
de  Saint-V eran  will  be  viewed  by  posterity  only 
as  the  gallant  defender  of  his  country,  while  his 
cruel  apathy  on  the  shores  of  the  Oswego  and  of 
the  Horican  will  be  forgotten.  Deeply  regretting 
this  weakness  on  the  part  of  a sister-muse,  we 
shall  at  once  retire,  from  her  sacred  precincts, 
within  the  proper  limits  of  our  own  humble  vo- 
cation. 

The  third  day  from  the  capture  of  the  fort 
was  drawing  to  a close,  but  the  business  of  the 
narrative  must  still  detain  the  reader  on  the 
shores  of  the  “ holy  lake.”  When  last  seen,  the 
environs  of  the  works  were  filled  with  violence 
and  uproar.  They  were  now  possessed  by  still- 
ness and  death.  The  blood-stained  conquerors 
had  departed ; and  their  camp,  which  had  so 
lately  rung  with  the  merry  rejoicings  of  a vic- 
torious army,  lay  a silent  and  deserted  city  of 
huts.  The  fortress  was  a smouldering  ruin ; 
charred  rafters,  fragments  of  exploded  artillery, 
and  rent  mason-work,  covering  its  earthen  mounds 
in  confused  disorder. 

A frightful  change  had  also  occurred  in  the 
season.  The  sun  had  hid  its  warmth  behiud  an 


90 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


impenetrable  mass  of  vapor,  and  hundreds  of 
human  forms,  which  had  blackened  beneath  the 
fierce  heats  of  August,  were  stiffening  in  their  de- 
formity, before  the  blasts  of  a premature  Novem- 
ber. The  curling  and  spotless  mists,  which  had 
been  seen  sailing  above  the  hills  toward  the  north, 
were  now  returning  in  an  interminable  dusky 
sheet,  that  was  urged  along  by  the  fury  of  a tem- 
pest. The  crowded  mirror  of  the  Horican  was 
gone  ; and,  in  its  place,  the  green  and  angry 
waters  lashed  the  shores,  as  if  indignantly  cast- 
ing back  its  impurities  to  the  polluted  strand. 
Still  the  clear  fountain  retained  a portion  of  its 
charmed  influence,  but  it  reflected  only  the  som- 
bre gloom  that  fell  from  the  impending  heavens. 
That  humid  and  congenial  atmosphere  which 
commonly  adorned  the  view,  veiling  its  harshness, 
and  softening  its  asperities,  had  disappeared,  and 
the  northern  air  poured  across  the  waste  of  water 
so  harsh  and  unmingled,  that  nothing  was  left  to 
be  conjectured  by  the  eye,  or  fashioned  by  the 
fancy. 

The  fiercer  element  had  cropped  the  verdure 
of  the  plain,  which  looked  as  though  it  were 
scathed  by  the  consuming  lightning.  But,  here 
and  there,  a dark-green  tuft  rose  in  the  midst  of 
the  desolation ; the  earliest  fruits  of  a soil  that 
had  been  fattened  with  human  blood.  The  whole 
landscape,  which,  seen  by  a favoring  light,  and 
in  a genial  temperature,  had  been  found  so  lovely, 
appeared  now  like  some  pictured  allegory  of  life, 
in  which  objects  were  arrayed  in  their  harshest 
but  truest  colors,  and  without  the  relief  of  any 
shadowing. 

The  solitary  and  arid  blades  of  grass  arose 
from  the  passing  gusts  fearfully  perceptible ; the 
bold  and  rocky  mountains  were  too  distinct  in 
their  barrenness,  and  the  eye  even  sought  relief, 
in  vain,  by  attempting  to  pierce  the  illimitable 
void  of  heaven,  which  was  shut  to  its  gaze  by  the 
dusky  sheet  of  ragged  and  driving  vapor. 

The  wind  blew  unequally  ; sometimes  sweep- 
ing heavily  along  the  ground,  seeming  to  whisper 
its  moanings  in  the  cold  ears  of  the  dead,  then 
rising  in  a shrill  and  mournful  whistling,  it  entered 
the  forest  with  a rush  that  filled  the  air  with  the 
leaves  and  branches  it  scattered  in  its  path.  Amid 
the  unnatural  shower,  a few  hungry  ravens  strug- 
gled with  the  gale ; but  no  sooner  was  the  green 
ocean  of  woods,  which  stretched  beneath  them, 
passed,  than  they  gladly  stooped,  at  random,  to 
their  hideous  banquet. 

In  short,  it  was  a scene  of  wildness  and  deso- 
lation ; and  it  appeared  as  if  all  who  had  profanely 
entered  it  had  been  stricken,  at  a blow,  by  the 
relentless  arm  of  Death.  But  the  prohibition  had 


ceased  ; and,  for  the  first  time  since  the  perpetra- 
tors of  those  foul  deeds  which  had  assisted  to 
disfigure  the  scene,  were  gone,  living  human 
beings  had  now  presumed  to  approach  the  place. 

About  an  hour  before  the  setting  of  the  sun, 
on  the  day  already  mentioned,  the  forms  of  five 
men  might  have  been  seen  issuing  from  the  narrow 
vista  of  trees,  where  the  path  to  the  Hudson 
entered  the  forest,  and  advancing  in  the  direction 
of  the  ruined  works.  At  first  their  progress  was 
slow  and  guarded,  as  though  .they  entered  with 
reluctance  amid  the  horrors  of  the  spot,  or 
dreaded  the  renewal  of  its  frightful  incidents.  A 
light  figure  preceded  the  rest  of  the  party,  with 
the  caution  and  activity  of  a native  ; ascending 
every  hillock  to  reconnoitre,  and  indicating,  by 
gestures,  to  his  companions,  the  route  he  deemed 
it  most  prudent  to  pursue.  Nor  were  those  in 
the  rear  wanting  in  every  caution  and  foresight 
known  to  forest  warfare.  One  among  them,  he  also 
was  an  Indian,  moved  a little  on  one  flank,  and 
•watched  the  margin  of  the  woods,  with  eyes  long 
accustomed  to  read  the  smallest  signs  of  danger. 
The  remaining  three  were  white,  though  clad  in 
vestments  adapted,  both  in  quality  and  color,  to 
their  present  hazardous  pursuit — that  of  hanging 
on  the  skirts  of  a retiring  army  in  the  wilderness. 

The  effects  produced  by  the  appalling  sights 
that  constantly  arose  in  their  path  to  the  lake- 
shore,  were  as  different  as  the  characters  of  the 
respective  individuals  who  composed  the  party. 
The  youth  in  front  threw  serious  but  furtive  glances 
at  the  mangled  victims,  as  he  stepped  lightly  across 
the  plain,  afraid  to  exhibit  his  feelings,  and  yet  too 
inexperienced  to  quell  entirely  their  sudden  and 
powerful  influence.  His  red  associate,  however, 
was  superior  to  such  a weakness.  He  passed 
the  groups  of  dead  with  a steadiness  of  purpose, 
and  an  eye  so  calm,  that  nothing  but  long  and 
inveterate  practice  could  enable  him  to  maintain. 
The  sensations  produced  in  the  minds  of  even  the 
white  men  were  different,  though  uniformly  sor- 
rowful. One,  whose  gray  locks  and  furrowed 
lineaments,  blending  with  a martial  air  and  tread, 
betrayed,  in  spite  of  the  disguise  of  a woodman’s 
dress,  a man  long  experienced  in  scenes  of  war, 
was  not  ashamed  to  groan  aloud,  whenever  a spec- 
tacle of  more  than  usual  horror  came  under  his 
view.  The  young  man  at  his  elbow  shuddered, 
but  seemed  to  suppress  his  feelings  in  tenderness 
to  his  companion.  Of  them  all,  the  straggler  who 
brought  up  the  rear,  appeared  alone  to  betray  his 
real  thoughts,  without  fear  of  observation  or  dread 
of  consequences.  He  gazed  at  the  most  appall- 
ing sight  with  eyes  and  muscles  that  knew'not 
how  to  waver,  but  with  execrations  so  bitter  and 


HAWK-EYE  AND  THE  MOHICANS. 


91 


deep  as  to  denote  how  much  he  denounced  the 
crime  of  his  enemies. 

The  reader  will  perceive,  at  once,  in  these  re- 
spective characters,  the  Mohicans,  and  their  white 
friend,  the  scout ; together  with  Munro  and  Hey- 
ward. It  was,  in  truth,  the  father  in  quest  of  his 
children,  attended  by  the  youth  who  felt  so  deep 
a stake  in  their  happiness,  and  those  brave  and 
trusty  foresters,  who  had  already  proved  their 
skill  and  fidelity  through  the  trying  scenes  related. 

When  Uncas,  who  moved  in  front,  had  reached 
the  centre  of  the  plain,  he  raised  a cry  that  drew 
his  companions  in  a body  to  the  spot.  The  young 
warrior  had  halted  over  a group  of  females  who 
lay  in  a cluster,  a confused  mass  of  dead.  Not- 
withstanding the  revolting  horror  of  the  exhi- 
bition, Munro  and  Heyward  flew  toward  the  fester- 
ing heap,  endeavoring,  with  a love  that  no  un- 
seemliness could  extinguish,  to  discover  whether 
any  vestiges  of  those  they  sought  were  to  be  seen 
among  the  tattered  and  many-colored  garments. 
The  father  and  the  lover  found  instant  relief  in 
the  search ; though  each  was  condemned  again  to 
experience  the  misery  of  an  uncertainty  that  was 
hardly  less  insupportable  than  the  most  revolting 
truth.  They  were  standing,  silent  and  thoughtful, 
around  the  melancholy  pile,  when  the  scout  ap- 
proached. Eying  the  sad  spectacle  with  an  an- 
gry countenance,  the  sturdy  woodsman,  for  the 
first  time  since  his  entering  the  plain,  spoke  in- 
telligibly and  aloud : 

“ I have  been  on  many  a shocking  field,  and 
have  followed  a trail  of  blood  for  weary  miles,” 
he’ said,  “but  never  have  I found  the  hand  of  the 
devil  so  plain  as  it  is  here  to  be  seen ! Revenge 
is  an  Indian  feeling,  and  all  who  know  me  know 
that  there  is  no  cross  in  my  veins ; but  this  much 
will  I say — here,  in  the  face  of  Heaven,  and  with 
the  power  of  the  Lord  so  manifest  in  this  howl- 
ing wilderness — that  should  these  Frenchers  ever 
trust  themselves  again  within  the  range  of  a rag- 
ged bullet,  there  is  one  rifle  shall  play  its  part,  so 
long  as  flint  will  fire  or  powder  burn  ! — I leave 
the  tomahawk  and  knife  to  such  as  have  a natural 
gift  to  use  them. — What  say  you,  Chingachgook,” 
he  added  in  Delaware ; “ shall  the  Hurons  boast 
of  this  to  their  women  when  the  deep  snows 
come  ? ” 

A gleam  of  resentment  flashed  across  the  dark 
lineament » of  the  Mohican  chief ; he  loosened  his 
knife  in  its  sheath ; and  then  turning  calmly  from 
the  sight,  his  countenance  settled  into  a repose  as 
deep  as  if  he  never  knew  the  instigation  of  pas- 
si  OD. 

. “ Montcalm ! Montcalm ! ” continued  the  deep- 
er resentful  and  less  self-restrained  scout;  “they 


say  a time  must  come,  when  all  the  deeds  done  in 
the  flesh  will  be  seen  at  a single  look ; and  that 
by  eyes  cleared  from  mortal  infirmities.  Woe  be- 
tide the  wretch  who  is  born  to  behold  this  plain, 
with  the  judgment  hanging  about  his  soul ! Ha ! 
— as  I am  a man  of  white  blood,  yonder  lies  a red- 
skin, without  the  hair  of  his  head  where  Nature 
rooted  it ! — Look  to  him,  Delaware ; it  may  be 
one  of  your  missing  people  ; and  he  should  have 
burial  like  a stout  warrior.  I see  it  in  your  eye, 
sagamore : a Huron  pays  for  this  afore  the  fall 
winds  have  blown  away  the  scent  of  the  blood  ! ” 

Chingachgook  approached  the  mutilated  form, 
and,  turning  it  over,  he  found  the  distinguishing 
marks  of  one  of  those  six  allied  tribes,  or  nations, 
as  they  were  called,  who,  while  they  fought  in 
the  English  ranks,  were  so  deadly  hostile  to  his 
own  people.  Spurning  the  loathsome  object  with 
his  foot,  he  turned  from  it  with  the  same  indiffer- 
ence he  would  have  quitted  a brute  carcass.  The 
scout  comprehended  the  action,  and  very  deliber- 
ately pursued  his  own  way,  continuing,  however, 
his  denunciations  against  the  French  commander 
in  the  same  resentful  strain  : 

“ Nothing  but  vast  wisdom  and  onlimited 
power  should  dare  to  sweep  off  men  in  multi- 
tudes,” he  added ; “ for  it  is  only  the  one  that 
can  know  the  necessity  of  the  judgment ; and 
what  is  there  short  of  the  other  that  can  replace 
the  creatures  of  the  Lord  ? I hold  it  a sin  to  kill 
the  second  buck  afore  the  first  is  eaten,  unless  a 
march  in  the  front,  or  an  ambushment,  be  con- 
templated. It  is  a different  matter  with  a few 
warriors  in  open  and  rugged  fight,  for  ’tis  their 
gift  to  die  with  the  rifle  or  the  tomahawk  in  hand  ; 
according  as  their  natures  may  happen  to  be, 
white  or  red. — Uncas,  come  this  way,  lad,  and  let 
the  ravens  settle  upon  the  Mingo.  I know,  from 
often  seeing  it,  that  they  have  a craving  for  the 
flesh  of  an  Oneida ; and  it  is  as  well  to  let  the 
bird  follow  the  gift  of  its  natural  appetite.” 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  the  young  Mohican,  ris- 
ing on  the  extremities  of  his  feet,  and  gazing  in- 
tently in  his  front,  frightening  the  raven  to  some 
other  prey  by  the  sound  and  the  action. 

“ What  is  it,  boy  ? ” whispered  the  scout, 
lowering  his  tall  form  into  a crouching  attitude, 
like  a panther  about  to  take  his  leap  ; “ God  send 
it  be  a tardy  Frencher,  skulking  for  plunder  ! I 
do  believe  ‘ Kill-deer  ’ would  take  an  oncommon 
range  to-day ! ” 

Uncas,  without  making  any  reply,  bounded 
away  from  the  spot,  and  in  the  next  instant  he 
was  seen  tearing  from  a bush,  and  waving  in 
triumph,  a fragment  of  the  green  riding- veil  cf 
Cora.  The  movement,  the  exhibition,  and  the 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


cry,  which  again  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  young 
Mohican,  instantly  drew  the  whole  party  about 
him. 

“ My  child  ! ” said  Munro,  speaking  quick  and 
wildly  ; “ give  me  my  child  ! ” 

“ Uncas  will  try,”  was  the  short  and  touching 
answer. 

The  simple  but  meaning  assurance  was  lost  on 
the  father,  who  seized  the  piece  of  gauze,  and 
crushed  it  in  his  hand,  while  his  eyes  roamed 
fearfully  among  the  bushes,  as  if  he  equally 
dreaded  and  hoped  for  the  secrets  they  might 
reveal. 

“ Here  are  no  dead,”  said  Heyward ; “ the 
storm  seems  not  to  have  passed  this  way.” 

“ That’s  manifest ; and  clearer  than  the  heav- 
ens above  our  heads,”  returned  the  undisturbed 
scout ; “ but  either  she,  or  they  that  have  robbed 
her,  have  passed  the  bush ; for  I remember  the 
rag  she  wore  to  hide  a face  that  all  did  love  to 
look  upon. — Uncas,  you  are  right ; the  dark-hair 
has  been  here,  and  she  has  fled,  like  a frighted 
fawn,  to  the  wood  ; none  who  could  fly  would  re- 
main to  be  murdered.  Let  us  search  for  the 
marks  she  left ; for,  to  Indian  eyes,  I sometimes 
think  even  a humming-bird  leaves  his  trail  in  the 
air.” 

The  young  Mohican  darted  away  at  the  sug- 
gestion, and  the  scout  had  hardly  done  speak- 
ing, before  the  former  raised  a cry  of  success 
from  the  margin  of  the  forest.  On  reaching  the 
spot,  the  anxious  party  perceived  another  portion 
of  the  veil  fluttering  on  the  lower  branch  of  a 
beech. 

“ Softly,  softly,”  said  the  scout,  extending  his 
long  rifle  in  front  of  the  eager  Heyward ; “ we 
now  know  our  work,  but  the  beauty  of  the  trail 
must  not  be  deformed.  A step  too  soon  may  give 
us  hours  of  trouble.  We  have  them,  though  ; that 
much  is  beyond  denial.” 

“ Bless  ye,  bless  ye,  worthy  man  ! ” exclaimed 
Munro ; “ whither,  then,  have  they  fled,  and 
where  are  my  babes  ? ” 

“ The  path  they  have  taken  depends  on  many 
chances.  If  they  have  gone  alone,  they  are  quite 
as  likely  to  move  in  a circle  as  straight,  and  they 
may  be  within  a dozen  miles  of  us ; but  if  the 
Hurons,  or  any  of  the  French  Indians,  have  laid 
hands  on  them,  ’tis  probable  they  are  now  near 
the  borders  of  the  Canadas.  But  what  matters 
that  ? ” continued  the  deliberate  scout,  observing 
the  powerful  anxiety  and  disappointment  the  lis- 
teners exhibited  ; “ here  are  the  Mohicans  and  I 
»n  one  end  of  the  trail,  and,  rely  on  it,  we  find 
the  other,  though  they  should  be  a hundred 
leagues  asunder ! — Gently,  gently,  Uncas  ; you  are 


as  impatient  as  a man  in  the  settlements ; you 
forget  that  light  feet  leave  but  faint  marks  ! ” 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  Chingachgook,  who  had 
been  occupied  in  examining  an  opening  that  had 
been  evidently  made  through  the  low  underbrush, 
which  skirted  the  forest ; and  who  now  stood 
erect,  as  he  pointed  downward,  in  the  attitud* 
and  with  the  air  of  a man  who  beheld  a disgusting 
serpent. 

“ Here  is  the  palpable  impression  of  the  foot- 
step of  a man,”  cried  Heyward,  bending  over  the 
indicated  spot ; “ he  has  trod  in  the  margin  of 
this  pool,  and  the  mark  cannot  be  mistaken. 
They  are  captives.” 

“ Better  so  than  left  to  starve  in  the  wilder- 
ness,” returned  the  scout ; “ and  they  will  leave 
a wider  trail.  I would  wager  fifty  beaver-skins 
against  as  many  flints,  that  the  Mohicans  and  I 
enter  their  wigwams  within  the  month ! — Stoop 
to  it,  Uncas,  and  try  what  you  can  make  of  the 
moccasin ; for  moccasin  it  plainly  is,  and  no 
shoe.” 

The  young  Mohican  bent  over  the  track,  and 
removing  the  scattered  leaves  from  around  the 
place,  he  examined  it  with  much  of  that  sort  of 
scrutiny  that  a money-dealer,  in  these  days  of 
pecuniary  doubts,  would  bestow  on  a suspected 
due-bill.  At  length,  he  arose  from  his  knees,  sat- 
isfied with  the  result  of  the  examination. 

“Well,  boy,”  demanded  the  attentive  scout, 
“ what  does  it  say  ? can  you  make  any  thing  of 
the  tell-tale  ? ” 

“ Le  Renard  Subtil ! ” 

“ Ha  ! that  rampaging  devil  again  ! There 
never  will  be  an  end  of  his  loping,  till  ‘ Kill-deer  ’ 
has  said  a friendly  word  to  him.” 

Heyward  reluctantly  admitted  the  truth  of 
this  intelligence,  and  now  expressed  rather  his 
hopes  than  his  doubts  by  saying : 

“ One  moccasin  is  so  much  like  another,  it  is 
probable  there  is  some  mistake.” 

“ One  moccasin  like  another ! you  may  as 
well  say  that  one  foot  is  like  another ; though 
we  all  know  that  some  are  long,  and  others  short ; 
some  broad  and  others  narrow  ; some  with  high, 
and  some  with  low,  insteps ; some  in-toed,  and 
some  out.  One  moccasin  is  no  more  like  another 
than  one  book  is  like  another  ; though  they  who 
can  read  in  one  are  seldom  able  to  tell  the  marks 
of  the  other.  Which  is  all  ordered  for  the  best, 
giving  to  every  man  his  natural  advantages. — Let 
me  get  down  to  it,  Uncas  ; neither  book  nor  moc- 
casin is  the  worse  for  having  two  opinions  in- 
stead of  one.”  The  sccut  stooped  to  the  task, 
and  instantly  added : “You  are  right,  boy ; here 
is  the  patch  we  saw  so  often  in  the  other  chase 


ON  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


93 


And  the  fellow  will  drink  when  he  can  get  an  op- 
portunity : your  drinking  Indian  always  learns  to 
walk  with  a wider  toe  than  the  natural  savage,  it 
being  the  gift  of  a drunkard  to  straddle,  whether 
of  white  or  red  skin.  ’Tis  just  the  length  and 
breadth  too  ! look  at  it,  sagamore  : you  measured 
the  prints  more  than  once,  when  we  hunted  the 
varments  from  Glenn’s  to  the  health-springs.” 

Chingachgook  complied;  and  after  finishing 
his  short  examination,  he  arose,  and  with  a quiet 
demeanor,  he  merely  pronounced  the  word — 

“ Magua ! ” 

“ Ay,  ’tis  a settled  thing ; here,  then,  have 
passed  the  dark-hair  and  Magua.” 

“And  not  Alice  ? ” demanded  Heyward. 

“ Of  her  we  have  not  yet  seen  signs,”  returned 
the  scout,  looking  closely  around  at  the  trees,  the 
bushes,  and  the  ground.  “ What  have  we  there  ? 
— Uncas,  bring  hither  the  thing  you  see  dangling 
from  yonder  thorn-bush.” 

When  the  Indian  had  complied,  the  scout  re- 
ceived the  prize,  and,  holding  it  on  high,  he 
laughed  in  his  silent  but  heart-felt  manner. 

“ ’Tis  the  tooting  we’pon  of  the  singer  ! now 
we  shall  have  a trail  a priest  might  travel,”  he 
said. — “ Uncas,  look  for  the  marks  of  a shoe  that 
is  long  enough  to  uphold  six  feet  two  of  tottering 
human  flesh.  I begin  to  have  some  hopes  of  the 
fellow,  since  he  has  given  up  squalling,  to  follow 
some  better  trade.” 

“ At  least,  he  has  been  faithful  to  his  trust,” 
said  Heyward  ; “ and  Cora  and  Alice  are  not  with- 
out a friend.” 

“ Yes,”  said  Hawk-eye,  dropping  his  rifle,  and 
leaning  on  it  with  an  air  of  visible  contempt,  “ he 
will  do  their  singing ! Can  he  slay  a buck  for 
their  dinner ; journey  by  the  moss  on  the  beeches, 
or  cut  the  throat  of  a Huron  ? If  not,  the  first 
cat-bird  * he  meets  is  the  cleverest  of  the  two. 
— Well,  boy,  any  signs  of  such  a foundation?  ” 

“ Here  is  something  like  the  footstep  of  one 
who  has  worn  a shoe ; can  it  be  that  of  our 
friend  ? ” 

“ Touch  the  leaves  lightly,  or  you’ll  disconsart 
the  formation.  That ! that  is  the  print  of  a foot, 
but  ’tis  the  dark-hair’s ; and  small  it  is,  too,  for 
one  of  such  a noble  height  and  grand  appearance. 
The  singer  would  cover  it  with  his  heel.” 

“ Where  ? let  me  look  on  the  footsteps  of  my 

* The  powers  of  the  American  mocking-bird  are  gener- 
ally known.  But  the  true  mocking-bird  is  not  found  so  far 
aorth  as  the  State  of  New  York,  where  it  has,  however, 
two  substitutes  of  inferior  excellence ; the  cat-bird,  so  often 
n^jgfld  by  the  scout,  and  the  bird  vulgarly  called  ground- 
thresher.  Either  of  these  last  two  birds  is  superior  to  the 
nightingale,  or  the  lark,  though,  in  general,  the  Americar 
birds  are  less  musical  than  those  of  Europe. 


child,”  said  Munro,  shoving  the  bushes  aside,  and 
bending  fondly  over  the  nearly-obliterated  im- 
pression. Though  the  tread,  which  had  left  the 
mark,  had  been  light  and  rapid,  it  was  still  plainly 
visible.  The  aged  soldier  examined  it  with  eyes 
that  grew  dim  as  he  gazed ; nor  did  he  rise  from 
his  stooping  posture  until  Heyward  saw  that  he 
had  watered  the  trace  of  his  daughter’s  passage 
with  a scalding  tear.  Willing  to  divert  a distress 
which  threatened  each  moment  to  break  through 
the  restraint  of  appearances,  by  giving  the  veteran 
something  to  do,  the  young  man  said  to  the 
scout : 

“ As  we  now  possess  these  infallible  signs,  let 
us  commence  our  march.  A moment,  at  such  a 
time,  will  appear  an  age  to  the  captives.” 

“ It  is  not  the  swiftest-leaping  deer  that  gives 
the  longest  chase,”  returned  Hawk-eye,  without 
moving  his  eyes  from  the  different  marks  that 
had  come  under  his  view ; “ we  know  that  the 
rampaging  Huron  has  passed — and  the  dark-hai  r 
— and  the  singer — but  where  is  she  of  the  yellow 
locks  and  blue  eyes?  Though  little,  and  far 
from  being  as  bold  as  her  sister,  she  is  fair  to 
the  view,  and  pleasant  in  discourse.  Has  she  no 
friend,  that  none  care  for  her  ? ” 

“ God  forbid  that  she  should  ever  want  hun- 
dreds ! Are  we  not  now  in  her  pursuit  ? for  one, 
I will  never  cease  the  search  till  she  be  found.” 

“ In  that  case  we  may  have  to  journey  by  dif- 
ferent paths  ; for  here  she  has  not  passed,  light 
and  little  as  her  footstep  would  be  ! ” 

Heyward  drew  back,  all  his  ardor  to  proceed 
seeming  to  vanish  on  the  instant.  Without  at- 
tending to  this  sudden  change  in  the  other’s  hu- 
mor, the  scout,  after  musing  a moment,  con- 
tinued : 

“ There  is  no  woman  in  this  wilderness  could 
leave  such  a print  as  that,  but  the  dark-hair  or 
her  sister.  We  know  that  the  first  has  been  here, 
but  where  are  the  signs  of  the  other  ? Let  us 
push  deeper  on  the  trail,  and,  if  nothing  offers,  we 
must  go  back  to  the  plain  and  strike  another 
scent. — Move  on,  Uncas,  and  keep  your  eyes  on 
the  dried  leaves.  I will  watch  the  bushes,  while 
your  father  shall  run  with  a low  nose  to  tho 
ground. — Move  on,  friends ; the  sun  is  getting 
behind  the  hills.” 

“ Is  there  nothing  that  I can  do  ? ” demanded 
the  anxious  Heyward. 

“ You ! ” repeated  the  scout,  who,  with  his 
red  friends,  was  already  advancing  in  the  order 
he  had  prescribed ; “ yes,  you  can  keep  in  out 
rear,  and  be  careful  not  to  cross  the  trail.” 

Before  they  had  proceeded  many  rods,  the 
Indians  stopped,  and  appeared  to  gaze  at  some 


94 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


signs  on  the  earth  with  more  than  their  usual 
keenness.  Both  father  and  son  spoke  quick  and 
loud,  now  looking  at  the  object  of  their  mutual 
admiration,  and  now  regarding  each  other  with 
the  most  unequivocal  pleasure. 

“ They  have  found  the  little  foot ! ” exclaimed 
the  scout,  moving  forward  without  attending  fur- 
ther to  his  own  portion  of  the  duty.  “What 
have  we  here  ? An  ambushment  has  been  plant- 
ed in  the  spot ! No,  by  the  truest  rifle  on  the 
frontiers,  here  have  been  them  one-sided  horses 
again ! Now  the  whole  secret  is  out,  and  all  is 
plain  as  the  north-star  at  midnight.  Yes,  here 
they  have  mounted.  There  the  beasts  have  been 
bound  to  a sapling  in  waiting ; and  yonder  runs 
the  broad  path  away  to  the  north  in  full  sweep 
for  the  Canadas.” 

“ But  still  there  are  no  signs  of  Alice — of  the 
younger  Miss  Munro  ” — said  Duncan. 

“Unless  the  shining  bawble  Uncas  has  just 
lifted  from  the  ground  should  prove  one. — Pass 
it  this  way,  lad,  that  we  may  look  at  it.” 

Heyward  instantly  knew  it  for  a trinket  that 
Alice  was  fond  of  wearing,  and  which  he  recol- 
lected, with  the  tenacious  memory  of  a lover,  to 
have  seen,  on  the  fatal  morning  of  the  massacre, 
dangling  from  the  fair  neck  of  his  mistress.  He 
seized  the  highly-prized  jewel;  and,  as  he  pro- 
claimed the  fact,  it  vanished  from  the  eyes  of  the 
wondering  scout,  who  in  vain  looked  for  it  on  the 
ground  long  after  it  was  warmly  pressed  against 
the  beating  heart  of  Duncan. 

“ Pshaw  ! ” said  the  disappointed  Hawk-eye, 
ceasing  to  rake  the  leaves  with  the  breech  of  his 
rifle  ; “ ’tis  a certain  sign  of  age  when  the  sight 
begins  to  weaken.  Such  a glittering  gewgaw, 
and  not  to  be  seen ! Well,  well,  I can  squint 
along  a clouded  barrel  yet,  and  that  is  enough  to 
settle  all  disputes  between  me  and  the  Mingoes. 

I should  like  to  find  the  thing,  too,  if  it  were  only 
to  carry  it  to  the  right  owner,  and  that  would  be 
bringing  the  two  ends  of  what  I call  a long  trail 
together — for  'by  this  time  the  broad  St.  Law- 
rence, or,  perhaps,  the  Great  Lakes  themselves, 
are  atwixt  us.” 

“ So  much  the  more  reason  why  we  should 
not  delay  our  march,”  returned  Heyward ; “let 
us  proceed.” 

“ Young  blood  and  hot  blood,  they  say,  are 
much  the  same  thing.  We  are  not  about  to  start 
on  a §quirrel-hunt,  or  to  drive  a deer  into  the 
Horican,  but  to  outlie  for  days  and  nights,  and  to 
stretch  across  a wilderness  where  the  feet  of  men 
seldom  go,  and  where  no  bookish  knowledge 
would  carry  you  through  harmless.  An  Indian 
never  starts  on  such  an  expedition  without  smok- 


ing over  his  council-fire ; and,  though  a man  ol 
white  blood,  I honor  their  customs  in  this  par- 
ticular,  seeing  that  they  are  deliberate  and  wise. 
We  will,  therefore,  go  back  and  light  our  fire  to- 
night in  the  ruins  of  the  old  fort,  and  in  the 
morning  we  shall  be  fresh  and  ready  to  under- 
take our  work  like  men,  and  not  like  babbling 
women  or  eager  boys.” 

Heyward  saw,  by  the  manner  of  the  scout, 
that  altercation  would  be  useless.  Munro  had 
again  sunk  into  that  sort  of  apathy  which  had 
beset  him  since  his  late  overwhelming  misfor- 
tunes, and  from  which  he  was  apparently  to  be 
roused  only  by  some  new  and  powerful  excite- 
ment. Making  a merit  of  necessity,  the  young 
man  took  the  veteran  by  the  arm  and  followed  in 
the  footsteps  of  the  Indians  and  the  scout,  who 
had  already  begun  to  retrace  the  path  which  con- 
ducted them  to  the  plain. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

“ Salar.  Why,  I am  sure,  if  he  forfeit,  thou  wilt  not 
take  his  flesh ; what’s  that  good  for  ? 

“Shy.  To  bait  fish  withal:  if  it  will  feed  nothing  else, 
it  will  feed  my  revenge.” 

Shakespeake. 

The  shades  of  evening  had  come  to  increase 
the  dreariness  of  the  place  when  the  party  entered 
the  ruins  of  William  Henry.  The  scout  and  his 
companions  immediately  made  their  preparations  to 
pass  the  night  there ; but  with  an  earnestness  and 
sobriety  of  demeanor  that  betrayed  how  much  the 
unusual  horrors  they  had  just  witnessed  worked 
on  even  their  practised  feelings.  A few  frag- 
ments of  rafters  were  reared  against  a blackened 
wall ; and  when  Uncas  had  covered  them  slightly 
with  brush,  the  temporary  accommodations  were 
deemed  sufficient.  The  young  Indian  pointed 
toward  his  rude  hut  when  his  labor  was  ended ; 
and  Heyward,  who  understood  the  meaning  of  the 
silent  gesture,  gently  urged  Munro  to  enter. 
Leaving  the  bereaved  old  man  alone  with  his 
sorrows,  Duncan  immediately  returned  into  the 
open  air,  too  much  excited  to  seek  the  repose  he 
had  recommended  to  his  veteran  friend. 

While  Hawk-eye  and  the  Indians  lighted  their 
fire  and  took  their  evening’s  repast,  a frugal 
meal  of  dried  bear’s-meat,  the  young  man  paid  a 
visit  to  that  curtain  of  the  dilapidated  fort  which 
looked  out  on  the  sheet  of  the  Horican.  The 
wind  had  fallen,  and  the  waves  were  already  roll- 
ing on  the  sandy  beach  beneath  him  in  a more 
regular  and  tempered  succession.  The  clouds,  as 
if  tired  of  their  furious  chase,  were  breaking 


A NIGHT  IN  THE  OLD  FORT. 


95 


asunder ; the  heavier  volumes  gathering  in  black 
masses  about  the  horizon,  while  the  lighter  scud 
still  hurried  above  the  water,  or  eddied  among 
the  tops  of  the  mountains  like  broken  flights  of 
birds  hovering  around  their  roosts.  Here  and 
there  a red  and  fiery  star  struggled  through  the 
drifting  vapor,  furnishing  a lurid  gleam  of  bright- 
ness to  the  dull  aspect  of  the  heavens.  Within 
the  bosom  of  the  encircling  hills  an  impenetrable 
darkness  had  already  settled  ; and  the  plain  lay 
like  a vast  and  deserted  charnel-house,  without 
omen  or  whisper  to  disturb  the  slumbers  of  its 
numerous  and  hapless  tenants. 

Of  this  scene,  so  chillingly  in  accordance  with 
the  past,  Duncan  stood  for  many  minutes  a rapt 
observer.  His  eyes  wandered  from  the  bosom  of 
the  mound,  where  the  foresters  were  seated  around 
their  glimmering  fire,  to  the  fainter  light  which 
still  lingered  in  the  skies,  and  then  rested  long 
and  anxiously  on  the  embodied  gloom  which  lay 
like  a dreary  void  on  that  side  of  him  where  the 
dead  reposed.  He  soon  fancied  that  inexplicable 
sounds  arose  from  the  place,  though  so  indistinct 
and  stolen  as  to  render  not  only  their  nature  but 
even  their  existence  uncertain.  Ashamed  of  his 
apprehensions,  the  young  man  turned  toward  the 
water,  and  strove  to  divert  his  attention  to  the 
mimic  stars  that  dimly  glimmered  on  its  moving 
surface.  Still,  his  too  conscious  ears  performed 
their  ungrateful  duty,  as  if  to  warn  him  of  some 
lurking  danger.  At  length  a swift  trampling 
seemed,  quite  audibly,  to  rush  athwart  the  dark- 
ness. Unable  any  longer  to  quiet  his  uneasiness, 
Duncan  spoke  in  a low  voice  to  the  scout,  re- 
questing him  to  ascend  the  mound  to  the  place 
where  he  stood.  Hawk-eye  threw  his  rifle  across 
an  arm  and  complied,  but  with  an  air  so  unmoved 
and  calm  as  to  prove  how  much  he  counted  on 
the  security  of  their  position. 

“ Listen,”  said  Duncan,  when  the  other 
placed  himself  deliberately  at  his  elbow  ; “ there 
are  suppressed  noises  on  the  plain  which  may 
show  that  Montcalm  has  not  yet  entirely  deserted 
his  conquest.” 

“ Then  ears  are  better  than  eyes,”  said  the 
undisturbed  scout,  who,  having  just  deposited  a 
portion  of  a bear  between  his  grinders,  spoke 
thick  and  slow,  like  one  whose  mouth  was  doubly 
occupied.  “ I,  myself,  saw  him  caged  in  Ty  with 
all  his  host ; for  your  Trenchers,  when  they  have 
done  a clever  thing,  like  to  get  back  and  have  a 
dance  or  a merry-making  with  the  women  over 
their  success.” 

“I  know  not.  An  Indian  seldom  sleeps  in 
war,  and  plunder  may  keep  a Huron  here,  after 
his  tribe  has  departed.  It  would  be  well  to  ex- 

22 


tinguish  the  fire,  and  have  a watch. — Listen ! you 
hear  the  noise  I mean  ? ” 

“ An  Indian  more  rarely  lurks  about  the  graves. 
Though  ready  to  slay,  and  not  over-regardful  of 
the  means,  he  is  commonly  content  with  the  scalp, 
unless  when  blood  is  hot,  and  temper  up ; but  af- 
ter the  spirit  is  once  fairly  gone,  he  forgets  his 
enmity,  and  is  willing  to  let  the  dead  find  their 
natural  rest.  Speaking  of  spirits,  major,  are  you 
of  opinion  that  the  heaven  of  a red-skin  and  of 
us  whites  will  be  one  and  the  same  ? ” 

“No  doubt — no  doubt.  I thought  I heard  it 
again ! or  was  it  the  rustling  of  the  leaves  in  the 
top  of  the  beech  ? ” 

“For  my  own  part,”  continued  Hawk-eye, 
turning  his  face,  for  a moment,  in  the  direction 
indicated  by  Heyward,  but  with  a vacant  and 
careless  manner,  “I  believe  that  paradise  is  or- 
dained for  happiness;  and  that  naen  will  be  in- 
dulged in  it  according  to  their  dispositions  and 
gifts.  I therefore  judge  that  a red-skin  is  not  far 
from  the  truth  when  he  believes  he  is  to  find  them 
glorious  hunting-grounds  of  which  his  traditions 
tell ; nor,  for  that  matter,  do  I think  it  would  be 
any  disparagement  to  a man  without  a cross  to- 
pass  his  time — ” 

“You  hear  it  again?  ” interrupted  Duncan. 

“Ay,  ay;  when  food  is  scarce,  and  when  food 
is  plenty,  a wolf  grows  bold,”  said  the  unmoved 
scout.  “ There  would  be  picking,  too,  among  the 
skins  of  the  devils,  if  there  was  light  and  time 
for  the  sport.  But,  concerning  the  life  that  is  to 
come,  major;  I have  heard  preachers  say,  in  the 
settlements,  that  heaven  was  a place  of  rest.  Now 
men’s  minds  differ  as  to  their  ideas  of  enjoyment. 
For  myself,  and  I say  it  with  reverence  to  the 
ordering  of  Providence,  it  would  be  no  great  in- 
dulgence to  be  kept  shut  up  in  those  mansions  of 
which  they  preach,  having  a natural  longing  for 
motion  and  the  chase.” 

Duncan,  who  was  now  made  to  understand 
the  nature  of  the  noises  he  had  heard,  answered, 
with  more  attention  to  the  subject  which  the  hu- 
mor of  the  scout  had  chosen  for  discussion,  by 
saying — 

“ It  is  difficult  to  account  for  the  feelings  that 
may  attend  the  last  great  change.” 

“ It  would  be  a change,  indeed,  for  a man  who 
has  passed  his  days  in  the  open  air,”  returned  the 
single-minded  scout ; “ and  who  has  so  often  bro- 
ken his  fast  on  the  head-waters  of  the  Hudson, 
to  sleep  within  sound  of  the  roaring  Mohawk. 
But  it  is  a comfort  to  know  we  serve  a merciful 
Master,  though  we  do  it  each  after  his  fashion, 
and  with  great  tracts  of  wilderness  atween  us.— 
What  goes  there  ? ” 


96 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ Is  it  not  the  rushing  of  the  wolves  you  have 
mentioned  ? ” 

Hawk-eye  slowly  shook  his  head,  and  beck- 
oned for  Duncan  to  follow  him  to  a spot,  to  which 
the  glare  from  the  fire  dicj  not  extend.  When  he 
had  taken  this  precaution,  the  scout  placed  him- 
self in  an  attitude  of  intense  attention,  and  lis- 
tened long  and  keenly  for  a repetition  of  the  low 
sound  that  had  so  unexpectedly  startled  him. 
His  vigilance,  however,  seemed  exercised  in  vain  ; 
for,  after  a fruitless  pause,  he  whispered  to  Dun- 
can : 

“We  must  give  a call  to  Uncas.  The  boy  has 
Indian  senses,  and  may  hear  wrhat  is  hid  from 
us ; for,  being  a white-skin,  I will  not  deny  my 
nature.” 

The  young  Mohican,  who  was  conversing  in  a 
low  voice  with  his  father,  started  as  he  heard  the 
moaning  of  an  owl,  and,  springing  on  his  feet,  he 
looked  toward  the  black  mounds,  as  if  seeking  the 
place  whence  the  sounds  proceeded.  The  scout 
repeated  the  call,  and  in  a few  moments  Duncan 
saw  the  figure  of  Uncas  stealing  cautiously  along 
the  rampart,  to  the  spot  where  they  stood. 

Hawk-eye  explained  his  wishes  in  a very  few 
words,  which  were  spoken  in  the  Delaware  tongue. 
So  soon  as  Uncas  was  in  possession  of  the  reason 
why  he  was  summoned,  he  threw  himself  flat  on 
the  turf ; where,  to  the  eyes  of  Duncan,  he  ap- 
peared to  lie  quiet  and  motionless.  Surprised  at 
the  immovable  attitude  of  the  young  warrior,  and 
ourious  to  observe  the  manner  in  which  he  em- 
ployed his  faculties  to  obtain  the  desired  infor- 
mation, Heyward  advanced  a few  steps,  and 
bent  over  the  dark  object,  on  which  he  had  kept 
his  eyes  riveted.  Then  it  was  he  discovered  that 
the  form  of  Uncas  had  vanished,  and  that  he  be- 
held only  the  dark  outline  of  an  inequality  in  the 
embankment. 

“ What  has  become  of  the  Mohican  ? ” he  de- 
manded of  the  scout,  stepping  back  in  amaze- 
ment ; “ it  was  here  that  I saw  him  fall,  and  I 
could  have  sworn  that  here  he  yet  remained.” 

“ Hist ! speak  lower ; for  we  know  not  what 
ears  are  open,  and  the  Mingoes  are  a quick-witted 
breed.  As  for  Uncas,  he  is  out  on  the  plain,  and 
the  Maquas,  if  any  such  are  about  us,  will  find 
their  equal.” 

“You  think  that  Montcalm  has  not  called  off 
all  his  Indians  ? Let  us  give  the  alarm  to  our  com- 
panions, that  we  may  stand  to  our  arms.  Here 
are  five  of  us,  who  are  not  unused  to  meet  an  ene- 
my.” 

“ Not  a word  to  either,  as  you  value  life  1 Look 
at  the  sagamore,  how  like  a grand  Indian  chief 
he  sits  by  the  fire.  If  there  are  any  skulkers  out 


in  the  darkness,  they  will  never  discover,  by  his 
countenance,  that  we  suspect  danger  at  hand.’ 

“ But  they  may  discover  him,  and  it  will  prove 
his  death.  His  person  can  be  too  plainly  seen 
by  the  light  of  that  fire,  and  he  will  become  the 
first  and  most  certain  victim.” 

“ It  is  undeniable  that  now  you  speak  the 
truth,”  returned  the  scout,  betraying  more  anx- 
iety than  was  usual ; “ yet  what  can  be  done  ? 
A single  suspicious  look  might  bring  on  an  attack 
before  we  are  ready  to  receive  it.  He  knows,  by 
the  call  I gave  to  Uncas,  that  we  have  struck  a 
scent ; I will  tell  him  that  we  are  on  the  trail  of 
the  Mingoes:  his  Indian  nature  will  teach  him 
how  to  act.” 

The  scout  applied  his  fingers  to  his  mouth, 
and  raised  a low  hissing  sound,  that  caused  Dun- 
can, at  first,  to  start  aside,  believing  that  he  heard 
a serpent.  The  head  of  Chingachgook  was  rest- 
ing on  a hand,  as  he  sat  musing  by  himself ; but 
the  moment  he  heard  the  warning  of  the  animal 
whose  name  he  bore,  it  arose  to  an  upright  po- 
sition, and  his  dark  eyes  glanced  swiftly  and  keen- 
ly on  every  side  of  him.  With  this  sudden  and 
perhaps  involuntary  movement,  every  appearance 
of  surprise  or  alarm  ended.  His  rifle  lay  un- 
touched, and  apparently  unnoticed,  within  reach 
of  his  hand.  The  tomahawk  that  he  had  loos- 
ened in  his  belt  for  the  sake  of  ease,  was  even  suf- 
fered to  fall  from  its  usual  situation  to  the  ground, 
and  his  form  seemed  to  sink,  like  that  of  a ma* 
whose  nerves  and  sinews  were  suffered  to  relax 
for  the  purpose  of  rest.  Cunningly  resuming  hi* 
former  position,  though  with  a change  of  hands, 
as  if  the  movement  had  been  made  merely  to  re- 
lieve the  limb,  the  native  awaited  the  result  with 
a calmness  and  fortitude  that  none  but  an  India* 
warrior  would  have  known  how  to  exercise. 

But  Heyward  saw,  that  while  to  a less  instruct- 
ed eye  the  Mohican  chief  appeared  to  slumber, 
his  nostrils  were  expanded,  his  head  was  turned 
a little  to  one  side,  as  if  to  assist  the  organs  of 
hearing,  and  that  his  quick  and  rapid  glances  ran 
incessantly  over  every  object,  within  the  power 
of  his  vision. 

“ See  the  noble  fellow ! ” whispered  Hawk-eye, 
pressing  the  arm  of  Heyward ; “ he  knows  that  a 
look  or  a motion  might  disconsart  our  schemes, 
and  put  us  at  the  mercy  of  them  imps — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  flash  and  report  of 
a rifle.  The  air  was  filled  with  sparks  of  fire, 
around  that  spot  where  the  eyes  of  Heyward  were 
still  fastened  with  admiration  and  wonder.  A 
second  look  told  him  that  Chingachgook  had  dis- 
appeared in  the  confusion.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
scout  had  thrown  forward  his  rifle,  like  one  pre- 


DEATH  OF  AN  ONEIDA  SPY. 


97 


pared  for  service,  and  awaited  impatiently  the 
moment  when  an  enemy  might  rise  to  view.  But 
with  the  solitary  and  fruitless  attempt  made  on 
the  life  of  Chingachgook,  the  attack  appeared  to 
have  terminated.  Once  or  twice  the  listeners 
thought  they  could  distinguish  the  distant  rus- 
tling of  bushes,  as  bodies  of  some  unknown  de- 
scription rushed  through  them  ; nor  was  it  long 
before  Hawk-eye  pointed  out  the  “ scampering  of 
the  wolves,”  as  they  fled  precipitately  before  the 
passage  of  some  intruder  on  their  proper  domains. 
After  an  impatient  and  breathless  pause,  a plunge 
was  heard  in  the  water,  and  it  was  immediately 
followed  by  the  report  of  another  rifle. 

“ There  goes  Uncas  ! ” said  the  scout ; “ the 
boy  bears  a smart  piece  ! I know  its  crack,  as 
well  as  a father  knows  the  language  of  his  child, 
for  I carried  the  gun  myself  until  a better  offered.” 

“ What  can  this  mean  ? ” demanded  Duncan ; 
we  are  watched,  and,  as  it  would  seem,  marked 
for  destruction.” 

“Yonder  scattered  brand  can  witness  that  no 
good  was  intended,  and  this  Indian  will  testify 
that  no  harm  has  been  done,”  returned  the  scout, 
dropping  his  rifle  across  his  arm  again,  and  fol- 
lowing Chingachgook,  who  just  then  reappeared 
within  the  circle  of  light,  into  the  bosom  of  the 
works.  “How  is  it,  sagamore?  Are  the  Min- 
goes  upon  us  in  earnest,  or  is  it  only  one  of  those 
reptiles  who  hang  upon  the  skirts  of  a war-party, 
to  scalp  the  dead,  go  in,  and  make  their  boast 
among  the  squaws  of  the  valiant  deeds  done  on 
the  pale-faces  ? ” 

Chingachgook  very  quietly  resumed  his  seat ; 
nor  did  he  make  any  reply,  until  after  he  had  ex- 
amined the  firebrand  which  had  been  struck  by 
the  bullet,  that  had  nearly  proved  fatal  to  him- 
self. After  which,  he  was  content  to  reply,  hold- 
ing a single  finger  up  to  view,  with  the  English 
monosyllable— 

“ One.” 

“I  thought  as  much,”  returned  Hawk-eye, 
seating  himself ; “ and  as  he  had  got  the  cover 
of  the  lake  afore  Uncas  pulled  upon  him,  it  is 
more  than  probable  the  knave  will  sing  his  lies 
about  some  great  ambushment,  in  which  he  was 
outlying  on  the  trail  of  two  Mohicans  and  a white 
hunter — for  the  officers  can  be  considered  as  little 
better  than  idlers  in  such  a scrimmage.  Well,  let 
him — let  him.  There  are  always  some  honest  men 
in  every  nation,  though  Heaven  knows,  too,  that 
they  are  scarce  among  the  Maquas,  to  look  down 
an  upstart  when  he  brags  ag’in  the  face  of  reason. 
The  varlet  sent  his  lead  within  whistle  of  your 
ears,  sagamore.” 

Chingachgook  turned  a calm  and  incurious 

7 


eye  toward  the  place  where  the  ball  had  struck, 
and  then  resumed  his  former  attitude,  with  a com- 
posure that  could  not  be  disturbed  by  so  trifling 
an  incident.  Just  then  Uncas  glided  into  the  cir- 
cle, and  seated  himself  at  the  fire,  with  the  same 
appearance  of  indifference  as  was  maintained  by 
his  father. 

Of  these  several  movements  Heyward  wa3  a 
deeply-interested  and  wondering  observer.  It  ap- 
peared to  him  as  though  the  foresters  had  some 
secret  means  of  intelligence,  which  had  escaped 
the  vigilance  of  his  own  faculties.  In  place  of 
that  eager  and  garrulous  narration  with  which  a 
white  youth  would  have  endeavored  to  commu- 
nicate, and  perhaps  exaggerate,  that  which  had 
passed  out  in  the  darkness  of  the  plain,  the  young 
warrior  was  seemingly  content  to  let  his  deeds 
speak  for  themselves.  It  was,  in  fact,  neither  the 
moment  nor  the  occasion  for  an  Indian  to  boast 
of  his  exploits  ; and  it  is  probable  that,  had  Hey- 
ward neglected  to  inquire,  not  another  syllable 
would,  just  then,  have  been  uttered  on  the  sub- 
ject. 

“ What  has  become  of  our  enemy,  Uncas  ? ” 
demanded  Duncan ; “ we  heard  your  rifle,  and 
hoped  you  had  not  fired  in  vain.” 

The  young  chief  removed  a fold  of  his  hunting- 
shirt,  and  quietly  exposed  the  fatal  tuft  of  hair, 
which  he  bore  as  the  symbol  of  victory.  Chin- 
gachgook  laid  his  hand  on  the  scalp,  and  consid- 
ered it  for  a moment  with  deep  attention.  Then 
dropping  it,  with  disgust  depicted  in  his  strong 
features,  he  ejaculated — 

“ Oneida ! ” 

“ Oneida!  ” repeated  the  scout,  who  was  fast 
losing  his  interest  in  the  scene,  in  an  apathy  near- 
ly assimilated  to  that  of  his  red  associates,  but 
who  now  advanced  with  uncommon  earnestness 
to  regard  the  bloody  badge.  “By  the  Lord, 
if  the  Oneidas  are  outlying  upon  the  trail,  we 
shall  be  flanked  by  devils  on  every  side  of  us ! 
Now,  to  white  eyes  there  is  no  difference  between 
this  bit  of  skin  and  that  of  any  other  Indian,  and 
yet  the  sagamore  declares  it  came  from  the  poll 
of  a Mingo  ; nay,  he  even  names  the  tribe  of  the 
poor  devil  with  as  much  ease  as  if  the  scalp  was  the 
leaf  of  a book,  and  each  hair  a letter.  What  right 
have  Christian  whites  to  boast  of  their  learning, 
when  a savage  can  read  a language  that  would 
prove  too  much  for  the  wisest  of  them  all  ? — What 
say  you , lad ; of  what  people  was  the  knave  ? ” 

Uncas  raised  his  eyes  to  the  face  of  the  scout, 
and  answered,  in  his  soft  voice — 

“ Oneida.” 

“ Oneida,  again  ! when  one  Indian  makes  a 
declaration,  it  is  commonly  true ; but  when 


98 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


is  supported  by  his  people,  set  it  down  as  gos- 
pel ! ” 

“ The  poor  fellow  has  mistaken  us  for  French,” 
said  Heyward  ; “ or  he  would  not  have  attempted 
«tbe  life  of  a friend.” 

“He  mistake  a Mohican  in  his  paint  for  a 
Huron ! You  would  be  as  likely  to  mistake  the 
white-coated  grenadiers  of  Montcalm  for  the  scar- 
let jackets  of  the  ‘ Royal  Americans,’  ” returned 
the  scout.  “ No,  no,  the  sarpent  knew  his  errand ; 
nor  was  there  any  great  mistake  in  the  matter, 
for  there  is  but  little  love  between  a Delaware  and 
a Mingo,  let  their  tribes  go  out  to  fight  for  whom 
they  may,  in  a white  quarrel.  For  that  matter, 
though  the  Oneidas  do  serve  his  sacred  majesty, 
who  is  my  own  sovereign  lord  and  master,  I should 
not  have  deliberated  long  about  letting  off  ‘Kill- 
deer  ’ at  the  imp  myself,  had  luck  thrown  him  in 
my  way.” 

“ That  would  have  been  an  abuse  of  our  trea- 
ties, and  unworthy  of  your  character.” 

“ When  a man  consorts  much  with  a people,” 
continued  Hawk-eye,  “ if  they  are  honest  and  he 
no  knave,  love  will  grow  up  atwixt  them.  It  is 
true  that  white  cunning  has  managed  to  throw 
the  tribes  into  great  confusion,  as  respects  friends 
and  enemies ; so  that  the  Hurons  and  Oneidas, 
who  speak  the  same  tongue,  or  what  may  be  called 
the  same,  take  each  other’s  scalps,  and  the  Dela- 
wares are  divided  among  themselves ; a few  hang- 
ing about  their  great  council-fire  on  their  own 
river,  and  fighting  on  the  same  side  with  the  Min- 
goes,  while  the  greater  part  are  in  the  Canadas, 
out  of  natural  enmity  to  the  Maquas — thus  throw- 
ing every  thing  into  disorder  and  destroying  all 
the  harmony  of  warfare.  Yet  a red  natur’  is  not 
/ikely  to  alter  with  every  shift  of  policy  ; so  that 
the  love  atwixt  a Mohican  and  a Mingo  is  much 
like  the  regard  between  a white  man  and  a sar- 
pent.” 

“ I regret  to  hear  it ; for  I had  believed  those 
natives  who  dwelt  within  our  boundaries  had  found 
us  too  just  and  liberal,  not  to  identify  themselves 
fully  with  our  quarrels.” 

“ Why,  I believe  it  is  natur’  to  give  a prefer- 
ence to  one’s  own  quarrels  before  those  of  stran- 
gers. Now,  for  myself,  I do  love  justice ; and 
therefore  I will  not  say  I hate  a Mingo — for  that 
may  be  unsuitable  to  my  color  and  my  religion — 
though  I will  just  repeat,  that  it  may  have  been 
swing  to  the  night  that  ‘ Kill-deer  ’ had  no  hand 
in  the  death  of  this  skulking  Oneida.” 

Then,  as  if  satisfied  with  the  force  of  his  own 
reasons,  whatever  might  be  the  effect  on  the 
opinions  of  the  other  disputant,  the  honest  but 
implacable  woodsman  turned  from  the  fire,  con- 


tent to  let  the  controversy  slumber.  Heyward 
withdrew  to  the  rampart,  too  uneasy  and  too  little 
accustomed  to  the  warfare  of  the  woods,  to  re- 
main at  ease  under  the  possibility  of  such  insidi- 
ous attacks.  Not  so,  however,  with  the  scout 
and  the  Mohicans.  Those  acute  and  long-prac- 
tised senses,  whose  powers  so  often  exceeded  the 
limits  of  all  ordinary  credulity,  after  having  de- 
tected the  danger,  had  enabled  them  to  ascertain 
its  magnitude  and  duration.  Not  one  of  the 
three  appeared  in  the  least  to  doubt  their  perfect 
security,  as  was  indicated  by  the  preparations 
that  were  soon  made  to  sit  in  council  over  their 
future  proceedings. 

The  confusion  of  nations,  and  even  of  tribes, 
to  which  Hawk-eye  alluded,  existed  at  that  period 
in  the  fullest  force.  The  great  tie  of  language, 
and,  of  course,  of  a common  origin,  was  severed 
in  many  places ; and  it  was  one  of  its  conse- 
quences, that  the  Delaware  and  the  Mingo  (as  the 
people  of  the  Six  Nations  were  called)  were  found 
fighting  in  the  same  ranks,  while  the  latter  sought 
the  scalp  of  the  Huron,  though  believed  to  be  the 
root  of  his  own  stock.  The  Delawares  were  even 
divided  among  themselves.  Though  love  for  the 
soil  which  had  belonged  to  his  ancestors  kept  the 
sagamore  of  the  Mohicans  with  a small  band  of 
followers  who  were  serving  at  Edward,  under  the 
banners  of  the  English  king,  by  far  the  largest 
portion  of  his  nation  were  known  to  be  in  the 
field  as  allies  of  Montcalm.  The  reader  probably 
knows,  if  enough  has  not  already  been  gleaned 
from  this  narrative,  that  the  Delaware,  or  Lenape, 
claimed  to  be  the  progenitors  of  that  numerous 
people,  who  once  were  masters  of  most  of  the 
Eastern  and  Northern  States  of  America,  of  whom 
the  community  of  the  Mohicans  was  an  ancient 
and  highly-honored  member. 

It  was,  of  course,  with  a perfect  understand- 
ing of  the  minute  and  intricate  interests  which 
had  armed  friend  against  friend,  and  brought 
natural  enemies  to  combat  by  each  other’s  side, 
that  the  scout  and  his  companions  now  disposed 
themselves  to  deliberate  on  the  measures  that 
were  to  govern  their  future  movements,  amid  so 
many  jarring  and  savage  races  of  men.  Duncan 
knew  enough  of  Indian  customs  to  understand 
the  reason  that  the  fire  was  replenished,  and  why 
the  warriors,  not  excepting  Hawk-eye,  took 
their  seats  within  the  curl  of  its  smoke  with  so 
much  gravity  and  decorum.  Placing  himself  at 
an  angle  of  the  works,  where  he  might  be  a spec- 
tator of  the  scene  within,  while  he  kept  a watch- 
ful eye  against  any  danger  from  without,  he 
awaited  the  result  with  as  much  patience  as  he 
could  summon. 


UNCAS  AND  HIS  FATHER. 


99 


After  a short  and  impressive  pause,  Chingach- 
gook  lighted  a pipe  whose  bowl  was  curiously 
carved  in  one  of  the  soft  stones  of  the  country 
and  whose  stem  was  a tube  of  wood,  and  com- 
menced smoking.  When  he  had  inhaled  enough 
of  the  fragrance  of  the  soothing  weed,  he  passed 
the  instrument  into  the  hands  of  the  scout.  In 
this  manner  the  pipe  had  made  its  rounds  three 
several  times,  amid  the  most  profound  silence, 
before  either  of  the  party  opened  his  lips.  Then 
the  sagamore,  as  the  oldest  and  highest  in  rank, 
in  a few  calm  and  dignified  words,  proposed  the 
subject  for  deliberation.  He  was  answered  by 
the  scout ; and  Chingachgook  rejoined,  when  the 
other  objected  to  his  opinions.  But  the  youth- 
ful Uncas  continued  a silent  and  respectful  listen- 
er, until  Hawk-eye  in  complaisance  demanded  his 
opinion.  Heyward  gathered  from  the  manners 
of  the  different  speakers,  that  the  father  and 
son  espoused  one  side  of  a disputed  question, 
while  the  white  man  maintained  the  other.  The 
contest  gradually  grew  warmer  until  it  was  quite 
evident  the  feelings  of  the  speakers  began  to  be 
somewhat  enlisted  in  the  debate. 

Notwithstanding  the  increasing  warmth  of 
the  amicable  contest,  the  most  decorous  Chris- 
tian assembly,  not  even  excepting  those  in  which 
its  reverend  ministers  are  collected,  might  have 
learned  a wholesome  lesson  of  moderation  from 
the  forbearance  and  courtesy  of  the  disputants 
The  words  of  TJncas  were  received  with  the  same 
deep  attention  as  those  which  fell  from  the  ma- 
turer  wisdom  of  his  father;  and,  so  far  from 
manifesting  any  impatience,  neither  spoke  in  re- 
ply, until  a few  moments  of  silent  meditation  were, 
seemingly,  bestowed  in  deliberating  on  what  had 
already  been  said. 

The  language  of  the  Mohicans  was  accom- 
panied by  gestures  so  direct  and  natural,  that 
Heyward  had  but  little  difficulty  in  following  the 
thread  of  their  argument.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  scout  was  obscure ; because,  from  the  linger- 
ing pride  of  color,  he  rather  affected  the  cold  and 
artificial  manner  which  characterizes  all  classes 
of  Anglo-Americans,  when  unexcited.  By  the 
frequency  with  which  the  Indians  described  the 
marks  of  a forest-trail,  it  was  evident  they  urged 
a pursuit  by  land,  while  the  repeated  sweep  of 
Hawk-eye’s  arm  toward  the  Horican  denoted  that 
he  was  for  a passage  across  its  waters. 

The  latter  was,  to  every  appearance,  fast  losing 
ground,  and  the  point  was  about  to  be  decided 
against  him,  when  he  arose  to  his  feet,  and  shak- 
ing off  his  apathy,  he  suddenly  assumed  the  man- 
ner of  an  Indian,  and  adopted  all  the  arts  of  na- 
tive eloquence.  Elevating  an  arm,  he  pointed 


out  the  track  of  the  sun,  repeating  the  gesture 
for  every  day  that  was  necessary  to  accomplish 
their  object.  Then  he  delineated  a long  and  pain 
ful  path,  amid  rocks  and  water-courses.  The  age 
and  weakness  of  the  slumbering  and  unconscious 
Munro  were  indicated  by  signs  too  palpable  to  be 
mistaken.  Duncan  perceived  that  his  own  pow- 
ers were  spoken  lightly  of,  as  the  scout  extended 
his  palm,  and  mentioned  him  by  the  appellation 
of  the  “ Open  Hand  ” — a name  his  liberality  had 
purchased  of  all  the  friendly  tribes.  Then  came 
a representation  of  the  light  and  graceful  move- 
ments of  a canoe,  set  in  forcible  contrast  to  the 
tottering  steps  of  one  enfeebled  and  tired.  He 
concluded  by  pointing  to  the  scalp  of  the  Oneida, 
and  apparently  urging  the  necessity  of  their  de- 
parting speedily,  and  in  a manner  that  should 
leave  no  trail. 

The  Mohicans  listened  gravely,  and  with 
countenances  that  reflected  the  sentiments  of  the 
speaker.  Conviction  gradually  wrought  its  in- 
fluence, and  toward  the  close  of  Hawk-eye’s 
speech,  his  sentences  were  accompanied  by  the 
customary  exclamation  of  commendation.  In 
short,  Uncas  and  his  father  became  converts  to 
his  way  of  thinking,  abandoning  their  own  pre- 
viously-expressed opinions  with  a liberality  and 
candor,  that,  had  they  been  the  ' ipresentatives 
of  some  great  and  civilized  per  e,  would  have 
infallibly  worked  their  political  ruin,  by  destroy- 
ing, forever,  their  reputation  for  consistency. 

The  instant  the  matter  in  discussion  was 
decided,  the  debate,  and  every  thing  connected 
with  it,  except  the  result,  appeared  to  be  forgot- 
ten. Hawk-eye,  without  looking  round  to  read 
his  triumph  in  applauding  eyes,  very  composedly 
stretched  his  tall  frame  before  the  dying  embers, 
and  closed  his  own  organs  in  sleep. 

Left  now  in  a measure  to  themselves,  the  Mo- 
hicans, whose  time  had  been  so  much  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  others,  seized  the  moment  to  de- 
vote some  attention  to  themselves.  Casting  off, 
at  once,  the  grave  and  austere  demeanor  of  an 
Indian  chief,  Chingachgook  commenced  speaking 
to  his  son  in  the  soft  and  playful  tones  of  affec- 
tion. Uncas  gladly  met  the  familiar  air  of  his 
father;  and,  before  the  hard  breathing  of  the 
scout  announced  that  he  slept,  a complete  change 
was  effected  in  the  manner  of  his  two  associates. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  music  of  their 
language,  while  thus  engaged  in  laughter  and  en- 
dearments, in  such  a way  as  to  render  it  intelli- 
gible to  those  whose  ears  have  never  listened  to 
its  melody.  The  compass  of  their  voices,  par- 
ticularly that  of  the  youth,  was  wonderful— ex- 
tending from  the  deepest  bass  to  tones  that  were 


100 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


even  feminine  in  softness.  The  eyes  of  the  fa- 
ther followed  the  plastic  and  ingenious  move- 
ments of  the  son  with  open  delight,  and  he  never 
failed  to  smile  in  reply  to  the  other’s  contagious 
but  low  laughter.  While  under  the  influence  of 
these  gentle  and  natural  feelings,  no  trace  of 
ferocity  was  to  be  seen  in  the  softened  features  of 
the  sagamore.  His  figured  panoply  of  death  looked 
more  like  a disguise  assumed  in  mockery,  than  a 
fierce  annunciation  of  a desire  to  carry  destruc- 
tion and  desolation  in  his  footsteps. 

After  an  hour  passed  in  the  iqdulgence  of 
their  better  feelings,  Chingachgook  abruptly  an- 
nounced his  desire  to  sleep,  by  wrapping  his 
head  in  his  blanket,  and  stretching  his  form  on 
the  naked  earth.  The  merriment  of  Uncas  in- 
stantly ceased ; and  carefully  raking  the  coals  in 
Buch  a manner  that  they  should  impart  their 
warmth  to  his  father’s  feet,  the  youth  sought  his 
own  pillow  among  the  ruins  of  the  place. 

Imbibing  renewed  confidence  from  the  securi- 
ty of  these  experienced  foresters,  Heyward  soon 
imitated  their  example ; and,  long  before  the 
night  had  turned,  they  who  lay  in  the  bosom  of 
the  ruined  work  seemed  to  slumber  as  heavily 
as  the  unconscious  multitude  whose  bones  were 
already  beginning  to  bleach  on  the  surrounding 
plain 


CHAPTER  XX. 

“ Land  of  Albania ! let  me  bend  mine  eyes 
On  tbee,  tbou  ragged  nurse  of  savage  men ! ” 
CmxDE  Harold. 

The  heavens  were  still  studded  with  stars, 
when  Hawk-eye  came  to  arouse  the  sleepers. 
Casting  aside  their  cloaks,  Munro  and  Heyward 
were  on  their  feet,  while  the  woodsman  was  still 
making  his  low  calls,  at  the  entrance  of  the  rude 
shelter  where  they  had  passed  the  night.  When 
they  issued  from  beneath  its  concealment,  they 
found  the  scout  awaiting  their  appearance  nigh 
by,  and  the  only  salutation  between  them  was  the 
significant  gesture  for  silence,  made  by  their  sa- 
gacious leader. 

“ Think  over  your  prayers,”  he  whispered,  as 
they  approached  him ; “ for  He,  to  whom  you 
make  them,  knows  all  tongues  ; that  of  the  heart, 
is  well  as  those  of  the  mouth.  But  speak  not  a 
syllable  ; it  is  rare  for  a white  voice  to  pitch  it- 
self properly  in  the  woods,  as  we  have  seen  by 
the  example  of  that  miserable  devil,  the  singer. 
Come,”  he  continued,  turning  toward  a curtain 
■)f  the  works  ; “ let  us  get  into  thfe  ditch  on  this 


side,  and  be  regardful  to  step  on  the  stones  and 
fragments  of  wood  as  you  go.” 

His  companions  complied,  though  to  two  of 
them  the  reasons  of  this  extraordinary  precaution 
were  yet  a mystery.  When  they  were  in  the  low 
cavity  that  surrounded  the  earthen  fort  on  three 
of  its  sides,  they  found  the  passage  nearly  choked 
by  the  ruins.  With  care  and  patience,  however, 
they  succeeded  in  clambering  after  the  scout,  un- 
til they  reached  the  sandy  shore  of  the  Horicau. 

“ That’s  a trail  that  nothing  but  a nose  can 
follow,”  said  the  satisfied  scout,  looking  back 
along  their  difficult  way  ; “ grass  is  a treacherous 
carpet  for  a flying  party  to  tread  on,  but  wood 
and  stone  take  no  print  from  a moccasin.  Had 
you  worn  your  armed  boots,  there  might  indeed 
have  been  something  to  fear  ; but  with  the  deer- 
skin suitably  prepared,  a man  may  trust  himself, 
generally,  on  rocks  with  safety. — Shove  in  the 
canoe  nigher  to  the  land,  Uncas ; this  sand  will 
take  a stamp  as.  easily  as  the  butter  of  the  Jar- 
mans on  the  Mohawk.  Softly,  lad,  softly ; it 
must  not  touch  the  beach,  or  the  knaves  will 
know  by  what  road  we  have  left  the  place.” 

The  young  man  observed  the  precaution ; and 
the  scout,  laying  a board  from  the  ruins  to  the 
canoe,  made  a sign  for  the  two  officers  to  enter. 
When  this  was  done,  every  thing  was  studiously 
restored  to  its  former  disorder  ; and  then  Hawk- 
eye  succeeded  in  reaching  his  little  birchen  ves- 
sel,  without  leaving  behind  him  any  of  those 
marks  which  he  appeared  so  much  to  dread. 
Heyward  was  silent,  until  the  Indians  had  cau- 
tiously paddled  the  canoe  some  distance  from  tho 
fort,  and  within  the  broad  and  dark  shadow  that 
fell  from  the  eastern  mountain  on  the  glassy  sur- 
face of  the  lake  ; then  he  demanded  : 

“ What  need  have  we  for  this  stolen  and  hur- 
ried departure  ? ” 

“ If  the  blood  of  an  Oneida  could  stain  such 
a sheet  of  pure  water  as  this  we  float  on,”  re- 
turned the  scout,  “ your  two  eyes  would  answer 
your  own  question.  Have  you  forgotten  the 
skulking  reptyle  that  Uncas  slew  ? ” 

“ By  no  means.  But  he  was  said  to  be  alone, 
and  dead  men  give  no  cause  for  fear.” 

“ Ay,  he  was  alone  in  his  deviltry ! but  an 
Indian,  whose  tribe  counts  so  many  warriors, 
need  seldom  fear  his  blood  will  run,  without  the 
death-shriek  coming  speedily  from  some  of  his 
enemies.” 

“ But  our  presence — the  authority  of  Colonel 
Munro  would  prove  a sufficient  protection  against 
the  anger  of  our  allies,  especially  in  a case  where 
the  wretch  so  well  merited  his  fate.  I trust  in 
Heaven  you  have  not  deviated  a single  foot  frois 


A PERILOUS  JOURNEY. 


101 


trie  direct  line  of  our  course,  with  so  slight  a rea- 
son.” 

Do  you  think  the  bullet  of  that  varlet’s  rifle 
would  have  turned  aside,  though  his  sacred  ma- 
jesty the  king  had  stood  in  its  path  ? ” returned 
the  stubborn  scout.  “ Why  did  not  the  grand 
Frencher,  he  who  is  Captain-General  of  the  Cana- 
das, bury  the  tomahawks  of  the  Hurons,  if  a word 
from  a white  can  work  so  strongly  on  the  natur’ 
of  an  Indian  ? ” 

The  reply  of  Heyward  was  interrupted  by  a 
groan  from  Munro ; but,  after  he  had  paused  a 
moment,  in  deference  to  the  sorrow  of  his  aged 
friend,  he  resumed  the  subject. 

“ The  Marquis  of  Montcalm  can  only  settle 
that  error  with  his  God,”  said  the  young  man, 
solemnly. 

“ Ay,  ay,  now  there  is  reason  in  your  words, 
for  they  are  bottomed  on  religion  and  honesty. 
There  is  a vast  difference  between  throwing  a 
regiment  of  white-coats  atwixt  the  tribes  and  the 
prisoners,  and  coaxing  an  angry  savage  to  forget 
he  carries  a knife  and  a rifle,  with  words  that 
must  begin  with  calling  him  ‘ your  son.’  No,  no,” 
continued  the  scout,  looking  back  at  the  dim 
shore  of  William  Henry,  which  was  now  fast  re- 
ceding, and  laughing  in  his  own  silent  but  heart- 
felt manner ; “I  have  put  a trail  of  water  atween 
us  ; and  unless  the  imps  can  make  friends  with 
the  fishes,  and  hear  who  has  paddled  across  their 
basin,  this  fine  morning,  we  shall  throw  the  length 
of  the  Horican  behind  us,  before  they  have  made 
up  their  minds  which  path  to  take.” 

“ With  foes  in  front,  and  foes  in  our  rear,  our 
journey  is  like  to  be  one  of  danger.” 

“ Danger ! ” repeated  Hawk-eye,  calmly  ; “ no, 
not  absolutely  of  danger ; for,  with  vigilant  ears 
and  quick  eyes,  we  can  manage  to  keep  a few 
hours  ahead  of  the  knaves ; or,  if  we  must  try 
the  rifle,  there  are  three  of  us  who  understand  its 
gifts  as  well  as  any  you  can  name  on  the  borders. 
No,  not  of  danger ; but  that  we  shall  have  what 
you  may  call  a brisk  push  of  it,  is  probable  ; and 
it  may  happen,  a brush,  a scrimmage,  or  some 
such  divarsion,  but  always  where  covers  are  good, 
and  ammunition  abundant.” 

It  is  possible  that  Heyward’s  estimate  of  dan- 
ger differed  in  some  degree  from  that  of  the  scout, 
for,  instead  of  replying,  he  now  sat  in  silence, 
while  the  canoe  glided  over  several  miles  of  water. 
Just  as  the  day  dawned,  they  entered  the  narrows 
of  the  lake,*  and  stole  swiftly  and  cautiously 

* The  beauties  of  Lake  George  are  well  known  to  every  j 

American  tourist.  In  the  height  of  the  mountains  which  r 
surround  it,  and  in  artificial  accessories,  it  is  inferior  to  the 
finest  of  the  Swiss  and  Italian  lakes,  while  in  outline  and  I 


among  their  numberless  little  islands.  It  was  by 
this  road  that  Montcalm  had  retired  with  his  ar- 
my, and  the  adventurers  knew  not  but  he  had 
left  some  of  his  Indians  in  ambush,  to  protect  the 
rear  of  his  forces,  and  collect  the  stragglers. 
They,  therefore,  approached  the  passage  with  the 
customary  silence -of  their  guarded  habits. 

Chingachgook  laid  aside  his  paddle ; while 
Uncas  and  the  scout  urged  the  lighl  vessel  through 
crooked  and  intricate  channels,  where  every  foot 
that  they  advanced  exposed  them  to  the  danger 
of  some  sudden  rising  on  their  progress  The 
eyes  of  the  sagamore  moved  warily  from  islet  to 
islet,  and  copse  to  copse,  as  the  canoe  proceeded ; 
and,  when  a clearer  sheet  of  water  permitted,  his 
keen  vision  was  bent  along  the  bald  rocks  and 
impending  forests  that  frowned  upon  the  narrow 
strait. 

Heyward,  who  was  a doubly-interested  spec- 
tator, as  well  from  the  beauties  of  the  place  as 
from  the  apprehension  natural  to  his  situation, 
was  just  believing  that  he  had  permitted  the  lat- 
ter to  be  excited  without  sufficient  reason,  when 
the  paddle  ceased  moving,  in  obedience  to  a sig- 
nal from  Chingachgook. 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  Uncas,  nearly  at  the  mo- 
ment that  the  light  tap  his  father  had  made  on 
the  side  of  the  canoe  notified  them  of  the  vicinity 
of  danger. 

“ What  now?  ” asked  the  scout ; “ the  lake  is 
as  smooth  as  if  the  winds  had  never  blown,  and  I 
can  see  along  its  sheet  for  miles  ; there  is  not  so 
much,  as  the  black  head  of  a loon  dotting  the 
water.” 

The  Indian  gravely  raised  hi3  paddle,  and 
pointed  in  the  direction  in  which  his  own  steady 
look  was  riveted.  Duncan’s  eyes  followed  the 
motion.  A few  rods  in  their  front  lay  another  of 
the  low-wooded  islets,  but  it  appeared  as  calm 
and  peaceful  as  if  its  solitude  had  never  been  dis- 
turbed by  the  foot  of  man. 


purity  of  water  it  is  fully  their  equal ; and  in  the  number 
and  disposition  of  its  isles  and  islets  much  superior  to  them 
all  together.  There  are  said  to  be  some  hundreds  of  islands 
in  a sheet  of  water  less  than  thirty  miles  long.  The  nar- 
rows which  connect  what  may  be  called,  in  truth,  two 
lakes,  are  crowded  with  islands  to  such  a degree  as  to  leave 
passages  between  them,  frequently  of  only  a few  feet  in 
width.  The  lake,  itself,  varies  in  breadth  from  one  to  throe 
miles. 

The  State  of  New  York  is  remarkable  for  the  number 
and  beauty  of  its  lakes.  One  of  its  frontiers  lies  on  the  vast 
sheet  of  Ontario,  while  Champlain  stretches  nearly  a hun- 
dred miles  along  another.  Oneida,  Cayuga,  Canandaigua, 
Seneca,  and  George,  are  all  lakes  of  thirty  miles  in  length, 
while  those  of  a size  smaller  are  without  number.  On 
most  of  these  lakes,  there  are  now  beautiful  villages,  and  on 
many  of  them  steamboats. 


102 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ I see  nothing,'’  he  said,  “ but  land  and  wa- 
ter ; and  a lovely  scene  it  is.” 

“ Hist ! ” interrupted  the  scout. — “ Ay,  saga- 
more, there  is  always  a reason  for  what  you  do. 
’Tis  but  a shade,  and  yet  it  is  not  natural. — You 
see  the  mist,  major,  that  is  rising  above  the 
island ; you  can’t  call  it  a fog,*for  it  is  more  like 
a streak  of  thin  cloud — ” 

“ It  is  vapor  from  the  water.” 

“ That  a child  could  tell.  But  what  is  the 
edging  of  blacker  smoke  that  hangs  along  its 
lower  side,  and  which  you  may  trace  down  into 
the  thicket  of  hazel  ? ’Tis  from  a fire ; but  one 
that,  in  my  judgment,  has  been  suffered  to  burn 
low.” 

“ Let  us  then  push  for  the  place,  and  relieve 
our  doubts,”  said  the  impatient  Duncan ; “ the 
party  must  be  small  that  can  lie  on  such  a bit  of 
land.” 

“ If  you  judge  of  Indian  cunning  by  the  rules 
you  find  in  books,  or  by  white  sagacity,  they  will 
lead  you  astray,  if  not  to  your  death,”  returned 
Hawk-eye,  examining  the  signs  of  the  place  with 
that  acuteness  which  distinguished  him.  “ If  I 
may  be  permitted  to  speak  in  this  matter,  it  will 
be  to  say  that  we  have  but  two  things  to  choose 
between : the  one  is,  to  return,  and  give  up  all 
thoughts  of  following  the  Hurons — ” 

“ Never  ! ” exclaimed  Heyward,  in  a voice  far 
too  loud  for  their  circumstances. 

“Well,  well,”  continued  Hawk-eye,  making  a 
hasty  sign  to  repress  his  impatience,  “ I am  much 
of  your  mind  myself ; though  I thought  it  becom- 
ing my  experience  to  tell  the  whole.  We  must 
then  make  a push,  and  if  the  Indians  or  Frenchers 
are  in  the  narrows,  run  the  gantlet  through 
these  toppling  mountains. — Is  there  reason  in  my 
words,  sagamore  ? ” 

The  Indian  made  no  further  answer  than  by 
dropping  his  paddle  into  the  water,  and  urging 
forward  the  canoe.  As  he  held  the  office  of  di- 
recting its  course,  his  resolution  was  sufficiently 
indicated  by  the  movement.  The  whole  party 
now  plied  their  paddles  vigorously,  and  in  a very 
few  moments  they  had  reached  a point  whence 
they  might  command  an  entire  view  of  the  north- 
ern shore  of  the  island,  the  side  that  had  hitherto 
been  concealed. 

“ There  they  are,  by  all  the  truth  of  signs,” 
whispered  the  scout ; “ two  canoes  and  a smoke. 
The  knaves  haven’t  yet  got  their  eyes  out  of  the 
mist,  or  we  should  hear  the  accursed  whoop. 
Together,  friends — we  are  leaving  them,  and  are 
ilready  nearly  out  of  whistle  of  a bullet.” 

The  well-known  crack  of  a rifle,  whose  ball 
came  skipping  along  the  placid  surface  of  the 


strait,  and  a shrill  yell  from  the  island,  interrupted 
his  speech,  and  announced  that  their  passage  was 
discovered.  In  another  instant  several  savages 
were  seen  rushing  into  the  canoes,  which  were 
soon  dancing  over  the  water  in  pursuit.  These 
fearful  precursors  of  a coming  struggle  produced 
no  change  in  the  countenances  and  movements  of 
his  three  guides,  so  far  as  Duncan  could  discover, 
except  that  the  strokes  of  their  paddles  were 
longer  and  more  in  unison,  and  caused  the  little 
bark  to  spring  forward  like  a creature  possessing 
life  and  volition. 

“ Hold  them  there,  sagamore,”  said  Hawk- 
eye,  looking  coolly  backward  over  his  left  shoul- 
der, while  he  still  plied  his  paddle  ; “ keep  them 
just  there.  Them  Hurons  have  never  a piece  in 
their  nation  that  will  execute  at  this  distance ; 
but  ‘ Kill-deer  ’ has  a barrel  on  which  a man  may 
calculate.” 

The  scout,  having  ascertained  that  the  Mohi- 
cans were  sufficient  of  themselves  to  maintain  the 
requisite  distance,  deliberately  laid  aside  his  pad- 
dle, and  raised  the  fatal  rifle.  Three  several  times 
he  brought  the  piece  to  his  shoulder,  and  when 
his  companions  were  expecting  its  report,  he  as 
oftened  lowered  it  to  request  the  Indians  would 
permit  their  enemies  to  approach  a little  nigher. 
At  length  his  accurate  and  fastidious  eye  seemed 
satisfied,  and  throwing  out  his  left  arm  on  the 
barrel,  he  was  slowly  elevating  the  muzzle,  when 
an  exclamation  from  Uncas,  who  sat  in  the  bow, 
once  more  caused  him  to  suspend  the  shot. 

“ What  now,  lad  ? ” demanded  Hawk-eye  ; 
“you  saved  a Huron  from  the  death-shriek  by 
that  word ; have  you  reason  for  what  you  do  ? ” 

Uncas  pointed  toward  the  rocky  shore  a little 
in  their  front,  whence  another  war-canoe  was 
darting  directly  across  their  course.  It  was 
too  obvious  now  that  their  situation  was  immi- 
nently perilous,  to  need  the  aid  of  language  to 
confirm  it.  The  scout  laid  aside  his  rifle,  and 
resumed  the  paddle,  while  Chingachgook  inclined 
the  bows  of  the  canoe  a little  toward  the  western 
shore,  in  order  to  increase  the  distance  between 
them  and  this  new  enemy.  In  the  mean  time  they 
were  reminded  of  the  presence  of  those  who 
pressed  on  their  rear,  by  wild  and  exulting  shouts. 
The  stirring  scene  awakened  even  Munro  from 
his  apathy. 

“ Let  us  make  for  the  rocks  on  the  main,”  he 
said,  with  the  mien  of  a tried  soldier,  “ and  give 
battle  to  the  savages.  God  forbid  that  I,  or  those 
attached  to  me  or  mine,  should  ever  trust  again 
to  the  faith  of  any  servant  of  the  Louises ! ” 

“ He  who  wishes  to  prosper  in  Indian  war- 
fare,” returned  the  scout,  “ must  not  be  too  proud 


AN  UNSUCCESSFUL  ATTACK. 


103 


to  learn  from  the  wit  of  a native.  Lay  her  more 
along  the  land,  sagamore ; we  are  doubling  on 
the  varlets,  and  perhaps  they  may  try  to  strike 
our  trail  on  the  long  calculation.” 

Hawk-eye  was  not  mistaken ; for,  when  the 
Hurons  found  that  their  course  was  likely  to  throw 
them  behind  their  chase,  they  rendered  it  less 
direct,  until,  by  gradually  bearing  more  and  more 
obliquely,  the  two  canoes  were,  ere  long,  gliding 
on  parallel  lines,  within  two  hundred  yards  of 
each  other.  It  now  became  entirely  a trial  of 
speed.  So  rapid  was  the  progress  of  the  light 
vessels,  that  the  lake  curled  in  their  front,  in  min- 
iature waves,  and  their  motion  became  undulating 
by  its  own  velocity.  It  was,  perhaps,  owing  to 
this  circumstance,  in  addition  to  the  necessity  of 
keeping  every  hand  employed  at  the  paddles,  that 
the  Hurons  had  not  immediate  recourse  to  their 
fire-arms.  The  exertions  of  the  fugitives  were 
too  severe  to  continue  long,  and  the  pursuers  had 
the  advantage  of  numbers.  Duncan  observed, 
with  uneasiness,  that  the  scout  began  to  look 
anxiously  about  him,  as  if  searching  for  some  fur- 
ther means  of  assisting  their  flight. 

“ Edge  her  a little  more  from  the  sun,  saga- 
more,” said  the  stubborn  woodsman ; “ I see  the 
knaves  are  sparing  a man  to  the  rifle.  A single 
broken  bone  might  lose  us  our  scalps.  Edge 
more  from  the  sun,  and  we  will  put  the  island 
between  us.” 

The  expedient  was  not  without  its  use.  A 
long,  low  island  lay  at  a little  distance  before 
them,  and,  as  they  closed  with  it,  the  chasing 
eanoe  was  compelled  to  take  a side  opposite  to 
that  on  which  the  pursued  passed.  The  scout 
and  his  companions  did  not  neglect  this  advantage, 
but  the  instant  they  were  hid  from  observation  by 
the  bushes,  they  redoubled  efforts  that  before 
had  seemed  prodigious.  The  two  canoes  came 
round  the  last  low  point,  like  two  coursers  at  the 
top  of  their  speed,  the  fugitives  taking  the  lead. 
This  change  had  brought  them  nigher  to  each 
other,  however,  while  it  altered  their  relative  posi- 
tions. 

“ You  showed  knowledge  in  the  shaping  of 
birchen  bark,  Uncas,  when  you  chose  this  from 
among  the  Huron  canoes,”  said  the  scout,  smil- 
ing, apparently  more  in  satisfaction  at  their  superi- 
ority in  the  race,  than  from  that  prospect  of  final 
escape  which  now  began  to  open  a little  upon  them. 
“ The  imps  have  put  all  their  strength  again  at 
the  paddles,  and  we  are  to  struggle  for  our  scalps 
with  bits  of  flattened  wood,  instead  of  clouded 
barrels  and  true  eyes. — A long  stroke,,  and  to- 
gether, friends ! ” 

“ They  are  preparing  for  a shot,”  said  Hey- 


ward ; “ and,  as  we  are  in  a line  with  them,  it  can 
scarcely  fail.” 

“ Get  you  then  into  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,” 
returned  the  scout — “ you  and  the  colonel ; it  will 
be  so  much  taken  from  the  size  of  the  mark.” 

Heyward  smiled,  as  he  answered 

“ It  would  be  but  an  ill  example  for  the  high- 
est in  rank  to  dodge,  while  the  warriors  were 
under  fire ! ” 

“Lord!  Lord!  that  is  now  a white  man’s 
courage  ! ” exclaimed  the  scout ; “ and,  like  too 
many  of  his  notions,  not  to  be  maintained  by  rea- 
son. Do  you  think,  the  sagamore,  or  Uncas,  or 
even  I,  who  am  a man  without  a ’cross,  would  de- 
liberate about  finding  a cover  in  the  scrimmage, 
when  an  open  body  would  do  no  good?  For 
what  have  the  Frenchers  reared  up  their  Quebec, 
if  fighting  is  always  to  be  done  in  the  clearings  ? ” 

“ All  that  you  say  is  very  true,  my  friend,” 
replied  Heyward ; “ still,  our  customs  must  pre- 
vent us  from  doing  as  you  wish.” 

A volley  from  the  Hurons  interrupted  the  dis- 
course, and,  as  the  bullets  whistled  about  them, 
Duncan  saw  the  head  of  Uncas  turned,  looking 
back  at  himself  and  Munro.  Notwithstanding 
the  nearness  of  the  enemy,  and  his  own  great  per- 
sonal danger,  the  countenance  of  the  young  war- 
rior expressed  no  other  emotion,  as  the  former 
was  compelled  to  think,  than  amazement  at  finding 
men  willing  to  encounter  so  useless  an  exposure. 
Chiugachgook  was  probably  better  acquainted 
with  the  notions  of  white  men,  for  he  did  not  even 
cast  a glance  aside  from  the  riveted  look  his  eye 
maintained  on  the  object  by  which  he  governed 
their  course.  A ball  soon  struck  the  light  and 
polished  paddle  from  the  hands  of  the  chief,  and 
drove  it  through  the  air,  far  in  the  advance.  A 
shout  arose  from  the  Hurons,  who  seized  the  op- 
portunity to  fire  another  volley.  Uncas  described 
an  arc  in  the  water  with  his  own  blade,  and,  as 
the  canoe  passed  swiftly  on,  Chingachgook  re- 
covered his  paddle,  and,  flourishing  it  on  high,  he 
gave  the  war-whoop  of  the  Mohicans,  and  then  lent 
his  strength  and  skill  again  to  the  important  task. 

The  clamorous  sounds  of  “ Le  gros  Serpent ! ” 
“ La  longue  Carabine  ! ” “ Le  Cerf  agile ! ” burst 
at  once  from  the  canoes  behind,  and  seemed  to 
give  new  zeal  to  the  pursuers.  The  scout  seized 
“ Kill-deer”  in  his  left  hand,  and  elevating  it  above 
his  head,  he  shook  it  in  triumph  at  his  enemies. 
The  savages  answered  the  insult  with  a yell, 
and  immediately  another  volley  succeeded.  The 
bullets  pattered  along  the  lake,  and  one  even 
pierced  the  bark  of  their  little  vessel.  No  per- 
ceptible  emotion  could  be  discovered  in  the  Mo- 
hicans during  thjs  critical  moment,  their  rigid  fea 


104 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


tures  expressing  neither  hope  nor  alarm  ; but  the 
Bcout  again  turned  his  head,  and,  laughing  in  his 
own  silent  manner,  he  said  to  Heyward  : 

“ The  knaves  love  to  hear  the  sounds  of  their 
pieces  ; but  the  eye  is  not  to  be  found  among  the 
Mingoes  that  can  calculate  a true  range  in  a dan- 
cing canoe  ! You  see  the  dumb  devils  have  taken 
off  a man  to  charge,  and,  by  the  smallest  measure- 
ment that  can  be  allowed,  we  move  three  feet  to 
their  two.” 

Duncan,  who  was  not  altogether  as  easy  under 
this  nice  estimate  of  distances  as  his  companions, 
was  glad  to  find,  however,  that,  owing  to  their 
superior  dexterity,  and  the  diversion  among  their 
enemies,  they  were  very  sensibly  obtaining  the 
advantage.  The  Hurons  soon  fired  again,  and  a 
bullet  struck  the  blade  of  Hawk-eye’s  paddle  with- 
out injury. 

“ That  will  do,”  said  the  scout,  examining  the 
slight  indentation  with  a curious  eye  ; “ it  would 
not  have  cut  the  skin  of  an  infant,  much  less  of 
men  who,  like  us,  have  been  blown  upon  by  the 
heavens  in  their  anger.  Now,  major,  if  you  will 
try  to  use  this  piece  of  flattened  wood,  I’ll  let 
‘ Kill-deer  ’ take  a part  in  the  conversation.” 

Heyward  seized  the  paddle,  and  applied  him- 
self to  the  -work  with  an  eagerness  that  supplied 
the  place  of  skill,  while  Hawk-eye  was  engaged  in 
inspecting  the  priming  of  his  rifle.  The  latter  then 
took  a swift  aim  and  fired.  The  Huron  in  the 
bows  of  the  leading  canoe  had  risen  with  a similar 
object,  and  he  now  fell  backward,  suffering  his 
gun  to  escape  from  his  hands  into  the  water.  In 
an  instant,  however,  he  recovered  his  feet,  though 
his  gestures  were  wild  and  bewildered.  At  the 
same  moment  his  companions  suspended  their 
efforts,  and  the  chasing  canoes  clustered  together, 
and  became  stationary.  Chingachgook  and  Uncas 
profited  by  the  interval  to  regain  their  wind, 
though  Duncan  continued  to  work  with  the  most 
persevering  industry.  The  father  and  son  now 
cast  calm  but  inquiring  glances  at  each  other,  to 
learn  if  either  had  sustained  any  injury  by  the 
fire  ; for  both  well  knew  that  no  cry  or  exclama- 
tion would,  in  such  a moment  of  necessity,  have 
been  permitted  to  betray  the  accident.  A few 
large  drops  of  blood  were  trickling  down  the 
shoulder  of  the  sagamore,  who,  when  he  perceived 
that  the  eyes  of  Uncas  dwelt  too  long  on  the 
sight,  raised  some  water  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand, 
and,  washing  off  the  stain,  was  content  to  mani- 
fest, in  this  simple  manner,  the  slightness  of  the 
Injury. 

“Softly,  softly,  major,”  said  the  scout,  who 
by  this  time  had  reloaded  his  rifle ; “ we  are  a 
little  too  far  already  for  a rifle  to  put  forth  its 


beauties,  and  you  see  yonder  imps  are  holding  a 
council.  Let  them  come  up  within  striking  dis- 
tance— my  eye  may  well  be  trusted  in  such  a 
matter — and  I will  trail  the  varlets  the  length  of 
the  Horican,  guaranteeing  that  not  a shot  of 
theirs  shall,  at  the  worst,  more  than  break  th* 
skin,  while  4 Kill-deer’  shall  touch  the  life  twice 
in  three  times.” 

“Wc  forget  our  errand,”  returned  the  dili- 
gent Duncan.  “ For  God’s  sake  let  us  profit  by 
this  advantage,  and  increase  our  distance  from 
the  enemy  ! ” 

“ Give  me  my  children,”  said  Munro,  hoarse- 
ly ; “ trifle  no  longer  with  a father’s  agony,  bui 
restore  me  my  babes  ! ” 

Long  and  habitual  deference  to  the  mandates 
of  his  superiors  had  taught  the  scout  the  virtue 
of  obedience.  Throwing  a last  and  lingering 
glance  at  the  distant  canoes,  he  laid  aside  his 
rifle,  and,  relieving  the  wearied  Duncan,  resumed 
the  paddle,  which  he  wielded  with  sinews  that 
never  tired.  His  efforts  were  seconded  by  those 
of  the  Mohicans,  and  a very  few  minutes  served 
to  place  such  a sheet  of  water  between  them  and 
their  enemies  that  Heyward  once  more  breathed 
freely. 

The  lake  now  began  to  expand,  and  their 
route  lay  along  a wide  reach,  that  was  lined,  as 
before,  by  high  and  ragged  mountains.  But  the 
islands  were* few,  and  easily  avoided.  The  strokes 
of  the  paddles  grew  more  measured  and  regular, 
while  they  who  plied  them  continued  their  labor, 
after  the  close  and  deadly  chase  from  which  they 
had  just  relieved  themselves,  with  as  much  cool- 
ness as  though  their  speed  had  been  tried  in  sport, 
rather  than  under  such  pressing,  nay,  almost  des- 
perate  circumstances. 

Instead  of  following  the  western  shore,  whith 
er  their  errand  led  them,  the  wary  Mohican  in- 
clined his  course  more  toward  those  hills  behind 
which  Montcalm  was  known  to  have  led  his  army 
into  the  formidable  fortress  of  Ticonderoga.  As 
the  Hurons,  to  every  appearance,  had  abandoned 
the  pursuit,  there  was  no  apparent  reason  for  this 
excess  of  caution.  It  was,  however,  maintained 
for  hours,  until  they  had  reached  a bay,  nigh  the 
northern  termination  of  the  lake.  Here  the  ca- 
noe was  driven  upon  the  beach,  and  the  whole 
party  landed.  Hawk-eye  and  Heyward  ascend- 
ed an  adjacent  bluff,  where  the  former,  after 
considering  the  expanse  of  water  beneath  him, 
pointed  out  to  the  latter  a small  black  object, 
hovering  under  a headland,  at  the  distance  of 
several  miles. 

“ Do  you  see  it  ? ” demanded  the  scout. 
“ Now,  what  would  you  account  that  spot,  weri 


EVADING  THE  HURONS. 


105 


you  left  alone  to  white  experience  to  find  your 
way  through  this  wilderness  ? " 

“But  for  its  distance  and  its  magnitude,  I 
should  suppose  it  a bird.  Can  it  be  a living  ob- 
ject?" 

“ ’Tis  a canoe  of  good  birchen  bark,  and  pad- 
died  by  fierce  and  crafty  Mingoes.  Though  Provi- 
dence has  lent  to  those  who  inhabit  the  woods 
eyes  that  would  be  needless  to  men  in  the  settle- 
ments, where  there  are  inventions  to  assist  the 
8ight,  yet  no  human  organs  can  see  all  the  dan- 
gers which  at  this  moment  circumvent  us.  These 
varlets  pretend  to  be  bent  chiefly  on  their  sun- 
down meal,  but  the  moment  it  is  dark  they  will 
be  on  our  trail,  as  true  as  hounds  on  the  scent. 
We  must  throw  them  off,  or  our  pursuit  of  Le 
Renard  Subtil  may  be  given  up.  These  lakes  are 
useful  at  times,  especially  when  the  game  takes 
the  water,"  continued  the  scout,  gazing  about 
him  with  a countenance  of  concern ; “ but  they 
give  no  cover,  except  it  be  to  the  fishes.  God 
knows  what  the  country  would  be,  if  the  settle- 
ment should  ever  spread  far  from  the  two  rivers. 
Both  hunting  and  war  would  lose  their  beauty." 

“ Let  us  not  delay  a moment,  without  some 
good  and  obvious  cause." 

“ I little  like  that  smoke,  which  you  may  see 
worming  up  along  the  rock  above  the  canoe,"  in- 
terrupted the  abstracted  scout.  “ My  life  on  it, 
other  eyes  than  ours  see  it,  and  know  its  mean- 
ing. Well,  words  will  not  mend  the  matter,  and 
it  is  time  that  we  were  doing." 

Hawk-eye  moved  away  from  the  lookout,  and 
descended,  musing  profoundly,  to  the  shore.  He 
communicated  the  result  of  his  observations  to 
his  companions,  in  Delaware,  and  a short  and 
earnest  consultation  succeeded.  When  it  termi- 
nated, the  three  instantly  set  about  executing  their 
new  resolutions. 

The  canoe  was  lifted  from  the  water,  and  borne 
on  the  shoulders  of  the  party.  They  proceeded 
into  the  wood,  making  as  broad  and  obvious  a trail 
as  possible.  They  soon  reached  a water-course, 
which  they  crossed,  and  continued  onward,  until 
they  came  to  an  extensive  and  naked  rock.  At 
this  point,  where  their  footsteps  might  be  expect- 
ed to  be  no  longer  visible,  they  retraced  their 
route  to  the  brook,  walking  backward,  with  the 
utmost  care.  They  now  followed  the  bed  of  the 
little  stream  to  the  lake,  into  which  they  immedi- 
ately launched  their  canoe  again.  A low  point 
concealed  them  from  the  headland,  and  the  mar- 
gin of  the  lake  was  fringed  for  some  distance  with 
dense  and  overhanging  bushes.  Under  the  cover 
of  these  natural  advantages,  they  toiled  their  way, 
with  patient  industry,  until  the  scout  pronounced 


that  he  believed  it  would  be  safe  onoe  more  to 
land. 

The  halt  continued  until  evening  rendered  ob- 
jects indistinct  and  uncertain  to  the  eye.  Then 
they  resumed  their  route,  and,  favored  by  the 
darkness,  pushed  silently  and  vigorously  toward 
the  western  shore.  Although  the  rugged  outline 
of  mountain,  to  which  they  were  steering,  pre- 
sented no  distinctive  marks  to  the  eyes  of  Dun- 
can, the  Mohican  entered  the  little  haven  he  had 
selected  with  the  confidence  and  accuracy  of  an 
experienced  pilot. 

The  boat  was  again  lifted  and  borne  into  the 
woods,  where  it  was  carefully  concealed  under  a 
pile  of  brush.  The  adventurers  assumed  their 
arms  and  packs,  and  the  scout  announced  to  Mun- 
ro  and  Heyward  that  he  and  the  Indians  were  at 
last  in  readiness  to  proceed. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

“ If  you  find  a man  there,  he  shall  die  a flea’s  death.” 

Merry  Wives  of  Windsor. 

The  party  had  landed  on  the  border  of  a re- 
gion that  is,  even  to  this  day,  less  known  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  States,  than  the  deserts  of  Ara- 
bia,  or  the  steppes  of  Tartarv.  It  was  the  sterile 
and  rugged  district  which  separates  the  tributa- 
ries of  Champlain  from  those  of  the  Hudson,  the 
Mohawk,  and  the  St.  Lawrence.  Since  the  period 
of  our  tale,  the  active  spirit  of  the  country  has 
surrounded  it  with  a belt  of  rich  and  thriving  set- 
tlements, though  none  but  the  hunter  or  the  sav- 
age is  ever  known,  even  now,  to  penetrate  its 
wild  recesses. 

As  Hawk-eye  and  the  Mohicans  had,  however, 
often  traversed  the  mountains  and  valleys  of  this 
vast  wilderness,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  plunge 
into  its  depths,  with  the  freedom  of  men  accus- 
tomed to  its  privations  and  difficulties.  For  many 
hours  the  travellers  toiled  on  their  laborious  way, 
guided  by  a star,  or  following  the  direction  of 
some  water-course,  until  the  scout  called  a halt, 
and,  holding  a short  consultation  with  the  Indians, 
they  lighted  their  fire,  and  made  the  usual  prep- 
arations to  pass  the  remainder  of  the  night  where 
they  then  were. 

Imitating  the  example,  and  emulating  the  con- 
fidence, of  their  more  experienced  associates,  Mun 
ro  and  Duncan  slept  without  fear,  if  not  with- 
out uneasiness.  The  dews  were  suffered  to  ex- 
hale, and  the  sun  had  dispersed  the  mists,  and 
was  shedding  a strong  and  clear  light  in  the  for 
est,  when  the  travellers  resumed  their  journey. 


106 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS 


After  proceeding  a few  miles,  the  progress  of 
Hawk-eye,  who  led  the  advance,  became  more  de- 
liberate and  watchful.  He  often  stopped  to  ex- 
amine the  trees  ; nor  did  he  cross  a rivulet,  with- 
out attentively  considering  the  quantity,  the  ve- 
locity, and  the  color  of  its  waters.  Distrusting 
his  own  judgment,  his  appeals  to  the  opinion  of 
Chingachgook  were  frequent  and  earnest.  Dur- 
ing one  of  these  conferences,  Heyward  observed 
that  Uncas  stood  a patient  and  silent,  though,  as 
he  imagined,  an  interested  listener.  He  was 
strongly  tempted  to  address  the  young  chief,  and 
demand  his  opinion  of  their  progress ; but  the 
calm  and  dignified  demeanor  of  the  native  in- 
duced him  to  believe  that,  like  himself,  the  other 
was  wholly  dependent  on  the  sagacity  and  intelli- 
gence of  the  seniors  of  the  party.  At  last,  the 
scout  spoke  in  English,  and  at  once  explained  the 
embarrassment  of  their  situation. 

“When  I found  that  the  home-path  of  the 
Hurons  run  north,”  he  said,  “ it  did  not  need  the 
judgment  of  many  long  years  to  tell  that  they 
would  follow  the  valleys,  and  keep  atween  the 
waters  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Horican,  until  they 
might  strike  the  springs  of  the  Canada  streams, 
which  would  lead  them  into  the  heart  of  the  coun- 
try of  the  Frenchers.  Yet  here  are  we,  within  a 
short  range  of  the  Scaroon,  and  not  a sign  of  a 
trail  have  we  crossed ! Human  natur’  is  weak, 
and  it  is  possible  we  may  not  have  taken  the  prop- 
el’ scent.” 

“ Heaven  protect  us  from  such  an  error ! ” ex- 
claimed Duncan.  “ Let  us  retrace  our  steps,  and 
examine  as  we  go,  with  keener  eyes.  Has  Uncas 
no  council  to  offer  in  such  a strait  ? ” 

The  young  Mohican  cast  a glance  at  his  father, 
but,  maintaining  his  quiet  and  reserved  mien,  he 
continued  silent.  Chingachgook  had  caught  the 
look,  and,  motioning  with  his  hand,  bade  him 
speak.  The  moment  this  permission  was  accord- 
ed, the  countenance  of  Uncas  changed  from  its 
grave  composure  to  a gleam  of  intelligence  and 
joy.  Bounding  forward  like  a deer,  he  sprang  up 
the  side  of  a little  acclivity,  a few  rods  in  advance, 
and  stood,  exultingly,  over  a spot  of  fresh  earth, 
that  looked  as  though  it  had  been  recently  up- 
turned by  the  passage  of  some  heavy  animal. 
The  eyes  of  the  whole  party  followed  the  unex- 
pected movement,  and  read  their  success  in  the 
air  of  triumph  that  the  youth  assumed. 

“ ’Tis  the  trail ! ” exclaimed  the  scout,  advan- 
cing to  the  spot ; “ the  lad  is  quick  of  sight  and 
keen  of  wit  for  his  years:” 

“ ’Tis  extraordinary  that  he  should  have  with- 
held his  knowledge  so  xOng,”  muttered  Duncan, 
At  his  elbow. 


“ It  would  have  been  more  wonderful  had  he 
spoken  without  a bidding.  No,  no ; your  young 
white,  who  gathers  his  learning  from  books  and 
can  measure  what  he  knows  by  the  page,  may 
conceit  that  his  knowledge,  like  his  legs,  outruns 
that  of  his  father ; but  where  experience  is  the 
master,  the  scholar  is  made  to  know  the  value  of 
years,  and  respects  them  accordingly.” 

“ See ! ” said  Uncas,  pointing  north  and  south, 
at  the  evident  marks  of  the  broad  trail  on  either 
side  of  him ; “ the  dark-hair  has  gone  toward  the 
frost.” 

“ Hound  never  ran  on  a more  beautiful  scent,” 
responded  the  scout,  dashing  forward,  at  once,  on 
the  indicated  route ; “ we  are  favored,  greatly  fa- 
vored, and  can  follow  with  high  noses.  Ay,  here 
are  both  your  waddling  beasts  : this  Huron  trav- 
els like  a white  general.  .The  fellow  is  stricken 
with  a judgment,  and  is  mad Look  sharp  for 
wheels,  sagamore,”  he  continued,  looking  back, 
and  laughing  in  his  newly-awakened  satisfaction ; 
“ we  shall  soon  have  the  fool  journeying  in  a 
coach,  and  that  with  three  of  the  best  pair  of 
eyes  on  the  borders,  in  his  rear.” 

The  spirits  of  the  scout,  and  the  astonishing 
success  of  the  chase,  in  which  a circuitous  dis- 
tance of  more  than  forty  miles  had  been  passed, 
did  not  fail  to  impart  a portion  of  hope  to  the 
whole  party.  Their  advance  was  rapid ; and 
made  with  as  much  confidence  as  a traveller 
would  proceed  along  a wide  highway.  If  a rock, 
or  a rivulet,  or  a bit  of  earth  harder  than  com- 
mon,  severed  the  links  of  the  clew  they  followed, 
the  true  eye  of  the  scout  recovered  them  at  a 
distance,  and  seldom  rendered  the  delay  of  a 
single  moment  necessary.  Their  progress  was 
much  facilitated  by  the  certainty  that  Magua  had 
found  it  necessary  to  journey  through  the  val- 
leys ; a circumstance  which  rendered  the  general 
direction  of  the  route  sure.  Nor  had  the  Huron 
entirely  neglected  the  arts  uniformly  practised 
by  the  natives  when  retiring  in  front  of  an  enemy. 
False  trails,  and  sudden  turnings,  were  frequent, 
wherever  a brook,  or  the  formation  of  the 
ground,  rendered  them  feasible  ; but  his  pursuers 
were  rarely  deceived,  and  never  failed  to  detect 
their  error,  before  they  had  lost  either  time  or 
distance  on  the  deceptive  track. 

By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  they  had 
passed  the  Scaroon,  and  were  following  the  route 
of  the  declining  sun.  After  descending  an  emi- 
nence to  a low  bottom,  through  which  a swift 
stream  glided,  they  suddenly  came  to  a place 
where  the  party  of  Le  Renard  had  made  a halt 
Extinguished  brands  were  lying  around  a spring, 
the  offals  of  a deer  were  scattered  about  the 


IN  AN  ENEMY’S  COUNTRY 


107 


place,  and  the  trees  bore  evident  marks  of  hav- 
ing been  browsed  by  the  horses.  At  a little  dis- 
tance, Heyward  discovered,  and  contemplated 
with  tender  emotion,  the  small  bower  under 
which  he  was  fain  to  believe  that  Cora  and  Alice 
had  reposed.  But  while  the  earth  was  trodden, 
and  the  footsteps  of  both  men  and  beasts  were 
so  plainly  visible  around  the  place,  the  trail  ap- 
peared to  have  suddenly  ended. 

It  was  easy  to  follow  the  tracks  of  the  Narra- 
.gansets,  but  they  seemed  only  to  have  wandered 
without  guides,  or  any  other  object  than  the  pur- 
suit of  food.  At  length  Uncas,  who,  with  his 
father,  had  endeavored  to  trace  the  route  of  the 
horses,  came  upon  a sign  of  their  presence  that 
was  quite  recent.  Before  following  the  clew,  he 
communicated  his  success  to  his  companions ; 
and,  while  the  latter  wdte  consulting  on  the  cir- 
cumstance, the  youth  reappeared,  leading  the  two 
fillies,  with  their  saddles  broken,  and  the  hous- 
ings soiled,  as  though  they  had  been  permitted 
to  run  at  will  for  several  days. 

“ What  should  this  prove  ? ” said  Duncan, 
turning  pale,  and  glancing  his  eyes  around  him, 
as  if  he  feared  the  brush  and  leaves  were  about 
to  give  up  some  horrid  secret. 

“ That  our  march  i^  come  to  a quick  end,  and 
that  we  are  in  an  enemy’s  country,”  returned  the 
scout.  “ Had  the  knave  been  pressed,  and  the 
gentle  ones  wanted  horses  to  keep  up  with  the 
party,  he  might  have  taken  their  scalps ; but 
without  an  enemy  at  his  heels,  and  with  such 
rugged  beasts  as  these,  he  would  not  hurt  a hair 
of  their  heads.  I know  your  thoughts,  and 
shame  be  it  to  our  color,  that  you  have  reason 
for  them  ; but  he  who  thinks  that  even  a Mingo 
would  ill-treat  a woman,  unless  it  be  to  tomahawk 
her,  knows  nothing  of  Indian  natur’,  or  the  laws 
of  the  woods.  No,  no ; I have  heard  that  the 
French  Indians  had  come  into  these  hills  to  hunt 
the  moose,  and  we  are  getting  within  scent  of 
their  camp.  Why  should  they  not  ? the  morning 
and  evening  guns  of  Ty  may  be  heard  any  day 
among  these  mountains ; for  the  Frenchers  are 
running  a new  line  atween  the  provinces  of  the 
king  and  the  .Canadas.  It  is  true  that  the  horses 
are  here,  but  the  Hurons  are  gone ; let  us,  then, 
hunt  for  the  path  by  which  they  departed.” 

Hawk-eye  and  the  Mohicans  now  applied 
themselves  to  their  task  in  good  earnest.  A 
circle  of  a few  hundred  feet  in  circumference  was 
drawn,  and  each  of  the  party  took  a segment 
for  his  portion.  The  examination,  however,  re- 
sulted in  no  discovery.  The  impressions  of  foot- 
steps were  numerous,  but  they  all  appeared  like 
those  of  men  who  had  wandered  about  the  spot 


without  any  design  to  quit  it.  Again  the  scout 
and  his  companions  made  the  circuit  of  the  halt- 
ing-place, each  slowly  following  the  other,  until 
they  assembled  in  the  centre  once  more,  no  wiser 
than  when  they  started. 

“ Such  cunning  is  not  without  its  deviltry,” 
exclaimed  Hawk-eye,  when  he  met  the  disap- 
pointed looks  of  his  assistants. 

“We  must  get  down  to  it,  sagamore,  begin- 
ning at  the  spring,  and  going  over  the  ground  by 
inches.  The  Huron  shall  never  brag  in  his  tribe 
that  he  has  a foot  which  leaves  no  print.” 

Setting  the  example  himself,  the  scout  en- 
gaged in  the  scrutiny  with  renewed  zeal.  Not  a 
leaf  was  left  unturned.  The  sticks  were  removed, 
and  the  stones  lifted — for  Indian  cunning  was 
known  frequently  to  adopt  these  objects  as  cov- 
ers, laboring,  with  the  utmost  patience  and  indus- 
try, to  conceal  each  footstep  as  they  proceeded. 
Still  no  discovery  was  made.  At  length  Uncas, 
whose  activity  had  enabled  him  to  achieve  his 
portion  of  the  task  the  soonest,  raked  the  earth 
across  the  turbid  little  rill  which  ran  from  the 
spring,  and  diverted  its  course  into  another  chan- 
nel. So  soon  as  its  narrow  bed  below  the  dam 
was  dry,  he  stooped  over  it  with  keen  and  curi- 
ous eyes.  A cry  of  exultation  immediately  an- 
nounced the  success  of  the  young  warrior.  The 
whole  party  crowded  to  the  spot,  where  Uncas 
pointed  out  the  impression  of  a moccasin  in  the 
moist  alluvion. 

“ The  lad  will  be  an  honor  to  his  people,” 
said  Hawk-eye,  regarding  the  trail  with  as  much 
admiration  as  a naturalist  would  expend  on  the 
tusk  of  a mammoth  or  the  rib  of  a mastodon ; 
“ ay,  and  a thorn  in  the  sides  of  the  Hurons. 
Yet  that  is  not  the  footstep  of  an  Indian ; the 
weight  is  too  much  on  the  heel,  and  the  toes  are 
squared,  as  though  onex)f  the  French  dancers  had 
been  in,  pigeon-winging  his  tribe ! — Run  back, 
Uncas,  and  bring  me  the  size  of  the  singer’s  foot. 
You  will  find  a beautiful  print  of  it  just  opposite 
yon  rock,  ag’in  the  hill-side.” 

While  the  youth  was  engaged  in  this  commis- 
sion, the  scout  and  Chingachgook  were  attentive- 
ly considering  the  impressions.  The  measure- 
ments agreed,  and  the  former  unhesitatingly  pro- 
nounced that  the  footstep  was  that  of  David,  who 
had,  once  more,  been  made  to  exchange  his  shoes 
for  moccasins. 

“ I can  now  read  the  whole  of  it,  as  plainly 
as  if  I had  seen  the  arts  of  Le  Subtil,”  he  add 
ed ; “ the  singer,  being  a man  whose  gifts  la) 
chiefly  in  his  throat  and  feet,  was  made  to  gc 
first,  and  the  others  have  trod  i » his  steps,  imita 
ting  their  formation.” 


108 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ But,”  cried  Duncan,  “ I see  no  signs  of — ” 

“The  gentle  ones,”  interrupted  the  scout; 
“ the  varlet  has  found  a way  to  carry  them,  un- 
til he  supposed  he  had  thrown  any  followers  off 
the  scent.  My  life  on  it,  we  see  their  pretty  little 
feet  again,  before  many  rods  go  by.” 

The  whole  party  now  proceeded,  following  the 
course  of  the  rill,  keeping  anxious  eyes  on  the 
regular  impressions.  The  water  soon  flowed  into 
its  bed  again,  but,  watching  the  ground  on  either 
side,  the  foresters  pursued  their  way,  content 
with  knowing  that  the  trail  lay  beneath.  More 
than  half  a mile  was  passed,  before  the  rill  rip- 
pled close  around  the  base  of  an  extensive  and 
dry  rock.  Here  they  paused  to  make  sure  that 
the  Hurons  had  not  quitted  the  water. 

It  was  fortunate  they  did  so.  For  the  quick 
and  active  Uncas  soon  found  the  impression  of  a 
foot  on  a bunch  of  moss,  where  it  would  seem  an 
Indian  had  inadvertently  trodden.  Pursuing  the 
direction  given  by  this  discovery,  he  entered  the 
neighboring  thicket,  and  struck  the  trail,  as  fresh 
and  obvious  as  it  had  been  before  they  reached 
the  spring.  Another  shout  announced  the  good 
fortune  of  the  youth  to  his  companions,  and  at 
once  terminated  the  search. 

“Ay,  it  has  been  planned  with  Indian  judg- 
ment,” said  the  scout,  when  the  party  was  assem- 
bled around  the  place ; “ and  would  have  blinded 
white  eyes.” 

“ Shall  we  proceed  ? ” demanded  Heyward. 

“ Softly,  softly:  we  know  our  path;  but  it  is 
good  to  examine  the  formation  of  things.  This 
is  my  schooling,  major  ; and,  if  one  neglects  the 
book,  there  is  little  chance  of  learning  from  the 
open  hand  of  Providence.  All  is  plain  but  one 
thing,  which  is  the  manner  that  the  knave  con- 
trived to  get  the  gentle  ones  along  the  blind  trail. 
Even  a Huron  would  b6*  too  proud  to  let  their 
tender  feet  touch  the  water.” 

“Will  this  assist  in  explaining  the  difficulty  ? ” 
Eaid  Heyward,  pointing  toward  the  fragments  of 
a sort  of  hand-barrow,  that  had  been  rudely  con- 
structed of  boughs,  and  bound  together  with 
withes,  and  which  now  seemed  carelessly  cast 
aside  as  useless. 

“ ’Tis  explained  ! ” cried  the  delighted  Hawk- 
eye.  “ If  them  varlets  have  passed  a minute, 
they  have  spent  hours,  in  striving  to  fabricate  a 
lying  end  to  their  trail ! Well,  I’ve  known  them 
waste  a day  in  the  same  manner,  to  as  little  pur- 
pose. Here  we  have  three  pair  of  moccasins,  and 
two  of  little  feet.  It  is  amazing  that  any  mortal 
beings  can  journey  on  limbs  so  small ! — Pass  me 
the  thong  of  buckskin,  Uncas,  and  let  me  take  the 
length  of  this  foot.  By  the  Lord,  it  is  no  longer 


than  a child’s,  and  yet  the  maidens  are  tall  and 
comely.  That  Providence  is  partial  in  its  gifts, 
for  its  own  wise  reasons,  the  best  and  most  con- 
tented of  us  must  allow.” 

“ The  tender  limbs  of  my  daughters  are  un- 
equal to  these  hardships,”  said  Munro,  looking  at 
the  light  footsteps  of  his  children,  with  a parent’s 
love ; “ we  shall  find  their  fainting  forms  in  this 
desert.” 

“ Of  that  there  is  little  cause  of  fear,”  returned 
the  scout,  slowly  shaking  his  head  ; “ this  is  a 
firm  and  straight,  though  a light  step,  and  not 
over-long.  See,  the  heel  has  hardly  touched  the 
ground ; and  there  the  dark -hair  has  made  a little 
jump,  from  root  to  root.  No,  no  ; my  knowledge 
for  it,  neither  of  them  was  nigh  fainting,  here- 
away. Now,  the  singer  was  beginning  to  be  foot- 
sore and  leg-weary,  as  is  plain  by  his  trail.  There, 
you  see,  he  slipped  ; here  he  has  travelled  wide, 
and  tottered ; and  there,  again,  it  looks  as  though 
he  journeyed  on  snow-shoes.  Ay,  ay,  a man  who 
uses  his  throat  altogether,  can  hardly  give  his 
legs  a proper  training.” 

From  such  undeniable  testimony,  did  the  prac- 
tised woodsman  arrive  at  the  truth,  with  nearly 
as  much  certainty  and  precision  as  if  he  had  been 
a witness  of  all  those  events  which  his  ingenuity 
so  easily  elucidated.  Cheered  by  these  assur- 
ances, and  satisfied  by  a reasoning  that  was  so 
obvious,  while  it  was  so  simple,  the  party  resumed 
its  course,  after  making  a short  halt,  to  take  a 
hurried  repast. 

When  the  meal  was  ended,  the  scout  cast  a 
glance  upward  at  the  setting  sun,  and  pushed  for- 
ward with  a rapidity  which  compelled  Heyward 
and  the  still  vigorous  Munro  to  exert  all  their 
muscles  to  equal.  Their  route,  now,  lay  along  the 
bottom  which  has  already  been  mentioned.  As 
the  Hurons  had  made  no  further  efforts  to  conceal 
their  footsteps,  the  progress  of  the  pursuers  was 
no  longer  delayed  by  uncertainty.  Before  an 
hour  had  elapsed,  however,  the  speed  of  Hawk- 
eye  sensibly  abated,  and  his  head,  instead  of 
maintaining  its  former  direct  and  forward  look, 
began  to  turn  suspiciously  from  side  to  side,  as  if 
he  were  conscious  of  approaching  danger.  He 
soon  stopped  again  and  waited  for  the  whole  party 
to  come  up. 

“ I scent  the  Hurons,”  he  said,  speaking  to 
the  Mohicans  ; “ yonder  is  open  sky,  through  the 
tree-tops,  and  we  are  getting  too  nigh  their  en- 
campment. Sagamore,  you  will  take  the  hill-side, 
to  the  right ; Uncas  will  bend  along  the  brook  tc 
the  left,  while  I will  try  the  trail.  If  any  thing 
should  happen,  the  call  will  be  three  croaks  of  a 
crow.  I saw  one  of  the  birds  fanning  himeelf  ir 


A STRANGE  INDIAN. 


109 


the  air,  just  beyond  the  dead  oak — another  sign 
that  we  are  touching  an  encampment.” 

The  Indians  departed  their  several  ways  with- 
out reply,  while  Hawk-eye  cautiously  proceeded 
with  the  two  gentlemen.  Heyward  soon  pressed 
to  the  side  of  their  guide,  eager  to  catch  an  early 
glimpse  of  those  enemies  he  had  pursued  with  sq 
much  toil  and  anxiety.  His  companion  told  him 
to  steal  to  the  edge  of  the  wood,  which,  as  usual, 
was  fringed  with  a thicket,  and  wait  his  coming, 
for  he  wished  to  examine  certain  suspicious  signs 
a little  on  one  side.  Duncan  obeyed,  and  soon 
found  himself  in  a situation  to  command  a view 
which  he  found  as  extraordinary  as  it  was  novel. 

The  trees  of  many  acres  had  been  felled,  and 
the  glow  of  a mild  summer’s  evening  had  fallen 
on  the  clearing,  in  beautiful  contrast  to  the  gray 
light  of  the  forest.  A short  distance  from  the 
place  where  Duncan  stood,  the  stream  had  seem- 
ingly expanded  into  a little  lake,  covering  most 
of  the  low  land,  from  mountain  to  mountain.  The 
water  fell  out  of  this  wide  basin,  in  a cataract  so 
regular  and  gentle,  that  it  appeared  rather  to  be 
the  work  of  human  hands,  than  fashioned  by  Na- 
ture. A hundred  earthen  dwellings  stood  on  the 
margin  of  the  lake,  and  even  in  its  water,  as 
though  the  latter  had  overflowed  its  usual  banks. 
Their  rounded  roofs,  admirably  moulded  for  de- 
fence against  the  weather,  denoted  more  of  indus- 
try and  foresight  than  the  natives  were  wont  to 
bestow  on  their  regular  habitations,  much  less  on 
those  they  occupied  for  the  temporary  purposes 
of  hunting  and  war.  In  short,  the  whole  village 
or  town,  whichever  it  might  be  termed,  possessed 
more  of  method  and  neatness  of  execution,  than 
the  white  men  had  been  accustomed  to  believe 
belonged,  ordinarily,  to  the  Indian  habits.  It  ap- 
peared, however,  to  be  deserted.  At  least,  so 
thought  Duncan  for  many  minutes  ; but,  at  length, 
he  fancied  he  discovered  several  human  forms  ad- 
vancing toward  him  on  all  fours,  and  apparently 
dragging  in  their  train  some  heavy,  and,  as  he  was 
quick  to  apprehend,  some  formidable  engine. 
J ust  then  a few  dark-looking  heads  gleamed  out 
of  the  dwellings,  and  the  place  seemed  suddenly 
alive  with  beings,  which,  however,  glided  from 
cover  to  cover  so  swiftly,  as  to  allow  no  oppor- 
tunity of  examining  their  humors  or  pursuits. 
Alarmed  at  these  suspicious  and  inexplicable 
movements,  he  was  about  to  attempt  the  signal 
of  the  crows,  when  the  rustling  of  leaves  at  hand 
drew  his  eyes  in  another  direction. 

The  young  man  started,  and  recoiled  a few 
paces  instinctively,  when  he  found  himself  within 
a hundred  yards  of  a stranger  Indian.  Recover- 
ing his  recollection  on  the  instant,  instead  of 


sounding  an  alarm,  which  might  prove  fatal  to 
himself,  he  remained  stationary,  an  attentive  ob- 
server of  the  other’s  motions. 

An  instant  of  calm  observation  served  to  as- 
sure Duncan  that  he  was  undiscovered.  The  na- 
tive, like  himself,  seemed  occupied  in  considering 
the  low  dwellings  of  the  village,  and  the  stolen 
movements  of  its  inhabitants.  It  was  impossible 
to  discover  the  expression  of  his  features,  through 
the  grotesque  mask  of  paint  under  which  they 
were  concealed ; though  Duncan  fancied  it  was 
rather  melancholy  than  savage.  His  head  was 
shaved,  as  usual,  with  the  exception  of  the  crown, 
from  whose  tuft  three  or  four  faded  feathers 
from  a hawk’s  wing  were  loosely  dangling.  A 
ragged  calico  mantle  half  encircled  his  body, 
while  his  nether  garment  was  Composed  of  an  or- 
dinary shirt,  the  sleeves  of  which  were  made  to 
perform  the  office  that  is  usually  executed  by  a 
much  more  commodious  arrangement.  His  legs 
were  bare,  and  sadly  cut  and  torn  by  briers.  The 
feet  were,  however,  covered  with  a pair  of  good 
deer-skin  moccasins.  Altogether,  the  appearance 
of  the  individual  was  forlorn  and  miserable. 

Duncan  was  still  curiously  observing  the  per- 
son of  his  neighbor,  when  the  scout  stole  silently 
and  cautiously  to  his  side. 

“You  see  we  have  reached  their  settlement  or 
encampment,”  whispered  the  young  man;  “and 
here  is  one  of  the  savages  himself,  in  a very  em- 
barrassing position  for  our  further  movements.” 

Hawk-eye  started,  and  dropped  his  rifle, 
when,  directed  by  the  finger  of  his  companion, 
the  stranger  came  under  his  view.  Then,  lower- 
ing the  dangerous  muzzle,  he  stretched  forward 
his  long  neck,  as  if  to  assist  a scrutiny  that  was 
already  intensely  keen. 

“The  imp  is  not  a Huron,”  he  said,  “nor  of 
any  of  the  Canada  tribes ; and  yet  you  see,  by  his 
clothes,  the  knave  has  been  plundering  a white. 
Ay,  Montcalm  has  raked  the  woods  for  his  in- 
road, and  a whooping,  murdering  set  of  varlets 
has  he  gathered  together.  Can  you  see  where  ho 
has  put  his  rifle  or  his  bow  ? ” 

“ He  appears  to  have  no  arms  ; nor  does  he 
seem  to  be  viciously  inclined.  Unless  he  commu- 
nicate the  alarm  to  his  fellows,  who,  as  you  see, 
are  dodging  about  the  water,  we  have  but  little  to 
fear  from  him.” 

The  scout  turned  to  Heyward,  and  regarded 
him  a moment  with  unconcealed  amazement. 
Then,  opening  wide  his  mouth,  he  indulged  in  un- 
restrained and  heart-felt  laughter,  though  in  tha 
silent  and  peculiar  manner  which  danger  had  s» 
long  taught  him  to  practise. 

Repeating  the  words,  “Fellows  who  are  dodg 


110 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ing  about  the  water ! ” he  added,  “ so  much  for 
schooling  and  passing  a boyhood  in  the  settle- 
ments ! The  knave  has  long  legs,  though,  and 
shall  not  be  trusted.  Do  you  keep  him  under 
your  rifle  while  I creep  in  behind,  through  the 
bush,  and  take  him  alive.  Fire  on  no  account.” 

Heyward  had  already  permitted  his  compan- 
ion to  bury  part  of  his  person  in  the  thicket, 
when,  stretching  forth  his  arm,  he  arrested  him, 
in  order  to  ask : 

“ If  I see  you  in  danger,  may  I not  risk  a 
shot  ? ” 

Hawk-eye  regarded  him  a moment,  like  one 
who  knew  not  how  to  take  the  question ; then, 
nodding  his  head,  he  answered,  still  laughing, 
though  inaudibly: 

“Fire  a whole  platoon,  major.’ ’ 

In  the  next  moment  he  was  concealed  by  the 
leaves.  Duncan  waited  several  minutes  in  fever- 
ish impatience,  before  he  caught  another  glimpse 
of  the  scout.  Then  he  reappeared,  creeping 
along  the  earth,  from  which  his  dress  was  hardly 
distinguishable,  directly  in  the  rear  of  his  intend- 
ed captive.  Having  reached  within  a few  yards 
of  the  latter,  he  arose  to  his  feet,  silently  and  slow- 
ly. At  that  instant,  several  loud  blows  were 
struck  on  the  water,  and  Duncan  turned  his  eyes 
just  in  time  to  perceive  that  a hundred  dark 
forms  were  plunging,  in  a body,  into  the  troubled 
little  sheet.  Grasping  his  rifle,  his  looks  were 
again  bent  on  the  Indian  near  him.  Instead  of 
taking  the  alarm,  the  unconscious  savage  stretched 
forward  his  neck,  as  if  he  also  watched  the  move- 
ments about  the  gloomy  lake,  with  a sort  of 
silly  curiosity.  In  the  mean  time,  the  uplifted 
hand  of  Hawk-eye  was  above  him.  But,  without 
any  apparent  reason,  it  was  withdrawn,  and  its 
owner  indulged  in  another  long  though  still 
silent  fit  of  merriment.  When  the  peculiar  and 
hearty  laughter  of  Hawk-eye  was  ended,  instead 
of  grasping  his  victim  by  the  throat,  he  tapped 
him  lightly  on  the  shoulder,  and  exclaimed  aloud : 

“ How  now,  friend  ! have  you  a mind  to  teach 
the  beavers  to  sing  ? ” 

“ Even  so,”  was  the  ready  answer.  “It  would 
seem  that  the  Being  that  gave  them  power  to  im- 
prove His  gifts  so  well,  would  not  deny  them 
voices  to  proclaim  His  praise.” 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

“ Boi.  Are  we  all  met  ? 

Qwi.  Pat — pat ; and  here’s  a marvellous 
Convenient  place  for  our  rehearsal."’ 

Shakespiam 

The  reader  may  better  imagine,  than  we  de- 
scribe, the  surprise  of  Heyward.  His  lurking 
Indians  were  suddenly  converted  into  four-footed 
beasts ; his  lake  into  a beaver-pond ; his  cata- 
ract into  a dam,  constructed  by  those  industrious 
and  ingenious  quadrupeds  ; and  a suspected  ene- 
my into  his  tried  friend,  David  Gamut,  the  master 
of  psalmody.  The  presence  of  the  latter  created 
so  many  unexpected  hopes  relative  to  the  sisters 
that,  without  a moment’s  hesitation,  the  young 
man  broke  out  of  his  ambush  and  sprang  forward 
to  join  the  two  principal  actors  in  the  scene. 

The  merriment  of  Hawk-eye  was  not  easily 
appeased.  Without  ceremony,  and  with  a rough 
hand,  he  twirled  the  supple  Gamut  around  on  his 
heel,  and  more  than  once  affirmed  that  the  Hu- 
rons  had  done  themselves  great  credit  in  the  fash- 
ion of  his  costume.  Then,  seizing  the  hand  of 
the  other,  he  squeezed  it  with  a gripe  that 
brought  the  tears  into  the  eyes  of  the  placid 
David,  and  wished  him  joy  ol  his  new  condition. 

“You  were  about  opening  your  throat-prac- 
tysings  among  the  beavers,  were  ye  ? ” he  said. 
“ The  cunning  devils  know  half  the  trade  already, 
for  they  beat  the  time  with  their  tails,  as  you 
heard  just  now;  and  in  good  time  it  was  too,  or 
‘Kill-deer’  might  have  sounded  the  first  note 
among  them.  I have  known  greater  fools,  who 
could  read  and  write,  than  an  experienced  old 
beaver:  but,  as  for  squalling,  the  animals  are 
born  dumb  ! What  think  you  of  such  a song  as 
this  ? ” 

David  shut  his  sensitive  ears,  and  even  Hey- 
ward, apprised  as  he  was  of  the  nature  of  the  cry, 
looked  upward  in  quest  of  the  bird,  as  the  cawing 
of  a crow  rang  in  the  air  about  them. 

“ See,”  continued  the  laughing  scout,  as  he 
pointed  toward  the  remainder  of  the  party,  who, 
in  obedience  to  the  signal,  were  already  approach- 
ing ; “ this  is  music,  which  has  its  natural  virtues  ; 
it  brings  two  good  rifles  to  my  elbow,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  knives  and  tomahawks.  But  we  see 
that  you  are  safe ; now  tell  us  wkat  has  become 
of  the  maidens.” 

“ They  are  captives  to  the  heathen,”  said 
' David  ; “ and,  though  greatly  troubled  in  spirit, 
enjoying  comfort  and  safety  in  the  body.” 

“ Both  ? ” demanded  the  breathless  Heyward. 

“ Even  so.  Though  our  wayfaring  has  been 
sore  and  our  sustenance  scanty,  we  have  had  hv 


NEWS  OF  THE  CAPTURED  SISTERS. 


Ill 


tie  other  cause  for  complaint,  except  the  violence 
done  our  feelings,  by  being  thus  led  in  captivity 
into  a far  land.” 

“ Bless  ye  for  these  very  words  ! ” exclaimed 
the  trembling  Munro ; “ I shall  then  receive  my 
babes,  spotless  and  angel-l'ike,  as  I lost  them ! ” 

“ I know  not  that  their  delivery  is  at  hand,” 
returned  the  doubting  Davhi  • “ the  leader  of 
these  savages  is  possessed  of  an  evil  spirit  that  no 
power  short  of  Omnipotence  can  tame.  I have 
tried  him  sleeping  and  waking,  but  neither  sounds 
nor  language  seem  to  touch  his  soul.” 

“ Where  is  the  knave  ? ” bluntly  interrupted 
the  scout. 

“ He  hunts  the  moose  to-day,  with  his  young 
men ; and  to-morrow,  as  I hear,  they  pas3  far- 
ther into  these  forests,  and  nigher  to  the  borders 
of  Canada.  The  elder  maiden  is  conveyed  to  a 
neighboring  people,  whose  lodges  are  situate  be- 
yond yonder  black  pinnacle  of  rock ; while  the 
vounger  is  detained  among  the  women  of  the  Hu- 
rons,  whose  dwellings  are  but  two  short  miles 
hence,  on  a table-land,  where  the  fire  has  done 
the  office  of  the  axe,  and  prepared  the  place  for 
their  reception.” 

“ Alice,  my  gentle  Alice ! ” murmured  Hey- 
ward ; “ she  has  lost  the  consolation  of  her  sis- 
ter’s presence ! ” 

“ Even  so.  But  so  far  as  praise  and  thanks- 
giving in  psalmody  can  tamper  the  spirit  in  afflic- 
tion, she  has  not  suffered.” 

“ Has  she,  then,  a heart  for  music  ? ” 

“ Of  the  graver  and  more  solemn  character  ; 
though  it  must  be  acknowledged  that,  in  spite  of 
all  my  endeavors,  the  maiden  weeps  oftener  than 
she  smiles.  At  such  moments  I forbear  to  press 
the  holy  songs ; but  there  are  many  sweet  and 
comfortable  periods  of  satisfactory  communica- 
tion, when  the  ears  of  the  savages  are  astounded 
with  the  upliftings  of  our  voices.” 

“ And  why  are  you  permitted  to  go  at  large, 
unwatched  ? ” 

David  composed  his  features  into  what  he  in- 
tended should  express  an  air  of  modest  humility, 
before  he  meekly  replied  : 

“ Little  be  the  praise  to  such  a worm  as  I. 
But,  though  the  power  of  psalmody  was  suspended 
in  the  terrible  business  of  that  field  of  blood 
through  which  we  passed,  it  has  recovered  its  in- 
fluence even  over  the  souls  of  the  heathen,  and  I 
am  suffered  to  go  and  come  at  will.” 

The  scout  laughed,  and,  tapping  his  own  fore- 
Uead  significantly,  he  perhaps  explained  the  singu- 
lar indulgence  more  satisfactorily  when  he  said : 

The  Indians  never  harm  a non-compos3er. 
But  why,  when  the  path  lay  open  before  your 
23 


eyes,  did  you  not  strike  back  on  your  own  trail 
(it  is  not  so  blind  as  that  which  a squirrel  would 
make),  and  bring  in  the  tidings  to  Edward  ? ” 

The  scout,  remembering  only  his  own  sturdy 
and  iron  nature,  had  probably  exacted  a task 
that  David,  under  no  circumstances,  could  have 
performed.  But,  without  entirely  losing  the  meek- 
ness of  his  air,  the  latter  was  content  to  answer : 

“ Though  my  soul  would  rejoice  to  visit  the 
habitations  of  Christendom  once  more,  my  feet 
would  rather  follow  the  tender  spirits  intrusted 
to  my  keeping,  even  into  the  idolatrous  province 
of  the  Jesuits,  than  take  one  step  backward, 
while'they  pined  in  captivity  and  sorrow.” 

Though  the  figurative  language  of  David  was 
not  very  intelligible,  the  sincere  and  steady  expres- 
sion of  his  eye,  and  the  glow  on  his  honest  coun- 
tenance, were  not  easily  mistaken.  Uncas  pressed 
close  to  his  side,  and  regarded  the  speaker  with  a 
look  of  commendation,  while  his  father  expressed 
his  satisfaction  by  the  ordinary  pithy  exclamation 
of  approbation.  The  scout  shook  his  head  as  he 
rejoined  : 

“ The  Lord  never  intended  that  the  man 
should  place  all  his  endeavors  in  his  throat,  to  the 
neglect  of  other  and  better  gifts ! But  he  has 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  some  silly  woman,  when 
he  should  have  been  gathering  his  education 
under  a blue  sky,  among  the  beauties  of  the 
forest. — Here,  friend ; I did  intend  to  kindle  a 
fire  with  this  tooting- whistle  of  thine ; but  as  you 
value  the  thing,  take  it,  and  blow  your  best  on 
it!” 

Gamut  received  his  pitch-pipe  with  as  strong 
an  expression  of  pleasure  as  he  believed  compati- 
ble with  the  grave  functions  he  exercised.  After 
essaying  its  virtues  repeatedly,  in  contrast  with 
his  own  voice,  and  satisfying  himself  that  none 
of  its  melody  was  lost,  he  made  a very  serious 
demonstration  toward  achieving  a few  stanzas  of 
one  of  the  longest  effusions  in  the  little  volume  so 
often  mentioned. 

Heyward,  however,  hastily  interrupted  his 
pious  purpose,  by  continuing  questions  concern- 
ing the  past  and  present  condition  of  his  fellow- 
captives,  and  in  a manner  more  methodical  than 
had  been  permitted  by  his  feelings  in  the  opening 
of  their  interview.  David,  though  he  regarded 
his  treasure  with  longing  eyes,  was  constrained  to 
answer  : especially  as  the  venerable  father  took  a 
part  in  the  interrogatories,  with  an  interest  too 
imposing  to  be  denied.  Nor  did  the  scout  fail  to 
throw  in  a pertinent  inquiry,  whenever  a fitting 
occasion  presented.  In  this  manner,  though  with 
frequent  interruptions,  which  were  filled  with 
certain  threatening  sounds  from  the  recovered 


112 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


instrument,  the  pursuers  were  put  in  possession 
of  such  leading  circumstances  as  were  likely  to 
prove  useful  in  accomplishing  their  great  and  en- 
grossing object  — the  recovery  of  the  sisters. 
The  narrative  of  David  was  simple,  and  the  facts 
but  few. 

Magua  had  waited  on  the  mountain  until  a 
safe  moment  to  retire  presented  itself,  when  he 
had  descended,  and  taken  the  route  along  the 
western  side  of  the  Horican,  in  the  direction  of 
the  Canadas.  As  the  subtle  Huron  was  familiar 
with  the  paths,  and  well  knew  there  was  no  im- 
mediate danger  of  pursuit,  their  progress  had 
been  moderate,  and  far  from  fatiguing.  It  ap- 
peared, from  the  unembellished  statement  of 
David,  that  his  own  presence  had  been  rather  en- 
dured than  desired ; though  even  Magua  had  not 
been  entirely  exempt  from  that  veneration  with 
which  the  Indians  regarded  those  whom  the 
Great  Spirit  had  visited  in  their  intellects.  At 
night,  the  utmost  care  had  been  taken  of  the  cap- 
tives, both  to  prevent  injury  from  the  damps  of 
the  woods,  and  to  guard  against  an  escape.  At 
the  spring,  the  horses  were  turned  loose,  as  had 
been  seen  ; and  notwithstanding  the  remoteness 
and  length  of  their  trail,  the  artifices  already 
named  were  resorted  to,  in  order  to  cut  off  every 
clew  to  their  place  of  retreat.  On  the  arrival  at 
the  encampment  of  his  people,  Magua,  in  obedi- 
ence to  a policy  seldom  departed  from,  separated 
his  prisoners.  Cora  had  been  sent  to  a tribe  that 
temporarily  occupied  an  adjacent  valley,  though 
David  was  far  too  ignorant  of  the  customs  and 
history  of  the  natives  to  be  able  to  declare  any 
thing  satisfactory  concerning  their  name  or  char- 
acter. He  only  knew  that  they  had  not  engaged 
in  the  late  expedition  against  William  Henry; 
that,  like  the  Hurons  themselves,  they  were  allies 
of  Montcalm  ; and  that  they  maintained  an  amica- 
ble though  a watchful  intercourse  with  the  war- 
like and  savage  people  whom  chance  had,  for  a 
time,  brought  in  such  close  and  disagreeable  con- 
tact with  themselves. 

The  Mohicans  and  the  scout  listened  to  his 
interrupted  and  imperfect  narrative,  with  an  in- 
terest that  obviously  increased  as  he  proceeded ; 
and  it  was  while  attempting  to  explain  the  pur- 
suits of  the  community  in  which  Cora  was  de- 
tained, that  the  latter  abruptly  demanded — 

“ Did  you  see  the  fashion  of  their  knives  ? 
were  they  of  English  or  French  formation  ? ” 

“ My  thoughts  were  bent  on  no  such  vanities, 
but  rather  mingled  in  consolation  with  those  of 
the  maidens.” 

“The  time  may  come  when  you  will  not  con- 
sider the  knife  of  a savage  such  a despisable  van- 


ity,” returned  the  scout,  with  a strong  expression 
of  contempt  for  the  other’s  dulness.  “ Had  they 
held  their  corn-feast — or  can  you  say  any  thing 
of  the  totems  of  their  tribe  ? ” 

“ Of  corn,  we  had  many  and  plentiful  feasts ; 
for  the  grain,  being  in  the  milk,  is  both  sweet  to 
the  mouth  and  comfortable  to  the  stomach.  Of 
totem,  I know  not  the  meaning ; but  if  it  apper- 
taineth  in  any  wise  to  the  art  of  Indian  music,  it 
need  not  be  inquired  after  at  their  hands.  They 
never  join  their  voices  in  praise,  and  it  would 
seem  that  they  are  among  the  profanest  of  the 
idolatrous.” 

“ Therein  you  belie  the  nature  of  an  Indian, 
Even  the  Mingo  adores  but  the  true  and  living 
God.  ’Tis  a wicked  fabrication  of  the  whites, 
and  I say  it  to  the  shame  of  my  color,  that  would 
make  the  warrior  bow  down  before  images  of  his 
own  creation.  It  is  true,  they  endeavor  to  make 
truces  with  the  wicked  one — as  who  would  not 
with  an  enemy  he  cannot  conquer  ? — but  they 
look  up  for  favor  and  assistance  to  the  Great  and 
Good  Spirit  only.” 

“ It  may  be  so,”  said  David  ; “ but  I have  seen 
strange  and  fantastic  images  drawn  in  their  paint, 
of  which  their  admiration  and  care  savored  of 
spiritual  pride;  especially  one,  and  that,  too,  a 
foul  and  loathsome  object.” 

“Was  it  a sarpent?”  quickly  demanded  the 
scout. 

“ Much  the  same.  It  was  in  the  likeness  of 
an  abject  and  creeping  tortoise.” 

“Hugh!”  exclaimed  both  the  attentive  Mo- 
hicans in  a breath;  while  the  scout  shook  his 
head  with  the  air  of  one  who  had  made  an  im- 
portant but  by  no  means  a pleasing  discovery. 
Then  the  father  spoke,  in  the  language  of  the 
Delawares,  and  with  a calmness  and  dignity  that 
instantly  arrested  the  attention  even  of  those  to 
whom  his  words  were  unintelligible.  His  gestures 
were  impressive,  and  at  times  energetic.  Once  he 
lifted  his  arm  on  high  ; and’  as  it  descended,  the 
action  threw  aside  the  folds  of  his  light  mantle,  a 
finger  resting  on  his  breast,  as  if  he  would  en- 
force his  meaning  by  the  attitude.  Duncan’s  eyes 
followed  the  movement,  and  he  perceived  that  the 
animal  just  mentioned  was  beautifully  though 
faintly  worked,  in  a blue  tint,  on  the  swarthj 
breast  of  the  chief.  All  that  he  had  ever  heard 
of  the  violent  separation  of  the  vast  tribes  of  the 
Delawares  rushed  across  his  mind,  and  he  awaited 
the  proper  moment  to  speak,  with  a suspense  that 
was  rendered  nearly  intolerable,  by  his  interest  in 
the  stake.  His  wish,  however,  was  anticipated 
by  the  scout,  who  turned  from  his  red  friend,  say 
ing— 


BOLD  ADVENTURE  OF  DUNCAN  AND  DAVID 


II  ‘3 


“ Wc  have  found  that  which  may  be  good  or 
evil  to  us,  as  Heaven  disposes.  The  sagamore  is 
of  the  high  blood  of  the  Delawares,  and  is  the 
great  chief  of  their  Tortoises ! That  some  of  this 
stock  are  among  the  people  of  whom  the  singer 
tells  us,  is  plain,  by  his  words ; and  had  he  but 
6pent  half  the  breath  in  prudent  questions,  that 
he  has  blown  away  in  making  a trumpet  of  his 
throat,  we  might  have  known  how  many  warriors 
they  numbered.  It  is,  altogether,  a dangerous 
path  we  move  in ; for  a friend  whose  face  is 
turned  from  you  often  bears  a bloodier  mind  than 
the  enemy  who  seeks  your  scalp.” 

“ Explain,”  said  Duncan. 

“ ’Tis  a long  and  melancholy  tradition,  and  one 
1 little  like  to  think  of ; for  it  is  not  to  be  denied, 
that  the  evil  has  been  mainly  done  by  men  with 
white  skins.  But  it  has  ended  in  turning  the 
tomahawk  of  brother  against  brother,  and  brought 
the  Mingo  and  the  Delaware  to  travel  in  the  same 
paih.” 

“ You  then  suspect  it  is  a portion  of  that  peo- 
ple among  whom  Cora  resides  ? ” 

The  scout  nodded  his  head  in  assent,  though 
he  seemed  anxious  to  waive  the  further  discussion 
of  a subject  that  appeared  painful.  The  im- 
patient Duncan  now  made  several  hasty  and  des- 
perate propositions  to  attempt  the  release  of  the 
sisters.  Munro  seemed  to  shake  off  his  apathy, 
and  listened  to  the  wild  schemes  of  the  young 
man  with  a deference  that  his  gray  hairs  and  rev- 
erend years  should  have  denied.  But  the  scout, 
after  suffering  the  ardor  of  the  lover  to  expend 
itself  a little,  found  means  to  convince  him  of  the 
folly  of  precipitation,  in  a matter  that  would  re- 
quire their  coolest  judgment  and  utmost  forti- 
tude. 

“ It  would  be  well,”  he  added,  “ to  let  this 
man  go  in  again,  as  usual,  and  for  him  to  tarry 
tn  the  lodges,  giving  notice  to  the  gentle  ones  of 
our  approach,  until  we  call  him  out  by  signal,  to 
consult. — You  know  the  cry  of  a crow,  friend, 
from  the  whistle  of  the  whippoorwill  ? ” 

“’Tis  a pleasing  bird,”  resumed  David,  “and 
has  a soft  and  melancholy  note ; though  the  time 
is  rather  quick  and  ill-measured.” 

“ He  speaks  of  the  wish-ton- wish,”  said  the 
scout. — “Well,  since  you  like  his  whistle,  it  shall 
be  your  signal.  Remember,  then,  when  you  hear 
the  whippoorwill’s  call  three  times  repeated,  you 
are  to  come  into  the  bushes  where  the  bird  might 
be  supposed — ” 

“ Stop,”  interrupted  Heyward ; “ I will  ac- 
company him.” 

“ You  ? ” exclaimed  the  astonished  Hawk-eye ; 
f are  you  tired  of  seeing  the  sun  rise  and  set  ? ” 


“ David  is  a living  proof  that  the  Hurons  can 
be  merciful.” 

“ Ay,  but  David  can  use  his  throat,  as  no  man 
in  his  senses  would  pervart  the  gift.” 

“I  too  can  play  the  madman,  the  fool,  the 
hero ; in  short,  any  or  every  thing  to  rescue  ter  I 
love.  Name  your  objections  no  longer ; I am  re- 
solved.” 

Hawk-eye  regarded  the  young  man  a moment 
in  speechless  amazement.  But  Duncan,  who,  in 
deference  to  the  other’s  skill  and  services,  had 
hitherto  submitted  somewhat  implicitly  to  his  dic- 
tation, now  assumed  the  superior,  with  a manner 
that  was  not  easily  resisted.  He  waved  his  hand, 
in  sign  of  his  dislike  to  all  remonstrance,  and 
then,  in  more  tempered  language,  he  continued : 

“ You  have  the  means  of  disguise ; change  me ; 
paint  me  too,  if  you  will ; in  short,  alter  me  to 
any  thing — a fool.” 

“ It  is  not  for  one  like  me  to  say  that  he  who 
is  already  formed  by  so  powerful  a hand  as  Provi- 
dence, stands  in  need  of  a change,”  muttered  the 
discontented  scout.  “ When  you  send  your  par- 
ties abroad  in  war,  you  find  it  prudent,  at  least, 
to  arrange  the  marks  and  places  of  encampment, 
in  order  that  they  who  fight  on  your  side  may 
know  when  and  where  to  expect  a friend.” 

“ Listen,”  interrupted  Duncan  ; “ you  have 
heard  from  this  faithful  follower  of  the  captives, 
that  the  Indians  are  of  two  tribes^if  not  of  differ- 
ent nations.  With  one,  whom  you  think  to  be  a 
branch  of  the  Delawares,  is  she  you  call  the 
1 dark-hair ; ’ the  other,  and  younger  of  the  ladies, 
is  undeniably  with  our  declared  enemies,  the  Hu- 
rons. It  becomes  my  youth  and  rank  to  attempt 
the  latter  adventure.  While  you,  therefore,  are 
negotiating  with  your  friends  for  the  release  of 
one  of  the  sisters,  I will  effect  that  of  the  other, 
or  die.” 

The  awakened  spirit  of  the  young  soldier 
gleamed  in  his  eyes,  and  his  form  became  impos- 
ing under  its  influence.  Hawk-eye,  though  too 
much  accustomed  to  Indian  artifices  not  to  fore- 
see the  danger  of  the  experiment,  knew  not  well 
how  to  combat  this  sudden  resolution. 

Perhaps  there  was  something  in  the  proposal 
that  suited  his  own  hardy  nature,  and  that  secret 
love  of  desperate  adventure,  which  had  increased 
with  his  experience,  until  hazard  and  danger  had 
become,  in  some  measure,  necessary  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  existence.  Instead  of  contimiing  to 
oppose  the  scheme  of  Duncan,  his  humor  sudden- 
ly altered,  and  he  lent  himself  to  its  execution. 

“ Come,”  he  said,  with  a good-humored  smile; 
“ the  buck  that  will  take  to  the  water  must  be 
headed,  and  not  followed.  Chingachgook  has  as 


114 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


many  different  paints  as  the  engineer  officer’s 
wife,  who  takes  down  Natur’  on  scraps  of  paper, 
making  the  mountains  look  like  cocks  of  rusty 
hay,  and  placing  the  blue  sky  in  reach  of  your 
hand.  The  sagamore  can  use  them  too.  Seat 
yourself  on  the  log-;  and,  my  life  on  it;  he  can 
make  a natural  fool  of  you,  and  that  well  to  your 
liking.” 

Duncan  complied  ; and  the  Mohican,  who  had 
been  an  attentive  listener  to  the  discourse,  readily 
undertook  the  office.  Long  practised  in  all  the 
subtle  arts  of  his  race,  he  drew,  with  great  dex- 
terity and  quickness,  the  fantastic  shadow  that  the 
natives  were  accustomed  to  consider  as  the  evi- 
dence of  a friendly  and  jocular  disposition.  Every 
line  that  could  possibly  be  interpreted  into  a se- 
cret inclination  for  war,  was  carefully  avoided; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  studied  those  con- 
ceits that  might  be  construed  into  amity. 

In  short,  he  entirely  sacrificed  every  appear- 
ance of  the  warrior  to  the  masquerade  of  a buf- 
foon. Such  exhibitions  were  not  uncommon 
among  the  Indians  ; and,  as  Duncan  was  already 
sufficiently  disguised  in  his  dress,  there  certainly 
did  exist  some  reason  for  believing  that,  with  his 
knowledge  of  the  French,  he  might  pass  for  a 
juggler  from  Ticonderoga,  straggling  among  the 
allied  and  friendly  tribes. 

When  he  was  thought  to  be  sufficiently 
painted,  the  scput  gave  him  much  friendly  ad- 
vice ; concerted  signals,  and  appointed  the  place 
where  they  should  meet,  in  the  event  of  mutual 
success.  The  parting  between  Munro  and  his 
young  friend  was  more  melancholy  ; still  the  for- 
mer submitted  to  the  separation  with  an  indiffer- 
ence that  his  warm  and  honest  nature  would  never 
have  permitted  in  a more  healthful  state  of  mind. 
The  scout  led  Heyward  aside,  and  acquainted  him 
with  his  intention  to  leave  the  veteran  in  some 
safe  encampment,  in  charge  of  Chingachgook, 
while  he  and  Uncas  pursued  their  inquiries  among 
the  people  they  had  reason  to  believe  were  Dela- 
wares. Then,  renewing  his  cautions  and  advice, 
he  concluded  by  saying,  with  a solemnity  and 
warmth  of  feeling  with  which  Duncan  was  deeply 
touched : 

“ And  now  God  bless  you  ! You  have  shown 
a spirit  that  I like ; for  it  is  the  gift  of  youth, 
more  especially  one  of  warm  blood  and  a stout 
heart.  But  believe  the  warning  of  a man  who 
has  reason  to  know  all  he  says  to  be  true.  You 
will  have  occasion  for  your  best  manhood,  and 
for  a sharper  wit  than  what  is  to  be  gathered  in 
books,  afore  you  outdo  the  cunning  or  get  the 
better  of  the  courage  of  a Mingo.  God  bless 
you ! if  the  Hurons  master  your  scalp,  rely  on 


the  promise  of  one  who  has  two  stout  warriore  to 
back  him.  They  shall  pay  for  their  victory,  with 
a life  for  every  hair  it  holds.  I say,  young  gen- 
tleman, may  Providence  bless  your  undertaking, 
which  is  altogether  for  good ; and  remember,  that 
to  outwit  the  knaves  it  is  lawful  to  practise  things 
that  may  not  be  naturally  the  gift  of  a whit©, 
skin.” 

Duncan  shook  his  worthy  and  reluctant  asso- 
ciate warmly  by  the  hand,  once  more  recom- 
mended his  aged  friend  to  his  care,  and,  returning 
his  good  wishes,  he  motioned  to  David  to  pro- 
ceed. Hawk-eye  gazed  after  the  high-spirited 
and  adventurous  young  man  for  several  moments, 
in  open  admiration  ; then  shaking  his  head  doubt- 
ingly,  he  turned,  and  led  his  own  division  of  the 
party  into  the  concealment  of  the  forest. 

The  route  taken  by  Duncan  and  David  lay 
directly  across  the  clearing  of  the  beavers,  and 
along  the  margin  of  their  pond. 

When  the  former  found  himself  alone  with 
one  so  simple,  and  so  little  qualified  to  render 
any  assistance  in  desperate  emergencies,  he  first 
began  to  be  sensible  of  the  difficulties  of  the  task 
he  had  undertaken.  The  fading  light  increased 
the  gloominess  of  the  bleak  and  savage  wilder- 
ness that  stretched  so  far  on  every  side  of  him  ; 
and  there  was  even  a fearful  character  in  the 
stillness  of  those  little  huts,  that  he  knew  were  so 
abundantly  peopled.  It  struck  him,  as  he  gazed 
at  the  admirable  structures  and  the  wonderful 
precautions  of  their  sagacious  inmates,  that  even 
the  brutes  of  these  vast  wilds  were  possessed 
of  an  instinct  nearly  commensurate  with  his 
own  reason ; and  he  could  not  reflect,  without 
anxiety,  on  the  unequal  contest  that  he  liad  so 
rashly  courted.  Then  came  the  glowing  image 
of  Alice ; her  distress ; her  actual  danger ; and 
all  the  peril  of  his  situation  was  forgotten. 
Cheering  David,  he  moved  on  with  the  light  and 
vigorous  step  of  youth  and  enterprise. 

After  making  nearly  a semicircle  around  the 
pond,  they  diverged  from  the  water-course,  and 
began  to  ascend  to  the  level  of  a slight  elevation 
in  that  bottom-land  over  which  they  journeyed. 
Within  half  an  hour  they  gained  the  margin  of 
another  opening  that  bore  all  the  signs  of  having 
been  also  made  by  the  beavers,  and  which  those 
sagacious  animals  had  probably  been  induced,  by 
some  accident,  to  abandon,  for  the  more  eligible 
position  they  now  occupied.  A very  natural  sen- 
sation caused  Duncan  to  hesitate  a moment,  un- 
willing to  leave  the  cover  of  their  bushy  path,  as 
a man  pauses  to  collect  his  energies  before  he  es- 
says any  hazardous  experiment,  in  which  he  is 
secretly  conscious  that  they  will  all  be  needed.  He 


THE  TENTS  OF  THE  PHILISTINES.’ 


115 


profited  by  the  halt,  to  gather  such  information 
as  might  be  obtained  from  his  short  and  hasty 
glances. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  clearing,  and  near 
the  point  where  the  brook  tumbled  over  some 
rocks,  from  a still  higher  level,  some  fifty  or  sixty 
lodges,  rudely  fabricated  of  logs,  brush,  and 
earth  intermingled,  were  to  be  discovered.  They 
were  arranged  without  any  order,  and  seemed  to 
be  constructed  with  very  little  attention  to  neat- 
ness or  beauty.  Indeed,  so  very  inferior  were 
they  in  the  two  latter  particulars  to  the  village 
Duncan  had  just  seen,  that  he  began  to  expect  a 
second  surprise,  no  less  astonishing  than  the  for- 
mer. This  expectation  was  in  no  degree  dimin- 
ished, when,  by  the  doubtful  twilight,  he  beheld 
twenty  or  thirty  forms  rising  alternately  from  the 
cover  of  the  tall,  coarse  grass,  in  front  of  the 
lodges,  and  then  sinking  again  from  the  sight,  as 
it  were  to  burrow  in  the  earth.  By  the  sudden 
and  hasty  glimpses  that  he  caught  of  these  fig- 
ures, they  seemed  more  like  dark-glancing  spec- 
tres, or  some  other  unearthly  beings,  than  crea- 
tures fashioned  with  the  ordinary  and  vulgar 
materials  of  flesh  and  blood.  A gaunt,  naked 
form  was  seen,  for  a single  instant,  tossing  its 
arms  wildly  in  the  air,  and  then  the  spot  it  had 
filled  was  vacant ; the  figure  appearing  suddenly 
in  some  other  and  distant  place,  or  being  suc- 
ceeded by  another,  possessing  the  same  mysteri- 
ous character.  David,  observing  that  his  com- 
panion lingered,  pursued  the  direction  of  his  gaze, 
and  in  some  measure  recalled  the  recollection  of 
Heyward,  by  speaking. 

“ There  is  much  fruitful  soil  uncultivated 
here,”  he  said ; “ and  I may  add,  without  the  sin- 
ful leaven  of  self-commendation,  that,  since  my 
short  sojourn  in  these  heathenish  abodes,  much 
good  seed  has  been  scattered  by  the  wayside.” 

“ The  tribes  are  fonder  of  the  chase  than  of 
the  arts  of  men  of  labor,”  returned  the  uncon- 
scious Duncan,  still  gazing  at  the  objects  of  his 
wonder. 

“It  is  rather  joy  than  labor  to  the  spirit,  to 
lift  up  the  voice  in  praise ; but  sadly  do  these 
boys  abuse  their  gifts.  Rarely  have  I found  any 
of  their  age,  on  whom  Nature  has  so  freely  be- 
stowed the  elements  of  psalmody;  and  surely, 
surely,  there  are  none  who  neglect  them  more. 
Three  nights  have  I now  tarried  here,  and  three 
several  times  have  I assembled  the  urchins  to 
join  in  sacred  song ; and  as  often  have  they  re- 
sponded to  my  efforts  with  whoopings  ar.d  howl- 
mgs  that  have  chilled  my  soul ! ” 

“ Of  whom  speak  you  ? ” 

“ Of  those  children  of  the  devil,  who  waste 


the  precious  moments  in  yonder  idle  antics.  Ah  1 
the  wholesome  restraint  of  discipline  is  but  little 
known  among  this  self-abandoned  people.  In  a 
country  of  birches  a rod  is  never  seen ; and  it 
ought  not  to  appear  a marvel  in  my  eyes,  that 
the  choicest  blessings  of  Providence  are  wasted 
in  such  cries  as  these.” 

David  closed  his  ears  against  the  juvenile 
pack,  whose  yell  just  then  rang  shrilly  through 
the  forest ; and  Duncan,  suffering  his  lip  to  curl, 
as  in  mockery  of  his  own  superstition,  said 
firmly — 

“We  will  proceed.” 

Without  removing  the  safeguards  from  his 
ears,  the  master  of  song  complied,  and  together 
they  pursued  their  way  toward  what  David  was 
sometimes  wont  to  call  “the  tents  of  the  Philis- 
tines.” 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

“ But  though  the  beast  of  game 

The  privilege  of  chase  may  claim ; 

Though  space  and  law  the  stag  we  lend, 

Ere  hound  we  slip,  or  bow  we  bend ; 

Who  ever  recked,  where,  how,  or  when 
The  prowling  fox  was  trapped  or  slain  ? ” 

Lady  of  the  Lake. 

It  is  unusual  to  find  an  encampment  of  the 
natives,  like  those  of  the  more  instructed  whites, 
guarded  by  the  presence  of  armed  men.  Well 
informed  of  the  approach  of  every  danger,  while 
it  is  yet  at  a distance,  the  Indian  generally  rests 
secure  under  his  knowledge  of  the  signs  of  the 
forest,  and  the  long  and  difficult  paths  that  sep- 
arate him  from  those  he  has  most  re£^on  to 
dread.  But  the  enemy  who,  by  any  lucky  con- 
currence of  accidents,  has  found  means  to  elude 
the  vigilance  of  the  scouts,  will  seldom  meet  with 
sentinels  nearer  home  to  sound  the  alarm.  In 
addition  to  this  general  usage,  the  tribes  friendly 
to  the  French  knew  too  well  the  weight  of  the 
blow  that  had  just  been  struck,  to  apprehend 
any  immediate  danger  from  the  hostile  nations 
that  were  tributary  to  the  crown  of  Britain. 

When  Duncan  and  David,  therefore,  found 
themselves  in  the  centre  of  the  children,  who 
played  the  antics  already  mentioned,  it  was  with- 
out the  least  previous  intimation  of  their  ap- 
proach. But  as  soon  as  they  were  observed,  the 
whole  of  the  juvenile  pack  raised,  by  common 
consent,  a shrill  and  warning  whoop  ; and  then 
sank,  as  it  were,  by  magic,  from  before  the  sight 
of  their  visitors.  The  naked,  tawny  bodies  of  the 
crouching  urchins  blended  so  nicely,  at  thai 


1 16 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


hour,  with  the  withered  herbage,  that  at  first  it 
seemed  as  if  the  earth  had,  in  truth,  swallowed 
up  their  forms  ; though  when  surprise  permitted 
Duncan  to  bend  his  look  more  curiously  about 
the  spot,  he  found  it  everywhere  met  by  dark, 
quick,  and  rolling  eyeballs. 

Gathering  no  encouragement  from  this  star- 
tling presage  of  the  nature  of  the  scrutiny  he  was 
likely  to  undergo  from  the  more  mature  judg- 
ments of  the  men,  there  was  an  instant  when  the 
young  soldier  would  have  retreated.  It  was,  how- 
ever, too  late  to  appear  to  hesitate.  The  cry  of 
the  children  had  drawn  a dozen  warriors  to  the 
door  of  the  nearest  lodge,  where  they  stood 
clustered  in  a dark  and  savage  group,  gravely 
awaiting  the  nearer  approach  of  those  who  had 
unexpectedly  come  among  them. 

David,  in  some  measure  familiarized  to  the 
scene,  led  the  way  with  a steadiness  that  no 
slight  obstacle  was  likely  to  disconcert  into  this 
very  building.  It  was  the  principal  edifice  of 
the  village,  though  roughly  constructed  of  the 
bark  and  branches  of  trees  ; being  the  lodge  in 
which  the  tribe  held  its  councils  and  public 
meetings  during  their  temporary  residence  on  the 
borders  of  the  English  province.  Duncan  found 
it  difficult  to  assume  the  necessary  appearance  of 
unconcern  as  he  brushed  the  dark  and  powerful 
frames  of  the  savages  who  thronged  its  thresh- 
old ; but,  conscious  that  his  existence  depended 
on  his  presence  of  mind,  he  trusted  to  the  dis- 
cretion of  his  companion,  whose  footsteps  he 
closely  followed,  endeavoring,  as  he  proceeded,  to 
rally  his  thoughts  for  the  occasion.  His  blood 
curdled  when  he  found  himself  in  absolute  con- 
tact with  such  fierce  and  implacable  enemies; 
but  he  so  far  mastered  his  feelings  as  to  pursue 
his  way  into  the  centre  of  the  lodge  with  an  ex- 
terior that  did  not  betray  the  weakness.  Imitat- 
ing the  example  of  the  deliberate  Gamut,  he  drew 
a bundle  of  fragrant  brush  from  beneath  a pile 
that  filled  a corner  of  the  hut,  and  seated  himself 
in  silence. 

As  soon  as  their  visitor  had  passed,  the  ob- 
servant warriors  fell  back  from  the  entrance,  and, 
arranging  themselves  about  him,  they  seemed 
patiently  to  await  the  moment  when  it  might 
comport  with  the  dignity  of  the  stranger  to 
speak.  By  far  the  greater  number  stood  leaning, 
in  lazy,  lounging  attitudes,  against  the  upright 
posts  that  supported  the  crazy  building,  while 
three  or  four  of  the  oldest  and  most  distinguished 
of  the  chiefs  placed  themselves  on  the  earth  a 
little  more  in  advance. 

A flaring  torch  was  burning  in  the  place,  and 
sent  its  red  glare  from  face  to  face  and  figure  to 


figure  as  it  waved  in  the  currents  of  air.  Duncan 
profited  by  its  light  to  read  the  probable  charac- 
ter of  his  reception  in  the  countenances  of  his 
hosts.  But  his  ingenuity  availed  him  little  against 
the  cold  artifices  of  the  people  he  had  encountered. 
The  chiefs  in  front  scarce  cast  a glance  at  hia 
person,  keeping  their  eyes  on  the  ground  with  an 
air  that  might  have  been  intended  for  respect, 
but  which  it  was  quite  easy  to  construe  into  dis- 
trust. The  men  in  shadow  were  less  reserved. 
Duncan  soon  detected  their  searching  but  stolen 
looks,  which,  in  truth,  scanned  his  person  and 
attire  inch  by  inch ; leaving  no  emotion  of  the 
countenance,  no  gesture,  no  line  of  the  paint, 
nor  even  the  fashion  of  a garment,  unheeded  and 
without  comment. 

At  length  one  whose  hair  was  beginning  to  be 
sprinkled  with  gray,  but  whose  sinewy  limbs  and 
firm  tread  announced  that  he  was  still  equal  to 
the  duties  of  manhood,  advanced  out  of  the  gloom 
of  a corner,  whither  he  had  probably  posted  him- 
self to  make  his  observations  unseen,  and  spoke. 
He  used  the  language  of  the  Wyandots,  or  Hu- 
rons ; his  words  were,  consequently,  unintelli- 
gible to  Heyward,  though  they  seemed,  by  the 
gestures  that  accompanied  them,  to  be  uttered 
more  in  courtesy  than  anger.  The  latter  shook 
his  head,  and  made  a gesture  indicative  of  his 
inability  to  reply. 

“ Do  none  of  my  brothers  speak  the  French 
or  the  English  ? ” he  said,  in  the  former  language, 
looking  about  him  from  countenance  to  counte- 
nance, in  hopes  of  finding  a nod  of  assent. 

Though  more  than  one  had  turned,  as  if  to 
catch  the  meaning  of  his  words,  they  remained 
unanswered. 

“ I should  be  grieved  to  think,”  continued 
Duncan,  speaking  slowly,  and  using  the  simplest 
French  of  which  he  was  the  master,  “ to  believe 
that  none  of  this  wise  and  brave  nation  under- 
stand the  language  that  the  ‘ Grand  Monarque  ’ 
uses  when  he  talks  to  his  children.  His  heart 
would  be  heavy  did  he  believe  his  red  warriors 
paid  him  so  little  respect ! ” 

A long  and  grave  pause  succeeded,  during 
which  no  movement  of  a limb  nor  any  expression 
of  an  eye  betrayed  the  impression  produced  by 
his  remark.  Duncan,  who  knew  that  silence  was 
a virtue  among  his  hosts,  gladly  had  recourse 
to  the  custom  in  order  to  arrange  his  ideas.  At 
length  the  same  warrior  who  had  before  ad- 
dressed him,  replied  by  dryly  demanding,  in  the 
language  of  the  Canadas  : 

“ When  our  Great  Father  speaks  to  his  peo- 
ple, is  it  with  the  tongue  of  a Huron  ? ” 

“He  knows 'no  difference  in  his  children 


RUNNING  THE  GANTLET. 


11? 


whether  the  color  of  the  skin  be  red,  or  black,  or 
white,”  returned  Duncan,  evasively;  “though 
chiefly  is  he  satisfied  with  the  brave  Hurons.” 

“ In  what  manner  will  he  speak,”  demanded 
the  wary  chief,  “ when  the  runners  count  to  him 
the  scalps  which  five  nights  ago  grew  on  the 
heads  of  the  Yengeese  ? ” 

“ They  were  his  enemies,”  said  Duncan, 
shuddering  involuntarily ; “ and,  doubtless,  he 
will  say,  ‘ It  is  good — my  Hurons  are  very  gal- 
lant.’ ” 

“Our  Canada  father  does  not  think  it.  In- 
stead of  looking  forward  to  reward  his  Indians, 
his  eyes  are  turned  backward.  He  sees  the  dead 
Yengeese,  but  no  Huron.  What  can  this  mean  ? ” 

“ A great  chief,  like  him,  has  more  thoughts 
than  tongues.  He  looks  to  see  that  no  enemies 
are  on  his  trail.” 

“ The  canoe  of  a dead  warrior  will  not  float 
on  the  Horican,”  returned  the  savage,  gloomily. 
“ His  ears  are  open  to  the  Delawares,  who  are  not 
our  friends,  and  they  fill  them  with  lies.” 

“ It  cannot  be.  See ; he  has  bid  me,  who  am 
a man  that  knows  the  art  of  healing,  to  go  to  his 
children,  the  red  Hurons  of  the  great  lakes,  and 
ask  if  any  are  sick  ! ” 

Another  silence  succeeded  this  annunciation 
of  the  character  Duncan  had  assumed.  Every 
eye  was  simultaneously  bent  on  his  person,  as  if 
to  inquire  into  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  the  dec- 
laration, with  an  intelligence  and  keenness  that 
caused  the  subject  of  their  scrutiny  to  tremble 
for  the  result.  He  was,  however,  relieved  again 
by  the  former  speaker. 

“ Do  the  cunning  men  of  the  Canadas  paint 
their  skins  ? ” the  Huron  coldly  continued  ; “ we 
have  heard  them  boast  that  their  faces  were 
pale.” 

When  an  Indian  chief  comes  among  his 
white  fathers,”  returned  Duncan,  with  great 
steadiness,  “he  lays  aside  his  buffalo-robe  to 
carry  the  shirt  that  is  offered  him.  My  brothers 
have  given  me  paint,  and  I wear  it.” 

A low  murmur  of  applause  announced  that 
the  compliment  to  the  tribe  was  favorably  re- 
ceived. The  elderly  chief  made  a gesture  of 
commendation,  which  was  answered  by  most  of 
his  companions,  who  each  threw  forth  a hand 
and  uttered  a brief  exclamation  of  pleasure. 
Duncan  began  to  breathe  more  freely,  believing 
that  the  weight  of  his  examination  was  past ; and, 
as  he  had  already  prepared  a simple  and  proba- 
ble tale  to  support  his  pretended  occupation,  his 
hopes  of  ultimate  success  grew  brighter. 

Alter  a silence  of  a few  moments,  as  if  ad- 
justing his  thoughts  in  order  to  make  a suitable 


answer  to  the  declaration  their  guest  had  just 
given,  another  warrior  arose  and  placed  himself 
in  an  attitude  to  speak.  While  his  lips  were  yet 
in  the  act  of  parting,  a low  but  fearful  sound 
arose  from  the  forest,  and  was  immediately  suc- 
ceeded by  a high,  shrill  yell,  that  was  drawn  out 
until  it  equalled  the  longest  and  most  plaintive 
howl  of  the  wolf.  The  sudden  and  terrible  inter- 
ruption caused  Duncan  to.  start  from  his  seat, 
unconscious  of  any  thing  but  the  effect  produced 
by  so  frightful  a cry.  At  the  same  moment  the 
warriors  glided  in  a body  from  the  lodge,  and  the 
outer  air  was  filled  with  loud  shouts  that  nearly 
drowned  those  awful  sounds  which  were  still 
ringing  beneath  the  arches  of  the  woods.  Unable 
to  command  himself  any  longer,  the  youth  broke 
from  the  place,  and  presently  stood  in  the  centre 
of  a disorderly  throng  that  included  nearly  every 
thing  having  life  within  the  limits  of  the  encamp- 
ment. Men,  women,  and  children ; the  aged,  the 
infirm,  the  active,  and  the  strong,  were  alike 
abroad  ; some  exclaiming  aloud,  others  clapping 
their  hands  with  a joy  that  seemed  frantic,  and 
all  expressing  their  savage  pleasure  in  some  unex- 
pected event.  Though  astounded  at  first  by  the 
uproar,  Heyward  was  soon  enabled  to  find  its 
solution  by  the  scene  that  followed. 

There  yet  lingered  sufficient  light  in  the 
heavens  to  exhibit  those  bright  openings  among 
the  tree-tops,  where  different  paths  left  the  clear- 
ing to  enter  the  depths  of  the  wilderness.  Be- 
neath one  of  them  a line  of  warriors  issued  from 
the  woods,  and  advanced  slowly  toward  the 
dwellings.  One  in  front  bore  a short  pole,  on 
which,  as  it  afterward  appeared,  were  suspended 
several  human  scalps.  The  startling  sounds  that 
Duncan  had  heard  were  what  the  whites  have,  not 
inappropriately,  called  the  “ death-halloo  ; ” and 
each  repetition  of  the  cry  was  intended  to  an- 
nounce to  the  tribe  the  fate  of  an  enemy.  Thus 
far  the  knowledge  of  Heyward  assisted  him  in  the 
explanation  ; and,  as  he  now  knew  that  the  inter- 
ruption was  caused  by  the  unlooked-for  return 
of  a successful  war-party,  every  disagreeable  sen- 
sation was  quieted  in  inward  congratulations  for 
the  opportune  relief  and  insignificance  it  conferred 
on  himself. 

When  at  the  distance  of  a few  hundred  feet 
from  the  lodges/-  the  newly  - arrived  warriors 
halted.  Their  plaintive  and  terrific  cry,  which 
was  intended  to  represent  equally  the  wailings  of 
the  dead  and  the  triumph  of  the  victors,  had  en- 
tirely ceased.  One  of  their  number  now  called 
aloud,  in  words  that  were  far  from  appalling, 
though  not  more  intelligible  to  those  for  whose 
ears  they  were  intended  than  their  expressive 


118 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


fells.  It  would  be  difficult  to  convey  a suitable 
idea  of  the  savage  ecstasy  with  which  the  news 
thus  imparted  was  received.  The  whole  encamp- 
ment, in  a moment,  became  a scene  of  the  most 
violent  bustle  and  commotion.  The  warriors 
drew  their  knives,  and,  flourishing  them,  they 
arranged  themselves  in  two  lines,  forming  a lane 
that  extended  from  the  war-party  to  the  lodges* 
The  squaws  seized  clubs,  axes,  or  whatever  weap- 
on of  offence  first  offered  itself  to  their  hands, 
and  rushed  eagerly  to  act  their  part  in  the  cruel 
game  that  was  at  hand.  Even  the  children 
would  not  be  excluded  ; but  boys,  little  able  to 
wield  the  instruments,  tore  the  tomahawks  from 
the  belts  of  their  fathers  and  stole  into  the  ranks, 
apt  imitators  of  the  savage  traits  exhibited  by 
(heir  parents. 

Large  piles  of  brush  lay  scattered  about  the 
clearing,  and  a wary  and  aged  squaw  was  occu- 
pied in  firing  as  many  as  might  serve  to  light  the 
coming  exhibition.  As  the  flame  arose,  its  pow- 
er exceeded  that  of  the  parting  day,  and  assisted 
to  render  objects  at  the  same  time  more  distinct 
and  more  hideous.  The  whole  scene  formed  a 
stinking  picture,  whose  frame  was  composed  of 
the  dark  and  tall  border  of  pines.  The  warriors 
just  arrived  were  the  most  distant  figures.  A 
little  in  advance  stood  two  men,  who  were  ap- 
parently selected  from  the  rest  as  the  principal 
actors  in  what  was  to  follow.  The  light  was  not 
strong  enough  to  render  their  features  distinct, 
though  it  was  quite  evident  that  they  were 
governed  by  very  different  emotions.  While  one 
stood  erect  and  firm,  prepared  to  meet  his  fate 
like  a hero,  the  other  bowed  his  head,  as  if 
palsied  by  terror  or  stricken  with  shame.  The 
high-spirited  Duncan  felt  a powerful  impulse  of 
admiration  and  pity  toward  the  former,  though 
no  opportunity  could  offer  to  exhibit  his  generous 
emotions.  He  watched  his  slightest  movement, 
however,  with  eager  eyes ; and,  as  he  traced  the 
fine  outline  of  his  admirably  - proportioned  and 
active  frame,  he  endeavored  to  persuade  himself 
that  if  the  powers  of  man,  seconded  by  such 
noble  resolution,  could  bear  one  harmless  through 
so  severe  a trial,  the  youthful  captive  before  him 
might  hope  for  success  in  the  hazardous  race  he 
was  about  to  run.  Insensibly  the  young  man 
drew  nigher  to  the  swarthy  lines  of  the  Hurons, 
and  scarcely  breathed,  so  intense  became  his  inter- 
est in  the  spectacle.  Just  then  the  signal-yell 
vas  given,  and  the  momentary  quiet  which  had 
preceded  it  was  broken  by  a burst  of  cries  that 
far  exceeded  any  before  heard.  The  most  abject 
of  the  two  victims  continued  motionless  ; but  the 
other  bounded  from  the  place  at  the  cry  with  the 


activity  and  swiftness  of  a deer.  Instead  of 
rushing  through  the  hostile  lines,  as  had  been 
expected,  he  just  entered  the  dangerous  defile, 
and  before  tiqie  was  given  for  a single  blow, 
turned  short,  and,  leaping  the  heads  of  a row  of 
children,  he  gained  at  once  the  exterior  and  safer 
side  of  the  formidable  array.  The  artifice  was 
answered  by  a hundred  voices  raised  in  impre- 
cations ; and  the  whole  of  the  excited  multitude 
broke  from  their  order  and  spread  themselves 
about  the  place  in  wild  confusion. 

A dozen  blazing  piles  now  shed  their  lurid 
brightness  on  the  place,  which  resembled  some 
unhallowed  and  supernatural  arena,  in  which  ma- 
licious demons  had  assembled  to  act  their  bloody 
and  lawless  rites.  The  forms  in  the  background 
looked  like  unearthly  beings,  gliding  before  the 
eye,  and  cleaving  the  air  with  frantic  and  unmean- 
ing gestures ; while  the  savage  passions  of  such 
as  passed  the  flames,  were  rendered  fearfully  dis- 
tinct by  the  gleams  that  shot  athwart  their  in- 
flamed visages. 

It  will  easily  be  understood  that,  amid  such  a 
concourse  of  vindictive  enemies,  no  breathing- 
time was  allowed  the  fugitive.  There  was  a single 
moment  when  it  seemed  as  if  he  would  have 
reached  the  forest,  but  the  whole  body  of  his  cap- 
tors  threw  themselves  before  him,  and  drove  him 
back  into  the  centre  of  his  relentless  persecutors. 
Turning  like  a headed  deer,  he  shot,  with  the 
swiftness  of  an  arrow,  through  a pillar  of  forked 
flame,  and,  passing  the  whole  multitude  harmless, 
he  appeared  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  clearing.. 
Here  too  he  was  met  and  turned  by  a few  of  the 
older  and  more  subtle  of  the  Hurons.  Once  more 
he  tried  the  throng,  as  if  seeking  safety  in  its 
blindness,  and  then  several  moments  succeeded, 
during  which  Duncan  believed  the  active  and 
courageous  young  stranger  was  lost. 

Nothing  could  be  distinguished  but  a dark 
mass  of  human  forms  tossed  and  involved  in  in- 
explicable confusion.  Arms,  gleaming  knives, 
and  formidable  clubs,  appeared  above  them,  but 
the  blows  were  evidently  given  at  random.  The 
awful  effect  was  heightened  by  the  piercing  shrieks 
of  the  women  and  the  fierce  yells  of  the  warriors. 
Now  and  then  Duncan  caught  a glimpse  of  a light 
form  cleaving  the  air  in  some  desperate  bound, 
and  he  rather  hoped  than  believed  that  the  cap- 
tive yet  retained  the  command  of  his  astonishing 
powers  of  activity.  Suddenly  the  multitude  rolled 
backward,  and  approached  the  spot  where  he 
himself  stood.  The  heavy  body  in  the  rear 
pressed  upon  the  women  and  children  in  front, 
and  bore  them  to  the  earth.  The  stranger  re- 
appeared in  the  confusion.  Human  power  could 


UNCAS  IN  HIS  STRUGGLE  FOR  LIFE. 


119 


not,  however,  much  longer  endure  so  severe  a 
trial.  Of  this  the  captive  seemed  conscious. 
Profiting  by  the  momentary  opening,  he  darted 
from  among  the  warriors,  and  made  a desperate, 
and,  what  seemed  to  Duncan,  a final  effort  to 
gain  the  wood.  As  if  aware  that  no  danger  was 
to  be  apprehended  from  the  young  soldier,  the 
fugitive  nearly  brushed  his  person  in  his  flight. 
A tall  and  powerful  Huron,  who  had  husbanded 
his  forces,  pressed  close  upon  his  heels,  and  with 
an  uplifted  arm  menaced  a fatal  blow.  Duncan 
thrust  forth  a foot,  and  the  shock  precipitated  the 
eager  savage  headlong,  many  feet  in  advance  of 
his  intended  victim.  Thought  itself  is  not  quicker 
than  was  the  motion  with  which  the  latter  profited 
by  the  advantage;  he  turned,  gleamed  like  a 
meteor  again  before  the  eyes  of  Duncan,  and  at 
the  next  moment,  when  the  latter  recovered  his 
recollection,  and  gazed  around  in  quest  of  the 
captive,  he  saw  him  quietly  leaning  against  a small 
painted  post,  which  stood  before  the  door  of  the 
principal  lodge. 

Apprehensive  that  the  part  he  had  taken  in 
the  escape  might  prove  fatal  to  himself,  Duncan 
left  the  place  without  delay.  He  followed  the 
crowd,  which  drew  nigh  the  lodges,  gloomy  and 
sullen,  like  any  other  multitude  that  had  been 
disappointed  in  an  execution.  Curiosity,  or  per- 
haps a better  feeling,  induced  him  to  approach 
the  stranger.  He  found  him,  standing  with  one 
arm  cast  about  the  protecting  post,  and  breathing 
thick  and  hard,  after  his  exertions,  but  disdaining 
to  permit  a single  sign  of  suffering  to  escape. 
His  person  was  now  protected  by  immemorial  and 
sacred  usage,  until  the  tribe  in  council  had  de- 
liberated and  determined  on  his  fate.  It  was  not 
difficult,  however,  to  foretell  the  result,  if  any  pres- 
age could  be  drawn  from  the  feelings  of  those 
who  crowded  the  place. 

There  was  no  term  of  abuse  known  to  the  Hu- 
ron vocabulary  that  the  disappointed  women  did 
not  lavishly  expend  on  the  successful  stranger. 
They  flouted  at  his  efforts,  and  told  him,  with  bitter 
scoffs,  that  his  feet  were  better  than  his  hands ; 
and  that  he  merited  wings,  while  he  knew  not  the 
use  of  an  arrow  or  a knife.  To  all  this  the  cap- 
tive made  no  reply ; but  was  content  to  preserve 
an  attitude  in  which  dignity  was  singularly  blended 
with  disdain.  Exasperated  as  much  by  his  com- 
posure as  by  his  good  fortune,  their  words  became 
unintelligible,  and  were  succeeded  by  shrill,  pier- 
cing yells.  Just  then  the  crafty  squaw,  who  had 
taken  the  necessary  precaution  to  fire  the  piles, 
made  her  way  through  the  throng,  and  cleared  a 
place  , for  herself  in  front  of  the  captive.  The 
squalid  and  withered  person  of  thi3  hag  might 


well  have  obtained  for  her  the  character  of  pos- 
sessing more  than  human  cunning.  Throwing 
back  her  light  vestment,  she  stretched  forth  her 
long  skinny  arm,  in  derision,  and  using  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Lenape,  as  more  intelligible  to  the 
subject  of  her  gibes,  she  commenced  aloud  : 

“ Look  you,  Delaware ! ” she  said,  snapping  her 
fingers  in  his  face ; “ your  nation  is  a race  of 
women,  and  the  hoe  is  better  fitted  to  your  hands 
than  the  gun.  Your  squaws  are  the  mothers  of 
deer ; but  if  a bear,  or  a wild-cat,  or  a serpent, 
were  born  among  you,  ye  would  flee.  The  Huron 
girls  shall  make  you  petticoats,  and  we  will  find 
you  a husband.” 

A burst  of  savage  laughter  succeeded  this 
attack,  during  which  the  soft  and  musical  merri- 
ment of  the  younger  females  strangely  chimed 
with-  the  cracked  voice  of  their  older  and  more 
malignant  companion.  But  the  stranger  was 
superior  to  all  their  efforts.  His  head  was  im- 
movable; nor  did  he  betray  the  slightest  con- 
sciousness that  any  were  present,  except  when  his 
haughty  eye  rolled  toward  the  dusky  forms  of  the 
warriors,  who  stalked  in  the  background,  silent 
and  sullen  observers  of  the  scene. 

Infuriated  at  the  self-command  of  the  captive, 
the  woman  placed  her  arms  akimbo  ; and  throw- 
ing herself  into  a posture  of  defiance,  she  broke 
out  anew,  in  a torrent  of  words  that  no  art  of  ours 
could  commit  successfully  to  paper.  Her  breath 
was,  however,  expended  in  vain ; for,  although 
distinguished  in  her  nation  as  a proficient  in  the 
art  of  abuse,  she  was  permitted  to  work  herself 
into  such  a fury  as  actually  to  foam  at  the  mouth, 
without  causing  a muscle  to  vibrate  in  the  mo- 
tionless figure  of  the  stranger.  The  effect  of  his 
indifference  began  to  extend  itself  to  the  other 
spectators  ; and  a youngster,  who  was  just  quit- 
ting the  condition  of  a boy,  to  enter  the  state  of 
manhood,  attempted  to  assist  the  termagant,  by 
flourishing  his  tomahawk  before  their  victim,  and 
adding  his  empty  boasts  to  the  taunts  of  the 
woman.  Then,  indeed,  the  captive  turned  his 
face  toward  the  light,  and  looked  down  on  the 
stripling  with  an  expression  that  was  superior  to 
contempt.  At  the  next  moment  he  resumed  liis 
quiet  and  reclining  attitude  against  the  post.  But 
the  change  of  posture  had  permitted  Duncan  to 
exchange  glances  with  the  firm  and  piercing  eyes 
of  Uncas. 

Breathless  with  amazement,  and  heavily  op- 
pressed with  the  critical  situation  of  his  friend, 
Heyward  recoiled  before  the  look,  trembling  lest 
its  meaning  might,  in  some  unknown  manner, 
hasten  the  prisoner’s  fate.  There  was  not,  how- 
ever, any  instant  cau«e  for  such  an  apprehension 


120 


THE  LAST  OE  THE  MOHICANS. 


Just  then  a warrior  forced  his  way  into  the  ex- 
asperated crowd.  Motioning  the  women  and 
children  aside  with  a stem  gesture,  he  took  Un- 
cas  by  the  arm,  and  led  him  toward  the  door  of 
the  council-lodge.  Thither  all  the  chiefs,  and 
most  of  the  distinguished  warriors,  followed ; 
among  whom  the  anxious  Heyward  found  means 
to  enter  without  attracting  any  dangerous  atten- 
tion to  himself. 

A few  minutes  were  consumed  in  disposing 
of  those  present  in  a manner  suitable  to  their 
rank  and  influence  in  the  tribe.  An  order  very 
similar  to  that  adopted  in  the  preceding  inter- 
view was  observed  ; the  aged  and  superior  chiefs 
occupying  the  area  of  the  spacious  apartment, 
within  the  powerful  light  of  a glaring  torch, 
while  their  juniors  and  inferiors  were  arranged 
in  the  background,  presenting  a dark  outline  of 
swarthy  and  marked  visages.  In  the  very  cen- 
tre of  the  lodge,  immediately  under  an  opening 
that  admitted  the  twinkling  light  of  one  or  two 
stars,  stood  Uncas — calm,  elevated,  and  collected. 
His  high  and  haughty  carriage  was  not  lost  on 
his  captors,  who  often  bent  their  looks  on  his 
person,  with  eyes  which,  while  they  lost  none  of 
their  inflexibility  of  purpose,  plainly  betrayed 
their  admiration  of  the  stranger’s  daring. 

The  case  was  different  with  the  individual 
whom  Duncan  had  observed  to  stand  forth  with 
his  friend,  previously  to  the  desperate  trial  of 
speed ; and  who,  instead  of  joining  in  the  chase, 
had  remained,  throughout  its  turbulent  uproar, 
like  a cringing  statue,  expressive  of  shame  and 
disgrace.  Though  not  a hand  had  been  extended 
to  greet  him,  nor  yet  an  eye  had  condescended  to 
watch  his  movements,  he  had  also  entered  the 
lodge,  as  though  impelled  by  a fate  to  whose  de- 
crees he  submitted,  seemingly,  without  a struggle. 
Heyward  profited  by  the  first  opportunity  to  gaze 
in  his  face,  secretly  apprehensive  he  might  find 
the  features  of  another  acquaintance ; but  they 
proved  to  be  those  of  a stranger,  and,  what  was 
still  more  inexplicable,  of  one  who  bore  all  the 
distinctive  marks  of  a Huron  warrior.  Instead 
of  mingling  with  his  tribe,  however,  he  sat  apart, 
a solitary  being  in  a multitude,  his  form  shrink- 
ing into  a crouching  and  abject  attitude,  as  if 
anxious  to  fill  as  little  space  as  possible.  When 
each  individual  had  taken  his  proper  station,  and 
silence  reigned  in  the  place,  the  gray-haired  chief 
already  introduced  to  the  reader  spoke  aloud,  in 
the  language  of  the  Lenni  Lenape : 

“ Delaware,”  he  said,  “ though  one  of  a na- 
tion of  women,  you  have  proved  yourself  a man. 
[ would  give  you  food ; but  he  who  eats  with  a 
Huron  should  become  his  friend.  Rest  in  peace 


till  the  morning  sun,  when  our  last  words  snail 
be  spoken.” 

“ Seven  nights,  and  as  many  summer  days, 
have  I fasted  on  the  trail  of  the  Hurons,”  Uncaa 
coldly  replied ; “ the  children  of  the  Lenape 
know  how  to  travel  the  path  of  the  just  without 
lingering  to  eat.” 

“ Two  of  my  young  men  are  in  pursuit  of  you 
companion,”  resumed  the  other,  without  appear- 
ing to  regard  the  boast  of  his  captive  ; “ when 
they  get  back,  then  will  our  wise  men  say  to  you, 
‘ Live  or  die.’  ” 

“ Has  a Huron  no  ears  ? ” scornfully  ex- 
claimed Uncas  ; “ twice,  since  he  has  been  your 
prisoner,  has  the  Delaware  heard  a gun  that  he 
knows.  Your  young  men  will  never  come  back.” 

A short  and  sullen  pause  succeeded  this  bold 
assertion.  Duncan,  who  understood  the  Mohican 
to  allude  to  the  fatal  rifle  of  the  scout,  bent  for- 
ward in  earnest  observation  of  the  effect  it  might 
produce  on  the  conquerors ; but  the  chief  was 
content  with  simply  retorting  : 

“If  the  Lenape  are  so  skilful,  why  is  one  of 
their  bravest  warriors  here  ? ” 

“ He  followed  in  the  steps  of  a flying  coward, 
and  fell  into  a snare.  The  cunning  beaver  may 
be  caught.” 

As  Uncas  thus  replied,  he  pointed  with  hia 
finger  toward  the  solitary  Huron,  but  without 
deigning  to  bestow  any  other  notice  on  so  unwor- 
thy an  object.  The  words  of  the  answer  and  the 
air  of  the  speaker  produced  a strong  sensation 
among  his  auditors.  Every  eye  rolled  sullenly 
toward  the  individual  indicated  by  the  simple 
gesture,  and  a low,  threatening  murmur  passed 
through  the  crowd.  The  ominous  sounds  reached 
the  outer  door,  and,  the  women  and  children 
pressing  into  the  throng,  no  gap  had  been  left, 
between  shoulder  and  shoulder,  that  was  not  now 
filled  with  the  dark  lineaments  of  some  eager  and 
curious  human  countenance. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  more  aged  chiefs,  in  the 
centre,  communed  with  each  other  in  short  and 
broken  sentences.  Not  a word  was  uttered  that 
did  not  convey  the  meaning  of  the  speaker,  in 
the  simplest  and  most  energetic  form.  Again,  a 
long  and  deeply- solemn  pause  took  place.  It  was 
known,  by  all  present,  to  be  the  grave  precursor 
of  a weighty  and  important  judgment.  They 
who  composed  the  oqter  circle  of  faces  were  on 
tiptoe  to  gaze ; and  even  the  culprit  for  an  in- 
stant forgot  his  shame  in  a deeper  emotion,  and 
exposed  his  abject  features,  in  order  to  cast  an 
anxious  and  troubled  glance  at  the  dark  assem- 
blage of  chiefs.  The  silence  was  finally  broken 
by  the  aged  warrior  so  often  named.  He  arose 


DEATH  OF  A HURON  WARRIOR. 


121 


from  the  earth,  and  moving  past  the  immovable 
form  of  Uncas,  placed  himself  in  a dignified  atti- 
tude before  the  offender.  At  that  moment,  the 
withered  squaw  already  mentioned  moved  into 
the  circle,  in  a slow,  sideling  sort  of  a dance, 
holding  the  torch,  and  muttering  the  indistinct 
words  of  what  might  have  been  a species  of  in- 
cantation. Though  her  presence  was  altogether 
an  intrusion,  it  was  unheeded. 

Approaching  Uncas,  she  held  the  blazing 
brand  in  such  a manner  as  to  cast  its  red  glare 
on  his  person,  and  to  expose  the  slightest  emo- 
tion of  his  countenance.  The  Mohican  main- 
tained his  firm  and  haughty  attitude ; and  his  eye, 
so  far  from  deigning  to  meet  her  inquisitive  look, 
dwelt  steadily  on  the  distance,  as  though  it  pene- 
trated the  obstacles  which  impeded  the  view,  and 
looked  into  futurity.  Satisfied  with  her  examina- 
tion, she  left  him,  with  a slight  expression  of 
pleasure,  and  proceeded  to  practise  the  same  try- 
ing experiment  on  her  delinquent  countryman. 

The  young  Huron  was  in  his  war-paint,  and 
very  little  of  a finely-moulded  form  was  concealed 
oy  his  attire.  The  light  rendered  every  limb  and 
joint  discernible,  and  Duncan  turned  away  in 
horror  when  he  saw  they  were  writhing  in  irre- 
pressible agony.  The  woman  was  commencing  a 
low  and  plaintive  howl  at  the  sad  and  shameful 
spectacle,  when  the  chief  put  forth  his  hand  and 
gently  pushed  her  aside. 

“ Reed-that-bends,”  he  said,  addressing  the 
young  culprit  by  name,  and  in  his  proper  lan- 
guage, “ though  the  Great  Spirit  has  made  you 
pleasant  to  the  eye3,  it  would  have  been  better 
that  you  had  not  been  born.  Your  tongue  is 
loud  in  the  village,  but  in  battle  it  is  still.  None 
of  my  young  men  strike  the  tomahawk  deeper 
into  the  war-post — none  of  them  so  lightly  on 
the  Yengeese.  The  enemy  know  the  shape  of 
your  back,  but  they  have  never  seen  the  color  of 
your  eyes.  Three  times  have  they  called  on  you 
to  come,  and  as  often  did  you  forget  to  answer. 
Your  name  will  never  be  mentioned  again  in  your 
tribe — it  is  already  forgotten.” 

As  the  chief  slowly  uttered  these  words,  paus- 
ing impressively  between  each  sentence,  the  culprit 
raised  his  face,  in  deference  to  the  other’s  rank 
and  years.  Shame,  horror,  and  pride,  struggled 
in  its  lineaments.  His  eye,  which  was  contracted 
with  inward  anguish,  gleamed  on  the  persons  of 
those  whose  breath  was  his  fame ; and  the  latter 
emotion  for  an  instant  predominated.  He  arose 
to  his  feet,  and,  baring  his  bosom,  looked  steadily 
on  the  keen,  glittering  knife,  that  was  already 
upheld  oy  his  inexorable  judge.  As  the  weapon 
passed  slowly  into  his  heart  he  even  smiled,  as  if 


in  joy  at  having  found  death  less  dreadful  than 
he  had  anticipated,  and  fell  heavily  on  his  face, 
at  the  feet  of  the  rigid  and  unyielding  form  of 
Uncas. 

The  squaw  gave  a loud  and  plaintive  yell, 
dashed  the  torch  to  the  earth,  and  buried  every 
thing  in  darkness.  The  whole  shuddering  group 
of  spectators  glided  from  the  lodge,  like  troubled 
sprites ; and  Duncan  thought  that  he  and  the 
yet  throbbing  body  of  the  victim  of  an  Indian 
judgment  had  now  become  its  only  tenants. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

“ Thus  spoke  the  sage : the  kings  without  delay 
Dissolve  the  council,  and  their  chief  obey.” 

Pope’s  Iliad. 

A single  moment  served  to  convince  the  youth 
that  he  was  mistaken.  A hand  was  laid,  with  a 
powerful  pressure,  on  his  arm,  and  the  low  voice 
of  Uncas  muttered  in  his  ears — 

“The  Hurons  are  dogs.  The  sight  of  a cow- 
ard’s blood  can  never  make  a warrior  tremble. 
The  ‘ Gray  Head  ’ and  the  sagamore  are  safe,  and 
the  rifle  of  Hawk-eye  is  not  asleep.  Go — Uncas 
and  the  ‘ Open  hand  ’ are  now  strangers.  It  i3 
enough.” 

Heyward  would  gladly  have  heard  more,  but 
a gentle  push  from  his  friend  urged  him  toward 
the  door,  and  admonished  him  of  the  danger  that 
might  attend  the  discovery  of  their  intercourse. 
Slowly  and  reluctantly  yielding  to  the  necessity, 
he  quitted  the  place,  and  mingled  with  the  throng 
that  hovered  nigh.  The  dying  fires  in  the  clear- 
ing cast  a dim  and  uncertain  light  on  the  dusky 
figures  that  were  silently  stalking  to  and  fro  ; and 
occasionally  a brighter  gleam  than  common  glanced 
into  the  lodge,  and  exhibited  the  figure  of  Uncas 
still  maintaining  its  upright  attitude  near  the  dead 
body  of  the  Huron. 

A knot  of  warriors  soon  entered  the  place 
again,  and,  reissuing,  they  bore  the  senseless  re- 
mains into  the  adjacent  woods.  After  this  ter- 
mination of  the  scene,  Duncan  wandered  among 
the  lodges,  unquestioned  and  unnoticed,  endeavor- 
ing to  find  some  trace  of  her  in  whose  behalf  he 
incurred  the  risk  he  ran.  In  the  present  temper 
of  the  tribe,  it  would  have  been  easy  to  have  fled 
and  rejoined  his  companions,  had  such  a wish 
crossed  his  mind.  But,  in  addition  to  the  never- 
ceasing  anxiety  on  account  of  Alice,  a fresher, 
though  feebler  interest  in  the  fate  of  Uncas,  as- 
sisted to  chain  him  to  the  spot.  He  continued, 
therefore,  to  stray  from  hut  to  hut,  looking  into 


L22 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


each  only  to  encounter  additional  disappointment, 
until  he  had  made  the  entire  circuit  of  the  village. 
Abandoning  a species  of  inquiry  that  proved  so 
fruitless,  he  retraced  his  steps  to  the  council-lodge, 
resolved  to  seek  and  question  David,  in  order  to 
put  an  end  to  his  doubts. 

On  reaching  the  building  which  had  proved 
alike  the  seat  of  judgment  and  the  place  of  exe- 
cution, the  young  man  found  that  the  excitement 
had  already  subsided.  The  warriors  had  reas- 
sembled, and  were  now  calmly  smoking,  while 
they  conversed  gravely  on  the  chief  incidents  of 
their  recent  expedition  to  the  head  of  the  Horican. 
Though  the  return  of  Duncan  was  likely  to  remind 
them  of  his  character,  and  the  suspicious  circum- 
stances of  his  visit,  it  produced  no  visible  sen- 
sation. So  far,  the  terrible  scene  that  had  just 
occurred  proved  favorable  to  his  views,  and  he 
required  no  other  prompter  than  his  own  feelings 
to  convince  him  of  the  expediency  of  profiting  by 
so  unexpected  an  advantage. 

Without  seeming  to  hesitate,  he  walked  into 
the  lodge,  and  took  his  seat  with  a gravity  that 
accorded  admirably  with  the  deportment  of  his 
hosts.  A hasty  but  searching  glance  sufficed  to 
tell  him  that,  though  Uncas  still  remained  where 
he  had  left  him,  David  had  not  reappeared.  No 
other  restraint  was  imposed  on  the  former  than 
the  watchful  looks  of  a young  Huron,  who  had 
placed  himself  at  hand ; though  an  armed  warrior 
leaned  against  the  post  that  formed  one  side  of 
the  narrow  door-way.  In  every  other  respect, 
the  captive  seemed  at  liberty ; still  he  was  ex- 
cluded from  all  participation  in  the  discourse,  and 
possessed  much  more  of  the  air  of  some  finely- 
moulded  statue,  than  a man  having  life  and  vo- 
lition. 

Heyward  had  too  recently  witnessed  a fright- 
ful instance  of  the  prompt  punishments  of  the 
people  into  whose  hands  he  had  fallen,  to  hazard 
an  exposure  by  any  officious  boldness.  He  would 
greatly  have  preferred  silence  and  meditation  to 
speech,  when  a discovery  of  his  real  condition 
might  prove  so  instantly  fatal.  Unfortunately 
for  this  prudent  resolution,  his  entertainers  ap- 
peared otherwise  disposed.  He  had  not  long  oc- 
cupied the  seat  wisely  taken  a little  in  the  shade, 
when  another  of  the  elder  warriors,  who  spoke 
the  French  language,  addressed  him : 

“ My  Canada  father  does  not  forget  his  chil- 
dren,” said  the  chief ; “ I thank  him.  An  evil 
spirit  lives  in  the  wife  of  one  of  my  young  men. 
Can  the  cunning  stranger  frighten  him  away  ? ” 

Heyward  possessed  some  knowledge  of  the 
mummery  practised  among  the  Indians,  in  the  cases 
of  such  supposed  visitations.  He  saw,  at  a glance, 


that  the  circumstance  might  possibly  be  improved 
to  further  his  own  ends.  It  would,  therefore, 
have  been  difficult,  just  then,  to  have  uttered  a 
proposal  that  would  have  given  him  more  satis- 
faction. Aware  of  the  necessity  of  preserving  the 
dignity  of  his  imaginary  character,  however,  he  re- 
pressed his  feelings,  and  -answered  with  suitable 
mystery : 

“ Spirits  differ  ; some  yield  to  the  power  of  wis- 
dom, while  others  are  too  strong.” 

“ My  brother  is  a great  medicine,”  said  the  cun- 
ning savage ; “ he  will  try  ? ” 

A gesture  of  assent  was  the  answer.  The  Hu- 
ron was  content  with  the  assurance,  and,  resuming 
his  pipe,  he  awaited  the  proper  moment  to  move. 
The  impatient  Heyward,  inwardly  execrating  the 
cold  customs  of  the  savages,  which  required  such 
sacrifices  to  appearance,  was  fain  to  assume  an  air 
of  indifference,  equal  to  that  maintained  by  the 
chief,  who  was,  in  truth,  a near  relative  of  the  af- 
flicted woman.  The  minutes  lingered,  and  the  de- 
lay had  seemed  an  hour  to  the  adventurer  in  em- 
piricism, when  the  Huron  laid  aside  his  pipe,  and 
drew  his  robe  across  his  breast,  as  if  about  to  lead 
the  way  to  the  lodge  of  the  invalid.  Just  then,  a 
warrior  of  powerful  frame  darkened  the  door,  and 
stalking  silently  among  the  attentive  group,  he 
seated  himself  on  one  end  of  the  low  pile  of  brush 
which  sustained  Duncan.  The  latter  cast  an  im- 
patient look  at  his  neighbor,  and  felt  his  flesh  creep 
with  uncontrollable  horror  when  he  found  himself 
in  actual  contact  with  Magua. 

The  sudden  return  of  this  artful  and  dreaded 
chief  caused  a delay  in  the  departure  of  the  Huron. 
Several  pipes,  that  had  been  extinguished,  were 
lighted  again ; while  the  new-comer,  without  speak- 
ing a word,  drew  his  tomahawk  from  his  girdle, 
and,  filling  the  bowl  on  its  head,  began  to  inhale 
the  vapors  of  the  weed  through  the  hollow  handle, 
with  as  much  indifference  as  if  he  had  not  been 
absent  two  weary  days  on  a long  and  toilsome 
hunt.  Ten  minutes,  which  appeared  so  many 
ages  to  Duncan,  might  have  passed  in  this  man 
ner ; and  the  warriors  were  fairly  enveloped  in  a 
, cloud  of  white  smoke  before  any  of  them  spoke 

“ Welcome ! ” one  at  length  uttered ; “ has  my 
friend  found  the  moose  ? ” 

“The  young  men  stagger  under  their  bur 
dens,”  returned  Magua.  “ Let  1 Reed-that-bends 
go  on  the  hunting-path ; he  will  meet  them.” 

A deep  and  awful  silence  succeeded  the  utter- 
ance of  the  forbidden  name.  Each  pipe  dropped 
from  the  lips  of  its  owner  as  though  all  had  in- 
haled an  impurity  at  the  same  instant.  The 
smoke  wreathed  above  their  heads  in  little  eddies, 
and,  curling  in  a spiral  form,  it  ascended  swiftlv 


MAGUA’S  ELOQUENCE. 


123 


through  the  cpening  in  the  roof  of  the  lodge, 
leaving  the  place  beneath  clear  of  its  fumes,  and 
each  dark  visage  distinctly  visible.  The  looks  of 
most  of  the  warriors  were  riveted  on  the  earth ; 
though  a few  of  the  younger  and  less  gifted  of  the 
party  suffered  their  wild  and  glaring  eyeballs  to 
roll  in  the  direction  of  a white-headed  savage,  who 
sat  between  two  of  the  most  venerated  chiefs  of 
the  tribe.  There  was  nothing  in  the  air  or  attire 
of  this  Indian  that  would  seem  to  entitle  him  to 
such  a distinction.  The  former  was  rather  de- 
pressed, than  remarkable  for  the  bearing  of  the 
uatives ; and  the  latter  was  such  as  was  common- 
ly worn  by  the  ordinary  men  of  the  nation.  Like 
most  around  him,  for  more  than  a minute  his 
look  too  was  on  the  ground ; but,  trusting  his  eyes 
at  length  to  steal  a glance  aside,  he  perceived  that 
he  was  becoming  an  object  of  general  attention. 
Then  he  arose  and  lifted  his  voice  in  the  general 
silence. 

“ It  was  a lie,”  he  said  ; “ I had  no  son.  He 
who  was  called  by  that  name  is  forgotten ; his 
blood  was  pale,  and  it  came  not  from  the  veins  of 
a Huron ; the  wicked  Chippewas  cheated  my 
squaw.  The  Great  Spirit  has  said,  that  the  family 
of  Wiss-en-tush  should  end — he  is  happy  who 
knows  that  the  evil  of  his  race  dies  with  himself. 
I have  done.” 

The  speaker,  who  was  the  father  of  the  recreant 
young  Indian,  looked  round  and  about  him,  as  if 
seeking  commendation  of  his  stoicism  in  the  eyes 
of  his  auditors.  But  the  stern  customs  of  his 
people  had  made  too  severe  an  exaction  of  the 
feeble  old  man.  The  expression  of  his  eye  con- 
tradicted his  figurative  and  boastful  language, 
while  every  muscle  in  his ' wrinkled  visage  was 
working  with  anguish.  Standing  a single  minute 
to  enjoy  his  bitter  triumph,  he  turned  away,  as 
if  sickening  at  the  gaze  of  men,  and,  veiling  his 
face  in  his  blanket,  he  walked  from  the  lodge 
with  the  noiseless  step  of  an  Indian,  seeking,  in 
the  privacy  of  his  own  abode,  the  sympathy  of 
one  like  himself,  aged,  forlorn,  and  childless. 

The  Indians,  who  believe  in  the  hereditary 
transmission  of  virtues  and  defects  in  character, 
suffered  him  to  depart  in  silence.  Then,  with  an 
elevation  of  breeding  that  many  in  a more  culti- 
vated state  of  society  might  profitably  emulate, 
one  of  the  chiefs  drew  the  attention  of  the  young 
men  from  the  weakness  they  had  just  witnessed, 
by  saying,  in  a cheerful  voice,  addressing  himself 
in  courtesy  to  Magua,  as  the  newest  comer — 

“The  Delawares  have  been  like  bears  after 
the  honey-pots,  prowling  around  my  village.  But 
who  has  ever  found  a Huron  asleep  ? ” 

The  darkness  of  the  impending  cloud  which 


precedes  a burst  of  thunder  was  not  blacker  than 
the  brow  of  Magua  as  he  exclaimed — 

“ The  Delawares  of  the  lakes  ! ” 

“Not  so.  They  who  wear  the  petticoats  of 
squaws,  on  their  owm  river.  One  of  them  has 
been  passing  the  tribe.” 

“ Did  my  young  men  take  his  scalp  ? ” 

“ His  legs  were  good,  though  his  arm  is  better 
for  the  hoe  than  the  tomahawk,”  returned  the 
other,  pointing  to  the  immovable  form  of  Uncas. 

Instead  of  manifesting  any  womanish  curiosi- 
ty to  feast  his  eyes  with  the  sight  of  a captive 
from  a people  he  was  known  to  have  so  much 
reason  to  hate,  Magua  continued  to  smoke,  with 
the  meditative  air  that  he  usually  maintained, 
when  there  was  no  immediate  call  on  his  cunning 
or  his  eloquence.  Although  secretly  amazed  at 
the  facts  communicated  by  the  speech  of  the  aged 
father,  he  permitted  himself  to  ask  no  questions, 
reserving  his  inquiries  for  a more  suitable  mo- 
ment. It  was  only  after  a sufficient  interval  that 
he  shook  the  ashes  from  his  pipe,  replaced  the 
tomahawk,  tightened  his  girdle,  and  arose,  cast- 
ing for  the  first  time  a glance  in  the  direction  of 
the  prisoner,  who  stood  a little  behind  him.  The 
wary,  though  seemingly  abstracted  Uncas,  caught 
a glimpse  of  the  movement,  and,  turning  suddenly 
to  the  light,  their  looks  met.  Near  a minute 
these  two  bold  and  untamed  spirits  stood  regard- 
ing one  another  steadily  in  the  eye,  neither  quail- 
ing in  the  least  before  the  fierce  gaze  he  encoun- 
tered. The  form  of  Uncas  dilated,  and  his  nos- 
trils opened  like  those  of  a tiger  at  bay ; but  so 
rigid  and  unyielding  was  his  posture,  that  he 
might  easily  have  been  converted  by  the  imagina- 
tion into  an  exquisite  and  faultless  representa- 
tion of  the  warlike  deity  of  his  tribe.  The  linea- 
ments of  the  quivering  features  of  Magua  proved 
more  ductile ; his  countenance  gradually  lost  its 
character  of  defiance  in  an  expression  of  ferocious 
joy,  and,  heaving  a breath  from  the  very  bottom 
of  his  chest,  he  pronounced  aloud  the  formidable 
name  of — 

“ Le  Cerf  agile  ! ” 

Each  warrior  sprang  upon  his  feet  at  the  utter- 
ance of  the  well-known  appellation,  and  there  was 
a short  period  during  which  the  stoical  constancy 
of  the  natives  was  completely  conquered  by  sur- 
prise. The  hated  and  yet  respected  name  was 
repeated  as  by  one  voice,  carrying  the  sound  even 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  lodge.  The  women  and 
children,  who  lingered  around  the  entrance,  took 
up  the  words  in  an  echo,  which  was  succeeded  by 
another  shrill  and  plaintive  howl.  The  latter  was 
not  yet  ended,  when  the  sensation  among  the  men 
had  entirely  abated.  Each  one  in  presence  seat 


124 


THE  LAST  0*  THE  MOHICANS. 


ed  himself,  ts  though  ashamed  of  his  precipita- 
tion ; but  it  was  many  minutes  before  their  mean- 
ing eyes  ceased  to  roll  toward  their  captive,  in 
curious  examination  of  a warrior  who  had  so 
often  proved  his  prowess  on  the  best  and  proud- 
est of  their  nation.  Uncas  enjoyed  his  victory, 
but  was  content  with  merely  exhibiting  his  tri- 
umph by  a quiet  smile — an  emblem  of  scorn  which 
belongs  to  all  time  and  every  nation. 

Magua  caught  the  expression,  and,  raising  his 
arm,  he  shook  it  at  the  captive — the  light  silver 
ornaments  attached  to  his  bracelet  rattling  with 
the  trembling  agitation  of  the  limb,  as,  in  a tone 
of  vengeance,  he  exclaimed,  in  English — 

“ Mohican,  you  die ! ” 

“ The  healing  waters  will  never  bring  the  dead 
Hurons  to  life,”  returned  Uncas,  in  the  music  of 
the  Delawares  ; “ the  tumbling  river  washes  their 
bones  ; their  men  are  squaws ; their  women  owls. 
Go — call  together  the  Huron  dogs,  that  they  may 
look  upon  a warrior.  My  nostrils  are  offended ; 
they  scent  the  blood  of  a coward.” 

The  latter  allusion  struck  deep,  and  the  in- 
jury rankled.  Many  of  the  Hurons  understood 
the  strange  tongue  in  which  the  captive  spoke, 
among  which  number  was  Magua.  This  cunning 
savage  beheld,  and  instantly  profited  by  his  ad- 
vantage. Dropping  the  light  robe  of  skin  from 
his  shoulders,  he  stretched  forth  his  arm,  and 
commenced  a burst  of  his  dangerous  and  artful  elo- 
quence. However  much  his  influence  among  his 
people  had  been  impaired  by  his  occasional  and 
besettiifg  weakness,  as  well  as  by  his  desertion  of 
the  tribe,  his  courage  and  his  fame  as  an  orator 
were  undeniable.  He  never  spoke  without  audi- 
tors, and  rarely  without  making  converts  to  his 
opinions.  On  the  present  occasion,  his  native 
powers  were  stimulated  by  the  thirst  of  re- 
venge. 

He  again  recounted  the  events  of  the  attack 
on  the  island  at  Glenn’s ; the  death  of  his  associ- 
ates ; and  the  escape  of  their  most  formidable  en- 
emies. Then  he  described  the  nature  and  posi- 
tion of  the  mount  whither  he  had  led  such  cap- 
tives as  had  fallen  into  their  hands.  Of  his  own 
bloody  intentions  toward  the  maidens,  and  of  his 
baffled  malice,  he  made  no  mention,  but  passed 
rapidly  on  to  the  surprise  of  the  party  by  “ La 
longue  Carabine,”  and  its  fatal  termination.  Here 
he  paused,  and  looked  about  him,  in  affected  ven- 
eration for  the  departed,  but,  in  truth,  to  note 
the  effect  of  his  opening  narrative.  As  usual, 
every  eye  was  riveted  on  his  face.  Each  dusky 
figure  seemed  a breathing  statue,  so  motionless 
was  the  posture,  so  intense  the  attention  of  the 
individual. 


Then  Magua  dropped  his  voice,  which  had 
hitherto  been  clear,  strong,  and  elevated,  and 
touched  upon  the  merits  of  the  dead.  No  quality 
that  was  likely  to  command  the  sympathy  of  an 
Indian  escaped  his  notice.  One  had  never  been 
known  to  follow  the  chase  in  vain ; another  had 
been  indefatigable  on  the  trail  of  their  enemies. 
This  was  brave,  that  generous.  In  short,  he  so 
managed  his  allusions  that,  in  a nation  which 
was  composed  of  so  few  families,  he  contrived  to 
strike  every  chord  that  might  find,  in  its  turn, 
some  breast  in  which  to  vibrate. 

“ Are  the  bones  of  my  young  men,”  he  con- 
cluded, “ in  the  burial-place  of  the  Hurons  ? You 
know  they  are  not.  Their  spirits  are  gone  tow- 
ard the  setting  sun,  and  are  already  crossing  the 
great  waters,  to  the  happy  hunting-grounds. 
But  they  departed  without  food,  without  guns 
or  knives,  without  moccasins,  naked  and  poor 
as  they  were  born.  Shall  this  be  ? Are  their 
souls  to  enter  the  land  of  the  just  like  hungry 
Iroquois  or  unmanly  Delawares;  or  shall  they 
meet  their  friends  with  arms  in  their  hands  and 
robes  on  their  backs  ? What  will  our  fathers 
think  the  tribes  of  the  Wyandots  have  become  ? 
They  will  look  on  their  children  with  a dark  eye, 
and  say,  ‘ Go  ; a Chippewa  has  come  hither  with 
the  name  of  a Huron.’  Brothers,  we  must  not 
forget  the  dead ; a red-skin  never  ceases  to  re- 
member. We  will  load  the  back  of  this  Mohican 
until  he  staggers  under  our  bounty,  and  dispatch 
him  after  my  young  men.  They  call  to  us  for  aid, 
though  our  ears  are  not  open ; they  say,  ‘ Forget 
us  not.’  When  they  see  the  spirit  of  this  Mohi- 
can toiling  after  them  with  his  burden,  they  will 
know  we  are  of  that  mind.  Then  will  they  go 
on  happy ; and  our  children  will  say,  ‘ So  did 
our  fathers  to  their  friends,  so  must  we  do  to 
them.’  What  is  a Yengee?  we  have  slain  many, 
but  the  earth  is  still  pale.  A stain  on  the  name 
of  a Huron  can  only  be  hid  by  blood  that  comes 
from  the  veins  of  an  Indian.  Let  this  Delaware 
die ! ” 

The  effect  of  such  an  harangue,  delivered  in 
the  nervous  language  and  with  the  emphatic  man- 
ner of  a Huron  orator,  could  scarcely  be  mis- 
taken. Magua  had  so  artfully  blended  the  natu- 
ral sympathies  with  the  religious  superstition  of 
his  auditors,  that  their  minds,  already  prepared 
by  custom  to  sacrifice  a victim  to  the  manes  of 
their  countrymen,  lost  every  vestige  of  humanity 
in  a wish  for  revenge.  One  warrior  in  particular, 
a- man  of  wild  and  ferocious  mien,  had  been  con- 
spicuous for  the  attention  he  had  given  to  the 
words  of  the  speaker.  His  countenance  had 
changed  with  each  passing  emotion,  until  it  set- 


HEYWARD  AS  AN  INDIAN  CONJURER. 


125 


tied  into  a look  of  deadly  malice.  As  Magna 
ended  he  arose,  and,  uttering  the  yell  of  a demon, 
his  polished  little  axe  was  seen  glancing  in  the 
torch-light  as  he  whirled  it  above  his  head.  The 
motion  and  cry  were  too  sudden  for  words  to  in- 
terrupt his  bloody  intention.  It  appeared  as  if  a 
bright  gleam  shot  from  his  hand,  which  was 
crossed  at  the  same  moment  by  a dark  and  pow- 
erful line.  The  former  was  the  tomahawk  in  its 
passage ; the  latter,  the  arm  that  Magua  darted 
forward  to  divert  its  aim.  The  quick  and  ready 
motion  of  the  chief  was  not  entirely  too  late. 
The  keen  weapon  cut  the  war-plume  from  the 
scalping-tuft  of  Uncas,  and  passed  through  the 
frail  wall  of  the  lodge  as  though  it  were  hurled 
from  some  formidable  engine. 

Duncan  had  seen  the  threatening  action,  and 
sprang  upon  his  feet,  with  a heart  which,  while 
it  leaped  into  his  throat,  swelled  with  the  most 
generous  resolution  in  behalf  of  his  friend.  A 
glance  told  him  that  the  blow  had  failed,  and  ter- 
ror changed  to  admiration.  Uncas  stood  still, 
looking  his  enemy  in  the  eye  with  features  that 
seemed  superior  to  emotion.  Marble  could  not 
be  colder,  calmer,  or  steadier,  than  the  counte- 
nance he  put  upon  this  sudden  and  vindictive  at- 
tack. Then,  as  if  pitying  a want  of  skill  which 
had  proved  so  fortunate  to  himself,  he  smiled, 
and  muttered  a few  words  of  contempt  in  his  own 
tongue. 

“ No  ! ” said  Magua,  after  satisfying  himself 
of  the  safety  of  the  captive;  “the  sun  must 
shine  on  his  shame ; the  squaws  must  see  liis 
flesh  tremble,  or  our  revenge  will  be  like  the  play 
of  boys.  Go — take  him  where  there  is  silence  ; 
let  us  see  if  a Delaware  can  sleep  at  night,  and 
in  the  morning  die.” 

The  young  men  whose  duty  it  was  to  guard 
the  prisoner,  instantly  passed  their  ligaments  of 
bark  across  his  arms,  and  led  him  from  the  lodge, 
amid  a profound  and  ominous  silence.  It  was 
only  as  the  figure  of  Uncas  stood  in  the  opening 
of  the  door  that  his  firm  step  hesitated.  There 
he  turned,  and,  in  the  sweeping  and  haughty 
glance  that  he  threw  around  the  circle  of  his 
enemies,  Duncan  caught  a look,  which  he  was 
glad  to  construe  into  an  expression  that  he  was 
not  entirely  deserted  by  hope. 

Magua  was  content  with  his  success,  or  too 
much  occupied  with  his  secret  purposes,  to  push 
his  inquiries  any  further.  Shaking  his  mantle, 
and  folding  it  on  his  bosom,  he  also  quitted  the 
place,  without  pursuing  a subject  which  might 
have  proved  so  fatal  to  the  individual  at  his  el- 
bow. Notwithstanding  his  rising  resentment, 
his  natural  firmness,  and  his  anxiety  in  behalf  of 


Uncas,  Heyward  felt  sensibly  relieved  by  the  ab- 
sence of  so  dangerous  and  subtle  a foe.  The  ex- 
citement produced  by  the  speech  gradually  sub- 
sided. The  warriors  resumed  their  seats,  and 
clouds  of  smoke  once  more  filled  the  lodge.  For 
nearly  half  an  hour,  not  a syllable  was  uttered, 
or  scarcely  a look  cast  aside — a grave  and  medi- 
tative silence  being  in  the  ordinary  succession  to 
every  scene  of  violence  and  commotion  among 
those  beings,  who  were  alike  so  impetuous  and 
yet  so  self-restrained. 

When  the  chief  who  had  solicited  the  aid  of 
Duncan  finished  his  pipe,  he  made  a final  and 
successful  movement  toward  departing.  A mo- 
tion of  a finger  was  the  intimation  he  gave  the  sup- 
posed physician  to  follow ; and,  passing  through 
the  clouds  of  smoke,  Duncan  was  glad,  on  more 
accounts  than  one,  to  be  able,  at  last,  to  breathe 
the  pure  air  of  a cool  and  refreshing  summer 
evening. 

Instead  of  pursuing  his  way  among  those 
lodges  where  Heyward  had  already  made  his  un- 
successful search,  his  companion  turned  aside, 
and  proceeded  directly  toward  the  base  of  an 
adjacent  mountain,  which  overhung  the  tempo- 
rary village.  A thicket  of  brush  skirted  its 
foot,  and  it  became  necessary  to  proceed  through 
a crooked  and  narrow  path.  The  boys  had  re- 
sumed their  sports  in  the  clearing,  and  were  en- 
acting a mimic  chase  to  the  post  among  them- 
selves. In  order  to  render  their  games  as  like  the 
reality  as  possible,  one  of  the  boldest  of  their 
number  had  conveyed  a few  brands  into  some 
piles  of  tree-tops  that  had  hitherto  escaped  the 
burning.  The  blaze  of  one  of  these  fires  lighted 
the  way  of  the  chief  and  Duncan,  and  gave  a 
character  of  additional  wildness  to  the  rude 
scenery.  At  a little  distance  from  a bald  rock, 
and  directly  in  its  front,  they  entered  a grassy 
opening,  which  they  prepared  to  cross.  Just 
then  fresh  fuel  was  added  to  the  fire,  and  a pow- 
erful  light  penetrated  even  to  that  distant  spot 
It  fell  upon  the  white  surface  of  the  mountain, 
and  was  reflected  downward  upon  a dark  and 
mysterious-looking  being  that  arose,  unexpected- 
ly, in  their  path. 

The  Indian  paused,  as  if  doubtful  whether  to 
proceed,  and  permitted  his  companion  to  ap- 
proach his  side.  A large  black  ball,  which  at 
first  seemed  stationary,  now  began  to  move  in  a 
manner  that  to  the  latter  was  inexplicable.  Again 
the  fire  brightened,  and  its  glare  fell  more  dis- 
tinctly on  the  object.  Then  even  Duncan  knew 
it,  by  its  restless  and  sideling  attitudes,  whicl 
kept  the  upper  part  of  its  form  in  constant  mo 
tion,  while  the  animal  itself  appeared  seated,  tc 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


L26 


be  a bear.  Though  it  growled  loudly  and  fiercely, 
and  there  were  instants  when  its  glistening  eye- 
balls might  be  seen,  it  gave  no  other  indications 
of  hostility.  The  Huron,  at  least,  seemed  as- 
sured that  the  intentions  of  this  singular  intru- 
der were  peaceable,  for,  after  giving  it  an  atten- 
tive examination,  he  quietly  pursued  his  course. 

Duncan,  who  knew  that  the  animal  was  often 
domesticated  among  the  Indians,  followed  the 
example  of  his  companion,  believing  that  some 
favorite  of  the  tribe  had  found  its  way  into  the 
thicket,  in  search  of  food.  They  passed  it  un- 
molested. Though  obliged  to  come  nearly  in 
contact  with  the  monster,  the  Huron,  who  had  at 
first  so  warily  determined  the  character  of  his 
strange  visitor,  was  now  content  with  proceeding 
without  wasting  a moment  in  further  examina- 
tion ; but  Heyward  was  unable  to  prevent  his 
eyes  from  looking  backward,  in  salutary  watch- 
fulness against  attacks  in  the  rear.  His  uneasi- 
ness was  in  no  degree  diminished  when  he  per- 
ceived the  beast  rolling  along  their  path,  and 
following  their  footsteps.  He  would  have  spoken, 
but  the  Indian  at  that  moment  shoved  aside  a 
door  of  bark,  and  entered  a cavern  in  the  bosom 
of  the  mountain. 

Profiting  by  so  easy  a method  of  retreat, 
Duncan  stepped  after  him,  and  was  gladly  clos- 
ing the  slight  cover  to  the  opening,  when  he  felt 
it  drawn  from  his  hand  by  the  beast,  whose 
shaggy  form  immediately  darkened  the  passage. 
They  were  now  in  a straight  and  long  gallery,  in 
a chasm  of  the  rocks,  where  retreat  without  en- 
countering the  animal  was  impossible.  Making 
the  best  of  circumstances,  the  young  man  pressed 
forward,  keeping  as  close  as  possible  to  his  con- 
ductor. The  bear  growled  frequently  at  his 
heels,  and  once  or  twice  its  enormous  paws  were 
laid  on  his  person,  as  if  disposed  to  prevent  his 
further  passage  into  the  den. 

How  long  the  nerves  of  Heyward  would  have 
sustained  him  in  this  extraordinary  situation,  it 
might  be  difficult  to  decide ; for,  happily,  he 
soon  found  relief.  A glimmer  of  light  had  con- 
stantly been  in  their  front,  and  they  now  arrived 
at  the  place  whence  it  proceeded. 

A large  cavity  in  the  rock  had  been  rudely 
fitted  to  answer  the  purposes  of  many  apart- 
ments. The  subdivisions  were  simple  but  ingen- 
ious, being  composed  of  stone,  sticks,  and  bark, 
intermingled.  Openings  above  admitted  the  light 
by  day,  and  at  night  fires  and  torches  supplied 
the  place  of  the  sun.  Hither  the  Hurons  had 
brought  most  of  their  valuables,  especially  those 
which  more  particularly  pertained  to  the  nation : 
and  hither,  as  it  now  appeared,  the  sick  woman, 


who  was  believed  to  be  the  victim  of  supernatu- 
ral power,  had  been  transported  also,  under  an 
impression  that  her  tormentor  would  find  more 
difficulty  in  making  his  assaults  through  walls  of 
stone  than  through  the  leafy  coverings  of  the 
lodges.  The  apartment  into  which  Duncan  ard 
his  guide  first  entered,  had  been  exclusively  de- 
voted to  her  accommodation.  The  latter  ap- 
proached her  bedside,  which  was  surrounded  by 
females,  in  the  centre  of  whom  Heyward  was 
surprised  to  find  his  missing  friend  David. 

A single  look  was  sufficient  to  apprise  the  pre- 
tended leech  that  the  invalid  was  far  beyond  his 
powers  of  healing.  She  lay  in  a sort  of  paralysis, 
indifferent  to  the  objects  which  crowded  before 
her  sight,  and  happily  unconscious  of  suffering. 
Heyward  was  far  from  regretting  that  his  mum- 
meries were  to  be  performed  on  one  who  was 
much  too  ill  to  take  an  interest  in  their  failure  or 
success.  The  slight  qualm  of  conscience  which 
had  been  excited  by  the  intended  deception  was 
instantly  appeased,  and  he  began  to  collect  his 
thoughts,  in  order  to  enact  his  part  with  suitable 
spirit,  when  he  found  he  was  about  to  be  antici- 
pated in  his  skill  by  an  attempt  to  prove  the 
power  of  music. 

Gamut,  who  had  stood  prepared  to  pour  forth 
his  spirit  in  song  when  the  visitors  entered,  after 
delaying  a moment,  drew  a strain  from  his  pipe, 
and  commenced  a hymn  that  might  have  worked 
a miracle,  had  faith  in  its  efficacy  been  of  mucv 
avail.  He  was  allowed  to  proceed  to  the  close, 
the  Indians  respecting  his  imaginary  infirmity, 
and  Duncan  too  glad  of  the  delay  to  hazard  the 
slightest  interruption.  As  the  dying  cadence  of 
his  strains  was  falling  on  the  ears  of  the  latter, 
he  started  aside  at  hearing  them  repeated  behind 
him,  in  a voice  half  human  and  half  sepulchral. 
Looking  around,  he  beheld  the  shaggy  monster 
seated  on  end  in  a shadow  of  the  cavern,  where, 
while  his  restless  body  swung  in  the  uneasy 
manner  of  the  animal,  it  repeated,  in  a sort  of 
low  growl,  sounds,  if  not  words,  which  bore 
some  slight  resemblance  to  the  melody  of  the 
singer. 

The  effect  of  so  strange  an  echo  on  David 
may  better  be  imagined  than  described.  His  eyes 
opened  as  if  he  doubted  their  truth;  and  hip 
voice  became  instantly  mute  in  excess  of  wonde? 
A deep-laid  scheme,  of  communicating  some  im 
portant  intelligence  to  Heyward,  was  driven  from 
his  recollection  by  an  emotion  which  very  nearly 
resembled  fear,  but  which  he  was  fain  to  believe 
was  admiration.  Under  its  influence,  he  exclaimed 
aloud,  “She  expects  you,  and  is  at  hand;  ” and 
precipitately  left  the  cavern. 


HAWK-  EYE  REPRESENTING  A BEAR. 


127 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

“Snug.  Have  you  the  lion’s  part  written  ? Pray  you, 
tf  it  be,  give  it  me,  for  I am  slow  of  study. 

44  Quince.  You  may  do  it  extempore,  for  it  is  nothing 
Wit  roaring.” 

Midsummer  Night's  Dream. 

There  was  a strange  blending  of  the  ridicu- 
lous with  that  which  was  solemn  in  this  scene. 
The  beast  still  continued  its  rolling,  and  apparent- 
ly untiring  movements,  though  its  ludicrous  at- 
tempt to  imitate  the  melody  of  David,  ceased  the 
instant  the  latter  abandoned  the  field.  The  words 
of  Gamut  were,  as  has  been  seen,  in  his  native 
tongue ; and  to  Duncan  they  seemed  pregnant 
with  some  hidden  meaning,  though  nothing  pres- 
ent assisted  him  in  discovering  the  object  of  their 
allusion.  A speedy  end  was,  however,  put  to 
every  conjecture  on  the  subject,  by  the  manner 
of  the  chief,  who  advanced  to  the  bedside  of  the 
invalid,  and  beckoned  away  the  whole  group  of 
female  attendants  that  had  clustered  there  to  wit- 
ness the  skill  of  the  stranger.  He  was  implicitly, 
though  reluctantly,  obeyed;  and  when  the  low 
echo  which  rang  along  the  hollow,  natural  gallery, 
from  the  distant  closing  door,  had  ceased,  pointing 
toward  his  insensible  daughter,  he  said — 

“ Now  let  my  brother  show  his  power.” 

Thus  unequivocally  called  on  to  exercise  the 
fractions  of  his  assumed  character,  Heyward  was 
apprehensive  that  the  smallest  delay  might  prove 
dangerous.  Endeavoring  then  to  collect  his  ideas, 
he  prepared  to  perform  that  species  of  incan- 
tation, and  those  uncouth  rites,  under  which  the 
Indian  conjurers  are  accustomed  to  conceal  their 
ignorance  and  impotency.  It  is  more  than  prob- 
able that,  in  the  disordered  state  of  his  thoughts, 
he  would  soon  have  fallen  into  some  suspicious, 
if  not  fatal  error,  had  not  his  incipient  attempts 
been  interrupted  by  a fierce  growl  from  the  quad- 
ruped. Three  several  times  did  he  renew  his  ef- 
forts to  proceed,  and  as  often  was  he  met  by  the 
same  unaccountable  opposition,  each  interruption 
seeming  more  savage  and  threatening  than  the 
preceding. 

“The  cunning  ones  are  jealous,”  said  the  Hu- 
ron ; “ I go.  Brother,  the  woman  is  the  wife  of 
one  of  ray  bravest  young  men;  deal  justly  by 
her. — Peace,”  he  added,  beckoning  to  the  dis- 
contented beast  to  be  quiet;  “I  go.” 

The  chief  was  as  good  as  his  word,  and  Dun- 
can now  found  himself  alone  in  that  wild  and 
desolate  abode,  with  the  helpless  invalid,  and  the 
fierce  and  dangerous  brute.  The  latter  listened 
to  the  movements  of  the  Indian  with  that  air  of 
sagacity  that  a bear  is  known  to  possess,  until 
24 


another  echo  announced  that  he  had  also  left  the 
cavern,  when  it  turned  and  came  waddling  up  to 
Duncan,  before  whom  it  seated  itself,  in  its  natu- 
ral attitude,  erect  like  a man.  The  youth  looked 
anxiously  about  him  for  some  weapon,  with  which 
he  might  make  a resistance  against  the  attack  he 
now  seriously  expected. 

It  seemed,  however,  as  if  the  humor  of  the 
animal  had  suddenly  changed.  Instead  of  con- 
tinuing its  discontented  growls,  or  manifesting 
any  further  signs  of  anger,  the  whole  of  its  shag- 
gy body  shook  violently,  as  if  agitated  by  some 
strange  internal  convulsion.  The  huge  and  un- 
wieldy talons  pawed  stupidly  about  the  grinning 
muzzle,  and,  while  Heyward  kept  his  eyes  riveted 
on  its  movements  with  jealous  watchfulness,  the 
grim  head-  fell  on  one  side,  and  in  its  place  ap- 
peared the  honest,  sturdy  countenance  of  the 
scout,  who  was  indulging,  from  the  bottom  of  his 
soul,  in  his  own  peculiar  expression  of  merriment. 

“ Hist ! ” said  the  wary  woodsman,  interrupt- 
ing Heyward’s  exclamation  of  surprise ; “ the  var- 
lets  are  about  the  place,  and  any  sounds  that  are 
not  natural  to  witchcraft  would  bring  them  back 
upon  us  in  a body.” 

“Tell  me  the  meaning  of  this  masquerade; 
and  why  you  have  attempted  so  desperate  an  ad- 
venture ? ” 

“ Ah ! reason  and  calculation  are  often  out- 
done by  ■accident,”  returned  the  scout.  “But,  as 
a story  should  always  commence  at  the  beginning, 
I will  tell  you  the  whole  in  order.  After  we  part- 
ed I placed  the  commandant  and  the  sagamore  in 
an  old  beaver-lodge,  where  they  are  safer  from 
the  Hurons  than  they  would  be  in  the  garrison  of 
Edward;  for  your  high  northwest  Indians,  not 
having  as  yet  got  the  traders  among  them,  con- 
tinue to  venerate  the  beaver.  After  which  Uncas 
and  I pushed  for  the  other  encampment,  as  was 
agreed ; have  you  seen  the  lad  ? ” 

“ To  my  great  grief! — he  is  captive,  and  con- 
demned to  die  at  the  rising  of  the  sun.” 

“I  had  misgivings  that  such  would  be  his 
fate,”  resumed  the  scout,  in  a less  confident  and 
joyous  tone.  But,  soon  regaining  his  naturally 
firm  voice,  he  continued  : “ His  bad  fortune  is  the 
true  reason  of  my  being  here,  for  it  would  never 
do  to  abandon  such  a boy  to  the  Hurons.  A 
rare  time  the  knaves  would  ha  ve  of  it,  could  the; 
tie  ‘ The  bounding  Elk  ’ and  ‘ The  long  Carabine, 
as  they  call  me,  to  the  same  stake ! Though  why 
they  have  given  me  such  a name  I never  knew,  there 
being  as  little  likeness  between  the  gifts  of  ‘ Kill- 
deer  ’ and  the  performance  of  one  of  your  real 
Canada  carabynes,  as  there  is  between  the  naiur’ 
of  a pipe-stone  and  a flint  I ” 


128 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ Keep  to  your  tale,”  said  the  impatient  Hey- 
ward ; “ we  know  not  at  what  moment  the  Hu- 
rons  may  return.” 

“No  fear  of  them.  A conjurer  must  have 
his  time,  like  a straggling  priest  in  the  settle- 
ments. We  are  as  safe  from  interruption  as  a 
missionary  would  be  at  the  beginning  of  a two 
hours’  discourse. — Well,  Uncas  and  I fell  in  with 
a return-party  of  the  varlets  ; the  lad  was  much 
too  forward  for  a scout;  nay,  for  that  matter, 
being  of  hot  blood,  he  was  not  so  much  to 
blame ; and,  after  all,  one  of  the  Hurons  proved 
a coward,  and  in  fleeing  led  him  into  an  ambush- 
men  t.” 

“And  dearly  has  he  paid  for  the  weakness  ! ” 

The  scout  significantly  passed  his  hand  across 
his  own  throat  and  nodded,  as  if  he  said,  “I 
comprehend  your  meaning.”  After  which  he 
continued  in  a more  audible  though  scarcely 
more  intelligible  language : 

“ After  the  loss  of  the  boy,  I turned  upon  the 
Hurons,  as  you  may  judge.  There  have  been 
scrimmages  atween  one  or  two  of  their  outliers 
and  myself ; but  that  is  neither  here  nor  there. 
So,  after  I had  shot  the  imps,  I got  in  pretty  nigh 
to  the  lodges  without  further  commotion.  Then 
what  should  luck  do  in  my  favor,  but  lead  me  to 
the  very  spot  where  one  of  the  most  famous  con- 
jurers of  the  tribe  was  dressing  himself,  as  I well 
knew,  for  some  great  battle  with  Satan— though 
why  should  I call  that  luck,  which  it  now  seems 
was  an  especial  ordering  of  Providence  ? So  a 
judgmatical  rap  over  the  head  stiffened  the  lying 
impostor  for  a time,  and  leaving  him  a bit  of  wal- 
nut for  his  supper,  to  prevent  an  uproar,  and 
stringing  him  up  atween  two  saplings,  I made 
free  with  his  finery,  and  took  the  part  of  the  bear 
on  myself,  in  order  that  the  operations  might  pro- 
ceed.” 

“ And  admirably  did  you  enact  the  character ; 
the  animal  itself  might  have  been  shamed  by  the 
representation.” 

“ Lord,  major,”  returned  the  flattered  woods- 
man, “ I should  be  but  a poor  scholar  for  one 
who  has  studied  so  long  in  the  wilderness,  did  I 
not  know  how  to  set  forth  the  movements  and 
natur’  of  such  a beast.  Had  it  been  now  a cata- 
mount or  even  a full-sized  panther,  I would  have 
embellished  a performance  for  you  worth  regard- 
ing. But  it  is  no  such  marvellous  feat  to  exhibit 
the  feats  of  so  dull  a beast ; though,  for  that 
matter  too,  a bear  may  be  over-acted.  Yes,  yes  ; 
it  is  not  every  imitator  that  knows  Natur’  may  be 
outdone  easier  than  she  is  equalled.  But  all  our 
work  is  yet  before  us : where  :&  the  gentle  one  ? ” 

“Heaven  knows;  I have  examined  every 


lodge  in  the  village  without  discovering  the 
slightest  trace  of  her  presence  in  the  tribe.” 

“You  heard  what  the  singer  said,  as  he  left 
us — ‘ She  is  at  hand,  and  expects  you  ? ’ ” 

“ I have  been  compelled  to  believe  he  alluded 
to  this  unhappy  woman.” 

“ The  simpleton  was  frightened,  and  blundered 
through  his  message  ; but  he  had  a deeper  mean- 
ing. Here  are  walls  enough  to  separate  the  whole 
settlement.  A bear  ought  to  climb  ; therefore 
will  I take  a look  above  them.  There  may  bo 
honey-pots  hid  in  these  rocks,  and  I am  a beast, 
you  know,  that  has  a hankering  for  the  sweets.” 

The  scout  looked  behind  him,  laughing  at  his 
own  conceit,  while  he  clambered  up  the  partition, 
imitating,  as  he  went,  the  clumsy  motions  of  the 
beast  he  represented  ; but  the  instant  the  summit 
was  gained,  he  made  a gesture  for  silence,  and 
slid  down  with  the  utmost  precipitation. 

“ She  is  here,”  he  whispered,  “ and  by  that 
door  you  will  find  her.  I would  have  spoken  a 
word  of  comfort  to  the  afflicted  soul;  but  the 
sight  of  such  a monster  might  upset  her  reason. 
Though  for  that  matter,  major,  you  are  none  of 
the  most  inviting  yourself  in  your  paint.” 

Duncan,  who  had  already  sprung  eagerly  for- 
ward, drew  instantly  back  on  hearing  these  dis- 
couraging words. 

“Am  I,  then,  so  very  revolting?”  he  de- 
manded, with  an  air  of  chagrin. 

“You  might  not  startle  a wolf,  or  turn  the 
Royal  Americans  from  a charge  ; but  I have  seen 
the  time  when  you  had  a better-favored  look ; 
your  streaked  countenances  are  not  ill-judged  of 
by  the  squaws,  but  young  women  of  white  blood 
give  the  preference  to  their  own  color.  See,”  he 
added,  pointing  to  a place  where  the  water  trickled 
from  a rock,  forming  a little  crystal  spring  before 
it  found  an  issue  through  the  adjacent  crevices  ; 
“ you  may  easily  get  rid  of  the  sagamore’s  daub, 
and  when  you  come  back  I will  try  my  hand  at  a 
new  embellishment.  It’s  as  common  for  a con- 
jurer to  alter  his  paint  as  for  a buck  in  the  set- 
tlements to  change  his  finery.” 

The  deliberate  woodsman  had  little  occasion 
to  hunt  for  arguments  to  enforce  his  advice.  He 
was  yet  speaking  when  Duncan  availed  himself 
of  the  water.  In  a moment  every  frightful  or  of 
fensive  mark  was  obliterated,  and  the  youth  ap 
peared  again  in  the  lineaments  with  which  he  had 
been  gifted  by  Nature.  Thus  prepared  for  an  in- 
terview with  his  mistress,  he  took  a hasty  leave 
of  his  companion,  and  disappeared  through  the 
indicated  passage.  The  scout  witnessed  his  de- 
parture with  complacency,  nodding  his  head  after 
him,  and  muttering  his  good  wishes  ; after  which 


ALICE  AND  HER  LOVER. 


129 


ie  very  coolly  set  about  an  examination  of  the 
state  of  the  larder,  among  the  Hurons — the  cav- 
ern, among  other  purposes,  being  used  as  a recep- 
tacle for  the  fruits  of  their  hunts. 

Duncan  had  no  other  guide  than  a distant 
glimmering  light,  which  served,  however,  the  office 
of  a polar  star  to  the  lover.  By  its  aid  he  was 
enabled  to  enter  the  haven  of  his  hopes,  which 
was  merely  another  apartment  of  the  cavern,  that 
had  been  solely  appropriated  to  the  safe-keeping 
of  so  important  a prisoner  as  a daughter  of  the 
commandant  of  William  Henry.  It  was  profusely 
strewed  with  the  plunder  of  that  unlucky  fortress. 
In  the  midst  of  this  confusion  he  found  her  he 
sought,  pale,  anxious,  and  terrified,  but  lovely. 
David  had  prepared  her  for  such  a visit. 

“ Duncan ! ” she  exclaimed,  in  a voice  that 
seemed  to  tremble  at  the  sounds  created  by  it- 
self. 

“ Alice ! ” he  answered,  leaping  carelessly 
among  the  trunks,  boxes,  arms,  and  furniture, 
until  he  stood  at  her  side. 

“ I knew  that  you  would  never  desert  me,” 
she  said,  looking  up  with  a momentary  glow  on 
her  otherwise  dejected  countenance.  “ But  you 
are  alone ! Grateful  as  it  is  to  be  thus  remem- 
bered, I could  wish  to  think  you  are  not  entirely 
alone.” 

Duncan,  observing  that  she  trembled  in  a 
manner  which  betrayed  her  inability  to  stand, 
gently  induced  her  to  be  seated  while  he  recounted 
those  leading  incidents  which  it  has  been  our  task 
to  record.  Alice  listened  with  breathless  interest ; 
and  though  the  young  man  touched  lightly  on  the 
sorrows  of  the  stricken  father,  taking  care,  how- 
ever, not  to  wound  the  self-love  of  his  auditor, 
the  tears  ran  as  freely  down  the  cheeks  of  the 
daughter  as  though  she  had  never  wept  before. 
The  soothing  tenderness  of  Duncan,  however, 
soon  quieted  the  first  burst  of  her  emotions,  and 
she  then  heard  him  to  the  close  with  undivided 
attention,  if  not  with  composure. 

“And  now,  Alice,”  he  added,  “you  will  see 
how  much  is  still  expected  of  you.  By  the  assist- 
ance of  our  experienced  and  invaluable  friend, 
the  scout,  we  may  find  our  way  from  this  savage 
people,  but  you  will  have  to  exert  your  utmost 
fortitude.  Remember  that  you  fly  to  the  arms  of 
your  venerable  parent,  and  how  much  his  happi- 
ness, as  well  as  your  own,  depends  on  those  ex- 
ertions.” 

“ Can  I do  otherwise  for  a father  who  has 
done  so  much  for  me  ? ”, 

“And  for  me,  too,”  continued  the  youth, 
gently  pressing  the  hand  he  held  in  both  his 

own. 

9 


The  look  of  innocence  and  surprise  which  he 
received  in  return  convinced  Duncan  of  the  ne- 
cessity of  being  more  explicit. 

“ This  is  neither  the  place  nor  the  occasion  to 
detain  you  with  selfish  wishes,”  he  added  ; “ but 
what  heart  loaded  like  mine  would  not  wish  to 
cast  its  burden  ? They  say  misery  is  the  closest 
of  all  ties  ; our  common  suffering  in  your  behalf 
left  but  little  to  be  explained  between  your  father 
and  myself.” 

“ And  dearest  Cora,  Duncan  ; surely  Cora  was 
not  forgotten?  ” 

“ Not  forgotten  ! no  ; regretted  as  woman  was 
seldom  mourned  before.  Your  venerable  father 
knew  no  difference  between  his  children  ; but  I — 
Alice,  you  will  not  be  offended  when  I say,  that 
to  me  her  worth  was  in  a degree  obscured — ” 

“ Then  you  knew  not  the  merit  of  my  sister,” 
said  Alice,  withdrawing  her  hand ; “ of  you  she 
ever  speaks  as  of  one  who  is  her  dearest  friend.” 

“ I would  gladly  believe  her  such,”  returned 
Duncan,  hastily ; “ I could  wish  her  to  be  even 
more  ; but  with  you,  Alice,  I have  the  permission 
of  your  father  to  aspire  to  a still  nearer  and 
dearer  tie.” 

Alice  trembled  violently,  and  there  was  an 
instant  during  which  she  bent  her  face  aside, 
yielding  to  the  emotions  common  to  her  sex  ; but 
they  quickly  passed  away,  leaving  her  mistress  of 
her  deportment,  if  not  of  her  affections. 

“ Heyward,”  she  said,  looking  him  full  in  the 
face  with  a touching  expression  of  innocence  and 
dependency,  “give  me  the  sacred  presence  and 
the  holy  sanction  of  that  parent  before  you  urge 
me  further.” 

“ Though  more  I should  not,  less  I could  not 
say,”  the  youth  was  about  to  answer,  when  he 
was  interrupted  by  a light  tap  on  his  shoulder. 
Starting  to  his  feet,  he  turned,  and,  confronting 
the  intruder,  his  looks  fell  on  the  dark  form  and 
malignant  visage  of  Magua.  The  deep,  guttural 
laugh  of  the  savage  sounded,  at  such  a moment, 
to  Duncan  like  the  hellish  taunt  of  a demon. 
Had  he  pursued  the  sudden  and  fierce  impulse  of 
the  instant,  he  would  have  cast  himself  on  the 
Huron,  and  committed  their  fortunes  to  the  issue 
of  a deadly  struggle.  But,  without  arms  of  any 
description,  ignorant  of  what  succor  his  subtle 
enemy  could  command,  and  charged  with  the 
safety  of  one  who  was  just  then  dearer  than  ever 
to  his  heart,  he  no  sooner  entertained  than  he 
abandoned  the  desperate  intention. 

“ What  is  your  purpose  ? ” said  Alice,  meekly 
folding  her  arms  on  her  bosom,  and  struggling 
to  conceal  an  agony  of  apprehension  in  behalf 
of  Heyward,  in  the  usual  cold  and  distant  man- 


130 


THE  LAST  <DF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ner  with  which  she  received  the  visits  of  her  cap- 
tor. 

The  exulting  Indian  had  resumed  his  austere 
countenance,  though  he  drew  warily  back  before 
the  menacing  glance  of  the  young  man’s  fiery  eye. 
He  regarded  both  his  captives  for  a moment  with 
a steady  look,  and  then,  stepping  aside,  he  dropped 
a log  of  wood  across  a door  different  from  that  by 
which  Duncan  had  entered.  The  latter  now  com- 
prehended the  manner  of  his  surprise,  and,  be- 
lieving himself  irretrievably  lost,  he  drew  Alice 
to  his  bosom,  and  stood  prepared  to  meet  a fate 
which  he  hardly  regretted,  since  it  was  to  be  suf- 
fered in  such  company.  But  Magua  meditated  no 
immediate  violence.  His  first  measures  were  very 
evidently  taken  to  secure  his  new  captive ; nor 
did  he  even  bestow  a second  glance  at  the  motion- 
less forms  in  the  centre  of  the  cavern,  until  he 
had  completely  cut  off  every  hope  of  retreat 
through  the  private  outlet  he  had  himself  used. 
He  was  watched  in  all  his  movements  by  Hey- 
ward, who,  however,  remained  firm,  still  folding 
the  fragile  form  of  Alice  to  his  heart,  at  once  too 
proud  and  too  hopeless  to  ask  favor  of  an  enemy 
so  often  foiled.  When  Magua  had  effected  his 
object  he  approached  his  prisoners,  and  said  in 
English  : 

“ The  pale-faces  trap  the  cunning  beavers ; 
but  the  red-skins  know  how  to  take  the  Yen- 
geese.” 

“ Huron,  do  your  worst ! ” exclaimed  the  ex- 
cited Heyward,  forgetful  that  a double  stake  was 
involved  in  his  life ; “ you  and  your  vengeance 
are  alike  despised.” 

“ Will  the  white  man  speak  these  words  at  the 
stake  ? ” asked  Magua  ; manifesting,  at  the  same 
time,  how  little  faith  he  had  in  the  other’s  resolu- 
tion by  the  sneer  that  accompanied  his  words. 

“ Here  ; singly  to  your  face,  or  in  the  presence 
of  your  nation.” 

“ Le  Renard  subtil  is  a great  chief ! ” returned 
the  Indian  ; “ he  will  go  and  bring  his  young  men, 
to  see  how  bravely  a pale-face  can  laugh  at  the 
tortures.” 

He  turned  away  while  speaking,  and  was 
about  to  leave  the  place  through  the  avenue  by 
which  Duncan  had  approached,  when  a growl 
caught  his  ear,  and  caused  him  to  hesitate.  The 
figure  of  the  bear  appeared  in  the  door,  where  it 
sat,  rolling  from  side  to  side  in  its  customary 
restlessness.  Magua,  like  the  father  of  the  sick 
woman,  eyed  it  keenly  for  a moment,  as  if  to 
ascertain  its  character.  He  was  far  above  the 
more  vulgar  superstitions  of  his  tribe,  and  as  soon 
as  he  recognized  the  well-known  attire  of  the 
conjurer,  he  prepared  to  pass  it  in  cool  contempt,  j 


But  a louder  and  more  threatening  growl  caused 
him  again  to  pause.  Then  he  seemed  as  if  he 
suddenly  resolved  to  trifle  no  longer,  and  moved 
resolutely  forward.  The  mimic  animal,  which  had 
advanced  a little,  retired  slowly  in  his  front,  until 
it  arrived  again  at  the  pass,  when,  rearing  on  its 
hinder  legs,  it  beat  the  air  with  its  paws,  in  the 
manner  practised  by  its  brutal  prototype. 

“Fool!  ” exclaimed  the  chief,  in  Huron,  “go 
play  with  the  children  and  squaws  ; leave  men  to 
their  wisdom.” 

He  once  more  endeavored  to  pass  the  sup- 
posed empiric,  scorning  even  the  parade  of  threat- 
ening to  use  the  knife,  or  tomahawk,  that  was 
pendent  from  his  belt.  Suddenly  the  beast  ex- 
tended its  arms,  or  rather  legs,  and  enclosed  him 
in  a grasp  that  might  have  vied  with  the  far- 
famed  power  of  the  “ bear’s  hug  ” itself.  Hey- 
ward had  watched  the  whole  procedure,  on  the 
part  of  Hawk-eye,  with  breathless  interest.  At 
first  he  relinquished  his  hold  of  Alice ; then  he 
caught  up  a thong  of  buckskin,  which  had  been 
used  around  some  bundle,  and  when  be  beheld 
his  enemy  with  his  two  arms  pinned  to  his  side 
by  the  iron  muscles  of  the  scout,  he  rushed  upon 
him,  and  effectually  secured  them  there.  Arms, 
legs,  and  feet,  were  encircled  in  twenty  folds  of 
the  thong,  in  less  time  than  we  have  taken  tc 
record  the  circumstance.  When  the  formidable 
Huron  was  completely  pinioned,  the  scout  released 
his  hold,  and  Duncan  laid  his  enemy  on  his  back, 
utterly  helpless. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  this  sudden  and 
extraordinary  operation,  Magua,  though  he  had 
struggled  violently,  until  assured  that  he  was  in 
the  hands  of  one  whose  nerves  were  far  better 
strung  than  his  own,  had  not  uttered  the  slightest 
exclamation.  But  when  Hawk-eye,  by  way  of 
making  a summary  explanation  of  his  conduct, 
removed  the  shaggy  jaws  of  the  beast,  and  ex- 
posed his  own  rugged  and  earnest  countenance 
to  the  gaze  of  the  Huron,  the  philosophy  of  the 
latter  was  so  far  mastered  as  to  permit,  him  to 
utter  the  never-failing — 

“ Hugh ! ” 

“ Ay ! you’ve  found  your  tongue,”  said  his 
undisturbed  conqueror ; “ now,  in  order  that  you 
shall  not  use  it  to  our  ruin,  I must  make  free  to 
stop  your  mouth.” 

As  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  the  scout 
immediately  set  about  effecting  so  necessary  a 
precaution ; and,  when  he  had  gagged  the  Indian, 
his  enemy  might  safely  have  been  considered  as 
hors  de  combat. 

“ By  what  place  did  the  imp  enter  ? ” asked 
the  industrious  scout,  when  his  work  was  ended. 


EVERY  TRAIL  HAS  ITS  END.’ 


131 


“ Not  a soul  has  passed  my  way  since  you  left 
me.” 

Duncan  pointed  out  the  door  by  which  Magua 
had  come,  and  which  now  presented  too  many 
obstacles  to  a quick  retreat. 

“ Bring  on  the  gentle  one  then,”  continued  his 
friend ; “ we  must  make  a push  for  the  woods  by 
the  other  outlet.” 

“ ’Tis  impossible ! ” said  Duncan ; “ fear  has 
overcome  her,  and  she  is  helpless. — Alice ! my 
sweet,  my  own  Alice,  arouse  yourself;  now  is 
the  moment  to  fly. — ’Tis  in  vain  ! she  hears,  but 
is  unable  to  follow.  Go,  noble  and  worthy  friend ; 
save  yourself,  and  leave  me  to  my  fate  ! ” 

“ Every  trail  has  its  end,  and  every  calamity 
brings  its  lesson ! ” returned  the  scout.  “ There, 
wrap  her  in  them  Indian  cloths.  Conceal  all  of 
her  little  form.  Nay,  that  foot  has  no  fellow  in 
the  wilderness ; it  will  betray  her.  All,  every 
part.  Now  take  her  in  your  arms,  and  follow. 
Leave  the  rest  to  me.” 

Duncan,  as  may  be  gathered  from  the  words 
of  his  companion,  was  eagerly  obeying ; and,  as 
the  other  finished  speaking,  he  took  the  light  per- 
son of  Alice  in  his  arms,  and  followed  on  the  foot- 
steps of  the  scout.  They  found  the  sick  woman 
as  they  had  left  her,  still  alone,  and  passed 
swiftly  on,  by  the  natural  gallery,  to  the  place  of 
entrance.  As  they  approached  the  little  door 
of  bark,  a murmur  of  voices  without  announced 
that  the  friends  and  relatives  of  the  invalid  were 
gathered  about  the  place,  patiently  awaiting  a 
summons  to  reenter. 

“ If  I open  my  lips  to  speak,”  Hawk-eye 
whispered,  “my  English,  which  is  the  genuine 
tongue  of  a white-skin,  will  tell  the  varlets  that 
an  enemy  is  among  them.  You  must  give  ’em 
your  jargon,  major ; and  say  that  we  have  shut 
the  evil  spirit  in  the  cave,  and  are  taking  the 
woman  to  the  woods  in  order  to  find  strengthen- 
ing roots.  Practyse  all  your  cunning,  for  it  is  a 
lawful  undertaking.” 

The  door  opened  a little,  as  if  one  without 
was  listening  to  the  proceedings  within,  and  com- 
pelled the  scout  to  cease  his  directions.  A fierce 
growl  repelled  the  eavesdropper,  and  then  the 
scout  boldly  threw  open  the  covering  of  bark, 
and  left  the  place,  enacting  the  character  of 
the  bear  as  he  proceeded.  Duncan  kept  close 
at  his  heels,  and  soon  found  himself  in  the  cen- 
tre of  a cluster  of  twenty  anxious  relatives  and 
friends. 

The  crowd  fell  back  a little,  and  permitted  the 
father,  and  one  who  appeared  to  be  the  husband 
of  the  woman,  to  approach. 

“ Has  my  brother  driven  away  the  evil  spirit  ? ” 


demanded  the  former.  “ What  has  he  in  his 
arms  ? ” 

“ Thy  child,”  returned  Duncan,  gravely ; “ the 
disease  has  gone  out  of  her  ; it  is  shut  up  in  the 
rocks.  I take  the  woman  to  a distance,  where  I 
will  strengthen  her  against  any  further  attacks. 
She  shall  be  in  the  wigwam  of  the  young  man 
when  the  sun  comes  again.” 

When  the  father  had  translated  the  meaning 
of  the  stranger’s  words  into  the  Huron  language 
a suppressed  murmur  announced  the  satisfaction 
with  which  this  intelligence  was  received.  The 
chief  himself  waved  his  hand  for  Duncan  to  pro- 
ceed, saying  aloud,  in  a firm  voice,  and  with  a 
lofty  manner : 

“ Go — I am  a man,  and  I will  enter  the  rock 
and  fight  the  wicked  one.” 

Heyward  had  gladly  obeyed,  and  was  already 
past  the  little  group,  when  these  startling  words 
arrested  him. 

“Is  my  brother  mad  ! ” he  exclaimed  ; “ is  he 
cruel  ? He  will  meet  the  disease,  and  it  will 
enter  him ; or  he  will  drive  out  the  disease,  and 
it  will  chase  his  daughter  into  the  woods.  No — 
let  my  children  wait  without,  and  if  the  spirit 
appears,  beat  him  down  with  clubs.  He  is  cun- 
ning, and  will  bury  himself  in  the  mountain,  when 
he  sees  how  many  are  ready  to  fight  him.” 

This  singular  warning  had  the  desired  effect. 
Instead  of  entering  the  cavern,  the  father  and  hus- 
band drew  their  tomahawks,  and  posted  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  deal  their  vengeance  on  the 
imaginary  tormentor  of  their  sick  relative,  while 
the  women  and  children  broke  branches  from  the 
bushes,  or  seized  fragments  of  the  rock,  with  a 
similar  intention.  At  this  favorable  moment  the 
counterfeit  conjurers  disappeared. 

Hawk-eye,  at  the  same  time  that  he  had  pre- 
sumed so  far  on  the  nature  of  the  Indian  supersti- 
tions,  was  not  ignorant  that  they  were  rather  toler- 
ated than  relied  on  by  the  wisest  of  the  chiefs. 
He  well  knew  the  value  of  time  in  the  present 
emergency.  Whatever  might  be  the  extent  of  the 
self-delusion  of  his  enemies,  and  however  it  had 
tended  to  assist  his  schemes,  the  slightest  cause 
of  suspicion,  acting  on  the  subtle  nature  of  an 
Indian,  would  be  likely  to  prove  fatal.  Taking 
the  path,  therefore,  that  was  most  likely  to  avoid 
observation,  he  rather  skirted  than  entered  the 
village.  The  warriors  were  still  to  be  seen  in  the 
distance,  by  the  fading  light  of  the  fires,  stalking 
from  lodge  to  lodge.  But  the  children  had  aban- 
doned their  sports  for  their  beds  of  skins,  and  the 
quiet  of  night  was  already  beginning  to  prevail 
over  the  turbulence  and  excitement  of  so  busy  and 
important  an  evening. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


132 


Alice  revived  under  the  renovating  influence 
of  the  open  air,  and  as  her  physical  rather  than 
her  mental  powers  had  been  the  subject  of  weak- 
ness, she  stood  in  no  need  of  any  explanation  of 
that  which  had  occurred. 

“ Now  let  me  make  an  effort  to  walk,”  she 
said,  when  they  had  entered  the  forest,  blushing, 
though  unseen,  that  she  had  not  been  sooner  able 
to  quit  the  arms  of  Duncan ; “I  am  indeed  re- 
stored.” 

“ Nay,  Alice,  you  are  yet  too  weak.” 

The  maiden  struggled  gently  to  release  her- 
self, and  Heyward  was  compelled  to  part  with  his 
precious  burden.  The  representative  of  the  bear 
had  certainly  been  an  entire  stranger  to  the  de- 
licious emotions  of  the  lover  while  his  arms  en- 
circled his  mistress ; and  he  was,  perhaps,  a 
stranger  also  to  the  nature  of  that  feeling  of  in- 
genuous shame  that  oppressed  the  trembling  Alice. 
But,  when  he  found  himself  at  a suitable  distance 
from  the  lodges,  he  made  a halt,  and  spoke  on  a 
subject  of  which  he  was  thoroughly  the  master. 

“ This  path  will  lead  you  to  the  brook,”  he 
said  ; “ follow  its  northern  bank  until  you  come 
to  a fall ; mount  the  hill  on  your  right,  and  you 
will  see  the  fires  of  the  other  people.  There  you 
must  go,  and  demand  protection ; if  they  are  true 
Delawares,  you  will  be  safe.  A distant  flight 
with  that  gentle  one,  just  now,  is  impossible. 
The  Hurons  would  follow  our  trail,  and  master 
our  scalps,  before  we  had  got  a dozen  miles.  Go, 
and  Providence  be  with  you  ! ” 

“ And  you  ! ” demanded  Heyward  in  surprise  ; 
“ surely  we  part  not  here  ? ” 

“ The  Hurons  hold  the  pride  of  the  Delawares  ; 
the  last  of  the  high  blood  of  the  Mohicans  is  in 
their  power,”  returned  the  scout ; “ I go  to  see 
what  can  be  done  in  his  favor.  Had  they  mas- 
tered your  scalp,  major,  a knave  should  have  fallen 
for  every  hair  it  held,  as  I promised  ; but,  if  the 
young  sagamore  is  to  be  led  to  the  stake,  the  In- 
dians shall  see  also  how  a man  without  a cross 
can  die.” 

Not  in  the  least  offended  with  the  decided 
preference  that  the  sturdy  woodsman  gave  to  one 
who  might,  in  some  degree,  be  called  the  child  of 
his  adoption,  Duncan  still  continued  to  urge  such 
reasons  against  so  desperate  an  effort  as  presented 
themselves.  He  was  aided  by  Alice,  who  mingled 
her  entreaties  with  those  of  Heyward  that  he 
would  abandon  a resolution  that  promised  so 
much  danger,  with  so  little  hope  of  success. 
Their  eloquence  and  ingenuity  were  expended  in 
vain.  The  scout  heard  them  attentively,  but  im- 
patiently, and  finally  closed  the  discussion,  by  an- 
swering, in  a tone  that  instantly  silenced  Alice, 


while  it  told  Heyward  how  fruitless  any  furtliei 
remonstrances  would  be. 

“ I have  heard,”  he  said.  “ that  there  is  a feel- 
ing in  youth  which  binds  man  to  woman  closer 
than  the  father  is  tied  to  the  son.  It  may  be  so. 
I have  seldom  been  where  women  of  my  color 
dwell ; but  such  may  be  the  gifts  of  Nature  in 
the  settlements.  You  have  risked  life,  and  all 
that  is  dear  to  you,  to  bring  off  this  gentle  one, 
and  I suppose  that  some  such  disposition  is  at 
the  bottom  of  it  all.  As  for  me,  I taught  the 
lad  the  real  character  of  a rifle ; and  well  has  he 
paid  me  for  it.  I have  fou’t  at  his  side  in  many" 
a bloody  scrimmage  ; and  so  long  as  I could  hear 
the  crack  of  his  piece  in  one  ear,  and  that  of  the 
sagamore  in  the  other,  I knew  no  enemy  was  on 
my  back.  Winters  and  summers,  nights  and 
days,  have  we  roved  the  wilderness  in  company, 
eating  of  the  same  dish,  one  sleeping  while  the 
other  watched ; and  afore  it  shall  be  said  that 
Uncas  was  taken  to  the  torment,  and  I at  hand — 
There  is  but  a single  ruler  of  us  all,  whatever 
may  be  the  color  of  the  skin  ; and  him  I call  to 
witness — that  before  the  Mohican  boy  shall  perish 
for  the  want  of  a friend,  good  faith  shall  depart 
the  ’arth,  and  ‘ Kill-deer  ’ become  as  harmless  as 
the  tooting-we’pon  of  the  singer  I ” 

Duncan  released  his  hold  on  the  arm  of  the 
scout,  who  turned,  and  steadily  retraced  his  steps 
toward  the  lodges.  After  pausing  a moment  to 
gaze  at  his  retiring  form,  the  successful  and  yet 
sorrowful  Heyward,  and  Alice,  took  their  way 
together  toward  the  distant  village  of  the  Dela- 
wares. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

“ Bot . Let  me  play  the  Hod  too.” 

Midsummer  Night’s  Dream. 

Notwithstanding  the  high  resolution  of 
Hawk-eye,  he  fully  comprehended  all  the  difficul- 
ties and  dangers  he  was  about  to  incur.  In  his 
return  to  the  camp,  his  acute  and  practised  intel- 
lects were  intently  engaged  in  devising  means  to 
counteract  a watchfulness  and  suspicion  on  the 
part  of  his  enemies,  that  he  knew  were,  in  no  de- 
gree, inferior  to  his  own.  Nothing  but  the  color 
of  his  skin  had  saved  the  lives  of  Magua  and  the 
conjurer,  who  would  have  been  the  first  victims 
sacrificed  to  his  own  security,  had  not  the  scout 
believed  such  an  act,  however  congenial  it  might 
be  to  the  nature  of  an  Indian,  utterly  unworthy 
of  one  who  boasted  a descent  from  men  that  knew 
no  cross  of  blood.  Accordingly,  he  trusted  to 


DAVID  GAMUT  AND  THE  SCOUT. 


133 


the  withes  and  ligaments  with  which  he  bound 
his  captives,  and  pursued  his  way  directly  toward 
the  centre  of  the  lodges. 

As  he  approached  the  buildings,  his  steps  be- 
came more  deliberate,  and  his  vigilant  eye  suf- 
fered no  sign,  whether  friendly  or  hostile,  to  es- 
cape him.  A neglected  hut  was  a little  in  ad- 
vance of  the  others,  and  appeared  as  if  it  had 
been  deserted  when  half  completed — most  prob- 
ably on  account  of  failing  in  some  of  the  more 
important  requisites  ; such  as  wood  or  water.  A 
faint  light  glimmered  through  its  cracks,  how- 
ever, and  announced  that,  notwithstanding  its  im- 
perfect structure,  it  was  not  without  a tenant. 
Thither,  then,  the  scout  proceeded,  like  a prudent 
general,  who  was  about  to  feel  the  advanced  po- 
sitions of  his  enemy,  before  he  hazarded  the 
main  attack. 

Throwing  himself  into  a suitable  posture  for 
the  beast  he  represented,  Hawk-eye  crawled  to  a 
little  opening,  where  he  might  command  a view 
of  the  interior.  It  proved  to  be  the  abiding- 
place  of  David  Gamut.  Hither  the  faithful  sing- 
ing-master had  how  brought  himself,  together 
with  all  his  sorrows,  kis  apprehensions,  and  his 
meek  dependence  on  the  protection  of  Providence. 
At  the  precise  moment  when  his  ungainly  person 
came  under  the  observation  of  the  scout,  in  the 
manner  just  mentioned,  the  woodsman  himself, 
though  in  his  assumed  character,  was  the  subject 
of  the  solitary  being’s  profoundest  reflections. 

However  implicit  the  faith  of  David  was  in 
the  performance  of  ancient  miracles,  he  eschewed 
the  belief  of  any  direct  supernatural  agency  in 
the  management  of  modern  morality.  In  other 
words,  while  he  had  implicit  faith  in  the  ability 
of  Balaam’s  ass  to  speak,  he  was  somewhat  skep- 
tical on  the  subject  of  a bear’s  singing ; and  yet 
ke  had  been  assured  of  the  latter,  on  the  testi- 
mony of  his  own  exquisite  organs.  There  was 
something  in  his  air  and  manner  that  betrayed  to 
the  scout  the  utter  confusion  of  the  state  of  his 
mind.  He  was  seated  on  a pile  of  brush,  a few 
twigs  from  which  occasionally  fed  his  low  fire, 
with  his  head  leaning  on  his  arm,  in  a posture  of 
melancholy  musing.  The  costume  of  the  votary 
of  music  had  undergone  no  other  alteration  from 
that  so  lately  described,  except  that  he  had  cov- 
ered his  bald  head  with  the  triangular  beaver, 
which  had  not  proved  sufficiently  alluring  to  ex- 
cite the  cupidity  of  any  of  his  captors. 

The  ingenious  Hawk-eye,  who  recalled  the 
hasty  manner  in  which  the  other  had  abandoned 
his  post  at  the  bedside  of  the  sick  woman,  was 
uot  without  his  suspicions  concerning  the  subject 
of  so  much  solemn  deliberation.  First  making 


the  circuit  of  the  hut,  and  ascertaining  that  it 
stood  quite  alone,  and  that  the  character  of  its 
inmate  was  likely  to  protect  it  from  visitors,  he 
ventured  through  its  low  door,  into  the  very 
presence  of  Gamut.  The  position  of  the  latter 
brought  the  fire  between  them  ; and  when  Hawk- 
eye  had  seated  himself  on  end,  near  a minute 
elapsed,  during  which  the  two  remained  regard- 
ing each  other  without  speaking.  The  sudden- 
ness and  the  nature  of  the  surprise  had  nearly 
proved  too  much  for — we  will  not  say  the  phi- 
losophy— but  for  the  faith  and  resolution  of  Da- 
vid. He  fumbled  for  his  pitch-pipe,  and  arose 
with  a confused  intention  of  attempting  a musi- 
cal exorcism. 

“ Dark  and  mysterious  monster ! ” he  ex- 
claimed, while  with  trembling  hands  he  disposed 
of  his  auxiliary  eyes,  and  sought  his  never-failing 
resource  in  trouble,  the  gifted  version  of  the 
Psalms ; “I  know  not  your  nature  nor  intents  ; 
but  if  aught  you  meditate  against  the  person  and 
rights  of  one  of  the  humblest  servants  of  the 
temple,  listen  to  the  inspired  language  of  the 
youth  of’ Israel,  and  repent.” 

The  bear  shook  his  shaggy  sides,  and  then  a 
well-known  voice  replied : 

“ Put  up  the  tooting-we’pon,  and  teach  your 
throat  modesty.  Five  words  of  plain  and  com- 
prehendible  English  are  worth,  just  now,  an  hour 
of  squalling.” 

“ What  art  thou  ? ” demanded  David,  utterly 
disqualified  to  pursue  his  original  intention,  and 
•nearly  gasping  for  breath. 

“ A man  like  yourself ; and  one  whose  blood 
is  as  little  tainted  by  the  cross  of  a bear,  or  an 
Indian,  as  your  own.  Have  you  so  soon  forgot- 
ten from  whom  you  received  the  foolish  instru- 
ment you  hold  in  your  hand  ? ” 

“ Can  these  things  be  ? ” returned  David, 
breathing  more  freely,  as  the  truth  began  to 
dawn  upon  him.  “ I have  found  many  marvels 
during*  my  sojourn  with  the  heathen,  but  surely 
nothing  to  excel  this  ! ” 

“ Come,  come,”  returned  Hawk-eye,  uncasing 
his  honest  countenance,  the  better  to  assure  the 
wavering  confidence  of  his  companion ; “ you 
may  see  a skin,  which,  if  it  be  not  as  white  as 
one  of  the  gentle  ones,  has  no  tinge  of  red  t©  it 
that  the  winds  of  the  heaven  and  the  sun  have 
not  bestowed.  Now  let  us  to  business.” 

“ First  tell  me  of  the  maiden,  and  of  the  youth 
who  so  bravely  sought  her,”  interrupted  David. 

“ Ay,  they  are  happily  freed  from  the  toma- 
hawks of  these  varlets.  But  can  you  put  me  on 
the  scent  of  Uncas  ? ” 

“ The  young  man  is  in  bondage,  and  much  I 


134 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


fear  his  death  is  decreed.  I greatly  mourn  that 
one  so  well  disposed  should  die  in  his  ignorance, 
and  I have  sought  a goodly  hymn — ” 

“ Can  you  lead  me  to  him  ? ” 

“ The  task  will  not  be  difficult,”  returned  Da- 
vid, hesitating ; “ though  I greatly  fear  your 
presence  would  rather  increase  than  mitigate  his 
unhappy  fortunes.” 

“No  more  words,  but  lead  on,”  returned 
Hawk-eye,  concealing  his  face  again,  and  setting 
the  example  in  his  own  person,  by  instantly  quit- 
ting the  lodge. 

As  they  proceeded,  the  scout  ascertained  that 
his  companion  found  access  to  Uncas,  under 
privilege  of  his  imaginary  infirmity,  aided  by  the 
favor  he  had  acquired  with  one  of  the  guards, 
who,  in  consequence  of  speaking  a little  English, 
had  been  selected  by  David  as  the  subject  of  a 
religious  conversion.  How  far  the  Huron  com- 
prehended the  intentions  of  his  new  friend,  may 
well  be  doubted ; but  as  exclusive  attention  is  as 
flattering  to  a savage  as  to  a more  civilized  indi- 
vidual, it  had  produced  the  effect  we  have  men- 
tioned. It  is  unnecessary  to  repeat  the  shrewd 
manner  with  which  the  scout  extracted  these  par- 
ticulars from  the  simple  David ; neither  shall  we 
dwell  in  this  place  on  the  nature  of  the  instruc- 
tions he  delivered,  when  completely  master  of  all 
the  necessary  facts ; as  the  whole  will  be  suffi- 
ciently explained  to  the  reader  in  the  course  of 
the  narrative. 

The  lodge  in  which  Uncas  was  confined  was 
in  the  very  centre  of  the  village,  and  in  a situa- 
tion, perhaps,  more  difficult  than  -any  other  to 
approach,  or  leave,  without  observation.  But  it 
was  not  the  policy  of  Hawk-eye  to  affect  the 
least  concealment.  Presuming  on  his  disguise, 
and  his  ability  to  sustain  the  character  he  had 
assumed,  he  took  the  most  plain  and  direct  route 
to  the  place.  The  hour,  however,  afforded  him 
some  little  of  that  protection  which  he  appeared 
so  much  to  despise.  The  boys  were  already 
buried  in  sleep,  and  all  the  women,  and  most  of 
the  warriors,  had  retired  to  their  lodges  for  the 
night.  Four  or  five  of  the  latter  only  lingered 
about  the  door  of  the  prison  of  Uncas,  wary  but 
close  observers  of  the  manner  of  their  captive. 

At  the  sight  of  Gamut,  accompanied  by  one 
in  the  well-known  masquerade  of  their  most  dis- 
tinguished conjurer,  they  readily  made  way  for 
them  both.  Still  they  betrayed  no  intention  to 
depart.  On  the  other  hand,  they  were  evidently 
disposed  to  remain  bound  to  the  place  by  an  ad- 
ditional interest  in  the  mysterious  mummeries 
fliat  they  of  course  expected  from  such  a visit. 

From  the  total  inability  of  the  scout  to  ad- 


dress the  Hurons  in  their  own  language,  he  was 
compelled  to  trust  the  conversation  entirely  to 
David.  Notwithstanding  the  simplicity  of  the 
latter,  he  did  ample  justice  to  the  instructions  he 
had  received,  more  than  fulfilling  the  strongest 
hopes  of  his  teacher. 

“ The  Delawares  are  women ! ” he  exclaimed, 
addressing  himself  to  the  savage  who  had  a slight 
understanding  of  the  language  in  which  he  spoke ; 
“the  Yengeese,  my  foolish  countrymen,  have  told 
them  to  take  up  the  tomahawk,  and  strike  their 
fathers  in  the  Canadas,  and  they  have  forgotten 
their  sex.  Does  my  brother  wish  to  hear  ‘ Le 
Cerf  agile  ’ ask  for  his  petticoats,  and  see  him 
weep  before  the  Hurons,  at  the  stake  ? ” 

The  exclamation  “ hugh ! ” delivered  in  a 
strong  tone  of  assent,  announced  the  gratification 
the  savage  would  receive  in  witnessing  such  an 
exhibition  of  weakness  in  an  enemy  so  long  hated 
and  so  much  feared. 

“ Then  let  him  step  aside,  and  the  cunning 
man  will  blow  upon  the  dog!  Tell  it  to  my 
brothers.” 

The  Huron  explained  the  meaning  of  David 
to  his  fellows,  who,  in  their  turn,  listened  to  the 
project  with  that  sort  of  satisfaction  that  their 
untamed  spirits  might  be  expected  to  find  in  such 
a refinement  in  cruelty.  They  drew  back  a little 
from  the  entrance,  and  motioned  to  the  supposed 
conjurer  to  enter.  But  the  bear,  instead  of  obey- 
ing, maintained  the  seat  it  had  taken,  and 
growled. 

“ The  cunning  man  is  afraid  that  his  breath 
will  blow  upon  his  brothers,  and  take  away  their 
courage,  too,  continued  David,  improving  the  hint 
he  received  ; “ they  must  stand  farther  off.” 

The  Hurons,  who  would  have  deemed  such  a 
misfortune  the  heaviest  calamity  that  could  befall 
them,  fell  back  in  a body,  taking  a position  where 
they  were  out  of  ear-shot,  though  at  the  same  time 
they  could  command  a view  of  the  entrance  to 
the  lodge.  Then,  as  if  satisfied  of  their  safety, 
the  scout  left  his  position,  and  slowly  entered  the 
place.  It  was  silent  and  gloomy,  being  tenanted 
solely  by  the  captive,  and  lighted  by  the  dying 
embers  of  a fire,  which  had  been  used  for  the  pur- 
poses of  cookery. 

Uncas  occupied  a distant  corner,  in  a reclining 
attitude,  being  rigidly  bound,  both  hands  and  feet, 
by  strong  and  painful  withes.  When  the  frightful 
object  first  presented  itself  to  the  young  Mohican, 
he  did  not  deign  to  bestow  a single  glance  on  the 
animal.  The  scout,  who  had  left  David  at  the 
door  to  ascertain  they  were  not  observed,  thought 
it  prudent  to  preserve  his  disguise  until  assured 
of  their  privacy.  Instead  of  speaking,  therefore. 


UNCAS  IN  BONDAGE. 


135 


he  exerted  himself  to  enact  one  of  the  antics  of 
the  animal  he  represented.  The  young  Mohican, 
who  at  first  believed  his  enemies  had  sent  in  a 
real  beast  to  torment  him,  and  try  his  nerves,  de- 
tected, in  those  performances  that  to  Heyward 
had  appeared  so  accurate,  certain  blemishes,  that 
at  once  betrayed  the  counterfeit.  Had  Hawk-eye 
been  aware  of  the  low  estimation  in  which  the 
more  skilful  Uncas  held  his  representations,  he 
would  probably  have  prolonged  the  entertainment 
a little  in  pique.  But  the  scornful  expression  of 
the  young  man’s  eye  admitted  of  so  many  con- 
structions, that  the  worthy  scout  was  spared  the 
mortification  of  such  a discovery.  As  soon,  there- 
fore, as  David  gave  the  preconcerted  signal,  a low 
hissing  sound  was  heard  in  the  lodge,  in  place  of 
the  fierce  growlings  of  the  bear. 

Uncas  had  cast  his  body  back  against  the  wall 
of  the  hut,  and  closed  his  eyes,  as  if  willing  to 
exclude  so  contemptible  and  disagreeable  an  ob- 
ject from  his  sight.  But  the  moment  the  noise 
of  the  serpent  was  heard,  he  arose,  and  cast  his 
looks  on  each  side  of  him,  bending  his  head  low, 
and  turning  it  inquiringly  in  every  direction,  until 
his  keen  eye  rested  on  the  shaggy  monster,  where 
it  remained  riveted,  as  though  fixed  by  the  power 
of  a charm.  Again  the  same  sounds  were  re- 
peated, evidently  proceeding  from  the  mouth  of 
the  beast.  Once  more  the  eyes  of  the  youth 
roamed  over  the  interior  of  the  lodge,  and,  return- 
ing to  their  former  resting-place,  he  uttered,  in  a 
deep,  suppressed  voice — 

“ Hawk-eye ! ” 

“ CuW  his  bands,”  said  Hawkreye  to  David, 
who  just  then  approached  them. 

The  singer  did  as  he  was  ordered,  and  Uncas 
found  his  limbs  released.  At  the  same  moment 
the  dried  skin  of  the  animal  rattled,  and  presently 
the  scout  arose  to  his  feet,  in  proper  person.  The 
Mohican  appeared  to  comprehend  the  nature  of 
the  attempt  his  friend  had  made,  intuitively,  nei- 
ther tongue  nor  feature  betraying  another  symp- 
tom of  surprise.  When  Hawk-eye  had  cast  his 
shaggy  vestment,  which  was  done  by  simply  loos- 
ing certain  thongs  of  skiri,  he  drew  a long  glitter- 
ing knife,  and  put  it  in  the  hands  of  Uncas. 

“ The  red  Hurons  are  without,”  he  said  ; “ let 
us  be  ready.” 

At  the  same  time  he  laid  his  finger  significantly 
on  another  similar  weapon,  both  being  the  fruits 
of  his  prowess  among  their  enemies  during  the 
evening. 

“We  will  go,”  said  Uncas. 

“ Whither  ? ” 

“ To  the  Tortoises  • they  are  the  children  of 
my  grandfathers.” 


“ Ay,  lad,”  said  the  scout  in  English — a lan- 
guage he  was  apt  to  use  when  a little  abstracted 
in  mind ; “ the  same  blood  runs  in  your  veins,  I be- 
lieve ; but  time  and  distance  has  a little  changed 
its  color.  What  shall  we  do  with  the  Mingoes  at 
the  door  ? They  count  six,  and  this  singer  is  as 
good  as  nothing.” 

“ The  Hurons  are  boasters,”  said  Uncas,  scorn- 
fully ; “ their  ‘ totem  ’ is  a moose,  and  they  run 
like  snails.  The  Delawares  are  children  of  the 
tortoise,  and  they  outstrip  the  deer.” 

“ Ay,  lad,  there  is  truth  in  what  you  say ; and 
I doubt  not,  on  a rush,  you  would  pass  the  whole 
nation ; and,  in  a straight  race  of  two  miles,  would 
be  in,  and  get  your  breath  again,  afore  a knave  of 
them  all  was  within  hearing  of  the  other  village. 
But  the  gift  of  a white  man  lies  more  in  his  arms 
than  in  his  legs.  As  for  myself,  I can  brain  a Hu- 
ron as  well  as  a better  man ; but  when  it  comes  to 
a race,  the  knaves  would  prove  too  much  for  me.” 

Uncas,  who  had  already  approached  the  door 
in  readiness  to  lead  the  way,  now  recoiled,  and 
placed  himself,  once  more,  in  the  bottom  of  the 
lodge.  But  Hawk-eye,  who  was  too  much  occu- 
pied with  his  own  thoughts  to  note  the  movement, 
continued  speaking,  more  to  himself  than  to  his 
companion : 

“ After  all,”  he  said,  “ it  is  unreasonable  to 
keep  one  man  in  bondage  to  the  gifts  of  another. 
So,  Uncas,  you  had  better  take  the  leap,  while  I 
will  put  on  the  skin  again,  and  trust  to  cunning 
for  want  of  speed.” 

The  young  Mohican  made  no  reply,  but  quiet- 
ly folded  his  arms,  and  leaned  his  body  against 
one  of  the  upright  posts  that  supported  the  wall 
of  the  hut. 

“Well,”  said  the  scout,  looking  up  at  him, 
“ why  do  you  tarry  ? There  will  be  time  enough 
for  me,  as  the  knaves  will  give  chase  to  you  at 
first.” 

“ Uncas  will  stay,”  was  the  calm  reply. 

“ For  what  ? ” 

“ To  fight  with  his  father’s  brother,  and  die 
with  the  friend  of  the  Delawares.” 

“Ay,  lad,”  returned  Hawk-eye,  squeezing  the 
hand  of  Uncas  between  his  own  iron  fingers; 
“ ’twould  have  been  more  like  a Mingo  than  a Mo- 
hican had  you  left  me.  But  I thought  I would 
make  the  offer,  seeing  that  youth  commonly  loves 
lif«.  Well,  what  can’t  be  done  by  main  courage, 
in  war,  must  be  done  by  circumvention.  Put  on 
the  skin ; I doubt  not  you  can  play  the  bear 
nearly  as  well  as  myself.” 

Whatever  might  have  been  the  private  opinion 
of  Uncas  of  their  respective  abilities  in  this  par- 
ticular, his  grave  countenance  manifested  no  opin- 


136 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ton  of  his  own  superiority.  He  silently  and  ex- 
peditiously encased  himself  in  the  covering  of  the 
beast,  and  then  awaited  such  other  movements  as 
his  more  aged  companion  saw  fit  to  dictate. 

“Now,  friend,”  said  Hawk-eye,  addressing 
David,  “ an  exchange  of  garments  will  be  a great 
convenience  to  you,  inasmuch  as  you  are  but  little 
accustomed  to  the  make-shifts  of  the  wilderness. 
Here,  take  my  hunting  shirt  and  cap,  and  give  me 
your  blanket  and  hat.  You  must  trust  me  with 
the  book  and  spectacles,  as  well  as  the  tooter, 
too  ; if  we  ever  meet  again,  in  better  times,  you 
shall  have  all  back  again,  with  many  thanks  into 
the  bargain.” 

David  parted  with  the  several  articles  named 
with  a readiness  that  would  have  done  great  credit 
to  his  liberality,  had  he  not  certainly  profited,  in 
many  particulars,  by  the  exchange.  Hawk-eye 
was  not  long  in  assuming  his  borrowed  garments ; 
and  when  his  restless  eyes  were  hid  behind  the 
glasses,  and  his  head  was  surmounted  by  the  tri- 
angular beaver,  as  their  statures  were  not  dis- 
similar, he  might  readily  have  passed  for  the 
singer  by  starlight.  As  soon  as  these  dispositions 
were  made,  the  scout  turned  to  David,  and'  gave 
him  his  parting  instructions. 

“Are  you  much  given  to  cowardice?”  he 
bluntly  asked,  by  way  of  obtaining  a suitable 
understanding  of  the  whole  case  before  he  ven- 
tured a prescription. 

“ My  pursuits  are  peaceful,  and  my  temper,  1 
humbly  trust,  is  greatly  given  to  mercy  and  love,” 
returned  David,  a little  nettled  at  so  direct  an 
attack  on  his  manhood ; “ but  there  are  none  who 
can  say  that  I have  ever  forgotten  my  faith  in  the 
Lord,  even  in  the  greatest  straits.” 

“Your  chiefest  danger  will  be  at  the  moment 
when  the  savages  find  out  that  they  have  been 
deceived.  If  you  are  not  then  knocked  in  the 
head,  your  being  a non-composser  will  protect 
you;  and  you’ll  then  have  good  reason  to  ex- 
pect to  die  in  your  bed.  If  you  stay,  it  must  be 
to  sit  down  here  in  the  shadow,  and  take  the  part 
of  Uncas,  until  such  times  as  the  cunning  of  the 
Indians  discover  the  cheat,  when,  as  I have  already 
said,  your  time  of  trial  will  come.  So  choose  for 
yourself — to  make  a rush  or  tarry  here.” 

“ Even  so,”  said  David,  firmly ; “ I will  abide 
in  the  place  of  the  Delaware.  Bravely  and  gener- 
ously has  he  battled  in  my  behalf ; and  this,  and 
more,  will  I dare  in  his  service.” 

“You  have  spoken  as  a man,  and  like  one 
who,  under  wiser  schooling,  would  have  been 
brought  to  better  things.  Hold  your  head  down, 
and  draw  in  your  legs ; their  formation  might 
tell  the  truth  too  early.  Keep  silent  as  long  as 


may  be ; and  it  would  be  wise,  when  you  do 
speak,  to  break  out  suddenly  in  one  of  your 
shoutings,  which  will  serve  to  remind  the  In- 
dians  that  you  are  not  altogether  as  responsible 
as  men  should  be.  If,  however,  they  take  your 
scalp,  as  I trust  and  believe  they  will  not,  de- 
1 pend  on  it,  Uncas  and  I will  not  forget  the  deed, 
but  revenge  it  as  becomes  true  warriors  and  trusty 
friends.” 

“ Hold ! ” said  David,  perceiving  that  with 
this  assurance  they  were  about  to  leave  him ; 
“ I am  an  unworthy  and  humble  follower  of  one 
who  taught  not  the  damnable  principle  of  re- 
venge. Should  I fall,  therefore,  seek  no  victims 
to  my  manes,  but  rather  forgive  my  destroyers ; 
and,  if  you  remember  them  at  all,  let  it  be  in 
prayers  for  the  enlightening  of  their  minds,  and 
for  their  eternal  welfare.” 

The  scout  hesitated,  and  appeared  to  muse. 

“ There  is  a principle  in  that,”  he  said,  “ dif- 
ferent from  the  law  of  the  woods ; and  yet  it  is 
fair  and  noble  tb  reflect  upon.”  Then,  heaving  a 
heavy  sigh,  probably  among  the  last  he  ever  drew 
in  pining  for  a condition  he  had  so  long  aban- 
doned, he  added : “ It  is  what  I would  wish  to 
practise  myself,  as  one  without  a cross  of  blood, 
though  it  is  not  always  easy  to  deal  with  an  In- 
dian as  yod  would  with  a fellow-Christian.  God 
bless  you,  friend  ; I do  believe  your  scent  is  not 
greatly  wrong,  when  the  matter  is  duly  con- 
sidered, and  keeping  eternity  before  the  eyes, 
though  much  depends  on  the  natural  gifts  and 
the  force  of  temptation.” 

So  saying,  the  scout  returned  and  shook  Da- 
vid cordially  by  the  hand;  after  which  act  of 
friendship  he  immediately  left  the  lodge,  attended 
by  the  pew  representative  of  the  beast. 

The  instant  Hawk-eye  found  himself  under 
the  observation  of  the  Hurons,  he  drew  up  his 
tall  form  in  the  rigid  manner  of  David,  threw  out 
his  arm  in  the  act  of  keeping  time,  and  com- 
menced what  he  intended  for  an  imitation  of  his 
psalmody.  Happily  for  the  success  of  this  deli- 
cate adventure,  he  had  to  deal  with  ears  but  little 
practised  in  the  concord  of  sweet  sounds,  or  the 
miserable  effort  would  infallibly  have  been  de- 
tected. It  was  necessary  to  pass  within  a danger- 
ous proximity  of  the  dark  group  of  the  savages, 
and  the  voice  of  the  scout  grew  louder  as  they 
drew  nigher.  When  at  the  nearest  point,  the 
Huron  who  spoke  the  English  thrust  out  an  arm, 
and  stopped  the.  supposed  singing-master. 

“ The  Delaware  dog  ! ” he  said,  leaning  for 
ward  and  peering  through  the  dim  fight  to  catch 
the  expression  of  the  other’s  features ; “ is  he 
afraid  ? will  the  Hurons  hear  his  groans  ? ” 


THE  INDIAN  VILLAGE  ALARMED. 


137 


A growl  so  exceedingly  fierce  and  natural  pro- 
ceeded from  the  beast,  that  the  young  Indian  re- 
. eased  his  hold  and  started  aside,  as  if  to  assure 
himself  that  it  was  not  a veritable  bear  and  no 
counterfeit  that  was  rolling  before  him.  Hawk- 
eye,  who  feared  his  voice  would  betray  him  to 
his  subtle  enemies,  gladly  profited  by  the  inter- 
ruption to  break  out  anew  in  such  a burst  of 
musical  expression  as  would,  probably,  in  a more 
refined  state  of  society  have  been  termed  “a 
grand  crash.”  Among  his  actual  auditors,  how- 
ever, it  merely  gave  him  an  additional  claim  to 
that  respect  which  they  never  withhold  from  such 
as  are  believed  to  be  the  subjects  of  mental 
alienation.  The  little  knot  of  Indians  drew  back 
in  a body,  and  suffered,  as  they  thought,  the  con- 
jurer and  his  inspired  assistant  to  proceed. 

It  required  no  common  exercise  of  fortitude 
in  Uncas  and  the  scout  to  continue  the  dignified 
and  deliberate  pace  they  had  assumed  in  passing 
the  lodges ; especially  as  they  immediately  per- 
ceived that  curiosity  had  so  far  mastered  fear  as 
to  induce  the  watchers  to  approach  the  hut,  in 
order  to  witness  the  effect  of  the  incantations. 
The  least  injudicious  or  impatient  movement  on 
the  part  of  David  might  betray  them,  and  time 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  insure  the  safety  of 
the  scout.  The  loud  noise  the  latter  conceived 
it  politic  to  continue,  drew  many  curious  gazers 
to  the  doors  of  the  different  huts  as  they  passed ; 
and  once  or  twice  a dark-looking  warrior  stepped 
across  their  path,  led  to  the  act  by  superstition 
or  watchfulness.  They  were  not,  however,  inter- 
rupted ; the  darkness  of  the  hour,  and  the  bold- 
ness of  the  attempt,  proving  their  principal 
friends. 

The  adventurers  had  got  clear  of  the  village, 
and  were  now  swiftly  approaching  the  shelter  of 
the  woods,  when  a loud  and  long  cry  arose  from 
the  lodge  where  Uncas  had  been  confined.  The 
Mohican  started  on  his  feet  and  shook  his  shaggy 
covering,  as  though  the  animal  he  counterfeited 
was  about  to  make  some  desperate  effort. 

“ Hold ! ” said  the  scout,  grasping  his  friend 
by  the  shoulder,  “ let  them  yell  again ! ’Twas 
nothing  but  wonderment.” 

He  had  no  occasion  to  delay,  for  the  next  in- 
stant a burst  of  crie3  filled  the  outer  air  and  ran 
along  the  whole  extent  of  the  village.  Uncas 
cast  his  skin,  and  stepped  forth  in  his  own  beauti- 
ful proportions.  Hawk-eye  tapped  him  lightly  on 
the  shoulder,  and  glided  ahead. 

“ Now  let  the  devils  strike  our  scent ! ” said 
the  scout,  tearing  two  rifles,  with  all  their  atten- 
dant accoutrements,  from  beneath  a bush,  and 
flourishing  “ Kill-deer  ” as  he  handed  Uncas  his 


weapon;  “two,  at  least,  will  fix.  d it  to  their 
deaths.” 

Then  throwing  their  pieces  to  a low  trail,  like 
sportsmen  in  readiness  for  their  game,  they 
dashed  forward,  and  were  soon  buried  in  the 
sombre  darkness  of  the  forest. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

“ Ant.  I shall  remember : 

When  Caesar  says,  Do  this , it  is  performed.” 

Julius  C^esab. 

The  impatience  of  the  savages  who  lingered 
about  the  prison  of  Uncas,  as  has  been  seen,  had 
overcome  their  dread  of  the  conjurer’s  breath. 
They  stole,  cautiously  and  with  beating  hearts,  to 
a crevice  through  which  the  faint  light  of  the  fire 
was  glimmering.  For  several  minutes  they  mis- 
took the  form  of  David  for  that  of  their  prisoner ; 
but  the  very  accident  which  Hawk-eye  had  fore- 
seen occurred.  Tired  of  keeping  the  extremities 
of  his  long  person  so  near  together,  the  singer 
gradually  suffered  the  lower  limbs  to  extend 
themselves  until  one  of  his  misshapen  feet  actually 
came  in  contact  ivith  and  shoved  aside  the  embers 
of  the  fire.  At  first  the  Hurons  believed  the 
Delaware  had  been  thus  deformed  by  witchcraft. 
But  when  David,  unconscious  of  being  observed, 
turned  his  head  and  exposed  his  simple,  mild 
countenance,  in  place  of  the  haughty  lineaments 
of  their  prisoner,  it  would  have  exceeded  the 
credulity  of  even  a native  to  have  doubted  any 
longer.  They  rushed  together  into  the  lodge, 
and  laying  their  hands,  with  but  little  ceremony, 
on  their  captive,  immediately  detected  the  impo- 
sition. Then  arose  the  cry  first  heard  by  the 
fugitives.  It  was  succeeded  by  the  most  frantic 
and  angry  demonstrations  of  vengeance.  David, 
however  firm  in  his  determination  to  cover  the 
retreat  of  his  friends,  was  compelled  to  believe 
that  his  own  final  hour  had  come.  Deprived  of 
his  book  and  his  pipe,  he  was  fain  to  trust  to  a 
memory  that  rarely  failed  him  on  such  subjects ; 
and,  breaking  forth  in  a loud  and  impassioned 
strain,  he  endeavored  to  smooth  his  passage  into 
the  other  world  by  singing  the  opening  verse  of  a 
funeral  anthem.  The  Indians  were  seasonably 
reminded  of  his  infirmity,  and,  rushing  into  the 
open  air,  they  aroused  the  village  in  the  manner 
described. 

A native  warrior  fights  as  he  sleeps,  without 
the  protection  of  any  thing  defensive.  The  sounds 
of  the  alarm  were,  therefore,  hardly  uttered,  before 
two  hundred  men  were  afoot,  and  ready  for  the 


138 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


battle  or  the  chase,  as  either  might  be  required. 
The  escape  was  soon  known ; and  the  whole  tribe 
crowded,  in  a body,  around  the  council-lodge,  im- 
patiently awaiting  the  instruction  of  their  chiefs, 
In  such  a sudden  demand  on  their  wisdom,  the 
presence  of  the  cunning  Magua  could  scarcely 
fail  of  being  needed.  His  name  was  mentioned) 
and  all  looked  round  in  wonder  that  he  did  not 
appear.  Messengers  were  then  dispatched  to  his 
lodge,  requiring  his  presence. 

In  the  mean  time,  some  of  the  swiftest  and 
most  discreet  of  the  young  men  were  ordered 
to  make  the  circuit  of  the  clearing,  under  cover 
of  the  woods,  in  order  to  ascertain  that  their 
suspected  neighbors,  the  Delawares,  designed  no 
mischief.  Women  and  children  ran  to  and  fro; 
and,  in  short,  the  whole  encampment  exhibited 
another  scene  of  wild  and  savage  confusion. 
Gradually,  however,  these  symptoms  of  disorder 
diminished  ; and  in  a few  minutes  the  oldest  and 
most  distinguished  chiefs  were  assembled  in  the 
lodge,  in  grave  consultation. 

The  clamor  of  many  voices  soon  announced 
that  a party  approached,  who  might  be  expected 
to  communicate  some  intelligence  that  would  ex- 
plain the  mystery  of  the  novel  surprise.  The 
crowd  without  gave  way,  and  several  warriors  en- 
tered the  place,  bringing  with  them  the  hapless 
conjurer,  who  had  been  left  so  long  by  the  scout 
in  duresse. 

Notwithstanding  this  man  was  held  in  very  un- 
equal estimation  among  the  Hurons,  some  believ- 
ing implicitly  in  his  power,  and  others  deeming 
him  an  impostor,  he  was  now  listened  to  by  all  with 
the  deepest  attention.  When  his  brief  story  was 
ended,  the  father  of  the  sick  woman  stepped  forth, 
and,  in  a few  pithy  expressions,  related,  in  his 
turn,  what  he  knew.  These  two  narratives  gave 
a proper  direction  to  the  subsequent  inquiries, 
which  were  now  made  with  the  characteristic 
cunning  of  savages. 

Instead  of  rushing  in  a confused  and  dis- 
orderly throng  to  the  cavern,  ten  of  the  wisest  and 
firmest  among  the  chiefs  were  selected  to  prosecute 
the  investigation.  As  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  the 
instant  the  choice  was  made  the  individuals  ap- 
pointed rose  in  a body,  and  left  the  place  without 
speaking.  On  reaching  the  entrance,  the  younger 
men  in  advance  made  way  for  their  seniors  ; and 
the  whole  proceeded  along  the  low,  dark  gallery, 
with  the  firmness  of  warriors  ready  to  devote 
themselves  to  the  public  good,  though,  at  the 
same  time,  secretly  doubting  the  nature  of  the 
power  with  which  they  were  about  to  contend. 

The  outer  apartment  of  the  cavern  was  silent 
and  gloomy.  The  woman  lay  in  her  usual  place 


and  posture,  though  there  were  those  present 
who  affirmed  they  had  seen  her  borne  to  the  woods, 
by  the  supposed  “ medicine  of  the  white  men.” 
Such  a direct  and  palpable  contradiction  of  the 
tale  related  by  the  father,  caused  all  eyes  to  be 
turned  on  him.  Chafed  by  the  silent  imputation, 
and  inwardly  troubled  by  so  unaccountable  a 
circumstance,  the  chief  advanced  to  the  side  of 
the  bed,  and,  stooping,  cast  an  incredulous  look  at 
the  features,  as  if  distrusting  their  reality.  His 
daughter  was  dead. 

The  unerring  feeling  of  nature  for  a moment 
prevailed,  and  the  old  warrior  hid  his  eyes  in 
sorrow.  Then,  recovering  his  self-possession,  he 
faced  his  companions,  and,  pointing  toward  the 
corpse,  he  said,  in  the  language  of  his  people : 

“ The  wife  of  my  young  man  has  left  us  ! the 
Great  Spirit  is  angry  with  his  children.” 

The  mournful  intelligence  was  received  in 
solemn  silence.  After  a short  pause,  one  of  the 
elder  Indians  was  about  to  speak,  when  a dark- 
looking object  was  seen  rolling  out  of  an  adjoin- 
ing apartment,  into  the  very  centre  of  the  room 
where  they  stood.  Ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the 
beings  they  had  to  deal  with,  the  whole  party 
drew  back  a little,  and  gazed  in  admiration,  until 
the  object  fronted  the  light,  and,  rising  on  end, 
exhibited  the  distorted  but  still  fierce  and  sullen 
features  of  Magua.  The  discovery  was  succeeded 
by  a general  exclamation  of  amazement. 

As  soon,  however,  as  the  true  situation  of  the 
chief  was  understood,  several  ready  knives  ap- 
peared, and  his  limbs  and  tongue  were  quickly 
released.  The  Huron  arose,  and  shook  himself 
like  a lion  quitting  his  lair.  Not  a word  escaped 
him,  though  his  hand  played  convulsively  with 
the  handle  of  his  knife,  while  hi3  lowering  eyes 
scanned  the  whole  party,  as  if  they  sought  an 
object  suited  to  the  first  burst  of  his  vengeance. 

It  was  happy  for  Uncas  and  the  scout,  and 
even  David,  that  they  were  all  beyond  the  reach 
of  his  arm  at  such  a moment ; for,  assuredly,  no 
refinement  in  cruelty  would  then  have  deferred 
their  deaths,  in  opposition  to  the  promptings  of 
the  fierce  temper  that  nearly  choked  him.  Meet- 
ing everywhere  faces  that  he  knew  as  friends, 
the  savage  grated  his  teeth  together  like  rasps  of 
iron,  and  swallowed  his  passion  for  want  of  a vic- 
tim on  whom  to  vent  it.  This  exhibition  of  anger 
was  noted  by  all  present ; and,  from  an  apprehen- 
sion of  exasperating  a temper  that  was  already 
chafed  nearly  to  madness,  several  minutes  were 
suffered  to  pass  before  another  word  was  uttered. 
When,  however,  suitable  time  had  elapsed,  the 
oldest  of  the  party  spoke. 

“My  friend  has  found  an  enemy,”  he  said 


THE  CHIEFS  IN  COUNCIL. 


139 


"Ja  he  nigh,  that  the  Hurons  may  take  re- 
venge ? ” 

“ Let  the  Delaware  die ! ” exclaimed  Magua, 
in  a voice  of  thunder. 

Another  long  and  expressive  silence  was  ob- 
served, and  was  broken,  as  before,  with  due  pre- 
caution, by  the  same  individual. 

K The  Mohican  is  swift  of  foot,  and  leaps  far,” 
he  said  ; “ but  my  young  men  are  on  his  trail.” 

“ Is  he  gone  ? ” demanded  Magua  in  tones  so 
deep  and  guttural,  that  they  seemed  to  proceed 
from  his  inmost  chest. 

“ An  evil  spirit  has  been  among  us,  and  the 
Delaware  has  blinded  our  eyes.” 

“ An  evil  spirit ! ” repeated  the  other,  mock- 
ingly ; “ ’tis  the  spirit  that  has  taken  the  lives  of 
so  many  Hurons.  The  spirit  that  slew  my  young 
men  at  * the  tumbling  river ; ’ that  took  their 
scalps  at  the  ‘ healing  spring ; ’ and  who  has,  now, 
bound  the  arms  of  Le  Renard  Subtil ! ” 

“ Of  whom  does  my  friend  speak  ? ” 

“ Of  the  dog  who  carries  the  heart  and  cun- 
ning of  a Huron  under  a pale  skin — La  longue 
Carabine  ! ” 

The  pronunciation  of  so  terrible  a name  pro- 
duced the  usual  effect  among  his  auditors.  But 
when  time  was  given  for  reflection,  and  the  war- 
riors remembered  that  their  formidable  and  dar- 
ing enemy  had  even  been  in  the  bosom  of  their 
encampment,  working  injury,  fearful  rage  took 
the  place  of  wonder,  and  all  those  fierce  passions 
with  which  the  bosom  of  Magua  had  just  been 
struggling  were  suddenly  transferred  to  his  com- 
panions. Some  among  them  gnashed  their  teeth 
in  anger,  others  vented  their  feelings  in  yells,  and 
some,  again,  beat  the  air  as  frantically  as  if  the  ob- 
ject of  their  resentment  were  suffering  under  their 
blows.  But  this  sudden  outbreaking  of  temper 
as  quickly  subsided  in  the  still  and  sullen  restraint 
they  most  affected,  in  their  moments  of  inaction. 

Magua,  who  had,  in  hi3  turn,  found  leisure  for 
reflection,  now  changed  his  manner,  and  assumed 
the  air  of  one  who  knew  how  to  think  and  act 
with  a dignity  worthy  of  so  grave  a subject. 

“ Let  us  go  to  my  people,”  he  said ; “ they 
wait  for  us.” 

His  companions  consented  in  silence,  and  the 
whole  of  the  savage  party  left  the  cavern  and  re- 
turned to  the  council-lodge.  When  they  were 
seated,  all  eyes  turned  on  Magua,  who  understood, 
from  the  indication,  that,  by  common  consent, 
they  had  devolved  the  duty  of  relating  what  had 
passed  on  him.  He  arose,  and  told  his  tale,  with- 
out duplicity  or  reservation.  The  whole  decep- 
tion practised  by  both  Duncan  and  Hawk-eye 
was,  of  course,  laid  naked ; and  no  room  was 


found,  even  for  the  most  superstitious  of  the  tribe, 
any  longer  to  affix  a doubt  on  the  character  of 
the  occurrences.  It  was  but  too  apparent  that 
they  had  been  insultingly,  shamefully,  disgrace- 
fully deceiyed.  When  he  had  ended  and  re- 
sumed his  seat,  the  collected  tribe — for  his  audi- 
tors, in  substance,  included  all  the  fighting-men 
of  the  party — sat  regarding  each  other  like  men 
astonished  equally  at  the  audacity  and  the  success 
of  their  enemies.  The  next  consideration,  how- 
ever, was  the  means  and  opportunities  for  re- 
venge. 

Additional  pursuers  were  sent  on  the  trail 
of  the  fugitives;  and  then  the  chiefs  applied 
themselves,  in  earnest,  to  the  business  of  consul- 
tation. Many  different  expedients  were  proposed 
by  the  elder  warriors,  in  succession,  to  all  of 
which  Magua  was  a silent  and  respectful  lis- 
tener. That  subtle  savage  had  recovered  his  ar- 
tifice and  self-command,  and  now  proceeded  tow- 
ard his  object  with  his  customary  caution  and 
skill.  It  was  only  when  each  one  disposed  to 
speak  had  uttered  his  sentiments,  that  he  pre- 
pared to  advance  his  own  opinions.  They  were 
given  with  additional  weight  from  the  circum- 
stance that  some  of  the  runners  had  already  re- 
turned, and  reported  that  their  enemies  had  been 
traced  so  far  as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  their  having 
sought  safety  in  the  neighboring  camp  of  their 
suspected  allies,  the  Delawares.  With  the  ad- 
vantage of  possessing  this  important  intelligence, 
the  chief  warily  laid  his  plans  before  his  fellows, 
and,  as  might  have  been  anticipated  from  his  elo- 
quence and  cunning,  they  were  adopted  without 
a dissenting  voice.  They  were,  briefly,  as  follows, 
both  in  opinions  and  in  motives : 

It  has  been  already  stated  that,  in  obedience 
to  a policy  rarely  departed  from,  the  sisters  were 
separated  so  soon  as  they  reached  the  Huron  vil- 
lage. Magua  had  early  discovered  that,  in  retain- 
ing the  person  of  Alice,  he  possessed  the  most 
effectual  check  on  Cora.  When  they  parted, 
therefore,  he  kept  the  former  within  reach  of  hi3 
hand,  consigning  the  one  he  most  valued  to  the 
keeping  of  their  allies.  The  arrangement  was 
understood  to  be  merely  temporary,  and  was 
made  as  much  with  a view  to  flatter  his  neighbors 
as  in  obedience  to  the  invariable  rule  of  Indian 
policy. 

While  goaded  incessantly  by  those  revengeful 
impulses  that  in  a savage  seldom  slumber,  the 
chief  was  still  attentive  to  his  more  permanent 
personal  interests.  The  follies  and  disloyalty 
committed  in  his  youth  were  to  oe  expiated  by  a 
long  and  painful  penance  ere  he  could  be  restored 
to  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  confidence  of  his  an 


140 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS, 


cient  people ; and  without  confidence  there  could 
be  no  authority  in  the  Indian  tribe.  In  this  deli- 
cate and  arduous  situation,  the  crafty  native  had 
neglected  no  means  of  increasing  his  influence ; 
and  one  of  the  happiest  of  his  expedients  had 
been  the  success  with  which  he  had  cultivated 
the  favor  of  their  powerful  and  dangerous  neigh- 
bors. The  result  of  his  experiment  had  answered 
all  the  expectations  of  his  policy ; for  the  Hurons 
were  in  no  degree  exempt  from  that  governing 
principle  of  Nature,  which  induces  man  to  value 
his  gifts  precisely  in  the  degree  that  they  are  ap- 
preciated by  others. 

But,  while  he  was  making  this  ostensible  sac- 
rifice to  general  considerations,  Magua  never  lost 
sight  of  his  individual  motives.  The  latter  had 
been  frustrated  by  the  unlooked-for  events  which 
had  placed  all  his  prisoners  beyond  his  control ; 
and  he  now  found  himself  reduced  to  the  neces- 
sity of  suing  for  favors  to  those  whom  it  had  so 
lately  been  his  policy  to  oblige. 

Several  of  the  chiefs  had  proposed  deep  and 
treacherous  schemes  to  surprise  the  Delawares, 
and,  by  gaining  possession  of  their  camp,  to  re- 
cover their  prisoners  by  the  same  blow ; for  all 
agreed  that  their  honor,  their  interests,  and  the 
peace  and  happiness  of  their  dead  countrymen, 
imperiously  required  them  speedily  to  immolate 
some  victims  to  their  revenge.  But  plans  so 
dangerous  to  attempt,  and  of  such  doubtful  issue, 
Magua  found  little  difficulty  in  defeating.  He 
exposed  their  risk  and  fallacy  with  his  usual 
skill ; and  it  was  only  after  he  had  removed  every 
impediment,  in  the  shape  of  opposing  advice, 
that  he  ventured  to  propose  his  own  projects. 

He  commenced  by  flattering  the  self-love  of 
his  auditors  ; a never-failing  method  of  command- 
ing attention.  When  he  had  enumerated  the 
many  different  occasions  on  which  the  Hurons 
had  exhibited  their  courage  and  prowess,  in  the 
punishment  of  insults,  he  digressed  in  a high  en- 
comium on  the  virtue  of  wisdom.  He  painted 
the  quality,  as  forming  the  great  point  of  differ- 
ence between  the  beaver  and  other  brutes  ; be- 
tween brutes  and  men  ; and,  finally,  between  the 
Hurons,  in  particular,  and  the  rest  of  the  human 
race.  After  he  had  sufficiently  extolled  the  prop- 
erty of  discretion,  he  undertook  to  exhibit  in 
what  manner  its  use  was  applicable  to  the  present 
situation  of  their  tribe.  On  the  one  hand,  he 
said,  was  their  great  pale  father,  the  Governor  of 
the  Canadas,  who  had  looked  upon  his  children 
with  a hard  eye,  since  their  tomahawks  had  been 
so  red ; on  the  other,  a people  as  numerous  as 
themselves,  who  spoke  a different  language,  pos- 
sessed different  interests,  and  loved  them  not, 


and  who  would  be  glad  of  any  pretence  to  bring 
them  in  disgrace  with  the  great  white  chief. 
Then  he  spoke  of  their  necessities  ; of  the  gifts 
they  had  a right  to  expect  for  their  past  services 
of  their  distance  from  their  proper  hunting, 
grounds  and  native  villages  ; and  of  the  necessity 
of  consulting  prudence  more,  and  inclination  less, 
in  so  critical  circumstances.  When  he  perceived 
that,  while  the  old  men  applauded  his  modera- 
tion, many  of  the  fiercest  and  most  distinguished 
of  the  warriors  listened  to  these  politic  plans 
with  lowering  looks,  he  cunningly  led  them  back 
to  the  subject  which  they  most  loved.  He  spoke 
openly  of  the  fruits  of  their  wisdom,  which  he 
boldly  pronounced  would  be  a complete  and  final 
triumph  over  their  enemies.  He  even  darkly 
hinted  that  their  success  might  be  extended,  with 
proper  caution,  in  such  a manner  as  to  include 
the  destruction  of  all  whom  they  had  reason  to 
hate.  In  short,  he  so  blended  the  warlike  with 
the  artful,  the  obvious  with  the  obscure,  as  to 
flatter  the  propensities  of  both  parties,  and  to 
leave  to  each  subject  of  hope,  while  neither  could 
say  it  clearly  comprehended  his  intentions. 

The  orator,  or  the  politician,  who  can  produce 
such  a state  of  things,  is  commonly  popular  with 
his  contemporaries,  however  he  may  be  treated 
by  posterity.  All  perceived  that  more  was  meant 
than  was  uttered,  and  each  one  believed  that  the 
hidden  meaning  was  precisely  such  as  his  own 
faculties  enabled  him  to  understand,  or  his  own 
wishes  led  him  to  anticipate. 

In  this  happy  state  of  things,  it  is  not  surpris- 
ing that  the  management  of  Magua  prevailed.. 
The  tribe  consented  to  act  with  deliberation,  and 
with  one  voice  they  committed  the  direction  of 
the  whole  affair  to  the  government  of  the  chief 
who  had  suggested  such  wise  and  intelligible  ex 
pedients. 

Magua  had  now  attained  one  great  object  of 
all  his  cunning  and  enterprise.  The  ground  he 
had  lost  in  the  favor  of  his  people  was  completely 
regained,  and  he  found  himself  even  placed  at 
the  head  of  affairs.  He  was,  in  truth,  their  ruler; 
and,  so  long  as  he  could  maintain  his  popularity, 
no  monarch  could  be  more  despotic,  especially 
while  the  tribe  continued  in  a hostile  country. 
Throwing  off,  therefore,  the  appearance  of  con- 
sultation, he  assumed  the  grave  air  of  authoritj 
necessary  to  support  the  dignity  of  his  office. 

Runners  were  dispatched  for  intelligence  in  dif- 
ferent directions  ; spies  were  ordered  to  approach 
and  feel  the  encampment  of  the  Delawares  ; the 
warriors  were  dismissed  to  their  lodges,  with  an 
intimation  that  their  services  would  soon  be 
needed ; and  the  women  and  children  were  or 


MAGUA  AND  HIS  PARTY. 


141 


dered  to  retire,  with  a warning  that  it  was  their 
province  to  be  silent.  When  these  several  ar- 
rangements were  made,  Magua  passed  through 
the  village,  stopping  here  and  there  to  pay  a visit 
where  he  thought  his  presence  might  be  flatter- 
ing to  the  individual.  He  confirmed  his  friends 
in  their  confidence,  fixed  the  wavering,  and 
gratified  all.  Then  he  sought  his  own  lodge. 
The  wife  the  Huron  chief  had  abandoned,  when 
he  was  chased  from  among  his  people,  was  dead. 
Children,  he  had  none ; and  he  now  occupied  a 
hut,  without,  companion  of  any  sort.  It  was,  in 
fact,  the  dilapidated  and  solitary  structure  in 
which  David  had  been  discovered,  and  whom  he 
had  tolerated  in  his  presence,  on  those  few  occa- 
sions when  they  met,  with  the  contemptuous  in- 
difference of  a haughty  superiority. 

Hither,  then,  Magua  retired,  when  his  labors 
of  policy  were  ended.  While  others  slept,  how- 
ever, he  neither  knew  nor  sought  repose.  Had 
there  been  one  sufficiently  curious  to  have 
watched  the  movements  of  the  newly-elected 
chief,  he  would  have  seen  him  seated  in  a corner 
of  his  lodge,  musing  on  the  subject  of  his  future 
plans,  from  the  hour  of  his  retirement  to  the  time 
he  had  appointed  for  the  warriors  to  assemble 
again.  Occasionally  the  air  breathed  through 
the  crevices  of  the  hut,  and  the  low  flame  that 
fluttered  about  the  embers  of  the  fire  threw  their 
wavering  light  on  the  person  of  the  sullen  recluse. 
At  such  moments  it  would  not  have  been  difficult 
to  have  fancied  the  dusky  savage  the  Prince  of 
Darkness,  brooding  on  his  own  fancied  wrongs, 
and  plotting  evils. 

Long  before  the  day  dawned,  however,  war- 
rior after  warrior  entered  the  solitary  hut  of  Ma- 
gua, until  they  had  collected  to  the  number  of 
twenty.'  Each  bore  his  rifle,  and  all  the  other  ac- 
coutrements of  war,  though  the  paint  was  uni- 
formly peaceful.  The  entrance  of  these  fierce- 
looking  beings  was  unnoticed ; some  seating 
themselves  in  the  shadows  of  the  place,  and  others 
standing  like  motionless  statues,  until  the  whole 
of  the  designated  band  was  collected. 

Then  Magua  arose  and  gave  the  signal  to  pro- 
ceed, marching  himself  in  advance.  They  fol- 
lowed their  leader  singly,  and  in  that  well-known 
order  which  has  obtained  the  distinguishing  ap- 
pellation of  “ Indian  file.”  Unlike  other  men  en- 
gaged in  the  spirit-stirring  business  of  war,  they 
stole  from  their  camp  unostentatiously  and  unob- 
served, resembling  a band  of  gliding  spectres, 
more  than  warriors  seeking  the  bubble  reputation 
by  deeds  of  desperate  daring. 

Instead  of  taking  the  path  which  led  directly 
toward  the  camp  of  the  Delawares,  Magua  led  his 


party  for  some  distance  down  the  windings  of 
the  stream,  and  along  the  little  artificial  lake  of 
the  beavers.  The  day  began  to  dawn  as  they  en- 
tered the  clearing  which  had  been  formed  by 
those  sagacious  and  industrious  animals.  Though 
Magua,  who  had  resumed  his  ancient  garb,  bore 
the  outline  of  a fox  on  the  dressed  skin  which 
formed  his  robe,  there  was  one  chief  of  his  party 
who  carried  the  beaver  as  his  peculiar  symbol  or 
“ totem.”  There  would  have  been  a species  of 
profanity  in  the  omission,  had  this  man  passed  so 
powerful  a community  of  his  fancied  kindred, 
without  bestowing  some  evidence  of  his  regard. 
Accordingly,  he  paused,  and  spoke  in  words  as 
kind  and  friendly  as  if  he  were  addressing  more 
intelligent  beings.  He  called  the  animals  his 
cousins,  and  reminded  them  that  his  protecting 
influence  was  the  reason  they  remained  unharmed, 
while  so  many  avaricious  traders  were  prompting 
the  Indians  to  take  their  lives.  He  promised  a 
continuance  of  his  favors,  and  admonished  them 
to  be  grateful.  After  which,  he  spoke  of  the  ex- 
pedition in  which  he  was  himself  engaged,  and 
intimated,  though  with  sufficient  delicacy  and  cir- 
cumlocution, the  expediency  of  bestowing  on 
their  relative  a portion  of  that  wisdom  for  which 
they  were  so  renowned.* 

During  the  utterance  of  this  extraordinary 
address,  the  companions  of  the  speaker  were  as 
grave  and  as  attentive  to  his  language  as  though 
they  were  all  equally  impressed  with  its  propriety. 
Once  or  twice  black  objects  were  seen  rising  to 
the  surface  of  the  water,  and  the  Huron  expressed 
pleasure,  conceiving  that  his  words  were  not  be- 
stowed in  vain.  Just  as  he  had  ended  his  ad- 
dress, the  head  of  a large  beaver  was  thrust  from 
the  door  of  a lodge,  whose  earthen  walls  had 
been  much  injured,  and  which  the  whole  party  had 
believed,  from  its  situation,  to  be  uninhabited. 
Such  an  extraordinary  sign  of  confidence  was  re- 
ceived by  the  orator  as  a highly-favorable  omen ; 
and  though  the  animal  retreated  a little  precipi- 
tately, he  was  lavish  of  his  thanks  and  commen- 
dations. 

When  Magua  thought  sufficient  time  had  been 
lost  in  gratifying  the  family  affection  of  the  war 
rior,  he  again  made  the  signal  to  proceed.  As 
the  Indians  moved  away  in  a body,  and  with  a 
step  that  would  have  been  inaudible  to  the  ears 
of  any  common  man,  the  same  venerable-looking 
beaver  once  more  ventured  his  head  from  its  cov- 


* These  harangues  of  the  beasts  are  frequent  among  the 
Indians.  They  often  address  their  victims  in  this  way,  re- 
proaching them  for  cowardice,  or  commending  their  resolu- 
tion, as  they  may  happen  to  exhibit  fortitude  or  the  reverse. 
In  suffering. 


142 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


er.  Had  any  of  the  Hurons  turned  to  look  be- 
hind them,  they  would  have  seen  the  animal 
watching  their  movements  with  an  interest  and 
sagacity  that  might  easily  have  been  mistaken 
for  reason.  Indeed,  so  very  distinct  and  intelli- 
gible were  the  devices  of  the  quadruped,  that  even 
the  most  experienced  observer  would  have  been 
at  a loss  to  account  for  its  actions,  until  the  mo- 
ment when  the  party  entered  the  forest,  when  the 
whole  would  have  been  explained,  by  seeing  the 
entire  animal  issue  from  the  lodge,  uncasing,  by 
the  act,  the  grave  features  of  Chingachgook  from 
his  mask  of  fur. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

“Brief,  I pray  you;  for  you  see,  ’tis  a busy  time  with  me.” 

Much  Ado  About  Nothing. 

The  tribe,  or  rather  half  tribe,  of  Delawares, 
which  has  been  so  often  mentioned,  and  whose 
present  place  of  encampment  was  so  nigh  the 
temporary  village  of  the  Hurons,  could  assemble 
about  an  equal  number  of  warriors  with  the  lat- 
ter people.  Like  their  neighbors,  they  had  fol- 
lowed Montcalm  into  the  territories  of  the  Eng- 
lish crown,  and  were  making  h«avy  and  serious 
inroads  on  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Mohawks  ; 
though  they  had  seen  fit,  with  the  mysterious 
reserve  so  common  among  the  natives,  to  with- 
hold their  assistance  at  the  moment  when  it  was 
most  required.  The  French  had  accounted  for 
this  unexpected  defection  on  the  part  of  their  ally 
in  various  ways.  It  was  the  prevalent  opinion, 
however,  that  they  had  been  influenced  by  ven- 
eration for  the  ancient  treaty,  that  had  once  made 
them  dependent  on  the  Six  Nations  for  military 
protection,  and  now  rendered  them  reluctant  to 
encounter  their  former  masters.  As  for  the  tribe 
itself,  it  had  been  content  to  announce  to  Mont- 
calm, through  his  emissaries,  with  Indian  brevity, 
that  their  hatchets  were  dull,  and  time  was  neces- 
sary to  sharpen  them.  The  politic  Captain  of  the 
Canadas  had  deemed  it  wiser  to  submit  to  enter- 
tain a passive  friend,  than  by  any  acts  of  ill- 
judged  severity  to  convert  him  into  an  open 
enemy. 

On  that  morning  when  Magua  led  his  silent 
party  from  the  settlement  of  the  beavers  into  the 
forest,  in  the  manner  described,  the  sun  rose  up- 
on the  Delaware  encampment,  as  if  it  had  sudden- 
ly burst  upon  a busy  people,  actively  employed 
in  all  the  customary  avocations  of  high  noon. 
The  women  ran  from  lodge  to  lodge,  some  en- 
gaged in  preparing  their  morning’s  meal,  a few 


earnestly  bent  on  seeking  the  comforts  neceasaiy 
to  their  habits,  but  more  pausing  to  exchange 
hasty  and  whispered  sentences  with  their  friends. 
The  warriors  were  lounging  in  groups,  musing 
more  than  they  conversed  ; and  when  a few  words 
were  uttered,  speaking  like  men  who  deeply 
weighed  their  opinions.  The  instruments  of 
the  chase  were  to  be  seen  in  abundance  among 
the  lodges  ; but  none  departed.  Here  and  there 
a warrior  was  examining  his  arms,  with  an  atten- 
tion that  is  rarely  bestowed  on  the  implements, 
when  no  other  enemy  than  the  beasts  of  the 
forest  is  expected  to  be  encountered.  And,  oc- 
casionally, the  eyes  of  a whole  group  were  turned 
simultaneously  toward  a large  and  silent  lodge  in 
the  centre  of  the  village,  as  if  it  contained  the 
subject  of  their  common  thoughts. 

During  the  existence  of  this  scene,  a man 
suddenly  appeared  at  the  farthest  extremity  of  a 
platform  of  rock  which  formed  the  level  of  the 
village.  He  was  without  arms,  and  his  paint 
tended  rather  to  soften  than  increase  the  natural 
sternness  of  his  austere  countenance.  When  in 
full  view  of  the  Delawares  he  stopped,  and  made 
a gesture  of  amity,  by  throwing  his  arm  upward 
toward  heaven,  and  then  letting  it  fall  impressive- 
ly on  his  breast.  The  inhabitants  of  the  village 
answered  his  salute  by  a low  murmur  of  welcome; 
and  encouraged  him  to  advance  by  similar  indi- 
cations of  friendship.  Fortified  by  these  assur- 
ances, the  dark  figure  left  the  brow  of  the  natu- 
ral rocky  terrace,  where  it  had  stood  a moment, 
drawn  in  a strong  outline  against  the  blushing 
morning  sky,  and  moved  with  dignity  into  the 
very  centre  of  the  huts.  As  he  approached, 
nothing  was  audible  but  the  rattling  of  the  light 
silver  ornaments  that  loaded  his  arms  and  neck, 
and  the  tinkling  of  the  little  bells  that  fringed 
his  deer-skin  moccasins.  He  made,  as  he  ad- 
vanced, many  courteous  signs  of  greeting  to  the 
men  he  passed,  neglecting  to  notice  the  women, 
however,  like  one  who  deemed  their  favor,  in  the 
present  enterprise,  of  no  importance.  When  he 
had  reached  the  group  in  which  it  was  evident, 
by  the  haughtiness  of  their  common  mien,  that 
the  principal  chiefs  were  collected,  the  stranger 
paused,  and  then  the  Delawares  saw  that  the  ac- 
tive and  erect  form  that  stood  before  them  was 
that  of  the  well-known  Huron  chief,  Le  Renard 
Subtil. 

His  reception  was  grave,  silent,  and  wary. 
The  warriors  in  front  stepped  aside,  opening  the 
way  to  their  most-approved  orator  by  the  action ; 
one  who  spoke  all  those  languages  that  were  cul- 
tivated among  the  northern  aborigines. 

“ The  wise  Huron  is  welcome,”  said  the  Dels* 


THE  HURON  CHIEF  AMONG  THE  DELAWARES. 


143 


ware,  in  the  language  of  the  Maquas;  “he  is 
come  to  eat  his  ‘ succa-tasli,’  * with  his  brothers 
of  the  lakes.” 

“ He  is  come,”  repeated  Magua,  bending  his 
head  with  the  dignity  of  an  Eastern  prince. 

The  chief  extended  his  arm,  and,  taking  the 
other  by  the  wrist,  they  once  more  exchanged 
friendly  salutations.  Then  the  Delaware  invited 
Lis  guest  to  enter  his  own  lodge,  and  share  his 
morning  meal.  The  invitation  was  accepted ; and 
the  two  warriors,  attended  by  three  or  four  of  the 
old  men,  walked  calmly  away,  leaving  the  rest  of 
the  tribe  devoured  by  a desire  to  understand  the 
reasons  of  so  unusual  a visit,  and  yet  not  betray- 
ing the  least  impatience  by  sign  or  word. 

During  the  short  and  frugal  repast  that  fol- 
lowed, the  conversation  was  extremely  circum- 
spect, and  related  entirely  to  the  events  of  the 
hunt,  in  which  Magua  had  so  lately  been  engaged. 
It  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  most  fin- 
ished breeding  to  wear  more  of  the  appearance 
of  considering  the  visit  as  a thing  of  course,  than 
did  his  hosts,  notwithstanding  every  individual 
Dresent  was  perfectly  aware  that  it  must  be  con- 
nected with  some  secret  object,  and  that  probably 
of  importance  to  themselves.  When  the  appe- 
tites of  the  whole  were  appeased,  the  squaws 
removed  the  trenchers  and  gourds,  and  the  two 
parties  began  to  prepare  themselves  for  a subtle 
trial  of  their  wits. 

“Is  the  face  of  my  great  Canada  father 
turned  again  toward  his  Huron  children  ? ” de- 
manded the  orator  of  the  Delawares. 

“When  was  it  ever  otherwise?”  returned 
Magua.  “ He  calls  my  people  ‘ most  beloved.’  ” 

The  Delaware  gravely  bowed  his  acquiescence 
to  what  he  knew  to  be  false,  and  continued  : 

“ The  tomahawks  of  your  young  men  have 
been  very  red  ! ” 

“ It  is  so ; but  they  are  now  bright  and  dull ; 
for  the  Yengeese  are  dead,  and  the  Delawares  are 
our  neighbors.” 

The  other  acknowledged  the  pacific  compli- 
ment by  a gesture  of  the  hand,  and  remained 
silent.  Then  Magua,  as  if  recalled  to  such  a rec- 
ollection, by  the  allusion  to  the  massacre,  de- 
manded : 

“ Does  my  prisoner  give  trouble  to  my  broth- 
ers ? ” 

“She  is  welcome.” 

“ The  path  between  the  Hurons  and  the  Dela- 
wares is  short,  and  it  is  open ; let  her  be  sent  to 
my  squaws,  if  she  gives  trouble  to  my  brother.” 


* A dlah  composed  of  cracked  com  and  beans.  It  is 
much  usod  also  by  the  whites.  By  oom  is  meant  maize. 

25 


“ She  is  welcome,”  returned  the  chief  of  the 
latter  nation,  still  more  emphatically. 

The  baffled  Magua  continued  silent  several 
minutes,  apparently  indifferent,  however,  to  the 
repulse  he  nad  received  in  this  his  opening  effort 
to  regain  possession  of  Cora. 

“ Do  my  young  men  leave  the  Delawares 
room  on  the  mountains  for  their  hunts  ? ” he  at 
length  continued. 

“The  Lenape  are  rulers  of  their  own  hills,” 
returned  the  other,  a little  haughtily. 

“ It  is  well.  Justice  is  the  master  of  a red- 
skin! Why  should  they  brighten  their  toma- 
hawks, and  sharpen  their  knives,  against  each 
other  ? Are  not  the  pale-faces  thicker  than  the 
swallows  in  the  season  of  flowers  ? ” 

“ Good  ! ” exclaimed  two  or  three  of  his  audi- 
tors at  the  same  time. 

Magua  waited  a little,  to  permit  his  words  to 
soften  the  feelings  of  the  Delawares,  before  he 
added : 

“ Have  there  not  been  strange  moccasins  in 
the  woods  ? Have  not  my  brothers  scented  the 
feet  of  white  men  ? ” 

“ Let  my  Canada  father  come,”  returned  the 
other,  evasively  ; “ his  children  are  ready  to  see 
him.” 

“ When  the  great  chief  comes,  it  is  to  smoke 
with  the  Indians  in  their  wigwams.  The  Hurons 
say,  too,  he  is  welcome.  But  the  Yengeese  have 
long  arms,  and  legs  that  never  tire ! My  young 
men  dreamed  they  had  seen  the  trail  of  the  Yen- 
geese nigh  the  village  of  the  Delawares  ! ” 

“ They  will  not  find  the  Lenape  asleep.” 

“ It  is  well.  The  warrior  whose  eye  is  open 
can  see  his  enemy,”  said  Magua,  once  more  shift- 
ing his  ground  when  he  found  himself  unable  to 
penetrate  the  caution  of  his  companion.  “ I 
have  brought  gifts  to  my  brother.  His  nation 
would  not  go  on  the  war-path,  because  they  did 
not  think  it  well ; but  their  friends  have  remem- 
bered where  they  lived.” 

When  he  had  thus  announced  his  liberal  in- 
tention, the  crafty  chief  arose  and  gravely  spread 
his  presents  before  the  dazzled  eyes  of  his  hosts. 
They  consisted  principally  of  trinkets  of  little 
value,  plundered  from  the  slaughtered  females  oi 
William  Henry.  In  the  division  of  the  bawblea 
the  cunning  Huron  discovered  no  less  art  than  in 
their  selection.  While  he  bestowed  those  of 
greater  value  on  the  two  most  distinguished 
warriors,  one  of  whom  was  his  host,  he  seasoned 
his  offerings  to  their  inferiors  with  such  well 
timed  and  apposite  compliments  as  left  them  no 
grounds  of  complaint.  In  short,  the  whole  cere- 
mony contained  such  a happy  blending  of  the 


144 


the  last  of  the  mohicans. 


profitable  with  the  flattering,  that  it  was  not  diffi- 
cult for  the  donor  immediately  to  read  the  effect 
of  a generosity,  so  aptly  mingled  with  praise,  in 
the  eyes  of  those  he  addressed. 

This  well-judged  and  politic  stroke  on  the 
part  of  Magua  was  not  without  instantaneous 
results.  The  Delawares  lost  their  gravity  in  a 
much  more  cordial  expression ; and  the  host,  in 
particular,  after  contemplating  his  own  liberal 
share  of  the  spoil  for  some  moments  with  peculiar 
gratification,  repeated,  with  strong  emphasis,  the 
words : 

“ My  brother  is  a wise  chief.  He  is  welcome.” 

“The  Hurons  love  their  friends  the  Dela- 
wares,” returned  Magua.  “Why  should  they 
not  ? they  are  colored  by  the  same  sun,  and  their 
just  men  will  hunt  in  the  same  grounds  after 
death.  The  red-skins  should  be  friends,  and 
»ook  with  open  eyes  on  the  white  men.  Has  not 
my  brother  scented  spies  in  the  woods  ? ” 

The  Delaware,  whose  name  in  English  signi- 
fied “ Hard  heart,”  an  appellation  that  the  French 
nad  translated  into  “ Le  coeur-dur,”  forgot  that 
obduracy  of  purpose  had  probably  obtained  him 
so  significant  a title.  His  countenance  grew  very 
sensibly  less  stern,  and  he  now  deigned  to  answer 
more  directly. 

“ There  have  been  strange  moccasins  about 
my  camp.  They  have  been  tracked  into  my 
lodges.” 

“Did  my  brother  beat  out  the  dogs  ? ” asked 
Magua,  without  adverting  in  any  manner  to  the 
former  equivocation  of  the  chief. 

“ It  would  not  do.  The  stranger  is  always 
welcome  to  the  children  of  the  Lenape.” 

“ The  stranger,  but  not  the  spy.” 

“Would  the  Yengeese  send  their  women  as 
spies?  Did  not  the  Huron  chief  say  he  took 
women  in  the  battle  ? ” 

“ He  told  no  lie.  The  Yengeese  have  sent 
out  their  scouts.  They  have  been  in  my  wig- 
wams, but  they  found  there  no  one  to  say  wel- 
come. Then  they  fled  to  the  Delawares — for,  say 
they,  the  Delawares  are  our  friends;  their  minds 
are  turned  from  their  Canada  father ! ” 

This  insinuation  was  a home  thrust,  and  one 
that,  in  a more  advanced  state  of  society,  would 
have  entitled  Magua  to  the  reputation  of  a skilful 
diplomatist.  The  recent  defection  of  the  tribe 
had,  as  they  well  knew  themselves,  subjected  the 
Delawares  to  much  reproach  among  their  French 
allies ; and  they  were  now  made  to  feel  that  their 
future  actions  were  to  be  regarded  with  jealousy 
and  distrust.  There  was  no  deep  insight  into 
causes  and  effects  necessary  to  foresee  that  such 
a situation  of  things  was  likely  to  prove  highly 


prejudicial  to  their  future  movements.  Their 
distant  villages,  their  hunting-grounds,  and  hun- 
dreds  of  their  women  and  children,  together  with 
a material  pai't  of  their  physical  force,  were  actu- 
ally within  the  limits  of  the  French  territory. 
Accordingly,  this  alarming  annunciation  was  re- 
ceived, as  Magua  intended,  with  manifest  disap 
probation,  if  not  with  alarm. 

“ Let  my  father  look  in  my  face,”  said  Le 
coeur-dur ; “ he  will  see  no  change.  It  is  true, 
my  young  men  did  not  go  out  on  the  war-path ; 
they  had  dreams  for  not  doing  so.  But  they  love 
and  venerate  the  great  white  chief.” 

“ Will  he  think  so  when  he  hears  that  his 
greatest  enemy  is  fed  in  the  camp  of  his  children  ? 
When  he  is  told  a bloody  Yengee  smokes  at  your 
fire  ? That  the  pale-face  who  has  slain  so  many 
of  his  friends  goes  in  and  out  among  the  Dela- 
wares ? Go — my  great  Canada  father  is  not  a 
fool ! ” 

“Where  is  the  Yengee  that  the  Delawares 
fear  ? ” returned  the  other  ; “ who  has  slain  my 
young  men  ? who  is  the  mortal  enemy  of  my 
Great  Father  ? ” 

“ La  longue  Carabine ! ” 

The  Delaware  warriors  started  at  the  well- 
known  name,  betraying,  by  their  amazement, 
that  they  now  learned,  for  the  first  time,  one  so 
famous  among  the  Indian  allies  of  France  was 
within  their  power. 

“What  does  my  brother  mean?”  demanded 
Le  coeur-dur,  in  a tone  that,  by  its  wonder,  far 
exceeded  the  usual  apathy  of  his  race. 

“A  Huron  never  lies!”  returned  Magua, 
coldly,  leaning  his  head  against  the  side  of  the 
lodge,  and  drawing  his  slight  robe  across  his 
tawny  breast.  “ Let  the  Delawares  count  their 
prisoners  ; they  will  find  one  whose  skin  is  nei- 
ther red  nor  pale.” 

A long  and  musing  pause  succeeded.  The 
chief  consulted  apart  with  his  companions,  and 
messengers  were  dispatched  to  collect  certain 
others  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the 
tribe. 

As  warrior  after  warrior  dropped  in,  they 
were  each  made  acquainted,  in  turn,  with  the 
important  intelligence  that  Magua  had  just  com- 
municated. The  air  of  surprise,  and  the  usual  low, 
deep,  guttural  exclamation,  were  common  to  them 
all.  The  news  spread  from  mouth  to  mouth,  until 
the  whole  encampment  became  powerfully  agi- 
tated. The  women  suspended  their  labors  to 
catch  such  syllables  as  unguardedly  fell  from  the 
lips  of  the  consulting  warriors.  The  boys  de- 
serted their  sports,  and,  walking  fearlessly  among 
their  fathers,  looked  up  in  curious  admiration  as 


ST.  TAMENUND. 


145 


they  heard  the  brief  exclamations  of  wonder  they 
so  freely  expressed  at  the  temerity  of  their  hated 
foe.  In  short,  every  occupation  was  abandoned 
for  the  time,  and  all  other  pursuits  seemed  dis- 
carded, in  order  that  the  tribe  might  freely  in- 
dulge, after  their  own  peculiar  manner,  in  an 
open  expression  of  feeling. 

When  the  excitement  had  a little  abated,  the 
old  men  disposed  themselves  seriously  to  con- 
sider that  which  it  became  the  honor  and  safety 
of  their  tribe  to  perform  under  circumstances  of 
so  much  delicacy  and  embarrassment.  During 
all  these  movements,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
general  commotion,  Magua  had  not  only  main- 
tained his  seat,  but  the  very  attitude,  he  had 
originally  taken,  against  the  side  of  the  lodge, 
where  he  continued  as  immovable,  and,  apparent- 
ly, as  unconcerned,  as  if  he  had  no  interest  in 
the  result.  Not  a single  indication  of  the  future 
intentions  of  his  hosts,  however,  escaped  his  vigi- 
lant eyes.  With  his  consummate  knowledge  of 
the  nature  of  the  people  with  whom  he  had  to 
deal,  he  anticipated  every  measure  on  which  they 
decided ; and  it  might  almost  be  said  that,  in 
many  instances,  he  knew  their  intentions  even 
before  they  became  known  to  themselves. 

The  council  of  the  Delawares  was  short. 
When  it  was  ended,  a general  bustle  announced 
that  it  was  to  be  immediately  succeeded  by  a 
solemn  and  formal  assemblage  of  the  nation.  As 
such  meetings  were  rare,  and  only  called  on  oc- 
casions of  the  last  importance,  the  subtle  Huron, 
who  still  sat  apart  a wily  and  dark  observer  of 
the  proceedings,  now  knew  that  all  his  projects 
must  be  brought  to  their  final  issue.  He,  there- 
fore, left  the  lodge  and  walked  silently  forth  to 
the  place,  in  front  of  the  encampment,  whither 
the  warriors  were  already  beginning  to  collect. 

It  might  have  been  half  an  hour  before  each 
individual,  including  even  the  women  and  chil- 
dren, was  in  his  place.  The  delay  had  been  cre- 
ated by  the  grave  preparations  that  were  deemed 
necessary  to  so  solemn  and  unusual  a conference. 
But  when  the  sun  was  seen  climbing  above  the 
tops  of  that  mountain,  against  whose  bosom  the 
Delawares  had  constructed  their  encampment, 
most  were  seated ; and  as  his  bright  rays  darted 
from  behind  the  outline  of  trees  that  fringed  the 
eminence,  they  fell  upon  as  grave,  as  attentive, 
and  as  deeply  interested  a multitude,  as  was  prob- 
ably ever  before  lighted  by  his  morning  beams, 
its  number  somewhat  exceeded  a thousand  souls. 

In  a collection  of  so  serious  savages,  there  is 
never  to  be  found  any  impatient  aspirant  after 
premature  distinction,  standing  ready  to  move  his 
auditors  to  some  hasty  and  perhaps  injudicious 
10 


discussion,  in  order  that  his  own  reputation  may 
be  the  gainer.  An  act  of  so  much  precipitancy 
and  presumption  would  seal  the  downfall  of  pre- 
cocious intellect  forever.  It  rested  solely  with 
the  oldest  and  most  experienced  of  the  men  to  lay 
the  subject  of  the  conference  before  the  people. 
Until  such  a one  chose  to  make  some  movement, 
no  deeds  in  arms,  no  natural  gifts,  nor  any  renown 
as  an  orator,  would  have  justified  the  slightest  in- 
terruption. On  the  present  occasion,  the  aged 
warrior  whose  privilege  it  was  to  speak,  was  si- 
lent, seemingly  oppressed  with  the  magnitude  of 
his  subject.  The  delay  had  already  continued 
long  beyond  the  usual  deliberative  pause  that  al- 
ways precedes  such  a conference  ; but  no  sign  of 
impatience  or  surprise  escaped  even  the  youngest 
boy.  Occasionally,  an  eye  was  raised  from  the 
earth,  where  the  looks  of  most  were  riveted,  and 
strayed  toward  a particular  lodge,  that  was,  how- 
ever, in  no  manner  distinguished  fron  those 
around  it,  except  in  the  peculiar  care  that  had 
been  taken  to  protect  it  against  the  assaults  of 
the  weather. 

At  length,  one  of  those  low  murmurs  that  are 
so  apt  to  disturb  a multitude,  was  heard,  and  the 
whole  nation  arose  to  their  feet  by  a common  im- 
pulse. At  that  instant  the  door  of  the  lodge  in 
question  opened,  and,  three  men  issuing  from 
it,  slowly  approached  the  place  of  consultation. 
They  were  all  aged,  even  beyond  that  period  to 
which  the  oldest  present  had  reached ; but  one 
in  the  centre,  who  leaned  on  his  companions  for 
support,  had  numbered  an  amount  of  years  to 
which  the  human  race  is  seldom  permitted  to  at- 
tain. His  frame,  which  had  once  been  tall  and 
erect,  like  the  cedar,  was  now  bending  under  the 
pressure  of  more  than  a century.  The  elastic, 
light  step  of  an  Indian  was  gone,  and  in  its  place 
he  was  compelled  to  toil  his  tardy  way  over  the 
ground,  inch  by  inch.  His  dark,  wrinkled  coun- 
tenance was  in  singular  and  wild  contrast  with 
the  long  white  locks  which  floated  on  his  shoul- 
ders, in  such  thickness  as  to  announce  that  gen- 
erations had  probably  passed  away  since  they 
had  last  been  shorn. 

The  dress  of  this  patriarch — for  such,  consid- 
ering his  vast  age,  in  conjunction  with  his  affinity 
and  influence  with  his  people,  he  might  very  prop- 
erly be  termed — was  rich  and  imposing,  though 
strictly  after  the  simple  fashions  of  the  tribe. 
His  robe  was  of  the  finest  skins,  which  had  been 
deprived  of  their  fur,  in  order  to  admit  of  a hiero- 
glyphical  representation  of  various  deeds  in  arms, 
done  in  former  ages.  His  bosom  was  loaded  with 
medals,  some  in  massive  silver,  and  one  or  two 
even  in  gold,  the  gifts  oi  various  Christian  po« 


146 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


tentates  during  the  long  period  of  bis  life.  He 
also  wore  armlets,  and  cinctures  above  the  ankles, 
of  the  latter  precious  metal.  His  head,  on  the 
whole  of  which  the  hair  had  been  permitted  to 
grow,  the  pursuits  of  war  having  so  long  been 
abandoned,  was  encircled  by  a sort  of  plated  dia- 
dem, which,  in  its  turn,  bore  lesser  and  more  glit- 
tering ornaments,  that  sparkled  amid  the  glossy 
hues  of  three  drooping  ostrich-feathers,  dyed  a 
deep  black,  in  touching  contrast  to  the  color  of 
his  snow-white  locks.  His  tomahawk  was  nearly 
hid  in  silver,  and  the  handle  of  his  knife  shone 
' like  a horn  of  solid  gold. 

So  soon  as  the  first  hum  of  emotion  and  pleas- 
ure, which  the  sudden  appearance  of  this  vener- 
ated individual  created,  had  a little  subsided,  the 
name  of  “ Tamenund  ” was  whispered  from  mouth 
to  mouth.  Magua  had  often  heard  the  fame  of 
this  wise  and  just  Delaware;  a reputation  that 
even  proceeded  so  far  as  to  bestow  on  him  the 
rare  gift  of  holding  secret  communion  with  the 
Great  Spirit,  and  which  has  since  transmitted  his 
name,  with  some  slight  alteration,  to  the  white 
usurpers  of  his  ancient  territory,  as  the  imagina- 
ry tutelar  saint  * of  a vast  empire.  The  Huron 
chief,  therefore,  stepped  eagerly  out  a little  from 
the  throng,  to  a spot  whence  he  might  catch  a 
nearer  glimpse  of  the  features  of  the  man  whose 
decision  was  likely  to  produce  so  deep  an  influ- 
ence on  his  own  fortunes. 

The  eyes  of  the  old  man  were  closed,  as  though 
the  organs  were  wearied  with  having  so  long  wit- 
nessed the  selfish  workings  of  the  human  passions. 
The  color  of  his  skin  differed  from  that  of  most 
around  him,  being  richer  and  darker,  the  latter 
hue  having  been  produced  by  certain  delicate  and 
mazy  lines  of  complicated  and  yet  beautiful  fig- 
ures, which  had  been  traced  over  most  of  his  per- 
son by  the  operation  of  tattooing.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  position  of  the  Huron,  he  passed  the  ob- 
servant and  silent  Magua  without  notice,  and  lean- 
ing on  his  two  venerable  supporters  proceeded  to 
the  high  place  of  the  multitude,  where  he  seated 
himself  in  the  centre  of  his  nation,  with  the  dig- 
nity of  a monarch  amd  the  air  of  a father. 

Nothing  cquld  surpass  the  reverence  and  af- 
fection with  which  this  unexpected  visit  from  one 
who  belonged  rather  to  another  world  than  to  this, 
was  received  by  his  people.  After  a suitable  and 
decent  pause,  the  principal  chiefs  arose  ; and,  ap- 
proaching the  patriarch,  they  placed  his  hands 
reverently  on  their  heads,  seeming  to  entreat  a 

* The  Americans  sometimes  call  their  tutelar  saint  Tam- 
enay,  a corruption  of  the  name  of  the  renowned  chief  here 
introduced.  There  are  many  traditions  which  speak  of  the 
character  and  power  of  Tamenund. 


blessing.  The  younger  men  were  content  with 
touching  his  robe,  or  even  drawing  nigh  his  per- 
son,  in  order  to  breathe  in  the  atmosphere  of  one 
so  aged,  so  just,  and  so  valiant.  None  but  the 
most  distinguished  among  the  youthful  warriors 
even  presumed  so  far  as  to  perform  the  latter  cer- 
emony ; the  great  mass  of  the  multitude  deeming 
it  a sufficient  happiness  to  look  upon,  a form  so 
deeply  venerated,  and  so  well  beloved.  When 
these  acts  of  affection  and  respect  were  performed, 
the  chiefs  drew  back  again  to  their  several  places, 
and  silence  reigned  in  the  whole  encampment. 

After  a short  delay,  a few  of  the  young  men, 
to  whom  instructions  tad  been  whispered  by  one 
of  the  aged  attendants  of  Tamenund,  arose,  left 
the  crowd,  and  entered  the  lodge  which  has  al- 
ready been  noted  as  the  object  of  so  much  atten- 
tion throughout  that  morning.  In  a few  minutes 
they  reappeared,  escorting  the  individuals  who 
had  caused  all  these  solemn  preparations  toward 
the  seat  of  judgment.  The  crowd  opened  in  a 
lane;  and,  when  the  party,  had  reentered,  it  closed 
in  again,  forming  a large  and  dense  belt  of  human 
bodies,  arranged  in  an  open  circle. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

“ The  assembly  seated,  rising  o’er  the  rest, 

Achilles  thus  the  king  of  men  addressed.” 

Pope’s  Homes. 

Cora  stood  foremost  among  the  prisoners,  en- 
twining her  arms  in  those  of  Alice,  in  the  tender- 
ness of  sisterly  love.  Notwithstanding  the  fear- 
ful and  menacing  array  of  savages  on  every  side 
of  her,  no  apprehension  on  her  own  account  could 
prevent  the  noble-minded  maiden  from  keeping 
her  eyes  fastened  on  the  pale  and  anxious  fea- 
tures of  the  trembling  Alice.  Close  at  their  side 
stood  Heyward,  with  an  interest  in  both,  that,  at 
such  a moment  of  intense  uncertainty,  scarcely 
knew  a preponderance  in  favor  of  her  whom  he 
most  loved.  Hawk-eye  had  placed  himself  a little 
in  the  rear,  with  a deference  to  the  superior  rank 
of  his  companions,  that  no  similarity  in  the  state 
of  their  present  fortunes  could  induce  him  to  for- 
get. Uncas  was  not  there. 

When  perfect  silence  was  again  restored,  and 
after  the  usual  long,  impressive  pause,  one  of  the 
two  aged  chiefs  who  sat  at  the  side  of  the  patri- 
arch arose,  and  demanded  aloud,  in  very  intelli- 
gible English — 

“ Which  of  my  prisoners  is  La  longue  Cara- 
bine ? ” 

Neither  Duncan  nor  the  scout  answered.  The 


TRIALS  OF  MARKSMANSHIP. 


147 


former,  however,  glanced  his  eyes  around  the 
dark  and  silent  assembly,  and  recoiled  a pace, 
when  they  fell  on  the  malignant  visage  of  Magua. 
He  saw,  at  once,  that  this  wily  savage  had  some 
secret  agency  in  their  present  arraignment  before 
the  nation,  and  determined  to  throw  every  possi- 
ble impediment  in  the  way  of  the  execution  of  his 
sinister  plans.  He  had  witnessed  one  instance 
of  the  summary  punishments  of  the  Indians,  and 
now  dreaded  that  his  companion  was  to  be  se- 
lected for  a second.  In  this  dilemma,  with  little 
or  no  time  for  reflection,  he  suddenly  determined 
to  cloak  his  invaluable  friend,  at  any  or  every 
hazard  to  himself.  Before  he  had  time,  however, 
to  speak,  the  question  was  repeated  in  a louder 
voice,  and  with  a clear  utterance. 

“ Give  us  arms,”  the  young  man  haughtily  re- 
plied ; “ and  place  us  in  yonder  woods.  Our 
deeds  shall  speak  for  us ! ” 

“ This  is  the  warrior  whose  name  has  filled 
our  ears ! ” returned  the  chief,  regarding  Hey- 
ward with  that  sort  of  curious  interest  which 
seems  inseparable  from  man,  when  first  beholding 
one  of  his  fellows  to  whom  merit  or  accident,  vir- 
tue or  crime,  has  given  notoriety.  “ What  has 
brought  the  white  man  into  the  camp  of  the  Dela- 
wares ? ” 

“ My  necessities.  I come  for  food,  shelter, 
and  friends.” 

“ It  cannot  be.  The  woods  are  full  of  game. 
The  head  of  a warrior  needs  no  other  shelter  than 
a sky  without  clouds ; and  the  Delawares  are  the 
enemies,  and  not  the  friends,  of  the  Yengeese. 
Go — the  mouth  has  spoken,  while  the  heart  said 
nothing.” 

Duncan,  a little  at  a loss  in  what  manner  to 
proceed,  remained  silent ; but  the  scout,  who  had 
listened  attentively  to  all  that  passed,  now  ad- 
vanced steadily  to  the  front. 

“ That  I did  not  answer  to  the  call  of  La 
longue  Carabine,  was  not  owing  either  to  ^hame 
or  fear,”  he  said  ; “ for  neither  one  nor  the  other 
is  the  gift  of  an  honest  man.  But  I do  not  admit 
the  right  of  the  Mingoes  to  bestow  a name  on  one 
whose  friends  have  been  mindful  of  his  gifts,  in 
this  particular ; especially  as  their  title  is  a lie, 
‘ Kill-deer ’ being  a grooved  barrel  and  no  cara- 
byne.  I am  a man,  however,  that  got  the  name 
of  Nathaniel  from  my  kin ; the  compliment  of 
Hawk-eye  from  the  Delawares,  who  live  on  their 
own  river  ; and  whom  the  Iroquois  have  presumed 
to  style  the  ‘ Long  Rifle,’  without  any  warranty 
from  him  who  is  most  concerned  in  the  matter.” 

The  eyes  of  all  present,  which  had  hitherto 
oeen  gravely  scanning  the  person  of  Duncan, 
were  now  turned,  on  the  instant,  toward  the  up- 


right iron  frame  of  this  new  pretender  to  the  dis- 
tinguished appellation.  It  was  in  no  degree  re- 
markable that  there  should  be  found  two  who 
were  willing  to  claim  so  great  an  honor,  for  im- 
postors, though  rare,  were  not  unknown  among 
the  natives  ; but  it  was  altogether  material  to  the 
just  and  severe  intentions  of  the  Delawares,  that 
there  should  be  no  mistake  ih  the  matter.  Some 
of  their  old  men  consulted  together  in  private, 
and  then,  as  it  would  seem,  they  determined  to 
interrogate  their  visitor  on  the  subject. 

“ My  brother  has  said  that  a snake  crept  into 
my  camp,”  said  the  chief  to  Magua  ; “ which  is 
he?” 

The  Huron  pointed  to  the  scout. 

“ Will  a wise  Delaware  believe  the  barking  of 
a wolf?  ” exclaimed  Duncan,  still  more  confirmed 
in  the  evil  intentions  of  his  ancient  enemy  ; “ a 
dog  never  lies,  but  when  was  a wolf  known  to 
speak  the  truth  ? ” 

The  eyes  of  Magua  flashed  fire  ; but,  suddenly 
recollecting  the  necessity  of  maintaining  his  pres- 
ence of  mind,  he  turned  away  in  silent  disdain, 
well  assured  that  the  sagacity  of  the  Indians 
would  not  fail  to  extract  the  real  merits  of  the 
point  in  controversy.  He  was  not  deceived  ; for, 
after  another  short  consultation,  the  wary  Dela- 
ware turned  to  him  again,  and  expressed  the  de- 
termination of  the  chiefs,  though  in  the  most  con- 
siderate language.  . 

“ My  brother  has  been  called  a liar,”  he  said, 
“ and  his  friends  are  angry.  They  will  show  that 
he  has  spoken  the  truth.  Give  my  prisoners 
guns,  and  let  them  prove  which  is  the  man.” 

Magua  affected  to  consider  the  expedient, 
which  he  well  knew  proceeded  from  distrust  of 
himself,  as  a compliment,  and  made  a gesture  of 
acquiescence,  well  content  that  his  veracity  should 
be  supported  by  so  skilful  a marksman  as  the 
scout.  The  weapons  were  instantly  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  friendly  opponents,  and  they 
were  bid  to  fire,  over  the  heads  of  the  seated 
multitude,  at  an  earthen  vessel,  which  lay,  by  ac- 
cident, on  a stump,  some  fifty  yards  from  the 
place  where  they  stood. 

Heyward  smiled  to  himself  at  the  idea  of  a 
competition  with  the  scout,  though  he  determined 
to  persevere  in  the  deception,  until  apprised  of 
the  real  designs  of  Magua.  Raising  his  rifle  with 
the  utmost  care,  and  renewing  his  aim  three 
several  times,  he  fired.  The  bullet  cut  the  wood 
within  a few  inches  of  the  vessel ; and  a general 
exclamation  of  satisfaction  announced  that  the 
shot  was  considered  a proof  of  great  skill  in  the 
use  of  the  weapon.  Even  Hawk-eye  nodded  his 
head,  as  if  he  would  say,  it  was  better  than  he 


148 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


had  expected.  But,  instead  of  manifesting  an  in- 
tention to  contend  with  the  successful  marksman, 
he  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle  for  more  than  a min- 
ute, like  a man  who  was  completely  buried  in 
thought.  From  this  reverie,  he  was,  however, 
awakened  by  one  of  the  young  Indians  who  had 
furnished  the  arms,  and  who  now  touched  his  shoul- 
der, saying,  in  exceedingly  broken  English  : 

“ Can  the  pale-face  beat  it  ? ” 

“Yes,  Huron!”  exclaimed  the  scout,  raising 
the  short  rifle  in  his  right  hand,  and  shaking  it  at 
Magua  with  as  much  apparent  ease  as  if  it  were  a 
reed  ; “ yes,  Huron,  I could  strike  you  now,  and 
no  power  on  earth  ’ould  prevent  the  deed  ! The 
soaring  hawk  is  not  more  certain  of  the  dove  than 
I am  this  moment  of  you,  did  I choose  to  send  a 
bullet  to  your  heart ! Why  should  I not  ? 
Why  ? — because  the  gifts  of  my  color  forbid  it, 
and  I might  draw  down  evil  on  tender  and  inno- 
cent heads  ! If  you  know  such  a being  as  God, 
thank  him,  therefore,  in  your  inward  soul — for 
you  have  reason  ! ” 

The  flushed  countenance,  angry  eye,  and  swell- 
ing figure  of  the  scout,  produced  a sensation  of 
secret  awe  in  all  that  heard  him.  The  Delawares 
held  their  breath  in  expectation  ; but  Magua  him- 
self, even  while  he  distrusted  the  forbearance  of 
his  enemy,  remained  immovable  and  calm,  where 
he  stood  wedged  in  by  the  crowd,  as  one  who 
grew  to  the  spot. 

“ Beat  it,”  repeated  the  young  Delaware  at 
the  elbow  of  the  scout. 

“ Beat  what,  . fool  ? — what  ? ” exclaimed 
Hawk-eye,  still  flourishing  the  weapon  angrily 
above  his  head,  though  his  eye  no  longer  sought 
the  person  of  Magua. 

“ If  the  white  man  is  the  warrior  he  pretends,” 
said  the  aged  chief,  “ let  him  strike  nigher  to  the 
mark.” 

The  scout  laughed  aloud — a noise  that  pro- 
duced the  startling  effect  of  an  unnatural  sound 
on  Heyward — then,  dropping  the  piece  heavily 
into  his  extended  left  hand,  it  was  discharged,  ap- 
parently by  the  shock,  driving  the  fragments  of 
the  vessel  into  the  air,  and  scattering  them  on 
every  side.  Almost  at  the  same  instant,  the  rat- 
tling sound  of  the  rifle  was  heard,  as  he  suffered 
it  to  fall  contemptuously  to  the  earth. 

The  first  impression  of  so  strange  a scene  was 
engrossing  admiration.  Then  a low  but  increas- 
ing murmur  ran  through  the  multitude,  and  finally 
swelled  into  sounds  that  denoted  a lively  oppo- 
sition in  the  sentiments  of  the  spectators.  While 
some  openly  testified  their  satisfaction  at  so  un- 
exampled dexterity,  by  far  the  larger  portion  of 
the  tribe  were  inclined  to  believe  the  success  of 


the  shot  was  the  result  of  accident.  Heyward 
was  not  slow  to  confirm  an  opinion  that  was  so 
favorable  to  his  own  pretensions. 

“ It  was  chance  ! ” he  exclaimed ; “ none  can 
shoot  without  an  aim ! ” 

“ Chance ! ” echoed  the  excited  woodsman, 
who  was  now  stubbornly  bent  on  maintaining  hia 
identity  at  every  hazard,  and  on  whom  the  secret 
hints  of  Heyward  to  acquiesce  in  the  deception 
were  entirely  lost.  “ Does  yonder  lying  Huron, 
too,  think  it  chance  ? Give  him  another  gun,  and 
place  us  face  to  face,  without  cover  or  dodge,  and 
let  Providence,  and  our  own  eyes,  decide  the  mat- 
ter atween  us  ! I do  not  make  the  offer  to  you, 
major ; for  our  blood  is  of  a color,  and  we  serve 
the  same  master.” 

“ That  the  Huron  is  a liar,  is  very  evident,” 
returned  Heyward,  coolly;  “you  have  yourself 
heard  him  assert  you  to  be  La  longue  Carabine.” 

It  were  impossible  to  say  what  violent  assertion 
the  stubborn  Hawk-eye  would  have  next  made,  in 
his  headlong  wish  to  vindicate  his  identity,  had 
not  the  aged  Delaware  once  more  interposed. 

“ The  hawk  which  comes  from  the  clouds  can 
return  when  he  will,”  he  said ; “ give  them  the 
guns.” 

This  time  the  scout  seized  the  rifle  with  avid- 
ity ; nor  had  Magua,  though  he  watched  the  move- 
ment of  the  marksman  with  jealous  eyes,  any  fur- 
ther cause  for  apprehension. 

“ Now  let  it  be  proved,  in  the  face  of  this  tribe 
of  Delawares,  which  is  the  better  man,”  cried  the 
scout,  tapping  the  butt  of  his  piece  with  that 
finger  which  had  pulled  so  many  fatal  triggers. 
“ You  see  the  gourd  hanging  against  yonder  tree, 
major ; if  you  are  a marksman  fit  for  the  borders, 
let  me  see  you  break  its  shell ! ” 

Duncan  noted  the  object,  and  prepared  him- 
self to  renew  the  trial.  The  gourd  was  one  of 
the  usual  little  vessels  used  by  the  Indians,  and 
it  was  suspended  from  a dead  branch  of  a small 
pine,  by  a thong  of  deer-skin,  at  the  full  distance 
of  a hundred  yards.  So  strangely  compounded  is 
the  feeling  of  self-love,  that  the  young  soldier, 
while  he  knew  the  utter  worthlessness  of  the  suf- 
frages of  his  savage  umpires,  forgot  the  sudden 
motives  of  the  contest  in  a wish  to  excel.  It  has 
been  seen,  already,  that  his  skill  was  far  from 
being  contemptible,  and  he  now  resolved  to  put 
forth  its  nicest  qualities.  Had  his  life  depended 
on  the  issue,  the  aim  of  Duncan  could  not  have 
been  more  deliberate  or  guarded.  He  fired  ; and 
three  or  four  young  Indians,  who  sprang  forward 
' at  the  report,  announced  with  a shout,  that  the 
ball  was  in  the  tree,  a very  little  on  one  side  of 
the  proper  object.  The  warriors  uttered  a com- 


MAGUA’S  ADDRESS. 


149 


mon  ejaculation  of  pleasure,  and  then  turned 
jheir  eyes  inquiringly  on  the  movements  of  his 

rival. 

“ It  may  do  for  the  Royal  Americans  ! ” said 
Hawk-eye,  laughing  once  more  in  his  own  silent, 
heart-felt  manner  ; “ but  had  my  gun  often  turned 
bo  much  from  the  true  line,  many  a marten,  whose 
dkin  is  now  in  a lady’s  muff,  would  still  be  in  the 
woods ; ay,  and  many  a bloody  Mingo,  who  has 
departed  to  his  final  account,  would  be  acting  his 
deviltries  at  this  very  day,  atween  the  provinces. 

I hope  the  squaw  who  owns  the  gourd  has  more 
of  them  in  her  wigwam,  for  this  will  never  hold 
water  again ! ” 

The  scout  had  shook  his  priming  and  cocked 
his  piece  while  speaking ; and,  as  he  ended,  Jhe 
threw  back  a foot  and  slowly  raised  the  muzzle 
from  the  earth  : the  motion  was  steady,  uniform, 
and  in  one  direction.  When  on  a perfect  level, 
it  remained  for  a single  moment  without  tremor 
or  variation,  as  though  both  man  and  rifle  were 
carved  in  stone.  During  that  stationary  instant 
& poured  forth  its  contents  in  a bright,  glancing 
sheet  of  flame.  Again  the  young  Indians  bounded 
forward ; but  their  hurried  search  and  disap- 
pointed looks  announced  that  no  traces  of  the 
bullet  were  to  be  seen. 

“ Go,”  said  the  old  chief  to  the  scout,  in  a 
tone  of  strong  disgust ; “ thou  art  a wolf  in  the 
Bkin  of  a dog.  I will  talk  to  the  * Long  Rifle  ’ of 
the  Yengeese.” 

“ Ah  ! had  I that  piece  which  furnished  the 
name  you  use,  I would  obligate  myself  to  cut  the 
thong  and  drop  the  gourd  without  breaking  it ! ” 
returned  Hawk-eye,  perfectly  undisturbed  by  the 
other’s  manner.  “Fools,  if  you  would  find  the 
bullet  of  a sharpshooter  in  these  woods,  you  must 
look  in  the  object  and  not  around  it ! ” 

The  Indian  youths  instantly  comprehended 
his  meaning — for  this  time  he  spoke  in  the  Dela- 
ware tongue — and,  tearing  the  gourd  from  the 
tree,  they  held  it  on  high  with  an  exulting  shout, 
displaying  a hole  in  its  bottom,  which  had  been 
cut  by  the  bullet  after  passing  through  the  usual 
orifice  in  the  centre  of  its  upper  side.  At  this 
unexpected  exhibition,  a loud  and  vehement  ex- 
pression of  pleasure  burst  from  the  mouth  of 
every  warrior  present.  It  decided  the  question, 
and  effectually  established  Hawk-eye  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  dangerous  reputation.  Those  curi- 
ous and  admiring  eyes,  which  had  been  turned 
again  on  Heyward,  were  finally  directed  to  the 
weather-beaten  form  of  the  scout,  who  immedi- 
ately became  the  principal  object  of  attention  to 
the  simple  and  unsophisticated  beings  by  whom 
he  was  surrounded.  When  the  sudden  and  noisy  | 


commotion  had  a little  subsided,  the  aged  chief 
resumed  his  examination. 

“ Why  did  you  wish  to  stop  my  ears  ? ” he 
said,  addressing  Duncan ; “ are  the  Delawares 
fools,  that  they  could  not  know  the  young  pan- 
ther from  the  cat ! ” 

“ They  will  yet  find  the  Huron  a singing- 
bird,”  said  Duncan,  endeavoring  to  adopt  the 
figurative  language  of  the  natives. 

“ It  is  good.  We  will  know  who  can  shut  the 
ears  of  men. — Brother,”  added  the  chief,  turning 
his  eyes  on  Magua,  “ the  Delawares  listen.” 

Thus  singled,  and  directly  called  on  to  declare 
his  object,  the  Huron  arose;  and,  advancing  with 
great  deliberation  and  dignity  into  the  very  centre 
of  the  circle,  where  he  stood  confronted  to  the 
prisoners,  he  placed  himself  in  an  attitude  to 
speak.  Before  opening  his  mouth,  however,  he 
bent  his  eyes  slowly  along  the  whole  living  boun- 
dary of  earnest  faces,  as  if  to  temper  his  expres- 
sions to  the  capacities  of  his  audience.  On 
Hawk-eye  he  cast  a glance  of  respectful  enmity ; 
on  Duncan,  a look  of  inextinguishable  hatred ; 
the  shrinking  figure  of  Alice  he  scarcely  deigned 
to  notice ; but  when  his  glance  met  the  firm, 
commanding,  and  yet  lovely  form  of  Cora,  his 
eye  lingered  a moment  with  an  expression  that  it 
might  have  been  difficult  to  define.  Then,  filled 
with  his  own  dark  intentions,  he  spoke  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Canadas,  a tongue  that  he  well  knew 
was  comprehended  by  most  of  his  auditors. 

“ The  Spirit  that  made  men  colored  them  dif- 
ferently,” commenced  the  subtle  Huron.  “ Some 
are  blacker  than  the  sluggish  bear.  These  he 
said  should  be  slaves ; and  he  ordered  them  to 
work  forever,  like  the  beaver.  You  may  hear 
them  groan,  when  the  south  wind  blows,  louder 
than  the  lowing  buffaloes  alojig  the  shores  of  the 
great  salt  lake,  where  the  big  canoes  4come  and 
go  with  them  in  droves.  Some  he  made  with 
faces  paler  than  the  ermine  of  the  forests : and 
these  he  ordered  to  be  traders ; dogs  to  their 
women,  and  wolves  to  their  slaves.  He  gaye  this 
people  the  nature  of  the  pigeon ; wings  that 
never  tire : young,  more  plentiful  than  the  leaves 
on  the  trees,  and  appetites  to  devour  the  earth. 
He  gave  them  tongues  like  the  false  call  of  the 
wild-cat ; hearts  like  rabbits  ; the  cunning  of  the 
hog  (but  none  of  the  fox),  and  arms  longer  than 
the  legs  of  the  moose.  With  his  tongue  he  stops 
the  ears  of  the  Indians ; his  heart  teaches  him  to 
pay  warriors  to  fight  his  battles ; his  cunning  tells 
him  how  to  get  together  the  goods  of  the  earth  ; 
and  his  arms  enclose  the  land  from  the  shores  of 
the  salt-water  to  the  islands  of  the  great  lake. 
His  gluttony  makes  him  sick.  God  gave  him 


L50 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS 


enough,  and  yet  he  wants  all.  Such  are  the  pale- 
faces. 

“Some  the  Great  Spirit  made  with  skins 
brighter  and  redder  than  yonder  sun,”  continued 
Magua,  pointing  impressively  upward  to  the  lurid 
luminary,  which  was  struggling  through  the  misty 
atmosphere  of  the  horizon ; “ and  these  did  he 
fashion  to  his  own  mind.  He  gave  them  this 
island  as  he  had  made  it,  covered  with  trees  and 
filled  with  game.  The  wind  made  their  clearings ; 
the  sun  and  rains  ripened  their  fruits ; and  the 
snows  came  to  tell  them  to  be  thankful.  What 
need  had  they  of  roads  to  journey  by  ? They 
saw  through  the  hills ! When  the  beavers 
worked,  they  lay  in  the  shade  and  looked  on. 
The  winds  cooled  them  in  summer  ; in  winter, 
skins  kept  them  warm.  If  they  fought  among 
themselves,  it  was  to  prove  that  they  were  men. 
They  were  brave ; they  were  just ; they  were 
happy.” 

Here  the  speaker  paused  and  again  looked 
around  him  to  discover  if  his  legend  had  touched 
the  sympathies  of  his  listeners.  He  met  every- 
where with  eyes  riveted  on  his  own,  heads  erect, 
and  nostrils  expanded,  as  if  each  individual  pres- 
ent felt  himself  able  and  willing,  singly,  to  re- 
dress the  wrongs  of  his  race. 

“ If  the  Great  Spirit  gave  different  tongues  to 
his  red  children,”  he  continued,  in  a low,  still 
melancholy  voice,  “ it  was  that  all  animals  might 
understand  them.  Some  he  placed  among  the 
snows  with  their  cousin,  the  bear.  Some  he 
placed  near  the  setting  sun,  on  the  road  to  the 
happy  hunting-grounds.  Some  on  the  lands 
around  the  great  fresh  waters  ; but  to  his  great- 
est and  most  beloved,  he  gave  the  sands  of  the 
salt  lake.  Do  my  brothers  know  the  name  of 
this  favored  people  ? ” 

“ It  was  the  Lenape  ! ” exclaimed  twenty 
eager  voices  in  a breath. 

“ It  was  the  Lenni  Lenape,”  returned  Magua, 
affecting  to  bend  his  head  in  reverence  to  their 
former  greatness.  “ It  was  the  tribes  of  the 
Lenape ! The  sun  rose  from  water  that  was  salt, 
and  set  in  water  that  was  sweet,  and  never  hid 
himself  from  their  eyes.  But  why  should  I,  a 
Huron  of  the  woods,  tell  a wise  people  their  own 
. traditions  ? Why  remind  them  of  their  injuries ; 
their  ancient  greatness  ; their  deeds ; their  glory ; 
their  happiness  ; their  losses;  their  defeats;  their 
misery  ? Is  there  not  one  among  them  who  has 
seen  it  all,  and  who  knows  it  to  be  true  ? I have 
done.  My  tongue  is  still,  for  my  heart  is  of  lead. 
I listen.” 

As  the  voice  of  the  speaker  suddenly  ceased, 
every  face  and  all  eyes  turned,  by  a common 


movement,  toward  the  venerable  Tamenund 
From  the  moment  that  he  took  his  seat  until  the 
present  instant,  the  lips  of  the  patriarch  had  not 
severed,  and  scarcely  a sign  of  life  had  escaped 
him.  He  sat  bent  in  feebleness,  and  apparently 
unconscious  of  the  presence  he  was  in,  during 
the  whole  of  that  opening  scene  in  which  the 
skill  of  the  scout  had  been  so  clearly  established. 
At  the  nicely-graduated  sounds  of  Magua’s  voice, 
however,  he  betrayed  some  evidence  of  conscious- 
ness, and  once  or  twice  he  even  raised  his  head 
as  if  to  listen.  But  when  the  crafty  Huron  spoke 
of  his  nation  by  name,  the  eyelids  of  the  old  man 
raised  them^lves,  and  he  looked  out  upon  the 
multitude  with  that  sort  of  dull,  unmeaning  ex- 
pression which  might  be  supposed  to  belong  to 
the  countenance  of  a spectre.  Then  he  made  an 
effort  to  rise,  and,  being  upheld  by  his  supporters, 
he  gained  his  feet  in  a posture  commanding  by 
its  dignity,  while  he  tottered  with  weakness. 

“ Who  calls  upon  the  children  of  the  Lena- 
pe ? ” he  said,  in  a deep,  guttural  voice  that  was 
rendered  awfully  audible  by  the  breathless  si- 
lence of  the  multitude ; “ who  speaks  of  things 
gone?  Does  not  the  egg  become  a worm — the 
worm  a fly,  and  perish  ? Why  tell  the  Dela- 
wares of  good  that  is  past  ? Better  thank  the 
Manitto  for  that  which  remains.” 

“It  is  a Wyandot,”  said  Magua,  stepping 
nigher  to  the  rude  platform  on  which  the  other 
stood;  “ a friend  of  Tamenund.” 

“ A friend ! ” repeated  the  sage,  on  whose 
brow  a dark  frown  settled,  imparting  a portion 
of  that  severity  which  had  rendered  his  eye  so 
terrible  in  middle  age.  “Are  the  Mingoes  rulers 
of  the  earth  ? What  brings  a Huron  here  ? ” 

“ Justice.  His  prisoners  are  with  his  brothers, 
and  he  comes  for  his  own.” 

Tamenund  turned  his  head  toward  one  of  his 
supporters,  and  listened  to  the  short  explanation 
the  man  gave.  Then  facing  the  applicant,  he  re- 
garded him  a moment  with  deep  attention ; after 
which  he  said,  in  a low  and  reluctant  voice : 

“ Justice  is  the  law  of  the  great  Manitto.  My 
children,  give  the  stranger  food. — Then,  Huron, 
take  thine  own  and  depart.” 

On  the  delivery  of  this  solemn  judgment,  the 
patriarch  seated  himself,  and  closed  his  eyes 
again,  as  if  better  pleased  with  the  images  of  his 
own  ripened  experience  than  with  the  visible  ob- 
jects of  the  world.  Against  such  a decree  there 
was  no  Delaware  sufficiently  hardy  to  murmur, 
much  less  oppose  himself.  The  words  were  barely 
uttered  when  four  or  five  of  the  younger  warriors, 
stepping  behind  Heyward  and  the  scout,  passed 
thongs  so  dexterously  and  rapidly  around  their 


CORA’S  APPEAL  TO  TAMENUND. 


151 


anna,  as  to  hold  them  both  in  instant  bondage. 
The  former  was  too  much  engrossed  with  his 
precious  and  nearly  insensible  burden,  to  be  aware 
of  their  intentions  before  they  were  executed ; and 
the  latter,  who  considered  even  the  hostile  tribes 
of  the  Delawares  a superior  race  of  beings,  sub- 
mitted without  resistance.  Perhaps,  however,  the 
manner  of  the  scout  would  not  have  been  so  pas- 
sive, had  he  fully  comprehended  the  language  in 
which  the  preceding  dialogue  had  been  conducted. 

Magua  cast  a look  of  triumph  around  the 
whole  assembly  before  he  proceeded  to  the  ex- 
ecution of  his  purpose.  Perceiving  that  the  men 
were  unable  to  offer  any  resistance,  he  turned  his 
looks  on  her  he  valued  most.  Cora  met  his  gaze 
with  an  eye  so  calm  and  firm,  that  his  resolution 
wavered.  Then,  recollecting  his  former  artifice,  he 
raised  Alice  from  the  arms  of  the  warrior  against 
whom  she  leaned,  and,  beckoning  Heyward  to 
follow,  he  motioned  for  the  encircling  crowd  to 
open.  But  Cora,  instead  of  obeying  the  impulse 
he  had  expected,  rushed  to  the  feet  of  the  patri- 
arch, and,  raising  her  voice,  exclaimed  aloud : 

“Just  and  venerable  Delaware,  on  thy  wis- 
dom and  power  we  lean  for  mercy  ! Be  deaf  to 
yonder  artful  and  remorseless  monster,  who  poi- 
sons thy  ears  with  falsehoods  to  feed  his  thirst  for 
blood.  Thou  that  hast  lived  long,  and  that  hast 
seen  the  evil  of  the  world,  should  know  how  to 
temper  its  calamities  to  the  miserable.” 

The  eyes  of  the  old  man  opened  heavily,  and 
he  once  more  looked  upward  at  the  multitude. 
As  the  piercing  tonefe  of  the  supplicant  swelled  on 
his  ears,  they  moved  slowly  in  the  direction  of  her 
person,  and  finally  settled  there  in  a steady  gaze. 
Cora  had  cast  herself  to  her  knees ; and,  with 
hands  clinched  in  each  other  and  pressed  upon 
her  bosom,  she  remained  like  a beauteous  and 
breathing  model  of  her  sex,  looking  up  in  his 
faded  but  majestic  countenance  with  a species  of 
holy  reverence.  Gradually  the  expression  of 
Tamenund’s  features  changed,  and,  losing  their 
vacancy  in  admiration,  they  lighted  with  a portion 
of  that  intelligence  which  a century  before  had 
been  wont  to  communicate  his  youthful  fire  to  the 
extensive  bands  of  the  Delawares.  Rising  with- 
out assistance,  and  seemingly  without  an  effort, 
he  demanded,  in  a voice  that  startled  its  auditors 
by  its  firmness — 

“ What  art  thou  ? ” 

“ A woman.  One  of  a hated  race,  if  thou  wilt 
— a Yengee.  But  one  who  has  never  harmed  thee, 
and  who  cannot  harm  thy  people,  if  she  would ; 
who  asks  for  succor.” 

“ Tell  me,  my  children,”  continued  the  patri- 
arch, hoarsely,  motioning  to  those  around  him, 


though  his  eyes  still  dwelt  upon  the  kneeling  form 
of  Cora,  “ where  have  the  Delawares  camped  ? ” 

“In  the  mountains  of  the  Iroquois,  beyond 
the  clear  springs  of  the  Horican.” 

“ Many  parching  summers  are  come  and  gone,’- 
continued  the  sage,  “ since  I drank  of  the  waters 
of  my  own  river.  The  children  of  Minquon  * are 
the  justest  white  men ; but  they  were  thirsty,  and 
they  took  it  to  themselves.  Do  they  follow  us  so 
far?” 

“We  follow  none;  we  covet  nothing,”  an- 
swered Cora.  “ Captives  against  our  wills,  have 
we  been  brought  among  you ; and  we  ask  but 
permission  to  depart  to  our  own  in  peace.  Art 
thou  not  Tamenund — the  father — the  judge — I 
had  almost  said,  the  prophet — of  this  people  ? ” 

“ I am  Tamenund  of  many  days.” 

“ Tis  now  some  seven  years  that  one  of  thy 
people  was  at  the  mercy  of  a white  chief  on  the 
borders  of  this  province.  He  claimed  to  be  of 
the  blood  of  the  good  and  just  Tamenund.  * Go,’ 
said  the  white  man,  ‘for  thy  parent’s  sake  thou 
art  free.’  Dost  thou  remember  the  name  of  that 
English  warrior  ? ” 

“ I remember  that,  when  a laughing  boy,”  re- 
turned the  patriarch,  with  the  peculiar  recollection 
of  vast  age,  “ I stood  upon  the  sands  of  the  sea- 
shore, and  saw  a big  canoe  with  wings  whiter 
than  the  swan’s,  and  wider  than  many  eagles, 
come  from  the  rising  sun — ” 

“ Hay,  nay ; I speak  not  of  a time  so  very  dis- 
tant, but  of  favor  shown  to  thy  kindred  by  one  of 
mine,  within  the  memory  of  thy  youngest  warrior.” 

“Was  it  when  the  Yengeese  and  the  Dutch- 
manne  fought  for  the  hunting-grounds  of  the 
Delawares  ? Then  Tamenund  was  a chief,  and  first 
laid  aside  the  bow  for  the  lightning  of  the  pale- 
faces— ” 

“ Nor  yet  then,”  interrupted  Cora,  “ by  many 
ages ; I speak  of  a thing  of  yesterday.  Surely,  sure- 
ly, you  forget  it  not.” 

“ It  was  but  yesterday,”  rejoined  the  aged  man 
with  touching  pathos,  “that  the  children  of  the 
Lenape  were  masters  of  the  world.  The  fishes  of 
the  salt  lake,  the  birds,  the  beasts,  and  the  Meng- 
we  of  the  woods,  owned  them  for  sagamores.” 

Cora  bowed  her  head  in  disappointment,  and, 
for  a bitter  moment,  struggled  with  her  chagrin. 

* "William  Penn  was  termed  Minquon  by  the  Delawares, 
and,  aa  he  never  used  violence  or  injustice  in  his  dealings 
with  them,  his  reputation  for  probity  passed  into  a proverb. 
The  American  is  justly  proud  of  the  origin  of  his  nation, 
which  is  perhaps  unequalled  in  the  history  of  the  world ; 
but  the  Pennsylvanian  and  Jerseyman  have  more  reason  to 
value  themselves  in  their  ancestors  than  the  natives  of  any 
other  State,  since  no  wrong  was  done  the  original  owners 
of  the  soil. 


152 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


Then  elevating  lier  rich  features  and  beaming  eyes 
she  continued,  in  tones  scarcely  less  penetrating 
than  the  unearthly  voice  of  the  patriarch  himself : 

“ Tell  me,  is  Tamenund  a father  ? ” 

The  old  man  looked  down  upon  her  from  his 
elevated  stand,  with  a benignant  smile  on  his 
wasted  countenance,  and  then,  casting  his  eyes 
slowly  over  the  whole  assemblage,  he  answered  : 

“ Of  a nation.” 

“ For  myseA  I ask  nothing.  Like  thee  and 
thine,  venerable  chief,”  she  continued,  pressing 
her  hands  convulsively  on  her  heart,  and  suffei’ing 
her  head  to  droop  until  her  burning  cheeks  were 
nearly  concealed  in  the  maze  of  dark  glossy  tresses 
that  fell  in  disorder  upon  her  shoulders,  “the 
curse  of  my  ancestors  has  fallen  heavily  on  their 
child.  But  yonder  is  one  who  has  never  known 
the  weight  of  Heaven’s  displeasure  until  now. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  an  old  and  failing  man, 
whose  days  are  near  their  close.  She  has  many, 
very  many  to  love  her,  and  delight  in  her  ; and  she 
is  too  good,  much  too  precious,  to  become,  the  vic- 
tim of  that  villain.” 

“ I know  that  the  pale-faces  are  a proud  and 
hungry  race.  I know  that  they  claim  not  only  to 
have  the  earth,  but  that  the  meanest  of  their  color 
is  better  than  the  sachems  of  the  red  man.  The 
dogs  and  crows  of  their  tribes,”  continued  the 
earnest  old  chieftain,  without  heeding  the  wounded 
spirit  of  his  listener,  whose  head  was  nearly 
crushed  to  the  earth  in  shame,  as  he  proceeded, 
“ would  bark  and  caw  before  they  would  take  a 
woman  to  their  wigwams  whose  blood  was  not  of 
the  color  of  snow.  But  let  them  not  boast  before 
the  face  of  the  Manitto  too  loud.  They  entered 
the  land  at  the  rising,  and  may  yet  go  off  at  the 
setting  sun.  I have  often  seen  the  locusts  strip 
the  leaves  from  the  trees,  but  the  season  of  blos- 
soms has  always  come  again.” 

“ It  is  so,”  said  Cora,  drawing  a long  breath, 
as  if  reviving  from  a trance,  raising  her  face,  and 
shaking  back  her  shining  veil,  with  a kindling  eye, 
that  contradicted  the  death-like  paleness  of  her 
countenance  ; “ but  why — it  is  not  permitted  us  to 
inquire.  There  is  yet  one  of  thine  own  people 
who  has  not  been  brought  before  thee  ; before 
thou  lettest  the  Huron  depart  in  triumph,  hear 
him  speak.” 

Observing  Tamenund  to  look  about  him 
doubtingly,  one  of  his  companions  said : 

“ It  is  a snake — a red-skin  in  the  pay  of  the 
Yengeese.  We  keep  him  for  the  torture.” 

“ Let  him  come,”  returned  the  sage. 

Then  Tamenund  once  more  sank  into  his  seat, 
and  a silence  so  deep  prevailed,  while  the  young 
men  prepared  to  obey  his  simple  mandate,  that 


the  leaves,  which  fluttered  in  the  draught  of  the 
light  morning  air,  were  distinctly  heard  rustling 
in  the  surrounding  forest. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

“ If  you  deny  me,  fie  upon  your  law ! 

There  is  no  force  in  the  decrees  of  Venice : 

I stand  for  judgment;  answer,  shall  I have  it?” 

Shakespxaxx. 

The  silence  continued  unbroken  by  human 
sounds  for  many  anxious  minutes.  Then  the  wav- 
ing multitude  opened  and  shut  again,  and  Uncas 
stood  in  the  living  circle.  All  those  eyes,  which 
had  been  curiously  studying  the  lineaments  of  the 
sage,  as  the  source  of  their  own  intelligence, 
turned  on  the  instant,  and  were  now  bent  in  secret 
admiration  on  the  erect,  agile,  and  faultless  person 
of  the  captive.  But  neither  the  presence  in 
which  hjs  found  himself,  nor  the  exclusive  atten- 
tion that  he  attracted,  in  any  manner  disturbed 
the  self-possession  of  the  young  Mohican.  He 
cast  a deliberate  and  observing  look  on  every  side 
of  him,  meeting  the  settled  expression  of  hostility 
that  lowered  in  the  visages  of  the  chiefs,  with  the 
same  calmness  as  the  curious  gaze  of  the  attentive 
children.  But  when,  last  in  his  haughty  scrutiny, 
the  person  of  Tamenund  came  under  his  glance, 
his  eye  became  fixed,  as  though  all  other  objects 
were  already  forgotten.  Then,  advancing  with  a 
slow  and  noiseless  step  up  the  area,  he  placed 
himself  immediately  before  the  footstool  of  the 
sage.  Here  he  stood  unnoted,  though  keenly  ob- 
servant himself,  until  one  of  the  chiefs  apprised 
the  latter  of  his  presence. 

“ With  what  tongue  does  the  prisoner  speak 
to  the  Manitto  ? ” demanded  the  patriarch,  with- 
out unclosing  his  eyes. 

“ Like  his  fathers,”  Uncas  replied  ; “ with  the 
tongue  of  a Delaware.” 

At  this  sudden  and  unexpected  annunciation, 
a low,  fierce  yell  ran  through  the  multitude,  that 
might  not  inaptly  be  compared  to  the  growl  of  the 
lion,  as  his  choler  is  first  awakened— a fearful 
omen  of  the  weight  of  his  future  anger.  The  ef- 
fect was  equally  strong  on  the  sage,  though  differ- 
ently exhibited.  He  passed  a hand  before  Ids 
eyes,  as  if  to  exclude  the  least  evidence  of  so 
shameful  a spectacle,  while  he  repeated,  in  his 
low,  guttural  tones,  the  words  he  had  just  heard. 

“ A Delaware  ! I have  lived  to  see  the  tribes 
of  the  Lenape  driven  from  their  council-fires,  and 
scattered,  like  broken  herds  of  deer,  among  the 
hills  of  the  Iroquois ! I have  seen  the  hatchets 


PREPARATION  FOR  UNCAS’S  DEATH. 


153 


of  a strange  people  sweep  woods  from  the  valleys, 
that  the  winds  of  heaven  had  spared ! The 
beasts  that  run  on  the  mountains,  and  the  birds 
that  fly  above  the  trees,  have  I seen  living  in  the 
wigwams  of  men  ; but  never  before  have  I found 
a Delaware  so  base  as  to  creep,  like  a poisonous 
serpent,  into  the  camps  of  his  nation.” 

“ The  singing-birds  have  opened  their  bills,” 
returned  Uncas,  in  the  softest  notes  of  his  own 
musical  voice ; “ and  Tamenund  has  heard  their 
song.” 

• The  sage  started,  and  bent  his  head  aside, 
as  if  to  catch  the  fleeting  sounds  of  some  passing 
melody. 

“ Does  Tamenund  dream  ? ” he  exclaimed. 
“ What  voice  is  at  his  ear  ? Have  the  winters 
gone  backward  ? Will  summer  come  again  to 
the  children  of  the  Lenape  ? ” 

A solemn  and  respectful  silence  succeeded 
this  incoherent  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  Dela- 
ware prophet.  His  people  readily  construed  his 
unintelligible  language  into  one  of  those  mys- 
terious conferences  he  was  believed  to  hold  so 
frequently  with  a superior  intelligence,  and  they 
awaited  the  issue  of  the  revelation  in  awe.  Af- 
ter a patient  pause,  however,  one  of  the  aged 
men,  perceiving  that  the  sage  had  lost  the  recol- 
lection of  the  subject  before  them,  ventured  to  re- 
mind him  again  of  the  presence  of  the  prisoner. 

“ The  false  Delaware  trembles  lest  he  should 
hear  the  words  of  Tamenund,”  he  said.  “ ’Tis  a 
hound  that  howls,  when  the  Yengeese  show  him 
a trail.”  N 

“And  ye,”  returned  Uncas,  looking  sternly 
around  him,  “ are  dogs  that  whine,  when  the 
Frenchman  cast  ye  the  offals  of  his  deer  ! ” 

Twenty  knives  gleamed  in  the  air,  and  as 
many  warriors  sprang  to  their  feet,  at  this  biting, 
and  perhaps  merited  retort ; but  a motion  from 
one  of  the  chiefs  suppressed  the  outbreaking  of 
their  tempers,  and  restored  the  appearance  of 
quiet.  The  task  might  probably  have  been  more 
difficult,  had  not  a movement  made  by  Tamenund 
indicated  that  he  was  again  about  to  speak. 

“ Delaware  ! ” resumed  the  sage,  “ little  art 
thou  worthy  of  thy  name.  My  people  have  not 
seen  a bright  sun  in  many  winters  ; and  the  war- 
rior who  deserts  his  tribe  when  hid  in  clouds  is 
doubly  a traitor.  The  law  of  the  Manitto  is  just. 
It  is  so ; while  the  rivers  run  and  the  mountains 
stand,  while  the  blossoms  come  and  go  on  the 
trees,  it  must  be  so.  He  is  thine,  my  children ; 
fleal  justly  by  him.” 

Not  a . limb  was  moved,  nor  was  a breath 
drawn  louder  and  longer  than  common,  until  the 
closing  syllable  of  this  final  decree  had  passed 


the  lips  of  Tamenund.  Then  a cry  of  vengeance 
burst  at  once,  as  it  might  be,  from  the  united 
lips  of  the  nation ; a frightful  augury  of  their 
ruthless  intentions.  In  the  midst  of  these  pro- 
longed and  savage  yells,  a chief  proclaimed,  in  a 
high  voice,  that  the  captive  was  condemned  to 
endure  the  dreadful  trial  of  torture  by  fire.  The 
circle  broke  its  order,  and  screams  of  delight 
mingled  with  the  bustle  and  tumult  of  prepara- 
tion. Heyward  struggled  madly  with  his  cap- 
tors  ; the  anxious  eyes  of  Hawk-eye  began  to 
look  around  him,  with  an  expression  of  peculiar 
earnestness ; and  Cora  again  threw  herself  at  -the 
feet  of  the  patriarch,  once  more  a suppliant  for 
mercy. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  these  trying  mo- 
ments, Uncas  had  alone  preserved  his  serenity. 
He  looked  on  the  preparations  with  a steady  eye, 
and  when  the  tormentors  came  to  seize  him,  he 
met  them  with  a firm  and  upright  attitude.  One 
among  them,  if  possible  more  fierce  and  savage 
than  his  fellows,  seized  the  hunting-shirt  of  the 
young  warrior,  and  at  a single  effdrt  tore  it  from 
his  body.  Then,  with  a yell  of  frantic  pleasure, 
he  leaped  toward  his  unresisting  victim,  and  pre- 
pared to  lead  him  to  the  stake.  But,  at  that 
moment,  when  he  appeared  most  a stranger  to 
the  feelings  of  humanity,  the  purpose  of  the  sav- 
age was  arrested  as  suddenly  as  if  a supernatural 
agency  had  interposed  in  the  behalf  of  Uncas. 
The  eyeballs  of  the  Delaware  seemed  to  start 
from  their  sockets;  his  mouth  opened,  and  his 
whole  form  became  frozen  in  an  attitude  of 
amazement.  Raising  his  hand  with  a slow  and 
regulated  motion,  he  pointed  with  a finger  to  the 
bosom  of  the  captive.  His  companions  crowded 
about  him  in  wonder,  and  every  eye  was,  like  his 
own,  fastened  intently  on  the  figure  of  a small 
tortoise,  beautifully  tattooed  on  the  breast  of  the 
prisoner,  in  a bright  blue  tint. 

For  a single  instant  Uncas  enjoyed  his  tri- 
umph, smiling  calmly  on  the  scene.  Then,  mo- 
tioning the  crowd  away  with  a high  and  haughty 
sweep  of  his  arm,  he  advanced  in  front  of  the 
nation  with  the  air  of  a king,  and  spoke  in  a voice 
louder  than  the  murmur  of  admiration  that  ran 
through  the  multitude. 

“ Men  of  the  Lenni  Lenape ! ” he  said,  “ my 
race  upholds  the  earth  ! Your  feeble  tribe  stands 
on  my  shell ! What  fire  that  a Delaware  can 
light  would  burn  the  child  of  my  fathers,”  he 
added,  pointing  proudly  to  the  simple  blazonry 
on  his  skin ; “ the  blood  that  came  from  such  a 
stock  would  smother  your  flames ! My  race  ia 
the  grandfather  of  nations ! ” 

“ Who  art  thou  ? ” demanded  Tamenund, 


154 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


rising  at  the  startling  tones  he  heard,  more  than 
at  any  meaning  conveyed  by  the  language  of  the 
prisoner. 

“ Uncas,  the  son  of  Chingachgook,”  answered, 
the  captive  modestly,  turning  from  the  nation, 
and  bending  his  head  in  reverence  to  the  other’s 
character  and  years  ; “ a son  of  the  great  Una- 
rms.” * 

“ The  hour  of  Tamenund  is  nigh  ! ” exclaimed 
the  sage ; “ the  day  is  come,  at  last,  to  the  night ! 
I thank  the  Manitto,  that  one  is  here  to  fill  my 
place  at  the  council-fire.  Uncas,  the  child  of 
Uncas,  is  found ! Let  the  eyes  of  a dying  eagle 
gaze  on  the  rising  sun ! ” 

The  youth  stepped  lightly,  but  proudly,  on 
the  platform,  where  he  became  visible  to  the 
whole  agitated  and  wondering  multitude.  Tame- 
nund held  him  long  at  the  length  of  his  arm,  and 
read  every  turn  in  the  fine  lineaments  of  his 
countenance,  with  the  untiring  gaze  of  one  who 
recalled  days  of  happiness. 

“Is  Tamenund  a boy?”  at  length  the  bewil- 
dered prophet  exclaimed.  “ Have  I dreamt  of  so 
many  snows — that  my  people  were  scattered  like 
floating  sands — of  Yengeese,  more  plenty  than 
the  leaves  on  the  trees ! The  arrow  of  Tamenund 
would  not  frighten  the  fawn ; his  arm  is  withered 
like  the  branch  of  a dead  oak ; the  snail  would 
be  swifter  in  the  race  ; yet  is  Uncas  before  him 
as  they  went  to  battle  against  the  pale-faces! 
Uncas,  the  panther  of  his  tribe,  the  eldest  son  of 
the  Lenape,  the  wisest  sagamote  of  the  Mohi- 
cans! Tell  me,  ye  Delawares,  has  Tamenund 
been  a sleeper  for  a hundred  winters  ? ” 

The  calm  and  deep  silence  which  succeeded 
these  words.,  sufficiently  announced  the  awful 
reverence  with  which  his  people  received  the 
communication  of  the  patriarch.  None  dared  to 
answer,  though  all  listened  in  breathless  expec- 
tation of  what  might  follow.  Uncas,  however, 
looking  in  his  face  with  the  fondness  and  venera- 
tion of  a favored  child,  presumed  on  his  own 
high  and  acknowledged  rank,  to  reply  : 

“ Four  warriors  of  his  race  have  lived,  and 
died,”  he  said,  “since  the  friend  of  Tamenund 
led  his  people  in  battle.  The  blood  of  the  Turtle 
has  been  in  many  chiefs,  but  all  have  gone  back 
into  the  earth  whence  they  came,  except  Chin- 
gachgook and  his  son.” 

“ It  is  true — it  is  true,”  returned  the  sage — a 
flash  of  recollection  destroying  all  his  pleasing 
fancies,  and  restoring  him  at  once  to  a conscious- 
ness of  the  true  history  of  his  nation.  “ Our 
wise  men  have  often  said  that  two  warriors  of 


the  unchanged  race  were  in  the  hills  of  the  Yen 
geese ; why  have  their  seats  at  the  council-firea 
of  the  Delawares  been  so  long  empty  ? ” 

At  these  words  the  young  man  raised  his  head, 
which  he  had  still  kept  bowed  a little,  in  rever- 
ence ; and,  lifting  his  voice  so  as  to  be  heard  by 
the  multitude,  as  if  to  explain  at  once  and  forever 
the  policy  of  his  family,  he  said  aloud  : 

“ Once  we  slept  where  we  could  hear  the  salt 
lake  speak  in  its  anger.  Then  we  were  rulers  and 
sagamores  over  the  land.  But  when  a pale-face 
was  seen  on  every  brook,  we  followed  the  deer 
back  to  the  river  of  our  nation.  The  Delawares 
were  gone.  Few  warriors  of  them  all  stayed  to 
drink  of  the  stream  they  loved.  Then  said  my 
fathers : ‘ Here  will  we  hunt.  The  waters  of  the 
river  go  into  the  salt  lake.  If  we  go  toward  the 
setting  sun,  we  shall  find  streams  that  run  into 
the  great  lakes  of  sweet  water;  there  would  a 
Mohican  die,  like  fishes  of  the  sea,  in  the  clear 
springs.  When  the  Manitto  is  ready,  and  shall 
say  “ Come,”  we  will  follow  the  river  to  the  sea, 
and  take  our  own  again.’  Such,  Delawares,  is 
the  belief  of  the  children  of  the  Turtle.  Our 
eyes  are  on  the  rising,  and  not  toward  the  setting 
sun.  We  know  whence  he  comes,  but  we  know 
not  whither  he  goes.  It  is  enough.” 

The  men  of  the  Lenape  listened  to  his  words 
with  all  the  respect  that  superstition  could  loud, 
finding  a secret  charm  even  in  the  figurative  lan- 
guage with  which  the  young  sagamore  imparted 
his  ideas.  Uncas  himself  watched  the  effect  of 
his  brief  explanation  with  intelligent  eyes,  and 
gradually  dropped  the  air  of  authority  he  had  as- 
sumed, as  he  perceived  that  his  auditors  were 
content.  Then,  permitting  his  looks  to  wander 
over  the  silent  throng  that  crowded  around  the 
elevated  seat  of  Tamenund,  he  first  perceived 
Hawk-eye  in  his  bonds.  Stepping  eagerly  from 
his  stand,  he  made  way  for  himself  to  the  side  of 
his  friend  ; and,  cutting  his  thongs  with  a quick 
and  angry  stroke  of  his  own  knife,  he  motioned  to 
the  crowd  to  divide.  The  Indians  silently  obeyed, 
and  once  more  they  stood  ranged  in  their  circle, 
as  before  his  appearance  among  them;  Uncas 
took  the  scout  by  the  hand,  and  led  him  to  the 
feet  of  the  patriarch. 

“ Father,”  he  said,  “ look  at  this  pale-face  ; a 
just  man,  and  the  friend  of  the  Delawares.” 

“ Is  he  a son  of  Minquon  ? ” 

“ Not  so  ; a warrior  known  to  the  Yengeese, 
and  feared  by  the  Maquas.” 

“ What  name  has  he  gained  by  his  deeds  ? ” 

“ We  call  him  Hawk-eye,”  Uncas  replied, 
using  the  Delaware  phrase  ; “ for  his  sight  never 
fails.  The  Mingoes  know  him  better  by  the  death 


* Turtle. 


THE  INDIAN  CHIEF’S  DECISION. 


155 


he  gives  their  warriors : with  them  he  is  ‘ The 
long  Rifle.’  ” 

“ La  longue  Carabine ! ” exclaimed  Tame- 
nund,  opening  his  eyes,  and  regarding  the  scout 
sternly.  “ Hy  son  has  not  done  well  to  call  him 
friend.” 

“ I call  him  so  who  proves  himself  such,”  re- 
turned the  young  chief,  with  great  calmness,  but 
with ' a steady  mien.  “ If  Uncas  is  welcome 
among  the  Delawares,  then  is  Hawk-eye  with  his 
friends.” 

“ The  pale-face  has  slain  my  young  men  ; his 
name  is  great  for  the  blows  he  has  struck  the 
Lenape.” 

“ If  a Mingo  has  whispered  that  much  in  the 
ear  of  the  Delaware,  he  has  only  shown  that  he  is 
a sinking-bird,”  said  the  scout,  who  now  believed 
that  it  was  time  to  vindicate  himself  from  such 
offensive  charges,  and  who  spoke  in  the  tongue 
of  the  man  he  addressed,  modifying  his  Indian 
figures,  however,  with  his  own  peculiar  notions. 
“ That  I have  slain  the  Maquas,  I am  not  the 
man  to  deny,  even  at  their  own  council-fires  ; but 
that,  knowingly,  my  hand  has  ever  harmed  a 
Delaware,  is  opposed  to  the  reason  of  my  gifts, 
which  is  friendly  to  them,  and  all  that  belongs  to 
their  nation.” 

A low  exclamation  of  applause  passed  among 
the  warriors,  who  exchanged  looks  with  each 
other  like  men  that  first  began  to  perceive  their 

error. 

“ Where  is  the  Huron  ? ” demanded  Tamenund. 
“ Has  he  stopped  my  ears  ? ” 

Magua,  whose  feelings  during  that  scene  in 
which  Uncas  had  triumphed  may  be  much  better 
imagined  that  described,  answered  to  the  call  by 
stepping  boldly  in  front  of  the  patriarch. 

“ The  just  Tamenund,”  he  said,  “ will  not 
keep  what  a Huron  has  lent.” 

“ Tell  me,  son  of  my  brother,”  returned  the 
sage,  avoiding  the  dark  countenance  of  Le  Subtil, 
and  turning  gladly  to  the  more  ingenuous  features 
of  Uncas,  “has  the  stranger  a conqueror’s  right 
over  you  ? ” 

“ He  has  none.  The  panther  may  get  into 
snares  set  by  the  women ; but  he  is  strong,  and 
knows  how  to  leap  through  them.” 

“ La  longue  Carabine  ? ” 

“ Laughs  at  the  Mingo  es. — Go,  Huron,  ask 
your  squaws  the  color  of  a bear.” 

“ The  stranger  and  the  white  maiden  that 
came  into  my  camp  together  ? ” 

“ Should  journey  on  an  open  path.” 

“ And  the  woman  that  Huron  left  with  my  war- 
riors? ” 

Uncas  made  no  reply. 


“ And  the  woman  that  the  Mingo  has  brought 
into  my  camp  ? ” repeated  Tamenund,  gravely. 

“ She  is  mine,”  cried  Magua,  shaking  his  hand 
in  triumph  at  Uncas. — “Mohican,  you  know  that 
she  is  mine.” 

“ My  son  is  silent,”  said  Tamenund,  endeavor- 
ing to  read  the  expression  of  the  face  that  the 
youth  turned  from  him  in  sorrow. 

“ It  is  so,”  was  the  low  answer. 

A short  and  impressive  pause  succeeded,  dur- 
ing which  it  was  very  apparent  with  what  reluc- 
tance the  multitude  admitted  the  justice  of  the 
Mingo’s  claim.  At  length  the  sage,  on  whom 
alone  the  decision  depended,  said,  in  a firm 
voice : 

“ Huron,  depart.” 

“ As  he  came,  just  Tamenund,”  demanded  the 
wily  Magua,  “ or  with  hands  filled  with  the  faith 
of  the  Delawares  ? The  wigwam  of  Le  Renard 
Subtil  is  empty.  Make  him  strong  with  his 
own.” 

The  aged  man  mused  with  himself  for  a time  ; 
and  then  bending  his  head  toward  one  of  his  ven- 
erable companions,  he  asked  : 

“ Are  my  ears  open  ? ” 

“ It  is  true.” 

“ Is  this  Mingo  a chief?  ” 

“ The  first  in  his  nation.” 

“ Girl,  what  wouldst  thou  ? A great  warrior 
takes  thee  to  wife.  Go  ; thy  race  will  not  end.” 

“ Better,  a thousand  times,  it  should,”  ex- 
claimed the  horror-struck  Cora,  “ than  meet  with 
such  a degradation  ! ” 

“ Huron,  her  mind  is  in  the  tents  of  her  fa- 
thers. An  unwilling  maiden  makes  an  unhappy 
wigwam.” 

“ She  speaks  with  the  tongue  of  her  people,” 
returned  Magua,  regarding  his  victim  with  a look 
of  bitter  irony.  “ She  is  of  a race  of  traders, 
and  will  bargain  for  a bright  look.  Let  Tame- 
nund speak  the  words.” 

“ Take  you  the  wampum,  and  our  love.” 

“Nothing  hence  but  what  Magua  brought 
hither.” 

“Then  depart  with  thine  own.  The  Great 
Manitto  forbids  that  a Delaware  should  be  un- 
just.” 

Magua  advanced,  and  seized  his  captive 
strongly  by  the  arm  ; the  Delawares  fell  back  in 
silence ; and  Cora,  as  if  conscious  that  remon- 
strance would  be  useless,  prepared  to  submit  to 
her  fate  without  resistance. 

“ Hold,  hold ! ” cried  Duncan,  springing  for- 
ward ; “ Huron,  have  mercy ! her  ransom  shall 
make  thee  richer  than  any  of  thy  people  were 
ever  yet  known  to  be.” 


156 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


“ Magua  is  a red-skin  ; he  wants  not  the  beads 
of  the  pale-faces.” 

“ Gold,  silver,  powder,  lead — all  that  a war- 
rior needs  shall  be  in  thy  wigwam  ; all  that  be- 
comes the  greatest  chief.” 

“ Le  Subtil  is  very  strong,”  cried  Magua,  vio- 
lently shaking  the  hand  which  grasped  the  unre- 
sisting arm  of  Cora  ; “ he  has  his  revenge ! ” 

“Mighty  ruler  of  Providence!”  exclaimed 
Heyward,  clasping  his  hands  together  in  agony, 
“ can  this  be  suffered?— To  you,  just  Tamenund, 

I appeal  for  mercy.” 

“ The  words  of  the  Delaware  are  said,”  re- 
turned the  sage,  closing  his  eyes,  and  dropping 
back  into  his  seat,  alike  wearied  with  his  men- 
tal and  hi3  bodily  exertion.  “ Men  speak  not 
twice.” 

“ That  a chief  should  not  misspend  his  time 
in  unsaying  what  has  once  been  spoken,  is  wise 
and  reasonable,”  said  Hawk-eye,  motioning  to 
Duncan  to  be  silent ; “ but  it  is  also  prudent  in 
every  warrior  to  consider  well  before  he  strikes 
his  tomahawk  into  the  head  of  his  prisoner. — Hu- 
ron, I love  you  not ; nor  can  I say  that  any  Min- 
go has  ever  received  much  favor  at  my  hands. 
It  is  fair  to  conclude,  that,  if  this  war  does  not 
soon  end,  many  more  of  your  warriors  will  meet 
me  in  the  woods.  Put  it  to  your  judgment,  then, 
whether  you  would  prefer  taking  such  a prisoner 
as  that  into  your  encampment,  or  one  like  myself, 
who  am  a man  that  it  would  greatly  rejoice  your 
nation  to  see  with  naked  hands.” 

“ Will  ‘ The  long  Rifle  ’ give  his  life  for  the 
woman  ? ” demanded  Magua,  hesitatingly ; for  he 
had  already  made  a motion  toward  quitting  the 
place  with  his  victim. 

“No,  no;  I said  not  so  much  as  that,”  re- 
turned Hawk-eye,  drawing  back  with  suitable  dis- 
cretion, when  he  noted  the  eagerness  with  which 
Magua  listened  to  his  proposal.  “ It  would  be  an 
unequal  exchange,  to  give  a warrior,  in  the  prime 
of  his  age  and  usefulness,  for  the  best  woman  on 
the  frontiers.  I might  consent  to  go  into  win- 
ter quarters,  now — at  least  six  weeks  afore  the 
leaves  will  turn — on  condition  you  will  release  the 
maiden.” 

Magua  shook  his  head,  and  made  an  impatient 
sign  for  the  crowd  to  open. 

“ Well,  then,”  added  the  scout,  with  the  mus- 
ing air  of  a man  who  had  not  half  made  up  his 
mind,  “ I’will  throw  ‘ Kill-deer  ’ into  the  bargain. 
Take  the  word  of  an  experienced  hunter,  the  piece 
has  not  its  equal  atween  the  provinces.” 

Magua  still  disdained  to  reply,  continuing  his 
efforts  to  disperse  the  crowd. 

“Perhaps,”  added  the  scout,  losing  his  dis- 


sembled coolness,  exactly  in  proportion  as  the 
other  manifested  an  indifference  to  the  exchange 
“ if  I should  condition  to  teach  your  young  men 
the  real  virtue  of  the  we’pon,  it  would  smooth  the 
little  differences  in  our  judgments.” 

Le  Renard  fiercely  ordered  the  Delawares,  who 
still  lingered  in  an  impenetrable  belt  around  him. 
in  hopes  he  would  listen  to  the  amicable  propo- 
sal, to  open  his  path,  threatening,  by  the  glance 
of  his  eye,  another  appeal  to  the  infallible  justice 
of  their  “ prophet.” 

“ What  is  ordered  must  sooner  or  later  arrive,’ 
continued  Hawk-eye,  turning  with  a sad  and  hum- 
bled look  to  Uncas.  “ The  varlet  knows  his  ad- 
vantage, and  will  keep  it ! God  bless  you,  boy ; 
you  have  found  friends  among  your  natural  kin, 
and  I hope  they  will  prove  as  true  as  some  you 
have  met  who  had  no  Indian  cross.  As  for  me, 
sooner  or  later,  I must  die ; it  is  therefore  fortu- 
nate there  are  but  few  to  make  my  death-howL 
After  all,  it  is  likely  the  imps  would  have  man- 
aged to  master  my  scalp,  so  a day  or  two  will 
make  no  great  difference  in  the  everlasting  reck- 
oning of  time.  God  bless  you,”  added  the  rug- 
ged woodsman,  bending  his  head  aside,  and  then 
instantly  changing  its  direction  again,  with  a wist- 
ful look  toward  the  youth ; “ I loved  both  you 
and  your  father,  Uncas,  though  our  skins  are  not 
altogether  of  a color,  and  our  gifts  are  somewhat 
different.  Tell  the  sagamore  I never  lost  sight  of 
him  in  my  greatest  trouble ; and,  as  for  you, 
think  of  me  sometimes  when  on  a lucky  trail ; and 
depend  on  it,  boy,  whether  there  be  one  heaven 
or  two,  there  is  a path  in  the  other  world  by 
which  honest  men  may  come  together  again. 
You’ll  find  the  rifle  in  the  place  we  hid  it ; take 
it,  and  keep  it  for  my  sake ; and  harkee,  lad,  as 
your  natural  gifts  don’t  deny  you  the  use  of  ven- 
geance, use  it  a little  freely  on  the  Mingoes  ; it 
may  unburden  grief  at  my  loss,  and  ease  your 
mind. — Huron,  I accept  your  offer ; release  the 
woman.  I am  your  prisoner.” 

A suppressed  but  still  distinct  murmur  of  ap- 
probation ran  through  the  crowd  at  this  generous 
proposition ; even  the  fiercest  among  the  Dela- 
ware warriors  manifesting  pleasure  at  the  manli- 
ness of  the  intended  sacrifice.  Magua  paused, 
and  for  an  anxious  moment,  it  might  be  said,  he 
doubted ; then  casting  his  eyes  on  Cora,  with  an 
expression  in  which  ferocity  and  admiration  were 
strangly  mingled,  his  purpose  became  fixed  for- 
ever. 

He  intimated  his  contempt  of  the  offer  by  a 
backward  motion  of  his  head,  and  said,  in  a steady 
and  settled  voice : 

“ Le  Renard  subtil  is  a great  chief ; he  has 


CORA  PARTING  FROM  HER  SISTER. 


15? 


but  one  mind. — Come,”  he  added,  laying  his  hand 
too  familiarly  on  the  shoulder  of  his  captive  to 
urge  her  onward : “ a Huron  is  no  tattler ; we 
will  go.” 

The  maiden  drew  back  in  .ofty  womanly  re- 
serve, and  her  dark  eye  kindled,  while  the  rich 
olood  shot,  like  the  passing  brightness  of  the  sun, 
into  her  very  temples,  at  the  indignity. 

“I  am  your  prisoner,  and  at  a fitting  time 
shall  be  ready  to  follow,  even  to  my  death.  But 
violence  is  unnecessary,”  she  coldly  said ; and, 
immediately  turning  to  Hawk-eye,  added : “ Gen- 
erous hunter  ! from  my  soul  I thank  you.  Your 
offer  is  vain,  neither  could  it  be  accepted ; but 
still  you  may  serve  me,  even  more  than  in  your 
own  noble  intention.  Look  at  that  drooping, 
humbled  child ! Abandon  her  not  until  you  leave 
her  in  the  habitations  of  civilized  men.  I will 
not  say,”  wringing  the  hard  hand  of  the  scout, 
“ that  her  father  will  reward  you — for  such  as 
you  are  above  the  rewards  of  men — but  he  will 
thank  you,  and  bless  you.  And,  believe  me,  the 
blessing  of  a just  and  aged  man  has  virtue  in  the 
sight  of  Heaven.  Would  to  God,  I could  hear  one 
from  his  lips  at  this  awful  moment ! ” Her  voice 
became  choked,  and,  for  an  instant,  she  was  silent ; 
then  advancing  a step  nigher  to  Duncan,  who  was 
supporting  her  unconscious  sister,  she  continued, 
in  more  subdued  tones,  but  in  which  feeling  and 
the  habits  of  her  sex  maintained  a fearful  strug- 
gle : “ I need  not  tell  you  to  cherish  the  treasure 
you  will  possess.  You  love  her,  Heyward ; that 
would  conceal  a thousand  faults,  though  she  had 
them.  She  is  kind,  gentle,  sweet,  good,  as  mortal 
may  be.  There  is  not  a blemish  in  mind  or  per- 
son at  which  the  proudest  of  you  all  would  sick- 
en. She  is  fair — oh  ! how  surpassingly  fair ! ” 
laying  her  own  beautiful  but  less  brilliant  hand 
in  melancholy  affection  on  the  alabaster  forehead 
of  Alice,  and  parting  the  golden  hair  which  clus- 
tered about  her  brows ; “ and  yet  her  soul  is  pure 
and  spotless  as  her  skin ! I could  say  much — 
more,  perhaps,  than  cooler  reason  would  approve ; 
but  I will  spare  you  and  myself — ” Her  voice 
became  inaudible,  and  her  face  was  bent  over  the 
form  of  her  sister.  After  a long  and  burning  kiss, 
she  arose,  and  with  features  of  the  hue  of  death, 
but  without  even  a tear  in  her  feverish  eye,  she 
turned  away,  and  added,  to  the  savage,  with  all 
her  former  elevation  of  manner,  “ Now,  sir,  if  it 
be  your  pleasure,  I will  follow.” 

“ Ah,  go,”  cried  Duncan,  placing  Alice  in  the 
arms  of  an  Indian  girl ; “ go,  Magua,  go.  These 
Delawares  have  their  laws,  which  forbid  them  to 
detain  you ; b*it  I — I have  no  such  obligation. 
Go,  malignant  monster — why  do  you  delay  ? ” 


It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  expres- 
sion with  which  Magua  listened  to  this  threat  to 
follow.  There  was  at  first  a fierce  and  manifest 
display  of  joy,  and  then  it  was  instantly  subdued 
in  a look  of  cunning  coldness. 

“ The  woods  are  open,”  he  was  content  with 
answering,  “ ‘ The  open  Hand  ’ can  come.” 

“ Hold,”  cried  Hawk-eye,  seizing  Duncan  by 
the  arm,  and  detaining  him  by  violence;  “you 
know  not  the  craft  of  the  imp.  He  would  lead 
you  to  an  ambushment,  and  your  death — ” , 

“ Huron,”  interrupted  Uncas,  who,  submissive 
to  the  stern  customs  of  his  people,  had  been  an 
attentive  and  grave  listener  to  all  that  passed ; 
“ Huron,  the  justice  of  the  Delawares  comes  from 
the  Manitto.  Look  at  the  sun.  He  is  now  in  the 
upper  branches  of  the  hemlock.  Your  path  is 
short  and  open.  When  he  is  seen  above  the 
trees,  there  will  be  men  on  your  trail.” 

“I  hear  a crow!”  exclaimed  Magua,  with  a 
taunting  laugh.  “ Go,”  he  added,  shaking  his 
hand  at  the  crowd,  which  had  slowly  opened  to 
admit  his  passage — “ where  are  the  petticoats 
of  the  Delawares?  Let  them  send  their  arrows 
and  their  guns  to  the  Wyandots  ; they  shall  have 
venison  to  eat,  and  corn  to  hoe.  Dogs,  rabbits, 
thieves — I spit  on  you  ! ” 

. His  parting  gibes  were  listened  to  in  a dead, 
boding  silence,  and,  with  these  biting  words  in 
his  mouth,  the  triumphant  Magua  passed  un- 
molested into  the  forest,  followed  by  his  passive 
captive,  and  protected  by  the  inviolable  laws  of 
Indian  hospitality. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Flue.  Kill  the  poys  and  the  luggage ! ’Tis  expressly 
against  the  law  of  arms ; ’tis  as  arrant  a piece  of  knavery, 
mark  you  now,  as  can  be  offered  in  the  ’orld. 

King  Henry  Y. 

So  long  as  their  enemy  and  his  victim  con- 
tinued in  sight,  the  multitude  remained  motionless 
as  beings  charmed  to  the  place  by  some  power 
that  was  friendly  to  the  Huron  ; but  the  instant 
he  disappeared,  it  became  tossed  and  agitated  by 
fierce  and  powerful  passion.  Uncas  maintained 
his  elevated  stand,  keeping  his  eyes  on  the  form 
of  Cora,  until  the  colors  of  her  dress  were  blended 
with  the  foliage  of  the  forest ; when  he  descended, 
and,  moving  silently  through  the  throng,  he  dir  ■ 
appeared  in  that  lodge  from  which  he  had  so  rt 
cently  issued.  A few  of  the  graver  and  more  at 
tentive  warriors,  who  caught  the  gleams  of  angei 
that  shot  from  the  eyes  of  the  young  chief  in  pass- 
ing,  followed  him  to  the  place  he  had  selected  foi 


158 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


his  meditations.  After  which,  Tamenund  and 
Alice  were  removed,  and  the  women  and  children 
were  ordered  to  disperse.  During  the  momen- 
tous hour  that  succeeded,  the  encampment  resem- 
bled a hive  of  troubled  bees,  who  only  awaited  the 
appearance  and  example  of  their  leader  to  take 
some  distant  and  momentous  flight. 

A young  warrior  at  length  issued  from  the 
lodge  of  Uncas ; and  moving  deliberately,  with  a 
sort  of  grave  march,  toward  a dwarf  pine  that 
grew  in  the  crevices  of  the  rocky  terrace,  he  tore 
the  bark  from  its  body,  and  then  returned  whence 
he  came  without  speaking.  He  was  soon  followed 
by  another,  who  stripped  the  sapling  of  its 
branches,  leaving  it  a naked  and  blazed  * trunk. 
A third  colored  the  post  with  stripes  of  a dark-red 
paint ; all  which  indications  of  a hostile  design  in 
the  leaders  of  the  nation  were  received  by  the 
men  without  in  a gloomy  and  ominous  silence. 
Finally,  the  Mohican  himself  reappeared,  divested 
of  all  his  attire  except  his  girdle  and  leggings, 
and  with  one-half  of  his  fiqe  features  hid  under  a 
cloud  of  threatening  black. 

TJncas  moved  with  a slow  and  dignified  tread 
toward  the  post,  which  he  immediately  com- 
menced encircling  with  a measured  step,  not  un- 
like an  ancient  dance,  raising  his  voice,  at  the 
same  time,  in  the  wild  and  irregular  chant  of  his 
war-song.  The  notes  were  in  the  extremes  of  hu- 
man sounds ; being  sometimes  melancholy  and  ex- 
quisitely plaintive,  even  rivalling  the  melody  of 
birds — and  then,  by  sudden  and  startling  tran- 
sitions, causing  the  auditors  to  tremble  by  their 
depth  and  energy.  The  words  were  few  and  often 
repeated,  proceeding  gradually  from  a sort  of  in- 
vocation, or  hymn  to  the  Deity,  to  an  intimation 
of  the  warrior’s  object,  and  terminating  as  they 
commenced  with  an  acknowledgment  of  his  own 
dependence  on  the  Great  Spirit.  If  it  were  pos- 
sible to  translate  the  comprehensive  and  melodi- 
ous language  in  which  he  spoke,  the  ode  might 
read  something  like  the  following  : 

“ Manitto ! Manitto ! Manitt®  ! 

Thou  art  great,  thou  art  good,  thou  art  wise  r 
Manitto  I Manitto  I 
Thou  art  just. 

“ In  the  heavens,  in  the  clouds,  oh ! I see 
Many  spots — many  dark,  many  red : 

In  the  heavens,  oh  1 1 see 
Many  clouds. 

“ In  the  woods,  in  the  air,  oh ! I hear 
The  whoop,  the  long  yell,  and  the  cry : 


* A tree  which  has  been  partially  or  entirely  stripped  of 
its  bark  is  said,  in  the  language  of  the  country,  to  be 
“ blazed.”  The  term  is  strictly  English  for  a horse  is  said 
to  be  blazed  when  it  has  a white  mark. 


In  the  woods,  oh ! I hear 
The  loud  whoop  1 

“Manitto!  Manitto  1 Manitto! 

I am  weak — thou  art  strong;  I am  slow— 

Manitto!  Manitto! 

Give  me  aid.” 

At  the  end  of  what  might  be  called  each  vers« 
he  made  a pause,  by  raising  a note  louder  and 
longer  than  common,  that  was  peculiarly  suited 
to  the  sentiment  just  expressed.  The  first  closo 
was  solemn,  and  intended  to  convey  the  idea  of 
veneration ; the  second  descriptive,  bordering  on 
the  alarming  ; and  the  third  was  the  well-known 
and  terrific  war-whoop,  which  burst  from  the  lips 
of  the  young  warrior,  like  a combination  of  all  the 
frightful  sounds  of  battle.  The  last  was  like  the 
first,  humble  and  imploring.  Three  times  did  he 
repeat  this  song,  and  as  often  did  he  encircle  the 
post  in  his  dance. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  turn,  a grave  and 
highly-esteemed  chief  of  the  Lenape  followed  his 
example,  singing  words  of  his  own,  however,  to 
music  of  a similar  character.  Warrior  after  war- 
rior enlisted  in  the  dance,  until  all  of  any  renown 
and  authority  were  numbered  in  its  mazes.  The 
spectacle  now  became  wildly  terrific : the  fierce- 
looking  and  menacing  visages  of  the  chiefs  receiv- 
ing additional  power  from  the  appalling  strains  in 
which  they  mingled  their  guttural  tones.  Just 
then  Uncas  struck  his  tomahawk  deep  into  the 
post,  and  raised  his  voice  in  a shout,  which  might 
be  termed  his  own  battle-cry.  The  act  announced 
that  he  had  assumed  the  chief  authority  in  the 
intended  expedition. 

It  was  a signal  that  awakened  all  the  slumber- 
ing passions  of  the  nation.  A hundred  youths, 
who  had  hitherto  been  restrained  by  the  diffidence 
of  their  years,  rushed  in  a frantic  body  on  the 
fancied  emblem  of  their  enemy,  and  severed  it 
asunder,  splinter  by  splinter,  until  nothing  re- 
mained of  the  trunk  but  its  roots  in  the  earth. 
During  this  moment  of  tumult,  the  most  ruthless 
deeds  of  war  were  performed  ou  the  fragments  of 
the  tree,  with  as  much  apparent  ferocity  as  if  they 
were  the  living  victims  of  their  cruelty.  Some 
were  scalped  ; some  received  the  keen  and  trem- 
bling axe ; and  others  suffered  by  thrusts  from  thf 
fatal  knife.  In  short,  the  manifestations  of  zea 
and  fierce  delight  were  so  great  and  unequivocal 
that  the  expedition  was  declared  to  be  a war  ol 
the  nation. 

The  instant  Uncas  had  strucK  tne  blow,  he 
moved  out  of  the  circle,  and  cast  his  eyes  up  to 
the  sun,  which  was  just  gaining  the  point,  when 
the  truce  with  Magua  was  to  end. » The  fact  was 
soon  announced  by  a significant  gesture,  accom- 


TJNCAS  ON  THE  WAR-PATH. 


159 


panied  by  a corresponding  cry ; and  the  whole 
of  the  excited  multitude  abandoned  their  mimic 
warfare,  with  shrill  yells  of  pleasure,  to  prepare 
for  the  more  hazardous  experiment  of  the  reality. 

The  whole  face  of  the  encampment  was  in- 
stantly changed.  The  warriors,  who  were  already 
armed  and  painted,  became  as  still  as  if  they  were 
incapable  of  any  uncommon  burst  of  emotion. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  women  broke  out  of  the 
lodges  with  the  songs  of  joy  and  those  of  lamen- 
tation, so  strangely  mingled  that  it  might  have 
been  difficult  to  have  said  which  passion  pre- 
ponderated. None,  however,  were  idle.  Some 
bore  their  choicest  articles,  others  their  young, 
and  some  their  aged  and  infirm,  into  the  forest, 
which  spread  itself  like  a verdant  carpet  of  bright 
green  against  the  side  of  the  mountain.  Thither 
Tamenund  also  retired,  with  calm  composure, 
after  a short  and  touching  interview  with  Uncas  ; 
from  whom  the  sage  separated  with  the  reluc- 
tance that  a parent  would  quit  a long-lost  and 
just-recovered  child.  In  the  mean  time,  Duncan 
saw  Alice  to  a place  of  safety,  and  then  sought 
the  scout,  with  a countenance  that  denoted  how 
eagerly  he  also  panted  for  the  approaching  con- 
test. 

But  Hawk-eye  was  too  much  accustomed  to 
the  war-song  and  the  enlistments  of  the  natives 
to  betray  any  interest  in  the  passing  scene.  He 
merely  cast  an  occasional  look  at  the  number  and 
quality  of  the  warriors,  who,  from  time  to  time, 
signified  their  readiness  to  accompany  Uncas  to 
the  field.  In  this  particular  he  was  soon  satis- 
fied ; for,  as  has  been  already  seen,  the  power  of 
the  young  chief  quickly  embraced  every  fighting 
man  in  the  nation.  After  this  material  point  was 
so  satisfactorily  decided,  he  dispatched  an  Indian 
boy  in  quest  of  “ Kill-deer  ” and  the  rifle  of  Un- 
cas, to  the  place  where  they  had  deposited  the 
weapons  on  approaching  the  camp  of  the  Dela- 
wares ; a measure  of  double  policy,  inasmuch  as 
it  protected  the  arms  from  their  own  fate,  if  de- 
tained as  prisoners,  and  gave  them  the  advantage 
of  appearing  among  the  strangers  rather  as  suf- 
ferers than  as  men  provided  with  the  means  of 
defence  and  subsistence.  In  selecting  another  to 
perform  the  office  of  reclaiming  his  highly-prized 
rifle,  the  scout  had  lost  sight  of  none  of  his 
habitual  caution.  He  knew  that  Magua  had  not 
come  unattended,  and  he  also  knew  that  Huron 
spies  watched  the  movements  of  their  new  ene- 
mies along  the  whole  boundary  of  the  woods.  It 
would,  therefore,  have  been  fatal  to  himself  to 
have  attempted  the  experiment ; a warrior  would 
have  farsd  no  better ; but  the  danger  of  a boy 
would  not  be  likely  to  commence  until  after  his  | 

26 


object  was  discovered.  When  Heyward  joined 
him,  the  scout  was  coolly  awaiting  the  result  of 
this  experiment. 

The  boy,  who  had  been  well  instructed,  and 
was  sufficiently  crafty,  proceeded,  with  a bosom 
that  was  swelling  with  the  pride  of  such  -a  confi 
dence  and  all  the  hopes  of  young  ambition,  care- 
lessly across  the  clearing  to  the  wood,  which  he 
entered  at  a point  at  some  little  distance  from  the 
place  where  the  guns  were  secreted.  The  in- 
stant, however,  he  was  concealed  by  the  foliage 
of  the  bushes,  his  dusky  form  was  to  be  seen 
gliding,  like  that  of  a serpent,  toward  the  desired 
treasure.  He  was  successful ; and  in  another 
moment  he  appeared  flying  across  the  narrow 
opening,  that  skirted  the  base  of  the  terrace  on 
which  the  village  stood,  with  the  velocity  of  an 
arrow,  and  bearing  a prize  in  each  hand.  He  had 
actually  gained  the  crags,  and  was  leaping  up 
their  sides  with  incredible  activity,  when  a shot 
from  the  woods  showed  how  accurate  had  been 
the  judgment  of  the  scout.  The  boy  answered  it 
with  a feeble  but  contemptuous  shout ; and  im- 
mediately a second  bullet  was  sent  after  him  from 
another  part  of  the  cover.  At  the  next  instant 
he  appeared  on  the  level  above,  elevating  his 
guns  in  triumph,  while  he  moved  with  the  air  of 
a conqueror  toward  the  renowned  hunter  who 
had  honored  him  by  so  glorious  a commission. 

Notwithstanding  the  lively  interest  Hawk-eye 
had  taken  in  the  fate  of  his  messenger,  he  re- 
ceived “ Kill-deer  ” with  a satisfaction  that,  mo- 
mentarily, drove  all  other  recollections  from  his 
mind.  After  examining  the  piece  with  an  in- 
telligent eye,  and  opening  and  shutting  the  pan 
some  ten  or  fifteen  times,  and  trying  sundry 
other  equally  important  experiments  on  the  lock, 
he  turned  to  the  boy,  and  demanded,  with  great 
manifestations  of  kindness,  if  he  was  hurt.  The 
urchin  looked  proudly  up  in  his  face,  but  made  no 
reply. 

“ Ah ! I see,  lad,  the  knaves  have  barked 
your  arm ! ” added  the  scout,  taking  up  the 
limb  of  the  patient  sufferer,  across  which  a deep 
flesh-wound  had  been  made  by  one  of  the  bullets  • 
“ but  a little  bruised  alder  will  act  like  a charm 
In  the  mean  time  I will  wrap  it  in  a badge  of 
wampum.  You  have  commenced  the  business 
of  a warrior  early,  my  brave  boy,  and  are  likely 
to  bear  a plenty  of  honorable  scars  to  your  grave. 
I know  many  young  men  that  have  taken  scalps 
who  cannot  show  such  a mark  as  this.  Go,” 
having  bound  up  the  arm  ; “ you  will  be  a chief!  ” 

The  lad  departed,  prouder  of  his  flowing 
blood  than  the  vainest  courtier  could  be  of  his 
blushing  ribbon ; and  stalked  among  the  fellows 


160 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


of  his  age,  an  object  of  general  admiration  and 
envy. 

But  in  a moment  of  so  many  serious  and  im- 
portant duties,  this  single  act  of  juvenile  fortitude 
did  not  attract  the  general  notice  and  commen- 
dation ft  would  have  received  under  milder  au- 
spices. It  had,  however,  served  to  apprise  the 
Delawares  of  the  position  and  the  intentions  of 
their  enemies.  - Accordingly,  a party  of  adven- 
turers, better  suited  to  the  task  than  the  weak 
though  spirited  boy,  was  ordered  to  dislodge  the 
skulkers.  The  duty  was  soon  performed ; for 
most  of  the  Hurons  retired  of  themselves  when 
they  found  they  had  been  discovered.  The  Dela- 
wares followed  to  a sufficient  distance  from  their 
own  encampment  and  then  halted  for  orders,  ap- 
prehensive of  being  led  into  an  ambush.  As 
both  parties  secreted  themselves,  the  woods  were 
again  as  still  and  quiet  as  a mild  summer  morn- 
ing and  deep  solitude  could  render  them. 

The  calm  but  still  impatient  Uncas  now  col- 
lected his  chiefs  and  divided  his  power.  He  pre- 
sented Hawk-eye  as  a warrior  often  tried  and  al- 
ways found  deserving  of  confidence.  When  he 
found  his  friend  met  with  a favorable  reception, 
he  bestowed  on  him  the  command  of  twenty  men, 
like  himself,  active,  skilful,  and  resolute.  He 
gave  the  Delawares  to  understand  the  rank  of 
Heyward  among  the  troops  of  the  Yengeese,  and 
then  tendered  to  him  a trust  of  equal  authority. 
But  Duncan  declined  the  charge,  professing  his 
readiness  to  serve  as  a volunteer  by  the  side  of 
the  scout.  After  this  disposition,  the  young  Mo- 
hican appointed  various  native  chiefs  to  fill  the 
different  situations  of  responsibility,  and,  the  time 
pressing,  he  gave  forth  the  word  to  march.  He 
was  cheerfully  but  silently  obeyed  by  more  than 
two  hundred  men. 

Their  entrance  into  the  forest  was  perfectly 
unmolested ; nor  did  they  encounter  any  living 
objects  that  could  either  give  the  alarm  or  furnish 
the  intelligence  they  needed,  until  they  came 
upon  the  lairs  of  their  own  scouts.  Here  a halt 
was  ordered,  and  the  chiefs  were  assembled  to 
hold  a “whispering-council.”  At  this  meeting 
divers  plans  of  operation  were  suggested,  though 
none  of  a character  to  meet  the  wishes  of  their 
ardent  leader.  Had  Uncas  followed  the  prompt- 
ings of  his  own  inclinations,  he  would  have  led 
his  followers  to  the  charge  without  a moment’s 
delay,  and  put  the  conflict  to  the  hazard  of  an 
instant  issue  ; but  such  a course  would  have  been 
in  opposition  to  all  the  received  practices  and 
opinions  of  his  countrymen.  He  was,  therefore, 
fain  to  adopt  a caution  that  in  the  present  temper 
of  his  mind  he  execrated,  and  to  listen  to  advice 


at  which  his  fiery  spirit  chafed  under  the  vivid 
recollection  of  Cora’s  danger  and  Magua’s  inso- 
lence. 

After  an  unsatisfactory  conference  of  many 
minutes,  a solitary  individual  was  seen  advan- 
cing from  the  side  of  the  enemy  with  such  appar- 
ent haste  as  to  induce  the  belief  he  might  be  a 
messenger  charged  with  pacific  overtures.  When 
within  a hundred  yards,  however,  of  the  cover 
behind  which  the  Delaware,  council  had  assem- 
bled, the  stranger  hesitated,  appeared  uncertain 
what  course  to  take,  and  finally  halted.  All  eyes 
were  now  turned  on  Uncas,  as  if  seeking  direc- 
tions how  to  proceed. 

“ Hawk-eye,”  said  the  young  chief,  in  a low 
voice,  “ he  must  never  speak  to  the  Hurons 
again.” 

“ His  time  has  come,”  said  the  laconic  scout, 
thrusting  the  long  barrel  of  his  rifle  through  the 
leaves,  and  taking  his  deliberate  and  fatal  aim. 
But,  instead  of  pulling  the  trigger,  he  lowered 
the  muzzle  again,  and  indulged  himself  in  a fit  of 
his  peculiar  mirth.  “ I took  the  imp  for  a Mingo, 
as  I’m  a miserable  sinner ! ” he  said  ; “ but  when 
my  eye  ranged  along  his  ribs  for  a place  to  get 
the  bullet  in — would  you  think  it,  Uncas — I saw 
the  musicianer’s  blower ! and  so,  after  all,  it  is 
the  man  they  call  Gamut,  whose  death  can  profit 
no  one,  and  whose  life,  if  his  tongue  can  do  any 
thing  but  sing,  may  be  made  serviceable  to  our 
own  ends.  If  sounds  have  not  lost  their  virtue, 
I’ll  soon  have  a discourse  with  the  honest  fellow, 
and  that  in  a voice  he’ll  find  more  agreeable  than 
the  speech  of  ‘Kill-deer.’  ” 

So  saying,  Hawk-eye  laid  aside  his  rifle ; and 
crawling  through  the  bushes  until  within  hearing 
of  David,  he  attempted  to  repeat  the  musical  ef- 
fort, which  had  conducted  himself,  with  so  much 
safety  and  eclat , through  the  Huron  encampment. 
The  exquisite  organs  of  . Gamut  could  not  readily 
be  deceived  (and,  to  say  the  truth,  it  would  have 
been  difficult  for  any  other  than  Hawk-eye  to 
produce  a similar  noise),  and  consequently,  hav- 
ing once  before  heard  the  sounds,  he  now  knew 
whence  they  proceeded.  The  poor  fellow  appeared 
relieved  from  a state  of  great  embarrassment ; for 
pursuing  the  direction  of  the  voice — a task  that 
to  him  was  not  much  less  arduous  than  it  would 
have  been  to  have  gone  up  in  the  face  of  a bat- 
tery— he  soon  discovered  the  hidden  songster. 

“ I wonder  what  the  Hurons  will  think  of 
that  ? ” said  the  scout,  laughing,  as  ho  took  his 
companion  by  the  arm,  and  urged  him  toward 
the  rear.  “ If  the  knaves  lie  within  ear-shot, 
they  will  say  there  are  two  non-compossers  in- 
stead of  one  ! But  here  we  are  safe,”  he  added* 


NARROW  ESCAPE  OF  GAMUT. 


161 


pointing  to  Uncas  and  his  associates.  “Now 
give  us  the  history  of  the  Mingo  inventions  in 
natural  English,  and  without  any  ups  and  downs 
of  voice.” 

David  gazed  about  him,  at  the  fierce  and  wild- 
looking chiefs,  in  mute  wonder  ; but  assured  by 
the  presence  of  faces  that  he  knew,  he  soon  rallied 
his  faculties  so  far  as  to  make  an  intelligent  re- 

ply. 

“ The  heathen  are  abroad  in  goodly  numbers,” 
said  David ; “ and,  I fear,  with  evil  intent.  There 
has  been  much  howling  and  ungodly  revelry, 
together  with  such  sounds  as  it  is  profanity  to 
utter,  in  their  habitations  within  the  past  hour  ; 
so  much  so,  in  truth,  that  I have  fled  to  the  Dela- 
wares in  search  of  peace.” 

“ Your  ears  might  not  have  profited  much  by 
the  exchange,  had  you  been  quicker  of  foot,” 
returned  the  scout,  a little  dryly.  “ But  let  that 
be  as  it  may ; where  are  the  Hurons  ? ” 

“ They  lie  hid  in  the  forest,  between  this  spot 
and  their  village,  in  such  force,  that  prudence 
would  teach  you  instantly  to  return.” 

Uncas  cast  a glance  along  the  range  of  trees 
which  concealed  his  own  band  and  mentioned  the 
name  of — 

“ Magua  ? ” 

“ Is  among  them.  He  brought  in  the  maiden 
that  had  sojourned  with  the  Delawares,  and  leav- 
ing her  in  the  cave,  has  put  himself,  like  a raging 
wolf,  at  the  head  of  his  savages.  I know  not 
what  has  troubled  his  spirit  so  greatly  ! ” 

“ He  has  left  her,  you  say,  in  the  cave  ! ” in- 
terrupted Heyward  ; “ ’tis  well  that  we  know  its 
situation  ! May  not  something  be  done  for  her 
instant  relief?  ” 

Uncas  looked  earnestly  at  the  scout,  before 
he  asked : 

“What  says  Hawk-eye  ? ” 

“ Give  me  my  twenty  rifles,  and  I will  turn  to 
the  right,  along  the  stream ; and,  passing  by  the 
huts  of  the  beaver,  will  join  the  sagamore  and 
the  colonel.  You  shall  then  hear  the  whoop  from 
that  quarter ; with  this  wind  one  may  easily  send 
it  a mile.  Then,  Uncas,  do  you  drive  in  their 
front;  when  they  come  within  range  of  our 
pieces,  we  will  give  them  a blow  that,  I pledge 
the  good  name  of  an  old  frontiersman,  shall  make 
their  line  bend  like  an  ashen  bow.  After  which, 
we  will  carry  their  village,  and  take  the  woman 
from  the  cave  ; when  the  affair  may  be  finished 
with  the  tribe,  according  to  a white  man’s  battle, 
by  a blow  and  a victory ; or,  in  the  Indian  fash- 
ion, with  dodge  and  cover.  There  may  be  no 
great-  learning,  major,  in  this  plan,  but  with  cour- 
age and  patience  it  can  all  be  done.” 

11 


“ I like  it  much,”  cried  Duncan,  who  saw  that 
the  release  of  Cora  was  the  primary  object  in  the 
mind  of  the  scout — “ I like  it  much.  Let  it  be 
instantly  attempted.” 

After  a short  conference,  the  plan  was  ma- 
tured, and  rendered  more  intelligible  to  the  sev- 
eral parties ; the  different  signals  were  appointed, 
and  the  chiefs  separated,  each  to  his  allotted  sta- 
tion. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

“ But  plagues  shall  spread,  and  funeral-fires  increase, 

Till  the  great  king,  without  a ransom  paid, 

To  her  own  Chrysa  send  the  black-eyed  maid.” 

Pope. 

During  the  time  Uncas  was  making  this  dis- 
position of  his  forces,  the  woods  were  as  still, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  those  who  had  met  in 
council,  apparently  as  much  untenanted,  as  when 
they  came  fresh  from  the  hands  of  their  Almighty 
Creator.  The  eye  could  range,  in  every  direction, 
through  the  long  and  shadowed  vistas  of  the 
trees ; but  nowhere  was  any  object  to  be  seen 
that  did  not  properly  belong  to  the  peaceful  and 
slumbering  scenery.  Here  and  there  a bird  was 
heard  fluttering  among  the  branches  of  the 
beeches,  and  occasionally  a squirrel  dropped  a 
nut,  drawing  the  startled  looks  of  the  party,  for 
a moment,  to  the  place ; but  the  instant  the 
casual  interruption  ceased,  the  passing  air  was 
heard  murmuring  above  their  heads,  along  that 
verdant  and  undulating  surface  of  forest,  which 
spread  itself  unbroken,  unless  by  stream  or  lake, 
over  such  a vast  region  of  country.  Across  the 
tract  of  wilderness,  which  lay  between  the  Dela- 
wares and  the  village  of  their  enemies,  it  seemed 
as  if  the  foot  of  man  had  never  trodden,  so 
breathing  and  deep  was  the  silence  in  which  it 
lay.  But  Hawk-eye,  whose  duty  led  him  fore- 
most in  the  adventure,  knew  the  character  of 
those  with  whom  he  was  about  to  contend  too 
well  to  trust  the  treacherous  quiet. 

When  he  saw  his  little  band  collected,  the 
scout  threw  “ Kill-deer  ” into  the  hollow  of  his 
arm,  and,  making  a silent  signal  that  he  would  be 
followed,  he  led  them  many  rods  toward  the  rear, 
into  the  bed  of  a little  brook  which  they  had 
crossed  in  advancing.  Here  he  halted,  and  after 
waiting  for  the  whole  of  his  grave  and  attentive 
warriors  to  close  about  him,  he  spoke  in  Dela- 
ware, demanding: 

“ Do  any  of  my  young  men  know  whither  this 
run  will  lead  us  ? ” 

A Delaware  stretched  forth  a hand,  with  the 


162 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


two  fingers  separated,  and,  indicating  the  manner 
in  which  they  were  jo.ned  at  the  root,  he 
answered : 

“ Before  the  sun  could  go  his  own  length,  the 
little  water  will  be  in  the  big.”  Then  he  added? 
pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  place  he  mentioned, 
“ The  two  make  enough  for  the  beavers.” 

“I  thought  as  much,”  returned  the  scout, 
glancing  his  eye  upward  at  the  openings  in  the 
tree-tops,  “ from  the  course  it  takes,  and  the  bear- 
ings of  the  mountains.  Men,  we  will  keep  within 
the  cover  of  its  banks  till  we  scent  the  Hurons.” 

His  companions  gave  the  usual  brief  excla- 
mation of  assent,  but,  perceiving  that  their  lead- 
er was  about  to  lead  the  way  in  person,  one  or 
two  made  signs  that  all  was  not  as  it  should 
be.  Hawk-eye,  who  comprehended  their  meaning 
glances,  turned,  and  perceived  that  his  party  had 
been  followed  thus  far  by  the  singing-master. 

“ Do  you  know,  friend,  ” asked  the  scout, 
gravely,  and  perhaps  with  a little  of  the  pride  of 
conscious  deserving  in  his  manner,  “ that  this  is  a 
band  of  rangers  chosen  for  the  most  desperate 
service,  and  put  under  the  command  of  one  who, 
though  another  might  say  it  with  a better  face, 
will  not  be  apt  to  leave  them  idle  ? It  may  not  be 
five,  it  cannot  be  thirty,  minutes  before  we  tread 
on  the  body  of  a Huron,  living  or  dead.” 

“ Though  not  admonished  of  your  intentions 
in  words,”  returned  David,  whose  face  was  a little 
flushed,  and  whose  ordinarily  quiet  and  unmeaning 
eyes  glimmered  with  an  expression  of  unusual 
fire,  “ your  men  have  reminded  me  of  the  children 
of  Jacob  going  out  to  battle  against  the  Shechem- 
ites,  for  wickedly  aspiring  to  wedlock  with  a 
woman  of  a race  that  was  favored  of  the  Lord. 
Now,  I have  journeyed  far,  and  sojourned  much 
in  good  and  evil  with  the  maiden  ye  seek ; and 
though  not  a man  of  war,  with  my  loins  girded 
and  my  sword  sharpened,  yet  would  I gladly 
strike  a blow  in  her  behalf.” 

The  scout  hesitated,  as  if  weighing  the  chances 
of  such  a strange  enlistment  in  his  mind,  before 
he  answered : 

“ You  know  not  the  use  of  any  we’pon.  You 
carry  no  rifle ; and,  believe  me,  what  the  Mingoes 
take  they  will  freely  give  again.” 

“ Though  not  a vaunting  and  bloodily-disposed 
Goliath,”  returned  David,  drawing  a sling  from  be- 
neath his  party-colored  and  uncouth  attire,  “ I have 
not  forgotten  the  example  of  the  Jewish  boy. 
With  this  ancient  instrument  of  war  have  I 
practised  much  in  my  youth,  and  peradventure  the 
skill  has  not  entirely  departed  from  me.” 

“Ay!”  said  Hawk-eye,  considering  the  deer- 
skin thong  and  apron  with  a cold  and  discouraging 


eye,  “the  thing  might  do  its  work  among  arrows, 
or  even  knives ; but  these  Mengwe  have  been 
furnished  by  the  Frenchers  with  a good  grooved 
barrel  a man.  However,  it  seems  to  be  your  gift 
to  go  unharmed  amid  fire ; and  as  you  have  hitherto 
been  favored — major,  you  have  left  your  rifle  at  a 
cock ; a single  shot  before  the  time  would  be  just 
twenty  scalps  lost  to  no  purpose — singer,  you  can 
follow ; we  may  find  use  for  you  in  the  shoutings.” 

“ I thank  you,  friend,”  returned  David,  supply- 
ing himself,  like  his  royal  namesake,  from  among 
the  pebbles  of  the  brook ; “ though  not  given  to 
the  desire  to  kill,  had  you  sent  me  away  my  spirit 
would  have  been  troubled.” 

“ Remember,”  added  the  scout,  tapping  his  own 
head  significantly  on  that  spot  where  Gamut  was 
yet  sore,  “ we  come  to  fight,  and  not  to  musickate. 
Until  the  general  whoop  is  given,  nothing  speaks 
but  the  rifle.” 

David  nodded,  as  much  as  to  signify  his  acqui- 
escence with  the  terms ; and  then  Hawk-eye,  cast- 
ing another  observant  glance  over  his  followers, 
made  the  signal  to  proceed. 

Their  route  lay,  for  the  distance  of  a mile, 
along  the  bed  of  the  water-course.  Though  pro- 
tected from  any  great  danger  of  observation  by 
the  precipitous  banks,  and  the  thick  shrubbery 
which  skirted  the  stream,  no  precaution  known  to 
an  Indian  attack  was  neglected.  A warrior  rather 
crawled  than  walked  on  each  flank,  so  as  to  catch 
occasional  glimpses  into  the  forest ; and  every  few 
minutes  the  band  came  to  a halt,  and  listened  for 
hostile  sounds,  with  an  acuteness  of  organs  that 
would  be  scarcely  conceivable  to  a man  in  a less 
natural  state.  Theii  march  was,  however,  unmo- 
lested, and  they  reached  the  point  where  the 
lesser  stream  was  lost  in  the  greater,  without  the 
smallest  evidence  that  their  progress  had  been 
noted.  Here  the  scout  again  halted,  to  consult 
the  signs  of  the  forest. 

“We  are  likely  to  have  a good  day  for  a 
fight,”  he  said,  in  English,  addressing  Heyward, 
and  glancing  his  eye  upward  at  the  clouds,  which 
began  to  move  in  broad  sheets  across  the  firma- 
ment ; “ a bright  sun  and  a glittering  barrel  ai  e 
no  friends  to  true  sight.  Every  thing  is  favor- 
able ; they  have  the  wind,  which  will  bring  down 
their  noses  and  their  smoke  too,  no  little  matter 
in  itself ; whereas,  with  us  it  will  be  first  a shot, 
and  then  a clear  view.  But  here  is  an  end  of  our 
cover;  the  beavers  have  bad  the  range  of  this 
stream  for  hundreds  of  years,  and,  what  atween 
their  food  and  their  dams,  there  is,  as  you  see, 
many  a girdled  stub,  but  few  living  trees.” 

Hawk-eye  had,  in  truth,  in  these  few  words, 
given  no  bad  description  of  the  prospect  that  now 


THE  SCOUT’S  STRATEGY. 


163 


lay  in  their  front.  The  brook  was  irregular  in  its 
width,  sometimes  shooting  through  narrow  fis- 
sures in  the  rocks,  and,  at  others,  spreading  over 
acres  of  bottom-land,  forming  little  areas  that 
might  be  termed  ponds.  Everywhere  along  its 
banks  were  the  mouldering  relics  of  dead  trees, 
in  all  the  stages  of  decay,  from  those  that  groaned 
on  their  tottering  trunks  to  such  as  had  recently 
been  robbed  of  those  rugged  coats  that  so  mys- 
teriously contain  their  principle  of  life.  A few 
long,  low,  and  moss-covered  piles  were  scattered 
among  them,  like  the  memorials  of  a former  and 
long-departed  generation. 

All  these  minute  particulars  were  noted  by  the 
scout,  with  a gravity  and  interest  that  they  prob- 
ably had  never  before  attracted.  He  knew  that 
the  Huron  encampment  lay  a short  half  mile  up 
the  brook ; and,  with  the  characteristic  anxiety 
of  one  who  dreaded  a hidden  danger,  he  was 
greatly  troubled  at  not  finding  the  smallest  trace 
of  the  presence  of  his  enemy.  Once  or  twice  he 
felt  induced  to  give  the  order  for  a rush,  and  to 
attempt  the  village  by  surprise ; but  his  experi- 
ence quickly  admonished  him  of  the  danger  of  so 
useless  an  experiment.  Then  he  listened  intently, 
and  with  painful  uncertainty,  for  the  sounds  of 
hostility  in  the  quarter  where  Uncas  was  left; 
but  nothing  was  audible  except  the  sighing  of  the 
wind,  that  began  to  sweep  over  the  bosom  of  the 
forest  in  gusts  which  threatened  a tempest.  At 
length,  yielding  rather  to  his  unusual  impatience 
than  taking  counsel  from  his  knowledge,  he  de- 
termined to  bring  matters  to  an  issue,  by  un- 
masking his  force,  and  proceeding  cautiously  but 
steadily  up  the  stream. 

The  scout  had  stood,  while  making  his  obser- 
vations, sheltered  by  a brake,  and  his  companions 
still  lay  in  the  bed  of  the 'ravine,  through  which, 
the  smaller  stream  debouched;  but  on  hearing 
his  low,  though  intelligible  signal,  the  whole  par- 
ty stole  up  the  bank,  like  so  many  dark  spec- 
tres, and  silently  arranged  themselves  around  him. 
Pointing  in  the  direction  he  wished  to  proceed, 
Hawk-eye  advanced,  the  band  breaking  off  in  sin- 
gle files,  and  following  so  accurately  in  his  foot- 
steps, as  to  leave  it,  if  we  except  Heyward  and 
David,  the  trail  of  but  a single  man. 

The  party  was,  however,  scarcely  uncovered 
before  a volley  from  a dozen  rifles  was  heard  in 
their  rear  ;•  and  a Delaware  leaping  high  into  the 
air,  like  a wounded  deer,  fell  at  his  whole  length, 
perfectly  dead. 

“ Ah ! I feared  some  deviltry  like  this ! ” ex- 
claimed the  scout,  in  English ; adding,  with  the 
quickness-of  thought,  in  his  adopted  tongue,  “ To 
cover,  men,  and  charge  ! ” 


The  band  dispersed  at  the  word,  and,  before 
Heyward  had  well  recovered  from  his  surprise,  he 
found  himself  standing  alone  with  David.  Lucki- 
ly, the  Hurons  had  already  fallen  back,  and  he 
was  safe  from  their  fire.  But  this  state  of  things 
was  evidently  to  be  of  short  continuance ; for  the 
scout  set  the  example  of  pressing  on  their  retreat, 
by  discharging  his  rifle,  and  darting  from  tree  to 
tree,  as  his  enemy  slowly  yielded  ground. 

It  would  seem  that  the  assault  had  been  made 
by  a very  small  party  of  the  Hurons,  which,  how- 
ever, continued  to  increase  in  numbers,  as  it  re- 
tired on  its  friends,  until  the  return  fire  was  very 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  equal  to  that  maintained  by 
the  advancing  Delawares.  Heyward  threw  him- 
self among  the  combatants,  and,  imitating  the 
necessary  caution  of  his  companions,  he  made 
quick  discharges  with  his  own  rifle.  The  contest 
now  grew  warm  and  stationary.  Few  were  in- 
jured, as  both  parties  kept  their  bodies  as  much 
protected  as  possible  by  the  trees ; never,  indeed, 
exposing  any  part  of  their  persons  except  in  the 
act  of  taking  aim.  But  the  chances  were  gradu- 
ally growing  unfavorable  to  Hawk-eye  and  his 
band.  The  quick-sighted  scout  perceived  his 
danger,  without  knowing  how  to  remedy  it.  He 
saw  it  was  more  dangerous  to  retreat  than  to 
maintain  his  ground ; while  he  found  his  enemy 
throwing  out  men  on  his  flank,  which  rendered  the 
task  of  keeping  themselves  covered  so  very  diffi- 
cult to  the  Delawares,  as  nearly  to  silence  their 
fire.  At  this  embarrassing  moment,  when  they 
began  to  think  the  whole  of  the  hostile  tribe  was 
gradually  encircling  them,  they  heard  the  yell  of 
combatants,  and  the  rattling  of  arms,  echoing 
under  the  arches  of  the  wood,  at  the  place  where 
Uncas  was  posted ; a bottom  which,  in  a manner, 
lay  beneath  the  ground  on  which  Hawk-eye  and 
his  party  were  contending. 

The  effects  of  this  attack  were  instantaneous, 
and  to  the  scout  and  his  friends  greatly  relieving. 
It  would  seem  that,  while  his  own  surprise  had 
been  anticipated,  and  had  consequently  faile’fi,  the 
enemy,  in  their  turn,  having  been  deceived  in  its 
object  and  in  his  numbers,  had  left  too  small  a 
force  to  resist  the  impetuous  onset  of  the  young 
Mohican.  This  fact  was  doubly  apparent,  by  the 
rapid  manner  in  which  the  battle  in  the  forest 
rolled  upward  toward  the  village,  and  by  an  in- 
stant falling  off  in  the  number  of  their  assailants, 
who  rushed  to  assist  in  maintaining  the  front, 
and,  as  it  now  proved  to  be,  the  principal  point 
of  defence. 

Animating  his  followers  by  his  voice,  and  his 
own  example,  Hawk-eye  then  gave  the  word  to 
bear  down  upon  their  foes.  The  charge,  in  that 


164 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


rude  species  of  warfare,  consisted  merely  in  push- 
ing from  cover  to  cover,  nigher  to  the  enemy ; 
and  in  this  manoeuvre  he  was  instantly  and  suc- 
cessfully obeyed.  The  Hurons  were  compelled  to 
withdraw,  and  the  scene  of  the  contest  rapidly 
changed  from  the  more  open  ground  on  which  it 
had  commenced,  to  a spot  where  the  assailed 
found  a thicket  to  rest  upon.  Here  the  struggle 
was  protracted,  arduous,  and  seemingly  of  doubt- 
ful issue;  the  Delawares,  though  none  of  them 
fell,  beginning  to  bleed  freely,  in  consequence  of 
the  disadvantage  at  which  they  were  held. 

In  this  crisis,  Hawk-eye  found  means  to  get 
behind  the  same  tree  as  that  which  served  for  a 
cover  to  Heyward ; most  of  his  own  combatants 
being  within  call,  a little  on  his  right,  where  they 
maintained  rapid,  though  fruitless,  discharges  on 
their  sheltered  enemies. 

“ You  are  a young  man,  major,”  said  the  scout, 
dropping  the  butt  of  “Kill-deer”  to  the  earth, 
and  leaning  on  the  barrel,  a little  fatigued  with 
his  previous  industry ; “ and  it  may  be  your  gift 
to  lead  armies,  at  some  future  day,  ag’in  these 
imps,  the  Mingoes.  You  may  here  see  the  phi- 
losophy of  an  Indian  fight.  It  consists,  mainly,  in 
a ready  hand,  a quick  eye,  and  a good  cover. 
Now,  if  you  had  a company  of  the  Koyal  Ameri- 
cans here,  in  what  manner  would  you  set  them  to 
work  in  this  business  ? ” 

“ The  bayonet  would  make  a road.” 

“Ay,  there  is  white  reason  in  what  you  say  ; 
but  a man  must  ask  himself,  in  this  wilderness, 
how  many  lives  he  can  spare.  No — horse,”  * 
continued  the  scout,  shaking  his  head,  like  one 
who  mused  ; “ horse,  I am  ashamed  to  say,  must, 
sooner  or  later,  decide  these  scrimmages.  The 
brutes  are  better  than  men,  and  to  horse  must 
we  come  at  last.  Put  a shodden  hoof  on  the 
moccasin  of  a red-skin ; and  if  his  rifle  be  once 
emptied,  he  will  never  stop  to  load  it  again.” 

“ This  is  a subject  that  might  better  be  dis- 
cussed at  another  time,”  returned  Heyward ; 
“ shall  we  charge  ? ” 

“ I see  no  contradiction  to  the  gifts  of  any 
man,  in  passing  his  breathing-spells  in  useful  re- 
flections,” the  scout  replied.  “ As  to  a rush,  I 

* The  American  forest  admits  of  the  passage  of  horse, 
there  being  little  underbrush,  and  few  tangled  brakes.  The 
plan  of  Hawk-eye  is  the  one  which  has  always  proved  the 
most  successful  in  the  battles  between  the  whites  and  the 
Indians.  "Wayne,  in  his  celebrated  campaign  on  the  Miami, 
received  the  fire  of  his  enemies  in  line ; and  then,  causing 
bis  dragoons  to  wheel  round  his  flanks,  the  Indians  were 
driven  from  their  covers  before  they  had  time  to  load.  One 
of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  chiefs  who  fought  in  the 
battle  of  Miami  assured  the  writer  that  the  red  men  could 
not  fight  the  warriors  with  “long  knives  and  leather  stock- 
IngB ; ” meaning  the  dragoons  with  their  sabres  and  boots. 


little  relish  such  a measure ; for  a scalp  or  two 
must  be  thrown  away  in  the  attempt.  And  yet,” 
he  added,  bending  his  head  aside,  to  catch  the 
sounds  of  the  distant  combat,  “if  we  acre  to  be  of 
use  to  Uncas,  these  knaves  in  our  front  must  be 
got  rid  of ! ” 

Then  turning,  with  a prompt  and  decided  air, 
he  called  aloud  to  his  Indians,  in  their  own  lan- 
guage. His  words  were  answered  by  a shout ; 
and,  at  a given  signal,  each  warrior  made  a swift 
movement  around  his  particular  tree.  The  sight 
of  so  many  dark  bodies,  glancing  before  their 
eyes  at  the  same  instant,  drew  a hasty,  and  con- 
sequently an  ineffectual  fire  from  the  Hurons. 
Without  stopping  to  breathe,  the  Delawares 
leaped,  in  long  bounds,  toward  the  wood,  like  so 
many  panthers  springing  upon  their  prey.  Hawk- 
eye  was  in  front,  brandishing  his  terrible  rifle, 
and  animating  his  followers  by  his  example.  A 
few  of  the  older  and  more  cunning  Hurons,  who 
had  not  been  deceived  by  the  artifice  which  had 
been  practised  to  draw  their  fire,  now  made  a 
close  and  deadly  discharge  of  their  pieces,  and 
justified  the  apprehensions  of  the  scout,  by  felling 
three  of  his  foremost  warriors.  But  the  shock 
was  insufficient  to  repel  the  impetus  of  the  charge. 
The  Delawares  broke  into  the  cover  with  the  fe- 
I'ocity  of  their  natures,  and  swept  away  every 
trace  of  resistance  by  the  fury  of  the  onset. 

The  combat  endured  only  for  an  instant,  hand 
to  hand,  and  then  the  assailed  yielded  ground 
rapidly,  until  they  reached  the  opposite  margin 
of  the  thicket,  where  they  clung  to  the  cover  with 
that  sort  of  obstinacy  that  is  so  often  witnessed  in 
hunted  brutes.  At  this  critical  moment,  when  the 
success  of  the  struggle  was  again  becoming  doubt- 
ful, the  crack  of  a rifle  was  heard  behind  the  Hu- 
rons, and  a bullet  came  whizzing  from  among 
some  beaver-lodges,  which  were  situated  in  the 
clearing,  in  their  rear,  and  was  followed  by  the 
fierce  and  appalling  yell  of  the  war-whoop. 

“ There  speaks  the  sagamore ! ” shouted 
Hawk-eye,  answering  the  cry  with  his  own  sten- 
torian voice ; “ we  have  them  now  in  face  and 
back ! ” 

The  effect  on  the  Hurons  was  instantaneous. 
Discouraged  by  an  assault  from  a quarter  that  left 
them  no  opportunity  for  cover,  their  warriors  ut- 
tered a common  yell  of  disappointment,  and  break 
ing  off  in  a body,  they  spread  themselves  across  the 
opening,  heedless  of  every  consideration  but  flight. 
Many  fell,  in  making  the  experiment,  under  the 
bullets  and  the  blows  of  the  pursuing  Delawares. 

We  shall  not  pause  to  detail  the  meeting  be- 
tween the  scout  and  Chingaehgook,  or  the  more 
touching  interview  that  Duncan  held  with  Munro. 


THE  DELAWARES’  VICTORY. 


165 


A few  brief  and  hurried  words  served  to  explain 
the  state  of  things  to  both  parties  ; and  then 
Hawk-eye,  pointing  out  the  sagamore  to  his  band, 
resigned  the  chief  authority  into  the  hands  of  the 
Mohican  chief.  Chingachgook  assumed  the  sta- 
tion to  which  his  birth  and  experience  gave  him 
so  distinguished  a claim,  with  the  grave  dignity 
that  always  gives  force  to  the  mandates  of  a na- 
tive warrior.  Following  the  footsteps  of  the 
scout,  he  led  the  party  back  through  the  thicket, 
his  men  scalping  the  fallen  Hurons,  and  secreting 
the  bodies  of  their  own  dead  as  they  proceeded, 
until  they  gained  a point  where  the  former  was 
content  to  make  a halt. 

The  warriors,  who  had  breathed  themselves 
freely  in  the  preceding  struggle,  were  now  posted 
on  a bit  of  level  ground,  sprinkled  with  trees  in 
sufficient  numbers  to  conceal  them.  The  land 
fell  away  rather  precipitately  in  front,  and  be- 
neath their  eyes  stretched,  for  several  miles,  a 
narrow,  dark,  and  wooded  vale.  It  was  through 
\his  dense  and  dark  forest  that  Uncas  was  still 
contending  with  the  main  body  of  the  Hurons. 

The  Mohican  and  his  friends  advanced  to  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  and  listened,  with  practised  ears, 
to  the  sounds  of  the  combat.  A few  birds  hov- 
ered over  the  leafy  bosom  of  the  valley,  frightened 
from  their  secluded  nests  ; and  here  and  there  a 
light  vapory  cloud,  which  seemed  already  blend- 
ing with  the  atmosphere,  rose  above  the  trees, 
and  indicated  some  spot  where  the  struggle  had 
been  fierce  and  stationary. 

“ The  fight  is  coming  up  the  ascent,”  said 
Duncan,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  a new  explo- 
sion of  fire-arms  ; “ we  are  too  much  in  the  centre 
of  their  line  to  be  effective.” 

“ They  will  incline  into  the  hollow,  where  the 
cover  is  thicker,”  said  the  scout,  “ and  that  will 
leave  us  well  on  their  flank. — Go,  sagamore  ; you 
will  hardly  be  in  time  to  give  the  whoop,  and  lead 
on  the  young  men.  I will  fight  this  scrimmage 
with  warriors  of  my  own  color.  You  know  me, 
Mohican;  not  a Huron  of  them  all  shall  cross 
the  swell,  into  your  rear,  without  the  notice  of 
* Kill-deer.’  ” 

The  Indian  chief  paused  another  moment  to 
consider  the  signs  of  the  contest,  which  was  now 
rolling  rapidly  up  the  ascent,  a certain  evidence 
that  the  Delawares  ti’iumphed  ; nor  did  he  actu- 
ally quit  the  place  until  admonished  of  the  prox- 
imity of  his  friends,  as  well  as  enemies,  by  the 
bullets  of  the  former,  which  began  to  patter 
among  the  dried  leaves  on  the  ground,  like  the 
bits  of  falling  hail  which  precede  the  bursting  of 
the  tempest.  Hawk-eye  and  his  three  companions 
withdrew  a few  paces  to  a shelter,  and  awaited 


the  issue  with  calmness,  that  nothing  but  great 
practice  could  impart  in  such  a scene. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  reports  of  the  rifles 
began  to  lose  the  echoes  of  the  woods,  and  to 
sound  like  weapons  discharged  in  the  open  air. 
Then  a wamor  appeared,  here  and  there,  driven 
to  the  skirts  of  the  forest,  and  rallying  as  he  en- 
tered the  clearing,  as  at  the  place  where  the  final 
stand  was  to  be  made.  These  were  soon  joined  by 
others,  until  a long  line  of  swarthy  figures  was  to 
be  seen  clinging  to  the  cover  with  the  obstinacy 
of  desperation.  Heyward  began  to  grow  impa- 
tient, and  turned  his  eyes  anxiously  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Chingachgook.  The  chief  wras  seated  on 
a rock,  with  nothing  visible  but  his  calm  visage, 
considering  the  spectacle  with  an  eye  as  deliber- 
ate as  if  he  were  posted  there  merely  to  view  the 
struggle. 

“ The  time  is  come  for  the  Delaware  to  strike ! ” 
said  Duncan. 

“Not  so,  not  so,”  returned  the  scout;  “ when 
ne  scents  his  friends,  he  will  let  them  know  that 
he  is  here.  See,  see  ; the  knaves  are  getting  in 
that  clump  of  pines,  like  bees  settling  after  their 
flight.  By  the  Lord,  a squaw  might  put  a bullet 
into  the  centre  of  such  a knot  of  dark-skins ! ” 

At  that  instant  the  whoop  was  given,  and  a 
dozen  Hurons  fell  by  a discharge  from  Chingach- 
gook and  his  band.  The  shout  that  followed  was 
answered  by  a single  war-cry  from  the  forest, 
and  a yell  passed  through  the  air  that  sounded  as 
if  a thousand  throats  were  united  in  a common 
effort.  The  Hurons  staggered,  deserting  the  cen- 
tre of  their  line,  and  Uncas  issued  from  the  forest 
through  the  opening  they  had  left,  at  the  head  of 
a hundred  warriors. 

Waving  his  hands  right  and  left,  the  young 
chief  pointed  out  the  enemy  to  his  followers,  who 
separated  in  pursuit.  The  war  now  divided,  both 
wings  of  the  broken  Hurons  seeking  protection  in 
the  woods  again,  hotly  pressed  by  the  victorious 
warriors  of  the  Lenape.  A minute  might  have 
passed,  but  the  sounds  were  already  receding  in 
different  directions,  and  gradually  losing  their  dis- 
tinctness beneath  the  echoing  arches  of  the  woods. 
One  Jittle  knot  of  Hurons,  however,  had  disdained 
to  seek  a cover,  and  were  retiring,  like. lions  at 
bay,  slowly  and  sullenly  up  the  acclivity,  which 
Chingachgook  and  his  band  had  just  deserted,  to 
mingle  more  closely  in  the  fray.  Magua  was  con- 
spicuous in  this  party,  both  by  his  fierce  and  sav- 
age mien,  and  by  the  air  of  haughty  authority  ho 
yet  maintained. 

In  his  earnestness  to  expedite  the  pursuit, 
Uncas  had  left  himself  nearly  alone  ; but  the  mo- 
ment his  eye  caught  the  figure  of  Le  Subtil,  every 


166 


THE  LAST  OP  THE  MOHICANS. 


other  consideration  was  forgotten.  Raising  his 
cry  of  battle,  which  recalled  some  six  or  seven 
warriors,  and  reckless  of  the  disparity  of  their 
numbers,  he  rushed  .upon  his  enemy.  Le  Renard, 
who  watched  the  movement,  paused  to  receive 
him  with  secret  joy.  But  at  the  moment  when 
he  thought  the  rashness  of  his  impetuous  young 
assailant  had  left  him  at  his  mercy,  another  shout 
was  given,  and  La  longue  Carabine  was  seen  rush- 
ing to  the  rescue  attended  by  all  his  white  as- 
sociates. The  Huron  instantly  turned  and  com- 
menced a rapid  retreat  up  the  ascent. 

There  was  no  time  for  greetings  or  congratula- 
tions ; for  Uncas,  though  unconscious  of  the  pres- 
ence of  his  friends,  continued  the  pursuit  with  the 
velocity  of  the  wind.  In  vain  Hawk-eye  nailed  to 
him  to  respect  the  covers ; the  young  Mohican 
braved  the  dangerous  fire  of  his  enemies,  and 
soon  compelled  them  to  a flight  as  swift  as  his 
own  headlong  speed.  It  was  fortunate  that  the 
race  was  of  short  continuance,  and  that  the  white 
men  were  much  favored  by  their  position,  or  the 
Delaware  would  soon  have  outstripped  all  his 
companions  and  fallen  a victim  to  his  own  te- 
merity. But,  ere  such  a calamity  could  happen, 
the  pursuers  and  pursued  entered  the  Wyandot 
village  within  striking  distance  of  each  other. 

Excited  by  the  presence  of  their  dwellings, 
and  tired  of  the  chase,  the  Hurons  now  made  a 
stand,  and  fought  around  their  council-lodge  with 
the  fury  of  despair  The  onset  and  the  issue 
were  like  the  passage  and  destruction  of  a whirl- 
wind. The  tomahawk  of  Uncas,  the  blows  of 
Hawk-eye,  and  even  the  still  nervous  arm  of  Mun- 
ro,  were  all  busy  for  that  passing  moment,  and 
the  ground  was  quickly  strewed  with  their  ene- 
mies. Still  Magua,  though  daring  and  much  ex- 
posed, escaped  from  every  effort  against  his  life 
with  that  sort  of  fabled  protection  that  was  made 
to  overlook  the  fortunes  of  favored  heroes  in  the 
legends  of  ancient  poetry.  Raising  a yell  that 
spoke  volumes  of  anger  and  disappointment,  the 
subtle  chief,  when  he  saw  his  comrades  fallen, 
darted  away  from  the  place,  attended  by  his  two 
only  surviving  friends,  leaving  the  Delawares  en- 
gaged in  stripping  the  dead  of  the  bloody  tro- 
phies of  their  victory. 

But  Uncas,  who  had  vainly  sought  him  in  the 
melee , bounded  forward  in  pursuit;  Hawk-eye, 
Heyward,  and  David,  still  pressing  on  his  foot- 
steps. The  utmost  that  the  scout  could  effect 
was  to  keep  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle  a little  in  ad- 
vance of  his  friend,  to  whom,  however,  it  an- 
swered every  purpose  of  a charmed  shield.  Once 
Magua  appeared  disposed  to  make  another  and  a 
final  effort  to  revenge  his  losses  ; but,  abandoning 


his  intention  as  soon  as  demonstrated,  he  leaped 
into  a thicket  of  bushes,  through  which  he  was 
followed  by  his  enemies,  and  suddenly  entered  the 
mouth  of  the  cave  already  known  to  the  reader. 
Hawk-eye,  who  had  only  forborne  to  fire  in 
tenderness  to  Uncas,  raised  a shout  of  success, 
and  proclaimed  aloud  that  now  they  were  certain 
of  their  game.  The  pursuers  dashed  into  the 
long  and  narrow  entrance  in  time  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  retreating  forms  of  the  Hurons. 
Their  passage  through  the  natural  galleries  and 
subterraneous  apartments  of  the  cavern  was  pre- 
ceded by  the  shrieks  and  cries  of  hundreds  of 
women  and  children.  The  place,  seen  by  its  dim 
and  uncertain  light,  appeared  like  the  shades  ot 
the  infernal  regions,  across  which  unhappy  ghosts 
and  savage  demons  were  flitting  in  multitudes. 

Still  Uncas  kept  his  eye  on  Magua  as  if  life  to 
him  possessed  but  a single  object.  Heyward  and 
the  scout  still  pressed  on  his  rear,  actuated, 
though  possibly  in  a less  degree,  by  a common 
feeling.  But  their  way  was  becoming  intricate 
in  those  dark  and  gloomy  passages,  and  the 
glimpses  of  the  retiring  warriors  less  distinct  and 
frequent ; and  for  a moment  the  trace  was  be- 
lieved to  be  lost,  when  a white  robe  was  seen 
fluttering  in  the  farther  extremity  of  a passage 
that  seemed  to  lead  up  the  mountain. 

“ ’Tis  Cora ! ” exclaimed  Heyward,  in  a voice 
in  which  horror  and  delight  were  wildly  mingled. 

“ Cora ! Cora ! ” echoed  Uncas,  bending  for- 
ward like  a deer. 

“ ’Tis  the  maiden ! ” shouted  the  scout. — 
“ Courage,  lady  ; we  come ! — we  come ! ” 

The  chase  was  renewed  with  a diligence  ren- 
dered tenfold  encouraging  by  this  glimpse  of  the 
captive.  But  the  way  was  rugged,  broken,  and, 
in  spots,  nearly  impassable.  Uncas  abandoned 
his  rifle  and  leaped  forward  with  headlong  pre- 
cipitation. Heyward  rashly  imitated  his  example, 
though  both  were,  a moment  afterward,  admon- 
ished of  its  madness  by  hearing  the  bellowing  of 
a piece  that  the  Hurons  found  time  to  discharge 
down  the  passage  in  the  rocks,  the  bullet  from 
which  even  gave  the  young  Mohican  a slight  wound. 

“We  must  close!”  said  the  scout,  passing 
his  friends  by  a desperate  leap ; “ the  knaves 
will  pick  us  all  off  at  this  distance ; and  see,  they 
hold  the  maiden  so  as  to  shield  themselves ! ” 

Though  his  words  were  unheeded,  or  rather 
unheard,  his  example  was  followed  by  his  com- 
panions, who,  by  incredible  exertions,  got  near 
enough  to  the  fugitives  to  perceive  that  Cora  was 
borne  along  between  the  two  warriors,  while 
Magua  prescribed  the  direction  and  manner  of 
their  flight.  At  this  moment  the  forms  of  all 


DEATH  OF  CORA,  UNCAS,  AND  MAGUA. 


167 


four  were  strongly  drawn  against  an  opening  in 
the  sky,  and  they  disappeared.  Nearly  frantic 
with  disappointment,  Uncas  and  Heyward  in- 
creased efforts  that  already  seemed  superhuman, 
and  they  issued  from  the  cavern  on  the  side  of 
the  mountain  in  time  to  note  the  route  of  the 
pursued.  The  course  lay  up  the  ascent,  and  still 
continued  hazardous  and  laborious. 

Encumbered  by  his  rifle,  and,  perhaps,  not 
sustained  by  so  deep  an  interest  in  the  captive  as 
his  companions,  the  scout  suffered  the  latter  to 
precede  him  a little,  Uncas,  in  his  turn,  taking 
the  lead  of  Heyward.  In  this  manner  rocks, 
precipices,  and  difficulties,  were  surmounted  in 
an  incredibly  short  space,  that  at  another  time, 
and  under  other  circumstances,  would  have  been 
deemed  almost  insuperable.  But  the  impetuous 
young  men  were  rewarded  by  finding  that,  en- 
cumbered with  Cora,  the  Hurons  were  losing 
ground  in  the  race. 

“ Stay,  dog  of  the  Wyandots  ! ” exclaimed 
Uncas,  shaking  his  bright  tomahawk  at  Magua ; 
“ a Delaware  girl  calls  stay  ! ” 

“ I will  go  no  farther,”  cried  Cora,  stopping 
unexpectedly  on  a ledge  of  rocks  that  overhung 
a deep  precipice  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
summit  of  the  mountain.  “ Kill  me  if  thou  wilt, 
detestable  Huron ; I will  go  no  farther.” 

The  supporters  of  the  maiden  raised  their 
ready  tomahawks  with  the  impious  joy  that 
fiends  are  thought  to  take  in  mischief,  but  Ma- 
gua  stayed  the  uplifted  arms.  The  Huron  chief, 
after  casting  the  weapons  he  had  wrested  from 
his  companions  over  the  rock,  drew  his  knife  and 
turned  to  his  captive  with  a look  in  which  con- 
flicting passions  fiercely  contended. 

<f  Woman,”  he  said,  “choose;  the  wigwam 
or  the  knife  of  Le  Subtil ! ” 

Cora  regarded  him  not,  but,  dropping  on  her 
knees,  she  raised  her  eyes  and  stretched  her 
arms  toward  heaven,  saying,  in  a meek  and  yet 
confiding  voice : 

“ I am  thine ! do  with  me  as  thou  seest 
best ! ” 

“ Woman,”  repeated  Magua,  hoarsely,  and 
endeavoring  in  vain  to  catch  a glance  from  her 
serene  and  beaming  eye,  “ choose  ! ” 

But  Cora  neither  heard  nor  heeded  his  de- 
mand. The  form  of  the  Huron  trembled  in  every 
fibre,  and  he  raised  his  arm  on  high,  but  dropped 
it  again  with  a bewildered  air,  like  one  who 
doubted.  Once  more  he  struggled  with  himself 
and  lifted  the  keen  weapon  again — but  just  then 
a piercing  cry  was  heard  above  them,  and  Uncas 
appeared,  leaping  frantically,  from  a fearful  height, 
upon  the  ledge.  Magua  recoiled  a step  ; and  one 


of  his  assistants,  profiting  by  the  chance,  sheathed 
his  own  knife  in  the  bosom  of  Cora. 

The  Huron  sprang  like  a tiger  on  his  offend- 
ing and  already  retreating  countryman,  but  the 
falling  form  of  Uncas  separated  the  unnatural 
combatants.  Diverted  from  his  object  by  this 
interruption,  and  maddened  by  the  murder  he  had 
just  witnessed,  Magua  buried  his  weapon  in  the 
back  of  the  prostrate  Delaware,  uttering  an  un- 
earthly shout  as  he  committed  the  dastardly 
deed.  But  Uncas  arose  from  the  blow  as  the 
wounded  panther  turns  upon  his  foe,  and  struck 
the  murderer  of  Cora  to  his  feet  by  an  effort  in 
which  the  last  of  his  failing  strength  was  ex- 
pended. Then,  with  a stern  and  steady  look,  he 
turned  to  Le  Subtil  and  indicated,  by  the  ex- 
pression of  his  eye,  all  that  he  would  do,  had  not 
the  power  deserted  him.  The  latter  seized  the 
nerveless  arm  of  the  unresisting  Delaware,  and 
passed  his  knife  into  his  bosom  three  several 
times  before  his  victim,  still  keeping  his  gaze 
riveted  on  his  enemy  with  a look  of  inextinguish- 
able scorn,  fell  dead  at  his  feet. 

“ Mercy ! mercy  ! Huron,”  cried  Heyward, 
from  above,  in  tones  nearly  choked  by  horror 
“ give  mercy,  and  thou  shalt  receive  it ! ” 

Whirling  the  bloody  knife  up  at  the  implor- 
ing youth,  the  victorious  Magua  uttered  a cry 
so  fierce,  so  wild,  and  yet  so  joyous,  that  it  con- 
veyed the  sounds  of  savage  triumph  to  the  ears 
of  those  who  fought  in  the  valley,  a thousand 
feet  below.  He  was  answered  by  a burst  from 
the  lips  of  the  scout,  whose  tall  person  was  just 
then  seen  moving  swiftly  toward  him,  along  those 
dangerous  crags,  with  steps  as  bold  and  reckless 
as  if  he  possessed  the  power  to  move  in  air. 
But  when  the  hunter  reached  the  scene  of  the 
ruthless  massacre,  the  ledge  was  tenanted  only 
by  the  dead. 

His  keen  eye  took  a single  look  at  the  vic- 
tim^, and  then  shot  its  glances  over  the  difficul- 
ties of  the  ascent  in  his  front.  A form  stood  at 
the  brow  of  the  mountain,  on  the  very  edge  of 
the  giddy  height,  with  uplifted  arms,  in  an  awful 
attitude  of  menace.  Without  stopping  to  con- 
sider his  person,  the  rifle  of  Hawk-eye  was 
raised  ; but  a rock,  which  fell  on  the  head  of  one 
of  the  fugitives  below,  exposed  the  indignant  and 
glowing  countenance  of  the  honest  Gamut.  Then 
Magua  issued  from  a crevice,  and,  stepping  with 
calm  indifference  over  the  body  of  the  last  of  his 
associates,  he  leaped  a wide  fissure,  and  ascended 
the  rocks  at  a point  where  the  arm  of  David 
could  not  reach  him.  A single  bound  would 
carry  him  to  the  brow  of  the  precipice,  and  as- 
sure his  safety.  Before  taking  the  leap,  how- 


168 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ever,  the  Huron  paused,  and,  shaking  his  hand  at 
the  scout,  he  shouted  : 

“ The  pale-faces  are  dogs ! the  Delawares, 
women  ! Magua  leaves  them  on  the  rocks,  for 
the  crows ! ” 

Laughing  hoarsely,  he  made  a desperate  leap, 
and  fell  short  of  his  mark  ; though  his  hands 
grasped  a shrub  on  the  verge  of  the  height.  The 
form  of  Hawk-eye  had  crouched  like  a beast 
about  to  take  its  spring,  and  his  frame  trembled 
so  violently  with  eagerness,  that  the  muzzle  of 
the  half-raised  rifle  played  like  a leaf  fluttering 
in  the  wind.  Without  exhausting  himself  with 
fruitless  efforts,  the  cunning  Magua  suffered  his 
body  to  drop  to  the  length  of  his  arms,  and 
found  a fragment  for  his  feet  to  rest  on.  Then 
summoning  all  his  powers,  he  renewed  the  at- 
tempt, and  so  far  succeeded  as  to  draw  his  knees 
on  the  edge  of  the  mountain.  It  was  now,  when 
the  body  of  his  enemy  was  most  collected  togeth- 
er, that  the  agitated  weapon  of  the  scout  was 
drawn  to  his  shoulder.  The  surrounding  rocks, 
themselves,  were  not  steadier  than  the  piece  be- 
came, for  the  single  instant  that  it  poured  out  its 
contents.  The  arms  of  the  Huron  relaxed,  and 
bis  body  fell  back  a little,  while  his  knees  still 
kept  their  position.  Turning  a relentless  look  on 
his  enemy,  he  shook  a hand  in  grim  defiance. 
But  his  hold  loosened,  and  his  dark  person  was 
seen  cutting  the  air  with  its  head  downward,  for 
a fleeting  instant,  until  it  glided  past  the  fringe 
of  shrubbery  which  clung  to  the  mountain,  in  its 
rapid  flight  to  destruction. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

“ They  fought— like  brave  men,  long  and  well, 

They  piled  that  ground  with  Moslem  slain,  . 
They  conquered— but  Bozzaris  fell, 

Bleeding  at  every  vein. 

His  few  surviving  comrades  saw 
His  smile  when  rang  their  proud  hurrah, 

And  the  red  field  was  won ; 

Then  saw  in  death  his  eyelids  close 
Calmly,  as  to  a night’s  repose, 

Like  flowers  at  set  of  sun.” 

Halleck. 

The  sun  found  the  Lenape,  on  the  succeeding 
day,  a nation  of  mourners.  The  sounds  of  the 
battle  were  over,  and  they  had  fed  fat  their  an- 
cient grudge,  and  had  avenged  their  recent  quar- 
rel with  the  Mengwe,  by  the  destruction  of  a 
whole  community.  The  black  and  murky  atmos- 
phere that  floated  around  the  spot  where  the 
Hurons  had  encamped,  sufficiently  announced,  of 


itself,  the  fate  of  that  wandering  tribe ; while 
hundreds  of  ravens,  that  struggled  above  the 
bleak  summits  of  the  mountains,  or  swept,  in 
noisy  flocks,  across  the  wide  ranges  of  the  woods, 
furnished  a frightful  direction  to  the  scene  of 
the  combat.  In  short,  any  eye,  at  all  practised 
in  the  signs  of  a frontier  warfare,  might  easily' 
have  traced  all  those  unerring  evidences  of  the 
ruthless  results  which  attend  an  Indian  vengeance. 

Still,  the  sun  rose  on  the  Lenape  a nation  of 
mourners.  No  shouts  of  success,  no  songs  of 
triumph,  were  heard,  in  rejoicings  for  their  vic- 
tory. The  latest  straggler  had  returned  from  his 
fell  employment,  only  to  strip  himself  of  the  ter- 
rific emblems  of  his  bloody  calling,  and  to  join  in 
the  lamentations  of  his  countrymen,  as  a strick- 
en people.  Pride  and  exultation  were  supplanted 
by  humility,  and  the  fiercest  of  human  passions 
was  already  succeeded  by  the  most  profound 
and  unequivocal  demonstrations  of  grief. 

The  lodges  were  deserted ; but  a broad  belt 
of  earnest  faces  enpircled  a spot  in  their  vicinity, 
whither  every  thing  possessing  life  had  repaired, 
and  where  all  were  now  collected,  in  deep  and 
awful  silence.  Though  beings  of  every  rank  and 
age,  of  both  sexes,  and  of  all  pursuits,  had  uni- 
ted to  form  this  breathing  wall  of  bodies,  they 
were  influenced  by  a single  emotion.  Each  eye 
was  riveted  on  the  centre  of  that  ring,  which 
contained  the  objects  of  so  much  and  of  so  com- 
mon an  interest. 

Six  Delaware  girls,  with  their  long,  dark, 
flowing  tresses  falling  loosely  across  their  bosoms, 
stood  apart,  and  only  gave  proofs  of  their  exist- 
ence as  they  occasionally  strewed  sweet-scented 
herbs  and  forest  flowers  on  a litter  of  fragrant 
plants,  that,  under  a pall  of  Indian  robes,  sup- 
ported all  that  now  remained  of  the  ardent,  high- 
souled,  and  generous  Cora.  Her  form  was  con- 
cealed in  many  wrappers  of  the  same  simple  manu- 
facture, and  her  face  was  shut  forever  from  the 
gaze  of  men.  At  her  feet  was  seated  the  desolate 
Munro.  His  aged  head  was  bowed  nearly  to  the 
earth,  in  compelled  submission  to  the  stroke  of 
Providence ; but  a,  hidden  anguish  struggled 
about  his  furrowed  brow,  that  was  only  partially 
concealed  by  the  careless  locks  of  gray  that  had 
fallen,  neglected,  on  his  temples.  Gamut  stood 
at  his  side,  his  meek  head  bared  to  the  rays  of 
the  sun,  while  his  eyes,  wandering  and  concerned, 
seemed  to  be  equally  divided  between  that  little 
volume,  which  contained  so  many  quaint  but  holy 
maxims,  and  the  being  in  whose  behalf  his  soul 
yearned  to  administer  consolation.  Heyward  was 
also  nigh,  supporting  himself  against  a tree,  and 
endeavoring  to  keep  down  those  sudden  risings 


INDIAN  OBSEQUIES. 


169 


•f  sorrow  that  it  required  his  utmost  manhood  to 
subdue. 

But  sad  and  melancholy  as  this  group  may 
easily  be  imagined,  it  was  far  less  touching  than 
another,  that  occupied  the  opposite  space  of  the 
same  area.  Seated,  as  in  life,  with  his  form  and 
limbs  arranged  in  grave  and  decent  composure, 
Uncas  appeared,  arrayed  in  the  most  gorgeous 
ornaments  that  the  wealth  of  the  tribe  could 
furnish.  Rich  plumes  nodded  above  his  head  ; 
wampum,  gorgets,  bracelets,  and  medals,  adorned 
his  person  in  profusion ; though  his  dull  eye  and 
vacant  lineaments  too  strongly  contradicted  the 
idle  tale  of  pride  they  would  convey. 

Directly  in  front  of  the  corpse  Chingachgook 
was  placed,  without  arms,  paint,  or  adornment 
of  any  sort,  except  the  bright-blue  blazonry  of  his 
race,  that  was  indelibly  impressed  on  his  naked 
bosom.  During  the  long  period  that  the  tribe 
had  been  thus  collected,  the  Mohican  warrior  had 
kept  a steady,  anxious  look  on  the  cold  and  sense- 
less countenance  of  his  son.  So  riveted  and  in- 
tense had  been  that  gaze,  and  so  changeless  his 
attitude,  that  a stranger  might  not  have  told  the 
living  from  the  dead,  but  for  the  occasional  gleam- 
ings  of  a troubled  spirit,  that  shot  athwart  the  dark 
visage  of  one,  and  the  death-like  calm  that  had 
forever  settled  on  the  lineaments  of  the  other. 

The  scout  was  hard  by,  leaning  in  a pensive 
posture  on  his  own  fatal  and  avenging  weapon  ; 
while  Tamenund,  supported  by  the  elders  of  his 
nation,  occupied  a high  place  at  hand,  whence  he 
might  look  down  on  the  mute  and  sorrowful  as- 
semblage of  his  people. 

Just  within  the  inner  edge  of  the  circle  stood 
a soldier,  in  the  military  attire  of  a strange  nation  ; 
and  without  it  was  his  war-horse,  in  the  centre 
of  a collection  of  mounted  domestics,  seemingly 
in  readiness  to  undertake  some  distant  journey. 
The  vestments  of  the  stranger  announced  him  to 
be  one  who  held  a responsible  situation  near  the 
person  of  the  Captain  of  the  Canadas  ; and  who, 
as  it  would  now  seem,  finding  his  errand  of  peace 
frustrated  by  the  fierce  impetuosity  of  his  allies, 
was  content  to  become  a silent  and  sad  spectator 
of  the  fruits  of  a contest  that  he  had  arrived  too 
late  to  anticipate. 

The  day  was  drawing  to  the  close  of  its  first 
quarter,  and  yet  had  the  multitude  maintained  its 
breathing  stillness  since  its  dawn.  No  sound 
louder  than  a stifled  sob  had  been  heard  among 
them,  nor  had  even  a limb  been  moved  through- 
out that  long  and  painful  period,  except  to  per- 
form the  simple  and  touching  offerings  that  were 
made,  from  time  to  time,  in  commemoration  of 
the  dead.  The  patience  and  forbearance  of 


Indian  fortitude  could  alone  suppoit  such  an  ap- 
pearance of  abstraction,  as  seemed  now  to  have 
turned  each  dark  and  motionless  figure  into 
stone. 

At  length,  the  sage  of  the  Delawares  stretched 
forth  an  arm,  and,  leaning  on  the  shoulders  of  his 
attendants,  he  arose  with  an  air  as  feeble  as  if 
another  age  had  already  intervened  between  the 
man  who  had  met  his  nation  the  preceding  day, 
and  him  who  now  tottered  on  his  elevated  stand. 

“ Men  of  the  Lenape ! ” he  said,  in  hollow 
tones,  that  sounded  like  a voice  charged  with 
some  prophetic  mission  ; “ the  face  of  the  Man  - 
itto  is  behind  a cloud ! his  eye  is  turned  from 
you ; his  ears  are  shut ; his  tongue  gives  no 
answer.  You  see  him  not ; yet  his  judgments 
are  before  you.  Let  your  hearts  be  open  and 
your  spirits  tell  no  lie.  Men  of  the  Lenape ! the 
face  of  the  Manitto  is  behind  a cloud.” 

As  this  simple  and  yet  terrible  annunciation 
stole  on  the  ears  of  the  multitude,  a stillness  as 
deep  and  awful  succeeded  a3  if  the  venerated 
spirit  they  worshipped  had  uttered  the  words  with- 
out the  aid  of  human  organs ; and  even  the  in- 
animate Uncas  appeared  a being  of  life,  com- 
pared with  the  humbled  and  submissive  throng  by 
whom  he  was  surrounded.  As  the  immediate 
effect,  however,  gradually  passed  away,  a low 
murmur  of  voices  commenced  a sort  of  chant  in 
honor  of  the  dead.  The  sounds  were  those  of  fe- 
males, and  were  thrillingly  soft  and  wailing.  The 
words  were  connected  by  no  regular  continuation, 
but  as  one  ceased  another  took  up  the  eulogy,  or 
lamentation,  whichever  it  might  be  called,  and 
gave  vent  to  her  emotions  in  such  language  as 
was  suggested  by  her  feelings  and  the  occasion. 
At  intervals  the  speaker  was  interrupted  by 
general  and  loud  bursts  of  sorrow,  during  which 
the  girls  around  the  bier  of  Cora  plucked  the 
plants  and  flowers  blindly  from  her  body,  as  if 
bewildered  by  grief.  But,  in  the  milder  moments 
of  their  plaint,  these  emblems  of  purity  and  sweet- 
ness were  cast  back  to  their  places,  with  every 
sign  of  tenderness  and  regret.  Though  rendered 
less  connected  by  many  and  general  interruptions 
and  outbreakings,  a translation  of  their  language 
would  have  contained  a regular  descant,  which, 
in  substance,  might  have  proved  to  possess  a 
train  of  consecutive  ideas. 

A girl,  selected  for  the  task  by  her  rank  and 
qualifications,  commenced  by  modest  allusions  to 
the  qualities  of  the  deceased  warrior,  embellish- 
ing her  expressions  with  those  Oriental  images 
that  the  Indians  have  probably  brought  with  them 
from  the  extremes  of  the  other  continent,  and 
which  form  of  themselves  a link  to  connect  the 


170 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


ancient  histories  of  the  two  worlds.  She  called 
him  the  “ panther  of  his  tribe ; ” and  described 
him  as  one  whose  moccasin  left  no  trail  on  the 
dews;  whose  bound  was  like  the  leap  of  the 
young  fawn  ; whose  eye  was  brighter  than  a star 
in  the  dark  night;  and  whose  voice,  in  battle, 
was  loud  as  the  thunder  of  the  Manitto.  She  re- 
minded him  of  the  mother  who  bore  him,  and 
dwelt  forcibly  on  the  happiness  she  must  feel  in 
possessing  such  a son.  She  bade  him  tell  her, 
when  they  met  in  the  world  of  spirits,  that  the 
Delaware  girls  had  shed  tear3  above  the  grave 
of  her  child,  and  had  called  her  blessed. 

Then,  they  who  succeeded,  changing  their 
tones  to  a milder  and  still  more  tender  strain, 
alluded,  with  the  delicacy  and  sensitiveness  of 
women,  to  the  stranger  maiden,  who  had  left  the 
upper  eatth  at  a time  so  near  his  own  departure, 
as  to  render  the  will  of  the  Great  Spirit  too  mani- 
fest to  be  disregarded.  They  admonished  him  to 
be  kind  to  her,  and  to  have  consideration  for  her 
ignorance  of  those  arts  which  were  so  necessary 
to  the  comfort  of  a warrior  like  himself.  They 
dwelt  upon  her  matchless  beauty,  and  on  her 
noble  resolution,  without  the  taint  of  envy,  and 
as  angels  may  be  thought  to  delight  in  a superior 
excellence ; adding  that  these  endowments  should 
prove  more  than  equivalent  for  any  little  imper- 
fections in  her  education. 

After  which,  others  again,  in  due  succession, 
spoke  to  the  maiden  herself,  in  the  low,  soft  lan- 
guage of  tenderness  and  love.  They  exhorted  her 
to  be  of  cheerful  mind,  and  to  fear  nothing  for 
her  future  welfare.  A hunter  would  be  her  com- 
panion, who  knew  how  to  provide  for  her  small- 
est wants ; and  a warrior  was  at  her  side  who 
was  able  to  protect  her  against  every  danger. 
They  promised  that  her  path  should  be  pleasant, 
and  her  burden  light.  They  cautioned  her  against 
unavailing  regrets  for  the  friends  of  her  youth, 
and  the  scenes  where  her  fathers  had  dwelt; 
assuring  her  that  the  “ blessed  hunting-grounds 
of  the  Lenape  ” contained  vales  as  pleasant, 
streams  as  pure,  and  flowers  as  sweet,  as  the 
“ heaven  of  the  pale-faces.”  They  advised  her 
to  be  attentive  to  the  wants  of  her  companion, 
and  never  to  forget  the  distinction  which  the 
Manitto  had  so  wisely  established  between  them. 
Then,  in  a wild  burst  of  their  chant,  they  sang 
with  united  voices  the  temper  of  the  Mohican’s 
mind.  They  pronounced  him  noble,  manly,  and 
generous  ; all  that  became  a warrior,  and  all  that 
a maid  might  love.  Clothing  their  ideas  in  the 
most  remote  and  subtle  images,  they  betrayed, 
that,  in  the  short  period  of  their  intercourse,  they 
had  discovered,  with  the  intuitive  perception  of 


their  sex,  the  truant  disposition  of  his  incline 
tions.  The  Delaware  girls  had  found  no  favor  in 
his  eyes  ! He  was  of  a race  that  had  once  been 
lords  on  the  shores  of  the  salt  lake,  and  his 
wishes  had  led  him  back  to  a people  who  dwelt 
about  the  graves  of  his  fathers.  Why  should  not 
such  a predilection  be  encouraged?  That  she 
was  of  a blood  purer  and  richer  than  the  rest  of 
her  nation,  any  eye  might  have  seen ; that  she 
was  equal  to  the  dangers  and  daring  of  a life  in 
the  woods,  her  conduct  had  proved ; and  now, 
they  added,  the  “wise  one  of  the  earth”  had 
transplanted  her  to  a place  where  she  would 
find  congenial  spirits,  and  might  be  forever 
happy. 

Then,  with  another  transition  in  voice  and 
subject,  allusions  were  made  to  the  virgin  who 
wept  in  the  adjacent  lodge.  They  compared  her 
to  flakes  of  snow ; as  pure,  as  white,  as  brilliant, 
and  as  liable  to  melt  in  the  fierce  heats  of  sum- 
mer, or  congeal  in  the  frosts  of  winter.  They 
doubted  not  that  she  was  lovely  in  the  eyes  of 
the  young  chief,  whose  skin  and  whose  sorrow 
seemed  so  like  her  own ; but,  though  far  from 
expressing  such  a preference,  it  was  evident  they 
deemed  her  less  excellent  than  the  maid  they 
mourned.  Still  they  denied  her  no  meed  her  rare 
charms  might  properly  claim.  Her  ringlets  were 
compared  to  the  exuberant  tendrils  of  the  vine, 
her  eye  to  the  blue  vault  of  the  heavens,  and  the 
most  spotless  cloud,  with  its  glowing  flush  of  the 
sun,  was  admitted  to  be  less  attractive  than  her 
bloom. 

During  these  and  similar  songs  nothing  was 
audible  but  the  murmurs  of  the  music ; relieved, 
as  it  was,  or  rather  rendered  terrible,  by  those 
occasional  bursts  of  grief  which  might  be  called 
its  choruses.  The  Delawares  themselves  listened 
like  charmed  men  ; and  it  was  very  apparent,  by 
the  variations  of  their  speaking  countenances, 
how  deep  and  true  was  their  sympathy.  Even 
David  was  not  reluctant  to  lend  his  ears  to  the 
tones  of  voices  so  sweet ; and,  long  ere  the  chant 
was  ended,  his  gaze  announced  that  his  soul  was 
enthralled. 

The  scout,  to  whom  alone,  of  all  the  white 
men,  the  words  were  intelligible,  suffered  himself 
to  be  a little  aroused  from  his  meditative  posture, 
and  bent  his  face  aside,  to  catch  their  meaning, 
as  the  girls  proceeded.  But  when  they  spoke  of 
the  future  prospects  of  Cora  and  Uncas,  he  shook 
his  head,  like  one  who  knew  the  error  of  their 
simple  creed,  and,  resuming  his  reclining  attitude, 
he  maintained  it  until  the  ceremony — if  that  might 
be  called  a ceremony,  in  which  feeling  was  so  deep- 
ly imbued — was  finished.  Happily  for  the  self- 


COLONEL  MUNRO’S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 


171 


command  of  both  Heyward  and  Munro,  they  knew 
not  the  meaning  of  the  wild  sounds  they  heard. 

Chingacbgook  was  a solitary  exception  to  the 
interest  manifested  by  the  native  part  of  the  audi- 
ence. His  look  never  changed  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  scene,  nor  did  a muscle  move  in  his 
rigid  countenance,  even  at  the  wildest  or  the  most 
pathetic  parts  of  the  lamentation.  The  cold  and 
senseless  remains  of  his  son  was  all  to  him, 
and  every  other  sense  but  that  of  sight  seemed 
frozen,  in  order  that  his  eyes  might  take  their 
final  gaze  at  those  lineaments  he  had  so  long 
loved,  and  which  were  now  about  to  be  closed  for- 
ever from  his  view. 

In  this  stage  of  the  funeral  obsequies,  a war- 
rior, much  renowned  for  deeds  in  arms,  and  more 
especially  for  services  in  the  recent  combat,  a 
man  of  stern  and  grave  demeanor,  advanced  slow- 
ly from  the  crowd,  and  placed  himself  nigh  the 
person  of  the  dead. 

“ Why  hast  thou  left  us,  pride  of  the  Wapa- 
nachki  ? ” he  said,  addressing  himself  to  the  dull 
ears  of  Uncas,  as  if  the  empty  clay  retained  the 
faculties  of  the  animated  man ; “ thy  time  has 
been  like  that  of  the  sun  when  in  the  trees ; thy 
glory  brighter  than  his  light  at  noonday.  Thou 
art  gone,  youthful  warrior,  but  a hundred  Wvan- 
dots  are  clearing  the  briers  from  thy  path  to  the 
world  of  spirits.  Who  that  saw  thee  in  battle 
would  believe  that  thou  couldst  die  ? Who  be- 
fore thee  has  ever  shown  Uttawa  the  way  into  the 
fight  ? Thy  feet  were  like  the  wings  of  eagles ; 
thine  arm  heavier  than  falling  branches  from  the 
pine;  and  thy  voice  like  the  Manitto  when  he 
speaks  in  the  clouds.  The  tongue  of  Uttawa  is 
weak,”  he  added,  looking  about  him  with  a mel- 
ancholy gaze,  “ and  his  heart  exceeding  heavy. 
Pride  of  the  Wapanachki,  why  hast  thou  left  us  ? ” 

He  was  succeeded  by  others,  in  due  order, 
until  most  of  the  high  and  gifted  men  of  the  na- 
tion had  sung  or  spoken  their  tribute  of  praise 
over  the  manes  of  the  deceased  chief.  When  each 
had  ended,  another  deep  and  breathing  silence 
reigned  in  all  the  place. 

Then  a low,  deep  sound  was  heard,  like  the 
suppressed  accompaniment  of  distant  music,  ris- 
ing just  high  enough  on  the  air  to  be  audible,  and 
yet  so  indistinctly  as  to  leave  its  character,  and 
the  place  whence  it  proceeded,  alike  matters  of 
conjecture.  It  was,  however,  succeeded  by  an- 
other and  another  strain,  each  in  a higher  key, 
until  they  grew  on  the  ear,  first  in  long-drawn  and 
often-repeated  interjections,  and  finally  in  words. 
The  lips  of  Chingachgook  had  so  far  parted  as  to 
announce  tnat  it  was  the  monody  of  the  father. 
Though  not  an  eye  was  turned  toward  him,  nor 


the  smallest  sign  of  impatience  exhibited,  it  was 
apparent,  by  the  manner  in  which  the  multitude 
elevated  their  heads  to  listen,  that  they  drank  in 
the  sounds  with  an  intenseness  of  attention  that 
none  but  Tamenund  himself  had  ever  before  com- 
manded. But  they  listened  in  vain.  The  strains 
rose  just  so  loud  as  to  become  intelligible,  and 
then  grew  fainter  and  more  trembling,  until  they 
finally  sank  on  the  ear,  as  if  borne  away  by  a pass- 
ing breath  of  wind.  The  lips  of  the  sagamore 
closed,  and  he  remained  silent  in  his  seat,  looking, 
with  his  riveted  eye  and  motionless  form,  like  some 
creature  that  had  been  turned  from  the  Almighty 
hand  with  the  form  but  without  the  spirit  of  a 
man.  The  Delawares,  who  knew  by  these  symp- 
toms that  the  mind  of  their  friend  was  not  pre- 
pared for  so  mighty  an  effort  of  fortitude,  relaxed 
in  their  attention ; and,  with  an  innate  delicacy, 
seemed  to  bestow  all  their  thoughts  on  the  obse- 
quies of  the  stranger  maiden. 

A signal  was  given,  by  one  of  the  elder  chiefs, 
to  the  women,  who  crowded^that  part  of  the  circle 
near  which  the  body  of  Cora  lay.  Obedient  to 
the  sign,  the  girls  raised  the  bier  to  the  elevation 
of  their  heads,  and  advanced  with  slow  and  regu- 
lated steps,  chanting,  as  they  proceeded,  another 
wailing  song  in  praise  of  the  deceased.  Gamut, 
who  had  been  a close  observer  of  rites  he  deemed 
so  heathenish,  now  bent  his  head  over  the  shoul- 
der of  the  unconscious  father,  whispering — 

“ They  move  with  the  remains  of  thy  child ; 
shall  we  not  follow,  and  see  them  interred  with 
Christian  burial  ? ” 

Munro  started,  as  if  the  last  trumpet  had 
sounded  in  his  ear,  and,  bestowing  one  anxious 
and  hurried  glance  around  him,  he  arose  and  fol- 
lowed in  the  simple  train,  with  the  mien  of  a sol- 
dier, but  bearing  the  full  burden  of  a parent’s 
suffering.  His  friends  pressed  around  him  with 
a sorrow  that  was  too  strong  to  be  termed  sym- 
pathy— even  the  young  Frenchman  joining  in  the 
procession,  with  the  air  of  a man  who  was  sensi- 
bly touched  at  the  early  and  melancholy  fate  of 
one  so  lovely.  But  when  the  last  and  humblest 
female  of  the  tribe  had  joined  in  the  wild,  and  yet 
ordered  array,  the  men  of  the  Lenape  contracted 
their  circle,  and  formed  again  around  the  person 
of  Uncas,  as  silent,  as  grave,  and  as  motionless 
as  before. 

The  place  which  had  been  chosen  for  the 
grave  of  Cora  was  a little  knoll,  where  a clustei 
of  young  and  healthful  pines  had  taken  root 
forming  of  themselves  a melancholy  and  appro 
priate  shade  over  the  spot.  On  reaching  it  the 
girls  deposited  their  burden,  and  continued  fot 
many  minutes  waiting,  with  characteristic  pa* 


172 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


tience  and  native  timidity,  for  some  evidence  that 
they  whose  feelings  were  most  concerned  were 
content  with  the  arrangement.  At  length  the 
scout,  who  alone  understood  their  habits,  said,  in 
their  own  language : 

“My  daughters  have  done  well;  the  white 
men  thank  them.” 

Satisfied  with  this  testimony  in  their  favor,  the 
girls  proceeded  to  deposit  the  body  in  a shell,  in- 
geniously and  not  inelegantly  fabricated  of  the 
bark  of  the  birch ; after  which  they  lowered  it 
into  its  dark  and  final  abode.  The  ceremony  of 
covering  the  remains,  and  concealing  the  marks 
of  the  fresh  earth,  by  leaves  and  other  natural  and 
customary  objects,  was  conducted  with  the  same 
simple  and  silent  forms.  But  when  the  labors  of 
the  kind  beings  who  had  performed  these  sad  and 
friendly  offices  were  so  far  completed,  they  hesi- 
tated, in  a way  to  show  that  they  knew  not  how 
much  further  they  might  proceed.  It  was  in  this 
stage  of  the  rites  that  the  scout  again  addressed 
them : ^ 

“My  young  women  have  done  enough,”  he 
said ; “ the  spirit  of  a pale-face  has  no  need  of 
food  or  raiment — their  gifts  being  according  to 
the  heaven  of  their  color.  I see,”  he  added, 
glancing  an  eye  at  David,  who  was  preparing  his 
book  in  a manner  that  indicated  an  intention 
to  lead  the  way  in  sacred  song,  “that  one,  who 
better  knows  the  Christian  fashions,  is  about  to 
speak.” 

The  females  stood  modestly  aside,  and,  from 
having  been  the  principal  actors  in  the  scene, 
they  now  became  the  meek  and  attentive  ob- 
servers of  that  which  followed.  During  the  time 
David  was  occupied  in  pouring  out  the  pious 
feelings  of  his  spirit  in  this  manner,  not  a sign 
of  surprise,  nor  a look  of  impatience,  escaped 
them.  They  listened  like  those  who  knew  the 
meaning  of  the  strange  words,  and  appeared  as 
if  they  felt  the  mingled  emotions  of  sorrow,  hope, 
and  resignation,  they  were  intended  to  convey. 

Excited  by  the  scene  he  had  just  witnessed, 
and,  perhaps,  influenced  by  his  own  secret  emo- 
tions, the  master  of  song  exceeded  his  usual  ef- 
forts. His  full,  rich  voice  was  not  found  to  suffer 
by  a comparison  with  the  soft  tones  of  the  girls  ; 
and  his  more  modulated  strains  possessed,  at 
least  for  the  ears  of  those  to  whom  they  were 
peculiarly  addressed,  the  additional  power  of  in- 
telligence. He  ended  the  anthem,  as  he  had 
commenced  it,  in  the  midst  of  a grave  and  solemn 
stillness. 

When,  however,  the  closing  cadence  had  fall- 
en on  the  ears  of  his  auditors,  the  secret,  timor- 
ous glances  of  the  eyes  and  the  general  and  yet 


subdued  movement  of  the  assemblage,  betrayed 
that  something  was  expected  from  the  father  of 
the  deceased.  Munro  seemed  sensible  that  the 
time  was  come  for  him  to  exert  what  is,  perhaps, 
the  greatest  effort  of  which  human  nature  is  ca- 
pable. He  bared  his  gray  locks,  and  looked 
around  the  timid  and  quiet  throng  by  which  he 
was  encircled  with  a firm  and  collected  counte- 
nance. Then  motioning  with  his  hand  for  the 
scout  to  listen,  he  said : 

“ Say  to  these  kind  and  gentle  females,  that  a 
heart-broken  and  failing  man  returns  them  his 
thanks.  Tell  them,  that  the  Being  we  all  wor- 
ship, under  different  names,  will  be  mindful  of 
their  charity ; and  that  the  time  shall  not  be  dis- 
tant when  we  may  assemble  around  his  throne 
without  distinction  of  sex,  or  rank,  or  color.” 

The  scout  listened  to  the  tremulous  voice  in 
which  the  veteran  delivered  these  words,  and 
shook  his  head  slowly  when  they  were  ended,  as 
one  who  doubted  their  efficacy. 

“ To  tell  them  this,”  he  said,  “ would  be  to 
tell  them  that  the  snows  come  not  in  the  winter, 
or  that  the  sun  shines  fiercest  when  the  trees  are 
stripped  of  their  leaves.” 

Then,  turning  to  the  women,  he  made  such  a 
communication  of  the  other’s  gratitude  as  he 
deemed  most  suited  to  the  capacities  of  his  listen- 
ers. The  head  of  Munro  had  already  sunk  upon 
his  chest,  and  he  was  again  fast  relapsing  into 
melancholy,  when  the  young  Frenchman  before 
named  ventured  to  touch  him  lightly  on  the  el- 
bow. As  soon  as  he  had  gained  the  attention  of 
the  mourning  old  man,  he  pointed  toward  a group 
of  young  Indians,  who  approached  with  a light 
but  closely-covered  litter,  and  then  pointed  up- 
ward toward  the  sun. 

“I  understand  you,  sir,”  returned  Munro, 
with  a voice  of  forced  firmness  ; “ I understand 
you.  It  is  the  will  of  Heaven,  and  I submit. 
Cora,  my  child  ! if  the  prayers  of  a heart-broken 
father  could  avail  thee  now,  how  blessed  shouldst 
thou  be ! — Come,  gentlemen,”  he  added,  looking 
about  him  with  an  air  of  lofty  composure,  though 
the  anguish  that  quivered  in  his  faded  counte- 
nance was  far  too  powerful  to  be  concealed,  “ our 
duty  here  is  ended  ; let  us  depart.” 

Heyward  gladly  obeyed  a summons  that  took 
them  from  a spot  where,  each  instant,  he  felt  his 
self-control  was  about  to  desert  him.  While  his 
companions  were  mounting,  however,  he  found 
time  to  press  the  hand  of  the  scout,  and  to  re- 
peat the  terms  of  an  engagement  they  had  made, 
to  meet  again  within  the  posts  of  the  British 
army.  Then,  gladly  throwing  himself  into  the 
saddle,  he  spurred  his  charger  to  the  side  of  the 


SCENE  AT  UNCAS’S  GRAVE. 


173 


litter,  whence  low  and  stifled  sobs  alone  an- 
nounced the  presence  of  Alice.  In  this  manner, 
the  head  of  Munro  again  dropping  on  his  bosom, 
with  Heyward  and  David  following  in  sorrowing 
silence,  and  attended  by  the  aide  of  Montcalm 
with  his  {*uard,  all  the  white  men,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Hawk-eye,  passed  from  before  the  eyes 
of  the  Delawares,  and  were  soon  buried  in  the 
vast  forests  of  that  region. 

But  the  tie  which,  through  their  common 
calamity,  had  united  the  feelings  of  these  simple 
dwellers  in  the  woods  with  the  strangers  who 
had  thus  transiently  visited  them,  was  not  so 
easily  broken.  Years  passed  away  before  the 
traditionary  tale  of  the  white  maiden,  and  of  the 
young  warrior  of  the  Mohicans,  ceased  to  beguile 
the  long  nights  and  tedious  marches,  or  to  ani- 
mate their  youthful  and  brave  with  a desire  for 
vengeance.  Neither  were  the  secondary  actors 
in  these  momentous  incidents  forgotten.  Through 
the  medium  of  the  scout,  who  served  for  years 
afterward  as  a link  between  them  and  civilized 
life,  they  learned,  in  answer  to  their  inquiries, 
that  the  “ Gray  Head  ” was  speedily  gathered  to 
his  fathers  — borne  down,  as  was  erroneously 
believed,  by  his  military  misfortunes  ; and  that 
the  “ Open  Hand  ” had  conveyed  his  surviving 
daughter  far  into  the  settlements  of  the  “ pale- 
faces,” where  her  tears  had  at  last  ceased  to 
flow,  and  had  been  succeeded  by  the  bright 
smiles  which  were  better  suited  to  her  joyous 
nature. 

But  these  were  events  of  a time  later  than 
that  which  concerns  our  tale.  Deserted  by  all 
of  his  color,  Hawk-eye  returned  to  the  spot  where 
his  own  sympathies  led  him,  with  a force  that  no 
ideal  bond  of  union  could  bestow.  He  was  just 
in  time  to  catch  a parting  look  of  the  features  of 
Uncas,  whom  the  Delawares  were  already  enclos- 
ing in  his  last  vestments  of  skins.  They  paused 
to  permit  the  longing  and  lingering  gaze  of  the 
sturdy  woodsman,  and,  when  it  was  ended,  the 
body  was  enveloped,  never  to  be  unclosed  again. 
Then  came  a procession  like  the  other,  and  the 
whole  nation  was  collected  about  the  temporary 
grave  of  the  chief — temporary,  because  it  was 
proper  that,  at'  some  future  day,  his  bones  should 
rest  among  those  of  his  own  people. 

The  movement,  like  the  feeling,  had  been 
simultaneous  and  general.  The  same  grave  ex- 
pression of  grief,  the  same  rigid  silence,  and  the 
same  deference  to  the  principal  mourner,  were 
observed  around  the  place  of  interment  as  have 
been  already  described.  The  body  was  deposited 
in  an  attitude  of  repose,  facing  the  rising  sun, 
with  the  implements  of  war  and  of  the  chase  at 


hand,  in  readiness  for  the  final  journey.  An 
opening  was  left  in  the  shell,  by  which  it  was 
protected  from  the  soil,  for  the  spirit  to  communi- 
cate with  its  earthly  tenement,  -when  necessary  ; 
and  the  whole  was  concealed  from  the  instinct, 
and  protected  from  the  ravages  of  the  beasts  of 
prey,  with  an  ingenuity  peculiar  to  the  natives. 
The  manual  rites  then  ceased,  and  all  present  re 
verted  to  the  more  spiritual  part  of  the  ceremo- 
nies. 

Chingachgook  became  once  more  the  object 
of  the  common  attention.  He  had  not  yet  spoken, 
and  something  consolatory  and  instructive  was  ex- 
pected from  so  renowned  a chief  on  an  occasion 
of  such  interest.  Conscious  of  the  wishes  of  the 
people,  the  stern  and  self-restrained  warrior  raised 
his  face,,  which  had  latterly  been  buried  in  his 
robe,  and  looked  about  him  with  a steady  eye. 
His  firmly-compressed  and  expressive  lips  then 
severed,  and  for  the  first  time  during  the  long 
ceremonies  his  voice  was  distinctly  audible. 

“ Why  do  my  brothers  mourn  ? ” he  said,  re- 
garding the  dark  race  of  dejected  warriors  by 
whom  he  was  environed ; “ why  do  my  daughters 
weep  ? that  a young  man  has  gone  to  the  happy 
hunting-grounds ; that  a chief  has  filled  his  time 
with  honor  ? He  was  good ; he  was  dutiful ; he 
was  brave.  Who  can  deny  it  ? The  Manitto  had 
need  of  such  a warrior,  and  he  has  called  him 
away.  As  for  me,  the  son  and  the  father  of  Un- 
cas, I am  a blazed  pine,  in  a clearing  of  the  pale- 
faces. My  race  has  gone  from  the  shores  of  the 
salt  lake,  and  the  hills  of  the  Delawares.  But 
who  can  say  that  the  serpent  of  his  tribe  has  for- 
gotten his  wisdom  ? Iam  alone — ■” 

“No,  no,”  cried  Hawk-eye,  who  had  been 
gazing  with  a yearning  look  at  the  rigid  features 
of  his  friend,  with  something  like  his  own  self- 
command,  but  whose  philosophy  could  endure  no 
longer  ; “no,  sagamore,  not  alone.  The  gifts  of 
our  colors  may  be  different,  but  God  has  so  placed 
us  as  to  journey  in  the  same  path.  I have  no 
kin,  and  I may  also  say,  like  you,  no  people.  He 
was  your  son,  and  a red-skin  by  nature ; and  it 
may  be  that  your  blood  was  nearer — but  if  ever 
I forget  the  lad  who  has  so  often  fou’t  at  my 
side  in  war,  and  slept  at  my  side  in  peace, 
may  He  who  made  us  all,  whatever  may  be 
our  color  or  our  gifts,  forget  me  ! The  boy  has 
left  us  for  a time ; but,  sagamore,  you  are  not 
alone.” 

Chingachgook  grasped  the  hand  that,  in  the 
warmth  of  feeling,  the  scout  had  stretched  across 
the  fresh  earth,  and  in  that  attitude  of  friendship 
these  two  sturdy  and  intrepid  woodsmen  bowed 
their  heads  together,  while  scalding  tears  fell  to 


174 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS. 


their  feet,  watering  the  grave  of  Uncas  like  drops 
of  falling  rain. 

In  the  midst  of  the  awful  stillness  with  which 
such  a burst  of  feeling,  coming,  as  it  did,  from 
the  two  most  renowned  warriors  of  that  region 
was  received,  Tamenund  lifted  his  voice  to  dis- 
perse the  multitude. 

“ It  is  enough,”  he  sail,  ‘ Go,  children  of 


the  Lenape,  the  anger  of  the  Manitto  is  not  done. 
Why  should  Tamenund  stay  ? The  pale-faces  are 
masters  of  the  earth,  and  the  time  of  the  red  men 
has  not  yet  come  again.  My  day  has  been  too 
long.  In  the  morning  I saw  the  sons  of  Unamis 
happy  and  strong ; and  yet,  before  the  night  has 
come,  have  I lived  to  see  the  last  warrior  of  the 
wise  race  of  the  Mohicans.” 


The  end. 


THE  PATHFINDER 


“The  room  contained  several  barrels,  and  behind  two  of  these  Mabel  crouched.5' 

P 153- 


JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER. 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS. 


“ All  that  Pathfinder  could  suffer  Cap  to  do  was  to  roll  a barrel 
hole  immediately  over  the  .snot,  in  readiness  to  be  used  at  the  proper 


filled  with  water  to  the 

instant.” 

The  Pathfinder,  p- 


THE  PATHFINDER; 


OR, 


THE 


INLAND  SEA. 


BY 

J.  FEN1MOEE  COOPER. 


* Here  the  heart 

May  give  a useful  lesson  to  the  head, 

And  Learning  wiser  grow  without  his  books.” 

Cowpee. 


ILLUSTRATED  FROM  DRAWINGS  BY  F.  0.  C.  DARLEY. 


NEW  YOKE: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

1,  3,  and  5 BOND  STREET. 

188  1. 


27 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  2872,  by 
D.  APPLETON  & CO., 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


PREFACE 


Following  the  order  of  events,  this  book  should  be  the  third  in  the  Series  of  the 
Leather-Stocking  Tales.  In  “ The  Deerslayer,”  Natty  Bumppo,  under  the  sobriquet  which 
forms  the  title  of  that  work,  is  represented  as  a youth,  just  commencing  his  forest 
career  as  'a  warrior ; having,  for  several  years,  been  a hunter  so  celebrated  as  already 
to  have  gained  the  honorable  appellation  he  then  bore.  In  “ The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  ” 
he  appears  as  Hawkey e,  and  is  present  at  the  death  of  young  Uncas;  while  in  this,  tale 
he  reappears  in  the  same  war  of  ’56,  in  company  with  bis  Mohican  friend,  still  in  the 
vigor  of  manhood,  and  young  enough  to  feel  that  master-passion  to  which  all  conditions 
of  men,  all  tempers,  and,  we  might  almost  say,  all  ages,  submit,  under  circumstances 
that  are  incited  to  call  it  into  existence. 

“The  Pathfinder”  did  not  originally  appear  for  several  years  after  the  publication 
of  “The  Prairie,”  the  work  in  which  the  leading  character  of  both  had  closed  his  career 
by  death.  It  was,  perhaps,  a too  hazardous  experiment  to  recall  to  life,  in  this  manner, 
and  after  so  long  an  interval,  a character  that  was  somewhat  a favorite  with  the  reading 
world,  and  which  had  been  regularly  consigned  to  his  grave,  like  any  living  man.  It  is 
probably  owing  to  this  severe  ordeal  that  the  work,  like  its  successor,  “The  Deer- 
slayer,”  has  been  so  little  noticed ; scarce  one  in  ten  of  those  who  know  all  about  the 
three  earliest  books  of  the  series  having  even  a knowledge  of  the  existence  of  the  last  at 
all.  That  this  caprice  in  taste  and  favor  is  in  no  way  dependent  on  merit,  the  writer 
feels  certain;  for,  though  the  world  will  ever  maintain  that  an  author  is  always  the 
worst  judge  of  his  own  productions,  one  who  has  written  much,  and  regards  all  his 
literary  progeny  with  more  or  less  of  a paternal  eye,  must  have  a reasonably  accurate 
knowledge  of  what  he  has  been  about  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  Such  a man  may 
form  too  high  an  estimate  of  his  relative  merits,  as  relates  to  others;  but  it  is  not  easy  to 
see  why  he  should  fall  into  this  erft>r,  more  than  another,  as  relates  to  himself.  His  gen- 
eral standard  may  be  raised  too  high  by  means  of  self-love ; but,  unless  he  be  disposed 
to  maintain  the  equal  perfection  of  what  he  has  done,  as  probably  no  man  was  ever  yet 
fool  enough  to  do,  he  may  very  well  have  shrewd  conjectures  as  to  the  comparative 
merits  and  defects  of  his  own  productions. 

This  work,  on  its  appearance,  was  rudely  and  maliciously  assailed  by  certain  indi- 
viduals out  of  pure  personal  malignancy.  It  is  scarcely  worth  the  author’s  while,  noi 
would  it  have  any  interest  for  the  reader,  to  expose  the  motives  and  frauds  of  these  indi 
viduals,  who  have  pretty  effectually  vindicated  the  writer  by  their  own  subsequent  con 
duct.  But  even  the  falsest  of  men  pay  so  much  homage  to  truth,  as  to  strive  to  seem 
its  votaries.  In  attacking  “The  Pathfinder,”  the  persons  alluded  to  pointed  out  faults 
that  the  author,  for  the  first  time,  has  now  ascertained  to  be  real ; and  much  to  his  sur 
prise,  as  of  most  of  them  he  is  entirely  innocent.  They  are  purely  errors  of  the  press, 
nnless,  indeed,  the  writer  can  jnstly  be  accused  of  having  been  a careless  proof-reader. 
A single  instance  of  the  mistakes  he  means  may  be  given  in  explanation  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  book  was  originally  got  up. 

The  heroine  of  this  tale  was  at  first  called  “Agnes.”  In  the  fifth  or  sixth  chapter 
this  name  was  changed  to  “Mabel,”  and  the  manuscript  was  altered  accordingly. 
Owing  to  inadvertency,  however,  the  original  appellation  stood  in  several  places,  and 


4 


PREFACE. 


the  principal  female  character  of  the  book,  until  now,  has  had  the  advantage  of  going 
by  two  names!  Many  other  typographical  errors  exist  in  the  earlier  editions,  most  of 
which,  it  is  believed,  are  corrected  in  this. 

There  are  a few  discrepancies  in  the  facts  of  this  work,  as  connected  with  the  facts 
of  the  different  books  of  the  series.  They  are  not  material,  and  it  was  thought  fairer  to 
let  them  stand  as  proof  of  the  manner  in  which  the  books  were  originally  written,  than 
to  make  any  changes  in  the  text. 

In  youth,  when  belonging  to  the  navy,  the  writer  of  this  book  served  for  some  time 
on  the  great  Western  lakes.  He  was,  indeed,  one  of  those  who  first  carried  the  cockade 
of  the  republic  on  those  inland  seas.  This  was  pretty  early  in  the  present  century,  when 
the  navigation  was  still  confined  to  the  employment  of  a few  ships  and  schooners.  Since 
that  day,  light  may  have  said  to  have  broken  into  the  wilderness,  and  the  rays  of  the 
sun  have  penetrated  to  tens  of  thousands  of  beautiful  valleys  and  plains,  that  then  lay  in 
“grateful  shade.”  Towns  have  been  built  along  the  whole  of  the  extended  line  of 
coasts,  and  the  traveller  now  stops  at  many  a place  of  ten  or  fifteen,  and  at  one  of  even 
fifty  thousand  inhabitants,  where  a few  huts  then  marked  the  natural  sites  of  future 
marts.  In  a word,  though  the  scenes  of  this  book  are  believed  to  have  once  been  as 
nearly  accurate  as  is  required  by  the  laws  which  govern  fiction,  they  are  so  no  longer. 
Oswego  is  a large  and  thriving  town;  Toronto  and  Kingston,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
lake,  compete  with  it;  while  Buffalo,  Detroit,  Cleveland,  Milwaukee,  and  Chicago,  or 
the  upper  lakes,  to  say  nothing  of  a hundred  places  of  lesser  note,  are  fast  advancing 
to  the  level  of  commercial  places  of  great  local  importance.  In  these  changes,  the  en- 
ergy of  youth  and  abundance  is  quite  as  much  apparent  as  any  thing  else ; and  it  is 
ardently  to  be  hoped  that  the  fruits  of  the  gifts  of  a most  bountiful  Providence  may  not 
be  mistaken  for  any  peculiar  qualities  in  those  who  have  been  their  beneficiaries.  A 
just  appreciation  of  the  first  of  these  facts  will  render  us  grateful  and  meek;  while  the 
vainglorious,  who  are  so  apt  to  ascribe  all  to  themselves,  will  be  certain  to  live  long 
enough  to  ascertain  the  magnitude  of  their  error.  That  great  results  are  intended  to  be 
produced  by  means  of  these  wonderful  changes,  we  firmly  believe ; but  that  they  will 
prove  to  be  the  precise  results  now  so  generally  anticipated,  in  consulting  the  experience 
of  the  past,  and  taking  the  nature  of  man  into  the  account,  the  reflecting  and  intelligent 
may  be  permitted  to  doubt. 

It  may  strike  the  novice  as  an  anachronism,  to  place  vessels  on  Ontario  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  eighteenth  century,  but,  in  this  particular,  facts  will  fully  bear  out  all  the 
license  of  the  fiction.  Although  the  precise  vessels  mentioned  in  these  pages  may  never 
have  existed  on  that  water,  or  anywhere  else,  othersf  so  nearly  resembling  them  as  to 
form  a sufficient  authority  for  their  introduction  into  a work  of  fiction,  are  known  to 
have  navigated  that  inland  sea,  even  at  a period  much  earlier  than  the  one  just  men- 
tioned. It  is  a fact  not  generally  remembered,  however  well  known  it  may  be,  that 
there  are  isolated  spots  along  the  line  of  the  great  lakes,  that  date,  as  settlements,  as  far 
back  as  many  of  the  oldest  American  towns,  and  which  were  the  seats  of  a species  of 
civilization  long  before  the  greater  portion  of  even  the  original  States  was  rescued  from 
the  wilderness. 

Ontario,  in  our  own  times,  has  been  the  scene  of  important  naval  evolutions. 
Fleets  have  manoeuvred  on  those  waters,  which,  half  a century  since,  were  desert 
wastes;  and  the  day  is  not  distant,  when  the  whole  of  that  vast  range  of  lakes  will  be- 
come the  seat  of  empire,  and  fraught  with  all  the  interests  of  human  society.  A passing 
glimpse,  even  though  it  be  in  a work  of  fiction,  of  what  that  vast  region  so  lately  was, 
may  help  to  make  up  the  sum  of  knowledge  by  which  alone  a just  appreciation  can  be 
formed  of  the  wonderful  means  by  which  Providence  is  clearing  the  way  for  the  advance- 
ment of  civilization  across  the  whole  American  continent. 


THE  PATHFINDER 


CHAPTER  I. 

“The  turf  shall  be  my  fragrant  shrine, 

My  temple,  Lord ! that  arch  of  thine ; 

My  censer’s  breath  the  mountain  airs, 

And  silent  thoughts  my  only  prayers.  ” 

Moore. 

The  sublimity  connected  with  vastness  is  fa- 
miliar to  every  eye.  The  most  abstruse,  the  most 
far-reaching,  perhaps  the  most  chastened  of  the 
poet’s  thoughts,  crowd  on  the  imagination  as  he 
gazes  into  the  depths  of  the  illimitable  void.  The 
expanse  of  the  ocean  is  seldom  seen  by  the  novice 
with  indifference ; and  the  mind,  even  in  the  ob- 
scurity of  night,  finds  a parallel  to  that  grandeur 
which  seems  inseparable  from  images  that  the 
senses  cannot  compass.  With  feelings  akin  to 
this  admiration  and  awe — the  offspring  of  sub- 
limity— were  the  different  characters  with  which 
the  action  of  this  tale  must  open,  gazing  on  the 
scene  before  them.  Four  persons  in  all — two  of 
each  sex — they  had  managed  to  ascend  a pile  of 
trees,  that  had  been  uptorn  by  a tempest,  to  catch 
a view  of  the  objects  that  surrounded  them.  It 
is  still  the  practice  of  the  country  to  call  these 
spots  windrows.  By  letting  in  the  light  of  heav- 
en upon  the  dark  and  damp  recesses  of  the  wood, 
they  form  a sort  of  oases  in  the  solemn  obscurity 
of  the  virgin  forests  of  America.  The  particular 
windrow  of  which  we  are  writing,  lay  on  the 
brow  of  a gentle  acclivity,  and  it  opened  the  way 
for  an  extensive  view  to  those  who  might  occupy 
its  upper  margin,  a rare  occurrence  to  the  travel- 
ler in  the  woods.  As  usual,  the  spot  was  small, 
but  owing  to  the  circumstances  of  its  lying  on  the 
low  acclivity  mentioned,  and  that  of  the  opening’s 
extending  downward,  it  offered  more  than  com- 
mon advantages  to  the  eye.  Philosophy  has  not 
yet  determined  the  nature  of  the  power  that  so 
often  lays  desolate  spots  of  this  description  : some 


ascribing  it  to  the  whirlwinds  that  produce  wa- 
ter-spouts on  the  ocean ; while  others  again  im- 
pute it  to  sudden  and  violent  passages  of  streams 
of  the  electric  fluid  ; but  the  effects  in  the  woods 
are  familiar  to  all.  On  the  upper  margin  of  the 
opening  to  which  there  is  allusion,  the  viewless 
influence  had  piled  tree  on  tree,  in  such  a manner 
as  had  not  only  enabled  the  two  males  of  the  par- 
ty to  ascend  to  an  elevation  of  some  thirty  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  earth,  but,  with  a little 
care  and  encouragement,  to  induce  their  more 
timid  companions  to  accompany  them.  The  vast 
trunks  that  had  been  broken  and  driven  by  the 
force  of  the  gust,  lay  blended  like  jack-straws ; 
while  their  branches,  still  exhaling  the  fragrance 
of  wilted  leaves,  were  interlaced  in  a manner  to 
afford  sufficient  support  to  the  hands.  One  tree 
had  been  completely  uprooted ; and  its  lower  end 
filled  with  earth,  had  been  cast  uppermost,  in  a 
way  to  supply  a sort  of  staging  for  the  four  ad- 
venturers, when  they  had  gained  the  desired  dis- 
tance from  the  ground. 

The  reader  is  to  anticipate  none  of  the  appli- 
ances  of  people  of  condition  in  the  description  of 
the  personal  appearances  of  the  group  in  ques- 
tion. They  were  all  wayfarers  in  the  wilderness  ; 
and  had  they  not  been,  neither  their  previous 
habits  nor  their  actual  social  positions  would  have 
accustomed  them  to  many  of  the  luxuries  of  rank. 
Two  of  the  party,  indeed,  a male  and  a female, 
belonged  to  the  native  owners  of  the  soil,  being 
Indians  of  the  well-known  tribe  of  the  Tuscaro- 
ras ; while  their  companions  were  a man,  who 
bore  about  him  the  peculiarities  of  one  who  had 
passed  his  days  on  the  ocean,  and  this,  too,  in  & 
station  little,  if  any,  above  that  of  a common  mar 
iner  ; while  his  female  associate  was  a maiden  nt 
a class  in  no  great  degree  superior  to  his  own ; 
though  her  youth,  sweetness  of  countenance,  and 
a modest  but  spirited  mien,  lent  that  character  of 


6 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


intellect  and  refinement  which  adds  so  much  to 
the  charm  of  beauty  in  the  sex.  On  the  present 
occasion,  her  full  blue  eye  reflected  the  feeling  of 
sublimity  that  the  scene  excited,  aTid  her  pleasant 
face  was  beaming  with  the  pensive  expression 
with  which  all  deep  emotions,  even  though  they 
bring  the  most  grateful  pleasure,  shadow  the 
countenances  of  the  ingenuous  and  thoughtful. 

And,  truly,  the  scene  was  of  a nature  deeply 
to  impress  the  imagination  of  the  beholder.  Tow- 
ard the  west,  in  which  direction  the  faces  of  the 
party  were  turned,  and  in  which  alone  could  much 
be  seen,  the  eye  ranged  over  an  ocean  of  leaves, 
glorious  and  rich  in  the  varied  but  lively  verdure 
of  a generous  vegetation,  and  shaded  by  the  lux- 
uriant tints  that  belong  to  the  forty-second  de- 
gree of  latitude.  The  elm,  with  its  graceful  and 
weeping  top,  the  rich  varieties  of  the  maple,  most 
of  the  noble  oaks  of  the  American  forest,  with  the 
broad-leafed  linden,  known  in  the  parlance  of  the 
country  as  the  basswood,  mingled  their  upper- 
most branches,  forming  one  broad  and  seemingly 
interminable  carpet  of  foliage,  that  stretched  away 
toward  the  setting  sun,  until  it  bounded  the  hori- 
zon, by  blending  with  the  clouds,  as  the  waves 
and  the  sky  meet  at  the  base  of  the  vault  of  heav- 
en. Here  and  there,  by  some  accident  of  the 
tempests,  or  by  a caprice  of  Nature,  a trifling  open- 
ing among  these  giant  members  of  the  forest  per- 
mitted an  inferior  tree  to  struggle  upward  toward 
the  light,  and  to  lift  its  modest  head  nearly  to  a 
level  with  the  surrounding  surface  of  verdure. 
Of  this  class  were  the  birch,  a tree  of  some  ac- 
count in  regions  less  favored,  the  quivering  aspen, 
various  generous  nut-woods,  and  divers  others 
that  resembled  the  ignoble  and  vulgar,  thrown  by 
circumstances  into  the  presence  of  the  stately  and 
great.  Here  and  there,  too,  the  tall,  straight  trunk 
of  the  pine  pierced  the  vast  field,  rising  high 
above  it,  like  some  grand  monument  reared  by 
art  on  a plain  of  leaves. 

It  was  the  vastness  of  the  view,  the  nearly 
unbroken  surface  of  verdure,  that  contained  the 
principle  of  grandeur.  The  beauty  was  to  be 
traced  in  the  delicate  tints,  relieved  by  gradations 
of  light  and  shadow ; while  the  solemn  repose  in- 
duced the  feeling  allied  to  awe. 

“ Uncle,”  said  the  wondering  but  pleased  girl, 
addressing  her  male  companion,  whose  arm  she 
rather  touched  than  leaned  on,  to  steady  her  own 
light  but  firm  footing,  “ this  is  like  a view  of  the 
ocean  you  so  much  love  ! ” 

“ So  much  for  ignorance,  and  a girl’s  fancy, 
Magnet,”  a term  of  affection  the  sailor  often  used 
in  allusion  to  his  niece’s  personal  attractions,  “ no 
one  but  a child  would  think  of  likening  this  hand- 


ful of  leaves  to  a look  at  the  real  Atlantic.  You 
might  seize  all  these  tree-tops  to  Neptune’s  jack- 
et, and  they  would  make  no  more  than  a nosegay 
for  his  bosom.” 

“ More  fanciful  than  true,  I think,  Uncle. 
Look  thither ; it  must  be  miles  on  miles,  and  yet 
we  see  nothing  but  leaves ! what  more  could  one 
behold,  if  looking  at  the  ocean  ? ” 

“ More ! ” returned  the  uncle,  giving  an  im- 
patient gesture  with  the  elbow  the  other  touched, 
for  his  arms  were  crossed,  and  the  hands  were 
thrust  into  the  bosom  of  a vest  of  red  cloth,  a 
fashion  of  the  times,  “ more,  Magnet  ? say,  rather, 
what  less  ? Where  are  your  combing  seas,  your 
blue  water,  your  rollers,  you?  breakers,  your 
whales,  or  your  water-spouts,  and  your  endless 
motion  in  this  bit  of  a forest,  child  ? ” 

“ And  where  are  your  tree-tops,  your  solemn 
silence,  your  fragrant  leaves,  and  your  beautiful 
green,  uncle,  on  the  ocean  ? ” 

“ Tut,  Magnet ! if  you  understood  the  thing, 
you  would  know  that  green  water  is  a sailor’s 
bane.  He  scarcely  relishes  a greenhorn  less.” 

“ But  green  trees  are  a different  thing.  Hist ! 
that  sound  is  the  air  breathing  among  the  leaves.” 

“You  should  hear  a nor’wester  breathe,  girl, 
if  you  fancy  wind  aloft.  Now,  where  are  your 
gales,  and  hurricanes,  and  trades,  and  levanters, 
and  such-like  incidents,  in  this  bit  of  a forest,  and 
what  fishes  have  you  swimming  beneath  yonder 
tame  surface  ? ” 

“ That  there  have  been  tempests  here,  these 
signs  around  us  plainly  show ; and  beasts,  if  not 
fishes,  are  beneath  those  leaves.” 

“ I do  not  know  that,”  returned  Lie  uncle, 
with  a sailor’s  dogmatism,.  “ They  told  us  many 
stories  at  Albany,  of  the  wild  animals  we  should 
fall  in  with,  and  yet  we  have  seen  nothing  to 
frighten  a seal.  I doubt  if  any  of  your  inland 
animals  will  compare  with  a low-latitude  shark ! ” 
“ See ! ” exclaimed  the  niece,  who  was  more 
occupied  with  the  sublimity  and  beauty  of  the 
“ boundless  wood  ” than  with  her  uncle’s  argu- 
ments, “ yonder  is  a smoke  curling  over  the  tops 
of  the  trees — can  it  come  from  a house  ? ” 

“ Ay,  ay  ; there  is  a look  of  humanity  in  that 
smoke,”  returned  the  old  seaman,  “ which  is  worth 
a thousand  trees;  I must  show  it  to  Arrowhead, 
who  may  be  running  past  a port  without  knowing 
it.  It  is  probable  there  is  a camboose  where 
there  is  a smoke.” 

As  he  concluded,  the  uncle  drew  a hand  from 
his  bosom,  touched  the  male  Indian,  who  was 
standing  near  him,  lightly  on  the  shoulder,  and 
pointed  out  a thin  line  of  vapor  that  was  stealing 
slowly  out  of  the  wilderness  of  leaves,  at  a dis. 


CHARLES  CAP  AND  HIS  NIECE. 


7 


tance  of  about  a mile,  and  was  diffusing  itself,  in 
almost  imperceptible  threads  of  humidity,  in  the 
quivering  atmosphere.  The  Tuscarora  was  one 
of  those  noble-looking  warriors  that  were  oftener 
met  with  among  the  aborigines  of  this  continent 
a century  since,  than  to-day ; and,  while  he  had 
mingled  sufficiently  with  the  colonists  to  be  fa- 
miliar with  their  habits,  and  even  with  their  lan- 
guage, he  had  lost  little,  if  any,  of  the  wild  gran- 
deur and  simple  dignity  of  a chief.  Between 
him  and  the  old  seaman  the  intercourse  had  been 
friendly,  but  distant,  for  the  Indian  had  been  too 
much  accustomed  to  mingle  with  the  officers  of 
the  different  military  posts  he  had  frequented, 
not  to  understand  that  his  present  companion  was 
only  a subordinate.  So  imposing,  indeed,  had 
been  the  quiet  superiority  of  the  Tuscarora’s  re- 
serve, that  Charles  Cap,  for  so  was  the  seaman 
named,  in  his  most  dogmatical  or  facetious  mo- 
ments, had  not  ventured  on  familiarity,  in  an  in- 
tercourse that  had  now  lasted  more  than  a week. 
The  sight  of  the  curling  smoke,  however,  had 
struck  the  latter  like  the  sudden  appearance  of  a 
sail  at  sea,  and,  for  the  first  time  since  they  met, 
he  ventured  to  touch  the  warrior,  as  has  been  re- 
lated. 

The  quick  eye  of  the  Tuscarora  instantly 
caught  a sight  of  the  smoke,  and  for  quite  a min- 
ute he  stood,  slightly  raised  on  tiptoe,  with  dis- 
tended nostrils,  like  the  buck  that  scents  a taint 
m the  air,  and  a gaze  as  riveted  as  that  of  a trained 
pointer,  while  he  waits  his  master’s  aim.  Then, 
falling  back  on  his  feet,  a low  exclamation,  in  the 
soft  tones  that  form  so  singular  a contrast  to  its 
harsher  cries  in  the  Indian  warrior’s  voice,  was 
barely  audible ; otherwise,  he  was  undisturbed. 
His  countenance  was  calm,  and  his  quick,  dark 
eagle-eye  moved  over  the  leafy  panorama,  as  if  to 
take  in  at  a glance  every  circumstance  that  might 
enlighten  his  mind.  That  the  long  journey  they 
had  attempted  to  make  through  a broad  belt  of 
wilderness,  was  necessarily  attended  with  danger, 
both  uncle  and  niece  well  knew  ; though  neither 
could  at  once  determine  whether  the  sign  that 
others  were  in  their  vicinity,  was  the  harbinger 
of  good  or  evil. 

“ There  must  be  Oneidas  or  Tuscaroras  near 
us,  Arrowhead,”  said  Cap,  addressing  his  Indian 
companion  by  his  conventional  English  name ; 
“ will  it  not  be  well  to  join  company  with  them, 
and  get  a comfortable  berth  for  the  night  in 
their  wigwam?  ” 

“No  wigwam  there,”  Arrowhead  answered, 
H 1 is  unmoved  manner — “ too  much  tree.” 

“ But  Indians  must  be  there  ; perhaps  some 
old  messmates  of  your  own,  Master  Arrowhead.” 


“No  Tuscarora — no  Oneida — no  Mohawk— 
pale-face  fire.” 

“ The  devil  it  is  ! — Well,  Magnet,  this  surpasses 
a seaman’s  philosophy — we  old  sea-dogs  can  tell 
a soldier’s  from  a sailor’s  quid,  or  a lubber’s  nest 
from  a mate’s  hammock ; but  I do  not  think  the 
oldest  admiral  in  his  majesty’s  fleet  can  tell  a 
king’s  smoke  from  a collier’s  ! ” 

The  idea  that  human  beings  were  in  their  vi- 
cinity in  that  ocean  of  wilderness,  had  deepened 
the  flush  on  the  blooming  cheek  and  brightened 
the  eye  of  the  fair  creature  at  his  side,  but  she 
soon  turned  with  a look  of  surprise  to  her  rela- 
tive, and  said,  hesitatingly,  for  both  had  often  ad- 
mired the  Tuscarora’s  knowledge,  or  we  might 
almost  say,  instinct : 

“ A pale-face’s  fire ! Surely,  uncle,  he  cannot 
know  that ! ” 

“ Ten  days  since,  child,  I would  have  sworn 
to  it ; but,  now,  I hardly  know  what  to  believe. — 
May  I take  the  liberty  of  asking,  Arrowhead,  why 
you  fancy  that  smoke,  now,  a pale-face’s  smoke, 
and  not  a red-skin’s  ? ” 

“Wet  wood,”  returned  the  warrior,  with  the 
calmness  with  which  the  pedagogue  might  point 
out  an  arithmetical  demonstration  to  his  puzzled 
pupil.  “ Much  wet — much  smoke  ; much  water 
— black  smoke.” 

“But,  begging  your  pardon,  Master  Arrow- 
head, the  smoke  is  not  black,  nor  is  there  much 
of  it.  To  my  eye,  now,  it  is  as  light  and  fanciful 
a smoke  as  ever  rose  from  a captain’s  tea-kettle, 
when  nothing  was  left  to  make  the  fire  but  a few 
chips  from  the  dunnage.” 

“ Too  much  water,”  returned  Arrowhead, 
with  a slight  nod  of  the  head ; “ Tuscarora  too 
cunning  to  make  fire  with  water ; pale-face  too 
much  book,  and  burn  any  thing ; much  book, 
little  know.” 

“ Well,  that’s  reasonable,  I allow,”  said  Cap, 
who  was  no  devotee  of  learning  ; “ he  means  that 
as  a hit  at  your  reading,  Magnet,  for  the  chief  has 
sensible  notions  of  things  in  his  own  way. — How 
far,  now,  Arrowhead,  do  you  make  us  by  your 
calculation,  from  the  bit  of  a pond  that  you  call 
the  Great  Lake,  and  toward  which  we  have  been 
so  many  days  shaping  our  course  ? ” 

The  Tuscarora  looked  at  the  seaman  with 
quiet  superiority,  as  he  answered  : 

“ Ontario,  like  heaven ; one  sun,  and  the 
great  traveller  will  know  it.” 

“Well,  I have  been  a great  traveller,  I can- 
not deny,  but  of  all  my  v’y’ges  this  has  been  the 
longest,  the  least  profitable,  and  the  farthest  in 
land.  If  this  body  of  fresh  water  is  so  nigh, 
Arrowhead,  and  at  the  same  time  so  large,  one 


8 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


might  think  a pair  of  good  eyes  would  find  it 
out,  for,  apparently,  every  thing  within  thirty 
miles  is  to  be  seen  from  this  lookout.” 

“ Look,”  said  Arrowhead,  stretching  an  arm 
before  him  with  quiet  grace — “ Ontario ! ” 

“ Uncle,  you  are  accustomed  to  cry  ‘ Land  ho ! ’ 
but  not  ‘ Water  ho ! ’ and  you  do  not  see  it,”  cried 
the  niece,  laughing  as  girls  will  laugh  at  their  own 
idle  conceits. 

“ How  now,  Magnet ! dost  suppose  that  I 
shouldn’t  know  my  native  element,  if  it  were  in 
sight  ? ” 

“ But  Ontario  is  not  your  native  element,  dear 
uncle,  for  you  come  from  the  salt  water,  while 
this  is  fresh.” 

“ That  might  make  some  difference  to  your 
young  mariner,  but  none  in  the  world  to  the  old 
one.  I should  know  water,  child,  were  I to  see 
it  in  China.” 

“ Ontario,”  repeated  the  Arrowhead,  with  em- 
phasis, again  stretching  his  hand  toward  the 
northwest. 

Cap  looked  at  the  Tuscarora,  for  the  first 
time  since  their  acquaintance,  with  something 
like  an  air  of  contempt,  though  he  did  not  fail  to 
follow  the  direction  of  the  chiefs  eye  and  arm, 
both  of  which  were  pointing,  to  all  appearance, 
toward  a vacant  spot  in  the  heavens,  a short  dis- 
tance above  the  plain  of  leaves. 

“ Ay,  ay,  this  is  much  as  I expected,  when  I 
left  the  coast  to  come  in  search  of  a fresh-water 
pond,”  resumed  Cap,  shrugging  his  shoulders 
like  one  whose  mind  was  made  up,  and  who 
thought  no  more  need  be  said.  “ Ontario  may 
be  there,  or,  for  that  matter,  it  may  be  in  my 
pocket.  Well,  I suppose  there  will  be  room 
enough,  when  we  reach  it,  to  work  our  canoe. 
But,  Arrowhead,  if  there  be  pale-faces  in  our 
neighborhood,  I confess  I should  like  to  get  with- 
in hail  of  them.” 

The  Tuscarora  now  gave  a quiet  inclination  of 
his  head,  and  the  whole  party  descended  from  the 
roots  of  the  uptorn  tree,  in  silence.  When  they 
had  reached  the  ground,  Arrowhead  intimated 
his  intention  to  go  toward  the  fire,  and  ascertain 
who  had  lighted  it,  while  he  advised  his  wife  and 
the  two  others  to  proceed  to  a canoe,  which  they 
had  left  in  the  adjacent  stream,  and  await  his  re- 
turn. 

“ Why,  chief,  this  might  do  on  soundings,  and 
in  an  offing  where  one  knew  the  channel,”  returned 
old  Cap,  “ but,  in  an  unknown  region  like  this,  I 
think  it  unsafe  to  trust  the  pilot  alone  too  far 
from  the  ship  ; so,  with  your  leave,  we  will  not 
part  company.” 

“What  my  brother  want?”  asked  the  In- 


dian, gravely,  though  without  taking  offence  at  a 
distrust  that  was  sufficiently  plain. 

“ Your  company,  Master  Arrowhead,  and  no 
more.  I will  go  with  you,  and  speak  these  stran- 
gers.” 

The  Tuscarora  assented  without  difficulty, 
and  again  he  directed  his  patient  and  submissive 
little  wife,  who  seldom  turned  her  full,  rich  black 
eye  on  him,  but  to  express  equally  her  respect, 
her  dread,  and  her  love,  to  proceed  to  the  boat. 
But  here  Magnet  raised  a difficulty.  Although 
spirited,  and  of  unusual  energy  under  circum- 
stances of  trial,  she  was  but  woman,  and  the  idea 
of  being  entirely  deserted  by  her  two  male  pro- 
tectors in  the  midst  of  a wilderness,  that  her 
senses  had  just  told  her  was  seemingly  illimitable, 
became  so  keenly  painful  that  she  expressed  a 
wish  to  accompany  her  uncle. 

“ The  exercise  will  be  a relief,  dear  sir,  after 
sitting  so  long  in  the  canoe,”  she  added,  as  the 
rich  blood  slowly  returned  to  a cheek  that  had 
paled  in  spite  of  her  efforts  to  be  calm,  “ and 
there  may  be  females  with  the  strangers.” 

“ Come,  then,  child — it  is  but  a cable’s  length, 
and  we  shall  return  an  hour  before  the  sun  sets.” 

With  this  permission,  the  girl,  whose  real 
name  was  Mabel  Dunham,  prepared  to  be  of  the 
party,  while  the  Dew-of-June,  as  the  wife  of 
Arrowhead  was  called,  passively  went  her  way 
toward  the  canoe,  too  much  accustomed  to  obedi- 
ence, solitude,  and  the  gloom  of  the  forest,  to  feel 
apprehension. 

The  three  who  remained  in  the  windrow,  now 
picked  their  way  around  its  tangled  maze  and 
gained  the  margin  of  the  woods  in  the  necessary 
direction.  A few  glances  of  the  eye  sufficed  for 
Arrowhead,  but  old  Cap  deliberately  set  the 
smoke  by  a pocket-compass  before  he  trusted 
himself  within  the  shadows  of  the  trees. 

“ This  steering  by  the  nose,  Magnet,  may  do 
well  enough  for  an  Indian,  but  your  thorough- 
bred knows  the  virtue  of  the  needle,”  said  the 
uncle,  as  he  trudged  at  the  heels  of  the  light- 
stepping Tuscarora.  “ America  would  never 
have  been  discovered,  take  my  word  for  it,  if 
Columbus  had  been  nothing  but  nostrils. — Friend 
Arrowhead,  didst  ever  see  a machine  like  this  ? ” 

The  Indian  turned,  cast  a glance  at  the  com- 
pass, which  Cap  held  in  a way  to  direct  his 
course,  and  gravely  answered  : 

“ A pale-face  eye.  The  Tuscarora  see  in  his 
head.  The  Salt-water  ” (for  so  the  Indian  styled 
his  companion)  “ all  eye  now  ; no  tongue.” 

“ He  means,  uncle,  that  we  had  needs  be  si- 
lent; perhaps  he  distrusts  the  persons  wc  are 
about  to  meet.” 


ARROWHEAD,  THE  TUSCARORA  CHIEF. 


“Ay — ’tis  an  Indian’s  fashion  of  going  to 
quarters.  You  perceive  he  has  examined  the 
priming  of  his  rifle,  and  it  may  be  as  well  if  I 
look  to  that  of  my  own  pistols.” 

Without  betraying  alarm  at  these  prepara- 
tions, to  which  she  had  become  accustomed  by 
her  long  journey  in  the  wilderness,  Mabel  followed 
with  a step  as  light  and  elastic  as  that  of  the  In- 
dian, keeping  close  in  the  rear  of  her  compan- 
ions. For  the  first  half  mile  no  other  caution  be- 
yond a rigid  silence  was  observed,  but,  as  the 
party  drew  nearer  to  the  spot  where  the  fire  was 
known  to  be,  much  greater  care  became  neces- 
sary. 

The  forest,  as  usual,  had  little  to  intercept 
the  view  below  the  branches  but  the  tall,  straight 
trunks  of  trees.  Every  thing  belonging  to  vege- 
tation had  struggled  toward  the  light,  and  be- 
neath the  leafy  canopy  one  walked,  as  it  might 
be,  through  a vast  natural  vault  that  was  upheld 
by  myriads  of  rustic  columns.  These  columns, 
or  trees,  however,  often  served  to  conceal  the 
adventurer,  the  hunter,  or  the  foe ; and,  as  Arrow- 
head swiftly  approached  the  spot  where  his  prac- 
tised and  unerring  senses  told  him  the  strangers 
ought  to  be,  his  footsteps  gradually  became 
lighter,  his  eye  more  vigilant,  and  his  person 
was  more  carefully  concealed. 

“ See,  Salt-water,”  he  said,  exultingly,  point- 
ing at  the  same  time  through  the  vista  of  trees, 
“ pale-face  fire  ! ” 

“ By  the  Lord,  the  fellow  is  right ! ” muttered 
Cap ; “ there  they  are,  sure  enough,  and  eating 
their  grub  as  quietly  as  if  they  were  in  the  cabir. 
of  a three-decker.” 

“Arrowhead  is  but  half  right,”  whispered 
Mabel,  “ for  there  are  two  Indians  and  only  one 
white  man.” 

“Pale-face,”  said  the  Tuscarora,  holding  up 
two  fingers ; “ red  man,”  holding  up  one. 

“Well,”  rejoined  Cap,  “it  is  hard  to  say 
which  is  right  and  which  is  wrong.  One  is  en- 
tirely white,  and  a fine,  comely  lad  he  is,  with  an 
air  of  life  and  respectability  about  him  ; one  is  a 
, red-skin  as  plain  as  paint  and  Nature  can  make 
him  ; but  the  third  chap  is  half-rigged,  being  nei- 
ther brig  nor  schooner.” 

“ Pale  - face,”  repeated  Arrowhead,  again 
raising  two  fingers — “ red  man,”  showing  but 
one. 

“ He  must  be  right,  uncle,  for  his  eye  seems 
never  to  fail.  But  it  is  now  urgent  to  know 
whether  we  meet  as  friends  or  foes.  They  may 
be  French.” 

“ One  hail  will  soon  satisfy  us  on  that  head,” 
returned  Cap.  “ Stand  you  behind  this  tree, 


Magnet,  lest  the  knaves  take  it  into  their  heads 
to  fire  a broadside  without  a parley,  and  I will 
soon  learn  what  colors  they  sail  under.” 

The  uncle  had  placed  his  two  hands  to  his 
mouth  to  form  a trumpet,  and  was  about  to  give 
the  promised  hail,  when  a rapid  movement  from 
Arrowhead  defeated  the  intention  by  deranging 
the  instrument. 

“ Red  man,  Mohican,”  said  the  Tuscarora — 
“ good  ; pale-face,  Yengeese.” 

“ These  are  heavenly  tidings,”  murmured  Ma- 
bel, who  little  relished  the  prospect  of  a deadly 
fray  in  that  remote  wilderness.  “ Let  us  ap- 
proach at  once,  dear  uncle,  and  proclaim  ourselvea 
friends.” 

“ Good,”  said  the  Tuscarora,  “ red  man  cool, 
and  know ; pale  - face  hurried,  and  fire.  Let 
squaw  go.” 

“ What ! ” said  Cap,  in  astonishment ; “ send 
little  Magnet  ahead  as  a lookout,  while  two  lub- 
bers, like  you  and  me,  lie-to  to  see  what  sort 
of  a land-fall  she  will  make  ! If  I do,  I — ” 

“ It  is  wisest,  uncle,”  interrupted  the  gener- 
ous girl,  “ and  I have  no  fear.  No  Christian, 
seeing  a woman  approach  alone,  would  fire  upon 
her,  and  my  presence  will  be  a pledge  of  peace. 
Let  me  go  forward,  as  Arrowhead  wishes,  and  all 
will  be  well.  We  are,  as  yet,  unseen,  and  the 
surprise  of  the  strangers  will  not  partake  of 
alarm.” 

“ Good,”  returned  Arrowhead,  who  did  not 
conceal  his  approbation  of  Mabel’s  spirit. 

“ It  has  an  unseaman-like  look,”  answered 
Cap,  “ but,  being  in  the  woods,  no  one  will  know 
it, — If  you  think,  Mabel — ” 

“ Uncle,  I know  there  is  no  cause  to  fear  for 
me  ; and  you  are  always  nigh  to  protect  me.” 

“ Well,  take  one  of  the  pistols,  then — ” 

“ Nay,  I had  better  rely  on  my  youth  and 
feebleness,”  said  the  girl,  smiling,  while  her  color 
heightened  under  her  feelings.  “ Among  Chris- 
tian men,  a woman’s  best  guard  is  her  claim  to 
their  protection.  I know  nothing  of  arms,  and 
wish  to  live  in  ignorance  of  them.” 

The  uncle  desisted : and,  after  receiving  a 
few  cautious  instructions  from  the  Tuscarora,  Ma- 
bel rallied  all  her  spirit,  and  advanced  alone  tow- 
ard the  group  seated  near  the  fire.  Although 
the  heart  of  the  girl  beat  quick,  her  step  was 
firm,  and  her  movements,  seemingly,  were  with- 
out reluctance.  A death-like  silence  reigned  in 
the  forest,  for  they,  toward  whom  she  ap- 
proached, were  too  much  occupied  in  appeasing 
that  great  natural  appetite,  hunger,  to  avert  their 
looks,  for  an  instant,  from  the  important  busi- 
ness in  which  they  were  all  engaged.  When  Ma* 


10 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


6el,  however,  had  got  within  a hundred  feet  of 
the  fire,  she  trod  upon  a dried  stick,  and  the 
trifling  noise  that  was  produced  by  her  light  foot- 
step caused  the  Mohican,  as  Arrowhead  had  pro- 
nounced the  Indian  to  be,  and  his  companion 
whose  character  had  been  thought  so  equivocal, 
to  rise  to  their  feet  as  quick  as  thought.  Both 
glanced  at  the  rifles  that  leaned  against  a tree, 
and  then  each  stood,  without  stretching  out  an 
arm,  as  his  eyes  fell  on  the  form  of  the  girl.  The 
Indian  uttered  a few  words  to  hi3  companion, 
and  resumed  his  seat  and  his  meal  a3  calmly  as  if 
no  interruption  had  occurred.  On  the  contrary, 
the  white  man  left  the  fire,  and  came  forward  to 
meet  Mabel. 

The  latter  saw,  as  the  stranger  approached, 
that  she  was  about  to  be  addressed  by  one  of  her 
own  color,  though  his  dress  was  so  strange  a mix- 
ture of  the  habits  of  the  two  races  that  it  re- 
quired a near  look  to  be  certain  of  the  fact.  He 
was  of  middle  age,  but  there  was  an  open  hon- 
esty, a total  absence  of  guile,  in  his  face,  which 
othei'wise  would  not  have  been  thought  hand- 
some, that  at  once  assured  Magnet  she  was  in  no 
danger.  Still  she  paused,  in  obedience  to  a law 
of  her  habits  if  not  of  Nature,  which  rendered 
her  averse  to  the  appearance  of  advancing  too 
freely  to  meet  one  of  the  other  sex,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  she  was  placed. 

“ Fear  nothing,  young  woman,”  said  the  hunt- 
er, for  such  his  attire  would  indicate  him  to  be, 
“ you  have  met  Christian  men  in  the  wilderness, 
and  such  as  know  how  to  treat  all  kindly  that  are 
disposed  to  peace  and  justice,  I’m  a man  well 
known  in  all  these  parts,  and  perhaps  one  of  my 
names  may  have  reached  your  ears.  By  the 
Frenchers,  and  the  red-skins  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Big  Lakes,  I am  called  la  Longue  Carabine  • 
by  the  Mohicans,  a just-minded  and  upright  tribe, 
what  is  left  of  them,  Hawkeye ; while  the  troops 
and  rangers  along  this  side  of  the  water  call  me 
Pathfinder,  inasmuch  as  I have  never  been  known 
to  miss  one  end  of  the  trail,  when  there  was  a 
Mingo  or  a friend  who  stood  in  need  of  me,  at  the 
other.” 

This  was  not  uttered  boastfully,  but  with  the 
honest  confidence  of  one  who  well  knew  that  by 
whatever  name  others  might  have  heard  of  him, 
he  had  no  reason  to  blush  at  the  reports.  The 
effect  on  Mabel  was  instantaneous.  The  moment 
she  heard  the  last  sobriquet , she  clasped  her  hands 
eagerly  and  repeated  the  word — 

li  Pathfinder!  ” 

“ So  they  call  me,  young  woman,  and  many  a 
great  lord  has  got  a title  that  he  did  not  half  so 
well  merit ; though,  if  truth  be  said,  I rather  pride 


myself  in  finding  my  way  where  there  is  no  patli 
than  in  finding  it  where  there  is.  But  the  regular 
troops  be  by  no  means  particular,  and  half  the 
time  they  don’t  know  the  difference  at  ween  a 
trail  and  a path,  though  one  is  a matter  for  the 
eye,  while  the  other  is  little  more  than  scent.” 

“ Then  you  are  the  friend  my  father  promised 
to  send  to  meet  us ! ” 

“ If  you  are  Sergeant  Dunham’s  daughter,  the 
great  Prophet  of  the  Delawares  never  uttered  a 
plainer  truth.” 

“I  am  Mabel,  and  yonder,  hid  by  the  trees, 
are  my  uncle,  whose  name  is  Cap,  and  a Tusca- 
rora,  called  Arrowhead.  We  did  not  hope  to 
meet  you  until  we  had  nearly  reached  the  shores 
of  the  lake.” 

“ I wish  a juster-minded  Indian  had  been  your 
guide,”  said  Pathfinder,  “for  I am  no  lover  of 
the  Tuscaroras,  who  have  travelled  too  far  from 
the  graves  of  their  fathers  always  to  remember 
the  Great  Spirit : and  Arrowhead  is  an  ambitious 
chief.  Is  Dew-of-June  with  him  ? ” 

“ His  wife  accompanies  us,  and  an  humble  and 
mild  creature  she  is.” 

“Ay,  and  true-hearted;  which  is  more  than 
any  who  know  him  will  say  of  Arrowhead.  Well, 
we  must  take  the  fare  that  Providence  bestows, 
while  we  follow  the  trail  of  life.  I suppose  worse 
guides  might  have  been  found  than  the  Tuscarora ; 
though  he  has  too  much  Mingo  blood  for  one  who 
consorts  altogether  with  the  Delawares.” 

“ It  is  then,  perhaps,  fortunate  we  have  met,” 
said  Mabel. 

“ It  is  not  misfortinate  at  any  rate,  for  I prom- 
ised the  sergeant  I would' see  his  child  safe  to  the 
garrison,  though  I died  for  it.  We  expected  to 
meet  you  before  you  reached  the  falls,  where  we 
have  left  our  own  canoe  ; while  we  thought  it  might 
do  no  harm  to  come  up  a few  miles,  in  order  to 
be  of  sarvice  if  wanted.  It’s  lucky  we  did,  for  I 
doubt  if  Arrowhead  be  the  man  to  shoot  the  cur- 
rent.” 

“ Here  come  my  uncle  and  the  Tuscarora,  and 
our  parties  can  now  join.” 

As  Mabel  concluded,  Cap  and  Arrowhead, 
who  saw  that  the  conference  was  amicable,  drew 
nigh,  and  a few  words  sufficed  to  let  them  know 
as  much  as  the  girl  herself  had  learned  from  the 
strangers.  As  soon  as  this  was  done,  the  party 
proceeded  toward  the  two  who  still  remained  near 
the  fire. 


JASPER  WESTERN. 


11 


CHAPTER  II 

* Yea  1 long  as  Nature’s  humblest  child 
Hath  kept  her  temple  undefiled 
By  simple  sacrifice, 

Earth’s  fairest  scenes  are  all  his  own, 

He  is  a monarch,  and  his  throne 
Is  built  amid  the  skies ! ” 

Wilsox. 

The  Mohican  continued  to  eat,  though  the  sec- 
ond white  man  rose,  and  courteously  took  off  his 
tap  to  Mabel  Dunham.  He  was  young,  healthful, 
and  manly  in  appearance ; and  he  wore  a dress, 
which,  while  it  was  less  rigidly  professional  than 
that  of  the  uncle,  also  denoted  one  accustomed  to 
the  water.  In  that  age  real  seamen  were  a class 
entirely  apart  from  the  rest  of  mankind;  their 
ideas,  ordinary  language,  and  attire,  being  as 
Btrongly  indicative  of  their  calling,  as  the  opin- 
ions, speech,  and  dress  of  a Turk  denote  a Mus- 
sulman. Although  the  Pathfinder  was  scarcely 
in  the  prime  of  life,  Mabel  had  met  him  with  a 
steadiness  that  may  have  been  the  consequence 
of  having  braced  her  nerves  for  the  interview ; 
but,  when  her  eyes  encountered  those  of  the 
young  man  at  the  fire,  they  fell  before  the  gaze 
of  admiration  with  which  she  saw,  or  fancied  she 
saw,  he  greeted  her.  Each,  in  truth,  felt  that 
interest  in  the  other,  which  similarity  of  age,  con- 
dition, mutual  comeliness,  and  their  novel  situ- 
ation, would  be  likely  to  inspire  in  the  young  and 
ingenuous. 

“ Here,”  said  Pathfinder,  with  an  honest  smile 
bestowed  on  Mabel,  “ are  the  friends  your  worthy 
father  has  sent  to  meet  you.  This  is  a great 
Delaware ; and  one  that  has  had  honors  as  well 
as  troubles  in  his  day.  He  has  an  Injin  name  fit 
for  a chief,  but  as  the  language  is  not  always  easy 
for  the  inexperienced  to  pronounce,  we  nat’rally 
turn  it  into  English,  and  call  him  the  Big  Sar- 
pent.  You  are  not  to  suppose,  however,  that  by 
this  name  we  wish  to  say  that  he  is  treacherous, 
beyond  what  is  lawful  in  a red-skin,  but  that 
he  is  wise,  and  has  the  cunning  that  becomes 
a warrior. — Arrowhead,  there,  knows  what  I 
mean.” 

While  the  Pathfinder  was  delivering  this  ad- 
dress, the  two  Indians  gazed  on  each  other  steadi- 
ly, and  the  Tuscarora  advanced  and  spoke  to  the 
other  in  an  apparently  friendly  manner. 

“ I like  to  see  this,”  continued  Pathfinder ; 
“ the  salutes  of  two  red-skins  in  the  woods,  Mas- 
ter Cap,  are  like  the  hailing  of  friendly  vessels 
on  the  ocean.  But,  speaking  of  water,  it  reminds 
me  of  my  young  friend,  Jasper  Western,  here, 
who  can  claim  to  know  something  of  these  mat- 


ters, seeing  that  he  has  passed  his  days  on  On- 
tario.” 

“I  am  glad  to  see  you,  friend,”  said  Cap, 
giving  the  young  fresh -water  sailor  a cordial 
gripe ; “ though  you  must  have  something  still 
to  learn,  considering  the  school  to  which  you 
have  been  sent.  This  is  my  niece,  Mabel — I call 
her  Magnet,  for  a reason  she  never  dreams  of, 
though  you  may  possibly  have  education  enough 
to  guess  at  it,  having  some  pretensions  to  under- 
stand the  compass,  I suppose.” 

“ The  reason  is  easily  comprehended,”  said 
the  young  man,  involuntarily  fastening  his  keen 
dark  eye,  at  the  same  time,  on  the  suffused  face 
of  the  girl ; “ and  I feel  sure  that  the  sailor  who 
steers  by  your  Magnet,  will  never  make  a bad 
land-fall.” 

“ Ha  ! you  do  make  use  of  some  of  the  terms, 
I find,  and  that  with  propriety  and  understand- 
ing ; though,  on  the  whole,  I fear  you  have  seen 
more  green  than  blue  water.” 

“ It  is  not  surprising  that  we  should  get  some 
of  the  phrases  that  belong  to  the  land,  for  we 
are  seldom  out  of  sight  of  it  twenty-four  hours 
at  a time.” 

“More’s  the  pity,  boy;  more’s  the  pity.  A 
very  little  land  ought  to  go  a great  way  with  a 
seafaring  man.  Now,  if  the  truth  were  known, 
Master  Western,  I suppose  there  is  more  or  less 
land  all  round  your  lake.” 

“ And,  uncle,  is  there  not  more  or  less  land 
all  round  the  ocean  ? ” said  Magnet,  quickly  ; for 
she  dreaded  a premature  display  of  the  old  sea- 
man’s peculiar  dogmatism,  not  to  say  pedantry. 

“ No,  child,  there  is  more  or  less  ocean  all 
round  the  land ! that’s  what  I tell  the  people 
ashore,  youngster.  They  are  living,  as  it  might 
be,  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  without  knowing  it ; 
by  sufferance,  as  it  were,  the  water  being  so 
much  the  more  powerful,  and  the  largest.  But 
there  is  no  end  to  conceit  in  this  world,  for  a 
fellow  who  never  saw  salt  water  often  fancies  he 
knows  more  than  one  who  has  gone  round  the 
Horn.  No — no — this  earth  is  pretty  much  an 
island,  and  all  that  can  be  truly  said  not  to  be  so, 
is  water.” 

Young  Western  had  a profound  deference  for 
a mariner  of  the  ocean,  on  which  he  had  often 
pined  to  sail ; but  he  had,  also,  a natural  regard 
for  the  broad  sheet  on  which  he  had  passed  his 
life,  and  which  was  not  without  its  beauties  in 
his  eyes. 

“ What  you  say,  sir,”  he  answered,  modestly, 
“ may  be  true,  as  to  the  Atlantic ; but  we  have 
a respect  for  the  land  up  here,  on  Ontario.” 

“ That  is  because  you  are  always  land-locked/* 


12 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


returned  Cap,  laughing  neartily.  “But  yonder 
is  the  Pathfinder,  as  they  call  him,  with  some 
smoking  platters,  inviting  us  to  share  in  his 
mess  ; and  I will  confess  that  one  gets  no  venison 
at  sea.  Master  Western,  civility  to  girls,  at  your 
time  of  life,  comes  as  easy  as  taking  in  the  slack 
of  the  ensign  halyards  ; and  if  you  will  just  keep 
an  eye  to  her  kid  and  can,  while  I join  the  mess 
of  the  Pathfinder  and  our  Indian  friends,  I make 
no  doubt  she  will  remember  it.” 

Master  Cap  uttered  more  than  he  was  aware 
of  at  the  time.  Jasper  Western  did  look  to  the 
wants  of  Mabel,  and  she  long  remembered  the 
kind,  manly  attention  of  the  young  sailor,  at  this 
their  first  interview.  He  placed  the  end  of  a log 
for  a seat,  obtained  for  her  a delicious  morsel  of 
the  venison,  gave  her  a draught  of  pure  water 
from  the  spring,  and,  as  he  sat  near  and  opposite 
to  her,  fast  won  his  way  to  her  esteem  by  his 
gentle  but  frank  manner  of  manifesting  his  care  ; 
homage  that  woman  always  wishes  to  receive, 
but  which  is  never  so  flattering,  or  so  agreeable, 
as  when  it  comes  from  the  young  to  those  of 
their  own  age;  from  the  manly  to  the  gentle. 
Like  most  of  those  who  pass  their  time  excluded 
from  the  society  of  the  softer  sex,  young  Western 
was  earnest,  sincere,  and  kind  in  his  attentions, 
which,  though  they  wanted  a conventional  re- 
finement that  perhaps  Mabel  never  missed,  had 
those  winning  qualities  that  prove  very  sufficient 
as  substitutes.  Leaving  these  two  inexperienced 
and  unsophisticated  young  people  to  become  ac- 
quainted through  their  feelings,  rather  than  their 
expressed  thoughts,  we  will  turn  to  the  group,  in 
which  the  uncle,  with  a facility  of  taking  care 
of  himself  that  never  deserted  him,  had  already 
become  a principal  actor. 

The  party  had  taken  their  places  around  a 
platter  of  venison-steaks,  which  served  for  the 
common  use,  and  the  discourse  naturally  partook 
of  the  characters  of  the  different  individuals  that 
composed  it.  The  Indians  were  silent  and  in- 
dustrious, the  appetite  of  the  aboriginal  Ameri- 
cans for  venison  being  seemingly  inappeasable ; 
while  the  two  white  men  were  communicative 
and  discursive,  each  of  the  latter  being  garrulous 
and  opinionated  in  his  way.  But,  as  the  dia- 
logue will  serve  to  put  the  reader  in  possession 
Df  certain  facts  that  may  render  the  succeed- 
ing narrative  more  clear,  it  will  be  well  to  re- 
cord it. 

“There  must  be  satisfaction  in  this  life  of 
yours,  no  doubt,  Mr.  Pathfinder,”  continued  Cap, 
when  the  hunger  of  the  travellers  was  so  far 
appeased  that  they  began  to  pick  and  choose 
among  the  savory  morsels  ; “ it  has  some  of  the 


chances  and  luck  that  we  seamen  like,  and  if  ours 
is  all  water,  yours  is  all  land.” 

“Nay,  we  have  water  too,  in  our  journeyings 
and  marches,”  returned  his  white  companion ; 
“ we  border-men  handle  the  paddle  and  the  spear 
almost  as  much  as  the  rifle  and  the  hunting-knife.” 

“Ay;  but  do  you  handle  the  brace  and  the 
bowline ; the  wheel  and  the  lead-line ; the  reef- 
point  and  the  top-rope  ? The  paddle  is  a good 
thing,  out  of  doubt,  in  a canoe,  but  of  what  use 
is  it  in  the  ship  ? ” 

“Nay,  I respect  all  men  in  their  callings, 
and  I can  believe  the  things  you  mention  have 
their  uses.  One,  who  has  lived,  like  myself,  in 
company  with  many  tribes,  understands  differ 
ences  in  usages.  The  paint  of  a Mingo  is  not  the 
paint  of  a Delaware ; and  he  who  should  expect 
to  see  a warrior  in  the  dress  of  a squaw,  might 
be  disapp’inted.  I’m  not  very  old,  but  I have 
lived  in  the  woods,  and  have  some  acquaintance 
v'th  human  natur’.  I never  believed  much  in 
the  laming  of  them  that  dwell  in  towns,  for  I 
never  yet  met  with  one  that  had  an  eye  for  a 
rifle  or  a trail.” 

“That’s  my  manner  of  reasoning,  Master 
Pathfinder,  to  a yarn.  Walking  about  streets, 
going  to  church  of  Sundays,  and  hearing  sar- 
mons,  never  yet  made  a man  of  a human  being. 
Send  the  boy  out  upon  the  broad  ocean,  if  you 
wish  to  open  his  eyes,  and  let  him  look  upon  for- 
eign nations,  or  what  I call  the  face  of  Natur’,  if 
you  wish  him  to  understand  his  own  character. 
Now,  there  is  my  brother-in-law,  the  sergeant,  he 
is  as  good  a fellow  as  ever  broke  a biscuit,  in  his 
own  way ; but  what  is  he,  after  all  ? why,  nothing 
but  a soger.  A sergeant,  to  be  sure,  but  that  is 
a sort  of  a soger,  you  know.  When  he  wished 
to  marry  poor  Bridget,  my  sister,  I told  the  girl 
what  he  was,  as  in  duty  bound,  and  what  she 
might  expect  from  such  a husband;  but  you 
know  how  it  is  with  girls,  when  their  minds  are 
jammed  by  an  inclination.  It  is  true,  the  ser- 
geant has  risen  in  his  calling,  and  they  say  he  is 
an  important  man  at  the  fort ; but  his  poor  wife 
has  not  lived  to  see  it  at  all,  for  she  has  now  been 
dead  these  fourteen  years.” 

“ A soldier’s  calling  is  an  honorable  calling, 
provided  he  has  fi’t  only  on  the  side  of  right,” 
returned  the  Pathfinder  ; “ and  as  the  Frenchers 
are  always  wrong,  and  his  sacred  majesty  and 
these  colonies  are  always  right,  I take  it  the  ser- 
geant has  a quiet  conscience,  as  well  as  a good 
character.  I have  never  slept  more  sweetly  than 
when  I have  fi’t  the  Mingoes,  though  it  is  the 
law  with  me  to  fight  always  like  a white  man, 
and  never  like  an  Injin.  The  Sarpent,  here,  has 


AN  INTERESTING  DIALOGUE. 


13 


Ms  fashions,  and  I have  mine ; yet  have  we  fou’t, 
side  by  side,  these  many  years,  without  either’s 
thinking  a hard  thought  consarning  the  other’s 
ways.  I tell  him  there  is  but  one  heaven  and  one 
hell,  notwithstanding  his  traditions,  though  there 
arc  many  paths  to  both.” 

“ That  is  rational,  and  he  is  bound  to  believe 
you,  though  I fancy  most  of  the  roads  to  the  last 
are  on  dry  land.  The  sea  is  what  my  poor  sister, 
Bridget,  used  to  call  a ‘ purifying-place,’  and  one 
is  out  of  the  way  of  temptation  when  out  of  sight 
of  land.  I doubt  if  as  much  can  be  said  in  favor 
of  your  lakes,  up  hereaway.” 

“ That  towns  and  settlements  lead  to  sin,  I 
will  allow;  but  our  lakes  are  bordered  by  the 
forests,  and  one  is  every  day  called  upon  to  wor- 
ship God  in  such  a temple.  That  men  are  not 
always  the  same,  even  in  the  wilderness,  I must 
admit,  for  the  difference  atween  a Mingo  and  a 
Delaware  is  as  plain  to  be  seen  as  the  difference 
atween  the  sun  and  moon.  I am  glad,  friend 
Cap,  that  we  have  met,  howsever,  if  it  be  only  that 
you  may  tell  the  Big  Sarpent,  here,  that  there  be 
lakes  in  which  the  water  is  salt.  We  have  been 
pretty  much  of  one  mind  since  our  acquaintance 
begun,  and  if  the  Mohican  has  only  half  the  faith 
in  me  that  I have  in  him,  he  believes  all  that  I 
have  told  him,  touching  the  white  men’s  ways 
and  Natur’s  laws ; but  it  has  always  seemed  to 
me  that  none  of  the  red-skins  have  given  as  free 
a belief,  as  an  honest  man  likes,  to  the  accounts 
of  the  Big  Salt  Lakes,  and  to  that  of  there  being 
rivers  that  flow  up-stream.” 

“ This  comes  of  getting  things  wrong  end  fore- 
most,” answered  Cap,  with  a condescending  nod. 
“You  have  thought  of  your  lakes  and  rifts,  as 
the  ship,  and  of  the  ocean  and  the  tides,  as  the 
boat.  Neither  Arrowhead  nor  the  Sarpent  need 
doubt  what  you  have  said  concerning  both,  though 
I confess,  myself,  to  some  difficulty  in  swallowing 
the  tale  about  there  being  inland  seas  at  all,  and 
still  more  that  there  is  any  sea  of  fresh  water.  I 
have  come  this  long  journey,  as  much  to  satisfy 
my  own  eyes  and  palate  concerning  these  facts, 
as  to  oblige  the  sergeant  and  Magnet ; though  the 
first  was  my  sister’s  husband,  and  I love  the  last 
like  & 'ffiild.” 

“ You  are  wrong — you  are  wrong,  friend  Cap, 
very  wrong  to  distrust  the  power  of  God,  in  any 
thing,”  returned  Pathfinder,  earnestly.  “ Them 
that  live  in  the  settlements  and  the  towns  get  to 
have  confined  and  unjust  opinions  consarning  the 
might  of  His  hand,  but  we  who  pass  our  time  in 
his  very  presence,  as  it  might  be,  see  things  dif- 
ferently— I mean  such  of  us  as  have  white  natur’s. 
A red-skin  has  his  notions,  and  it  is  right  that  it 


should  be  so  ; and  if  they  are  not  exactly  the  same 
as  a Christian  white  man’s,  there  is  no  harm  in  it. 
Still  there  are  matters  that  belong  altogether  to 
the  ordering  of  God’s  providence — and  these  salt 
and  fresh  water  lakes  are  some  of  them.  I do 
not  pretend  to  account  for  these  things,  but  I 
think  it  the  duty  of  all  to  believe  in  them.  For 
my  part,  I am  one  of  them  who  think  that  the 
same  hand  which  made  the  sweet  water,  can  make 
the  salt.” 

“Hold  on  there,  Master  Pathfinder,”  inter- 
rupted Cap,  not  without  some  heat ; “ in  the  way 
of  a proper  and  manly  faith,  I will  turn  my  back 
on  no  one,  when  afloat.  Although  more  accus- 
tomed to  make  all  snug  aloft,  and  to  show  the 
proper  canvas,  than  to  pray,  when  the  hurricane 
comes,  I know  that  we  are  but  helpless  mortals 
at  times,  and  I hope  I pay  reverence  where  rev- 
erence is  due.  All  I mean  to  say,  and  that  is 
rather  insiniated  than  said,  is  this : which  is,  as  you 
all  know,  simply  an  intimation  that,  being  accus- 
tomed to  see  water  in  large  bodies  salt , I should 
like  to  taste  it,  before  I can  believe  it  to  be  fresh” 

“ God  has  given  the  salt-lick  to  the  deer,  and 
he  has  given  to  man,  red-skm  and  white,  the 
delicious  spring  at  which  to  slake  his  thirst.  It 
is  onreasonable  to  think  that  he  may  not  have 
given  lakes  of  pure  water  to  the  West,  and  lakes 
of  impure  water  to  the  East.” 

Cap  was  awed,  in  spite  of  his  overweening 
dogmatism,  by  the  earnest  simplicity  of  the  Path- 
finder, though  he  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  believ- 
ing a fact  which,  for  many  years,  he  had  pertina- 
ciously insisted  could  not  be  true.  Unwilling  to 
give  up  the  point,  and,  at  the  same  time,  unable 
to  maintain  it  against  a reasoning  to  which  he 
was  unaccustomed,  and  which  possessed  equally 
the  force  of  truth,  faith,  and  probability,  he  was 
glad  to  get  rid  of  the  subject  by  evasion. 

“Well,  well,  friend  Pathfinder,”  he  said,  “we 
will  nipper  the  argument  where  it  is ; and,  as  the 
sergeant  has  sent  you  to  give  us  pilotage  to  this 
same  lake,  we  can  only  try  the  water  when  we 
reach  it.  Only  mark  my  words — I do  not  say 
that  it  may  not  be  fresh  on  the  surface;  the 
Atlantic  is  sometimes  fresh  on  the  surface,  near 
the  mouths  of  great  rivers ; but  rely  on  it,  I shall 
show  you  a way  of  tasting  the  water  many  fath- 
oms deep,  of  which  you  never  dreamed ; and  then 
we  shall  know  more  about  it.” 

The  guide  seemed  content  to  let  the  matter 
rest,  and  the  conversation  changed. 

“We  are  not  over-consaited  consarning  our 
gifts,”  observed  the  Pathfinder,  after  a short 
pause,  “ and  well  know  that  such  as  live  in  the 
towns,  and  near  the  sea — ” 


14 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ On  the  sea,”  interrupted  Cap. 

“ On  the  sea,  if  you  wish  it,  friend,  have  op- 
portunities that  do  not  befall  us  of  the  wilderness. 
Still,  we  know  our  own  callings,  and  they  are 
what  I consider  nat’ral  callings,  and  are  not  par- 
varted  by  vanity  and  wantonness.  Now,  my  gifts 
are  with  the  rifle,  and  on  a trail,  and  in  the  way 
of  game  and  scoutin’ ; for,  though  I can  use  the 
spear  and  the  paddle,  I pride  not  myself  on  either. 
The  youth,  Jasper,  there,  who  is  discoursing  with 
the  sergeant’s  daughter,  is  a different  creatur’,  for 
he  may  be  said  -to  breathe  the  water,  as  it  might 
be,  like  a fish.  The  Indians  and  Frenchers  of 
the  north  shore  call  him  Eau-douce,  on  account 
of  his  gifts  in  this  particular.  He  is  better  at  the 
oar  and  the  rope  too,  thau  in  making  fires  on  a 
trail.” 

“ There  must  be  something  about  these  gifts 
of  which  you  speak,  after  all,”  said  Cap.  “ Now 
this  fire,  I will  acknowledge,  has  overlaid  all  my 
seamanship.  Arrowhead,  there,  said  the  smoke 
came  from  a pale-face’s  fire,  and  that  is  a piece 
of  philosophy  that  I hold  to  be  equal  to  steering 
in  a dark  night  by  the  edges  of  the  scud.” 

“ It’s  no  great  secret — it’s  no  great  secret,” 
returned  Pathfinder,  laughing  with  great  inward 
glee,  though  habitual  caution  prevented  the  emis- 
sion of  any  noise.  “ Nothing  is  easier  to  us  who 
pass  our  time  in  the  great  school  of  Providence, 
than  to  1’arn  its  lessons.  We  should  be  as  useless 
on  a trail,  or  in  carrying  tidings  through  the 
wilderness,  as  so  many  woodchucks,  did  we  not 
soon  come  to  a knowledge  of  these  niceties.  Eau- 
douce,  as  we  call  him,  is  so  fond  of  the  water, 
that  he  gathered  a damp  stick  or  two  for  our  fire, 
and  there  be  plenty  of  them,  as  well  as  those  that 
are  thoroughly  dried,  lying  scattered  about ; and 
wet  will  bring  dark  smoke,  as  I suppose  even  you 
followers  of  the  sea  must  know.  It’s  no  great 
secret — it’s  no  great  secret — though  all  is  mystery 
to  such  as  doesn’t  study  the  Lord  and  his  mighty 
ways  with  humility  and  thankfulness.” 

“That  must  be  a keen  eye  of  Arrowhead’s 
to  see  so  slight  a difference.” 

“ He  would  be  but  a poor  Injin  if  he  didn’t ! 
No,  no ; it  is  war-time,  and  no  red-skin  is  outlying 
without  using  his  senses.  Every  skin  has  its  own 
natur’,  and  every  natur’  has  its  own  laws,  as  well 
as  its  own  skin.  It  was  many  years  afore  I could 
master  all  them  higher  branches  of  a forest  edica- 
tion,  for  red-skin  knowledge  doesn’t  come  as  easy 
to  white-skin  natur’,  or  what  I suppose  is  intended 
to  be  white-skin  knowledge ; though  I have  but 
little  of  the  latter,  having  passed  most  of  my  time 
n the  wilderness.” 

“You  have  been  a ready  scholar,  Master 


Pathfinder,  as  is  seen  by  your  understanding 
these  things  so  well.  I suppose  it  would  be  no 
great  matter,  for  a man  regularly  brought  up  to 
the  sea,  to  catch  these  trifles,  if  he  could  only 
bring  his  mind  fairly  to  bear  upon  them.” 

“ I don’t  know  that.  The  white  man  has  his 
difficulties  in  getting  red-skin  habits,  quite  as 
much  as  the  Injin  in  getting  white-skin  ways. 
As  for  the  raal  natur’,  it  is  my  opinion  that 
neither  can  actually  get  that  of  the  other.” 

“ And  yet  we  sailors,  who  run  about  the 
world  so  much,  say  there  i3  but  one  nature, 
whether  it  be  in  the  Chinaman  or  a Dutchman. 
For  my  own  part,  I am  much  of  that  way  of 
thinking,  too  ; for  I have  generally  found  that  all 
nations  like  gold  and  silver,  and  most  men  relish 
tobacco.” 

“ Then  you  seafaring  men  know  little  of  the 
red-skins.  Have  you  ever  known  any  of  your 
Chinamen  who  could  sing  their  death-songs,  with 
their  flesh  torn  with  splinters  and  cut  with  knives, 
the  fire  raging  around  their  naked  bodies,  and 
death  staring  them  in  the  face  ? Until  you  can 
find  me  a Chinaman,  or  a Christian  man,  that  can 
do  all  this,  you  cannot  find  -a  man  with  red-skin 
natur’,  let  him  look  ever  so  valiant,  or  know  how 
to  read  all  the  books  that  was  ever  printed.” 

“ It  is  the  savages  only  that  play  each  other 
such  hellish  tricks ! ” said  Master  Cap,  glancing 
his  eyes  about  him  uneasily  at  the  apparently 
endless  arches  of  the  forest.  “No  white  man  is 
ever  condemned  to  undergo  these  trials.” 

“Nay,  therein  you  are  ag’in  mistaken,”  re- 
turned the  Pathfinder,  coolly  selecting  a delicate 
morsel  of  the  venison  as  his  bonne  bouche  ; “ for, 
though  these  torments  belong  only  to  the  red-skin 
natur’,  in  the  way  of  bearing  them  like  braves, 
white-skin  natur’  may  be,  and  often  has  been, 
agonized  by  them.” 

“ Happily,”  said  Cap,  with  an  effort  to  clear 
his  throat,  “ none  of  his  majesty’s  allies  will  be 
likely  to  attempt  such  damnable  cruelties,  on  any 
of  his  majesty’s  loyal  subjects.  I have  not 
served  much  in  the  royal  navy,  it  is  true ; but  I 
have  served — and  that  is  something ; and,  in  the 
way  of  privateering  and  worrying  the  enemy  in 
his  ships  and  cargoes,  I’ve  done  my  full  share. 
But  I trust  there  are  no  French  savages  on  this 
side  the  lake,  and  I think  you  said  that  Ontario 
is  a broad  sheet  of  water  ? ” 

“ Nay,  it  is  broad  in  our  eyes,”  returned  Path- 
finder, not  caring  to  conceal  the  smile  which 
lighted  a face  that  had  been  burnt  by  exposure 
to  a bright  red,  “ though  I mistrust  that  some 
may  think  it  narrow  ; and  narrow  it  is,  if  you 
wish  it  to  keep  off  the  foe.  Ontario  has  two 


THE  SAILOR’S  ANXIETY. 


15 


wids,  and  the  enemy  that  is  afraid  to  cross  it  will 
be  sartain  to  come  round  it.” 

“ Ah ! that  comes  of  your  d d fresh-water 

ponds!”  growled  Cap,  hemming  so  loud  as  to 
cause  him  instantly  to  repent  the  indiscretion. 
“No  man,  now,  ever  heard  of  a pirate’s  or  a 
ship’s  getting  round  one  end  of  the  Atlantic ! ” 

“ Mayhap  the  ocean  has  no  ends  ? ” 

“ That  it  hasn’t ; nor  sides,  nor  bottom.  The 
nation  that  is  snugly  moored  on  one  of  its  coasts 
need  fear  nothing  from  the  one  anchored  abeam, 
let  it  be  ever  so  savage,  unless  it  possesses  the 
art  of  ship-building.  No — no — the  people  who 
live  on  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic  need  fear  but 
little  for  their  skins  or  their  scalps.  A man  may 
lie  down  at  night,  in  those  regions,  in  the  hope 
of  finding  the  hair  on  his  head  in  the  morning, 
unless  he  wears  a wig.” 

“ It  isn’t  so  here.  I don’t  wish  to  flurry  the 
young  woman,  and  therefore  I will  be  no  way  par- 
ticular— though  she  seems  pretty  much  listening 
to  Eau- douce,  as  we  call  him — but  without  the 
edication  I have  received,  I should  think  it,  at 
this  very  moment,  a risky  journey  to  go  over  the 
very  ground  that  lies  atween  us  and  the  garrison, 
in  the  present  state  of  this  frontier.  There  are 
about  as  many  Iroquois  on  this  side  of  Ontario  as 
there  be  on  the  other.  It  is  for  this  very  reason, 
friend  Cap,  that  the  sergeant  has  engaged  us  to 
come  out  and  show  you  the  path.” 

“ What ! — do  the  knaves  dare  to  cruise  so 
near  the  guns  of  one  of  his  majesty’s  works  ? ” 

“ Do  not  the  ravens  resort  near  the  carcass 
of  the  deer,  though  the  fowler  is  at  hand  ? They 
come  this-a-way,  as  it  might  be,  nat’rally.  There 
are  more  or  less  whites  passing  atween  the  forts 
and  the  settlements,  and  they  are  sure  to  be  on 
their  trails.  The  Sarpent  has  come  up  on  one 
side  of  the  river,  and  I have  come  up  the  other, 
in  order  to  scout  for  the  outlying  rascals,  while 
Jasper  brought  up  the  canoe,  like  a bold-hearted 
sailor,  as  he  is.  The  sergeant  told  him,  with  tears 
in  his  eyes,  all  about  his  child,  and  how  his  heart 
yearned  for  her,  and  how  gentle  and  obedient  she 
was,  until  I think  the  lad  would  have  dashed  into 
a Mingo  camp,  single-handed,  rather  than  not 
a-come.” 

“We  thank  him — we  thank  him;  and  shall 
think  the  better  of  him  for  his  readiness ; though  I 
suppose  the  boy  has  run  no  great  risk,  after  all.” 

“ Only  the  risk  of  being  shot  from  a cover,  as 
he  forced  the  canoe  up  a swift  rift,  or  turned  an 
elbow  in  the  stream,  with  his  eyes  fastened  on 
the  eddies.  Of  all  the  risky  journeys,  that  on  an 
ambushed  river  is  the  most  risky,  in  my  judg- 
ment. and  that  risk  has  Jasper  run.” 


“ And  why  the  devil  has  the  sergeant  sent  for 
me  to  travel  a hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  this  out- 
landish manner  ? Give  me  an  offing,  and  the 
enemy  in  sight,  and  I’ll  play  with  him  in  his  own 
fashion,  as  long  as  he  pleases,  long  bowls  or 
close  quarters  ; but  to  be  shot  like  a turtle  asleep, 
is  not  to  my  humor.  If  it  were  not  for  little 
Magnet  there,  I would  tack  ship  this  instant, 
make  the  best  of  my  way  back  to  York,  and  let 
Ontario  take  care  of  itself,  salt  water  or  fresh 
water ! ” 

“ That  wouldn’t  mend  the  matter  much,  friend 
mariner,  as  the  road  to  return  is  much  longer,  and 
almost  as  bad  as  the  road  to  go  on.  Trust  to 
us,  and  we  will  carry  you  through  safe,  or  lose 
our  scalps.” 

Cap  wore  a tight  solid  cue,  done  up  in  eel- 
skin,  while  the  top  of  his  head  was  nearly  bald  ; 
and  he  mechanically  passed  his  hand  over  both, 
as  if  to  make  certain  that  each  was  in  its  right 
place.  He  was  at  the  bottom,  however,  a brave 
man,  and  had  often  faced  death  with  coolness, 
though  never  in  the  frightful  forms  in  which  it 
presented  itself,  under  the  brief  but  graphic  pic- 
tures of  his  companion.  It  was  too  late  to  re- 
treat ; and  he  determined  to  put  the  best  face  on 
the  matter,  though  he  could  not  avoid  muttering 
inwardly  a few  curses  on  the  indifference  and  in- 
discretion with  which  his  brother-in-law,  the  ser- 
geant, had  led  him  into  his  present  dilemma. 

“ I make  no  doubt,  Master  Pathfinder,”  he  an- 
swered, when  these  thoughts  had  found  time  to 
glance  through  his  mind,  “ that  we  shall  reach 
port  in  safety.  What  distance  may  we  now  be 
from  the  fort  ? ” 

“ Little  more  than  fifteen  miles ; and  swift 
miles,  too,  as  the  river  runs,  if  the  Mingoes  let 
us  go  clear.” 

“ And  I suppose  the  woods  will  stretch  along, 
starboard  and  larboard,  as  heretofore  ? ” 

“ Anan  ? ” 

“ I mean  that  we  shall  have  to  pick  our  way 
through  these  d d trees  ! ” 

“ Nay,  nay,  you  will  go  in  the  canoe,  and  the 
Oswego  has  been  cleared  of  its  flood-wood  by  the 
troops.  It  will  be  floating  down-stream,  and 
that,  too,  with  a swift  current.” 

“And  what  the  devil  is  to  prevent  these 
minks,  of  which  you  speak,  from  shooting  us  as 
we  double  a headland,  or  are  busy  in  steering 
clear  of  the  rocks  ? ” 

“ The  Lord  ! — He  who  has  so  often  helped 
others  in  greater  difficulties.  Many  and  many  is 
the  time  that  my  head  would  have  been  stripped 
of  hair,  skin  and  all,  hadn’t  the  Lord  fi’t  of  my 
side.  I never  go  into  a scrimmage,  friend  mari. 


16 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


ner,  without  thinking  of  this  great  ally,  who  can 
do  more  in  battle  than  all  the  battalions  of  the 
60th,  were  they  brought  into  a single  line.” 

“ Ay — ay — this  may  do  well  enough  for  a 
scouter  ; but  we  seamen  like  our  offing,  and  to  go 
into  action  with  nothing  in  our  minds  but  the 
business  before  us — plain  broadside  and  broad- 
side work,  and  no  trees  or  rocks  to  thicken  the 
water.” 

“ And  no  Lord,  too,  I dare  to  say,  if  the  truth 
was  known ! Take  my  word  for  it,  Master  Cap, 
that  no  battle  is  the  worse  fou’t  for  havin’  the 
Lord  on  your  side.  Look  at  the  head  of  the  Big 
Sarpent,  there  ; you  can  see  the  mark  of  a knife 
all  along  by  his  left  ear ; now,  nothing  but  a bul- 
let from  this  long  rifle  of  mine  saved  his  scalp  that 
day,  for  it  had  fairly  started,  and  half  a minute 
more  would  have  left  him  without  the  war-lock. 
When  the  Mohican  squeezes  my  hand,  and  in- 
termates that  I befri’nded  him  in  that  matter,  I 
tell  him,  no ; it  was  the  Lord,  who  led  me  to 
the  only  spot  where  execution  could  be  done,  or 
his  necessity  be  made  known,  on  account  of  the 
smoke.  Sartain  when  I got  the  right  position,  I 
finished  the  affair  of  my  own  accord,  for  a fri’nd 
under  the  tomahawk  is  apt  to  make  a man  think 
quick,  and  act  at  once,  as  was  my  case,  or  the 
Sarpent’s  spirit  would  be  hunting  in  the  happy 
land  of  his  people  at  this  very  moment.” 

“Come,  come,  Pathfinder,  this  palaver  is 
worse  than  being  skinned  from  stem  to  stern  ; we 
have  but  a few  hours  of  sun,  and  had  better  be 
drifting  down  this  said  current  of  yours,  while  we 
may. — Magnet,  dear,  are  you  not  ready  to  get  un- 
der way  ? ” 

Magnet  started,  blushed  brightly,  and  made 
her  preparations  for  an  immediate  departure. 
Not  a syllable  of  the  discourse  just  related  had 
she  heard,  for  Eau-douce,  as  young  Jasper  was 
oftener  called  than  any  thing  else,  had  been  fill- 
ing her  ears  with  a description  of  the  yet  distant 
port  toward  which  she  was  journeying,  with  ac- 
counts of  her  father,  whom  she  had  not  seen  since 
a child,  and  with  the  manner  of  life  of  those  who 
lived  in  the  frontier  garrisons.  Unconscious- 
ly, she  had  become  deeply  interested,  and  her 
thoughts  had  been  too  intently  directed  to  these 
interesting  matters,  to  allow  any  of  the  less  agree- 
able subjects  discussed  by  those  so  near  to  reach 
her  ears.  The  bustle  of  departure  put  an  end  to 
the  conversation  entirely,  and  the  baggage  of  the 
acouts,  or  guides,  being  trifling,  in  a few  minutes 
the  whole  party  was  ready  to  proceed.  As  they 
were  about  to  quit  the  spot,  however,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  even  his  fellow-guides,  Pathfinder  collect- 
ed a quantity  of  branches,  and  threw  them  upon 


the  embers  of  the  fire,  taking  care  even  to  see 
that  some  of  the  wood  was  damp,  in  older  to 
raise  as  dark  and  dense  a smoke  as  possible. 

“ When  you  can  hide  your  trail,  Jasper,”  he 
said,  “ a smoke  at  leaving  an  encampment  may 
do  good,  instead  of  harm.  If  there  are  a dozen 
Mingoes  within  ten  miles  of  us,  some  on  ’em  are 
on  the  heights,  or  in  the  trees,  looking  out  for 
smokes ; let  them  see  this,  and  much  good  may  it 
do  them.  They  are  welcome  to  our  leavings.” 

“ But  may  they  not  strike,  and  follow  on  our 
trail  ? ” asked  the  youth,  whose  interest  in  the 
hazard  of  his  situation  had  much  increased  since 
the  meeting  with  Magnet.  “We  shall  leave  a 
broad  path  to  the  river.”  . 

“ The  broader  the  better ; when  there,  it  will 
surpass  Mingo  cunning  even  to  say  which  way 
the  canoe  has  gone;  up  stream  or  down.  Water 
is  the  only  thing  in  Natur’  that  will  thoroughly 
wash  out  a trail,  and  even  water  will  not  always 
do  it,  when  the  scent  is  strong.  Do  you  not  see, 
Eau-douce,  that  if  any  Mingoes  have  seen  our 
path  below  the  falls,  they  will  strike  off  toward 
this  smoke,  and  that  they  will  nat’rally  conclude 
that  they  who  began  by  going  up-stream,  will  end 
by  going  up-stream  ? If  they  know  any  thing, 
they  now  know  a party  is  out  from  the  fort,  and 
it  will  exceed  even  Mingo  wit  to  fancy  that  we 
have  come  up  here,  just  for  the  pleasure  of  going 
back  again,  and  that,  too,  the  same  day,  and  at 
the  risk  of  our  scalps.” 

“Certainly,”  added  Jasper,  who  was  talking 
apart  with  the  Pathfinder,  as  they  moved  tow- 
ard the  windrow,  “ they  cannot  know  any  thing 
about  the  sergeant’s  daughter,  for  the  greatest  se- 
crecy has  been  observed  on  her  account.” 

“ And  they  will  l’am  nothing  here,”  returned 
Pathfinder,  causing  his  companion  to  see  that  he 
trod  with  the  utmost  care,  on  the  impressions  left 
on  the  leaves  by  the  little  foot  of  Mabel,  “ unless 
this  old  salt-water  fish  has  been  taking  his  niece 
about  in  the  windrow,  like  a fa’n  playing  by  the 
side  of  the  old  doe.” 

“ Buck,  you  mean,  Pathfinder.” 

“Isn’t  he  a queerity? — Now,  I can  consort 
with  such  a sailor  as  yourself,  Eau-douce,  and 
find  nothing  very  contrary  in  our  gifts,  though 
yours  belong  to  the  lakes,  and  mine  to  the  woods. 
Harlcee,  Jasper,”  continued  the  scout,  laughing  in 
his  noiseless  manner ; “ suppose  we  try  the  tem- 
per of  his  blade,  and  run  him  over  the  falls?  ” 

“ And  what  would  be  done  with  the  pretty 
niece  in  the  mean  while  ? ” 

“ Nay — nay — no  harm  shall  come  to  her  ; she 
must  walk  round  the  portage,  at  any  rate ; but 
you  and  I can  try  this  Atlantic  Oceaner,  and  then 


PERILOUS  JOURNEYING. 


1? 


all  parties  will  become  better  acquainted.  We 
shall  find  out  whether  his  flint  will  strike  fire,  and 
he  may  come  to  know  something  of  frontier 
tricks ! ” 

Young  Jasper  smiled,  for  he  was  not  averse 
to  fun,  and  had  been  a little  touched  by  Cap’s 
superciliousness  ; but  Mabel’s  fair  face,  light,  agile 
form,  and  winning  smiles,  stood  like  a shield  be- 
tween her  uncle  and  the  intended  experiment. 

“ Perhaps  the  sergeant’s  daughter  will  be 
frightened,”  he  said. 

“Not  she,  if  she  has  any  of  the  sergeant’s 
spirit  in  her.  She  doesn’t  look'  like  a skeary 
thing,  at  all.  Leave  it  to  me,  Eau-douce,  and  I 
will  manage  the  affair  alone.” 

“ Not  you,  Pathfinder ; you  would  only  drown 
both.  If  the  canoe  goes  over,  I must  go  in  it.” 

“Well,  have  it  so,  then;  shall  we  smoke  the 
pipe  of  agreement  on  the  bargain  ? ” 

Jasper  laughed,  nodded  his  head,  by  way  of 
consent,  and  the  subject  was  dropped,  for  the 
party  had  reached  the  canoe,  so  often  mentioned, 
and  fewer  words  had  determined  much  greater 
things  between  the  parties. 


CHAPTER  III. 

“ Before  these  fields  were  shorn  and  tilled, 

Full  to  the  brim  our  rivers  flowed ; 

The  melody  of  waters  filled 

The  fresh  and  boundless  wood ; 

And  torrents  dashed,  and  rivulets  played, 

And  fountains  spouted  in  the  shade.” 

Brtant. 

It  is  generally  known  that  the  waters  which 
flow  into  the  southern  side  of  Ontario  are,  in  gen- 
eral, narrow,  sluggish,  and  deep.  There  are  some 
exceptions  to  this  rule,  for  many  of  the  rivers 
have  rapids,  or,  as  they  are  termed  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  region,  rifts,  and  some  have  falls. 
Among  the  latter  was  the  particular  stream  on 
which  our  adventurers  were  now  journeying.  The 
Oswego  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Oneida 
and  the  Onondaga,  both  of  which  flow  from  lakes ; 
and  it  pursues  its  way,  through  a gentle,  undu- 
lating country,  a few  miles,  until  it  reaches  the 
margin  of  a sort  of  natural  terrace,  down  which 
it  tumbles  some  ten  or  fifteen  feet,  to  another  lev- 
el, across  which  it  glides,  or  glances,  or  pursues 
its  course,  with  the  silent  stealthy  progress  of 
deep  water,  until  it  throws  its  tribute  into  the 
broad  receptacle  of  Ontario.  The  canoe  in  which 
Cap  and  his  party  had  travelled  from  Fort  Stan- 
wix,  the  last  military  station  on  the  Mohawk,  lay 
by  the  side  of  this  river,  and  into  it  the  whole 
28  2 


party  now  entered,  with  the  exception  of  Path- 
finder,  who  remained  on  the  land,  in  order  to 
shove  the  light  vessel  off. 

“ Let  her  stam  drift  down-stream,  Jasper,” 
said  the  man  of  the  woods  to  the  young  mariner 
of  the  lake,  who  had  dispossessed  Arrowhead  of 
his  paddle,  and  taking  his  own  station  as  steers- 
man ; “ let  it  go  down  with  the  current.  Should 
any  of  them  infarnals,  the  Mingoes,  strike  our 
trail,  or  follow  it  to  this  point,  they  will  not  fail 
to  look  for  the  signs  in  the  mud,  and  if  they  dis- 
cover that  we  have  left  the  shore  with  the  nose 
of  the  canoe  up-stream,  it  is  a nat’ral  belief  to 
think  we  went  that-a-way.” 

This  direction  was  followed ; and,  giving  a vig- 
orous shove,  the  Pathfinder,  who  was  in  the  flow- 
er of  his  strength  and  activity,  made  a leap,  land- 
ing lightly,  and  without  disturbing  its  equilibri- 
um, in  the  bow  of  the  canoe.  As  soon  as  it  had 
reached  the  centre  of  the  river,  or  the  strength 
of  the  current,  the  boat  was  turned,  and  it  be- 
gan to  glide  noiselessly  down  the  stream. 

The  vessel  in  which  Cap  and  his  niece  had 
embarked  for  their  long  and  adventurous  journey, 
was  one  of  the  canoes  of  bark  which  the  Indians 
are  in  the  habit  of  constructing,  and  which,  by 
their  exceeding  lightness,  and  the  ease  with  which 
they  are  propelled,  are  admirably  adapted  to  e 
navigation  in  which  shoals,  flood-wood,  and  other 
similar  obstructions,  so  often  occur.  The  two 
men  who  composed  its  original  crew  had  several 
times  carried  it,  when  emptied  of  its  luggage,  many 
hundred  yards  ; and  it  would  not  have  exceeded 
the  strength  of  a single  man  to  lift  its  weight. 
Still  it  was  long,  and,  for  a canoe,  wide,  a want 
of  steadiness  being  its  principal  defect  in  the 
eyes  of  the  uninitiated.  A few  hours’  practice, 
however,  in  a great  measure  remedied  this  evil, 
and  both  Mabel  and  her  uncle  had  learned  so  far 
to  humor  its  movements,  that  they  now  main- 
tained their  places  with  perfect  composure ; nor 
did  the  additional  weight  of  the  three  guides  tax 
its  powers  in  any  particular  degree,  the  breadth 
of  the  rounded  bottom  allowing  the  necessary 
quantity  of  water  to  be  displaced,  without  bring 
ing  the  gunwale  very  sensibly  nearer  to  the  sur 
face  of  the  stream.  Its  workmanship  was  neat ; 
the  timbers  were  small,  and  secured  by  thongs ; 
and  the  whole  fabric,  though  it  was  so  slight  and 
precarious  to  the  eye,  was  probably  capable  of 
conveying  double  the  number  of  persons  that  it 
now  contained' 

Cap  was  seated  on  a low  thwart,  in  the  centre 
of  the  canoe;  the  Big  Serpent  knelt  near  him. 
Arrowhead  and  his  wife  occupied  places  forward 
of  both,  the  former  having  relinquished  his  post 


18 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


aft.  Mabel  was  half  reclining  on  some  of  her 
own  effects,  behind  her  uncle,  while  the  Path- 
finder and  Eau-douce  stood  erect,  the  one  in  the 
bow  and  the  other  in  the  stern,  each  using  a pad- 
dle, with  a long,  steady,  noiseless  sweep.  The 
conversation  was  carried  on  in  low  tones,  all  the 
party  beginning  to  feel  the  necessity  of  prudence, 
as  they  drew  nearer  to  the  outskirts  of  the  fort, 
and  had  no  longer  the  cover  of  the  woods. 

The  Oswego,  just  at  that  place,  was  a deep, 
dark  stream,  of  no  great  width,  its  still, ‘gloomy- 
looking  current  winding  its  way  among  overhang- 
ing trees,  that,  in  particular  spots,  almost  shut 
out  the  light  of  the  heavens.  Here  and  there 
some  half-fallen  giant  of  the  forest  lay  nearly 
across  its  surface,  rendering  care  necessary  to 
avoid  the  limbs ; and,  most  of  the  distance,  the 
lower  branches  and  leaves  of  the  trees  of  small- 
er growth  were  laved  by  its  waters.  The  picture 
which  has  been  so  beautifully  described  by  our 
own  admirable  poet,  and  which  we  have  placed 
at  the  head  of  this  chapter,  as  an  epigraph,  was 
here  realized  ; the  earth  fattened  by  the  decayed 
vegetation  of  centuries,  and  black  with  loam,  the 
stream  that  filled  the  banks  nearly  to  overflowing, 
and  the  “fresh  and  boundless  wood,”  being  all  as 
visible  to  the  eye,  as  the  pen  of  Bryant  has  else- 
where vividly  presented  them  to  the  imagination. 
In  short,  the  entire  scene  was  one  of  a rich  and 
benevolent  nature,  before  it  had  been  subjected 
to  the  uses  and  desires  of  man ; luxuriant,  wild, 
full  of  promise,  and  not  without  the  charm  of  the 
picturesque,  even  in  its  rudest  state.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  this  was  in  the  year  11 5-,  or 
long  before  even  speculation  had  brought  any 
portion  of  Western  New  York  within  the  bounds 
of  civilization,  or  the  projects  of  the  adventurous. 
At  that  distant  day,  there  were  two  great  chan- 
nels of  military  communication  between  the  in- 
habited portion  of  the  colony  of  New  York,  and 
the  frontiers  that  lay  adjacent  to  the  Canadas : 
that  by  Lakes  Champlain  and  George,  and  that 
by  means  of  the  Mohawk,  Wood  Creek,  the 
Oneida,  and  the  rivers  we  have  been  describing. 
Along  both  these  lines  of  communication,  mili- 
tary posts  had  been  established,  though  there 
existed  a blank  space  of  a hundred  miles  between 
the  last  fort  at  the  head  of  the  Mohawk,  and  the 
outlet  of  the  Oswego,  which  embraced  most  of 
the  distance  that  Cap  and  Mabel  had  journeyed 
under  the  protection  of  Arrowhead. 

“ I sometimes  wish  for  peace  again,”  said  the 
Pathfinder,  “ when  one  can  range  the  forest  with- 
out s’arching  for  any  other  inemy  than  the  beasts 
and  fishes.  Ah’s  me  ! many  is  the  day  that  the 
Sarpent,  there,  and  I have  passed  happily  among 


the  streams,  living  on  venison,  salmon,  and  trout, 
without  thought  of  a Mingo  or  a scalp ! I some- 
times wish  that  them  blessed  days  might  come 
back,  for  it  is  not  my  raal  gift  to  slay  my  owd 
kind.  I’m  sartain  the  sergeant’s  daughter  don’t 
think  me  a wretch  that  takes  pleasure  in  preying 
on  human  natur’  ? ” 

At  this  remark,  a sort  of  half  interrogatory, 
Pathfinder  looked  behind  him ; and,  though  the 
most  partial  friend  could  scarcely  term  his  sun- 
burnt and  hard  features  handsome,  even  Mabel 
thought  his  smile  attractive  by  its  simple  ingenu- 
ousness, and  the  uprightness  that  beamed  in  every 
lineament  of  his  honest  countenance. 

“ I do  not  think  my  father  would  have  sent 
one  like  those  you  mention,  to  see  his  daughter 
through  the  wilderness,”  the  young  woman  an- 
swered, returning  the  smile  as  frankly  as  it  was 
given,  and  much  more  sweetly. 

“ That  he  wouldn’t,  that  he  wouldn’t ; the  ser- 
geant is  a man  of  feelin’,  and  many  is  the  march 
and  the  fight  that  we  have  stood  shoulder  to 
shoulder  in,  as  he  would  call  it — though  I always 
keep  my  limbs  free  when  near  a Frencher  or  a 
Mingo.” 

“You  are  then  the  young  friend  of  whom  my 
father  has  spoken  so  often  in  his  letters  ? ” 

“ His  young  friend — the  sergeant  ha3  the  ad- 
vantage of  me  by  thirty  years  ; yes,  he  is  thirty 
years  my  senior,  and  as  many  my  better.” 

“ Not  in  the  eyes  of  the  daughter,  perhaps, 
friend  Pathfinder,”  put  in  Cap,  whose  spirits  be- 
gan to  revive  when  he  found  the  water  once  more 
flowing  around  him.  “ The  thirty  years  that  you 
mention  are  not  often  thought  to  be  an  advantage 
in  the  eyes  of  girls  of  nineteen.” 

Mabel  colored,  and,  in  turning  aside  her  face 
to  avoid  the  looks  of  those  in  the  bow  of  the  ca- 
noe, she  encountered  the  admiring  gaze  of  the 
young  man  in  the  stern.  As  a last  resource,  her 
spirited  but  soft  blue  eyes  sought  refuge  in  the 
water.  Just  at  this  moment  a dull,  heavy  sound 
swept  up  the  avenue  formed  by  the  trees,  borne 
along  by  a light  air  that  hardly  produced  a ripple 
on  the  water. 

“ That  sounds  pleasantly,”  said  Cap,  pricking 
up  his  ears  like  a dog  that  hears  a distant  bay- 
ing ; “ it  is  the  surf  on  the  shores  of  your  lake,  I 
suppose  ? ” 

“ Not  so — not  so,”  answered  the  Pathfinder — 
“ it  is  merely  this  river  tumbling  over  some  rocks 
half  a mile  below  us.” 

« Is  there  a fall  in  the  stream  ? ” demanded 
Mabel,  a still  brighter  flush  glowing  in  her  face. 

“ The  devil ! Master  Pathfinder — or  you,  Mr. 
Oh!  the-deuce — ” (for  so  Cap  began  to  style 


DESCENDING  THE  OSWEGO  FALLS. 


19 


Jasper,  by  way  of  entering  cordially  into  the 
border  usages),  “ had  you  not  better  give  the  ca- 
noe a sheer,  and  get  nearer  to  the  shore  ? These 
water-falls  have  generally  rapids  above  them,  and 
one  might  as  well  get  into  the  Maelstrom  at  once 
as  to  run  into  their  suction.” 

“ Trust  to  us — trust  to  us,  friend  Cap,”  an- 
twered  Pathfinder ; “ we  are  but  fresh-water  sail- 
ors, it  is  true,  and  I cannot  boast  of  being  much, 
even  of  that ; but  we  understand  rifts,  and  rap- 
ids, and  cataracts ; and  in  going  down  these,  we 
shall  do  our  endivors  not  to  disgrace  our  edica- 
tion.” 

“ In  going  down  ! ” exclaimed  Cap  — “ the 
devil,  man ! you  do  not  dream  of  going  down  a 
water-fall  in  this  egg-shell  of  bark  ? ” 

“ Sartain ; the  path  lies  over  the  falls,  and  it 
18  much  easier  to  shoot  them  than  to  unload  the 
canoe,  and  to  carry  that,  and  all  it  contains, 
around  a portage  of  a mile,  by  hand.” 

Mabel  turned  her  pallid  countenance  toward 
the  young  man  in  the  stem  of  the  canoe,  for  just 
at  that  moment  a fresh  roar  of  the  fall  was  borne 
to  her  ears  by  a new  current  of  the  air,  and  it 
really  sounded  terrific,  now  that  the  cause  was 
understood. 

“We  thought  that,  by  landing  the  females 
and  the  two  Indians,”  Jasper  quietly  observed, 
“ we  three  white  men,  all  of  whom  are  used  to 
the  water,  might  carry  the  canoe  over  in  safety, 
,for  we  often  shoot  these  falls.” 

“ And  we  counted  on  you,  friend  mariner,  as 
a mainstay,”  said  Pathfinder,  winking  at  Jasper 
over  his  shoulder,  “ for  you  are  accustomed  to 
see  waves  tumbling  about,  and,  without  some  one 
to  steady  the  cargo,  all  the  finery  of  the  sergeant’s 
daughter  might  be  washed  into  the  river  and  be 
.ost.” 

Cap  was  puzzled.  The  idea  of  going  over  a 
water-fall  was  perhaps  more  serious,  in  his  eyes, 
than  it  would  have  been  in  those  of  one  totally 
ignorant  of  all  that  pertained  to  boats ; for  he 
understood  the  power  of  the  element  and  the  to- 
tal feebleness  of  man  when  exposed  to  its  fury. 
Still,  his  pride  revolted  at  the  thought  of  desert- 
ing the  boat  while  others  not  only  courageously 
but  coolly  proposed  to  continue  in  it.  Notwith- 
standing the  latter  feeling,  and  his  innate  as  well 
as  acquired  steadiness  in  danger,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  deserted  his  post,  had  not  the  images  of 
Indians  tearing  scalps  from  the  human  head  taken 
»o  strong  hold  of  his  fancy  as  to  induce  him  to 
imagine  the  canoe  a sort  of  sanctuary. 

“ What  is  to  be  done  with  Magnet  ? ” he  de- 
manded, affection  for  his  niece  raising  another 
qualm  in  his  conscience.  “We  cannot  allow 


Magnet  to  land  if  there  are  enemy’s  Indians 
near.” 

“Nay — no  Mingo  will  be  near  the  portage,  for 
that  is  a spot  too  public  for  their  deviltries,”  an- 
swered the  Pathfinder,  confidently.  “Natur’  is 
natui’’,  and  it  is  an  Injin’s  natur’  to  be  found 
where  he  is  least  expected.  No  fear  of  him  on  a 
beaten  path,  for  he  wishes  to  come  upon  you  when 
unprepared  to  meet  him,  and  the  fiery  villains 
make  it  a point  to  deceive  you  one  way  or  anoth- 
er.— Sheer  in,  Eitu-douce ; we  will  land  the  ser- 
geant’s daughter  on  the  end  of  that  log,  where 
she  can  reach  the  shore  with  a dry  foot.” 

The  injunction  was  obeyed,  and  in  a few  min- 
utes the  whole  party  had  left  the  canoe  with  the 
exception  of  Pathfinder  and  the  two  sailors.  Not- 
withstanding his  professional  pride,  Cap  would 
have  gladly  followed,  but  he  did  not  like  to  ex- 
hibit so  unequivocal  a weakness  in  the  presence 
of  a fresh-water  sailor. 

“ I call  all  hands  to  witness,”  he  said,  as  those 
who  had  landed  moved  away,  “ that  I do  not  look 
on  this  affair  as  any  thing  more  than  canoeing  in 
the  woods.  There  is  no  seamanship  in  tumbling 
over  a water-fall,  which  is  a feat  the  greatest 
lubber  can  perform  as  well  as  the  oldest  mari- 
ner.” 

“Nay,  nay,  you  needn’t  despise  the  Oswego 
Falls,  neither,”  put  in  Pathfinder,  “ for,  though 
they  may  not  be  Niagara,  nor  the  Genesee,  nor 
the  Cahoos,  nor  Glenn’s,  nor  them  on  the  Canada, 
they  are  narvous  enough  for  a new  beginner. 
Let  the  sergeant’s  daughter  stand  on  yonder  rock, 
and  she  will  see  the  manner  in  which  we  ignoi'ant 
backwoodsmen  get  over  a difficulty  that  we  can’t 
get  under. — Now,  Eau-douce,  a steady  hand  and 
a true  eye,  for  all  rests  on  you,  seeing  that  we 
can  count  Master  Cap  for  no  more  than  a passen- 
ger.” 

The  canoe  was  leaving  the  shore  as  he  con- 
cluded, while  Mabel  went  hurriedly  and  trembling 
to  the  rock  that  had  been  pointed  out,  talking  to 
her  companion  of  the  danger  her  uncle  so  unne- 
cessarily ran,  while  her  eyes  were  riveted  on  the 
agile  and  vigorous  form  of  Eau-douce  as  he  stood 
erect  in  the  stern  of  the  light  boat,  governing  its 
movements.  As  soon,  however,  as  she  reached  a 
point  where  she  got  a view  of  the  fall,  she  gave 
an  invokintary  but  suppressed  scream,  and  covered 
her  eyes.  At  the  next  instant,  the  latter  were 
again  free,  and  the  entranced  girl  stood  immova- 
ble as  a statue,  a scarcely-breathing  observer  of 
all  that  passed.  The  two  Indians  seated  them- 
selves passively  on  a log,  hardly  looking  toward 
the  stream,  while  the  wife  of  Arrowhead  came 
near  Mabel,  and  appeared  to  watch  the  motions 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


30 

of  the  canoe  with  some  such  interest  as  a child 
regards  the  leaps  of  a tumbler. 

As  soon  as  the  boat  was  in  the  stream,  Path- 
finder sank  on  his  knees,  continuing  to  use  the 
paddle,  though  it  was  slowly,  and  in  a manner 
not  to  interfere  with  the  efforts  of  his  companion. 
The  latter  still  stood  erect,  and,  as  he  kept  his 
eye  on  some  object  beyond  the  fall,  it  was  evident 
that  he  was  carefully  looking  for  the  spot  proper 
for  their  passage. 

“Farther  west,  boy;  farther  west,”  muttered 
Pathfinder ; “ there  where  you  see  the  water 
foam.  Bring  the  top  of  the  dead  oak  in  a line 
with  the  stem  of  the  blasted  hemlock.” 

Eau-douce  made  no  answer,  for  the  canoe  was 
in  the  centre  of  the  stream,  with  its  head  pointed 
toward  the  fall,  and  it  had  already  begun  to  quick- 
en its  motion,  by  the  increased  force  of  the  cur- 
rent. At  that  moment,  Cap  would  cheerfully  have 
renounced  every  claim  to  glory  that  could  possi- 
bly be  acquired  by  the  feat,  to  have  been  safe 
again  on  shore.  He  heard  the  roar  of  the  water, 
thundering  as  it  might  be,  behind  a screen,  but 
becoming  more  and  more  distinct,  louder  and  loud- 
er ; and  before  him  he  saw  its  line  cutting  the 
forest  below,  along  which  the  green  and  angry 
element  seemed  stretched  and  shining,  as  if  the 
particles  were  about  to  lose  their  principle  of 
cohesion. 

“Down  with  your  helm — down  with  youT 
helm,  man  ! ” he  exclaimed,  unable  any  longer  to 
suppress  his  anxiety,  as  the  canoe  glided  toward 
the  edge  of  the  fall. 

“ Ay— ay— down  it  is,  sure  enough,”  answered 
Pathfinder,  looking  behind  him  for  a single  in- 
stant, with  his  silent,  joyous  laugh — “ down  we  go 
of  a sartainty ! — Heave  her  starn  up,  boy ; far- 
ther up  with  her  starn  ! ” 

The  rest  was  like  the  passage  of  the  viewless 
wind.  Eau-douce  gave  the  required  sweep  with 
his  paddle,  the  canoe  glanced  into  the  channel, 
and  for  a few  seconds  it  seemed  to  Cap  that  he 
was  tossing  in  a caldron.  He  felt  the  bow  of 
the  canoe  tip,  saw  the  raging,  foaming  water 
careering  madly  by  his  side,  was  sensible  that  the 
light  fabric  in  which  he  floated  was  tossed  about 
like  an  egg-shell,  and  then,  not  less  to  his  great 
joy  than  to  his  surprise,  he  discovered  that  it 
was  gliding  across  the  basin  of  still  water,  below 
the  fall,  under  the  steady  impulse  of  Jasper’s 
paddle. 

The  Pathfinder  continued  to  laugh,  but  he 
arose  from  his  knees,  and,  searching  for  a tin  pot 
and  a horn  spoon,  he  began  deliberately  to  meas- 
ure the  water  that  had  been  taken  in  in  the 
passage. 


“ Fourteen  spoonfuls,  Eau-douce  ; fourteen 
fairly-measured  spoonfuls.  I have,  you  must  ac- 
knowledge, known  you  to  go  down  with  only 
ten.” 

“ Master  Cap  leaned  so  hard  up-stream,”  re- 
turned Jasper,  seriously,  “ that  I had  difficulty  ic 
trimming  the  canoe.” 

“ It  may  be  so — it  may  be  so ; no  doubt  ii 
was  so,  since  you  say  it ; but  I have  known  you 
go  over  with  only  ten.” 

Cap  now  gave  a tremendous  hem,  felt  for  his 
cue,  as  if  to  ascertain  its  safety,  and  then  looked 
back,  in  order  to  examine  the  danger  he  had  gone 
through.  His  impunity  is  easily  explained.  Most 
of  the  river  fell  perpendicularly  ten  or  twelve  feet ; 
but  near  its  centre,  the  force  of  the  current  had 
so  far  worn  away  the  rock,  as  to  permit  the  wa- 
ter to  shoot  through  a narrow  passage,  at  an  angle 
of  about  forty  or  forty-five  degrees.  Down  this 
ticklish  descent  the  canoe  had  glanced,  amid  frag- 
ments of  broken  rock,  whirlpools,  foam,  and  furi- 
ous tossings  of  the  element,  which  an  uninstructed 
eye  would  believe  menaced  inevitable  destruction 
to  an  object  so  fragile.  But  the  very  lightness  of 
the  canoe  favored  its  descent ; for,  borne  on  the 
crests  of  the  waves,  and  directed  by  a steady  eye 
and  an  arm  full  of  muscle,  it  had  passed  like  a 
feather  from  one  pile  of  foam  to  another,  scare* 
ly  permitting  its  glossy  side  to  be  wetted.  There 
were  a few  rocks  to  be  avoided ; the  proper  di- 
rection was  to  be  rigidly  observed,  and  the  fieref 
current  did  the  rest.* 

To  say  that  Cap  was  astonished,  would  not  be 
expressing  half  his  feelings.  He  felt  awed,  foi 
the  profound  dread  of  rocks,  which  most  seamen 
entertain,  came  in  aid  of  his  admiration  of  the 
boldness  of  the  exploit.  Still  he  was  indisposed 
to  express  all  he  felt,  lest  he  might  be  conceding 
too  much  in  favor  of  fresh  water  and  inland  nav- 
igation ; and  no  sooner  had  he  cleared  his  throat 
with  the  aforesaid  hem,  than  he  loosened  his 
tongue  in  the  usual  strain  of  superiority. 

“ I do  not  gainsay  your  knowledge  of  the 
channel,  Master  Oh ! the- Deuce  ” ( for  such  he  re- 
ligiously believed  to  be  Jasper’s  sobriquet ),  “and 
after  all,  to  know  the  channel  in  such  a place  is 
the  main  point.  I have  had  coxswains  with  me 
who  could  come  down  that  shoot  too,  if  they 
only  knew  the  channel.” 

“ It  isn’t  enough  to  know  the  channel,  friend 
mariner,”  said  Pathfinder ; “ it  needs  narves  and 
skill  to  keep  the  canoe  straight  and  to  keep  hei 
clear  of  the  rocks,  too.  There  isn’t  another  boat- 

* Lest  the  reader  suppose  we  are  dealing  purely  in  lie 
tion,  the  writer  will  add  that  he  has  known  a long  thirty 
two  pounder  carried  over  these  same  falls  in  perfect  safety 


MABEL’S  ADMIRATION  OF  EAU-DOUCE. 


21 


man  in  all  this  region  that  can  shoot  the  Oswego, 
but  Eau-douce,  there,  with  any  sartainty ; though, 
now  and  then,  one  has  blundered  through.  I 
can’t  do  it  myself,  unless  by  means  of  providence, 
and  it  needs  Jasper’s  hand  and  Jasper’s  eye  to 
make  sure  of  a dry  passage.  Fourteen  spoonfuls, 
after  all,  are  no  great  matter,  though  I wish  it 
bad  been  but  ten,  seeing  that  the  sergeant’s 
daughter  was  a looker-on.” 

“ And  yet  you  conned  the  canoe ; you  told 
him  how  to  head  and  how  to  sheer.” 

“ Human  frailty,  master  mariner ; that  was  a 
little  of  white-skin  natur’.  Now,  had  the  Sar- 
pent,  yonder,  been  in  the  boat,  not  a word  would 
ne  have  spoken,  or  thought  would  he  have  given 
to  the  public.  An  Injin  knows  how  to  hold  his 
tongue ; but  we  white  folk  fancy  we  are  always 
wiser  than  our  fellows.  I’m  curing  myself  fast  of 
the  weakness,  but  it  needs  time  to  root  up  the  tree 
that  has  been  growing  more  than  thirty  years.” 

“ I think  little  of  this  affair,  sir ; nothing  at 
all,  to  speak  my  mind  freely  It’s  a mere  wash 
of  spray  to  shooting  London  Bridge,  which  is 
done  every  day  by  hundreds  of  persons,  and  often 
by  the  most  delicate  ladies  in  the  land.  The 
king’s  majesty  has  shot  the  bridge  in  his  royal 
person.” 

“Well,  I want  no  delicate  ladies  or  king’s 
majesties  (God  bless  ’em !)  in  the  canoe,  in  going 
over  these  falls ; for  a boat’s-breadth,  either  way, 
may  make  a drowning  matter  of  it. — Eau-douce, 
we  shall  have  to  carry  the  sergeant’s  brother  over 
Niagara  yet,  to  show  him  what  may  be  done  on  a 
frontier!  ” 

“ The  devil ! Master  Pathfinder,  you  must  be 
joking,  now.  Surely  it  is  not  possible  for  a bark 
canoe  to  go  over  that  mighty  cataract ! ” 

“ You  never  were  more  mistaken,  Master  Cap, 
in  your  life.  Nothing  is  easier,  and  many  is  the 
canoe  I have  seen  go  over  it,  with  my  own  eyes, 
and,  if  we  both  live,  I hope  to  satisfy  you  that 
the  feat  can  be  done.  For  my  part,  I think 
the  largest  ship  that  ever  sailed  on  the  ocean 
might  be  carried  over,  could  she  once  get  into  the 
rapids.” 

Cap  did  not  perceive  the  wink  which  Path- 
finder exchanged  with  Eau-douce,  and  he  remained 
silent  for  some  time ; for,  sooth  to  say,  he  had 
never  suspected  the  possibility  of  going  down 
Niagara,  feasible  as  the  thing  must  appear  to 
every  one,  on  a second  thought,  the  real  difficulty 
existing  in  going  up  it. 

By  this  time,  the  party  had  reached  the  place 
where  Jasper  had  left  his  own  canoe  concealed  in 
the  bushes,  and  they  all  reembarked;  Cap,  Jas- 
per, and  his  niece,  in  one  boat,  and  Pathfinder, 


Arrowhead,  and  the  wife  of  the  latter,  in  the 
other.  The  Mohican  had  already  passed  down 
the  banks  of  the  river  flfy  land,  looking  cautiously, 
and  with  the  skill  of  his  people,  for  the  signs  of 
an  enemy. 

The  cheek  of  Mabel  did  not  recover  all  its 
bloom,  until  the  canoe  was  again  in  the  current, 
down  which  it  floated  swiftly,  occasionally  im- 
pelled by  the  paddle  of  Jasper.  She  witnessed 
the  descent  of  the  falls  with  a degree  of  terror 
that  had  rendered  her  mute,  but  her  fright  had 
not  been  so  great  as  to  prevent  admiration  of  the 
steadiness  of  the  youth,  who  directed  the  move- 
ment, from  blending  with  the  passing  terror.  In 
truth,  one  much  less  quick  and  sensitive  might 
have  had  her  feelings  awakened  by  the  cool  and 
gallant  air  with  which  Eau-douce  had  accom- 
plished this  clever  exploit.  He  had  stood  firmly 
erect,  notwithstanding  the  plunge ; and  to  those 
who  were  on  the  shore,  it  was  evident  that,  by  a 
timely  application  of  his  skill  and  strength,  the 
canoe  had  received  a sheer  that  alone  carried  it 
clear  of  a rock,  over  which  the  boiling  water  was 
leaping  in  jets  d'eau — now  leaving  the  brown 
stone  visible,  and  now  covering  it  with  a limpid 
sheet,  as  if  machinery  controlled  the  play  of  the 
element.  The  tongue  cannot  always  express  what 
the  eyes  view,  but  Mabel  saw  enough,  even  in 
that  moment  of  fear,  to  blend  forever  in  her 
mind  the  pictures  presented  by  the  plunging 
canoe  and  the  unmoved  steersman.  She  admit- 
ted that  insidious  sentiment  which  binds  woman 
so  strongly  to  man,  by  feeling  additional  security 
in  finding  herself  under  his  care ; and,  for  the 
first  time  since  leaving  Fort  Stanwix,  she  was 
entirely  at  her  ease  in  the  frail  bark  in  which  she 
travelled.  As  the  other  canoe  kept  quite  near 
her  own,  however,  and  the  Pathfinder,  by  floating 
at  her  side,  was  most  in  view,  the  conversation 
was  principally  maintained  with  that  person ; 
Jasper  seldom  speaking  unless  addressed,  and 
constantly  exhibiting  a wariness  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  own  boat,  that  might  have  been 
remarked  by  one  accustomed  to  his  ordinary 
confident,  careless  manner,  had  such  an  observer 
been  present  to  note  what  was  passing. 

“We  know  too  well  a woman’s  gifts,  to  think 
of  carrying  the  sergeant’s  daughter  over  the  falls,” 
said  Pathfinder,  looking  at  Mabel,  while  he  ad- 
dressed her  uncle ; “ though  I’ve  been  acquainted 
with  some  of  her  sex,  in  them  regions,  that  would 
think  but  little  of  doing  the  thing.” 

“Mabel  is  faint-hearted,  like  her  mother,” 
returned  Cap,  “and  you  did  well,  friend,  to 
humor  her  weakness.  You  will  remember  the 
child  has  never  been  at  sea.” 


12 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“No — no — it  was  easy  to  discover  that,  by 
your  own  feai’lessness — any  one  might  have  seen 
how  little  you  cared  abo'fct  the  matter ! I went 
over  once  with  a raw  hand,  and  he  jumped  out 
of  the  canoe,  just  as  it  tipped,  and  you  may  judge 
what  a time  he  had  of  it ! ” 

“ What  became  of  the  poor  fellow  ? ” asked 
Cap,  scarce  knowing  how  to  take  the  other’s 
manner,  which  was  so  dry,  while  it  was  so  simple, 
that  a less  obtuse  subject  than  the  old  sailor 
might  well  have  suspected  its  sincerity.  “ One 
who  has  passed  the  place,  knows  how  to  feel  for 
him.” 

“ He  was  a poor  fellow,  as  you  say ; and  a 
poor  frontier-man, 'too,  though  he  came  out  to 
show  his  skill  among  us  ignoranters.  What  be- 
came of  him  ? — Why,  he  went  down  the  falls 
topsy-turvy  like,  as  would  have  happened  to  a 
court-house  or  a fort.” 

“If  it  should  jump  out  of  a canoe,”  inter- 
rupted Jasper,  smiling,  though  he  was  evidently 
more  disposed  than  his  friend  to  let  the  passage 
of  the  falls  be  forgotten. 

“ The  boy  is  right,”  rejoined  Pathfinder, 
laughing  in  Mabel’s  face,  the  canoes  now  being 
so  near  that  they  almost  touched ; “ he  is  sar- 
tainly  right.  But  you  have  not  told  us  what  you 
think  of  the  leap  we  took  ? ” 

“It  was  perilous  and  bold,”  said  Mabel; 
44  while  looking  at  it,  I could  have  wished  that  it 
had  not  been  attempted,  though,  now  it  is  over,  I 
can  admire  its  boldness,  and  the  steadiness  with 
which  it  was  made.” 

“Now,  do  not  think  that  we  did  this  thing  to 
set  ourselves  off  in  female  eyes.  It  may  be  pleas- 
ant to  the  young  to  win  each  other’s  good  opin- 
ions, by  doing  things  that  may  seem  praiseworthy 
and  bold ; but  neither  Eau-douce  nor  myself  is 
of  that  race.  My  natur’,  though  perhaps  the 
Sarpent  would  be  a better  witness,  has  few  turns 
in  it,  and  is  a straight  natur’ ; nor  would  it  be 
likely  to  lead  me  into  a vanity  of  this  sort,  while 
out  on  duty.  As  for  Jasper,  he  would  sooner  go 
over  the  Oswego  falls  without  a looker-on,  than  do 
it  before  a hundred  pair  of  eyes.  I know  the  lad 
well,  from  use  and  much  consorting,  and  I am 
sure  he  is  not  boastful  or  vainglorious.” 

Mabel  rewarded  the  scout  with  a smile  that 
served  to  keep  the  canoes  together  for  some 
time  longer,  for  the  sight  of  youth  and  beauty 
was  so  rare  on  that  remote  frontier,  that  even 
rebuked  and  self-mortified  feelings  of  this 
wanderer  of  the  forest  were  sensibly  touched  by 
the  blooming  loveliness  of  the  girl. 

“We  did  it  for  the  best,”  Pathfinder  contin- 
ood ; “ ’twas  all  for  the  best.  Had  we  waited  to 


carry  the  canoe  across  the  portage,  time  would 
have  been  lost,  and  nothing  is  so  precious  as 
time,  when  you  are  distrustful  of  Mingoes.” 

“ But  we  can  have  little  to  fear,  now  ! The 
canoes  move  swiftly,  and  two  hours,  you  have 
said,  will  carry  us  down  to  the  fort.” 

“ It  shall  be  a cunning  Iroquois  who  hurts  a 
hair  of  your  head,  pretty  one,  for  all  here  are 
bound  to  the  sergeant,  and  most,  I think,  to 
yourself,  to  see  you  safe  from  harm. — Ha  ! Eau- 
douce  ; what  is  that  in  the  river,  at  the  lower 
turn,  yonder,  beneath  the  bushes — I mean  stand- 
ing on  the  rock  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  the  Big  Serpent,  Pathfinder ; he  is  mak- 
ing signs  to  us,  in  a way  I don’t  understand.” 

“ ’Tis  the  Sarpent,  as  sure  as  I’m  a whiteman, 
and  he  wishes  us  to  drop  in  nearer  to  his  shore. 
Mischief  is  brewin’n’,  or  one  of  his  deliberation 
and  steadiness  would  never  take  this  trouble. — 
Courage,  all ! we  are  men,  and  must  meet  devil- 
try as  becomes  our  color  and  our  callings.  Ah ! 
I never  knew  good  come  of  boastin’ ; and  here, 
just  as  I was  vauntin’  of  our  safety,  comes  dan 
ger  to  give  me  the  lie.” 


CHAPTER  IV. 

“ Art,  stryving  to  compare 

With  Nature  did  an  arber  greene  dispred, 

Framed  of  wanton  yvie  flowing  fayre. 

Through  which  the  fi-agrant  eglantines  did  spred.” 

Spensmu 

The  Oswego,  below  the  falls,  is  a more  rapid, 
unequal  stream  than  it  is  above  them.  There 
are  places  where  the  river  flows  in  the  quiet  still 
ness  of  deep  water,  but  many  shoals  and  rapids 
occur ; and,  at  that  distant  day,  when  every  thing 
was  in  its  natural  state,  some  of  the  passes  were 
not  altogether  without  hazard.  Yery  little  exer- 
tion was  required  on  the  part  of  those  who  man- 
aged the  canoes,  except  in  those  places  where  the 
swiftness  of  the  current  and  the  presence  of  the 
rocks  required  ca^e ; when,  indeed,  not  only  vigi- 
lance, but  great  coolness,  readiness,  and  strength 
of  arm,  became  necessary,  in  order  to  avoid  the 
dangers.  Of  all  this  the  Mohican  was  aware,  and 
he  had  judiciously  selected  a spot  where  the  river 
flowed  tranquilly,  to  intercept  the  canoes,  in  or- 
der to  make  his  communication  without  hazard 
to  those  he  wished  to  speak. 

The  Pathfinder  had  no  sooner  recognized  the 
form  of  his  red  friend,  than,  with  a strong  sweep 
of  his  paddle,  he  threw  the  head  of  his  own  canoe 
toward  the  shore,  motioning  for  Jasper  to  follow. 
In  a minute  both  boats  were  silently  drifting 


A MINGO  TRAIL. 


23 


down  the  stream,  within  reach  of  the  bushes  that 
overhung  the  water,  all  observing  a profound  si- 
lence ; some  from  alarm,  and  others  from  habitual 
caution.  As  the  travellers  drew  nearer  the  In- 
dian, he  made  a sign  for  them  to  stop  ; when  he 
and  Pathfinder  had  a short  but  earnest  confer- 
ence, in  the  language  of  the  Delawares. 

“ The  chief  is  not  apt  to  see  enemies  in  a 
dead  log,”  observed  the  white  man  to  his  red 
associate  ; “ why  does  he  tell  us  to  stop  ? ” 

“ Mingoes  are  in  the  woods.” 

“ That  we  have  believed  these  two  days : does 
Nthe  chief  know  it  ? ” 

The  Mohican  quietly  held  up  the  head  of  a 
pipe,  formed  of  stone. 

“ It  lay  on  a fresh  trail  that  led  toward  the 
garrison  ” — for  so  it  was  the  usage  of  that  fron- 
tier to  term  a military  work,  whether  it  was  oc- 
cupied or  not. 

“ That  may  be  the  bowl  of  a pipe  belonging 
to  a soldier.  Many  use  the  red-skin  pipes.” 

“ See,”  said  the  Big  Serpent,  again  holding  the 
thing  he  had  found  up  to  the  view  of  his  friend. 

The  bowl  of  the  pipe  was  of  soap-stone,  and 
it  had  been  carved  with  great  care,  and  with  a 
very  respectable  degree  of  skill.  In  its  centre 
was  a small  Latin  cross,  made  with  an  accuracy 
that  permitted  no  doubt  of  its  meaning. 

“ That  does  foretell  deviltry  and  wickedness,” 
said  the  Pathfinder,  who  had  all  the  provincial 
horror  of  the  holy  symbol  in  question  that  then 
pervaded  the  country,  and  which  became  so  in- 
corporated with  its  prejudices,  by  confounding 
men  with  things,  as  to  have  left  its  traces  strong 
enough  on  the  moral  feeling  of  the  community,  to 
be  discovered  even  at  the  present  hour  ; “no  In- 
jin who  had  not  been  parvarted  by  the  cunning 
priests  of  the  Canadas  would  dream  of  carving  a 
thing  like  that  on  his  pipe ! I’ll  warrant  ye,  the 
knave  prays  to  the  image  every  time  he  wishes 
to  sarcumvent  the  innocent,  and  work  his  fear- 
ful wickedness.  It  looks  fresh,  too,  Chingach- 
gook  ? ” 

“ The  tobacco  was  burning  when  I found  it.” 

“ That  is  close  work,  chief — where  was  the 
trail  ? ” 

The  Mohican  pointed  to  a spot  not  a hundred 
yards  distant  from  that  where  they  stood. 

The  matter  now  began  to  look  very  serious, 
and  the  two  principal  guides  conferred  apart  for 
several  minutes,  when  both  ascended  the  bank, 
approached  the  indicated  spot,  and  examined  the 
trail  with  the  utmost  care.  After  this  investiga- 
tion had  lasted  a quarter  of  an  hour,  the  white 
man  returned  alone,  his  red  friend  having  disap- 
peared in  the  forest. 


The  ordinary  expression  of  the  countenance 
of  the  Pathfinder  was  that  of  simplicity,  integri- 
ty, and  sincerity,  blended  in  an  air  of  self-reli- 
ance, that  usually  gave  great  confidence  to  those 
who  found  themselves  under  his  care  ; but  now  a 
look  of  concern  cast  a shade  over  his  honest 
face,  that  struck  the  whole  party. 

“ What  cheer,  Master  Pathfinder  ? ” demand- 
ed Cap,  permitting  a voice  that  was  usually  deep, 
loud,  and  confident,  to  sink  into  the  cautious 
tones  that  better  suited  the  dangers  of  the  wil- 
derness; “has  the  enemy  got  between  us  and 
our  port  ? ” 

“ Anan  ? ” 

“Have  any  of  these  painted  scaramouches 
anchored  off  the  harbor  toward  which  we  are 
running,  with  the  hope  of  cutting  us  off  in  enter- 
ing ? ” 

“It  may  be  all  as  you  say,  friend  Cap,  but  I 
am  none  the  wiser  for  your  words  ; and,  in  tick- 
lish times,  the  plainer  a man  makes  his  English, 
the  easier  he  is  understood.  I know  nothing  of 
ports  and  anchors,  but  there  is  a direful  Mingo 
trail  within  a hundred  yards  of  this  very  spot, 
and  as  fresh  as  venison  without  salt.  If  one  of 
the  fiery  devils  has  passed,  so  have  a dozen ; and 
what  is  worse,  they  have  gone  down  toward  the 
garrison,  and  not  a soul  crosses  the  clearing 
around  it  that  some  of  their  piercing  eyes  will 
not  discover,  when  sartain  bullets  will  follow.” 

“ Cannot  this  said  fort  deliver  a broadside, 
and  clear  every  thing  within  the  sweep  of  its 
hawse?  ” 

“Nay,  the  forts  this- a- way  are  not  like  forts 
in  the  settlements,  and  two  or  three  light  can- 
non are  all  they  have  down  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river ; and  then,  broadsides  fired  at  a dozen  out- 
lying Mingoes,  lying  behind  logs,  and  in  a forest, 
would  be  powder  spent  in  vain.  We  have  but 
one  course,  and  that  is  a very  nice  one.  We  are 
judgmatically  placed  here,  both  canoes  being  hid 
by  the  high  bank  and  the  bushes,  from  all  eyes 
except  them  of  any  lurker  directly  opposite. 
Here,  then,  we  may  stay,  without  much  present 
fear ; but  how  to  get  the  blood-thirsty  devils  up 
the  stream  again  ? Ha  ! I have  it — I have  it — 
If  it  does  no  good,  it  can  do  no  harm. — Do  you 
see  the  wide-top  chestnut,  here,  Jasper,  at  the 
last  turn  in  the  river  ? On  our  own  side  of  the 
stream,  I mean.” 

“ That  near  the  fallen  pine  ? ” 

“ The  very  same.  Take  the  flint  and  tinder- 
box,  creep  along  the  bank,  and  light  a fire  at  that 
spot ; maybe  the  smoke  will  draw  them  above  us. 
In  the  mean  while,  we  will  drop  the  canoes  care- 
fully down  beyond  the  point  below,  and  find  an- 


24 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


other  shelter.  Bushes  are  plenty,  and  covers  are 
easy  to  be  had  in  this  region,  as  witness  the  many 
ambushments.” 

“ I will  do  it,  Pathfinder,”  said  Jasper,  spring- 
ing to  the  shore.  “ In  ten  minutes  the  fire  shall 
be  lighted.” 

“And,  Eau-j  ouce,  use  plenty  of  damp  wood 
this  time,”  half-whispered  the  other,  laughing 
heartily,  in  his  own  peculiar  manner — “ when 
smoke  is  wanted,  water  helps  to  thicken  it.” 

The  young  man,  who  too  well  understood  his 
duty  to  delay  unnecessarily,  was  soon  off,  making 
his  way  rapidly  toward  the  desired  point.  A 
slight  attempt  of  Mabel  to  object  to  the  risk  was 
disregarded,  and  the  party  immediately  prepared 
to  change  its  position,  as  it  could  be  seen  from 
the  place  where  Jasper  intended  to  light  his  fire. 
The  movement  did  not  require  haste,  and  it  was 
made  leisurely,  and  with  care.  - The  canoes  were 
got  clear  of  the  bushes,  then  suffered  to  drop 
down  with  the  stream,  until  they  reached  the 
spot  where  the  chestnut,  at  the  foot  of  which  Jas- 
per was  to  light  the  fire,  was  almost  shut  out 
from  view,  when  they  stopped,  and  every  eye  was 
turned  in  the  direction  of  the  adventurer. 

“There  goes  the  smoke!”  exclaimed  the 
Pathfinder,  as  a current  of  air  whirled  a little 
column  of  the  vapor  from  the  land,  allowing  it  to 
rise  spirally  above  the  bed  of  the  river.  “ A good 
flint,  a small  bit  of  steel,  and  plenty  of  dry  leaves, 
make  a quick  fire  ! I hope  Eau-douce  will  have 
the  wit  to  bethink  him  of  the  damp  wood,  now, 
when  it  may  sarve  us  all  a good  turn.” 

“ Too  much  smoke — too  much  cunning,”  said 
Arrowhead,  sententiously. 

“ That  is  gospel  truth,  Tuscarora,  if  the  Min- 
goes  didn’t  know  that  they  are  near  soldiers  ; but 
soldiers  commonly  think  more  of  their  dinner,  at 
a halt,  than  of  their  wisdom  and  danger.  No, 
no  ; let  the  boy  pile  on  his  logs,  and  smoke  them 
well  too ; it  will  all  be  laid  to  the  stupidity  of 
some  Scotch  or  Irish  blunderer,  who  is  thinking 
more  of  his  oatmeal  or  his  potatoes  than  of  Injin 
sarcumventions  or  Injin  rifles.” 

“And  yet  I should  think,  from  all  we  have 
heard  in  the  towns,  that  the  soldiers  on  this  fron- 
tier are  used  to  the  artifices  of  their  enemies,” 
said  Mabel ; “ and  have  got  to  be  almost  as  wily 
as  the  red  men  themselves.” 

“ Not  they — not  they.  Exper’ence  makes 
them  but  little  wiser  ; and  they  wheel,  and  platoon, 
and  battalion  it  about,  here  in  the  forest,  just 
as  they  did  in  their  parks  at  home,  of  which 
they  are  all  so  fond  of  talking.  One  red-skin  has 
more  cunning  in  hi3  natur’  than  a whole  rijiment 
from  the  other  side  of  the  water — that  is  what  I 


call  cunning  of  the  woods.  But  there  is  smoke 
enough,  of  all  conscience,  and  we  had  better  drop 
into  another  cover.  The  lad  has  thrown  the  river 
on  his  fire,  and  there  is  danger  that  the  Mingoea 
will  believe  a whole  rijiment  is  out.” 

While  speaking,  the  Pathfinder  permitted  his 
canoe  to  drift  away  from  the  bush  by  which  it 
had  been  retained,  and  in  a couple  of  minutes  the 
bend  in  the  river  concealed  the  smoke  and  the 
tree.  Fortunately  a small  indentation  in  the 
shore  presented  itself  within  a few  yards  of  the 
point  they  had  just  passed  ; and  the  two  canoes 
glided  into  it,  under  the  impulsion  of  the  paddles. 

A better  spot  could  not  have  been  found  for 
the  purpose  of  the  travellers,  than  the  one  they 
now  occupied.  The  bushes  were  thick,  and  over- 
hung the  water,  forming  a complete  canopy  of 
leaves.  There  was  a small  gravelly  strand  at  the 
bottom  of  the  little  bay,  where  most  of  the  party 
landed  to  be  more  at  their  ease,  and  the  only  po- 
sition from  which  they  could  possibly  be  seen 
was  a point  on  the  river  directly  opposite.  There 
was  little  danger,  however,  of  discovery  from  that 
quarter,  as  the  thicket  there  was  even  denser  than 
common,  and  the  land  beyond  it  was  so  wet  and 
marshy  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  be  trodden. 

“ This  is  a safe  cover,”  said  the  Pathfinder, 
after  he  had  taken  a scrutinizing  survey  of  his  po- 
sition ; “ but  it  may  be  necessary  to  make  it  safer. 
Master  Cap,  I ask  nothing  of  you  but  silence,  and 
a quieting  of  such  gifts  as  you  may  have  got  at 
sea,  while  the  Tuscarora  and  I make  provision 
for  the  evil  hour.” 

The  guide  then  went  a short  distance  into  the 
bushes,  accompanied  by  the  Indian,  where  the 
two  cut  off  the  larger  stems  of  several  alders  and 
other  bushes,  using  the  utmost  care  not  to  make 
a noise.  The  ends  of  these  little  trees,  for  such 
in  fact  they  were,  were  forced  into  the  mud,  out- 
side of  the  canoes,  the  depth  of  the  water  being 
very  trifling  ; and  in  the  course  of  ten  minutes  a 
very  effectual  screen  was  interposed  between  them 
and  the  principal  point  of  danger.  Much  inge- 
nuity and  readiness  were  manifested  in  making 
this  simple  arrangement,  in  which  the  two  work- 
men were  essentially  favored  by  the  natural  for- 
mation of  the  bank,  the  indentation  of  the  shore, 
the  shallowness  of  the  water,  and  the  manner  in 
which  the  tangled  bushes  dipped  into  the  stream. 
The  Pathfinder  had  the  address  to  look  for  bushes 
that  had  curved  stems,  things  easily  found  in  such 
a place  ; and,  by  cutting  them  some  distance  be- 
neath the  bend,  and  permitting  the  latter  to  touch 
the  water,  the  artificial  little  thicket  had  not  the 
appearance  of  growing  in  the  stream,  which  might 
have  excited  suspicion  ; but  one  passing  it  would 


UNDER  COVER. 


25 


have  thought  that  the  bushes  shot  out  horizon- 
tally from  the  bank  before  they  inclined  upward 
toward  the  light.  In  short,  the  shelter  was  so 
cunningly  devised,  and  so  artfully  prepared,  that 
none  but  an  unusually  distrustful  eye  would  have 
been  turned  for  an  instant  toward  the  spot,  in 
quest  of  a hiding-place. 

“ This  is  the  best  cover  I ever  yet  got  into,” 
said  the  Pathfinder,  with  his  quiet  laugh,  after 
having  been  on  the  outside  to  reconnoitre  ; “ the 
leaves  of  our  new  trees  fairly  touch  the  bushes 
over  our  heads,  and  even  the  painter  who  has 
been  in  the  garrison  of  late,  could  not  tell  which 
belong  to  Providence  and  .which  are  ourn. — Hist! 
— yonder  comes  Eau-douce,  wading,  like  a sensi- 
ble boy  as  he  is,  to  leave  his  trail  in  the  water  ; 
and  we  shall  soon  see  whether  our  cover  is  good 
for  any  thing  or  not.” 

Jasper  had,  indeed,  returned  from  his  duty 
above,  and,  missing  the  canoes,  he  at  once  in- 
ferred that  they  had  dropped  round  the  next  bend 
in  the  river,  in  order  to  get  out  of  sight  of  the 
fire.  His  habits  of  caution  immediately  suggest- 
ed the  expediency  of  stepping  into  the  water,  in 
order  that  there  might  exist  no  visible  communi- 
cation between  the  marks  left  on  the  shore,  by 
the  party,  and  the  place  where  he  believed  them 
to  have  taken  refuge  below.  Should  the  Cana- 
dian Indians  return  on  their  own  trail,  and  dis- 
cover that  made  by  the  Pathfinder  and  the  Ser- 
pent, in  their  ascent  from,  and  descent  to,  the 
river,  the  clew  to  their  movements  would  cease  at 
the  shore,  water  leaving  no  prints  of  footsteps. 
The  young  man  had  therefore  waded,  knee-deep, 
as  far  as  the  point,  and  was  now  seen  making 
his  way  slowly  down  the  margin  of  the  stream, 
searching  curiously  for  the  spot  in  which  the  ca- 
noes were  hid. 

It  was  in  the  power  of  those  behind  the 
bushes,  by  placing  their  eyes  near  the  leaves,  to 
find  many  places  to  look  through,  while  one  at  a 
little  distance  lost  this  advantage ; or,  even  did 
his  sight  happen  to  fall  on  some  small  opening, 
the  bank  and  the  shadows  beyond  prevented  him 
from  detecting  forms  and  outlines  of  sufficient  di- 
mensions to  expose  the  fugitives.  It  was  evident 
to  those  who  watched  his  motions  from  behind 
their  cover,  and  they  were  all  in  the  canoes,  that 
Jasper  was  totally  at  a loss  to  imagine  where  the 
Pathfinder  had  secreted  himself.  When  fairly 
round  the  curvature  in  the  shore,  and  out  of 
sight  of  the  fire  he  had  lighted  above,  the  young 
man  stopped  and  began  examining  the  bank  de- 
liberately and  with  great  care.  Occasionally,  he 
advanced  eight  or  ten  paces,  and  then  halted 
again,  to  renew  the  search.  The  watef  being 


much  shoaler  than  common,  he  stepped  aside,  in 
order  to  walk  with  greater  ease  to  himself,  and 
came  so  near  the  artificial  plantation,  that  he 
might  have  touched  it  with  his  hand.  Still  he  de- 
tected nothing,  and  was  actually  passing  the  spot, 
when  Pathfinder  made  an  opening  beneath  the 
branches,  and  called  to  him,  in  a low  voice,  to 
enter. 

“This  is  pretty  well,”  said  the  Pathfinder, 
laughing;  “though  pale-face  eyes  and  red-skin 
eyes  are  as  different  as  human  spy-glasses.  I 
would  wager  with  the  sergeant’s  daughter,  here, 
a horn  of  powder  agin  a wampum-belt  for  her 
girdle,  that  her  father’s  rijiment  should  march  by 
this  ambushinent  of  ourn,  and  never  find  out  the 
fraud  ! But,  if  the  Mingoes  actilly  get  down  into 
the  bed  of  the  river,  where  Jasper  passed,  I should 
tremble  for  the  plantation.  It  will  do  for  their 
eyes  even,  across  the  stream,  howsever,  and  will 
not  be  without  its  use.” 

“ Don’t  you  think,  Master  Pathfinder,  that  it 
would  be  wisest  after  all,”  said  Cap,  “ to  get  under 
way  at  once,  and  carry  sail  hard  down-stream,  as 
soon  as  we  are  satisfied  these  rascals  a»e  fairly 
astern  of  us?  We  seamen  call  a stern  chase  a 
long  chase.” 

“ I wouldn’t  move  from  this  spot  until  we  hear 
from  the  Sarpent,  with  the  sergeant’s  pretty 
daughter,  here,  in  our  company,  for  all  the  powder 
in  the  magazine  of  the  fort  below  ! Sartain  cap- 
tivity or  sartain  death  would  follow.  If  a tender 
fa’n,  such  as  the  maiden  we  have  in  charge,  could 
thread  the  forest  like  old  deer,  it  might,  indeed, 
do  to  quit  the  canoes,  for  by  making  a circuit  we 
could  reach  the  garrison  before  morning.” 

“ Then  let  it  be  done,”  said  Mabel,  springing 
to  her  feet,  under  the  sudden  impulse  of  awakened 
energy.  “I  am  young,  active,  used  to  exercise, 
and  could  easily  outwalk  my  dear  uncle.  Let  no 
one  think  me  a hinderance.  I cannot  bear  that  all 
your  lives  should  be  exposed  on  my  account.” 

“No,  no,  pretty  one;  we  think  you  any  thing 
but  a hinderance,  or  any  thing  that  is  onbecoming, 
and  would  willingly  run  twice  this  risk  to  do  you 
and  the  honest  sergeant  a service. — Do  I not  speak 
your  mind,  Eau-douce  ? ” 

“ To  do  her  a service ! ” said  Jasper,  with  em- 
phasis. “ Nothing  shall  tempt  me  to  desert  Ma- 
bel Dunham,  until  she  is  safe  in  her  father’s  arms.” 

“Well  said,  lad ; bravely  and  honestly  said, 
too  ; and  I join  in  it,  heart  and  hand. — No,  no ; 
you  are  not  the  first  of  your  sex  I have  led 
through  the  wilderness,  and  never  but  once  did 
any  harm  befall  any  of  them— that  was  a sad  day, 
sartainly ; but  its  like  may  never  come  again  ! ” 

Mabel  looked  from  one  of  her  protectors  to 


26 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


the  other,  and  her  fine  eyes  swam  in  tears. 
Frankly  placing  a hand  in  that  of  each,  she  an- 
swered them,  though  at  first  her  voice  was 
choked : 

“ I have  no  right  to  expose  you  on  my  ac- 
count. My  dear  father  will  thank  you — I thank 
you — God  will  reward  you — hut  let  there  be  no 
unnecessary  risk.  I can  walk  far,  and  have  often 
gone  miles,  on  some  girlish  fancy ; why  not  now 
exert  myself  for  my  life — nay,  for  your  precious 
lives  ? ” 

“ She  is  a true  dove,  ‘Jasper,”  said  the  Path- 
finder, neither  relinquishing  the  hand  he  held 
until  the  girl  herself,  in  native  modesty,  saw  fit  to 
withdraw  it,  “ and  wonderfully  winning ! We 
get  to  be  rough,  and  sometimes  even  hard-hearted, 
in  the  woods,  Mabel ; but  the  sight  of  one  like 
you  brings  us  back  agin  to  our  young  feelin’s,  and 
does  us  good  for  the  remainder  of  our  days.  I 
dare  say  Jasper,  here,  will  tell  you  the  same ; for, 
like  me  in  the  forest,  the  lad  sees  but  few  such  as 
yourself,  on  Ontario,  to  soften  his  heart,  and  re- 
mind him  of  love  for  his  kind. — Speak  out,  now, 
Jasper,  and  say  if  it  is  not  so.” 

“ 1 question  if  many  like  Mabel  Dunham  are 
to  be  found  anywhere,”  returned  the  young  man, 
gallantly,  an  honest  sincerity  glowing  in  his  face, 
that  spoke  more  eloquently  than  his  tongue ; 
“ you  need  not  mention  woods  and  lakes  to  chal- 
lenge her  equals,  but  I would  go  into  the  settle- 
ments and  towns.” 

“We  had  better  leave  the  canoes,”  Mabel 
hurriedly  rejoined ; “for  I feel  it  is  no  longer  safe 
to  be  here.” 

“ You  can  never  do  it — you  can  never  do  it. 
It  would  be  a march  of  more  than  twenty  miles, 
and  that  too  of  tramping  over  brush  and  roots, 
and  through  swamps,  in  the  dark ; the  trail  of 
such  a party  would  be  wide,  and  we  might  have 
to  fight  our  way  into  the  garrison,  a’ ter  all.  We 
will  wait  for  the  Mohican.” 

Such  appearing  to  be  the  decision  of  him  to 
whom  all,  in  their  present  strait,  looked  up  for 
counsel,  no  more  was  said  on  the  subject.  The 
whole  party  now  broke  up  into  groups  ; Arrow- 
head and  his  wife  sitting  apart  under  the  bushes, 
conversing  in  a low  tone,  though  the  man  spoke 
sternly,  and  the  woman  answered  with  the  sub- 
dued mildness  that  marks  the  degraded  condition 
of  a savage’s  wife.  Pathfinder  and  Cap  occupied 
one  canoe,  chatting  of  their  different  adventures 
by  sea  and  land,  while  Jasper  and  Mabel  sat  in 
the  other,  making  greater  progress  in  intimacy  in 
a single  hour  than  might  have  been  effected  under 
other  circumstances  in  a twelvemonth.  Notwith- 
standing their  situation  as  regards  the  enemy, 


the  time  flew  by  swiftly,  and  the  young  people  in 
particular  were  astonished  when  Cap  informed 
them  how  long  they  had  been  thus  occupied. 

“ If  one  could  smoke,  Master  Pathfinder,”  ob- 
served the  old  sailor,  “ this  berth  would  be  snug 
enough ; for,  to  give  the  devil  his  due,  you  have 
got  the  canoes  handsomely  landlocked,  and  into 
moorings  that  would  defy  a monsoon.  The  only 
hardship  is  the  denial  of  the  pipe.” 

“ The  scent  of  the  tobacco  would  betray  us, 
and  where  is  the  use  of  taking  all  these  precau 
tions  against  the  Mingoes’  eyes  if  we  are  to  tell 
them  where  the  cover  is  to  be  found  through  the 
nose  ? No — no — deny  your  appetites,  deny  your 
appetites,  and  learn  one  vartue  from  a red-skin, 
who  will  pass  a week  without  eating  even,  to  get 
a single  scalp. — Did  you  hear  nothing,  Jasper  ? ” 

“ The  Serpent  is  coming.” 

“ Then  let  us  see  if  Mohican  eyes  are  better 
than  them  of  a lad  who  follows  the  water.” 

The  Mohican  made  his  appearance  in  the  same 
direction  as  that  by  which  Jasper  had  rejoined 
his  friends.  Instead  of  coming  directly  on,  how- 
ever, no  sooner  did  he  pass  the  bend,  where  he 
was  concealed  from  any  who  might  be  higher  up- 
stream, than  he  moved  close  under  the  bank,  and, 
using  the  utmost  caution,  got  a position  where  he 
could  look  back,  with  his  person  sufficiently  con- 
cealed by  the  bushes  to  prevent  its  being  seen  by 
any  in  that  quarter. 

“ The  Sarpent  sees  the  knaves  ! ” whispered 
Pathfinder — “ as  I’m  a Christian  white  man  they 
have  bit  at  the  bait,  and  have  ambushed  the 
smoke ! ” 

Here  a hearty  but  silent  laugh  interrupted 
his  words,  and,  nudging  Cap  with  his  elbow,  they 
all  continued  to  watch  the  movements  of  Chingach- 
gook  in  profound  stillness.  The  Mohican  remained 
stationary  as  the  rock  on  which  he  stood,  fully 
ten  minutes ; then  it  was  apparent  that  something 
of  interest  had  occurred  within  his  view,  for  he 
drew  back  with  a hurried  manner,  looked  anx- 
iously and  keenly  along  the  margin  of  the  stream, 
and  moved  quickly  down  it,  taking  care  to  lose 
his  trail  in  the  shallow  water.  He  was  evidently 
in  a hurry,  and  concerned,  now  looking  behind 
him,  and  then  casting  eager  glances  toward  every 
spot  on  the  shore  where  he  thought  a canoe  might 
be  concealed. 

“ Call  him  in,”  whispered  Jasper,  scarce  able 
to  restrain  his  impatience — “ call  him  in,  or  it  will 
be  too  late.  See,  he  is  actually  passing  us.” 

“ Not  so — not  so,  lad  ; nothing  presses,  depend 
on  it,”  returned  his  companion,  “ or  the  Sarpent 
would  begin  to  creep.  The  Lord  help  us,  and 
teach  us  wisdom ! I do  believe  even  Chingach- 


THE  PARTY  IN  DANGER. 


27 


gook,  whose  sight  is  as  faithful  as  the  hound’s 
scent,  overlooks  us,  and  will  not  find  out  the 
ambushment  we  have  made ! ” 

This  exultation  was  untimely,  for  the  words 
were  no  sooner  spoken,  than  the  Indian,  who  had 
actually  got  several  feet  lower  down  the  stream 
than  the  artificial  cover,  suddenly  stopped,  fast- 
ened a keen  riveted  glance  among  the  transplanted 
bushes,  made  a few  hasty  steps  backward,  and, 
bending  his  body  and  carefully  separating  the 
branches,  he  appeared  among  them. 

“ The  accursed  Mingoes  ! ” said  Pathfinder,  as 
soon  as  his  friend  was  near  enough  to  be  addressed 
with  prudence. 

“ Iroquois,”  returned  the  sententious  Indian. 

“No  matter  — no  matter — Iroquois — devil — 
Mingoes — Mengwes,  or  furies — all  are  pretty  much 
the  same.  I call  all  rascals  Mingoes.  Come 
hither,  chief,  and  let  us  convarse  rationally.” 

The  two  then  stepped  aside,  and  conversed 
earnestly  in  the  dialect  of  the  Delawares.  When 
their  private  communication  was  over,  Pathfinder 
rejoined  the  rest,  and  made  them  acquainted  with 
all  he  had  learned. 

The  Mohican  had  followed  the  trail  of  their 
enemies  some  distance  toward  the  fort,  until  the 
latter  caught  a sight  of  the  smoke  of  Jasper’s  fire, 
when  they  instantly  retraced  their  steps.  It  now 
became  necessary  for  Chingachgook,  who  ran  the 
greatest  risk  of  detection,  to  find  a cover  where 
he  could  secrete  himself  until  the  party  might 
pass.  It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for  him  that  the 
savages  were  so  intent  on  this  recent  discovery, 
that  they  did  not  bestow  the  ordinary  attention  on 
the  signs  of  the  forest.  At  all  events,  they  passed 
him  swiftly,  fifteen  in  number,  treading  lightly  in 
each  other’s  footsteps : and  he  was  enabled  again 
to  get  into  their  rear.  After  proceeding  to  the 
place  where  the  footsteps  of  Pathfinder  and  the 
Mohican  joined  the  principal  trail,  the  Iroquois 
had  struck  off  to  the  river,  which  they  reached 
just  as  Jasper  disappeared  behind  the  bend  be- 
low. The  smoke  being  now  in  plain  view,  the 
savages  plunged  into  the  woods,  and  endeavored 
to  approach  the  fire  unseen.  Chingachgook  prof- 
ited by  this  occasion  to  descend  to  the  water, 
and  to  gain  the  bend  in  the  river  also,  which  he 
thought  had  been  effected  undiscovered.  Here 
he  paused,  as  has  been  stated,  until  he  saw  his 
enemies  at  the  fire,  where  their  stay,  however, 
was  very  short. 

Of  the  motives  ol  the  Iroquois,  the  Mohican 
could  judge  only  by  their  acts.  He  thought  they 
had  detected  the  artifice  of  the  fire,  and  were 
aware  that  it  had  been  kindled  with  a view  to 
mislead  them ; for,  after  a hasty  examination  of 


the  spot,  they  separated,  some  plunging  again  into 
the  woods,  while  six  or  eight  followed  the  foot- 
steps of  Jasper  along  the  shore,  and  came  down 
the  stream  toward  the  place  where  the  canoes  had 
landed.  What  course  they  might  take  on  reach- 
ing that  spot,  was  only  to  be  conjectured,  for  the 
Serpent  had  felt  the  emergency  to  be  too  pressing 
to  delay  looking  for  his  friends  any  longer.  From 
some  indications  that  were  to  be  gathered  from 
their  gestures,  however,  he  thought  it  probable 
that  their  enemies  might  follow  down  in  the 
margin  of  the  stream,  but  could  not  be  certain. 

As  the  Pathfinder  related  these  facts  to  his 
companions,  the  professional  feelings  of  the  two 
other  white  men  came  uppermost,  and  both 
naturally  reverted  to  their  habits,  in  quest  of  the 
means  of  escape. 

“Let  us  run  out  the  canoes  at  once,”  said 
Jasper,  eagerly;  “the  current  is  strong,  and  by 
using  the  paddles  vigorously  we  shall  soon  ba 
beyond  the  reach  of  these  scoundrels  ! ” 

“ And  this  poor  flower,  that  first  blossomed  in 
the  clearin’s — shall  it  wither  in  the  forest  ? ” ob- 
jected his  friend,  with  a poetry  that  he  had  un 
consciously  imbibed  by  his  long  association  with 
the  Delawares. 

“We  must  all  die  first,”  answered  the  youth, 
a generous  color  mounting  to  his  temples  ; “ Ma* 
bel  and  Arrowhead’s  wife  may  lie  down  in  th« 
canoes,  while  we  do  our  duty,  like  men,  on 
feet.” 

“ Ay,  you  are  actyve  at  the  paddle  and  the 
oar,  Eau-douce,  I will  allow,  but  an  accursed 
Mingo  is  more  actyve  at  his  mischief;  the  canoes 
are  swift,  but  a rifle-bullet  is  swifter.” 

“ It  is  the  business  of  men,  engaged  as  we  have 
been,  by  a confiding  father,  to  run  this  risk — ” 

“ But  it  is  not  their  business  to  overlook  pru- 
dence.” 

“ Prudence ! a man  may  carry  his  prudence 
so  far  as  to  forget  his  courage.” 

The  group  was  standing  on  the  narrow  strand, 
the  Pathfinder  leaning  on  his  rifle,  the  butt  of 
which  rested  on  the  gravelly  beach,  while  both 
his  hands  clasped  the  barrel,  at  the  height  of  his 
own  shoulders.  As  Jasper  threw  out  this  severe 
and  unmerited  imputation,  the  deep  red  of  hi3 
comrade’s  face  maintained  its  hue  unchanged, 
though  the  young  man  perceived  that  the  fingers 
grasped  the  iron  of  the  gun  with  the  tenacity  of  a 
vice.  Here  all  betrayal  of  emotion  ceased. 

“You  are  young  and  hot-headed,”  returned 
the  Pathfinder,  with  a dignity  that  impressed  his 
listener  with  a keen  sense  of  his  moral  superior- 
ity ; “ but  my  life  has  been  passed  among  dangers 
of  this  sort,  and  my  exper’ence  and  gifts  are  not 


28 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


to  be  mastered  by  the  impatience  of  a boy.  As 
for  courage,  Jasper,  I will  not  send  back  an  angry 
and  unmeaning  word,  to  meet  an  angry  and  an 
unmeaning  word,  for  I know  that  you  are  true,  in 
your  station  and  according  to  your  knowledge ; 
but  take  the  advice  of  one  who  faced  the  Mingoes 
when  you  were  a child,  and  know  that  their 
cunning  is  easier  sarcumvented  by  prudence  than 
cutwitted  by  foolishness.” 

“I  ask  your  pardon,  Pathfinder,”  said  the 
repentant  Jasper,  eagerly  grasping  the  hand  that 
the  other  permitted  him  to  seize;  “I  ask  your 
pardon,  humbly  and  sincerely.  ’Twas  a foolish 
as  well  as  wicked  thing  to  hint  of  a man  whose 
heart,  in  a good  cause,  is  as  firm  as  the  rocks  on 
the  lake-shore.” 

For  the  first  time  the  color  deepened  on  the 
cheek  of  the  Pathfinder,  and  the  solemn  dignity 
that  he  had  assumed,  under  a purely  natural  im- 
pulse, disappeared  in  the  expression  of  the  earnest 
simplicity  that  was  inherent  in  all  his  feelings. 
He  met  the  grasp  of  his  young  friend  with  a 
squeeze  as  cordial  as  if  no  chord  had  jarred  be- 
tween them,  and  a slight  sternness  that  had  gath- 
ered about  his  eye  disappeared  in  a look  of  natural 
kindness. 

“’Tis  well,  Jasper,  ’tis  well,”  he  answered, 
laughing.  “ I bear  no  ill-will,  nor  shall  any  one 
in  my  behalf.  My  natur’  is  that  of  a white  man, 
snd  that  is  to  bear  no  malice.  It  might  have 
been  ticklish  work  to  have  said  half  as  much  to 
the  Sarpent  here,  though  he  is  a Delaware — for 
color  will  have  its  way — ” 

A touch  on  his  shoulder  caused  the  speaker  to 
cease.  Mabel  was  standing  erect  in  the  canoe, 
her  light  but  swelling  form  bent  forward  in  an 
attitude  of  graceful  earnestness,  her  finger  on  her 
lips,  her  head  averted,  the  spirited  eyes  riveted 
oh  an  opening  in  the  bushes,  and  one  arm  ex- 
tended with  a fishing-rod,  the  end  of  which  had 
touched  the  Pathfinder.  The  latter  bowed  his 
head  to  a level  with  a lookout  near  which  he  had 
intentionally  kept  himself,  and  then  whispered  to 
Jasper : 

“ The  accursed  Mingoes  ! Stand  to  your  arms, 
my  men,  but  lay  quiet  as  the  corpses  of  dead 
trees ! ” 

Jasper  advanced  rapidly  but  noiselessly  to 
the  canoe,  and  with  a gentle  violence  induced 
Mabel  to  place  herself  in  such  an  attitude  as  con- 
cealed her  entire  body,  though  it  would  have 
nrobably  exceeded  his  means  to  induce  the  girl 
ao  far  to  lower  her  head  that  she  could  not  keep 
her  gaze  fastened  on  their  enemies.  He  then 
took  his  own  post  near  her,  with  his  rifle  cocked 
und  poised,  in  readiness  to  fire.  Arrowhead  and 


Chingachgook  crawled  to  the  cover,  and  lay  in 
wait  like  snakes,  with  their  arms  prepared  for 
service,  while  the  wife  of  the  former  bowed  her 
head  between  her  knees,  covered  it  with  her  calico 
robe,  and  remained  passive  and  immovable.  Cap 
loosened  both  his  pistols  in  their  belt,  but  seemed 
quite  at  a loss  what  course  to  pursue.  The  Path- 
finder did  not  stir.  He  had  originally  got  a posi- 
tion where  he  might  aim  with  deadly  effect  through 
the  leaves,  and  where  he  could  watch  the  move- 
ments of  his  enemies  ; and  he  was  far  too  steady 
to  be  disconcerted  at  a moment  so  critical. 

It  was  truiy  an  alarming  instant.  Just  as 
Mabel  touched  the  shoulder  of  her  guide,  three 
of  the  Iroquois  appeared  in  the  water,  at  the  bend 
of  the  river,  within  a hundred  yards  of  the  cover, 
and  halted  to  examine  the  stream  below.  They 
were  all  naked  to  the  waist,  armed  for  an  expedi- 
tion against  their  foes,  and  in  their  war-paint.  It 
was  apparent  that  they  were  undecided  as  to  the 
course  they  ought  to  pursue,  in  order  to  find  the 
fugitives.  One  pointed  down  the  river,  a second 
up  the  stream,  and  the  third  toward  the  opposite 
bank. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

“ Death  is  here,  and  death  is  there, 

Death  is  busy  everywhere.” 

Shelley. 

It  was  a breathless  moment.  The  only  clew 
the  fugitives  possessed  to  the  intentions  of  their 
pursuers  was  in  their  gestures,  and  the  indica- 
tions that  escaped  them  in  the  fury  of  disap- 
pointment. That  a party  had  returned  already 
on  their  own  footsteps,  by  land,  was  pretty  cer- 
tain ; and  all  the  benefit  expected  from  the  arti- 
fice of  the  fire  was  necessarily  lost.  But  that 
consideration  became  of  little  moment,  just  then, 
for  the  secreted  were  menaced  with  an  immediate 
discovery  by  those  who  had  kept  on  a level  with 
the  river.  All  the  facts  presented  themselves 
clearly,  and  as  it  might  be  by  intuition,  to  the 
mind  of  Pathfinder,  who  perceived  the  necessity 
of  immediate  decision,  and  of  being  in  readiness 
to  act  in  concert.  Without  making  any  noise, 
therefore,  he  managed  to  get  the  two  Indians  and 
Jasper  near  him,  when  he  opened  his  communi- 
cations  in  a whisper. 

“We  must  be  ready — we  must  ,’je  ready,”  ho 
said.  “There  are  but  three  of  the  scalping 
devils,  and  we  are  five,  four  of  whom  may  be  sei 
down  as  manful  warriors  for  such  a scrimmage. 


DEATH  OF  A YOUNG  IROQUOIS. 


29 


Ear  douce,  do  you  take  the  fellow  that  is  painted 
like  death  ; Chingachgook,  I give  you  the  chief ; 
and  Arrowhead  must  keep  his  eye  on  the  young 
one.  There  must  be  no  mistake  ; for  two  bullets 
in  the  same  body  would  be  sinful  waste,  with  one 
like  the  sergeant's  daughter  in  danger.  I shall 
hold  myself  in  resarve  ag’in  accidents,  lest  a 
fourth  riptyle  appear,  for  one  of  your  hands  may 
prove  onsteady.  By  no  means  fire  until  I give 
the  word  ; we  must  not  let  the  crack  of  the  rifle 
be  heard  except  in  the  last  resort,  since  all  the 
rest  of  the  miscreants  are  still  within  hearing. 
Jasper,  boy,  in  case  of»any  movement  behind  us, 
on  the  bank,  I trust  to  you  to  run  out  the  canoe, 
with  the  sergeant’s  daughter,  and  to  pull  for  the 
garrison,  by  God’s  leave.” 

The  Pathfinder  had  no  sooner  given  these  di- 
rections than  the  near  approach  of  their  enemies 
rendered  profound  silence  necessary.  The  Iro- 
quois in  the  river  were  slowly  descending  the 
stream,  keeping  of  necessity  near  the  bushes  that 
overhung  the  water,  while  the  rustling  of  leaves 
and  the  snapping  of  twigs  soon  gave  fearful  evi- 
dence that  another  party  was  moving  along  the 
bank  at  an  equally  graduated  pace,  and  directly 
abreast  of  them.  In  consequence  of  the  distance 
between  the  bushes  planted  by  the  fugitives  and 
the  true  shore,  the  two  parties  became  visible  to 
each  other,  when  opposite  that  precise  point. 
Both  stopped,  and  a conversation  ensued,  that 
may  be  said  to  have  passed  directly  over  the 
heads  of  those  who  were  concealed.  Indeed, 
nothing  sheltered  the  travellers  but  the  branches 
and  leaves  of  plants  so  pliant,  that  they  yielded 
to  every  current  of  air,  and  which  a puff  of  wind, 
a little  stronger  than  common,  would  have  blown 
away.  Fortunately,  the  line  of  sight  carried  the 
eyes  of  the  two  parties  of  savages,  whether  they 
stood  in  the  water  or  on  the  land,  above  the 
bushes ; and  the  leaves  appeared  blended  in  a 
way  to  excite  no  suspicion.  Perhaps  the  very 
boldness  of  the  expedient  prevented  an  exposure. 
The  conversation  that  took  place  was  conducted 
earnestly,  but  in  guarded  tones,  as  if  those  who 
spoke  wished  to  defeat  the  intentions  of  any  lis- 
teners. It  was  in  a dialect  that  both  the  Indian 
warriors  beneath,  as  well  as  the  Pathfinder,  un- 
derstood. Even  Jasper  comprehended  a portion 
of  what  was  said. 

“ The  trail  is  washed  away  by  the  water  ! ” 
said  one  from  below,  who  stood  so  near  the  arti- 
ficial cover  of  the  fugitives  that  he  might  have 
been  struck  by  the  salmon-spear  that  lay  in  the 
bottom  of  Jasper’s  canoe.  “Water  has  washed 
it  so  clear,  that  a Yengeese  hound  could  not  fol- 
low.” 


“ The  pale-faces  have  left  the  shore  in  their 
canoes,”  answered  the  speaker  on  the  bank. 

“ It  cannot  be.  The  rifles  of  our  warriors 
below  are  certain.” 

The  Pathfinder  gave  a significant  glance  at 
Jasper,  and  he  clinched  his  teeth  in  order  to  sup* 
press  the  sound  of  his  own  breathing. 

“ Let  my  young  men  look  as  if  their  eyes 
were  eagles’,”  said  the  eldest  warrior  among 
those  who  were  wading  in  the  river.  “We  have 
been  a whole  moon  on  the  war-path,  and  have 
found  but  one  scalp.  There  is  a maiden  among 
them,  and  some  of  our  braves  want  wives.” 

Happily  these  words  were  lost  on  Mabel,  but 
Jasper’s  frown  became  deeper,  and  his  face  fierce- 
ly flushed. 

The  savages  now  ceased  speaking,  and  the 
party  that  was  concealed  heard  the  slow  and 
guarded  movements  of  those  who  were  on  the 
bank,  as  they  pushed  the  bushes  aside  in  their 
wary  progress.  It  was  soon  evident  that  the  lat- 
ter had  passed  the  cover ; but  the  group  in  the 
water  still  remained,  scanning  the  shore  with 
eyes  that  glared  through  their  war-paint  like  coals 
of  living  fire.  After  a pause  of  two  or  three 
minutes,  these  three  began  also  to  descend  the 
stream,  though  it  was  step  by  step,  as  men  mov® 
who  look  for  an  object  that  has  been  lost.  In 
this  manner  they  passed  the  artificial  screen,  and 
Pathfinder  opened  his  mouth,  in  that  hearty  but 
noiseless  laugh,  that  nature  and  habit  had  con- 
tributed to  render  a peculiarity  of  the  man.  His 
triumph,  however,  was  premature ; for  the  last 
of  the  retiring  party,  just  at  this  moment  casting 
a look  behind  him,  suddenly  stopped ; and  hi3 
fixed  attitude  and  steady  gaze  at  once  betrayed 
the  appalling  fact  that  some  neglected  bush  had 
awakened  his  suspicions. 

It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for  the  concealed, 
that  the  warrior  who  manifested  these  fearful  signs 
of  distrust  was  young,  and  had  still  a reputation 
to  acquire.  He  knew  the  importance  of  discre- 
tion and  modesty  in  one  of  his  years,  and  most  of 
all  did  he  dread  the  ridicule  and  contempt  that 
would  certainly  follow  a false  alarm.  Without 
recalling  any  of  his  companions,  therefore,  he 
turned  on  his  own  footsteps,  and  while  the  others 
continued  to  descend  the  river,  he  cautiously  ap- 
proached the  bushes,  on  which  his  looks  were 
still  fastened,  as  by  a charm.  Some  of  the  leaves 
which  were  exposed  to  the  sun  had  drooped  a lit- 
tle, and  this  slight  departure  from  the  usual  nat- 
ural laws  had  caught  the  quick  eyes  of  the  In- 
dian ; for  so  practised  and  acute  do  the  senses 
of  the  savage  become,  more  especially  when  he  ia 
on  the  war-path,  that  trifles  apparently  of  the 


30 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


most  insignificant  sort  often  prove  to  be  clews  to 
lead  him  to  his  object.  The  trifling  nature  of 
the  change  which  had  aroused  the  suspicion  of 
this  youth  was  an  additional  motive  for  not 
acquainting  his  companions  with  his  discovei’y. 
Should  he  really  detect  any  thing,  his  glory  would 
be  the  greater  for  being  unshared ; should  he  not, 
he  might  hope  to  escape  that  derision  which  the 
young  Indian  so  much  dreads.  Then  there  were 
the  dangers  of  an  ambush  and  a surprise,  to  which 
every  warrior  of  the  woods  is  keenly  al-ive,  to  ren- 
der his  approach  slow  and  cautious.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  delay  that  proceeded  from  these 
combined  causes,  the  two  parties  had  descended 
some  fifty  or  sixty  yards  before  the  young  savage 
was  again  near  enough  to  the  bushes  of  the  Path- 
finder to  touch  them  with  his  hand. 

Notwithstanding  their  critical  situation,  the 
whole  party  behind  the  cover  had  their  eyes  fast- 
ened on  the  working  countenance  of  the  young 
Iroquois,  who  was  agitated  by  conflicting  feelings. 
First  came  the  eager  hope  of  obtaining  success, 
where  some  of  the  most  experienced  of  his  tribe 
had  failed,  and  with  it  a degree  of  glory  that  had 
seldom  fallen  to  the  share  of  one  of  his  years,  or 
a brave  on  his  first  war-path;  then  followed 
doubts,  as  the  drooping  leaves  seemed  to  rise 
again,  and  to  revive  in  the  currents  of  air  ; and 
distrust  of  hidden  danger  lent  its  exciting  feeling 
to  keep  the  eloquent  features  in  play.  So  very 
slight,  however,  had  been  the  alteration  produced 
by  the  heat  on  bushes  of  which  the  stems  were 
in  the  water,  that  when  the  Iroquois  actually  laid 
his  hand  on  the  leaves,  he  fancied  that  he  had 
been  deceived.  As  no  man  ever  distrusts  strong- 
ly, without  using  all  convenient  means  of  satisfy- 
ing his  doubts,  however,  the  young  warrior  cau- 
tiously pushed  aside  the  branches,  and  advanced 
a step  within  the  hiding-place,  when  the  forms  of 
the  concealed  party  met  his  gaze,  resembling  so 
many  breathless  statues.  The  low  exclamation, 
the  slight  start,  and  the  glaring  eye,  were  hardly 
seen  and  heard,  before  the  arm  of  Chingachgook 
was  raised,  and  the  tomahawk  of  the  Delaware 
descended  on  the  shaven  head  of  his  foe.  The 
Iroquois  raised  his  hands  frantically,  bounded 
backward,  and  fell  into  the  water  at  a spot  where 
the  current  swept  the  body  away,  the  struggling 
limbs  still  tossing  and  writhing  in  the  agony  of 
death.  The  Delaware  made  a vigorous  but  un- 
successful attempt  to  seize  an  arm,  with  the  hope 
of  securing  the  scalp,  but  the  blood-stained  waters 
whirled  down  the  current,  carrying  with  them 
their  quivering  burden. 

All  this  passed  in  less  than  a minute ; and  the 
events  were  so  sudden  and  unexpected,  that  men 


less  accustomed  than  the  Pathfinder  and  his  as- 
sociates to  forest  warfare  would  have  been  at  a 
loss  how  to  act. 

“ There  is  not  a moment  to  lose,”  said  Jasper, 
tearing  aside  the  bushes,  as  he  spoke  earnestly, 
but  in  a suppressed  voice.  “ Do  as  I do,  Master 
Cap,  if  you  would  save  your  niece  ; and  you,  Ma- 
bel, lie  at  your  length  in  the  canoe.” 

The  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when,  seiz- 
ing the  bow  of  the  light  boat,  he  dragged  it  along 
the  shore,  wading  himself  while  Cap  aided  be- 
hind, keeping  so  near  the  bank  as  to  avoid  being 
seen  by  the  savages  below,  and  striving  to  gain 
the  turn  in  the  river  above  him,  which  would  ef- 
fectually conceal  the  party  from  the  enemy.  The 
Pathfinder’s  canoe  lay  nearest  to  the  bank,  and  it 
was  necessarily  the  last  to  quit  the  shore.  The 
Delaware  leaped  on  the  narrow  strand,  and  plunged 
into  the  forest,  it  being  his  assigned  duty  to  watch 
the  foe  in  that  quarter,  while  Arrowhead  mo- 
tioned to  his  white  companion  to  seize  the  bow 
of  the  boat,  and  to  follow  Jasper.  All  this  was 
the  work  of  an  instant.  But  when  the  Pathfind- 
er reached  the  current  that  was  sweeping  round 
the  turn,  he  felt  a sudden  change  in  the  weight 
he  was  dragging,  and  looking  back  he  found  that 
both  the  Tuscarora  and  his  wife  had  deserted 
him.  The  thought  of  treachery  flashed  upon  his 
mind,  but  there  was  no  time  to  pause ; for  the 
wailing  shout  that  arose  from  the  party  below, 
proclaimed  that  the  body  of  the  young  Iroquois 
had  floated  as  low  as  the  spot  reached  by  his 
friends.  The  report  of  a rifle  followed ; and  then 
the  guide  saw  that  Jasper,  having  doubled  the 
bend  in  the  river,  was  crossing  the  stream,  stand- 
ing erect  in  the  stem  of  the  canoe,  while  Cap  was 
seated  forward,  both  propelling  the  light  boat 
with  vigorous  strokes  of  the  paddles.  A glance, 
a thought,  and  an  expedient,  followed  each  other 
quickly,  in  one  so  trained  in  the  vicissitudes  of 
the  frontier  warfare.  Springing  into  the  stern  of 
his  own  canoe,  he  urged  it  by  a vigorous  shove 
into  the  current,  and  commenced  crossing  the 
stream  himself,  at  a point  so  much  lower  than 
that  of  his  companions,  as  to  offer  his  own  per- 
son for  a target  to  the  enemy,  well  knowing  that 
their  keen  desire  to  secure  a scalp  would  control 
all  other  feelings. 

“ Keep  well  up  the  current,  Jasper,”  shouted 
the  gallant  guide,  as  he  swept  the  water  with  long, 
steady,  vigorous  strokes  of  the  paddle — “ keep 
well  up  the  current,  and  pull  for  the  alder-bushe3 
opposite.  Presarve  the  sergeant’s  daughter  be- 
fore all  things,  and  leave  the  Mingo  knaves  to  the 
Sarpent  and  me.” 

Jasper  flourished  his  paddle,  as  a signal  of  un- 


A SKILFUL  EXPLOIT. 


31 


derstanding,  while  shot  succeeded  shot  in  quick 
succession,  all  now  being  aimed  at  the  solitary  man 
in  the  nearest  canoe. 

“Ay,  empty  your  rifles,  like  simpletons  as 
you  be,”  said  the  Pathfinder,  who  had  acquired  a 
habit  of  speaking  when  alone,  from  passing  so 
much  of  his  time  in  the  solitude  of  the  forest ; 
“ empty  your  rifles,  with  an  onsteady  aim,  and 
give  me  a chance  to  put  yard  upon  yard  of  river 
•atween  us.  I will  not  revile  you,  like  a Dela- 
ware or  a Mohican,  for  my  gifts  are  a white  man’s 
gifts,  and  not  an  Injin’s ; and  boasting  in  battle 
is  no  part  of  a Christian  warrior  ; but  I may  say, 
here,  all  alone  by  myself,  that  you  are  little  bet- 
ter than  so  many  men  from  the  town,  shooting  at 
robins  in  the  orchards ! That  was  well-meant,” 
throwing  back  his  head,  as  a rifle-bullet  cut  a 
lock  of  hair  from  his  temple — “ but  the  lead  that 
misses  by  an  inch  is  as  useless  as  the  lead  that 
never  quits  the  barrel. — Bravely  done,  Jasper! 
the  sergeant’s  sweet  child  must  be  saved,  even  if 
we  go  in  without  our  own  scalps.” 

By  this  time  the  Pathfinder  was  in  the  centre 
of  the  river,  and  almost  abreast  of  his  enemies, 
while  the  other  canoe,  impelled  by  the  vigorous 
arms  of  Cap  and  Jasper,  had  nearly  gained  the  op- 
posite shore  at  the  precise  spot  that  had  been  point- 
ed out  to  them.  The  old  mariner  now  played  his 
part  manfully  ; for  he  was  on  his  proper  element, 
loved  his  niece  sincerely,  had  a proper  regard  for 
his  own  person,  and  was  not  unused  to  fire,  though 
his  experience  certainly  lay  in  a very  different 
species  of  warfare.  A few  strokes  of  the  paddles 
were  given,  and  the  canoe  shot  into  the  bushes, 
Mabel  was  hurried  to  land  by  Jasper,  and,  for  the 
present,  all  three  of  the  fugitives  were  safe. 

Not  so  with  Pathfinder.  His  hardy  self-devo- 
tion had  brought  him  into  a situation  of  unusual 
exposure,  the  hazards  of  which  were  much  in- 
creased, by  the  fact  that  just  as  he  drifted  near- 
est to  the  enemy,  the  party  on  the  shore  rushed 
down  the  bank,  and  joined  their  friends  who 
stood  still  in  the  water.  The  Oswego  was  about 
a cable’s  length  in  width  at  this  point,  and  the  ca- 
noe being  in  the  centre,  the  object  was  only  a 
hundred  yards  from  the  rifles  that  were  constant- 
ly discharged  at  it,  or  at  the  usual  target  distance 
for  that  weapon. 

In  this  extremity  the  steadiness  and  skill  of 
the  Pathfinder  did  him  good  service.  He  knew 
that  his  safety  depended  altogether  on  keeping  in 
motion ; for  a stationary  object,  at  that  distance, 
weald  have  been  hit  nearly  every  shot.  Nor  was 
motion  itself  sufficient ; for,  accustomed  to  kill 
the  bounding  deer,  his  enemies  probably  knew 
how  to  vary  the  line  of  aim  so  as  to  strike  him, 


should  he  conti uue  to  move  in  any  one  direction. 
He  was  consequently  compelled  to  change  the 
course  of  the  canoe,  at  one  moment  shooting 
down  with  the  current,  with  the  swiftness  of  an 
arrow,  and  at  the  next  checking  its  progress 
in  that  direction,  to  glance  athwart  the  stream. 
Luckily  the  Iroquois  could  not  reload  their  piecea 
in  the  water,  and  the  bushes  that  everywhere 
fringed  the  shore  rendered  it  difficult  to  keep  the 
fugitive  in  view  when  on  the  land.  Aided  by  these 
circumstances,  and  having  received  the  fire  of  all 
his  foes,  the  Pathfinder  was  gaining  fast  in  dis- 
tance, both  downward  and  across  the  current,  when 
a new  danger  suddenly,  if  not  unexpectedly,  pre- 
sented itself  by  the  appearance  of  the  party  that 
had  been  left  in  ambush  below,  with  a view  to 
watch  the  river. 

These  were  the  savages  alluded  to  in  the  short 
dialogue  that  has  been  already  related.  They 
were  no  less  fhan  ten  in  number,  and,  understand- 
ing all  the  advantages  of  their  bloody  occupation, 
they  had  posted  themselves  at  a spot  where  the 
water  dashed  among  rocks  and  over  shallows, 
in  a way  to  form  a rapid,  which,  in  the  language 
of  the  country,  is  called  a rift.  The  Pathfinder 
saw  that  if  he  entered  this  rift  he  should  be  com- 
pelled to  approach  a point  where  the  Iroquois 
had  posted  themselves,  for  the  current  was  irre- 
sistible, and  the  rocks  allowed  no  other  safe 
passage,  while  death  or  captivity  would  be  the 
probable  result  of  the  attempt.  All  his  efforts, 
therefore,  were  turned  toward  reaching  the  west- 
ern shore,  the  foe  being  all  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  river.  But  the  exploit  surpassed  human 
power,  and  to  attempt  to  stem  the  stream  would 
at  once  have  so  far  diminished  the  motion  of  the 
canoe  as  to  render  aim  certain.  In  this  exigency 
the  guide  came  to  a decision  with  his  usual  cool 
promptitude,  making  his  preparations  accord- 
ingly. Instead  of  endeavoring  to  gain  the  chan- 
nel, he  steered  toward  the  shallowest  part  of  the 
stream,  on  reaching  which,  he  seized  his  rifle  and 
pack,  leaped  into  the  water,  and  began  to  wade 
from  rock  to  rock,  taking  the  direction  of  the 
western  shore.  The  canoe  whirled  about  in  the 
furious  current,  now  rolling  over  some  slippen 
stone,  now  filling,  and  then  emptying  itself,  until 
it  lodged  on  the  shore,  within  a few  yards  of  the 
spot  where  the  Iroquois  had  posted  themselves. 

In  the  mean  while  the  Pathfinder  was  far  from 
being  out  of  danger ; for  the  first  minute,  admi. 
ration  of  his  promptitude  and  daring,  which  are 
high  virtues  in  the  mind  of  an  Indian,  kept  his 
enemies  motionless;  but  the  desire  of  revenge, 
and  the  cravings  for  the  much-prized  trophy, 
soon  overcame  this  transient  feeling,  and  aroused 


32 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


them  from  their  stupor.  Rifle  flashed  after  rifle, 
and  the  bullets  whistled  around  the  head  of  the 
fugitive,  amid  the  roar  of  the  waters.  Still  he 
proceeded  like  one  who  bore  a charmed  life,  for 
while  his  rude  frontier  garments  were  more  than 
voice  cut,  his  skin  was  not  razed.  ' 

As  the  Pathfinder,  in  several  instances,  was 
compelled  to  wade  in  water  that  rose  nearly  to 
his  arms,  while  he  kept  his  rifle  and  ammunition 
elevated  above  the  raging  current,  the  toil  soon 
fatigued  him,  and  he  was  glad  to  stop  at  a large 
stone,  or  a small  rock,  which  rose  so  high  above 
the  river,  that  its  upper  surface  was  dry.  On 
this  stone  he  placed  liis  powder-horn,  getting 
behind  it  himself,  so  as  to  have  the  advantage  of 
a partial  cover  for  his  body.  The  western  shore 
was  only  fifty  feet  distant,  but  the  quiet,  swift, 
dark  current  that  glanced  through  the  interval, 
sufficiently  showed  that  here  he  would  be  com- 
pelled to  swim. 

A short  cessation  in  the  firing  now  took  place 
on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  who  gathered  about 
the  canoe,  and,  having  found  the  paddles,  were 
preparing  to  cross  the  river. 

“ Pathfinder ! ” called  a voice  from  among  the 
bushes,  at  the  point  nearest  to  the  person  ad- 
dressed, on  the  western  shore. 

“ What  would  you  have,  Jasper  ? ” 

“ Be  of  good  heart — friends  are  at  hand,  and 
not  a single  Mingo  shall  cross  without  suffering 
for  his  boldness.  Had  you  not  better  leave  the 
rifle  on  the  rock,  and  swim  to  us  before  the 
rascals  can  get  afloat  ? ” 

“A  true  woodsman  never  quits  his  piece, 
while  he  has  any  powder  in  his  horn,  or  a bullet 
in  his  pouch.  I have  not  drawn  a trigger  this 
day,  Eau-douce,  and  shouldn’t  relish  the  idea  of 
parting  with  them  riptyles,  without  causing  them 
to  remember  my  name.  A little  water  will  not 
harm  my  legs ; and  I see  that  blackguard,  Ar- 
rowhead, among  the  scamps,  and  wish  to  send 
him  the  wages  he  has  so  faithfully  earned.  You 
have  not  brought  the  sergeant’s  daughter  down 
here  in  a range  with  their  bullets,  I hope,  Jas- 
per ! ” 

“ She  is  safe,  for  the  present  at  least ; though 
all  depends  on  our  keeping  the  river  between  us 
and  the  enemy.  They  must  know  our  weakness, 
now ; and,  should  they  cross,  no  doubt  some  of 
their  party  will  be  left  on  the  other  side.” 

“ This  canoeing  touches  your  gifts  rather  than 
mine,  boy,  though  I will  handle  a paddle  with  the 
best  Mingo  that  ever  struck  a salmon.  If  they 
cross  below  the  rift,  why  can’t  we  cross  in  the 
still  water  above,  and  keep  playing  at  dodge  and 
turn  with  the  wolves  ? ” 


“ Because,  as  I have  said,  they  will  leave  a 
party  on  the  other  shore — and  then,  Pathfinder, 
would  you  expose  Mabel  to  the  rifles  of  the  Iro- 
quois ? ” 

“The  sergeant’s  daughter  must  be  saved,” 
returned  the  guide,  with  calm  energy.  “You  are 
right,  Jasper ; she  has  no  gift  to  authorize  her 
in  offering  her  sweet  face  and  tender  body  to  a 
Mingo  rifle.  What  can  be  done,  then?  They 
must  be  kept  from  crossing  for  an  hour  or  two, 
if  possible,  when  we  must  do  our  best  in  tho 
darkness.” 

“ I agree  with  you,  Pathfinder,  if  it  can  be 
effected ; but  are  we  strong  enough  for  such  a 
purpose  ? ” 

“ The  Lord  is  with  us,  boy — the  Lord  is  with 
us;  and  it  is  onreasonable  to  suppose  that  one 
like  the  sergeant’s  daughter  will  be  altogether 
abandoned  by  Providence,  in  such  a strait. 
There  is  not  a boat  atween  the  falls  and  the 
garrison,  except  these  two  canoes,  to  my  sartain 
knowledge;  and  I think  it  will  go  beyond  red- 
skin gifts  to  cross  in  the  face  of  two  rifles,  like 
these  of  yourn  and  mine.  I will  not  vaunt,  Jas 
per,  but  it  is  well  known  on  all  this  frontier  thal 
Killdeer  seldom  fails.” 

“ Your  skill  is  admitted  by  all,  far  and  near, 
Pathfinder,  but  a rifle  takes  time  to  be  loaded ; 
nor  are  you  on  the  land,  aided  by  a good  cover, 
where  you  can  work  to  the  advantage  you  are 
used  to.  If  you  had  our  canoe,  might  you  not 
pass  to  the  shore  with  a dry  rifle  ? ” 

“Can  an  eagle  fly,  Jasper?”  returned  the 
other,  laughing  in  his  usual  manner,  and  looking 
back  as  he  spoke.  “But  it  would  be  onwise  to 
expose  yourself  on  the  water,  for  them  miscreants 
are  beginning  to  bethink  them  again  of  powder 
and  bullets.” 

“ It  can  be  done  without  any  such  chances, 
faster  Cap  has  gone  up  to  the  canoe,  and  will 
cast  the  branch  of  a tree  into  the  river  to  try  the 
current,  which  sets  from  the  point  above  in  the 
direction  of  your  rock.  See,  there  it  comes 
already;  if  it  float  fairly,  you  must  raise  your 
arm,  when  the  canoe  will  follow.  At  all  events, 
if  the  boat  should  pass  you,  the  eddy  below  will 
bring  it  up,  and  I can  recover  it.” 

While  Jasper  was  still  speaking,  the  floating 
branch  came  in  sight,  and  quickening  its  progress 
with  the  increasing  velocity  of  the  current,  it 
swept  swiftly  down  toward  the  Pathfinder,  who 
seized  it  as  it  was  passing,  and  held  it  in  the  air 
as  a sign  of  success.  Cap  understood  the  signal, 
and  presently  the  canoe  was  launched  into  the 
stream,  with  a caution  and  an  intelligence  that 
the  habits  of  the  mariner  fitted  him  to  observe. 


THE  DELAWARE’S  FATAL  SHOT. 


33 


It  floated  in  the  same  direction  as  the  branch, 
and  in  a minute  was  arrested  by  the  Pathfinder. 

“This  has  been  done  with  a frontier-man’s 
judgment,  Jasper,”  said  the  guide,  laughing; 
“ but  you  have  your  gifts,  which  incline  most  to 
the  water,  as  mine  incline  to  the  woods.  Now 
let  them  Mingo  knaves  cock  their  rifles  and  get 
rests,  for  this  is  the  last  chance  they  are  likely  to 
have  at  a man  without  a cover.” 

“Nay,  shove  the  canoe  toward  the  shore, 
quartering  the  current,  and  throw  yourself  into  it 
as  it  goes  off,”  said  Jasper,  eagerly.  “There  is 
little  use  in  running  any  risk.” 

“ I love  to  stand  up  face  to  face  with  my 
inemies  like  a man,  while  they  set  me  the  exam- 
ple,” returned  the  Pathfinder,  proudly.  “I  am 
not  a red-skin  born,  and  it  is  more  a white  man’s 
gifts  to  fight  openly  than  to  lie  in  ambushment.” 

“ And  Mabel  ? ” 

“ True,  boy,  true — the  sergeant’s  daughter 
must  be  saved;  and,  as  you  say,  foolish  risks 
only  become  boys.  Think  you  that  you  can  catch 
the  canoe  where  you  stand  ? ” 

“ There  can  be  no  doubt,  if  you  give  a vigor- 
ous push.” 

Pathfinder  made  the  necessary  effort,  the  light 
bark  shot  across  the  intervening  space,  and  Jas- 
per seized  it  as  it  came  to  land.  To  secure  the 
canoe  and  to  take  proper  positions  in  the  cover 
occupied  the  friends  but  a moment,  when  they 
shook  hands  cordially,  like  those  who  had  met 
after  a long  separation. 

“Now,  Jasper,  we  shall  see  if  a Mingo  of 
them  all  dare  cross  the  Oswego  in  the  teeth  of 
Killdeer  ! You  are  handier  with  the  oar,  and  the 
paddle,  and  the  sail,  than  with  the  rifle,  perhaps  ; 
but  you  have  a stout  heart  and  a steady  hand, 
and  them  are  things  that  count  in  a fight.” 

“ Mabel  will  find  me  between  her  and  her  ene- 
mies,” said  Jasper,  calmly. 

“Yes,  yes,  the  sergeant’s  daughter  must  be 
protected.  I like  you,  boy,  on  your  own  account, 
but  I like  you  all  the  better  that  you  think  of  one 
so  feeble  at  a moment  when  there  is  need  of  all 
your  manhood.  See,  Jasper,  three  of  the  knaves 
are  actually  getting  into  the  canoe  ! They  must 
believe  we  have  fled,  or  they  would  not  surely 
ventur’  so  much,  directly  in  the  very  face  of  Kill- 
deer ! ” 

Sure  enough,  the  Iroquois  did  appear  bent  on 
venturing  across  the  stream,  for,  as  the  Pathfinder 
and  his  friends  now  kept  their  persons  strictly 
concealed,  their  eneimes  began  to  think  that  the 
latter  had  taken  to  flight.  The  course  was  that 
which  most  white  men  would  have  followed ; 
but  Mabel  was  under  the  care  of  those  who  were 
29  3 


much  too  well  skilled  in  forest  warfare  to  neglect  to 
defend  the  only  pass  that  in  truth  now  offered 
even  a probable  chance  for  protection. 

As  the  Pathfinder  had  said,  three  warriors 
were  in  the  canoe,  two  holding  their  rifles  at  a 
poise,  kneeling  in  readiness  to  aim  the  deadly 
weapons ; the  other  standing  erect  in  the  stern  to 
wield  the  paddle.  In  this  manner  they  left  the 
shore,  having  had  the  precaution  to  haul  the  ca- 
noe, previously  to  entering  it,  so  far  up  the  stream, 
as  to  get  into  the  comparatively  still  water  above 
the  rift.  It  was  apparent,  at  a glance,  that  the 
savage  who  guided  the  boat  was  skilled  in  the  art, 
for  the  long,  steady  sweep  of  his  paddle  sent  the 
light  bark  over  the  glassy  surface  of  the  tranquil 
river  as  if  it  were  a feather  floating  in  air. 

“Shall  I fire?”  demanded  Jasper,  in  a whis- 
per, trembling  with  eagerness  to  engage. 

“ Not  yet,  boy ; not  yet.  There  are  but  three 
of  them,  and  if  Master  Cap,  yonder,  knows  how 
to  use  the  pop-guns  he  carries  in  his  belt,  we  may 
even  let  them  land,  and  then  we  shall  recover  the 
canoe.” 

“But  Mabel? — ” 

“No  fear  for  the  sergeant’s  daughter.  She  is 
safe  in  the  hollow  stump,  you  say,  with  the  open- 
ing judgmatically  hid  by  the  brambles.  If  what 
you  tell  me  of  the  manner  in  which  you  concealed 
the  trail  be  true,  the  sweet-one  might  lie  there  a 
month,  and  laugh  at  the  Mingoes.” 

“We  are  never  certain — I wish  we  had 
brought  her  nearer  to  our  own  cover ! ” 

“ What  for,  Eau-douce  ? — To  place  her  pret- 
ty little  head  and  leaping  heart  among  flying  bul- 
lets. No — no — she  is  better  where  she  is,  be- 
cause she  is  safer.” 

“ We  are  never  certain — we  thought  ourselves 
safe  behind  the  bushes,  yet  you  saw  that  we  were 
discovered.” 

“ And  the  Mingo  imp  paid  for  his  cur’osity, 
as  them  knaves  are  about  to  do — ” 

At  that  instant  the  sharp  report  of  a rifle  was 
heard,  when  the  Indian  in  the  stern  of  the  canoe 
leaped  high  into  the  air,  and  fell  into  the  water 
holding  the  paddle  in  his  hand.  A small  wreath 
of  smoke  floated  out  from  among  the  bushes  of 
the  eastern  shore,  and  was  soon  absorbed  by  the 
atmosphere. 

“That  is  the  Sarpent  hissing!”  exclaimed 
the  Pathfinder,  exultingly.  “A  bolder  or  truer 
heart  never  beat  in  the  breast  of  a Delaware.  I 
am  sorry  that  he  interfered,  but  he  could  not 
have  known  our  condition — he  could  not  have 
known  our  condition.” 

The  canoe  no  sooner  lost  its  guide,  than  it 
floated  with  the  stream,  and  was  soon  sucked  into 


34 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


the  rapids  of  the  rift.  Perfectly  helpless,  the  two 
remaining  savages  gazed  wildly  about  them,  but 
could  offer  no  resistance  to  the  power  of  the  ele- 
ment. It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for  Chingach- 
gook  that  the  attention  of  most  of  the  Iroquois 
was  intently  given  to  the  situation  of  those  in  the 
boat,  else  would  his  escape  have  been  to  the  last 
degree  difficult,  if  not  totally  impracticable.  But 
not  a foe  moved,  except  to  conceal  his  person  be- 
hind some  cover,  and  every  eye  was  riveted  on 
the  two  remaining  adventurers.  In  less  time 
than  has  been  necessary  to  record  these  occur- 
rences, the  canoe  was  whirling  and  tossing  in  the 
rift,  while  both  the  savages  had  stretched  them- 
selves in  its  bottom,  as  the  only  means  of  pre- 
serving the  equilibrium.  This  natural  expedient 
soon  failed  them ; for,  striking  a rock,  the  light 
craft  rolled  over,  and  the  two  warriors  were 
thrown  into  the  river.  The  water  is  seldom  deep 
on  a rift,  except  in  particular  places  where  it  may 
have  worn  channels,  and  there  was  little  to  be 
apprehended  from  drowning,  though  their  arms 
were  lost,  and  the  two  savages  were  fain  to  make 
the  best  of  their  way  to  the  friendly  shore,  swim- 
ming and  wading  as  circumstances  required. 
The  canoe  itself  lodged  on  a rock,  in  the  centre 
of  the  stream,  where,  for  the  moment,  it  became 
useless  to  both  parties. 

“Now  is  our  time,  Pathfinder,”  cried  Jasper, 
as  the  two  Iroquois  exposed  most  of  their  persons 
while  wading  in  the  shallowest  part  of  the  rapids 
— “ The  fellow  up-stream  is  mine,  and  you  can 
take  the  lower.” 

So  excited  had  the  young  man  become,  by  all 
the  incidents  of  the  stirring  scene,  that  the  bul- 
let sped  from  his  rifle  as  he  spoke,  but  uselessly, 
as  it  would  seem,  for  both  the  fugitives  tossed 
their  arms  in  disdain.  The  Pathfinder  did  not 
fire. 

“ No — no — Eau-douce,”  he  answered,  “ I do  not 
seek  blood  without  a cause,  and  my  bullet  is  well 
leathered  and  carefully  driven  down,  for  the  time 
of  need.  I love  no  Mingo,  as  is  just,  seeing  how 
much  I have  consorted  with  the  Delawares,  who 
are  their  mortal  and  nat’ral  enemies ; but  I pull  no 
trigger  on  one  of  the  miscreants  unless  it  be  plain 
that  his  death  will  lead  to  some  good  ind.  The 
deer  never  leaped  that  fell  by  my  hand  wantonly. 
By  living  much  alone  with  God  in  the  wilderness, 
i man  gets  to  feel  the  justice  of  such  opinions. 
One  life  is  sufficient  for  our  present  wants,  and 
there  may  yet  be  occasion  to  use  Killdeer  in  be- 
half of  the  Sarpent,  who  has  done  an  untimor- 
some  thing  to  let  them  rampant  devils  so  plainly 
know*  that  he  is  in  their  neighborhood.  As  I’m 
a wicked  sinner,  there  is  one  of  them  prowling 


along  the  bank,  this  very  moment,  like  one  of 
the  boys  of  the  garrison  skulking  behind  a fall- 
en tree  to  get  a shot  at  a squirrel ! ” 

As  the  Pathfinder  pointed  with  his  finger, 
while  speaking,  the  quick  eye  of  Jasper  soon 
caught  the  object  toward  which  it  was  directed. 
One  of  the  young  warriors  of  the  enemy,  burning 
with  a desire  to  distinguish  himself,  had  stolen 
from  his  party  toward  the  cover  in  which  Chin- 
gachgook  had  concealed  himself ; and  as  the  la* 
ter  was  deceived  by  the  apparent  apathy  of  his 
foes,  as  well  as  engaged  in  some  further  prepara- 
tions of  his  own,  he  had  evidently  obtained  a posi- 
tion where  he  got  a sight  of  the  Delaware.  This  cir- 
cumstance was  apparent  by  the  arrangements  the 
Iroquois  was  making  to  fire,  for  Chingachgook 
himself  was  not  visible  from  the  western  side  of 
the  river.  The  rift  was  at  a bend  in  the  Oswego, 
and  the  sweep  of  the  eastern  shore  formed  a 
curve  so  wide  that  Chingachgook  was  quite  near 
to  his  enemies  in  a straight  direction,  though 
separated  by  several  hundred  feet  on  the  land, 
owing  to  which  fact  air  lines  brought  both  par- 
ties nearly  equidistant  from  the  Pathfinder  and 
Jasper.  The  general  width  of  the  river  being  a 
little  less  than  two  hundred  yards,  such  neces- 
sarily was  about  the  distance  detween  his  two  ob- 
servers and  the  skulking  Iroquois. 

“ The  Sarpent  must  be  thereabouts,”  observed 
Pathfinder,  who  never  turned  his  eye  for  an  in- 
stant from  the  young  warrior ; “ and  yet  he  must 
be  strangely  off  his  guard  to  allow  a Mingo  devil 
to  get  his  stand  so  near,  with  manifest  signs  of 
bloodshed  in  his  heart.” 

“ See,”  interrupted  Jasper — “ there  is  the  body 
of  the  Indian  the  Delaware  shot ! It  has  drifted 
on  a rock,  and  the  current  has  forced  the  head 
and  face  above  the  water.” 

“ Quite  likely,  boy ; quite  likely.  Human  na. 
tur’  is  little  better  than  a log  of  drift-wood,  when 
the  life  that  was  breathed  into  its  nostrils  has  de- 
parted. That  Iroquois  will  never  harm  any  one 
more  ; but  yonder  skulking  savage  is  bent 
on  taking  the  scalp  of  my  best  and  most  tried 
friend — ” 

The  Pathfinder  suddenly  interrupted  himself, 
by  raising  his  rifle,  a weapon  of  unusual  length, 
with  admirable  precision,  and  firing  the  instant  it 
got  its  level.  The  Iroquois  on  the  opposite  shore 
was  in  the  act  of  aiming  when  the  fatal  messenger 
from  Killdeer  arrived.  His  rifle  was  discharged, 
it  is  true,  but  it  was  with  the  muzzle  in  the  air, 
while  the  man  himself  plunged  into  the  bushes, 
quite  evidently  hurt,  if  not  slain. 

“ The  skulking  riptyle  brought  it  on  himself,” 
muttered  Pathfinder,  sternly,  as,  dropping  tha 


CHINGACHGOOK’S  STRATAGEM. 


35 


breecli  of  his  rifle,  he  carefully  commenced  re- 
loading it.  “ Chingachgook  and  I have  consorted 
together  since  we  were  boys,  and  have  fou’t  in 
company,  on  the  Horican,  the  Mohawk,  the  On- 
tario, and  all  the  other  bloody  passes  atween  the 
country  of  the  Frenchers  and  our  own ; and  did 
the  foolish  knave  believe  that  I would  stand  by 
®!id  see  my  best  friend  cut  off  in  an  ambush- 
ment ! ” 

“We  have  served  the  Serpent  as  good  a turn 
as  he  served  us.  Those  rascals  are  troubled, 
Pathfinder,  and  are  falling  back  into  their  covers, 
since  they  find  we  can  reach  them  across  the 
river.” 

“ The  shot  is  no  ' great  matter,  Jasper — no 
great  matter.  Ask  any  of  the  60th,  and  they  can 
tell  you  what  Killdeer  can  do,  and  has  done,  and 
that  too  when  the  bullets  were  flying  about  our 
heads  like  hailstones.  No — no — this  is  no  great 
matter,  and  the  onthoughtful  vagabond  drew  it 
down  on  himself.” 

“ Is  that  a dog,  or  a deer,  swimming  toward 
this  shore  ? ” 

Pathfinder  started,  for,  sure  enough,  an  ob- 
ject was  crossing  the  stream  above  the  rift,  tow- 
ard which,  however,  it  was  gradually  setting  by 
the  force  of  the  current.  A second  look  satisfied 
both  the  observers  that  it  was  a man,  and  an  In- 
dian, though  so  concealed  as  at  first  to  render  it 
doubtful.  Some  stratagem  was  apprehended,  and 
the  closest  attention  was  given  to  the  movements 
of  the  jstranger. 

“ He  is  pushing  something  before  him,  as  he 
swims,  and  his  head  resembles  a drifting  bush  ! ” 
said  Jasper. 

“ ’Tis  Injin  deviltry,  boy ; but  Christian  hon- 
esty shall  sarcumvent  his  arts.” 

As  the  man  slowly  approached,  the  observers 
began  to  doubt  the  accuracy  of  their  first  im- 
pressions, and  it  was  only  when  two-thirds  of  the 
stream  were  passed,  that  the  truth  was  really 
known. 

“ The  Big  Sarpent,  as  I live ! ” exclaimed 
Pathfinder,  looking  at  his  companion,  and  laugh- 
ing until  the  tears  came  into  his  eyes  with  pure 
delight  at  the  success  of  the  artifice.  “ He  has 
tied  bushes  to  his  head  so  as  to  hide  it,  put  the 
horn  on  top,  lashed  the  rifle  to  that  bit  of  log  he 
is  pushing  before  him,  and  has  come  over  to  join 
his  friends.  Ah’s  me ! The  times  and  times  that 
he  and  I have  cut  such  pranks,  right  in  the  teeth 
of  Mingoes  raging  for  our  blood,  in  the  great 
thoroughfare  round  and  about  Ty ! ” 

“ It  may  not  be  the  Serpent,  after  all,  Path- 
finder— I can  see  no  feature  that  I remember.” 

“ Featur’ ! Who  looks  for  featur’e  in  an  In- 


jin ? — No — no— boy  ; ’tis  the  paint  that  speaks, 
— and  none  but  a Delaware  would  wear  that 
paint.  Them  are  his  oolors,  Jasper,  just  as  your 
craft  on  the  lake  wears  St.  George’s  cross,  and 
the  Frenchers  set  their  table-cloths  to  fluttering 
in  the  wind,  with  all  the  stains  of  fish-bones  and 
venison-steaks  upon  them.  Now,  you  see  the 
eye,  lad,  and  it  is  the  eye  of  a chief.  But,  Eau- 
douce,  fierce  as  it  is  in  battle,  and  glassy  as  it 
looks  from  among  the  leaves — ” here  the  Path- 
finder laid  his  finger  lightly  but  impressively  on 
his  companion’s  arm — “ I have  seen  it  shed  tears 
like  rain.  There  is  a soul  and  a heart  under  that 
red  skin,  rely  on  it ; although  they  are  a soul  and 
a heart  with  gifts  different  from  our  own.” 

“ No  one,  who  is  acquainted  with  the  chief, 
ever  doubted  that.” 

“ I know  it,”  returned  the  other,  proudly,  “ for 
I have  consorted  with  him  in  sorrow  and  in  joy ; 
in  one  I have  found  him  a man,  however  stricken ; 
in  the  other,  a chief  who  knows  that  the  women 
of  his  tribe  are  the  most  seemly  in  light  merri- 
ment. But  hist ! It  is  too  much  like  the  people 
of  the  settlements  to  pour  soft  speeches  into  an- 
other’s ear;  and  the  Sarpent  has  keen  senses. 
He  knows  I love  him,  and  that  I speak  well  of 
him  behind  his  back ; but  a Delaware  has  mod- 
esty in  his  inmost  natur’,  though  he  will  brag  like 
a sinner  when  tied  to  a stake.” 

The  Serpent  now  reached  the  shore,  directly 
in  the  front  of  his  two  comrades,  with  whose  pre- 
cise position  he  must  have  been  acquainted  be- 
fore leaving  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  and  ris- 
ing from  the  water  he  shook  himself  like  a dog 
and  made  the  usual  exclamation — 

“ Hugh ! ” 


CHAPTER  VI. 

‘ These,  as  they  change,  Almighty  Father,  these 
Are  but  the  varied  God.” 

Thomson. 

As  the  chief  landed  he  was  met  by  the  Path- 
finder, who  addressed  him  in  the  language  of  the 
warrior’s  people. 

“Was  it  well  done,  Chingachgook,”  he  said, 
reproachfully,  “ to  ambush  a dozen  Mingoes  alone ! 
Killdeer  seldom  fails  me,  it  is  true ; but  the  Os- 
wego makes  a distant  mark,  and  that  miscreant 
showed  little  more  than  his  head  and  shoulders 
above  the  bushes,  and  an  onpractysed  hand  and 
eye  might  have  failed.  You  should  have  thought 
of  this,  chief ; you  should  have  thought  of  this  ! ” 

“ The  Great  Serpent  is  a Mohican  warrior — k6 
sees  only  his  enemies,  when  he  is  on  the  war-path, 


36 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


and  his  fathers  have  struck  the  Mingoes  from  be- 
hind, since  the  waters  began  to  run ! ” 

“ I know  your  gifts — I know  your  gifts,  and 
respect  them,  too.  No  man  shall  hear  me  com- 
plain that  a red-skin  obsarved  red-skin  natur’, 
but  prudence  as  much  becomes  a warrior  as 
valor ; and  had  not  the  Iroquois  devils  been  look- 
ing after  their  friends  who  were  in  the  water,  a 
hot  trail  they  would  have  made  of  yourn  I ” 

“ What  is  the  Delaware  about  to  do  ? ” ex- 
claimed Jasper,  who  observed,  at  that  moment, 
that  the  chief  suddenly  left  the  Pathfinder,  and 
advanced  to  the  water’s  edge,  apparently  with  an 
intention  of  again  entering  the  river.  “ He  will 
not  be  so  mad  as  to  return  to  the  other  shore  for 
any  trifle  he  may  have  forgotten ! ” 

“ Not  he — not  he ; he  is  as  prudent  as  he  is 
brave,  in  the  main,  though  so  forgetful  of  himself 
in  the  late  ambushment.  Harkee,  Jasper,”  lead- 
ing the  other  a little  aside,  just  as  they  heard  the 
Indian’s  plunge  into  the  water — “harkee,  lad; 
Chingachgook  is  not  a Christian  white  man,  like 
ourselves,  but  a Mohican  chief,  who  has  his  gifts 
and  traditions  to  tell  him  what  he  ought  to  do ; 
and  he  who  consorts  with  them  that  are  not 
strictly  and  altogether  of  his  own  kind,  had  bet- 
ter leave  Natur’  and  use  to  govern  his  comrades. 
A king’s  soldier  will  swear,  and  he  will  drink,  and 
it  is  of  little  use  to  try  to  prevent  him ; a gentle- 
man likes  his  delicacies,  and  a lady  her  feathers, 
and  it  does  not  avail  much  to  struggle  ag’in 
either;  whereas  an  Indian’s  natur’  and  gifts  are 
much  stronger  than  these,  and  no  doubt  were  be- 
stowed by  the  Lord  for  wise  ends,  though  neither 
you  nor  me  can  follow  them  in  all  their  wind- 
ings.” 

“ What  does  this  mean  ? — See,  the  DelaAvare 
is  swimming  toward  the  body  that  is  lodged  on 
the  rock.  Why  does  he  risk  this  ? ” 

“ For  honor,  and  glory,  and  renown,  as  great 
gentlemen  quit  their  quiet  homes,  beyond  seas, 
where,  as  they  tell  me,  heart  has  nothing  left  to 
wish  for,  that  is,  such  hearts  as  can  be  satisfied 
in  a clearin’,  to  come  hither  to  live  on  game  and 
fight  the  Frenchers.” 

“ I understand  you — your  friend  has  gone  to 
secure  the  scalp.” 

“ ’Tis  his  gift,  and  let  him  enjoy  it.  We  are 
white  men,  and  cannot  mangle  a dead  enemy ; 
but  it  is  honor  in  the  eyes  of  a red-skin  to  do  so. 
It  may  seem  singular  to  you,  Eau-douce,  but  I’ve 
known  white  men  of  great  name  and  character 
manifest  as  remarkable  ideas  consarning  their 
honor,  I have.” 

“ A savage  will  be  a savage,  Pathfinder,  let 
him  keep  what  company  he  may.” 


“ It  is  well  for  us  to  say  so,  lad  ; but,  as  I teli 
you,  white  honor  will  not  always  conform  to  rea- 
son, or  to  the  will  of  God.  I have  passed  days 
thinking  of  them  matters,  out  in  the  silent  woods, 
and  I have  come  to  the  opinion,  boy,  that,  as 
Providence  rules  all  things,  no  gift  is  bestowed 
without  some  wise  and  reasonable  end.  If  Injina 
are  of  no  use,  Injins  would  not  have  been  cre- 
ated ; and,  I do  suppose,  could  one  dive  to  the 
bottom  of  things,  it  would  be  found  that  even  the 
Mingo  tribes  were  produced  for  some  rational 
and  proper  purpose,  though  I confess  it  surpasses 
my  means  to  say  what  it  is.” 

“ The  Serpent  greatly  exposes  himself  to  the 
enemy,  in  order  to  get  his»scalp  ! This  may  lose 
us  the  day.” 

“ Not  in  his  mind,  Jasper.  That  one  scalp 
has  more  honor  in  it,  according  to  the  Sarpent’s 
notions  of  warfare,  than  a field  covered  with 
slain,  that  kept  the  hair  on  their  heads.  Now, 
there  was  the  fine  young  captain  of  the  60th  that 
threw  away  his  life  in  trying  to  bring  off  a three- 
pounder  from  among  the  Frenchers  in  the  last 
scrimmage  we  had;  he  thought  he  was  sarving 
honor  ; and  I have  known  a young  ensign  wrap 
himself  up  in  his  colors,  and  go  to  sleep  in  his 
blood,  fancying  that  he  was  lying  on  something 
softer  even  than  buffalo-skins  ! ” 

“ Yes,  yes  ; one  can  understand  the  merit  of 
not  hauling  down  an  ensign.” 

“And  these  are  Chingachgook’s  colors — he 
will  keep  them  to  show  his  children’s  children — ” 
Here  the  Pathfinder  interrupted  himself,  shook 
his  head  in  melancholy,  and  slowly  added : “ Ah’s 
me ! no  shoot  of  the  old  Mohican  stem  remains ! 
He  has  no  children  to  delight  with  his  trophies  ; 
no  tribe  to  honor  by  his  deeds ; he  is  a lone  man 
in  this  world,  and  yet  he  stands  true  to  his  train- 
ing and  his  gifts ! There  is  something  honest 
and  respectable  in  these,  you  must  allow,  Jasper  ; 
yes,  there  is  something  decent  in  that.” 

Here  a great  outcry  from  among  the  Iroquois 
was  succeeded  by  the  quick  reports  of  their  rifles ; 
and  so  eager  did  the  enemy  become  in.  the  desire 
to  drive  the  Delaware  back  fron#  his  victim,  that 
a dozen  rushed  into  the  river,  several  of  whom 
even  advanced  near  a hundred  feet  into  the  foam- 
ing current,  as  if  they  actually  meditated  a serious 
sortie.  But  Chingachgook  continued  as  unmoved, 
as  he  remained  unhurt  by  the  missiles,  accom- 
plishing his  task  with  the  dexterity  of  long  habit. 
Flourishing  his  reeking  trophy,  he  gave  the  war- 
whoop  in  its  most  frightful  intonations,  and,  for  a 
minute,  the  arches  of  the  silent  woods,  and  the 
deep  vista  formed  by  the  course  of  the  river 
echoed  with  cries  so  terrific  that  Mabel  bowed 


IN  COUNCIL. 


37 


her  head  in  irrepressible  fear,  while  hei  uncle  for 
a single  instant  actually  meditated  flight. 

“This  surpasses  all  I have  heard  from  the 
wretches,”  Jasper  exclaimed,  stopping  his  ears, 
equally  in  horror  and  disgust. 

“ ’Tis  their  music,  boy  ; their  drum  and  fife  ; 
their  trumpets  and  clarions.  No  doubt  they  love 
them  sounds,  for  they  stir  up  in  them  fierce  feel- 
in’s  and  a desire  for  blood,”  returned  the  Path- 
finder, totally  unmoved.  “ I thought  them  rather 
frightful  when  a mere  youngster,  but  they  have 
got  to  be  like  the  whistle  of  the  whippoorwill, 
or  the  song  of  the  cat-bird,  in  my  ear  now.  All 
the  screeching  riptyles  that  could  stand  atwecn 
the  falls  and  the  garrison,  would  have  no  effect 
on  my  narves  at  this  time  of  day.  I say  it  not  in 
joasting,  Jasper,  for  the  man  that  lets  in  coward- 
ice through  the  ears,  must  have  but  a weak  heart, 
at  the  best ; sounds  and  outcries  being  more  in- 
tended to  alarm  women  and  children  than  such 
as  scout  the  forest  and  face  the  foe.  I hope  the 
Sarpent  is  now  satisfied,  for  here  he  comes  with 
the  scalp  at  his  belt.” 

Jasper  turned  away  his  head,  as  the  Delaware 
rose  from  the  water,  in  pure  disgust  at  his  late 
errand,  but  the  Pathfinder  regarded  his  friend 
with  the  philosophical  coolness  of  one  who  had 
made  up  his  mind  to  be  indifferent  to  things  he 
deemed  immaterial.  As  the  Delaware  passed 
deeper  into  the  bushes,  with  a view  to  wring  his 
trifling  calico  dress,  and  to  prepare  his  rifle  for 
service,  he  gave  one  glance  of  triumph  at  his  com- 
panions, and  then  all  emotion  connected  with  the 
?ecent  exploit  seemed  to  cease. 

“ Jasper,”  resumed  the  guide — “ step  down 
to  the  station  of  Master  Cap  and  ask  him  to  join 
us  : we  have  little  time  for  a council,  and  yet  our 
plans  must  be  laid  quickly,  for  it  will  not  be  long 
before  them  Mingoes  will  be  plotting  our  ruin.” 

The  young  man  complied,  and  in  a few  min- 
utes the  four  were  assembled  near  the  shore,  com- 
pletely concealed  from  the  view  of  their  enemies, 
while  they  kept  a vigilant  watch  over  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  latter,  in  order  to  consult  on  their 
own  future  movements. 

. By  this  time  the  day  had  so  far  advanced  as 
to  leave  but  a few  minutes  between  the  passing 
light  and  an  obscurity  that  promised  to  be  even 
deeper  than  common.  The  sun  had  already  set, 
and  the  twilight  of  a low  latitude  would  soon  pass 
into  the  darkness  of  deep  night.  Most  of  the 
hopes  of  the  party  rested  on  this  favorable  cir- 
cumstance, though  it  was  not  without  its  dangers 
tlso,  as  the  very  obscurity  which  would  favor 
their  escape  would  be  as  likely  to  conceal  the 
movements  of  their  wily  enemies. 


“ The  moment  has  come,  men,”  Pathfinder 
commenced,  “ when  our  plans  must  be  coolly 
laid,  in  order  that  we  may  act  together,  and  with 
a right  understanding  of  our  errand  and  gifts. 
In  an  hour’s  time,  these  woods  will  be  as  dark  aa 
midnight,  and,  if  we  are  ever  to  gain  the  garrison* 
it  must  be  done  under  favor  of  this  advantage 
What  say  you,  Master  Cap  ? For,  though  none 
of  the  most  exper’enced  in  combats  and  retreats 
in  the  woods,  your  years  entitle  you  to  speak 
first  in  a matter"like  this,  and  in  a council.” 

“ And  my  near  relationship  to  Mabel,  Path- 
finder, ought  to  count  for  something — ” 

“ I don’t  know  that — I don’t  know  that.  Re- 
gard is  regard,  and  liking  liking,  whether  it  be  a 
gift  of  Natur’,  or  come  from  one’s  own  judgment 
and  inclinations.  I will  say  nothing  for  the  Sar- 
pent, who  is  past  placing  his  mind  on  the  women  ; 
but  as  for  Jasper  and  myself,  we  are  as  ready  to 
stand  atween  the  sergeant’s  daughter  and  the 
Mingoes,  as  her  own  brave  father  himself  could  be. 
— Do  I say  more  than  the  truth,  lad  ? ” 

“ Mabel  may  count  on  me  to  the  last  drop  of 
my  blood,”  said  Jasper,  speaking  low,  but  with 
intense  feeling. 

“Well,  well,”  rejoined  the  uncle,  “we  will 
not  discuss  this  matter,  as  all  seem  willing  to 
serve  the  girl,  and  deeds  are  better  than  words. 
In  my  judgment,  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  go  on 
board  the  canoe,  when  it  gets  to  be  so  dark  the 
enemy’s  lookouts  can’t  see  us,  and  run  for  the 
haven  as  wind  and  tide  will  allow.” 

“ That  is  easily  said,  but  not  so  easily  done,” 
returned  the  guide.  “We  shall  be  more  exposed 
in  the  river  than  by  following  the  woods,  and  then 
there  is  the  Oswego  rift  below  us,  and  I am  far 
from  sartain  that  Jasper  himself  can  carry  a boat 
safely  through  it,  in  the  dark. — What  say  you,  lad, 
as  to  your  own  skill  and  judgment  ? ” 

“ I am  of  Master  Cap’s  opinion  about  using  the 
canoe.  Mabel  is  too  tender  to  walk  through 
swamps,  and  among  roots  of  trees,  in  such  a night 
as  this  premises  to  be,  and  then  I always  feel  my- 
self stouter  of  heart,  and  truer  of  eye,  when  afloat 
than  when  ashore.” 

“ Stout  of  heart  you  always  be,  lad,  and  I 
think  tolerably  true  of  eye  for  one  who  has  lived 
so  much  in  broad  sunshine,  and  so  little  in  the 
woods.  Ah’s  me  ! the  Ontario  has  no  trees,  or  it 
would  be  a plain  to  delight  a hunter’s  heart ! — A3 
to  your  opinion,  friends,  there  is  much  for,  and 
much  ag’inst  it.  For  it,  it  may  be  said  water 
leaves  no  trail — ” 

“ What  do  you  call  the  wake  ? ” interrupted 
the  pertinacious  and  dogmatical  Cap. 

“ Anan  ? ” 


38 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Go  on,”  said  Jasper  ; “ Master  Cap  thinks  he 
is  on  the  ocean — water  leaves  no  trail — ” 

“ It  leaves  none,  Eau-douce,  hereaway,  though 
I do  not  pretend  to  say  what  it  may  leave  on  the 
sea.  Then  a canoe  is  both  swift  and  easy,  when 
it  floats  with  the  current,  and  the  tender  limbs  of 
the  sergeant’s  daughter  will  be  favored  by  its  mo- 
tion. But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  river  will  have 
no  cover  but  the  clouds  in  the  heavens,  the  rift  is 
a ticklish  thing  for  boats  to  venture  into,  even  by 
daylight,  and  it  is  six  fairly-measured  miles,  by  wa- 
ter, from  this  spot  to  the  garrison.  Then  a trail 
on  land  is  not  easy  to  be  found  in  the  dark.  I 
am  troubled,  Jasper,  to  say  which  way  we  ought 
to  counsel  and  advise.” 

“ If  the  Serpent  and  myself  could  swim  into 
the  river,  and  bring  off  the  other  canoe,”  the 
young  sailor  replied,  “ it  would  seem  to  me  that 
our  safest  course  would  be  the  water.” 

“If,  indeed  ! and  yet  it  might  easily  be  done, 
as  soon  as  it  is  a little  darker.  Well,  well,  con- 
sidering the  sergeant’s  daughter,  and  her  gifts,  I 
am  not  sartain  it  will  not  be  the  best.  Though, 
were  we  only  a party  of  men,  it  would  be  like  a 
hunt  to  the  lusty  and  brave,  to  play  at  hide-and- 
seek  with  yonder  miscreants,  on  the  other  shore. 
Jasper,”  continued  the  guide,  into  whose  character 
there  entered  no  ingredient  that  belonged  to  vain 
display  or  theatrical  effect,  “ will  you  undertake  to 
bring  in  the  canoe  ? ” 

“ I will  undertake  any  thing  that  will  serve  and 
protect  Mabel,  Pathfinder.” 

“ That  is  an  upright  feeling,  and  I suppose  it 
is  natur’.  The  Sarpent,  who  is  nearly  naked  al- 
ready, can  help  you,  and  this  will  be  cutting  off 
one  of  the  means  of  them  devils  to  work  their 
harm.” 

This  material  point  being  settled,  the  dfferent 
members  of  the  party  prepared  themselves  to  put 
the  project  into  execution.  The  shades  of  even- 
ing fell  fast  upon  the  forest,  and  by  the  time  all 
was  ready  for  the  attempt,  it  wras  found  impos- 
sible to  discern  objects  on  the  opposite  shore. 
Time  now  pressed,  for  Indian  cunning  could  de- 
vise so  many  expedients  for  passing  so  narrow  a 
stream,  that  the  Pathfinder  was  getting  impa- 
tient to  quit  the  spot.  While  Jasper  and  his 
companion  entered  the  river,  armed  with  nothing 
but  their  knives  and  the  Delaware’s  tomahawk, 
observing  the  greatest  caution  not  to  betray  their 
movements,  the  guide  brought  Mabel  from  her 
place  of  concealment,  and,  bidding  her  and  Cap 
proceed  along  the  shore  to  the  foot  of  the  rap- 
ids, he  got  into  the  canoe  that  remained  in  his 
possession,  in  order  to  carry  it  to  the  same 
place. 


Th.s  was  easily  effected.  The  canoe  was  laid 
against  the  bank,  and  Mabel  and  her  uncle  entered 
it,  taking  their  seats  as  usual ; while  the  Path- 
finder, erect  in  the  stern,  held  by  a bush,  in  order 
to  prevent  the  swift  stream  from  sweeping  them 
down  its  current.  Several  minutes  of  intense 
and  breathless  expectation  .followed,  while  they 
awaited  the  result  of  the  bold  attempt  of  their 
comrades. 

It  will  be  understood  that  the  two  adventur- 
ers were  compelled  to  swim  across  a deep  and 
rapid  channel,  ere  they  could  reach  a part  of  the 
rift  that  admitted  of  wading.  This  portion  of  the 
enterprise  was  soon  effected  ; and  Jasper  and  the 
Serpent  struck  the  bottom,  side  by  side,  at  the 
same  instant.  Having  secured  firm  footing,  they 
took  hold  of  each  other’s  hands,  and  waded  slow- 
ly and  with  extreme  caution,  in  the  supposed 
direction  of  the  canoe.  But  the  darkness  was 
already  so  deep,  that  they  soon  ascertained  they 
were  to  be  but  little  aided  by  the  sense  of  sight, 
and  that  their  search  must  be  conducted  on  that 
species  of  instinct  which  enables  the  woodsman 
to  find  his  way,  when  the  sun  is  hid,  no  stars 
appear,  and  all  would  seem  chaos  to  one  less 
accustomed  to  the  mazes  of  the  forest.  Under 
these  circumstances,  Jasper  submitted  to  be 
guided  by  the  Delaware,  whose  habits  best  fitted 
him  to  take  the  lead.  Still  it  was  no  easy  mat- 
ter to  wade  amid  the  roaring  element  at  that 
hour,  and  retain  a clear  recollection  of  the  locali- 
ties. By  the  time  they  believed  themselves  to 
be  in  the  centre  of  the  stream,  the  two  shores 
were  discernible  merely  by  masses  of  obscurity 
denser  than  common,  the  outlines  against  the 
clouds  being  barely  distinguishable  by  the  ragged 
tops  of  the  trees.  Once  or  twice  the  wanderers 
altered  their  course,  in  consequence  of  unex- 
pectedly stepping  into  deep  water,  for  they  knew 
that  the  boat  had  lodged  on  the  shallowest  part 
of  the  rift.  In  short,  with  this  fact  for  their 
* compass,  Jasper  and  his  companion  wandered 
about  in  the  water  for  near  a quarter  of  an  hour, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  period,  which  began  to 
appear  interminable  to  the  young  man,  they 
found  themselves  apparently  no  nearer  the  object 
of  their  search  than  they  had  been  at  its  com- 
mencement. Just  as  the  Delaware  was  about  to 
stop,  in  order  to  inform  his  associate  that  they 
would  do  well  to  return  to  the  land,  in  order  to 
take  a fresh  departure,  he  saw  the  form  of  a man, 
moving  about  in  the  water,  almost  within  reach 
of  his  arm.  Jasper  was  at  his  side,  and  he  at 
once  understood  that  the  Iroquois  were  engaged 
on  the  same  errand  as  he  was  himself. 

“ Mingo  ! ” he  uttered  in  Jasjper’s  ear — “the 


FRIENDS  AND  FOES  IN  COMPANY. 


30 


Serpent  w ill  show  his  brother  how  to  be  cun- 
ning.” 

The  young  sailor  caught  a glimpse  of  the 
figure  at  that  instant,  and  the  startling  truth  also 
flashed  on  his  mind.  Understanding  the  neces- 
sity of  trusting  all  to  the  Delaware  chief,  he  kept 
back,  while  his  friend  moved  cautiously  in  the 
direction  in  which  the  strange  form  had  van- 
ished. In  another  moment,  it  was  seen  again, 
evidently  moving  toward  themselves.  The  wa- 
ters made  such  an  uproar,  that  little  was  to  be 
apprehended  from  ordinary  sounds,  and  the  In- 
dian, turning  his  head,  hastily  said : 

“ Leave  it  to  the  cunning  of  the  great  Ser- 
pent.” 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  the  strange  savage,  add- 
ing, in  the  language  of  his  people — “ the  canoe 
is  found,  but  there  were  none  to  help  me.  Come, 
let  us  raise  it  from  the  rock.” 

“ Willingly,”  answered  Chingachgook,  who 
understood  the  dialect — “ lead  ; we  will  follow.” 

The  stranger,  unable  to  distinguish  between 
voices  and  accents,  amid  the  raging  of  the  rapid, 
led  the  way  in  the  necessary  direction,  and,  the 
two  others  keeping  close  at  his  heels,  all  three 
speedily  reached  the  canoe.  The  Iroquois  laid 
hold  of  one  end,  Chingachgook  placed  himself  in 
the  centre,  and  Jasper  went  to  the  opposite  ex- 
tremity, as  it  wfas  important  that  the  stranger 
should  not  delect  the  presence  of  a pale-face,  a 
discovery  that  might  be  made,  by  the  parts  of 
the  dress  the  young  man  still  wore,  as  well  as  by 
the  general  appearance  of  his  head. 

“ Lift,”  said  the  Iroquois,  in  the  sententious 
manner  of  his  race  ; and  by  a trifling  effort  the 
canoe  wras  raised  from  the  rock,  held  a moment 
in  the  air  to  empty  it,  and  then  placed  carefully 
on  the  water,  in  its  proper  position.  All  three 
held  it  firmly,,  lest  it  should  escape  from  their 
hands,  under  the  pressure  of  the  violent  current ; 
while  the  Iroquois,  who  led  of  course,  being  at 
the  upper  end  of  the  boat,  took  the  direction  of 
the  eastern  shore,  or  toward  the  spot  where  his 
friends  waited  his  return. 

As  the  Delaware  and  Jasper  well  knew,  there 
must  be  several  more  of  the  Iroquois  on  the  rift, 
from  the  circumstance  that  their  own  appearance 
had  occasioned  no  surprise  in  the  individual  they 
had  met,  both  felt  the  necessity  of  extreme  cau- 
tion. Men  less  bold  and  determined  would  have 
thought  that  they  were  incurring  too  great  a risk, 
by  thus  venturing  into  the  midst  of  their  ene- 
mies ; but  these  hardy  borderers  were  unac- 
quainted with  fear,  were  accustomed  to  hazard, 
and  so  well  understood  the  necessity  of  at  least 
preventing  their  foes  from  getting  the  boat,  that 


they  would  have  cheerfully  encountered  even 
greater  risks  to  secure  their  object.  So  all-im- 
portaut  to  the  safety  of  Mabel,  indeed,  did  Jasper 
deem  the  possession  or  the  destruction  of  this  ca- 
noe, that  he  had  drawn  his  knife,  and  stood  ready 
to  rip  up  the  bark,  in  order  to  render  the  boat 
temporarily  unserviceable,  should  anything  occur 
to  compel  the  Delaware  and  himself  to  abandon 
their  prize. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Iroquois,  who  led  the 
way,  proceeded  slowly  through  the  water  in  the 
direction  of  his  own  party,  still  grasping  the  ca 
noe,  and  dragging  his  reluctant  followers  in  his 
train.  Once,  Chingachgook  raised  his  tomahawk 
and  was  about  to  bury  it  in  the  brain  of  his  con- 
fiding and  unsuspicious  neighbor,  but  the  prob- 
ability that  the  death-cry  or  the  floating  body 
might  give  the  alarm,  induced  that  wary  chief  to 
change  his  purpose.  At  the  next  moment  he 
regretted  this  indecision,  for  the  three  who  clung 
to  the  canoe  suddenly  found  themselves  in  the 
centre  of  a party  of  no  less  than  four  others  who 
were  in  quest  of  it. 

After  the  usual  brief,  characteristic  exclama- 
tions of  satisfaction,  the  savages  eagerly  laid  hold 
of  the  canoe,  for  all  seemed  impressed  with  the 
necessity  of  securing  this  important  boat,  the  one 
side  in  order  to  assail  their  foes,  and  the  other  to 
secure  their  retreat.  The  addition  to  the  party, 
however,  was  so  unlooked  for,  and  so  completely 
gave  the  enemy  the  superiority,  that,  for  a few 
moments,  the  ingenuity  and  address  of  even  the 
Delaware  were  at  fault.  The  five  Iroquois,  who 
seemed  perfectly  to  understand  their  errand, 
pressed  forward  toward  their  own  shore,  without 
pausing  to  converse ; their  object  being  in  truth 
to  obtain  the  paddles,  which  they  had  previously 
secured,  and  to  embark  three  or  four  warriors, 
with  all  their  rifles  and  powder-horns,  the  want 
of  which  had  alone  prevented  their  crossing  the 
river  by  swimming  as  soon  as  it  was  dark. 

In  this  matter,  the  body  of  friends  and  foes 
united  reached  the  margin  of  the  eastern  channel, 
where,  as  in  the  case  of  the  western,  the  river 
was  too  deep  to  be  waded.  Here  a short  pause 
succeeded,  it  being  necessary  to  determine  the 
manner  in  which  the  canoe  was  to  be  carried 
across.  One  of  the  four  who  had  just  reached 
the  boat,  was  a chief,  and  the  habitual  deference 
which  the  American  Indian  pays  to  merit,  experi- 
ence, and  station,  kept  the  others  silent  until  this 
individual  had  spoken. 

The  halt  greatly  added  to  the  danger  of  dis- 
covering the  presence  of  Jasper,  in  particular, 
who,  however,  had  the  precaution  to  throw  the 
cap  he  wore  into  the  bottom  of  the  canoe.  Bo 


40 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


ing  without  his  jacket  and  shirt,  the  outline  of 
his  figure,  in  the  obscurity,  would  now  be  leas 
likely  to  attract  observation.  His  position,  too, 
at  the  stern  of  the  canoe,  a little  favored  his  con- 
cealment, the  Iroquois  naturally  keeping  their 
looks  directed  the  other  way.  Not  so  with  Chin- 
gachgook.  This  warrior  was  literally  in  the  midst 
of  his  most  deadly  foes,  and  he  could  scarcely 
stir  without  touching  one  of  them.  Yet  he  was 
apparently  unmoved,  though  he  kept  all  his 
senses  on  the  alert,  in  readiness  to  escape,  or  to 
strike  a blow  at  the  proper  moment.  By  care- 
fully abstaining  from  looking  toward  those  be- 
hind him,  he  lessened  the  chances  ot  discovery, 
and  waited  with  the  indomitable  patience  of  an 
Indian  for  the  instant  when  he  should  be  re- 
quired to  act. 

“Let  all  my  young  men,  but  two,  one  at  each 
end  of  the  canoe,  cross  and  get  their  arms,”  said 
the  Iroquois  chief.  “ Let  the  two  push  over  the 
bo^t.” 

The  Indians  quietly  obeyed,  leaving  Jasper  at 
the  stern,  and  the  Iroquois  who  had  found  the 
canoe  at  the  bow  of  the  light  craft,  Chingach- 
gook  burying  himself  so  deep  in  the  river,  as  to 
be  passed  by  the  others  without  detection.  The 
splashing  in  the  water,  the  tossing  arms,  and  the 
calls  of  one  to  another,  soon  announced  that  the 
four  who  had  last  joined  the  party  were  already 
swimming.  As  soon  as  this  fact  was  certain,  the 
Delaware  rose,  resumed  his  former  station,  and 
began  to  think  the  moment  for  action  was  come. 

One  less  habitually  under  self-restraint  than 
this  warrior  would  probably  have  now  aimed  his 
meditated  blow ; but  Chingachgook  knew  there 
were  more  Iroquois  behind  him  on  the  rift,  and 
he  was  a warrior  much  too  trained  and  experi- 
enced to  risk  any  thing  unnecessarily.  He  suf- 
fered the  Indian  at  the  bow  of  the  canoe  to  push 
off  into  the  deep  water,  and  then  all  three  were 
swimming  in  the  direction  of  the  eastern  shore. 
Instead,  however,  of  helping  the  canoe  across 
the  swift  current,  no  sooner  did  the  Delaware 
and  Jasper  find  themselves  within  the  influence 
of  its  greatest  force,  than  both  began  to  swim  in 
a way  to  check  their  further  progress  across  the 
stream.  Nor  was  this  done  suddenly,  or  in  the 
incautious  manner  in  which  a civilized  man  would 
have  been  apt  to  attempt  the  artifice,  but  warily 
and  so  gradually  that  the  Iroquois  at  the  bow 
fancied  at  first  he  was  merely  struggling  against 
the  strength  of  the  current.  Of  course,  while 
acted  on  by  these  opposing  efforts,  the  canoe 
drifted  down-stream,  and  in  about  a minute  it 
was  floating  in  still  deeper  water  at  the  foot  of 
the  rift.  Here,  however,  the  Iroquois  was  not  | 


slow  in  finding  that  something  unusual  retarded 
their  advance,  and  looking  back  he  first  learned 
that  he  was  resisted  by  the  efforts  of  his  compan- 
ions. 

That  second  nature,  which  grows  up  through 
habit,  instantly  told  the  young  Iroquois  that  he 
was  alone  with  enemies.  Dashing  the  water 
aside,  he  sprang  at  the  throat  of  Chingachgook, 
and  the  two  Indians,  relinquishing  their  hold  of 
the  canoe,  seized  each  other  like  tigers.  In  the 
midst  of  the  darkness  of  that  gloomy  night,  and 
floating  in  an  element  so  dangerous  to  man,  when 
engaged  in  deadly  strife,  they  appeared  to  forget 
every  thing  but  their  fell  animosity,  and  their 
mutual  desire  to  conquer. 

J asper  had  now  complete  command  of  the  ca- 
noe, whiefy  flew  off  like  a feather  impelled  by  the 
breath,  under  the  violent  reaction  of  the  strug- 
gles of  the  two  combatants.  The  first  impulse  of 
the  youth  was  to  swim  to  the  aid  of  the  Delaware, 
but  the  importance  of  securing  the  boat  presented 
itself  with  tenfold  force,  while  he  listened  to  the 
heavy  breathings  of  the  warriors  as  they  throt- 
tled each  other,  and  he  proceeded  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible toward  the  western  shore.  This  he  soon 
reached,  and,  after  a short  search,  he  succeeded 
in  discovering  the  remainder  of  the  party,  and  in 
procuring  his  clothes.  A few  words  sufficed  to 
explain  the  situation  in  which  he  had  left  the 
Delaware,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  canoe  had 
been  obtained. 

When  those  who  had  been  left  behind  had 
heard  the  explanations  of  Jasper,  a profound 
stillness  reigned  among  them,  each  listening  in- 
tently in  the  vain  hope  of  catching  some  clew  to 
the  result  of  the  fearful  struggle  that  had  just 
taken  place,  if  it  were  not  still  going  on  in  the 
water.  Nothing  was  audible  beyond  the  steady 
roar  of  the  gushing  river ; it  being  a part  of  the 
policy  of  their  enemies  on  the  opposite  shore  to 
observe  the  most  death-like  stillness. 

“Take  this  paddle,  Jasper,”  said  Pathfinder, 
calmly,  though  the  listeners  thought  his  voice 
sounded  more  melancholy  than  usual,  “ and  fol- 
low with  your  own  canoe.  It  is  unsafe  for  us  to 
remain  here  longer.” 

“ But  the  Serpent  ? ” 

“ The  Great  Sarpent  is  in  the  hands  of  his 
own  Deity,  and  will  live  or  die  according  to  the 
intentions  of  Providence.  We  can  do  him  no 
good,  and  may  risk  too  much  by  remaining  here 
in  idleness,  like  women  talking  over  their  dis- 
tresses. This  darkness  is  very  precious — ” 

A loud,  long,  piercing  yell  came  from  the 
shore,  and  cut  short  the  words  of  the  guide. 

“ What  is  the  meaning  of  that  uproar,  Mastei 


MABEL’S  EXCITEMENT. 


41 


Pathfinder  ? ” demanded  Cap.  “ It  sounds  more 
like  the  outcries  of  devils  than  any  thing  that 
can  come  from  the  throats  of  Christians  and 
men.” 

“ Christians  they  are  not,  and  do  not  pretend 
to  be,  and  do  not  wish  to  be  ; and  in  calling  them 
devils  you  have  scarcely  misnamed  them.  That 
yell  is  one  of  rejoicing,  and  it  is  as  conquerors 
they  have  given  it.  The  body  of  the  Sarpent,  no 
doubt,  dead  or  alive,  is  in  their  power ! ” 

“ And  we ! ” exclaimed  Jasper,  who  felt  a 
pang  of  generous  regret,  as  the  idea  that  he  might 
have  averted  the  calamity  presented  itself  to  his 
mind,  had  he  not  deserted  his  comrade. 

“We  can  do  the  chief  no  good,  lad,  and  must 
quit  this  spot  as  fast  as  possible.” 

“ Without  one  attempt  to  rescue  him ! — with- 
out even  knowing  whether  he  be  dead  or  liv- 
ing?” 

“Jasper  is  right,”  said  Mabel,  who  could 
speak,  though  her  voice  sounded  huskily  and 
smothered ; “ I have  no  fears,  uncle,  and  will 
stay  here  until  we  know  what  has  become  of  our 
friend.” 

“ This  seems  reasonable,  Pathfinder,”  put  in 
Cap.  “ Your  true  seaman  cannot  well  desert  a 
messmate ; and  I am  glad  to  find  that  motives 
so  correct  exist  among  those  fresh-water  peo- 
ple.” 

“ Tut — tut ! ” returned  the  impatient  guide, 
forcing  the  canoe  into  the  stream  as  he  spoke, 
“ ye  know  nothing,  and  ye  fear  nothing.  If  ye 
value  your  lives,  think  of  reaching  the  garrison, 
and  leave  the  Delaware  in  the  hands  of  Provi- 
dence. Ah’s  me  ! The  deer  that  goes  too  often 
to  the  lick  meets  the  hunter  at  last ! ” 


CHAPTER  VII. 

“And  is  this — Yarrow? — this  the  stream 
Of  which  my  fancy  cherished 
So  faithfuily  a waking  dream  ? 

An  image  that  hath  perished  ? 

Oh,  that  some  minstrel’s  harp  were  near, 

To  utter  notes  of  gladness, 

And  chase  this  silence  from  the  air, 

That  fills  my  heart  with  sadness ! 

Wordsworth. 

The  scene  was  not  without  sublimity ; and 
the  ardent,  generous-minded  Mabel  felt  her  blood 
thrill  in  her  veins,  and  her  cheeks  flush,  as  the 
tanoe  shot  into  the  strength  of  the  stream  to  quit 
.he  spot.  The  darkness  of  the  night  had  lessened 
Vy  the  dispersion  of  the  clouds ; but  the  over- 
hanging woods  rendered  the  shores  so  obscure 


that  the  boats  floated  down  the  current  in  a belt 
of  gloom  that  effectually  secured  them  from  de- 
tection. Still  there  was  necessarily  a strong  feel- 
ing of  insecurity  in  all  on  board  them ; and  even 
Jasper,  who  by  this  time  began  to  tremble  in  be- 
half of  the  girl,  at  every  unusual  sound  that  arose 
from  the  forest,  kept  casting  uneasy  glances 
around  him,  as  he  drifted  on,  in  company.  The 
paddle  was  used  lightly,  and  only  with  exceeding 
care,  for  the  slightest  sound,  in  the  breathing 
stillness  of  that  hour  and  place,  might  apprise 
the  watchful  ears  of  the  Iroquois  of  their  posi- 
tion. 

% All  the  accessories  added  to  the  impressive 
grandeur  of  her  situation,  and  contributed  to  ren- 
der the  moment  much  the  most  exciting  that  had 
ever  occurred  in  the  brief  existence  of  Mabel 
Dunham.  Spirited,  accustomed  to  self-reliance, 
and  sustained  by  the  pride  of  considering  herself 
a soldier’s  daughter,  she  could  hardly  be  said  to 
be  under  the  influence  of  fear  ; yet  her  heart  of- 
ten beat  quicker  than  common,  her  fine  blue  eye 
lighted  with  an  exhibition  of  a resolution  that 
was  wasted  in  the  darkness,  and  her  quickened 
feelings  came  in  aid  of  the  real  sublimity  that 
belonged  to  the  scene,  and  to  the  incidents  of  the 
night. 

“ Mabel ! ” said  the  suppressed  voice  of  Jasper, 
as  the  two  canoes  floated  so  near  each  other  that 
the  hand  of  the  young  man  held  them  • together, 
“ you  have  no  dread,  you  trust  freely  to  our  care, 
and  willingness  to  protect  you  ? ” 

“I  am  a soldier’s  daughter,  as  you  know, 
Jasper  Western,  and  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  con- 
fess fear.” 

“ Rely  on  me — on  us  all.  Your  uncle,  Path- 
finder, the  Delaware,  were  the  poor  fellow  here,  I 
myself,  will  risk  every  thing  rather  than  harm 
should  reach  you.” 

“ I believe  you,  Jasper,”  returned  the  girl,  her 
hand  unconsciously  playing  in  the  water.  “ I 
know  that  my  uncle  love3  me,  and  will  never 
think  of  himself  until  he  has  first  thought  of  me ; 
and  I believe  you  are  all  my  father’s  friends,  and 
would  willingly  assist  his  child.  But  I am  not  so 
feeble  and  weak-minded  as  you  may  think,  for 
though  only  a girl  from  the  towns,  and,  like  most 
of  that  class,  a little  disposed  to  see  danger  where 
there  is  none,  I promise  you,  Jasper,  no  foolish 
fears  of  mine  shall  stand  in  the  way  of  your  doing 
your  duty.” 

“ The  sergeant’s  daughter  is  right,  and  she  is 
worthy  of  being  honest  Thomas  Dunham’s  child,” 
put  in  the  Pathfinder.  “Ah’s  me!  pretty  one, 
many  is  the  time  that  your  father  and  I have 
scouted  and  marched  together  on  the  flanks  and 


£2 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


rear  of  the  enemy,  in  nights  darker  than  this,  and 
that,  too,  when  we  did  not  know  but  the  next 
moment  would  lead  us  into  a bloody  ambushment. 
I was  at  his  side  when  he  got  the  wound  in  his 
shoulder,  and  the  honest  fellow  will  tell  you,  when 
you  meet  the  manner  in  which  we  contrived  to 
cross  the  river  that  lay  in  our  rear,  in  order  to 
save  his  scalp.” 

“He  has ■ told  me,”  said  Mabel,  with  more 
energy  perhaps  than  her  situation  rendered  pru- 
dent. “ I have  his  letters,  in  which  he  has  men- 
tioned all  that,  and  I thank  you  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart  for  the  service.  God  will  remember 
it,  Pathfinder  ; and  there  is  no  gratitude  that  you 
can  ask  of  the  daughter,  which  she  will  not  cheer- 
fully repay  for  her  father’s  life.” 

“Ay,  that  is  the  way  with  all  your  gentle  and 
pure-hearted  creatur’s  ! I have  seen  some  of  you 
before,  and  have  heard  of  others  ! The  sergeant, 
himself,  has  talked  to  me  of  his  own  young  days ; 
and  of  your  mother,  and  of  the  manner  in  which 
he  courted  her,  and  of  all  the  crossings  and  dis- 
app’intments,  until  he  succeeded  at  last.” 

“ My  mother  did  not  live  long  to  repay  him 
for  what  he  did  to  win  her,”  said  Mabel,  with  a 
trembling  lip. 

“So  he  tells  me.  The  honest  sergeant  has 
kept  nothing  back,  for,  being  so  many  years  my 
senior,  he  has  looked  on  me,  in  our  many  seout- 
ings  together,  as  a sort  of  son.” 

“Perhaps,  Pathfinder,”  observed  Jasper,  with 
a huskiness  in  his  voice  that  defeated  the  attempt 
at  pleasantry,  “ he  would  be  glad  to  have  you  for 
one,  in  reality.” 

“ And  if  he  did,  Eau-douce,  where  would  be 
the  sin  of  it  ? He  knows  what  I am  on  a trail, 
or  a scout,  and  he  has  seen  me  often  face  to  face 
with  the  Frenchers.  I have  sometimes  thought, 
lad,  that  we  all  ought  to  seek  for  wives  ; for  the 
man  that  lives  altogether  in  the  woods,  and  in 
company  with  his  inemies,  or  his  prey,  gets  to 
lose  some  of  the  feelin’  of  kind,  in  the  end.” 

“ From  the  specimen  I have  seen,”  observed 
Mabel,  “I  should  say  that  they  who  live  much  in 
the  forest  forget  to  learn  many  of  the  deceits  and 
vices  of  the  towns.” 

“ It  is  not  easy,  Mabel,  to  dwell  always  in  the 
presence  of  God,  and  not  feel  the  power  of  his 
goodness.  I have  attended  church-sarvice  in  the 
garrisons,  and  tried  hard,  as  becomes  a true  sol- 
dier, to  join  in  the  prayers  ; for,  though  no  enlisted 
Barvant  of  the  king,  I fight  his  battles  and  sarve 
his  cause — and  so  I have  ende’vored  to  worship 
garrison-fashion,  but  never  could  raise  within  me 
the  solemn  feelings  and  true  affection  that  I feel 
when  alone  with  God  ih  the  forest.  There  I seem 


to  stand  face  to  face  with  my  Master ; all  around 
me  is  fresh  and  beautiful,  as  it  came  from  his 
hand ; and  there  is  no  nicety  or  doctrine  to  chill 
the  feelin’s.  No,  no ; the  woods  are  the  true 
temple,  a’ter  all,  for  there  the  thoughts  are  free 
to  mount  higher  even  than  the  clouds.” 

“You  speak  the  truth,  Master  Pathfinder,” 
said  Cap,  “ and  a truth  that  all  who  live  much  in 
solitude  know.  What,  for  instance,  is  the  reason 
that  seafaring  men,  in  general,  are  so  religious 
and  conscientious  in  all  they  do,  but  the  fact  that 
they  are  so  often  alone  with  Providence,  and  have 
so  little  to  do  with  the  wickedness  of  the  land  ! 
Many  and  many  is  the  time  that  I have  stood  my 
watch,  under  the  equator  perhaps,  or  in  the  South- 
ern Ocean,  when  the  nights  are  lighted  up  with 
the  fires  of  heaven ; and  that  is  the  time,  I can 
tell  you,  my  hearties,  to  bring  a man  to  his  bear  • 
ings,  in  the  way  of  his  sins.  I have  rattled  down 
mine,  again  and  again,  under  such  circumstances, 
until  the  shrouds  and*  lanyards  of  conscience 
have  fairly  creaked  with  the  strain.  I agree  with 
you,  Master  Pathfinder,  therefore,  in  saying  if 
you  want  a truly  religious  man,  go  to  sea,  or  go 
into  the  woods.” 

“ Uncle,  I thought  seamen  had  little  credit^ 
generally,  for  their  respect  for  religion.” 

“ All  d d slander,  girl ! Ask  your  seafar- 

ing man  what  his  real,  private  opinion  is  of  your 
landsmen,  parsons  and  all,  and  you  will  hear  the 
other  side  of  the  question.  I know  no  class  of 
men  who  have  been  so  belied  as  seafaring  men, 
in  this  particular ; and  it  is  all  because  they  dc 
not  stay  at  home  to  defend  themselves,  and  pay 
the  clergy.  They  haven’t  as  much  doctrine,  per- 
haps, as  some  ashore,  but  as  for  all  the  essentials 
of  Christianity,  the  seaman  beats  the  landsman, 
hand-over-hand.” 

“ I will  not  answer  for  all  this,  Master  Cap,” 
returned  Pathfinder,  “ but  I dare  say  some  of  it 
may  be  true.  I want  no  thunder  and  lightning 
to  remind  me  of  my  God,  nor  am  I as  apt  to  be- 
think me  most  of  all  his  goodness,  in  trouble  and 
tribulations,  as  on  a calm,  solemn,  quiet  day,  in  a 
forest,  when  his  voice  is  heard  in  the  creaking  of 
a dead  branch,  or  in  the  song  of  a bird,  as  much, 
in  my  ears  at  least,  as  it  is  ever  heard  in  up 
roar  and  gales. — How  is  it  with  you,  Eau-douce 
you  face  the  tempests  as  well  as  Master  Cap. 
and  ought  to  know  something  of  the  feelin’s  of 
storms  ? ” 

“ I fear  that  I am  too  young  and  too  inexperi 
enced,  to  be  able  to  say  much  on  such  a subject,’ 
modestly  answered  Jasper. 

“ But  you  have  your  feelings  ? ” said  Mabel, 
quickly.  “You  cannot — no  one  can  live  among 


A DESULTORY  CONVERSATION. 


43 


Buch  scenes  without  feeling  how  much  they  ought 
to  trust  in  God ! ” 

“ I shall  not  belie  my  training  so  much  as  to 
Bay  I do  not  sometimes  think  of  these  things,  but 
I fear  it  is  not  as  often  or  as  much  as  I ought.” 

“ Fresh  water ! ” resumed  Cap,  pithily  ; “ you 
are  not  to  expect  too  much  of  the  young  man, 
Mabel  I think  they  call  you,  sometimes,  by  a 
name  which  would  insinuate  all  this.  Eau-de-vie, 
is  it  not  ? ” 

“Eau-douce,”  quietly  replied  Jasper,  who 
from  sailing  on  the  lake  had  acquired  a knowl- 
edge of  French,  as  well  as  of  several  of  the  Indian 
dialects.  “ It  is  a name  the  Iroquois  have  given 
me  to  distinguish  me  from  some  of  my  companions 
who  once  sailed  upon  the  sea,  and  are  fond  of 
filling  the  ears  of  the  natives  with  stories  of  their 
great  salt-water  lakes.” 

“ And  why  shouldn’t  they  ? I dare  say  they 
do  the  savages  no  harm.  They  may  not  civilize 
them,  but  they  will  not  make  them  greater  bar- 
barians than  they  are.  Ay — ay — Oh!  the  deuce, 
that  must  mean  the  white  brandy,  which  is  no 
great  matter  after  all,  and  may  -well  enough  be 
called  the  deuce,  for  deuced  stuff  it  is  ! ” 

“ The  signification  of  Eau-douce  is  sweet- 
water,  or  water  that  can  be  drunk,  and  it  is  the 
manner  in  which  the  French  express  fresh-water,” 
rejoined  Jasper,  a little  nettled  at  the  distinction 
made  by  Cap,  although  the  latter  was  the  uncle 
of  Mabel. 

“ And  how  the  devil  do  they  make  water  out 
of  Oh ! the  deuce,  when  it  means  brandy  in  Eau- 
de-vie  ? This  may  be  the  French  used  hereaway, 
but  it  is  not  that  they  use  in  Burdux  and  other 
French  ports ; besides,  among  seamen  Eau  always 
means  brandy,  and  Eau-de-vie,  brandy  of  a high 
proof.  I think  nothing  of  your  ignorance,  young 
man,  for  it  is  natural  to  your  situation,  and  can- 
not be  helped.  If  you  will  return  with  me,  and 
make  a v’y’ge  or  two  on  the  Atlantic,  it  will  serve 
you  a good  turn  the  remainder  of  your  days,  and 
Mabel,  there,  and  all  the  other  young  women  near 
the  coast,  will  think  all  the  better  of  you,  should 
you  live  to  be  as  old  as  one  of  the  trees  in  this 
forest.” 

“Nay,  nay,”  interrupted  the  single-hearted 
and  generous  guide,  “ Jasper  wants  not  for  fri’nds 
in  this  region,  I can  assure  you ; and  though  see- 
ng  the  world,  according  to  his  habits,  may  do 
him  good  as  well  as  another,  we  shall  think  none 
the  worse  of  him  if  he  never  quits  us.  Eau-douce, 
or  Eau-de-vie,  he  is  a brave,  true-hearted  youth, 
and  I always  sleep  as  sound  when  he  is  on  the 
watch  as  if  I was  up  and  stirring  myself ; ay,  and 
for  that  matter,  sounder  too.  The  sergeant’s 


daughter,  here,  doesn’t  believe  it  necessary  for 
the  lad  to  go  to  sea  in  order  to  make  a man  of 
him,  or  one  who  is  worthy  to  be  respected  and 
esteemed.” 

Mabel  made  no  reply  to  this  appeal,  and  she 
even  looked  toward  the  western  shore,  although 
the  darkness  rendered  the  natural  movement  un- 
necessary to  conceal  her  face.  But  Jasper  felt 
that  there  was  a necessity  for  his  saying  some- 
thing ; the  pride  of  youth  and  manhood  revolting 
at  the  idea  of  his  being  in  a condition  not  to  com- 
mand the  respect  of  his  fellows,  or  the  smiles  of 
his  equals  of  the  other  sex.  Still  he  was  unwilling 
to  utter  aught  that  might  be  considered  harsh,  to 
the  uncle  of  Mabel ; and  his  self-command  was, 
perhaps,  more  creditable  than  his  modesty  and 
spirit. 

“ I pretend  not  to  things  I don’t  possess,”  he 
said,  “ and  lay  no  claim  to  any  knowledge  of  the 
ocean,  or  of  navigation.  We  steer  by  the  stars 
and  the  compass  on  these  lakes,  running  from 
headland  to  headland,  and,  having  little  need  of 
figures  and  calculations,  make  no  use  of  them. 
But  we  have  our  claims,  notwithstanding,  as  I 
have  often  heard  from  those  who  have  passed 
years  on  the  ocean.  In  the  first  place,  we  have 
always  the  land  aboard,  and  much  of  the  time  on 
a lee  shore,  and  that  I have  frequently  heard 
makes  hardy  sailors.  Our  gales  are  sudden  and 
severe,  and  we  are  compelled  to  run  for  our  ports 
at  all  hours — ” 

“ You  have  your  leads,”  interrupted  Cap. 

“ They  are  of  little  use,  and  are  seldom  cast.” 

“ The  deep  seas — ” 

“ I have  heard  of  such  things,  but  confess  I 
never  saw  one.” 

“ Oh ! the  deuce,  with  a vengeance.  A trad- 
er, and  no  deep  sea ! Why,  boy,  you  cannot  pre- 
tend to  be  any  thing  of  a mariner.  Who  the 
devil  ever  heard  of  a seaman  without  his  deep 
sea  ? ” 

“I  do  not  pretend  to  any  particular  skill 
Master  Cap — ” 

“Except  in  shooting  falls,  Jasper;  except  in 
shooting  falls  and  rifts,”  said  Pathfinder,  coming 
to  the  rescue  ; “ in  which  business  even  you,  Mas 
ter  Cap,  must  allow  he  has  some  handiness.  In 
my  judgment,  every  man  is  to  be  esteemed  01 
condemned  according  to  his  gifts ; and  if  Mastei 
Cap  is  useless  in  running  the  Oswego  falls,  I trj 
to  remember  that  he  is  useful  when  out  of  sight 
of  land ; and  if  Jasper  be  useless  when  out  of 
sight  of  land,  I do  not  forget  that  he  has  a true 
eye  and  steady  hand  when  running  the  falls.” 

“ But  Jasper  is  not  useless — would  not  be  use- 
less when  out  of  sight  of  land,”  said  Mabel,  with 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


44 

«i  spirit  and  energy  that  caused  her  clear,  sweet 
voice  to  be  startling  amid  the  solemn  stillness  of 
that  extraordinary  scene.  “ No  one  can  be  use- 
less there  who  can  do  so  much  here,  is  what  I 
mean ; though  I dare  say  he  is  not  as  well  ac- 
quainted with  ships  as  my  uncle.” 

“ Ay,  bolster  each  other  up  in  your  ignorance,” 
returned  Cap,  witlj.  a sneer  ; “ we  seamen  are  so 
much  outnumbered  when  ashore  that  it  is  seldom 
we  get  our  dues ; but  when  you  want  to  be  de- 
fended, or  trade  is  to  be  carried  on,  there  is  out- 
cry enough  for  us.” 

“ But,  uncle,  landsmen  do  not  come  to  attack 
our  coasts ; so  that  seamen  only  meet  seamen.” 

“ So  much  for  ignorance ! — Where  are  all  the 
enemies  that  have  landed  in  this  country,  French 
and  English ; let  me  inquire,  niece  ? ” 

“ Sure  enough,  where  are  they  ? ” ejaculated 
Pathfinder.  “ None  can  tell  better  than  we  who 
dwell  in  the  woods,  Master  Cap.  I have  often 
followed  their  line  of  march  by  bones  bleaching 
in  the  rain,  and  have  found  their  trail  by  graves 
years  after  they  and  their  pride  had  vanished  to- 
gether. Ginyrals  and  privates,  they  lay  scattered 
throughout  the  land,  so  many  proofs  of  what  men 
are  when  led  on  by  their  love  of  great  names,  and 
the  wish  to  be  more  than  their  fellows.” 

“ I must  say,  Master  Pathfinder,  that  you 
sometimes  utter  opinions  that  are  a little  remark- 
able for  a man  who  lives  by  the  rifle;  seldom 
snuffing  the  air  but  he  smells  gunpowder,  or  turn- 
ing out  of  his  berth  but  to  bear  down  on  an  en- 
emy.” 

“ If  you  think  I pass  my  days  in  warfare 
against  my  kind,  you  know  neither  me  nor  my 
history.  The  man  that  lives  in  the  woods  and  on 
the  frontiers,  must  take  the  chances  of  the  things 
among  which  he  dwells.  For  this  I am  not  ac- 
countable, being  but  an  humble  and  powerless 
hunter,  and  scout,  and  guide.  My  real  calling  is 
to  hunt  for  the  army  on  its  marches,  and  in  times 
of  peace  ; although  I am  more  especially  engaged 
in  the  service  of  one  officer,  who  is  now  absent  in 
the  settlements,  where  I never  follow  him.  No — 
no — bloodshed  and  warfare  are  not  my  real  gifts, 
but  peace  and  marcy.  Still,  I must  face  the  en- 
emy as  well  as  another,  and  as  for  a Mingo,  I look 
upon  him  as  man  looks  on  a snake — a creatur’ 
to  be  put  beneath  the  heel  whenever  a fitting  oc- 
casion offers.” 

“Well,  well — I have  mistaken  your  calling, 
vrhich  I had  thought  as  regularly  warlike  as  that 
of  a ship’s  gunner.  There  is  my  brother-in-law, 
now ; he  has  been  a soldier  since  he  was  sixteen, 
and  he  looks  upon  his  trade  as  every  way  as  re- 
spectable as  that  of  a seafaring  man,  which  is  a 


point  I hardly  think  it  worth  while  to  dispute  with 
him.” 

“ My  father  has  been  taught  to  believe  that  it 
is  honorable  to  carry  arms,”  said  Mabel,  “ for  his 
father  was  a soldier  before  him.” 

“ Yes,  yes,”  resumed  the  guide,  “ most  of  the 
sergeant’s  gifts  are  martial,  and  he  looks  at  most 
things  in  this  world  over  the  barrel  of  his  mus- 
ket. One  of  his  notions,  now,  is  to  prefar  a king’s 
piece  to  a regular  double-sighted,  long-barrelled 
rifle.  Such  consaits  will  come  over  men  from 
long  habit;  and  prejudice  is  perhaps  the  com- 
monest failing  of  human  natur’.” 

“ Ashore,  I grant  you,”  said  Cap.  “ I never  re- 
turn from  a v’y’ge  but  I make  the  very  same  remark. 
Now,  the  last  time  I came  in,  I found  scarcely  a 
man  in  all  York  who  would  think  of  matters  and 
things  in  general  as  I thought  about  them  myself. 
Every  man  1 met  appeared  to  have  bowsed  all  his 
idees  up  into  the  wind’s  eye,  and  when  he  did 
fall  off  a little  from  his  one-sided  notions,  it  was 
commonly  to  ware  short  round  on  his  heel,  and  to 
lay  up  as  close  as  ever  on  the  other  tack.” 

“Do  you  understand  this,  Jasper?”  the 
smiling  Mabel  half-whispered  to  the  young  man, 
who  still  kept  his  own  canoe  so  near  as  to  be 
close  at  her  side. 

“There  is  not  so  much  difference  between 
salt  and  fresh  water  that  we  who  pass  our  time 
on  them  cannot  comprehend  each  other.  It  is  no 
great  merit,  Mabel,  to  understand  the  language 
of  our  trade.” 

“Even  religion,”  continued  Cap,  “isn’t 
moored  in  exactly  the  same  place  it  was  in  my 
young  days.  They  veer  and  haul  upon  it  ashore, 
as  they  do  on  all  other  things,  and  it  is  no  wonder 
if  now  and  then  they  get  jammed.  Every  thing 
seems  to  change  but  the  compass,  and  even  that 
has  its  variations.” 

“Well,”  returned  the  Pathfinder,  “I  thought 
Christianity  and  the  compass  both  pretty  station 
ary.” 

“ So  they  are,  afloat,  bating  the  variations. 
Religion  at  sea  is  just  the  same  thing  to-day  that 
it  was  when  I first  put  my  hand  into  the  tar- 
bucket.  No  one  will  dispute  it  who  has  the  fear 
of  God  before  his  eyes.  I can  see  no  difference 
between  the  state  of  religion  on  board  ship  now, 
and  what  it  was  when  I was  a younker.  But  it 
is  not  so  ashore  by  any  means.  Take  my  word 
for  it,  Master  Pathfinder,  it  is  a difficult  thing  to 
find  a man — I mean  a landsman — who  views  these 
matters  to-day  exactly  as  he  looked  at  them  forty 
years  ago.” 

“ And  yet  God  is  unchanged — his  works  are 
unchanged — his  holy  word  is  unchanged,  and  all 


ANOTHER  ALARM. 


45 


ihat  ought  to  bless  and  honoi  nis  name,  should 
be  unchanged  too  ! ” 

“ Not  ashore.  That  is  the  worst  of  the  land  ; 
it  is  all  the  while  in  motion,  I tell  you,  though  it 
looks  so  solid.  If  you  plant  a tree,  and  leave  it 
on  your  return  from  a three-years’  v’y’ge,  you 
don’t  find  it  at  all  the  sort  of  thing  you  left  it. 
The  towns  grow,  and  new  streets  spring  up 
the  wharves  are  altered ; and  the  whole  face  of 
the  earth  undergoes  change.  Now  a ship  come§ 
back  from  an  India  v’y’ge  just  the  thing  she 
sailed,  bating  the  want  of  paint,  wear  and  tear, 
and  the  accidents  of  the  sea.” 

“ That  is  too  true,  Master  Cap,  and  more’s  the 
pity.  Ah’s  me ! — the  things  they  call  improve- 
ments and  betterments  are  undermining  and 
defacing  the  land  ! The  glorious  works  of  God 
are  daily  cut  down  and  destroyed,  and  the  hand 
of  man  seems  to  be  upraised  in  contempt  of  his 
mighty  will.  They  tell  me  there  are  fearful  signs 
of  what  we  may  all  come  to,  to  be  met  with  west 
and  south  of  the  great  lakes,  though  I have  never 
yet  visited  that  region ! ” 

“ What  do  you  mean,  Pathfinder  ? ” modestly 
inquired  Jasper. 

“ I mean  the  spots  marked  by  the  vengeance  of 
Heaven,  or  which,  perhaps,  have  been  raised  up 
as  solemn  warnings  to  the  thoughtless  and  waste- 
ful, hereaway.  They  call  them  prairies ; and  I 
have  heard  as  honest  Delawares  as  I ever  knew, 
declare  that  the  finger  of  God  has  been  laid  so 
heavily  on  them,  that  they  are  altogether  without 
trees.  This  is  an  awful  visitation  to  befall  inno- 
cent ’arth,  and  can  only  mean  to  show  to  what 
frightful  consequences  a heedless  desire  to  destroy 
may  lead.” 

“And  yet  I have  seen  settlers  who  have  much 
fancied  these  open  spots,  because  they  saved  them 
the  toil  of  clearing.  You  relish  your  bread,  Path- 
finder, and  yet  wheat  will  not  ripen  in  the  shade.” 

“ But  honesty  will,  and  simple  wishes,  and  a 
love  of  God,  Jasper.  Even  Master  Cap  will  tell 
you  a treeless  plain  must  resemble  a desert  isl- 
and.” 

“ Why,  that’s  as  it  may  be,”  put  in  Cap.  “ Des- 
ert islands,  too,  have  their  uses,  for  they  serve 
to  correct  the. reckonings  by.  If  my  taste  is  con- 
sulted, I should  never  quarrel  with  a plain  for 
wanting  trees.  As  Nature  has  given  a man  eyes 
to  look  about  with,  and  a sun  to  shine,  were  it 
not  for  ship-building,  and  now  and  then  a house,  I 
can  see  no  great  use  in  a tree ; especially  one  that 
don’t  bear  monkeys  or  fruit.” 

To  this  remark  the  guide  made  no  answer, 
Deyond  a low  sound,  intended  to  enjoin  silence  on 
his  companions.  While  the  desultory  conversa- 


tion just  related  had  been  carried  on  in  subdued 
voices,  the  canoes  were  dropping  slowly  down 
with  the  current,  within  the  deep  shadows  of  the 
western  shore,  the  paddles  being  used  merely  to 
preserve  the  desired  direction  and  proper  positions. 
The  strength  of  the  stream  varied  materially, the 
water  being  seemingly  still  in  places,  while  in 
other  reaches  it  flowed  at  a rate  exceeding  two 
or  even  three  miles  in  the  hour.  On  the  rifts  it 
even  dashed  forward  with  a velocity  that  was  ap- 
palling to  the  unpractised  eye.  Jasper  was  of 
opinion  that  they  might  drift  down  with  the  cur- 
rent to  the  mouth  of  the  river  in  two  hours  from 
the  time  they  left  the  shore,  and  he  and  the  Path- 
finder had  agreed  on  the  expediency  of  suffering 
the  canoes  to  float  of  themselves  for  a time,  or  at 
least  until  they  had  passed  the  first  dangers  of 
their  new  movement.  The  dialogue  had  been 
carried  on  in  voices,  too,  guardedly  low;  for, 
though  the  quiet  of  deep  solitude  reigned  in  that 
vast  and  nearly  boundless  forest,  Nature  was  speak- 
ing with  her  thousand  tongues,  in  the  eloquent 
language  of  night  in  a wilderness.  The  air  sighed 
through  ten  thousand  trees,  the  water  rippled,  and, 
at  places,  even  roared  along  the  shores ; and  now 
and  then  was  heard  the  creaking  of  a branch,  or 
a trunk,  as  it  rubbed  against  some  object  similar 
to  itself,  under  the  vibrations  of  a nicely-balanced 
body.  All  living  sounds  had  ceased.  Once,  it  is 
true,  the  Pathfinder  fancied  he  heard  the  howl  o i 
a distant  wolf,  of  which  a few  prowled  through 
these  woods  ; but  it  was  a transient  and  doubtful 
cry,  that  might  possibly  have  been  attributed  to 
the  imagination.  When  he  desired  his  compan- 
ions, however,  to  cease  talking,  in  the  manner  just 
mentioned,  his  vigilant  ear  had  caught  the  peculiar 
sound  that  is  made  by  the  parting  of  a dried 
branch  of  a tree,  and  which,  if  his  senses  did  not 
deceive  him,  came  from  the  western  shore.  All 
who  are  accustomed  to  that  particular  sound,  will 
understand  how  readily  the  ear  receives  it,  and 
how  easy  it  is  to  distinguish  the  tread  which 
breaks  the  branch  from  every  other  noise  of  the 
forest. 

“ There  is  the  footstep  of  a man  on  the  bank,” 
said  Pathfinder  to  Jasper,  speaking  neither  in  a 
whisper  nor  yet  in  a voice  loud  enough  to  be 
heard  at  any  distance.  “ Can  the  accursed  Iro- 
quois have  crossed  the  river,  already,  with  their 
arms,  and  without  a boat  ? ” 

“ It  may  be  the  Delaware  ! He  would  follow 
us,  of  course,  down  this  bank,  and  would  know 
where  to  look  for  us.  Let  me  draw  closer  in  tn 
the  shore,  and  reconnoitre.” 

“ Go,  boy,  but  be  light  with  the  paddle,  and 
on  no  account  ventur’  ashore  on  an  onsartainty." 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


16 


“ Is  this  prudent  ? ” demanded  Mabel,  with  an 
impetuosity  that  rendered  her  incautious  in  modu- 
lating her  sweet  voice. 

“ Very  imprudent,  if  you  speak  so  loud,  fair 
one.  I like  your  voice,  which  is  soft  and  pleas- 
ing, after  listening  so  long  to  the  tones  of  men  ; 
u but  it  must  not  be  heard  too  much,  or  too  free- 
ly, just  now.  Your  father,  the  honest  sergeant, 
will  tell  you,  when  you  meet  him,  that  silence  is 
a double  virtue  on  a trail. — Go,  Jasper,  and  do 
justice  to  your  own  character  for  prudence.” 

Ten  anxious  minutes  succeeded  the  disappear- 
ance of  the  canoe  of  Jasper,  which  glided  away 
from  that  of  the  Pathfinder  so  noiselessly  that  it 
had  been  swallowed  up  in  the  gloom  before  Mabel 
allowed  herself  to  believe  the  young  man  would 
really  venture  alone  on  a service  that  struck  her 
imagination  as  singularly  dangerous.  During  this 
time  the  party  continued  to  float  with  the  current, 
no  one  speaking,  and  it  might  almost  bp  said  no 
one  bteathing,  so  strong  was  the  general  desire 
to  catch  the  minutest  sound  that  should  come 
from  the  shore.  But  the  same  solemn,  we  might 
indeed  say  sublime,  quiet  reigned  as  before  ; the 
washing  of  the  water,  as  it  piled  up  against  some 
slight  obstruction,  and  the  sighing  of  the  trees, 
alone  interrupting  the  slumbers  of  the  forest.  At 
the  end  of  the  period  mentioned  the  snapping  of 
dried  branches  was  again  faintly  heard,  and  the 
Pathfinder  fancied  that  the  sound  of  smothered 
voices  reached  him. 

“ I may  be  mistaken,”  he  said,  “ for  the 
thoughts  often  fancy  what  the  heart  wishes  ; but 
them  were  notes  like  the  low  tones  of  the  Dela- 
ware ! ” 

“ Do  the  dead  of  the  savages  ever  walk  ? ” de- 
manded Cap. 

“Ay,  and  run,  too,  in  their  happy  hunting- 
grounds,  but  nowhere  else.  A red-skin  finishes 
with  the  ’arth  after  the  breath  quits  the  body.  It 
is  not  one  of  his  gifts  to  linger  around  his  wigwam 
when  his  hour  has  passed.” 

“ I see  some  object  on  the  water,”  whispered 
Mabel,  whose  eye  had  not  ceased  to  dwell  on  the 
body  of  gloom  with  close  intensity  since  the  dis- 
appearance of  Jasper. 

“ It  is  the  canoe ! ” returned  the  guide,  greatly 
relieved.  “ All  must  be  safe,  or  we  should  have 
heard  from  the  lad.” 

In  another  minute  the  two  canoes,  which  be- 
came visible  to  those  they  carried  only  as  they 
drew  near  each  other,  again  floated  side  by  side, 
and  the  form  of  Jasper  was  recognized  at  the 
stem  of  his  own  boat.  The  figure  of  a second 
man  was  seated  in  the  bow,  and,  as  the  young 
gail-or  so  wielded  his  paddle  as  to  bring  the  face 


of  his  companion  near  the  eyes  of  the  Pathfinder 
and  Mabel,  they  both  recognized  the  person  of 
the  Delaware. 

“ Chingachgook — my  brother ! ” said  the  guide, 
in  the  dialect  of  the  other’g  people,  a tremor  shak- 
ing his  voice  that  betrayed  the  strength  of  hia 
feelings — “ chief  of  the  Mohicans  ! my  heart  is 
very  glad.  Often  have  we  passed  through  blood 
and  strife  together  but  I was  afraid  it  was  never 
to  be  so  again.” 

“ Hugh ! — Mingoes — squaws ! — Three  of  their 
scalps  hang  at  my  girdle.  They  do  not  know 
how  to  strike  the  Great  Serpent  of  the  Delawares. 
Their  hearts  have  no  blood,  and  their  thoughts 
are  on  their  return-path,  across  the  waters  of  the 
Great  Lake.” 

“ Have  you  been  among  them,  chief? — and 
what  has  become  of  the  warrior  who  was  in  the 
river  ? ” 

“ He  has  turned  into  a fish,  and  lies  at  the  bot- 
tom with  the  eels ! Let  his  brothers  bait  their 
hooks  for  him.  Pathfinder,  I have  counted  the 
enemy,  and  have  touched  their  rifles.” 

“ Ah  ! I thought  he  would  be  venturesome ! ” 
exclaimed  the  guide,  in  English.  “The  risky 
fellow  has  been  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  has 
brought  us  back  their  whole  history. — Speak, 
Chingachgook,  and  I will  make  our  friends  as 
knowing  as  ourselves.” 

The  Delaware  now  related,  in  a low,  earnest  man- 
ner, the  substance  of  all  his  discoveries  since  he 
was  last  seen  struggling  with  his  foe  in  the  river. 
Of  the  fate  of  his  antagonist  he  said  no  more,  it 
not  being  usual  for  a warrior  to  boast  in  his  more 
direct  and  useful  narratives.  As  soon  as  he  had 
conquered  in  that  fearful  strife,  however,  he  swam 
to  the  eastern  shore,  landed  with  caution,  and 
wound  his  way  in  among  the  Iroquois,  concealed 
by  the  darkness,  undetected,  and,  in  the  main, 
even  unsuspected.  Once,  indeed,  he  had  been 
questioned,  but,  answering  that  he  was  Arrow 
head,  no  further  inquiries  were  made.  By  the 
passing  remarks,  he  soon  ascertained  that  the 
party  was  out  expressly  to  intercept  Mabel  and 
her  uncle,  concerning  whose  rank,  however,  they 
had  evidently  been  deceived.  He  also  ascertained 
enough  to  justify  the  suspicion  that  Arrow- 
head had  betrayed  them  to  their  enemies,  for 
some  motive  that  it  was  not  now  easy  to  reach, 
as  he  had  not  yet  received  the  reward  for  his  ser- 
vices. 

Pathfinder  communicated  no  more  of  this  in- 
telligence to  his  companions  than  he  thought 
might  relieve  their  apprehensions,  intimating,  at 
the  saipe  time,  that  now  was  the  moment  for 
exertion,  the  Iroquois  not  having  yet  entirely 


PASSING  THE  OSWEGO  RIFT. 


47 


recovered  from  the  confusion  created  by  their 
losses. 

“We  shall  find  them  at  the  rift,  I make  no 
manner  of  doubt,”  he  continued,  “ and  there  it 
will  be  our  fate  to  pass  them  or  to  fall  into  their 
hands.  The  distance  to  the  garrison  will  then  be 
so  short,  that  I have  been  thinking  of  the  plan  of 
landing  with  Mabel,  myself,  that  I may  take  her 
in  by  some  of  the  by-ways  and  leave  the  canoes 
to  their  chances  in  the  rapids.” 

“ It  will  never  succeed,  Pathfinder,”  eagerly 
interrupted  Jasper.  “ Mabel  is  not  strong  enough 
to  tramp  the  woods  in  a night  like  this.  Put  her 
in  my  skiff,  and  I will  lose  my  life,  or  carry  her 
through  the  rift  safely,  dark  as  it  is.” 

“ No  doubt  you  will,  lad  ; no  one  doubts  your 
willingness  to  do  any  thing  to  sarve  the  sergeant’s 
daughter  : but  it  must  be  the  eye  of  Providence, 
and  not  your  own,  that  will  take  you  safely 
through  the  Oswego  rift  in  a night  like  this.” 

“ And  who  will  lead  her  safely  to  the  garrison 
if  she  land  ? Is  not  the  night  as  dark  on  shore 
as  on  the  water  ? or  do  you  think  I know  less  of 
my  calling  than  you  know  of  yours  ? ” 

“ Spiritedly  said,  lad  ; but  if  I should  lose  my 
way  in  the  dark,  and  I believe  no  man  can  say 
truly  that  such  a thing  ever  yet  happened  to  me 
— but,  if  I should  lose  my  way,  no  other  harm 
would  come  of  it  than  to  pass  a night  in  the  for- 
est ; whereas  a false  turn  of  the  paddle,  or  a broad 
sheer  of  the  canoe,  would  put  you  and  the  young 
woman  into  the  river,  out  of  which,  it  is  more 
than  probable,  the  sergeant’s  daughter  would 
never  come  alive.” 

“ I will  leave  it  to  Mabel,  herself ; I am  cer- 
tain that  she  will  feel  more  secure  in  the  canoe.” 

“ I have  great  confidence  in  you  both,”  an- 
swered the  girl,  “ and  have  no  doubts  that  either 
will  do  all  he  can  to  prove  to  my  father  how  much 
he  values  him  ; but  I confess  I should  not  like  to 
quit  the  canoe,  with  the  certainty  we  have  of  there 
being  enemies  like  those  we  have  seen  in  the  for- 
est. But  my  uncle  can  decide  for  me  in  this  mat- 
ter.” 

“ I have  no  liking  for  the  woods,”  said  Cap, 
“ while  one  has  a clear  drift  like  this  on  the  river. 
Besides,  Master  Pathfinder,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
savages,  you  overlook  the  sharks.” 

“ Sharks  ! who  ever  heard  of  sharks  in  the 
wilderness?  ” 

: Ay ! sharks,  or  bears,  or  wolves — no  matter 
what  you  call  a thing,  so  it  has  the  mind  and 
power  to  bite.” 

“ Lord,  lord,  man  ; do  you  dread  any  creatur’ 
that  is  to  be  found  in  the  American  forest  ? A 
catamount  is  a skeary  animal,  I will  allow,  but 


then  it  is  nothing  in  the  hands  of  a practysed 
hunter.  Talk  of  the  Mingoes  and  their  devil- 
tries, if  you  will ; but  do  not  raise  a false  alarm 
about  bears  and  wolves.” 

“Ay,  ay,  Master  Pathfinder,  this  is  all  well 
enough  for  you,  who  probably  know  the  name  of 
every  creature  you  would  meet.  Use  is  every 
thing,  and  it  makes  a man  bold  when  he  might 
otherwise  be  bashful.  I have  known  seamen  in 
the  low  latitudes  swim  for  hours  at  a time  among 
sharks  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  long,  and  think  no 
more  of  what  they  were  doing  than  a countryman 
thinks  of  whom  he  is  among,  when  he  comes  out 
of  a church-door  of  a Sunday  afternoon.” 

“This  is  extraordinary!”  exclaimed  Jasper, 
who  in  good  sooth  had  not  yet  acquired  that  ma- 
terial part  of  his  trade,  the  ability  to  spin  a yarn. 
“ I have  always  heard  that  it  was  certain  death 
to  venture  in  the  water  among  sharks  ! ” 

“ I forgot  to  say  that  the  lads  always  took 
capstan-bars,  or  gunners’  handspikes,  or  crows 
with  them,  to  rap  the  beasts  over  the  noses,  if 
they  got  to  be  troublesome.  No — no — I have  no 
liking  for  bear's  and  wolves,  though  a whale,  in 
my  eye,  is  very  much  the  same  sort  of  fish  as  a 
red-herring,  after  it  is  dried  and  salted.  Mabel 
and  I had  better  stick  to  the  canoe.” 

“ Mabel  would  do  well  to  change  canoes,”  add- 
ed Jasper.  “ This  of  mine  is  empty,  and  even 
Pathfinder  will  allow  that  my  eye  is  surer  than 
his  own,  on  the  water.” 

“ That  I will,  cheerfully,  boy.  The  water  be- 
longs to  your  gifts,  and  no  one  will  deny  that 
you  have  improved  them  to  the  utmost.  You 
are  right  enough  in  believing  that  the  sergeant’s 
daughter  will  be  safer  in  your  canoe  than  in  this ; 
and,  though  I would  gladly  keep  her  near  myself, 
I have  her  welfare  too  much  at  heart  not  to  give 
her  honest  advice.  Bring  your  canoe  close  along- 
side, Jasper,  and  I will  give  you  what  you  must 
consider  a very  precious  treasure.” 

“I  do  consider  it,”  returned  the  youth,  not 
losing  a moment  in  complying  with  the  request ; 
when  Mabel  passed  from  one  canoe  to  the  other, 
taking  her  seat  on  the  effects  which  had  hitherto 
composed  its  sole  cargo. 

As  soon  as  the  arrangement  was  made,  the 
canoes  separated  a short  distance,  and  the  pad- 
dles were  used,  though  with  great  care  to  avoid 
making  any  noise.  -The  conversation  gradually 
ceased,  and  as  the  dreaded  rift  was  approached, 
all  became  impressed  with  the  gravity  of  the 
moment.  That  their  enemies  would  endeavor  to 
reach  this  point  before  them,  was  almost  certain ; 
and  it  seemed  so  little  probable  any  one  should 
attempt  to  pass  it,  in  the  profound  obscurity 


48 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


which  reigned,  that  Pathfinder  was  confident  par- 
ties were  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  in  the  hope 
of  intercepting  them  when  they  might  land.  He 
would  not  have  made  the  proposal  he  did,  had 
he  not  felt  sure  of  his  own  ability  to  convert  this 
very  anticipation  of  success  into  a means  of  de- 
feating the  plans  of  the  Iroquois.  As  the  ar- 
rangement now  stood,  however,  every  thing  de- 
pended on  the  skill  of  those  who  guided  the 
canoes ; for  should  either  hit  a rock,  if  not  split 
asunder,  it  would  almost  certainly  be  upset,  and 
then  would  come  not  only  all  the  hazards  of 
the  river  itself,  but,  for  Mabel,  the  certainty  of 
falling  into  the  hands  of  her  pursuers.  The  ut- 
most circumspection  consequently  became  neces- 
sary, and  each  one  was  too  much  engrossed  with 
his  own  thoughts  to  feel  a disposition  to  utter 
more  than  was  called  for  by  the  exigencies  of  the 
case. 

As  the  canoes  stole  silently  along,  the  roar 
of  the  rift  became  audible,  and  it  required  all 
the  fortitude  of  Cap  to  keep  his  seat,  while  these 
boding  sounds  were  approached,  amid  a dark- 
ness that  scarcely  permitted  a view  of  the  out- 
lines of  the  wooded  shore,  and  of  the  gloomy 
vault  above  his  head.  He  retained  a vivid  im- 
pression of  the  falls,  and  his  imagination  was 
not  now  idle,  in  swelling  the  dangers  of  the  rift 
to  a level  with  those  of  the  headlong  descent  he 
had  that  day  made,  and  even  to  increase  them, 
under  the  influence  of  doubt  and  uncertainty. 
In  this,  however,  the  old  mariner  was  mistaken, 
for  the  Oswego  Rift  and  the  Oswego  Falls  are 
very  different  in  their  characters  and  violence ; 
the  former  being  no  more  than  a rapid,  that 
glances  among  shallows  and  rocks,  while  the  lat- 
ter really  deserved  the  name  it  bore,  as  has  been 
already  shown. 

Mabel  certainly  felt  distrust  and  apprehen- 
sion ; but  her  entire  situation  was  so  novel,  and 
her  reliance  on  her  guide  so  great,  that  she  re- 
tained a self-command  that  might  not  have  ex- 
isted had  she  clearer  perceptions  of  the  truth,  or 
been  better  acquainted  with  the  helplessness  of 
men,  when  placed  in  opposition  to  the  power  and 
majesty  of  Nature. 

“ This  is  the  spot  you  have  mentioned  ? ” she 
said  to  Jasper,  when  the  roar  of  the  rift  came 
fresh  and  distinct  on  her  ear. 

“ It  is ; and  I beg  you  to  have  confidence  in 
me.  We  are  not  old  acquaintances,  Mabel,  but 
we  live  many  days  in  one,  in  this  wilderness.  I 
think  already  that  I have  known  you  years  ! ” 

“ And  I do  not  feel  as  if  you  were  a stranger 
to  me,  Jasper.  I have  every  reliance  on  your 
skill,  as  well  as  on  your  disposition  to  serve  me.” 


“ We  shall  see — we  shall  see.  Pathfinder  ia 
striking  the  rapids  too  near  the  centre  of  the 
river.  The  bed  of  the  water  is  closer  to  the 
eastern  shore ; but  I cannot  make  him  hear  me 
now.  Hold  firmly  to  the  canoe,  Mabel,  and  fear 
nothing.” 

At  the  next  moment,  the  swift  current  sucked 
them  into  the  rift,  and  for  three  or  four  minutes 
the  awe-struck  rather  than  the  alarmed  girl  saw 
nothing  around  her  but  sheets  of  glancing  foam ; 
heard  nothing  but  the  roar  of  waters.  Twenty 
times  did  the  canoe  appear  about  to  dash  against 
some  curling  and  bright  wave,  that  showed  itself 
even  amid  that  obscurity,  and  as  often  did  it  glide 
away  again  unharmed,  impelled  by  the  vigorous 
arm  of  him  who  governed  its  movements.  Once, 
and  once  only,  did  Jasper  seem  to  lose  com- 
mand of  his  frail  bark,  during  which  brief  space 
it  fairly  whirled  entirely  round ; but,  by  a des- 
perate effort,  he  brought  it  again  under  control, 
recovered  the  lost  channel,  and  was  soon  re- 
warded for  all  his  anxiety  by  finding  himself 
floating  quietly  in  the  deep  water  below  the  rap- 
ids, secure  from  every  danger,  and  withont  hav- 
ing taken  in  enough  of  the  element  to  serve  for 
a draught. 

“ All  is  over,  Mabel,”  the  young  man  cheer- 
fully cried.  “ The  danger  is  past,  and  you  may 
now,  indeed,  hope  to  meet  your  father  this  very 
night.”  ( 

“ God  be  praised  ! Jasper,  we  shall  owe  this 
great  happiness  to  you ! ” 

“ The  Pathfinder  may  claim  a full  share  in  the 
merit ; but  what  has  become  of  the  other  ca- 
noe ? ” 

“ I see  something  near  us  on  the  water  ; is  it 
not  the  boat  of  our  friends  ? ” 

A few  strokes  of  the  paddle  brought  Jasper 
at  the  side  of  the  object  in  question.  It  was  the 
other  canoe,  empty  and  bottom  upward.  No 
sooner  did  the  young  man  ascertain  this  fact, 
than  he  began  to  search  for  the  swimmers  ; and, 
to  his  great  joy,  Cap  was  soon  discovered  drifting 
down  with  the  current ; the  old  seaman  prefer 
ring  the  chances  of  drowning  to  those  of  landing 
among  savages.  He  was  hauled  into  the  canoe, 
though  not  without  difficulty,  and  then  the  search 
ended  ; for  Jasper  was  persuaded  that  the  Path- 
finder would  wade  to  the  shore,  the  water  being 
shallow,  in  preference  to  abandoning  his  beloved 
rifle. 

The  remainder  of  the  passage  was  short, 
though  made  amid  darkness  and  doubt.  After  a 
short  pause,  a dull,  roaring  sound  was  heard, 
which  at  times  resembled  the  mutterings  of  dis- 
tant thunder,  and  then  again  brought  with  it  the 


SERGEANT  DUNHAM. 


49 


washing  of  waters.  Jasper  announced  to  his  com- 
panions that  they  now  heard  the  surf  of  the  lake. 
Low,  curved  spits  of  land  lay  before  them,  into 
the  bay  formed  by  one  of  which  the  canoe  glided, 
and  then  it  shot  up  noiselessly  upon  a gravelly 
beach.  The  transition  that  followed  was  so  hur- 
ried and  great,  that  Mabel  scarce  knew  what 
passed.  In  the  course  of  a few  minutes,  how- 
ever, sentinels  had  been  passed,  a gate  was 
opened,  and  the  agitated  girl  found  herself  in 
the  arms  of  a parent  who  was  almost  a stranger 
to  her. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

“ A land  of  love,  and  a land  of  light, 

"Withouten  sun,  or  moon,  or  night : 

Where  the  river  swa’d  a living  stream, 

And  the  light  a pure  celestial  beam : 

The  land  of  vision,  it  would  seem 
A still,  an  everlasting  dream.” 

Queen’s  Wake. 

The  rest  that  succeeds  fatigue,  and  which  at- 
tends a newly-awakened  sense  of  security,  is  gen- 
erally sweet  and  deep.  Such  was  the  fact  with 
Mabel,  who  did  not  rise  from  her  humble  pallet, 
such  a bed  as  a sergeant’s  daughter  might  claim  in 
a remote  frontier  post,  until  long  after  the  garri- 
son had  obeyed  the  usual  summons  cf  the  drums, 
and  had  assembled  at  the  early  parade.  Ser- 
geant Dunham,  on  whose  shoulders  fell  the  task 
of  attending  to  these  ordinary  and  daily  duties, 
had  got  through  all  his  morning  avocations,  and 
was  beginning  to  think  of  his  breakfast,  ere  his 
child  left  her  room  and  came  into  fresh  air,  equal- 
ly bewildered,  delighted,  and  grateful,  at  the  nov- 
elty and  security  of  her  new  situation. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  Oswe- 
go was  one  of  the  extreme  frontier  posts  of  the 
British  possessions  on  this  continent.  It  had»not 
been  long  occupied,  and  was  garrisoned  by  a bat- 
talion of  a regiment  that  had  been  originally 
Scotch,  but  into  which  many  Americans  had  been 
received,  since  its  arrival  in  this  country — an  in- 
novation that  had  led  the  way  to  Mabel’s  father 
filling  the  humble  but  responsible  situation  of 
the  oldest  sergeant.  A few  young  officers,  also, 
who  were  natives  of  the  colonies,  were  to  be  found 
in  the  corps.  The  fort  itself,  like  most  works  of 
that  character,  was  better  adapted  to  resist  an 
attack  of  savages  than  to  withstand  a regular 
siege ; but  the  great  difficulty  of  transporting 
heavy  artillery  and  other  necessaries  rendered 
♦he  occurrence  of  the  latter  a probability  so  re- 
mote, as  scarcely  to  enter  into  the  estimate  of 
h*  engineers  who  had  planned  the  defences. 

30  4 


There  were  bastions  of  earth  and  logs,  a dry 
ditch,  a stockade,  a parade  of  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  barracks  of  logs,  that  answered  the 
double  purpose  of  dwellings  and  fortifications. 
A few  light  field-pieces  stood  in  the  area  of  the 
fort,  ready  to  be  conveyed  to  any  point  where 
they  might  be  wanted ; and  one  or  two  heavy 
iron  guns  looked  out  from  the  summits  of  the  ad- 
vanced angles,  as  so  many  admonitions  to  tho 
audacious  to  respect  their  power. 

When  Mabel,  quitting  the  convenient  but  com- 
paratively retired  hut,  where  her  father  had  been 
permitted  to  place  her,  issued  into  the  pure  air 
of  the  morning,  she  found  herself  at  the  foot  of  a 
bastion  that  lay  invitingly  before  her,  with  a 
promise  of  giving  a coup  d'ceil  of  all  that  had 
been  concealed  in  the  darkness  of  the  preceding 
night.  Tripping  up  the  grassy  ascent,  the  light- 
hearted as  well  as  light-footed  girl  found  herself 
at  ODce  on  a point  where  the  sight,  at  a few  vary- 
ing glances,  could  take  in  all  the  external  novel- 
ties of  her  new  situation. 

To  the  southward  lay  the  forest  through  which 
she  had  been  journeying  so  many  weary  days, 
and  which  had  proved  so  full  of  dangers.  It  was 
separated  from  the  stockade  by  a belt  of  open 
land,  that  had  been  principally  cleared  of  its 
woods  to  form  the  martial  constructions  around 
her.  This  glacis,  for  such  in  fact  was  its  military 
uses,  might  have  covered  a hundred  acres,  but 
with  it  every  sign  of  civilization  ceased.  All  be- 
yond was  forest — that  dense,  interminable  forest 
that  Mabel  could  now  picture  to  herself,  through 
her  recollections,  with  its  hidden,  glassy  lakes, 
its  dark,  rolling  streams,  and  its  world  of  Nature ! 

Turning  from  this  view,  our  heroine  felt  her 
cheek  fanned  by  a fresh  and  grateful  breeze,  such 
as  she  had  not  experienced  since  quitting  the  far- 
distant  coast.  Here  a new  scene  presented  itself ; 
although  expected,  it  was  not  without  a start, 
and  a low  exclamation  indicative  of  pleasure,  that 
the  eager  eyes  of  the  girl  drank  in  its  beauties. 
To  the  north,  and  east,  and  west,  in  every  direc- 
tion, in  short,  over  one  entire  half  of  the  novel 
panorama,  lay  a field  of  rolling  waters.  The  ele- 
ment was  neither  of  that  glassy  green  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  American  waters  in  general,  nor 
yet  of  the  deep  blue  of  the  ocean ; the  color  be- 
ing of  a slightly  amber  hue,  that  scarcely  affected 
its  limpidity.  No  land  was  to  be  seen,  with  the 
exception  of  the  adjacent  coast,  which  stretched 
to  the  right  and  left,  in  an  unbroken  outline  of 
forest,  with  wide  bays,  and  low  headlands  or 
points ; still,  much  of  the  shore  was  rocky,  and 
into  its  caverns  the  sluggish  waters  occasionally 
rolled,  producing  a hollow  sound,  that  resembled 


50 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


the  concussions  of  a distant  gun.  No  sail  whit- 
ened the  surface,  no  whale  or  other  fish  gambolled 
on  its  bosom,  no  sign  of  use  or  service  rewarded 
the  longest  and  most  minute  gaze  at  its  bound- 
less expanse.  It  was  a scene,  on  one  side,  of  ap- 
parently endless  forests,  while  a waste  of  seem- 
ingly interminable  water  spread  itself  on  the  oth- 
er. Nature  had  appeared  to  delight  in  produ- 
cing grand  effects,  by  setting  two  of  her  principal 
agents  in  bold  relief  to  each  other,  neglecting  de- 
tails ; the  eye  turning  from  the  broad  carpet  of 
leaves  to  the  still  broader  field  of  fluid,  from  the 
endless  but  gentle  heavings  of  the  lake  to  the 
holy  calm  and  poetical  solitude  of  the  forest,  with 
wonder  and  delight. 

Mabel  Dunham,  though  unsophisticated,  like 
most  of  her  countrywomen  of  that  period,  and  in- 
genuous and  frank  as  any  warm-hearted  and  sin- 
cere-minded girl  well  could  be,  was  not  altogether 
without  a feeling  for  the  poetry  of  this  beautiful 
earth  of  ours.  Although  she  could  scarcely  be 
said  to  be  educated  at  all,  for  few  of  her  sex,  at 
that  day,  and  in  this  country,  received  much  more 
than  the  rudiments  of  plain  English  instruction, 
still  she  had  been  taught  much  more  than  was  usu- 
al for  young  women  in  her  own  station  of  life,  and, 
in  one  sense  certainly,  she  did  credit  to  her  teach- 
ing. The  widow  of  a field-officer,  who  formerly 
belonged  to  the  same  regiment  as  her  father,  had 
taken  the  child  in  charge  at  the  death  of  its  moth- 
er ; and,  under  the  care  of  this  lady,  Mabel  had 
acquired  some  tastes,  and  many  ideas,  which  oth- 
erwise might  always  have  remained  strangers  to 
her.  Her  situation  in  the  family  had  been  less 
that  of  a domestic  than  of  an  humble  companion, 
and  the  results  were  quite  apparent  in  her  attire, 
her  language,  her  sentiments,  and  even  in  her 
feelings,  though  neither,  perhaps,  rose  to  the  level 
of  those  which  would  properly  characterize  a 
lady.  She  had  lost  the  coarser  and  less  refined 
habits  and  manners  of  one  in  her  original  position, 
without  having  quite  reached  a point  that  dis- 
qualified her  for  the  situation  in  life  that  the  ac- 
cidents of  birth  and  fortune  would  probably  com- 
pel her  to  fill.  All  else  that  was  distinctive  and 
peculiar  to  her,  belonged  to  natural  character. 

With  such  antecedents,  it  will  occasion  the 
reader  no  wonder  if  he  learn  that  Mabel  viewed 
the  novel  scene  before  her  with  a pleasure  far 
superior  to  that  produced  by  vulgar  surprise. 
She  felt  its  ordinary  beauties  as  most  would  have 
felt  them,  but  she  had  also  a feeling  for  its  sub- 
limity— for  that  softened  solitude,  that  calm 
grandeur  and  eloquent  repose,  that  ever  pervade 
broad  views  of  natural  objects  which  are  yet  un- 
disturbed by  the  labors  and  struggles  of  man. 


“ How  beautiful ! ” she  exclaimed,  unconscious 
of  speaking,  as  she  stood  on  the  solitary  bastion, 
facing  the  air  from  the  lake,  and  experiencing  the 
genial  influence  of  its  freshness  pervading  both 
her  body  and  her  mind — “how  very  beautiful! 
and  yet  how  singular ! ” 

The  words,  and  the  train  of  her  ideas,  were 
interrupted  by  a touch  of  a finger  on  her  shoulder 
and  turning,  in  the  expectation  of  seeing  her 
father,  Mabel  found  Pathfinder  at  her  side.  He 
was  leaning  quietly  on  his  long  rifle,  and  laugh- 
ing in  his  quiet  manner,  while,  with  an  out- 
stretched arm,  he  swept  over  the  whole  panora- 
ma of  land  and  water. 

“ Here  you  have  both  our  domains,”  he  said, 
“ J asper’s  and  mine.  The  lake  is  for  him,  and  the 
woods  are  for  me.  The  lad  sometimes  boasts  of 
the  breadth  of  his  dominions,  but  I tell  him  my 
trees  make  as  broad  a plain  on  the  face  of  this 
’arth  as  all  his  water.  Well,  Mabel,  you  are  fit 
for  either,  for  I do  not  see  that  fear  of  the  Min- 
goes,  or  night-marches,  can  destroy  your  pretty 
looks.” 

“ It  is  a new  character  for  the  Pathfinder  to 
appear  in,  to  compliment  a silly  girl.” 

“Not  silly,  Mabel ; no,  not  in  the  least  silly 
The  sergeant’s  daughter  would  do  discredit  to  her 
worthy  father,  were  she  to  do  or  say  any  thing, 
that,  in  common  honesty,  could  be  called  silly.” 

“ Then  she  must  take  care  and  not  put  too 
much  faith  in  treacherous,  flattering  words.  But, 
Pathfinder,  I rejoice  to  see  you  among  us  again ; 
for,  though  Jasper  did  not  seem  to  feel  much 
uneasiness,  I was  afraid  some  accident  might 
have  happened  to  you  and  your  friend  on  that 
frightful  rift.” 

“ The  lad  knows  us  both,  and  was  sartain  that 
we  should  not  drown,  which  is  scarcely  one  of 
my  gifts.  It  would  have  been  hard  swimming, 
of  a sartainty,  with  a long-barrelled  rifle  in  the 
hand;  and,  what  between  the  game,  and  the 
savages,  and  the  French,  Killdeer  and  I have 
gone  through  too  much  in  company,  to  part  very 
easily.  No — no — we  waded  ashore,  the  rift  being 
shallow  enough  for  that,  with  small  exceptions, 
and  we  landed  with  our  arms  in  our  hands.  We 
had  to  take  our  time  for  it,  on  account  of  the 
Iroquois,  I will  own ; but,  as  soon  as  the  skulking 
vagabonds  saw  the  lights  that  the  sergeant  sent 
down  to  your  canoe,  we  well  understood  they 
would  decamp,  since  a visit  might  have  been 
expected  from  some  of  the  garrison.  So  it  was 
only  sitting  patiently  on  the  stones,  for  an  hour, 
and  all  the  danger  was  over.  Patience  is  the 
greatest  of  virtues  in  a woodsman.” 

“ I rejoice  to  hear  this,  for  fatigue  itself  could 


SAFETY  OF  MABEL  AND  HER  FRIENDS. 


51 


scarcely  make  me  sleep,  for  thinking  what  might 
befall  you.” 

“ Lord  bless  your  tender  little  heart,  Mabel ! 
But  this  is  the  way  with  all  you  gentle  ones.  I 
must  say,  on  my  part,  howsever,  that  I was  right 
glad  to  see  the  lanterns  come  down  to  the  water- 
side, which  I knew  to  be  a sure  sign  of  your 
safety.  We  hunters  and  guides  are  rude  beings, 
but  we  have  our  feelin’s,  our  idees,  as  well  as  any 
giniral  in  the  army.  Both  Jasper  and  I would 
have  died,  before  you  should  have  come  to  harm 
— we  would.” 

“ I thank  you  for  all  you  did  for  me,  Path- 
finder; from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  I thank 
you,  and,  depend  on  it,  my  father  shall  know  it. 
I have  already  told  him  much,  but  still  have  a 
duty  to  perform  on  this  subject.” 

“Tush,  Mabel!  The  sergeant  knows  what 
the  w’oods  be,  and  what  men — true  red  men  be, 
too.  There  is  little  need  to  tell  him  any  thing 
about  it.  Well,  now  you  have  met  your  father,  do 
you  find  the  honest  old  soldier  the  sort  of  person 
you  expected  to  find  ? ” 

“ He  is  my  own  dear  father,  and  received  me 
as  a soldier  and  a father  should  receive  a child. 
Have  you  known  him  long,  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“That  is  as  people  count  time.  I was  just 
twelve  when  the  sergeant  took  me  on  my  first 
scouting,  and  that  is  now  more  than  twenty  years 
ago.  We  had  a tramping  time  of  it,  and,  as  it  was 
before  your  day,  you  would  have  had  no  father, 
had  not  the  rifle  been  one  of  my  nat’ral  gifts.” 

“ Explain  yourself!  ” 

“It  is  too  simple  for  many  words.  We  were 
ambushed,  and  the  sergeant  had  got  a bad  hurt, 
and  would  have  lost  his  scalp,  but  for  a sort  of 
inbred  turn  I took  to  the  weapon.  We  brought 
him  off,  however,  and  a handsomer  head  of  hair, 
for  his  time  of  life,  is  not  to  be  found  in  the 
rijiment  that  the  sergeant  carries  about  him,  this 
blessed  day.” 

“You  saved  my  father’s  life,  Pathfinder!” 
exclaimed  Mabel,  unconsciously,  though  warmly, 
taking  one  of  his  hard,  sinewy  hands  into  both 
her  own.  “ God  bless  you  for  this,  too,  among 
your  other  good  acts  ! ” 

“Nay,  I did  not  say  that  much,  though  I 
believe  I did  save  his  scalp.  A man  might  live 
without  a scalp,  and  so  I cannot  say  I saved  his 
life.  Jasper  may  say  that  much  consarning  you ; 
for,  without  his  eye  and  arm,  the  canoe  would 
never  have  passed  the  rift  in  safety  on  a night 
like  the  last.  The  gifts  of  the  lad  are  for  the 
water,  while  mine  are  for  the  hunt  and  the  trail. 
He  is  yonder  in  the  cove  there,  looking  after  the 
canoes,  and  keeping  an  eye  on  his  beloved  little 


craft.  To  my  eye,  there  is  no  likelier  youth  ia 
these  parts  than  Jasper  Western.” 

For  the  first  time  since  she  had  left  her  room, 
Mabel  now  turned  her  eyes  beneath  her,  and  got 
a view  of  what  might  be  called  the  foreground 
of  the  remarkable  picture  she  had  been  studying 
with  so  much  pleasure.  The  Oswego  threw  its 
dark  waters  into  the  lake  between  banks  of  some 
height ; that  on  its  eastern  side  being  bolder  and 
projecting  farther  north  than  that  on  its  western. 
The  fort  was  on  the  latter,  and  immediately 
beneath  it  were  a few  huts  of  logs,  which,  as  they 
could  not  interfere  with  the  defence  of  the  place, 
had  been  erected  along  the  strand  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  and  containing  such  stores  as  were 
landed,  or  were  intended  to  be  embarked,  in  the 
communications  between  the  different  ports  on 
the  shores  of  Ontario.  There  were  two  low, 
curved,  gravelly  points,  that  had  been  formed, 
with  surprising  regularity,  by  the  counteracting 
forces  of  the  northerly  winds  and  the  swift  cur- 
rent, and  which,  inclining  from  the  storms  of  the 
lake,  formed  two  coves  within  the  river.  That  on 
the  western  side  was  the  most  deeply  indented, 
and,  as  it  also  had  the  most  water,  it  formed  a 
sort  of  picturesque  little  port  for  the  post.  It 
was  along  the  narrow  strand  that  lay  between  the 
low  height  of  the  fort  and  the  water  of  this  cove, 
that  the  rude  buildings  just  mentioned,  had  been 
erected. 

Several  skiffs,  batteaux,  and  canoes,  were 
hauled  up  on  the  shore,  and  in  the  cove  itself  lay 
the  little  craft  from  which  Jasper  obtained  his 
claim  to  be  considered  a sailor.  She  was  cutter- 
rigged,  might  have  been  of  forty  tons  burden, 
was  so  neatly  constructed  and  painted  as  to  have 
something  of  the  air  of  a vessel-of-war,  though 
entirely  without  quarters,  and  rigged  and  sparred 
with  so  scrupulous  a regard  to  proportions  and 
beauty,  as  well  as  fitness  and  judgment,  as  to 
give  her  an  appearance  that  even  Mabel  at  once 
distinguished  to  be  gallant  and  trim.  Her  mould 
was  admirable,  for  a wright  of  great  skill  had 
sent  her  drafts  from  England,  at  the  express 
request  of  the  officer  who  had  caused  her  to  be 
constructed  ; her  paint,  dark,  warlike,  and  neat ; 
and  the  long,  coach- whip  pennant  that  she  wore 
at  once  proclaimed  her  to  be  the  property  of  the 
king.  Her  name  was  the  Scv  d. 

“ That,  then,  is  the  vessel  of  Jasper!”  said 
Mabel,  who  associated  the  master  of  the  little 
craft  quite  naturally  with  the  cutter  itself.  “Are 
there  many  others  on  this  lake  ? ” 

“The  Frenchers  have  three;  one  of  which, 
they  tell  me,  is  a real  ship,  such  as  are  used  on 
the  ocean,  another  a brig,  and  a third  is  a cutter. 


52 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


like  the  Scud,  here,  which  they  call  the  Squirrel, 
in  their  own  tongue,  however ; and  which  seems 
to  have  a natural  hatred  of  our  own  pretty  boat, 
for  Jasper  seldom  goes  out  that  the  Squirrel  is  not 
at  his  heels.” 

“ And  is  Jasper  one  to  run  from  a Frenchman, 
though  he  appears  in  the  shape  of  a squirrel,  and 
that,  too,  on  the  water?” 

“Of  what  use  would  valor  be  without  the 
means  of  turning  it  to  account?  Jasper  is  a 
brave  boy,  as  all  on  this  frontier  know ; but  he 
has  no  gun,  except  a little  howitzer,  and  then  his 
crew  consists  of  only  two  men  besides  himself, 
and  a boy.  I was  with  him  in  one  of  his  tram- 
pooses,  and  the  youngster  was  risky  enough,  for 
he  brought  us  so  near  the  enemy  that  rifles 
began  to  talk ; but  the  Frenchers  carry  cannon, 
and  ports,  and  never  show  their  faces  outside  of 
Frontenac  without  having  some  twenty  men,  be- 
sides their  Squirrel,  in  their  cutter.  No — no — 
this  Scud  was  built  for  flying,  and  the  major  says 
he  will  not  put  her  in  a fighting  humor  by  giving 
her  men  and  arms,  lest  she  should  take  him  at 
his  word,  and  get  her  wings  clipped.  I know 
little  of  these  things,  for  my  gifts  are  not  at  all 
in  that  way ; but  I see  the  reason  of  the  thing- — 
I see  its  reason,  though  Jasper  does  not.” 

“ Ah ! here  is  my  uncle,  none  the  worse  for 
his  swim,  coming  to  look  at  this  inland  sea.” 

Sure  enough,  Cap,  who  had  announced  his 
approach  by  a couple  of  lusty  hems,  now  made 
his  appearance  on  the  bastion,  where,  after  nod- 
ding to  his  niece  and  her  companion,  he  made  a 
deliberate  survey  of  the  expanse  of  water  before 
him.  In  order  to  effect  this  at  his  ease,  the 
mariner  mounted  on  one  of  the  old  iron  guns, 
folded  his  arms  across  his  breast,  and  balanced 
his  body,  as  if  he  felt  the  motion  of  a vessel.  To 
complete  the  picture,  he  had  a short  pipe  in  his 
mouth. 

“Well,  Master  Cap,”  asked  the  Pathfinder,  in- 
nocently, for  he  did  not  detect  the  expression  of 
contempt  that  was  gradually  settling  on  the  fea- 
tures of  the  other,  “ is  it  not  a beautiful  sheet, 
and  fit  to  be  named  a sea  ? ” 

“ This,  then,  is  what  you  call  your  lake  ? ” de- 
manded Cap,  sweeping  the  northern  horizon  with 
his  pipe.  “ I say,  is  this,  really,  your  lake  ? ” 

“Sartain;  and,  if  the  judgment  of  one  who 
has  lived  on  the  shores  of  many  others  can  be 
taken,  a very  good  lake  it  is.” 

“ Just  as  I expected  ! A pond  in  dimensions, 
and  a scuttle-butt  in  taste.  It  is  all  in  vain  to 
travel  inland,  in  the  hope  of  seeing  any  thing 
either  full  grown  or  useful.  I knew  it  would  turn 
out  just  in  this  way.” 


“ What  is  the  matter  with  Ontario,  Master 
Cap  ? It  is  large,  and  fair  to  look  at,  and  pleas- 
ant enough  to  drink,  for  those  who  can’t  get  at 
the  water  of  the  springs.” 

“Do  you  call  this  large?”  asked  Cap,  again 
sweeping  the  air  with  the  pipe.  “ I will  just  ask 
you  what  there  is  large  about  it  ? Didn’t  Jasper 
himself  confess  that  it  was  only  some  twenty 
leagues  from  shore  to  shore  ? ” 

“ But,  uncle,”  interposed  Mabel,  “ no  land  is  to 
be  seen,  except  here  on  our  own  coast.  To  me  it 
looks  exactly  like  the  ocean.” 

“ This  bit  of  a pond  look  like  the  ocean ! 
Well,  Magnet,  that  from  a girl  who  has  had  real 
seamen  in  her  family  is  downright  nonsense. 
What  is  there  about  it,  pray,  that  has  even  the 
outline  of  a sea  on  it  ? ” 

“ Why,  there  is  water — water — water — noth- 
ing but  water,  for  miles  on  miles — far  as  the  eye 
can  see.” 

“ And  isn’t  there  water — water — water — noth- 
ing but  water  for  miles  on  miles,  in  your  rivers, 
that  you  have  been  canoeing  through,  too  ? — ay, 
and  ‘ as  far  as  the  eye  can  see,’  in  the  bargain  ? ” 

“ Yes,  uncle,  but  the  rivers  have  their  banks, 
and  there  are  trees  along  them,  and  they  are 
narrow.” 

“ And  isn’t  this  a bank  where  we  stand — don’t 
these  soldiers  call  this  the  bank  of  the  lake,  and 
ar’n’t  there  trees  in  thousands,  and  ar’n’t  twenty 
leagues  narrow  enough  of  all  conscience  ? Who 
the  devil  ever  heard  of  the  banks  of  the  ocean, 
unless  it  might  be  the  banks  that  are  under  the 
water  ? ” 

“ But,  uncle,  we  cannot  see  across  this  lake, 
as  we  can  see  across  a river.” 

“ There  you  are  out,  Magnet.  Ar’n’t  the  Ama- 
zon, and  Orinoco,  and  La  Plata  rivers,  and  can 
you  see  across  them  ? — Harkee,  Pathfinder,  I very 
much  doubt  if  this  strip  of  water  here  be  even 
a lake ; for  to  me  it  appears  to  be  only  a river. 
You  are  by  no  means  particular  about  your 
geography,  I find,  up  here  in  the  woods.” 

“ There  you  are  out,  Master  Cap.  There  is 
a river,  and  a noble  one  too,  at  each  end  of  it ; 
but  thi3  is  old  Ontario  before  you,  and,  though 
it  is  not  my  gift  to  live  on  a lake,  to  my  judg- 
ment there  are  few  better  that  this.” 

“And,  uncle,  if  we  stood  on  the  beach  at 
Rockaway,  what  more  should  we  see,  than  we 
now  behold  ? There  is  a shore  on  one  side,  or 
banks  there,  and  trees,  too,  as  well  as  those 
which  are  here.” 

“This  is  perverseness,  Magnet,  and  young 
girls  should  steer  clear  of  any  thing  like  obsti- 
nacy. In  the  first  place,  the  ocean  has  coasts, 


MASTER  CAP’S  DOGMATISM. 


53 


but  no  banks,  except  the  Grand  Banks,  as  I tell 
you,  which  are  out  of  sight  of  land ; and  you 
trill  not  pretend  that  this  bank  is  out  of  sight 
of  land,  or  even  under  water ! ” 

As  Mabel  could  not  very  plausibly  set  up 
this  extravagant  opinion,  Cap  pursued  the  sub- 
ject, his  countenance  beginning  to  discover  the 
triumph  of  a successful  disputant. 

“And  then  them  trees  bear  no  comparison 
to  these  trees.  The  coasts  of  the  ocean  have 
farms,  and  cities,  and  country-seats,  and,  in  some 
parts  of  the  world,  castles  and  monasteries,  and 
light-houses — ay,  ay — light-houses,  in  particular, 
on  them ; not  one  of  all  which  things  is  to  be 
seen  here.  No — no — Master  Pathfinder,  I never 
heard  of  an  ocean  that  hadn’t  more  or  less  light- 
houses on  it,  whereas,  hereaway,  there  is  not 
even  a beacon.” 

“There  is  what  is  better — there’s  what  is 
better  ; a forest  and  noble  trees,  a fit  temple  of 
God.” 

“ Ay,  your  forest  may  do  for  a lake,  but  of 
what  use  would  an  ocean  be,  if  the  earth  all 
around  it  were  forest  ? Ships  would  be  unneces- 
sary, as  timber  might  be  floated  in  rafts,  and  there 
would  be  an  end  of  trade,  and  what  would  a world 
be  without  trade ! I am  of  that  philosopher’s 
opinion,  who  says,  human  nature  was  invented 
for  the  purposes  of  trade. — Magnet,  I am  aston- 
ished that  you  should  think  this  water  even  looks 
like  sea- water? — Now,  I dare  say  that  there 
isn’t  such  a thing  as  a whale  in  all  your  lake, 
Master  Pathfinder ! ” 

“ I never  heard  of  one,  I will  confess,  but  I am 
no  judge  of  animals  that  live  in  the  water,  unless 
it  be  the  fishes  of  the  rivers  and  brooks.” 

“ Nor  a grampus,  nor  a porpoise  even ; not 
so  much  as  a poor  devil  of  a shark  ? ” 

“ I will  not  take  it  on  myself  to  say  there  is 
either.  My  gifts  are  not  in  that  way,  I tell  you, 
Master  Cap.” 

“Nor  herring,  nor  albatross,  nor  flying-fish” 
— continued  Cap,  who  kept  his  eye  fastened  on 
the  guide,  in  order  to  see  how  far  he  might  ven- 
ture. “ No  such  thing  as  a fish  that  can  fly,  I 
dare  say  ? ” 

“ A fish  that  can  fly  ! Master  Cap — Master 
Cap,  do  not  think  because  we  are  mere  borderers, 
that  we  have  no  idees  of  Natur’,  and  what  she  has 
been  pleased  to  do.  I know  there  are  squirrels 
that  can  fly — ” 

“ A squirrel  fly  ? — the  devil,  Master  Pathfinder ! 
Do  you  suppose  that  you  have  got  a boy  on  his 
first  v’y’ge,  up  here  among  you  ? ” 

“ I know  nothing  of  your  v’y’ges,  Master  Cap, 
though  I suppose  them  to  have  been  many  ; but, 


as  for  what  belongs  to  Natur’  in  the  woods,  what 
I have  seen  I may  tell,  and  not  fear  the  face  of 
man.” 

“ And  do  you  wish  me  to  understand  that  you 
have  seen  a squirrel  fly  ? ” 

“ If  you  wish  to  understand  the  power  of  God, 
Master  Cap,  you  will  do  well  to  believe  that,  and 
many  other  things  of  a like  natur’,  for  you  may 
be  quite  sartain  it  is  true.” 

“ And  yet,  Pathfinder,”  said  Mabel,  looking  so 
pretty  and  sweet  even  while  she  played  with  the 
guide’s  infirmity,  that  he  forgave  her  in  his  heart 
— “you,  who  speak  so  reverently  of  the  power 
of  the  Deity,  appear  to  doubt  that  a fish  can  fly  ? ” 
“ I have  not  said  it — I have  not  slid  it ; and 
if  Master  Cap  is  ready  to  testify  to  the  fact,  un- 
likely as  it  seems,  I am  willing  to  try  to  think  it 
true.  I think  it  every  man’s  duty  to  believe  in 
the  power  of  God,  however  difficult  it  may  be.” 

“And  why  isn’t  my  fish  as  likely  to  have 
wings  as  your  squirrel  ? ” demanded  Cap,  with 
more  logic  than  was  in  his  wont.  “ That  fishes 
do  and  can  fly,  is  as  true  as  it  is  reasonable — ” 
“Nay,  that  is  the  only  difficulty  in  believing 
the  story,”  rejoined  the  guide.  “It  seems  on- 
reasonable  to  give  an  animal  that  lives  in  the 
water  wings,  which  seemingly  can  be  of  no  use 
to  them.” 

“ And  do  you  suppose  that  the  fishes  are  such 
asses  as  to  fly  about  under  water,  when  they  are 
once  fairly  fitted  out  with  wings  ? ” 

“Nay,  I know  nothing  of  the  matter,  but  that 
fish  should  fly  in  the  air  seems  more  contrary  to 
Natur’  still,  than  that  they  should  fly  in  their  own 
quarters ; that  in  which  they  were  born  and 
brought  up,  as  one  might  say.” 

“ So  much  for  contracted  ideas,  Magnet.  The 
fish  fly  out  of  water  to  run  away  from  their  ene- 
mies in  the  water ; and  there  you  see  not  only  the 
fact,  but  the  reason  for  it.” 

“ Then  I suppose  it  must  be  true,”  said  the 
guide,  quietly.  “ How  long  are  their  flights  ? ” 
“Not  quite  as  far  as  those  of  pigeons,  per- 
haps, but  far  enough  to  make  an  offing.  As  for 
those  squirrels  of  yours,  we’ll  say  no  more  about 
them,  friend  Pathfinder,  as  I suppose  they  were 
mentioned  just  as  a make- weight  to  the  fish  in 
favor  of  the  woods.  But  what  is  this  thing, 
anchored  here  under  the  hill  ? ” 

“That  is  the  cutter  of  Jasper,  uncle,”  said 
Mabel,  hurriedly — “and  a very  pretty  vessel  I 
think  it  is.  Its  name,  too,  is  the  Scud.” 

“Ay,  it  will  do  well  enough  for  a lake,  per- 
haps, but  it’s  no  great  affair.  The  lad  has  got  a 
standing  bowsprit,  and  who  ever  saw  a cutter 
with  a standing  bowsprit  before  ! ” 


54 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ But  may  there  not  be  some  good  reason  for 
it,  on  a lake  like  this,  uncle  ? ” 

“ Sure  enough — I must  remember  this  is  "not 
the  ocean,  though  it  does  look  so  much  like  it.” 

“ Ah ! uncle,  then  Ontario  does  look  like  the 
ocean,  after  all ! ” 

“In  your  eyes,  I mean,  and  those  of  Path, 
tinder;  not  in  the  least  in  mine,  Magnet.  Now 
you  might  set  me  down  out  yonder,  in  the  middle 
of  this  bit  of  a pond,  and  that  too  in  the  darkest 
night  that  ever  fell  from  the  heavens,  and  in  the 
smallest  canoe,  and  I could  tell  you  it  was  only  a 
lake.  For  that  matter  the  Dorothy  ” (the  name  of 
his  vessel)  “ would  find  it  out  as  quick  as  I could 
myself.  I do  not  believe  that  brig  would  make 
more  than  a couple  of  short  stretches  at  the  most, 
before  she  would  perceive  the  difference  between 
Ontario  and  the  old  Atlantic.  I once  took  her 
down  into  one  of  the  large  South- American  bays, 
and  she  behaved  herself  as  awkwardly  as  a booby 
would  in  a church,  with  the  congregation  in  a 
hurry.  And  Jasper  sails  that  boat?  I must 
have  a cruise  with  the  lad,  Magnet,  before  I quit 
you,  just  for  the  name  of  the  thing.  It  would 
never  do  to  say  I got  in  sight  of  this  pond,  and 
went  away  without  taking  a trip  on  it.” 

“ Well,  well,  you  needn’t  wait  long  for  that,” 
returned  Pathfinder — “ for  the  sergeant  is  about 
to  embark  with  a party,  to  relieve  a post  among 
the  Thousand  Islands ; and,  as  I heard  him  say  he 
intended  that  Mabel  should  go  along,  you  can  join 
company  too.” 

“ Is  this  true,  Magnet  ? ” 

“I believe  it  is,”  returned  the  girl,  a flush,  so 
imperceptible  as  to  escape  the  observation  of  her 
companions,  glowing  on  her  cheeks,  “though  I 
have  had  so  little  opportunity  to  talk  with  my 
dear  father,  that  I am  not  quite  certain.  Here 
he  comes,  however,  and  you  can  inquire  of  him- 
self.” 

Notwithstanding  his  humble  rank,  there  was 
something  in  the  mien  and  character  of  Sergeant 
Dunham  that  commanded  respect.  Of  a tall, 
imposing  figure,  grave  and  saturnine  disposition, 
and  accurate  and  precise  in  his  acts  and  manner 
of  thinking,  even  Cap,  dogmatical  and  supercilious 
as  he  usually  was  with  landsmen,  did  not  presume 
to  take  the  same  liberties  with  the  old  soldier  as 
he  did  with  his  other  friends.  It  was  often  re- 
marked that  Sergeant  Dunham  received  more 
true  respect  from  Duncan  of  Lundie,  the  Scotch 
laird  who  commanded  the  post,  than  most  of  the 
subalterns  ; for  experience  and  tried  services  were 
of  quite  as  much  value  in  the  eyes  of  a veteran 
major,  as  birth  and  money.  While  the  sergeant 
never  even  hoped  to  rise  any  higher,  he  so  far 


respected  himself  and  his  present  station,  as  al- 
ways to  act  in  a way  to  command  attention  ; and 
the  habit  of  mixing  so  much  with  inferiors,  whos6 
passions  and  dispositions  he  felt  it  necessary  to 
restrain  by  distance  and  dignity,  had  so  far  colored 
his  whole  deportment  that  few  were  altogether 
free  from  its  influence.  While  the  captains  treated 
him  kindly,  and  as  an  old  comrade,  the  lieutenants 
seldom  ventured  to  dissent  from  his  military  opin- 
ions ; and  the  ensigns,  it  was  remarked,  actually 
manifested  a species  of  respect  that  amounted  to 
something  very  like  deference.  It  is  no  wonder, 
then,  that  the  announcement  of  Mabel  put  a sud- 
den termination  to  the  singular  dialogue  we  have 
just  related,  though  it  had  been  often  observed 
that  the  Pathfinder  was  the  only  man  on  that 
frontier,  beneath  the  condition  of  a gentleman, 
who  presumed  to  treat  the  sergeant  at  all  as  an 
equal,  or  even  with  the  cordial  familiarity  of  a 
friend. 

“ Good-morrow,  brother  Cap,”  said  the  ser- 
geant, giving  the  military  salute,  as  he  walked  in 
a grave,  stately  manner  on  the  bastion.  “ My 
morning  duty  has  made  me  seem  forgetful  of  you 
and  Mabel,  but  we  have  now  an  hour  or  two  to 
spare,  and  to  get  acquainted.  Do  you  not  per- 
ceive, brother,  a strong  likeness  in  the  girl  to 
her  we  have  so  long  lost  ? ” 

“ Mabel  is  the  image  of  her  mother,  sergeant, 
as  I have  always  said,  with  a little  of  your  firmer 
figure ; though  for  that  matter  the  Caps  were 
never  wanting  in  spring  and  activity.” 

Mabel  cast  a timid  glance  at  the  stern,  rigid 
countenance  of  her  father,  of  whom  she  had  ever 
thought  as  the  warm-hearted  dwell  on  the  affec- 
tion of  their  absent  parents,  and,  as  she  saw  that 
the  muscles  of  his  face  were  working,  notwith- 
standing the  stiffness  and  method  of  his  manner, 
her  very  heart  yearned  to  throw  herself  on  his 
bosom,  and  to  weep  at  will.  But  he  was  so  much 
colder  in  externals,  so  much  more  formal  and  dis- 
tant than  she  had  expected  to  find  him,  that  sh6 
would  not  have  dared  to  hazard  the  freedom,  even 
had  they  been  alone. 

“You  have  taken  a long  and  troublesome 
journey,  brother,  on  my  account,  and  we  will  try 
to  make  you  comfortable  while  you  stay  among 
us.” 

“ I hear  you  are  likely  to  receive  orders  to 
lift  your  anchor,  sergeant,  and  to  shift  your  berth 
into  a part  of  the  world  where  they  say  there  are 
a thousand  islands  ? ” 

“ Pathfinder,  this  is  some  of  your  forgetful- 
ness ? — ” 

“ Nay,  nay,  sergeant ; I forgot  nothing,  but  it 
did  not  seem  to  me  necessary  to  hide  vour  inten- 


THE  SERGEANT’S  HOSPITALITY. 


55 


lions  so  very  closely  from  your  own  flesh  and 
blood.” 

“ All  military  movements  ought  to  be  made 
with  as  little  conversation  as  possible,”  returned 
the  sergeant,  tapping  the  guide’s  shoulder,  in  a 
friendly  but  reproachful  manner.  “You  have 
passed  too  much  of  your  life  in  front  of  the  French 
not  to  know  the  value  of  silence.  But,  no  mat- 
ter ; the  thing  must  soon  be  known,  and  there  is 
no  great  use  in  trying,  now,  to  conceal  it.  We 
shall  embark  a relief-party,  shortly,  for  a post  on 
the  lake,  though  I do  not  say  it  is  for  the  Thou- 
sand Islands,  and  I may  have  to  go  with  it ; in 
which  case  I intend  to  take  Mabel  to  make  my 
broth  for  me,  and  I hope,  brother,  you  will  not 
despise  a soldier’s  fare,  for  a month  or  so.” 

“ That  will  depend  on  the  manner  of  march- 
ing. I have  no  love  for  woods  and  swamps.” 

“We  shall  sail  in  the  Scud ; and,  indeed,  the 
whole  service,  which  is  no  stranger  to  us,  is  like- 
ly enough  to  please  one  accustomed  to  the  wa- 
ter.” 

“ Ay,  to  salt-water,  if  you  will,  but  not  to 
lake-water.  If  you  have  no  person  to  handle 
that  bit  of  a cutter  for  you,  I have  no  objection 
to  ship  for  the  v’y’ge,  notwithstanding,  though  I 
shall  look  on  th6  whole  affair  as  so  much  time 
thrown  away  ; for  I consider  it  an  imposition  to 
call  sailing  about  this  pond  going  to  sea.” 

“ Jasper  is  every  way  able  to  manage  the 
Scud,  brother  Cap,  and  in  that  light  I cannot  say 
that  we  have  need  of  your  services,  though  we 
shall  be  glad  of  your  company.  You  cannot  re- 
turn to  the  settlements  until  a party  is  sent  in, 
and  that  is  not  likely  to  happen  until  after  my 
return. — Well,  Pathfinder,  this  is  the  first  time  I 
ever  knew  men  on  the  trail  of  the  Mingoes,  and 
you  not  at  their  head  ! ” 

“ To  be  honest  with  you,  sergeant,”  returned 
the  guide,  not  without  a little  awkwardness  of 
manner,  and  a perceptible  difference  in  the  hue 
of  a face  that  had  become  so  uniformly  red  by 
exposure,  “ I have  not  felt  that  it  was  my  gift, 
this  morning.  In  the  first  place,  I very  well  know 
that  the  soldiers  of  the  55th  are  not  the  lads  to 
overtake  Iroquois  in  the  woods,  and  the  knaves 
did  not  wait  to  be  surrounded,  when  they  knew 
that  Jasper  had  reached  the  garrison.  Then,  a 
man  may  take  a little  rest,  after  a summer  of  hard 
work,  and  no  impeachment  of  his  good-will.  Be- 
sides, the  Sarpent  is  out  with  them,  and  if  the 
miscreants  are  to  be  found  at  all,  you  may  trust 
to  his  inrnity  and  sight : the  first  being  stronger, 
and  the  last  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  good  as  my 
own.  He  loves  the  skulking  vagabonds  as  little 
as  myself ; and,  for  that  matter,  I may  say  that 


my  own  feelin’s  toward  a Mingo  are  not  much 
more  than  the  gifts  of  a Delaware  grafted  on  a 
Christian  stock.  No — no — I thought  I would 
leave  the  honor,  this  time,  if  honor  there  is  te 
be,  to  the  young  ensign  that  commands,  who,  if 
he  don’t  lose  his  scalp,  may  boast  of  his  cam- 
paign in  his  lettfers  to  his  mother,  when  he  gets 
in.  I thought  I would  play  idler  once  in  my 
life.” 

“ And  no  one  has  a better  right,  if  long  and 
faithful  service  entitles  a man  to  a furlough,”  re- 
turned the  sergeant,  kindly.  “ Mabel  will  think 
none  the  worse  of  you,  for  preferring  her  com- 
pany to  the  trail  of  the  savages ; and,  I dare  say, 
will  be  happy  to  give  you  a part  of  her  breakfast 
if  you  are  inclined  to  eat. — You  must  not  think, 
girl,  however,  that  the  Pathfinder  is  in  the  habit 
of  letting  prowlers  around  the  fort  beat  a retreat, 
without  hearing  the  crack  of  his  rifle.” 

“ If  I thought  she  did,  sergeant,  though  not 
much  given  to  showy  and  parade  evolutions,  I 
would  shoulder  Killdeer,  and  quit  the  garrison 
before  her  pretty  eyes  had  time  to  frown.  No — 
no — Mabel  knows  me  better,  though  we  are  but 
new  acquaintances,  for  there  has  been  no  want 
of  Mingoes  to  enliven  the  short  march  we  have 
already  made  in  company.” 

“It  would  need  a great  deal  of  testimony, 
Pathfinder,  to  make  me  think  ill  of  you  in  any 
way,  and  more  than  all  in  the  way  you  mention,” 
returned  Mabel,  coloring  with  the  sincere  ear- 
nestness with  which  she  endeavored  to  remove 
any  suspicion  to  the  contrary  from  his  mind. 
“ Both  father  and  daughter,  I believe,  owe  you 
their  lives,  and  believe  me  that  neither  will  ever 
forget  it.” 

“Thank  you,  Mabel,  thank  you  with  all  my 
heart.  But  I will  not  take  advantage  of  youi 
ignorance  neither,  girl,  and  therefore  shall  say  I 
do  not  think  the  Mingoes  would  have  hurt  a 
hair  of  your  head,  had  they  succeeded  by  their 
deviltries  and  contrivances  in  getting  you  into 
their  hands.  My  scalp,  and  Jasper’s,  and  Master 
Cap’s,  there,  and  the  Sarpent’s  too,  would  sar- 
tainly  have  been  smoked  ; but  as  for  the  ser- 
geant’s daughter,  I do  not  think  they  would  have 
hurt  a hair  of  her  head  ! ” 

“ And  why  should  I suppose  that  enemies 
known  to  spare  neither  women  nor  children, 
would  have  shown  more  mercy  to  me  than  to 
another  ? I feel,  Pathfinder,  that  I owe  you  mj 
life.” 

“ I say  nay,  Mabel ; they  wouldn’t  have  had 
the  heart  to  hurt  you.  No,  not  even  a fiery 
Mingo  devil  would  have  had  the  heart  to  hurt  a 
hair  of  your  head ! Bad  as  I suspect  the  vam 


56 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


pires  to  be,  I do  not  suspect  them  of  any  thing 
bo  wicked  as  that.  They  might  have  wished  you 
— nay  forced  you  to  become  the  wife  of  one  of 
their  chiefs,  and  that  would  be  torment  enough 
to  a Christian  young  woman  ; but  beyond  that  I 
do  not  think  even  the  Mingoes  themselves  would 
have  gone.” 

“ Well,  then,  I shall  owe  my  escape  from  this 
great  misfortune  to  you,”  said  Mabel,  taking  his 
hand  into  her  own,  frankly  and  cordially,  and 
certainly  in  a way  to  delight  the  honest  guide. 
“ To  me  it  would  be  a lighter  evil  to  be  killed, 
than  to  become  the  wife  of  an  Indian.” 

“ That  is  her  gift,  sergeant,”  exclaimed  Path- 
finder, turning  to  his  old  comrade,  with  gratifica- 
tion written  on  every  lineament  of  his  honest 
countenance,  “ and  it  will  have  its  way.  I tell 
the  Sarpent  that  no  Christianizing  will  ever  matT5 
even  a Delaware  a white  man ; nor  any  whooping 
and  yelling  convart  a pale-face  into  a red-skin. 
That  is  the  gift  of  a young  woman  born  of  Chris- 
tian parents,  and  it  ought  to  be  maintained.” 

“You  are  right,  Pathfinder;  and  so  far  as 
Mabel  Dunham  is  concerned,  it  shall  be  main- 
tained.— But  it  is  time  to  break  your  fasts,  and 
if  you  will  follow  me,  brother  Cap,  I will  show 
you  how  we  poor  soldiers  live,  here  on  a distant 
frontier.” 


CHAPTER  IX. 

“ Now  my  co-mates  and  partners  in  exile, 

Hath  not  old  custom  made  this  life  more  sweet 
Than  that  of  painted  pomp  ? Are  not  these  woods 
More  free  from  peril  than  the  curious  court  ? 

Here  feel  we  but  the  penalty  of  Adam.” 

As  You  Like  It. 

Sergeant  Dunham  made  no  empty  vaunt 
when  he  gave  the  promise  conveyed  in  the  clos- 
ing words  of  the  last  chapter.  Notwithstanding 
the  remote  frontier  position  of  the  post,  they 
who  lived  at  it  enjoyed  a table  that,  in  many  re- 
spects, kings  and  princes  might  have  envied.  At 
the  period  of  our  tale,  and  indeed  for  half  a cen- 
tury later,  the  whole  of  that  vast  region  which 
has  been  called  the  West,  or  the  new  countries, 
since  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  lay  a comparative* 
ly  unpeopled  desert,  teeming  with  all  the  living  pro- 
ductions of  Nature  that  properly  belonged  to  the 
climate,  man  and  the  domestic  animals  excepted. 
The  few  Indians  that  roamed  its  forests  then 
could  produce  no  visible  effects  on  the  abundance 
of  the  game ; and  the  scattered  garrisons,  or  oc- 
casional hnnters  that  here  and  there  were  to  be 
met  with  on  that  vast  surface,  had  no  other  in- 


fluence than  the  bee  on  the  buckwheat-field,  or 
the  humming-bird  on  the  flower. 

The  marvels  that  have  descended  to  our  own 
times,  in  the  way  of  tradition,  concerning  the 
qualities  of  beasts,  birds,  and  fishes,  that  were 
then  to  be  met  with,  on  the  shores  of  the  great 
lakes  in  particular,  are  known  to  be  sustained  by 
the  experience  of  living  men,  else  we  might  hesi 
tate  about  relating  them ; but,  having  been  eye- 
witnesses of  some  of  these  prodigies,  our  office 
shall  be  discharged  with  the  confidence  that  cer- 
tainty can  impart.  Oswego  was  particularly  well 
placed  to  keep  the  larder  of  an  epicure  amply 
supplied.  Fish  of  various  sorts  abounded  in  its 
river,  and  the  sportsman  had  only  to  cast  his  line 
to  haul  in  a bass,  or  some  other  member  of  the 
finny  tribe,  which  then  peopled  the  waters  as  the 
air  above  the  swamps  of  this  fruitful  latitude  is 
known  to  be  filled  with  insects.  Among  others 
was  the  salmon  of  the  lakes,  a variety  of  that 
well-known  species  that  is  scarcely  inferior  to  the 
delicious  salmon  of  Northern  Europe.  Of  the  dif- 
ferent migratory  birds  that  frequent  forests  and 
waters,  there  was  the  same  affluence,  hundreds 
of  acres  of  geese  and  ducks  being  often  seen  at  a 
time  in  the  great  bays  that  indent  the  shores  of 
the  lake.  Deer,  bears,  rabbits,  and  squirrels, 
with  divers  other  quadrupeds,  among  which  was 
sometimes  included  the  elk,  or  moose,  helped  to 
complete  the  sum  of  the  natural  supplies  on  which 
all  the  posts  depended,  more  or  less,  to  relieve 
the  unavoidable  privations  of  their  remote  frontier 
positions. 

In  a place  where  viands  that  would  elsewhere 
be  deemed  great  luxuries  were  so  abundant,  no 
one  was  excluded  from  their  enjoyment.  The 
meanest  individual  at  Oswego  habitually  feasted 
on  game  that  would  have  formed  the  boast  of  a 
Parisian  table ; and  it  was  no  more  than  a health- 
ful commentary  on  the  caprices  of  taste  and  of  the 
waywardness  of  human  desires,  that  the  very  diet, 
which  in  other  scenes  would  have  been  deemed 
the  subject  of  envy  and  repinings,  got  to  pall  on 
the  appetite.  The  coarse  and  regular  food  of  the 
army,  which  it  became  necessary  to  husband  on 
account  of  the  difficulty  of  transportation,  rose 
in  the  estimation  of  the  common  soldier,  and  at 
any  time  he  would  cheerfully  desert  his  venison, 
and  ducks,  and  pigeons,  and  salmon,  to  banquet 
on  the  sweets  of  pickled  pork,  stringy  turnips, 
and  half-cooked  cabbage. 

The  table  of  Sergeant  Dunham,  as  a mattei 
of  course,  partook  of  the  abundance  and  luxuries 
of  the  frontier  as  well  as  of  its  privations.  A de- 
licious broiled  salmon  smoked  on  a homely  plat- 
ter, hot  venison-steaks  sent  up  their  appetizing 


TABLE  LUXURIES. 


57 


•dors,  and  several  dishes  of  cold  meats,  all  of 
which  were  composed  of  game,  had  been  set  be- 
fore the  guests  in  honor  of  the  newly-arrived  visit- 
ors, and  in  vindication  of  the  old  soldier’ll  hospi- 
tality. 

“ You  do  not  seem  to  be  on  short  allowance 
in  this  quarter  of  the  world,  sergeant,”  said  Cap, 
after  he  had  got  fairly  initiated  into  the  mysteries 
of  the  different  dishes  ; “ your  salmon  might  sat- 
isfy a Scotsman.” 

“It  fails  to  do  it,  notwithstanding,  brother 
Cap ; for,  among  two  or  three  hundred  of  the 
fellows  that  we  have  in  this  garrison,  there  are 
not  half  a dozen  who  will  not  swear  that  the  fish 
is  unfit  to  be  eaten.  Even  some  of  the  lads,  who 
never  tasted  venison  except  as  poachers  at  home, 
turn  up  their  noses  at  the  fattest  haunches  that 
we  get  here.” 

“ Ay,  that  is  Christian  natur’,”  put  in  Path- 
finder, “ and  I must  say  it  is  none  to  its  credit. 
Now,  a red-skin  never  repines,  but  is  always 
thankful  for  the  food  he  gets,  whether  it  be  fat 
or  lean,  venison  or  bear,  wild-turkey’s  breast  or 
wild-goose’s  wing.  To  the  shame  of  us  white 
men  be  it  said  that  we  look  upon  blessings  with- 
out satisfaction,  and  consider  trifling  evils  mat- 
ters of  great  account.” 

“ It  is  so  with  the  55th,  as  I can  answer, 
though  I cannot  say  as  much  for  their  Chris- 
tianity,” returned  the  sergeant.  “ Even  the  ma- 
jor himself,  old  Duncan  of  Lundie,  will  sometimes 
swear  an  oatmeal-cake  is  better  fare  than  the 
Oswego  bass,  and  sigh  for  a swallow  of  Highland 
water,  when,  if  so  minded,  he  has  the  whole  of 
Ontario  to  quench  his  thirst  in.” 

“Has  Major  Duncan  a wife  and  children?” 
asked  Mabel,  whose  thoughts  naturally  turned 
toward  her  own  sex  in  her  new  situation. 

“ Not-  he,  girl ; though  they  do  say  that  he 
has  a betrothed  at  home.  The  lady,  it  seems,  is 
willing  to  wait  rather  than  suffer  the  hardships 
of  service  in  this  wild  region — all  of  which,  broth- 
er Cap,  is  not  according  to  my  notions  of  a wom- 
an’s duties.  Your  sister  thought  differently,  and, 
had  it  pleased  God  to  spare  her,  would  have  been 
sitting  at  this  moment  on  the  very  camp-stool 
that  her  daughter  so  well  becomes.” 

“ I hope,  sergeant,  you  do  not  think  of  Mabel 
for  a soldier’s  wife,”  returned  Cap,  gravely. 
“ Our  family  has  done  its  share  in  that  way  al- 
ready, and  it’s  high  time  the  sea  was  again  re- 
membered.” 

“ I do  not  think  of  finding  a husband  for  the 
girl  in  the  55th  or  any  other  regiment,  I can  prom- 
ise you,  brother ; though  I do  think  it  getting  to 
be  time  that  the  child  were  respectably  married.” 


“Father!” 

“ ’Tis  not  their  gifts,  sergeant,  to  talk  of  these 
matters  in  so  open  a manner,”  said  the  guide, 
“ for  I’ve  seen  it  verified  by  exper’ence  that  he 
who  would  follow  the  trail  of  a virgin’s  good-will 
must  not  go  shouting  out  his  thoughts  behind 
her.  So,  if  you  please,  we  will  talk  of  something 
else.” 

“ Well,  then,  brother  Cap,  I hope  that  bit  of  a 
cold-roasted  pig  is  to  your  mind ; you  seem  to 
fancy  the  food.” 

“ Ay,  ay,  give  me  civilized  grub,  if  I must 
eat,”  returned  the  pertinacious  seaman.  “Veni- 
son is  well  enough  for  your  inland  sailors,  but  we 
of  the  ocean  like  a little  of  that  which  we  under- 
stand.” 

Here  Pathfinder  laid  down  his  knife  and  fork, 
and  indulged  in  a hearty  laugh,  though  always  in 
his  silent  manner ; then  he  asked,  with  a little 
curiosity  in  his  manner  : 

“ Don’t  you  miss  the  skin,  Master  Cap  ; don’t 
you  miss  the  skin  ? ” 

“ It  would  have  been  better  for  its  jacket,  I 
think  myself,  Pathfinder ; but  I suppose  it  is  a 
fashion  of  the  woods  to  serve  up  shoats  in  this 
style.” 

“Well,  well,  a man  may  go  round  the  ’arth 
and  not  know  every  thing  ! If  you  had  had  the 
skinning  of  that  pig,  Master  Cap,  it  would  have 
left  you  sore  hands.  The  creatur’  is  a hedge- 
hog ! ” 

“ Blast  me,  if  I thought  it  wholesome  natural 
pork,  either ! ” returned  Cap.  “ But  then  I be- 
lieved even  a pig  might  lose  some  # of  its  good 
qualities,  up  hereaway,  in  the  woods.  It  seemed 
no  more  than  reason  that  a fresh -water  hog 
should  not  be  altogether  so  good  as  a salt-water 
hog. — I suppose,  sergeant,  by  this  time,  it  is  all 
the  same  to  you  ? ” 

“ If  the  skinning  of  it,  brother,  does  not  fall 
to  my  duty. — Pathfinder,  I hope  you  didn’t  find 
Mabel  disobedient  on  the  march  ? ” 

“ Not  she — not  she.  If  Mabel  is  only  half  as 
well  satisfied  with  Jasper  and  the  Pathfinder,  as 
the  Pathfinder  and  Jasper  are  satisfied  with  her, 
sergeant,  we  shall  be  friends  for  the  remainder  of 
our  days.” 

As  the  guide  spoke,  he  turned  his  eyes  toward 
the  blushing  girl,  with  a sort  of  innocent  desire 
to  know  her  opinion ; and  then,  with  an  inborn 
delicacy  that  proved  he  was  far  superior  to  the 
vulgar  desire  to  invade  the  sanctity  of  feminine 
feeling,  he  looked  at  his  plate,  and  seemed  to  re- 
gret his  own  boldness. 

“Well,  well,  we  must  remember  that  women 
are  not  men,  my  friend,”  resumed  the  sergeant, 


58 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


J and  make  proper  allowances  for  nature  and 
education.  A recruit  is  not  a veteran.  Any  man 
knows  that  it  takes  longer  to  make  a good  sol- 
dier than  it  takes  to  make  any  thing  else  ; and  it 
ought  to  require  unusual  time  to  make  a good 
soldier’s  daughter.” 

“ This  is  new  doctrine,  sergeant,”  said  Cap, 
with  some  spirit.  “We  old  seamen  are  apt  to 
think  that  six  soldiers,  ay,  and  capital  soldiers, 
too,  might  be  made,  while  one  sailor  is  getting 
his  education.” 

“ Ay,  brother  Cap,  I’ve  seen  something  of  the 
opinions  which  seafaring  men  have  of  themselves,” 
returned  the  brother-in-law,  with  a smile  as  bland 
as  comported  with  his  saturnine  features  ; “ for  I 
was  many  years  one  of  the  garrison  in  a seaport. 
You  and  I have  conversed  on  the  subject  before, 
and  I’m  afraid  we  shall  never  agree.  But  if  you 
wish  to  know  what  the  difference  is,  between  a 
real  soldier,  and  man  in  what  I should  call  a 
state  of  Nature,  you  have  only  to  look  at  a bat- 
talion of  the  55th,  on  parade  this  afternoon,  and 
then,  when  you  get  back  to  York,  examine  one 
of  the  militia  regiments  making  its  greatest  ef- 
forts.” 

“ Well,  to  my  eye,  sergeant,  there  is  very  lit- 
tle difference — not  more  than  you’ll  find  between 
a brig  and  a snow.  To  me  they  seem  alike  ; all 
scarlet,  and  feathers,  and  powder,  and  pipe-clay.” 

“ So  much,  sir,  for  the  judgment  of  a sailor,” 
returned  the  sergeant,  with  dignity ; “ but  per- 
haps you  are  not  aware  that  it  requires  a year  to 
teach  a true  soldier  how  to  eat.” 

“ So  much  the  worse  for  him ! The  militia 
know  how  to  eat  at  starting ; for  I have  often 
heard  that,  on  their  marches,  they  commonly  eat 
all  before  them,  even  if  they  do  nothing  else.” 

“ They  have  their  gifts,  I suppose,  like  other 
men,”  observed  Pathfinder,  with  a view  to  pre- 
serve the  peace,  which  was  evidently  in  some  dan- 
ger of  being  broken,  by  the  obstinate  predilection 
of  each  of  the  disputants  in  favor  of  his  own  call- 
ing ; “ and  when  a man  has  his  gift  from  Provi- 
dence, it  is  commonly  idle  to  endeavor  to  bear  up 
ag’in  it.  The  55th,  sergeant,  is  a judicious  riji- 
ment,  in  the  way  of  eating,  as  I know  from  hav- 
ing been  so  long  in  its  company,  though  I dare 
say  militia  corps  could  be  found  that  would  outdo 
them  in  feats  of  that  natur’,  too.” 

“ Uncle,”  said  Mabel,  “ if  you  have  breakfast- 
ed, I will  thank  you  to  go  out  upon  the  bastion 
with  me  again.  We  have  neither  of  us  seen  the 
lake,  and  it  would  be  hardly  seemly  for  a young 
woman  to  be  walking  about  the  fort,  the  first  day 
of  her  arrival,  quite  alone.” 

Cap  understood  the  motive  of  Mabel,  and  hav- 


ing, at  the  bottom,  a hearty  friendship  for  bis 
brother-in-law,  he  was  willing  enough  to  defer  the  * 
argument  until  they  had  been  longer  together, 
for  the. idea  of  abandoning  it  altogether  never 
crossed  the  mind  of  one  so  dogmatical  and  ob- 
stinate. He  accordingly  accompanied  his  niece, 
leaving  Sergeant  Dunham  and  his  friend  the 
Pathfinder  alone  together.  As  soon  as  his  ad- 
versary had  beaten  a retreat,  the  sergeant,  who 
did  not  quite  so  well  understand  the  manoeuvre 
of  his  daughter,  turned  to  his  companion,  and 
with  a smile  that  was  not  without  triumph  he  re- 
marked : 

“ The  army,  Pathfinder,  has  never  yet  done 
itself  justice ; and,  though  modesty  becomes  a 
man  whether  he  is  in  a red  coat  or  a black  one, 
or,  for  that  matter,  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  I don’t 
like  to  let  a good  opportunity  slip  of  saying  a 
word  in  its  behalf.  Well,  my  friend,”  laying  his 
own  hand  on  one  of  the  Pathfinder’s,  and  giving 
it  a hearty  squeeze — “ how  do  you  like  the 
girl  ? ” 

“ You  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  her,  ser- 
geant ; you  have  reason  to  be  proud  at  finding 
yourself  the  father  of  so  handsome  and  well-man- 
nered a young  woman.  I have  seen  many  of  her 
sex,  and  some  that  were  great  and  beautiful,  but 
never  before  did  I meet  with  one  in  whom  I 
thought  Providence  had  so  well  balanced  the  dif- 
ferent gifts.” 

“ And  the  good  opinion,  I can  tell  you,  Path- 
finder, is  mutual.  She  told  me  last  night  all 
about  your  coolness,  and  spirit,  and  kindness — 
particularly  the  last ; for  kindness  counts  for 
more  than  half  with  females,  my  friend,  and  the 
first  inspection  seems  to  give  satisfaction  on  both 
sides.  Brush  up  the  uniform,  and  pay  a little 
more  attention  to  the  outside,  Pathfinder,  and 
you  will  have  the  girl,  heart  and  hand.” 

“ Nay,  nay,  sergeant,  I’ve  forgotten  nothing 
that  you  have  told  me,  and  grudge  no  reasonable 
pains  to  make  myself  as  pleasant  in  the  eyes  of 
Mabel  as  she  is  getting  to  be  in  mine.  I cleaned 
and  brightened  up  Killdeer,  this  morning,  as  soon 
as  the  sun  rose  ; and,  in  my  judgment,  the  piece 
never  looked  better  than  it  does  at  this  very  mo- 
ment ! ” 

“ That  is  according  to  your  hunting-notions, 
Pathfinder ; but  fire-arms  should  sparkle  and 
glitter  in  the  sun,  and  I never  yet  could  see  any 
beauty  in  a clouded  barrel.” 

“ Lord  Howe  thought  otherwise,  sergeant ; 
and  he  was  accounted  a good  soldier ! ” 

“ Yery  true — his  lordship  had  all  the  barrels 
of  his  regiment  darkened,  and  what  good  came  ol 
it  ? You  can  see  his  ’scutcheon  hanging  in  the 


A PRIVATE  CONVERSATION. 


59 


English  church  at  Albany ! No,  no,  my  worthy 
-friend,  a soldier  should  be  a soldier,  and  at  no 
time  ought  he  to  be  ashamed  or  afraid  to  carry 
about  him  the  signs  and  symbols  of  his  honorable 
trade.  Had  you  much  discourse  with  Mabel, 
Pathfinder,  as  you  came  along  in  the  canoe  ? ” 

“ There  was  not  much  opportunity,  sergeant, 
and  then  I found  myself  so  much  beneath  her  in 
idees,  that  I was  afraid  to  speak  of  much  beyond 
what  belonged  to  my  own  gifts.” 

“ Therein  you  are  partly  right,  and  partly 
wrong,  my  friend.  Women  love  trifling  discourse, 
though  they  like  to  have  most  of  it  to  themselves. 
Now,  you  know,  I’m  a man  that  do  not  loosen 
my  tongue  at  every  giddy  thought,  and  yet 
there  were  days  when  I could  see  that  Mabel’s 
mother  thought  none  the  worse  of  me  because  I 
descended  a little  from  my  manhood.  It  is  true, 
I was  twenty-two  years  younger  then,  than  I am 
to-day ; and,  moreover,  instead  of  being  the  old- 
est sergeant  in  the  regiment,  I was  the  youngest. 
Dignity  is  commanding  and  useful,  and  there  is 
no  getting  on  without  it,  as  respects  the  men ; 
but  if  you  would  be  thoroughly  esteemed  by  a 
woman,  it  is  necessary  to  condescend  a little,  on 
occasions.” 

“ Ah’s  me  ! sergeant ; I sometimes  fear  it  will 
never  do ! ” 

“ Why  do  you  think  so  discouragingly  of  a 
matter  on  which  I thought  both  our  minds  were 
made  up  ? ” 

“We  did  agree  that  if  Mabel  should  prove 
what  you  told  me  she  was,  if  the  girl  could  fancy 
a rude  hunter  and  guide,  that  I would  quit  some 
of  my  wandering  ways,  and  try  to  humanize  my 
mind  down  to  a wife  and  children.  But,  since  I 
have  seen  the  girl,  I will  own  that  many  misgiv- 
in’s  have  come  over  me  ! ” 

“ How’s  this ! ” interrupted  the  sergeant, 
sternly.  “ Did  I not  understand  you  to  say  that 
you  were  pleased  ? — And  is  Mabel  a young  wom- 
an to  disappoint  expectation  ? ” 

“ Ah ! sergeant,  it  is  not  Mabel  that  I dis- 
trust, but  myself.  I am  but  a poor,  ignorant 
woodsman,  after  all,  and  perhaps  I’m  not,  in 
truth,  as  good  as  even  you  and  I may  think 
me ! ” 

“ If  you  doubt  your  own  judgment  of  your- 
self, Pathfinder,  I beg  you  will  not  doubt  mine. 
Am  I not  accustomed  to  judge  men’s  characters  ? 
Is  it  not  my  especial  duty,  and  am  I often  de- 
ceived ? Ask  Major  Duncan,  sir,  if  you  desire  any 
assurances  in  this  particular.” 

“ But,  sergeant,  we  have  long  been  fri’nds ; 
have  fou’t  side  by  side  a dozen  times,  and  have 
done  each  other  many  sarvices.  When  this  is 


the  case,  men  are  apt  to  think  overkindly  of 
each  other,  and  I fear  me  that  the  daughter  may 
not  be  so  likely  to  view  a plain,  ignorant  hunter 
as  favorably  as  the  father  does.” 

“ Tut,  tut,  Pathfinder ! you  don’t  know  your- 
self, man,  and  may  put  all  faith  in  my  judgment. 
In  the  first  place,  you  have  experience,  and,  as  all 
girls  must  want  that,  no  prudent  young  woman 
would  overlook  such  a qualification.  Then  you 
are  not  one  of  the  coxcombs  that  strut  about 
when  they  first  join  a regiment,  but  a man  who 
has  seen  service,  and  who  carries  the  marks  of  it 
on  his  person  and  countenance.  I dare  say  you 
have  been  under  fire  some  thirty  or  forty  times, 
counting  all  the  skirmishes  and  ambushes  that 
you’ve  seen.” 

“ All  of  that,  sergeant,  all  of  that ; but  what 
will  it  avail  in  gaining  the  good  will  of  a tender- 
hearted female  ? ” 

“It  will  gain  the  day.  Experience  in  the 
field  is  as  good  in  love  as  in  war.  But  you  are 
as  honest-hearted  and  as  loyal  a subject  as  the 
king  can  boast  of— God  bless  him  ! ” 

“ That  may  be  too — that  may  be  too ; but  I’m 
afeard  I’m  too  rude,  and  too  old,  and  too  wild- 
like to  suit  the  fancy  of  such  a young  and  deli- 
cate girl  as  Mabel,  who  has  been  unused  to  our 
wilderness  ways,  and  may  think  the  settlements 
better  suited  to  her  gifts  and  inclinations.” 

“ These  are  new  misgivings  for  you,  my  friend, 
and  I wonder  they  were  never  paraded  before.” 

“ Because  I never  knew  my  own  worthless- 
ness, perhaps,  until  I saw  Mabel.  I have  trav- 
elled with  some  as  fair,  and  have  guided  them 
through  the  forest,  and  seen  them  in  their,  perils 
and  in  their  gladness  ; but  they  were  always  too 
much  above  me  to  make  me  think  of  them  as 
more  than  so  many  feeble  ones  I was  bound  to 
protect  and  defend.  The  case  is  now  different. 
Mabel  and  I are  so  nearly  alike  that  I feel 
weighed  down  with  a load  that  is  hard  to  bear  at 
finding  us  so  unlike.  I do  wish,  sergeant,  that  I 
was  ten  years  younger,  more  comely  to  look  at, 
and  better  suited  to  please  a handsome  young 
woman’s  fancy  1 ” 

“ Cheer,  up,  my  brave  friend,  and  trust  to  a 
father’s  knowledge  of  womankind.  Mabel  half 
loves  you  already,  and  a fortnight’s  intercourse 
and  kindness,  down  among  the  islands  yonder, 
will  close  ranks  with  the  other  half.  The  girl  aa 
much  as  told  me  this  herself,  last  night.” 

“ Can  this  be  so,  sergeant  ? ” said  the  guide, 
whose  meek  and  modest  nature  shrank  from 
viewing  himself  in  colors  so  favorable.  “Can 
this  be  truly  so ! Iam  but  a poor  hunter,  and 
Mabel,  I see,  is  fit  to  be  an  officer’s  lady.  Do 


80 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


you  think  the  gal  will  consent  to  quit  all  her  be- 
loved settlement  usages,  and  her  visitin’s,  and 
her  cliurch-goin’s,  to  dwell  with  a plain  guide  and 
hunter,  up  hereaway,  in  the  woods?  Will  she* 
not,  in  the  end,  crave  her  old  way3,  and  a better 
man  ? ” 

“ A better  man,  Pathfinder,  would  be  hard  to 
find,”  returned  the  father.  “ As  for  town  usages, 
they  are  soon  forgotten  in  the  freedom  of  the  for- 
est, and  Mabel  has  just  spirit  enough  to  dwell  on 
a frontier.  I’ve  not  planned  this  marriage,  my 
friend,  without  thinking  it  over,  as  a general 
does  his  campaign.  At  first,  I thought  of  bring- 
ing you  into  the  regiment,  that  you  might  succeed 
me  when  I retired,  which  must  be  sooner  or  later ; 
but,  on  reflection,  Pathfinder,  I think  you  are 
scarcely  fitted  for  the  office.  Still,  if  not  a soldier 
in  all  the  meanings  of  the  word,  you  are  a soldier 
in  its  best  meaning,  and  I know  that  you  have 
the  good-will  of  every  officer  in  the  corps.  As 
long  as  I live,  Mabel  can  dwell  with  me,  and  you 
will  always  have  a home  when  you  return  from 
your  scoutings  and  marches.” 

“ This  is  very  pleasant  to  think  of,  sergeant, 
if  the  girl  can  only  come  into  our  wishes  with 
good-will.  But,  ah’s  me ! it  does  not  seem  that 
one  like  myself  can  ever  be  agreeable  in  her 
handsome  eyes ! If  I were  younger,  and  more 
comely,  now,  as  Jasper  Western  is,  for  instance  ; 
there  might  be  a chance — yes,  then,  indeed,  there 
might  be  some  chance.” 

“ That,  for  Jasper  Eau-douce  and  every  younk- 
er  of  them  in  or  about  the  fort ! ” returned  the 
sergeant,  snapping  his  fingers.  “ If  not  actually 
a younger,  you  are  a younger-looking,  ay,  and  a 
better -looking  man  than  the  Scud’s  master — ” 

“ Anan  ! ” said  Pathfinder,  looking  up  at  his 
companion  with  an  expression  of  doubt,  as  if  he 
did  not  understand  his  meaning. 

“ I say,  if  not  actually  younger  in  days  and 
years,  you  look  more  hardy  and  like  whip-cord, 
than  Jasper,  or  any  of  them ; and  there  will  be 
more  of  you,  thirty  years  hence,  than  of  all  of 
them  put  together.  A good  conscience  will  keep 
one  like  you  a mere  boy  all  his  life.” 

“ Jasper  has  as  clear  a conscience  as  any 
youth  I know,  sergeant !— and  is  as  likely  to 
wear,  on  that  account,  as  any  young  man  in  the 
colony.” 

“ Then  you  are  my  friend,”  squeezing  the 
other’s  hand — “my  tried,  sworn,  and  constant 
friend.” 

“ Yes,  we  have  been  friends,  sergeant,  near 
twenty  years — before  Mabel  was  born.” 

“True  enough  — before  Mabel  was  born  we 
were  well-tried  friends,  and  the  hussy  would  never  | 


dream  of  refusing  to  marry  a man  who  was  her 
father’s  friend  before  she  was  born ! ’ 

“ We  don’t  know,  sergeant,  we  don’t  know. 
Like  loves  like.  The  young  prefar  the  young  for 
companions,  and  the  old  the  old.” 

'‘Not  for  wives,  Pathfinder!  I never  knew 
an  old  man,  now,  who  had  an  objection  to  a 
young  wife.  Then  you  are  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  every  officer  in  the  fort,  as  I have 
said  already,  and  it  will  please  her  fancy  to  like 
a man  that  every  one  else  likes.” 

“ I hope  I have  no  inemies  but  the  Mfngoes,” 
returned  the  guide,  stroking  down  his  hair  meek- 
ly, and  speaking  thoughtfully.  “ I’ve  tried  to  do 
right,  and  that  ought  to  make  friends,  though  it 
sometimes  fails.” 

“ And  you  may  be  said  to  keep  the  best  com- 
pany, for  even  old  Duncan  of  Lundie  is  glad  to 
see  you,  and  you  pass  hours  in  his  society.  Of 
all  the  guides,  he  confides  most  in  you.” 

“Ay,  even  greater  than  he  is  have  marched 
by  my  side  for  days,  and  have  conversed  with  me 
as  if  I were  their  brother ; but,  sergeant,  I have 
never  been  puffed  up  by  their  company,  for  I 
know  that  the  woods  often  bring  men  to  a level 
who  would  not  be  so  in  the  settlements.” 

“ And  you  are  known  to  be  the  greatest  rifle- 
shot that  ever  pulled  a trigger  in  all  this  region.” 

“ If  Mabel  could  fancy  a man  for  that,  I might 
have  no  great  reason  to  despair;  and  yet  ser- 
geant, I sometimes  think  that  it  is  all  as  much 
owing  to  Killdeer  as  to  any  skill  of  my  own.  It 
is  sartainly  a wonderful  piece,  and  might  do  as 
much  in  the  hands  of  another.” 

“ That  is  your  own  humble  opinion  of  your- 
self, Pathfinder  ; but  we  have  seen  too  many  fail 
with  the  same  weapon,  and  you  succeed  too  often 
with  the  rifles  of  other  men  to  allow  me  to  agree 
with  you.  We  will  get  up  a shooting-match  in  a 
day  or  two,  when  you  can  show  your  skill,  and 
then  Mabel  will  form  some  judgment  concerning 
your  true  character.” 

“ Will  that  be  fair,  sergeant  ? Everybody 
knows  that  Killdeer  seldom  misses,  and  ought  we 
to  make  a trial  of  this  sort  when  we  all  know 
what  must  be  the  result  ? ” 

“ Tut,  tut,  man  ! I foresee  I must  do  half  this 
courting  for  you.  For  one  who  is  always  inside 
of  the  smoke  in  a skirmish,  you  are  the  faintest- 
hearted  suitor  I ever  met  with.  Remember,  Ma- 
bel comes  of  a bold  stock ; and  tne  girl  will  be  as 
likely  to  a imire  a man  as  her  mother  was  before 
her.” 

Here  the  sergeant  arose,  and  proceeded  to  afc 
tend  to  his  never-ceasing  duties  without  apology 
the  terms  on  which  the  guide  stood  with  all  in  the 


TKE  GUIDE’S  CHARACTER. 


61 


garrison  rendering  this  freedom  quite  a matter  of 
course. 

The  reader  will  have  gathered  from  the  con- 
versation just  related,  one  of  the  plans  that  Ser- 
geant Dunham  had  in  view,  in  causing  his  daugh- 
ter to  be  brought  to  the  frontier.  Although 
necessarily  much  weaned  from  the  caresses  and 
blandishments  that  had  rendered  his  child  so  dear 
to  him,  during  the  first  year  or  two  of  his  widow- 
hood, he  had  still  a strong,  but  somewhat  latent, 
love  for  her.  Accustomed  to  command  and  to 
obey,  without  being  questioned  himself  or  ques- 
tioning others  concerning  the  reasonableness  of 
the  mandates,  he  was,  perhaps,  too  much  disposed 
to  believe  that  his  daughter  would  marry  the  man 
he  might  select,  while  he  was  far  from  being  dis- 
posed to  do  violence  to  her  wishes.  The  fact 
was,  few  knew  the  Pathfinder  intimately,  without 
secretly  coming  to  believe  him  to  be  one  of  ex- 
traordinary qualities.  Ever  the  same,  simple- 
minded,  faithful,  utterly  without  fear,  and  yet 
prudent,  foremost  in  all  warrantable  enterprises, 
or  what  the  opinion  of  the  day  considered  as  such, 
and  never  engaged  in  any  thing  to  call  a blush  to 
his  cheek,  or  censure  on  his  acts ; it  was  not  possi- 
ble to  live  much  with  this  being,  who,  in  his  pecu- 
liar way,  was  a sort  of  ty^p  of  what  Adam  might 
nave  been  supposed  to  be  before  the  fall,  though 
certainly  not  without  sin,  and  not  feel  a respect  and 
admiration  for  him,  that  had  no  reference  to  his 
position  in  life.  It  was  remarked  that  no  officer 
passed  him  without  saluting  him  as  if  he  had  been 
his  equal ; no  common  man,  without  addressing 
him  with  the  confidence  and  freedom  of  a comrade. 
The  most  surprising  peculiarity  about  the  man 
himself,  was  the  entire  indifference  with  which  he 
regarded  all  distinctions  that  did  not  depend  on 
personal  merit.  He  was  respectful  to  his  superiors 
from  habit,  but  had  often  been  known  to  correct 
their  mistakes  and  to  reprove  their  vices,  with  a 
fearlessness  that  proved  how  essentially  he  re- 
garded the  more  material  points,  and  with  a nat- 
ural discrimination  that  appeared  to  set  education 
at  defiance.  In  short,  a disbeliever  in  the  ability 
of  man  to  distinguish  between  good  and  evil  with- 
out the  aid  of  instruction,  would  have  been  stag- 
gered by  the  character  of  this  extraordinary  in- 
habitant of  the  frontier.  His  feelings  appeared 
to  possess  the  freshness  and  nature  of  the  forest 
in  which  he  passed  so  much  of  his  time,  and  no 
casuist  could  have  made  clearer  decisions  in  mat- 
ters relating  to  right  and  wrong ; yet  he  was  not 
without  his  prejudices,  which,  though  few,  and 
colored  by  the  character  and  usages  of  the  indi- 
vidual, were  deep-rooted,  and  had  almost  got  to 
form  a part  of  his  nature.  But  the  most  striking 


feature  about  the  moral  organization  of  Path- 
finder, was  his  beautiful  and  unerring  sense  of 
justice.  This  noble  trait  (and  without  it  no  man 
can  be  truly  great' ; with  it,  no  man  other,  than 
respectable)  probably  had  its  unseen  influence  on 
all  who  associated  with  him ; for  the  common  and 
unprincipled  brawler  of  the  camp  had  been  known 
to  return  from  an  expedition  made  in  his  com- 
pany, rebuked  by  his  sentiments,  softened  by  his 
language,  and  improved  by  his  example.  As 
might  have  been  expected,  with  so  elevated  a 
quality,  his  fidelity  was  like  the  immovable  rock. 
Treachery  in  him  was  classed  among  the  things 
that  are  impossible,  and  as  he  seldom  retired 
before  his  enemies,  so  was  he  never  known,  under 
any  circumstances  that  admitted  of  an  alternative, 
to  abandon  a friend.  The  affinities  of  such  a 
character  were,  as  a matter  of  course,  those  of 
like  for  like.  His  associaties  and  intimates, 
though  more  or  less  determined  by  chance,  were 
generally  of  the  highest  order,  as  to  moral  pro- 
pensities ; for  he  appeared  to  possess  a species  of 
instinctive  discrimination  that  led  him  insensibly 
to  himself,  most  probably,  to  cling  closest  to  those 
whose  characters  would  best  reward  his  friend- 
ship. In  short,  it  was  said  of  the  Pathfinder,  by 
one  accustomed  to  study  his  fellows,  that  he  was 
a fair  example  of  what  a just-minded  and  pure 
man  might  be,  while  untempted  by  unruly  or 
ambitious  desires,  and  left  to  follow  the  bias  of 
his  feelings,  amid  the  solitary  grandeur  and  en- 
nobling influences  of  a sublime  nature ; nei- 
ther led  aside  by  the  inducements  which  influ- 
ence all  to  do  evil  amid  the  incentives  of  civiliza- 
tion, nor  forgetful  of  the  Almighty  Being  whose 
spirit  pervades  the  wilderness  as  well  as  the 
towns. 

Such  was  the  man  whom  Sergeant  Dunham 
had  selected  as  the  husband  of  Mabel.  In  mak- 
ing this  choice  he  had  not  been  as  much  governed 
by  a clear  and  judicious  view  of  the  merits  of  the 
individual,  perhaps,  as  by  his  own  likings  ; still, 
no  one  knew  the  Pathfinder  as  intimately  as  him- 
self, without  always  conceding  to  the  honest  guide 
a high  place  in  his  esteem,  account  of  these 
very  virtues.  That  his  daughter  could  find  any 
serious  objection  to  the  match,  the  old  soldier  did 
not  apprehend  ; while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  saw 
many  advantages  to  himself,  in  dim  perspective, 
that  were  connected  with  the  decline  of  his  days, 
and  an  evening  of  life  passing  among  descendants 
who  were  equally  dear  to  him  through  both 
parents.  He  first  made  the  proposition  to  his 
friend,  who  had  listened  to  it  kindly,  but  who> 
the  sergeant  was  now  pleased  to  find,  already  be- 
trayed a willingness  to  come  into  his  own 


62 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


views,  that  was  proportioned  to  the  doubts  and 
misgivings  proceeding  from  his  humble  distrust 
of  himself. 


CHAPTER  X 

M Think  not  I love  him,  though  I ask  for  him  ; 

’Tis  but  a peevish  boy yet  he  talks  well— 

But  what  care  I for  words  ? ” 

A week  passed  in  the  usual  routine  of  a gar- 
rison. Mabel  was  becoming  used  to  a situation 
that,  at  first-,  she  had  found  not  only  novel  but  a 
little  irksome ; and  the  officers  and  men,  in  their 
turn,  gradually  familiarized  to  the  presence  of  a 
young  and  blooming  girl,  whose  attire  and  car- 
riage had  that  air  of  modest  gentility  about  them 
which  she  had  obtained  in  the  family  of  her 
patroness,  annoyed  her  less  by  their  ill-concealed 
admiration,  while  they  gratified  her  by  the  respect 
which,  she  was  fain  to  think,  they  paid  her  on 
account  of  her  father;  but  which,  in  truth,  was 
more  to  be  attributed  to  her  own  modest  but 
spirited  deportment,  than  to  any  deference  for 
the  worthy  sergeant. 

Acquaintances  made  in  a forest,  or  in  any 
circumstances  of  unusual  excitement,  soon  attain 
their  limits.  Mabel  found  one  week’s  residence 
at  Oswego  sufficient  to  determine  her  as  to  those 
with  whom  she  might  be  intimate,  and  those 
whom  she  ought  to  avoid.  The  sort  of  neutral 
position  occupied  by  her  father,  who  was  not  an 
officer  while  he  was  so  much  more  than  a common 
soldier,  by  keeping  her  aloof  from  the  two  great 
classes  of  military  life,  lessened  the  number  of 
those  whom  she  was  compelled  to  know,  and 
made  the  duty  of  decision  comparatively  easy. 
Still  she  soon  discovered  that  there  were  a few, 
even  among  those  that  could  aspire  to  a seat  at 
the  commandant’s  table,  who  were  disposed  to 
overlook  the  halbert,  for  the  novelty  of  a well- 
turned  figure,  and  of  a pretty,  winning  face ; and 
by  the  end  of  the  first  two  or  three  days,  she  had 
admirers  even  amoi^  the  gentlemen.  The  quarter- 
master, in  particular,  a middle-aged  soldier,  who 
had  more  than  once  tried  the  blessings  of  matri- 
mony, but  was  now  a widower,  was  evidently 
disposed  to  increase  his  intimacy  with  the  ser- 
geant, though  their  duties  often  brought  them 
together ; and  the  youngsters  among  his  mess- 
mates did  not  fail  to  note  that  this  man  of  method, 
who  was  a Scotsman  of  the  name  of  Muir,  was 
much  more  frequent  in  his  visits  to  the  quarters 
of  hi3  subordinate  than  had  formerly  been  his 
wont.  A laugh,  or  a joke,  in  honor  of  the  “ser- 
geant’s daughter,”  however,  limited  their  strict- 


ures ; though  “ Mabel  Dunham  ” was  soon  a toast 
that  even  the  ensign  or  the  lieutenant  did  not  dis 
dain  to  give. 

At  the  end  of  the  week,  Duncan  of  Lundie 
sent  for  Sergeant  Dunham  after  evening  roll-call, 
on  business  of  a nature  that,  it  was  understood, 
required  a personal  conference.  The  old  veteran 
dwelt  in  a movable  hut,  which,  being  placed  on 
trucks,  he  could  order  to  be  wheeled  about  at 
pleasure,  sometimes  living  in  one  part  of  the  area 
within  the  fort,  and  sometimes  in  another.*  On 
the  present  occasion,  he  had  made  a halt  near  the 
centre,  and  there  he  was  found  by  his  subordi- 
nate, who  was  admitted  to  his  presence  without 
any  delay,  or  dancing  attendance  in  an  ante- 
chamber. In  point  of  fact,  there  was  very  little 
difference  in  the  quality  of  the  accommodations 
given  to  the  officers  and  those  allowed  to  the  men, 
the  former  being  merely  granted  the  most  room, 
and  Mabel  and  her  father  were  lodged  nearly,  if 
not  quite,  as  well  as  the  commandant  of  the  place 
himself. 

“ Walk  in,  sergeant,  walk  in,  my  good  friend,” 
said  old  Lundie,  heartily,  as  his  inferior  stood  in 
a respectful  attitude  at  the  door  of  a sort  of  li- 
brary and  bedroom  into  which  he  had  been  ush- 
ered— “ walk  in,  and  take  a seat  on  that  stool. 
I have  sent  for  you,  man,  to  discuss  any  thing  but 
rosters  and  pay-rolls  this  evening.  It  is  now 
many  years  since  we  have  been  comrades,  and 
‘ auld  lang  syne  ’ should  count  for  something, 
even  between  a major  and  his  orderly,  a Scot  and 
a Yankee.  Sit  ye  down,  man,  and  just  put  your- 
self at  your  ease.  It  has  been  a fine  day,  ser- 
geant ? ” 

“ It  has  indeed,  Major  Duncan,”  returned  the 
other,  who,  though  he  complied  so  far  as  to  take 
the  seat,  was  much  too  practised  not  to  under- 
stand the  degree  of  respect  it  was  necessary  to 
maintain  in  his  manner — “ a very  fine  day,  sir,  it 
has  been,  and  we  may  look  for  more  of  them,  at 
this  season.” 

“ I hope  so,  with  all  my  heart.  The  crops 
look  well,  as  it  is,  man,  and  you’ll  be  finding  that 
the  55th  make  almost  as  good  farmers  as  soldiers. 

I never  saw  better  potatoes  in  Scotland  than  we 
are  likely  to  have  in  that  new  patch  of  ours.” 

“ They  promise  a good  yield,  Major  Duncan, 
and  in  that  light  a more  comfortable  winter  than 
the  last.” 

“ Life  is  progressive,  sergeant,  in  its  comforts, 
as  well  as  in  its  need  of  them.  We  grow  old,  and 
I begin  to  think  it  time  to  retire  and  settle  in  life, 

I feel  that  my  working-days  are  nearly  over.” 

* This  circumstance  is  a real  incident,  taken  from  tin 
“ American  Lady  ” of  Mrs.  Grant,  of  Laggan. 


THE  SERGEANT  AND  MAJOR  DUNCAN. 


63 


“ The  king,  God  bless  him,  sir,  has  much  good 
service  in  your  honor,  yet.” 

“ It  may  be  so,  Sergeant  Dunham,  especially 
if  he  should  happen  to  have  a spare  lieutenant- 
colonelcy  left.” 

“The  65th  will  be  honored  the  day  that  com- 
mission is  given  to  Duncan  of  Lundie,  sir.” 

“ And  Duncan  of  Lundie  will  be  honored  the 
day  he  receives  it.  But,  sergeant,  if  you  have 
never  had  a lieutenant-colonelcy,  you  have  had 
a good  wife,  and  that  is  the  next  thing  to  rank, 
in  making  a man  happy.” 

“ I have  been  married,  Major  Duncan  ; but  it 
is  now  a long  time  since  I have  had  no  drawback 
on  the  love  I bear  his  majesty  and  my  duty.” 

“ What,  man,  not  even  the  love  you  bear  that 
active,  little,  round-limbed,  rosy-cheeked  daugh- 
ter, that  I have  seen  in  the  fort,  these  last  few 
days  ? Out  upon  you,  sergeant ! old  fellow  as  I 
am,  I could  almost  love  that  little  lassie  myself, 
and  send  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  to  the  devil.” 

“ We  all  know  where  Major  Duncan’s  heart  is, 
and  that  is  in  Scotland,  where  a beautiful  lady  is 
ready  and  willing  to  make  him  happy  as  soon  as 
nis  own  sense  of  duty  shall  permit.” 

“Ay,  hope  is  ever  a far-off  thing,  sergeant,” 
returned  the  superior,  a shade  of  melancholy 
passing  over  his  hard  Scottish  features  as  he 
spoke ; “ and  bonny  Scotland  is  a far-off  country. 
Well,  if  we  have  no  heather  and  oatmeal  in  this 
region,  we  have  venison  for  the  killing  it ; and 
salmon  as  plenty  as  at  Berwick-upon-Tweed.  Is 
it  true,  sergeant,  that  the  men  complain  of  hav- 
ing been  over-venisoned  and  over-pigeoned  of 
late  ? ” 

“ Not  for  some  weeks,  Major  Duncan,  tor  nei- 
ther deer  nor  birds  are  so  plenty  at  this  season  as 
they  have  been.  They  begin  to  throw  their  re- 
marks about  concerning  the  salmon,  but  I trust 
we  shall  get  through  the  summer  without  any 
serious  disturbance  on  the  score  of  food.  The 
Scotch  in  the  battalion  do,  indeed,  talk  more  than 
is  prudent  of  their  want  of  oatmeal,  grumbling 
occasionally  of  our  wheaten  bread.” 

“ Ah ! that  is  human  nature,  sergeant ; pure 
unadulterated  Scottish  human  nature.  A cake, 
man,  to  say  the  truth,  is  an  agreeable  morsel,  and 
I often  see  the  time  when  I pine  for  a bite  my- 
self.” 

“If  the  feeling  gets  to  be  troublesome,  Major 
Duncan — in  the  men  I mean,  sir,  for  I would  not 
think  of  saying  so  disrespectful  a thing  to  your 
honor — but  if  the  men  ever  pine  seriously  for 
their  natural  food,  I would  humbly  recommend 
that  some  oatmeal  be  imported,  or  prepared  in 
this  country  for  them,  and  I think  we  shall  hear 


no  more  of  it.  A very  little  would  answer  for  a 
cure,  sir.” 

“ You  are  a wag,  sergeant ; but  hang  me  if  I 
am  sure  you  are  not  right.  There  may  be  sweet- 
er things  in  this  world,  after  all,  than  oatmeal. 
You  have  a sweet  daughter,  Dunham,  for  one.” 

“Th6  girl  is  like  her  mother,  Major  Duncan, 
and  will  pass  inspection,”  said  the  sergeant, 
proudly.  “ Neither  was  brought  up  on  any  thing 
better  than  good  American  flour.  The  girl  will 
pass  inspection,  sir.” 

“That  would  she,  I’ll  answer  for  it.  Well,  I 
may  as  well  come  to  the  point  at  once,  man,  and 
bring  up  my  reserve  into  the  front  of  the  battle. 
Here  is  Davy  Muir,  the  quartermaster,  is  disposed 
to  make  your  daughter  his  wife,  and  he  has  just 
got  me  to  open  the  matter  to  you,  being  fearful 
of  compromitting  his  own  dignity — and  I may  as 
well  add,  that  half  the  youngsters  in  the  fort 
toast  her,  and  talk  of  her  from  morning  till 
night.” 

“She  is  much  honored,  sir,”  returned  the 
father,  stiffly,  “but  I trust  the  gentlemen  will 
find  something  more  worthy  of  them  to  talk 
about,  ere  long.  I hope  to  see  her  the  wife  of  an 
honest  man,  before  many  weeks,  sir.” 

“ Yes,  Davy  is  an  honest  man,  and  that  is 
more  than  can  be  said  of  all  in  the  quartermaster’s 
department,  I’m  thinking,  sergeant,”  returned 
Lundie,  with  a slight  smile.  “Well,  then,  may  I 
tell  the  Cupid-stricken  youth  that  the  matter  is 
as  good  as  settled  ? ” 

“ I thank  your  honor,  but  Mabel  is  betrothed 
to  another.” 

“ The  devil  she  is ! ’ That  will  produce  a stir 
in  the  fort;  though  I’m  not  sorry  to  hear  it, 
either,  for  to  be  frank  with  you,  sergeant,  I’m  no 
great  admirer  of  unequal  matches.” 

“ I think  with  your  honor,  and  have  no  desire 
to  see  my  daughter  an  officer’s  lady.  If  she  can 
get  as  high  as  her  mother  was  before  her,  it  ought 
to  satisfy  any  reasonable  woman.” 

“ And  may  I ask,  sergeant,  who  is  the  lucky 
man  that  you  intend  to  call  son-in-law  ? ” 

“ The  Pathfinder,  your  honor.” 

“ Pathfinder ! ” 

“ The  same,  Major  Duncan ; and  in  naming 
him  to  you,  I give  you  his  whole  history.  No 
one  is  better  known  on  this  frontier  than  my 
honest,  brave,  true-hearted  friend.” 

“ All  that  is  true  enough ; but  is  he,  after  all, 
the  sort  of  person  to  make  a girl  of  twenty  hap- 
pv  ? ” 

“ Why  not,  your  honor  ? the  man  is  at  the 
head  of  his  calling.  There  is  no  other  guide,  or 
scout,  connected  with  the  army,  that  has  half  th* 


64 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


reputation  of  Pathfinder,  or  who  deserves  to  have 
it  half  as  well.” 

“ Yery  true,  sergeant ; but  is  the  reputation  of 
a scout  exactly  the  sort  of  renown  to  captivate  a 
girl’s  fancy  ? ” 

“ Talking  of  girls’  fancies,  sir,  is,  in  my  humble 
opinion,  much  like  talking  of  a recruit’s  j udgment. 
If  we  were  to  take  the  movements  of  the  awk- 
ward squad,  sir,  as  a guide,  we  should  never  form 
a decent  line  in  battalion,  Major  Duncan.” 

“But  your  daughter  has  nothing  awkward 
about  her ; for  a genteeler  girl,  of  her  class,  could 
not  be  found  in  old  Albin  itself.  Is  she  of  your 
way  of  thinking,  in  this  matter  ? — though  I sup- 
pose she  must  be,  as  you  say  she  is  betrothed.” 

“ We  have  not  yet  conversed  on  the  subject, 
your  honor,  but  I consider  her  mind  as  good  as 
made  up,  from  several  little  circumstances  that 
might  be  named.” 

“And  what  are  these  circumstances,  ser- 
geant?” asked  the  major,  who  began  to  take 
more  interest  than  he  had  at  first  felt,  in  the  sub- 
ject. “ I confess  a little  curiosity  to  learn  some- 
thing about  a woman’s  mind,  being,  as  you  know, 
a bachelor  myself.” 

“ Why,  your  honor,  when  I speak  of  the  Path- 
finder to  the  girl,  she  always  looks  me  full  in  the 
face ; chimes  in  with  every  thing  I say  in  his  favor, 
and  has  a frank,  open  way  with  her,  which  says 
as  much  as  if  she  half  considered  him,  already,  as 
a husband.” 

“ Hum ! — and  these  signs  you  think,  Dun- 
ham, are  faithful  tokens  of  your  daughter’s  feel- 
ings ? ” 

“ I do,  your  honor,  for  they  strike  me  as  nat- 
ural. When  I find  a man,  sir,  who  looks  me  full 
in  the  face,  while  he  praises  an  officer — for,  beg- 
ging your  honor’s  pardon,  the  men  will  sometimes 
pass  their  strictures  on  their  betters — and  when 
I find  a man  looking  me  in  the  eyes  as  he  praises 
his  captain,  I always  set  it  down  that  the  fellow  is 
honest,  and  means  what  he  says.” 

“ Is  there  not  some  material  difference  in  the 
age  of  the  intended  bridegrpom  and  that  of  his 
pretty  bride,  sergeant  ? ” 

“You  are  quite  right,  sir;  Pathfinder  is  well 
advanced  toward  forty,  and  Mabel  has  every 
prospect  of  happiness  that  a young  woman  can 
derive  from  the  certainty  of  possessing  an  expe- 
rienced husband.  I was  quite  forty  myself,  your 
honor,  when  I married  her  mother.” 

“ But  will  your  daughter  be  as  likely  to  admire 
a green  hunting-shirt,  such  as  that  our  worthy 
guide  wears,  with  a foxskin  cap,  as  the  smart 
uniform  of  the  55th  ? ” 

“Perhaps  not,  sir;  and,  therefore,  she  will 


I have  the  merit  of  self-denial,  which  always  makes 
| a young  woman  wiser  and  better.” 

“ And  are  you  not  afraid  that  she  may  be  left 
a widow  while  still  a young  woman  ? What  be- 
tween wild  beasts  and  wilder  savages,  Pathfinder 
may  be  said  to  carry  his  life  in  his  hand.” 

“ ‘ Every  bullet  has  its  billet,  ’ Lundie,  ” for  so 
the  major  was  fond  of  being  called,  in  his  moments 
of  condescension,  and  when  not  engaged  in  mili- 
tary affairs,  “and  no  man  in  the  55th  can  call 
himself  beyond,  or  above,  the  chances  of  sudden 
death.  In  that  particular,  Mabel  would  gain  noth- 
ing by  a change.  Besides,  sir,  if  I may  speak 
freely  on  such  a subject,  I much  doubt  if  ever 
Pathfinder  dies  in  battle,  or  by  any  of  the  sudden 
chances  of  the  wilderness.” 

“And  why  so,  sergeant?”  asked  the  major, 
looking  at  his  inferior  with  the  sort  of  reverence 
which  a Scot  of  his  day  was  more  apt  than  at 
present  to  entertain  for  mysterious  agencies. 
“ He  is  a soldier,  so  far  as  danger  is  concerned, 
and  one  that  is  much  more  than  usually  exposed ; 
and,  being  free  of  his  person,  why  should  he  ex- 
pect to  escape,  when  others  do  not  ? ” 

“ I do  not  believe,  your  honor,  that  the  Path- 
finder considers  his  own  chances  better  than  any 
one’s  else,  but  the  man  will  never  die  by  a bullet. 
I have  seen  him  so  often,  handling  his  rifle  with 
as  much  composure  as  if  it  were  a shepherd’s 
crook,  in  the  midst  of  the  heaviest  showers  of 
bullets,  and  under  so  many  extraordinary  circum- 
stances, that  I do  not  think  Providence  means  he 
should  ever  fall  in  that  manner.  And  yet,  if  there 
be  a man  in  his  majesty’s  dominions  who  really 
deserves  such  a death,  it  is  Pathfinder  ! ” 

“We  never  know,  sergeant,”  returned  Lundie, 
with  a countenance-  that  was  grave  with  thought, 
“ and  the  less  we  say  about  it,  perhaps,  the  bet- 
ter. But  will  your  daughter — Mabel,  I think, 
you  call  her — will  Mabel  be  as  willing  to  accept 
one,  who,  after  all,  is  a mere  hanger-on  of  the 
army,  as  to  take  one  from  the  service  itself? 
There  is  no  hope  of  promotion  for  the  guide 
sergeant ! ” 

“ He  is  at  the  head  of  his  corps,  already,  your 
honor.  In  short,  Mabel  has  made  up  her  mind 
on  this  subject,  and,  as  your  honor  has  had  the 
condescension  to  speak  to  me  about  Mr.  Muir,  I 
trust  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  say  that  the  girl 
is  as  good  as  billeted  for  life.” 

“ Well,  well,  this  is  your  own  matter,  and  now 
— Sergeant  Dunham ! ” 

“Your  honor,”  said  the  other,  rising,  and  giv- 
ing the  customary  salute. 

“You  have  been  told  it  is  my  intention  to 
send  you  down  among  the  Thousand  Islands,  for 


PLANNING  FOR  MABEL’S  MARRIAGE. 


65 


the  next  month.  All  the  old  subalterns  have  had 
their  tours  of  duty  in  that  quarter — all  that  I like 
to  trust,  at  least — and  it  has,  at  length,  come  to 
your  turn.  Lieutenant  Muir,  it  is  true,  claims 
his  right,  but,  being  quartermaster,  I do  not  like 
to  break  up  well-established  arrangements.  Are 
the  men  drafted  ? ” 

“ Every  thing  is  ready,  your  honor.  The  draft 
is  made,  and  I understood  that  the  canoe  which 
got  in  last  night,  brought  a message  to  say  that 
the  party  already  below  is  looking  out  for  the 
relief.” 

“ It  did,  and  you  must  sail  the  day  after  to-mor- 
row, if  not  to-morrow  night.  It  will  be  wise,  per- 
haps, to  sail  in  the  dark.” 

“ So  Jasper  thinks,  Major  Duncan,  and  I 
know  no  one  more  to  be  depended  on,  in  such  an 
affair,  than  young  Jasper  Western.” 

“Young  Jasper  Eau-douce!”  said  Lundie,  a 
slight  smile  gathering  around  his  usually  stern 
mouth.  “Will  that  lad  be  of  your  party, 
sergeant  ? ” 

“ Your  honor  will  remember  that  the  Scud 
never  quits  port  without  him.” 

“ True,  but  all  general  rules  have  their  excep- 
tions. Have  I not  seen  a seafaring  person  about 
the  fort  within  the  last  few  days  ? ” 

“ No  doubt,  your  honor ; it  is  Master  Cap,  a 
brother-in-law  of  mine,  who  brought  my  daughter 
from  below.” 

“ Why  not  put  him  in  the  Scud  for  this  cruise, 
sergeant,  and  leave  Jasper  behind  ? Your  broth- 
er-in-law would  like  the  variety  of  a fresh-water 
cruise,  and  you  would  enjoy  more  of  his  company.” 

“ I intended  to  ask  your  honor’s  permission  to 
take  him  along,  but  he  must  go  as  a volunteer. 
Jasper  is  too  brave  a lad  to  be  turned  out  of  his 
command  without  a reason,  Major  Duncan;  and 
I’m  afraid  brother  Cap  despises  fresh  water  too 
much  to  do  duty  on  it.” 

“ Quite  right,  sergeant,  and  I leave  all  this  to 
your  own  discretion.  Eau-douce  must  retain  his 
command,  on  second  thoughts.  You  intend  that 
Pathfinder  shall  also  be  of  the  party  ? ” 

“ If  your  honor  approves  of  it.  There  will  be 
service  for  both  the  guides,  the  Indian  as  well  as 
the  white  man.” 

“I  think  you  are  right.  Well,  sergeant,  I 
wish  you  good  luck  in  the  enterprise ; and  re- 
member, the  post  is  to  be  destroyed  and  aban- 
doned when  your  command  is  withdrawn.  It 
will  have  done  its  work  by  that  time,  or  we  shall 
have  failed  entirely,  and  it  is  too  ticklish  a posi- 
tion to  be  maintained  unnecessarily.  You  can 
retire.” 

Serjeant  Dunham  gave  the  customary  salute, 

31  5 


turned  on  his  heels  as  if  they  had  been  pivots, 
and  had  got  the  door  nearly  drawn-to  after  him, 
when  he  was  suddenly  recalled. 

“ I had  forgotten,  sergeant,  the  younger  offi- 
cers have  begged  for  a shooting-match,  and  to- 
morrow has  been  named  for  the  day.  All  com- 
petitors will  be  admitted,  and  the  prizes  will  be  a 
silver-mounted  powder-horn,  a leathern  flask-dit- 
to,” reading  from  a piece  of  paper,  “ as  I soe 
by  the  professional  jargon  of  this  bill,  and  a silk 
calash  for  a lady.  The  latter  is  to  enable  the  vic- 
tor to  show  his  gallantry,  by  making  an  offering 
of  it  to  her  he  best  loves.” 

“ All  very  agreeable,  your  honor,  at  least  to 
him  that  succeeds.  Is  the  Pathfinder  to  be  per- 
mitted to  enter  ? ” 

“ I do  not  well  see  how  he  can  be  excluded, 
if  he  choose  to  come  forward.  Latterly,  I have 
observed  that  he  takes  no  share  in  these  sports, 
probably  from  a conviction  of  his  own  unequalled 
skill.” 

“ That’s  it,  Major  Duncan  ; the  honest  fellow 
knows  there  is  not  a man  on  the  frontier  who  can 
equal  him,  and  he  does  not  wish  to  spoil  the 
pleasure  of  others.  I think  we  may  trust  to  his 
delicacy  in  any  thing,  sir.  Perhaps  it  may  be  as 
well  to  let  him  have  his  own  way.” 

“ In  this  instance  we  must,  sergeant.  Wheth 
er  he  will  be  as  successful  in  all  others,  remains 
to  be  seen.  I wish  you  good-evening,  Dunham.’’ 

The  sergeant  now  withdrew,  leaving  Duncan 
of  Lundie  to  his  own  thoughts.  That  they  were 
not  altogether  disagreeable,  was  to  be  inferred 
from  the  smiles  which  occasionally  covered  a 
countenance  that  was  hard  and  martial  in  its 
usual  expression,  though  there  were  moments  in 
which  all  its  severe  sobriety  prevailed.  Half  an 
hour  might  have  passed,  when  a tap  at  the  door 
was  answered  by  a direction  to  enter.  A middle- 
aged  man,  in  the  dress  of  an  officer,  but  whose 
uniform  wanted  the  usual  smartness  of  the  pro- 
fession, made  his  appearance,  and  was  saluted  as 
“Mr.  Muir.” 

“ I have  come,  sir,  at  your  bidding,  to  know 
my  fortune,”  said  the  quartermaster,  in  a strong 
Scotch  accent,  as  soon  as  he  had  taken  the  seat 
which  was  proffered  to  him.  “ To  say  the  truth 
to  you,  Major  Duncan,  this  girl  is  making  aa 
much  havoc  in  the  garrison  as  the  French  did  bo 
fore  Ty ; I never  witnessed  so  general  a rout,  in 
so  short  a time  ! ” 

“ Surely,  Davy,  you  don’t  mean  to  persuade 
me  that  your  young  and  unsophisticated  heart  is 
in  such  a flame,  after  one  week’s  ignition.  Why 
man,  this  is  worse  than  the  affair  in  Scotland, 
where  it  was  said  the  heat  within  was  so  intense 


66 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


that  it  just  burnt  a hole  through  your  own  pre- 
cious body,  and  left  a place  for  all  the  lassies  to 
peer  in  at,  to  see  what  the  combustible  material 
was  worth.” 

“ Ye’ll  have  your  own  way,  Major  Duncan,  and 
vour  father  and  mother  would  have  theirs  before 
ye,  even  if  the  enemy  were  in  the  camp.  I see 
nothing  so  extraordinar’  in  young  people’s  follow- 
ing the  bent  of  their  inclinations  and  wishes.” 

“But  you’ve  followed  yours  so  often,  Davy, 
that  I should  think,  by  this  time,  it  had  lost  the 
edge  of  novelty.  Including  the  informal  affair  in 
Scotland,  when  you  were  a lad,  you’ve  been  mar- 
ried four  times  already.” 

“ Only  three,  major,  as  I hope  to  get  another 
wife ! I’ve  not  yet  had  my  number  ; no — no — 
only  three.” 

“I’m  thinking,  Davy,  you  don’t  include  the 
first  affair  I mentioned  ; that  in  which  there  was 
no  parson.” 

“And  why  should  I,  major?  The  courts  de- 
cided that  it  was  no  marriage,  and  what  more 
could  a man  want  ? The  woman  took  advantage  of 
a slight  amorous  propensity,  that  may  be  a weak- 
ness in  my  disposition,  perhaps,  and  inveigled  me 
into  a contract  that  was  found  to  be  illegal.” 

“ If  I remember  right,  Muir,  there  were  thought 
to  be  two  sides  to  that  question,  in  the  time  of 
it!  ” 

“ It  would  be  but  an  indifferent  question,  my 
dear  major,  that  hadn’t  two  sides  to  it ; and  I’ve 
known  many  that  had  three.  But  the  poor  wom- 
an’s dead,  and  there  was  no  issue,  so  nothing 
came  of  it,  after  all.  Then  I was  particularly  un- 
fortunate with  my  second  wife — I say  second, 
major,  out  of  deference  to  you,  and  on  the  mere 
supposition  that  the  first  was  a marriage  at  all — 
but,  first  or  second,  I was  particularly  unfortunate 
with  Jeannie  Graham,  who  died  in  the  first  lus- 
trum, leaving  neither  chick  nor  chiel  behind  her. 
I do  think  if  Jeannie  had  survived,  I never  should 
have  turned  my  thoughts  toward  another  wife.” 

“ But  as  she  did  not,  you  married  twice  after 
her  death — and  are  desirous  of  doing  so  a third 
time.” 

“The  truth  can  never  justly  be  gainsaid, 
Major  Duncan,  and  I am  always  ready  to  avow  it. 
I’m  thinking,  Lundie,  you  are  melancholar’,  this 
fine  evening  ? ” 

“No,  Muir,  not  melancholy  absolutely,  but 
a little  thoughtful,  I confess.  I was  looking 
back  to  my  boyish  days,  when  I,  the  laird’s  son, 
and  you  the  parson’s,  roamed  about  our  native 
hills,  happy  and  careless  boys,  taking  little 
heed  to  the  future;  and  then  have  followed 
some  thoughts  that  may  be  a little  painful, 


concerning  that  future,  as  it  has  turned  out 
to  be.” 

“ Surely,  Lundie,  ye  do  not  complain  of  your 
portion  of  it.  You’ve  risen  to  be  a major,  and 
will  soon  be  a lieutenant-colonel,  if  letters  tell 
the  truth  ; while  I am  just  one  step  higher  than 
when  your  honored  father  give  me  my  first  com- 
mission, and  a poor  deevil  of  a quartermaster.” 

“ And  the  four  wives  ? ” 

“ Three,  Lundie ; three  only  that  were  legal, 
even  under  our  own  liberal  and  sanctified  laws.” 

“ Well,  then,  let  it  be  three.  Ye  know, 
Davy,”  said  Major  Duncan,  insensibly  dropping 
into  the  pronunciation  and  dialect  of  his  youth, 
as  is  much  the  practice  with  educated  Scotch- 
men as  they  warm  with  a subject  that  comes 
near  the  heart — “ ye  know,  Davy,  that  my  own 
choice  has  long  been  made,  and  in  how  anxious 
and  hope-wearied  a manner  I’ve  waited  for  that 
happy  hour  when  I can  call  the  woman  I’ve  so 
long  loved  a wife ; and  here  have  you  without 
fortune,  name,  birth,  or  merit — I mean  particular 
merit — ” 

“ Na,  na — dinna  say  that,  Lundie — the  Muirs 
are  of  gude  bluid.” 

“Well,  then,  without  aught  but  bluid  ye’ve 
wived  four  times — ” 

“I  tall  ye  but  thrice,  Lundie.  Ye’ll  weaken 
auld  friendship  if  ye  call  it  four.” 

“ Put  it  at  ye’r  own  number,  Davy,  and  it’s 
far  more  than  ye’r  share.  Our  lives  have  been 
very  different  on  the  score  of  matrimony,  at 
least ; you  must  allow  that,  my  old  friend.” 

“ And  which  do  you  think  has  been  the 
gainer,  major,  speaking  as  frankly  thegither  as 
we  did  when  lads.” 

“ Nay,  I’ve  nothing  to  conceal.  My  days 
have  passed  in  hope  deferred,  while  yours  have 
passed  in — ” 

“Not  in  hope  realized,  I give  you  mine  honor, 
Major  Duncan,”  interrupted  the  quartermaster. 
“Each  new  experiment  I have  thought  might 
prove  an  advantage,  but  disappointment  seems 
the  lot  of  man ! — Ah ! this  is  a vain  world  of 
ours,  Lundie,  it  must  be  owned ; and  in  nothing 
vainer  than  in  matrimony.” 

“And  yet  you  are  ready  to  put  your  neck  into 
the  noose  for  the  fifth  time  ? ” 

“I  desire  to  say  it  will  be  but  the  fourth, 
Major  Duncan,”  said  the  quartermaster,  posi- 
tively ; then  instantly  changing  the  expression 
of  his  face  to  one  of  boyish  rapture,  he  added : 
“ But  this  Mabel  Dunham  is  a rara  avis ! Our 
Scotch  lassies  are  fair  and  pleasant,  but  it  must 
be  owned  these  colonials  are  of  surpassing  como> 
liness.” 


THE  QUARTERMASTER. 


67 


“You  will  do  well  to  recollect  your  com- 
mission and  blood,  Davy : I believe  all  four  of 
your  wives — ” 

“ I wish,  my  dear  Lundie,  ye’d  be  more  ac- 
curate in  your  arithmetic — three  times  one  make 
three.” 

“ All  three,  then,  were  what  might  be  termed 

gentlewomen.” 

“That’s  just  it,  major.  Three  were  gentle- 
women, as  you  say,  and  the  connections  were 
suitable.” 

“ And  the  fourth  being  the  daughter  of  my 
father’s  gardener,  the  connection  was  unsuitable. 
But  have  you  no  fear  that  marrying  the  child  of 
a non-commissioned  officer  who  is  in  the  same 
corps  with  yourself,  will  have  the  effect  to  lessen 
your  consequence  in  the  regiment  ? ” 

“ That’s  just ‘been  my  weakness  through  life, 
Major  Duncan ; for  I’ve  always  married  without 
regard  to  consequences.  Every  man  has  his 
besetting  sin,  and  matrimony,  I fear,  is  mine. 
And  now  that  we  have  discussed  what  may  be 
called  the  principles  of  the  connection,  I will 
just  ask  if  you  did  me  the  favor  to  speak  to  the 
sergeant  on  the  trifling  affair  ? ” 

“ I did,  David,  and  am  sorry  to  say  for  your 
hopes  that  I see  no  great  chance  of  your  succeed- 
ing. 

“Not  succeeding! — An  officer,  and  a quar- 
termaster into  the  bargain,  and  not  succeed  with 
a sergeant’s  daughter  ! ” 

“ It’s  just  that,  Davy.” 

“ And  why  not,  Lundie  ? — will  you  have  the 
goodness  to  answer  just  that  ? ” 

“ The  girl  is  betrothed.  Hand  plighted,  word 
passed,  love  pledged — no,  hang  me  if  I believe 
that  either  ; but  she  is  betrothed.” 

“ Well,  that’s  an  obstacle,  it  must  be  avowed, 
major  ; though  it  counts  for  little,  if  the  heart  is 
free.” 

“ Quite  true ; and  I think  it  probable  the 
heart  is  free  in  this  case,  for  the  intended  hus- 
band appears  to  oe  the  choice  of  the  father  rath- 
er than  of  the  daughter.” 

“ And  who  may  it  be,  major  ? ” asked  the 
quartermaster,  who  viewed  the  whole  matter 
with  the  philosophy  and  coolness  that  are  ac- 
quired by  use.  “ I do  not  recollect  any  plausible 
suitor  that'is  likely  to  stand  in  my  way.” 

“ No,  you  are  the  only  plausible  suitor  on 
the  frontier,  Davy.  The  happy  man  is  Path- 
finder.” 

“ Pathfinder,  Major  Duncan  ? ” 

“ No  more,  nor  any  less,  David  Muir.  Path- 
finder is  the  man ; but  it  may  relieve  your  jeal- 
ousy a little  to  know  that,  in  my  judgment  at 


least,  it  is  a match  of  the  father’s,  rather  than  of 
the  daughter’s  seeking.” 

“ I thought  as  much  ! ” exclaimed  the  quar- 
termaster, drawing  a long  breath,  like  one  who 
felt  relieved  ; “ it’s  quite  impossible,  that  with 
my  experience  in  human  nature — ” 

“ Particularly  hu-woman’s  nature,  David  ! ” 

“Ye  will  have  ye’r  joke,  Lundie,  let  who  will 
suffer ! But  I did  not  think  it  possible  I could 
be  deceived  as  to  the  young  woman’s  inclinations, 
which  I think  I may  boldly  pronounce  to  be  al- 
together above  the  condition  of  Pathfinder.  As 
for  the  individual  himself — why,  time  will  show.” 

“ Now,  tell  me  frankly,  Davy  Muir,”  said  Lun- 
die, stopping  short  in  his  walk,  and  looking  the 
other  earnestly  in  the  face,  with  a comical  ex- 
pression of  surprise,  that  rendered  the  veteran’s 
countenance  ridiculously  earnest — “ do  you  real- 
ly suppose  a girl  like  the  daughter  of  Sergeant 
Dunham  can  take  a serious  fancy  to  a man  of 
your  years,  and  appearance,  and  experience,  I 
might  add  ? ” 

“ Hout  awa’,  Lundie  ! ye  dinna  know  the  sax, 
and  that’s  the  reason  ye’r  unmarried  in  ye’r  forty- 
fifth  year.  It’s  a fearfu’  time  ye’ve  been  a bach- 
elor, major ! ” 

“ And  what  may  be  your  age,  Lieutenant 
Muir,  if  I may  presume  to  ask  so  delicate  a ques- 
tion ? ” 

“ Forty-seven  ; I’ll  no  deny  it,  Lundie ; and  if 
I get  Mabel,  there’ll  be  just  a wife  for  every  twa 
lustrums  ! But  I didna  think  Sergeant  Dunham 
would  be  so  humble-minded  as  to  dream  of  giv- 
ing that  sweet  lass  of  his  to  one  like  the  Path- 
finder ! ” 

“ There’s  no  dream  about  it,  Davy  ; the  man 
is  as  serious  as  a soldier  about  to  be  flogged.” 

“Well,  well,  major,  we  are  auld  friends” — 
both  ran  into  the  Scotch,  or  avoided  it,  as  they 
approached  or  drew  away  from  their  younger 
days,  in  the  dialogue — “ and  ought  to  know  how 
to  take  and  give  a joke,  off  duty.  It  is  possible 
the  worthy  man  has  not  understood  my  hints,  or 
he  never  would  have  thought  of  such  a thing. 
The  difference  between  an  officer’s  consort  and  a 
guide’s  woman  is  as  vast  as  that  between  the  an- 
tiquity of  Scotland  and  the  antiquity  of  America. 
I’m  auld  bluid,  too,  Lundie.” 

“ Take  my  word  for  it,  Davy,  your  antiquity 
will  do  you  no  good,  in  this  affair ; and  as  for 
your  blood,  it  is  not  older  than  your  bones. 
Well,  well,  man,  ye  know  the  sergeant’s  answer, 
and  so  you  perceive  that  my  influence,  on  which 
you  counted  so  much,  can  do  naught  for  ye.  Let 
us  take  a glass  thegither,  Davy,  for  auld  ac- 
quaintance’ sake,  and  then  ye’ll  be  doing  well  to 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


remember  the  party  that  marches  the  morrow, 
and  to  forget  Mabel  Dunham  as  fast  as  ever  you 
can.” 

“ Ah  1 major,  I have  always  found  it  easier  to 
forget  a wife  than  to  forget  a sweetheart ! When 
q.  couple  are  fairly  married,  all  is  settled  but  the 
death,  as  one  may  say,  which  must  finally  part 
us  all ; and  it  seems  to  me  awfu’  irreverent  to 
disturb  the  departed  ; whereas,  there  is  so  much 
anxiety,  and  hope,  and  felicity,  in  expectation 
like,  with  the  lassie,  that  it  keeps  thought  alive.” 

“ That  is  just  my  idea  of  your  situation,  Davy, 
for  I never  supposed  you  expected  any  more  fe- 
licity with  either  of  your  wives.  Now,  I’ve  heard 
of  fellows  who  were  so  stupid  as  to  look  forward 
to  happiness  with  their  wives,  even  beyond  the 
grave.  I drink  to  your  success,  or  to  your  speedy 
recovery  from  this  attack,  lieutenant ; and  I ad- 
monish you  to  be  more  cautious  in  future,  as 
some  of  these  violent  cases  may  yet  carry  you 
off.” 

“ Many  thanks,  dear  major ; and  a speedy 
termination  to  an  old  courtship,  of  which  I know 
something.  This  is  real  mountain-dew,  Lundie, 
and  it  warms  the  heart  like  a gleam  of  bonny 
Scotland.  As  for  the  men  you’ve  just  mentioned, 
they  could  have  had  but  one  wife  apiece,  for 
where  there  are  several,  the  deeds  of  the  women 
themselves  may  carry  them  different  way3.  I 
think  a reasonable  husband  ought  to  be  satisfied 
with  passing  his  allotted  time  with  any  particular 
wife,  in  this  world,  and  not  to  go  about  moping 
for  things  unattainable.  I’m  infinitely  obliged  to 
you,  Major  Duncan,  for  this  and  all  your  other 
acts  of  friendship  ; and  if  you  could  but  add  an- 
other, I should  think  you  had  not  altogether  for- 
gotten the  playfellow  of  your  boyhood.” 

“ Well,  Davy,  if  the  request  be  reasonable, 
and  such  as  a superior  ought  to  grant,  out  with 
it,  man.” 

“ If  ye  could  only  contrive  a little  service  for 
me  down  among  the  Thousand  Isles  for  a fort- 
night or  so,  I think  this  matter  might  be  settled 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties.  Just  remember, 
Lundie,  the  lassie  is  the  only  marriageable  white 
female  on  this  frontier  ! ” 

“ There  is  always  duty  for  one  jn  your  line  at 
a post,  however  small ; but  this  below  can  be 
done  by  the  sergeant  as  well  as  by  the  quarter- 
master-general, and  better  too.” 

“ But  not  better  than  by  a regimental  officer. 
There  is  great  waste,  in  common,  among  the  or- 
derlies.’ 

“ I’ll  think  of  it,  Muir,”  said  the  major,  laugh- 
ing, “ and  you  shall  have  my  answer  in  the  morn- 
ing. Here  will  be  a fine  occasion,  man,  the  mor- 


row, to  show  yourself  off  before  the  lady ; you 
are  expert  with  the  rifle,  and  prizes  are  to  be 
won.  Make  up  your  mind  to  display  your  skill, 
and  who  knows  what  may  yet  happen  before  the 
Scud  sails  ? ” 

“ I’m  thinking  most  of  the  young  men  will  try 
their  hands  in  this  sport,  major  ? ” 

“ That  will  they,  and  some  of  the  old  ones, 
too,  if  you  appear.  To  keep  you  in  countenance, 
I’ll  try  a shot  or  two  myself,  Davy ; and  you 
know  I have  some  name  that  way.” 

“ It  might,  indeed,  do  good ! The  female 
heart,  Major  Duncan,  is  susceptible  in  many  dif- 
ferent modes,  and  sometimes  in  a way  that  the 
rules  of  philosophy  might  reject.  Some  require 
a suitor  to  sit  down  before  them,  as  it  might  be, 
in  a regular  siege,  and  only  capitulate  when  the 
place  can  hold  out  no  longer ; others,  again,  like 
to  be  carried  by  storm  ; while  there  are  hussies 
who  can  only  be  caught  by  leading  them  into  an 
ambush.  The  former  is  the  most  creditable  and 
officer-like  process,  perhaps,  but  I must  say  I 
think  the  last  the  most  pleasing.” 

“ An  opinion  formed  from  experience,  out  of 
all  question.  And  what  of  the  storming  par- 
ties ? ” 

“ They  may  do  for  younger  men,  Lundie,”  re- 
turned the  quartermaster,  rising  and  winking,  a 
liberty  that  he  often  took  with  his  commanding 
officer  on  the  score  of  a long  intimacy  ; “ every 
period  of  life  has  its  necessities,  and  at  forty-seven 
it’s  just  as  well  to  trust  a little  to  the  bead.  I 
wish  you  a very  good-even,  Major  Duncan,  and 
freedom  from  gout,  with  a sweet  and  refreshing 
sleep.” 

“ The  same  to  yourself,  Mr.  Muir,  with  many 
thanks.  Remember  the  passage  of  arms  for  the 
morrow.” 

The  quartermaster  withdrew,  leaving  Lundie 
in  his  library  to  reflect  on  what  had  just  passed. 
Use  had  so  accustomed  Major  Duncan  to  Lieu- 
tenant Muir  and  all  his  traits  and  humors,  that 
the  conduct  of  the  latter  did  not  strike  the  for- 
mer with  the  same  force  as  it  will  probably  strike 
the  reader.  In  truth,  while  all  men  act  under 
one  common  law  that  is  termed  Nature,  the  vari- 
eties in  their  dispositions,  modes  of  judging,  feel- 
ings, and  selfishness,  are  infinite. 


A SHOOTING-MATCH. 


69 


CHAPTER  XI. 

•Compel  the  hawke  to  sit  that  is  unmanned, 

Or  make  the  hound,  untaught,  to  draw  the  deere, 

Or  bring  the  free  against  his  will  in  band. 

Or  move  the  sad  a pleasant  tale  to  heere, 

Your  time  is  lost,  and  you  no  whit  the  neere  1 
So  love  ne  learnes,  of  force  the  heart  to  knit: 

She  serves  but  those  that  feel  sweet  fancies’  fit.” 

Mirror  for  Magistrates. 

It  is  not  often  that  hope  is  rewarded  by  frui- 
tion as  completely  as  the  wishes  of  the  young 
men  of  the  garrison  were  met  by  the  state  of  the 
weather  on  the  succeeding  day.  It  may  be  no 
more  than  the  ordinary  waywardness  of  man, 
but  the  Americans  are  a little  accustomed  to 
taking  pride  in  things  that  the  means  of  intelli- 
gent comparisons  would  probably  show  were,  in 
reality,  of  a very  inferior  quality,  while  they 
overlook  or  undervalue  advantages  that  place 
them  certainly  on  a level  with,  if  not  above, 
most  of  their  fellow-creatures.  Among  the  latter 
is  the  climate,  which,  as  a whole,  though  far 
from  perfect,  is  infinitely  more  agreeable,  and 
quite  as  healthy,  as  those  of  most  of  the  coun- 
tries which  are  loudest  in  their  denunciations 
of  it. 

The  heats  of  summer  were  little  felt  at  Oswe- 
go, at  the  period  of  which  we  are  writing ; for 
the  shade  of  the  forest,  added  to  the  refreshing 
breezes  from  the  lake,  so  far  reduced  the  influ- 
ence of  the  sun,  as  to  render  the  nights  always 
cool,  and  the  days  seldom  oppressive. 

It  was  now  September,  a month  in  which  the 
strong  gales  of  the  coast  often  appear  to  force 
themselves  across  the  country  as  far  as  the  great 
lakes,  where  the  inland  sailor  sometimes  feels 
that  genial  influence  which  characterizes  the 
winds  of  the  ocean ; invigorating  his  frame,  cheer- 
ing his  spirits,  and  arousing  his  moral  force. 
Such  a day  was  that  on  which  the  garrison  of 
Oswego  assembled,  to  witness  what  its  command- 
er had  jocularly  called  a “passage  of  arms.” 
Lundie  was  a scholar,  in  military  matters  at 
least,  and  it  was  one  of  his  sources  of  honest 
pride  to  direct  the  reading  and  thoughts  of  the 
young  men  under  his  orders,  to  the  more  intel- 
lectual parts  of  their  profession.  For  one  in  his 
situation,  his  library  was  both  good  and  exten- 
sive, and  its  books  were  freely  lent  to  all  who 
desired  to  use  them.  Among  other  whims  that 
had  found  their  way  into  the  garrison,  through 
these  means,  was  a relish  for  the  sort  of  amuse- 
ment in  which  it  was  now  about  to  indulge ; and 
around  which  some  chronicles  of  the  days  of 
chivalry  had  induced  them  to  throw  a parade  and 


romance,  that  were  not  unsuited  to  the  charac- 
ters and  habits  of  soldiers,  or  to  the  insulated 
and  wild  post  occupied  by  this  particular  garri- 
son. While  so  earnestly  bent  on  pleasure,  how- 
ever, they  on  whom  that  duty  devolved  did  not 
neglect  the  safety  of  the  garrison.  One  stand- 
ing on  the  ramparts  of  the  fort,  and  gazing  on 
the  waste  of  glittering  water  that  bounded  the 
view  all  along  the  northern  horizon,  and  on  the 
slumbering  and  seemingly  boundless  forest,  that 
filled  the  other  half  of  the  panorama,  would  have 
fancied  the  spot  the  very  abode  of  peacefulness 
and  security ; but  Duncan  of  Lundie  too  well 
knew  that  the  woods  might  at  any  moment  give 
up  their  hundreds,  bent  on  the  destruction  of 
the  fort  and  all  it  contained,  and  that  even  the 
treacherous  lake  offered  a highway  of  easy  ap- 
proach, by  which  his  more  civilized  and  scarcely 
less  wily  foes,  the  French,  could  come  upon  him, 
at  an  unwelcome  and  unguarded  moment.  Par- 
ties were  sent  out,  under  old  and  vigilant  officers, 
men  who  cared  little  for  the  sports  of  the  day, 
to  scour  the  forest ; and  one  entire  company  held 
the  fort,  under  arms,  with  orders  to  maintain  a 
vigilance  as  strict  as  if  an  enemy  of  superior 
force  was  known  to  be  near.  With  these  pre- 
cautions the  remainder  of  the  officers  and  men 
abandoned  themselves,  without  apprehension,  to 
the  business  of  the  morning. 

The  spot  selected  for  the  sports  was  a sort  of 
esplanade,  a little  west  of  the  fort,  and  on  the 
immediate  bank  of  the  lake.  It  had  been  cleared 
of  its  trees  and  stumps,  that  it  might  answer  the 
purpose  of  a parade-ground,  as  it  possessed  the 
advantages  of  having  its  rear  protected  by  the 
water,  and  one  of  its  flanks  by  the  works.  Men 
drilling  on  it  could  be  attacked,  consequently,  on 
two  sides  only ; and  as  the  cleared  space  beyond 
it,  in  the  direction  of  the  west  and  south,  was 
large,  any  assailants  would  be  compelled  to  quit 
the  cover  of  the  woods,  before  they  could  make 
an  approach  sufficiently  near  to  render  them  dan- 
gerous. 

Although  the  regular  arms  of  the  regiment 
were  muskets,  some  fifty  rifles  were  produced  on 
the  present  occasion.  Every  officer  had  one,  as 
a part  of  his  private  provision  for  amusement ; 
many  belonged  to  the  scouts  and  friendly  Indians, 
of  whom  more  or  less  were  always  hanging  about 
the  fort ; and  there  was  a public  provision  of 
them,  for  the  use  of  those  who  followed  the  game 
with  the  express  object  of  obtaining  supplies. 
Among  those  who  carried  the  weapon,  were  some 
five  or  six,  who  had  reputations  for  knowing  how 
to  use  it  particularly  well  — so  well,  indeed, 
as  to  have  given  them  a celebrity  on  the  frontier ; 


70 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


twice  that  number  who  were  believed  to  be  much 
better  than  common  ; and  many  who  would  have 
been  thought  expert,  in  almost  any  situation,  but 
the  precise  one  in  which  they  now  happened  to 
be  placed. 

The  distance  was  a hundred  yards,  and  the 
weapon  was  to  be  used  without  a rest ; the  tar- 
get, a board,  with  the  customary  circular  lines  in 
white  paint,  having  the  bull’s-eye  in  the  centre. 
The  first  trials  in  skill  commenced  with  chal- 
lenges among  the  more  ignoble  of  the  competitors, 
to  display  their  steadiness  and  dexterity  in  idle 
competition.  None  but  the  common  men  engaged 
in  this  strife,  which  had  little  to  interest  the 
spectators,  among  whom  no  officer  had  yet  ap- 
peared. 

Most  of  the  soldiers  were  Scotch,  the  regi- 
ment having  been  raised  at  Stirling  and  its  vicin- 
ity, not  many  years  before;  though,  as  in  the 
case  of  Sergeant  Dunham,  many  Americans  had 
joined  it  since  its  arrival  in  the  colonies.  As  a 
matter  of  course,  the  provincials  were  generally 
the  most  expert  marksmen  ; and,  after  a desultory 
trial  of  half  an  hour,  it  was  necessarily  conceded 
that  a youth,  who  had  been  born  in  the  colony 
of  New  York,  and  who,  coming  of  Dutch  extrac- 
tion, bore  the  euphonious  name  of  Yan  Valken- 
burg,  but  was  familiarly  called  Follock,  was  the 
most  expert  of  all  who  had  yet  tried  their  skill. 
It  was  just  as  this  opinion  prevailed,  that  the 
oldest  captain,  accompanied  by  most  of  the  gen- 
tlemen and  ladies  of  the  fort,  appeared  on  the 
parade.  A train  of  some  twenty  females  of  hum- 
bler condition  followed,  among  whom  was  seen 
the  well-turned  form,  intelligent,  blooming,  ani- 
mated countenance,  and  neat,  becoming  attire  of 
Mabel  Dunham. 

Of  females  who  were  officially  recognized  as 
belonging  to  the  class  of  ladies,  there  were  but 
three  in  the  fort,  all  of  whom  were  officers’  wives ; 
staid,  matronly  women,  with  the  simplicity  of  the 
habits  of  middle  life,  singularly  mixed  in  their 
deportment  with  their  notions  of  professional 
superiority,  the  rights  and  duties  of  caste,  and 
the  etiquette  of  rank.  The  other  women  were 
the  wives  of  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri- 
vates ; Mabel  being  strictly,  as  had  been  stated 
by  the  quartermaster,  the  only  real  candidate 
for  matrimony  among  her  sex.  There  were  a 
dozen  other  girls,  it  is  true,  but  they  were  still 
classed  among  the  children,  none  of  them  being 
yet  of  an  age  to  elevate  them  into  objects  of 
legitimate  admiration. 

Some  little  preparation  had  been  made  for  the 
proper  reception  of  the  females,  who  were  placed 
m a low  staging  of  planks,  near  the  immediate 


bank  of  the  lake.  In  this  vicinity  the  prizes  were 
suspended  from  a post.  Great  care  was  taken  to 
reserve  the  front  seat  of  the  stage  for  the  three 
ladies  and  their  children  ; while  Mabel,  and  those 
who  belonged  to  the  non-commissioned  officers 
of  the  regiment,  occupied  the  second.  The  wives 
and  daughters  of  the  privates  were  huddled  to- 
gether in  the  rear,  some  standing,  and  some 
sitting,  as  they  could  find  room.  Mabel,  who  had 
already  been  admitted  to  the  society  of  the 
officers’  wives,  on  the  footing  of  an  humble  com- 
panion, was  a good  deal  noticed  by  the  ladies  in 
front,  who  had  a proper  appreciation  of  modest 
self-respect  and  gentle  refinement,  though  they 
were  all  fully  aware  of  the  value  of  rank,  more 
particularly  in  a garrison. 

As  soon  as  this  important  portion  of  the  spec- 
tators had  got  into  their  places,  Lundie  gave 
orders  for  the  trial  of  skill  to  proceed,  in  the 
manner  that  had  been  prescribed  in  his  previous 
orders.  Some  eight  or  ten  of  the  best  marksmen 
of  the  garrison  now  took  possession  of  the  stand, 
and  began  to  fire  in  succession.  Among  them 
were  officers  and  men  indiscriminately  placed, 
nor  were  the  casual  visitors  in  the  fort  excluded 
from  the  competition.  As  might  have  been  ex- 
pected of  men,  whose  amusements  and  comfort- 
able subsistence  equally  depended  on  skill  in  the 
use  of  their  weapons,  it  was  soon  found  that  they 
were  all  sufficiently  expert  to  hit  the  bull’s-eye, 
or  the  white  spot  in  the  centre  of  the  target. 
Others,  who  succeeded  them,  it  is  true,  were  less 
sure,  their  bullets  striking  in  the  different  circles 
that  surrounded  the  centre  of  the  target,  without 
touching  it. 

According  to  the  rules  of  the  day,  none  could 
proceed  to  the  second  trial  who  had  failed  in  the 
first ; and  the  adjutant  of  the  place,  who  acted  as 
master  of  the  ceremonies,  or  marshal  of  the  day, 
called  upon  the  successful  adventurers  by  name, 
to  get  ready  for  the  next  effort,  while  he  gave 
notice  that  those  who  failed  to  present  themselves 
for  the  shot  at  the  bull’s-eye,  would  necessarily 
be  excluded  from  all  the  higher  trials.  Just  at 
this  moment,  Lundie,  the  quartermaster,  and 
Jasper  Eau-douce  appeared  in  the  group  at  the 
stand,  while  the  Pathfinder  walked  leisurely  on 
the  ground,  without  his  beloved  rifle — for  him  a 
measure  so  unusual,  as  to  be  understood  by  all 
present  as  a proof  that  he  did  not  consider  him- 
self a competitor  for  the  honors  of  the  day.  All 
made  way  for  Major  Duncan,  who,  as  he  ap- 
proached the  stand,  in  a good-humored  way  took 
his  station,  levelled  his  rifle  carelesly,  and  fired. 
The  bullet  missed  the  required  mark  by  several 
inches. 


DAVY  MUIR’S  SCIENCE. 


71 


“Major  Duncan  is  excluded  from  the  other 
trials!”  proclaimed  the  adjutant,  in  a voice  so 
Btrong  and  confident,  that  all  the  elder  officers 
and  sergeants  well  understood  that  this  failure 
was  preconcerted,  while  the  younger  gentlemen 
and  the  privates  felt  new  encouragement  to  pro- 
ceed, on  account  of  the  evident  impartiality  with 
which  the  laws  of  the  sports  were  administered, 
nothing  being  so  attractive  to  the  unsophisti- 
cated, as  the  appearance  of  rigorous  justice,  and 
nothing  so  rare  as  its  actual  administration. 

“Now,  Master  Eau-douce,  comes  your  turn,” 
said  Muir,  “ and  if  you  do  not  beat  the  major,  I 
shall  say  that  your  hand  is  better  skilled  with  the 
oar  than  with  the  rifle.” 

Jasper's  handsome  face  flushed,  he  stepped 
upon  the  stand,  cast  a hasty  glance  at  Mabel, 
whose  pretty  form  he  ascertained  was  bending 
eagerly  forward,  as  if  to  note  the  result,  dropped 
the  barrel  of  his  rifle,  with  but  little  apparent 
caTe,  into  the  palm  of  his  left  hand,  raised  the 
muzzle  for  a single  instant,  with  exceeding  steadi- 
ness, and  fired.  The  bullet  passed  directly 
through  the  centre  of  the  bull’s-eye,  much  the 
best  shot  of  the  morning,  since  the  others  had 
merely  touched  the  paint. 

“ Well  performed,  Master  Jasper,”  said  Muir, 
as  soon  as  the  result  was  declared ; “ and  a shot 
that  might  have  done  credit  to  an  older  head  and 
a more  experienced  eye.  I’m  thinking,  notwith- 
standing, there  was  some  of  a youngster’s  luck  in 
it,  for  ye  were  no  partic’lar  in  the  aim  ye  took. 
Ye  may  be  quick,  Eau-douce,  in  the  movement, 
but  ye’r  not  philosophic  nor  scientific  in  ye’r 
management  of  the  weapon. — Now,  Sergeant  Dun- 
ham, I’ll  thank  you  to  request  the  ladies  to  give 
a closer  attention  than  common,  for  I’m  about  to 
make  that  use  of  the  rifle  which  may  be  called 
the  intellectual.  Jasper  would  have  killed,  I 
allow ; but  then  there  would  not  have  been  half 
the  satisfaction  in  receiving  such  a shot,  as  in 
receiving  one  that  is  discharged  scientifically.” 

All  this  time  the  quartermaster  was  preparing 
himself  for  the  scientific  trial;  but  he  delayed 
his  aim  until  he  saw  that  the  eye  of  Mabel,  in 
common  with  those  of  her  companions,  was  fast- 
ened on  him  in  curiosity.  As  the  others  left  him 
room,  out  of  respect  to  his  rank,  no  one  stood 
near  the  competitor  but  his  commanding  officer, 
to  whom  he  now  said  in  his  familiar  manner : 

“Ye  see,  Lundie,  that  something  is  to  be 
gained  by  exciting  a female’s  curiosity.  It’s  an 
active  sentiment,  is  curiosity,  and,  properly  im- 
proved, may  lead  to  gentler  inclinations  in  the 
end.” 

“ Very  true,  Davy ; but  ye  keep  us  all  waiting 


while  ye  make  your  preparations ; and  here  is 
Pathfinder  drawing  near  to  catch  a lesson  from 
your  greater  experience.” 

“Well,  Pathfinder,  and  so  you  have  come  to 
get  an  idea  too,  concerning  the  philosophy  of 
shooting ! I do  not  wish  to  hide  my  light  under 
a bushel,  and  ye’re  welcome  to  all  ye’ll  learn. 
Do  ye  mean  to  try  a shot  yersel’,  man  ? ” 

“ Why  should  I,  quartermaster — why  should 
I ? I want  none  of  the  prizes  ; and  as  for  honor, 
I have  enough  of  that,  if  it’s  any  honor  to  shoot 
better  than  yourself.  I’m  not  a woman  to  wear 
a calash.” 

“ Very  true ; but  ye  might  find  a woman  that 
is  precious  in  your  eyes  to  wear  it  for  ye,  as — ” 

“ Come,  Davy,”  interrupted  the  major,  “ your 
shot  or  a retreat.  The  adjutant  is  getting  to  be 
impatient.” 

“ The  quartermaster’s  department,  and  the 
adjutant’s  department,  are  seldom  compliable, 
Lundie ; but  I’m  ready. — Stand  a little  aside,  Path- 
finder, and  give  the  ladies  an  opportunity.” 

Lieutenant  Muir  now  took  his  attitude  with 
a good  deal  of  studied  elegance,  raised  his  rifle 
slowly,  lowered  it,  raised  it  again,  repeated  the 
manoeuvres,  and  fired. 

“ Missed  the  target  altogether ! ” shouted  the 
man  whose  duty  it  was  to  mark  the  bullets,  and 
who  had  little  relish  for  the  quartermaster’s 
tedious  science.  “ Missed  the  target.” 

“ It  cannot  be ! ” cried  Muir,  his  face  flushing 
equally  with  indignation  and  shame ; “ it  cannot 
be,  adjutant ; for  I never  did  so  awkward  a thing 
in  my  life.  I appeal  to  the  ladies  for  a juster 
judgment.” 

“ The  ladies  shut  their  eyes  when  you  fired,” 
exclaimed  the  regimental  wags.  “Your  prepara- 
tions alarmed  them.” 

“ I will  na  believe  such  a calumny  of  the 
leddies,  nor  sic’  a reproach  on  my  own  skill,” 
returned  the  quartermaster,  growing  more  and 
more  Scotch,  as  he  warmed  with  his  feelings ; 
“ it’s  a conspiracy  to  rob  a meritorious  man  of 
his  dues.” 

“ It’s  a dead  miss,  Muir,”  said  the  laughing 
Lundie,  “ and  ye’ll  jist  sit  down  quietly  with  the 
disgrace.” 

“No — no — major,”  Pathfinder  at  length  ob- 
served, “ the  quartermaster  is  a good  shot,  for  a 
slow  one,  and  a measured  distance ; though  noth- 
ing extr’ornary,  for  raal  sarvice.  He  has  covered 
Jasper’s  bullet,  as  will  be  seen,  if  any  one  will 
take  the  trouble  to  examine  the  target.” 

The  respect  for  Pathfinder’s  skill,  and  for  his 
quickness  and  accuracy  of  sight,  was  so  profound 
and  general,  that  the  instant  he  made  this  declara 


n 


TEE  PATHFINDER. 


iion,  the  spectators  began  to  distrust  their  own 
opinions,  and  a dozen  rushed  to  the  target,  in 
order  to  ascertain  the  fact.  There,  sure  enough, 
it  was  found  that  the  quartermaster’s  bullet  had 
gone  through  the  hole  made  by  Jasper's,  and  that, 
too,  so  accurately  as  to  require  a minute  examina- 
tion to  be  certain  of  the  circumstance;  which, 
however,  was  soon  clearly  established,  by  dis- 
covering one  bullet  over  the  other,  in  the  stump 
against  which  the  target  was  placed. 

“ I told  ye,  ladies,  ye  were  about  to  witness 
the  influence  of  science  on  gunnery,”  said  the 
quartermaster,  advancing  toward  the  staging  oc- 
cupied by  the  females.  “ Major  Duncan  derides 
the  idea  of  mathematics  entering  into  target-shoot- 
ing ; but  I tell  him  philosophy  colors  and  enlarges, 
and  improves,  and  dilates,  and  explains,  every 
thing  that  belongs  to  human  life,  whether  it  be  a 
shooting-match  or  a sermon.  In  a word,  philos- 
ophy is  philosophy,  and  that  is  saying  all  that 
the  subject  requires.” 

“ I trust  you  exclude  love  from  the  catalogue,” 
observed  the  wife  of  a «aptain,  who  knew  the 
history  of  the  quartermaster’s  marriages,  and 
who  bad  a woman’s  malice  against  the  monopo- 
lizer of  her  sex — “ it  seems  that  philosophy  has 
little  in  common  with  love.” 

“You  wouldn’t  say  that,  madam,  if  your  heart 
had  experienced  many  trials.  It’s  the  man  or  the 
woman  that  has  had  many  occasions  to  improve 
the  affections  that  can  best  speak  of  such  matters  ; 
and,  believe  me,  of  all  love,  philosophical  is  the 
most  lasting,  as  it  is  the  most  rational.” 

“You  would  then  recommend  experience  as 
an  improvement  on  the  passion  ? ” 

“Your quick  mind  has  conceived  the  idea  at 
a glance.  The  happiest  marriages  are  those  in 
which  youth,  and  beauty,  and  confidence,  on  one 
side,  rely  on  the  sagacity,  moderation,  and  pru- 
dence of  years — middle  age,  I mean,  madam,  for 
I’ll  no  deny  that  there  is  such  a thing  as  a hus- 
band’s being  too  old  fora  wife.  Here  is  Sergeant 
Dunham’s  charming  daughter,  now,  to  approve 
of  such  sentiments,  I’m  certain — her  character  for 
discretion  being  already  well  established  in  the 
garrison,  short  as  has  been  her  residence  among 
us.” 

“Sergeant  Dunham’s  daughter  is  scarcely  a 
fitting  interlocutor  in  a discourse  between  you 
and  me,  Lieutenant  Muir,”  rejoined  the  captain’s 
lady,  with  careful  respect  for  her  own  dignity — 
“ and  yonder  is  the  Pathfinder  about  to  take  his 
•banco,  by  way  of  changing  the  subject.” 

“ I protest,  Major  Duncan,  I protest — ” cried 
Muir,  hurrying  back  toward  the  stand,  with  both 
arms  elevated  by  way  of  enforcing  his  words — “ I 


protest,  in  the  strongest  terms,  gentlemen,  against 
Pathfinder’s  being  admitted  into  these  sports  with 
Killdeer,  which  is  a piece,  to  say  nothing  of  long 
habit,  that  is  altogether  out  of  proportion,  for  a 
trial  of  skill  against  government  rifles.” 

“Killdeer  is  taking  its  rest,  quartermaster,” 
returned  Pathfinder,  calmly,  “and  no  one  here 
thinks  of  disturbing  it.  I did  not  think  myself 
of  pulling  a trigger  to-day ; but  Sergeant  Dunham 
has  been  persuading  me  that  I shall  not  do  proper 
honor  to  his  handsome  daughter,  who  came  in 
under  my  care,  if  I am  backward  on  such  an  oc 
casion.  I’m  using  Jasper’s  rifle,  quartermaster, 
as  you  may  see,  and  that  is  no  better  than  your 
own.” 

Lieutenant  Muir  was  now  obliged  to  acquiesce, 
and  every  eye  turned  toward  the  Pathfinder,  as  he 
took  the  required  station.  The  air  and  attitude 
of  this  celebrated  guide  and  hunter  were  ex- 
tremely fine,  as  he  raised  his  tall  form  and  levelled 
the  piece,  showing  perfect  self-command,  and  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  power  of  the  human 
frame,  as  well  as  of  the  weapon.  Pathfinder  was 
not  what  is  usually  termed  a handsome  man, 
though  his  appearance  excited  so  much  confidence, 
and  commanded  respect.  Tall,  and  even  muscular 
his  frame  might  have  been  esteemed  nearly  per 
feet,  were  it  not  for  the  total  absence  of  every 
thing  like  flesh.  Whip-cord  was  scarcely  more 
rigid  than  his  arms  and  legs,  or,  at  need,  more 
pliable  ; but  the  outlines  of  his  person  were  rather 
too  angular  for  the  proportion  that  the  eye  most 
approves.  Still,  his  motions,  being  natural,  were 
graceful ; and,  being  calm  and  regulated,  they  gave 
him  an  air  of  dignity  that  associated  well  with 
the  idea  that  was  so  prevalent  of  his  services  and 
peculiar  merits.  His  honest,  open  features  were 
burnt  to  a bright  red,  that  comported  with  the 
notion  of  exposure  and  hardships,  while  his  sinewy 
hands  denoted  force,  and  a species  of  use  that 
was  removed  from  the  stiffening  and  deforming 
effects  of  labor.  Although  no  one  perceived  any 
of  those  gentler  or  more  insinuating  qualities 
which  are  apt  to  win  upon  a woman’s  affections, 
as  he  raised  his  rifle,  not  a female  eye  was  fastened 
on  him  without  a silent  approbation  of  the  free- 
dom of  his  movements,  and  the  manliness  of  his 
air.  Thought  was  scarcely  quicker  than  his  aim, 
and,  as  the  smoke  floated  above  his  head,  the 
breech  of  the  rifle  was  seen  on  the  ground,  the 
hand  of  the  Pathfinder  was  leaning  on  the  barrel, 
and  his  honest  countenance  was  illuminated  by 
his  usual  silent,  hearty  laugh. 

“If  one  dared  to  hint  at  such  a thing, w cried 
Major  Duncan,  “ I should  say  that  the  Pathfinder 
had  also  missed  the  target ! ” 


MABEL  AS  UMPIRE. 


73 


“No — no — major,”  returned  the  guide,  con- 
fidently, “ that  would  be  a risky  declaration.  I 
didn’t  load  the  piece,  and  can’t  say  what  was  in 
it ; but  if  it  was  lead,  you  will  find  the  bullet 
driving  down  those  of  the  quartermaster’s  and 
Jasper’s ; else  is  not  my  name  Pathfindei.” 

A shout  from  the  target  announced  the  truth 
of  this  assertion. 

“ That’s  not  all — that’s  not  all,  boys,”  called 
out  the  guide,  who  was  now  slowly  advancing 
toward  the  stage  occupied  by  the  females — “ if 
you  find  the  target  touched  at  all,  I’ll  own  to  a 
miss.  The  quartermaster  cut  the  wood,  but  you’ll 
find  no  wood  cut  by  that  last  messenger.” 

“Very  true,  Pathfinder,  very  true,”  answered 
Muir,  v'ho  was  lingering  near  Mabel,  though 
ashamed  to  address  her  particularly,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  officers’  wives.  “ The  quartermaster 
did  cut  the  wood,  and  by  that  means  he  opened 
a passage  for  your  bullet,  which  went  through  the 
hole  he  had  made.” 

“Well,  quartermaster,  there  goes  the  nail,  and 
we’ll  see  who  can  drive  it  closest,  you  or  I ; for, 
though  I did  not  think  of  showing  what  a rifle 
can  do  to-day,  now  my  hand  is  in,  I’ll  turn  my 
back  to  no  man  that  carries  King  George’s  com- 
mission. Chingachgook  is  outlying,  or  he  might 
force  me  into  some  of  the  niceties  of  the  art ; but 
as  for  you,  quartermaster,  if  the  nail  don’t  stop 
you,  the  potato  will.” 

“You’re  over-boastful  this  morning,  Path- 
finder ; but  you’ll  find  you’ve  no  green  boy,  fresh 
from  the  settlements  and  the  towns,  to  deal  -with, 
I will  assure  ye ! ” 

“I  know  that  well,  quartermaster;  I know 
that  well,  and  shall  not  deny  your  experience. 
You’ve  lived  many  years  on  the  frontiers,  and 
I’ve  heard  of  you  in  the  colonies,  and  among  the 
Injins,  too,  quite  a human  life  ago.” 

“ Na — na — ” interrupted  Muir,  in  his  broadest 
Scotch,  “ this  is  injustice,  man.  I’ve  no  lived  so 
very  long,  neither.” 

“ I’ll  do  you  justice,  lieutenant,  even  if  you 
get  the  best  in  the  potato-trial.  I say  you’ve 
passed  a good  human  life,  for  a soldier,  in  places 
where  the  rifle  is  daily  used,  and  I know  you  are 
a creditable  and  ingenious  marksman ; but  then 
you  are  not  a true  rifle-shooter.  As  for  boasting, 
I hope  I’m  not  a vain  talker  about  my  own  ex- 
ploits ; but  a man’s  gifts  are  his  gifts,  and  it’s 
flying  in  the  face  of  Providence  to  deny  them. 
The  sergeant’s  daughter,  here,  shall  judge  atween 
us,  if  you  have  the  stomach  to  submit  to  so  pretty 
a judge.” 

The  Pathfinder  had  named  Mabel  as  the 
arbiter,  because  he  admired  her,  and  because,  in 


his  eyes,  rank  had  little  or  no  value ; but  Lieu- 
tenant Muir  shrank  at  such  a reference  in  the 
presence  of  the  wives  of  the  officers.  He  would 
gladly  keep  himself  constantly  before  the  eyes 
and  the  imagination  of  the  object  of  his  wishes ; 
but  he  was  still  too  much  under  the  influence  of 
old  prejudices,  and  perhaps  too  wary,  to  appear 
openly  as  her  suitor,  unless  he  saw  something 
very  like  a certainty  of  success.  On  the  discre- 
tion of  Major  Duncan  he  had  a full  reliance,  and 
he  apprehended  no  betrayal  from  that  quarter ; 
but  he  was  quite  aware,  should  it  ever  get  abroad 
that  he  had  been  refused  by  the  child  of  a non- 
commissioned officer,  he  would  find  great  difficulty 
in  making  his  approaches  to  any  other  woman  of 
a condition  to  which  he  might  reasonably  aspire. 
Notwithstanding  these  doubts  and  misgivings, 
Mabel  looked  so  prettily,  blushed  so  charmingly, 
smiled  so  sweetly,  and  altogether  presented  so 
winning  a picture  of  youth,  spirit,  modesty,  and 
beauty,  that  he  found  it  exceedingly  tempting  to 
be  kept  so  prominently  before  her  imagination, 
and  to  be  able  to  address  her  freely. 

“ You  shall  have  it  your  own  way,  Pathfinder,” 
he  answered,  as  soon  as  his  doubts  had  settled 
down  into  determination  — “ let  the  sergeant’s 
daughter — his  charming  daughter,  I should  have 
termed  her — be  the  umpire,  then  ; and  to  her  we 
will  both  dedicate  the  prize  that  one  or  the  other 
must  certainly  win.  Pathfinder  must  be  humored, 
ladies,  as  you  perceive,  else,  no  doubt,  we  should 
have  had  the  honor  to  submit  ourselves  to  one  of 
your  charming  society.” 

A call  for  the  competitors  now  drew  the  quar- 
termaster and  his  adversary  away  ; and  in  a few 
moments  the  second  trial  of  skill  commenced.  A 
common  wrought  nail  was  driven  lightly  into  the 
target,  its  head  having  been  first  touched  with 
paint,  and  the  marksman  was  required  to  hit  it 
or  he  lost  his  chances  in  the  succeeding  trials. 
No  one  was  permitted  to  enter  on  this  occasion 
who  had  already  failed  in  the  essay  against  the 
bull’s-eye. 

There  might  have  been  half  a dozen  aspirants 
for  the  honors  of  this  trial ; one  or  two,  who  had 
barely  succeeded  in  touching  the  spot  of  paint  in 
the  previous  strife,  preferring  to  rest  their  reputa- 
tions there ; feeling  certain  that  they  could  not 
succeed  in  the  greater  effort  that  was  now  ex- 
acted of  them.  The  first  three  adventurers 
failed,  all  coming  quite  near  the  mark,  but  nei- 
ther touching  it.  The  fourth  person  who  presented 
himself  was  the  quartermaster,  who,  after  going 
through  his  usual  attitudes,  so  far  succeeded  aa 
to  carry  away  a small  portion  of  the  head  of  the 
nail,  planting  his  bullet  by  the  side  of  its  point 


n 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


Thia  was  no l considered  an  extraordinary  shot, 
though  it  brought  the  adventurer  within  the 
category. 

“You’ve  saved  your  bacon,  quartermaster, 
as  they  say  in  the  settlements  of  their  creatur’s,” 
cried  Pathfinder,  laughing,  “ but  it  would  take  a 
long  time  to  build  a house  with  a hammer  no  bet- 
ter than  yourn.  Jasper,  here,  will  show  you  how 
a nail  is  to  be  started,  or  the  lad  has  lost  some  of 
his  steadiness  of  hand  and  sartainty  of  eye.  You 
would  have  done  better  yourself,  lieutenant,  had 
you  not  been  so  much  bent  on  so’gerizing  your 
figure.  Shooting  is  a nat’ral  gift,  and  is  to  be  ex- 
ercised in  a nat’ral  way.” 

“ We  shall  see,  Pathfinder  ; I call  that  a pretty 
attempt  at  a nail ; and  I doubt  if  the  55th  has 
another  hammer,  as  you  call  it,  that  can  do  just 
that  same  thing  over  again.” 

“ Jasper  is  not  in  the  55th,  but  there  goes  his 
rap  ! ” 

As  the  Pathfinder  spoke,  the  bullet  of  Eau- 
douce  hit  the  nail  square,  and  drove  it  into  the 
target  within  an  inch  of  the  head. 

“ Be  ail  ready  to  clinch  it,  boys,”  cried  out 
Pathfinder,  stepping  into  his  friend’s  tracks  the 
instant  they  were  vacant.  “Never  mind  a new 
nail ; I can  see  that,  though  the  paint  is  gone, 
and  what  I can  see  I can  hit  at  a hundred  yards, 
though  it  were  only  a mosquito’s  eye.  Be  ready 
to  clinch ! ” 

The  rifle  cracked,  the  bullet  sped  its  way, 
and  the  head  oaf  the  nail  was  buried  in  the  wood, 
covered  by  the  piece  of  flattened  lead. 

“Well,  Jasper,  lad,”  continued  Pathfinder, 
dropping  the  breech  of  his  rifle  to  the  ground, 
and  resuming  the  discourse  as  if  he  thought  noth- 
ing of  his  own  exploit,  “you  improve  daily.  A few 
more  tramps  on  land,  in  my  company,  and  the 
best  marksman  on  the  frontiers  will  have  occasion 
to  look  keenly  when  he  takes  his  stand  ag’in  you. 
The  quartermaster  is  respectable,  but  he  will 
never  get  any  farther  ; whereas  you,  Jasper,  have 
the  gift,  and  may  one  day  defy  any  who  pull  trig- 
ger.” 

“ Hoot — hoot ! ” exclaimed  Muir,  “ do  you  call 
hitting  the  head  of  the  nail  respectable  only,  when 
it’s  the  perfection  of  the  art  ? Any  one,  in  the 
mast  refined  and  elevated  in  sentiment,  knows  that 
the  delicate  touches  denote  the  master  ; whereas 
your  sledge-hammer  blows  come  from  the  rude 
and  uniustructed.  If  ‘ a miss  is  as  good  as  a 
mile,’  a hit  ought  to  be  better,  Pathfinder,  wheth- 
er it  wound  or  kill.” 

“ The  surest  way  of  settling  this  rivalry,  will 
be  to  make  another  trial,”  observed  Lundie, 
M and  that  will  be  of  the  potato.  You’re  Scotch, 


Mr.  Muir,  aud  might  fare  better  were  it  a cake  or 
a thistle;  but  frontier  law  has  declared  for  the 
American  fruit,  and  the  potato  it  shall  be.” 

As  Major  Duncan  manifested  some  impatience 
of  manner,  Muir  had  too  much  tact  to  delay  the 
sports  any  longer  with  his  discursive  remarks, 
but  judiciously  prepared  himself  for  the  next  ap- 
peal. To  say  the  truth,  the  quartermaster  had 
little  or  no  faith  in  his  own  success  in  the  trial 
of  skill  that  was  to  follow,  nor  would  he  have 
been  so  free  in  presenting  himself  as  a competitor 
at  all,  had  he  anticipated  it  would  have  been 
made.  But  Major  Duncan,  who  was  somewhat 
of  a humorist  in  his  own  quiet  Scotch  way,  had 
secretly  ordered  it  to  be  introduced  expressly  to 
mortify  him ; for,  a laird  himself,  Lundie  did  not 
relish  the  notion  that  one  who  might  claim  to  be 
a gentleman  should  bring  discredit  on  his  caste 
by  forming  an  unequal  alliance.  As  soon  as 
every  thing  was  prepared,  Muir  was  summoned 
to  the  stand,  and  the  potato  was  held  in  readi- 
ness to  be  thrown.  As  the  sort  of  feat  we  are 
about  to  offer  to  the  reader,  however,  may  be  new 
to  him,  a word  in  explanation  will  render  the  mat- 
ter more  clear.  A potato  of  large  size  was  se- 
lected, and  given  to  one  who  stood  at  the  distance 
of  twenty  yards  from  the  stand.  At  the  word 
‘‘  heave,”  which  was  given  by  the  marksman,  the 
vegetable  was  thrown  with  a gentle  toss  into  the 
air,  and  it  was  the  business  of  the  adventurer  to 
cause  a ball  to  pass  through  it  before  it  reached 
the  ground. 

The  quartermaster,  in  a hundred  experiments, 
had  once  succeeded  in  accomplishing  this  difficult 
feat,  but  he  now  essayed  to  perform  it  again  with 
a sort  of  blind  hope  that  was  fated  to  be  disap- 
pointed. The  potato  was  thrown  in  the  usual 
manner,  the  rifle  was  discharged,  but  the  flying 
target  was  untouched. 

“ To  the  right  about,  and  fall  out,  quarter- 
master ! ” said  Lundie,  smiling  at  the  success  of 
his  own  artifice — “ the  honor  of  the  silken  calash 
will  lie  between  Jasper  Eau-douce  and  Path- 
finder.” 

“And  how  is  the  trial  to  end,  major?”  in- 
quired the  latter.  “ Are  we  to  have  the  two  po- 
tato trial,  or  is  it  to  be  settled  by  centre  and 
skin  ? ” 

“ By  centre  and  skin,  if  there  is  any  percepti- 
ble difference;  otherwise  the  double  shot  must 
follow.” 

“This  is  an  awful  moment  to  me,  Pathfinder,” 
observed  Jasper,  as  he  moved  toward  the  stand, 
his  face  actually  losing  its  color  in  intensity  of 
feeling. 

Pathfinder  gazed  earnestly  at  the  young  man, 


THE  HUNTER’S  GENEROSITY. 


75 


And  thaa,  begging  Major  Duncan  to  have  patience 
for  a moment,  he  led-  his  friend  out  of  hearing 
of  all  near  him  before  he  spoke. 

“ You  seem  to  take  this  matter  to  heart,  Jas- 
per,” the  hunter  remarked,  keeping  his  eyes  fast- 
ened on  those  of  the  youth. 

“I  must  own,  Pathfinder,  that  my  feelings 
were  never  before  so  much  bound  up  in  success.” 

“ And  do  you  so  much  crave  to  outdo  me,  an 
old  and  tried  friend  ? — and  that,  as  it  might  be, 
in  my  own  way  ? Shooting  is  my  gift,  boy,  and 
no  common  hand  can  equal  mine  ! ” 

“I  know  it — I know  it,  Pathfinder — but — 
yet — ” 

“ But  \jhat,  Jasper,  boy  ? — speak  freely ; you 
talk  to  a friend.” 

The  young  man  compressed  his  lips,  dashed 
a hand  across  his  eye,  and  flushed  and  paled 
alternately,  like  a girl  confessing  her  love.  Then 
squeezing  the  other’s  hand,  he  said  calmly,  like 
one  whose  manhood  has  overcome  all  other  sen- 
sations : 

“ I would  lose  an  arm,  Pathfinder,  to  be  able 
to  make  an  offering  of  that  calash  to  Mabel 
Dunham ! ” 

The  hunter  dropped  his  eyes  to  the  ground, 
and,  as  he  walked  slowly  back  toward  the  stand, 
he  seemed  to  ponder  deeply  on  what  he  had  just 
heard. 

“You  never  could  succeed  in  the  double  trial, 
Jasper ! ” he  suddenly  remarked. 

“ Of  that  I am  certain,  and  it  troubles  me.” 

“What  a creature  is  mortal  man!  He  pines 
for  things  which  are  not  of  his  gift,  and  treats 
the  bounties  of  Providence  lightly.  No  matter — 
no  matter.  Take  your  station,  Jasper,  for  the 
major  is  waiting — and,  harkee,  lad — I must  touch 
the  skin,  for  I could  not  show  my  face  in  the  gar- 
rison with  less  than  that.” 

“ I suppose  I must  submit  to  my  fate,”  re- 
turned Jasper,  flushing  and  losing  his  color,  as 
before ; “ but  I will  make  the  effort  if  I die.” 

“ What  a thing  is  mortal  man ! ” repeated 
Pathfinder,  falling  back  to  allow  his  friend  room 
to  take  his  aim — “he  overlooks  hi3  own  gifts, 
and  craves  them  of  another ! ” 

The  potato  was  thrown,  Jasper  fired,  and  the 
shout  that  followed  preceded  the  announcement 
of  the  fact  that  he  had  driven  his  bullet  through 
its  centre,  or  so  nearly  so  as  to  merit  that  award. 

“ Here  is  a competitor  worthy  of  you,  Path- 
finder,” cried  Major  Duncan,  with  delight,  as  the 
former  took  his  station,  “ and  we  may  look  to 
somfe  fine  shooting  in  the  double  trial.” 

“ What  a thing  is  mortal  man ! ” repeated 
the  hunter,  scarce  seeming  to  notice  what  was 


passing  around  him,  so  much  were  his  thoughts 
absorbed  in  his  own  reflections.  “ Toss.” 

The  potato  was  tossed,  the  rifle  cracked — it 
was  remarked  just  as  the  little  black  ball  seemed 
stationary  in  the  air,  for  the  marksman  evidently 
took  unusual  heed  to  his  aim — and  then  a look 
of  disappointment  and  wonder  succeeded  among 
those  who  caught  the  falling  target. 

“ Two  holes  in  one  ? ” called  out  the  major, 

“ The  skin — the  skin — ” was  the  answer : 
“only  the  skin!” 

“ How’s  this,  Pathfinder  ! Is  Jasper  Eau- 
douce  to  carry  off  the  honors  of  the  day  ? ” 

“ The  calash  is  his,”  returned  the  other,  shak- 
ing his  head,  and  walking  quietly  away  from  the 
stand.  “ What  a creature  is  a mortal  man ! 
Never  satisfied  with  his  own  gifts,  but  forever 
craving  that  which  Providence  denies ! ” 

As  Pathfinder  had  not  buried  his  bullet  in 
the  potato,  but  had  cut  through  the  skin,  the 
prize  was  immediately  adjudged  to  Jasper.  The 
calash  was  in  the  hands  of  the  latter,  when  the 
quartermaster  approached,  and,  with  a politic  air 
of  cordiality,  he  wished  his  successful  rival  joy 
of  his  victory. 

“ But  now  you’ve  got  the  calash,  lad,  it’s  of 
no  use  to  you,”  he  added ; “ it  will  never  make  a 
sail,  nor  even  an  ensign.  I’m  thinking,  Eau-douce, 
you’d  no  be  sorry  to  see  its  value  in  good  silver 
of  the  king  ? ” 

“Money  cannot  buy  it,  lieutenant,”  returned 
Jasper,  whose  eye  lighted  up  with  all  the  fire  ot 
success  and  joy.  “ I would  rather  have  won  this 
calash  than  have  obtained  fifty  new  suits  of  sails 
for  the  Scud ! ” 

“ Hoot — hoot — lad  ! you  are  going  mad  like 
all  the  rest  of  them.  I’d  even  venture  to  offer 
half  a guinea  for  the  trifle,  rather  than  it  should 
lie  kicking  about  in  the  cabin  of  your  cutter,  and, 
in  the  end,  become  an  ornament  for  the  head  of 
a squaw.” 

Although  Jasper  did  not  know  that  the  wary 
quartermaster  had  not  offered  half  the  actual 
cost  of  the  prize,  he  heard  the  proposition  with 
indifference.  Shaking  his  head  in  the  negative, 
he  advanced  toward  the  stage,  where  his  approach 
excited  a little  commotion,  the  officers’  ladies, 
one  and  all,  having  determined  to  accept  the 
present,  should  the  gallantry  of  the  young  sailoi 
induce  him  to  offer  it.  But  Jasper’s  diffidence, 
no  less  than  admiration  for  another,  would  have 
prevented  him  from  aspiring  to  the  honor  of 
complimenting  any  whom  he  thought  so  much 
his  superiors. 

“ Mabel,”  he  said,  “ this  prize  is  for  you,  un 
less — ” 


76 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“Unless  what,  Jasper  ? ” answered  the  girl, 
losing  her  own  bashfulness  in  the  natural  and 
generous  wish  to  relieve  his  embarrassment, 
though  both  reddened  in  a way  to  betray  strong 
feeling. 

“ Unless  you  may  think  too  indifferently  of  it, 
because  it  is  offered  by  one  who  may  have  no 
right  to  believe  his  gift  will  be  accepted.” 

“ I do  accept  it,  Jasper ; and  it  shall  be  a 
sign  of  the  danger  I have  passed  in  your  com- 
pany, and  of  the  gratitude  I feel  for  your  care  of 
me — your  care,  and  that  of  the  . Pathfinder.” 

“ Never  mind  me,  never  mind  me,”  exclaimed 
the  latter ; “ this  is  Jasper’s  luck  and  Jasper’s 
gift : give  him  full  credit  for  both.  My  turn 
may  come  another  day ; mine  and  the  quarter- 
master’s, who  seems  to  grudge  the  boy  the  ca- 
lash, though  what  he  can  want  of  it,  I cannot  un- 
derstand, for  he  has  no  wife.” 

“ And  has  Jasper  Eau-douce  a wife  ? Or  have 
you  a wife  voursel’,  Pathfinder  ? I may  want  it 
to  help  to  get  a wife,  or  as  a memorial  that  I have 
had  a wife,  or  as  proof  how  much  I admire  the 
sex,  or  because  it  is  a female  garment,  or  for  some 
other  equally  respectable  motive.  It’s  not  the 
unreflecting  that  are  the  most  prized  by  the 
thoughtful,  and  there  is  no  surer  sign  that  a man 
made  a good  husband  to  his  first  consort,  let  me 
tell  you  all,  than  to  see  him  speedily  looking 
around  for  a competent  successor.  The  affec- 
tions are  good  gifts  from  Providence,  and  they 
that  have  loved  one  faithfully,  prove  how  much  of 
this  bounty  has  been  lavished  upon  them  by  lov- 
ing another  as  soon  as  possible.” 

“ It  may  be  so — it  may  be  so.  I am  no  prac- 
titioner in  such  things,  and  cannot  gainsay  it. 
But,  Mabel,  here,  the  sergeant’s  daughter,  will  give 
you  full  credit  for  the  words. — Come,  Jasper,  al- 
though our  hands  are  out,  let  us  see  what  the 
other  lads  can  do  with  the  rifle.” 

Pathfinder  and  his  companions  retired,  for  the 
sports  were  about  to  proceed.  The  ladies,  how- 
ever, were  not  so  much  engrossed  with  rifle-shoot- 
ing as  to  neglect  the  calash.  It  passed  from 
hand  to  hand ; the  silk  was  felt,  the  fashion  criti- 
cised, and  the  work  examined,  and  divers  opin- 
ions were  privately  ventured  concerning  the  fit- 
ness of  so  handsome  a thing’s  passing  into  the 
possession  of  a non-commissioned  officer’s  child. 

“ Perhaps  you  will  be  disposed  to  sell  that 
calash,  Mabel,  when  it  has  been  a short  time  in 
your  possession  ? ” inquired  the  captain’s  lady. 

M Wear  it,  I should  think,  you  never  can.” 

“ I may  not  wear  it,  madam,”  returned  our 
heroine,  modestly,  “ but  I should  not  like  to  part 
with  it,  either.” 


“I  dare  say  Sergeant  Dunham  keeps  you 
above  the  necessity  of  selling  your  clothes,  child; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  money  thrown  away 
to  keep  an  article  of  dress  you  can  never  wear.” 

“ I should  be  unwilling  to  part  with  the  gift 
of  a friend.” 

“ But  the  young  man  himself  will  think  all  the 
better  of  you  for  your  prudence  after  the  triumph 
of  the  day  is  forgotten.  It  is  a pretty  and  a 
becoming  calash,  and  ought  not  to  be  thrown 
away.” 

“ I’ve  no  intention  to  throw  it  away,  ma’am, 
and,  if  you  please,  would  rather  keep  it.” 

“ As  you  will,  child ; girls  of  your  age  often 
overlook  their  real  advantages.  Remember,  how- 
ever, if  you  do  determine  to  dispose  of  the  thing, 
that  it  is  bespoke,  and  that  I will  not  take  it  if 
you  ever  even  put  it  on  your  own  head.” 

“Yes,  ma’am,”  said  Mabel,  in  the  meekest 
voice  imaginable,  though  her  eyes  looked  like  dia- 
monds, and  her  cheeks  reddened  to  the  tints  of 
two  roses  as  she  placed  the  forbidden  garment 
over  her  well-turned  shoulders,  where  she  kept  it 
a minute,  as  if  to  try  its  fitness,  and  then  quietly 
removed  it  again. 

The  remainder  of  the  sports  offered  nothing 
of  interest.  The  shooting  was  reasonably  good, 
but  the  trials  were  all  of  a scale  lower  than  those 
related,  and  the  competitors  were  soon  left  tc 
themselves.  The  ladies  and  most  of  the  officers 
withdrew,  and  the  remainder  of  the  females  soon 
followed  their  example.  Mabel  was  returning 
along  the  low,  flat  rocks  that  line  the  shore  of 
the  lake,  dangling  her  pretty  calash  from  a pret- 
tier finger,  when  Pathfinder  met  her.  He  carried 
the  rifle  which  he  had  used  that  day,  but  his 
manner  had  less  of  the  frank  ease  of  the  hunter 
about  it  than  usual,  while  his  eyes  seemed  roving 
and  uneasy.  After  a few  unmeaning  words  con 
cerning  the  noble  sheet  of  water  before  them,  he 
turned  toward  his  companion,  with  strong  interest 
in  his  countenance,  and  said : 

“ Jasper  earned  that  calash  for  you,  Mabel, 
without  much  trial  of  his  gifts.” 

“ It  was  fairly  done,  Pathfinder.” 

“No  doubt — no  doubt.  The  bullet  passed 
neatly  through  .the  potato,  and  no  man  could 
have  done  more ; though  others  might  have  done 
as  much.” 

“ But  no  one  did  as  much ! ” exclaimed  Ma- 
bel, with  an  animation  that  she  instantly  regretted, 
for  she  saw  by  the  pained  look  of  the  guide  that 
he  was  mortified  equally  by  the  remark,  and  by 
the  feeling  with  which  it  was  uttered. 

“ It  is  true — it  is  true,  Mabel,  no  one  did  as 
much  then,  but-^-yet,  there  is  no  reason  I should 


A TOKEN  OF  GRATITUDE. 


77 


ieny  my  gifts  which  come  from  Providence — yes, 
yes ; no  one  did  as  much  there,  but  you  shall 
know  what  can  be  done  here.  Do  you  observe 
the  gulls  that  are  flying  over  our  heads  ? ” 

“Certainly,  Pathfinder — there  are  too  many 
to  escape  notice.” 

“ Here,  where  they  cross  each  other  in  sailing 
about,”  he  added,  cocking  and  raising  his  rifle — 
“ the  two — the  two — now  look  ! ” 

The  piece  was  presented  quick  as  thought  as 
two  of  the  birds  came  in  a line,  though  distant 
from  each  other  many  yards — the  report  followed, 
and  the  bullet  passed  through  the  bodies  of  both 
the  victims.  No  sooner  had  the  gulls  fallen  into 
the  lake,  than  Pathfinder  dropped  the  breech  of 
the  rifle,  and  laughed  in  his  own  peculiar  man- 
ner, every  shade  of  dissatisfaction  and  mortified 
pride  having  left  his  honest  face. 

“ That  is  something,  Mabel,  that  is  something ; 
although  I’ve  no  calash  to  give  you ! But  ask 
Jasper  himself ; I’ll  leave  it  all  to  Jasper,  for  a 
truer  tongue  and  heart  are  not  in  America.” 

“ Then  it  was  not  Jasper’s  fault  that  he 
gained  the  prize  ? ” 

“Not- it.  He  did  his  best,  and  he  did  well. 
For  one  that  has  water  gifts  rather  than  land 
gifts,  Jasper  is  oncommonly  expart,  and  a better 
backer  no  one  need  wish,  ashore  or  afloat.  But 
it  was  my  fault,  Mabel,  that  he  got  the  calash ; 
though  it  makes  no  difference — it  makes  no  dif- 
ference, for  the  thing  has  gone  to  the  right  per- 
son.” 

“ I believe  I understand  you,  Pathfinder,” 
said  Mabel,  blushing  in  spite  of  herself,  “ and  I 
look  upon  the  calash  as  the  joint  gift  of  yourself 
and  Jasper.” 

“That  would  not  be  doing  justice  to  the  lad, 
neither.  He  won  the  garment,  and  had  a right 
to  give  it  away.  The  most  you  may  think,  Ma- 
bel, is  to  believe  that,  had  I won  it,  it  would  have 
gone  to  the  same  person.” 

“ I will  remember  that,  Pathfinder,  and  take 
care  that  others  know  your  skill,  as  it  has  been 
proved  upon  the  poor  gulls  in  my  presence.” 

“ Lord  bless  you,  Mabel,  there  is  no  more 
need  of  your  talking  in  favor  of  my  shooting,  on 
this  frontier,  than  of  your  talking  about  the  wa- 
ter in  the  lake,  or  the  sun  in  the  heavens.  Every- 
body knows  what  I can  do  in  that  way,  and 
your  words  would  be  thrown  away,  as  much  as 
French  would  be  thrown  away  on  an  American 
bear.” 

“Then  you  think  that  Jasper  knew  you  were 
giving  him  this  advantage  of  which  he  has  so 
unhandsomely  availed  himself?  ” said  Mabel,  the 
color  which  had  imparted  so  much  lustre  to  her 


eyes  gradually  leaving  her  face,  which  became 
grave  and  thoughtful. 

“ I do  not  say  that,  but  very  far  from  it.  We 
all  forget  things  that  we  have  known,  when  eager 
after  our  wishes.  Jasper  is  satisfied  that  I can 
pass  one  bullet  through  two  potatoes,  as  I sent 
my  bullet  through  the  gulls ; and  he  knows  no 
other  man  on  the  frontier  can  do  the  same  thing. 
But,  with  the  calash  before  his  eyes,  and  the 
hope  of  giving  it  to  you,  the  lad  was  inclined  to 
think  better  of  himself,  just  at  that  moment,  per- 
haps, than  he  ought.  No — no — there’s  nothing 
mean  or  distrustful  about  Jasper  Eau-douce, 
though  it  is  a gift,  nat’ral  to  all  young  men,  to 
wish  to  appear  well  in  the  eyes  of  handsome 
young  women.” 

“ I’ll  try  to  forget  all,  but  the  kindness  you’ve 
both  shown  to  a poor  motherless  girl,”  said  Ma- 
bel, struggling  to  keep  down  emotions  that  she 
scarcely  knew  how  to  account  for  herself.  “ Be- 
lieve me,  Pathfinder,  I can  never  forget  all  you 
have  already  done  for  me — you  and  Jasper — and 
this  new  proof  of  your  regard  is  not  thrown  away 
Here — here  is  a brooch  that  is  of  silver,  I offer  it 
as  a token  that  I owe  you  life  or  liberty.” 

“What  shall  I do  with  this,  Mabel?”  asked 
the  bewildered  hunter,  holding  the  simple  trinket 
in  his  hand.  “ I have  neither  buckle  nor  button 
about  me,  for  I wear  nothing  but  leathern  strings, 
and  them  of  good  deer-skins.  It’s  pretty  to  the 
eye,  but  it’s  prettier  far  on  the  spot  it  came  from, 
than  it  can  be  about  me.” 

“ Nay,  put  it  in  your  hunting-shirt ; it  will 
become  it  well.  Remember,  Pathfinder,  that  it 
is  a token  of  friendship  between  us,  and  a sign 
that  I can  never  forget  you  or  your  services.” 

Mabel  then  smiled  an  adieu,  and,  bounding  up 
the  bank,  she  was  soon  lost  to  view  behind  the 
mound  of  the  fort. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

“ Lo  1 dusky  masses  steal  in  dubious  sight, 

Along  the  leaguered  wall,  and  bristling  bank 
Of  the  armed  river ; while  with  straggling  light, 

The  stars  peep  through  the  vapor,  dim  and  dank.'" 

Byeon. 

A few  hours  later,  Mabel  Dunham  was  on  the 
bastion  that  overlooked  the  river  and  the  lake, 
seemingly  in  deep  thought.  The  evening  was 
calm  and  soft,  and  the  question  had  arisen  wheth- 
er the  party  for  the  Thousand  Islands  would  bs 
able  to  get  out  that  night  or  not,  on  account  of 
the  total  absence  of  wind.  The  stores,  arms,  and 
ammunition,  were  already  shipped,  and  even  Ma* 


78 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


bel’s  effects  were  on  board ; but  the  small  draft 
of  men  that  was  to  go  was  still  ashore,  there  be- 
ing no  apparent  prospect  of  the  cutter’s  getting 
under  way.  Jasper  had  warped  tne  Scud  out  of 
the  cove,  and  so  far  up  the  stream  as  to  enable 
him  to  pass  through  the  outlet  of  the  river  when- 
ever he  chose ; but  there  he  still  lay,  riding  at 
single  anchor.  The  drafted  men  were  lounging 
about  the  shore  of  the  cove,  undecided  whether 
or  not  to  pull  off. 

The  sports  of  the  morning  had  left  a quiet  in 
the  garrison  that  was  in  harmony  with  the  whole 
of  the  beautiful  scene,  and  Mabel  felt  its  influence 
on  her  feelings,  though  probably  too  little  accus- 
tomed to  speculate  on  such  sensations,  to  be 
aware  of  the  cause.  Every  thing  near  appeared 
lovely  and  soothing,  while  the  solemn  grandeur 
of  the  silent  forest  and  placid  expanse  of  the  lake 
lent  a sublimity  that  other  scenes  might  have 
wanted.  For  the  first  time,  Mabel  felt  the  hold 
that  the  towns  and  civilization  had  gained  on  her 
habits  sensibly  weakened,  and  the  warm-hearted 
girl  began  to  think  that  a life  passed  amid  ob- 
jects such  as  these  around  her  might  be  happy. 
How  far  the  experience  of  the  last  ten  days  came 
in  aid  of  the  calm  and  holy  eventide,  and  con- 
tributed toward  producing  that  young  conviction, 
maybe  suspected,  rather  than  affirmed,  in  this 
early  portion  of  our  legend. 

“ A charming  sunset,  Mabel,”  said  the  hearty 
voice  of  her  uncle,  so  close  to  the  ear  of  our 
heroine  as  to  cause  her  to  start — “ a charming 
sunset,  girl,  for  a fresh- water  concern,  though  we 
should  think  but  little  of  it  at  sea.” 

“ And  is  not  Nature  the  same,  on  shore  or  at 
sea  ; on  a lake  like  this,  or  on  the  ocean  ? Does 
not  the  sun  shine  on  all  alike,  dear  uncle,  and 
can  we  not  feel  gratitude  for  the  blessings  of 
Providence  as  strongly  on  this  remote  frontier  as 
in  our  own  Manhattan  ? ” 

“The  girl  has  fallen  in  with  some  of  her 
mother’s  books  ! — though  I should  think  the  ser- 
geant would  scarcely  make  a second  march  with 
such  trumpery  among  his  baggage.  Is  not  Na- 
ture the  same,  indeed  ! — Now,  Mabel,  do  you  im- 
agine that  the  nature  of  a soldier  is  the  same  as 
that  of  a seafaring  man? — You’ve  relations  in 
both  callings,  and  ought  to  be  able  to  answer.” 

“ But,  uncle,  I mean  human  nature — ” 

“ So  do  I,  girl ; the  human  nature  of  a sea- 
man, and  the  human  nature  of  one  of  these  fel- 
lows of  the  55th,  not  even  excepting  your  own 
father.  Here  have  they  had  a shooting-match — 
target-firing  I should  call  it — -this  day,  and  what 
a different  thing  has  it  been  from  a target-firing 
afloat ! There  we  should  have  sprung  our  broad- 


side, sported  with  round  shot,  at  an  object  half  a 
mile  off  at  the  very  nearest ; and  the  potatoes, 
if  there  happened  to  be  any  on  board,  as  quite 
likely  would  not  have  been  the  case,  would  have 
been  left  in  the  cook’s  coppers.  It  may  be  an 
honorable  calling,  that  of  a soldier,  Mabel,  but  an 
experienced  hand  sees  many  follies  and  weak- 
nesses in  one  of  these  forts.  As  for  that  bit  of 
a lake,  you  know  my  opinion  of  it  already,  and  I 
wish  to  disparage  nothing.  No  real  seafarer  dis- 
parages any  thing  ; but  d e if  I regard  this 

here  Ontario,  as  they  call  it,  as  more  than  so 
much  water  in  a ship’s  scuttle-butt.  Now,  look 
you  here,  Mabel,  if  you  wish  to  understand  the 
difference  between  the  ocean  and  a lake,  I can 
make  you  comprehend  it  with  a single  look  : this 
is  what  one  may  call  a calm,  seeing  that  there  is 
no  wind;  though,  to  own  the  truth,  I do  not 
think  the  calms  are  as  calm  as  them  we  get  out- 
side— ” 

“ Uncle,  there  is  not  a breath  of  air  ! I do 
not  think  it  possible  for  the  leaves  to  be  more 
immovably  still  than  those  of  the  entire  forest 
are  at  this  very  moment.” 

“ Leaves ! what  are  leaves,  child  ? there  are 
no  leaves  at  sea.  If  you  wish  to  know  whether 
it  is  a dead  calm  or  not,  try  a mould  candle — 
your  dips  flaring  too  much — and  then  you  may 
be  certain  whether  there  is  or  not  any  wind.  If 
you  were  in  a latitude  where  the  air  was  so  still 
that  you  found  a difficulty  in  stirring  it  to  draw 
it  in,  in  breathing,  you  might  fancy  it  a calm. 
People  are  often  on  a short  allowance  of  air  in 
the  calm  latitudes.  Here,  again,  look  at  that 
water  ! — It  is  like  milk  in  a pan,  with  no  more 
motion  now  than  there  is  in  a full  hogshead  be- 
fore the  bung  is  started.  On  the  ocean  the  water 
is  never  still,  let  the  air  be  as  quiet  as  it  may.” 

“The  water  of  the  ocean  never  still,  uncle 
Cap  ! — not  even  in  a calm  ? ” 

“ Bless  your  heart,  no,  child.  The  ocean 
breathes  like  a living  being,  and  its  bosom  is 
always  heaving,  as  the  poetizers  call  it,  though 
there  be  no  more  air  than  is  to  be  found  in  a 
siphon.  No  man  ever  saw  the  ocean  still  like  this 
lake ; but  it  heaves  and  sets  as  if  it  had  lungs.” 

“ And  this  lake  is  not  absolutely  still,  for  you 
perceive  there  is  a little  ripple  on  the  shore,  and 
you  may  even  hear  the  surf  plunging,  at  moments, 
against  the  rocks.” 

“ All  d d poetry ! One  may  call  a bubble 

a ripple  if  he  will,  and  washing  decks  a surf ; but 
Lake  Ontario  is  no  more  the  Atlantic  than  a 
Powles  Hook  periagua  is  a first-rate.  That  Jas- 
per, notwithstanding,  is  a fine  lad,  and  wants  in 
struction  only  to  make  a man  of  him ! ” 


OAFS  FRIENDLY  INTENTIONS. 


79 


“ Do  you  think  him  ignorant,  uncle  ? ” an- 
swered Mabel,  prettily  adjusting  her  hair,  in  or- 
der to  do  which  she  was  obliged,  or  fancied  she 
was  obliged,  to  turn  away  her  face.  “ To  me 
Jasper  Eau-douce  appears  to  know  more  than 
most  of  the  young  men  of  his  class.  He  has  read 
but  little,  for  books  are  not  plenty  in  this  part  of 
the  world,  but  he  has  thought  much  ; at  least  so 
it  seems  to  me  for  one  so  young/’ 

“ He  is  ignorant,  he  is  ignorant,  as  all  must 
be  who  navigate  an  inland  water  like  this.  He 
can  make  a flat-knot  and  a timber-hitch,  it  is 
true ; but  he  has  no  more  notion  of  crowning  a 
cable,  now,  or  of  a carrick-bend,  than  you  have 
of  catting  an  anchor.  No — no — Mabel ; we  both 
owe  something  to  Jasper  and  the  Pathfinder,  and 
I have  been  thinking  how  I can  best  serve  them, 
for  I hold  ingratitude  to  be  the  vice  of  a hog. 
Some  people  say  it  is  the  vice  of  a king ; but  I 
say  it  is  the  failing  of  a hog ; for,  treat  the  animal 
to  your  own  dinner,  and  he  would  eat  you  for  the 
dessert.” 

“Very  true,  dear  uncle,  and  we  ought  indeed 
to  do  all  w'e  can  to  express  our  proper  sense  of 
the  services  of  both  these  brave  men.” 

“Spoken  like  your  mother’s  daughter,  girl, 
and  in  a way  to  do  credit  to  the  Cap  family. 
Now,  I’ve  hit  upon  a traverse  that  will  just  suit 
all  parties,  and  as  soon  as  we  get  back  from  this 
little  expedition  down  the  lake,  among  them  there 
Thousand  Islands,  and  I am  ready  to  return,  it  is 
my  intention  to  propose  it.” 

“ Dearest  uncle ! this  is  so  considerate  in  you, 
and  will  be  so  just ! May  I ask  what  your  inten- 
tions are  ? ” 

“ I see  no  reason  for  keeping  them  a secret 
from  you,  Mabel,  though  nothing  need  be  said  to 
your  father  about  them,  for  the  sergeant  has  his 
prejudices,  and  might  throw  difficulties  in  the 
way.  Neither  Jasper,  nor  his  friend  Pathfinder, 
can  ever  make  any  thing  hereabouts,  and  I pro- 
pose to  take  both  with  me  down  to  the  coast,  and 
get  them  fairly  afloat.  Jasper  would  find  his 
sea-legs  in  a fortnight,  and  a twelvemonth’s 
v’y’ge  would  make  him  a man.  Although  Path- 
finder might  take  more  time,  or  never  get  to  be 
rated  able,  yet  one  could  make  something  of  him, 
too,  particularly  as  a lookout,  for  he  has  unusual- 
ly good  eyes.” 

“ Uncle,  do  you  think  either  would  consent  to 
this  ? ” said  Mabel,  smiling. 

“Do  I suppose  them  simpletons  ? What 
rational  being  would  neglect  his  own  advance- 
ment? Let  Jasper  alone  to  push  his  way,  and 
the  lad  may  yet  die  the  master  of  some  square- 
rigged  craft.” 


“And  would  he  be  any  the  happier  for  it, 
dear  uncle  ? How  much  better  is  it  to  be  the 
master  of  a square-rigged  craft  than  to  be  the 
master  of  a round-rigged  craft  ? ” 

“ Pooh — pooh,  Magnet ! you  are  just  fit  to 
read  lectures  about  ships  before  some  hysterical 
society ; you  don’t  know  what  you  are  talking 
about ; leave  these  things  to  me,  and  they’ll  be 
properly  managed. — Ah!  here  is  the  Pathfinder 
himself,  and  I may  just  as  well  drop  him  a hint 
of  ray  benevolent  intentions  as  regards  himself. 
Hope  is  a great  encourager  of  our  exertions.” 

Cap  nodded  his  head,  and  then  ceased  to 
speak,  while  the  hunter  approached,  not  with  his 
usual  frank  and  easy  manner,  but  in  a way  to 
show  that  he  was  slightly  embarrassed,  if  not  dis- 
trustful of  his  reception. 

“ Uncle  and  niece  make  a family  party,”  said 
Pathfinder,  when  near  the  two,  " and  a stranger 
may  not  prove  a welcome  companion  ? ” 

“You  are  no  stranger,  Master  Pathfinder,” 
returned  Cap,  “ and  no  one  can  be  more  welcome 
than  yourself.  We  were  talking  of  you  but  a 
moment  ago  ; and  when  friends  speak  of  an  ab- 
sent man,  he  can  guess  what  they  have  said.” 

“ I ask  no  secrets — I ask  no  secrets.  Every 
man  has  his  inemies,  and  I have  mine,  though  I 
count  neither  you,  Master  Cap,  nor  pretty  Mabel, 
here,  among  the  number.  As  for  the  Mingoes,  I 
will  say  nothing ; though  they  have  no  just  cause 
to  hate  me.” 

“That  I’ll  answer  for,  Pathfinder,  for  you 
strike  my  fancy  as  being  well  disposed  and  up- 
right. There  is  a method,  however,  of  getting 
away  from  the  enmity  of  even  these  Mingoes,  and, 
if  you  choose  to  take  it,  no  one  will  more  will- 
ingly point  it  out  than  myself,  without  a charge 
for  my  advice  either.” 

“I  wish  no  inemies,  Salt-water” — for  so  the 
Pathfinder  had  begun  to  call  Cap,  having,  insen- 
sibly to  himself,  adopted  the  term  by  translating 
the  name  given  him  by  the  Indians  in  and  about 
the  fort — “ I wish  no  inemies.  I’m  as  ready  to 
bury  the  hatchet  with  the  Mingoes  as  with  the 
French,  though  you  know  that  it  depends  on  one 
greater  than  either  of  us  so  to  turn  the  heart  as 
to  leave  a man  without  inemies.” 

“ By  lifting  your  anchor,  and  accompanying 
me  down  to  the  coast,  friend  Pathfinder,  when  we 
get  back  from  this  short  cruise  on  which  we  are 
bound,  you  will  find  yourself  beyond  the  sound 
of  the  warwhoop,  and  safe  enough  from  the  In- 
dian bullet.” 

“ And  what  should  I do  on  the  salt-water  ? 
Hunt  in  your  towns ! Follow  the  trails  of  people 
going  and  coming  from  market,  and  ambush  dogs 


80 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


and  poultry ! You  are  no  friend  to  my  happi- 
ness, Master  Cajt , if  you  would  lead  me  out  of  the 
shade  of  the  woods  to  put  me  in  the  sun  of  the 
clearin’s ! ” 

“ I did  not  propose  to  leave  you  in  the  settle- 
ments, Pathfinder,  but  to  carry  you  out  to  sea, 
where  only  a man  can  be  said  to  breathe  freely. 
Mabel  will  tell  you  that  such  was  my  intention 
before  a word  was  said  on  the  subject.” 

“ And  what  does  Mabel  think  would  come  of 
such  a change  ? She  knows  that  a man  has  his 
gifts,  and  that  it  is  as  useless  to  pretend  to  others, 
as  to  withstand  them  that  come  from  Providence. 
I am  a hunter,  and  a scout,  or  a guide,  Salt-water, 
and  it  is  not  in  me  to  fly  so  much  in  the  face  of 
Heaven  as  to  try  to  become  any  thing  else. — Am 
I right,  Mabel,  or  are  you  so  much  of  a woman 
as  to  wish  to  see  a natur’  altered  ? ” 

“ I would  wish  to  see  no  change  in  you,  Path- 
finder,” Mabel  answered,  with  a cordial  sincerity 
and  frankness  that  went  directly  to  the  hunter’s 
heart ; “ and,  much  as  my  uncle  admires  the  sea, 
and  great  as  is  all  the  good  that  he  thinks  may 
come  of  it,  I could  not  wish  to  see  the  best  and 
noblest  hunter  of  the  woods  transformed  into  an 
admiral.  Remain  what  you  are,  my  brave  friend, 
and  you  need  fear  nothing  short  of  the  anger  of 
God.” 

“ Do  you  hear  this,  Salt-water  ? Do  you  hear 
what  the  sergeant’s  daughter  is  saying?  And 
she  is  much  too  upright,  and  fair-minded,  and 
pretty,  not  to  think  what  she  says.  So  long  as 
she  is  satisfied  with  me  as  I am,  I shall  not  fly  in 
the  face  of  the  gifts  of  Providence  by  striving  to 
become  any  thing  else.  I may  seem  useless  here, 
in  a garrison,  but  when  we  get  down  among  the 
Thousand  Islands,  there  may  be  an  opportunity  to 
prove  that  a sure  rifle  is  sometimes  a godsend.” 

“You  are  then  to  be  of  our  party  ? ” said  Ma- 
bel, smiling  so  frankly  and  so  sweetly  on  the  guide 
that  he  would  have  followed  her  to  the  end  of  the 
earth.  “ I shall  be  the  only  female,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  soldier’s  wife,  and  shall  feel  none 
the  less  secure,  Pathfinder,  because  you  will  be 
among  our  protectors.” 

“ The  sergeant  would  do  that,  Mabel,  the  ser- 
geant would  do  that,  though  you  were  not  of  his 
kin.  No  one  will  overlook  you.  I should  think 
your  uncle,  here,  would  like  an  expedition  of  this 
sort,  where  we  shall  go  with  sails,  and  have  a 
look  at  an  inland  sea  ? ” 

“ Your  inland  sea  is  no  great  matter,  Master 
Pathfinder,  and  I expect  nothing  from  it.  I con- 
fess, however,  I should  like  to  know  the  object 
of  the  cruise,  for  one  does  not  wish  to  be  idle, 
and  my  brother-in-law  the  sergeant,  is  as  close- 


mouthed as  a freemason. — Do  you  know,  Mabel, 
what  all  this  means  ? ” 

“ Not  in  the  least,  uncle.  I dare  not  ask  my 
father  any  questions  about  his  duty,  for  he  thinks 
it  is  not  a woman’s  business ; and  all  I can  say  is, 
that  we  are  to  sail  as  soon  as  the  wind  will  per- 
mit, and  that  we  are  to  be  absent  a month.”  , 

“Perhaps  Master  Pathfinder  can  give  me  a 
useful  hint,  for  a v’y’ge  without  an  object  is  never 
pleasant  to  an  old  sailor.” 

“ There  is  no  great  secret,  Salt-water,  concern- 
ing our  port  and  object,  though  it  is  forbidden  to 
talk  much  about  either  in  the  garrison.  I am 
no  soldier,  however,  and  can  use  my  tongue  as  I 
please,  though  as  little  given  as  another  to  idle 
conversation,  I hope ; still,  as  we  sail  so  soon, 
and  you  are  both  to  be  of  the  party,  you  may  as 
well  be  told  where  you  are  to  be  carried.  You 
know  that  there  are  such  things  as  the  Thousand 
Islands,  I suppose,  Master  Cap  ? ” 

“ Ay,  what  are  so  called  hereaway,  though  I 
take  it  for  granted  that  they  are  not  real  islands, 
such  as  we  fall  in  with  on  the  ocean  ; and  that 
the  thousand  means  some  such  matter  as  two  or 
three,  like  the  killed  and  wounded  of  a great 
battle.” 

“ My  eyes  are  good,  yet  have  I often  been 
foiled  in  trying  to  count  them  very  islands.” 

“Ay — ay — I’ve  known  people  who  couldn’t 
count  beyond  a certain  number.  Your  real  land- 
birds  never  know  their  own  roosts,  even  in  a 
land-fall  at  sea ; they  are  what  I call  all  things  to 
all  men.  How  many  times  have  I seen  the  beach, 
and  houses,  and  churches,  when  the  passengers 
have  not  been  able  to  see  any  thing  but  water ! 
I have  no  idea  that  a man  can  get  fairly  out  of 
sight  of  land  on  fresh  water.  The  thing  appears 
to  me  to  be  irrational  and  impossible.” 

“ You  don’t  know  the  lakes,  Master  Cap,  or 
you  would  not  say  that.  Before  we  get  to  the 
Thousand  Islands,  you  will  have  other  notions  of 
what  Natur’  has  done  in  this  wilderness.” 

“ I have  my  doubts  whether  you  have  such  a 
thing  as  a real  island  in  all  this  region.  To  my 
notion,  fresh  water  can’t  make  a bony-fidy  island ; 
not  what  / call  an  island.” 

“We’ll  show  you  hundreds  of  them — not  ex- 
actly a thousand,  perhaps,  but  so  many  that  eye 
cannot  see  them  all,  or  tongue  count  them.” 

“ And  what  sort  of  things  may  they  be  ? ” 

“ Land  with  water  entirely  around  them.” 

“ Ay,  but  what  sort  of  land,  and  what  sort  of 
water  ? I’ll  engage,  when  the  truth  comas  to  be 
known,  they’ll  turn  out  to  be  nothing  but  penin- 
sulas, or  promontories,  or  continents ; though 
these  are  matters  I dare  say,  of  which  you  know 


A FRESH- WATER  CRUISE. 


81 


little  or  nothing.  But  islands  or  no  islands,  what 
is  the  object  of  the  cruise,  Master  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“ Why,  as  you  are  the  sergeant’s  brother,  and 
pretty  Mabel  here  is  his  da’hter,  and  we  are  all 
to  be  of  the  party,  there  can  be  no  harm  in  giv- 
ing you  some  idea  of  what  we  are  going  to  do. 
Being  so  old  a sailor,  Master  Cap,  you’ve  heard, 
no  doubt,  of  such  a port  as  Frontenac  ? ” 

“ Who  hasn’t  ? I will  not  say  I’ve  ever  been 
inside  the  harbor,  but  I’ve  frequently  been  off  the 
place.” 

“ Then  you  are  about  to  go  upon  ground  with 
which  you  are  acquainted,  though  how  you  could 
ever  have  got  there  from  the  ocean  I do  not  un- 
derstand. These  great  lakes,  you  must  know, 
make  a chain,  the  water  passing  out  of  one  into 
the  other,  until  it  reaches  Erie,  which  is  a sheet 
off  here  to  the  westward,  as  large  as  Ontario  it- 
self. Well,  out  of  Erie  the  water  comes,  until  it 
reaches  a low  mountain-like,  over  the  edge  of 
which  it  passes — ” 

“ I should  like  to  know  how  the  devil  it  can 
do  that  ? ” 

“ WThy,  easy  enough,  Master  Cap,”  returned 
Pathfinder,  laughing,  “ seeing  that  it  has  only  to 
fall  down-hill.  Had  I said  the  water  went  up  the 
mountain,  there  would  have  been  Natur’  ag’in  it ; 
but  we  hoi  1 it  no  great  matter  for  water  to  run 
down-hill — that  is,  fresh  water.” , 

“ Ay — ay — but  you  speak  of  the  water  of  a 
lake’s  coming  down  the  side  of  a mountain  ; it’s 
in  the  teeth  of  reason,  if  reason  has  any  teeth.” 

“ Well — well — we  will  not  dispute  the  point ; 
but  what  I’ve  seen  I’ve  seen  ; as  for  reason’s  hav- 
ing any  teeth,  I’ll  say  nothing ; but  conscience 
has,  and  sharp  ones,  too.  After  getting  into  On- 
tario, all  the  water  of  all  the  lakes  passes  down 
into  the  sea  by  a river  ; and,  in  the  narrow  part 
of  the  sheet,  where  it  is  neither  river  nor  lake,  lie 
the  islands  spoken  of.  Now,  Frontenac  is  a post 
of  the  Frenchers  above  these  same  islands  ; and, 
as  they  hold  the  garrison  below,  their  stores  and 
ammunition  are  sent  up  the  river  to  Frontenac, 
to  be  forwarded  along  the  shores  of  this  and  the 
other  lakes,  in  order  to  enable  the  enemy  to  play 
his  deviltries  among  the  savages,  and  to  take 
Christian  scalps.” 

“ And  will  our  presence  prevent  these  horri- 
ble acts  ? ” demanded  Mabel,  with  interest. 

“ It  may,  or  it  may  not,  as  Providence  wills. 
Lundie,  as  they  call  him,  he  who  commands  this 
garrison,  sent  a party  down  to  take  a station 
among  the  islands,  to  cut  off  some  of  the  French 
boats ; and  this  expedition  of  ours  will  be  the 
; second  relief.  As  yet  they’ve  not  done  much, 
though  two  batteaux  loaded  with  Indian  goods 
| 32  6 


have  been  taken  ; but  a runner  came  in,  last  week, 
and  brought  such  tidings  that  the  major  is  about 
to  make  a last  effort  to  sarcumvent  the  knaves. 
Jasper  knows  the  way,  and  we  shall  be  in  good 
hands,  for  the  sergeant  is  prudent,  and  of  the  first 
quality  at  an  ambushment — yes,  he  is  both  pru- 
dent and  alert.” 

“ Is  this  all  ? ” said  Cap,  contemptuously — 
“by  the  preparations  and  equipments,  I had 
thought  there  was  a forced  trade  in  the  wind, 
and  that  an  honest  penny  might  be  turned,  by 
taking  an  adventure.  I suppose  there  are  no 
shares  in  your  fresh-water  prize-money?  ” 

“ Anan  ? ” 

“I  take  it  for  granted  the  king  gets  all  in 
these  so’gering  parties  and  ambushments,  as  you 
call  them  ? ” 

“ I know  nothing  about  that,  Master  Cap.  I 
take  my  share  of  the  lead  and  powder,  if  any  falls 
into  our  hands,  and  say  nothing  to  the  king  about 
it.  If  any  one  fares  better  it  is  not  I — though  it 
is  time  I did  begin  to  think  of  a house  and  furni- 
ture, and  a home.” 

Although  the  Pathfinder  did  not  dare  to  look 
at  Mabel  while  he  made  this  direct  allusion  to  his 
change  of  life,  he  would  have  given  the  world  to 
know  whether  she  were  listening,  and  what  was 
the  expression  of  her  countenance.  Mabel  Idle 
suspected  the  nature  of  the  allusion,  however; 
and  her  countenance  was  perfectly  unembarrassed, 
as  she  turned  her  eyes  toward  the  river,  where 
the  appearance  of  some  movement  on  board  the 
Scud  began  to  be  visible. 

“ Jasper  is  bringing  the  cutter  out,”  observed 
the  guide,  whose  look  was  drawn  in  the  same  di- 
rection, by  the  fall  of  some  heavy  article  on  the 
deck.  “ The  lad  sees  the  signs  of  wind,  no  doubt, 
and  wishes  to  be  ready  for  it.” 

“ Ay,  and  now  we  shall  have  an  opportunity 
of  learning  seamanship,”  returned  Cap,  with  a 
sneer.  “ There  is  a nicety  in  getting  a craft  un- 
der her  canvas,  that  shows  the  thorough-bred 
mariner  as  much  as  any  thing  else.  It’s  like  a 
so’ger  buttoning  his  coat,  and  one  can  see  wheth- 
er he  begins  at  the  top  or  the  bottom.” 

“ I will  not  say  that  Jasper  is  equal  to  your 
seafarers  below,”  observed  Pathfinder,  across 
whose  upright  mind  an  unworthy  feeling  of  envy 
or  jealousy  never  passed  ; “ but  he  is  a bold  boy, 
and  manages  his  cutter  as  skilfully  as  any  man 
can  desire,  on  this  lake  at  least.  You  didn’t  find 
him  backward  at  the  Oswego  Falls,  Master  Cap, 
where  fresh-water  contrives  to  tumble  down-hill 
with  little  difficulty.” 

Cap  made  no  other  answer  than  a dissatisfied 
I ejaculation,  and  then  a general  silence  followed, 


82 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


til  on  the  bastion  studying  the  movements  of  the 
cutter  with  the  interest  that  was  natural  to  their 
own  future  connection  with  the  vessel.  It  was 
still  a dead  calm,  the  surface  of  the  lake  literally 
glittering  with  the  last  rays  of  the  sun.  The  Scud 
had  been  warped  up  to  a kedge  that  lay  a hun- 
dred yards  above  the  points  of  the  outlet,  where 
she  had  room  to  manoeuvre  in  the  river  which 
then  formed  the  harbor  of  Oswego.  But  the 
total  want  of  air  prevented  any  such  attempt,  and 
it  was  soon  evident  that  the  light  vessel  was  to 
be  taken  through  the  passage  under  her  sweeps. 
Not  a sail  was  loosened,  but  as  soon  as  the  kedge 
was  tripped,  the  heavy  fall  of  the  sweeps  was 
heard,  when  the  cutter,  with  her  head  up-stream, 
began  to  sheer  toward  the  centre  of  the  current ; 
on  reaching  which,  the  efforts  of  the  men  ceased, 
and  she  drifted  toward  the  outlet.  In  the  narrow 
pass  itself,  her  movement  was  rapid,  and  in  less 
than  five  minutes  the  Scud  was  floating  outside 
of  the  two  low  gravelly  points  that  intercepted  the 
waves  of  the  lake.  No  anchor  was  let  go,  but 
the  vessel  continued  to  set  off  from  the  land,  until 
her  dark  hull  was  seen  resting  on  the  glassy  sur- 
face of  the  lake,  fully  a quarter  of  a mile  beyond 
the  low  bluff  which  formed  the  eastern  extremity 
of  what  might  be  called  the  outer  harbor,  or 
roadstead.  Here  the  influence  of  the  river-cur- 
rent ceased,  and  she  became  virtually  stationary. 

“ She  seems  very  beautiful  to  me,  uncle,”  said 
Mabel,  whose  gaze  had  not  been  averted  from  the 
cutter  for  a single  moment,  while  it  had  been 
thus  changing  its  position ; “ I dare  say  you  can 
find  faults  in  her  appearance,  and  in  the  way  she 
is  managed ; but  to  my  ignorance  both  are  per- 
fect!” 

“ Ay — ay — she  drops  down  with  the  current 
well  enough,  girl,  and  so  would  a chip.  But  when 
you  come  to  niceties,  an  old  tar  like  myself  has 
no  need  of  spectacles  to  find  fault.” 

“ Well,  Master  Cap,”  put  in  the  guide,  who 
seldom  heard  any  thing  to  Jasper’s  prejudice 
without  manifesting  a disposition  to  interfere, 
“ I’ve  heard  old  and  experienced  salt-water  mari- 
ners confess  that  the  Scud  is  as  pretty  a craft  as 
floats.  I know  nothing  of  such  matters  myself, 
but  one  may  have  his  own  notions  about’ a ship, 
even  though  they  be  wrong  notions ; and  it  would 
take  more  than  one  witness  to  persuade  me  Jasper 
does  not  keep  his  boat  in  good  order.” 

“ I do  not  say  the  cutter  is  downright  lubber- 
ly, Master  Pathfinder;  but  she  has  faults,  and 
great  faults.” 

“ And  what  arc  they,  uncle  ? If  he  knew  them, 
Jasper  would  be  glad  to  mend  them.” 

“ What  are  they  ? Why,  fifty ; ay,  for  that 


matter,  a hundred.  Very  material  and  manifest 
faults.” 

“ Do  name  them,  sir,  and  Pathfinder  will  men- 
tion  them  to  his  friend.” 

“Name  them  ? It  is  no  easy  matter  to  call  off 
the  stars,  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  are  so 
numerous.  Name  them,  indeed ! Why,  my  pretty 
niece,  Miss  Magnet,  what  do  you  think  of  that 
main-boom  now  ? To  my  ignorant  eyes,  it  is 
topped  at  least  a foot  too  high ; and  then  the 

pennant  is  foul ; and — and — ay,  d e,  if  there 

isn’t  a topsail  gasket  adrift — and  it  wouldn’t  sur- 
prise me  at  all  if  there  should  prove  to  be  a 
round  turn  in  that  hawser,  if  the  kedge  were  to 
be  let  go  this  instant ! Faults  indeed ! No  sea- 
man could  look  at  her  a moment,  without  seeing 
that  she  is  as  full  of  faults  as  a servant  that  has 
asked  for  his  discharge.” 

“ This  may  be  very  true,  uncle,  though  I much 
question  if  Jasper  knows  of  them. — I do  not  think 
he  would  suffer  these  things,  Pathfinder,  if  they 
were  pointed  out  to  him.” 

“ Let  Jasper  manage  his  own  cutter,  Mabel ; 
let  him  manage  his  own  cutter.  His  gifts  lie 
that-away,  and,  I’ll  answer  for  it,  no  one  can  teach 
him  how  to  keep  the  Scud  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
Frontenackers  or  their  devilish  Mingo  fri’nds. — 
Who  cares  for  round  turns  in  kedges,  and  for 
hawsers  that  are  topped  too  high,  Master  Cap,  so 
long  as  the  craft  sails  well,  and  keeps  clear  of  the 
Frenchers?  I will  trust  Jasper  against  all  the 
seafarers  of  the  coast  up  here  on  the  lakes— but 
I do  not  say  he  has  any  gift  for  the  ocean,  for 
there  he  has  never  been  tried.” 

Cap  smiled  condescendingly,  but  he  did  not 
think  it  necessary  to  push  his  criticisms  any 
further  just  at  that  moment.  His  air  and  manner 
gradually  became  more  supercilious  and  lofty, 
though  he  now  wished  to  seem  indifferent  to  any 
discussions  on  points  of  which  one  of  the  parties 
was  entirely  ignorant.  By  this  time  the  cutter 
had  begun  to  drift  at  the  mercy  of  the  currents 
of  the  lake,  her  head  turning  in  all  directions, 
though  slowly,  and  not  in  a way  to  attract  partic- 
ular attention.  Just  at  this  moment  the  jib  was 
loosened  and  hoisted,  and  presently  the  canvas 
swelled  toward  the  land,  though  no  evidences  of 
air  were  yet  to  be  seen  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 
Slight,  however,  as  was  the  impulsion,  the  light 
hull  yielded,  and  in  another  minute  the  Scud  was 
seen  standing  across  the  current  of  the  river,  with 
a movement  so  easy  and  moderate  as  to  be  scarcely 
perceptible.  When  out  of  the  stream,  she  struck 
an  eddy,  and  shot  up  toward  the  land,  under  the 
eminence  where  the  fort  stood,  when  Jasper 
dropped  his  kedge. 


THE  EMBARKATION. 


83 


“Not  lubberly  done — ” muttered  Cap,  in  a 
sort  of  soliloquy,  “ not  over-lubberly,  though  he 
should  have  put  his  helm  a-starboard  instead  of 
a-port,  for  the  vessel  ought  always  to  come-to 
with  her  head  off-shore,  whether  she  is  a league 
from  the  land  or  only  a cable’s  length,  since  it  has 
a careful  look  ; and  looks  are  something  in  this 
world.” 

“Jasper  is  a handy  lad,”  suddenly  observed 
Sergeant  Dunham,  at  his  brother-in-law’s  elbow  ; 
“ and  we  place  great  reliance  on  his  skill  in  our 
expeditions.  But  come,  one  and  all ; we  have 
but  half  an  hour  more  of  daylight  to  embark  in, 
and  the  boats  will  be  ready  for  us  by  the  time 
we  are  ready  for  them.” 

On  this  intimation  the  whole  party  separated 
each  to  find  those  trifles  which  had  not  been 
shipped  already.  A few  taps  of  the  drum  gave 
the  necessary  signal  to  the  soldiers,  and  in  a 
minute  all  were  in  motion. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

“ The  goblin  now  the  fool  alarms, 

Hags  meet  to  mumble  o’er  their  charms, 

The  nightmare  rides  the  dreaming  ass, 

And  fairies  trip  it  on  the  grass.” 

Cotton. 

The  embarkation  of  so  small  a party  was  a 
matter  of  no  great  delay  or  embarrassment.  The 
whole  force  confided  to  the  care  of  Sergeant  Dun- 
ham consisted  of  but  ten  privates  and  two  non- 
commissioned officers,  though  it  was  soon  posi- 
tively known  that  Mr.  Muir  was  to  accompany  the 
expedition.  The  quartermaster,  however,  went 
as  a volunteer,  while  some  duty  connected  with 
his  own  department,  as  had  been  arranged  be- 
tween him  and  his  commander,  was  the  avowed 
object.  To  these  must  be  added  the  Pathfinder 
and  Cap,  with  Jasper  and  his  subordinates,  one 
of  whom  was  a boy.  The  males  of  the  entire 
party,  consequently,  consisted  of  less  than  twenty 
men,  and  a lad  of  fourteen.  Mabel  and  the  wife 
of  a common  soldier  were  the  only  females. 

Sergeant  Dunham  carried  off  his  command  in 
a large  batteau,  and  then  returned  for  his  final 
orders,  and  to  see  that  his  brother-in-law  and 
daughter  were  properly  attended  to.  Having 
pointed  out  to  Cap  the  boat  that  he  and  Mabel 
were  to  use,  he  ascended  the  hill,  to  seek  his  last 
interview  with  Lundie.  The  major  was  on  the 
bastion  so  often  mentioned : leaving  him  and  the 
sergeant  together  for  a short  time,  we  will  return 
to  the  beach. 

It  was  nearly  dark  when  Mabel  found  herself 


in  the  boat  that  was  to  carry  her  off  to  the  cutter. 
So  very  smooth  was  the  surface  of  the  lake,  that 
it  was  not  found  necessary  to  bring  the  batteaux 
into  the  river  to  receive  their  freights,  but  the 
beach  outside  being  totally  without  surf,  and  the 
water  as  tranquil  as  that  of  a pond,  everybody 
embarked  there.  As  Cap  had  said,  there  was  no 
heaving  and  setting,  no  working  of  vast  lungs, 
nor  any  respiration  of  an  ocean ; for,  on  Ontario, 
unlike  the  Atlantic,  gales  were  not  agitating  the 
element  at  one  point,  while  calms  prevailed  at 
another.  This  the  distances  did  not  permit ; and 
it  is  the  usual  remark  of  mariners  that  the  sea 
gets  up  faster  and  goes  down  sooner,  on  all  the 
great  lakes  of  the  West,  than  on  the  different 
seas  of  their  acquaintance.  When  the  boat  left 
the  land,  therefore,  Mabel  would  not  have  known 
that  she  was  afloat  on  so  broad  a sheet  of  water, 
by  any  movement  that  is  usual  to  such  circum- 
stances. The  oars  had  barely  time  to  give  a 
dozen  strokes,  when  the  boat  lay  at  the  cutter’s 
side. 

Jasper  was  in  readiness  to  receive  his  passen- 
gers, and,  as  the  deck  of  the  Scud  was  but  two 
or  three  feet  above  the  water,  no  difficulty  was 
experienced  in  getting  on  board  her.  As  soon  as 
this  was  effected,  the  young  man  pointed  out  to 
Mabel  and  her  companion  the  accommodations 
prepared  for  their  reception,  and  they  took  pos- 
session of  them.  The  little  vessel  contained  four 
apartments  below,  all  between  decks  having  been 
expressly  constructed  with  a view  to  the  trans- 
portation of  officers  and  men,  with  their  wives 
and  families.  First  in  rank  was  what  was  called 
the  after-cabin,  a small  apartment  that  contained 
four  berths,  and  which  enjoyed  the  advantage  of 
possessing  small  windows,  for  the  admission  of  air 
and  light.  This  was  uniformly  devoted  to  fe- 
males, whenever  any  were  on  board  ; and,  as 
Mabel  and  her  companion  were  alone,  they  had 
ample  space  and  accommodation.  The  main- 
cabin  was  larger,  and  lighted  from  above.  It 
was  now  appropriated  to  the  uses  of  the  quarter- 
master, the  sergeant,  Cap,  and  Jasper  ; the  Path- 
finder roaming  through  any  part  of  the  cutter  he 
pleased,  the  female  apartment  excepted.  The 
corporals  and  common  soldiers  occupied  the  space 
beneath  the  main-hatch,  which  had  a deck  for 
such  a purpose ; while  the  crew  were  berthed,  as 
usual,  in  the  forecastle.  Although  the  cutter  did 
not  measure  quite  fifty  tons,  the  draft  of  officers 
and  men  was  so  light,  that  there  was  ample  room 
for  all  on  board,  there  being  space  enough  to  ac- 
commodate treble  the  number,  if  necessary. 

As  soon  as  Mabel  had  taken  possession  of  her 
own  really  comfortable  and  pretty  cabin,  in  doing 


B4 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


which  she  could  not  abstain  from  indulging  in 
the  pleasant  reflection  that  some  of  Jasper’s 
favor  had  been  especially  manifested  in  her  be- 
half, she  went  on  deck  again.  Here  all  was 
momentarily  in  motion ; the  men  were  roving  to 
and  fro,  in  quest  of  their  knapsacks  and  other 
effects ; but  method  and  habit  soon  reduced 
things  to  order,  when  the  stillness  on  board  be- 
came even  imposing,  for  it  was  connected  with 
the  idea  of  future  adventure  and  ominous  prep- 
ai'ation. 

Darkness  was  now  beginning  to  render  objects 
on  shore  indistinct,  the  whole  of  the  land  form- 
ing one  shapeless,  black  outline  of  even  forest- 
summits,  that  was  to  be  distinguished  from  the 
impending  heavens  only  by  the  greater  light  of 
the  sky.  The  stars,  however,  soon  began  to  ap- 
pear in  the  latter,  one  after  another,  in  their 
usual  mild,  placid  lustre,  bringing  with  them  that 
sense  of  quiet  which  ordinarily  accompanies 
night.  There  was  something  soothing  as  well  as 
exciting  in  such  a scene ; and  Mabel,  who  was 
seated  on  the  quarter-deck,  sensibly  felt  both 
influences.  The  Pathfinder  was  standing  near 
her,  leaning,  as  usual,  on  his  long  rifle,  and  she 
fancied  that,  through  the  glowing  darkness  of 
the  hour,  she  could  trace  even  stronger  lines  of 
thought  than  were  usual  in  his  rugged  counte- 
nance. 

“To  you,  Pathfinder,  expeditions  like  this 
can  be  no  great  novelty,”  she  said,  “though  I 
am  surprised  to  find  how  silent  and  thoughtful 
the  men  appear  to  be.” 

“We  l’am  this,  by  making  war  ag’in  Injins. 
Your  militia  are  great  talkers,  and  little  doers, 
in  gin’ral ; but  the  soger  who  has  often  met  the 
Mingoes,  l’arns  to  know  the  valie  of  a prudent 
tongue.  A silent  army,  in  the  woods,  is  doubly 
strong,  and  a noisy  one,  doubly  weak.  If  tongues 
made  soldiers,  the  women  of  a camp  would  gener- 
ally carry  the  day.” 

“But  we  are  neither  an  army  nor  in  the 
woods.  There  can  be  no  danger  of  Mingoes  in 
the  Scud.” 

“ Ask  Jasper  how  he  got  to  be  master  of  this 
cutter,  and  you  will  find  yourself  answered  as  to 
that  opinion  ! No  one  is  safe  from  a Mingo  who 
doesn’t  understand  his  very  natur’ ; and  even 
then  he  must  act  up  to  his  own  knowledge,  and 
that  closely.  Ask  Jasper  how  he  got  command 
of  this  very  cutter  ! ” 

“ And  how  did  he  get  the  command  ? ” in- 
quired Mabel,  with  an  earnestness  and  interest 
that  delighted  her  simple-minded  and  true-hearted 
companion,  who  was  never  better  pleased  than 
when  he  had  an  opportunity  of  saying  aught  in 


favor  of  a friend.  “ It  is  honorable  to  him  that 
he  has  reached  this  station  while  yet  so  young.” 

“ That  is  it — but  he  deserved  it  all,  and  more. 
A frigate  wouldn’t  have  been  too  much  to  pay 
for  so  much  spirit  and  coolness,  had  there  been 
such  a thing  on  Ontario,  as  there  is  not,  hows- 
ever,  or  likely  to  be.” 

“ But  Jasper — you  have  not  yet  told  me  how 
he  got  the  command  of  the  schooner  ? ” 

“ It  is  a long  story,  Mabel,  and  one  your  fa- 
ther, the  sergeant,  can  tell  much  better  than  I, 
for  he  was  present,  while  I was  off  on  a distant 
scoutin’.  Jasper  is  not  good  at  a story,  I will 
own  that ; I’ve  heard  him  questioned  about  this 
affair,  and  he  never  made  a good  tale  of  it,  al- 
though everybody  knows  it  was  a good  thing. 
No — no — Jasper  is  not  good  at  a story,  as  his 
best  friends  must  own.  The  Scud  had  near 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  French  and  the  Min- 
goes when  Jasper  saved  her,  in  a way  that  none 
but  a quick-witted  mind  and  a bold  heart  would 
have  attempted.  The  sergeant  will  tell  the  tale 
better  than  I can,  and  I wish  you  to  question 
him  some  day  when  nothing  better  offers.  As 
for  Jasper  himself  there  will  be  no  use  in  worry- 
ing the  lad,  since  he  will  make  a bungling  matter 
of  it,  for  he  don’t  know  how  to  give  a history  at 
all.” 

Mabel  determined  to  ask  her  father  to  repeat 
the  incidents  of  the  affair  that  very  night,  for  it 
struck  her  young  fancy  that  nothing  better  could 
well  offer  than  to  listen  to  the  praises  of  one  who 
was  a bad  historian  of  his  own  exploits. 

“ Will  the  Scud  remain  with  us  when  we  reach 
the  island  ? ” she  asked,  after  a little  hesitation 
about  the  propriety  of  the  question,  “ or  shall  we 
be  left  to  ourselves  ? ” 

“ That’s  as  may  be.  Jasper  does  not  often 
keep  the  cutter  idle  when  anything  is  to  be  done, 
and  we  may  expect  activity  on  his  part.  My 
gifts,  howsever,  run  so  little  toward  the  water,  and 
vessels  gin’rally,  unless  it  be  among  rapids  and 
falls,  and  in  canoes,  that  I pretend  to  know  noth- 
ing about  it.  We  shall  have  all  right,  under  Jas- 
per, I make  no  doubt,  who  can  find  a trail  on  On- 
tario as  well  as  a Delaware  can  find  one  on  the 
land.” 

“And  our  own  Delaware,  Pathfinder  — the 
Big  Serpent — why  is  he  not  with  us  to-night  ? ” 

“ Your  question  would  have  been  more  nat’ral 
had  you  said,  why  are  you  here,  Pathfinder? — 
The  Sarpent  is  in  his  place,  while  I am  not  in 
mine.  He  is  out  with  two  or  three  more  scout- 
ing the  lake-shores,  and  will  join  us  down  among 
the  islands  with  the  tidings  he  may  gather.  Tho 
sergeant  is  too  good  a soldier  to  forget  his  rest 


APPREHENSIONS  OF  DANGER. 


86 


while  he  is  facing  the  enemy  in  front ! It’s  a 
thousand  pities,  Mabel,  your  father  wasn’t  born  a 
gin’ral,  as  some  of  the  English  are  who  come 
among  us,  for  I feel  sartin  he  wouldn’t  leave  a 
Frencher  in  the  Canadas  a week  could  he  have 
his  own  way  with  them.” 

“ Shall  we  have  enemies  to  face  in  front  ? ” 
asked  Mabel,  smiling,  and  for  the  first  time  feel- 
ing a slight  apprehension  about  the  dangers  of 
the  expedition.  “ Are  we  likely  to  have  an  en- 
gagement ? ” 

“ If  we  have,  Mabel,  there  will  be  men  enough 
ready  and  willing  to  stand  at  ween  you  and  harm. 
But  you  are  a soldier’s  daughter,  and  we  all  know 
have  the  spirit  of  one.  Don’t  let  the  fear  of  bat- 
tle keep  your  pretty  eyes  from  sleeping.” 

“ I do  feel  braver  out  here  in  the  woods,  Path- 
finder, than  I ever  felt  before  amid  the  weak- 
nesses of  the  towns,  although  I have  always  tried 
to  remember  what  I owe  to  my  dear  father.” 

“ Ay,  your  mother  was  so  before  you  ! ‘You 
will  find  Mabel  like  her  mother,  no  screamer  or  a 
faint-hearted  girl  to  trouble  a man  in  his  need, 
but  one  who  would  encourage  her  mate,  and  help 
to  keep  his  heart  up  when  sorest  pressed  by  dan- 
ger,’ said  the  sergeant  to  me,  before  I ever  laid 
eyes  on  that  sweet  countenance  of  yours — he 
did ! ” 

“ And  why  should  my  father  have  told  you 
this,  Pathfinder  ? ” the  girl  demanded,  a little  ear- 
nestly. “Perhaps  he  fancied  you  would  think 
the  better  of  me,  if  you  did  not  believe  me  a sil- 
ly coward,  as  so  many  of  my  sex  love  to  make 
themselves  appear.” 

Deception,  unless  it  were  at  the  expense  of  his 
enemies  in  the  field — nay,  concealment  of  even  a 
thought — was  so  little  in  accordance  with  the 
Pathfinder’s  very  nature,  that  he  was  not  a little 
embarrassed  by  this  simple  question.  To  own 
the  truth  openly,  he  felt,  by  a sort  of  instinct  for 
which  it  would  have  puzzled  him  to  account, 
would  not  be  proper ; and  to  hide  it,  agreed  with 
neither  his  sense  of  right  nor  his  habits.  In  such 
a strait,  he  involuntarily  took  refuge  in  a middle 
course,  not  revealing  that  which  he  fancied  ought 
not  to  be  told,  nor  yet  absolutely  concealing  it. 

“ You  must  know,  Mabel,”  he  said,  “ that  the 
sergeant  and  I are  old  friends,  and  have  stood 
side  by  side — or,  if  not  actually  side  by  side,  I a 
.ittle  in  advance,  as  became  a scout,  and  your  fa- 
ther, with  his  own  men,  as  better  suited  a soldier 
of  the  king — on  many  a hard-fought  and  bloody 
day.  It’s  the  way  of  us  skirmishers  to  think  lit- 
tle of  the  fight,  when  the  rifle  has  done  crack- 
ing; and  at  night,  around  our  fires,  or  on  our 
marches,  we  talk  of  the  things  we  love,  just  as 


you  young  women  convarse  about  your  fancies 
and  opinions,  when  you  get  together  to  laugh 
over  your  idees.  Now  it  was  natural  that  the 
sergeant,  having  such  a daughter  as  you,  should 
love  her  better  than  any  thing  else,  and  that  he 
should  talk  of  her  oftener  than  of  any  thing  else, 
— while  I,  having  neither  daughter,  nor  sister, 
nor  mother,  nor  kith  nor  kin,  nor  any  thing  but 
the  Delawares  to  love,  I nat’ rally  chimed  in,  as 
it  were,  and  got  to  love  you,  Mabel,  before  I ever 
saw  you — yes  I did — -just  by  talking  about  you  so 
much.” 

“ And  now  you  have  seen  me,”  returned  the 
smiling  girl,  whose  unmoved  and  natural  manner 
proved  how  little  she  was  thinking  of  any  thing 
more  than  parental  or  fraternal  regard,  “ you  are 
beginning  to  see  the  folly  of  forming  friendships 
for  people  before  you  know  any  thing  about  them, 
except  by  hearsay.” 

“ It  wasn’t  friendship  — it  isn’t  friendship, 
Mabel,  that  I feel  for  you.  I am  the  friend  of 
the  Delawares,  and  have  been  so  from  boyhood  ; 
but  my  feelings  for  them,  or  for  the  best  of  them, 
are  not  the  same  as  them  I got  from  the  sergeant 
for  you ; and  especially  now  that  I begin  to  know 
you  better.  I’m  sometimes  afear’d  it  isn’t  whole- 
some for  one  who  is  much  occupied  in  a very 
manly  calling,  like  that  of  a guide,  or  a scout,  or 
a soldier  even,  to  form  friendships  for  women — 
young  women  in  particular — as  they  seem  to  me 
to  lessen  the  love  of  enterprise,  and  to  turn  the 
feelings  away  from  their  gifts  and  natural  occu- 
pations.” 

“ You  surely  do  not  mean,  Pathfinder,  that  a 
friendship  for  a girl  like  me  would  make  you  less 
bold,  and  more  unwilling  to  meet  the  French, 
than  you  were  before  ? ” 

“ Not  so — not  so.  With  you  in  danger,  for 
instance,  I fear  I might  become  foolhardy ; but 
before  we  became  so  intimate,  as  I may  say,  I 
loved  to  think  of  my  scoutin’s,  and  of  my  march- 
es, and  outlyings,  and  fights,  and  other  adven- 
tures ; but  now  my  mind  cares  less  about  them  ; 
I think  more  of  the  barracks  and  of-  evenings 
passed  in  discourse,  of  feelin’s  in  which  there  are 
no  wranglings  and  bloodshed,  and  of  young  wom- 
en, and  of  their  laughs,  and  their  cheerful  soft 
voices,  their  pleasant  looks,  and  their  winning 
ways ! I sometimes  tell  the  sergeant  that  he 
and  his  daughter  will  be  the  spoiling  of  one  of 
the  best  and  most  experienced  scouts  on  the 
lines ! ” 

“ Not  they,  Pathfinder ; they  will  try  to  make 
that  which  is  already  so  excellent,  perfect.  You 
do  not  know  us,  if  you  think  that  either  wishes 
to  see  you  in  the  least  changed.  Remain,  as  at 


36 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


present,  the  same  honest,  upright,  conscientious, 
fearless,  intelligent,  trustworthy  guide,  that  you 
are,  and  neither  my  dear  father  nor  myself  can 
ever  think  of  you  differently  from  what  we  now 
do.” 

It  was  too  dark  for  Mabel  to  note  the  work- 
ings of  the  countenance  of  her  listener,  but  her 
her  own  sweet  face  was  turned  toward  him,  as 
she  spoke  with  an  energy  equal  to  her  frankness, 
in  a way  to  show  how  little  embarrassed  were 
her  thoughts,  and  how  sincere  were  her  words. 
Her  countenance  was  a little  flushed,  it  is  true, 
but  it  was  with  earnestness  and  truth  of  feeling ; 
though  no  nerve  thrilled,  no  limb  trembled,  no 
pulsation  quickened.  In  short,  her  manner  and 
appearance  were  those  of  a sincere-minded  and 
frank  girl,  making  such  a declaration  of  good-will 
and  regard  for  one  of  the  other  sex  as  she  felt 
that  his  services  and  good  qualities  merited,  with- 
out any  of  the  emotion  that  invariably  accompa- 
nies the  consciousness  of  an  inclination  which 
might  lead  to  softer  disclosures. 

The  Pathfinder  was  too  unpractised,  however, 
to  enter  into  distinctions  of  this  kind,  and  his 
humble  nature  was  encouraged  by  the  directness 
and  strength  of  the  words  he  had  just  heard. 
Unwilling,  if  not  unable,  to  say  any  more,  he 
walked  away,  and  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle,  and 
looking  up  at  the  stars,  for  quite  ten  minutes,  in 
profound  silence. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  interview  on  the  bas- 
tion, to  which  we  have  already  alluded,  took 
place  between  Lundie  and  the  sergeant.  ' 

“ Have  the  men’s  knapsacks  been  examined  ? ” 
demanded  Major  Duncan,  after  he  had  cast  his 
eye  at  a written  report,  handed  to  him  by  the 
sergeant,  but  which  it  was  too  dark  to  read. 

“ All,  your  honor ; and  all  are  right.” 

“ The  ammunition — arms — ? ” 

“ All  in  order,  Major  Duncan,  and  fit  for  any 
service.” 

“You  have  the  men  named  in  my  own  draft, 
Dunham  ? ” 

“ Without  an  exception,  sir.  Better  men  could 
not  be  found  in  the  regiment.” 

“ You  have  need  of  the  best  of  our  men,  ser- 
geant. This  experiment  has  now  been  tried  three 
times ; always  under  one  of  the  ensigns,  who  have 
flattered  me  with  success,  but  have  as  often  failed. 
After  so  much  preparation  and  expense,  I do  not 
like  to  abandon  the  project  entirely;  but  this 
will  be  the  last  effort : and  the  result  will  mainly 
depend  on  you  and  on  the  Pathfinder.” 

“You  may  count  on  us  both,  Major  Duncan. 
The  duty  you  have  given  us  is  not  above  our 
habits  and  experience,  and  I think  it  will  be  well 


done.  I know  that  the  Pathfinder  will  not  be 
wanting.” 

“ On  that,  indeed,  it  will  be  safe  to  rely.  He 
is  a most  extraordinary  man,  Dunham — one  who 
long  puzzled  me ; but  who,  now  that  I understand 
him,  commands  as  much  of  my  respect  as  any 
general  in  his  majesty’s  service.” 

“ I was  in  hopes,  sir,  that  you  would  come  to 
look  at  the  proposed  marriage  with  Mabel,  as  a 
thing  I ought  to  wish  and  forward.” 

“As  for  that,  sergeant,  time  will  show,”  re- 
turned Lundie,  smiling;  though  here,  too,  the 
obscurity  concealed  the  nicer  shades  of  expres- 
sion— “one  woman  is  sometimes  more  difficult 
to  manage  than  a whole  regiment  of  men.  By- 
the-way,  you  know  that  your  would-be  son-in-law, 
the  quartermaster,  will  be  of  the  party ; and  I 
trust  you  will  at  least  give  him  an  equal  chance 
in  the  trial  for  your  daughter’s  smiles.” 

“ If  respect  for  his  rank,  sir,  did  not  cause  me 
to  do  this,  your  honor’s  wish  would  be  sufficient,” 

“I  thank  you,  sergeant.  We  have  served 
much  together,  and  ought  to  value  each  other  in 
our  several  stations.  Understand  me,  however: 
I ask  no  more  for  Davy  Muir  than  a clear  field 
and  no  favor.  In  love,  as  in  war,  each  man  must 
gain  his  own  victories.  Are  you  certain  that  the 
rations  have  been  properly  calculated  ? ” 

“ I’ll  answer  for  it,  Major  Duncan ; but,  if  they 
were  not,  we  cannot  suffer  with  two  such  hunters 
as  Pathfinder  and  the  Serpent  in  company.” 

“ That  will  never  do,  Dunham,”  interrupted 
Lundie,  sharply;  “and  it  comes  of  your  Ameri- 
can birth  and  American  training ! Not  horough 
soldier  ever  relies  on  any  thing  but  his  commis- 
sary for  supplies ; and  I beg  no  part  of  my  regi- 
ment may  be  the  first  to  set  an  example  to  the 
contrary.” 

“You  have  only  to  command,  Major  Duncan, 
to  be  obeyed ; and  yet,  if  I might  presume,  sir — ” 

“ Speak  freely,  sergeant ; you  are  talking  with 
a friend.” 

“ I was  merely  about  to  say  that  I find  even 
the  Scotch  soldiers  like  venison  &nd  birds  quite  as 
well  as  pork,  when  they  are  difficult  to  be  had.” 

“ That  may  be  very  true ; but  likes  and 
dislikes  have  nothing  to  do  with  system.  An 
army  can  rely  on  nothing  but  its  commissaries. 
The  irregularity  of  the  provincials  has  played  the 
devil  with  the  king’s  service  too  long  to  be 
winked  at  any  longer.” 

“ General  Braddock,  your  honor,  might  have 
been  advised  by  Colonel  Washington.” 

“Out  upon  your  Washington!  You’re  a* 
provincials  together,  man,  and  uphold  each  othei 
as  if  you  were  of  a sworn  confederacy.” 


THE  MAJOR’S  SUSPICIONS. 


87 


“I  believe  his  majesty  has  no  more  loyal 
subjects  than  the  Americans,  your  honor.” 

“ In  that,  Dunham,  I’m  thinking  you’re  right ; 
and  I have  been  a little  too  warm,  perhaps.  I do 
not  consider  you  a provincial,  however,  sergeant ; 
for,  though  born  in  America,  a better  soldier 
never  shouldered  a musket.” 

“And  Colonel  Washington,  your  honor—  ?” 

“Well;  and  Colonel  Washingtion  may  be  a 
useful  subject,  too.  He  is  the  American  prodigy ; 
and  I suppose  I may  as  well  give  him  all  the 
credit  you  ask.  You  have  no  doubt  of  the  skill 
of  this  Jasper  Eau-douce  ? ” 

“The  boy  has  been  tried,  sir;  and  found 
equal  to  all  that  can  be  required  of  him.” 

“He  has  a French  name,  and  has  passed 
much  of  his  boyhood  in  the  French  colonies — 
has  he  French  blood  in  his  veins,  sergeant  ? ” 

“Not  a drop,  your  honor.  Jasper’s  father 
was  an  old  comrade  of  my  own,  and  his  mother 
came  of  an  honest  and  loyal  family,  in  this  very 
province.” 

“ How  came  he  then  so  much  among  the 
French,  and  whence  his  name  ? — He  speaks  the 
language  of  the  Canadas,  too,  I find  ! ” 

“That  is  easily  explained,  Major  Duncan. 
The  boy  was  left  under  the  care  of  one  of  our 
mariners  in  the  old  war,  and  he  took  to  the  water 
like  a duck.  Your  honor  knows  that  we  have  no 
ports  on  Ontario,  that  can  be  named  as  such,  and 
he  naturally  passed  most  of  his  time  on  the  other 
side  of  the  lake,  where  the  French  have  had  a few 
vessels  these  fifty  years.  He  learned  to  speak 
their  language,  as  a matter  of  course,  and  got  his 
name  from  the  Indians  and  Canadians,  who  are 
fond  of  calling  men  by  their  qualities,  as  it  might 
be.” 

“ A French  master  is  but  a poor  instructor  for 
a British  sailor,  notwithstanding  ? ” 

“I  beg  your  pardon,  sir;  Jasper  Eau-douce 
was  brought  up  under  a real  English  seaman  ; 
one  that  had  sailed  under  the  king’s  pennant,  and 
may  be  called  a thorough-bred  : that  is  to  say,  a 
subject  born  in  the  colonies,  but  none  the  worse 
at  his  trade,  I hope,  Major  Duncan,  for  that.” 

“Perhaps  not,  sergeant — perhaps  not;  nor 
any  better.  This  Jasper  behaved  well,  too,  when 
I gave  him  the  command  of  the  Scud;  no  lad 
could  have  conducted  himself  more  loyally  or 
better.” 

“Or  more  bravely,  Major  Duncan.  I am 
sorry  to  see,  sir,  that  you  have  doubts  as  to  the 
fidelity  of  Jasper.” 

“It  is  the  duty  of  the  soldier  who  is  intrusted 
with  the  care  of  a distant  and  important  post  like 
this,  Dunham,  never  to  relax  in  his  vigilance.  We 


have  two  of  the  most  artful  enemies  that  the 
world  has  ever  produced,  in  their  several  ways, 
to  contend  with — the  Indians  and  the  French; 
and  nothing  should  be  overlooked  that  can  lead 
to  injury.” 

“ I hope  your  honor  considers  me  fit  to  be 
intrusted  with  any  particular  reason  that  may 
exist  for  doubting  Jasper,  since  you  have  seen  fit 
to  intrust  me  with  this  command.” 

“ It  is  not  that  I doubt  you,  Dunham,  that  I 
hesitate  to  reveal  all  I may  happen  to  know,  but 
from  a strong  reluctance  to  circulate  an  evil  report 
concerning  one  of  whom  I have  hitherto  thought 
well.  You  must  think  well  of  the  Pathfinder,  or 
you  would  not  wish  to  give  him  your  daughter  ? ” 

“ For  the  Pathfinder’s  honesty,  I will  answer 
with  my  life,  sir” — returned  the  sergeant  firmly, 
and  not  without  a dignity  of  manner  that  struck 
his  superior.  “ Such  a man  doesn’t  know  how  to 
be  false.” 

“ I believe  you  are  right,  Dunham,  and  yet 
this  last  information  has  unsettled  all  my  old 
opinions,  I have  received  an  anonymous  com- 
munication, sergeant,  advising  me  to  be  on  my 
guard  against  Jasper  Western,  or  Jasper  Eau- 
douce,  as  he  is  called;  who,  it  alleges,  has  been 
bought  by  the  enemy,  and  giving  me  reason  to 
expect  that  further  and  more  precise  information 
will  soon  be  sent.” 

“ Letters  without  signatures  to  them,  sir,  are 
scarcely  to  be  regarded  in  war.” 

“ Or  in  peace,  Dunham.  No  one  can  entertain 
a lower  opinion  of  the  writer  of  an  anonymous 
letter,  in  ordinary  matters,  than  myself.  The 
very  act  denotes  cowardice,  .meanness,  and  base- 
ness ; and  it  usually  is  a token  of  falsehood,  as 
well  as  of  other  vices.  But,  in  matters  of  war, 
it  is  not  exactly  the  same  thing.  Besides,  several 
suspicious  circumstances  have  been  pointed  out 
to  me — ” 

“ Such  as  is  fit  for  an  orderly  to  hear,  your 
honor  ? ” 

“ Certainly,  one  in  whom  I confide  as  much 
as  in  yourself,  Dunham.  It  is  said,  for  instance, 
that  your  daughter  and  her  party  were  permitted 
to  qscape  the  Iroquois,  when  they  came  in,  merely 
to  give  Jasper  credit  with  me.  I am  told  that 
the  gentry  at  Frcntenac  will  care  more  for  the 
capture  of  the  Scud,  with  Sergeant  Dunham  and 
a party  of  men,  together  with  the  defeat  of  our 
favorite  plan,  than  for  the  capture  of  a girl,  and 
the  scalp  of  her  uncle.” 

“ I understand  the  hint,  sir,  but  I do  not  give 
it  credit.  Jasper  can  hardly  be  true,  and  Path- 
finder false  ; and  as  for  the  last,  I would  as  soon 
distrust  your  honor  as  distrust  him  l ” 


88 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ It  would  seem  so,  sergeant ; it  would  indeed 
seem  so.  But  Jasper  is  not  the  Pathfinder,  after 
all,  and  I will  own,  Dunham,  I should  put  more 
faith  in  the  lad,  if  he  didn’t  speak  French  ! ” 

“ It’s  no  recommendation  in  my  eyes,  I assure 
your  honor  ; but  the  boy  learned  it  by  compulsion, 
as  it  were,  and  ought  not  to  be  condemned  too 
hastily,  for  the  circumstance,  by  your  honor’s 
leave.  If  he  does  speak  French,  it’s  because  he 
can’t  well  help  it.” 

“ It’s  a d d lingo,  and  never  did  any  one 

good — at  least  no  British  subject ; for  I suppose 
the  French  themselves  must  talk  together  in  some 
language  or  other.  I should  have  much  more 
faith  in  this  Jasper  did  he  know  nothing  of  their 
language.  This  letter  has  made  me  uneasy ; and, 
were  there  another  to  whom  I could  trust  the 
cutter,  I would  devise  some  means  to  detain  him 
here.  I have  spoken  to  you  already  of  a brother- 
in-law  who  goes  with  you,  sergeant,  and  who  is  a 
sailor?  ” 

“ A real  seafaring  man,  your  honor,  and  some- 
what prejudiced  against  fresh  water.  I doubt  if  he 
could  be  induced  to  risk  his  character  on  a lake, 
and  I’m  certain  he  never  could  find  the  station.” 

“ The  last  is  probably  true,  and  then,  the  man 
cannot  know  enough  of  this  treacherous  lake  to 
be  fit  for  the  employment ! You  will  have  to  be 
doubly  vigilant,  Dunham.  I give  you  full  powers, 
and,  should  you  detect  this  Jasper  in  any  treach- 
ery, make  him  a sacrifice  at  once  to  offended 
justice.” 

“Being  in  the  service  of  the  crown,  your 
honor,  he  is  amenable  to  martial  law — ” 

“Very  true — then  iron  him,  from  his  head  to 
his  heels,  and  send  him  up  here,  in  his  own  cutter. 
That  brother-in-law  of  yours  must  be  able  to  find 
the  way  back,  after  he  has  once  travelled  the 
road.” 

“I  make  no  doubt,  Major  Dunham,  we  shall 
be  able  to  do  all  that  will  be  necessary,  should 
Jasper  turn  out  as  you  seem  to  anticipate ; though 
I think  I would  risk  my  life  on  his  truth.” 

“ I like  your  confidence ; it  speaks  well  for  the 
fellow — but  that  infernal  letter ! — There  is  such 
an  air  of  truth  about  it — nay,  there  is  so  much 
truth  in  it,  touching  other  matters — ” 

“ I think  your  honor  said  it  wanted  the  name 
at  the  bottom ; a great  omission  for  an  honest 
man  to  make.” 

“Quite  right,  Dunham,  and  no  one  but  a 
rascal,  and  a cowardly  rascal  into  the  bargain, 
would  write  an  anonymous  .jetter,  on  private 
affairs.  It  is  different,  however,  in  war.  Dis- 
patches are  feigned,  and  artifice  is  generally  al- 
lowed to  be  justifiable.” 


“ Military,  manly  artifices,  sir,  if  you  will ; such 
as  ambushes,  surprises,  feints,  false  attacks,  and 
even  spies ; but  I never  heard  of  a true  soldier 
who  could  wish  to  undermine  the  character  of 
an  honest  young  man,  by  such  means  as  these ! ” 

“ I have  met  with  many  strange  events,  and 
some  stranger  people,  in  the  course  of  my  experi- 
ence. But  fare-you-well,  sergeant ; I must  detain 
you  no  longer.  You  are  now  on  your  guard,  and 
I recommend  to  you  untiring  vigilance.  I think 
Muir  means  shortly  to  retire,  and,  should  you  fully 
succeed  in  this  enterprise,  my  influence  will  not 
be  wanting  in  endeavoring  to  put  you  into  the 
vacancy,  to  which  you  have  many  claims ! ” 

“ I humbly  thank  your  honor,”  coolly  returned 
the  sergeant,  who  had  been  encouraged  in  this 
manner,  any  time  for  the  preceding  twenty  years, 
“and  hope  I shall  never  disgrace  my  station, 
whatever  it  may  be.  I am  what  Nature  and  Prov- 
idence have  made  me,  and  I hope  I’m  satisfied.” 

“ You  have  not  forgotten  the  howitzer?  ” 

“ Jasper  took  it  on  board  this  morning,  sir.” 

“ Be  wary,  and  do  not  trust  that  man  unneces- 
sarily. Make  a confidant  of  Pathfinder  at  once  ; 
he  may  be  of  service  in  detecting  any  villany 
that  may  be  stirring.  His  simple  honesty  will 
favor  his  observation,  by  concealing  it.  He  must 
be  true.” 

“For  him,  sir,  my  own  head  shall  answer,  or 
even  my  rank  in  the  regiment.  I have  seen  him 
too  often  tried  to  doubt  him.” 

“ Of  all  wretched  sensations,  Dunham,  distrust, 
where  one  is  compelled  to  confide,  is  the  most 
painful.  You  have  bethought  you  of  the  spare 
flints  ? ” 

“ A sergeant  is  a safe  commander  for  all  such 
details,  your  honor.” 

“Well,  then,  give  me  your  hand,  Dunham. 
God  bless  you,  and  may  you  be  successful ! Muir 
means  to  retire — by-the-way,  let  the  man  have 
an  equal  chance  With  your  daughter,  for  it  may 
facilitate  future  operations  about  the  promotion. 
One  would  retire  more  cheerfully  with  such  a 
companion  as  Mabel,  than  in  cheerless  widow- 
hood, and  with  nothing  but  one’s  self  to  love,  and 
such  a self,  too,  as  Davy’s  ! ” 

“ I hope,  sir,  my  child  will  make  a prudent 
choice,  and  I think  her  mind  is  already  pretty 
much  made  up  in  favor  of  Pathfinder.  Still  she 
shall  have  fair  play,  though  disobedience  is  the 
next  crime  to  mutiny.” 

“ Have  all  the  ammunition  carefully  examined 
and  dried,  as  soon  as  you  arrive ; the  damp  of 
the  lake  may  affect  it ; and  now,  once  more,  fare- 
well, sergeant.  Beware  of  that  Jasper,  and 
consult  with  Muir  in  any  difficulty.  I shall 


JASPER  DISTRUSTED. 


89 


expect  you  to  return  triumphant,  this  day 
month.” 

“ God  bless  your  honor  ! If  any  thing  should 
happen  to  me,  I trust  to  you,  Major  Duncan,  to 
care  for  an  old  soldier’s  character.” 

“ Rely  on  me,  Dunham — you  will  rely  on  a 
friend.  Be  vigilant ; remember  you  will  be  in  the 
very  jaws  of  the  lion — pshaw ! of  no  lion,  neither ; 
but  of  treacherous  tigers — in  their  very  jaws,  and 
beyond  support.  Have  the  flints  counted  and 
examined  in  the  morning — and — farewell,  Dun- 
ham, farewell ! ” 

The  sergeant  took  the  extended  hand  of  his 
superior  with  proper  respect,  and  they  finally 
parted ; Lundie  hastening  into  his  own  movable 
abode,  while  the  other  left  the  fort,  descended  to 
the  beach,  and  got  into  a boat. 

Duncan  of  Lundie  had  said  no  more  than  the 
truth,  when  he  spoke  of  the  painful  nature  of 
distrust.  Of  all  the  feelings  of  the  human  mind, 
it  is  that  which  is  the  most  treacherous  in  its 
workings,  the  most  insidious  in  its  approaches, 
and  the  least  at  the  command  of  a generous 
temperament.  While  doubt  exists,  every  thing 
may  be  suspected,  the  thoughts  having  no  definite 
facts  to  set  bounds  to  their  wanderings  ; and,  dis- 
trust once  admitted,  it  is  impossible  to  say  to 
what  extent  conjecture  may  lead,  or  whither 
credulity  may  follow.  That  which  had  previously 
seemed  innocent,  assumes  the  hue  of  guilt,  as 
soon  as  this  uneasy  tenant  has  taken  possession 
of  the  thoughts ; and  nothing  is  said  or  done 
without  being  subjected  to  the  colorings  and  dis- 
figurations of  jealousy  and  apprehension.  If  this 
i3  true  in  ordinary  affairs,  it  is  doubly  true  when 
any  heavy  responsibility,  involving  life  or  death, 
weighs  on  the  unsettled  mind  of  its  subject;  as 
in  the  case  of  the  military  commander,  or  the 
agent  in  the  management  of  any  great  political 
interest.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  then,  that 
Sergeant  Dunham,  after  he  had  parted  from  his 
commanding  officer,  was  likely  to  forget  the 
injunctions  he  had  received.  He  thought  highly 
of  Jasper,  in  general ; but  distrust  had  been  in- 
sinuated between  his  former  confidence  and  the 
obligations  of  duty;  and,  as  he  now  felt  that 
every  thing  depended  on  his  own  vigilance,  by 
the  time  the  boat  reached  the  side  of  the  Scud, 
he  was  in  a proper  humor  to  let  no  suspicious 
circumstance  go  unheeded,  or  any  unusual  move- 
ment in  the  young  sailor  pass  without  its  comment. 
As  a matter  of  course,  he  viewed  things  in  the 
light  suited  to  his  peculiar  mood ; and  his  pre- 
cautions, as  well  as  his  distrust,  partook  of  the 
habits,  opinions,  and  education  of  the  man. 

The  Scud’s  kedge  was  lifted  as  soon  as  the 


boat,  with  the  sergeant,  who  was  the  last  person 
expected,  was  seen  to  quit  the  shore,  and  the 
head  of  the  cutter  was  cast  to  the  eastward  by 
means  of  the  sweeps.  A few  vigorous  strokes 
of  the  latter,  in  which  the  soldiers  aided,  sent  tha 
light  craft  into  the  line  of  the  current  that  flowed 
from  the  river,  when  she  was  suffered  to  drift 
into  the  offing  again.  As  yet,  there  was  no  wind, 
the  light  and  almost  imperceptible  air  from  the 
lake,  that  had  existed  previously  to  the  setting  of 
the  sun,  having  entirely  failed. 

All  this  time,  an  unusual  quiet  prevailed  in 
the  cutter.  It  appeared  as  if  those  on  board  of 
her  felt  that  they  were  entering  upon  an  uncer- 
tain enterprise,  in  the  obscurity  of  night ; and 
that  their  duty,  the  hour,  and  the  manner  of  their 
departure,  lent  a solemnity  to  their  movements. 
Discipline  also  came  in  aid  of  these  feelings. 
Most  were  silent ; and  those  who  said  any  thing, 
spoke  seldom,  and  in  low  voices.  In  this  man- 
ner, the  cutter  set  slowly  out  into  the  lake,  until 
she  had  got  as  far  as  the  river-current  would  car- 
ry her,  when  she  became  stationary,  waiting  for 
the  usual  land-breeze.  An  interval  of  half  an 
hour  followed,  during  the  whole  of  which  time 
the  Scud  lay  as  motionless  as  a log,  floating  on 
the  water.  While  the  little  changes  just  men- 
tioned were  occurring  in  the  situation  of  the  ves- 
sel, notwithstanding  the  general  quiet  that  pre- 
vailed, all  conversation  had  not  been  repressed; 
for  Sergeant  Dunham,  having  first  ascertained 
that  both  his  daughter  and  her  female  companion 
were  on  the  quarter-deck,  led  the  Pathfinder  to 
the  after-cabin,  where,  closing  the  door  with 
great  caution,  and  otherwise  making  certain  he 
was  beyond  the  reach  of  eavesdroppers,  he  com- 
menced as  follows  : 

“ It  is  now  many  years,  my  friend,  since  you 
began  to  experience  the  hardships  and  dangers  of 
the  woods  in  my  company.” 

“ It  is,  sergeant ; yes,  it  is.  I sometimes  feai 
I am  too  old  for  Mabel,  who  was  not  bom  until 
you  and  I had  fou’t  the  Frenchers  as  comrades.” 

“ No  fear  on  that  account,  Pathfinder.  I was 
near  your  age  before  I prevailed  on  the  mind  of 
her  mother ; and  Mabel  is  a steady,  thoughtful 
girl,  one  that  will  regard  character  more  than  any 
thing  else.  A lad  like  Jasper  Eau-douce,  for  in- 
stance, will  have  no  chance  with  her,  though  he  is 
both  young  and  comely.” 

“ Does  Jasper  think  of  marrying?  ” inquired 
the  guide,  simply  but  earnestly. 

“ I should  hope  not — at  least  not  until  he  has 
satisfied  every  one  of  his  fitness  to  possess  a 
wife.” 

“ Jasper  is  a gallant  boy,  and  one  of  great 


90 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


gifts  in  his  way  ; he  may  claim  a wife  as  well  as 
anothei.” 

“ To  be  frank  with  you,  Pathfinder,  I brought 
you  here  to  talk  about  this  very  youngster.  Ma- 
jor Duncan  has  received  some  information  which 
has  led  him  to  suspect  that  Eau-douce  is  false, 
and  in  the  pay  of  the  enemy ; I wish  to  hear  your 
opinion  on  the  subject.” 

“ Anan ! ” 

“I  say  that  the  major  suspects  Jasper  of  be- 
ing a traitor — a French  spy: — or,  what  is  worse, 
of  being  bought  to  betray  us.  He  has  received  a 
letter  to  this  effect,  and  has  been  charging  me  to 
keep  an  eye  on  the  boy’s  movements,  for  he  fears 
we  shall  meet  with  enemies  when  we  least  expect 
it,  and  by  his  means.” 

“Duncan  of  Lundie  has  told  you  this,  Ser- 
geant Dunham  ? ” 

“ He  has,  indeed,  Pathfinder ; and,  though  I 
have  been  loath  to  believe  any  thing  to  the  injury 
of  Jasper,  I have  a feeling  which  tells  me  I ought 
to  distrust  him.  Do  you  believe  in  presentiments, 
my  friend  ? ” 

“ In  what,  sergeant  ? ” 

“Presentiments — a sort  of  secret  foreknowl- 
edge of  events  that  are  about  to  happen.  The 
Scotch  of  our  regiment  are  great  sticklers  for  such 
things ; and  my  opinion  of  Jasper  is  changing  so 
fast  that  I begin  to  fear  there  must  be  some  truth 
in  their  doctrines.” 

“But  you’ve  been  talking  with  Duncan  of 
Lundie  consarning  Jasper,  and  his  words  have 
raised  misgivin’s.” 

“Not  it — not  so  in  the  least.  For  while  con- 
versing with  the  major,  my  feelings  were  alto- 
gether the  other  way ; and  I endeavored  to  con- 
vince him  all  I could  that  he  did  the  boy  injus- 
tice. But  there  is  no  use  holding  out  against  a 
presentiment,  I find ; and  I fear  there  is  some- 
thing in  the  suspicion,  after  all.” 

“ I know  nothing  of  presentiments,  sergeant, 
but  I have  known  Jasper  Eau-douce  since  he  was 
a boy,  and  I have  as  much  faith  in  his  honesty  as 
I have  in  my  own,  or  that  of  the  Sarpent  him- 
self.” 

“ But  the  Serpent,  Pathfinder,  has  his  tricks 
and  ambushes  in  war,  as  well  as  another.” 

“ Ay,  them  are  his  nat’ral  gifts,  and  such  as 
belong  to  his  people.  Neither  red-skin  nor  pale- 
face can  deny  natur’ ; but  Chingachgook  is  not  a 
man  to  feel  presentiment  ag’in.” 

“ That  I believe ; nor  should  I have  thought 
ill  of  Jasper  this  very  morning.  It  seems  to  me, 
Pathfinder,  since  I’ve  taken  up  this  presentiment, 
that  the  lad  does  not  bustle  about  his  deck,  nat- 
urally, as  he  used  to  do ; but  that  he  is  silent,  and 


moody,  and  thoughtful,  like  a man  who  ha3  a 
load  on  his  conscience.” 

“Jasper  is  never  noisy,  and  he  tells  me  noisy 
ships  are  generally  ill-worked  ships.  Master 
Cap  agrees  in  this,  too.  No — no — I will  believe 
naught  against  Jasper  until  I see  it.  Send  for 
your  brother,  sergeant,  and  let  us  question  him 
in  this  matter ; for  to  sleep  with  distrust  of  one’s 
fri’nd  in  the  heart,  is  like  sleeping  with  lead  there. 
I have  no  faith  in  your  presentiments.” 

The  sergeant,  although  he  scarce  knew,  him- 
self, with  what  object,  complied,  and  Cap  was 
summoned  to  join  in  the  consultation.  As  Path- 
finder was  more  collected  than  his  companion, 
and  felt  so  strong  a conviction  of  the  good  faith 
of  the  party  accused,  he  assumed  the  office  of 
spokesman. 

“We  have  asked  you  to  come  down,  Master 
Cap,”  he  commenced,  “ in  order  to  inquire  if  you 
have  remarked  any  thing  out  of  the  common  way, 
in  the  movements  of  Eau-douce,  this  evening?  ” 

“His  movements  are  common  enough,  I dare 
say,  for  fresh  water,  Master  Pathfinder,  though 
we  should  think  most  of  his  proceedings  irregular, 
down  on  the  coast.” 

“Yes,  yes — we  know  you  will  never  agree 
with  the  lad  about  the  manner  the  cutter  ought 
to  be  managed  ; but  it  is  on  another  p’int  we  wish 
your  opinion.” 

The  Pathfinder  then  explained  to  Cap  the  na- 
ture of  the  suspicions  which  the  sergeant  enter- 
tained, and  the  reasons  why  they  had  been  ex- 
cited, so  far  as  the  latter  had  been  communicated 
by  Major  Duncan. 

“ The  youngster  talks  French,  does  he  ? ” 

“ They  say  he  speaks  it  better  than  common,” 
returned  the  sergeant,  gravely.  “ Pathfinder 
knows  this  to  be  true.” 

“I’ll  not  gainsay  it — I’ll  not  gainsay  it,”  an- 
swered the  guide,  “ at  least  they  tell  me  such  is 
the  fact.  But  this  would  prove  nothing  ag’in  a 
Mississagua,  and  least  of  all  ag’in  one  like  Jasper. 
I speak  the  Mingo  dialect  myself,  having  1’arnt  it 
while  a prisoner  among  the  reptyles ; but  who 
will  say  I am  their  fri’nd ! — Not  that  I am  an  ini 
my,  either,  according  to  Injin  notions  ; though  1 
am  their  inimy,  I will  admit,  agreeable  to  Chris- 
tianity.” 

“Ay,  Pathfinder,  but  Jasper  did  not  get  his 
French  as  a prisoner : he  took  it  in,  m boyhood, 
when  the  mind  is  easily  impressed,  and  gets  its 
permanent  notions  ; when  nature  has  a presenti- 
ment, as  it  were,  which  way  the  character  is  like- 
ly to  incline.” 

“A  very  just  remark,”  added  Cap,  “for  that 
is  the  time  of  life  when  we  all  learn  the  catechism, 


THE  GUIDE’S  DEFENCE. 


91 


and  other  moral  improvements.  The  sergeant’s 
observation  shows  that  he  understands  human 
nature,  and  I agree  with  him  perfectly ; it  is  a 
damnable  thing  for  a youngster,  up  here,  on  this 
bit  of  fresh  water,  to  talk  French.  If  it  were 
down  on  the  Atlantic  now,  where  a seafaring  man 
has  occasion  sometimes  to  converse  with  a pilot, 
or  a linguister,  in  that  language,  I should  not 
think  so  much  of  it,  though  we  always  look  with 
suspicion,  even  there,  at  a shipmate  who  knows 
too  much  of  the  tongue : but  up  here,  on  Ontario, 
I hold  it  to  be  a most  suspicious  circumstance.” 

“ But  Jasper  must  talk  in  French  to  the  peo- 
ple on  the  other  shore,”  said  Pathfinder,  “or 
hold  his  tongue,  as  there  sCre  none  but  French  to 
speak  to.” 

“You  don’t  mean  to  tell  me,  Pathfinder,  that 
France  lies  hereaway,  on  the  opposite  coast  ? ” 
cried  Cap,  jerking  a thumb  over  his  shoulder,  in 
the  direction  of  the  Canadas  ; “ that  one  side  of 
this  bit  of  fresh  water  is  York,  and  the  other 
France ! ” 

“ I mean  to  tell  you  this  is  York,  and  that  is 
Upper  Canada ; and  that  English  and  Dutch  and 
Indian  are  spoken  in  the  first,  and  French  and 
Indian  in  the  last.  Even  the  Mingoes  have  got 
many  of  the  French  words  in  their  dialect,  and  it 
is  no  improvement,  neither.” 

“Very  true;  and  what  sort  of  people  are  the 
Mingoes,  my  friend  ? ” inquired  the  sergeant, 
touching  the  other  on  a shoulder,  by  way  of  en- 
forcing a remark,  the  inherent  truth  of  which 
sensibly  increased  its  value  in  the  eyes  of  the 
speaker — “ no  one  knows  them  better  than  your- 
self, imd  I ask  you  what  sort  of  a tribe  are  they  ? ” 

“Jasper  is  no  Mingo,  sergeant.” 

“ He  speaks  French,  and  he  might  as  well  be, 
in  that  particular. — Brother  Cap,  can  you  recol- 
lect no  movement  of  this  unfortunate  young  man, 
in  the  way  of  his  calling,  that  would  seem  to  de- 
note treachery  ? ” 

“ Not  distinctly,  sergeant,  though  he  has  gone 
to  work  wrong-end  foremost,  half  his  time.  It  is 
true  that  one  of  his  hands  coiled  a rope  against 
the  sun,  and  he  called  it  curling  a rope,  too,  when 
I asked  him  what  he  was  about ; but  I am  not  cer- 
tain that  any  thing  was  meant  by  it ; though  I 
dare  say  the  French  coil  half  their  running  rig- 
ging the  wrong  way,  and  may  call  it  ‘ curling  it 
down,’  too,  for  that  matter.  Then  Jasper,  him- 
self, belayed  the  end  of  the  jib-hallyards  to  a 
stretcher  in  the  rigging,  instead  of  bringing  them 
in  to  the  mast,  where  they  belong,  at  least  among 
British  sailors.” 

“I  dare  say  Jasper  may  have  got  some  Cana- 
da notions  about  working  his  craft,  from  being 


so  much  on  the  other  side — ” Pathfinder  inter- 
posed— “ but  catching  an  idee  or  a word  isn’t 
treachery  and  bad  faith.  I sometimes  get  an  idee 
from  the  Mingoes  themselves  ; but  my  heart  has 
always  been  with  the  Delawares.  No — no — Jas- 
per is  true ; the  king  might  trust  him  with  his 
crown,  just  as  he  would  his  eldest  son,  who,  as 
he  is  to  wear  it  one  day,  ought  to  be  the  last  man 
to  wish  to  steal  it.” 

“Fine  talking — fine  talking — ” said  Cap,  ris- 
ing to  spit  out  of  the  cabin-window,  as  is  cus- 
tomary with  men  when  they  most  feel  their  own 
great  moral  strength  and  happen  to  chew  tobacco 

— “ all  fine  talking,  Master  Pathfinder,  but  d d 

little  logic.  In  the  first  place,  the  king’s  majesty 
cannot  lend  his  crown,  it  being  contrary  to  the 
laws  of  the  realm,  which  require  him  to  wear  it 
at  all  times,  in  order  that  his  sacred  person  may 
be  known,  just  as  the  silver  oar  is  necessary  to 
a sheriff’s  officer  afloat.  In  the  next  place  it’s 
high-treason  by  law  for  the  eldest  son  of  his  ma- 
jesty ever  to  covet  the  crown,  or  to  have  a child 
except  in  lawful  wedlock,  as  either  would  de- 
range the  succession.  Thus  you  see,  Pathfinder, 
that,  in  order  to  reason  truly,  one  must  get  under 
way,  as  it  might  be,  on  the  right  tack.  Law  is 
reason,  and  reason  is  philosophy,  and  philosophy 
is  a steady  drag — whence  it  follows  that  crowns 
are  regulated  by  law,  reason,  and  philosophy.” 

“ I know  little  of  all  this,  Master  Cap ; but 
nothing  short  of  seein’  and  feelin’  will  make  me 
think  Jasper  Western  a traitor.” 

“ There  you  are  wrong  again,  Pathfinder,  for 
there  is  a way  of  proving  a thing  much  more  con- 
clusively than  by  either  seeing  or  feeling,  or  both 
together : and  that  is,  by  a circumstance.” 

“ It  may  be  so  in  the  settlements ; but  it  is 
not  so,  here,  on  the  lines.” 

“ It  is  so  in  Nature,  which  is  monarch  over  all. 
Now  according  to  our  senses,  young  Eau-douce  is 
this  moment  on  deck,  and  by  going  up  there 
either  of  us  might  see  and  feel  him ; but.  should 
it  afterward  appear  that  a fact  was  communicated 
to  the  French  at  this  precise  moment,  which  fact 
no  one  but  Jasper  could  communicate;  why,  we 
should  be  bound  to  believe  that  the  circumstance 
was  true,  and  that  our  eyes  and  our  fingers  de- 
ceived us.  Any  lawyer  will  tell  you  that.” 

“ This  is  hardly  right,”  said  Pathfinder  ; “ nor 
is  it  possible  seein’  that  it  is  ag’in  fact.” 

“ It  is  much  more  than  possible,  my  worthy 
guide ; it  is  law ; absolute,  king’s  law  of  the 
realm,  and,  as  such,  to  be  respected  and  obeyed. 
I’d  hang  my  own  brother  on  such  testimony — no 
reflections  on  the  family  being  meant,  sergeant.” 

“ God  knows  how  far  all  this  applies  to  Jasu 


92 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


per ; though  I do  believe  Mr.  Cap  is  right  as  to 
the  law,  Pathfinder ; circumstances  being  much 
stronger  than  the  senses  on  such  occasions.  We 
must  all  of  us  be  watchful,  and  nothing  suspi- 
cious should  be  overlooked.” 

“Now  I recollect  me,”  continued  Cap,  again 
using  the  window — “ there  was  a circumstance 
just  after  we  came  on  board  this  evening,  that 
is  extremely  suspicious,  and  which  may  be  set 
down  at  once  as  a makeweight  against  this 
lad.  Jasper  bent  on  the  king’s  ensign  with  his 
own  hands,  and  while  he  pretended  to  be  looking 
at  Mabel  and  the  soldier’s  wife,  giving  directions 
about  showing  them  below,  here,  and  all  that,  he 
got  the  flag  union  down.” 

“That  might  have  been  accident,”  returned 
the  sergeant,  “ for  such  a thing  has  happened  to 
myself ; besides,  the  halyards  lead  to  a pulley, 
and  the  flag  would  have  come  right  or  not,  ac- 
cording to  the  manner  in  which  the  lad  hoisted 
it.” 

“ A pulley ! ” exclaimed  Cap,  with  strong  dis- 
gust— “ I wish,  Sergeant  Dunham,  I could  pre- 
vail on  you  to  use  proper  terms.  An  ensign-hal- 
yard-block is  no  more  a pulley  than  your  hal- 
bert is  a boarding-pike.  It  is  true  that,  by  hoist- 
ing on  one  part,  another  part  would  go  upper- 
most ; but  I look  upon  this  affair  of  the  ensign, 
now  you  have  mentioned  your  suspicions,  as  a 
circumstance,  and  shall  bear  it  in  mind.  I trust 
supper  is  not  to  be  overlooked,  however,  even  if 
we  have  a hold  full  of  traitors.” 

“ It  will  be  duly  attended  to,  brother  Cap : 
but  I shall  count  on  you  for  aid  in  managing  the 
Scud,  should  any  thing  occur  to  induce  me  to  ar- 
rest Jasper.” 

“ I’ll  not  fail  you,  sergeant ; and  in  such  an 
event  you’ll  probably  learn  what  this  cutter  can 
really  perform ; for,  as  yet,  I fancy  it  is  pretty 
much  matter  of  guess-work.” 

“ Well,  for  my  part,”  said  Pathfinder,  draw- 
ing a heavy  sigh,  “ I shall  cling  to  the  hope  of 
Jasper’s  innocence,  and  recommend  plain  dealing, 
by  asking  the  lad,  himself,  without  further  delay, 
whether  he  is  or  not  a traitor.  I’ll  put  Jasper 
Western  ag’in  all  the  presentiments  and  circum- 
stances in  the  colony.” 

“ That  will  never  do,”  rejoined  the  sergeant. 
“ The  responsibility  of  this  affair  rests  with  me, 
and  I request  and  enjoin  that  nothing  be  said  to 
any  one,  without  my  knowledge.  We  will  all 
keep  watchful  eyes  about  us,  and  take  proper 
note  of  circumstances.” 

“ Ay — ay — circumstances  are  the  things  after 
all,”  returned  Cap:  “ One  circumstance  is  worth 
6fty  facts.  That  I know  to  be  the  law  of  the 


realm.  Many  a man  has  been  hanged  on  circum- 
stances.” 

The  conversation  now  ceased,  and,  after  a 
short  delay,  the  whole  party  returned  to  the 
deck,  each  individual  disposed  to  view  the  con- 
duct of  the  suspected  Jasper  in  the  manner  most 
suited  to  his  own  habits  and  character. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

“Even  such  a man,  so  faint,  so  spiritless, 

So  dull,  so  dead  in  look,  so  woe-begone, 

Drew  Priam’s  curtain  in  the  dead  of  night, 

And  would  have  told  him  half  his  Troy  was  burned 
Shakespeabb. 

All  this  time,  matters  were  elsewhere  passing 
in  their  usual  train.  Jasper,  like  the  weather, 
and  his  vessel,  seemed  to  be  waiting  for  the  land- 
breeze;  while  the  soldiers,  accustomed  to  early 
rising,  had,  to  a man,  sought  their  pallets  in  the 
main  hold.  None  remained  on  deck  but  the  peo- 
ple of  the  cutter,  Mr.  Muir,  and  the  two  females. 
The  quartermaster  was  endeavoring  to  render 
himself  agreeable  to  Mabel,  while  our  heroine 
herself,  little  affected  by  his  assiduities,  which  she 
ascribed  partly  to  the  habitual  gallantry  of  a sol- 
dier, and  partly,  perhaps,  to  her  own  pretty  face, 
was  enjoying  the  peculiarities  of  a scene  and  sit- 
uation that  to  her  were  full  of  the  charms  of 
novelty. 

The  sails  had  been  hoisted,  but  as  yet  not  a 
breath  of  air  was  in  motion,  and  so  still  and  pla- 
cid was  the  lake  that  not  the  smallest  motion 
was  perceptible  in  the  cutter.  She  had  drifted  in 
the  river-current  to  a distance  a little  exceeding  a 
quarter  of  a mile  from  the  land,  and  there  she 
lay,  beautiful  in  her  symmetry  and  form,  but  like 
a fixture.  Young  Jasper  was  on  the  quarter-deck, 
near  enough  to  hear  occasionally  the  conversation 
which  passed,  but  too  diffident  of  his  own  claim, 
and  too  intent  on  his  duties,  to  attempt  to  min- 
gle in  it.  The  fine  blue  eyes  of  Mabel  followed 
his  motions  in  curious  expectation,  and  more  than 
once  the  quartermaster  had  to  repeat  his  compli- 
ments, ere  she  heard  them,  so  intent  was  she  on 
the  little  occurrences  of  the  vessel,  and,  we  might 
add,  so  indifferent  to  the  eloquence  of  her  com- 
panion. At  length  even  Mr.  Muir  became  silent, 
and  there  was  a deep  stillness  on  the  water. 
Presently  an  oar-blade  fell  in  a boat,  beneath  the 
fort,  and  the  sound  I’eached  the  cutter  as  distinct- 
ly as  if  it  had  been  produced  on  her  deck.  Then 
came  a murmur,  like  a sigh  of  the  night,  a flut- 
tering of  the  canvas,  the  creaking  of  the  boom, 
and  the  flap  of  the  iib.  These  well-known  sounds 


SPIES  ON  THE  LAKE. 


93 


were  followed  by  a slight  heel  in  the  cutter,  and 
by  the  bellying  of  all  the  sails. 

“ Here’s  the  wind,  Anderson  ” — called  out 
Jasper  to  the  oldest  of  his  sailors — “take  the 
helm/' 

This  brief  order  was  obeyed  ; the  helm  was  put 
up,  the  cutter’s  bows  fell  off,  and  in  a few  min- 
utes the  water  was  heard  murmuring  under  her 
head,  as  the  Scud  glanced  through  the  lake  at 
the  rate  of  five  miles  in  the  hour.  All  this  passed 
in  profound  silence,  when  Jasper  again  gave  the 
order  to  “ ease  off  the  sheets  a little,  and  keep 
her  along  the  land.” 

“It  was  at  this  instant  that  the  party  from 
the  after-cabin  reappeared  on  the  quarter-deck. 

* “ You’ve  no  inclination,  Jasper,  lad,  to  trust 
yourself  too  near  our  neighbors  the  French,”  ob- 
served Muir,  who  took  that  occasion  to  recom- 
mence the  discourse.  “ Well,  well,  your  prudence 
will  never  be  questioned  by  me,  for  I like  the 
Canadas  as  little  as  you  can  possibly  like  them 
yourself!  ” 

“ I hug  this  shore,  Mr.  Muir,  on  account  of 
the  wind.  The  land-breeze  is  always  freshest 
close  in,  provided  you  are  not  so  near  as  to  make 
a lee  of  the  trees.  We  have  Mexico  Bay  to  cross, 
and  that,  on  the  present  course,  will  give  us  quite 
offing  enough.” 

“ I’m  right  glad  it’s  not  the  Bay  of  Mexico,” 
put  in  Cap,  “ which  is  a part  of  the  world  I would 
rather  not  visit  in  one  of  your  inland  craft.  Does 
your  cutter  bear  a weather  helm,  Master  Oh-the- 
deuce  ? ” 

“ She  is  easy  on  her  rudder,  Master  Cap,  but 
likes  looking  up  at  the  breeze  as  well  as  another, 
when  in  lively  motion.” 

“ I suppose  you  have  such  things  as  reefs, 
though  you  can  hardly  have  occasion  to  use 
them  ? ” 

Mabel’s  bright  eye  detected  the  smile  that 
gleamed  for  an  instant  on  Jasper’s  handsome 
face,  but  no  one  else  saw  that  momentary  exhi- 
bition of  surprise  and  contempt. 

“We  have  reefs,  and  often  have  occasion  to 
use  them,”  quietly  returned  the  young  man. 
“ Before  we  get  in,  Master  Cap,  an  opportunity 
may  offer  to  show  you  the  manner  in  which  we 
do  so,  for  there  is  easterly  weather  brewing,  and 
the  wind  cannot  chop,  even  on  the  ocean  itself, 
more  readily  than  it  flies  round  on  Lake  Ontario.” 

“So  much  for  knowing  no  better!  I have 
seen  the  wind  in  the  Atlantic  fly  round  like  a 
coach-wheel,  in  a way  to  keep  your  sails  shaking 
for  an  hour,  and  the  ship  would  become  perfectly 
motionless  from  not  knowing  which  way  to  turn.” 

“We  have  no  such  sudden  changes  here,  cer- 


tainly,” Jasper  mildly  answered  — “ though  we 
think  ourselves  liable  to  unexpected  shifts  of 
wind.  I hope,  however,  to  carry  this  land-breeze 
as  far  as  the  first  islands  ; after  which,  there  will 
be  less  danger  of  our  being  seen  and  followed  by 
any  of  the  lookout  boats  from  Frontenac.” 

“ Do  you  think  the  French  keep  spies  out  on 
the  broad  lake,  Jasper  ? ” inquired  Pathfinder. 

“We  know  they  do;  one  was  off  Oswego, 
during  the  night  of  Monday  last.  A bark  canoe 
came  close  in  with  the  eastern  point,  and  landed 
an  Indian  and  an  officer.  Had  you  been  outlying 
that  night,  as  usual,  we  should  have  secured  one, 
if  not  both  of  them.” 

It  was  too  dark  to  betray  the  color  that  deep- 
ened on  the  weather-burnt  features  of  the  guide, 
for  he  felt  the  consciousness  of  having  lingered 
in  the  fort  that  night,  listening  to  the  sweet 
tones  of  Mabel’s  voice,  as  she  sang  ballads  to  her 
father,  and  gazing  at  a countenance  that,  to  him, 
was  radiant  with  charms.  Probity,  in  thought 
and  deed,  being  the  distinguishing  quality  of  this 
extraordinary  man’s  mind,  while  he  felt  that  a sort 
of  disgrace  ought  to  attach  to  his  idleness,  on  the 
occasion  mentioned,  the  last  thought  that  could 
occur  would  be  to  attempt  to  palliate  or  deny 
his  negligence. 

“I  confess  it,  Jasper,  I confess  it,”  he  said, 
humbly.  “ Had  I been  out  that  night — and  I now 
remember  no  sufficient  reason  why  I was  not — it 
might,  indeed,  have  turned  out  as  you  say.” 

“It  was  the  evening  you  passed  with  us,  Path- 
finder,” Mabel  innocently  remarked  ; “ surely  one 
who  lives  so  much  of  his  time  in  the  forest,  in 
front  of  the  enemy,  may  be  excused  for  giving  a 
few  hours  of  his  time  to  an  old  friend  and  his 
daughter.” 

“ Nay,  nay,  I’ve  done  little  else  but  idle  since 
we  reached  the  garrison,”  returned  the  other, 
sighing,  “ and  it  is  well  that  the  lad  should  tell 
me  of  it ; the  idler  needs  a scoldin’ — yes,  he 
needs  a scoldin’.” 

“ Scolding,  Pathfinder ! I never  dreamed  of 
saying  any  thing  disagreeable,  and  least  of  all 
would  I think  of  rebuking  you,  because  a solitary 
spy,  and  an  Indian  or  two,  have  escaped  us ! Now 
I know  where  you  were,  I think  your  absence  the 
most  natural  thing  in  the  world.” 

“ I think  nothing  of  it,  Jasper,  I think  noth- 
ing of  What  you  said,  since  it  was  desarved.  We 
are  all  human,  and  all  do  wrong.” 

“ This  is  unkind,  Pathfinder.” 

“ Give  me  your  hand,  lad,  give  me  your  hand. 
It  wasn’t  you  that  gave  the  lesson ; it  was  con. 
science.” 

“Well,  well,”  interrupted  Cap,  “now  this  lafc- 


94 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


ter  matter  is  settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  par- 
ties, perhaps  you  will  tell  us  how  it  happened  to 
be  known  that  there  were  spies  near  us  so  lately. 
This  looks  amazingly  like  a circumstance  ! ” 

As  the  mariner  uttered  the  last  sentence,  he 
pressed  a foot  slyly  on  that  of  the  sergeant,  and 
nudged  the  guide  with  his  elbow,  winking,  at  the 
same  time,  though  this  sign  was  lost  in  the  ob- 
scurity. 

“ It  is  known,  because  their  trail  was  found 
next  day  by  the  Serpent,  and  it  was  that  of  a 
military  boot  and  a moccasin.  One  of  our  hunt- 
ers, moreover,  saw  the  canoe  crossing  toward 
Frontenac  next  morning.” 

“Did  the  trail  lead  near  the  garrison,  Jas- 
per ? ” Pathfinder  asked,  in  a manner  so  meek 
and  subdued  that  i't  resembled  the  tone  of  a re- 
buked school-boy.  “ Did  the  trail  lead  near  the 
garrison,  lad  ? ” 

“We  thought  not — though  of  course  it  did 
not  cross  the  river.  It  was  followed  down  to  the 
eastern  point,  at  the  river’s  mouth,  where  what 
was  doing  in  port  might  be  seen ; but  it  did  not 
cross,  as  we  could  discover.” 

“ And  why  didn’t  you  get  under  way.  Master 
Jasper,”  Cap  demanded,  “and  give  chase?  On 
Tuesday  morning  it  blew  a good  breeze  ; one  in 
which  this  cutter  might  have  run  nine  knots.” 

“ That  may  do  on  the  ocean,  Master  Cap,” 
put  in  Pathfinder,  “but  it  would  not  do  here. 
Water  leaves  no  trail,  and  a Mingo  and  a French- 
man are  a match  for  the  devil  in  a pursuit.” 

“ Who  wants  a trail,  when  the  chase  can  be 
seen  from  the  deck,  as  Jasper,  here,  said  was  the 
case  with  this  canoe  ? and  it  mattered  nothing  if 
there  were  twenty  of  your  Mingoes  and  French- 
men, with  a good  British-built  bottom  in  their 
wake.  I’ll  engage,  Master  Oh-the-deuce,  had 
you  given  me  a call,  that  said  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, that  we  should  have  ovei’hauled  the  black- 
guards.” 

“ I dare  say,  Master  Cap,  that  the  advice  of 
as  old  a seaman  as  you  might  have  done  no  harm 
to  as  young  a sailor  as  myself,  but  it  is  a long 
and  a hopeless  chase  that , has  a bark  canoe  in 
it.” 

“ You  would  have  had  only  to  press  it  hard 
to  drive  it  ashore.” 

“ Ashore,  Master  Cap  ! You  do  not  under- 
stand our  lake  navigation  at  all,  if  you  suppose 
it  an  easy  matter  to  force  a bark  canoe  ashore. 
As  soon  as  they  find  themselves  pressed,  these 
bubbles  paddle  right  into  the  wind’s  eye,  and  be- 
fore you  know  it  you  find  yourself  a mile  or  two 
dead  under  their  lee.” 

“ You  don’t  wish  me  to  believe,  Master  Jas- 


per, that  any  one  is  so  heedless  of  drowning,  as 
to  put  off  into  this  lake,  in  one  of  them  egg- 
shells, when  there  is  any  wind  ? ” 

“ I have  often  crossed  Ontario  in  a bark  canoe, 
even  when  there  has  been  a good  deal  of  sea  on. 
Well  managed,  they  are  the  driest  boats  of  which 
we  have  any  knowledge.” 

Cap  now  led  his  brother-in-law  and  Pathfinder 
aside,  when  he  assured  him  that  the  admission  of 
Jasper  concerning  the  spies  was  a “ circumstance,” 
and  “ a strong  circumstance,”  and  as  such,  de- 
served his  deliberate  investigation ; while  his  ac- 
count of  the  canoes  was  so  improbable  as  to  wear 
the  appearance  of  browbeating  the  listeners. 
Jasper  spoke  confidently  of  the  character  of  the 
two  individuals  who  had  landed,  and  this  Cap 
deemed  pretty  strong  proof  that  he  knew  more 
about  them  than  was  to  be  gathered  from  a mere 
trail.  As  for  moccasins,  he  said  that  they  were 
worn,  in  that  part  of  the  world,  by  white  men,  as 
well  as  by  Indians ; he  had  purchased  a pair  him- 
self ; and  boots,  it  was  notorious,  did  not  partic- 
ularly make  a soldier.  Although  much  of  this 
logic  was  thrown  away  on  the  sergeant,  still  it 
produced  some  effect.  He  thought  it  a little 
singular  himself  that  there  should  have  been  spies 
detected  so  near  the  fort,  and  he  knew  nothing 
of  it ; nor  did  he  believe  that  this  was  a branch 
of  knowledge  that  fell  particularly  within  the 
sphere  of  Jasper.  It  was  true  that  the  Scud  had 
once  or  twice  been  sent  across  the  lake  to  land 
men  of  this  character,  or  to  bring  them  off ; but 
then  the  part  played  by  Jasper,  to  his  own  cer- 
tain knowledge,  was  very  secondary,  the  master 
of  the  cutter  remaining  as  ignorant  as  any  one 
else  of  the  purport  of  the  visits  of  those  whom 
he  had  carried  to  and  fro ; nor  did  he  see  why 
he,  alone,  of  all  present,  should  know  any  thing 
of  the  late  visit.  Pathfinder  viewed  the  matter 
differently.  With  his  habitual  diffidence  he  re- 
proached hinself  with  a neglect  of  duty,  and  that 
knowledge  of  which  the  want  struck  him  as  a 
fault  in  one  whose  business  it  was  to  possess  it, 
appeared  a merit  in  the  young  man.  He  saw 
nothing  extraordinary  in  Jasper’s  knowing  the 
facts  he  had  related  ; while  he  did  feel  it  was  un- 
usual, not  to  say  disgraceful,  that  he  himself  now 
heard  of  them  for  the  first  time. 

“As  for  moccasins,  Master  Cap,”  he  said, 
when  a short  pause  invited  him  to  speak,  “ they 
may  be  worn  by  pale-faces  as  well  as  by  red-skins 
it  is  true,  though,  they  never  leave  the  same  trail 
on  the  foot  of  one  as  on  the  foot  of  the  other. 
Any  one  who  is  used  to  the  woods  can  tell  the 
footstep  of  an  Injin  from  the  footstep  of  a white 
man,  whether  it  be  made  by  a boot  or  a mocca- 


THE  HUNTER’S  CONFIDENCE  IN  EAU-DOtJCE. 


95 


sin.  It  will  need  better  evidence  than  this  to 
make  me  believe  that  Jasper  is  false.” 

“You  will  allow,  Pathfinder,  that  there  are 
such  things  in  the  world  as  traitors,”  put  in  Cap, 
logically. 

“ I never  knew  an  honest-minded  Mingo ; one 
that  you  could  put  faith  in,  if  he  had  a temptation 
to  deceive, you.  Cheatin’  seems  to  be  their  gift, 
and  I sometimes  think  they  ought  to  be  pitied 
for  it  rather  than  parsecuted.” 

“ Then  why  not  believe  that  this  Jasper  may 
have  the  same  weakness  ? A man  is  a man,  and 
human  nature  is  sometimes  but  a poor  concern, 
as  I know  by  experience ; I may  say,  well  know 
by  experience ; at  least  I speak  for  my  own  hu- 
man nature.” 

This  was  the  opening  of  another  long  and  des- 
ultory conversation,  in  which  the  probability  of 
Jasper’s  guilt  or  innocence  was  argued,  pro  and 
con,  until  both  the  sergeant  and  his  brother-in- 
law  had  nearly  reasoned  themselves  into  settled 
convictions  in  favor  of  the  first,  while  their  com- 
panion grew  sturdier  and  sturdier  in  his  defence 
of  the  accused,  and  still  more  fixed  in  his  opinion 
of  his  being  unjustly  charged  with  treachery.  In 
this  there  was  nothing  out  of  the  common  course 
of  things,  for  there  is  no  more  certain  way  of  ar- 
riving at  any  particular  notion,  than  by  under- 
taking to  defend  it;  and,  among  the  most  ob- 
stinate of  'our  opinions,  may  be  classed  those 
which  are  derived  from  discussions  in  which  we 
affect  to  search  for  truth,  while  in  reality  we  are 
only  fortifying  prejudice.  By  this  time,  the  ser- 
geant had  reached  a state  of  mind  that  disposed 
him  to  view  every  act  of  the  young  sailor  with 
distrust,  and  he  soon  got  to  coincide  with  his 
relative  in  deeming  the  peculiar  knowledge  of 
Jasper,  in  reference  to  the  spies,  a branch  of  in- 
formation that  certainly  did  not  come  within  the 
circle  of  his  regular  duties,  as  a “ circumstance.” 

While  this  matter  was  thus  discussed  near 
the  taffrail,  Mabel  sat  silent  by  the  companion- 
way  ; Mr.  Muir  having  gone  below  to  look  after 
his  personal  comforts,  and  Jasper  standing  a little 
aloof,  with  his  arms  crossed,  and  his  eyes  wan- 
dering from  the  sails  to  the  clouds,  and  the  clouds 
to  the  dusky  outline  of  the  shore,  from  the  shore 
to  the  lake,  and  from  the  lake  back  again  to  the 
sails.  Our  heroine,  too,  began  to  commune  with 
her  own  thoughts.  The  excitement  of  the  late 
journey,  the  incidents  which  marked  the  day  of 
her  arrival  at  the  fort,  the  meeting  with  a father 
who  was  virtually  a stranger  to  her,  the  novelty 
of  her  late  situation  in  the  garrison,  and  her 
present  voyage,  formed  a vista  for  the  mind’s 
eye  to  look  back  ihrough,  that  seemed  lengthened 


into  months.  She  could  with  difficulty  believe 
that  she  had  so  recently  left  the  town,  with  all 
the  usages  of  civilized  life ; and  she  wondered,  in 
particular,  that  the  incidents  which  had  occurred 
during  the  descent  of  the  Oswego,  had  made  so 
little  impression  on  her  mind.  Too  inexperienced 
to  know  that  events,  when  crowded,  have  the 
effect  of  time,  or  that  the  quick  succession  of 
novelties  that  pass  before  us  in  travelling,  elevates 
objects,  in  a measure,  to  the  dignity  of  events, 
she  drew  upon  her  memory  for  days  and  dates, 
in  order  to  make  certain  that  she  had  known 
Jasper,  and  the  Pathfinder,  and  her  own  father, 
but  little  more  than  a fortnight.  Mabel  was  a 
girl  of  heart  rather  than  of  imagination,  though 
by  no  means  deficient  in  the  last,  and  she  could 
not  easily  account  for  the  strength  of  her  feelings 
in  connection  with  those  who  were  lately  strangers 
to  her ; for  she  was  not  sufficiently  accustomed  to 
analyze  her  sensations,  to  understand  the  nature 
of  the  influences  that  have  just  been  mentioned. 
As  yet,  however,  her  pure  mind  was  free  from 
the  blight  of  distrust,  and  she  had  no  suspicion 
of  the  views  of  either  of  her  suitors ; and  one  of 
the  last  thoughts  that  could  have  voluntarily 
disturbed  her  confidence,  would  have  been  to 
suppose  it  possible  either  of  her  companions  was 
a traitor  to  his  king  and  country. 

America,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing, 
was  remarkable  for  its  attachment  to  the  German 
family  that  then  sat  on  the  British  throne ; for, 
as  is  the  fact  with  all  provinces,  the  virtues  and 
qualities  that  are  proclaimed  near  the  centre  of 
power,  as  incense  and  policy,  get  to  be  a part  of 
political  faith  with  the  credulous  and  ignorant,  at 
a distance.  The  truth  is  just  as  apparent  to-day, 
in  connection  with  the  prodigies  of  the  republic, 
as  it  then  was  in  connection  with  those  distant 
rulers,  whose  merits  it  was  always  safe  to  ap- 
plaud, and  whose  demerits  it  was  treason  to 
reveal.  It  is  a consequence  of  this  mental  de- 
pendence, that  public  opinion  is  so  much  placed 
at  the  mercy  of  the  designing ; and  the  world,  in 
the  midst  of  its  idle  boasts  of  knowledge  and 
improvement,  is  left  to  receive  its  truths,  on  all 
such  points  as  touch  the  interests  of  the  powerful 
and  managing,  through  such  a medium,  and  such 
a medium  only,  as  may  serve  the  particular  v'ews 
of  those  who  pull  the  wires.  Pressed  upon  by 
the  subjects  of  France,  who  were  then  encircling 
the  British  colonies  with  a belt  of  forts  and  set- 
tlements that  completely  secured  the  savages  for 
allies,  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  say  whether 
the  Americans  loved  the  English  more  than  they 
hated  the  French;  and  those  who  then  lived 
probably  would  have  considered  the  alliance 


96 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


which  took  place  between  the  cisatlantic  subjects 
and  the  ancient  rivals  of  the  British  crown,  some 
twenty  years  later,  as  an  event  entirely  without 
the  circle  of  probabilities.  In  a word,  as  fashions 
are  exaggerated  in  a province,  so  are  opinions : 
and  the  loyalty  that  at  London  merely  formed  a 
part  of  a political  scheme,  at  New  York  was 
magnified  into  a faith  that  might  almost  have 
moved  mountains.  Disaffection  was,  consequently, 
a rare  offence ; and,  most  of  all,  would  treason, 
that  should  favor  France  or  Frenchmen,  have  been 
odious  in  the  eyes  of  the  provincials.  The  last 
thing  that  Mabel  would  suspect  of  Jasper,  was 
the  very  crime  with  which  he  now  stood  secretly 
charged ; and,  if  others  near  her  endured  the 
pains  of  distrust,  she,  at  least,  was  filled  with  the 
generous  confidence  of  a woman.  As  yet,  no 
whisper  had  reached  her  ear  to  disturb  the  feeling 
of  reliance  with  which  she  had  early  regarded 
the  young  sailor,  and  her  own  mind  would  have 
been  the  last  to  suggest  such  a thought,  of  itself. 
The  pictures  of  the  past  and  the  present,  there- 
fore, that  exhibited  themselves  so  rapidly  to  her 
active  imagination,  were  unclouded  with  a shade 
that  might  affect  any  one  in  whom  she  felt  an 
interest ; and  ere  she  had  mused,  in  the  manner 
related,  a quarter  of  an  hour,  the  whole  scene 
around  her  was  filled  with  unalloyed  satisfaction. 

The  season  and  the  night,  to  represent  them 
truly,  were  of  a nature  to  stimulate  the  sensations 
which  youth,  health,  and  happiness,  are  wont  to 
associate  with  novelty.  The  weather  was  warm, 
as  is  not  always  the  case  in  that  region,  even  in 
summer,  while  the  air  that  came  off  the  land  in 
breathing  currents,  brought  with  it  the  coolness 
and  fragrance  of  the  forest.  The  wind  was  far 
from  being  fresh,  though  there  was  enough  of  it 
to  drive  the  Scud  merrily  ahead,  and  perhaps  to 
keep  attention  alive,  in  the  uncertainty  that,  more 
or  less,  accompanies  darkness.  Jasper,  however, 
appeared  to  regard  it  with  complacency,  as  was 
apparent  by  what  he  said  in  a short  dialogue  that 
now  occurred  between  him  and  Mabel. 

“ At  this  rate,  Eau-douce  ” (for  so  Mabel  had 
already  learned  to  style  the  young  sailor),  said 
our  heroine,  “ we  cannot  be  long  in  reaching  our 
place  of  destination.” 

“Has  your  father  told  you  what  that  is, 
Mabel?” 

“ He  has  told  me  nothing ; my  father  is  too 
much  of  a soldier,  and  too  little  used  to  have  a 
family  around  him,  to  talk  of  such  matters.  Is  it 
forbidden  to  say  whither  we  are  bound  ? ” 

“ It  cannot  be  far,  while  we  steer  in  this  direc- 
tion, for  sixty  or  seventy  miles  will  take  us  into 
the  St.  Lawrence,  which  the  French  might  make 


too  hot  for  us  ; and  no  voyage  on  this  lake  can 
be  very  long.” 

“ So  says  my  uncle  Cap ; but  to  me,  Jasper,  On- 
tario and  the  ocean  appear  very  much  the  same.” 

“You  have  been  on  the  ocean,  while  I,  who 
pretend  to  be  a sailor,  have  never  yet  seen  salt- 
water? You  must  have  a great  contempt  for 
such  a mariner  as  myself,  in  your  heart,  Mabel 
Dunham ! ” 

“Then  I have  no  such  thing  in  my  heart, 
Jasper  Eau-douce.  What  right  have  I,  a girl 
without  experience  or  knowledge,  to  despise  any, 
much  less  one  like  you,  who  are  trusted  by  the 
major,  and  who  command  a vessel  like  this ! I 
have  never  been  on  the  ocean,  though  I have 
seen  it ; and,  I repeat,  I see  no  difference  between 
this  lake  and  the  Atlantic.” 

“Nor  in  them  that  sail  on  both?  I was 
afraid,  Mabel,  your  uncle  had  said  so  much  against 
us  fresh-water  sailors  that  you  had  begun  to  look 
upon  us  as  little  better  than  pretenders.” 

“ Give  yourself  no  uneasiness  on  that  account, 
Jasper,  for  I know  my  uncle,  and  he  says  as  many 
things  against  those  who  live  ashore  when  at 
York,  as  he  now  says  against  those  who  sail  on 
fresh  water.  No — no ; neither  my  father  nor  my- 
self think  any  thing  of  such  opinions ; my  uncle 
Cap,  if  he  spoke  openly,  would  be  found  to  have 
even  a worse  notion  of  a soldier  than  of  a sailor 
who  never  saw  the  sea.” 

“ But  your  father,  Mabel,  has  a better  opinion 
of  soldiers  than  of  any  one  else ; he  wishes  you 
to  be  the  wife  of  a soldier.” 

“Jasper  Eau-douce ! — I,  the  wife  of  a soldier! 
— My  father  wishes  it ! — Why  should  he  wish  any 
such  thing — what  soldier  is  there  in  the  garrison 
that  I could  marry — that  he  could  wish  me  to 
marry  ? ” 

“ One  may  love  a calling  so  well  as  to  fancy 
it  will  cover  a thousand  imperfections.” 

“But  one  is  not  likely  to  love  his  own  calling 
so  well  as  to  cause  him  to  overlook  every  thing 
else.  You  say  my  father  wishes  me  to  marry  a sol- 
dier, and  yet  there  is  no  soldier,  at  Oswego,  that  he 
would  be  likely  to  give  me  to.  I am  in  an  awk- 
ward position,  for,  while  I am  not  good  enough  to 
be  the  wife  of  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  garrison, 
I think,  even  you  will  admit,  Jasper,  I am  too  good 
to  be  the  wife  of  one  of  the  common  soldiers.” 

As  Mabel  spoke  thus  frankly,  she  blushed, 
she  knew  not  why,  though  the  obscurity  concealed 
the  fact  from  her  companion ; and  she  laughed 
faintly,  like  one  who  felt  that  the  subject,  how- 
ever  embarrassing  it  might  be,  deserved  to  be 
treated  fairly.  Jasper,  it  seemed,  viewed  her 
position  differently  from  herselfi 


MISS  DUNHAM’S  GOOD-SENSE. 


9’ 


“ It  is  true,  Mabel,”  he  said,  “ you  are  not 
what  is  called  a lady,  in  the  common  meaning  of 
the  word — ” 

“Not  in  any  meaning,  Jasper,”  the  generous 
girl  eagerly  interrupted ; “ on  that  head  I have 
no  vanities,  I hope.  Providence  has  made  me 
the  daughter  of  a sergeant,  and  I ani  content  to 
remain  in  the  station  in  which  I was  born.” 

“But  all  do  not  remain  in  the  stations  in 
which  they  were  born,  Mabel,  for  some  rise  above 
them,  and  some  fall  below  them.  Many  sergeants 
have  become  officers — even  generals;  and  why 
may  not  sergeants’  daughters  become  officers’ 
ladies  ? ” 

“ In  the  case  of  Sergeant  Dunham’s  daughter, 
I know  no  better  reason  than  the  fact  that  no 
officer  is  likely  to  wish  to  make  her  his  wife,” 
returned  Mabel,  laughing. 

“ You  may  think  so ; but  there  are  some  in 
the  55th  that  know  better.  There  is  certainly 
one  officer  in  that  regiment,  Mabel,  who  does  wish 
to  make  you  his  wife.” 

Quick  as  the  flashing  lightning,  the  rapid 
thoughts  of  Mabel  Dunham  glanced  over  the  five 
or  six  subalterns  of  the  corps,  who,  by  age  and 
inclinations,  would  be  the  most  likely  to  form 
such  a wish ; and  we  should  do  injustice  to  her 
habits,  perhaps,  were  we  not  to  say  that  a lively 
sensation  of  pleasure  rose  momentarily  in  her 
bosom,  at  the  thought  of  being  raised  above  a 
station  which,  whatever  might  be  her  professions 
of  contentment,  she  felt  that  she  had  been  too 
well  educated  to  fill  with  perfect  satisfaction. 
But  this  emotion  was  as  transient  as  it  was  sudden, 
for  Mabel  Dunham  was  a girl  of  too  much  pure 
and  womanly  feeling,  to  view  the  marriage-tie 
through  any  thing  so  worldly  as  the  mere  advan- 
tages of  station.  The  passing  emotion  was  a 
thrill  produced  by  habit,  while  the  more  settled 
opinion  which  remained,  was  the  offspring  of 
nature  and  principles. 

“ I know  no  officer  in  the  55th,  or  any  other 
regiment,  who  would  be  likely  to  do  so  foolish  a 
thing ; nor  do  I think  I myself  would  do  so  fool- 
ish a thing  as  to  marry  an  officer.” 

“ Foolish,  Mabel ! ” 

“ Yes,  foolish,  Jasper.  You  know,  as  well  as 
I can  know,  what  the  world  would  think  of  such 
matters,  and  I should  be  sorry,  very  sorry,  to  find 
that  my  husband  ever  regretted  that  he  had  so 
far  yielded  to  a fancy  for  a face  or  a figure,  as  to 
have  married  the  daughter  of  one  so  much  his 
inferior  as  a sergeant.” 

“ Your  husband,  Mabel,  will  not  be  so  likely 
to  think  of  the  father  as  to  think  of  the  daughter.” 

The  girl  was  talking  with  spirit,  though  feeling 

33  7 


evidently  entered  into  her  part  of  the  discourse ; 
but  she  paused  for  near  a minute  after  Jasper 
had  made  the  last  observation,  before  she  uttered 
another  word.  Then  she  continued  in  a manner 
less  playful,  and  one  critically  attentive  might 
have  fancied  in  a manner  that  was  slightly  melan- 
choly : 

“ Parent  and  child  ought  so  to  live  as  not  to 
have  two  hearts,  or  two  modes  of  feeling  and 
thinking.  A common  interest  in  all  things,  I 
should  think  as  necessary  to  happiness  in  man 
and  wife,  as  between  the  other  members  of  the 
same  family.  Most  of  all,  ought  neither  the  man 
nor  the  woman  to  have  any  unusual  cause  for 
unhappiness,  the  world  furnishing  so  many  of 
itself.” 

“ Am  I to  understand,  then,  Mabel,  you  would 
refuse  to  marry  an  officer,  merely  because  he  was 
an  officer  ? ” 

“ Have  you  a right  to  ask  such  a question, 
Jasper?”  said  Mabel,  smiling. 

“ No  other  right,  than  what  a strong  desire 
to  see  you  happy  can  give,  which,  after  all,  may 
be  very  little.  My  anxiety  has  been  increased 
from  happening  to  know  that  it  is  your  father’s 
intention  to  persuade  you  to  marry  Lieutenant 
Muir.” 

“ My  dear,  dear  father  can  entertain  no  notion 
so  ridiculous  ; no  notion  so  cruel ! ” 

“Would  it,  then,  be  cruel  to  wish  you  the 
wife  of  a quartermaster  ? ” 

“ I have  told  you  what  I think  on  that  subject, 
and  cannot  make  my  words  stronger.  Having 
answered  you  so  frankly,  Jasper,  I have  a right 
to  ask  how  you  know  that  my  father  thinks  of 
any  such  thing  ? ” 

“ That  he  has  chosen  a husband  for  you,  I 
know  from  his  own  mouth ; for  he  has  told  me 
this  much  during  our  frequent  conversations, 
while  he  has  been  superintending  the  shipment 
of  the  stores : and  that  Mr.  Muir  is  to  offer  for 
you,  I know  from  the  officer  himself,  who  has 
told  me  as  much.  By  putting  the  two  things 
together,  I have  come  to  the  opinion  mentioned.” 

“May  not  my  dear  father,  Jasper” — Mabel’s 
face  glowed  like  fire  while  she  spoke,  though  her 
words  escaped  her  slowly,  and  by  a sort  of  in- 
voluntary impulse — “may  not  my  dear  father 
have  been  thinking  of  another?  It  does  not 
follow,  from  what  you  say,  that  Mr.  Muir  was  in 
his  mind.” 

“ Is  it  not  probable,  Mabel,  from  all  that  has 
passed?  What  brings  the  quartermaster  here? 
He  has  never  found  it  necessary  before,  to  ac- 
company the  parties  that  have  gone  below : he 
thinks  of  you  for  his  wife ; and  your  father  has 


38 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


made  up  his  own  mind  that  you  shall  be  so.  You 
must  see,  Mabel,  that  Mr.  Muir  follows  you  ? ” 

Mabel  made  no  answer.  Her  feminine  instinct 
had,  indeed,  told  her  that  she  was  an  object  of 
admiration  with  the  quartermaster,  though  she 
had  hardly  supposed  to  the  extent  that  Jasper  be- 
lieved : and  she,  too,  had  even  gathered  from  the 
discourse  of  her  father,  that  he  thought  seriously 
of  having  her  disposed  of  in  marriage ; but  by  no 
process  of  reasoning  could  she  ever  have  arrived 
at  the  inference  that  Mr.  Muir  was  to  be  the  man. 
She  did  not  believe  it  now — though  she  was  far 
from  suspecting  the  truth.  Indeed,  it  was  her 
opinion  that  the  casual  remarks  of  her  father 
which  had  struck  her,  had  proceeded  from  a gen- 
eral wish  to  have  her  settled,  rather  than  from  any 
desire  to  see  her  united  to  any  particular  individ- 
ual. These  thoughts,  however,  she  kept  secret ; 
for  self-respect  and  feminine  reserve  showed  her 
the  impropriety  of  making  them  the  subject  of 
discussion  with  her  present  companion.  By  way 
of  changing  the  conversation,  therefore,  after  the 
pause  had  lasted  long  enough  to  be  embarrassing 
to  both  parties,  she  said : 

“Of  one  thing  you  may  be  certain,  Jasper; 
and  that  is  all  I wish  to  say  on  the  subject: 
Lieutenant  Muir,  though  he  were  a colonel,  will 
never  be  the  husband  of  Mabel  Dunham.  And 
now,  tell  me  of  your  voyage — when  will  it  end  ? ” 

“ That  is  uncertain.  Once  afloat,  we  are  at 
the  mercy  of  the  winds  and  waves.  Pathfinder 
will  tell  you,  that  he  who  begins  to  chase  the  deer 
in  the  morning  cannot  tell  where  he  will  sleep  at 
night.” 

“ But  we  are  not  chasing  a deer ; nor  is  it 
morning ; so  Pathfinder’s  moral  is  thrown  away.” 

“ Although  we  are  not  chasing  a deer,  we  are 
after  that  which  may  be  as  hard  to  catch.  I can 
tell  you  no  more  than  I have  said  already  ; for  it 
is  our  duty  to  be  close-mouthed,  whether  any 
thing  depends  on  it  or  not.  I am  afraid,  how- 
ever, I shall  not  keep  you  long  enough  in  the 
Scud,  to  show  you  what  she  can  do  in  fair  and 
foul.” 

“ I think  a woman  unwise  who  ever  marries 
a sailor,”  said  Mabel,  abruptly,  and  almost  in- 
voluntarily. 

“ This  is  a strange  opinion  ; why  do  you  hold 
it?” 

“ Because  a sailor’s  wife  is  certain  to  have  a 
rival  in  his  vessel.  My  uncle  Cap,  too,  says  that 
a sailor  should  never  marry.” 

“He  means  salt-water  sailors,”  returned  Jas- 
per, laughing.  “ If  he  thinks  wives  not  good 
enough  for  those  who  sail  on  the  ocean,  he  will 
fancv  them  just  suited  to  those  who  sail  on  the 


lakes.  I hope,  Mabel,  you  do  not  take  youi 
opinions  of  us  fresh-water  mariners  from  all  that 
Master  Cap  says.” 

“ Sail,  ho  ! ” exclaimed  the  very  individual  of 
whom  they  were  conversing — “or  boat,  ho! 
would  be  nearer  the  truth.” 

Jasper  tan  forward ; and,  sure  enough,  a small 
object  was  discernible  about  a hundred  yards 
ahead  of  the  cutter,  and  nearly  on  her  lee  bow. 
At  the  first  glance,  he  saw  it  was  a bark  canoe ; 
for,  though  the  darkness  prevented  hue3  from 
being  distinguished,  the  eye  that  had  got  to  be 
accustomed  to  the  night,  might  discern  forms  at 
some  little  distance;  and  the  eye  which,  like 
Jasper’s,  had  long  been  familiar  with  things 
aquatic,  could  not  be  at  a loss  in  discovering  the 
outlines  necessary  to  come  to  the  conclusion  he 
did. 

“ This  may  be  an  enemy,”  the  young  man  re- 
marked ; “ and  it  may  be  well  to  overhaul  him.” 

“ He  is  paddling  with  all  his  might,  lad,”  ob- 
served the  Pathfinder,  “ and  means  to  cross  your 
bows  and  get  to  windward,  when  you  might  as 
well  chase  a full-grown  buck  on  snow-shoes ! ” 

“Let  her  luff!” — cried  Jasper,  to  the  man 
at  the  helm.  “ Luff  up,  till  she  shakes — there, 
steady,  and  hold  all  that.” 

The  helmsman  complied,  and  as  the  Scud  was 
now  dashing  the  water  aside  merrily,  a minute  or 
two  put  the  canoe  so  far  to  leeward  as  to  render 
escape  impracticable.  Jasper  now  sprang  to  the 
helm  himself,  and  by  judicious  and  careful  han- 
dling, he  got  so  near  his  chase  that  it  was  secured 
by  a boat-hook.  On  receiving  an  order,  the  two 
persons  who  were  in  the  canoe  left  it,  and  no 
sooner  had  they  reached  the  deck  of  the  cutter, 
than  they  were  found  to  be  Arrowhead  and  his 
wife. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1 What  pearl  is  it  that  rich  men  cannot  buy, 

That  learning  is  too  proud  to  gather  up ; 

But  which  the  poor  and  the  despised  of  all, 

Seek  and  obtain,  and  often  find  unsought  ? 

Tell  me— and  I will  tell  thee  what  is  truth.” 

Cowpee. 

The  meeting  with  the  Indian  and  his  wife  ex- 
cited no  surprise  in  the  majority  of  - those  wbo 
witnessed  the  occurrence ; but  Mabel,  and  all  whc 
knew  of  the  manner  in  which  this  chief  had  been 
separated  from  the  party  of  Cap,  simultaneously 
entertained  suspicions,  which  it  was  far  easier  ta 
feel  than  to  follow  out,  by  any  plausible  clew  to 
certainty.  Pathfinder,  who  alone  could  converse 
freely  with  the  prisoners,  for  such  they  might 


ARROWHEAD’S  REASONS  FOR  DESERTION. 


99 


now  be  considered,  took  Arrowhead  aside,  and 
held  a long  conversation  with  him,  concerning  the 
reasons  of  the  latter  for  having  deserted  his 
charge,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  had  been 
since  employed.  \ 

The  Tuscarora  met  these  inquiries,  and  he 
gave  his  answers,  with  the  stoicism  of  an  Indian. 
As  respects  the  separation,  his  excuses  were  very 
simply  made,  and  they  seemed  to  be  sufficiently 
plausible.  When  he  found  that  the  party  was 
discovered  in  its  place  of  concealment,  he  natu- 
rally sought  his  own  safety,  which  he  secured  by 
plunging  into  the  woods,  for  he  made  no  doubt 
that  all  who  could  not  effect  this  much,  would  be 
massacred  on  the  spot.  In  a word,  he  had  run 
away,  in  order  to  save  his  life. 

“ This  is  well,”  returned  Pathfinder,  affecting 
to  believe  the  other’s  apologies ; “ my  brother  did 
very  wisely ; but  his  woman  followed  ? ” 

“Do  not  the  pale-faces’  women  follow  their 
husbands?  Would  not  Pathfinder  have  looked 
back  to  see  if  one  he  loved  was  coming  ? ” 

This  appeal  wras  made  to  the  guide  while  he 
was  in  a most  fortunate  frame  of  mind  to  admit 
its  force ; for  Mabel,  and  her  blandishments  and 
constancy,  were  getting  to  be  images  familiar  to 
his  thoughts.  The  Tuscarora,  though  he  could 
not  trace  the  reason,  saw  that  his  excuse  wras  ad- 
mitted, and  he  stood,  with  quiet  dignity,  awaiting 
the  next  inquiry. 

“ This  is  reasonable  and  nat’ral,”  returned 
Pathfinder,  in  English,  passing  from  one  language 
to  the  other,  insensibly  to  himself,  as  his  feelings 
or  habits  dictated — “ this  is  nat’ral,  and  may  be 
so.  A woman  would  be  likely  to  follow  the  man 
to  whom  she  had  plighted  faith,  and  husband  and 
wife  are  one  flesh.  Mabel,  herself,  would  have 
been  likely  to  follow  the  sergeant,  had  he  been 
present,  and  retreated  in  this  manner;  and,  no 
doubt,  no  doubt,  the  warm-hearted  girl  would  have 
followed  her  husband ! Your  words  are  honest, 
Tuscarora,”  changing  the  language  to  the  dialect 
of  the  other.  “ Your  words  are  honest,  and  very 
pleasant,  and  just.  But  why  has  my  brother 
been  so  long  from  the  fort  ? his  friends  have 
thought  of  him  often,  but  have  never  seen  him  !” 

“ If  the  doe  follows  the  buck,  ought  not  the 
buck  to  follow  the  doe  ? ” answered  the  Tusca- 
rora, smiling,  and  laying  a finger  significantly  on 
the  shoulder  of  his  interrogator.  “Arrowhead’s 
wife  followed  Arrowhead  ; it  was  right  in  Arrow- 
head to  follow  his  wife.  She  lost  her  way,  and 
they  made  her  cook  in  a strange  wigwam.” 

“ I understand  you,  Tuscarora.  The  woman 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Mingoes,  and  you  kept 
upon  their  trail.” 


“ Pathfinder  can  see  a reason  as  easily  as  he 
can  see  the  moss  on  the  trees.  It  is  so.” 

“ And  how  long  have  you  got  the  woman  back, 
and  in  what  manner  has  it  been  done?  ” 

“ Two  suns.  The  Dew-of-June  was  not  long 
in  coming,  when  her  husband  whispered  to  her 
the  path.” 

“Well,  well,  all  this  seems  nat’ral,  and  ac- 
cording to  matrimony.  But,  Tuscarora,  how  did 
you  get  that  canoe,  and  why  are  you  paddling 
toward  the  St.  Lawrence  instead  of  the  garri- 
son ? ” 

“ Arrowhead  can  tell  his  own  from  that  of 
another.  This  canoe  is  mine I found  it  on  the 
shore,  near  the  fort.” 

“ That  sounds  reasonable,  too,  for  the  canoe 
does  belong  to  the  man,  and  an  Injin  would  make 
few  words  about  taking  it.  Still,  it  is  extr’ord’- 
nary  that  we  saw  nothing  of  the  fellow  and  his 
wife,  for  the  canoe  must  have  left  the  river  before 
we  did  ourselves.” 

This  idea,  which  passed  rapidly  through  the 
mind  of  the  guide,  was  now  put  to  the  Indian  in 
the  shape  of  a question. 

“Pathfinder  knows  that  a warrior  can  have 
shame.  The  father  would  have  asked  me  for  his 
daughter,  and  I could  not  give  him  to  her.  I 
sent  the  Dew-of-June  for  the  canoe,  and  no  one 
spoke  to  the  woman.  A Tuscarora  woman  would 
not  be  free  in  speaking  to  strange  men.” 

All  this,  too,  was  plausible,  and  in  conformity 
with  Indian  character  and  Indian  customs.  As 
was  usual,  Arrowhead  had  received  one  half  of 
his  compensation  previously  to  quitting  the  Mo- 
hawk ; and  his  refraining  to  demand  the  residue 
was  a proof  of  that  conscientious  consideration 
of  mutual  rights  that  quite  as  often  distinguishes 
the  morality  of  a savage  as  that  of  a Christian. 
To  one  as  upright  as  Pathfinder,  Arrowhead  had 
conducted  himself  with  delicacy  and  propriety* 
though  it  would  have  been  more  in  accordance 
with  his  own  frank  nature,  to  have  met  the  father, 
and  abided  by  the  simple  truth.  Still,  accus- 
tomed to  the  ways  of  Indians,  he  saw  nothing 
out  of  the  ordinary  track  of  things  in  the  course 
the  other  had  taken. 

“ This  runs  like  water  flowing  down  the  hill, 
Arrowhead,”  he  answered,  after  a little  reflection, 
“ and  truth  obliges  me  to  own  it.  It  was  the 
gift  of  a red-skin  to  act  in  this  way,  though  I do 
not  think  it  was  the  gift  of  a pale-face.  You 
would  not  look  upon  the  grief  of  the  girl’s 
father  ? ” 

Arrowhead  made  a quiet  inclination  of  the 
body,  as  if  to  assent. 

“One  thing  more  my  brother  will  tell  me,” 


100 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


continued  Pathfinder,  “ and  there  will  be  no 
cloud  between  his  wigwam  and  the  strong-house 
of  the  Yengeese.  If  he  can  blow  away  this  bit 
of  fog  his  friends  will  look  at  him,  as  he  sits  by 
his  own  fire,  and  he  can  look  at  them,  as  they 
lay  aside  their  arms,  and  forget  that  they  are 
warriors.  Why  was  the  head  of  Arrowhead’s 
canoe  looking  toward  the  St.  Lawrence,  where 
there  are  none  but  enemies  to  be  found  ? ” 

“Why  were  the  Pathfinder  and  his  friends 
looking  the  same  way  ? ” asked  the  Tuscarora, 
calmly.  “A  Tuscarora  may  look  in  the  same 
direction  as  a Yengeese.” 

“ Why,  to  owja  the  truth,  Arrowhead,  we  are 
out  scouting,  like  ; — that  is,  sailin’ — in  other 
words,  we  are  on  the  king’s  business,  and  we 
have  a right  to  be  here,  though  we  may  not  have 
a right  to  say  why  we  are  here.” 

“ Arrowhead  saw  the  big  canoe,  and  he  loves 
to  look  on  the  face  of  Eau-douce.  He  was  go- 
ing toward  the  sun  at  evening,  in  order  to  seek 
his  wigwam ; but,  finding  that  the  young  sailor 
was  going  the  other  way,  he  turned  that  he 
might  look  in  the  same  direction.  Eau-douce 
and  Arrowhead  were  together  on  the  last  trail.” 

“ This  may  all  be  true,  Tuscarora,  and  you 
are  welcome.  You  shall  eat  of  our  venison,  and 
then  we  must  separate.  The  setting  sun  is  behind 
us,  and  both  of  us  move  quick  : my  brother  will 
get  too  far  from  that  which  he  seeks,  unless  he 
turns  round.” 

Pathfinder  now  returned  to  the  others,  and 
repeated  the  result  of  his  examination.  He  ap- 
peared himself  to  believe  that  the  account  of 
Arrowhead  might  be  true,  though  he  admitted 
that  caution  would  be  prudent  with  one  he 
disliked ; but  his  auditors,  Jasper  excepted, 
teemed  less  disposed  to  put  faith  in  the  explana- 
tions. 

“ This  chap  must  be  ironed  at  once,  brother 
Dunham,”  said  Cap,  as  soon  as  Pathfinder  finished 
hi3  narration ; “ he  must  be  turned  over  to  the 
master-at-arms,  if  there  is  any  such  officer  on 
fresh  water,  and  a court-martial  ought  to  be 
ordered  as  soon  as  we  reach  port.” 

“ I think  it  wisest  to  detain  the  fellow,”  the 
sergeant  answered,  “but  irons  are  unnecessary  so 
long  as  he  remains  in  the  cutter.  In  the  morn- 
ng  the  matter  shall  be  inquired  into.” 

Arrowhead  was  now  summoned  and  told  the 
decision.  The  Indian  listened  gravely,  and  made 
no  objections.  On  the  contrary,  he  submitted 
with  the  calm  and  reserved  dignity  with  which 
me  American  aborigines  are  known  to  yield  to 
fate;  and  he  stood  apart,  an  attentive  but  calm 
observer  of  what  was  passing.  Jasper  caused 


the  cutter’s  sails  to  be  filled,  and  the  Scud  re- 
sumed her  course. 

It  was  now  getting  toward  the  hour  to  set 
the  watch,  and  when  it  was  usual  to  retire  for 
the  night.  Most  of  the  party  went  below,  leav- 
ing no  one  on  deck  but  Cap,  the  sergeant,  Jasper, 
and  two  of  the  crew.  Arrowhead  and  his  wife 
also  remained,  the  former  standing  aloof  in  proud 
reserve,  and  the  latter  exhibiting,  by  her  attitude 
and  passiveness,  the  meek  humility  that  character- 
izes an  Indian  woman. 

“You  will  find  a place  for  your  wife  below, 
Arrowhead,  where  my  daughter  will  attend  to  her 
wants,”  said  the  sergeant,  kindly,  who  was  him- 
self on  the  point  of  quittipg  the  deck  ; “ yonder 
is  a sail,  where  you  may  sleep  yourself.” 

“I  thank  my  father.  The  Tuscaroras  are 
not  poor.  The  woman  will  look  for  my  blankets 
in  the  canoe.” 

“ As  you  wish,  my  friend.  We  think  it  neces- 
sary to  detain  you,  but  not  necessary  to  confine, 
or  to  maltreat  you.  Send  your  squaw  into  the 
canoe  for  the  blankets,  and  you  may  follow’  her 
yourself,  and  hand  us  up  the  paddles. — As  there 
may  be  some  sleepy  heads  in  the  Scud,  Eau- 
douce,”  added  the  sergeant,  in  a lower  tone,  “ it 
may  be  well  to  secure  the  paddles.” 

Jasper  assented,  and  Arrowhead  and  his  wife, 
with  whom  resistance  appeared  to  be  out  of  the 
question,  silently  complied  with  the  directions. 
A few  expressions  of  sharp  rebuke  passed  from 
the  Indian  to  his  wife,  while  both  were  employed 
in  the  canoe,  which  the  latter  received  with  sub- 
missive quiet,  immediately  repairing  an  error  she 
had  made,  by  laying  aside  the  blanket  she  had 
taken,  and  searching  another  that  was  more  to 
her  tyrant’s  mind. 

“Come,  bear  a hand,  Arrowhead,”  said  the 
sergeant,  who  stood  on  the  gunwale,  overlooking 
the  movements  of  the  two,  which  were  proceeding 
too  slowly  for  the  impatience  of  a drowsy  man. 
“ It  is  getting  late ; and  we  soldiers  have  such  a 
thing  as  reveille — early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise.” 

“ Arrowhead  is  coming,”  was  the  answer,  as 
the  Tuscarora  stepped  toward  the  head  of  his  ca- 
noe. 

One  blow  of  his  keen  knife  severed  the  rope 
which  held  the  boat,  when  the  cutter  glanced 
ahead,  leaving  the  light  bubble  of  bark,  which  in- 
stantly lost  its  way,  almost  stationary.  So  sud- 
denly and  dexterously  was  this  manoeuvre  per- 
formed, that  the  canoe  was  on  the  lee-quarter  of 
the  Scud  before  the  sergeant  was  aware  of  th& 
artifice,  and  quite  in  her  wake  ere  he  had  time  to 
announce  it  to  his  companions. 

“Hard-a-lee!  ” shouted  Jasper,  letting  fly  tha 


THE  TUSCARORA’S  ESCAPE. 


101 


jib-slieet  with  his  own  hands  when  the  cutter 
came  swiftly  up  to  the  breeze  with  all  her  canvas 
flapping,  or  was  running  into  the  wind’s  eye,  as 
6eamen  term  it,  until  the  light  craft  was  a hun- 
dred feet  to  windward  of  her  former  position. 
Quick  and  dexterous  as  was  this  movement,  and 
ready  as  had  been  the  expedient,  it  was  not 
quicker  or  move  ready  than  that  of  the  Tuscarora. 
With  an  intelligence  that  denoted  some  famil- 
iarity with  vessels,  he  had  seized  his  paddle,  and 
was  already  skimming  the  water,  aided  by  the  ef- 
forts of  his  wife.  The  direction  he  took  was 
southwesterly,  or  on  a line  that  led  him  equally 
toward  the  wind  and  the  shore,  while  it  also  kept 
him  so  far  aloof  from  the  cutter  as  to  avoid  the 
danger  of  the  latter’s  falling  on  board  of  him 
when  £he  filled  on  the  other  tack.  Swiftly  as  the 
Scud  had  shot  into  the  wind,  and  far  as  she  had 
forged  ahead,  Jasper  knew  it  was  necessary  to 
cast  her,  ere  she  had  lost  all  her  way ; and  it  was 
not  two  minutes  from  the  time  the  helm  had  been 
put  down,  before  the  lively  little  craft  Was  aback 
forward,  and  rapidly  falling  off,  in  order  to  allow 
her  sails  to  fill  on  the  opposite  tack. 

“ He  will  escape ! ” said  Jasper,  the  instant 
lie  caught  a glimpse  of  the  relative  bearings  of 
the  cutter  and  the  canoe.  “ The  cunning  knave 
is  paddling  dead  to  windward,  and  the  Scud  can 
never  overtake  him  ! ” 

“ You  have  a canoe  ! ” exclaimed  the  sergeant, 
manifesting  the  eagerness  of  a boy  to  join  in  the 
pursuit ; “ let  us  launch  it  and  give  chase ! ” 

“ ’Twill  be  useless.  If  Pathfinder  had  been 
on  deck  there  might  have  been  a chance,  but 
there  is  none  now.  To  launch  the  canoe  would 
have  taken  three  or  four  minutes,  and  the  time 
lost  would  have  been  sufficient  for  the  purposes 
of  Arrowhead.” 

Both  Cap  and  the  sergeant  saw  the  truth  of 
this,  which  would  have  been  nearly  self-evident 
even  to  one  unaccustomed  to  vessels.  The  shore 
was  distant  less  than  half  a mile,  and  the  canoe 
was  already  glanbing  into  its  shadows  at  a rate  to 
show  that  it  would  reach  the  land  ere  its  pursuers 
could  probably  get  half  the  distance.  The  canoe, 
itself,  might  have  been  seized,  but  it  would  have 
been  a useless  prize  ; for  Arrowhead  in  the  woods 
would  be  more  likely  to  reach  the  other  shore  with- 
out detection,  than  if  he  still  possessed  the  means 
to  venture  on  the  lake  again1;  though  it  might 
be,  and  probably  would  be,  a greater  bodily  labor 
to  himself.  The  helm  of  the  Scud  was  reluctantly 
put  up  again,  and  the  cutter  wore  short  round  on 
her  heel,  coming  up  to  her  course  on  the  other 
tack  as  if  acting  on  instinct.  All  this  was  done 
by  Jasper  in  profound  silence,  his  assistants  un- 


derstanding what  was  necessary,  and  lending  their 
aid  in  a sort  of  mechanical  imitation.  While  these 
manoeuvres  were  in  the  course  of  execution,  Cap 
took  the  sergeant  by  a button  and  led  him  tow- 
ard the  cabin-door,  where  he  was  out  of  ear-shot, 
and  began  to  unlock  his  stores  of  thought. 

“ Harkee,  brother  Dunham,”  he  said,  with  an 
ominous  face,  “ this  is  a matter  that  requires  ma- 
ture thought  and  much  circumspection.” 

“ The  life  of  a soldier,  brother  Cap,  is  one  of 
constant  thought  and  circumspection.  On  this 
frontier,  were  we  to  overlook  either,  our  scalps 
might  be  taken  from  our  heads  in  the  first  nap.” 

“ But  I consider  this  capture  of  Arrowhead  as 
a circumstance — and  I might  add  his  escape  as 
another.  This  Jasper  Fresh-water  must  look  to 
it!” 

“ They  are  both  circumstances,  truly,  brother ; 
but  they  tell  different  ways.  If  it  is  a circum- 
stance against  the  lad  that  the  Indian  has  es- 
caped, it  is  a circumstance  in  his  favor  that  he 
was  first  taken.” 

“Ay,  ay,  but  two  circumstances  do  not  con- 
tradict each  other  like  two  negatives.  If  you 
will  follow  the  advice  of  an  old  seaman,  sergeant, 
not  a moment  is  to  be  lost  in  taking  the  steps  ne- 
cessary for  the  security  of  the  vessel  and  all'  on 
board  of  her.  The  cutter  is  now  slipping  through 
the  water  at  the  rate  of  six  knots,  and,  as  the  dis- 
tances are  so  short  on  this  bit  of  a pond,  we  may 
all  find  ourselves  in  a French  port  before  morn- 
ing, and  in  a French  prison  before  night.” 

“ This  may  be  true  enough  ; what  would  you 
advise  me  to  do,  brother  ? ” 

“ In  my  opinion  you  should  put  this  Master 
Fresh-water  under  arrest  on  the  spot,  send  him 
below  under  the  charge  of  a sentinel,  and  trans- 
fer the  command  of  the  cutter  to  me.  All  this 
you  have  power  to  perform,  the  craft  belonging 
to  the  army,  and  you  being  the  commanding  offi- 
cer of  the  troops  present.” 

Sergeant  Dunham  deliberated  more  than  an 
hour  on  the  propriety  of  this  proposal;  for, 
though  sufficiently  prompt  when  his  mind  was 
really  made  up,  he  was  habitually  thoughtful  and 
wary.  The  habit  of  superintending  the  personal 
police  of  the  garrison  had  made  him  acquainted 
with  character,  and  he  had  long  been  disposed  to 
think  well  of  Jasper.  Still,  that  subtle  poison, 
suspicion,  had  entered  his  soul,  and  so  much  were 
the  artifices  and  intrigues  of  the  French  dreaded, 
that,  especially  warned  as  he  had  been  by  his 
commander,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  the  recollec- 
tion of  years  of  good  conduct  should  vanish  under 
the  influence  of  a distrust  so  keen  and  seemingly 
so  plausible.  In  this  embarrassment  the  sergeant 


102 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


consulted  Hie  quartermaster,  whose  opinion,  as 
his  superior,  he  felt  bound  to  respect,  though,  at 
the  moment,  independent  of  his  control.  It  is  an 
unfortunate  occurrence,  for  one  who  is  in  a di- 
lemma, to  ask  advice  of  another  who  is  desirous 
of  standing  well  in  his  favor,  the  party  consulted 
being  almost  certain  to  try  to  think  in  the  manner 
which  will  be  the  most  agreeable  to  the  party  con- 
sulting. In  the  present  instance  it  was  equally 
unfortunate,  as  respects  a candid  consideration 
of  the  subject,  that  Cap,  instead  of  the  sergeant 
himself,  made  the  statement  of  the  case ; for  the 
earnest  old  sailor  was  not  backward  in  letting  his 
listener  perceive  to  which  side  he  was  desirous 
that  the  quartermaster  should  lean.  Lieutenant 
Muir  was  much  too  polite  to  offend  the  uncle  and 
father  of  the  woman  he  hoped  and  expected  to 
win,  had  he  really  thought  the  case  admitted  of 
doubt ; but,  in  the  manner  in  which  the  facts 
were  submitted  to  him,  he  was  seriously  inclined 
to  think  that  it  would  be  well  to  put  the  control 
of  the  Scud,  temporarily,  into  the  management  of 
Cap,  as  a precaution  against  treachery.  This 
opinion  then  decided  the  sergeant,  who  forthwith 
set  about  the  execution  of  the  necessary  meas- 
ures. 

Without  entering  into  any  explanations,  Ser- 
geant Dunham  simply  informed  Jasper  that  he 
felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  deprive  him,  temporarily, 
sf  the  command  of  the  cutter,  and  to  confer  it  on 
his  own  brother-in-law.  A natural  and  involun- 
tary burst  of  surprise  which  escaped  the  young 
man,  was  met  by  a quiet  remark  reminding  him 
that  military  service  was  often  of  a nature  that  re- 
quired concealment,  and  a declaration  that  the 
present  duty  was  of  such  a character  that  this 
particular  arrangement  had  become  indispensable. 
Although  Jasper’s  astonishment  remained  un di- 
minished— the  sergeant  cautiously  abstaining  from 
making  any  allusion  to  his  suspicions — the  young 
man  was  accustomed  to  obey  with  military  sub- 
mission ; and  he  quietly  acquiesced — with  his 
own  mouth  directing  the  little  crew  to  receive 
their  further  orders  from  Cap  until  another  change 
should  be  effected.  When,  however,  he  was  told 
the  case  required  that  not  only  he  himself,  but 
his  principal  assistant,  who,  on  account  of  his  long 
acquaintance  with  the  lake,  was  usually  termed 
the  pilot,  were  to  remain  below,  there  was  an 
•Iteration  in  his  countenance  and  manner  that  de- 
noted deep  mortification,  though  it  was  so  well 
mastered  as  to  leave  even  the  distrustful  Cap  in 
doubt  as  to  its  meaning.  As  a matter  of  course, 
however,  when  distrust  exists,  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore the  worst  construction  was  put  upon  it. 

As  soon  as  Ja3per  and  the  pilot  were  below, 


the  sentinel  at  the  hatch  received  private  orders 
to  pay  particular  attention  to  both  ; to  allow  nei- 
ther to  come  on  deck  again  without  giving  in- 
stant notice  to  the  person  who  might  then  be  in 
charge  of  the  cutter,  and  to  insist  on  his  return 
below  as  soon  as  possible.  This  precaution,  how- 
ever, was  uncalled  for,  Jasper  and  his  assistant 
both  throwing  themselves  silently  on  their  pal- 
lets, which  neither  quitted  again  that  night. 

“ And  now,  sergeant,”  said  Cap,  as  soon  as 
he  found  himself  master  of  the  deck,  “ you  will 
just  have  the  goodness  to  give  me  the  courses 
and  distances,  that  I may  see  the  boat  keeps  her 
head  the  right  way.” 

“ I know  nothing  of  either,  brother  Cap,”  re- 
turned Dunham,  not  a little  embarrassed  pt  the 
question.  “ We  must  make  the  best  of  our  way 
to  the  station  among  the  Thousand  Islands, 
‘ where  we  shall  land,  relieve  the  party  that  In  al- 
ready out,  and  get  information  for  our  future 
government.’  That’s  it,  nearly  word  for  word, 
as  it  stan’ds  in  the  written  orders.” 

“ But  you  can  muster  a chart — something  in 
the  way  of  bearings  and  distances,  that  I may  see 
the  road  ? ” 

“I  do  not  think  Jasper  ever  had  any  thing  of 
the  sort  to  go  by.” 

“ No  chart,  Sergeant  Dunham  ! ” 

“Not  a scrap  of  a pen,  even.  Our  sailors 
navigate  this  lake  without  any  aid  from  maps.” 

“ The  devil  they  do  ! — They  must  be  regular 
Yahoos.  And  do  you  suppose,  Sergeant  Dun- 
ham, that  I can  find  one  island  out  of  a thousand 
without  knowing  its  name  or  its  position — with- 
out even  a course  or  a distance  ? ” 

“ As  for  the  name , brother  Cap,  you  need  not 
be  particular,  for  not  one  of  the  whole  thousand 
has  a name,  and  so  a mistake  can  never  be  made 
on  that  score.  As  for  the  position,  never  having 
been  there  myself,  I can  tell  you  nothing  about 
it,  nor  do  I think  its  position  of  any  particular 
consequence,  provided  we  find  the  spot.  Per- 
haps one  of  the  hands  on  deck  can  tell  us  the 
way.” 

“Hold  on,  sergeant — hold  on  a moment,  if 
you  please,  Sergeant  Dunham.  If  I am  to  com- 
mand this  craft,  it  must  be  done,  if  you  please, 
without  holding  any  councils  of  war  with  the 
cook  and  cabin-boy.  A ship-master  is  a ship- 
master, and  he  must  have  an  opinion  of  his  own, 
even  if  it  be  a wrong  one.  I suppose  you  know 
service  well  enough  to  understand  that  it  is  bet- 
ter in  a commander  to  go  wrong,  than  to  go  no- 
where. At  all  events,  the  lord  high  admiral 
couldn’t  command  a yawl  with  dignity,  if  he  con- 
sulted the  coxswain  every  time  he  wished  to  go 


THE  CUTTER’S  NEW  CAPTAIN. 


103 


tshore.  No— sir — if  I sink,  I sink ; but,  d c, 

I’ll  go  down  ship-shape  and  with  dignity.” 

“ But,  brother  Cap,  I have  no  wish  to  go  down 
anywhere,  unless  it  be  to  the  station  among  the 
Thousand  Islands,  whither  we  are  bound.” 

“ Well,  well,  sergeant,  rather  than  ask  advice, 
that  is,  direct,  barefaced  advice,  of  a fore-mast 
hand,  or  any  other  than  a quarter-deck  officer,  I 
would  go  round  to  the  whole  thousand  and  ex- 
amine them  one  by  one,  until  we  got  to  the  right 
haven.  But,  there  is  such  a thing  as  coming  at 
an  opinion  without  manifesting  ignorance,  and  I 
will  manage  to  rouse  all  there  is,  out  of  these 
hands,  and  make  them  think,  all  the  while,  that 
I am  cramming  them  with  my  own  experience. 
We  are  sometimes  obliged  to  use  the  glass  at  sea 
when  there  is  nothing  in  sight,  or  to  heave  the 
lead  long  before  we  strike  soundings.  I suppose 
you  know  in  the  army,  sergeant,  that  the  next 
thing  to  knowing  that  which  is  desirable,  is  to 
seem  to  know  all  about  it.  When  a youngster, 
I sailed  two  v’y’ges  with  a man  who  navigated 
his  ship  pretty  much  by  the  latter  sort  of  infor- 
mation, which  sometimes  answers.” 

“ I know  we  are  steering  in  the  right  direc- 
tion, at  present,”  returned  the  sergeant,  “ but  in 
the  course  of  a few  hours  we  shall  be  up  with  a 
headland,  where  we  must  feel  our  way  with  more 
caution.” 

“ Leave  me  to  pump  the  man  at  the  wheel, 
brother,  and  you  shall  see  that  I will  make  him 
suck,  in  a very  few  minutes.” 

Cap  and  the  sergeant  now  walked  aft,  until 
they  stood  by  the  sailor  who  was  at  the  helm, 
Cap  maintaining  an  air  of  security  and  tranquilli- 
ty, like  one  who  was  entirely  confident  of  his  own 
powers. 

“ This  is  a wholesome  air,  my  lad,”  Cap  ob- 
served, as  it  might  be  incidentally,  and  in  the 
manner  that  a superior  on  board  a vessel  some- 
times condescends  to  use  to  a favored  inferior. 
“ Of  course  you  have  it  in  this  fashion,  off  the 
land,  every  night  ? ” 

“ At  this  season  of  the  year,  sir,”  the  man 
returned,  touching  his  hat,  out  of  respect  to  his 
new  commander  and  Sergeant  Dunham’s  connec- 
tion. 

“ The  same  thing,  I take  it,  among  the  Thou- 
sand Islands  ? The  wind  will  stand  of  course, 
though  we  shall  then  have  land  on  every  side  of 
us.” 

“ When  we  get  farther  east,  sir,  the  wind  will 
probably  shift,  for  there  can  then  be  no  particular 
land-breeze.” 

“ Ay,  ay — so  much  for  your  fresh  water  ! It 
has  always  some  trick  that  is  opposed  to  Nature. 


Now,  down  among  the  West-India  Islands,  one 
is  just  as  certain  of  having  a land-breeze  as  he 
is  of  having  a sea-breeze.  In  that  respect  there 
is  no  difference,  though  it’s  quite  in  rule  it  should 
be  different  up  here,  on  this  bit  of  fresh  water. 
Of  course,  my  lad,  you  know  all  about  these  said 
Thousand  Islands  ? ” 

“ Lord  bless  you,  Master  Cap,  nobody  knows 
all  about  them,  or  any  thing  about  them.  They 
are  a puzzle  to  the  oldest  sailor  on  the  lake,  and 
we  don’t  pretend  to  know  even  their  names.  For 
that  matter,  most  of  them  have  no  more  names 
than  a child  that  dies  before  it  is  christened.” 

“ Are  you  a Roman  Catholic  ? ” demanded 
the  sergeant,  sharply. 

“ No,  sir,  nor  any  thing  else.  I’m  a general- 
izer  about  religion,  never  troubling  that  which 
don’t  trouble  me.” 

“ Hum ! a generalizer  ; that  is,  no  doubt,  one 
of  the  new  sects  that  afflict  the  country  ! ” mut- 
tered Mr.  Dunham,  whose  grandfather  had  been 
a New  Jersey  Quaker,  his  father  a Presbyterian, 
and  who  had  joined  the  Church  of  England  him- 
self, after  he  entered  the  army. 

“ I take  it,  John,”  resumed  Cap — “ your  name 
is  Jack,  I believe  ? ” 

“ No,  sir ; I am  called  Robert.” 

“ Ay,  Robert — it’s  very  much  the  same  thing 
— Jack  or  Bob — we  use  the  two  indifferently.  I 
say,  Bob,  it’s  good  holding-ground,  is  it,  down  at 
this  same  station  for  which  we  are  bound  ? ” 

“ Bless  you,  sir,  I know  no  more  about  it  than 
one  of  the  Mohawks,  or  a solder  of  the  55th.” 

“ Did  you  never  anchor  there  ? ” 

“ Never,  sir.  Master  Eau-douce  always  makes 
fast  to  the  shore.” 

“ But  in  running  in  for  the  town,  you  kept  the 
lead  going,  out  of  question,  and  must  have  tal- 
lowed as  usual?  ” 

“ Tallow  ! and  town,  too  ! Bless  your  heart, 
Master  Cap,  there  is  no  more  town  than  there  is 
on  your  chin,  and  not  half  as  much  tallow.” 

The  sergeant  smiled  grimly,  but  his  brother- 
in-law  did  not  detect  this  proof  of  facetiousness. 

“No  church-tower,  nor  light,  nor  fort,  ha! 
There  is  a garrison,  as  you  call  it  hereaway,  at 
least.” 

“Ask  Sergeant  Dunham,  sir,  if  you  wish  to 
know  that ! All  the  garrison  is  on  board  the 
Scud.” 

“ But,  in  running  in,  Bob,  which  of  the  chan- 
nels do  you  think  the  best,  the  one  you  went  last, 
or — or — or — ay,  or  the  other?  ” 

“ I can’t  say,  sir.  I know  nothing  of  either.” 

“ You  didn’t  go  to  sleep,  fellow,  at  the  wheel, 
did  you  ? ” 


104 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Not  at  the  wheel,  sir,  but  down  in  the  fore- 
peak, in  my  berth.  Eau-douce  sent  us  below, 
so’gers  and  all,  with  the  exception  of  the  pilot, 
and  we  know  no  more  of  the  road  than  if  we  had 
never  been  over  it.  This  he  has  always  done,  in 
going  in  and  coming  out ; and,  for  the  life  of  me, 
I could  tell  you  nothing  of  the  channel  or  of  the 
course,  after  we  are  once  fairly  up  with  the  isl- 
ands. No  one  knows  any  thing  of  either,  but 
Jasper  and  the  pilot.” 

“ Here  is  a circumstance  for  you,  sergeant ! ” 
said  Cap,  leading  his  brother-in-law  a little  aside 
— “ there  is  no  one  on  board  to  pump,  for  they 
all  suck  from  ignorance,  at  the  first  stroke  of  the 
brake.  How  the  devil  am  I to  find  the  way  to 
this  station  ? ” 

“ Sure  enough,  brother  Cap  ; your  question  is 
more  easily  put  than  answered.  Is  there  no  such 
thing  as  figuring  it  out  by  navigation  ? I thought 
you  salt-water  mariners  were  able  to  do  as  small 
a thing  as  that ! I have  often  read  of  their  dis- 
covering islands,  surely.” 

“ That  you  have,  brother — that  you  have ; and 
this  discovery  would  be  the  greatest  of  them  all, 
for  it  would  not  only  be  discovering  one  island, 
but  one  island  out  of  a thousand.  I might  make 
out  to  pick  up  a single  needle  on  this  deck,  old 
as  I am,  but  I much  doubt  if  I could  pick  one  out 
of  a haystack.” 

“ Still,  the  sailors  of  the  lake  have  a method  of 
finding  the  places  they  wish  to  go  to.” 

“If  I have  understood  you,  sergeant  Dun- 
ham, this  station,  or  block-house,  is  particularly 
private  ? ” 

“ It  is,  indeed ; the  utmost  care  having  been 
taken  to  prevent  a knowledge  of  its  position  from 
reaching  the  enemy.” 

“ And  you  expect  me,  a stranger  on  your  lake, 
to  find  this  place  without  chart,  course,  distance, 

latitude,  longitude,  or  soundings — ay,  d e,  .or 

tallow ! Allow  me  to  ask  if  you  think  a mari- 
ner runs  by  his  nose,  like  one  of  Pathfinder’s 
hounds  ? ” 

“ Well,  brother,  you  may  yet  learn  something 
by  questioning  the  young  man  at  the  helm ; I can 
hardly  think  that  he  is  as  ignorant  as  he  pretends 
to  be.” 

“ Hum — this  looks  like  another  circumstance ! 
For  that  matter,  the  case  is  getting  to  be  so  full 
of  circumstances  that  one  hardly  knows  how  to 
foot  up  the  evidence.  But  we  will  soon  see  how 
much  the  lad  knows.” 

Cap  and  the  sergeant  now  returned  to  their 
station  near  the  helm,  and  the  former  renewed 
his  inquiries. 

“ Do  you  happen  to  know  what  may  be  the 


latitude  and  longitude  of  this  said  island,  my  lad  ? *' 
he  asked. 

“ The  what,  sir  ? ” 

“ Why  the  latitude  or  longitude ; one  or  both ; 
I’m  not  particular  which,  as  I merely  inquire  in 
order  to  see  how  they  bring  up  young  men  on 
this  bit  of  fresh  water.” 

“ I’m  not  particular  about  either,  myself,  sir, 
and  so  I do  not  happen  to  know  what  you  mean.” 

“Not what  I mean  ! — You  know  what  latitude 
is  ? ” 

“Not  I,  sir,”  returned  the  man,  hesitating, 
“ though  I believe  it  is  French  for  the  upper 
lakes.” 

“ Whe-e-e-w  ! ” whistled  Cap,  drawing  out 
his  breath,  like  the  broken  stop  of  an  organ; 
“ latitude,  French  for  upper  lakes ! Harkee, 
young  man ; do  you  know  what  longitude 
means  ? ” 

“ I believe  I do,  sir — that  is  five  feet  six,  the 
regulation  height  for  soldiers  in  the  king’s  ser 
vice.” 

“ There’s  the  longitude  found  out  for  you,  ser- 
geant, in  the  rattling  of  a brace-block ! You 
have  some  notion  about  a degree,  and  minutes, 
and  seconds,  I hope  ? ” 

“ Yes,  sir;  degree  means  my  betters,  and  min 
utes  and  seconds  are  for  the  short  or  long  log- 
lines. We  all  know  these  things  as  well  as  the 
salt-water  people.” 

“ D e,  brother  Dunham,  if  I think,  even 

Faith  can  get  along  on  this  lake,  much  as  they  say 
it  can  do  with  mountains.  I’m  sure  character  is 
in  no  security. — Well,  my  lad,  you  understand  the 
azimuth,  and  measuring  distances,  and  how  to  box 
the  compass.” 

“ As  for  the  first,  sir,  I can’t  say  I do.  The 
distances  we  all  know,  as  we  measure  them  from 
point  to  point ; and  as  for  boxing  the  compass,  I 
will  turn  my  back  to  no  admiral  in  his  ma- 
jesty’s fleet.  Nothe-nothe  and  by  east,  nothe- 
nothe-east,  nothe-east  and  nothe,  nothe-east; 
nothe-east  and  by  east,  east-nothe-east,  east-and- 
by-nothe,  east — ” 

“ That  will  do — that  will  do.  You’ll  bring 
about  a shift  of  wind,  if  you  go  on  in  this  man- 
ner.— I see  very  plainly,  sergeant,”  walking  away 
again,  and  dropping  his  voice,  “ we’ve  nothing  to 
hope  for  from  that  chap.  I’ll  stand  on  two  hours 
longer  on  this  tack,  when  we’ll  heave-to,  and  get 
the  soundings  ; after  which  we  will  be  governed 
by  circumstances.” 

To  this  the  sergeant,  who,  to  coin  a word, 
was  very  much  of  an  idiosyncratist,  made  no  ob- 
jections ; and,  as  the  wind  grew  lighter,  as  usual 
with  the  advance  of  night,  and  there  were  no  irn 


A CHANGE  OF  WEATHER. 


105 


mqdiate  obstacles  to  the  navigation,  he  made  a 
bed  of  a sail,  on  deck,  and  was  soon  lost  in  the 
sound  sleep  of  a soldier.  Cap  continued  to  walk 
the  deck,  for  he  was  one  whose  iron  frame  set 
fatigue  at  defiance,  and  not  once  that  night  did 
he  close  his  eyes. 

It  was  broad  daylight  when  Sergeant  Dunham 
awoke,  and  the  exclamation  of  surpi’ise  that  es- 
caped him,  as  he  rose  to  his  feet,  and  began  to 
look  about  him,  was  stronger  than  it  was  usual 
for  one  so  drilled  to  suffer  to  be  heard.  He  found 
the  weather  entirely  changed  ; the  view  bounded 
by  driving  mist,  that  limited  the  visible  horizon 
to  a circle  of  about  a mile  in  diameter,  the  lake 
raging  and  covered  with  foam,  and  the  Scud  ly- 
ing-to.  A brief  conversation  with  his  brother-in- 
law  let  him  into  the  secrets  of  all  these  sudden 
changes. 

According  to  the  account  of  Master  Cap,  the 
wind  had  died  away  to  a calm  about  midnight,  or 
just  as  he  was  thinking  of  heaving-to,  to  sound, 
for  islands  ahead  were  beginning  to  be  seen.  At 
one  a.  m.  it  began  to  blow  from  the  northeast, 
accompanied  by  a drizzle,  and  he  stood  off  to  the 
northward  and  westward,  knowing  that  the  coast 
of  New  York  lay  in  the  opposite  direction.  At 
half-past  one,  he  stowed  the  stay-sail,  reefed  the 
mainsail,  and  took  the  bonnet  off  the  jib.  At 
two  he  was  compelled  to  get  a second  reef  aft ; 
and  by  half-past  two  he  had  put  a balance  reef  in 
the  sail,  and  was  lying-to. 

“ I can’t  say  but  the  boat  behaves  well,  ser- 
geant,” the  old  sailor  added  ; “ but  it  blows  forty- 
two  pounders ! I had  no  idee  there  were  any 
such  currents  of  air  up  here  on  this  bit  of  fresh 
water,  though  I care  not  the  knotting  of  a yarn 
for  it,  as  your  lake  has  now  somewhat  of  a natu- 
ral look,  and — ” spitting  from  his  mouth,  with 
distaste,  a dash  of  the  spray  that  had  just  wetted 

his  face,  “ and  if  this  d d water  had  a savor 

of  salt  about  it,  one  might  be  comfortable.” 

“ How  long  have  you  been  heading  in  this  di- 
rection, brother  Cap  ? ” inquired  the  prudent  sol- 
dier ; “ and  at  what  rate  may  we  be  going  through 
the  water  ? ” 

“ Why  two  or  three  hours,  mayhap,  and  she 
went  like  a horse  for  the  first  pair  of  them.  Oh ! 
we’ve  a fine  offing,  now,  for,  to  own  the  truth, 
-ittle  relishing  the  neighborhood  of  them  said 
islands,  although  they  are  to  windward,  I took 
the  helm  myself,  and  run  her  off  free,  for  some 
league  or  two.  We  are  well  to  leeward  of  them, 
I’ll  engage.  I say  to  leeward,  for,  though  one 
might  wish  to  be  well  to  windward  of  one  island, 
or  even  half  a dozen,  when  it  comes  to  a thou- 
sand, the  better  way  is  to  give  it  up  at  once,  and 


to  slide  down  under  their  lee  as  fast  as  possiblo 
No — no — there  they  are,  up  yonder  in  the  drizzle 
— and  there  they  may  stay,  for  any  thing  Charles 
Cap  cares.” 

“ As  the  north  shore  lies  only  some  five  or  six 
leagues  from  us,  brother,  and  I know  there  is  a 
large  bay  in  that  quarter,  might  it  not  be  well  to 
consult  some  of  the  crew  concerning  our  position, 
if  indeed  we  do  not  call  up  Jasper  Eau-douce,  and 
tell  him  to  carry  us  back  to  Oswego  ? It  is  quite 
impossible  we  should  ever  reach  the  station  with 
this  wind  directly  in  our  teeth.” 

“ There  are  several  serious  professional  rea- 
sons, sergeant,  against  all  your  propositions.  In 
the  first  place,  an  admission  of  ignorance  on  the 
part  of  a commander  would  destroy  discipline. — 
No  matter,  brother,  I understand  your  shake  of 
the  head,  but  nothing  capsizes  discipline  so  much, 
as  to  confess  ignorance.  I once  knew  a master 
of  a vessel  who  went  a week  on  a wrong  course, 
rather  than  allow  he  had  made  a mistake  ; and  it 
was  surprising  how  much  he  rose  in  the  opinions 
of  his  people,  just  because  they  could  not  under- 
stand him.” 

“ That  may  do  on  salt  water,  brother  Cap ; 
but  it  will  hardly  do  on  fresh.  Rather  than 
wreck  my  command  on  the  Canada  shore,  I shall 
feel  it  my  duty  to  take  Jasper  out  of  arrest.” 

“ And  make  a haven  in  Frontenac  ! No,  ser 
geant,  the  Scud  is  in  good  hands,  and  will  now 
learn  something  of  seamanship.  We  have  a fine 
offing,  and  no  one  but  a madman  would  think  of 
going  upon  a coast  in  a gale  like  this.  I shall 
ware  every  watch,  and  then  we  shall  be  safe 
against  all  dangers  but  those  of  the  drift,  which, 
in  a light,  low  craft  like  this,  without  top-hamper, 
will  be  next  to  nothing.  Leave  it  all  to  me,  ser- 
geant, and  I pledge  you  the  character  of  Charles 
Cap,  that  it  will  all  go  well.” 

Sergeant  Dunham  was  fain  to  yield.  He  had 
great  confidence  in  his  connection’s  professional 
skill,  and  hoped  that  he  would  take  such  care  of 
the  cutter  as  would  amply  justify  his  good  opin- 
ion. On  the  other  hand,  as  distrust,  like  love, 
grows  by  what  it  feeds  on,  he  entertained  so  much 
apprehension  of  treachery,  that  he  was  quite  will- 
ing any  one  but  Jasper  should,  just  then,  have 
the  control  of  the  fate  of  the  whole  party.  Truth, 
moreover,  compels  us  to  admit  another  motive. 
The  particular  duty  on  which  he  was  now  sent 
should  have  been  confided  to  a commissioned  offi- 
cer, of  right ; and  Major  Duncan  had  excited  a 
good  deal  of  discontent  among  the  subalterns  of 
the  garrison,  by  having  confided  it  to  one  of  the 
sergeant’s  humble  station.  To  return  without 
having  even  reached  the  point  of  destination, 


106 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


therefore,  the  latter  felt  would  be  a failure  from 
which  he  was  not  likely  soon  to  recover;  and 
the  measure  would,  at  once,  be  the  means  of  plac- 
ing a superior  in  his  shoes. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

“ Thou  glorious  mirror  where  the  Almighty’s  form 
Glasses  itself  in  tempests — in  all  time, 

Calm  or  convulsed — in  breeze,  or  gale,  or  storm, 

Icing  the  pole,  or  in  the  torrid  clime 

Dark  heaving— boundless,  endless,  and  sublime— 

The  image  of  Eternity ; the  throne 
Of  the  Invisible ; even  from  out  thy  slime 
The  monsters  of  the  deep  are  made ; each  zone 
Obeys  thee ; thou  goest  forth,  dread,  fathomless,  alone.” 

Btron. 

As  the  day  advanced,  that  portion  of  the  in- 
mates of  the  vessel  which  had  the  liberty  of  doing 
so,  appeared  on  deck.  As  yet  the  sea  was  not 
very  high,  from  which  it  was  inferred  that  the 
cutter  was  still  under  the  lee  of  the  islands ; but 
it  was  apparent  to  all  who  understood  the  lake, 
that  they  were  about  to  experience  one  of  the 
heavy  autumnal  gales  of  that  region.  Land  was 
nowhere  visible  ; and  the  horizon,  on  every  side, 
exhibited  that  gloomy  void  which  lends  to  all 
views  on  vast  bodies  of  water  the  sublimity  of 
mystery.  The  swells,  or,  as  landsmen  term  them, 
the  waves,  were  short  and  curling,  breaking  of  ne- 
cessity sooner  than  the  longer  seas  of  the  ocean ; 
while  the  element  itself,  instead  of  presenting 
that  beautiful  hue  which  rivals  the  deep  tint  of 
the  southern  sky,  looked  green  and  angry,  though 
wanting  in  the  lustre  that  is  derived  from  the 
rays  of  the  sun. 

The  soldiers  were  soon  satisfied  with  the  pros- 
pect, and  one  by  one  they  disappeared,  until  none 
were  left  on  deck  but  the  crew,  the  sergeant, 
Cap,  Pathfinder,  the  quartermaster,  and  Mabel. 
There  was  a shade  on  the  brow  of  the  latter,  who 
had  been  made  acquainted  with  the  real  state  of 
things,  and  who  had  fruitlessly  ventured  an  ap- 
peal in  favor  of  Jasper’s  restoration  to  the  com- 
mand. A night’s  rest  and  a night’s  reflection  ap- 
peared also  to  have  confirmed  the  Pathfinder  in 
his  opinion  of  the  young  man’s  innocence,  and 
he,  too,  had  made  a warm  appeal  in  behalf  of  his 
friend,  though  with  the  same  want  of  success. 

Several  hours  passed  away,  the  wind  gradually 
getting  to  be  heavier,  and  the  sea  rising,  until  the 
motion  of  the  cutter  compelled  Mabel  and  the 
quartermaster  to  retreat  also.  Cap  wore  several 
times ; and  it  was  now  evident  that  the  Scud  was 
drifting  into  the  broader  and  deeper  parts  of  the 


lake,  the  seas  ragmg  down  upon  her  in  a way 
that  none  but  a vessel  of  superior  mould  and 
build  could  have  long  ridden  and  withstood.  All 
this,  however,  gave  Cap  no  uneasiness ; but  like 
the  hunter  that  pricks  his  ears  at  the  sound  of  the 
horn,  or  the  war-horse  that  paws  and  snorts  with 
pleasure  at  the  roll  of  the  drum,  the  whole  scene 
awakened  all  that  was  man  within  him ; and  in- 
stead of  the  captious,  supercilious,  and  dogmatic 
critic  quarrelling  with  trifles,  and  exaggerating 
immaterial  things,  he  began  to  exhibit  the  qualities 
of  the  hardy  and  experienced  seamen  that  he 
truly  was.  The  hands  soon  imbibed  a respect 
for  his  skill ; and  though  they  wondered  at  the 
disappearance  of  their  old  commander  and  the 
pilot  for  which  no  reason  had  been  publicly  given, 
they  soon  yielded  an  implicit  and  cheerful  obedi- 
ence to  the  new  one. 

“ This  bit  of  fresh  water,  after  all,  brother 
Dunham,  has  some  spirit,  I find,”  cried  Cap, 
about  noon,  rubbing  his  hands  in  pure  satisfac- 
tion at  finding  himself  once  more  wrestling  with 
the  elements.  “ The  wind  seems  to  be  an  honest, 
old-fashioned  gale,  and  the  seas  have  a fanciful 
resemblance  to  those  of  the  Gulf  Stream.  I like 
this,  sergeant,  I like  this ; and  shall  get  to  respect 
your  lake  if  it  hold  out  twenty-four  hours  longer 
in  the  fashion  in  which  it  has  begun.” 

“ Land,  ho ! ” shouted  the  man  who  was 
stationed  on  the  forecastle. 

Cap  hurried  forward  ; and  there,  sure  enough, 
the  land  was  visible  through  the  drizzle,  at  the 
distance  of  about  half  a mile,  the  cutter  heading 
directly  toward  it.  The  first  impulse  of  the  old 
seaman  was  to  give  an  order  to  “ stand  by,  to 
ware  off-shore;”  but  the  cool-headed  soldier 
restrained  him. 

“By  going  a little  nearer,”  said  the  sergeant, 
“ some  of  us  may  recognize  the  place.  Most  of 
us  know  the  American  shore,  in  this  part  of  the 
lake ; and  it  will  be  something  gained  to  learn 
our  position.” 

“Yery  true — very  true;  if,  indeed,  there  is 
any  chance  of  that,  we  will  hold  on.  What  is 
this  off  here,  a little  on  our  weather-bow  ? It 
looks  like  a low  headland.” 

“The  garrison,  by  Jove!”  exclaimed  the 
other,  whose  trained  eye  sooner  recognized  the 
military  outlines  than  the  less-instructed  senses 
of  his  connection. 

The  sergeant  was  not  mistaken.  There  was 
the  fort,  sure  enough,  though  it  looked  dim  and 
indistinct  through  the  fine  rain,  as  if  it  were  seen 
in  the  dusk  of  evening,  or  the  haze  of  morning 
The  low,  sodded,  and  verdant  ramparts,  the  som 
bre  palisades,  now  darker  than  ever  with  water. 


MASTER  CAP  IN  A GALE. 


107 


the  roof  of  a house  or  two,  the  tall,  solitary  flag- 
Btaff,  with  its  halyards  blown  steadily  out,  into  a 
curve  that  appeared  traced  in  immovable  lines  in 
the  air,  were  all  soon  to  be  seen,  though  no  sign 
of  animated  life  could  be  discovered.  Even  the 
sentinel  was  housed  ; and,  at  first,  it  was  believed 
that  no  eye  would  detect  the  presence  of  their 
own  vessel.  But  the  unceasing  vigilance  of  a 
border  garrison  did  not  slumber.  One  of  the 
lookouts  probably  made  the  interesting  discov- 
ery ; a man  or  two  were  seen  on  some  elevated 
stands,  and  then  the  entire  ramparts,  next  the 
lake,  were  dotted  with  human  beings. 

The  whole  scene  was  one  in  which  sublimity 
was  singularly  relieved  by  the  picturesque.  The 
raging  of  the  tempest  had  a character  of  duration 
that  rendered  it  easy  to  imagine  it  might  be  a 
permanent  feature  of  the  spot.  The  roar  of  the 
wind  was  without  intermission,  and  the  raging 
water  answered  to  its  dull  but  grand  strains, 
with  hissing  spray,  a menacing  wash,  and  sullen 
surges.  The  drizzle  made  a medium  for  the  eye 
which  closely  resembled  that  of  a thin  mist,  soft- 
ening and  rendering  mysterious  the  images  it 
revealed,  while  the  genial  feeling  that  is  apt  to 
accompany  a gale  of  wind  on  water  contributed 
to  aid  the  milder  influences  of  the  moment.  The 
dark,  interminable  forest  hove  up  out  of  the 
obscurity,  grand,  sombre,  and  impressive ; while 
the  solitary,  peculiar,  and  picturesque  glimpses 
of  life  that  were  caught  in  and  about  the  fort, 
formed  a refuge  for  the  eye  to  retreat  to,  when 
oppressed  with  the  more  imposing  objects  of 
Nature. 

“ They  see  us,”  said  the  sergeant,  “ and  think 
we  have  returned  on  account  of  the  gale,  and 
have  fallen  to  leeward  of  the  port.  Yes,  there  is 
Major  Duncan  himself,  on  the  northeastern  bas- 
tion ; I know  him  by  his  height,  and  by  the 
officers  around  him ! ” 

“ Sergeant,  it  would  be  worth  standing  a little 
jeering,  if  we  could  fetch  into  the  river,  and 
come  safely  to  an  anchor ! In  that  case,  too,  we 
might  land  this  Master  Oh  !-the-deuce,  and  purify 
the  boat.” 

“ It  would  indeed  ; but  poor  a sailor  as  I am, 
I well  know  it  cannot  be  done.  Nothing  that 
sails  the  lake  can  turn  to  windward  against  this 
gale  ; and  there  is  no  anchorage  outside,  in 
weather  like  this.” 

“ I know  it — I see  it — sergeant,  and  pleasant 
as  is  that  sight  to  you  landsmen,  we  must  leave 
it.  For  myself,  I am  never  as  happy,  in  heavy 
weather,  as  when  I am  certain  that  the  land  is 
behind  me.” 

The  Scud  had  now  forged  so  near  in,  that  it 


became  indispensable  to  lay  her  head  off-shore 
again,  and  the  necessary  orders  were  given.  The 
storm-staysail  was  set  forward,  the  gaff  lowered, 
the  helm  put  up,  and  the  light  craft,  that  seemed 
to  sport  with  the  elements  like  a duck,  fell  off  a 
little,  drew  ahead  swiftly,  obeyed  her  rudder,  and 
was  soon  flying  away  on  the  top  of  the  surges, 
dead  before  the  gale.  While  making  this  rapid 
flight,  though  the  land  still  remained  in  view  on 
her  larboard  beam,  the  fort,  and  the  groups  of 
anxious  spectators  on  its  rampart,  were  swallowed 
up  in  the  mist.  Then  followed  the  evolutions 
necessary  to  bring  the  head  of  the  cutter  up  to 
the  wind,  when  she  again  began  to  wallow  her 
weary  way  toward  the  north  shore. 

Hours  now  passed  before  any  further  change 
was  made,  the  wind  increasing  in  force,  until  even 
the  dogmatical  Cap  fairly  admitted  it  was  blow- 
ing a thorough  gale  of  wind.  About  sunset  the 
Scud  wore  again,  to  keep  her  off  the  north  shore 
during  the  hours  of  darkness ; and  at  midnight 
her  temporary  master,  who,  by  questioning  the 
crew  in  an  indirect  manner,  had  obtained  some 
general  knowledge  of  the  size  and  shape  of  the 
lake,  believed  himself  to  be  about  midway  be- 
tween the  two  shores.  The  height  and  length 
of  the  seas  aided  this  impression;  and  it  must  bo 
added  that  Cap,  by  this  time,  began  to  feel  a 
respect  for  fresh  water,  that  twenty-four  hours 
earlier  he  would  have  derided  as  impossible. 
Just  as  the  night  turned,  the  fury  of  the  wind 
became  so  great  that  he  found  it,  impossible  to 
bear  up  against  it,  the  water  falling  on  the  deck 
of  the  little  craft  in  such  masses  as  to  cause  her 
to  shake  to  the  centre,  and,  though  a vessel  of 
singularly  lively  qualities,  to  threaten  to  bury  her 
beneath  its  weight.  The  people  of  the  Scud 
averred  that  never  before  had  they  been  out  in 
such  a tempest,  which  was  true ; for,  possessing 
a perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  rivers  and  head- 
lands and  havens,  Jasper  would  have  carried  the 
cutter  in-shore,  long  ere  this,  and  placed  her  in 
safety,  in  some  secure  anchorage.  But  Cap  still 
disdained  to  consult  the  young  master,  wffio  con- 
tinued below,  determining  to  act  like  a mariner 
of  the  broad  ocean. 

It  was  one  in  the  morning  when  the  storm- 
staysail  was  again  got  on  the  Scud,  the  head  of 
the  mainsail  lowered,  and  the  cutter  put  before 
the  wind.  Although  the  canvas  now  exposed 
was  merely  a rag  in  surface,  the  little  craft  nobly 
justified  the  use  of  the  name  she  bore.  For 
eight  hours  did  she  scud,  in  truth ; and  it  was 
almost  with  the  velocity  of  the  gulls  that  wheeled 
wildly  over  her  in  the  tempest,  apparently  afraid 
to  alight  in  the  boiling  caldron  of  the  lake.  The 


108 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


dawn  of  day  brought  litLe  cnange ; for  no  other 
horizon  became  visible  than  the  narrow  circle  of 
drizzling  sky  and  water  already  described,  in 
which  it  seemed  as  if  the  elements  were  rioting 
in  chaotic  confusion.  During  this  time  the  crew 
and  passengers  of  the  cutter  were  of  necessity 
passive.  Jasper  and  the  pilot  remained  below  ; 
but  the  motion  of  the  vessel  having  become  easier, 
nearly  all  the  rest  were  on  deck.  The  morning 
meal  had  been  taken  in  silence,  and  eye  met  eye 
as  if  their  owners  asked  each  other,  in  dumb 
show,  what  was  to  be  the  end  of  this  strife  in  the 
elements.  Cap,  however,  was  perfectly  composed, 
and  his  face  brightened,  his  step  grew  firmer,  and 
his  whole  air  more  assured  as  the  storm  increased, 
making  larger  demands  on  his  professional  skill 
and  personal  spirit.  He  stood  on  the  forecastle, 
his  arms  crossed,  balancing  his  body  with  a 
seaman’s  instinct,  while  his  eyes  watched  the  caps 
of  the  seas  as  they  broke  and  glanced  past  the 
reeling  cutter,  itself  in  such  swift  motion  as  if 
they  were  the  scud  flying  athwart  the  sky.  At 
this  sublime  instant  one  of  the  hands  gave  the 
unexpected  cry  of  “ a sail ! ” 

There  was  so  much  of  the  wild  and  solitary 
character  of  the  wilderness  about  Ontario  that  one 
scarcely  expected  to  meet  with  a vessel  on  its  wa- 
ters. The  Scud  herself,  to  those  who  were  in  her, 
resembled  a man  threading  the  forest  alone,  and 
the  meeting  was  like  that  of  two  solitary  hunters 
beneath  the  broad  canopy  of  leaves  that  then  cov- 
ered so  many  millions  of  acres  on  the  continent 
of  America.  The  peculiar  state  of  the  weather 
served  to  increase  the  romantic,  almost  super- 
natural, appearance  of  the  passage.  Cap  alone 
regarded  it  with  practised  eyes,  and  even  he  felt 
his  iron  nerves  thrill  under  the  sensations  that 
were  awakened  by  the  wild  features  of  the  scene. 

The  strange  vessel  was  about  two  cables’  length 
ahead  of  the  Scud,  standing  by  the  wind  athwart 
her  bows,  and  steering  a course  to  render  it  prob- 
able that  the  latter  would  pass  within  a few  yards 
of  her.  She  was  a full-rigged  ship ; and,  seen 
through  the  misty  medium  of  the  tempest,  the 
most  experienced  eye  could  detect  no  imperfec- 
tion in  her  gear  or  construction.  The  only  can- 
vas she  had  set  was  a close-reefed  main-top-sail 
and  two  small  storm-staysails,  one  forward  and 
the  other  aft.  Still,  the  power  of  the  wind  pressed 
so  hard  upon  her  as  to  bear  her  down  nearly  to 
her  beam-ends,  whenever  the  hull  was  not  righted 
by  the  buoyancy  of  some  wave  under  her  lee. 
Her  spars  were  all  in  their  places,  and  by  her 
motion  through  the  water,  which  might  have 
equalled  four  knots  in  the  hour,  it  was  apparent 
that  she  steered  a little  free. 


“The  fellow  must  know  his  position  •« ell, ” 
said  Cap,  as  the  cutter  flew  down  toward  the  ship 
with  a velocity  almost  equalling  that  of  the  gale, 
“ for  he  is  standing  boldly  to  the  southward,  where 
he  expects  to  find  anchorage  or  a haven.  No 
man  in  his  senses  would  run  off  free  in  that  fash- 
ion, that  was  not  driven  to  scudding  like  ourselves, 
who  did  not  perfectly  understand  where  he  was 
going.” 

“We  have  made  an  awful  run,  captain,”  re- 
turned the  man  to  whom  this  remark  had  been 
addressed.  “ That  is  the  French  king’s  ship,  Lee- 
my-calm  (le  Montcalm),  and  she  is  standing  in 
for  the  Niagara,  where  her  owner  has  a garrison 
and  a port.  We’ve  made  an  awful  run  of  it ! ” 

“ Ay,  bad  luck  to  him  ! Frenchman-like,  he 
skulks  into  port  the  moment  he  sees  an  English 
bottom.” 

“ It  might  be  well  for  us  if  we  could  follow 
him,”  returned  the  man,  shaking  his  head  de- 
spondingly,  “ for  we  are  getting  into  the  end  of 
a bay  up  here  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  and  it  is 
uncertain  whether  we  ever  get  out  of  it  again  ! ” 

“ Poh ! man,  poh  ! — We  have  plenty  of  sea- 
room,  and  a good  English  hull  beneath  us.  We 
are  no  Johnny  Crapauds  to  hide  ourselves  be- 
hind a point  or  a fort,  on  account  of  a puff  of 
wind.  Mind  your  helm,  sir  ! ” 

The  order  was  given  on  account  of  the  men- 
acing appearance  of  the  approaching  passage. 
The  Scud  was  now  heading  directly  for  the  fore- 
foot of  the  Frenchman ; and,  the  distance  between 
the  two  vessels  having  diminished  to  a hundred 
yards,  it  was  momentarily  questionable  if  there 
was  room  to  pass. 

“ Port,  sir — port ! ” shouted  Cap.  “ Port  your 
helm  and  pass  astern  ! ” 

The  crew  of  the  Frenchman  were  seen  assem- 
bling to  windward,  and  a few  muskets  were  point- 
ed, as  if  to  order  the  people  of  the  Scud  to  keep 
off.  Gesticulations  were  observed,  but  the  sea 
was  too  wild  and  menacing  to  admit  of  the  ordi- 
nary expedients  of  war.  The  water  was  dripping 
from  the  muzzles  of  two  or  three  light  guns  on 
board  the  ship,  but  no  one  thought  of  loosening 
them  for  service  in  such  a tempest.  Her  black 
sides,  as  they  emerged  from  the  wave,  glistened 
and  seemed  to  frown,  but  the  wind  howled 
through  her  rigging,  whistling  the  thousand  notes 
of  a ship ; and  the  hails  and  cries  that  escape  a 
Frenchman  with  so  much  readiness,  were  inau- 
dible. 

“Let  him  halloo  himself  hoarse!”  growled 
Cap.  “ This  is  no  weather  to  whisper  secrets  in 
— Port,  sir,  port ! ” 

The  man  at  the  helm  obeyed,  and  the  nexi 


PASSING  A FRENCH  SHIP. 


109 


send  of  the  sea  drove  the  Scud  down  upon  the 
quarter  of  the  ship,  so  near  her  that  the  old  mari- 
ner himself  recoiled  a step,  in  a vague  expectation 
that,  at  the  next  surge  ahead,  she  would  diive 
bow8-foremost  into  the  planks  of  the  other  ves- 
sel. But  this  was  not  to  be.  Rising  from  the 
crouching  posture  she  had  taken,  like  a panther 
about  to  leap,  the  cutter  dashed  onward,  and,  at 
the  next  instant,  she  was  glancing  past  the  stern 
of  her  enemy,  just  clearing  the  end  of  her  spank- 
er-boom with  her  own  lower  yard. 

The  young  Frenchman  who  commanded,  the 
Montcalm  leaped  on  the  taffrail,  and  with  that 
high-toned  courtesy  which  relieves  the  worst  acts 
of  his  countrymen,  he  raised  his  cap,  and  smiled 
a salutation  as  the  Scud  shot  past.  There  were 
bonhomie  and  good  taste  in  this  act  of  courtesy, 
when  circumstances  allowed  of  no  other  commu- 
nications ; but  they  were  lost  on  Cap,  who,  with 
an  instinct  quite  as  true  to  his  race,  shook  his 
fist  menacingly,  and  muttered  to  himself : 

“ Ay — ay — it’s  d d lucky  for  you  I’ve  no 

armament  on  board  here,  or  I’d  send  you  in  to 
get  new  cabin-windows  fitted  ! — Sergeant,  he’s  a 
humbug.” 

“ ’Twas  civil,  brother  Cap,”  returned  the 
other,  lowering  his  hand  from  the  military  salute 
which  his  pride  as  a soldier  had  induced  him  to 
return — “ ’twas  civil,  and  that’s  as  much  as  you 
can  expect  from  a Frenchman.  What  he  really 
meant  by  it,  no  one  can  say.” 

“ He  is  not  heading  up  to  this  sea  without  an 
object,  neither!  Well,  let  him  run  in,  if  he  can  get 
there ; we  will  keep  the  lake,  like  hearty  English 
mariners.” 

This  sounded  gloriously,  but  Cap  eyed  with 
envy  the  glittering  black  mass  of  the  Montcalm’s 
hull,  her  waving  top-sail,  and  the  misty  tracery 
of  her  spars,  as  she  grew  less  ind  less  distinct, 
and  finally  disappeared  in  the  drizzle  in  a form 
as  shadowy  as  that  of  some  unreal  image.  Glad- 
ly would  he  have  followed  in  her  wake,  had  he 
dared  ; for,  to  own  the  truth,  the  prospect  of  an- 
other stormy  night  in  the  midst  of  the  wild  wraters 
that  were  raging  around  him,  brought  little  con- 
solation. Still,  he  had  too  much  professional 
pride  to  betray  his  uneasiness,  and  those  under 
his  care  relied  on  his  knowledge  and  resources, 
with  the  implicit  and  blind  confidence  that  the 
ignorant  are  apt  to  feel. 

A few  hours  succeeded,  and  darkness  came 
again  to  increase  the  perils  of  the  Scud.  A lull 
in  the  gale,  howdver,  had  induced  Cap  to  come  by 
the  wind  once  more,  and  throughout  the  night 
the  cutter  was  lying-to,  as  before,  head-reaching 
as  a matter  of  course,  and  occasionally  waring  to 


keep  off  the  land.  It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  on 
the  incidents  of  the  night,  which  resembled  those 
of  any  other  gale  of  wind.  There  were  the  pitch- 
ing of  the  vessel,  the  hissing  of  the  waters,  the 
dashing  of  spray,  the  shocks  that  menaced  anni- 
hilation to  the  little  craft  as  she  plunged  into  the 
sea,  the  undying  bowlings  of  the  wind,  and  the  fear- 
ful drift.  The  last  was  the  most  serious  danger ; 
for,  though  exceeding  weatherly  under  her  canvas, 
and  totally  without  top-hamper,  the  Scud  was 
so  light,  that  the  combing  of  the  swells  would 
seem,  at  times,  to  wash  her  down  to  leeward 
with  a velocity  as  great  as  that  of  the  surges 
themselves. 

During  this  night,  Cap  slept  soundly  and  for 
several  hours.  The  day  was  just  dawning,  when 
he  felt  himself  shaken  by  the  shoulder,  and,  arous- 
ing himself,  he  found  the  Pathfinder  standing  at 
his  side.  During  the  gale,  the  guide  had  appeared 
little  on  deck,  for  his  natural  modesty  told  him 
that  seamen  alone  should  interfere  with  the  man- 
agement of  the  vessel;  and  he  was  willing  to 
show  the  same  reliance  on  those  who  had  charge 
of  the  Scud,  as  he  expected  those  who  followed 
through  the  forest  to  manifest  in  his  own  skill. 
But  he  now  thought  himself  justified  in  inter- 
fering, which  he  did  in  his  own  unsophisticated 
and  peculiar  manner. 

“Sleep  is  sweet,  Master  Cap,”  he  said,  as 
soon  as  the  eyes  of  the  latter  were  fairly  open, 
and  his  consciousness  had  sufficiently  returned — 
“ sleep  is  sweet,  as  I know  from  experience,  but 
life  is  sweeter  still.  Look  about  you,  and  say  if 
this  is  exactly  the  moment  for  a commander  to 
be  off  his  feet.” 

“ How  now — how  now,  Master  Pathfinder ! ” 
growled  Cap,  in  the  first  moments  of  his  awakened 
faculties — “are  you,  too,  getting  on  the  side  of 
the  grumblers  ? When  ashore,  I admired  your 
sagacity  in  running  through  the'  worst  shoals 
without  a compass,  and,  since  we  have  been  afloat, 
your  meekness  and  submission  have  been  as  pleas 
ant  as  your  confidence  on  your  own  ground ; 1 
little  expected  such  a summons  from  you.” 

“ As  for  myself,  Master  Cap,  I feel  I have  my 
gifts,  and  I believe  they’ll  interfere  with  those  of 
no  other  man ; but  the  case  may  be  different  with 
Mabel  Dunham.  She  has  her  gifts,  too,  it  is 
true ; but  they  are  not  rude  like  ours,  but  gentle, 
and  womanish,  as  they  ought  to  be.  It’s  on  her 
account  that  I speak,  and  not  on  my  own.” 

“ Ay — ay — I begin  to  understand.  The  girl  is 
a good  girl,  my  worthy  friend,  but  she  is  a sol 
dier’s  daughter  and  a sailor’s  niece,  and  ought 
not  to  be  too  tame  or  too  tender  in  a gale.  Does 
she  show  any  fear  ? ” 


110 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Not  she — not  she.  Mabel  is  a woman,  but 
she  is  reasonable  and  silent.  Not  a word  have 
I heard  from  her,  concerning  our  doings ; though 
I think,  Master  Cap,  she  would  like  it  better  if 
Jasper  Eau-douce  were  put  into  his  proper  place, 
and  things  were  restored  to  their  old  situation, 
like.  This  is  human  natur’.” 

“ I’ll  warrant  it ! Girl-like,  and  Dunham-like, 
too.  Any  thing  is  better  than  an  old  uncle,  and 
everybody  knows  more  than  an  old  seaman ! 
This  is  human  natur’,  Master  Pathfinder  and, 
d e,  if  I’m  the  man  to  sheer  a fathom,  star- 

board or  port,  for  all  the  human  natur’  that  can 
be  found  in  a minx  of  twenty — ay — or  ” — lower- 
ing his  voice  a little — “for  all  that  can  be  pa- 
raded in  his  majesty’s  55th  regiment  of  fo.ot ! I’ve 
not  been  at  sea  forty  years,  to  come  up  on  this 
bit  of  fresh  water  to  be  taught  human  natur’. 
How  this  gale  holds  out ! It  blows  as  hard,  at 
this  moment,  as  if  Boreas  had  just  clapped  his 
hand  upon  the  bellows.  And  what  is  all  this  to 
leeward  ? ” rubbing  his  eyes — “ land,  as  sure  as 
my  name  is  Cap  ; and  high  land,  too  ! ” 

The  Pathfinder  made  no  immediate  answer, 
but,  shaking  his  head,  he  watched  the  expression 
of  his  companion’s  face,  with  a look  of  strong 
anxiety  in  his  own. 

“ Land,  as  certain  as  this  is  the  Scud ! ” repeat- 
ed Cap,  “ a lee-shore,  and  that,  too,  within  a league 
of  us,  with  as  pretty  a line  of  breakers  as  one 
could  find  on  the  beach  of  all  Long  Island ! ” 

“ And  is  that  encouraging,  or  is  it  dishearten- 
ing ? ” demanded  the  Pathfinder. 

“ Ha ! encouraging,  disheartening  ? Why,  nei- 
ther. No,  no — there  is  nothing  encouraging  about 
it ; and,  as  for  disheartening,  nothing  ought  to 
dishearten  a seaman.  You  never  get  disheart- 
ened or  afraid  in  the  woods,  my  friend  ? ” 

“ I’ll  not  say  that — I’ll  not  say  that.  When 
the  danger  is  great,  it  is  my  gift  to  see  it,  and 
know  it,  and  to  try  to  avoid  it ; else  would  my 
scalp,  long  since,  have  been  drying  in  a Mingo 
wigwam.  On  this  lake,  howsever,  I can  see  no 
trail,  and  I feel  it  my  duty  to  submit ; though  I 
think  we  ought  to  remember  there  is  such  a per- 
son as  Mabel  Dunham  on  board.  But  here  comes 
her  father,  and  he  will  nat’rally  feel  for  his  own 
child.” 

“We  are  seriously  situated,  I believe,  brother 
Cap,”  said  the  sergeant,  when  he  had  reached  the 
spot,  “ by  what  I can  gather  from  the  two  hands 
on  the  forecastle.  They  tell  me  the  cutter  can- 
not carry  any  more  sail,  and  her  drift  is  so  great 
we  shall  go  ashore  in  an  hour  or  two.  I hope 
their  fears  have  deceived  them  ? ” 

Cap  made  no  reply,  but  he  gazed  at  the  land 


with  a rueful  face,  and  then  looked  to  windward, 
with  an  expression  of  ferocity,  as  if  he  would 
gladly  have  quarrelled  with  the  weather. 

“ It  may  be  well,  brother,”  the  sergeant  con- 
tinued, “to  send  for  Jasper  and  consult  him  as 
to  what  is  to  be  done.  There  are  no  French  here 
to  dread,  and,  under  all  circumstances,  the  bov 
will  save  us  from  drowning,  if  possible.” 

“ Ay — ay — ’tis  these  cursed  circumstances  that 
have  done  all  the  mischief ! But  let  the  fellow  come 
— let  him  come ; a few  well-managed  questions  wili 
bring  the  truth  out  of  him,  I’ll  warrant  you.” 

This  acquiescence  on  the  part  of  the  dog- 
matical Cap  was  no  sooner  obtained,  than  Jasper 
was  sent  for.  The  young  man  instantly  made  his 
appearance,  his  whole  air,  countenance,  and  mien, 
expressive  of  mortification,  humility,  and,  as  his 
observers  fancied,  rebuked  deception.  When  he 
first  stepped  on  deck,  Jasper  cast  one  hurried, 
anxious  glance  around,  as  if  curious  to  know  the 
situation  of  the  cutter  ; and  that  glance  sufficed, 
it  would  seem,  to  let  him  into  the  secret  of  all 
her  perils.  At  first  he  looked  to  windward,  as  is 
usual  with  every  seaman  ; then  he  turned  round 
the  horizon,  until  his  eye  caught  a view  of  the 
highlands  to  leeward,  when  the  whole  truth  burst 
upon  him  at  once. 

“ I’ve  sent  for  you,  Master  Jasper,”  said  Cap, 
folding  his  arms,  and  balancing  his  body  with 
the  dignity  of  the  forecastle,  “ in  order  to  learn 
something  about  the  haven  to  leeward.  We  take 
it  for  granted,  you  do  not  bear  malice  so  hard  as 
to  wish  to  drown  us  all,  especially  the  women ; 
and  I suppose  you  will  be  man  enough  to  help  us 
to  run  the  cutter  into  some  safe  berth,  until  this 
bit  of  a gale  has  done  blowing  ?*” 

“ I would  die  myself,  rather  than  harm  should 
come  to  Mabel  Dunham,”  the  young  man  earnest- 
ly answered. 

“ I knew  it ! — I knew  it ! ” cried  the  Pathfind- 
er, clapping  his  hand  kindly  on  Jasper’s  shoulder. 
“ The  lad  is  as  true  as  the  best  compass  that  ever 
run  a boundary,  or  brought  a man  off  from  a 
blind  trail ! It  is  a moral  sin  to  believe  other- 
wise.” 

“ Humph  ! ” ejaculated  Cap,  “ especially  the 
women ! As  if  they  were  in  any  particular  dan- 
ger.— Never  mind,  young  man ; we  shall  under- 
stand each  other  by  talking  like  two  plain  sea 
men.  Do  you  know  of  any  port  under  our  lee  ? ” 

“ None.  There  is  a large  bay  at  this  end  of 
the  lake,  but  it  is  unknown  to  us  all ; and  not 
easy  of  entrance.” 

“ And  this  coast  to  leeward — it  has  nothing 
particular  to  recommend  it,  I suppose  ? ” 

“ It  is  a wilderness  until  you  reach  the  mouth 


JASPER  ON  DECK. 


Ill 


of  the  Niagara,  in  one  direction,  and  Frontenac 
in  the  other.  North  and  west,  they  tell  me, 
there  is  nothing  but  forest  and  prairies,  for  a 
thousand  miles.” 

“ Thank  God,  then,  there  can  be  no  French! 
Are  there  many  savages,  hereaway,  on  the  land  ? ” 

“ The  Indians  are  to  be  found  in  all  directions ; 
though  they  are  nowhere  very  numerous.  By  ac- 
cident, we  might  find  a party  at  any  point  on  the 
shore ; or  we  might  pass  months  there,  without 
seeing  one.” 

“ We  must  take  our  chance^  then,  as  to  the 
blackguards — but,  to  be  frank  with  you,  Master 
Western — if  this  little  unpleasant  matter  about 
the  French  had  not  come  to  pass,  what  would 
you  now  do  with  the  cutter  ? ” 

“lama  much  younger  sailor  than  yourself, 
Master  Cap,”  said  Jasper,  modestly,  “ and  am 
hardly  fitted  to  advise  you.” 

“ Ay — ay — we  all  know  that.  In  a common 
case,  perhaps  not.  But  this  is  an  uncommon 
case,  and  a circumstance ; and,  on  this  bit  of 
fresh  water,  it  has  what  may  be  called  its  pecul- 
iarities ; and  so,  every  thing  considered,  you 
may  be  fitted  to  advise  even  your  own  father.  At 
all  events,  you  can  speak,  and  I can  judge  of 
your  opinions,  agreeably  to  my  own  experience.” 

“ I think,  sir,  before  two  hours  are  over,  the 
cutter  will  have  to  anchor.” 

“ Anchor ! — not  out  here,  in  the  lake  ? ” 

“ No,  sir ; but  in  yonder,  near  the  land.” 

“You  do  not  mean  to  say,  Master-Oh !-the 
deuce,  you  would  anchor  on  a lee-shore,  in  a gale 
of  wind ! ” 

“If  I would  save  my  vessel,  that  is  exactly 
what  I would  do,  Master  Cap.” 

“ Whe — e — e — w ! — this  is  fresh  water,  with 
a vengeance.  Harkee,  young  man,  I’ve  been  a 
seafaring  animal,  boy  and  man,  forty-one  years, 
and  I never  yet  heard  of  such  a thing.  I’d  throw 
my  ground-tackle  overboard,  before  I would  be 
guilty  of  so  lubberly  an  act ! ” 

“ That  is  what  we  do  on  this  lake,”  modestly 
replied  Jasper,  “when  we  are  hard  pressed.  I 
dare  say  we  might  do  better,  had  we  been  better 
taught.” 

“ That  you  might  indeed ! No ; no  man  in- 
duces me  to  commit  such  a sin  against  my  own 
bringing  up.  I should  never  dare  show  my  face 
inside  of  Sandy  Hook  again,  had  I committed  so 
know-nothing  an  exploit.  Why,  Pathfinder,  here, 
has  more  seamanship  in  him  than  that  comes  to. 
You  can  go  below,  again,  Master  Oh  !-the-deuce.” 

Jasper  quietly  bowed  and  withdrew ; still,  as 
he  passed  down  the  ladder,  the  spectators  ob- 
served that  he  cast  a lingering,  anxious  look  at 


the  horizon  to  windward,  and  the  land  to  lee- 
ward, and  then  disappeared  with  concern  strongh 
expressed  in  every  lineament  of  his  face. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

“His  still  refuted  quirks  he  still  repeats; 

New  raised  objections  with  new  quibbles  meets, 

Till  sinking  in  the  quicksand  he  defends, 

He  dies  disputing,  and  the  contest  ends.” 

Cowver. 

As  the  soldier’s  wife  was  sick  in  her  berth, 
Mabel  Dunham  was  the  only  person  in  the  outer 
cabin  when  Jasper  returned  to  it ; for,  by  an  act 
of  grace  in  the  sergeant,  he  had  been  permitted 
to  resume  his  proper  place  in  this  part  of  the 
vessel.  We  should  be  ascribing  too  much  sim- 
plicity of  character  to  our  heroine^  if  we  said  that 
she  had  felt  no  distrust  of  the  young  man,  in 
consequence  of  his  arrest ; but  we  should  also  be 
doing  injustice  to  her  warmth  of  feeling,  and 
generosity  of  disposition,  if  we  did  not  add  that 
that  this  distrust  was  insignificant  and  transient. 
As  he  now  took  his  seat  near  her,  his  whole 
countenance  clouded  with  the  uneasiness  he  felt 
concerning  the  situation  of  the  cutter,  every  thing 
like  suspicion  was  banished  from  her  mind,  and 
she. saw  in  him  only  an  injured  man. 

“ You  let  this  affair  weigh  too  heavily  on  your 
mind,  Jasper,”  she  said,  eagerly,  or  with  that 
forgetfulness  of  self,  with  which  the  youthful  of 
her  sex  are  wont  to  betray  their  feelings,  when  a 
strong  and  generous  interest  has  attained  the 
ascendency — “no  one,  who  knows  you,  can  or 
does  believe  you  guilty.  Pathfinder  says  he  will 
pledge  his  life  for  you.” 

“ Then  you,  Mabel,”  returned  the  youth,  his 
eyes  flashing  fire,  “ do  not  look  upon  me  as  the 
traitor  your  father  seems  to  believe  me  to  be  ? ” 

“ My  dear  father  is  a soldier,  and  is  obliged 
to  act  as  one.  My  father’s  daughter  is  not,  and 
will  think  of  you  as  she  ought  to  think  of  a man 
who  has  done  so  much  to  serve  her  already.” 

“ Mabel — I’m  not  used  to  talking  with  one  like 
you— or  saying  all  I think  and  feel,  with  any.  1 
never  had  a sister,  and  my  mother  died  when  I 
was  a child,  so  that  I know  little  what  your  sex 
most  likes  to  hear — ” 

Mabel  would  have  given  the  world  to  know 
what  lay  behind  the  teeming  word,  at  which 
Jasper  hesitated;  but  the  indefinable  and  con- 
trolling sense  of  womanly  diffidence  made  het 
suppress  her  womanly  curiosity.  She  waited  in 
silence  for  him  to  explain  his  own  meaning. 


112 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ I wish  to  say,  Mabel,”  the  young  man  con- 
tinued, after  a pause  which  he  found  sufficiently 
embarrassing,  “ that  I am  unused  to  the  ways  and 
©pinions  of  one  like  you,  and  that  you  must  im- 
agine all  I would  add.” 

Mabel  had  imagination  enough  to  fancy  any 
thing,  but  there  are  ideas  and  fedings  that  her 
sex  prefer  to  have  expressed,  before  they  yield 
them  all  their  own  sympathies,  and  she  had  a 
vague  consciousness  that  these  of  Jasper’s  might 
properly  be  enumerated  in  the  class ; with  a 
readiness  that  belonged  to  her  sex,  therefore,  she 
preferred  changing  the  discourse,  to  permitting  it 
to  proceed  any  further,  in  a manner  so  awkward 
and  so  unsatisfactory. 

“ Tell  me  one  thing,  Jasper,  and  I shall  be 
content,”  she  said,  speaking  now  with  a firmness 
that  denoted  confidence,  not  only  in  herself,  but 
in  her  companion — “ you  do  not  deserve  this 
cruel  suspicion  which  rests  upon  you  ? ” 

“ I do  not,  Mabel,”  answered  Jasper,  looking 
into  her  full  blue  eyes  with  an  openness  and 
simplicity  that  might  have  shaken  strong  distrust. 
“As  I hope  for  mercy  hereafter,  I do  not.” 

“ I knew  it — I could  have  sworn  it,”  returned 
the  girl,  warmly.  “And  yet  my  father  means 
well:  but  do  not  let  this  matter  disturb  you, 
Jasper.” 

“There  is  so  much  more  to  apprehend  from 
another  quarter,  just  now,  that  I scarce  think 
of  it.” 

“Jasper!” 

“ I do  not  wish  to  alarm  you,  Mabel,  but  if 
your  uncle  could  be  persuaded  to  change  his 
notions  about  handling  the  Scud — and  yet  he  is 
so  much  older  and  more  experienced  than  I am, 
that  he  ought,  perhaps,  to  place  more  reliance  on 
his  own  judgment  than  on  mine.” 

“ Do  you  think  the  cutter  in  any  danger  ? ” 
demanded  Mabel,  quick  as  thought. 

“I  fear  so — at  least  she  would  have  been 
thought  in  great  danger,  by  us  of  the  lake ; per- 
haps an  old  seaman  of  the  ocean  may  have  means 
of  his  own  to  take  care  of  her.” 

“Jasper,  all  agree  in  giving  you  credit  for 
skill  in  managing  the  Scud ! You  know  the  lake, 
you  know  the  cutter — you  must  be  the  best  judge 
of  our  real  situation  ! ” 

“ My  concern  for  you,  Mabel,  may  make  me 
more  cowardly  than  common ; but,  to  be  frank, 
I see  but  one  method  of  keeping  the  cutter  from 
being  wrecked  in  the  course  of  the  next  two  or 
three  hours,  and  that  your  uncle  refuses  to  take. 
After  all,  this  may  be  my  ignorance ; for,  as  he 
says,  Ontario  is  merely  fresh  water.” 

“You  cannot  believe  this  will  make  any  dif- 


ference. Think  of  my  dear  father,  Jasper! 
Think  of  yourself,  of  all  the  lives  that  depend  on 
a timely  word  from  you  to  save  them ! ” 

“I  think  of  you,  Mabel,  and  that  is  more, 
much  more,  than  all  the  rest  put  together,”  re- 
turned the  young  man,  with  a strength  of  expres- 
sion, and  an  earnestness  of  look,  that  uttered 
infinitely  more  than  the  words  themselves. 

Mabel’s  heart  beat  quick,  and  a gleam  of 
grateful  satisfaction  shot  across  her  blushing 
features ; but  the  alarm  was  too  vivid  and  too 
serious  to  admit  of  much  relief  from  happier 
thoughts.  She  did  not  attempt  to  repress  a look 
of  gratitude,  and  then  she  returned  to  the  feeling 
that  was  naturally  uppermost. 

“ My  uncle’s  obstinacy  must  not  be  permitted 
to  occasion  this  disaster.  Go  once  more  on  deck, 
Jasper,  and  ask  my  father  to  come  into  the 
cabin.” 

While  the  young  man  was  complying  with 
this  request,  Mabel  sat  listening  to  the  howling 
of  the  storm,  and  the  dashing  of  the  water  against 
the  cutter,  in  a dread  to  which  she  had  hitherto 
been  a stranger.  Constitutionally  an  excellent 
sailor,  as  the  term  is  used  among  passengers,  she 
had  not,  hitherto,  bethought  her  of  any  danger, 
and  had  passed  her  time,  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  gale,  in  such  womanly  enployments 
as  her  situation  allowed ; but,  now  alarm  was  seri- 
ously awakened,  she  did  not  fail  to  perceive  that 
never  before  had  she  been  on  the  water  in  such  a 
tempest.  The  minute  or  two  that  had  elapsed 
ere  the  sergeant  came,  appeared  an  hour,  and  she 
scarcely  breathed  when  she  saw  him  and  Jasper 
descending  the  ladder  in  company.  Quick  as 
language  could  express  her  meaning,  she  ac- 
quainted her  father  with  Jasper’s  opinion  of  their 
situation,  and  entreated  him,  if  he  loved  her,  or 
had  any  regard  for  his  own  life,  or  for  those  of 
his  own  men,  to  interfere  with  her  uncle,  and  to 
induce  him  to  yield  the  control  of  the  cutter 
again  to  its  proper  commander. 

“ Jasper  is  true,  father,”  she  added,  earnestly, 
“ and  if  false,  he  could  have  no  motive  in  wreck- 
ing us  in  this  distant  part  of  the  lake,  at  the  risk 
of  all  our  lives,  his  own  included.  I will  pledge 
my  own  life  for  his  truth.” 

“ Ay,  this  is  well  enough  for  a young  woman 
who  is  frightened,”  answered  the  more  phleg- 
matic pai’ent ; “ but  it  might  not  be  so  prudent  or 
excusable  in  one  in  command  of  an  expedition. 
Jasper  may  think  the  chance  of  drowning  in  get- 
ting ashore  fully  repaid  by  the  chance  of  escap- 
ing as  soon  as  he  reaches  the  land.” 

“ Sergeant  Dunham ! ” 

“ Father ! ” 


THE  PILOT’S  OPINION. 


113 


These  exclamations  were  made  simultane- 
ously, but  they  were  uttered  in  tones  expressive 
of  different  feelings.  In  Jasper,  surprise  was  the 
emotion  uppermost ; in  Mabel,  reproach.  The 
old  soldier,  however,  was  too  much  accustomed 
to  deal  frankly  with  subordinates  to  heed  either ; 
and,  after  a moment’s  thought,  he  continued  as  if 
neither  had  spoken : 

“Nor  is  brother  Cap  a man  likely  to  submit 
to  be  taught  his  duty  on  board  a vessel.” 

“ But,  father,  when  all  our  lives  are  in  the  ut- 
most jeopardy ! ” 

“ So  much  the  worse.  The  fair-weather  com- 
mander is  no  great  matter ; it  is  when  things  go 
wrong,  that  the  best  officer  shows  himself  in  his 
true  colors.  Charles  Cap  will  not  be  likely  to 
quit  the  helm  because  the  ship  is  in  danger. — Be- 
sides, Jasper  Eau-douce,  he  says,  your  proposal, 
in  itself,  has  a suspicious  air  ftbout  it,  and  sounds 
more  like  treachery  than  reason.” 

“ He  may  think  so,  but  let  him  send  for  the 
pilot,  and  hear  his  opinion.  It  is  well  known  I 
have  not  seen  the  man  since  yesterday  evening.” 

“ This  does  sound  reasonably,  and  the  experi- 
ment shall  be  tried.  Follow  me  on  deck,  then, 
that  all  may  be  honest  and  above-board.” 

Jasper  obeyed,  and  so  keen  was  the  interest 
of  Mabel,  that  she,  too,  ventured  as  far  as  the 
companion-way,  where  her  garments  were  suffi- 
ciently protected  against  the  violence  of  the  wind, 
and  her  person  from  the  spray.  Here  maiden 
modesty  induced  her  to  remain,  though  an  ab- 
sorbed witness  of  what  was  passing. 

The  pilot  soon  appeared,  and  there  was  no 
mistaking  the  look  of  concern  that  he  cast  around 
at  the  scene,  as  soon  as  he  was  in  the  open  air. 
Some  rumors  of  the  situation  of  the  Scud  had 
found  their  way  below,  it  is  true  ; but,  in  this  in- 
stance, rumor  had  lessened,  instead  of  magnifying 
the  dangers.  He  was  allowed  a few  minutes  to 
look  about  him,  and  then  the  question  was  put 
as  to  the  course  that  he  thought  it  prudent  to 
follow. 

“ I see  no  means  of  saving  the  cutter  but  to 
anchor,”  he  answered,  simply,  and  without  hesi- 
tation. 

“ What,  out  here,  in  the  lake  ? ” inquired 
Cap,  as  he  had  previously  done  of  Jasper. 

“ No — but  closer  in  ; just  at  the  outer  line  of 
the  breakers.” 

The  effect  of  this  communication  was  to  leave 
no  doubt  in  the  mind  of  Cap,  that  there  was  a 
secret  arrangement  between  her  commander  and 
the  pilot  to  cast  away  the  Scud  ; most  probably 
with  the  hope  of  effecting  their  escape.  He  con- 
•equently  treated  the  opinion  of  the  latter  with 
34  ‘ 8 


the  indifference  he  had  manifested  toward  that  of 
the  former. 

“ I tell  you,  brother  Dunham,”  he  said,  in  an- 
swer to  the  remonstrances  of  the  sergeant  against 
his  turning  a deaf  ear  to  this  double  representa- 
tion, “ that  no  seaman  would  give  such  an  opinion 
honestly.  To  anchor  on  a lee-shore,  in  a gale  of 
wind,  would  be  an  act  of  madness  that  I could 
never  excuse  to  the  underwriters,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances, as  long  as  a rag  can  be  set — but  to 
anchor  close  to  breakers  would  be  insanity.” 

“ His  majesty  underwrites  the  Scud,  brother, 
and  I am  responsible  for  the  lives  of  my  com- 
mand. These  men  are  better  acquainted  with 
Lake  Ontario  than  we  can  possibly  be,  and  I do 
think  their  telling  the  same  tale  entitles  them  to 
some  credit.” 

“ Uncle ! ” said  Mabel,  earnestly — but  a ges- 
ture from  Jasper  induced  the  girl  to  restrain  her 
feelings. 

“We  are  drifting  down  upon  the  breakers  so 
rapidly,”  said  the  young  man,  “ that  little  need 
be  said  on  the  subject.  Half  an  hour  must  settle 
the  matter,  one  way  or  the  other ; but  I warm 
Master  Cap  that  the  surest-footed  man  among,  us 
will  not  be  able  to  keep  his  feet  an  instant  on 
the  deck  of  this  low  craft,  should  she  fairly  get, 
within  them.  Indeed,  I make  little  doubt  that 
we  shall  fill  and  founder  before  the  second  line 
of  rollers  is  passed ! ” 

“ And  how  would  anchoring  help  the  mat-  * 
ter?  ” demanded  Cap,  furiously,  as  if  he  felt  that 
Jasper  was  responsible  for  the  effects  of  the 
gale,  as  well  as  for  the  opinion  he  had  just  given. 

“ It  would  at  least  do  no  harm,”  Eau-douce- 
mildly  replied.  “ By  bringing  the  cutter  head:  to* 
sea  we  should  lessen  her  drift ; and,  even  if  we- 
dragged  through  the  breakers,  it  would  be  with; 
the  least  possible  danger.  I hope,  Master  Cap,, 
you  will  allow  the  pilot  and  myself  to  prepare  fox*- 
anchoring,  since  the  precaution  may  do  good,, 
and  can  do  no  harm.” 

“ Overhaul  your  ranges  if  you  will,  and  get 
your  anchors  clear,  with  all  my  heart.  We  are 
now  in  a situation  that  cannot  be  much  affected 
by  any  thing  of  that  sort. — Sergeant,  a word  with 
you  aft  here,  if  you  please.” 

Cap  led  his  brother-in-law  out  of  ear-shot, 
and  then,  with  more  of  human  feeling  in  his  voice 
and  manner  than  he  was  apt  to  exhibit,  he  opened 
his  heart  on  the  subject  of  their  real  situation. 

“ This  is  a melancholy  affair  for  poor  Mabel,” 
he  said,  blowing  his  nose,  and  speaking  with  a 
slight  tremor.  “You  and  I,  sergeant,  are  old 
fellows,  and  used  to  being  near  death,  if  not  to 
actually  dying.  Our  trades  fit  us  for  such  scenes ; 


114 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


but  poor  Mabel,  she  is  an  affectionate  and  kind- 
hearted  girl,  and  I had  hoped  to  see  her  comfort- 
ably settled  and  a mother,  betore  my  time  came. 
Well,  well ; we  must  take  the  bad  with  the  good 
in  every  v’y’ge,  and  the  only  serious  objection 
that  an  old  seafaring  man  can  with  propriety 
make  to  such  an  event,  is  that  it  should  happen 
on  this  bit  of  d d fresh  water.” 

Sergeant  Dunham  was  a brave  man,  and  had 
shown  his  spirit  in  scenes  that  looked  much  more 
appalling  than  this.  But  on  all  such  occasions 
he  had  been  able  to  act  his  part  against  his  foes, 
while  here  he  was  pressed  upon  by  an  enemy 
whom  he  had  no  means  of  resisting.  For  himself 
he  cared  far  less  than  for  his  daughter,  feeling 
some  of  that  self-reliance  which  seldom  deserts  a 
man  of  firmness,  who  is  in  vigorous  health,  and 
who  has  been  accustomed  to  personal  exertions 
in  moments  of  jeopardy.  But  as  respects  Mabel 
he  saw  no  means  of  escape,  and  with  a father’s 
fondness  he  at  once  determined  that,  if  either  was 
doomed  to  perish,  he  and  his  daughter  must  per- 
ish together. 

“ Do  you  think  this  must  come  to  pass  ? ” he 
asked  of  Cap,  firmly,  but  with  strong  feeling. 

“ Twenty  minutes  will  carry  us  into  the  break- 
ers, and  look  for  yourself,  sergeant,  what  chance 
will  even  the  stoutest  man  among  us  have  in  that 
caldron  to  leeward  ? ” 

The  prospect  was,  indeed,  little  calculated  to 
encourage  hope.  By  this  time  the  Scud  was 
within  a mile  of  the  shore,  on  which  the  gale  was 
blowing  at  right  angles,  with  a violence  that  for- 
bade the  idea  of  showing  any  additional  canvas 
with  a view  to  claw  off.  The  small  portion  of  the 
mainsail  that  was  actually  set,  and  which  merely 
served  to  keep  the  head  of  the  Scud  so  near  the 
wind  as  to  prevent  the  waves  from  breaking  over 
her,  quivered  under  the  gusts  as  if  at  each  mo- 
ment the  stout  threads  which  held  the  complicated 
fabric  together,  were  about  to  be  torn  asunder. 
The  drizzle  had  ceased,  but  the  air  for  a hundred 
feet  above  the  surface  of  the  lake  was  filled  with 
dazzling  spray,  which  had  an  appearance  not  un- 
like that  of  a brilliant  mist,  while,  above  all,  the 
sun  was  shining  gloriously  in  a cloudless  sk}*'. 
Jasper  had  noted  the  omen,  and  had  foretold  that 
it  announced  a speedy  termination  to  the  gale, 
though  the  next  hour  or  two  must  decide  their 
fate.  Between  the  cutter  and  the  shore  the  view 
was  still  more  wild  and  appalling.  The  breakers 
extended  near  half  a mile  ; while  the  water  within 
their  line  was  white  with  foam,  the  air  above  them 
was  so  far  filled  with  vapor  and  spray  as  to  ren- 
der the  land  beyond  hazy  and  indistinct.  Still  it 
could  be  seen  that  the  latter  was  high,  not  a usu-  I 


al  thing  for  the  shores  of  Ontario,  and  that  it  was 
covered  with  the  verdant  mantle  of  the  intormi. 
nable  forest. 

While  the  sergeant  and  Cap  were  gazing  at 
this  scene  in  silence,  Jasper  and  his  people  were 
actively  engaged  on  the  forecastle.  No  sooner 
had  the  young  man  received  permission  to  resume 
his  old  employment,  than,  appealing  to  some  of 
the  soldiers  for  aid,  he  mustered  five  or  six  assist- 
ants, and  set  about  in  earnest  the  performance 
of  a duty  that  had  been  too  long  delayed;  On 
these  narrow  waters  anchors  are  never  stowed 
inboard,  or  cables  that  are  intended  for  service 
unbent,  and  Jasper  was  saved  much  of  the  labor 
that  would  have  been  necessary  in  a vessel  at 
sea.  The  two  bowers  were  soon  ready  to  be  let 
go,  ranges  of  the  cables  were  overhauled,  and 
then  the  party  parsed  to  look  about  them.  No 
changes  for  the  better  had  occurred  ; but  the  cut- 
ter was  falling  slowly  in,  and  each  instant  ren- 
dered it  more  certain  that  she  could  not  gain  an 
inch  to  windward. 

One  long,  earnest  survey  of  the  lake  ended. 
Jasper  gave  new  orders  in  a manner  to  prove 
how  much  he  thought  that  the  time  pressed. 
Two  kedges  were  got  on  deck,  and  hawsers  were 
bent  to  them  ; the  inner  ends  of  the  hawsers  were 
bent  in  their  turns  to  the  crowns  of  the  anchors* 
and  every  thing  was  got  ready  to  throw  them 
overboard  at  the  proper  moment.  These  prepa- 
rations completed,  Jasper’s  manner  changed  from 
the  excitement  of  exertion  to  a look  of  calm  but 
settled  concern.  He  quitted  the  forecastle,  where 
the  seas  were  dashing  inboard  at  every  plunge  of 
the  vessel,  the  duty  just  mentioned  having  been 
executed  with  the  bodies  of  the  crew  frequently 
buried  in  the  water,  and  walked  to  a drier  part 
of  the  deck  aft.  Here  he  was  met  by  the  Path- 
finder, who  was  standing  near  Mabel  and  the 
quartermaster.  Most  of  those  on  board,  with  the 
exception  of  the  individuals  who  have  already 
been  particularly  mentioned,  were  below,  some 
seeking  relief  from  physical  suffering  on  their 
pallets,  and  others  tardily  bethinking  them  of  their 
sins.  For  the  first  time,  most  probably,  since  her 
keel  had  dipped  into  the  limpid  waters  of  Onta- 
rio, the  voice  of  prayer  was  heard  on  board  the 
Scud. 

“ Jasper,”  commenced  his  friend  the  guide, 
“ I have  been  of  no  use  this  morning,  for  my  gifts 
are  of  little  account,  as  you  know,  in  a vessel  like 
this ; but,  should  it  please  God  to  let  the  ser- 
geant’s daughter  reach  the  shore  alive,  my  ac- 
quaintance with  the  forest  may  still  carry  hex 
through  in  safety  to.  the  garrison.” 

[ “ ’Tis  a fearful  distance  thither,  Pathfinder  I” 


THE  CUTTER  SAVED. 


115 


Mabel  rejoined,  the  party  being  so  near  together 
that  all  that  was  said  by  onfe  was  overheard  by 
the  others.  “ I am  afraid  none  of  us  could  live 
to  reach  the  fort.” 

“It  would  be  a risky  path,  Mabel,  and  a 
crooked  one  ; though  some  of  your  sex  have  un- 
dergone even  more  than  that  in  this  wilderness. 
— But,  Jasper,  either  you  or  I,  or  both  of  us,  must 
man  this  bark  canoe ; Mabel’s  only  chance  will 
lie  in  getting  through  the  breakers  in  that.” 

“ I would  willingly  man  any  thing  to  save  Ma- 
bel,” answered  Jasper,  with  a melancholy  smile ; 
“ but  no  human  hand,  Pathfinder,  could  carry 
that  canoe  through  yonder  breakers  in  a gale 
like  this.  I have  hopes  from  anchoring,  after 
all ; for  once  before  have  we  saved  the  Scud  in  an 
extremity  nearly  as  great  as  this.” 

“ If  we  are  to  anchor,  Jasper,”  the  sergeant 
inquired.  “ why  not  do  it  at  ouce  ? Every  foot 
we  lose  in  drifting  now  would  come  into  the  dis- 
tance we  shall  probably  drag  when  the  anchors 
are  let  go.” 

Jasper  drew  nearer  to  the  sergeant  and  took 
his  hand,  pressing  it  earnestly,  and  in  a way  to 
denote  strong,  almost  uncontrollable  feelings. 

“ Sergeant  Dunham,”  he  said,  solemnly,  “ you 
are  a good  man,  though  you  have  treated  me 
harshly  in  this  business.  You  love  your  daugh- 
ter?” 

“That  you  cannot  doubt,  Eau-douce,”  re- 
turned the  sergeant,  huskily. 

“ Will  you  give  her — give  us  all,  the  only 
chance  for  life  that  is  left  ?*” 

“ What  would  you  have  me  to  do,  boy  ; what 
would  you  have  me  to  do  ? I have  acted  accord- 
ing to  my  judgment  hitherto — what  would  you 
have  me  do  ? ” 

“ Support  me  against  Master  Cap  for  five 
minutes,  and  all  that  man  can  do  toward  saving 
the  Scud  shall  be  done.” 

The  sergeant  hesitated,  for  he  was  too  much 
of  a disciplinarian  to  fly  in  the  face  of  regular 
orders.  He  disliked  the  appearance  of  vacilla- 
tion, too ; and  then  he  had  a profound  respect 
for  his  kinsman’s  seamanship.  While  he  was  de- 
liberating, Cap  came  from  the  post  he  had  some 
time  occupied,  which  was  at  the  side  of  the  man 
at  the  helm,  and  drew  nigh  the  group. 

“ Master  Eau-douce,”  he  said,  as  soon  as  near 
enough  to  be  heard,  “ I have  come  to  inquire  if 
you  know  any  spot  near  by  where  this  cutter  can 
be  beached  ? The  moment  has  arrived  when  we 
are  driven  to  this  hard  alternative.” 

Jhat  instant  of  indecision  on  the  part  of  Cap 
secured  the  triumph  of  Jasper.  Looking  at  the 
sergeant,  the  young  man  received  a nod  that  as- 


sured him  of  all  he  asked,  and  he  lost  not  one  of 
those  moments  that  were  getting  to  be  so  very 
precious. 

“ Shall  I take  the  helm  ? ” he  inquired  of 
Cap,  “ and  see  if  we  can  x'each  a creek  that  lies 
to  leeward  ? ” 

“Do  so — do  so — ” said  the  other,  hemming 
to  clear  his  throat,  for  he  felt  oppressed  by  a re- 
sponsibility that  weighed  all  the  heavier  on  his 
shoulders  on  account  of  his  ignorance.  “Do  so, 
Oh-the-deuce,  since,  to  be  frank  with  you,  I can 
see  nothing  better  to  be  done.  We  must  beach 
or  swamp ! ” 

Jasper  required  no  more.  Springing  aft,  he 
soon  had  the  tiller  in  his  own  hands.  The  pilot 
was  prepared  for  what  was  to  follow,  and,  at  a 
sign  from  his  young  commander,  the  rag  of  sail 
that  had  so  long  been  set  was  taken  in.  At  that 
moment,  Jasper,  watching  his  time,  put  the  helm 
up,  the  head  of  a staysail  was  loosened  forward, 
and  the  light  cutter,  as  if  conscious  she  was  now 
under  the  control  of  familiar  hands,  fell  off,  and 
was  soon  in  the  trough  of  the  sea.  This  perilous 
instant  was  passed  in  safety,  and  at  the  next  mo- 
ment the  little  vessel  appeared  flying  down  tow- 
ard the  breakers  at  a rate  that  threatened  instant 
destruction.  The  distances  had  got  to  be  so 
short,  that  five  or  six  minutes  sufficed  for  all  that 
Jasper  wished,  and  he  put  the  helm  down  again, 
when  the  bows  of  the  Scud  came  up  to  the  wind,  r 
notwithstanding  the  turbulence  of  the  waters,  as 
gracefully  as  the  duck  varies  its  line  of  direction 
on  the  glassy  pond.  A sign  from  Jasper  set  all 
in  motion  on  the  forecastle,  and  a kedge  was 
thrown  from  each  bow.  The  fearful  nature  of 
the  drift  was  now  apparent  even  to  Mabel’s  eyes, 
for  the  two  hawsers  ran  out  like  tow-lines.  As 
soon  as  they  straightened  to  a slight  strain,  both 
anchors  were  let  go,  and  cable  was  given  to  each 
nearly  to  the  better-ends.  It  was  not  a difficult 
task  to  snub  so  light  a craft  with  ground  tackle 
of  a quality  better  than  common;  and,  in  less 
than  ten  minutes  from  the  moment  when  Jasper 
went  to  the  helm,  the  Scud  was  riding,  head  to 
sea,  with  the  two  cables  stretched  ahead  in  lines 
that  resembled  bars  of  iron. 

“ This  is  not  well  done,  Master  Jasper ! ” an- 
grily exclaimed  Cap,  as  soon  as  he  perceived  the 
trick  that  had  been  played  him — “ this  is  not  well 
done,  sir ; I order  you  to  cut,  and  to  beach  the 
cutter,  without  a moment’s  delay.” 

No  one,  however,  seemed  disposed  to  comply 
with  this  order,  for  so  long  as  Eau-douce  saw  fit 
to  command,  his  own  people  were  disposed  to 
obey.  Finding  that  the  men  remained  passive, 
Cap,  who  believed  they  were  in  the  utmost  peril, 


116 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


turned  fiercely  to  Jasper,  and  renewed  his  remon- 
strances. 

“You  did  not  head  for  your  pretended  creek,” 
he  added,  after  dealing  in  some  objurgatory  re- 
marks that  we  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  re- 
cord, “but  steered  for  that  bluff,  where  every 
soul  on  board  would  have  been  drowned,  had  we 
gone  ashore ! ” 

“ And  you  wish  to  cut,  and  put  every  soul 
ashore,  at  that  very  spot ! ” Jasper  retorted,  a lit- 
tle dryly. 

“ Throw  a lead-line  overboard,  and  ascertain 
the  drift ! — ” Cap  now  roared  to  the  people  for- 
ward. A sign  from  Jasper  sustaining  this  order, 
it  was  instantly  obeyed.  All  on  deck  gathered 
round  the  spot,  and  watched,  with  nearly  breath- 
less interest,  the  result  of  the  experiment.  The 
lead  was  no  sooner  on  the  bottom,  than  the  line 
tended  forward,  and  in  about  two  minutes  it  was 
seen  that  the  cutter  had  drifted  her  length,  dead 
in  toward  the  bluff.  Jasper  looked  grave,  for  he 
well  knew  nothing  would  hold  the  vessel  did  she 
get  within  the  vortex  of  the  breakers,  the  first 
line  of  which  was  appearing  and  disappearing 
about  a cable’s  length  directly  under  their  stern. 

“ Traitor  ! ” exclaimed  Cap,  shaking  a finger 
at  the  young  commander,  though  passion  choked 
the  rest.  “ You  must  answer  for  this  with  your 
life ! ” he  added,  after  a short  pause. — “ If  I were 
at  the  head  of  this  expedition,  sergeant,  I would 
hang  him  at  the  end  of  the  main-boom,  lest  he 
escape  drowning ! ” 

“ Moderate  your  feelings,  brother — be  more 
moderate,  I beseech  you  ; Jasper  appears  to  have 
done  all  for  the  best,  and  matters  may  not  be  as 
bad  as  you  believe  them.” 

“ Why  did  he  not  run  for  the  creek  he  men- 
tioned— why  has  he  brought  us  here,  dead  to 
windward  of  that  bluff,  and  to  a spot  where  even 
the  breakers  are  only  of  half  the  ordinary  width, 
as  if  in  a hurry  to  drown  all  on  board  ? ” 

“ I headed  for  the  bluff,  for  the  precise  rea- 
son that  the  breakers  are  so  narrow  at  this  spot,” 
answered  Jasper,  mildly,  though  his  gorge  had 
risen  at  the  language  the  other  held. 

“ Do  you  mean  to  tell  an  old  seaman  like  me, 
that  this  cutter  could  live  in  those  breakers  ? ” 

“ I do  not,  sir.  I think  she  would  fill  and 
swamp,  if  driven  into  the  first  line  of  them — I 
am  certain  she  would  never  reach  the  shore  on 
her  bottom,  if  fairly  entered.  I hope  to  keep  her 
clear  of  them  altogether.” 

“ With  a drift  of  her  length  m a minute  ! ” 

“ The  backing  of  the  anchors  does  not  yet 
fairly  tell,  nor  do  I even  hope  that  they  will  en- 
tirely bring  her  up.” 


“ On  what  do  you  rely  ? To  moor  a craft, 
head  and  stem,  by«  faith,  hope,  and  charity ! ” 

“No,  sir — I trust  to  the  under-tow.  I headed 
for  the  bluff,  because  I knew  that  it  was  stronger 
at  that  point  than  at  any  other,  and  because  we 
could  get  nearer  in  with  the  land  without  enter- 
ing the  breakers.” 

This  was  said  wTith  spirit,  though  without  any 
particular  show  of  resentment.  Its  effect  on  Cap 
was  marked,  the  feeling  that  was  uppermost  being 
evidently  that  of  surprise. 

“ Under-tow  ! ” he  repeated  ; “ who  the  devil 
ever  heard  of  saving  a vessel  from  going  ashore 
by  the  under-tow  ? ” 

“ This  may  never  happen  on  the  ocean,  sir,” 
Jasper  answered,  modestly,  “ but  we  have  known 
it  to  happen  here.” 

“ The  lad  is  right,  brother,”  put  in  the  ser- 
geant ; “ for,  though  I do  not  well  understand  it, 
I have  often  heard  the  sailors  of  the  lake  speak 
of  such  a thing.  We  shall  do  well  to  trust  to 
Jasper,  in  this  strait.” 

Cap  grumbled  and  swore,  but,  as  there  was  no 
remedy,  he  was  compelled  to  acquiesce.  Jasper 
being  now  called  on  to  explain  what  he  meant  by 
the  under-tow,  gave  this  account  of  the  matter : 
The  water  that  was  driven  up  on  the  shore  by  the 
gale,  was  necessarily  compelled  to  find  its  level 
by  returning  to  the  lake  by  some  secret  channels. 
This  could  not  be  done  on  the  surface,  where 
both  wind  and  waves  were  constantly  urging  it 
toward  the  land,  and  it  necessarily  formed  a sort 
of  lower  eddy,  by  means  of  which  it  flowed  back 
again  to  its  ancient  and  proper  bed.  This  in- 
ferior current  had  received  the  name  of  the  un- 
der-tow ; and,  as  it  would  necessarily  act  on  the 
bottom  of  a vessel  that  drew  as  much  water  as 
the  Scud,  Jasper  trusted  to  the  aid  of  this  reac- 
tion to  keep  his  cables  from  parting.  In  short, 
the  upper  and  lower  currents  would,  in  a manner, 
counteract  each  other. 

Simple  and  ingenious  as  was  this  theory,  how- 
ever, as  yet  there  was  little  evidence  of  its  being 
reduced  to  practice.  The  drift  continued  ; though, 
as  the  kedges  and  hawsers  with  which  the  an- 
chors were  backed  took  the  strains,  it  became 
sensibly  less.  At  length  the  man  at  the  lead 
announced  the  joyful  intelligence  that  the  an- 
chors had  ceased  to  drag,  and  that  the  vessel 
had  brought  up  ! At  this  precise  moment,  the 
first  line  of  breakers  was  about  a hundred  feet 
astern  of  the  Scud,  even  appearing  to  approach 
much  nearer,  as  the  foam  vanished  and  returneu 
on  the  raging  surges.  Jasper  sprang  forward, 
and,  casting  a glance  over  the  bows,  he  smifed  in 
triumph,  as  he  pointed  exultingly  to  the  cablea 


LANDING  OF  MABEL  AND  HER  PARTY. 


117 


Instead  of  resembling  bars  of  iron  in  rigidity,  as 
before,  they  were  curving  downward,  and  to  a 
seaman’s  senses  it  was  evident  that  the  cutter 
rose  and  fell  on  the  seas  as  they  came  in,  with 
the  ease  of  a ship  in  a tideway,  when  the  power 
of  the  wind  is  relieved  by  the  counteracting  press- 
ure of  the  water. 

“ ’Tis  the  under-tow ! ” he  exclaimed,  with 
delight,  fairly  bounding  along  the  deck  to  steady 
the  helm,  in  order  that  the  cutter  might  ride  still 
easier — “ Providence  has  placed  us  directly  in  its 
current,  and  there  is  no  longer  any  danger ! ” 

“Ay,  ay,  Providence  is  a good  seaman,” 
growled  Cap,  “and  often  helps  lubbers  out  of 
difficulty.  Under-tow  or  upper-tow,  the  gale 
has  abated,  and,  fortunately  for  us  all,  the  anchors 
have  met  with  good  holding-ground.  Then  this 

d d fresh  water  has  an  unnatural  way  with 

it!”- 

Men  are  seldom  inclined  to  quarrel  with  good 
fortune,  but  it  is  in  distress  that  they  grow  clam- 
orous and  critical.  Most  on  board  were  disposed 
to  believe  that  they  had  been  saved  from  ship- 
wreck by  the  skill  and  knowledge  of  Jasper,  with- 
out regarding  the  opinions  of  Cap,  whose  remarks 
were  now  little  heeded. 

There  was  half  an  hour  of  uncertainty  and 
doubt,  it  is  true,  during  which  period  the  lead 
was  anxiously  watched ; and  then  a feeling  of 
security  came  over  all,  and  the  weary  slept  with- 
out dreaming  of  instant  death. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

“ It  Is  to  be  all  made  of  sighs  and  tears : 

It  is  to  be  all  made  of  faith  and  service : 

It  is  to  be  all  made  of  fantasy— 

All  made  of  passion,  and  all  made  of  wishes : 

All  adoration,  duty,  and  observance ; 

All  humbleness,  all  patience,  and  impatience, 

All  purity,  all  trial,  all  observance.” 

Shakespeare. 

It  was  near  noon  when  the  gale  broke ; and 
then  its  force  abated  as  suddenly  as  its  violence 
had  arisen.  In  less  than  two  hours  after  the 
wind  fell,  the  surface  of  the  lake,  though  still 
agitated,  was  no  longer  glittering  with  foam  ; and, 
in  double  that  time,  the  entire  sheet  presented 
the  ordinary  scene  of  disturbed  water,  that  was 
unbroken  by  the  violence  of  a tempest.  Still  the 
waves  came  rolling  incessantly  toward  the  shore, 
and  the  lines  of  breakers  remained,  though  the 
spray  had  ceased  to  fly:  the  combing  of  the 
swells  was  more  moderate,  and  all  that  there  was 
of  violence  procgeded  from  the  impulsion  of 
wind  that  had  abated. 


As  it  was  impossible  to  make  head  against 
the  sea  that  was  still  up,  with  the  light  opposing 
air  that  blew  from  the  eastward,  all  thoughts  of 
getting  under  way  that  afternoon  were  aban- 
doned. Jasper,  who  had  now  quietly  resumed 
the  command  of  the  Scud,  busied  himself,  how- 
ever, in  heaving  up  to  the  anchors,  which  were 
lifted  in  succession.  The  kedges  that  backed 
them  were  weighed,  and  every  thing  was  got  in 
readiness  for  a prompt  departure,  as  soon  as  the 
state  of  the  weather  would  allow.  In  the  mean 
time,  they  who  had  no  concern  with  those  duties 
sought  such  means  of  amusement  as  their  pecul- 
iar circumstances  allowed. 

As  is  common  with  those  who  are  unused  to 
the  confinement  of  a vessel,  Mabel  cast  wistful 
eyes  toward  the  shore ; nor  was  it  long  before 
she  expressed  a wish  that  it  were  possible  to 
land.  The  Pathfinder  was  near  her  at  the  time, 
and  he  assured  her  that  nothing  would  be  easier, 
as  they  had  a bark  canoe  on  deck,  which  was 
the  best  possible  mode  of  conveyance  to  go 
through  a surf.  After  the  usual  doubts  and  mis- 
givings, the  sergeant  was  appealed  to  : his  opinion 
proved  to  be  favorable,  and  preparations  to  carry 
the  whim  into  effect  were  immediately  made. 

The  party  that  was  to  land  consisted  of  Ser- 
geant Dunham,  his  daughter,  and  the  Pathfinder. 
Accustomed  to  the  canoe,  Mabel  took  her  seat 
in  the  centre  with  great  steadiness,  her  father  was 
placed  in  the  bows,  while  the  guide  assumed  the  of- 
fice of  conductor,  by  steering  in  the  stern.  There 
was  little  need  of  impelling  the  canoe  by  means 
of  the  paddle,  for  the  rollers  sent  it  forward,  at 
moments,  with  a violence  that  set  every  effort  to 
govern  its  movements  at  defiance.  More  than 
once,  ere  the  shore  was  reached,  Mabel  repented 
of  her  temerity,  but  Pathfinder  encouraged  her, 
and  really  manifested  so  much  self-possession, 
coolness,  and  strength  of  arm  himself,  that  even 
a female  might  have  hesitated  about  owning  all 
her  apprehensions.  Our  heroine  was  no  coward, 
and,  while  she  felt  the  novelty  of  her  situation, 
she  also  experienced  a fair  proportion  of  its 
wild  delight.  At  moments,  indeed,  her  heart  was 
in  her  mouth,  as  the  bubble  of  a boat  floated  on 
the  very  crest  of  a foaming  breaker,  appearing 
to  skim  the  water  like  a swallow,  and  then  she 
flushed  and  laughed,  as,  left  by  the  glancing  ele- 
ment they  appeared  to  linger  behind,  ashamed  of 
having  been  outdone  in  the  headlong  race.  A 
few  minutes  sufficed  for  this  excitement,  for, 
though  the  distance  between  the  cutter  and  the 
land  considerably  exceeded  a quarter  of  a mile, 
the  intermediate  space  was  passed  in  a very  few 
minutes. 


118 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


On  landing,  the  sergeant  kissed  his  daughter 
kindly,  for  he  was  so  much  of  a soldier  as  always 
to  feel  more  at  home  on  terra  firma  than  when 
afloat,  and,  taking  his  gun,  he  announced  his  in- 
tention to  pass  an  hour  in  quest  of  game. 

“ Pathfinder  will  remain  near  you,  girl,  and  no 
doubt  he  will  tell  you  some  of  the  traditions  of 
tins  part  of  the  world,  or  some  of  his  own  ex- 
periences with  the  Mingoes.  ” 

The  guide  laughed,  promised  to  have  a care 
of  Mabel,  and  in  a few  minutes  the  father  had  as- 
cended a steep  acclivity,  and  disappeared  in  the 
forest.  The  others  took  another  direction,  which, 
after  a few  minutes  of  sharp  ascent  also,  brought 
them  to  a small  naked  point  on  the  promontory, 
where  the  eye  overlooked  an  extensive  and  very 
peculiar  panorama.  Here  Mabel  seated  herself 
on  a fragment  of  fallen  rock,  to  recover  her  breath 
and  strength,  while  her  companion,  on  whose  sin- 
ews no  personal  exertion  seemed  to  make  any 
impression,  stood  at  her  side,  leaning  in  his  own 
and  not  ungraceful  manner  on  his  long  rifle.  Sev- 
eral minutes  passed,  and  neither  spoke ; Mabel, 
in  particular,  being  lost  in  admiration  of  the  view. 

The  position  the  two  had  attained,  was  suf- 
ficiently elevated  to  command  a wide  reach  of 
the  lake,  which  stretched  away  toward  the  north- 
east in  a boundless  sheet,  glittering  beneath  the 
rays  of  an  afternoon’s  sun,  and  yet  betraying  the 
remains  of  that  agitation  which  it  had  endured 
while  tossed  by  the  late  tempest.  The  land  set 
bounds  to  its  limits,  in  a huge  crescent,  dis- 
appearing in  distance  toward  the  southeast  and 
the  north.  Far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  nothing 
but  forest  was  visible,  not  even  a solitary  sign  of 
civilization  breaking  in  upon  the  uniform  and 
grand  magnificence  of  nature.  The  gale  had 
driven  the  Scud  beyond  the  line  of  those  forts 
with  which  the  French  were  then  endeavoring  to 
gird  the  English  North- American  possessions ; 
for,  following  the  channels  of  communication  be- 
tween the  great  lakes,  their  posts  were  on  the  banks 
of  the  Niagara,  while  our  adventurers  had  reached 
a point  many  leagues  westward  of  that  celebrated 
strait.  The  cutter  rode  at  single  anchor,  with- 
out the  breakers,  resembling  some  well-imagined 
and  accurately-executed  toy,  that  was  intended 
rather  for  a glass  case  than  for  the  struggles  with 
the  elements  which  she  had  so  lately  gone  through ; 
while  the  canoe  lay  on  the  narrow  beach,  just  out 
of  reach  of  the  waves  that  came  booming  upon 
the  land,  a speck  upon  the  shingles. 

“We  are  very  far,  here,  from  human  habita- 
tions ! ” exclaimed  Mabel,  when,  after  a long  and 
musing  survey  of  the  scene,  its  principal  peculiari- 
ties forced  themselves  on  her  active  and  ever- 


brifliant  imagination:  “this  is,  indeed,  being  on  a 
frontier ! ” 

“ Have  they  more  sightly  scenes  than  this,  near- 
er  the  sea,  and  around  their  large  towns  ?”  de- 
manded Pathfinder,  with  an  interest  he  was  apt  to 
discover  in  such  a subject. 

“ I will  not  say  that ; there  is  more  to  remind 
one  of  his  fellow-beings  there  than  here ; less,  per- 
haps, to  remind  one  of  God.” 

“Ay,  Mabel,  that  is  what  my  own  feelings  say. 
I am  but  a poor  hunter,  I know ; untaught  and 
unlarned;  but  God  is  as  near  me,  in  this  my 
home,  as  he  is  near  the  king  in  his  royal  palace.” 

“ Who  can  doubt  it  ? ” returned  Mabel,  look- 
ing from  the  view  up  into  the  hard-featured  but 
honest  face  of  her  companion,  though  not  with- 
out surprise  at  the  energy  of  his  manner — “ One 
feels  nearer  to  God,  in  such  a spot,  I think,  than 
when  the  mind  is  distracted  by  the  objects  of  the 
towns.” 

“You  say  all  I wish  to  say  myself,  Mabel, 
but  in  so  much  plainer  speech  that  you  make  me 
ashamed  of  wishing  to  let  others  know  what  I 
feel  on  such  matters.  I have  coasted  this  lake 
in  s’arch  of  skins,  afore  the  war,  and  have  been 
here  already  ; not  at  this  very  spot,  for  we  landed 
yonder  where  you  may  see  the  blasted  oak  that 
stands  above  the  cluster  of  hemlocks — ” 

“ How ! Pathfinder,  can  you  remember  all 
these  trifles  so  accurately  ? ” 

“These  are  our  streets  and  houses;  our 
churches  and  palaces.  Remember  them,  indeed ! 
I once  made  an  appointment  with  the  Big  Sar- 
pent,  to  meet  at  twelve  o’clock  at  noon  near  the 
foot  of  a certain  pine,  at  the  end  of  six  months, 
when  neither  of  us  was  within  three  hundred 
miles  of  the  spot.  The  tree  stood,  and  stands 
still,  unless  the  judgment  of  Providence  has  light- 
ed on  that  too,  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  fifty 
miles  from  any  settlement,  but  in  a most  extraor- 
dinary neighborhood  for  beaver.” 

“And  did  you  meet  at  that  very  spot  and 
hour?  ” 

“ Does  the  sun  rise  and  set?  When  I reached 
the  tree,  I found  the  Sarpent  leaning  against  its 
trunk,  with  torn  leggings  and  muddied  moccasins. 
The  Delaware  had  got  into  a swamp,  and  it  wor- 
ried him  not  a little  to  find  his  way  out  of  it ; but, 
as  the  sun  which  comes  over  the  eastern  hills  in 
the  morning,  goes  down  behind  the  western  at 
night,  so  was  he  true  to  time  and  place.  No  fear 
of  Chingachgook  when  there  is  either  a friend  or 
an  enemy  in  the  case.  He  is  equally  sartain  with 
each.” 

“ And  where  is  the  Delaware  now  ? — why  is  he 
not  with  us  to-da.T  0 ” 


SUGGESTIONS  OF  MARRIAGE. 


119 


“He  ia  scouting  on  the  Mingo  trail,  where  I 
ought  to  have  been  too,  but  for  a great  human 
infirmity.  ” 

“You  seem  above,  beyond,  superior  to  all  in- 
firmity, Pathfinder ; I never  yet  met  with  a man 
who  appeared  to  be  so  little  liable  to  the  weak- 
nesses of  nature.  ” 

“If  you  mean  in  the  way  of  health  and 
strength,  Mabel,  Providence  has  been  kind  to  me ; 
though  I fancy  the  open  air,  long  hunts,  active 
scoutings,  forest  fare,  and  the  sleep  of  a good  con- 
science, may  always  keep  the  doctors  at  a dis- 
tance. But  I amhuman,  arter  all ; yes,  I find  Pm 
very  human  in  some  of  my  feelin’s.  ” 

Mabel  looked  surprised,  and  it  would  be  no 
more  than  delineating  the  character  of  her  sex,  if 
we  added  that  her  sweet  countenance  expressed 
a good  deal  of  curiosity,  too,  though  her  tongue 
was  more  discreet. 

“ There  is  something  bewitching  in  this  wild 
life  of  yours,  Pathfinder,”  she  exclaimed,  a tinge 
of  enthusiasm  mantling  her  cheeks.  “ I find  I’m 
fast  getting  to  be  a frontier  girl,  and  am  coming 
to  love  all  this  grand  silence  of  the  woods.  The 
towns  seem  tame  to  me ; and,  as  my  father  will 
probably  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days  here, 
where  he  has  already  lived  so  long,  I begin  to  feel 
that  I should  be  happy  to  continue  with  him,  and 
not  return  to  the  sea-shore.” 

“ The  woods  are  never  silent,  Mabel,  to  such 
as  understand  their  meaning.  Days  at  a time 
have  I travelled  them  alone,  without  feeling  the 
want  of  company;  and,  as  for  conversation, 
for  such  as  can  comprehend  their  language, 
there  is  no  want  of  rational  and  instructive  dis- 
course.” 

“I  believe  you  are  happier  when  alone,  Path- 
finder, than  when  mingling  with  your  fellow-crea- 
tures.” 

“ I will  not  say  that — I will  not  say  exactly 
that ! I have  seen  the  time  when  I have  thought 
that  God  was  sufficient  for  me  in  the  forest 
and  craved  no  more  than  his  bounty  and  his 
care.  But  other  feelin’s  have  got  uppermost,  and 
I suppose  natur’  will  have  its  way.  All  other 
creatur’s  mate,  Mabel,  and  it  was  intended  man 
should  do  so,  too.  ” 

“ And  have  you  never  bethought  you  of  seek- 
ing a wife,  Pathfinder,  to  share  your  fortunes  ? ” 
inquired  the  girl,  with  the  directness  and  simplic- 
ity that  the  pure  of  heart,  and  the  undesigning, 
are  the  most  apt  to  manifest,  and  with  that  feel- 
ing of  affection  which  is  inbred  in  her  sex.  “ To 
me,  it  seems,  you  only  want  a home  to  return  to, 
from  your  wanderings,  to  render  your  life  com- 
pletely happy.  Were  I a man,  it  would  be  my 


delight  to  roam  through  these  forests  at  will,  or 
to  sail  over  this  beautiful  lake.” 

“ I understand  you,  Mabel ; and  God  bless  you 
for  thinking  of  the  welfare  of  men  as  humble  as 
we  are.  We  have  our  pleasures,  it  is  true,  as 
well  as  our  gifts,  but  we  might  be  happier ; yes, 
I do  think  we  might  be  happier.” 

“ Happier ! in  what  way,  Pathfinder  ? In 
this  pure  air,  with  these  cool  and  shaded  forests 
to  wander  through,  this  lovely  lake  to  gaze  at, 
and  sail  upon,  with  clear  consciences,  and  abun- 
dance for  all  the  real  wants,  men  ought  to  be 
nothing  less  than  as  perfectly  happy  as  their  in- 
firmities will  allow.” 

“ Every  creatur’  has  its  gifts,  Mabel,  and  men 
have  theirn,”  answered  the  guide,  looking  stealth- 
ily at  his  beautiful  companion,  whose  cheeks  had 
flushed  and  eyes  brightened  under  the  ardor  of 
feelings  excited  by  the  novelty  of  her  striking 
situation ; “ and  all  must  obey  them.  Do  you 
see  yonder  pigeon  that  is  just  alightin’  on  the 
beach — here  in  a line  with  the  fallen  chestnut?  ” 

“ Certainly;  it  is  the  only  thing  stirring  with 
life  in  it,  besides  ourselves,  that  is  to  be  seen  in 
this  vast  solitude.” 

“ Not  so,  Mabel,  not  so ; Providence  makes 
nothing  that  lives,  to  live  quite  alone.  Here  is 
its  mate,  just  rising  on  the  wing ; it  has  been 
feedin’  near  the  other  beech,  but  it  will  not  long 
be  separated  from  its  companion.” 

“ I understand  you,  Pathfinder,”  returned 
Mabel,  smiling  sweetly,  though  as  calmly  as  if  the 
discourse  was  with  her  father.  “But  a hunter 
may  find  a mate,  even  in  this  wild  region.  The 
Indian  girls  are  affectionate  and  true,  I know,  foi 
such  was  the  wife  of  Arrowhead,  to  a husband 
who  oftener  frowned  than  smiled.” 

“ That  would  never  do,  Mabel,  and  good  would 
never  come  of  it.  Kind  must  cling  to  kind,  and 
country  to  country,  if  one  would  find  happiness. 
If,  indeed,  I could  meet  with  one  like  you,  who 
would  consent  to  be  a hunter’s  wife,  and  who 
would  not  scorn  my  ignorance  and  rudeness,  then, 
indeed,  would  all  the  toil  of  the  past  appear  like 
the  sporting  of  the  young  deer,  and  all  the  future 
like  sunshine ! ” 

“ One  like  me ! — A girl  of  my  years  and  indis- 
cretion would  hardly  make  a fit  companion  for 
the  boldest  scout  and  surest  hunter  on  the  lines  ! ” 

“ Ah  ! Mabel,  I fear  me  that  I have  been  im- 
proving a red-skin’s  gifts  with  a pale-face’s 
natur’ ! Such  a character  would  insure  a wife 
in  an  Injin  village.” 

“Surely,  surely,  Pathfinder,  you  would  not 
I think  of  choosing  one  as  ignorant,  as  frivolous^ 
I as  vain,  and  as  inexperienced  as  I,  for  your  wife  1 ” 


L20 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


Mabel  would  have  added,  “ and  as  young,”  but 
an  instinctive  feeling  of  delicacy  repressed  the 
words. 

“ And  why  not,  Mabel  ? If  you  are  ignorant 
of  frontier  usages,  you  know  more  than  all  of  us 
of  pleasant  anecdotes  and  town  customs ; as  for 
frivolous,  I know  not  what  it  means,  but  if  it 
signifies  beauty,  ah’s  me ! I fear  it  is  no  fault  in 
my  eyes.  Tain  you  are  not,  as  is  seen  by  the 
kind  manner  in  which  you  listen  to  all  my  idle 
tales  about  scoutings  and  trails ; and  as  for  ex- 
perience, that  will  come  with  years.  Besides, 
Mabel,  I fear  men  think  little  of  these  matters 
when  they  are  about  to  take  wives — I do.” 

“Pathfinder — your  words — your  looks — surely 
all  this  is  meant  in  trifling — you  speak  in  pleas- 
antry ! ” 

“ To  me  it  is  always  agreeable  to  be  near  you, 
Mabel,  and  I should  sleep  sounder  this  blessed 
night,  than  I have  done  for  a week  past,  could  I 
think  that  you  find  such  discourse  as  pleasant  as 
I do.” 

We  shall  not  say  that  Mabel  Dunham  had  not 
believed  herself  a favorite  with  the  guide.  This 
her  quick  feminine  sagacity  had  early  discovered, 
and  perhaps  she  had  occasionally  thought  there 
had  mingled  with  his  regard  and  friendship  some 
of  that  manly  tenderness  which  the  ruder  sex 
must  be  coarse  indeed  not  to  show,  on  occasions, 
to  the  gentler;  but  the  idea  that  he  seriously 
sought  her  for  his  wife  had  never  before  crossed 
the  mind  of  the  spirited  and  ingenuous  girl. 
Now,  however,  a gleam  of  something  like  the 
truth  broke  in  upon  her  imagination,  less  induced 
by  the  words  of  her  companion,  perhaps,  than  by 
his  manner.  Looking  earnestly  into  the  rugged, 
honest  countenance  of  the  scout,  Mabel’s  own 
features  became  concerned  and  grave,  and,  when 
she  spoke  again,  it  was  with  a gentleness  of  man- 
ner that  attracted  him  to  her  even  more  power- 
fully than  the  words  themselves  were  calculated 
to  repel. 

“You  and  I should  understand  each  other, 
Pathfinder,”  she  said,  with  an  earnest  sincerity, 
“ nor  should  there  be  any  cloud  between  us. 
You  are  too  upright  and  frank  to  meet  with  any 
thing  but  sincerity  and  frankness  in  return. 
Surely — surely,  all  this  means  nothing — has  no 
other  connection  with  your  feelings,  than  such  a 
friendship  as  one  of  your  wisdom  and  character 
would  naturally  feel  for  a girl  like  me ! ” 

“ I believe  it’s  all  as  nat’ral,  Mabel ; yes,  I 
lo ; the  sergeant  tells  me  he  had  such  feelings 
toward  your  own  mother,  and  I think  I’ve  seen 
something  like  it,  in  the  young  people  I have, 
from  time  to  time,  guided  through  the  wilderness. 


Yes,  yes — I dare  say  it’s  all  nat’ral  enough,  and 
that  makes  it  come  so  easy,  and  is  a great  com 
fort  to  me.” 

“ Pathfinder,  your  words  make  me  uneasy ! 
Speak  plainer,  or  change  the  subject  for  ever. 
You  do  not — cannot  meau  that — you — cannot 
wish  me  to  understand — ” even  the  tongue  of 
the  spirited  Mabel  faltered,  and  she  shrank  with 
maiden  shame,  from  adding  what  she  wished  so 
earnestly  to  say.  Rallying  her  courage,  however, 
and  determined  to  know  all  as  soon  and  as  plainly 
as  possible,  after  a moment’s  hesitation  she  con- 
tinued— “I  mean,  Pathfinder,  that  you  do  not 
wish  me  to  understand  that  you  seriously  think 
of  me  as  a wife  ? ” 

“ I do,  Mabel ; that’s  it — that’s  just  it,  and 
you  have  put  the  matter  in  a much  better  point 
of  view  than  I,  with  my  forest  gifts  and  frontier 
ways,  would  ever  be  able  to  do.  The  sargeant 
and  I have  concluded  on  the  matter,  if  it  is  agree- 
able to  you,  as  he  thinks  is  likely  will  be  the  case, 
though  I doubt  my  own  power  to  please  one  who 
deserves  the  best  husband  America  can  produce.” 

Mabel’s  countenance  changed  from  uneasiness 
to  surprise,  and  then,  by  a transition  still  quicker, 
from  surprise  to  pain. 

“My  father!”  she  exclaimed.  “My  dear 
father  has  thought  of  my  becoming  your  wife. 
Pathfinder ! ” 

“ Yes,  he  has,  Mabel ; he  has  indeed.  He  has 
even  thought  such  a thing  might  be  agreeable  to 
you,  and  has  almost  encouraged  me  to  fancy  it 
might  be  true.” 

“But,  you,  yourself — you  certainly  can  care 
nothing  whether  this  singular  expectation  shall 
ever  be  realized  or  not  ? ” 

“Anan?” 

“I  mean,  Pathfinder,  that  you  have  talked 
of  this  match  more  to  oblige  my  father  than  any 
thing  else ; that  your  feelings  are  no  way  con- 
cerned, let  my  answer  be  what  it  may  ? ” 

The  scout  looked  earnestly  into  the  beautiful 
face  of  Mabel,  which  had  flushed  with  the  ardor 
and  novelty  of  her  sensations,  and  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  mistake  the  intense  admiration  that  be- 
trayed itself  in  every  lineament  of  his  ingenuous 
countenance. 

“ I have  often  thought  myself  happy,  Mabel, 
when  ranging  the  woods,  on  a successful  hunt, 
breathing  the  pure  air  of  the  hills,  and  filled  with 
vigor  and  health,  but  I now  feel  that  it  has  all 
been  idleness  and  vanity  compared  with  the 
delight  it  would  give  me  to  know  that  you  thought 
better  of  me  than  you  think  of  most  others.” 

“ Better  of  you ! — I do  indeed  think  better  of 
you,  Pathfinder,  than  of  most  others — I am  not 


THE  HUNTER  REJECTED. 


221 


certain  that  I do  not  think  better  of  you  than  of 
any  other;  for  your  truth,  honesty,  simplicity, 
justice,  and  courage,  are  scarcely  equalled  by 
any  of  earth.” 

“Ah!  Mabel! — these  are  sweet  and  encour- 
aging words  from  you,  and  the  sergeant,  a’ter  all, 
was  not  as  near  wrong  as  I feared.” 

“ Nay,  Pathfinder — in  the  name  of  all  that  is 
sacred  and  just,  do  not  let  'us  misunderstand  each 
other  in  a matter  of  so  much  importance.  While 
I esteem,  respect — nay,  reverence  you,  almost  as 
much  as  I reverence  my  own  dear  father,  it  is 
impossible  that  I should  ever  become  your  wife 
— that  I — ” 

The  change  in  her  companion’s  countenance 
was  so  sudden  and  so  great,  that  the  moment  the 
effect  of  what  she  had  uttered  became  visible  in 
the  face  of  the  Pathfinder,  Mabel  arrested  her 
own  words,  notwithstanding  her  strong  desire  to 
be  explicit,  the  reluctance  with  which  she  could 
at  any  time  cause  pain  being  sufficient  of  itself  to 
induce  the  pause.  Neither  spoke  for  some  time, 
the  shade  of  disappointment  that  crossed  the 
rugged  lineaments  of  the  hunter  amounting  so 
nearly  to  anguish,  as  to  frighten  his  companion, 
while  the  sensation  of  choking  became  so  strong 
in  the  Pathfinder,  that  he  fairly  griped  his  throat, 
like  one  who  sought  physical  relief  for  physical 
suffering.  The  convulsive  manner  in  which  his 
Ungers  worked  actually  struck  the  alarmed  girl 
with  a feeling  of  awe. 

“ Nay,  Pathfinder,”  Mabel  eagerly  added,  the 
instant  she  could  command  her  voice — “ I may 
have  said  more  than  I mean,  for  all  things  of  this 
nature  are  possible,  and  women,  they  say,  are 
never  sure  of  their  own  minds.  What  I wish  you 
to  understand  is,  that  it  is  not  likely  that  you  and 
I should  ever  think  of  each  other,  as  man  and 
wife  ought  to  think  of  each  other.” 

“ I do  not — I shall  never  think  in  that  way 
again,  Mabel — ” gasped  forth  the  Pathfinder,  who 
appeared  to  utter  his  words  like  one  just  raised 
above  the  pressure  of  some  suffocating  substance. 
“ No — no — I shall  never  think  of  you,  or  any  one 
else,  again,  in  that  way.” 

“ Pathfinder  — dear  Pathfinder  — understand 
me — do  not  attach  more  meaning  to  my  words 
than  I do  myself — a match  like  that  would  be  un- 
wise— unnatural,  perhaps.” 

“Yes,  unnat’ral  — ag’in  natur’ ; and  so  I 
told  the  sergeant,  but  he  would  have  it  other- 
wise.” 

“ Pathfinder ! — Oh  ! this  is  worse  than  I could 
have  imagined — take  my  hand,  excellent  Path- 
finder, and  let  me  see  that  you  do  not  hate  me. 
For  God’s  sake,  smile  upon  me  again ! ” 


“Hate  you,  Mabel! — Smile  upon  you! — Ah’a 
me ! ” 

“ Nay,  give  me  your  hand ; your  hardy,  true, 
and  manly  hand — both,  both,  Pathfinder,  for  I 
shall  not  be  easy  until  I feel  certain  that  we  are 
friends  again,  and  that  all  this  has  been  a mis- 
take.” 

“ Mabel,”  said  the  guide,  looking  wistfully 
into  the  face  of  the  generous  and  impetuous  girl, 
as  she  held  his  two  hard  and  sunburnt  hands  in 
her  own  pretty  and  delicate  fingers,  and  laughing 
in  his  own  silent  and  peculiar  manner,  while  an- 
guish gleamed  over  lineaments  which  seemed  in- 
capable of  deception,  even  while  agitated  with 
emotions  so  conflicting,  “ Mabel,  the  sargeant 
was  wrong ! ” 

The  pent-up  feelings  could  endure  no  more, 
and  the  tears  rolled  down  the  cheeks  of  the  scout 
like  rain.  His  fingers  again  worked  convulsively 
at  his  throat,  and  his  breast  heaved,  as  if  it  pos- 
sessed a tenant  of  which  it  would  be  rid,  by  any 
effort,  however  desperate. 

“ Pathfinder  ! — Pathfinder ! ” Mabel  almost 
shrieked,  — “ anything  but  this  — anything  but 
this.  Speak  to  me,  Pathfinder,  — smile  again — 
say  one  kind  word — any  thing  to  prove  you  can 
forgive  me.” 

“ The  sargeant  was  wrong ! ” exclaimed  the 
guide,  laughing  amid  his  agony,  in  a way  to  ter- 
rify his  companion  by  the  unnatural  mixture  of 
anguish  and  light-heartedness.  “ I knew  it — I 
knew  it,  and  said  it ; yes,  the  sargeant  was  wrong, 
a’ter  all.” 

“ We  can  be  friends,  though  we  cannot  be 
man  and  wife,”  continued  Mabel,  almost  as  much 
disturbed  as  her  companion,  scarce  knowing  what 
she  said ; “we  can  always  be  friends,  and  always 
will.” 

“ I thought  the  sargeant  was  mistaken,”  re- 
sumed the  Pathfinder,  when  a great  effort  had 
enabled  him  to  command  himself,  “ for  I did  not 
think  my  gifts  were  such  as  would  please  the 
fancy  of  a town-bred  gal.  It  would  have  been 
better,  Mabel,  had  he  not  over-persuaded  me  into 
a different  notion ; and  it  might  have  been  bet- 
ter, too,  had  you  not  been  so  pleasant  and  friend- 
ly, like ; yes,  it  would.” 

“ If  I thought  any  error  of  mine  had  raised 
false  expectations  in  you,  Pathfinder,  however 
unintentionally  on  my  part,  I should  never  for- 
give myself ; for,  believe  me,  I would  rather  en- 
dure pain  in  my  own  feelings  than  you  should 
suffer.” 

“ That’s  just  it,  Mabel ; that’s  just  it.  These 
speeches  and  opinions,  spoken  in  so  soft  a voice, 
and  in  a way  I’m  so  unused  to  in  the  woods. 


122 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


have  done  the  mischief.  But  I now  see  plainly, 
and  begin  to  understand  the  difference  between 
us  better,  and  will  strive  to  keep  down  thought, 
and  to  go  abroad  ag’in  as  I used  to  do,  looking 
for  the  game  and  the  inimy.  Ah’s  me!  Mabel, 
I have  indeed  been  on  a false  trail  since  we  met ! ” 

“ But  you  will  now  travel  on  the  true  one.  In 
a little  while  you  will  forget  all  this,  and  think  of 
me  as  a friend  who  owes  you  her  life.” 

“ This  may  be  the  way  in  the  towns,  but  I 
doubt  if  it’s  nat’ral  to  the  woods.  With  us,  when 
the  eye  sees  a lovely  sight,  it  is  apt  to  keep  it 
long  in  view,  or,  when  the  mind  takes  in  an  up- 
right and  proper  feeling,  it  is  loath  to  part  with  it.” 

“ But  it  is  not  a proper  feeling  that  you  should 
love  me,  nor  am  I a lovely  sight.  You  will  for- 
get it  all,  when  you  come  seriously  to  recollect 
that  I am  altogether  unsuited  to  be  your  wife.” 

“ So  I told  the  sargeant — but  he  would  have 
it  otherwise.  I knew  you  was  too  young  and 
beautiful  for  one  of  middle  age,  like  myself,  and 
who  never  was  comely  to  look  at,  even  in  youth  ; 
and  then  your  ways  have  not  been  my  ways,  nor 
would  a hunter’s  cabin  be  a fitting  place  for  one 
who  was  edicated  among  chiefs,  as  it  were.  If 
I were  younger  and  comelier,  though,  like  Jas- 
per Eau-douce-r-” 

“Never  mind  Jasper  Eau-douce,”  interrupted 
Mabel,  impatiently  ; “ we  can  talk  of  something 
else.” 

“ Jasper  is  a worthy  lad,  Mabel ; ay,  and  a 
comely,”  returned  the  guileless  guide,  looking 
earnestly  at  the  girl,  as  if  he  distrusted  her 
judgment  in  speaking  slightingly  of  his  friend. 
“ Were  I only  half  as  comely  as  Jasper  Western, 
my  misgivings  in  this  affair  would  not  have  been 
so  great,  and  they  might  not  have  been  so  true.” 

“We  will  not  talk  of  Jasper  Western,”  re- 
peated Mabel,  the  color  mounting  to  her  tem- 
ples ; “ he  may  be  good  enough  in  a gale  or  on 
the  lake,  but  he  is  not  good  enough  to  talk  of 
here.” 

“ I fear  me,  Mabel,  he  is  better  than  the  man 
who  is  likely  to  be  your  husband,  though  the 
sargeant  says  that  never  can  take  place.  But 
the  sargeant  was  wrong  once,  and  he  may  be 
wrong  twice.” 

“ And  who  is  likely  to  be  my  husband,  Path- 
finder ? This  is  scarcely  less  strange  than  what 
has  just  passed  between  us  !” 

“ I know  it  is  nat’ral  for  like  to  seek  like,  and, 
for  them  that  have  consorted  much  with  officers’ 
ladies,  to  wish  to  be  officers’  ladies  themselves. 
But,  Mabel,  I may  speak  plainly  to  you,  I know, 
and  I hope  my  words  will  not  give  you  pain,  for, 
now  I understand  what  it  is  to  be  disappointed 


in  such  feelings,  I wouldn’t  *ish  to  cause  even  a 
Mingo  sorrow  on  this  head.  But  happiness  is 
not  always  to  be  found  in  a marquee,  any  more 
than  in  a tent ; and,  though  the  officers’  quarters 
may  look  more  tempting  than  the  rest  of  the 
barracks,  there  is  often  great  misery  between 
husband  and  wife  inside  of  their  doors.” 

“ I do  not  doubt  it  in  the  least,  Pathfinder ; 
and,  did  it  rest  with  me  to  decide,  I would  sooner 
follow  you  to  some  cabin  in  the  woods,  and  share 
your  fortune,  whether  it  might  be  better  or  worse, 
than  go  inside  the  door  of  any  officer  I know, 
with  an  intention  of  remaining  there  as  its  mas- 
ter’s wife.” 

“Mabel,  this  is  not  what  Lundie  hopes  or 
Lundie  thinks ! ” 

“ And  what  care  I for  Lundie  ? He  is  major 
of  the  55th,  and  may  command  his  men  to  wheel 
and  march  about  as  he  pleases,  but  he  cannot 
compel  me  to  wed  the  greatest  or  the  meanest 
of  his  mess  : besides,  what  can  you  know  of  Lun 
die’s  wishes  on  such  a subject  ? ” 

“From  Lundie’s  own  mouth.  The  sargeant 
had  told  him  that  he  wished  me  for  a son-in-law ; 
and  the  major,  being  an  old  and  a true  friend, 
conversed  with  me  on  the  subject : he  put  it  to 
me  plainly,  whether  it  would  not  be  more  giner- 
ous  in  me  to  let  an  officer  succeed,  than  to  strive 
to  make  you  share  a hunter’s  fortune.  I owned  the 
truth,  I did  ; and  that  was,  that  I thought  it  might , 
but  when  he  told  me  that  the  quartermastei 
would  be  his  choice,  I would  not  abide  by  the 
conditions.  No — no— Mabel ; I know  Davy  Muir 
well,  and  though  he  may  make  you  a lady,  he 
can  never  make  you  a happy  woman,  or  himself 
a gentleman.  I say  this  honestly,  I do ; for  I now 
plainly  see  that  the  sargeant  has  been  wrong.” 

“ My  father  has  been  very  wrong  if  he  has 
said  or  done  aught  to  cause  you  sorrow,  Path- 
finder ; and  so  great  is  my  respect  for  you,  so 
sincere  my  friendship,  that  were  it  not  for  one 
— I mean  that  no  person  need  fear  Lieutenant 
Muir’s  influence  with  me.  I would  rather  remain 
as  I am  to  my  dying  day,  than  become  a lady  at 
the  cost  of  being  his  wife.” 

“I  do  not  think  you  would  say  that  which 
you  do  not  feel,  Mabel,”  returned  Pathfinder,  ear- 
nestly. 

“Not  at  such  a moment,  on  such  a subject, 
and  least  of  all  to  you.  No ; Lieutenant  Muir 
may  find  wives  where  he  can — my  name  shall 
never  be  on  his  catalogue.” 

“ Thank  you — thank  you  for  that,  Mabel ; for, 
though  there  is  no  longer  any  hope  for  me,  I 
could  never  be  happy  were  you  to  take  to  the 
quartermaster.  I feared  the  commission  might 


A LOVER’S  DREAM. 


123 


eount  for  something,  I did,  and  I know  the  man. 
It  is  not  jealousy  that  makes  me  speak  in  this 
manner,  but  truth,  for  I know  the  man.  Now, 
were  you  to  fancy  a desarving  youth,  one  like 
Jasper  Western,  for  instance — ” 

“ Why  always  mention  Jasper  Eau-douce, 
Pathfinder  ? he  can  have  no  concern  with  our 
friendship ; let  us  talk  of  yourself,  and  of  the 
manner  in  which  you  intend  to  pass  the  winter.” 

“ Ah’s  me  ! — I’m  little  worth  at  the  best,  Ma- 
bel, unless  it  may  be  on  a trail,  or  with  the  rifle ; 
and  less  worth  now  that  I’ve  discovered  the  sar- 
geant’s  mistake.  There  is  no  need,  therefore,  of 
talking  of  me.  It  has  been  very  pleasant  to  me 
to  be  near  you  so  long,  and  even  to  fancy  that 
the  sargeant  was  right ; but  that  is  all  over  now. 
I shall  go  down  the  lake  with  Jasper,  and  then 
there  will  be  business  to  occupy  us,  and  that  will 
keep  useless  thoughts  out  of  the  mind.” 

“And  you  will  forget  this — forget  me — no, 
not  forget  me  either,  Pathfinder;  but  you  will 
resume  your  old  pursuits,  and  cease  to  think  a 
girl  of  sufficient  importance  to  disturb  your 
peace  ? ” 

“ I never  know’d  it  afore,  Mabel,  but  girls,  as 
you  call  them,  though  gals  is  the  name  I’ve  been 
taught  to  use,  are  of  more  account  in  this  life 
than  I could  have  believed.  Now,  afore  I know’d 
you,  the  new-born  babe  did  not  sleep  more  sweet- 
ly than  I used  to  could  ; my  head  was  no  sooner 
on  the  root,  or  the  stone,  or  mayhap  on  the 
skin,  than  all  was  lost  to  the  senses,  unless  it 
might  be  to  go  over  in  the  night  the  business 
of  the  day,  in  a dream,  like ; and  there  I lay  till 
the  moment  came  to  be  stirring,  and  the  swal- 
lows were  not  more  certain  to  be  on  the  wing 
with  the  light,  than  I to  be  afoot  at  the  moment 
I wished  to  be.  All  this  seemed  a gift,  and 
might  be  calculated  on,  even  in  the  midst  of  a 
Mingo  camp ; for  I’ve  been  outlying,  in  my  time, 
in  the  very  villages  of  the  vagabonds.” 

“ And  all  this  will  return  to  you,  Pathfinder ; 
for  one  so  upright  and  sincere  will  never  waste 
his  happiness  on  a mere  fancy.  You  will  dream 
again  of  your  hunts,  of  the  deer  you  have  slain, 
and  of  the  beaver  you  have  taken.” 

“ Ah’s  me,  Mabel,  I wish  never  to  dream 
again  ! Before  we  met  I had  a sort  of  pleasure 
in  following  up  the  hounds  in  fancy,  as  it  might 
be ; and  even  in  striking  a trail  of  the  Iroquois — 
nay,  I’ve  been  in  skrimmages  and  ambushments 
in  thought,  like,  and  found  satisfaction  in  it,  ac- 
cording to  my  gifts ; but  all  those  things  have 
.ost  their  charms  since  I’ve  made  acquaintance 
with  you.  Now,  I think  no  longer  of  any  thing 
rude  in  my  dreams,  but,  the  very  last  night  we 


stayed  in  the  garrison,  I imagined  I had  a cabin 
in  a grove  of  sugar  maples,  and  at  the  root  of 
every  tree  was  a Mabel  Dunham,  while  the  birds 
that  were  among  the  branches  sang  ballads,  in- 
stead of  the  notes  that  natur’  gave,  and  even  the 
deer  stopped  to  listen.  I tried  to  shoot  a fa’an, 
but  Killdeer  missed  fire,  and  the  creatur’  laughed 
in  my  face,  as  pleasantly  as  a young  girl  laughs 
in  her  merriment,  and  then  it  bounded  away, 
looking  back  as  if  expecting  me  to  follow.” 

“ No  more  of  this,  Pathfinder — we’ll  talk  no 
more  of  these  things,”  said  Mabel,  dashing  the 
tears  from  her  eyes  ; for  the  simple,  earnest  man- 
ner in  which  this  hardy  woodsman  betrayed  the 
deep  hold  she  had  taken  of  his  feelings,  nearly 
proved  too  much  for  her  own  generous  heart; 
“Now  let  us  look  for  my  father ; he  cannot  be 
distant,  as  I heard  his  gun  quite  near.” 

“ The  sargeant  was  wrong — yes,  he  was  wrong, 
and  it’s  of  no  use  to  attempt  to  make  the  dove 
consort  with  the  wolf.” 

“Here  comes  my  dear  father,”  interrupted 
Mabel ; “ let  us  look  cheerful  and  happy,  Path- 
finder, as  such  good  friends  ought  to  look,  and 
keep  each  other’s  secrets.” 

A pause  succeeded  ; the  sergeant’s  foot  was 
heard  crushing  the  dried  twigs  hard  by,  and  then 
his  form  appeared  shoving  aside  the  bushes  of  a 
copse  quite  near.  As  he  issued  into  the  open 
ground  the  old  soldier  scrutinized  his  daughter 
and  her  companion,  and,  speaking  good-naturedly, 
he  said : 

“Mabel,  child,  you  are  young  and  light  of 
foot — look  for  a bird  I’ve  shot  that  fell  just  be- 
yond the  thicket  of  young  hemlocks  on  the  shore ; 
and,  as  Jasper  is  showing  signs  of  an  intention 
of  getting  under  way,  you  need  not  take  the 
trouble  to  climb  up  this  hill  again,  but  we  will 
meet  you  on  the  beach  in  a few  minutes.” 

Mabel  obeyed,  bounding  down  the  hill  with 
the  elastic  step  of  youth  and  health.  But,  not- 
withstanding the  lightness  of  her  steps,  the  heart 
of  the  girl  was  heavy,  and  no  sooner  was  she  hid 
from  observation  by  the  thicket,  than  she  threw 
herself  on  the  root  of  a tree  and  wept  as  if  her 
heart  would  break.  The  sergeant  watched  her, 
until  she  disappeared,  with  a father’s  pride,  and 
then  turned  to  his  companion  with  a smile  as  kind 
and  as  familiar  as  his  habits  would  allow  him  to 
use  toward  any. 

“ She  has  her  mother’s  lightness  and  activity 
my  friend,  with  somewhat  of  her  father’s  force,’' 
he  said.  “ Her  mother  was  not  quite  as  hand 
some,  I think  myself ; but  the  Dunhams  were  al- 
ways thought  comely,  whether  men  or  women. 
Well,  Pathfinder,  I take  it  for  granted  you’ve  not 


m 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


overlooked  the  opportunity,  but  have  spoken 
plainly  to  the  girl?  Women  like  frankness  in 
matters  of  this  sort.” 

“ I believe  Mabel  and  I understand  each  other 
at  last,  sargeant,”  returned  the  other,  looking  an- 
other way  to  avoid  the  soldier’s  face. 

“So  much  the  better.  Some  people  fancy 
that  a little  doubt  and  uncertainty  make  love  all 
the  livelier,  but  I am  one  of  those  who  think  the 
plainer  the  tongue  speaks  the  easier  the  mind  will 
comprehend. — Was  Mabel  surprised?  ” 

“ I fear  she  was,  sargeant ; I fear  she  was 
taken  quite  by  surprise — yes,  I do.” 

“Well,  well,  surprises  in  love  are  like  an  am- 
bush in  war,  and  quite  as  lawful ; though  it  is 
not  as  easy  to  tell  when  a woman  is  surprised  as 
to  tell  when  it  happens  to  an  enemy. — Mabel  did 
not  run  away,  my  worthy  friend,  did  she  ? ” 

“ No,  sargeant,  Mabel  did  not  try  to  escape  ; 
that  I can  say  with  a clear  conscience.” 

“ I hope  the  girl  was  not  too  willing,  neither  ! 
Her  mother  was  shy  and  coy  for  a month,  at 
least — but  frankness,  after  all,  is  a recommenda- 
tion in  man  or  woman.” 

“ That  it  is — that  it  is — and  judgment,  too.” 

“You  are  not  to  look  for  too  much  judgment 
in  a young  creature  of  twenty,  Pathfinder,  but  it 
will  come  with  experience.  A mistake  in  you,  or 
in  me,  for  instance,  might  not  be  so  easily  over- 
looked, but  in  a girl  of  Mabel’s  years  one  is  not 
to  strain  at  a gnat  lest  they  swallow  a camel.” 

The  muscles  of  the  listener’s  face  twitched  as 
the  sergeant  was  thus  delivering  his  sentiments, 
though  the  former  had  now  recovered  a portion 
of  that  stoicism  which  formed  so  large  a part  of 
his  character,  and  which  he  had  probably  imbibed 
from  long  association  with  the  Indians.  His  eyes 
rose  and  fell,  and  once  a gleam  shot  athwart  his 
hard  features,  as  if  he  were  about  to  indulge  in 
his  peculiar  laugh ; but  the  joyous  feeling,  if  it 
really  existed,  was  as  quickly  lost  in  a look  allied 
to  anguish.  It  was  this  unusual  mixture  of  wild 
and  keen  mental  agony,  with  native,  simple  joy- 
ousness, that  had  most  struck  Mabel,  who,  in  the 
interview  just  related,  had  a dozen  times  been  on 
the  point  of  believing  that  her  suitor’s  heart  was 
only  lightly  touched,  as  images  of  happiness  and 
humor  gleamed  over  a mind  that  was  almost  in- 
fantine in  its  simplicity  and  nature ; an  impres- 
sion, however,  that  was  soon  driven  away  by  the 
discovery  of  emotions  so  painful  and  so  deep  that 
they  seemed  to  harrow  the  very  soul.  Indeed,  in 
this  respect,  the  Pathfinder  was  a mere  child : un- 
practised in  the  ways  of  the  world,  he  had  no  idea 
of  concealing  a thought  of  any  kind,  and  his 
mind  received  and  reflected  each  emotion  with 


the  pliability  and  readiness  of  that  period  of  life ; 
the  infant  scarcely  yielding  its  wayward  imagina- 
tion to  the  passing  impression  with  greater  facility 
than  this  man,  so  simple  in  all  his  personal  feel- 
ings, so  stern,  stoical,  masculine,  and  severe,  in 
all  that  touched  his  ordinary  pursuits. 

“You  say  true,  sargeant,”  Pathfinder  an- 
swered— “ a mistake  in  one  like  you  is  a more  se- 
rious matter.” 

“ You  will  find  Mabel  sincere  and  honest  in 
the  end,  give  her  but  a little  time.” 

“ Ah’s  me,  sargeant ! ” 

“ A man  of  your  merits  would  make  an  im- 
pression on  a rock,  give  him  time,  Pathfinder.” 

“ Sargeant  Dunham,  we  are  old  fellow  cam- 
paigners— that  is,  as  campaigns  are  carried  on 
here  in  the  wilderness ; and  we  have  done  so 
many  kind  acts  to  each  other  that  we  can  afford 
to  be  candid — what  has  caused  you  to  believe 
that  a girl  like  Mabel  could  ever  fancy  one  as 
rude  as  I am  ? ” 

“ What  ? — why  a variety  of  reasons,  and  good 
reasons,  too,  my  friend.  Those  same  acts  of 
kindness,  perhaps,  and  the  campaigns  you  men- 
tion ; moreover,  you  are  my  sworn  and  tried  com- 
rade.” 

“ All  this  sounds  well,  so  far  as  you  and  I be 
consarned,  but  they  do  not  touch  the  case  of 
your  pretty  da’ghter.  She  may  think  these  very 
campaigns  have  destroyed  the  little  comeliness  I 
may  once  have  had,  and  I am  not  quite  sartain 
that  being  an  old  friend  of  her  father  would  lead 
any  young  maiden’s  mind  into  a particular  affec- 
tion for  a suitor.  Like  loves  like,  I tell  you,  sar- 
geant, and  my  gifts  are  not  altogether  the  gifts 
of  Mabel  Dunham.” 

“These  are  some  of  your  old  modest  qualms, 
Pathfinder,  and  will  do  you  no  credit  with  the 
girl.  Women  distrust  men  who  distrust  them- 
selves, and  take  to  men  who  distrust  nothing. 
Modesty  is  a capital  thing  in  a recruit,  I grant 
you,  or  in  a young  subaltern  who  has  just  joined, 
for  it  prevents  his  railing  at  the  non-commissioned 
officers  before  he  knows  what  to  rail  at ; I’m  not 
sure  it  is  out  of  place  in  a commissary  or  a par- 
son, but  it’s  the  devil  and  all  when  it  gets  pos- 
session of  either  a real  soldier  or  a lover.  Have 
as  little  to  do  with  it  as  possible  if  you  would  win 
a woman’s  heart.  As  for  your  doctrine  that  like 
loves  like,  it  is  as  wrong  as  possible  in  matters  of 
this  sort.  If  like  loved  like,  women  would  love 
one  another,  and  men  also.  No — no — like  loves 
dislike  ” — the  sergeant  was  merely  a scholar  of 
the  camp — “ and  you  have  nothing  to  fear  from 
Mabel  on  that  score.  Look  at  Lieutenant  Muir ; 
the  man  has  had  five  wives  already,  they  tell  me. 


SERGEANT  DUNHAM’S  ADVICE. 


125 


and  there  is  no  more  modesty  in  him  than  there  is 
in  a cat-o’-nine-tails.” 

“ Lieutenant  Muir  will  never  be  the  husband 
of  Mabel  Dunham,  let  him  ruffle  his  feathers  as 
much  as  he  may.” 

“ That  is  a sensible  remark  of  yours,  Path- 
finder, for  my  mind  is  made  up  that  you  shall  be 
my  son-in-law.  If  I were  an  officer  myself,  Mr. 
Muir  might  have  some  chance ; but  time  has 
placed  one  door  between  my  child  and  myself, 
and  I don’t  intend  there  shall  be  that  of  a mar- 
quee also.” 

“ Sargeant,  we  must  let  Mabel  follow  her  own 
fancy  ; she  is  young  and  light  of  heart,  and  God 
forbid  that  any  wish  of  mine  should  lay  the  weight 
of  a feather  on  a mind  that  is  all  gayety  now,  or 
take  one  note  of  happiness  from  her  laughter.” 

“ Have  you  conversed  freely  with  the  girl  ? ” 
the  sergeant  demanded,  quickly,  and  with  some 
asperity  of  manner. 

Pathfinder  was  too  honest  to  deny  a truth 
plain  as  that  which  the  answer  required,  and  yet 
too  honorable  to  betray  Mabel,  and  expose  her  to 
the  resentment  of  one  whom  he  well  knew  to  be 
stem  in  his  anger. 

“We  have  laid  open  our  minds,”  he  said, 
“ and,  though  Mabel’s  is  one  that  any  man  might 
love  to  look  at,  I find  little  there,  sargeant,  to 
make  me  think  any  better  of  myself.” 

“ The  girl  has  not  dared  to  refuse  you — to  re- 
fuse her  father’s  best  friend  ? ” 

Pathfinder  turned  his  face  away  to  conceal 
the  look  of  anguish  that  consciousness  told  him 
was  passing  athwart  it,  but  he  continued  the  dis- 
course in  his  own  quiet,  manly  tones. 

“ Mabel  is  too  kind  to  refuse  any  thing,  or  to 
utter  harsh  words  to  a dog.  I have  not  put  the 
question  in  a way  to  be  downright  refused,  sar- 
geant.” 

“ And  did  you  expect  my  daughter  to  jump 
into  your  arms  before  you  asked  her?  She 
would  not  have  been  her  mother’s  child  had  she 
done  any  such  thing,  nor  do  I think  she  would 
have  been  mine.  The  Dunhams  like  plain  deal- 
ing as  well  as  the  king’s  majesty,  but  they  are  no 
jumpers.  Leave  me  to  manage  this  matter  for  you, 
Pathfinder,  and  there  shall  be  no  unnecessary 
delay.  I’ll  speak  to  Mabel  myself  this  very  even- 
ing, using  your  name  as  principal  in  the  affair.” 

“ I’d  rather  not — I’d  rather  not,  sargeant. 
Leave  the  matter  to  Mabel  and  me,  and  I think 
all  will  come  right  in  the  ind.  Young  gals  be 
like  timorsome  birds,  they  do  not  over-relish 
being  hurried  or  spoken  harshly  to,  neither. 
Leave  the  matter  to  Mabel  and  me.” 

“ On  one  condition  I will,  my  friend  and  that 


is,  that  you  promise  me,  on  the  honor  of  a scout, 
that  you  will  put  the  matter  plainly  to  Mabel, 
the  first  suitable  opportunity,  and  no  mincing  of 
words.” 

“ I will  ask  her,  sargeant — yes,  I will  ask  her, 
on  condition  that  you  promise  not  to  meddle  in 
the  affair — yes,  I will  promise  to  ask  Mabel  the 
question  whether  she  will  marry  me,  even  though 
she  laugh  in  my  face  at  my  doing  so,  on  that 
condition.” 

Sergeant  Dunham  gave  the  desired  promise 
very  cheerfully,  for  he  had  completely  wrought 
himself  up  into  the  belief  that  the  man  he  so 
much  esteemed  and  respected  himself,  must  be 
acceptable  to  his  daughter.  He  had  married  a 
woman  much  younger  than  himself,  and  he  saw 
no  unfitness  in  the  respective  years  of  the  intend- 
ed couple.  Mabel  was  educated  so  much  above 
him,  too,  that  he  was  not  aware  of  the  difference 
which  actually  existed  between  the  parent  and 
child,  in  this  respect ; for  it  is  one  of  the  most 
unpleasant  features  in  the  intercourse  between 
knowledge  and  ignorance,  taste  and  unsophistica- 
tion, refinement  and  vulgarity,  that  the  higher 
qualities  are  often  necessarily  subjected  to  the 
judgments  of  those  who  have  absolutely  no  per- 
ception of  their  existence.  It  followed  that  Ser- 
geant Dunham  was  not  altogether  qualified  to  ap- 
preciate his  daughter’s  tastes,  or  to  form  a very 
probable  conjecture  of  the  direction  taken  by 
those  feelings,  which  oftener  depend  on  impulses 
and  passion  than  on  reason.  Still,  the  worthy 
soldier  was  not  so  wrong  in  his  estimate  of  the 
Pathfinder’s  chances,  as  might  at  first  appear. 
Knowing,  as  he  well  did,  all  the  sterling  qualities 
of  the  man,  his  truth,  integrity  of  purpose,  cour- 
age, self-devotion,  disinterestedness,  it  was  far 
from  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  qualities  like 
these  would  produce  a deep  impression  on  any 
female  heart,  where  there  was  an  opportunity  to 
acquire  a knowledge  of  their  existence ; and 
the  father  erred  principally  in  fancying  that  the 
daughter  might  know,  as  it  might  be,  by  intuition, 
what  he  himself  had  acquired  by  years  of  inter- 
course and  adventure. 

As  Pathfinder  and  his  military  friend  descended 
the  hill  to  the  shore  of  the  lake,  the  discourse  did 
not  flag.  The  latter  continued  to  persuade  the 
former  that  his  diffidence  alone  prevented  com- 
plete success  with  Mabel,  and  that  he  had  only 
to  persevere  in  order  to  prevail.  Pathfinder  was 
much  too  modest  by  nature,  and  had  been  too  plain- 
ly, though  so  delicately,  discouraged,  in  the  recent 
interview,  to  believe  all  he  heard  ; still  the  father 
used  so  many  arguments  that  seemed  plausible, 
and  it  was  so  grateful  to  fancy  that  the  daughter 


126 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


Might  yet  be  his,  the  reader  is  not  to  be  surprised 
when  he  is  told  that  this  unsophisticated  being 
did  not  view  Mabel’s  recent  conduct  in  precisely 
the  light  in  which  he  may  be  inclined  to  view  it 
himself.  He  did  not  credit  all  that  the  sergeant 
told  him,  it  is  true  ; but  he  began  to  think  virgin 
coyness,  and  ignorance  of  her  own  feelings,  might 
have  induced  Mabel  to  use  the  language  she  had. 

“The  quartermaster  is  no  favorite,”  said 
Pathfinder,  in  answer  to  one  of  his  companion’s 
remarks.  “ Mabel  will  never  look  on  him  as 
more  than  one  who  has  had  four  or  five  wives  al- 
ready.” 

“ Which  is  more  than  his  share.  A man  may 
marry  twice,  without  offence  to  good  morals  and 
decency,  I allow,  but  four  times  is  an  aggrava- 
tion.” 

“ I should  think  even  marrying  once,  what 
Master  Cap  calls  a circumstance  ! ” put  in  Path- 
finder, laughing  in  his  quiet  way,  for,  by  this 
time,  his  spirits  had  recovered  some  of  their  buoy- 
ancy. 

“ It  is,  indeed,  my  friend,  and  a most  solemn 
circumstance  too.  If  it  were  not  that  Mabel  is 
to  be  your  wife,  I would  advise  you  to  remain  sin- 
gle. But  here  is  the  girl  herself,  and  discretion 
is  the  word.” 

“ Ah’s  me ! sargeant,  I fear  you  are  mista- 
ken ! ” 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

“ Thus  was  this  place 
A happy  rural  seat  of  various  view.” 

Milton. 

Mabel  was  in  waiting  on  the  beach,  and  the 
canoe  was  soon  launched.  Pathfinder  carried  the 
party  out  through  the  surf  in  the  same  skilful 
manner  he  had  brought  it  in  ; and,  though  Ma- 
bel’s color  heightened  with  excitement,  and  her 
heart  seemed  often  ready  to  leap  out  of  her  mouth 
again,  they  reached  the  side  of  the  Scud  without 
having  received  even  a drop  of  spray. 

Ontario  is  like  a quick-tempered  man,  sudden 
to  be  angered,  and  as  soon  appeased.  The  sea 
had  already  fallen,  and,  though  the  breakers 
bounded  the  shore  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
it  was  merely  in  lines  of  brightness,  that  appeared 
and  vanished  like  the  returning  waves  produced 
by  a stone  that  has  been  dropped  into  a pool. 
The  cable  of  the  Scud  was  scarce  seen  above  the 
water,  and  Jasper  had  already  hoisted  his  sails, 
hi  readiness  to  depart,  as  soon  as  the  expected 
breeze  from  the  shore  should  fill  the  canvas. 

It  was  just  sunset  as  the  cutter’s  mainsail 


flapped,  and  its  stem  began  to  sever  the  water. 
The  air  was  light  and  southerly,  and  the  head  of 
the  vessel  wa3  kept  looking  up  along  the  south 
shore,  it  being  the  intention  to  get  to  the  east- 
ward again,  as  fast  as  possible.  The  night  that 
succeeded  was  quiet,  and  the  rest  of  those  who 
slept,  deep  and  tranquil. 

Some  difficulty  occurred  concerning  the  com- 
mand of  the  vessel,  but  the  matter  had  been  final- 
ly settled  by  an  amicable  compromise.  As  the 
distrust  of  Jasper  was  far  from  being  appeased, 
Cap  retained  a supervisory  power,  while  the 
young  man  was  allowed  to  work  the  craft,  subject 
at  all  times  to  the  control  and  interference  of  the 
old  seaman.  To  this  Jasper  consented,  in  prefer- 
ence to  exposing  Mabel  any  longer  to  the  dangers 
of  their  present  situation  ; for,  now  that  the  vio- 
lence of  the  elements  had  ceased,  he  well  knew 
that  the  Montcalm  would  be  in  search  of  them. 
He  had  the  discretion,  however,  not  to  reveal  his 
apprehensions  on  this  head,  for  it  happened  that 
the  very  means  he  deemed  the  best  to  escape  the 
enemy,  were  those  which  would  be  most  likely  to 
awaken  new  suspicions  of  his  honesty,  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  held  the  power  to  defeat  his 
intentions.  In  other  words,  Jasper  believed  that 
the  gallant  young  Frenchman  who  commanded 
the  ship  of  the  enemy,  would  quit  his  anchorage 
under  the  fort  of  Niagara,  and  stand  up  the  lake, 
as  soon  as  the  wind  abated,  in  order  to  ascertain 
the  fate  of  the  Scud  ; keeping  mid-way  between 
the  two  shores,  as  the  best  means  of  commanding 
a broad  view  ; and  that,  on  his  part,  it  would  be 
expedient  to  hug  one  coast  or  the  other,  not  only 
to  avoid  a meeting,  but  as  affording  a chance  of 
passing  without  detection,  by  blending  his  sails 
and  spars  with  objects  on  the  land.  He  preferred 
the  south,  because  it  was  the  weather  shore,  and 
because  he  thought  it  was  that  which  the  enemy 
would  the  least  expect  him  to  take,  though  it  ne- 
cessarily led  near  his  settlements,  and  in  front 
of  one  of  the  strongest  posts  he  held  in  that  part 
of  the  world. 

Of  all  this,  however,  Cap  was  happily  igno- 
rant, and  the  sergeant’s  mind  was  too  much 
occupied  with  the  details  of  his  military  trust  to 
enter  into  these  niceties,  which  so  properly  be- 
longed to  another  profession.  No  opposition  was 
made,  therefore,  and,  ere  morning,  Jasper  had 
apparently  dropped  quietly  into  all  his  former 
authority,  issuing  his  orders  freely,  and  meeting 
with  obedience  without  hesitation  or  cavil. 

The  appearance  of  day  brought  all  on  board 
on  deck  again,  and,  as  is  usual  with  adventurers 
on  the  water,  the  opening  horizon  was  curiously 
examined,  as  objects  started  out  of  the  obscurity 


A TALE  OF  NIAGARA. 


127 


and  the  panorama  brightened  under  the  growing 
light.  East,  west,  and  north,  nothing  was  visible 
but  water,  glittering  in  the  rising  sun  ; but,  south- 
ward, stretched  the  endless  belt  of  woods  that 
then  held  Ontario  in  a setting  of  forest  verdure. 
Suddenly  an  opening  appeared  ahead,  and  then 
the  massive  walls  of  a chateau-looking  house, 
with  outworks,  bastions,  block-houses,  and  pali- 
sadoes,  frowned  on  a headland  that  bordered  the 
outlet  of  a broad  stream.  Just  as  the  fort  be- 
came visible,  a little  cloud  rose  over  it,  and  the 
white  ensign  of  France  was  seen  fluttering  from 
a lofty  flag-staff. 

Cap  gave  an  ejaculation  as  he  witnessed  this 
ungrateful  exhibition,  and  he  cast  a quick,  sus- 
picious glance  at  his  brother-in-law. 

“ The  dirty  table-cloth  hung  up  to  the  air,  as 
my  name  is  Charles  Cap ! ” he  muttered,  “ and 

we  hugging  this  d d shore,  as  it  were  our  wife 

and  children,  met  on  the  return  from  an  India 
v’y’ge!  Harkee,  Jasper,  are  you  in  search  of  a 
cargo  of  frogs,  that  you  keep  so  near  in  to  this 
New  France  ? ” 

“ I hug  the  land,  sir,  in  the  hope  of  passing 
the  enemy’s  ship  without  being  seen,  for  I think 
she  must  be  somewhere  down  here  to  leeward.” 

“ Ay,  ay ; this  sounds  well,  and  I hope  it  may 
turn  out  as  you  say.  I trust  there  is  no  under- 
tow here  ? ” 

“We  are  on  a weather  shore,  now,”  said  Jas- 
per, smiling ; “ and  I think  you  will  admit,  Master 
Cap,  that  a strong  under-tow  makes  an  easy 
cable ; we  owe  all  our  lives  to  the  under-tow  of 
this  very  lake.” 

“ French  flummery  ! ” growled  Cap,  though 
he  did  not  care  to  be  heard  by  Jasper.  “ Give 
me  a fair,  honest,  English-Yankee-American  tow, 
above  board,  and  above  water,  too,  if  I must  have 
a tow  at  all,  and  none  of  your  sneaking  drift  that 
is  below  the  surface,  where  one  can  neither  see 
nor  feel.  I dare  say,  if  the  truth  could  be  come 
at,  that  this  late  escape  of  ours  was  all  a contrived 
affair.” 

“We  have  now  a good  opportunity,  at  least, 
to  reconnoitre  the  enemy’s  post  at  Niagara, 
brother,  for  such  I take  this  fort  to  be,”  put  in 
the  sergeant.  “ Let  us  be  all  eyes  in  passing, 
and  remember  that  we  are  almost  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy.” 

This  advice  of  the  serg^nt’s  needed  nothing 
to  enforce  it,  for  the  interest  and  novelty  of  pass- 
ing a spot  occupied  by  human  beings  were  of 
themselves  sufficient  to  attract  deep  attention  in 
that  scene  of  a vast  but  deserted  nature.  The 
wind  was  now  fresh  enough  to  urge  the  Scud 
through  the  water  with  considerable  velocity,  and 


Jasper  eased  her  helm  as  she  opened  the  river, 
and  luffed  nearly  into  the  mouth  of  that  noble 
strait,  or  river,  as  it  is  termed.  A dull,  distant, 
heavy  roar  came  down  through  the  opening  in  the 
banks,  swelling  on  the  currents  of  the  air,  like  the 
deeper  notes  of  some  immense  organ,  and  occasion- 
ally seeming  to  cause  the  earth  itself  to  tremble. 

“ That  sounds  like  surf  on  some  long,  unbro- 
ken coast ! ” exclaimed  Cap,  as  a swell  deeper 
than  common  came  to  his  ears. 

“ Ay,  that  is  such  surf  as  we  have  in  this 
quarter  of  the  world,”  Pathfinder  answered. 
“ There  is  no  under-tow  there,  Master  Cap,  but 
all  the  water  that  strikes  the  rocks  stays  there, 
so  far  as  going  back  ag’in  is  consarned.  That  is 
old  Niagara  that  you  hear,  or  this  noble  stream 
tumbling  down  a mountain ! ” 

“No  one  will  have  the  impudence  to  pretend 
that  this  fine  broad  river  falls  over  yonder  hills  ? ” 

“ It  does,  Master  Cap,  it  does  ; and  all  for  the 
want  of  stairs,  or  a road,  to  come  down  by.  This 
is  natur’,  as  we  have  it  up  hereaway,  though  I 
dare  say  you  beat  us  down  on  the  ocean. — Ah’s 
me ! Mabel ; a pleasant  hour  it  would  be  if  we 
could  walk  on  the  shore  some  ten  or  fifteen  miles 
up  this  stream,  and  gaze  on  all  that  God  has  done 
there ! ” 

“ You  have,  then,  seen  these  renowned  falls. 
Pathfinder  ? ” the  girl  eagerly  inquired. 

“ I have — yes,  I have ; and  an  awful  sight  I 
witnessed  at  that  same  time.  The  Sarpent  and  I 
were  out,  scouting  about  the  garrison  there,  when 
he  told  me  that  the  traditions  of  his  people  gave 
an  account  of  a mighty  cataract  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, and  he  asked  me  to  vary  from  the  line  of 
march  a little,  to  look  at  the  wonder.  I had 
heard  some  marvels  consarning  the  spot,  from 
the  soldiers  of  the  60th,  which  is  my  nat’ral  coi'ps 
like,  and  not  the  65th,  with  which  I have  so- 
journed so  much  of  late ; but  there  are  so  many 
terrible  liars  in  all  rijiments,  that  I hardly  believed 
half  they  told  me.  Well,  we  went;  and  though 
we  expected  to  be  led  by  our  ears,  and  to  hear 
some  of  that  awful  roaring  that  we  hear  to-day, 
we  were  disapp’inted,  for  natur’  was  not  then 
speaking  in  thunder,  as  she  is  this  morning. — 
Thus  it  is,  in  the  forest,  Master  Cap  ; there  being 
moments  when  God  seems  to  be  walking  abroad 
in  power,  and,  then  again,  there  is  a calm  over 
all,  as  if  his  spirit  lay  in  quiet  along  the  ’arth. 
Well,  we  came  suddenly  upon  the  stream,  a short 
distance  above  the  fall,  and  a young  Delaware 
who  was  in  our  company,  found  a bark  canoe, 
and  he  would  push  into  the  current,  to  reach  an 
island  that  lies  in  the  very  centre  of  the  confusion 
and  strife.  We  told  him  of  his  folly,  we  did,  and 


128 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


we  reasoned  with  him  on  the  wickedness  of 
tempting  Providence  by  seeking  danger  that  led 
to  9.0  ind ; but  the  youth  among  the  Delawares 
are  very  much  the  same  as  the  youth  among  the 
soldiers,  risky  and  vain.  All  we  could  say  did 
not  change  his  mind,  and  the  lad  had  his  way. — 
To  me  it  seems,  Mabel,  that  whenever  a thing  is 
really  grand  and  potent,  it  has  a quiet  majesty 
about  it,  that  is  altogether  unlike  the  frothy  and 
flustering  manner  of  smaller  matters,  and  so  it 
was  with  them  rapids.  The  canoe  was  no  sooner 
fairly  in  them,  than  down  it  went,  as  it  might  be, 
as  one  sails  through  the  air  on  the  ’arth,  and  no 
skill  of  the  young  Delaware  could  resist  the 
stream.  And  yet  he  struggled  manfully  for  life, 
using  the  paddle  to  the  last,  like  the  deer  that  is 
swimming  to  cast  the  hounds.  At  first,  he  shot 
across  the  current  so  swiftly  that  we  thought  he 
would  prevail,  but  he  had  miscalculated  his  dis- 
tance, and,  when  the  truth  really  struck  him,  he 
turned  the  head  up-stream,  and  struggled  in  a 
way  that  was  fearful  to  look  at.  I could  have 
pitied  him  even  had  he  been  a Mingo  ! For  a few 
moments  his  efforts  were  so  frantic,  that  he  act- 
ually prevailed  over  the  power  of  the  cataract ; 
but  natur’  has  its  limits,  and  one  faltering  stroke 
of  the  paddle  set  him  back,  and  then  he  lost 
ground,  foot  by  foot,  inch  by  inch,  until  he  got 
near  the  spot  where  the  river  looked  even  and 
green,  and  as  if  it  were  made  of  millions  of 
threads  of  water,  all  bent  over  some  huge  rock, 
when  he  shot  backward  like  an  arrow  and  dis- 
appeared, the  bow  of  the  canoe  tipping  just 
enough  to  let  us  see  what  had  become  of  him. 
I met  a Mohawk,  some  years  later,  who  had  wit- 
nessed the  whole  affair  from  the  bed  of  the  stream 
below,  and  he  told  me  that  the  Delaware  contin- 
ued to  paddle  in  the  air,  until  he  was  lost  in  the 
mists  of  the  falls ! ” 

“ And  what  became  of  the  poor  wretch  ? ” 
demanded  Mabel,  who  had  been  strongly  inter- 
ested by  the  natural  eloquence  of  the  speaker. 

“ He  went  to  the  happy  hunting-grounds  of 
his  people,  no  doubt ; for,  though  he  was  risky 
and  vain,  he  was  also  just  and  brave.  Yes,  he 
died  foolishly,  but  the  Manitou  of  the  red-skins 
has  compassion  on  his  creatur’s  as  well  as  the 
God  of  a Christian ! ” 

A gun  at  this  moment  was  discharged  from  a 
block-house  near  the  fort,  and  the  shot,  one  of 
little  weight,  came  whistling  over  the  cutter’s 
mast,  an  admonition  to  approach  no  nearer.  Jas- 
per was  at  the  helm,  and  he  kept  away,  smiling 
at  the  same  time  as  if  he  felt  no  anger  at  the 
rudeness  of  the  salutation.  The  Scud  was  now  in 
the  current,  and  her  outward  set  soon  carried  her 


far  enough  to  leeward  to  avoid  the  danger  of  a 
repetition  of  the  shot,  and  then  she  quietly  con- 
tinued her  course  along  the  land.  As  soon  as  the 
river  was  fairly  opened,  Jasper  ascertained  that 
the  Montcalm  was  not  at  anchor  in  it ; and  a man 
sent  aloft  came  down  with  the  report  that  the 
horizon  showed  no  sail.  The  hope  was  now  strong 
that  the  artifice  of  Jasper  had  succeeded,  and 
that  the  French  commander  had  missed  them  by 
keeping  the  middle  of  the  lake  as  he  steered  tow- 
ard its  head. 

All  that  day  the  wind  hung  to  the  southward, 
and  the  cutter  continued  her  course,  about  a 
league  from  the  land,  running  six  or  eight  knots 
an  hour  in  perfectly  smooth  water.  Although  the 
scene  had  one  feature  of  monotony,  the  outline  of 
unbroken  forest,  it  was  not  without  its  interest  and 
pleasures.  Various  headlands  presented  them- 
selves, and  the  cutter,  in  running  from  one  to  an- 
other, stretched  across  bays  so  deep  as  almost  to 
deserve  the  name  of  gulfs,  but  nowhere  did  the 
eye  meet  with  the  evidences  of  civilization.  Riv 
ers  occasionally  poured  their  tribute  into  the 
great  reservoir  of  the  lake,  but  their  banks  could 
be  traced  inland  for  miles  by  the  same  outlines  of 
trees ; and  even  large  bays  that  lay  embosomed 
in  woods,  communicating  with  Ontario  only  by 
narrow  outlets,  appeared  and  disappeared  with- 
out bringing  with  them  a single  trace  of  a human 
habitation. 

Of  all  on  board,  the  Pathfinder  viewed  the 
scene  with  the  most  unmingled  delight.  His  eyes 
feasted  on  the  endless  line  of  forest,  and,  more 
than  once  that  day,  notwithstanding  he  found  it 
so  grateful  to  be  near  Mabel,  listening  to  her 
pleasant  voice,  and  echoing,  in  feelings  at  least, 
her  joyous  laugh,  did  his  soul  pine  to  be  wander- 
ing beneath  the  high  arches  of  the  maples,  oaks, 
and  lindens,  where  his  habits  had  induced  him 
to  fancy  lasting  and  true  joys  were  only  to  be 
found.  Cap  viewed  the  prospect  differently. 
More  than  once  he  expressed  his  disgust  at  there 
being  no  light-houses,  church-towers,  beacons,  or 
roadsteads  with  their  shipping.  Such  another 
coast,  he  protested,  the  world  did  not  contain ; 
and,  taking  the  sergeant  aside,  h,e  gravely  assured 
him  that  the  region  could  never  come  to  any 
thing,  as  the  havens  were  neglected,  the  rivers 
had  a deserted  and  useless  look,  and  that  even 
the  breeze  had  a smell  of  the  forest  about  it, 
which  spoke  ill  of  its  properties. 

But  the  humors  of  the  different  individuals  in 
her  did  not  stay  the  speed  of  the  Scud.  When 
the  sun  was  setting,  she  was  already  a hundred 
miles  on  her  route  towarrl  Oswego,  into  which  riv- 
er Sergeant  Dunham  now  thought  it  his  duty  to  go, 


A FRENCH  SHIP  IN  CHASE. 


129 


m order  to  receive  any  communications  that  Major 
Duncan  might  please  to  make.  With  a view  to 
effect  this  purpose,  Jasper  continued  to  hug  the 
shore  all  night ; and,  though  the  wind  began  to 
fail  him  toward  morning,  it  lasted  long  enough  to 
carry  the  cutter  up  to  a point  that  was  known  to 
be  but  a league  or  two  from  the  fort.  Here  the 
breeze  came  out  light  at  the  northward,  and  the 
cutter  hauled  a little  from  the  land  in  order  to  ob- 
tain a safe  offing  should  it  come  on  to  blow,  or 
should  the  weather  again  get  to  be  easterly. 

When  the  day  dawned,  the  cutter  had  the 
mouth  of  the  Oswego  well  under  her  lee,  distant 
about  two  miles,  and  just  as  the  morning  gun 
from  the  fort  was  fired,  Jasper  gave  the  order  to 
ease  off  the  sheets,  and  to  bear  up  for  his  port. 
At  that  moment  a cry  from  the  forecastle  drew 
all  eyes  toward  the  point  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  outlet,  and  there,  just  without  the  range  of 
shot  from  the  light  guns  of  the  works,  with  her 
canvas  reduced  to  barely  enough  to  keep  her 
stationary,  lay  the  Montcalm,  evidently  in  wait- 
ing for  their  appearance.  To  pass  her  was  im- 
possible, for,  by  filling  her  sails,  the  French  ship 
could  have  intercepted  them  in  a few  minutes ; 
and  the  circumstances  called  for  a prompt  deci- 
sion. After  a short  consultation,  the  sergeant 
again  changed  his  plan,  determining  to  make  the 
best  of  his  way  toward  the  station  for  which  he 
had  been  originally  destined,  trusting  to  the 
speed  of  the  Scud  to  throw  the  enemy  so  far 
astern,  as  to  leave  no  clue  to  her  movements. 

The  cutter,  accordingly,  hauled  upon  a wind, 
with  the  least  possible  delay,  with  every  thing  set 
that  would  draw.  • Guns  were  fired  from  the  fort, 
ensigns  shown,  and  the  ramparts  were  again 
crowded.  But  sympathy  was  all  the  aid  that 
Lundie  could  lend  to  his  party  ; and  the  Montcalm, 
also  firing  four  or  five  guns  of  defiance,  and 
throwing  abroad  several  of  the  banners  of  France, 
was  soon  in  chase,  under  a cloud  of  canvas. 

For  several  hours  the  two  vessels  were  press- 
ing through  the  water  as  fast  as  possible,  making 
short  stretches  to  windward,  apparently  with  a 
view  to  keep  the  port  under  their  lee,  the  one  to 
enter  it,  if  possible,  and  the  other  to  intercept  it 
in  the  attempt. 

At  meridian,  the  French  ship  was  hull  down 
dead  to  leeward,  the  disparity  of  sailing  on  a 
wind  being  very  great,  and  some  islands  were 
near  by,  behind  which  Jasper  said  it  would  be 
possible  for  the  cutter  to  conceal  her  future 
movements.  Although  Cap  and  the  sergeant, 
and  particularly  Lieutenant  Muir,  to  judge  by  his 
language,  still  felt  a good  deal  of  distrust  of  the 
young  man,  and  Frontenac  was  not  distant,  this 
85  9 


advice  was  followed,  for  time  pressed,  and  the 
quartermaster  discreetly  observed  that  Jasper 
could  not  well  betray  them,  without  running 
openly  into  the  enemy’s  harbor — a step  they 
could  at  any  time  prevent,  since  the  only  cruiser 
of  force  the  French  possessed,  at  the  moment  was 
under  their  lee,  and  not  in  a situation  to  do  them 
any  immediate  injury. 

Left  to  himself,  Jasper  Western  soon  proved 
how  much  was  really  in  him.  He  weathered  up- 
on the  islands,  passed  them,  and,  on  coming  out 
to  the  eastward,  kept  broad  away,  with  nothing 
in  sight  in  his  wake  or  to  leeward.  By  sunset, 
again,  the  cutter  was  up  with  the  first  of  the  isl- 
ands that  lie  in  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  and  ere  it 
was  dark  she  was  running  through  the  narrow 
channels  on  her  way  to  the  long-sought  station. 
At  nine  o’clock,  however,  Cap  insisted  that  they 
should  anchor,  for  the  maze  of  islands  became  so 
complicated  and  obscure,  that  he  feared,  at  every 
opening,  the  party  would  find  themselves  under 
the  guns  of  a French  fort.  Jasper  consented 
cheerfully,  it  being  a part  of  his  standing  instruc- 
tions to  approach  the  station  under  such  circum- 
stances as  would  prevent  the  men  from  obtaining 
any  very  accurate  notions  of  its  position,  lest  a 
deserter  might  betray  the  little  garrison  to  the 
enemy. 

The  Scud  was  brought-to  in  a small  retired 
bay,  where  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  find  her 
by  daylight,  and  where  she  was  perfectly  con- 
cealed at  night,  when  all  but  a solitary  sentinel 
on  deck  sought  their  rest.  Cap  had  been  so  har- 
assed during  the  previous  eight-and-forty  hours, 
that  his  slumbers  were  long  and  deep,  nor  did  he 
awake  from  his  first  nap  until  the  day  was  just 
beginning  to  dawn.  His  eyes  were  scarcely  open, 
however,  when  his  nautical  instinct  told  him  that 
the  cutter  was  under  way.  Springing  up,  he 
found  the  Scud  threading  the  islands  again,  with 
no  one  on  deck  but  Jasper  and  the  pilot,  unless 
the  sentinel  be  excepted,  who  had  not  in  the 
least  interfered  with  movements  that  he  had 
every  reason  to  believe  were  as  regular  as  they 
were  necessary. 

“ IIow’s  this,  Master  Western  ? ” demanded 
Cap,  with  sufficient  fierceness  for  the  occasion — 
“ are  you  running  us  into  Frontenac  at  last,  and 
we  all  asleep  below,  like  so  many  marines  wait- 
ing for  the  ‘ sentry  go  ? 

“ This  is  according  to  orders,  Master  Cap, 
Major  Duncan  having  commanded  me  never  to 
approach  the  station  unless  at  a moment  when 
the  people  were  below ; for  he  does  not  wish  there 
should  be  more  pilots  in  these  waters  than  the 
king  has  need  of.” 


130 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Whe-e-w  ! a pretty  job  I should  have  made 
»f  running  down  among  these  bushes  and  rocks, 
with  no  one  on  deck ! Why,  a regular  York 
branch  could  make  nothing  at  all  of  such  a chan- 
nel.” 

“ I always  thought,  sir,”  said  Jasper,  smiling, 
“ you  would  have  done  better  had  you  left  the 
cutter  in  my  hands  until  she  had  safely  reached 
her  place  of  destination.” 

“We  should  have  done  it,  Jasper;  we  should 
have  done  it,  had  it  not  been  for  a circumstance 
— these  circumstances  are  serious  matters,  and 
no  prudent  man  will  overlook  them.” 

“ Well,  sir,  I hope  there  is  now  an  end  of 
them.  We  shall  arrive  in  less  than  an  hour,  if 
the  wind  hold,  and  then  you’ll  be  safe  from  any 
circumstances  that  1 can  contrive.” 

“ Humph ! ” 

Cap  was  oblige  to  acquiesce,  and,  as  every 
thing  around  him  had  the  appearance  of  Jasper’s 
being  sincere,  there  was  not  much  difficulty  in 
making  up  his  mind  to  submit.  It  would  not 
have  been  easy,  indeed,  for  a person  the  most 
sensitive  on  the  subject  of  circumstances,  to  fancy 
that  the  Scud  was  anywhere  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
port  as  long  established,  and  as  well  known  on 
the  frontiers,  as  Frontenac.  The  islands  might 
not  have  been  literally  a thousand  in  numbar, 
but  they  were  so  numerous  and  small  as  to  baffle 
calculation,  though  occasionally  one  of  larger 
size  than  common  was  passed.  Jasper  had  quit- 
ted what  might  have  been  termed  the  main  chan- 
nel, and  was  winding  his  way  with  a good  stiff 
breeze,  and  a favorable  current,  through  passes 
that  were  sometimes  so  narrow  that  there  ap- 
peared to  be  barely  room  sufficient  for  the  Scud’s 
spars  to  clear  the  trees,  while  at  other  moments 
he  shot  across  little  bays,  and  buried  the  cutter 
again  amid  rocks,  forests,  and  bushes.  The 
water  was  so  transparent  that  there  was  no  oc- 
casion for  the  lead,  and  being  of  equal  depth  little 
risk  was  actually  run,  though  Cap,  with  his  mari- 
time habits,  was  in  a constant  fever  lest  they 
should  strike. 

“ I give  it  up  ! — I give  it  up,  Pathfinder  ! ” 
the  old  seaman  at  length  exclaimed,  when  the 
little  vessel  emerged  in  safety  from  the  twentieth 
of  these  narrow  inlets,  through  which  she  had  been 
so  boldly  carried  ; “ this  is  defying  the  very  nature 
of  seamanship,  and  sending  all  its  laws  and  rules 
to  the  d 1 ! ” 

“ Nay,  nay,  Salt-water ; ’tis  the  parfection  of 
the  art.  You  perceive  that  Jasper  never  falters, 
but,  like  a hound  with  a true  nose,  he  runs  with 
his  head  high,  as  if  he  had  a strong  scent.  My 
life  on  it  the  -lad  brings  us  out  right  in  the  ind, 


as  he  would  have  done  in  the  beginning  had  we 
given  him  leave.” 

“No  pilot,  no  lead,  no  beacons,  buoys,  or 
light-houses,  no — ” 

“ Trail ! ” interrupted  Pathfinder,  “ for  that 
to  me  is  the  most  mysterious  part  of  the  busi- 
ness. Water  leaves  no  trail,  as  every  one  knows, 
and  yet  here  is  Jasper  moving  ahead  as  boldly  as 
if  he  bad  before  his  eyes  the  prints  of  moccasins 
on  leaves  as  plainly  as  we  can  see  the  sun  in  the 
heaven.” 

“ D e if  I believe  there  is  even  any  com- 

pass ! ” 

“ Stand  by  to  haul  down  the  jib,”  called  out 
Jasper,  who  merely  smiled  at  the  remarks  of  his 
companion.  “ Haul  * down — starboard  your  helm 
— starboard  hard — so — meet  her — gently  there 
with  the  helm — touch  her  lightly — now  jump 
ashore  with  the  fast,  lad — no,  heave — there  are 
some  of  our  people  ready  to  take  it.” 

All  this  passed  so  quickly  as  barely  to  allow 
the  spectators  time  to  note  the  different  evolu- 
tions, ere  the  Scud  had  been  thrown  into  the 
wind  until  her  mainsail  shivered,  next  cast  a little 
by  the  use  of  the  rudder  only,  and  then  she  set 
bodily  alongside  of  a natural  rocky  quay,  where 
she  was  immediately  secured  by  good  fasts  run 
to  the  shore.  In  a word,  the  station  was  reached, 
and  the  men  of  the  55th  were  greeted  by  their 
expecting  comrades  with  the  satisfaction  that  a 
relief  usually  brings.  » 

Mabel  sprang  upon  the  shore  with  a delight 
which  she  did  not  care  to  express,  and  her  father 
led  his  men  after  her  with  an  alacrity  which 
proved  how  wearied  he  had  become  of  the  cutter. 
The  Station,  as  the  place  was  familiarly  termed 
by  the  soldiers  of  the  55th,  was  indeed  a spot  to 
raise  expectations  of  enj6yment  among  those  who 
had  been  cooped  up  so  long  in  a vessel  of  the 
dimensions  of  the  Scud.  None  of  the  islands 
were  high,  though  all  lay  at  a sufficient  elevation 
above  the  water  to  render  them  perfectly  healthy 
and  secure.  Each  had  more  or  less  of  wood,  and 
the  greater  number  at  that  distant  day  were 
clothed  with  the  virgin  forest.  The  one  selected 
by  the  troops  for  their  purpose  was  small,  con- 
taining about  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  by  some 
of  the  accidents  of  the  wilderness  it  had  been 
partly  stripped  of  its  trees,  probably  centuries 
before  the  period  of  which  we  are  writing,  and  a 
little  grassy  glade  covered  nearly  half  its  surface. 
It  was  the  opinion  of  the  officer  who  had  made 
the  selection  of  this  spot  for  a military  post,  that 
a sparkling  spring  near  by  had  early  caught  the 
attention  of  the  Indians,  and  that  they  had  long 
frequented  this  particular  place,  in  their  hunts. 


STATION  ISLAND. 


131 


or  when  fishing  for  salmon — a circumstance  that 
had  kept  down  the  second  growth,  and  given  time 
for  the  natural  grasses  to  take  root,  and  to  gain 
dominion  over  the  soil.  Let  the  cause  be  what 
it  might,  the  effect  was  to  render  this  island  far 
more  beautiful  than  most  of  those  around  it,  and 
to  lend  it  an  air  of  civilization  that  was  then 
wanting  in  so  much  of  that  vast  region  of  country. 

The  shores  of  Station  Island  were  completely 
fringed  with  bushes,  and  great  care  had  been 
taken  to  preserve  them,  as  they  answered  as  a 
screen  to  conceal  the  persons  and  things  collected 
within  their  circle.  Favored  by  this  shelter,  as 
well  as  by  that  of  several  thickets  of  trees  and 
different  copses,  some  six  or  eight  low  huts  had 
been  erected  to  be  used  as  quarters  for  the  officer 
and  his  men,  to  contain  stores,  and  to  serve  the 
purposes  of  kitchen,  hospital,  etc.  These  huts 
were  built  of  logs,  in  the  usual  manner,  had  been 
roofed  by  bark  brought  from  a distance,  lest  the 
signs  of  labor  should  attract  attention,  and,  as 
they  had  now  been  inhabited  some  months,  were 
as  comfortable  as  dwellings  of  that  description 
usually  ever  get  to  be. 

At  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  island,  how- 
ever, was  a small  densely-wooded  peninsula,  with 
a thicket  of  underbrush  so  closely  matted  as 
nearly  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  seeing  across 
it  so  long  as  the  leaves  remained  on  the  branches. 
Near  the  narrow  neck  that  connected  this  acre 
with  the  rest  of  the  island,  a small  block-house 
had  been  erected  with  some  attention  to  its  means 
of  resistance.  The  logs  were  bullet-proof,  squared 
and  jointed  with  a care  to  leave  no  defenceless 
points ; the  windows  were  loop-holes ; the  door 
massive  and  small ; and  the  roof,  like  the  rest  of 
the  structure,  was  framed  of  hewn  timber,  cov- 
ered properly  with  bark  to  exclude  the  rain.  The 
lower  apartment,  as  usual,  contained  stores  and 
provisions ; here,  indeed,  the  party  kept  all  their 
supplies;  the  second  story  was  intended  for  a 
dwelling  as  well  as  for  the  citadel,  and  a low 
garret  was  subdivided  into  two  or  three  rooms, 
and  could  hold  the  pallets  of  some  ten  or  fifteen 
persons.  All  the  arrangements  were  exceedingly 
simple  and  cheap,  but  they  were  sufficient  to  pro- 
tect the  soldiers  against  the  effects  of  a surprise. 
As  the  whole  building  was  considerably  less  than 
forty  feet  high,  its  summit  was  concealed  by  the 
tops  of  the  trees,  except  from  the  eyes  of  those 
who  had  reached  the  interior  of  the  island.  On 
that  side  the  view  was  open  from  the  upper  loops, 
though  bushes,  even  there,  more  or  less  concealed 
the  base  of  the  wooden  tower. 

The  object  being  purely  defence,  care  had 
been  taken  to  place  the  block-house  so  near  an 


opening  in  the  limestone  rock  that  formed  the 
base  of  the  island,  as  to  admit  of  a bucket’s  being 
dropped  into  the  water  in  order  to  obtain  that 
great  essential  in  the  event  of  a siege.  In  order 
to  facilitate  this  operation,  and  to  enfilade  the 
base  of  the  building,  the  upper  stories  projected 
several  feet  beyond  the  lower  in  the  manner  usual 
to  block-houses,  and  pieces  of  wood  filled  the 
apertures  cut  in  the  log  flooring,  which  were  in- 
tended as  loops  and  traps.  The  communications 
between  the  different  stories  were  by  means  of 
ladders.  If  we  add  that  these  block-houses  were 
intended  as  citadels,  for  garrisons  or  settlements 
to  retreat  to  in  cases  of  attack,  the  general  read 
er  will  obtain  a sufficiently  correct  idea  of  the 
arrangements  it  is  our  wish  to  explain. 

But  the  situation  of  the  island  itself  formed 
its  principal  merit  as  a military  position.  Lying 
in  the  midst  of  twenty  others,  it  was  not  an  easy 
matter  to  find  it,  since  boats  might  pass  quite 
near,  and,  by  the  glimpses  caught  through  the 
openings,  this  particular  island  would  be  taken 
for  a part  of  some  other.  Indeed,  the  channels 
between  the  islands  that  lay  around  the  one  we 
have  been  describing  were  so  narrow,  that  it  was 
even  difficult  to  say  which  portions  of  the  land 
w’ere  connected,  or  which  separated,  even  as  one 
stood  in  their  centre,  with  the  express  desire  of 
ascertaining  the  truth.  The  little  bay  in  particu- 
lar, that  Jasper  used  as  a harbor,  was  so  embow- 
ered with  bushes  and  shut  in  with  islands,  that, 
the  sails  of  the  cutter  being  lowered,  her  own 
people,  on  one  occasion,  had  searched  for  hours 
before  they  could  find  the  Scud,  in  their  return 
from  a short  excursion  among  the  adjacent  chan- 
nels, in  quest  of  fish.  In  short,  the  place  was  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  its  present  uses,  and  its  natu- 
ral advantages  had  been  as  ingeniously  improved 
as  economy  and  the  limited  means  of  a frontier 
post  would  very  well  allow. 

The  hour  thatsucceeded  the  arrival  of  the  Scud 
was  one  of  hurried  excitement.  The  party  in 
possession  had  done  nothing  worthy  of  being 
mentioned,  and,  wearied  with  their  seclusion,  they 
were  all  eager  to  return  to  Oswego.  The  ser- 
geant and  the  officer  he  came  to  relieve  had  no 
sooner  gone  through  the  little  ceremonies  of 
transferring  the  command,  than  the  latter  hurried 
on  board  the  Scud  with  his  whole  party  ; and  Jas- 
per, who  would  gladly  have  passed  the  day  on 
the  island,  was  required  to  get  under  way  forth- 
with, the  wind  promising  a quick  passage  up 
the  river  and  across  the  lake.  Before  separating, 
however,  Lieutenant  Muir,  Cap,  and  a sergeant, 
had  a private  conference  with  the  ensign  who  had 
been  relieved,  in  which  the  latter  was  made  ac* 


132 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


tainted  with  the  suspicions  that  existed  against 
the  fidelity  of  the  young  sailor.  Promising  due 
caution,  the  officer  embarked,  and,  in  less  than 
three  hours  from  the  time  when  she  had  arrived, 
the  cutter  was  again  in  motion. 

Mabel  had  taken  possession  of  a hut,  and  with 
female  readiness  and  skill  she  made  all  the  sim- 
ple little  domestic  arrangements  of  which  the  cir- 
cumstances would  admit,  not  only  for  her  own 
comfort,  but  for  that  of  her  father.  To  save 
labor,  a mess  table  was  prepared  in  a hut  set 
apart  for  that  purpose,  where  all  the  heads  of  the 
detachment  were  to  eat,  the  soldier’s  wife  per- 
forming the  necessary  labor.  The  hut  of  the  ser- 
geant, which  was  the  best  on  the  island,  being 
thus  freed  from  any  of  the  vulgar  offices  of  a 
household,  admitted  of  such  a display  of  womanly 
taste,  that,  for  the  first  time  since  her  arrival  on 
the  frontier,  the  girl  felt  proud  of  her  home.  As 
soon  as  these  important  duties  were  discharged, 
she  strolled  out  on  the  island,  taking  a path  that 
led  through  the  pretty  glade,  and  which  conducted 
to  the  only  point  that  was  not  covered  with  bush- 
es, Here  she  stood  gazing  at  the  limpid  water, 
which  lay  with  scarcely  a ruffle  on  it,  at  her  feet, 
musing  on  the  novel  situation  in  which  she  was 
placed,  and  permitting  a pleasing  and  deep  excite- 
ment to  steal  over  her  feelings,  as  she  remembered 
the  scenes  through  which  she  had  so  lately  passed, 
and  conjectured  those  which  still  lay  veiled  in  the 
future. 

“You’re  a beautiful  fixture,  in  a beautiful 
spot,  Mistress  Mabel,”  said  David  Muir,  suddenly 
appearing  at  her  elbow,  “and  I’ll  no  engage 
you’re  not  just  the  handsomest  of  the  two.” 

“ I will  not  say,  Mr.  Muir,  that  compliments 
on  my  person  are  altogether  unwelcome,  for  I 
should  not  gain  credit  for  speaking  the  truth,  per- 
haps,” answered  Mabel,  with  spirit ; “ but  I will 
say  that,  if  you  will  condescend  to  address  to  me 
some  remarks  of  a different  nature,  I may  be  led 
to  believe  you  think  I have  sufficient  faculties  to 
understand  them.” 

“ Hoot ! your  mind,  beautiful  Mabel,  is  pol- 
ished just  like  the  barrel  of  a soldier’s  musket, 
and  your  conversation  is  only  too  discreet  and 

wise  for  a poor  d 1 who  has  been  chewing  birch 

ap  here  these  four  years  on  the  lines,  instead  of  re- 
ceiving it  in  an  application  that  has  the  virtue  of 
imparting  knowledge.  But  you  are  no  sorry,  I 
take  it,  young  lady,  that  you’ve  got  your  pretty 
foot  on  terra  firma  once  more.” 

“ I thought  so,  two  hours  since,  Mr.  Muir ; but 
the  Scud  looks  so  beautiful,  as  she  sails  through 
these  vistas  of  trees,  that  I almost  regret  I am  no 
longer  one  of  her  passengers.” 


As  Mabel  ceased  speaking,  she  waved  her 
handkerchief  in  return  to  a salutation  from  Jas- 
per, who  kept  his  eyes  fastened  on  her  form,  un- 
til the  white  sails  of  the  cutter  had  swept  round  a 
point,  and  were  nearly  lost  behind  its  green  fringe 
of  leaves. 

“ There  they  go,  and  I’ll  no  say  ‘joy  go  with 
them,’  but  may  they  have  the  luck  to  return  safe- 
ly, for  without  them  we  shall  be  in  danger  of  pass- 
ing the  winter  on  this  island ; unless,  indeed,  we 
have  the  alternative  of  the  castle  at  Quebec! 
Yon  Jasper  Eau-douce  is  a vagrant  sort  of  a lad, 
and  they  have  reports  of  him  in  the  garrison  that 
it  pains  my  very  heart  to  hear.  Your  worthy 
father,  and  almost-as-worthy  uncle,  have  none  of 
the  best  opinion  of  him.” 

“ I am  sorry  to  hear  it,  Mr.  Muir ; I doubt  not 
that  time  will  remove  all  their  distrust.” 

“ If  time  would  only  remove  mine,  pretty  Ma- 
bel,” rejoined  the  quartermaster,  in  a wheedling 
tone,  “ I should  feel  no  envy  of  the  commander-in- 
chief.  I think  if  I were  in  a condition  to  retire, 
the  sergeant  would  just  step  into  my  shoes.” 

“ If  my  dear  father  is  worthy  to  step  into  your 
shoes,  Mr.  Muir,”  returned  the  girl,  with  ma- 
licious pleasui’e,  “ I’m  sure  that  the  qualification 
is  mutual,  and  that  you  are  every  way  worthy  to 
step  into  his.” 

“ The  deuce  is  in  the  child ! you  would  not  re- 
duce me  to  the  rank  of  a non-commissioned  offi- 
cer, Mabel ! ” 

“ No,  indeed,  sir,  I was  not  thinking  of  the 
army  at  all,  as  you  spoke  of  retiring.  My 
thoughts  were  more  egotistical,  and  I was  think- 
ing how  much  you  reminded  me  of  my  dear  father, 
by  your  experience,  wisdom,  and  suitableness,  to 
take  his  place  as  the  head  of  a family.” 

“ As  its  bridegroom,  pretty  Mabel,  but  not  as 
its  parent,  or  natural  chief.  I see  how  it  is  with 
you,  loving  your  repartee,  and  brilliant  with  wit ! 
Well,  I like  spirit  in  a young  woman,  so  it  be 
not  the  spirit  of  a scold.  This  Pathfinder  is  an 
extraordinair,  Mabel,  if  truth  may  be  said  of  the 
man.” 

“ Truth  should  be  said  of  him,  or  nothing. 
Pathfinder  is  my  friend — my  very  particular 
friend,  Mr.  Muir,  and  no  evil  can  be  said  of  him, 
in  my  presence,  that  I shall  not  deny.” 

“ I shall  say  nothing  evil  of  him,  I can  assure 
you,  Mabel;  but,  at  the  same  time,  I doubt  if 
much  good  can  be  said  in  his  favor.” 

“ He  is  at  least  expert  with  the  rifle,”  returned 
Mabel,  smiling.  “ That  you  cannot  deny.” 

“ Let  him  have  all  the  credit  of  his  exploits 
in  that  way,  if  you  please ; but  he  is  as  illiterate 
as  a Mohawk.” 


TIIE  QUARTERMASTER’S  ATTENTIONS. 


133 


“ He  may  not  understand  Latin,  but  his  know- 
ledge of  Iroquois  is  greater  than  that  of  most  men, 
and  it  is  the  more  useful  language  of  the  two,  in 
this  part  of  the  world.” 

“ If  Lundie  himself  were  to  call  on  me  for  an 
opinion  which  I admired  most,  your  person  or 
your  wit,  beautiful  and  caustic  Mabel,  I should  be 
at  a loss  to  answer.  My  admiration  is  so  nearly 
divided  between  them,  that  I often  fancy  this  is 
the  one  that  bears  off  the  palm,  and  then  the 
other ! Ah ! The  late  Mrs.  Muir  was  a paragon 
in  that  way,  also  ! ” 

“ The  latest  Mrs.  Muir,  did  you  say,  sir  ? ” 
asked  Mabel,  looking  up  innocently  at  her  com- 
panion. 

“ Hoot — hoot ! That  is  some  of  Pathfinder’s 
scandal.  Now,  I dare  say  that  the  fellow  has  been 
trying  to  persuade  you,  Mabel,  that  I have  had 
more  than  one  wife  already.” 

“In  that  case,  his  time  would  have  been 
thrown  away,  sir,  as  everybody  knows  that  you 
have  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  had  four.” 

“ Only  three,  as  sure  as  my  name  is  David 
Muir.  The  fourth  is  pure  scandal — or,  rather, 
pretty  Mabel,  she  is  yet  in  petto , as  they  say  at 
Rome ; and  that  means,  in  matters  of  love,  in  the 
heart,  my  dear.” 

“ Well,  I’m  glad  I’m  not  that  fourth  person, 
in  petto , or  in  any  thing  else,  as  I should  not  like 
to  be  a scandal ! ” 

“ No  fear  of  that,  charming  Mabel ; for,  were 
you  the  fourth,  all  the  others  would  be  forgotten, 
and  your  wonderful  beauty  and  merit  would  at 
once  elevate  you  to  the  first.  No  fear  of  your 
being  the  fourth  in  any  thing.” 

“ There  is  consolation  in  that  assurance,  Mr. 
Muir,”  said  Mabel,  laughing,  “ whatever  there  may 
be  in  your  other  assurance  ; for  I confess  I should 
prefer  being  even  a fourth-rate  beauty  to  being  a 
fourth  wife.” 

So  saying,  she  tripped  away,  leaving  the  quar- 
termaster to  meditate  on  his  want  of  success. 
Mabel  had  been  induced  to  use  her  female  means 
of  defence  thus  freely,  partly  because  her  suitor 
had  of  late  been  so  pointed  as  to  stand  in  need 
of  a pretty  strong  repulse,  and  partly  on  account 
of  his  innuendoes  against  Jasper  and  the  Path- 
finder. Though  full  of  spirit  and  quick  of  intel- 
lect, she  was  not  naturally  pert ; but,  on  the  pres- 
ent occasion,  she  thought  circumstances  called 
for  more  than  usual  decision.  When  she  left  her 
companion,  therefore,  she  believed  she  was  now 
finally  released  from  attentions  that  she  thought 
as  ill  bestowed  as  they  were  certainly  disagree- 
able. Not  so,  however,  with  David  Muir  ; accus- 
tomed to  rebuffs,  and  familiar  with  the  virtue  of 


perseverance,  he  saw  no  reason  to  despair,  though 
the  half  menacing,  half  self-satisfied  manner  in 
which  he  shook  his  head  toward  the  retreating 
girl,  might  have  betrayed  designs  as  sinister  as 
they  were  determined.  While  he  was  thus  occu- 
pied, the  Pathfinder  approached,  and  got  within 
a few  feet  of  him,  unseen. 

“ ’Twill  never  do,  quartermaster,  ’twill  nev- 
er do ! ” commenced  the  latter,  laughing  in  his 
noiseless  way ; “ she  is  young  and  actyve,  and 
none  but  a quick  foot  can  overtake  her.  They 
tell  me  you  are  her  suitor,  if  you’re  not  her  fol- 
lower.” 

“ And  I hear  the  same  of  yourself,  man,  though 
the  presumption  would  be  so  great  that  I scarce 
can  think  it  true ! ” 

“ I fear  you’re  right,  I do  ; yes,  I fear  you’re 
right ! — when  I consider  myself — what  I am — 
how  little  I know,  and  how  rude  my  life  has  been, 
I altogether  distrust  my  claim,  even  to  think  a 
moment,  of  one  so  tutored,  and  gay,  and  light  of 
heart,  and  delicate — ” 

“ You  forget  handsome,”  coarsely  interrupted 
Muir. 

“ And  handsome,  too,  I fear,”  returned  the 
meek  and  self-abased  guide  ; “ I might  have  said 
handsome,  at  once,  among  her  other  qualities, 
for  the  young  fa’an,  just  as  it  learns  to  bound,  is 
not  more  pleasant  to  the  eye  of  the  hunter  than 
Mabel  is  lovely  in  mine.  I do,  indeed,  fear  that 
all  the  thoughts  I have  harbored  about  her  are 
vain  and  presumptuous.” 

“ If  you  think  this,  my  friend,  of  your  own  ac- 
cord, and  natural  modesty,  as  it  might  be,  my  duty 
to  you  as  an  old  fellow-campaigner  compels  me  to 
say—” 

“ Quartermaster,”  interrupted  the  other,  re- 
garding his  companion  keenly,  “ you  and  I have 
lived  together  much  behind  the  ramparts  of  forts, 
but  very  little  in  the  open  woods,  or  in  front  of 
the  inimy.” 

“ Garrison  or  tent,  it  all  passes  for  part  of  the 
same  campaign,  you  know,  Pathfinder  ; and  then 
my  duty  keeps  me  much  within  sight  of  the  store- 
houses, greatly  contrary  to  my  inclinations,  as  ye 
may  well  suppose,  having  yourself  the  ardor  of 
battle  in  your  temperament.  But  had  ye  heard 
what  Mabel  has  just  been  saying  of  you,  ye’d  no 
think  another  minute  of  making  yourself  agree- 
able to  the  saucy  and  uncompromising  hussy.” 

Pathfinder  looked  earnestly  at  the  lieutenant, 
for  it  was  impossible  he  should  not  feel  an  interest 
in  what  might  be  Mabel’s  opinion ; but  he  had 
too  much  of  the  innate  and  true  feeling  of  a gen- 
tleman, to  ask  to  hear  what  another  had  said  of 
him.  Muir,  however,  was  not  to  be  foiled  by  this 


134 


THE  PATHFINDER, 


self-denial  and  self-respect ; for,  believing  he  had 
a man  of  great  truth  and  simplicity  to  deal  with, 
he  determined  to  practise  on  his  credulity,  as  one 
means  of  getting  rid  of  his  rivalry.  He  there- 
fore pursued  the  subject  as  soon  as  he  perceived 
that  his  companion’s  self-denial  was  stronger  than 
his  curiosity. 

“ You  ought  to  know  her  opinion,  Pathfinder,” 
he  continued  ; “ and  I think  every  man  ought  to 
hear  what  his  friends  and  acquaintances  say  of 
him ; and  so,  by  way  of  proving  my  own  regard 
for  your  character  and  feelings,  I’ll  just  tell  you, 
in  as  few  words  as  possible.  You  know  that  Ma- 
bel has  a wicked,  malicious  way  with  those  eyes 
of  her  own,  when  she  has  a mind  to  be  hard  upon 
one’s  feelings.” 

“To  me  her  eyes,  Lieutenant  Muir,  have  al- 
ways seemed  winning  and  soft — though  I will  ac- 
knowledge that  they  sometimes  laugh — yes,  I 
have  known  them  to  laugh  ; and  that  right  heart- 
ily, and  with  downright  good-will.” 

“ Well,  it  was  just  that,  then  ; her  eyes  were 
laughing  with  all  their  might,  as  it  were,  and,  in 
the  midst  of  all  her  fun,  she  broke  out  with  an 
exclamation  to  this  effect — I hope  ’twill  no  hurt 
your  sensibility,  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“ I will  not  say,  quartermaster,  I will  not  say 
—Mabel’s  opinion  of  me  is  of  more  account  than 
that  of  most  others.” 

“ Then  I’ll  no  tell  ye,  but  just  keep  discretion 
on  the  subject ; and  why  should  a man  be  telling 
another  what  his  friends  say  of  him,  especially 
when  they  happen  to  say  that  which  may  not  be 
pleasant  to  hear.  I’ll  not  add  another  word  to 
this  present  communication.” 

“ I cannot  make  you  speak,  quartermaster,  if 
you  are  not  so  minded,  and  perhaps  it  is  better 
for  me  not  to  know  Mabel’s  opinion,  as  you  seem 
to  think  it  is  not  in  my  favor.  Ah’s  me — if  we 
could  be  what  we  wished  to  be,  instead  of  being 
only  what  we  are,  there  would  be  a great  differ- 
ence in  our  characters,  and  knowledge,  and  ap- 
pearance. One  may  be  rude,  and  coarse,  and  ig- 
norant, and  yet  happy,  if  he  does  not  know  it ; 
but  it  is  hard  to  see  our  own  failings  in  the  strong- 
est light,  just  as  we  wish  to  hear  the  least  about 
them.” 

“ That’s  just  the  rationale , as  the  French  say, 
of  the  matter ; and  so  I was  telling  Mabel,  wfien 
she  ran  away  and  left  me.  You  noticed  the 
manner  in  which  she  skipped  off,  as  you  ap- 
proached ? ” 

“ It  was  very  observable,”  answered  Pathfind- 
er, drawing  a long  breath,  and  clinching  the  bar- 
rel of  his  rifle,  as  if  the  fingers  would  bury  them- 
selves in  the  iron. 


“It  was  more  than  observable — it  was  fl&. 
grant — that’s  just  the  word,  and  the  dictionary 
wouldn’t  supply  a better,  after  an  hour’s  search. 
Well,  you  must  know,  Pathfinder,  for  I cannot 
reasonably  deny  you  the  gratification  of  hearing 
this — so  you  must  know,  the  minx  bounded  off  in 
that  manner,  in  preference  to  hearing  what  I had 
to  say  in  your  justification.” 

“ And  what  could  you  find  to  say  in  my  be- 
half, quartermaster  ? ” 

“ Why,  d’ye  understand,  my  friend,  I was 
ruled  by  circumstances,  and  no  ventured  indis- 
creetly into  generalities,  but  was  preparing  to 
meet  particulars,  as  it  might  be,  with  particulars. 
If  you  were  thought  wild,  hajf-savage,  or  of  a 
frontier  formation,  I could  tell  her,  ye  know,  that 
it  came  of  the  frontier,  wild,  and  half-savage  life 
ye’d  led ; and  all  her  objections  must  cease  at 
once,  or  there  would  be  a sort  of  a misunderstand- 
ing with  Providence.” 

“ And  did  you  tell  her  this,  quartermaster  ? ” 

“ I’ll  no  swear  to  the  exact  words,  but  the 
idea  was  prevalent  in  my  mind,  ye’ll  understand. 
The  girl  was  impatient,  and  would  not  hear  the 
half  I had  to  say ; but  away  she  skipped,  as  ye 
saw  with  your  own  eyes,  Pathfinder,  as  if  her 
opinion  were  fully  made  up,  and  she  cared  to  lis- 
ten no  longer.  I fear  her  mind  may  be  said  to 
have  come  to  its  conclusion.” 

“ I fear  it  has,  indeed,  quartermaster,  and  her 
father,  after  all,  is  mistaken.  Yes,  yes  ; the  ser- 
geant has  fallen  into  a grievous  error.” 

“Well,  man,  why  need  ye  lament,  and  undo 
all  the  grand  reputation  ye’ve  been  so  many  years 
making  ? Shoulder  the  rifle  that  ye  use  so  well, 
and  off  into  the  woods  with  ye,  for  there’s  not 
the  female  breathing  that  is  worth  the  heavy 
heart  for  a minute,  as  I know  from  experience. 
Tak’  the  word  of  one  who  knows  the  sax,  and 
has  had  two  wives,  that  women,  after  all,  are  very 
much  the  sort  of  creatures  we  do  not  imagine 
them  to  be.  Now,  if  you  would  really  mortify 
Mabel,  here  is  as  glorious  an  occasion  as  any  re- 
jected lover  could  desire.” 

“ The  last  wish  I have,  lieutenant,  would  be 
to  mortify  Mabel.” 

“ W ell,  ye’ll  come  to  that  in  the  end,  notwith- 
standing ; for  it’s  human  nature  to  desire  to  give 
unpleasant  feelings  to  them  that  give  unpleasant 
feelings  to  us.  But  a better  occasion  never  offered, 
to  make  your  friends  love  you  than  is  to  be  had 
at  this  very  moment,  and  that  is  the  certain 
means  of  causing  one’s  enemies  to  envy  us.” 

“ Quartermaster,  Mabel  is  not  my  inimy ; and 
if  she  was,  the  last  thing  I could  desire  would  be 
to  give  her  an  uneasy  moment.” 


MR.  MUIR’S  MOTIVES. 


135 


“Ye  say  so,  Pathfinder — ye  say  so,  and  I 
dare  say  ye  think  so ; but  reason  and  nature  are 
both  against  you,  as  ye’ll  find  in  the  end.  Ye’ve 
heard  the  saying  of  1 love  me,  love  my  dog : ’ well, 
now,  that  means,  read  backward,  1 don’t  love  me, 
don’t  love  my  dog.’  Now,  listen  to  what  is  in 
your  power  to  do.  You  know  we  occupy  an  ex- 
ceedingly precarious  and  uncertain  position  here, 
almost  in  the  jaws  of  the  lion,  as  it  were  ? ” 

“ Do  you  mean  the  Frenchers,  by  the  lion, 
and  this  island  as  his  jaws,  lieutenant?” 

“ Metaphorically  only,  my  friend,  for  the 
French  are  no  lions,  and  this  island  is  not  a jaw 
— unless,  indeed,  it  may  prove  to  be,  what  I 
greatly  fear  may  come  true,  the  jawbone  of  an 
ass ! ” 

Here  the  quartermaster  indulged  in  a sneer- 
ing laugh  that  proclaimed  anything  but  respect 
and  admiration  for  his  friend  Lundie’s  sagacity  in 
selecting  that  particular  spot  for  his  operations. 

“ The  post  is  as  well  chosen  as  any  I ever  put 
foot  in,”  said  Pathfinder,  looking  around  him  as 
one  surveys  a picture. 

“ I’ll  no  deny  it — I’ll  no  deny  it.  Lundie  is 
a great  soldier,  in  a small  way ; and  his  father 
was  a great  laird,  with  the  same  qualification.  I 
was  born  on  the  estate,  and  have  followed  the 
Major  so  long,  that  I’ve  got  to  reverence  all  he 
says  and  does.  That’s  just  my  weakness,  ye’ll 
know,  Pathfinder.  'Well,  this  post  may  be  the 
post  of  an  ass,  or  of  a Solomon,  as  men  fancy  ; but 
it’s  most  critically  placed,  as  is  apparent  by  all 
Lundie’s  precautions  and  injunctions.  There  are 
savages  out,  scouting  through  these  thousand 
islands,  and  over  the  forest,  searching  for  this 
very  spot,  as  is  known  to  Lundie  himself,  on  cer- 
tain information ; and,  the  greatest  service  you 
can  render  the  55th,  is  to  discover  their  trails, 
and  lead  them  off  on  a false  scent.  Unhappily, 
Sergeant  Dunham  has  taken  up  the  notion,  that 
the  danger  is  to  be  apprehended  from  up-stream, 
because  Frontenac  lies  above  us ; whereas,  all  ex- 
perience tells  us,  that  Indians  come  on  the  side 
that  is  most  contrary  to  reason,  and,  consequent- 
ly, are  to  be  expected  from  below.  Take  your 
canoe,  therefore,  and  go  down  stream,  among  the 
islands,  that  we  may  have  notice  if  any  danger 
approaches  from  that  quarter.  If  you  should 
look  a few  miles  on  the  main,  especially  on  the 
York  side,  the  information  you’d  bring  in  would 
be  all  the  more  accurate,  and,  consequently,  the 
more  valuable.” 

“ The  Big  Sarpent  is  on  the  look-out  in  that 
quarter,  and,  as  he  knows  the  station  well,  no 
doubt  he  will  give  us  timely  notice,  should  any 
wish  to  sarcumvent  us  in  that  direction.” 


“He  is  but  an  Indian,  after  all,  Pathfinder, 
and  this  is  an  affair  that  calls  for  the  knowledge 
of  a white  man.  Lundie  will  be  eternally  grate- 
ful to  the  man  that  shall  help  this  little  enter- 
prise to  come  off  with  flying  colors.  To  tell  you 
the  truth,  my  friend,  he  is  conscious  it  should 
never  have  been  attempted  ; but  he  has  too  much, 
of  the  old  laird’s  obstinacy  about  him  to  own  an 
error,  though  it  be  as  manifest  as  the  morning 
star.” 

The  quartermaster  then  continued  to  reason 
with  his  companion,  in  order  to  induce  him  to 
quit  the  island  without  delay,  using  such  argu- 
ments as  first  suggested  themselves,  sometime® 
contradicting  himself,  and  not  unfrequently  urg- 
ing at  one  moment  a motive  that  at  the  next  was 
directly  opposed  by  another.  The  Pathfinder, 
simple  as  he  was,  detected  these  flaws  in  the 
lieutenant’s  philosophy,  though  he  was  far  from 
suspecting  that  they  proceeded  from  a desiro  to 
clear  the  coast  of  Mabel’s  suitor.  He  met  bad 
reasons  by  good  ones,  resisted  every  inducement 
that  was  not  legitimate,  by  his  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  his  peculiar  duties,  and  was  blind,  as 
usual,  to  the  influence  of  every  incentive  that  could 
not  stand  the  test  of  integrity.  He  did  not  exactly 
suspect  the  secret  objects  of  Muir,  but  he  was 
far  from  being  blind  to  his  sophistry.  The  re- 
sult was  that  the  two  parted,  after  a long  dia- 
logue, unconvinced  and  distrustful  of  each  other’s 
motives,  though  the  distrust  of  the  guide,  Like 
all  that  was  connected  with  the  man,  partook  of 
his  own  upright,  disinterested,  and  ingenuous 
nature. 

A conference  that  took  place,  soon  after,  be- 
tween Sergeant  Dunham  and  the  lieutenant,  led  to 
more  consequences.  When  it  was  ended,  secret 
orders  were  issued  to  the  men,  the  block-house 
was  taken  possession  of,  the  huts  were  occupied, 
and  one  accustomed  to  the  movements  of  soldiers 
might  have  detected  that  an  expedition  was  in 
the  wind.  In  fact,  just  as  the  sun  was  setting, 
the  sergeant,  who  had  been  much  occupied  at 
what  was  called  the  Harbor,  came  into  his  own 
hut,  followed  by  Pathfinder  and  Cap,  and,  as  he 
took  his  seat  at  the  neat  table  that  Mabel  had 
prepared  for  him,  he  opened  the  budget  of  his 
intelligence. 

“ You  are  likely  to  be  of  some  use  here,  my 
child,”  the  old  soldier  commenced,  “ as  this  tidy 
and  well-ordered  supper  can  testify ; and,  I trust, 
when  the  proper  moment  arrives,  you  will  show 
yourself  to  be  the  descendant  of  those  who  know 
how  to  face  their  enemies.” 

“You  do  not  expect  me,  dear  father,  to  play 
Joan  of  Arc,  and  to  lead  the  men  to  battle?  ” 


m 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Play  whom,  child — did  you  ever  hear  of  the 
person  Mabel  mentions,  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“ Not  I,  sargeant ; but  what  of  that  ? I am 
ignorant  and  onedicated,  and  it  is  too  great  a 
pleasure  to  me  to  listen  to  her  voice,  and  take  in 
her  words,  to  be  particular  about  persons.” 

“ I know  her,”  said  Cap,  decidedly  ; “ she 
sailed  a privateer  out  of  Morlaix  in  the  last  war ; 
and  good  cruises  she  made  of  them.” 

Mabel  blushed  at  having  inadvertently  made 
an  allusion  that  went  beyond  her  father’s  reading, 
to  say  nothing  of  her  uncle’s  dogmatism;  and, 
perhaps,  a little  at  the  Pathfinder’s  simple,  in- 
genuous earnestness  ; but  she  did  not  forbear  the 
less  to  smile. 

“Why,  father,  I am  not  expected  to  fall  in 
with  the  men  and  to  help  defend  the  island  ? ” 

“ And,  yet,  women  often  have  done  such 
things,  in  this  quarter  of  the  world,  girl,  as  our 
friend,  the  Pathfinder,  here,  will  tell  you.  But, 
lest  you  should  be  surprised  at  not  seeing  us 
when  you  awake  in  the  morning,  it  is  proper  that 
I now  tell  you  we  intend  to  march  in  the  course 
of  this  very  night.” 

“ We,  father — and  leave  me  and  Jennie  on  this 
island  alone  ? ” 

“No,  my  daughter,  not  quite  as  unmilitary  as 
that.  We  shall  leave  Lieutenant  Muir,  brother 
Cap,  Corporal  McNab,  and  three  men,  to  compose 
the  garrison  during  our  absence.  Jennie  will  re- 
main with  you  in  this  hut,  and  brother  Cap  will 
occupy  my  place.” 

“ And  Mr.  Muir  ? ” said  Mabel,  half  uncon- 
scious of  what  she  uttered,  though  she  foresaw  a 
great  deal  of  unpleasant  persecution  in  the  ar- 
rangement. 

“ Why,  he  can  make  love  to  you,  if  you  like 
it,  girl ; for  he  is  an  amorous  youth,  and,  having 
already  disposed  of  four  wives,  is  impatient  to 
show  how  much  he  honors  their  memories  by 
taking  a fifth.” 

“ The  quartermaster  tells  me,”  said  Pathfind- 
er, innocently,  “ that  when  a man’s  feelings  have 
been  harrowed  by  so  many  losses,  there  is  no 
wiser  way  to  soothe  them  than  by  ploughing  up 
the  soil  anew  in  such  a manner  as  to  leave  no 
traces  of  what  have  gone  over  it  before.” 

“Ay,  that  is  just  the  difference  between 
ploughing  and  harrowing,”  returned  the  sergeant, 
with  a grim  smile.  “ But  let  him  tell  Mabel  his 
mind,  and  there  will  be  an  end  of  his  suit.  I 
very  well  know  that  my  daughter  will  never  be 
the  wife  of  Lieutenant  Muir.” 

This  was  said  in  a way  that  was  tantamount 
to  declaring  that  no  daughter  of  his  ever  should 
become  the  wife  of  the  person  in  question.  Ma- 


bel had  colored,  trembled,  half  laughed,  and 
looked  uneasy ; but,  rallying  her  spirit,  she  said 
in  a voice  so  cheerful  as  completely  to  conceal 
her  agitation : 

“ But,  father,  we  might  better  wait  until  Mr. 
Muir  manifests  a wish  that  your  daughter  would 
have  him,  or  rather  a wish  to  have  your  daugh- 
ter, lest  we  get  the  fable  of  sour  grapes  thrown 
into  our  faces.” 

“And  what  is  that  fable,  Mabel?”  eagerly 
demanded  Pathfinder,  who  was  any  thing  but 
learned  in  the  ordinary  lore  of  white  men — “ tell 
it  to  us  in  your  own  pretty  way ; I dare  say  the 
sargeant  never  heard  it.” 

Mabel  repeated  the  well-known  fable,  and,  as 
her  suitor  had  desired,  in  her  own  pretty  way, 
which  was  a way  to  keep  his  eyes  riveted  on  her 
face,  and  the  whole  of  his  honest  countenance 
covered  with  a smile. 

“That  was  like  a fox!”  cried  Pathfinder, 
when  she  had  ceased,  “ ay,  and  like  a Mingo,  too, 
cunning  and  cruel ; that  is  the  way  with  both  the 
riptyles.  As  to  grapes,  they  are  sour  enough  in 
this  part  of  the  country,  even  to  them  that  can 
get  at  them,  though  I dare  say  there  are  seasons, 
and  times,  and  places,  where  they  are  sourer  to 
them  that  can’t.  I should  judge,  now,  my  scalp 
is  very  sour  in  Mingo  eyes.” 

“ The  sour  grapes  will  be  the  other  way,  child, 
and  it  is  Mr.  Muir  who  will  make  the  complaint. 
— You  would  never  marry  that  man,  Mabel  ? ” 

“ Not  she,”  put  in  Cap ; “ a fellow  who  is 
only  half  a soldier,  after  all ! The  story  of  them 
there  grapes  is  quite  a circumstance.” 

“ I think  little  of  marrying  any  one,  dear  fa- 
ther, and  dear  uncle,  and  would  rather  talk  about 
it  less,  if  you  please.  But,  did  I think  of  marry- 
ing at  all,  I do  believe  a man  whose  affections 
have  already  been  tried  by  three  or  four  wives 
would  scarcely  be  my  choice.” 

The  sergeant  nodded  at  the  guide,  as  much 
as  to  say,  you  see  how  the  land  lies  ; and  then  he 
had  sufficient  consideration  for  his  daughter’s 
feelings  to  change  the  subject. 

“ Neither  you  nor  Mabel,  brother  Cap,”  he 
resumed,  “ can  have  any  legal  authority  with  the 
garrison  I leave  behind  on  the  island ; but  you 
may  counsel  and  influence.  Strictly  speaking, 
Corporal  McNab  will  be  the  commanding  officer, 
and  I have  endeavored  to  impress  him  with  a 
sense  of  his  dignity,  lest  he  might  give  way  too 
much  to  the  superior  rank  of  Lieutenant  Muir, 
who,  being  a volunteer,  can  have  no  right  to  in- 
terfere with  the  duty.  I wish  you  to  sustain  the 
corporal,  brother  Cap,  for  should  the  quarter- 
master once  break  through  the  regulations  of  the 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  A NEW  ENTERPRISE. 


137 


expedition,  he  may  pretend  to  command  me  as 
well  as  McNab.” 

“ More  particularly  should  Mabel  really  cut 
him  adrift  while  you  are  absent.  Of  course,  ser- 
geant, you’ll  leave  every  thing  that  is  afloat  under 

my  care  ? The  most  d le  confusion  has  grown 

out  of  misunderstandings  between  commanders- 
in-chief  ashore  and  afloat.” 

“In  one  sense,  brother,  though  in  a general 
way,  the  corporal  is  commander-in-chief.  History 
does,  indeed,  tell  us  that  a division  of  command 
leads  to  difficulties,  and  I shall  avoid  that  dan- 
ger. The  corporal  must  command,  but  you  can 
counsel  freely,  particularly  in  all  matters  relating 
to  the  boats,  of  which  I shall  leave  one  behind,  to 
secure  your  retreat  should  there  be  occasion.  I 
know  the  corporal  well ; he  is  a brave  man,  and  a 
good  soldier ; and  one  that  may  be  relied  on,  if 
the  Santa  Cruz  can  be  kept  from  him.  But  then 
he  is  a Scotchman,  and  will  be  liable  to  the 
quartermaster’s  influence,  against  which  I desire 
both  you  and  Mabel  to  be  on  your  guard.” 

“ But  why  leave  us  behind,  dear  father  ? I 
have  come  thus  far  to  be  a comfort  to  you,  and 
why  not  go  farther  ? ” 

“ You  are  a good  girl,  Mabel,  and  very  like 
the  Dunhams!  But  you  must  halt  here.  We 
shall  leave  the  island  to-morrow  before  the  day 
dawns,  in  order  not  to  be  seen  by  any  prying 
eyes  coming  from  our  cover,  and  we  shall  take  the 
two  largest  boats,  leaving  you  the  other  and  one 
bark  canoe.  We  are  about  to  go  into  the  channel 
used  by  the  French,  where  we  shall  lie  in  wait, 
perhaps  a week,  to  intercept  their  supply-boats 
that  are  about  to  pass  up,  on  their  way  to  Fron- 
tenac,  loaded  in  particular  with  a heavy  amount 
of  Indian  goods.” 

“ Have  you  looked  well  to  your  papers,  broth- 
er ? ” Cap  anxiously  demanded.  “ Of  course  you 
know  a capture  on  the  high  seas  is  piracy,  unless 
your  boat  is  regularly  commissioned  either  as  a 
public  or  a private  armed  cruiser.” 

“ I have  the  honor  to  hold  the  colonel’s  ap- 
pointment as  sergeant-major  of  the  55th,”  re- 
turned the  other,  drawing  himself  up  with  dig- 
nity, “ and  that  will  be  sufficient  even  for  the 
French  King.  If  not,  I have  Major  Duncan’s 
written  orders.” 

“ No  papers  them  for  a warlike  cruiser.” 

“ They  must  suffice,  brother,  as  I have  no 
other.  It  is  of  vast  importance  to  his  majesty’s 
interests  in  this  part  of  the  world,  that  the  boats 
in  question  should  be  captured  and  carried  into 
Oswego.  They  contain  the  blankets,  trinkets, 
rifles,  ammunition — in  short,  all  the  stores  with 
which  the  French  bribe  their  accursed  savage 


allies  to  commit  their  unholy  acts,  setting  at 
naught  our  holy  religion  and  its  precepts,  the 
laws  of  humanity,  and  all  that  is  sacred  and  dear 
among  men.  By  cutting  off  these  supplies  we 
shall  derange  their  plans,  and  gain  time  on  them ; 
for  the  articles  cannot  be  sent  across  the  ocean 
again  this  autumn.” 

“ But,  father,  does  not  his  majesty  employ 
Indians  also  ? ” asked  Mabel,  with  some  curiosity. 

“ Certainly,  girl,  and  he  has  a right  to  employ 
them — God  bless  him ! It’s  a very  different  thing 
whether  an  Englishman  or  a Frenchman  employs 
a savage,  as  everybody  can  understand.” 

“ That  is  plain  enough,  brother  Dunham ; but 
I do  not  see  my  way  so  clear  in  the  matter  of  the 
ship’s  papers.” 

“ An  English  colonel’s  appointment  ought  to 
satisfy  any  Frenchman  of  my  authority ; and 
what  is  more,  brother,  it  shall.” 

“ But  I do  not  see  the  difference,  father,  be- 
tween an  Englishman’s  and  a Frenchman’s  em- 
ploying savages  in  war  ? ” 

“ All  the  odds  in  the  world,  child,  though  you 
may  not  be  able  to  see  it.  In  the  first  place,  an 
Englishman  is  naturally  humane  and  considerate, 
while  a Frenchman  is  naturally  ferocious  and 
timid.” 

“And  you  may  add,  brother,  that  he  will 
dance  from  morning  till  night,  if  you’ll  let  him.” 

“ Very  true,”  gravely  returned  the  sergeant. 

“ But,  father,  I cannot  see  that  all  this  alters 
the  case.  If  it  be  wrong  in  a Frenchman  to  hire 
savages  to  fight  his  enemies,  it  would  seem  to  be 
equally  wrong  in  an  Englishman.  You  will  ad- 
mit this,  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“ It’s  reasonable — it’s  reasonable,  and  I have 
never  been  one  of  them  that  has  raised  a cry 
ag’in  the  Frenchers  for  doing  the  very  thing  we 
do  ourselves.  Still,  it  is  worse  to  consort  with  a 
Mingo  than  to  consort  with  a Delaware.  If  any 
of  that  just  tribe  were  left,  I should  think  it  no 
sin  to  send  them  out  ag’in  the  foe.” 

“And  yet  they  scalp  and  slay  young  and  old 
— -women  and  children  ! ” 

“ They  have  their  gifts,  Mabel,  and  are  not  to 
be  blamed  for  following  them.  Natur’  is  Natur,’ 
though  the  different  tribes  have  different  ways 
of  showing  it.  For  my  part,  I am  white,  and  en- 
deavor to  maintain  white  feelings.” 

“ This  is  all  unintelligible  to  me,”  answered 
Mabel.  “ What  is  right  in  King  George,  it  would 
seem,  ought  to  be  right  in  King  Louis.” 

“ The  King  of  France’s  real  name  is  Caput,” 
observed  Cap,  with  his  mouth  full  of  venison. 
“ I once  carried  a great  scholar  as  a passenger, 
and  he  told  me  that  these  Lewises  thirteenth, 


138 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


fourteenth,  and  fifteenth,  were  all  humbugs,  and 
that  the  men’s  real  name  was  Caput ; which  is 
French  for  ‘ head ; ’ meaning  that  they  ought  to 
be  put  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  until  ready  to  go 
up  to  be  hanged.” 

“ Well,  this  does  look  like  being  given  to  scalp- 
ing, as  a nat’ral  gift,”  Pathfinder  remarked,  with 
the  air  of  surprise  with  which  one  receives  a novel 
idea,  “ and  I shall  have  less  compunction  than  ever 
in  sarving  ag’in  the  miscreants,  though  I can’t  say 
I ever  yet  felt  any  worth  naming.” 

As  all  parties,  Mabel  excepted,  seemed  satisfied 
with  the  course  the  discussion  had  taken,  no  one 
appeared  to  think  it  necessary  to  pursue  the  sub- 
ject. The  trio  of  men,  indeed,  in  this  particular, 
so  much  resembled  the  great  mass  of  their  fellow- 
creatures,  who  usually  judge  of  character  equally 
without  knowledge  and  without  justice,  that  we 
might  not  have  thought  it  necessary  to  record  the 
discourse,  had  it  not  some  bearing  in  its  facts  on 
the  incidents  of  the  legend,  and  in  its  opinions  on 
the  motives  of  the  characters. 

Supper  was  no  sooner  ended  than  the  sergeant 
dismissed  his  guests,  and  then  held  a long  and  con- 
fidential dialogue  with  his  daughter.  He  was  little 
addicted  to  giving  way  to  the  gentler  emotions, 
but  the  novelty  of  his  present  situation  awakened 
feelings  that  he  was  unused  to  experience.  The 
soldier,  or  the  sailor,  so  long  as  he  acts  under  the 
immediate  supervision  of  a superior,  thinks  little 
of  the  risks  he  runs  ; but  the  moment  he  feels  the 
responsibility  of  command,  all  the  hazards  of  his 
undertaking  begin  to  associate  themselves  in  his 
mind  with  the  chances  of  success  or  failure.  While 
he  dwells  less  on  his  own  personal  danger,  per- 
haps, than  when  that  is  the  principal  considera- 
tion, he  has  more  lively  general  perceptions  of 
all  the  risks,  and  submits  more  to  the  influence 
of  the  feelings  which  doubt  creates.  Such  was 
now  the  case  with  Sergeant  Dunham,  who,  instead 
of  looking  forward  to  victory  as  certain,  accord- 
ing to  his  usual  habits,  began  to  feel  the  possi- 
bility that  he  might  be  parting  with  his  child  for- 
ever. 

Never  before  had  Mabel  Struck  him  as  so  beau- 
tiful as  she  appeared  that  night.  Possibly  she 
never  had  displayed  so  many  engaging  qualities  to 
her  father  ; for  concern  on  his  account  had  begun 
to  be  active  in  her  breast,  and  then  her  sympa- 
thies met  with  unusual  encouragement  through 
those  which  had  been  stirred  up  in  the  sterner 
bosom  of  the  veteran.  She  had  never  been  entirely 
at  her  ease  with  her  parent,  the  great  superiority 
of  her  education  creating  a sort  of  chasm,  which 
had  been  widened  by  the  military  severity  of  man- 
ner he  had  acquired  by  dealing  so  long  and  inti- 


mately with  beings  who  could  only  be  kept  in 
subjection  by  an  unremitted  discipline.  On  the 
present  occasion,  however,  or  after  they  were  left 
alone,  the  conversation  between  the  father  and 
daughter  became  more  confidential  than  usual, 
until  Mabel  rejoiced  to  find  that  it  was  gradually 
becoming  endearing — a state  of  feeling  that  the 
warm-hearted  girl  had  silently  pined  for  in  vain 
ever  since  her  arrival. 

“ Then  mother  was  about  my  height  ? ” Mabel 
said,  as  she  held  one  of  her  father’s  hands  in  both 
her  own,  looking  up  into  his  face  with  humid  eyes. 
“ I had  thought  her  taller.” 

“ This  is  the  way  with  most  children,  who  get 
a habit  of  thinking  of  their  parents  with  respect, 
until  they  fancy  them  larger  and  more  command- 
ing than  they  actually  are.  Your  mother,  Mabel, 
was  as  near  your  height  as  one  woman  could  be 
to  another.” 

“ And  her  eyes,  father  ? ” 

“Her  eyes  were  like  thine,  child,  too — blue 
and  soft,  and  inviting  like ; though  hardly  so 
laughing.” 

“ Mine  will  never  laugh  again,  dearest  father, 
if  you  do  not  take  care  of  yourself  in  this  expedi- 
tion.” 

“ Thank  you,  Mabel — hem — thank  you,  child  ; 
but  I must  do  my  duty.  I wish  I had  seen  you 
comfortably  married  before  we  left  Oswego  ! — mj 
mind  would  be  easier.” 

“ Married  ! — to  whom,  father  ? ” 

“ You  know  the  man  I wish  you  to  love.  You 
may  meet  with  many  gayer,  and  many  dressed  in 
finer  clothes  ; but  with  none  with  so  true  a heart 
and  just  a mind.” 

“ None,  father  ? ” 

“ I know  of  none  ; in  these  particulars  Path- 
finder has  few  equals,  at  least.” 

“But  I need  not  marry  at  all.  You  are  sin- 
gle, and  I can  remain  to  take  care  of  you.” 

“ God  bless  you,  Mabel ! — I know  you  would, 
and  I do  not  say  that  the  feeling  is  not  right,  for 
I suppose  it  is  ; and  yet  I believe  there  is  another 
that  is  more  so.” 

“ What  can  be  more  right  than  to  honor  one’s 
parents  ? ” 

“ It  is  just  as  right  to  honor  one’s  husband, 
my  dear  child.” 

“ But  I have  no  husband,  father.” 

“ Then  take  one  as  soon  as  possible,  that  you 
may  have  a husband  to  honor.  I cannot  live  for- 
ever, Mabel,  but  must  drop  off  in  the  course  of 
nature  ere  long,  if  I am  not  carried  off  in  the 
course  of  war.  You  are  young,  and  may  yet  live 
long ; and  it  is  proper  that  you  should  have  a 
male  protector,  who  can  see  you  safe  through 


A CONFIDENTIAL  INTERVIEW. 


139 


ife,  and  take  care  of  you  in  age  as  you  now  wish 
to  take  care  of  me.1’ 

“And  do  you  think,  father — ” said  Mabel, 
playing  with  his  sinewy  fingers  with  her  own  lit- 
tle hands,  and  looking  down  at  them  as  if  they 
were  subjects  of  intense  interest,  though  her  lips 
curled  in  a slight  smile  as  the  words  came  from 
them — “and  do  you  think,  father,  that  Pathfinder 
is  just  the  man  to  do  this  ? Is  he  not  within  ten 
or  twelve  years  as  old  as  yourself  ? ” 

“ What  of  that  ? His  life  has  been  one  of 
moderation  and  exercise,  and  years  are  less  to  be 
counted,  girl,  than  constitution.  Do  you  know 
another  more  likely  to  be  your  protector  ? ” 

Mabel  did  not ; at  least  another  who  had  ex- 
pressed a desire  to  that  effect,  whatever  might 
have  been  her  hopes  and  her  wishes. 

“ Nay,  father,  we  are  not  talking  of  another, 
but  of  the  Pathfinder,”  she  answered,  evasively. 
“ If  he  were  younger,  I think  it  would  be  more 
natural  for  me  to  think  of  him  for  a husband.” 

“ ’Tis  all  in  the  constitution,  I tell  you,  child  : 
Pathfinder  is  a younger  man  than  half  our  sub- 
alterns.” 

“ He  is  certainly  younger  than  one,  sir — Lieu- 
tenant Muir.” 

Mabel’s  laugh  was  joyous  and  light-hearted, 
as  if  just  then  she  felt  no  care. 

“ That  he  is — young  enough  to  be  his  grand- 
son— he  is  younger  in  years,  too.  God  forbid, 
Mabel ! that  you  should  ever  become  an  officer’s 
lady,  at  least  until  you  are  an  officer’s  daughter.” 

“ There  will  be  little  fear  of  that,  father,  if  I 
marry  Pathfinder ! ” returned  the  girl,  looking  up 
archly  in  the  sergeant’s  face  again. 

“Not  by  the  king’s  commission,  perhaps, 
though  the  man  is  even  now  the  friend  and  com- 
panion of  generals.  I think  I could  die  happy, 
Mabel,  if  you  were  his  wife.” 

“ Father ! ” 

“ ’Tis  a sad  thing  to  go  into  battle  with  the 
weight  of  an  unprotected  daughter  laid  upon  the 
heart.” 

“ I would  give  the  world  to  lighten  yours  of 
its  load,  my  dear  sir  ! ” 

“ It  might  be  done — ” said  the  sergeant,  look- 
ing fondly  at  his  child,  “ though  I could  not  wish 
to  put  a burden  on  yours  in  order  to  do  so.” 

The  voice  was  deep  and  tremulous,  and  never 
before  had  Mabel  witnessed  such  a-show  of  affec- 
tion in  her  parent.  The  habitual  sternness  of  the 
man  lent  an  interest  to  his  emotions  that  they 
might  otherwise  have  wanted,  and  the  daughter’s 
heart  yearned  to  relieve  the  father’s  mind. 

“ Father,  speak  plainly,”  she  cried,  almost  con- 
vulsively. 


“Nay,  Mabel,  it  might  not  be  right — your 
wishes  and  mine  may  be  very  different.” 

“ I have  no  wishes — know  nothing  of  what 
you  mean — would  you  speak  of  my  future  mar- 
riage ? ” 

“ If  I could  see  you  promised  to  Pathfinder — 
know  that  you  were  pledged  to  become  his  wife, 
let  my  own  fate  be  what  it  might,  I think  I could 
die  happy.  But  I will  ask  no  pledge  of  you,  my 
child — I will  not  force  you  to  do  what  you  might 
repent.  Kiss  me,  Mabel,  and  go  to  your  bed.” 

Had  Sergeant  Dunham  exacted  of  Mabel  the 
pledge  that  he  really  so  much  desired,  he  would 
have  encountered  a resistance  that  he  might  have 
found  difficult  to  overcome ; but,  by  letting  Nature 
have  its  course,  he  enlisted  a powerful  ally  on  his 
side,  and  the  warm-hearted,  generous-minded  Ma- 
bel was  ready  to  concede  to  her  affections  much 
more  than  she  would  ever  have  yielded  to  menace. 
At  that  touching  moment  she  thought  only  of  her 
parent,  who  was  about  to  quit  her,  perhaps  for- 
ever ; and  all  of  that  ardent  love  for  him  which 
had  possibly  been  as  much  fed  by  the  imagination 
as  by  any  thing  else,  but  which  had  received  a 
little  check  by  the  restrained  intercourse  of  the 
last  fortnight,  now  returned  with  a force  that  was 
increased  by  pure  and  intense  feeling.  Her  father 
seemed  all  in  all  to  her ; and,  to  render  him  happy, 
there  was  no  proper  sacrifice  that  she  was  not 
ready  to  make.  One  painful,  rapid,  almost  wild 
gleam  of  thought  shot  across  the  brain  of  the  girl, 
and  her  resolution  wavered  ; but,  endeavoring  to 
trace  the  foundation  of  the  pleasing  hope  on  which 
it  was  based,  she  found  nothing  positive  to  sup- 
port it.  Trained  like  a woman,  to  subdue  her 
most  ardent  feelings,  her  thoughts  reverted  to  her 
father,  and  to  the  blessings  that  awaited  the  child 
who  yielded  to  a parent’s  wishes. 

“ Father,”  she  said,  quietly,  almost  with  a holy 
calm — “ God  blesses  the  dutiful  daughter ! ” 

“ He  will,  Mabel ; we  have  the  good  book  for 
that.” 

“ I will  marry  whomsoever  you  desire.” 

“ Nay — nay,  Mabel — you  may  have  a choice 
of  your  own  ” — 

“I  have  no  choice — that  is — none  have  asked 
me  to  have  a choice,  but  Pathfinder  and  Mr. 
Muir;  and  between  them , neither  of  us  would 
hesitate.  No,  father ; I will  marry  whomever  you 
may  choose.” 

“ Thou  knowest  my  choice,  beloved  girl ; none 
other  can  make  thee  as  happy  as  the  noble-hearted 
guide.” 

“Well,  then,  if  he  wish  it — if  he  ask  me 
again — for,  father,  you  would  not  have  me  offer 
myself,  or  that  any  one  should  do  that  office  for 


i 40 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


me  ” — and  the  blood  stole  across  the  pallid  cheeks 
cf  Mabel  as  she  spoke,  for  high  and  generous 
resolutions  had  driven  baca  the  stream  of  life  to 
her  heart — “ no  one  must  speaic  to  him  of  it ; 
but  if  he  seeks  me  again,  and,  knowing  all  that  a 
true  girl  ought  to  tell  the  man  she  marries,  and 
he  then  wishes  to  make  me  his  wife,  I will  be 
his.” 

“ Bless  you,  my  Mabel — God  in  heaven  bless 
you,  and  reward  you  as  a pious  daughter  deserves 
to  be  rewarded  ! ” 

“Yes,  father — put  your  mind  at  peace — go 
on  this  expedition  with  a light  heart,  and  trust 
in  God.  For  me,  you  will  have,  now,  no  care. 
In  the  spring — I must  have  a little  time,  father 
— but,  in  the  spring,  I will  marry  Pathfinder,  if 
that  noble-hearted  hunter  shall  then  desire  it.” 

“ Mabel,  he  loves  you  as  I loved  your  mother. 
I have  seen  him  weep  like  a child,  when  speaking 
of  his  feelings  toward  you.” 

“Yes,  I believe  it — I’ve  seen  enough  to  satisfy 
me  that  he  thinks  better  of  me  than  I deserve  ; 
and  certainly  the  man  is  not  living  for  whom  I 
have  more  respect  than  for  Pathfinder ; not  even 
for  you,  dear  father.” 

“ That  is  as  it  should  be,  child,  and  the  union 
will  be  blessed.  May  I not  tell  Pathfinder  this  ? ” 

“ I would  rather  you  would  not,  father.  Let 
it  come  of  itself — come  naturally — the  man  should 
seek  the  woman,  and  not  the  woman  the  man — ” 
The  smile  that  illuminated  Mabel’s  handsome  face 
was  angelic,  as  even  her  parent  thought,  though 
one  better  practised  in  detecting  the  passing 
emotions,  as  they  betray  themselves  in  the  coun- 
tenance, might  have  traced  something  wild  and 
unnatural  in  it— “No— no — we  must  let  things 
take  their  course;  father,  you  have  my  solemn 
promise.” 

“ That  will  do — that  will  do,  Mabel ; now  kiss 
me — God  bless  and  protect  you,  girl — you  are  a 
good  daughter ! ” 

Mabel  threw  herself  into  her  father’s  arms — 
it  was  the  first  time  in  her  life — and  sobbed  on 
his  bosom  like  an  infant.  The  stern  old  soldier’s 
heart  was  melted,  and  the  tears  of  the  two  min- 
gled ; but  Sergeant  Dunham  soon  started,  as  if 
ashamed  of  himself,  and  gently  forcing  his  daugh- 
ter from  him,  he  bade  her  good-night,  and  sought 
his  pallet.  Mabel  went  sobbing  to  the  rude  cor- 
ner that  had  been  prepared  for  her  reception,  and 
in  a few  minutes  the  hut  was  undisturbed  by  any 
sound,  save  the  heavy  breathing  of  the  veteran. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

“Wandering,  I found  on  my  ruinous  walk 
By  the  dial  stone,  aged  and  green. 

One  rose  of  the  wilderness  left  on  its  stalk, 

To  mark  where  a garden  had  been.” 

Campbell. 

It  was  not  only  broad  daylight  when  Mabel 
awoke,  but  the  sun  had  actually  been  up  some 
time.  Her  sleep  had  been  tranquil,  for  she  rest- 
ed on  an  approving  conscience,  and  fatigue  con- 
tributed to  render  it  sweet;  and  no  sound  of 
those  who  had  been  so  early  in  motion  had  inter- 
fered with  her  rest.  Springing  to  her  feet,  and 
rapidly  dressing  herself,  the  girl  was  soon  breath- 
ing the  fragrance  of  the  morning  in  the  open  air. 
For  the  first  time  she  was  sensibly  struck  with 
the  singular  beauties  as  well  as  with  the  profound 
retirement  of  her  present  situation.  The  day 
proved  to  be  one  of  those  of  the  autumnal  glory 
so  common  to  a climate  that  is  more  abused  than 
appreciated,  and  its  influence  was  in  every  way 
inspiriting  and  genial.  Mabel  was  benefited  by 
this  circumstance,  for,  as  she  fancied,  her  heart 
was  heavy  on  account  of  the  dangers  to  which  a 
father,  whom  she  now  began  to  love,  as  women 
love  when  confidence  is  created,  was  about  to  be 
exposed. 

But  the  island  seemed  absolutely  deserted. 
The  previous  night,  the  bustle  of  the  arrival  had 
given  the  spot  an  appearance  of  life  that  was 
now  entirely  gone ; and  our  heroine  had  turned 
her  eyes  nearly  around  on  every  object  in  sight, 
before  she  caught  a view  of  a single  human  be- 
ing'to  remove  the  sense  of  utter  solitude.  Then, 
indeed,  she  beheld  all  who  were  left  behind,  col- 
lected in  a group,  around  a fire  which  might  be 
said  to  belong  to  the  camp.  The  person  of  her 
uncle,  to  whom  she  was  so  much  accustomed,  re- 
assured the  girl,  and  she  examined  the  remainder 
with  a curiosity  natural  to  her  situation.  Besides 
Cap  and  the  quartermaster,  there  were  the 
corporal,  the  three  soldiers,  and  the  woman  who 
was  cooking.  The  huts  were  silent  and  empty, 
and  the  low,  but  tower-like  summit  of  the  block- 
house rose  above  the  bushes,  by  which  it  was 
half  concealed,  in  picturesque  beauty.  The  sun 
was  just  casting  its  brightness  into  the  open 
places  of  the  glade,  and  the  vault,  over  her  head, 
was  impending  in  the  soft  sublimity  of  the  blue 
void.  Not  a cloud  was  visible,  and  she  secretly 
fancied  the  circumstance  might  be  taken  as  a 
harbinger  of  peace  and  security. 

Perceiving  that  all  the  others  were  occupied 
with  that  great  concern  of  human  nature,  a 


ARROWHEAD’S  WIFE. 


141 


breakfast,  Mabel  walked  unobserved  toward  an 
end  of  the  island,  where  she  was  completely  shut 
out  of  view  by  the  trees  and  bushes.  Here  she 
got  a stand  on  the  very  edge  of  the  water,  by 
forcing  aside  the  low  branches,  and  stood  watch- 
ing the  barely  perceptible  flow  and  re-flow  c f the 
miniature  waves  that  laved  the  shore ; a sort  of 
physical  echo  to  the  agitation  that  prevailed  on 
the  lake  fifty  miles  above  her.  The  glimpses  of 
natural  scenery  that  offered  were  very  soft  and 
pleasing  ; and  our  heroine,  who  had  a quick  and 
true  eye  for  all  that  was  lovely  in  nature,  was  not 
slow  in  selecting  the  most  striking  bits  of  land- 
scape. She  gazed  through  the  different  vistas 
formed  by  the  openings  between  the  islands,  and 
thought  she  had  never  looked  on  aught  more 
lovely. 

While  thus  occupied,  Mabel  was  suddenly 
alarmed  by  fancying  that  she  caught  a glimpse 
of  a human  form  among  the  bushes  that  lined 
the  shore  of  the  island  that  lay  directly  before 
her.  The  distance  across  the  water  was  not  a 
hundred  yards ; and  though  she  might  be  mis- 
taken, and  her  fancy  was  wandering  when  the 
form  passed  before  her  sight,  still  she  did  not 
think  she  could  be  deceived.  Aware  that  her 
sex  would  be  no  protection  against  a rifle-bullet, 
should  an  Iroquois  get  a view  of  her,  the  girl 
instinctively  drew  back,  taking  care  to  conceal 
her  person  as  much  as  possible  by  the  leaves, 
while  she  kept  her  own  look  riveted  on  the  oppo- 
site shore,  vainly  waiting  for  some  time  in  the 
expectation  of  the  stranger.  She  was  about  to 
quit  her  post  in  the  bushes,  and  hasten  to  her 
uncle  in  order  to  acquaint  him  of  her  suspicions, 
when  she  saw  the  branch  of  an  alder  thrust  be- 
yond the  bushes,  on  the  other  island,  and  waved 
toward  her  significantly,  and,  as  she  fancied,  in 
token  of  amity.  This  was  a breathless  and  try- 
ing moment  to  one  as  inexperienced  in  frontier 
warfare  as  our  heroine,  and  yet  she  felt  the  great 
necessity  that  existed  for  preserving  her  recollec- 
tion, and  of  acting  with  steadiness  and  discre- 
tion. 

It  was  one  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  exposure 
to  which  those  who  dwelt  on  the  frontiers  of 
America  were  liable,  to  bring  out  the  moral 
qualities  of  the  women  to  a degree  that  they 
must  themselves,  under  other  circumstances, 
have  believed  they  were  incapable  of  manifest- 
ing; and  Mabel  well  knew  that  the  borderers 
loved  to  dwell,  in  their  legends,  on  the  presence 
of  mind,  fortitude,  and  spirit  that  their  wives 
and  sisters  had  displayed  under  circumstances 
the  most  trying.  Her  emulation  had  been  awak- 
ened by  what  she  had  heard  on  such  subjects ; 


and  it  at  once  struck  her  that  now  was  the  mo- 
ment for  her  to  show  that  she  was  truly  Sergeant 
Dunham’s  child.  The  motion  of  the  branch  was 
such  as,  she  believed,  indicated  amity  ; and,  after 
a moment’s  hesitation,  she  broke  off  a twig,  fas- 
tened it  to  a stick,  and,  thrusting  it  through  an 
opening,  waved  it  in  return,  imitating,  as  closely 
as  possible,  the  manner  of  the  other. 

This  dumb  show  lasted  two  or  three  minutes 
on  both  sides,  when  Mabel  perceived  that  the 
bushes  opposite  were  cautiously  pushed  aside,  and 
a human  face  appeared  at  an  opening.  A glance 
sufficed  to  let  Mabel  see  that  it  was  the  counte- 
nance of  a red-skin,  as  well  as  that  of  a woman. 
A second  and  a better  look  satisfied  her  that  it 
was  the  face  of  the  Dew-of-June,  the  wife  of  Ar- 
rowhead. During  the  time  she  had  travelled  in 
company  with  this  woman,  Mabel  had  been  won 
by  the  gentleness  of  manner,  the  meek  simplicity, 
and  the  mingled  awe  and  affection  with  which  she 
regarded  her  husband.  Once  or  twice,  in  the 
course  of  the  journey,  she  fancied  the  Tuscarora 
had  manifested  toward  herself  an  unpleasant  de- 
gree of  attention ; and  on  those  occasions  it  had 
struck  her  that  his  wife  exhibited  sorrow  and 
mortification.  As  Mabel,  however,  had  more 
than  compensated  for  any  pain  she  might,  in  this 
way,  unintentionally  have  caused  her  companion, 
by  her  own  kindness  of  manner  and  attentions, 
the  woman  had  shown  much  attachment  to  her, 
and  they  had  parted,  with  a deep  conviction  on  the 
mind  of  our  heroine  that  in  the  Dew-of-June  she 
had  lost  a friend. 

It  is  useless  to  attempt  to  analyze  all  the  ways 
by  which  the  human  heart  is  led  into  confidence. 
Such  a feeling,  however,  had  the  young  Tuscarora 
woman  awakened  in  the  breast  of  our  heroine ; 
and  the  latter,  under  the  impression  that  this  ex- 
traordinary visit  was  intended  for  her  own  good, 
felt  every  disposition  to  have  a 'closer  communi- 
cation. She  no  longer  hesitated  about  showing 
herself  clear  of  the  bushes,  and  was  not  sorry  to 
see  the  Dew-of-June  imitate  her  confidence  by 
stepping  fearlessly  out  of  her  own  cover.  The 
two  girls,  for  the  Tuscarora,  though  married,  was 
even  younger  than  Mabel,  now  openly  exchanged 
signs  of  friendship,  and  the  latter  beckoned  to 
her  friend  to  approach,  though  she  knew  not  the 
manner  herself  in  which  this  object  could  be  ef- 
fected. But  the  Dew-of-June  was  not  slow  in 
letting  it  be  seen  that  it  was  in  her  power ; for 
disappearing  a moment,  she  soon  showed  herself 
again  in  the  end  of  a bark-canoe,  the  bows  of 
which  she  had  drawn  to  the  edge  of  the  bushes, 
and  of  which  the  body  still  lay  in  a sort  of  cov- 
ered creek.  Mabel  was  about  to  invite  her  to 


142 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


cross,  when  her  own  name  was  called  aloud  in  the 
stentorian  voice  of  her  uncle.  Making  a hurried 
gesture  for  the  Tuscarora  girl  to  conceal  herself, 
Mabel  sprang  from  the  bushes  and  tripped  up  the 
glade  toward  the  sound,  and  perceived  that  the 
whole  party  had  just  seated  themselves  at  break- 
fast ; Cap  having  barely  put  his  appetite  under 
sufficient  restraint  to  summon  her  to  join  them. 
That  this  was  the  most  favorable  instant  for  the 
interview  flashed  on  the  mind  of  Mabel ; and,  ex- 
cusing herself  on  the  plea  of  not  being  prepared 
for  the  meal,  she  bounded  back  to  the  thicket, 
and  soon  renewed  her  communications  with  the 
young  Indian  woman. 

Dew-of-June  was  quick  of  comprehension ; 
and,  with  half  a dozen  noiseless  strokes  of  the 
paddles,  her  canoe  was  concealed  in  the  bushes 
of  Station  Island.  In  another  minute  Mabel  held 
her  hand,  and  was  leading  her  through  the  grove 
toward  her  own  hut.  Fortunately,  the  latter  was 
so  placed  as  to  be  completely  hidden  from  the 
sight  of  those  at  the  fire,  and  they  both  entered 
it  unseen.  Hastily  explaining  to  her  guest,  in 
the  best  manner  she  could,  the  necessity  of  quit- 
ting her  for  a short  time,  Mabel,  first  placing  the 
Dew-of-June  in  her  own  room  with  a full  cer- 
tainty that  she  would  not  quit  it  until  told  to  do 
so,  went  to  the  fire  and  took  her  seat  among  the 
rest  with  all  the  composure  it  was  in  her  power 
to  command. 

“ Late  come,  late  served,  Mabel,”  said  her  un- 
cle, between  two  mouthfuls  of  broiled  salmon,  for, 
^though  the  cookery  might  be  very  unsophisticated 
(pn  that  remote  frontier,  the  viands  were  gener- 
ally delicious ; “ late  come,  late  served ; it  is  a 
gopd  rule,  and  keeps  laggards  up  to  their  work.” 

j“  I am  no  laggard,  uncle,  for  I have  been  stir- 
ring near  an  hour,  and  exploring  our  island.” 

“It’s  little  you’ll  make  o’  that,  Mistress  Ma- 
bel,” put  in  Muir,  “ that’s  little  by  nature.  Lun- 
die,  or  it  might  be  better  to  style  him  Major  Dun- 
can in  this  presence  ” — this  was  said  in  consider- 
ation of  the  corporal  and  the  common  men,  though 
they  were  taking  their  meal  a little  apart — “ it 
might  be  better  to  style  him  Major  Duncan  (n 
this  presence,  has  not  added  an  empire  to  his 
majesty’s  dominions  in  getting  possession  of  this 
island,  which  is  likely  to  equal  that  of  the  cele- 
brated Sancho  in  revenues  and  profits — Sancho 
of  whom,  doubtless,  Master  Cap,  you’ll  often  have 
been  reading  in  your  leisure  hours,  more  especially 
in  calms,  and  moments  of  inactivity.” 

“ I know  the  spot  you  mean,  quartermaster ; 
'Sancho’s  Island — coral  rock,  of  new  formation, 
and  as  bad  a landfall,  in  a dark  night  and  blow- 
ing weather,  as  a sinner  could  wish  to  keep  clear 


of.  It’s  a famous  place  for  cocoa-nuts  and  bittei 
water,  that  Sancho’s  Island ! ” 

“ It’s  no  very  famous  for  dinners,”  returned 
Muir,  repressing  the  smile  that  was  struggling  to 
his  lips,  out  of  respect  to  Mabel,  “ nor  do  I think 
there’ll  be  much  to  choose  between  its  revenue 
and  that  of  this  spot.  In  my  judgment,  Master 
Cap,  this  is  a very  unmilitary  position,  and  I look 
to  some  calamity’s  befalling  it  sooner  or  later.” 

“ It  is  to  be  hoped  not  until  our  turn  of  duty 
is  over,”  observed  Mabel.  “ I have  no  wish  to 
study  the  French  language.” 

“We  might  think  ourselves  happy  did  it  not 
prove  to  be  the  Iroquois.  I have  reasoned  with 
Major  Duncan  on  the  occupation  of  this  position^ 
but  ‘ a wilfu’  man  maun  ha’  his  way.’  My  first 
object,  in  accompanying  this  party,  was  to  en- 
deavor to  make  myself  acceptable  and  useful  to 
your  beautiful  niece,  Master  Cap  ; and  the  second 
was  to  take  such  an  account  of  the  stores  that  be- 
long to  my  particular  department,  as  shall  leave 
no  question  open  to  controversy,  concerning  the 
manner  of  expenditure,  when  they  shall  have  dis- 
appeared by  means  of  the  enemy.” 

“Do  you  look  upon  matters  as  so  serious?  ” 
demanded  Cap,  actually  suspending  his  mastica- 
tion of  a bit  of  venison,  for  he  passed  alternately, 
like  a modem  elegant , from  fish  to  flesh  and  back 
again,  in  the  interest  he  took  in  the  answer.  “Is 
the  danger  pressing  ? ” 

“ I’ll  no  say  just  that ; and  I’ll  no  say  just  the 
contrary.  There  is  always  danger  in  war,  and 
there  is  more  of  it  at  the  advanced  posts  than  at 
the  main  encampment.  It  ought,  therefore,  to 
occasion  no  surprise  were  we  to  be  visited  by  the 
French  at  any  moment.” 

“ And  what  the  devil  is  to  be  done  in  that 
case  ? Six  men  and  two  women  would  make  but 
a poor  job  in  defending  such  a place  as  this, 
should  the  enemy  invade  us,  as  no  doubt.,  French- 
man-like, they  would  take  very  good  care  to  come 
strong-handed.” 

“ That  we  may  depend  on.  Some  very  for- 
midable force,  at  the  very  lowest.  A military 
disposition  might  be  made,  in  defence  of  the  isl- 
and, out  of  all  question,  and  according  to  the 
art  of  war,  though  we  would  probably  fail  in  the 
force  necessary  to  carry  out  the  design  in  any 
very  creditable  manner.  In  the  first  place,  a de- 
tachment should  be  sent  off  to  the  shore  with 
orders  to  annoy  the  enemy  in  landing.  A strong 
party  ought  instantly  to  be  thrown  into  the  block- 
house, as  the  citadel,  for  on  that  all  the  different 
detachments  would  naturally  fall  back  for  sup- 
port as  the  French  advanced  ; and  an  entrenched 
camp  might  be  laid  out  around  the  stronghold,  as 


FEAR  OF  INVASION. 


143 


it  would  be  very  unmilitary  indeed  to  let  the  foe 
get  near  enough  to  the  foot  of  the  walls  to  mine 
them.  Chevaux-dc-frise  would  keep  the  cavalry 
in  check,  and  as  for  the  artillery,  redoubts  should 
be  thrown  up  under  cover  of  yon  woods.  Strong 
skirmishing  parties,  moreover,  would  be  exceed- 
ingly serviceable  in  retarding  the  march  of  the 
enemy ; and  these  different  huts,  if  properly 
picketed  and  ditched,  would  .be  converted  into 
very  eligible  positions  for  that  object.” 

“ Whe-e-w  1 Quartermaster.  And  who  the 

d 1 is  to  find  all  the  men  to  carry  out  such  a 

plan  ? ” 

“ The  king,  out  of  all  question,  Master  Cap. 
It  is  his  quarrel,  and  it’s  just  he  should  bear  the 
burden  o’  it.” 

“ And  we  are  only  six  ! This  is  fine  talking, 
with  a vengeance.  You  could  be  sent  down  to 
the  shore  to  oppose  the  landing,  Mabel  might 
skirmish  with  her  tongue  at  least,  the  soldier’s 
wife  might  act  chevaux-de-frise,  to  entangle  the 
calvary,  the  corporal  should  command  the  en- 
trenched camp,  his  three  men  could  occupy  the 
five  huts,  and  I would  take  the  block-house. 
Whe-e-e-w,  you  describe  well,  Lieutenant,  and 
you  should  have  been  a limner  instead  of  a sol- 
dier ! ” 

“Na — I’ve  been  very  literal  and  upright  in 
my  exposition  of  matters.  That  there  is  no 
greater  force  here  to  carry  out  the  plan  is  a fault 
of  his  majesty’s  ministers,  and  none  of  mine.” 

” But  should  our  enemy  really  appear,”  asked 
Mabel,  with  more  interest  than  she  might  have 
shown  had  she  #ot  remembered  the  guest  in  the 
hut,  “ what  course  ought  we  to  pursue  ? ” 

“ My  advice  would  be  to  attempt  to  achieve 
that,  pretty  Mabel,  which  rendered  Xenophon  so 
justly  celebrated.” 

“ I think  you  mean  a retreat,  though  I half 
guess  at  your  allusion.” 

“ You’ve  imagined  my  meaning  from  the  pos- 
session of  a strong  native  sense,  young  lady.  I 
am  aware  that  your  worthy  father  has  pointed 
out  to  the  corporal  certain  modes  and  methods 
by  which  he  fancies  this  island  could  be  held  in 
case  the  French  should  discover  its  position  ; but 
the  excellent  sergeant,  though  your  father,  and 
as  good  a man  in  his  duties  as  ever  wielded  a 
spontoon,  is  not  the  great  Lord  Stair,  or  even  the 
Duke  of  Marlborough.  I’ll  no  deny  the  sergeant’s 
merits  in  his  particular  sphere,  though  I cannot 
exaggerate  qualities,  however  excellent,  into  those 
of  men  who  may  be,  in  some  trifling  degree,  his 
superiors.  Sergeant  Dunham  has  taken  counsel 
of  his  heart  instead  of  his  head,  in  resolving  to 
issue  such  orders  ; but,  if  the  fort  fall,  the  blame 


will  lie  on  him  who  ordered  it  to  be  occupied,  and 
not  on  him  whose  duty  it  was  to  defend  it 
Whatever  may  be  the  determination  of  the  latter 
should  the  French  and  their  allies  land,  a good 
commander  never  neglects  the  preparations  ne- 
cessary to  effect'  a retreat ; and  I would  advise 
Master  Cap,  who  is  the  admiral  of  our  navy,  to 
have  a boat  in  readiness  to  evacuate  the  island, 
if  need  comes  to  need.  The  largest  boat  that  we 
haue  left  carries  a very  ample  sail,  and,  by  haul- 
ing it  round  here  and  mooring  it  under  those 
bushes,  there  will  be  a convenient  place  for  a hur- 
ried embarkation,  and  then  you’ll  perceive,  pretty 
Mabel,  that  it  is  scarce  fifty  yards  before  we  shall 
be  in  a channel  between  two  other  islands,  and 
hid  from  the  sight  of  those  who  may  happen  to 
be  on  this.” 

“ All  that  you  say  is  very  true,  Mr.  Muir ; but 
may  not  the  French  come  from  that  quarter  them- 
selves ? If  it  is  so  good  for  a retreat,  it  is  equally 
good  for  an  advance.” 

“ They’ll  no  have  the  sense  to  do  so  discreet  a 
thing,”  returned  Muir,  looking  furtively  and  a 
little  uneasily  around  him  ; “ they’ll  no  have  suf- 
ficient discretion.  Your  French  are  a head-over- 
heels nation,  and  usually  come  forward  in  a ran- 
dom way  ; so  we  may  look  for  them,  if  they  come 
at  all,  on  the  other  side  of  the  island.” 

The  discourse  now  became  exceeding  desul- 
tory, touching  principally,  however,  on  the  prob- 
abilities of  an  invasion  and  the  best  means  of 
meeting  it. 

To  most  of  this  Mabel  paid  but  little  attention, 
though  she  felt  some  surprise  that  Lieutenant 
Muir,  an  officer  whose  character  for  courage  stood 
well,  should  openly  recommend  an  abandonment 
of  what  appeared  to  her  to  be  doubly  a duty,  her 
father’s  character  being  connected  with  the  de- 
fence of  the  island.  Her  mind,  nowever,  was  so 
much  occupied  with  her  guest  that,  seizing  the  first 
favorable  moment,  she  left  the  table  and  was  soon 
in  her  own  hut  again.  Carefully  fastening  the 
door,  and  seeing  that  the  simple  curtain  was 
drawn  before  the  single  little  window,  Mabel  next 
led  the  Dew-of-June,  or  June,  as  she  was  famil- 
iarly termed  by  those  who  spoke  to  her  in  Eng- 
lish, into  the  outer  room,  making  signs  of  affec- 
tion and  confidence. 

“ I am  glad  to  see  you,  June,”  said  Mabel, 
with  one  of  her  sweetest  smiles,  and  in  her  own 
winning  voice ; “ very  glad  to  see  you — what  has 
brought  you  hither,  and  how  did  you  discover  the 
island  ? ” 

“Talk  slow,”  said  June,  returning  smile  for 
smile,  and  pi’essing  the  little  hand  she  held  with 
one  of  her  own,  that  was  scarcely  larger,  though 


144 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


it  had  been  hardened  by  labor,  “ more  slow — too 
quick.” 

Mabel  repeated  her  questions,  endeavoring  to 
repress  the  impetuosity  of  her  feelings,  and  she 
succeeded  in  speaking  sn  distinctly  as  to  be  under- 
stood. 

“ June,  friend,”  returned  the  Indian  woman. 

“ I believe  you,  June — from  my  soul  I believe 
you ; what  has  this  to  do  with  your  visit  ? ” 

“ Friend  come  to  see  friend,”  answered  Ji*ne, 
again  smiling  openly  in  the  other’s  face. 

“ There  is  some  other  reason,  June : else 
would  you  never  run  this  risk,  and  alone — you 
are  alone,  June  ? ” 

“June  wid  you — no  one  else.  June  come 
alone,  paddle  canoe.” 

“I  hope  so  — I think  so — nay,  I know  so. 
You  would  not  be  treacherous  with  me,  June?  ” 

“ What  treacherous  ? ” 

“You  would  not  betray  me — would  not  give 
me  to  the  French  — to  the  Iroquois — to  Arrow- 
head”— June  shook  her  head  earnestly, — “you 
would  not  sell  my  scalp  ? ” 

Here  June  passed  her  arm  fondly  around  the 
slender  waist  of  Mabel,  and  pressed  her  to  her 
heart  with  a tenderness  and  affection  that  brought 
tears  in  the  eyes  of  our  heroine.  It  was  done  in 
the  fond  caressing  manner  of  a woman,  and  it  was 
scarcely  possible  that  it  should  not  obtain  credit 
for  sincerity  with  a young  and  ingenuous  person 
of  the  same  sex.  Mabel  returned  the  pressure, 
and  then  held  the  other  off  at  the  length  of  her 
arm,  looking  her  steadily  in  the  face,  and  contin- 
ued her  inquiries. 

“ If  June  has  something  to  tell  her  friend,  let 
her  speak  plainly,”  she  said.  “ My  ears  are 
open.” 

“June  ’fraid  Arrowhead  kill  her.” 

“But  Arrowhead  will  never  know  it.”  Ma- 
bel’s blood  mounted  to  her  temples,  as  she  said 
this ; for  she  felt  that  she  was  urging  a wife  to  be 
treacherous  to  her  husband.  “ That  is,  Mabel 
will  not  tell  him.” 

“ He  bury  tomahawk  in  June’s  head.” 

“That  must  never  be,  dear  June;  I would 
rather  you  should  say  no  more  than  run  this  risk.  ” 

“ Block-house  good  place  to  sleep — good  place 
to  stay.” 

“ Do  you  mean  that  I may  save  my  life  by 
keeping  in  the  block-house,  June  ? Surely,  surely, 
Arrowhead  will  not  hurt  you  for  telling  me  that. 
He  cannot  wish  me  any  great  harm,  for  I never 
injured  him.” 

“ Arrowhead  wish  no  harm  to  handsome  pale- 
face,” returned  June,  averting  her  face,  and, 
though  she  always  spoke  in  the  soft  gentle  voice 


of  an  Indian  girl,  permitting  its  notes  to  fall  so 
low  as  to  cause  them  to  sound  melancholy  and 
timid — “ Arrowhead  love  pale-face  girl.” 

Mabel  blushed,  she  knew  not  why,  and,  for  a 
moment,  her  questions  were  repressed  by  a feel- 
ing of  inherent  delicacy.  But  it  was  necessary 
to  know  more,  for  her  apprehensions  had  been 
keenly  awakened,  and  she  resumed  her  inquiries. 

“ Arrowhead  can  have  no  reason  to  love  or  to 
hate  me,”  she  said.  “ Is  he  near  you  ? ” 

“ Husband  always  near  wife,  here,”  said  June, 
laying  her  hand  on  her  heart. 

“ Excellent  creature  ! — But,  tell  me,  June, 
ought  I to  keep  in  the  block-house  to-day — this 
morning — now  ? ” 

“ Block-house  very  good ; good  for  squaw. 
Block-house  got  no  scalp.” 

“ I fear  I understand  you  only  too  well,  June. 
Do  you  wish  to  see  my  father  ? ” 

“ No  here  ; gone  away.” 

“ You  cannot  know  that,  June  ; you  see  the 
island  is  full  of  his  soldiers.” 

“ No  full ; gone  away  ” — here  June  held  up 
four  of  her  fingers — “ so  many  red-coats.” 

“ And  Pathfinder — would  you  not  like  to  see 
the  Pathfinder  ? — he  can  talk  with  you  in  the 
Iroquois  tongue.” 

“ Tongue  gone  wid  him,”  said  June,  laughing; 
“ keep  tongue  in  his  mout’.” 

There  was  something  so  sweet  and  contagious 
in  the  infantile  laugh  of  an  Indian  girl,  that  Ma- 
bel could  not  refrain  from  joining  in  it,  much  as 
her  fears  were  aroused  by  all  that  had  passed. 

“ You  appear  to  know,  or  to  think  to  know,  all 
about  us,  June.  But,  if  Pathfinder  be  gone,  Eau- 
douce  can  speak  French,  too.  You  know  Eau- 
douce ; shall  I run  and  bring  him  to  talk  with 
you  ? ” 

“ Eau-douce  gone,  too,  all  but  heart ; that 
there.”  As  June  said  this,  she  laughed  again, 
looked  in  different  directions,  as  if  unwilling  to 
confuse  the  other,  and  laid  her  hand  on  Mabel’s 
bosom. 

Our  heroine  had  often  heard  of  the  wonderful 
sagacity  of  the  Indians,  and  of  the  surprising 
manner  in  Which  they  noted  all  things  while  they 
appeared  to  regard  none,  but  she  was  scarce  pre- 
pared for  the  direction  the  discourse  had  so  sin- 
gularly taken.  Willing  to  change  it,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  truly  anxious  to  learn  how  great  the 
danger  that  impended  over  them  might  really  be, 
she  rose  from  the  camp-stool  on  which  she  had 
been  seated,  and,  by  assuming  an  attitude  of  less 
affectionate  confidence,  she  hoped  to  hear  more 
of  that  she  really  desired  to  learn,  and  to  avoid 
allusions  to  that  which  she  found  so  embarrassing. 


APPREHENSIONS  OF  TREACHERY. 


145 


You  know  how  much  or  how  little  you  ought 
to  tell  me,  June,”  she  said,  “ and  I hope  you  love 
me  well  enough  to  give  me  the  information  I 
ought  to  hear.  My  dear  uncle,  too,  is  on  the  isl- 
and, and  you  are,  or  ought  to  be,  his  friend,  as 
well  as  mine  ; and  both  of  us  will  remember  your 
conduct  when  we  get  back  to  Oswego.” 

“ Maybe  never  get  back — who  know  ? ” This 
was  said  doubtingly,  or  as  one  lays  down  an  un- 
certain proposition,  and  not  with  a taunt,  or  de- 
sire to  alarm. 

“ No  one  knows  what  will  happen,  but  God. 
Our  lives  are  in  his  hands.  Still  I think  you  are 
to  be  his  instrument  in  saving  us.” 

This  passed  June’s  comprehension,  and  she 
only  looked  her  ignorance,  for  it  was  evident  she 
wished  to  be  of  use. 

“ Block-house  very  good,”  she  repeated,  as 
soon  as  her  countenance  ceased  to  express  un- 
certainty, laying  strong  emphasis  on  the  last  two 
words. 

“ Well,  I understand  this,  June,  and  will  sleep 
in  it  to-night.  Of  course  I am  to  tell  my  uncle 
what  you  have  said.” 

The  Dew-of-June  started,  and  she  discovered 
a very  manifest  uneasiness  at  the  interrogatory. 

“ No — no — no — no  ”' — she  answered,  with  a 
volubility  and  vehemence  that  was  imitated  from 
the  French  of  the  Canadas,  “ no  good  to  tell  Salt- 
water. He  much  talk  and  long  tongue.  Think 
woods  all  water  ; understand  not’ing.  Tell  Arrow- 
head, and  June  die.” 

“ You  do  my  dear  uncle  injustice,  for  he 
would  be  as  little  likely  to  betray  you  as  any  one.” 

“No  understand.  Salt-water  got  tongue,  but 
no  eye,  no  ear,  no  nose — not’ing  but  tongue, 
tongue,  tongue.” 

Although  Mabel,  did  not  exactly  coincide  in 
this  opinion,  she  saw  that  Cap  had  not  the  con- 
fidence of  the  young  Indian  woman,  and  that  it 
was  idle  to  expect  she  would  consent  to  his  being 
admitted  to  their  interview. 

“ You  appear  to  think  you  know  our  situation 
pretty  well,  June,”  Mabel  continued — “have  you 
been  on  the  island  before  this  visit  ? ” 

“Just  come.” 

“ How,  then,  do  you  know  that  what  you  say 
is  true ; my  father,  the  Pathfinder,  and  Eau-douce, 
may  be  all  here  within  the  sound  of  my  voice, 
t:  i choose  to  call  them.” 

“All  gone,”  said  June,  positively,  smiling 
good-humoredly  at  the  6ame  time. 

“ Nay,  this  is  more  than  you  can  say  certain- 
ly, not  having  been  over  the  island  to  examine  it.” 

“ Got  good  eyes ; see  boat  with  men  go  away 
« — see  ship  with  Eau-douce.” 

. 36  10 


“Then  you  have  been  some  time  watching 
us ; I think,  however,  you  have  not  counted  them 
that  remain.5' 

June  laughed,  held  up  her  four  fingers  again, 
and  then  pointed  to  her  two  thumbs ; passing  a 
finger  over  the  first,  she  repeated  the  words 
“ red-coats,”  and,  touching  the  last,  she  added— 
“ Salt-water,”  “ Quartermaster.”  All  this  wa3 
being  very  accurate,  and  Mabel  began  to  enter- 
tain serious  doubts  of  the  propriety  of  her  per- 
mitting her  visitor  to  depart  without  her  becom- 
ing more  explicit.  Still  it  was  so  repugnant  to 
her  feelings  to  abuse  the  confidence  this  gentle 
and  affectionate  creature  had  evidently  reposed 
in  her,  that  Mabel  had  no  sooner  admitted  the 
thought  of  summoning  her  uncle  than  she  rejected 
it,  as  unworthy  of  herself,  and  unjust  to  her 
friend.  To  aid  this  good  resolution,  too,  there 
was  the  certainty  that  June  would  reveal  noth- 
ing, but  take  refuge  in  a stubborn  silence,  if  any 
attempt  were  made  to  coerce  her. 

“You  think,  then,  June,”  Mabel  continued,  as 
soon  as  these  thoughts  had  passed  through  her 
mind,  “ that  I had  better  live  in  the  block- 
house? ” 

“ Good  place  for  squaw.  Block-house  got  no 
scalp.  Logs  t’ick.” 

“You  speak  confidently,  June,  as  if  you  hid 
been  in  it,  and  had  measured  its  walls.” 

June  laughed,  and  she  looked  knowing,  though 
she  said  nothing. 

“ Does  any  one  but  yourself  know  how  to  find 
this  island — have  any  of  the  Iroquois  seen  it  ? ” 

June  looked  sad,  and  she  cast  her  eyes  warily 
about  her,  as  if  distmsting  a listener. 

“ Tuscarora  everywhere — Oswego,  here,  Fron- 
tenac,  Mohawk — everywhere.  If  he  see  June, 
kid  her.” 

“ But  we  thought  that  no  one  knew  of  this 
island,  and  that  we  had  no  reason  to  fear  our 
enemies  while  on  it.” 

“ Much  eye,  Iroquois.” 

“ Eyes  will  not  always  do,  June.  This  spot  is 
hid  from  ordinary  sight,  and  few  of  even  our  own 
people  know  how  to  find  it.” 

“One  man  can  tell  — some  Yengeese  talk 
French.” 

Mabel  felt  a chill  at  her  heart.  All  the  sus- 
picions against  Jasper,  which  she  had  hitherto 
disdained  entertaining,  crowded  in  a body  on  her 
thoughts,  and  the  sensation  that  they  brought 
was  so  sickening,  that  for  an  instant  she  im- 
agined she  was  about  to  faint.  Arousing  herself, 
and  remembering  her  promise  to  her  father,  sho 
arose  and  walked  up  and  down  the  hut  for  a 
minute,  fancying  that  Jasper’s  delinquencies  were 


146 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


naught  to  her,  though  her  inmost  heart  yearned 
with  the  desire  to  think  him  innocent. 

“ I understand  your  meaning,  June,”  she  then 
said — “you  wish  me  to  know  that  some  one 
has  treacherously  told  your  people  where  and 
how  to  find  the  island.” 

June  laughed,  for  in  her  eyes  artifice  in  war 
was  oftener  a merit  than  a crime ; but  she  was 
too  true  to  her  tribe  herself,  to  say  more  than  the 
occasion  required.  Her  object  was  to  save  Ma- 
bel, and  Mabel  only,  and  she  saw  no  sufficient 
reason  for  “ travelling  out  of  the  record,”  as  the 
lawyers  express  it,  in  order  to  do  any  thing  else. 

“ Pale-face  know  now- — ” she  added — “Block- 
house good  for  girl — no  matter  for  men  and  war- 
riors.” 

“ But  it  (is  much  matter  with  mb,  June,  for 
one  of  these  men  is  my  uncle,  whom  I love,  and 
the  others  are  my  countrymen  and  friends.  I 
must  tell  them  what  has  passed.” 

“ Then  June  be  kill  ” — returned  the  young  In- 
dian quietly,  though  she  spoke  with  concern. 

“ No — they  shall  not  know  that  you  have  been 
here.  Still,  they  must  be  on  their  guard,  and  we 
can  all  go  into  the  block-house.” 

“ Arrowhead  know — see  every  thing,  and  June 
be  kill,  June  come  to  tell  young  pale-face  friend  not 
to  tell  men.  Every  warrior  watch  his  own  scalp. 
June  squaw,  and  tell  squaw  ; no  tell  men.” 

Mabel  was  greatly  distressed  at  this  declara- 
tion of  her  wild  friend,  for  it  was  now  evident 
the  young  creature  understood  that  her  communi- 
cation was  to  go  no  further.  She  was  ignorant 
how  far  these  people  considered  the  point  of  hon- 
or interested  in  her  keeping  the  secret ; and,  most 
of  all,  was  she  unable  to  say  how  far  any  indis- 
cretion of  her  own  might  actually  commit  June, 
and  endanger  her  life.  All  these  considerations 
flashed  on  her  mind,  and  reflection  only  rendered 
their  influence  more  painful.  June,  too,  mani- 
festly viewed  the  matter  gravely,  for  she  began 
to  gather  up  the  different  little  articles  she  had 
dropped  in  taking  Mabel’s  hand,  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  depart.  To  attempt  detaining  her  was 
out  of  the  question,  and  to  part  from  her,  after 
all  she  had  hazarded  to  serve  her,  was  repugnant 
to  all  the  just  and  kind  feelings  of  our  heroine’s 
nature. 

“ June,”  she  said,  eagerly,  folding  her  arms 
round  the  gentle,  but  uneducated  being,  “ we  are 
friends.  From  me  you  have  nothing  to  fear,  for 
no  one  shall  know  of  your  visit.  If  you  could 
give  me  some  signal  just  before  the  danger  comes, 
some  sign  by  which  to  know  when  to  go  into  the 
block-house — how  to  take  care  of  myself.” 

June  paused,  for  she  had  been  in  earnest  in 


her  intention  to  depart ; and  then  ghe  said,  qul 
etly : 

“ Bring  June  pigeon.” 

“ A pigeon  ! Where  shall  I find  a pigeon  to 
bring  you  ? ” 

^‘Next  hut — bring  old  one — June  go  to  car 
noe.” 

“I  think  I understand  you,  June  ; but  had  I 
not  better  lead  you  back  to  the  bushes,  lest  you 
meet  some  of  the  men  ? ” 

“ Go  out  first — count  men — one — two— free 
— four — five — six” — here  June  held  up  her  fin- 
gers and  laughed — “ all  out  of  way — good — all 
but  one — call  him  one  side.  Then  sing,  and  fetch 
pigeon.” 

Mabel  smiled  at  the  readiness  and  ingenuity 
of  the  girl,  and  prepared  to  execute  her  requests. 
At  the  door,  however,  she  stopped,  and  looked 
back  entreatingly  at  the  Indian  woman. 

“ Is  there  no  hope  of  your  telling  me  more, 
June?”  she  said. 

“ Know  all  now — block-house  good — pigeon 
tell — Arrowhead  kill.” 

The  last  words  sufficed  ; for  Mabel  could  not 
urge  further  communications,  when  her  compan- 
ion herself  told  her  that  the  penalty  of  her  reve- 
lations might  be  death  by  the  hand  of  her  hus- 
band. Throwing  open  the  door,  she  made  a sign 
of  adieu  to  June,  and  went  out  of  the  hut.  Ma- 
bel resorted  to  the  simple  expedient  of  the  young 
Indian  girl,  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  the  dif- 
ferent individuals  on  the  island.  Instead  of  look- 
ing about  her  with  the  intention  of  recognizing 
faces  and  dresses,  she  merely  counted  them  ; and 
found  that  three  still  remained  at  the  fire,  while 
two  had  gone  to  the  boat,  one  of  whom  was  Mr. 
Muir.  The  sixth  man  was  her  uncle  ; and  he  was 
coolly  arranging  some  fishing  tackle,  at  no  great 
distance  from  the  fire.  The  woman  was  just  en- 
tering her  own  hut ; and  this  accounted  for  the 
whole  party.  Mabel  now,  affecting  to  have 
dropped  something,  returned  nearly  to  the  hut 
she  had  left,  warbling  an  air,  stooped  as  if  to  pick 
up  some  object  from  the  ground,  and  hurried 
toward  the  hut  June  had  mentioned.  This  was 
a dilapidated  structure,  and  it  had  been  converted 
by  the  soldiers  of  the  last  detachment  into  a sort 
of  store-house  for  their  live  stock.  Among  other 
things,  it  contained  a few  dozen  pigeons,  which 
were  regaling  on  a pile  of  wheat  that  had  been 
brought  off  from  one  of  the  farms  plundered  on 
the  Canada  shore.  Mabel  had  not  much  difficulty 
in  catching  one  of  these  pigeons,  although  they 
fluttered  and  flew  about  the  hut,  with  a noise 
like  that  of  drums  ; and,  concealing  it  in  her 
dress,  she  stole  back  toward  her  own  hut  with 


THE  INDIAN  WOMAN’S  ARTIFICES. 


147 


the  prize.  It  was  empty;  and,  without  doing 
more  than  cast  a glance  in  at  the  door,  the  eager 
girl  hurried  down  to  the  shore.  She  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  escaping  observation,  for  the  trees  and 
bushes  made  a complete  cover  to  her  person.  At 
the  canoe  she  found  June,  who  took  the  pigeon, 
placed  it  in  a basket  of  her  own  manufacturing, 
and  repeating  the  words,  “block-house  good,” 
she  glided  out  of  the  bushes  and  across  the  nar- 
row passage  as  noiselessly  as  she  had  come.  Ma- 
bel waited  some  time  to  catch  a signal  of  leave- 
taking  or  amity,  after  her  friend  had  landed,  but 
none  was  given.  The  adjacent  islands,  without 
exception,  were  as  quiet  as  if  no  one  had  ever 
disturbed  the  sublime  repose  of  Nature ; and  no- 
where could  any  sign  or  symptom  be  discovered, 
as  Mabel  then  thought,  that  might  denote  the 
proximity  of  the  sort  of  danger  of  which  June 
had  given  notice. 

On  returning,  however,  from  the  shore,  Mabel 
was  struck  with  a little  circumstance,  that,  in  an 
ordinary  situation,  would  have  attracted  no  atten- 
tion, but  which,  now  that  her  suspicions  had  been 
aroused,  did  not  pass  before  her  uneasy  eye  un- 
noticed. A small  piece  of  red  bunting,  such  as  is 
used  in  the  ensigns  of  ships,  was  fluttering  at  the 
lower  branch  of  a small  tree,  fastened  in  a way  to 
permit  it  to  blow  out,  or  to  droop  like  a vessel’s 
pennant. 

Now  that  Mabel’s  fears  were  awakened,  June 
herself  could  not  have  manifested  greater  quick- 
ness in  analyzing  facts  that  she  believed  might 
affect  the  safety  of  the  party.  She  saw  at  a glance 
that  this  bit  of  cloth  could  be  observed  from  an 
adjacent  island ; that  it  lay  so  near  the  line  be- 
tween her  own  hut  and  the  canoe,  as  to  leave  no 
doubt  that  June  had  passed  near  it,  if  not  direct- 
ly under  it ; and  that  it  might  be  a signal  to  com- 
municate some  important  fact  connected  with  the 
mode  of  attack,  to  those  who  were  probably  lying 
in  ambush  near  them.  Tearing  the  little  strip  of 
bunting  from  the  tree,  Mabel  hastened  on,  scarce 
knowing  what  duty  next  required.  June  might 
be  false  to  her ; but  her  manner,  her  looks,  her  af- 
fection, and  her  disposition  as  Mabel  had  known 
it  in  the  journey,  forbade  the  idea.  Then  came 
the  allusion  to  Arrowhead’s  admiration  of  the 
pale-face  beauties,  some  dim  recollections  of  the 
looks  of  the  Tuscarora,  and  a painful  conscious- 
ness that  few  wives  could  view  with  kindness  one 
who  had  estranged  a husband’s  affections.  None 
of  these  images  were  distinct  and  clear,  but  they 
rather  gleamed  over  the  mind  of  our  heroine  than 
rested  in  it,  and  they  quickened  her  pulses,  as 
they  did  her  step,  without  bringing  with' them  the 
prompt  and  clear  decisions  that  usually  followed 


her  reflections.  She  had  hurried  onward  toward 
the  hut  occupied  by  the  soldier’s  wife,  intending 
to  remove  at  once  to  the  block-house  with  the 
woman,  though  she  could  persuade  no  other  to 
follow,  when  her  impatient  walk  was  interrupted 
by  the  voice  of  Muir. 

“Whither,  so  fast,  pretty  Mabel,”  he  cried, 
“ and  why  so  given  to  solitude  ? — the  worthy  ser- 
geant will  deride  my  breeding,  if  he  hear  that  his 
daughter  passes  the  mornings  alone  and  unat- 
tended to,  though  he  well  knows  that  it  is  my  ar- 
dent wish  to  be  her  slave  and  companion,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  year  to  its  end.” 

“ Surely,  Mr.  Muir,  you  must  have  some  au- 
thority here,”  Mabel  suddenly  arrested  her  steps 
to  say.  “ One  of  your  rank  would  be  listened  to, 
at  least,  by  a corporal.” 

“ I don’t  know  that — I don’t  know  that,”  in- 
terrupted Muir,  with  an  impatience  and  appear- 
ance of  alarm  that  might  have  excited  Mabel’s  at- 
tention at  another  moment.  “ Command  is  com- 
mand, discipline,  discipline,  and  authority,  author- 
ity. Your  good  father  would  be  sore  grieved  did 
he  find  me  interfering  to  sully  or  carry  off  the 
laurels  he  is  about  to  win ; and  I cannot  com- 
mand the  corporal,  without  equally  commanding 
the  sergeant.  The  wisest  way  will  be  for  me  to 
remain  in  the  obscurity  of  a private  individual  m 
this  enterprise  ; and  it  is  so  that  all  parties,  from 
Lundie  down,  understand  the  transaction.” 

“ This  I know,  and  it  may  be  well ; nor  would 
I give  my  dear  father  any  cause  of  complaint,  but 
you  may  influence  the  corporal,  to  his  own  good.” 

“ I’ll  no  say  that,”  returned  Muir,  in  his  sly 
Scotch  way ; “ it  would  be  far  safer  to  promise 
to  influence  him  to  his  injury.  Mankind,  pretty 
Mabel,  have  their  peculiarities,  and  to  influence 
a fellow-being  to  his  own  good  is  one  of  the  most 
difficult  tasks  of  hnman  nature,  while  the  oppo- 
site is  just  the  easiest.  You’ll  no  forget  this,  my 
dear ; but  bear  it  in  mind  for  your  edification  and 
government ; but  what  is  that  you’re  twisting 
round  your  slender  finger,  as  you  may  be  said  to 
twist  hearts  ? ” 

“ It  is  nothing  but  a bit  of  cloth — a sort  of 
flag — a trifle  that  is  hardly  worth  our  attention  at 
this  grave  moment — if — ” 

“ A trifle  ! It’s  no  so  trifling  as  ye  may  im- 
agine, Mistress  Mabel,”  taking  the  bit  of  bunting 
from  her,  and  stretching  it  at  full  length  with 
both  his  arms  extended,  while  his  face  grew  grave 
and  his  eye  watchful.  “Ye’ll  no  ha’  been  find- 
ing this,  Mabel  Dunham,  in  the  breakfast  ? ” 

Mabel  simply  acquainted  him  with  the  spot 
where,  and  the  manner  in  which  she  had  found 
the  bit  of  cloth.  While  she  was  speaking,  the 


148 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


eye  of  the  quartermaster  was  not  quiet  for  a mo- 
ment, glancing  from  the  rag  to  the  face  of  our 
heroine,  then  back  again  to  the  rag.  That  his 
suspicions  were  awakened  was  easy  to  be  seen, 
nor  was  he  long  in  letting  it  be  known  what  di- 
rection they  had  taken. 

“We  are  not  in  a part  of  the  world  where  our 
ensigns  and  gauds  ought  to  be  spread  abroad  to 
the  wind,  Mabel  Dunham  ! ” he  said,  with  an  om- 
inous shake  of  the  head. 

“ I thought  as  much  myself,  Mr.  Muir,  and 
brought  away  the  little  flag,  lest  it  might  be  the 
means  of  betraying  our  presence  here  to  the  ene- 
my, even  though  nothing  is  intended  by  its  dis- 
play. Ought  not  my  uncle  to  be  made  acquainted 
with  the  circumstance  ? ” 

“ I no  see  the  necessity  for  that,  pretty  Mabel, 
for,  as  you  justly  say,  it  is  a circumstance,  and  cir- 
cumstances sometimes  worry  the  worthy  mariner. 
But  this  flag,  if  flag  it  can  be  called,  belongs  to  a 
seaman’s  craft.  You  may  perceive  that  it  is 
made  of  what  is  called  bunting,  and  that  is  a de- 
scription of  cloth  used  only  by  vessels  for  such 
purposes,  our  colors  being  of  silk,  as  you  may 
understand,  or  painted  canvas.  It’s  surprisingly 
like  the  fly  of  the  Scud’s  ensign ! And  now  I 
recollect  me  to  have  observed  that  a piece  had 
been  cut  from  that  very  flag ! ” 

Mabel  felt  her  heart  sink,  but  she  had  suffi- 
cient self-command  not  to  attempt  an  answer. 

“ It  must  be  looked  to,”  Muir  continued, 
“ and,  after  all,  I think  it  may  be  well  to  hold  a 
short  consultation  with  Master  Cap,  than  whom 
a more  loyal  subject  does  not  exist  in  the  British 
Empire.” 

“ I have  thought  the  warning  so  serious,”  Ma- 
bel rejoined,  “ that  I am  about  to  remove  to  the 
block-house,  and  to  take  the  woman  with  me.” 

“ I do  not  see  the  prudence  of  that,  Mabel. 
The  block-house  will  be  the  first  spot  assailed, 
should  there  really  be  an  attack  ; and  it’s  no  well 
provided  for  a siege,  that  must  be  allowed.  If  I 
might  advise  in  so  delicate  a contingency,  I would 
recommend  your  taking  refuge  in  the  boat,  which, 
as  you  may  now  perceive,  is  most  favorably  placed 
to  retreat  by  that  channel  opposite,  where  all  in 
it  would  be  hid  by  the  islands,  in  one  or  two  min- 
utes. Water  leaves  no  trail,  as  Pathfinder  well 
expresses  it,  and  there  appear  to  be  so  many  dif- 
ferent passages  in  that  quarter,  that  escape  would 
be  more  than  probable.  I’ve  always  been  of 
opinion  that  Lundie  hazarded  too  much,  in  occu- 
pying a post  as  far  advanced,  and  as  much  ex- 
posed, as  this.” 

“ It’s  too  late  to  regret  it  now,  Mr.  Muir,  and 
we  have  only  to  consult  our  own  security.” 


“ And  the  king’s  honor,  pretty  Mabel.  Yes, 
his  majesty’s  arms,  and  his  glorious  name,  are  not 
to  be  overlooked  on  any  occasion.” 

“ Then  I think  it  might  be  better,  if  we  all 
turned  our  eyes  toward  the  place  that  has  been 
built  to  maintain  them,  instead  of  the  boat,”  said 
Mabel,  smiling ; “ and  so  Mr.  Muir,  I am  for  the 
block-house,  with  a disposition  to  await  there  the 
return  of  my  father  and  his  party.  He  would  be 
sadly  grieved  at  finding  we  had  fled,  when  he  got 
back,  successful  himself,  and  filled  with  the  con- 
fidence of  our  having  been  as  faithful  to  our  du- 
ties as  he  has  been  to  his  own.” 

“Nay,  nay,  for  Heaven’s  sake,  do  not  misun- 
derstand me,  Mabel,”  Muir  interrupted  with  some 
alarm  of  manner,  “ I am  far  from  intimating  that 
any  but  you  females  ought  to  take  refuge  in  the 
boat.  The  duty  of  us  men  is  sufficiently  plain, 
no  doubt,  and  my  resolution  has  been  formed  from 
the  first,  to  stand  or  fall  by  the  block-house.  ” 

“ And  did  you  imagine,  Mr.  Muir,  that  two 
females  could  row  that  heavy  boat  in  a way  to 
escape  the  bark  canoe  of  an  Indian  ? ” 

“Ah  ! my  pretty  Mabel,  love  is  seldom  logical, 
and  its  fears  and  misgivings  are  apt  to  warp  the 
faculties.  I only  saw  your  sweet  person  in  pos- 
session of  the  means  of  safety,  and  overlooked  the 
want  of  ability  to  use  them.  But  you’ll  no  be  sc 
cruel,  lovely  creature,  as  to  impute  to  me  as  ft 
fault  my  intense  anxiety  on  your  own  account ! ” 
Mabel  had  heard  enough.  Her  mind  was 
too  much  occupied  with  what  had  passed  that 
morning,  and  with  her  fears,  to  wish  to  linger  fur- 
ther to  listen  to  love  speeches,  that,  in  her  most 
joyous  and  buoyant  moments,  she  would  have 
found  unpleasant.  She  took  a hasty  leave  of  her 
companion,  and  was  about  to  trip  away  toward 
the  hut  of  the  other  woman,  when  Muir  arrested 
the  movement  by  laying  a hand  on  her  arm. 

“ One  word,  Mabel,  ” he  said,  “ before  you 
leave  me.  This  little  flag  may,  or  it  may  not,  have 
a particular  meaning ; if  it  has,  now  that  we  are 
aware  of  its  being  shown,  may  it  not  be  better 
to  put  it  back  again,  while  we  watch  vigilantly 
for  some  answer  that  may  betray  the  conspiracy ; 
and  if  it  mean  nothing,  why,  nothing  will  follow.  ” 
“ This  maybe  all  right,  Mr.  Muir,  though  if  the 
whole  is  accidental,  the  flag  might  be  the  oc- 
casion of  the  fort’s  being  discovered.  ” 

Mabel  stayed  to  utter  no  more,  but  she  was 
soon  out  of  sight,  running  into  the  hut  toward 
which  she  had  been  first  proceeding.  The  quar- 
ter-master remained  on  the  very  spot,  and  in  the 
precise  attitude  in  which  she  had  left  him  for 
quite  a minute,  first  looking  at  the  bounding  figure 
of  the  girl,  and  then  at  the  bit  of  bunting,  which 


THE  CORPORAL  IN  COMMAND. 


149 


he  still  held  before  him,  in  a way  to  denote  inde- 
cision. His  irresolution  lasted  but  for  this  min- 
ute, however,  for  he  was  soon  beneath  the  tree, 
where  he  fastened  the  mimic  flag  to  a branch 
again ; though,  from  his  ignorance  of  the  precise 
spot  from  which  it  had  been  taken  by  Mabel,  he 
left  it  fluttering  from  a part  of  the  oak  where  it 
was  still  more  exposed  than  before,  to  the  eyes  of 
any  passenger  on  the  river,  though  less  in  view 
from  the  island  itself. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

“Each  one  has  had  his  supping  mess, 

The  cheese  is  put  into  the  press, 

The  pans  and  bowls  clean  scalded  all, 

Reared  up  against  the  milk-house  wall.” 

Cotton. 

It  seemed  strange  to  Mabel  Dunham,  as  she 
passed  along  on  her  way  to  find  her  female  com- 
panion, that  others  should  be  so  composed,  while 
she  herself  felt  as  if  the  responsibilities  of  life  and 
death  rested  on  her  shoulders.  It  is  true  that 
distrust  of  June’s  motives  mingled  with  her  fore- 
bodings ; but,  when  she  came  to  recall  the  affec- 
tionate and  natural  manner  of  the  young  Indian 
girl,  and  all  the  evidences  of  good  faith  and  sincer- 
ity, that  she  had  seen  in  her  conduct,  during  the 
familiar  intercourse  of  their  journey,  she  rejected 
the  idea,  with  the  unwillingness  of  a generous 
disposition  to  believe  ill  of  others.  She  saw,  how- 
ever, that  she  could  not  put  her  companions 
properly  on  their  guard  without  letting  them  in- 
to the  secret  of  her  conference  with  June ; and 
she  found  herself  compelled  to  act  cautiously,  and 
with  a forethought  to  which  she  was  unaccus- 
tomed, more  especially  in  a matter  of  so  much 
moment. 

The  soldier’s  wife  was  told  to  transport  the 
necessaries  into  the  block-house,  and  admonished 
not  to  be  far  from  it  at  any  time  during  the  day. 
Mabel  did  not  explain  her  reasons.  She  merely 
stated  that  she  had  detected  some  signs,  in  walk- 
ing about  the  island,  that  induced  her  to  appre- 
hend that  the  enemy  had  more  knowledge  of  its 
position  than  had  been  previously  believed,  and 
that  they  two,  at  least,  would  do  well  to  be  in 
readiness  to  seek  a refuge  at  the  shortest  notice. 
It  was  not  difficult  to  arouse  the  apprehension  of 
this  person,  who,  though  a stout-hearted  Scotch 
woman,  was  ready  enough  to  listen  to  any  thing 
that  confirmed  her  dread  of  Indian  cruelties.  As 
soon  as  Mabel  believed  that  her  companion  was 
efficiently  frightened  to  make  her  wary,  she 


threw  out  some  hints,  touching  the  inexpediency 
of  letting  the  soldiers  know  the  extent  of  their 
own  fears.  This  was  done  with  a view  to  prevent 
discussions  and  inquiries  that  might  embarrass 
our  heroine ; she  determining  to  render  h^r  uncle, 
the  corporal,  and  his  men,  more  cautious  by 
adopting  a different  course.  Unfortunately,  the 
British  army  could  not  have  furnished  a worse 
person  for  the  particular  duty  that  he  was  now 
required  to  discharge  than  Corporal  McNab,  the 
individual  who  had  been  left  in  command  during 
the  absence  of  Sergeant  Dunham.  On  the  one 
hand  he  was  resolute,  prompt,  familiar  with  all 
the  details  of  a soldier’s  life,  and  used  to  war ; on 
the  other,  he  was  supercilious  as  regards  the 
provincials,  opinionated  on  every  subject  connect- 
ed with  the  narrow  limits  of  his  professional 
practice,  much  disposed  to  fancy  the  British 
empire  the  centre  of  all  that  is  excellent  in  the 
world,  and  Scotland,  the  focus  of,  at  least,  all 
moral  excellence  in  that  empire.  In  short,  he 
was  an  epitome,  though  on  a scale  suited  to  his 
rank,  of  those  very  qualities  which  were  so 
peculiar  to  the  servants  of  the  crown  that  were 
sent  into  the  colonies,  as  these  servants  estimated 
themselves  in  comparison  with  the  natives  of  the 
country  ; or,  in  other  words,  he  considered  the 
American  as  an  animal  inferior  to  the  parent 
stock,  and  viewed  all  his  notions  of  military 
service,  in  particular,  as  undigested  and  absurd. 
Braddock  himself  was  not  less  disposed  to  take 
advice  from  a provincial  than  his  humble  imita- 
tor ; and  he  had  been  known,  on  more  than  one 
occasion,  to  demur  to  the  directions  and  orders 
of  two  or  three  commissioned  officers  of  the 
corps,  who  happened  to  be  bom  in  America, 
simply  for  that  reason  ; taking  care,  at  the  same 
time,  with  true  Scottish  wariness,  to  protect  him- 
self from  the  pains  and  penalties  of  positive 
disobedience.  A more  impracticable  subject, 
therefore,  could  not  well  have  offered  for  the 
purpose  of  Mabel,  and  yet  she  felt  obliged  to  lose 
no  tinffe  in  putting  her  plan  in  execution. 

“ My  father  has  left  you  a responsible  com- 
mand, corporal,”  she  said,  as  soon  as  she  could 
catch  McNab  a little  apart  from  the  rest  of  the 
soldiers ; “ for,  should  the  island  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  not  only  would  we  be  cap- 
tured, but  the  party  that  is  now  out  would  in  all 
probability  become  their  prisoners  also.” 

“ It  needs  no  journey  from  Scotland  to  this 
place  to  know  the  facts  needful  to  be  o’  that  way 
of  thinking,”  returned  McNab,  dryly. 

“ I do  not  doubt  your  understanding  it  as  well 
„ as  myself,  Mr.  McNab ; but  I’m  fearful  that  you 
veterans,  accustomed  as  you  are  to  dangers  and 


150 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


battles,  are  a little  apt  to  overlook  some  of  the 
precautions  that  may  be  necessary  in  a situation 
as  peculiar  as  ours.” 

“ They  say  Scotland  is  no  conquered  country, 
young  woman,  but  I’m  thinking  there  must  be 
some  mistak’  in  the  matter,  as  we,  her  children, 
are  so  drowsy-headed,  and  apt  to  be  o’ertaken, 
when  we  least  expect  it.” 

“ Nay,  my  good  friend,  you  mistake  my  mean- 
ing. In  the  first  place,  I’m  not  thinking  of  Scot- 
land at  all,  but  of  this  island ; and  then  I am  far 
from  doubting  your  vigilance  when  you  think  it 
necessary  to  practise  it ; but  my  great  fear  is  that 
there  may  be  danger  to  which  your  courage  will 
make  you  indifferent.” 

“ My  courage,  Mistress  Dunham,  is  doubtless 
of  a very  poor  quality,  being  nothing  but  Scottish 
courage ; your  father’s  is  Yankee,  and  were  he 
here  amang  us,  we  should  see  different  prepara- 
tions beyond  a doubt.  Well,  times  are  getting 
wrang,  when  foreigners  hold  commissions  and 
carry  halberds  in  Scottish  corps  ; and  I no  won- 
der that  battles  are  lost,  and  campaigns  go  wrang 
end  foremost.” 

Mabel  was  almost  in  despair,  but  the  quiet 
warning  of  June  was  still  too  vividly  impressed  on 
her  mind  to  allow  her  to  yield  the  matter.  She 
changed  her  mode  of  operating,  therefore,  still 
clinging  to  the  hope  of  getting  the  whole  party 
within  the  block-house,  without  being  compelled 
to  betray  the  source  whence  she  obtained  her  no- 
tices of  the  necessity  of  vigilance. 

“ I dare  say  you  are  right,  Corporal  McNab,” 
she  observed,  “ for  I’ve  often  heard  of  the  heroes 
of  your  country,  who  have  been  among  the  first 
of  the  civilized  world,  if  what  they  tell  me  of  them 
is  true.” 

“ Have  you  read  the  history  of  Scotland,  Mis- 
tress Dunham  ? ” demanded  the  corporal,  looking 
up  at  his  pretty  companion,  for  the  first  time,  with 
something  like  a smile  on  his  hard,  repulsive  coun- 
tenance. 

“ I have  read  a little  of  it,  corporal,  but  I’ve 
heard  much  more.  The  lady  who  brought  me  up 
had  Scottish  blood  in  her  veins,  and  was  fond  of 
the  subject ! ” 

“ I’ll  warrant  ye,  the  sergeant  no  troubled  him- 
self to  expatiate  on  the  renown  of  the  country 
where  his  regiment  was  raised  ? ” 

“ My  father  has  ether  things  to  think  of,  and 
the  little  I know  was  got  from  the  lady  I have 
mentioned.” 

“ She’ll  no  be  forgetting  to  tell  ye  o’  Wal- 
Ace  ? ” 

“ Wallace ! — of  him  I have  even  read  a good 
deal.” 


“ And  o’  Bruce  -and  the  affair  o’  Bannock* 
burn  ? ” 

“ Of  that,  too,  as  well  as  of  Colloden-muir.” 

The  last  of  these  battles  was  then  a recent 
event,  it  having  actually  been  fought  within  the 
recollection  of  our  heroine ; whose  notions  of  it, 
however,  were  so  confused  that  she  scarcely  ap- 
preciated the  effect  her  allusion  might  produce  on 
her  companion.  She  knew  it  had  been  a victory, 
and  had  often  heard  the  guests  of  her  patroness 
mention  it  with  triumph ; and  she  fancied  their 
feelings  would  find  a sympathetic  chord  in  those 
of  every  British  soldier.  Unfortunately,  McNab 
had  fought  throughout  that  luckless  day  on  the 
side  of  the  Pretender ; and  a deep  scar  that  gar- 
nished his  face,  had  been  left  there  by  the  sabre  of 
a German  soldier,  in  the  service  of  the  House  of 
Hanover.  He  fancied  that  his  wound  bled  afresh 
at  Mabel’s  allusion  ; and  it  is  certain  that  the  blood 
rushed  to  his  face  in  a torrent,  as  if  it  would  pour 
out  of  his  skin  at  the  cicatrix. 

“ Hoot ! hoot  awa’ ! ” he  fairly  shouted,  “ with 
your  Culloden  and  Sherif-muirs,  young  woman; 
ye’ll  no  be  understanding  the  subject  at  all,  and 
will  manifest  not  only  wisdom,  but  modesty,  in 
speaking  o’  your  ain  country  and  its  many  fail- 
ings. King  George  has  some  loyal  subjects  in  the 
colonies,  na  doubt ; but  ’ twill  be  a lang  time  ba- 
fore  he  sees  or  hears  any  guid  of  them.” 

Mabel  was  surprised  at  the  corporal’s  heat,  for 
she  had  not  the  smallest  idea  where  the  shoe 
pinched ; but  she  was  determined  not  to  give  up 
the  point. 

“ I’ve  always  heard  that  the  Scotch  had  two 
of  the  good  qualities  of  soldiers,”  she  said,  “ cour- 
age and  circumspection;  and  I feel  persuaded 
that  Corporal  McNab  will  sustain  the  national 
renown.” 

“ Ask  ye’r  own  father,  Mistress  Dunham : he 
is  acquaint’  with  Corporal  McNab,  and  will  no  be 
backward  to  point  out  his  demerits.  We  have 
been  in  battle  the’gither,  and  he  is  my  superior 
officer,  and  has  a sort  o’  official  right  to  give  the 
characters  of  his  subor  dinates.” 

“ My  father  thinks  well  of  you,  McNab,  or  he 
would  not  have  left  you  in  charge  of  this  island 
and  all  it  contains,  his  own  daughter  included. 
Among  other  things  I well  know  that  he  calculates 
largely  on  your  prudence.  He  expects  the  block- 
house, in  particular,  to  be  strictly  attended  to.” 

“ If  he  wishes  to  defend  the  honor  of  the  55th 
behind  logs,  be  ought  to  have  remained  in  com- 
mand himsal’ ; for,  to  speak  frankly,  it  goes  against 
a Scotchman’s  bluid  and  opinions  to  be  beaten 
out  of  the  field  even  before  he  is  attacked.  We 
are  broadsword  men,  and  love  to  stand  foot  to 


SUDDEN  DEATH  OF  McNAB. 


151 


foot  with  the  foe.  This  American  mode  of  fight- 
ing, that  is  getting  into  so  much  favor,  will  de- 
stroy the  reputation  of  his  majesty’s  army,  if  it 
no  destroy  its  spirit.” 

“No  true  soldier  despises  caution.  Even  Ma- 
jor Duncan  himself,  than  whom  there  is  none 
braver,  is  celebrated  for  his  care  of  his  men.” 

“ Lundie  has  his  weakness,  and  is  fast  forget- 
ting the  broadsword  and  open  heaths,  in  his  tree 
and  rifle  practice.  But,  Mistress  Mabel,  tak’  the 
word  of  an  old  soldier,  who  has  seen  his  fifty-fifth 
year,  when  he  tails  ye,  that  there  is  no  surer 
method  to  encouragp  your  enemy  than  to  seem 
to  fear  him ; and  that  there  is  no  danger  in  this 
Indian  warfare,  that  the  fancies  and  imaginations 
of  your  Americans  have  not  augmented  and  en- 
larged upon,  until  they  see  a savage  in  every  bush. 
We  Scots  come  from  a naked  region,  and  have  no 
need,  and  less  relish  for  covers,  and  so  ye’ll  be 
seeing,  Mistress  Dunham — ” 

The  corporal  gave  a spring  into  the  air,  fell 
forward  on  his  face,  and  rolled  over  on  his  back 
— the  whole  passing  so  suddenly,  that  Mabel  had 
scarcely  heard  the  sharp  crack  of  the  rifle  that 
sent  a bullet  through  his  body.  Our  heroine  did 
not  shriek — did  not  even  tremble  ; the  occurrence 
was  too  sudden,  too  awful,  and  too  unexpected 
for  that  exhibition  of  weakness ; on  the  contrary, 
she  stepped  hastily  forward,  with  a natural  im- 
pulse to  aid  her  companion.  There  was  just 
enough  of  life  left  in  McNab  to  betray  his  entire 
consciousness  of  all  that  had  passed.  His  coun- 
tenance had  the  wild  look  of  one  who  had  been 
overtaken  by  death,  by  surprise ; and  Mabel,  in  her 
cooler  moments,  fancied  that  it  showed  the  tardy 
repentance  of  a wilful  and  obstinate  sinner. 

“Ye’ll  be  getting  into  the  block-house  as  fast 
as  possible,”  McNab  whispered,  as  Mabel  leaned 
over  him,  to  catch  his  dying  words. 

Then  came  over  our  heroine  the  full  conscious- 
ness ot  her  situation,  and  of  the  necessity  of  ex- 
ertion. She  cast  a rapid  glance  at  the  body  at 
her  feet,  saw  that  it  had  ceased  to  breathe,  and 
fled.  It  was  but  a few  minutes’  run  to  the  block- 
house, the  door  of  which  Mabel  had  barely  gained, 
when  it  was  closed  violently  in  her  face  by  Jennie, 
the  soldier’s  wife,  who,  in  blind  terror,  thought 
only  of  her  own  safety.  The  reports  of  five  or  six 
rifles  were  heard  while  Mabel  was  calling  out  for 
admittance;  and  the  additional  terror  they  pro- 
duced prevented  the  woman  within  from  undoing 
quickly  the  very  fastenings  she  had  been  so  very 
expert  in  applying.  After  a minute’s  delay,  how- 
ever, Mabel  found  the  door  reluctantly  yielding 
to  her  constant  pressure,  and  she  forced  her  slen- 
der body  through  the  opening  the  instant  it  was 


large  enough  to  allow  of  its  passage.  By  this 
time  Mabel’s  heart  ceased  to  beat  tumultuously, 
and  she  gained  sufficient  self-command  to  act  col- 
lectedly. Instead  of  yielding  to  the  almost  con- 
vulsive efforts  of  her  companion  to  close  the  door 
again,  she  held  it  open  long  enough  to  ascertain 
that  none  of  her  own  party  was  in  sight,  cr  likely, 
on  the  instant,  to  endeavor  to  gain  admission ; 
she  then  allowed  the  opening  to  be  shut.  Her 
orders  and  proceedings  now  became  more  calm 
and  rational.  But  a single  bar  was  crossed,  and 
Jennie  was  directed  to  stand  in  readiness  to  re- 
move even  that,  at  any  application  from  a friend. 
She  then  ascended  the  ladder  to  the  room  above, 
where,  by  means  of  loop-holes,  she  was  enabled  to 
get  as  good  a view  of  the  island  as  the  surround- 
ing bushes  would  allow.  Admonishing  her  asso- 
ciate below  to  be  firm  and  steady,  she  made  as 
careful  examination  of  the  environs  as  her  situa- 
tion permitted. 

To  her  great  surprise,  Mabel  could  not,  at 
first,  see  a living  soul  on  the  island,  friend  or 
enemy.  Neither  Frenchman  nor  Indian  was  visi- 
ble, though  a small  straggling  white  cloud  that 
was  floating  before  the  wind,  told  her  in  which 
quarter  she  ought  to  look  for  them.  The  rifles 
had  been  discharged  from  the  direction  of  the 
island  whence  June  had  come,  though  whether 
the  enemy  were  on  that  island,  or  had  actually 
landed  on  her  own,  Mabel  could  not  say.  Going 
to  the  loop  that  commanded  a view  of  the  spot 
where  McNab  lay,  her  blood  curdled  at  perceiv- 
ing all  three  of  his  soldiers  lying  apparently  life- 
less at  his  side.  These  men  had  rushed  to  a com- 
mon centre  at  the  first  alarm,  and  had  been  shot 
down  almost  simultaneously  by  the  invisible  foe 
whom  the  corporal  had  affected  to  despise. 

Neither  Cap  nor  Lieutenant  Muir  was  to  be 
seen.  With  a beating  heart,  Mabel  examined 
every  opening  through  the  trees,  and  ascended 
even  to  the  upper  story  or  garret  of  the  block- 
house, where  she  got  a full  view  of  the  whole 
island,  so  far  as  its  covers  would  allow ; but  with 
no  better  success.  She  had  expected  to  see  the 
body  of  her  uncle  lying  on  the  grass,  like  those 
of  the  soldiers,  but  it  was  nowhere  visible.  Turn- 
ing toward  the  spot  where  the  boat  lay,  Mabel 
saw  that  it  was  still  fastened  to  the  shore;  and 
then  she  supposed  that,  by  some  accident,  Muii 
had  been  prevented  from  effecting  his  retreat  ip 
that  quarter.  In  short,  the  island  lay  in  the 
quiet  of  the  grave,  the  bodies  of  the  soldiers 
rendering  the  scene  as  fearful  as  it  was  extraor- 
dinary. 

“ For  God’s  holy  sake,  Mistress  Mabel,’  ’called 
out  the  woman  from  below,  for,  though  her  fear 


L52 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


had  got  to  be  too  ungovernable  to  allow  her  to 
keep  silence,  our  heroine’s  superior  refinement, 
more  than  the  regimental  station  of  her  , father, 
still  controlled  her  mode  of  address ; “ for  His 
holy  sake,  Mistress  Mabel,  tell  me  if  any  of  our 
friends  are  living ! I think  I hear  groans  that 
grow  fainter  and  fainter,  and  fear  that  they  will 
all  be  tomahawked  ! ” 

Mabel  now  remembered  that  one  of  the  sol- 
diers was  this  woman’s  husband,  and  she  trem- 
bled at  what  might  be  the  immediate  effect  of 
her  sorrow,  should  his  death  become  suddenly 
known  to  her.  The  groans,  too,  gave  a little 
hope,  though  she  feared  they  might  come  from 
her  uncle,  who  lay  out  of  view. 

“We  are  in  His  holy  keeping,  Jennie,”  she 
answered.  “We  must  trust  in  Providence,  while 
we  neglect  none  of  its  benevolent  means  of  pro- 
tecting ourselves.  Be  careful  with  the  door ; on 
no  account  open  it,  without  my  directions.” 

“ Oh ! tell  me,  Mistress  Mabel,  if  you  can  any- 
where see  Sandy  ? — If  I could  only  let  him  know 
that  I’m  in  safety,  the  guid  man  would  be  easier 
in  his  mind,  whether  free  or  a prisoner ! ” 

Sandy  was  Jennie’s  husband,  and  he  lay  dead 
in  plain  view  of  the  loop,  from  which  our  heroine 
was  then  looking. 

“You  no  tell  me  if  you’re  seeing  of  Sandy,” 
the  woman  repeated  from  below,  impatient  at 
Mabel’s  silence. 

“ There  are  some  of  our  people  gathered 
about  the  body  of  McNab,”  was  the  answer,  for 
it  seemed  sacrilegious  in  her  eyes  to  tell  a direct 
untruth,  under  the  awful  circumstances  in  which 
she  was  placed. 

“ Is  Sandy  amang  them  ? ” demanded  the 
woman,  in  a voice  that  sounded  appalling  by  its 
hoarseness  and  energy. 

“ He  may  be  certainly — for  I see,  one,  two, 
three,  four,  and  all  in  the  scarlet  coats  of  the  regi- 
ment.” 

“ Sandy ! ” called  out  the  woman  frantical- 
ly— “ why  d’ye  no  care  for  yoursal’,  Sandy  ? 
Come  hither  the  instant,  man,  and  share  your 
wife’s  fortunes,  in  weal  or  woe.  It’s  no  a mo- 
ment for  your  silly  discipline,  and  vainglorious 
notions  of  honor  ? Sandy  ! — Sandy  ! ” 

Mabel  heard  the  bar  turn,  and  then  the  door 
creaked  on  its  hinges.  Expectation,  not  to  say 
terror,  held  her  in  suspense  at  the  loop,  and  she 
soon  beheld  Jennie  rushing  through  the  bushes, 
in  the  direction  of  the  cluster  of  dead.  It  took 
the  woman  but  an  instant  to  reach  the  fatal  spot. 
So  sudden  and  unexpected  had  been  the  blow, 
that  she,  in  her  terror,  did  not  appear  to  compre- 
hend its  weight.  Some  wild  and  half-frantic  no- 


tion of  a deception  troubled  her  fancy,  and  she 
imagined  that  the  men  were  trifling  with  her  fears. 
She  took  her  husband’s  hand,  and  it  was  still 
warm,  while  she  thought  a covert  smile  was  strug- 
gling on  his  lip. 

“ Why  will  ye  fool  life  away,  Sandy  ? ” she 
cried,  pulling  at  the  arm.  “ Ye’ll  all  be  murdered 
by  these  accursed  Indians,  and  you  no  takin’  to 
the  block  like  trusty  soldiers ! Awa’ ! — awa’, 
and  no  be  losing  the  precious  moments.” 

In  her  desperate  efforts,  the  woman  pulled 
the  body  of  her  husband  in  a way  to  cause  the 
head  to  turn  completely  oveij,  when  the  small  hole 
in  the  temple,  caused  by  the  entrance  of  a rifle 
bullet,  and  a few  drops  of  blood  trickling  over  the 
skin,  revealed  the  meaning  of  her  husband’s  si- 
lence. As  the  horrid  truth  flashed,  in  its  full  ex- 
tent, on  her  mind,  the  woman  clasped  her  hands, 
gave  a shriek  that  pierced  the  glades  of  every  isl- 
and near,  and  fell  at  length  on  the  dead  body  of 
the  soldier.  Thrilling,  heart-reaching,  appalling 
as  was  that  shriek,  it  was  melody  to  the  cry  that 
followed  it  so  quickly  as  to  blend  the  sounds. 
The  terrific  war-whoop  arose  out  of  the  covers  of 
the  island,  and  some  twenty  savages,  horrible  in 
their  paint  and  the  other  devices  of  Indian  inge- 
nuity, rushed  forward,  eager  to  secure  the  coveted 
scalps.  Arrowhead  was  foremost,  and  it  was  his 
tomahawk  that  brained  the  insensible  Jennie,  and 
her  reeking  hair  was  hanging  at  his  girdle  as  a tro- 
phy, in  less  than  two  minutes  after  she  had  quit- 
ted the  block-house.  His  companions  were  equal- 
ly active,  and  McNab  and  his  soldiers  no  longer 
presented  the  quiet  aspect  of  men  who  slum- 
bered. They  were  left  in  their  gore,  unequivocally 
butchered  corpses. 

All  this  passed  in  much  less  time  than  has 
been  required  to  relate  it,  and  all  this  did  Mabel 
witness.  She  had  stood  riveted  to  the  spot,  gaz- 
ing on  the  whole  horrible  scene,  as  if  enchained 
by  some  charm,  nor  did  the  idea  of  self,  or  of  her 
own  danger,  once  obtrude  itself  on  her  thoughts. 
But  no  sooner  did  she  perceive  the  place  where 
the  men  had  fallen,  covered  with  savages,  exult- 
ing in  the  success  of  their  surprise,  than  it  oc- 
curred to  her  that  Jennie  had  left  the  block-house 
door  unbarred.  Her  heart  beat  violently,  for 
that  defence  alone  stood  between  her  and  imme- 
diate death,  and  she  sprang  toward  the  ladder, 
with  the  intention  of  descending  to  make  sure  of 
it.  Her  foot  had  not  yet  reached  the  floor  of  the 
second  story,  however,  when  she  heard  the  door 
grating  on  its  hinges,  and  she  gave  herself  up  for 
lost.  Sinking  on  her  knees,  the  terrified  but  coura- 
geous girl  endeavored  to  prepare  herself  for  death, 
and  to  raise  her  thoughts  to  God.  The  instinct 


AN  INDIAN  ATTACK. 


153 


of  life,  however,  was  too  strong  for  prayer,  and 
while  her  lips  moved,  the  jealous  senses  watched 
every  sound  beneath.  When  her  ears  heard  the 
bars,  which  went  on  pivots,  secured  to  the  centre 
of  the  door,  turning  into  their  fastenings,  not  one, 
as  she  herself  had  directed,  with  a view  to  admit  her 
uncle,  should  he  apply,  but  all  three,  she  started 
again  to  her  feet,  all  spiritual  contemplations  van- 
ishing in  her  actual  temporal  condition,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  all  her  faculties  were  absorbed  in 
the  sense  of  hearing. 

The  thoughts  are  active  in  a moment  so  fear- 
ful. At  first  Mabel  fancied  that  her  uncle  had  en- 
tered the  block-house,  and  she  was  about  to  de- 
scend the  ladder  and  throw  herself  into  his  arms ; 
then  the  idea  that  it  might  be  an  Indian,  who  had 
barred  the  door  to  shut  out  intruders,  while  he 
plundered  at  leisure,  arrested  the  movement.  The 
profound  stillness  below  was  unlike  the  bold,  rest- 
less movements  of  Cap,  and  it  seemed  to  savor 
more  of  the  artifice  of  an  enemy ; if  a friend  at 
all,  it  could  only  be  her  uncle  or  the  quartermas- 
ter ; for  the  horrible  conviction  now  presented  it- 
self to  our  heroine,  that  to  these  two,  and  her- 
self, were  the  whole  party  suddenly  reduced,  if, 
indeed,  the  two  latter  survived.  This  considera- 
tion held  Mabel  in  check,  and  for  quite  two  min- 
utes more  a breathless  silence  reigned  in  the 
building.  During  this  time,  the  girl  stood  at  the 
foot  of  the  upper  ladder,  the  trap  which  led  to  the 
lower  opening  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  floor  ; 
the  eyes  of  Mabel  were  riveted  on  this  spot,  for 
she  now  began  to  expect  to  see,  at  each  instant, 
the  horrible  sight  of  a savage  face  at  the  hole. 
This  apprehension  soon  became  so  intense  that  she 
looked  about  her  for  a place  of  concealment.  The 
procrastination  of  the  catastrophe  she  now  fully 
expected,  though  it  were  only  for  a moment,  af- 
forded a relief.  The  room  contained  several  bar- 
rels, and  behind  two  of  these  Mabel  crouched, 
placing  her  eyes  at  an  opening  by  which  she 
could  still  watch  the  trap.  She  made  another  ef- 
fort to  pray,  but  the  moment  was  too  horrible 
for  that  relief.  She  thought,  too,  that  she  heard 
a low  rustling,  as  if  one  were  ascending  the  lower 
ladder,  with  an  effort  at  caution  so  great  as  to  be- 
tray itself  by  its  own  excess ; then  followed  a 
creaking,  that  she  was  certain  came  from  one  of 
the  steps  of  the  ladder,  which  had  made  the 
same  noise  under  her  own  light  weight,  as  she  as- 
cended. This  was  one  of  those  instants  into  which 
are  compressed  the  sensations  of  years  of  ordina- 
ry existence.  Life,  death,  eternity,  and  extreme 
bodily  pain,  were  all  standing  out  in  bold  relief, 
from  the  plane  of  every-  day  occurrences  ; and  she 
might  have  been  taken,  at  that  moment,  for  a 


beautiful,  pallid  representation  of  herself,  equally 
without  motion  and  without  vitality.  But,  while 
such  was  the  outward  appearance  of  the  form, 
never  had  there  been  a time  in  her  brief  career 
when  Mabel  heard  more  acutely,  saw  more  clear- 
ly, or  felt  more  vividly.  As  yet  nothing  was 
visible  at  the  trap ; but  her  ears,  rendered  exquis- 
itely sensitive  by  intense  feeling,  distinctly  ac- 
quainted her  that  some  one  was  within  a few 
inches  of  the  opening  of  the  floor  : next  followed 
the  evidence  of  her  eyes,  which  beheld  the  dark 
hair  of  an  Indian  rising  so  slowly  through  the  pas- 
sage, that  the  movements  of  the  head  might  be 
likened  to  that  of  the  minute-hand  of  a clock ; 
then  came  the  dark  skin  and  wild  features,  until 
the  whole  of  the  swarthy  face  had  risen  above  the 
floor.  The  human  countenance  seldom  appears 
to  advantage  when  partially  concealed,  and  Mabel 
imagined  many  additional  horrors  as  she  first  saw 
the  black,  roving  eyes,  and  the  expression  of 
wildness,  as  the  savage  countenance  was  revealed, 
as  it  might  be,  inch  by  inch  ; but  when  the  en- 
tire head  was  raised  above  the  floor,  a second  and 
better  look  assured  our  heroine  that  she  saw  the 
gentle,  anxious,  and  even  handsome  face,  of  June, 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

“ Spectre  though  I be, 

I am  not  sent  to  scare  thee  or  deceive ; 

But  in  reward  of  thy  fidelity.” 

WORDSWOBTH. 

It  /ould  be  difficult  to  say  which  evinced  the 
most  satisfaction,  when  Mabel  sprang  to  her  feet 
and  appeared  in  the  centre  of  the  room — our 
heroine  on  finding  that  her  visitor  was  the  wife 
of  Arrowhead,  and  not  Arrowhead  himself,  or 
June,  at  discovering  that  her  advice  had  been  fol- 
lowed, and  that  the  block-house  contained  the 
person  she  had  so  anxiously  and  almost  hopeless- 
ly sought.  They  embraced  each  other,  and  the 
unsophisticated  Tuscarora  woman  laughed  in  her 
sweet  accents,  as  she  held  her  friend  at  arm’s 
length,  and  made  certain  of  her  presence. 

“ Block-house  good,”  said  the  young  Indian— 
“ got  no  scalp.” 

“ It  is,  indeed,  good,  June,”  Mabel  answered, 
with  a shudder,  veiling  her  eyes  at  the  same  time, 
as  if  to  shut  out  a view  of  the  horrors  she  had 
so  lately  witnessed.  “Tell  me,  for  God’s  sake! 
if  you  know  what  has  become  of  my  dear  uncle  ? 
I have  looked  in  all  directions  without  being  abl* 
to  see  him.” 


154 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“No  here,  in  block-house ? ” June  asked, 
with  some  curiosity. 

“ Indeed  he  is  not — I am  quite  alone  in  this 
place ; Jennie,  the  woman  who  was  with  me,  hav- 
ing rushed  out  to  join  her  husband,  and  perish- 
ing for  her  imprudence.” 

“ June  know — June  see ; very  bad,  Arrowhead 
no  feel  for  any  wife — no  feel  for  his  own.” 

“ Ah  ! June  ; your  life,  at  least,  is  safe  ! ” 

“ Don’t  know — Arrowhead  kill  me  if  he  know 
all.” 

“ God  bless  and  protect  you,  June — he  will 
bless  and  protect  you  for  your  humanity.  Tell  me 
what  is  to  be  done,  and  if  my  poor  uncle  is  still 
living  ? ” 

“ Don’t  know.  Salt-water  has  boat ; maybe 
he  go  on  river.” 

“ The  boat  is  still  on  the  shore,  but  neither 
my  uncle  nor  the  quartermaster  is  anywhere  to 
be  seen.” 

“No  kill,  or  June  would  see.  Hide  away! 
Red  man  hide ; no  shame  for  pale-face.” 

“ It  is  not  the  shame  that  I fear  for  them,  but 
the  opportunity.  Your  attack  was  awfully  sud- 
den, June  ! ” 

“ Tuscarora ! ” returned  the  other,  smiling 
with  exultation  at  the  dexterity  of  her  husband. 
“ Arrowhead  great  warrior ! ” 

“ You  are  too  good  and  gentle  for  this  sort  of 
life,  June  ; you  cannot  be  happy  in  such  scenes  ! ” 

June’s  countenance  grew  clouded,  and  Mabel 
fancied  there  was  some  of  the  savage  fire  of  a 
chief  in  her  brow  as  she  answered  : 

“ Yengeese  too  greedy — take  away  all  hunting- 
grounds  — chase  Six  Nation  from  morning  to 
night ; wicked  king — wicked  people.  Pale-face 
very  bad.” 

Mabel  knew  that,  even  in  that  distant  day, 
there  was  much  truth  in  this  opinion,  though  she 
was  too  well  instructed  not  to  understand  that 
the  monarch,  in  this  as  in  a thousand  other  cases, 
was  blamed  for  acts  of  which  he  was  most  prob- 
ably ignorant.  She  felt  the  justice  of  the  re- 
buke, therefore,  too  much  to  attempt  an  answer, 
and  her  thoughts  naturally  reverted  to  her  own 
oituation. 

“ And  what  am  I to  do,  June  ? ” she  demand- 
ed. “ It  cannot  be  long  before  your  people  will 
assault  this  building.” 

“ Block-house  good — got  no  scalp.” 

“ But  they  will  soon  discover  that  it  has  got 
no  garrison,  too,  if  they  do  not  know  it  already. 
You  yourself  told  me  the  number  of  people  that 
were  on  the  island,  and  doubtless  you  learned  it 
from  Arrowhead.” 

“Arrowhead  know,”  answered  June,  holding 


up  six  fingers  to  indicate  the  number  of  the  men. 
“ All  red  men  know.  Four  lose  scalp  already— 
two  got  ’em  yet ! ” 

“ Do  not  speak  of  it,  June  ; the  horrid  thought 
curdles  my  blood.  Your  people  cannot  know  that 
I am  alone  in  the  block-house,  but  may  fancy  my 
uncle  and  the  quartermaster  with  me,  and  may  set 
fire  to  the  building,  in  order  to  dislodge  them. 
They  tell  me  that  fire  is  the  great  danger  to  such 
places.” 

“No  burn  block-house,”  said  June,  quietly. 

“You  cannot  know  that,  my  good  June,  and 
I have  no  means  to  keep  them  off.” 

“No  burn  block-house.  Block-house. good ; 

got  no  scalp.” 

“ But  tell  me  why,  June  ; I fear  they  will  burn 
it!” 

“Block-house  wet — much  rain — logs  green 
— no  burn  easy.  Red  man  know  it — fine  t’ing — 
then  no  burn  it  to  tell  Yengeese  that  Iroquois 
been  here.  Fader  come  back,  miss  block-house, 
no  found.  No,  no  ; Injin  too  much  cunning  ; no 
touch  any  thing.” 

“ I understand  you,  June,  and  hope  your  pre- 
diction may  be  true ; for,  as  regards  my  dear  fa- 
ther, should  he  escape — perhaps  he  is  already 
dead  or  captured,  June  ? ” 

“ No  touch  fader — don’t  know  where  he  gone 
— water  got  no  trail — red  man  can’t  follow.  No 
burn  block-house  — block-house  good — got  no 
scalp.” 

“ Do  you  think  it  possible  for  me  to  remain 
here  safely  until  my  father  returns  ? ” 

“ Don’t  know — daughter  tell  best,  when  fader 
come  back.” 

Mabel  felt  uneasy  at  the  glance  of  June’s  dark 
eye  as  she  uttered  this,  for  the  unpleasant  sur- 
mise arose  that  her  companion  was  endeavoring 
to  discover  a fact  that  might  be  useful  to  her  own 
people,  while  it  would  lead  to  the  destruction  of 
her  parent  and  his  party.  She  was  about  to  make 
an  evasive  answer,  when  a heavy  push  at  the  out- 
er door  suddenly  drew  all  her  thoughts  to  the  im- 
mediate danger. 

“ They  come  ! ” she  exclaimed — “ perhaps, 
June,  it  is  my  uncle,  or  the  quartermaster.  I 
cannot  keep  out  even  Mr.  Muir  at  a moment  like 
this.” 

“ Why  no  look — plenty  loop-hole — made  pur- 
pose.” 

Mabel  took  the  hint,  and  going  to  one  of  the 
downward  loops  that  had  been  cut  through  tl\e 
logs  in  the  part  that  overhung  the  basement,  she 
cautiously  raised  the  little  block  that  ordinarily 
filled  the  small  hole,  and  caught  a glance  at  what 
was  passing  at  the  door.  The  start  and  changing 


ARROWHEAD’S  LOYE  FOR  MABEL. 


155 


countenance  told  her  companion  that  some  of  her 
own  people  were  below. 

“ Red  man,”  said  June,  lifting  a finger  in  ad- 
monition  to  be  prudent. 

“Four ; and  horrible  in  their  paint  and  bloody 
trophies.  Arrowhead  is  among  them.” 

June  had  moved  to  a corner  where  several 
spare  rifles  were  deposited,  and  had  already  tak- 
en one  into  her  hand,  when  the  name  of  her  hus- 
band appeared  to  arrest  her  movements.  It  was 
but  for  an  instant,  however,  for  she  immediately 
went  to  the  loop,  and  was  about  to  thrust  the 
muzzle  of  the  piece  through  it,  when  a feeling  of 
natural  aversion  induced  Mabel  to  seize  her  arm. 

“No — no — no — June,”  said  the  latter — “not 
against  your  own  husband,  though  my  life  be  the 
penalty.” 

“ No  hurt  Arrowhead — ” returned  June,  with 
a slight  shudder — “no  hurt  red  man  at  all.  No 
fire  at  ’em — ; only  scare.” 

Mabel  now  comprehended  the  intention  of 
June,  and  no  longer  opposed  it.  The  latter  thrust 
the  muzzle  of  the  rifle  through  the  loop-hole,  and 
taking  care  to  make  noise  enough  to  attract  at- 
tention, she  pulled  the  trigger.  The  piece  had  no 
sooner  been  discharged  than  Mabel  reproached 
her  friend  for  the  very  act  that  was  intended  to 
serve  her. 

“ You  declared  it  was  not  your  intention  to 
fire,”  she  said,  “and  you  may  have  destroyed 
your  own  husband.” 

“All  run  away  before  I fire — ” returned  June 
laughing,  and  going  to  another  loop  to  watch  the 
movements  of  her  friends,  laughing,  still  heartier. 
“ See — get  cover — every  warrior.  Think  Salt- 
water and  quartermaster  here.  Take  good  care 
now.” 

“Heaven  be  praised ! And  now,  June,  I may 
hope  for  a little  time  to  compose  my  thoughts  to 
prayer,  that  I may  not  die  like  Jennie,  thinking 
only  of  life  and  the  things  of  the  world.” 

June  laid  aside  the  rifle,  and  came  and  seated 
herself  near  the  box  on  which  Mabel  had  sunk, 
under  that  physical  reaction  which  accompanies 
joy  as  well  as  sorrow.  She  looked  steadily  in 
our  heroine’s  face,  and  the  latter  thought  that 
her  countenance  had  an  expression  of  severity 
mingled  with  its  concern. 

“ Arrowhead  great  warrior — ” said  the  Tus- 
carora’s  wife.  “ All  the  gals  of  tribe  look  at  him 
much.  The  pale-face  beauty  has  eyes  too ! ” 

“ June  ! — what  do  these  words — that  look  im- 
ply— what  would  you  say  ? ” 

“Why  you  so  ’fraid  June  shoot  Arrow- 
head ? ” 

“ Would  it  not  have  been  horrible  to  see  a 


wife  destroy  her  own  husband ! No,  June ; rather 
would  I have  died  myself.” 

“ Very  sure,  dat  all  1” 

“ That  w as  all,  June,  as  God  is  my  judge— 
and  surely  that  was  enough.  No — no — there 
have  been  sufficient  horrors  to-day  without  in- 
creasing them  by  an  act  like  this.  What  other 
motive  can  you  suspect  ? ” 

“ Don’t  know.  Poor  Tuscarora  gal  very  fool- 
ish. Arrowhead  great  chief,  and  look  all  round 
him.  Talk  of  pale-face  beauty  in  his  sleep.  Great 
chief  like  many  wives.” 

“Can  a chief  possess  more  than  one  wife, 
June,  among  your  people?  ” 

“ Have  as  many  as  he  can  keep— great  hunter 
marry  often.  Arrowhead  got  only  June  now,  but 
he  look  too  much — see  too  much — talk  too  much 
of  pale-face  gal ! ” 

Mabel  was  conscious  of  this  fact,  which  had 
distressed  her  not  a little  in  the  course  of  their 
journey  ; but  it  shocked  her  to  hear  this  allusion, 
coming,  as  it  did,  from  the  mouth  of  the  wife  her- 
self. She  knew  that  habits  and  opinions  made 
great  differences  in  such  matters,  but,  in  addition 
to  the  pain  and  mortification  she  experienced  at 
being  the  unwilling  rival  of  a wife,  she  felt  an  ap- 
prehension that  jealousy  would  be  but  an  equivo- 
cal guarantee  for  her  personal  safety,  in  her  pres- 
ent situation.  A closer  look  at  June,  however, 
reassured  her ; for  while  it  was  easy  to  trace  in 
the  unpractised  features  of  this  unsophisticated 
being  the  pain  of  blighted  affections,  no  distrust 
could  have  tortured  the  earnest  expression  of  her 
honest  countenance  into  that  of  treachery  or 
hate. 

“ You  will  not  betray  me,  June,”  Mabel  said, 
pressing  the  other’s  hand,  and  yielding  to  an  im- 
pulse of  generous  confidence.  “You  will  not 
give  up  one  of  your  own  sex  to  the  tomahawk  ? ” 

“No  tomahawk  touch  you.  Arrowhead  no 
let  ’em.  If  June  must  have  sister-wife,  love  to 
have  you.” 

“ No,  June ; my  religion,  my  feelings,  both 
forbid  it ; and,  if  I could  be  the  wife  of  an  Indian 
at  all,  I would  never  take  the  place  that  is  yours, 
in  a wigwram.” 

June  made  no  answer,  but  she  looked  grati- 
fied, even  grateful.  She  knew  that  few,  perhaps 
no  Indian  girl,  within  the  circle  of  Arrowhead’s 
acquaintance,  could  compare  with  herself  in  per- 
sonal  attractions ; and  though  it  might  suit  her 
husband  to  marry  a dozen  wives,  she  knew  of  no 
one,  besides  Mabel,  whose  influence  she  could 
really  dread.  So  keen  an  interest,  however,  had 
she  taken  in  the  beauty,  winning  manners,  kind- 
ness, and  feminine  gentleness  of  our  heroine,  that 


156 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


when  jealousy  came  to  chill  these  feelings,  it  had 
rather  lent  strength  to  that  interest,  and,  under 
its  wayward  influence,  had  actually  been  one  of 
the  strongest  of  the  incentives  that  had  induced 
her  to  risk  so  much,  in  order  to  save  her  imagi- 
nary rival  from  the  consequences  of  the  attack 
that  she  so  well  knew  was  about  to  take  place. 
In  a word,  June,  with  a wife’s  keenness  of  per- 
ception, had  detected  Arrowhead’s  admiration  of 
Mabel ; and  instead  of  feeling  that  barrowing 
jealousy  that  might  have  rendered  her  rival  hate- 
ful, as  would  have  been  apt  to  be  the  case  with  a 
woman  unaccustomed  to  defer  to  the  superior 
rights  of  the  lordly  sex,  she  had  studied  the  looks 
and  character  of  the  pale-face  beauty,  until,  meet- 
ing with  nothing  to  repel  her  own  feelings,  but 
every  thing  to  encourage  them,  she  had  got  to 
entertain  an  admiration  and  love  for  her,  which, 
though  certainly  very  different,  was  scarcely  less 
strong  than  that  of  her  husband.  Arrowhead 
himself  had  sent  her  to  warn  Mabel  of  the  coming 
danger,  though  he  was  ignorant  that  she  had 
stolen  upon  the  island  in  the  rear  of  the  assail- 
ants, and  was  now  intrenched  in  the  citadel  along 
with  the  object  of  their  joint  care.  On  the  con- 
trary, he  supposed,  as  his  wife  had  said,  that  Cap 
and  Muir  were  in  the  block-house  with  Mabel, 
and  that  the  attempt  to  repel  him  and  his  com- 
panions had  been  made  by  the  men. 

“ June  sorry  ‘ the  Lily,’”  for  so  the  Indian, 
in  her  poetical  language,  had  named  our  heroine 
— “ June  sorry  the  Lily  no  marry  Arrowhead. 
His  wigwam  big,  and  a great  chief  must  get  enough 
wifes  to  fill  it.” 

“ I thank  you,  June,  for  this  preference,  which 
is  not  according  to  the  notions  of  us  white  wom- 
en,” returned  Mabel,  smiling  in  spite  of  the  fear- 
ful situation  in  which  she  was  placed ; “ but  I 
may  not,  probably  never  shall,  marry  at  all.” 

“ Must  have  good  husband,”  said  June,  “ mar- 
ry Eau-douce,  if  don’t  like  Arrowhead.” 

“ June ! this  is  net  a fit  subject  for  a girl  who 
scarce  knows  if  she  is  to  live  another  hour  or  not. 
I would  obtain  some  signs  of  my  dear  uncle’s  be- 
ing alive  and  safe,  if  possible.” 

“ June  go  see.” 

“ Can  you  ? — will  you  ? — would  it  be  safe  for 
you  to  be  seen  on  the  island  ? — is  your  presence 
known  to  the  warriors? — and  would  they  be 
pleased  to  find  a woman  on  the  war-path  with 
them  ? ” 

All  this  Mabel  asked  in  rapid  connection,  fear- 
ing that  the  answer  might  not  be  as  she  wished. 
She  had  thought  it  extraordinary  that  June 
should  be  of  the  party,  and,  improbable  as  it 
seemed,  she  had  fancied  that  the  woman  had  cov- 


ertly followed  the  Iroquois  in  her  own  canoe* 
and  had  got  in  their  advance,  merely  to  give  her 
the  notice  which  had  probably  saved  her  life. 
But  in  all  this  she  was  mistaken,  as  June,  in  her  im- 
perfect manner,  now  found  means  to  let  her  know. 

Arrowhead,  though  a chief,  was  in  disgrace 
with  his  own  people,  and  was  acting  with  the 
Iroquois  temporarily,  though  with  a perfect  un- 
derstanding. He  had  a wigwam,  it  is  true,  but 
was  seldom  in  it ; feigning  friendship  for  the  Eng- 
lish, he  had  passed  the  summer  ostensibly  in 
their  service,  while  he  was,  in  truth,  acting  for 
the  French,  and  his  wife  journeyed  with  him  in 
his  many  migrations,  most  of  the  distances  being 
passed  over  in  canoes.  In  a word,  her  presence 
was  no  secret,  her  husband  seldom  moving  with- 
out her.  Enough  of  this  to  embolden  Mabel  to 
wish  that  her  friend  might  go  out,  to  ascertain 
the  fate  of  her  uncle,  did  June  succeed  in  letting 
the  other  know ; and  it  was  soon  settled  between 
them,  that  the  Indian  woman  should  quit  the 
block-house  with  that  object,  the  moment  a fa- 
vorable opportunity  offered. 

They  first  examined  the  island,  as  thoroughly 
as  their  position  would  allow,  from  the  different 
loops,  and  found  that  its  conquerors  were  pre- 
paring for  a feast,  having  seized  upon  the  pro 
visions  of  the  English,  and  rifled  the  huts.  Most 
of  the  stores  were  in  the  block-house,  but  enough 
were  found  outside  to  reward  the  Indians  for  an 
attack  attended  by  so  little  risk.  A party  had 
already  removed  the  dead  bodies,  and  Mabel  saw 
that  their  arms  were  collected  in  a pile,  near  the 
spot  chosen  for  the  banquet.  June  suggested 
that,  by  some  signs  she  understood,  the  dead 
themselves  were  carried  into  a thicket,  and  either 
buried  or  concealed  from  view.  None  of  the 
more  prominent  objects  on  the  island,  however, 
were  disturbed,  it  being  the  desire  of  the  con- 
querors to  lure  the  party  of  the  sergeant  into  an 
ambush,  on  its  return.  June  made  her  compan- 
ion observe  a man  in  a tree,  a lookout,  as  she 
said,  to  give  timely  notice  of  the  approach  of  any 
boat,  although  the  departure  of  the  expedition 
being  so  recent,  nothing  but  some  unexpected 
event  would  be  likely  to  bring  it  back  so  soon. 
There  did  not  appear  to  be  any  design  to  attack 
the  block-house  immediately ; but  every  indica- 
tion, as  understood  by  June,  rather  showed  that 
it  was  the  intention  of  the  Indians  to  keep  it  be- 
sieged until  the  return  of  the  sergeant’s  party, 
lest  the  signs  of  an  assault  should  give  a warning 
to  eyes  as  practised  as  those  of  the  Pathfinder. 
The  boat,  however,  had  been  secured,  and  waa 
removed  to  the  spot  where  the  canoes  of  the  In- 
dians were  hid  in  the  bushes. 


SAVAGE  ORGIES. 


157 


June  now  announced  her  intention  of  joining 
her  friends,  the  moment  being  particularly  favor- 
able for  her  to  quit  the  block-house.  Mabel  felt 
some  distrust  as  they  descended  the  ladder  ; but, 
at  the  next  instant,*  she  was  ashamed  of  the  feel- 
ing as  unjust  to  her  companion,  and  unworthy  of 
herself ; and,  by  the  time  they  both  stood  on  the 
ground,  her  confidence  was  restored.  The  pro- 
cess of  unbarring  the  door  was  conducted  with 
the  utmost  caution ; and,  when  the  last  bar  was 
ready  to  be  turned,  June  took  her  station  near 
the  spot  where  the  opening  must  necessarily  be. 
The  ba^  was  just  turned  free  of  the  brackets — the 
door  was  opened  merely  wide  enough  to  allow  her 
body  to  pass,  and  June  glided  through  the  space. 
Mabel  closed  the  door  again,  with  a convulsive 
movement ; and,  as  the  bar  turned  into  its  place, 
her  heart  beat  audibly.  She  then  felt  secure ; 
and  the  two  other  bars  were  turned  down  in  a 
more  deliberate  manner.  When  all  was  fast 
again,  she  ascended  to  the  first  floor,  where  alone 
she  could  get  a glimpse  of  what  was  going  on 
without. 

Long  and  painfully  melancholy  hours  passed, 
during  which  Mabel  had  no  intelligence  from 
June.  She  heard  the  yells  of  the  savages ; for 
liquor  had  carried  them  beyond  the  bounds  of 
precaution : occasionally  caught  glimpses  of  their 
mad  orgies  through  the  loops,  and,  at  all  times, 
was  conscious  of  their  fearful  presence  by  sounds 
and  sights  that  would  have  chilled  the  blood  of 
one  who  had  not  so  lately  witnessed  scenes  so 
much  more  terrible.  Toward  the  middle  of  the 
day  she  fancied  she  saw  a white  man  on  the  isl- 
and, though  his  dress  and  wild  appearance  at 
first  made  her  take  him  for  a newly-arrived  sav- 
age. A view  of  his  face,  although  it  was  swarthy 
naturally,  and  much  darkened  by  exposure,  left 
no  doubt  that  her  conjecture  was  true;  and  she 
felt  as  if  there  was  now  one  of  a species  more 
like  her  own  present,  and  one  to  whom  she  might 
appeal  for  succor  in  the  last  emergency.  Mabel 
little  knew,  alas  ! how  small  was  the  influence  ex- 
ercised by  the  whites  over  their  savage  allies 
when  the  latter  had  begun  to  taste  of  blood ; or 
how  slight,  indeed,  was  the  disposition  to  divert 
them  from  their  cruelties. 

The  day  seemed  a month  by  Mabel’s  compu- 
tation ; and  the  only  part  of  it  that  did  not  drag 
were  the  minutes  spent  in  prayer.  She  had  re- 
course to  this  relief  from  time  to  time ; and  at 
each  effort  she  found  her  spirit  firmer,  her  mind 
more  tranquil,  and  her  tendency  to  resignation 
more  confirmed.  She  understood  the  reasoning 
of  June,  and  believed  it  highly  probable  that  the 
block-house  would  be  left  unmolested  until  the 


return  of  her  father,  in  order  to  entice  him  into 
an  ambuscade ; and  she  felt  much  less  appre- 
hension of  immediate  danger  in  consequence. 
But  the  future  offered  little  ground  of  hope ; and 
her  thoughts  had  already  begun  to  calculate  the 
chances  of  her  captivity.  At  such  moments, 
Arrowhead,  and  his  offensive  admiration,  filled 
a prominent  place  in  the  back-ground ; for  our 
heroine  well  knew  that  the  Indians  usually  carried 
off  to  their  villages,  for  the  purposes  of  adoption, 
such  captives  as  they  did  not  slay;  and  that 
many  instances  had  occurred  in  which  individu- 
als of  her  sex  had  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  in  the  wigwams  of  their  conquerors.  Such 
thoughts  as  these  invariably  drove  her  to  her 
knees,  and  to  her  prayers. 

While  the  light  lasted,  the  situation  of  our 
heroine  was  sufficiently  alarming;  but,  as  the 
shades  of  evening  gradually  gathered  over  the 
island,  it  became  fearfully  appalling.  By  this 
time,  the  savages  had  wrought  themselves  up  to 
the  point  of  fury,  for  they  had  possessed  them- 
selves of  all  the  liquor  of  the  English,  and  their 
outcries  and  gesticulations  were  those  of  men 
truly  possessed  of  evil  spirits.  All  the  efforts  of 
their  French  leader  to  restrain  them  were  entirely 
fruitless,  and  he  had  wisely  withdrawn  to  an  ad- 
jacent island,  where  he  had  a sort  of  bivouac, 
that  he  might  keep  at  a safe  distance  from  friends 
so  apt  to  run  into  excesses.  Before  quitting  the 
spot,  however,  this  officer,  at  great  risk  to  his 
own  life,  succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  fire,  and 
in  securing  the  ordinary  means  to  relight  it.  This 
precaution  he  took  lest  the  Indians  should  burn 
the  block-house,  the  preservation  of  which  was 
necessary  to  the  success  of  his  future  plans.  He 
would  gladly  have  removed  all  the  arms  also,  but 
this  he  found  impracticable,  the  warriors  clinging 
to.  their  knives  and  tomahawks  with  the  tenacity 
of  men  who  regarded  a point  of  honor  as  long  as 
a faculty  was  left ; and  to  carry  off  the  rifles,  and 
leave  behind  him  the  very  weapons  that  were 
generally  used  on  such  occasions,  would  have 
been  an  idle  expedient.  The  extinguishing  of  the 
fire  proved  to  be  the  most  prudent  measure,  for 
no  sooner  was  the  officer’s  back  turned,  than  one 
of  the  warriors,  in  fact,  proposed  to  fire  the  block- 
house. Arrowhead  had  also  withdrawn  from  the 
group  of  drunkards  as  soon  as  he  found  that  they 
were  losing  their  senses,  and  had  taken  possession 
of  a hut,  where  he  had  thrown  himself  on  the 
straw,  and  sought  the  rest  that  two  wakeful  and 
watchful  nights  rendered  necessary.  It  followed 
that  no  one  was  left  among  the  Indians  to  care 
for  Mabel,  if  indeed  any  knew  of  her  existence  at 
all;  and  the  proposal  of  the  drunkard  was  re- 


158 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


ceived  with  yells  of  delight  by  eight  or  ten  more 
as  much  intoxicated  and  habitually  as  brutal  as 
himself. 

This  was  the  fearful  moment  for  Mabel.  The 
Indians,  in  their  present  condition,  were  reckless 
of  any  rifles  that  the  block-house  might  hold ; 
though  they  did  retain  dim  recollections  of  its 
containing  living  beings,  an  additional  incentive 
to  their  enterprise,  and  they  approached  its  base 
whooping  and  leaping  like  demons.  As  yet  they 
were  excited,  not  overcome  by  the  liquor  they 
had  drunk.  The  first  attempt  was  made  at  the 
door,  against  which  they  ran  in  a body ; but  the 
solid  structure,  which  was  built  entirely  of  logs, 
defied  their  efforts.  The  rush  of  a hundred  men, 
with  the  same  object,  would  have  been  useless. 
This  Mabel,  however,  did  not  know,  and  her  heart 
seemed  to  leap  into  her  mouth  as  she  heard  the 
heavy  shock  at  each  renewed  effort.  At  length, 
when  she  found  that  the  door  resisted  these  as- 
saults as  if  it  were  of  stone,  neither  trembling  nor 
yielding,  and  only  betraying  its  not  being  a part 
of  the  wall  by  rattling  a little  on  its  heavy  hinges, 
her  courage  revived,  and  she  seized  the  first  mo- 
ment of  a cessation  to  look  down  through  the 
loop,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  learn  the  extent  of 
her  danger.  A silence,  for  which  it  was  not  easy 
to  account,  stimulated  her  curiosity,  for  nothing 
is  so  alarming  to  those  who  are  conscious  of  the 
presence  of  imminent  danger,  as  to  be  unable  to 
trace  its  approach. 

Mabel  found  that  two  or  three  of  the  Iroquois 
had  been  raking  the  embers,  where  they  had  found 
a few  small  coals,  and  with  these  they  were  en- 
deavoring to  light  a fire.  The  interest  with  which 
they  labored,  the  hope  of  destroying,  and  the 
force  of  habit,  enabled  them  to  act  intelligently 
and  in  unison,  so  long  as  their  fell  object  was  kept 
in  view.  A white  man  would  have  abandoned 
in  despair  the  attempt  to  light  a fire  with  coals 
that  came  out  of  the  ashes  resembling  sparks ; 
but  these  children  of  the  forests  had  many  expe- 
dients that  were  unknown  to  civilization.  By  the 
aid  of  a few  dry  leaves,  which  they  alone  knew 
where  to  seek,  a blaze  was  finally  kindled,  and 
then  the  addition  of  a few  light  sticks  made  sure 
of  the  advantage  that  had  been  obtained.  When 
Mabel  stooped  down  over  the  loop,  the  Indians 
were  making  a pile  of  brush  against  the  door, 
and,  as  she  remained  gazing  at  their  proceedings, 
she  saw  the  twigs  ignite,  the  flame  dart  from 
branch  to  branch,  until  the  whole  pile  was  crack- 
ing and  snapping  under  a bright  blaze.  The  In- 
dians now  gave  a yell  of  triumph,  and  returned 
to  their  companions,  well  assured  that  the  work 
of  destruction  was  commenced.  Mabel  remained 


looking  down,  scarcely  able  to  tear  herself  away 
from  the  spot,  so  intense  and  engrossing  was  the 
interest  she  felt  in  the  progress  of  the  fire.  As 
the  pile  kindled  throughout,  however,  the  flames 
mounted,  until  they  flashed  so*  near  her  eyes  as  to 
compel  her  to  retreat.  Just  as  she  reached  the 
opposite  side  of  the  room,  to  which  she  had  re- 
tired in  her  alarm,  a forked  stream  shot  up 
through  the  loop-hole,  the  lid  of  which  she  had 
left  open,  and  illuminated  the  rude  apartment 
with  Mabel  and  her  desolation.  Our  heroine  now 
naturally  enough  supposed  that  her  hour  was 
come,  for  the  door,  the  only  means  of  retreat,  had 
been  blocked  up  by  the  brush  and  fire,  with  hell- 
ish ingenuity,  and  she  addressed  herself,  as  she 
believed  for  the  last  time,  to  her  Maker  in  prayer. 
Her  eyes  were  closed,  and,  for  more  than  a min- 
ute, her  spirit  was  abstracted  ; but  the  interests 
of  the  world  too  strongly  divided  her  feelings  to 
be  altogether  suppressed ; and  when  they  invol- 
untarily opened  again,  she  perceived  that  the 
streak  of  flame  was  no  longer  flaring  in  the 
room,  though  the  wood  around  the  little  aperture 
had  kindled,  and  the  blaze  was  slowly  mounting 
under  the  impulsion  of  a current  of  air  that 
sucked  inward.  A barrel  of  water  stood  in  a 
corner,  and  Mabel,  acting  more  by  instinct  than 
by  reason,  caught  up  a vessel,  filled  it,  and,  pour- 
ing it  on  the  wood  with  a trembling  hand,  suc- 
ceeded in  extinguishing  the  fire  at  that  particular 
spot.  The  smoke  prevented  her  from  looking 
down  again  for  a couple  of  minutes ; but,  when 
she  did,  her  heart  beat  high  with  delight  and 
hope  at  finding  that  the  pile  of  blazing  brush  had 
been  overturned  and  scattered,  and  that  water 
had  been  thrown  on  the  logs  of  the  door,  which 
were  still  smoking,  though  no  longer  burning. 

“ Who  is  there  ? ” said  Mabel,  with  her  mouth 
at  the  loop.  “ What  friendly  hand  has  a merciful 
Providence  sent  to  my  succor  ? ” 

A light  footstep  was  audible  below,  and  one 
of  those  gentle  pushes  at  the  door  was  heard, 
which  just  moved  the  massive  beams  on  the 
hinges. 

“ Who  wishes  to  enter  ? Is  it  you,  dear,  dear 
uncle  ? ” 

“ Salt-water  no  here.  St.  Lawrence  sweet 
water,”  was  the  answer.  “ Open  quick — want  to 
come  in.” 

The  step  of  Mabel  was  never  lighter,  or  her 
movements  more  quick  and  natural,  than  whil6 
she  was  descending  the  ladder  and  turning  the 
bars,  for  all  her  motions  were  earnest  and  active. 
This  time  she  thought  only  of  her  escape,  and  she 
opened  the  door  with  a rapidity  that  did  not  ad- 
mit of  caution.  Her  first  impulse  was  to  rush 


JUNE’S  RETURN  TO  THE  BLOCK-HOUSE. 


159 


into  the  open  air,  in  the  blind  hope  of  quitting 
the  block- ..ouse,  but  June  repulsed  the  attempt, 
and,  entering,  she  coolly  barred  the  door  again, 
before  she  would  notice  Mabel’s  eager  efforts  to 
embrace  her. 

“Bless  you — bless  you,  June,”  cried  our  hero- 
ine most  fervently — “ you  are  sent  by  Providence 
to  be  my  guardian  angel ! ” 

“No  hug  so  tight — ” answered  the  Tuscarora 
woman.  “ Pale-face  woman  all  cry  or  all  laugh. 
Let  June  fasten  door.” 

Mabel  became  more  rational,  and  in  a few 
minutes  the  two  were  again  in  the  upper  room, 
seated  as  before,  hand  in  hand,  all  feeling  of  dis- 
trust or  rivalry  between  them  being  banished  on 
the  one  side  by  the  consciousness  of  favors  re- 
ceived, and  on  the  other  by  the  consciousness  of 
favors  conferred. 

“Now  tell  me,  June,”  Mabel  commenced,  as 
soon  as  she  had  given  and  received  one  warm  em- 
brace, “ have  you  seen  or  heard  aught  of  my  poor 
uncle  ? ” 

“ Don’t  know.  No  one  see  him ; no  one  hear 
him ; no  one  know  anyt’ing.  Salt-water  run  into 
river,  I t’ink,  for  I no  find  him.  Quartermaster 
gone  too.  I lcok,  and  look,  and  look,  but  no  see 
’em,  one,  t’other,  nowhere.” 

“ Blessed  be  God ! They  must  have  escaped, 
though  the  means  are  not  known  to  us.  I thought 
I saw  a Frenchman  on  the  island,  June?  ” ' 

“ Yes — French  captain  come,  but  he  go  away, 
too.  Plenty  of  Injin  on  island.” 

“ Oh  ! June,  June,  are  there  no  means  to  pre- 
vent my  beloved  father  from  falling  into  the  hands 
of  his  enemies  ? ” 

“ Don’t  know  ; t’ink  dat  warriors  wait  in  am- 
bush, and  Yengeese  must  lose  scalp.” 

“Surely,  surely,  June,  you,  who  have  done  so 
much  for  the  daughter,  will  not  refuse  to  help  the 
father  ? ” 

“ Don’t  know  fader — don’t  love  fader.  June 
help  her  own  people,  help  Arrowhead — husband 
love  scalp.” 

“ June,  this  is  not  yourself!  I cannot,  will 
not,  believe  that  you  wish  to  see  our  men  mur- 
dered ! ” 

June  turned  her  dark  eyes  quietly  on  Mabel, 
and,  for  a moment,  her  look  was  stern,  though  it 
soon  changed  into  one  of  melancholy  compassion. 

“Lily,  Yengeese  gal!”  she  said,  as  one  asks 
a question. 

“ Certainly,  and  as  a Yengeese  girl,  I would 
save  my  countrymen  from  slaughter.” 

“Very  good — if  can.  June  no  Yengeese; 
June  Tuscarora — got  Tuscarora  husband — Tus- 
carora heart — Tuscarora  feeling — all  over  Tus- 


carora. Lily  wouldn’t  run  and  teL  French  dat 
her  fader  was  coming  to  gain  victory  ? ” 

“Perhaps  not,”  returned  Mabel,  pressing  a 
hand  on  a brain  that  felt  bewildered — “ perhaps 
not ; but  you  serve  me,  aid  me,  have  saved  me, 
June!  Why  have  you  done  this,  if  you  only  feel 
as  a Tuscarora  ? ” 

“ Don’t  only  feel  as  Tuscarora — feel  as  a gal — 
feel  as  squaw.  Love  pretty  Lily,  and  put  it  in 
my  bosom.” 

Mabel  melted  into  tears,  and  she  pressed  the 
affectionate  creature  to  her  heart.  It  was  near  a 
minute  before  she  could  renew  the  discourse,  but 
then  she  succeeded  in  speaking  more  calmly  and 
with  greater  coherence. 

“ Let  me  know  the  worst,  June,”  she  said. 
“ To-night,  your  people  are  feasting ; what  do 
they  intend  to  do  to-morrow  ? ” 

“ Don’t  know  — afraid  to  see  Arrowhead — 
afraid  to  ask  question — t’ink  hide  away,  till  Yen- 
geese come  back.” 

“ Will  they  not  attempt  any  thing  against  the 
block-house  ? You  have  seen  what  they  can 
threaten  if  they  will  ? ” 

“ Too  much  rum.  Arrowhead  sleep,  or  no 
dare  ; French  captain  gone  away,  or  no  dare.  All 
go  to  sleep,  now.” 

“ And  you  think  I am  safe  for  this  night,  at 
least  ? ” 

“ Too  much  rum.  If  Lily  like  June,  might  do 
much  for  her  people.” 

“ I am  like  you,  June,  if  a wish  to  serve  my 
countrymen  can  mak-e  a resemblance  with  one  as 
courageous  as  yourself.” 

“No  — no — no” — muttered  June,  in  a low 
voice ; “ no  got  heart,  and  June  no  let  you,  if  had. 
June’s  raoder  prisoner  once,  and  warriors  got 
drunk;  moder  tomahawk’d  ’em  all.  Such  the 
way  red-skin  woman  do,  when  people  in  danger 
and  want  scalp  ” 

“You  say  what  is  true,”  returned  Mabel, 
shuddering,  and  unconsciously  dropping  June’s 
hand.  “ I cannot  do  that.  I have  neither  the 
strength,  the  courage,  nor  the  will,  to  dip  my 
hands  in  blood.” 

“ T’ink  that  too ; then  stay  where  you  be— 
block-house  good — got  no  scalp.”. 

“ You  believe,  then,  that  I am  safe  here,  at 
least  vntil  my  father  and  his  people  return  ? ” 

“ Know  so.  No  dare  touch  block-house  in 
morning.  Hark ! all  still  now  — drink  rum  till 
head  fall  down,  and  sleep  like  log.” 

“ Might  I not  escape  ? Are  there  not  several 
canoes  on  the  island  ? — might  I not  get  one,  and 
go  and  give  my  father  notice  of  what  has  hap. 
pened  ? ” 


160 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Know  how  to  paddle  ? ” demanded  June, 
glancing  her  eye  furtively  at  her  companion. 

“ Not  so  well  as  yourself,  perhaps ; but 
enough  to  get  out  of  sight  before  morning.” 

“ What  do  then^? — couldn’t  paddle  six — ten 
— eight  mile  ! ” 

“ I do  not  know  ; I would  do  much  to  warn 
my  father,  and  the  excellent  Pathfinder,  and  all 
the  rest,  of  the  danger  they  are  in.” 

“ Like  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“ All  like  him  who  know  him — you  would  like 
him,  nay,  love  him,  if  you  only  knew  his  heart ! ” 

“No  like  him  at  all.  Too  good  rifle — too 
good  eye — too  much  shoot  Iroquois,  and  June’s 
people.  Must  get  his  scalp  if  can.” 

“ And  I must  save  it  if  I can,  June.  In  this 
respect,  then,  we  are  opposed  to  each  other.  I 
will  go  and  find  a canoe  the  instant  they  are  all 
asleep,  and  quit  the  island.” 

“ No  can — June  won’t  let  you.  Call  Arrow- 
head.” 

“June  ! you  could  not  betray  me — you  would 
not  give  me  up,  after  all  you  have  done  for  me  ? ” 

“ Just  so,”  returned  June,  making  a backward 
gesture  with  her  hand,  and  speaking  with  a 
warmth  and  earnestness  Mabel  had  never  wit- 
nessed in  her  before.  “ Call  Arrowhead  in  loud 
voice.  One  call  from  wife  wake  a warrior  up. 
June  no  let  Lily  help  enemy — no  let  Injin  hurt 
Lily.” 

“ I understand  you,  June,  and  feel  the  nature 
and  justice  of  your  sentiments  ; and,  after  all,  it 
were  better  that  I should  remain  here,  for  I have 
most  probably  overrated  my  strength.  But  tell  me 
one  thing ; if  my  uncle  come  in  the  night  and  ask 
to  be  admitted,  you  will  let  me  open  the  door  of 
the  block-house  that  he  may  enter  ? ” 

“ Sartain  — he  prisoner  here,  and  June  like 
prisoner  better  than  scalp  ; scalp  good  for  honor, 
prisoner  good  for  feeling.  But  Salt-water  hide  so 
close,  he  don’t  know  where  he  be  himself.” 

Here  June  laughed  in  her  girlish,  mirthful 
way,  for  to  her  scenes  of  violence  were  too  familiar 
to  leave  impressions  sufficiently  deep  to  change 
her  natural  character.  A long  and  discursive  dia- 
logue now  followed,  in  which  Mabel  endeavored 
to  obtain  clearer  notions  of  her  actual  situation, 
under  a faint  hope  that  she  might  possibly  be  en- 
abled to  turn  some  of  the  facts  she  thus  learned 
to  advantage.  June  answered  all  her  interrog- 
atories simply,  but  with  a caution  which  showed 
she  fully  distinguished  between  that  which  was 
immaterial,  and  that  which  might  endanger  the 
safety  or  embarrass  the  future  operations  of  her 
friends.  Our  heroine  was  incapable  of  making 
an  attempt  to  entrap  her  companion,  though  she 


plainly  perceived  that,  could  she  have  been  guilty 
of  the  meanness,  she  would  have  found  the  under- 
taking one  of  extreme  difficulty.  June,  however, 
was  not  required  to  exercise  more  than  a discreet 
discrimination  about  what  she  revealed  ; and  the 
substance  of  the  information  she  gave  may  be 
summed  up  as  follows. 

Arrowhead  had  long  been  in  communication 
with  the  French,  though  this  was  the  first  occa- 
sion on  which  he  had  ever  entirely  thrown  aside 
the  mask.  He  no  longer  intended  to  trust  him- 
self among  the  English,  for  he  had  discovered 
traces  of  distrust,  particularly  in  Pathfinder  ; and, 
with  Indian  bravado,  he  now  rather  wished  to 
blazon  than  to  conceal  his  treachery.  He  bad  led 
the  party  of  warriors  in  the  attack  on  the  island, 
subject,  however,  to  the  supervision  of  the  French- 
man who  has  been  mentioned,  though  June,  de- 
clined saying  whether  he  had  been  the  means  of 
discovering  the  position  of  a place  that  had  been 
thought  to  be  so  concealed  from  the  eyes  of  the 
enemy  or  not.  On  this  point  she  would  say  noth- 
ing ; but  she  admitted  that  she  and  her  husband 
had  been  watching  the  departure  of  the  Scud, 
at  the  time  they  were  overtaken  and  captured  by 
the  cutter.  The  French  had  obtained  their  infor- 
mation of  the  precise  position  of  the  station  but 
very  recently  ; and  Mabel  felt  a pang  like  that  of 
some  sharp  instrument  piercing  her  heart,  when 
she  thought  that  there  were  covert  allusions  of  the 
Indian  woman,  which  would  convey  the  meaning 
that  the  intelligence  had  come  from  a pale-face  in 
the  employment  of  Duncan  of  Lundie.  This  was  in- 
timated, however,  rather  than  said ; and  when  Ma- 
bel had  time  to  reflect  on  her  companion’s  words, 
and  to  remember  how  sententious  and  brief  her 
periods  were,  she  found  room  to  hope  that  she 
had  misunderstood  her,  and  that  Jasper  Western 
would  yet  come  out  of  the  affair  freed  from  every 
injurious  imputation. 

June  did  not  hesitate  to  confess  that  she  had 
been  sent  to  the  island  to  ascertain  the  precise 
number,  and  the  occupations  of  those  who  had 
been  left  on  it ; though  she  also  betrayed,  in  her 
naive  way,  that  the  wish  to  serve  Mabel  had  in- 
duced her  principally  to  consent  to^ome.  In  con- 
sequence of  her  report,  and  information  otherwise 
obtained,  the  enemy  was  aware  of  precisely  the 
force  that  could  be  brought  against  them ; they 
also  knew  the  number  of  men  that  had  gone  with 
Sergeant  Dunham,  and  were  acquainted  with  the 
object  he  had  in  view,  though  they  were  ignorant 
of  the  spot  where  he  expected  to  meet  the  French 
boats.  It  would  have  been  a pleasant  sight  to 
witness  the  eager  desire  of  each  of  these  two  sin- 
cere females  to  ascertain  all  that  might  be  of  con 


DEVICES  OF  THE  IROQUOIS. 


161 


lequence  to  their  respective  friends,  and  yet  the 
native  delicacy  with  which  each  refrained  from 
pressing  the  other  to  make  revelations  that  would 
have  been  improper,  as  well  as  the  sensitive,  al- 
most intuitive  feeling,  with  which  each  avoided 
saying  aught  that  might  prove  injurious  to  her' 
own  nation : as  respects  each  other,  there  was 
perfect  confidence ; as  regarded  their  respective 
people,  entire  fidelity.  June  was  quite  as  anx- 
ious as  Mabel  could  be  on  any  other  point, 
to  know  where  the  sergeant  had  gone,  and  when 
he  was  expected  to  return ; but  she  abstained 
from  putting  the  question,  with  a delicacy  that 
would  have  done  honor  to  the  highest  civilization  ; 
nor  did  she  once  frame  any  other  inquiry,  in  a 
way  to  lead,  indirectly,  to  a betrayal  of  the  much 
desired  information,  on  that  particular  point ; 
though  when  Mabel,  of  her  own  accord,  touched 
on  any  matter  that  might,  by  possibility,  throw  a 
light  on  the  subject,  she  listened  with  an  intent- 
ness that  almost  suspended  respiration. 

In  this  manner  the  hours  passed  away  un- 
heeded, for  both  were  too  much  interested  to 
think  of  rest.  Nature  asserted  her  rights,  how- 
ever, toward  morning ; and  Mabel  was  persuaded 
to  lie  down  on  one.  of  the  straw  beds  provided  for 
the  soldiers,  where  she  soon  fell  into  a deep  sleep. 
June  lay  near  her;  and  a quiet  reigned  on  the 
whole  island,  as  profound  as  if  the  dominion  of 
the  forest  had  never  been  invaded  by  man. 

When  Mabel  awoke,  the  light  of  the  sun  was 
streaming  in  through  the  loop-holes ; and  she  found 
that  the  day  was  considerably  advanced.  June 
still  lay  near  her,  sleeping  as  tranquilly  as  if  she 
reposed  on — we  will  not  say  down,  for  the  supe- 
rior civilization  of  our  own  times  repudiates  the 
simile — but  on  a French  mattress  ; and  as  pro- 
foundly as  if  she  had  never  experienced  concern. 
The  movements  of  Mabel,  notwithstanding,  soon 
awakened  one  so  accustomed  to  vigilance ; and 
then  the  two  took  a survey  of  what  was  passing 
around  them,  by  means  of  the  friendly  apertures. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

“ What  had  the  Eternal!  Maker  need  of  thee, 

The  world  in  his  continuall  course  to  keepe, 

That  doest  all  things  deface  ? ne  lettest  see 
The  beautie  of  his  worke  ? Indeede  in  sleepo, 

The  slouthfull  body  that  doth  love  to  steepe 
His  lustlesse  limbs,  and  drowne  his  baser  mind, 

Doth  praise  thee  oft,  and  oft  from  Stygian  deepe, 
Calles  thee  his  goddesse,  in  his  errour  blind, 

And  great  dame  Nature’s  hand-maid,  chearing  every  kind.” 

Faebee  Queen. 

The  tranquillity  of  the  previous  night  was  not 

37  11 


contradicted  by  the  movements  of  the  day.  Al- 
though Mabel  and  June  went  to  every  loop-hole,  not 
a sign  of  the  presence  of  a living  being  on  the  isl- 
and was  at  first  to  be  seen,  themselves  excepted. 
There  was  a smothered  fire  on  the  spot  where 
McNab  and  his  comrades  had  cooked,  as  if  the 
smoke  that  curled  upward  from  it  was  intended 
as  a lure  to  the  absent ; and  all  around  the  huts 
had  been  restored  to  former  order  and  arrange- 
ment. Mabel  started  involuntarily,  when  her  eye 
at  length  fell  on  a group  of  three  men,  dressed  in 
the  scarlet  of  the  55th,  seated  on  the  grass,  in 
lounging  attitudes,  asjf  they  chatted  in  listless 
security ; and  her  blood  curdled,  as,  on  a second 
look,  she  traced  the  bloodless  faces  and  glassy 
eyes  of  the  dead.  They  were  quite  near  the  block  - 
house ; so  near,  indeed,  as  to  have  been  over- 
looked at  the  first  eager  inquiry : and  there  was 
a mocking  levity  in  their  postures  and  gestures, 
for  their  limbs  were  stiffening  in  different  atti- 
tudes, intended  to  resemble  life,  at  which  the  soul 
revolted.  Still,  horrible  as  these  objects  were  to 
those  near  enough  to  discover  the  frightful  dis- 
crepancy between  their  assumed  and  their  real 
characters,  the  arrangement  had  been  made  with 
an  art  that  would  have  deceived  a negligent  ob 
server  at  the  distance  of  a hundred  yards.  Aftei 
carefully  examining  the  shores  of  the  island,  June 
pointed  out  to  her  companion  the  fourth  soldier, 
seated  with  his  feet  hanging  over  the  water,  his 
back  fastened  to  a sapling,  and  holding  a fishing- 
rod  in  his  hand.  The  scalpless  heads  were  cov- 
ered with  the  caps,  and  all  appearance  of  blood 
had  been  carefully  washed  from  each  countenance. 

Mabel  sickened  at  this  sight,  which  not  only 
did  so  much  violence  to  all  her  notions  of  pro- 
priety, but  which  was  in  itself  so  revolting,  and 
so  opposed  to  natural  feeling.  She  withdrew  to 
a seat,  and  hid  her  face  in  her  apron  for  several 
minutes,  until  a low  call  from  June  again  drew 
her  to  a loop-hole.  The  latter  then  pointed  out 
the  body  of  Jennie,  seemingly  standing  in  the 
door  of  a hut,  leaning  forward  as  if  to  look  at  the 
group  of  men,  her  cap  fluttering  in  the  wind,  and 
her  hand  grasping  a broom.  The  distance  was 
too  great  to  distinguish  the  features  very  accu- 
rately ; but  Mabel  fancied  that  the  jaw  had  been 
depressed,  as  if  to  distort  the  mouth  into  a sort 
of  horrible  laugh. 

“ June ! June ! ” she  exclaimed,  “ this  exceeds 
all  I have  everN  heard  or  imagined  as  possible,  in 
the  treachery  and  artifices  of  your  people.” 

“Tuscarora  very  cunning,”  said  June,  in  a 
way  to  show  that  she  rather  approved  of  than  con- 
demned the  uses  to  which  the  dead  bodies  had  been 
applied.  Do  soldier  no  harm  now ; do  Iroquois 


*.62 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


good ; got  the  scalp,  first ; now  make  bodies  work. 
By  and  by,  burn  ’em.” 

This  speech  told  Mabel  how  far  she  was  sep- 
arated from  her  friend  in  character;  and  it  was 
several  minutes  before  she  could  again  address 
her.  But  this  temperary  aversion  was  hast  on 
June,  who  set  about  preparing  their  simple  break- 
fast, in  a way  to  show  how  insensible  she  was  to 
feelings  in  others,  that  her  own  habits  taught  her 
to  discard.  Mabel  ate  sparingly,  and  her  com- 
panion as  if  nothing  had  happened.  Then  they 
had  leisure  again  for  their  thoughts,  and  for  fur- 
ther surveys  of  the  island. . Our  heroine,  though 
devoured  with  a feverish  desire  to  be  always  at 
the  loops,  seldom  went  that  she  did  not  immedi- 
ately quit  them  in  disgust,  though  compelled  by 
her  apprehensions  to  return  again  in  a few  min- 
utes, called  by  the  rustling  of  leaves  or  the  sigh- 
ing of  the  wind.  It  was,  indeed,  a solemn  thing 
to  look  out  upon  that  deserted  spot,  peopled  by 
the  dead  in  the  panoply  of  the  living,  and  thrown 
into  the  attitudes  and  acts  of  careless  merriment 
and  rude  enjoyment.  The  effect  on  our  heroine 
was  much  as  if  she  had  found  herself  an  observer 
of  the  revelries  of  demons. 

Throughout  the  livelong  day  not  an  Indian  nor 
a Frenchman  was  to  be  seen,  and  night  closed 
oVer  the  frightful  but  silent  masquerade  with  the 
&teady  and  unalterable  progress  with  which  earth 
obeys  her  laws,  indifferent  to  the  petty  actors  and 
petty  scenes  that  are  in  daily  bustle  and  daily  oc- 
currence on  her  bosom.  The  night  was  far  more 
quiet  than  that  which  had  preceded  it,  and  Mabel 
slept  with  an  increasing  confidence,  for  she  now 
felt  satisfied  that  her  own  fate  would  not  be  de- 
cided until  the  return  of  her  father.  The  follow- 
ing day  he  was  expected,  however,  and,  when  our 
heroine  awoke  she  ran  eagerly  to  the  loops  in 
order  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  weather  and 
the  aspect  of  the  skies,  as  well  as  the  condition 
of  the  island.  There  lounged  the  fearful  group 
on  the  grass ; the  fisherman  still  hung  over  the 
water,  seemingly  intent  on  his  sport ; and  the  dis- 
torted countenance  of  Jennie  glared  from  out  the 
hut  in  horrible  contortions.  But  the  weather  had 
changed.  The  wind  blew  fresh  from  the  south- 
ward, and,  though  the  air  was  bland,  it  was  filled 
with  the  elements  of  storm. 

“ This  grows  more  and  more  difficult  to  bear, 
June,”  Mabel  said,  when  she  left  the  window. 
“ I could  even  prefer  to  see  the  enemy  than  to 
look  any  longer  on  this  fearful  array  of  the 
dead.” 

“Hush! — here  they  come.  June  thought 
hear  a cry,  like  a warrior’s  shout  when  he  take  a 
ecalp.” 


“ What  mean  you  ? — There  is  no  more  butoh- 
ery  ! There  can  be  no  more.” 

“ Salt-water !”  exclaimed  June,  laughing,  as 
she  stood  peeping  through  a loop-hole. 

“ My  dear  uncle ! — Thank  God,  he  then  lives. 

' — Oh  ! June — June,  you  will  not  let  them  harm 
him?” 

“ June  poor  squaw.  What  warrior  t’ink  of 
what  she  say  ? Arrowhead  bring  him  here.” 

By  this  time  Mabel  was  at  a loop,  and  sure 
enough  there  were  Cap  and  the  quaitennaster  in 
the  hands  of  the  Indians,  eight  or  ten  of  whom 
were  conducting  them  to  the  foot  of  the  block ; 
for  by  this  capture  the  enemy  now  well  knew  that 
there  could  be  no  man  in  the  building.  Mabel 
scarcely  breathed  until  the  whole  party  stood 
ranged  dhectly  before  the  door,  when  she  was  re- 
joiced to  see  that  the  French  officer  was  among 
them.  A low  conversation  followed,  in  which 
both  the  white  leader  and  Arrowhead  spoke  ear- 
nestly to  their  captives,  when  the  quartermaster 
called  out  to  her,  in  a voice  loud  enough  to  be 
heard. 

“ Pretty  Mabel ! — pretty  Mabel ! ” he  said-~ 
“ look  out  of  one  of  the  loop-holes,  and  pity  our 
condition.  We  are  threatened  with  instant  death, 
unless  you  open  the  door  to  the  conquerors.  Re- 
lent then,  or  we’ll  no  be  wearing  our  scalps  half 
an  hour  from  this  blessed  moment ! ” 

Mabel  thought  there  were  mockery  and  levity 
in  this  appeal,  and  its  manner  rather  fortified  than 
weakened  her  resolution  to  hold  the  place  as  long 
as  possible. 

“Speak  to  me,  uncle,”  she  said,  with  her 
mouth  at  a loop,  “ and  tell  me  what  I ought  to 
do ! ” 

“ Thank  God ! — thank  God ! ” ejaculated  Cap : 
“ the  sound  of  your  sweet  voice,  Magnet,  lightens 
my  heart  of  a heavy  load,  for  I feared  you  had 
shared  the  fate  of  poor  Jennie.  My  breast  has 
felt  the  last  four-and-twenty  hours  as  if  a ton  of 
kentledge  had  been  stowed  in  it.  You  ask  me 
what  you  ought  to  do,  child,  and  I do  not  know 
how  to  advise  you,  though  you  are  my  own  sis- 
ter’s daughter ! The  most  I can  say  just  now,  my 
poor  girl,  is  most  heartily  to  curse  the  day  you  or 
I ever  saw  this  bit  of  fresh  water.” 

“ But,  uncle,  is  your  life  in  danger — do  you 
think  I ought  to  open  the  door  ? ” 

“ A round  turn  and  two  half-hitches  makes  a 
fast  belay ; and  I would  counsel  no  one  who  is 
out  of  the  hands  of  these  devils,  to  unbar  or  un- 
fasten any  thing,  in  order  to  fall  into  them.  As 
to  the  quartermaster  and  myself,  we  are  both 
elderly  men,  and  not  of  much  account  to  mankind 
in  general,  as  honest  Pathfinder  would  say ; and  it 


CAP  AND  MUIR  AS  PRISONERS. 


163 


ean  make  no  great  odds  to  him  whether  he  balan- 
ces the  purser’s  books  this  year  or  the  next ; and 
as  for  myself,  why,  if  I were  on  the  seaboard  I 
should  know  what  to  do — but  up  here  in  this  wa- 
tery wilderness,  I can  only  say  that,  if  I were  be- 
hind that  bit  of  a bulwark,  it  would  take  a good 
leal  of  Indian  logic  to  rouse  me  out  of  it.” 

“ You’ll  no  be  minding  all  your  uncle  says, 
pretty  Mabel,”  put  in  Muir,  “ for  distress  is  obvi- 
ously fast  unsettling  his  faculties,  and  he  is  far 
from  calculating  all  the  necessities  of  the  emer- 
gency. We  are  in  the  hands  here  of  very  con- 
siderate and  gentlemanly  pairsons,  it  must  be 
acknowledged,  and  one  has  little  occasion  to  ap- 
prehend disagreeable  violence.  The  casualties 
that  have  occurred  are  the  common  incidents  of 
war,  and  can  no  change  our  sentiments  of  the 
enemy,  for  they  are  far  from  indicating  that  any 
injustice  will  be  done  the  prisoners.  I’m  sure 
that  neither  Master  Cap  nor  myself  has  any  cause 
of  complaint  since  we  have  given  ourselves  up  to 
Master  Arrowhead,  who  reminds  me  of  a Roman, 
or  a Spartan,  by  his  virtues  and  moderation ; but 
ye’ll  be  remembering  that  usages  differ,  and  that 
our  scalps  may  be  lawful  sacrifices  to  appease  the 
manes  of  fallen  foes,  unless  you  save  them  by 
capitulation.” 

“ I shall  do  wiser  to  keep  within  the  block- 
house until  the  fate  of  the  island  is  settled,”  re- 
turned Mabel.  “ Our  enemies  can  feel  no  concern 
on  account  of  one  like  me,  knowing  that  I can  do 
them  no  harm ; and  I greatly  prefer  to  remain 
here,  as  more  befitting  my  sex  and  years.” 

“ If  nothing  but  your  convenience  were  con- 
cerned, Mabel,  we  should  all  cheerfully  acquiesce 
in  your  wishes ; but  these  gentlemen  fancy  that 
the  work  will  aid  their  operations,  and  they  have 
a strong  desire  to  possess  it.  To  be  frank  with 
you,  finding  myself  and  your  uncle  in  a very  pecu- 
liar situation,  I acknowledge  that,  to  avert  conse- 
quences, I have  assumed  the  power  that  belongs  to 
his  majesty’s  commission,  and  entered  into  a ver- 
bal capitulation,  by  which  I have  engaged  to  give 
up  the  block-house  and  the  whole  island.  It  is 
the  fortune  of  war,  and  must  be  submitted  to ; 
so  open  the  door,  pretty  Mabel,  forthwith,  and 
confide  yourself  to  the  care  of  those  who  know 
how  to  treat  beauty  and  virtue  in  distress. 
There’s  no  courtier  in  Scotland  more  complaisant 
than  this  chief,  or  who  is  more  familiar  with  the 
laws  of  decorum.” 

“No  leave  block-house,”  muttered  June,  who 
stood  at  Mabel’s  side,  attentive  to  all  that  passed. 
w Block-house  good  ; got  no  scalp.” 

Our  heroine  might  have  yielded,  but  for  this 
appeal ; for  it  began  to  appear  to  her,  that  the 


wisest  course  would  be  to  conciliate  the  enemy 
by  concessions,  instead  of  exasperating  them  by 
resistance.  They  must  know  that  Muir  and  her 
uncle  were  in  their  power ; that  there  was  no 
man  in  the  building ; and  she  fancied  they  might 
proceed  to  batter  down  the  door,  or  to  cut  their 
way  through  the  logs  with  axes,  if  she  obstinate- 
ly refused  to  give  them  peaceable  admission, 
since  there  was  no  longer  any  reason  to  dread  the 
rifle.  But  the  words  of  June  induced  her  to 
hesitate ; and  the  earnest  pressure  of  the  hand, 
and  entreating  looks  of  her  companion,  strength- 
ened a resolution  that  was  faltering. 

“ No  prisoner  yet,”  whispered  June — “ let  ’em 
make  prisoner,  before  ’ey  take  prisoner  — talk 
big  ; June  manage ’m.” 

Mabel  now  began  to  parley  more  resolutely 
with  Muir,  for  her  uncle  seemed  disposed  to  quiet 
his  conscience  by  holding  his  tongue ; and  she 
plainly  intimated  that  it  was  not  her  intention  to 
yield  the  building. 

“You  forget  the  capitulation,  Mistress  Ma- 
bel,” said  Muir  ; “ the  honor  of  one  of  his  Majes- 
ty’s servants  is  concerned ; and  the  honor  of  his 
majesty  through  his  servant.  You  will  remember 
the  finesse  and  delicacy  that  belong  to  military 
honor  ? ” 

“ I know  enough,  Mr.  Muir,  to  understand 
that  you  have  no  command  in  this  expedition, 
and,  therefore,  can  have  no  right  to  yield  the 
block-house  ; and  I remember,  moreover,  to  have 
heard  my  father  say,  that  a prisoner  loses  all  his 
authority,  for  the  time  being.” 

“ Rank  sophistry,  pretty  Mabel,  and  treason 
to  the  king,  as  well  as  dishonoring  his  commis- 
sion, and  discrediting  his  name.  You’ll  no  be 
persevering  in  your  intentions,  when  your  better 
judgment  has  had  leisure  to  reflect,  and  to  make 
conclusions  on  matters  and  circumstances.” 

“ Ay,”  put  in  Cap,  “ this  is  a circumstance, 
and  be  d d to  it ! ” 

“No  mind  what  ’e  uncle  say,”  ejaculated 
June,  who  was  occupied  in  a far  corner  of  the 
room.  “ Block-house  good;  got  no  scalp.” 

“ I shall  remain  as  I am,  Mr.  Muir,  until  I get 
some  tidings  of  my  father.  He  will  return  in  the 
course  of  the  next  ten  days.” 

“ Ah  ! Mabel,  this  artifice  will  no  deceive  the 
enemy,  who,  by  means  that  would  be  unintelli- 
gible, did  not  our  suspicions  rest  on  an  unhappy 
young  man  with  too  much  plausibility,  are  famil- 
iar with  all  our  doings  and  plans,  and  well  know 
that  the  sun  will  not  set  before  the  worthy  ser- 
geant and  his  companions  will  be  in  their  power. 
Aweel!  Submission  to  Providence  is  truly  a 
Christian  virtue ! ” 


164 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Mr,  Muir,  you  appear  to  be  deceived  in  the 
strength  of  this  work,  and  to  fancy  it  weaker 
than  it  is.  Do  you  desire  to  see  what  I can  do 
in  the  way  of  defence,  if  so  disposed  ? ” 

“ I dinna’  mind  if  I do,”  answered  the  quar- 
termaster, who  always  grew  Scotch  as  he  grew 
interested. 

“ What  do  you  think  of  that,  then  ? Look 
at  the  loop  of  the  upper  story.” 

As  soon  as  Mabel  had  spoken,  all  eyes  were 
turned  upward  and  beheld  the  muzzle  of  a rifle 
cautiously  thrust  through  a hole — June  having 
resorted  again  to  a ruse  that  had  already  proved 
so  successful.  The  result  did  not  disappoint  ex- 
pectation. No  sooner  did  the  Indians  catch  a 
sight  of  the  fatal  weapon,  than  they  leaped  aside, 
and  in  less  than  a minute  every  man  among  them 
had  sought  a cover.  The  French  officer  kept  his 
eye  on  the  barrel  of  the  piece,  in  order  to  ascer- 
tain that  it  was  not  pointed  in  his  particular  di- 
rection, and  he  coolly  took  a pinch  of  snuff.  As 
neither  Muir  nor  Cap  had  any  thing  to  apprehend 
from  the  quarter  in  which  the  others  were  men- 
aced, they  kept  their  ground. 

“ Be  wise,  my  pretty  Mabel,  be  wise,”  ex- 
claimed the  former,  “ and  no  be  provoking  use- 
less contention.  In  the  name  of  all  the  kings  of 
Albin,  whom  have  ye  closeted  with  you  in  that 
wooden  tower,  that  seemsth  so  bloody-minded  ? 
There  is  necromancy  about  this  matter,  and  all  our 
characters  may  be  involved  in  the  explanation.” 

“ What  do  you  think  of  the  Pathfinder,  Mas- 
ter Muir,  for  a garrison  to  so  strong  a post?” 
cried  Mabel,  resorting  to  an  equivocation  that  the 
circumstances  rendered  very  excusable.  “ What 
will  your  French  and  Indian  companions  think  of 
the  aim  of  the  Pathfinder’s  rifle  ? ” 

“ Bear  gently  on  the  unfortunate,  pretty  Ma- 
bel, and  do  not  confound  the  king’s  servants,  may 
Heaven  bless  him  and  all  his  royal  lineage ! with 
the  king’s  enemies.  If  Pathfinder  be  indeed  in 
the  block-house,  let  him  speak,  and  we  will  hold 
our  negotiations  directly  with  him.  He  knows  us 
as  friends,  and  we  fear  no  evil  at  his  hands,  and 
least  of  all  to  myself ; for  a generous  mind  is  apt 
to  render  rivalry  in  a certain  interest  a sure  ground 
of  respect  and  amity ; since  admiration  of  the 
same  woman  proves  a community  of  feeling  and 
tastes.” 

The  reliance  on  Pathfinder’s  friendship  did 
not  extend  beyond  the  quartermaster  and  Cap, 
however,  for  even  the  French  officer,  who  had 
hitherto  stood  his  ground  so  well,  shrank  back 
at  the  sound  of  the  terrible  name.  So  unwilling, 
indeed,  did  this  individual,  a man  of  iron  nerves, 
and  one  long  accustomed  to  the  dangers  of  the 


peculiar  warfare  in  which  he  was  engaged,  ap- 
pear to  be  to  remain  exposed  to  the  assaults  of 
Killdeer,  whose  reputation  throughout  all  that 
frontier  was  as  well  established  as  that  of  Marl- 
borough in  Europe,  that  he  did  not  disdain  to 
seek  a cover,  insisting  that  his  two  prisoners 
should  follow  him.  Mabel  was  too  glad  to  be  rid 
of  her  enemies  to  lament  the  departure  of  her 
friends,  though  she  kissed  her  hand  to  Cap, 
through  the  loop,  and  called  out  to  him  in  terms 
of  affection  as  he  moved  slowly  and  unwillingly 
away. 

The  enemy  now  seemed  disposed  to  abandon 
ail  attempts  on  the  block-house  for  the  present ; 
and  J une,  who  had  ascended  to  a trap  in  the  roof, 
whence  the  best  view  was  to  be  obtained,  report- 
ed that  the  whole  party  had  assembled  to  eat,  on 
a distant  and  sheltered  part  of  the  island,  where 
Muir  and  Cap  were  quietly  sharing  in  the  good 
things  that  were  going,  as  if  they  had  no  concern 
on  their  minds.  This  information  greatly  relieved 
Mabel,  and  she  began  to  turn  her  thoughts  again 
to  the  means  of  effecting  her  own  escape,  or  at 
least  of  letting  her  father  know  of  the  danger 
that  awaited  him.  The  sergeant  was  expected  to 
return  that  afternoon,  and  she  knew  that  a mo- 
ment gained  or  lost  might  decide  his  fate. 

Three  or  four  hours  flew  by.  The  island  was 
again  buried  in  a profound  quiet,  the  day  was 
wearing  away,  and  yet  Mabel  had  decided  on  noth- 
ing. June  was  in  the  basement  preparing  their 
frugal  meal,  and  Mabel  herself  had  ascended  to 
the  roof,  which  was  provided  with  a trap  that  al- 
lowed her  to  go  out  on  the  top  of  the  building, 
whence  she  commanded  the  best  view  of  sur- 
rounding objects  that  the  island  possessed.  Still 
it  was  limited,  and  much  obstructed  by  the  tops 
of  trees.  The  anxious  girl  did  not  dare  to  thrust 
her  person  in  sight,  knowing  well  that  the  unre- 
strained passions  of  some  savage  might  induce 
him  to  send  a bullet  through  her  brain.  She 
merely  kept  her  head  out  of  the  trap,  therefore, 
whence,  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  she  made 
as  many  surveys  of  the  different  channels  about 
the  island,  as  “ Anne,  sister  Anne,”  took  of  the 
environs  of  the  castle  of  Blue  Beard. 

The  sun  had  actually  set,  no  intelligence  had 
been  received  from  the  boats,  and  Mabel  ascended 
to  the  roof,  to  take  a last  look,  hoping  that  the 
party  would  arrive  in  the  darkness  ; which  would 
at  least  prevent  the  Indians  from  rendering  their 
ambuscade  as  fatal  as  it  might  otherwise  prove, 
and  which  possibly  might  enable  her  to  give  some 
more  intelligible  signal  by  means  of  fire,  than  it 
would  otherwise  be  in  her  power  to  do.  Her  eye 
had  turned  carefully  round  the  whole  horizon. 


APPEARANCE  OF  CIIINGACIIGOOK. 


165 


ind  she  was  just  on  the  point  of  drawing  in  her 
person,  when  an  object  that  struck  her  as  new 
caught  her  attention.  The  islands  lay  grouped 
so  closely,  that  six  or  eight  different  channels  or 
passages  between  them  were  in  view  ; and  in  one 
of  the  most  covered,  concealed  in  a great  measure 
by  the  bushes  of  the  shore,  lay,  what  a second  look 
assured  her,  was  a bark  canoe.  It  contained  a 
human  being,  beyond  a question.  Confident  that, 
if  an  enemy,  her  signal  could  do  no  harm,  and,  if 
a friend,  that  it  might  do  good,  the  eager  girl 
waved  a little  flag  toward  the  stranger,  which  she 
had  prepared  for  her  father,  taking  care  that  it 
should  not  be  seen  from  the  island. 

Mabel  had  repeated  her  signal  eight  or  ten 
times  in  vain,  and  she  began  to  despair  of  its  be- 
ing noticed,  when  a sign  was  given  in  return,  by 
the  wave  of  a paddle,  and  the  man  so  far  discov- 
ered himself,  as  to  let  her  see  it  was  Chingach- 
gook.  Here,  then,  at  last,  was  a friend  ; one,  too, 
who  was  able  and,  she  doubted  not,  would  be 
willing  to  aid  her  ! From  that  instant  her  cour- 
age and  her  spirits  revived.  The  Mohican  had 
seen  her ; must  have  recognized  her,  as  he  knew 
that  she  was  of  the  party ; and  no  doubt,  as  soon 
as  it  was  sufficiently  dark,  he  would  take  the 
steps  necessary  to  release  her.  That  he  was 
aware  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy  was  apparent 
by  the  great  caution  he  observed,  and  she  had 
every  reliance  on  his  prudence  and  address.  The 
principal  difficulty  now  existed  with  June,  for  Ma- 
bel had  seen  too  much  of  her  fidelity  to  her  own 
people,  relieved  as  it  was  by  sympathy  for  her- 
self, to  believe  she  would  consent  to  a hostile  In- 
dian’s entering  the  block-house,  or  indeed  to  her 
leaving  it,  with  a view  to  defeat  Arrowhead’s  plans. 
The  half  hour  that  succeeded  the  discovery  of 
the  presence  of  the  Great  Serpent  was  the  most 
painful  of  Mabel  Dunham’s  life.  She  saw  the 
means  of  effecting  all  she  wished,  as  it  might  be 
within  reach  of  her  hand,  and  yet  it  eluded  her 
grasp.  She  knew  June’s  decision  and  coolness, 
notwithstanding  all  her  gentleness  and  womanly 
feeling,  and  at  last  she  came  reluctantly  to  the 
conclusion  that  there  was  no  other  way  of  attain- 
ing her  end,  than  by  deceiving  her  tried  compan- 
ion and  protector.  It  was  revolting  to  one  as  sin- 
cere and  natural,  as  pure  of  heart,  and  as  much 
disposed  to  ingenuousness  as  Mabel  Dunham,  to 
practice  deception  on  a friend  like  June ; but  her 
own  father’s  life  was  at  stake,  her  companion 
would  receive  no  positive  injury,  and  she  had 
feelings  and  interests  directly  touching  herself 
that  would  have  removed  greater  scruples. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  Mabel’s  heart  began 
to  beat  with  violence ; and  she  adopted  and 


changed  her  plan  of  proceedings  at  least  a dozen 
times  in  the  course  of  a single  hour.  June  was 
always  the  source  of  her  greatest  embarrassment ; 
for  she  did  not  well  see,  firstly,  how  she  was  to 
ascertain  when  Chingachgook  was  at  the  door, 
where  she  doubted  not  he  would  soon  appear ; 
and,  secondly,  how  she  was  to  admit  him  without 
giving  the  alarm  to  her  watchful  companion. 
Time  pressed,  however;  for  the  Mohican  might 
come  and  go  away  again,  unless  she  were  ready 
to  receive  him.  It  would  be  too  hazardous  to  the 
Delaware  to  remain  long  on  the  island  ; and  it  be- 
came absolutely  necessary  to  determine  on  some 
course,  even  at  the  risk  of  choosing  one  that  was 
indiscreet.  After  running  ever  various  projects 
in  her  mind,  therefore,  Mabel  came  to  her  com- 
panion and  said,  with  as  much  calmness  as  she 
could  assume — 

“ Are  you  not  afraid,  June,  now  your  people 
believe  Pathfinder  is  in  the  block-house,  that 
they  will  come  and  try  to  set  it  on  fire  ? ” 

“ No  t’ink  such  t’ink.  No  bum  block-house. 
Block-house  good  : got  no  scalp.” 

“ June,  we  cannot  know.  They  hid  because 
they  believed  what  I told  them  of  Pathfinder’s  be- 
ing with  us.” 

“Believe  fear.  Fear  come  quick,  go  quick. 
Fear  make  run  away  ; wit  make  come  back. 
Fear  make  warrior  fool,  as  well  as  young  girl.” 

Here  June  laughed,  as  her  sex  is  apt  to  laugh, 
when  any  thing  particularly  ludicrous  crosses 
their  youthful  fancies. 

“ I feel  uneasy,  June  ; and  wish  you  yourself 
would  go  up  again  to  the  roof  and  look  out  upon 
the  island  to  make  certain  that  nothing  is  plotting 
against  us ; you  know  the  signs  of  what  your 
people  intend  to  do  better  than  I.” 

“ June  go,  Lily  wish  ; but  very  well  know  that 
Indian  sleep : wait  for  fader.  Warrior  eat,  drink, 
sleep,  all  time,  when  don’t  fight,  and  go  on  war- 
trail.  Den  never  sleep,  eat,  drink — never  feel. 
Warrior  sleep,  now.” 

“ God  send  it  may  be  so ! but  go  up,  dear 
June,  and  look  well  about  you.  Danger  may 
come  when  we  least  expect  it.” 

June  arose  and  prepared  to  ascend  to  the 
roof ; but  she  paused,  with  her  foot  on  the  first 
round  of  the  ladder.  Mabel’s  heart  beat  so 
violently  that  she  was  fearful  its  throbs  would  be 
heard ; and  she  fancied  that  some  gleamings  of  her 
real  intentions  had  crossed  the  mind  of  her  friend. 
She  was  right,  in  part ; the  Indian  woman  having 
actually  stopped  to  consider  whether  there  was  any 
indiscretion  in  what  she  was  about  to  do.  At  first, 
the  suspicion  that  Mabel  intended  to  escape 
flashed  across  her  mind  ; then  she  rejected  it,  on 


166 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


the  ground  that  the  pale-face  had  no  means  of  get- 
ting off  the  island,  and  that  the  block-house 
was  much  the  most  secure  place  she  could  find. 
The  next  thought  was,  that  Mabel  had  detected 
some  sign  of  the  near  approach  of  her  father. 
This  idea,  too,  lasted  but  an  instant  ; for  June 
entertained  some  such  opinion  of  her  companion’s 
ability  to  understand  symptoms  of  this  sort — 
symptoms  that  had  escaped  her  own  sagacity — as 
a woman  of  high  fashion  entertains  of  the 
accomplishments  of  her  maid.  Nothing  else  in 
the  same  way  offering,  she  began  slowly  to  mount 
the  ladder. 

Just  as  she  reached  the  upper  floor,  a lucky 
thought  suggested  itself  to  our  heroine  ; and,  by 
expressing  it  in  a hurried,  but  natural  manner, 
she  gained  a great  advantage  in  executing  her 
projected  scheme. 

“ I will  go  down,”  she  said,  “ and  listen  by 
the  door,  June,  while  you  are  on  the  roof ; and 
we  will  thus  be  on  our  guard,  at  the  same  time, 
above  and  below.” 

Though  June  thought  this  savored  of  un- 
necessary caution,  well  knowing  no  one  could 
enter  the  building  unless  aided  from  within,  nor 
any  serious  danger  menace  them  from  the  exterior, 
without  giving  sufficient  warning,  she  attributed 
the  proposition  to  Mabel’s  ignorance  and  alarm  ; 
and,  as  it  was  made  apparently  with  frankness, 
it  was  received  without  distrust.  By  these  means 
our  heroine  was  enabled  to  descend  to  the  door  as 
her  friend  ascended  to  the  roof;  and  June  felt  no 
unusual  inducement  to  watch  her.  The  distance 
between  the  two  was  now  too  great  to  admit  of 
conversation ; and,  for  three  or  four  minutes,  one 
was  occupied  in  looking  about  her  as  well  as  the 
darkness  would  allow,  and  the  other  in  listening 
at  the  door,  with  as  much  intentness  as  if  all  her 
senses  were  absorbed  in  the  single  faculty  of 
hearing. 

June  discovered  nothing  from  her  elevated 
stand — the  obscurity,  indeed,  almost  forbade  the 
hope  of  such  a result ; but  it  would  not  be  easy 
to  describe  the  sensation  with  which  Mabel 
thought  she  perceived  a slight  and  guarded  push 
against  the  door.  Fearful  that  all  might  not  be 
as  she  wished,  and  anxious  to  let  Chingachgook 
know  that  she  was  near,  she  began,  though  in 
tremulous  and  low  notes,  to  sing.  So  profound 
was  the  stillness  at  the  moment,  that  the  sound 
of  the  unsteady  warbling  ascended  to  the  roof, 
and  in  a minute  June  began  to  descend.  A 
slight  tap  at  the  door  was  heard  immediately 
after.  Mabel  was  bewildered,  for  there  was  no 
time  to  lose.  Hope  proved  stronger  than  fear, 
and  with  unsteady  hands  she  commenced  unbar- 


ring the  door.  The  moccasin  of  June  was  heard 
on  the  floor  above  her,  when  only  a single  bar 
was  turned.  The  second  was  released  as  hei 
form  reached  half-way  down  the  lower  ladder. 

“What  you  do!”  exclaimed  June,  angrily. 
“ Run  away — mad — leave  block-house  ? Block- 
house good.” — The  hands  of  both  were  on  the 
last  bar,  and  it  would  have  been  cleared  from  the 
fastenings,  but  for  a vigorous  shove  from  without, 
which  jammed  the  wood.  A short  struggle 
ensued,  though  both  were  disinclined  to  violence. 
June  would  probably  have  prevailed,  had  not 
another  and  a more  vigorous  push  from  without 
forced  the  bar  past  the  trifling  impediment  that 
held  it,  when  the  door  opened.  The  form  of  a 
man  was  seen  to  enter,  and  both  the  females 
rushed  up  the  ladder,  as  if  equally  afraid  of  the 
consequences.  The  stranger  secured  the  door, 
and,  first  examining  the  lower  room  with  great 
care,  he  cautiously  ascended  the  ladder.  June, 
as  soon  as  it  became  dark,  had  closed  the  loops 
of  the  principal  floor,  and  lighted  a candle.  By 
means  of  this  dim  taper,  then,  the  two  females 
stood  in  expectation,  waiting  to  ascertain  the 
person  of  their  visitor,  whose  wary  ascent  of  the 
ladder  was  distinctly  audible,  though  sufficiently 
deliberate.  It  would  not  be  easy  to  say  which 
was  the  most  astonished  on  finding,  when  the 
stranger  had  got  through  the  trap,  that  Path- 
finder stood  before  them. 

“ God  be  praised  ! ” Mabel  exclaimed,  for  the 
idea  that  the  block-house  would  be  impregnable 
with  such  a garrison,  at  once  crossed  her  mind. 
“ Oh  ! Pathfinder,  what  has  become  of  my  father  ? ” 

“ The  sargeant  is  safe  as  yet  and  victorious, 
though  it  is  not  in  the  gift  of  man  to  say  what 
will  be  the  ind  of  it.  Is  not  that  the  wife  of 
Arrowhead,  skulking  in  the  corner  there  ? ” 

“ Speak  not  of  her  reproachfully,  Pathfinder ; 
I owe  her  my  life — my  present  security — tell  me 
what  has  happened  to  my  father’s  party,  why  you 
are  here,  and  I will  relate  all  the  horrible  events 
that  have  passed  upon  this  island.” 

“ Few  words  will  do  the  last,  Mabel ; for  one 
used  to  Indian  deviltries  needs  but  little  explana- 
tions on  such  a subject.  Every  thing  turned  out 
as  we  had  hoped  with  the  expedition,  for  the  Sar- 
pent  was  on  the  lookout,  and  he  met  us  with  all 
the  information  heart  could  desire.  We  am- 
bushed three  boats,,  druv’  the  Frenchers  out  of 
them,  got  possession  and  sunk  them,  according 
to  orders,  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  channel ; and 
the  savages  of  Upper  Canada  will  fare  badly  for 
Indian  goods  this  winter.  Both  powder  and  ball, 
too,  will  be  scarcer  among  them  than  keen  hunters 
and  actyve  warriors  may  relish.  We  do  not  lose 


THE  GUIDE’S  RETURN. 


167 


a man,  or  have  even  a skin  barked ; nor  do  I 
think  the  inimy  suffered  to  speak  of.  In  short, 
Mabel,  it  has  been  just  such  an  expedition  as  Lun- 
iie  likes  ; much  harm  to  the  foe,  and  little  harm 
to  ourselves.” 

“Ah  ! Pathfinder,  I fear  when  Major  Duncan 
comes  to  hear  the  whole  of  the  sad  tale,  he  will 
find  reason  to  regret  he  ever  undertook  the  affair ! ” 

“ I know  what  you  mean — I know  what  you 
mean  ; but  by  telling  my  story  straight  you  will 
understand  it  better.  As  soon  as  the  sargeant 
found  himself  successful,  he  sent  me  and  the  Sar- 
pent  off  in  canoes  to  tell  you  how  matters  had 
turned  out,  and  he  is  following  with  the  two 
boats  ; which,  being  so  much  heavier,  cannot  ar- 
rive before  morning.  I parted  from  Chingachgook 
this  forenoon,  it  being  agreed  that  he  should 
come  up  one  set  of  channels,  and  I another,  to 
see  that  the  path  was  clear.  I’ve  not  seen  the 
chief  since.” 

Mabel  now  explained  the  manner  in  which 
she  had  discovered  the  Mohican,  and  her  expec- 
tation that  he  would  yet  come  to  the  block-house. 

“Not  he — not  he ! A regular  scout  will  never 
get  behind  walls  or  logs  so  long  as  he  can  keep 
the  open  air  and  find  useful  employment.  I 
should  not  have  come  myself,  Mabel,  but  I prom- 
ised the  sargeant  to  comfort  you,  and  to  look  a’ter 
your  safety.  Ah’s  me  ! I reconnoitred  the  island 
with  a heavy  heart  this  forenoon  ; and  there  was 
a bitter  hour  when  I fancied  you  might  be  among 
the  slain.” 

“ By  what  lucky  accident  were  you  prevented 
from  paddling  up  boldly  to  the  island,  and  from 
failing  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  ? ” 

“ By  such  an  accident,  Mabel,  as  Providence 
employs  to  tell  the  hound  where  to  find  the  deer, 
and  the  deer  how  to  throw  off  the  hound.  No — 
no — these  artifices  and  deviltries  with  dead  bodies 
may  deceive  the  soldiers  of  the  55th,  and  the  king’s 
officers ; but  they  are  all  lost  upon  men  who  have 
passed  their  days  in  the  forest.  I came  down  the 
channel  in  face  of  the  pretended  fisherman,  and, 
though  the  riptyles  have  set  up  the  poor  wretch 
with  art,  it  was  not  ingenious  enough  to  take  in 
a practised  eye.  The  rod  was  held  too  high  ; for 
the  55th  have  learned  to  fish  at  Oswego,  if  they 
never  knew  how  before  ; and  then  the  man  was 
too  quiet  for  one  who  got  neither  prey  nor  bite. 
But  we  never  come  in  upon  a post  blindly ; and 
I have  lain  outside  a garrison  a whole  night,  be- 
cause they  had  changed  their  sentries  and  their 
mode  of  standing  guard.  Neither  the  Sarpent 
nor  myself  would  be  likely  to  be  taken  in  by 
these  contrivances,  which  were  most  probably  in- 
tended for  the  Scotch,  who  are  cunning  enough 


in  some  particulars,  though  any  thing  but  witches 
when  Indian  sarcumvcntions  are  in  the  wind;” 

“Do  you  think  my  father  and  his  men  may 
yet  be  deceived  ? ” said  Mabel,  quickly. 

“Not  if  I can  prevent  it,  Mabel  Yo»  say 
the  Sarpent  is  on  the  lookout  too  ; so  tnere  is  a 
double  chance  of  our  succeeding  in  letting  hint 
know  his  danger ; though  it  is  by  no  means  sar- 
tain  by  which  channel  the  party  may  come.” 

“Pathfinder,”  said  our  heroine,  solemnly,  for 
the  frightful  scenes  she  had  witnessed  had  clothed 
death  with  unusual  horrors — “Pathfinder,  you 
have  professed  love  for  me — a wish  to  make  me 
your  wife ! ” 

“ I did  ventur’  to  speak  on  that  subject,  Ma- 
bel, and  the  sargeant  has  even  lately  said  that  you 
are  kindly  disposed ; but  I am  not  a man  to  parse- 
cute  the  thing  I love.” 

“ Hear  me,  Pathfinder — I respect  you — honor 
you — revere  you — save  my  father  from  this  dread- 
ful death,  and  I can  worship  you.  Here  is  my 
hand  as  a solemn  pledge  for  my  faith,  when  you 
come  to  claim  it.” 

“ Bless  you — bless  you,  Mabel ; this  is 
more  than  I desarve — more,  I fear,  than  I shall 
know  how  to  profit  by,  as  I ought.  It  was  not 
wanting,  however,  to  make  me  sarve  the  sargeant. 
We  are  old  comrades,  and  owe  each  other  a life — 
though  I fear  me,  Mabel,  being  a father’s  comrade 
is  not  always  the  best  recommendation  with  the 
daughter ! ” 

“ You  want  no  other  recommendation  than 
your  own  acts — your  courage — your  fidelity  ; all 
that  you  do  and  say,  Pathfinder,  my  reason  ap- 
proves, and  the  heart  will,  nay,  it  shall  follow.” 

“ This  is  happiness  I little  expected  this  night ; 
but  we  are  in  God’s  hands,  and  he  will  protect  us 
in  his  own  way.  These  are  sweet  words,  Mabel, 
but  they  were  not  wanting  to  make  me  do  all  that 
man  can  do,  in  the  present  sarcumstances  ; they 
will  not  lessen  my  endeavors  neither.” 

“ Now  we  understand  each  other,  Pathfinder — ” 
Mabel  added,  hoarsely,  “ let  us  not  lose  one  of  the 
precious  moments,  which  may  be  of  incalculable 
value.  Can  we  not  get  into  your  canoe,  and  go 
and  meet  my  father  ? ” 

“ That  is  not  the  course  I advise.  I don’t 
know  by  which  channel  the  sargeant  will  come, 
and  there  are  twenty ; rely  on  it,  the  Sarpent  will 
be  winding  his  way  through  them  all.  No,  no,  my 
advice  is  to  remain  here.  The  logs  of  this  block- 
house are  still  green,  and  it  will  not  be  easy  to 
set  them  on  fire ; and  I can  make  good  the  place, 
bating  a burning,  ag’in  a tribe.  The  Iroquois 
nation  cannot  dislodge  me  from  thi 3 fortress,  sc 
long  as  we  can  keep  the  flames  off  it.  The  sar 


168 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


geant  is  now  ’camped  on  some  island,  and  will 
not  come  in  until  morning.  If  we  hold  the  block, 
we  can  give  him  timely  warning,  by  firing  rifles 
for  instance  ; and  should  he  determine  to  attack 
the  savages,  as  a man  of  his  temper  will  be  very 
likely  to  do,  the  possession  of  this  building  will 
be  of  great  account  in  the  affair.  No,  no,  my 
judgment  says  remain,  if  the  object  be  to  sarve 
the  sargeant ; though  escape  for  our  two  selves 
will  be  no  very  difficult  matter.” 

“ Stay,”  murmured  Mabel — “stay,  for  God’s 
sake,  Pathfinder.  Any  thing — every  thing,  to  save 
my  father ! ” 

“ Yes,  that  is  natur’.  I am  glad  to  hear  you 
say  this,  Mabel,  for  I own  a wish  to  see  the  ser- 
geant fairly  supported.  As  the  matter  now 
stands,  he  has  gained  himself  credit ; and  could 
he  once  drive  off  these  miscreants,  and  make  an 
honorable  retreat,  laying  the  huts  and  blocks  in 
ashes,  no  doubt,  no  doubt,  Lundie  would  remem- 
ber it,  and  sarve  him  accordingly.  Yes,  yes, 
Mabel,  we  must  not  only  save  the  sergeant’s  life, 
but  we  must  save  his  ripitation.” 

“ No  blame  can  rest  on  my  father,  on  account 
of  the  surprise  of  this  island ! ” 

“ There’s  no  telling — there’s  no  telling  ; mili- 
tary glory  is  a most  unsartain  thing.  I’ve  seen 
the  Delawares  routed,  when  they  desarved  more 
credit  than  at  other  times  when  they’ve  carried 
the  day.  A man  is  wrong  to  set  his  head  on  suc- 
cess of  any  sort,  and,  worst  of  all,  on  success  in  war. 
I know  little  of  the  settlements,  or  of  the  notions 
that  men  hold  in  them  ; but,  up  hereaway,  even 
the  Indians  rate  a warrior’s  character  according 
to  his  luck.  The  principal  thing  with  a soldier 
is,  never  to  be  whipt ; nor  do  I think  mankind 
stops  long  to  consider  how  the  day  was  won  or 
lost.  For  my  part,  Mabel,  I make  it  a rule  when 
facing  the  inimy,  to  give  him  as  good  as  I can 
send,  and  to  try  to  be  moderate  as  I can,  when 
we  get  the  better  ; as  for  feeling  moderate  after 
a defeat,  little  need  be  said  on  that  score,  as  a 
flogging  is  one  of  the  most  humbling  things  in 
Natur’.  The  parsons  preach  about  humility,  in 
the  garrisons  ; but  if  humility  would  make  Chris- 
tians, the  king’s  troops  ought  to  be  saints,  for 
they’ve  done  little,  as  yet,  this  war,  but  take  les- 
sons from  the  French,  beginning  at  Fort  du 
Quesne,  and  ending  at  Ty ! ” 

“ My  father  could  not  have  suspected  that  the 
position  of  the  island  was  known  to  the  enemy,” 
resumed  Mabel,  whose  thoughts  were  running  on 
the  probable  effect  of  the  recent  events  on  the 
sergeant. 

“ That  is  true ; nor  do  I well  see  how  the 
Frenchers  found  it  out.  The  spot  is  well  chosen, 


and  it  is  not  an  easy  matter,  even  for  one  who 
has  travelled  the  road  to  and  from  it,  to  find  it 
again.  There  has  been  treachery,  I fear ; yes, 
yes,  there  must  have  been  treachery ! ” 

“ Oh  ! Pathfinder,  can  this  be  ? ” 

“ Nothing  is  easier,  Mabel,  for  treachery  comes 
as  nat’ral  to  some  men  as  eating.  Now,  when  I 
find  a man  all  fair  words,  I look  close  to  hie  deeds ; 
for  when  the  heart  is  right,  and  raally  intends  to 
do  good,  it  is  generally  satisfied  to  let  the  con- 
duct speak,  instead  of  the  tongue.” 

“ Jasper  Western  is  not  one  of  these,”  said 
Mabel,  impetuously.  “No  youth  can  be  more 
sincere  in  his  manner,  or  less  apt  to  make  the 
tongue  act  for  the  head.” 

“Jasper  Western!  — tongue  and  heart  are 
both  right  with  that  lad,  depend  on  it,  Mabel ; 
and  the  notion  taken  up  by  Lundie,  and  the  quar- 
termaster, and  the  sergeant,  and  your  uncle,  too, 
is  as  wrong  as  it  would  be  to  think  that  the  sun 
shone  by  night  and  the  stars  shone  by  day. 
No — no — I’ll  answer  for  Eau-douce’s  honesty 
with  my  own  scalp,  of,  at  need,  with  my  own  rifle.” 

“ Bless  you  — bless  you,  Pathfinder ! ” ex- 
claimed Mabel,  extending  her  own  hand,  and 
pressing  the  iron  fingers  of  her  companion,  under 
state  of  feeling  that  far  surpassed  her  own  conscious 
ness  of  its  strength.  “ You  are  all  that  is  gener- 
ous— all  that  is  noble  ; God  will  reward  you  for  it.” 

“ Ah  ! Mabel,  I fear  me,  if  this  be  true,  I 
should  not  covet  such  a wife  as  yourself,  but 
would  leave  you  to  be  sued  for  by  some  gentle- 
men of  the  garrison,  as  your  desarts  require ! ” 
“We  will  not  talk  of  this  any  more  to-night,” 
Mabel  answered,  in  a voice  so  smothered  as  to 
seem  nearly  choked.  “We  must  think  less  of 
ourselves,  just  now,  Pathfinder,  and  more  of  our 
friends.  But  I rejoice  from  my  soul  that  you  be- 
lieve Jasper  innocent.  Now  let  us  talk  of  other 
things — ought  we  not  to  release  June  ? ” 

“ I’ve  been  thinking  about  the  woman,  for  it 
will  not  be  safe  to  shut  her  eyes  and  leave  her 
ears  open,  on  this  side  of  the  block-house  door. 
If  we  put  her  in  the  upper  room,  and  take  away 
the  ladder,  she’ll  be  a prisoner  at  least.” 

“ I cannot  treat  one  thus  who  has  saved  my 
life.  It  would  be  better  to  let  her  depart;  I 
think  she  is  too  much  my  friend  to  do  any  thing 
to  harm  me.” 

“ You  do  not  know  the  race,  Mabel ; you  do 
not  know  the  race.  It’s  true  she’s  not  a full 
blooded  Mingo,  but  she  consorts  with  the  vaga- 
bonds, and  must  have  larned  some  of  their  tricks. 
—What  is  that?” 

“ It  sounds  like  oars — some  boat  is  passing 
through  the  channel ! ” 


THE  INDIANS  IN  PURSUIT. 


169 


Pathfinder  closed  the  trap  that  led  to  the 
.ower  room,  to  prevent  June  from  escaping,  ex- 
tinguished the  candle,  and  went  hastily  to  a loop, 
Mabel  looking  over  his  shoulder  in  breathless  cu- 
riosity. These  several  movements  consumed  a 
minute  or  two ; and,  by  the  time  the  eye  of  the 
scout  had  got  a dim  view  of  things  without,  two 
boats  had  swept  past,  and  shot  up  to  the  shore, 
at  a spot  some  fifty  yards  beyond  the  block,  where 
there  was  a regular  landing.  The  obscurity  pre- 
vented more  from  being  seen ; and  Pathfinder 
whispered  to  Mabel,  that  the  new-comers  were  as 
likely  to  be  foes  as  friends,  for  he  did  not  think 
her  father  could  possibly  have  arrived  so  soon. 
A number  of  men  were  now  seen  to  quit  the 
boats,  and  then  followed  three  hearty  English 
cheers,  leaving  no  further  doubts  of  the  character 
of  the  party.  Pathfinder  sprang  to  the  trap, 
raised  it,  glided  down  the  ladder,  and  began  to 
unbar  the  door  with  an  earnestness  that  proved 
how  critical  he  deemed  the  moment.  Mabel  had 
followed,  but  she  rather  impeded  than  aided  his 
exertions,  and  but  a single  bar  was  turned  when 
a heavy  discharge  of  rifles  was  heard.  They 
were  still  standing  in  breathless  suspense,  as  the 
war-whoop  rang  in  all  the  surrounding  thickets. 
The  door  now  opened,  and  both  Pathfinder  and 
Mabel  rushed  into  the  open  air.  All  human 
sounds  had  ceased.  After  listening  half  a min- 
ute, however,  Pathfinder  thought  he  heard  a few 
stifled  groans  near  the  boats  ; but  the  wind  blew 
so  fresh,  and  the  rustling  of  the  leaves  mingled  so 
much  with  the  murmurs  of  the  passing  air,  that 
he  was  far  from  certain.  But  Mabel  was  borne 
away  by  her  feelings,  and  she  rushed  by  him, 
taking  the  way  toward  the  boats. 

“This  will  not  do,  Mabel,”  said  the  scout  in 
an  earnest  but  low  voice,  seizing  her  by  an  arm 
— “ this  will  never  do.  Sartain  death  would  fol- 
low, and  that  without  sarving  any  one.  We  must 
return  to  the  block.” 

“ Father  ! — my  poor,  dear,  murdered  father  ! ” 
said  tha  girl,  wildly,  though  habitual  caution, 
even  at  that  trying  moment,  induced  her  to  speak 
low.  “ Pathfinder,  if  you  love  me,  let  me  go  to 
my  dear  father  ! ” 

“ This  will  not  do,  Mabel. — It  is  singular  that 
no  one  speaks  ; no  one  returns  the  fire  from  the 
boats — and  I have  left  Killdeer  in  the  block ! 
But  of  what  use  would  a rifle  be  when  no  one  is 
to  be  seen.” 

At  that  moment  the  quick  eye  of  Pathfinder, 
which,  while  he  held  Mabel  firmly  in  his  grasp, 
had  never  ceased  to  roam  over  the  dim  scene, 
caught  an  indistinct  view  of  five  or  six  dark, 
crouching  forms,  endeavoring  to  steal  past  him. 


doubtless  with  the  intention  of  intercepting  their 
retreat  to  the  block-house.  Catching  up  Mabel, 
and  putting  her  under  an  arm  as  if  she  were  an 
infant,  the  sinewy  frame  of  the  woodsman  was 
exerted  to  the  utmost,  and  he  succeeded  in  en- 
tering the  building.  The  tramp  of  his  pursuers 
seemed  immediately  at  his  heels.  Dropping  hia 
burden,  he  turned,  closed  the  door,  and  had 
fastened  one  bar,  as  a rush  against  the  solid 
mass  threatened  to  force  it  from  the  hinges. 
To  secure  the  other  bar  was  the  work  of  an  in- 
stant. 

Mabel  now  ascended  to  the  first  floor,  while 
Pathfinder  remained  as  a sentinel  below.  Our 
heroine  was  in  that  state  in  which  the  body  ex- 
erts itself  apparently  without  the  control  of  the 
mind.  She  relighted  the  candle  mechanically,  as 
her  companion  had  desired,  and  returned  with  it 
below,  where  he  was  waiting  her  reappearance. 
No  sooner  was  Pathfinder  in  possession  of  the 
light  than  he  examined  the  place  carefully,  to 
make  certain  no  one  was  concealed  in  the  for- 
tress, ascending  to  each  floor  in  succession,  after 
assuring  himself  that  he  left  no  enemy  in  his 
rear.  The  result  was  the  conviction  that  the 
block-house  now  contained  no  one  but  Mabel  and 
himself,  June  having  escaped.  When  perfectly 
convinced  on  this  material  point,  Pathfinder  re- 
joined our  heroine  in  the  principal  apartment, 
setting  down  the  light,  and  examining  the  prim- 
ing of  Killdeer  before  he  seated  himself. 

“ Our  worst  fears  are  realized,”  said  Mabel,  to 
whom  the  hurry  and  excitement  of  the  last  five 
minutes  appeared  to  contain  the  emotions  of  a 
life.  “ My  bdoved  father,  and  all  his  party,  are 
slain  or  captured ! ” 

“We  don’t  know  that — morning  will  tell  us 
all.  I do  not  think  the  affair  as  settled  as  that,  or 
we  should  hear  the  vagabond  Mingoes  yelling  out 
their  triumph  around  the  block-house.  Of  one 
thing  we  may  be  sartin  ; if  the  inimy  has  really 
got  the  better,  he  will  not  be  long  in  calling  upon 
us  to  surrender.  The  squaw  will  let  him  into  the 
secret  of  our  situation,  and,  as  they  well  know 
the  place  cannot  be  fired  by  daylight  so  long  as 
Killdeer  continues  to  desarve  his  reputation,  you 
may  depend  on  it  that  they  will  not  be  backward 
in  making  their  attempt  while  darkness  helps 
them.” 

“ Surely,  I hear  a groan ! ” 

“ ’Tis  fancy,  Mabel ; when  the  mind  gets  to  be 
skeary,  especially  a woman’s  mind,  she  often  con- 
saits  things  that  have  no  reality.  I’ve  known 
them  that  imagined  there  was  truth  in  dreams — ” 

“Nay,  I am  not  deceived — there  is  surely  one 
below,  and  in  pain ! ” 


170 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


Pathfinder  was  compelled  to  own  that  the 
quick  senses  of  Mabel  had  not  deceived  her.  He 
cautioned  her,  however,  to  repress  her  feelings  ; 
and  reminded  her  that  the  savages  were  in  the 
practice  of  resorting  to  every  artifice  to  attain 
their  ends,  and  that  nothing  was  more  likely  than 
that  the  groans  were  feigned  with  a view  to  lure 
them  from  the  block-house,  or  at  least  to  induce 
them  to  open  the  door. 

“No — no  — no” — said  Mabel,  hurriedly — 
“ there  is  no  artifice  in  those  sounds,  and  they 
come  from  anguish  of  body,  if  not  of  spirit.  They 
are  fearfully  natural.” 

“ Well,  we  shall  soon  know  whether  a friend  is 
there  or  not.  Hide  the  light  again,  Mabel,  and  I 
will  speak  the  person  from  a loop.” 

Not  a little  precaution  was  necessary,  accord- 
ing to  Pathfinder’s  judgment  and  experience,  in 
performing  even  this  simple  act,  for  he  had  known 
the  careless  slain  by  their  want  of  proper  atten- 
tion to,  what  might  have  seemed  to  the  ignorant, 
supererogatory  means  of  safety.  He  did  not 
place  his  mouth  to  the  loop  itself,  but  so  near  it 
that  he  could  be  heard  without  raising  his  voice, 
and  the  same  precaution  was  observed  as  regards 
his  ear. 

“ Who  is  below  ? ” Pathfinder  demanded, 
when  his  arrangements  were  made  to  his  mind. 
“ Is  any  one  in  suffering  ? If  a friend,  speak 
boldly,  and  depend  on  our  aid.” 

“ Pathfinder ! ” answered  a voice  that  both 
Mabel  and  the  person  addressed  at  once  knew  to 
be  the  sergeant’s — “ Pathfinder,  in  the  name  of 
God,  tell  me  what  has  become  of  my  daughter  ? ” 

“ Father,  I am  here  ! — unhurt — safe — and  oh  I 
that  I could  think  the  same  of  you  ! ” 

The  ejaculation  of  thanksgiving  that  followed 
was  distinctly  audible  to  the  two,  but  it  was 
clearly  mingled  with  a groan  of  pain. 

“ My  worst  forebodings  are  realized ! ” said 
Mabel,  with  a sort  of  desperate  calmness.  “ Path- 
finder, my  father  must  be  brought  within  the 
block,  though  we  hazard  every  thing  to  do  it.” 

“ This  is  natur’,  and  it  is  the  law  of  God. 
But,  Mabel,  be  calm,  and  endivor  to  be  cool.  All 
that  can  be  effected  for  the  sargeant  by  human 
invention  shall  be  done.  I only  ask  you  to  be 
cool.” 

“ I am — I am — Pathfinder.  Never  in  my  life 
was  I more  calm,  more  collected,  than  at  this  mo- 
ment. But  remember  how  perilous  may  be  every 
instant ; for  Heaven’s  sake,  what  we  do,  let  us 
do  without  delay.” 

Pathfinder  was  struck  with  the  firmness  of 
Mabel’s  tones,  and  perhaps  he  was  a little  deceived 
by  the  forced  tranquillity  and  self-possession  she 


had  assumed.  At  all  events  he  did  not  deem  anj 
further  explanations  necessary,  but  descended 
forthwith,  and  began  to  unbar  the  door.  This 
delicate  process  was  conducted  with  the  usual 
caution,  but,  as  he  warily  permitted  the  mass  of 
timber  to  swing  back  on  the  hinges,  he  felt  a 
pressure  against  it  that  had  nearly  induced  him 
to  close  it  again.  But,  catching  a glimpse  of  the 
cause  through  the  crack,  the  door  was  permitted 
to  swing  back,  when  the  body  of  Sergeant  Dun- 
ham,  which  was  propped  against  it,  fell  partly 
within  the  block.  To  draw  in  the  legs  and  se- 
cure the  fastenings,  occupied  the  Pathfinder  but 
a moment.  Then  there  existed  no  obstacle  to 
their  giving  their  undivided  care  to  the  wounded 
man. 

Mabel,  in  this  trying  scene,  conducted  her- 
self with  the  sort  of  unnatural  energy  that  her 
sex,  when  aroused,  is  apt  to  manifest.  She  got 
the  light,  administered  water  to  the  parched  lips 
of  her  father,  and  assisted  Pathfinder  in  forming  a 
bed  of  straw  for  his  body,  and  a pillow  of  clothes 
for  his  head.  All  this  was  done  earnestly,  and 
almost  without  speaking;  nor  did  Mabel  shed  a 
tear  until  she  heard  the  blessings  of  her  fathei 
murmured  on  her  head,  for  this  tenderness  and 
care.  All  this  time,  Mabel  had  merely  conjectured 
the  condition  of  her  parent.  Pathfinder,  however, 
showed  greater  attention  to  the  physical  danger 
of  the  sergeant.  Hs  ascertained  that  a rifle  ball 
had  passed  through  the  body  of  the  wounded 
man  ; and  he  was  sufficiently  familiar  with  injuries 
of  this  nature  to  be  certain  that  the  chances  of 
his  surviving  the  hurt  were  very  triffiing,  if  anv 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

“ Then — drink  my  tears,  while  yet  they  fell — 

Would  that  my  bosom’s  blood  were  balm ; 

And — well  thou  knowest — I’d  shed  it  all, 

To  give  thy  brow  one  minute's  calm.” 

Mooek. 

The  eyes  of  Sergeant  Dunham  had  net  ceased 
to  follow  the  form  of  his  beautiful  daughter  from 
the  moment  that  the  light  appeared.  He  next 
examined  the  door  of  the  block,  to  ascertain  its 
security ; for  he  was  left  on  the  ground  below, 
there  being  no  available  means  of  raising  him  to 
the  upper  floor.  Then  he  sought  the  face  of  Ma- 
bel ; for,  as  life  wanes  fast,  the  affections  resume 
their  force,  and  we  begin  to  value  that  most  which 
we  feel  we  are  about  to  lose  forever. 

“ God  be  praised,  my  child,  you  at  least  have 
escaped  their  murderous  rifles  ! ” he  said ; for  he 


SERGEANT  DUNHAM  WOUNDED. 


spoke  with  strength,  and  seemingly  with  no  ad- 
ditional pain.  “ Give  me  the  history  of  this  sad 
business,  Pathfinder.” 

“ All’s  me,  sargeant ! it  has  been  sad,  as  you 
sav.  That  there  has  been  treachery,  and*  the 
position  of  the  island  has  been  betrayed,  is  now 
as  sartaiu,  in  my  judgment,  as  that  we  still  hold 
the  block.  But — ” 

“ Major  Duncan  was  right,”  interrupted  Dun- 
ham, laying  a hand  on  the  other’s  arm. 

“ Not  in  the  sense  you  mean,  sargeant — no, 
not  in  that  p’int  of  view  ; never.  At  least,  not  in 
my  opinion.  I know  that  natur’  is  weak — human 
natur’,  I mean — and  that  we  should  none  of  us 
vaunt  of  our  gifts,  whether  red  or  white ; but  I 
do  not  think  that  a truer-hearted  lad  lives  on  the 
lines  than  Jasper  Western.” 

“ Bless  you — bless  you  for  that,  Pathfinder  ! ” 
burst  forth  from  Mabel’s  very  soul,  while  a flood 
of  tears  gave  vent  to  emotions  that  were  so  varied, 
while  they  were  so  violent : “ Oh,  bless  you, 
Pathfinder,  bless  you ! The  brave  should  never 
desert  the  brave — the  honest  should  sustain  the 
honest.” 

The  father’s  eyes  were  fastened  anxiously  on 
the  face  of  his  daughter,  until  the  latter  hid  her 
countenance  in  her  apron  to  conceal  her  tears ; 
and  then  they  turned  with  inquiry  to  the  hard 
features  of  the  guide.  The  latter  merely  wore 
their  usual  expression  of  frankness,  sincerity, 
and  uprightness ; and  the  sergeant  motioned  to 
him  to  proceed. 

“ You  know  the  spot  where  the  Sarpent  and  I 
left  you,  sargeant,”  Pathfinder  resumed ; “ and  I 
need  say  nothing  of  all  that  happened  afore.  It  is 
now  too  late  to  lament  what  is  gone  and  passed  ; 
but  I do  think  if  I had  stayed  with  the  boats, 
this  would  not  have  come  to  pass  ! Other  men 
may  be  as  good  guides ; I make  no  doubt  they 
are  : but  then  Natur’  bestows  its  gifts,  and  some 
must  be  better  than  other  some.  I dare  say  poor 
Gilbert,  who  took  my  place,  has  suffered  for  his 
mistake.” 

“ He  fell  at  my  elbow,”  the  sergeant  answered 
in  a low,  melancholy  tone.  “ We  have,  indeed, 
all  suffered  for  our  mistakes  ! ” 

“No,  no,  sargeant,  I meant  no  condemnation 
on  you  ; for  men  were  never  better  commanded 
than  your’n,  in  this  very  expedition.  I never  be- 
held a prettier  flanking ; and  the  way  in  which 
you  carried  your  own  boat  up  ag’in  their  howitzer 
might  have  teached  Lundie  himself  a lesson.” 

The  eyes  of  the  sergeant  brightened  ; his  face 
even  wore  an  expression  of  military  triumph, 
though  it  was  of  a degree  that  suited  the  humble 
sphere  in  which  he  had  been  an  actor. 


m 

“ ’Twas  not  badly  done,  my  friend,”  he  said 
“ we  carried  their  log  breast-work  by  storm  ! ” 

“ ’Twas  nobly  done,  sargeant ; though  I feai 
when  all  the  truth  comes  to  be  known,  it  will  be 
found  that  these  vagabonds  have  got  their  howit- 
zer back  ag’in.  Well,  well,  put  a stout  heart 
upon  it,  and  try  to  forget  all  that  is  disagreeable, 
and  to  remember  only  the  pleasant  part  of  the 
matter.  That  is  your  truest  philosophy  ; ay,  and 
truest  religion,  too.  If  the  inimy  has  got  the 
howitzer  ag’in,  they’ve  only  got  what  belonged  to 
them  afore,  and  what  we  couldn’t  help.  They 
hav’n’t  got  the  block-house  yet,  nor  are  they 
likely  to  get  it,  unless  they  fire  it  in  the  dark. 
Well,  sargeant,  the  Sarpent  and  I separated  about 
ten  miles  down  the  river  ; for  we  thought  it  wis- 
est not  to  come  upon  even  a friendly  camp  with- 
out the  usual  caution.  What  has  become  of 
Chingachgook,  I cannot  say  ; though  Mabel  tells 
me  he  is  not  far  off ; and  I make  no  question  the 
noble-hearted  Delaware  is  doing  his  duty,  al- 
though he  is  not  now  visible  to  our  eyes.  Mark 
my  word,  sargeant ; before  this  matter  is  over  we 
shall  hear  of  him  at  some  critical  time,  and  that 
in  a discreet  and  creditable  manner.  Ah  ! the 
Sarpent  is,  indeed,  a wise  and  virtuous  chief ; and 
any  white  man  might  covet  his  gifts,  though  his 
rifle  is  not  quite  as  sure  as  Killdeer,  it  must  be 
owned.  Well,  as  I came  near  the  island,  I missed 
the  smoke,  and  that  put  me  on  my  guard  ; for  I 
knew  that  the  men  of  the  55th  were  not  cunning 
enough  to  conceal  that  sign,  notwithstanding  all 
that  has  been  told  them  of  its  danger.  This  made 
me  more  careful,  until  I came  in  sight  of  this 
mock-fisherman,  as  I’ve  just  told  Mabel ; and  then 
the  whole  of  their  infernal  arts  was  as  plain  be- 
fore me,  as  if  I saw  it  on  a map.  I need  not  tell 
you,  sargeant,  that  my  first  thoughts  were  of  Ma- 
bel ; and  that,  finding  she  was  in  the  block,  I 
came  here,  in  order  to  live  or  die  in  her  company.” 

The  father  turned  a gratified  look  upon  hia 
child,  and  Mabel  felt  a sinking  of  the  heart  that, 
at  such  a moment,  she  could  not  have  thought 
possible,  when  she  wished  to  believe  all  her  con- 
cern centred  in  the  situation  of  her  parent.  As 
the  latter  held  out  his  hand  she  took  it  in  hei 
own  and  kissed  it.  Then,  kneeling  at  his  side, 
she  wept  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 

“ Mabel,”  he  said,  steadily,  “ the  will  of  God 
must  be  done.  It  is  useless  to  attempt  deceiving 
either  you  or  myself ; my  time  has  come,  and  it 
is  a consolation  to  me  to  die  like  a soldier.  Lun- 
die will  do  me  justice,  for  our  good  friend  Path- 
finder will  tell  him  what  has  been  done,  and  how 
all  came  to  pass.  You  do  not  forget  our  last 
conversation  ? ” 


172 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“Nay,  father,  my  time  has  probably  come, 
too,”  exclaimed  Mabel,  who  felt  just  then  as  if  it 
would  be  a relief  to  die.  “ I cannot  hope  to  es- 
cape ; and  Pathfinder  would  do  well  to  leave  us, 
and  return  to  the  garrison,  with  the  sad  news, 
while  he  can.” 

“ Mabel  Dunham,”  said  Pathfinder,  reproach- 
fully, though  he  took  her  hand  with  kindness. 
“ I have  not  desarved  this ; I know  I am  wild, 
and  uncouth,  and  ungainly — ” 

“ Pathfinder ! ” 

“ Well — well,  we’ll  forget  it ; you  did  not  mean 
it ; you  could  not  think  it.  It  is  useless,  now,  to 
talk  of  escaping,  for  the  sergeant  cannot  be  moved ; 
and  the  block-house  must  be  defended,  cost  what 
it  will.  Maybe  Lundie  will  get  the  tidings  of  our 
disaster,  and  send  a party  to  raise  the  siege.” 

“ Pathfinder — Mabel ! ” said  the  sergeant,  who 
had  been  writhing  with  pain,  until  the  cold  sweat 
stood  on  his  forehead — “ come  both  to  my  side. 
You  understand  each  other,  I hope  ? ” 

“ Father,  say  nothing  of  that — it  is  all  as  you 
wish.” 

“ Thank  God ! Give  me  your  hand,  Mabel — 
here,  Pathfinder,  take  it.  I can  do  no  more  than 
give  you  the  girl  in  this  way.  I know  you  will 
make  her  a kind  husband.  Do  not  wait  on  ac- 
count of  my  death ; there  will  be  a chaplain  in 
the  fort  before  the  season  closes  ; let  him  marry 
you  at  once.  My  brother,  if  living,  will  wish  to 
go  back  to  his  vessel,  and  then  the  child  will 
have  no  protector.  Mabel,  your  husband  will 
have  been  my  friend,  and  that  will  be  some  con- 
solation to  you,  I hope.” 

“ Trust  this  matter  to  me,  sargeant,”  put  in 
Pathfinder ; “ leave  it  all  in  my  hands,  as  your 
dying  request ; and,  depend  on  it,  all  will  go  as  it 
should.” 

“ I do — I do  put  all  confidence  in  you,  my 
trusty  friend,  and  empower  you  to  act,  as  I could 
act  mySelf,  in  every  particular.  Mabel,  child — 
hand  me  the  water — you  will  never  repent  this 
night.  Bless  you,  my  daughter — God  bless  and 
have  you  in  his  holy  keeping ! ” 

This  tenderness  was  inexpressibly  touching  to 
one  of  Mabel’s  feelings ; and  she  felt  at  that  mo- 
ment as  if  her  future  union  with  Pathfinder  had 
received  a solemnization  that  no  ceremony  of  the 
church  could  render  more  holy.  Still,  a weight, 
as  that  of  a mountain,  lay  upon  her  heart,  and 
she  thought  it  would  be  happiness  to  die.  Then 
followed  a short  pause,  when  the  sergeant,  in 
broken  sentences,  briefly  related  what  had  passed 
since  he  parted  with  Pathfinder  and  the  Delaware. 
The  wind  had  come  more  favorable,  and,  instead, 
of  encamping  on  an  island,  agreeably  to  the  origi. 


nal  intention,  he  had  determined  to  continue,  and 
reach  the  station  that  night.  Their  approach 
would  have  been  unseen,  and  a Dortion  of  the 
calamity  avoided,  he  thought,  had  they  not  ground- 
ed on  the  point  of  a neighboring  island,  where, 
no  doubt,  the  noise  made  by  the  men,  in  getting 
off  the  boat,  gave  notice  of  their  approach,  and 
enabled  the  enemy  to  be  in  readiness  to  receive 
them.  They  had  landed  without  the  slightest 
suspicion  of  danger,  though  surprised  at  not  find- 
ing a sentinel,  and  had  actually  left  their  arms  in 
the  boat,  with  the  intention  of  first  securing  their 
knapsacks  and  provisions.  The  fire  had  been  so 
close  that,  notwithstanding  the  obscurity,  it  was 
very  deadly.  Every  man  had  fallen ; two  or 
three,  however,  subsequently  arose,  and  disap- 
peared. Four  or  five  of  the  soldiers  had  been 
killed,  or  so  nearly  so  as  to  survive  but  a few 
minutes  ; though,  for  some  unknown  reason,  the 
enemy  did  not  make  the  usual  rush  for  the  scalps. 
Sergeant  Dunham  fell  with  others  ; and  he  had 
heard  the  voice  of  Mabel,  as  she  rushed  from  the 
block-house.  This  frantic  appeal  aroused  all  his 
parental  feelings,  and  had  enabled  him  to  crawl 
as  far  as  the  door  of  the  building,  where  he  had 
raised  himself  against  the  logs,  in  the  manner  al- 
ready mentioned. 

After  this  simple  explanation  was  made,  the 
sergeant  was  so  weak  as  to  need  repose ; and  his 
companions,  while  they  ministered  to  his  wants, 
suffered  some  time  to  pass  in  silence.  Pathfinder 
took  the  occasion  to  reconnoitre  from  the  loops 
and  the  roof,  and  he  examined  the  condition  of 
the  rifles,  of  which  there  were  a dozen  kept  in 
the  building,  the  soldiers  having  used  their  regi- 
mental muskets  in  the  expedition.  But  Mabel 
never  left  her  father’s  side  for  an  instant,  and 
when,  by  his  breathing,  she  fancied  he  slept,  she 
bent  her  knees  and  prayed. 

The  half  hour  that  succeeded  was  awfully  sol- 
emn and  still.  The  moccasin  of  Pathfinder  was 
barely  heard  over  head,  and  occasionally  the 
sound  of  the  breech  of  a rifle  fell  upon  the  Soor, 
for  he  was  busied  in  examining  the  pieces  with  a 
view  to  ascertain  the  state  of  their  charges,  arro 
their  primings.  Beyond  this,  nothing  was  si 
loud  as  the  breathing  of  the  wounded  man.  Ma 
bel’s  heart  yearned  to  be  in  communication  with 
the  father  she  was  so  soon  to  lose,  and  yet  she 
would  not  disturb  his  apparent  repose.  But  Dun- 
ham slept  not ; he  was  in  that  state  when  the 
world  suddenly  loses  its  attractions,  its  illusions, 
and  its  power ; and  the  unknown  future  fills  the 
mind  with  its  conjectures,  its  revelations,  and  its 
immensity.  He  had  been  a n oral  man  for  one 
of  his  mode  of  life,  but  he  had  thought  little  of 


ESCAPE  OF  THE  MARINER. 


173 


this  all-important  moment.  Had  the  din  of  battle 
been  ringing  in  his  ears,  bis  martial  ardor  might 
have  endured  to  the  end ; but  there,  in  the  si- 
lence of  that  nearly  untenanted  block-house,  with 
no  sound  to  enliven  him,  no  appeal  to  keep  alive 
factitious  sentiment,  no  hope  of  victory  to  impel, 
things  began  to  appear  in  their  true  colors,  and 
this  state  of  being  to  be  estimated  at  its  just  value. 
He  would  have  given  treasures  for  religious  con- 
solation, yet  he  knew  not  where  to  turn  to  seek 
it.  He  thought  of  Pathfinder,  but  he  distrusted 
his  knowledge.  He  thought  of  Mabel ; for  the 
parent  to  appeal  to  the  child  for  such  succor,  ap- 
peared like  reversing  the  order  of  nature.  Then 
it  was  that  he  felt  the  full  responsibility  of  the 
parental  character,  and  had  some  clear  glimpses 
of  the  manner  in  which  he  himself  had  discharged 
the  trust  toward  an  orphan  child.  While  thoughts 
like  these  were  rising  in  his  mind,  Mabel,  who 
watched  the  slightest  change  in  his  breathing, 
heard  a guarded  knock  at  the  door.  Supposing 
it  might  be  Chingachgook,  she  rose,  undid  two 
of  the  bars,  and  held  the  third  in  her  hand,  as 
she  asked  who  was  there.  The  answer  was  in 
her  uncle’s  voice,  and  he  implored  her  to  give  him 
immediate  admission.  Without  an  instant  of 
hesitation,  she  turned  the  bar,  and  Cap  entered. 
He  had  barely  passed  the  opening,  when  Mabel 
closed  the  door,  again,  and  secured  it  as  before, 
for  practice  had  rendered  her  expert  in  this  por- 
tion of  her  duties. 

The  sturdy  seaman,  when  he  had  made  sure 
of  the  state  of  his  brother-in-law,  and  that  Mabel 
as  well  as  himself  was  safe,  was  softened  nearly 
to  tears.  His  own  appearance  he  explained  by 
saying  that  he  had  been  carelessly  guarded,  un- 
der the  impression  that  he  and  the  quartermas- 
ter were  sleeping  under  the  fumes  of  liquor  with 
which  they  had  been  plied,  with  a view  to  keep 
them  quiet  in  the  expected  engagement.  Muir 
had  been  left  asleep,  or  seeming  to  sleep ; but 
Cap  had  run  into  the  bushes,  on  the  alarm  of  the 
attack,  and,  having  found  Pathfinder’s  canoe,  had 
only  succeeded,  at  that  moment,  in  getting  to  the 
block-house,  whither  he  had  come  with  the  kind 
intent  of  escaping  with  his  niece  by  water.  It 
is  scarcely  necessary  to  say,  that  he  changed 
his  plan  when  he  ascertained  the  state  of  the  ser- 
geant, and  the  apparent  security  of  his  present 
quarters. 

“ If  the  worst  comes  to  the  worst,  Master 
Pathfinder,”  he  said,  “we  must  strike,  and  that 
will  entitle  us  to  quarter.  We  owe  it  to  our  man- 
hood to  hold  out  a reasonable  time,  and  to  our- 
selves to  haul  down  the  ensign  in  season  to  make 
saving  conditions.  I wished  Master  Muir  to  do 


the  same  thing,  when  we  were  captured  by  these 
chaps  you  call  vagabonds — and  rightly  are  they 
named,  for  viler  vagabonds  do  not  walk  the 
earth — ” 

“ You’ve  found  out  their  characters  ! ” inter- 
rupted Pathfinder,  who  was  always  as  ready  to 
chime  in  with  abuse  of  the  Mingoes,  as  with  the 
praises  of  his  friends.  “ Now,  had  you  fallen  in- 
to the  hands  of  the  Delawares,  you  would  have 
larned  the  difference.” 

“ Well,  to  me  they  seem  much  of  a muchness  ; 
blackguards  fore  and  aft,  always  excepting  our 
friend  the  Serpent,  who  is  a gentleman  for  an  In- 
jin. But,  when  these  savages  made  the  assault 
on  us,  killing  Corporal  McNab  and  his  men,  as  if 
they  had  been  so  many  rabbits,  Lieutenant  Muir 
and  myself  took  refuge  in  one  of  the  holes  of 
this  here  island,  of  which  there  are  so  many 
among  the  rocks — regular  geological  underground 
burrows  made  by  the  water,  as  the  Lieutenant 
says — and  there  we  remained,  stowed  away  like 
two  leaguers  in  a ship’s  hold,  until  we  gave  out 
for  want  of  grub.  A man  may  say  that  grub  is 
the  foundation  of  human  nature.  I desired  the 
quartermaster  to  make  terms,  for  we  could  have 
defended  ourselves  for  an  hour  or  two  in  the  place, 
bad  as  it  was ; but  he  declined,  on  the  ground 
that  the  knaves  wouldn’t  keep  faith  if  any  of 
them  were  hurt,  and  so  there  was  no  use  in  ask- 
ing them  to.  I consented  to  strike,  on  two  prin- 
ciples ; one,  that  we  might  be  said  to  have  struck 
already,  for  running  below  is  generally  thought 
to  be  giving  up  the  ship  ; and  the  other,  that  we 
had  an  enemy  in  our  stomachs  that  was  more 
formidable  in  his  attacks  than  the  enemy  on  deck. 

Hunger  is  a d ble  circumstance,  as  any  man 

who  has  lived  on  it  eight-and-forty  hours  will  ac- 
knowledge.” 

“ Uncle ! ” said  Mabel,  in  a mournful  voice, 
and  with  an  expostulatory  manner,  “ my  poor  fa- 
ther is  sadly,  sadly  hurt ! ” 

“ True,  Magnet,  true — I will  sit  by  him,  and 
do  my  best  at  consolation.  Are  the  bars  well 
fastened,  girl  ? on  such  an  occasion,  the  mint? 
should  be  tranquil  and  undisturbed.” 

“We  are  safe,  I believe,  from  all  but  this 
heavy  blow  of  Providence.” 

“Well,  then,  Magnet,  do  you  go  up  to  the 
deck  above,  and  try  to  compose  yourself,  while 
Pathfinder  runs  aloft  and  takes  a lookout  from 
the  cross-trees.  Your  father  may  wish  to  say 
something  to  me,  in  private,  and  it  may  be  well 
to  leave  us  alone.  These  are  solemn  scenes,  and 
inexperienced  people,  like  myself,  do  not  always 
wish  what  they  say  to  be  overheard.” 

Although  the  idea  of  her  uncle’s  affording  ro 


174 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


ligious  consolation  by  the  side  of  a death-bed, 
certainly  never  obtruded  itself  on  the  imagination 
of  Mabel,  she  thought  there  might  be  a propriety 
in  the  request  with  which  she  was  unacquainted  ; 
and  she  complied  accordingly.  PatJriinder  had 
already  ascended  to  the  roof  to  make  nis  survey, 
and  the  brothers-in-law  were  left  alone.  Cap 
took  a seat  by  the  side  of  the  sergeant,  and  be- 
thought him  seriously  of  the  grave  duty  he  had 
before  him.  A silence  of  several  minutes  suc- 
ceeded, during  which  brief  space  the  mariner  was 
digesting  the  substance  of  his  intended  discourse. 

“ I must  say,  Sergeant  Dunham,”  Cap  at  length 
commenced,  in  his  peculiar  manner,  “ that  there 
has  been  mismanagement  somewhere  in  this  un- 
happy expedition,  and,  the  present  being  an  oc- 
casion when  truth  ought  to  be  spoken,  and  noth- 
ing but  the  truth,  I feel  it  my  duty  to  say  as  much 
in  plain  language.  In  short,  sergeant,  on  this 
point  there  cannot  well  be  two  opinions ; for,  sea- 
man as  I am,  and  no  soldier,  I can  see  several 
errors  myself,  that  it  needs  no  great  education 
to  detect.” 

“ What  would  you  have,  brother  Cap  ? ” re- 
turned the  other,  in  a feeble  voice — “what  is 
done  is  done ; it  is  now  too  late  to  remedy  it.” 

“ Very  true,  brother  Dunham,  but  not  to  re- 
pent of  it ; the  good  book  tells  us  it  is  never  too 
Rate  to  repent ; and  I’ve  always  heard  that  this  is 
the  precious  moment.  If  you’ve  any  thing  on 
your  mind,  sergeant,  hoist  it  out  freely,  for  you 
know  you  trust  it  to  a friend.  You  were  my  own 
sisters  husband,  and  poor  little  Magnet  is  my 
own  sister’s  daughter ; and,  living  or  dead,  I 
shall  always  look  upon  you  as  a brother.  It’s  a 
thousand  pities  that  you  didn’t  lie  off  and  on 
with  the  boats,  and  send  a canoe  ahead  to  recon- 
noitre ; in  which  case  your  command  would  have 
been  saved,  and  this  disaster  would  not  have  be- 
fallen us  all.  Well,  sergeant,  we  are  all  mortal ; 
that  is  some  consolation,  I make  no  doubt ; and  if 
you  go  before  a little,  why,  we  must  follow.  Yes, 
that  must  give  him  consolation.” 

“ I know  all  this,  brother  Cap  ; and  hope  I’m 
piepared  to  meet  a soldier’s  fate — there  is  poor 
Mabel — ” 

“Ay,  ay — that’s  a heavy  drag,  I know;  but 
you  wouldn’t  take  her  with  you,  if  you  could, 
sergeant ; and  so  the  better  way  is  to  make  as 
light  of  the  separation  as  you  can.  Mabel  is  a 
good  girl,  and  so  was  her  mother  before  her  ; she 
was  my  sister,  and  it  shall  be  my  care  to  see  that 
her  daughter  gets  a good  husband,  if  our  lives 
and  scalps  are  spared;  for  I suppose  no  one 
would  care  about  entering  into  a family  that  has 
no  scalps.” 


“ Brother,  my  child  is  betrothed — she  will  bo* 
come  the  wife  of  Pathfinder.” 

“ Well,  brother  Dunham,  every  man  has  his 
opinions,  and  his  manner  of  viewing  things ; and 
to  my  notion  this  match  will  be  any  thing  but 
agreeable  to  Mabel ; I have  no  objections  to  the 
age  of  the  man ; I am  not  one  of  them  that  thinke 
it  necessary  to  be  a boy  to  make  a girl  happy, 
but  on  the  whole  I prefer  a man  of  about  fifty  for 
a husband ; still  there  ought  not  to  be  any  cir- 
cumstance between  the  parties  to  make  them  un- 
happy. Circumstances  play  the  devil  with  matri- 
mony ; and  I set  it  down  as  one,  that  Pathfindei 
don’t  know  as  much  as  my  niece.  You’ve  seen 
but  little  of  the  girl,  sergeant,  and  have  not  got 
the  run  of  her  knowledge  ; but  let  her  pay  it  out 
freely,  as  she  will  do  when  she  gets  to  be  thor- 
oughly acquainted  ; and  you’ll  fall  in  with  but  few 
schoolmasters  that  can  keep  their  luffs  in  her 
company.” 

“ She’s  a good  child — a dear,  gQod  child,” 
muttered  the  sergeant,  his  eyes  filling  with  tears 
— “ it  is  my  misfortune  that  I have  seen  so  little 
of  her.” 

“ She  is,  indeed,  a good  girl,  and  knows  alto- 
gether too  much  for  poor  Pathfinder,  who  is  a 
reasonable  man,  and  an  experienced  man  in  his 
own  way  ; but  who  has  no  more  idea  of  the  main 
chance  than  you  have  of  spherical  trigonometry 
sergeant.” 

“ Ah  ! brother  Cap,  had  Pathfinder  been  with 
us  in  the  boats  this  sad  affair  might  not  have 
happened ! ” 

“That  is  quite  likely;  his  worst  enemy  will 
allow  that  the  man  is  a good  guide ; but,  ser- 
geant, if  the  truth  must  be  spoken,  you  have 
managed  this  expedition  in  a loose  way,  alto- 
gether : you  should  have  hove-to  off  your  haven 
and  sent  in  a boat  to  reconnoitre,  as  I told  you 
before.  This  is  a matter  to  be  repented  of ; and 
I tell  it  to  you  because  truth,  in  such  a case,  ought 
to  be  spoken.” 

“ My  errors  are  dearly  paid  for,  brother ; and 
poor  Mabel,  I fear,  will  be  the  sufferer.  I think 
however,  that  the  calamity  would  not  have  hap- 
pened had  there  not  been  treason.  I fear  me 
brother,  that  Jasper  Eau-douce  has  played  us 
false ! ” 

“ That  is  just  my  notion ; this  fresh-water  life 
must,  sooner  or  later,  undermine  any  m^n’s 
morals.  Lieutenant  Muir  and  myself  talked  this 
matter  over,  while  we  lay  in  a bit  of  a hole  out 
here  on  this  island  ; and  Ave  both  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  nothing  short  of  Jasper’s  treachery 
could  have  brought  us  all  into  this  infernal  scrape. 
Well,  sergeant,  you  had  better  compose  your  mind, 


A SUMMONS  TO  SURRENDER. 


175 


and  think  of  other  matters ; when  a vessel  is 
about  to  enter  a strange  port  it  is  more  prudent 
to  think  of  the  anchorage  inside  than  to  be  under- 
running  all  the  events  that  have  turned  up  during 
the  v’yage — there’s  the  log-book,  expressly  to 
sote  all  these  matters  in ; and  what  stands  there 
must  form  the  column  of  figures  that’s  to  be 
posted  up,  for  or  against  us.  How  now,  Path- 
finder ! is  there  any  thing  in  the  wind,  that  you 
come  down  the  ladder  like  an  Indian  in  the  wake 
of  a scalp  ? ” 

The  guide  raised  a finger  for  silence,  then 
beckoned  to  Cap  to  ascend  the  first  ladder,  and 
to  allow  Mabel  to  take  his  place  at  the  side  of 
the  sergeant. 

“We  must  be  prudent,  and  we  must  be  bold, 
too,”  he  said,  in  a low  voice.  “ The  riptyles  are 
in  earnest  in  their  intention  to  fire  the  block,  for 
they  know  there  is  now  nothing  to  be  gained  by  let- 
ting it  stand.  I hear  the  voice  of  that  vagabond 
Arrowhead,  among  them,  and  he  is  urging  them 
to  set  about  their  diviltry  this  very  night.  We 
must  be  stirring,  Salt-water,  and  doing  too.  Luck- 
ily, there  are  four  or  five  barrels  of  water  in  the 
block,  and  these  are  something  toward  a siege. 
My  reckoning  is  wrong,  too,  or  we  shall  yet  reap 
some  advantage  from  that  honest  fellow,  the  Sar- 
pent,  being  at  liberty.” 

Cap  did  not  wait  for  a second  invitation,  but 
stealing  away,  he  was  soon  in  the  upper  room 
with  Pathfinder,  while  Mabel  took  his  post  by  the 
side  of  her  father’s  humble  bed.  Pathfinder  had 
opened  a loop,  having  so  far  concealed  the  light 
that  it  would  not  expose  him  to  a treacherous 
shot,  and,  expecting  a summons,  he  stood  with 
his  face  near  the  hole,  ready  to  answer.  The 
stillness  that  succeeded,  was  at  length  broken  by 
the  voice  of  Muir. 

“ Master  Pathfinder,”  called  out  the  Scotch- 
man, “ a friend  summons  you  to  a parley.  Come 
freely  to  one  of  the  loops,  for  you’ve  nothing  to 
fear  so  long  as  you  are  in  converse  with  an  officer 
of  the  55th.’’ 

“ What  is  your  will,  quartermaster — what  is 
your  will?  I know  the  55th,  and  believe  it  to  be 
a brave  regiment,  though  I rather  incline  to  the 
60th,  as  my  favorite,  and  to  the  Delawares  more 
than  to  either.,  But  what  would  you  have,  quar- 
termaster ? It  must  be  a pressing  errand  that 
brings  you  under  the  loops  of  a block-house,  at 
this  hour  of  the  night,  with  the  sartainty  of  Kill- 
deer’s  being  inside  of  it.” 

“ Oh ! you’ll  no  harm  a friend,  Pathfinder,  I’m 
certain,  and  that’s  my  security.  You’re  a man 
of  judgment,  and  have  gained  too  great  a name  on 
this  frontier  for  bravery,  to  feel  the  necessity  of 


foolhardiness  to  obtain  a character.  You’ll  very 
well  understand,  my  good  friend,  there  is  as  much 
credit  to  be  gained  by  submitting  gracefully,  when 
resistance  becomes  impossible,  as  by  obstinately 
holding  out  contrary  to  the  rules  of  war.  The 
enemy  is  too  strong  for  us,  my  brave  comrade, 
and  I come  to  counsel  you  to  give  up  the  block, 
on  condition  of  being  treated  as  a prisoner  of 
war.” 

“ I thank  you  for  this  advice,  quartermaster, 
which  is  the  more  acceptable,  as  it  costs  nothing. 
But  I do  not  think  it  belongs  to  my  gifts  to  yield 
a place  like  this,  while  food  and  water  last.” 

“Well,  I’d  be  the  last,  Pathfinder,  to  recom- 
mend any  thing  against  so  brave  a resolution, 
did  I see  the  means  of  maintaining  it.  But  ye’ll 
remember  that  Master  Cap  has  fallen — ” 

“ Not  he — not  he,”  roared  the  individual  in 
question  through  another  loop — “ so  far  from 
that,  lieutenant,  he  has  risen  to  the  height  of 
this  here  fortification,  and  has  no  mind  to  put  his 
head  of  hair  into  the  hands  of  such  barbers  again, 
so  long  as  he  can  help  it.  I look  upon  this  block- 
house as  a circunistance,  and  have  no  mind  to 
throw  it  away.” 

“ If  that  is  a living  voice,”  returned  Muir,  “ I 
am  glad  to  hear  it,  for  we  all  thought  the  man 
had  fallen  in  the  late  fearful  confusion ! But, 
Master  Pathfinder,  although  ye’re  enjoying  the 
society  of  your  friend  Cap,  and  a great  pleasure 
do  I know  it  to  be,  by  the  experience  of  two  days 
and  a night  passed  in  a hole  in  the  earth,  we’ve 
lost  that  of  Sergeant  Dunham,  who  has  fallen, 
with  all  the  brave  men  he  led  in  the  late  expedi- 
tion. Lundie  would  have  it  so,  though  it  would 
have  been  more  discreet  and  becoming  to  send  a 
commissioned  officer  in  command.  Dunham  was 
a brave  man,  notwithstanding,  and  shall  have 
justice  done  his  memory.  In  short,  we  have  all 
acted  for  the  best,  and  that  is  as  much  as  could 
be  said  in  favor  of  Prince  Eugene,  the  Duke 
of  Marlborough,  or  the  great  Earl  of  Stair  him- 
self.” 

“You’re  wrong  ag’in,  quartermaster,  you’rt 
wrong  ag’in,”  answered  Pathfinder,  resorting  to  a 
ruse  to  magnify  his  force.  “ The  sargeant  is  safe 
in  the  block  too,  where  one  might  say  the  whole 
family  i3  collected.” 

“ Well,  I rejoice  to  hear  it,  for  we  had  certain 
ly  counted  the  sergeant  among  the  slain.  If 
pretty  Mabel  is  in  the  block  still,  let  her  not  delay 
an  instant,  for  Heaven’s  sake,  in  quitting  it,  foi 
the  enemy  is  about  to  put  it  to  the  trial  by  fire. 
Ye  know  the  potency  of  that  dread  element,  and 
will  be  acting  more  like  the  discreet  and  experi- 
enced warrior  ye’re  universally  allowed  to  be,  in 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


176 

yielding  a place  you  canna’  defend,  than  in  draw- 
ing down  ruin  on  yourself  and  companions.” 

“ I know  the  potency  of  fire,  as  you  call  it, 
quartermaster,  and  am  not  to  be  told,  at  this  late 
hour,  that  it  can  be  used  for  something  else  be- 
sides cooking  a dinner.  But  I make  no  doubt 
you’ve  heard  of  the  potency  of  Killdeer,  and  the 
man  who  attempts  to  lay  a pile  of  brush  agin’ 
these  logs  will  get  a taste  of  his  powder.  As  for 
arrows,  it  is  not  in  their  gifts  to  set  this  building 
on  fire,  for  we’ve  no  shingles  on  our  roof,  but  good 
solid  logs  and  green  bark,  and  plenty  of  water  be- 
sides. The  roof  is  so  flat,  too,  as  you  know  your- 
self, quartermaster,  that  we  can  walk  on  it,  and 
so  no  danger  on  that  score  while  water  lasts.  I’m 
peaceable  enough  if  let  alone,  but  he  who  endivers 
to  burn  this  block  over  my  head  will  find  the  fire 
squinched  in  his  own  blood.” 

“ This  is  idle  and  romantic  talk,  Pathfinder, 
and  ye’ll  no  maintain  it  yourself  when  ye  come 
to  meditate  on  the  realities.  I hope  ye’ll  no 
gainsay  the  loyalty  or  the  courage  of  the  55th, 
and  I feel  convinced  that  a council  of  war  would 
decide  on  the  propriety  of  a surrender  forthwith. 
Na’ — na’ — Pathfinder,  foolhardiness  is  na’  mair 
like  the  bravery  of  Wallace  or  Bruce,  than  Albany 
on  the  Hudson  is  like  the  old  town  of  Edinbro’.” 

“As  each  of  us  seems  to  have  made  up  his 
mind,  quartermaster,  more  words  are  useless.  If 
the  riptyles  near  you  are  disposed  to  set  about 
their  hellish  job,  let  them  begin  at  once.  They 
can  burn  wood  and  I’ll  burn  powder.  If  I were 
an  Injin  at  the  stake,  I suppose  I could  brag  as 
well  as  the  rest  of  them,  but,  my  gifts  and  natur’ 
being  both  white,  my  turn  is  rather  for  doing  than 
talking.  You’ve  said  quite  enough,  considering 
you  carry  the  king’s  commission ; and,  should  we 
all  be  consumed,  none  of  us  will  bear  you  any 
malice.” 

“Pathfinder,  you’ll  no  be  exposing  Mabel, 
pretty  Mabel  Dunham,  to  sic’  a calamity ! ” 

“ Mabel  Dunham  is  by  the  side  of  her  wound- 
ed father,  and  God  will  care  for  the  safety  of  a 
pious  child.  Not  a hair  of  her  head  shall  fall 
while  my  arm  and  sight  remain  true  ; and  though 
you  may  trust  the  Mingoes,  Master  Muir,  I put  no 
faith  in  them.  You’ve  a knavish  Tuscarora  in 
your  company  there,  who  has  art  and  malice 
enough  to  spoil  the  character  of  any  tribe  with 
which  he  consorts,  though  he  found  the  Mingoes 
ready  ruined  to  his  hands,  I fear.  But,  enough 
said ; let  each  party  go  to  the  use  of  his  means 
and  gifts.” 

Throughout  this  dialogue  Pathfinder  kept  his 
body  covered,  lest  a treacherous  shot  should  be 
aimed  at  the  loop ; and  he  now  directed  Cap  to 


ascend  to  the  roof  in  order  to  be  in  readiness  to 
meet  the  first  assault.  Although  the  latter  used 
sufficient  diligence,  he  found  no  less  than  ten 
blazing  arrows  sticking  to  the  bark,  while  the  air 
was  filled  with  the  yells  and  whoops  of  the  enemy. 
A rapid  discharge  of  rifles  followed,  and  the 
bullets  came  pattering  against  the  logs,  in  a way 
to  show  that  the  struggle  had  indeed  seriously 
commenced. 

These  were  sounds,  however,  that  appalled 
neither  Pathfinder  nor  Cap,  while  Mabel  was  too 
much  absorbed  in  her  affliction  to  feel  alarm. 
She  had  good  sense  enough,  too,  to  understand 
the  nature  of  the  defences,  and  fully  to  appreciate 
their  importance.  As  for  her  father,  the  familiar 
noises  revived  him,  and  it  pained  his  child,  at  such 
a moment,  to  see  that  his  glassy  eye  began  to 
kindle,  and  that  the  blood  returned  to  a cheek 
it  had  deserted,  as  he  listened  to  the  uproar.  It 
was  now  Mabel  first  perceived  that  his  reason  be- 
gan slightly  to  wander. 

“ Order  up  the  light  companies,”  he  muttered 
'*  and  let  the  grenadiers  charge  ! Do  they  dare  to 
attack  us  in  our  fort  ? Why  does  not  the  artillery 
open  on  them  ? ” 

At  that  instant,  the  heavy  report  of  a gun  burst 
on  the  night,  and  the  crashing  of  rending  wood 
was  heard,  as  a heavy  shot  tore  the  logs  in  the 
room  above,  and  the  whole  block  shook  with  the 
force  of  a shell  that  lodged  in  the  work.  Path- 
finder narrowly  escaped  the  passage  of  this  for- 
midable missile,  as  it  entered ; but,  when  it  ex- 
ploded, Mabel  could  not  suppress  a shriek ; for 
she  supposed  all  over  her  head,  whether  animate 
or  inanimate,  destroyed.  To  increase  her  hor. 
ror,  her  father  shouted,  in  a frantic  voice,  to 
“ charge ! ” 

“ Mabel,”  said  Pathfinder,  with  his  head  at 
the  trap,  “ this  is  true  Mingo  work — more  noise 
than  injury.  The  vagabonds  have  got  the  how- 
itzer we  took  from  the  French,  and  have  dis- 
charged it  ag’in  the  block ; but,  fortunately,  they 
have  fired  off  the  only  shell  we  had,  and  there  is 
an  ind  of  its  use,  for  the  present.  There  is  some 
confusion  among  the  stores  up  in  this  loft,  but 
no  one  is  hurt.  Your  uncle  is  still  on  the  roof 
and  as  for  myself,  I’ve  run  the  gantlet  of  too 
many  rifles  to  be  skeary  about  such  a thing  as  a 
howitzer,  and  that  in  Injin  hands.” 

Mabel  murmured  her  thanks,  and  tried  to  give 
all  her  attention  to  her  father,  whose  efforts  to 
rise  were  only  counteracted  by  his  debility.  Dur- 
ing the  fearful  minutes  that  succeeded,  she  was  so 
much  occupied  with  the  care  of  the  invalid,  that 
she  scarce  heeded  the  clamor  that  reigned  around 
her.  Indeed  the  uproar  was  so  great  that,  had 


ATTEMPT  TO  FIRE  THE  BLOCK-HOUSE. 


177 


not  her  thoughts  been  otherwise  employed,  con- 
fusion of  faculties,  rather  than  alarm,  would  prob- 
ably have  been  the  consequence. 

Cap  preserved  his  coolness  admirably.  He 
bad  a profound  and  increasing  respect  for  the 
power  of  the  savages,  and  even  for  the  majesty 
of  fresh  water,  it  is  true ; but  his  apprehensions 
of  the  former  proceeded  more  from  his  dread  of 
being  scalped  and  tortured,  than  from  anyunman- 
ly  fear  of  death : and  as  he  was  now  on  the  deck 
of  a house,  if  not  on  the  deck  of  a ship,  and 
knew  that  there  was  little  danger  of  boarders,  he 
moved  about  with  a fearlessness  and  a rash  ex- 
posure of  his  person  that  Pathfinder,  had  he 
been  aware  of  the  fact,  would  have  been  the  first 
to  condemn.  Instead  of  keeping  his  body  covered, 
agreeably  to  the  usages  of  Indian  warfare,  he  was 
seen  on  every  part  of  the  roof  dashing  the  water 
right  and  left,  with  the  apparent  steadiness  and 
unconcern  he  would  have  manifested  had  he  been 
a sail-trimmer  exercising  his  art  in  a battle  afloat. 
His  appearance  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  ex- 
traordinary clamor  among  the  assailants,  who,  un- 
used to  see  their  enemies  so  reckless,  opened 
upon  him  with  their  tongues  like  the  pack  that 
has  the  fox  in  view.  Still  he  appeared  to  possess 
a charmed  life ; for,  though  the  bullets  whistled 
around  him  on  every  side,  and  his  clothes  were 
several  times  torn,  nothing  cut  his  skin.  When 
the  shell  passed  through  the  logs  below,  the  old 
sailor  dropped  his  bucket,  waved  his  hat,  and 
gave  three  cheers ; in  which  heroic  act  he  was 
employed  as  the  dangerous  missile  exploded.  This 
characteristic  feat  probably  saved  his  life ; for 
from  that  instant  the  Indians  ceased  to  fire  at 
him,  and  even  to  shoot  their  flaming  arrows  at 
the  block — having  taken  up  the  notion  simulta- 
neously, and  by  Common  consent,  that  the  “ Salt- 
water was  mad  ; ” and  it  was  a singular  effect  of 
their  magnanimity,  never  to  lift  a hand  against 
those  whom  they  imagined  devoid  of  reason. 

The  conduct  of  Pathfinder  was  very  different. 
Every  thing  he  did  was  regulated  by  the  most  ex- 
act calculation — the  result  of  long  experience  and 
habitual  thoughtfulness.  His  person  was  kept 
carefully  out  of  a line  with  the  loops,  and  the 
spot  that  he  selected  for  his  lookout  was  one 
that  was  quite  removed  from  danger.  This  cele- 
brated guide  had  often  been  known  to  lead  forlorn 
hopes  ; he  had  once  stood  at  the  stake,  suffering 
under  the  cruelties  and  taunts  of  savage  ingenuity 
and  savage  ferocity,  without  quailing ; and  le- 
gends of  his  exploits,  coolness,  and  daring,  were  to 
be  heard  all  along  that  extensive  frontier,  or 
wherever  men  dwelt  and  men  contended.  But, 
on  this  occasion,  one  who  did  not  know  his  his- 
38  12 


tory  and  character,  might  have  thought  his  ex- 
ceeding care  and  studied  attention  to  self-preser- 
vation proceeded  from  an  unworthy  motive.  But 
such  a judge  would  not  have  understood  his  sub- 
ject. The  Pathfinder  bethought  him  of  'Mabel, 
and  of  what  might  possibly  be  the  consequences 
to  that  poor  girl  should  any  casualty  befall  him- 
self. But  the  recollection  rather  quickened  his 
intellect  than  changed  his  customary  prudence. 
He  was,  in  fact,  one  of  those  who  was  so  unac- 
customed to  fear,  that  he  never  bethought  him  of 
the  constructions  others  might  put  upon  his  con- 
duct. But  while,  in  moments  of  danger,  he  acted 
with  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent,  it  was  also  with 
the  simplicity  of  a child. 

For  the  first  ten  minutes  of  the  assault,  Path- 
finder never  raised  the  breech  of  his  rifle  from 
the  floor,  except  when  he  changed  his  own  posi- 
tion— for  he  well  knew  that  the  bullets  of  the  en- 
emy were  thrown  away  upon  the  massive  logs  of 
the  work  ; and,  as  he  had  been  at  the  capture  of 
the  howitzer,  he  felt  certain  that  the  savages  had 
no  other  shell  than  the  one  found  in  it  when  the 
piece  was  taken.  There  existed  no  reason,  there- 
fore, to  dread  the  fire  of  the  assailants,  except  as  a 
casual  bullet  might  find  a passage  through  a loop- 
hole. One  or  two  of  these  accidents  did  occur,  but 
the  balls  entered  at  an  angle  that  deprived  them 
of  all  chance  of  doing  any  injury,  so  long  as  the 
Indians  kept  near  the  block  ; and,  if  discharged 
from  a distance,  there  was  scarcely  the  possibility 
of  one  in  a hundred’s  striking  the  apertures.  But 
when  Pathfinder  heard  the  sound  of  moccasined 
feet,  and  the  rustling  of  brush  at  the  foot  of  the 
building,  he  knew  that  the  attempt  to  build  a fire 
against  the  logs  was  about  to  be  renewed.  He 
now  summoned  Cap  from  the  roof,  where  indeed 
all  the  danger  had  ceased,  and  directed  him  to 
stand  in  readiness  with  his  water  at  a hole  im- 
mediately over  the  spot  assailed. 

One  less  trained  than  our  hero  would  have 
been  in  a hurry  to  repel  this  dangerous  attempt 
also,  and  might  have  resorted  to  his  means  pre- 
maturely ; not  so  with  Pathfinder.  His  aim  was 
not  only  to  extinguish  the  fire,  about  which  he 
felt  little  apprehension,  but  to  give  the  enemy  a 
lesson  that  would  render  him  wary  during  the 
remainder  of  the  night.  In  order  to  effect  the 
latter  purpose,  it  became  necessary  to  wait  until 
the  light  of  the  intended  conflagration  should  di- 
rect his  aim,  when  he  well  knew  that  a very  slight 
effort  of  his  skill  would  suffice.  The  Iroquois  were 
permitted  to  collect  their  heap  of  dried  brush, 
to  pile  it  against  the  block,  to  light  it,  and  to  re- 
turn to  their  covers,  without  molestation.  All 
that  Pathfinder  would  suffer  Cap  to  do  was,  to 


178 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


roll  a barrel  filled  with  water  to  the  hole  imme- 
diately over  the  spot,  in  readiness  to  be  used  at 
the  proper  instant.  That  moment,  however,  did 
not  arrive,  in  his  judgment,  until  the  blaze  illum- 
inated the  surrounding  bushes,  and  there  had 
been  time  for  his  quick  and  practised  eye  to  detect 
the  forms  of  three  or  four  lurking  savages,  who 
were  watching  the  progress  of  the  flames,  with  the 
cool  indifference  of  men  accustomed  to  look  on 
human  misery  with  apathy.  Then  indeed  he 
spoke. 

“Are  you  ready,  friend  Cap?”  he  asked. 
“ The  heat  begins  to  strike  through  the  crevices, 
and,  although  these  green  logs  are  not  of  the  fiery 
natur’  of  an  ill-tempered  man,  they  may  be  kin- 
dled into  a blaze  if  one  provokes  them  too  much. 
Are  you  ready  with  the  barrel  ? — See  that  it  has 
the  right  cut,  and  that  none  of  the  water  is 
wasted.” 

“ All  ready — ” answered  Cap,  in  the  manner 
in  which  a seaman  replies  to  such  a demand. 

“ Then  wait  for  the  word.  Never  be  over  im- 
patient in  a critical  time,  nor  fool-risky  in  a bat- 
tle. Wait  for  the  word.” 

While  the  Pathfinder  was  giving  these  direc- 
tions, he  was  also  making  his  own  preparations, 
for  he  saw  it  was  time  to  act.  Killdeer  was  de- 
liberately raised,  pointed,  and  discharged.  The 
whole  process  occupied  about  half  a minute,  and, 
&s  the  rifle  was  drawn  in,  the  eye  of  the  marks- 
man was  applied  to  the  hole. 

“ There  is  one  riptyle  the  less — ” Pathfinder 
muttered  to  himself — “I’ve  seen  that  vagabond 
afore,  and  know  him  to  be  a marciless  devil. 
Well,  well ; the  man  acted  according  to  his  gifts, 
and  he  has  been  rewarded  according  to  his  gifts. 
One  more  of  the  knaves,  and  that  will  sarve  the 
turn  for  to-night.  When  daylight  appears,  we 
may  have  hotter  work.” 

All  this  time,  another  rifle  was  getting  ready  ; 
and,  as  Pathfinder  ceased,  a second  savage  fell. 
This,  indeed,  sufficed;  for,  indisposed  to  wait  for 
a third  visitation  from  the  same  hand,  the  whole 
band,  which  had  been  crouching  in  the  bushes 
around  the  block,  ignorant  of  who  was  and  who 
was  not  exposed  to  view,  leaped  from  their  covers, 
and  fled  to  different  places  for  safety. 

“Now,  pour  away,  Master  Cap,”  said  Path- 
finder— “ I’ve  made  my  mark  on  the  blackguards ; 
and  we  shall  have  no  more  fires  lighted  to-night.’’ 

“ Scaldings ! ” cried  Cap,  upsetting  the  bar- 
rel with  a care  that  at  once  and  completely  extin- 
guished the  flames. 

This  ended  the  singular  conflict ; and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  night  passed  in  peace.  Pathfinder 
and  Cap  watched  alternately,  though  neither  can 


be  said  to  have  slept.  Sleep,  indeed,  scarcely 
seemed  necessary  to  them,  for  both  were  accus- 
tomed to  protracted  watchings ; and  there  were 
seasons  and  times  when  the  former  appeared  to  - 
be  literally  insensible  to  the  demands  of  hunger 
and  thirst,  and  callous  to  the  effects  of  fatigue. 

Mabel  watched  by  her  father’s  pallet,  and  be- 
gan to  feel  how  much  our  happiness,  in  this  world, 
depends  even  on  things  that  are  imaginary. 
Hitherto,  she  had  virtually  lived  without  a father, 
the  connection  with  her  remaining  parent  being 
ideal,  rather  than  positive;  but,  now  that  she 
was  about  to  lose  him,  she  thought,  for  the  mo- 
ment, that  the  world  would  be  a void  after  his 
death,  and  that  she  could  never  be  acquainted 
with  happiness  again. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

“ There  was  a roaring  in  the  wind  all  night ; 

The  rain  came  heavily,  and  fell  in  floods ; 

But  now  the  sun  is  rising  calm  and  bright ; 

The  birds  are  singing  in  the  distant  woods.” 

■Wordsworth. 

As  the  light  returned,  Pathfinder  and  Cap  as- 
cended  again  to  the  roof,  with  a view  once  more 
to  reconnoitre  the  state  of  things  on  the  island. 
This  part  of  the  block-house  had  a low  battlement 
around  it,  which  afforded  a considerable  protec- 
tion to  those  who  stood  in  its  centre ; the  inten- 
tion having  been  to  enafile  marksmen  to  lie  be- 
hind it,  and  to  fire  over  its  top.  By  making 
proper  use,  therefore,  of  these  slight  defences — 
slight  as  to  height,  though  abundantly  ample  as 
far  as  they  went — the  two  lookouts  commanded 
a pretty  good  view  of  the  island,  its  covers  ex- 
cepted ; and  of  most  of  the  channels  that  led  to 
the  spot. 

The  gale  was  still  blowing  very  fresh  at  south  ; 
and  there  were  places  in  the  river  where  its  sur- 
face looked  green  and  angry,  though  the  wind  had 
hardly  sweep  enough  to  raise  the  water  into  foam. 
The  shape  of  the  little  island  was  generally  oval, 
and  its  greatest  length  was  from  east  to  west. 
By  keeping  in  the  channels  that  washed  it,  in 
consequence  of  their  several  courses,  and  of  the 
direction  of  the  gale,  it  would  have  been  possible 
for  a vessel  to  rayge  past  the  island  on  either  of 
its  principal  sides,  and  always  to  keep  the  wind 
very  nearly  abeam.  These  were  the  facts  first 
noticed  by  Cap,  and  explained  to  his  companion ; 
for  the  hopes  of  both  now  rested  on  the  chances 
of  relief  sent  from  Oswego.  At  this  instant, 
while  they  stood  gazing  anxiously  about  them, 
Cap  cried  out  in  his  lusty,  hearty  manner — 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  CUTTER. 


179 


“Sail,  ho!” 

Pathfinder  turned  quickly  in  the  direction  of 
iis  companion’s  face,  and  there,  sure  enough,  was 
just  visible  the  object  of  the  old  sailor’s  exclama- 
tion. The  elevation  enabled  the  two  to  overlook 
the  low  land  of  several  of  the  adjacent  islands ; 
and  the  canvas  of  a vessel  was  seen  through  the 
bushes  that  fringed  the  shore  of  one  that  lay  to 
the  southward  and  westward.  The  stranger  was 
under  what  seamen  call  low  sail:  but  so  great 
was  the  power  of  the  wind,  that  her  white  out- 
lines were  seen  flying  past  the  openings  of  the  ver- 
dure with  the  velocity  of  a fast-travelling  horse ; 
resembling  a cloud  driving  in  the  heavens. 

“ That  cannot  be  Jasper ! ” said  Pathfinder,  in 
disappointment : for  he  did  not  recognize  the  cut- 
ter of  his  friend,  in  the  swift  passing  object. 

“ No — no — the  lad  is  behind  the  hour ; that  is 
some  craft  that  the  Frenchers  have  sent  to  aid 
their  friends,  the  accursed  Mingoes.” 

“This  time  you  are  out  in  your  reckoning, 
friend  Pathfinder,  if  you  never  were  before,” 
returned  Cap,  in  a manner  that  had  lost  none  of 
its  dogmatism  by  the  critical  circumstances  in 
which  they  were  placed.  “ Fresh-water  or  salt, 
that  is  the  head  of  the  Scud’s  mainsail,  for  it  is 
cut  with  a smaller  gore  than  common  ; and  then 
you  can  see  that  the  gaff  has  been  fished — quite 
neatly  done,  I admit,  but  fished.” 

“ I can  see  none  of  this,  I confess,”  answered 
Pathfinder,  to  whom  even  the  terms  of  his  com- 
panion were  Greek. 

“ No  ! — Well,  I own  that  surprises  me  ; for  I 
thought  your  eyes  could  see  any  thing ! Now,  to 
me,  nothing  is  plainer  than  that  gore  and  that 
fish  ; and  I must  say,  my  honest  friend,  that,  in 
your  place,  I should  apprehend  that  my  sight  was 
beginning  to  fail.” 

“ If  Jasper  is  truly  coming,  I shall  apprehend 
but  little.  We  can  make  good  the  block  against 
the  whole  Mingo  nation,  for  the  next  eight  or  ten 
hours ; and,  with  Eau-douce  to  cover  the  retreat, 
I shall  despair  of  nothing.  God  send  that  the 
lad  may  not  run  alongside  of  the  bank,  and  fall 
into  an  ambushment,  as  befell  the  sargeant ! ” 

“ Ay ; there’s  the  danger.  There  ought  to 
have  been  signals  concerted,  and  an  anchorage- 
ground  buoyed  out,  and  even  a quarantine  sta- 
tion, or  a lazaretto,  would  have  been  useful, 
could  we  have  made  these  Minks-ho  respect  the 
laws.  If  the  lad  fetches  up,  as  you  say,  any- 
where in  the  neighborhood  of  this  island,  we  may 
look  upon  the  cutter  as  lost.  And,  after  all, 
Master  Pathfinder,  ought  we  not  to  set  down  this 
game  Jasper  as  a secret  ally  of  the  French,  rather 
than  as  a friend  of  our  own? — I know  the 


sergeant  views  the  matter  in  that  light,  and  1 
must  say  this  whole  affair  looks  like  treason ! ” 

“We  shall  soon  know,  we  shall  soon  know, 
Master  Cap,  for  there  indeed  comes  the  cutter, 
clear  of  the  other  island,  and  five  minutes  must 
settle  the  matter.  It  would  be  no  more  than 
fair,  however,  if  we  could  give  the  boy  some  sign 
in  the  way  of  warning.  It  is  not  right  that  he 
should  fall  into  the  trap,  without  a notice  that  it 
has  been  laid.” 

Anxiety  and  suspense,  notwithstanding,  pre- 
vented either  from  attempting  to  make  any 
signal.  It  was  not  easy,  truly,  to  see  how  it 
could  be  done  ; for  the  Scud  came  foaming 
through  the  channel,  on  the  weather  side  of  the 
island,  at  a rate  that  scarce  admitted  of  the  neces- 
sary time.  Nor  was  any  one  visible  on  her  deck 
to  make  signs  to  ; even  her  helm  seemed  deserted, 
though  her  course  was  as  steady  as  her  progress 
was  rapid. 

Cap  stood  in  silent  admiration  of  a spectacle 
so  unusual.  But,  as  the  Scud  drew  nearer,  his 
practised  eye  detected  the  helm  in  play,  by  means 
of  tiller-ropes,  though  the  person  who  steered 
was  concealed.  As  the  cutter  had  weather-boards 
of  some  little  height,  the  mystery  was  explained  ; 
no  doubt  remaining  that  her  people  lay  behind 
the  latter,  in  order  to  be  protected  from  the 
rifles  of  the  enemy.  As  this  fact  showed  that  no 
force,  beyond  that  of  the  small  crew,  could  be 
on  board,  Pathfinder  received  his  companion’s 
explanation  with  an  ominous  shake  of  the  head. 

“ This  proves  that  the  Sarpent  has  not  reached 
Oswego,”  he  said,  “ and  that  we  are  not  to  expect 
succor  from  the  garrison.  I hope  Lundie  has 
not  taken  it  into  his  head  to  displace  the  lad,  for 
Jasper  Western  would  be  a host  of  himself,  in 
such  a strait.  We  three,  Master  Cap,  ought  to 
make  a manful  warfare — you,  as  a seaman,  to 
keep  up  the  intercourse  with  the  cutter  ; Jasper, 
as  a laker,  who  knows  all  that  is  necessary  to  be 
done  on  • the  water  ; and  I,  with  gifts  that  are  as 
good  as  any  among  the  Mingoes,  let  me  be  what 
I may  in  other  particulars.  I say,  we  ought  to 
make  a manful  fight  in  Mabel’s  behalf.” 

“ That  we  ought — and  that  we  will,”  answered 
Cap,  heartily,  for  he  began  to  have  more  confi- 
dence in  the  security  of  his  scalp,  now  that  he 
saw  the  sun  again ; “ I set  down  the  arrival  of 
the  Scud  as  one  circumstance,  and  the  chances 
of  Eau-douce’s  honesty  as  another.  This  Jasper 
is  a young  man  of  prudence,  you  find,  for  he 
keeps  a good  offing,  and  seems  determined  to 
know  how  matters  stand  on  the  island,  before  he 
ventures  to  bring  up.” 

'*  I have  it — I have  it” — exclaimed  Pathfinder 


ISO 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


with  exultation — “there  lies  the  canoe  of  the 
Sarpent  on  the  cutter’s  deck,  and  the  chief  has 
got  on  board,  and  no  doubt  has  given  a true  ac- 
count of  our  condition  , unlike  a Mingo,  a Dela- 
ware is  sartain  to  get  a story  right,  or  to  hold  his 
tongue.” 

Pathfinder’s  disposition  to  think  well  of  the 
Delawares,  and  to  think  ill  of  the  Mingoes,  must, 
by  this  time,  be  very  apparent  to  the  reader.  Of 
the  veracity  of  the  former  he  entertained  the 
highest  respect,  while  of  the  latter  he  thought, 
as  the  more  observant  and  intelligent  classes  of 
this  country  are  getting  pretty  generally  to  think 
of  certain  scribblers  among  ourselves,  who  are 
known  to  have  been  so  long  in  the  habits  of  men- 
dacity, that  it  is  thought  they  can  no  longer  tell 
the  truth,  even  when  they  seriously  make  the  ef- 
fort. 

“ That  canoe  may  belong  to  the  cutter,”  said 
the  captious  seaman — “ Oh  !-the-Deuce  had  one 
on  board  when  we  sailed.” 

“Yery  true,  friend  Cap;  but,  if  you  know 
your  sails  and  masts  by  your  gores  and  fishes,  I 
know  my  canoes  and  my  paths  by  frontier  knowl- 
edge. If  you  can  see  new  cloth  in  a sail,  I can 
see  new  bark  in  a canoe.  That  is  the  boat  of  the 
Sarpent,  and  the  noble  fellow  has  struck  off  for 
the  garrison,  as  soon  as  he  found  the  block  be- 
sieged, has  fallen  in  with  the  Scud,  and,  after  tell- 
ing his  story,  has  brought  the  cutter  down  here 
to  see  what  can  be  done.  The  Lord  grant  that 
Jasper  Western  be  still  on  board  her ! ” 

“ Yes — yes — it  might  not  be  amiss  ; for,  trai- 
tor or  loyal,  the  lad  has  a handy  way  with  him  in 
a gale,  it  must  be  owned.” 

“ And  in  coming  over  water-falls  ! ” said  Path- 
finder, nudging  the  ribs  of  his  companion  with  an 
elbow,  and  laughing  in  his  silent  but  hearty  man- 
ner. “ We  will  give  the  boy  his  due,  though  he 
scalps  us  all  with  his  own  hand  ! ” 

The  Scud  was  now  so  near  that  Cap  made  no 
reply.  The  scene,  just  at  that  instant,  was  so 
peculiar  that  it  merits  a particular  description : 
which  may  also  aid  the  reader  in  forming  a more 
accurate  idea  of  the  picture  we  wish  to  draw. 

The  gale  was  still  blowing  violently  : many  of 
the  smaller  trees  bowed  their  tops,  as  if  ready 
to  descend  to  the  earth,  while  the  rushing  of  the 
wind  through  the  branches  of  the  groves  resem- 
bled the  rpar  of  distant  chariots. 

The  air  was  filled  with  leaves  which,  at  that 
late  season,  were  readily  driven  from  their  stems, 
and  flew  from  island  to  island  like  flights  of  birds. 
With  this  exception,  the  spot  seemed  silent  as  the 
grave.  That  the  savages  still  remained  was  to  be 
inferred  from  the  fact  that  their  canoes,  together 


with  the  boats  of  the  55th,  lay  in  a group  in  the 
little  cove  that  had  been  selected  as  a harbor. 
Otherwise  not  a sign  of  their  presence  was  to  be 
detected.  Though  taken  entirely  by  surprise  by 
the  cutter,  the  sudden  return  of  which  was  alto- 
gether unlooked  for,  so  uniform  and  inbred  were 
their  habits  of  caution  while  on  the  war-path,  that 
the  instant  an  alarm  was  given  every  man  had 
taken  to  his  cover,  with  the  instinct  and  cunning 
of  a fox  seeking  his  hole.  The  same  stillness 
reigned  in  the  block-house,  for,  though  Pathfinder 
and  Cap  could  command  a view  of  the  channel, 
they  took  the  precaution  necessary  to  lie  concealed. 
The  unusual  absence  of  any  thing  like  animal  life 
on  board  the  Scud,  too,  was  still  more  remark- 
able. As  the  Indians  witnessed  her  apparently 
undirected  movements,  a feeling  of  awe  gained  a 
footing  among  them,  and  some  of  the  boldest  of 
their  party  began  to  distrust  the  issue  of  an  ex- 
pedition that  had  commenced  so  prosperously. 
Even  Arrowhead,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  inter- 
course with  the  whites  on  both  sides  of  the  lakes, 
fancied  there  was  something  ominous  in'  the  ap- 
pearance of  this  unmanned  vessel,  and  he  would 
gladly  at  that  moment  have  been  landed  again  on 
the  main. 

In  the  mean  time  the  progress  of  the  cutter 
was  steady  and  rapid.  She  held  her  way  mid- 
channel, now  inclining  to  the  gusts,  and  now  ris- 
ing again,  like  the  philosopher  that  bends  to  the 
calamities  of  life  to  resume  his  erect  attitude  as 
they  pass  away,  but  always  piling  the  water  be- 
neath her  bows  in  foam.  Although  she  was  under 
so  very  short  canvas,  her  velocity  was  great,  and 
there  could  not  have  elapsed  ten  minutes  between 
the  time  when  her  sails  were  first  seen  glancing 
past  the  trees  and  bushes  in  the  distance,  and  the 
moment  when  she  was  abreast  of  the  block-house. 
Cap  and  Pathfinder  leaned  forward  as  the  cutter 
came  beneath  their  eyrie,  eager  to  get  a better 
view  of  her  deck,  when,  to  the  delight  of  both, 
Jasper  Eau-douce  sprang  upon  his  feet  and  gave 
three  hearty  cheers.  Regardless  of  all  risk,  Cap 
leaped  upon  the  rampart  of  logs,  and  returned 
the  greeting,  cheer  for  cheer.  Happily,  the  policy 
of  the  enemy  saved  the  latter,  for  they  still  lay 
quiet,  not  a rifle  being  discharged.  On  the  other 
hand,  Pathfinder  kept  in  view  the  useful,  utterly 
disregarding  the  mere  dramatic  part  of  warfare. 
The  moment  he  beheld  his  friend  Jasper,  he  called 
out  to  him  with  stentorian  lungs — 

“ Stand  by  us,  lad,  and  the  day’s  our  own  ! 
Give ’m  a grist  in  yonder  bushes,  and  you’ll  put 
’m  up  like  partridges.” 

Part  of  this  reached  Jasper’s  ears,  but  most 
was  borne  off  to  leeward  on  the  wings  of  the 


A FLAG  OF  TRUCE. 


181 


rind.  By  the  time  this  was  said  the  Scud  had 
driven  past,  and  in  the  next  moment  she  was  hid 
from  view  by  the  grove  in  which  the  block-house 
was  partially  concealed. 

Two  anxious  minutes  succeeded,  but,  at  the 
expiration  of  that  brief  space,  the  sails  were 
again  gleaming  through  the  trees,  Jasper  having 
wore,  jibed,  and  hauled  up  under  the  lee  of  the 
island,  on  the  other  tack.  The  wind  was  free 
enough,  as  has  been  already  explained,  to  admit 
of  this  manoeuvre ; and  the  cutter,  catching  the 
current  under  her  lee  bow,  was  breasted  up  to 
her  course  in  a way  that  showed  she  would  come 
out  to  windward  of  the  island  again,  without  any 
difficulty.  This  whole  evolution  was  made  with 
the  greatest  facility,  not  a sheet  being  touched, 
the  sails  trimming  themselves,  the  rudder  alone 
controlling  the  admirable  machine.  The  object 
appeared  to  be  a reconnoissance.  When,  however, 
the  Scud  had  made  the  circuit  of  the  entire  isl- 
and, and  had  again  got  her  weatherly  position  in 
the  channel  by  which  she  had  first  approached, 
her  helm  was  put  down,  and  she  tacked.  The 
noise  of  the  mainsail  flapping  when  it  filled,  close 
reefed  as  it  was,  sounded  like  the  report  of  a gun, 
and  Cap  trembled  lest  the  seams  should  open. 

“ His  Majesty  gives  good  canvas,  it  must  be 
owned,”  muttered  the  old  seaman  ; “ and  it  must 
be  owned,  too,  that  boy  handles  his  boat  as  if  he 
were  thoroughly  bred!  D e,  Master  Path- 

finder, if  I believe,  after  all  that  has  been  report- 
ed in  the  matter,  that  this  Mister  Oh  !-the-Deuce 
got  his  trade  on  this  bit  of  fresh  water.” 

“ He  did ; yes,  he  did.  He  never  saw  the 
ocean,  and  has  come  by  his  calling  altogether  up 
here  on  Ontario.  I have  often  thought  he  has  a 
nat’ral  gift,  in  the  way  of  schooners  and  sloops, 
and  have  respected  him  accordingly.  As’  for 
treason,  and  lying,  and  black-hearted  vices,  friend 
Cap,  Jasper  Western  is  as  free  as  the  most  vir- 
tuosest  of  the  Delaware  warriors ; and,  if  you 
crave  to  see  a truly  honest  man,  you  must  go 
among  that  tribe  to  discover  him.” 

“ There  he  comes  round ! ” exclaimed  the 
delighted  Cap,  the  Scud  at  this  moment  filling  on 
her  original  tack,  “ and  now  we  shall  see  what 
the  boy  would  be  at ; he  cannot  mean  to  keep 
running  up  and  down  these  passages  like  a girl 
footing  it  through  a country-dance  ! ” 

The  Scud  now  kept  so  much  away  that,  for  a 
moment,  the  two  observers  on  the  block-house 
feared  Jasper  meant  to  come-to;  and  the  savages 
in  their  lairs  gleamed  out  upon  her  with  the  sort 
of  exultation  that  the  crouching  tiger  may  be 
supposed  to  feel,  as  he  sees  his  unconscious  vic- 
tim approach  his  bed.  But  Jasper  had  no  such 


intention.  Familiar  with  the  shore,  and  acquaint- 
ed  with  the  depth  of  water  on  every  part  of  tka. 
island,  he  well  knew  that  the  Scud  might  be  run 
against  the  bank  with  impunity,  and  he  ventured 
fearlessly  so  near,  that,  as  he  passed  through  the 
little  cove,  he  swept  the  two  boats  of  the  soldiers 
from  their  fastenings,  and  forced  them  out  into 
the  channel,  towing  them  with  the  cutter.  As  all 
the  canoes  were  fastened  to  the  two  Dunham 
boats,  by  this  bold  and  successful  attempt  the 
savages  were  at  once  deprived  of  the  means  of 
quitting  the  island,  unless  by  swimming,  and  they 
appeared  to  be  instantly  aware  of  this  very  im- 
portant fact.  Rising  in  a body,  they  filled  the 
air  with  yells,  and  poured  in  a harmless  fire. 
While  up  in  this  unguarded  manner  two  rifles 
were  discharged  by  their  adversaries.  One  came 
from  the  summit  of  the  block,  and  an  Iroquois  fell 
dead  in  his  tracks,  shot  through  the  brain.  The 
other  came  from  the  Scud.  The  last  was  the 
piece  of  the  Delaware,  but,  less  true  than  that  of 
his  friend,  it  only  maimed  an  enemy  for  life.  The 
people  of  the  Scud  shouted,  and  the  savages  sank 
again  to  a man,  as  if  it  might  be  into  the  earth. 

“ That  was  the  Sarpent’s  voice,”  said  Fath- 
finder,  as  soon  as  the  second  piece  was  discharged. 
“ I know  the  crack  of  his  rifle  as  well  as  I do 
that  of  Killdeer.  ’Tis  a good  barrel,  though  not 
sartain  death.  Well — well — with  Chingachgook 
and  Jasper  on  the  water,  and  you  and  I in  the 
block,  friend  Cap,  it  will  be  hard  if  we  don’t  teach 
these  Mingo  scamps  the  rationality  of  a fight ! ” 

All  this  time  the  Scud  was  in  motion.  As 
soon  as  she  had  reached  the  end  of  the  island, 
Jasper  sent  his  prizes  adrift ; and  they  went  down 
before  the  wind,  until  they  stranded  on  a point 
more  than  a mile  to  leeward.  He  then  wore,  and 
came  stemming  the  current  again,  through  the 
other  passage.  Those  on  the  summit  of  the  block 
could  now  perceive  that  something  was  in  agita- 
tion on  the  deck  of  the  Scud ; and,  to  their  great 
delight,  just  as  the  cutter  came  abreast  of  the 
principal  cove,  on  the  spot  where  most  of  the 
enemy  lay,  the  howitzer,  which  composed  her  sole 
armament,  was  unmasked,  and  a shower  of  case- 
shot  was  sent  hissing  into  the  bushes.  A bevy 
of  quail  would  not  have  risen  quicker  than  this 
unexpected  discharge  of  iron  hail  put  up  the  Iro- 
quois ; when  a second  savage  fell  by  a messenger 
sent  from  Killdeer,  and  another  went  limping 
away,  by  a visit  from  the  rifle  of  Chingachgook. 
New  covers  were  immediately  found,  however; 
and  each  party  seemed  to  prepare  for  the  renewal 
of  the  strife  in  another  form.  But  the  appearance 
of  June,  bearing  a -white  flag,  and  accompanied 
by  the  French  officer  and  Muir,  stayed  th« 


182 


T1IE  PATHFINDER. 


hands  of  all,  and  was  the  forerunner  of  another 
parley. 

The  negotiation  that  followed  was  held  be- 
neath the  block-house ; and  so  near  it  as  at  once 
to  put  those  who  were  uncovered  completely  at 
the  mercy  of  Pathfinder’s  unerring  aim.  Jasper 
anchored  directly  abeam ; and  the  howitzer,  too, 
was  kept  trained  upon  the  negotiators  : so  that 
the  besieged  and  their  friends,  with  the  exception 
of  the  man  who  held  the  match,  had  no  hesitation 
about  exposing  their  persons.  Chingachgook 
alone  lay  in  ambush ; more,  however,  from  habit 
than  distrust. 

“You’ve  triumphed,  Pathfinder,”  called  out 
the  quartermaster,  “and  Captain  Sanglier  has 
come  himself  to  offer  terms.  You’ll  no  be  deny- 
ing a brave  enemy  an  honorable  retreat,  when  he 
has  fought  ye  fairly  and  done  all  the  credit  he 
could  to  king  and  country.  Ye  are  too  loyal  a 
subject  yourself,  to  visit  loyalty  and  fidelity  with 
a heavy  judgment.  I am  authorized  to  offer,  on 
the  part  of  the  enemy,  an  evacuation  of  the  island, 
a mutual  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  a restoration 
of  scalps.  In  the  absence  of  baggage  and  artil- 
lery, little  more  can  be  done.” 

As  the  conversation  was  necessarily  carried 
on  in  a high  key,  both  on  account  of  the  wind, 
and  on  account  of  the  distance,  all  that  was  said 
was  heard  equally  by  those  in  the  block  and  those 
in  the  cutter. 

“What  do  you  say  to  that,  Jasper?”  called 
out  Pathfinder.  “You  hear  the  tarms;  shall  we 
let  the  vagabonds  go  ? or  shall  we  mark  them, 
as  they  mark  their  sheep  in  the  settlements,  that 
we  may  know  them  again  ? ” 

“ What  has  befallen  Mabel  Dunham  ? ” de- 
manded the  young  man,  with  a frown  on  his  hand- 
some face  that  was  visible  even  to  those  in  the 
block.  “ If  a hair  of  her  head  has  been  touched, 
it  will  go  hard  with  the  whole  Iroquois  tribe ! ” 

“Nay,  nay,  she  is  safe  below,  nursing  a dying 
parent  as  becomes  her  sex.  We  owe  no  grudge 
on  account  of  the  sargeant’s  hurt,  which  comes 
of  lawful  warfare ; and  as  for  Mabel — ” 

“ She  is  here ! ” exclaimed  the  girl  herself, 
who  had  mounted  to  the  roof  the  moment  she 
found  the  direction  things  were  taking.  “ She  is 
here ; and,  in  the  name  of  our  holy  religion,  and 
of  that  God  whom  we  profess  to  worship  in  com- 
mon, let  there  be  no  more  bloodshed ! Enough 
has  been  spilt  already ; and  if  these  men  will  go 
away,  Pathfinder — if  they  will  depart  peaceably, 
Jasper — oh ! do  not  detain  one  of  them.  My 
poor  father  is  approaching  his  end,  and  it  were 
better  that  he  should  draw  his  last  breath  in 
peace  with  the  world.  Go,  go,  Frenchmen  and 


Indians  ; we  are  no  longer  your  enemies,  and 
harm  none  of  you.” 

“ Tut,  tut,  Magnet,”  put  in  Cap,  “ this  sounds 
religious,  perhaps,  or  like  a book  of  poetry ; but 
it  does  not  sound  like  common  sense.  The  en- 
emy is  just  ready  to  strike ; Jasper  is  anchored 
with  his  broadside  to  bear,  and,  no  doubt  with 
springs  on  his  cables  ; Pathfinder’s  eye  and  hand 
are  as  true  as  the  needle , and  we  shall  get  prize- 
money,  head-money,  and  honor  in  the  bargain,  if 
you  will  not  interfere  for  the  next  half  hour.” 

“Well,”  said  Pathfinder,  “I  incline  to  Ma- 
bel’s way  of  thinking.  There  has  been  enough 
bloodshed  to  answer  our  purpose  and  to  sarve 
the  king ; and  as  for  honor  in  that  meaning,  it 
will  do  better  for  young  ensigns  and  recruits, 
than  for  cool-headed,  obsarvant,  Christian  men. 
There  is  honor  in  doing  what’s  right,  and  unhon- 
or in  doing  what’s  wrong ; and  I think  it  wrong 
to  take  the  life  even  of  a Mingo  without  a useful 
ind  in  view,  I do  ; and  right  to  hear  reason  at  all 
times.  So,  Lieutenant  Muir,  let  us  know  what 
your  friends  the  Frenchers  and  Injins  have  to  say 
for  themselves.” 

“ My  friends  ! ” said  Muir,  starting.  “ You’ll 
no  be  calling  the  king’s  enemies  my  friends,  Path- 
finder, because  the  fortune  of  w'ar  has  thrown  me 
into  their  hands  ? Some  of  the  greatest  warriors, 
both  of  ancient  and  modern  times,  have  been 
prisoners  of  war ; and  yon  is  Master  Cap,  who 
can  testify  whether  we  did  not  do  all  that  men 
could  devise  to  escape  the  calamity.” 

“Ay — ay,”  dryly  answered  Cap,  “escape  is 
the  proper  word.  We  ran  below  and  hid  our- 
selves, and  so  discreetly,  that  we  might  have  re- 
mained in  the  hole  to  this  hour,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  necessity  of  restowing  the  bread-lockers. 
You  burrowed,  on  that  occasion,  quartermaster, 

as  handily  as  a fox;  and  how  the  d 1 you 

knew  so  well  where  to  find  the  spot  is  a matter 
of  wonder  to  me.  A regular  skulk  on  board  ship 
does  not  tail  aft  more  readily  when  the  jib  is  to 
be  stowed,  than  you  went  into  that  same  hole ! ” 

“ And  did  ye  no  follow  ? There  are  moments 
in  a man’s  life  when  reason  ascends  to  in- 
stinct— ” 

“And  men  descend  into  holes,”  interrupted 
Cap,  laughing  in  his  boisterous  way,  while  Path- 
finder chimed  in  in  his  peculiar  manner.  Even 
Jasper,  though  still  filled  with  concern  for  Ma- 
bel, was  obliged  to  smile.  “ They  say  the  d 1 

wouldn’t  make  a sailor  if  he  didn’t  look  aloft, 
and  now  it  seems  he’ll  not  make  a soldier  if  he 
doesn’t  look  below ! ” 

This  burst  of  merriment,  though  it  was  any 
thing  but  agreeable  to  Muir,  contributed  largely 


REMOVAL  OF  THE  INDIANS. 


183 


toward  keeping  the  peace.  Cap  fancied  he  had 
said  a thing  much  better  than  common,  and  that 
disposed  him  to  yield  his  own  opinion  on  the 
main  point,  so  long  as  he  got  the  good  opinion  of 
his  companions  on  his  novel  claim  to  be  a wit. 
After  a short  discussion,  all  the  savages  on  the 
island  were  collected  in  a body,  without  arms,  at 
the  distance  of  a hundred  yards  from  the  block, 
and  under  the  gun  of  the  Scud,  while  Pathfinder 
descended  to  the  door  of  the  block-house,  and 
sAtled  the  terms  on  which  the  island  was  to  be 
finally  evacuated  by  the  enemy.  Considering  all 
the  circumstances,  the  conditions  were  not  very 
discreditable  to  either  party.  The  Indians  were 
compelled  to  give  up  all  their  arms,  even  to  their 
knives  and  tomahawks,  as  a measure  of  precau- 
tion, their  force  being  still  quadruple  that  of  their 
foes.  The  French  officer,  Monsieur  Sanglier,  as 
he  was  usually  styled,  and  chose  to  call  himself, 
remonstrated  against  this  act  as  one  likely  to  re- 
flect more  discredit  on  his  command  than  any 
other  part  of  the  affair ; but  Pathfinder,  who  had 
witnessed  one  or  two  Indian  massacres,  and  knew 
how  valueless  pledges  became  when  put  in  oppo- 
sition to  interest  where  a savage  was  concerned, 
was  obdurate.  The  second  stipulation  was  of 
nearly  the  same  importance.  It  compelled  Cap- 
tain Sanglier  to  give  up  all  his  prisoners,  who  had 
been  kept  well  guarded,  in  the  very  hole  or  cave 
in  which  Cap  and  Muir  had  taken  refuge.  When 
these  men  were  produced,  four  of  them  were 
found  to  be  unhurt;  they  had  fallen  merely  to 
save  their  lives,  a common  artifice  in  that  species 
of  warfare ; and  of  the  remainder,  two  were  so 
slightly  injured  as  not  to  be  unfit  for  service. 
As  they  brought  their  muskets  with  them,  this 
addition  to  his  force  immediately  put  Pathfinder 
at  his  ease,  for,  having  collected  all  the  arms  of 
the  enemy  in  the  block-house,  he  directed  these 
men  to  take  possession  of  the  building,  stationing 
a regular  sentinel  at  the  door.  The  remainder 
of  the  soldiers  were  dead,  the  badly  wounded 
having  been  instantly  dispatched  in  order  to  ob- 
tain the  muclvcoveted  scalps. 

As  soon  as  Jasper  was  made  acquainted  with 
the  terms,  and  the  preliminaries  had  been  so  far 
observed  as  to  render  it  safe  for  him  to  be  ab- 
sent, he  got  the  Scud  under  way,  and,  running 
down  to  the  point  where  the  boats  had  stranded, 
he  took  them  in  tow  again,  and,  making  a few 
stretches,  brought  them  into  the  leeward  passage. 
Here  all  the  savages  instantly  embarked,  when 
Jasper  took  the  boats  in  tow  a third  time,  and, 
running  off  before  the  wind,  he  soon  set  them 
adrift  quite  a mile  to  leeward  of  the  island.  The 
Indians  were  furnished  with  but  a single  oar  in 


each  boat,  to  steer  with,  the  young  sailor  well 
knowing  that,  by  keeping  before  the  wind,  they 
would  land  on  the  shores  of  Canada  in  the  course 
of  the  morning. 

Captain  Sanglier,  Arrowhead,  and  June,  alone 
remained,  when  this  disposition  had  been  made 
of  the  rest  of  the  party  ; the  former  having  cer- 
tain papers  to  draw  up  and  sign  with  Lieutenant 
Muir,  who,  in  his  eyes,  possessed  the  virtues 
which  are  attached  to  a commission,  and  the  lat- 
ter preferring,  for  reasons  of  his  own,  not  to  de- 
part in  company  with  his  late  friends,  the  Iro- 
quois. Canoes  were  retained  for  the  departure 
of  these  three  when  the  proper  moment  should 
arrive. 

In  the  mean  time,  or  while  the  Scud  was  run- 
ning down  with  the  boats  in  tow,  Pathfinder  and 
Cap,  aided  by  proper  assistants,  busied  them- 
selves with  preparing  a breakfast;  most  of  the 
party  not  having  eaten  for  four-and-twenty  hours. 
The  brief  space  that  passed  in  this  manner,  be- 
fore the  Scud  came-to  again,  was  little  interrupted 
by  discourse,  though  Pathfinder  found  leisure  to 
pay  a visit  to  the  sergeant,  to  say  a few  friendly 
words  to  Mabel,  and  to  give  such  directions  as  he 
thought  might  smooth  the  passage  of  the  dying 
man.  As  for  Mabel,  herself,  he  insisted  on  her 
taking  some  light  refreshment,  and,  there  no  long- 
er existing  any  motive  for  keeping  it  there,  he 
had  the  guard  removed  from  the  block,  in  order 
that  the  daughter  might  have  no  impediment  to 
her  attentions  to  her  father.  These  little  ar- 
rangements  completed,  our  hero  returned  to  the 
fire,  around  which  he  found  all  the  remainder  of 
the  party  assembled,  including  Jasper. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

“You  saw  but  sorrow  in  its  waning  form, 

A working  sea  remaining  from  a storm, 

Where  now  the  weary  waves  roll  o’er  the  deep, 

And  faintly  murmur  ere  they  fall  asleep.” 

Drydhn. 

Men  accustomed  to  a warfare  like  that  we 
have  been  describing,  are  not  apt  to  be  much 
under  the  influence  of  the  tender  feelings  while 
still  in  the  field.  Notwithstanding  their  habits, 
however,  more  than  one  heart  was  with  Mabel  in 
the  block,  while  the  incidents  we  are  about  to 
relate  were  in  the  course  of  occurrence  ; and  even 
the  indispensable  meal  was  less  relished  by  the 
hardiest  of  the  soldiers  than  it  might  have  been 
had  not  the  sergeant  been  so  near  his  end. 

As  Pathfinder  returned  from  the  block,  hi 


£84 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


was  met  by  Huir,  who  led  him  aside  in  order  to 
hold  a private  discourse.  The  manner  of  the 
quartermaster  had  that  air  of  supererogatory 
courtesy  about  it  which  almost  invariably  denotes 
artifice ; for,  while  physiognomy  and  phrenblogy 
are  but  lame  sciences  at  the  best,  and  perhaps 
lead  to  as  many  false  as  right  conclusions,  we 
hold  that  there  is  no  more  infallible  evidence  of 
insincerity  of  purpose,  short  of  overt  acts,  than  a 
face  that  smiles  when  there  is  no  occasion,  and 
the  tongue  that  is  out  of  measure  smooth.  Muir 
had  much  of  this  manner  in  common,  mingled 
with  an  apparent  frankness,  that  his  Scottish  in- 
tonation  of  voice,  Scottish  accent,  and  Scottish 
modes  of  expression,  were  singularly  adapted  to 
sustain.  He  owed  his  preferment,  indeed,  to  a 
long-exercised  deference  to  Lundie  and  his  fam- 
ily; for,  while  the  major  himself  was  much  too, 
acute  to  be  the  dupe  of  one  so  much  his  inferior 
in  real  talents  and  attainments,  most  persons  are 
accustomed  to  make  liberal  concessions  to  the 
flatterer,  even  while  they  distrust  his  truth,  and 
are  perfectly  aware  of  his  motives.  On  the  pres- 
ent occasion,  the  contest  in  skill  was  between  two 
men  as  completely  the  opposites  of  each  other,  in 
all  the  leading  essentials  of  character,  as  very 
well  could  be.  Pathfinder  was  as  simple  as  the 
quartermaster  was  practised ; he  was  as  sincere 
as  the  other  was  false,  and  as  direct  as  the  last 
was  tortuous.  Both  were  cool  and  calculating, 
and  both  were  brave,  though  in  different  modes 
and  degrees ; Muir  never  exposing  his  person  ex- 
cept for  effect,  while  the  guide  included  fear 
among  the  rational  passions,  or  as  a sensation  to 
be  deferred  to  only  when  good  might  come  of  it. 

“ My  dearest  friend,”  Muir  commenced,  “ for 
ye’ll  be  dearer  to  us  all,  by  seventy  and  seven- 
fold, after  your  late  conduct,  than  ever  ye  were, 
ye’ve  just  established  yourself,  in  this  late  trans- 
action ! It’s  true  that  they’ll  no  be  making  ye  a 
commissioned  officer,  for  that  species  of  prefair- 
ment  is  not  much  in  your  line,  nor  much  in  your 
wishes,  I’m  thinking ; but  as  a guide,  and  a coun- 
sellor, and  a loyal  subject,  and  an  expert  marks- 
man, yer  renown  may  be  said  to  be  full.  I doubt 
if  the  commander-in-chief  will  carry  away  with 
him  from  America  as  much  credit  as  will  fall  to 
yer  share,  and  ye  ought  just  to  sit  down  in  con- 
tent, and  enjoy  yourself  for  the  remainder  of  yer 
days.  Get  married,  man,  without  delay,  and  look 
to  yer  precious  happiness,  for  ye’ve  no  occasion 
to  look  any  longer  to  your  glory.  Take  Mabel 
Dunham,  for  Heaven’s  sake,  to  your  bosom,  and 
ye’ll  have  both  a bonny  bride  and  a bonny  repu- 
tation.” 

“ Why,  quartermaster,  this  is  a new  piece  of 


advice  to  come  from  your  mouth ! — They’ve  told 
me  I had  a rival  in  you ! ” 

“ And  ye  had,  man ; and  a formidable  one, 
too,  I can  tell  ye  ! One  that  has  never  yet  court- 
ed in  vain,  and  yet  one  that  has  courted  five 
times.  Lundie  twits  me  with  four,  and  I deny 
the  charge ; but  he  little  thinks  the  truth  would 
outdo  even  his  arithmetic!  Yes,  yes;  ye  had 
a rival,  Pathfinder,  but  ye’ve  one  no  longer  in 
me.  Ye’ve  my  hearty  wishes  for  yer  success 
with  Mabel,  and  were  the  honest  sergeant  likefy 
to  survive,  ye  might  rely  on  my  good  word  with 
him,  too,  for  a certainty.” 

“ I feel  your  friendship,  quartermaster,  I feel 
your  friendship,  though  I have  no  great  need  of 
any  favor  with  Sergeant  Dunham,  who  has  long 
been  my  friend.  I believe  we  may  look  upon  the 
matter  to  be  as  sartain  as  most  things  in  war- 
time ; for,  Mabel  and  her  father  consenting,  the 
whole  55th  couldn’t  very  well  put  a stop  to  it. 
Ah’s  me  ! the  poor  father  will  scarcely  live  to  see 
what  his  heart  has  so  long  been  set  upon ! ” 

“ But  he’ll  have  the  consolation  of  knowing  it 
will  come  to  pass,  in  dying.  Oh  ! it’s  a great  re- 
lief, Pathfinder,  for  the  parting  spirit  to  feel  cer- 
tain that  the  beloved  ones  left  behind  will  be  well 
provided  for,  after  its  departure.  All  the  Mis- 
tress Muirs  have  duly  expressed  that  sentiment, 
with  their  dying  breaths.” 

“All  your  wives,  quartermaster,  have  been 
likely  to  feel  this  consolation ! ” 

“ Out  upon  ye,  man — I’d  no  thought  ye  such 
a wag!  Well,  well;  pleasant  words  make  no 
heart-burnings  between  auld  frinds.  If  I cannot 
espouse  Mabel,  ye’ll  no  object  to  my  esteeming 
her,  and  speaking  well  of  her,  and  of  voursel’,  too, 
on  all  suitable  occasions,  and  in  all  companies. 
But,  Pathfinder,  ye’ll  easily  understan’  tbat  a poor 
deevil,  who  loses  such  a bride,  will  probably  stand 
in  need  of  some  consolation.” 

“ Quite  likely — quite  likely,  quartermaster,” 
returned  the  simple-minded  guide ; “ I know  the 
loss  of  Mabel  would  be  heavy  to  be  borne  by  my- 
self. It  may  bear  hard  on  your  feelings  to  see  us 
married,  but  the  death  of  the  sargeant  will  be 
likely  to  put  it  off,  and  you’ll  have  time  to  think 
more  manfully  of  it,  you  will.” 

“ I’ll  bear  up  against  it ; yes,  I’ll  bear  up  against 
it,  though  my  heart-strings  crack  ; and  ye  might 
help  me,  man,  by  giving  me  something  to  do. 
Ye’ll  understand  that  this  expedition  has  been  of 
a very  peculiar  nature,  for  here  am  I,  bekring  the 
king’s  commission,  just  a volunteer,  as  it  might 
be  ; while  a mere  orderly  has  had  the  command. 
I’ve  submitted  for  various  reasons,  though  my 
blood  has  boiled  to  be  in  authority  while  ve  war’ 


CAPTAIN  SANGLIER. 


185 


battling  for  the  honor  of  the  country,  and  his  maj. 
esty’s  rights — ” 

“ Quartermaster,”  interrupted  the  guide,  “ you 
fell  so  early  into  the  inemy’s  hands,  that  your 
conscience  ought  to  be  easily  satisfied  on  that 
score ; so  take  my  advice,  and  say  nothing  about 
it.” 

“ That’s  just  my  opinion,  Pathfinder ; we’ll  all 
say  nothing  about  it.  Sergeant  Dunham  is  hors 
chs  combat — ” 

“ Anan ! ” said  the  guide. 

“ Why  the  sergeant  can  command  no  longer^ 
and  it  will  hardly  do  to  leave  a corporal  at  the 
head  of  a victorious  party,  like  this ; for  flowers 
that  will  bloom  in  a garden  will  die  on  a heath ; 
and  I was  just  thinking  I would  claim  the  au- 
thority that  belongs  to  one  who  holds  a lieuten- 
ant’s commission.  As  for  the  men,  they’ll  no 
dare  to  raise  any  objaction,  and  as  for  yoursel,’ 
my  dear  friend,  now  that  ye’ve  so  much  honor, 
and  Mabel,  and  tfie  consciousness  of  having  done 
yer’  duty,  which  is  more  precious  than  all,  I ex- 
pect to  find  an  ally  rather  than  one  to  oppose  the 
plan.” 

“ As  for  commanding  the  soldiers  of  the  55th, 
lieutenant,  it  is  your  right,  I suppose,  and  no  one 
here  will  be  likely  to  gainsay  it ; though  you’ve 
been  a prisoner  of  war,  and  there  are  men  who 
might  stand  out  ag’in  giving  up  their  authority  to 
a prisoner  released  by  their  own  deeds.  Still,  no 
one  here  will  be  likely  to  say  any  thing  hostile  to 
your  wishes.” 

“ That’s  just  it,  Pathfinder,  and  when  I come 
to  draw  up  the  report  of  our  success  against  the 
boats,  and  the  defence  of  the  block,  together  with 
the  general  operations,  including  the  capitulation, 
ye’ll  no  find  any  omission  of  your  claims  and 
merits.” 

“ Tut,  for  my  claims  and  merits,  quartermaster ! 
Lundie  knows  what  I am  in  the  forest,  and  what 
I am  in  the  fort ; and  the  general  knows  better 
than  he.  No  fear  of  me ; tell  your  own  story, 
only  taking  care  to  do  justice  by  Mabel’s  father, 
who,  in  one  sense,  is  the  commanding  officer  at 
at  this  very  moment.” 

Muir  expressed  his  entire  satisfaction  at  this 
arrangement,  as  well  as  his  determination  to  do 
justice  by  all,  when  the  two  went  to  the  group 
that  was  assembled  round  the  fire.  Here  the 
quartermaster  began,  for  the  first  time  since  leav- 
ing Oswego,  to  assume  some  of  the  authority  that 
might  properly  be  supposed  to  belong  to  his  rank. 
Taking  the  remaining  corporal  aside,  he  distinctly 
told  that  functionary  that  he  must  in  future  be 
regarded  as  one  holding  the  king’s  commission, 
and  directed  him  to  acquaint  his  subordinates 


with  the  new  state  of  things.  This  change  in  the 
dynasty  was  effected  without  any  of  the  usual 
symptoms  of  a revolution ; for,  as  all  well  under- 
stood the  lieutenant’s  legal  claims  to  command, 
no  one  felt  disposed  to  dispute  his  orders.  For 
reasons  best  known  to  themselves,  Lundie  and 
the.quartermaster  had,  originally,  made  a differ- 
ent disposition,  and  now,  for  reasons  of  his  own, 
the  latter  had  seen  fit  to  change  it.  This  was 
reasoning  enough  for  soldiers,  though  the  hurt 
received  by  Sergeant  Dunham  would  have  suffi- 
ciently explained  the  circumstance  had  an  ex- 
planation been  required. 

All  this  time  Captain  Sanglier  was  looking 
after  his  own  breakfast,  with  the  resignation  of  a 
philosopher,  the  coolness  of  a veteran,  the  in- 
genuity and  science  of  a Frenchman,  and  the 
voracity  of  an  ostrich.  This  person  had  now 
been  in  the  colony  some  thirty  years,  having  left 
France  in  some  such  situation  in  his  own  army,  as 
Muir  filled  in  the  55th.  An  iron  constitution, 
perfect  obduracy  of  feeling,  a certain  address 
well  suited  to  manage  savages,  and  an  indomitable 
courage,  had  early  pointed  him  out  to  the  com- 
mander-in-chief as  a suitable  agent  to  be  em- 
ployed in  directing  the  military  operations  of  his 
Indian  allies.  In  this  capacity,  then,  he  had 
risen  to  the  titular  rank  of  captain ; and  with  his 
promotion  had  acquired  a portion  of  the  habits 
and  opinions  of  his  associates,  with  a facility  and 
an  adaptation  of  self,  that  are  thought,  in  this  part 
of  the  world,  to  be  peculiar  to  his  countrymen. 
He  had  often  led  parties  of  the  Iroquois  in  their 
predatory  expeditions  ; and  his  conduct  on  such 
occasions  exhibited  the  contradictory  results  of 
both  alleviating  the  misery  produced  by  this 
species  of  warfare,  and  of  augmenting  it,  by  the 
broader  views  and  greater  resources  of  civiliza- 
tion. In  other  words,  he  planned  enterprises, 
that,  in  their  importance  and  consequences,  much 
exceeded  the  usual  policy  of  the  Indians,  and 
then  stepped  in  to  lessen  some  of  the  evils  of  his 
own  creating.  In  short,  he  was  an  adventurer 
whom  circumstances  had  thrown  into  a situation 
where  the  callous  qualities  of  men  of  his  class 
might  readily  show  themselves,  for  good  or  for 
evil ; and  he  was  not  of  a character  to  baffie  for- 
tune  by  any  ill-timed  squeamishness  on  the  score 
of  early  impressions,  or  to  trifle  with  her  liberali 
ty,  by  unnecessarily  provoking  her  frowns  through 
wanton  cruelty.  Still,  as  his  name  was  unavoid 
ably  connected  with  many  of  the  excesses  com 
mitted  by  his  parties,  he  was  generally  considered, 
in  the  American  Provinces,  a wretch  who  delight 
ed  in  bloodshed,  and  who  found  his  greatest 
happiness  in  tormenting  the  helpless  and  the  in- 


186 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


nocent ; and  the  name  of  Sanglier,  which  was  a 
sobriquet  of  his  own  adopting,  or  of  Flint  Heart, 
as  he  was  usually  termed  on  the  borders,  had  got 
to  be  as  terrible  to  the  women  and  children  of 
that  part  of  the  country,  as  those  of  Butler  and 
Brandt  became  at  a later  day. 

The  meeting  between  Pathfinder  and  Sanglier 
bore  some  resemblance  to  that  celebrated  inter- 
view between  Wellington  and  Blucher,  which  has 
been  so  often  and  graphically  told.  It  took  place 
at  the  fire;  and  the  parties  stood  earnestly  re- 
garding each  other  for  more  than  a minute  with- 
out speaking.  Each  felt  that  in  the  other  he  saw 
a formidable  foe ; and  each  felt,  while  he  ought  to 
treat  the  other  with  the  manly  liberality  due  to 
a warrior,  that  there  was  little  in  common  be- 
tween them,  in  the  way  of  character,  as  well  as  of 
interests.  One  served  for  money  and  preferment ; 
the  other,  because  his  life  had  been  cast  in  the 
wilderness,  and  the  land  of  his  birth  needed  his 
arm  and  experience.  The  desire  of  rising  above 
his  present  situation  never  disturbed  the  tran- 
quillity of  Pathfinder ; nor  had  he  ever  known  an 
ambitious  thought,  as  ambition  usually  betrays 
itself,  until  he  became  acquainted  with  Mabel. 
Since  then,  indeed,  distrust  of  himself,  reverence 
for  her,  and  the  wish  to  place  her  in  a situation 
above  that  which  he  then  filled,  had  caused  him 
some  uneasy  moments,  but  the  directness  and 
simplicity  of  his  character  had  early  afforded  the 
required  relief;  and  he  soon  came  to  feel,  that 
the  woman  who  would  not  hesitate  to  accept  him 
for  her  husband,  would  not  scruple  to  share  his 
fortunes,  however  humble.  He  respected  San- 
glier as  a brave  warrior ; and  he  had  far  too 
much  of  that  liberality  which  is  the  result  of  prac- 
tical knowledge,  to  believe  half  of  what  he  had 
heard  to  his  prejudice;  for,  the  most  bigoted  and 
illiberal  on  every  subject  are  usually  those  who 
know  nothing  about  it ; but  he  could  not  approve 
of  his  selfishness,  cold-blooded  calculations,  and, 
least  of  all,  of  the  manner  in  which  he  forgot  his 
“ white  gifts,”  to  adopt  those  that  were  purely 
“ red.”  On  the  other  hand,  Pathfinder  was  a rid- 
dle to  Captain  Sanglier.  The  latter  could  not 
comprehend  the  other’s  motives;  he  had  often 
heard  of  his  disinterestedness,  justice,  and  truth  ; 
and,  in  several  instances,  they  had  led  him  into 
grave  errors,  on  that  principle  by  which  a frank 
and  open-mouthed  diplomatist  is  said  to  keep  his 
secrets  better  than  one  that  is  close-mouthed  and 
wily. 

After  the  two  heroes  had  gazed  at  each  other,  in 
the  manner  mentioned,  Monsieur  Sanglier  touched 
his  cap  ; for  the  rudeness  of  a border  life  had  not 
entirely  destroyed  the  courtesy  of  manner  he  had 


acquired  in  youth,  nor  extinguished  that  appear* 
ance  of  bonhomie  which  seems  inbred  in  a 
Frenchman. 

“ Monsieur  le  Pathfindair,”  he  said,  with  a very 
decided  accent,  though  with  a friendly  smile  “ un 
militaire  honor  le  courage  el  la  loyaute.  You 
speak  Iroquois  ? ” 

“Ay,  I understand  the  language  of  the  rip- 
tvles,  and  can  get  along  with  it,  if  there’s  oc- 
casion, ” returned  the  literal  and  truth-telling 
guide ; “ but  it’s  neither  a tongue  nor  a tribe  to 
my  taste.  Wherever  you  find  the  Mingo  blood, 
in  my  opinion,  Master  Flinty-heart,  you  find  a 
knave.  Well,  I’ve  seen  you  often,  though  it  was 
in  battle ; and,  I must  say,  it  was  always  in  the 
van.  You  must  know  most  of  our  bullets  by 
sight  ? ” 

“Nevvair,  sair,  your  own;  une  balle  from 
your  honorable  hand  be  sartaine  deat’.  You  kill 
my  best  warrior  on  some  island.” 

“ That  may  be — that  may  be — though  I dare 
say,  if  the  truth  was  known,  they  would  turn  out 
to  be  great  rascals.  No- offence  to  you,  Master 
Flinty-heart,  but  you  keep  desperate  evil  com- 
pany.” 

“Yes,  sair,”  returned  the  Frenchman,  who, 
bent  on  saying  that  which  was  courteous  him- 
self, and  comprehending  with  difficulty,  was  dis- 
posed to  think  he  received  a compliment — “ you 
too  good.  But,  un  brave  always  comm 9 gd. 
What  that  mean — ha ! — what  that  jeune  hemme 
doV ’ 

The  hand  and  eye  of  Captain  Sanglier  direct- 
ed the  look  of  Pathfinder  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  fire,  where  Jasper,  just  at  that  moment,  had 
been  rudely  seized  by  two  of  the  soldiers,  who 
were  binding  his  arms  under  the  direction  of 
Muir. 

“What  does  that  mean,  indeed?”  cried  the 
guide,  stepping  forward,  and  shoving  the  two 
subordinates  away  with  a power  of  muscle  that 
would  not  be  denied.  “Who  has  the  heart  to 
do  this  to  Jasper  Eau-douce ; and  who  has  the 
boldness  to  do  it  before  my  eyes  ? ” 

“ It  is  by  my  orders,  Pathfinder,”  answered  the 
quartermaster ; “ and  I command  it  on  my  own 
responsibility.  Ye’ll  no  tak’  on  yourself  to  dis 
pute  the  legality  of  orders  given  by  one  who  bears 
the  king’s  commission  to  the  king’s  soldiers  ? ” 

“ I’d  dispute  the  king’s  words  if  they  came 
from  the  king’s  own  mouth,  did  they  say  that 
Jasper  desarves  this.  Has  not  the  lad  just  saved 
all  our  scalps  ? — taken  us  from  defeat,  and  given 
us  victory  ? No,  no,  Lieutenant ; if  this  is  the 
first  use  that  you  make  of  your  authority,  I for 
one  will  not  respect  it.” 


THE  QUARTERMASTER’S  DEATH. 


“ This  savors  a little  of  insubordination,”  an- 
swered Muir ; “ but  we  can  bear  much  from  Path- 
finder. It  is  true  this  Jasper  has  seemed  to  serve 
us  in  this  affair ; but  we  ought  not  to  overlook 
past  transactions.  Did  not  Major  Duncan  him- 
self denounce  him  to  Sergeant  Dunham,  before 
we  left  the  post  ? Have  we  not  seen  sufficient 
with  our  own  eyes  to  make  sure  of  having  been 
betrayed  ? And  is  it  not  natural,  and  almost 
necessary  to  believe  that  this  young  man  has  been 
the  traitor  ? Ah ! Pathfinder,  ye’ll  no  be  makin’ 
yourself  a great  statesman  or  a great  captain,  if 
you  put  too  much  faith  in  appearances.  Lord  bless 
me ! — Lord  bless  me  ! if  I do  not  believe,  could 
the  truth  be  come  at,  as  you  often  say  yourself, 
Pathfinder,  that  hypocrisy  is  a more  common 
vice  than  even  envy  ; and  that’s  the  bane  o’  human 
nature.” 

Captain  Sanglier  shrugged  his  shoulders ; then 
he  looked  earnestly  from  Jasper  toward  the  quar- 
termaster, and  from  the  quartermaster  toward 
Jasper. 

“ I care  not  for  your  envy  or  your  hypocrisy, 
or  even  for  your  human  natur’,”  returned  Path- 
finder. “ Jasper  Eau-douce  is  my  friend ; Jas- 
per Eau-douce  is  a brave  lad,  and  an  honest  lad, 
and  a loyal  lad ; and  no  man  of  the  55th  shall 
lay  hands  on  him  short  of  Lundie’s  own  orders, 
while  I’m  in  the  way  to  prevent  it.  You  may 
have  authority  over  your  soldiers,  but  you  have 
none  over  Jasper  or  me,  Master  Muir.” 

“ Bon”  ejaculated  Sanglier ; the  sound  par- 
taking equally  of  the  energies  of  the  throat  and 
of  the  nose. 

“Will  ye  no  hearken  to  reason,  Pathfinder? 
Ye’ll  no  be  forgetting  our  suspicions  and  judg- 
ments ; and  here  is  another  circumstance  to  aug- 
ment and  aggravate  them  all.  You  can  see 
this  little  bit  of  bunting  ; well,  where  should 
it  be  found  but  by  Mabel  Dunham,  on  the  branch 
of  a tree,  on  this  very  island,  just  an  hour  or  so 
before  the  attack  of  the  enemy ; and  if  ye’ll  be 
at  the  trouble  to  look  at  the  fly  of  the  Scud’s 
ensign,  ye’ll  just  say  that  the  cloth  has  been  cut 
from  out  it.  Circumstantial  evidence  was  never 
stronger.” 

“ Ma  foiy  dest  unpeufort , ceci”  growled  San- 
glier, between  his  teeth. 

“ Talk  to  me  of  no  ensigns  and  signals,  when 
I know  the  heart,”  continued  the  Pathfinder. 
“Jasper  has  the  gift  of  honesty;  and  it  is  too 
rare  a gift  to  be  trifled  with  like  a Mingo’s  con- 
science. No,  no ; off  hands,  or  we  shall  see 
which  can  make  the  stoutest  battle — you,  and 
your  men  of  the  55th,  or  the  Sarpent  here,  and 
Killdeer,  with  Jasper  and  his  crew.  You  over 


187 

rate  your  force,  Lieutenant  Muir,  as  much  as  you 
underrate  Eau-douce’s  truth.” 

“ Tres  bon  / ” 

“Well,  if  I must  speak  plainly,  Pathfinder,  I 
e’en  must.  Captain  Sanglier  here,  and  Arrow- 
head, this  brave  Tuscarora,  have  both  informed 
me  that  this  unfortunate  boy  is  the  traitor. 
After  such  testimony  you  can  no  longer  oppose 
my  right  to  correct  him,  as  well  as  the  necessity 
of  the  act.” 

“ Scelerat ,”  muttered  the  Frenchman. 

“ Captain  Sanglier  is  a brave  soldier,  and  will 
not  gainsay  the  conduct  of  an  honest  sailor,”  put 
in  Jasper.  “ Is  there  any  traitor  here,  Captain 
Flinty-heart  ? ” 

“Ay,”  added  Muir,  “let  him  speak  out  then, 
since  ye  wrish  it,  unhappy  youth  ; that  the  truth 
may  be  known.  I only  hope  that  ye  may  escape 
the  last  punishment  when  a court  will  be  sitting 
on  your  misdeeds.  How  is  it,  Captain,  do  ye  or 
or  do  ye  not  see  a traitor  among  us  ? ” 

“ Oui — yes,  sair — biensur .” 

“ Too  much  lie”  — said  Arrowhead,  in  a voice 
of  thunder,  striking  the  breast  of  Muir,  with  the 
back  of  his  owm  hand,  in  a sort  of  ungovernable 
gesture.  “ Where  my  warriors  ? — where  Yen- 
geese  scalp  ? — Too  much  lie.” 

Muir  wanted  not  for  personal  courage,  nor  for 
a certain  sense  of  personal  honor.  The  violence 
which  had  been  intended  only  for  a gesture  he 
mistook  for  a blow  ; for  conscience  was  suddenly 
aroused  within  him  ; and  he  stepped  back  a pace 
extending  a hand  toward  a gun.  His  face  was 
livid  with  rage ; and  his  countenance  expressed  the 
fell  intention  of  his  heart.  But  Arrowhead  was 
too  quick  for  him.  With  a wild  glance  of  the 
eye,  the  Tuscarora  looked  about  him ; then, 
thrusting  a hand  beneath  his  own  girdle,  drew 
forth  a concealed  knife,  and,  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye,  buried  it  in  the  body  of  the  quarter- 
master to  the  handle.  As  the  latter  fell  at  his 
feet,  gazing  into  his  face  with  the  vacent  stare 
of  one  surprised  by  death,  Sanglier  took  a pinch 
of  snuff,  and  said,  in  a calm  voice  : 

“ Voild  V affaire  finie — rnais  ” — shrugging  hi? 
shoulders,  “ ce  n'est  qu'un  scelerat  de  moms” 

The  act  was  too  sudden  to  be  prevented 
and  when  Arrowhead,  uttering  a yell,  bounded  into 
the  bushes,  the  white  men  wrere  too  confounded 
to  follow.  Chingachgook,  however,  was  more 
collected  ; and  the  bushes  had  scarcely  closed  oa 
the  passing  body  of  the  Tuscarora,  than  they 
were  again  opened  by  that  of  the  Delaware  in 
full  pursuit. 

Jasper  Western  spoke  French  fluently,  and 
the  words  and  manner  of  Sanglier  struck  him. 


188 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


“ Speak,  Monsieur,”  he  said,  in  English,  “ am 
I the  traitor  ? ” 

“ Le  voild  ” — answered  the  cool  Frenchman — 
“ dat  is  our  espion — our  agent — our  friend — n'M 
fox — detail  un  grand  scelerat — void.” 

While  speaking,  Sanglier  bent  over  the  dead 
body,  and  thrust  a hand  into  a pocket  of  the 
quartermaster,  out  of  which  he  drew  a purse. 
Emptying  the  contents  on  the  ground,  several 
double-louis  rolled  toward  the  soldiers,  who  were 
not  slow  in  picking  them  up.  Casting  the  purse 
from  him,  in  contempt,  the  soldier  of  fortune 
turned  toward  the  soup  he  had  been  preparing 
with  so  much  care,  and,  finding  it  to  his  liking,  he 
began  to  break  his  fast,  with  an  air  of  indiffer- 
ence that  the  most  stoical  Indian  warrior  might 
have  envied. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

“ The  only  amaranthine  flower  on  earth 
Ib  virtue ; th1  only  lasting  treasure,  truth.11 

Cowper. 

The  reader  must  imagine  some  of  the  occur- 
rences that  followed  the  sudden  death  of  Muir. 
While  his  body  was  in  the  hands  of  his  soldiers, 
who  laid  it  decently  aside,  and  covered  it  with 
a great-coat,  Chingachgook  silently  resumed  his 
place  at  the  fire,  and  both  Sanglier  and  Path- 
finder remarked  that  he  carried  a fresh  and  bleed- 
ing scalp  at  his  girdle.  No  one  asked  any  ques- 
tions ; and  the  former,  although  perfectly  satisfied 
that  Arrowhead  bad  fallen,  manifested  neither 
curiosity  nor  feeling.  He  continued  calmly  eating 
his  soup,  as  if  the  meal  had  been  tranquil  as  usual. 
There  was  something  of  pride,  and  of  an  assumed 
indifference  to  fate,  imitated  from  the  Indians,  in 
all  this ; but  there  was  more  that  really  resulted 
from  practice,  habitual  self-command,  and  con- 
stitutional hardihood.  With  Pathfinder,  the  case 
was  a little  different  in  feeling,  though  much  the 
same  in  appearance.  He  disliked  Muir,  whose 
smooth-tongued  courtesy  was  little  in  accordance 
with  his  own  frank  and  ingenuous  nature  ; but  he 
had  been  shocked  at  his  unexpected  and  violent 
death,  though  accustomed* to  similar  scenes,  and  he 
had  been  surprised  at  the  exposure  of  his  treachery. 
With  a view  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  latter, 
as  soon  as  the  body  was  removed  he  began  to  ques- 
tion the  captain  on  the  subject.  The  latter,  having 
no  particular  motive  for  secrecy,  now  that  his  agent 
was  dead,  in  the  course  of  the  breakfast  revealed 
the  following  circumstances,  which  will  serve  to 
clear  ud  some  of  the  minor  incidents  of  our  tale. 


Soon  after  the  65th  appeared  on  the  frontiers, 
Muir  had  volunteered  his  services  to  the  enemy. 
In  making  his  offers  he  boasted  of  his  intimacy 
with  Lundie,  and  of  the  means  it  afforded  of  fur- 
nishing more  accurate  and  important  information 
than  usual.  His  terms  had  been  accepted*  and 
Monsieur  Sanglier  had  several  interviews  with 
him  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort  at  Oswego,  and  had 
actually  passed  one  entire  night  secreted  in  the 
garrison.  Arrowhead,  however,  was  the  usual 
channel  of  communication,  and  the  anonymous 
letter  to  Major  Duncan  had  been  originally  written 
by  Muir,  transmitted  to  Frontenac,  copied,  and 
sent  back  by  the  Tuscarora,  who  was  returning 
from  that  errand  when  captured  by  the  Scud.  It 
is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  Jasper  was  to 
be  sacrificed  in  order  to  conceal  the  quarter- 
master’s treason,  and  that  the  position  of  the 
island  had  been  betrayed  to  the  enemy  by  the  lat- 
ter. An  extraordinary  compensation,  that  which 
was  found  in  his  purse,  had  induced  him  to  ac- 
company the  party  under  Sergeant  Dunham,  in 
order  to  give  the  signals  that  were  to  bring  on  the 
attack.  The  disposition  of  Muir  toward  the  sex 
was  a natural  weakness,  and  he  would  have  mar- 
ried Mabel  or  any  one  else  who  would  accept  his 
hand ; but  his  admiration  of  her  was  in  a great 
degree  feigned,  in  order  that  he  might  have  an  ex- 
cuse for  accompanying  the  party,  without  sharing 
in  the  responsibility  of  its  defeat,  or  incurring  the 
risk  of  having  no  other  strong  and  seemingly  suf- 
ficient motive.  Much  of  this  was  known  to  Cap- 
tain Sanglier,  particularly  the  part  in  connection 
with  Mabel ; and  he  did  not  fail  to  let  his  auditors 
into  the  whole  secret,  frequently  laughing  in  a 
sarcastic  manner,  as  he  revealed  the  different  ex- 
pedients of  the  luckless  quartermaster. 

“ Touchez-la ,”  said  the  cold-blooded  partisan, 
holding  out  his  sinewy  hand  to  Pathfinder,  when 
he  ended  his  explanations — “ you  be  honnete , and 
dat  is  beaucoup.  We  tak’  de  spy,  as  we  tak’  la 
medidne , for  de  good;  mais,  je  les  de  teste!  Tou 
cliez-la 

“I’ll  shake  your  hand,  captain,  I will,  foi 
you’re  a lawful  and  nat’ral  inimy,”  returned  Path 
finder,  “ and  a manful  one ; but  the  body  of  the 
quartermaster  shall  never  disgrace  English  ground. 
I did  intend  to  carry  it  back  to  Lundie,  that  he 
might  play  his  bagpipes  over  it ; but  now  it  shall 
lie  here,  on  the  spot  where  he  acted  his  villany, 
and  have  his  own  treason  for  a head-stone.  Cap- 
tain Flinty-heart,  I suppose  this  consorting  with 
traitors  is  a part  of  a soldier’s  regular  business ; 
but  I tell  you,  honestly,  it  is  not  to  my  liking,  a nti 
I’d  rather  it  should  be  you  than  I who  had  this 
affair  on  his  conscience.  What  an  awful  sinner 


JASPER  ACQUITTED  OF  TREASON. 


189 


—To  plot  right  and  left  ag  in  country,  friends,  and 
the  Lord ! — Jasper,  boy,  a word  with  you  aside  for 
a single  minute.” 

Pathfinder  now  led  the  young  man  apart,  and 
squeezing  his  hand,  with  the  tears  in  his  own  eyes, 
he  continued : 

“You  know  me,  Eau-douce,  and  I know  you,” 
he  said,  “and  this  news  has  not  changed  my 
opinion  of  you  in  any  manner.  I never  believed 
their  tales,  though  it  looked  solemn  at  one  minute, 
I will  own ; yes,  it  did  look  solemn ; and  it  made 
me  feel  solemn,  too.  I never  suspected  you  for  a 
minute,  for  I know  your  gifts  don’t  lie  that-a-way ; 
but  I must  own  I didn’t  suspect  the  quarter, 
master  neither.” 

“And  he  holding  his  majesty’s  commission, 
Pathfinder ! ” 

“It  isn’t  so  much  that,  Jasper  Western;  it 
isn’t  so  much  that.  He  held  a commission  from 
God  to  act  right,  and  to  deal  fairly  with  his  fellow- 
creatur’s,  and  he  has  failed  awfully  in  his  duty  ! ” 

“ To  think  of  his  pretending  love  for  one  like 
Mabel,  too,  when  he  felt  none  ! ” 

“That  was  bad  sartainly;  the  fellow  must 
have  Mingo  blood  in  his  veins.  The  man  that 
deals  unfairly  by  a woman  can  be  but  a mongrel, 
lad;  for  the  Lord  has  made  them  helpless  on 
purpose  that  we  may  gain  their  love  by  kindness 
and  sarvices.  Here  is  the  sargeant,  poor  man,  on 
his  dying  bed ; he  has  given  me  his  daughter  for 
a wife,  and  Mabel,  dear  girl,  she  has  consented  to 
it ; and  it  makes  me  feel  that  I have  two  welfares 
to  look  after,  two  natur’s  to  care  for,  and  two 
hearts  to  gladden.  Ah’s  me ! Jasper ; I some- 
times feel  that  I’m  not  good  enough  for  that  sweet 
child ! ” 

Eau-douce  had  Dearly  gasped  for  breath  when 
he  first  heard  this  intelligence ; and,  though  he 
succeeded  in  suppressing  any  other  outward  signs 
of  agitation,  his  cheek  was  blanched  nearly  to  the 
paleness  of  death.  Still  he  found  means  to  an- 
swer, not  only  with  firmness,  but  with  energy. 

“ Say  not  so,  Pathfinder ; you  are  good 
enough  for  a queen.” 

“ Ay,  ay,  boy,  according  to  your  ideas  of  my 
goodness ; that  is  to  say — I can  kill  a deer,  or 
even  a Mingo  at  need,  with  any  man  on  the  lines ; 
or  I can  follow  a forest  path  with  as  true  an  eye, 
or  read  the  stars,  when  others  do  not  understand 
them.  No  doubt,  no  doubt,  Mabel  will  have  ven- 
ison enough,  and  fish  enough,  and  pigeons  enough ; 
but  will  she  have  knowledge  enough,  and  will  she 
have  ideas  enough,  and  pleasant  conversation 
enough,  when  life  comes  to  drag  a little,  and  each 
of  us  begins  to  pass  for  our  true  value  ? ” 

“ If  you  pass  for  your  value,  Pathfinder,  the 


greatest  lady  in  the  land  would  be  happy  with 
you.  On  that  head,  you  have  no  reason  to  feel 
afraid.” 

“Now,  Jasper,  I dare  to  say  you  think  so — 
nay,  I know  you  do ; for  it  is  nat’ral  and  accord- 
ing to  friendship,  for  people  to  look  over  favor- 
ably at  them  they  love.  Yes,  ye3 ; if  I had  to 
marry  you,  boy,  I should  give  myself  no  consarn 
about  being  well  looked  upon,  for  you  have  al- 
ways shown  a disposition  to  see  me  and  all  I do 
with  friendly  eyes.  But  a young  gal,  after  all, 
must  wish  to  marry  a man  that  is  nearer  to  her 
own  age  and  fancies,  than  to  have  one  old  enough 
to  be  her  father,  and  rude  enough  to  frighten  her. 
I wonder,  Jasper,  that  Mabel  never  took  a fancy 
to  you,  now,  rather  than  setting  her  mind  on 
me!” 

“ Take  a fancy  to  me,  Pathfinder ! ” returned 
the  young  man,  endeavoring  to  clear  his  voice 
without  betraying  himself — “ What  is  there  about 
me  to  please  such  a girl  as  Mabel  Dunham  ? I 
have  all  that  you  find  fault  with  in  yourself,  with 
none  of  that  excellence  that  makes  even  the  gen- 
erals respect  you.” 

“ Well — well — it’s  all  chance,  say  what  we 
will  about  it.  Here  I have  journeyed  and  guided 
through  the  woods,  female  after  female,  and  con- 
sorted with  them  in  the  garrisons,  and  never  have 
I even  felt  an  inclination  for  any,  until  I saw  Ma- 
bel Dunham.  It’s  true  the  poor  sergeant  first  set 
me  to  thinking  about  his  daughter ; but,  after  we 
got  a little  acquainted  like,  I’d  no  need  of  being 
spoken  to,  to  think  of  her  night  and  day.  I’m 
tough,  Jasper ; yes,  I’m  very  tough ; and  I’m 
ri§o#lute  enough,  as  you  all  know ; and  yet  I do 
think  it  would  quite  break  me  down  now,  to  lose 
Mabel  Dunham ! ” 

“ We  will  talk  no  more  of  it,  Pathfinder,”  said 
Jasper,  returning  his  friend’s  squeeze  of  the  hand, 
and  moving  back  toward  the  fire,  though  slowly, 
and  in  the  manner  of  one  who  cared  little  where 
he  went ; “ we  will  talk  no  more  of  it.  You  are 
worthy  of  Mabel,  and  Mabel  is  worthy  of  you — 
you  like  Mabel,  and  Mabel  likes  you — her  fathei 
has  chosen  you  for  her  husband,  and  no  one  has 
a right  to  interfere.  As  for  the  quartermaster, 
his  feigning  love  for  Mabel  is  worse  even  than  his 
treason  to  the  king ! ” 

By  this  time  they  were  so  near  the  fire,  that  it 
was  necessary  to  change  the  conversation.  Lucki- 
ly, at  that  instant,  Cap,  who  had  been  in  the  block 
in  company  with  his  dying  brother-in-law,  and 
who  knew  nothing  of  what  had  passed  since  the 
capitulation,  now  appeared,  walking  with  a medi- 
tative and  melancholy  air  toward  the  group. 
Much  of  that  hearty  dogmatism  that  imparted 


190 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


even  to  his  ordinary  air  and  demeanor  an  appear- 
ance of  something  like  contempt  for  all  around 
him,  had  disappeared,  and  he  seemed  thoughtful, 
if  not  meek. 

“ This  death,  gentlemen,”  he  said,  when  he 
had  got  sufficiently  near,  “ is  a melancholy  busi- 
ness, make  the  best  of  it.  Now,  here  is  Sergeant 
Dunham,  a very  good  soldier,  I make  no  question, 
about  to  slip  his  cable,  and  yet  he  holds  on  to  the 
better  end  of  it,  as  if  he  was  determined  it  should 
never  run  out  of  the  hawse-hole ; and  all  because 
he  loves  his  daughter,  it  seems  to  me.  For  my 
part,  when  a friend  is  really  under  the  necessity 
of  making  a long  journey,  I always  wish  him  well 
and  happily  off.” 

“ Y ou  wouldn’t  kill  the  sergeant  before  his 
time  ? ” Pathfinder  reproachfully  answered. 
“ Life  is  sweet,  even  to  the  aged ; and,  for  that 
matter,  I’ve  known  some  that  seemed  to  set  much 
store  by  it,  when  it  got  to  be  of  the  least  value.” 

Nothing  had  been  further  from  Cap’s  real 
thoughts  than  the  wish  to  hasten  his  brother-in- 
law’s  end.  He  had  found  himself  embarrassed 
with  the  duties  of  smoothing  a death-bed,  and  all 
he  had  meant  was  to  express  a sincere  desire  that 
the  sergeant  were  happily  rid  of  doubt  and  suf- 
fering. A little  shocked,  therefore,  at  the  inter- 
pretation that  had  been  put  on  his  words,  he  re- 
joined with  some  of  the  asperity  of  the  man, 
though  rebuked  by  a consciousness  of  not  having 
done  his  own  wishes  justice — 

“ You  are  too  old  and  too  sensible  a person, 
Pathfinder,”  he  said,  “ to  fetch  a man  up  with  a 
surge,  when  he  is  paying  out  his  ideas  in  distress, 
as  it  might  be.  Sergeant  Dunham  is  both,  my 
brother-in-law  and  my  friend — that  is  to  say,  as 
intimate  a friend  as  a soldier  well  can  be  with  a 
seafaring  man,  and  I respect  and  honor  him  ac- 
cordingly. I make  no  doubt,  moreover,  that  he 
has  lived  such  a life  as  becomes  a man,  and  there 
can  be  no  great  harm,  after  all,  in  wishing  any 
one  well  berthed  in  heaven.  Well ! we  are  mor- 
tal the  best  of  us,  that  you’ll  not  deny ; and  it 
ought  to  be  a lesson  not  to  feel  pride  in  our 
strength  and  beauty.  Where  is  the  quarter- 
master, Fathfinder  ? It  is  proper  he  should  come 
and  have  a parting  word  with  the  poor  sergeant, 
who  is  only  going  a little  before  us.” 

“ You  have  spoken  more  truth,  Master  Cap, 
than  you’ve  been  knowing  to,  all  this  time ; in 
which  there  is  no  great  wonder,  howsoever ; man- 
kind as  often  telling  biting  truths  when  they 
least  mean  it,  a3  at  any  other  time.  You  might 
have  gone  further,  notwithstanding,  and  said 
that  we  are  mortal,  the  worst  of  us,  which  is  quite 
&a  true,  and  a good  deal  more  wholesome  than 


saying  that  we  are  mortal,  the  best  of  us.  Aa 
for  the  quartermaster’s  coming  to  speak  a part- 
ing word  to  the  sergeant,  it  is  quite  out  of  the 
question,  seeing  that  he  has  gone  ahead,  and  that 
too  with  little  parting  notice  to  himself,  or  to  any 
one  else.” 

“ You  are  not  quite  as  clear  as  common  in 
your  language,  Pathfinder.  I know  that  we 
ought  all  to  have  solemn  thoughts  on  these  oc- 
casions, but  I see  no  use  in  speaking  in  parables.” 

“ If  my  words  are  not  plain,  the  idee  is.  In 
short,  Master  Cap,  while  Sargeant  Dunham  has 
been  preparing  himself  for  a long  journey,  like  a 
conscientious  and  honest  man,  as  he  is,  deliber- 
ately and  slowly,  the  quartermaster  has  started, 
in  a hurry,  before  him  ; and,  although  it  is  a mat- 
ter on  which  it  does  not  become  me  to  be 
very  positive,  I give  it  as  my  opinion  that  they 
travel  such  different  roads  that  they  will  never 
meet.” 

“Explain  yourself,  my  friend,”  said  the  be- 
wildered seaman,  looking  around  him  in  search 
of  Muir,  whose  absence  began  to  excite  his  dis- 
trust. “ I see  nothing  of  the  quartermaster,  but 
I think  him  too  much  of  a man  to  run  away,  now 
that  the  victory  is  gained.  If  the  fight  were 
ahead,  instead  of  in  our  wake,  the  case  would  be 
altered.” 

“ There  lies  all  that  i3  left  of  him,  beneath 
that  great-coat,”  returned  the  guide,  who  then 
briefly  related  the  manner  of  the  lieutenant’s 
death.  “ The  Tuscarora  was  as  venomous  in  his 
blow  as  a rattler,  though  he  failed  to  give  the 
warning,”  continued  Pathfinder.  “I’ve  seen 
many  a desperate  fight,  and  several  of  these  sud- 
den outbreaks  of  savage  temper ; but  never,  be- 
fore, did  I see  a human  soul  quit  the  body  more 
unexpectedly,  or  at  a worse  moment  for  the  hopes 
of  the  dying  man.  His  breath  was  stopped  with 
the  lie  on  his  lips,  and  the  spirit  might  be  said  to 
have  passed  away  in  the  very  ardor  of  wicked- 
ness.” 

Cap  listened  with  a gaping  mouth,  and  he  gave 
two  or  three  violent  hems,  as  the  other  concluded, 
like  one  who  distrusted  his  own  respiration. 

“ This  is  an  uncertain  and  uncomfortable  life 
of  yours,  Master  Pathfinder,  what  between  the 
fresh  water  and  the  savages,”  he  said,  “ and  the 
sooner  I get  quit  of  it,  the  higher  will  be  my  opin- 
ion of  myself.  Now  you  mention  it,  I will  say 
that  the  man  ran  for  that  berth  in  the  rocks,  when 
the  enemy  first  bore  down  upon  us,  with  a sor4 
of  instinct  that  I thought  surprising  in  an  officer 
but  I was  in  too  great  a hurry  to  follow,  to  log 
the  whole  matter  accurately.  God  bless  me — 
God  bless  me ! a traitor  do  you  say  and  ready  to 


THE  GUIDE’S  INTERVIEW. 


191 


sell  his  country,  and  to  a bloody  Frenchman, 
too?  ” 

44  To  sell  any  thing — country,  soul,  body,  Ma- 
bel, and  all  our  scalps ; and  no  ways  particular, 
I’ll  engage,  as  to  the  purchaser.  The  countrymen 
of  Captain  Flinty-heart,  here,  were  the  paymas- 
ters this  time.” 

“Just  like  ’em;  ever  ready  to  buy  when  they 
can’t  thrash,  and  to  run  when  they  can’t  do  nei- 
ther.” 

Monsieur  Sanglier  lifted  his  cap  with  ironical 
gravity,  and  acknowledged  the  compliment  with 
an  expression  of  polite  contempt  that  was  alto- 
gether lost  on  its  insensible  subject.  But  Path- 
finder had  too  much  native  courtesy,  and  was  far 
too  just-minded,  to  allow  the  attack  to  go  unno- 
ticed. 

“ Well — well,”  he  interposed — “ to  my  mind 
there  is  no  great  difference  atween  an  Englishman 
and  a Frenchman,  a’ter  all.  They  talk  different 
tongues,  and  live  under  different  kings,  I will  al- 
low but  both  are  human,  and  feel  like  human 
beings,  when  there  is  occasion  for  it.  If  a French- 
man is  sometimes  skeary,  so  is  an  Englishman ; 
and  as  for  running  away,  why  a man  will  now  and 
then  do  it,  as  well  as  a horse,  let  him  come  of 
what  people  he  may.” 

Captain  Flinty-heart,  as  Pathfinder  called  him, 
made  another  obeisance ; but  this  time  the  smile 
was  friendly,  and  not  ironical,  for  he  felt  that  the 
intention  was  good,  whatever  might  have  been 
the  mode  of  expressing  it.  Too  philosophical, 
however,  to  heed  what  a man  like  Cap  might  say 
or  think,  he  finished  his  breakfast  without  allow- 
ing his  attention  to  be  again  diverted  from  that 
important  pursuit. 

“ My  business  here  was  principally  with  the 
quartermaster,”  Cap  continued,  as  soon  as  he  had 
done  regarding  the  Frenchman’s  pantomime. 
“ The  sergeant  must  be  near  his  end ; and  I have 
thought  he  might  wish  to  say  something  to  his 
successor  in  authority,  before  he  finally  departed. 
It  is  too  late,  it  would  seem ; and,  as  you  say, 
Pathfinder,  the  lieutenant  has  truly  gone  before.” 

“ That  he  has,  though  on  a different  path.  As 
for  authority,  I suppose  the  corporal  has  now  a 
right  to  command  what’s  left  of  the  55th,  though 
a small  and  worried,  not  to  say  frightened,  party 
it  is.  But,  if  any  thing  needs  to  be  done,  the 
chances  are  greatly  in  favor  of  my  being  called 
on  to  do  it.  I suppose,  however,  we  have  only 
to  bury  our  dead  and  set  fire  to  the  block  and  the 
huts,  for  they  stand  in  the  inimy’s  territory,  by 
position,  if  not  by  law,  and  must  not  be  left  for 
their  convenience.  Our  using  them  again  is  out 
of  the  question ; for  now  the  Frenchers  know 


where  the  island  is  to  be  found,  it  would  be  like 
thrusting  the  hand  into  a wolf-trap,  with  our  eyes 
wide  open.  This  part  of  the  work,  the  Sarpent 
and  I will  see  to ; for  we  are  practised  in  retreats 
as  in  advances.” 

44  All  that  is  very  well,  my  good  friend  ; and 
now  for  my  poor  brother-in-law  ; though  he  is  a 
soldier,  we  cannot  let  him  slip  without  a word  of 
consolation,  and  a leave-taking,  in  my  judgment. 
This  has  been  an  unlucky  affair,  on  every  tack  * 
though  I suppose  it  is  what  one  had  a right  to 
expect,  considering  the  state  of  the  times,  and 
the  nature  of  the  navigation.  We  must  make  the 
best  of  it,  and  try  to  help  the  worthy  man  to  un- 
moor, without  straining  his  messengers.  Death 
is  a circumstance,  after  all,  Master  Pathfinder, 
and  one  of  a very  general  character,  too,  seeing 
that  we  must  all  submit  to  it,  sooner  or  later.” 

“You  say  truth,  you  say  truth  ; and  for  that 
reason  I hold  it  to  be  wise  to  be  always  ready. 
I’ve  often  thought,  Saltwater,  that  he  is  happiest 
who  has  the  least  to  leave  behind  him,  when  the 
summons  comes.  Now,  here  am  I,  a hunter  and 
a scout,  and  a guide,  although  I do  not  own  a 
foot  of  land  on  ’arth,  yet  do  I enjoy  and  possess 
more  than  the  great  Albany  Patroon.  With  the 
heavens  over  my  head  to  keep  me  in  mind  of  the 
last  great  hunt,  and  the  dried  leaves  beneath  my 
feet,  I tramp  over  the  ground  as  freely  as  if  I 
was  its  lord  and  owner ; and  what  more  need 
heart  desire  ? I do  *iot  say  that  I love  nothing 
that  belongs  to  ’arth  ; for  I do,  though  not  much, 
unless  it  might  be  Mabel  Dunham,  that  I can’t  car- 
ry with  me.  I have  some  pups  at  the  higher  fort, 
that  I valy  considerable,  though  they  are  too  noisy 
for  warfare,  and  so  we  are  compelled  to  live  sepa- 
rate for  a while ; and  then,  I think,  it  would  grieve 
me  to  part  with  Killdeer ; but  I see  no  reason 
why  we  should  not  be  buried  in  the  same  grave, 
for  we  are,  as  near  as  can  be,  of  the  same  length 
— six  feet,  to  a hair’s  breadth  ; but,  bating  these, 
and  a pipe  that  the  Sarpent  gave  me,  and  a few 
tokens  received  from  travellers,  all  of  which  might 
be  put  in  a pouch,  and  laid  under  my  head,  when 
the  order  comes  to  march,  I shall  be  ready  at  a 
minute’s  warning ; and,  let  me  tell  you,  Master 
Cap,  that’s  what  I call  a circumstance,  too ! ” 

“ ’Tis  just  so  with  me,”  answered  the  sailor, 
as  the  two  walked  toward  the  block,  too  much 
occupied  with  their  respective  morality,  to  re- 
member, at  the  moment,  the  melancholy  errand1 
they  were  on — “ that’s  just  my  way  of  feeling 
and  reasoning.  How  often  have  I felt,  when  near 
shipwreck,  the  relief  of  not  owning  the  craft ! 
4 If  she  goes,’  I have  said  to  myself,  4 why  my  life 
goes  with  her,  but  not  my  property,  and  there’s 


192 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


great  comfort  in  that.’  I’ve  discovered  in  the 
course  of  boxing  about  the  world,  from  the  Horn 
to  Cape  North,  not  to  speak  of  this  run  on  a bit 
of  fresh-water,  that  if  a man  has  a few  dollars, 
and  puts  them  in  a chest  under  lock  and  key,  he 
is  pretty  certain  to  fasten  up  his  heart  in  the 
same  till ; and  so  I carry  pretty  much  all  I own 
in  a belt  round  my  body,  in  order,  as  I say,  to 
keep  the  vitals  in  the  right  place.  D e,  Path- 

finder, if  I think  a man  without  a heart  any  bet- 
ter than  a fish  with  a hole  in  his  air-bag.” 

“ I don’t  know  how  that  may  be,  Master  Cap, 
but  a man  without  a conscience  is  but  a poor 
creatur’,  take  my  word  for  it,  as  any  one  will  dis- 
cover who  has  to  do  with  a Mingo.  I trouble 
myself  little  with  dollars  or  half-joes,  for  these 
are  the  favoryte  coin  in  this  part  of  the  world  ; 
but  I can  easily  believe,  by  what  I’ve  seen  of  man- 
kind, that  if  a man  has  a chest  filled  with  either, 
he  may  be  said  to  lock  up  his  heart  in  the  same 
box.  I once  hunted  for  two  summers  during  the 
last  peace,  and  I collected  so  much  peltry  that  I 
found  my  right  feelings  giving  way  to  a craving 
after  property  ; and  if  I have  consarn  in  marry- 
ing Mabel,  it  is  that  I may  get  to  love  such  things 
too  well,  in  order  to  make  her  comfortable.” 

“You’re  a philosopher,  that’s  clear,  Path- 
finder ; and  I don’t  know  but  you’re  a Chris- 
tian ! ” 

“ I should  be  out  of  humor  with  the  man  that 
gainsayed  the  last,  Master„Cap.  I have  not  been 
Christianized  by  the  Moravians,  like  so  many  of 
the  Delawares,  it  is  true ; but  I hold  to  Christian- 
ity and  white  gifts.  With  me  it  is  as  oncreditable 
for  a white  man  not  to  be  a Christian,  as  it  is  for 
a red-skin  not  to  believe  in  his  happy  hunting- 
grounds  ; indeed,  after  allowing  for  difference  in 
traditions,  and  some  variations  about  the  manner 
in  which  the  spirit  will  be  occupied  after  death, 
I hold  that  a good  Delaware  is  a good  Christian, 
though  he  never  saw  a Moravian ; and  a good 
Christian,  a good  Delaware,  so  far  as  Natur’  is 
consamed.  The  Sarpent  and  I talk  these  mat- 
ters over  often,  for  he  has  a hankerin’  after  Chris- 
tianity— ” 

“ The  d — 1 he  has  ! ” interrupted  Cap.  “ And 
what  does  he  intend  to  do  in  a church  with  all 
the  scalps  he  takes  ? ” 

“Don’t  run  away  with  a false  idee,  friend 
Cap ; don’t  run  away  with  a false  idee.  These 
things  are  only  skin-deep,  and  all  depend  on  edi- 
cation  and  nat’ral  gifts.  Look  around  you  at 
mankind,  and  tell  me  why  you  see  a red  warrior 
here,  a black  one  there,  and  white  armies  in  an- 
other place  ? All  this,  and  a great  deal  more  of 
the  same  kind  that  I could  point  out,  has  been 


ordered  for  some  ’special  purpose  ; and  it  is  not 
for  us  to  fly  in  the  face  of  facts  and  deny  their 
truth.  No — no — each  color  has  its  gifts,  and  its 
laws,  and  its  traditions ; and  one  is  not  to  con- 
demn another  because  he  does  not  exactly  com- 
prehend it.” 

“ You  must  have  read  a great  deal,  Pathfind- 
er, to  see  things  as  clear  as  this,”  returned  Cap, 
who  was  not  a little  mystified  by  his  companion’s 
simple  creed — “ It’s  all  as  plain  as  day  to  me  now, 
though  I must  say  I never  fell  in  with  these 
opinions  before.  What  denomination  do  you  be- 
long to,  my  friend  ? ” 

“ Anan  ? ” 

“ What  sect  do  you  hold  out  for  ? — What  par* 
ticular  church  do  you  fetch  up  in  ? ” 

“ Look  about  you,  and  judge  for  yourself. 
I’m  in  church  now;  I eat  in  church,  drink  in 
church,  sleep  in  church.  The  ’arth  is  the  temple 
of  the  Lord,  and  I wait  on  Him  hourly,  daily, 
without  ceasing,  I humbly  hope.  No — no — I’ll 
not  deny  my  blood  and  color,  but  am  Christian 
born,  and  shall  die  in  the  same  faith.  The  Mo- 
ravians tried  me  hard ; and  one  of  the  king’s 
chaplains  has  had  his  say,  too,  though  that’s  a 
class  no  ways  strenuous  on  such  matters  ; and 
a missionary  sent  from  Rome  talked  much  with 
me  as  I guided  him  through  the  forest  during  the 
last  peace  ; but  I’ve  had  one  answer  for  them  all 
— I’m  a Christian  already,  and  want  to  be  neither 
Moravian,  nor  Churchman,  nor  Papist.  No — no 
— I’ll  not  deny  my  birth  and  blood.” 

“ I think  a word  from  you  might  lighten  the 
sergeant  over  the  shoals  of  death,  Master  Path- 
finder. He  has  no  one  with  him  but  poor  Mabel, 
and  she,  you  know,  besides  being  his  daughter, 
is  but  a girl  and  a child,  after  all.” 

“ Mabel  is  feeble  in  body,  friend  Cap,  but,  in 
matters  of  this  natur’,  I doubt  if  she  may  not  be 
stronger  than  most  men.  But  Sargeant  Dunham 
is  my  friend,  and  he  is  your  brother-in-law . so 
now  the  press  of  fighting  and  maintaining  our 
rights  is  over,  it  is  fitting  we  should  both  go  and 
witness  his  departure.  I’ve  stood  by  many  a dy- 
ing man,  Master  Cap,”  continued  Pathfinder,  whc 
had  a besetting  propensity  to  enlarge  on  his  ex 
perience,  stopping  and  holding  his  companion  by 
a button — “ I’ve  stood  by  many  a dying  man’s 
side,  and  seen  his  last  gasp,  and  heard  his  last 
breath ; for  when  the  hurry  and  tumult  of  the 
battle  is  over,  it  is  good  to  bethink  us  of  the  mis- 
fortunate,  and  it  is  remarkable  to  witness  how 
differently  human  natur’  feels  at  such  solemn  mo- 
ments. Some  go  their  way  as  stupid  and  ignorant 
as  if  God  had  never  given  them  reason,  and  an 
accountable  state  ; while  others  quit  us  rejoicing, 


SELF-EXAMINATION. 


193 


like  men  who  leave  heavy  burdens  behind  them. 
I think  that  the  mind  sees  clearly  at  such  mo- 
ments, my  friend,  and  that  past  deeds  stand  thick 
before  the  recollection.” 

“ I’ll  engage  they  do,  Pathfinder.  I have 
witnessed  something  of  this  myself,  and  hope  I’m 
the  better  man  for  it.  I remember  once  that  I 
thought  my  own  time  had  come,  and  the  log  was 
overhauled  with  a diligence  I did  not  think  my- 
self capable  of  until  that  moment.  I’ve  not  been 
a very  great  sinner,  friend  Pathfinder  ; that  is  to 
say,  never  on  a large  scale ; though,  I dare  say, 
if  the  truth  were  spoken,  a considerable  amount 
of  small  matters  might  be  raked  up  against  me, 
as  well  as  against  another  man ; but  then  I’ve 
never  committed  piracy,  nor  high-treason,  nor 
arson,  nor  any  of  them  sort  of  things.  As  to 
smuggling,  and  the  like  of  that,  why,  I’m  a sea- 
faring man,  and  I suppose  all  callings  have  their 
weak  spots.  I dare  say  your  trade  is  not  alto- 
gether without  blemish,  honorable  and  useful  as 
it  seems  to  be  ? ” 

“ Many  of  the  scouts  and  guides  are  desperate 
knaves ; and,  like  the  quartermaster  here,  some 
of  them  take  pay  of  both  sides.  I hope  I’m  not 
one  of  them,  though  all  occupations  lead  tq  temp- 
tations. Thrice  have  I been  sorely  tried  in  my  life, 
and  once  yielded  a little,  though  I hope  it  was 
not  in  a matter  to  disturb  a mau’s  conscience  in 
his  last  moments.  The  first  time  was  when  I 
found  in  the  woods  a pack  of  skins  that  I knowed 
belonged  to  a Frencher,  who  was  hunting  on  our 
side  of  the  lines,  where  he  had  no  business  to  be ; 
twenty-six  as  handsome  beavers  as  ever  gladdened 
fcuman  eyes!  Well,  that  was  a sore  temptation, 
for  I thought  the  law  would  have  been  almost 
with  me,  although  it  was  in  peace-times.  But 
then  I remembered  that  such  laws  wasn’t  made 
for  us  hunters,  and  bethought  me  that  the  poor 
man  might  have  built  great  expectations  for  the 
next  winter,  on  the  sale  of  his  skins ; and  I left 
them  where  they  lay.  Most  of  our  people  said  I 
did  wrong  ; but  the  manner  in  which  I slept  that 
night  convinced  me  that  I had  done  right.  The 
next  trial  was  when  I found  the  rifle,  that  is  sar- 
tainly  the  only  one  in  this  part  of  the  world  that 
can  be  calculated  on  as  surely  as  Killdeer,  and 
knowed  that  by  taking  it,  or  even  hiding  it,  I 
might  at  once  rise  to  be  the  first  shot  in  all  these 
parts.  I was  then  young,  and  by  no  means  as 
expart  as  I have  since  got  to  be,  and  youth  is 
ambitious  and  striving ; but,  God  be  praised ! I 
mastered  that  feeling ; and,  friend  Cap,  what  is 
almost  as  good,  1 mastered  my  rival  in  as  fair  a 
shooting-match  as  was  ever  witnessed  in  a garri- 
son ; he  with  his  piece,  and  I with  Killdeer,  and 

. 39  13 


before  the  general  in  person,  too  ! ” Here  Pathfind- 
er stopped  to  laugh,  his  triumph  still  glittering  in 
his  eyes,  and  glowing  on  his  sunburned  and 
browned  cheek.  “Well,  the  next  conflict  with 
the  devil  was  the  hardest  of  them  all,  and  that 
was  when  I came  suddenly  upon  a camp  of  six 
Mingoes,  asleep  in  the  woods,  with  their  guns 
and  horns  piled  in  a way  that  enabled  me  to  get 
possession  of  them  without  waking  a miscreant 
of  them  all.  What  an  opportunity  that  would 
have  been  for  the  Sarpent,  who  would  have  de- 
spatched them,  one  after  another,  with  his  knife, 
and  had  their  six  scalps  at  his  girdle  in  about  the 
time  it  takes  me  to  tell  you  the  story.  Oh ! he’s 
a valiant  warrior,  that  Chingachgook,  and  as  hon- 
est as  he’s  brave,  and  as  good  as  he’s  honest ! ” 

“ And  what  may  you  have  done  in  this  matter, 
Master  Pathfinder?”  demanded  Cap,  who  began 
to  be  interested  in  the  result — “ it  seems  to  me 
you  had  made  either  a very  lucky  or  a very  un- 
lucky landfall.” 

“ ’Twas  lucky,  and  ’twas  unlucky,  if  you  can 
understand  that.  ’Twas  unlucky,  for  it  proved  a 
desperate  trial ; and  yet  ’twas  lucky,  all  things 
considered,  in  the  ind.  I did  not  touch  a hair  of 
their  heads,  for  a white  man  has  no  nat’ral  gifts 
to  take  scalps  ; nor  did  I even  make  sure  of  ons 
of  their  rifles.  I distrusted  myself,  knowing  that 
a Mingo  is  no  favorite  in  my  own  eyes.” 

“ As  for  the  scalps,  I think  you  were  right 
enough,  my  worthy  friend  ; but  as  for  the  arma- 
ment and  the  stores,  they  would  have  been  con- 
demned by  any  prize-court  in  Christendom ! ” 

“ That  they  would — that  they  would ; but  then  • 
the  Mingoes  would  have  gone  clear,  seeing  that  a 
white  man  can  no  more  attack  an  unarmed,  than 
a sleeping  inimy.  No — no — I did  myself,  and  my 
color,  and  my  religion,  too,  greater  justice.  I 
waited  till  their  nap  was  over,  and'  they  well  on 
their  war-path  again ; and  by  ambushing  them 
here,  and  flanking  them  there,  I peppered  the 
blackguards  intrinsically,  like  ” — Pathfinder  occa- 
sionally  caught  a fine  word  from  his  associates, 
and  used  it  a little  vaguely — “ that  only  one  ever 
got  back  to  his  village;  and  he  came  into  his 
wigwam,  limping.  Luckily,  as  it  turned  out,  the 
great  Delaware  had  only  halted  to  jerk  some 
venison,  and  was  following  on  my  trail ; and  when 
he  got  up,  he  had  five  of  the  scoundrel’s  scalps 
hanging  where  they  ought  to  be  ; so  you  see  noth- 
ing was  lost  by  doing  right,  either  in  the  way  of 
honor  or  in  that  of  profit.” 

Cap  grunted  an  assent,  though  the  distinctions 
in  his  companion’s  morality,  it  must  be  owned, 
were  not  exactly  clear  to  his  understanding.  The 
two  had  occasionally  moved  toward  the  block  as 


194 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


they  conversed,  and  then  stopped  again,  as  some 
matter  of  more  interest  than  common  brought 
them  to  a halt.  They  were  now  so  near  the 
building,  however,  that  neither  thought  of  pur- 
suing the  subject  any  farther ; but  each  prepared 
himself  for  the  final  scene  with  Sergeant  Dunham. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

“ Thou  barraine  ground,  whom  winter’s  wrath  hath  wasted, 
Art  made  a mirror  to  behold  my  plight ; 

Whil’ome  thy  fresh  spring  flower’d ; and  after  hasted 
Thy  summer  proude,  with  daffodillies  dight ; 

And  now  is  come  thy  winter’s  stormy  state, 

Thy  mantle  mar’d  wherein  thou  maskedst  late.” 

Spenser. 

Although  the  soldier  may  regard  danger,  and 
even  death,  with  indifference,  in  the  tumult  of 
battle,  when  the  passage  of  the  soul  is  delayed  to 
moments  of  tranquillity  and  reflection,  the  change 
commonly  brings  with  it  the  usual  train  of  solemn 
reflections  ; of  regrets  for  the  past ; and  of  doubts 
and  anticipations  for  the  future.  Many  a man 
has  died  with  an  heroic  expression  on  his  lips, 
but  with  heaviness  and  distrust  at  his  heart ; for, 
whatever  may  be  the  varieties  of  our  religious 
creeds — let  us  depend  on  the  mediation  of  Christ, 
the  dogmas  of  Mahomet,  or  the  elaborated  alle- 
gories of  the  East — there  i3  a conviction,  com- 
mon to  all  men,  that  death  is  but  the  stepping- 
stone  between  this  and  a more  elevated  state  of 
being.  Sergeant  Dunham  was  a brave  man  ; but 
he  was  departing  for  a country  in  which  resolu- 
tion could  avail  him  nothing ; and,  as  he  felt 
himself  gradually  loosened  from  the  grasp  of  the 
world,  his  thoughts  and  feelings  took  the  natural 
direction  ; for,  if  it  be  true  that  death  is  the  great 
leveller,  in  nothing  is  it  more  true  than  that  it  re- 
duces all  to  the  same  views  of  the  vanity  of  life. 

Pathfinder,  though  a man  of  quaint  and  pe- 
culiar habits  and  opinions,  was  always  thoughtful, 
and  disposed  to  view  the  things  around  him  with 
a shade  of  philosophy,  as  well  as  with  serious- 
ness. In  him,  therefore,  the  scene  in  the  block- 
house awakened  no  very  novel  feelings  ; but  the 
case  was  different  with  Cap.  Rude,  opinionated, 
dogmatical,  and  boisterous,  the  old  sailor  was 
little  accustomed  to  view  even  death  with  any  ap- 
proach to  the  gravity  that  its  importance  de- 
mands ; and,  notwithstanding  all  that  had  passed, 
and  his  real  regard  for  his  brother-in-law,  he  now 
entered  the  room  of  the  dying  man  with  much  of 
that  callous  unconcern  which  was  the  fruit  of  long 
training  in  a school,  that,  while  it  gives  so  many 
lessons  in  the  sublimest  truths,  generally  wastes 


its  admonitions  on  scholars  who  are  little  dis- 
posed to  profit  by  them. 

The  first  proof  that  Cap  gave  of  his  not  enter- 
ing as  fully  as  those  around  him  into  the  solem- 
nity of  the  moment,  was  by  commencing  a narra- 
tion of  the  events  which  had  just  led  to  the 
deaths  of  Muir  and  Arrowhead.  “ Both  tripped 
their  anchors  in  a hurry,  brother  Dunham,”  he 
concluded ; “ and  you  have  the  consolation  of 
knowing  that  others  have  gone  before  you  in  the 
great  journey,  and  they,  too,  men  whom  you’ve 
no  particular  reason  to  love  ; which  to  me,  were  I 
placed  in  your  situation,  would  be  a source  of 
very  great  satisfaction.  My  mother  always  said, 
Master  Pathfinder,  that  dying  people’s  spirits 
should  not  be  damped,  but  that  they  ought  to  be 
encouraged  by  all  proper  and  prudent  means ; 
and  this  news  will  give  the  poor  fellow  a great 
lift,  if  he  feels  toward  them  savages  any  way  as  I 
feel  myself.” 

June  Arose  at  this  intelligence,  and  stole  from 
the  block-house  with  a noiseless  step.  Dunham 
listened  with  a vacant  stare,  for  life  had  already 
lost  so  many  of  its  ties  that  he  had  really  forgot- 
ten Arrowhead,  and  cared  nothing  for  Muir ; but 
he  inquired  in  a feeble  voice  for  Eau-douce.  The 
young  man  was  immediately  summoned,  and  soon 
made  his  appearance.  The  sergeant  gazed  at  him 
kindly,  and  the  expression  of  his  eyes  was  that  of 
regret  for  the  injury  he  had  done  him  in  thought. 
The  party  in  the  block-house  now  consisted  of  Path- 
finder, Cap,  Mabel,  Jasper,  and  the  dying  man. 
With  the  exception  of  the  daughter,  all  stood 
around  the  sergeant’s  pallet  in  attendance  on  his 
last  moments.  Mabel  kneeled  at  his  side,  no\^ 
pressing  a clammy  hand  to  her  head,  now  apply- 
ing moisture  to  the  parched  lips  of  her  father. 

“ Your  case  will  shortly  be  ourn,  sargeant,” 
said  Pathfinder,  who  could  hardly  be  said  to  be 
awe-struck  by  the  scene,  for  he  had  witnessed  the 
approach  and  victories  of  death  too  often  for 
that ; but  who  felt  the  full  difference  between  his 
triumphs  in  the  excitement  of  battle  and  in  the 
quiet  of  the  domestic  circle ; “ and  I make  no 
question  we  shall  meet  ag’in  hereafter.  Arrow- 
head has  gone  his  way,  ’tis  true  ; but  it  can  never 
be  the  way  of  a just  Indian.  You’ve  seen  the  last 
of  him : for  his  path  cannot  be  the  path  of  the 
just.  Reason  is  ag’in  the  thought,  in  his  case, 
as  it  is  also  in  my  judgment  ag’in  it,  too,  in  the 
case  of  Lieutenant  Muir.  You  have  done  your 
duty  in  life  ; and,  when  a man  does  that,  he  may 
start  on  the  longest  journey  with  a light  heart 
and  an  actyve  foot.” 

“ I hope  so,  my  friend — I’ve  tried  to  do  my 
duty.” 


MABEL  AT  HER  FATHER’S  HEATH-BED. 


195 


“ Ay — ay — ” put  in  Cap,  “ intention  is  half 
the  battle  ; and  though  you  would  have  done  bet- 
ter had  you  hove-to  in  the  offing  and  sent  a craft 
in  to  feel  how  the  land  lay ; things  might  have 
turned  out  differently ; no  one  here  doubts  that 
you  meant  all  for  the  best,  and  no  one  anywhere 
else  I should  think,  from  what  I’ve  seen  of  this 
world  and  read  of  t’other.” 

“ I did — yes — I meant  all  for  the  best.” 

“ Father  ! — oh  ! my  beloved  father  ! ” 

“ Magnet  is  taken  aback  by  this  blow,  Master 
Pathfinder,  and  can  say  or  do  but  little  to  car- 
ry her  father  over  the  shoals ; so  we  must  try 
all  the  harder  to  serve  him  a friendly  turn  our- 
selves.” 

“ Did  you  speak,  Mabel  ? ” Dunham  asked, 
turning  his  eyes  in  the  direction  of  his  daughter, 
for  he  was  already  too  feeble  to  turn  his  body. 

“ Yes,  father  ; rely  on  nothing  you  have  done 
yourself,  for  mercy  and  salvation  ; trust  altogether 
in  the  blessed  mediation  of  the  Son  of  God  ! ” 

“ The  chaplain  has  told  us  something  like  this, 
brother — the  dear  child  may  be  right.” 

“Ay  — ay  — that’s  doctrine  out  of  question. 
He  will  be  our  judge,  and  keeps  the  log-book  of 
our  acts,  and  will  foot  them  all  up  at  the  last  day, 
and  then  say  who  has  done  well  and  who  has  done 
ill.  I do  believe  Mabel  is  right,  but  then  you 
need  not  be  concerned,  as  no  doubt  the  account 
has  been  fairly  kept.” 

“ Uncle  ! — dearest  father  ! — This  is  a vain  illu- 
sion— oh ! place  all  your  trust  in  the  mediation 
of  our  holy  Redeemer  ! Have  you  not  often  felt 
your  own  insufficiency  to  effect  your  own  wishes 
in  the  commonest  things,  and  how  can  you  im- 
agine yourself,  by  your  own  acts,  equal  to  raise 
up  a frail  and  sinful  nature  sufficiently  to  be  re- 
ceived into  the  presence  of  perfect  purity  ? There 
is  no  hope  for  any,  but  in  the  mediation  of 
Christ ! ” 

“ This  is  what  the  Moravians  used  to  tell  us,” 
said  Pathfinder  to  Cap  in  a low  voice  ; “ Mabel  is 
right.” 

“ Right  enough,  friend  Pathfinder,  in  the  dis- 
tances, but  wrong  in  the  course.  I’m  afraid  the 
child  will  get  the  sergeant  adrift,  at  the  very  mo- 
ment when  we  had  him  in  the  best  of  the  water, 
and  in  the  plainest  part  of  the  channel.” 

“ Leave  it  to  Mabel — leave  it  to  Mabel — she 
knows  better  than  any  of  us,  and  can  do  no 
harm.” 

“ I have  heard  this  before  ” — Dunham  at 
length  replied — “ Ah  ! Mabel ; it  is  strange  for 
the  parent  to  lean  on  the  child  at  a moment  like 

this.” 

“ Put  your  trust  in  God,  father — lean  on  his 


holy  and  compassionate  Son.  Pray,  dearest,  dear- 
est father — pray  for  his  omnipotent  support.” 

“ I am  not  used  to  prayer — brother — Path- 
finder— Jasper — can  you  help  me  to  words  ? ” 

Cap  scarce  knew  what  prayer  meant,  and  he  had 
no  answer  to  give.  Pathfinder  prayed  often,  daily 
if  not  hourly — but  it  was  mentally,  in  his  own 
simple  modes  of  thinking,  and  without  the  aid  of 
words  at  all.  In  this  strait,  therefore,  he  was  as 
useless  as  the  mariner,  and  had  no  reply  to  make. 
As  for  Jasper  Eau-douce,  though  he  would  gladly 
have  endeavored  to  move  a mountain  to  relieve 
Mabel,  this  was  asking  assistance  it  exceeded  his 
power  to  give ; and  he  shrank  back  with  the 
shame  that  is  only  too  apt  to  overcome  the  young 
and  vigorous,  when  called  on  to  perform  an  act 
that  tacitly  confesses  their  real  weakness  and  de- 
pendence on  a superior  power. 

“ Father  ” — said  Mabel,  wiping  her  eyes,  and 
endeavoring  to  compose  features  that  were  pallid, 
and  actually  quivering  with  emotion — “ /will  pray 
with  you — -for  you — for  myself  for  us  all.  The 
petition  of  the  feeblest  and  humblest  is  never  un- 
heeded.” 

There  was  something  sublime,  as  well  as 
much  that  was  supremely  touching,  in  this  act  of 
filial  piety.  The  quiet,  but  earnest  manner  in 
which  this  young  creature  prepared  herself  to 
perform  the  duty ; the  self-abandonment  with 
which  she  forgot  her  sex’s  timidity  and  sex’s 
shame,  in  order  to  sustain  her  parent  at  that  try- 
ing moment ; the  loftiness  of  purpose  with  which 
she  directed  all  her  powers  to  the  immense  ob- 
ject before  her,  with  a woman’s  devotion,  and  a 
woman’s  superiority  to  trifles,  when  her  affec- 
tions make  the  appeal ; and  the  holy  calm  into 
which  her  grief  was  compressed,  rendered  her,  for 
the  moment,  an  object  of  somethimg  very  like 
awe  and  veneration  to  her  companions. 

Mabel  had  been  religiously  and  reasonably 
educated ; equally  without  exaggeration  and 
without  self-sufficiency.  Her  reliance  on  God 
was  cheerful  and  full  of  hope,  while  it  was  of  the 
humblest  and  most  dependent  nature.  She  had 
been  accustomed  from  childhood  to  address  her- 
self to  the  Deity,  in  prayer ; taking  example  from 
the  divine  mandate  of  Christ  himself,  who  com- 
manded his  followers  to  abstain  from  vain  repe- 
titions, and  who  has  left  behind  him  a petition 
that  is  unequalled  for  sublimity  and  sententious- 
ness, as  if  expressly  to  rebuke  the  disposition  of 
man  to  set  up  his  own  loose  and  random  thoughts 
as  the  most  acceptable  sacrifice.  The  sect  in 
which  she  had  been  reared,  has  furnished  to  its 
followers  some  of  the  most  beautiful  composi- 
tions of  the  language,  as  a suitable  vehicle  for  its 


196 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


devotion  and  solicitations.  Accustomed  to  this 
mode  of  public  and  even  private  prayer,  the  mind 
of  our  heroine  had  naturally  fallen  into  its  train 
of  lofty  thought ; her  taste  had  become  improved 
by  its  study,  and  her  language  elevated  and  en- 
riched by  its  phrases.  In  short,  Mabel,  in  this 
respect,  was  an  instance  of  the  influence  and  fa- 
miliarity with  propriety  of  thought,  fitness  of  lan- 
guage, and  decorum  of  manner,  on  the  habits  and 
expressions  of  even  those  who  might  be  supposed 
not  to  be  always  so  susceptible  of  receiving  high 
impressions  of  this  nature.  When  she  kneeled 
at  the  bedside  of  her  father,  the  very  reverence 
of  her  attitude  and  manner  prepared  the  specta- 
tors for  what  was  to  come  ; and  as  her  affection- 
ate heart  prompted  her  tongue,  and  memory  came 
in  aid  of  both,  the  petition  and  praises  that  she 
offered  up  were  of  a character  that  might  have 
worthily  led  the  spirits  of  angels.  Although  the 
words  were  not  slavishly  borrowed,  the  expres- 
sions partook  of  the  simple  dignity  of  the  liturgy 
to  which  she  had  been  accustomed,  and  were 
probably  as  worthy  of  the  being  to  whom  they 
were  addressed  as  they  could  well  be  made  by  hu- 
man powers.  They  produced  their  full  impres- 
sion on  the  hearers  ; for  it  is  worthy  of  remark 
that,  notwithstanding  the  pernicious  effects  of  a 
false  taste  when  long  submitted  to,  real  sublimity 
and  beauty  are  so  closely  allied  to  Nature,  that 
they  generally  find  an  echo  in  every  heart. 

But  when  our  heroine  came  to  touch  upon 
the  situation  of  the  dying  man,  she  became  the 
most  truly  persuasive,  for  then  she  was  the  most 
truly  zealous  and  natural  The  beauty  of  the 
language  was  preserved,  but  it  was  sustained  by 
the  simple  power  of  love ; and  her  words  were 
warmed  by  a holy  zeal,  that  approached  to  the 
grandeur  of  true  eloquence.  We  might  record 
some  of  her  expressions,  but  doubt  the  propriety 
of  subjecting  such  sacred  themes  to  a too  familiar 
analysis,  and  refrain. 

The  effect  of  this  singular  but  solemn  scene 
was  different  on  the  different  individuals  present. 
Dunham  himself  was  soon  lost  in  the  subject  of 
the  prayer  ; and  he  felt  some  such  relief,  as  one 
who  finds  himself  staggering  on  the  edge  of  a 
precipice  under  a burden  difficult  to  be  borne, 
might  be  supposed  to  experience,  when  he  unex- 
pectedly feels  the  weight  removed,  in  order  to  be 
placed  on  the  shoulders  of  another  better  able  to 
sustain  it.  . Cap  was  surprised,  as  well  as  awed ; 
though  the  effects  on  his  mind  were  not  very  deep 
o?  very  lasting.  He  wondered  a little  at  his  own 
sensations,  and  had  his  doubts  whether  they  were 
as  manly  and  heroic  as  they  ought  to  be ; but  he 
was  far  too  sensible  of  the  influence  of  truth,  hu- 


mility, religious  submission,  and  human  depend- 
ency, to  think  of  interposing  with  ^ny  of  his  crude 
objections.  Jasper  knelt  opposite  to  Mabel,  cov- 
ered his  face,  and  followed  her  words,  with  an 
earnest  wish  to  aid  her  prayers  with  his  own; 
though  it  may  be  questioned  if  his  thoughts  did 
not  dwell  quite  as  much  on  the  soft,  gentle  ac- 
cents of  the  petitioner,. as  on  the  subject  of  her 
petition. 

The  effect  on  Pathfinder  was  striking  and  visi- 
ble ; visible,  because  he  stood  erect,  also  opposite 
to  Mabel ; and  the  workings  of  his  countenance, 
as  usual,  betrayed  the  workings  of  the  spirit  with- 
in. He  leaned  on  his  rifle,  and,  at  moments,  the 
sinewy  fingers  grasped  the  barrel  with  a force 
that  seemed  to  compress  the  weapon ; while  once 
or  twice,  as  Mabel’s  language  rose  in  intimate 
association  with  her  thoughts,  he  lifted  his  eyes 
to  the  floor  above  him,  as  if  he  expected  to  find 
some  visible  evidence  of  the  presence  of  the  dread 
Being  to  whom  the  words  were  addressed.  Then 
again  his  feelings  reverted  to  the  fair  creature 
who  was  thus  pouring  out  her  spirit,  in  fervent, 
but  calm  petitions,  in  behalf  of  a dying  parent ; 
for  Mabel’s  cheek  was  no  longer  pallid,  but  was 
flushed  with  a holy  enthusiasm,  while  her  blue 
eyes  were  upturned  in  the  light,  in  a way  to  re- 
semble a picture  by  Guido.  At  these  moments 
all  the  honest  and  manly  attachment  of  Path- 
finder glowed  in  ingenuous  features,  and  his  gaze 
at  our  heroine  was  such  as  the  fondest  parent 
might  fasten  on  the  child  of  his  love. 

Sergeant  Dunham  laid  his  hand  feebly  on  the 
head  of  Mabel  as  she  ceased  praying,  and  buried 
her  face  in  his  blanket. 

“ Bless  you — my  beloved  child — bless  you — ” 
he  rather  whispered  than  uttered  aloud — “ this  is 
truly  consolation — would  that  I too  could  pray  ! ” 

“ Father,  you  know  the  Lord’s  prayer — you 
taught  it  to  me  yourself,  while  I was  yet  an  in- 
fant.” 

The  sergeant’s  face  gleamed  with  a smile  ; for 
he  did  remember  to  have  discharged  that  portion, 
at  least,  of  the  paternal  duty  ; and  the  conscious- 
ness of  it  gave  him  inconceivable  gratification  at 
that  solemn  moment.  He  was  then  silent  for  sev- 
eral minutes,  and  all  present  believed  that  he  was 
communing  with  God. 

“ Mabel — my  child — ” he  at  length  uttered,  in 
a voice  that  seemed  to  be  reviving — “ Mabel — 
I’m  quitting  you  ” — the  spirit,  at  its  great  and 
final  passage,  appears  to  consider  the  body  as 
nothing — “ I’m  quitting  you,  my  child — where  is 
your  hand  ? ” 

“Here,  dearest  father — here  are  both— -oh! 
take  both.” 


SERGEANT  DUNHAM’S  LAST  WORDS. 


197 


“Pathfinder — ” added  the  sergeant,  feeling 
an  the  opposite  side  of  the  bed,  where  Jasper 
still  knelt,  and  getting  one  of  the  hands  of  the 
young  man,  by  mistake — “ take  it — I leave  you 
as  her  father — as  you  and  she  may  please — bless 
you — bless  you  both — ” 

At  that  awful  instant  no  one  would  rudely 
apprise  the  sergeant  of  his  mistake;  and  he  died 
a minute  or  two  later,  holding  Jasper’s  and  Ma- 
bel’s hands  covered  by  both  his  own.  Our  her- 
oine was  ignorant  of  the  fact,  until  an  exclama- 
tion of  Cap’s  announced  the  death  of  her  father ; 
when,  raising  her  face,  she  saw  the  eyes  of  Jas- 
per riveted  on  her  own,  and  felt,  the  warm  press- 
ure of  his  hand.  But  a single  feeling  was  pre- 
dominant at  that  instant ; and  Mabel  withdrew  to 
weep,  scarcely  conscious  of  what  had  occurred, 
the  Pathfinder  took  the  arm  of  Eau-douce,  and 
he  left  the  block. 

The  two  friends  walked  in  silence  past  the  fire 
along  the  glade,  and  nearly  reached  the  opposite 
shore  of  the  island,  in  profound  silence.  Here 
they  stopped,  and  Pathfinder  spoke. 

“ ’Tis  all  over,  Jasper, v he  said  ; “ ’tis  all  over. 
Ah’s  me ! Poor  Sargeant  Dunham  has  finished 
his  march,  and  that,  too,  by  the  hand  of  a venom- 
ous Mingo.  Well,  we  never  know  what  is  to 
happen,  and  his  luck  may  be  your’n  or  mine,  to- 
morrow, or  next  day ! ” 

“ And  Mabel  ? — What  is  to  become  of  Mabel, 
Pathfinder  ? ” 

“ You  heard  the  sergeant’s  dying  words — he 
has  left  his  child  in  my  care,  Jasper;  and  it  is  a 
most  solemn  trust,  it  is  ; yes,  it  is  a most  solemn 
trust ! ” 

“ It’s  a trust,  Pathfinder,  of  which  any  man 
would  be  glad  to  relieve  you,”  returned  the  youth, 
with  a bitter  smile. 

“ I’ve  often  thought  it  has  fallen  into  wrong 
hands.  I’m  not  consaited,  Jasper ; I’m  not  con- 
saited,  I do  think  I’m  not ; but  if  Mabel  Dunham 
is  willing  to  overlook  all  my  imperfections  and  ig- 
norances like,  I should  be  wrong  to  gainsay  it  on 
account  of  any  sartainty  I may  have  myself  about 
my  own  want  of  merit.” 

“No  one  will  blame  you,  Pathfinder,  for  mar- 
rying Mabel  Dunham,  any  more  than  they  will 
blame  you  for  wearing  a precious  jewel  in  your 
bosom,  that  a friend  had  freely  given  you.” 

“ Do  you  think  they’ll  blame  Mabel,  lad  ? — 
I’ve  had  my  misgivings  about  that  too ; for  all 
persons  may  not  be  as  disposed  to  look  at  me 
with  the  same  eyes  as  you  and  the  sargeant’s 
daughter.”  Jasper  Eau-douce  started,  as  a man 
fiinches  at  sudden  bodily  pain ; but  he  otherwise 
maintained  his  self-command. — “And  mankind  is 


envious  and  ill-natured,  more  particularly  in  and 
about  the  garrisons.  I sometimes  wish,  Jasper, 
that  Mabel  could  have  taken  a fancy  to  you,  I do ; 
and  that  you  had  taken  a fancy  to  her ; for  it 
often  seems  to  me  that  one  like  you,  after  all, 
might  make  her  happier  than  I ever  can.” 

“We  will  not  talk  about  this,  Pathfinder,”  in- 
terrupted  Jasper,  hoarsely  and  impatiently — “ you 
will  be  Mabel’s  husband,  and  it  is  not  right  to 
speak  of  any  one  else  in  that  character.  As  for 
me,  I shall  take  Master  Cap’s  advice,  and  try  and 
make  a man  of  myself,  by  seeing  what  is  to  be 
done  on  the  salt-water.” 

“ You,  Jasper  Western  ! — you  quit  the  lakes, 
the  forests,  and  the  lines ; and  this,  too,  for  the 
towns  and  wasty  ways  of  the  settlements,  and  a 
little  difference  in  the  taste  of  the  water ! Haven’t 
we  the  salt-licks,  if  salt  is  necessary  to  you  ? and 
oughtn’t  man  to  be  satisfied  with  what  contents 
the  other  creatur’s  of  God  ? I counted  on  you, 
Jasper — I counted  on  you,  I did — and  thought, 
now  that  Mabel  and  I intend  to  dwell  in  a cabin 
of  our  own,  that  some  day  you  might  be  tempted 
to  choose  a companion  too,  and  come  and  settle 
in  our  neighborhood.  There  is  a beautiful  spot 
about  fifty  miles  west  of  the  garrison  that  I had 
chosen  in  my  mind,  for  my  own  place  of  abode  ; 
and  there  is  an  excellent  harbor  about  ten  leagues 
this  side  of  it,  where  you  could  run  in  and  out  with 
the  cutter,  at  any  leisure  minute ; and  I’d  even 
fancied  you  and  your  wife  in  possession  of  the  one 
place,  and  Mabel  and  I in  possession  of  t’other. 
We  should  be  just  a healthy  hunt  apart ; and  if 
the  Lord  ever  intends  any  of  his  creatur’s  to  be 
happy  on  ’arth,  none  could  be  happier  than  we 
four.” 

“You  forget,  my  friend,”  answered  Jasper, 
taking  the  guide’s  hand  and  forcing  a friendly 
smile,  “ that  I have  no  fourth  person  to  love  and 
cherish  ; and  I much  doubt  if  I ever  shall  love 
any  other  as  I love  you  and  Mabel.” 

“ Thank’ee  boy ; I thank  you  with  all  my  heart 
— but  what  you  call  love  for  Mabel  is  only  friend- 
ship like,  and  a very  different  thing  from  what  I 
feel.  Now,  instead  of  sleeping  as  sound  as  Na- 
tur’  at  midnight,  as  I used  to  could,  I dream 
nightly  of  Mabel  Dunham.  The  young  does  sport 
before  me  ; and  when  I raise  Killdeer  in  order  to 
take  a little  venison,  the  animals  look  back,  and 
it  seems  as  if  they  all  had  Mabel’s  sweet  coun- 
tenance, laughing  in  my  face,  and  looking  as  il 
they  said,  ‘ Shoot  me,  if  you  dare  ! ’ Then  I hear 
her  soft  voice  calling  out  among  the  birds  as  the? 
sing ; and,  no  later  than  the  last  nap  I took,  I be- 
thought me  in  fancy  of  going  over  the  Niagara, 
holding  Mabel  in  my  arms  rather  than  part  froir 


198 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


her.  The  bitterest  moments  I’ve  ever  known 
were  them  in  which  the  devil  or  some  Mingo  con- 
juror, perhaps,  has  just  put  into  my  head  to  fan- 
cy in  dreams  that  Mabel  i3  lost  to  me  by  some 
unaccountable  calamity — either  by  changefulness 
or  by  violence.” 

“ Oh ! Pathfinder,  if  you  think  this  so  bitter 
in  a dream,  what  must  it  be  to  one  who  feels  its 
reality,  and  knows  it  all  to  be  true — true — true ! 
So  true,  as  to  leave  no  hope ; to  leave  nothing 
but  despair ! ” 

These  words  burst  from  Jasper  as  a fluid 
pours  from  the  vessel  that  has  been  suddenly 
broken.  They  were  uttered  involuntarily,  almost 
unconsciously,  but  with  a truth  and  feeling  that 
carried  with  them  the  instant  conviction  of  their 
deep  sincerity.  Pathfinder  started,  gazed  at  his 
friend  for  quite  a minute  like  one  bewildered; 
and  then  it  was  that  in  despite  of  all  his  sim- 
plicity the  truth  gleamed  upon  him.  All  know 
how  corroborating  proofs  crowd  upon  the -mind 
as  soon  as  it  catches  a direct  clew  to  any  hitherto 
unsuspected  fact ; how  rapidly  the  thoughts  flow, 
and  premises  tend  to  their  just  conclusions,  under 
such  circumstances.  Our  hero  was  so  confiding 
by  nature,  so  just,  and  so  much  disposed  to 
imagine  that  all  his  friends  wished  him  the  same 
happiness  as  he  wished  them,  that,  until  this 
unfortunate  moment,  a suspicion  of  Jasper’s 
attachment  for  Mabel  had  never  been  awakened 
in  his  bosom.  He  was,  however,  now  too  ex- 
perienced in  the  emotions  that  characterized  the 
passion  ; and  the  burst  of  feeling  in  his  compan- 
ion was  too  violent  and  too  natural  to  leave  any 
further  doubt  on  the  subject.  The  feeling  that 
first  followed  this  change  of  opinion  was  one  of 
deep  humility  and  exquisite  pain.  He  bethought 
him  of  Jasper’s  youth,  his  higher  claims  to  per- 
sonal appearance,  and  all  the  general  probabilities 
that  such  a suitor  would  be  more  agreeable  to 
Mabel  than  he  could  possibly  be  himself.  Then 
the  noble  rectitude  of  mind  for  which  the  man 
was  so  distinguished  asserted  its  power ; it  was 
sustained  by  his  rebuked  manner  of  thinking  of 
himself,  and  all  that  habitual  deference  for  the 
rights  and  feelings  of  others,  which  appeared 
to  be  inbred  in  his  very  nature.  Taking  the  arm 
of  Jasper  he  led  him  to  a log,  where  he  compelled 
the  young  man  to  seat  himself,  by  a sort  of  irre- 
sistible exercise  of  his  iron  muscles,  and  where 
be  placed  himself  at  his  side. 

The  instant  his  feelings  had  found  vent,  Eau- 
douce  was  both  alarmed  at  and  ashamed  of  their 
•iolence.  He  would  have  given  all  he  possessed 
on  earth  could  the  last  three  minutes  be  recalled, 
out  he  was  too  frank  by  disposition,  and  too 


much  accustomed  to  deal  ingenuously  by  hia 
friend,  to  think  a moment  of  attempting  further 
concealment,  or  of  any  evasion  of  the  expla- 
nation that  he  knew  was  about  to  be  demanded. 
Even  while  he  trembled  in  anticipation  of  what 
was  about  to  follow,  he  never  contemplated 
equivocation. 

“Jasper,”  Pathfinder  commenced,  in  a tone 
so  solemn  as  to  thrill  on  every  nerve  in  his  lis- 
tener’s body,  “this  has  surprised  me ! You  have 
kinder  feelings  toward  Mabel  than  I had  thought ; 
and,  unless  my  own  mistaken  vanity  and  consait 
have  cruelly  deceived  me,  I pity  you,  boy — from 
my  soul,  I do  ! Yes,  I think  I know  how  to  pity 
any  one  who  has  set  his  heart  on  a creature  like 
Mabel,  unless  he  sees  a prospect  of  her  regard- 
ing him  as  he  regards  her.  This  matter  must  be 
cleared  up,  Eau-douce,  as  the  Delawares  say, 
until  there  shall  not  be  a cloud  atween  us.” 

“ What  clearing  up  can  it  want,  Pathfinder  ? 
I love  Mabel  Dunham,  and  Mabel  Dunham  does 
not  love  me — she  prefers  you  for  a husband  ; and 
the  wisest  thing  I can  do,  is  to  go  off  at  once  to 
the  salt-water  and  try  to  forget  you  both.” 

“ Forget  me,  Jasper ! — that  would  be  a punish- 
ment I don’t  desarve.  But  how  do  you  know 
that  Mabel  prefars  me  ? — how  do  you  know  it. 
lad  ? to  me  it  seems  impossible,  like!  ” 

“ Is  she  not  to  marry  you,  and  would  Mabel 
marry  a man  she  does  not  love  ? ” 

“ She  has  been  hard  urged  by  the  sergeant, 
she  has ; and  a dutiful  child  may  have  found  it 
difficult  to  withstand  the  wishes  of  a dying 
parent.  Have  you  ever  told  Mabel  that  you  pre- 
faced her,  Jasper;  that  you  bore  her  these  feel- 
ings? ■’ 

“Never,  Pathfinder;  I would  not  do  you 
that  wrong ! ” 

“ I believe  you,  lad,  I do  believe  you ; and  I 
think  you  would  now  go  to  the  suit-water  and 
let  the  scent  die  with  you.  But  this  must  not 
be.  Mabel  shall  hear  all,  and  she  shall  have  hei 
ownjway,  if  my  heart  breaks  in  the  trial,  she 
shall.  No  words  have  ever  passed  atween  you, 
then,  Jasper  ? ” 

“ Nothing  of  account — nothing  direct.  Still, 
I will  own  all  my  foolishness,  Pathfinder,  for  I 
ought  to  own  it  to  a generous  friend  like  you, 
and  there  will  be  an  end  of  it.  You  know  how 
young  people  understand  each  • other,  or  think 
they  understand  each  other,  without  always 
speaking  out  in  plain  speech;  and  get  to  know 
each  other’s  thoughts,  or  to  think  they  know 
them,  by  means  of  a hundred  little  ways  ? ” 

“Not  I,  Jasper,  not  I,”  truly  answered  the 
guide;  for,  sooth  to  say,  his  advances  had  neve? 


THE  TWO  RIVAL  LOVERS. 


199 


been  met  with  any  of  that  sweet  and  precious 
encouragement  that  silently  marks  the  course 
of  sympathy  united  to  passion.  “Not  I,  Jasper 
— I know  nothing  of  all  this.  Mabel  has  always 
treated  me  fairly,  and  said  what  she  has  to  say 
in  speech  as  plain  as  tongue  could  tell  it.” 

“You  have  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  her 
say  that  she  loved  you,  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“Why  no,  Jasper,  not  just  that,  in  words. 
She  has  told  me  that  we  never  could — never 
ought  to  be  married ; that,  she  was  not  good 
enough  for  me;  though  she  did  say  that  she 
honored  me,  and  respected  me.  But  then  the 
sargeant  said  it  was  always  so  with  the  youthful 
and  timid — that  her  mother  did  so,  and  said  so, 
afore  her ; and  that  I ought  to  be  satisfied  if  she 
would  consent,  on  any  terms,  to  marry  me : and, 
therefore,  I have  concluded  that  all  was  right, 
I have.” 

In  spite  of  all  his  friendship  for  the  success- 
ful wooer — in  spite  of  all  his  honest,  sincere 
wishes  for  his  happiness,  we  should  be  unfaithful 
chroniclers,  did  we  not  own  that  J asper  felt  his 
heart  bound  with  an  uncontrollable  feeling  of 
delight,  at  this  admission.  It  was  not  that  he  saw 
or  felt  any  hope  connected  with  the  circumstance ; 
but  it  was  grateful  to  the  jealous  covetousness 
of  unlimited  love,  thus  to  learn  that  no  other 
ears  had  heard  the  sweet  confessions  that  were 
denied  its  own. 

“ Tell  me  more  of  this  manner  of  talking 
without  the  use  of  the  tongue,”  continued  Path- 
finder, whose  countenance  was  getting  to  be 
grave,  and  who  now  questioned  his  companion, 
like  one  that  seemed  to  anticipate  evil  in  the 
reply.  “I  can  and  have  conversed  with  Chin- 
gachgook,  and  with  his  son  Uncas,  too,  in  that 
mode,  afore  the  latter  fell ; but  I didn’t  know  that 
young  girls  practysed  this  art;  and,  least  of  all, 
Mabel  Dunham  ! ” 

“’Tis  nothing,  Pathfinder.  I mean  only  a 
look,  or  a smile,  or  a glance  of  the  eye,  or  the 
trembling  of  an  arm,  or  a hand,  when  the  young 
woman  has  had  occasion  to  touch  me ; and 
because  I have  been  weak  enough  to  tremble 
even  at  Mabel’s  breath,  or  her  brushing  me  with 
her  clothes,  my  vain  thoughts  have  misled  me. 
I never  spoke  plainly  to  Mabel,  myself ; and  now 
there  is  no  use  for  it,  since  there  is  clearly  no 
hope.” 

“Jasper,”  returned  Pathfinder,  simply,  but 
with  a dignity  that  precluded  further  remarks  at 
the  moment,  “ we  will  talk  of  the  sargeant’s  fu- 
neral, and  of  our  own  departure  from  this  island. 
After  these  things  are  disposed  of,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  say  more  of  the  sargeant’s  daughter. 


This  matter  must  be  looked  into ; for  the  father 
left  me  the  care  of  his  child.” 

Jasper  was  glad  enough  to  change  the  sub- 
ject, and  the  friends  separated,  each  charged 
with  the  duty  most  peculiar  to  his  own  station 
and  habits. 

That  afternoon  all  the  dead  were  interred — 
the  grave  of  Sergeant  Dunham  being  dug  in  the 
centre  of  the  glade,  beneath  the  shade  of  the 
huge  elm.  Mabel  wept  bitterly  at  the  ceremony, 
and  she  found  relief  in  thus  disburdening  her 
sorrow.  The  night  passed  tranquilly,  as  did  the 
whole  of  the  following  day ; Jasper  declaring 
that  the  gale  was  too  severe  to  venture  on  the 
lake.  This  circumstance  detained  Captain  San- 
glier,  also ; who  did  not  quit  the  island  until  the 
morning  of  the  third  day  after  the  death  of  Dun- 
ham, when  the  weather  had  moderated,  and  the 
wind  had  become  fair.  Then,  indeed,  he  depart- 
ed, after  taking  leave  of  the  Pathfinder,  in  the 
manner  of  one  who  believed  he  was  in  company 
of  a distinguished  character  for  the  last  time. 
The  two  separated  like  those  who  respect  one 
another,  while  each  felt  that  the  other  was  an  enig- 
ma to  himself. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

“ Playful  she  turned,  that  he  might  see 
The  passing  smile  her  cheek  put  on  ; 

But  when  she  marked  how  mournfully 
His  eyes  met  hers,  that  smile  was  gone.” 

Lalla  P.ookh. 

The  occurrences  of  the  last  few  days  had 
been  too  exciting,  and  had  made  too  many  de- 
mands on  the  fortitude  of  our  heroine,  to  leave 
her  in  the  helplessness  of  grief.  She  mourned 
for  her  father,  and  she  occasionally  shuddered,  as 
she  recalled  the  sudden  death  of  Jennie,  and  all 
the  horrible  scenes  she  had  witnessed ; but,  on 
the  whole,  she  had  aroused  herself,  and  was  no 
longer  in  the  deep  depression  that  usually  ac- 
companies grief.  Perhaps  the  overwhelming, 
almost  stupefying  sorrow  that  crushed  poor  June, 
and  left  her  for  nearly  twenty-four  hours  in  a state 
of  stupor,  assisted  Mabel  in  conquering  her  own 
feelings,  for  she  had  felt  called  on  to  administer 
consolation  to  the  young  Indian  woman.  This 
she  had  done,  in  the  quiet,  soothing,  insinuating 
way  in  which  her  sex  usually  exerts  its  influence 
on  such  occasions. 

The  morning  of  the  third  day  was  set  for  that 
on  which  the  Scud  was  to  sail.  Jasper  had  made 
all  his  preparations ; the  different  effect  s were 


200 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


einbarked,  and  Mabel  had  taken  leave  of  June — 
a painful  and  affectionate  parting.  In  a word,  all 
was  ready,  and  every  soul  had  left  the  island  but 
the  Indian  woman,  Pathfinder,  Jasper,  and  our 
heroine.  The  former  had  gone  into  a thicket 
to  weep,  and  the  three  last  were  approaching  the 
spot  where  three  canoes  lay ; one  of  which  was 
the  property  of  June,  and  the  other  two  were  in 
waiting  to  carry  the  others  off  to  the  Scud.  Path- 
finder led  the  way,  but,  when  he  drew  near  the 
shore,  instead  of  taking  the  direction  of  the  boats, 
he  motioned  to  his  companions  to  follow,  and 
proceeded  to  a fallen  tree  that  lay  on  the  margin 
of  the  glade,  and  out  of  view  of  those  in  the  cut- 
ter. Seating  himself  on  the  trunk,  he  signed  to 
Mabel  to  take  her  place  on  one  side  of  him  and 
to  Jasper  to  occupy  the  other. 

“ Sit  down  here,  Mabel ; sit  down  there,  Eau- 
douce,”  he  commenced,  as  soon  as  he  had  taken 
his  own  seat ; “ I’ve  something  that  lies  heavy  on 
my  mind,  and  now  is  the  time  to  take  it  off,  if  it’s 
ever  to  be  done.  Sit  down,  Mabel,  and  let  me 
lighten  my  heart,  if  not  my  conscience,  while  I’ve 
the  strength  to  do  it.” 

The  pause  that  succeeded  lasted  two  or  three 
minutes,  and  both  the  young  people  wondered 
what  was  to  come  next — the  idea  that  Pathfinder 
could  have  any  weight  on  his  conscience  seeming 
equally  improbable  to  each. 

“ Mabel,”  our  hero  at  length  resumed,  “ we 
must  talk  plainly  to  each  other  afore  we  join  your 
uncle  in  the  Cutter,  where  the  Salt-water  has  slept 
every  night  since  the  last  rally ; for  he  says  it’s 
the  only  place  in  which  a man  can  be  sure  of 
keeping  the  hair  on  his  head,  he  does. — Ah’s  me  ! 
what  have  I to  do  with  these  follies  and  sayings 
now?  I try  to  be  pleasant  and  to  feel  light- 
hearted, but  the  power  of  man  can’t  make  water 
run  up  stream.  Mabel,  you  know  that  the  sar- 
geant,  afore  he  left  us,  had  settled  it  atween  us 
two,  that  we  were  to  become  man  and  wife,  and 
that  we  were  to  live  together,  and  to  love  one  an- 
other as  long  as  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  keep  us 
both  on  ’arth ; yes,  and  afterwards,  too  ? ” 

Mabel’s  cheeks  had  regained  a little  of  their 
ancient  bloom  in  the  fresh  air  of  the  morning  ; 
but  at  this  unlooked-for  address  they  blanched 
again,  nearly  to  the  pallid  hue  which  grief  had 
imprinted  there.  Still  she  looked  kindly,  though 
seriously,  at  Pathfinder,  and  even  endeavored  to 
force  a smile. 

“Very  true,  my  excellent  friend”  — she  an- 
swered— “ this  was  my  poor  father’s  wish,  and  I 
feel  certain  that  a whole  life  devoted  to  your  wel- 
fare and  comforts  could  scarcely  repay  you  for 
all  you  have  done  for  us.” 


“ I fear  me,  Mabel,  that  man  and  wife  needs 
be  bound  together  by  a stronger  tie  than  such 
feelings,  I do.  You  have  done  nothing  for  me,  or 
nothing  of  any  account,  and  yet  my  very  heart 
yearns  toward  you,  it  does ; and  therefore  it  seems 
likely  that  these  feelings  come  from  something 
besides  saving  scalps  and  guiding  through  woods.” 

Mabel’s  cheek  had  begun  to  glow  again  ; and, 
though  she  struggled  hard  to  smile,  her  voice 
trembled  a little  as  she  answered  : 

“ Had  we  not  better  postpone  this  conversa- 
tion, Pathfinder  ? ” she  said ; “ we  are  not  alone  ; 
and  nothing  is  so  unpleasant  to  a listener,  they 
say,  as  family  matters  in  which  he  feels  no  inter- 
est.” 

“It’s  because  we  are  not  alone,  Mabel,  or 
rather  because  Jasper  is  with  us,  that  I wish  to 
talk  of  this  matter.  The  sargeant  believed  I 
might  make  a suitable  companion  for  you,  and, 
though  I had  misgivings  about  it — yes,  I had 
many  misgivings — he  finally  persuaded  me  into 
the  idee,  and  things  came  round  between  us,  as 
you  know.  But  when  you  promised  your  father 
to  marry  me,  Mabel,  and  gave  me  your  hand  so 
modestly,  but  so  prettily,  there  was  one  circum- 
stance, as  your  uncle  called  it,  that  you  didn’t 
know  ; and  I’ve  thought  it  right  to  tell  you  what 
it  is  before  matters  are  finally  settled.  I’ve 
often  taken  a poor  deer  for  my  dinner,  when  good 
venison  was  not  to  be  found ; but  it’s  as  nat’ral 
not  to  take  up  with  the  worst  when  the  best  may 
be  had.” 

“ You  speak  in  a way,  Pathfinder,  that  is 
difficult  to  be  understood.  If  this  conversation  is 
really  necessary,  I trust  you  will  be  more  plain.” 

“ Well,  then,  Mabel,  I’ve  been  thinking  it  was 
quite  likely,  when  you  gave  in  to  the  sargeant’s 
wishes,  that  you  did  not  know  the  natur’  of  Jas- 
per Western’s  feelings  toward  you  ? ” 

“ Pathfinder ! ” — and  Mabel’s  cheek  now  paled 
to  the  livid  hue  of  death  ; then  it  flushed  to  the 
tint  of  crimson  ; and  her  whole  frame  shuddered. 
Pathfinder,  however,  was  too  intent  on  his  own 
object  to  notice  this  agitation ; and  Eau-douce 
had  hidden  his  face  in  his  hands  in  time  to  shut 
out  its  view. 

“ I’ve  been  talking  with  the  lad ; and,  on  com- 
paring his  dreams  with  my  dreams,  his  feelings 
with  my  feelings,  and  his  wishes  with  my  wishes, 
I fear  we  think  too  much  alike  concerning  you, 
for  both  of  us  to  be  very  happy.” 

“Pathfinder  — you  forget  — you  should  re- 
member that  we  are  betrothed  I ” said  Mabel, 
hastily,  and  in  a voice  so  low,  that  it  required 
acute  attention  in  the  listeners  to  catch  the  syl- 
lables. Indeed,  the  last  word  was  not  quite  intel 


THE  HUNTER’S  GENEROSITY. 


201 


figible  to  the  guide,  and  he  confessed  his  ignorance 
by  the  usual — 

“Anan?” 

“ You  forget  that  we  are  to  be  married  ; and 
such  allusions  are  improper  as  well  as  painful.” 

“ Every  thing  is  proper  that  is  right,  Mabel ; 
and  every  thing  is  right  that  leads  to  justice  and 
fair  dealing ; though  it  is  painful  enough,  as  you 
say — as  I find  on  trial,  I do.  Now,  Mabel,  had 
you  known  that  Eau-douce  thinks  of  you  in  this 
way,  maybe  you  never  would  have  consented  to 
be  married  to  one  as  old  and  as  uncomely  as  I am.” 

“ Why  this  cruel  trial,  Pathfinder  ? To  what 
can  all  this  lead?  Jasper  Western  thinks  no 
such  thing ; he  says  nothing — he  feels  nothing.” 

“ Mabel ! ” burst  from  out  of  the  young  man’s 
lips,  in  a way  to  betray  the  uncontrollable  nature 
of  his  emotions,  though  he  uttered  not  another 
syllable. 

Mabel  buried  her  face  in  both  her  hands; 
and  the  two  sat  like  a pair  of  guilty  beings,  sud- 
denly detected  in  the  commission  of  some  crime 
that  involved  the  happiness  of  a common  patron. 
At  that  instant,  perhaps,  Jasper  himself  was  in- 
clined to  deny  his  passion,  through  an  extreme 
unwillingness  to  grieve  his  friend ; while  Mabel, 
on  whom  this  positive  announcement  of  a fact 
that  she  had  rather  unconsciously  hoped  than  be- 
lieved, came  so  unexpectedly,  felt  her  mind  mo- 
mentarily bewildered,  and  she  scarce  knew  wheth- 
er to  weep  or  to  rejoice.  Still,  she  was  the  first 
to  speak ; since  Eau-douce  could  utter  naught 
that  would  be  disingenuous,  or  that  would  pain 
his  friend. 

“ Pathfinder,”  she  said,  “ you  talk  wildly. 
Why  mention  this  at  all  ? ” 

“ Well,  Mabel,  if  I talk  wildly,  I am  half  wild, 
you  know ; by  natur’,  I fear,  as  well  as  by  habit.” 
As  he  said  this,  he  endeavored  to  laugh  in  his 
usual  noiseless  way,  but  the  effect  produced*  a 
strange  and  discordant  sound ; and  it  appeared 
nearly  to  choke  him.  “ Yes,  I must  be  wild ; I’ll 
not  attempt  to  deny  it.” 

“Dearest  Pathfinder! — my  best,  almost  my 
only  friend  ! you  cannot , do  not  think  I intended 
to  say  that ! ” interrupted  Mabel,  almost  breath- 
less in  her  haste  to  relieve  his  mortification — “ if 
courage,  truth,  nobleness  of  soul  and  conduct,  un- 
yielding principles,  and  a hundred  other  excellent 
qualities,  can  render  any  man  respectable,  es- 
teemed, or  beloved,  your  claims  are  inferior  to 
those  of  no  other  human  being.” 

“What  tender  and  bewitching  voices  they 
have,  Jasper ! ” resumed  the  guide,  now  laughing 
freely  and  naturally.  “Yes,  Natur’  seems  to 
have  made  them  on  purpose  to  sing  in  our  ears 


when  the  music  of  the  woods  is  silent ! But  wc 
must  come  to  a right  understanding,  we  muBt. 
I ask  you  again,  Mabel,  if  you  had  known  that 
Jasper  Western  loves  you  as  well  as  I do,  or  bet- 
ter perhaps — though  that  is  scarce  possible ; that 
in  his  dreams  he  sees  your  face  in  the  water  of 
the  lake ; that  he  talks  to  you  and  of  you  in  his 
sleep ; fancies  all  that  is  beautiful  like  Mabel  Dun- 
ham, and  all  that  is  good  and  virtuous ; believes 
he  never  knowed  happiness  until  he  knowed  you  ; 
could  kiss  the  ground  on  which  you  have  trod, 
and  forgets  all  the  joys  of  his  calling  to  think  of 
you,  and  of  the  delight  of  gazing  at  your  beauty, 
and  in  listening  to  your  voice,  would  you  then 
have  consented  to  marry  me  ? ” 

Mabel  could  not  have  answered  this  question 
if  she  would ; but,  though  her  face  was  buried  in 
her  hands,  the  tint  of  the  rushing  blood  was  vis- 
ible between  the  openings,  and  the  suffusion 
seemed  to  impart  itself  to  her  very  fingers.  Still, 
Nature  asserted  her  power,  for  there  was  a single 
instant  when  the  astonished,  almost  terrified  girl 
stole  a glance  at  Jasper,  as  if  distrusting  Path- 
finder’s history  of  his  feelings,  read  the  truth  of 
all  he  said  in  that  furtive  look,  and  instantly  con- 
cealed her  face  again,  as  if  she  would  hide  it  from 
observation  for  ever. 

“ Take  time  to  think,  Mabel,”  the  guide  con- 
tinued, “ for  it  is  a solemn  thing  to  accept  one 
man  for  a husband,  while  the  thoughts  and  wish- 
es lead  to  another.  Jasper  and  I have  talked  this 
matter  over,  freely  and  like  old  friends,  and 
though  I always  knowed  that  we  viewed  most 
things  pretty  much  alike,  I couldn’t  have  thought 
that  we  regarded  any  particular  object  with  the 
very  same  eyes,  as  it  might  be,  until  we  opened 
our  minds  to  each  other  about  you.  Now,  Jasper 
owns  that  the  very  first  time  he  beheld  you,  he 
thought  you  the  sweetest  and  winningest  creatur’ 
he  had  ever  met;  that  your  voice  sounded  like 
murmuring  water  in  his  ears ; that  he  fancied  his 
sails  were  your  garments,  fluttering  in  the  wind  ; 
that  your  laugh  haunted  him  in  his  sleep ; and 
that,  ag’in  and  ag’in,  has  he  started  up  affrighted, 
because  he  has  fancied  some  one  wanted  to  force 
you  out  of  the  Scud,  where  he  imagined  you  had 
taken  up  your  abode.  Nay,  the  lad  has  even  ac- 
knowledged that  he  often  weeps  at  the  thought 
that  you  are  likely  to  spend  your  days  with  an 
other  and  not  with  him.” 

“Jasper ! ” 

“ It’s  solemn  truth,  Mabel,  and  it’s  right  you 
should  know  it.  Now  stand  up,  and  choose 
atween  us.  I do  believe  Eau-douce  loves  you  as 
well  as  I do  myself ; he  has  tried  to  persuade  me 
that  he  loves  you  better,  but  that  I will  not  ajlow 


202 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


for  I do  not  think  it  possible ; but  I will  own  the 
boy  loves  you,  heart  and  soul,  and  he  has  a good 
right  to  be  heard.  The  sargeant  left  me  your 
protector,  and  not  your  tyrant.  I told  him  that  I 
would  be  a father  to  you,  as  well  as  a husband, 
and  it  seems  to  me  no  feeling  father  would  deny 
his  child  this  small  privilege/  Stand  up,  Mabel, 
therefore,  and  speak  your  thoughts  as  freely  as 
if  T were  the  sargeant  himself,  seeking  your  good, 
and  nothing  else.” 

Mabel  dropped  her  hands,  arose,  and  stood 
face  to  face  with  her  two  suitors,  though  the  flush 
that  was  on  her  cheek  was  feverish,  the  evidence 
of  excitement,  rather  than  of  shame. 

“ What  would  you  have,  Pathfinder  ? ” she 
asked.  “ Have  I not  already  promised  my  poor 
father  to  do  all  you  desire  ? ” 

“ Then  I desire  this.  Here  I stand,  a man  of 
the  forest,  and  of  little  laming,  though  I fear  with 
an  ambition  beyond  my  desarts,  and  I’ll  do  my 
endivors  to  do  justice  to  both  sides.  In  the  first 
place,  it  is  allowed  that  so  far  as  feelings  in  your 
behalf  are  consarned,  we  love  you  just  the  same; 
Jasper  thinks  his  feelings  must  be  the  strongest, 
but  this  I cannot  say,  in  honesty,  for  it  doesn’t 
seem  to  me  that  it  can  be  true ; else  I would 
frankly  and  freely  confess  it,  I would.  So  in  this 
particular,  Mabel,  we  are  here  before  you,  on 
equal  tarms.  As  for  myself,  being  the  oldest,  I’ll 
first  say  what  little  can  be  produced  in  my  favor, 
as  well  as  ag’in  it.  As  a hunter,  I do  think  there 
is  no  man  near  the  lines  that  can  outdo  me.  If 
venison  or  bear’s  meat,  or  even  birds  and  fish, 
should  ever  be  scarce  in  our  cabin,  it  would  be 
more  likely  to  be  owing  to  Natur’  and  Providence, 
than  to  any  fault  of  mine.  In  short,  it  does  seem 
to  me  that  the  woman  who  depended  on  me, 
would  never  be  likely  to  want  for  food.  But  I’m 
fearful  ignorant!  It’s  true,  I speak  several 
tongues,  such  as  they  be,  while  I’m  very  far  from 
being  expart  at  my  own.  Then,  my  years  are 
greater  than  ^our  own,  Mabel ; and  the  circum- 
stance that  I was  so  long  the  sergeant’s  comrade 
can  be  no  great  merit  in  your  eyes.  I wish,  too, 

I was  more  comely,  I do ; but  we  are  all  as  Natur’ 
made  us,  and  the  last  thing  that  a man  ought  to 
lament,  except  on  very  special  occasions,  is  his 
looks.  When  all  is  remembered,  age,  looks,  l’am- 
ing,  and  habits,  Mabel,  conscience  tells  me  I 
ought  to  confess  that  I’m  altogether  unfit  for  you, 
if  not  downright  unworthy ; and  I would  give  up 
the  hope,  this  minute,  I would,  if  I didn’t  feel 
something  pulling  at  my  heart-strings  which  seems 
hard  to  undo.” 

“ Pathfinder ! — noble,  generous  Pathfinder ! ” 
— cjied  our  heroine,  seizing  his  hand,  and  kissing 

/ 


it  with  a species  of  holy  reverence,  “you  d« 
yourself  injustice — you  forget  my  poor  father  and 
your  promise — you  do  not  know  me!" 

“Now,  here’s  Jasper,”  continued  the  guide, 
without  allowing  the  girl’s  caresses  to  win  him 
from  his  purpose  ; “ with  him , the  case  is  differ- 
ent. In  the  way  of  providing,  as  in  that  of  lov- 
ing, there’s  not  much  to  choose  atween  us,  for 
the  lad  is  frugal,  industrious,  and  careful.  Then 
he  is  quite  a scholar — knows  the  tongue  of  the 
Frenchers — reads  many  books,  and  some,  I know, 
that  you  like  to  read  yourself — can  understand 
you  at  all  times,  which,  perhaps,  is  more  than  I 
can  say  for  myself.” 

“ What  of  all  this  ” — interrupted  Mabel,  im- 
patiently— “ why  speak  of  it  now — why  speak  oi 
it  at  all  ? ” 

“ Then  the  lad  has  a manner  of  letting  his 
thoughts  be  known,  that  I fear  I can  never  equal. 
If  there’s  any  thing  on  ’arth  that  would  make  my 
tongue  bold  and  persuading,  Mabel,  I do  think  it’s 
yourself ; and  yet,  in  our  late  conversations,  Jas- 
per has  outdone  me,  even  on  this  point,  in  a way 
to  make  me  ashamed  of  myself.  He  has  told  me 
how  simple  you  were,  and  how  true-hearted,  and 
kind-hearted ; and  how  you  looked  down  upon 
vanities,  for  though  you  might  be  the  wife  of 
more  than  one  officer,  as  he  thinks,  that  you  cling 
to  feeling,  and  would  rather  be  true  to  yourself 
and  Natur’,  than  a colonel’s  lady.  He  fairly  made 
my  blood  warm,  he  did,  when  he  spoke  of  your 
having  beauty  without  seeming  ever  to  have 
looked  upon  it,  and  the  manner  in  which  you 
moved  about  like  a young  fa’an,  so  nat’ral  and 
graceful  like,  without  knowing  it ; and  the  truth 
and  justice  of  your  idees,  and  the  warmth  and 
generosity  of  your  heart — ” 

“ Jasper ! ” interrupted  Mabel,  giving  way  to 
feelings  that  had  gathered  an  ungovernable  force 
by  being  so  long  pent,  and  falling  into  the  young 
man’s  willing  arms,  weeping  like  a child,  and  al- 
most as  helpless.  “Jasper!  — Jasper!  — why 
have  you  kept  this  from  me?” 

The  answer  of  Eau-douce  was  not  very  intelli- 
gible, nor  was  the  murmured  dialogue  that  fol 
lowed  remarkable  for  coherency.  But  the  lan 
guage  of  affection  is  easily  understood.  The  houi 
that  succeeded  passed  like  a very  few  minutes  of 
ordinary  life,  so  far  as  a computation  of  time  was 
concerned ; and  when  Mabel  recollected  herself, 
and  bethought  her  of  the  existence  of  others,  her 
uncle  was  pacing  the  cutter’s  deck  in  great  im- 
patience, and  wondering  why  Jasper  should  be 
losing  so  much  of  a favorable  wind.  Her  first 
thought  was  of  him  who  was  so  likely  to  feel  the 
recent  betrayal  of  her  real  emotions. 


MABEL’S  CHOICE. 


203 


•4  Oh  ! Jasper ! ” she  exclaimed,  like  one  sud- 
denly self-convicted — “ the  Pathfinder ! ” 

Eau-douce  fairly  trembled,  not  with  unmanly 
apprehension,  but  with  the  painful  conviction  of 
the  pang  he  had  given  his  friend ; and  he  looked 
in  all  directions  in  the  expectation  of  seeing  his 
person.  But  Pathfinder  had  withdrawn,  with  a 
tact  and  a delicacy  that  might  have  done  credit 
to  the  sensibility  and  breeding  of  a courtier.  For 
several  minutes  the  two  lovers  sat  silently  await- 
ing his  return,  uncertain  what  propriety  required 
of  them,  under  circumstances  so  marked  and  so 
peculiar.  At  length  they  beheld  their  friend  ad- 
vancing slowly  toward  them,  with  a thoughtful 
and  even  pensive  air. 

“ I now  understand  what  you  meant,  Jasper, 
by  speaking  ■without  a tongue,  and  hearing  with- 
out an  ear,”  he  said,  when  close  enough  to  the 
tree  to  be  heard.  “ Yes,  I understand  it,  now  I 
do,  and  a very  pleasant  sort  of  discourse  it  is, 
when  one  can  hold  it  with  Mabel  Dunham.  Ah’s 
me! — I told  the  sargeant  I wasn’t  fit  for  her; 
that  I was  too  old,  too  ignorant,  and  too  wild, 
like — but  he  would  have  it  otherwise.” 

Jasper  and  Mabel  sat,  resembling  Milton’s 
picture  of  our  first  parents,  when  the  conscious- 
ness of  sin  first  laid  its  leaden  weight  on  their 
souls.  Neither  spoke,  neither  even  moved ; 
though  both  at  that  moment  fancied  they  could 
part  with  their  new-found  happiness,  in  order  to 
restore  their  friend  to  his  peace  of  mind.  Jasper 
was  pale  as  death ; but,  in  Mabel,  maiden  mod- 
esty had  caused  the  blood  to  mantle  on  her 
cheeks,  until  their  bloom  was  heightened  to  a 
richness  that  was  scarce  equalled  in  her  hours  of 
light-hearted  buoyancy  and  joy.  As  the  feeling, 
which,  in  her  sex,  always  accompanies  the  se- 
curity of  love  returned,  threw  its  softness  and 
tenderness  over  her  countenance,  she  was  singu- 
larly beautiful.  Pathfinder  gazed  at  her  with  an 
intentness  he  did  not  endeavor  to  conceal,  and 
then  he  fairly  laughed  in  his  own  way,  and  with 
a sort  of  wild  exultation,  as  men  that  are  untu- 
tored are  wont  to  express  their  delight.  This 
momentary  indulgence,  however,  was  expiated  by 
the  pang  that  followed  the  sudden  consciousness 
that  this  glorious  young  creature  was  lost  to  him 
for  ever.  It  required  a full  minute  for  this  sim- 
ple-minded being  to  recover  from  the  shock  of 
this  conviction ; and  then  he  recovered  his  dig- 
nity of  manner,  speaking  with  gravity — almost 
with  solemnity. 

“ I have  always  known,  Mabel  Dunham,  that 
men  have  their  gifts,”  he  said ; “ but  I’d  forgot- 
ten that  it  did  not  belong  to  mine,  to  please  the 
young,  and  beautiful,  and  l’amed.  I hope  the 


mistake  has  been  no  very  heavy  sin ; and,  if  it 
was,  I’ve  been  heavily  punished  for  it,  I have. 
Nay,  Mabel,  I know  what  you’d  say,  but  its  un- 
necessary ; I feel  it  all,  and  that  is  as  good  as  if 
I heard  it  all.  I’ve  had  a bitter  hour,  Mabel — 
I’ve  had  a very  bitter  hour,  lad — ” 

“ Hour ! ” echoed  Mabel,  as  the  other  first 
used  the  word,  the  tell-tale  blood  which  had  be- 
gun to  ebb  toward  her  heart  rushing  again  tu- 
multuously to  her  very  temples.  “ Surely  not  an 
hour,  Pathfinder  ? ” 

“Hour!”  exclaimed  Jasper  at  the  same  in- 
stant— “no — no — my  worthy  friend,  it  is  not  ten 
minutes  since  you  left  us  ! ” 

“ Well,  it  may  be  so ; though  to  me  it  haa 
seemed  to  be  a day.  I begin  to  think,  however, 
that  the  happy  count  time  by  minutes,  and  the 
miserable  count  it  by  months.  But  we  will  talk 
no  more  of  this ; it  is  all  over  now,  and  many 
words  about  it  will  make  you  no  happier,  while 
they  will  only  tell  me  what  I’ve  lost ; and  quite 
likely  how  much  I desarved  to  lose  her.  No — no 
— Mabel,  ‘tis  useless  to  interrupt  me ; I admit  it 
all,  and  your  gainsaying  it,  though  it  be  so  well 
meant,  cannot  change  my  mind.  Well,  Jasper, 
she  is  yours ; and  though  it’s  hard  to  think  it,  I 
do  believe  you’ll  make  her  happier  than  I could, 
for  your  gifts  are  better  suited  to  do  so,  though  I 
would  have  strived  hard  to  do  as  much,  if  I knew 
myself,  I would.  I ought  to  have  known  better 
than  to  believe  the  sargeant;  and  I ought  to  have 
put  faith  in  what  Mabel  told  me  at  the  head  of 
the  lake,  for  reason  and  judgment  might  have 
shown  me  its  truth  ; but  it  is  so  pleasant  to  think 
what  we  wish,  and  mankind  so  easily  over-per- 
suade us  when  we  over-persuade  ourselves.  But 
what’s  the  use  in  talking  of  it,  as  I said  afore  ? 
It’s  true,  Mabel  seemed  to  be  consenting,  though 
it  all  came  from  a wish  to  please  her  father,  and 
from  being  skeary  about  the  savages-—” 

“Pathfinder!” 

“ I understand  you,  Mabel,  and  have  no  hard 
feelings,  I hav’n’t.  I sometimes  think  I should 
like  to  live  in  your  neighborhood  that  I might 
look  at  your  happiness ; but  on  the  whole  it  is 
better  I should  quit  the  55th  altogether  and  go 
back  to  the  60th,  which  is  my  natyve  rijiment,  a? 
it  might  be.  It  would  have  been  better,  perhaps, 
had  I never  left  it,  though  my  sarvices  were  much 
wanted  in  this  quartei’,  and  I’d  been  with  some  oi 
the  55th  years  agone — Sargeant  Dunham,  for  in 
stance,  when  he  was  in  another  corps.  Still, 
Jasper,  I do  not  regret  that  I have  known 
you — ” 

“And  me,  Pathfinder!”  impetuously  inter, 
rupted  Mabel — “do  you  regret  having  known 


204c 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


me  l — could  I think  so  I should  never  be  at  peace 
with  myself ! ” 

“You,  Mabel ! ” returned  the  guide,  taking  the 
hand  of  our  heroine,  and  looking  up  into  her 
countenance  with  guileless  simplicity  but  earnest 
affection — “ how  could  I be  sorry  that  a ray  of 
the  sun  came  across  the  gloom  of  a cheerless 
day?  that  light  has  broken  in  upon  darkness, 
though  it  remained  so  short  a time  ? I do  not  flat- 
ter myself  with  being  able  to  march  quite  as 
light-hearted  as  I once  used  to  could,  or  to  sleep 
as  sound  for  some  time  to  come ; but  I shall  always 
remember  how  near  I was  to  being  undesarvedly 
happy,  I shall.  So  far  from  blaming  you,  Mabel, 
I only  blame  myself  for  being  so  vain  as  to  think 
it  possible  I could  please  such  a creatur’ ; for, 
sartinly  you  told  me  how  it  was  when  we  talked  it 
over  on  the  mountain,  and  I ought  to  have  believed 
you  then  ; for  I do  suppose  it’s  nat’ral  that  young 
women  should  know  their  own  minds  better  than 
their  fathers.  Ah’s  me ! It’s  settled  now,  and 
nothing  remains  but  for  me  to  take  leave  of  you 
that  you  may  depart ; I feel  that  Master  Cap  must 
be  impatient,  and  there  is  danger  of  his  coming  on 
shore  to  look  for  us  all.” 

“ To  take  leave  ! ” exclaimed  Mabel. 

“ Leave  ! ” echoed  Jasper  “ you  do  not  mean 
to  quit  us,  my  friend  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  best,  Mabel — ’tis  altogether  best,  Eau- 
douce ; and  it’s  wisest.  I could  live  and  die  in 
your  company  if  I only  followed  feeling ; but  if  I 
follow  reason,  I shall  quit  you  here.  You  will  go 
back  to  Oswego,  and  become  man  and  wife  as 
soon  as  you  arrive ; for  all  that  is  determined  with 
Master  Cap,  who  hankers  after  the  sea  again,  and 
who  knows  what  is  to  happen:  while  I shall  return 
to  the  wilderness  and  my  Maker.  Come,  Mabel,” 
continued  Pathfinder,  rising  and  drawing  nearer  to 
our  heroine  with  grave  decorum,  “ kiss  me.  Jas- 
per will  not  grudge  me  one  kiss : then  we’ll  part.” 

“ Oh ! Pathfinder,”  exclaimed  Mabel,  falling 
into  the  arms  of  the  guide  and  kissing  his  cheeks 
again  and  again,  with  a freedom  and  warmth  she 
had  been  far  from  manifesting  while  held  to  the 
bosom  of  Jasper — “ God  bless  you,  dearest  Path- 
finder ! You  will  come  to  us  hereafter.  We  shall 
see  you  again.  When  old  you  will  come  to  our 
dwelling  aud  let  me  be  a daughter  to  you  ? ” 

“ Yes — that’s  it  ’— returned  the  guide,  almost 
gasping  for  breath : “ I’ll  try  to  think  of  it  in  that 
way.  You’re  more  befitting  to  be  my  daughter 
than  to  be  my  wife,  you  are.  Farewell,  Jasper. 
Now  we’ll  go  to  the  canoe  ; it’s  time  you  were  on 
board.” 

The  manner  in  which  Pathfinder  led  the  way 
to  the  shore  was  solemn  and  calm.  As  soon  as  he 


reached  the  canoe,  he  again  took  Mabel  by  the 
hands,  held  her  at  the  length  of  his  own  arms, 
and  gazed  wistfully  into  her  face,  until  the  un- 
bidden tears  rolled  out  of  the  fountains  of  feeling 
and  trickled  down  his  rugged  cheeks  in  streams. 

“ Bless  me,  Pathfinder,”  said  Mabel,  kneeling 
reverently  at  his  feet.  “ Oh ! at  least  bless  me  be- 
fore we  part.” 

That  untutored,  but  noble-minded  being  did 
as  she  desired  ; and,  aiding  her  to  enter  the  canoe, 
seemed  to  tear  himself  away  as  one  snaps  a strong 
and  obstinate  cord.  Before  he  retired,  however, 
he  took  Jasper  by  the  arm,  and  led  him  a little 
aside,  when  he  spoke  as  follows : 

“You’re  kind  of  heart,  and  gentle  by  natur’, 
Jasper ; but  we  are  both  rough  and  wild,  in  com- 
parison with  that  dear  cretur’.  Be  careful  of  her, 
and  never  show  the  roughness  of  man’s  natur’  to 
her  soft  disposition.  You’ll  get  to  understand 
her  in  time ; and  the  Lord  who  governs  the  lake 
and  the  forest  alike — who  looks  upon  virtue  with 
a smile,  and  upon  vice  with  a frown — keep  you 
happy  and  worthy  to  be  so ! ” 

Pathfinder  made  a sign  for  his  friend  to  de- 
part ; and  he  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle  until  the 
canoe  had  reached  the  side  of  the  Scud.  Mabel 
wept  as  if  her  heart  would  break ; nor  did  her  eyes 
once  turn  from  the  open  spot  in  the  glade,  where 
the  form  of  the  Pathfinder  was  to  be  seen,  until 
the  cutter  had  passed  a point  that  completely 
shut  out  the  island.  When  last  in  view,  the 
sinewy  frame  of  this  extraordinary  man  was  as 
motionless  as  if  it  were  a statue  set  up  in  that 
solitary  place,  to  commemorate  the  scenes  of 
which  it  had  so  lately  been  the  witness. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

“ Oh. ! let  me  only  breathe  the  air, 

The  blessed  air  that’s  breathed  by  thee ; 

And,  whether  on  its  wings  it  bear 
Healing  or  death,  ’tis  sweet  to  me ! ” 

Moobe. 

Pathfinder  was  accustomed  to  solitude ; but 
when  the  Scud  had  actually  disappeared,  he  was 
almost  overcome  with  a sense  of  his  loneliness. 
Never  before  had  he  been  conscious  of  his  isolated 
condition  in  the  world ; for  his  feelings  had  gradu- 
ally been  accustoming  themselves  to  the  blan- 
dishment and  wants  of  social  life ; particularly  as 
the  last  were  connected  with  the  domestic  af- 
fections. Now,  all  had  vanished,  as  it  might  be, 
in  one  moment ; and  he  was  left  equally  without 
companions,  aud  without  hope.  Even  Chingaeh- 


JUNE  AT  ARROWHEAD’S  GRAVE. 


205 


gook  had  left  him,  though  it  was  but  temporarily ; 
still,  his  presence  was  missed  at  the  precise  instant 
which  might  be  termed  the  most  critical  in  our 
hero’s  life. 

Pathfinder  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle,  in  the 
attitude  described  in  the  last  chapter,  a long  time 
after  the  Scud  had  disappeared.  The  rigidity  of 
his  limbs  seemed  permanent ; and  none  but  a man 
accustomed  to  put  liis  muscles  to  the  severest 
proof,  could  have  maintained  that  posture,  with 
its  marble-like  inflexibility,  for  so  great  a length 
of  time.  At  length  he  moved  away  from  the  spot . 
the  motion  of  the  body  being  preceded  by  a sigh 
that  seemed  to  heave  up  from  the  very  depths 
of  his  bosom. 

It  was  a peculiarity  of  this  extraordinary  be- 
ing, that  his  senses  and  his  limbs,  for  all  practical 
purposes,  were  never  at  fault,  let  the  mind  be 
preoccupied  with  other  interests  as  much  as  it 
might.  On  the  present  occasion  neither  of  these 
great  auxiliaries  failed  him ; but,  though  his 
thoughts  were  exclusively  occupied  with  Ma- 
bel, her  beauty,  her  preference  of  Jasper,  her 
tears,  and  her  departure,  he  moved  in  a direct  line 
to  the  spot  where  June  still  remained,  which  was 
the  grave  of  her  husband.  The  conversation  that 
followed  passed  in  the  language  of  the  Tuscaroras, 
which  Pathfinder  spoke  fluently ; but,  as  that 
tongue  is  understood  only  by  the  extremely  learned, 
we  shall  translate  it  freely  into  the  English  ; pre- 
serving, as  far  as  possible,  the  tone  of  thought 
of  each  interlocutor,  as  well  as  the  peculiarities 
of  manner. 

June  had  suffered  her  hair  to  fall  about  her 
face,  had  taken  a seat  on  a stone  that  had  been 
dug  from  the  excavation  made  by  the  grave,  and 
was  hanging  over  the  spot  that  contained  the  body 
of  Arrowhead,  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  any 
other.  She  believed,  indeed,  that  all  had  left  the 
island  but  herself,  and  the  tread  of  the  guide’s 
moccasined  foot  wras  too  noiseless  rudely  to  un- 
deceive her. 

Pathfinder  stood  gazing  at  the  woman  for  sev- 
eral minutes  in  mute  attention.  The  contempla- 
tion of  her  grief,  the  recollection  of  her  irrepa- 
rable loss,  and  the  view  of  her  desolation,  produced 
a healthful  influence  on  his  own  feelings ; his  rea- 
son telling  him  how  much  deeper  lay  the  sources 
of  grief  in  a young  wife,  who  was  suddenly  and 
violently  deprived  of  her  husband,  than  in  him- 
self. 

“ Dew-of-June,”  he  said,  solemnly,  but  with 
an  earnestness  that  denoted  the  strength  of  his 
sympathy — “you  are  not  alone  in  your  sorrow. 
Turn,  and  let  your  eyes  look  upon  a friend.” 

“ June  has  no  longer  any  friend ! ” the  woman 


answered:  “Arrowhead  has  gone  to  the  happy 
hunting-grounds,  and  there  is  no  one  left  to  care 
for  June.  The  Tuscaroras  would  chase  her  from 
their  wigwams ; the  Iroquois  are  hateful  in  her 
eyes,  and  she  could  not  look  at  them.  No! — 
leave  June  to  starve  over  the  grave  of  her  hus- 
band.” 

“ This  will  never  do — this  will  never  do.  ’Tis 
ag’in  reason  and  right.  You  believe  in  the  Mani- 
tou,  June?  ” 

“ He  has  hid  his  face  from  June,  because  he  is 
angry.  He  has  left  her  alone  to  die.” 

“ Listen  to  one  who  has  had  a long  acquaint- 
ance with  red  natur’,  though  he  has  a white  birth 
and  white  gifts.  When  the  Manitou  of  a pale-face 
wishes  to  produce  good  in  a pale-face  heart,  he 
strikes  it  with  grief,  for  it  is  in  our  sorrows,  J une, 
that  we  look  with  the  truest  eyes  into  ourselves, 
and  with  the  farthest  sighted  eyes  too,  as  respects 
right.  The  Great  Spirit  wishes  you  well  and  he 
has  taken  away  the  chief,  lest  you  should  be  led 
astray  by  his  wily  tongue,  and  get  to  be  a Mingo 
in  your  disposition,  as  you  were  already  in  your 
company.” 

“ Arrowhead  was  a great  chief!  ” returned  the 
woman,  proudly. 

“ He  had  his  merits,  he  had ; and  he  had  his 
demerits,  too.  But,  June,  you’re  not  desarted, 
nor  will  you  be  soon.  Let  your  grief  out — let  it 
out,  according  to  natur’,  and  when  the  proper 
time  comes,  I shall  have  more  to  say  to  you.” 

Pathfinder  now  went  to  his  own  canoe,  and  he 
left  the  island.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  June 
heard  the  crack  of  his  rifle  once  or  twice ; and,  as 
the  sun  was  setting,  he  reappeared,  bringing  her 
birds  ready  cooked,  and  of  a delicacy  and  flavor 
that  might  have  tempted  the  appetite  of  an  epi- 
cure. This  species  of  intercourse  lasted  a month, 
June  obstinately  refusing  to  abandon  the  grave 
of  her  husband  all  that  time,  though  she  still  ac- 
cepted the  friendly  offerings  of  her  protector. 
Occasionally  they  met  and  conversed,  Pathfinder 
sounding  the  state  of  the  woman’s  feelings ; but 
the  interviews  were  short  and  far  from  frequent 
June  slept  in  one  of  the  huts,  and  she  laid  down 
her  head  in  security,  for  she  was  conscious  of  the 
protection  of  a friend,  though  Pathfinder  invari- 
ably retired  at  night  to  an  adjacent  island,  where 
he  had  built  himself  a hut. 

At  the  end  of  the  month,  however,  the  season 
was  getting  to  be  too  far  advanced  to  render  her 
situation  pleasant  to  June.  The  trees  had  lost 
their  leaves,  and  the  nights  were  becoming  cold 
and  wintry.  It  was  time  to  depart. 

At  this  moment,  Chingachgook  reappeared. 
He  had  a long  and  confidential  interview  on  th« 


206 


THE  PATHFINDER. 


island,  with  his  friend.  June  witnessed  their 
movements,  and  she  saw  that  her  guardian  was 
distressed.  Stealing  to  his  side,  she  endeavored 
to  soothe  his  sorrow,  with  a woman’s  gentleness, 
and  with  a woman’s  instinct. 

“ Thank  you,  June — thank  you  ” — he  said — 
M tia  well  meant,  though  it’s  useless.  But  it  is 
time  to  quit  this  place.  To-morrow  we  shall  de- 
part. You  will  go  with  us,  for  now  you’ve  got  to 
feel  reason.” 

June  assented  in  the  meek  manner  of  an  In- 
dian woman,  and  she  withdrew  to  pass  the  re- 
mainder of  her  time  near  the  grave  of  Arrowhead. 
Regardless  of  the  hour  and  the  season,  the  young 
widow  did  not  pillow  her  head  during  the  whole 
of  that  autumnal  night.  She  sat  near  the  spot 
that  held  the  remains  of  her  husband,  and  prayed, 
in  the  manner  of  her  people,  for  his  success  on  the 
endless  path  on  which  he  had  so  lately  gone,  and 
for  their  reunion  in  the  land  of  the  just.  Humble 
and  degraded  as  she  would  have  seemed  in  the 
eyes  of  the  sophisticated  and  unreflecting,  the 
image  of  God  was  on  her  soul,  and  it  vindicated  its 
divine  origin  by  aspirations  and  feelings  that  would 
have  surprised  those  who,  feigning  more,  feel  less. 

In  the  morning  the  three  departed ; Pathfinder 
earnest  and  intelligent  in  all  he  did,  the  Great 
Serpent  silent  and  imitative,  and  June  meek,  re- 
signed, but  sorrowful.  They  went  in  two  canoes, 
that  of  the  woman  being  abandoned.  Chingaeh- 
gook  led  the  way  and  Pathfinder  followed,  the 
course  being  up  stream.  Two  days  they  paddled 
westward,  and  as  many  nights  they  encamped  on 
islands.  Fortunately  the  weather  became  mild, 
and  when  they  reached  the  lake  it  was  found 
smooth  and  glassy  as  a pond.  It  was  the  Indian 
summer,  and  the  calm  and  almost  the  blandness 
of  June  slept  in  the  hazy  atmosphere. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  they  passed 
the  mouth  of  the  Oswego,  where  the  fort  and 
the  sleeping  ensign  invited  them  in  vain  to  enter. 
Without  casting  a look  aside,  Chingachgook  pad- 
died  past  the  dark  waters  of  the  river,  and  Path- 
finder still  followed  in  silent  industry.  The  ram- 
parts were  crowded  with  spectators ; but  Lundie, 
who  knew  the  persons  of  his  old  friends,  refused 
to  allow  them  to  be  even  hailed. 

It  was  noon  when  Chingachgook  entered  a lit- 
tle bay  where  the  Scud  lay  at  anchor  in  a sort  of 
roadstead.  A small  ancient  clearing  was  on  the 
shore,  and  near  the  margin  of  the  lake  was  a log 
dwelling,  recently  and  completely,  though  rudely 
fitted  up.  There  was  an  air  of  frontier  comfort 
and  of  frontier  abundance  around  the  place,  though 
it  was  necessarily  wild  and  solitary.  J asper  stood 
onthe  shore  ; and,  when  Pathfinder  landed,  he  was 


the  first  to  take  him  by  the  hand.  The  meeting 
was  simple,  but  very  cordial.  No  questions  were 
asked,  it  being  apparent  that  Chingachgook  had 
made  the  necessary  explanations.  Pathfinder 
never  squeezed  his  friend’s  hand  more  cordially 
than  in  this  interview  ; and  he  even  laughed  cor- 
dially in  his  face  as  he  told  him  how  happy  and 
well  he  appeared. 

“ Where  is  she,  Jasper — where  is  she  ? ” the 
guide  at  length  whispered ; for  at  first  he  had 
seemed  to  be  afraid  to  trust  himself  with  the 
question. 

“ She  is  waiting  for  us  in  the  house,  my  dear 
friend,  where  you  see  that  June  has  already  hast- 
ened before  us.” 

“ June  may  use  a lighter  step  to  meet  Mabel, 
but  she  cannot  carry  a lighter  heart.  And  so, 
lad,  you  found  the  chaplain  at  the  garrison,  and 
all  was  soon  settled  ? ” 

“We  were  married  within  a week  after  we  left 
you,  and  Master  Cap  departed  next  day — you 
have  forgotten  to  inquire  about  your  friend,  Salt- 
water— ” 

“ Not  I — not  I.  The  Sarpent  has  told  me  all 
that ; and  then  I love  to  hear  so  much  of  Mabel 
and  her  happiness,  I do.  Did  the  child  smile,  or 
did  she  weep  when  the  ceremony  was  over  ? ” 

“ She  did  both,  my  friend  ; but — ” 

“Yes,  that’s  their  natur’ ; tearful  and  cheer- 
ful. All’s  me ! they  are  very  pleasant  to  us  of 
the  woods ; and  I do  believe  I shall  think  all  right, 
whatever  Mabel  might  do.  And  do  you  think, 
J asper,  that  she  thought  of  me  at  all,  on  that  joy- 
ful occasion  ? ” 

“ I know  she  did,  Pathfinder ; and  she  thinks 
of  you  and  talks  of  you  daily — almost  hourly. 
None  love  you  as  we  do ! ” 

“ I know  few  love  me  better  than  yourself, 
Jasper.  Chingachgook  is,  perhaps,  now  the  only 
creatur’  of  whom  I can  say  that.  Well,  there’s 
no  use  in  putting  it  off  any  longer ; it  must  be 
done,  and  may  as  well  be  done  at  once ; so,  Jasper, 
lead  the  way,  and  I’ll  endivor  to  look  upon  her 
sweet  countenance  once  more.” 

Jasper  did  lead  the  way,  and  they  were  soon 
in  the  presence  of  Mabel.  The  latter  met  her 
late  suitor  with  a bright  blush,  and  her  limbs  trem- 
bled so  she  could  hardly  stand.  Still,  her  mannei 
was  affectionate  and  frank.  During  the  hour  of 
Pathfinder’s  visit,  for  it  lasted  no  longer,  though 
he  ate  in  the  dwelling  of  his  friends,  one  who  was 
expert  in  tracing  the  workings  of  the  human  mind 
might  have  seen  a faithful  index  to  the  feelings  of 
Mabel,  in  her  manner  to  Pathfinder  and  her  hus. 
band.  With  the  latter  she  still  had  a little  of  the 
reserve  that  usually  accompanies  young  wedlock  ; 


THE  HUNTER’S  FAREWELL. 


207 


out  tLe  tones  of  her  voice  were  kinder  even  than 
common  ; the  glance  of  her  eye  was  tender,  and 
she  seldom  looked  at  him  without  the  glow  that 
tinged  her  cheeks  betraying  the  existence  of  feel- 
ings that  habit  and  time  had  not  yet  soothed 
into  absolute  tranquillity.  With  Pathfinder,  all 
was  earnest,  sincere — even  anxious ; but  the  tones 
never  trembled,  the  eye  never  fell,  and,  if  the 
cheek  flushed,  it  was  with  the  emotions  that  are 
connected  with  concern. 

.At  length  the  moment  came  when  Pathfinder 
must  go  his  way.  Chingachgook  had  already 
abandoned  the  canoes,  and  was  posted  on  the  mar- 
gin of  the  woods,  where  a path  led  into  the  forest. 
Here  he  calmly  waited  to  be  joined  by  his  friend. 
As  soon  as  the  latter  was  aware  of  this  fact,  he 
rose  in  a solemn  manner,  and  took  his  leave. 

“ Pve  sometimes  thought  that  my  own  fate 
has  been  a little  hard,”  he  said  ; “ but  that  of  this 
woman,  Mabel,  has  shamed  me  into  reason — ” 

“ June  remains,  and  lives  with  me,”  eagerly 
interrupted  our  heroine. 

“ So  I comprehend  it.  If  anybody  can  bring 
her  back  from  her  grief,  and  make  her  wish  to 
live,  you  can  do  it,  Mabel,  though  I’ve  misgivings 
about  even  your  success.  The  poor  creatur’  is 
without  a tribe  as  well  as  without  a husband,  and 
it’s  not  easy  to  reconcile  the  feelings  to  both 
losses.  Ah’s  me  ! — what  have  I to  do  with  other 
people’s  miseries  and  marriages,  as  if  I hadn’t 
affliction  enough  of  my  own  ? Don’t  speak  to  me, 
Mabel- — don’t  speak  to  me,  Jasper — let  me  go  my 
way  in  peace,  and  like  a man.  I’ve  seen  your 
happiness,  and  that  is  a great  deal,  and  I ffnall  be 
able  to  bear  my  own  sorrow  all  the  better  for  it. 
No — I’ll  never  kiss  you  ag’in,  Mabel,  I’ll  never 
kiss  you  ag’in.  Here’s  my  hand,  Jasper — squeeze 
it,  boy,  squeeze  it ; no  fear  of  its  giving  way,  for 
it’s  the  hand  of  a man — and,  now,  Mabel,  do  you 
take  it — nay,  you  must  not  do  this — ” preventing 
Mabel  from  kissing  it,  and  bathing  it  with  her 
tears — “ you  must  not  do  this.” 

“ Pathfinder,”  asked  Mabel,  “ when  shall  we 
see  you  again  ? ” 

“ I’ve  thought  of  that,  too  ; yes,  I’ve  thought 
of  that,  I have.  If  the  time  should  ever  come 
when  I can  look  upon  you  altogether  as  a sister, 
Mabel,  or  a child — it  might  be  better  to  say  a 
child,  since  you’re  young  enough  to  be  my  daugh- 
ter— depend  on  it,  I’ll  come  back  ; for  it  would 
lighten  my  very  heart  to  witness  your  gladness. 
But  if  I cannot — farewell — farewell — the  sargeant 
was  wrong — yes,  the  sargeant  was  wrong  ! ” 

This  was  the  last  the  Pathfinder  ever  uttered  to 
the  ears  of  Jasper  Western  and  Mabel  Dunham. 


He  turned  away,  as  if  the  words  choked  him 
and  was  quickly  at  the  side  of  his  friend.  As 
soon  as  the  latter  saw  him  approach,  he  shoul- 
dered his  own  burden,  and  glided  in  among  the 
trees  without  waiting  to  be  spoken  to.  Mabel, 
her  husband,  and  June,  all  watched  the  form  of 
the  Pathfinder,  in  the  hope  of  receiving  a parting 
gesture,  or  a stolen  glance  of  the  eye  ; but  he  did 
not  look  back.  Once  or  twice  they  thought  they 
saw  his  head  shake,  as  one  trembles  in  bitterness 
of  spirit ; and  a toss  of  the  hand  was  given,  as  if 
he  knew  that  he  was  watched  ; but  a tread  whose 
vigor  no  sorrow  could  enfeeble,  soon  bore  him  out 
of  view,  and  he  was  lost  in  the  depths  of  the  forest. 

Neither  Jasper  nor  his  wife  ever  beheld  the 
Pathfinder  again.  They  remained  for  another 
year  on  the  banks  of  Ontario  ; and  then  the  press- 
ing solicitations  of  Cap  induced  them  to  join  him 
in  New  York,  where  Jasper  eventually  became  a 
successful  and  respected  merchant.  Thrice  Mabel 
received  valuable  presents  of  furs,  at  intervals  of 
years  ; and  her  feelings  told  her  whence  they 
came,  though  no  name  accompanied  the  gift. 
Later  in  life  still,  when  the  mother  of  several 
youths,  she  had  occasion  to  visit  the  interior,  and 
found  herself  on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk,  accom- 
panied by  her  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  ca- 
pable of  being  her  protector.  On  that  occasion 
she  observed  a man  in  a singular  guise,  watching 
her  in  the  distance,  with  an  intentness  that  in- 
duced her  to  inquire  into  his  pursuits  and  char- 
acter. She  was  told  he  was  the  most  renowned 
hunter  of  that  portion  of  the  State — it  was  after 
the  Revolution — a being  of  great  purity  of  char- 
acter, and  of  ns  marked  peculiarities ; and  that 
he  was  known  in  that  region  of  country  by  the 
name  of  the  Leather-stocking.  Further  than  this 
Mrs.  Western  could  not  ascertain  ; though  the  dis- 
tant glimpse  and  singular  deportment  of  this  un- 
known hunter  gave  her  a sleepless  night,  and  cast 
a shade  of  melancholy  over  her  still  lovely  face, 
that  lasted  many  a day. 

As  for  June,  the  double  loss  of  husband  and 
tribe  produced  the  effect  that  Pathfinder  had  fore 
seen.  She  died  in  the  cottage  of  Mabel,  on  the 
shores  of  the  lake  ; and  Jasper  conveyed  her  body 
to  the  island,  where  he  interred  it  by  the  side  of 
that  of  Arrowhead. 

Lundie  lived  to  marry  his  ancient  love,  and 
retired,  a war-worn  and  battered  veteran  : but  his 
name  has  been  rendered  illustrious  in  our  own 
time  by  the  deeds  of  a younger  brother,  who  suc- 
ceeded to  his  territorial  title,  which,  however,  was 
shortly  after  merged  in  one  earned  by  his  valoi 
on  the  ocean. 


' 


J ■ ' 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“The  Leather-stocking  . . . applied  the  gun  to  the  rear  of  his  enemy,  and  by  a powerful  shove  sent  him 
outside  of  the  works.”  p.  188. 


BY 

JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER. 


D.  APPLETON 


NEW  YORK: 


AND 


COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS. 


“ For  one  instant,  the  skift  was  drawn  through  the  water,  but,  in  the  next,  the  canoe  glided  before  it,  and  Natty,  bending  low, 
passed  his  knife  across  the  throat  of  the  animal.” 


5 


THE  PIONEERS 


OR, 


THE  SOURCES  OF  THE  SUSQUEHANNA, 

- 1 

A DESCRIPTIVE  TALE, 


BY 

Je  FENIMORE  COOPER. 


“ Extremes  of  habits,  manners,  time,  and  space, 
Brought  close  together,  here  stood  face  to  face, 
And  gave  at  once  a contrast  to  the  view, 

That  other  lands  and  ages  never  knew.” 

Paulding. 


ILLUSTRATED  FROM  DRAWINGS  BY  F.  0.  C.  DARLEY. 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

1,  3,  and  5 BOND  STREET. 

18  8 1. 


40 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 
D.  APPLETON  & CO., 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


INTRODUCTION. 


As  this  work  professes,  in  its  title-page,  to  be  a descriptive  tale,  they  who  will  take 
the  trouble  to  read  it  may  be  glad  to  know  how  much  of  its  contents  is  literal  fact,  and 
how  much  is  intended  to  represent  a general  picture.  The  author  is  very  sensible  that, 
had  he  confined  himself  to  the  latter,  always  the  most  effective,  as  it  is  the  most  valuable, 
mode  of  conveying  knowledge  of  this  nature,  he  would  have  made  a far  better  book. 
But  in  commencing  to  describe  scenes,  and  perhaps  he  may  add  characters,  that  were  so 
familiar  to  his  own  youth,  there  wa3  a constant  temptation  to  delineate  that  which  he  had 
known,  rather  than  that  which  he  might  have  imagined.  This  rigid  adhesion  to  truth, 
an  indispensable  requisite  in  history  and  travels,  destroys  the  charm  of  fiction ; for  all  that 
is  necessary  to  be  conveyed  to  the  mind  by  the  latter  had  better  be  done  by  delineations 
of  principles,  and  of  characters  in  their  classes,  than  by  a too  fastidious  attention  to 
originals. 

New  York  having  but  one  county  of  Otsego,  and  the  Susquehanna  but  one  proper 
source,  there  can  be  no  mistake  as  to  the  site  of  the  tale.  The  history  of  this  district 
of  country,  so  far  as  it  is  connected  with  civilized  men,  is  soon  told. 

Otsego,  in  common  with  most  of  the  interior  of  the  province  of  New  York,  was  includ- 
ed in  the  county  of  Albany,  previously  to  the  war  of  the  separation.  It  then  became,  in 
a subsequent  division  of  territory,  a part  of  Montgomery  ; and,  finally,  having  obtained 
a sufficient  population  of  its  own,  it  was  set  apart  as  a county  by  itself,  shortly  after  the 
peace  of  1783.  It  lies  among  those  low  spurs  of  the  Alleghanies  which  cover  the  mid- 
land counties  of  New  York;  and  it  is  a little  east  of  a meridional  line  drawn  through 
the  centre  of  the  State.  As  the  waters  of  New  York  flow  either  southerly  into  the 
Atlantic  or  northerly  into  Ontario  and  its  outlet,  Otsego  Lake,  being  the  source  of  the 
Susquehanna,  is,  of  necessity,  among  its  highest  lands.  The  face  of  the  country,  the 
climate  as  it  was  found  by  the  whites,  and  the  manners  of  the  settlers,  are  described 
with  a minuteness  for  which  the  author  has  no  other  apology  than  the  force  of  his  own 
recollections. 

Otsego  is  said  to  be  a word  compounded  of  Ot,  a place  of  meeting,  and  Sego,  or 
Sago,  the  ordinary  term  of  salutation  used  by  the  Indians  of  this  region.  There  is  a 
tradition  which  says,  that  the  neighboring  tribes  were  accustomed  to  meet  on  the  banks 
jf  the  lake  to  make  their  treaties,  and  otherwise  to  strengthen  their  alliances,  and 


1 


INTRODUCTION. 


which  refers  the  name  to  this  practice.  As  the  Indian  agent  of  New  York  had  a log 
dwelling  at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  however,  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  appellation  grew 
out  of  the  meetings  that  were  held  at  his  council  fires  ; the  war  drove  off  the  agent,  in 
common  with  the  other  officers  of  the  crown  ; and  his  rude  dwelling  was  soon  aban- 
doned. The  author  remembers  it,  a few  years  later,  reduced  to  the  humble  office  of  a 
smoke-house. 

In  1779,  an  expedition  was  sent  against  the  hostile  Indians,  who  dwelt  about  a hun- 
dred miles  west  of  Otsego,  on  the  banks  of  the  Cayuga.  The  whole  country  was  then  a 
wilderness,  and  it  was  necessary  to  transport  the  baggage  of  the  troops  by  means  of  the 
rivers — a devious  but  practicable  route.  One  brigade  ascended  the  Mohawk,  until  it 
reached  the  point  nearest  to  the  sources  of  the  Susquehanna ; whence  it  cut  a lane 
through  the  forest  to  the  head  of  the  Otsego.  The  boats  and  baggage  were  carried  over 
this  “portage,”  and  the  troops  proceeded  to  the  other  extremity  of  the  lake,  where  they 
disembarked  and  encamped.  The  Susquehanna,  a narrow  though  rapid  stream  at  its 
source,  was  much  filled  with  “flood  wood,”  or  fallen  trees;  and  the  troops  adopted  a 
novel  expedient  to  facilitate  their  passage.  The  Otsego  is  about  nine  miles  in  length, 
varying  in  breadth  from  half  a mile  to  a mile  and  a half.  The  water  is  of  great  depth, 
limpid,  and  supplied  from  a thousand  springs.  At  its  foot,  the  banks  are  rather  less 
than  thirty  feet  high ; the  remainder  of  its  margin  being  in  mountains,  intervals,  and 
points.  The  outlet,  or  the  Susquehanna,  flows  through  a gorge  in  the  low  banks  just 
mentioned,  which  may  have  a width  of  two  hundred  feet.  This  gorge  was  dammed,  and 
tbe  waters  of  the  lake  collected : the  Susquehanna  was  converted  into  a rill.  When  all 
was  ready,  the  troops  embarked,  the  dam  was  knocked  away,  the  Otsego  poured  out  its 
torrent,  and  the  boats  went  merrily  down  with  the  current. 

General  James  Clinton,  the  brother  of  George  Clinton,  then  governor  of  New  York, 
and  the  father  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  who  died  governor  of  the  same  State  in  1827,  com- 
manded the  brigade  employed  on  this  duty.  During  the  stay  of  the  troops  at  the  foot 
of  the  Otsego  a soldier  was  shot  for  desertion.  The  grave  of  this  unfortunate  man  was 
the  first  place  of  human  interment  that  the  author  ever  beheld,  as  the  smoke-house 
w as  the  first  ruin ! The  swivel  alluded  to  in  this  work  was  buried  and  abandoned  by  the 
troops  on  this  occasion ; and  it  was  subsequently  found  in  digging  the  cellars  of  the 
author’s  paternal  residence. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Washington,  accompanied  by  many  distinguished 
men,  visited  the  scene  of  this  tale,  it  is  said,  with  a view  to  examine  the  facilities  for 
opening  a communication  by  water  with  other  points  of  the  country.  He  stayed  but  a 
few  hours. 

In  1785,  the  author’s  father,  who  had  an  interest  in  extensive  tracts  ol  land  in  this 
wilderness,  arrived  with  a party  of  surveyors.  The  manner  in  which  the  scene  met  his 
eye  is  described  by  Judge  Temple.  At  the  commencement  of  the  following  year  the 
settlement  began ; and  from  that  time  to  this  the  country  has  continued  to  flourish.  It 
is  a singular  feature  in  American  life,  that,  at  the  beginning  of  this  century,  when  the 
proprietor  of  the  estate,  had  occasion  for  settlers  on  a new  settlement,  and  in  a remote 
county,  he  was  enabled  to  draw  them  from  among  the  increase  of  the  former  colony. 

Although  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  Otsego  a little  preceded  the  birth  of  the 
author,  it  was  not  sufficiently  advanced  to  render  it  desirable  that  an  event,  so  important 
to  himself,  should  take  place  in  the  wilderness.  Perhaps  his  mother  had  a reasonable 


INTRODUCTION. 


5 


distrust  of  tho  practice  of  Dr.  Todd,  who  must  then  have  been  in  the  novitiate  of  his 
experimental  acquirements.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  author  was  brought  an  infant 
into  this  valley,  and  all  his  first  impressions  were  here  obtained.  He  has  inhabited  it 
ever  since,  at  intervals ; and  he  thinks  he  can  answer  for  the  faithfulness  of  the  picture 
he  has  drawn. 

Otsego  has  now  become  one  of  the  most  populous  districts  of  Hew  York.  It  sends 
forth  its  emigrants  like  any  other  old  region;  and  it  is  pregnant  with  industry  and  en- 
terprise. Its  manufactures  are  prosperous ; and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  one  of  the 
most  ingenious  machines  known  in  European  art  is  derived  from  the  keen  ingenuity 
which  is  exercised  in  this  remote  region. 

In  order  to  prevent  mistake,  it  may  be  well  to  say  that  the  incidents  of  this  tale  are 
purely  a fiction.  The  literal  facts  are  chiefly  connected  with  the  natural  and  artificial 
objects,  and  the  customs  of  the  inhabitants.  Thus  the  academy,  and  court-house,  and 
jail,  and  inn,  and  most  similar  things,  are  tolerably  exact.  They  have  all,  long  since, 
given  place  to  other  buildings  of  a more  pretending  character.  There  is  also  some  lib- 
erty taken  with  the  truth  in  the  description  of  the  principal  dwelling : the  real  building 
had  no  “firstly”  and  “lastly.”  It  was  of  bricks,  and  not  of  stone;  and  its  roof  exhib- 
ited none  of  the  peculiar  beauties  of  the  “composite  order.”  It  was  erected  in  an  age 
too  primitive  for  that  ambitious  school  of  architecture.  But  the  author  indulged  his 
recollections  freely  when  he  had  fairly  entered  the  door.  Here  all  is  literal,  even  to  the 
severed  arm  of  'Wolf,  and  the  urn  which  held  the  ashes  of  Queen  Dido.* 

The  author  has  elsewhere  said  that  the  character  of  Leather-stocking  is  a creation, 
rendered  probable  by  such  auxiliaries  as  were  necessary  to  produce  that  effect.  Had  he 
drawn  still  more  upon  fancy,  the  lovers  of  fiction  would  not  have  so  much  cause  for  their 
objections  to  his  work.  Still  the  picture  would  not  have  been  in  the  least  true,  without 
some  substitutes  for  most  of  the  other  personages.  The  great  proprietor  resident  on  his 
lands,  and  giving  his  name  to,  instead  of  receiving  it  from  his  estates,  as  in  Europe,  is 
common  over  the  whole  of  Hew  York.  The  physician,  with  his  theory,  rather  obtained 
than  corrected  by  experiments  on  the  human  constitution ; the  pious,  self-denying,  labori- 
ous, and  ill-paid  missionary ; the  half-educated,  litigious,  envious,  and  disreputable  lawyer, 
with  his  counterpoise,  a brother  of  the  profession,  of  better  origin  and  of  better  charac- 
ter ; the  shiftless,  bargaining,  discontented  seller  of  his  “ betterments ; ” the  plausible  car- 
penter, and  most  of  the  others,  are  more  familiar  to  all  who  have  ever  dwelt  in  a new 
country. 

It  may  be  well  to  say  here,  a little  more  explicitly,  there  was  no  intention  to  de- 
scribe with  particular  accuracy  any  real  characters  in  this  book.  It  has  been  often  said, 
and  in  published  statements,  that  the  heroine  of  this  book  was  drawn  after  a sister  of  the 
writer,  who  was  killed  by  a fall  from  a horse  now  near  half  a century  since.  So  in- 
genious is  conjecture,  that  a personal  resemblance  has  been  discovered  between  the  fic- 
titious character  and  the  deceased  relative ! It  is  scarcely  possible  to  describe  two  fe- 
males of  the  same  class  in  life,  who  would  be  less  alike,  personally,  than  Elizabeth  Temple 
and  the  sister  of  the  author  who  met  with  the  deplorable  fate  mentioned.  In  a word, 
they  were  as  unlike  in  this  respect,  as  in  history,  character,  and  fortunes. 

* Though  forests  still  crown  the  mountains  of  Otsego,  the  bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  panther,  are  nearly  strangers  to 
&em.  Even  the  innocent  deer  is  rarely  seen  bounding  beneath  their  arches ; for  the  rifle,  and  the  activity  of  the  set* 
tiers,  have  driven  them  to  other  haunts.  To  this  change  (which,  in  some  particulars,  is  melancholy  to  one  who  knew 
the  country  in  its  infancy)  it  may  be  added,  that  the  Otsego  is  beginning  to  be  a niggard  of  its  treasures 


6 


INTRODUCTION. 


Circumstances  rendered  this  sister  singularly  dear  to  the  author.  After  a lapse  of 
half  a century,  he  is  writing  this  paragraph  with  a pain  that  would  induce  him  to  cancel 
it,  were  it  not  still  more  painful  to  have  it  believed  that  one  whom  he  regarded  with  a 
reverence  that  surpassed  the  love  of  a brother,  was  converted  by  him  into  the  heroine  of 
a work  of  fiction. 

From  circumstances  which,  after  this  introduction,  will  be  obvious  to  all,  the  author 
has  had  more  pleasure  in  writing  “The  Pioneers  ” than  the  book  will,  probably,  ever 
give  any  of  its  readers.  He  is  quite  aware  of  its  numerous  faults,  some  of  which  he  has 
endeavored  to  repair  in  this  edition;  but  as  he  has — in  intention,  at  least — done  his  full 
share  in  amusing  the  world,  he  trusts  to  its  good  -nature  for  overlooking  this  attempt  tc 
please  himself. 


THE  PIONEERS, 


OR  THE 

SOURCES  OF  THE  SUSQUEHANNA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

“ See,  Winter  comes,  to  rulo  the  varied  year, 

Sullen  and  sad,  with  all  his  rising  train ; 

Vapors,  and  clouds,  and  storms.” 

Thomson. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  State  of  New  York 
lies  an  extensive  district  of  country,  whose  sur- 
face is  a succession  of  hills  and  dales,  or,  to  speak 
with  greater  deference  to  geographical  definitions, 
of  mountains  and  valleys.  It  is  among  these  hills 
that  the  Delaware  takes  its  rise  ; and,  flowing  from 
the  limpid  lakes  and  thousand  springs  of  this  re- 
gion, the  numerous  sources  of  the  Susquehanna 
meander  through  the  valleys,  until,  uniting  their 
streams,  they  form  one  of  the  proudest  rivers  of 
the  United  States.  The  mountains  are  generally 
arable  to  the  tops,  although  instances  are  not 
wanting  where  the  sides  are  jutted  with  rocks, 
that  aid  greatly  in  giving  to  the  country  that  ro- 
mantic and  picturesque  character  which  it  so 
eminently  possesses.  The  vales  are  narrow,  rich, 
and  cultivated ; with  a stream  uniformly  winding 
through  each.  Beautiful  and  thriving  villages 
are  found  interspersed  along  the  margins  of  the 
small  lakes,  or  situated  at  those  points  of  the 
streams  which  are  favorable  for  manufacturing  ; 
and  neat  and  comfortable  farms,  with  every  indi- 
cation of  wealth  about  them,  are  scattered  pro- 
fusely through  the  vales,  and  even  to  the  moun- 
tain tops.  Roads  diverge  in  every  direction,  from 
the  even  and  graceful  bottoms  of  the  valleys,  to 
the  most  rugged  and  intricate  passes  of  the  hills. 
Academies,  and  minor  edifices  of  learning,  meet 
the  eye  of  the  stranger  at  every  few  miles,  as  he 
winds  his  w?,y  through  this  uneven  territory  ; and 
places  for  the  worship  of  God  abound  with  that 
frequency  which  characterizes  a moral  and  re- 
flecting people,  and  with  that  variety  of  exterior 


and  canonical  government  which  flows  from  un- 
fettered liberty  of  conscience.  In  short,  the 
whole  district  is  hourly  exhibiting  how  much  can 
be  done,  in  even  a rugged  country,  and  with  a 
severe  climate,  under  the  dominion  of  mild  laws, 
and  where  every  man  feels  a direct  interest  in  the 
prosperity  of  a commonwealth,  of  which  he  knows 
himself  to  form  a part.  The  expedients  of  the 
pioneers  who  first  broke  ground  in  the  settlement 
of  this  country,  are  succeeded  by  the  permanent 
improvements  of  the  yeoman,  who  intends  to 
leave  his  remains  to  moulder  under  the  sod  which 
he  tills,  or,  perhaps,  of  the  son,  who,  born  in  the 
land,  piously  wishes  to  linger  around  the  grave 
of  his  father.  Only  forty  years  * have  passed 
since  this  territory  was  a wilderness. 

H Yery  soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  in- 
dependence of  the  States,  by  the  peace  of  1783, 
the  enterprise  of  their  citizens  was  directed  to  a 
development  of  the  natural  advantages  of  their 
widely-extended  dominions.  Before  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  the  inhabited  parts  of  the  colony 
of  New  York  were  limited  to  less  than  a tenth  of 
its  possessions.  A narrow  belt  of  country,  ex- 
tending for  a short  distance  on  either  side  of  the 
Hudson,  with  a similar  occupation  of  fifty  miles 
on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk,  together  with  the 
islands  of  Nassau  and  Staten,  and  a few  insulated 
settlements  on  chosen  land  along  the  margins  of 
streams,  composed  the  country,  which  was  then 
inhabited  by  less  than  two  hundred  thousand 
souls.  Within  the  short  period  we  have  men- 
tioned, the  population  has  spread  itself  over  five 
degrees  of  latitude  and  seven  of  longitude,  and 
has  swelled  to  a million  and  a half  of  inhabit- 
ants,f who  are  maintained  in  abundance,  and 
can  look  forward  to  ages  before  the  evil  day  must 

* The  book  was  written  in  1823. 

t Tho  population  of  New  Tork  is  now  (1831)  quite 

2,000,000. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


arrive,  when  their  possessions  shall  become  un- 
equal to  their  wants. 

Our  tale  begins  in  1793,  about  seven  years  af- 
ter the  commencement  of  one  of  the  earliest  of 
those  settlements,  which  have  conduced  to  effect 
that  magical  change  in  the  power  and  condition 
of  the  State,  to  which  we  have  alluded. 

It  was  near  the  setting  of  the  sun,  on  a clear, 
cold  day  in  December,  when  a sleigh  was  moving 
slowly  up  one  of  the  mountains,  in  the  district 
we  have  described.  The  day  had  been  fine  for 
the  season,  and  but  two  or  three  large  clouds, 
whose  color  seemed  brightened  by  the  light  re- 
flected from  the  mass  of  snow  that  covered  the 
earth,  floated  in  a sky  of  the  purest  blue.  The 
road  wound  along  the  brow  of  a precipice,  and 
on  one  side  was  upheld  by  a foundation  of  logs, 
piled  one  upon  the  other,  while  a narrow  excava- 
tion in  the  mountain,  in  the  opposite  direction, 
had  made  a passage  of  sufficient  width  for  the 
ordinary  travelling  of  that  day.  But  logs,  exca- 
vation, and  every  thing  that  did  not  reach  several 
feet  above  the  earth,  lay  alike  buried  beneath  the 
snow.  A single  track,  barely  wide  enough  to  re- 
ceive the  sleigh,*  denoted  the  route  of  the  high- 
way, and  this  was  sunk  nearly  two  feet  below  the 
surrounding  surface.  In  the  vale,  which  lay  at  a 
distance  of  several  hundred  feet  lower,  there  was 
what  in  the  language  of  the  country  was  called  a 
clearing , and  all  the  usual  improvements  of  a new 
settlement ; these  even  extended  up  the  hill  to 
the  point  where  the  road  turned  short  and  ran 
across  the  level  land,  which  lay  on  the  summit  of 
the  mountain ; but  the  summit  itself  remained  in 
forest.  There  was  a glittering  in  the  atmosphere, 
as  if  it  were  filled  with  innumerable  shining  par- 
ticles ; and  the  noble  bay  horses  that  drew  the 
sleigh  were  covered,  in  many  parts,  with  a coat 
of  hoar-frost.  The  vapor  from  their  nostrils  was 
seen  to  issue  like  smoke  ; and  every  object  in  the 
view,  as  well  as  every  arrangement  of  the  travel- 
lers, denoted  the  depth  bf  a winter  in  the  moun- 
tains. The  harness,  which  was  of  a deep,  dull 

* Sleigh  is  the  word  used  in  every  part  of  the  United 
States  to  denote  a traineau.  It  is  of  local  use  in  the  west 
of  England,  whence  it  is  most  probably  derived  by  the 
Americans.  The  latter  draw  a distinction  between  a sled, 
or  sledge,  and  a sleigh ; the  sleigh  being  shod  with  metal. 
Sleighs  are  also  subdivided  into  two-horse  and  one-horse 
sleighs.  Of  the  latter,  there  are  the  cutter,  with  thills  so 
arranged  as  to  permit  the  horse  to  travel  in  the  side  track ; 
the  “ pung,”  or  “ tow-pung,”  which  is  driven  with  a pole ; 
and  the  “jumper,”  a rude  construction  used  for  temporary 
purposes,  in  the  new  countries. 

Many  of  the  American  sleighs  are  elegant,  though  the 
use  of  this  mode  of  conveyance  is  much  lessened  with  the 
melioration  of  th9  climate,  consequent  on  the  clearing  of 
the  forests. 


black,  differing  from  the  glossy  varnishing  of  the 
present  day,  was  ornamented  with  enormous 
plates  and  buckles  of  brass,  that  shone  like  gold 
in  those  transient  beams  of  the  sun,  which  found 
their  way  obliquely  through  the  tops  of  the  trees. 
Huge  saddles,  studded  with  nails,  and  fitted  with 
cloth  that  served  as  blankets  to  the  shoulders  of 
the  cattle,  supported  four  high,  square-topped 
turrets,  through  which  the  stout  reins  led  from 
the  mouths  of  the  horses  to  the  hands  of  the 
driver,  who  was  a negro,  of  apparently  twenty 
years  of  age.  His  face,  which  Nature  had  col- 
ored with  a glistening  black,  was  now  mottled 
with  the  cold,  and  his  large  shining  eyes  filled 
with  tears  ; a tribute  to  its  power,  that  the  keen 
frosts  of  those  regions  always  extracted  from  one 
of  his  African  origin.  Still,  there  was  a smiling 
expression  of  good-humor  in  his  happy  counte- 
nance, that  was  created  by  the  thoughts  of  home, 
and  a Christmas  fireside,  with  its  Christmas  frol- 
ics. The  sleigh  was  one  of  those  large,  comfort- 
able, old-fashioned  conveyances,  which  would  ad- 
mit a whole  family  within  its  bosom,  but  which 
now  contained  only  two  passengers  besides  the 
driver.  The  color  of  its  outside  was  a modest 
green,  and  that  of  its  inside  a fiery  red.  The  lat- 
ter was  intended  to  convey  the  idea  of  heat  in 
that  cold  climate.  Large  buffalo-skins,  trimmed 
around  the  edges  with  red  cloth,  cut  into  festoons, 
covered  the  back  of  the  sleigh,  and  were  spread 
over  its  bottom,  and  drawn  up  around  the  feet 
of  the  travellers — one  of  whom  was  a man  of  mid- 
dle age,  and  the  other  a female,  just  entering  up- 
on womanhood.  The  former  was  of  a large  stat- 
ure ; but  the  precautions  he  had  taken  to  guard 
against  the  cold  left  but  little  of  his  person  ex- 
posed to  view.  A great-coat,  that  was  abundant- 
ly ornamented  by  a profusion  of  furs,  enveloped 
the  whole  of  his  figure,  excepting  the  head,  which 
was  covered  with  a cap  of  marten-skins,  lined 
with  morocco,  the  sides  of  which  were  made  to 
fall,  if  necessary,  and  were  now  drawn  close  over 
the  ears,  and  fastened  beneath  his  chin  with  a 
black  ribbon.  The  top  of  the  cap  was  surmount- 
ed with  the  tail  of  the  animal  whose  skin  had 
furnished  the  rest  of  the  materials,  which  fell 
back,  not  ungracefully,  a few  inches  behind  the 
head.  From  beneath  this  mask  were  to  be  seen 
part  of  a fine  manly  face,  and  particularly  a pair 
of  expressive,  large  blue  eyes,  that  promised  ex- 
traordinary intellect,  covert  humor,  and  great  be- 
nevolence. The  form  of  his  companion  was  liter- 
ally hid  beneath  the  garments  she  wore.  There 
were  furs  and  silks  peeping  from  under  a large 
camlet  cloak,  with  a thick  flannel  lining,  that,  by 
its  cut  and  size,  was  evidently  intended  for  a mas 


THE  JUDGE  AND  IIIS  DAUGHTER. 


9 


culine  wearer.  A huge  hood  of  black  silk,  that 
was  quilted  with  down,  concealed  the  whole  of 
her  head,  except  at  a small  opening  in  front  for 
breath,  through  which  occasionally  sparkled  a 
pair  of  animated  jet-black  eyes. 

Both  the  father  and  daughter  (for  such  was 
the  connectiou  between  the  two  travellers)  were 
too  much  occupied  with  their  reflections  to  break 
a stillness,  that  received  little  or  no  interruption 
from  the  easy  gliding  of  the  sleigh,  by  the  sound 
of  their  voices.  The  former  was  thinking  of  the 
wife  that  had  held  this  their  only  child  to  her  bo- 
som, when,  four  years  before,  she  had  reluctantly 
consented  to  relinquish  the  society  of  her  daughter, 
in  order  that  the  latter  might  enjoy  the  advantages 
of  an  education  which  the  city  of  New  York  could 
only  offer  at  that  period.  A few  months  afterward 
death  had  deprived  him  of  the  remaining  com- 
panion of  his  solitude ; but  still  he  had  enough 
of  real  regard  for  his  child,  not  to  bring  her  into 
the  comparative  wilderness  in  which  he  dwelt,  until 
the  full  period  had  expired  to  which  he  had 
limited  her  juvenile  labors.  The  reflections  of 
the  daughter  were  less  melancholy,  and  mingled 
with  a pleased  astonishment  at  the  novel  scenery 
she  met  at  every  turn  in  the  road. 

The  mountain  on  which  they  were  journey- 
ing was  covered  with  pines,  that  rose  without  a 
branch  some  seventy  or  eighty  feet,  and  which 
frequently  doubled  that  height,  by  the  addition 
of  the  tops.  Through  the  innumerable  vistas  that 
opened  beneath  the  lofty  trees,  the  eye  could 
penetrate,  until  it  was  met  by  a distant  inequality 
in  the  ground,  or  was  stopped  by  a view  of  the 
summit  of  the  mountain,  which  lay  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  valley  to  which  they  were  hasten- 
ing. The  dark  trunks  of  the  trees  rose  from  the 
pure  white  of  the  snow,  in  regularly-formed  shafts, 
until,  at  a great  height,  their  branches  shot  forth 
horizontal  limbs,  that  were  covered  with  the 
meagre  foliage  of  an  evergreen,  affording  a mel- 
ancholy contrast  to  the  torpor  of  nature  below. 
To  the  travellers,  there  seemed  to  be  no  wind ; 
but  these  pines  waved  majestically  at  their  top- 
most boughs,  sending  forth  a dull,  plaintive 
sound,  that  was  quite  in  consonance  with  the  rest 
of  the  melancholy  scene. 

The  sleigh  had  glided  for  some  distance  along 
the  even  surface,  and  the  gaze  of  the  female  was 
bent  in  inquisitive,  and,  perhaps,  timid  glances, 
into  the  recesses  of  the  forest,  when  a loud  and 
continued  howling  was  heard,  pealing  under  the 
long  arches  of  the  woods,  like  the  cry  of  a numer- 
ous pack  of  hounds.  The  instant  the  sound 
reached  the  ears  of  the  gentleman,  he  cried  aloud 
to  the  black : 


“ Hold  up,  Aggy ; there  i3  old  Hector ; I 
should  know  his  bay  among  ten  thousand  ! The 
Leather-stocking  has  put  his  hounds  into  the  hills, 
this  clear  day,  and  they  have  started  their  game. 
There  is  a deer-track  a few  rods  ahead  ; and  now, 
Bess,  if  thou  canst  muster  courage  enough  to 
stand  fire,  I will  give  thee  a saddle  for  thy  Christ- 
mas dinner.” 

The  black  drew  up,  with  a cheerful  grin  upon 
his  chilled  features,  and  began  thrashing  his  arms 
together,  in  order  to  restore  the  circulation  to  his 
fingers,  while  the  speaker  stood  erect,  and,  throw- 
ing aside  his  outer  covering,  stepped  from  the 
sleigh  upon  a bank  of  snow,  which  sustained  his 
weight  without  yielding. 

In  a few  moments  the  speaker  succeeded  in 
extricating  a double-barrelled  fowling-piece  from 
among  a multitude  of  trunks  and  bandboxes. 
After  throwing  aside  the  thick  mittens  which  had 
encased  his  hands,  there  now  appeared  a pair  of 
leather  glores  tipped  with  fur,  he  examined  his 
priming,  and  was  about  to  move  forward,  when 
the  light  bounding  noise  of  an  animal  plunging 
through  the  woods  was  heard,  and  a fine  buck 
darted  into  the  path,  a short  distance  ahead  of 
him.  The  appearance  of  the  animal  was  sudden, 
and  his  flight  inconceivably  rapid ; but  the  travel- 
ler appeared  to  be  too  keen  a sportsman  to  be  dis- 
concerted by  either.  As  it  came  first  into  view 
he  raised  the  fowling-piece  to  his  shoulder,  and, 
with  a practised  eye  and  steady  hand,  drew  a 
trigger.  The  deer  dashed  forward  undaunted,  and 
apparently  unhurt.  Without  lowering  his  piece, 
the  traveller  turned  its  muzzle  toward  his  victim, 
and  fired  again.  Neither  discharge,  however, 
seemed  to  have  taken  effect. 

The  whole  scene  had  passed  with  a rapidity 
that  confused  the  female,  who  was  unconsciously 
rejoicing  in  the  escape  of  the  buck,  as  he  rather 
darted  like  a meteor,  than  ran  across  the  road, 
when  a sharp,  quick  sound  struck  her  ear,  quite 
different  from  the  full,  round  reports  of  her  fa- 
ther’s gun,  but  still  sufficiently  distinct  to  be 
known  as  the  concussion  produced  by  fire-arms. 
At  the  same  instant  that  she  heard  this  unexpect- 
ed report,  the  buck  sprang  from  the  snow  to  a 
great  height  in  the  air,  and  directly  a second  dis- 
charge, similar  in  sound  to  the  first,  followed, 
when  the  animal  came  to  the  earth,  falling  head- 
long, and  rolling  over  on  the  crust  with  its  own 
velocity.  A loud  shout  was  given  by  the  unseen 
marksman,  and  a couple  of  men  instantly  ap- 
peared from  behind  the  trunks  of  two  of  the 
pines,  where  they  had  evidently  placed  themselves 
in  expectation  of  the  passage  of  the  deer. 

“ Ha  ! Natty,  had  I known  you  were  in  aiu« 


10 


THE  PIONEERS. 


bush,  I should  not  have  fired,”  cried  the  traveller, 
moving  toward  the  spot  where  the  deer  lay — near 
to  which  he  was  followed  by  the  delighted  black, 
with  his  sleigh ; “ but  the  sound  of  old  Hector 
was  too  exhilarating  to  be  quiet ; though  I hardly 
think  I struck  him  either.” 

“ No — no — Judge,”  returned  the  hunter,  with 
an  inward  chuckle,  and  with  that  look  of  exulta- 
tion that  indicates  a consciousness  of  superior 
skill,  “ you  burnt  your  powder  only  to  warm  your 
nose  this  cold  evening.  Did  ye  think  to  stop  a 
full-grown  buck,  with  Hector  and  the  slut  open 
upon  him  within  sound,  with  that  pop-gun  in  your 
hand  ? There’s  plenty  of  pheasants  among  the 
swamps ; and  the  snow-birds  are  flying  round 
your  own  door,  where  you  may  feed  them  with 
crumbs,  and  shoot  them  at  pleasure,  any  day ; 
but  if  you’re  for  a buck,  or  a little  bear’s  meat, 
Judge,  you’ll  have  to  take  the  long  rifle,  with  a 
greased  wadding,  or  you’ll  waste  more  powder 
than  you’ll  fill  stomachs,  I’m  thinking.” 

As  the  speaker  concluded,  he  drew  his  bare 
hand  across  the  bottom  of  his  nose,  and  again 
opened  his  enormous  mouth  with  a kind  of  inward 
laugh. 

“ The  mgun  scatters  well,  Natty,  and  it  has 
killed  a deer  before  now,”  said  the  traveller, 
smiling  good  - humoredly.  “ One  barrel  was 
charged  with  buck-shot ; but  the  other  was  load- 
ed for  birds  only.  Here  are  two  hurts ; one 
through  the  neck,  and  the  other  directly  through 
the  heart.  It  is  by  no  means  certain,  Natty,  but 
I gave  him  one  of  the  two.” 

“ Let  who  will  kill  him,”  said  the  hunter,  rath- 
er surlily,  “ I suppose  the  creature  is  to  be  eaten.” 
So  saying,  he  drew  a large  knife  from  a leathern 
sheath,  which  was  stuck  through  his  girdle,  or 
sash,  and  cut  the  throat  of  the  animal.  “ If  there 
are  two  balls  through  the  deer,  I would  ask  if 
there  wer’n’t  two  rifles  fired — besides,  who  ever 
saw  such  a ragged  hole  from  a smooth-bore,  as 
this  through  the  neck  ? — and  you  will  own  your- 
self, Judge,  that  the  buck  fell  at  the  last  shot, 
which  was  sent  from  a truer  and  a younger  hand 
than  your’n  or  mine  either ; but,  for  my  part,  al- 
though I am  a poor  man,  I can  live  without  the 
venison,  but  I don’t  love  to  give  up  my  lawful 
dues  in  a free  country.  Though,  for  the  matter 
of  that,  might  often  makes  right  here,  as  well  as 
in  the  old  country,  for  what  I can  see.” 

An  air  of  sullen  dissatisfaction  pervaded  the 
manner  of  the  hunter  during  the  whole  of  his 
speech ; yet  he  thought  it  prudent  to  utter  the 
close  of  the  sentence  in  such  an  undertone  as  to 
leave  nothing  audible  but  the  grumbling  sounds 
of  his  voice. 


“Nay,  Natty,”  rejoined  the  traveller,  with  un- 
disturbed good-humor,  “ it  is  for  the  honor  that  I 
contend.  A few  dollars  will  pay  for  the  venison ; 
but  what  will  requite  me  for  the  lost  honor  of  a 
buck’s  tail  in  my  cap?  Think,  Natty,  how  I 
should  triumph  over  that  quizzing  dog,  Dick 
Jones,  who  has  failed  seven  times  already  this 
season,  and  has  only  brought  in  one  woodchuck 
and  a few  gray  squirrels.” 

“ Ah ! the  game  is  becoming  hard  to  find, 
indeed,  Judge,  with  your  clearings  and  better- 
ments,” said  the  old  hunter,  with  a kind  of  com- 
pelled resignation.  “ The  time  has  been,  when  I 
have  shot  thirteen  deer,  without  counting  the 
fa’ns,  standing  in  the  door  of  my  own  hut ! — and 
for  bear’s  meat,  if  one  wanted  a ham  or  so,  he 
had  only  to  watch  a-nights,  and  he  could  shoot 
one  by  moonlight,  through  the  cracks  of  the  logs ; 
no  fear  of  his  oversleeping  himself  neither,  for 
the  howling  of  the  wolves  was  sartin  to  keep  his 
eyes  open.  There’s  old  Hector” — patting  with 
affection  a tall  hound,  of  black  and  yellow  spots, 
with  white  belly  and  legs,  that  just  then  came  in 
on  the  scent,  accompanied  by  the  slut  he  had 
mentioned  ; “ see  where  the  wolves  bit  his  throat, 
the  night  I druv  them  from  the  venison  that  was 
smoking  on  the  chimbly  top — that  dog  is  more 
to  be  trusted  than  many  a Christian  man  ; for  he 
never  forgets  a friend,  and  loves  the  hand  that 
gives  him  bread.” 

There  was  a peculiarity  in  the  manner  of  the 
hunter  that  attracted  the  notice  of  the  young  fe- 
male, who  had  been  a close  and  interested  observ- 
er of  his  appearance  and  equipments,  from  the 
moment  he  came  into  view.  He  was  tall,  and  so 
meagre  as  to  make  him  seem  above  even  the  six 
feet  that  he  actually  stood  in  his  stockings.  On 
his  head,  which  was  thinly  covered  with  lank, 
sandy  hair,  he  wore  a cap  made  of  foxskin,  re- 
sembling in  shape  the  one  we  have  already  de- 
scribed, although  much  inferior  in  finish  and 
ornaments.  His  face  was  skinny,  and  thin  almost 
to  emaciation ; but  yet  it  bore  no  signs  of  dis- 
ease— on  the  contrary,  it  had  every  indication 
of  the  most  x’obust  and  enduring  health.  The 
cold  and  the  exposure  had,  together,  given  it  a col- 
or of  uniform  red.  His  gray  eyes  were  glancing  un- 
der a pair  of  shaggy  brows,  that  overhung  them 
in  long  hairs  of  gray  mingled  with  their  natural 
hue ; his  scraggy  neck  was  bare,  and  burnt  to  the 
same  tint  with  his  face ; though  a small  part  of  a 
shirt  collar,  made  of  the  country  check,  was  to 
be  seen  above  the  overdress  he  wore.  A kind 
of  coat,  made  of  dressed  deerskin,  with  the  hair 
on,  was  belted  close  to  his  lank  body,  by  a girdle 
of  colored  worsted.  On  his  feet  were  deerskin 


AN  UNFORTUNATE  SHOT. 


11 


moccasins,  ornamented  with  porcupines’  quills, 
after  the  manner  of  the  Indians,  and  his  limbs 
were  guarded  with  long  leggings  of  the  same  ma- 
terial as  the  moccasins,  which,  gartering  over  the 
knees  of  his  tarnished  buckskin  breeches,  had 
obtained*  for  him,  among  the  settlers,  the  nick- 
name of  Leather-stocking.  Over  his  left  shoulder 
was  slung  a belt  of  deerskin,  from  which  depend- 
ed an  enormous  ox-hora,  so  thinly  scraped  as  to 
discover  the  powder  it  contained.  The  larger 
end  was  fitted  ingeniously  and  securely  with  a 
wooden  bottom,  and  the  other  was  stopped  tight 
by  a little  plug.  A leathern  pouch  hung  before 
him,  from  which,  as  he  concluded  his  last  speech, 
he  took  a small  measure,  and,  filling  it  accurate- 
ly with  powder,  he  commenced  reloading  the  rifle, 
which,  as  its  butt  rested  on  the  snow  before  him, 
reached  nearly  to  the  top  of  his  foxskin  cap. 

The  traveller  had  been  closely  examining  the 
wounds  during  these  movements,  and  now,  with- 
out heeding  the  ill-humor  of  the  hunter’s  man- 
ner, he  exclaimed : 

“ I would  fain  establish  a right,  Natty,  to  the 
honor  of  this  death  ; and  surely  if  the  hit  in  the 
neck  be  mine,  it  is  enough ; for  the  shot  in  the 
heart  was  unnecessary — what  we  call  an  act  of 
supererogation,  Leather-stocking.” 

“ You  may  call  it  by  what  lamed  name  you 
please,  Judge,”  said  the  hunter,  throwing  his  rifle 
across  his  left  arm,  and  knocking  up  a brass  lid 
in  the  breech,  from  which  he  took  a small  piece 
of  greased  leather,  and,  wrapping  a ball  in  it, 
forced  them  down  by  main  strength  on  the  pow- 
der, where  he  continued  to  pound  them  while 
speaking.  “ It’s  far  easier  to  call  names  than  to 
shoot  a buck  on  the  spring ; but  the  cretur  came 
by  his  end  from  a younger  hand  than  either 
your’n  or  mine,  as  I said  before.” 

“ What  say  you,  my  friend,”  cried  the  travel- 
ler, turning  pleasantly  to  Natty’s  companion ; 
“ shall  we  toss  up  this  dollar  for  the  honor,  and 
you  keep  the  silver  if  you  lose ; what  say  you, 
friend  ? ” 

“ That  I killed  the  deer,”  answered  the  young 
man,  with  a little  haughtiness,  as  he  leaned  on 
another  long  rifle,  similar  to  that  of  Natty. 

“ Here  are  two  to  one,  indeed,”  replied  the 
Judge,  with  a smile ; “lam  outvoted — overruled, 
as  we  say  on  the  bench.  There  is  Aggy,  he  can’t 
vote,  being  a slave  ; and  Bess  is  a minor — so  I 
must  even  make  the  best  of  it.  But  you’ll  sell 
me  the  venison ; and  the  deuce  is  in  it,  but  I 
make  a good  story  about  its  death.” 

“ The  meat  is  none  of  mine  to  sell,”  said 
Leather-stocking,  adopting  a little  of  his  compan- 
ion’s hauteur;  “ for  my  part,  I have  known  animals 


travel  days  with  shots  in  the  neck,  and  I’m  none 
of  them  who’ll  rob  a man  of  his  rightful  dues  ? ” 
“ You  are  tenacious  of  your  rights,  this  cold 
evening,  Natty,”  returned  the  Judge,  with  uncon- 
querable good-nature  ; “ but  what  say  you,  young 
man  ; will  three  dollars  pay  you  for  the  buck  ? ” 
“ First  let  us  determine  the  question  of  right 
to  the  satisfaction  of  us  both,”  said  the  youth, 
firmly  but  respectfully,  and  with  a pronunciation 
and  language  vastly  superior  to  his  appearance  ; 
“ with  how  many  shot  did  you  load  your  gun?  ” 

“ With  five,  sir,”  said  the  Judge,  a little  struck 
with  the  other’s  manner  ; “ are  they  not  enough 
to  slay  a buck  like  this  ? ” 

“ One  would  do  it ; but,”  moving  to  the  tree 
from  behind  which  he  had  appeared,  “ you  know, 
sir,  you  fired  in  this  direction — here  are  four  of 
the  bullets  in  the  tree.” 

The  Judge  examined  the  fresh  marks  in  the 
bark  of  the  pine,  and,  shaking  his  head,  said,  with 
a laugh : 

“You  are  making  out  the  case  against  your- 
self, my  young  advocate,  where  is  the  fifth  ? ” 

“ Here,”  said  the  youth,  throwing  aside  the 
rough  overcoat  that  he  wore,  and  exhibiting  a 
hole  in  his  under-garment,  through  which  large 
drops  of  blood  were  oozing. 

“ Good  God ! ” exclaimed  the  Judge  with  hor- 
ror ; “ have  I been  trifling  here  about  an  empty 
distinction,  and  a fellow-creature  suffering  from 
my  hands  without  a murmur  ? But  hasten — 
quick — get  into  my  sleigh — it  is  but  a mile  to 
the  village,  where  surgical  aid  can  be  obtained — 
all  shall  be  done  at  my  expense,  and  thou  shalt 
live  with  me  until  thy  wound  is  healed,  ay,  and 
forever  afterward.” 

“ I thank  you  for  your  good  intention,  but  I 
must  decline  your  offer.  I have  a friend  who 
would  be  uneasy  were  he  to  hear  that  I am  hurt 
and  away  from  him.  The  injury  is  but  slight, 
and  the  bullet  has  missed  the  bones ; but  I be- 
lieve, sir,  you  will  now  admit  my  title  to  the 
venison.” 

“ Admit  it ! ” repeated  tho  agitated  Judge ; “ I 
here  give  thee  a right  to  shoot  deer,  or  bears,  or 
any  thing  thou  pleasest  in  my  woods,  forever. 
Leather-stocking  is  the  only  other  man  that  I 
have  granted  the  same  privilege  to ; and  the  timo 
is  coming  when  it  will  be  of  value.  But  I buy 
your  deer — here,  this  bill  will  pay  thee,  both  for 
thy  shot  and  my  own.” 

The  old  hunter  gathered  his  tall  person  up  in- 
to an  air  of  pride,  during  this  dialogue,  but  he 
waited  until  the  other  had  done  speaking. 

“ There’s  them  living  who  say  that  Nathaniel 
Bumppo’s  right  to  shoot  on  these  hills  is  of  oldei 


12 


THE  PIONEERS. 


date  than  Harmaduke  Temple’s  right  to  forbid 
him,”  he  said.  But  if  there’s  a law  about  it  at 
all,  though  who  ever  heard  of  a law  that  a man 
shouldn’t  kill  deer  where  he  pleased! — but  if 
there  is  a law  at  all,  it  should  be  to  keep  people 
from  the  use  of  smooth-bores.  A body  never 
knows  where  his  lead  will  fly,  when  he  pulls  the 
trigger  of  one  of  them  uncertain  firearms.” 

Without  attending  to  the  soliloquy  of  Natty, 
the  youth  bowed  his  head  silently  to  the  offer  of 
the  bank-note,  and  replied : 

“ Excuse  me ; I have  need  of  the  venison.” 

“But  this  will  buy  you  many  deer,”  said  the 
Judge ; “ take  it,  I entreat  you,”  and,  lowering 
his  voice  to  a whisper,  he  added — “ it  is  for  a 
hundred  dollars.” 

For  an  instant  only  the  youth  seemed  to  hesi- 
tate, and  then,  blushing  even  through  the  high 
color  that  the  cold  had  given  to  his  cheeks,  as  if 
with  inward  shame  at  his  own  weakness,  he  again 
declined  the  offer. 

During  this  scene  the  female  arose,  and,  re- 
gardless of  the  cold  air,  she  threw  back  the  hood 
which  concealed  her  features,  and  now  spoke, 
with  great  earnestness. 

“ Surely,  surely — young  man, — sir — you  would 
not  pain  my  father  so  much  as  to  have  him  think 
that  he  leaves  a fellow-creature  in  this  wilderness, 
whom  his  own  hand  has  injured.  I entreat  you 
will  go  with  us,  and  receive  medical  aid.” 

Whether  his  wound  became  more  painful,  or 
there  was  something  irresistible  in  the  voice  and 
manner  of  the  fair  pleader  for  her  father’s  feelings, 
we  know  not;  but  the  distance  of  the  young 
man’s  manner  was  sensibly  softened  by  this  ap- 
peal, and  he  stood  in  apparent  doubt,  as  if  reluc- 
tant to  comply  with,  and  yet  unwilling  to  refuse 
her  request.  The  Judge,  for  such,  being  his  office, 
must  in  future  be  his  title,  watched,  with  no  little 
interest,  the  display  of  this  singular  contention 
in  the  feelings  of  the  youth;  and,  advancing, 
kindly  took  his  hand,  and,  as  he  pulled  him  gen- 
tly toward  the  sleigh,  urged  him  to  enter  it. 

“ There  is  no  human  aid  nearer  than  Temple- 
ton,” he  said,  “ and  the  hut  of  Natty  is  full  three 
miles  from  this — come — come,  my  young  friend, 
go  with  us,  and  let  the  new  doctor  look  to  this 
shoulder  of  thine.  Here  is  Natty  will  take  the 
tidings  of  thy  welfare  to  thy  friend ; and,  shouldst 
thou  require  it.  thou  shalt  return  home  in  the 
morning.” 

The  young  man  succeeded  in  extricating  his 
hand  from  the  warm  grasp  of  the  Judge,  but  he 
continued  to  gaze  on  the  face  of  the  female,  who, 
regardless  of  the  cold,  was  still  standing  with  her 
flue  features  exposed,  which  expressed  feelings 


that  eloquently  seconded  the  request  of  her  father 
Leather-stocking  stood,  in  the  mean  time,  leaning 
upon  his  long  rifle,  with  his  head  turned  a little 
to  one  side,  as  if  engaged  in  sagacious  musing ; 
when,  having  apparently  satisfied  his  doubts,  by 
revolving  the  subject  in  his  mind,  he  broke  si- 
lence. 

“ It  may  be  best  to  go,  lad,  after  all ; for,  if 
the  shot  hangs  under  the  skin,  my  hand  is  get- 
ting too  old  to  be  cutting  into  human  flesh,  as  I 
once  used  to.  Though  some  thirty  years  agone, 
in  the  old  war,  when  I was  out  under  Sir  William, 
I travelled  seventy  miles  alone  in  the  howling 
wilderness,  with  a rifle  bullet  in  my  thigh,  and 
then  cut  it  out  with  my  own  jackknife.  Old  In- 
dian John  knows  the  time  well.  I met  him  with 
a party  of  the  Delawares,  on  the  trail  of  the  Iro- 
quois, who  had  been  down  and  taken  five  scalps 
on  the  Schoharie.  But  I made  a mark  on  the 
red-skin  that  I’ll  warrant  he  carried  to  his  grave ! 
I took  him  on  his  posteerum,  saving  the  lady’s 
presence,  as  he  got  up  from  the  ambushment, 
and  rattled  three  buck-shot  into  his  naked  hide, 
so  close,  that  you  might  have  laid  a broad  joe 
upon  them  all — ” here  Natty  stretched  out  his 
long  neck,  and  straightened  his  body,  as  he 
opened  his  mouth,  which  exposed  a single  tusk 
of  yellow  bone,  while  his  eyes,  his  face,  even  his 
whole  frame  seemed  to  laugh,  although  no  sound 
was  emitted,  except  a kind  of  thick  hissing,  as  he 
inhaled  his  breath  in  quavers.  “I  had  lost  my 
bullet  mould  in  crossing  the  Oneida  outlet,  and 
had  to  make  shift  with  the  buck-shot ; but  the 
rifle  was  true,  and  didn’t  scatter  like  your  two- 
legged  thing  there,  Judge,  which  don’t  do,  I find, 
to  hunt  in  company  with.” 

Natty’s  apology  to  the  delicacy  of  the  young 
lady  was  unnecessary,  for,  while  he  was  speaking, 
she  was  too  much  employed  in  helping  her  father 
to  remove  certain  articles  of  baggage  to  hear  him. 
Unable  to  resist  the  kind  urgency  of  the  travellers 
any  longer,  the  youth,  though  still  with  an  unac- 
countable reluctance,  suffered  himself  to  be  per- 
suaded to  enter  the  sleigh.  The  black,  with  the  aid 
of  his  master,  threw  the  buck  across  the  baggage, 
and,  entering  the  vehicle  themselves,  the  Judge 
invited  the  hunter  to  do  so  likewise. 

“ No,  no,”  said  the  old  man,  shaking  his  head  ; 
“ I have  work  to  do  at  home  this  Christmas  eve 
— drive  on  with  the  boy,  and  let  your  doctor  look 
to  the  shoulder ; though,  if  he  will  only  cut  out 
the  shot,  I have  yarbs  that  will  heal  the  wound 
quicker  than  all  his  foreign  ’intments.”  He 
turned,  and  was  about  to  move  off,  when,  sudden- 
ly recollecting  himself,  he  again  faced  the  party, 
and  added  — “If  you  see  any  thing  of  Indian 


MARMADUKE  TEMPLE’S  ANCESTORS. 


13 


fohn,  about  the  foot  of  the  lake,  you  had  better 
take  him  with  you,  and  let  him  lend  the  doctor  a 
hand  ; for,  old  as  he  is,  he  is  curious  at  cuts  and 
bruises,  and  it’s  likelier  than  not  he’ll  be  in  with 
brooms  to  sweep  your  Christmas  ha’arths.” 

“Stop,  stop,”  cried  the  youth,  catching  the 
arm  of  the  black  as  he  prepared  to  urge  his  hor- 
ses forward  ; “ Natty — you  need  say  nothing  of 
the  shot,  nor  of  where  I am  going — remember, 
Natty,  as  you  love  me.” 

“ Trust  old  Leather-stocking,”  returned  the 
hunter,  significantly  ; “ he  hasn’t  lived  fifty  years 
in  the  wilderness,  and  not  larnt  from  the  savages 
how  to  hold  his  tongue — trust  to  me,  lad ; and 
remember  old  Indian  John.” 

“And,  Natty,”  said  the  youth,  eagerly,  still 
holding  the  black  by  the  arm,  “ I will  just  get 
the  shot  extracted,  and  bring  you  up  to-night  a 
quarter  of  the  buck  for  the  Christmas  dinner.” 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  hunter,  who  held 
up  his  finger  with  an  expressive  gesture  for  si- 
lence. He  then  moved  softly  along  the  margin 
of  the  road,  keeping  his  eyes  steadfastly  fixed  on 
the  branches  of  a pine.  When  he  had  obtained 
such  a position  as  he  wished,  he  stopped,  and,  cock- 
ing his  rifle,  threw  one  leg  far  behind  him,  and, 
stretching  his  left  arm  to  its  utmost  extent  along 
the  barrel  of  hi3  piece,  he  began  slowly  to  raise 
its  muzzle  in  a line  with  the  straight  trunk  of 
the  tree.  The  eyes  of  the  group  in  the  sleigh 
naturally  preceded  the  movement  of  the  rifle, 
and  they  soon  discovered  the  object  of  Natty’s 
aim.  On  a small  dead  branch  of  the  pine,  which, 
at  the  distance  of  seventy  feet  from  the  ground, 
shot  out  horizontally,  immediately  beneath  the 
living  members  of  the  tree,  sat  a bird,  that  in 
the  vulgar  language  of  the  country  was  indis- 
criminately called  a pheasant  or  a partridge.  In 
size,  it  was  but  little  smaller  than  a common  barn- 
yard fowl.  The  baying  of  the  dogs,  and  the  con- 
versation that  had  passed  near  the  root  of  the 
tree  on  which  it  was  perched,  had  alarmed  the 
bird,  which  was  now  drawn  up  near  the  body  of 
the  pine,  with  a head  and  neck  so  erect,  as  to 
form  nearly  a straight  line  with  its  legs.  As  soon 
as  the  rifle  bore  on  the  victim,  Natty  drew  his 
trigger,  and  the  partridge  fell  from  its  height  with 
a force  that  buried  it  in  the  snow. 

“ Lie  down,  you  old  villain,”  exclaimed  Leath- 
er-stocking, shaking  his  ramrod  at  Hector  as  he 
bounded  toward  the  foot  of  the  tree,  “ lie  down,  I 
say.”  The  dog  obeyed,  and  Natty  proceeded 
with  great  rapidity,  though  with  the  nicest  accu- 
racy, to  reload  his  piece.  When  this  was  ended, 
he  took  up  his  game,  and,  showing  it  to  the  party 
without  a head,  he  cried— “ Here  is  a titbit  for 


an  old  man’s  Christmas — never  mind  the  venison, 
boy,  and  remember  Indian  John ; his  yarbs  are 
better  than  all  the  foreign  ’intments.  Here, 
Judge,”  holding  up  the  bird  again,  “ do  you  think 
a smooth-bore  would  pick  game  off  their  roost, 
and  not  ruffle  a feather  ? ” The  old  man  gave 
another  of  his  remarkable  laughs,  which  partook 
so  largely  of  exultation,  mirth,  and  irony,  and, 
shaking  his  head,  he  turned,  with  his  rifle  at  a 
trail,  and  moved  into  the  forest  with  steps  that 
were  between  a walk  and  a trot.  At  each  move- 
ment he  made,  his  body  lowered  several  inches, 
his  knees  yielding  with  an  inclination  inward  ; 
but,  as  the  sleigh  turned  at  a bend  in  the  road, 
the  youth  cast  his  eyes  in  quest  of  his  old  com- 
panion, and  he  saw  that  he  was  already  nearly 
concealed  by  the  trunks  of  the  trees,  while  his 
dogs  were  following  quietly  in  his  footsteps,  oc- 
casionally scenting  the  deer  track,  that  they 
seemed  to  know  instinctively  was  now  of  no  fur- 
ther use  to  them.  Another  jerk  was  given  to  the 
sleigh,  and  Leather-stocking  was  hid  from  view. 


CHAPTER  II. 

“ All  places  that  the  eye  of  Heaven  visits 
Are  to  a wise  man  ports  and  happy  havens : 

Think  not  the  king  did  banish  thee, 

But  thou  the  king.” 

■Richard  II. 

An  ancestor  of  Marmaduke  Temple  had,  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  years  before  the  com- 
mencement of  our  tale,  come  to  the  colony  of 
Pennsylvannia,  a friend  and  co-religionist  of  its 
great  patron.  Old  Marmaduke,  for  this  formi- 
dable prenomen  was  a kind  of  appellative  to  the 
race,  brought  with  him,  to  that  asylum  of  the 
persecuted,  an  abundance  of  the  good  things  of 
this  life.  He  became  the  master  of  many  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  uninhabited  territory,  and  the 
supporter  of  many  a score  of  dependents.  He 
lived  greatly  respected  for  his  piety,  and  not  a 
little  distinguished  as  a sectary ; was  intrusted 
by  his  associates  with  many  important  political 
stations ; and  died  just  in  time  to  escape  the 
knowledge  of  his  own  poverty.  It  was  his  lot  to 
share  the  fortune  of  most  of  those  who  brought 
wealth  with  them  into  the  new  settlements  of  the 
middle  colonies. 

The  consequence  of  an  emigrant  into  these 
provinces  was  generally  to  be  ascertained  by  the 
number  of  his  white  servants  or  dependents,  and 
the  nature  of  the  public  situations  that  he  held. 
Taking  this  rule  as  a guide,  the  ancestor  of  oui 
Judge  must  have  been  a man  of  no  little  note. 


14 


THE  PIONEERS. 


It  is,  however,  a subject  of  curious  inquiry  at 
•he  present  day,  to  look  into  the  brief  records  of 
that  early  period,  and  observe  how  regular,  and 
with  few  exceptions  how  inevitable,  were  the 
gradations,  on  the  one  hand,  of  the  masters  to 
poverty,  and  on  the  other,  of  their  servants  tio 
wealth.  Accustomed  to  ease,  and  unequal  to  the 
struggles  incident  to  an  infant  society,  the  afflu- 
ent emigrant  was  barely  enabled  to  maintain  his 
own  rank,  by  the  weight  of  his  personal  superior- 
ity and  acquirements  ; but,  the  moment  that  his 
head  was  laid  in  the  grave,  his  indolent  and  com- 
paratively uneducated  offspring  were  compelled  to 
yield  precedency  to  the  more  active  energies  of  a 
class  whose  exertions  had  been  stimulated  by 
necessity.  This  is  a very  common  course  of 
things,  even  in  the  present  state  of  the  Union ; 
but  it  was  peculiarly  the  fortunes  of  the  two  ex- 
tremes of  society,  in  the  peaceful  and  unenter- 
prising colonies  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey. 

The  posterity  of  Marmaduke  did  not  escape 
the  common  lot  of  those  who  depend  rather  on 
their  hereditary  possessions  than  on  their  own 
powers  ; and  in  the  third  generation  they  had  de- 
scended to  a point,  below  which,  in  this  happy 
country,  it  is  barely  possible  for  honesty,  intel- 
lect, and  sobriety  to  fall.  The  same  pride  of  fam- 
ily that  had,  by  its  self-satisfied  indolence,  con- 
duced to  aid  their  fall,  now  became  a principle  to 
stimulate  them  to  endeavor  to  rise  again.  The 
feeling,  from  being  morbid,  was  changed  to  a 
healthful  and  active  desire  to  emulate  the  charac- 
ter, the  condition,  and,  peradventure,  the  wealth 
of  their  ancestors  also.  It  was  the  father  of  our 
new  acquaintance,  the  Judge,  who  first  began  to 
reascend  in  the  scale  of  society  ; and  in  this  un- 
dertaking he  was  not  a little  assisted  by  a mai’- 
riage,  which  aided  in  furnishing  the  means  of  ed- 
ucating his  only  son  in  a rather  better  manner 
than  the  low  state  of  the  common  schools  in 
Pennsylvania  could  promise ; or  than  had  been 
the  practice  in  the  family,  for  the  two  or  three 
preceding  generations. 

At  the  school  where  the  reviving  prosperity 
of  his  father  was  enabled  to  maintain  him,  young 
Marmaduke  formed  an  intimacy  with  a youth 
whose  years  were  about  equal  to  his  own.  This 
was  a fortunate  connection  for  our  Judge,  and 
paved  the  way  to  most  of  his  future  elevation  in 
life. 

There  was  not  only  great  wealth,  but  high 
court  interest,  among  the  connections  of  Edward 
Effingham.  They  were  one  of  the  few  families 
then  resident  in  the  colonies,  who  thought  it  a 
degradation  to  its  members  to  descend  to  the  pur- 


suits of  commerce  ; and  who  never  emerged  from 
the  privacy  of  domestic  life,  unless  to  preside  in 
the  councils  of  the  colony,  or  to  bear  arms  in  her 
defence.  The  latter  had,  from  youth,  been  the 
only  employment  of  Edward’s  father.  Military 
rank  under  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  was  at- 
tained with  much  longer  probation,  and  by  much 
more  toilsome  services,  sixty  years  ago,  than  at 
the  present  time.  Years  were  passed  without 
murmuring,  in  the  subordinate  grades  of  the  ser- 
vice ; and  those  soldiers  who  were  stationed  in 
the  colonies  felt,  when  they  obtained  the  com- 
mand of  a company,  that  they  were  entitled  to  re- 
ceive the  greatest  deference  from  the  peaceful 
occupants  of  the  soil.  Any  one  of  our  readers 
who  has  occasion  to  cross  the  Niagara,  may  eas- 
ily observe  not  only  the  self-importance,  but  the 
real  estimation  enjoyed  by  the  humblest  repre- 
sentative of  the  crown,  even  in  that  polar  region 
of  royal  sunshine.  Such,  and  at  no  very  distant 
period,  was  the  respect  paid  to  the  military  in 
these  States,  where  now,  happily,  no  symbol  of 
war  is  ever  seen,  unless  at  the  free  and  fearless 
voice  of  their  people.  When,  therefore,  the  fa- 
ther of  Marmaduke’s  friend,  after  forty  years’  ser- 
vice, retired  with  the  rank  of  major,  maintaining 
in  his  domestic  establishment  a comparative  splen- 
dor, he  became  a man  of  the  first  consideration 
in  his  native  colony — which  was  that  of  New 
York.  He  had  served  with  fidelity  and  courage, 
and  having  been,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
provinces,  intrusted  with  commands  much  supe- 
rior to  those  to  which  he  was  entitled  by  rank, 
with  reputation  also.  When  Major  Effingham 
yielded  to  the  claims  of  age,  he  retired  with  dig- 
nity, refusing  his  half-pay  or  any  other  compen- 
sation for  services  that  he  felt  he  could  no  lon- 
ger perform. 

The  ministry  proffered  various  civil  offices, 
which  yielded  not  only  honor  but  profit ; but  he 
declined  them  all,  with  the  chivalrous  indepen- 
dence and  loyalty  that  had  marked  his  character 
through  life.  The  veteran  soon  caused  this  act 
of  patriotic  disinterestedness  to  be  followed  by 
another  of  private  munificence,  that,  however 
little  it  accorded  with  prudence,  was  in  perfect 
conformity  with  the  simple  integrity  of  his  own 
views. 

The  friend  of  Marmaduke  was  his  only  child  ; 
and  to  this  son,  on  his  marriage  with  a lady  to 
whom  the  father  was  particularly  partial,  the 
Major  gave  a complete  conveyance  of  his  whole 
estate,  consisting  of  moneys  in  the  funds,  a town 
and  country  residence,  sundry  valuable  farms  in 
the  old  parts  of  the  colony,  and  large  tracts  of 
wild  land  in  the  new — in  this  manner  throwing 


MAJOR  EFFINGHAM. 


15 


himself  upon  the  filial  piety  of  his  child  for  his 
own  future  maintenance.  Major  Effingham,  in 
declining  the  liberal  offers  of  the  British  minis- 
try, had  subjected  himself  to  the  suspicion  of 
having  attained  his  dotage,  by  all  those  who 
throng  the  avenues  to  court  patronage,  even  in 
the  remotest  corners  of  that  vast  empire ; but, 
when  he  thus  voluntarily  stripped  himself  of  his 
great  personal  wealth,  the  remainder  of  the  com- 
munity seemed  instinctively  to  adopt  the  conclu- 
sion also,  that  he  had  reached  a second  child- 
hood. This  may  explain  the  fact  of  his  impor- 
tance rapidly  declining ; and,  if  privacy  was  his 
object,  the  veteran  had  soon  a free  indulgence  of 
his  wishes.  Whatever  views  the  world  might 
entertain  of  this  act  of  the  Major,  to  himself  and 
to  his  child  it  seemed  no  more  than  a natural 
gift  by  a father,  of  those  immunities  which  he 
could  no  longer  enjoy  or  improve,  to  a son,  who 
was  formed,  both  by  nature  and  education,  to  do 
both.  The  younger  Effingham  did  not  object  to 
the  amount  of  the  donation  ; for  he  felt  that 
while  his  parent  reserved  a moral  control  over 
his  actions,  he  was  relieving  himself  from  a fati- 
guing burden  : such,  indeed,  was  the  confidence 
existing  between  them,  that  to  neither  did  it  seem 
any  thing  more  than  removing  money  from  one 
pocket  to  another. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  young  man,  on 
coming  into  possession  of  his  wealth,  was  to  seek 
his  early  friend,  with  a view  to  offer  any  assist- 
ance that  it  was  now  in  his  power  to  bestow. 

The  death  of  Marmaduke’s  father,  and  the 
consequent  division  of  his  small  estate,  rendered 
such  an  offer  extremely  acceptable  to  the  young 
Pennsylvanian  : he  felt  his  own  powers,  and  saw, 
not  only  the  excellences,  but  the  foibles,  in  the 
character  of  his  friend.  Effingham  was  by  na- 
ture indolent,  confiding,  and  at  times  impetuous 
and  indiscreet;  but  Marmaduke  was  uniformly 
equable,  penetrating,  - and  full  of  activity  and 
enterprise.  To  the  latter,  therefore,  the  assist- 
ance, or  rather  connection,  that  was  proffered  to 
him,  seemed  to  produce  a mutual  advantage.  It 
was  cheerfully  accepted,  and  the  arrangement  of 
its  conditions  was  easily  completed.  A mercan- 
tile house  was  established  in  the  metropolis  of 
Pennsylvania,  with  the  avails  of  Mr,  Effingham’s 
personal  property ; all,  or  nearly  all,  of  which 
was  put  into  the  possession  of  Temple,  who  was 
the  only  ostensible  proprietor  in  the  concern, 
while,  in  secret,  the  other  was  entitled  to  an  equal 
participation  in  the  profits.  This  connection  was 
thus  kept  private  for  two  reasons  ; one  of  which, 
in  the  freedom  of  their  intercourse,  was  frankly 
avowed  to  Marmaduke,  while  the  other  continued 


profoundly  hid  in  the  bosom  of  his  friend.  The 
last  was  nothing  more  than  pride.  To  the  descend- 
ant of  a line  of  soldiers,  commerce,  even  in  that 
indirect  manner,  seemed  a degrading  pursuit ; 
but  an  insuperable  obstacle  to  the  disclosure 
existed  in  the  prejudices  of  his  father. 

We  have  already  said  that  Major  Effingham 
had  served  as  a soldier  with  reputation.  On  one 
occasion,  while  in  command  on  the  western  fron- 
tier of  Pennsylvania,  against  a league  of  the 
French  and  Indians,  not  only  his  glory,  but  the 
safety  of  himself  and  his  troops  were  jeoparded, 
by  the  peaceful  policy  of  that  colony.  To  the 
soldier,  this  was  an  unpardonable  offence.  He 
was  fighting  in  their  defence — he  knew  that  the 
mild  principles  of  this  little  nation  of  practical 
Christians  would  be  disregarded  by  their  subtle 
and  malignant  enemies ; and  he  felt  the  injury 
the  more  deeply,  because  he  saw  that  the  avowed 
object  of  the  colonists,  in  withholding  their  suc- 
cors, would  only  have  a tendency  to  expose  his 
command,  without  preserving  the  peace.  The 
soldier  succeeded,  after  a desperate  conflict,  in 
extricating  himself,  with  a handful  of  his  men, 
from  their  murderous  enemy ; but  he  never  for- 
gave the  people  who  had  exposed  him  to  a 
danger  which  they  left  him  to  combat  alone.  It 
was  in  vain  to  tell  him  that  they  had  no  agency 
in  his  being  placed  on  their  frontier  at  all ; it 
was  evidently  for  their  benefit  that  he  had  been 
so  placed,  and  it  was  their  “religious  duty,”  so 
the  Major  always  expressed  it,  “it  was  their 
religious  duty  to  have  supported  him.” 

At  no  time  was  the  old  soldier  an  admirer  of 
the  peaceful  disciples  of  Fox.  Their  disciplined 
habits,  both  of  mind  and  body,  had  endowed 
them  with  great  physical  perfection;  and  the 
eye  of  the  veteran  was  apt  to  scan  the  fair  pro. 
portions  and  athletic  frames  of  the  colonists, 
with  a look  that  seemed  to  utter  volumes  of  con- 
tempt for  their  moral  imbecility.  He  was  also 
a little  addicted  to  the  expression  of  a belief,  that, 
where  there  was  so  great  an  observance  of  the 
externals  of  religion,  there  could  not  be  much  of 
the  substance.  It  is  not  our  task  to  explain 
what  is,  or  what  ought  to  be,  the  substance  of 
Christianity,  but  merely  to  record  in  this  place 
the  opinions  of  Major  Effingham. 

Knowing  the  sentiments  of  the  father  in  re- 
lation to  this  people,  it  was  no  wonder  that  the 
son  hesitated  to  avow  his  connection  with,  nay, 
even  his  dependence  on  the  integrity  of,  a 
Quaker. 

It  has  been  said  that  Marmaduke  deduced  hw 
origin  from  the  contemporaries  and  friends  of 
Penn.  His  father  had  married  without  the  palf 


IG 


THE  PIONEERS. 


of  the  church  to  which  he  belonged,  and  had,  in 
this  manner,  forfeited  some  of  the  privileges  of 
his  offspring.  Still,  as  young  Marmaduke  was 
educated  in  a colony  and  society,  where  even  the 
ordinary  intercourse  between  friends  was  tinc- 
tured with  the  aspect  of  this  mild  religion,  his 
habits  and  language  were  somewhat  marked  by 
its  peculiarities.  His  own  marriage  at  a future 
day  with  a lady  without,  not  only  the  pale,  but 
the  influence  of  this  sect  of  religionists,  had  a 
tendency,  it  is  true,  to  weaken  his  early  impres- 
sions ; still  he  retained  them  in  some  degree  to 
the  hour  of  his  death,  and  was  observed  uni- 
formly, when  much  interested  or  agitated,  to 
speak  in  the  language  of  his  youth.  But  this  is 
anticipating  our  tale. 

When  Marmaduke  first  became  the  partner 
of  young  Effingham,  he  was  quite  the  Quaker  in 
externals:  and  it  was  too  dangerous  an  experi- 
ment for  the  son  to  think  of  encountering  the 
prejudices  of  the  father  on  this  subject.  The 
connection,  therefore,  remained  a profound  secret 
to  all  but  those  who  were  interested  in  it. 

For  a few  years,  Marmaduke  directed  the 
commercial  operations  of  his  house  with  a pru- 
dence and  sagacity  that  afforded  rich  returns. 
He  married  the  lady  we  have  mentioned,  who  was 
the  mother  of  Elizabeth,  and  the  visits  of  his 
friend  were  becoming  more  frequent.  There  was 
a speedy  prospect  of  removing  the  veil  from  their 
intercourse,  as  its  advantages  became  each  hour 
more  apparent  to  Mr.  Effingham,  when  the  troub- 
les that  preceded  the  war  of  the  Revolution  ex- 
tended themselves  to  an  alarming  degree. 

‘ Educated  in  the  most  dependent  loyalty,  Mr. 
Effingham  had,  from  the  commencement  of  the 
disputes  between  the  colonists  and  the  crown, 
warmly  maintained  what  he  believed  to  be  the 
just  prerogatives  of  his  prince ; while,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  clear  head  and  independent  mind 
of  Temple  had  induced  him  to  espouse  the  cause 
of  the  people.  Both  might  have  been  influenced 
by  early  impressions ; for,  if  the  son  of  the  loyal 
and  gallant  soldier  bowed  in  implicit  obedience 
to  the  will  of  his  sovereign,  the  descendant  of  the 
persecuted  follower  of  Penn  looked  back,  with  a 
little  bitterness,  to  the  unmerited  wrongs  that 
had  been  heaped  upon  his  ancestors. 

This  difference  in  opinion  had  long  been  a 
subject  of  amicable  dispute  between  them  ; but, 
latterly,  the  contest  was  getting  to  be  too  impor- 
tant to  admit  of  trivial  discussions  on  the  part  of 
Marmaduke,  whose  acute  discernment  was  already 
catching  faint  glimmerings  of  the  important  events 
that  were  in  embryo.  The  sparks  of  dissension 
eoon  kindled  into  a blaze ; and  the  colonies,  or 


rather,  as  they  quickly  declared  themselves,  the 
States,  became  a scene  of  strife  and  bloodshed 
for  years. 

A short  time  before  the  battle  of  Lexington, 
Mr.  Effingham,  already  a widower,  transmitted  to 
Marmaduke,  for  safe-keeping,  all  his  valuable  ef- 
fects and  papers  ; and  left  the  colony  without  his 
father.  The  war  had,  however,  scarcely  com- 
menced in  earnest,  when  he  reappeared  in  New' 
York,  wearing  the  livery  of  his  king ; and,  in  a 
short  time,  he  took  the  field  at  the  head  of  a pro- 
vincial corps.  In  the  mean  time,  Marmaduke  had 
' completely  committed  himself  in  the  cause,  as  it 
was  then  called,  of  the  rebellion.  Of  course,  all 
intercourse  between  the  friends  ceased — on  the 
part  of  Colonel  Effingham  it  was  unsought,  and 
on  that  of  Marmaduke  there  was  a cautious  re- 
serve. It  soon  became  necessary  for  the  latter 
to  abandon  the  capital  of  Philadelphia ; but  he 
had  taken  the  precaution  to  remove  the  whole  of 
his  effects  beyond  the  reach  of  the  royal  forces, 
including  the  papers  of  his  friend  also.  There  he 
continued  serving  his  country  during  the  strug- 
gle, in  various  civil  capacities,  and  always  with 
dignity  and  usefulness.  While,  however,  he  dis- 
charged his  functions  with  credit  and  fidelity, 
Marmaduke  never  seemed  to  lose  sight  of  his  own 
interests ; for,  when  the  estates  of  the  adherents 
of  the  crown  fell  under  the  hammer,  by  the  acts 
of  confiscation,  he  appeared  in  New  York,  and 
became  the  purchaser  of  extensive  possessions  at 
comparatively  low  prices. 

It  is  true  that  Marmaduke,  by  thus  purchas- 
ing estates  that  had  been  wrested  by  violence 
from  others,  rendered  himself  obnoxious  to  the 
censures  of  that  sect  which,  at  the  same  time 
that  it  discards  its  children  from  a full  participa- 
tion in  the  family  union,  seems  ever  unwilling  to 
abandon  them  entirely  to  the  world.  But  either 
his  success,  or  the  frequency  of  the  transgression 
in  others,  soon  wiped  off  this  slight  stain  from  his 
character ; and,  although  there  were  a few  who, 
dissatisfied  with  their  own  fortunes,  or  conscious 
of  their  own  demerits,  would  make  dark  hints  con- 
cerning the  sudden  prosperity  of  the  unportioned 
Quaker,  yet  his  services,  and  possibly  his  wealth, 
soon  drove  the  recollection  of  these  vague  conjec- 
tures from  men’s  minds. 

When  the  war  ended,  and  the  independence 
of  the  States  was  acknowledged,  Mr.  Temple 
turned  his  attention  from  the  pursuit  of  com- 
merce, which  was  then  fluctuating  and  uncertain, 
to  the  settlement  of  those  tracts  of  land  which  he 
had  purchased.  Aided  by  a good  deal  of  money, 
and  directed  by  the  suggestions  of  a strong  and 
practical  reason,  his  enterprise  throve  to  a degree 


THE  WOUNDED  STRANGER. 


1? 


that  the  climate  and  rugged  face  of  the  country 
which  he  selected  would  seem  to  forbid.  His 
property  increased  in  a tenfold  ratio,  and  he  was 
already  ranked  among  tbe  most  wealthy  and  im- 
portant of  his  countrymen.  To  inherit  this  wealth 
he  had  but  one  child — the  daughter  whom  we 
hare  introduced  to  the  reader,  and  whom  he  was 
now  conveying  from  school  to  preside  over  a 
household  that  had  too  long  wanted  a mistress. 

When  the  district  in  which  his  estates  lay  had 
become  sufficiently  populous  to  be  set  off  as  a 
county,  Hr.  Temple  had,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  new  settlements,  been  selected  to  fill  its 
highest  judicial  station.  This  might  make  a 
Templar  smile  ; but,  in  addition  to  the  apology  of 
necessity,  there  is  ever  a dignity  in  talents  and 
experience  that  is  commonly  sufficient,  in  any 
station,  for  the  protection  of  its  possessor ; and 
Marmaduke,  more  fortunate  in  his  native  clear- 
ness of  mind  than  the  judge  of  King  Charles,  not 
only  decided  right,  but  was  generally  able  to  give 
a very  good  reason  for  it.  At  all  events,  such 
was  the  universal  practice  of  the  country  and  the 
times  ; and  Judge  Temple,  so  far  from  ranking 
among  the  lowest  of  his  judicial  contemporaries 
cn  the  courts  of  the  new  counties,  felt  himself, 
and  was  unanimously  acknowleged  to  be,  among 
the  first. 

We  shall  here  close  this  brief  explanation  of 
the  history  and  character  of  some  of  our  person- 
ages, leaving  them  in  future  to  speak  and  act  for 
themselves. 


CHAPTER  III. 

“ All  that  thou  see’st  is  Nature’s  handiwork ; 

Those  rocks  that  upward  throw  their  mossy  brows 
Like  castled  pinnacles  of  elder  times ; 

These  venerable  stems,  that  slowly  rock 
Their  towering  branches  in  the  wintry  gale ; 

That  field  of  frost,  which  glitters  in  the  sun, 

Mocking  the  whiteness  of  a marble  breast ! — 

Yet  man  can  mar  such  Works  with  his  rude  taste, 

Like  some  sad  spoiler  o f a virgin’s  fame.” 

Duo. 

Some  little  while  elapsed  ere  Marmaduke  Tem- 
ple was  sufficiently  recovered  from  his  agitation 
to  scan  the  person  of  his  new  companion.  He 
now  observed  that  he  was  a youth  of  some  two- 
or  three-and-twenty  years  of  age,  and  rather 
above  the  middle  height.  Further  observation 
was  prevented  by  the  rough  overcoat  which  was 
belted  close  to  his  form  by  a worsted  sash,  much 
like  the  one  worn  by  the  old  hunter.  The  eyes 
of  the  Judge,  after  resting  a moment  on  the  figure 
of  the  stranger,  were  raised  to  a scrutiny  of  his 
41  2 


countenance.  There  had  been  a look  of  care, 
visible  in  the  features  of  the  youth,  when  he  first 
entered  the  sleigh,  that  had  not  only  attracted 
the  notice  of  Elizabeth,  but  which  she  had  been 
much  puzzled  to  interpret.  His  anxiety  seemed 
the  strongest  when  he  was  enjoining  his  old  com- 
panion to  secrecy  ; and  even  when  he  had  decid- 
ed, and  was  rather  passively  suffering  himself  to 
be  conveyed  to  the  village,  the  expression  of  his 
eyes  by  no  means  indicated  any  great  degree 
of  self-satisfaction  at  the  step.  But  the  lines  of 
an  uncommonly  prepossessing  countenance  were 
gradually  becoming  composed ; and  he  now  sat 
silent,  and  apparently  musing.  The  Judge  gazed 
at  him  for  some  time  with  earnestness,  and  then 
smiling,  as  if  at  his  own  forgetfulness,  he  said  : 

“ I believe,  my  young  friend,  that  terror  has 
driven  you  from  my  recollection ; your  face  is 
very  familiar,  and  yet  for  the  honor  of  a score  of 
bucks’  tails  in  my  cap,  I could  not  tell  your 
name.” 

“I  came  into  the  country  but  three  weeks 
since,”  returned  the  youth,  coldly,  “ and  I under- 
stand you  have  been  absent  twice  that  time.” 

‘4  It  will  be  five  to-morrow.  Yet  your  face  is 
one  that  I have  seen ; though  it  would  not  be 
strange,  such  has  been  my  affright,  should  I see 
thee  in  thy  winding-sheet  walking  by  my  bed- 
side' to-night.  What  say’st  thou,  Bess  ? Am  I 
compos  mentis  or  not  ? — Fit  to  charge  a grand 
jury,  or,  what  is  just  now  of  more  pressing  neces- 
sity, able  to  do  the  honors  of  Christmas  eve  in 
the  hall  of  Templeton  ? ” 

“ More  able  to  do  either,  my  dear  father,” 
said  a playful  voice  from  under  the  ample  inclos- 
ures of  the  hood,  “ than  to  kill  deer  with  a smooth- 
bore.” A short  pause  followed,  and  the  same 
voice,  but  in  a different  accent,  continued  : “We 
shall  have  good  reasons  for  our  thanksgiving  to- 
night, on  more  accounts  than  one.” 

The  horses  soon  reached  a point  where  they 
seemed  to  know  by  instinct  that  the  journey  was 
nearly  ended,  and,  bearing  on  the  bits  as  they 
tossed  their  heads,  they  rapidly  drew  the  sleigh 
over  the  level  land  which  lay  on  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  and  soon  came  to  the  point  where  the 
road  descended  suddenly,  but  circuitously,  into 
the  valley. 

The  Judge  was  roused  from  his  reflections, 
when  he  saw  the  four  columns  of  smoke  which 
floated  above  his  own  chimneys.  As  house,  vil. 
lage,  and  valley  burst  on  his  sight,  he  exclaimed 
cheerfully  to  his  daughter : 

“ See,  Bess,  there  is  thy  resting  place  for  life ! 
— And  thine,  too,  young  man,  if  thou  wilt  con- 
sent to  dwell  with  us.” 


18 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  eyes  of  his  auditors  involuntarily  met; 
and,  if  the  color  that  gathered  over  the  face  of 
Elizabeth  was  contradicted  by  the  cold  expres- 
sion of  her  eye,  the  .ambiguous  smile  that  again 
played  about  the  lips  of  the  stranger,  seemed 
equally  to  deny  the  probability  of  his  consenting 
to  form  one  of  this  family  group.  The  scene  was 
one,  however,  which  might  easily  warm  a heart 
less  given  to  philanthropy  than  that  of  Marma- 
duke  Temple. 

The  side  of  the  mountain  on  which  our  travel- 
lers were  journeying,  though  not  absolutely  per- 
pendicular, was  so  steep  as  to  render  great  care 
necessary  in  descending  the  rude  and  narrow 
path,  which,  in  that  early  day,  wound  along  the 
precipices.  The  negro  reined  in  his  impatient 
steeds,  and  time  was  given  Elizabeth  to  dwell  on 
a scene  which  was  so  rapidly  altering  under  the 
hands  of  man,  that  it  only  resembled,  in  its  out- 
lines, the  picture  she  had  so  often  studied  with 
delight  in  childhood.  Immediately  beneath  them 
lay  a seeming  plain,  glittering  without  inequality, 
aud  buried  in  mountains.  The  latter  were  pre- 
cipitous, especially  on  the  side  of  the  plain,  and 
chiefly  in  forest.  Here  and  there  the  hills  fell 
away  in  long,  low  points,  and  broke  the  sameness 
of  the  outline ; or  setting  to  the  long  and  wide 
field  of  snow,  which,  without  house,  tree,  fence, 
or  any  other  fixture,  resembled  so  much  spotless 
cloud  settled  to  the  earth.  A few  dark  and  mov- 
ing spots  were,  however,  visible  on  the  even  sur- 
face, which  the  eye  of  Elizabeth  knew  to  be  so 
many  sleighs  going  their  several  ways,  to  or  from 
the  village.  On  the  western  border  of  the  plain, 
the  mountains,  though  equally  high,  were  less 
precipitous,  and,  as  they  receded,  opened  into  ir- 
regular valleys  and  glens,  or  were  formed  into 
terraces  and  hollows  that  admitted  of  cultivation. 
Although  the  evergreens  still  held  dominion  over 
many  of  the  hills  that  rose  on  this  side  of  the  val- 
ley, yet  the  undulating  outlines  of  the  distant 
mountains,  covered  with  forests  of  beech  and  ma- 
ple, gave  a relief  to  the  eye,  and  the  promise  of  a 
kinder  soil.  Occasionally  spots  of  white  were 
discoverable  amidst  the  forests  of  the  opposite 
hills,  which  announced,  by  the  smoke  that  curled 
over  the  tops  of  the  trees,  the  habitations  of  man, 
and  the  commencement  of  agriculture.  These 
spots  were  sometimes,  by  tifie  aid  of  united  labor, 
enlarged  into  what  were  called  settlements,  but 
more  frequently  were  small  and  insulated  ; though 
bo  rapid  were  the  changes,  and  so  persevering 
the  labors  of  those  who  had  cast  their  fortunes 
on  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  that  it  was  not 
difficult  for  the  imagination  of  Elizabeth  to  con- 
ceive they  were  enlarging  under  her  eye,  while  she 


was  gazing,  in  mute  wonder,  at  the  alterations  that 
a few  short  years  had  made  in  the  aspect  of  the 
country.  The  points  on  the  western  side  of  this 
remarkable  plain,  on  which  no  plant  had  taken 
root,  were  both  larger  and  more  numerous  than 
those  on  its  eastern,  and  one  in  particular  thrust 
itself  forward  in  such  a manner  as  to  form  beau- 
tifully-curved bays  of  snow  on  either  side.  On 
its  extreme  end  an  oak  stretched  forward,  as  if 
to  overshadow,  with  its  branches,  a spot  which 
its  roots  were  forbidden  to  enter.  It  had  re- 
leased itself  from  the  thraldom  that  a growth  of 
centuries  had  imposed  on  the  branches  of  the  sur- 
rounding forest  trees,  and  threw  its  gnarled  and 
fantastic  arms  abroad,  in  the  wildness  of  liber- 
ty. A dark  spot  of  a few  acres  in  extent  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  this  beautiful  flat,  and  im- 
mediately under  the  feet  of  our  travellers,  alone 
showed  by  its  rippling  surface,  and  the  vapors 
which  exhaled  from  it,  that  what  at  first  might 
seem  a plain,  was  one  of  the  mountain  lakes, 
locked  in  the  frosts  of  winter.  A narrow  current 
rushed  impetuously  from  its  bosom  at  .the  open 
place  we  have  mentioned,  and  was  to  be  traced, 
for  miles,  as  it  wound  its  way  toward  the  south 
through  the  real  valley,  by  its  borders  of  hem- 
lock and  pine,  and  by  the  vapor  which  arose  from 
its  warmer  surface  into  the  chill  atmosphere  of 
the  hills.  The  banks  of  this  lovely  basin,  at  its 
outlet,  or  southern  end,  were  steep  but  not  high  ; 
and  in  that  direction  the  land  continued,  far  as 
the  eye  could  reach,  a narrow  but  graceful  val- 
ley* along  which  the  settlers  had  scattered  their 
humble  habitations,  with  a profusion  that  be- 
spoke the  quality  of  the  soil,  and  the  compara- 
tive facilities  of  intercourse 

Immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  lake  and  at 
its  foot,  stood  the  village  of  Templeton.  It  con- 
sisted of  some  fifty  buildings,  including  those  of 
every  description,  chiefly  built  of  wood,  and  which, 
in  their  architecture,  bore  no  great  marks  of  taste, 
but  which  also,  by  the  unfinished  appearance  of 
most  of  the  dwellings,  indicated  the  hasty  man- 
ner of  their  construction.  To  the  eye,  they  pre- 
sented a variety  of  colors.  A few  were  white  in 
both  front  and  rear,  but  more  bore  that  expen- 
sive color  on  their  fronts  only,  while  their  eco- 
nomical but  ambitious  owners  had  covered  the 
remaining  sides  of  the  edifices  with  a dingy  red. 
One  or  two  were  slowly  assuming  the  russet  of 
age  ; while  the  uncovered  beams  that  were  to  be 
seen  through  the  broken  windows  of  their  second 
stories,  showed  that  either  the  taste  or  the  van- 
ity of  their  proprietors  had  led  them  to  undertake 
a task  which  they  were  unable  to  accomplish. 
The  whole  were  grouped  in  a manner  that  aped 


THE  TWO  ARCHITECTS. 


19 


the  streets  of  a city,  and  were  evidently  so  ar- 
ranged by  the  directions  of  one  who  looked  to 
the  wants  of  posterity  rather  than  to  the  con- 
venience of  the  present  incumbents.  Some  three 
or  four  of  the  better  sort  of  buildings  in  addition 
to  the  uniformity  of  their  color,  were  fitted  with 
green  blinds,  which,  at  that  season  at  least,  were 
rather  strangely  contrasted  to  the  chill  aspect  of 
the  lake,  the  mountains,  the  forests,  and  the  wide 
fields  of  snow.  Before  the  doors  of  these  pre- 
tending dwellings  were  placed  a few  saplings, 
either  without  branches,  or  possessing  only  the 
feeble  shoots  of  one  or  two  summers’  growth, 
that  looked'  not  unlike  tall  grenadiers  on  post 
near  the  threshold  of  princes.  In  truth,  the  occu- 
pants of  these  favored  habitations  were  the  nobles 
of  Templeton,  as  Marmaduke  was  its  king.  They 
were  the  dwellings  of  two  young  men  who  were 
cunning  in  the  law ; an  equal  number  of  that 
class  who  chaffered  to  the  wants  of  the  commu- 
nity under  the  title  of  storekeepers ; and  a disci- 
ple of  JEsculapius,  who,  for  a novelty,  brought 
more  subjects  into  the  world  than  he  sent  out  of 
it.  In  the  midst  of  this  incongruous  group  of 
dwellings,  rose  the  mansion  of  the  Judge,  tower- 
ing above  all  its  neighbors.  It  stood  in  the  cen- 
tre of  an  inclosure  of  several  acres,  which  were 
covered  with  fruit-trees.  Some  of  the  latter  had 
oeen  left  by  the  Indians,  and  began  already  to 
assume  the  moss  and  inclination  of  age,  therein 
forming  a very  marked  contrast  to  the  infant 
plantations  that  peered  over  most  of  the  picketed 
fences  of  the  village.  In  addition  to  this  show 
of  cultivation,  were  two  rows  of  young  Lombardy 
poplars,  a tree  but  lately  introduced  into  America, 
formally  lining  either  side  of  a pathway,  which 
led  from  a gate  that  opened  on  the  principal 
street  to  the  front  door  of  the  building.  The 
house  itself  had  been  built  entirely  under  the 
superintendence  of  a certain  Mr.  Richard  Jones, 
whom  we  have  already  mentioned,  and  who,  from 
his  cleverness  in  small  matters,  and  an  entire  wil- 
lingness to  exert  his  talents,  added  to  the  circum- 
stance of  their  being  sister’s  children,  ordinarily 
superintended  all  the  minor  concerns  of  Marma- 
duke Temple.  Richard  was  fond  of  saying,  that 
this  child  of  invention  consisted  of  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  what  should  form  the  groundwork 
of  every  clergyman’s  discourse ; viz.,  a firstly, 
and  a lastly.  He  had  commenced  his  labors,  in 
the  first  year  of  their  residence,  by  erecting  a 
tall,  gaunt  edifice  of  wood,  with  its  gable  toward 
the  highway.  In  this  shelter,  for  it  was  little 
more,  the  family  resided  three  years.  By  the 
end  of  that  period,  Richard  had  completed  his 
design.  He  had  availed  himself,  in  this  heavy 


undertaking,  of  the  experience  of  a certain  wan- 
dering eastern  mechanic,  who,  by  exhibiting  a 
few  soiled  plates  of  English  architecture,  and 
talking  learnedly  of  friezes,  entablatures,  and 
particularly  of  the  composite  order,  had  obtained 
a very  undue  influence  over  Richard’s  taste,  in 
every  thing  that  pertained  to  that  branch  of  the 
fine  arts.  Not  that  Mr.  Jones  did  not  affect  to 
consider  Hiram  Doolittle  a perfect  empiric  in  his 
profession,  being  in  the  constant  habit  of  listen- 
ing to  his  treatises  on  architecture  with  a kind 
of  indulgent  smile ; yet,  either  from  an  inability 
to  oppose  them  by  any  thing  plausible  from  his 
own  stores  of  learning,  or  from  secret  admiration, 
Richard  generally  submitted  to  the  arguments  of 
his  coadjutor.  Together,  they  had  not  only  erect- 
ed  a dwelling  for  Marmaduke,  but  they  had  given 
a fashion  to  the  architecture  of  the  whole  county. 
The  composite  order,  Mr.  Doolittle  would  con- 
tend, was  an  order  composed  of  many  others,  and 
was  intended  to  be  the  most  useful  of  all,  for  it 
admitted  into  its  construction  such  alterations  as 
convenience  or  circumstances  might  require.  To 
this  proposition  Richard  usually  assented ; and 
when  rival  geniuses,  who  monopolize  not  only  all 
the  reputation,  but  most  of  the  money  of  a neigh- 
borhood, are  of  a mind,  it  is  not  uncommon  to 
see  them  lead  the  fashion,  even  in  graver  mat- 
ters. In  the  present  instance,  as  we  have  al- 
ready hinted,  the  castle,  as  Judge  Templeton’s 
dwelling  was  termed  in  common  parlance,  came 
to  be  the  model,  in  some  one  or  other  of  its  nu- 
merous excellences,  for  every  aspiring  edifice 
within  twenty  miles  of  it. 

The  house  itself,  or  the  “ lastly,”  was  of  stone ; 
large,  square,  and  far  from  uncomfortable.  These 
were  four  requisites,  on  which  Marmaduke  had 
insisted  with  a little  more  than  his  ordinary  per- 
tinacity. But  every  thing  else  was  peaceably 
assigned  to  Richard  and  his  associate.  These 
worthies  found  the  material  a little  too  solid  for 
the  tools  of  their  workmen,  which,  in  general, 
were  employed  on  a substance  no  harder  than 
the  white  pine  of  the  adjacent  mountains,  a wood 
so  proverbially  soft,  that  it  is  commonly  chosen 
by  the  hunters  for  pillows.  But  for  this  awkward 
dilemma,  it  is  probable  that  the  ambitious  tastes 
of  our  two  architects  would  have  left  as  much 
more  to  do  in  the  way  of  description.  Driven 
from  the  faces  of  the  house  by  the  obduracy  of 
the  material,  they  took  refuge  in  the  porch  and 
on  the  roof.  The  former,  it  was  decided,  should 
be  severely  classical,  and  the  latter  a rare  speci- 
men of  the  merits  of  the  composite  order. 

A roof,  Richard  contended,  was  a part  of  the 
edifice  that  the  ancients  always  endeavored  to 


20 


THE  PIONEERS. 


conceal,  it  being  an  excrescence  in  architecture 
that  was  only  to  be  tolerated  on  account  of  its 
usefulness.  Besides,  as  he  wittily  added,  a chief 
merit  in  a dwelling  was  to  present  a front,  on 
whichever  side  it  might  happen  to  be  seen  ; for, 
as  it  was  exposed  to  all  eyes  in  all  weathers, 
there  should  be  no  weak  flank  for  envy  or  un- 
neighborly  criticism  to  assail.  It  was  therefore 
decided  that  the  roof  should  be  flat,  and  with 
four  faces.  To  this  arrangement,  Marmaduke 
objected  the  heavy  snows*  that  lay  for  months, 
frequently  covering  the  earth  to  a depth  of  three 
or  four  feet.  Happily,  the  facilities  of  the  com- 
posite order  presented  themselves  to  effect  a 
compromise,  and  the  rafters  were  lengthened,  so 
as  to  give  a descent  that  should  carry  off  the  fro- 
zen element.  But,  unluckily,  some  mistake  was 
made  in  the  admeasurement  of  these  material 
parts  of  the  fabric  : and,  as  one  of  the  greatest  rec- 
ommendations of  Hiram  was  his  ability  to  work 
by  the  “ square  rule,”  no  opportunity  was  found 
of  discovering  the  effect  until  the  massive  tim- 
bers were  raised,  on  the  four  walls  of  the  build- 
ing. Then,  indeed,  it  was  soon  seen,  that,  in 
defiance  of  all  rule,  the  roof  was  by  far  the  most 
conspicuous  part  of  the  whole  edifice.  Richard 
and  his  associate  consoled  themselves  with  the 
belief,  that  the  covering  would  aid  in  concealing 
this  unnatural  elevation ; but  every  shingle  that 
was  laid  only  multiplied  objects  to  look  at.  Rich- 
ard essayed  to  remedy  the  evil  with  paint,  and 
four  different  colors  were  laid  on  by  his  own 
hands.  The  first  was  a sky-blue,  in  the  vain  ex- 
pectation that  the  eye  might  be  cheated  into  the 
belief  it  was  the  heavens  themselves  that  hung  so 
imposingly  over  Marmaduke’s  dwelling  •;  the  sec- 
ond was  what  he  called  a “ cloud-color,”  being 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  an  imitation  of  smoke ; 
the  third  was  what  Richard  termed  an  invisible 
green,  an  experiment  that  did  not  succeed  against 
a background  of  sky.  Abandoning  the  attempt 
to  conceal,  our  architects  drew  upon  their  inven- 
tion for  means  to  ornament  the  offensive  shingles. 
After  much  deliberation  and  two  or  three  essays 
by  moonlight,  Richard  ended  the  affair  by  boldly 
covering  the  whole  beneath  a color  that  he  chris- 
tened “ sunshine,”  a cheap  way,  as  he  assured 
his  cousin,  the  Judge,  of  always  keeping  fair 
weather  over  his  head.  The  platform,  as  well  as 
the  cave?  of  the  house,  were  surmounted  by 
gaudily-painted  railings,  and  the  genius  of  Hiram 
was  exerted  in  the  fabrication  of  divers  urns  and 
mouldings,  that  were  scattered  profusely  around 
this  part  of  their  labors.  Richard  had  originally 
a cunning  expedient,  by  which  the  chimneys  were 
intended  to  be  so  low,  and  so  situated,  as  to  re- 


semble ornaments  on  the  balustrades  ; but  com* 
fort  required  that  the  chimneys  should  rise  with 
the  roof,  in  order  that  the  smoke  might  be  car- 
ried  off,  and  they  thus  became  four  extremely 
conspicuous  objects  in  the  view. 

As  this  roof  was  much  the  most  important  ar- 
chitectural undertaking  in  which  Mr.  Jones  waa 
ever  engaged,  his  failure  produced  a correspond, 
ent  degree  of  mortification.  At  first,  he  whis- 
pered among  his  acquaintances  that  it  proceeded 
from  ignorance  of  the  square  rule  on  the  part  of 
Hiram ; but,  as  his  eye  became  gradually  accus- 
tomed to  the  object,  Jie  grew  better  satisfied  with 
his  labors,  and,  instead  of  apologizing  for  the  de- 
fects, he  commenced  praising  the  beauties  of  the 
mansion-house ; he  soon  found  hearers ; and,  as 
wealth  and  comfort  are  at  all  times  attractive,  it 
was,  as  has  been  said,  made  a model  for  imitation 
on  a small  scale.  In  less  than  two  years  from  its 
erection,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  standing  on  the 
elevated  platform,  and  of  looking  down  on  three 
humble  imitators  of  its  beauty.  Thus  it  is  ever 
with  fashion,  which  even  renders  the  faults  of 
the  great  subjects  of  admiration. 

Marmaduke  bore  this  deformity  in  his  dwell- 
ing with  great  good  nature,  and  soon  contrived, 
by  his  own  improvements,  to  give  an  air  of  re- 
spectability and  comfort  to  his  place  of  residence. 
Still,  there  was  much  of  incongruity,  even  imme- 
diately about  the  mansion-house.  Although  pop- 
lars had  been  brought  from  Europe  to  ornament 
the  grounds,  and  willows  and  other  trees  were 
gradually  springing  up  nigh  the  dwelling,  yet 
many  a pile  of  snow  betrayed  the  presence  of  the 
stump  of  a pine ; and  even,  in  one  or  two  in- 
stances, unsightly  remnants  of  trees  that  had 
been  partly  destroyed  by  fire  were  seen  rearing 
their  black,  glistening  columns  twenty  or  thirty 
feet  above  the  pure  white  of  the  snow.  These, 
which  in  the  language  of  the  country  are  termed 
stubs,  abounded  in  the  open  fields  adjacent  to 
the  village,  and  ivere  accompanied,  occasionally, 
by  the  ruin  of  a pine  or  a hemlock  that  had  been 
stripped  of  its  bark,  and  which  wraved  in  melan- 
choly grandeur  its  naked  limbs  to  the  blast,  a 
skeleton  of  its  former  glory.  But  these  and 
many  other  unpleasant  additions  to  the  view  were 
unseen  by  the  delighted  Elizabeth,  who,  as  the 
horses  moved  down  the  side  of  the  mountain,  saw 
only  in  gross  the  cluster  of  houses  that  lay  like  a 
map  at  her  feet ; the  fifty  smokes  that  wrere  curl- 
ing from  the  valley  to  the  clouds ; the  frozen  lake 
as  it  lay  embedded  in  mountains  of  evergreen, 
with  the  long  shadows  of  the  pines  on  its  white 
surface,  lengthening  in  the  setting  sun  ; the  dark 
ribbon  of  water,  that  gushed  from  the  outlet,  and 


MR.  JONES  AND  HIS  PARTY. 


21 


was  winding  its  way  towaid  the  distant  Chesa- 
peake— the  altered,  though  still  remembered, 
scenes  of  her  childhood. 

Five  years  had  wrought  greater  changes  than 
a century  would  produce  in  countries  where  time 
and  labor  have  given  permanency  to  the  works 
of  man.  To  our  young  hunter  and  the  Judge  the 
scene  had  less  novelty ; though  none  ever  emerge 
from  the  dark  forests  of  that  mountain,  and  wit- 
ness the  glorious  scenery  of  that  beauteous  val- 
ley, as  it  bursts  unexpectedly  upon  them,  without 
a feeling  of  delight.  The  former  cast  one  admir- 
ing glance  from  north  to  south,  and  sank  his  face 
again  beneath  the  folds  of  his  coat ; while  the 
latter  contemplated,  with  philanthropic  pleasure, 
the  prospect  of  affluence  and  comfort  that  was 
expanding  around  him ; the  result  of  his  own  en- 
terprise, and  much  of  it  the  fruits  of  his  own  in- 
dustry. 

The  cheerful  sound  of  sleigh-bells,  however, 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  party,  as 
they  came  jingling  up  the  sides  of  the  mountain, 
at  a rate  that  announced  a powerful  team  and  a 
hard  driver.  The  bushes  which  lined  the  high- 
way interrupted  the  view,  and  the  two  sleighs 
were  close  upon  each  other  before  either  was 
seen. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

“ How  now  ? whose  mare’s  dead  ? what’s  the  matter  ? ” 
Falstaff. 

A large  lumber-sleigh,  drawn  by  four  horses, 
was  soon  seen  dashing  through  the  leafless  bushes 
which  fringed  the  road.  The  leaders  were  of 
gray,  and  the  pole-horses  of  a jet-black.  Bells 
innumerable  were  suspended  from  every  part  of 
the  harness  where  one  of  the  tinkling  balls  could 
be  placed ; while  the  rapid  movement  of  the 
equipage,  in  defiance  of  the  steep  ascent,  an- 
nounced the  desire  of  the  driver  to  ring  them  to 
the  utmost.  The  first  glance  at  this  singular  ar- 
rangement acquainted  the  Judge  with  the  charac- 
ter of  those  in  the  sleigh.  It  contained  four  male 
figures.  On  one  of  those  stool3  that  are  used  at 
writing-desks,  lashed  firmly  to  the  sides  of  the 
vehicle,  was  seated  a little  man,  enveloped  in  a 
great-coat  fringed  with  fur,  in  such  a manner  that 
no  part  of  him  was  visible  excepting  a face  of  an 
unvarying  red  color.  There  was  an  habitual  up- 
ward look  about  the  head  of  this  gentleman,  as  if 
dissatisfied  with  its  natural  proximity  to  the  earth  ; 
and  the  expression  of  his  countenance  was  that 
of  busy  care.  He  was  the  charioteer  and  he 


guided  the  mettled  animals  along  the  precipice 
with  a fearless  eye  and  a steady  hand.  Immedi- 
ately behind  him,  with  his  face  toward  the  other 
two,  was  a tall  figure,  to  whose  appearance  not 
even  the  duplicate  overcoats  which  he  wore,  aided 
by  "the  corner  of  a horse-blanket,  could  give  the 
appearance  of  strength.  His  face  was  protrud- 
ing from  beneath  a woollen  nightcap  ; and,  when 
he  turned  to  the  vehicle  of  Marmaduke  as  the 
sleighs  approached  each  other,  it  seemed  formed 
by  nature  to  cut  the  atmosphere  with  the  least 
possible  resistance.  The  eyes  alone  appeared  to 
create  any  obstacle,  for  from  either  side  of  his 
forehead  their  light,  blue,  glassy  balls  projected. 
The  sallow  of  his  countenance  was  too  permanent 
to  be  affected  even  by  the  intense  cold  of  the 
evening.  Opposite  to  this  personage  sat  a solid, 
short,  and  square  figure.  No  part  of  his  form 
was  to  be  discovered  through  his  overdress,  but 
a face  that  was  illuminated  by  a pair  of  black 
eyes,  that  gave  the  lie  to  every  demure  feature  in 
his  countenance.  A fair,  jolly  wig  furnished  a 
neat  and  rounded  outline  to  his  visage,  and  he,  as 
well  as  the  other  two,  wore  marten-skin  caps. 
The  fourth  was  a meek-looking,  long-visaged  man, 
without  any  other  protection  from  the  cold  than 
that  which  was  furnished  by  a black  surtout, 
made  with  some  little  formality,  but  which  was 
rather  threadbare  and  rusty.  He  wore  a hat  of 
extremely  decent  proportions,  though  frequent 
brushing  had  quite  destroyed  its  nap.  His  face 
was  pale,  and  withal  a little  melancholy,  or  what 
might  be  termed  of  a studious  complexion.  The 
air  had  given  it,  just  now,  a slight  and  somewhat 
feverish  flush.  The  character  of  his  whole  ap- 
pearance, especially  contrasted  to  the  air  of  humor 
in  his  next  companion,  was  that  of  habitual  men- 
tal care.  No  sooner  had  the  two  sleighs  ap- 
proached within  speaking  distance,  than  the  driv- 
er of  this  fantastic  equipage  shouted  aloud  : 

“ Draw  up  in  the  quarry — draw  up,  thou  king 
of  the  Greeks  ; draw  into  the  quarry,  Agamem- 
non, or  I shall  never  be  able  to  pass  you.  Wel- 
come home,  cousin  ’duke  — welcome,  welcome, 
black-eyed  Bess.  Thou  seest,  Marmaduke,  that 
I have  taken  the  field  with  an  assorted  cargo,  to 
do  thee  honor.  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  has  come  out 
with  only  one  cap  ; Old  Fritz  would  not  stay  to 
finish  the  bottle ; and  Mr.  Grant  has  got  to  put 
the  4 lastly  ’ to  his  sermon,  yet.  Even  all  the 
horses  would  come — by-the-bv,  Judge,  I must  sell 
the  blacks  for  you  immediately ; they  interfere, 
and  the  nigh  one  is  a bad  goer  in  double  harness. 
I can  get  rid  of  them  to — ” 

“ Sell  what  thou  wilt,  Dickon,”  interrupted 
the  cheerful  voice  of  the  Judge,  44  so  that  thou 


22 


THE  PIONEERS. 


leavest  me  my  daughter  and  my  lands.  Ah ! 
Fritz,  my  old  friend,  this  is  a kind  compliment, 
indeed,  for  seventy  to  pay  to  five-and-forty. 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  I am  your  servant.  Mr. 
Grant,”  lifting  his  cap,  “ I feel  indebted  to  your 
attention.  Gentlemen,  I make  you  acquainted 
with  my  child.  Yours  are  names  with  which  she 
Is  very  familiar.” 

“ Yelcome,  velcome,  Tchooge,”  said  the  elder 
of  the  party,  with  a strong  German  accent. 
“ Miss  Petsy  vill  owe  me  a kiss.” 

“ And  cheerfully  will  I pay  it,  my  good  sir,” 
cried  the  soft  voice  of  Elizabeth  ; which  sounded, 
in  the  clear  air  of  the  hills,  like  tones  of  silver, 
amid  the  loud  cries  of  Richard.  “ I have  always 
a kiss  for  my  old  friend,  Major  Hartmann.” 

By  this  time  the  gentleman  in  the  front  seat, 
who  had  been  addressed  as  Monsieur  Le  Quoi, 
had  arisen  with  some  difficulty,  owing  to  the  im- 
pediment of  his  overcoats,  and  steadying  himself 
by  placing  one  hand  on  the  stool  of  the  charioteer, 
with  the  other  he  removed  his  cap,  and  bowing 
politely  to  the  Judge,  and  profoundly  to  Elizabeth, 
he  paid  his  compliments. 

“ Cover  thy  poll,  Gaul,  cover  thy  poll,”  cried 
the  driver,  who  was  Mr.  Richard  Jones  ; “ cover 
thy  poll,  or  the  frost  will  pluck  out  the  remnant 
of  thy  locks.  Had  the  hairs  on  the  head  of  Ab- 
salom been  as  scarce  as  thine,  he  might  have 
been  living  to  this  day.”  The  jokes  of  Richard 
never  failed  of  exciting  risibility,  for  he  uniform- 
ly did  honor  to  his  own  wit ; and  he  enjoyed  a 
hearty  laugh  on  the  present  occasion,  while  Mr. 
Le  Quoi  resumed  his  seat  with  a polite  reciproca- 
tion in  his  mirth.  The  clergyman,  for  such  was 
the  office  of  Mr.  Grant,  modestly,  though  quite 
affectionately,  exchanged  his  greetings  with  the 
travellers  also,  when  Richard  prepared  to  turn 
the  heads  of  his  horses  homeward. 

It  was  in  the  quarry  alone  that  he  could  effect 
this  object,  without  ascending  to  the  summit  of 
the  mountain.  A very  considerable  excavation 
had  been  made  in  the  side  of  the  hill,  at  the  point 
where  Richard  had  succeeded  in  stopping  the 
sleighs,  from  which  the  stones  used  for  building 
in  the  village  were  ordinarily  quarried,  and  in 
which  he  now  attempted  to  turn  his  team.  Pass- 
ing itself  was  a task  of  difficulty,  and  frequently 
of  danger,  in  that  narrow  road  ; but  Richard  had 
to  meet  the  additional  risk  of  turning  his  four-in- 
hand.  The  black  civilly  volunteered  his  services 
to  take  off  the  leaders,  and  the  Judge  very  ear- 
nestly seconded  the  measure  with  his  advice. 
Richard  treated  both  proposals  with  great  dis- 
dain. 

“ Why,  and  wherefore,  cousin  ’duke  ? ” he  ex- 


claimed, a little  angrily  : “ the  horses  are  gentU 
as  lambs.  You  know  that  I broke  the  leaders 
myself,  ahd  the  pole-horses  are  too  near  my  whip 
to  be  restive.  Here  is  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  now,  who 
must  know  something  about  driving,  because  he 
has  rode  out  so  often  with  me  ; I will  leave  it  to 
Mr.  Le  Quoi  whether  there  is  any  danger.” 

It  was  not  in  the  nature  of  the  Frenchman  to 
disappoint  expectations  so  confidently  formed ; 
although  he  sat  looking  down  the  precipice  which 
fronted  him,  as  Richard  turned  his  leaders  into 
the  quarry,  with  a pair  of  eyes  that  stood  out  like 
those  of  lobsters.  The  German’s  muscles  were 
unmoved,  but  his  quick  sight  scanned  each  move- 
ment. Mr.  Grant  placed  his  hands  on  the  side  of 
the  sleigh,  in  preparation  for  a spring,  but  moral 
timidity  deterred  him  from  taking  the  leap  that 
bodily  apprehension  strongly  urged  him  to  at- 
tempt. 

Richard,  by  a sudden  application  of  the  whip, 
succeeded  in  forcing  the  leaders  into  the  snow- 
bank that  covered  the  quarry;  but  the  instant 
that  the  impatient  animals  suffered  by  the  crust, 
through  which  they  broke  at  each  step,  they  posi- 
tively refused  to  move  an  inch  farther  in  that  di- 
rection. On  the  contrary,  finding  that  the  cries 
and  blows  of  their  driver  were  redoubled  at  this 
juncture,  the  leaders  backed  upon  the  pole-horses, 
who,  in  their  turn,  baqked  the  sleigh.  Only  a single 
log  lay  above  the  pile  which  upheld  the  road,  on 
the  side  toward  the  valley,  and  this  was  now 
buried  in  the  snow.  The  sleigh  was  easily  forced 
across  so  slight  an  impediment ; and,  before  Rich- 
ard became  conscious  of  his  danger,  one  half  of 
the  vehicle  was  projected  over  a precipice,  which 
fell,  perpendicularly,  more  than  a hundred  feet. 
The  Frenchman,  who,  by  his  position,  had  a full 
view  of  their  threatened  flight,  instinctively  threw 
his  body  as  far  forward  as  possible,  and  cried, 
“ Ah  ! Mon  cher  monsieur  Deeck  ! mon  Dieu  ! que 
faites-vous ! ” 

“ Donner  and  blitzen,  Richart,”  exclaimed  the 
veteran  German,  looking  over  the  side  of  the 
sleigh  with  unusual  emotion,  “put  you  will  preak 
ter  sleigh  and  kilt  ter  horses.” 

“ Good  Mr.  Jones,”  said  the  clergyman,  “ be 
prudent,  good  sir — be  careful.” 

“ Get  up,  obstinate  devils  ! ” cried  Richard, 
catching  a bird’s-eye  view  of  his  situation,  and,  in 
his  eagerness  to  move  forward,  kicking  the  stool 
on  which  he  sat— “ get  up,  I say — cousin  ’duke, 
I shall  have  to  sell  the  grays  too ; they  are  the 
worst  broken  horses — Mr.  Le  Quaw  ! ” Richard 
was  too  much  agitated  to  regard  his  pronuncia- 
tion, of  which  he  was  commonly  a little  vain; 
“ Monsieur  Le  Quaw,  pray  get  off  my  leg1  • vov 


A LUDICROUS  ACCIDENT. 


23 


hold  my  leg  so  tight,  that  it’s  no  wonder  the  horses 

back.” 

“ Merciful  Providence  ! ” exclaimed  the  Judge, 
“ they  will  be  all  killed  ! ” 

Elizabeth  gave  a piercing  shriek,  and  the  black 
of  Agamemnon’s  face  changed  to  a muddy  white. 

At  this  critical  moment,  the  young  hunter, 
who,  during  the  salutations  of  the  parties,  had 
sat  in  rather  sullen  silence,  sprang  from  the  sleigh 
of  Marmaduke  to  the  heads  of  the  refractory 
leaders.  The  horses,  which  were  yet  suffering  un- 
der the  injudicious  and  somewhat  random  blows 
of  Richard,  were  dancing  up  and  down  with  that 
ominous  movement  that  threatens  a sudden  and 
uncontrollable  start,  still  pressing  backward.  The 
youth  gave  the  leaders  a powerful  jerk,  and  they 
plunged  aside,  and  reentered  the  road  in  the  posi- 
tion in  which  they  were  first  halted.  The  sleigh 
was  whirled  from  its  dangerous  position,  and  up- 
set with  the  runners  outward.  The  German  and 
the  divine  were  thrown,  rather  unceremoniously, 
into  the  highway,  but  without  danger  to  their 
bones.  Richard  appeared  in  the  air,  describing 
the  segment  of  a circle  of  which  the  reins  were 
the  radii,  and  landed  at  the  distance  of  some  fif- 
teen feet,  in  that  snow-bank  which  the  horses  had 
dreaded,  right  end  uppermost.  Here,  as  he  in- 
stinctively grasped  the  reins,  as  drowning  men 
seize  at  straws,  he  admirably  served  the  purpose 
of  an  anchor.  The  Frenchman,  who  was  on  his 
legs  in  the  act  of  springing  from  the  sleigh,  took 
an  aerial  flight  also,  much  in  the  attitude  which 
boys  assume  when  they  play  leap-frog,  and,  flying 
off  in  a tangent  to  the  curvature  of  his  course, 
came  into  the  snow-bank  head  foremost,  where 
he  remained,  exhibiting  two  lathy  legs  on  high, 
like  scarecrows  waving  in  a corn-field.  Major 
Hartmann,  whose  self-possession  had  been  admira- 
bly preserved  during  the  whole  evolution,  was 
the  first  of  the  party  that  gained  his  feet  and  his 
voice. 

- “ Ter  deyvel,  Richart ! ” he  exclaimed,  in  a 
voice  half  serious,  half  comical,  “ put  you  unloat 
your  sleigh  very  hantily.” 

It  may  be  doubtful  whether  the  attitude  in 
which  Mr.  Grant  continued  for  an  instant  after  his 
overthrow  was  the  one  into  which  he  had  been 
thrown,  or  was  assumed,  in  humbling  himself  be- 
fore the  Power  that  he  reverenced,  in  thanksgiv- 
ing at  his  escape.  When  he  rose  from  his  knees, 
he  began  to  gaze  about  him,  with  anxious  looks, 
after  the  welfare  of  his  companions,  while  every 
joint  in  his  body  trembled  with  nervous  agitation. 
There  was  some  confusion  in  the  faculties  of  Mr. 
Jones  also  ; but  as  the  mist  gradually  cleared  from 
before  his  eyes,  he  saw  that  all  was  safe,  and,  with 


an  air  of  great  self-satisfaction,  he  cried,  “ Well 
— that  was  neatly  saved,  any  how  ! — it  was  a lucky 
thought  in  me  to  hold  on  the  reins,  or  the  fiery 
devils  would  have  been  over  the  mountain  by  this 
time.  How  well  I recovered  myself,  ’duke! 
Another  moment  would  have  been  too  late ; but 
I knew  just  the  spot  where  to  touch  the  off-leader ; 
that  blow  under  his  right  flank,  and  the  sudden 
jerk  I gave  the  rein,  brought  them  round  quite 
in  rule,  I must  own  myself.”  * 

“ Thou  jerk ! thou  recover  thyself,  Dickon ! ” he 
said,  “but  for  that  brave  lad  yonder,  thou  and  thy 
horses,  or  rather  mine,  would  have  been  dashed 
to  pieces — but  where  is  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  ? ” 

“ Oh ! mon  cher  Juge ! mon  ami ! ” cried  a 
smothered  voice,  “ praise  be  God,  I live ; vill  you, 
Mister  Agamemnon,  be  pleas  come  down  ici,  and 
help  me  on  my  leg  ? ” 

The  divine  and  the  negro  seized  the  incarber- 
ated  Gaul  by  his  legs,  and  extricated  him  from  a 
snow-bank  of  three  feet  in  depth,  whence  his  voice 
had  sounded  as  from  the  tombs.  The  thoughts  of 
Mr.  Le  Quoi,  immediately  on  his  liberation,  were 
not  extremely  collected  ; and,  when  he  reached  the 
light,  he  threw  his  eyes  upward,  in  order  to  ex- 
amine the  distance  he  had  fallen.  His  good- 
humor  returned,  however,  with  a knowledge  of  his 
safety,  though  it  was  some  little  time  before  he 
clearly  comprehended  the  case. 

“What,  monsieur,”  said  Richard,  who  was 
busily  assisting  the  black  in  taking  off  the  leaders ; 
“ are  you  there  ? I thought  I saw  you  flying  tow- 
ard the  top  of  the  mountain  just  now.” 

“ Praise  be  God,  I no  fly  down  into  the  lake,” 
returned  the  Frenchman,  with  a visage  that  was 
divided  between  pain,  occasioned  by  a few  large 
scratches  that  he  had  received  in  forcing  his  head 
through  the  crust,  and  the  look  of  complaisance 
that  seemed  natural  to  his  pliable  features.  “ Ah  ! 
mon  cher  Mister  Deeck,  vat  you  do  next  ? — dere 
be  noting  you  no  try.” 

“ The  next  thing  I trust,  will  be  to  learn  to 
drive,”  said  the  Judge,  who  had  busied  himself  in 
throwing  the  buck,  together  with  several  other 
articles  of  baggage,  from  his  own  sleigh  into  the 
snow;  “here  are  seats  for  you  all,  gentlemen; 
the  evening  grows  piercingly  cold,  and  the  hour 
approaches  for  the  service  of  Mr.  Grant : we  will 
leave  friend  Jones  to  repair  the  damages,  with  the 
assistance  of  Agamemnon,  and  hasten  to  a warm 
fire.  Here,  Dickon,  are  a few  articles  of  Bess’s 
trumpery,  that  you  can  throw  into  your  sleigh 

* The  spectators,  from  immemorial  usage,  have  a right  to 
laugh  at  the  casualties  of  a sleigh-ride;  and  the  Judge  was 
no  sooner  certain  that  no  harm  was  done,  than  ho  made  fall 
use  of  the  privilege. 


24 


THE  PIONEERS. 


when  ready ; and  there  is  also  a deer  of  my  taking, 
that  I will  thank  you  to  bring.  Aggy ! remember 
that  there  will  be  a visit  from  Santaclaus  * to- 
night.” 

The  black  grinned,  conscious  of  the  bribe  that 
was  offered  him  for  silence  on  the  subject  of  the 
deer,  while  Richard,  without  in  the  least  waiting 
lor  the  termination  of  his  cousin's  speech,  began 
his  reply : 

“ Learn  to  drive,  sayest  thou,  cousin  ’duke  ? 
Is  there  a man  in  the  county  who  knows  more  of 
horse-flesh  than  myself?  Who  broke  in  the 
filly,  that  no  one  else  dare  mount ; though  your 
coachman  did  pretend  that  he  had  tamed  her  be- 
fore I took  her  in  hand  ; but  anybody  could  see 
that  he  lied — he  was  a great  liar,  that  John — 
what’s  that,  a buck  ? ” — Richard  abandoned  the 
horses,  and  ran  to  the  spot  where  Marmaduke 
had  thrown  the  deer : “ It  is  a buck ! I am 
amazed  ! Yes,  here  are  two  holes  in  him,  he  has 
fired  both  barrels,  and  hit  him  each  time.  Ecod  ! 
how  Marmaduke  will  brag ! he  is  a prodigious 
bragger  about  any  small  matter  like  this  now; 
well,  to  think  that  ’duke  has  killed  a buck  before 
Christmas ! There  will  be  no  such  thing  as 
living  with  him — they  are  both  bad  shots  though, 
mere  chance — mere  chance — now,  I never  fired 
twice  at  a cloven  foot  in  my  life — it  is  hit  or 
miss  with  me — dead  or  run  away — had  it  been  a 
bear,  or  a wild  cat,  a man  might  have  wanted 
both  barrels.  Here  ! you  Aggy  ! how  far  off  was 
the  Judge  when  this  buck  was  shot ! ” 

“Eh!  massa  Richard,  maybe  a ten  rod,” 
jried  the  black,  bending  under  one  of  the  horses, 
with  the  pretence  of  fastening  a buckle,  but  in 
reality  to  conceal  the  grin  that  opened  a mouth 
from  ear  to  ear. 

“Ten  rod  !”  echoed  the  other;  “why,  Aggy, 
the  deer  I killed  last  winter  was  at  twenty — yes ! 
if  any  thing  it  was  nearer  thirty  than  twenty.  I 
wouldn’t*  shoot  at  a deer  at  ten  rod : besides,  you 
may  remember,  Aggy,  I only  fired  once.” 

“ Yes,  massa  Richard,  I ’member  ’em  ! Natty 
Bumppo  fire  t’oder  gun.  You  know,  sir,  all  ’e 
folk  say  Natty  kill  him.” 

“ The  folks  lie,  you  black  devil ! ” exclaimed 
Richard  in  great  heat.  “ I have  not  shot  even  a 
gray  squirrel  these  four  years,  to  which  that 1 old 
rascal  has  not  laid  claim,  or  some  one  else  for 
him.  This  is  a damned  envious  world  that  we 
live  in — people  are  always  for  dividing  the  credit 

* Tho  periodical  visits  of  St.  Nicholas,  or  Santaclaus,  as 
he  is  termed,  were  never  forgotten  among  the  inhabitants  of 
New  York,  until  the  emigration  from  New  England  brought 
in  the  opinions  and  usages  of  the  puritans.  Like  the  “bon 
homme  de  Noel,*1  he  arrives  at  each  Christmas. 


of  a thing,  in  order  to  bring  down  merit  to  their 
own  level.  Now  they  have  a story  about  tho 
Patent,*  that  Hiram  Doolittle  helped  to  plan  the 
steeple  to  St.  Paul’s  ; when  Hiram  knows  that  it 
is  entirely  mine ; a little  taken  from  a print  of  its 
namesake  in  London,  I own  ; but  essentially,  as  to 
all  points  of  genius,  my  own.” 

“ I don’t  know  where  he  come  from,”  said  the 
black,  losing  every  mark  of  humor  in  an  expres- 
sion of  admiration,  “ but  eb’ry  body  say,  he  won- 
nerful  handsome.” 

“And  well  they  may  say  so,  Aggy,”  cried 
Richard,  leaving  the  buck  and  walking  up  to  the 
negro  with  the  air  of  a man  who  has  new  interest 
awakened  within  him.  “ I think  I may  say,  with- 
out bragging,  that  it  is  the  handsomest  and  the 
most  scientific  country  church  in  America.  I 
know  that  the  Connecticut  settlers  talk  about 
their  Westherfield  meeting-house ; but  I never  be- 
lieve more  than  half  what  they  say,  they  are 
such  unconscionable  braggers.  Just  as  you  have 
got  a thing  done,  if  they  see  it  likely  to  be  suc- 
cessful, they  are  always  for  interfering  ; and  then 
it’s  ten  to  one  but  they  lay  claim  to  half,  or  even 
all  of  the  credit.  You  may  remember,  Aggy, 
when  I painted  the  sign  of  the  bold  dragoon  for 
Captain  Hollister,  there  was  that  fellow,  who  was 
about  town  laying  brick-dust  on  the  houses, 
came  one  day  and  offered  to  mix  what  I call  the 
streaky  black,  for  the  tail  and  mane,  and  then, 
because  it  looks  like  horse-hair,  he  tells  every- 
body that  the  sign  was  painted  by  himself  and 
Squire  Jones.  If  Marmaduke  don’t  send  that 
fellow  off  the  Patent,  he  may  ornament  his  vil- 
lage with  his  own  hands  for  me.”  Here  Richard 
paused  a moment,  and  cleared  his  throat  by  a 
loud  hem,  while  the  negro,  who  was  all  this  time 
busily  engaged  in  preparing  the  sleigh,  proceeded 
with  his  work  in  respectful  silence.  Owing  to 
the  religious  scruples  of  the  Judge,  Aggy  was 
the  servant  of  Richard,  who  had  his  services  for 
a and  who,  of  course,  commanded  a legal 


* The  grants  of  land,  made  either  by  the  crown  or  the 
state,  were  by  letters  patent  under  the  great  seal,  and  the 
term  “ patent  ” is  usually  applied  to  any  district  of  extent, 
thus  conceded ; though  under  the  crown,  manorial  rights 
being  often  granted  with  the  soil,  in  the  older  counties, 
the  word  “ manor 11  is  frequently  used.  There  are  many 
“manors”  in  New  York,  though  all  political  and  judicial 
rights  have  ceased. 

tThe  manumission  of  the  slaves  In  New  York  has 
been  gradual.  When  public  opinion  became  strong  in 
their  favor,  then  grew  up  a custom  of  buying  the  services 
of  a slave,  for  six  or  eight  years,  with  a condition  te 
liberate  him  at  the  end  of  the  period.  Then  the  law 
provided  that  all  born  after  a certain  day  should  be  free, 
the  males  at  twenty-eight,  and  the  females  at  twenty-five. 
After  this  the  owner  was  obliged  to  cause  bis  servants  ta 


AGAMEMNON  AND  HIS  MASTER. 


25 


tialm  to  the  respect  of  the  young  negro.  But 
when  any  dispute  between  his  lawful  and  his  real 
master  occurred,  the  black  felt  too  much  defer- 
ence for  both  to  express  any  opinion.  In  the 
meanwhile,  Richard  continued  watching  the  negro 
as  he  fastened  buckle  after  buckle,  until,  steal- 
ing a look  of  consciousness  toward  the  other,  he 
continued,  “ Now,  if  that  young  man  who  was  in 
your  sleigh,  is  a real  Connecticut  settler,  he  will 
be  telling  everybody  how  he  saved  my  horses, 
when,  if  he  had  let  them  alone  for  half  a minute 
longer,  I would  have  brought  them  in  much  bet- 
ter, without  upsetting,  with  the  whip  and  rein — 
it  spoils  a horse  to  give  him  his  head.  I should 
not  wonder  if  I had  to  sell  the  whole  team,  just 
for  that  one  jerk  he  gave  them.”  Richard 
paused,  and  hemmed  ; for  his  conscience  smote 
him  a little,  for  censuring*  a man  who  had  just 
saved  his  life  : “ Who  is  the  lad,  Aggy — I don’t 

remember  to  have  seen  him  before  ? ” 

The  black  recollected  the  hint  about  Santa- 
claus ; and,  while  he  briefly  explained  how  they 
had  taken  up  the  person  in  question  on  the  top 
of  the  mountain,  he  forbore  to  add  any  thing 
concerning  the  accident  of  the  wound,  only  say- 
ing that  he  believed  the  youth  was  a stranger. 
It  was  so  usual  for  men  of  the  first  rank  to 
take  into  their  sleighs  any  one  they  found  toiling 
through  the  snow,  that  Richard  was  perfectly 
satisfied  with  this  explanation.  He  heard  Aggy 
with  great  attention,  and  then  remarked,  “ Well, 
if  the  lad  has  not  been  spoiled  by  the  people  in 
Templeton,  he  may  be  a modest  young  man,  and, 
as  he  certainly  meant  well,  I shall  take  some  no- 
tice of  him — perhaps  he  is  land-hunting — I say, 
Aggy,  maybe  he  is  out  hunting  ? ” 

“ Eh  ! yes,  massa  Richard,”  said  the  black,  a 
little  confused ; for,  as  Richard  did  all  the  flogging, 
he  stood  in  great  terror  of  his  master,  in  the 
main — “ Yes,  sir,  I b’lieve  he  be.” 

“ Had  he  a pack  and  an  axe  ? ” 

“ No,  sir,  only  he  rifle.” 

“ Rifle  ! ” exclaimed  Richard,  observing  the 
confusion  of  the  negro,  which  now  amounted  to 
terror.  “ By  Jove,  he  killed  the  deer ! I knew 
that  Marmaduke  couldn’t  kill  a buck  on  the  jump 
— how  was  it,  Aggy  ? tell  me  all  about  it,  and  I’ll 
roast  ’duke  quicker  than  he  can  roast  his  saddle 
— how  was  it,  Aggy  ? the  lad  shot  the  buck,  and 
the  Judge  bought  it,  ha ! and  he  is  taking  the 
youth  down  to  get  the  pay  ? ” 

he  taught  to  read  and  to  write  before  they  reached  the  age 
of  eighteen,  and,  finally,  the  few  that  remained  were  all 
unconditionally  liberated  in  1826,  or  after  the  publication 
of  this  tale.  It  was  quite  usual  for  men  more  or  less  con- 
nected with  the  Quakers,  who  never  held  slaves,  to  adopt 
.he  first  expedient. 


The  pleasure  of  this  discovery  had  put  Rich- 
ard  in  such  a good  humor,  that  the  negro’s  fears 
in  some  measure  vanished,  and  he  remembered 
the  stocking  of  Santaclaus.  After  a gulp  or  two, 
he  made  out  to  reply  : 

“ You  forgit  a two  shot,  sir  ? ” 

“ Don’t  lie,  you  black  rascal ! ” cried  Richard, 
stepping  on  the  snow-bank  to  measure  the  dis- 
tance from  his  lash  to  the  negro’s  back  ; “ speak 
truth,  or  I trounce  you.”  While  speaking,  the 
stock  was  slowly  rising  in  Richard’s  right  hand, 
and  the  lash  drawing  through  his  left,  in  the  sci- 
entific manner  with  which  drummers  apply  the 
cat ; and  Agamemnon,  after  turning  each  side  of 
himself  toward  his  master,  and  finding  both  equal- 
ly unwilling  to  remain  there,  fairly  gave  in.  In  a 
very  few  words  he  made  his  master  acquainted 
with  the  truth,  at  the  same  time  earnestly  conjur- 
ing Richard  to  protect  him  from  the  displeasure 
of  the  Judge. 

“ I’ll  do  it,  boy,  I’ll  do  it,”  cried  the  other, 
rubbing  his  hands  with  delight ; “ say  nothing, 
but  leave  me  to  manage  ’duke.  I have  a great 
mind  to  leave  the  deer  on  the  hill,  and  to  make 
the  fellow  send  for  his  own  carcass : but  no,  I 
will  let  Marmaduke  tell  a few  bounces  about  it 
before  I come  out  upon  him.  Come,  hurry  in, 
Aggy,  I must  help  to  dress  the  lad’s  wound  : this 
Yankee  * doctor  knows  nothing  of  surgery — I 
had  to  hold  old  Milligan’s  leg  for  him,  while  he 
cut  it  off.” — Richard  was  now  seated  on  the  stool 
again,  and,  the  black  taking  the  hind  seat,  the 
steeds  were  put  in  motion  toward  home.  As  they 
dashed  down  the  hill,  on  a fast  trot,  the  driver 
occasionally  turned  his  face  to  Aggy,  and  contin- 
ued speaking ; for,  notwithstanding  their  recent 
rupture,  the  most  perfect  cordiality  was  again  ex- 
isting between  them.  “ This  goes  to  prove  that 
I turned  the  horses  with  the.  reins,  for  no  man 
who  is  shot  in  the  right  shoulder  can  have  strength 
enough  to  bring  round  such  obstinate  devils.  I 
knew  I did  it  from  the  first ; but  I did  not  want 
to  multiply  words  with  Marmaduke  about  it. — 
Will  you  bite,  you  villain  ? — hip,  boys,  hip  ! Old 
Natty  too,  that  is  the  best  of  it ! — Well,  well — 
’duke  will  say  no  more  about  my  deer — and  the 
Judge  fired  both  barrels,  and  hit  nothing  but  a 
poor  lad,  who  was  behind  a pine-tree.  I must 

* In  America  the  term  Yankee  is  of  local  meaning.  It 
is  thought  to  be  derived  from  the  manner  in  which  the  In- 
dians of  Hew  England  pronounced  the  word  “English,”  or 
“Yengeese.”  New  York  being  originally  a Dutch  prov- 
ince, the  term  of  course  was  not  known  there,  and  farther 
south  different  dialects  among  the  natives  themselves 
probably  produced  a different  pronunciation.  Marmaduke 
and  his  cousin,  being  Pennsylvanians  by  birth,  were  not 
Yankees  in  the  American  sense  of  the  word. 


26 


THE  PIONEERS. 


help  that  quack  to  ta^e  out  the  buck-shot  for  the 
poor  fellow.”  In  this  manner  Richard  descended 
the  mountain  ; the  bells  ringing,  and  his  tongue 
going,  until  they  entered  the  village,  when  the 
whole  attention  of  the  driver  was  devoted  to  a 
display  of  his  horsemanship,  to  the  admiration 
of  all  the  gaping  women  and  children  who  thronged 
the  windows  to  witness  the  arrival  of  their  land- 
lord and  his  daughter. 


CHAPTER  V. 

“ Nathaniel’s  coat,  sir,  was  not  fully  made, 

And  Gabriel’s  pumps  were  all  unpink’d  i’  tk’  heel ; 

There  was  no  link  to  color  Peter’s  hat, 

And  "Walter’s  dagger  was  not  come  from  sheathing ; 
There  were  none  fine,  hut  Adam,  Ralph,  and  Gregory.” 

SHAKESPEARE. 

After  winding  along  the  side  of  the  moun- 
tain, the  road,  on  reaching  the  gentle  declivity 
which  lay  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  turned  at  a 
right  angle  to  its  former  course,  and  shot  down 
an  inclined  plane,  directly  into  the  village  of 
Templeton.  The  rapid  little  stream  that  we  have 
already  mentioned,  was  crossed  by  a bridge  of 
hewn  timber,  which  manifested,  by  its  rude  con- 
struction, and  the  unnecessary  size  of  its  frame- 
work, both  the  value  of  labor  and  the  abundance 
of  materials.  This  little  torrent,  whose  dark  waters 
gushed  over  the  limestones  that  lined  its  bottom, 
was  nothing  less  than  one  of  the  many  sources  of 
the  Susquehanna ; a river  to  which  the  Atlantic 
herself  has  extended  an  arm  in  welcome.  It  was 
at  this  point  that  the  powerful  team  of  Mr.  Jones 
brought  him  up  to  the  more  sober  steeds  of  our 
travellers.  A small  hill  was  risen,  and  Elizabeth 
found  herself  at  once  amidst  the  incongruous 
dwellings  of  the  village:  The  street  was  of  the 
ordinary  width,  notwithstanding  the  eye  might 
embrace,  in  one  view,  thousands  and  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  acres,  that  were  yet  tenanted  only  by  the 
beasts  of  the  forest.  But  such  had  been  the  will 
of  her  father,  and  such  had  also  met  the  wishes 
of  his  followers.  To  them  the  road  that  made  the 
most  rapid  approaches  to  the  condition  of  the  old, 
or,  as  they  expressed  it,  the  dcnon  countries,  was 
the  most  pleasant ; and  surely  nothing  could 
look  more  like  civilization  than  a city,  even  if  it 
lay  in  a wilderness ! The  width  of  the  street,  for 
so  it  was  called,  might  have  been  one  hundred 
feet ; but  the  track  for  the  sleighs  was  much 
more  limited.  On  either  side  of  the  highway 
were  piled  huge  heaps  of  logs,  that  were  daily  in- 
creasing rather  than  diminishing  in  size,  notwith- 


standing the  enormous  fires  that  might  be  seen 
through  every  window. 

The  last  object  at  which  Elizabeth  gazed 
when  they  renewed  their  journey,  after  the  ren- 
contre with  Richard,  was  the  sun,  as  it  expanded 
in  the  refraction  of  the  horizon,  and  over  whose 
disk  the  dark  umbrage  of  a pine  was  stealing, 
while  it  slowly  sank  behind  the  western  hills. 
But  his  setting  rays  darted  along  the  openings 
of  the  mountain  she  was  on,  and  lighted  the 
shining  covering  of  the  birches,  until  their  smooth 
and  glossy  coats  nearly  rivalled  the  mountain- 
sides in  color.  The  outline  of  each  dark  pine 
was  delineated  far  in  the  depths  of  the  forest ; 
and  the  rocks,  too  smooth  and  too  perpendicular 
to  retain  the  snow  that  had  fallen,  brightened,  as 
if  smiling  at  the  leave-taking  of  the  luminary. 
But  at  each  step,  as  they  descended,  Elizabeth 
observed  that  they  were  leaving  the  day  behind 
them.  Even  the  heartless  but  bright  rays  of  a 
December  sun  were  missed,  as  they  glided  into 
the  cold  gloom  of  the  valley.  Along  the  summits 
of  the  mountains  in  the  eastern  range,  it  is  true, 
the  light  still  lingered,  receding  step  by  step  from 
the  earth  into  the  clouds  that  were  gathering, 
with  the  evening  mist,  about  the  limited  horizon  ; 
but  the  frozen  lake  lay  without  a shadow  on  its 
bosom;  the  dwellings  were  becoming  already 
gloomy  and  indistinct ; and  the  wood  - cutters 
were  shouldering  their  axes,  and  preparing  to 
enjoy,  throughout  the  long  evening  before  them, 
the  comforts  of  those  exhilarating  fires  that  their 
labor  had  been  supplying  with  fuel.  They  paused 
only  to  gaze  at  the  passing  sleighs,  to  lift  their 
caps  to  Marmaduke,  to  exchange  familiar  nods 
with  Richard,  and  each  disappeared  in  his  dwell- 
ing. The  paper  curtains  dropped  behind  our 
travellers  in  every  window,  shutting  from  the  air 
even  the  fire-light  of  the  cheerful  apartments ; 
and  when  the  horses  of  her  father  turned,  with  a 
rapid  whirl,  into  the  open  gate  of  the  mansion- 
house,  and  nothing  stood  before  her  but  the  cold 
dreary  stone  walls  of  the  building,  as  she  ap- 
proached them  through  an  avenue  of  young  and 
leafless  poplars,  Elizabeth  felt  as  if  all  the  loveli- 
ness of  the  mountain-view  had  vanished  like  the 
fancies  of  a dream.  Marmaduke  retained  so  much 
of  his  early  habits  as  to  reject  the  use  of  bells  ; 
but  the  equipage  of  Mr.  Jones  came  dashing  through 
the  gate  after  them,  sending  its  jingling  sounds 
through  every  cranny  of  the  building,  and  in  a 
moment  the  dwelling  was  in  an  uproar. 

On  a stone  platform,  of  rather  small  propor- 
tions, considering  the  size  of  the  building,  Rich- 
ard and  Hiram  had,  conjointly,  reared  four  little 
columns  of  wood,  which  in  their  turn  supported 


BENJAMIN  PENGUILLAN,  OR  TOM  PUMP. 


27 


the  shingled  roofs  of  the  portico — this  was  the 
name  that  Mr.  Jones  had  thought  proper  to  give 
to  a very  plain,  covered  entrance.  The  ascent  to 
the  platform  was  by  five  or  six  stone  steps,  some- 
what hastily  laid  together,  and  which  the  frost 
had  already  begun  to  move  from  their  symmetri- 
cal positions.  But  the  evils  of  a cold  climate, 
and  a superficial  construction,  did  not  end  here. 
As  the  steps  lowered,  the  platform  necessarily  fell 
also,  and  the  foundations  actually  left  the  super- 
structure suspended  in  the  air,  leaving  an  open 
space  of  a foot  between  the  base  of  the  pillars 
and  the  stones  on  which  they  had  originally  been 
placed.  It  was  lucky  for  the  whole  fabric  that 
the  carpenter,  who  did  the  manual  part  of  the 
labor,  had  fastened  the  canopy  of  this  classic 
entrance  so  firmly  to  the  side  of  the  house,  that, 
when  the  base  deserted  the  superstructure  in  the 
manner  we  have  described,  and  the  pillars,  for 
the  want  of  a foundation,  were  no  longer  of  ser- 
vice to  support  the  roof,  the  roof  was  able  to 
uphold  the  pillars.  Here  was,  indeed,  an  unfor- 
tunate gap  left  in  the  ornamental  part  of  Rich- 
ard's column ; but,  like  the  window  in  Aladdin’s 
palace,  it  seemed  only  left  in  order  to  prove  the 
fertility  of  its  master’s  resources.  The  composite 
order  again  offered  its  advantages,  and  a second 
edition  of  the  base  was  given,  as  the  booksellers 
nay,  with  additions  and  improvements.  It  was 
necessarily  larger,  and  it  was  properly  ornamented 
with  mouldings  : still  the  steps  continued  to  yield, 
and,  at  the  moment  when  Elizabeth  returned  to 
her  father’s  door,  a few  rough  wedges  were  driv- 
en under  the  pillars  to  keep  them  steady,  and 
to  prevent  their  weight  from  separating  them 
from  the  pediment  which  they  ought  to  have  sup- 
ported. 

From  the  great  door  which  opened  into  the 
porch  emerged  two  or  three  female  domestics, 
and  one  male.  The  latter  was  bareheaded,  but 
evidently  more  dressed  than  usual,  and  on  the 
whole  was  of  so  singular  a formation  and  attire, 
as  to  deserve  a more  minute  description.  He 
was  about  five  feet  in  height,  of  a square  and 
athletic  frame,  with  a pair  of  shoulders  that 
would  have  fitted  a grenadier.  His  low  stature 
was  rendered  the  more  striking  by  a bend  forward 
that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  assuming,  for  no  ap- 
parent reason,  unless  it  might  be  to  give  greater 
freedom  to  his  arms,  in  a particularly  sweeping 
swing,  that  they  constantly  practised  when  their 
master  was  in  motion.  His  face  was  long,  of  a 
fair  complexion,  burnt  to  a fiery  red;  with  a 
snub  nose,  cocked  into  an  inveterate  pug;  a 
mouth  of  enormous  dimensions,  filled  with  fine 
teeth ; and  a pair  of  blue  eyes,  that  seemed  to 


look  about  them,  on  surrounding  objects,  with 
habitual  contempt.  His  head  composed  full  one 
fourth  of  his  whole  length,  and  the  cue  that 
depended  from  its  rear  occupied  another.  He 
wore  a coat  of  very  light  drab  cloth,  with  buttons 
as  large  as  dollars,  bearing  the  impression  of  a 
“ foul  anchor.”  The  skirts  were  extremely  long, 
reaching  quite  to  the  calf,  and  were  broad  in 
proportion.  Beneath,  there  were  a vest  and 
breeches  of  red  plush,  somewhat  worn  and  soiled. 
He  had  shoes  with  large  buckles,  and  stockings 
of  blue  and  white  stripes. 

This  odd-looking  figure  reported  himself  to  be 
a native  of  the  county  of  Cornwall,  in  the  island 
of  Great  Britain.  His  boyhood  had  passed  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  tin  mines,  and  his  youth  as 
the  cabin-boy  of  a smuggler,  between  Falmouth 
and  Guernsey.  From  this  trade  he  had  been  im- 
pressed into  the  service  of  his  king,  and,  for  the 
want  of  a better,  had  been  taken  into  the  cabin, 
first  as  a servant,  and  finally  as  steward  to  the 
captain.  Here  he  acquired  the  art  of  making 
chowder,  lobscouse,  and  one  or  two  other  sea- 
dishes,  and,  as  he  was  fond  of  saying,  had  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  the  world.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  one  or  two  outports  in  France,  and  an 
occasional  visit  to  Portsmouth,  Plymouth,  and 
Deal,  he  had  in  reality  seen  no  more  of  mankind, 
however,  than  if  he  had  been  riding  a donkey  in 
one  of  his  native  mines.  But,  being  discharged 
from  the  navy  at  the  peace  of  ’83,  he  declared 
that,  as  he  had  seen  all  the  civilized  parts  of  the 
earth,  he  was  inclined  to  make  a trip  to  the  wilds  of 
America.  We  will  not  trace  him  in  his  brief 
wanderings,  under  the  influence  of  that  spirit  of 
emigration  that  sometimes  induces  a dapper  Cock- 
ney to  quit  his  home,  and  lands  him,  before  the 
sound  of  Bow-bells  is  out  of  his  ears,  within  the 
roar  of  the  cataract  of  Niagara ; but  shall  only 
add,  that,  at  a very  early  day,  even  before  Eliza- 
beth had  been  sent  to  school,  he  had  found  his 
way  into  the  family  of  Marmaduke  Temple,  where, 
owing  to  a combination  of  qualities  that  will  be 
developed  in  the  course  of  tha  tale,  he  held,  under 
Mr.  Jones,  the  office  of  major-domo.  The  name 
of  this  worthy  was  Benjamin  ^enguillan,  accord- 
ing to  his  own  pronunciation,  but,  owing  to  a 
marvellous  tale  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  relat- 
ing, concerning  the  length  of  time  he  had  to  labor 
to  keep  his  ship  from  sinking  after  Rodney’s  vic- 
tory, he  had  universally  acquired  the  nickname 
of  Ben  Pump. 

By  the  side  of  Benjamin,  and  pressing  for- 
ward as  if  a little  jealous  of  her  station,  stood  a 
middle-aged  woman,  dressed  in  calico,  rather  vio- 
lently contrasted  in  color  with  a tall,  meagre, 


28 


THE  PIONEERS. 


shapeless  figure,  sharp  features,  and  a somewhat 
acute  expression  of  her  physiognomy.  Her  teeth 
were  mostly  gone,  and  what  did  remain  were  of 
a light  yellow.  The  skin  of  her  nose  was  drawn 
tightly  over  the  member,  to  hang  in  large  wrinkles 
in  her  cheeks  and  about  her  mouth.  She  took 
snuff  in  such  quantities,  as  to  create  the  impres- 
sion that  she  owed  the  saffron  of  her  lips  and  the 
adjacent  parts  to  this  circumstance ; but  it  was 
the  unvarying  color  of  her  whole  face.  She  pre- 
sided over  the  female  part  of  the  domestic  ar- 
rangements, in  the  capacity  of  housekeeper ; was 
a spinster,  and  bore  the ' name  of  Remarkable 
Pettibone.  To  Elizabeth  she  was  an  entire  stran- 
ger, having  been  introduced  into  the  family  since 
the  death  of  her  mother. 

In  addition  to  these,  were  three  or  four  sub- 
ordinate menials,  mostly  black,  some  appearing  at 
the  principal  door,  and  some  running  from  the  end 
of  the  building,  where  stood  the  entrance  to  the 
cellar-kitchen. 

Besides  these,  there  was  a general  rush  from 
Richard’s  kennel,  accompanied  with  every  canine 
tone,  from  the  howl  of  the  wolf-dog  to  the  petulant 
bark  of  the  terrier.  The  master  received  their 
boisterous  salutations  with  a variety  of  imita- 
tions from  his  own  throat,  when  the  dogs,  proba- 
bly from  shame  of  being  outdone,  ceased  their 
outcry.  One  stately,  powerful  mastiff,  whp  wore 
found  his  neck  a brass  collar,  with  “ M.  T.”  en- 
graved in  large  letters  on  the  rim,  alone  was  si- 
lent. He  walked  majestically,  amid  the  confusion, 
to  the  side  of  the  Judge,  where,  receiving  a kind 
pat  or  two,  he  turned  to  Elizabeth,  who  even 
stooped  to  kiss  him,  as  she  called  him  kindly  by 
the  name  of  “ Old  Brave.”  The  animal  seemed 
to  know  her,  as  she  ascended  the  steps,  supported 
by  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  and  her  father,  in  order  to 
protect  her  from  falling  on  the  ice  with  which  they 
were  covered.  He  looked  wistfully  after  her  fig- 
ure, and  when  the  door  closed  on  the  whole  party, 
he  laid  himself  in  a kennel  that  was  placed  nigh 
by,  as  if  conscious  that  the  house  contained  some- 
thing of  additional  value  to  guard. 

Elizabeth  followed  her  father,  who  paused  a 
moment  to  whisper  a message  to  one  of  his  do- 
mestics, into  a large  hall,  that  was  dimly  lighted 
by  two  candles,  placed  in  high,  old-fashioned, 
brass  candlesticks.  The  door  closed,  and  the 
party  were  at  once  removed  from  an  atmosphere 
that  was  nearly  at  zero,  to  one  of  sixty  degrees 
above.  In  the  centre  of  the  hall  stood  an  enor- 
mous stove,  the  sides  of  which  appeared  to  be 
quivering  with  heat ; from  which  a large,  straight 
pipe,  leading  through  the  ceiling  above,  carried 
off  the  smoke.  An  iron  basin,  containing  water, 


was  placed  on  this  furnace,  for  such  only  it  could 
be  called,  in  order  to  preserve  a proper  humidit; 
in  the  apartment.  The  room  was  carpeted,  and 
furnished  with  convenient,  substantial  furniture, 
some  of  which  was  brought  from  the  city,  and  the 
remainder  having  been  manufactured  by  the  me- 
chanics of  Templeton.  There  was  a sideboard  of 
mahogany,  inlaid  with  ivory,  and  bearing  enor- 
mous handles  of  glittering  brass,  and  groaning 
under  the  piles  of  silver  plate.  Near  it  stood  a 
set  of  prodigious  tables,  made  of  the  wild  cherry, 
to  imitate  the  imported  wood  of  the  sideboard,  but 
plain,  and  without  ornament  of  any  kind.  Oppo- 
site to  these  stood  a smaller  table,  formed  from  a 
lighter-colored  wood,  through  the  grains  of  which 
the  wavy  lines  of  the  curled  maple  of  the  moun- 
tains were  beautifully  undulating.  Near  to  this, 
in  a comer,  stood  a heavy,  old-fashioned,  brass, 
faced  clock,  encased  in  a high  box,  of  the  dark 
hue  of  the  black  walnut  from  the  sea-shore.  An 
enormous  settee,  or  sofa,  covered  with  light  chintz, 
stretched  along  the  walls  for  near  twenty  feet  on 
one  side  of  the  hall ; and  chairs  of  wood,  painted 
a light  yellow,  with  black  lines  that  were  drawn 
by  no  very  steady  hand,  were  ranged  opposite, 
and  in  the  intervals  between  the  other  pieces  of 
furniture.  A Fahrenheit’s  thermometer,  in  a ma- 
hogany case,  and  with  a barometer  annexed,  was 
hung  against  the  wall,  at  some  little  distance  from 
the  stove,  which  Benjamin  consulted,  every  half 
hour,  with  prodigious  exactitude.  Two  small  glass 
chandeliers  were  suspended  at  equal  distances  be- 
tween the  stove  and  the  outer  doors,  one  of  which 
opened  at  each  end  of  the  hall,  and  gilt  lustres 
were  affixed  to  the  framework  of  the  numerous 
side-doors  that  led  from  the  apartment.  Some 
little  display  in  architecture  had  been  made  in 
constructing  these  frames  and  casings,  which  were 
surmounted  with  pediments,  that  bore  each  a little 
pedestal  in  its  centre ; on  these  pedestals  were 
small  busts  in  blacked  plaster  of  Paris.  The  style 
of  the  pedestals,  as  well  as  the  selection  of  the 
busts,  were  all  due  to  the  taste  of  Mr.  Jones.  On 
one  stood  Homer,  a most  striking  likeness,  Rich- 
ard affirmed,  “ as  any  one  might  see,  for  it  was 
blind.”  Another  bore  the  image  of  a smooth-vis- 
aged  gentleman  with  a pointed  beard,  whom  he 
called  Shakespeare.  A third  ornament  was  an  urn, 
which  from  its  shape,  Richard  was  accustomed  to 
say,  intended  to  represent  itself  as  holding  the 
ashes  of  Dido.  A fourth  was  certainly  old  Frank- 
lin, in  his  cap  and  spectacles.  A fifth  as  surely 
bore  the  dignified  composure  of  the  face  of  Wash- 
ington. A sixth  was  a nondescript,  representing 
“ a man  with  a shirt-collar  open,”  to  use  the  lan. 
guage  of  Richard,  “ with  a laurel  on  his  head — 


THE  HEIRESS  AT  HOME. 


rt  was  Julius  Caesar  or  Or.  Faustus ; there  were 
good  reasons  for  believing  either.” 

The  walls  were  hung  with  a dark,  lead-colored 
English  paper  that  represented  Britannia  weeping 
over  the  tomb  of  Wolfe.  The  hero  himself  stood 
at  a little  distance  from  the  mourning  goddess, 
and  at  the  edge  of  the  paper.  Each  width  con- 
tained the  figure,  with  the  slight  exception  of  one 
arm  of  the  general,  which  ran  over  on  the  next 
piece,  so  that  when  Richard  essayed,  with  his 
own  hands,  to  put  together  this  delicate  outline, 
some  difficulties  occurred  that  prevented  a nice 
conjunction  ; and  Britannia  had  reason  to  lament, 
in  addition  to  the  loss  of  her  favorite’s  life,  num- 
berless cruel  amputations  of  his  right  arm. 

The  luckless  cause  of  these  unnatural  divisions 
now  announced  his  presence  in  the  hall  by  a loud 
crack  of  his  whip. 

“ Why,  Benjamin ! you  Ben  Pump ! is  this 
the  manner  in  which  you  receive  the  heiress  ? ” he 
cried. — “Excuse  him,  cousin  Elizabeth.  The  ar- 
rangements were  too  intricate  to  be  trusted  to 
every  one ; but  now  I am  here,  things  will  go  on 
better. — Come,  fight  up,  Mr.  Penguillan,  fight  up, 
light  up,  and  let  us  see  one  another’s  faces. 
Well,  ’duke,  I have  brought  home  your  deer ; 
what  is  to  be  done  with  it,  ha  ? ” 

“ By  the  Lord,  squire,”  commenced  Benjamin, 
in  reply,  first  giving  his  mouth  a wipe  with  the 
back  of  his  hand,  “ if  this  here  thing  had  been 
ordered  sum’at  earlier  in  the  day,  it  might  have 
been  got  up,  d’ye  see,  to  your  liking.  I had 
mustered  all  hands,  and  was  exercising  candles, 
when  you  hove  in  sight ; but  when  the  women 
heard  your  bells  they  started  an  end,  as  if  they 
were  riding  the  boatswain’s  colt ; and,  if-so-be 
there  is  that  man  in  the  house,  who  can  bring  up 
a parcel  of  women  when  they  have  got  headway 
on  them,  until  they’ve  run  out  the  end  of  their 
rope,  his  name  is  not  Benjamin  fump.  But  Miss 
Betsey  here  must  have  altered  more  than  a priva- 
teer in  disguise,  since  she  has  got  on  her  woman’s 
duds,  if  she  will  take  offence  with  an  old  fellow 
for  the  small  matter  of  fighting  a few  candles.” 

Elizabeth  and  her  father  continued  silent,  for 
both  experienced  the  same  sensation  on  entering 
the  hall.  The  former  had  resided  one  year  in  the 
building  before  she  left  home  for  school,  and  the 
figure  of  its  lamented  mistress  was  missed  by 
both  husband  and  child. 

But  candles  had  been  placed  in  the  chande- 
liers and  lustres,  and  the  attendants  were  so 
far  recovered  from  surprise  as  to  recollect  their 
use ; the  oversight  was  immediately  remedied, 
and  in  a minute  the  apartment  was  in  a blaze  of 
light. 


29 

The  slight  melancholy  of  our  heroine  and 
her  father  was  banished  by  this  brilliant  inter- 
ruption ; and  the  whole  party  began  to  lay  aside 
the  numberless  garments  they  had  worn  in  the 
air. 

During  this  operation,  Richard  kept  up  a des- 
ultory dialogue  with  the  different  domestics,  oc- 
casionally throwing  out  a remark  to  the  Judge 
concerning  the  deer  ; but  as  his  conversation  at 
such  moments  was  much  like  an  accompaniment 
on  a piano,  a thing  that  is  heard  without  being 
attended  to,  we  will  not  undertake  the  task  of  re- 
cording his  diffuse  discourse. 

The  instant  that  Remarkable  Pettibone  had 
executed  her  portion  of  the  labor  in  illuminating, 
she  returned  to  a position  near  Elizabeth,  with 
the  apparent  motive  of  receiving  the  clothes  that 
the  other  threw  aside,  but  in  reality  to  examine, 
with  an  air  of  curiosity — not  unmixed  with  jeal- 
ousy— the  appearance  of  the  lady  who  was  to 
supplant  her  in  the  administration  of  their  do- 
mestic economy.  The  housekeeper  felt  a little 
appalled,  when,  after  cloaks,  coats,  shawls,  and 
socks,  had  been  taken  off  in  succession,  the  large 
black  hood  was  removed,  and  the  dark  ringlets, 
shining  like  the  raven’s  wing,  fell  from  her  head, 
and  left  the  sweet  but  commanding  features  of 
the  young  lady  exposed  to  view.  Nothing  could 
be  fairer  and  more  spotless  than  the  forehead  of 
Elizabeth,  and  preserve  the  appearance  of  fife 
and  health.  Her  nose  would  have  been  called 
Grecian,  but  for  a softly-rounded  swell,  that  gave 
in  character  to  the  feature  what  it  lost  in  beauty. 
Her  mouth,  at  first  sight,  seemed  only  made  for 
love ; but,  the  instant  that  its  muscles  moved, 
every  expression  that  womanly  dignity  could  ut- 
ter, played  around  it  with  the  flexibility  of  female 
grace.  It  spoke  not  only  to  the  ear,  but  to  the 
eye.  Sp  much,  added  to  a form  of  exquisite  pro- 
portions, rather  full  and  rounded  for  her  years, 
and  of  the  tallest  medium  height,  she  inherited 
from  her  mother.  Even  the  color  of  her  eye,  the 
arched  brows,  and  the  long  silken  lashes,  came 
from  the  same  source;  but  its  expression  was 
her  father’s.  Inert  and  composed,  it  was  soft, 
benevolent,  and  attractive ; but  it  could  be 
roused,  and  that  without  much  difficulty.  At 
such  moments  it  was  still  beautiful,  though  it  was 
a little  severe.  As  the  last  shawl  fell  aside,  anc 
she  stood  dressed  in  a rich  blue  riding-habit,  that 
fitted  her  form  with  the  nicest  exactness ; her 
cheeks  burning  with  roses,  that  bloomed  the  rich- 
er for  the  heat  of  the  hall,  and  her  eyes  slightly 
suffused  with  moisture  that  rendered  their  ordi- 
nary beauty  more  dazzling,  and  with  every  feat- 
ure of  her  speaking  countenance  illuminated  by 


30 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  lights  that  flared  around  her,  Remarkable  felt 
that  her  own  power  had  ended. 

The  business  of  unrobing  had  been  simulta- 
neous. Marmaduke  appeared  in  a suit  of  plain, 
neat  black  ; Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  in  a coat  of  snuff 
color,  covering  a vest  of  embroidery,  with 
breeches,  and  silk  stockings,  and  buckles — that 
were  commonly  thought  to  be  of  paste.  Major 
Hartmann  wore  a coat  of  sky-blue,  with  large 
brass  buttons,  a club-wig,  and  boots ; and  Mr. 
Richard  Jones  had  set  off  his  dapper  little  form 
in  a frock  of  bottle-green,  with  bullet-buttons,  by 
one  of  which  the  sides  were  united  over  his  well- 
rounded  waist,  opening  above,  so  as  to  show  a 
jacket  of  red  cloth,  with  an  under-vest  of  flannel, 
faced  with  green  velvet,  and  below,  so  as  to  ex- 
hibit a pair  of  buckskin  breeches,  with  long, 
soiled,  white  top-boots,  and-  spurs ; one  of  the 
latter  a little  bent,  from  its  recent  attacks  on  the 
stool. 

When  the  young  lady  had  extricated  herself 
from  her  garments,  she  was  at  liberty  to  gaze 
about  her,  and  to  examine  not  only  the  house- 
hold over  which  she  was  to  preside,  but  also  the 
air  and  manner  in  which  their  domestic  arrange- 
ments were  conducted.  .Although  there  was 
much  incongruity  in  the  furniture  and  appearance 
of  the  hall,  there  was  nothing  mean.  The  floor  was 
carpeted,  even  in  its  remotest  corners.  The  brass 
candlesticks,  the  gilt  lustres,  and  the  glass  chan- 
deliers, whatever  might  be  their  keeping  as  to  pro- 
priety and  taste,  were  admirably  kept  as  to  all 
the  purposes  of  use  and  comfort.  They  were 
clean  and  glittering  in  the  strong  light  of  the 
apartment.  Compared  with  the  chill  aspect  of 
the  December  night  without,  the  warmth  and 
brilliancy  of  the  apartment  produced  an  effect 
that  was  not  unlike  enchantment.  Her  eye  had 
not  time  to  detect,  in  detail,  the  little  errors, 
which,  in  truth,  existed,  but  was  glancing  around 
her  in  delight,  when  an  object  arrested  her  view, 
that  was  in  strong  contrast  to  the  smiling  faces 
and  neatly-attired  personages  who  had  thus  as- 
sembled to  do  honor  to  the  heiress  of  Templeton. 

In  a corner  of  the  hall  near  the  grand  en- 
trance, stood  the  young  hunter,  unnoticed,  and 
for  the  moment  apparently  forgotten.  But  even 
the  forgetfulness  of  the  Judge,  which,  under  the 
influence  of  strong  emotion,  had  banished  the  rec- 
ollection of  the  wound  of  this  stranger,  seemed 
surpassed  fry  the  absence  of  mind  in  the  youth 
himself.  On  entering  the  apartment,  he  had  me- 
chanically lifted  his  cap,  and  exposed  a head  cov- 
ered with  hair  that  rivalled,  in  color  and  gloss, 
the  locks  of  Elizabeth.  Nothing  could  have 
wrought  a greater  transformation  than  the  single 


act  of  removing  the  rough  foxskin  cap.  If  there 
was  much  that  was  prepossessing  in  the  counte- 
nance of  the  young  hunter,  there  was  something 
even  noble  in  the  rounded  outlines  of  his  head 
and  brow.  The  very  air  and  manner  with  which 
the  member  haughtily  maintained  itself  over  the 
coarse  and  even  wild  attire  in  which  the  rest  of 
his  frame  was  clad,  bespoke  not  only  familiarity 
with  a splendor  that  in  those  new  settlements 
was  thought  to  be  unequalled,  but  something 
very  like  contempt  also. 

The  hand  that  held  the  cap  rested  lightly  on 
the  little  ivory-mounted  piano  of  Elizabeth,  with 
neither  rustic  restraint  nor  obtrusive  vulgarity. 
A single  finger  touched  the  instrument,  as  if  ac- 
customed to  dwell  on  such  places.  His  other 
arm  was  extended  to  its  utmost  length,  and  the 
hand  grasped  the  barrel  of  his  long  rifle  with 
something  like  convulsive  energy.  The  act  and 
the  attitude  were  both  involuntary,  and  evidently 
proceeded  from  a feeling  much  deeper  than  that 
of  vulgar  surprise.  His  appearance,  connected 
as  it  was  with  the  rough  exterior  of  his  dress, 
rendered  him  entirely  distinct  from  the  busy 
group  that  were  moving  across  the  other  end  of> 
the  long  hall,  occupied  in  receiving  the  travellers 
and  exchanging  their  welcomes ; and  Elizabeth 
continued  to  gaze  at  him  in  wonder.  The  con- 
traction of  the  stranger’s  brows  increased  as  his 
eyes  moved  slowly  from  one  object  to  another. 
For  moments  the  expression  of  his  countenance 
was  fierce,  and  then  again  it  seemed  to  pass  away 
in  some  painful  emotion.  The  arm  that  was  ex- 
tended bent,  and  brought  the  hand  nigh  to  his 
face,  when  his  head  dropped  upon  it,  and  con- 
cealed the  wonderfully  speaking  lineaments. 

“We  forget,  dear  sir,  the  strange  gentleman ” 
(for  her  life,  Elizabeth  could  not  call  him  other- 
wise), “ whom  Ave  have  brought  here  for  assist- 
ance, and  to  wl^om  we  owe  every  attention.” 

All  eyes  were  instantly  turned  in  the  direction 
of  those  of  the  speaker,  and  the  youth  rather 
proudly  elevated  his  head  again,  while  he  an- 
swered : 

“My  wound  is  trifling,  and  I believe  that 
Judge  Temple  sent  for  a physician  the  moment  we 
arrived.” 

“ Certainly,”  said  Marmaduke ; “ I have  not 
forgotten  tho  object  of  thy  visit,  young  man,  nor 
the  nature  of  my  debt.” 

“ Oh ! ” exclaimed  Richard,  with  something  of 
a waggish  leer,  “ thou  owest  the  lad  for  the  venison, 
I suppose,  that  thou  killed,  cousin  ’duke ! Marma- 
duke ! Marmaduke ! That  was  a marvellous  tale  of 
thine  about  the  buck  ! Here,  young  man,  are  two 
dollars  for  the  deer,  and  Judge  Temple  can  do  nc 


DOCTOR  ELNATHAN  TODD. 


31 


less  than  pay  the  doctor.  I shall  charge  you  noth- 
ing for  my  services,  but  you  shall  not  fare  the 
worst  for  that.  Come,  come,  ’duke,  don’t  be 
down-hearted  about  it:  if  you  missed  the  buck, 
you  contrived  to  shoot  this  poor  fellow  through  a 
pine-tree.  Now  I own  that  you  have  beat  me ; I 
never  did  such  a thing  in  all  my  life.” 

“ And  I hope  never  will,”  returned  the  Judge, 
“ if  you  are  to  experience  the  uneasiness  that  I 
have  suffered.  But  be  of  good  cheer,  my  young 
friend,  the  injury  must  be  small,  as  thou  movest 
thy  arm  with  apparent  freedom.” 

“ Don’t  make  the  matter  worse,  ’duke,  by  pre- 
tending to  talk  about  surgery,”  interrupted  Mr. 
Jones,  with  a contemptuous  wave  of  the  hand ; 
“ it  is  a science  that  can  only  be  learnt  by  practice. 
You  know  that  my  grandfather  was  a doctor,  but 
you  haven’t  got  a drop  of  medical  blood  in  your 
veins.  These  kind  of  things  run  in  families.  All 
my  family  by  the  father’s  side  had  a knack  at 
physic.  There  was  my  uncle  that  was  killed  at 
Brandywine — he  died  as  easy  again  as  any  other 
man  in  the  regiment,  just  from  knowing  how  to 
hold  his  breath  naturally.  Few  men  know  how  to 
breathe  naturally.” 

“I  doubt  not,  Dickon,”  returned  the  Judge, 
meeting  the  bright  smile  which,  in  spite  of  him. 
self,  stole  over  the  stranger’s  features,  “that  thy 
family  thoroughly  understood  the  art  of  letting 
hfe  slip  through  their  fingers.” 

Richard  heard  him  quite  coolly,  and  putting  a 
hand  in  either  pocket  of  his  surtout,  so  as  to  press 
forward  the  skirts,  began  to  whistle  a tune ; but 
the 'desire  to  reply  overcame  his  philosophy,  and 
with  great  heat  he  exclaimed : 

“You  may  affect  to  smile,  Judge  Temple,  at 
hereditary  virtues,  if  you  please  : but  there  is  not 
a man  on  your  Patent  who  don’t  know  better. 
Here,  even  this  young  man,  who  has  never  seen 
anything  but  bears,  and  deer,  and  woodchucks, 
knows  better  than  to  believe  virtues  are  not  trans- 
mitted in  families.  Don’t  you,  friend  ? ” 

“ I believe  that  vice  is  not,”  said  the  stranger 
abruptly — his  eye  glancing  from  the  father  to  the  1 
daughter. 

“ The  squire  is  right,  Judge,”  observed  Ben- 
jamin, with  a knowing  nod  of  his  head  toward 
Richard,  that  bespoke  the  cordiality  between 
them.  “ Now,  in  the  old  country,  the  king’s  maj- 
esty touches  for  the  evil,  and  that  is  a disorder 
that  the  greatest  doctor  in  the  fleet,  or,  for  the 
matter  of  that,  admiral  either,  can’t  cure ; only 
the  king’s  majesty,  or  a man  that’s  been  hanged. 
Yes,  the  squire  is  right ; for  if  so  be  that  he  wasn’t, 
how  is  it  that  the  seventh  son  always  is  a doctor 
whether  he  ships  for  the  cockpit  or  not  ? Now 


when  we  fell  in  with  the  mounsheers,  under  De 
Grasse,  d’ye  see,  we  had  aboard  of  us  a doc- 
tor— ” 

“ Very  well,  Benjamin,”  interrupted  Elizabeth, 
glancing  her  eyes  from  the  hunter  to  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi,  who  was  most  politely  attending  to  what 
fell  from  each  individual  in  succession,  “ you  shall 
tell  me  of  that,  and  all  your  entertaining  adven- 
tures together;  just  now,  a room  must  be  pre- 
pared, in  which  the  arm  of  this  gentleman  can 
be  dressed.” 

“ I will  attend  to  that  myself,  cousin  Eliza- 
beth,” observed  Richard,  somewhat  haughtily, 
“ The  young  man  will  not  suffer  because  Marma- 
duke  chooses  to  be  a little  obstinate.  Follow 
me,  my  friend,  and  I will  examine  the  hurt  my- 
self.” 

“ It  will  be  well  to  wait  for  the  physician,” 
said  the  hunter,  coldly ; “he  cannot  be  distant.” 

Richard  paused  and  looked  at  the  speaker,  a 
little  astonished  at  the  language,  and  a good  deal 
appalled  at  the  refusal.  He  construed  the  latter 
into  an  act  of  hostility,  and,  placing  his  hands  in 
the  pockets  again,  he  walked  up  to  Mr.  Grant,  and, 
putting  his  face  close  to  the  countenance  of  the 
divine,  said  in  an  undertone  : 

“ Now,  mark  my  words — there  will  be  a 
story  among  the  settlers,  that  all  our  necks  would 
have  been  broken  but  for  that  fellow — as  if  I did 
not  know  how  to  drive.  Why,  you  might  have 
turned  the  horses  yourself,  sir;  nothing  was 
easier  ; it  was  only  pulling  hard  on  the  nigh  rein, 
and  touching  the  off  flank  of  the  leader.  I hope, 
my  dear  sir,  you  are  not  at  all  hurt  by  the  upset 
the  lad  gave  us  ? ” 

The  reply  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
the  village  physician. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

• 

“ And  about  his  shelves, 

A beggarly  account  of  empty  boxes, 

Green  earthen  pots,  bladders,  and  musty  seeds, 
Eemnants  of  packthread,  and  old  cakes  of  rcees, 
'Were  thinly  scattered  to  make  up  a show.” 

Shakespeare. 

Doctor  Elnathan  Todd,  for  such  was  the 
name  of  the  man  of  physic,  was  commonly  thought 
to  be,  among  the  settlers,  a gentleman  of  great 
mental  endowments;  and  he  was  assuredly  ol 
rare  personal  proportions.  In  height  he  meas- 
ured, without  his  shoes,  exactly  six  feet  and  four 
inches.  His  hands,  feet,  and  knees,  correspond- 
ed in  every  respect  with  this  formidable  stature ; 
but  every  other  part  of  lfis  frame  appeared  to 


32 


THE  PIONEERS. 


have  been  intended  for  a man  several  sizes  small 
er,  if  we  except  the  length  of  the  limbs.  His 
shoulders  were  square,  in  one  sense  at  least,  be- 
ing in  a right  line  from  one  side  to  the  other ; 
but  they  were  so  narrow,  that  the  long  dangling 
arms  they  supported  seemed  to  issue  out  of  his 
back.  His  neck  possessed,  in  an  eminent  degree, 
the  property  of  length  to  which  we  have  alluded, 
and  it  was  topped  by  a small  bullet-head  that 
exhibited,  on  one  side,  a bush  of  bristling  brown 
hair,  and,  on  the  other,  a short,  twinkling  visage, 
that  appeared  to  maintain  a constant  struggle 
with  itself  in  order  to  look  wise.  He  was  the 
youngest  son  of  a farmer  in  the  western  part  of 
Massachusetts,  who,  being  in  somewhat  easy  cir- 
cumstances, had  allowed  this  boy  to  shoot  up  to 
the  height  we  have  mentioned,  without  the  ordi- 
nary interruptions  of  field-labor,  wood-chopping, 
and  such  other  toils  as  were  imposed  on  his 
brothers.  Elnathan  was  indebted  for  this  ex- 
emption from  labor  in  some  measure  to  his  ex- 
traordinary growth,  which,  leaving  him  pale,  inani- 
mate, and  listless,  induced  his  tender  mother  to 
pronounce  him  “ a sickly  boy,  and  one  that  was 
not  equal  to  work,  but  who  might  earn  a living, 
comfortably  enough,  by  taking  to  pleading  law, 
or  turning  minister,  or  doctoring,  or  some  such 
like  easy  calling.”  Still,  there  was  great  uncer- 
tainty which  of  these  vocations  the  youth  was 
best  endowed  to  fill ; but,  having  no  other  em- 
ployment, the  stripling  was  constantly  lounging 
about  the  “ homestead,”  munching  green  apples, 
and  hunting  for  sorrel ; when  the  same  sagacious 
eye  that  had  brought  to  light  his  latent  talents, 
seized  upon  this  circumstance,  as  a clew  to  his 
future  path  through  the  turmoils  of  the  world. 
“ Elnathan  was  cut  out  for  a doctor,  she  knew, 
for  he  was  forever  digging  for  herbs,  and  tasting 
all  kinds  of  things  that  grow’d  about  the  lots. 
Then  again  he  had  a natural  love  for  doctor- 
stuff*,  for  when  she  had  left#the  bilious  pills  out 
for  her  man,  all  nicely  covered  with  maple  sugar, 
just  ready  to  take,  Nathan  had  come  in,  and 
swallowed  them,  for  all  the  world  as  if  they  were 
nothing,  while  Ichabod  (her  husband)  could  never 
get  one  down  without  making  such  desperate 
faces,  that  it  was  awful  to  look  on.” 

This  discovery  decided  the  matter.  Einathan, 
then  about  fifteen,  was,  much  like  a wild  colt, 
caught  and  trimmed  by  clipping  his  bushy  locks  ; 
dressed  in  a suit  of  homespun,  dyed  in  the  butter- 
nut bark ; furnished  with  a “ New  Testament,”  and 
a “Webster’s  Spelling  Book,”  and  sent  to  school. 
As  the  boy  was  by  nature  quite  shrewd  enough, 
and  had  previously,  at  odd  times,  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  reading,  Writing,  and  arithmetic,  he 


was  soon  conspicuous  in  the  school  for  his  learn, 
ing.  The  delighted  mother  had  the  gratification 
of  hearing,  from  the  lips  of  the  master,  that  her 
son  was  a “ prodigious  boy,  and  far  above  all  his 
class.”  He  also  thought  that  “the  youth  had  a 
natural  love  for  doctoring,  as  he  had  known 
him  frequently  advise  the  smaller  children  against 
eating  too  much ; and,  once  or  twice,  when  the 
ignorant  little  things  had  persevered  in  opposition 
to  Elnathan’s  advice,  he  had  known  her  son  emp- 
ty the  school-baskets  with  his  own  mouth,  to 
prevent  the  consequences.” 

Soon  after  this  comfortable  declaration  from 
his  schoolmaster,  the  lad  was  removed  to  the 
house  of  the  village  doctor,  a gentleman  whose 
early  career  had  not  been  unlike  that  of  our  hero, 
where  he  was  to  be  seen,  sometimes  watering  a 
horse,  at  others  watering  medicines,  blue,  yellow, 
and  red  ; then  again  he  might  be  noticed,  lolling 
under  an  apple-tree,  with  Ruddiman’s  Latin  Gram- 
mar in  his  hand,  and  a corner  of  Denman’s  Mid- 
wifery sticking  out  of  a pocket ; for  his  instruc- 
tor held  it  absurd  to  teach  his  pupil  how  to 
dispatch  a patient  regularly  from  this  world,  be- 
fore he  knew  how  to  bring  him  into  it. 

This  kind  of  life  continued  for  a twelvemonth, 
when  he  suddenly  appeared  at  meeting  in  a long 
coat  (and  well  did  it  deserve  the  name !)  of  black 
homespun,  with  little  bootees,  bound  with  un- 
colored calf-skin,  for  the  want  of  red  morocco. 

Soon  after  he  was  seen  shaving  with  a dull 
razor.  Three  or  four  months  had  scarce  elapsed 
before  several  elderly  ladies  were  observed  hasten- 
ing toward  the  house  of  a poor  woman  in  the 
village,  while  others  were  running  to  and  fro  in 
great  apparent  distress. — One  or  two  boys  were 
mounted,  bareback,  on  horses,  and  sent  off*  at 
speed  in  various  directions.  Several  indirect 
questions  were  put  concerning  the  place  where 
the  physician  was  last  seen ; but  all  would  not 
do  ; and  at  length  Elnathan  was  seen  issuing  from 
his  door  with  a very  grave  air,  preceded  by  a lit- 
tle white-headed  boy,  out  of  breath,  trotting  be- 
fore him.  The  following  day  the  youth  appeared 
in  the  street,  as  the  highway  was  called,  and  the 
neighborhood  was  much  edified  by  the  additional 
gravity  of  his  air.  The  same  week  he  bought  a 
new  razor : and  the  succeeding  Sunday  he  entered 
the  meeting-house  with  a red  silk  handkerchief  in 
his  hand,  and  with  an  extremely  demure  coun- 
tenance. In  the  evening  he  called  upon  a young 
woman  of  his  own  class  in  life,  for  there  were  no 
others  to  be  found,  and,  when  he  was  left  alone 
with  the  fair,  he  was  called  for,  the  first  time  in 
his  life,  Doctor  Todd,  by  her  prudent  mother. 
The  ice  once  broken  in  this  manner,  Elnathan 


THE  DOCTOR’S  SUCCESSFUL  PRACTICE. 


33 


was  greeted  from  every  mouth  with  his  official 
appellation. 

Another  year  passed  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  the  same  master,  during  which  the 
young  physician  had  the  credit  of  “ riding  with 
the  old  doctor,”  although  they  were  generally  ob- 
served to  travel  different  roads.  At  the  end  of 
that  period,  Dr.  Todd  attained  his  legal  majority. 
He  then  took  a jaunt  to  Boston  to  purchase 
medicines,  and,  as  some  intimated,  to  walk  the 
hospital ; we  know  not  how  the  latter  might  have 
been,  but,  if  true,  he  soon  walked  through  it,  for 
he  returned  within  a fortnight,  bringing  with  him 
a suspicious-looking  box,  that  smelled  powerfully 
of  brimstone. 

The  next  Sunday  he  was  married:  and  the 
following  morning  he  entered  a one-horse  sleigh 
with  his  bride,  having  before  him  the  box  we 
have  mentioned,  with  another  filled  with  home- 
made household  linen,  a paper-covered  trunk, 
with  a red  umbrella  lashed  to  it,  a pair  of  quite 
new  saddle-bags,  and  a bandbox.  The  next  in- 
telligence that  his  friends  received  of  the  bride 
and  bridegroom  was,  that  the  latter  was  “ settled 
in  the  new  countries,  and  well  to  do  as  a doctor 
in  Templeton,  in  York  State!” 

If  a Templar  would  smile  at  the  qualifications 
of  Marmaduke  to  fill  the  judicial  seat  he  occu- 
pied, we  are  certain  that  a graduate  of  Leyden  or 
Edinburgh  would  be  extremely  amused  with  this 
true  narration  of  the  servitude  of  Elnathan  in  the 
temple  of  Aesculapius.  But  the  same  consolation 
was  afforded  to  both  the  jurist  and  the  leech ; for 
Dr.  Todd  was  quite  as  much  on  a level  with  his 
compeers  of  the  profession  in  that  country,  as 
was  Marmaduke  with  his  brethren  on  the  bench. 

Time  and  practice  did  wonders  for  the  phy- 
sician. He  was  naturally  humane,  but  possessed 
of  no  small  share  of  moral  courage ; or,  in  other 
words,  he  was  chary  of  the  lives  of  his  patients, 
and  never  tried  uncertain  experiments  on  such 
members  of  society  as  were  considered  useful ; 
but,  once  or  twice,  when  luckless  vagrant  had 
come  under  his  care,  he  was  a little  addicted  to 
trying  the  effects  of  every  phial  in  his  saddle-bags 
on  the  stranger’s  constitution.  Happily  their 
number  was  small,  and  in  most  cases  their  na- 
tures innocent.  By  these  means  Elnathan  had 
acquired  a certain  degree  of  knowledge  in  fevers 
and  agues,  and  could  talk  with  much  judgment 
concerning  intermittents,  remittents,  tertians, 
quotidians,  etc.  In  certain  cutaneous  disorders 
very  prevalent  in  new  settlements,  he  was  con- 
sidered to  be  infallible ; and  there  was  no  wom- 
an on  the  Patent  but  would  as  soon  think  of 
becoming  a mother  without  a husband  as  without 
42  3 


the  assistance  of  Dr.  Todd.  In  short,  he  was 
rearing,  on  this  foundation  of  sand,  a superstruct- 
ure cemented  by  practice,  though  composed  of 
somewhat  brittle  materials.  He  however  occa- 
sionally renewed  his  elementary  studies,  and,  with 
the  observation  of  a shrewd  mind,  was  comfort- 
ably applying  his  practice  to  his  theory. 

In  surgery,  having  the  least  experience,  and  it 
being  a business  that  spoke  directly  to  the  senses, 
he  was  most  apt  to  distrust  his  own  powers : but 
he  had  applied  oils  to  several  burns,  cut  round 
the  roots  of  sundry  defective  teeth,  and  sewed  up 
the  wounds  of  numberless  wood-choppers,  with 
considerable  eclat,  when  an  unfortunate  jobber* 
suffered  a fracture  of  his  leg  by  the  tree  that  he 
had  been  felling.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that 
our  hero  encountered  the  greatest  trial  his  nerves 
and  moral  feeling  had  ever  sustained.  In  the 
hour  of  need,  however,  he  was  not  found  wanting. 
— Most  of  the  amputations  in  the  new  settle- 
ments, and  they  were  quite  frequent,  were  per- 
formed by  some  one  practitioner,  who,  possessing 
originally  a reputation,  was  enabled  by  this  cir- 
cumstance to  acquire  an  experience  that  rendered 
him  deserving  of  it ; and  Elnathan  had  been  pres- 
ent at  one  or  two  of  these  operations.  But  on 
the  present  occasion  the  man  of  practice  was  net 
to  be  obtained,  and  the  duty  fell,  as  a matter  of 
course,  to  the  share  of  Mr.  Todd.  He  went  to 
work  with  a kind  of  blind  desperation,  observing, 
at  the  same  time,  all  the  externals  of  decent  grav- 
ity and  great  skill.  The  sufferer’s  name  was 
Milligan,  and  it  was  to  this  event  that  Richard 
alluded,  when  he  spoke  of  assisting  the  doctor  at 
an  amputation— *by  holding  the  leg  ! The  limb 
was  certainly  cut  off,  and  the  patient  survived  the 
operation.  It  was,  however,  two  years  before 
poor  Milligan  ceased  to  complain,  that  they 
had  buried  the  leg  in  so  narrow  a box  that  it 
was  straitened  for  room  ; he  could  feel  the  pain 
shooting  up  from  the  inhumed  fragment  into  the 
living  members.  Marmaduke  suggested  that  the 
fault  might  lie  in  the  arteries  and  nerves : but 
Richard,  considering  the  amputation  as  part  of 
his  own  handiwork,  strongly  repelled  the  insinua- 
tion, at  the  same  time  declaring  that  he  had  often 
heard  of  men  who  could  tell  when  it  was  about  to 
rain,  by  the  toes  of  amputated  limbs.  After  two 
or  three  years,  notwithstanding  Milligan’s  com- 
plaints gradually  diminished,  the  leg  was  dug 
up,  and  a larger  box  furnished,  and  from  that 
hour  no  one  had  heard  the  sufferer  utter  another 
complaint  on  the  subject.  This  gave  the  publio 
great  confidence  in  Dr.  Todd,  whose  reputation 

* Peoplo  who  clear  land  by  the  aero  or  job  are  thus 
called. 


34 


THE  PIONEERS. 


was  hourly  increasing,  and,  luckily  for  his  pa- 
tients, his  information  also. 

Notwithstanding  Dr.  Todd’s  practice,  and  his 
success  with  the  leg,  he  was  not  a little  appalled 
on  entering  the  hall  of  the  mansion-house.  It 
was  glaring  with  the  light  of  day ; it  looked  so 
imposing,  compared  with  the  hastily-built  and 
scantily-furnished  apartments  which  he  frequented 
in  his  ordinary  practice,  and  contained  so  many  well- 
dressed  persons  and  anxious  faces,  that  his  usually 
firm  nerves  were  a good  deal  discomposed.  He 
had  heard  from  the  messenger  who  summoned  him, 
that  it  was  a gunshot-wound,  and  had  come  from 
his  own  home,  wading  through  the  snow,  with  his 
saddle-bags  thrown  over  his  arm,  while  separated 
arteries,  penetrated  lungs,  and  injured  vitals,  were 
whirling  through  his  brain,  as  if  he  were  stalking 
over  a field  of  battle,  instead  of  Judge  Temple’s 
peaceable  enclosure. 

The  first  object  that  met  his  eye,  as  he  moved 
into  the  room,  was  Elizabeth  in  her  riding-habit, 
richly  laced  with  gold  cord,  her  fine  form  bending 
toward  him,  and  her  face  expressing  deep  anxiety 
in  every  one  of  its  beautiful  features.  The  enor- 
mous bony  knees  of  the  physician  struck  each 
other  with  a noise  that  was  audible  ; for,  in  the 
absent  state  of  his  mind,  he  mistook  her  for  a 
general  officer,  perforated  with  bullets,  hastening 
from  the  field  of  battle  to  implore  assistance.  The 
delusion,  however,  was  but  momentary,  and  his 
eye  glanced  rapidly  from  the  daughter  to  the  earn- 
est dignity  of  the  father’s  countenance : thence 
to  the  busy  strut  of  Richard,  who  was  cooling  his 
impatience  at  the  hunter’s  indifference  to  his  as- 
sistance, by  pacing  the  hall  and  cracking  his 
whip  ; from  him  to  the  Frenchman,  who  had  stood 
for  several  minutes  unheeded  with  a chair  for  the 
lady ; thence  to  Major  Hartmann,  who  was  very 
coolly  lighting  a pipe  three  feet  long  by  a candle 
in  one  of  the  chandeliers ; thence  to  Mr.  Grant, 
who  was  turning  over  a manuscript  with  much 
earnestness  at  one  of  the  lustres;  thence  to  Re- 
markable, who  stood,  with  her  arms  demurely 
folded  before  her,  surveying,  with  a look  of  admi- 
ration and  envy,  the  dress  and  beauty  of  the  young 
lady ; and  from  her  to  Benjamin,  who,  with  his 
feet  standing  wide  apart,  and  his  arms  a-kimbo, 
was  balancing  his  square  little  body,  with  the  in- 
difference of  one  who  is  accustomed  to  wounds 
and  bloodshed.  All  of  these  seemed  to  be  unhurt, 
and  the  operator  began  to  breathe  more  freely  ; 
but,  before  he  had  time  to  take  a second  look, 
the  Judge,  advancing,  shook  him  kindly  by  the 
hand,  and  spoke : 

u Thou  art  welcome,  my  good  sir,  quite  wel- 
come, indeed ; here  is  a youth  whom  I have  un- 


fortunately wounded  in  shooting  a deer  this  even- 
ing,  and  who  requires  some  of  thy  assistance.” 

“ Shooting  at  a deer,  ’duke,”  interrupted  Rich- 
ard— “ shooting  at  a deer.  Who  do  you  think 
can  prescribe,  unless  he  knows  the  truth  of  the 
case  ? It  is  always  so  with  some  people ; they 
think  a doctor  can  be  deceived  with  the  same  im- 
punity as  another  man.” 

“ Shooting  at  a deer,  truly,”  returned  the 
Judge,  smiling,  “ although  it  is  by  no  means  cer- 
tain that  I did  not  aid  in  destroying  the  buck  ; 
but  the  youth  is  injured  by  my  hand,  be  that  as 
it  may;  and  it  is  thy  skill  that  must  cure  him, 
and  my  pocket  shall  amply  reward  thee  for  it.” 

“ Two  ver  good  tings  to  depend  on,”  observed 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  bowing  politely,  with  a sweep 
of  his  head,  to  the  Judge  and  the  practitioner. 

“ I thank  you,  monsieur,”  returned  the  Judge  ; 
“ but  we  keep  the  young  man  in  pain.  Remark- 
able, thou  wilt  please  to  provide  linen  for  lint 
and  bandages.” 

This  remark  caused  a cessation  of  the  com- 
pliments, and  induced  the  physician  to  turn  an 
inquiring  eye  in  the  direction  of  his  patient. 
During  the  dialogue  the  young  hunter  had  thrown 
aside  his  overcoat,  and  now  stood  clad  in  a plain 
suit  of  the  common,  light-colored  homespun  of 
the  country,  that  was  evidently  but  recently  made. 
His  hand  was  on  the  lapels  of  his  coat,  m the 
attitude  of  removing  the  garment,  when  he  sud- 
denly suspended  the  movement,  and  looked  to- 
ward the  commiserating  Elizabeth,  who  was  stand- 
ing in  an  unchanged  posture,  too  much  absorbed 
with  her  anxious  feelings  to  heed  his  actions.  A 
slight  color  appeared  on  the  brow  of  the  youth. 

“ Possibly  the  sight  of  blood  may  alarm  the 
lady;  I will  retire  to  another  room  while  the 
wound  is  dressing.” 

“ By  no  means,”  said  Dr.  Todd,  who,  having 
discovered  that  his  patient  was  far  from  being  a 
man  of  importance,  felt  much  emboldened  to  per- 
form the  duty.  “ The  strong  light  of  these  can- 
dles is  favorable  to  the  operation,  and  it  is  sel- 
dom that  we  hard  students  enjoy  good  eyesight.” 

While  speaking,  Elnathan  placed  a pair  of 
large  iron-rimmed  spectacles  on  bis  face,  where 
they  dropped,  as  it  were  by  long  practice,  to  the 
extremity  of  his  slim  pug  nose ; and,  if  they  were 
of  no  service  as  assistants  to  his  eyes,  neither 
were  they  any  impediment  to  his  vision  ; for  his 
little  gray  organs  were  twinkling  above  them, 
like  two  stars  emerging  from  the  envious  cover 
of  a cloud.  The  action  was  unheeded  by  all  but 
Remarkable,  who  observed  to  Benjamin : 

“Dr.  Todd  is  a comely  man  to  look  on,  and 
despu’t  pretty.  How  well  he  seems  in  spectacles  t 


A SURGICAL  OPERATION. 


35 


I declare,  they  give  a grand  look  to  a body’s 
face.  I have  quite  a great  mind  to  try  them  ray- 
self.” 

The  speech  of  the  stranger  recalled  the  recol- 
lection of  Miss  Temple,  who  started,  as  if  from 
deep  abstraction,  and,  coloring  excessively,  she  mo- 
tioned to  a young  woman  who  served  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  maid,  and  retired  with  an  air  of  woman- 
ly reserve. 

The  field  was  now  left  to  the  physician  and 
his  patient,  while  the  different  personages  who 
remained  gathered  around  the  latter,  with  faces 
expressing  the  various  degrees  of  interest  that 
each  one  felt  in  his  condition.  Major  Hartmann 
alone  retained  his  seat,  where  he  continued  to 
throw  out  vast  quantities  of  smoke,  now  rolling 
his  eyes  up  to  the  ceiling,  as  if  musing  on  the  un- 
certainty of  life,  and  now  bending  them  on  the 
wounded  man,  with  an  expression  that  bespoke 
some  consciousness  of  his  situation. 

In  the  mean  time  Elnathan,  to  whom  the  sight 
of  a gunshot-wound  was  a perfect  novelty,  com- 
menced his  preparations  with  a solemnity  and 
care  that  were  worthy  of  the  occasion.  An  old 
shirt  was  procured  by  Benjamin,  and  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  other,  who  tore  divers  bandages 
from  it,  with  an  exactitude  that  marked  both  his 
own  skill  and  the  importance  of  the  operation. 

When  this  preparatory  measure  was  taken, 
Dr.  Todd  selected  a piece  of  the  shirt  with  great 
care,  and  handing  it  to  Mr.  Jones,  without  moving 
a muscle,  said : 

“ Here,  Squire  Jones,  you  are  well  acquainted 
with  these  things ; will  you  please  to  scrape  the 
lint  ? It  should  be  fine  and  soft,  you  know,  my 
dear  sir ; and  be  cautious  that  no  cotton  gets  in, 
or  it  may  p’izen  the  wound.  The  shirt  has  been 
made  with  cotton  thread,  but  you  can  easily  pick 
it  out.” 

Richard  assumed  the  office,  with  a nod  at  his 
cousin,  that  said  quite  plainly — “You  see  this 
fellow  can’t  get  along  without  me  ; ” and  began 
to  scrape  the  linen  on  his  knee  with  great  dili- 
gence. 

A table  was  now  spread  with  phials,  boxes  of 
salve,  and  divers  surgical  instruments.  As  the 
latter  appeared  in  succession,  from  a case  of  red 
morocco,  their  owner  held  up  each  .implement  to 
the  strong  light  of  the  chandelier,  near  to  which 
he  stood,  and  examined  it  with  the  nicest  care. 
A red  silk-handkerchief  was  frequently  applied  to 
the  glittering  steel,  as  if  to  remove  from  the  polished 
surfaces  the  least  impediment  which  might  exist 
to  the  most  delicate  operation.  After  the  rather 
scantily  furnished  pocket-case  which  contained 
these  instruments  was  exhausted,  the  physician 


turned  to  his  saddle-bags,  and  produced  various 
phials,  filled  with  liquids  of  the  most  radiant  col- 
ors. These  were  arranged  in  due  order,  by  the 
side  of  the  murderous  saws,  knives,  and  scissors, 
when  Elnathan  stretched  his  long  body  to  its  ut- 
most elevation,  placing  his  hand  on  the  small  of 
his  back,  as  if  for  support,  and  looked  about  him 
to  discover  what  effect  this  display  of  professional 
skill  was  likely  to  produce  on  the  spectators. 

“ Upon  my  wort,  toctor,”  observed  Major 
Hartmann,  with  a roguish  roll  of  his  little  black 
eyes,  but  with  every  other  feature  of  his  face  in 
a state  of  perfect  rest,  “put  you  have  a very 
pretty  pocket-book  of  tools  tere,  and  your  toctor- 
stuff  glitters  as  if  it  was  petter  for  ter  eyes  as  for 
ter  pelly.” 

Elnathan  gave  a hem — one  that  might  have 
been  equally  taken  for  that  kind  of  noise  which 
cowards  are  said  to  make,  in  order  to  awaken 
their  dormant  courage,  or  for  a natural  effort  to 
clear  the  throat ; if  for  the  latter,  it  was  success- 
ful ; for,  turning  his  face  to  the  veteran  German, 
he  said : 

“ Very  true,  Major  Hartmann,  very  true,  sir  ; 
a prudent  man  will  always  strive  to  make  his 
remedies  agreeable  to  the  eyes,  though  they  may 
not  altogether  suit  the  stomach.  It  is  no  small 
part  of  our  art,  sir,”  and  he  now  spoke  with  the 
confidence  of.  a man  who  understood  his  subject, 
“ to  reconcile  the  patient  to  what  is  for  his  own 
good,  though  at  the  same  time  it  may  be  unpala- 
table.” 

“ Sartain ! Dr.  Todd  is  right,”  said  Remark- 
able, “ and  has  Scripter  for  what  he  says.  The 
Bible  tells  us  how  things  may  be  sweet  to  the 
mouth,  and  bitter  to  the  inwards.” 

“ True,  true,”  interrupted  the  Judge,  a little 
impatiently  ; “ but  here  is  a youth  who  needs  no 
deception  to  lure  him  to  his  own  benefit.  I see, 
by  his  eye,  that  he  fears  nothing  more  than  de- 
lay.” 

The  stranger  had,  without  assistance,  bared 
his  own  shoulder,  when  the  slight  perforation 
produced  by  the  passage  of  the  buck-shot  was 
plainly  visible.  The  intense  cold  of  the  evening 
had  stopped  the  bleeding,  and  Dr.  Todd,  casting 
a furtive  glance  at  the  wound,  thought  it  by  no 
means  so  formidable  an  affair  as  he  had  antici- 
pated. Thus  encouraged  he  approached  his  pa- 
tient, and  made  some  indication  of  an  intention 
to  trace  the  route  that  had  been  taken  by  the 
lead. 

Remarkable  often  found  occasions,  in  after 
days,  to  recount  the  minutiae  of  that  celebrated 
operation ; and  when  she  arrived  at  this  point 
she  commonly  proceeded  as  follows : “ And  thOT 


36 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  doctor  tuck  out  of  the  pocket-book  a long 
thing,  like  a knitting-needle,  with  a button  fast- 
ened to  the  end  on’t ; and  then  he  pushed  it  in- 
to the  wownd  ; and  theD  the  young  man  looked 
awful ; and  then  I thought  I should  have  swaned 
away—  1 felt  in  sitch  a dispu’t  taking  ; and  then 
the  doctor  had  run  it  right  through  his  shoulder, 
and  shoved  the  bullet  out  on  t’other  side  ; and  so 
Dr.  Todd  cured  the  young  man — of  a ball  that 
the  Judge  had  shot  into  him,  for  all  the  world  as 
easy  as  I could  pick  out  a splinter  with  my  darn- 
ing-needle.” 

Such  were  the  impressions  of  Remarkable  on 
the  subject ; and  such  doubtless  were  the  opin- 
ions of  most  of  those  who  felt  it  necessary  to  en- 
tertain a species  of  religious  veneration  for  the 
skill  of  Elnathan;  but  such  was  far  from  the 
truth. 

When  the  physician  attempted  to  introduce 
the  instrument  described  by  Remarkable,  he  was 
repulsed  by  the  stranger,  with  a good  deal  of  de- 
cision, and  some  little  contempt,  in  his  manner. 

“ I believe,  sir,”  he  said,  “ that  a probe  is  not 
necessary ; the  shot  has  missed  the  bone,  and 
has  passed  directly  through  the  arm  to  the  oppo- 
site side,  where  it  remains  but  skin-deep,  and 
whence,  I should  think,  it  might  be  easily  ex- 
tracted.” 

“ The  gentleman  Knows  best,”  said  Dr.  Todd, 
laying  down  the  probe  with  the  air  of  a man  Avho 
had  assumed  it  merely  in  compliance  with  forms ; 
and,  turning  to  Richard,  he  fingered  the  lint  with 
the  appearance  of  great  care  and  foresight. 
“ Admirably  well  scraped,  Squire  Jones ! it  is 
about  the  best  lint  I have  ever  seen.  I want 
your  assistance,  my  good  sir,  to  hold  the  patient’s 
arm  while  I make  an  incision  for  the  ball.  Now, 
I rather  guess  there  is  not  another  gentleman 
present  who  could  scrape  the  lint  so  well  as  Squire 
Jones.” 

“ Such  things  run  in  families,”  observed 
Richard,  rising  with  alacrity  to  render  the  desired 
assistance.  “ My  father,  and  my  grandfather  be- 
fore him,  were  both  celebrated  for  their  knowl- 
edge of  surgery  ; they  were  not,  like  Marmaduke 
here,  puffed  up  with  an  accidental  thing,  such  as 
the  time  when  he  drew  in  the  hip-joint  of  the 
man  who  was  thrown  from  his  horse  ; that  was 
the  fall  before  you  came  into  the  settlement,  doc- 
tor ; but  they  were  men  who  were  taught  the 
thing  regularly,  spending  half  their  lives  in  learn- 
ing those  little  niceties ; though,  for  the  matter 
of  that,  my  grandfather  was  a college-bred  physi- 
cian, and  the  best  in  the  colony,  too — that  is,  in 
his  neighborhood.” 

“ So  it  goe3  with  the  world,  squire,”  cried 


Benjamin,  “ if-so-be  that  a man  wants  to  walk 
the  quarter-deck  with  credit,  d’ye  see,  and  with 
regular  built  swabs  on  his  shoulders,  he  mustn’t 
think  to  do  it  by  getting  in  at  the  cabin-windows. 
There  are  two  ways  to  get  into  a top,  besides 
the  lubber-holes.  The  true  way  to  walk  aft  is  to 
begin  forrard  ; tho’f  it  be  only  in  a humble  way, 
like  myself,  d’ye  see,  which  was,  from  being  only 
a hander  of  top-gallant-sails,  and  a stower  of  the 
flying-jib,  to  keeping  the  key  of  the  captain’s 
locker.” 

“ Benjamin  speaks  quite  to  the  purpose,”  con- 
tinued Richard.  “ I dare  say  that  he  has  often 
seen  shot  extracted  in  the  different  ships  in  which 
he  has  served  ; suppose  we  get  him  to  hold  the 
basin  ; he  must  be  used  to  the  sight  of  blood.” 

“That  he  is,  squire,  that  he  is,”  interrupted 
the  ci-devant  steward ; “ many’s  the  good  shot, 
round,  double-headed,  and  grape,  that  I’ve  seen 
the  doctors  at  work  on.  For  the  matter  of  that, 
I was  in  a boat,  alongside  the  ship,  when  they  cut 
out  the  twelve-pound  shot  from  the  thigh  of  the 
captain  of  the  Foodyrong,  one  of  Mounsheer  Ler 
Quaw’s  countrymen  ! ” * 

“A  twelve-pound  ball  from  the  thigh  of  a 
human  being  ? ” exclaimed  Mr.  Grant,  w'ith  great 
simplicity,  dropping  the  sermon  he  was  again 
reading,  and  raising  his  spectacles  to  the  top  of 
his  forehead. 

“ A twelve-pounder ! ” echoed  Benjamin,  star- 
ing around  him  with  much  confidence  ; “ a twelve- 
pounder  ! ay  ! a twenty-four- pound  shot  can  easily 
be  taken  from  a man’s  body,  if-so-be  a doctor  only 
knows  how.  There’s  Squire  Jones,  now,  ask  him, 
sir ; he  reads  all  the  books  ; ask  him  if  he  never 
fell  in  with  a page  that  keeps  the  reckoning  of 
such  things.” 

“Certainly,  more  important  operations  than 
that  have  been  performed,”  observed  Richard  ; 
“ the  encyclopaedia  mentions  much  more  incredi- 
ble circumstances  than  that,  as,  I dare  say,  you 
know,  Doctor  Todd.” 

“ Certainly,  there  are  incredible  tales  told  in  the 
encyclopedias,”  returned  Elnathan,  “ though  I 
cannot  say  that  I have  ever  seen,  myself,  any 
thing  larger  than  a musket-bullet  extracted.” 

During  this  discourse  an  incision  had  been 
made  through  the  skin  of  the  young  hunter’s 
shoulder,  and  the  lead  was  laid  bare.  Elnathan 
took  a pair  of  glittering  forceps,  and  was  in  the 
act  of  applying  them  to  the  wound,  when  a sud- 
den motion  of  the  patient  caused  the  shot  to  fall 


* It  is  possible  that  the  reader  may  start  at  this  declara- 
tion of  Benjamin,  but  those  who  have  lived  in  the  new 
settlements  of  America  are  too  much  accustomed  to  hear 
of  these  European  exploits  to  doubt  it 


DIVISION  OF  THE  INDIAN  TRIBES. 


3: 


out  of  itself.  The  long  arm  and  broad  hand  of 
the  operator  were  now  of  singular  service ; for 
tne  latter  expanded  itself,  and  caught  the  lead, 
while  at  the  same  time  an  extremely  ambiguous 
motion  was  made  by  its  brother,  so  as  to  le^ve  it 
doubtful  to  the  spectators  how  great  was  its 
agency  in  releasing  the  shot.  Richard,  however, 
put  the  matter  at  rest  by  exclaiming : 

“ Very  neatly  done,  doctor ! I have  never 
seen  a shot  more  neatly  extracted ; and,  I dare 
say,  Benjamin  will  say  the  same.” 

“Why,  considering,”  returned  Benjamin,  “I 
must  say  that  it  was  ship-shape,  and  Brister- 
fashion. — Now  all  that  the  doctor  has  to  do,  is  to 
clap  a couple  of  plugs  in  the  holes,  and  the  lad 
will  float  in  any  gale  that  blows  in  these  here 
hills.” 

“ I thank  you,  sir,  for  what  you  have  done,” 
said  the  youth,  with  a little  distance ; “ but  here 
is  a man  who  will  take  me  under  his  care,  and 
spare  you  all,  gentlemen,  any  further  trouble  on 
my  account.” 

The  whole  group  turned  their  heads  in  sur- 
prise, and  beheld,  standing  at  one  of  the  distant 
doors  of  the  hall,  the  person  of  Indian  John. 


CHAPTER  VII 

“ From  Susquehanna’s  utmost  springs, 

Where  savage  tribes  pursue  their  game, 

His  blanket  tied  with  yellow  strings, 

The  shepherd  of  the  forest  came.” 

Freneau. 

Before  the  Europeans,  or,  to  use  a more  sig- 
nificant term,  the  Christians,  dispossessed  the 
original  owners  of  the  soil,  all  that  section  of 
country  which  contains  the  New-England  States 
and  those  of  the  Middle  which  lie  east  of  the 
mountains,  was  occupied  by  two  great  nations  of 
Indians,  from  whom  had  descended  numberless 
tribes.  But,  as  the  original  distinctions  between 
these  nations  were  marked  by  a difference  in  lan- 
guage, as  well  as  by  repeated  and  bloody  wars, 
they  were  never  known  to  amalgamate,  until  after 
the  power  and  inroads  of  the  whites  had  reduced 
some  of  the  tribes  to  a state  of  dependence,  that 
rendered  not  only  their  political,  but,  considering 
the  wants  and  habits  of  a savage,  their  animal  ex- 
istence also,  extremely  precarious. 

These  two  great  divisions  consisted,  on  the 
one  side,  of  the  Five,  or,  as  they  were  afterward 
called,  the  Six  Nations,  and  their  allies  ; and,  on 
the  other,  of  the  Lenni  Lcnape,  or  Delawares, 
with  the  numerous  and  powerful  tribes  that  owned 


that  nation  as  their  grandfather.  The  former 
were  generally  called,  by  the  Anglo-Americans, 
Iroquois,  or  the  Six  Nations,  and  sometimes  Min- 
goes.  Their  appellation,  among  their  rivals, 
seems  generally  to  have  been  the  Mengwe,  or  Ma- 
qua.  They  consisted  of  the  tribes,  or,  as  their 
allies  yeve  fond  of  asserting,  in  order  to  raise 
their  consequence,  of  the  several  nations  of  the 
Mohawks,  the  Oneidas,  the  Onondagas,  Cayugas, 
and  Senecas ; who  ranked,  in  the  confederation, 
in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named.  The 
Tuscaroras  were  admitted  to  this  union,  near  a 
century  after  its  formation,  and  thus  completed 
the  number  to  six. 

Of  the  Lenni  Lenape,  or  as  they  were  called 
by  the  whites,  from  the  circumstance  of  their 
holding  their  great  council-fire  on  the  banks  of 
that  river,  the  Delaware  nation,  the  principal 
tribes,  besides  that  which  bore  the  generic  name, 
were,  the  Mahicanni,  Mohicans,  or  Mohegans,  and 
the  Nanticokes,  or  Nentigoes.  Of  these,  the  lat- 
ter held  the  country  along  the  waters  of  the  Ches- 
apeake and  the  sea-shore ; whild  the  Mohegans 
occupied  the  district  between  the  Hudson  and  the 
ocean,  including  much  of  New  England.  Of 
course,  these  two  tribes  were  the  first  who  were 
dispossessed  of  their  lands  by  the  Europeans. 

The  wars  of  a portion  of  the  latter  are  cele- 
brated among  us,  as  the  wars  of  King  Philip ; 
but  the  peaceful  policy  of  William  Penn,  or  Mi- 
quon,  as  he  was  termed  by  the  natives,  effected 
its  object  with  less  difficulty,  though  not  with  less 
certainty.  As  the  natives  gradually  disappeared 
from  the  country  of  the  Mohegans,  some  scatter- 
ing families  sought  a refuge  around  the  council- 
fire  of  the  mother  tribe,  or  the  Delawares. 

This  people  had  been  induced  to  suffer  them- 
selves to  be  called  women , by  their  old  enemies, 
the  Mingoes,  or  Iroquois,  after  the  latter,  having 
in  vain  tried  the  effects  of  hostility,  had  recourse 
to  artifice,  in  order  to  prevail  over  their  rivals. 
According  to  this  declaration,  the  Delawares  were 
to  cultivate  the  arts  of  peace,  and  to  intrust  their 
defence  entirely  to  the  men , or  warlike  tribes  of 
the  Six  Nations. 

This  state  of  things  continued  until  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  when  the  Lenni  Lenape  formally 
asserted  their  independence,  and  fearlessly  de- 
clared that  they  were  again  men.  But,  in  a gov- 
ernment so  peculiarly  republican  as  dhe  Indian 
polity,  it  was  not  at  all  times  an  easy’task  to  re- 
strain its  members  within  the  rules  of  the  nation. 
Several  fierce  and  renowned  warriors  of  the  Mo- 
hegans, finding  the  conflict  with  the  whites  to  be 
in  vain,  sought  a refuge  with  their  grandfather, 
and  brought  with  them  the  feelings  and  principles 


38 


THE  PIONEERS. 


that  had  so  long  distinguished  them  in  their  own 
tribe.  These  chieftains  kept  alive,  in  some  meas- 
ure, the  martial  spirit  of  the  Delawares;  and 
would,  at  times,  lead  small  parties  against  their 
ancient  enemies,  or  such  other  foes  as  incurred 
their  resentment. 

Among  these  warriors  was  one  race  particu- 
larly famous  for  their  prowess,  and  for  those 
qualities  that  render  an  Indian  hero  celebrated. 
But  war,  time,  disease,  and  want,  had  conspired 
to  thin  their  number ; and  the  sole  representative 
of  this  once  renowned  family  now  stood  in  the  hall 
of  Marmaduke  Temple.  He  had  for  a long  time 
been  an  associate  of  the  white  men,  particularly 
in  their  wars ; and  having  been,  at  a season  when 
his  services  were  of  importance,  much  noticed  and 
flattered,  he  had  turned  Christian,  and  was  bap- 
tized by  the  name  of  John.  He  had  suffered 
severely  in  his  family  during  the  recent  war,  hav- 
ing had  every  soul  to  whom  he  was  allied  cut  off 
by  an  inroad  of  the  enemy ; and  when  the  last, 
lingering  remnant  of  his  nation  extinguished  their 
fires,  among  the  hills  of  the  Delaware,  he  alone 
had  remained,  with  a determination  of  laying  his 
bones  in  that  country,  where  his  fathers  had  so 
long  lived  and  governed. 

It  was  only,  however,  within  a few  months, 
that  he  had  appeared  among  the  mountains  that 
surrounded  Templeton.  To  the  hut  of  the  old 
hunter  he  seemed  peculiarly  welcome ; and,  as 
the  habits  of  the  Leather-stocking  were  so  near- 
ly assimilated  to  those  of  the  savages,  the  con- 
junction of  their  interests  excited  no  surprise. 
They  resided  in  the  same  cabin,  ate  of  the  same 
food,  and  were  chiefly  occupied  in  the  same  pur- 
suits. 

We  have  already  mentioned  the  baptismal 
uame  of  this  ancient  chief ; but  in  his  conversa- 
tion with  Natty,  held  in  the  language  of  the  Dela- 
wares, he  was  heard  uniformly  to  call  himself 
Chingachgook,  which,  interpreted,  means  the 
44  Great  Snake.”  This  name  he  had  acquired  in 
his  youth,  by  his  skill  and  prowess  in  war  ; but 
when  his  brows  began  to  wrinkle  with  time,  and 
he  stood  alone,  the  last  of  his  family,  and  his  par- 
ticular tribe,  the  few  Delawares,  who  yet  continued 
about  the  head-waters  of  their  river,  gave  him 
the  mournful  appellation  of  Mohegan.  Perhaps 
there  was  something  of  deep  feeling  excited  in 
the  bosom;  of  this  inhabitant  of  the  forest  by  the 
sound  of  1u  name  that  recalled  the  idea  of  his 
nation  in  ruins,  for  he  seldom  used  it  himself — 
never  indeed,  excepting  on  the  most  solemn  oc- 
casions ; but  the  settlers  had  united,  according  to 
the  Christian  custom,  his  baptismal  with  his 
national  name,  and  to  them  he  was  generally 


known  as  John  Mohegan,  or,  more  familiarly,  as 
Indian  John. 

From  his  long  association  with  the  white  meu, 
the  habits  of  Mohegan  were  a mixture  of  the 
civilized  and  savage  states,  though  there  was  cer- 
tainly  a strong  preponderance  in  favor  of  the  lat- 
ter. In  common  with  all  his  people,  who  dwelt 
within  the  influence  of  the  Anglo-Americans,  he 
had  acquired  new  wants,  and  his  dress  was  a mix- 
ture of  his  native  and  European  fashions.  Not- 
withstanding the  intense  cold  without,  his  head 
was  uncovered ; but  a profusion  of  long,  black, 
coarse  hair  concealed  his  forehead,  his  crown,  and 
even  hung  about  his  cheeks,  so  as  to  convey  the 
idea,  to  one  who  knew  his  present  and  former 
conditions,  that  he  encouraged  its  abundance,  as 
a willing  veil,  to  hide  the  shame  of  a noble  soul, 
mourning  for  glory  once  known.  His  forehead, 
when  it  could  be  seen,  appeared  lofty,  broad, 
and  noble.  His  nose  was  high,  and  of  the  kind 
called  Roman,  with  nostrils  that  expanded,  in  his 
seventieth  year,  with  the  freedom  that  had  dis- 
tinguished them  in  youth.  His  mouth  was  large, 
but  compressed,  and  possessing  a great  share  of 
expression  and  character ; and,  when  opened,  it 
discovered  a perfect  set  of  short,  strong,  and 
regular  teeth.  His  chin  was  full,  though  not 
prominent ; and  his  face  bore  the  infallible  mark 
of  his  people,  in  its  square,  high  cheek-bones. 
The  eyes  were  not  large,  but  their  black  orbs 
glittered  in  the  rays  of  the  candles,  as  he  gazed 
intently  down  the  hall,  like  two  balls  of  fire. 

The  instant  that  Mohegan  observed  himself  to 
be  noticed  by  the  group  around  the  young  stran- 
ger, he  dropped  the  blanket  which  covered  the 
upper  part  of  his  frame,  from  his  shoulders,  suf- 
fering it  to  fall  over  his  leggins  of  untanned  deer- 
skin, where  it  was  retained  by  a belt  of  bark  that 
confined  it  to  his  waist. 

As  he  walked  slowly  down  the  long  hall,  the 
dignified  and  deliberate  tread  of  the  Indian  sur- 
prised the  spectators.  His  shoulders,  and  body 
to  his  waist,  were  entirely  bare,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a silver  medallion  of  Washington,  that 
was  suspended  from  his  neck  by  a thong  of  buck- 
skin, and  rested  on  his  high  chest,  amid  many 
scars.  His  shoulders  were  rather  broad  and  full; 
but  the  arms,  though  straight  and  graceful,  want* 
ed  the  muscular  appearance  that  labor  gives  to 
a race  of  men.  The  medallion  was  the  only  or- 
nament he  wore,  although  enormous  slits  in  the 
rim  of  either  ear,  which  suffered  the  cartilages  to 
fall  two  inches  below  the  members,  had  evidently 
been  used  for  the  purposes  of  decoration  in 
other  days.  In  his  hand  he  held  a small  basket 
of  the  ash -wood  slips,  colored  in  divers  fantasti 


MOHEGAN,  OR  INDIAN  JOHN 


39 


ral  conceits,  with  red  and  black  paints  mingled 
with  the  white  of  the  wood. 

As  this  child  of  the  forest  approached  them, 
the  whole  party  stood  aside,  and  allowed  him  to 
confront  the  object  of  his  visit.  He  did  not  speak, 
however,  but  stood  fixing  his  glowing  eyes  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  young  hunter,  and  then  turning 
them  intently  on  the  countenance  of  the  Judge. 
The  latter  was  a good  deal  astonished  at  this  un- 
usual departure  from  the  ordinarily  subdued  and 
quiet  manner  of  the  Indian ; but  he  extended  his 
hand,  and  said : 

“Thou  art  welcome,  John.  This  youth  enter- 
tains a high  opinion  of  thy  skill,  it  seems,  for  he 
prefers  thee  to  dress  his  wound  even  to  our  good 
friend,  Dr.  Todd.” 

Mohegan  now  spoke,  in  tolerable  English, 
but  in  a low,  monotonous,  guttural  tone : 

“ The  children  of  Miquon  do  not  love  the 
sight  of  blood ; and  yet  the  Young  Eagle  has 
been  struck  by  the  hand  that  should  do  no 
evil ! ” 

“ Mohegan  ! old  John  ! ” exclaimed  the  Judge, 
“thinkest  thou  that  my  hand  has  ever  drawn 
human  blood  willingly?  For  shame!  for  shame, 
old  John ! thy  religion  should  have  taught  thee 
better.” 

“ The  evil  spirit  sometimes  lives  in  the  best 
heart,”  returned  John,  “ but  my  brother  speaks 
the  truth  ; his  hand  has  never  taken  life,  when 
awake ; no  ! not  even  when  the  children  of  the 
great  English  Father  were  making  the  waters  red 
with  the  blood  of  his  people.” 

“ Surely,  John,”  said  Mr.  Grant,  with  much 
earnestness,  “you  remember  the  divine  command 
of  our  Saviour,  ‘ Judge  not,  lest  ye  be  judged.’ 
What  motive  could  Judge  Temple  have  for  injur- 
ing a youth  like  this ; one  to  whom  he  is  un- 
known, and  from  whom  he  can  receive  neither 
injury  nor  favor  ? ” 

John  listened  respectfully  to  the  divine,  and, 
when  he  had  concluded,  he  stretched  out  his  arm, 
and  said  with  energy : 

“ He  is  innocent — my  brother  has  not  done 
this.” 

Marmaduke  received  the  offered  hand  of  the 
other  with  a smile,  that  showed,  however  he 
might  be  astonished  at  his  suspicion,  he  had 
ceased  to  resent  it ; while  the  wounded  youth 
stood,  gazing  from  his  red  friend  to  his  host,  with 
interest  powerfully  delineated  in  his  countenance. 
No  sooner  was  this  act  of  pacification  exchanged, 
than  John  proceeded  to  discharge  the  duty  on 
which  he  had  come.  Dr.  Todd  was  far  from 
manifesting  any  displeasure  at  this  invasion  of 
his  rights,  but  made  way  for  the  new  leech,  with 


an  air  that  express  ed  a willingness  to  gratify  the 
humors  of  his  patient,  now  that  the  all-important 
part  of  the  business  was  so  successfully  per- 
formed, and  nothing  remained  to  be  done  but 
what  any  child  might  effect.  Indeed,  he  whis- 
pered as  much  to  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  when  he 
said : 

“ It  was  fortunate  that  the  ball  was  extracted 
before  this  Indian  came  in ; but  any  old  woman' 
can  dress  the  wound.  The  young  man,  I hear, 
lives  with  John  and  Natty  Bumppo,  and  it’s  al- 
ways best  to  humor  a patient,  when  it  can  be 
done  discreetly — I say,  discreetly,  monsieur.” 

“ Certainement,”  returned  the  Frenchman ; 
<‘you  seem  ver  happy,  mister  Todd,  in  your  pra- 
tique. I tink  the  elder  lady  might  ver  well  finish 
vat  you  so  skeelfully  begin.” 

But  Richard  had,  at  the  bottom,  a great  deal 
of  veneration  for  the  knowledge  of  Mohegan, 
especially  in  external  wounds  ; and,  retaining  all 
his  desire  for  a participation  in  glory,  he  advanced 
nigh  the  Indian,  and  said  : 

“ Sago,  sago,  Mohegan ! sago,  my  good  fel- 
low ! I am  glad  you  have  come ; give  me  a 
regular  physician,  like  Dr.  Todd,  to  cut  into 
flesh,  and  a native  to  heal  the  wound.  Do  you 
remember,  John,  the  time  when  I and  you  set  the 
bone  of  Natty  Bumppo’s  little  finger,  after  he 
broke  it  by  falling  from  the  rock,  when  he  was 
trying  to  get  the  partridge  that  fell  on  the  cliffs. 

I never  could  tell  yet,  whether  it  was  I or  Natty 
who  killed  that  bird  : he  fired  first,  and  the  bird 
stooped,  and  then  it  was  rising  again  as  I pulled 
trigger.  I should  have  claimed  it,  for  a certainty, 
but  Natty  said  the  hole  was  too  big  for  shot,  and 
he  fired  a single  ball  from  his  rifle  ; but  the  piece 
I carried  then  didn’t  scatter,  and  I have  known 
it  to  bore  a hole  through  a board,  when  I’ve  been 
shooting  at  a mark,  very  much  like  rifle  bullets. 
Shall  I help  you,  John  ? You  know  I have  a 
knack  at  these  things.” 

Mohegan  heard  this  disquisition  quite  pa- 
tiently, and,  when  Richard  concluded,  he  held  out 
the  basket  which  contained  his  specifics,  indicat- 
ing, by  a gesture,  that  he  might  hold  it.  Mr. 
Jones  was  quite  satisfied  with  this  commission ; 
and,  ever  after,  in  speaking  of  the  event,  was 
used  to  say, .that  “Doctor  Todd  and  I cut  out  the 
bullet,  and  I and  Indian  John  dressed  the 
wound.” 

The  patient  was  much  more  deserving  of  that 
epithet  while  under  the  hands  of  Mohegan,  than 
while  suffering  under  the  practice  of  the  phy- 
sician. Indeed,  the  Indian  gave  him  but  little 
opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  a forbearing  tem- 
per, as  he  had  come  prepared  for  the  occasion. 


40 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Hia  dressings  were  soon  applied,  and  consisted 
only  of  some  pounded  bark,  moistened  with  a 
fluid  that  he  had  expressed  from  some  of  the 
simples  of  the  woods. 

Among  the  native  tribes  of  the  forest,  there 
were  always  two  kinds  of  leeches  to  be  met  with. 
The  one  placed  its  whole  dependence  on  the  ex- 
ercise of  a supernatural  power,  and  was  held  in 
greater  veneration  than  their  practice  could  at  all 
justify ; but  the  other  was  really  endowed  with 
great  skill  in  the  ordinary  complaints  of  the  hu- 
man body,  and  was  more  particularly,  as  Natty 
had  intimated,  “ curous  in  cuts  and  bruises.” 

While  John  and  Richard  were  placing  the 
dressings  on  the  wound,  Elnathan  was  acutely 
eying  the  contents  of  Mohegan’s  basket,  which 
Mr.  Jones,  in  his  physical  ardor,  had  transferrfed 
to  the  doctor,  in  order  to  hold,  himself,  one  end 
of  the  bandages.  Here  he  was  soon  enabled  to 
detect  sundry  fragments  of  wood  and  bark,  of 
which  he,  quite  coolly,  took  possession,  very  pos- 
sibly without  any  intention  of  speaking  at  all  up- 
on the  subject ; but,  when  he  beheld  the  full  blue 
eye  of  Marmaduke  watching  his  movements,  he 
whispered  to  the  Judge  : 

“ It  is  not  to  be  denied,  Judge  Temple,  but 
what  the  savages  are  knowing  in  small  matters 
of  physic.  They  hand  these  things  down  in  their 
traditions.  Now  in  cancers  and  hydro phoby,  they 
are  quite  ingenious.  I will  just  take  this  bark 
home  and  analyze  it ; for,  though  it  can’t  be  worth 
sixpence  to  the  young  man’s  shoulder,  it  may  be 
good  for  the  toothache,  or  rheumatism,  or  some 
of  them  complaints.  A man  should  never  be 
above  learning,  even  if  it  be  from  an  Indian.” 

It  was  fortunate  for  Dr.  Todd  that  his  princi- 
ples were  so  liberal,  as,  coupled  with  his  practice, 
they  were  the  means  by  which  he  acquired  all  his 
knowledge,  and  by  which  he  was  gradually  quali- 
fying himself  for  the  duties  of  his  profession. 
The  process  to  which  he  subjected  the  specific, 
differed,  however,  greatly  from  the  ordinary  rules 
of  chemistry  ; for,  instead  of  separating,  he  after- 
ward united  the  component  parts  of  Mohegan’s 
remedy,  and  was  thus  able  to  discover  the  tree 
whence  the  Indian  had  taken  it. 

Some  ten  years  after  this  event,  when  civiliza- 
tion and  its  refinements  had  crept,  or  rather 
rushed,  into  the  settlements  among  these  wild 
hills,  an  affair  of  honor  occurred,  and  Elnathan 
was  seen  to  apply  a salve  to  the  wound  received 
by  one  of  the  parties,  which  had  the  flavor  that 
was  peculiar  to  the  tree,  or  root,  that  Mohegan 
had  used.  Ten  years  later  still,  when  England 
and  the  United  States  were  again  engaged  in  war, 
and  the  hordes  of  the  western  parts  of  the  State 


of  New  York  were  rushing  to  the  field,  Elnathan, 
presuming  on  the  reputation  obtained  by  the3e 
two  operations,  followed  in  the  rear  of  a brigado 
of  militia  as  its  surgeon ! 

When  Mohegan  had  applied  the  bark,  he  free- 
ly relinquished  to  Richard  the  needle  and  thread 
that  were  used  in  sewing  the  bandages,  for  these 
were  implements  of  which  the  native  but  little 
understood  the  use  ; and,  stepping  back  with  de- 
cent gravity,  awaited  the  completion  of  the  busi- 
ness by  the  other. 

“ Reach  me  the  scissors,”  said  Mr.  Jones, 
when  he  had  finished,  and  finished  for  the  second 
time,  after  tying  the  linen  in  every  shape  and 
form  that  it  could  be  placed ; “ reach  me  the 
scissors,  for  here  is  a thread  that  must  be  cut  off, 
or  it  might  get  under  the  dressings,  and  inflame 
the  wound.  See,  John,  I have  put  the  lint  I 
scraped  between  two  layers  of  the  linen ; for 
though  the  bark  is  certainly  best  for  the  flesh, 
yet  the  lint  will  serve  to  keep  the  cold  air  from 
the  wound.  If  any  lint  will  do  it  good,  it  is  this 
lint ; I scraped  it  myself,  and  I will  not  turn  my 
back  at  scraping  lint  to  any  man  on  the  Pat- 
ent. I ought  to  know  how,  if  any  body  ought, 
for  my  grandfather  was  a doctor,  and  my  father 
had  a natural  turn  that  way.” 

“ Here,  squire,  is  the  scissors,”  said  Remarka- 
ble, producing  from  beneath  her  petticoat  of 
green  moreen  a pair  of  dull-looking  shears ; “ well, 
upon  my  say-so,  you  have  sewed  on  the  rags  as 
well  as  a woman.” 

“ As  well  as  a woman  ! ” echoed  Richard,  with 
indignation  ; “ what  do  women  know  of  such  mat- 
ters ? and  you  are  proof  of  the  truth  of  what  I 
say.  Who  ever  saw  such  a pair  of  shears  used 
about  a wound  ? Dr.  Todd,  I will  thank  you  for 
the  scissors  from  the  case.  Now,  young  man,  I 
think  you’ll  do.  The  shot  has  been  very  neatly 
taken  out,  although  perhaps,  seeing  I had  a hand 
in  it,  I ought  not  to  say  so ; and  the  wound  is  ad- 
mirably dressed.  You  will  soon  be  well  again; 
though  the  jerk  you  gave  my  leaders  must  have 
a tendency  to  inflame  the  shoulder,  yet  you  will 
do,  you  will  do.  You  were  rather  flurried,  I sup- 
pose, and  not  used  to  horses  ; but  I forgive  the 
accident  for  the  motive : no  doubt  you  had  the 
best  of  motives  ; yes,  now  you  will  do.” 

“ Then,  gentlemen,”  said  the  wounded  stran- 
ger, rising,  and  resuming  his  clothes,  “ it  will  be 
unnecessary  for  me  to  trespass  longer  on  your 
time  and  patience.  There  remains  but  one  thing 
more  to  be  settled,  and  that  is,  our  respective 
rights  to  the  deer,  Judge  Temple.” 

“ I acknowledge  it  to  be  thine,”  said  Marma- 
duke ; “ and  much  more  deeply  am  I indebted  to 


THE  CLAIMS  OF  OLIVER  EDWARDS. 


41 


*hee  than  for  this  piece  of  venison.  But  in  the 
morning  thou  wilt  call  here,  and  we  can  adjust 
this,  as  well  as  more  important  matters. — Eliza- 
beth ” — for  the  young  lady,  being  apprised  that 
the  wound  was  dressed,  had  reentered  the  hall — 
“ thou  wilt  order  a repast  for  this  youth  before 
we  proceed  to  the  church ; and  Aggy  will  have  a 
sleigh  prepared,  to  convey  him  to  his  friend.” 

“ But,  sir,  I cannot  go  without  a part  of  the 
deer,”  returned  the  youth,  seemingly  struggling 
with  his  own  feelings  ; “ I have  already  told  you 
that  I needed  the  venison  for  myself.” 

“ Oh ! we  will  not  be  particular,”  exclaimed 
Richard;  “ the  Judge  will  pay  you  in  the  morning 
for  the  whole  deer ; and,  Remarkable,  give  the  lad  all 
the  animal  excepting  the  saddle  ; so,  on  the  whole, 
I think  you  may  consider  yourself  as  a very  lucky 
young  man — you  have  been  shot  without  being 
disabled  ; have  had  the  wound  dressed  in  the  best 
possible  manner  here  in  the  woods,  as  well  as  it 
would  have  been  done  in  the  Philadelphia  hospi- 
tal, if  not  better  ; have  sold  your  deer  at  a high 
price,  and  yet  can  keep  most  of  the  carcass,  with 
the  skin  in  the  bargain.  ’Marky,  tell  Tom  to 
give  him  the  skin,  too  ; and  in  the  morning  bring 
the  skin  to  me,  and  I will  give  you  half  a dollar 
for  it,  or  at  least  three-and-sixpence.  I want  just 
such  a skin  to  cover  the  pillion  that  I am  making 
for  cousin  Bess.” 

“ I thank  you,  sir,  for  your  liberality,  and,  I 
trust,  am  also  thankful  for  my  escape,”  returned 
the  stranger  ; “ but  you  reserve  the  very  part  of 
the  animal  that  I wished  for  my  own  use.  I 
must  have  the  saddle  myself.” 

“ Must ! ” echoed  Richard  ; “ must  is  harder 
to  be  swallowed  than  the  horns  of  the  buck.” 

“ Yes,  must,”  repeated  the  youth : when, 
turning  his  head  proudly  around  him,  as  if  to 
see  who  would  dare  to  controvert  his  rights,  he 
met  the  astonished  gaze  of  Elizabeth,  and  pro- 
ceeded more  mildly — “ that  is,  if  a man  is  allowed 
the  possession  of  that  which  his  hand  hath 
killed,  and  the  law  will  protect  him  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  own.” 

“ The  law  will  do  so,”  said  Judge  Temple, 
with  an  air  of  mortification  mingled  with  surprise. 
— “ Benjamin,  see  that  the  whole  deer  is  placed  in 
the  sleigh  ; and  have  this  youth  conveyed  to  the 
hut  of  Leather-stocking. — But,  young  man,  thou 
hast  a name,  and  I shall  see  you  again,  in  order 
to  compensate  thee  for  the  wrong  I have  done 
thee  ? ” 

“ I am  called  Edwards,”  returned  the  hunter ; 
“ Oliver  Edwards.  I am  easily  to  be  seen,  sir,  for 
I live  nigh  by,  and  am  not  afraid  to  show  my  face, 
having  never  injured  any  man.” 


“ It  is  we  who  have  injured  you,  sir,”  said 
Elizabeth  ; “ and  the  knowledge  that  you  decline 
our  assistance  would  give  my  father  great  pain. 
He  would  gladly  see  you  in  the  morning.” 

The  young  hunter  gazed  at  the  fair  speaker 
until  his  earnest  look  brought  the  blood  to  her 
temples ; when,  recollecting  himself,  he  bent  his 
head,  dropping  his  eyes  to  the  carpet,  and  re- 
plied : 

“ In  the  morning,  then,  will  I return,  and  see 
Judge  Temple  ; and  I will  accept  his  offer  of  the 
sleigh,  in  token  of  amity.” 

“ Amity  !■”  repeated  Marmaduke  ; u there  was 
no  malice  in  the  act  that  injured  thee,  young  man ; 
there  should  be  none  in  the  feelings  which  it  may 
engender.” 

“ Forgive  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  those 
who  trespass  against  us,”  observed  Mr.  Grant, 
“ is  the  language  used  by  our  Divine  Master  him- 
self, and  it  should  be  the  golden  rule  of  us,  his 
humble  followers.” 

The  stranger  stood  a moment,  lost  in  thought, 
and  then,  glancing  his  dark  eyes  rather  wildly 
around  the  hall,  he  bowed  low  to  the  divine,  and 
moved  from  the  apartment  with  an  air  that  would 
not  admit  of  detention. 

“ ’Tis  strange  that  one  so  young  should  har- 
bor such  feelings  of  resentment,”  said  Marmaduke, 
when  the  door  closed  behind  the  stranger ; “ but 
while  the  pain  is  recent,  and  the  sense  of  the  in- 
jury so  fresh,  he  must  feel  more  strongly  than  in 
cooler  moments.  I doubt  not  we  shall  see  him 
in  the  morning  more  tractable.” 

Elizabeth,  to  whom  this  speech  was  addressed, 
did  not  reply,  but  moved  slowly  up  the  hall,  by 
herself,  fixing  her  eyes  on  the  little  figure  of  the 
English  ingrained  carpet  that  covered  the  floor  ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  Richard  gave  a loud 
crack  with  his  whip,  as  the  stranger  disappeared, 
and  cried : 

“Well,  ’duke,  you  are  your  own  master,  but 
I would  have  tried  law  for  the  saddle,  before  I 
would  have  given  it  to  the  fellow.  Do  you  not 
own  the  mountains  as  well  as  the  valleys  ? are  not 
the  woods  your  own  ? what  right  has  this  chap, 
or  the  Leather-stocking,  to  shoot  in  your  woods, 
without  your  permission  ? Now,  I have  known  a 
farmer  in  Pennsylvania  order  a sportsman  off  his 
farm  with  as  little  ceremony  as  I would  order 
Benjamin  to  put  a log  in  the  stove. — By-the-by, 
Benjamin,  see  how  the  thermometer  stands. — 
Now,  if  a man  has  a right  to  do  this  on  a farm  of 
a hundred  acres,  what  power  must  a landlord 
have  who  owns  sixty  thousand — ay,  for  the  mat- 
ter of  that,  including  the  late  purchases,  a hun- 
dred thousand  ? There  is  Mohegan,  to  be  suret 


&2 


THE  PIONEERS. 


he  may  have  some  right,  being  a native ; but  it’s 
little  the  poor  fellow  can  do  now  with  his  rifle. 
How  is  this  managed  in  France,  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  ? 
Do  you  let  everybody  run  over  your  land  in  that 
country,  helter-skelter,  as  they  do  here,  shooting 
the  game,  so  that  a gentleman  has  but  little  or  no 
chance  with  his  gun  ? ” 

“ Bah ! diable,  no,  Meester  Deeck,”  replied 
the  Frenchman  ; “we  give,  in  France,  no  liberty 
except  to  the  ladi.” 

“Yes,  yes,  to  the  women,  I know,”  said  Rich- 
ard, “that  is  your  Salic  law.  I read,  sir,  all 
kinds  of  books  ; of  France,  as  well  as  England  ; 
of  Greece,  as  well  as  Rome.  But  if  I were  in 
’duke’s  place,  I would  stick  up  advertisements  to- 
morrow morning,  forbidding  all  persons  to  shoot, 
or  trespass  in  any  manner,  on  my  woods.  I could 
write  such  an  advertisement  myself,  in  an  hour, 
as  would  put  a stop  to  the  thing  at  once.” 

“ Richart,”  said  Major  Hartmann,  very  coolly 
knocking  the  ashes  from  his  pipe  into  the  spit- 
ting-box by  his  side,  “ now  listen ; I have  livet 
seventy-five  years  on  ter  Mohawk,  and  in  ter 
woots.  You  had  better  mettle  as  mit  ter  deyvel, 
as  mit  ter  hunters.  Tey  live  mit  ter  gun,  and  a 
rifle  is  better  as  ter  law.” 

“A’nt  Marmaduke  a judge?”  said  Richard, 
indignantly.  “ Where  is  the  use  of  being  a judge, 
or  having  a judge,  if  there  is  no  law  ? Damn  the 
fellow ! I have  a great  mind  to  sue  him  in  the 
morning  myself,  before  Squire  Doolittle,  for  med- 
dling with  my  leaders.  I am  not  afraid  of  his 
rifle.  I can  shoot  too.  I have  hit  a dollar  many 
a time  at  fifty  rods.” 

“Thou  hast  missed  more  dollars  than  ever 
thou  hast  hit,  Dickon,”  exclaimed  the  cheerful 
voice  of  the  Judge.  “ But  we  will  now  take  our 
evening’s  repast,  which,  I perceive  by  Remark- 
able’s physiognomy,  is  ready. — Monsieur  Le  Quoi, 
Miss  Temple  has  a hand  at  your  service. — Will 
you  lead  the  way,  my  child  ? ” 

“ Ah ! ma  chere  mam’selle,  comme  je  suis  en- 
chante  ! ” said  the  Frenchman.  “II  ne  manque 
que  les  dames  de  faire  un  paradis  de  Templeton.” 

Mr.  Grant  and  Mohegan  continued  in  the 
hall,  while  the  remainder  of  the  party  withdrew 
to  an  eating-parlor,  if  we  except  Benjamin,  who 
civilly  remained,  to  close  the  rear  after  the  clergy- 
man, and  to  open  the  front  door  for  the  exit  of  the 
Indian. 

“ John,”  said  the  divine,  when  the  figure  of 
Judge  Temple  disappeared,  the  last  of  the  group, 

“ to-morrow  is  the  festival  of  the  nativity  of  our 
blessed  Redeemer,  when  the  church  has  appointed 
prayers  and  thanksgivings  to  be  offered  up  by  her 
eh'ldren,  and  when  all  are  invited  to  partake  of 


the  mystical  elements.  As  you  have  taken  up  the 
cross,  and  become  a follower  of  good  and  an  es- 
chewer  of  evil,  I trust  I shall  see  you  before  the 
altar,  with  a contrite  heart  and  a meek  spirit.” 

“John  will  come,”  said  the  Indian,  betraying 
no  surprise ; though  he  did  not  understand  all 
the  terms  used  by  the  other. 

“ Yes,”  continued  Mr.  Grant,  laying  his  hand 
gently  on  the  tawny  shoulder  of  the  aged  chief^ 
“ but  it  is  not  enough  to  be  there  in  the  body  ; 
you  must  come  in  the  spirit  and  in  truth.  The 
Redeemer  died  for  all,  for  the  poor  Indian  as  well 
as  for  the  white  man.  Heaven  knows  no  differ- 
ence in  color ; nor  must  earth  witness  a separa- 
tion of  the  church.  It  is  good  and  profitable, 
John,  to  freshen  the  understanding,  and  support 
the  wavering,  by  the  observance  of  our  holy  festi- 
vals ; but  all  form  is  but  stench  in  the  nostrils  of 
the  Holy  One,  unless  it  be  accompanied  by  a de- 
vout and 'humble  spirit.” 

The  Indian  stepped  back  a little,  and,  raising 
his  body  to  its  utmost  powers  of  erection,  he 
stretched  his  right  arm  on  high,  and  dropped  his 
forefinger  downward,  as  if  pointing  from  the 
heavens,  then,  striking  his  other  hand  on  his  naked 
breast,  he  said,  with  energy : ' 

“The  eye  of  the  Great  Spirit  can  see  from  the 
clouds — the  bosom  of  Mohegan  is  bare ! ” 

“ It  is  well,  John,  and  I hope  you  will  receive 
profit  and  consolation  from  the  performance  of 
this  duty.  The  Great  Spirit  overlooks  none  of  his 
children ; and  the  man  of  the  woods  is  as  much 
an  object  of  his  care  as  he  who  dwells  in  a palace. 
I wish  you  a good-night,  and  pray  God  to  bless 
you.” 

The  Indian  bent  his  head,  and  they  separated 
— the  one  to  seek  his  hut,  and  the  other  to  join 
the  party  at  the  supper-table.  While  Benjamin 
was  opening  the  door  for  the  passage  of  the  chief, 
he  cried,  in  a tone  that  was  meant  to  be  encourag- 
ing : 

“ The  parson  says  the  word  that  is  true,  John. 
If  so  be  that  they  took  count  of  the  color  of  the 
skin  in  heaven,  why  they  might  refuse  to  muster 
on  their  books  a Christian-born,  like  myself,  just 
for  the  matter  of  a little  tan,  from  cruising  in 
warm  latitudes ; though,  for  the  matter  of  that, 
this  damned  norwester  is  enough  to  whiten  the 
skin  of  a blackamore.  Let  the  reef  out  of  your 
blanket,  man,  or  your  red  hide  will  hardly  weatb 
er  the  night,  without  a touch  from  the  frost.” 


MONSIEUR  LE  QUOI  AND  HIS  FRIENDS. 


43 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

“ For  here  the  exile  met  from  every  clime, 

And  spoke,  in  friendship,  every  distant  tongue.” 

Campbell. 

We  have  made  our  readers  acquainted  with 
fome  variety  in  character  and  nations,  in  intro- 
ducing the  most  important  personages  of  this 
legend  to  their  notice ; but,  in  order  to  establish 
the  fidelity  of  our  narrative,  we  shall  briefly  at- 
tempt to  explain  the  reason  why  we  have  been 
obliged  to  present  so  motley  a dramatis  personae. 

Europe,  at  the  period  of  our  tale,  was  in  the 
commencement  of  that  commotion  which  after- 
ward shook  her  political  institutions  to  the  centre. 
Louis  the  Sixteenth  had  been  beheaded,  and  a 
nation  once  esteemed  the  most  refined  among  the 
civilized  people  of  the  world,  was  changing  its 
character,  and  substituting  cruelty  for  mercy,  and 
subtlety  and  ferocity  for  magnanimity  and  cour- 
age. Thousands  of  Frenchmen  were  compelled 
to  seek  protection  in  distant  lands.  Among  the 
crowds  who  fled  from  France  and  her  islands,  to 
the  United  States  of  America,  was  the  gentleman 
whom  we  have  already  mentioned  as  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi.  He  had  been  recommended  to  the  favor 
of  Judge  Temple,  by  the  head  of  an  eminent  mer- 
cantile house  in  New  York,  with  whom  Marma- 
duke  was  in  habits  of  intimacy,  and  accustomed 
to  exchange  good  offices.  At  his  first  interview 
w'th  the  Frenchman,  our  Judge  had  discovered 
him  to  be  a man  of  breeding,  and  one  who  had 
seen  much  more  prosperous  days  in  his  own  coun- 
try. From  certain  hints  that  had  escaped  him, 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi  was  suspected  of  having  been 
a West-India  planter,  great  numbers  of  whom 
had  fled  from  St.  Domingo  and  the  other  islands, 
and  were  now  living  in  the  Union,  in  a state  of 
comparative  poverty,  and  some  in  absolute  want. 
The  latter  was  not,  however,  the  lot  of  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi.  He  had  but  little,  he  acknowledged ; 
but  that  little  was  enough  to  furnish,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  country,  an  assortment  for  a store. 

The  knowledge  of  Marmaduke  was  eminently 
practical,  and  there  was  no  part  of  a settler's  life 
with  which  he  was  not  familiar.  Under  his  di- 
rection, Monsieur  Le  Quoi  made  some  purchases, 
consisting  of  a few  cloths ; some  groceries,  with 
a good  deal  of  gunpowder  and  tobacco  ; a quan- 
tity of  iron  ware,  among  which  was  a large  pro- 
portion of  Barlow’s  jack-knives,  potash-kettles, 
and  spiders ; a very  formidable  collection  of 
crockery,  of  the  coarsest  quality  and  most  uncouth 
forms  ; together  with  every  other  common  article 
that  the  art  of  man  has  devised  for  his  wants,  not 


forgetting  the  luxuries  of  looking-glasses  and 
Jew’s-harps.  With  this  collection  of  valuablest 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi  had  stepped  behind  a counter, 
and,  with  a wonderful  pliability  of  temperament, 
had  dropped  into  his  assumed  character  as  grace- 
fully as  he  had  ever  moved  in  any  other.  The 
gentleness  and  suavity  of  his  manners  rendered 
him  extremely  popular ; besides  this,  the  women 
soon  discovered  that  he  had  taste.  His  calicoes 
were  the  finest,  or,  in  other  words,  the  most 
showy,  of  any  that  were  brought  into  the  country  ; 
and  it  was  impossible  to  look  at  the  prices  asked 
for  his  goods  by  “ so  pretty  a spoken  man.” 
Through  these  conjoint  means,  the  affairs  of 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi  were  again  in  a prosperous 
condition,  and  he  was  looked  up  to  by  the  settlers 
as  the  second-best  man  on  the  “ Patent.” 

The  term  “ Patent,”  which  we  have  already 
used,  and  for  which  we  may  have  further  occa- 
sion, meant  the  district  of  country  that  had  been 
originally  granted  to  old  Major  Effingham  by  the 
“ king’s  letters  patent,”  and  which  had  now  be- 
come, by  purchase  under  the  act  of  confiscation, 
the  property  of  Marmaduke  Temple.  It  was  a 
term  in  common  use  throughout  the  vew  parts  of 
the  State  ; and  was  usually  annexed  to  the  land- 
lord’s name,  as  “ Temple’s  or  Effingham’s  Patent.” 

Major  Hartmann  was  a descendant  of  a man 
who,  in  company  with  a number  of  his  country- 
men, had  emigrated,  with  their  families,  from  the 
banks  of  the  Rhine  to  those  of  the  Mohawk. 
This  migration  had  occurred  as  far  back  as  the 
reign  of  Queen  Anne  ; and  their  descendants  were 
now  living,  in  great  peace  and  plenty,  on  the  fer- 
tile borders  of  that  beautiful  stream. 

The  Germans,  or  “ High  Dutchers,”  as  they 
were  called,  to  distinguish  them  from  the  original 
or  Low  Dutch  colonists,  were  a very  peculiar  peo- 
ple. They  possessed  all  the  gravity  of  the  latter, 
without  any  of  their  phlegm ; and;  like  them,  the 
“ High  Dutchers  ” were  industrious,  honest,  and 
economical. 

Fritz,  or  Frederick  Hartmann,  was  an  epitome 
of  all  the  vices  and  virtues,  foibles  and  excel- 
lences, of  his  race.  He  was  passionate,  though 
silent,  obstinate,  and  a good  deal  suspicious  of 
strangers  ; of  immovable  courage,  inflexible  hon- 
esty, and  undeviating  in  his  friendships.  Indeed 
there  was  no  change  about  him,  unless  it  were 
from  grave  to  gay.  He  was  serious  by  months, 
and  jolly  by  weeks.  He  had,  early  in  their  ac- 
quaintance, formed  an  attachment  for  Marmaduke 
Temple,  who  was  the  only  man  that  could  not 
speak  High  Dutch  that  ever  gained  his  entire  confi- 
dence.  Four  times  in  each  year,  at  periods  equidis- 
tant, he  left  his  low  stone  dwelling  on  the  banks  of 


44 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  Mohawk,  and  travelled  thirty  miles,  through 
the  hills,  to  the  door  of  the  mansion-house  in 
Templeton.  Here  he  generally  stayed  a week ; 
and  was  reputed  to  spend  much  of  that  time 
in  riotous  living,  greatly  countenanced  by  Mr. 
Richard  Jones.  But  every  one  loved  him,  even 
to  Remarkable  Pettibone,  to  whom  he  occasioned 
some  additional  trouble,  he  was  so  frank,  so  sin- 
cere, and,  at  times,  so  mirthful.  He  was  now  on 
his  regular  Christmas  visit,  and  had  not  been  in 
the  village  an  hour  when  Richard  summoned  him 
to  fill  a seat  in  the  sleigh,  to  meet  the  landlord 
and  his  daughter. 

Before  explaining  the  character  and  situation 
of  Mr.  Grant,  it  will  be  necessary  to  recur  to 
t^mes  far  back  in  the  brief  history  of  the  settle- 
ment. 

There  seems  to  be  a tendency  in  human  na- 
ture to  endeavor  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  this 
world,  before  our  attention  is  turned  to  the  busi- 
ness of  the  other.  Religion  was  a quality  but 
little  cultivated  amid  the  stumps  of  Temple’s  Pa- 
tent for  the  first  few  years  of  its  settlement ; but, 
as  most  of  its  inhabitants  were  from  the  moral 
states  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  when 
the  wants  of  nature  were  satisfied,  they  began 
seriously  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  those  customs  and  observances  which 
had  been  the  principal  care  of  their  forefathers. 
There  was  certainly  a great  variety  of  opinions  on 
the  subject  of  grace  and  free-will  among  the  ten- 
antry of  Marmaduke ; and,  when  we  take  into 
consideration  the  variety  of  the  religious  instruc- 
tion which  they  received,  it  can  easily  be  seen 
that  it  could  not  well  be  otherwise. 

Soon  after  the  village  had  been  formally  laid 
out  into  the  streets  and  blocks  that  resembled  a 
city,  a meeting  of  its  inhabitants  had  been  con- 
vened, to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety 
of  establishing  an  academy.  This  measure  origi- 
nated with  Richard,  who,  in  truth,  was  much  dis- 
posed to  have  the  institution  designated  a univer- 
sity, or  at  least  a college.  Meeting  after  meeting 
was  held,  for  this  purpose,  year  after  year.  The 
resolutions  of  these  assemblages  appeared  in  the 
most  conspicuous  columns  of  a little  blue-look- 
ing newspaper,  that  was  already  issued  weekly 
from  the  garret  of  a dwelling-house  in  the  village, 
and  which  the  traveller  might  as  often  see  stuck 
into  the  fissure  of  a stake,  erected  at  the  point 
where  the  footpath  from  the  log-cabin  of  some 
settler  entered  the  highway,  as  a post-office  for 
an  individual.  Sometimes  the  stake  supported  a 
small  box,  and  a whole  neighborhood  received  a 
weekly  supply  for  their  literary  wants,  at  this 
point,  where  the  man  who  “ rides  post  ” regularly 


deposited  a bundle  of  the  precious  commodity 
To  these  flourishing  resolutions,  which  briefly  re 
counted  the  general  utility  of  education,  the  polit 
ical  and  geographical  rights  of  the  village  of  Tem- 
pleton  to  a participation  in  the  favors  of  the 
regents  of  the  university,  the  salubrity  of  the  air, 
and  wholesomeness  of  the  water,  together  with 
the  cheapness  of  food  and  the  superior  state  of 
morals  in  the  neighborhood,  were  uniformly  an- 
nexed, in  large  Roman  capitals,  the  names  of 
Marmaduke  Temple  as  chairman,  and  Richard 
Jones  as  secretary. 

Happily  for  the  success  of  this  undertaking, 
the  regents  were  not  accustomed  to  resist  these 
appeals  to  their  generosity,  whenever  there  was 
the  smallest  prospect  of  a donation  to  second  the 
request.  Eventually  Judge  Temple  concluded  to 
bestow  the  necessary  land,  and  to  erect  the  re- 
quired edifice  at  his  own  expense.  The  skill  of 
Mr.,  or,  as  he  was  now  called,  from  the  circum- 
stance of  having  received  the  commission  of  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  Squire  Doolittle,  was  again 
put  in  requisition  ; and  the  science  of  Mr.  Jones 
was  once  more  resorted  to. 

We  shall  not  recount  the  different  devices  of 
the  architects  on  the  occasion  ; nor  would  it  be 
decorous  so  to  do,  seeing  that  there  was  a con- 
vocation of  the  society  of  the  ancient  and  honor- 
able fraternity  “of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons,” at  the  head  of  whom  was  Richard,  in  the 
capacity  of  master,  doubtless  to  approve  or  re- 
ject such  of  the  plans  as,  in  their  wisdom,  they 
deemed  to  be  for  the  best.  The  knotty  point 
was,  however,  soon  decided  ; and,  on  the  appoint- 
ed day,  the  brotherhood  marched  in  great  state, 
displaying  sundry  banners  and  mysterious  sym- 
bols, each  man  with  a little  mimic  apron  before 
him,  from  a most  cunningly  contrived  apartment 
in  the  garret  of  the  “ Bold  Dragoon,”  an  inn  kept 
by  one  Captain  Hollister,  to  the  site  of  the  in- 
tended edifice.  Here  Richard  laid  the  corner- 
stone, with  suitable  gravity,  amidst  an  assem- 
blage of  more  than  half  the  men,  and  all  the 
women,  within  ten  miles  of  Templeton. 

In  the  course  of  the  succeeding  week  there 
was  another  meeting  of  the  people,  not  omitting 
swarms  of  the  gentler  sex,  when  the  abilities  of 
Hiram  at  the  “ square  rule ’’were  put  to  the 
test  of  experiment.  The  frame  fitted  well;  and 
the  skeleton  of  the  fabric  was  reared  without  a 
single  accident,  if  we  except  a few  falls  from 
horses  while  the  laborers  were  returning  home  in 
the  evening.  From  this  time  the  -work  advanced 
with  great  rapidity,  and  in  the  course  of  the  sea- 
son the  labor  was  completed ; the  edifice  standing, 
in  all  its  beauty  and  proportions,  the  boast  of  the 


THE  ACADEMY  AT  TEMPLETON. 


45 


village,  the  study  of  young  aspirants  for  architect- 
ural fame,  and  the  admiration  of  every  settler  on 
the  Patent. 

It  was  a long,  narrow  house  of  wood,  painted 
white,  and  more  than  half  windows;  and,  when 
the  observer  stood  at  the  western  side  of  the 
building,  the  edifice  offered  but  a small  obstacle 
to  a full  view  of  the  rising  sun.  It  was,  in  truth, 
but  a very  comfortless  open  place,  through  which 
the  daylight  shone  with  natural  facility.  On  its 
front  were  divers  ornaments  in  wood,  designed 
by  Richard,  and  executed  by  Hiram  ; but  a win- 
dow in  the  centre  of  the  second  story,  imme- 
diately over  the  door  or  grand  entrance,  and  the 
“steeple,”  were  the  pride  of  the  building.  The 
former  was,  we  believe,  of  the  composite  order  ; 
for  it  included  in  its  composition  a multitude  of 
ornaments,  and  a great  variety  of  proportions. 
It  consisted  of  an  arched  compartment  in  the 
centre,  with  a square  and  small  division  on  either 
side,  the  whole  encased  in  heavy  frames,  deeply 
and  laboriously  moulded  in  pine-wood,  and  lighted 
with  a vast  number  of  blurred  and  green-looking 
glass,  of  those  dimensions  which  are  commonly 
called  “ eight  by  ten.”  Blinds,  that  were  intend- 
ed to  be  painted  green,  kept  the  window  in  a 
state  of  preservation ; and  probably  might  have 
contributed  to  the  effect  of  the  whole,  had  not  the 
failure  in  the  public  funds,  which  seems  always 
to  be  incidental  to  any  undertaking  of  this  kind, 
left  them  in  the  sombre  coat  of  lead-color  with 
which  they  had  been  originally  clothed.  The 
“ steeple  ” was  a little  cupola,  reared  on  the  very 
centre  of  the  roof,  on  four  tall  pillars  of  pine, 
that  were  fluted  with  a gouge,  and  loaded  with 
mouldings.  On  the  tops  of  the  columns  was 
reared  a dome  or  cupola,  resembling  in  shape  an 
inverted  tea-cup,  without  its  bottom,  from  the 
centre  of  which  projected  a spire,  or  shaft  of 
wood,  transfixed  with  two  iron  rods,  that  bore  on 
their  ends  the  letters  N.  S.  E.  and  W.  in  the  same 
metal.  The  whole  was  surmounted  by  an  imita- 
tion of  one  of  the  finny  tribe,  carved  in  wood  by 
the  hands  of  Richard,  and  painted  what  he  called 
a “ scale-color.”  This  animal  Mr.  Jone3  affirmed 
to  be  an  admirable  resemblance  of  a great  favor- 
ite of  the  epicures  in  that  country,  which  bore 
the  title  of  “ lake-fish ; ” and  doubtless  the  asser- 
tion was  true ; for,  although  intended  to  answer 
the  purposes  of  a weathercock,  the  fish  was  ob- 
served invariably  to  look,  with  a longing  eye,  in 
the  direction  of  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water  that 
jay  imbedded  in  the  mountains  of  Templeton. 

For  a short  time  after  the  charter  of  the  re- 
gents was  received,  the  trustees  of  this  institution 
employed  a graduate  of  one  of  the  Eastern  col- 


leges, to  instruct  such  youth  as  aspired  to  know 
ledge  within  the  walls  of  the  edifice  which  we 
have  described.  The  upper  part  of  the  building 
was  in  one  apartment,  and  was  intended  for  gala- 
days  and  exhibitions  ; and  the  lower  contained 
two  rooms,  that  were  intended  for  the  great  di- 
visions of  education,  viz.  the  Latin  and  the  English 
scholars.  The  former  were  never  very  numerous ; 
though  the  sounds  of  “nominative,  pennaa — 
genitive, penny”  were  soon  heard  to  issue  from 
the  windows  of  the  room,  to  the  great  delight  and 
manifest  edification  of  the  passenger. 

Only  one  laborer  in  this  temple  of  Minerva, 
however,  was  known  to  get  so  far  as  to  attempt  a 
translation  of  Virgil.  He,  indeed,  appeared  at 
the  annual  exhibition,  to  the  prodigious  exulta- 
tion of  all  his  relatives,  a farmer’s  family  in  the 
vicinity,  and  repeated  the  whole  of  the  fiist 
eclogue  from  memory,  observing  the  intonations 
of  the  dialogue  with  much  judgment  and  effect. 
The  sounds,  as  they  proceeded  from  his  mouth,  of 
“ Titty-ree  too  patty-lee  ree-coo-bans  sub  teg-mi-nee  faa-gy 
Syl-ves-trem  ten-oo-i  moo-sam,  med-i-taa-ris,  aa-ve-ny” — 
were  the  last  that  had  been  heard  in  that  building, 
as  probably  they  were  the  first  that  had  ever 
been  heard,  in  the  same  language,  there  or  any 
where  else.  By  this  time  the  trustees  discovered 
that  they  had  anticipated  the  age,  and  the  instruc- 
tor, or  principal , was  superseded  by  a master , who 
went  on  to  teach  the  more  humble  lesson  of  “ the 
more  haste  the  worse  speed,”  in  good,  plain 
English. 

From  this  time,  until  the  date  of  our  inci- 
dents, the  academy  was  a common  country 
school,  and  the  great  room  of  the  building  was 
sometimes  used  as  a court-room,  on  extraordinary 
trials ; sometimes  for  conferences  of  the  religious 
and  the  morally  disposed,  in  the  evening;  at 
others  for  a ball,  in  the  afternoon,  given  under 
the  auspices  of  Richard ; and  on  Sundays,  invari- 
ably, as  a place  of  public  worship. 

When  an  itinerant  priest  of  the  persuasion 
of  the  Methodists,  Baptists,  Universalists,  or  of 
the  more  numerous  sett  of  the  Presbyterians, 
was  accidentally  in  the  neighborhood,  he  was 
ordinarily  invited  to  officiate,  and  was  commonly 
rewarded  for  his  services  by  a collection  in  a hat, 
before  the  congregation  separated.  When  no 
such  regular  minister  offered,  a kind  of  colloquial 
prayer  or  two  was  made  by  some  of  the  more 
gifted  members,  and  a sermon  was  usually  read, 
from  Sterne,  by  Mr.  Richard  Jones. 

The  consequences  of  this  desultory  kind  of 
priesthood  was,  as  we  have  already  intimated,  a 
great  diversity  of  opinion  on  the  more  abstruse 
points  of  faith.  Each  sect  had  its  adherents, 


46 


THE  PIONEERS. 


though  neither  was  regularly  organized  and  dis- 
ciplined. Of  the  religious  education  of  Marma- 
duke  we  have  already  written,  nor  was  the  doubt- 
ful character  of  his  faith  completely  removed  by 
his  marriage.  The  mother  of  Elizabeth  was  an 
Episcopalian,  as,  indeed,  was  the  mother  of  the 
Judge  himself;  and  the  good  taste  of  Marma- 
duke  revolted  at  the  familiar  colloquies  which  the 
leaders  of  the  conferences  held  with  the  Deity,  in 
their  nightly  meetings.  In  form,  he  was  cer- 
tainly an  Episcopalian,  though  not  a sectary  of 
that  denomination.  On  the  other  hand,  Richard 
was  as  rigid  in  the  observance  of  the  canons  of 
his  church  as  he  was  inflexible  in  his  opinions. 
Indeed,  he  had  once  or  twice  essayed  to  intro- 
duce the  Episcopal  form  of  service,  on  the 
Sundays  that  the  pulpit  was  vacant ; but  Richard 
was  a good  deal  addicted  to  carrying  things  to  an 
excess,  and  then  there  was  something  so  papal  in 
his  air,  that  the  greater  part  of  his  hearers  de- 
serted him  on  the  second  Sabbath — on  the  third 
his  only  auditor  was  Ben  Pump,  who  had  all  the 
obstinate  and  enlightened  orthodoxy  of  a high 
churchman. 

Before  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  the  English 
church  was  supported,  in  the  colonies,  with  much 
interest,  by  some  of  its  adherents  in  the  mother 
country,  and  a few  of  the  congregations  were  very 
amply  endowed.  But,  for  a season,  after  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  States  was  established,  this  sect 
of  Christians  languished,  for  the  want  of  the  high- 
est order  of  its  priesthood.  Pious  and  suitable  di- 
vines were  at  length  selected,  and  sent  to  the 
mother  country,  to  receive  that  authority,  which, 
it  is  understood,  can  only  be  transmitted  directly 
from  onet  to  the  other,  and  thus  obtain,  in  order  to 
reserve,  that  unity  in  their  churches  which  prop- 
erly belonged  to  a people  of  the  same  nation. 
But  unexpected  difficulties  presented  themselves, 
in  the  oaths  with  which  the  policy  of  England  had 
fettered  their  establishment ; and  much  time  was 
spent  before  a conscientious  sense  of  duty  would 
permit  the  prelates  of  Britain  to  delegate  the  au- 
thority so  earnestly  sought.  Time,  patience,  and 
zeal,  however,  removed  every  impediment ; and  the 
venerable  men,  who  had  been  set  apart  by  the 
American  churches,  at  length  returned  to  their 
expecting  dioceses,  endowed  with  the  most  ele- 
vated functions  of  their  earthly  church.  Priests 
and  deacons  were  ordained ; and  missionaries  pro- 
vided, to  keep  alive  the  expiring  flame  of  devotion 
in  such  members  as  were  deprived  of  the  ordinary 
administrations,  by  dwelling  in  new  and  unorgan- 
ized districts. 

Of  this  number  was  Mr.  Grant.  He  had  been 
sent  into  the  county  of  which  Templeton  was  the 


capital,  and  had  been  kindly  invited  by  Marmaduke, 
and  officiously  pressed  by  Richard,  to  take  up  hi« 
abode  in  the  village.  A small  and  humble  dwell- 
ing was  prepared  for  his  family,  and  the  divine 
had  made  his  appearance  in  the  place  but  a few 
days  previously  to  the  time  of  his  introduction 
to  the  reader.  As  his  forms  were  entirely  new  to 
most  of  the  inhabitants,  and  a clergyman  of  another 
denomination  had  previously  occupied  the  field, 
by  engaging  the  academy,  the  first  Sunday  after 
his  arrival  was  suffered  to  pass  in  silence ; but 
now  that  his  rival  had  passed  on,  like  a meteor, 
filling  the  air  with  the  light  of  his  wisdom,  Richard 
was  empowered  to  give  notice  that  “ Public  wor- 
ship, after  the  forms  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  would  be  held  on  the  night  before  Christ- 
mas, in  the  long  room  of  the  academy  in  Temple- 
ton, by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Grant.” 

This  annunciation  excited  great  commotion 
among  the  different  sectaries.  Some  wondered  as 
to  the  nature  of  the  exhibition  ; others  sneered  ; 
but  a far  greater  part,  recollecting  the  essays  of 
Richard  in  that  way,  and  mindful  of  the  liberality, 
or  rather  laxity  of  Marmaduke’s  notions  on  the 
subject  of  sectarianism,  thought  it  most  prudent 
to  be  silent. 

The  expected  evening  was,  however,  the  won- 
der of  the  hour ; nor  was  the  curiosity  at  all  dimin- 
ished, when  Richard  and  Benjamin,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  eventful  day,  were  seen  to  issue  from 
the  woods  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  village,  each 
bearing  on  his  shoulders  a large  bunch  of  ever- 
greens. This  worthy  pair  was  observed  to  enter 
the  academy,  and  carefully  to  fasten  the  door, 
after  which  their  proceedings  remained  a profound 
secret  to  the  rest  of  the  village  ; Mr.  J ones,  before 
he  commenced  this  mysterious  business,  having 
informed  the  schoolmaster,  to  the  great  delight  of 
the  white-headed  flock  he  governed,  that  there 
could  be  no  school  that  day.  Marmaduke  was 
apprised  of  all  these  preparations,  by  letter,  and 
it  was  especially  arranged,  that  he  and  Elizabeth 
should  arrive  in  season,  to  participate  in  the  so- 
lemnities of  the  evening. 

After  this  digression,  we  shall  return  to  oui 
narrative. 


i 


DINNER  AT  THE  JUDGE’S. 


4? 


CHAPTER  IX. 

“Now  all  admire,  in  each  high-flavored  dish, 

The  capabilities  of  flesh — fowl — fish ; 

In  order  due  each  guest  assumes  his  station, 

Throbs  high  his  breast  with  fond  anticipation 
And  prelibates  the  joys  of  mastication.” 

Heliogabaliad. 

The  apartment  to  which  Monsieur  Le  Quoi 
handed  Elizabeth  communicated  with  the  hall, 
through  the  door  that  led  under  the  urn  which 
was  supposed  to  contain  the  ashes  of  Dido.  The 
room  was  spacious,  and  of  very  just  proportions  ; 
but,  in  its  ornaments  and  furniture,  the  same  di- 
versity of  taste  and  imperfection  of  execution 
were  to  be  observed  as  existed  in  the  hall.  Of 
furniture,  there  were  a dozen  green,  wooden  arm- 
chairs, with  cushions  of  moreen,  taken  from  the 
same  piece  as  the  petticoat  of  Remarkable.  The 
tables  were  spread,  and  their  materials  and  work- 
manship could  not  be  seen ; but  they  were  heavy, 
and  of  great  size.  An  enormous  mirror,  in  a gilt 
frame,  hung  against  the  wall,  and  a cheerful  fire,  of 
the  hard  or  sugar  maple,  was  burning  on  the 
hearth.  The  latter  was  the  first  object  that 
struck  the  attention  of  the  Judge,  who,  on  behold- 
ing it,  exclaimed,  rather  angrily,  to  Richard  : 

“ How  often  have  I forbidden  the  use  of  the 
cagar-maple  in  my  dwelling ! The  sight  of  that 
sap,  as  it  exudes  with  the  heat,  is  painful  to  me, 
Richard.  Really,  it  behooves  the  owner  of  woods 
so  extensive  as  mine,  to  be  cautious  what  exam- 
ple he  sets  his  people,  who  are  already  felling  the 
forests,  as  if  no  end  could  be  found  to  their  treas- 
ures, nor  any  limits  to  their  extent.  If  we  go  on 
in  this  way,  twenty  years  hence  we  shall  want 
fuel.” 

“ Fuel  in  these  hills,  cousin  ’duke ! ” exclaimed 
• Richard,  in  derision — “ fuel ! why,  you  might  as 
well  predict  that  the  fish  will  die,  for  the  want 
of  water  in  the  lake,  because  I intend,  when  the 
frost  gets  opt  of  the  ground,  to  lead  one  or  two  of 
the  springs,  through  logs,  into  the  village.  But 
you  are  always  a little  wild  on  such  subjects,  Mar- 
maduke.” 

“ Is  it  wildness,”  returned  the  Judge,  earnest- 
ly, “ to  condemn  a practice  which  devotes  these 
jewels  of  the  forest,  these  precious  gifts  of  nature, 
these  mines  of  comfort  and  wealth,  to  the  com- 
mon uses  of  a fireplace  ? But  I must,  and  will, 
the  instant  the  snow  is  off  the  earth,  send  out  a 
party  into  the  mountains  to  explore  for  coal.” 

“ Coal ! ” echoed  Richard ; “ who  the  devil  do 
vou  think  will  dig  for  coal,  when  in  hunting  for 
a bushel  he  would  have  to  rip  up  more  roots  of 


trees  than  would  keep  him  n fuel  for  a twelve- 
month  ? Poh ! poh ! Marmaduke,  you  should 
leave  the  management  of  these  things  to  me,  who 
have  a natural  turn  that  way.  It  was  I that  or- 
dered this  fire,  and  a noble  one  it  is,  to  warm  the 
blood  of  my  pretty  cousin  Bess.” 

“ The  motive,  then,  must  be  your  apology, 
Dickon,”  said  the  Judge. — “But,  gentlemen,  we 
are  waiting. — Elizabeth,  my  child,  take  the  head 
of  the  table ; Richard,  I see,  means  to  spare  me 
the  trouble  of  carving,  by  sitting  opposite  to 
you.” 

“ To  be  sure  I do,”  cried  Richard ; “ here  is  a 
turkey  to  carve ; and  I flatter  myself  that  I un- 
derstand carving  a turkey,  or,  for  that  matter,  a 
goose,  as  well  as  any  man  alive. — Mr.  Grant! 
where’s  Mr.  Grant  ? will  you  please  to  say  grace, 
sir  ? Everything  is  getting  cold.  Take  a thing 
from  the  fire,  this  cold  weather,  and  it  will  freeze 
in  five  minutes.  Mr.  Grant ! we  want  you  to  say 
grace.  ‘ For  what  we  are  about  to  receive,  the 
Lord  make  us  thankful.’  Come,  sit  down,  sit 
down.  Do  you  eat  wing  or  breast,  cousin  Bess  ? ” 

But  Elizabeth  had  not  taken  her  seat,  nor 
was  she  in  readiness  to  receive  either  the  wing  or 
breast.  Her  laughing  eyes  were  glancing  at  the 
arrangements  of  the  table,  and  the  quality  and 
selection  of  the  food.  The  eyes  of  the  father  soon 
met  the  wondering  looks  of  his  daughter,  and  he 
said,  with  a smile  : 

“ You  perceive,  my  child,  how  much  we  are 
indebted  to  Remarkable  for  her  skill  in  house- 
wifery ; she  has  indeed  provided  a noble  repast ; 
such  as  well  might  stop  the  cravings  of  hunger.” 

“ Law  ! ” said  Remarkable,  “ I’m  glad  if  the 
Judge  is  pleased ; but  I’m  notional  that  you’ll 
find  the  sa’ce  overdone.  I thought,  as  Elizabeth 
was  coming  home,  that  a body  could  do  no  less 
than  make  things  agreeable.” 

“ My  daughter  has  now  grown  to  woman’s 
estate,  and  is  from  this  moment  mistress  of  my 
house,”  said  the  Judge ; “ it  is  proper  that  all 
who  live  with  me  address  her  as  Miss  Temple.” 

“ Do  tell ! ” exclaimed  Remarkable,  a little 
aghast ; “ well,  who  ever  heerd  of  a young  wom- 
an’s being  called  Miss  ? If  the  Judge  had  a wife 
now,  I shouldn’t  think  of  calling  her  any  thing 
but  Miss  Temple  ; but — ” 

“ Having  nothing  but  a daughter,  you  will  ob 
serve  that  style  to  her,  if  you  please,  in  future,’ 
interrupted  Marmaduke. 

As  the  Judge  looked  seriously  displeased,  and, 
at  such  moments,  carried  a particularly  command- 
ing air  with  him,  the  wary  housekeeper  made  no 
reply ; and,  Mr.  Grant  entering  the  room,  the 
whole  party  were  soon  seated  at  the  table.  As 


48 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  arrangements  of  this  repast  were  much  in  the 
prevailing  taste  of  that  period  and  country,  we 
shall  endeavor  to  give  a short  description  of  the 
appearance  of  the  banquet. 

The  table-linen  was  of  the  most  beautiful  dam- 
ask, and  the  plates  and  dishes  of  real  china,  an 
article  of  great  luxury  at  this  early  period  in 
American  commerce.  The  knives  and  forks  were 
ot  exquisitely-polished  steel,  and  were  set  in  un- 
clouded ivory.  So  much,  being  furnished  by  the 
wealth  of  Marmaduke,  was  not  only  comfortable, 
but  even  elegant.  The  contents  of  the  several 
dishes,  and  their  positions,  however,  were  the  re- 
sult of  the  sole  judgment  of  Remarkable.  Before 
Elizabeth,  was  placed  an  enormous  roasted  turkey, 
and  before  Richard,  one  boiled.  In  the  centre  of 
the  table,  stood  a pair  of  heavy  silver  casters, 
surrounded  by  four  dishes ; one  a fricassee,  that 
consisted  of  gray  squirrels  ; another  of  fish  fried ; 
a third  of  fish  boiled ; the  last  was  a venison 
steak.  Between  these  dishes  and  the  turkeys, 
stood,  on  the  one  side,  a prodigious  chine  of 
roasted  bear’s  meat,  ard  on  the  other  a boiled 
leg  of  delicious  mutton.  Interspersed  among  this 
load  of  meats,  was  every  species  of  vegetables 
that  the  season  and  country  afforded.  The  four 
corners  were  garnished  with  plates  of  cake.  On 
one  was  piled  certain  curiously  twisted  and  com- 
plicated figures,  called  “ nut-cakes.”  On  another 
were  heaps  of  a black-looking  substance,  which, 
receiving  its  hue  from  molasses,  was  properly 
termed  “ sweet-cake  ; ” a wonderful  favorite  in 
the  coterie  of  Remarkable.  A third  was  filled,  to 
use  the  language  of  the  housekeeper,  with  “ cards 
of  gingerbread ; ” and  the  last  held  a “ plum- 
cake,”  so  called  from  the  number  of  large  raisins 
that  were  showing  their  black  heafls  in  a sub- 
stance of  a suspiciously  similar  color.  At  each 
corner  of  the  table  stood  saucers,  filled  with  a 
thick  fluid,  of  somewhat  equivocal  color  and  con- 
sistence, variegated  with  small  dark  lumps  of  a 
substance  that  resembled  nothing  but  itself,  which 
Remarkable  termed  her  “ sweetmeats.”  At  the 
side  of  each  plate,  which  was  placed  bottom  up- 
ward, with  its  knife  and  fork  most  accurately 
crossed  above  it,  stood  another,  of  smaller  size, 
containing  a motley-looking  pie,  composed  of  tri- 
angular slices  of  apple,  mince,  pumpkin,  cran- 
berry, and  custard,  so  arranged  as  to  form  an 
entire  whole.  Decanters  of  brandy,  rum,  gin,  and 
vane,  with  sundry  pitchers  of  cider,  beer,  and  one 
hissing  vessel  of  “ flip,”  were  put  wherever  an 
opening  would  admit  of  their  introduction.  Not- 
withstanding the  size  of  the  tables,  there  was 
scarcely  a spot  where  the  rich  damask  could  be 
Been  so  crowded  were  the  dishes,  with  their  as- 


sociated bottles,  plates,  and  saucers.  The  object 
seemed  to  be  profusion,  and  it  was  obtained  en- 
tirely at  the  expense  of  order  and  elegance. 

All  the  guests,  as  well  as  the  Judge  himself, 
seemed  perfectly  familiar  with  this  description  of 
fare,  for  each  one  commenced  eating,  with  an  ap  • 
petite  that  promised  to  do  great  honor  to  Re- 
markable’s taste  and  skill.  What  rendered  this 
attention  to  the  repast  a little  surprising,  was  the 
fact  that  both  the  German  and  Richard  had  been 
summoned  from  another  table,  to  meet  the  Judge ; 
but  Major  Hartmann  both  ate  and  drank  without 
any  rule,  when  on  his  excursions ; and  Mr.  Jones 
invariably  made  it  a point  to  participate  in  the 
business  in  hand,  let  it  be  what  it  would.  The 
host  seemed  to  think  some  apology  necessary  for 
the  warmth  he  had  betrayed  on  the  subject  of 
the  firewood,  and  when  the  party  were  comfort- 
ably seated,  and  engaged  with  their  knives  and 
forks,  he  observed  : 

“ The  wastefulness  of  the  settlers,  with  the  no- 
ble trees  of  this  country,  is  shocking,  Monsieur  Le 
Quoi,  as  doubtless  you  have  noticed.  I have  seen 
a man  fell  a pine,  when  he  has  be,en  in  want  of 
fencing-stuff,  and  roll  his  first  cuts  into  the  gap 
where  he  left  it  to  rot,  though  its  top  would  have 
made  rails  enough  to  answer  his  purpose,  and  its 
butt  would  have  sold  in  the  Philadelphia  market 
for  twenty  dollars.” 

“And  how  the  devil — I beg  your  pardon,  Mr. 
Grant,”  interruped  Richard  ; “ but  how  is  the  poor 
devil  to  get  his  logs  to  the  Philadelphia  market, 
pray  ? put  them  in  his  pocket,  ha ! as  you  would 
a handful  of  chestnuts,  or  a bunch  of  chicker-ber- 
ries  ? 1 should  like  to  see  you  walking  up  High 
Street,  with  a pine  log  in  each  pocket ! — Poh  ! poh ! 
cousin  ’duke,  there  are  trees  enough  for  us  all, 
and  some  to  spare.  Why,  I can  hardly  tell  which 
way  the  wind  blows,  when  I’m  out  in  the  clearings, 
they  are  so  thick  and  so  tall — I couldn’t  at  all, 
if  it  wasn’t  for  the  clouds,  and  I happen  to  know 
all  the  points  of  the  compass,  as  it  were,  by  heart.” 

“Ay  lay!  squire,”  cried  Benjamin,  who  had 
now  entered,  and  taken  his  place  behind  the 
Judge’s  chair,  a little  aside  withal,  in  order  to  be 
ready  for  any  observation  like  the  present ; “look 
aloft,  sir,  look  aloft.  The  old  seamen  say,  ‘ that 
the  devil  wouldn’t  make  a sailor,  unless  he  look’d 
aloft.’  As  for  the  compass,  why,  there  is  no  such 
thing  as  steering  without  one.  I’m  sure  I never 
lose  sight  of  the  main-top,  as  I call  the  squire’s 
lookout  on  the  roof,  but  I set  my  compass,  d’ye 
see,  and  take  the  bearings  and  distance  of  things, 
in  order  to  work  out  my  course,  if-so-be  that  it 
should  cloud  up,  or  the  tops  of  the  trees  should 
shut  out  the  light  of  heaven.  The  steeple  of  St. 


INQUIRIES  ABOUT  THE  STRANGER. 


49 


Paul’s,  now  that  we  have  got  it  on  end,  is  a great 
help  to  the  navigation  of  the  woods,  for,  by  the 
Lord  Harry,  as  I was — ” 

“It' is  well,  Benjamin,”  interrupted  Marma- 
duke,  observing  that  his  daughter  manifested  dis- 
pleasure at  the  major-domo’s  familiarity;  “but 
you  forget  there  is  a lady  in  company,  and  the 
women  love  to  do  most  of  the  talking  themselves.” 

“The  Judge  says  the  true  word,”  cried  Benja- 
min, with  one  of  his  discordant  laughs.  “ Now 
here  is  Mistress  Remarkable  Prettybones ; just 
take  the  stopper  off  her  tongue,  and  you’ll  hear  a 
gabbling  worse  like  than  if  you  should  happen  to 
fall  to  leeward  in  crossing  a French  privateer,  or 
some  such  thing,  mayhap,  as  a dozen  monkeys 
stowed  in  one  bag.” 

It  were  impossible  to  say  how  perfect  an  illus- 
tration of  the  truth  of  Benjamin’s  assertion  the 
housekeeper  would  have  furnished,  if  she  had 
dared ; but  the  Judge  looked  sternly  at  her,  and, 
unwilling  to  incur  his  resentment,  yet  unable  to 
contain  her  anger,  she  threw  herself  out  of  the 
room,  with  a toss  of  the  body  that  nearly  separated 
her  frail  form  in  the  centre. 

“Richard,”  said  Marmaduke,  observing  that 
his  displeasure  had  produced  the  desired  effect, 
“can  you  inform  me  of  any  thing  concerning  the 
youth  whom  I so  unfortunately  wounded  ? I found 
him  on  the  mountain,  hunting  in  company  with 
the  Leather-stocking,  as  if  they  were  of  the  same 
family;  but  there  is  a manifest  difference  in  their 
manners.  The  youth  delivers  himself  in  chosen 
language ; such  as  is  seldom  heard  in  these  hills, 
and  such  as  occasions  great  surprise  to  me,  how 
one  so  meanly  clad,  and  following  so  lowly  a pur- 
suit, could  attain.  Mohegan  also  knew  him. 
Doubtless  he  is  a tenant  of  Natty’s  hut.  Did  you 
remark  the  language  of  the  lad,  Monsieur  Le 
Quoi  ?” 

“ Certainement,  Monsieur  Tempi’,”  returned 
the  Frenchman,  “he  deed  conovairse  in de  excellent 
Anglaise.” 

“ The  boy  is  no  miracle,”  exclaimed  Richard  ; 
“ I’ve  known  children  that  were  sent  to  school 
early,  talk  much  better  before  they  were  twelve 
years  old.  There  was  Zared  Coe,  old  Nehemiah’s 
son,  who  first  settled  on  the  beaver-dam  meadow, 
he  could  write  almost  as  good  a hand  as  myself, 
when  he  was  fourteen ; though  it’s  true,  I helped 
to  teach  him  a little  in  the  evenings.  But  this 
shooting  gentleman  ought  to  be  put  in  the  stocks, 
if  he  ever  takes  a rein  in  his  hand  again.  He  is 
the  most  awkward  fellow  about  a horse  I ever  met 
with.  I dare  say  he  never  drove  any  thing  but 
oxen  in  his  life.” 

“ There,  I think,  Dickon,  you  do  the  lad  in- 

43  4 


justice,”  said  the  Judge  ; “he  uses  much  discro 
tion  in  critical  moments.  Dost  thou  not  think  so, 
Bess  ? ” 

There  was  nothing  in  this  question  particular 
ly  to  excite  blushes,  but  Elizabeth  started  from 
the  reverie  into  which  she  had  fallen,  and  colored 
to  her  forehead,  as  she  answered : 

“To  me,  dear  sir,  he  appeared  extremely  skil- 
ful, and  prompt,  and  courageous ; but  perhaps 
cousin  Richard  will  say  I am  as  ignorant  as  the 
gentleman  himself.” 

“ Gentlemen  ! ” echoed  Richard ; “ do  you  call 
such  chaps  gentlemen,  at  school,  Elizabeth  ? ” 

“ Every  man  is  a gentleman  that  knows  how 
to  treat  a woman  with  respect  and  consideration,” 
returned  the  young  lady,  promptly,  and  a little 
smartly. 

“So  much  for  hesitating  to  appear  before  the 
heiress  in  his  shirt-sleeves,”  cried  Richard,  wink- 
ing at  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  who  returned  the  wink 
with  one  eye,  while  he  rolled  the  other,  with  an 
expression  of  s empathy,  toward  the  young  lady. 
“ Well,  well,  to  me  he  seemed  any  thing  but  a 
gentleman.  I must  say,  however,  for  the  lad,  that 
he  draws  a good  trigger,  and  has  a true  aim. 
He’s  good  at  shooting  a buck,  ha  ! Marmaduke  ? ” 

“ Richart,”  said  Major  Hartmann,  turning  his 
grave  countenance  toward  the  gentleman  he  ad- 
dressed, with  much  earnestness,  “ ter  poy  is  goot. 
He  savet  your  life,  and  my  life,  and  ter  life  of 
Tominie  Grant,  and  ter  life  of  ter  Frenchman; 
and,  Richart,  he  shall  never  vant  a pet  to  sleep  in 
vile  olt  Fritz  Hartmann  has  a shingle  to  cover 
hi3  het  mit.” 

“ Well,  well,  as  you  please,  old  gentleman,” 
returned  Mr.  Jones,  endeavoring  to  look  indiffer- 
ent ; “ put  him  into  your  own  stone  house,  if  you 
will,  major.  I dare  say  the  lad  never  slept  in  any 
thing  better  than  a bark  shanty  in  his  life,  unless 
it  was  some  such  hut  as  the  cabin  of  Leather- 
stocking. I prophesy  you  will  soon  spoil  him : 
any  one  could  see  how  proud  he  gi’ew,  in  a short 
time,  just  because  he  stood  by  my  horses’  heads, 
while  I turned  them  into  the  highway.” 

“ No,  no,  my  old  friend,”  cried  Marmaduke,  “ it 
shall  be  my  task  to  provide  in  some  manner  for 
the  youth : I owe  him  a debt  of  my  own,  besides 
the  service  he  has  done  me,  through  my  friends. 
And  yet  I anticipate  some  little  trouble,  in  induc- 
ing him  to  accept  of  my  services.  He  showed  a 
marked  dislike,  I thought,  Bess,  to  my  offer  of  a 
residence  within  these  walls  for  life.” 

“ Really,  dear  sir,”  said  Elizabeth,  projecting 
her  beautiful  under-lip,  “ I have  not  studied  the 
gentleman  so  closely  as  to  read  his  feelings  in 
his  countenance.  I thought  he  might  very  natu* 


50 


THE  TIONEERS. 


rally  feel  pain  from  his  wound,  and  therefore 
pitied  him ; but  ” — and  as  she  spoke  she  glanced 
her  eye,  with  suppressed  curiosity,  toward  the 
major-domo — “ I dare  say,  sir,  that  Benjamin  can 
tell  you  something  about  him.  He  cannot  have 
been  in  the  village,  and  Benjamin  not  have  seen 
him  often.” 

“Ay!  I have  seen  the  boy  before,”  said  Ben 
jamin,  who  wanted  little  encouragement  to  speak ; 
“ he  has  been  backing  and  filling  in  the  wake  of 
Natty  Bumppo,  through  the  mountains,  after  deer, 
like  a Dutch  long-boat  in  tow  of  an  Albany  sloop. 
He  carries  a good  rifle,  too.  The  Leather-stock- 
ing said,  in  my  hearing,  before  Betty  Hollister’s 
bar-room  fire,  no  later  than  the  Tuesday  night, 
that  the  younker  was  certain  death  to  the  wild 
beasts.  If-so-be  he  can  kill  the  wild-cat  that  has 
been  heard  moaning  on  the  lake  side  since  the 
hard  frosts  and  deep  snows  have  driven  the  deer  to 
herd,  he  will  be  doing  the  thing  that  is  good. 
Your  wild-cat  is  a bad  shipmate,  and  should  be 
made  to  cruise  out  of  the  track  of  Christian  men.” 

“ Lives  he  in  the  hut  of  Bumppo  ? ” asked 
Marmaduke,  with  some  interest. 

“ Cheek  by  j^wl : the  Wednesday  will  be  three 
weeks  since  he  first  hove  in  sight,  in  company 
with  Leather-stocking.  They  had  captured  a 
wolf  between  them,  and  had  brought  in  his  scalp 
for  the  bounty.  That  Mister  Bump-ho  has  a handy 
turn  with  him  in  taking  off  a scalp ; and  there’s 
them,  in  this  here  village,  who  say  he  lamt  the 
trade  by  working  on  Christian  men.  If-so-be  that 
there  is  truth  in  the  saying,  and  I commanded 
along  shore  here,  as  your  honor  does,  why,  d’ye 
see,  I’d  bring  him  to  the  gangway  for  it,  yet. 
There’s  a very  pretty  post  rigged  alongside  of  the 
Stocks ; and  for  the  matter  of  a cat,  I can  fit  one 
with  my  own  hands  ; ay  ! and  use  it  too,  for  the 
want  of  a better.” 

“ You  are  not  to  credit  the  idle  tales  you  hear 
of  Natty ; he  has  a kind  of  natural  right  to  gain  a 
livelihood  in  these  mountains  ; and  if  the  idlers  in 
the  village  take  it  into  their  heads  to  annoy  him, 
as  they  sometimes  do  reputed  rogues,  they  shall 
find  hiifi  protected  by  the  strong  arm  of  the  law.” 

“ Ter  rifle  is  petter  as  ter  law,”  said  the  major, 
sententiously. 

“ That  for  his  rifle  ! ” exclaimed  Richard, 
snapping  his  fingers  ; “ Ben  is  right,  and  I — ■” 
He  was  stopped  by  the  sounds  of  a common  ship- 
bell,  that  had  been  elevated  to  the  belfry  of  the 
academy,  which  now  announced,  by  its  incessant 
ringing,  that  the  hour  for  the  appointed  service 
had  arrived.  “ ‘ For  this,  and  every  other  instance 
of  his  goodness  ’ — I beg  pardon,  Mr.  Grant,  will  you 
please  to  return  thanks,  sir  ? it  is  time  we  should 


be  moving,  as  we  are  the  only  Episcopalians  in 
the  neighborhood ; that  is  I,  and  Benjamin,  and 
Elizabeth ; for  I count  half-breeds,  like.  Manna- 
duke,  as  bad  as  heretics.” 

The  divine  arose,  and  performed  the  office, 
meekly  and  fervently,  and  the  whole  party  in- 
stantly  prepared  themselves  for  the  church — or 
rather  academy. 


CHAPTER  X. 

“ And,  calling  sinful  man  to  pray, 

Loud,  long,  and  deep,  the  bell  had  tolled.'" 

Scott’s  Bubghbr. 

While  Richard  and  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  at- 
tended by  Benjamin,  proceeded  to  the  academy 
by  a footpath  through  the  snow,  the  Judge,  his 
daughter,  the  divine,  and  the  major,  took  a more 
circuitous  route  to  the  same  place  by  the  streets 
of  the  village. 

The  moon  had  risen,  and  its  orb  was  shedding 
a flood  of  light  over  the  dark  outline  of  pines 
which  crowned  the  eastern  mountain.  In  many 
climates  the  sky  would  have  been  thought  clear 
and  lucid  for  a noontide.  The  stars  twinkled  in 
the  heavens,  like  the  last  glimmerings  of  distant 
fire,  so  much  were  they  obscured  by  the  over- 
whelming radiance  of  the  atmosphere;  the  rays 
from  the  moon  striking  upon  the  smooth,  white 
surfaces  of  the  lake  and  fields,  reflecting  upward 
a light  that  was  brightened  by  the  spotless  color 
of  the  immense  bodies  of  snow  which  covered  the 
earth. 

Elizabeth  employed  herself  with  reading  the 
signs,  one  of  which  appeared  over  almost  every 
door ; while  the  sleigh  moved  steadily,  and  at  an 
easy  gait,  along  the  principal  street.  Not  only 
new  occupations,  but  names  that  were  strangers 
to  her  ears,  met  her  gaze  at  every  step  they  pro- 
ceeded. The  very  houses  seemed  changed.  This 
had  been  altered  by  an  addition ; that  had  been 
painted  : another  had  been  erected  on  the  site  of 
an  old  acquaintance,  which  had  been  banished 
from  the  earth  almost  as  soon  as  it  made  its  ap- 
pearance on  it.  All  were,  however,  pouring  forth 
their  inmates,  who  uniformly  held  their  way 
toward  the  point  where  the  expected  exhibition 
of  the  conjoint  taste  of  Richard  and  Benjamin 
was  to  be  made. 

After  viewing  the  buildings,  which  really  ap- 
peared to  some  advantage,  under  the  bright  but 
mellow  light  of  the  moon,  our  heroine  turned  her 
eyes  to  a scrutiny  of  the  different  figures  tnat  they 
passed,  in  search  of  any  form  that  she  knew.  But 
all  seemed  alike,  as  muffled  in  cloaks,  hooda, 


MRS.  HOLLISTER’S  WELCOME. 


51 


coats,  or  tippets,  they  glided  along  the  narrow 
passages  in  the  snow  which  led  under  the  houses, 
half  hid  by  the  bank  that  had  been  thrown  up  in 
excavating  the  deep  path  in  which  they  trod. 
Once  or  twice  she  thought  there  was  a stature  or 
a gait  that  she  recollected ; but  the  person  who 
owned  it  instantly  disappeared  behind  one  of 
those  enormous  piles  of  wood  that  lay  before 
most  of  the  doors.  It  was  only  as  they  turned 
from  the  main  street  into  another  that  intersected 
it  at  right  angles,  and  which  led  directly  to  the 
place  of  meeting,  that  she  recognized  a face  and 
building  that  she  knew. 

The  house  stood  at  one  of  the  principal  cor- 
ners in  the  village;  and,  by  its  well-trodden 
door-way,  as  well  as  the  sign  that  was  swinging 
with  a kind  of  doleful  sound  in  the  blasts  kthat 
occasionally  swept  down  the  lake,  was  clearly  one 
of  the  most  frequented  inns  in  the  place.  The 
building  was  only  of  one  story ; but  the  dormer- 
windows  in  the  roof,  the  paint,  the  window-shut- 
ters, and  the  cheerful  fire  that  shone  through  the 
open  door,  gave  it  an  air  of  comfort  that  was  not 
possessed  by  many  of  its  neighbors.  The  sign 
was  suspended  from  a common  ale-house  post,  and 
represented  the  figure  of  a horseman,  armed  with 
sabre  and  pistols,  and  surmounted  by  a bear-skin 
cap,  with  a fiery  animal  that  he  bestrode  “ ram- 
pant.” All  these  particulars  were  easily  to  be 
seen  by  the  aid  of  the  moon,  together  with  a row 
of  somewhat  illegible  writing  in  black  paint,  but 
in  which  Elizabeth,  to  whom  the  whole  was  famil- 
iar, read  with  facility,  “ The  Bold  Dragoon.” 

A man  and  a woman  were  issuing  from  the 
door  of  this  habitation  as  the  sleigh  was  passing. 
The  former  moved  with  a stiff,  military  step,  that 
was  a good  deal  heightened  by  a limp  in  one  leg ; 
but  the  woman  advanced  with  a measure  and  an 
air  that  seemed  not  particularly  regardful  of  what 
she  might  encounter.  The  light  of  the  moon  fell 
directly  upon  her  full,  broad,  and  red  visage,  ex- 
hibiting her  masculine  countenance,  under  the 
mockery  of  a ruffled  cap  that  was  intended  to  soft- 
en the  lineaments  of  features  that  were  by  no 
means  squeamish.  A small  bonnet  of  black  silk, 
and  of  a slightly  formal  cut,  was  placed  on  the 
back  of  her  head,  but  so  as  not  to  shade  her  vis- 
age in  the  least.  The  face,  as  it  encountered  the 
rays  of  the  moon  from  the  east,  seemed  not  un- 
like sun  rising  in  the  west.  She  advanced  with 
masculine  strides,  to  intercept  the  sleigh ; and  the 
Judge,  directing  the  namesake  of  the  Grecian 
king,  who  held  the  lines,  to  check  his  horses,  the 
parties  were  soon  near  to  each  other. 

“ Good  luck  to  ye,  and  a wilcome  home, 
I ooge,”  cried  the  female,  with  a strong  Irish 


accent ; “ and  I’m  sure  it’s  to  me  that  ye’r  always 
wilcome.  Sure  ! and  there’s  Miss  ’Lizzy,  and  a 
fine  young  woman  is  she  grown.  What  a heart- 
ache would  she  be  giving  the  young  men  now,  if 
there  was  sich  a thing  as  a rigiment  in  the  town ! 
Och ! but  it’s  idle  to  talk  of  sich  vanities,  while 
the  bell  is  calling  us  to  mateing  jist  as  we  shall  be 
call’d  away  unexpictedly  some  day,  when  we  are 
the  laist  calkilating.  Good-even,  major:  will  I 
make  the  bowl  of  gin  toddy  the  night  ? or  it’s 
likely  ye’ll  stay  at  the  big  house  the  Christmas  eve, 
and  the  very  night  of  ye’r  getting  there  ? ” 

“I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Mrs  Hollister,”  re- 
turned Elizabeth.  “ I have  been  trying  to  find  a 
face  that  I knew  since  we  left  the  door  of  the  man- 
sion-house ; but  none  have  I seen  except  your  own. 
Your  house,  too,  is  unaltered ; while  all  the  others 
are  so  changed  that,  but  for  the  places  where 
they  stand,  they  would  be  utter  strangers.  I ob- 
serve you  also  keep  the  dear  sign  that  I saw  cous- 
in Richard  paint ; and  even  the  name  at  the  bot- 
tom, about  which,  you  may  remember,  you  had 
the  disagreement.* 

“ It  is  the  bould  dragoon,  ye  mane  ? And  what 
name  would  he  have,  who  niver  was  known  by 
any  other,  as  my  husband  here,  the  captain,  can 
testify.  He  was  a pleasure  to  wait  upon,  and 
was  ever  the  foremost  in  need.  Och  ! but  he  had 
a sudden  end  ! But  it’s  to  be  hoped  that  he  was 
justified  by  the  cause.  And  it’s  not  Parson  Grant 
there  who’ll  gainsay  that  same.  Yes,  yes ; the 
squire  would  paint,  and  so  I thought  that  we 
might  have  his  face  up  there,  who  had  so  often 
shared  good  and  evil  wid  us.  The  eyes  is  no  so 
large  nor  so  fiery  as  the  captain’s  own ; but  the 
whiskers  and  the  cap  is  as  two  paes.  Well,  well, 
I’ll  not  keep  ye  in  the  cowld,  talking,  but  will 
drop  in  the  morrow  after  sarvice,  and  ask  ye  how 
ye  do.  It’s  our  bounden  duty  to  make  the  most  of 
this  present,  and  to  go  to  the  house  which  is  open 
to  all ; so  God  bless  ye,  and  keep  ye  from  evil ! 
Will  I make  the  gin-twist  the  night,  or  no,  major  ? ” 

To  this  question  the  German  replie'd,  very 
sententiously,  in  the  affirmative ; and,  after  a few 
words  had  passed  between  the  husband  of  this 
fiery-faced  hostess  and  the  Judge,  the  sleigh 
moved  on.  It  soon  reached  the  door  of  the  acad- 
emy, where  the  party  alighted  and  entered  the 
building. 

In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  Jones  and  his  two  com- 
panions, having  a much  shorter  distance  to  jour- 
ney, had  arrived  before  the  appointed  place  several 
minutes  sooner  than  the  party  in  the  sleigh.  In- 
stead of  hastening  into  the  room,  in  order  to 
enjoy  the  astonishment  of  the  settlers,  Richard 
placed  a hand  iu  either  pocket  of  his  surtout,  and 


52 


THE  PIONEERS. 


affected  to  walk  about,  in  front  of  the  academy, 
like  one  to  whom  the  ceremonies  were  familiar. 

The  villagers  proceeded  uniformly  into  the 
building,  with  a decorum  and  gravity  that  noth- 
ing could  move,  on  such  occasions ; but  with  a 
haste  that  was  probably  a little  heightened  by 
curiosity.  Those  who  came  in  from  the  adjacent 
country  spent  some  little  time  in  placing  certain 
blue  and  white  blankets  over  their  horses  before 
they  proceeded  to  indulge  their  desire  to  view  the 
interior  of  the  house.  Most  of  these  men  Rich- 
ard approached,  and  inquired  after  the  health 
and  condition  of  their  families.  The  readiness 
with  which  he  mentioned  the  names  of  even  the 
children,  showed  how  very  familiarly  acquainted 
he  was  with  their  circumstances  ; and  the  nature 
of  the  answers  he  received  proved  that  he  was  a 
general  favorite. 

At  length  ope  of  the  pedestrians  from  the  vil- 
lage stopped  also,  and  fixed  an  earnest  gaze  at 
a new  brick  edifice  that  was  throwing  a long 
shadow  across  the  fields  of  snow,  as  it  rose,  with 
a beautiful  gradation  of  light  and  shade,  under 
the  rays  of  a full  moon.  In  front  of  the  acad- 
emy was  a vacant  piece  of  ground,  that  was 
intended  for  a public  square.  On  the  side  oppo- 
site to  Mr.  Jones,  the  new  and  as  yet  unfinished 
church  of  St.  Paul’s  was  erected.  This  edifice 
had  been  reared  during  the  preceding  summer, 
by  the  aid  of  what  was  called  a subscription ; 
though  all,  or  nearly  all,  of  the  money  came  from 
the  pocket  of  the  landlord.  It  had  been  built 
under  a strong  conviction  of  the  necessity  of  a 
more  seemly  place  of  worship  than  “ the  long 
room  of  the  academy,”  and  under  an  implied 
agreement  that,  after  its  completion,  the  question 
should  be  fairly  put  to  the  people,  that  they 
might  decide  to  what  denomination  it  should  be- 
long. Of  course,  this  expectation  kept  alive  a 
strong  excitement  in  some  few  of  the  sectaries 
who  were  interested  in  its  decision ; though  but 
little  was  said  openly  on  the  subject.  Had  Judge 
Temple  espoused  the  cause  of  any  particular 
sect,  the  question  would  have  been  immediately 
put  at  rest,  for  his  influence  was  too  powerful  to 
be  opposed ; but  he  declined  interference  in  the 
matter,  positively  refusing  to  lend  even  the 
weight  of  his  name  on  the  side  of  Richard,  who 
had  secretly  given  an  assurance  to  his  diocesan, 
that  both  the  building  and  the  congregatioi^would 
cheerfully  come  within  the  pale  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  But,  when  the  neutrality  of 
the  Judge  was  clearly  ascertained,  Mr.  Jones 
discovered  that  he  had  to  contend  with  a stiff- 
necked people.  His  first  measure  was  to  go 
among  them,  and  commence  a course  of  reason- 


ing, in  order  to  bring  them  round  to  his  own  waj 
of  thinking.  They  all  heard  him  patiently,  and 
not  a man  uttered  a word  in  reply,  in  the  way  of 
argument : and  Richard  thought,  by  the  time 
that  he  had  gone  through  the  settlement,  the 
point  was  conclusively  decided  in  his  favor. 
Willing  to  strike  while  the  iron  was  hot,  he  called 
a meeting,  through  the  newspaper,  with  a view  to 
decide  the  question,  by  a vote,  at  onqe.  Not  a 
soul  attended  ; and  one  of  the  most  anxious  after- 
noons that  he  had  ever  known  was  spent  by . 
Richard  in  a vain  discussion  with  Mrs.  Hollister, 
who  strongly  contended  that  the  Methodist  (her 
own)  church  was  the  best  entitled  to,  and  most 
deserving  of,  the  possession  of  the  new  taber- 
nacle. Richard  now  perceived  that  he  had  been 
too  sanguine,  and  had  fallen  into  the  error  of  all 
those  who  ignorantly  deal  with  that  wary  and 
sagacious  people.  He  assumed  a disguise  him- 
self— that  is,  as  well  as  he  knew  how,  and  pro- 
ceeded step  by  step  to  advance  his  purpose. 

The  task  of  erecting  the  building  had  been 
unanimously  transferred  to  Mr.  Jones  and  Hiram 
Doolittle.  Together  they  had  built  the  mansion- 
house,  the  academy,  and  the  jail ; and  they  alone 
knew  how  to  plan  and  rear  such  a structure  as 
was  now  required.  Early  in  the  day,  these  archi- 
tects had  made  an  equitable  division  of  theii 
duties.  To  the  former  was  assigned  the  duty  of 
making  all  the  plans,  and  to  the  latter,  the  labor 
of  superintending  the  execution. 

Availing  himself  of  this  advantage,  Richard 
silently  determined  that  the  windows  should  have 
the  Roman  arch  ; the  first  positive  step  in  effect- 
ing his  wishes.  As  the  building  was  made  of 
bricks,  he  was  enabled  to  conceal  his  design, 
until  the  moment  arrived  for  placing  the  frames : 
then,  indeed,  it  became  necessary  to  act.  He 
communicated  his  wishes  to  Hiram  with  great 
caution ; and,  without  in  the  least  adverting  to 
the  spiritual  part  of  his  project,  he  pressed  the 
point  a little  warmly,  on  the  score  of  architectural 
beauty.  Hiram  heard  him  patiently,  and  with- 
out contradiction ; but  still  Richard  was  unable 
to  discover  the  views  of  his  coadjutor  on  this 
interesting  subject.  As  the  right  to  plan  was 
duly  delegated  to  Mr.  Jones,  no  direct  objection 
was  made  in  words,  but  numberless  unexpected 
difficulties  arose  in  the  execution.  At  first  there 
was  a scarcity  in  the  right  kind  of  material  ne- 
cessary to  form  the  frames;  but  this  objection 
was  instantly  silenced,  by  Richard  running  his 
pencil  through  two  feet  of  their  length  at  one 
stroke.  Then  the  expense  was  mentioned ; but 
Richard  reminded  Hiram  that  his  cousin  paid, 
and  that  lie  was  hi3  treasurer.  This  last  intims 


NEW  ST.  PAUL’S. 


53 


tion  had  great  weight,  and  after  a silent  and  pro- 
tracted, but  fruitless  opposition,  the  work  was 
Buffered  to  proceed  on  the  original  plan. 

The  next  difficulty  occurred  in  the  steeple, 
which  Richard  had  modelled  after  one  of  the 
smaller  of  those  spires  that  adorn  the  great 
London  cathedral.  The  imitation  was  somewhat 
lame,  it  is  true,  the  proportions  being  but  indif- 
ferently observed ; but,  after  much  difficulty, 
Mr.  Jones  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  an 
object  reared  that  bore,  in  its  outlines,  a striking 
resemblance  to  a vinegar-cruct.  There  was  less 
opposition  to  this  model  than  to  the  windows  ; 
for  the  settlers  were  fond  of  novelty,  and  their 
steeple  was  without  a precedent. 

Here  the  labor  ceased  for  the  season,  and  the 
difficult  question  of  the  interior  remained  for 
further  deliberation.  Richard  well  knew  that, 
when  he  came  to  propose  a reading-desk  and  a 
chancel,  he  must  unmask ; for  these  were  arrange- 
ments known  to  no  church  in  the  country  but  his 
own.  Presuming,  however,  on  the  advantages 
he  had  already  obtained,  he  boldly  styled  the 
building  St.  Paul’s,  and  Hiram  prudently  acqui- 
esced in  this  appellation,  making,  however,  the 
slight  addition  of  calling  it  11  New  St.  Paul’s,” 
feeling  less  aversion  to  a name  taken  from  the 
English  cathedral  than  from  the  saint. 

The  pedestrian  whom  we  have  already  men- 
tioned, as  pausing  to  contemplate  this  edifice, 
was  no  other  than  the  gentleman  so  frequently 
named  as  Mr.,  or  Squire,  Doolittle.  He  was  of 
a tall,  gaunt  formation,  with  rather  sharp  feat- 
ures, and  a face  that  expressed  formal  propriety, 
mingled  with  low  cunning.  Richard  approached 
him,  followed  by  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  and  the 
major-domo. 

“ Good-evening,  squire,”  said  Richard,  bob- 
bing his  head,  but  without  moving  his  hands 
from  his  pockets. 

“ Good-evening,  squire,”  echoed  Hiram,  turn- 
ing his  body,  in  order  to  turn  his  head  also. 

“A  cold  night,  Mr.  Doolittle,  a cold  night, 
sir.” 

“Coolish;  a tedious  spell  on’t.” 

“ What,  looking  at  our  church,  ha ! it  looks 
well,  by  moonlight ; how  the  tin  of  the  cupola 
glistens  ! I warrant  you  the  dome  of  the  other  St. 
Paul’s  never  shines  so  in  the  smoke  of  London.” 

“It  is  a pretty  meeting-house  to  look  on,”  re- 
turned Hiram,  “ and  I believe  that  Monshure  Ler 
Quow  and  Mr.  Penguilliam  will  allow  it.” 

“ Sairtainlee ! ” exclaimed  the  complaisant 
Frenchman,  “ it  ees  ver  fine.” 

“ I thought  the  monshure  would  say  so.  The 
test  molasses  that  we  had  was  excellent  good.  It 


isn’t  likely  that  you  have  any  more  of  it  on 
hand  ? ” 

“ Ah  ! oui ; ees,  sair,”  returned  Monsieur  Le 
Quoi,  with  a slight  shrug  of  his  shoulder,  and  a 
trifling  grimace,  “ dere  is  more.  I feel  ver  happi 
dat  you  love  eet.  I hope  dat  Madame  Doleet’  is 
in  good  ’ealth.” 

“ Why,  so  as  to  be  stirring,”  said  Hiram. — 
“ The  squire  hasn’t  finished  the  plans  for  the  in- 
side of  the  meeting-house  yet  ? ” 

“No — no — no,”  returned  Richard,  speaking 
quickly,  but  making  a significant  pause  between 
each  negative — “ it  requires  reflection.  There  is 
a great  deal  of  room  to  fill  up,  and  I am  afraid 
we  shall  not  know  how  to  dispose  of  it  to  advan- 
tage. There  will  be  a large  vacant  spot  around 
the  pulpit,  which  I do  not  mean  to  place  against 
the  wall,  like  a sentry-box  stuck  up  on  the  side 
of  a fort.” 

“ It  is  rulable  to  put  the  deacon’s  box  under 
the  pulpit,”  said  Hiram  ; and  then,  as  if  he  had 
ventured  too  much,  he  added,  “ but  there’s  differ- 
ent fashions  in  different  countries.” 

“That  there  is,”  cried  Benjamin;  “now,  in 
running  down  the  coast  of  Spain  and  Portingall, 
you  may  see  a nunnery  stuck  out  on  every  head- 
land, with  more  steeples  and  outriggers,  such  as 
dog-vanes  and  weather-cocks,  than  you’ll  find 
aboard  of  a three-masted  schooner.  If-so-be  that 
a well-built  church  is  wanting,  old  England,  after 
all,  is  the  country  to  go  to  after  your  models  and 
fashion  pieces.  As  to  Paul’s,  thof  I’ve  never  seen 
it,  being  that  it’s  a long  way  up  town  from  Rad- 
cliffe-highway  and  the  docks,  yet  everybody  knows 
that  it’s  the  grandest  place  in  the  world.  Now, 
I’ve  no  opinion  but  this  here  church  over  there 
is  as  like  one  end  of  it  as  a grampus  is  to  a 
whale ; and  that’s  only  a small  difference  in  bulk. 
Mounsheetf  Ler  Quaw,  here,  has  been  in  foreign 
parts ; and  thof  that  is  not  the  same  as  having 
been  at  home,  yet  he  must  have  seen  churches  in 
France  too,  and  can  form  a small  idee  of  what  a 
church  should  be ; now,  I ask  the  mounsheer  to 
his  face,  if  it  is  not  a clever  little  thing,  taking  it 
by  and  large  ? ” 

“ It  ees  ver  apropos  of  saircumstance,”  said 
the  Frenchman — “ ver  judgment — but  it  is  in  de 
catholique  country  dat  dey  build  de — vat  you  call 
— ah  a ah-ha  — la  grande  cathedrale  — de  big 
church.  St.  Paul,  Londre,  is  ver  fine ; ver  belle  ; 
ver  grand — vat  you  call  beeg ; but,  Monsieur  Ben, 
pardonnez-moi,  it  is  no  vort  so  much  as  Notre- 
Dame.” 

“Ha!  mounsheer,  what  is  that  you  say?” 
cried  Benjamin — “ St.  Paul’s  church  not  worth  so 
much  as  a damn ! Mayhap  you  may  be  thinking 


54 


THE  PIONEERS. 


too  that  the  Royal  Billy  isn’t  so  good  a ship  as 
the  Billy  de  Paris  ; but  she  would  have  licked  two 
of  her,  any  day,  and  in  all  weathers.” 

As  Benjamin  had  assumed  a very  threatening 
kind  of  attitude,  flourishing  an  arm,  with  a bunch 
at  the  end  of  it  that  was  half  as  big  as  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi’s  head,  Richard  thought  it  time  to  inter- 
pose his  authority. 

“ Hush,  Benjamin,  hush,”  he  said  ; “ you  both 
misunderstand  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  and  forget 
yourself. — But  here  comes  Mr.  Grant,  and  the  ser- 
vice will  commence.  Let  us  go  in.” 

The  Frenchman,  who  received  Benjamin’s  re- 
ply with  a well-bred  good-humor,  that  would  not 
admit  of  any  feeling  but  pity  for  the  other’s  igno- 
rance, bowed  in  acquiescence,  and  followed  his 
companion. 

Hiram  and  the  major-domo  brought  up  the 
rear,  the  latter  grumbling,  as  he  entered  the 
building — 

“If-so-be  that  the  king  of  France  had  so 
much  as  a house  to  live  in,  that  would  lay  along 
tide  of  Paul’s,  one  might  put  up  with  their  jaw. 
It’s  more  than  flesh  and  blood  can  bear,  to  hear  a 
Frenchman  run  down  an  English  church  in  this 
manner.  Why,  Squire  Doolittle,  I’ve  been  at  the 
whipping  of  two  of  them  in  one  day — clean  built, 
snug  frigates,  with  standing-royals,  and  them 
new-fashioned  cannonades  on  their  quarters — 
guch  as,  if  they  had  only  Englishmen  aboard  of 
them,  would  have  fout  the  devil.” 

With  this  ominous  word  in  his  mouth,  Benja- 
min entered  the  church. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

“And  fools  who  came  to  scoff,  remained  to  pray.” 

Goldsmith. 

Notwithstanding  the  united  labors  of  Rich- 
ard and  Benjamin,  the  “long-room”  was  but  an 
extremely  inartificial  temple.  Benches,  made  in 
the  coarsest  manner,  and  entirely  with  a view  to 
usefulness,  were  arranged  in  rows,  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  congregation ; while  a rough,  un- 
painted box  was  placed  against  the  wall,  in  the 
centre  of  the  length  of  the  apartment,  as  an  apology 
for  a pulpit.  Something  like  a reading-desk  was  in 
front  of  this  rostrum  ; and  a small  mahogany  table 
from  the  mansion-house,  covered  with  a spotless 
damask  cloth,  stood  a little  on  one  side,  by  the 
way  of  an  altar.  Branches  of  pines  and  hemlocks 
were  stuck  in  each  of  the  fissures  that  offered,  in 
the  unseasoned  and  hastily-completed  wood-work, 


of  both  the  building  and  its  furniture  ; while  fes- 
toons and  hieroglyphics  met  the  eye  in  vast  pro- 
fusion  along  the  brown  sides  of  the  scratch-coated 
walls.  As  the  room  was  only  lighted  by  some  ten 
or  fifteen  miserable  candles,  and  the  windows 
were  without  shutters,  it  would  have  been  but  a 
dreary,  cheerless  place  for  the  solemnities  of  a 
Christmas-eve,  had  not  the  large  fire  that  wa3 
crackling  at  each  end  of  the  apartment,  given  an 
air  of  cheerfulness  to  the  scene,  by  throwing  an 
occasional  glare  of  light  through  the  vistas  of 
bushes  and  faces. 

The  two  sexes  were  separated  by  an  area  in 
the  centre  of  the  room  immediately  before  the 
pulpit;  and  a few  benches  lined  this  space,  that 
were  occupied  by  the  principal  personages  of  the 
village  and  its  vicinity.  This  distinction  was 
rather  a gratuitous  concession,  made  by  the  poor- 
er and  less  polished  part  of  the  population,  than 
a right  claimed  by  the  favored  few.  One  bench 
was  occupied  by  the  party  of  Judge  Temple,  in- 
cluding his  daughter ; and,  with  the  exception 
of  Dr.  Todd,  no  one  else  appeared  willing  to  in- 
cur the  imputation  of  pride,  by  taking  a seat  in 
what  was,  literally,  the  high  place  of  the  taber- 
nacle. 

Richard  filled  the  chair  that  was  placed  behind 
another  table,  in  the  capacity  of  clerk ; while 
Benjamin,  after  heaping  sundry  logs  on  the  fire, 
posted  himself  nigh  by,  in  reserve  for  any  move- 
ment that  might  require  cooperation. 

It  would  greatly  exceed  our  limits  to  attempt 
a description  of  the  congregation  ; for  the  dresses 
were  as  various  as  the  individuals.  Some  one  ar- 
ticle, of  more  than  usual  finery,  and  perhaps  the 
relic  of  other  days,  was  to  be  seen  about  most  of 
the  females,  in  connection  with  the  coarse  attire 
of  the  woods.  This  wore  a faded  silk,  that  had 
gone  through  at  least  three  generations,  over 
coarse,  woollen  black  stockings;  that,  a shawl, 
whose  dyes  were  as  numerous  as  those  of  the  rain- 
bow, over  an  awkwardly-fitting  gown,  of  rough 
brown  “ woman’s  wear.”  In  short,  each  one  ex- 
hibited some  favorite  article,  and  all  appeared  in 
their  best,  both  men  and  women ; while  the 
ground-works  in  dress,  in  either  sex,  were  the 
coai'ae  fabrics  manufactured  within  their  own  dwell- 
ings. One  man  appeared  in  the  dress  of  a volun- 
teer company  of  artillery,  of  which  he  had  been  a 
member  in  the  “ down  countries,”  precisely  for 
no  other  reason  than  beeauseit  was  the  best  suit 
he  had.  Several,  particularly  of  the  younger  men, 
displayed  pantaloons  of  blue,  edged  with  red  cloth 
down  the  seams,  part  of  the  equipments  of  the 
“ Templeton  Light  Infantry,”  from  a little  vanity 
to  be  seen  in  “ boughten  clothes.”  There  was 


MISS  TEMPLE  AT  CHURCH. 


55 


also  one  man  in  a “ rifle  frock,”  with  its  fringes 
and  folds  of  spotless  white,  striking  a chill  to  the 
heart  with  the  idea  of  its1  coolness , although  the 
thick  coat  of  brown  “home-made,”  that  was  con- 
cealed beneath,  preserved  a proper  degree  of 
warmth. 

There  was  a marked  uniformity  of  expression 
in  countenance,  especially  in  that  half  of  the  con- 
gregation who  did  not  enjoy  the  advantages  of 
the  polish  of  the  village.  A sallow  skin,  that  in- 
dicated nothing  but  exposure,  was  common  to  all, 
as  was  an  air  of  great  decency  and  attention,  min- 
gled, generally,  with  an  expression  of  shrewdness, 
and,  in  the  present  instance,  of  active  curiosity. 
Now  and  then  a face  and  dress  were  to  be  seen 
among  the  congregation,  that  differed  entirely 
from  this  description.  If  pock-marked  and  florid, 
with  gaitered  legs,  and  a coat  that  snugly  fitted 
the  person  of  the  wearer,  it  was  surely  an  English 
emigrant,  who  had  bent  his  steps  to  this  retired 
quarter  of  the  globe.  If  hard-featured,  and  with- 
out color,  with  high  cheek-bones,  it  was  a native 
of  Scotland,  in  similar  circumstances. 

The  short,  black-eyed  man,  with  a cast  of  the 
swarthy  Spaniard  in  his  face,  who  rose  repeatedly, 
to  make  room  for  the  belles  of  the  village  as  they 
entered,  was  a son  of  Erin,  who  had  lately  left  off 
his  pack,  and  become  a stationary  trader  in  Tem- 
pleton. In  short,  half  the  nations  in  the  north 
of  Europe  had  their  representatives  in  this  assem- 
bly, though  all  had  closely  assimilated  themselves 
to  the  Americans  in  dress  and  appearance,  except 
the  Englishman.  He,  indeed,  not  only  adhered  to 
hi>s  native  customs  in  attire  and  living,  but  usually 
drove  his  plough,  among  the  stumps,  in  the  same 
manner  as  he  had  before  done  on  the  plains  of 
Norfolk,  until  dear-bought  experience  taught  him 
the  useful  lesson,  that  a sagacious  people  knew 
what  was  suited  to  their  circumstances  better 
than  a casual  observer ; or  a sojourner,  who  was, 
perhaps,  too  much  prejudiced  to  compare,  and, 
peradventure,  too  conceited  to  learn. 

Elizabeth  soon  discovered  that  she  divided  the 
attention  of  the  congregation  with  Mr.  Grant. 
Timidity,  therefore,  confined  her  observation  of  the 
appearances  which  we  have  described  to  stolen 
glances ; but,  as  the  stamping  of  feet  was  now  be- 
coming less  frequent,  and  even  the  coughing,  and 
other  little  preliminaries  of  a congregation  settling 
themselves  down  into  reverential  attention,  were 
ceasing,  she  felt  emboldened  to  look  around  her. 
Gradually  all  noises  diminished,  until  the  sup- 
pressed cough  denoted  that  it  was  necessary  to 
avoid  singularity,  and  the  most  profound  stillness 
pervaded  the  apartment.  The  snapping  of  the 
fires,  as  they  threw  a powerful  heat  into  the  room, 


was  alone  heard,  and  each  face,  and  every  eye^ 
were  turned  on  the  divine. 

At  this  moment,  a heavy  stamping  of  feet  wa* 
heard  in  the  passage  below,  as  if  a new-comer 
was  releasing  his  limbs  from  the  snow  that  was 
necessarily  clinging  to  the  legs  of  a pedestrian.  It 
was  succeeded  by  no  audible  tread ; but  directly 
Mohegan,  followed  by  the  Leather-stocking  and 
the  young  hunter,  made  his  appearance.  Their 
footsteps  would  not  have  been  heard,  as  they  trod 
the  apartment  in  their  moccasins,  but  for  the  si- 
lence which  prevailed. 

The  Indian  moved  with  great  gravity  across 
the  floor,  and,  observing  a vacant  seat  next  to  the 
Judge,  he  took  it,  in  a manner  that  manifested 
his  sense  of  his  own  dignity.  Here,  drawing  his 
blanket  closely  around  him,  so  as  partly  to  con- 
ceal his  countenance,  he  remained,  during  the  ser- 
vice, immovable,  but  deeply  attentive.  Natty 
passed  the  place  that  was  so  freely  taken  by  his 
red  companion,  and  seated  himself  on  one  end  of 
a log  that  was  lying  near  the  fire,  where  he 
continued,  with  his  rifle  standing  between  his 
legs,  absorbed  in  reflections,  seemingly  of  no  very 
pleasing  nature.  The  youth  found  a seat  among 
the  congregation,  and  another  silence  prevailed. 

Mr.  Grant  now  arose,  and  commenced  his  ser- 
vice, with  the  sublime  declaration  of  the  Hebrew 
prophet — “ The  Lord  is  in  His  holy  temple  ; let 
all  the  earth  keep  silence  before  him.”  The  ex- 
ample of  Mr.  J one3  was  unnecessary  to  teach  the 
congregation  to  rise  ; the  solemnity  of  the  divine 
effected  this  as  by  magic.  After  a short  pause, 
Mr.  Grant  proceeded  with  the  solemn  and  win- 
ning exhortation  of  his  service.  Nothing  was 
heard  but  the  deep,  though  affectionate,  tones  of 
the  reader,  as  he  went  slowly  through  this  exor- 
dium ; until,  something  unfortunately  striking  the 
mind  of  Richard  as  incomplete,  he  left  his  place, 
and  walked  on  tiptoe  from  the  room. 

When  the  clergyman  bent  his  knees  in  prayer 
and  confession,  the  congregation  so  far  imitated 
his  example  as  to  resume  their  seats  ; whence  no 
succeeding  effoi't  of  the  divine,  during  the  even- 
ing, was  able  to  remove  them  in  a body.  Some 
rose  at  times  ; but  by  far  the  larger  part  contin- 
ued unbending  ; observant,  it  is  true,  but  it  was 
the  kind  of  observation  that  regarded  the  cere- 
mony as  a spectacle  rather  than  a worship  in 
which  they  were  to  participate.  Thus  deserted 
by  his  clerk,  Mr.  Grant  continued  to  read  ; but 
no  response  was  audible.  The  short  and  solemn 
pause  that  succeeded  each  petition  was  made ; 
still  no  voice  repeated  the  eloquent  language  of 
the  prayer. 

The  lips  of  Elizabeth  moved,  but  they  moved 


66 


THE  PIONEERS. 


in  vain  ; and,  accustomed  as  she  was  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  churches  of  the  metropolis,  she  was 
beginning  to  feel  the  awkwardness  of  the  circum- 
stance most  painfully,  when  a soft,  low,  female 
voice  repeated  after  the  priest,  “ We  have  left  un- 
done those  things  which  we  ought  to  have  done.” 
Startled  at  finding  one  of  her  own  sex  in  that 
place,  who  could  rise  superior  to  natural  timidity, 
Miss  Temple  turned  her  eyes  in  the  direction  of 
the  penitent.  She  observed  a young  female  on 
her  knees,  but  a short  distance  from  her,  with 
her  meek  face  humbly  bent  over  her  book. 

The  appearance  of  this  stranger,  for  such  she 
was,  entirely,  to  Elizabeth,  was  light  and  fragile. 
Her  dress  was  neat  and  becoming ; and  her  coun- 
tenance, though  pale  and  slightly  agitated,  excit- 
ed deep  interest  by  its  sweet  and  melancholy  ex- 
pression. A second  and  third  response  were  made 
by  this  juvenile  assistant,  when  the  manly  sounds 
of  a male  voice  proceeded  from  the  opposite  part 
of  the  room.  Miss  Temple  knew  the  tones  of  the 
young  hunter  instantly,  and,  struggling  to  over- 
come her  own  diffidence,  she  added  her  low  voice 
to  the  number. 

All  this  time  Benjamin  stood  thumbing  the 
leaves  of  a prayer-book  with  great  industry ; but 
some  unexpected  difficulties  prevented  his  finding 
the  place.  Before  the  divine  reached  the  close 
of  the  confession,  however,  Richard  reappeared 
at  the  door,  and,  as  he  moved  lightly  across  the 
room,  he  took  up  the  response,  in  a voice  that 
betrayed  no  other  concern  than  that  of  not  being 
heard.  In  his  hand  he  carried  a small  open  box, 
with  the  figures  “8  by  10”  written  in  black 
paint  on  one  of  its  sides ; which,  having  placed  in 
the  pulpit,  apparently  as  a footstool  for  the  di- 
vine, he  returned  to  his  station  in  time  to  say, 
sonorously,  “ Amen.”  The  eyes  of  the  congre- 
gation, very  naturally,  were  turned  to  the  win- 
dows, as  Mr.  Jones  entered  with  this  singular 
load ; and  then,  as  if  accustomed  to  his  “ general 
agency,”  were  again  bent  on  the  priest,  in  close 
and  curious  attention. 

The  long  experience  of  Mr.  Grant  admirably 
qualified  him  to  perform  his  present  duty.  He  well 
understood  the  character  of  his  listeners,  who  were 
mostly  a primitive  people  in  their  habits ; and 
who,  being  a good  deal  addicted  to  subtilties 
and  nice  distinctions  in  their  religious  opinions, 
viewed  the  introduction  of  any  such  temporal  as- 
sistance as  form  into  their  spiritual  worship,  not 
only  with  jealousy,  but  frequently  with  disgust. 
He  had  acquired  much  of  his  knowledge  from 
Btudying  the  great  book  of  human  nature,  as  it 
lay  open  in  the  world ; and,  knowing  how  dan- 
gerous it  was  to  contend  with  ignorance,  uni- 


formly endeavored  to  avoid  dictating  where  hil 
better  reason  taught  him  it  was  the  most  prudent 
to  attempt  to  lead.  Ills  orthodoxy  had  no  de- 
pendence on  his  cassock ; he  could  pray  with  fer- 
vor and  with  faith,  if  circumstances  required  it, 
without  the  assistance  of  his  clerk ; and  he  had 
even  been  known  to  preach  a most  evangelical 
sermon,  in  the  winning  manner  of  native  elo- 
quence, without  the  aid  of  a cambric  handker- 
chief. 

. In  the  present  instance  he  yielded,  in  many 
places,  to  the  prejudices  of  his  congregation ; 
and,  when  he  had  ended,  there  was  not  one  of 
his  new  hearers  who  did  not  think  the  ceremo- 
nies less  papal  and  offensive,  and  more  conform- 
ant to  his  or  her  own  notions  of  devout  worship, 
than  they  had  been  led  to  expect  from  a service 
of  forms.  Richard  found  in  the  divine,  during 
the  evening,  a most  powerful  cooperator  in  his 
religious  schemes.  In  preaching,  Mr.  Grant  en- 
deavored to  steer  a middle  course  between  the 
mystical  doctrines  of  those  sublimated  creeds 
which  daily  involve  their  professors  in  the  most 
absurd  contradictions,  and  those  fluent  rules  of 
moral  government,  which  would  reduce  the  Sav- 
iour to  a level  with  the  teacher  of  a school  of  eth- 
ics. Doctrine  it  was  necessary  to  preach,  for  noth- 
ing less  would  have  satisfied  the  disputatious  peo- 
ple who  were  his  listeners,  and  who  would  have 
interpreted  silence  on  his  part  into  a tacit  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  superficial  nature  of  his 
creed.  We  have  already  said  that,  among  the 
endless  variety  of  religious  instructors,  the  settlers 
were  accustomed  to  hear  every  denomination  urge 
its  own  distinctive  precepts  ; and  to  have  found 
one  indifferent  to  this  interesting  subject,  would 
have  been  destructive  to  his  influence.  But  Mr. 
Grant  so  happily  blended  the  universally  re- 
ceived opinions  of  the  Christian  faith  with  the 
dogmas  of  his  own  church,  that,  although  none 
were  entirely  exempt  from  the  influence  of  his 
reasons,  very  few  took  any  alarm  at  the  innova- 
tion. 

“When  we  consider  the  great  diversity  of  the 
human  character,  influenced  as  it  is  by  education, 
by  opportunity,  and  by  the  physical  and  moral 
conditions  of  the  creature,  my  dear  hearers,”  he 
earnestly  concluded,  “ it  can  excite  no  surprise, 
that  creeds  so  very  different  in  their  tendencies 
should  grow  out  of  a religion,  revealed,  it  is  true, 
but  whose  revelations  are  obscured  by  the  lapse 
of  ages,  and  whose  doctrines  were,  after  the  fash- 
ion of  the  countries  in  which  they  were  first  pro- 
mulgated,  frequently  delivered  in  parables,  and  in 
a language  abounding  in  metaphors,  and  loaded 
with  figures.  On  points  where  the  learned  have, 


REV.  MR.  GRANT’S  SERMON. 


57 


in  parity  of  heart,  been  compelled  to  differ,  the 
unlettered  will  necessarily  be  at  variance.  But, 
happily  for  us,  my  brethren,  the  fountain  of  di- 
vine lore  flows  from  a source  too'  pure  to  admit 
of  pollution  in  its  course;  it  extends,  to  those 
who  drink  of  its  vivifying  waters,  the  peace  of 
the  righteous,  and  life  everlasting ; it  endures 
through  all  time,  and  it  pervades  creation.  If 
there  be  mystery  in  its  workings,  it  is  the  mys- 
tery of  a Divinity.  With  a clear  knowledge  of 
the  nature,  the  might,  and  majesty  of  God,  there 
might  be  conviction,  but  there  could  be  no  faith. 
If  we  are  required  to  believe  in  doctrines  that 
seem  not  in  conformity  with  the  deductions  of 
human  wisdom,  let  us  never  forget  that  such  is 
the  mandate  of  a wisdom  that  is  infinite.  It  is 
sufficient  for  us  that  enough  is  developed  to  point 
our  path  aright,  and  to  direct  our  wandering  steps 
to  that  portal  which  shall  open  on  the  light  of  an 
eternal  day.  Then,  indeed,  it  may  be  humbly 
hoped  that  the  film  which  has  been  spread  by  the 
subtilties  of  earthly  arguments,  will  be  dissipated 
by  the  spiritual  light  of  Heaven ; and  that  our 
hour  of  probation,  by  the  aid  of  divine  grace,  be- 
fog once  passed  in  triumph,  will  be  followed  by 
an  eternity  of  intelligence,  and  endless  ages  of 
fruition.  All  that  is  now  obscure  shall  become 
plain  to  our  expanded  faculties  ; and  what  to  our 
present  senses  may  seem  irreconcilable  to  our  lim- 
ited notions  of  mercy,  of  justice,  and  of  love,  shall 
stand,  irradiated  by  the  light  of  truth,  confessedly 
the  suggestions  of  Omniscience,  and  the  acts  of 
an  All-powerful  Benevolence. 

“What  a lesson  of  humility,  my  brethren, 
might  not  each  of  us  obtain  from  a review  of  his 
infant  hours,  and  the  recollection  of  his  juvenile 
passions  ! How  differently  do  the  same  acts  of 
parental  rigor  appear,  in  the  eyes  of  the  suffer- 
ing child,  and  of  the  chastened  man  ! When  the 
sophist  would  supplant,  with  the  wild  theories  of 
his  worldly  wisdom,  the  positive  mandates  of  in- 
spiration, let  him  remember  the  expansion  of  his 
own  feeble  intellects,  and  pause — let  him  feel  the 
wisdom  of  God  in  what  is  partially  concealed,  as 
well  as  in  that  which  is  revealed ; in  short,  let 
him  substitute  humility  for  pride  of  reason — let 
him  have  faith,  and  live ! 

“ The  consideration  of  this  subject  is  full  of 
consolation,  my  hearers,  and  does  not  fail  to 
bring  with  it  lessons  of  humility  and  of  profit, 
that,  duly  improved,  would  both  chasten  the 
heart  and  strengthen  the  feeble-minded  man  in 
his  course.  It  is  a blessed  consolation  to  be  able 
to  lay  the  misdoubtings  of  our  arrogant  nature  at 
the  threshold  of  the  dwelling-place  of  the  Deity, 
s:em  whence  they  shall  be  swept  away,  at  the 


great  opening  of  the  portal,  like  the  mists  of  the 
morning  before  the  rising  sun.  It  teaches  us  a 
lesson  of  humility,,  by  impressing  us  with  the 
imperfection  of  human  powers,  and  by  warning 
us  of  the  many  weak  points  where  we  are  open 
to  the  attacks  of  the  great  enemy  of  our  race  ; it 
proves  to  us  that  we  are  in  danger  of  being  weak, 
when  our  vanity  would  fain  soothe  us  into  the 
belief  that  we  are  most  strong  ; it  forcibly  points 
out  to  us  the  vainglory  of  intellect,  and  shows 
us  the  vast  difference  between  a saving  faith  and 
the  corollaries  of  a philosophical  theology;  and 
it  teaches  us  to  reduce  our  self-examination  to 
the  test  of  good  works.  By  good  works  must  be 
understood  the  fruits  of  repentance,  the  chiefest 
of  which  is  charity.  Not  that  charity  only,  which 
causes  us  to  help  the  needy  and  comfort  the  suf- 
fering, but  that  feeling  of  universal  philanthropy, 
which,  by  teaching  us  to  love,  causes  us  to  judge 
with  lenity,  all  men  ; striking  at  the  root  of  self- 
righteousness,  and  warning  us  to  be  sparing  of 
our  condemnation  of  others,  while  our  own  salva- 
tion is  not  yet  secure. 

“ The  lesson  of  expediency,  my  brethren, 
which  I would  gather  from  the  consideration  of 
this  subject,  is  most  strongly  inculcated  by 
humility.  On  the  leading  and  essential  points  of 
our  faith,  there  is  but  little  difference,  among 
those  classes  of  Christians  who  acknowledge  the 
attributes  of  the  Saviour,  and  depend  on  his  medi- 
ation. But  heresies  have  polluted  every  church, 
and  schisms  are  the  fruits  of  disputation.  In  order 
to  arrest  these  dangers,  and  to  insure  the  union 
of  his  followers,  it  would  seem  that  Christ  had 
established  his  visible  church,  and  delegated  the 
ministry.  Wise  and  holy  men,  the  fathers  of  our 
religion,  have  expended  their  labors  in  clearing 
what  was  revealed  from  the  obscurities  of  lan- 
guage, and  the  results  of  their  experience  and 
researches  have  been  embodied  in  the  form  of 
evangelical  discipline.  That  this  discipline  must 
be  salutary,  is  evident  from  the  view  of  the  weak- 
ness of  human  nature  that  we  have  already 
taken  ; and  that  it  may  be  profitable  to  us,  and 
all  who  listen  to  its  precepts  and  its  liturgy,  may 
God,  in  his  infinite  wisdom,  grant! — And  now 
to,”  &c. 

With  this  ingenious  reference  to  his  own  forms 
and  ministry,  Mr.  Grant  concluded  the  discourse. 
The  most  profound  attention  had  been  paid  to 
the  sermon  during  the  whole  of  its  delivery, 
although  the  prayers  had  not  been  received  with 
so  perfect  a demonstration  of  respect.  This  was 
by  no  means  an  intended  slight  of  that  liturgy 
to  which  the  divine  alluded,  but  was  the  habit  of 
a people,  who  owed  their  very  existence,  as  t 


58 


THE  PIONEERS. 


distinct  nation,  to  the  doctrinal  character  of  their 
ancestors.  Sundry  looks  of  private  dissatisfac- 
tion were  exchanged  between  Hiram  and  one  or 
two  of  the  leading  members  of  the  conference , 
but  the  feeling  went  no  further  at  that  time ; and 
the  congregation,  after  receiving  the  blessing  of 
Mr.  Grant,  dispersed  in  silence,  and  with  great 
decorum. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

“Your  creeds  and  dogmas  of  a learned  church 
May  build  a fabric,  fair  with  moral  beauty ; 

• But  it  would  seem,  that  the  strong  hand  6f  God 
Can,  only,  ’rase  the  devil  from  the  heart.” 

Duo. 

While  the  congregation  was  separating,  Mr. 
Grant  approached  the  place  where  Elizabeth  and 
her  father  were  seated,  leading  the  youthful  fe- 
male whom  we  have  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  and  presented  her  as  his  daughter.  Her 
reception  was  as  cordial  and  frank  as  the  man- 
ners of  the  country,  and  the  value  of  good 
society,  could  render  it;  the  two  young  women 
feeling,  instantly,  that  they  were  necessary  to  the 
comfort  of  each  other.  The  Judge,  to  whom  the 
clergyman’s  daughter  was  also  a stranger,  was 
pleased  to  find  one  who,  from  habits,  sex,  and 
yfears,  could  probably  contribute  largely  to  the 
pleasures  of  his  own  child,  during  her  first  priva- 
tions, on  her  removal  from  the  associations  of  a 
city  to  the  solitude  of  Templeton;  while  Eliza- 
beth, who  had  been  forcibly  struck  with  the  sweet- 
ness and  devotion  of  the  youthful  suppliant, 
removed  the  slight  embarrassment  of  the  timid 
stranger,  by  the  ease  of  her  own  manners.  They 
were  at  once  acquainted;  and,  during  the  ten 
minutes  that  the  “ academy  ” was  clearing,  en- 
gagements were  made  between  the  young  people, 
not  only  for  the  succeeding  day,  but  they  would 
probably  have  embraced  in  their  arrangements 
half  of  the  winter,  had  not  the  divine  interrupted 
them,  by  saying : 

“ Gently,  gently,  my  dear  Miss  Temple,  or  you 
will  make  my  girl  too  dissipated.  You  forget 
that  she  is  my  housekeeper,  and  that  my  domestic 
affairs  must  remain  unattended  to,  should  Louisa 
accept  of  half  the  kind  offers  you  are  so  good  as 
to  make  her.” 

“ And  why  should  they  not  be  neglected  en- 
tirely, si?  ? " interrupted  Elizabeth.  “ There  are 
but  two  of  you  ; and  certain  I am  that  my  father’s 
house  will  not  only  contain  you  both,  but  will 
open  its  doors  spontaneously,  to  receive  such 
guests.  Society  is  a good,  not  to  be  rejected  on 


t account  of  cold  forms,  in  this  wilderness,  sir ; and 
I have  often  heard  my  father  say,  that  hospitality 
is  not  a virtue  in  a new  country,  the  favor  being 
conferred  by  the  guest.” 

“ The  manner  in  which  Judge  Temple  exer- 
cises its  rites  would  confirm  this  opinion ; but  we 
must  not  trespass  too  freely.  Doubt  not  that  you 
will  see  us  often,  my  child  particularly,  during 
the  frequent  visits  that  I shall  be  compelled  to 
make  to  the  distant  parts  of  the  country.  But 
to  obtain  an  influence  with  such  a people,”  he 
continued,  glancing  his  eyes  toward  the  few  who 
were  still  lingering,  curious  observers  of  the  inter- 
view, “a  clergyman  must  not  awaken  envy  or 
distrust,  by  dwelling  under  so  splendid  a roof  as 
that  of  Judge  Temple.” 

“ You  like  the  roof,  then,  Mr.  Grant,”  cried 
Richard,  who  had  been  directing  the  extinguish- 
ment of  the  fires,  and  other  little  necessary  duties, 
and  who  approached  in  time  to  hear  the  close  of 
the  divine’s  speech — “ I am  glad  to  find  one  man 
of  taste  at  last.  Here’s  ’duke,  now,  pretends  to 
call  it  by  every  abusive  name  he  can  invent; 
but  though  ’duke  is  a tolerable  judge,  he  is  a 
very  poor  carpenter,  let  me  tell  him.  Well,  sir, 
well,  I think  we  may  say,  without  boasting,  that 
the  service  was  as  well  performed  this  evening  as 
you  often  see ; I think,  quite  as  well  as  I ever 
knew  it  to  be  done  in  old  Trinity — that  is,  if  we 
except  the  organ.  But  there  is  the  schoolmaster 
leads  the  psalm  with  a very  good  air.  I used  to 
lead  myself,  but  latterly  I have  sung  nothing  but 
bass.  There  is  a good  deal  of  science  to  be  shown 
in  the  bass,  and  it  affords  a fine  opportunity  to 
show  off  a full,  deep  voice.  Benjamin,  too,  sings 
a good  bass,  though  he  is  often  out  in  the  words. 
Did  you  ever  hear  Benjamin  sing  the  ‘ Bay  of 
Biscay,  0 ? ’ ” 

“ I believe  he  gave  us  part  of  it  this  evening,” 
said  Marmaduke,  laughing.  “There  was,  now 
and  then,  a fearful  quaver  in  his  voice,  and  it 
seems  that  Mr.  Penguillian  is  like  most  others 
who  do  one  thing  particularly  well;  he  knows 
nothing  else.  He  has,  certainly,  a wonderful 
partiality  to  one  tune,  and  he  has  a prodigious 
self-confidence  in  that  one,  for  he  delivers  him- 
self like  a northwester  sweeping  across  the  lake. 
But  come,  gentleman,  our  way  is  clear,  and  the 
sleigh  waits. — Good-evening,  Mr.  Grant. — Good- 
night, young  lady — remember  that  you  dine  be- 
neath the  Corinthian  roof  to-morrow,  with  Eliza- 
beth.” 

The  parties  separated,  Richard  holding  a 
close  dissertation  with  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  as  they  de- 
scended the  stairs,  on  the  subject  of  psalmody 
which  he  closed  by  a violent  eulogium  on  the  air 


THE  PASTOR  AND  HIS  NEW  FRIENDS. 


59 


jf  the  “Bay  of  Biscay,  0,”  as  particularly  con- 
nected with  his  friend  Benjamin’s  execution. 

During  the  preceding  dialogue,  Mohegan  re- 
tained his  seat,  with  his  head  shrouded  in  his 
blanket,  as  seemingly  inattentive  to  surrounding 
objects  as  the  departing  congregation  was,  itself,' 
to  the  presence  of  the  aged  chief.  Natty,  also, 
continued  on  the  log  where  he  had  first  placed 
himself,  with  his  head  resting  on  one  of  his  hands, 
while  the  other  held  the  rifle,  which  was  thrown 
carelessly  across  his  lap.  His  countenance  ex- 
pressed uneasiness,  and  the  occasional  unquiet 
glances  that  he  had  thrown  around  him  during 
the  service,  plainly  indicated  some  unusual  causes 
for  unhappiness.  His  continuing  seated  was, 
however,  out  of  respect  to  the  Indian  chief,  to 
whom  he  paid  the  utmost  deference  on  all  occa- 
sions, although  it  was  mingled  with  the  rough 
manner  of  a hunter. 

The  young  companion  of  these  two  ancient 
inhabitants  of  the  forest  remained  also  standing 
before  the  extinguished  brands,  probably  from  an 
unwillingness  to  depart  without  his  comrades. 
The  room  was  now  deserted  by  all  but  this  group, 
the  divine,  and  his  daughter.  As  the  party  from 
the  mansion-house  disappeared,  John  arose,  and, 
dropping  the  blanket  from  his  head,  he  shook 
back  the  mass  of  black  hair  from  his  face,  and, 
approaching  Mr.  Grant,  he  extended  his  hand,  and 
said  solemnly : 

“ Father,  I thank  you.  The  words  that  have 
been  said,  since  the  rising  moon,  have  gone  up- 
ward, and  the  Great  Spirit  is  glad.  What  you 
have  told  your  children,  they  will  remember,  and 
be  good.”  He  paused  a moment,  and  then,  ele- 
vating himself  with  the  grandeur  of  an  Indian 
chief,  he  added : " If  Chingachgook  lives  to 
travel  toward  the  setting  sun,  after  his  tribe,  and 
the  Great  Spirit  carries  him  over  the  lakes  and 
mountains  with  the  breath  in  his  body,  he  will 
tell  his  people  the  good  talk  he  has  heard ; and 
they' will  believe  him ; for  who  can  say  that  Mo- 
hegan has  ever  lied  ? ” 

“ Let  him  place  his  dependence  on  the  good- 
v ness  of  Divine  mercy,”  said  Mr.  Grant,  to  whom 
the  proud  consciousness  of  the  Indian  sound- 
ed a little  heterodox,  “and  it  never  will  desert 
him.  When  the  heart  is  filled  with  love  to  God, 
there  is  no  room  for  sin.  — But,  young  man, 
to  you  I owe  not  only  an  obligation,  in  common 
with  those  you  saved  thi3  evening  on  the  moun- 
tain, but  my  thanks,  for  your  respectful  and  piou3 
manner  in  assisting  in  the  service  at  a most  em- 
barrassing moment.  I should  be  happy  to  see 
you  sometimes  at  my  dwelling,  when,  perhaps, 
my  conversation  may  strengthen  you  in  the  path 


which  you  appear  to  have  chosen.  It  is  so  un. 
usual  to  find  one  of  your  age  and  appearance,  in 
these  woods,  at  all  acquainted  with  our  holy  lit- 
urgy, that  it  lessens  at  once  the  distance  between 
us,  and  I feel  that  we  are  no  longer  strangers. 
You  seem  quite  at  home  in  the  service ; I did  not 
perceive  that  you  had  even  a book,  although  good 
Mr.  Jones  had  laid  several  in  different  parts  of  the 
room.” 

“ It  would  be  strange  if  I were  ignorant  of 
the  service  of  our  church,  sir,”  returned  the  youth, 
modestly ; “ for  I was  baptized  in  its  communion, 
and  I have  never  yet  attended  public  worship 
elsewhere.  For  me  to  use  the  forms  of  any  other 
denomination,  would  be  as  singular  as  our  own 
have  proved  to  the  people  here  this  evening.” 

“ You  give  me  great  pleasure,  my  dear  sir,” 
cried  the  divine,  seizing  the  other  by  the  hand, 
and  shaking  it  cordially.  “You  will  go  home 
with  me  now — indeed  you  must — my  child  has 
yet  to  thank  you  for  saving  my  life.  I will  listen 
to  no  apologies.  This  worthy  Indian,  and  your 
friend,  there,  will  accompany  us. — Bless  me ! to 
think  that  he  has  arrived  at  manhood  in  this 
country,  without  entering  a dissenting  * meeting- 
house ! ” 

“No,  no,”  interrupted  the  Leather-stocking, 
“ I must  away  to  the  wigwam ; there’s  work  there 
that  mustn’t  be  forgotten  for  all  your  churchings 
and  merry-makings.  Let  the  lad  go  with  you  in 
welcome ; he  is  used  to  keeping  company  with 
ministers,  and  talking  of  such  matters;  so  is 
old  John,  who  was  christianized  by  the  Mora- 
vians about  the  time  of  the  old  war.  But  I 
am  a plain,  unlarned  man,  that  has  sarved  both 
the  king  and  his  country,  in  his  day,  ag’in  the 
French  and  savages,  but  never  so  much  as  looked 
into  a book,  or  larnt  a letter  of  scholarship,  in  my 
born  days.  I’ve  never  seen  the  use  of  such  in- 
door work,  though  I have  lived  to  be  partly  bald, 
and  in  my  time  have  killed  two  hundred  beaver 
in  a season,  and  that  without  counting  the  other 
game.  If  you  mistrust  what  I am  telling  you,  you 
can  ask  Chingachgook  there,  for  I did  it  in  the 
heart  of  the  Delaware  country,  and  the  old  man 
is  knowing  to  the  truth  of  every  word  I say.” 

“ I doubt  not,  my  friend,  that  you  have  been 
both  a valiant  soldier  and  skilful  hunter  in  your 
day,”  said  the  divine ; “ but  more  is  wanting  to 
prepare  you  for  that  end  which  approaches.  You 
may  nave  heard  the  maxim,  that  ‘ young  men  may 
die,  but  that  old  men  must'  ” 

* The  divines  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the 
United  States  commonly  call  other  denominations  Dissent 
ers,  though  there  never  was  an  established  church  in  their 
own  country ! 


60 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ I’m  sure  I never  was  so  great  a fool  as  to  ex- 
pect to  live  forever,”  said  Natty,  giving  one  of  his 
silent  laughs ; “ no  man  need  do  that,  who  trails 
the  savages  through  the  woods,  as  I have  done, 
and  lives,  for  the  hot  months,  on  the  lake  streams. 
I’ve  a strong  constitution,  I must  say  that  for  my- 
self, as  is  plain  to  be  seen ; for  I’ve  drunk  the 
Onondaga  water  a hundred  times,  while  I’ve  been 
watching  the  deer-licks,  when  the  fever-an-agy 
seeds  was  to  be  seen  in  it  as  plain  and  as  plenty  as 
you  can  see  the  rattlesnakes  on  old  Crumhorn. 
But  then,  I never  expected  to  hold  out  forever ; 
though  there’s  them  living  who  have  seen  the 
Garman  flats  a wilderness  ; ay  ! and  them  that’s 
larned,  and  acquainted  with  religion,  too  ; though 
you  might  look  a week,  now,  and  not  find  even 
the  stump  of  a pine  on  them ; and  that’s  a wood 
that  lasts  in  the  ground  the  better  part  of  a hun- 
dred years  after  the  tree  is  dead.” 

“ This  is  but  time,  my  good  friend,”  returned 
Mr.  Grant,  who  began  to  take  an  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  new  acquaintance,  “but  I would 
have  you  prepare  for  eternity.  It  is  incumbent 
on  you  to  attend  places  of  public  worship,  as  I am 
pleased  to  see  that  you  have  done  this  evening. 
Would  it  not  be  heedless  in  you  to  start  on  a 
day’s  toil  of  hard  hunting,  and  leave  your  ramrod 
and  flint  behind  ? ” 

“ It  must  be  a young  hand  in  the  woods,”  in- 
terrupted Natty,  with  another  laugh,  “ that  didn’t 
know  how  to  dress  a rod  out  of  an  ash  sapling  or 
find  a fire-stone  in  the  mountains.  No,  no,  I 
never  expected  to  live  „ for  ever ; but  I see',  times 
be  altering  in  these  mountains  from  what  they 
was  thirty  years  ago,  or,  for  that  matter,  ten  years. 
But  might  makes  right,  and  the  law  is  stronger 
than  an  old  man,  whether  he  is  one  that  has  much 
laming,  or  only  one  like  me,  that  is  better  now  at 
standing  at  the  passes  than  in  following  the  hounds, 
as  I once  used  to  could.  Heigh-ho ! I never 
know’d  preaching  come  into  a settlement  but  it 
made  game  scarce,  and  raised  the  price  of  gun- 
powder; and  that’s  a thing  that’s  not  as  easily 
made  as  a ramrod  or  an  Indian  flint.” 

The  divine,  perceiving  that  he  had  given  his 
opponent  an  argument  by  his  own  unfortunate 
selection  of  a comparison,  very  prudently  relin- 
quished the  controversy ; although  he  was  fully 
determined  to  resume  it  at  a more  happy  moment. 
Repeating  his  request  to  the  young  hunter,  with 
great  earnestuess,  the  youth  and  Indian  con- 
sented to  accompany  him  and  his  daughter  to  the 
dwelling  that  the  care  of  Mr.  Jones  had  provided 
for  their  temporary  residence.  Leather-stocking 
persevered  in  his  intention  of  returning  to  the  hut, 
and  at  the  door  of  the  building  they  separated. 


After  following  the  course  of  one  of  the  streets 
of  the  village  a short  distance , Mr.  Grant,  who  led 
the  way,  turned  into  a field,  through  a pair  of 
open  bars,  and  entered  a footpath,  of  but  sufficient 
width  to  admit  one  person  to  walk  in  it  at  a time. 
The  moon  had  gained  a height  that  enabled  her 
to  throw  her  rays  perpendicularly  on  the  valley  ; 
and  the  distinct  shadows  of  the  party  flitted  along 
on  the  banks  of  the  silver  snow,  like  the  presence 
of  aerial  figures,  gliding  to  their  appointed  place 
of  meeting.  The  night  still  continued  intensely 
cold,  although  not  a breath  of  wind  was  felt.  The 
path  was  beaten  so  hard,  that  the  gentle  female, 
who  made  one  of  the  party,  moved  with  ease  along 
its  windings ; though  the  frost  emitted  a low  creak- 
ing at  the  impression  of  even  her  light  footsteps. 

The  clergyman  in  his  dark  dress  of  broadcloth, 
with  his  mild,  benevolent  countenance  occasion- 
ally turned  toward  his  companions,  expressing 
that  look  of  subdued  care  which  was  its  charac- 
teristic, presented  the  first  object  in  this  singular 
group.  Next  to  him  moved  the  Indian,  his  hair 
falling  about  his  face,  his  head  uncovered,  and 
the  rest  ofhis  form  concealed  beneath  his  blanket* 
As  his  swarthy  visage,  with  its  muscles  fixed  in 
rigid  composure,  was  seen  under  the  light  of  the 
moon,  which  struck  his  face  obliquely,  he  seemed 
a picture  of  resigned  old  age,  on  whom  the  storms 
of  winter  had  beaten  in  vain  for  the  greater  part 
of  a century ; but  when,  in  turning  his  head,  the 
rays  fell  directly  on  his  dark,  fiery  eyes,  they  told 
a tale  of  passions  unrestrained,  and  of  thoughts 
free  as  air.  The  slight  person  of  Miss  Grant, 
which  followed  next,  and  which  was  but  too  thinly 
clad  for  the  severity  of  the  season,  formed  a 
marked  contrast  to  the  wild  attire  and  uneasy 
glances  of  the  Delaware  chief;  and  more  than 
once  during  their  walk,  the  young  hunter,  him- 
self no  insignificant  figure  in  the  group,  was  led 
to  consider  the  difference  in  the  human  form,  as 
the  face  of  Mohegan,  and  the  gentle  countenance 
of  Miss  Grant,  with  eyes  that  rivalled  the  soft  hue 
of  the  sky,  met  his  view  at  the  instant  that  each 
turned  to  throw  a glance  at  the  splendid  orb 
which  lighted  their  path.  Their  way,  which  led 
through  fields  that  lay  at  some  distance  in  the 
rear  of  the  houses,  was  cheered  by  a couversation 
that  flagged  or  became  animated  with  the  subject. 
The  first  to  speak  was  the  divine. 

“ Really,”  he  said,  “ it  is  so  singular  a circum- 
stance to  meet  with  one  of  your  age,  that  has  not 
been  induced  by  idle  curiosity  to  visit  any  other 
church  than  the  one  in  which  he  has  been  educat- 
ed, that  I feel  a strong  curiosity  to  know  the  his- 
tory of  a life  so  fortunately  regulated.  Your  ed- 
ucation must  have  been  excellent ; as  indeed  is 


MISS  GRANT  AND  THE  HUNTER. 


61 


evident  from  your  manners  and  language.  Of 
which  of  the  States  are  you  a native,  Mr.  -Ed- 
wards ? for  such,  I believe,  was  the  name  that 
you  gave  Judge  Temple.” 

“ Of  this.” 

“ Of  this  ! I was  at  a loss  to  conjecture,  from 
your  dialect,  which  does  not  partake,  particularly, 
of  the  peculiarities  of  any  country  with  which  I 
am  acquainted.  You  have,  then,  resided  much  in 
the  cities,  for  no  other  part  of  this  country  is  so 
fortunate  as  to  possess  the  constant  enjoyment  of 
our  excellent  liturgy.” 

The  young  hunter  smiled,  as  he  listened  to 
the  divine  while  he  so  clearly  betrayed  from  what 
part  of  the  country  he  had  come  himself ; but,  for 
reasons  probably  connected  with  his  present  sit- 
uation, he  made  no  answer. 

“ I am  delighted  to  meet  with  you,  my  young 
friend,  for  I think  an  ingenuous  mind,  such  as  I doubt 
not  yours  must  be,  will  exhibit  all  the  advantages 
of  a settled  doctrine  and  devout  liturgy.  You  per- 
ceive how  I was  compelled  to  bend  to  the  humors  of 
my  hearers  this  evening.  Good  Mr.  Jones  wished 
me  to  read  the  communion,  and,  in  fact,  all  the 
morning  service  ; but,  happily,  the  canons  do  not 
require  this  of  an  evening.  It  would  have  wea- 
ried a new  congregation : but  to-morrow  I pur- 
pose administering  the  sacrament.  Do  you  com- 
mune, my  young  friend  ? ” 

“ I believe  not,  sir,”  returned  the  youth, 
with  a little  embarrassment,  that  was  not  at  all 
diminished  by  Miss  Grant’s  pausing  involuntarily, 
and  turning  her  eyes  on  him  in  surprise — “ I fear 
that  I am  not  qualified ; I have  never  yet  ap- 
proached the  altar ; neither  would  I wish  to  do 
it,  while  I find  so  much  of  the  world  clinging  to 
my  heart.” 

“ Each  must  judge  for  himself,”  said  Mr. 
Grant ; “ though  I should  think  that  a youth  who 
had  never  been  blown  about  by  the  wind  of  false 
doctrines,  and  who  has  enjoyed  the  advantages 
of  our  liturgy  for  so  many  years  in  its  purity, 
might  safely  come.  Yet,  sir,  it  is  a solemn  festi- 
val, which  none  should  celebrate  until  there  is 
reason  to  hope  it  is  not  mockery.  I observed 
this  evening,  in  your  manner  to  Judge  Temple,  a 
resentment  that  bordered  on  one  of  the  worst  of 
numan  passions. — We  will  cross  this  brook  on 
the  ice  : it  must  bear  us  all,  I think,  in  sdfety. — 
Be  careful  not  to  slip,  my  child.”  While  speak- 
ing, he  descended  a little  bank  by  the  path,  and 
crossed  one  of  the  small  streams  that  poured 
their  waters  into  the  lake  ; and,  turning  to  see  his 
daughter  pass,  observed  that  the  youth  had  ad- 
vanced, and  was  kindly  directing  her  footsteps. 
When  all  were  safely  over,  he  moved  up  the  op- 


posite bank,  and  continued  his  discourse. — “ It 
was  wrong,  my  dear  sir,  very  wrong,  to  suffer 
such  feelings  to  rise,  under  any  circumstances, 
and  especially  in  the  present,  where  the  evil  was 
not  intended.” 

“ There  is  good  in  the  talk  of  my  father,” 
said  Mohegan,  stopping  short,  and  causing  those 
who  were  behind  him  to  pause  also  ; “ it  is  the 
talk  of  Miquon.  The  white  man  may  do  as  his 
fathers  have  told  him;  but  the ‘Young  Eagle’ 
has  the  blood  of  a Delaware  chief  in  his  veins : 
it  is  red,  and  the  stain  it  makes  can  only  be 
washed  out  with  the  blood  of  a Mingo.” 

Mr.  Grant  was  surprised  by  the  interruption 
of  the  Indian,  and,  stopping,  faced  the  speaker. 
His  mild  features  were  confronted  to  the  fierce 
and  determined  looks  of  the  chief,  and  expressed 
the  horror  he  felt  at  hearing  such  sentiments  from 
one  who  professed  the  religion  of  his  Saviour. 
Raising  his  hands  to  a level  with  his  head,  he  ex- 
claimed : 

“ John,  John  ! is  this  the  religion  that  you 
have  learned  from  the  Moravians?  But  no — I 
will  not  be  so  uncharitable  as  to  suppose  it. 
They  are  a pious,  a gentle,  and  a mild  people,  and 
could  never  tolerate  these  passions.  Listen  to 
the  language  of  the  Redeemer — ‘ But  I say  unto 
you,  love  your  enemies ; bless  them  that  curse 
you  ; do  good  to  them  that  hate  you  ; pray  for 
them  that  despitefully  use  you  and  persecute  you.’ 
— This  is  the  command  of  God,  John,  and,  with- 
out striving  to  cultivate  such  feelings,  no  man 
can  see  him.” 

The  Indian  heard  the  divine  with  attention  ; 
the  unusual  fire  of  his  eye  gradually  softened,  and 
his  muscles  relaxed  into  their  ordinary  composure ; 
but,  slightly  shaking  his  head,  he  motioned  with 
dignity  for  Mr.  Grant  to  resume  hi3  walk,  and  fol- 
lowed himself  in  silence.  The  agitation  of  the 
divine  caused  him  to  move  with  unusual  rapidity 
along  the  deep  path,  and  the  Indian,  without  any 
apparent  exertion,  kept  an  equal  pace ; but  the 
young  hunter  observed  the  female  to  linger  in 
her  steps,  until  a trifling  distance  intervened  be- 
tween the  two  former  and  the  latter.  Struck  by 
the  circumstance,  and  not  perceiving  any  new 
impediment  to  retard  her  footsteps,  the  youth 
made  a tender  of  his  assistance. 

“ You  are  fatigued,  Miss  Grant,”  he  said ; 
“ the  snow  yields  to  the  foot,  and  you  are  une- 
qual to  the  strides  of  us  men.  Step  on  the  crust, 
I entreat  you,  and  take  the  help  of  my  arm.  Yon- 
der light  is,  I believe,  the  house  of  your  father ; 
but  it  seems  yet  at  some  distance.” 

“ I am  quite  equal  to  the  walk,”  returned  a 
low,  tremulous  voice  ; “ but  I am  startled  by  the 


62 


THE  PIONEERS. 


manner  of  tliat  Indian.  Oh  ! his  eye  was  horrid, 
as  he  turned  to  the  moon,  in  speaking  to  my  fa- 
ther. But  I forget,  sir ; he  is  your  friend,  and 
by  his  language  may  be  your  relative ; and  yet 
of  you  I do  not  feel  afraid.” 

The  young  man  stepped  on  the  bank  of  snow, 
which  firmly  sustained  his  weight,  and  by  a gen- 
tle effort  induced  his  companion  to  follow.  Draw- 
ing her  arm  through  his  own,  he  lifted  his  cap 
from  his  head,  allowing  the  dark  locks  to  flow  in 
rich  curls  over  his  open  brow,  and  walked  by  her 
side  with  an  air  of  conscious  pride,  as  if  inviting 
an  examination  of  his  inmost  thoughts.  Louisa 
took  but  a furtive  glance  at  his  person,  and  moved 
quietly  along,  at  a rate  that  was  greatly  quick- 
ened by  the  aid  of  his  arm. 

“ You  are  but  little  acquainted  with  this  pecul- 
iar people,  Hiss  Grant,”  he  said,  “ or  you  would 
know  that  revenge  is  a virtue  with  an  Indian.  They 
are  taught,  from  infancy  upward,  to  believe  it  a 
duty  never  to  allow  an  injury  to  pass  unrevenged; 
and  nothing  but  the  stronger  claims  of  hospital- 
ity can  guard  one  against  their  resentments, 
where  they  have  power.” 

“ Surely,  sir,”  said  Miss  Grant,  involuntarily 
withdrawing  her  arm  from  his,  “ you  have  not 
been  educated  with  such  unholy  sentiments.” 

“ It  might  be  a sufficient  answer  to  your  ex- 
cellent father,  to  say  that  I was  educated  in 
the  church,”  he  returned  ; “ but  to  you  I will  add, 
that  I have  been  taught  deep  and  practical  lessons 
of  forgiveness.  I believe  that,  on  this  subject,  I 
have  but  little  cause  to  reproach  myself ; it  shall 
be  my  endeavor  that  there  yet  be  less.” 

While  speaking,  he  stopped,  and  stood  with 
his  arm  again  proffered  to  her  assistance.  As  he 
ended,  she  quietly  accepted  his  offer,  and  they 
resumed  their  walk. 

Hr.  Grant  and  Hohegan  had  reached  the  door  of 
the  former’s  residence,  and  stood  waiting  near  its 
threshold  for  the  arrival  of  their  young  compan- 
ions. The  former  was  earnestly  occupied  in  en- 
deavoring to  correct,  by  his  precepts,  the  evil 
propensities  that  he  had  discovered  in  the  Indian 
during  their  conversation ; to  which  the  latter 
listened  in  profound  but  respectful  attention.  On 
the  arrival  of  the  young  hunter  and  the  lady,  they 
entered  the  building.  The  house  stood  at  some 
distance  from  the  village,  in  the  centre  of  a field, 
surrounded  by  stumps  that  were  peering  above 
the  snow,  bearing  caps  of  pure  white,  nearly  two 
feet  in  thickness.  Not  a tree  nor  a shrub  was 
nigh  it ; but  the  house,  externally,  exhibited  that 
cheerless,  unfinished  aspect  which  is  so  common 
to  the  hastily-erected  dwellings  of  a new  country. 
The  uninviting  character  of  its  outside  was,  how- 


ever, happily  relieved  by  the  exquisite  neatnesi 
and  comfortable  warmth  within. 

They  entered  an  apartment  that  was  fitted  aa 
a parlor,  though  the  large  fireplace,  with  its  culi- 
nary  arrangements,  betrayed  the  domestic  uses  to 
which  it  was  occasionally  applied.  The  bright 
blaze  from  the  hearth  rendered  the  light  that  pro- 
ceeded from  the  candle  Louisa  produced,  unneces- 
sary ; for  the  scanty  furniture  of  the  room  was 
easily  seen  and  examined  by  the  former.  The 
floor  was  covered  in  the  centre  by  a carpet  made 
of  rags,  a species  of  manufacture  that  was  then, 
and  yet  continues  to  be,  much  in  use  in  the  in- 
terior ; while  its  edges,  that  were  exposed  to 
view,  were  of  unspotted  cleanliness.  There  was 
a trifling  air  of  better  life  in  a tea-table  and  work- 
stand,  as  well  as  in  an  old-fashioned  mahogany 
bookcase ; but  the  chairs,  the  dining-table,  and 
the  rest  of  the  furniture,  were  of  the  plainest  and 
cheapest  construction.  Against  the  walls  were 
hung  a few  specimens  of  needle-work  and  draw- 
ing, the  former  executed  with  great  neatness, 
though  of  somewhat  equivocal  merit  in  their  de- 
signs, while  the  latter  were  strikingly  deficient  in 
both. 

One  of  the  former  represented  a tomb,  with  a 
youthful  female  weeping  over  it,  exhibiting  a 
church  with  arched  windows  in  the  background. 
On  the  tomb  were  the  names,  with  the  dates  of 
the  births  and  deaths,  of  several  individuals,  all 
of  whom  bore  the  name  of  Grant.  An  extremely 
cursory  glance  at  this  record  was  sufficient  to  dis- 
cover to  the  young  hunter  the  domestic  state  of 
the  divine.  He  there  read  that  he  was  a widow- 
er ; and  that  the  innocent  and  timid  maiden,  who 
had  been  his  companion,  was  the  only  survivor 
of  six  children.  The  knowledge  of  the  depend- 
ence which  each  of  these  meek  Christians  had 
on  the  other,  for  happiness,  threw  an  additional 
charm  around  the  gentle,  but  kind  attentions 
which  the  daughter  paid  to  the  father. 

These  observations  occurred  while  the  party 
were  seating  themselves  before  the  cheerful  fire, 
during  which  time  there  was  a suspension  of  dis- 
course. But,  when  each  was  comfortably  ar- 
ranged, and  Louisa,  after  laying  aside  a thin  coat 
of  faded  silk,  and  a gipsy  hat,  that  was  more  be- 
coming to  her  modest,  ingenuous  countenance 
than  appropriate  to  tin  season,  had  taken  a chair 
between  her  father  and  he  youth,  the  former  re- 
sumed the  conversation. 

“ I trust,  my  young  friend,”  he  said,  “ that 
the  education  you  have  received  has  eradicated 
most  of  those  revengeful  principles  which  you 
may  have  inherited  by  descent,  for  I understand 
from  the  expressions  of  John,  that  you  have  som« 


THE  DUTY  OF  FORGIVENESS. 


63 


of  the  blood  of  the  Delaware  tribe.  Do  not  mis- 
take me,  I beg,  for  it  is  not  color,  nor  lineage, 
that  constitutes  merit ; and  I know  not  that  he 
who  claims  affinity  to  the  proper  owners  of  this 
soil  has  not  the  best  light  to  tread  these  hills 
with  the  lightest  conscience.” 

Mohegau  turned  solemnly  to  the  speaker,  and, 
with  the  peculiarly  significant  gestures  of  an  In- 
dian, he  spoke : 

“ Father,  you  are  not  yet  past  the  summer  of 
life ; your  limbs  are  young.  Go  to  the  highest 
hill,  and  look  around  you.  All  that  you  see,  from 
the  rising  to  the  setting  sun,  from  the  head  wa- 
ters of  the  great  spring  to  where  the  ‘ crooked 
river  ’ * is  hid  by  the  hills,  is  his.  He  has  Dela- 
ware blood,  and  his  right  is  strong.  But  the 
brother  of  Miquon  is  just : he  will  cut  the  coun- 
try in  two  parts,  as  the  river  cuts  the  lowlands, 
and  will  say  to  the  ‘Young  Eagle,’  Child  of  the 
Delawares ! take  it — keep  it — and  be  a chief  in 
the  land  of  your  fathers.” 

“ Never ! ” exclaimed  the  young  hunter,  with 
a vehemence  that  destroyed  the  rapt  attention 
with  which  the  divine  and  his  daughter  were  lis- 
tening to  the  Indian.  “ The  wolf  of  the  forest  is 
not  more  rapacious  for  his  prey  than  that  man  is 
greedy  of  gold ; and  yet  his  glidings  into  wealth 
are  subtle  as  the  movements  of  a serpent.” 

“ Forbear,  forbear,  my  son,  forbear,”  interrupt- 
ed Mr.  Grant.  “ These  angry  passions  must  be  sub- 
dued. The  accidental  injury  you  have  received 
from  Judge  Temple  has  heightened  the  sense  of 
your  hereditary  wrongs.  But  remember  that  the 
one  was  unintentional,  and  that  the  other  is  the 
effect  of  political  changes,.  which  have,  in  their 
course,  greatly  lowered  the  pride  of  kings,  and 
swept  mighty  nations  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Where  now  are  the  Philistines,  who  so  often  held 
the  children  of  Israel  in  bondage  ? or  that  city  of 
Babylon,  which  rioted  in  luxury  and  vice,  and 
who  styled  herself  the  Queen  of  Nations  in  the 
drunkenness  of  her  pride  ? Remember  the  prayer 
of  our  holy  litany,  where  we  implore  the  Divine 
Power — ‘ that  it  may  please  thee  to  forgive  our 
enemies,  persecutors,  and  slanderers,  and  to  turn 
their  hearts.’  The  sin  of  the  wrongs  which  have 
been  done  to  the  natives  is  shared  by  Judge  Tem- 
ple only  in  common  with  a whole  people,  and  your 
arm  will  speedily  be  restored  to  its  strength.” 

“ This  arm  ! ” repeated  the  youth,  pacing  the 
floor  in  violent  agitation.  “ Think  you,  sir,  that 
I believe  the  man  a murderer  ? — Oh,  no ! he  is 
too  wily,  too  cowardly,  for  such  a crime.  But  let 

* The  Susquehannah  means  crooked  river ; “ hannak,” 
or  “bannock,”  meant  river  in  many  of  the  native  dialects. 
Thus  we  find  Rappahannock,  as  far  south  as  Yirginia. 


him  and  his  daughter  riot  in  their  wealth — a day 
of  retribution  will  come.  No,  no,  no,”  he  con- 
tinued, as  he  trod  the  floor  more  calmly — “ it  is 
for  Moliegan  to  suspect  him  of  an  intent  to  injure 
me : but  the  trifle  is  not  worth  a second  thought.” 

He  seated  himself,  and  hid  his  face  between 
his  hands,  as  they  rested  on  his  knees. 

“ It  is  the  hereditary  violence  of  a native’s 
passion,  my  child,”  said  Mr.  Grant  in  a low  tone 
to  his  affrighted  daughter,  who  was  clinging  in 
terror  to  his  arm.  “ He  is  mixed  with  the  blood 
of  the  Indians,  you  have  heard  ; and  neither  the 
refinements  of  education,  nor  the  advantages  of 
our  excellent  liturgy,  have  been  able  entirely  to 
eradicate  the  evil.  But  care  and  time  will  do 
much  for  him  yet.” 

Although  the  divine  spoke  in  a low  tone,  yet 
what  he  uttered  was  heard  by  the  youth,  who 
raised  his  head,  with  a smile  of  indefinite  expres- 
sion, and  spoke  more  calmly. 

“Be  not  alarmed,  Miss  Grant,  at  either  the 
wildness  of  my  manner  or  that  of  my  dress.  I 
have  been  carried  away  by  passions  that  I should 
struggle  to  repress.  I must  attribute  it,  with  your 
father,  to  the  blood  in  my  veins,  although  I would 
not  impeach  my  lineage  willingly ; for  it  is  all 
that  is  left  me  to  boast  of.  Yes  ! I am  proud 
of  my  descent  from  a Delaware  chief,  who  was  a 
warrior  that  ennobled  human  nature.  Old  Mohe- 
gan  was  his  friend,  and  will  vouch  for  his  vir- 
tues.” 

Mr.  Grant  here  took  up  the  discourse,  and, 
finding  the  young  man  more  calm,  and  the  aged 
chief  attentive,  he  entered  into  a full  and  theo- 
logical discussion  of  the  duty  of  forgiveness.  The 
conversation  lasted  for  more  than  an  hour,  when 
the  visitors  arose,  and,  after  exchanging  good 
wishes  with  their  entertainers,  they  departed. 
At  the  door  they  separated,  Mohegan  taking  the 
direct  route  to  the  village,  while  the  youth  moved 
toward  the  lake.  The  divine  stood  at  the  entrance 
of  his  dwelling,  regarding  the  figure  of  the  aged 
chief  as  it  glided,  at  an  astonishing  gait  for  his 
years,  along  the  deep  path ; his  black,  straight 
hair  just  visible  over  the  bundle  formed  by  his 
blanket,  which  was  sometimes  blended  with  the 
snow,  under  the  silvery  light  of  the  moon.  From 
the  rear  of  the  house  was  a window  that  over 
looked  the  lake  ; and  here  Louisa  was  found  by 
her  father,  when  he  entered,  gazing  intently  on 
some  object  in  the  direction  of  the  eastern  moun- 
tain. He  approached  the  spot,  and  saw  the  figure 
of  the  young  hunter,  at  the  distance  of  half  a mile, 
walking  with  prodigious  steps  across  the  wid« 
fields  of  frozen  snow  that  covered  tho  ice,  toward 
the  point  where  he  knew  the  hut  inhabited  by 


64 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  Leather-stocking  was  situated  on  the  margin 
of  the  lake,  under  a rock  that  was  crowned  by 
pines  and  hemlocks.  At  the  next  instant,  the 
wildly-looking  form  entered  the  shadow  cast  from 
the  overhanging  trees,  and  was  lost  to  view. 

“ It  is  marvellous  how  long  the  propensities 
of  the  savage  continue  in  that  remarkable  race,” 
said  the  good  divine ; “ but  if  he  persevere  as  he 
has  commenced,  his  triumph  shall  yet  be  com- 
plete. Put  me  in  mind,  Louisa,  to  lend  him  the 
homily  ‘ against  peril  of  idolatry,’  at  his  next 
visit.” 

“ Surely,  father,  you  do  not  think  him  in  dan- 
ger of  relapsing  into  the  worship  of  his  ances- 
tors ! ” 

“No,  my  child,”  returned  the  clergyman,  lay- 
ing his  hand  affectionately  on  her  flaxen  locks, 
and  smiling;  “his  white  blood  would  prevent  it; 
but  there  is  such  a thing  as  the  idolatry  of  our 
passions.’*’ 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

“ And  I’ll  drink  out  of  the  quart  pot — 

Here’s  a health  to  the  barley  mow.” 

Drinking  Song. 

On  one  of  the  corners,  where  the  two  prin- 
cipal streets  of  Templeton  intersected  each  other, 
stood,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  the  inn 
called  the  “ Bold  Dragoon.”  In  the  original 
plan,  it  was  ordained  that  the  village  should 
stretch  along  the  little  stream  that  rushed  down 
the  valley ; and  the  street  which  led  from  the 
lake  to  the  academy  w as  intended  to  be  its  west- 
ern boundary.  But  convenience  frequently  frus- 
trates the  best  regulated  plans.  The  house  of 
Mr.,,  or  as,  in  consequence  of  commanding  the 
militia  of  that  vicinity,  he  was  called,  Captain 
Hollister,  had,  at  an  early  day,  been . erected 
directly  facing  the  main  street,  and  ostensibly 
interposed  a barrier  to  its  further  progress. 
Horsemen,  and  subsequently  teamsters,  however, 
availed  themselves  of  an  opening,  at  the  end  of 
the  building,  to  shorten  their  passage  westward, 
until,  in  time,  the  regular  highway  was  laid  out 
along  this  course,  and  houses  were  gradually  built 
on  either  side,  so  as  effectually  to  prevent  any 
subsequent  correction  of  the  evil. 

Two  material  consequences  followed  this 
change  in  the  regular  plans  of  Marmaduke.  The 
main  street,  after  running  about  half  its  length, 
was  suddenly  reduced  to  precisely  that  difference 
In  its  width  ; and  the  “ Bold  Dragoon  ” became, 
next  to  the  mansion-house,  by  far  the  most  con. 
spicuous  edifice  in  the  place. 


This  conspicuousness,  aided  by  the  character 
of  the  host  and  hostess,  gave  the  tavern  an  advan- 
tage over  all  its  future  competitors,  that  no  cir- 
cumstances could  conquer.  An  effort  was,  how- 
ever, made  to  do  so ; and  at  the  corner,  diagonally 
opposite,  stood  a new  building  that  was  intended, 
by  its  occupants,  to  look  down  all  opposition. 
It  was  a house  of  wood,  ornamented  in  the  pre- 
vailing style  of  architecture,  and  about  the  roof 
and  balustrades  was  one  of  the  three  imitators 
of  the  mansion-house.  The  upper  windows  were 
filled  with  rough  boards  secured  by  nails,  to  keep 
out  the  cold  air — for  the  edifice  was  far  from 
finished,  although  glass  was  to  be  seen  in  the 
lower  apartments,  and  the  light  of  the  powerful 
fires  within  denoted  that  it  was  already  inhabited. 
The  exterior  was  painted  white  on  the  front,  and 
on  the  end  which  was  exposed  to  the  street ; but 
in  the  rear,  and  on  the  side  which  was  intended 
to  join  the  neighboring  house,  it  was  coarsely 
smeared  with  Spanish  brown.  Before  the  door 
stood  two  lofty  posts,  connected  at  the  top  by  a 
beam,  from  which  was  suspended  an  enormous 
sign,  ornamented  around  its  edges  with  certain 
curious  carvings  in  pine  boards,  and  on  its  faces 
loaded  with  masonic  emblems.  Over  these  mys- 
terious figures  was  written,  in  large  letters,  “ The 
Templeton  Coffee-house,  and  Traveller’s  Hotel,” 
and  beneath  them,  “ By  Habakkuk  Foote  and 
Joshua  Knapp.”  This  was  a fearful  rival  to  the 
“ Bold  Dragoon,”  as  our  readers  will  the  more 
readily  perceive,  when  we  add  that  the  same 
sonorous  names  were  to  be  seen  over  the  door  of 
a newly-erected  store  in  the  village,  a hatter’s 
shop,  and  the  gates  of  a tan-yard.  But,  either 
because  too  much  was  attempted  to  be  executed 
well,  or  that  the  “ Bold  Dragoon  ” had  established 
a reputation  which  could  not  be  easily  shaken, 
not  only  Judge  Temple  and  his  friends,  but  most 
of  the  villagers  also,  who  were  not  in  debt  to  the 
powerful  firm  we  have  named,  frequented  the  inn 
of  Captain  Hollister,  on  all  occasions  where  suet 
a house  was  necessary. 

On  the  present  evening  the  limping  veteran 
and  his  consort  were  hardly  housed  after  thei? 
return  from  the  academy,  when  the  sounds  of 
stamping  feet  at  their  threshold  announced  tht 
approach  of  visitors,  who  were  probably  assem- 
bling with  a view  to  compare  opinions  on  the 
subject  of  the  ceremonies  they  had  witnessed. 

The  public,  or  as  it  was  called,  the  “bar- 
room,” of  the  “ Bold  Dragoon,”  was  a spacious 
apartment,  lined  on  three  sides  with  benches,  and 
on  the  fourth  by  fire-places.  Of  the  latter  there 
were  two  of  such  size  as  to  occupy,  with  their 
enormous  jambs,  the  whole  of  that  side  of  tht 


SERGEANT  HOLLISTER  AND  HIS  WIFE. 


65 


apartment  where  they  were  placed,  excepting 
room  enough  for  a door  or  two,  and  a little  apart- 
ment in  one  corner,  which  was  protected  by  minia- 
ture palisadoes,  and  profusely  garnished  with 
bottles  and  glasses.  In  the  entrance  to  this  sanc- 
tuary, Mrs.  Hollister  was  seated,  with  great 
gravity  in  her  air,  while  her  husband  occupied 
himself  with  stirring  the  fires,  moving  the  logs 
with  a large  stake  burnt  to  a point  at  one  end. 

“There,  sargeant,  dear,”  said  the  landlady, 
after  she  thought  the  veteran  had  got  the  logs 
arranged  in  the  most  judicious  manner,  “give 
over  poking,  for  it’s  no  good  ye’ll  be  doing,  now 
that  they  burn  so  convanicntly.  There’s  the 
glasses  on  the  table  there,  and  the  mug  that  the 
doctor  was  taking  his  cider  and  ginger  in,  before 
the  fire  here — just  put  them  in  the  bar,  will  ye  ? 
for  we’ll  be  having  the  Jooge,  and  the  major,  and 
Mr.  Jones  down  the  night,  without  reckoning 
Benjamin  Poomp,  and  the  lawyers : so  ye’ll  be 
fixing  the  room  tidy ; and  put  both  flip  irons  in 
the  coals ; and  tell  Jude,  the  lazy  black  baste, 
that  if  she’s  no  be  claneing  up  the  kitchen  I’ll 
turn  her  out  of  the  house,  and  she  may  live  wid 
the  jontlemen  that  kape  the  ‘ Coffee-house,’  good 
luck  to  ’em.  Och ! sargeant,  sure  it’s  a great 
privilege  to  go  to  a mateing  where  a body  can  sit 
asy,  without  joomping  up  and  down  so  often,  as 
this  Mr.  Grant  is  doing  that  same.” 

“ It’s  a privilege  at  all  times,  Mrs.  Hollister, 
whether  we  stand  or  be  seated ; or,  as  good  Mr. 
Whitefield  used  to  do  after  he  had  made  a weari- 
some day’s  march,  get  on  our  knees  and  pray, 
like  Moses  of  old,  with  a flanker  to  the  right  and 
left,  to  lift  his  hands  to  heaven,”  returned  her 
husband,  who  composedly  performed  what  she 
had  directed  to  be  done.  “ It  was  a very  pretty 
fight,  Betty,  that  the  Israelites  had  on  that  day 
with  the  Amalekites.  It  seems  that  they  fout  on 
a plain,  for  Moses  is  mentioned  as  having  gone  on 
to  the  heights  to  overlook  the  battle,  and  wrestle 
in  prayer ; and  if  I should  judge,  with  my  little 
laming,  the  Israelites  depended  mainly  on  their 
horse,  for  it  was  written  that  Joshua  cut  up  the 
enemy  with  the  edge  of  the  sword  ; from  which  I 
infer,  not  only  that  they  were  horse,  but  well-dis- 
ciplyn’d  troops.  Indeed,  it  says  as  much  as  that 
they  were  chosen  men ; quite  likely  volunteers ; 
for  raw  dragoons  seldom  strike  with  the  edge  of 
their  swords,  particularly  if  the  weapon  be  any 
way  crooked.” 

“ Pshaw ! why  do  ye  bother  yourself  wid 
taxts,  man,  about  so  small  a matter,”  interrupted 
the  landlady;  “sure,  it  was  the  Lord  who  was 
with  ’em ; for  he  always  sided  wid  the  Jews,  be- 
fore they  fell  away ; and  it’s  but  little  matter 
44  5 


what  kind  of  men  Joshua  commanded,  so  that  he 
was  doing  the  right  bidding.  Aven  them  cursed 
millaishy,  the  Lord  forgive  me  for  swearing,  that 
was  the  death  of  him,  wid  their  cowardice,  would 
have  carried  the  day  in  old  times.  There’s  no 
rason  to  be  thinking  that  the  soldiers  w§re  used 
to  the  drill.” 

“ I must  say,  Mrs.  Hollister,  that  I have  not 
often  seen  raw  troops  fight  better  than  the  left 
flank  of  the  militia,  at  the  time  you  mention. 
They  rallied  handsomely,  and  that  without  beat 
of  drum,  which  is  no  easy  thing  to  do  under  fire, 
and  were  very  steady  till  he  fell.  But  the  Scrip- 
tures contain  no  unnecessary  words ; and  I will 
maintain  that  horse,  who  know  how  to  strike 
with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  must  be  well  disci- 
plyn’d.  Many  a good  sarmon  has  been  preached 
about  smaller  matters  than  that  one  word ! If 
the  text  was  not  meant  to  be  particular,  why 
wasn’t  it  written  with  the  sword,  and  not  with 
the  edge  ? Now,  a back-handed  stroke,  on  the 
edge,  takes  long  practice.  Goodness ! what  an 
argument  would  Mr.  Whitefield  make  of  that 
word  edge ! As  to  the  captain,  if  he  had  only 
called  up  the  guard  of  dragoons  when  he  rallied 
the  foot,  they  would  have  shown  the  inirny  what 
the  edge  of  a sword  was ; for,  although  there  was 
no  commissioned  officer  with  them,  yet  I think  I 
may  say,”  the  veteran  continued,  stiffening  his 
cravat  about  his  throat,  and  raising  himself  up, 
with  the  air  of  a drill-sergeant,  “ they  were  led 
by  a man  who  know’d  how  to  bring  them  on,  in 
spite  of  the  ravine.” 

“Is  it  lade  on  ye  would,”  cried  the  landlady, 
“when  ye  know  yourself,  Mr.. Hollister,  that  the 
baste  he  rode  was  but  little  able  to  joomp  from 
one  rock  to  another,  and  the  animal  was  as  spry 
as  a squirrel  ? Och  ! but  it’s  useless  to  talk,  for 
he’s  gone  this  many  a year.  I would  that  he  had 
lived  to  see  the  true  light ; but  there’s  mercy  for 
a brave  sowl,  that  died  in  the  saddle,  fighting  for 
the  liberty.  It  is  a poor  tombstone  they  have 
given  him,  any  way,  and  many  a good  one  that 
died  like  himself;  but  the  sign  is  very  like,  and 
I will  be  kapeing  it  up,  while  the  blacksmith  can 
make  a hook  for  it  to  swing  on,  for  all  the  ‘ coffee- 
houses ’ betwane  this  and  Albany.” 

There  is  no  saying  where  this  desultory  con- 
versation would  have  led  the  worthy  couple,  had 
not  the  men,  who  were  stamping  the  snow  off 
their  feet,  on  the  little  platform  before  the  door, 
suddenly  ceased  their  occupation,  and  entered 
the  bar-room. 

For  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  the  different  indi- 
viduals, who  intended  either  to  bestow  or  receive 
edification,  before  the  fires  of  the  “ Bold  Dragoon,” 


56 


THE  PIONEERS. 


on  that  evening,  were  collecting,  until  the  benches, 
were  nearly  filled  with  men  of  different  occupa- 
tions. Dr.  Todd  and  a slovenly-looking,  shabby- 
genteel  young  man,  who  took  tobacco  profusely, 
wore  a coat  of  imported  cloth,  cut  with  some- 
thing like  a fashionable  air,  frequently  exhibited 
a large  French  silver  watch,  with  a chain  of  woven 
hair  and  a silver  key,  and  who,  altogether,  seemed 
as  much  above  the  artisans  around  him  as  he  was 
himself  inferior  to  the  real  gentleman,  occupied 
a high-back  wooden  settee,  in  the  most  comfort- 
able corner  in  the  apartment. 

Sundry  brown  mugs,  containing  cider  or  beer, 
were  placed  between  the  heavy  andirons,  and 
little  groups  were  formed  among  the  guests,  as 
subjects  arose,  or  the  liquor  was  passed  from  one 
to  the  other.  No  man  was  seen  to  drink  by  him- 
self, nor  in  any  instance  was  more  than  one  vessel 
considered  necessary  for  the  same  beverage  ; but 
the  glass,  or  the  mug,  was  passed  from  hand  to  hand, 
until  a chasm  in  the  line,  or  a regal’d  to  the  rights 
of  ownership,  would  regularly  restore  the  dregs 
of  the  potation  to  him  who  defrayed  the  cost. 

Toasts  were  uniformly  drunk  ; and,  occasion- 
ally, some  one,  who  conceived  himself  peculiarly 
endowed  by  Nature  to  shine  in  the  way  of  wit, 
would  attempt  some  such  sentiment  a,s  “ hoping 
that  he  ” who  treated,  “ might  make  a better  man 
than  his  father ; ” or,  “live  till  all  his  friends  wished 
him  dead ; ” while  the  more  humble  pot-compan- 
ion contented  himself  by  saying,  with  a most  im- 
posing gravity  in  his  air,  “ come,  here’s  luck,”  or 
by  expressing  some  other  equally  comprehensive 
desire.  In  every  instance,  the  veteran  landlord  was 
requested  to  imitate  the  custom  of  the  cupbearers 
to  kings,  and  taste  the  liquor  he  presented,  by  the 
invitation  of  “ after  you  is  manners,”  with  which 
request  he  ordinarily  complied,  by  wetting  his 
lips,  first  expressing  the  wish  of  “ here’s  hoping,” 
leaving  it  to  the  imagination  of  the  hearers  to  fill 
the  vacuum  by  whatever  good  each  thought  most 
desirable.  During  these  movements,  the  landlady 
was  busily  occupied  with  mixing  the  various  com- 
pounds required  by  her  customers,  with  her  own 
hands,  and  occasionally  exchanging  greetings  and 
inquiries  concerning  the  conditions  of  their  re- 
spective families,  with  such  of  the  villagers  as  ap- 
proached the  bar. 

At  length  the  common  thirst  being  in  some 
measure  assuaged,  conversation  of  a more  general 
nature  became  the  order  of  the  hour.  The  phy- 
sician, and  his  companion,  who  was  one  of  the 
two  lawyers  of  the  village,  being  considered  the 
best  qualified  to  maintain  a public  discourse  with 
credit,  were  the  principal  speakers,  though  a re- 
mark was  hazarded,  now  and  then,  by  Mr.  Doo- 


little, who  was  thought  to  be  theii  inferior  only  in 
the  enviable  point  of  education.  A general  si- 
lence  was  produced  on  all  but  the  two  speakers, 
by  the  following  observation  from  the  practitioner 
of  the  law : 

“ So,  Dr.  Todd,  I understand  that  you  have 
been  performing  an  important  operation,  this  even- 
ing, by  cutting  a charge  of  buckshot  from  the 
shoulder  of  the  son  of  Leather-stocking  ? ” 

“Yes,  sir,”  returned  the  other,  elevating  his 
little  head  with  an  air  of  importance.  “ I had  a 
small  job  up  at  the  Judge’s  in  that  way  ; it  was, 
however,  but  a trifle  to  what  it  might  have  been, 
had  it  gone  through  the  body.  The  shoulder  is 
not  a very  vital  part ; and  I think  the  young  man 
will  soon  be  well.  But  I did  not  know  that  the 
patient  was  a son  of  Leather-stocking : it  is  news 
to  me  to  hear  that  Natty  had  a wife.” 

“ It  is  by  no  means  a necessary  consequence,” 
returned  the  other,  winking,  with  a shrewd  look 
around  the  bar-room  ; “ there  is  such  a thing,  I 
suppose  you  know,  in  law,  as  a films  nullius .” 

“ Spake  it  out,  man,”  exclaimed  the  landlady ; 
“ spake  it  out  in  king’s  English  ; what  for  should 
ye  be  talking  Indian  in  a room  full  of  Christian 
folks,  though  it  is  about  a poor  hunter,  who  is  but 
little  better  in  his  ways  than  the  wild  savages 
themselves  ? Och ! it’s  to  be  hoped  that  the  mis 
sionaries  will,  in  his  own  time,  make  a convarsiou 
of  the  poor  divils  ; and  then  it  will  matter  little 
of  what  color  is  the  skin,  or  wedder  there  be  wool 
or  hair  on  the  head.” 

“ Oh  ! it  is  Latin,  not  Indian,  Miss  Hollister,” 
returned  the  lawyer,  repeating  his  winks  and 
shrewd  looks ; “ and  Dr.  Todd  understands  Latin, 
or  how  would  he  read  the  labels  on  his  gallipots 
and  drawers  ? No,  no,  Miss  Hollister,  the  doctor 
understands  me ; don’t  you,  doctor  ? ” 

“ Hem — why  I guess  I am  not  far  out  of  the 
way,”  returned  Elnathan,  endeavoring  to  imitate 
the  expression  of  the  other’s  cquntenance,  by 
looking  jocular.  “ Latin  is  a queer  language, 
gentlemen ; now  I rather  guess  there  is  no  one  in 
the  room  except  Squire  Lippet,  who  can  believe 
that  ‘ Far.  Av.’  means  oatmeal,  in  English.” 

The  lawyer  in  his  turn  was  a good  deal  em- 
barrassed by  this  display  of  learning;  for,  al- 
though he  actually  had  taken  his  first  degree  at 
one  of  the  eastern  universities,  he  was  somewhat 
puzzled  with  the  terms  used  by  his  companion. 
It  was  dangerous,  however,  to  appear  to  be  out- 
done in  learning  in  a public  bar-room,  and  before 
so  many  of  his  clients  ; he  therefore  put  the  best 
face  on  the  matter,  and  laughed  knowingly,  as  if 
there  were  a good  joke  concealed  under  it,  that 
was  understood  only  by  the  physician  and  himself 


THE  LAWYER’S  PROPOSITION. 


67 


All  this  was  attentively  observed  by  the  listeners, 
who  exchanged  looks  of  approbation ; and  the  ex- 
pressions of  “ tonguey  man,”  and  “ I guess  Squire 
Lippet  knows,  if  anybody  doos,”  were  heard  in 
different  parts  of  the  room,  as  vouchers  for  the 
admiration  of  his  auditors.  Thus  encouraged, 
the  lawyer  rose  from  his  chair,  and  turning  his 
back  to  the  fire,  and  facing  the  company,  he  con- 
tinued : 

“ The  son  of  Natty,  or  the  son  of  nobody,  I 
hope  the  young  man  is  not  going  to  let  the  mat- 
ter drop.  This  is  a country  of  laws  ; and  I should 
like  to  see  it  fairly  tried,  whether  a man  who 
owns,  or  says  he  owns,  a hundred  thousand  acres 
of  land,  has  any  more  right  to  shoot  a body  than 
another.  What  do  you  think  of  it,  Dr.  Todd  ? ” 

“ Oh  ! sir,  I am  of  opinion  that  the  gentleman 
will  soon  be  well,  as  I said  before ; the  wound 
isn’t  in  a vital  part ; and  as  the  ball  was  extract- 
ed so  soon,  and  the  shoulder  was  what  I call  well 
attended  to,  I do  not  think  there  is  as  much  dan- 
ger as  there  might  have  been.” 

“ I say,  Squire  Doolittle,”  continued  the  attor- 
ney, raising  his  voice,  “ you  are  a magistrate,  and 
know  what  is  law,  and  what  is  not  law.  I ask 
you,  sir,  if  shooting  a man  is  a thing  that  is  to  be 
settled  so  very  easily  ? Suppose,  sir,  that  the 
young  man  had  a wife  and  family ; and  suppose 
that  he  was  a mechanic  like  yourself,  sir ; and 
suppose  that  his  family  depended  on  him  for 
bread  ; and  suppose  that  the  ball,  instead  of  mere- 
ly going  through  the  flesh,  had  broken  the  shoul- 
der-blade, and  crippled  him  forever ; I ask  you 
all,  gentlemen,  supposing  this  to  be  the  case, 
whether  a jury  wouldn’t  give  what  I call  hand- 
some damages  ? ” 

As  the  close  of  this  supposititious  case  was 
addressed  to  the  company  generally,  Hiram  did 
not,  at  first,  consider  himself  called  on  for  a reply ; 
but,  finding  the  eyes  of  the  listeners  bent  on  him 
in  expectation,  he  remembered  his  character  for 
judicial  discrimination,  and  spoke,  observing  a 
due  degree  of  deliberation  and  dignity. 

“ Why,  if  a man  should  shoot  another,”  he 
said,  “ and  if  he  should  do  it  on  purpose,  and  if 
the  law  took  notice  on’t,  and  if  a jury  should  find 
him  guilty,  it  would  be  likely  to  turn  out  a state- 
prison  matter.” 

“ It  would  so,  sir,”  returned  the  attorney. 
“ The  law,  gentlemen,  is  no  respecter  of  persons 
in  a free  country.  It  is  one  of  the  great  bless- 
ings that  has  been  handed  down  to  us  from  our  an- 
cestors, that  all  men  are  equal  in  the  eye  of  the 
laws,  as  they  are  by  nater.  Though  some  may  get 
property,  no  one  knows  how,  yet  they  are  not  priv- 
ileged to  transgress  the  laws  any  more  than  the 


poorest  citizen  in  the  State.  This  is  ray  notion, 
gentlemen  ; and  I think  that  if  a man  had  a mind 
to  bring  this  matter  up,  something  might  be  made 
out  of  it  that  would  help  pay  for  the  salve — ha  ! 
doctor  ? ” 

“ Why,  sir,”  returned  the  physician,  who  ap- 
peared a little  uneasy  at  the  turn  the  conversation 
was  taking,  “ I have  the  promise  of  Judge  Tem- 
ple before  men — not  but  what  I would  take  his 
word  as  soon  as  his  note  of  hand — but  it  was  be- 
fore men.  Let  me  see — there  was  Mounshier  Ler 
Quow,  and  Squire  Jones,  and  Major  Hartmann, 
and  Miss  Pettibone,  and  one  or  two  of  the  blacks 
by,  when  he  said  that  his  pocket  would  amply 
reward  me  for  what  I did.” 

“ Was  the  promise  made  before  or  after  the 
service  was  performed  ? ” asked  the  attorney. 

“ It  might  have  been  both,”  returned  the  dis- 
creet physician ; “ though  I’m  certain  he  said 
so  before  I undertook  the  dressing.” 

“ But  it  seems  that  he  said  his  pocket  should 
reward  you,  doctor,”  observed  Hiram.  “ Now  I 
don’t  know  that  the  law  will  hold  a man  to  such 
a promise ; he  might  give  you  his  pocket  with 
sixpence  in’t,  and  tell  you  to  take  your  pay  out 
on’t.” 

“ That  would  not  be  a reward  in  the  eye  of 
the  law,”  interrupted  the  attorney — “ not  what  is 
called  a ‘ quid  pro  quo  ; ’ nor  is  the  pocket  to  be 
considered  as  an  agent,  but  as  part  of  a man’s 
own  person,  that  is,  in  this  particular.  I am  of 
opinion  that  an  action  would  lie  on  that  promise, 
and  I will  undertake  to  bear  him  out,  free  of 
costs,  if  he  don’t  recover.” 

To  this  proposition  the  physician  made  no  re- 
ply ; but  he  was  observed  to  cast  his  eyes  around 
him,  as  if  to  enumerate  the  witnesses,  in  order  to 
substantiate  this  promise  also,  at  a future  day, 
should  it  prove  necessary.  A subject  so  momen- 
tous as  that  of  suing  Judge  Temple  was  not  very 
palatable  to  the  present  company  in  so  public  a 
place  ; and  a short  silence  ensued,  that  was  only 
interrupted  by  the  opening  of  the  door,  and  the 
entrance  of  Natty  himself. 

The  old  hunter  carried  in  his  hand  his  never- 
failing  companion,  the  rifle  ; and  although  all  of 
the  company  were  uncovered  excepting  the  law- 
yer, who  wore  his  hat  on  one  side,  with  a certain 
dam’me  air,  Natty  moved  to  the  front  of  one  of 
the  fires,  without  in  the  least  altering  any  part  of 
his  dress  or  appearance.  Several  questions  were 
addressed  to  him,  on  the  subject  of  the  game  he 
had  killed,  which  he  answered  readily,  and  with 
some  little  interest ; and  the  landlord,  between 
whom  and  Natty  there  existed  much  cordiality, 
on  account  of  their  both  having  been  soldiers  in 


S8 


THE  PIONEERS. 


youth,  offered  him  a glass  of  a liquid,  which,  if 
W£  might  judge  from  its  reception,  was  no  unwel- 
come guest.  When  the  forester  had  got  his  po- 
tation also,  he  quietly  took  hi3  seat  on  the  end 
of  one  of  the  logs  that  lay  nigh  the  fires,  and 
the  slight  interruption  produced  by  his  entrance 
seemfed  to  be  forgotten. 

“ The  testimony  of  the  blacks  could  not  be 
taken,  sir,”  continued  the  lawyer,  “ for  they  are 
all  the  property  of  Mr.  Jones,  who  owns  their 
time.  But  there  is  a way  by  which  Judge  Tem- 
ple, or  any  other  man,  might  be  made  to  pay  for 
shooting  another,  and  for  the  cure  in  the  bargain. 
— There  is  a way,  I say,  and  that  without  going 
into  the  ‘ court  of  errors,’  too.” 

“ And  a mighty  big  error  ye  would  make  of 
it,  Mister  Todd,”  cried  the  landlady,  “ should  ye 
be  putting  the  matter  into  the  law  at  all,  with 
Joodge  Temple,  who  has  a purse  as  long  as  one 
of  them  pines  on  the  hill,  and  who  is  an  asy  man 
to  dale  wid,  if  yees  but  mind  the  humor  of  him. 
He’s  a good  man  is  Joodge  Temple,  and  a kind 
one,  and  one  who  will  be  no  the  likelier  to  do  the 
pratty  thing,  becase  ye  would  wish  to  tarrify  him 
wid  the  law.  I know  of  but  one  objaction  to 
the  same,  which  is  an  over-carelessness  about 
his  sowl.  It’s  neither  a Methodie,  nor  a Papish, 
nor  Prasbetyrian,  that  he  is,  but  just  nothing  at 
all ; and  it’s  hard  to  think  that  he,  ‘ who  will  not 
fight  the  good  fight,  under  the  banners  of  a rig’- 
lar  church,  in  this  world,  will  be  mustered  among 
the  chosen  in  heaven,’  as  my  husband,  the  cap- 
tain there,  as  ye  call  him,  says — though  there  is 
but  one  captain  that  I know,  who  desaarves  the 
name.  I hopes,  Lather-stocking,  ye’ll  no  be  fool- 
ish, and  putting  the  boy  up  to  try  the  law  in  the 
matter  ; for  ’twill  be  an  evil  day  to  ye  both,  when 
ye  first  turn  the  skin  of  so  paceable  an  animal  as 
a sheep  into  a bone  of  contention.  The  lad  is 
wilcome  to  his  drink  for  nothing,  until  his  shoul- 
t.her  will  bear  the  rifle  ag’in.” 

“ Well  that’s  gin’rous,”  was  heard  from  sev- 
eral mouths  at  once,  for  this  was  a company  in 
which  a liberal  offer  was  not  thrown  away  ; while 
the  hunter,  instead  of  expressing  any  of  that  in- 
dignation which  he  might  be  supposed  to  feel,  at 
hearing  the  hurt  of  his  young  companion  alluded 
to,  opened  his  mouth,  with  the  silent  laugh  for 
which  he  was  so  remarkable  ; and  after  he  had  in- 
dulged his  humor,  made  this  reply  : 

“ I know’d  the  Judge  would  do  nothing  with 
his  smooth-bore  when  he  got  out  of  his  sleigh.  I 
never  saw  but  one  smooth-bore  that  would  carry 
at  all,  and  that  was  a French  ducking-piece,  upon 
the  big  lakes  ; it  had  a barrel  half  as  long  ag’in 
ns  my  rifle,  and  would  throw  fine  shot  into  a goose 


at  one  hundred  yards  ; but  it  made  dreadful  work 
with  the  game,  and  you  wanted  a boat  to  carry  it 
about  in.  When  I went  with  Sir  William  ag’in 
the  French,  at  Fort  Niagara,  all  the  rangers  used 
the  rifle ; and  a dreadful  weapon  it  is,  in  the 
hands  of  one  who  knows  how  to  charge  it,  and 
keep  a steady  aim.  The  captain  knows,  for  be 
says  he  was  a soldier  in  Shirley’s ; and  though 
they  were  nothing  but  baggonet-man,  he  must 
know  how  we  cut  up  the  French  and  Iroquois  in 
the  skrimmages  in  that  war.  Chingachgook,  which 
means  ‘ Big  Sarpent  ’ in  English,  old  John  Mohe- 
gan,  who  lives  up  at  the  hut  with  me,  was  a great 
warrior  then,  and  was  out  with  us  ; he  can  tell  all 
about  it,  too ; though  he  was  overhand  for  the 
tomahawk,  never  firing  more  than  once  or  twice, 
before  he  was  running  in  for  the  scalps.  Ah ! 
times  is  dreadfully  altered  since  then.  Why,  doc- 
tor, there  was  nothing  but  a footpath,  or  at  the 
most  a track  for  pack-horses,  along  the  Mohawk, 
from  the  Jarman  Flats  up  to  the  forts.  Now, 
they  say,  they  talk  of  running  one  of  them  wide 
roads  with  gates  on  it  along  the  river  ; first  mak- 
ing a road,  and  then  fencing  it  up  ! I hunted  one 
season  back  of  the  Kaatskills,  nigh-hand  to  the 
settlements,  and  the  dogs  often  lost  the  scent, 
when  they  came  to  them  highways,  there  was  so 
much  travel  on  them  ; though  I can’t  say  that  the 
brutes  was  of  a very  good  breed.  Old  Hector 
will  wind  a deer,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  aeross 
the  broadest  place  in  the  Otsego,  and  that  is  a mile 
and  a half,  for  I paced  it  myself  on  the  ice,  when 
the  tract  was  first  surveyed,  under  the  Indian 
grant.” 

“ It  sames  to  me,  Natty,  but  a sorry  compli- 
ment, to  call  your  comrad  after.the  evil  one,”  said 
the  landlady ; “ and  it’s  no  much  like  a snake 
that  old  John  is  looking  now.  Nimrod  would  be 
a more  besameing  name  for  the  lad,  and  a more 
Christian,  too,  seeing  that  it  comes  from  the 
Bible.  The  sargeant  read  me  the  chapter  about 
him,  the  night  before  my  christening,  and  a 
mighty  asement  it  was,  to  listen  to  any  thing  from 
the  book.” 

“Old  John  and  Chingachgook  were  very 
different  men  to  look  on,”  returned  the  hunter, 
shaking  his  head  at  his  melancholy  recollections. 
— “ In  the  ‘ fifty-eighth  war  ’ he  was  in  the  middle 
of  manhood,  and  taller  than  now  by  three  inches. 
If  you  had  seen  him,  as  I did,  the  morning  we 
beat  Dieskau,  from  behind  our  log  walls,  you 
would  have  called  him  as  comely  a red-skin  as  ye 
ever  set' eyes  on.  He  was  naked  all  to  his  breech- 
cloth  and  leggins ; and  you  never  seed  a creater 
so  handsomely  painted.  One  side  of  his  face  was 
red,  and  the  other  black.  His  head  was  shaved 


THE  SERMON  CRITICISED. 


6f 


clean,  all  to  a few  hairs  on  the  crown,  where  he 
wore  a tuft  of  eagle’s  feathers,  as  bright  as  if  they 
had  come  from  a peacock’s  tail.  He  had  colored 
his  sides  so  that  they  looked  like  an  atomy,  ribs 
and  all ; for  Chingachgook  had  a great  taste  in 
such  things;  so  that,  what  with  his  bold,  fiery 
countenance,  his  knife,  and  his  tomahawk,  I have 
never  seen  a fiercer  warrior  on  the  ground.  He 
played  his  part,  too,  like  a man ; for  I saw  him 
next  day,  with  thirteen  scalps  on  his  pole.  And 
I will  say  this  for  the  ‘ Big  Snake,’  that  he  always 
dealt  fair,  and  never  scalped  any  that  he  didn’t 
kill  with  his  own  hands.” 

“Well,  well,”  cried  the  landlady;  “fighting 
is  fighting,  anyway,  and  there  is  different  fashions 
in  the  thing ; though  I can’t  say  that  I relish 
mangling  a body  after  the  breath  is  out  of  it; 
neither  do  I think  it  can  be  uphild  by  doctrine. 
I hope,  sargeant,  ye  niver  was  helping  in  sich  evil 
worrek.” 

“ It  was  my  duty  to  keep  my  ranks,  and  to 
stand  or  fall  by  the  baggonet  or  lead,”  returned 
the  veteran.  “ I was  then  in  the  fort,  and  seldom 
leaving  my  place,  saw  but  little  of  the  savages, 
who  kept  on  the  flanks  or  in  front,  skrimmaging. 
I remember,  howsomever,  to  have  heard  mention 
made  of  the  ‘ Great  Snake,’  as  he  was  called,  for 
he  was  a chief  of  renown ; but  little  did  I ever 
expect  to  see  him  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  civilized  like  old  John.” 

“ Oh  ! he  was  Christianized  by  the  Moravians, 
who  were  always  over-intimate  with  the  Dela- 
wares,” said  Leather-stocking.  “ It’s  my  opinion 
that,  had  they  been  left  to  themselves,  there 
would  be  no  such  doings  now,  about  the  head 
waters  of  the  two  rivers,  and  that  these  hills 
mought  have  been  kept  as  good  hunting-ground 
by  their  right  owner,  who  is  not  too  old  to  carry 
a rifle,  and  whose  sight  is  as  true  as  a fish-hawk 
hovering — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  more  stamping  at  the 
door,  and  presently  the  party  from  the  mansion- 
house  entered,  followed  by  the  Indian  himself. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

“ There’s  quart-pot,  pint-pot,  half-pint, 

Gill-pot,  half-gill,  nipperkin, 

And  the  brown  bowl — 

Here’s  a health  to  the  barley  mow, 

My  brave  boys, 

Here’s  a health  to  the  barley  mow.” 

Drinking  Song. 

Some  little  commotion  was  produced  by  the 
appearance  of  the  new  guests,  during  which  the 
lawyer  slunk  from  the  room.  Most  of  the  men  ap- 


proached Marmaduke,  and  shook  his  offered  hand, 
hoping  “ that  the  Judge  was  well ; ” while  Major 
Hartmann,  having  laid  aside  his  hat  and  wig,  and 
substituted  for  the  latter  a warm,  peaked,  woollen 
nightcap,  took  his  seat  very  quietly  on  one  end 
of  the  settee,  which  was  relinquished  by  its  for- 
mer occupant.  His  tobacco-box  was  next  pro- 
duced, and  a clean  pipe  was  handed  him  by  the 
landlord.  When  he  had  succeeded  in*raising  a 
smoke,  the  major  gave  a long  whiff,  and,  turning 
his  head  toward  the  bar,  he  said  : 

“ Petty,  pring  in  ter  toddy.” 

In  the  mean  time  the  Judge  had  exchanged 
his  salutations  with  most  of  the  company,  and 
taken  a place  by  the  side  of  the  major,  and  Rich- 
ard had  bustled  himself  into  the  most  comfort- 
able seat  in  the  room.  Mr.  Le  Quoi  was  the  last 
seated,  nor  did  he  venture  to  place  his  chair 
finally,  until  by  frequent  removals  he  had  ascer- 
tained that  he  could  not  possibly  intercept  a 
ray  of  heat  from  any  individual  present.  Mo- 
hegan  found  a place  on  an  end  of  one  of  the 
benches,  and  somewhat  approximated  to  the  bar. 
When  these  movements  had  subsided,  the  Judge 
remarked  pleasantly : 

“ Well,  Betty,  I find  you  retain  your  popular- 
ity through  all  weathers,  against  all  rivals,  and 
among  all  religions.  How  liked  you  the  ser- 
mon ? ” 

“ Is  it  the  sarmon  ? ” exclaimed  the  landlady. 
“ I can’t  say  but  it  was  rasonable ; but  the  prayers 
is  mighty  unasy.  It’s  no  small  a matter  for  a 
body  in  their  fifty -nint’  year  to  be  moving  so  much 
in  church.  Mr.  Grant  sames  a godly  man,  any 
way,  and  his  garrel  is  a hoomble  one,  and  a de- 
vout.— Here,  John,  is  a mug  of  cider,  laced  with 
whiskey.  An  Indian  will  drink  cider,  though  he 
niver  be  athirst.” 

“ I must  say,”  observed  Hiram,  with  due  delib- 
eration, “ that  it  was  a tonguey  thing  ; and  I rath- 
er guess  that  it  gave  considerable  satisfaction. 
There  was  one  part,  though,  which  might  have 
been  left  out,  or  something  else  put  in  ; but  then 
I s’pose  that,  as  it  was  a written  discourse,  it  is 
not  so  easily  altered  as  where  a minister  preaches 
without  notes.” 

“ Ay  ! there’s  the  rub,  Joodge,”  cried  the  land- 
lady. “ How  can  a man  stand  up  and  be  prach- 
ing  his  word,  when  all  that  he  is  saying  is  written 
down,  and  he  is  as  much  tjed  to  it  as  iver  a thav- 
ing  dragoon  was  to  the  pickets  ? ” 

“ Well,  well,”  cried  Marmaduke,  waving  his 
hand  for  silence,  “ there  is  enough  said  ; as  Mr. 
Grant  told  us,  there  are  different  sentiments  on 
such  subjects,  and  in  my  opinion  he  spoke  most 
sensibly. — So,  Jotham,  I am  told  you  have  sold 


70 


THE  PIONEERS. 


your  betterments  to  a new  settler,  and  have  moved 
into  the  village,  and  opened  a school.  Was  it 
cash  or  dicker  ? ” 

The  naan  who  was  thus  addressed  occupied  a 
seat  immediately  behind  Marmaduke ; and  one 
who  was  ignorant  of  the  extent  of  the  Judge’s 
observation,  might  have  thought  he  would  have 
escaped  notice.  He  was  of  a thin,  shapeless  figure, 
with  a dif  contented  expression  of  countenance,  and 
with  something  extremely  shiftless  in  his  whole 
air.  Thus  spoken  to,  after  turning  and  twist- 
ing a little,  by  way  of  preparation,  he  made  a re- 

p]y- 

“ Why,  part  cash,  and  part  dicker.  I sold  out 
to  a Pumfretman  who  was  so’thin  forehanded. 
He  was  to  give  me  ten  dollars  an  acre  for  the 
clearin,  and  one  dollar  an  acre  over  the  first  cost 
on  the  woodland ; and  we  agreed  to  leave  the 
buildins  to  men.  So  I tuck  Asa  Montagu,  and  he 
tuck  Absalom  Bement,  and  they  two  tuck  old 
Squire  Napthali  Green.  And  so  they  had  a meet- 
in,  and  made  out  a vardict  of  eighty  dollars  for 
the  buildins.  There  was  twelve  acres  of  clearin, 
at  ten  dollars,  and  eighty-eight  at  one,  and  the 
whull  came  to  two  hundred  and  eighty-six  dollars 
and  a half,  after  paying  the  men.” 

“ Hum,”  said  Marmaduke  : “ what  did  you 
give  for  the  place  ? ” 

“ Why,  besides  what’s  cornin’  to  the  Judge,  I 
gi’n  my  brother  Tim  a hundred  dollars  for  his 
bargain  ; but  then  there’s  a new  house  on’t,  that 
cost  me  sixty  more,  and  I paid  Moses  a hundred 
dollars,  for  choppin’,  and  loggin’,  and  sowin’ ; so 
that  the  whull  stood  to  me  in  about  two  hundred 
and  sixty  dollars.  But  then  I had  a great  crop 
off  on’t,  and  as  I got  twenty-six  dollars  and  a half 
more  than  it  cost,  I conclude  I made  a pretty 
good  trade  on’t.” 

“ Yes,  but  you  forgot  that  the  crop  was  yours 
without  the  trade,  and  you  have  turned  yourself 
out  of  doors  for  twenty-six  dollars.” 

“ Oh  ! the  Judge  is  clean  out,”  said  the  man, 
with  a look  of  sagacious  calculation  ; “ he  turned 
out  a span  of  horses,  that  is  wuth  a hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  of  any  man’s  money,  with  a bran  new 
wagon  ; fifty  dollars  in  cash  ; and  a good  note  for 
eighty  more  ; and  a side-saddle  that  was  valued  at 
seven  and  a half — so  there  was  jist  twelve  shil- 
lings betwixt  us.  I wanted  him  to  turn  out  a set 
of  harness,  and  take  the  cow  and  the  sap  troughs. 
He  wouldn’t — but  I saw  through  it ; he  thought 
I should  have  to  buy  the  tacklin’  afore  I could  use 
the  wagon  and  horses ; but  I know’d  a thing  or 
two  myself ; I should  like  to  know  of  what  use  is 
the  tacklin’  to  him  ! I offered  him  to  trade  back 
tg’in  for  one  hundred  and  fifty-five.  But  my  wom- 


an said  she  wanted  a chum,  so  I tuck  a churn  for 
the  change.” 

“And  what  do  you  mean  to  do  with  your 
time  this  winter  ? you  must  remember  that  time 
is  money.” 

“ Why,  as  master  has  gone  down  country,  to 
see  his  mother,  who,  they  say,  is  going  to  make 
a die  on’t,  I agreed  to  take  the  school  in  hand  till 
he  comes  back.  If  times  doosn’t  get  worse  in  the 
spring,  I’ve  some  notion  of  going  into  trade,  or 
maybe  I may  move  off  to  the  Genesee ; they  say 
they  are  carryin’  on  a great  stroke  of  business 
that-a-way.  If  the  wust  comes  to  the  wust,  I can 
but  work  at  my  trade,  for  I was  brought  up  in  a 
shoe  manufactory.” 

“ It  would  seem  that  Marmaduke  did  not 
think  his  society  of  sufficient  value  to  attempt  in- 
ducing him  to  remain  where  he  was  ; for  he  ad- 
dressed no  further  discourse  to  the  man,  but 
turned  his  attention  to  other  subjects.  After  a 
short  pause,  Hiram  ventured  a question  : 

“ What  news  does  the  Judge  bring  us  from 
the  Legislature  ? it’s  not  likely  that  Congress  has 
done  much  this  session : or  maybe  the  French 
haven’t  fit  any  more  battles  lately  ? ” 

“ The  French,  since  they  have  beheaded  their 
king,  have  done  nothing  but  fight,”  returned  the 
Judge.  “ The  character  of  the  nation  seems 
changed.  I knew  many  French  gentlemen,  dur- 
ing our  war,  and  they  all  appeared  to  me  to  be 
men  of  great  humanity  and  goodness  of  heart ; 
but  these  Jacobins  are  as  bloodthirsty  as  bull- 
dogs.” 

“ There  was  one  Roshambow  wid  us,  down  at 
Yorrektown,”  cried  the  landlady ; “ a mighty 
pratty  man  he  was,  too  ; and  their  horse  was  the 
very  same.  It  was  there  that  the  sargeant  got 
the  hurt  in  the  leg,  from  the  English  batteries, 
bad  luck  to  ’em.” 

“ Ah  ! mon  pauvre  roi ! ” murmured  Mon- 
sieur Le  Quoi. 

“ The  Legislature  have  been  passing  laws,” 
continued  Marmaduke,  “ that  the  country  much 
required.  Among  others,  there  is  an  act  prohib- 
iting the  drawing  of  seines,  at  any  other  than 
proper  seasons,  in  certain  of  our  streams  and 
small  lakes  ; and  another,  to  prohibit  the  killing 
of  deer  in  the  teeming  months.  These  are  laws 
that  were  loudly  called  for,  by  judicious  men ; 
nor  do  I despair  of  getting  an  act  to  make  the  tux- 
lawful  felling  of  timber  a criminal  offence.” 

The  hunter  listened  to  this  detail  with  breath- 
less attention,  and,  when  the  Judge  had  ended,  he 
laughed  in  open  derision. 

“You  may  make  your  laws,  Judge,”  he  cried, 
“ but  wno  will  you  find  to  watch  the  mountains 


M.  LE  QUOI  AND  THE  JACOBINS. 


71 


through  the  long  summer  days,  or  the  lakes  at 
nignt  ? Game  is  game,  and  he  who  finds  may 
kill ; that  has  been  the  law  in  these  mountains 
for  forty  years  to  my  sartain  knowledge  ; and  I 
thiuk  one  old  law  is  worth  two  new  ones.  None 
but  a green  one  would  wish  to  kill  a doe  with  a 
fa’n  by  its  side,  unless  his  moccasins  were  getting 
old,  or  his  leggins  ragged,  for  the  flesh  is  lean  and 
coarse.  But  a rifle  rings  among  the  rocks  along 
the  lake  shore,  sometimes,  as  if  fifty  pieces  were 
fired  at  once — it  would  be  hard  to  tell  where  the 
man  stood  who  pulled  the  trigger.” 

“Armed  with  the  dignity  of  the  law,  Mr. 
Bumppo,”  returned  the  Judge,  gravely,  “ a vigil- 
ant magistrate  can  prevent  much  of  the  evil  that 
has  hitherto  prevailed,  and  which  is  already  ren- 
dering the  game  scarce.  I hope  to  live  to  see  the 
day  when  a man’s  rights  in  his  game  shall  be  as 
much  respected  as  his  title  to  his  farm.” 

“ Your  titles  and  your  farms  are  all  new  to- 
gether,” cried  Natty ; “ but  laws  should  be  equal, 
and  not  more  for  one  than  another.  I shot  a 
deer,  last  Wednesday  was  a fortnight,  and  it 
floundered  through  the  snow-banks  till  it  got  over 
a brush  fence  ; I catch’d  the  lock  of  my  rifle  in 
the  twigs  in  following,  and  was  kept  back,  until 
finally  the  creater  got  off.  Now  I want  to  know 
who  is  to  pay  me  for  that  deer ; and  a fine  buck 
it  was.  If  there  hadn’t  been  a fence  I should 
have  gotten  another  shot  into  it ; and  I never 
draw’d  upon  any  thing  that  hadn’t  wings  three 
times  running,  in  my  born  days. — No,  no,  Judge, 
it’s  the  farmers  that  makes  the  game  scarce,  and 
not  the  hunters.” 

“ Ter  teer  is  not  so  plenty  as  in  ter  old  war, 
Pumppo,”  said  the  major,  who  had  been  an  atten- 
tive listener,  amid  clouds  of  smoke ; “ put  ter 
lant  is  not  mate  as  for  ter  teer  to  live  on,  put  for 
Christians.” 

“ Why,  major,  I believe  you’re  a friend  to  jus- 
tice and  the  right,  though  you  go  so  often  to  the 
grand  house ; but  «t’s  a hard  case  to  a man  to 
have  his  honest  calling  for  a livelihood  stopped 
by  laws,  and  that  too  when,  if  right  was  done,  he 
mought  hunt  or  fish  on  any  day  in  the  week,  or 
on  the  best  flat  in  the  Patent,  if  he  was  so  mind- 
ed.” 

“ I unterstant  you,  Letter-stockint,”  returned 
the  major,  fixing  his  black  eyes,  with  a look  of 
peculiar  meaning,  on  the  hunter ; “ put  you  did’nt 
use  to  be  so  prutent,  as  to  look  ahet  mit  so  much 
care.” 

“ Maybe  there  wasn’t  so  much  occasion,”  said 
the  hunter,  a little  sulkily ; when  he  sank  into  a 
silence  from  which  he  was  not  roused  for  some 
time. 


“ The  Judge  was  saying  so’thin  about  the 
French,”  Hiram  observed,  when  the  pause  in  the 
conversation  had  continued  a decent  time. 

“Yes,  sir,”  returned  Marmaduke,  “the  Jaco- 
bins of  France  seem  rushing  from  one  act  of  li- 
centiousness to  another.  They  continue  those 
murders  which  are  dignified  by  the  name  of  exe- 
cutions. You  have  heard  that  they  have  added 
the  death  of  their  Queen  to  the  long  list  of  their 
crimes.” 

“ Les  monstres  ! ” again  murmured  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi,  turning  himself  suddenly  in  his  chair, 
with  a convulsive  start. 

“ The  province  of  La  Vendee  is  laid  waste  by 
the  troops  of  the  republic,  and  hundreds  of  its 
inhabitants,  who  are  royalists  in  their  sentiments, 
are  shot  at  a time.  La  Vendee  is  a district  in 
the  southwest  of  France  that  continues  yet  much 
attached  to  the  family  of  the  Bourbons ; doubt- 
less Monsieur  Le  Quoi  is  acquainted  with  it,  and 
can  describe  it  more  faithfully.” 

“ Non,  non,  non,  mon  cher  ami,”  returned  the 
Frenchman,  in  a suppressed  voice,  but  speaking 
rapidly,  and  gesticulating  with  his  right  hand,  as 
if  for  mercy,  while  with  his  left  he  concealed  his 
eyes. 

“ There  have  been  many  battles  fought  lately,” 
continued  Marmaduke,  “ and  the  infuriated  re-  • 
publicans  are  too  often  victorious.  I cannot  say, 
however,  that  I am  sorry  they  have  captured  Tou- 
lon from  the  English,  for  it  is  a place  to  which 
they  have  a just  right.” 

“ Ah — ha ! ” exclaimed  Monsieur  Le  Quoi, 
springing  on  his  feet,  and  flourishing  both  arms 
with  great  animation ; “ ces  Anglais  ! ” 

The  Frenchman  continued  to  move  about  the 
room  with  great  alacrity  for  a few  minutes,  re- 
peating his  exclamations  to  himself ; when,  over- 
come by  the  contradictory  nature  of  his  emotions, 
he  suddenly  burst  out  of  the  house,  and  was  seen 
wading  through  the  snow  toward  his  little  shop, 
waving  his  arms  on  high,  as  if  to  pluck  down 
honor  from  the  moon.  His  departure  excited  but 
little  surprise,  for  the  villagers  were  used  to  his 
manner  ; but  Major  Hartmann  laughed  outright, 
for  the  first  time  during  his  visit,  as  he  lifted  the 
mug,  and  observed : 

“ Ter  Frenchman  is  mat — put  he  is  goot  as 
for  notting  to  trink ; he  is  trunk  mit  joy.” 

“ The  French  are  good  soldiers,”  said  Captain 
Hollister  ; “ they  stood  us  in  hand  a good  turn, 
down  at  Yorktown ; nor  do  I think,  although  I 
am  an  ignorant  man  about  the  great  movements 
of  the  army,  that  his  Excellency  would  have  been 
able  to  march  against  Cornwallis,  without  their 
reenforcements.” 


72 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“Ye  spake  the  trut’,  sargeant,”  interrupted 
his  wife,  “ and  I would  iver  have  ye  be  doing  the 
same.  It’s  varry  pratty  men  is  the  French  ; and 
jist  when  I stopt  the  cart,  the  time  when  ye  was 
pushing  on  in  front  it  was,  to  kape  the  rig’lers  in, 
a rigiment  of  the  jontlemen  marched  by,  and  so 
I dealt  them  out  to  their  liking.  Was  it  pay  I 
got  ? sure  did  I,  and  in  good  solid  crowns : the 
divil  a bit  of  continental  could  they  muster 
among  them  all,  for  love  nor  money.  Och ! the 
Lord  forgive  me  for  swearing  and  spakeing  of 
such  vanities  : but  this  I will  say  for  the  French, 
that  they  paid  in  good  silver ; and  one  glass 
would  go  a great  way  wid  ’em,  for  they  gin’rally 
handed  it  back  wid  a drop  in  the  cup  ; and  that’s 
a brisk  trade,  Joodge,  where  the  pay  is  good,  and 
the  men  not  over-partic’lar.” 

“ A thriving  trade,  Mrs.  Hollister,”  said  Mar- 
maduke.  “But  what  has  become  of  Richard? 
he  jumped  up  as  soon  as  seated,  and  has  been 
absent  so  long  that  I am  really  fearful  he  has 
frozen.” 

“ No  fear  of  that,  cousin  ’duke,”  cried  the 
gentleman  himself ; “ business  will  sometimes 
keep  a man  warm  the  coldest  night  that  ever 
snapt  in  the  mountains.  Betty,  your  husband 
told  me,  as  we  came  out  of  church,  that  your 
• hogs  were  getting  mangy,  so  I have  been  out  to 
take  a look  at  them,  and  found  it  true.  I stepped 
across,  doctor,  and  got  your  boy  to  weigh  me 
out  a pound  of  salts,  and  have  been  mixing  it 
with  their  swill.  I’ll  bet  a saddle  of  venison 
against  a gray  squirrel,  that  they  are  better  in  a 
week.  And  now,  Mrs.  Hollister,  I’m  ready  for  a 
hissing  mug  of  flip.” 

“ Sure  I know’d  yee’d  be  wanting  that  same,” 
said  the  landlady ; “ it’s  mixt  and  ready  to  the 
boiling.  Sargeant,  dear,  be  handing  up  the  iron, 
will  ye  ? — no,  the  one  in  the  far  fire,  it’s  black,  ye 
will  see.  Ah  ! you’ve  the  thing  now  ; look  if  it’s 
not  as  red  as  a cherry.” 

The  beverage  was  heated,  and  Richard  took 
that  kind  of  draught  which  men  are  apt  to  in- 
dulge in,  who  think  that  they  have  just  executed 
a clever  thing,  especially  when  they  like  the 
liquor. 

“ Oh ! you  have  a hand,  Betty,  that  was  formed 
to  mix  flip,”  cried  Richard,  when  he  paused  for 
breath.  “ The  very  iron  has  a flavor  in  it.  Here, 
John,  drink,  man,  drink.  I and  you  and  Dr. 
Todd,  have  done  a good  thing  with  the  shoulder 
of  that  lad  this  very  night.  ’Duke,  I made  a 
song  while  you  were  gone — one  day  when  I had 
nothing  to  do ; so  I’ll  sing  you  a verse  or  two, 
though  1 haven’t  really  determined  on  the  tune 
yet: 


‘ What  is  life  but  a scene  of  care, 

Where  each  one  must  toll  in  his  way  ? 

Then  let  us  be  jolly,  and  prove  that  we  are 
A set  of  good  fellows,  who  seem  very  rare, 

And  can  laugh  and  sing  all  the  day. 

Then  let  us  be  jolly, 

And  cast  away  folly, 

For  grief  turns  a black  head  to  gray.’ 

There,  ’duke,  what  do  think  of  that  ? There  is 
another  verse  of  it,  all  but  the  last  line.  I haven’t 
got  a rhyme  for  the  last  line  yet.  Well,  old  John, 
what  do  you  think  of  the  music  ? as  good  as  one 
of  your  war-songs,  ha  ? ” 

“ Good  ! ” said  Mohegan,  who  had  been  shar- 
ing deeply  in  the  potations  of  the  landlady,  be- 
sides paying  a proper  respect  to  the  passing  mugs 
of  the  major  and  Marmaduke. 

“ Pravo  ! pravo  ! Richart,”  cried  the  major, 
whose  black  eyes  were  beginning  to  swim  in  moist- 
ure ; “ pravissimo  ! it  is  a goot  song ; put  Natty 
Pumppo  hast  a petter.  Letter-stockint,  vilt  sing  ? 
say,  olt  poy,  vilt  sing  ter  song,  as  apout  ter 
woots  ? ” 

“ No,  no,  major,”  returned  the  hunter,  with  a 
melancholy  shake  of  the  head,  “ I have  lived  to 
see  what  I thought  eyes  could  never  behold  in 
these  hills,  and  I have  no  heart  left  for  singing. 
If  he,  that  has  a right  to  be  master  and  ruler 
here,  is  forced  to  squinch  his  thirst,  when  a-dry, 
with  snow-water,  it  ill  becomes  them  that  have 
lived  by  his  bounty  to  be  making  merry,  as  if 
there  was  nothing  in  the  world  but  sunshine  and 
summer.” 

When  he  had  spoken,  Leather-stocking  again 
dropped  his  head  on  his  knees,  and  concealed  his 
hard  and  wrinkled  features  with  his  hands.  The 
change  from  the  excessive  cold  without  to  the 
heat  of  the  bar-room,  coupled  with  the  depth  and 
frequency  of  Richard’s  draughts,  had  already 
levelled  whatever  inequality  there  might  have 
existed  between  him  and  the  other  guests,  on  the 
score  of  spirits ; and  he  now  held  out  a pair  of 
swimming  mugs  of  foaming  flip  toward  the  hunter, 
as  he  cried — 

“ Merry ! ay ! merry  Christmas  to  you,  old 
boy ! Sunshine  and  summer ! no ! you  are  blind, 
Leather-stocking,  ’tis  moonshine  and  winter — 
take  these  spectacles,  and  open  your  eyes — 

* So  let  us  be  jolly, 

And  cast  away  folly, 

For  grief  turns  a black  head  to  gray. 1 

— Hear  how  old  John  turns  his  quavers.  What 
damned  dull  music  an  Indian  song  is,  after  all, 
major ! I wonder  if  they  ever  sing  by  note.” 

While  Richard  was  singing  and  talking,  Mo- 
hegan wa3  uttering  dull,  monotonous  tones,  keep- 
ing time  by  a gentle  motion  of  his  head  and  body 


SCENE  AT  THE  TAVERN. 


73 


lie  made  use  of  but  few  Vords,  and  such  as  he 
did  utter  were  in  his  native  language,  and  conse- 
quently only  understood  by  himself  and  Natty. 
Without  heeding  Richard,  he  continued  to  sing  a 
kind  of  wild,  melancholy  air,  that  rose,  at  times, 
in  sudden  and  quite  elevated  notes,  and  then  fell 
again  into  the  low,  quavering  sounds  that  seemed 
to  compose  the  character  of  his  music. 

The  attention  of  the  company  was  now  much 
divided,  the  men  in  the  rear  having  formed  them- 
selves into  little  groups,  where  they  were  discuss- 
ing various  matters ; among  the  px-incipal  of 
which  were,  the  treatment  of  mangy  hogs,  and 
Parson  Grant’s  preaching  ; while  Dr.  Todd  was 
endeavoring  to  explain  to  Marmaduke  the  nature 
of  the  hurt  received  by  the  young  hunter.  Mo- 
hegan  continued  to  sing,  while  his  countenance 
was  becoming  vacant,  though,  coupled  with  his 
thick,  bushy  hair,  it  was  assuming  an  expression 
very  much  like  brutal  ferocity.  His  notes  were 
gradually  growing  louder,  and  soon  rose  to  a height 
that  caused  a general  cessation  in  the  discourse. 
The  hunter  now  raised  his  head  again,  and  ad- 
dressed the  old  warrior,  warmly,  in  the  Delaware 
language,  which,  for  the  benefit  of  our  readers, 
we  shall  render  freely  into  English. 

“ Why  do  you  sing  of  your  battles,  Chingach- 
gook,  and  of  the  warriors  you  have  slain,  when 
the  worst  enemy  of  all  is  near  you,  and  keeps  the 
Young  Eagle  from  his  rights?  I have  fought  in 
as  many  battles  as  any  warrior  in  your  tribe,  but 
cannot  boast  of  my  deeds  at  such  a time  as  this.” 

“ Hawk-eye,”  said  the  Indian,  tottering  with 
a doubtful  step  from  his  place,  “ I am  the  Great 
Snake  of  the  Delawares ; I can  track  the  Mingoes 
like  an  adder  that  is  stealing  on  the  whippoor- 
will’s eggs,  and  strike  them  like  the  rattlesnake, 
dead  at  a blow.  The  white  man  made  the  toma- 
hawk of  Chingachgook  bright  as  the  waters  of 
Otsego,  when  the  last  sun  is  shining ; but  it  is  red 
with  the  blood  of  the  Maquas.” 

“ And  why  have  you  slain  the  Mingo  warriors  ? 
Was  it  not  to  keep  these  hunting-grounds  and 
lakes  to  your  father’s  children  ? and  were  they 
not  given  in  solemn  council  to  the  Fire-eater  ? 
and  does  not  the  blood  of  a warrior  run  in  the 
veins  of  a young  chief,  who  should  speak  aloud, 
where  his  voice  is  now  too  low  to  be  heard  ? ” 

The  appeal  of  the  hunter  seemed  in  some 
measure  to  recall  the  confused  faculties  of  the 
Indian,  who  turned  his  face  toward  the  listeners 
and  gazed  intently  on  the  Judge.  He  shook  his 
head,  throwing  his  hair  back  from  his  counte- 
nance, and  exposed  eyes  that  were  glaring  with 
an  expression  of  wild  resentment.  But  the  man 
was  not  himself.  His  hand  seemed  to  make  a 


fruitless  effort  to  release  his  tomahawk,  which  was 
confined  by  its  handle  to  his  belt,  while  his  eyes 
gradually  became  vacant.  Richard  at  that  instant 
thrusting  a mug  before  him,  his  features  changed 
to  the  grin  of  idiocy,  and  seizing  the  vessel  with 
both  hands,  he  sank  backward  on  the  bench  and 
drank  until  satiated,  when  he  made  an  effort  to 
lay  aside  the  mug  with  the  helplessness  of  total 
inebriety. 

“Shed  not  blood  ! ” exclaimed  the  hunter,  as 
he  watched  the  countenance  of  the  Indian  in  its 
moment  of  ferocity ; “ but  he  is  drunk,  and  can 
do  no  harm.  This  is  the  way  with  all  the  sav- 
ages ; give  them  liquor,  and  they  make  dogs  of 
themselves.  Well,  well — the  day  will  come  when 
right  will  be  done ; and  we  must  have  patience.” 

Natty  still  spoke  in  the  Delaware  language, 
and  of  course  was  not  understood.  He  had  hardly 
concluded,  before  Richard  cried  : 

“ Well,  old  John  is  soon  sowed  up.  Give  him 
a berth,  captain,  in  the  barn,  and  I will  pay  for 
it.  I am  rich  to-night,  ten  times  richer  than 
’duke,  with  all  his  land^;  and  military  lots,  and 
funded  debts,  and  bonds,  and  mortgages. 

‘ Come  let  us  be  jolly, 

And  cast  away  folly, 

For  grief—1 

Drink,  King  Hiram — drink,  Mr.  Doo-nothing — 
drink,  sir,  I say.  This  is  a Christmas-eve,  which 
comes,  you  know,  but  once  a year.” 

“ He  ! he ! he ! the  squire  is  quite  moosical 
to-night,”  said  Hiram,  whose  visage  began  to 
give  marvellous  signs  of  relaxation.  “ I rather 
guess  we  shall  make  a church  on’t  yet,  squire  ? ” 

“A  church,  Mr.  Doolittle!  we  will  make  a 
cathedral  of  it ! bishops,  pi’iests,  deacons,  wardens, 
vestry,  and  choir : organ,  organist,  and  bellows ! 
By  the  Lord  Harry,  as  Benjamin  says,  we  will 
clap  a steeple  on  the  other  end  of  it,  and  make 
two  churches  of  it.  What  say  you,  ’duke,  will 
you  pay  ? ha  ! my  cousin  Judge,  wil’t  pay  ! ” 

“ Thou  makest  such  a noise,  Dickon,”  returned 
Marmaduke,  “ it  is  impossible  that  I can  hear 
what  Dr.  Todd  is  saying  — I think  thou  ob- 
servedst,  it  is  probable  the  wound  will  fester,  so 
as  to  occasion  danger  to  the  limb  in  this  cold 
weather  ? ” 

“Out  of  nater,  sir,  quite  out  of  nater,”  said 
Elnathan,-  attempting  to  expectorate,  but  succeed- 
ing only  in  throwing  a light,  frothy  substance, 
like  a flake  of  snow,  into  the  fire — “ quite  out  of 
nater,  that  a wound  so  well  dressed,  and  with  the 
ball  in  my  pocket,  should  fester.  I s’pose,  as 
the  Judge  talks  of  taking  the  young  man  into  his 
house,  it  will  be  most  convenient  if  I make  but 
ore  charge  on’t.” 


74 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“I  should  think  one  would  do,”  returned 
Harmaduke,  with  that  arch  smile  that  so  often 
beamed  on  his  face ; leaving  the  beholder  in  doubt 
whether  he  most  enjoyed  the  character  of  his 
companion,  or  his  own  covert  humor.  The 
landlord  had  succeeded  in  placing  the  Indian  on 
some  straw  in  one  of  his  out-buildings,  where, 
covered  with  his  own  blanket,  John  continued  for 
the  remainder  of  the  night. 

In  the  mean  time,  Major  Hartmann  began  to 
grow  noisy  and  jocular;  glass  succeeded  glass, 
and  mug  after  mug  was  introduced,  until  the  ca- 
rousal had  run  deep  into  the  night,  or  rather 
morning;  when  the  veteran  German  expressed 
an  inclination  to  return  to  the  mansion-house. 
Most  of  the  party  had  already  retired,  but  Mar- 
maduke  knew  the  habits  of  his  friend  too  well  to 
suggest  an  earlier  adjournment.  So  soon,  how- 
ever, as  the  proposal  was  made,  the  Judge  eager- 
ly availed  himself  of  it,  and  the  trio  prepared  to 
depart.  Mrs.  Hollister  attended  them  to  the  door 
in  person,  cautioning  her  guests  as  to  the  safest 
manner  of  leaving  her  premises. 

“ Lane  on  Mister  Jones,  major,”  said  she, 
“he’s  young,  and  will  be  a support  to  ye.  Well, 
it’s  a charming  sight  to  see  ye,  any  way,  at  the 
Bould  Dragoon ; and  sure  it’s  no  harm  to  be  kap- 
ing  a Christmas-eve  wid  a light  heart,  for  it’s  no 
telling  when  we  may  have  sorrow  come  upon  us. 
So  good-night,  Joodge,  and  a merry  Christmas  to 
ye  all,  to  morrow-morning.” 

The  gentlemen  made  their  adieus  as  well  as 
they  could,  and,  taking  the  middle  of  the  road, 
which  was  a fine,  wide,  and  well-beaten  path, 
they  did  tolerably  well  until  they  reached  the 
gate  of  the  mansion-house:  but,  on  entering  the 
Judge’s  domains,  they  encountered  some  slight 
difficulties.  We  shall  not  stop  to  relate  them, 
but  will  just  mention  that,  in  the  morning,  sun- 
dry diverging  paths  were  to  be  seen  in  the  snow ; 
and  that  once,  during  their  progress  to  the  door, 
Marmaduke,  missing  his  companions,  was  enabled 
to  trace  them,  by  one  of  these  paths,  to  a spot 
where  he  discovered  them  with  nothing  visible 
but  their  heads,  Richard  singing  in  a most  viva- 
cious strain : 

“ Come,  let  us  be  jolly, 

And  cast  away  folly, 

For  grief  turns  a black  head  to  gray.” 


CHAPTER  XV. 

“ As  she  lay,  on  tnat  day,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  O ! ” 

Previously  to  the  occurrence  of  the  scene  at 
the  “ Bold  Dragoon,”  Elizabeth  had  been  safely 
reconducted  to  the  mansion-house,  where  she  was 
left  as  its  mistress,  either  to  amuse  or  employ 
herself  during  the  evening,  as  best  suited  her 
own  inclinations.  Most  of  the  lights  were  extin- 
guished ; but  as  Benjamin  adjusted,  with  great 
care  and  regularity,  four  large  candles,  in  as 
many  massive  candlesticks  of  brass,  in  a row  on 
the  sideboard,  the  hall  possessed  a peculiar  air  of 
comfort  and  warmth,  contrasted  w ith  the  cheer- 
less aspect  of  the  room  she  had  left  in  the  acad- 
emy. 

Remarkable  had  been  one  of  the  listeners  t/» 
Mr.  Grant,  and  returned  with  her  resentments 
which  had  been  not  a little  excited  by  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Judge,  somewhat  softened  by  re- 
flection and  the  worship.  She  recollected  the 
youth  of  Elizabeth,  and  thought  it  no  difficult 
task,  under  present  appearances,  to  exercise  that 
power  indirectly,  which  hitherto  she  had  enjoyed 
undisputed.  The  idea  of  being  governed,  or  of 
being  compelled  to  pay  the  deference  of  servi- 
tude, was  absolutely  intolerable ; and  she  had 
already  determined  within  herself,  some  half, 
dozen  times,  to  make  an  effort  that  should  at 
once  bring  to  an  issue  the  delicate  point  of  her 
domestic  condition.  But  as  often  as  she  met  the 
dark,  proud  eye  of  Elizabeth,  who  was  walking 
up  and  down  the  apartment,  musing  on  the  scenes 
of  her  youth,  and  the  change  in  her  condition, 
and^erhaps  the  events  of  the  day,  the  house- 
keeper experienced  an  awe  that  she  would  not 
own  to  herself  could  be  excited  by  any  thing 
mortal.  It,  however,  checked  her  advances,  and 
for  some  tjme  held  her  tongue-tied.  At  length 
she  determined  to  commence  the  discourse,  by 
entering  on  a subject  that  was  apt  to  level  all 
human  distinctions,  and  in  which  she  might  dis- 
play her  own  abilities. 

“It  was  quite  a wordy  sarmon  that  Parson 
Grant  gave  us  to-night,”  said  Remarkable.  “ The 
Church  ministers  be  commonly  smart  sarmon- 
izers ; but  they  write  down  their  idees,  which  is 
a great  privilege.  I don’t  think  that,  by  nater, 
they  are  as  tonguey  speakers,  for  an  off-hand 
discourse,  as  the  standing-order  ministers.” 

“And  what  denomination  do  you  distinguish 
as  the  standing-order  ? ” inquired  Miss  Temple, 
with  some  surprise. 

“ Why,  the  Presbyte’rans  and  Congrega* 


THE  HOUSE-KEEFER  AND  BEN  PUMP. 


75 


tionals,  and  Baptists,  too,  for-ti-’now ; and  all 
Bitch  as  don’t  go  on  tlieir  knees  to  prayer.” 

“ By  that  rule,  then,  you  would  call  those  who 
belong  to  the  persuasion  of  my  father,  the  sitting 
order,”  observed  Elizabeth. 

“ I’m  sure  I’ve  never  heard  ’em  spoken  of  by 
any  other  name  than  Quakers,  so  called,” 
returned  Remarkable,  betraying  a slight  uneasi- 
ness : “ I should  be  the  last  to  call  them  other- 
wise, for  I never  in  my  life  used  a disparaging 
tarrn  of  the  Judge,  or  any  of  his  family.  I’ve 
always  sot  store  by  the  Quakers,  they  are  so 
pretty-spoken,  clever  people ; and  it’s  a wonder- 
ment to  me  how  your  father  come  to  marry  into 
a church  family ; for  they  are  as  contrary  in 
religion  as  can  be.  One  sits  still,  and,  for  the 
most  part,  says  nothing,  while  the  church  folks 
practyse  all  kinds  of  ways,  so  that  I sometimes 
think  it  quite  moosical  to  see  them ; for  I went 
to  a church-meeting  once  before,  down  country.” 

“ You  have  found  an  excellence  in  the  church 
liturgy  that  has  hitherto  escaped  me.  I will 
thank  you  to  inquire  whether  the  fire  in  my  room 
burns:  I feel  fatigued  with  my  journey,  and  will 
retire.” 

Remarkable  felt  a wonderful  inclination  to  tell 
the  young  mistress  of  the  mansion,  that  by  open- 
ing a door  she  might  see  for  herself ; but  pru- 
dence got  the  better  of  resentment,  and  after 
pausing  some  little  time,  as  a salvo  to  her  dignity, 
she  did  as  desired.  The  report  was  favorable, 
and  the  young  lady,  wishing  Benjamin,  who  was 
filling  the  stove  with  wood,  and  the  house-keeper, 
each  a good-night,  withdrew. 

The  instant  the  door  closed  on  Miss  Temple, 
Remarkable  commenced  i sort  of  mysterious, 
ambiguous  discourse,  that  was  neither  abusive 
nor  commendatory  of  the  qualities  of  the  absent 
personage ; but  which  seemed  to  be  drawing  nigh, 
oy  regular  degrees,  to  a most  dissatisfied  descrip- 
tion. The  major-domo  made  no  reply,  but  con- 
tinued his  occupation  with  great  industry,  which 
being  happily  completed,  he  took  a look  at  the 
thermometer,  and  then,  opening  a drawer  of  the 
sideboard,  he  produced  a supply  of  stimulants 
that  would  have  served  to  keep  the  warmth  in  his 
system,  without  the  aid  of  the  enormous  fire  he 
had  been  building.  A small  stand  was  drawn  up 
near  the  stove,  and  the  bottles  and  the  glasses 
necessary  for  convenience  were  quietly  arranged. 
Two  chairs  were  placed  by  the  side  of  this  com- 
fortable situation,  when  Benjamin,  for  the  firs* 
time,  appeared  to  observed  his  cbmpanion. 

“ Come,”  he  cried,  “ come,  Mistress  Remark- 
able, bring  yourself  to  an  anchor  in  this  chair. 
It’s  a peeler  without,  I can  tell  you.  (rood  woman ; 


but  what  cares  I ? blow  high  or  blow  low,  d’ye 
see,  it’s  all  the  same  thing  to  Ben.  The  niggers 
are  snug  stowed  below  before  a fire  that  would 
roast  an  ox  whole.  The  thermometer  stands  now 
at  fifty-five,  but  if  there’s  any  vartue  in  good 
maple  wood,  I’ll  weather  upon  it,  before  one 
glass,  as  much  as  ten  points  more,  so  that  the 
squire-,- when  he  comes  home  from  Betty  Hollis- 
ter’s warm  room,  will  feel  as  hot  as  a hand  that 
has  given  the  rigging  a lick  with  bad  tar.  Come, 
mistress,  bring  up  in  this  here  chair,  and  tell  me 
how  you  like  our  new  heiress.” 

“ Why,  to  my  notion,  Mr.  Penguillum — ” 

“ Pump,  Pump,”  interrupted  Benjamifi;  “it’s 
Christmas-eve,  Mistress  Remarkable,  and  so,  d’ye 
see,  you  had  better  call  me  Pump.  It’s  a shorter 
name,  and  as  I mean  to  pump  this  here  decanter 
till  it  sucks,  why,  you  may  as  well  call  me  Pump.” 

“ Did  you  ever ! ” cried  Remarkable,  with  a 
laugh  that  seemed  to  unhinge  every  joint  in  her 
body.  “ You’re  a moosical  creater,  Benjamin, 
when  the  notion  takes  you.  But,  as  I was  saying, 
I rather  guess  that  times  will  be  altered  now  in 
this  house.” 

“ Altered ! ” exclaimed  the  major-domo,  ey- 
ing the  bottle  that  was  assuming  the  clear  aspect 
of  cut  glass  with  astonishing  rapidity  ; “it  don’t 
matter  much,  Mistress  Remarkable,  so  long  as  I 
keep  the  keys  of  the  lockers  in  my  pocket.” 

“ I can’t  say,”  continued  the  house-keeper, 
“ but  there’s  good  eatables  and  drinkables  enough 
in  the  house  for  a body’s  content — a little  more 
sugar,  Benjamin,  in  the  glass — for  Squire  Jones 
is  an  excellent  provider.  But  new  lords,  new  laws ; 
and  I shouldn’t  wonder  if  you  and  I had  an  un- 
sartain  time  on’t  in  footer.” 

“ Life  is  as  unsartain  as  the  wind  that  blows,” 
said  Benjamin,  with  a moralizing  air ; “ and  noth- 
ing is  more  vari’ble  than  the  wind,  Mistress  Re- 
markable, unless  you  happen  to  fall  in  with  the 
trades,  d’ye  see,  and  then  you  may  run  for  the 
matter  of  a month  at  a time,  with  studding-sails 
on  both  sides,  alow  and  aloft,  and  with  the  cabin- 
boy  at  the  wheel.” 

“ I know  that  life  is  disp’ut  unsartain,”  said  Re- 
markable, compressing  her  features  to  the  humor 
of  her  companion ; “ but  I expect  there  will  be 
great  changes  made  in  the  house  to  rights  ; and 
that  you  will  find  a young  man  put  over  your  head, 
as  there  is  one  that  wants  to  be  over  mine ; and 
after  having  been  settled  as  long  as  you  have,  Ben- 
jamin, I should  judge  that  to  be  hard.” 

“ Promotion  should  go  according  to  length  of 
sarvice,”  said  the  major-domo ; “ and  if-so-be  that 
they  ship  a hand  for  my  berth,  or  place  a new 
steward  aft,  I shall  throw  up  my  commission  in 


76 


THE  PIONEERS. 


less  time  than  you  can  put  a pilot^boat  in  stays. 
Thof  Squire  Dickens  ” — this  was  a common  mis- 
nomer with  Benjamin — “ is  a nice  gentleman,  and 
as  good  a man  to  sail  with  as  heart  could  wish, 
yet  I shall  tell  the  squire,  d’ye  see,  in  plain  Eng- 
lish, and  that’s  my  native  tongue,  that  if-so-be 
he  is  thinking  of  putting  any  Johnny  Raw  over 
my  head,  why,  I shall  resign.  I began  forrard, 
Mistress  Prettybones,  and  worked  my  way  aft,  like 
a man.  I was  six  months  aboard  a Garnsey  lug- 
ger, hauling  in  the  slack  of  the  lee-sheet,  and  coil- 
ing up  rigging.  From  that  I went  a few  trips  in 
a fore-and-after,  in  the  same  trade,  which,  after 
all,  was  but  a blind  kind  of  sailing  in  the  dark, 
where  a man  larns  but  little,  excepting  how  to 
steer  by  the  stars.  Well,  then,  d’ye  see,  I larnt 
how  a topmast  should  be  slushed,  and  how  a top- 
gallant-sail was  to  be  becketted ; and  then  I did 
small  jobs  in  the  cabin,  such  as  mixing  the  skip- 
per’s grog.  ’Twas  there  I got  my  taste,  which, 
you  must  have  often  seen,  is  excellent.  Well, 
here,s  better  acquaintance  to  us.” 

Remarkable  nodded  a return  to  the  compli- 
ment, and  took  a sip  of  the  beverage  before  her ; 
for,  provided  it  was  well  sweetened,  she  had  no 
objection  to  a small  potation  now  and  then.  Af- 
ter this  observance  of  courtesy  between  the  wor- 
thy couple,  the  dialogue  proceeded. 

“ You  have  had  great  experiences  in  life,  Ben- 
jamin ; for,  as  the  Scripter  says,  ‘ They  that  go 
down  to  the  sea  in  ships  see  the  works  of  the 
Lord.’  ” 

“ Ay ! for  that  matter,  they  in  brigs  and 
schooners  too ; and  it  mought  say,  the  works  of 
the  devil.  The  sea,  Mistress  Remarkable,  is  a 
great  advantage  to  a man,  in  the  way  of  knowledge, 
for  he  sees  the  fashions  of  nations,  and  the  shape 
of  a country.  Now,  I suppose,  for  myself  here, 
who  is  but  an  unlarned  man  to  some  that  follows 
the  seas,  I suppose  that,  taking  the  coast  from  Cape 
Ler  Hogue,  as  low  down  as  Cape  Finish-there, 
there  isn’t  so  much  as  a headland,  or  an  island, 
that  I don’t  know  either  the  name  of  it,  or  some- 
thing more  or  less  about  it.  Take  enough,  wom- 
an, to  color  the  water.  Here’s  sugar.  It’s  a 
sweet  tooth,  that  fellow  that  you  hold  on  upon 
yet,  Mistress  Prettybones.  But,  as  I was  saying, 
take  the  whole  coast  along,  I know  it  as  well  as 
the  way  from  .here  to  the  Bold  Dragoon ; and  a devil 
of  an  acquaintance  is  that  Bay  of  Biscay.  Whew ! 
I wish  you  could  but  hear  the  wind  blow  there. 
It  sometimes  takes  two  to  hold  one  man’s  hair  on 
his  head.  Scudding  through  the  bay  is  pretty 
much  the  same  thing  as  travelling  the  roads  in 
this  country,  up  one  side  of  a mountain,  and  down 
the  other.” 


“ Do  tell ! ” exclaimed  Remarkable ; “ and 
does  the  sea  run  as  high  as  mountains,  Benja- 
min ? ” 

“ Well,  I will  tell ; but  first  let’s  taste  the 
grog.  Hem  ! it’s  the  right  kind  of  stuff,  I must 
say,  that  you  keep  in  this  country,  but  then  you’re 
so  close  aboard  the  West  Indies,  you  make  but  a 
small  run  of  it.  By  the  lord  Harry,  woman,  if 
Garnsey  only  lay  somewhere  between  Cape  Hat- 
teras  and  the  bite  of  Logann,  but  you’d  see  rum 
cheap  ! As  to  the  seas,  they  runs  more  in  up- 
pers in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  unless  it  may  be  in  a 
sow-wester,  when  they  tumble  about  quite  hand- 
somely ; thof  it’s  not  in  the  narrow  sea  that  you 
are  to  look  for  a swell ; just  go  off  the  Wes- 
tern Islands,  in  a westerly  blow,  keeping  the 
land  on  your  larboard  hand,  with  the  ship’s  head 
to  the  south’ard,  and  bring  to,  under  a close- 
reef  d topsail ; or,  mayhap,  a reef’d  foresail,  with 
a fore-topmast-staysail,  and  mizzen-staysail,  to 
keep  her  up  to  the  sea,  if  she  will  bear  it ; and 
lay  there  for  the  matter  of  two  watches,  if  you 
want  to  see  mountains.  Why,  good  woman,  I’ve 
been  off  there  in  the  Boadishey  frigate,  when  you 
could  see  nothing  but  some  such  matter  as  a 
piece  of  sky,  mayhap,  as  big  as  the  mainsail ; and 
then  again,  there  was  a hole  under  your  lee-quar- 
ter big  enough  to  hold  the  whole  British  navy.” 

“ Oh ! for  massy’s  sake ! and  wan’t  you 
afeard,  Benjamin  ? and  how  did  you  get  off?  ” 

“ Afeard  ! who  the  devil  do  you  think  was  to 
be  frightened  at  a little  salt-water  tumbling  about 
his  head  ? As  for  getting  off,  when  we  had 
enough  of  it,  and  had  washed  our  decks  down 
pretty  well,  we  called  all  hands,  for,  d’ye  see,  the 
watch  below  was  in  tlieir  hammocks,  all  the  same 
as  if  they  were  in  one  of  your  best  bedrooms ; 
and  so  we  watched  for  a smooth  time  ; clapt  her 
helm  hard  a weather,  let  fall  the  foresail,  and  got 
the  tack  aboard  ; and  so,  when  we  got  her  afore 
it,  I ask  you,  Mistress  Prettybones,  if  she  didn’t 
walk  ? did’nt  she  ? I’m  no  liar,  good  woman, 
when  I say  that  I saw  that  ship  jump  from  the 
top  of  one  sea  to  another,  just  like  one  of  these 
squirrels,  that  can  fly,  jumps  from  tree  to  tree.” 

“ What,  clean  out  of  the  water ! ” exclaimed 
Remarkable,  lifting  her  two  lank  arms,  with  their 
bony  hands  spread  in  astonishment. 

“ It  was  no  such  easy  matter  to  get  out  of  the 
water,  good  woman ; for  the  spray  flew  so  that 
you  couldn’t  tell  which  was  sea  and  which  was 
cloud.  So  there  we  kept  her  afore  it  for  the  mat- 
ter of  two  glasses.  The  first  lieutenant  he  cun’d 
the  ship  himself,  and  there  was  four  quarter-mas- 
ters at  the  wheel,  besides  the  master  with  six 
forecastle  men  in  the  gun-room,  at  the  relieving 


A DIFFERENCE  OF  OPINION. 


77 


tackles.  But  then  she  behaved  herself  so  well ! 
Oh  ! she  was  a sweet  ship,  mistress ! That  one 
frigate  was  well  worth  moie,  to  live  in,  than  the 
best  house  in  the  island.  If  I was  king  of  Eng- 
land, I’d  have  her  hauled  up  above  Lon’on  bridge, 
and  fit  her  up  for  a palace ; because  why  ? if  any- 
body can  afford  to  live  comfortably,  his  majesty 
can.” 

“ Well ! but,  Benjamin,”  cried  the  listener, 
who  was  in  an  ecstasy  of  astonishment,  at  this 
relation  of  the  steward’s  dangers,  “ what  did  you 
do  ? ” 

“ Do  I why  we  did  our  duty  like  hearty  fel- 
lows. Now  if  the  countrymen  of  Mounsheer  Ler 
Quaw  had  been  aboard  of  her,  they  would  have 
just  struck  her  ashore  on  some  of  them  small 
islands;  but  we  run  along  the  land,  until  we 
found  her  dead  to  leeward  off  the  mountains  of 
Pico,  and  dam’me  if  I know  to  this  day  how  we 
got  there;  whether  we  jumped  over  the  island, 
or  hauled  round  it ; but  there  we  was,  and  there 
we  lay,  under  easy  sail,  fore-reaching  first  upon 
one  tack  and  then  upon  t’other,  so  as  to  poke  her 
nose  out  now  and  then,  and  take  a look  to 
wind’ard,  till  the  gale  blow’d  its  pipe  out.” 

“ I wonder  now  ! ” exclaimed  Remarkable,  to 
whom  most  of  the  terms  used  by  Benjamin  were 
perfectly  unintelligible,  but  who  had  got  a con- 
fused idea  of  a raging  tempest.  “ It  must  be  an 
awful  life,  that  going  to  sea  ! and  I don’t  feel  as- 
tonishment that  you  are  so  affronted  with  the 
thoughts  of  being  forced  to  quit  a comfortable 
home  like  this.  Not  that  a body  cares  much 
for’t,  as  there’s  more  houses  than  one  to  live  in. 
Why,  when  the  Judge  agreed  with  me  to  come 
and  live  with  him,  I’d  no  more  notion  of  stopping 
any  time  than  any  thing.  I happened  in,  just  to 
see  how  the  family  did,  about  a week  after  Mrs. 
Temple  died,  thinking  to  be  back  home  ag’in 
night ; but  the  family  was  in  sitch  a distressed 
way,  that  I couldn’t  but  stop  awhile,  and  help 
'em  on.  I thought  the  situation  a good  one,  see- 
ing that  I was  an  unmarried  body,  and  they  were 
so  much  in  want  of  help  ; so  I tarried.” 

“ And  a long  time  you  have  left  your  anchors 
down  in  the  same  place,  mistress.  I think  you 
must  find  that  the  ship  rides  easy.” 

“ How  you  talk,  Benjamin ! there’s  no  believ- 
ing a word  you  say.  I must  say  that  the  Judge 
and  Squire  Jones  have  both  acted  quite  clever,  so 
long ; but  I see  that  now  we  shall  have  a speci- 
men to  the  contrary.  I heer’n  say  that  the  Judge 
was  gone  a great  ’broad,  and  that  he  meant  to 
Dring  his  darter  hum,  but  I didn’t  calculate  on 
sitch  carrins  on.  To  my  notion,  Benjamin,  she’s 
likely  to  turn  out  a desput  ugly  gal.” 


“ Ugly  ! ” echoed  the  major-domo,  opening 
eyes,  that  were  beginning  to  close  in  a very  sus- 
picious sleepiness,  in  wide  amazement.  “ By  the 
lord  Harry,  woman,  I should  as  soon  think  of 
calling  the  Boadishey  a clumsy  frigate.  What 
the  devil  would  you  have?  arn’t  her  eyc3  as 
bright  as  the  morning  and  evening  stars?  and 
isn’t  her  hair  as  black  and  glistening  as  rigging 
that  has  just  had  a lick  of  tar  ? doesn’t  she  move 
as  stately  as  a first-rate  in  smooth  water,  on  a 
bowline  ? Why,  woman,  the  figure-head  of  the 
Boadishey  was  a fool  to  her,  and  that,  as  I’ve  often 
heard  the  captain  say,  was  an  image  of  a great 
queen ; and  arn’t  queens  always  comely,  woman  ? 
for  who  do  you  think  would  be  a king,  and  not 
choose  a handsome  bedfellow  ? ” 

“ Talk  decent,  Benjamin,”  said  the  houso-keep- 
er,  “ or  I won’t  keep  your  company.  I don’t  gain- 
say her  being  comely  to  look  on,  but  I will  main- 
tain that  she’s  likely  to  show  poor  conduct.  She 
seems  to  think  herself  too  good  to  talk  to  a body. 
From  what  Squire  Jones  had  tell’d  me,  I some 
expected  to  be  quite  captivated  by  her  company. 
Now,  to  my  reckoning,  Lowizy  Grant  is  much 
more  pritty  behaved  than  Betsey  Temple.  She 
wouldn’t  so  much  as  hold  discourse  with  me, 
when  I wanted  to  ask  her  how  she  felt,  on  coming 
home  and  missing  her  mammy.” 

“Perhaps  she  didn’t  understand  you,  wom- 
an; you  are  none  of  the  best  linguister;  and 
then  Miss  Lizzy  has  been  exercising  the  king’s 
English  under  a great  Lon’on  lady,  and,  for  that 
matter,  can  talk  the  language  almost  as  well  as 
myself,  or  any  native-born  British  subject.  You’ve 
forgot  your  schooling,  and  the  young  mistress  is 
a great  scollard.” 

“ Mistress ! ” cried  Remarkable,  “ don’t  make 
one  out  to  be  a nigger,  Benjamin.  She’s  no  mis- 
tress of  mine,  and  never  will  be.  And  as  to 
speech,  I hold  myself  as  second  to  nobody  out  of 
New  England.  I was  born  and  raised  in  Essex 
County  ; and  I’ve  always  heer’n  say  that  the  Bay 
State  was  provarbal  for  pronounsation  ! ” 

“I’ve  often  heard  of  that  Bay  of  State,”  said 
Benjamin,  “ but  can’t  say  that  I’ve  ever  been  in 
it,  nor  do  I know  exactly  whereaway  it  is  that  it 
lays ; but  I suppose  there  is  good  anchorage  in  it, 
and  that  it’s  no  bad  place  for  the  taking  of  ling; 
but  for  size,  it  can’t  be  so  much  as  a yawl  to  a sloop 
of  war,  compared  with  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  or,  may- 
hap, Torbay.  And  as  for  language,  if  you  want  to 
hear  the  dictionary  overhauled,  like  a long-line 
in  a blow,  you  must  go  to  Wapping,  and  listen  to 
the  Lon’ oners,  as  they  deal  out  their  lingo.  How- 
somever,  I see  no  such  mighty  matter  that  Miss 
Lizzy  has  been  doing  to  you,  good  woman,  so 


THE  PIONEERS. 


?8 

take  another  drop  of  jour  brew,  and  forgive  and 
forget,  like  an  honest  soul.” 

“No,  indeed!  and  I shan’t  do  siteh  a thing, 
Benjamin.  This  treatment  is  a newity  to  me, 
and  what  I won’t  put  up  with.  I have  a hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  at  use,  besides  a bed  and  twenty 
sheep,  to  good  ; and  I don't  crave  to  live  in  a house 
where  a body  mustn’t  call  a young  woman  by  her 
given  name  to  her  face.  I will  call  her  Betsey 
as  much  as  I please  : it’s  a free  country,  and  no 
one  can  stop  me.  I did  intend  to  stop  while  sum- 
mer, but  I shall  quit  to-morrow  morning  ; and  I 
will  talk  just  as  I please.” 

“ For  that  matter,  Mistress  Remarkable,”  said 
Benjamin,  “ there’s  none  here  who  will  contradict 
you  ; for  I’m  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  as  easy 
to  stop  a hurricane  with  a Barcelony  handkerchy, 
as  to  bring  up  your  tongue  when  the  stopper  is 
off.  I say,  good  woman,  do  they  grow  many 
monkeys  along  the  shores  of  that  Bay  of  State  ? ” 

“ You’re  a monkey  yourself,  Mr.  Penguillum,” 
cried  the  enraged  house-keeper,  “ or  a bear ! a 
black,  beastly  bear!  and  an’t  fit  for  a decent 
woman  to  stay  with.  I’ll  never  keep  your  com- 
pany ag’in,  sir,  if  I should  live  thirty  years  with 
the  Judge.  Sitch  talk  is  more  befitting  the 
kitchen  than  the  keeping-room  of  a house  of  one 
who  is  well  to  do  in  the  world.” 

“ Look  you,  Mistress  Pitty — Patty — Pretty- 
bones,  mayhap  I’m  some  such  matter  as  a bear, 
as  they  will  find  who  come  to  grapple  with  me  ; 
but  dam’me  if  I’m  a monkey — a thing  that  chat- 
ters without  knowing  a word  of  what  it  says — a 
parrot ; that  will  hold  a dialogue,  for  what  an 
honest  man  knows,  in  a dozen  languages ; may- 
hap in  the  Bay  of  State  lingo  ; mayhap  in  Greek 
or  High  Dutch.  But  dost  it  know  what  it  means 
itself?  canst  answer  me  that,  good  woman  ? Your 
midshipman  can  sing  out,  and  pass  the  word, 
when  the  captain  gives  the  order,  but  just  send 
him  adrift  by  himself,  and  let  him  work  the  ship 
of  his  own  head,  and  stop  my  grog,  if  you  don’t 
find  all  the  Johnny  Raws  laughing  at  him.” 

“ Stop  your  grog,  indeed  ! ” said  Remarkable, 
rising  with  great  indignation,  and  seizing  a can- 
dle ; “you’re  groggy  now,  Benjamin,  and  I’ll  quit 
the  room  before  I hear  any  misbecoming  words 
from  you.” 

The  housekeeper  retired,  with  a manner  but 
little  less  dignified,  as  she  thought,  than  the  air 
of  the  heiress,  muttering  as  she  drew  the  door 
after  her,  with  a noise  like  the  report  of  a mus- 
ket, the  opprobrious  terms  of  “ drunkard,”  “ sot,” 
and  “ beast.” 

“ Who’s  that  you  say  is  drunk  ? ” cried  Ben- 
jamin, fiercely,  rising  and  making  a movement 


toward  Renarkable.  “You  talk  of  mustering 
yourself  with  a lady ! you’re  just  fit  to  grumble 
and  find  fault.  Where  the  devil  should  you  lam 
behavior  and  dictionary  ? in  your  damned  Bay 
of  State,  ha?” 

Benjamin  here  fell  back  in  his  chair,  and  soon 
gave  vent  to  certain  ominous  sounds,  which  re- 
sembled not  a little  the  growling  of  his  favorite 
animal,  the  bear  itself.  Before,  however,  he  was 
quite  locked — to  use  the  language  that  would  suit 
the  Della-cruscan  humor  of  certain  refined  minds 
of  the  present  day — “ in  the  arms  of  Morpheus,” 
he  spoke  aloud,  observing  due  pauses  between 
his  epithets,  the  impressive  terms  of  “monkey,” 
“ parrot,”  “ picnic,”  “ tar-pot,”  and  “ linguisters.” 

We  shall  not  attempt  to  explain  his  meaning, 
nor  connect  his  sentences ; and  our  readers  must 
be  satisfied  with  our  informing  them  that  they 
were  expressed  with  all  that  coolness  of  contempt 
that  a man  might  well  be  supposed  to  feel  for  a 
monkey. 

Nearly  two  hours  passed  in  this  sleep  before 
the  major-domo  was  awakened  by  the  noisy  en- 
trance of  Richard,  Major  Hartmann,  and  the  mas- 
ter of  the  mansion.  Benjamin  so  far  rallied  his 
confused  faculties,  as  to  shape  the  course  of  tha 
two  former  to  their  respective  apartments,  when 
he  disappeared  himself,  leaving  the  task  of  secur- 
ing the  house  to  him  who  was  most  interested  in 
its  safety.  Locks  and  bars  were  but  little  attend- 
ed to  in  the  early  day  of  that  settlement ; and  so 
soon  as  Marmaduke  had  given  an  eye  to  the 
enormous  fires  of  his  dwelling,  he  retired.  With 
this  act  of  prudence  closes  the  first  night  of  our 
tale. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

“ Watch  {aside).  Some  treason,  masters — 

Yet  stand  close.” 

Much  Ado  about  Nothing. 

It  was  fortunate  for  more  than  one  of  the 
bacchanalians  who  left  the  “ Bold  Dragoon  ” late 
in  the  evening,  that  the  severe  cold  of  the  season 
was  becoming  rapidly  less  dangerous,  as  they 
threaded  the  different  mazes  through  the  snow- 
banks that  led  to  their  respective  dwellings. 
Thin,  driving  clouds  began,  toward  morning,  to 
flit  across  the  heavens,  and  the  moon  set  behind 
a volume  of  vapor  that  was  impelled  furiouslj 
toward  the  north,  carrying  with  it  the  softer  at 
mosphere  from  the  distant  ocean.  The  rising  sun 
was  obscured  by  denser  and  increasing  columns 
of  clouds,  while  the  southerly  wind  that  rushed 
up  the  valley,  brought  the  never-failing  symptoms 
of  a thaw. 


MR.  JONES’S  CHRISTMAS-BOX 


79 


It  was  quite  late  in  the  morning  before  Eliza- 
beth, observing  the  faint  glow  which  appeared  on 
the  eastern  mountain,  long  after  the  light  of  the 
sun  had  struck  the  opposite  hills,  ventured  from 
the  house,  with  a view  to  gratify  her  curiosity 
with  a glance  by  daylight,  at  the  surrounding  ob- 
jects, before  the  tardy  revellers  of  the  Christmas- 
eve  should  make  their  appearance  at  the  break- 
fast-table. While  she  was  drawing  the  folds  of 
her  pelisse  more  closely  around  her  form,  to  guard 
against  a cold  that  was  yet  great,  though  rapidly 
yielding,  in  the  small  inclosure  that  opened  in  the 
rear  of  the  house  on  a little  thicket  of  low  pines, 
that  were  springing  up  where  trees  of  a mightier 
growth  had  lately  stood,  she  was  surprised  at  the 
voice  of  Mr.  Jones. 

“ Merry  Christmas,  merry  Christmas  to  you, 
cousin  Bess,”  he  shouted.  “ Ah,  ha ! an  early 
riser,  I see  ; but  I knew  I should  steal  a march 
on  you.  I never  was  in  a house  yet  where  I 
didn’t  get  the  first  Christmas  greeting  on  every 
soul  in  it,  man,  woman,  an#  child ; great  and 
small;  black,  white,  and  yellow.  But  stop  a 
minute,  till  I can  just  slip  on  my  coat ; you  are 
about  to  look  at  the  improvements,  I see,  which 
no  one  can  explain  so  well  as  I,  who  planned 
them  all.  It  will  be  an  hour  before  ’duke  and 
the  major  can  sleep  off  Mrs.  Hollister’s  confound- 
ed distillations,  and  so  I’ll  come  down  and  go 
with  you.” 

Elizabeth  turned,  and  observed  her  cousin  in 
his  nightcap,  with  his  head  out  of  his  bedroom 
window,  where  his  zeal  for  preeminence,  in  defi- 
ance of  the  weather,  had  impelled  him  to  thrust 
it.  She  laughed,  and,  promising  to  wait  for  hij3 
company,  reentered  the  house,  making  her  ap- 
pearance again,  holding  in  her  hand  a packet 
that  was  secured  by  several  large  and  important 
seals,  just  in  time  to  meet  the  gentleman. 

“ Come,  Bessy,  come,”  he  cried,  drawing  one 
of  her  arms  through  his  own ; “ the  snow  begins 
to  give,  but  it  will  bear  us  yet.  Don’t  you  snuff 
old  Pennsylvania  in  the  very  air  ? This  is  a vile 
climate,  girl ; now  at  sunset,  last  evening,  it  was 
cold  enough  to  freeze  a man’s  zeal,  and  that,  I 
can  tell  von,  takes  a thermometer  near  zero  for 
me ; then  about  nine  or  ten  it  began  to  moder- 
ate ; at  twelve  it  was  quite  mild,  and  here  all  the 
rest  of  the  night  I have  been  so  hot  as  not  to 
bear  a blanket  on  the  bed. — Holla  ! Aggy — merry 
Christmas,  Aggy — I say,  do  you  hear  me,  you 
black  dog ! there’s  a dollar  for  you ; and,  if  the 
gentlemen  get  up  before  I come  back,  do  you 
come  out  and  let  me  know.  I wouldn’t  have 
’duke  get  the  start  of  me  for  the  worth  of  your 
aead.’' 


The  black  caught  the  money  from  the  snow, 
and,  promising  a due  degree  of  watchfulness,  he 
gave  the  dollar  a whirl  of  twenty  feet  in  the  air, 
and  catching  it  as  it  fell,  in  the  palm  of  his  hand, 
he  withdrew  to  the  kitchen,  to  exhibit  his  pres- 
ent, with  a heart  as  light  as  his  face  was  happy  in 
its  expression. 

“ Oh,  rest  easy,  my  dear  coz,”  said  the  young 
lady ; “ I took  a look  in  at  my  father,  who  is 
likely  to  sleep  an  hour  ; and,  by  using  due  vigi- 
lance, you  will  secure  all  the  honors  of  the  sea- 
son.” 

“ Why,  ’duke  is  your  father,  Elizabeth ; but 
’duke  is  a man  who  likes  to  be  foremost,  even  in 
trifles.  Now,  as  for  myself,  I care  for  no  such 
things,  except  in  the  way  of  competition ; for  a 
thing  which  is  of  no  moment  in  itself,  may  be 
made  of  importance  in  the  way  of  competition. 
So  it  is  with  your  father — he  loves  to  be  first ; but 
I only  struggle  with  him  as  a competitor.” 

“ It’s  all  very  clear,  sir,”  said  Elizabeth ; 
“ you  would  not  care  a fig  for  distinction  if  there 
were  no  one  in  the  world  but  yourself ; but  as 
there  happen  to  be  a great  many  others,  why,  you 
must  struggle  with  them  all — in  the  way  of  com- 
petition.” 

“ Exactly  so  ; I see  you  are  a clever  girl,  Bess, 
and  one  who  does  credit  to  her  masters.  It  was 
my  plan  to  send  you  to  that  school ; for,  when 
your  father  first  mentioned  the  thing,  I wrote  a 
private  letter  for  advice  to  a judicious  friend  in 
the  city,  who  recommended  the  very  school  you 
went  to.  ’Duke  was  a little  obstinate  at  first,  as 
usual,  but,  when  he  heard  the  truth,  he  was 
obliged  to  send  you.” 

“Well,  a truce  to ’duke’s  foibles,  sir;  he  is 
my  father ; and  if  you  knew  what  he  has  been 
doing  for  you  while  we  were  in  Albany,  you 
would  deal  more  tenderly  with  his  character.” 

“ For  me  ! ” cried  Richard,  pausing  a moment 
in  his  walk  to  reflect.  “ Oh ! he  got  the" plans  of 
the  new  Dutch  meeting-house  for  me,  I suppose  ; 
but  I care  very  little  about  it,  for  a man  of  a 
certain  kind  of  talent  is  seldom  aided  by  any  for- 
eign suggestions : his  own  brain  is  the  best  archi 
tect.” 

“No  such  thing,”  said  Elizabeth,  looking  pro* 
vokingly  knowing. 

“ No  ! let  me  see — perhaps  he  had  my  name 
put  in  the  bill  for  the  new  turnpike,  as  a director.” 

“ He  might  possibly ; but  it  is  not  to  such  an 
appointment  that  I allude.” 

“ Such  an  appointment ! ” repeated  Mr.  Jones, 
who  began  to  fidget  with  curiosity;  “then  it  is 
an  appointment.  If  it  is  in  the  militia,  I won’t 
take  it.” 


80 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ No,  no,  it  is  not  in  the  militia,”  cried  Elizabeth, 
showing  the  packet  in  her  hand,  and  then  draw- 
ing it  back  with  a coquettish  air ; “ it  is  an  office 
of  both  honor  and  emolument.” 

“Honor  and  emolument !”  echoed  Richard, 
in  painful  suspense ; “ show  me  the  paper,  girl. 
Say,  is  it  an  office  where  there  is  any  thing  to 
do?” 

“ You  have  hit  it,  cousin  Dickon ; it  is  the 
executive  office  of  the  county ; at  least  so  said 
my  father  when  he  gave  me  this  packet  to  offer 
you  as  a Christmas-box. — ‘Surely  if  any  thing 
will  please  Dickon,’  he  said,  ‘ it  will  be  to  fill  the 
executive  chair  of  the  county.’  ” 

“ Executive  chair  ! what  nonsense ! ” cried  the 
impatient  gentleman,  snatching  the  packet  from 
her  hand ; “ there  is  no  such  office  in  the  county. 
Eh  ! what ! it  is,  I declare,  a commission,  appoint- 
ing Richard  Jones,  Esquire,  sheriff  of  the  coun- 
ty. Well,  this  is  kind  in  ’duke,  positively.  I 
must  say  ’duke  has  a warm  heart,  and  never  for- 
gets his  friends.  Sheriff!  High  Sheriff  of ! 

It  sounds  well,  Bess,  but  it  shall  execute  better. 
’Duke  is  a judicious  man  after  all,  and  knows 
human  nature  thoroughly.  I’m  much  obliged  to 
him,”  continued  Richard,  using  the  skirt  of  his 
coat  unconsciously,  to  wipe  his  eyes;  “though 
I would  do  as  much  for  him  any  day,  as  he  shall 
see,  if  I have  an  opportunity  to  perform  any  of 
the  duties  of  my  office  on  him.  It  shall  be  done, 
cousin  Bess — it  shall  be  done,  I say. — How  this 
cursed  south  wind  makes  one’s  eyes  water  ! ” 

“Now,  Richard,”  said  the  laughing  maiden, 
“ Now  I think  you  will  find  something  to  do.  I 
have  often  heard  you  complain  of  old,  that  there 
wa3  nothing  to  do  in  this  new  country,  while  to 
my  eyes  it  seemed  as  if  every  thing  remained  to  be 
done.” 

“ Do  ! ” echoed  Richard,  who  blew  his  nose 
raised  his  little  form  to  its  greatest  elevation,  and 
looked  serious.  “ Every  thing  depends  on  system, 
girl.  I shall  sit  down  this  afternoon,  and  system- 
atize the  county.  I must  have  deputies,  you 
know.  I will  divide  the  county  into  districts, 
over  which  I will  place  my  deputies ; and  I will 
have  one  for  the  village,  which  I will  call  my 
home  department.  Let  me  see — ho ! Benjamin ! 
yes,  Benjamin  will  make  a good  deputy  ; he  has 
been  naturalized,  and  would  answer  admirably,  if 
he  could  only  ride  on  horseback.” 

“ Yes,  Mr.  Sheriff,”  said  his  companion  ; “ and 
as  he  understands  ropes  so  well,  he  would  be 
very  expert,  should  occasion  happen  for  his  ser. 
vices,  in  another  way.” 

“ No,”  interrupted  the  other,  “ I flatter  myself 
that  no  man  could  hang  a man  better  than — that 


is — ha — oh!  yes,  Benjamin  would  do  extremely 
well,  in  such  an  unfortunate  dilemma,  if  he  could 
be  persuaded  to  attempt  it.  But  I should  despair 
of  the  thing.  I never  could  induce  him  to  hang, 
or  teach  him  to  ride  on  horseback.  I must  seek 
another  deputy.” 

“Well,  sir,  as  you  have  abundant  leisure  for 
all  these  important  affairs,  I beg  that  you  will  for- 
get that  you  are  high  sheriff,  and  devote  some 
little  of  your  time  to  gallantry.  Where  are  the 
beauties  and  improvements  which  you  were  to 
show  me  ? ” 

“ Where  ? why,  everywhere.  Here  I have  laid 
out  some  new  streets ; and  when  they  are  opened, 
and  the  trees  felled,  and  they  are  all  built  up,  will 
they  not  make  a fine  town  ? Well,  ’duke  is  a 
liberal-hearted  fellow,  with  all  his  stubbornness] 
— Yes,  yes,  I must  have  at  least  four  deputies, 
besides  a jailer.” 

“ I see  no  streets  in  the  direction  of  our  walk,” 
said  Elizabeth,  “ unless  you  call  the  short  avenues 
through  these  pine-%ushes  by  that  name.  Surely 
you  do  not  contemplate  building  houses,  very 
soon,  in  that  forest  before  us,  and  in  those 
swamps.” 

“ We  must  run  our  streets  by  the  compass, 
coz,  and  disregard  trees,  hills,  ponds,  stumps, 
or,  in  fact,  any  thing  but  posterity.  Such  is  the 
will  of  your  father,  and  your  father,  you  know — ” 

“Had  you  made  sheriff,  Mr.  Jones,”  inter- 
rupted the  lady,  with  a tone  that  said  very  plainly 
to  the  gentleman  that  he  was  touching  a forbid- 
den subject. 

“ I know  it,  I know  it,”  cried  Richard  ; “ and, 
if  it  were  in  my  power,  I’d  make  ’duke  a king.  Ho 
is  a noble-hearted  fellow,  and  would  make  an 
excellent  king ; that  is,  if  he  had  a good  prime 
minister. — But  who  have  we  here  ? voices  in  the 
bushes — a combination  about  mischief,  I’ll  wager 
my  commission.  Let  us  draw  near,  and  examine 
a little  into  the  matter.” 

During  this  dialogue,  as  the  parties  had  kept 
in  motion,  Richard  and  his  cousin  advanced  some 
distance  from  the  house,  into  the  open  space  in 
the  rear  of  the  village,  where,  as  may  be  gathered 
from  the  conversation,  streets  were  planned,  and 
future  dwellings  contemplated;  but  where,  in 
truth,  the  only  mark  of  improvement  that  was  to 
be  seen,  was  a neglected  clearing  along  the  skirt 
of  a dark  forest  of  mighty  pines,  over  which  the 
bushes  or  sprouts  of  the  same  tree  had  sprung 
up,  to  a height  that  interspersed  the  fields  of 
snow  with  little  thickets  of  evergreen.  The  rush- 
ing of  the  wind,  as  it  whistled  through  the  tops 
of  these  mimic  trees,  prevented  the  footsteps  of 
the  pair  from  being  heard,  while  the  branches 


TURKEY-SHOOTING. 


81 


concealed  their  persons.  Thus  aided,  the  lis- 
teners drew  nigh  to  a spot  where  the  young  hunt- 
tcr,  Leather-stocking,  and  the  Indian  chief,  were 
collected  in  an  earnest  consultation.  The  for- 
mer was  urgent  in  his  manner,  and  seemed  to 
think  the  subject  of  deep  importance,  while  Natty 
appeared  to  listen,  with  more  than  his  usual  atten- 
tion, to  what  the  other  was  saying.  Mohegan 
stood  a little  on  one  side,  with  his  head  sunken 
on  his  chest,  his  hair  falling  forward,  so  as  to 
conceal  most  of  his  features,  and  his  whole  atti- 
tude expressive  of  deep  dejection,  if  not  of 
shame. 

“ Let  us  withdraw,”  whispered  Elizabeth ; 
“ we  are  intruders,  and  can  have  no  right  to  lis- 
ten to  the  secrets  of  these  men.” 

“ No  right ! ” returned  Richard,  a little  impa- 
tiently, in  the  same  tone,  and  drawing  her  arm  so 
forcibly  through  his  own  as  to  prevent  her  re- 
treat ; “ you  forget,  cousin,  that  it  is  my  duty  to 
preserve  the  peace  of  the  county,  and  see  the 
laws  executed.  These  wanderers  frequently  com- 
mit depredations;  though  I do  not  think  John 
would  do  any  thing  secretly.  Poor  fellow  ! he 
was  quite  boozy  last  night,  and  hardly  seems  to 
be  over  it  yet.  Let  us  draw  nigher,  and  hear 
what  they  say.” 

Notwithstanding  the  lady’s  reluctance,  Rich- 
ard, stimulated  doubtless  by  his  nice  sense  of 
duty,  prevailed  ; and  they  were  soon  so  near  as 
distinctly  to  hear  sounds. 

“ The  bird  must  be  had,”  said  Natty,  “ by  fair 
means  or  foul.  Heigho ! I’ve  known  the  time, 
lad,  when  the  wild  turkeys  wasn’t  over-scarce  in 
the  country ; though  you  must  go  into  the  Vir- 
giny  gaps,  if  you  want  them  now.  To  be  sure, 
there  is  a different  taste  to  a partridge,  and  a well- 
fatted  turkey ; though,  to  my  eating,  beaver’s  tail 
and  bear’s  hams  makes  the  best  of  food.  But 
then  every  one  has  his  own  appetite.  I gave  the 
last  farthing,  all  to  that  shilling,  to  the  French 
trader,  this  very  morning,  as  I came  through  the 
town,  for  powder ; so,  as  you  have  nothing,  we 
can  have  but  one  shot  for  it.  I know  that  Billy 
Kirby  is  out,  and  means  to  have  a pull  of  the 
trigger  at  that  very  turkey.  John  has  a true  eye 
for  a single  fire,  and,  somehow,  my  hand  shakes  so 
whenever  I have  to  do  anything  extrawnary,  that 
I often  lose  my  aim.  Now,  when  I killed  the  she- 
bear  this  fall,  with  her  cubs,  though  they  were  so 
mighty  ravenous,  I knocked  them  over  one  at  a 
3hot,  and  loaded  while  I dodged  the  trees  in  the 
bargain;  but  this  is  a very  different  thing,  Mr. 
Oliver.” 

“ This,”  cried  the  young  man  with  an  accent 
that  sounded  as  if  he  took  a bitter  pleasure  in  his 
45  6 


poverty,  while  he  held  a shilling  up  before  his 
eyes — “this  is  all  the  treasure  that  I possess — 
this  and  my  rifle ! Now,  indeed,  I have  become  a 
man  of  the  woods,  and  must  place  my  sole  depend- 
ence on  the  chase.  Come,  Natty,  let  us  stake 
the  last  penny  for  the  bird ; with  your  aim,  it  can-  § 
not  fail  to  be  successful.” 

“ I would  rather  it  should  be  John,  lad ; my 
heart  jumps  into  my  mouth,  because  you  set  your 
mind  so  much  on’t ; and  I’m  sartain  that  I shall 
miss  the  bird.  Them  Indians  can  shoot  one  time 
as  well  as  another ; nothing  ever  troubles  them. 

I say,  John,  here’s  a shilling ; take  my  rifle,  and 
get  a shot  at  the  big  turkey  they’ve  put  up  at  the 
stump.  Mr.  Oliver  is  over-anxious  for  the  crea- 
ter,  and  I’m  sure  to  do  nothing  when  I have  over- 
anxiety about  it.” 

The  Indian  turned  his  head  gloomily,  and, 
after  looking  keenly  for  a moment,  in  profound 
silence,  at  his  companions,  he  replied : 

“When  John  was  young,  eyesight  was  not 
straighter  than  his  bullet.  The  Mingo  squaws 
cried  out  at  the  sound  of  his  rifle.  The  Mingo 
warriors  were  made  squaws.  When  did  he  ever 
shoot  twice ! The  eagle  went  above  the  clouds 
when  he  passed  the  wigwam  of  Chingachgook  ; his 
feathers  were  plenty  with  the  women.  But  see,” 
he  said,  raising  his  voice  from  the  low,  mournful 
tones  in  which  he  had  spoken,  to  a pitch  of  keen 
excitement,  and  stretching  forth  both  hands — 
“they  shake  like  a deer  at  the  wolf’s  howl.  Is 
John  old?  When  was  a *Mohican  a squaw,  with 
seventy  winters  ! No ! the  white  man  brings  old 
age  with  him — rum  is  his  tomahawk ! ” 

“Why,  then,  do  you  use  it,  old  man?”  ex- 
claimed the  young  hunter;  “why  will  one,  so 
noble  by  nature,  aid  the  devices  of  the  devil,  by 
making  himself  a beast ! ” 

“ Beast ! is  John  a beast  ? ” replied  the  Indian, 
slowly ; “ yes ; you  say  no  lie,  child  of  the  Fire- 
eater  ! John  is  a beast.  The  smokes  were  once 
few  in  these  hills.  The  deer  would  lick  the  hand 
of  a white  man,  and  the  birds  rest  on  his  head. 
They  were  strangers  to  him.  My  fathers  came 
from  the  shores  of  the  salt  lake.  They  fled  be- 
fore rum.  They  came  to  their  grandfather,  and 
they  lived  in  peace ; or,  when  they  did  raise  the 
hatchet,  it  was  to  strike  it  into  the  brain  of  a 
Mingo.  They  gathered  around  the  council-fire, 
and  what  they  said  wa3  done.  Then  John  was 
the  man.  But  warriors  and  traders  with  light 
eyes  followed  them.  One  brought  the  long  knife, 
and  one  brought  rum.  They  were  more  than  the 
pines  on  the  mountains ; and  they  broke  up  the 
councils,  and  took  the  lands.  The  evil  spirit  was 
in  their  jugs,  and  they  let  him  loose.  Yes,  yes, 


82 


THE  PIONEERS. 


— you  say  no  lie,  Young  Eagle ; John  is  a Chris- 
tian beast.” 

“Forgive  me,  old  warrior,”  cried  the  youth, 
grasping  his  hand ; “ I should  be  the  last  to  re- 
proach you.  The  curses  of  Heaven  light  on  the 
cupidity  that  has  destroyed  such  a race.  Re- 
member, John,  that  I am  of  your  family,  and  it  is 
now  my  greatest  pride.” 

The  muscles  of  Mohegan  relaxed  a little,  and 
he  said,  more  mildly : 

“ You  are  a Delaware,  my  son  ; your  words  are 
not  heard — John  cannot  shoot.” 

“ I thought  that  lad  had  Indian  blood  in  him,” 
whispered  Richard,  “ by  the  awkward  way  he 
handled  my  horses  last  night.  You  see,  coz,  they 
never  use  harness.  But  the  poor  fellow  shall 
have  two  shots  at  the  turkey,  if  he  wants  it,  for 
I’ll  give  him  another  shilling  myself ; though, 
perhaps,  I had  better  offer  to  shoot  for  him. 
They  have  got  up  their  Christmas  sports,  I find, 
in  the  bushes  yonder,  'where  you  hear  the  laugh- 
ter— though  it  is  a queer  taste  this  chap  has  for 
turkey ; not  but  what  it  is  good  eating,  too.” 

“Hold,  cousin  Richard,”  exclaimed  Elizabeth, 
clinging  to  his  arm,  “ would  it  be  delicate  to  of- 
fer a shilling  to  that  gentleman  ? ” 

“ Gentleman  again  ! do  you  think  a half-breed, 
like  him,  will  refuse  money  ? No,  no,  girl,  he 
will  take  the  shilling ; ay ! and  even  rum  too, 
notwithstanding  he  moralizes  so  much  about  it. 
But  I’ll  give  the  lad  a chance  for  his  turkey ; 
for  that  Billy  Kii'by  is  one  of  the  best  marks- 
men in  the  country ; that  is,  if  we  except  the 
— the  gentleman.” 

“ Then,”  said  Elizabeth,  who  found  her 
strength  unequal  to  her  will,  “ then,  sir,  I will 
speak.”  She  advanced,  with  an  air  of  deter- 
mination, in  front  of  her  cousin,  and  entered 
the  little  circle  of  bushes  that  surrounded  the  trio 
of  hunters.  Her  appearance  startled  the  youth, 
who  at  first  made  an  unequivocal  motion  toward 
retiring,  but,  recollecting  himself,  bowed,  by  lift- 
ing his  cap,  and  resumed  his  attitude  of  leaning 
on  bis  rifle.  Neither  Natty  nor  Mohegan  betrayed 
any  emotion,  though  the  appearance  of  Elizabeth 
was  no  entirely  unexpected. 

“ I find,”  she  said,  “ that  the  old  Christmas 
sport  of  shooting  the  turkey  is  yet  in  use  among 
you.  I feel  inclined  to  try  my  chance  for  a bird. 
Which  of  you  will  take  this  money,  and,  after 
paying  my  fee,  give  me  the  aid  of  his  rifle  ? ” 

“Is  this  a sport  for  a lady  ? ” exclaimed  the 
young  hunter,  with  an  emphasis  that  could  not 
well  be  mistaken,  and  with  a rapidity  that  showed 
he  spoke  without  consulting  any  thing  but  feel- 
ing. 


“ Why  not,  sir  ? If  it  be  inhuman,  the  sin  ii 
not  confined  to  one  sex  only.  But  I have  my  hu- 
mor as  well  as  others.  I ask  not  your  assistance ; 
but  ” — turning  to  Natty,  and  dropping  a dollar 
in  his  hand — “ this  old  veteran  of  the  forest  will 
not  be  so  ungallant  as  to  refuse  one  fire  for  a 
lady.” 

Leather-stocking  dropped  the  money  into  his 
pouch,  and,  throwing  up  the  end  of  his  rifle,  he 
freshened  his  priming  ; and,  first  laughing  in  his 
usual  manner,  he  threw  the  piece  over  his  shoul- 
der, and  said : 

“ If  Billy  Kirby  don’t  get  the  bird  before  me, 
and  the  Frenchman’s  powder  don’t  hang  fire  this 
damp  morning,  you’ll  see  as  fine  a turkey  dead, 
in  a few  minutes,  as  ever  was  eaten  in  the  Judge’s 
shanty.  I have  know’d  the  Dutch  women,  on  the 
Mohawk  and  Schoharie,  count  greatly  on  coming 
to  the  merry-makings ; and  so,  lad,  you  shouldn’t 
be  short  with  the  lady.  Come,  let  us  go  forward, 
for,  if  we  wait,  the  finest  bird  will  be  gone.” 

“ But  I have  a right  before  you,  Natty,  and 
shall  try  my  own  luck  first.  You  will  excuse  me, 
Miss  Temple ; I have  much  reason  to  wish  that  bird, 
and  may  seem  ungallant,  but  I must  claim  my 
privileges.” 

“ Claim  any  thing  that  is  justly  your  own,  sir,” 
returned  the  lady ; “ we  are  both  adventurers ; 
and  this  is  my  knight.  I trust  my  fortune  to  his 
hand  and  eye.  Lead  on,  Sir  Leather-stocking, 
and  we  will  follow.” 

Natty,  who  seemed  pleased  with  the  frank 
address  of  the  young  and  beauteous  Elizabeth, 
who  had  so  singularly  intrusted  him  with  such  a 
commission,  returned  the  bright  smile  with  which 
she  had  addressed  him,  by  his  own  peculiar  mark 
of  mirth,  and  moved  across  the  snow,  toward  the 
spot  whence  the  sounds  of  boisterous  mirth  pro- 
ceeded, with  the  long  strides  of  a hunter.  His 
companions  followed  in  silence,  the  youth  casting 
frequent  and  uneasy  glances  toward  Elizabeth, 
who  was  detained  by  a motion  from  Richard. 

“ I should  think,  Miss  Temple,”  he  said,  so 
soon  as  the  others  were  out  of  hearing,  “ that  if 
you  really  wished  a turkey,  you  would  not  have 
taken  a stranger  for  the  office,  and  such  a one  as 
Leather-stocking.  But  I can  hardly  believe  that 
you  are  serious,  for  I have  fifty,  at  this  moment, 
shut  up  in  the  coops,  in  every  stage  of  fat,  so  that 
you  might  choose  any  quality  you  pleased.  There 
are  six  that  I am  trying  an  experiment  on,  by 
giving  them  brick-bats  with — ” 

“ Enough,  cousin  Dickon,”  interrupted  the 
lady ; “ I do  wish  the  bird,  and  it  is  because  I so 
wish,  that  I commissioned  this  Mr.  Leather-stock 
ing.” 


BILLY  KIRBY,  THE  WOOD-CHOPPER. 


83 


“ Did  you  ever  hear  of  the  great  shot  that  I 
made  at  the  wolf,  cousin  Elizabeth,  who  was  car- 
rying off  your  father’s  sheep?”  said  Richard, 
drawing  himself  up  into  an  air  of  displeasure. 
“ He  had  the  sheep  on  his  back  ; and,  had  the 
head  of  the  wolf  been  on  the  other  side,  I should 
have  killed  him  dead  ; as  it  was — ” 

“ You  killed  the  sheep — I know  it  all,  dear 
coz.  But  would  it  have  been  decorous  for  the 

High  Sheriff  of to  mingle  in  such  sports  as 

these  ? ” 

“ Surely  you  did  not  think  that  I intended 
actually  to  fire  with  my  own  hands  ? ” said  Mr. 
Jones.  “ But  let  us  follow,  and  see  the  shooting. 
There  is  no  fear  of  any  thing  unpleasant  occur- 
ring to  a female  in  this  new  country,  especially 
to  your  father’s  daughter,  and  in  my  presence.” 

“ My  father’s  daughter  fears  nothing,  sir,  more 
especially  when  escorted  by  the  highest  executive 
officer  in  the  county.” 

She  took  his  arm,  and  he  led  her  through  the 
mazes  of  the  bushes  to  the  spot  where  most  of  the 
young  men  of  the  village  were  collected  for  the 
sports  of  shooting  a Christmas  match,  and  whith- 
er Natty  and  his  companions  had  already  preced- 
ed them. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

“ I guess,  by  all  this  quaint  array, 

The  burghers  hold  their  sports  to-day.” 

Scott. 

The  ancient  amusement  of  shooting  the  Christ- 
mas turkey  is  one  of  the  few  sports  that  the  set- 
tlers of  a jiew  country  seldom  or  never  neglect  to 
observe.  It  was  connected  with  the  daily  prac- 
tices of  a people  who  often  laid  aside  the  axe  or 
the  scythe  to  seize  the  rifle,  as  the  deer  glided 
through  the  forests  they  were  felling,  or  the  bear 
entered  their  rough  meadows  to  scent  the  air  of  a 
clearing,  and  to  scan,  with  a look  of  sagacity,  the 
progress  of- the  invader. 

On  the  present  occasion,  the  usual  amuse- 
ment of  the  day  had  been  a little  hastened,  in  or- 
der to  allow  a fair  opportunity  to  Mr.  Grant, 
whose  exhibition  was  not  less  a treat  to  the 
young  sportsmen  than  the  one  which  engaged 
their  present  attention.  The  owner  of  the  birds 
was  a free  black,  who  had  prepared  for  the  occa- 
sion a collection  of  game  that  was  admirably  qual- 
ified to  inflame  the  appetite  of  an  epicure,  and 
was  well  adapted  to  the  means  and  skill  of  the 
different  competitors,  who  were  of  all  ages.  He 
had  offered  to  the  younger  and  more  humble 
marksmen  divers  birds  of  an  inferior  quality,  and 
some  shooting  had  already  taken  place,  much  to 


the  pecuniary  advantage  of  the  sable  owner  of  the 
game.  The  order  of  the  sports  was  extremely 
simple,  and  well  understood.  The  bird  was  fast 
ened  by  a string  to  the  stump  of  a large  pine,  the 
side  of  which,  toward  the  point  where  the  marks 
men  were  placed,  had  been  flattened  with  an  axe, 
in  order  that  it  might  serve  the  purpose  of  a tar- 
get by  which  the  merit  of  each  individual  might 
be  ascertained.  The  distance  between  the  stump 
and  shooting-stand  was  one  hundred  measured 
yards  : a foot  more  or  a foot  less  being  thought 
an  invasion  of  the  right  of  one  of  the  parties. 
The  negro  affixed  his  own  price  to  every  bird, 
and  the  terms  of  the  chance ; but,  when  these 
were  once  established,  he  was  obliged,  by  the  strict 
principles  of  public  justice  that  prevailed  in  the 
country,  to  admit  any  adventurer  who  might  offer. 

The  throng  consisted  of  some  twenty  or  thirty 
young  men,  most  of  whom  had  rifles,  and  a col- 
lection of  all  the  boys  in  the  village.  The  little 
urchins,  clad  in  coarse  but  warm  garments,  stood 
gathered  around  the  more  distinguished  marks- 
men, with  their  hands  stuck  under  their  waist- 
bands, listening  eagerly  to  the  boastful  stories 
of  skill  that  had  been  exhibited  on  former  occa- 
sions, and  were  already  emulating  in  their  hearts 
these  wonderful  deeds  in  gunnery. 

The  chief  speaker  was  the  man  who  had  been 
mentioned  by  Natty  as  Billy  Kirby.  This  fellow, 
whose  occupation,  when  he  did  labor,  was  that 
of  clearing  lands,  or  chopping  jobs,  was  of  great 
stature,  and  carried,  in  his  very  air,  the  index 
of  his  character.  He  was  a noisy,  boisterous, 
reckless  lad,  whose  good-natured  eye  contradicted 
the  bluntness  and  bullying  tenor  of  his  speech. 
For  weeks  he  would  lounge  around  the  taverns 
of  the  county,  in  a state  of  perfect  idleness,  or 
doing  small  jobs  for  his  liquor  and  his  meals,  and 
cavilling  with  applicants  about  the  prices  of  his 
labor : frequently  preferring  idleness  to  an  abate- 
ment of  a tittle  of  his  independence,  or  a cent  in 
his  wages.  But,  when  these  embarrassing  points 
were  satisfactorily  arranged,  he  would  shoulder 
his  axe  and  his  rifle,  slip  his  arms  through  the 
straps  of  his  pack,  and  enter  the  woods  with  the 
tread  of  a Hercules.  His  first  object  was  to 
learn  his  limits,  round  which  he  would  pace,  oc- 
casionally freshening,  with  a blow  of  his  axe,  the 
marks  on  the  boundary  trees  ; and  then  he  would 
proceed,  with  an  air  of  great  deliberation,  to  the 
centre  of  his  premises,  and,  throwing  aside  his 
superfluous  garments,  measure,  with  a knowing 
eye,  one  or  two  of  the  nearest  trees  that  were 
towering  apparently  into  the  very  clouds  as  he 
gazed  upward.  Commonly  selecting  one  of  the 
most  noble  for  the  first  tri%l  of  his  power,  he 


84 


THE  PIONEERS. 


worni  approach  it  with  a listless  air,  whistling  a 
low  tune ; and  wielding  his  axe  with  a certain 
flourish,  not  unlike  the  salutes  of  a fencing-mas- 
ter, he  would  strike  a light  blow  into  the  bark, 
and  measure  his  distance.  The  pause  that  fol- 
lowed was  ominous  of  the  fall  of  the  forest  which 
had  flourished  there  for  centuries.  The  heavy 
and  brisk  blows  that  he  struck  were  soon  suc- 
ceeded by  the  thundering  report  of  the  tree,  as 
it  came,  first  cracking  and  threatening,  with  the 
separation  of  its  own  last  ligaments,  then  thresh- 
ing and  tearing  with  its  branches  the  tops  of  its 
surrounding  brethren,  and  finally  meeting  the 
ground  with  a shock  but  little  inferior  to  an  earth- 
quake. From  that  moment  the  sounds  of  the 
axe  were  ceaseless,  while  the  falling  of  the  trees 
was  like  a distant  cannonading  ; and  the  daylight 
broke  into  the  depths  of  the  woods  with  the  sud- 
denness of  a winter  morning. 

For  days,  weeks,  nay  months,  Bill  Kirby  would 
toil  with  an  ardor  that  evinced  his  native  spirit, 
and  with  an  effect  that  seemed  magical,  until,  his 
chopping  being  ended,  his  stentorian  lungs  could 
be  heard  emitting  sounds,  as  he  called  to  his 
patient  oxen,  which  rang  through  the  hills  like 
the  cries  of  an  alarm.  He  had  been  often  heard, 
on  a mild  summer’s  evening,  a long  mile  across 
the  vale  of  Templeton ; when  the  echoes  from 
the  mountains  would  take  up  his  cries,  until  they 
died  away  in  feeble  sounds  from  the  distant  rocks 
that  overhung  the  lake.  His  piles,  or  to  use  the 
language  of  the  country,  his  logging,  ended,  with 
a dispatch  that  could  only  accompany  his  dex- 
terity and  Herculean  strength,  the  jobber  would 
collect  together  his  implements  of  labor,  light 
the  heaps  of  timber,  and  march  away  under  the 
blaze  of  the  prostrate  forest,  like  the  conqueror 
of  some  city,  who,  having  first  prevailed  over  his 
adversary,  applies  the  torch  as  the  finishing  blow 
to  his  conquest.  For  a long  time  Billy  Kirby 
would  then  be  seen,  sauntering  around  the  tav- 
erns, the  rider  of  scrub-races,  the  bully  of  cock- 
fights, and  not  unfrequently  the  hero  of  such 
sports  as  the  one  in  hand. 

Between  him  and  the  Leather-stocking,  there 
had  long  existed  a jealous  rivalry  on  the  point  of 
skill  with  the  rifle.  Notwithstanding  the  long  prac- 
tice of  Natty,  it  was  commonly  supposed  that  the 
steady  nerves  and  quick  eye  of  the  wood-chopper 
rendered  him  his  equal.  The  competition  had, 
however,  been  confined  hitherto  to  boastings,  and 
comparisons  made  from  their  success  in  various 
hunting-excursions ; but  this  was  the  first  time 
that  they  had  ever  come  in  open  collision.  A 
good  deal  of  higgling  about  the  price  of  the 
choicest  bird  had  taken  place  between  Billy  Kir- 


by and  its  owner  before  Natty  and  bis  compan- 
ions rejoined  the  sportsmen.  It  Lad,  however, 
been  settled  at  one  shilling  * a shot,  which  waa 
the  highest  sum  ever  exacted,  the  black  taking 
care  to  protect  himself  from  losses,  as  much  as 
possible,  by  the  conditions  of  the  sport.  The 
turkey  was  already  fastened  at  the  “ mark,”  but 
its  body  was  entirely  hid  by  the  surrounding 
snow,  nothing  being  visible  but  its  red  swelling 
head  and  its  long  neck.  If  the  bird  was  injured 
by  any  bullet  that  struck  below  the  snow,  it  was 
to  continue  the  property  of  its  present  owner ; 
but,  if  a feather  was  touched  in  a visible  part, 
the  animal  became  the  prize  of  the  successful 
adventurer. 

These  terms  were  loudly  proclaimed  by  the 
negro,  who  was  seated  in  the  snow,  in  a some- 
what hazardous  vicinity  to  his  favorite  bird,  when 
Elizabeth  and  her  cousin  approached  the  noisy 
sportsmen.  The  sounds  of  mirth  and  contention 
sensibly  lowered  at  this  unexpected  visit;  but, 
after  a moment’s  pause,  the  curious  interest  ex- 
hibited in  the  face  of  the  young  lady,  together 
with  her  smiling  air,  restored  the  freedom  of  the 
morning;  though  it  was  somewhat  chastened, 
both  in  language  and  vehemence,  by  the  presence 
of  such  a spectator. 

“ Stand  out  of  the  way  there,  boys ! ” cried 
the  wood-chopper,  who  was  placing  himself  at 
the  shooting-point — “ stand  out  of  the  way,  you 
little  rascals,  or  I will  shoot  through  you.  Now, 
Brom,  take  leave  of  your  turkey.” 

“ Stop ! ” cried  the  young  hunter ; “lam  a 
candidate  for  a chance.  Here  is  my  shilling, 
Brom ; I wish  a shot  too.” 

“You  may  wish  it  in  welcome,”  cried  Kirby, 
“ but  if  I ruffle  the  gobbler’s  feathers,  how  aro 
you  to  get  it  ? Is  money  so  plenty  in  your  deer- 
skin pocket,  that  you  pay  for  a chance  that  you 
may  never  have  ? ” 

“ How  know  you,  sir,  how  plenty  money  is  in 
my  pocket  ? ” said  the  youth,  fiercely.  “ Here  is 
my  shilling,  Brom,  and  I claim  a right  to  shoot.” 

“ Don’t  be  crabbed,  my  boy,”  said  the  other, 
who  was  very  coolly  fixing  his  flint.  “ They  say 
you  have  a hole  in  your  left  shoulder,  yourself : 
so  I think  Brom  may  give  you  a fire  for  half 
price.  It  will  take  a keen  one  to  hit  that  bird, 
I can  tell  you,  my  lad,  even  if  I give  you  a chance, 
which  is  what  I have  no  mind  to  do.” 


* Before  the  Revolution,  each  province  had  its  own 
money  of  account,  though  neither  coined  any  but  copper 
pieces.  In  New  York  the  Spanish  dollar  was  divided  into 
eight  shillings,  each  of  the  value  of  a fraction  more  than 
sixpence  sterling.  At  present  the  Union  has  provided  s 
decimal  system,  with  coins  to  represent  it 


MISS  TEMPLE’S  CHAMPION. 


85 


“ Don’t  be  boasting,  Billy  Kirby,”  said  Natty, 
throwing  the  breech  of  his  rifle  into  the  snow, 
and  leaning  on  its  barrel ; “ you’ll  get  but  one 
shot  at  the  creater,  for  if  the  lad  misses  his  aim, 
which  wouldn’t  be  a wonder  if  he  did,  with  his 
arm  so  stiff  and  sore,  you’ll  find  a good  piece  and 
an  old  eye  coming  a’ ter  you.  Maybe  it’s  true 
that  I can’t  shoot  as  I used  to  could,  but  a hun- 
dred yards  is  a short  distance  for  a long  rifle.” 

“What,  old  Leather-stocking,  are  you  out 
this  morning  ? ” cried  his  reckless  opponent. 
“ Well,  fair  play’s  a jewel.  I’ve  the  lead  of  you, 
old  fellow ; so  here  goes  for  a dry  throat  or  a 
good  dinner.” 

The  countenance  of  the  negro  evinced  not 
oijly  all  the  interest  which  his  pecuniary  adven- 
ture might  occasion,  but  also  the  keen  excitement 
that  the  sport  produced  in  the  others,  though 
with  a very  different  wish  as  to  the  result.  .While 
the  wood-chopper  was  slowly  and  steadily  raising 
his  rifle,  he  bawled : 

“ Fair  play,  Billy  Kirby — stand  back — make 
’em  stand  back,  boys — gib  a nigger  fair  play — 
poss-up  gobbler ; shake  a head,  fool ; don’t  you 
see  ’em  taking  aim  ? ” 

These  cries,  which  were  intended  as  much  to 
distract  the  attention  of  the  marksman  as  for  any 
thing  else,  were  fruitless. 

The  nerves  of  the  wood-chopper  were  not  so 
easily  shaken,  and  he  took  his  aim  with  the  utmost 
deliberation.  Stillness  prevailed  for  a moment, 
and  he  fired.  The  head  of  the  turkey  was  seen  to 
dash  on  one  side,  and  its  wings  were  spread  in  mo- 
mentary fluttering ; but  it  settled  itself  down  calm- 
ly into  its  bed  of  snow,  and  glanced  its  eyes  uneasily 
around.  For  a time  long  enough  to  draw  a deep 
breath,  not  a sound  was  heard.  The  silence  was 
then  broken  by  the  noise  of  the.  negro,  who  laughed, 
and  shook  his  body,  with  all  kinds  of  antics,  rolling 
over  in  the  snow  in  the  excess  of  delight. 

“ Well  done  a gobbler,”  he  cried,  jumping  up 
and  affecting  to  embrace  his  bird ; “ I tell  ’em  to 
poss’-up,  and  you  see  ’em  dodge.  Gib  anoder 
shillin,  Billy,  and  hab  anoder  shot.” 

“No — the  shot  is  mine,”  said  the  young  hunt- 
er ; “ you  have  my  money  already.  Leave  the 
mark,  and  let  me  try  my  luck.” 

“ Ah ! it’s  but  money  thrown  away,  lad,” 
said  Leather-stocking.  “ A turkey’s  head  and 
neck  is  but  a small  mark  for  a new  hand  and  a 
lame  shoulder.  You’d  best  let  me  take  the  fire, 
and  maybe  we  can  make  some  settlement  with  the 
lady  about  the  bird.” 

“ The  chance  is  mine,”  said  the  young  hunter. 
* Clear  the  ground,  that  I may  take  it.” 

The  discussions  and  disputes  concerning  the 


laRt  shot  were  now  abating,  it  having  been  deter- 
mined that  if  the  turkey’s  head  had  been  any- 
where but  just  where  it  was  at  the  moment,  the 
bird  must  certainly  have  been  killed.  There  was 
not  much  excitement  produced  by  the  prepara- 
tions of  the  youth,  who  proceeded  in  a hurried 
manner  to  take  his  aim,  and  was  in  the  act  of  pull- 
ing the  trigger,  when  he  was  stopped  by  Natty. 

“Your  hand  shakes,  lad,”  he  said,  “ and  you 
seem  over-eager.  Bullet  wounds  are  apt  to  weaken 
flesh,  and  to  my  judgment  you’ll  not  shoot  so  well 
as  in  common.  If  you  will  fire,  you  should  shoot 
quick,  before  there  is  time  to  shake  off  the  aim.” 

“ Fair  play,”  again  shouted  the  negro  ; “ fair 
play — gib  a nigger  fair  play.  What  right  a Nat 
Bumppo  advise  a young  man  ? Let  ’em  shoot — 
clear  a ground.” 

The  youth  fired  with  great  rapidity,  but  no 
motion  was  made  by  the  turkey ; and,  when  the 
examiners  for  the  ball  returned  from  the  “ mark,” 
they  declared  that  he  had  missed  the  stump. 

Elizabeth  observed  the  change  in  his  counte- 
nance, and  could  not  help  feeling  surprise,  that 
one  so  evidently  superior  to  his  companions  should 
feel  a trifling  loss  so  sensibly.  But  her  own  cham- 
pion was  now  preparing  to  enter  the  lists. 

The  mirth  of  Brom,  which  had  been  again  ex- 
cited, though  in  a much  smaller  degree  than  be- 
fore, by  the  failure  of  the  second  adventurer,  van- 
ished the  instant  Natty  took  his  stand.  His  skin 
became  mottled  with  large  brown  spots,  that 
fearfully  sullied  the  lustre  of  hi3  native  ebony, 
while  his  enormous  lips  gradually  compressed 
around  two  rows  of  ivory  that  had  hitherto  been 
shining  in  his  visage,  like  pearls  set  in  jet.  His 
nostrils,  at  all  times  the  most  conspicuous  features 
of  his  face,  dilated,  until  they  covered  the  greater 
part  of  the  diameter  of  his  countenance ; while 
his  brown  and  bony  hands  unconsciously  grasped 
the  snow-crust  near  him,  the  excitement  of  the 
moment  completely  overcoming  his  native  dread 
of  cold. 

While  these  indications  of  apprehension  were 
exhibited  in  the  sable  owner  of  the  turkey,  the 
man  who  gave  rise  to  this  extraordinary  emotion 
was  as  calm  and  collected  as  if  there  was  not  to 
be  a single  spectator  of  his  skill. 

“ I was  down  in  the  Dutch  settlements  on  the 
Schoharie,”  said  Natty,  carefully  removing  the 
leather  guard  from  the  lock  of  his  rifle,  “just  be- 
fore the  breaking  out  of  the  last  war,  and  there 
was  a shooting-match  among  the  boys ; so  I took 
a hand.  I think  I opened  a good  many  Dutch 
eyes  that  day  ; for  I won  the  powder-horn,  three 
bars  of  lead,  and  a pound  of  as  good  powder  as 
ever  flashed  in  pan.  Lord ! how  they  did  swear 


36 


THE  PIONEERS. 


in  Jarman!  They  did  tell  me  of  one  drunken 
Dutchman  who  said  he’d  have  the  life  of  me  be- 
fore I got  back  to  the  lake  ag’in.  But  if  he  had 
put  his  rifle  to  his  shoulder  with  evil  intent  God 
would  have  punished  him  for  it ; and  even  if  the 
Lord  didn’t,  and  he  had  missed  his  aim,  I know 
one  that  would  have  given  him  as  good  as  he 
Bent,  and  better  too,  if  good  shooting  could  come 
into  the  ’count.” 

By  this  time  the  old  hunter  was  ready  for  his 
business,  and  throwing  his  right  leg  far  behind 
him,  and  stretching  his  left  arm  along  the  barrel 
of  his  piece,  he  raised  it  toward  the  bird.  Every 
eye  glanced  rapidly  from  the  marksman  to  the 
mark ; but  at  the  moment  when  each  ear  was  ex- 
pecting the  report  of  the  rifle,  they  were  disap- 
pointed by  the  ticking  sound  of  the  flint. 

“ A snap,  a snap  ! ” shouted  the  negro,  spring- 
ing from  his  crouching  posture  like  a madman, 
before  his  bird.  “A  snap  good  as  fire — Natty 
Bumppo  guD  he  snap — Natty  Bumppo  miss  a tur- 
key ! ” 

“Natty  Bumppo  hit  a nigger,”  said  the  indig- 
nant old  hunter,  “ if  you  don’t  get  out  of  the  way, 
Brom  It’s  contrary  to  the  reason  of  the  thing, 
boy  that  a snap  should  .count  for  a fire,  when  one 
is  nothing  more  than  a fire-stone  striking  a steel 
pan,  and  the  other  is  sudden  death ; so  get  out 
of  my  way,  boy,  and  let  me  show  Billy  Kirby  how 
to  shoot  a Christmas  turkey.” 

“ Gib  a nigger  fair  play ! ” cried  the  black, 
who  continued  resolutely  to  maintain  his  post, 
and  making  that  appeal  to  the  justice  of  his  au- 
ditors, which  the  degraded  condition  of  his  caste 
so  naturally  suggested.  “ Ebery  body  know  dat 
snap  as  good  as  fire.  Leab  it  to  Massa  Jone — 
leab  it  to  lady.” 

“ Sartain,”  said  the  wood-chopper;  “it’s  the 
law  of  the  game  in  this  part  of  the  country,  Leath- 
er-stocking. If  you  fire  ag’in  you  must  pay 
up  the  other  shilling.  I b’lieve  I’ll  try  luck  once 
more  myself ; so  Brom,  here’s  my  money,  and  I 
take  the  next  fire.” 

“ It’s  likely  you  know  the  laws  of  the  woods 
better  than  I do,  Billy  Kirby,”  returned  Natty. 

“ You  come  in  with  the  settlers,  with  an  ox-goad 
in  your  hand,  and  I come  in  with  moccasins  on 
my  feet,  and  with  a good  rifle  on  my  shoulders,  so 
long  back  as  afore  the  old  war.  Which  is  likely 
to  know  the  best  ? I say  no  man  need  tell  me 
that  snapping  is  as  good  as  firing  when  I pull  the 
trigger.” 

“Leab  it  to  Massa  Jone,”  said  the  alarmed 
aegro ; “ he  know  ebery  ting.” 

This  appeal  to  the  knowledge  of  Richard  was 
too  flattering  to  be  unheeded.  He  therefore  ad- 


vanced a little  from  the  spot  whither  the  delicacy 
of  Elizabeth  had  induced  her  to  withdiaw,  and 
gave  the  following  opinion,  with  the  gravity  that 
the  subject  and  his  own  rank  demanded  : 

“ There  seems  to  be  a difference  in  opinion,”  he 
said,  “ on  the  subject  of  Nathaniel  Bumppo’s  right 
to  shoot  at  Abraham  Freeborn’s  turkey  without 
the  said  Nathaniel  paying  one  shilling  for  the 
privilege.”  This  fact  was  too  evident  to  be  denied, 
and  after  pausing  a moment,  that  the  audience 
might  digest  his  premises,  Richard  proceeded. 

“ It  seems  proper  that  I should  decide  this  ques- 
tion, as  I am  bound  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the 
county ; and  men  with  deadly  weapons  in  their 
hands  should  not  be  heedlessly  left  to  contention, 
and  their  own  malignant  passions.  It  appears 
that  there  was  no  agreement,  either  in  writing 
or  in  words,  on  the  disputed  point;  therefore 
we  mu^t  reason  from  analogy,  which  is,  as  it  were, 
comparing  one  thing  with  another.  Now,  in 
duels,  where  both  parties  shoot,  it  is  generally 
the  rule  that  a snap  is  a fire ; and  if  such  is  the 
rule,  where  the  party  has  a right  to  fire  back 
again,  "it  seems  to  me  unreasonable  to  say,  that  a 
man  may  stand  snapping  at  a defenceless  turkey 
all  day.  I therefore  am  of  opinion  that  Nathan- 
iel Bumppo  has  lost  his  chance,  and  must  pay% 
another  shilling  before  he  renews  his  right.” 

As  this  opinion  came  from  so  high  a quarter, 
and  was  delivered  with  effect,  it  silenced  all  mur- 
murs— for  the  whole  of  the  spectators  had  begun 
to  take  sides  with  great  warmth — except  from 
the  Leather-stocking  himself. 

“ I think  Miss  Elizabeth’s  thoughts  should  be 
taken,”  said  Natty.  “I’ve  known  the  squaws 
give  very  good  counsel  when  the  Indians  have 
been  dumfounded.  If  she  says  that  I ought  to 
lose,  I agree  to  give  it  up.” 

“ Then  I adjudge  you  to  be  a loser  for  this 
time,”  said  Miss  Temple  ; “ but  pay  your  money 
and  renew  your  chance  ; unless  Brom  will  sell  me 
the  bird  for  a dollar.  I will  give  him  the  money, 
and  save  the  life  of  the  poor  victim.” 

This  proposition  was  evidently  but  little  rel- 
ished by  any  of  the  listeners,  even  the  negro  feel- 
ing the  evil  excitement  of  the  chances.  In  the 
mean  while,  as  Billy  Kirby  was  preparing  himself 
for  another  shot,  Natty  left  the  stand,  with  an  ex- 
tremely dissatisfied  manner,  muttering : 

“ There  hasn’t  been  such  a thing  as  a good 
flint  sold  at  the  foot  of  the  lake  since  the  Indian 
traders  used  to  come  into  the  country : and,  if  a 
body  should  go  into  the  flats  along  the  streams  in 
the  hills  to  hunt  for  such  a thing,  it’s  ten  to  one 
but  they  will  be  all  covered  up  with  the  plough. 
Heigho ! it  seems  to  me  that  iust  as  the  game 


LEATHER-STOCKING’S  SUCCESSFUL  SHOf. 


87 


grows  scarce,  and  ? body  wants  the  best  ammuni- 
tion to  get  a livelihood,  every  thing  that’s  bad  falls 
on  him  like  a judgment.  But  I’ll  change  tne 
stone,  for  Billy  Kirby  hasn’t  the  eye  for  such  a 
mark,  I know.” 

The  wood-chopper  seemed  now  entirely  sensi- 
ble that  his  reputation  depended  on  his  care ; nor 
did  he  neglect  any  means  to  insure  success.  He 
drew  up  his  rifle,  and  renewed  his  aim  again  and 
again,  still  appearing  reluctant  to  fire.  N o sound 
was  heard  from  even  Brom,  during  these  porten- 
tous movements,  until  Kirby  discharged  his  piece, 
with  the  same  want  of  success  as  before.  Then, 
indeed,  the  shouts  of  the  negro  rang  through  the 
bushes,  and  sounded  among  the  trees  of  the  neigh- 
boring forest  like  the  outcries  of  a tribe  of  In- 
dians. He  laughed,  rolling  his  head  first  on  one 
side,  then  on  the  other,  until  Nature  seemed  ex- 
hausted with  mirth.  He  danced  until  his  legs 
were  weai’ied  with  motion  in  the  snow ; and,  in 
short,  he  exhibited  all  that  violence  of  joy  that 
characterizes  the  mirth  of  a thoughtless  negro. 

The  wood-chopper  had  exerted  all  his  art,  and 
felt  a proportionate  degree  of  disappointment  at 
the  failure.  He  first  examined  the  bird  with 
the  utmost  attention,  and  more  than  once  sug- 
gested that  he  had  touched  its  feathers ; but  the 
voice  of  the  multitude  was  against  him,  for  it  felt 
disposed  to  listen  to  the  often-repeated  cries  of 
the  black,  to  “gib  a nigger  fair  play.” 

Finding  it  impossible  to  make  out  a title  to 
the  bird,  Kirby  turned  fiercely  to  the  black  and 
said  : 

“ Shut  your  oven,  you  crow ! Where  is  the 
man  that  can  bit  a turkey’s  head  at  a hundred 
yards  ? I was  a fool  for  trying.  You  needn’t 
make  an  uproar,  like  a falling  pine-tree,  about  it. 
Show  me  the  man  who  can  do  it.” 

“ Look  this  a-way,  Billy  Kirby,”  said  Leather- 
stocking, “ and  let  them  clear  the  mark,  and  I’ll 
show  you  a man  who’s  made  better  shots  afore 
now,  and  that  when  he’s  been  hard  pressed  by  the 
savages  and  wild  beasts.” 

“ Perhaps  there  is  one  whose  rights  come  be- 
fore ours,  Leather-stocking,”  said  Miss  Temple  ; 
“ if  so,  we  will  waive  our  privilege.” 

“If  it  be  me  that  you  have  reference  to,” 
said  the  young  hunter,  “I  shall  decline  another 
chance.  My  shoulder  is  yet  weak,  I find.” 

Elizabeth  regarded  his  manner,  and  thought 
that  she  could  discern  a tinge  on  his  cheek  that 
spoke  the  shame  of  conscious  poverty.  She  said 
no  more,  but  suffered  her  own  champion  to  make 
a trial.  Although  Natty  Bumppo  had  certainly 
made  hundreds  of  more  momentous  shots  at  his 
enemies  or  his  game,  yet  he  never  exerted  him- 


self more  to  excel.  He  raised  his  piece  three  sev 
eral  times ; once  to  get  his  range  ; once  to  calcu- 
late his  distance;  and  once  because  the  bird, 
alarmed  by  the  death-like  stillness,  turned  its  head 
quickly  to  examine  its  foes.  But  the  fourth  timt 
he  fired.  The  smoke,  the  report,  and  the  moraen 
tary  shock,  prevented  most  of  the  spectators  from 
instantly  knowing  the  result ; but  Elizabeth,  when 
she  saw  her  champion  drop  the  end  of  his  rifle  in 
the  snow  and  open  his  mouth  in  one  of  its  silent 
laughs,  and  then  proceed  very  coolly  to  recharge 
his  piece,  knew  that  he  had  been  successful.  The 
boys  rushed  to  the  mark,  and  lifted  the  turkey  on 
high,  lifeless,  and  with  nothing  but  the  remnant 
of  a head. 

“ Bring  in  the  creater,”  said  Leather-stocking, 
“ and  put  it  at  the  feet  of  the  lady.  I was  her 
deputy  in  the  matter,  and  the  bird  is  her  prop- 
erty.” 

“And  a good  deputy  you  have  proved  your- 
self,” returned  Elizabeth — “ so  good,  cousin  Rich- 
ard, that  I would  advise  you  to  remember  his 
qualities.”  She  paused,  and  the  gayety  that 
beamed  on  her  face  gave  place  to  a more  serious 
earnestness.  She  even  blushed  a little  as  she 
turned  to  the  young  hunter,  and,  with  the  charm 
of  a woman’s  manner,  added — “ But  it  was  only 
to  see  an  exhibition  of  the  far-famed  skill  of 
Leather-stocking,  that  I tried  my  fortunes.  Will 
you,  sir,  accept  the  bird  as  a small  peace-offering 
for  the  hurt  that  prevented  your  own  success  ? ” 

The  expression  with  which  the  youth  received 
this  present  was  indescribable.  He  appeared  to 
yield  to  the  blandishment  of  her  air,  in  opposition 
to  a strong  inward  impulse  to  the  contrary.  He 
bowed,  and  raised  the  victim  silently  from  her 
feet,  but  continued  silent. 

Elizabeth  handed  the  black  a piece  of  silver 
as  a remuneration  for  his  loss,  which  had  some 
effect  in  again  unbending  his  muscles,  and  then 
expressed  to  her  companion  her  readiness  to  re- 
turn homeward. 

“ Wait  a minute,  cousin  Bess,”  cried  Richard  ; 
“ there  is  an  uncertainty  about  the  rules  of  this 
sport  that  it  is  proper  I should  remove.  If  you 
will  appoint  a committee,  gentlemen,  to  wait  on 
me  this  morning,  I will  draw  up  in  writing  a set 
of  regulations — ” He  stopped,  with  some  indig- 
nation, for  at  that  instant  a hand  was  laid  famil- 
iarly on  the  shoulder  of  the  High  Sheriff  of 

“ A merry  Christmas  to  you,  cousin  Dickon,” 
said  Judge  Temple,  who  had  approached  the  party 
unperceived  : “ I must  have  a vigilant  eye  to  my 
daughter,  sir,  if  you  are  to  be  seized  daily  with 
these  gallant  fits.  I admire  the  taste  wnich  would 
introduce  a lady  to  such  scenes  ! ” 


68 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ It  is  her  own  perversity,  ’duke,”  cried  the 
disappointed  sheriff,  who  felt  the  loss  of  the  first 
salutation  as  grievously  as  many  a man  would  a 
much  greater  misfortune  ; “ and  I must  say  that 
she  comes  honestly  by  it.  I led  her  out  to  show 
her  the  improvements,  but  away  she  scampered, 
through  the  snow,  at  the  first  sound  of  fire-arms, 
the  same  as  if  she  had  been  brought  up  in  a 
camp,  instead  of  a first-rate  boarding-school.  I 
do  think,  Judge  Temple,  that  such  dangerous 
amusements  should  be  suppressed  by  statute ; 
nay,  I doubt  whether  they  are  not  already  indict- 
able at  common  law.” 

“Well,  sir,  as  you  are  sheriff  of  the  county, 
it  becomes  your  duty  to  examine  into  the  mat- 
ter,” returned  the  smiling  Marmaduke.  “ I per- 
ceive that  Bess  has  executed  her  commission,  and 
I hope  it  met  with  a favorable  reception.”  Rich- 
ard glanced  his  eye  at  the  packet  which  he  held 
in  his  hand,  and  the  slight  anger  produced  by 
disappointment  vanished  instantly. 

“ Ah  ! ’duke,  my  dear  cousin,”  he  said,  “ step 
a little  on  one  side ; I have  something  I would 
say  to  you.”  Marmaduke  complied,  and  the 
sheriff  led  him  to  a little  distance  in  the  bushes, 
and  continued — “ First,  ’duke,  let  me  thank  you 
for  your  friendly  interest  with  the  Council  and 
the  Governor,  without  which,  I am  confident  that 
the  greatest  merit  would  avail  but  little.  But  we 
are  sisters’  children — we  are  sisters’  children  ; 
and  you  may  use  me  like  one  of  your  horses  ; 
ride  me  or  drive  me,  ’duke,  I am  wholly  yours. 
But  in  my  humble  opinion,  this  young  companion 
of  Leather-stocking  requires  looking  after.  He 
has  a very  dangerous  propensity  for  turkey.” 

“Leave  him  to  my  management,  Dickon,” 
said  the  Judge,  “ and  I will  cure  his  appetite  by 
indulgence.  It  is  with  him  that  I would  speak. 
Let  us  rejoin  the  sportsmen.” 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

“ Poor  wretch  1 the  mother  that  him  bare, 

If  she  had  been  in  presence  there, 

In  his  wan  face,  and  sunburnt  hair, 

She  had  not  known  her  child.” 

Scott. 

It  diminished,  in  no  degree,  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  the  conversation  which  passed  be- 
tween Judge  Temple  and  the  young  hunter,  that 
the  former  took  the  arm  of  his  daughter  and  drew 
it  through  his  own,  when  he  advanced  from  the 
spot  whither  Richard  had  led  him  to  that  where 
the  youth  was  standing,  leaning  on  his  rifle,  and 
contemplating  the  dead  bird  at  his  feet.  The 


presence  of  Marmaduke  did  not  interrupt  th« 
sports,  which  were  resumed,  by  loud  and  clamor- 
ous disputes  concerning  the  conditions  of  a chance 
that  involved  the  life  of  a bird  of  much  inferior 
quality  to  the  last.  Leather-stocking  and  Mohe- 
gan  had  alone  drawn  aside  to  their  youthful  com- 
panion ; and,  although  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  such  a throng,  the  following  conversation  was 
heard  only  by  those  who  were  interested  in  it. 

“ I have  greatly  injured  you,  Mr.  Edwards,”  said 
the  Judge  ; but  the  sudden  and  inexplicable  start, 
with  which  the  person  spoken  to  received  this  un- 
expected address,  caused  him  to  pause  a moment. 
As  no  answer  was  given,  and  the  strong  emotion 
exhibited  in  the  countenance  of  the  youth  gradu- 
ally passed  away,  he  continued — “ But  fortunate- 
ly it  is  in  some  measure  in  my  power  to  compen- 
sate you  for  what  I have  done.  My  kinsman, 
Richard  Jones,  has  received  an  appointment  that 
will,  in  future,  deprive  me  of  his  assistance,  and 
leave  me,  just  now,  destitute  of  one  who  might 
greatly  aid  me  with  his  pen.  Your  manner,  not- 
withstanding appearances,  is  a sufficient  proof  of 
your  education,  nor  will  thy  shoulder  suffer  thee 
to  labor,  for  some  time  to  come.”  (Marmaduke 
insensibly  relapsed  into  the  language  of  the 
Friends  as  he  grew  warm.)  “ My  doors  are  open 
to  thee,  my  young  friend,  for  in  this  infant  coun- 
try we  harbor  no  suspicions : little  offering  to 
tempt  the  cupidity  of  the  evil  disposed.  Become 
my  assistant,  for  at  least  a season,  and  receive 
such  compensation  as  thy  services  will  deserve.” 

There  was  nothing  in  the  manner  or  the  offer 
of  the  Judge  to  justify  the  reluctance,  amounting 
nearly  to  loathing,  with  which  the  youth  listened 
to  his  speech  : but,  after  a powerful  effort  for  self- 
command,  he  replied : 

“ I would  serve  you,  sir,  or  any  other  man,  for 
an  honest  support,  for  I do  not  affect  to  conceal 
that  my  necessities  are  very  great,  even  beyond 
what  appearances  would  indicate  ; but  I am  fear- 
ful that  such  new  duties  would  interfere  too  much 
with  more  important  business : so  that  I must 
decline  your  offer,  and  depend  on  my  rifle,  as  be- 
fore, for  subsistence.” 

Richard  here  took  occasion  to  whisper  to  the 
young  lady,  who  had  shrunk  a little  from  the 
foreground  of  the  picture : 

“ This,  you  see,  cousin  Bess,  is  the  natural  re- 
luctance of  a half-breed  to  leave  the  savage  state. 
Their  attachment  to  a wandering  life  is,  I verily 
believe,  unconquerable.” 

“It  is  a precarious  life,”  observed  Marma- 
duke, without  hearing  the  sheriff’s  observation 
“ and  one  that  brings  more  evils  with  it  than  pres- 
ent  suffering.  Trust  me,  young  friend,  my  ex- 


JUDGE  TEMPLE’S  NEW  SECRETARY.. 


89 


perience  is  greater  than  thine,  when  I tell  thee, 
that  the  unsettled  life  of  these  hunters  is  of  vast 
disadvantage  for  temporal  purposes,  and  it  total- 
ly removes  one  from  the  influence  of  more  sacred 
things.” 

“No,  no,  Judge,”  interrupted  the  Leather- 
stocking, who  was  hitherto  unseen,  or  disregard- 
ed ; “ take  him  into  your  shanty  in  welcome,  but 
tell  him  truth.  I have  lived  in  the  woods  for  for- 
ty long  years,  and  have  spent  five  at  a time  with- 
out seeing  the  light  of  a clearing  bigger  than  a 
windrow  in  the  trees  ; and  I should  like  to  know 
where  you’ll  find  a man,  in  his  sixty-eighth  year, 
who  can  get  an  easier  living,  for  all  your  better- 
ments and  your  deer-laws  : and,  as  for  honesty,  or 
doing  what’s  right  between  man  and  man,  I’ll  not 
turn  my  back  to  the  longest-winded  deacon  on 
your  Patent.” 

“Thou  art  an  exception,  Leather-stocking,” 
returned  the  Judge,  nodding  good-naturedly  at 
the  hunter ; “ for  thou  hast  a temperance  unusu- 
al in  thy  class,  and  a hardihood  exceeding  thy 
years.  But  this  youth  is  made  of  materials  too 
precious  to  be  wasted  in  the  forest. — I entreat 
thee  to  join  my  family,  if  it  be  but  till  thy  arm  be 
healed.  My  daughter  here,  who  is  mistress  of 
my  dwelling,  will  tell  thee  that  thou  art  wel- 
come.” 

“ Certainly,”  said  Elizabeth,  .whose  earnest- 
ness was  a little  checked  by  female  reserve. 
“ The  unfortunate  would  be  welcome  at  any  time, 
but  doubly  so  when  we  feel  that  we  have  occa- 
sioned the  evil  ourselves.” 

“ Yes,”  said  Richard,  “ and  if  you  relish  tur- 
key, young  man,  there  are  plenty  in  the  coops 
and  of  the  best  kind,  I can  assure  you.” 

Finding  himself  thus  ably  seconded,  Marma- 
duke  pushed  his  advantage  to  the  utmost.  He 
entered  into  a detail  of  the  duties  that  would  at- 
tend the  situation,  and  circumstantially  mentioned 
the  reward,  and  all  those  points  which  are  deemed 
of  importance  among  men  of  business.  The 
youth  listened  in  extreme  agitation.  There  was 
an  evident  contest  in  his  feelings  ; at  times  he  ap- 
peared to  wish  eagerly  for  the  change,  and  then 
again  the  incomprehensible  expression  of  disgust 
would  cross  his  features,  like  a dark  cloud  obscur- 
ing a noonday  sun. 

The  Indian,  in  whose  manner  the  depression 
of  self-abasement  was  most  powerfully  exhibited, 
listened  to  the  offers  of  the  Judge  with  an  inter- 
est that  increased  with  each  syllable.  Gradually 
he  drew  nigher  to  the  group  ; and  when,  with  his 
keen  glance,  he  detected  the  most  marked  evi- 
dence of  yielding  in  the  countenance  of  his  young 
companion,  he  changed  at  once  from  his  attitude 


and  look  of  shame  to  the  front  of  an  Indian  war- 
rior, and  moving,  with  great  dignity,  closer  to  the 
parties,  he  spoke : 

“ Listen  to  your  father,”  he  said  ; “ his  words 
are  old.  Let  the  Young  Eagle  and  the  Great 
Land  Chief  eat  together ; let  them  sleep,  without 
fear,  near  each  other.  The  children  of  Miquon 
love  not  blood ; they  are  just,  and  will  do  right. 
The  sun  must  rise  and  set  often,  before  men  can 
make  one  family ; it  is  not  the  work  of  a day, 
but  of  many  winters.  The  Mingoes  and  the 
Delawares  are  born  enemies ; their  blood  can 
never  mix  in  the  wigwam : it  never  will  run  in 
the  same  stream  in  the  battle.  What  makes  the 
brother  of  Miquon  and  the  Young  Eagle  foes  ? 
They  are  of  the  same  tribe : their  fathers  and 
mothers  are  one.  Learn  to  wait,  my  son : you  are 
a Delaware,  and  an  Indian  warrior  knows  how  to 
be  patient.” 

This  figurative  address  seemed  to  have  great 
weight  with  the  young  man,  who  gradually  yield- 
ed to  the  representations  of  Marmaduke,  and 
eventually  consented  to  his  proposal.  It  was, 
however,  to  be  an  experiment  only  ; and,  if  either 
of  the  parties  thought  fit  to  rescind  the  engage- 
ment, it  was  left  at  his  option  so  to  do.  The 
remarkable  and  ill-concealed  reluctance  of  the 
youth  to  accept  of  an  offer,  which  most  men  in  hia 
situation  would  consider  as  an  unhoped-for  eleva- 
tion, occasioned  no  little  surprise  in  those  to 
whom  he  was  a stranger ; and  it  left  a slight  im- 
pression to  his  disadvantage.  When  the  parties 
separated,  they  very  naturally  made  the  subject 
the  topic  of  a conversation,  which  we  shall  re- 
late ; first  commencing  with  the  Judge,  his  daugh- 
ter, and  Richard,  who  were  slowly  pursuing  the 
way  back  to  the  mansion-house. 

“ I have  surely  endeavored  to  remember  the 
holy  mandates  of  our  Redeemer,  when  he  bids  us 
‘ love  them  who  despitefully  use  you,’  in  my  inter- 
course with  this  incomprehensible  boy,”  said  Mar- 
maduke. “ I know  not  what  there  is  in  my  dwell- 
ing to  frighten  a lad  of  his  years,  unless  it  may  be 
thy  presence  and  visage,  Bess.” 

“No,  no,”  said  Richard,  with  great  simplicity  ; 
“ it  is  not  cousin  Bess.  But  when  did  you  ever 
know  a half-breed,  ’duke,  who  could  bear  civiliza- 
tion ? For  that  matter,  they  are  worse  than  the 
savages  themselves ! Did  you  notice  how  knock- 
kneed  he  stood,  Elizabeth,  and  what  a wild  look 
he  had  in  his  eyes  ? ” 

“ I heeded  not  his  eyes,  nor  his  knees,  which 
would  be  all  the  better  for  a little  humbling. 
Really,  my  dear  sir,  I think  you  did  exercise  the 
Christian  virtue  of  patience  to  the  utmost.  I was 
disgusted  with  his  airs,  long  before  he  consented 


90 


THE  PIONEERS. 


to  make  one  of  our  family.  Truly,  we  are  much 
honored  by  the  association  ! In  what  apartment 
is  he  to  be  placed,  sir ; and  at  what  table  is  he  to 
receive  his  nectar  and  ambrosia  ? ” 

“With  Benjamin  and  Remarkable,” interrupt- 
ed Mr.  Jones  ; “ you  surely  would  not  make  the 
youth  eat  with  the  blacks  ! He  is  part  Indian,  it 
is  true ; but  the  natives  hold  the  negroes  in  great 
contempt.  No,  no ; he  would  starve  before  he 
would  break  a crust  with  the  negroes.” 

“ I am  but  too  happy,  Dickon,  to  tempt  him  to 
eat  with  ourselves,”  said  Marmaduke,  “ to  think 
of  offering  even  the  indignity  you  propose.” 

“ Then,  sir,”  said  Elizabeth,  with  an  air  that 
was  slightly  affected,  as  if  submitting  to  her  fa- 
ther’s orders  in  opposition  to  her  own  will,  “ it 
is  your  pleasure  that  he  be  a gentleman.” 

“ Certainly ; he  is  to  fill  the  station  of  one. 
Let  him  receive  the  treatment  that  is  due  to  his 
place,  until  we  find  him  unworthy  of  it.” 

“Well,  well,  ’duke,”  cried  the  sheriff,  “you 
will  find  it  no  easy  matter  to  make  a gentleman 
of  him.  The  old  proverb  says  that  ‘ it  takes 
three  generations  to  make  a gentleman.’  There 
was  my  father,  whom  everybody  knew;  my 
grandfather  was  an  M.  D.,  and  his  father  a D.  D. ; 
and  his  father  came  from  England.  I never 
could  come  at  the  truth  of  his  origin ; but  he  was 
either  a great  merchant  in  London,  or  a great 
country-lawyer,  or  the  youngest  son  of  a bishop.” 

“ Here  is  a true  American  genealogy  for  you,” 
said  Marmaduke,  laughing.  “ It  does  very  well 
till  you  get  across  the  water,  where,  as  every 
thing  is  obscure,  it  is  certain  to  deal  in  the  super- 
lative. You  are  sure  that  your  English  progeni- 
tor was  great,  Dickon,  whatever  his  profession 
might  have  been  ? ” 

“ To  be  sure  I am,”  returned  the  other.  “ I 
have  heard  my  old  aunt  talk  of  him  by  the 
month.  We  are  of  a good  family,  Judge  Temple, 
and  have  never  filled  any  but  honorable  stations 
in  life.” 

“ I marvel  that  you  should  be  satisfied  with 
so  scanty  a provision  of  gentility  in  the  olden 
time,  Dickon.  Most  of  the  American  genealo- 
gists commence  their  traditions,  like  the  stories 
for  children,  with  three  brothers,  taking  especial 
care  that  one  of  the  triumvirate  shall  be  the  pro- 
genitor of  any  of  the  same  name  who  may  hap- 
pen to  be  better  furnished  with  wordly  gear  than 
themselves.  But,  here,  all  are  equal  who  know 
how  to  conduct  themselves  with  propriety  ; and 
Oliver  Edwards  comes  into  my  family  on  a foot- 
jig  with  both  the  high  sheriff  and  the  Judge.” 

“Well,  ’duke,  I call  this  democracy,  not  re- 
publicanism; but  I say  nothing;  only  let  him 


keep  within  the  law,  or  I shall  show  him  that 
the  freedom  of  even  this  country  is  under  whole, 
some  restraint.” 

“ Surely,  Dickon,  you  will  not  execute  till  1 
condemn  ! But  what  says  Dess  to  the  new  in- 
mate ? We  must  pay  a deference  to  the  ladies 
in  this  matter,  after  all.” 

“ Oh,  sir  ! ” returned  Elizabeth,  “ I believe  I 
am  much  like  a certain  Judge  Temple  in  this  par- 
ticular— not  easily  to  be  turned  from  my  opinion. 
But,  to  be  serious,  although  I must  think  the  in- 
troduction of  a demi-savage  into  the  family  a 
somewhat  startling  event,  whomsoever  you  think 
proper  to  countenance  may  be  sure  of  my  re- 
spect.” 

The  J udge  drew  her  arm  more  closely  in  his 
own  and  smiled,  while  Richard  led  the  way 
through  the  gate  of  the  little  court-yard  in  the 
rear  of  the  dwelling,  dealing  out  his  ambiguous 
warnings  with  his  accustomed  loquacity. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  foresters — for  the 
three  hunters,  notwithstanding  their  difference  in 
character,  well  deserved  this  common  name — 
pursued  their  course  along  the  skirts  of  the  vil- 
lage in  silence.  It  was  not  until  they  had  reached 
the  lake,  and  were  moving  over  its  frozen  surface 
toward  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  where  the  hul 
stood,  that  the  youth  exclaimed : 

“ Who  could  have  foreseen  this  a month 
since ! I have  consented  to  serve  Marmaduke 
Temple — to  be  an  inmate  in  the  dwelling  of  the 
greatest  enemy  of  my  race  ; yet  what  better  could 
I do  ? The  servitude  cannot  be  long ; and,  when 
the  motive  for  submitting  to  it  ceases  to  exist,  I 
will  shake  it  off,  like  the  dust  from  my  feet.” 

“ Is  he  a Mingo,  that  you  will  call  him  ene- 
my ? ” said  Mohegan.  “The  Delaware  warrior 
sits  still,  and  waits  the  time  of  the  Great  Spirit. 
He  is  no  woman,  to  cry  out  like  a child.” 

“ Well,  I’m  mistrustful,  John,”  said  Leather- 
stocking, in  whose  air  there  had  been,  during  the 
whole  business,  a strong  expression  of  doubt  and 
uncertainty.  “ They  say  that  there’s  new  laws  in 
the  land,  and  I am  sartin  that  there’s  new  ways  in 
the  mountains.  One  hardly  knows  the  lakes  and 
streams,  they’ve  altered  the  country  so  much.  I 
must  say  I’m  mistrustful  of  such  smooth  speakers  ; 
for  I’ve  known  the  whites  talk  fair  when  they 
wanted  the  Indian  lands  most.  This  I will  say, 
though  I’m  white  myself,  and  was  bom  nigh  York, 
and  of  honest  parents,  too.” 

“ I will  submit,”  said  the  youth  ; “ I will  forget 
who  I am.  Cease  to  remember,  old  Mohegan, 
that  I am  the  descendant  of  a Delaware  chief^ 
who  once  was  master  of  these  noble  hills,  these 
1 beautiful  vales,  and  of  this  water  over  which  wt 


CHRISTMAS  EVENING. 


91 


tread.  Yes,  yes  ; I will  become  his  bondsman — 
his  slave.  Is  it  not  an  honorable  servitude,  old 
man  ? ” 

“ Old  man ! ” repeated  the  Indian,  solemnly, 
and  pausing  in  his  walk,  as  usual,  when  much  ex- 
cited ; “ yes  ; John  is  old.  Son  of  my  brother  ! 
if  Mohegan  was  young,  when  would  his  rifle  be 
still?  Where  would  the  deer  hide,  and  he  not 
find  him  ? But  John  is  old  ; his  hand  is  the  hand 
of  a squaw  ; his  tomahawk  is  a hatchet ; brooms 
and  baskets  are  his  enemies — he  strikes  no  other. 
Hunger  and  old  age  come  together.  See  Hawk- 
eye  ! when  young,  he  would  go  days  and  eat  no- 
thing ; but  should  he  not  put  the  brush  on  the 
fire  now,  the  blaze  would  go  out.  Take  the  son 
of  Miquon  by  the  hand,  and  he  will  help  you.” 

“ I’m  not  the  man  I was,  I’ll  own,  Chingach- 
gook,”  returned  the  Leather-stocking ; “ but  lean 
go  without  a meal  now,  on  occasion.  When  we 
tracked  the  Iroquois  through  the  ‘ Beech- woods,’ 
they  drove  the  game  afore  them,  for  I hadn’t  a 
morsel  to  eat  from  Monday  morning  come  Wednes- 
day sundown  ; and  then  I shot  as  fat  a buck,  on 
the  Pennsylvany  line,  as  ever  mortal  laid  eyes  on. 
It  would  have  done  your  heart  good  to  have  seen 
the  Delaware  eat ; for  I was  out  scouting  and 
skrimmaging  with  their  tribe  at  the  time.  Lord  ! 
the  Indians,  lad,  lay  still,  and  just  waited  till 
Providence  should  send  them  their  game ; but  I 
foraged  about,  and  put  a deer  up,  and  put  him 
down  too,  afore  he  had  made  a dozen  jumps.  I 
was  too  weak  and  too  ravenous  to  stop  for  his 
flesh  ; so  I took  a good  drink  of  his  blood,  and 
the  Indians  ate  of  his  meat  raw.  John  was  there, 
and  John  knows.  But  then  starvation  would  be 
apt  to  be  too  much  for  me  now,  I will  own,  though 
I’m  no  great  eater  at  any  time.” 

“ Enough  is  said,  my  friends,”  cried  the  youth. 
“ I feel  that  everywhere  the  sacrifice  is  required 
at  my  hands,  and  it  shall  be  made ; but  say  no 
more,  I entreat  you ; I cannot  bear  this  subject 
now.” 

His  companions  were  silent;  and  they  soon 
reached  the  hut,  which  they  entered,  after  remov- 
ing certain  complicated  and  ingenious  fastenings, 
that  were  put  there  apparently  to  guard  a prop- 
erty of  but  very  little  value.  Immense  piles  of 
snow  lay  against  the  log  walls  of  this  secluded 
habitation,  on  one  side ; while  fragments  of  small 
trees,  and  branches  of  oak  and’  chestnut,  that  had 
been  torn  from  their  parent  stems  by  the  winds, 
were  thrown  into  a pile  on  the  other.  A small 
column  of  smoke  rose  through  a chimney  of  sticks, 
cemented  with  clay,  along  the  side  of  the  rock ; 
and  had  marked  the  snow  above  with  its  dark 
tinges,  in  a wavy  line,  from  the  point  of  emission 


to  another,  where  the  hill  receded  from  the  brow 
of  a precipice,  and  held  a soil  that  nourished  trees 
of  a gigantic  growth,  that  overhung  the  little  bo* 
tom  beneath. 

The  remainder  of  the  day  passed  off  as  such 
days  are  commonly  spent  in  a new  country.  The 
settlers  thronged  to  the  academy  again,  to  witness 
the  second  effort  of  Mr.  Grant  ; and  Mohegan  was 
one  of  his  hearers.  But,  notwithstanding  the 
divine  fixed  his  eyes  intently  on  the  Indian,  when 
he  invited  his  congregation  to  advance  to  the 
table,  the  shame  of  last  night’s  abasement  was  yet 
too  keen  in  the  old  chief  to  suffer  him  to  move. 

When  the  people  were  dispersing,  the  clouds 
that  had  been  gathering  all  the  morning,  were 
dense  and  dirty ; and  before  half  of  the  curious 
congregation  had  reached  their  different  cabins, 
that  were  placed  in  every  glen  and  hollow  of  the 
mountains,  or  perched  on  the  summits  of  the  hills 
themselves,  the  rain  was  falling  in  torrents.  The 
dark  edges  of  the  stumps  began  to  exhibit  them- 
selves, as  the  snow  settled  rapidly ; the  fences  of 
logs  and  brush,  which  before  had  been  only  traced 
by  long  lines  of  white  mounds,  that  ran  across 
the  valley  and  up  the  mountains,  peeped  out  from 
their  covering,  and  the  black  stubs  were  momen- 
tarily becoming  more  distinct,  as  large  masses  of 
snnw  and  ice  fell  from  their  sides,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  thaw. 

Sheltered  in  the  warm  hall  of  her  father’s  com- 
fortable mansion,  Elizabeth,  accompanied  by  Lou- 
isa Grant,  looked  abroad  with  admiration  at  the 
ever-varying  face  of  things  without.  Even  the 
village,  which  had  just  before  been  glittering 
with  the  color  of  the  frozen  element,  reluctantly 
dropped  its  mask,  and  the  houses  exposed  their 
dark  roofs  and  smoked  chimneys.  The  pine3 
shook  off  the  covering  of  snow,  and  every  thing 
seemed  to  be  assuming  its  proper  hue,  with  a 
transition  that  bordered  on  the  supernatural. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

“And  yet,  poor  Edwin  was  no  vulgar  boy.” 

Beattie. 

The  close  of  Christmas-day,  a.  d.  1793,  was 
tempestuous,  but  comparatively  warm.  When 
darkness  had  again  hid  the  objects  in  the  village 
from  the  gaze  of  Elizabeth,  she  turned  from  the 
window,  where  she  had  remained  while  the  least 
vestige  of  light  lingered  over  the  tops  of  the  dark 
pines,  with  a curiosity  that  was  rather  excited 
than  appeased  by  the  passing  glimpses  of  wood- 
land scenery  that  she  had  caught  during  the  day. 

With  her  arm  locked  in  that  of  .Miss  Grants 


02 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  young  mistress  of  the  mansion  walked  slowly 
up  and  down  the  hall,  musing  on  scenes  that  were 
rap;dly  recurring  to  hei  memory,  and  possibly 
dwelling,  at  times,  in  the  sanctuary  of  her 
thoughts,  on  the  strange  occurrences  that  had  led 
to  the  introduction,  to  her  father’s  family,  of  one 
whose  manners  so  singularly  contradicted  the  in- 
ferences to  be  drawn  from  his  situation.  The  ex- 
piring heat  of  the  apartment — for  its  great  size 
required  a day  to  reduce  its  temperature — had 
given  to  her  cheeks  a bloom  that  exceeded  their 
natural  color,  while  the  mild  and  melancholy  feat- 
ures of  Louisa  were  brightened  with  a faint  tinge, 
that,  like  the  hectic  of  disease,  gave  a painful  in- 
terest to  her  beauty. 

The  eyes  of  the  gentlemen,  who  were  yet  seat- 
ed around  the  rich  wines  of  Judge  Temple,  fre- 
quently wandered  from  the  table,  that  was  placed 
at  one  end  of  the  hall,  to  the  forms  that  were  si- 
lently moving  over  its  length.  Much  mirth,  and 
that,  at  times,  of  a boisterous  kind,  proceeded 
from  the  mouth  of  Richard ; but  Major  Hartmann 
was  not  yet  excited  to  his  pitch  of  merriment, 
and  Marmaduke  respected  the  presence  of  his  cler- 
ical guest  too  much,  to  indulge  in  even  the  inno- 
cent humor  thal  formed  no  small  ingredient  m his 
character. 

Such  were,  and  such  continued  to  be,  the  pur- 
suits of  the  party,  for  half  an  hour  after  the 
shutters  were  closed,  and  candles  were  placed  in 
various  parts  of  the  hall,  as  substitutes  for  the 
departing  daylight.  The  appearance  of  Benjamin, 
staggering  under  the  burden  of  an  armful  of 
wood,  was  the  first  interruption  to  the  scene. 

“ How  now,  Master  Pump  ! ” roared  the  newly- 
appointed  sheriff ; “ is  there  not  warmth  enough 
in  ’duke’s  best  Madeira  to  keep  up  the  animal 
heat  through  this  thaw  ? Remember,  old  boy, 
that  the  Judge  is  particular  with  his  beech  and 
maple,  beginning  to  dread  already  a scarcity  of 
the  precious  articles.  Ha ! ha ! ha ! ’duke,  you 
are  a good,  warm-hearted  relation,  I will  own,  as 
in  duty  bound,  but  you  have  some  queer  notions 
about  you,  after  all.  ‘ Come,  let  us  be  jolly,  and 
cast  away  folly.’  ” 

The  notes  gradually  sank  into  a hum,  while 
the  major-domo  threw  down  his  load,  and,  turning 
to  his  interrogator  with  an  air  • of  earnestness, 
replied : 

“Why,  look  you,  Squire  Dickens,  mayhap 
there’s  a warm  latitude  round  about  the  table 
there,  thof  it’s  not  the  stuff  to  raise  the  heat  in 
my  body,  neither;  the  raal  Jamaiky  being  the 
only  thing  to  do  that,  besides  good  wood,  or  some 
such  matter  as  Newcastle  coal.  But,  if  I know 
uny  thing  of  the  weather,  d’ye  see,  it’s  time  to 


be  getting  all  snug,  and  for  putting  the  ports  in 
and  stirring  the  fires  a bit.  Mayhap  I’ve  not  fol 
lowed  the  seas  twenty-seven  years,  and  lived  an 
other  seven  in  these  here  woods,  for  nothing,  gem 
men.” 

“Why,  does  it  bid  fair  for  a change  in  the 
weather,  Benjamin  ? ” inquired  the  master  of  the 
house. 

“There’s  a shift  of  wind,  your  honor,”  re- 
turned the  steward : “ and  when  there’s  a shift  of 
wind,  you  may  look  for  a change  in  this  here 
climate.  I was  aboard  of  one  of  Rodney’s  fleet, 
d’ye  see,  about  the  time  we  licked  De  Grasse, 
Mounsheer  Ler  Quaw’s  countryman,  there;  and 
the  wind  was  here  at  the  south’ard  and  east’ard ; 
and  I was  below,  mixing  a toothful  of  hot  stuff 
for  the  captain  of  marines,  who  dined,  d’ye  see, 
in  the  cabin,  that  there  very  same  day;  and  I 
suppose  he  wanted  to  put  out  the  captain’s  fire 
with  a gunroom  ingyne : and  so,  just  as  I got  it 
to  my  own  liking,  after  tasting  pretty  often,  for 
the  soldier  was  difficult  to  please,  slap  came  the 
foresail  ag’in  the  mast,  whiz  went  the  ship  round 
on  her  heel,  like  a whirligig.  And  a lucky  thing 
was  it  that  our  helm  was  down ; for  as  she  gathered 
starnway  she  paid  off,  which  was  more  than  every 
ship  in  the  fleet  did,  or  could  do.  But  she 
strained  herself  in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and  she 
shipped  a deal  of  water  over  her  quarter.  I 
never  swallowed  so  much  clear  water  at  a time  in 
my  life,  as  I did  then,  for  I was  looking  up  the 
after-hatch  at  the  instant.” 

“ I wonder,  Benjamin,  that  you  did  not  die 
with  a dropsy ! ” said  Marmaduke. 

“I  mought,  Judge,”  said  the  old  tar,  with  a 
broad  grin ; “ but  there  was  no  need  of  the 
med’cine  chest  for  a cure ; for,  as  I thought  the 
brew  was  spoilt  for  the  marine’s  taste,  and  there 
was  no  telling  when  another  sea  might  come  and 
spoil  it  for  mine,  I finished  the  mug  on  the  spot. 
So  then  all  hands  was  called  to  the  pumps,  and 
there  we  began  to  ply  the  pumps — ” 

“ Well,  but  the  weather  ? ” interrupted  Marma- 
duke ; “ what  of  the  weather  without  doors  ? ” 

“Why,  here  the  wind  has  been  all  day  at  the 
south,  and  now  there’s  a lull,  as  if  the  last  blast 
was  out  of  the  bellows ; and  there’s  a streak  along 
the  mountains,  to  the  north’ard,  that,  just  now, 
wasn’t  wider  than  the  bigness  of  your  hand ; and 
then  the  clouds  drive  afore  it  as  you’d  brail  a 
mainsail,  and  the  stars  are  heaving  in  sight,  like 
so  many  lights  and  beacons,  put  there,  to  warn  us 
to  pile  on  the  wood;  and,  if-so-be  that  I’m  a 
judge  of  weather,  it’s  getting  to  be  time  to  build 
on  a fire ; or  you’ll  have  half  of  them  there  por- 
ter bottles,  and  them  dimmy-johns  of  wine,  in  the 


A WINTER  LANDSCAPE. 


93 


ocker  here,  breaking  with  the  frost  , afore  the 
morning  watch  is  called.  ’ 

“ Thou  art  a prudent  sentinel,”  said  the 
Judge.  “ Act  thy  pleasuie  with  the  forests,  for 
this  night  at  least.” 

Benjamin  did  as  he  was  ordered  t nor  had 
two  hours  elapsed,  before  the  prudence  of  his 
precautions  beoame  very  visible.  The  south 
wind  had,  indeed,  blown  itself  out,  and  it  was 
succeeded  by  the  calmness  that  usually  gave 
warning  of  a serious  change  in  the  weather. 
Long  before  the  family  retired  to  rest,  the  cold 
had  become  cuttingly  severe ; and  when  Mon- 
sieur Le  Quoi  sallied  forth,  under  a bright  moon, 
to  seek  his  own  abode,  he  was  compelled  to  beg 
a blanket,  in  which  he  might  envelop  liis  form, 
in  addition  to  the  numerous  garments  that  his 
sagacity  had  provided  for  the  occasion.  The  di- 
vine and  his  daughter  remained  as  inmates  of 
the  mansion-house  during  the  night,  and  the  ex- 
cess of  last  night’s  merriment  induced  the  gen- 
tlemen to  make  an  early  retreat  to  their  several 
apartments.  Long  before  midnight,  the  whole 
family  were  invisible. 

Elizabeth  and  her  friend  had  not  yet  lost 
their  senses  in  sleep,  when  the  howlings  of  the 
northwest  wind  were  heard  around  the  buildings, 
and  brought  with  them  that  exquisite  sense  of  com- 
fort that  is  ever  excited  under  such  circumstances, 
in  an  apartment  where  the  fire  has  not  yet  ceased 
to  glimmer;  and  curtains,  and  shutters,  and 
feathers,  unite  to  preserve  the  desired  tempera- 
ture. Once,  just  as  her  eyes  had  opened,  appar- 
ently in  the  last  stage  of  drowsiness,  the  roaring 
winds  brought  with  them  a long  and  plaintive 
howl,  that  seemed  too  wild  for  a dog,  and  yet  re- 
sembled the  cries  of  that  faithful  animal,  when 
night  awakens  his  vigilance,  and  gives  sweetness 
and  solemnity  to  his  alarms.  The  form  of  Louisa 
Grant  instinctively  pressed  nearer  to  that  of  the 
young  heiress,  who,  finding  her  companion  was 
yet  awake,  said,  in  a low  tone,  as  if  afraid  to  break 
% charm  with  her  voice : 

“ Those  distant  cries  are  plaintive,  and  even 
beautiful.  Can  they  be  the  hounds  from  the  hut 
of  Leather-stocking  ? ” 

“ They  are  wolves,  who  have  ventured  from 
the  mountain,  on  the  lake,”  whispered  Louisa, 
K and  who  are  only  kept  from  the  village  by  the 
lights.  One  night,  since  we  have  been  here,  hun- 
ger drove  them  to  our  very  door.  Oh,  what  a 
dreadful  night  it  was  ! But  the  riches  of  Judge 
Temple  have  given  him  too  many  safeguards/  to 
leave  room  for  fear  in  this  house.” 

“ The  enterprise  of  Judge  Temple  is  taming 
the  very  forests ! ” exclaimed  Elizabeth,  throwing 


off  the  covering,  and  partly  rising  in  the  bed* 
“ How  rapidly  is  civilization  treading  on  the  foot- 
steps of  Nature ! ” she  continued,  as  her  eye 
glanced  over,  not  only  the  comforts,  but  the  luxu- 
ries of  her  apartment,  and  her  ear  again  listened 
to  the  distant,  but  often-repeated  howls  from  the 
lake.  Finding,  however,  that  the  timidity  of  her 
companion  rendered  the  sounds  painful  to  her, 
Elizabeth  resumed  her  place,  and  soon  forgot  the 
changes  in  the  country,  with  those  in  her  own  con- 
dition, in  a deep  sleep. 

The  following  morning,  the  noise  of  the  female 
servant,  who  entered  the  apartment  to  light  the 
fire,  awoke  the  females.  They  arose,  and  finished 
the  slight  preparations  of  their  toilets  in  a clear, 
cold  atmosphere,  that  penetrated  through  all  the 
defences  of  even  Miss  Temple’s  warm  room. 
When  Elizabeth  was  attired,  she  approached  a 
window  and  drew  its  curtain,  and,  throwing  open 
its  shutters,  she  endeavored  to  look  abroad  on  the 
village  and  the  lake.  But  a thick  covering  of 
frost  on  the  glass,  while  it  admitted  the  light, 
shut  out  the  view.  She  raised  the  sash,  and  then, 
indeed,  a glorious  scene  met  her  delighted  eye. 

The  lake  had  exchanged  its  covering  of  un- 
spotted snow  for  a face  of  dark  ice,  that  reflected 
the  rays  of  the  rising  sun,  like  a polished  mirror. 
The  houses  were  clothed  in  a dress  of  the  same 
description,  but  which,  owing  to  its  position, 
shone  like  bright  steel ; while  the  enormous  icicles, 
that  were  pendent  from  every  roof,  caught  the 
brilliant  light,  apparently  throwing  it  from  one  to 
the  other,  as  each  glittered,  on  the  side  next  the 
luminary,  with  a golden  lustre,  that  melted  away, 
on  its  opposite,  into  the  dusky  shades  of  a back- 
ground. But  it  was  the  appearance  of  the  bound- 
less forests  that  covered  the  hills  as  they  rose,  in 
the  distance,  one  over  the  other,  that  most  at- 
tracted the  gaze  of  Miss  Temple.  The  huge 
branches  of  the  pines  and  hemlocks  bent  with 
the  weight  of  the  ice  they  supported,  while  their 
summits  rose  above  the  swelling  tops  of  the  oaks, 
beeches,  and  maples,  like  spires  of  burnished  sil- 
ver issuing  from  domes  of  the  same  material. 
The  limits  of  the  view,  in  the  west’  were  marked 
by  an  undulating  outline  of  bright  light,  as  if,  re- 
versing the  order  of  Nature,  numberless  suns 
might  momentarily  be  expected  to  heave  above 
the  horizon.  In  the  foreground  of  the  picture, 
along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  and  near  to  the  vil- 
lage, each  tree  seemed  studded  with  diamonds. 
Even  the  sides  of  the  mountains  where  the  rays 
of  the  sun  could  not  yet  fall,  were  decorated  with 
a glassy  coat,  that  presented  every  gradation  of 
brilliancy,  from  the  first  touch  of  the  luminari 
to  the  dark  foliage  of  the  hemlock,  glisteniug 


94 


THE  PIONEERS. 


through  its  ooat  of  crystal.  In  short,  the  whole 
view  was  one  scene  of  quivering  radiancy,  as 
lake,  mountains,  village,  and  woods,  each  emitted 
a portion  of  light,  tinged  with  its  peculiar  hue, 
and  varied  by  its  position  and  its  magnitude. 

“ See ! ” cried  Elizabeth — “ see,  Louisa : has- 
ten to  the  window,  and  observe  the  miraculous 
change ! ’* 

Miss  Grant  complied ; and,  after  bending  for  a 
moment  in  silence,  from  the  opening,  she  ob- 
served, in  a low  tone,  as  if  afraid  to  trust  the 
sound  of  her  voice : 

“ The  change  is  indeed  wonderful ! I am 
surprised  that  he  should  be  able  to  effect  it  so 
soon.” 

Elizabeth  turned  in  amazement,  to  hear  so 
skeptical  a sentiment  from  one  educated  like  her 
companion ; but  was  surprised  to  find  that,  in- 
stead of  looking  at  the  view,  the  mild  blue  eyes 
of  Miss  Grant  were  dwelling  on  the  form  of  a 
well-dressed  young  man,  who  was  standing  be- 
fore the  door  of  the  building,  in  earnest  conver- 
sation with  her  father.  A second  look  was  ne- 
cessary, before  she  was  able  to  recognize  the 
person  of  the  young  hunter,  in  a plain,  but  assur- 
edly the  ordinary,  garb  of  a gentleman. 

“ Every  thing  in  this  magical  country  seems 
to  border  on  the  marvellous,”  said  Elizabeth  ; 
“ and,  among  all  the  changes,  this  is  certainly  not 
the  least  wonderful.  The  actors  are  as  unique  as 
the  scenery.” 

Miss  Grant  colored,  and  drew  in  her  head. 

“I  am  a simple  country  girl,  Miss  Temple, 
and  I am  afraid  you  will  find  me  but  a poor  com- 
panion,” she  said.  “ I — I am  not  sure  that  I 
understand  all  you  say.  But  I really  thought  that 
you  wished  me  to  notice  the  alteration  in  Mr.  Ed- 
wards. Is  it  not  more  wonderful  when  we  recol- 
lect his  origin  ? They  say  he  is  part  Indian.” 

“ He  is  a genteel  savage ; but  let  us  go  down, 
and  give  the  sachem  his  tea ; for  I suppose  he  is 
a descendant  of  King  Philip,  if  not  a grandson 
of  Pocahontas.” 

The  ladies  were  met  in  the  hall  by  Judge  Tem- 
ple, who  took  his  daughter  aside  to  apprise  her 
of  that  alteration  in  the  appearance  of  their  new 
inmate,  with  which  she  was  already  acquainted. 

“ He  appears  reluctant  to  converse  on  his  for- 
mer situation,”  continued  Marmaduke  ; “ but  I 
gathered  from  his  discourse,  as  is  apparent  from 
his  manner,  that  he  has  seen  better  days  ; and  I 
am  really  inclining  to  the  opinion  of  Richard,  as 
to  his  origin  ; for  it  was  no  unusual  thing  for  the 
Indian  agents  to  rear  their  children  in  a laudable 
manner,  and — ” 

“Very  well,  my  dear  sir,”  interrupted  his 


daughter,  laughing  and  averting  her  eyes  ; “ it  is 
all  well  enough,  I dare  say  ; but,  as  I do  not  un- 
derstand a word  of  the  Mohawk  language,  he 
must  be  content  to  speak  English ; and  as  for 
his  behavior,  I trust  to  your  discernment  to  con- 
trol it.” 

“ Ay  ! but,  Bess,”  cried  the  Judge,  detaining 
her  gently  with  his  hand,  “ nothing  must  be  said 
to  him  of  his  past  life.  . This  he  has  begged  par- 
ticularly of  me,  as  a favor.  He  is,  perhaps,  a 
little  SQured,  just  now,  with  his  wounded  arm ; 
the  injury  seems  very  light,  and  another  time  he 
may  be  more  communicative.” 

“ Oh  ! I am  not  much  troubled,  sir,  with  that 
laudable  thirst  after  knowledge  that  is  called 
curiosity.  I shall  believe  him  to  be  the  child  of 
Corn-stalk,  or  Corn-planter,  or  some  other  re- 
nowned chieftain ; possibly  of  the  Big  Snake  him- 
self ; and  shall  treat  him  as  such  until  he  sees  fit 
to  shave  his  good-looking  head,  borrow  some  half- 
dozen  pair  of  my  best  ear-rings,  shoulder  his  rifle 
again,  and  disappear  as  suddenly  as  he  made  his 
entrance.  So  come,  my  dear  sir,  and  let  us  not 
forget  the  rites  of  hospitality,  for  the  short  time 
he  is  to  remain  with  us.” 

Judge  Temple  smiled  at  the  playfulness  of  his 
child,  and  taking  her  arm  they  entered  the  break- 
fast parlor,  where  the  young  hunter  was  seated, 
with  an  air  that  showed  his  determination  to  do- 
mesticate himself  in  the  family  with  as  little  pa- 
rade as  possible. 

Such  were  the  incidents  that  led  to  this  ex- 
traordinary increase  in  the  family  of  Judge  Tem- 
ple, where,  having  once  established  the  youth,  the 
subject  of  our  tale  requires  us  to  leave  him  for  a 
time,  to  pursue  with  diligence  and  intelligence  the 
employments  that  were  assigned  him  by  Marma- 
duke. 

Major  Hartmann  made  his  customary  visit,  and 
took  his  leave  of  the  party  for  the  next  three 
months.  Mr.  Grant  was  compelled  to  be  absent 
much  of  his  time,  in  remote  parts  of  the  country, 
and  his  daughter  became  almost  a constant  visit- 
or at  the  mansion-house.  Richard  entered,  with 
his  constitutional  eagerness,  on  the  duties  of  his 
new  office;  and,  as  Marmaduke  was  much  em- 
ployed with  the  constant  applications  of  adven 
turers  for  farms,  the  winter  passed  swiftly  away 
The  lake  was  a principal  scene  for  the  amusements 
of  the  young  people ; where  the  ladies,  in  their 
one-horse  cutter,  driven  by  R'chard,  and  attended, 
when  the  snow  would  admit  of  it,  by  young  Ed- 
wards, on  his  skates,  spent  many  hours,  taking 
the  benefit  of  exercise  in  the  clear  air  of  the  hills. 
The  reserve  of  the  youth  gradually  gave  way  te 
time  and  his  situation,  though  it  was  still  evident* 


THE  APPROACH  OF  SPRING. 


95 


U>  a close  observer,  that  he  had  frequent  mo- 
ments of  bitter  and  intense  feeling. 

Elizabeth  saw  many  large  openings  appear  in 
the  sides  of  the  mountains  during  the  three  suc- 
ceeding months,  where  different  settlers  had,  in 
the  language  of  the  country,  “ made  their  pitch 
while  the  numberless  sleighs  that  passed  through 
the  village,  loaded  with  wheat  and  barrels  of  pot- 
ashes, afforded  a clear  demonstration  that  all 
these  labors  were  not  undertaken  in  vain.  In 
short,  the  whole  country  was  exhibiting  the  bustle 
of  a thriving  settlement,  where  the  highways  were 
thronged  with  sleighs,  bearing  piles  of  rough 
household  furniture;  studded,  here  and  there, 
with  the  smiling  faces  of  women  and  children, 
happy  in  the  excitement  of  novelty ; or,  with  loads 
of  produce,  hastening  to  the  common  market  at  Al- 
bany, that  served  as  so  many  snares  to  induce  the 
emigrants  to  enter  into  those  wild  mountains  in 
search  of  competence  and  happiness. 

The  village  was  alive  with  business  ; the  arti- 
sans increasing  in  wealth  with  the  prosperity  of 
the  country,  and  each  day  witnessing  some  nearer 
approach  to  the  manners  and  usages  of  an  old-set- 
tled town.  The  man  who  carried  the  mail  or  “ the 
post,”  as  he  was  called,  talked  much  of  running  a 
Btage,  and,  once  or  twice  during  the  winter,  he 
was  seen  taking  a single  passenger,  in  his  cutter, 
through  the  snow-banks,  toward  the  Mohawk, 
along  which  a regular  vehicle  glided,  semi-weekly, 
with  the  velocity  of  lightning,  and  under  the  di- 
rection of  a knowing  whip  from  the  “ down  coun- 
tries.” Toward  spring,  divers  families,  who  had 
been  into  the  “ old  States,”  to  see  their  relatives, 
returned,  in  time  to  save  the  snow,  frequently 
bringing  with  them  whole  neighborhoods,  who  were 
tempted  by  their  representations  to  leave  the 
farms  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  to  make 
a trial  of  fortune  in  the  woods. 

During  all  this  time,  Oliver  Edwards,  whose 
sudden  elevation  excited  no  surprise  in  that 
changeful  country,  was  earnestly  engaged  in  the 
service  of  Marmaduke,  during  the  days  ; but  his 
nights  were  often  spent  in  the  hut  of  Leather- 
stocking. The  intercourse  between  the  three  hun- 
ters was  maintained  with  a certain  air  of  mystery, 
it  is  true,  but  with  much  zeal  and  apparent  inter- 
est to  all  the  parties.  Even  Mohegan  seldom  came 
to  the  mansion-house,  and  Natty,  never ; but  Ed- 
wards sought  every  leisure  moment  to  visit  his 
former  abode,  from  which  he  would  often  return 
in  the  gloomy  hours  of  night,  through  the  snow, 
or,  if  detained  beyond  the  time  at  which  the  fam- 
ily retired  to  rest,  with  the  morning  sun.  These 
visits  certainly  excited  much  speculation  in  those 
to  whom  they  were  known,  but  no  comments 


were  made,  excepting  occasionally,  in  whUpers 
from  Richard,  who  would  say  : 

“ It  is  not  at  all  remarkable  ; a half-breed  can 
never  be  weaned  from  the  savage  ways — and,  for 
one  of  his  lineage,  the  boy  is  much  nearer  civiliza- 
ation  than  could,  in  reason,  be  expected.” 


CHAPTER  XX. 

“ Away ! nor  let  me  loiter  in  my  song, 

For  we  have  many  a mountain-path  to  tread.” 

Byeon. 

As  the  spring  gradually  approached,  the  im- 
mense piles  of  snow  that,  by  alternate  thaws  and 
frosts,  and  repeated  storms,  had  obtained  a firm- 
ness which  threatened  a tiresome  durability,  be- 
gan to  yield  to  the  influence  of  milder  breezes 
and  a warmer  sun.  The  gates  of  heaven  at  times 
seemed  to  open,  and  a bland  air  diffused  itself 
over  the  earth,  when  animate  and  inanimate  Na- 
ture would  awaken,  and,  for  a few  hours,  the 
gayety  of  spring  shone  in  every  eye,  and  smiled  on 
every  field.  But  the  shivering  blasts  from  the 
north  would  carry  their  chill  influence  over  the 
scene  again,  and  the  dark  and  gloomy  clouds  that 
intercepted  the  rays  of  the  sun  were  not  more 
cold  and  dreary  than  the  reaction.  These  strug- 
gles between  the  seasons  became  daily  more  fre- 
quent, while  the  earth,  like  a victim  to  conten- 
tion, slowly  lost  the  animated  brilliancy  of  winter, 
without  obtaining  the  aspect  of  spring. 

Several  weeks  were  consumed  in  this  cheerless 
manner,  during  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try gradually  changed  their  pursuits  from  the 
social  and  bustling  movements  of  the  time  of 
snow,  to  the  laborious  and  domestic  engagements 
of  the  coming  season.  The  village  was  no  longer 
thronged  with  visitors ; the  trade  that  had  enli- 
vened the  shops  for  several  months,  began  to  dis- 
appear ; the  highways  lost  their  shining  coats  of 
beaten  snow  in  impassable  sloughs,  and  were  de- 
serted by  the  gay  and  noisy  travellers  who,  in 
sleighs,  had,  during  the  winter,  glided  along  their 
windings ; and,  in  short,  everything  seemed  in 
dicative  of  a mighty  change,  not  only  in  the  earth 
but  in  those  who  derived  their  sources  of  comfort 
and  happiness  from  its  bosom. 

The  younger  members  of  the  family  in  the 
mansion-house,  of  which  Louisa  Grant  was  non 
habitually  one,  were  by  no  means  indifferent  ob- 
servers of  these  fluctuating  and  tardy  changes. 
While  the  snow  rendered  the  roads  passable,  they 
had  partaken  largely  in  the  amusements  of  the 


96 


THE  PIONEERS. 


winter,  which  included  not  only  daily  rides  over 
the  mountains,  and  through  every  valley  within 
twenty  miles  of  them,  but  divers  ingenious  and 
varied  sources  of  pleasure,  on  the  bosom  of  their 
frozen  lake.  There  had  been  excursions  in  the 
equipage  of  Richard,  when,  with  his  four  horses, 
he  had  outstripped  the  winds,  as  it  flew  over  the 
glassy  ice  which  invariably  succeeded  a thaw. 
Then  the  exciting  and  dangerous  “ whirligig  ” 
would  be  suffered  to  possess  its  moment  of  notice. 
Cutters,  drawn  by  a single  horse,  and  handsleds, 
impelled  by  the  gentlemen,  on  skates,  would  each 
in  turn  be  used ; and,  in  short,  every  source  of 
relief  against  the  tediousness  of  a winter  in  the 
mountains  was  resorted  to  by  the  family.  Eliz- 
abeth was  compelled  to  acknowledge  to  her  father, 
that  the  season,  with  the  aid  of  his  library,  was 
much  less  irksome  than  she  had  anticipated. 

As  exercise  in  the  open  air  was  in  some  de- 
gree necessary  to  the  habits  of  the  family,  when 
the  constant  recurrence  of  frosts  and  thaws  ren- 
dered the  roads,  which  were  dangerous  at  the 
most  favorable  times,  utterly  impassable  for 
wheels,  saddle-horses  were  used  as  substitutes  for 
other  conveyances.  Mounted  on  small  and  sure- 
footed beasts,  the  ladies  would  again  attempt  the 
passages  of  the  mountains,  and  penetrate  ’nto 
every  retired  glen,  where  the  enterprise  of  a set- 
tler had  induced  him  to  establish  himself.  In 
these  excursions  they  were  attended  by  some  one 
or  all  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  family,  as  their  dif- 
■ferent  pursuits  admitted.  Young  Edwards  was 
hourly  becoming  more  familiarized  to  his  situa- 
tion, and  not  unfrequently  mingled  in  the  parties 
with  an  unconcern  and  gayety,  that  for  a short 
time  would  expel  all  unpleasant  recollections  from 
his  mind.  Habit,  and  the  buoyancy  of  youth, 
seemed  to  be  getting  the  ascendency  over  the 
secret  causes  of  his  uneasiness ; though  there 
were  moments,  when  the  same  remarkable  ex- 
pression of  disgust  would  cross  his  intercourse 
with  Harmaduke,  that  had  distinguished  their 
conversations  in  the  first  days  of  their  acquaint- 
ance. 

It  was  at  the  close  of  the  month  of  March, 
that  the  sheriff  succeeded  in  persuading  his  cousin 
and  her  young  friend  to  accompany  him  in  a ride 
to  a hill  that  was  said  to  overhang  the  lake  in  a 
manner  peculiar  to  itself. 

“ Besides,  cousin  Bess,”  continued  the  inde- 
fatigable Richard,  “we  will  stop  and  see  the 
‘ sugar  bush’  of  Billy  Kirby : he  is  on  the  east  end 
of  the  Ransom  lot,  making  sugar  for  Jared 
Ransom.  There  is  not  a better  hand  over  a kettle 
in  the  county  than  that  same  Kirby.  You  re- 
member, ’duke,  that  I had  him  his  first  season, 


in  our  camp ; and  it  is  not  a wonder  that  he  knows 
something  of  his  trade.” 

“He’s  a good  chopper,  is  Billy,”  observed  Ben- 
jamin, who  held  the  bridle  of  the  horse  while  the 
.sheriff  mounted ; “ and  he  handles  an  axe  much 
the  same  as  a forecastle-man  does  his  marling- 
spike,  or  a tailor  his  goose.  They  say  he’ll  lift  a 
potash  kettle  off  the  arch  alone,  tho’  I can’t  say 
that  I’ve  ever  seen  him  do  it  with  my  own  eyes ; 
but  that  is  the  say.  And  I’ve  seen  sugar  of  his 
making,  which,  maybe,  wasn’t  as  white  as  an  old 
top-gallant  sail,  but  which  my  friend  Mistress 
Prettybones,  within  there,  said  had  the  true  mo- 
lasses smack  to  it ; and  you  are  not  the  one,  Squire 
Dickens,  to  be  told  that  Mistress  Remarkable  has 
a remarkable  tooth  for  sweet  things,  in  her  nut- 
grinder.” 

The  loud  laugh  that  succeeded  the  wit  of  Ben- 
jamin, and  in  which  he  participated,  with  no 
very  harmonious  sounds,  himself,  very  fully  il- 
lustrated the  congenial  temper  which  existed  be- 
tween the  pair.  Most  of  its  point  was,  however, 
lost  on  the  rest  ^)f  the  party,  who  were  either 
mounting  their  horses  or  assisting  the  ladies  at 
the  moment.  When  all  were  safely  in  their  sad- 
dles, they  moved  through  the  village  in  great 
order.  They  paused  for  a moment  before  the  door 
of  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  until  he  could  bestride  his 
steed,  and  then,  issuing  from  the  little  cluster  of 
houses,  they,  took  one  of  the  principal  of  those 
highways  that  centred  in  the  village. 

As  each  night  brought  with  it  a severe  frost, 
which  the  heat  of  the  succeeding  day  served  to 
dissipate,  the  equestrians  were  compelled  to  pro- 
ceed singly  along  the  margin  of  the  road,  where 
the  turf,  and  firmness  of  the  ground,  gave  the 
horses  a secure  footing.  Yery  trifling  indications 
of  vegetation  were  to  be  seen,  the  surface  of  the 
earth  presenting  a cold,  wet,  and  cheerless  aspect 
that  chilled  the  blood.  The  snow  yet  lay  scat- 
tered over  most  of  those  distant  clearings  that 
were  visible  in  different  parts  of  the  mountains  ; 
though  here  and  there  an  opening  might  be  seen, 
where  as  the  white  covering  yielded  to  the  season, 
the  bright  and  lively  green  of  the  wheat  served  to 
enkindle  the  hopes  of  the  husbandman.  Nothing 
could  be  more  marked  than  the  contrast  between 
the  earth  and  the  heavens  ; for,  while  the  former 
presented  the  dreary  view  that  we  have  described, 
a warm  and  invigorating  sun  was  dispensing  his 
heats  from  a sky  that  contained  but  a solitary 
cloud,  and  through  an  atmosphere  that  softened 
the  colors  of  the  sensible  horizon  until  it  shone 
like  a sea  of  blue. 

Richard  led  the  way,  on  this,  as  on  all  other 
occasions,  that  did  not  require  the  exercise  of  un- 


MAPLE-SUGAR  MANUFACTURE. 


97 


usual  abilities  ; and,  as  he  moved  along,  he  es- 
sayed to  enliven  the  party  with  the  sounds  of  his 
experienced  voice. 

“ This  is  your  true  sugar  weather,  ’duke,”  he 
cried;  “a  frosty  night  and  a sunshiny  day.  I 
warrant  me  that  the  sap  runs  like  a mill-tail  up 
the  maples  this  warm  morning.  It  is  a pity, 
Judge,  that  you  do  not  introduce  a little  more 
science  into  the  manufactory  of  sugar  among  your 
tenants.  It  might  be  done,  sir,  without  knowing 
as  much  as  Doctor  Franklin — it  might  be  done, 
Judge  Temple.” 

“The  first  object  of  my  solicitude,  friend 
Jones,”  returned  Marraaduke,  “ is  to  protect  the 
sources  of  this  great  mine  of  comfort  and  wealth 
from  the  extravagance  of  the  people  themselves. 
When  this  important  point  shall  be  achieved,  it 
will  be  in  season  to  turn  our  attention  to  an  im- 
provement in  the  manufacture  of  the  article.  But 
thou  knowest,  Richard,  that  I have  already  sub- 
jected our  sugar  to  the  process  of  the  refiner,  and 
that  the  result  has  produced  loaves  as  white  as  the 
snow  on  yon  fields,  and  possessing  the  saccharine 
quality  in  its  utmost  purity.” 

“ Saccharine,  or  turpentine,  or  any  other  ’ine, 
Judge  Temple,  you  have  never  made  a loaf  larger 
than  a good-sized  sugar-plum,”  returned  the  sher- 
iff. “ Now,  sir,  I assert  that  no  experiment  is 
fairly  tried,  until  it  be  reduced  to  practical  pur- 
poses. If,  sir,  I owned  a hundred,  or,  for  that 
matter,  two  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land,  as 
you  do,  I would  build  a sugar-house  in  the  village ; 
I would  invite  learned  men  to  an  investigation  of 
the  subject — and  such  are  easily  to  be  found,  sir; 
yes,  sir,  they  are  not  difficult  to  find — men  who 
unite  theory  with  practice  ; and  I would  select  a 
wood  of  young  and  thrifty  trees ; and,  instead  of 
making  loaves  of  the  size  of  a lump  of  candy, 
dam’me,  ’duke,  but  I’d  have  them  as  big  as  a hay- 
cock.” 

“ And  purchase  the  cargo  of  one  of  those  ships 
that  they  say  are  going  to  China,”  cried  Elizabeth ; 
“ turn  your  potash-kettles  into  teacups,  the  sce'.vs 
on  the  lake  into  saucers ; bake  your  cake  ir  yon- 
der lime-kiln,  and  invite  the  county  to  a tea-party. 
How  wonderful  are  the  projects  of  genius  ! Real- 
ly, sir,  the  world  is  of  opinion  that  Judge  Temple 
has  tried  the  experiment  fairly,  though  he  did  not 
cause  his  loaves  to  be  cast  in  moulds  of  the  mag- 
nitude that  would  suit  your  magnificent  concep- 
tions.” 

“ You  may  laugh,  cousin  Elizabeth — you  may 
laugh,  madam,”  retorted  Richard,  turning  him- 
eelf  so  much  in  his  saddle  as  to  face  the  party, 
and  making  dignified  gestures  with  his  whip ; 
“ but  I appeal  to  common  sense,  good  sense,  or 
46  7 


what  is  of  more  importance  than  either,  to  the 
sense  of  taste,  which  is  one  of  the  five  natural 
senses,  whether  a big  loaf  of  sugar  is  not  likely 
to  contain  a better  illustration  of  a proposition 
than  such  a lump  as  one  of  your  Dutch  women 
puts  under  her  tongue  when  she  drinks  her  tea. 
There  are  two  ways  of  doing  every  thing ; the  right 
way,  and  the  wrong  way.  You  make  sugar  now, 
I will  admit,  and  you  may,  possibly,  make  loaf 
sugar ; but  I take  the  question  to  be,  whether  you 
make  the  best  possible  sugar,  and  in  the  best 
possible  loaves.” 

“ Thou  art  very  right,  Richard,”  observed  Mar- 
maduke,  with  a gravity  in  his  air  that  proved  how 
much  he  was  interested  in  the  subject.  “ It  is 
very  true  that  we  manufacture  sugar,  and  the 
inquiry  is  quite  useful,  how  much  ? and  in  what 
manner  ? I hope  to  live  to  see  the  day,  when 
farms  and  plantations  shall  be  devoted  to  this 
branch  of  business.  Little  is  known  concerning 
the  properties  of  the  tree  itself,  the  source  of  all 
this  wealth ; how  much  it  may  be  improved  by 
cultivation,  by  the  use  of  the  hoe  and  plough.” 

“Hoe  and  plough!”  roared  the  sheriff; 
“ would  you  set  a man  hoeing  round  the  root  of 
a maple  like  this  ? — pointing  to  one  of  the  noble 
trees  that  occur  so  frequently  in  that  part  of  the 
country. — “Hoeing  trees!  are  you  mad,  ’duke? 
This  is  next  to  hunting  for  coal ! Poh ! poh ! 
my  dear  cousin,  hear  reason,  and  leave  the  man- 
agement of  the  sugar-bush  to  me.  Here  is  Mr. 
Le  Quoi — he  has  been  in  the  West  Indies,  and  has 
seen  sugar  made.  Let  him  give  an  account  of 
how  it  is  made  there,  and  you  will  hear  the  phi- 
losophy of  the  thing. — Well,  monsieur,  how  is  it 
that  you  make  sugar  in  the  West  Indies  ; any 
thing  in  Judge  Temple’s  fashion  ? ” 

The  gentleman  to  whom  this  query  was  put 
was  mounted  on  a small  horse,  of  no  very  fiery 
temperament,  and  was  riding  with  his  stirrups  so 
short  as  to  bring  his  knees,  while  the  animal  rose 
a small  ascent  in  the  wood-path  they  were  now 
travelling,  into  a somewhat  hazardous  vicinity  to 
his  chin.  There  was  no  room  for  gesticulation  or 
grace  in  the  delivery  of  his  reply,  for  the  moun- 
tain was  steep  and  slippery ; and,  although  the 
Frenchman  had  an  eye  of  uncommon  magnitude 
on  either  side  of  his  face,  they  did  not  seem  to  be 
half  competent  to  forewarn  him  of  the  impedi- 
ments of  bushes,  twigs,  and  fallen  trees,  that  were 
momentarily  crossing  his  path.  With  one  hand 
employed  in  averting  these  dangers,  and  the  other 
grasping  his  bridle,  to  check  an  untoward  speed 
that  his  horse  was  assuming,  the  native  of  France 
responded  as  follows : 

“ Sucre ! dey  do  make  sucre  in  Martinique : 


98 


THE  PIONEERS. 


mais — mais  ce  n’est  pas  one  tree — ah — ah — vat 
you  call — je  voudrois  que  ces  chemins  fussent  au 
diable — vat  you  call — steeck  pour  le  promenade.” 

“ Cane,”  said  Elizabeth,  smiling  at  the  impre- 
cation which  the  wary  Frenchman  supposed  was 
understood  only  by  himself. 

“ Oui,  mam’selle,  cane.” 

“ Yes,  yes,”  cried  Richard,  “ cane  is  the  vul- 
gar name  for  it,  but  the  real  term  is  saccharum 
officinarum ; and  what  we  call  the  sugar,  or  hard 
maple,  is  acer  saccharinum.  These  are  the  learned 
names,  monsieur,  and  are  such  as,  doubtless,  you 
well  understand.” 

“ Is  this  Greek  or  Latin,  Mr.  Edwards  ? ” 
whispered  Elizabeth  to  the  youth,  who  was  open- 
ing a passage  for  herself  and  her  companions 
through  the  bushes — “ or  perhaps  it  is  a still  more 
learned  language,  for  an  interpretation  of  which 
we  must  look  to  you.” 

The  dark  eye  of  the  young  man  glanced  toward 
the  speaker,  but  its  resentful  expression  changed 
in  a moment. 

“ I shall  remember  your  doubts,  Miss  Temple, 
when  next  I visit  my  old  friend  Mohegan,  and 
either  his  skill,  or  that  of  Leather-stocking,  shall 
solve  them.” 

“ And  are  you,  then  really  ignorant  of  their 
language  ? ” 

“Not  absolutely;  but  the  deep  learning  of 
Mr.  Jones  is  more  familiar  to  me,  or  even  the 
polite  masquerade  of  Monsieur  Le  Quoi.” 

“ Do  you  speak  French  ? ” said  the  lady,  with 
quickness. 

“ It  is  a common  language  with  the  Iroquois, 
and  through  the  Canadas,”  he  answered,  smiling. 

“Ah!  but  they  are  Mingoes,  and  your  ene- 
mies.” 

“ It  will  be  well  for  me  if  I have  no  worse,” 
said  the  youth,  dashing  ahead  with  his  horse, 
and  putting  an  end  to  the  evasive  dialogue. 

The  discourse,  however,  was  maintained  with 
great  vigor  by  Richard,  until  they  reached  an 
open  wood  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  where 
the  hemlocks  and  pines  totally  disappeared,  and 
a grove  of  the  very  trees  that  formed  the  subject 
of  debate  covered  the  earth  with  their  tall,  straight 
trunks  and  spreading  branches,  in  stately  pride. 
The  underwood  had  been  entirely  removed  from 
this  grove,  or  bush,  as,  in  conjunction  with  the 
simple  arrangements  for  boiling,  it  was  called,  and 
a wide  space  of  many  acres  was  cleared,  which 
might  be  likened  to  the  dome  of  a mighty  temple, 
to  which  the  maples  formed  the  columns,  their 
tops  composing  the  capitals,  and  the  heavens  the 
arch.  A deep  and  careless  incision  had  been 
maae  into  each  tree,  near  its  root,  into  which  lit- 


tle sprouts,  formed  of  the  bark  of  the  alder,  oi 
of  the  sumach,  were  fastened ; and  a trough, 
roughly  dug  out  of  the  linden,  or  basswood,  was 
lying  at  the  root  of  each  tree,  to  catch  the  sap 
that  flowed  from  this  extremely  wasteful  and  in- 
artificial arrangement. 

The  party  paused  a moment,  on  gaining  the 
flat,  to  breathe  their  horses,  and,  as  the  scene 
was  entirely  new  to  several  of  their  number,  to 
view  the  manner  of  collecting  the  fluid.  A fine, 
powerful  voice  aroused  them  from  their  momen- 
tary silence,  as  it  rang  under*  the  branches  of  the 
trees,  singing  the  following  words  of  that  inimi- 
table doggerel,  whose  verses,  if  extended,  would 
reach  from  the  waters  cf  the  Connecticut  to  the 
shores  of  Ontario.  The  tune  was,  of  course, 
that  familiar  air  which,  although  it  is  said  to 
have  been  first  applied  to  his  nation  in  derision, 
circumstances  have  since  rendered  so  glorious 
that  no  American  ever  hears  its  jingling  cadence 
without  feeling  a thrill  at  his  heart. 

“ The  Eastern  States  be  full  of  men, 

The  Western  full  of  woods,  sir, 

The  hills  be  like  a cattle-pen, 

The  roads  be  full  of  goods,  sir ! 

Then  flow  away,  my  sweety  sap, 

And  I will  make  you  boily ; 

Nor  catch  a woodman’s  hasty  nap. 

For  fear  you  should  get  roily. 

“The  maple-tree’s  a precious  one, 

’Tis  fuel,  food,  and  timber ; 

And  when  your  stiff  day’s  work  is  done. 

It’s  juice  will  make  you  limber. 

Then  flow  away,  etc. 

“ And  what’s  a man  without  his  glass, 

His  wife  without  her  tea,  sir  ? 

But  neither  cup  nor  mug  will  pass, 

Without  this  honey-bee,  sir  1 
Then  flow  away,”  etc. 

During  the  execution  of  this  sonorous  dogger- 
el, Richard  kept  time  with  his  whip  on  the  mane 
of  his  charger,  accompanying  the  gestures  with  a 
corresponding  movement  of  his  head  and  body. 
Toward  the  close  of  the  song,  he  was  overheard 
humming  the  chorus,  and,  at  its  last  repetition,  tc 
strike  in  at  “ sweety  sap,”  and  carry  a second 
through,  with  a prodigious  addition  to  the  “ef- 
fect ” of  the  noise,  if  not  to  that  of  the  harmony. 

“Well  done  us!”  roared  the  sheriff,  on  the 
same  key  with  the  tune ; “a  very  good  song, 
Billy  Kirby,  and  very  well  sung.  Where  got  you 
the  words,  lad  ? is  there  more  of  it,  and  can  you 
furnish  me  with  a copy  ? ” 

The  sugar-boiler,  who  was  busy  in  his  “ camp,” 
at  a short  distance  from  the  equestrians,  turned 
his  head  with  great  indifference,  and  surveyed  the 
party,  as  they  approached,  with  admirable  cool- 
ness. To  each  individual,  as  he  or  she  rode  close 


BILLY  KIRBY  AND  THE  FRENCHMAN. 


92 


by  him,  he  gave  a nod  that  was  extremely  good- 
natured  and  affable,  but  which  partook  largely 
of  the  virtue  of  equality,  for  not  even  to  the  la- 
dies did  he  in  the  least  vary  his  mode  of  saluta- 
tion, by  touching  the  apology  for  a hat  that  he 
wore,  or  by  any  other  motion  than  the  one  we 
have  mentioned. 

“How  goes  it,  how  goes  it,  sheriff?”  said 
the  wood-chopper  ; “ what’s  the  good  word  in  the 
village  ? ” 

“ Why,  much  as  usual,  Billy,”  returned  Rich- 
ard. “ But  how  is  this  ? where  are  your  four 
kettles,  and  your  troughs,  and  your  iron  coolers  ? 
Do  you  make  sugar  in  this  slovenly  way  ? I 
thought  you  were  one  of  the  best  sugar-boilers  in 
the  county.” 

“ I’m  all  that,  Squire  Jones,”  said  Kirby,  who 
continued  his  occupation ; “ I’ll  turn  my  back  to 
no  man  in  the  Otsego  hills,  for  chopping  and  log- 
ging, for  boiling  down  the  maple  sap,  for  tending 
brick-kiln,  splitting  out  rails,  making  potash,  and 
parling  too,  or  hoeing  corn ; though  I keep  my- 
self pretty  much  to  the  first  business,  seeing  that 
the  axe  comes  most  natural  to  me.” 

“ You  be  von  Jack  All-trade,  Mister  Beel,” 
said  Monsieur  Le  Quoi. 

“ How  ? ” said  Kirby,  looking  up,  with  a sim- 
plicity which,  coupled  with  his  gigantic  frame 
and  manly  face,  was  a little  ridiculous,  “ if  you 
be  for  trade,  mounshere,  here  is  some  as  good 
sugar  as  you’ll  find  the  season  through.  It’s  as 
clear  from  dirt  as  the  Jarman  Flats  is  free  from 
stumps,  and  it  has  the  raal  maple  flavor.  Such 
stuff  would  sell  in  York  for  candy.” 

The  Frenchman  approached  the  place  where 
Kirby  had  deposited  his  cakes  of  sugar,  under 
the  cover  of  a bark  roof,  and  commenced  the 
examination  of  the  article,  with  the  eye  of  one 
who  well  understood  its  value.  Marmaduke  had 
dismounted,  and  was  viewing  the  works  and  the 
trees  very  closely,  and  not  without  frequent  ex- 
pressions of  dissatisfaction  at  the  careless  man- 
ner in  which  the  manufacture  was  conducted. 

“You  have  much  experience  in  these  things, 
Kirby,”  he  said ; “ what  course  do  you  pursue  in 
making  your  sugar?  I see  you  have  but  two 
kettles.” 

“ Two  is  as  good  as  two  thousand,  Judge. 
I’m  none  of  your  polite  sugar-makers,  that  boils 
for  the  great  folks  ; but  if  the  raal  sweet  maple 
is  wanted,  I can  answer  your  turn.  First,  I 
choose,  and  then  I tap  my  trees  ; say  along  about 
the  last  of  February,  or  in  these  mountains  may 
be  not  a£pre  the  middle  of  March ; but  any  way, 
just  as  the  sap  begins  to  cleverly  run — ” 

“Well,  in  this  choice,”  interrupted  Marma- 


duke, “ are  you  governed  by  any  outward  signs 
that  prove  the  quality  of  the  tree  ? ” 

“ Why,  there’s  judgment  in  all  things,”  said 
Kirby,  stirring  the  liquor  in  his  kettles  briskly. 
“ There’s  something  in  knowing  when  and  how 
much  to  stir  the  pot.  It’s  a thing  that  must  be 
larnt.  Rome  wasn’t  built  in  a day,  nor  for  that 
matter  Templetown  either,  though  it  may  be  said 
to  be  a quick-growing  place.  I never  put  my  axe 
into  a stunty  tree,  or  one  that  hasn’t  a good,  fresh- 
looking bark ; for  trees  have  disorders,  like  crea- 
ters  ; and  where’s  the  policy  of  taking  a tree 
that’s  sickly,  any  more  than  you’d  choose  a foun- 
dered horse  to  ride  post,  or  an  over-heated  ox  to 
do  your  logging.” 

“ All  that  is  true.  But  what  are  the  signs  of 
illness?  how  do  you  distinguish  a tree  that  is 
well  from  one  that  is  diseased  ? ” 

“ How  does  the  doctor  tell  who  has  fever,  and 
who  colds?”  interrupted  Richard.  “By  examin- 
ing the  skin,  and  feeling  the  pulse,  to  be  sure.” 

“ Sartain,”  continued  Billy ; “ the  squire  an’t 
far  out  of  the  way.  It’s  by  the  look  of  the  thing, 
sure  enough. — Well,  when  the  sap  begins  to  get 
a free  run,  I hang  over  the  kettles,  and  set  up 
the  bush.  My  first  boiling  I push  pretty  smartly, 
till  I get  the  virtue  of  the  sap  ; but  when  it  be- 
gins to  grow  of  a molasses  nater,  likes  this  in  the 
kettle,  one  mustn’t  drive  the  fires  too  hard,  or 
you’ll  burn  the  sugar ; and  burny  sugar  is  bad  to 
the  taste,  let  it  be  never  so  sweet.  So  you  ladle 
out  from  one  kettle  into  the  other  till  it  gets  so, 
when  you  put  the  stirring  stick  into  it,  that  it  will 
draw  into  a thread — when  it  takes  a kerful  hand 
to  manage  it. — There  is  a way  to  drain  it  off,  af- 
ter it  has  grained,  by  putting  clay  into  the  pan3  ; 
but  it  isn’t  always  practised  : some  doos  and  some 
doosn’t.  Well,  mounsher,  be  we  likely  to  make 
a trade  ? ” 

“ I will  give  you,  Mister  Beel,  for  von  pound, 
dix  sous.” 

“ No,  I expect  cash  for’t : I never  dicker  my 
sugar. — But,  seeing  that  it’s  you,  mounsher,”  said 
Billy,  with  a coaxing  smile,  “ I’ll  agree  to  receive 
a gallon  of  rum,  and  cloth  enough  for  two  shirts, 
if  you  will  take  the  molasses  in  the  bargain.  It’s 
raal  good.  I wouldn’t  deceive  you  or  any  man  ; 
and  to  my  drinking  it’s  about  the  best  molasses 
that  come  out  of  a sugar-bush.” 

“ Mr.  Le  Quoi  has  offered  you  ten  pence,”  said 
young  Edwards. 

The  manufacturer  stared  at  the  speaker  with 
an  air  of  great  freedom,  but  made  no  reply. 

“ Oui,”  said  the  Frenchman,  “ ten  penny.  Je 
vous  remercie,  monsieur : ah ! mon  Anglois ! j« 
l’oublie  toujours.” 


100 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  wood-chopper  looked  from  one  to  the  other 
with  some  displeasure ; and  evidently  imbibed 
the  opinion  that  they  were  amusing  themselves 
at  his  expense.  He  seized  the  enormous  ladle, 
which  was  lying  in  one  of  his  kettles,  and  began 
to  stir  the  boiling  liquid  with  great  diligence. 
After  a moment  passed  in  dipping  the  ladle  full, 
and  then  raising  it  on  high,  as  the  thick  rich  fluid 
fell  back  into  the  kettle,  he  suddenly  gave  it  a 
whirl,  as  if  to  cool  what  yet  remained,  and  of- 
fered the  bowl  to  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  saying : 

“ Taste  that,  mounsher,  and  you  will  say  it  is 
worth  more  than  you  offer.  The  molasses  itself 
would  fetch  the  money.” 

The  complaisant  Frenchman,  after  several 
timid  efforts  to  trust  his  lips  in  contact  with  the 
bowl  of  the  ladle,  got  a good  swallow  of  the 
scalding  liquid.  He  clapped  his  hands  on  his 
breast,  and  looked  most  piteously  at  the  ladies, 
for  a single  instant ; and  then,  to  use  the  lan- 
guage of  Billy,  when  he  afterward  recounted  the 
tale,  “ no  drumsticks  ever  went  faster  on  the  skin 
of  a sheep,  than  the  frenchman’s  legs,  for  a 
round  or  two : and  then  such  swearing  and  spit- 
ting in  French  you  never  saw.  But  it’s  a know- 
ing one,  from  the  old  countries,  that  thinks  to  get 
his  jokes  smoothly  over  a wood-chopper.” 

The  air  of  innocence  with  which  Kirby  re- 
sumed the  occupation  of  stirring  the  contents  of 
his  kettles  would  have  completely  deceived  the 
spectators  as  to  his  agency  in  the  temporary  suf- 
fering of  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  had  not  the  reckless  fellow 
thrust  his  tongue  into  his  cheek,  and  cast  his  eyes 
over  the  party,  with  a simplicity  of  expression 
that  was  too  exquisite  to  be  natural.  Mr.  Le 
Quoi  soon  recovered  his  presence  of  mind,  and 
his  decorum  ; he  briefly  apologized  to  the  ladies 
for  one  or  two  very  intemperate  expressions  that 
had  escaped  him  in  a moment  of  extraordinary 
excitement,  and,  remounting  his  horse,  he  con- 
tinued in  the  background  during  the  remainder 
of  the  visit,  the  wit  of  Kirby  putting  a violent  ter- 
mination, at  once,  to  all  negotiations  on  the  sub- 
ject of  trade.  During  all  this  time,  Marmaduke 
had  been  wandering  about  the  grove,  making  ob- 
servations on  his  favorite  trees,  and  the  wasteful 
manner  in  which  the  wood-chopper  conducted 
his  manufacture. 

“ It  grieves  me  to  witness  the  extravagance 
that  pervades  this  country,”  said  the  Judge, 

“ where  the  settlers  trifle  with  the  blessings  they 
might  enjoy,  with  the  prodigality  of  successful 
adventurers.  You  are  not  exempt  from  the  cen- 
sure yourself,  Kirby,  for  you  make  dreadful 
wounds  in  these  trees  where  a small  incision 
would  effect  the  same  object.  I earnestly  beg 


you  will  remember  that  they  are  the  growth  of 
centuries,  and,  when  once  gone,  none  living  will 
see  their  loss  remedied.” 

“ Why,  I don’t  know,  Judge,”  returned  the 
man  he  addressed  : “ it  seems  to  me,  if  there’s  a 
plenty  of  any  thing  in  this  mountayuious  country, 
it’s  the  trees.  If  there’s  any  sin  in  chopping 
them,  I’ve  a pretty  heavy  account  to  settle ; for 
I’ve  chopped  over  the  best  half  of  a thousand 
acres,  with  my  own  hands,  counting  both  Var- 
mount  and  York  States ; and  I hope  to  live  to 
finish  the  whull,  before  I lay  up  my  axe.  Chop- 
ping comes  quite  natural  to  me,  and  I wish  no 
other  employment ; but  Jared  Ranson  said  that 
he  thought  the  sugar  was  likely  to  be  source  this 
season,  seeing  that  so  many  folks  was  coming  in- 
to the  settlement,  and  so  I concluded  to  take  the 
‘ bush  ’ on  sheares,  for  this  one  spring.  What’s 
the  best  news,  Judge,  consarning  ashes  ? do  pots 
hold  so  that  a man  can  live  by  them  still  ? I s’pose 
they  will,  if  they  keep  on  fighting  across  the  wa- 
ter.” 

“ Thou  reasonest  with  judgment,  William.” 
returned  Marmaduke.  “ So  long  as  the  old  world 
is  to  be  convulsed  with  wars,  so  long  will  the  har- 
vest of  America  continue.” 

“Well, it’s  an  ill  wind,  Judge,  that  blows  no- 
body any  good.  I’m  sure  the  country  is  in  a 
thriving  way ; and,  though  I know  you  calkilate 
greatly  on  the  trees,  setting  as  much  store  by  them 
as  some  men  would  by  their  children,  yet  to  my 
eyes  they  are  a sore  sight  at  any  time,  unless  I’m 
privileged  to  work  my  will  on  them;  in  which 
case  I can’t  say  but  they  are  more  to  my  liking. 

I have  heard  the  settlers  from  the  old  countries 
say^that  their  rich  men  keep  great  oaks  and  elms, 
that  would  make  a barrel  of  pots  to  the  tree,  stand- 
ing round  their  doors  and  humsteads,  and  scat- 
tered over  their  farms,  just  to  look  at.  Now,  I 
call  no  country  much  improved,  that  is  pretty  well 
covered  with  trees.  Stumps  are  a different  thing, 
for  they  don’t  shade  the  land  ; and,  besides,  if  you 
dig  them,  they  make  a fence  that  will  turn  any 
thing  bigger  than  a hog,  being  grand  for  breachy 
cattle.” 

“ Opinions  on  such  subjects  vary  much  in  dif- 
ferent countries,”  said  Marmaduke ; “ but  it  is 
not  as  ornaments  that  I value  the  noble  trees  of 
this  country;  it  is  for  their  usefulness.  We  are 
stripping  the  forests,  as  if  a single  year  would  re- 
place what  we  destroy.  But  the  hour  approaches 
when  the  laws  will  take  notice  of  not  only  the 
woods,  but  the  game  they  contain  also.” 

With  this  consoling  reflection,  Marmaduke  re- 
mounted, and  the  equestrians  passed  tfle  sugar- 
camp,  on  their  way  to  the  promised  landscap  e of 


A RIDE  AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS. 


101 


Richard.  The  wood-chopper  was  left  alone,  in 
the  bosom  of  the  forest,  to  pursue  his  labors. 
Elizabeth  turned  her  head,  when  they  reached  the 
point  where  they  were  to  descend  the  mountain, 
and  thought  that  the  slow  fires  that  were  glim- 
mering under  his  enormous  kettles,  his  little  brush 
shelter,  covered  with  pieces  of  hemlock  bark,  his 
gigantic  size,  as  he  wielded  his  ladle  with  a steady 
and  knowing  air,  aided  by  the  background  of 
stately  trees,  with  their  spouts  and  troughs, 
formed,  altogether,  no  unreal  picture  of  human 
life  in  its  first  stages  of  civilization.  Perhaps  what- 
ever the  scene  possessed  of  a romantic  charac- 
ter was  not  injured  by  the  powerful  tones  of  Kir- 
by’s voice  ringing  through  the  woods,  as  he  again 
awoke  his  strains  to  another  tune,  which  was  but 
little  more  scientific  than  the  former.  All  that 
she  understood  of  the  words  were : 

“ And  when  the  proud  forest  is  falling, 

To  my  oxen  cheerfully  calling, 

From  morn  until  night  I am  bawling, 

Woe,  back  there,  and  hoy  and  gee ; 

Till  our  labor  is  mutually  ended, 

By  my  strength  and  cattle  befriended. 

And  against  the  musquitoes  defended, 

By  the  bark  of  the  walnut-tree. 

“ Away ! then,  you  lads  who  would  buy  land, 
Choose  the  oak  that  grows  on  the  high  land, 

Or  the  silvery  pine  on  the  dry  land. 

It  matters  but  little  to  me.” 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

w Speed ! Malise,  speed ! such  cause  of  haste 
Thine  active  sinews  never  braced.” 

Scott. 

The  roads  of  Otsego,  if  we  except  the  princi- 
pal highways,  were,  at  the  early  day  of  our  tale, 
but  little  better  than  wood-paths.  The  high  trees 
that  were  growing  on  the  very  verge  of  the  wheel- 
tracks  excluded  the  sun’s  rays,  unless  at  merid- 
ian ; and  the  slowness  of  the  evaporation,  united 
with  the  rich  mould  of  vegetable  decomposition 
that  covered  the  whole  country  to  the  depth  of 
several  inches,  occasioned  but  an  indifferent  foun- 
dation for  the  footing  of  travellers.  Added  to 
these  were  the  inequalities  of  a natural  surface, 
and  the  constant  recurrence  of  enormous  and 
slippery  roots  that  were  laid  bare  by  the  removal 
of  the  light  soil,  together  with  stumps  of  trees, 
to  make  a passage  not  only  difficult  but  danger- 
ous. Yet  the  riders,  among  these  numerous  ob- 
structions, which  were  such  as  would  terrify  an 
unpractised  eye,  gave  no  demonstrations  of  un- 


easiness, as  their  horses  toiled  through  the 
sloughs,  or  trotted  with  uncertain  paces  along 
the  dark  route.  In  many  places,  the  marks  on 
the  trees  were  the  only  indications  of  a road, 
with  perhaps  an  occasional  remnant  of  a pine, 
that,  by  being  cut  close  to  the  earth,  so  as  to 
leave  nothing  visible  but  its  base  of  roots,  spread- 
ing for  twenty  feet  in  every  direction,  was  appar- 
ently placed  there  as  a beacon  to  warn  the  trav- 
eller that  it  was  the  centre  of  a highway. 

Into  one  of  these  roads  the  active  sheriff  led 
the  way,  first  striking  out  of  the  foot-path,  by 
which  they  had  descended  from  the  sugar-bush, 
across  a little  bridge,  formed  of  round  logs  laid 
loosely  on  sleepers  of  pine,  in  which  large  open- 
ings of  a formidable  width  were  frequent.  The 
nag  of  Richard,  when  it  reached  one  of  these 
gaps,  laid  its  nose  along  the  logs,  and  stepped 
across  the  difficult  passage  with  the  sagacity  of  a 
man ; but  the  blooded  filly  which  Miss  Temple 
rode  disdained  so  humble  a movement.  She 
made  a step  or  two  with  an  unusual  caution,  and 
then  on  reaching  the  broadest  opening,  obedient 
to  the  curb  and  whip  of  her  fearless  mistress,  she 
bounded  across  the  dangerous  pass  with  the  ac- 
tivity of  a squirrel. 

“ Gently,  gently,  my  child,”  said  Marmaduke, 
who  was  following  in  the  manner  of  Richard, 
“ this  is  not  a country  for  equestrian  feats.  Much 
prudence  is  requisite  to  journey  through  our 
rough  paths  with  safety.  Thou  mayst  practise 
thy  skill  in  horsemanship  on  the  plains  of  New 
Jersey  with  safety ; but  in  the  hills  of  Otsego  they 
may  be  suspended  for  a time.” 

“ I may  as  well  then  relinquish  my  saddle  at 
once,  dear  sir,”  returned  his  daughter ; “ for  if  it 
is  to  be  laid  aside  until  this  wild  country  be  im- 
proved, old  age  will  overtake  me,  and  put  an  end 
to  what  you  term  my  equestrian  feats.” 

“ Say  not  so,  my  child,”  returned  her  father ; 
“ but  if  thou  venturest  again,  as  in  crossing  this 
bridge,  old  age  will  never  overtake  thee,  but  I 
shall  be  left  to  mourn  thee,  cut  off  in  thy  pride, 
my  Elizabeth.  If  thou  hadst  seen  this  district 
of  country,  as  I did,  when  it  lay  in  the  sleep  of 
nature,  and  had  witnessed  its  rapid  changes,  as  it 
awoke  to  supply  the  wants  of  man,  thou  wouldst 
curb  thy  impatience  for  a little  time,  though  thou 
shouldst  not  check  thy  steed.” 

“ I recollect  hearing  you  speak  of  your  first 
visit  to  these  woods,  but  the  impression  is  faint, 
and  blended  with  the  confused  images  of  child- 
hood. Wild  and  unsettled  as  it  may  yet  seem,  it 
must  have  been  a thousand  times  more  dreary 
then.  Will  you  repeat,  dear  sir,  what  you  then 
thought  of  your  enterprise,  and  what  vou  felt  ? ” 


102 


THE  PIONEERS. 


During  this  speech  of  Elizabeth,  which  was 
uttered  with  the  fervor  of  affection,  young  Ed- 
wards rode  more  closely  to  the  side  of  the  Judge, 
and  bent  his  dark  eyes  on  his  countenance  with 
an  expression  that  seemed  to  read  his  thoughts. 

“ Thou  wast  then  young,  my  child,  but  must 
remember  when  I left  thee  and  thy  mother,  to 
take  my  first  survey  of  these  uninhabited  moun- 
tains,” said  Marmaduke.  “But  thou  dost  not 
feel  all  the  secret  motives  that  can  urge  a man  to 
endure  privations  in  order  to  accumulate  wealth. 
In  my  case  they  have  not  been  trifling,  and  God 
has  been  pleased  to  smile  on  my  efforts.  If  I 
have  encountered  pain,  famine,  and  disease,  in 
accomplishing  the  settlement  of  this  rough  terri- 
tory, I have  not  the  misery  of  failure  to  add  to 
the  grievances.” 

“ Famine ! ” echoed  Elizabeth  ; “ I thought 
this  was  the  land  of  abundance ! had  you  famine 
to  contend  with  ? ” 

“ Even  so,  my  child,”  said  her  father.  “ Those 
who*  look  around  them  now,  and  see  the  loads  of 
produce  that  issue  out  of  every  wild  path  in  these 
mountains,  during  the  season  of  travelling,  will 
hardly  credit  that  no  more  than  five  years  have 
elapsed,  since  the  tenants  of  these  woods  were 
compelled  to  eat  the  scanty  fruits  of  the  forest 
to  sustain  life,  and,  with  their  unpractised  skill, 
to  hunt  the  beasts  as  food  for  their  starving  fami- 
lies.” 

“ Ay ! ” cried  Richard,  who  happened  to 
overhear  the  last  of  this  speech,  between  the 
notes  of  the  wood-chopper’s  song,  which  he  was 
endeavoring  to  breathe  aloud;  “that  was  the 
starving  time,*  cousin  Bess.  I grew  as  lank  as 
a weasel  that  fall,  and  my  face  was  as  pale  as  one 
of  your  fever-and-ague  visages.  Monsieur  Le 
Quoi,  there,  fell  away  like  a pumpkin  in  drying ; 
nor  do  I think  you  have  got  fairly  over  it  yet, 
monsieur.  Benjamin,  I thought,  bore  it  with  a 
worse  grace  than  any  of  the  family  ; for  he  swore 
it  was  harder  to  endure  than  a short  allowance 
in  the  calm  latitudes.  Benjamin  is  a sad  fellow 

* The  author  has  no  better  apology  for  interrupting  the 
Interest  of  a work  of  fiction  by  these  desultory  dialogues, 
than  that  they  have  reference  to  facts.  In  reviewing  his 
work,  after  so  many  years,  he  is  compelled  to  confess  it  is 
injured  by  too  many  illusions  to  incidents  that  are  not  at 
all  suited  to  satisfy  the  just  expectations  of  the  general 
reader.  One  of  these  events  is  slightly  touched  on,  in  the 
commencement  of  this  chapter. 

More  than  thirty  years  since,  a very  near  and  dear  rela- 
tive of  the  writer,  an  elder  sister  and  a second  mother,  was 
killed  by  a fall  from  a horse,  in  a ride  among  the  very 
mountains  mentioned  in  this  tale.  Few  of  her  sex  and 
years  were  more  extensively  known,  or  more  universally 
beloved,  than  the  admirable  woman  who  thu3  fell  a victim 
to  the  chances  of  the  wilderness. 


to  swear,  if  you  starve  him  ever  so  little.  1 had 
half  a mind  to  quit  you  then,  ’duke,  and  to  go 
into  Pennsylvania  to  fatten ; but,  damn  it,  thinks 
I,  we  are  sister’s  children,  and  I will  live  or  die 
with  him,  after  all.” 

“ I do  not  forget  thy  kindness,”  said  Maima- 
duke,  “ nor  that  we  are  of  one  blood.” 

“ But,  my  dear  father,”  cried  the  wondering 
Elizabeth,  “ was  there  actual  suffering  ? where 
were  the  beautiful  and  fertile  vales  of  the  Mo- 
hawk ? could  they  not  furnish  food  for  your 
wants  ? ” 

“ It  was  a season  of  scarcity ; the  necessities 
of  life  commanded  a high  price  in  Europe,  and 
were  greedily  sought  after  by  the  speculators. 
The  emigrants,  from  the  East  to  the  West,  invari- 
ably passed  along  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  and 
swept  away  the  means  of  subsistence,  like  a 
swarm  of  locusts.  Nor  were  the  people  on  the 
Flats  in  a much  better  condition.  They  were  in 
want  themselves,  but  they  spared  the  little  excess 
of  provisions  that  Nature  did  not  absolutely  re- 
quire, with  the  justice  of  the  German  character. 
There  was  no  grinding  of  the  poor.  The  word 
speculator  was  then  unknown  to  them.  I have 
seen  many  a stout  man,  bending  under  the  load 
of  the  bag  of  meal,  which  he  was  carrying  from 
the  mills  of  the  Mohawk,  through  the  rugged 
passes  of  these  mountains,  to  feed  his  half-fam- 
ished children,  with  a heart  so  light,  as  he  ap- 
proached his  hut,  that  the  thirty  miles  he  had 
passed  seemed  nothing.  Remember,  my  child,  it 
was  in  our  very  infancy ; we  had  neither  mills, 
nor  grain,  nor  roads,  nor  often  clearings  ; we  had 
nothing  of  increase,  but  the  mouths  that  were  to 
be  fed ; for,  even  at  that  inauspicious  moment, 
the  restless  spirit  of  emigration  was  not  idle; 
nay,  the  general  scarcity  which  extended  to  the 
East,  tended  to  increase  the  number  of  adventur- 
ers.” 

“ And  how,  dearest  father,  didst  thou  encoun- 
ter this  dreadful  evil  ? ” said  Elizabeth,  uncon- 
sciously adopting  the  dialect  of  her  parent  in  the 
warmth  of  her  sympathy.  “ Upon  thee  must 
have  fallen  the  responsibility,  if  not  the  suffer- 
ing.” 

“It  did,  Elizabeth,”  returned  the  Judge,  paus- 
ing for  a single  moment,  as  if  musing  on  his  for- 
mer feelings.  “ I had  hundreds,  at  that  dreadful 
time,  daily  looking  up  to  me  for  bread.  The  suf- 
ferings of  their  families,  and  the  gloomy  prospect 
before  them,  had  paralyzed  the  enterprise  and 
efforts  of  my  settlers  ; hunger  drove  them  to  the 
woods  for  food,  but  despair  sent  them  at  night, 
enfeebled  and  wan,  to  a sleepless  pillow.  It  was 
not  a moment  for  inaction.  I purchased  cargoes 


FIRST  INTERVIEW  WITH  LEATHER-STOCKING. 


103 


of  wheat  from  the  granaries  of  Pennsylvania ; 
they  were  landed  at  Albany,  and  brought  up  the 
Mohawk  in  boats  ; from  thence  it  was  transported 
on  pack-horses  into  the  wilderness,  and  distribu- 
ted among  my  people.  Seines  were  made,  and 
the  lakes  and  rivers  were  dragged  for  fish.  Some- 
thing like  a miracle  was  wrought  in  our  favor, 
for  enormous  shoals  of  herrings  were  discovered 
to  have  wandered  five  hundred  miles,  through  the 
windings  of  the  impetuous  Susquehanna,  and  the 
.ake  was  alive  with  their  numbers.  These  were 
at  length  caught,  and  dealt  out  to  the  people, 
with  proper  portions  of  salt ; and  from  that  mo- 
ment we  again  began  to  prosper.”  * 

“Yes,”  cried  Richard,  “and  I was  the  man 
who  served  out  the  fish  and  salt.  When  the  poor 
devils  came  to  receive  their  rations,  Benjamin, 
who  was  my  deputy,  was  obliged  to  keep  them  off 
by  stretching  ropes  around  me,  for  they  smelt  so 
of  garlic,  from  eating  nothing  but  the  wild  onion, 
that  the  fumes  put  me  out  often  in  my  measure- 
ment. You  were  a child  then,  Bess,  and  knew 
nothing  of  the  matter,  for  great  care  was  observed 
to  keep  both  you  and  your  mother  from  suffering. 
That  year  put  me  back  dreadfully,  both  in  the 
breed  of  my  hogs  and  of  my  turkeys.” 

“No,  Bess,”  cried  the  Judge,  in  a more  cheer- 
ful tone,  disregarding  the  interruption  of  his 
cousin,  “ he  who  hears  of  the  settlement  of  a coun- 
try knows  but  little  of  the  toil  and  suffering  by 
which  it  is  accomplished.  Unimproved  and  wild 
as  this  district  now  seems  to  your  eyes,  what  was 
it  when  I first  entered  the  hills  ! I left  my  party, 
the  morning  of  my  arrival,  near  the  farms  of  the 
Cherry  Valley,  and,  following  a deer-path,  rode  to 
the  summit  of  the  mountain  that  I have  since 
called  Mount  Vision  ; for  the  sight  that  there  met 
my  eye3  seemed  to  me  as  the  deceptions  of  a dream. 
The  fire  had  run  over  the  pinnacle,  and,  in  a 
great  measure,  laid  open  the  view.  The  leaves  were 
fallen,  and  I mounted  a tree,  and  sat  for  an  hour 
looking  on  the  silent  wilderness.  Not  an  opening 
was  to  be  seen  in  the  boundless  forest,  except 
where  the  lake  lay,  like  a mirror  of  glass.  The 
water  was  covered  by  myriads  of  the  wild-fowl 
that  migrate  with  the  changes  in  the  season  ; and, 
while  in  my  situation  on  the  branch  of  the  beech, 
I saw  a bear,  with  her  cubs,  descend  to  the  shore 
to  drink.  I had  met  many  deer,  gliding  through 
the  woods,  in  my  journey  ; but  not  the  vestige  of 
a man  could  I trace  during  my  progress,  nor  from 
tny  elevated  observatory.  No  clearing,  no  hut, 
none  of  the  winding  roads  that  are  now  to  be  seen) 
were  there ; nothing  but  mountains  rising  behind 
mountains;  and  the  valley,  with  its  surface  of 


branches,  enlivened  here  and  there  with  the  faded 
foliage  of  some  tree,  that  parted  from  its  leaves 
with  more  than  ordinary  reluctance.  Even  the 
Susquehanna  was  then  hid,  by  the  height  and 
density  of  the  forest.” 

“ And  were  you  alone  ? ” asked  Elizabeth ; 

“ passed  you  the  night  in  that  solitary  state  ? ” 

“Not  so,  my  child,”  returned  the  father. 

“ After  musing  on  the  scene  for  an  hour,  with  a 
a mingled  feeling  of  pleasure  and  desolation,  I left 
my  perch  and  descended  the  mountain.  My  horse 
was  left  to  browse  on  the  twigs  that  grew  within 
his  reach,  while  I explored  the  shores  of  the  lake, 
and  the  spot  where  Templeton  stands.  A pine  of 
more  than  ordinary  growth  stood  where  my  dwell- 
ing is  now  placed ! a windrow  had  been  opened 
through  the  trees  from  thence  to  the  lake,  and 
my  view  was  but  little  impeded.  Under  the 
branches  of  that  tree  I made  my  solitary  dinner ; 

I had  just  finished  my  repast  as  I saw  smoke  curl- 
ing from  under  the  mountain,  near  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  lake.  It  was  the  only  indication  of  the 
vicinity  of  man  that  I had  then  seen.  After  much 
toil  I made  my  way  to  the  spot,  and  found  a 
rough  cabin  of  logs,  built  against  the  foot  of  a 
rock,  and  bearing  the  marks  of  a tenant,  though 
I found  no  one  within  it — ” 

“ It  was  the  hut  of  Leather-stocking,”  said  i 
Edwards,  quickly. 

“ It  was ; though  I at  first  supposed  it  to  be  ! 
a habitation  of  the  Indians.  But,  while  I was  lin- 
gering around  the  spot,  Natty  made  his  appear- 
ance, staggering  under  the  carcass  of  a buck  that 
he  had  slain.  Our  acquaintance  commenced  at 
that  time ; before,  I had  never  heard  that  such  a 
being  tenanted  the  woods.  He  launched  his  bark 
canoe,  and  set  me  across  the  foot  of  the  lake,  to 
the  place  where  I had  fastened  my  horse,  and 
pointed  out  a spot  where  he  might  get  a scanty 
browsing  until  the  morning ; when  I returned  and 
passed  the  night  in  the  cabin  of  the  hunter.” 

Miss  Temple  was  so  much  struck  by  the  deep 
attention  of  young  Edwards,  during  this  speech, 
that  she  forgot  to  resume  her  interrogatories; 
but  the  youth  himself  continued  the  discourse,  by 
asking : 

“ And  how  did  the  Leather-stocking  discharge 
the  duties  of  a host,  sir  ? ” 

“ Why,  simply  but  kindly,  until  late  in  the 
evening,  when  he  discovered  my  name  and  object, 
and  the  cordiality  of  his  manner  very  sensibly 
diminished,  or,  I might  better  say,  disappeared. 

He  considered  the  introduction  of  the  settlers 
as  an  innovation  on  his  rights,  I believe  ; for  he 
expressed  much  dissatisfaction  at  the  measure, 
though  it  was  in  his  confused  and  ambiguous  man- 


* All  this  was  literally  true. 


L04 


THE  PIONEERS. 


ner.  I hardly  understood  his  objections  myself, 
but  supposed  they  referred  chiefly  to  an  interrup- 
tion of  the  hunting.” 

“ Had  you  then  purchased  the  estate,  or  were 
you  examining  it  with  an  intent  to  buy  ? ” asked 
Edwards,  a little  abruptly. 

“ It  had  been  mine  for  several  years.  It  was 
with  a view  to  people  the  land  that  I visited  the 
lake.  Natty  treated  me  hospitably,  but  coldly,  I 
thought,  after  he  learned  the  nature  of  my  jour- 
ney. I slept  on  his  own  bear-skin,  however,  and 
in  the  morning  joined  my  surveyors  again.” 

“ Said  he  nothing  of  the  Indian  rights,  sir  ? 
The  Leather-stocking  is  much  given  to  impeach 
the  justice  of  the  tenure  by  which  the  whites  hold 
the  country.” 

“ I remember  that  he  spoke  of  them,  but  I did 
not  clearly  comprehend  him,  and  may  have  for- 
gotten what  he  said ; for  the  Indian  title  was  ex- 
tinguished so  far  back  as  the  close  of  the  old  war  ; 
and,  if  it  had  not  been  at  all,  I hold  under  the 
patents  of  the  Royal  Governors,  confirmed  by  an 
act  of  our  own  State  Legislature,  and  no  court  in 
the  country  can  affect  my  title.” 

“ Doubtless,  sir,  your  title  is  both  legal  and 
equitable,”  returned  the  youth,  coldly,  reining  his 
horse  back,  and  remaining  silent  till  the  subject 
was  changed. 

It  was  seldom  Hr.  Jones  suffered  any  conver- 
sation to  continue  for  a great  length  of  time  with- 
out his  participation.  It  seems  that  he  was  of 
the  party  that  Judge  Temple  had  designated  as 
his  surveyors  ; and  he  embraced  the  opportunity 
of  the  pause  that  succeeded  the  retreat  of  young 
Edwards,  to  take  up  the  discourse,  and  with  a 
narration  of  their  further  proceedings,  after  his 
own  manner.  As  it  wanted,  however,  the  interest 
that  had  accompanied  the  description  of  the 
Judge,  we  must  decline  the  task  of  committing 
his  sentences  to  paper. 

They  soon  reached  the  point  where  the  prom- 
ised view  was  to  be  seen.  It  was  one  of  those 
picturesque  and  peculiar  scenes  that  belong  to  the 
Otsego,  but  which  required  the  absence  of  the  ice, 
and  the  softness  of  a summer’s  landscape,  to  be 
enjoyed  in  all  its  beauty.  Marmaduke  had  early 
forewarned  his  daughter  of  the  season,  and  of  its 
effect  on  the  prospect ; and,  after  casting  a cursory 
glance  at  its  capabilities,  the  party  returned  home- 
ward, perfectly  satisfied  that  its  beauties  would 
repay  them  for  the  toil  of  a second  ride,  at  a more 
propitious  season. 

“ The  spring  is  the  gloomy  time  of  the  Ameri- 
can year,”  said  the  Judge ; “ and  it  is  more  pecu- 
liarly the  case  in  these  mountains.  The  wintei 
seems  to  retreat  to  the  fastnesses  of  the  hills,  as 


to  the  citadel  of  its  dominion,  and  is  only  expelled 
after  a tedious  siege,  in  which  either  party,  at 
times,  would  seem  to  be  gaining  the  victory.” 

“ A very  just  and  apposite  figure,  Judge  Tem- 
ple,” observed  the  sheriff;  “and  the  garrison  un- 
der the  command  of  Jack  Frost  make  formidable 
sorties — you  understand  what  I mean  by  sorties, 
monsieur;  sallies  in  English — and  sometimes 
drive  General  Spring  and  his  troops  back  again 
into  the  low  countries.” 

“Yes,  sair,”  returned  the  Frenchman,  whose 
prominent  eyes  were  watching  the  precarious 
footsteps  of  the  beast  he  rode,  as  it  picked  its 
dangerous  way  among  the  roots  of  trees,  holes, 
log  bridges,  and  sloughs,  that  formed  the  aggre- 
gate of  the  highway.  “ Jevous  entends;  de  low 
countrie  is  freeze  up  for  half  de  year.” 

The  error  of  Mr.  Le  Quoi  was  not  noticed  by 
the  sheriff ; and  the  rest  of  the  party  were  yielding 
to  the  influence  of  the  changeful  season,  which  was 
already  teaching  the  equestrians  that  a continuance 
of  its  mildness  was  not  to  be  expected  for  any 
length  of  time.  Silence  and  thoughtfulness  suc- 
ceeded the  gayety  and  conversation  that  had 
prevailed  during  the  commencement  of  the  ride, 
as  clouds  began  to  gather  about  the  heavens, 
apparently  collecting  from  every  quarter,  in 
quick  motion,  without  the  agency  of  a breath  of 
air. 

While  riding  over  one  of  the  cleared  emi- 
nences that  occurred  in  their  route,  the  watchful 
eye  of  Judge  Temple  pointed  out  to  his  daughter 
the  approach  of  a tempest.  Flurries  of  snow 
already  obscured  the  mountain  that  formed  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  lake,  and  the  genial 
sensation  which  had  quickened  the  blood  through 
their  veins,  was  already  succeeded  by  the  deaden- 
ing influence  of  an  approaching  northwester. 

All  of  the  party  were  now  busily  engaged  in 
making  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  village, 
though  the  badness  of  the  roads  frequently  com- 
pelled them  to  check  the  impatience  of  their 
animals,  which  often  carried  them  over  places 
that  would  not  admit  of  any  gait  faster  than  a 
walk. 

Richard  continued  in  advance,  followed  by 
Mr.  Le  Quoi ; next  to  whom  rode  Elizabeth,  who 
seemed  to  have  imbibed  the  distance  which  per- 
vaded the  manner  of  young  Edwards,  since  the 
termination  of  the  discourse  between  the  latter 
and  her  father.  Marmaduke  followed  his  daugh- 
ter, giving  her  frequent  and  tender  warnings  as 
to  the  management  of  her  horse.  It  was,  pos- 
sibly, the  evident  dependence  that  Louisa  Grant 
placed  on  his  assistance,  which  induced  the  youth 
to  continue  by  her  side,  as  they  pursued  their 


ACCIDENTS  OF  THE  FOREST. 


105 


way  through  a dreary  and  dark  wood,  where  the 
rays  of  the  sun  could  but  rarely  penetrate,  and 
where  even  the  daylight  was  obscured  and  ren- 
dered gloomy  by  the  deep  forests  that  surrounded 
them.  No  wind  had  yet  reached  the  spot  where 
the  equestrians  were  in  motion,  but  that  dead 
stillness  that  often  precedes  a storm  contributed 
to  render  their  situation  more  irksome  than  if 
they  were  already  subject  to  the  fury  of  the  tem- 
pest. Suddenly  the  voice  of  young  Edwards  was 
heard  shouting  in  those  appalling  tones  that  carry 
alarm  to  the  very  soul,  and  which  curdle  the  blood 
of  those  that  hear  them  : 

“ A tree ! a tree ! whip — spur  for  your  lives  ! 
a tree ! a tree ! ” 

“ A tree ! a tree ! ” echoed  Richard,  giving  his 
horse  a blow  that  caused  the  alarmed  beast  to 
jump  nearly  a rod,  throwing  the  mud’  and  water 
into  the  air  like  a hurricane. 

“ Von  tree  ! von  tree ! ” shouted  the  Frenchman, 
bending  his  body  on  the  neck  of  his  charger,  shut- 
ting his  eyes,  and  playing  on  the  ribs  of  his  beast 
with  his  heels  at  a rate  that  caused  him  to  be 
conveyed  on  the  crupper  of  the  sheriff  with  a 
marvellous  speed. 

Elizabeth  checked  her  filly,  and  looked  up, 
with  an  unconscious  but  alarmed  air,  at  the  very 
cause  of  their  danger,  while  she  listened  to  the 
crackling  sounds  that  awoke  the  stillness  of  the 
forest  ; but  the  next  instant  her  bridle  was  seized 
by  her  father,  who  cried  : 

“ God  protect  my  child ! ” and  she  felt  her- 
self hurried  onward,  impelled  by  the  vigor  of  his 
nervous  arm. 

Each  one  of  the  party  bowed  to  his  saddle-bows, 
as  the  tearing  of  branches  was  succeeded  by  a 
sound  like  the  rushing  of  the  winds,  which  was 
followed  by  a thundering  report,  and  a shock  that 
caused  the  very  earth  to  tremble,  as  one  of  the 
noblest  ruins  of  the  forest  fell  directly  across 
their  path. 

One  glance  was  enough  to  assure  Judge  Tem- 
ple that  his  daughter,  and  those  in  front  of  him, 
were  safe,  and  he  turned  his  eyes,  in  dreadful 
anxiety,  to  learn  the  fate  of  the  others.  Young 
Edwards  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  tree,  his 
form  thrown  back  in  his  saddle  to  its  utmost  dis- 
tance, his  left  hand  drawing  up  his  bridle  with  its 
greatest  force,  while  the  right  grasped  that  of 
Miss  Grant,  so  as  to  draw  the  head  of  her  horse 
under  its  body.  Both  the  animals  stood  shaking 
in  every  joint  with  terror,  and  snorting  fearfully. 
Louisa  herself  had  relinquished  her  reins,  and, 
with  her  hands  pressed  on  her  face,  sat  bending 
forward  in  her  saddle,  in  an  attitude  of  despair, 
mingled  strangely  with  resignation. 


“ Are  you  safe  ? ” cried  the  Judge,’ first  break- 
ing the  awful  silence  of  the  moment. 

“ By  God’s  blessing,”  returned  the  youth ; “ but 
if  there  had  been  branches  to  the  tree  we  must 
have  been  lost — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  figure  of  Louisa 
slowly  yielding  in  her  saddle ; and  but  for  his  arm 
she  would  have  sunk  to  the  earth.  Terror,  how- 
ever, was  the  only  injury  that  the  clergyman’s 
daughter  had  sustained,  and,  with  the  aid  of  Eliz- 
abeth, she  was  soon  restored  to  her  senses.  After 
some  little  time  was  lost  in  recovering  her  strength, 
the  young  lady  was  replaced  in  her  saddle,  and, 
supported  on  either  side  by  Judge  Temple  and 
Mr.  Edwards,  she  was  enabled  to  follow  the  party 
in  their  slow  progress. 

“ The  sudden  fallings  of  the  trees,”  said  Mar- 
maduke,  “ are  the  most  dangerous  accidents  in  the 
forest,  for  they  are  not  to  be  foreseen,  being  im- 
pelled by  no  winds,  nor  any  extraneous  or  visible 
cause  against  which  we  can  guard.” 

“The  reason  of  their  falling,  Judge  Temple,  is 
very  obvious,”  said  the  sheriff.  “ The  tree  is  old 
and  decayed,  and  it  is  gradually  weakened  by  the 
frosts,  until  a line  drawn  from  the  centre  of  grav- 
ity falls  without  its  base,  and  then  the  tree  comes 
of  a certainty ; and  I should  like  to  know  what 
greater  compulsion  there  can  be  for  any  thing 
than  a mathematical  certainty.  I studied  mathe — ” 

“Very  true,  Richard,”  interrupted  Marma- 
duke  ; “ thy  reasoning  is  true,  and  if  my  memory 
be  not  over-treacherous,  was  furnished  by  myself 
on  a former  occasion.  But  how  is  one  to  guard 
against  the  danger  ? canst  thou  go  through  the 
forests,  measuring  the  bases,  and  calculating  the 
centres  of  the  oaks  ? answer  me  that,  friend 
Jones,  and  I will  say  thou  wilt  do  the  country  a 
service.” 

“ Answer  thee  that,  friend  Temple ! ” returned 
Richard ; “ a well-educated  man  can  answer  thee 
any  thing,  sir.  Do  any  trees  fall  in  this  manner 
but  such  as  are  decayed  ? Take  care  not  to  ap- 
proach the  roots  of  a rotten  tree,  and  you  will  be 
safe  enough.” 

“That  would  be  excluding  us  entirely  from 
the  forests,”  said  Marmaduke.  “But,  happily, 
the  winds  usually  force  down  most  of  these  dan- 
gerous ruins,  as  their  currents  are  admitted  into 
the  woods  by  the  surrounding  clearings,  and  such 
a fall  as  this  has  been  is  very  rare.” 

Louisa,  by  this  time,  had  recovered  so  much 
strength  as  to  allow  the  party  to  proceed  at  a 
quicker  pace,  but,  long  before  they  were  safely 
housed,  they  were  overtaken  by  the  storm ; and, 
when  they  dismounted  at  the  door  of  the  mansion- 
house,  the  black  plumes  of  Miss  Temple’s  ha* 


toa 


THE  PIONEERS. 


were  drooping  with  the  weight  of  a load  of  damp 
snow,  and  the  coats  of  the  gentlemen  were  pow- 
dered with  the  same  material. 

While  Edwards  was  assisting  Louisa  from  her 
horse,  the  warm-hearted  girl  caught  his  hand  with 
ervor,  and  whispered  : 

“ Now,  Mr.  Edwards,  both  father  and  daugh- 
ter owe  their  lives  to  you.” 

A driving  northwesterly  storm  succeeded,  and 
before  the  sun  was  set  every  vestige  of  spring 
had  vanished  ; the  lake,  the  mountains,  the  village, 
and  the  fields,  being  again  hidden  under  one  daz- 
zling coat  of  snow. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

“ Men,  boys,  and  girls, 

Desert  th’  unpeopled  village ; and  wild  crowds 

Spread  o’er  the  plain,  by  the  sweet  phrensy  driven.” 

Somerville. 

From  this  time  to  the  close  of  April  the  weath- 
er continued  to  be  a succession  of  great  and  rapid 
changes.  One  day,  the  soft  airs  of  spring  seemed 
to  be  stealing  along  the  valley,  and,  in  unison  with 
an  invigorating  sun,  attempting  covertly  to  rouse 
the  dormant  powers  of  the  vegetable  world  ; while, 
on  the  next,  the  surly  blasts  from  the  north  would 
sweep  across  the  lake,- and  erase  every  impres- 
sion left  by  their  gentle  adversaries.  The  snow, 
however,  finally  disappeared,  and  the  green  wheat- 
fields  were  seen  in  every  direction,  spotted  with 
the  dark  and  charred  stumps  that  had,  the  pre- 
ceding season,  supported  some  of  the  proudest 
trees  of  the  forest.  Ploughs  were  in  motion, 
wherever  those  useful  implements  could  be  used, 
and  the  smokes  of  the  sugar-camps  were  no  lon- 
ger seen  issuing  from  the  woods  of  maple.  The 
lake  had. lost  the  beauty  of  a field  of  ice,  but  still 
a dark  and  gloomy  covering  concealed  its  waters, 
for  the  absence  of  currents  left  them  yet  hidden 
under  a*  porous  crust,  which,  saturated  with  the 
fluid,  barely  retained  enough  strength  to  preserve 
the  contiguity  of  its  parts.  Large  flocks  of  wild 
geese  were  seen  passing  over  the  country,  which 
hovered,  for  a time,  around  the  hidden  sheet  of 
water,  apparently  searching  for  a resting-place ; 
and  then,  on  finding  themselves  excluded  by  the 
chill  covering,  would  soar  away  to  the  north,  fill- 
ing the  air  with  discordant  screams,  as  if  venting 
their  complaints  at  the  tardy  operations  of  Nature. 

For  a week,  the  dark  covering  of  the  Otsego 
was  left  to  the  undisturbed  possession  of  two 
eagles,  who  alighted  on  the  centre  of  its  field,  and 
eat  eying  their  undisputed  territory.  During  the 
presence  of  these  monarclis  of  the  air,  the  flocks 


of  migrating  birds  avoided  crossing  the  plain  of  ic«^ 
by  turning  into  the  hills,  apparently  seeking  the 
protection  of  the  forests,  while  the  white  and 
bald  heads  of  the  tenants  of  the  lake  were  turned 
upward,  with  a look  of  contempt.  But  the  time 
had  come,  when  even  these  kings  of  birds  were  to 
be  dispossessed.  An  opening  had  been  gradually 
increasing  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  lake,  and 
around  the  dark  spot  where  the  current  of  the 
river  prevented  the  formation  of  ice,  during  even 
the  coldest  weather ; and  the  fresh  southerly 
winds,  that  now  breathed  freely  upon  the  valley, 
made  an  impression  on  the  waters.  Mimic  waves 
began  to  curl  over  the  margin  of  the  frozen  field, 
which  exhibited  an  outline  of  crystallizations  that 
slowly  receded  toward  the  north.  At  each  step 
the  power  of  the  winds  and  the  waves  increased, 
until,  after  a struggle  of  a few  hours,  the  turbu- 
lent little  billows  succeeded  in  setting  the  whole 
field  in  motion,  when  it  was  driven  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  eye,  with  a rapidity  that  was  as  magi- 
cal as  the  change  produced  in  the  scene  by  this 
expulsion  of  the  lingering  remnant  of  winter. 
Just  as  the  last  sheet  of  agitated  ice  was  disap- 
pearing in  the  distance,  the  eagles  rose,  and 
soared  with  a wide  sweep  above  the  clouds,  while 
the  waves  tossed  their  little  caps  cf  snow  into  the 
air,  as  if  rioting  in  their  release  from  a thraldom 
of  five  months’  duration. 

The  following  morning  Elizabeth  was  awa- 
kened by  the  exhilarating  sounds  of  the  martins, 
who  were  quarrelling  and  chattering  around  the 
little  boxes  suspended  above  her  windows,  and  the 
cries  of  Richard,  who  was  calling  in  tones  animat- 
ing as  signs  of  the  season  itself: 

“ Awake ! awake  ! my  fair  lady  ! the  gulls  are 
hovering  over  the  lake  already,  and  the  heavens 
are  alive  with  pigeons.  You  may  look  an  hour 
before  you  can  find  a hole  through  which  to  get  a 
peep  at  the  sun.  Awake ! awake ! lazy  ones ! 
Benjamin  is  overhauling  the  ammunition,  and  we 
only  wait  for  our  breakfasts,  and  away  for  the 
mountains  and  pigeon-shooting.” 

There  was  no  resisting  this  animated  appeal, 
and  in  a few  minutes  Miss  Temple  and  her  friend 
descended  to  the  parlor.  The  doors  of  the  hall 
were  thrown  open,  and  the  mild,  balmy  air  of  a 
clear  spring  morning  was  ventilating  the  apart- 
ment, where  the  vigilance  of  the  ex-steward  had 
been  so  long  maintaining  an  artificial  heat  with 
such  unremitted  diligence.  The  gentlemen  were 
impatiently  waiting  for  their  morning’s  repast, 
each  equipped  in  the  garb  of  a sportsman.  Mr. 
Jones  made  many  visits  to  the  southern  door, 
and  would  cry : 

“ See,  cousin  Bess ! see,  ’duke,  the  pigeon- 


PIGEON-SHOOTING. 


107 


roosts  of  the  south  have  broken  up ! They  are 
growing  more  thick  every  instant.  Here  is  a 
flock  that  the  eye  cannot  see  the  end  of.  There 
:s  food  enough  in  it  to  keep  the  army  of  Xerxes 
for  a month,  and  feathers  enough  to  make  beds 
for  the  whole  country.  Xerxes,  Mr.  Edwards, 
was  a Grecian  king,  who — no,  he  w as  a Turk,  or 
a Persian,  who  wanted  to  conquer  Greece,  just 
the  same  as  these  rascals  will  overrun  our  wheat 
fields,  when  they  come  back  in  the  fall.  Away ! 
away ! Bess;  I long  to  pepper  them.” 

In  this  wish  both  Marmaduke  and  young 
Edwards  seemed  equally  to  participate,  for  the 
sight  was  exhilarating  to  a sportsman ; and  the 
ladies  soon  dismissed  the  party  after  a hasty 
breakfast. 

If  the  heavens  were  alive  with  pigeons,  the 
whole  village  seemed  equally  in  motion  with  men, 
women,  and  children.  Every  species  of  fire-arms, 
from  the  French  ducking-gun,  with  a barrel  near 
six  feet  in  length,  to  the  common  horseman’s 
pistol,  was  to  be  seen  in  the  hands  of  the  men  and 
boys ; while  bows  and  arrows,  some  made  of  the 
simple  stick  of  a walnut  sapling,  and  others  in  a 
rude  imitation  of  the  ancient  cross-bows,  were 
carried  by  many  of  the  latter. 

The  houses  and  the  signs  of  life  apparent  in 
the  village  drove  the  alarmed  birds,  from  the 
direct  line  of  their  flight,  toward  the  mountains, 
along  the  sides  and  near  the  bases  of  which  they 
were  glancing  in  dense  masses,  equally  wonder- 
ful by  the  rapidity  of  their  motion,  and  their  in- 
credible numbers. 

We  have  already  said  that,  across  the  inclined 
plane  which  fell  from  the  steep  ascent  of  the 
mountain  to  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  ran 
the  highway,  on  either  side  of  which  a clearing 
of  many  acres  had  been  made  at  a very  early 
day.  Over  those  clearings,  and  up  the  eastern 
mountain,  and  along  the  dangerous  path  that  was 
cut  into  its  side,  the  different  individuals  posted 
themselves,  and  in  a few  moments  the  attack 
commenced. 

Among  the  sportsmen  was  the  tall,  gaunt 
form  of  Leather-stocking,. walking  over  the  field, 
with  his  rifle  hanging  on  his  arm,  his  dogs  at  his 
heels ; the  latter  now  scenting  the  dead  or 
wounded  birds  that  were  beginning  to  tumble 
from  the  flocks,  and  then  crouching  under  the 
legs  ol  their  master,  as  if  they  participated  in 
his  feelings  at  this  wasteful  and  unsportsmanlike 
execution. 

The  reports  of  the  fire-arms  became  rapid, 
whole  volleys  rising  from  the  plain,  as  flocks  of 
more  than  ordinary  numbers  darted  over  the  open- 
ing, shadowing  the  field  like  a cloud ; and  then  the  I 


light  smoke  of  a single  piece  would  issue  from 
among  the  leafless  bushes  on  the  mountain,  as 
death  was  hurled  on  the  retreat  of  the  affrighted 
birds,  who  were  rising  from  a volley,  in  a vain 
effort  to  escape.  Arrows,  and  missiles  of  every 
kind,  were  in  the  midst  of  the  flocks  ; and  so 
numerous  were  the  birds,  and  so  low  did  they 
take  their  flight,  that  even  long  poles,  in  the 
hands  of  those  on  the  sides  of  the  mountain, 
were  used  to  strike  them  to  the  earth. 

During  all  this  time,  Mr.  Jones,  who  dis- 
dained the  humble  and  ordinary  means  of  de- 
struction used  by  his  companions,  was  busily  oc- 
cupied, aided  by  Benjamin,  in  making  arrange- 
ments for  an  assault  of  more  than  ordinarily  fatal 
character.  Among  the  relics  of  the  old  military  ex- 
cursions, that  occasionally  are  discovered  through- 
out the  different  districts  of  the  western  part  of 
New  York,  there  had  been  found  in  Templeton, 
at  its  settlement,  a small  swivel,  which  'would 
carry  a ball  of  a pound  weight.  It  was  thought 
to  have  been  deserted  by  a war  party  of  the 
whites,  in  one  of  their  inroads  into  the  Indian 
settlements,  when,  perhaps,  convenience  or  their 
necessity  induced  them  to  leave  such  an  incum- 
brance behind  them  in  the  woods.  This  minia- 
ture cannon  had  been  released  from  the  rust,  and, 
being  mounted  on  little  wheels,  was  now  in  a 
state  for  actual  service.  For  several  years,  it  was 
the  sole  organ  for  extraordinary  rejoicings  used 
in  those  mountains.  On  the  mornings  of  the 
Fourth  of  July,  it  would  be  heard  ringing  among 
the  hills ; and  even  Captain  Hollister,  who  was 
the  highest  authority  in  that  part  of  the  country 
on  all  such  occasions,  affirmed  that,  considering 
its  dimensions,  it  was  no  despicable  gun  for  & 
salute.  It  was  somewhat  the  worse  for  the  ser- 
vice it  had  performed,  it  is  true,  there  being  but 
a trifling  difference  in  size  between  the  touch-hole 
and  the  muzzle.  Still,  the  grand  conceptions  of 
Richard  had  suggested  the  importance  of  such  an 
instrument  in  hurling  death  at  his  nimble  ene- 
mies. The  swivel  was  dragged  by  a horse  into  a 
part  of  the  open  space  that  the  sheriff  thought 
most  eligible  for  planting  a battery  of  the  kind, 
and  Mr.  Pump  proceeded  to  load  it.  Several 
handsful  of  duck-shot  were  placed  on  top  of  the 
powder,  and  the  major-domo  announced  that  his 
piece  was  ready  for  service. 

The  sight  of  such  an  implement  collected  all 
the  idle  spectators  to  the  spot,  who,  being  mostly 
boys,  filled  the  air  with  cries  of  exultation  and 
delight.  The  gun  was  pointed  high,  and  Richard, 
holding  a coal  of  fire  in  a pair  of  tongs,  patiently 
took  his  seat  on  a stump,  awaiting  the  appear 
ance  of  a flock  worthy  of  his  notice. 


108 


THE  PIONEERS. 


So  prodigious  was  the  number  of  the  birds, 
that  the  scattering  fire  of  the  guns,  with  the 
hurfing  of  missiles,  and  the  cries  of  the  boys, 
had  no  other  effect  than  to  break  off  small  flocks 
from  the  immense  masses  that  continued  to  dart 
along  the  valley,  as  if  the  whole  of  the  feathered 
tribe  were  pouring  through  that  one  pass.  None 
pretended  to  collect  the  game,  which  lay  scat- 
tered over  the  fields  in  such  profusion  as  to  cover 
the  very  ground  with  the  fluttering  victims. 

Leather-stocking  was  a silent,  but  uneasy 
spectator  of  all  these  proceedings,  but  was  able 
to  keep  his  sentiments  to  himself  until  he  saw  the 
introduction  of  the*  swivel  into  the  sports. 

“ This  comes  of  settling  a country  l ” he  said ; 
“ here  have  I known  the  pigeon  to  fly  for  forty 
long  years,  and,  till  you  made  your  clearings, 
there  was  nobody  to  skear  or  to  hurt  them.  I 
loved  to  see  them  come  into  the  woods,  for  they 
were  company  to  a body ; hurting  nothing  ; being, 
as  it  was,  as  harmless  as  a garter-snake.  But 
now  it  gives  me  sore  thoughts  when  I hear  the 
frighty  things  whizzing  through  the  air,  for  I 
know  it’s  only  a motion  to  bring  out  all  the  brats 
in  the  village.  Well!  the  Lord  won’t  see  the 
waste  of  his  creatures  for  nothing,  and  right  will 
be  done  to  the  pigeons,  as  well  as  others,  by-and- 
by.  There’s  Mr.  Oliver,  as  bad  as  the  rest  of 
them,  firing  into  the  flocks,  as  if  he  was  shooting 
down  nothing  but  Mingo  warriors.” 

Among  the  sportsmen  was  Billy  Kirby,  who, 
armed  with  an  old  musket,  was  loading,  and, 
without  even  looking  into  the  air,  was  firing  and 
shouting  as  his  victims  fell  even  on  his  own  per- 
son. He  heard  the  speech  of  Natty,  and  took 
upon  himself  to  reply : 

“ What  ! old  Leather-stocking,”  he  cried, 
“ grumbling  at  the  loss  of  a few  pigeons ! If  you 
had  to  sow  your  wheat  twice,  and  three  times,  as 
I have  done,  you  wouldn’t  be  so  massvfully  feel- 
ing toward  the  divils. — Hurrah,  boys ! scatter 
the  feathers  ! This  is  better  than  shooting  at  a 
turkey’s  head  and  neck,  old  fellow.” 

“ It’s  better  for  you,  maybe,  Billy  Kirby,” 
replied  the  indignant  old  hunter,  “ and  all  them 
that  don’t  know  how  to  put  a ball  down  a rifle 
barrel,  or  how  to  bring  it  up  again  with  a true 
aim  ; but  it’s  wicked  to  be  shooting  into  flocks  in 
this  wasty  manner ; and  none  do  it,  who  know 
how  to  knock  over  a single  bird.  If  a body  has 
a craving  for  pigeon’s  flesh,  why,  it’s  made  the 
same  as  all  other  creatures,  for  man’s  eating ; but 
not  to  kill  twenty  and  eat  one.  When  I want 
such  a thing  I go  into  the  woods  till  I find  one  to 
my  liking,  and  then  I shoot  him  off  the  branches, 
without  touching  the  feather  of  another,  though 


there  might  be  a hundred  cn  the  same  tree 
You  couldn’t  do  such  a thing,  Billy  Kirby — you 
couldn’t  do  it,  if  you  tried.” 

“ What’s  that,  old  corn-stalk ! you  sapless 
stub  ! ” cried  the  wood-chopper.  “ You  have 
grown  wordy,  since  the  affair  of  the  turkey ; but 
if  you  are  for  a single  shot,  here  goes  at  that  bird 
which  comes  on  by  himself.” 

The  fire  from  the  distant  part  of  the  field  had 
driven  a single  pigeon  below  the  flock  to  which 
it  belonged,  and,  frightened  with  the  constant 
reports  of  the  muskets,  it  was  approaching  the 
spot  where  the  disputants  stood,  darting  first 
from  one  side  and  then  to  the  other,  cutting,  the 
air  with  the  swiftness  of  lightning,  and  making 
a noise  with  its  wings,  not  unlike  the  rushing  of 
a bullet.  Unfortunately  for  the  wood- chopper, 
notwithstanding  his  vaunt,  he  did  not  see  this 
bird  until  it  was  too  late  to  fire  as  it  approached, 
and  he  pulled  his  trigger  at  the  unlucky  moment 
when  it  was  darting  immediately  over  his  head. 
The  bird  continued  its  course  with  the  usual  ve- 
locity. 

Natty  lowered  the  lifle  from  his  arm  when  the 
challenge  was  made,  and  waiting  a moment,  until 
the  terrified  victim  had  got  in  a line  with  his  eye, 
and  had  dropped  near  the  bank  of  the  lake,  he 
raised  it  again  with  uncommon  rapidity,  and 
fired.  It  might  have  been  chance,  or  it  might 
have  been  skill,  that  produced  the  result ; it  was 
probably  a union  of  both  ; but  the  pigeon  whirled 
over  in  the  air,  and  fell  into  the  lake,  with  a 
broken  wing.  At  the  sound  of  his  rifle,  both  his 
dogs  started  from  his  feet,  and  in  a few  minute's 
the  “ slut  ” brought  out  the  bird,  still  alive. 

The  wonderful  exploit  of  Leather-stocking 
was  noised  through  the  field  with  great  rapidity, 
and  the  sportsmen  gathered  in,  to  learn  the  truth 
of  the  report. 

“ What ! ” said  young  Edwards,  “ have  you 
really  killed  a pigeon  on  the  wing,  Natty,  with  a 
single  ball  ? ” 

“ Haven’t  I killed  loons,  before  now,  lad,  that 
dive  at  the  flash  ? ” returned  the  hunter.  “ It’s 
much  better  to  kill  only  such  as  you  want,  with- 
out wasting  your  powder  and  lead,  than  to  be 
firing  into  God’s  creatures  in  this  wicked  man- 
ner. But  I came  out  for  a bird,  and  you  know 
the  reason  why  I like  small  game,  Mr.  Oliver,  and 
now  I have  got  one  I will  go  home,  for  I don’t 
relish  to  see  these  wasty  ways  that  you  are  all 
practysing,  as  if  the  least  thing  wasn’t  made  foi 
use,  and  not  to  destroy.” 

“ Thou  sayest  well,  Leather-stocking  ” cried 
Marmaduke,  “ and  I begin  to  think  it  time  to  put 
an  end  to  this  work  of  destruction.” 


LEATHER-STOCKING’S  REMONSTRANCE. 


109 


“ Put  au  ind,  Judge,  to  your  clearings.  An’t 
the  woods  His  work  as  well  as  the  pigeons  ? Use, 
but  don’t  waste.  Wasn’t  the  woods  made  for  the 
beasts  and  birds  to  harbor  in  ? and  when  man 
wanted  their  flesh,  their  skins,  or  their  feathers, 
there’s  the  place  to  seek  them.  But  I’ll  go  to  the 
hut  with  my  own  game,  for  I wouldn’t  touch  one 
of  the  harmless  things  that  cover  the  ground  here, 
looking  up  with  their  eyes  on  me,  as  if  they  only 
wanted  tongues  to  say  their  thoughts.” 

With  this  sentiment  in  his  mouth,  Leather- 
stocking threw  his  rifle  over  his  arm,  and,  fol- 
lowed by  his  dogs,  stepped  across  the  clearing 
with  great  caution,  taking  care  not  to  tread  on 
one  of  the  wounded  birds  in  his  path.  He  soon 
entered  the  bushes  on  the  margin  of  the  lake  and 
was  hid  from  view. 

Whatever  impression  the  morality  of  Natty 
made  on  the  Judge,  it  was  utterly  lost  on  Rich- 
ard. He  availed  himself  of  the  gathering  of  the 
sportsmen,  to  lay  a plan  for  one  “ fell  swoop  ” 
of  destruction.  The  musket  men  were  drawn 
up  in  battle  array,  in  a line  extending  on  each 
side  of  his  artillery,  with  orders  to  await  the  sig- 
nal of  firing  from  himself. 

“Stand  by,  my  lads,”  said  Benjamin,  who 
acted  as  an  aide-de-camp  on  this  occasion,  “ stand 
by,  my  hearties,  and  when  Squire  Dickens  heaves 
out  the  signal  to  begin  firing,  d’ye  see,  you  may 
open  upon  them  in  a broadside.  Take  care  and 
fire  low,  boys,  and  you’ll  be  sure  to  hull  the 
flock.” 

“ Fire  low ! ” shouted  Kirby  : “ hear  the  old 
fool ! If  we  fire  low,  we  may  hit  the  stumps,  but 
not  ruffle  a pigeon.” 

“ How  should  you  know,  you  lubber  ? ” cried 
Benjamin,  with  a very  unbecoming  heat  for  an 
officer  on  the  eve  of  battle — “ how  should  you 
know,  you  grampus  ? Haven’t  I sailed  aboard 
of  the  Boadishy  for  five  years  ? and  wasn’t  it  a 
standing  order  to  fire  low,  and  to  hull  your  ene- 
my ? Keep  silence  at  your  guns,  boys,  and  mind 
the  order  that  is  passed.” 

The  loud  laughs  of  the  musket  men  were  si- 
lenced by  the  more  authoritative  voice  of  Richard, 
who  called  for  attention  and  obedience  to  his 
signals. 

Some  millions  of  pigeons  were  supposed  to 
have  already  passed,  that  morning,  over  the  val- 
ley of  Templeton;  but  nothing  like  the  flock 
that  was  now  approaching  had  been  seen  before. 
It  extended  from  mountain  to  mountain  in  one 
solid  blue  mass,  and  the  eye  looked  in  vain,  over 
the  southern  hills,  to  find  its  termination.  The 
front  of  this  living  column  was  distinctly  marked 
by  a line  but  very  slightly  indented,  so  regular 


and  even  was  the  flight.  Even  Marmaduke  for- 
got the  morality  of  Leather-stocking  as  it  ap- 
proached, and,  in  common  with  the  rest,  brought 
his  musket  to  a poise. 

“ Fire ! ” cried  the  sheriff,  clapping  a coal  to 
the  priming  of  the  cannon.  As  half  of  Benja- 
min’s charge  escaped  through  the  touch-hole,  the 
whole  volley  of  the  musketry  preceded  the  report 
of  the  swivel.  On  receiving  this  united  discharge 
of  small-arms,  the  front  of  the  flock  darted  up- 
ward, while,  at  the  same  instant,  myriads  of  those 
in  the  rear  rushed  with  amazing  rapidity  into 
their  places,  so  that,  when  the  column  of  white 
smoke  gushed  from  the  mouth  of  the  little  can- 
non, an  accumulated  mass  of  objects  was  gliding 
over  its  point  of  direction.  The  roar  of  the  gun 
echoed  along  the  mountains,  and  died  away  to  the 
north,  like  distant  thunder,  while  the  whole  flock 
of  alarmed  birds  seemed,  for  a moment,  thrown 
into  one  disorderly  and  agitated  mass.  The  air 
was  filled  with  their  irregular  flight,  layer  rising 
above  layer,  far  above  the  tops  of  the  highest 
pines,  none  daring  to  advance  beyond  the  danger- 
ous pass ; when,  suddenly,  some  of  the  leaders 
of  the  feathered  tribe  shot  across  the  valley,  tak- 
ing their  flight  directly  over  the  village,  and  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  in  their  rear  followed  the  ex- 
ample, deserting  the  eastern  side  of  the  plain  to 
their  persecutors  and  the  slain. 

“ Victory  ! ” shouted  Richard,  “ victory  ! we 
have  driven  the  enemy  from  the  field.’* 

“ Not  so,  Dickon,”  said  Marmaduke : “ the 
fields  covered  with  them  ;and,  like  the  Leather- 
stocking, I see  nothing  but  eyes,  in  every  direc- 
tion, as  the  innocent  sufferers  turn  their  heads  in 
terror.  Full  one-half  of  those  that  have  fallen 
are  yet  alive ; and  I think  it  is  time  to  end  the 
sport,  if  sport  it  be.” 

“ Sport ! ” cried  the  sheriff ; “ it  is  princely 
sport ! There  are  some  thousands  of  the  blue- 
coated  boys  on  the  ground,  so  that  every  old 
woman  in  the  village  may  have  a pot-pie  for  the 
asking.” 

“Well,  we  have  happily  frightened  the  birds 
from  this  side  of  the  valley,”  said  Marmaduke, 
“ and  the  carnage  must  of  necessity  end,  for  the 
present.  Boys,  I will  give  you  sixpence  a hun- 
dred for  the  pigeons’  heads  only ; so  go  to  work, 
and  bring  them  into  the  village.” 

This  expedient  produced  the  desired  effect, 
for  every  urchin  on  the  ground  went  industrious- 
ly to  work  to  wring  the  necks  of  the  wounded 
birds.  Judge  Temple  retired  toward  his  dwelling 
with  that  kind  of  feeling  that  many  a man  has 
experienced  before  him,  who  discovers,  after  the 
excitement  of  the  moment  has  passed,  that  lie 


no 


THE  PIONEERS. 


has  purchased  pleasure  at  the  price  of  misery  to 
others.  Horses  were  loaded  with  the  dead  ; and, 
after  this  first  burst  of  sporting,  the  shooting  of 
pigeons  became  a business,  with  a few  idlers,  for 
the  remainder  of  the  season.  Richard,  however, 
boasted,  for  many  a year,  of  his  shot  with  the 
“ cricket ; ” and  Benjamin  gravely  asserted,  that 
he  thought  they  had  killed  nearly  as  many  pig- 
eons on  that  day,  as  there  were  Frenchmen  de- 
stroyed on  the  memorable  occasion  of  Rodney’s 
victory. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

“ Help,  masters,  help ; here’s  a fish  hangs  in  the  net, 
like  a poor  man’s  right  in  the  law.” 

Pericles  oe  Tyke. 

The  advance  of  the  season  now  became  as 
rapid  as  its  first  approach  had  been  tedious  and 
lingering.  The  days  were  uniformly  mild,  while 
the  nights,  though  cool,  were  no  longer  chilled  by 
frosts.  The  whippoorwill  was  heard  whistling 
his  melancholy  notes  along  the  margin  of  the  lake, 
and  the  ponds  and  meadows  were  sending  forth 
the  music  of  their  thousand  tenants.  The  leaf 
of  the  native  poplar  was  seen  quivering  in  the 
woods ; the  sides  of  the  mountains  began  to  lose 
their  hue  of  brown,  as  the  lively  green  of  the 
different  members  of  the  forest  blended  their 
shades  with  the  permanent  colors  of  the  pine^nd 
hemlock ; and  even  the  buds  of  the  tardy  oak 
were  swelling  with  the  promise  of  the  coming 
summer.  The  gay  and  fluttering  blue-bird,  the 
social  robin,  and  the  industrious  little  wren,  were 
all  to  be  seen  enlivening  the  fields  with  their  pres- 
ence and  their  songs  ; while  the  soaring  fish-hawk 
was  already  hovering  over  the  waters  of  the  Ot- 
sego, watching,  with  native  voracity,  for  the  ap- 
pearance of  his  prey. 

The  tenants  of  the  lake  were  far-famed  for 
both  their  quantities  and  their  quality,  and  the 
ice  had  hardly  disappeared,  before  numberless 
little  boats  were  launched  from  the  shores,  and 
the  lines  of  the  fishermen  were  dropped  into  the 
inmost  recesses  of  its  deepest  caverns,  tempting 
the  unwary  animals  with  every  variety  of  bait 
that  the  ingenuity  or  the  art  of  man  had  invented. 
But  the  slow  though  certain  adventures  with  hook 
and  line  were  ill  suited  to  the  profusion  and  im- 
patience of  the  settlers.  More  destructive  means 
were  resorted  to ; and,  as  the  season  had  now  ar- 
rived when  the  bass-fisheries  were  allowed  by  the 
provisions  of  the  law  that  Judge  Temple  had  pro- 


cured, the  sheriff  declared  his  intention,  by  avail 
ing  himself  of  the  first  dark  night,  to  enjoy  the 
sport  in  person. 

“And  you  shall  be  present,  cousin  Bess,”  he 
added,  when  he  announced  this  design,  “ and  Miss 
Grant,  and  Mr.  Edwards ; and  I will  show  you 
what  I call  fishing — not  nibble,  nibble,  nibble,  as 
5duke  does  when  he  goe3  after  the  salmon-trout. 
There  he  will  sit  for  hours,  in  a broiling  sun,  or, 
perhaps,  over  a hole  in  the  ice,  in  the  coldest 
days  in  winter,  under  the  lee  of  a few  bushes,  and 
not  a fish  will  he  catch,  after  all  this  mortification 
of  the  flesh.  No,  no — give  me  a good  seine 
that’s  fifty  or  sixty  fathoms  in  length,  with  a 
jolly  parcel  of  boatmen  to  crack  their  jokes  the 
while,  with  Benjamin  to  steer,  and  let  us  haul  them 
in  by  thousands  ; I call  that  fishing.” 

“ Ah ! Dickon,”  cried  Marmaduke,  “ thou 
knowestbut  little  of  the  pleasure  there  is  in  play- 
ing with  the  hook  and  line,  or  thou  wouldst  be  more 
saving  of  the  game.  I have  known  thee  to  leave 
fragments  enough  behind  thee,  when  thou  hast 
headed  a night-party  on  the  lake,  to  feed  a dozen 
famishing  families.” 

“ I shall  not  dispute  the  matter,  Judge  Tem- 
ple ; this  night  will  I go ; and  I invite  the  com- 
pany to  attend,  and  then  let  them  decide  between 
us.” 

Richard  was  busy,  during  most  of  the  after- 
noon, making  his  preparations  for  the  important 
occasion.  Just  as  the  light  of  the  setting  sun  had 
disappeared,  and  a new  moon  had  begun  to  throw 
its  shadows  on  the  earth,  the  fishermen  took  their 
departure  in  a boat,  for  a point  that  was  situated 
on  the  western  shore  of  the  lake,  at  the  distance 
of  rather  more  than  half  a mile  from  the  village. 
The  ground  had  become  settled,  and  the  walking 
was  good  and  dry.  Marmaduke,  with  his  daughter, 
her  friend,  and  young  Edwards,  continued  on  the 
high  grassy  banks  at  the  outlet  of  the  placid 
sheet  of  water,  watching  the  dark  object  that  was 
moving  across  the  lake,  until  it  entered  the  shade 
of  the  western  hills,  and  was  lost  to  the  eye.  The 
distance  round  by  land  to  the  point  of  destination 
was  a mile,  and  he  observed  : 

“ It  is  time  for  us  to  be  moving ; the  moon 
will  be  down  ere  we  reach  the  point,  and  then 
the  miraculous  hauls  of  Dickon  will  commence.” 

The  evening  was  warm,  and,  after  the  long  and 
dreary  winter  from  which  they  had  just  escaped, 
delightfully  invigorating.  Inspirited  by  the  scene 
and  their  anticipated  amusement,  the  youthful 
companions  of  the  Judge  followed  his  steps,  as  he 
led  them  along  the  shores  of  the  Ostego,  and 
through  the  skirts  of  the  village. 

“ See ! ” said  young  Edwards,  “ they  are  build- 


A FISHING-PARTY  ON  LAKE  OTSEGO. 


Ill 


ing  their  fire  already ; it  glimmers  for  a moment, 
and  dies  again  like  the  light  of  a fire-fly.” 

“ Now  it  blazes,”  cried  Elizabeth ; “ you  can 
perceive  figures  moving  around  the  light.  Oh  ! I 
would  bet  my  jewels  against  the  gold  beads  of 
Remarkable,  that  my  impatient  cousin  Dickon 
had  an  agency  in  raising  that  bright  flame : and 
see;  it  fades  again,  like  most  of  his  brilliant 
schemes.” 

“ Thou  hast  guessed  the  truth,  Bess,”  said  her 
father ; “ he  has  thrown  an  armful  of  brush  on 
the  pile,  which  has  burnt  out  as  soon  as  lighted. 
But  it  has  enabled  them  to  find  a better  fuel,  for 
their  fire  begins  to  blaze  with  a more  steady  flame. 
It  is  the  true  fisherman’s  beacon  now  ; observe 
how  beautifully  it  throws  its  little  circle  of  light 
on  the  water  ! ” 

The  appearance  of  the  fire  urged  the  pedes- 
trians on,  for  even  the  ladies  had  become  eager 
to  witness  the  miraculous  draught.  By  the  time 
they  reached  the  bank,  which  rose  above  the  low 
point  where  the  fishermen  had  landed,  the  moon 
had  sunk  behind  the  tops  of  the  western  pines, 
and,  as  most  of  the  stars  were  obscured  by  clouds, 
♦here  was  but  little  other  light  than  that  which 
proceeded  from  the  fire.  At  the  suggestion  of 
Marmaduke,  his  companions  paused  to  listen  to 
the  conversation  of  those  below  them,  and  exam- 
ine the  party  for  a moment  before  they  descended 
to  the  shore. 

The  whole  group  were  seated  around  the  fire, 
with  the  exception  of  Richard  and  Benjamin  ; the 
former  of  whom  occupied  the  root  of  a decayed 
stump,  that  had  been  drawn  to  the  spot  as  part 
of  their  fuel,  and  the  latter  was  standing,  with 
his  arms  a-kimbo,  so  near  to  the  flame,  that  the 
smoke  occasionally  obscured  his  solemn  visage, 
as  it  waved  around  the  pile,  in  obedience  to  the 
night  airs  that  swept  gently  over  the  water. 

“ Why,  look  you,  squire,”  said  the  major-domo, 
“ you  may  call  a lake-fish  that  will  weigh  twenty 
or  thirty  pounds  a serious  matter  ; but  to  a man 
who  has  hauled  in  a shovel-nosed  shirk,  d’ye  see, 
t’s  but  a poor  kind  of  fishing,  after  all.” 

“I  don’t  know,  Benjamin,”  returned  the 
sheriff ; “ a haul  of  one  thousand  Otsego  bass, 
without  counting  pike,  pickerel,  perch,  bull-pouts, 
salmon-trouts,  and  suckers,  is  no  bad  fishing,  let 
me  tell  you.  There  may  be  sport  in  sticking  a 
shark,  but  what  is  he  good  for  after  you  have  got 
him  ? Now,  any  one  of  the  fish  that  1 have  named 
is  fit  to  set  before  a king.” 

“Well,  squire,”  returned  Benjamin,  “ ju£t 
listen  to  the  philosophy  of  the  thing.  Would  it 
stand  to  reason,  that  such  fish  should  live  and 
be  catched  in  this  here  little  pond  of  water,  where 


it’s  hardly  deep  enough  to  drown  a man,  as  you’ll 
find  in  the  wide  ocean,  where,  as  everybody  knows, 
that  is,  everybody  that  has  followed  the  seas, 
whales  and  grampuses  are  to  be  seen,  that  are  as 
long  as  one  of  the  pine-trees  on  yonder  moun- 
tain ? ” 

“ Softly,  softly,  Benjamin,”  said  the  sheriff, 
as  if  he  wished  to  save  the  credit  of  his  favorite ; 
“ why,  some  of  the  pines  will  measure  two  hundred 
feet,  and  even  more.” 

“ Two  hundred  or  two  thousand,  it’s  all  the 
same  thing,”  cried  Benjamin,  with  an  air  which 
manifested  that  he  was  not  easily  to  be  bulliedj 
out  of  his  opinion,  on  a subject  like  the  present. 
“ Haven’t  I been  there,  and  haven’t  I seen  ? I 
have  said  that  you  fall  in  with  whales  as  long  as 
one  of  them  there  pines  ; and  what  I have  once 
said  I’ll  stand  to  ! ” 

During  this  dialogue,  which  was  evidently  but 
the  close  of  a much  longer  discussion,  the  huge 
frame  of  Billy  Kirby  was  seen  extended  on  one 
side  of  the  fire,  where  he  was  picking  his  teeth 
with  splinters  of  the  chips  near  him,  and  occasion- 
ally shaking  his  head  with  distrust  of  Benjamin’s 
assertions. 

“ I’ve  a notion,”  said  the  wood-chopper,  “ that 
there’s  water  in  this  lake  to  swim  the  biggest 
whale  that  ever  was  invented  ; and,  as  to  the 
pines,  I think  I ought  to  know  so’thing  consarn- 
ing  them  ; I have  chopped  many  a one  that  was 
sixty  times  the  length  of  my  helve,  without  count- 
ing the  eye  : and  I believe,  Benny,  that  if  the  old 
pine  that  stands  in  the  hollow  of  the  Vision 
Mountain,  just  over  the  village — you  may  see  the 
tree  itself  by  looking  up,  for  the  moon  is  on  its 
top  yet — well,  now  I believe,  if  that  same  tree 
was  planted  out  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  lake, 
there  would  be  water  enough  for  the  biggest  ship 
that  ever  was  built  to  float  over  it,  without  touch- 
ing its  upper  branches,  I do.” 

“ Did’ee  ever  see  a ship,  Master  Kirby  ? ” roared 
the  steward ; “ did’ee  ever  see  a ship,  man  ? or 
any  craft  bigger  than  a lime-scow,  or  a wood-boat, 
on  this  here  small  bit  of  fresh  water  ? ” 

“ Yes,  I have,”  said  the  wood-chopper,  stout- 
ly ; “I  can  say  that  I have,  and  tell  no  lie.” 

“ Did’ee  ever  see  a British  ship,  Mastet  Kir- 
by ? an  English  line-of-battle  ship,  boy  ? Where 
away  did’ee  ever  fall  in  with  a regular-built  ves- 
sel, with  s tarn-post  and  cut- water,  garboard-streak 
and  blank-shear,  gangways,  and  hatchways,  and 
waterways,  quarter-deck,  and  forecastle,  ay,  and 
flush-deck  ? — tell  me  that,  man,  if  you  can  ; where 
away  did’ee  ever  fall  in  with  a full-rigged,  regular- 
built,  decked  vessel  ? ” 

The  whole  compauy  were  a good  deal  as- 


112 


THE  PIONEERS. 


tounded  with  this  overwhelming  question,  and 
even  Richard  afterward  remarked,  that  it  “ was  a 
thousand  pities  that  Benjamin  could  not  read,  or 
he  must  have  made  a valuable  officer  to  the  Brit- 
ish marine.  It  is  no  wonder  that  they  overcame 
the  French  so  easily  on  the  water,  when  even  the 
lowest  sailor  so  well  understood  the  different  parts 
of  a vessel.”  But  Billy  Kirby  was  a fearless 
wight,  and  had  great  jealousy  of  foreign  dictation ; 
he  had  risen  on  his  feet,  and  turned  his  back  to 
the  fire,  during  the  voluble  delivery  of  this  inter- 
rogatory ; and,  when  the  steward  ended,  contra- 
ry to  all  expectation,  he  gave  the  following  spir- 
ited reply : 

“ Where  ! why,  on  the  North  River,  and  may- 
be on  Champlain.  There’s  sloops  on  the  river, 
boy,  that  would  give  a hard  time  on’t  to  the 
stoutest  vessel  King  George  owns.  They  carry 
masts  of  ninety  feet  in  the  clear  of  good  solid 
pine,  for  I’ve  been  at  the  chopping  of  many  a one 
in  Varmount  State.  I wish  I was  captain  in  one 
of  them,  and  you  was  in  that  Board-dish  that  you 
talk  so  much  about ; and  we’d  soon  see  what 
good  Yankee,  stuff  is  made  on,  and  whether  a 
Yarmounter’s  hide  an’t  as  thick  as  an  English- 
man’s.” 

The  echoes  from  the  opposite  hills,  which 
were  more  than  half  a mile  from  the  fishing  point, 
sent  back  the  discordant  laugh  that  Benjamin 
gave  forth  at  this  challange  ; and  the  woods  that 
covered  their  sides  seemed,  by  the  noise  that  is- 
sued from  their  shades,  to  be  full  of  mocking  de- 
mons. 

“ Let  us  descend  to  the  shore,”  whispered 
Marmaduke,  “ or  there  will  soon  be  ill-blood  be- 
tween them.  Benjamin  is  a fearless  boaster ; 
and  Kirby,  though  good-natured,  is  a careless 
son  of  the  forest,  who  thinks  one  American  more 
than  a match  for  six  Englishmen.  I marvel  that 
Dickon  is  silent,  where  there  is  such  a trial  of 
skill  in  the  superlative  ! ” 

The  appearance  of  Judge  Temple  and  the  la- 
dies produced,  if  not  a pacification,  at  least  a ces- 
sation of  hostilities.  Obedient  to  the  directions 
of  Mr.  Jones,  the  fishermen  prepared  to  launch 
their  boat,  which  had  been  seen  in  the  back- 
ground of  the  view,  with  the  net  carefully  dis- 
posed on  a little  platform  in  its  stern,  ready  for 
service.  Richard  gave  vent  to  his  reproaches  at 
the  tardiness  of  the  pedestrians,  when  all  the 
turbulent  passions  of  the  party  were  succeeded  by 
a calm,  as  mild  and  as  placid  as  that  which  pre- 
vailed over  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water  that  they 
were  about  to  rifle  of  its  best  treasures. 

The  night  had  now  become  so  dark  as  to  ren- 
der objects,  without  the  reach  of  the  light  of  the 


fire,  not  only  indistinct,  but  in  most  cases  invis. 
ible.  For  a little  distance  the  water  was  discern 
ible,  glistening,  as  the  glare  from  the  fire  danced 
over  its  surface,  touching  it  here  and  there  with 
red  quivering  streaks  ; but,  at  a hundred  feet  from 
the  shore,  there  lay  a boundary  of  impenetrable 
gloom.  One  or  two  stars  were  shining  through 
the  openings  of  the  clouds,  and  the  lights  were 
seen  in  the  village,  glimmering  faintly,  as  if  at  an 
immeasurable  distance.  At  times,  as  the  fire  low- 
ered, or  as  the  horizon  cleared,  the  outline  of  the 
mountain,  on  the  other  side  of  the  lake,  might  be 
traced  by  its  undulations ; but  its  shadow  was 
cast,  wide  and  dense,  on  the  bosom  of  the  wa- 
ter, rendering  the  darkness  in  that  direction 
trebly  deep. 

Benjamin  Pump  was  invariably  the  cockswain 
and  net-caster  of  Richard’s  boat,  unless  the  sher- 
iff saw  fit  to  preside  in  person  ; and,  on  the  pres- 
ent occasion,  Billy  Kirby,  and  a youth  of  about 
half  his  strength,  were  assigned  to  the  oars.  The 
remainder  of  the  assistants  were  stationed  at  the 
drag-ropes.  The  arrangements  were  speedily 
made,  and  Richard  gave  the  signal  to  “ shove 
off.” 

Elizabeth  watched  the  motion  of  the  batteau 
as  it  pulled  from  the  shore,  letting  loose  its  rope 
as  it  went,  but  it  soon  disappeared  in  the  dark- 
ness, when  the  ear  was  her  only  guide  to  its  evo- 
lutions. There  was  great  affectation  of  stillness 
during  all  these  manoeuvres,  in  order,  as  Richard 
assured  them,  “ not  to  frighten  the  bass,  who 
were  running  into  the  shoal  waters,  and  who 
would  approach  the  light  if  not  disturbed  by  the 
sounds  from  the  fishermen.” 

The  hoarse  voice  of  Benjamin  was  alone  heard 
issuing  out  of  the  gloom,  as  be  uttered,  in  author- 
itative tones,  “ pull  larboard  oar,”  “ pull  star- 
board,” “ give  way  together,  boys,”  and  such  other 
dictative  mandates  as  were  necessary  for  the  right 
disposition  of  his  seine.  A long  time  was  passed 
in  this  necessary  part  of  the  process,  for  Benja- 
min prided  himself  greatly  on  his  skill  in  throwing 
the  net,  and,  in  fact,  most  of  the  success  of  the 
sport  depended  on  its  being  done  with  judgment. 
At  length  a loud  splash  in  the  water,  as  he  threw 
away  the  “ staff,”  or  “ stretcher,”  with  a hoarse 
call  from  the  steward,  of  “ clear,”  announced  that 
the  boat  was  returning ; when  Richard  seized  a 
brand  from  the  fire,  and  ran  to  a point,  as  far 
above  the  centre  of  the  fishing-ground,  as  the  one 
from  which  the  batteau  had  started  was  below 
it. 

“ Stick  her  in  dead  for  the  squire,  boys,” 
said  the  steward,  “ and  we’ll  have  a look  at  what 
grows  in  this  here  pond.” 


HAULING  THE  SEINE. 


113 


In  place  of  the  falling  net  were  now  to  be 
heard  the  quick  strokes  of  the  oars,  and  the  noise 
of  the  rope  running  out  of  the  boat.  Presently 
the  batteau  shot  into  the  circle  of  light,  and  in  an 
instant  she  was  pulled  to  the  shore.  Several 
eager  hands  were  extended  to  receive  the  line, 
and,  both  ropes  being  equally  well  manned,  the 
fishermen  commenced  hauling  in  with  slow  and 
steady  drags,  Richard  standing  in  the  centre,  giv- 
ing orders,  first  to  one  party,  and  then  to  the 
other,  to  increase  or  slacken  their  efforts,  as  oc- 
casion required.  The  visitors  were  posted  near 
him,  and  enjoyed  a fair  view  of  the  whole  opera- 
tion, which  was  slowly  advancing  to  an  end. 

Opinions  as  to  the  result  of  their  adventure 
were  now  freely  hazarded  by  all  the  men,  some 
declaring  that  the  net  came  in  as  light  as  a feath- 
er, and  others  affirming  that  it  seemed  to  be  full 
of  logs.  As  the  ropes  were  many  hundred  feet 
in  length,  these  opposing  sentiments  were  thought 
to  be  of  little  moment  by  the  sheriff,  who  would 
go  first  to  one  line,  and  then  to  the  other,  giving 
each  a small  pull,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  form 
an  opinion  for  himself. 

“ Why,  Benjamin,”  he  cried,  as  he  made  his 
first  effort  in  this  way,  “ you  did  not  throw  the 
net  clear.  I can  move  it  with  my  little  finger. 
The  rope  slackens  in  my  hand.” 

“ Did  you  ever  see  a whale,  squire  ? ” respond- 
ed the  steward  : “ I say  that,  if  that  there  net  is 
foul,  the  devil  is  in  the  lake  in  the  shape  of  a fish, 
for  I cast  it  as  fair  as  ever  rigging  was  rove  over  the 
quarter-deck  of  a flag-ship.” 

But  Richard  discovered  his  mistake,  when  he 
saw  Billy  Kirby  before  him,  standing  with  his 
feet  in  the  water,  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees, 
inclining  southward,  and  expending  his  gigantic 
strength  in  sustaining  himself  in  that  posture. 
He  ceased  his  remonstrances,  and  proceeded  to 
the  party  at  the  other  line. 

“ I see  the  1 staffs,’  ” shouted  Mr.  Jones — 
“ gather  in,  boys,  and  away  with  it ; to  shore 
with  her ! — to  shore  with  her ! ” 

At  this  cheerful  sound,  Elizabeth  strained  her 
eyes  and  saw  the  end3  of  the  two  sticks  on  the 
seine  emerging  from  the  darkness,  while  the  men 
closed  near  to  each  other,  and  formed  a deep  bag 
of  their  net.  The  exertions  of  the  fishermen  sen- 
sibly increased,  and  the  voice  of  Richard  was  heard 
encouraging  them  to  make  their  greatest  efforts 
at  the  present  moment. 

“Now’s  the  time,  my  lads,”  he  cried ; “let  us 
get  the  ends  to  land,  and  all  we  have  will  be  our 
own — away  with  her ! ” 

“Away  with  her,  it  is,”  echoed  Benjamin! — 
“ hurrah ! ho-a-hoy,  ho-a-hoy,  ho-a  ! ” 

47  8 


“In  with  her,”  shouted  Kirby,  exerting  him- 
self in  a manner  that  left  nothing  for  those  in  his 
rear  to  do,  but  to  gather  up  the  slack  of  the  rope 
which  passed  through  his  hands. 

“ Staff,  ho  ! ” shouted  the  steward. 

“ Staff,  ho ! ” echoed  Kirby,  from  the  other 
rope. 

The  men  rushed  to  the  water’s  edge,  some 
seizing  the  upper  rope,  and  some  the  lower,  or 
lead-rope,  and  began  to  haul  with  great  activity 
and  zeal.  A deep  semicircular  sweep  of  the  little 
balls  that  supported  the  seine  in  its  perpendicular 
position,  was  plainly  visible  to  the  spectators,  and, 
as  it  rapidly  lessened  in  size,  the  bag  of  the  net 
appeared,  while  an  occasional  flutter  on  the  water 
announced  the  uneasiness  of  the  prisoners  it  con- 
tained. 

“ Haul  in,  my  lads,”  shouted  Richard — “ I can 
see  the  dogs  kicking  to  get  free.  Haul  in,  and 
here’s  a cast  that  will  pay  for  the  labor.” 

Fishes  of  various  sorts  were  now  to  be  seen, 
entangled  in  the  meshes  of  the  net,  as  it  was 
passed  through  the  hands  of  the  laborers;  and 
the  water,  at  a little  distance  from  the  shore,  was 
alive  with  the  movements  of  the  alarmed  victims. 
Hundreds  of  white  sides  were  glancing  up  to  the 
surface  of  the  water,  and  glistening  in  the  fire- 
light, when,  frightened  at  the  uproar  and  the 
change,  the  fish  would  again  dart  to  the  bottom, 
in  fruitless  efforts  for  freedom. 

“ Hurrah ! ” shouted  Richard  : “ one  or  two 
more  heavy  drags,  boys,  and  we  are  safe.” 

“Cheerily,  boys,  cheerily!”  cried  Benjamin; 
“I  see  a salmon-trout  that  is  big  enough  for  a 
chowder.” 

“ Away  with  you,  you  varmint ! ” said  Billy 
Kirby,  plucking  a bull-pout  from  the  meshes,  and 
casting  the  animal  back  into  the  lake  with  con- 
tempt. “ Pull,  boys,  pull ; here’s  all  kinds,  and 
the  Lord  condemn  me  for  a liar,  if  there  an’t  a 
thousand  bass ! ” 

Inflamed  beyond  the  bounds  of  discretion  at 
the  sight,  and  forgetful  of  the  season,  the  wood- 
chopper  rushed  to  his  middle  into  the  water,  and 
began  to  drive  the  reluctant  araimals  before  him 
from  their  native  element. 

“ Pull  heartily,  boys,”  cried  Marmaduke,  yield- 
ing to  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  and  laying 
his  hands  to  the  net,  with  no  trifling  addition  to 
the  force.  Edwards  had  preceded  him ; for  the 
sight  of  the  immense  piles  of  fish,  that  were  slowly 
rolling  over  on  the  gravelly  beach,  had  impelled 
him  also  to  leave  the  ladies,  and  join  the  fisher- 
men. 

Great  care  was  observed  in  bringing  the  net 
to  land,  and,  after  much  toil,  the  whole  shoal  of 


114 


THE  PIONEERS. 


rictims  was  safely  deposited  in  a hollow  of  the 
bank,  where  they  were  left  to  flutter  away  their 
brief  existence  in  the  new  and  fatal  element. 

Even  Elizabeth  and  Louisa  were  greatly  ex- 
cited and  highly  gratified  by  seeing  two  thousand 
captives  thus  drawn  from  the  bosom  of  the  lake, 
and  laid  prisoners  at  their  feet.  But  when  the 
feelings  of  the  moment  were  passing  away,  Mar- 
maduke  took  in  his  hands  a bass,  that  might  have 
weighed  two  pounds,  and  after  viewing  it  a mo- 
ment, in  melancholy  musing,  he  turned  to  his 
daughter,  and  observed : 

“ This  is  a fearful  expenditure  of  the  choicest 
gifts  of  Providence.  These  fish,  Bess,  which  thou 
seest  lying  in  such  piles  before  thee,  and  which 
by  to-morrow  evening  will  be  rejected  food  on  the 
meanest  table  in  Templeton,  are  of  a quality  and 
flavor  that,  in  other  countries,  would  make  them 
esteemed  a luxury  on  the  tables  of  princes  or 
epicures.  The  world  has  no  better  fish  than  the 
bass  of  Otsego:  it  unites  the  richness  of  the 
shad  * to  the  firmness  of  the  salmon.” 

“ But  surely,  dear  sir,”  cried  Elizabeth,  “ they 
must  prove  a great  blessing  to  the  country,  and 
a powerful  friend  to  the  poor.” 

“ The  poor  are  always  prodigal,  my  child, 
where  there  is  plenty,  and  seldom  think  of  a pro- 
vision against  the  morrow.  But,  if  there  can  be 
any  excuse  for  destroying  animals  in  this  manner, 
it  is  in  taking  the  bass.  During  the  winter,  you 
know,  they  are  entirely  protected  from  our  as- 
saults by  the  ice,  for  they  refuse  the  hook  ; and 
during  the  hot  months  they  are  not  seen.  It  is 
supposed  they  retreat  to  the  deep  and  cool  waters 
of  the  lake,  at  that  season ; and  it  is  only  in  the 
spring  and  autumn  that,  for  a few  days,  they  are 
to  be  found  around  the  points  where  they  are 
within  the  reach  of  a seine.  But,  like  all  the 
other  treasures  of  the  wilderness,  they  already 
begin  to  disappear  before  the  wasteful  extrava- 
gance of  man.” 

“ Disappear,  ’duke ! disappear ! ” exclaimed 
the  sheriff;  “if  you  don’t  call  this  appearing,  I 
know  not  what  you  will.  Here  are  a good  thou- 
sand of  the  shiners,  some  hundreds  of  suckers, 
and  a powerful  quantity  of  other  fry.  But  this  is 
always  the  way  with  you,  Marmaduke ; first  it’s 
the  trees,  then  it’s  the  deer,  after  that  it’s  the 
maple  sugar,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 
One  day  you  talk  of  canals  through  a country 
where  there’s  a river  or  a lake  every  half-mile, 
just  because  the  water  won’t  run  the  way  you 
wish  it  to  go ; and,  the  next,  you  say  something 
about  mines  of  coal,  though  any  man  who  has 

* Of  all  the  fish  the  writer  has  ever  tasted,  he  thinks 
the  one  in  question  the  best. 


good  eyes  like  myself— I say  with  good  eyes — can 
see  more  wood  than  would  keep  the  city  of  Lon- 
don  in  fuel  for  fifty  years ; wouldn’t  it,  Benja- 
min ? ” 

“Why,  for  that,  squire,”  said  the  steward. 
“ Lon’on  is  no  small  place.  If  it  was  stretched  an 
end,  all  the  same  as  a town  on  one  side  of  a river, 
it  would  cover  some  such  matter  as  this  here  lake. 
Tho’f  I dar’st  to  say,  that  the  wood  in  sight  might 
sarve  them  a good  turn,  seeing  that  the  Lon’oners 
mainly  burn  coal.” 

“ Now  we  are  on  the  subject  of  coal,  Judge 
Temple,”  interrupted  the  sheriff,  “ I have  a thing 
of  much  importance  to  communicate  to  you  ; but 
I will  defer  it  until  to-morrow.  I know  that  you 
intend  riding  into  the  eastern  part  of  the  Patent, 
and  I will  accompany  you,  and  conduct  you  to  a 
spot  where  some  of  your  projects  may  be  realized. 
W e will  say  no  more  now,  for  there  are  listeners ; 
but  a secret  has  this  evening  been  revealed  to  me, 
’duke,  that  is  of  more  consequence  to  your  wel- 
fare than  all  your  estate  united.” 

Marmaduke  laughed  at  the  important  intelli- 
gence, to  which  in  a variety  of  shapes  he  was  accus- 
tomed, and  the  sheriff,  with  an  air  of  great  dignity, 
as  if  pitying  his  want  of  faith,  proceeded  in  the 
business  more  immediately  before  them.  As  the 
labor  of  drawing  the  net  had  been  very  great,  he 
directed  one  party  of  his  men  to  commence  throw- 
ing  the  fish  into  piles,  preparatory  to  the  usual 
division,  while  another,  under  the  superinten- 
dence of  Benjamin,  prepared  the  seine  for  a sec- 
ond haul. 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 

“While  from  its  margin,  terrible  to  tell! 

' Three  sailors  with  their  gallant  boatswain  fell” 

Falconer. 

While  the  fishermen  were  employed  in  mak- 
ing the  preparations  for  an  equitable  division  of 
the  spoil,  Elizabeth  and  her  friend  strolled  a short 
distance  from  the  group,  along  the  shore  of  the 
lake.  After  reaching  a point,  to  which  even  the 
brightest  of  the  occasional  gleams  of  the  fire  did 
not  extend,  they  turned,  and  paused  a moment,  in 
contemplation  of  the  busy  and  lively  party  they 
had  left,  and  of  the  obscurity,  which,  like  the 
gloom  of  oblivion,  seemed  to  envelop  the  rest  of 
the  creation. 

“ This  is  indeed  a subject  for  the  pencil ! ” ex- 
claimed Elizabeth.  “ Observe  the  countenance  of 
that  wood-chopper,  while  he  exults  in  presenting 
a larger  fish  than  common  to  my  cousin  sherifiT; 


VISIT  OF  NATTY  AND  MOHEGAN. 


115 


And  see,  Louisa,  how  handsome  and  considerate 
my  dear  father  looks,  by  the  light  of  that  fire, 
where  he  stands  viewing  the  havoc  of  the  game. 
He  seems  melancholy,  as  if  he  actually  thought 
that  a day  of  retribution  was  to  follow  this  hour 
of  abundance  and  prodigality  ! Would  they  not 
make  a picture,  Louisa  ? ” 

“ You  know  that  I am  ignorant  of  all  such  ac- 
complishments, Miss  Temple.” 

“ Call  me  by  my  Christian  name,”  interrupted 
Elizabeth  ; “ this  is  not  a place,  neither  is  this  a 
scene,  for  forms.” 

“ Well,  then,  if  I may  venture  an  opinion,” 
said  Louisa,  timidly,  “ I should  think  it  might  in- 
deed make  a picture.  The  selfish  earnestness  of 
that  Kirby  over  his  fish  would  contrast  finely  with 
the — the — expression  of  Mr.  Edwards’s  face.  I 
hardly  know  what  to  call  it ; but  it  is — a — is — 
you  kno^-  what  I would  say,  dear  Elizabeth.” 

“ You  do  me  too  much  credit,  Miss  Grant,”  said 
the  heiress  ; “I  am  no  diviner  of  thoughts,  or  in- 
terpreter of  expressions.” 

There  was  certainly  nothing  harsh,  or  even 
cold,  in  the  manner  of  the  speaker,  but  still  it  re- 
pressed the  conversation,  and  they  continued  to 
stroll  still  farther  from  the  party,  retaining  each 
other’s  arm,  but  observing  a profound  silence. 
Elizabeth,  perhaps,  conscious  of  the  improper 
phraseology  of  her  last  speech,  or  perhaps  excited 
by  the  new  object  that  met  her  gaze,  was  the  first 
to  break  the  awkward  cessation  in  the  discourse, 
by  exclaiming : 

“ Look,  Louisa  ! we  are  not  alone  ; there  are 
fishermen  lighting  a fire  on  the  other  side  of  the 
lake,  immediately  opposite  to  us  ; it  must  be  in 
front  of  the  cabin  of  Leather-stocking ! ” 

Through  the  obscurity,  which  prevailed  most 
immediately  under  the  eastern  mountain,  a small 
and  uncertain  light  was  plainly  to  be  seen,  though, 
as  it  was  occasionally  lost  to  the  eye,  it  seemed 
struggling  for  existence.  They  observed  it  to 
move,  and  sensibly  to  lower,  as  if  carried  down 
the  descent  of  the  bank  to  the  shore.  Here,  in  a 
very  short  time,  its  flame  gradually  expanded, 
and  grew  brighter,  until  it  became  of  the  size  of 
a man’s  head,  when  it  continued  to  shine  a steady 
ball  of  fire.  Such  an  object,  lighted  as  it  were  by 
magic,  under  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  and  in 
that  retired  and  unfrequented  place,  gave  double 
interest  to  the  beauty  and  singularity  of  its  ap- 
pearance. It  did  not  at  all  resemble  the  large  and 
unsteady  light  of  their  own  fire,  being  much  more 
clear  and  bright,  and  retaining  its  size  and  shape 
with  perfect  uniformity. 

There  are  moments  when  the  best-regulated 
minds  are  more  or  less  subjected  to  the  injurious 


impressions  which  few  have  escaped  in  infancy ; 
and  Elizabeth  smiled  at  her  own  weakness,  whilo 
she  remembered  the  idle  tales  which  were  circu- 
lated through  the  village,  at  the  expense  of  the 
Leather-stocking.  The  same  ideas  seized  her 
companion,  and  at  the  same  instant,  for  Louisa 
pressed  nearer  to  her  friend,  as  she  said  in  a low 
voice,  stealing  a timid  glance  toward  the  bushes 
and  trees  that  overhung  the  bank  near  them  : 

“ Did  you  ever  hear  the  singular  ways  of  this 
Natty  spoken  of,  Miss  Temple  ? They  say  that, 
in  his  youth,  he  was  an  Indian  warrior ; or,  what 
is  the  same  thing,  a white  man  leagued  with  the 
savages ; and  it  is  thought  he  has  been  concerned 
in  many  of  their  inroads,  in  the  old  wars.” 

“ The  thing  is  not  at  all  improbable,”  returned 
Elizabeth  ; “ he  is  not  alone  in  that  particular.” 

“ No,  surely  ; but  is  it  not  strange  that  he  is 
so  cautious  with  his  hut  ? He  never  leaves  it, 
without  fastening  it  in  a remarkable  manner ; and 
in  several  instances,  when  the  children,  or  even 
the  men  of  the  village,  have  wished  to  seek  a 
shelter  there  from  the  storms,  he  has  been  known 
to  drive  them  from  his  door  with  rudeness  and 
threats.  That,  surely,  is  singular  in  this  coun- 
try ! ” 

“ It  is  certainly  not  very  hospitable  ; but  we 
must  remember  his  aversion  to  the  customs  of 
civilized  life.  You  heard  my  father  say,  a few 
days  since,  how  kindly  he  was  treated  by  him  on 
his  first  visit  to  his  place.”  Elizabeth  paused, 
and  smiled,  with  an  expression  of  peculiar  arch- 
ness, though  the  darkness  hid  its  meaning  from 
her  companion,  as  she  continued — “ Besides,  he 
certainly  admits  the  visits  of  Mr.  Edwards,  whom 
we  both  know  to  be  far  from  a savage.” 

To  this  speech  Louisa  made  no  reply ; but 
continued  gazing  on  the  object  which  had  elicit- 
ed her  remarks.  In  addition  to  the  bright  and 
circular  flame,  was  now  to  be  seen  a fainter, 
though  a vivid  light,  of  an  equal  diameter  to  the 
other  at  the  upper  end  ; but  which,  after  extend- 
ing downward  for  many  feet,  gradually  tapered 
to  a point  at  its  lower  extremity.  A dark  space 
was  plainly  visible  between  the  two ; and  the 
new  illumination  was  placed  beneath  the  other ; 
the  whole  forming  an  appearance  not  unlike  an 
inverted  note  of  admiration  It  was  soon  evident 
that  the  latter  was  nothing  but  the  reflection, 
from  the  water,  of  the  former ; and  that  the  ob- 
ject, whatever  it  might  be,  was  advancing  across, 
or  rather  over,  the  lake,  for  it  seemed  to  be  sev- 
eral feet  above  its  surface,  in  a direct  line  with 
themselves.  Its  motion  was  amazingly  rapid, 
the  ladies  having  hardly  discovered  that  it  wa? 
moving  at  all,  before  the  waving  light  of  a flame 


116 


THE  PIONEERS. 


tras  discerned,  losing  its  regular  shape,  while  it 
increased  in  size,  as  it  approached. 

“ It  appears  to  be  supernatural ! ” whispered 
Louisa,  beginning  to  retrace  ner  steps  toward  the 
party. 

“ It  is  beautiful ! ” exclaimed  Elizabeth. 

A brilliant,  though  waving  flame,  was  now 
plainly  visible,  gracefully  gliding  over  the  lake, 
and  throwing  its  light  on  the  water  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  tinge  it  slightly ; though  in  the  air, 
so  strong  was  the  contrast,  the  darkness  seemed 
to  have  the  distinctness  of  material  substances, 
as  if  the  fire  were  imbedded  in  a setting  of  ebony. 
This  appearance,  however,  gradually  wore  off ; 
and  the  rays  from  the  torch  struck  out,  and  en- 
lightened the  atmosphere  in  front  of  it,  leaving 
the  background  in  a darkness  that  was  more  im- 
penetrable than  ever. 

“ Ho ! Natty,  is  that  you  ? ” shouted  the 
sheriff.  “Paddle  in,  old  boy,  and  I’ll  give  you 
a mess  of  fish  that  is  fit  to  place  before  the  gov- 
ernor.” 

The  light  suddenly  changed  its  direction,  and 
a long  and  slightly-built  boat  hove  up  out  of  the 
gloom,  while  the  red  glare  fell  on  the  weather- 
beaten features  of  the  Leather-stocking,  whose 
tall  person  was  seen  erect  in  the  frail  vessel, 
wielding,  with  the  grace  of  an  experienced  boat- 
man, a long  fishing-spear,  which  he  held  by  its 
centre,  first  dropping  one  end  and  then  the  other 
into  the  water,  to  aid  in  propelling  the  little  ca- 
noe of  bark,  we  will  not  say  through,  but  over, 
the  water.  At  the  farther  end  of  the  vessel  a 
form  was  faintly  seen,  guiding  its  motions,  and 
using  a paddle  with  the  ease  of  one  who  felt 
there  was  no  necessity  for  exertion.  The  Leather- 
stocking struck  his  spear  lightly  against  the  short 
staff  which  upheld,  on  a rude  grating  framed  of 
old  hoops  of  iron,  the  knots  of  pine  that  com- 
posed the  fuel,  and  the  light,  which  glared  high, 
for  an  instant  fell  on  the  swarthy  features,  and 
dark,  glancing  eyes  of  Mohegan. 

The  boat  glided  along  the  shore  until  it  ar- 
rived opposite  the  fishing-ground,  when  it  again 
changed  its  direction,  and  moved  on  to  the  land, 
with  a motion  so  graceful,  and  yet  so  rapid,  that 
it  seemed  to  possess  the  power  of  regulating  its 
own  progress.  The  water  in  front  of  the  canoe 
was  hardly  ruffled  by  its  passage,  and  no  sound 
betrayed  the  collision,  when  the  light  fabric  shot 
on  the  gravelly  beach  for  nearly  half  its  length, 
Natty  receding  a step  cr  two  from  its  bow,  in 
order  to  facilitate  the  landing. 

“ Approach,  Mohegan,”  said  Marmaduke ; 
“ approach,  Leather-stocking,  and  load  your  ca- 
noe with  bass.  It  would  be  a shame  to  assail  the 


animals  with  the  spear,  when  such  multitudes  of 
victims  lie  here,  that  will  be  lost  as  food  for  the 
want  of  mouths  to  consume  them.” 

“ No,  no,  Judge,”  returned  Natty,  his  tall 
figure  stalking  over  the  narrow  beach,  and  ascend- 
ing to  the  little  grassy  bottom  where  the  fish 
were  laid  in  piles : “ I eat  of  no  man's  wasty 
ways.  I strike  my  spear  into  the  eels  or  the 
trout,  when  I crave  the  creaters  ; but  I wouldn’t 
be  helping  to  such  a sinful  kind  of  fishing  for 
the  best  rifle  that  was  ever  brought  out  from  the 
old  countries.  If  they  had  fur,  like  the  beaver, 
or  you  could  tan  their  hides,  like  a buck,  some- 
thing might  be  said  in  favor  of  taking  them  by 
the  thousand  with  your  nets ; but  as  God  made 
them  for  man’s  food,  and  for  no  other  disamable 
reason,  I call  it  sinful  and  wasty  to  catch  more 
than  can  be  eat.” 

“Your  reasoning  is  mine:  for  once,* old  hun- 
ter, we  agree  in  opinion  ; and  I heartily  wish  we 
could  make  a convert  of  the  sheriff.  A net  of 
half  the  size  of  this  would  supply  the  whole  vil- 
lage with  fish  for  a week  at  one  haul.” 

The  Leather-stocking  did  not  relish  this  alli- 
ance in  sentiment ; and  he  shook  his  head  doubt- 
ingly,  as  he  answered  : 

“ No,  no ; we  are  not  much  of  one  mind, 
Judge,  or  you’d  never  turn  good  hunting-grounds 
into  stumpy  pastures.  And  you  fish  and  hunt 
out  of  rule ; but,  to  me,  the  flesh  is  sweeter  where 
the  creater  has  some  chance  for  its  life  : for  that 
reason,  I always  use  a single  ball,  even  if  it  be  at 
a bird  or  a squirrel.  Besides,  it  saves  lead  ; for, 
when  a body  knows  how  to  shoot,  one  piece  of 
lead  is  enough  for  all,  except  hard-lived  animals.” 

The  sheriff  heard  these  opinions  with  great 
indignation  ; and,  when  he  completed  the  last  ar- 
rangement for  the  division,  by  carrying  with  his 
own  hands  a trout  of  a large  size,  and  placing  it 
oh  four  different  piles  in  succession,  as  his  vacil- 
lating ideas  of  justice  required,  he  gave  vent  to 
his  spleen. 

“ A very  pretty  confederacy,  indeed  ! Judge 
Temple,  the  landlord  and  owner  of  a township, 
with  Nathaniel  Bumppo,  a lawless  squatter,  and 
professed  deer-killer,  in  order  to  preserve  the 
game  of  the  county  ! But,  ’duke,  when  I fish  I 
fish  ; so,  away,  boys,  for  another  haul,  and  we’ll 
send  out  wagons  and  carts  in  the  morning,  to 
bring  in  our  prizes.” 

Marmaduke  appeared  to  understand  that  all 
opposition  to  the  will  of  the  sheriff  would  be 
useless  ; and  he  strolled  from  the  fire  to  the  place 
where  the  canoe  of  the  hunters  lay,  whither  th$ 
ladies  and  Oliver  Edwards  had  already  preceded 
him. 


A CANOE  EXCURSION. 


117 


Curiosity  induced  the  females  to  approach 
this  spot ; but  it  was  a different  motive  that  led 
the  youth  thither.  Elizabeth  examined  the  light 
ashen  timbers  and  thin  bark  covering  of  the  ca- 
noe^  in  admiration  of  its  neat  but  simple  execu- 
tion, and  with  wonder  that  any  human  being 
could  be  so  daring  as  to  trust  his  life  in  so  frail 
a vessel.  But  the  youth  explained  to  her  the 
buoyant  properties  of  the  boat,  and  its  perfect 
safety  when  under  proper  management ; adding, 
in  such  glowing  terms,  a description  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  fish  were  struck  with  the  spear, 
that  she  changed  suddenly,  from  an  apprehension 
of  the  danger  of  the  excursion,  to  a desire  to  par- 
ticipate in  its  pleasures.  She  even  ventured  a 
proposition  to  that  effect  to  her  father,  laughing 
at  the  same  time  at  her  own  wish,  and  accusing 
herself  of  acting  under  a woman’s  caprice. 

“ Say  not  so,  Bess,”  returned  the  Judge  : “I 
would  have  you  above  the  idle  fears  of  a silly 
girl.  These  canoes  are  the  safest  kind  of  boats 
to  those  who  have  skill  and  steady  nerves.  I 
have  crossed  the  broadest  part  of  the  Oneida  in 
one  much  smaller  than  this.” 

“ And  I the  Ontary,”  interrupted  the  Leather- 
stocking  ; “ and  that  with  squaws  in  the  canoe, ^ 
too.  But  the  Delaware  women  are  used  to  the 
paddle,  and  are  good  hands  in  a boat  of  this  na- 
ter.  If  the  young  lady  would  like  to  see  an  old 
man  strike  a trout  for  his  breakfast,  she  is  wel- 
come to  a seat.  John  will  say  the  same,  seeing 
that  he  built  the  canoe,  which  was  only  launched 
yesterday  ; for  I’m  not  over-curous  at  such  small 
work  as  brooms,  and  basket-making,  and  other 
like  Indian  trades.” 

Natty  gave  Elizabeth  one  of  his  significant 
laughs,  with  a kind  nod  of  the  head,  when  he  con- 
cluded his  invitation ; but  Mohegan,  with  the 
native  grace  of  an  Indian,  approached,  and  tak- 
ing her  soft  white  hand  into  his  own  swarthy  and 
wrinkled  palm,  said : 

“ Come,  grand-daughter  of  Miquon,  and  John 
will  be  glad.  Trust  the  Indian ; his  head  is  old, 
though  his  hand  is  not  steady.  The  young  Eagle 
will  go,  and  see  that  no  harm  hurts  his  sister.” 

“ Mr.  Edwards,”  said  Elizabeth,  blushing 
slightly,  “ your  friend  Mohegan  has  given  a prom- 
ise for  you.  Do  you  redeem  the  pledge  ? ” 

“With  my  life,  if  necessary,  Miss  Temple,” 
cried  the  youth,  with  fervor.  “ The  sight  is  worth 
some  little  apprehension ; for  of  real  danger  there 
is  none.  I will  go  with  you  and  Miss  Grant,  how- 
ever, to  save  appearances.” 

“ With  me ! ” exclaimed  Louisa.  “ No,  not 
with  me,  Mr.  Edwards  ; nor,  surely,  do  you  mean 
to  trust  yourself  in  that  slight  canoe.” 


“ But  I shall ; for  I have  no  apprehensions  any 
longer,”  said  Elizabeth,  stepping  into  the  boat, 
and  taking  a seat  where  the  Indian  directed. 
“ Mr.  Edwards,  you  may  remain,  as  three  do  seem 
to  be  enough  for  such  an  egg-shell.” 

“ It  shall  hold  a fourth,”  cried  the  young  man, 
springing  to  her  side,  with  a violence  that  nearly 
shook  the  weak  fabric  of  the  vessel  asunder. 
“ Pardon  me,  Miss  Temple,  that  I do  not  permit 
these  venerable  Charons  to  take  you  to  the  shades 
unattended  by  your  genius.” 

“ Is  it  a good  or  evil  spirit  ? ” asked  Eliza- 
beth. 

“ Good  to  you.” 

“ And  mine,”  added  the  maiden,  with  an  air 
that  strangely  blended  pique  with  satisfaction. 
But  the  motion  of  the  canoe  gave  rise  to  new 
ideas,  and  fortunately  afforded  a good  excuse  to 
the  young  man  to  change  the  discourse. 

It  appeared  to  Elizabeth  that  they  glided  over 
the  water  by  magic,  so  easy  and  graceful  was  the 
manner  in  which  Mohegan  guided  his  little  bark. 
A slight  gesture  with  his  spear  indicated  the  way 
in  which  Leather-stocking  wished  to  go,  and  a 
profound  silence  was  preserved  by  the  whole  party, 
as  the  precaution  necessary  to  the  success  of  their 
fishery.  At  that  point  of  the  lake,  the  water 
shoaled  regularly,  differing  in  this  particular,  alto- 
gether, from  those  parts  where  the  mountains  rose, 
nearly  in  perpendicular  precipices,  from  the  beach. 
There,  the  largest  vessels  could  have  lain,  with 
their  yards  interlocked  with  the  pines  ; while  here 
a scanty  growth  of  rushes  lifted  their  tops  above 
the  lake,  gently  curling  the  waters,  as  their  bend- 
ing heads  waved  with  the  passing  breath  of  the 
night  air.  It  was  at  the  shallow  points,  only, 
that  the  bass  could  be  found,  or  the  net  cast 
with  success. 

Elizabeth  saw  thousands  of  these  fish  swim- 
ming in  shoals  along  the  shallow  and  warm  wa- 
ters of  the  shore ; for  the  flaring  light  of  their 
torch  laid  bare  the  mysteries  of  the  lake,  as  plain- 
ly as  if  the  limpid  sheet  of  the  Otsego  was  but 
another  atmosphere.  Every  instant  she  expected 
to  see  the  impending  spear  of  Leather-stocking 
darting  into  the  thronging  hosts  that  were  rush- 
ing beneath  her,  where  it  would  seem  that  a blow 
could  not  go  amiss  ; and  where,  as  her  father  had 
already  said,  the  prize  that  would  be  obtained 
was  worthy  any  epicure.  But  Natty  had  his  pecu- 
liar habits,  and,  it  would  seem,  his  peculiar  tastes 
also.  His  tall  stature,  and  his  erect  posture,  en- 
abled him  to  see  much  farther  than  those  who 
were  seated  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe ; and  he 
turned  his  head  warily  in  every  direction,  fre- 
quently bending  his  body  forward,  and  straining 


118 


THE  PIONEERS. 


his  vision,  as  if  desirous  of  penetrating  the  water 
that  surrounded  their  boundary  of  light.  At 
length  his  anxious  scrutiny  was  rewarded  with 
success,  and,  waving  his  spear  from  the  shore, 
he  said  in  a cautious  tone : 

“Send  her  outside  the  bass,  John;  I see  a 
laker  there,  that  has  run  out  of  the  school.  It’s 
seldom  one  finds  such  a creater  in  shallow  water, 
where  a spear  can  touch  it.” 

Mohegan  gave  a wave  of  assent  with  his  hand, 
and  in  the  next  instant  the  canoe  was  without  the 
“ run  of  the  bass,”  and  in  water  nearly  twenty 
feet  in  depth.  A few  additional  knots  were  laid 
on  the  grating,  and  the  light  penetrated  to  the 
bottom.  Elizabeth  then  saw  a fish  of  unusual 
size  floating  above  small  pieces  of  logs  and  sticks. 
The  animal  was  only  distinguishable,  at  that  dis- 
tance, by  a slight  but  almost  imperceptible  motion 
of  its  fins  and  tail.  The  curiosity  excited  by  this 
unusual  exposure  of  the  secrets  of  the  lake  seemed 
to  be  mutual  between  the  heiress  of  the  land  and 
the  lord  of  these  waters,  for  the  “ salmon-trout  ” 
soon  announced  his  interest  by  raising  his  head 
and  body  for  a few  degrees  above  a horizontal 
line,  and  then  dropping  them  again  into  a hori- 
zontal position. 

“ Whist ! whist ! ” said  Natty,  in  a low  voice, 
Dn  hearing  a slight  sound  made  by  Elizabeth  in 
sending  over  the  side  of  the  canoe  in  curiosity  ; 
“ ’tis  a skeary  animal,  and  it’s  a far  stroke  for  a 
ipear.  My  handle  is  but  fourteen  foot,  and  the 
creater  lies  a good  eighteen  from  the  top  of  the 
ivater  ; but  I’ll  try  him,  for  he’s  a ten-pounder.” 

While  speaking,  the  Leather  - stocking  was 
poising  and  directing  his  weapon.  Elizabeth  saw 
the  bright,  polished  tines,  as  they  slowly  and 
silently  entered  the  water,  where  the  refraction 
pointed  them  many  degrees  from  the  true  direc- 
tion of  the  fish  ; and  she  thought  that  the  intended 
victim  saw  them  also,  as  he  seemed  to  increase 
the  play  of  his  tail  and  fins,  though  without  mov- 
ing his  station.  At  the  next  instant  the  tall  body 
of  Natty  bent  to  the  water’s  edge,  and  the  handle 
of  his  spear  disappeared  in  the  lake.  The  long, 
dark  streak  of  the  gliding  weapon,  and  the  little 
bubbling  vortex  which  followed  its  rapid  flight, 
were  easily  to  be  seen  ; but  it  was  not  until  the 
handle  shot  again  into  the  air  by  its  own  reaction, 
and  its  master  catching  it  in  his  hand,  threw  its 
tines  uppermost,  that  Elizabeth  was  acquainted 
with  the  success  of  the  blow.  A fish  of  great 
size  was  transfixed  by  the  barbed  steel,  and  was 
very  soon  shaken  from  its  impaled  situation  into 
the  bottom  of  the  canoe. 

“That  will  do,  John,’?  said  Natty,  raising  his 
prize  by  one  of  his  fingers,  and  exhibiting  it  be- 


fore the  torch  ; “ I shall  not  strike  another  blow 
to-night.” 

The  Indian  again  waved  his  hand,  and  replied 
with  the  simple  and  energetic  monosyllabic  of — 

“ Good.” 

Elizabeth  was  awakened  from  the  trance  crea- 
ted by  this  scene,  and  by  gazing  in  that  unusual 
manner  at  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  by  the  hoarse 
sounds  of  Benjamin’s  voice,  and  the  dashing  of 
oars,  as  the  heavier  boat  of  the  seine-drawers  ap- 
proached the  spot  where  the  canoe  lay,  dragging 
after  it  the  folds  of  the  net. 

“ Haul  off,  haul  off,  Master  Bumppo,”  cried 
Benjamin ; “ your  top-light  frightens  the  fish, 
who  see  the  net  and  sheer  off  soundings.  A fish 
knows  as  much  as  a horse,  or,  for  that  matter, 
more,  seeing  that  it’s  brought  up  on  the  water. 
Haul  off,  Master  Bumppo,  haul  off,  I say,  and  give 
a wide  berth  to  the  seine.” 

Mohegan  guided  their  little  canoe  to  a point 
where  the  movements  of  the  fishermen  could  be 
observed,  without  interruption  to  the  business, 
and  then  suffered  it  to  lie ' quietly  on  the  water, 
looking  like  an  imaginary  vessel  floating  in  air. 
There  appeared  to  be  much  ill-humor  among  the 
party  in  the  batteau,  for  the  directions  of  Benja- 
min were  not  only  frequent,  but  issued  in  a voice 
that  partook  largely  of  dissatisfaction. 

“ Pull  larboard  oar,  will  ye,  Master  Kirby  ? ” 
cried  the  old  seaman;  “pull  larboard  best.  It 
would  puzzle  the  oldest  admiral  in  the  British 
fleet  to  cast  this  here  net  fair,  with  a wake  like  a 
corkscrew.  Pull  starboard,  boy,  pull  starboard 
oar,  with  a will.” 

“ Harkee,  Mister  Pump,”  said  Kirby,  ceasing 
to  row,  and  speaking  with  some  spirit ; “ I’m  a 
man  that  likes  civil  language  and  decent  treat- 
ment, such  as  is  right  ’twixt  man  and  man.  If 
you  want  us  to  go  hoy,  say  so,  and  hoy  I’ll  go, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  company  ; but  I’m  not  used 
to  being  ordered  about  like  dumb  cattle.” 

“ Who’s  dumb  cattle  ? ” echoed  Benjamin, 
fiercely,  turning  his  forbidding  face  to  the  glare 
of  light  from  the  canoe,  and  exhibiting  every 
feature  teeming  with  the  expression  of  disgust. 
“ If  you  want  to  come  aft  and  cun  the  boat 
round,  come,  and  be  damned,  and  pretty  steerage 
you’ll  make  of  it.  There’s  but  another  heave  of 
the  net  in  the  stern-sheets,  and  we’re  clear  of  the 
thing.  Give  way,  will  ye  ? and  shoot  her  ahead 
for  a fathom  or  two,  and  if  you  catch  me  afloat 
again  with  such  a horse-marine  as  yourself,  why, 
rate  me  a ship’s  jackass,  that’s  all.” 

Probably  encouraged  by  the  prospect  of  a 
speedy  termination  to  his  labor,  the  wood-chopper 
resumed  his  oar,  and,  under  strong  excitement. 


THE  STEWARD  OVERBOARD. 


119 


gave  a stroke,  that  not  only  cleared  the  boat  of 
the  net  but  of  the  steward,  at  the  same  instant. 
Benjamin  had  stood  on  the  little  platform  that 
held  the  seine,  in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  the 
violent  whirl  occasioned  by  the  vigor  of  the  wood- 
chopper’s  arm  completely  destroyed  his  balance. 
The  position  of  the  lights  rendered  objects  in  the 
batteau  distinguishable,  both  from  the  canoe  and 
the  shore ; and  the  heavy  fall  on  the  water  drew 
all  eyes  to  the  steward,  as  he  lay  struggling,  for  a 
moment,  in  sight. 

A loud  burst  of  merriment,  to  which  the  lungs 
of  Kirby  contributed  no  small  part,  broke  out 
like  a chorus  of  laughter,  and  rang  along  the  east- 
ern mountain,  in  echoes,  until  it  died  away  in  dis- 
tant, mocking  mirth,  among  the  rocks  and  woods. 
The  body  of  the  steward  was  seen  slowly  to  dis- 
appear, as  was  expected ; but  when  the  light 
waves,  which  had  been  raised  by  his  fall,  began 
to  sink  in  calmness,  and  the  water  finally  closed 
over  his  head,  unbi’oken  and  still,  a very  different 
feeling  pervaded  the  spectators. 

“ How  fare  you,  Benjamin  ? ” shouted  Richard 
from  the  shore. 

“ The  dumb  devil  can’t  swim  a stroke  ! ” ex- 
claimed Kirby,  rising,  and  beginning  to  throw 
aside  his  clothes. 

“ Paddle  up,  Mohegan,  ” cried  young  Edwards, 
“ the  light  will  show  us  where  he  lies,  and  I will 
dive  for  the  body.” 

“ Oh  ! save  him  ! for  God’s  sake,  save  him ! ” 
exclaimed  Elizabeth,  bowing  her  head  on  the  side 
of  the  canoe  in  horror. 

A powerful  and  dexterous  sweep  of  Mohe- 
gan’s  paddle  sent  the  canoe  directly  over  the  spot 
where  the  steward  had  fallen,  and  a loud  shout 
from  the  Leather-stocking  announced  that  he  saw 
the  body. 

“ Steady  the  boat  while  I dive,”  again  cried 
Edwards.  , 

“ Gently,  lad,  gently,”  said  Natty  ; “ I’ll  spear 
the  creater  up  in  half  the  time,  and  no  risk  to 
anybody.” 

The  form  of  Benjamin  was  lying,  about  half 
way  to  the  bottom,  grasping  with  both  hands 
some  broken  rushes.  The  blood  of  Elizabeth 
curdled  to  her  heart,  as  she  saw  the  figure  of  a 
fellow-creature  thus  extended  under  an  immense 
sheet  of  water,  apparently  in  motion,  by  the  un- 
dulations of  the  dying  waves,  with  its  face  and 
hands,  viewed  by  that  light,  and  through  the  me- 
dium of  the  fluid,  already  colored  with  hues  like 
death. 

At  the  same  instant,  she  saw  the  shining  tines 
of  Natty’s  spear  approaching  the  head  of  the 
sufferer,  and  entwining  themselves,  rapidly  and 


dexterously,  in  the  hairs  of  his  cue  and  the  cape 
of  his  coat.  The  body  was  now  raised  slowly, 
looking  ghastly  and  grim,  as  its  features  turned 
upward  to  the  light,  and  approached  the  surface. 
The  arrival  of  the  nostrils  of  Benjamin  into  their 
own  atmosphere  was  announced  by  a breathing 
that  would  have  done  credit  to  a porpoise.  For 
a moment,  Natty  held  the  steward  suspended, 
with  his  head  just  above  the  water,  while  his  eyes 
slowly  opened,  and  stared  about  him,  as  if  he 
thought  that  he  had  reached  a new  and  unexplored 
country. 

As  all  the  parties  acted  and  spoke  together, 
much  less  time  was  consumed  m the  occurrence 
of  these  events,  than  in  their  narration.  To  bring 
the  batteau  to  the  end  of  the  spear,  and  to  raise 
the  form  of  Benjamin  into  the  boat,  and  for  the 
whole  party  to  gain  the  shore,  required  but  a 
minute.  Kirby,  aided  by  Richard,  whose  anxiety 
induced  him  to  run  into  the  water  to  meet  his 
favorite  assistant,  carried  the  motionless  steward 
up  the  bank,  and  seated  him  before  the  fire,  while 
the  sheriff  proceeded  to  order  the  most  approved 
measures  then  in  use,  for  the  resuscitation  of  the 
drowned. 

“Run,  Billy,”  he  cried,  “to  the  village,  and 
bring  up  the  rum-hogshead  that  lies  before  the 
door,  in  which  I am  making  vinegar,  and  be 
quick,  boy,  don’t  stay  to  empty  the  vinegar,  and 
stop  at  Mr.  Le  Quoi’s,  and  buy  a paper  of  to- 
bacco and  half-a-dozen  pipes ; and  ask  Remark- 
able for  some  salt,  and  one  of  her  flannel  petti- 
coats ; and  ask  Dr.  Todd  to  send  his  lancet,  and 
to  come  himself ; and — ha ! ’duke,  what  are  you 
about  ? would  you  strangle  a man  who  is  full  of 
water,  by  giving  him  rum  ! Help  me  to  open  his 
hand,  that  I may  pat  it.” 

All  this  time  Benjamin  sat,  with  his  muscles 
fixed,  his  mouth  shut,  and  his  hands  clinching  the 
rushes,  which  he  had  seized  in  the  confusion  of 
the  moment,  and  which,  as  he  held  fast,  like  a 
true  seaman,  had  been  the  means  of  preventing 
his  body  from  rising  again  to  the  surface.  His 
eyes,  however,  were  open,  and  stared  wildly  on  the 
group  about  the  fire,  while  his  lungs  were  playing 
like  a blacksmith’s  bellows,  as  if  to  compensate 
themselves  for  the  minute  of  inaction  to  which 
they  had  been  subjected.  As  he  kept  his  lips 
compressed,  with  a most  inveterate  determination, 
the  air  was  compelled  to  pass  through  his  nos- 
trils, and  he  rather  snorted  than  breathed,  and  in 
such  a manner,  that  nothing  but  the  excessive 
agitation  of  the  sheriff  could  at  all  justify  his  pre- 
cipitous orders. 

The  bottle,  applied  to  the  steward’s  lips  by 
Marmaduke,  acted  like  a charm.  His  moutfc 


L 20 


THE  PIONEERS. 


opened  instinctively  ; his  hands  dropped  the  rush- 
es, and  seized  the  glass ; his  eyes  raised  from 
their  horizontal  stare  to  the  heavens ; and  the 
whole  man  was  lost,  for  a moment,  in  a new  sen- 
sation. Unhappily  for  the  propensity  of  the 
steward,  breath  was  as  necessary  after  one  of 
these  draughts  as  after  his  submersion,  and  the 
time  at  length  arrived  when  he  was  compelled  to 
let  go  the  bottle. 

“ Why,  Benjamin  ! ” roared  the  sheriff ; “ you 
amaze  me ! for  a man  of  your  experience  in  drown- 
ings  to  act  so  foolishly  ! just  now,  you  were  half 
full  of  water,  and  now  you  are — ” 

“ Full  of  grog,”  interrupted  the  steward,  his 
features  settling  down,  with  amazing  flexibility, 
into  their  natural  economy.  “ But,  d’ye  see,  squire, 
I kept  my  hatches  close  and  it  is  but  little  water  that 
ever  gets  into  my  scuttle-butt.  Harkee,  Master 
Kirby ! I’ve  followed  the  salt  water  for  the  better 
part  of  a man’s  life,  and  have  seen  some  navigation 
on  the  fresh  ; but  this  here  matter  I will  say  in  your 
favor,  and  that  is,  that  you’re  the  awk’ardest 
green’un  that  ever  straddled  a boat’s  thwart.  Them 
that  likes  you  for  a shipmate,  may  sail  with  you  and 
no  thanks ; but  dam’me  if  I even  walk  on  the  lake 
shore  in  your  company.  For  why  ? you’d  as  lief 
drown  a man  as  one  of  them  there  fish ; not  to 
throw  a Christian  creature  so  much  as  a rope’s  end 
when  he  was  adrift,  and  no  life-buoy  in  sight ! — 
Natty  Bumppo,  give  us  your  fist.  There’s  them 
that  says  you’re  an  Indian,  and  a scalper,  but 
you’ve  served  me  a good  turn,  and  you  may  set  me 
down  for  a friend ; tho’f  it  would  have  been  more 
shipshape  to  lower  the  bight  of  a rope,  or  running 
bowline,  below  me,  than  to  seize  an  old  seaman 
by  his  head-lanyard  ; but  I suppose  you  are  used 
to  taking  men  by  the  hair,  and,  seeing  you  did  me 
good  instead  of  harm  thereby,  why,  it’s  the  same 
thing,  d’ye  see.” 

Marmaduke  prevented  any  reply,  and  assum- 
ing the  direction  of  matters  with  a dignity  and 
discretion  that  at  once  silenced  all  opposition  from 
his  cousin,  Benjamin  was  dispatched  to  the  vil- 
lage by  land,  and  the  net  was  hauled  to  shore  in 
such  a manner  that  the  fish  for  once  escaped  its 
meshes  with  impunity. 

The  division  of  the  spoils  was  made  in  the 
ordinary  manner,  by  placing  one  of  the  party 
with  his  back  to  the  game,  who  named  the  owner 
of  each  pile.  Billy  Kirby  stretched  his  large 
frame  on  the  grass  by  the  side  of  the  fire,  as  sen- 
tinel until  morning,  over  net  and  fish ; and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  party  embarked  in  the  batteau,  to 
return  to  the  village. 

The  wood-chopper  was  seen  broiling  his  sup- 
per on  the  coals  as  they  lost  sight  of  the  fire, 


and,  when  the  boat  approached  the  shore,  tic 
torch  of  Mohegan’s  canoe  was  shining  again 
under  the  gloom  of  the  eastern  mountain.  Its 
motion  ceased  suddenly ; a scattering  of  brands 
was  in  the  air,  and  then  all  remained  dark  as  the 
conjunction  of  night,  forest,  and  mountain,  could 
render  the  scene. 

The  thoughts  of  Elizabeth  wandered  from  the 
youth,  who  was  holding  a canopy  of  shawls  over 
herself  and  Louisa,  to  the  hunter  and  the  Indian 
warrior ; and  she  felt  an  awakening  curiosity  to 
visit  a hut  where  men  of  such  different  habits 
and  temperament  were  drawn  together  as  bv 
common  impulse. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

“ Cease  all  this  parlance  about  hills  and  dales: 

None  listen  to  thy  scenes  of  boyish  frolic, 

Fond  dotard ! with  such  tickled  ears  as  thou  dost : 

Come  1 to  thy  tale.” 

Duo. 

Mr.  Jones  arose  on  the  following  morning 
with  the  sun,  and,  ordering  his  own  and  Marma- 
duke’s  steeds  to  be  saddled,  he  proceeded,  with 
a countenance  big  with  some  business  of  unusual 
moment,  to  the  apartment  of  the  Judge.  The 
door  was  unfastened,  and  Richard  entered,  with 
the  freedom  that  characterized  not  only  the  inter- 
course between  the  cousins,  but  the  ordinary 
manners  of  the  sheriff. 

“Well,  ’duke,  to  horse,”  he  cried,  “and  I 
will  explain  to  you  my  meaning  in  the  allusions  I 
made  last  night.  David  says,  in  the  Psalms — no, 
it  was  Solomon,  but  it  was  all  in  the  family — 
Solomon  said  there  was  a time  for  all  things  ; and, 
»in  my  humble  opinion,  a fishing-party  is  not  the 
moment  for  discussing  important  subjects.  Ha! 
why,  what  the  devil  ails  you,  Marmaduke  ? an’t 
you  well  ? let  me  feel  your  pulse : my  grand- 
father, you  know — ” 

“ Quite  well  in  the  body,  Richard,”  interrupted 
the  Judge,  repulsing  his  cousin,  who  was  about  to 
assume  the  functions  that  properly  belonged  to 
Dr.  Todd ; “ but  ill  at  heart.  I received  letters 
by  the  post  of  last  night,  after  we  returned  from 
the  point,  and  this  among  the  number.” 

The  sheriff  took  the  letter,  but  without  turn- 
ing his  eyes  on  the  writing,  for  he  was  examining 
the  appearance  of  the  other  with  astonishment 
From  the  face  of  his  cousin  the  gaze  of  Richard 
wandered  to  the  table,  which  was  covered  with 
letters,  packets,  and  newspapers;  then  to  the 


BAD  NEWS. 


121 


apartment  and  all  that  it  contained.  On  the  bed 
there  was  the  impression  that  had  been  made  by 
a human  form,  but  the  coverings  were  unmoved, 
and  every  thing  indicated  that  the  occupant  of 
the  room  had  passed  a sleepless  night.  The 
candles  had  burned  to  the  sockets,  and  had  evi- 
dently extinguished  themselves  in  their  own  frag- 
ments. Marmaduke  had  drawn  his  curtains,  and 
opened  both  the  shutters  and  the  sashes,  to  admit 
the  balmy  air  of  a spring  morning ; but  his  pale 
cheek,  his  quivering  lip,  and  his  sunken  eye,  pre- 
sented altogether  so  very  different  an  appearance 
from  the  usual  calm,  manly,  and  cheerful  aspect  of 
the  Judge,  that  the  sheriff  grew  each  moment 
more  and  more  bewildered  with  astonishment. 
At  length  Richard  found  time  to  cast  his  eyes 
on  the  direction  of  the  letter,  which  he  still 
held  unopened,  crumpling  it  in  his  hand. 

“ What ! a ship-letter ! ” he  exclaimed  ; “ and 
from  England ! ha ! ’duke,  there  must  be  news 
of  importance  indeed ! ” 

“ Read  it,”  said  Marmaduke,  pacing  the  floor 
in  excessive  agitation. 

Richard,  who  commonly  thought  aloud,  was 
unable  to  read  a letter  without  suffering  part  of 
its  contents  to  escape  him  in  audible  sounds.  So 
much  of  the  epistle  as  was  divulged  in  that  man- 
ner, we  shall  lay  before  the  reader,  accompanied 
by  the  passing  remarks  of  the  sheriff : 

‘“London,  February  12th,  1793.’  What  a 
devil  of  a passage  she  had ! but  the  wind  has 
been  northwest  for  six  weeks,  until  within  the 
last  fortnight. 

“ ‘ Sir,  your  favors  of  August  10th,  September 
23d,  and  of  December  1st,  were  received  in  due  sea- 
son, and  the  first  answered  by  return  of  packet. 
Since  the  receipt  of  the  last,  I ’ ” — here  a long 
passage  was  rendered  indistinct,  by  a kind  of 
humming  noise  made  by  the  sheriff — “ ‘ I grieve 
to  say,  that  ’ — hum,  hum,  bad  enough  to  be  sure 
— ‘ but  trust  that  a merciful  Providence  has  seen 
fit  ’ — hum,  hum,  hum ; seems  to  be  a good  pious 
sort  of  a man,  ’duke ; belongs  to  the  established 
church,  I dare  say;  hum,  hum — ‘vessel  sailed 
from  Falmouth  on  or  about  the  1st  September  of 
last  year,  and  ’ — hum,  hum,  hum.  ‘ If  any 
thing  should  transpire  on  this  afflicting  subject 
shall  not  fail  ’ — hum,  hum ; really  a good-hearted 
man,  for  a lawyer — ‘ but  can  communicate  noth- 
ing further  at  present’ — hum,  hum.  ‘The  na- 
tional convention  ’ — hum,  hum  — * unfortunate 
Louis’ — hum,  hum — ‘example  of  your  Washing- 
ton ’ — a very  sensible  man,  I declare,  and  none 
of  your  crazy  democrats.  Hum,  hum  — ‘our 
gallant  navy  ’ — hum,  hum — ‘ under  our  most  ex- 
cellent monarch  ’ — ay,  a good  man  enough,  that 


King  George,  but  bad  adttsers;  hum,  hum — ‘I 
beg  to  conclude  with  assurances  of  my  perfect 
respect  ’ — hum,  hum — ‘ Andrew  Holt.’ — Andrew 
Holt — a very  sensible,  feeling  man,  this  Mr. 
Andrew  Holt — but  the  writer  of  evil  tidings. 
What  will  you  do  next,  cousin  Marmaduke  ? ” 

“ What  can  I do,  Richard,  but  trust  to  time, 
and  the  will  of  Heaven  ? Here  is  another  letter 
from  Connecticut,  but  it  only  repeats  the  sub- 
stance of  the  last.  There  is  but  one  consoling 
reflection  to  b<3  gathered  from  the  English  news, 
which  is,  that  my  last  letter  was  received  by  him 
before  the  ship  sailed.” 

“This  is  bad  enough,  indeed!  ’duke,  bad 
enough,  indeed ! and  away  go  all  my  plans,  of 
putting  wings  to  the  house,  to  the  devil.  I had 
made  arrangements  for  a ride  to  introduce  you 
to  some  thing  of  a very  important  nature.  You 
know  how  much  you  think  of  mines — ” 

“Talk  not  of  mines,”  interrupted  the  Judge; 
“ there  is  a sacred  duty  to  be  performed,  and  that 
without  delay.  I must  devote  this  day  to  writ- 
ing ; and  thou  must  be  my  assistant,  Richard  ; it 
will  not  do  to  employ  Oliver  in  a matter  of  such 
secrecy  and  interest.” 

“No,  no,  ’duke,”  cried  the  sheriff,  squeezing 
his  hand;  “I  am  your  man,  just  now:  we  are 
sisters’  children,  and  blood,  after  all,  is  the  best 
cement  to  make  friendship  stick  together.  Well, 
well,  there  is  no  hurry  about  the  silver-mine,  just 
now ; another  time  will  do  as  well.  W e shall 
want  Dirky  Yan,  I suppose  ? ” 

Marmaduke  assented  to  this  indirect  question, 
and  the  sheriff  relinquished  all  his  intentions  on 
the  subject  of  the  ride,  and,  repairing  to  the 
breakfast  parlor,  he  dispatched  a messenger  to 
require  the  immediate  presence  of  Dirck  Yan  dev 
School. 

The  village  of  Templeton  at  that  time  sup- 
ported but  two  lawyers,  one  of  whom  was  intro- 
duced to  our  readers  in  the  bar-room  of  the  “ Bold 
Dragoon,”  and  the  other  was  the  gentleman  of 
whom  Richard  spoke  by  the  friendly  yet  familiar 
appellation  of  Dirck,  or  Dirky  Yan.  Great  good- 
nature, a very  tolerable  share  of  skill  in  his  pro- 
fession, and,  considering  the  circumstances,  no 
contemptible  degree  of  honesty,  were  the  princi- 
pal ingredients  in  the  character  of  this  man,  whc 
was  known  to  the  settlers  as  Squire  Yan  der 
School,  and  sometimes  by  the  flattering  though 
anomalous  title  of  the  “ Dutch”  or  “honest  law- 
yer.” We  would  not  wish  to  mislead  our  readers 
in  their  conceptions  of  any  of  our  characters,  and 
we  therefore  feel  it  necessary  to  add  that  the  ad- 
jective, in  the  preceding  agnomen  of  Mr.  Yan 
der  School,  was  U3ed  in  direct  reference  to  its  sul> 


122 


THE  PIONEERS. 


etantive.  Our  orthodox  friends  need  not  be  told, 
that  all  the  merit  in  this  world  is  comparative ; 
and,  once  for  all,  we  desire  to  say  that,  where  any 
thing  which  involves  qualities  or  character  is  as- 
serted, we  must  be  understood  to  mean,  “ under 
the  circumstances.” 

During  the  remainder  of  the  day,  the  Judge 
was  closeted  with  his  cousin  and  his  lawyer  ; and 
no  one  else  was  admitted  to  his  apartment,  ex- 
cepting his  daughter.  The  deep  distress  that  so 
evidently  affected  Marmaduke,  was'  in  some  meas- 
ure communicated  to  Elizabeth  also  : for  a look 
of  dejection  shaded  her  intelligent  features,  and 
the  buoyancy  of  her  animated  spirits  was  sen- 
sibly softened.  Once  on  that  day,  young  Ed- 
wards, who  was  a wondering  and  observant  spec- 
tator of  the  sudden  alteration  produced  in  the 
heads  of  the  family,  detected  a tear  stealing  over 
the  cheek  of  Elizabeth,  and  suffusing  her  bright 
eyes  with  a softness  that  did  not  always  belong  to 
their  expression. 

“ Have  any  evil  tidings  been  received,  Miss 
Temple  ? ” he  inquired,  with  an  interest  and  voice 
that  caused  Louisa  Grant  to  raise  her  head  from 
her  needlework,  with  a quickness  at  which  she  in- 
stantly blushed  herself.  “ I would  offer  my  ser- 
vices to  your  father,  if,  as  I suspect,  he  needs  an 
agent  in  some  distant  place,  and  I thought  it 
would  give  you  relief.” 

“ We  have  certainly  heard  bad  news,”  re- 
turned Elizabeth,  “ and  it  may  be  necessary  that 
my  father  should  leave  home  for  a short  period  ; 
unless  I can  persuade  him  to  trust  my  cousin 
Richard  with  the  business,  whose  absence  from 
the  country,  just  at  this  time,  too,  might  be  inex- 
pedient.” 

The  youth  paused  a moment,  and  the  blood 
gathered  slowly  to  his  temples  as  he  continued : 

“ If  it  be  of  a nature  that  I could  execute — ” 

“ It  is  such  as  can  only  be  confided  to  one  we 
know — one  of  ourselves.” 

“ Surely,  you  know  me,  Miss  Temple ! ” he 
added,  with  a warmth  that  he  seldom  exhibited, 
but  which  did  sometimes  escape  him  in  the  mo- 
ments of  their  frank  communications.  “Have 
I lived  five  months  under  your  roof  to  be  a stran- 
ger ? ” 

Elizabeth  was  engaged  with  her  needle  also, 
and  she  bent  her  head  to  one  side,  affecting  to  ar- 
range her  muslin  ; but  her  hand  shook,  her  color 
heightened,  and  her  eyes  lost  their  moisture  in  an 
expression  of  ungovernable  interest,  as  she  said  : 

“ How  much  do  we  know  of  you,  Mr.  Ed- 
wards ? ” 

“ How  much  ! ” echoed  the  youth,  gazing  from 
the  speaker  to  the  mild  countenance  of  Louisa, 


that  was  also  illuminated  with  curiosity;  “how 
much ! have  I been  so  long  an  irreate  with  you 
and  not  known  ? ” 

The  head  of  Elizabeth  turned  slowly  from  its 
affected  position,  and  the  look  of  confusion  that 
had  blended  so  strongly  with  an  expression  of  in- 
terest changed  to  a smile. 

“We  know  you,  sir,  indeed : you  are  called 
Mr.  Oliver  Edwards.  I understand  that  you  have 
informed  my  friend  Miss  Grant  that  you  are  a na- 
tive— ” 

“ Elizabeth  ! ” exclaimed  Louisa,  blushing  to 
the  eyes,  and  trembling  like  an  aspen ; “ you  misun- 
derstood me,  dear  Miss  Temple  ; I — I — it  was  only 
a conjecture.  Besides,  if  Mr.  Edwards  is  related  to 
the  natives,  why  should  we  reproach  him  ? In  what 
are  we  better  ? at  least  I,  who  am  the  child  of  a 
poor  and  unsettled  clergyman  ? ” 

Elizabeth  shook  her  head  doubtingly,  and  even 
laughed,  but  made  no  reply ; until,  observing  the 
melancholy  which  pervaded  the  countenance  of 
her  companion,  who  was  thinking  of  the  poverty 
and  labors  of  her  father,  she  continued : 

“ Nay,  Louisa,  humility  carries  you  too  far. 
The  daughter  of  a minister  of  the  church  can  have 
no  superiors.  Neither  I nor  Mr.  Edwards  is  quite 
your  equal,  unless,”  she  added,  again  smiling,  “ he 
is  in  secret  a king.” 

“ A faithful  servant  of  the  King  of  kings,  Misa 
Temple,  is  inferior  to  none  on  earth,”  said  Louisa ; 
“ but  his  honors  are  his  own ; I am  only  the  child 
of  a poor  and  friendless  man,  and  can  claim  no 
other  distinction.  Why,  then,  should  I feel  my- 
self elevated  above  Mr.  Edwards,  because — be- 
cause— perhaps  he  is  only  very,  very  distantly  re- 
lated to  John  Mohegan?  ” 

Glances  of  a very  comprehensive  meaning  were 
exchanged  between  the  heiress  and  the  young 
man,  as  Louisa  betrayed,  while  vindicating  his 
lineage,  the  reluctance  with  which  she  admitted 
his  alliance  with  the  old  warrior ; but  not  even  a 
smile  at  the  simplicity  of  their  companion  was 
indulged  by  either. 

“ On  reflection,  I must  acknowledge  that  my 
situation  here  is  somewhat  equivocal,”  said  Ed- 
wards, “ though  I may  be  said  to  have  purchased 
it  with  my  blood.” 

“ The  blood,  too,  of  one  of  the  native  lords 
of  the  soil ! ” cried  Elizabeth,  who  evidently  put 
little  faith  in  his  aboriginal  descent. 

“ Do  I bear  the  marks  of  my  lineage  so  very 
plainly  impressed  on  my  appearance  ? Iam  dark, 
but  not  very  red — not  more  so  than  common  ? ” 

“ Rather  more  so,  just  now.” 

“I  am  sure,  Miss  Temple,”  cried  Louisa, 

“ you  cannot  have  taken  much  notice  of  Mr.  Ed- 


LAWYER  VAN  DER  SCHOOL. 


irards.  His  eyes  are  not  so  black  as  Mohegan’s, 
Or  even  your  own,  nor  is  liis  hair ! ” 

“ Very  possibly,  then,  I can  lay  claim  to  the 
same  descent.  It  would  be  a great  relief  to  my 
mind  to  think  so,  for  I own  that  I grieve  when  I 
see  old  Mohegan  walking  about  these  lands,  like 
the  ghost  of  one  of  their  ancient  possessors,  and 
feel  how  small  is  my  own  right  to  possess  them.” 

“ Do  you  ? ” cried  the  youth,  with  a vehe- 
mence that  startled  the  ladies. 

“ I do,  indeed,”  returned  Elizabeth,  after  suf- 
fering a moment  to  pas3  in  surprise  ; “ but  what 
can  I do  ? what  can  my  father  do  ? Should  we 
offer  the  old  man  a home  and  a maintenance,  his 
habits  would  compel  him  to  refuse  us.  Neither, 
were  we  so  silly  as  to  wish  such  a thing,  could 
we  convert  these  clearings  and  farms  again  into 
hunting-grounds,  as  the  Lecher-stocking  would 
wifeh  to  see  them.” 

“You  speak  the  truth,  Mjss  Temple,”  said 
Edwards.  “ What  can  you  do,  indeed  ? But 
there  is  one  thing  that  I am  certain  you  can  and 
will  do,  when  you  become  the  mistress  of  these 
beautiful  valleys — use  your  wealth  with  indulgence 
to  the  poor  and  charity  to  the  needy ; indeed, 
you  can  do  no  more.” 

“ And  that  will  be  doing  a good  deal,”  said 
Louisa,  smiling  in  her  turn.  “But  there  will, 
doubtless,  be  one  to  take  the  direction  of  such 
things  from  her  hands.” 

“ I am  not  about  to  disclaim  matrimony,  like 
a silly  girl,  who  dreams  of  nothing  else  from  morn- 
ing till  night ; but  I am  a nun  here,  without  the 
vow  of  celibacy.  Where  shall  I find  a husband 
in  these  forests  ? ” 

“ There  is  none,  Miss  Temple,”  said  Edwards, 
quickly ; “ there  is  none  who  has  a right  to  aspire 
to  you,  and  I know  that  you  will  wait  to  be  sought 
by  your  equal ; or  die,  as  you  live,  loved,  re- 
spected, and  admired  by  all  who  know  you.” 

The  young  man  seemed  to  think  that  he  had 
said  all  that  was  required  by  gallantry,  for  he 
arose,  and,  taking  his  hat,  hurried  from  the  apart- 
ment. Perhaps  Louisa  thought  that  he  had  said 
more  than  was  necessary,  for  she  sighed,  with  an 
aspiration  so  low  that  it  was  scarcely  audible  to 
herself,  and  bent  her  head  over  her  work  again. 
And  it  is  possible  that  Miss  Temple  wished  to 
hear  more,  for  her  eyes  continued  fixed  for  a 
minute  on  the  door  through  which  the  young  man 
had  passed,  then  glanced  quickly  toward  her 
companion,  when  the  long  silence  that  succeeded 
manifested  how  much  zeit  may  be  given  to  the 
conversation  of  two  maidens  under  eighteen,  by 
the  presence  of  a youth  of  three-and-twenty. 

The  first  person  encountered  by  Mr.  Edwards, 


123 

as  he  rather  rushed  than  walked  from  the  house, 
was  the  little  square-built  lawyer,  with  a large 
bundle  of  papers  under  his  arm,  a pair  of  green 
spectacles  on  his  nose,  with  glasses  at  the  sides,  as 
if  to  multiply  his  power  of  detecting  frauds,  by 
additional  organs  of  vision. 

Mr.  Van  der  School  was  a well-educated  man, 
but  of  slow  comprehension,  who  had  imbibed  a 
wariness  in  his  speeches  and  actions,  from  having 
suffered  by  his  collisions  with  his  more  mercurial 
and  apt  brethren  who  had  laid  the  foundations  of 
their  practice  in  the  Eastern  courts,  and  who  had 
sucked  in  shrewdness  with  their  mother’s  milk. 
The  caution  of  this  gentleman  was  exhibited  in 
his  actions,  by  the  utmost  method  and  punctuality, 
tinctured  with  a good  deal  of  timidity ; and  in  his 
speeches,  by  a parenthetical  style,  that  frequently 
left  to  his  auditors  a long  search  after  his  mean- 
ing. 

“ A good-morning  to  you,  Mr.  Van  der  School,” 
said  Edwards  ; “it  seems  to  be  a busy  day  with 
us  at  the  mansion-house.” 

“ Good-morning,  Mr.  Edwards  (if  that  is  your 
name  (for,  being  a stranger,  we  have  no  other  evi- 
dence of  the  fact  than  your  own  testimony),  as  I 
understand  you  have  given  it  to  Judge  Temple), 
good-morning,  sir.  It  is,  apparently,  a busy  day 
(but  a man  of  your  discretion  need  not  be  told 
(having,  doubtless,  discovered  it  of  your  own  ac- 
cord), that  appearances  are  often  deceitful)  up 
at  the  mansion-house.” 

“ Have  you  papers  of  consequence  that  will 
require  copying?  can  I be  of  assistance  in  any 
way  ? ” 

“ There  are  papers  (as  doubtless  you  see  (for 
your  eyes  are  young)  by  the  outsides)  that  re- 
quire copying.” 

“ Well,  then,  I will  accompany  you  to  your 
office,  and  receive  such  as  are  most  needed,  and 
by  night  I shall  have  them  done,  if  there  be 
much  haste.” 

“ I shall  be  always  glad  to  see  you,  sir,  at  my 
office  (as  in  duty  bound  (not  that  it  is  obligatory 
to  receive  any  man  within  your  dwelling  (unless 
so  inclined),  which  is  a castle),  according  to  the 
forms  of  politeness),  or  at  any  other  place; 
but  the  papers  are  most  strictly  confidential  (and 
as  such,  cannot  be  read  by  any  one),  unless  so 
directed  (by  Judge  Temple’s  solemn  injunctions), 
and  are  invisible  to  all  eyes;  excepting  those 
whose  duties  (I  mean  assumed  duties)  require  it 
of  them.” 

“ Well,  sir,  as  I perceive  that  I can  be  of  no 
service,  I wish  you  another  good-morning;  but 
beg  you  will  remember  that  I am  quite  idle  just 
now,  and  I wish  you  would  intimate  as  much  to 


124 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Judge  Temple,  and  make  him  a tender  of  my  ser- 
vices in  any  part  of  the  world,  unless— unless — 
it  be  far  from  Templeton.” 

“ I will  make  the  communication,  sir,  in  your 
name  (with  your  own  qualifications),  as  your 
agent.  Good-morning,  sir. — But  stay  proceed- 
ings, Mr.  Edwards  (so  called),  for  a moment.  Do 
you  wish  me  to  state  the  offer  of  travelling  as  a 
final  contract  (for  which  consideration  has  been 
received  at  former  dates  (by  sums  advanced), 

. which  would  be  binding),  or  as  a tender  of  ser- 
vices for  which  compensation  is  to  be  paid  (accord- 
ing to  future  agreement  between  the  parties),  on 
performance  of  the  conditions  ? ” 

“ Any  way,  any  way,”  said  Edwards,  “ he  seems 
in  distress  and  I would  assist  him.” 

“ The  motive  is  good,  sir  (according  to  ap- 
pearances (which  are  often  deceitful)  on  first  im- 
pressions), and  does  you  honor.  I will  mention 
your  wish,  young  gentleman  (as  you  now  seem), 
and  will  not  fail  to  communicate  the  answer  by 
five  o’clock  p.m.  of  this  present  day  (God  willing), 
if  you  give  me  an  opportunity  so  to  do.” 

The  ambiguous  nature  of  the  situation  and 
character  ot  Mr.  Edwards  had  rendered  him  an 
object  of  peculiar  suspicion  to  the  lawyer,  and 
the  youth  was  consequently  too  much  accustomed 
to  similar  equivocal  and  guarded  speeches  to  feel 
any  unusual  disgust  at  the  present  dialogue.  He 
saw  at  once  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the  prac- 
titioner to  conceal  the  nature  of  his  business,  even 
from  the  private  secretary  of  Judge  Temple ; and 
he  knew  too  well  the  difficulty  of  comprehending 
the  meaning  of  Mr.  Yan  der  School,  when  the 
gentleman  most  wished  to  be  luminous  in  his  dis- 
course, not  to  abandon  all  thoughts  of  a discovery, 
when  he  perceived  that  the  attorney  was  en- 
deavoring to  avoid  anything  like  an  approach  to 
a cross-examination.  They  parted  at  the  gate,  the 
lawyer  walking,  with  an  important  and  hurried 
air  toward  his  office,  keeping  his  right  hand  firm- 
ly clinched  on  the  bundle  of  papers. 

It  must  have  been  obvious  to  all  our  readers, 
that  the  youth  entertained  an  unusual  and  deeply- 
seated  prejudice  against  the  character  of  the 
Judge  ; but,  owing  to  some  counteracting  caisne, 
his  sensations  were  now  those  of  powerful  interest 
in  the  state  of  his  patron’s  present  feelings,  and 
in  the  cause  of  his  secret  uneasiness. 

He  remained  gazing  after  the  lawyer,  until  the 
door  closed  on  both  the  bearer  and  the  mysteri- 
ous packet,  when  he  returned  slowly  to  the  dwell- 
ing, and  endeavored  to  forget  his  curioslily  in  the 
usual  avocations  of  his  office. 

When  the  Judge  made  his  reappearance  in 
the  circles  of  his  family,  his  cheerfulness  was  tem- 


pered by  a shade  of  melancholy  that  lingered  for 
many  days  around  his  manly  brow ; but  the  mag- 
ical progression  of  the  season  aroused  him  from 
his  temporary  apathy,  and  his  smiles  returned 
with  the  summer. 

The  heats  of  the  days,  and  the  frequent  occur- 
rence of  balmy  showers,  had  completed,  in  an  in- 
credibly short  period,  the  growth  of  plants,  which 
the  lingering  spring  had  so  long  retarded  in  the 
germ ; and  the  woods  presented  every  shade  of 
green  that  the  American  forests  know.  The  stumps 
in  the  cleared  fields  were  already  hidden  beneath 
the  wheat  that  was  waving  with  every  breath  of 
the  summer  air,  shining,  and  changing  its  hues 
like  velvet. 

During  the  continuance  of  his  cousin’s  dejec- 
tion, Mr.  Jones  forbore,  with  much  consideration, 
to  press  on  his  attention  a business  that  each  hour 
was  drawing  nearer  to  the  heart  of  the  sheriff, 
and  which,  if  any  opinion  could  be  formed  by  his 
frequent  private  conferences  with  the  man  who 
was  introduced  in  these  pages  by  the  name  of 
Jotham,  at  the  bar-room  of  the  Bold  Dragoon, 
was  becoming  also  of  great  importance. 

At  length  the  sheriff  ventured  to  allude  again 
to  the  subject;  and  one  evening,  in  the  beginning 
of  July,  Marmaduke  made  him  a promise  of  de- 
voting the  following  day  to  the  desired  excur- 
sion. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

“ Speak  on,  my  dearest  father  ! 

Thy  words  are  like  the  breezes  of  the  west.” 

Milmax. 

It  was  a mild  and  soft  morning,  when  Marma- 
duke and  Richard  mounted  their  horses  and  pro- 
ceeded on  the  expedition  that  had  so  long  been 
uppermost  in  the  thoughts  of  the  latter;  and 
Elizabeth  and  Louisa  appeared  at  the  same  instant 
in  the  hall,  attired  for  an  excursion  on  foot. 

The  head  of  Miss  Grant  was  covered  by  a neat 
little  hat  of  green  silk,  and  her  modest  eyes  peered 
from  under  its  shade,  with  the  soft  languor  that 
characterized  her  whole  appearance;  but  Miss 
Temple  trod  her  father’s  wide  apartments  with 
the  step  of  their  mistress,  holding  in  her  hands, 
dangling  by  one  of  its  ribbons,  the  gipsy  that  was 
to  conceal  the  glossy  locks  that  curled  around  her 
polished  forehead  in  rich  profusion. 

“ What ! are  you  for  a walk,  Bess  ? ” cried 
the  Judge,  suspending  his  movements  for  a mo- 
ment, to  smile,  with  a father’s  fondness,  at  the 
display  of  womanly  grace  and  beauty  that  his 
child  presented.  “ Remember  the  heats  of  July 


OLIVER’S  SERVICES  DECLINED. 


125 


my  daughter , nor  venture  further  than  thou 
canst  retrace  before  the  meridian.  Where  is  thy 
parasol,  girl  ? thou  wilt  lose  the  polish  of  that 
brow,  under  this  sun  and  southern  breeze,  unless 
thou  guard  it  with  unusual  care.” 

“ I shall  then  do  more  honor  to  my  connec- 
tions,” returned  the  smiling  daughter.  “ Cousin 
Richard  has  a bloom  that  any  lady  might  envy. 
At  present  the  resemblance  between  us  is  so  tri- 
fling, that  no  stranger  would  know  us  to  be  ‘ sis- 
ters 1 children.’  ” 

“ Grandchildren,  you  mean,  Cousin  Bess,”  said 
the  sheriff.  “ But  on,  J udge  Temple  ; time  and  tide 
wait  for  no  man  ; and  if  you  take  my  counsel,  sir, 
in  twelve  months  from  this  day  you  may  make  an 
umbrella  for  your  daughter  of  her  camel’s  hair 
shawl,  and  have  its  frame  of  solid  silver.  I ask 
nothing  for  myself,  ’duke ; you  have  been  a good 
friend  to  me  already ; besides,  all  that  I have  will 
go  to  Bess  there,  one  of  these  melancholy  days, 
so  it’s  as  long  as  it’s  short,  whether  I or  you  leave 
it.  But  we  have  a day’s  ride  before  us,  sir ; so 
move  forward,  or  dismount,  and  say  you  won’t  go 
at  once.” 

“Patience,  patience,  Dickon,”  returned  the 
Judge,  checking  his  horse,  and  turning  again  to 
his  daughter.  “ If  thou  art  for  the  mountains, 
love,  stray  not  too  deep  into  the  forest,  I entreat 
thee ; for,  though  it  is  done  often  with  impunity, 
there  is  sometimes  danger.” 

“ Not  at  this  season,  I believe,  sir,”  said  Eliza- 
beth ; “ for,  I will  confess,  it  is  the  intention  of 
Lousia  and  myself  to  stroll  among  the  hills.” 

“ Less  at  this  season  than  in  the  winter,  dear ; 
but  still  there  may  be  danger  in  venturing  too 
far.  But  though  thou  art  resolute,  Elizabeth, 
thou  art  too  much  like  thy  mother  not  to  be  pru- 
dent.” 

The  eyes  of  the  parent  turned  reluctantly 
from  his  child,  and  the  Judge  and  sheriff  rode 
slowly  through  the  gateway,  and  disappeared 
among  the  buildings  of  the  village. 

During  this  short  dialogue,  young  Edwards 
stood,  an  attentive  listener,  holding  in  his  hand  a 
fishing-rod,  the  day  and  the  season  having  tempt- 
ed him  also  to  desert  the  house  for  the  pleasure 
of  exercise  in  the  air.  As  the  equestrians  turned 
through  the  gate,  he  approached  the  young  fe- 
males, who  were  already  moving  toward  the  street, 
and  was  about  to  address  them,  as  Louisa  paused, 
and  said,  quickly: 

“Mr. 'Edwards  would  speak  to  us,  Elizabeth.” 

The  other  stopped  also,  and  turned  to  the 
youth,  politely,  but  with  a slight  coldness  in  her 
air,  that  sensibly  checked  the  freedom  with  which 
he  had  approached  them. 


“ Your  father  is  not  pleased  that  you  should 
walk  unattended  in  the  hills,  Miss  Temple.  If  I 
might  offer  myself  as  a protector — ” 

“ Does  my  father  select  Mr.  Oliver  Edwards  as 
the  organ  of  his  displeasure?  ” interrupted  the  lady. 

“ Good  Heaven  ! you  misunderstood  my  mean- 
ing : I should  have  said  uneasy  for  not  pleased. 
I am  his  servant,  madam,  and  in  consequence 
yours.  I repeat  that,  with  your  consent,  I will 
change  my  rod  for  a fowling-piece,  and  keep  nigh 
you  on  the  mountain.” 

“ I thank  you,  Mr.  Edwards  ; but  where  there 
is  no  danger,  no  protection  is  required.  We  are 
not  yet  reduced  to  wandering  among  these  free 
hills  accompanied  by  a body-guard.  If  such  a 
one  is  necessary,  there  he  is,  however. — Here, 
Brave — Brave — my  noble  Brave  ! ” 

The  huge  mastiff,  that  has  been  already  men- 
tioned, appeared  from  his  kennel,  gaping  and 
stretching  himself,  with  pampered  laziness ; but 
as  his  mistress  again  called — “ Come,  dear  Brave  ; 
once  you  have  served  your  master  well ; let  us 
see  how  you  can  do  your  duty  by  his  daughter  ” 
— the  dog  wagged  his  tail,  as  if  he  understood  her 
language,  walked  with  a stately  gait  to  her  side, 
where  he  seated  himself,  and  looked  up  at  her 
face,  with  an  intelligence  but  little  inferior  to  that 
which  beamed  in  her  own  lovely  countenance. 

She  resumed  her  walk,  but  again  paused,  after 
a few  steps,  and  added,  in  tones  of  conciliation : 

“ You  can  be  serving  us  equally,  and,  I pre- 
sume, more  agreeably  to  yourself,  Mr  Edwards 
by  bringing  us  a string  of  your  favorite  perch  foi 
the  dinner-table.” 

When  they  again  began  to  walk  Miss  Temple 
did  not  look  back  to  see  how  the  youth  bore  this 
repulse  ; but  the  head  of  Louisa  was  turned  sev- 
eral times  before  they  reached  the  gate  on  that 
considerate  errand. 

“ I am  afraid,  Elizabeth,”  she  said,  “ that  wo 
have  mortified  Oliver.  He  is  still  standing  where 
we  left  him,  leaning  on  his  rod.  Perhaps  he 
thinks  us  proud.” 

“ He  thinks  justly,”  exclaimed  Miss  Temple, 
as  if  awaking  from  a deep  musing ; “ he  thinks 
justly,  then.  We  are  too  proud  to  admit  of  such 
particular  attentions  from  a young  man  in  an 
equivocal  situation.  What ! make  him  the  com- 
panion of  our  most  private  walks  ! It  is  pride, 
Louisa,  but  it  is  the  pride  of  a woman.” 

It  was  several  minutes  before  Oliver  aroused 
himself  from  the  abstracted  position  in  which  he 
was  standing  when  Louisa  last  saw  him ; but 
when  he  did,  he  muttered  something  rapidly  and 
incoherently,  and,  throwing  his  rod  over  his  shoul- 
der, he  strode  down  the  walk,  through  the  gate, 


126 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  along  one  of  the  streets  of  the  village,  until 
he  reached  the  lake-shore,  with  the  air  of  an  em- 
peror. At  this  spot  boats  were  kept  for  the  use 
of  Judge  Temple  and  his  family.  The  young  man 
threw  himself  into  a light  skiff,  an  I,  seizing  the 
oars,  he  sent  it  across  the  lake  toward  the  hut  of 
Leather-stocking,  with  a pair  of  vigorous  arms. 
By  the  time  he  had  rowed  a quarter  of  a mile,  his 
reflections  were  less  bitter : and  when  he  saw  the 
bushes  that  lined  the  shore  in  front  of  Natty’s 
habitation  gliding  by  him,  as  if  they  possessed  the 
motion  which  proceeded  from  his  own  efforts,  he 
was  quite  cooled  in  mind,  though  somewhat  heated 
in  body.  It  is  quite  possible,  that  the  very  same 
reason  which  guided  the  conduct  of  Miss  Tem- 
ple, suggested  itself  to  a man  of  the  breeding  and 
education  of  the  youth ; and  it  is  very  certain 
that,  if  such  were  the  case,  Elizabeth  rose  instead 
of  falling  in  the  estimation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

The  oars  were  now  raised  from  the  water,  and 
the  boat  shot  close  in  to  the  land,  where  it  lay 
gently  agitated  by  waves  of  its  own  creating, 
while  the  young  man,  first  casting  a cautious  and 
searching  glance  around  him  in  every  direction, 
put  a small  whistle  to  his  mouth,  and  blew  a long, 
shrill  note,  that  rang  among  the  echoing  rocks 
behind  the  hut.  At  this  alarm,  the  hounds  of 
Natty  rushed  out  of  their  bark  kennel,  and  com- 
menced their  long  piteous  howls,  leaping  about 
as  if  half  frantic,  though  restrained  by  the  leashes 
of  buckskin  by  which  they  were  fastened. 

“ Quiet,  Hector,  quiet,”  said  Oliver,  again  ap- 
plying his  whistle  to  his  mouth,  and  drawing  out 
notes  still  more  shrill  than  before.  No  reply  was 
made,  the  dogs  having  returned  to  their  kennel 
at  the  sounds  of  his  voice. 

Edwards  pulled  the  bows  of  the  boat  on  the 
shore,  and,  landing,  ascended  the  beach  and  ap- 
proached the  door  of  the  cabin.  The  fastenings 
were  soon  undone,  and  he  entered,  closing  the  door 
after  him,  when  all  was  as  silent,  in  that  retired 
spot,  as  if  the  foot  of  man  had  never  trod  the 
wilderness.  The  sounds  of  the  hammers,  that  were 
in  incessant  motion  in  the  village,  were  faintly 
heard  across  the  water ; but  the  dogs  had  crouched 
into  their  lairs,  satisfied  that  none  but  the  priv- 
ileged had  approached  the  forbidden  ground. 

A quarter  of  an  hour  elapsed  before  the  youth 
reappeared,  when  he  fastened  the  door  again,  and 
spoke  kindly  to  the  hounds.  The  dogs  came  out 
at  the  well-known  tones,  and  the  slut  jumped  up- 
on his  person,  whining  and  barking,  as  if  entreat- 
ing Oliver  to  release  her  from  prison.  But  old 
Hector  raised  his  nose  to  the  light  current  of  air, 
and  opened  a long  howl,  that  might  have  been 
heard  for  a mile. 


“ Ha ! what  do  you  scent,  old  veteran  of  the 
woods  ? ” cried  Edwards.  “ If  a beast,  it  is  a bold 
one ; and  if  a man,  an  impudent.” 

He  sprang  through  the  top  of  a pine  that  had 
fallen  near  the  side  of  the  hut,  and  ascended  a 
small  hillock  that  sheltered  the  cabin  to  the  south, 
where  he  caught  a glimpse  of  the  formal  figure  of 
Hiram  Doolittle,  as  it  vanished,  with  unusual  ra- 
pidity for  the  architect,  amid  the  bushes. 

“ What  can  that  fellow  be  wanting  here  ? ” 
muttered  Oliver.  “He  has  no  business  in  this 
quarter,  unless  it  be  curiosity,  which  is  an  en- 
demic in  these  woods.  But  against  that  I will 
effectually  guard,  though  the  dogs  should  take  a 
liking  to  his  ugly  visage,  and  let  him  pass.”  The 
youth  returned  to  the  door,  while  giving  vent  to 
this  soliloquy,  and  completed  the  fastenings,  by 
placing  a small  chain  through  a staple,  and  secur- 
ing it  there  by  a padlock.  “ He  is  a pettifogger, 
and  surely  must  know  that  there  is  such  a thing 
as  feloniously  breaking  into  a man’s  house.” 

Apparently  well  satisfied  with  this  arrange- 
ment, the  youth  again  spoke  to  the  hounds ; and, 
descending  to  the  shore,  he  launched  his  boat, 
and,  taking  up  his  oars,  pulled  off  into  the  lake. 

There  were  several  places  in  the  Otsego  that 
were  celebrated  fishing-ground  for  perch.  One 
was  nearly  opposite  to  the  cabin,  and  another, 
still  more  famous,  was  near  a point,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  a mile  and  a half  above  it,  under  the  brow 
of  the  mountain,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the  lake 
with  the  hut.  Oliver  Edwards  pulled  his  little 
skiff  to  the  first,  and  sat,  for  a minute,  undecided 
whether  to  continue  there,  with  his  eyes  on  the 
door  of  the  cabin,  or  to  change  his  ground,  with 
a view  to  get  superior  game.  While  gazing  about 
him,  he  saw  the  light-colored  bark  canoe  of  his  old 
companions  riding  on  the  water,  at  the  point  we 
have  mentioned,  and  containing  two  figures,  that 
he  at  once  knew  to  be  Mohegan  and  the  Leather- 
stocking. This  decided  the  matter,  and  the  youth 
pulled,  in  a very  few  minutes,  to  the  place  where 
his  friends  were  fishing,  and  fastened  his  boat  to 
the  light  vessel  of  the  Indian. 

The  old  men  received  Oliver  with  welcoming 
nods,  but  neither  drew  his  line  from  the  water, 
nor  in  the  least  varied  his  occupation.  When 
Edwards  had  secured  his  own  boat,  he  baited 
his  hook  and  threw  it  into  the  lake,  without 
speaking. 

“ Did  you  stop  at  the  wigwam,  lad,  as  you 
rowed  past  ? ” asked  Natty. 

“Yes,  and  I found  all  safe;  but  that  carpenter 
and  justice  of  the  peace,  Mr.,  or  as  they  call  him, 
Squire,  Doolittle,  was  prowling  through  the 
woods.  I made  sure  of  the  door  before  I left  the 


THE  CATSKILLS. 


127 


hut,  and  I think  he  is  too  great  a coward  to  ap- 
proach the  hounds.” 

“ There’s  little  to  be  said  in  favor  of  that  man,” 
said  Natty,  while  he  drew  in  a perch  and  baited 
his  hook.  “He  craves  dreadfully  to  come  into 
the  cabin,  and  has  as  good  as  asked  me  as  much 
to  my  face ; but  I put  him  off  with  unsartain 
answers,  so  that  he  is  no  wiser  than  Solomon.  This 
comes  of  having  so  many  laws  that  such  a man 
may  be  called  on  to  intarpret  them.” 

“I  fear  he  is  more  knave  than  fool,”  cried 
Edwards  ; “ he  makes  a tool  of  that  simple  man, 
the  sheriff ; and  I dread  that  his  impertinent  cu- 
riosity may  yet  give  us  much  trouble.” 

“ If  he  harbors  too  much  about  the  cabin, 
lad,  I’ll  shoot  the  creater,”  said  the  Leather- 
stocking, quite  simply. 

“ No,  no,  Natty,  you  must  remember  the  law,” 
said  Edwards,  “ or  we  shall  have  you  in  trouble ; 
and  that,  old  man,  would  be  an  evil  day,  and  sore 
tidings  to  us  all.” 

“ Would  it,  boy ! ” exclaimed  the  hunter, 
raising  his  eyes,  with  a look  of  friendly  interest, 
toward  the  youth.  “ You  have  the  true  blood  in 
your  veins,  Mr.  Oliver ; and  I’ll  support  it  to  the 
face  of  Judge  Temple,  or  in  any  court  in  the 
country.  How  is  it,  John  ? Do  I speak  the  true 
word?  Is  the  lad  stanch,  and  of  the  right 
blood  ? ” 

“ He  is  a Delaware,”  said  Mohegan,  “ and  my 
brother.  The  young  Eagle  is  brave,  and  he  will 
be  a chief.  No  harm  can  come.” 

“Well,  well,”  cried  the  youth,  impatiently, 
“ say  no  more  about  it,  my  good  friends ; if  I am 
not  all  that  your  partiality  would  make  me,  I am 
yours  through  life,  in  prosperity  as  in  poverty. 
We  will  talk  of  other  matters.” 

The  old  hunters  yielded  to  his  wish,  which 
seemed  to  be  their  law.  For  a short  time  a pro- 
found silence  prevailed,  during  which  each  man 
was  very  busy  with  his  hook  and  line ; but  Ed- 
wards, probably  feeling  that  it  remained  with  him 
to  renew  the  discourse,  soon  observed,  with  the 
air  of  one  who  knew  not  what  he  said  : 

“ How  beautifully  tranquil  and  glassy  the  lake 
is ! Saw  you  it  ever  more  calm  and  even  than  at 
this  moment,  Natty  ? ” 

“I  have  known  the  Otsego  water  for  five  and 
forty  years,”  said  Leather-stocking ; “ and  I will 
say  that  for  it,  which  is,  that  a cleaner  spring  or 
better  fishing  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  land. 
Yes,  yes ; I had  the  place  to  myself  once,  and  a 
cheerful  time  I had  of  it.  The  game  was  plenty 
as  heart  could  wish ; and  there  was  none  to  med- 
dle with  the  ground,  unless  there  might  have  been 
a hunting  party  of  the  Delawares  crossing  the 


hills,  or,  maybe,  a rifling  scout  of  them  thieves, 
the  Iroquois.  There  was  one  or  two  Frenchmen 
that  squatted  in  the  flats,  further  west,  and  mar- 
ried squaws;  and  some  of  the  Scotch-Irishers, 
from  the  Cherry- Valley,  would  come  on, to  the 
lake,  and  borrow  my  canoe  to  take  a mess  of 
parch,  or  drop  a line  for  salmon-trout ; but,  in 
the  main,  it  was  a cheerful  place,  and  I had  but 
little  to  disturb  me  in  it.  John  would  come,  and 
John  knows.” 

Mohegan  turned  his  dark  face  at  this  appeal ; 
and,  moving  his  hand  forward  with  a graceful  mo- 
tion of  assent,  he  spoke,  using  the  Delaware  lan- 
guage : 

“ The  land  was  owned  by  my  people ; we  gave 
it  to  my  brother,  in  council — to  the  Fire-eater ; 
and  what  the  Delawares  give  lasts  as  long  as  the 
waters  run.  Hawk-eye  smoked  at  that  council, 
for  we  loved  him.” 

“No,  no,  John,”  said  Natty  ; “ I was  no  chief, 
seeing  that  I know’d  nothing  of  scholarship,  and 
had  a white  skin.  But  it  was  a comfortable 
hunting-ground  then,  lad,  and  would  have  been 
so  to  this  day,  but  for  the  money  of  Marmaduke 
Temple,  and  the  twisty  ways  of  the  law.” 

“It  must  have  been  a sight  of  melancholy 
pleasure  indeed,”  said  Edwards,  while  his  eye 
roved  along  the  shores  and  over  the  hills,  where 
the  clearings,  groaning  with  the  golden  corn,  were 
cheering  the  forests  with  the  signs  of  life,  “ to 
have  roamed  over  these  mountains,  and  along 
this  sheet  of  beautiful  water,  without  a living 
soul  to  speak  to,  or  to  thwart  your  humor.” 

“ Haven’t  I said  it  was  cheerful  ? ” said  Leath- 
er-stocking. “Yes,  yes;  when  the  trees  began 
to  be  covered  with  leaves,  and  the  ice  was  out  of 
the  lake,  it  was  a second  paradise.  I have  trav- 
elled the  woods  for  fifty-three  years,  and  have 
made  them  my  home  for  more  than  forty ; and  I 
can  say  that  I have  met  but  one  place  that  was 
more  to  my  liking ; and  that  was  only  to  eye- 
sight, and  not  for  hunting  or  fishing.” 

“ And  where  was  that  ? ” asked  Edwards. 

“ Where ! why  up  on  the  Catskills.  I used 
often  to  go  up  into  the  mountains  after  wolves’ 
skins  and  bears  ; once  they  paid  me  to  get  them 
a stuffed  painter,  and  so  I often  went.  There’s  a 
place  in  them  hills  that  I used  to  climb  to  when 
I wanted  to  see  the  carryings  on  of  the  world, 
that  would  well  pay  any  man  for  a barked  shin 
or  a torn  moccasin.  You  know  the  Catskills, 
lad;  for  you  must  have  seen  them  on  your  left, 
as  you  followed  the  river  up  from  York,  looking 
as  blue  as  a piece  of  clear  sky,  and  holding  the 
clouds  on  their  tops,  as  the  smoke  curls  over  the 
head  of  an  Indian  chief  at  the  council  fire.  Well, 


128 


THE  PIONEERS. 


there’s  the  High-peak  and  the  Round-top,  which 
lay  back  like  a father  and  mother  among  their 
children,  seeing  they  are  far  above  all  the  other 
hills.  But  the  place  I mean  is  next  to  the  river, 
where*one  of  the  ridges  juts  out  a little  from  the 
rest,  and  where  the  rocks  fall,  for  the  best  part 
of  a thousand  feet,  so  much  up  and  down,  that  a 
man  standing  on  their  edges  is  fool  enough  to 
think  he  can  jump  from  top  to  bottom.” 

“ What  see  you  when  you  get  there  ? ” asked 
Edwards. 

“ Creation,”  said  Natty,  dropping  the  end  of 
his  rod  into  the  water,  and  sweeping  one  hand 
around  him  in  a circle : “ all  creation,  lad.  I was 
on  that  hill  when  Vaughan  burned  ’Sopus  in  the 
last  war ; and  I saw  the  vessels  come  out  of  the 
Highlands  as  plain  as  I can  see  that  lime-scow 
rowing  into  the  Susquehanna,  though  one  was 
twenty  times  farther  from  me  than  the  other. 
The  river  was  in  sight  for  seventy  miles,  looking 
like  a curled  shaving  under  my  feet,  though  it 
was  eight  long  miles  to  its  banks.  I saw  the 
hills  in  the  Hampshire  grants,  the  highlands  of 
the  river,  and  all  that  God  had  done,  or  man 
could  do,  far  as  eye  could  reach — you  know  that 
the  Indians  named  me  for  my  sight,  lad;  and 
from  the  flat  on  the  top  of  that  mountains,  I have 
often  found  the  place  where  Albany  stands.  And 
as  for  ’Sopus,  the  day  the  royal  troops  burnt  the 
town,  the  smoke  seemed  so  nigh,  that  I thought 
I could  hear  the  screeches  of  the  w'omen.” 

“ It  must  have  been  worth  the  toil  to  meet 
with  such  a glorious  view.” 

“ If  being  the  best  part  of  a mile  in  the  air, 
and  having  men’s  farms  and  housen  at  your  feet, 
with  rivers  looking  like  ribbons,  and  mountains 
bigger  than  the  ‘Vision,’  seeming  to  be  hay- 
stacks of  green  grass  under  you,  gives  any  satis- 
faction to  a man,  I can  recommend  the  spot. 
When  I first  came  into  the  woods  to  live,  I used 
to  have  weak  spells  when  I felt  lonesome;  and 
then  I would  go  into  the  Catskills,  and  spend  a 
few  days  on  that  hill  to  look  at  the  ways  of  man ; 
but  it’s  now  many  a year  since  I felt  any  such 
longings,  and  I am  getting  too  old  for  rugged 
rocks.  But  there’s  a place,  a short  two  miles 
back  of  that  very  hill,  that  in  late  times  I relished 
better  than  the  mountain ; for  it  was  more  cov- 
ered with  the  trees,  and  nateral.”  ■ 

“ And  where  was  that  ? ” inquired  Edwards, 
whose  curiosity  was  strongly  excited  by  the  sim- 
ple description  of  the  hunter. 

“ Why,  there’s  a fall  in  the  hills  where  the 
water  of  two  little  ponds,  that  lie  near  each  other, 
breaks  out  of  their  bounds  and  runs  over  the 
rocks  into  the  valley.  The  stream  is,  maybe, 


such  a one  as  would  turn  a mill,  if  so  useless  a 
thing  was  wanted  in  the  wilderness.  But  the 
hand  that  made  that  ‘ Leap  ’ never  made  a mill. 
There  the  water  comes  crooking  and  winding 
among  the  rocks  ; first  so  slow  that  a trout  could 
swim  in  it,  and  then  starting  and  running  like  a 
crater  that  wanted  to  make  a far  spring,  till  it 
gets  to  where  the  mountain  divides,  like  the  cleft 
hoof  of  a deer,  leaving  a deep  hollow  for  the  brook 
to  tumble  into.  The  first  pitch  is  nigh  two  hun- 
dred feet,  and  the  water  looks  like  flakes  of  driven 
snow  afore  it  touches  the  bottom ; and  there  the 
stream  gathers  itself  together  again  for  a new 
start,  and  maybe  flutters  over  fifty  feet  of  fiat 
rock  before  it  falls  for  another  hundred,  when  it 
jumps  about  from  shelf  to  shelf,  first  turning  this- 
away  and  then  turning  that-away,  striving  to  get 
out  of  the  hollow,  till  it  finally  comes  to  the 
plain.” 

“ I have  never  heard  of  this  spot  before ; it  is 
not  mentioned  in  the  books.” 

“ I never  read  a book  in  my  life,”  said  Lea- 
ther-stocking ; “ and  how  should  a man  who  has 
lived  in  towns  and  schools  know  any  thing  about 
the  wonders  of  the  woods?  No,  no,  lad;  there 
has  that  little  stream  of  water  been  playing 
among  the  hills  since  He  made  the  world,  and 
not  a dozen  white  men  have  ever  laid  eyes  on  it. 
The  rock  sweeps  like  mason-work,  in  a half- 
round,  on  both  sides  of  the  fall,  and  shelves  over 
the  bottom  for  fifty  feet ; so  that  when  I’ve  been 
sitting  at  the  foot  of  the  first  pitch,  and  my 
hounds  have  run  into  the  caverns  behind  the 
sheet  of  water,  they’ve  looked  no  bigger  than  so 
many  rabbits.  To  my  judgment,  lad,  it’s  the  best 
piece  of  work  that  I’ve  met  with  in  the  woods ; 
and  none  know  how  often  the  hand  of  God  is 
seen  in  the  wilderness,  but  them  that  rove  it  for 
a man’s  life.” 

“ What  becomes  of  the  water  ? In  which  di- 
rection does  it  run  ? Is  it  a tributary  of  the  Del- 
aware ? ” 

“ Anan  ! ” said  Natty. 

“ Does  the  water  run  into  the  Delaware  ? ” 

“ No,  no  ; it’s  a drop  for  the  old  Hudson,  and 
a merry  time  it  has  till  it  gets  down  off  the  moun- 
tain. I’ve  sat  on  the  shelving  rock  many  a long 
hour,  boy,  and  watcljgd  the  bubbles  as  they  shot 
by  me,  and  thought  how  long  it  would  be  before 
that  very  water,  which  seemed  made  for  the  wil- 
derness, would  be  under  the  bottom  of  a vessel, 
and  tossing  in  the  salt  sea.  It  is  a spot  to  make 
a man  solemnize.  You  go  right  down  into  the 
valley  that  lies  to  the  east  of  the  High  Peak, 
where,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  thousands  of  acres 
of  woods  are  before  your  eyes,  in  the  deep  hollow, 


A DEER  CHASE. 


129 


and  along  the  side  of  the  mountain,  painted  like 
ten  thousand  rainbows,  by  no  hand  of  man, 
though  without  the  ordering  of  God’s  providence.” 

“You  are  eloquent,  Leather-stocking,”  ex- 
claimed the  youth. 

“ Anan  ! ” repeated  Natty. 

“ The  recollection  of  the  sight  has  warmed 
your  blood,  old  man.  How  many  years  is  it  since 
you  saw  the  place  ? ” 

The  hunter  made  no  reply ; but,  bending  his 
ear  near  the  water,  he  sat  holding  his  breath,  and 
listening  attentively  as  if  to  some  distant  sound. 
At  length  he  raised  his  head,  and  said : 

“If  I hadn’t  fastened  the  hounds  with  my 
own  hands,  with  a fresh  leash  of  green  buckskin, 
I’d  take  a Bible  oath  that  I heard  old  Hector 
ringing  his  cry  on  the  mountain.” 

“ It  is  impossible,”  said  Edwards  ; “ it  is  not 
sm  hour  since  I saw  him  in  his  kennel.” 

By  this  time  the  attention  of  Mohegan  was 
attracted  to  the  sounds ; but,  notwithstanding 
the  youth  was  both  silent  and  attentive,  he  could 
hear  nothing  but  the  lowing  of  some  cattle  from 
the  western  hills.  He  looked  at  the  old  men, 
Natty  sitting  with  his  hand  to  his  ear,  like  a trum- 
pet, and  Mohegan  bending  forward,  with  an  arm 
raised  to  a level  with  his  face,  holding  the  fore- 
finger elevated  as  a signal  for  attention,  and  laugh- 
ed aloud  at  what  he  deemed  to  be  their  imag- 
inary sounds. 

“ Laugh  if  you  will,  boy,”  said  Leather-stock- 
ing ; “ the  hounds  be  out,  and  are  hunting  a deer. 
No  man  can  deceive  me  in  such  a matter.  I 
wouldn’t  have  had  the  thing  happen  for  a beaver’s 
skin.  Not  that  I care  for  the  law  ! but  the  veni- 
son is  lean  now,  and  the  dumb  things  run  the  flesh 
off  their  own  bones  for  no  good.  Now  do  you 
hear  the  hounds  ? *’ 

Edward  started,  as  a full  cry  broke  on  his  ear, 
changing  from  the  distant  sounds  that  were  caused 
by  some  intervening  hill,  to  confused  echoes  that 
rang  among  the  rocks  that  the  dogs  were  passing, 
and  then  directly  to  a deep  and  hollow  baying 
that  pealed  under  the  forest  on  the  lake  shore. 
These  variations  in  the  tones  of  the  hounds  passed 
with  amazing  rapidity;  and,  while  his  eyes  were 
glancing  along  the  margin  of  the  water,  a tearing 
of  the  branches  of  the  alder  and  dogwood  caught 
his  attention,  at  a spot  near  them,  and  at  the  next 
moment  a noble  buck  sprang  on  the  shore,  and 
buried  himself  in  the  lake.  A full-mouthed  cry 
followed,  when  Hector  and  the  slut  shot  through 
the  opening  in  the  bushes,  and  darted  into  the 
lake  also,  bearing  their  breasts  gallantly  against 
the  water. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

“ Oft  in  the  full  descending  flood  he  tries 
To  lose  the  scent,  and  lave  his  burning  sides.” 

Thomson. 

“I  know’d  it — I know’d  it!”  cried  Natty, 
when  both  deer  and  hounds  were  in  full  view ; 
“ the  buck  has  gone  by  them  with  the  wind,  and 
it  has  been  too  much  for  the  poor  rogues  ; but  I 
must  break  them  of  these  tricks,  or  they’ll  give 
me  a deal  of  trouble.  He-ere,  he-ere — shore  with 
you,  rascals — shore  with  you — will  ye  ? — Oh  ! olf 
with  you,  old  Hector,  or  I’ll  hatchel  your  hide  with 
my  ramrod  when  I get  ye.” 

The  dogs  knew  their  master’s  voice,  and  after 
swimming  in  a circle,  as  if  reluctant  to  give  over 
the  chase,  and  yet  afraid  to  persevere,  they  finally 
obeyed,  and  returned  to  the  land,  where  they  filled 
the  air  with  their  cries. 

In  the  mean  time  the  deer,  urged  by  his  fears, 
had  swum  over  half  the  distance  between  the  shore 
and  the  boats,  before  his  terror  permitted  him  to 
see  the  new  danger.  But  at  the  sounds  of  Natty’s 
voice,  he  turned  short  in  his  course,  and  for  a few 
moments  seemed  about  to  rush  back  again,  and 
brave  the  dogs.  His  retreat  in  this  direction  was, 
however,  effectually  cut  off,  and,  turning  a second 
time,  he  urged  his  course  obliquely  for  the  centre 
of  the  lake,  with  an  intention  of  landing  on  the 
western  shore.  As  the  buck  swam  by  the  fisher- 
men,  raising  his  nose  high  into  the  air,  curling  the 
water  before  his  slim  neck  like  the  beak  of  a gal- 
ley, the  Leather-stocking  began  to  sit  very  un- 
easy in  his  canoe, 

“ ’ Tis  a noble  creater  ! ” he  exclaimed ; “ what 
a pair  of  horns ! a man  might  hang  up  all  his  gar- 
ments on  the  branches.  Let  me  see — July  is  the 
last  month,  and  the  flesh  must  be  getting  good.” 
While  he  was  talking,  Natty  had  instinctively  em- 
ployed himself  in  fastening  the  inner  end  of  the 
bark  rope,  that  served  him  for  a cable,  to  a pad- 
dle, and,  rising  suddenly  on  his  legs,  he  cast  this 
buoy  away,  and  cried — “ Strike  out,  John ! let  her 
go.  The  creater’s  a fool  to  tempt  a man  in  this 
way.” 

Mohegan  threw  the  fastening  of  the  youth’s 
boat  from  the  canoe,  and  with  one  stroke  of  his 
paddle  sent  the  light  bark  over  the  water  like  a 
meteor. 

“ Hold  ! ” exclaimed  Edwards.  “ Remember 
the  law,  my  old  friends.  You  are  in  plain  sight 
of  the  village,  and  I know  that  Judge  Temple  is 
determined  to  prosecute  all  indiscriminately,  who 
kill  deer  out  of  season.” 

The  remonstrance  came  too  late ; the  canoe 


48 


9 


130 


THE  PIONEERS. 


was  already  far  from  the  skiff,  and  the  two  hunters 
were  too  much  engaged  in  the  pursuit  to  listen  to 
his  voice. 

The  buck  was  now  within  fifty  yards  of  his 
pursuers,  cutting  the  water  gallantly,  and  snort- 
ing at  each  breath  with  terror  and  his  exertions, 
while  the  canoe  seemed  to  dance  over  the  waves, 
as  it  rose  and  fell  with  the  undulations  made  by 
its  own  motion.  Leather-stocking  raised  his  rifle 
and  freshened  the  priming,  but  stood  in  .suspense 
whether  to  slay  his  victim  or  not. 

“ Shall  I,  John,  or  no  ? ” he  said,  “ It  seems 
but  a poor  advantage  to  take  of  the  dumb  thing 
too.  I won’t ; it  has  taken  to  the  water  on  its  own 
nater,  which  is  the  reason  that  God  has  given  to  a 
deer,  and  I’ll  give  it  the  lake  play  ; so,  John,  lay 
out  your  arm,  and  mind  the  turn  of  the  buck  ; it’s 
easy  to  catch  them,  but  they’ll  turn  like  a snake.” 

The  Indian  laughed  at  the  conceit  of  his  friend, 
but  continued  to  send  the  canoe  forward  with  a 
velocity  that  proceeded  much  more  from  his  skill 
than  his  strength.  Both  of  the  old  men  now  used 
the  language  of  the  Delawares  when  they  spoke. 

“Hugh!”  exclaimed  Mohegan;  “the  deer 
turns  his  head.  Hawk-eye,  lift  your  spear.” 

Natty  never  moved  abroad  without  taking  with 
him  every  implement  that  might,  by  possibility, 
be  of  service  in  his  pursuits.  From  his  rifle  he 
never  parted  ; and,  although  intending  to  fish  with 
the  line,  the  canoe  was  invariably  furnished  with 
all  of  its  utensils,  even  to  its  grate.  This  precau- 
tion grew  out  of  the  habits  of  the  hunter,  who 
was  often  led,  by  his  necessities  or  his  sports,  far 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  original  destination.  A 
few  years  earlier  than  the  date  of  our  tale,  the 
Leather-stocking  had  left  his  hut  on  the  shores  of 
the  Otsego,  with  his  rifle  and  his  hounds,  for  a few 
days’  hunting  in  the  hills ; but  before  he  returned 
he  had  seen  the  waters  of  Ontario.  One,  two,  or 
even  three  hundred  miles  had  once  been  nothing 
to  his  sinews,  which  were  now  a little  stiffened 
by  age.  The  hunter  did  as  Mohegan  advised,  and 
prepared  to  strike  a blow,  with  the  barbed  weapon, 
into  the  neck  of  the  buck. 

“Lay  her  more  to  the  left,  John,”  he  cried, 

“ lay  her  more  to  the  left ; another  stroke  of  the 
paddle,  and  I have  him.” 

While  speaking,  he  raised  the  spear,  and 
darted  it  from  him  like  an  arrow.  At  that  instant 
the  buck  turned,  the  long  pole  glanced  by  him, 
the  iron  striking  against  his  horn,  and  buried  it- 
self, harmlessly,  in  the  lake. 

“Back  water,”  cried  Natty,  as  the  canoe 
glided  over  the  place  where  the  spear  had  fallen  ; 
“hold  water,  John.” 

The  pole  soon  reappeared,  shooting  upward 


from  the  lake,  and,  as  the  hunter  seized  it  in  hia 
hand,  the  Indian  whirled  the  light  canoe  round, 
and  renewed  the  chase.  But  this  evolution  gave 
the  buck  a great  advantage ; and  it  also  allowed 
time  for  Edwards  to  approach  the  scene  of  ac- 
tion. 

“ Hold  your  hand,  Natty  ! ” cried  the  youth, 

“ hold  your  hand  ! remember  it  is  out  of  season.” 

This  remonstrance  was  made  as  the  batteau 
arrived  close  to  the  place  where  the  deer  was  strug- 
gling with  the  water,  his  back  now  rising  to  the 
surface,  now  sinking  beneath  it,  as  the  waves 
curled  from  his  neck,  the  animal  still  sustaining 
itself  nobly  against  the  odds. 

“ Hurrah  ! ” shouted  Edwards,  inflamed  be- 
yond prudence  at  the  sight ; “ mind  him  as  he 
doubles — mind  him  as  he  doubles  : sheer  more  to 
the  right,  Mohegan,  more  to  the  right,  and  I’ll  have 
him  by  the  horns ; I’ll  throw  the  rope  over  his 
antlers.” 

The  dark  eye  of  the  old  warrior  was  dancing 
in  his  head,  with  a wild  animation,  and  the  slug- 
gish repose  in  which  his  aged  frame  had  been 
resting  in  the  canoe  was  now  changed  to  all  the 
rapid  inflections  of  practised  agility.  The  canoe 
whirled  with  each  cunning  evolution  of  the  chase, 
like  a bubble  floating  in  a whirlpool ; and  when 
the  direction  of  the  pursuit  admitted  of  a straight 
course,  the  little  bark  skimmed  the  lake  with  a 
velocity  that  urged  the.  deer  to  seek  its  safety  in 
some  new  turn. 

It  was  the  frequency  of  these  circuitous  move- 
ments, that,  by  confining  the  action  to  so  small  a 
compass,  enabled  the  youth  to  keep  near  his  com- 
panions. More  than  twenty  times  both  the  pur- 
sued and  the  pursuers  glided  by  him,  just  with- 
out the  reach  of  his  oars,  until  he  thought  the 
best  way  to  view  the  sport  was  to  remain  station- 
ary, and,  by  watching  a favorable  opportunity, 
assist  as  much  as  he  could,  in  taking  the  victim. 

He  was  not  required  to  wait  long,  for  no 
sooner  had  he  adopted  this  resolution,  and  risen 
in  the  boat,  than  he  saw  the  deer  coming  bravely 
toward  him,  with  an  apparent  intention  of  push- 
ing for  a point  of  land  at  some  distance  from  the 
hounds,  who  were  still  barking  and  howling  on 
the  shore.  Edwards  caught  the  painter  of  his 
skiff,  and,  making  a noose,  cast  it  from  him  with  I 
all  his  force,  and  luckily  succeeded  in  drawing  its 
knot  close  around  one  of  the  antlers  of  the  buck.  i 

For  one  instant,  the  skiff  was  drawn  through 
the  water,  but,  in  the  next,  the  canoe  glided  before 
it,  and  Natty,  bending  low,  passed  his  knife  across 
the  throat  of  the  animal,  whose  blood  followed 
the  wound,  dyeing  the  waters.  The  short  time 
that  was  passed  in  the  last  struggles  of  the  animal 


SQUIRE  DOOLITTLE  SUSPECTED. 


131 


was  spent  by  the  hunters  in  bringing  their  boats 
together,  and  securing  them  in  that  position,  when 
Leather-stocking  drew  the  deer  from  the  water, 
and  laid  its  lifeless  form  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe. 
He  placed  his  hands  on  the  ribs,  and  on  different 
parts  of  the  body  of  his  prize,  and  then,  raising 
his  head,  he  laughed  in  his  peculiar  manner : 

“ So  much  for  Harmaduke  Temple’s  law ! ” he 
said.  “ This  warms  a body’s  blood,  old  John ; I 
haven’t  killed  a buck  in  the  lake  afore  this,  sin’ 
many  a year.  I call  that  good  venison,  lad  ; and 
I know  them  that  will  relish  the  creater’s  steaks, 
for  all  the  betterments  in  the  land.” 

The  Indian  had  long  been  drooping  with  his 
years,  and  perhaps  under  the  calamities  of  his 
race,  but  this  invigorating  and  exciting  sport 
caused  a gleam  of  sunshine  to  cross  his  swarthy 
face  that  had  long  been  absent  from  his  features. 
It  was  evident  the  old  man  enjoyed  the  chase  more 
as  a memorial  of  his  youthful  sports  and  deeds, 
than  with  any  expectation  of  profiting  by  the  suc- 
cess. He  felt  the  deer,  however,  lightly,  his  hand 
already  trembling  with  the  reaction  of  his  unusual 
exertions,  and  smiled  with  a nod  of  approbation, 
as  he  said,  in  the  emphatic  and  sententious  man- 
ner of  his  people : 

“ Good.” 

“ I am  afraid,  Natty,”  said  Edwards,  when  the 
heat  of  the  moment  had  passed,  and  his  blood  be- 
gan to  cool,  “ that  we  have  all  been  equally  trans- 
gressors of  the  law.  But  keep  your  own  counsel, 
and  there  are  none  here  to  betray  us.  Yet,  how 
came  those  dogs  at  large  ? I left  them  securely 
fastened,  I know,  for  I felt  the  thongs,  and  ex- 
amined the  knots,  when  I was  at  the  hut.” 

“ It  has  been  too  much  for  the  poor  things,” 
said  Natty,  “ to  have  such  a buck  take  the  wind 
of  them.  See,  lad,  the  pieces  of  the  buckskin 
are  hanging  from  their  necks  yet.  Let  us  paddle 
up,  John,  and  I will  call  them  in,  and  look  a little 
into  the  matter.” 

When  the  old  hunter  landed,  and  examined 
the  thongs  that  were  yet  fast  to  the  hounds,  his 
countenance  sensibly  changed,  and  he  shook  his 
head  doubtingly. 

“ Here  has  been  a knife  at  work,”  he  said ; 
“ this  skin  was  never  torn,  nor  is  this  the  mark  of 
a hound’s  tooth.  No,  no— -Hector  is  not  in  fault, 
as  I feared.” 

“ Has  the  leather  been  cut  ? ” cried  Edwards. 

“ No,  no — I didn’t  say  it  had  been  cut,  lad ; 
but  this  is  a mark  that  was  never  made  by  a jump 
or  a bite.” 

“ Could  that  rascally  carpenter  have  dared ! ” 

“ Ay ! he  durst  to  do  any  thing  when  there  is 
no  danger,”  said  Natty ; “ he  is  a curious  body,  and 


loves  to  be  helping  other  people  on  with  their  con- 
sarns.  But  he  had  best  not  harbor  so  much  near 
the  wigwam ! ” 

In  the  mean  time,  Mohegan  had  been  examin- 
ing, with  an  Indian’s  sagacity,  the  place  where  the 
leather  thong  had  been  separated.  After  scruti- 
nizing it  closely,  he  said,  in  Delaware : 

“ It  was  cut  with  a knife — a sharp  blade  and 
a long  handle — the  man  was  afraid  of  the  dogs.” 

“How  is  this,  Mohegan?”  exclaimed  Ed- 
wards ; “ you  saw  it  not ! how  can  you  know  these 
facts  ? ” 

“ Listen,  son,”  said  the  warrior.  “ The  knife 
was  sharp,  for  the  cut  is  smooth  ; the  handle  was 
long,  for  a man’s  arm  would  not  reach  from  this 
gash  to  the  cut  that  did  not  go  through  the  skin  ; 
he  was  a coward,  or  be  would  have  cut  the 
thongs  around  the  necks  of  the  hounds.” 

“ On  my  life,”  cried  Natty,  “ John  is  on  the 
scent ! It  was  the  carpenter  ; and  he  has  got  on 
the  rock  back  of  the  kennel,  and  let  the  dogs 
loose  by  fastening  his  knife  to  a stick.  It  would 
be  an  easy  matter  to  do  it,  where  a man  is  so  mind- 
ed.” 

“ And  why  should  he  do  so  ? ” asked  Ed- 
wards : “ who  has  done  him  wrong,  that  he 
should  trouble  two  old  men  like  you  ? ” 

“ It’s  a hard  matter,  lad,  to  know  men’s  ways, 
I find,  since  the  settlers  have  brought  in  their 
new  fashions.  But  is  there  nothing  to  be  found 
out  in  the  place  ? and  maybe  he  is  troubled  with 
his  longings  after  other  people’s  business,  as  he 
often  is.” 

“ Your  suspicions  are  just.  Give  me  the  ca- 
noe ; I am  young  and  strong,  and  will  get  down 
there  yet,  perhaps,  in  time  to  interrupt  his  plans. 
Heaven  forbid  that  we  should  be  at  the  mercy  of 
such  a man  ! ” 

His  proposal  was  accepted,  the  deer  being 
placed  in  the  skiff  in  order  to  lighten  the  canoe, 
and  in  less  than  five  minutes  the  little  vessel  of 
bark  was  gliding  over  the  glassy  lake,  and  was 
soon  hid  by  the  points  of  land,  as  it  shot  close 
along  the  shore. 

Mohegan  followed  slowly  with  the  skiff,  while 
Natty  called  his  hounds  to  him,  bade  them  keep 
close,  and,  shouldering  his  rifle,  he  ascended  the 
mountain,  with  an  intention  of  going  to  the  hut 
by  land. 


132 


THE  PIONEERS. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

“Ask  me  not  what  the  maiden  feels, 

Left  in  that  dreadful  hour  alone ; 

Perchance,  her  reason  stoops,  op  reels ; 
Perchance,  a courage  not  her  own, 

Braces  her  mind  to  desperate  tone.” 

Scott. 

While  the  chase  was  occurring  on  the  lake, 
Miss  Temple  and  her  companion  pursued  their 
walk  on  the  mountain.  Male  attendants  on  such 
excursions  were  thought  to  be  altogether  unne- 
cessary, for  none  were  ever  known  to  offer  an 
insult  to  a female,  who  respected  herself.  After 
the  embarrassment  created  by  the  parting  dis- 
course with  Edwards  had  dissipated,  the  girls 
maintained  a conversation  that  was  as  innocent 
and  cheerful  as  themselves. 

The  path  they  took  led  them  but  a short  dis- 
tance above  the  hut  of  Leather-stocking,  arid 
there  was  a point  in  the  road  which  commanded 
a bird’s-eye  view  of  the  sequestered  spot. 

From  a feeling  that  might  have  been  natural, 
and  must  have  been  powerful,  neither  of  the 
friends,  in  their  frequent  and  confidential  dia- 
logues, had  ever  trusted  herself  to  utter  one  syl- 
lable concerning  the  equivocal  situation  in  which 
the  young  man  who  was  now  so  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  them,  bad  been  found.  If  Judge 
Temple  had  deemed  it  prudent  to  make  any  in- 
quiries on  the  subject,  he  had  also  thought  it 
proper  to  keep  the  answers  to  himself ; though 
it  was  so  common  an  occurrence  to  find  the 
well-educated  youth  of  the  Eastern  States  in 
every  stage  of  their  career  to  wealth,  that  the 
simple  circumstance  of  his  intelligence,  connect- 
ed with  his  poverty,  would  not,  at  that  day,  and 
in  that  country,  have  excited  any  very  powerful 
curiosity.  With  his  breeding,  it  might  have  been 
different ; but  the  youth  himself  had  so  effectu- 
ally guarded  against  surprise  on  this  subject,  by 
his  cold,  and  even,  in  some  cases,  rude  deport- 
ment, that  when  his  manners  seemed  to  soften 
by  time,  the  Judge,  if  he  thought  about  it  at  all, 
would  have  been  most  likely  to  imagine  that  the 
improvement  was  the  result  of  his  late  associa- 
tion. But  women . are  always  more  alive  to  such 
subjects  than  men ; and  what  the  abstraction  of 
the  father  had  overlooked,  the  observation  of  the 
daughter  had  easily  detected.  In  the  thousand 
little  courtesies  of  polished  life,  she  had  early  dis- 
covered that  Edwards  was  not  wanting,  though 
his  gentleness  was  so  often  crossed  by  marks  of 
what  she  conceived  to  be  fierce  and  uncontrol- 
lable passions.  It  may,  perhaps,  be  unnecessary 
to  tell  the  reader  that  Louisa  Grant  never  rea- 


soned so  much  after  the  fashions  of  the  world. 
The  gentle  girl,  however,  had  her  own  thoughts 
on  the  subject,  and,  like  others,  she  drew  her  own 
conclusions. 

“ I would  give  all  my  other  secrets,  Louisa,” 
exclaimed  Miss  Temple,  laughing,  and  shaking 
back  her  dark  locks,  with  a look  of  childish  sim- 
plicity that  her  intelligent  face  seldom  expressed, 
“to  be  mistress  of  all  that  those  rude  logs  have 
heard  and  witnessed.” 

They  were  both  looking  at  the  secluded  hut 
at  the  instant,  and  Miss  Grant  raised  her  mild 
eyes  as  she  answered : 

“ I am  sure  they  would  tell  nothing  to  the 
disadvantage  of  Mr.  Edwards.” 

“ Perhaps  not ; but  they  might,  at  least,  tell 
who  he  is.” 

“Why,  dear  Miss  Temple,  we  know  all  that 
already.  I have  heard  it  all  very  rationally  ex- 
plained by  your  cousin — ” 

“ The  executive  chief ! he  can  explain  any 
thing.  His  ingenuity  will  one  day  discover  the 
philosopher’s  stone.  But  what  did  he  say  ? ” 

“ Say  ! ” echoed  Louisa,  with  a look  of  sur- 
prise ; “ why,  every  thing  that  seemed  to  me  to 
be  satisfactory,  and  I have  believed  it  to  be  true. 
He  said  that  Natty  Bumppo  had  lived  most  of  his 
life  in  the  woods,  and  among  the  Indians,  by 
which  means  he  had  formed  an  acquaintance 
with  old  John,  the  Delaware  chief.” 

“ Indeed ! that  was  quite  a matter-of-fact  tale 
for  cousin  Dickon.  What  came  next  ? ” 

“ I believe  he  accounted  for  their  close  inti- 
macy, by  some  story  about  the  Leather-stocking 
saving  the  life  of  John  in  a battle.” 

“Nothing  more  likely,”  said  Elizabeth,  a lit- 
tle impatiently  ; “ but  what  is  all  this  to  the  pur- 
pose ? ” 

“ Nay,  Elizabeth,  you  must  bear  with  my  ig- 
norance, and  I will  repeat  all  that  I remember  to 
have  overheard ; for  the  dialogue  was  between 
my  father  and  the  sheriff,  so  lately  as  the  last 
time  they  met.  He  then  added,  that  the  kings 
of  England  used  to  keep  gentlemen  a3  agents 
among  the  different  tribes  of  Indians,  and  some- 
times officers  in  the  army,  who  frequently  passed 
half  their  lives  on  the  edge  of  the  wilderness.” 

“Told  with  wonderful  historical  accuracy  1 
And  did  he  end  there  ? ” 

“ Oh  ! no — then  he  said  that  these  agents  sel- 
dom married  ; and — and — they  must  have  been 
wicked  men,  Elizabeth ! but  I assure  you  he  said 
so.” 

“ Never  mind,”  said  Miss  Temple,  blushing 
and  smiling,  though  so  slightly,  that  both  were 
unheeded  by  her  companion ; “ skip  all  that.” 


OLD  BRAVE  AND  THE  PANTHERS. 


133 


“ Well,  then,  he  said  that  they  often  took 
great  pride  in  the  education  of  their  children, 
whom  they  frequently  sent  to  England,  and  even 
to  the  colleges  ; and  this  is  the  way  that  he  ac- 
counts for  the  liberal  manner  in  which  Mr.  Ed- 
wards has  been  taught ; for  he  acknowledges  that 
he  knows  almost  as  much  as  your  father — or 
mine — or  even  himself.” 

“ Quite  a climax  in  learning ! And  so  he 
made  Mohegan  the  granduncle,  or  grandfather  of 
Oliver  Edwards.” 

“ You  have  heard  him  yourself,  then  ? ” said 
Louisa. 

“ Often  ; but  not  on  this  subject.  Mr.  Rich- 
ard Jones,  you  know,  dear,  has  a theory  for  every 
thing ; but  has  he  one  which  will  explain  the  rea- 
son why  that  hut  is  the  only  habitation  within 
fifty  miles  of  us,  whose  door  is  not  open  to  every 
person  who  may  choose  to  lift  its  latch  ? ” 

“I  have  never  heard  him  say  any  thing  on 
this  subject,”  returned  the  clergyman’s  daughter ; 
“ but  I suppose  that,  as  they  are  poor,  they  very 
naturally  are  anxious  to  keep  the  little  that  they 
honestly  own.  It  is  sometimes  dangerous  to  be 
rich,  Miss  Temple;  but  you  cannot  know  how 
hard  it  is  toHbe  very,  very  poor.” 

“Nor  you,  I trust,  Louisa;  at  least  I should 
hope  that,  in  this  land  of  abundance,  no  minister 
of  the  church  could  be  left  in  absolute  suffering.” 

“There  cannot  be  actual  misery,”  returned 
the  other,  in  a low  and  humble  tone,  “ where 
there  is  a dependence  on  our  Maker ; but  there 
may  be  such  suffering  as  will  cause  the  heart  to 
ache.” 

“ But  not  you — not  you,”  said  the  impetuous 
Elizabeth — “ not  you,  dear  girl : you  have  never 
known  the  misery  that  is  connected  with  pov- 
erty.” 

“ Ah  ! Miss  Temple,  you  little  understand  the 
troubles  of  this  life,  I believe.  My  father  has 
spent  many  years  as  a missionary  in  the  new 
countries,  where  his  people  were  poor,  and  fre- 
quently we  have  been  without  bread ; unable  to 
buy,  and  ashamed  to  beg,  becaiise  we  would  not 
disgrace  his  sacred  calling.  But  how  often  have 
I seen  him  leave  his  home,  where  the  sick  and 
the  hungry  felt,  when  he  left  them,  that  they  had 
lost  their  only  earthly  friend,  to  ride  on  a duty 
which  could  not  be  neglected  for  domestic  evils. 
Oh ! how  hard  it  must  be  to  preach  consolation 
to  others,  when  your  own  heart  is  bursting  with 
anguish ! ” 

“ But  it  is  all  over  now  ! your  father’s  income 
must  now  be  equal  to  his  wants — it  must  be — it 
shall  be — ” 

“ It  is,”  replied  Louisa,  dropping  her  head  on 


her  bosom,  to  conceal  the  tears  which  flowed  in 
spite  of  her  gentle  Christianity — “ for  there  are 
none  left  to  be  supplied  but  me.” 

The  turn  the  conversation  had  taken  drove 
from  the  minds  of  the  young  maidens  all  other 
thoughts  but  those  of  holy  charity ; and  Eliza- 
beth folded  her  friend  in  her  arms,  when  the  lat- 
ter gave  vent  to  her  momentary  grief  in  audible 
sobs.  When  this  burst  of  emotion  had  subsided, 
Louisa  raised  her  mild  countenance,  and  they  con- 
tinued their  walk  in  silence. 

By  this  time  they  had  gained  the  summit  of 
the  mountain,  where  they  left  the  highway,  and 
pursued  their  course  under  the  shade  of  the  state- 
ly trees  that  crowned  the  eminence.  The  day 
was  becoming  warm,  and  the  girls  plunged  more 
deeply  into  the  forest,  as  they  found  its  invigorat- 
ing coolness  agreeably  contrasted  to  the  exces- 
sive heat  they  had  experienced  in  the  ascent. 
The  conversation,  as  if  by  mutual  consent,  was 
entirely  changed  to  the  little  incidents  and  scenes 
of  their  walk,  and  every  tall  pine,  and  every  shrub 
or  flower,  called  forth  some  simple  expression  of 
admiration. 

In  this  manner  they  proceeded  along  the  mar- 
gin of  the  precipice,  catching  occasional  glimpses 
of  the  placid  Otsego,  or  pausing  to  listen  to  the 
rattling  of  wheels  and  the  sounds  of  hammers, 
that  rose  from  the  valley,  to  mingle  the  signs  of 
men  with  the  scenes  of  nature,  when  Elizabeth 
suddenly  started,  and  exclaimed  : 

“ Listen ! there  are  the  cries  of  a child  on 
this  mountain ! is  there  a clearing  near  us  ? or 
can  some  little  one  have  strayed  from  its  pa- 
rents ? ” 

“ Such  things  frequently  happen,”  returned 
Louisa.  “ Let  us  follow  the  sounds : it  may  be  a 
wanderer  starving  on  the  hill.” 

Urged  by  this  consideration,  the  females  pur- 
sued the  low,  mournful  sounds,  that  proceeded 
from  the  forest,  with  quick  and  impatient  steps. 
More  than  once,  the  ardent  Elizabeth  was  on  the 
point  of  announcing  that  she  saw  the  sufferer, 
when  Louisa  caught  her  by  the  arm,  and,  pointing 
behind  them,  cried : 

“ Look  at  the  dog ! ” 

Brave  had  been  their  companion,  from  the 
time  the  voice  of  his  young  mistress  lured  him 
from  bis  kennel,  to  the  present  moment.  His 
advanced  age  had  long  before  deprived  him  of 
his  activity ; and  when  his  companions  stopped 
to  view  the  scenery,  or  to  add  to  their  bouquets, 
the  mastiff  would  lay  his  huge  frame  on  the 
ground,  and  await  their  movements,  with  his  eyes 
closed,  and  a listlessness  in  bis  air  that  ill  ac- 
corded with  the  character  of  a protector.  But 


134 


THE  PIONEERb. 


when,  aroused  by  this  cry  from  Louisa,  Miss 
Temple  turned,  she  saw  the  dog  with  his  eyes 
keenly  set  on  some  distant  object,  nis  head  bent 
near  the  ground,  and  his  hair  actually  rising  on  hi3 
body,  through  fright  or  anger.  It  was  most  proba- 
bly the  latter,  for  he  was  growling  in  a low  key,  and 
occasionally  showing  his  teeth,  in  a manner  that 
would  have  terrified  his  mistress,  had  she  not  so 
well  known  his  good  qualities. 

“ Brave  1 ” she  said,  “ be  quiet,  Brave ! what 
do  you  see,  fellow  ? ” 

At  the  sounds  of  her  voice,  the  rage  of  the 
mastiff,  instead  of  being  at  all  diminished,  was 
very  sensibly  increased.  He  stalked  in  front  of 
the  ladies,  and  seated  himself  at  the  feet  of  his 
mistress,  growling  louder  than  before,  and  occa- 
sionally giving  vent  to  his  ire,  by  a short,  surly 
barking. 

“ What  does  he  see  ? ” said  Elizabeth  : “ there 
must  be  some  animal  in  sight.” 

Hearing  no  answer  from  her  companion,  Miss 
Temple  turned  her  head,  and  beheld  Louisa, 
standing  with  her  face  whitened  to  the  color  of 
death,  and  her  finger  pointing  upward,  with  a sort 
of  flickering,  convulsed  motion.  The  quick  eye 
of  Elizabeth  glanced  in  the  direction  indicated  by 
her  friend,  where  she  saw  the  fierce  front  and 
glaring  eyes  of  a female  panther,  fixed  on  them  in 
horrid  malignity,  and  threatening  to  leap. 

“Let  us  fly,”  exclaimed  Elizabeth,  grasping 
the  arm  of  Louisa,  whose  form  yielded  like  melt- 
ing snow. 

There  was  not  a single  feeling  in  the  tempera- 
ment of  Elizabeth  Temple  that  could  prompt  her 
to  desert  a companion  in  such  an  extremity. 
She  fell  on  her  knees,  by  the  side  of  the  inanimate 
Louisa,  tearing  from  the  person  of  her  friend, 
with  instinctive  readiness,  such  parts  of  her  dress 
as  might  obstruct  her  respiration,  and  encourag- 
ing their  only  safeguard,  the  dog,  at  the  same 
time,  by  the  sounds  of  her  voice. 

“ Courage,  Brave ! ” she  cried,  her  own  tones 
beginning  to  tremble,  “courage,  courage,  good 
Brave ! ” 

A quarter-grown  cub,  that  had  hitherto  been 
unseen,  now  appeared,  dropping  from  the  branches 
of  a sapling  that  grew  under  the  shade  of  the 
beech  which  held  its  dam.  This  ignorant,  but 
vicious  creature,  approached  the  dog,  imitating 
the  actions  and  sounds  of  its  parent,  but  exhibit- 
ing a strange  mixture  of  the  playfulness  of  a kit- 
ten with  the  ferocity  of  its  race.  Standing  on  its 
hind-legs,  it  would  rend  the  bark  of  a tree  with 
its  fore-paws,  and  play  the  antics  of  a cat ; and 
then,  by  lashing  itself  with  its  tail,  growling,  and 
scratching  the  earth,  it  would  attempt  the  mani- 


festations of  anger  that  rendered  its  parent  so 
terrific. 

All  this  time  Brave  stood  firm  and  undaunted, 
his  short  tail  erect,  his  oody  drawn  backward  on 
its  haunches,  and  his  eyes  following  the  move- 
ments of  both  dam  and  cub.  At  every  gambol 
played  by  the  latter,  it  approached  nigher  to  the 
dog,  the  growling  of  the  three  becoming  more 
horrid  at  each  moment,  until  the  younger  beast, 
overleaping  its  intended  bound,  fell  directly  before 
the  mastiff.  There  was  a moment  of  fearful  cries 
and  struggles,  but  they  ended  almost  as  soon  as 
commenced,  by  the  cub  appearing  in  the  air, 
hurled  from  the  jaws  of  Brave,  with  a violence 
that  sent  it  against  a tree  so  forcibly  as  to  render 
it  completely  senseless. 

Elizabeth  witnessed  the  short  struggle,  and 
her  blood  was  warming  with  the  triumph  of  the 
dog,  when  she  saw  the  form  of  the  old  panther  in 
the  air,  springing  twenty  feet  from  the  branch  of 
the  beech  to  the  back  of  the  mastiff.  No  words 
of  ours  can  describe  the  fury  of  the  conflict  that 
followed.  It  was  a confused  struggle  on  the  dry 
leaves,  accompanied  by  loud  and  terrific  cries. 
Miss  Temple  continued  on  her  knees,  bending 
over  the  form  of  Louisa,  her  eyes-fixed  on  the 
animals,  with  an  interest  so  horrid,  and  yet  so 
intense,  that  she  almost  forgot  her  own  stake  in 
the  result.  So  rapid  and  vigorous  were  the 
bounds  of  the  inhabitant  of  the  forest,  that  its 
active  frame  seemed  constantly  in  the  air,  while 
the  dog  nobly  faced  his  foe  at  each  successive 
leap.  When  the  panther  lighted  on  the  shoulders 
of  the  mastiff,  which  was  its  constant  aim,  old 
Brave,  though  torn  with  her  talons,  and  stained 
with  his  own  blood,  that  already  flowed  from  a 
dozen  wounds,  would  shake  off  his  furious  foe 
like  a feather,  and  rearing  on  his  hind-legs,  rush 
to  the  fray  again,  with  jaws  distended,  and  a 
dauntless  eye.  But  age,  and  his  pampered  life, 
greatly  disqualified  the  noble  mastiff  for  such  a 
struggle.  In  every  thing  but  courage,  he  was 
only  the  vestige  of  what  he  had  once  been.  A 
higher  bound  than  ever  raised  the  wary  and 
furious  beast  far  beyond  the  reach  of  the  dog,  who 
was  making  a desperate  but  fruitless  dash  at  her, 
from  which  she  alighted  in  a favorable  position, 
on  the  back  of  her  aged  foe.  For  a single  mo- 
ment only  could  the  panther  remain  there,  the 
great  strength  of  the  dog  returning  with  a con- 
vulsive effort.  But  Elizabeth  saw,  as  Brave  fas- 
tened his  teeth  in  the  side  of  his  enemy,  that  the 
collar  of  brass  around  his  neck,  which  had  been 
glittering  throughout  the  fray,  was  of  the  color 
of  blood,  and  directly,  that  his  frame  was  sink- 
ing to  the  earth,  where  it  soon  lay  prostrate  and 


THE  YOUNG  LADIES  IN  DANGER. 


135 


helpless.  Several  mighty  efforts  of  the  wild-cat 
so  extricate  herself  from  the  jaws  of  the  dog  fol- 
lowed, but  they  were  fruitless,  until  the  mastiff 
turned  on  his  back,  his  lips  collapsed,  and  his 
teeth  loosened,  when  the  short  convulsions  and 
stillness  that  succeeded,  announced  the  death  of 
poor  Brave. 

Elizabeth  now  lay  wholly  at  the  mercy  of  the 
beast.  There  is  said  to  be  something  in  the  front 
of  the  image  of  the  Maker  that  daunts  the  hearts 
of  the  inferior  beings  of  his  creation;  and  it 
would  seem  that  some  such  power,  in  the  present 
instance,  suspended  the  threatened  blow.  The 
eyes  of  the  monster  and  the  kneeling  maiden  met 
for  an  instant,  when  the  former  stooped  to  exam- 
ine her  fallen  foe ; next,  to  scent  her  luckless  cub. 
From  the  latter  examination,  it  turned,  however, 
with  its  eyes  apparently  emitting  flashes  of  fire, 
its  tail  lashing  its  sides  furiously,  and  its  claws 
projecting  inches  from  her  broad  feet. 

Miss  Temple  did  not  or  could  not  move.  Her 
hands  were  clasped  in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  but 
her  eyes  were  still  drawn  to  her  terrible  enemy — 
her  cheeks  were  blanched  to  the  whiteness  of 
marble,  and  her  Ups  were  slightly  separated  with 
horror. 

The  moment  seemed  now  to  have  arrived  for 
the  fatal  termination,  and  the  beautiful  figure  of 
Elizabeth  was  bowing  meekly  to  the  stroke,  when 
a rustling  of  leaves  behind  seemed  rather  to  mock 
the  organs  than  to  meet  her  ears. 

“ Hist ! hist ! ” said  a low  voice,  “ steep  lower, 
gal ; your  bonnet  hides  the  creature’s  head.” 

It  was  rather  the  yielding  of  nature  than  a 
compliance  with  this  unexpected  order,  that 
caused  the  head  of  our  heroine  to  sink  on  her 
bosom ; when  she  heard  the  report  of  the  rifle, 
the  whizzing  of  the  bullet,  and  the  enraged  cries 
of  the  beast,  who  was  rolling  over  on  the  earth,  bit- 
ing its  own  flesh,  and  tearing  the  twigs  and 
branches  within  its  reach.  At  the  next  instant 
the  form  of  the  Leather-stocking  rushed  by  her, 
and  he  called  aloud : 

“ Come  in,  Hector,  come  in,  old  fool ; ’tis  a 
hard-lived  animal,  and  may  jump  ag’in.” 

Natty  fearlessly  maintained  hi3  position  in 
front  of  the  females,  notwithstanding  the  violent 
bounds  and  threatening  aspect  of  the  wounded 
panther,  which  gave  several  indications  of  re- 
turning strength  and  ferocity,  until  his  rifle  was 
again  loaded,  when  he  stepped  up  to  the- enraged 
animal,  and,  placing  the  muzzle  close  to  its  head, 
every  spark  of  life  was  extinguished  by  the  dis- 
charge. 

The  death  of  her  terrible  enemy  appeared  to 
Elizabeth  like  a resurrection  from  her  own  grave. 


There  was  an  elasticity  in  the  mind  of  our  heroine 
that  rose  to  meet  the  pressure  of  instant  danger, 
and  the  more  direct  it  had  been,  the  more  her 
nature  had  struggled  to  overcome  them.  But 
still  she  was  a woman.  Had  she  been  left  to  her- 
self in  her  late  extremity,  she  would  probably  have 
used  her  faculties  to  the  utmost,  and  with  discre- 
tion, in  protecting  her  person ; but,  encumbered 
with  her  inanimate  friend,  retreat  was  a thing  not 
to  be  attempted.  Notwithstanding  the  fearful 
aspect  of  her  foe,  the  eye  of  Elizabeth  had  never 
shrunk  from  its  gaze,  and  long  after  the  event  her 
thoughts  would  recur  to  her  passing  sensations, 
and  the  sweetness  of  her  midnight  sleep  would 
be  disturbed,  as  her  active  fancy  conjured,  in 
dreams,  the  most  trifling  movements  of  savage 
fury  that  the  beast  had  exhibited  in  its  moment 
of  power. 

We  shall  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  the  res- 
toration of  Louisa’s  senses,  and  the  expressions 
of  gratitude  whieh  fell  from  the  young  women. 
The  former  was  effected  by  a little  water,  that  was 
brought  from  one  of  the  thousand  springs  of  those 
mountains,  in  the  cap  of  the  Leather-stocking; 
and  the  latter  were  uttered  with  the  warmth  that 
might  be  expected  from  the  character  of  Eliza- 
beth. Natty  received  her  vehement  protestations 
of  gratitude  with  a simple  expression  of  good-will, 
and  with  indulgence  for  her  present  excitement, 
but  with  a carelessness  that  showed  how  little  he 
thought  of  the  service  he  had  rendered. 

“Well,  well,”  he  said,  “be  it  so,  gal ; let  it  be 
so,  if  you  wish  it — we’ll  talk  the  thing  over  an- 
other time.  Come,  come — let  us  get  into  the  road, 
for  you’ve  had  terror  enough  to  make  you  wish 
yourself  in  your  father’s  house  ag’in.” 

This  was  uttered  as  they  were  proceeding, 
at  a pace  that  was  adapted  to  the  weakness  of 
Louisa,  toward  the  highway  : on  reaching  which 
the  ladies  separated  from  their  guide,  declaring 
themselves  equal  to  the  remainder  of  the  walk 
without  his  assistance,  and  feeling  encouraged  by 
the  sight  of  the  village  which  lay  beneath  their 
feet  like  a picture,  with  its  limpid  lake  in  front, 
the  winding  stream  along  its  margin,  and  its  hun- 
dred chimneys  of  whitened  bricks. 

The  reader  need  not  be  told  the  nature  of  the 
emotions  which  two  youthful,  ingenuous,  and  well- 
educated  girls  woul  d experience  at  their  escape 
from  a death  so  horrid  as  the  one  which  had  im- 
pended over  them,  while  they  pursued  their  way 
in  silence  along  the  track  on  the  side  of  the  moun- 
tain; nor  how  deep  were  their  mental  thanks  to 
that  Power  which  had  given  them  their  existence, 
and  which  had  not  deserted  them  in  their  extrem- 
ity ; neither  how  often  they  pressed  each  other’s 


136 


THE  PIONEERS. 


arms,  as  the  assurance  of  their  present  safety 
came,  like  a healing  balm  athwart  their  troubled 
spirits,  when  their  thoughts  were  recurring  to  the 
recent  moments  of  horror. 

Leather-stocking  remained  on  the  hill,  gazing 
after  their  retiring  figures,  until  they  were  hidden 
by  a bend  in  the  road,  when  he  whistled  in  his 
dogs,  and,  shouldering  his  rifle,  he  returned  into 
the  forest. 

“Well,  it  was  a skeary  thing  to  the  young 
creaters,”  said  Natty,  while  he  retrod  the  path 
toward  the  plain.  “ It  might  frighten  an  older 
woman,  to  see  a she-painter  so  near  her,  with  a 
dead  cub  by  its  side.  I wonder  if  I had  aimed  at 
the  varmint’s  eye,  if  I shouldn’t  have  touched  the 
life  sooner  than  in  the  forehead : but  they  are 
hard-lived  animals,  and  it  was  a good  shot,  con- 
sid’ring  that  I could  see  nothing  but  the  head  and 
the  peak  of  its  tail.  Hah  ! who  goes  there  ? ” 

“ How  goes  it,  Natty  ? ” said  Mr.  Doolittle, 
stepping  out  of  the  bushes,  with  a motion  that 
was  a good  deal  accelerated  by  the  sight  of  the 
rifle,  that  was  already  lowered  in  his  direction. 
“ What ! shooting  this  warm  day ! mind,  old  man, 
the  law  don’t  get  hold  on  you.” 

“ The  law,  squire  ! I have  shook  hands  with 
the  law  these  forty  year,”  returned  Natty ; “ for 
what  has  a man  who  lives  in  the  wilderness  to  do 
with  the  ways  of  the  law  ? ” 

“Not  much,  may  be,”  said  Hiram  ; “but  you 
sometimes  trade  in  venison.  I s’pose  you  know, 
Leather-stocking,  that  there  is  an  act  passed  to 
lay  a fine  of  five  pounds  currency,  or  twelve  dol- 
lars and  fifty  cents,  by  decimals,  on  every  man 
who  kills  a deer  betwixt  January  and  August. 
The  Judge  had  a great  hand  in  getting  the  law 
through.” 

“ I can  believe  it,”  returned  the  old  hunter  ; 
“ I can  believe  that  or  any  thing,  of  a man  who 
carries  on  as  he  does  in  the  country.” 

“ Yes,  the  law  is  quite  positive,  and  the  Judge 
is  bent  on  putting  it  in  force — five  pounds  pen- 
alty. I thought  I heard  your  hounds  out  on  the 
scent  of  so’thing  this  morning  : I didn’t  know  but 
they  might  get  you  in  difficulty.” 

“ They  know  their  manners  too  well,”  said 
Natty,  carelessly.  “ And  how  much  goes  to  the 
State’s  evidence,  squire  ? ” 

“ How  much  ! ” repeated  Hiram,  quailing  under 
the  honest  but  sharp  look  of  the  hunter : “ the  in- 
former gets  half,  I — I believe — yes,  I guess  it’s 
half.  But  there’s  blood  on  your  sleeve,  man — you 
haven’t  been  shooting  any  thing  this  morning  ? ” 
“ I have,  though,”  said  the  hunter,  nodding  his 
bead  significantly  to  the  other,  “ and  a good  shot 
I made  of  it.” 


“ H-e-m  ! ” ejaculated  the  magistrate ; “ and 
where  is  the  game  ? I s’pose  it’s  of  a good  nater, 
for  your  dogs  won’t  hunt  at  any  thing  that  isn’t 
choice.” 

“ They’ll  hunt  any  thing  I tell  then  to,  squire,” 
cried  Natty,  favoring  the  other  with  his  laugh. 
“ They’ll  hunt  you,  if  I say  so.  He-e-e-re,  he-e-e-re, 
Hector — he-e-e-re,  slut — come  this-away,  pups — 
come  this-away — come  hither.” 

“ Oh ! I have  always  heard  a good  character 
of  the  dogs,”  returned  Mr.  Doolittle,  quickening 
his  pace  by  raising  each  leg  in  rapid  succession, 
as  the  hounds  scented  around  his  person.  “And 
where  is  the  game,  Leather-stocking  ? ” 

During  this  dialogue,  the  speakers  had  been 
walking  at  a very  fast  gait,  and  Natty  swung  the 
end  of  his  rifle  round,  pointing  through  the  bush- 
es, and  replied : 

“ There  lies  one.  How  do  you  like  such 
meat  ? ” 

“ This  ! ” exclaimed  Hiram  ; “ why,  this  is 
Judge  Temple’s  dog  Brave.  Take  care,  Leather- 
stocking, and  don’t  make  an  enemy  of  the  Judge. 
I hope  you  haven’t  harmed  the  animal  ? ” 

“ Look  for  yourself,  Mr.  Doolittle,”  said  Natty, 
drawing  his  knife  from  his  girdle,  and  wiping  it, 
in  a knowing  manner,  once  or  twice  across  his 
garment  of  buckskin ; “ does  his  throat  look  as  if 
I had  cut  it  with  this  knife  ? ” 

“ It  is  dreadfully  tom ! it’s  an  awful  wound — 
no  knife  never  did  this  deed.  Who  could  have 
done  it  ? ” 

“ The  painters  behind  you,  squire.” 

“ Painters  ! ” echoed  Hiram,  whirling  on  his 
his  heel  with  an  agility  that  would  have  done  cred- 
it to  a dancing-master. 

“ Be  easy,  man,”  said  Natty ; “ there’s  two  of 
the  venomous  things ; but  the  dog  finished  one, 
and  I have  fastened  the  other’s  jaws  for  her ; so 
don’t  be  frightened,  squire,  they  won’t  hurt  you.” 

“And  where’s  the  deer?”  cried  Hiram,  star- 
ing about  him  with  a bewildered  air. 

“ Anan ! deer  ! ” repeated  Natty. 

“ Sartain,  an’t  there  venison  here,  or  didn’t 
you  kill  a buck  ? ” 

“ What ! when  the  law  forbids  the  thing, 
squire ! ” said  the  old  hunter.  “ I hope  there’s  no 
law  ag’in  killing  the  painters.” 

“No;  there’s  a bounty  on  the  scalps — but — 
will  your  dogs  hunt  painters,  Natty  ? ” 

“ Any  thing ; didn’t  I tell  you  they  would  hunt 
a man  ? He-e-re,  he-e-re,  pups — ” 

“Yes,  yes,  I remember.  Well,  they  are 
strange  dogs,  I must  say — I am  quite  in  a won- 
derment.” 

Natty  had  seated  himself  on  the  ground,  and 


NATTY’S  CONTEMPT  OF  HIRAM. 


137 


Laving  laid  the  grim  head  of  his  late  ferocious 
enemy  in  his  lap,  was  drawing  his  knife  with  a 
practised  hand  around  the  ears,  which  he  tore 
from  the  head  of  the  beast  in  such  a manner  as  to 
preserve  their  connection,  when  he  answered  : 

“ What  at,  squire  ? did  you  never  see  a paint- 
er’s scalp  afore  ? Come,  you  are  a magistrate,  I 
wish  you’d  make  me  out  an  order  for  the  bounty.” 

“ The  bounty  ! ” repeated  Hiram,  holding  the 
ears  on  the  end  of  his  finger,  for  a moment  as  if 
uncertain  how  to  proceed.  “ Well,  let  us  go  down 
to  your  hut,  where  you  can  take  the  oath,  and  I 
will  write  out  the  order.  I suppose  you  have  a 
Bible  ? all  the  law  wants  is  the  four  evangelists 
and  the  Lord’s  prayer.” 

“ I keep  no  books,”  said  Natty,  a little  coldly : 
“ not  such  a Bible  as  the  law  needs.” 

“ Oh  ! there’s  but  one  sort  of  Bible  that’s  good 
in  law,”  returned  the  magistrate : “ and  yourn  w ill 
do  as  well  as  another’s.  Come,  the  carcasses  are 
worth  nothing,  man ; let  us  go  down  and  take 
the  oath.” 

“ Softly,  softly,  squire,”  said  the  hunter,  lift- 
ing his  trophies  very  deliberately  from  the  ground, 
and  shouldering  his  rifle  ; “ why  do  you  want  an 
oath  at  all,  for  a thing  that  your  own  eyes  has 
seen?  won’t  you  believe  yourself,  that  another 
man  must  swear  to  a fact  that  you  know  to  be 
true  ? You  have  seen  me  scalp  the  creaters,  and 
if  I must  swear  to  it,  it  shall  be  before  Judge 
Temple,  who  needs  an  oath.” 

“ But  we  have  no  pen  or  paper  here,  Leather- 
stocking.; we  must  go  to  the  hut  for  them,  or  how 
can  I write  the  order.” 

Natty  turned  his  simple  features  on  the  cun- 
ning magistrate  with  another  of  his  laughs,  as  he 
said: 

“ And  what  should  I be  doing  with  scholars’ 
tools  ? I want  no  pens  or  paper,  not  knowing 
the  use  of  either ; and  I keep  none.  No,  no,  I’ll 
bring  the  scalps  into  the  village,  squire,  and  you 
can  make  out  the  order  on  one  of  your  law-books, 
and  it  will  be  all  the  better  for  it.  The  deuce  take 
this  leather  on  the  neck  of  the  dog,  it  will  strangle 
the  old  fool.  Can  you  lend  me  a knife,  squire  ? ” 

Hiram,  who  seemed  particularly  anxious  to  be 
on  good  terms  with  his  companion,  unhesitatingly 
complied.  Natty  cut  the  thong  from  the  neck  of 
the  hound,  and,  as  he  returned  the  knife  to  its 
owner,  carelessly  remarked : 

“ ’Tis  a good  bit  of  steel,  and  has  cut  such 
leather  as  this  very  same,  before  now,  I dare 
say.” 

“ Do  you  mean  to  charge  me  with  letting  your 
hounds  loose  ? ” exclaimed  Hiram,  with  a con- 
sciousness that  disarmed  his  caution. 


“ Loose ! ” repeated  the  hunter — “ I let  them 
loose  myself.  I always  let  them  loose  before  I 
leave  the  hut.” 

The  ungovernable  amazement  with  which  Mr. 
Doolittle  listened  to  this  falsehood,  would  have 
betrayed  his  agency  in  the  liberation  of  the  dogs, 
had  Natty  wanted  any  further  confirmation  ; and 
the  coolness  and  management  of  the  old  man  now 
disappeared  in  open  indignation. 

“ Look  you  here,  Mr.  Doolittle,”  he  said, 
striking  the  breech  of  his  rifle  violently  on  the 
ground  ; “ what  there  is  in  the  wigwam  of  a poor 
man  like  me,  that  one  like  you  can  crave,  I don’t 
know  ; but  this  I tell  you  to  your  face,  that  you 
never  shall  put  foot  under  the  roof  of  my  cabin 
with  my  consent,  and  that,  if  you  harbor  round 
the  spot  as  you  have  done  lately,  you  may  meet 
with  treatment  that  you  will  little  relish.” 

“ And  let  me  tell  you,  Mr.  Bumppo,”  said 
Hiram,  retreating,  however,  with  a quick  step, 
“that  I know  you’ve  broke  the  law,  and  that  I’m 
a magistrate,  and  will  make  you  feel  it  too,  before 
you  are  a day  older.” 

“ That  for  you  and  your  law  too,”  cried  Natty, 
snapping  his  fingers  at  the  justice  of  the  peace : 
“ away  with  you,  you  varmint,  before  the  devil 
tempts  me  to  give  you  your  desarts.  Take  care, 
if  I ever  catch  your  prowling  face  in  the  woods 
ag’in,  that  I don’t  shoot  it  for  an  owl.” 

There  is  something  at  all  times  commanding 
in  honest  indignation,  and  Hiram  did  not  stay  to 
provoke  the  wrath  of  the  old  hunter  to  extremi- 
ties. When  the  intruder  was  out  of  sight,  Natty 
proceeded  to  the  hut,  where  he  found  all  quiet  as 
the  grave.  He  fastened  his  dogs,  and  tapping  at 
the  door,  which  was  opened  by  Edwards,  asked  : 

“ Is  all  safe,  lad  ! ” 

“ Every  thing,”  returned  the  youth.  “ Some 
one  attempted  the  lock,  but  it  was  too  strong  for 
him.” 

“ I know  the  creater,”  said  Natty,  “ but  he’ll 
not  trust  himself  within  reach  of  my  rifle  very 
soon — ” What  more  was  uttered  by  the  Leath- 
er-stocking, in  his  vexation,  was  rendered  inaudi- 
ble by  the  closing  of  the  door  of  the  cabin. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

“ It  is  noised,  lie  hath  a mass  of  treasure.” 

Timon  of  Athens. 

When  Marmaduke  Temple  and  his  cousin 
rode  through  the  gate  of  the  former,  the  heart 
of  the  father  had  been  too  recently  touched  with 
the  best  feelings  of  our  nature,  to  leave  inclina- 


138 


THE  PIONEERS. 


iion  for  immediate  discourse.  There  was  an  im- 
portance in  the  air  of  Richard,  which  would  not 
have  admitted  of  the  ordinary  informal  conversa- 
tion of  the  sheriff,  without  violating  all  the  rules 
of  consistency ; and  the  equestrians  pursued  their 
way  with  great  diligence,  for  more  than  a mile,  in 
profound  silence.  At  length  the  soft  expression 
of  parental  affection  was  slowly  chased  from  the 
handsome  features  of  the  Judge,  and  was  gradu- 
ally supplanted  by  the  cast  of  humor  and  benevo- 
lence that  was  usually  seated  on  his  brow. 

“ Well,  Dickon,”  he  said,  “since  I have  yield- 
ed myself  so  far  implicitly  to  your  guidance,  I 
think  the  moment  has  arrived  when  I am  entitled 
to  further  confidence.  Why  and  wherefore  are 
we  journeying  together  in  this  solemn  gait  ? ” 

The  sheriff  gave  a loud  hem,  that  rang  far  in 
the  forest,  and  keeping  his  eyes  fixed  on  objects 
before  him,  like  a man  who  is  looking  deep  into 
futurity : 

“ There  has  always  been  one  point  of  differ- 
ence between  us,  Judge  Temple,  I may  say,  since 
our  nativity,”  he  replied ; “ not  that  I would  in- 
sinuate that  you  are  at  all  answerable  for  the  acts 
of  Nature ; for  a man  is  no  more  to  be  con- 
demned for  the  misfortunes  of  his  birth,  than  he 
is  to  be  commended  for  the  natural  advantages 
he  may  possess ; but  on  one  point  we  may  be  said 
to  have  differed  from  our  births,  and  they,  you 
know,  occurred  within  two  days  of  each  other.” 

“ I really  marvel,  Richard,  what  this  one  point 
can  be ; for,  to  my  eyes,  we  seem  to  differ  so  ma- 
terially, and  so  often — ” 

“Mere  consequences,  sir,”  interrupted  the 
sheriff;  “all  our  minor  differences  proceed  from 
one  cause,  and  that  is,  our  opinions  of  the  uni- 
versal attainments  of  genius.” 

“ In  what,  Dickon  ? ” 

“ I speak  plain  English,  I believe,  Judge  Tem- 
ple ; at  least  I ought ; for  my  father,  who  taught 
me,  could  speak — •” 

“ Greek  and  Latin,”  interrupted  Marmaduke. 
“ I well  know  the  qualifications  of  your  family  in 
tongues,  Dickon.  But  proceed  to  the  point ; why 
are  we  travelling  over  this  mountain  to-day  ? ” 

“ To  do  justice  to  any  subject,  sir,  the  narra- 
tor mus.t  be  suffered  to  proceed  in  his  own  way,” 
continued  the  sheriff.  “You  are  of  opinion, 
Judge  Temple,  that  a man  is  to  be  qualified  by 
nature  and  education  to  do  only  one  thing  well, 
whereas  I know  that  genius  will  supply  the  place 
of  learning,  and  that  a certain  sort  of  man  can 
do  any  thing  and  every  thing.” 

“ Like  yourself,  I suppose,”  said  Marmaduke, 
3miling. 

-“  I scorn  personalities,  sir,  I say  nothing  of 


myself ; but  there  are  three  men  on  your  Patent, 
of  the  kind  that  I should  term  talented  by  nature 
for  her  general  purposes,  though  acting  under  the 
influence  of  different  situations.” 

“We  are  better  off,  then,  than  I had  supposed. 
Who  are  these  triumviri  ? ” 

“ Why,  sir,  one  is  Hiram  Doolittle ; a carpen. 
ter  by  trade,  as  you  know — and  I need  only  point 
to  the  village  to  exhibit  his  merits.  Then  he  is  a 
, magistrate,  and  might  shame  many  a man,  in  hia 
distribution  of  justice,  who  has  had  better  oppor- 
tunities.” 

“ Well,  he  is  one,”  said  Marmaduke,  with  the 
air  of  a man  that  was  determined  not  to  dispute 
the  point. 

“ Jotham  Riddel  is  another.” 

“ Who?” 

“ Jotham  Riddel.” 

“ What,  that  dissatisfied,  shiftless,  lazy,  specu- 
lating fellow  ! he  who  changes  his  county  every 
three  years,  his  farm  every  six  months,  and  his 
occupation  every  season  ! an  agriculturist  yester- 
day, a shoemaker  to-day,  and  a schoolmaster  to- 
morrow? that  epitome  of  all  the  unsteady  and 
profitless  propensities  of  the  settlers  without  one 
of  their  good  qualities  to  counterbalance  the  evil ! 
Nay,  Richard,  this  is  too  bad  for  even — but  the 
, third  ? ” 

“ As  the  third  is  not  used  to  hearing  such 
comments  on  his  character,  Judge  Temple,  I shall 
not  name  him.” 

“The  amount  of  all  this,  then,  Dickon,  is, 
that  the  trio,  of  which  you  are  one,  and  the  prin- 
cipal, have  made  some  important  discovery.” 

“ I have  not  said  that  I am  one,  Judge  Tem- 
ple. As  I told  you  before,  I say  nothing  egotis- 
tical. But  a discovery  has  been  made,  and  you 
are  deeply  interested  in  it.” 

“ Proceed — I am  all  ears.” 

“No,  no,  ’duke  you  are  bad  enough,  I own, 
but  not  so  bad  as  that,  either : your  ears  are  not 
quite  full  grown.” 

“ The  sheriff  laughed  heartily  at  his  own  wit, 
and  put  himself  in  good-humor  thereby,  when  he 
gratified  his  patient  cousin  with  the  following 
explanation : 

“ You  know,  ’duke,  there  is  a man  living  on 
your  estate  that  goes  by  the  name  of  Natty 
Bumppo.  Here  has  this  man  lived,  by  what  I 
can  learn,  for  more  than  forty  years — by  him- 
self, until  lately ; and  now  with  strange  compan- 
ions.” 

“ Part  very  true,  and  all  very  probable,”  said 
the  Judge. 

“ All  true,  sir  ; all  true.  Well,  within  thesa 
last  few  months  have  appeared  as  his  compan* 


MINES  OF  PRECIOUS  METALS. 


139 


ions,  an  old  Indian  chief,  the  last,  or  one  of  the 
last  of  his  tribe  that  is  to  be  found  in  this  part 
of  the  ci  untry,  and  a young  man,  who  is  said  to 
be  the  son  of  some  Indian  agent,  by  a squaw.” 

“Who  says  that?”  cried  Marmaduke,  with 
an  interest  that  he  had  not  manifested  before. 

“ Who  ? why  common  sepse — common  report 
— the  hue  and  cry.  But  listen  till  you  know  all. 
This  youth  has  very  pretty  talents — yes,  what  I 
call  very  pretty  talents — and  has  been  well  edu- 
cated, has  seen  very  tolerable  company,  and 
knows  how  to  behave  himself,  when  he  has  a 
mind  to.  Now,  Judge  Temple,  can  you  tell  me 
what  has  brought  three  such  men  as  Indian 
John,  Natty  Bumppo,  and  Oliver  Edwards  to- 
gether ? ” 

Marmaduke  turned  his  countenance,  in  evi- 
dent surprise,  to  his  cousin,  and  replied  quickly : 

“ Thou  hast  unexpectedly  hit  on  a subject, 
Richard,  that  has  often  occupied  my  mind.  But 
knowest  thou  any  thing  of  this  mystery,  or  are 
they  only  the  crude  conjectures  of — ” 

“Crude  nothing, ’duke,  crude  nothing;  but 
facts,  stubborn  facts.  You  know  there  are  mines 
in  these  mountains  ; I have  often  heard  you  say 
that  you  believed  in  their  existence.” 

“ Reasoning  from  analogy,  Richard,  but  not 
with  any  certainty  of  the  fact.” 

“ You  have  heard  them  mentioned,  and  have 
seen  specimens  of  the  ore,  sir ; you  will  not  deny 
that ! and,  reasoning  from  analogy,  as  you  say, 
if  there  be  mines  in  South  America,  ought  there 
not  to  be  mines  in  North  America  too  ? ” 

“ Nay,  nay,  I deny  nothing,  my  cousin.  I 
certainly  have  heard  many  rumors  of  the  exist- 
ence of  mines  in  these  hills  ; and  I do  believe 
that  I have  seen  specimens  of  the  precious  met- 
als that  have  been  found  here.  It  would  occa- 
sion me  no  surprise  to  learn  that  tin  and  silver, 
or,  what  I consider  of  more  consequence,  good 
coal — ” 

“ Damn  your  coal,”  cried  the  sheriff ; “ who 
wants  to  find  coal  in  these  forests  ? No,  no,  sil- 
ver, ’duke ; silver  is  the  one  thing  needful,  and 
silver  is  to  be  found.  But  listen : you  are  not 
to  be  told  that  the  natives  have  long  known  the 
use  of  gold  and  silver  ; now  who  so  likely  to  be 
acquainted  where  they  are  to  be  found,  as  the 
ancient  inhabitants  of  a country  ? I have  the 
best  reasons  for  believing  that  both  Mohegan  and 
the  Leather-stocking  have  been  privy  to  the  ex- 
istence of  a mine  in  this  very  mountain,  for  many 
years.” 

The  sheriff  had  now  touched  his  cousin  in  a 
sensitive  spot ; and  Marmaduke  lent  a more  at- 
tentive ear  to  the  speaker,  who,  after  waiting  a 


moment,  to  see  the  effect  of  this  exfraordinary 
development,  proceeded : 

“Yes,  sir,  I have  my  reasons,  and  at  a proper 
time  you  shall  know  them.” 

“ No  time  is  so  good  as  the  present.” 

“ Well,  well,  be  attentive,”  continued  Rich- 
ard, looking  cautiously  about  him,  to  make  cer- 
tain that  no  eavesdropper  was  hid  in  the  forest, 
though  they  were  in  constant  motion.  “ I have 
seen  Mohegan  and  the  Leather-stocking,  with  my 
own  eyes — and  my  eyes  are  as  good  as  anybody’s 
eyes — I have  seen  them,  I say,  both  going  up  the 
mountain  and  coming  down  it,  with  spades  and 
picks  ; and  others  have  seen  them  carrying  things 
into  their  hut,  in  a secret  and  mysterious  man- 
ner, after  dark.  Do  you  call  this  a fact  of  im- 
portance ? ” 

The  Judge  did  not  reply,  but  his  brow  had 
contracted,  with  a thoughtfulness  that  he  always 
wore  when  much  interested,  and  his  eyes  rested 
on  his  cousin  in  expectation  of  hearing  more. 
Richard  continued  : 

“ It  was  ore.  Now,  sir,  I ask  if  you  can  tell 
me  who  this  Mr.  Oliver  Edwards  is,  that  has  made 
a part  of  your  household  since  Christmas  ? ” 

Marmaduke  again  raised  his  eyes,  but  con- 
tinued silent,  shaking  his  head  in  the  negative. 

“ That  he  is  a half-breed  we  know,  for  Mohe- 
gan does  not  scruple  to  call  him  openly  his  kins- 
man ; that  he  is  well  educated  we  know.  But  as 
to  his  business  here — do  you  remember  that 
about  a month  before  this  young  man  made  his 
appearance  among  us,  Natty  was  absent  from 
home  several  days  ? You  do  ; for  you  inquired 
for  him,  as  you  wanted  some  venison  to  take  to 
youj^friends,  when  you  went  for  Bess.  Well,  he 
was  not  to  be  found.  Old  John  was  left  in  the 
hut  alone  ; and  when  Natty  did  appear,  although 
he  came  on  in  the  night,  he  was  seen  drawing 
one  of  those  jumpers  that  they  carry  their  grain 
to  mill  in,  and  to  take  out  something  with  great 
care,  that  he  had  covered  up  under  his  bear-skins. 
Now  let  me  ask  you,  Judge  Temple,  what  motive 
could  induce  a man  like  the  Leather-stocking  to 
make  a sled,  and  toil  with  a load  over  these 
mountains,  if  he  had  nothing  but  his  rifle  or  his 
ammunition  to  carry  ? ” 

“ They  frequently  make  these  jumpers  to  con- 
vey their  game  home,  and  you  say  he  had  been 
absent  many  days.” 

“ How  did  he  kill  it  ? His  rifle  was  in  the 
village,  to  be  mended.  No,  no — that  he  was  gone 
to  some  unusual  place  is  certain ; that  he  brought 
back  some  secret  utensils  is  more  certain ; and 
that  he  has  not  allowed  a soul  to  approach  his 
hut  since  is  most  certain  of  all.” 


L40 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“He  was  never  fond  of  intruders — ” 

“ I know  it,”  interrupted  Richard  ; “ but  did 
tie  drive  them  from  his  cabin  morosely  ? Within 
a fortnight  of  his  return,  this  Mr.  Edwards  ap- 
pears. They  spend  whole  days  in  the  mountains, 
pretending  to  be  shooting,  but  in  realty  explor- 
ing ; the  frosts  prevent  their  digging  at  that  time, 
and  he  avails  himself  of  a lucky  accident  to  get 
into  good  quarters.  But  even  now,  he  is  quite 
half  of  his  time  in  that  hut — many  hours  every 
night.  They  are  smelting,  ’duke,  they  are  smelt- 
ing, and  as  they  grow  rich,  you  grow  poor.” 

“ How  much  of  this  is  thine  own,  Richard, 
and  how  much  comes  from  others  ? I would  sift 
the  wheat  from  the  chaff.” 

“ Part  is  my  own,  for  I saw  the  jumper,  though 
it  was  broken  up  and  burnt  in  a day  or  two.  I 
have  told  you  that  I saw  the  old  man  with  his 
spades  and  picks.  Hiram  met  Natty,  as  he  was 
crossing  the  mountain,  the  night  of  his  arrival 
with  the  sled,  and  very  good-naturedly  offered — 
Hiram  is  good-natured — to  carry  up  part  of  his 
load,  for  the  old  man  had  a heavy  pull  up  the 
back  of  the  mountain,  but  he  wouldn’t  listen  to 
the  thing,  and  repulsed  the  offer  in  such  a man- 
ner that  the  squire  said  he  had  half  a mind  to 
swear  the  peace  against  him.  Since  the  snow  has 
been  off,  more  especially  after  the  frosts  got  out 
of  the  ground,  we  have  kept  a watchful  eye  on 
the  gentleman,  in  which  we  have  found  Jotham 
useful.” 

Marmaduke  did  not  much  like  the  associates 
of  Richard  in  this  business ; still  he  knew  them 
to  be  cunning  and  ready  in  expedients ; and  as 
there  was  certainly  something  mysterious,  not 
only  in  the  connection  between  the  old  h maters 
and  Edwards,  but  in  what  his  cousin  had  just 
related,  he  began  to  revolve  the  subject  in  his 
own  mind  with  more  care.  On  reflection,  he  re- 
membered various  circumstances  that  tended  to 
corroborate  these  suspicions,  and,  as  the  whole 
business  favored  one  of  his  infirmities,  he  yielded 
the  more  readily  to  their  impression.  The  mind 
of  Judge  Temple,  at  all  times  comprehensive,  had 
received,  from  his  peculiar  occupations,  a bias  to 
look  far  into  futurity,  in  his  speculations  on  the 
improvements  that  posterity  were  to  make  in  his 
lands.  To  his  eye,  where  others  saw  nothing  but 
a wilderness,  towns,  manufactories,  bridges,  ca- 
nals, mines,  and  all  the  other  resources  of  an  old 
country,  were  constantly  presenting  themselves, 
though  his  good  sense  suppressed,  in  some  de- 
gree, the  exhibition  of  these  expectations. 

As  the  sheriff  allowed  his  cousin  full  time  to 
reflect  on  what  he  had  heard,  the  probability  of 
some  pecuniary  adventure  being  the  connecting 


link  in  the  chain  that  brought  Oliver  Edwards  in- 
to the  cabin  of  Leather-stocking,  appeared  to  him 
each  moment  to  be  stronger.  But  Marmaduke 
was  too  much  in  the  habit  of  examining  both  sides 
of  a subject,  not  to  perceive  the  objections,  and 
he  reasoned  with  himself  aloud  : 

“ It  cannot  be  so,  or  the  youth  would  not  be 
driven  so  near  the  verge  of  poverty.” 

“ What  so  likely  to  make  a man  dig  for  money, 
as  being  poor  ? ” cried  the  sheriff. 

“ Besides,  there  is  an  elevation  of  character 
about  Oliver,  that  proceeds  from  education,  which 
would  forbid  so  clandestine  a proceeding.” 

“ Could  an  ignorant  fellow  smelt  ? ” continued 
Richard. 

“ Bess  hints  that  he  was  reduced  even  to  his 
last  shilling,  when  we  took  him  into  our  dwell- 
ing.” 

“ He  had  beSn  buying  tools.  And  would  he 
spend  his  last  sixpence  for  a shot  at  a turkey ^ 
had  he  not  known  where  to  get  more  ? ” 

“ Can  I have  possibly  been  so  long  a dupe ! 
His  manner  has  been  rude  to  me  at  times  ; but  I 
attributed  it  to  his  conceiving  himself  injured, 
and  to  his  mistaking  the  forms  of  the  world.” 

“ Haven’t  you  been  a dupe  all  your  life,  ’duke  ? 
and  an’t  what  you  call  ignorance  of  forms  deep 
cunning,  to  conceal  his  real  character  ? ” 

“ If  he  were  bent  on  deception,  he  would  have 
concealed  his  knowledge,  and  passed  with  us  for 
an  inferior  man.” 

“ He  cannot.  I could  no  more  pass  for  a fool, 
myself,  that  I could  fly.  Knowledge  is  not  to  be 
concealed,  like  a candle  under  a bushel.” 

“ Richard,”  said  the  Judge,  turning  to  his 
cousin,  “ there  are  many  reasons  against  the  truth 
of  thy  conjectures  ; but  thou  hast  awakened  sus- 
picions which  must  be  satisfied.  But  why  are  we 
travelling  here  ? ” 

“ Jotham,  who  has  been  much  in  the  moun- 
tain latterly,  being  kept  thei’e  by  me  and  Hiram, 
has  made  a discovery,  which  he  will  not  explain,  he 
says,  for  he  is  bound  by  an  oath ; but  the  amount 
is,  that  he  knows  where  the  ore  lies,  and  he  has 
this  day  begun  to  dig.  I would  not  consent  to 
the  tiling,  ’duke,  without  your  knowledge,  for  the 
land  is  yours  ; and  now  you  know  the  reason  of 
our  ride.  I call  this  a countermine,  ha  ! ” 

“ And  where  is  the  desirable  spot  ? ” asked 
the  Judge,  with  an  air  half  comical,  half  serious. 

“At  hand ; and  when  we  have  visited  that,  1 
will  show  you  one  of  the  places  that  we  have 
found  within  a week,  where  our  hunters  have  been 
amusing  themselves  for  six  months  past.” 

The  gentlemen  continued  to  discuss'  the  mat- 
ter, while  their  horses  picked  their  way  u^der  th« 


AN  UNEXPLAINED  BUSINESS. 


141 


branches  of  the  trees,  and  over  the  uneven  ground 
of  the  mountain.  They  soon  arrived  at  the  end 
of  their  journey,  where,  in  tryth,  they  found  Jo- 
tham  already  buried  to  his  neck  in  a hole  that  he 
had  been  digging. 

Marmaduke  questioned  the  miner  very  closely, 
as  to  his  reasons  for  believing  in  the  existence  of 
the  precious  metals  near  that  particular  spot ; but 
the  fellow  maintained  an  obstinate  mystery  in  his 
answers.  He  asserted  that  he  had  the  best  of  rea- 
sons for  what  he  did,  and  inquired  of  the  Judge 
what  portion  of  the  profits  would  fall  to  his  own 
share,  in  the  event  of  success,  with  an  earnest- 
ness that  proved  his  faith.  After  spending  an 
hour  near  the  place,  examining  the  stones,  and 
searching  for  the  usual  indications  of  the  prox- 
imity of  ore,  the  Judge  remounted,  and  suffered 
his  cousin  to  lead  the  way  to  the  place  where  the 
mysterious  trio  had  been  making  their  excava- 
tion. 

The  spot  chosen  by  Jotham  was  on  the  back 
of  the  mountain  that  overhung  the  hut  of  Leath- 
er-stocking, and  the  place  selected  by  Natty  and 
his  companions  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  same 
hill,  but  above  the  road,  and,  of  course,  in  an  op- 
posite direction  to  the  route  taken  by  the  ladies  in 
their  walk. 

“We  shall  be  safe  in  approaching  the  place 
now,”  said  Richard,  while  they  dismounted  and 
fastened  their  horses ; “ for  I took  a look  with 
the  glass,  and  saw  John  and  Leather-stocking,  in 
their  canoe  fishing,  before  we  left  home,  and  Oli- 
ver is  in  the  same  pursuit ; but  these  may  be 
nothing  but  shams,  to  blind  our  eyes,  so  we  will 
be  expeditious,  for  it  would  not  be  pleasant  to  be 
caught  here  by  them.” 

“ Not  on  my  own  land ! ” said  Marmaduke, 
sternly.  “ If  it  be  as  you  suspect,  I will  know 
their  reasons  for  making  this  excavation.” 

“ Mum,”  said  Richard,  laying  a finger  on  his 
lip,  and  leading  the  way  down  a very  difficult  de- 
scent to  a sort  of  natural  cavern,  which  was  found 
in  the  face  of  the  rock,  and  was  not  unlike  a fire- 
place in  shape.  In  front  of  this  place  lay  a pile 
of  earth,  which  had  evidently  been  taken  from 
the  recess,  and  part  of  which  was  yet  fresh.  An 
examination  of  the  exterior  of  the  cavern  left  the 
Judge  in  doubt  whether  it  was  one  of  Nature’s 
frolics  that  had  thrown  it  into  that  shape,  or 
whether  it  had  been  wrought  by  the  hands  of  man, 
at  some  earlier  period.  But  there  could  be  no 
doubt  that  the  whole  of  the  interior  was  of  recent 
formation,  and  the  marks  of  the  pick  were  still 
visible,  where  the  soft,  lead-colored  rock  had  op- 
posed itself  to  the  progress  of  the  miners.  The 
whole  formed  an  excavation  of  about  twenty  feet 


in  width,  and  nearly  twice  that  distance  in  depth. 
The  height  was  much  greater  than  was  required 
for  the  ordinary  purposes  of  experiment ; but  this 
was  evidently  the  effect  of  chance,  as  the  roof  of 
the  cavern  was  a natural  stratum  of  rock,  that 
projected  many  feet  beyond  the  base  of  the  pile. 
Immediately  in  front  of  the  recess,  or  cave,  was  a 
little  terrace,  partly  formed  by  nature,  and  partly 
by  the  earth  that  had  been  carelessly  thrown 
aside  by  the  laborers.  The  mountain  fell  off  pre- 
cipitously in  front  of  the  terrace,  and  the  approach 
by  its  sides,  under  the  ridge  of  the  rocks,  was 
difficult  and  a little  dangerous.  The  whole  was 
wild,  rude,  and  apparently  incomplete  ; for,  while 
looking  among  the  bushes,  the  sheriff  found  the 
very  implements  that  had  been  used  in  the  work. 

When  the  sheriff  thought  that  his  cousin  had 
examined  the  spot  sufficiently,  he  asked,  solemn- 
ly : 

“ Judge  Temple,  are  you  satisfied  ? ” 

“ Perfectly,  that  there  is  something  mysteri- 
ous and  perplexing  in  this  business.  It  is  a se- 
cret spot,  and  cunningly  devised,  Richard  ; yet  I 
see  no  symptoms  of  ore.” 

“ Do  you  expect,  sir,  to  find  gold  and  silver 
lying  like  pebbles  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  ? — 
dollars  and  dimes  ready  coined  to  your  hands ! 
No,  no — the  treasure  must  be  sought  after  to  be 
won.  But  let  them  mine. ; I shall  countermine.” 

The  Judge  took  an  accurate  survey  of  the 
place,  and  noted  in  his  memorandum-book  such 
marks  as  were  necessary  to  find  it  again,  in  the 
event  of  Richard’s  absence  ; when  the  cousins  re- 
turned to  their  horses. 

On  reaching  the  highway  they  separated,  the 
sheriff  to  summon  twenty-four  “good  men  and 
true,”  to  attend  as  the  inquest  of  the  county,  on 
the  succeeding  Monday,  when  Marmaduke  held 
his  stated  court  of  “ common  pleas  and  general 
sessions  of  the  peace,”  and  the  Judge  to  return, 
musing  deeply  on  what  he  had  seen  and  heard  in 
the  course  of  the  morning. 

When  the  horse  of  the  latter  reached  the  spot 
where  the  highway  fell  toward  the  valley,  the  eye 
of  Marmaduke  rested,  it  is  true,  on  the  same  scene 
that  had,  ten  minutes  before,  been  so  soothing  to 
the  feelings  of  his  daughter  and  her  friend,  as 
they  emerged  from  the  forest ; but  it  rested  in 
vacancy.  He  threw  the  reigns  to  his  sure-footed 
beast,  and  suffered  the  animal  to  travel  at  his 
own  gait,  while  he  soliloquized  as  follows  : 

“ There  may  be  more  in  this  than  I at  first 
supposed.  I have  suffered  my  feeling  to  blind 
my  reason,  in  admitting  an  unknown  youth  in 
this  manner  to  my  dwelling ; yet  this  is  not  tbe 
land  of  suspicion.  I will  have  the  Leather-stock* 


142 


THE  PIONEERS. 


mg  before  me,  and,  by  a few  direct  questions,  ex- 
tract  the  truth  from  the  simple  old  man.” 

At  that  instant  the  Judge  caught  a glimpse  of 
the  figures  of  Elizabeth  and  Louisa,  who  were 
slowly  descending  the  mountain,  a short  distance 
before  him.  He  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  rid- 
ing up  to  them,  dismounted,  and  drove  his  steed 
along  the  narrow  path.  While  the  agitated 
parent  was  listening  to  the  vivid  description  that 
his  daughter  gave  of  her  recent  danger,  and  her 
unexpected  escape,  all  thoughts  of  mines,  vested 
rights,  and  examinations,  were  absorbed  in  emo- 
tion ; and  when  the  image  of  Natty  again  crossed 
his  recollection,  it  was  not  as  a lawless  and  depre- 
dating squatter,  but  as  the  preserver  of  his  child. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

“ The  court  awards  it,  and  the  law  doth  give  it.” 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

Remarkable  Pettibone,  who  had  forgotten 
the  wound  received  by  her  pride,  in  cotitemplation 
of  the  ease  and  comforts  of  her  situation,  and 
who  still  retained  her  station  in  the  family  of 
Judge  Temple,  was  dispatched  to  the  humble 
dwelling  which  Richard  already  styled  “ The  Rec- 
tory,” in  attendance  on  Louisa,  who  was  soon 
consigned  to  the  arms  of  her  father. 

In  the  mean  time,  Harmaduke  and  his  daugh- 
ter were  closeted  for  more  than  an  hour,  nor  shall 
we  invade  the  sanctuary  of  parental  love,  by  re- 
lating the  conversation.  When  the  curtain  rises 
on  the  reader,  the  Judge  is  seen  walking  up  and 
down  the  apartment,  with  a tender  melancholy  in 
his  air,  and  his  child  reclining  on  a settee,  with  a 
flushed  cheek,  and  her  dark  eyes  seeming  to  float 
in  crystals. 

“ It  was  a timely  rescue ! it  was,  indeed,  a 
timely  rescue,  my  child ! ” cried  the  Judge. 
“ Then  thou  didst  not  desert  thy  friend,  my  noble 
Bess  ? ” 

“ I believe  I may  as  well  take  the  credit  of 
fortitude,”  said  Elizabeth,  “ though  I much  doubt 
if  flight  would  have  availed  me  any  thing,  had  I 
even  courage  to  execute  such  an  intention.  But 
I thought  not  of  the  expedient.” 

“ Of  what  didst  thou  think,  love  ? where  did 
thy  thoughts  dwell  most,  at  that  fearful  mo- 
ment ? ” 

“ The  beast ! the  beast ! ” cried  Elizabeth, 
veiling  her  face  with  her  hand:  “Oh!  I saw 
nothing,  I thought  of  nothing  but  the  beast.  I 
tried  to  think  of  better  things,  but  the  horror 
was  too  glaring,  the  danger  too  much  before  my 
eyes.” 


“ Well,  well,  thou  art  safe,  and  we  will  con- 
verse no  more  on  the  unpleasant  subject*  I did 
not  think  such  an  animal  yet  remained  in  our 
forests  ; but  they  will  stray  far  from  their  haunts 
when  pressed  by  hunger,  and — ” 

A loud  knocking  at  the  door  of  the  apartment 
interrupted  what  he  was  about  to  utter,  and  he 
bid  the  applicant  enter.  The  door  was  opened 
by  Benjamin,  who  came  in  with  a discontented 
air,  as  if  he  felt  that  he  had  a communication  to 
make  that  would  be  out  of  season. 

“Here  is  Squire  Doolittle  below,  sir,”  com- 
menced the  major-domo.  “ He  has  been  standing 
off  and  on  in  the  door-yard,  for  the  matter  of  a 
glass  ; and  he  has  sum’mat  on  his  mind  that  he 
wants  to  heave  up,  d’ye  see  ; but  I tells  him,  says 
I,  man,  would  you  be  coming  aboard  with  your 
complaints,  said  I,  when  the  Judge  has  gotten 
his  own  child,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  jaws  of  a 
lion  ? But  damn  the  bit  of  manners  has  the  fel- 
low, any  more  than  if  he  was  one  of  them  Guineas 
down  in  the  kitchen  there ; and  so  as  he  was 
sheering  nearer,  every  stretch  he  made  toward 
the  house,  I could  do  no  better  than  to  let  you*< 
honor  know  that  the  chap  was  in  the  offing.” 

“ He  must  have  business  of  importance,”  said 
Marmaduke ; “ something  in  relation  to  his  office, 
most  probably,  as  the  court  sits  so  shortly.” 

“ Ay,  ay,  you  have  it,  sir,”  cried  Benjamin, 
“ it’s  sum’mat  about  a complaint  that  he  has  to 
make  of  the  old  Leather-stocking,  who,  to  my 
judgment,  is  the  better  man  of  the  two.  It’s  a 
very  good  sort  of  a man  is  this  Master  Bumppo, 
and  he  has  a way  with  a spear,  all  the  same  as 
if  he  was  brought  up  at  the  bow  oar  of  the  cap- 
tain’s barge,  or  was  born  with  a boat-hook  in  his 
hand.” 

“ Against  the  Leather-stocking ! ” cried  Eliza- 
beth, rising  from  her  reclining  posture. 

“ Rest  easy,  my  child ; some  trifle,  I pledge 
you ; I believe  I am  already  acquainted  with  its 
import.  Trust  me,  Bess,  your  champion  shall  be 
safe  in  my  care.  Show  Mr.  Doolittle  in,  Benja- 
min.” 

Miss  Temple  appeared  satisfied  with  this  as- 
surance, but  fastened  her  dark  eyes  on  the  per- 
son of  the  architect,  who  profited  by  the  permis- 
sion, and  instantly  made  his  appearance. 

All  the  impatience  of  Hiram  seemed  to  vanish 
the  instant  he  entered  the  apartment.  After  salu- 
ting the  Judge  and  his  daughter,  he  took  the 
chair  to  which  Marmaduke  pointed,  and  sat  for  a 
minute,  composing  his  straight  black  hair,  with  a 
gravity  of  demeanor  that  was  intended  to  do 
honor  to  his  official  station.  At  leigth  he  said : 

“ It’s  likely,  from  what  I hear,  that  Miss  Tem- 


THE  MYSTERIES  OF  BUMPPO’S  HUT. 


143 


pie  had  a narrow  chance  with  the  painters,  on  the 
mountain.” 

Marmaduke  made  a gentle  inclination  of  his 
head,  by  way  of  assent,  but  continued  silent. 

“I  s’pose  the  law  gives  a bounty  on  the 
scalps,”  continued  Hiram,  “in  which  case  the 
Leather-stocking  will  make  a good  job  on’t.” 

“ It  shall  be  my  care  to  see  that  he  is  reward- 
ed,” returned  the  Judge. 

“Yes,  yes,  I rather  guess  that  nobody  here- 
abouts doubts  the  Judge’s  generosity.  Does  he 
know  whether  the  sheriff  has  fairly  made  up 
his  mind  to  have  a reading-desk  or  a deacon’s 
pew  under  the  pulpit  ? ” 

“ I have  not  heard  my  cousin  speak  on  that 
subject,  lately,”  replied  Marmaduke. 

“ I think  it’s  likely  that  we  will  have  a pretty 
dull  court  on’t,  from  what  I can  gather.  I hear 
that  Jotham  Riddel  and  the  man  who  bought  his 
betterments,  have  agreed  to  leave  their  difference 
to  men,  and  I don’t  think  there’ll  be  more  than 
two  civil  cases  in  the  calendar.” 

“ I am  glad  of  it,”  said  the  Judge ; “ nothing 
gives  me  more  pain  than  to  see  my  settlers  wast- 
ing their  time  and  substance  in  the  unprofitable 
struggles  of  the  law.  I hope  it  may  prove  true, 
sir.” 

“ I rather  guess  ’twill  be  left  out  to  men,” 
added  Hiram,  with  an  air  equally  balanced  be- 
tween doubt  and  assurance,  but  which  Judge 
Temple  understood  to  mean  certainty  ; “I  some 
think  that  I am  appointed  a referee  in  the  case 
myself;  Jotham  as  much  as  told  me  that  he 
should  take  me.  The  defendant,  I guess,  means 
to  take  Captain  Hollister,  and  we  two  have  partly 
agreed  on  Squire  Jones  for  the  third  man.” 

“ Are  there  any  criminals  to  be  tried  ? ” asked 
Marmaduke. 

“There’s  the  counterfeiters,”  returned  the 
magistrate  ; “ as  they  were  caught  in  the  fact,  I 
think  it  likely  that  they’ll  be  indicted,  in  which 
case  it’s  probable  they’ll  be  tried.” 

“ Certainly,  sir,  I had  forgotten  those  men. 
There  are  no  more,  I hope.” 

“ Why,  there  is  a threaten  to  come  forrad  with 
an  assault,  that  happened  at  the  last  independence 
day;  but  I’m  not  sartain  that  the  law’ll  take  hold 
on’t.  There  was  plaguey  hard  words  passed,  but 
whether  they  struck  or  not  I haven’t  heard. 
There’s  some  folks  talk  of  a deer  or  two  being 
killed  out  of  season,  over  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Patent,  by  some  of  the  squatters  on  the  ‘Frac- 
tions.’” 

“Let  a complaint  be  made,  by  all  means,” 
cried  the  Judge;  “ I am  determined  to  see  the  law 
executed  to  the  letter,  on  all  such  depredators.” 


“Why,  yes,  I thought  the  Judge.  was  of  that 
mind ; I come  partly  on  such  a business  my- 
self.” 

“ You ! ” exclaimed  Marmaduke,  comprehend- 
ing in  an  instant  how  completely  he  had  been 
caught  by  the  other’s  cunning ; “ and  what  have 
you  to  say,  sir  ? ” 

“I  some  think  that  Natty  Bumppo  has  the 
carcass  of  a deer  in  his  hut  at  this  moment,  and 
a considerable  part  of  my  business  was  to  get  a 
search-warrant  to  examine.” 

“You  think,  sir!  do  you  know  that  the  law 
exacts  an  oath,  before  I can  issue  such  a precept  ? 
The  habitation  of  a citizen  is  not  to  be  idly  in- 
vaded on  light  suspicion.” 

“ I rather  think  I can  swear  to  it  myself,”  re- 
turned the  immovable  Hiram  ; “ and  Jotham  is  in 
the  street,  and  as  good  as  ready  to  come  in  and 
make  oath  to  the  same  thing.” 

“ Then  issue  the  warrant  thyself ; thou  art  a 
magistrate,  Mr.  Doolittle;  why  trouble  me  with 
the  matter  ? ” 

“Why,  seeing  it’s  the  first  complaint  under 
the  law,  and  knowing  the  Judge  set  his  heart  on 
the  thing,  I thought  it  best  that  the  authority  to 
search  should  come  from  himself.  Besides,  as 
I’m  much  in  the  woods,  among  the  timber,  I don’t 
altogether  like  making  an  enemy  of  the  Leather- 
stocking. Now  the  Judge  has  a weight  in  the 
county  that  puts  him  above  fear.” 

Miss  Temple  turned  her  face  to  the  callous 
architect,  as  she  said  : 

“ And  what  has  any  honest  person  to  dread 
from  so  kind  a man  as  Bumppo  ? ” 

“ Why,  it’s  as  easy,  miss,  to  pull  a rifle-trigger 
on  a magistrate  as  on  a painter.  But  if  the 
Judge  don’t  conclude  to  issue  the  warrant,  I must 
go  home  and  make  it  out  myself.” 

“I  have  not  refused  your  application,  sir,” 
said  Marmaduke,  perceiving  at  once  that  his  rep- 
utation for  impartiality  was  at  stake ; “ go  into 
my  office,  Mr.  Doolittle,  where  I will  join  you,  and 
sign  the  warrant.” 

Judge  Temple  stopped  the  remonstrances 
which  Elizabeth  was  about  to  utter,  after  Hirdm 
had  withdrawn,  by  laying  his  hand  on  her  mouth, 
and  saying : 

“ It  is  more  terrific  in  sound  than  frightful  in 
reality,  my  child.  I suppose  that  the  Leather- 
stocking has  shot  a deer,  for  the  season  is  nearly 
over,  and  you  say  that  he  was  hunting  with  his 
dogs  when  he  came  so  timely  to  your  assistance. 
But  it  will  be  only  to  examine  his  cabin,  and  find 
the  animal,  when  you  can  pay  the  penalty  out  of 
your  own  pocket,  Bess.  Nothing  short  of  the 
twelve  dollars  and  a half  will  satisfy  this  harpy, 


144 


THE  PIONEERS. 


I perceive ; and  surely  my  reputation  as  a Judge 
is  worth  that  trifle.” 

Elizabeth  was  a good  deal  pacified  with  this 
assurance,  and  suffered  her  father  to  leave  her,  to 
fulfil  his  promise  to  Hiram. 

When  Marmaduke  left  his  office  after  exe- 
cuting his  disagreeable  duty,  he  met  Oliver 
Edwards,  walking  up  the  gravelled  walk  in  front 
of  the  mansion-house,  with  great  strides,  and  with 
a face  agitated  by  feeling.  On  seeing  Judge  Tem- 
ple, the  youth  turned  aside,  and  with  a warmth 
in  his  manner  that  was  not  often  exhibited  to 
Marmaduke,  he  cried : 

“ I congratulate  you,  sir ; from  the  bottom  of 
my  soul,  I congratulate  you,  Judge  Temple.  Oh ! 
it  would  have  been  too  horrid  to  have  recollected 
for  a moment ! I have  just  left  the  hut,  where, 
after  showing  me  his  scalps,  old  Natty  told  me  of 
the  escape  of  the  ladies,  as  the  thing  to  be  men- 
tioned last.  Indeed,  indeed,  sir,  no  words  of 
mine  can  express  half  of  what  I have  felt  ” — the 
youth  paused  a moment,  as  if  suddenly  recollect- 
ing that  he  was  overstepping  prescribed  limits, 
and  concluded  with  a good  deal  of  embarrass- 
ment— “ what  I have  felt  at  this  danger  to  Miss 
— Grant,  and — and  your  daughter,  sir.” 

But  the  heart  of  Marmaduke  was  too  much 
softened  to  admit  of  his  cavilling  at  trifles,  and> 
without  regarding  the  confusion  of  the  other,  he 
replied : 

“ I thank  thee,  thank  thee,  Oliver ; as  thou 
sayest,  it  is  almost  too  horrid  to  be  remembered* 
But  come,  let  us  hasten  to  Bess,  for  Louisa  has 
already  gone  to  the  rectory.” 

The  young  man  sprang  forward,  and,  throwing 
open  a door,  barely  permitted  the  Judge  to  pre- 
cede him,  when  he  was  in  the  presence  of  Eliza- 
beth in  a moment. 

The  cold  distance  that  often  crossed  the  de- 
meanor of  the  heiress,  in  her  intercourse  with 
Edwards,  was  now  entirely  banished,  and  two 
hours  were  passed  by  the  party,  in  the  free,  unem- 
bari’assed,  and  confiding  manner  of  old  and 
esteemed  , friends.  Judge  Temple  had  forgotten 
the  suspicions  engendered  during  his  morning’s 
ride,  and  the  youth  and  maiden  conversed, 
laughed,  and  were  sad  by  turns,  as  impulse  di- 
rected. 

At  length  Edwards,  after  repeating  his  inten- 
tion to  do  so  for  the  third  time,  left  the  mansion- 
house  to  go  to  the  rectory  on  a similar  errand  of 
friendship. 

During  this  short  period,  a scene  was  passing 
at  the  hut  that  completely  frustrated  the  benevo- 
lent intentions  of  Judge  Temple  in  favor  of  the 
Leather-stocking,  and  at  once  destroyed  the 


the  short-lived  harmony  between  the  youth  and 
Marmaduke. 

When  Hiram  Doolittle  had  obtained  his  search- 
warrant,  his  first  business  was  to  procure  a 
proper  officer  to  see  it  executed.  The  sheriff 
was  absent,  summoning  in  person  the  grand  in- 
quest for  the  county ; the  deputy,  who  resided  in 
the  village,  was  riding  on  the  same  errand,  in  a 
different  part  of  the  settlement ; and  the  regular 
constable  of  the  township  had  been  selected  for 
his  station  from  motives  of  charity,  being  lame  of 
a leg.  Hiram  intended  to  accompany  the  officer 
as  a spectator,  but  he  felt  no  very  strong  desire  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle.  It  was,  however, 
Saturday,  and  the  sun  was  already  turning  the 
shadows  of  the  pines  toward  the  east;  on  the 
morrow  the  conscientious  magistrate  could  not 
engage  in  such  an  expedition  at  the  peril  of  his 
soul;  and  long  before  Monday,  the  venison,  and 
all  vestiges  of  the  death  of  the  deer,  might  be 
secreted  or  destroyed.  Happily,  the  lounging 
form  of  Billy  Kirby  met  his  eye,  and  Hiram,  at 
all  times  fruitful  in  similar  expedients,  saw  his 
way  clear  at  once.  Jotham,  who  was  associated 
in  the  whole  business,  and  who  had  left  the  moun- 
tain in  consequence  of  a summons  from  his  coad- 
jutor, but  who  failed,  equally  with  Hiram,  in  the 
unfortunate  particular  of  nerve,  was  directed  to 
summon  the  wood-chopper  to  the  dwelling  of  the 
magistrate. 

When  Billy  appeared,  he  was  very  kindly  in- 
vited to  take  the  chair  in  which  he  had  already 
seated  himself,  and  was  treated  in  all  respects  as 
if  he  were  an  equal. 

“ Judge  Temple  has  set  his  heart  on  putting 
the  deer  law  in  force,”  said  Hiram,  after  the  pre- 
liminary civilities  were  over,  “and  a complaint 
has'  been  laid  before  him  that  a deer  has  been 
killed.  He  has  issued  a search-warrant,  and  sent 
for  me  to  get  somebody  to  execute  it  ” 

Kirby,  who  had  no  idea  of  being  excluded 
from  the  deliberative  part  of  any  affair  in  which 
he  was  engaged,  drew  up  his  bushy  head  in  a re- 
flecting attitude,  and,  after  musing  a moment) 
replied  by  asking  a few  questions. 

“ The  sheriff  is  gone  out  of  the  way  ? ” 

“ Not  to  be  found.” 

“ And  his  deputy  too  ? ” 

“ Both  gone  on  the  skirts  of  the  Patent.” 

“ But  I saw  the  constable  hobbling  about  town 
an  hour  ago.” 

“ Yes,  yes,”  said  Hiram  with  a coaxing  smile 
and  knowing  nod,  “ but  this  business  wants  a man 
— not  a cripple.” 

“Why,”  said  Billy,  laughing,  “will  the  chap 
make  fight  ? ” 


SERVING  A SEARCH-WARRANT. 


145 


“ He’s  a little  quarrelsome  at  times,  and  thinks 
he’s  the  best  man  in  the  country  at  rough  and 
tum&e.” 

“ I heard  him  brag  once,”  said  Jotham,  “ that 
there  wasn’t  a man  ’twixt  the  Mohawk  Flats  and 
the  Pennsylvany  line  that  was  his  match  at  a 
close  hug.” 

“ Hid  you  ? ” exclaimed  Kirby,  raising  his 
huge  frame  in  his  seat,  like  a fion  stretching  in 
•iis  lair;  “ I rather  guess  he  never  felt  a Varmount- 
er’s  knuckles  on  his  backbone.  But  who  is  the 
chap  ? ” 

“ Why,”  said  Jotham,  “ it’s — ” 

“It’s  ag’in  law  to  tell,”  interrupted  Hiram, 
“unless  you’ll  qualify  to  sarve.  You’d  be  the 
very  man  to  take  him,  Bill ; and  I’ll  make  out  a 
special  deputation  in  a minute,  when  you  will  get 
the  fees.” 

“ What’s  the  fees  ? ” said  Kirby,  laying  his 
large  hand  on  the  leaves  of  a statute-book,  that 
Hiram  had  opened  in  order  to  give  dignity  to  his 
office,  which  he  turned  over,  in  his  rough  manner, 
as  if  he  were  reflecting  on  a subject  about  which 
he  had,  in  truth,  already  decided ; “ will  they  pay 
a man  for  a broken  head  ? ” 

“They’ll  be  some  thing  handsome,”  said 
Hiram. 

“ Damn  the  fees,”  said  Billy,  again  laughing 
— “ does  the  fellow  think  he’s  the  best  wrestler  in 
the  county,  though  ? what’s  his  inches  ? ” 

“ He’s  taller  than  you  be,”  said  Jotham,  “ and 
one  of  the  biggest — ” 

Talkers,  he  was  about  to  add,  but  the  impa- 
tience of  Kirby  interrupted  him.  The  wood- 
chopper  had  nothing  fierce  or  even  brutal  in  his 
appearance ; the  character  of  his  expression  was 
that  of  good-natured  vanity.  It  was  evident  he 
prided  himself  on  the  powers  of  the  physical 
man,  like  all  who  have  nothing  better  to  boast 
of ; and,  stretching  out  his  broad  hand,  with  the 
palm  downward,  he  said,  keeping  his  eyes  fast- 
ened on  his  own  bones  and  sinews  : 

“Come,  give  us  a touch  of  the  book.  I’ll 
swear,  and  you’ll  see  that  I’m  a man  to  keep  my 
oath.” 

Hiram  did  not  give  the  wood-chopper  time  to 
change  his  mind,  but  the  oath  was  administered 
without  unnecessary  delay.  So  soon  as  this  pre- 
liminary was  completed,  the  three  worthies  left 
the  house,  and  proceeded  by  the  nearest  road 
toward  the  hut.  They  had  readied  the  bank  of 
the  lake,  and  were  diverging  from  the  route  of 
the  highway,  before  Kirby  recollected  that  he  was 
now  entitled  to  the  privilege  of  the  initiated,  and 
repeated  his  question  as  to  the  name  of  the 
offender. 

49  10 


“ Which  way,  which  way,  squire  ? ” exclaimed 
the  hardy  wood- chopper ; “ I thought  it  was  to 
search  a house  that  you  wanted  me,  not  the 
woods.  There  is  nobody  lives  on  this  side  of  the 
lake,  for  six  miles,  unless  you  count  the  Leather- 
stocking and  old  John  for  settlers.  Come, 
tell  me  the  chap’s  name,  and  I warrant  me  that 
I lead  you  to  his  clearing  by  a straighter  path 
than  this,  for  I know  every  sapling  that  grows 
within  two  miles  of  Templetown.” 

“ This  is  the  way,”  said  Hiram,  pointing  for- 
ward and  quickening  his  step,  as  if  apprehensive 
that  Kirby  would  desert,  “and  Bumppo  is  the 
man.” 

Kirby  stopped  short,  and  looked  from  one  of 
his  companions  to  the  other  in  astonishment.  He 
then  burst  into  a loud  laugh,  and  cried  : 

“ Who  ? Leather-stocking ! he  may  brag  of 
his  aim  and  his  rifle,  for  he  has  the  best  of  both, 
as  I will  own  myself,  for  sin’  he  shot  the  pigeon  I 
knock  under  to  him ; but  for  a wrestle ! why,  I 
would  take  the  creatur’  between  my  finger  and 
thumb,  and  tie  him  in  a bow-knot  around  my 
neck  for  a Barcelon^.  The  man  is  seventy,  and 
was  never  any  thing  particular  for  strength.” 

“ He’s  a deceiving  man,”  said  Hiram,  “ like 
all  the  hunters : he  is  stronger  than  he  seems ; be- 
sides, he  has  his  rifle.” 

“ That  for  his  rifle ! ” cried  Billy ; “ he’d  no 
more  hurt  me  with  his  rifle  than  he’d  fly.  He  is 
a harmless  Greater,  and  I must  say  that  I think  he 
has  as  good  right  to  kill  deer  as  any  man  on  the 
Patent.  It’s  his  main  support,  and  this  is  a free 
country,  where  a man  is  privileged  to  follow  any 
calling  he  likes.” 

“According  to  that  doctrine,”  said  Jotham, 
“ anybody  may  shoot  a deer.” 

“ This  is  the  man’s  calling,  I tell  you,”  re- 
turned Kirby,  “ and  the  law  was  never  made  for 
such  as  he.” 

“ The  law  was  made  for  all,”  observed  Hiram, 
who  began  to  think  that  the  danger  was  likely  to 
fall  to  his  own  share,  notwithstanding  his  manage- 
ment ; “ and  the  law  is  particular  in  noticing  par- 
jury.” 

“ See  here,  Squire  Doolittle,”  said  the  reckless 
wood-chopper ; “ I don’t  care  the  valie  of  a beet- 
lering for  you  and  your  parjury  too.  But  as  I 
have  come  so  far,  I’ll  go  down  and  have  a talk 
with  the  old  man,  and  maybe  we’ll  fry  a steak  of 
the  deer  together.” 

“Well,  if  you  can  get  in  peaceably,  so  much 
the  better,”  said  the  magistrate.  “ To  my  notion, 
strife  is  very  unpopular ; I prefar,  at  all  times, 
clever  conduct  to  an  ugly  temper.” 

As  the  whole  party  moved  at  a great  pace 


146 


THE  PIONEERS. 


they  scon  reached  the  hut,  where  Hiram  thought 
it  prudent  to  halt  on  the  outside  of  the  top  of  the 
fallen  pine,  which  formed  a chevaux-de-frise,  to 
defend  the  approach  to  the  fortress,  on  the  side 
next  the  village.  The  delay  was  little  relished 
by  Kirby,  who  clapped  his  hands  to  his  mouth, 
and  gave  a loud  halloo  that  brought  the  dogs  out 
of  their  kennel,  and,  almost  at  the  same  instant, 
the  scantily-covered  head  of  Natty  from  the 
door. 

“ Lie  down,  old  fool,”  cried  the  hunter ; “ do 
you  think  there’s  more  painters  about  you  ? ” 

“ Ha ! Leather-stocking,  I’ve  an  arrand  with 
you,”  cried  Kirby;  “here’s  the  good  people  of 
the  State  have  been  writing  you  a small  letter,  and 
they’ve  hired  me  to  ride  post.” 

“What  would  you  have  with  me,  Billy 
Kirby  ? ” said  Natty,  stepping  across  his  thresh- 
old, and  raising  his  hand  over  his  eyes  to  screen 
them  from  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  while  he 
took  a survey  of  his  visitor.  “ I’ve  no  land  to 
clear ; and  Heaven  knows  I would  set  out  six  trees 
afore  I would  cut  down  one. — Down,  Hector,  I 
say  ; into  your  kennel  with  ye.” 

“Would  you,  old  boy?”  roared  Billy;  “then 
so  much  the  better  for  me.  But  I must  do  my 
arrand.  Here’s  a letter  for  you,  Leather-stocking. 
If  you  can  read  it,  it’s  all  well,  and,  if  you  can’t, 
here’s  Squire  Doolittle  at  hand,  to  let  you  know 
what  it  means.  It  seems  you  mistook  the  twen- 
tieth of  July  for  the  first  of  August,  that’s  all.” 

By  this  time  Natty  had  discovered  the  lank 
person  of  Hiram,  drawn  up  under  the  cover  of  a 
high  stump ; and  all  that  was  complacent  in  his 
manner  instantly  gave  way  to  marked  distrust  and 
dissatisfaction.  He  placed  his  head  within  the 
door  of  his  hut,  and  said  a few  words  in  an  under- 
tone, when  he  again  appeared,  and  continued 
“ I’ve  nothing  for  ye ; so  away,  afore  the  Evil 
One  tempts  me  to  do  you  harm.  I owe  you  no 
spite,  Billy  Kirby,  and  what  for  should  you  trouble 
an  old  man,  who  has  done  you  no  harm  ? ” 

Kirby  advanced  through  the  top  of  the  pine, 
to  within  a few  feet  of  the  hunter,  where  he  seated 
himself  on  the  end  of  a log  with  great  composure, 
and  began  to  examine  the  nose  of  Hector,  with 
whom  he  was  familiar,  from  their  frequently  meet- 
ing in  the  woods,  where  he  sometimes  fed  the  dog 
from  his  own  basket  of  provisions. 

“You’ve  outshot  me,  and  I’m  not  ashamed  to 
say  it,”  said  the  wood-chopper;  “ but  I don’t  owe 
you  a grudge  for  that,  Natty ! though  it  seems 
that  you’ve  shot  once  too  often,  for  the  story  goes 
that  you’ve  killed  a buck.” 

“ I’ve  fired  but  twice  to-day,  and  both  times 
at  the  painters,”  returned  the  Leather-stocking  ; 


“ see,  here  are  the  scalps ! I was  just  going  in 
with  them  to  the  Judge’s  to  ask  the  bounty.” 

While  Natty  was  speaking,  he  tossed  the  ears 
to  Kirby,  who  continued  playing  with  them,  with 
a careless  air,  holding  them  to  the  dogs,  and  laugh- 
ing at  their  movements  when  they  scented  the  un- 
usual game. 

But  Hiram,  emboldened  by  the  advance  of  the 
deputed  constable,  now  ventured  to  approach 
also,  and  took  up  the  discourse  with  the  air  of 
authority  that  became  his  commission.  His  first 
measure  was  to  read  the  warrant  aloud,  taking 
care  to  give  due  emphasis  to  the  most  material 
parts,  and  concluding  with  the  name  of  the  Judge 
in  very  audible  and  distinct  tones. 

“ Did  Marmaduke  Temple  put  his  name  to  that 
bit  of  paper?”  said  Natty,  shaking  his  head; 
“well,  well,  that  man  loves  the  new  ways,  and  his 
betterments,  and  his  lands,  afore  his  own  flesh  and 
blood.  But  I won’t  mistrust  the  gal ; she  has  an 
eye  like  a full-grown  buck  ! poor  thing,  she  didn’t 
choose  her  father,  and  can’t  help  it.  I know  but 
little  of  the  law,  Mr.  Doolittle  ; what  is  to  be  done, 
now  you’ve  read  your  commission  ? ” 

“ Oh ! it’s  nothing  but  form,  Natty,”  said 
Hiram,  endeavoring  to  assume  a friendly  aspect. 
“ Let’s  go  in,  and  talk  the  thing  over  in  reason ; 
I dare  to  say  that  the  money  can  be  easily  found, 
and  I partly  conclude,  from  what  passed,  that 
Judge  Temple  will  pay  it  himself.” 

The  old  hunter  had  kept  a keen  eye  on  the 
movements  of  his  three  visitors,  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  had  maintained  his  position,  just  with- 
out the  threshold  of  his  cabin,  with  a determined 
manner,  that  showed  he  was  not  to  be  easily 
driven  from  his  post.  When  Hiram  drew  nigher, 
as  if  expecting  his  proposition  would  be  ac- 
cepted, Natty  lifted  his  hand,  and  motioned  for 
him  to  retreat. 

“ Haven’t  I told  you  more  than  once,  not  to 
tempt  me  ? ” he  said.  “ I trouble  no  man ; why 
can’t  the  law  leave  me  to  myself?  Go  back — go 
back,  and  tell  your  Judge  that  he  may  keep  his 
bounty ; but  I won’t  have  his  wasty  ways  brought 
into  my  hut.” 

This  offer,  however,  instead  of  appeasing  the 
curiosity  of  Hiram,  seemed  to  inflame  it  the  more  ; 
while  Kirby  cried : 

“Well,  that’s  fair,  squire;  he  forgives  the 
county  his  demand,  and  the  county  should  for- 
give him  the  fine  ; it’s  what  I call  an  even  trade, 
and  should  be  concluded  on  the  spot.  I like 
quick  dealings,  and  what’s  fair  ’twixt  man  and 
man.” 

“I  demand  entrance  into  this  house,”  said 
Hiram,  summoning  all  the  dignity  he  could  mus- 


MR.  EDWARDS  AND  THE  YOUNG  LAWYER. 


147 


ter  to  his  assistance,  “ in  the  name  of  the  people ; 
and  by  virtue  of  this  warrant,  and  of  my  office, 
and  with  this  peace-officer.” 

“ Stand  back,  stand  back,  squire,  and  don’t 
tempt  me,”  said  the  Leather-stocking,  motioning 
for  him  to  retire,  with  great  earnestness. 

“ Stop  us  at  your  peril,”  continued  Hiram. 
“ Billy  ! Jotham ! close  up — I want  testimony.” 

Hiram  had  mistaken  the  mild  but  determined 
air  of  Natty  for  submission,  and  had  already  put 
his  foot  on  the  threshold  to  enter,  when  he  was 
seized  unexpectedly  by  his  shoulders,  and  hurled 
over  the  little  bank  toward  the  lake,  to  the  dis- 
tance of  twenty  feet.  The  suddenness  of  the 
movement,  and  the  unexpected  display  of  strength 
on  the  part  of  Natty,  created  a momentary  as- 
tonishment in  his  invaders,  that  silenced  all 
noises ; but  at  the  next  instant  Billy  Kirby  gave 
vent  to  his  mirth  in  peals  of  laughter,  that  he 
seemed  to  heave  up  from  his  very  soul. 

“Well  done,  old  stub!”  he  shouted:  “the 
squire  know’d  you  better  than  I did.  Come, 
come,  here’s  a green  spot ; take  it  out  like  men, 
while  Jotham  and  I see  fair  play.” 

“ William  Kirby,  I order  you  to  do  your  duty,” 
cried  Hiram,  from  under  the  bank ; “ seize  that 
man ; I order  you  to  seize  him  in  the  name  of 
the  people.” 

But  the  Leather-stocking  now  assumed  a 
more  threatening  attitude ; his  rifle  was  in  his 
hand,  and  its  muzzle  was  directed  toward  the 
wood-chopper. 

“ Stand  off,  I bid  ye,”  said  Natty  ; “ you  know 
my  aim,  Billy  Kirby  ; I don’t  crave  your  blood, 
but  mine  and  yourn  both  shall  turn  this  green 
grass  red,  afore  you  put  foot  into  the  hut.” 

While  the  affair  appeared  trifling,  the  wood- 
chopper  seemed  disposed  to  take  sides  with  the 
weaker  party;  but,  when  the  fire-arms  were  in- 
troduced, his  manner  very  sensibly  changed.  He 
raised  his  large  frame  from  the  log,  and,  facing 
the  hunter  with  an  open  front,  he  replied : 

“ I didn’t  come  here  as  your  enemy,  Leather- 
stocking ; but  I don’t  value  the  hollow  piece  of 
iron  in  your  hand  so  much  as  a broken  axe-helve ; 
so,  squire,  say  the  word,  and  keep  within  the  law, 
and  we’ll  soon  see  who’s  the  best  man  of  the  two.” 

But  no  magistrate  was  to  be  seen  1 The  in- 
stant the  rifle  was  produced  Hiram  and  Jotham 
vanished ; and  when  the  wood-chopper  bent  his 
eyes  about  him  in  surprise  at  receiving  no  an- 
swer, he  discovered  their  retreating  figures  mov- 
ing toward  the  village  at  a rate  that  sufficiently 
indicated  that  they  had  not  only  calculated  the 
velocity  of  a rifle-bullet,  but  also  its  probable 
range. 


“ You’ve  scared  the  creaters  ofi,”  said  Kirby, 
with  great  contempt  expressed  on  his  broad  feat- 
ures ; “ but  you  are  not  going  to  scare  me  ; so, 
Mr.  Bumppo,  down  with  your  gun,  or  there’ll  be 
trouble  ’twixt  us.” 

Natty  dropped  his  rifle,  and  replied  : 

“ I wish  you  no  harm,  Billy  Kirby ; but  I leave 
it  to  yourself,  whether  an  old  man’s  hut  is  to  be 
run  down  by  such  varmint.  I won’t  deny  the 
buck  to  you,  Billy,  and  you  may  take  the  skin  in, 
if  you  please,  and  show  it  as  testimony.  The 
bounty  will  pay  the  fine,  and  that  ought  to  satisfy 
any  man.” 

“ ’Twill,  old  boy,  ’twill,”  cried  Kirby,  every 
shade  of  displeasure  vanishing  from  his  open 
brow  at  the  peace-offering ; “ throw  out  the  hide, 
and  that  shall  satisfy  the  law.” 

Natty  entered  the  hut,  and  soon  reappeared, 
bringing  with  him  the  desired  testimonial ; and 
the  wood-chopper  departed,  as  thoroughly  recon- 
ciled to  the  hunter  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 
As  he  paced  along  the  margin  of  the  lake  he 
would  burst  into  frequent  fits  of  laughter,  while 
he  recollected  the  summerset  of  Hiram ; and,  on 
the  whole,  he  thought  the  affair  a very  capital 
joke. 

Long  before  Billy  reached  the  village,  how- 
ever, the  news  of  his  danger,  and  of  Natty’s  dis- 
respect of  the  law,  and  of  Hiram’s  discomfiture, 
were  in  circulation.  A good  deal  was  said  about 
sending  for  the  sheriff ; some  hints  were  given 
about  calling  out  the  posse  comitatus  to  avenge 
the  insulted  laws  ; and  many  of  the  citizens  were 
collected,  deliberating  how  to  proceed.  The  ar- 
rival of  Billy  with  the  skin,  by  removing  all 
grounds  for  a search,  changed  the  complexion  of 
things  materially.  Nothing  now  remained  but  to 
collect  the  fine,  and  assert  the  dignity  of  the 
people ; all  of  which,  it  was  unanimously  agreed, 
could  be  done  as  well  on  the  succeeding  Monday 
as  on  Saturday  night — a time  kept  sacred  by  a 
large  portion  of  the  settlers.  Accordingly,  all 
further  proceedings  were  suspended  for  six-and- 
thirty  hours. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

“ And  dar’st  thou  then 
To  heard  the  lion  in  his  den, 

The  Douglas  in  his  hall  ? ” 

Maemion. 

The  commotion  was  just  subsiding,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  the  village  had  begun  to  disperse 
from  the  little  groups  they  had  formed,  each  re- 
tiring to  his  own  home,  and  closing  his  door  after 


148 


THE  PIONEERS. 


him,  with  the  grave  air  of  a man  who  consulted 
public  feeling  in  his  exterior  deportment,  when 
Oliver  Edwards,  on  his  return  from  the  dwelling 
of  Hr.  Grant,  encountered  the  young  lawyer,  who 
is  known  to  the  reader  as  Mr.  Lippet.  There  was 
very  little  similarity  in  the  manners  or  opinions  of 
the  two ; but  as  they  both  belonged  to  the  more 
intelligent  class  of  a very  small  community,  they 
were,  of  course,  known  to  each  other,  and,  as 
their  meeting  was  at  a point  where  silence  would 
have  been  rudeness,  the  following  conversation 
was  the  result  of  their  interview  : 

“A  fine  evening,  Mr.  Edwards,”  commenced 
the  lawyer,  whose  disinclination  to  the  dialogue 
was,  to  say  the  least,  very  doubtful ; “ we  want 
rain  sadly ; that’s  the  worst  of  this  climate  of 
ours,  it’s  either  a drought  or  a deluge.  It’s  like- 
ly you’ve  been  used  to  a more  equal  tempera- 
ture ? ” 

“I  am  a native  of  this  State,”  returned  Ed- 
wards, coldly. 

“ Well,  I’ve  often  heard  that  point  disputed  ; 
but  it’s  so  easy  to  get  a man  naturalized,  that  it’s 
of  little  consequence  where  he  was  born.  I won- 
der what  course  the  Judge  means  to  take  in  this 
business  of  Natty  Bumppo  ! ” 

“ Of  Natty  Bumppo  ! ” echoed  Edwards  ; “ to 
what  do  you  allude,  sir  ? ” 

“ Haven’t  you  heard  ! ” exclaimed  the  other, 
with  a look  of  surprise,  so  naturally  assumed  as 
completely  to  deceive  his  auditor ; “ it  may  turn 
out  an  ugly  business.  It  seems  that  the  old  man 
has  been  out  in  the  hills,  and  has  shot  a buck 
this  morning,  and  that,  you  know,  is  a criminal 
matter  in  the  eyes  of  J udge  Temple.” 

“ Oh ! he  has,  has  he  ? ” said  Edwards,  avert- 
ing his  face  to  conceal  the  color  that  collected  in 
his  sunburnt  cheek.  “Well,  if  that  be  all,  he 
must  even  pay  the  fine.” 

“ It’s  five  pound  currency,”  said  the  lawyer  ; 
“ could  Natty  muster  so  much  money  at  once  ? ” 

“ Could  he  ! ” cried  the  youth.  “ I am  not 
rich,  Mr.  Lippet ; far  from  it — I am  poor,  and  I 
have  been  hoarding  my  salary  for  a purpose  that 
lies  near  my  heart;  but,  before  that  old  man 
should  lie  one  hour  in  a jail,  I would  spend  the 
last  cent  to  prevent  it.  Besides,  he  has  killed 
two  panthers,  and  the  bounty  will  discharge  the 
fine  many  times  over.” 

“ Yes,  yes,”  said  the  lawyer,  rubbing  his  hands 
together,  with  an  expression  of  pleasure  that  had 
no  artifice  about  it ; “ we  shall  make  it  out ; I 
see  plainly  we  shall  make  it  out.” 

“ Make  what  out,  sir  ? I must  beg  an  ex- 
planation.” 

“ Why,  killing  the  buck  is  but  a small  matter 


compared  to  what  took  place  this  afternoon,”  con- 
tinued Mr.  Lippet,  with  a confidential  and  friend- 
ly air,  that  insensibly  won  upon  the  youth,  little 
as  he  liked  the  man.  “ It  seems  that  a complaint 
was  made  of  the  fact,  and  a suspicion  that  there 
was  venison  in  the  hut  was  sworn  to,  all  which 
is  provided  for  in  the  statute,  when  Judge  Tem- 
ple granted  the  search-warrant — ” 

“ A search-warrant ! ” echoed  Edwards,  in  a 
voice  of  horror,  and  with  a face  that  should  have 
been  again  averted  to  conceal  its  paleness ; “ and 
how  much  did  they  discover  ? What  did  they 
see  ? ” 

“ They  saw  old  Bumppo’s  rifle  ; and  that  is  a 
sight  which  will  quiet  most  men’s  curiosity  in  the 
woods.” 

“ Did  they  ! did  they ! ” shouted  Edwards, 
bursting  into  a convulsive  laugh ; “ so  the  old 
hero  beat  them  back  ! — he  beat  them  back  ! did 
he  ? ” , 

The  lawyer  fastened  his  eyes  in  astonishment 
on  the  youth,  but,  as  his  wonder  gave  way  to  the 
thoughts  that  were  commonly  uppermost  in  his 
mind,  he  replied : 

“ It’s  no  laughing  matter,  let  me  tell  you,  sir ; 
tho  forty  dollars  of  bounty,  and  your  six  months 
of  salary,  will  be  much  reduced  before  you  can 
get  the  matter  fairly  settled.  Assaulting  a magis- 
trate in  the  execution  of  his  duty,  and  menacing 
a constable  with  fire-arms  at  the  same  time,  is  a 
pretty  serious  affair,  and  is  punishable  with  both 
fine  and  imprisonment.” 

“ Imprisonment ! ” repeated  Oliver ; “imprison 
the  Leather-stocking ! no,  no,  sir ; it  would  bring 
the  old  man  to  his  grave.  They  shall  never  im- 
prison the  Leather-stocking.” 

“Well,  Mr.  Edwards,”  said  Lippet,  dropping 
all  reserve  from  his  manner,  “ you  are  called  a 
curious  man  ; but  if  you  can  tell  me  how  a jury 
is  to  be  prevented  from  finding  a verdict  of  guilty, 
if  this  case  comes  fairly  before  them,  and  the 
proof  is  clear,  I shall  acknowledge  that  you  know 
more  law  than  I do,  who  have  had  a license  in  my 
pocket  for  three  years.” 

By  this  time  the  reason  of  Edwards  was  get- 
ting the  ascendency  of  his  feelings,  and,  as  he  be- 
gan to  see  the  real  difficulties  of  the  case,  he  list- 
ened more  readily  to  the  conversation  of  the  law- 
yer. The  ungovernable  emotion  that  escaped  the 
youth,  in  the  first  moments  of  his  surprise,  entirely 
passed  away ; and,  although  it  was  still  evident 
that  he  continued  to  be  much  agitated  by  what  ho 
had  heard,  he  succeeded  in  yielding  forced  atten- 
tion to  the  advice  which  the  other  uttered. 

Notwithstanding  the  confused  state  of  his 
mind,  Oliver  soon  discovered  that  most  of  the  ex 


OLIVER’S  INTERVIEW  WITH  MISS  TEMPLE. 


149 


pedients  of  the  lawyer  were  grounded  in  cunning, 
and  plans  that  required  a time  to  execute  them 
that  neither  suited  his  disposition  nor  his  necessi- 
ties. After,  however,  giving  Mr.  Lippet  to  under- 
stand that  he  retained  him  in  the  event  of  a trial, 
an  assurance  that  at  once  satisfied  the  lawyer, 
they  parted,  one  taking  his  course  with  a deliber- 
ate tread,  in  the  direction  of  the  little  building 
that  had  a wooden  sign  over  its  door,  with  “ Ches- 
ter Lippet,  Attorney-at-law,”  painted  on  it ; and 
the  other  pacing  over  the  ground  with  enormous 
strides  toward  the  mansion-house.  We  shall  take 
leave  of  the  attorney  for  the  present,  and  direct 
the  attention  of  the  reader  to  his  client. 

When  Edwards  entered  the  hall,  whose  enor- 
mous doors  were  opened  to  the  passage  of  the  air 
of  a mild  evening,  he  found  Benjamin  engaged  in 
some  of  his  domestic  avocations,  and  in  a hurried 
voice  inquired  where  Judge  Temple  was  to  be 
found. 

“ Why,  the  Judge  has  stept  into  his  office, 
with  that  master  carpenter,  Mister  Doolittle  ; but 
Miss  Lizzy  is  in  that  there  parlor.  I say,  Master 
Oliver,  we’d  like  to  have  had  a bad  job  of  that 
panther,  or  painter’s  work — some  calls  it  one,  and 
some  calls  it  t’other — but  I know  little  of  the 
beast,  seeing  that  it  is  not  of  British  growth.  I 
said  as  much  as  that  it  was  in  the  hills  the  last 
winter ; for  I heard  it  moaning  on  the  lake  shore 
one  evening  in  the  fall,  when  I was  pulling  down 
from  the  fishing-point  in  the  skiff.  Had  the  ani- 
mal come  into  open  water,  where  a man  could  see 
where  and  how  to  work  his  vessel,  I would  have 
engaged  the  thing  myself;  but  looking  aloft 
among  the  trees  is  all  the  same  to  me  as  standing 
on  the  deck  of  one  ship,  and  looking  at  another 
vessel’s  tops.  I never  can  tell  one  rope  from  an- 
other— ” 

“Well,  well,”  interrupted  Edwards;  “I  must 
see  Miss  Temple.” 

“ And  you  shall  see  her,  Rir,”  said  the  steward  ; 
“ she’s  in  this  here  room.  Lord,  Master  Edwards, 
what  a loss  she’d  have  been  to  the  Judge ! 
Dam’me  if  I know  where  he  would  have  gotten 
such  another  daughter ; that  is,  full  grown,  d’ye 
see.  I say,  sir,  this  Master  Bumppo  is  a worthy 
man,  and  seems  to  have  a handy  way  with  him, 
with  fire-arms  and  boat-hooks.  I’m  his  friend, 
Master  Oliver,  and  he  and  you  may  both  set  me 
down  as  the  same.” 

“We  may  want  your  friendship,  my  worthy 
fellow,”  cried  Edwards,  squeezing  his  hand  con- 
vulsively ; “ we  may  want  your  friendship,  in 
which  case  you  shall  know  it.” 

Without  waiting  to  hear  the  earnest  reply 
that  Benjamin  meditated,  the  youth  extricated 


himself  from  the  vigorous  grasp  of  the  steward, 
and  entered  the  parlor. 

Elizabeth  was  alone,  and  still  reclining  on  the 
sofa,  where  we  last  left  her.  A hand,  which  ex- 
ceeded all  that  the  ingenuity  of  art  could  model, 
in  shape  and  color,  veiled  her  eyes ; and  the  maid- 
en was  sitting  as  if  in  deep  communion  with 
herself.  Struck  by  the  attitude  and  loveliness 
of  the  form  that  met  his  eye,  the  young  man 
checked  his  impatience,  and  approached  her  with 
respect  and  caution. 

“Miss  Temple — Miss  Temple,”  he  said,  “1 
hope  I do  not  intrude ; but  I am  anxious  for  an 
interview,  if  it  be  only  for  a moment.” 

Elizabeth  raised  her  face,  and  exhibited  her 
dark  eyes  swimming  in  moisture. 

“ Is  it  you,  Edwards  ? ” she  said,  with  a sweet- 
ness in  her  voice,  and  a softness  in  her  air,  that 
she  often  used  to  her  father,  but  which,  from*  its 
novelty  to  himself,  thrilled  on  every  nerve  of  the 
youth ; “ how  left  you  our  poor  Louisa  ? ” 

“ She  is  with  her  father,  happy  and  grateful,” 
said  Oliver.  “ I never  witnessed  more  feeling 
than  she  manifested,  when  I ventured  to  express 
my  pleasure  at  her  escape.  Miss  Temple,  when 
I first  heard  of  your  horrid  situation,  my  feelings 
were  too  powerful  for  utterance,;  and  I did  not 
properly  find  my  tongue,  until  the  walk  to  Mr. 
Grant’s  had  given  me  time  to  collect  myself.  I 
believe — I do  believe,  I acquitted  myself  better 
there,  for  Miss  Grant  even  wept  at  my  silly 
speeches.” 

For  a moment  Elizabeth  did  not  reply,  but 
again  veiled  her  eyes  with  her  hand.  The  feeling 
that  caused  the  action,  however,  soon  passed 
away,  and,  raising  her  face  again  to  his  gaze,  she 
continued,  with  a smile  : 

“ Your  friend,  the  Leather-stocking,  has  now 
become  my  friend,  Edwards ; I have  been  think- 
ing how  I can  best  serve  him  ; perhaps  /ou,  who 
know  his  habits  and  his  wants  so  well,  can  tell 
me — ” 

“ I can,”  cried  the  youth,  with  an  impetuosity 
that  startled  his  companion — “I  can,  and  may 
Heaven  reward  you  for  the  wish.  Natty  has  been 
so  imprudent  as  to  forget  the  law,  and  has  this 
day  killed  a deer.  Nay,  I believe  I must  share 
in  the  crime  and  the  penalty,  for  I was  an  accom- 
plice throughout.  A complaint  has  been  made 
to  your  father,  and  he  has  granted  a search — ” 

“I  know  it  all,”  interrupted  Elizabeth;  “I 
know  it  all.  The  forms  of  the  law  must  be  com- 
plied with,  however  ; the  search  must  be  made, 
the  deer  found,  and  the  penalty  paid.  But  I 
must  retort  your  own  question.  Have  you  lived 
so  long  in  our  family  not  to  know  us  ? Look  at 


150 


THE  PIONEERS. 


me,  Oliver  Edwards.  Do  I appear  like  one  who 
would  permit  the  man  that  has  just  saved  her  life 
to  linger  in  a jail  for  so  small  a sum  as  this  fine  ? 
No,  no,  sir ; my  father  is  a judge,  but  he  is  a 
man  and  a Christian.  It  is  all  understood,  and 
no  harm  shall  follow.” 

“ What  a load  of  apprehension  do  your  dec- 
larations remove  ! ” exclaimed  Edwards.  “ He 
shall  not  be  disturbed  again ! your  father  will 
protect  him  ! I have  your  assurance,  Miss  Temple^ 
that  he  will,  and  I must  believe  it.” 

“ You  may  have  his  own,  Mr.  Edwards,”  re- 
turned Elizabeth,  “ for  here  he  comes  to  make  it.” 

But  the  appearance  of  Marmaduke,  who  en- 
tered the  apartment,  contradicted  the  flattering 
anticipations  of  his  daughter.  His  brow  was 
contracted,  and  his  manner  disturbed.  Neither 
Elizabeth  nor  the  youth  spoke ; but  the  Judge 
was’  allowed  to  pace  once  or  twice  across  the 
room  without  interruption,  when  he  cried : 

“ Our  plans  are  defeated,  girl ; the  obstinacy 
of  the  Leather-stocking  has  brought  down  the  in- 
dignation of  the  law  on  his  head,  and  it  is  now 
out  of  my  power  to  avert  it.” 

“ How  ? in  what  manner  ? ” cried  Elizabeth  ; 
“ the  fine  is  nothing  ; surely — ” 

“ I did  not — I could  not  anticipate  that  an 
old,  a friendless  man  like  him,  would  dare  to  op- 
pose the  officers  of  justice,”  interrupted  the  Judge ; 
“ I supposed  that  he  would  submit  to  the  search, 
when  the  fine  could  have  been  paid,  and  the  law 
would  have  been  appeased ; but  now  he  will  have 
to  meet  its  rigor.” 

“And  what  must  the  punishment  be,  sir?” 
asked  Edwards,  struggling  to  speak  with  firm- 
ness. 

Marmaduke  turned  quickly  to  the  spot  where 
the  youth  had  withdrawn,  and  exclaimed : 

“ You  here  ! I did  not  observe  you.  I know 
not  what  it  will  be,  sir  ; it  is  not  usual  for  a judge 
to  decide  until  he  has  heard  the  testimony,  and 
the  jury  have  convicted.  Of  one  thing,  however, 
you  may  be  assured,  Mr.  Edwards ; it  shall  be 
whatever  the  law  demands,  notwithstanding  any 
momentary  weakness  I may  have  exhibited,  be- 
cause the  luckless  man  has  been  of  such  eminent 
service  to  my  daughter.” 

“No  one,  I believe,  doubts  the  sense  of  jus- 
tice which  Judge  Temple  entertains*!  ” returned 
Edwards,  bitterly.  “ But  let  us  converse  calmly, 
Bir.  Will  not  the  years,  the  habits,  nay,  the  ig- 
norance of  my  old  friend,  avail  him  any  thing 
against  this  charge  ? ” 

“ Ought  they  ? They  may  extenuate,  but  can 
they  acquit  ? Would  any  society  be  tolerable, 
young  man,  where  the  ministers  of  justice  are  to 


be  opposed  by  men  armed  with  ritles  ? Is  it  for 
this  that  I have  tamed  the  wilderness  ? ” 

“ Had  you  tamed  the  beasts  that  so  lately 
threatened  the  life  of  Miss  Temple,  sir,  your  ar- 
guments would  apply  better.” 

“ Edwards  ! ” exclaimed  Elizabeth — 

“ Peace,  my  child,”  interrupted  the  father ; 
“ the  youth  is  unjust ; but  I have  not  given  him 
cause.  I overlook  thy  remark,  Oliver,  for  I know 
thee  to  be  the  friend  of  Natty,  and  zeal  in  his  be- 
half has  overcome  thy  discretion.” 

“ Yes,  he  is  my  friend,”  cried  Edwards,  “ and 
I glory  in  the  title.  He  is  simple,  unlettered, 
even  ignorant ; prejudiced,  perhaps,  though  I feel 
that  his  opinion  of  the  world  is  too  true ; but 
he  has  a heart,  Judge  Temple,  that  would  atone 
for  a thousand  faults  ; he  knows  his  friends,  and 
never  deserts  them,  even  if  it  be  his  dog.” 

“ This  is  a good  character,  Mr.  Edwards,”  re- 
turned Marmaduke,  mildly ; “ but  I have  never 
been  so  fortunate  as  to  secure  his  esteem,  for  to 
me  he  has  been  uniformly  repulsive  ; yet  I have 
endured  it,  as  an  old  man’s  whim.  However, 
when  he  appears  before  me,  as  his  judge,  he  shall 
find  that  his  former  conduct  shall  not  aggravate, 
any  more  than  his  recent  services  shall  extenuate, 
his  crime.” 

“ Crime  ! ” echoed  Edwards  ; “ is  it  a crime  to 
drive  a prying  miscreant  frqm  his  door  ? Crime ! 
Oh,  no,  sir ; if  there  be  a criminal  involved  in 
this  affair,  it  is  not  he.” 

“And  who  may  it  be,  sir  ? ” asked  Judge  Tem- 
ple, facing  the  agitated  youth,  his  features  settled 
to  their  usual  composure. 

This  appeal  was  more  than  the  young  man 
could  bear.  Hitherto  he  had  been  deeply  agi- 
tated by  his  emotions ; but  now  the  volcano 
burst  its  boundaries. 

“ Who ! and  this  to  me  ! ” he  cried ; “ ask 
your  own  conscience,  Judge  Temple.  Walk  to 
that  door,  sir,  and  look  out  upon  the  valley,  that 
placid  lake,  and  those  dusky  mountains,  and  say 
to  your  own  heart,  if  heart  you  have,  whence 
came  these  riches,  this  vale,  those  hills,  and  why 
am  I their  owner  ? I should  think,  sir,  that  the 
appearance  of  Mohegan  and  the  Leather-stocking, 
stalking  through  the  country,  impoverished  and 
forlorn,  would  wither  your  sight.” 

Marmaduke  heard  this  burst  of  passion,  at 
first,  with  deep  amazement : but  when  the  youth 
had  ended,  he  beckoned  to  his  impatient  daughter 
for  silence,  and  replied : 

“Oliver  Edwards,  thou  forgettest  in  whose 
presence  thou  standest.  I have  heard,  young 
man,  that  thou  claimest  descent  from  the  native 
owners  of  the  soil ; but  surely  thy  education  hag 


ARREST  OF  COUNTERFEITERS. 


151 


been  given  thee  to  no  effect,  if  it  has  not  taught 
thee  the  validity  of  the  claims  that  have  trans- 
ferred the  title  to  the  whites.  These  lands  are 
mine  by  the  very  grants  of  thy  ancestry,  if  thou 
art  so  descended;  and  I appeal  to  Heaven  for  a 
testimony  of  the  uses  I have  put  them  to.  After 
this  language,  we  must  separate.  I have  too  long 
sheltered  thee  in  my  dwelling ; but  the  time  has 
arrived  when  thou  must  quit  it.  Come  to  my 
office,  and  I will  discharge  the  debt  I owe  thee. 
Neither  shall  thy  present  intemperate  language 
mar  thy  future  fortunes,  if  thou  wilt  hearken  to 
the  advice  of  one  who  is  by  many  years  thy  sen- 
ior.” 

The  ungovernable  feeling  that  caused  the  vio- 
lence of  the  youth  had  passed  away,  and  he  stood 
gazing  after  the  retiring  figure  of  Marmaduke,  with 
a vacancy  in  his  eye  that  denoted  the  absence  of 
his  mind.  At  length  he  recollected  himself,  and, 
turning  his  head  slowly  around  the  apartment,  he 
beheld  Elizabeth,  still  seated  on  the  sofa,  but  with 
her  head  dropped  on  her  bosom,  and  her  face 
again  concealed  by  her  hands. 

“ Miss  Temple,”  he  said — all  violence  had  left 
his  manner — “ Miss  Temple — I have  forgotten  my- 
self— forgotten  you.  You  have  heard  what  your 
father  has  decreed,  and  this  night  I leave  here. 
With  you,  at  least,  I would  part  in  amity.” 

Elizabeth  slowly  raised  her  face,  across  which 
a momentary  expression  of  sadness  stole;  but 
as  she  left  her  seat,  her  dark  eyes  lighted  with 
their  usual  fire,  her  cheek  flushed  to  burning, 
and  her  whole  air  seemed  to  belong  to  another 
nature. 

“ I forgive  you,  Edwards,  and  my  father  will 
forgive  you,”  she  said,  when  she  reached  the  door. 
“You  do  not  know  us,  but  the  time  may  come 
when  your  opinions  shall  change — ” 

“ Of  you ! never  ! ” interrupted  the  youth ; 
“ I_” 

“ I would  speak,  sir,  and  not  listen.  There  is 
something  in  this  affair  that  I do  not  comprehend  ; 
but  tell  the  Leather-stocking  he  has  friends  as 
well  as  judges  in  us.  Do  not  let  the  old  man  ex- 
perience unnecessary  uneasiness  at  this  rupture. 
It  is  impossible  that  you  could  increase  his  claims 
here ; neither  shall  they  be  diminished  by  any- 
thing you  have  said.  Mr.  Edwards,  I wish  you 
happiness,  and  warmer  friends.” 

The  youth  would  have  spoken,  but  she  van- 
ished from  the  door  so  rapidly,  that  when  he 
reached  the  hall  her  form  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen.  He  paused  a moment,  in  stupor,  and  then, 
rushing  from  the  house,  instead  of  following  Mar- 
maduke to  his  “ office,”  he  took  his  way  directly 
for  the  cabin  of  the  hunters. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

“ Who  measured  earth,  described  the  starry  spheres, 

And  traced  the  long  records  of  lunar  years.” 

POFB. 

Richard  did  not  return  from  the  exercise  of 
his  official  duties  until  late  in  the  evening  of  the 
following  day.  It  had  been  one  portion  of  his 
business  to  superintend  the  arrest  of  part  of  a 
gang  of  counterfeiters,  that  had,  even  at  that 
early  period,  buried  themselves  in  the  woods,  to 
manufacture  their  base  coin,  which  they  afterward 
circulated  from  one  end  of  the  Union  to  the  other. 
The  expedition  had  been  completely  successful, 
and  about  midnight  the  sheriff  entered  the  village, 
at  the  head  of  a posse  of  deputies  and  constables, 
in  the  centre  of  whom  rode,  pinioned,  four  of  the 
malefactors.  At  the  gate  of  the  mansion-house 
they  separated,  Mr.  Jones  directing  his  assistants 
to  proceed  with  their  charge  to  the  county  jail, 
while  he  pursued  his  own  way  up  the  gravel  walk, 
with  the  kind  of  self-satisfaction  that  a man  of 
his  organization  would  feel,  who  had  really,  for 
once,  done  a very  clever  thing. 

“ Holla  ! Aggy  ! ” shouted  the  sheriff,  when  he 
reached  the  door  ; “ where  are  you,  you  black  dog  ? 
will  you  keep  me  here  in  the  dark  all  night  ? 
Holla  ! Aggy ! Brave  ! Brave  ! hoy,  hoy — where 
have  you  got  to,  Brave  ? Off  his  watch  ! Every- 
body is  asleep  but  myself ! poor  I must  keep  my 
eyes  open,  that  others  may  sleep  in  safety. 
Brave!  Brave  ! Well,  I will  say  this  for  the  dog, 
lazy  as  he’s  grown,  that  it  is  the  first  time  I ever 
knew  him  let  any  one  come  to  the  door  after  dark, 
without  having  a smell  to  know  whether  it  was  an 
honest  man  or  not.  He  could  tell  by  his  nose, 
almost  as  well  as  I could  myself  by  looking  at 
them.  Holla ! you  Agamemnon  ! where  are  you  ? 
Oh ! here  comes  the  dog  at  last.” 

By  this  time  the  sheriff  had  dismounted,  and 
observed  a form,  which  he  supposed  to  be  that 
of  Brave,  slowly  creeping  out  of  the  kennel ; when, 
to  his  astonishment,  it  reared  itself  on  two  legs 
instead  of  four,  and  he  was  able  to  distinguish, 
by  the  starlight,  the  curly  head  and  dark  visage 
of  the  negro. 

“Ha!,  what  the  devil  are  you  doing  there,  you 
black  rascal  ? ” he  cried ; “ is  it  not  hot  enough 
for  your  Guinea  blood  in  the  house,  this  warm 
night,  but  you  must  drive  out  the  poor  dog  and 
sleep  in  his  straw  ? ” 

By  this  time  the  boy  was  quite  awake,  and, 
with  a blubbering  whine,  he  attempted  to  reply 
to  his  master. 

“ Oh  ! masser  Richard ! masser  Richard ! such 


152 


THE  PIONEERS. 


a ting ! such  a ting ! I neber  tink  a could  ’appen ! 
neber  tink  he  die ! Oh,  Lor-a-gor ! ain’t  bury — 
keep  ’em  till  masser  Richard  get  back — got  a 
grabe  dug — ” 

Here  the  feelings  of  the  negro  completely  got 
the  mastery,  and  instead  of  making  any  intelli- 
gible explanation  of  the  causes  of  his  grief,  he 
blubbered  aloud. 

“ Eh  ! what ! buried  ! grave ! dead  ! ” ex- 
claimed Richard,  with  a tremor  in  his  voice ; 
“nothing  serious?  Nothing  has  happened  to 
Benjamin,  I hope  ? I know  he  has  been  bilious, 
but  I gave  him — ” 

“ Oh  ! worser  ’an  dat ! worser  ’an  dat ! ” 
sobbed  the  negro.  “Oh!.de  Lor!  Miss  ’Lizzy 
an’  Miss  Grant — walk — mountain — poor  Bravy  ! 
— kill  a lady — painter — Oh!  Lor,  Lor! — Natty 
Bumppo — tare  he  troat  open — come  a see,  masser 
Richard — here  he  be — here  he  be.” 

As  all  this  was  perfectly  inexplicable  to  the 
sheriff,  he  was  very  glad  to  wait  patiently  until 
the  black  brought  a lantern  from  the  kitchen, 
when  he  followed  Aggy  to  the  kennel,  where  he 
beheld  poor  Brave,  indeed,  lying  in  his  blood, 
stiff  and  cold,  but  decently  covered  with  the 
great-coat  of  the  negro.  He  was  on  the  point  of 
demanding  an  explanation ; but  the  grief  of  the 
black,  who  had  fallen  asleep  on  his  voluntary 
watch,  having  burst  out  afresh  on  his  waking, 
utterly  disqualified  the  lad  from  giving  one. 
Luckily,  at  this  moment  the  principal  door  of  the 
house  opened,  and  the  coarse  features  of  Ben- 
jamin were  thrust  over  the  threshold,  with  a 
candle  elevated  above  them,  shedding  its  dim  rays 
around  in  such  a manner  as  to  exhibit  the  lights 
and  shadows  of  his  countenance.  Richard  threw 
his  bridle  to  the  black,  and,  bidding  him  look 
to  the  horse,  he  entered  the  hall. 

“ What  is  the  meaning  of  the  dead  dog  ? ” he 
cried.  “ Where  is  Miss  Temple  ? ” 

Benjamin  made  one  of  his  square  gestures, 
with  the  thumb  of  his  left  hand  pointing  over  his 
right  shoulder,  as  he  answered  : 

“ Turned  in.” 

“ Judge  Temple — where  is  he  ? ” 

“ In  his  berth.” 

“ But  explain ; why  is  Brave  dead  ? and  what 
is  the  cause  of  Aggy’s  grief  ? ” 

“Why,  it’s  all  down,  squire,”  said  Benjamin, 
pointing  to  a slate  that  lay  on  the  table,  by  the 
side  of  a mug  of  toddy,  a short  pipe,  in  which 
the  tobacco  was  yet  burning,  and  a prayer-book. 

Among  the  other  pursuits  of  Richard,  he  had 
a passion  to  keep  a register  of  all  passing  events ; 
and  his  diary,  which  was  written  in  the  manner  of 
a,  journal,  or  log-book,  embraced  not  only  such 


circumstances  as  affected  himself,  but  observe 
tions  on  the  weather,  and  all  the  occurrences  of 
the  family,  and  frequently  of  the  village.  Since 
bis  appointment  to  the  office  of  sheriff,  and  his 
consequent  absences  from  home,  he  had  employed 
Benjamin  to  make  memoranda,  on  a slate,  of 
whatever  might  be  thtught  worth  remembering* 
which,  on  his  return,  were  regularly  transferred 
to  the  journal,  with  proper  notations  of  the  time, 
manner,  and  other  little  particulars.  There  was, 
to  be  sure,  one  material  objection  to  the  clerk- 
ship  of  Benjamin,  which  the  ingenuity  of  no  one 
but  Richard  could  have  overcome.  The  steward 
read  nothing  but  his  prayer-book,  and  that  only  in 
particular  parts,  and  by  the  aid  of  a good  deal  of 
spelling,  and  some  misnomers ; but  he  could  not 
form  a single  letter  with  a pen.  This  would  have 
been  an  insuperable  bar  to  journalizing,  with 
most  men ; but  Richard  invented  a kind  of  hiero- 
glyphical  character,  which  was  intended  to  note 
all  the  ordinary  occurrences  of  a day,  such  as 
how  the  wind  blew,  whether  the  sun  shone,  or 
whether  it  rained,  the  hours,  etc. ; and  for  the 
extraordinary,  after  giving  certain  elementary 
lectures  on  the  subject,  the  sheriff  was  obliged  to 
trust  to  the  ingenuity  of  the  major-domo.  The 
reader  will  at  once  perceive,  that  it  was  to  this 
chronicle  that  Benjamin  pointed,  instead  of  di- 
rectly answering  the  sheriff’s  interrogatory. 

When  Mr.  Jones  had  drunk  a glass  of  toddy, 
he  brought  forth,  from  its  secret  place,  his  prop- 
er journal,  and,  seating  himself  by  the  table,  he 
prepared  to  transfer  the  contents  of  the  slate  to 
the  paper,  at  the  same  time  that  he  appeased  his 
curiosity.  Benjamin  laid  one  hand  on  the  back 
of  the  sheriff’s  chair,  in  a familiar  manner,  while 
he  kept  the  other  at  liberty,  to  make  use  of  a 
forefinger,  that  was  bent  like  some  of  his  own 
characters,  as  an  index  to  point  out  his  meaning. 

The  first  thing  referred  to  by  the  sheriff  was 
the  diagram  of  a compass,  cut  in  one  comer  of 
the  slate  for  permanent  use.  The  cardinal  points 
were  plainly  marked  on  it,  and  all  the  usual 
divisions  were  indicated  in  such  a manner,  that 
no  man  who  had  ever  steered  a ship  could  mis- 
take them. 

“ Oh  ! ” said  the  sheriff,  settling  himself  down 
comfortably  in  his  chair — “ you’d  the  wind  south- 
east, I see,  all  last  night;  I thought  it  would 
have  blown  up  rain.” 

“Devil  the  drop,  sir,”  said  Benjamin:  “I  be- 
lieve that  the  scuttle-butt  up  aloft  is  emptied,  for 
there  hasn’t  so  much  water  fell  in  the  countrv} 
for  the  last  three  weeks,  as  would  float  Indian 
John’s  canoe,  and  that  draws  just  one  inch  noth* 
ing,  light.” 


MR.  JONES’S  DIARY. 


153 


“ Well,  but  didn’t  the  wind  change  here  this 
morning  ? there  was  a change  where  I was.” 

“ To  be  sure  it  did,  squire ; and  haven’t  I 
logged  it  as  a shift  of  wind  ? ” 

“I  don’t  see  where,  Benjamin — ” 

“ Don’t  see ! ” interrupted  the  steward,  a 
little  crustily;  “ au’t  there  a mark  ag’in  east-and- 
by-nothe-half-nothe,  with  sum’mat  like  a rising 
sun  at  the  end  of  it,  to  show  ’twas  in  the  morn- 
ing watch  ? ” 

“Yes,  yes,  that  is  very  legible;  but  where  is 
the  change  noted  ? ” 

“ Where ! why  doesn’t  it  see  this  here  tea- 
kettle, with  a mark  run  from  the  spout  straight, 
or  mayhap  a little  crooked  or  so,  into  west-and- 
by-southe-half-southe  ? now  I call  this  a shift  of 
wind,  squire.  Well,  do  you  see  this  here  boar’s 
head  that  you  made  for  me,  alongside  of  the 
compass — ” 

“ Ay,  ay — Boreas — I see.  Why,  you’ve  drawn 
lines  from  its  mouth,  extending  from  one  of  your 
marks  to  the  other.” 

“ It’s  no  fault  of  mine,  Squire  Dickens ; ’tis 
your  d — d climate.  The  wind  has  been  at  all 
them  there  marks  this  very  day;  and  that’s  all 
round  the  compass,  except  a little  matter  of  an 
Irishman’s  hurricane  at  meridium,  which  you’ll 
find  marked  right  up  and  down.  Now,  I’ve 
known  a sow-wester  blow  for  three  weeks,  in  the 
channel,  with  a clean  drizzle,  in  which  you  might 
wash  your  face  and  hands,  without  the  trouble 
of  hauling  in  water  from  alongside.” 

“Very  well,  Benjamin,”  said  the  sheriff,  writ- 
ing in  his  journal ; “ I believe  I have  caught  the 
idea.  Oh  1 here’s  a cloud  over  the  rising-  sun — 
so  you  had  it  hazy  in  the  morning  ? ” 

“ Ay,  ay,  sir,”  said  Benjamin. 

“ Ah  ! it’s  Sunday,  and  here  are  the  marks  for 
the  length  of  the  sermon — one,  two,  three,  four  ; 
— what ! did  Mr.  Grant  preach  forty  minutes  ? ” 

“ Ay,  sum’mat  like  it ; it  was  a good  half-hour 
by  my  own  glass,  and  then  there  was  the  time 
lost  in  turning  it,  and  some  little  allowance  for 
leeway  in  not  being  over-smart  about  it.” 

“Benjamin,  this  is  as  long  as  a Presbyterian; 
you  never  could  have  been  ten  minutes  in  turning 
the  glass ! ” 

“Why,  do  you  see,  squire,  the  parson  was 
very  solemn,  and  I just  closed  my  eyes  in  order 
to  think  the  better  with  myself,  just  the  same  as 
you’d  put  in  the  dead-lights  to  make  all  snug,  and 
when  I opened  them  ag’in  I found  the  congrega- 
tion were  getting  under  weigh  for  home,  so  I cal- 
culated the  ten  minutes  would  cover  the  leeway 
after  the  glass  was  out.  It  was  only  some  such 
matter  as  a cat’s  nap.” 


“ Oh,  ho  ! master  Benjamin,  you  were  asleep, 
were  you ! but  I’ll  set  down  no  such  slander 
against  an  orthodox  divine.”  Richard  wrote 
twenty-nine  minutes  in  his  journal,  and  continued 
— “ Why,  what’s  this  you’ve  got  opposite  ten 
o’clock  a.  m.  ? A full  moon  ! had  you  a moon 
visible  by  day  ? I have  heard  of  such  portents 
before  now,  but — eh ! what’s  this  alongside  of  it  ? 
an  hour-glass  ? ” 

“ That ! ” said  Benjamin,  looking  coolly  over 
the  sheriff’s  shoulder,  and  rolling  the  tobacco 
about  in  his  mouth  with  a jocular  air ; “ why, 
that’s  a small  matter  of  my  own.  It’s  no  moon, 
squire,  but  only  Betty  Hollister’s  face  ; for,  d’ye 
see,  sir,  hearing  all  the  same  as  if  she  had  got  up 
a new  cargo  of  Jamaiky  from  the  river,  I called 
in  as  I was  going  to  the  church  this  morning — 
ten  a.  m.  was  it  ? — just  the  time — and  tried  a 
glass  ; and  so  I logged  it,  to  put  me  in  mind  of 
calling  to  pay  her  like  an  honest  man.” 

“ That  was  it,  was  it  ? ” said  the  sheriff,  with 
some  displeasure  at  this  innovation  on  his  mem- 
oranda ; “ and  could  you  not  make  a better  glass 
than  this?  it  looks  like  a death’s-head  and  an 
hour-glass.” 

“ Why,  as  I liked  the  stuff,  squire,”  returned 
the  steward,  “ I turned  in,  homeward  bound,  and 
took  t’other  glass,  which  I set  down  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  first,  and  that  gives  the  thing  the 
shape  it  has.  But  as  I was  there  again  to-night, 
and  paid  for  the  three  at  once,  your  honor  may 
as  well  run  the  sponge  over  the  whole  business.” 

“ I will  buy  you  a slate  for  your  own  affairs, 
Benjamin,”  said  the  sheriff ; “ I don’t  like  to  have 
the  journal  marked  over  in  this  manner.” 

“ You  needn’t — you  needn’t,  squire  ; for,  see- 
ing that  I was  likely  to  trade  often  with  the  wom- 
an while  this  barrel  lasted,  I’ve  opened  a fair  ac- 
count with  Betty,  and  she  keeps  her  marks  on 
the  back  of  her  bar-door,  and  I keeps  the  tally 
on  this  here  bit  of  a stick.” 

As  Benjamin  concluded  he  produced  a piece 
of  wood,  on  which  five  very  large,  honest  notches 
were  apparent.  The  sheriff  cast  his  eyes  on  this 
new  ledger  for  a moment,  and  continued : 

“ What  have  we  here ! Saturday,  two  p.  m. — 
why  here’s  a whole  family  piece  ! two  wineglasses 
upsidedown ! ” 

“ That’s  two  women ; the  one  this  a-way  is 
Miss  ’Lizzy,  and  t’other  is  the  parson’s  young’un.” 

“ Cousin  Bess  and  Miss  Grant ! ” exclaimed 
the  sheriff,  in  amazement ; “ what  have  they  to 
do  with  my  journal  ? ” 

“ They’d  enough  to  do  to  get  out  of  the  jaws 
of  that  there  painter  or  panther,”  said  the  im- 
movable steward. 


154 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ This  here  thingum’y,  squire,  that  maybe 
iooks  sum’mat  like  a rat,  is  the  beast,  d’ye  see ; 
and  this  here  t’other  thing,  keel  uppermost,  is 
poor  old  Brave,  who  died  nobly,  all  the  same  as 
an  admiral  fighting  for  his  king  and  country : and 
that  there — ” 

“ Scarecrow,”  interrupted  Richard. 

“ Ay,  mayhap  it  do  look  a little  wild  or  so,” 
continued  the  steward ; “ but  to  my  judgment, 
squire,  it’s  the  best  image  I’ve  made,  seeing  it’s 
most  like  the  man  himself;  well,  that’s  Natty 
Bumppo,  who  shot  this  here  painter,  that  killed 
that  there  dog,  who  would  have  eaten  or  done 
worse  to  them  here  young  ladies.” 

“And  what  the  devil  does  all  this  mean?  ” 
cried  Richard,  impatiently. 

“ Mean  ! ” echoed  Benjamin  ; “ it  is  as  true 
as  the  Boadishey’s  log-book — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  sheriff,  who  put  a 
few  direct  questions  to  him,  that  obtained  more 
intelligible  answers,  by  which  means  he  became 
possessed  of  a tolerably-correct  idea  of  the  truth. 
When  the  wonder,  and,  we  must  do  Richard  the 
justice  to  say,  the  feelings  also,  that  were  created 
by  this  narrative,  had  in  some  degree  subsided, 
the  sheriff  turned  his  eyes  again  on  his  journal, 
where  more  inexplicable  hieroglyphics  met  his 
view. 

“ What  have  we  here  ? ” he  cried ; “ two  men 
boxing ! has  there  been  a breach  of  the  peace  ? 
ah,  that’s  the  way,  the  moment  my  back  is 
turned — ” 

“ That’s  the  Judge  and  young  Master  Ed- 
wards,” interrupted  the  steward,  very  cavalierly. 

“ How  ! ’duke  fighting  with  Oliver  ! what  the 
devil  has  got  into  you  all  ? more  things  have 
happened  within  the  last  thirty-six  hours  than  in 
the  preceding  six  months.” 

“Yes,  it’s  so  indeed,  squire,”  returned  the 
steward ; “ I’ve  known  a smart  chase,  and  a fight 
at  the  tail  of  it,  where  less  has  been  logged  than 
I’ve  got  on  that  there  slate.  Howsomnever,  they 
didn’t  come  to  facers,  only  passed  a little  jaw 
fore  and  aft.” 

“ Explain  ! explain  ! ” cried  Richard ; “ it 
was  about  the  mines,  ha ! — ay,  ay,  I see  it,  I see 
it ; here  is  a man  with  a pick  on  his  shoulder. 
So  you  heard  it  all,  Benjamin  ? ” 

“ Why,  yes,  it  was  about  their  minds,  I be- 
lieve, squire,”  returned  the  steward ; “ and,  by 
what  I can  learn,  they  spoke  them  pretty  plainly 
to  one  another.  Indeed,  I may  say  that  I over- 
heard a small  matter  of  it  myself,  seeing  that  the 
windows  was  open,  and  I hard  by.  But  this  here 
is  no  pick,  but  an  anchor  on  a man’s  shoulder  ; 
and  here’s  the  other  fluke  down  his  back,  maybe 


a little  too  close,  which  signifies  that  the  lad  ha* 
got  under  weigh  and  left  his  moorings.” 

“ Has  Edwards  left  the  house  ? ” 

“ He  has.” 

Richard  pursued  this  advantage;  and,  after 
a long  and  close  examination,  he  succeeded  in 
getting  out  of  Benjamin  all  that  he  knew,  not 
only  concerning  the  misunderstanding,  but  of  the 
attempt  to  search  the  hut,  and  Hiram’s  discomfit- 
ure. The  sheriff  was  no  sooner  possessed  of 
these  facts,  which  Benjamin  related  with  all  pos- 
sible tenderness  to  the  Leather-stocking,  than, 
snatching  up  his  hat,  and  bidding  the  astonished 
steward  secure  the  doors  and  go  to  his  bed,  he 
left  the  house. 

For  at  least  five  minutes  after  Richard  disap- 
peared, Benjamin  stood  with  his  arms  a-kimbo, 
and  his  eyes  fastened  on  the  door  ; when,  having 
collected  his  astonished  faculties,  he  prepared  to 
execute  the  orders  he  had  received. 

It  has  been  already  said  that  the  “ court  of 
common  pleas  and  general  sessions  of  the  peace,” 
or,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  the  “ county  court,” 
over  which  Judge  Temple  presided,  held  one  of 
its  stated  sessions  on  the  following  morning. 
The  attendants  of  Richard  were  officers  who  had 
come  to  the  village,  as  much  to^discharge  their 
usual  duties  at  this  court,  as  to  escort  the  prison- 
ers ; and  the  sheriff  knew  their  habits  too  well, 
not  to  feel  confident  he  should  find  most,  if  not 
all  of  them,  in  the  public  room  of  the  jail,  dis- 
cussing the  qualities  of  the  keeper’s  liquors. 
Accordingly  he  held  his  way  through  the  silent 
streets  of  the  village,  directly  to  the  small  and 
insecure  building  that  contained  all  the  unfor- 
tunate debtors,  and  some  of  the  criminals  of  the 
county,  and  where  justice  was  administered  to 
such  unwary  applicants  as  were  so  silly  as  to 
throw  away  two  dollars,  in  order  to  obtain  one 
from  their  neighbors.  The  arrival  of  four  male- 
factors in  the  custody  of  a dozen  officers,  was  an 
event,  at  that  day,  in  Templeton ; and,  when  the 
sheriff  reached  the  jail,  he  found  every  indication 
that  his  subordinates  intended  to  make  a night 
of  it. 

The  nod  of  the  sheriff  brought  two  of  his 
deputies  to  the  door,  who  in  their  turn  drew  off 
six  or  seven  of  the  constables.  With  this  force 
Richard  led  the  way  through  the  village,  toward 
the  bank  of  the  lake,  undisturbed  by  any  noise, 
except  the  barking  of  one  or  two  curs,  who  were 
alarmed  by  the  measured  tread  of  the  party,  and 
by  the  low  murmurs  that  ran  through  their  own 
numbers,  as  a few  cautious  questions  and  answers 
were  exchanged,  relative  to  the  object  of  their 
expedition.  When  they  had  crossed  the  little 


NATTY  A PRISONER, 


155 


bridge  of  hewn  logs  that  was  thrown  over  the 
Susquehanna,  they  left  the  highway,  and  struck 
into  that  field  which  had  been  the  scene  of  the 
victory  over  the  pigeons.  From  this  they  fol- 
lowed their  leader  into  the  low  bushes  of  pines 
and  chestnuts  which  had  sprung  up  along  the 
Bhores  of  the  lake,  where  the  plough  had  not 
succeeded  the  fall  of  the  trees,  and  soon  entered 
tne  forest  itself.  Here  Richard  paused  and  col- 
lected his  troop  around  him. 

“ I have  required  your  assistance,  my  friends,” 
he  said,  in  a low  voice,  “ in  order  to  arrest  Na- 
thaniel Bumppo,  commonly  called  the  Leather- 
stocking. He  has  assaulted  a magistrate,  and  re- 
sisted the  execution  of  a search-warrant,  by 
threatening  the  life  of  a constable  with  his  rifle. 
In  short,  my  friends,  he  has  set  an  example  of  re- 
bellion to  the  laws,  and  has  become  a kind  of  out- 
law. He  is  suspected  of  other  misdemeanors  and 
offences  against  private  rights ; and  I have  this 
night  taken  on  myself,  by  the  virtue  of  my  office 
of  sheriff,  to  arrest  the  said  Bumppo,  and  bring 
him  to  the  county  jail,  that  he  may  be  present  and 
forthcoming  to  answer  to  these  heavy  charges  be- 
fore the  court  to-morrow  morning.  In  executing 
this  duty,  friends  and  fellow-citizens,  you  are  to 
use  courage  and  discretion:  courage,  that  you 
may  not  be  daunted  by  any  lawless  attempts  that 
this  man  may  make  with  his  rifle  and  his  dogs  to 
oppose  you ; and  discretion,  which  here  means 
caution  and  prudence,  that  he  may  not  escape 
from  this  sudden  attack — and  for  other  good  rea- 
sons that  I need  not  mention.  You  will  form 
yourselves  in  a complete  circle  around  his  hut,  and 
at  the  word  ‘ advance,’  called  aloud  by  me,  you 
will  rush  forward,  and,  without  giving  the  crimi- 
nal time  for  deliberation,  enter  his  dwelling  by 
force,  and  make  him  your  prisoner.  Spread,your- 
selves  for  this  purpose,  while  I shall  descend  to 
the  shore  with  a deputy,  to  take  charge  of  that 
point ; and  all  communications  must  be  made  di- 
rectly to  me,  under  the  bank  in  front  of  the  hut, 
where  I shall  station  myself  and  remain,  in  order 
to  receive  them.” 

This  speech,  which  Richard  had  been  studying 
during  his  walk,  had  the  effect  that  all  similar 
performances  produce,  of  bringing  the  dangers  of 
the  expedition  immediately  before  the  eyes  of  his 
forces.  The  men  divided,  some  plunging  deeper 
into  the  forest,  in  order  to  gain  their  stations 
without  giving  an  alarm,  and  others  continuing  to 
advance,  at  a gait  that  would  allow  the  whole 
party  to  go  in  order : but  all  devising  the  best 
plan  to  repulse  the  attack  of  a dog,  or  to  escape 
a rifle  bullet.  It  was  a moment  of  dread  expec- 
tation and  interest. 


When  the  sheriff  thought  time  enough  had 
elapsed  for  the  different  divisions  of  his  force  to 
arrive  at  their  stations,  he  raised  his  voice  in  the 
silence  of  the  forest,  and  shouted  the  watchword. 
The  sounds  played  among  the  arched  branches  of 
the  trees  in  hollow  cadences ; but  when  the  last 
sinking  tone  was  lost  on  the  ear,  in  place  of  the 
expected  howls  of  the  dogs,  no  other  noises  were 
returned  but  the  crackling  of  torn  branches  and 
dried  sticks,  as  they  yielded  before  the  advan- 
cing steps  of  the  officers.  Even  this  soon  ceased, 
as  if  by  a common  consent,  when  the  curiosity 
and  impatience  of  the  sheriff  getting  the  complete 
ascendency  over  discretion,  he  rushed  up  the  bank, 
and  in  a moment  stood  on  the  little  piece  of 
cleared  ground  in  front  of  the  spot  where  Natty 
had  so  long  lived.  To  his  amazement,  in  place  of 
the  hut  he  saw  only  its  smouldering  ruins. 

The  party  gradually  drew  together  about  the 
heap  of  ashes  and  the  ends  of  smoking  logs ; 
while  a dim  flame  in  the  centre  of  the  ruin, 
which  still  found  fuel  to  feed  its  lingering  life, 
threw  its  pale  light,  flickering  with  the  passing 
currents  of  the  air,  around  the  circle — now  show- 
ing a face  with  eyes  fixed  in  astonishment,  and 
then  glancing  to  another  countenance,  leaving 
the  former  shaded  in  the  obscurity  of  night. 
Not  a voice  was  raised  in  inquiry,  nor  an  excla- 
mation made  in  astonishment.  The  transition 
from  excitement  to  disappointment  was  too  power- 
ful for  speech ; and  even  Richard  lost  the  use  of 
an  organ  that  was  seldom  known  to  fail  him. 

The  whole  group  were  yet  in  the  fulness  of 
their  surprise,  when  a tall  form  stalked  from  the 
gloom  into  the  circle,  treading  down  the  hot  ashe3 
and  dying  embers  with  callous  feet ; and,  stand- 
ing over  the  light,  lifted  his  cap,  and  exposed  the 
bare  head  and  weather-beaten  features  of  the 
Leather-stocking.  For  a moment  he  gazed  at 
the  dusky  figures  who  surrounded  him,  more  in 
sorrow  than  in  anger,  before  he  spoke. 

“ What  would  ye  with  an  old  and  helpless 
man  ? ” he  said.  “ You’ve  driven  God’s  creaters 
from  the  wilderness,  where  his  providence  had  put 
them  for  his  own  pleasure  : and  you’ve  brought  in 
the  troubles  and  divilties  of  the  law,  where  no 
man  was  ever  known  to  disturb  another.  You 
have  driven  me,  that  have  lived  forty  long  years  of 
my  appointed  time  in  this  very  spot,  from  my  home 
and  the  shelter  of  my  head,  lest  you  should  put 
your  wicked  feet  and  wasty  ways  in  my  cabin. 
You’ve  driven  me  to  bum  these  logs,  under  which 
I’ve  eaten  and  drunk — the  first  of  Heaven’s  gifts, 
and  the  other  of  the  pure  springs — for  the  half  of 
a hundred  years  ; and  to  mourn  the  ashes  under 
my  feet,  as  a man  would  weep  and  mourn  for  the 


156 


ilIE  PIONEERS. 


children  of  his  body.  You’ve  rankled  the  heart 
of  an  old  man,  that  has  never  harmed  you  or 
you’rn,  with  bitter  feelings  toward  his  kind,  at  a 
time  when  his  thoughts  should  be  on  a better 
world ; and  you’ve  driven  him  to  wish  that  the 
beasts  of  the  forest,  who  never  feast  on  the  blood 
of  their  own  families,  was  his  kindred  and  race  : 
and  now,  when  he  has  come  to  see  the  last  brand 
of  his  hut,  before  it  is  melted  into  ashes,  you 
follow  him  up,  at  midnight,  like  hungry  hounds 
on  the  track  of  a worn-out  and  dying  deer.  What 
more  would  ye  have?  for  I am  here — one  too 
many.  I come  to  mourn,  not  to  fight ; and,  if  it 
is  God’s  pleasure,  work  your  will  on  me.” 

When  the  old  man  ended,  he  stood,  with  the 
light  glimmering  around  his  thinly-covered  head, 
looking  earnestly  at  the  group,  which  receded 
from  the  pile  with  an  involuntary  movement, 
without  the  reach  of  the  quivering  rays,  leaving  a 
free  passage  for  his  retreat  into  the  bushes,  where 
pursuit  in  the  dark  would  have  been  fruitless. 
Natty  seemed  not  to  regard  this  advantage  ; but 
stood  facing  each  individual  in  the  circle  in  suc- 
cession, as  if  to  see  who  would  be  the  first  to 
arrest  him.  After  a pause  of  a few  moments, 
Richard  began  to  rally  his  confused  faculties ; 
and,  advancing,  apologized  for  his  duty,  and  made 
him  his  prisoner.  The  party  now  collected ; and, 
preceded  by  the  sheriff,  with  Natty  in  their  cen- 
tre, they  took  their  way  toward  the  village. 

During  the  walk,  divers  questions  were  put 
to  the  prisoner  concerning  his  reasons  for  burn- 
ing the  hut,  and  whither  Mohegan  had  retreated ; 
but  to  all  of  them  he  observed  a profound  silence, 
until,  fatigued  with  their  previous  duties,  and 
the  lateness  of  the  hour,  the  sheriff  and  his  fol- 
lowers reached  the  village,  and  dispersed  to  their 
several  places  of  rest,  after  turning  the  key  of  a 
jail  on  the  aged  and  apparently  friendless  Leather- 
stocking. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

“ Fetch  here  the  stocks,  ho ! 

You  stubborn  ancient  knave,  you  reverend  braggart, 

We’ll  teach  you.” 

Leak. 

The  long  days  and  early  sun  of  July  allowed 
time  for  a gathering  of  the  interested,  before  the 
little  bell  of  the  academy  announced  that  the  ap- 
pointed hour  had  arrived  for  administering  right 
to  the  wronged,  and  punishment  to  the  guilty. 
Ever  since  the  dawn  of  day,  the  highways  and 
wood-paths  that,  issuing  from  the  forests,  and 


winding  along  the  s.des  of  the  mountains,  cen- 
tred  in  Templeton,  had  been  thronged  with 
equestrians  and  footmen,  bound  to  the  haven  of 
justice.  There  was  to  be  seen  a well-clad  yeoman, 
mounted  on  a sleek,  switch-tailed  steed,  ambling 
along  the  highway,  with  his  red  face  elevated  in 
a manner  that  said,  “ I have  paid  for  my  land, 
and  fear  no  man;”  while  his  bosom  was  swelling 
with  the  pride  of  being  one  of  the  grand  inquest 
for  the  county.  At  his  side  rode  a companion, 
his  equal  in  independence  of  feeling,  perhaps, 
but  his  inferior  in  thrift,  as  in  property  and  con- 
sideration. This  was  a professed  dealer  in  law- 
suits— a man  whose  name  appeared  in  every 
calendar — whose  substance,  gained  in  the  mul- 
tifarious expedients  of  a settler’s  changeable 
habits,  was  wasted  in  feeding  the  harpies  of  the 
courts.  He  was  endeavoring  to  impress  the  mind 
of  the  grand  juror  with  the  merits  of  a cause  now 
at  issue.  Along  with  these  was  a pedestrian, 
who,  having  thrown  a rifle  frock  over  his  shirt, 
and  placed  his  best  wool  hat  above  his  sunburnt 
visage,  had  issued  from  his  retreat  in  the  woods 
by  a foot-path,  and  was  striving  to  keep  company 
with  the  others,  on  his  way  to  hear  and  to  decide 
the  disputes  of  his  neighbors,  as  a petit,  juror. 
Fifty  similar  little  knots  of  countrymen  might 
have  been  seen,  on  that  morning,  journeying  to- 
ward the  shire-town  on  the  same  errand. 

By  ten  o’clock  the  streets  of  the  village  were 
filled  with  busy  faces ; some  talking  of  their  private 
concerns,  some  listening  to  a popular  expounder 
of  political  creeds ; and  others  gaping  in  at  the 
open  stores,  admiring  the  finery,  or  examining 
scythes,  axes,  and  such  other  manufactures  as 
attracted  their  curiosity  or  excited  their  admira- 
tion. A few  women  were  in  the  crowd,  most 
carryyag  infants,  and  followed,  at  a lounging,  list- 
less gait,  by  their  rustic  lords  and  masters.  There 
was  one  young  couple,  in  whom  connubial  love 
was  yet  fresh,  walking  at  a respectful  distance  from 
each  other;  while  the  swain  directed  the  timid 
steps  of  his  bride,  by  a gallant  offering  of  a 
thumb ! 

At  the  first  stroke  of  the  bell,  Richard  issued 
from  the  door  of  the  “ Bold  Dragoon,”  flourish- 
ing a sheathed  sword,  that  he  was  fond  of  saying 
his  ancestors  had  carried  in  one  of  Cromwell’s 
victories,  and  crying,  in  an  authoritative  tone,  to 
“ clear  the  way  for  the  court.”  The  order  was 
obeyed  promptly,  though  not  servilely,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  crowd  nodding  familiarly  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  procession  as  it  passed.  A party  of 
constables  with  their  staves  followed  the  sheriff, 
preceding  Marmaduke,  and  four  plain,  grave-look- 
ing yeomen,  who  were  his  associates  on  the  bench. 


THE  HUNTER  IN  COURT. 


15? 


There  was  nothing  to  distinguish  these  subordi- 
nate judges  from  the  better  part  of  the  spectators, 
except  gravity,  which  they  affected  a little  more 
than  common,  and  that  one  of  their  number  was 
attired  in  an  old-fashioned  military  coat,  with 
skirts  that  reached  no  lower  than  the  middle  of 
his  thighs,  and  bearing  two  little  silver  epaulets, 
not  half  so  big  as  a modern  pair  of  shoulder-knots. 
This  gentleman  was  a colonel  of  the  militia,  in 
attendance  on  a court-martial,  who  found  leisure 
to  steal  a moment  from  his  military  to  attend  to 
his  civil  jurisdiction ; but  this  incongruity  excited 
neither  notice  nor  comment.  Three  or  four  clean- 
shaved  lawyers  followed,  as  meek  as  if  they  were 
lambs  going  to  the  slaughter.  One  or  two  of 
their  number  had  contrived  to  obtain  an  air  of 
scholastic  gravity  by  wearing  spectacles.  The 
rear  was  brought  up  by  another  posse  of  consta- 
bles, and  the  mob  followed  the  whole  into  the 
room  where  the  court  held  its  sittings. 

The  edifice  was  composed  of  a basement  of 
squared  logs,  perforated  here  and  there  with  small 
grated  windows,  through  which  a few  wistful 
faces  were  gazing  at  the  crowd  without.  Among 
the  captives  were  the  guilty,  downcast  counte- 
nances of  the  counterfeiters,  and  the  simple  but 
honest  features  of  the  Leather-stocking.  The 
dungeons  were  to  be  distinguished,  externally, 
from  the  debtor’s  apartments  only  by  the  size  of 
the  apertures,  the  thickness  of  the  grates,  and 
by  the  heads  of  the  spikes  that  were  driven  into 
the  logs  as  a protection  against  the  illegal  use  of 
edge-tools.  The  upper  story  was  of  framework, 
regularly  covered  with  boards,  and  contained  one 
room  decently  fitted  up  for  the  purposes  of  jus- 
tice. A bench,  raised  on  a narrow  platform  to 
the  height  of  a man  above  the  floor,  and  pro- 
tected in  front  by  a light  railing,  ran  along  one 
of  its  sides.  In  the  centre  was  a seat,  furnished 
with  rude  arms,  that  was  always  filled  by  the  pre- 
siding judge.  In  front,  on  a level  with  the  floor 
of  the  room,  was  a large  table  covered  with  green 
baize,  and  surrounded  by  benches  ; and  at  either 
of  its  ends  were  rows  of  seats,  rising  one  over 
the  other,  for  jury-boxes.  Each  of  these  divi- 
sions was  surrounded  by  a railing.  The  remain- 
der of  the  room  was  an  open  square,  appropriated 
to  the  spectators. 

When  the  judges  were  seated,  the  lawyers 
had  taken  possession  of  the  table,  and  the  noise 
of  moving  feet  had  ceased  in  the  area,  the  proc- 
lamations were  made  in  the  usual  form,  the  ju- 
lors  were  sworn,  the  charge  was  given,  and  the 
court  proceeded  to  hear  the  business  before 
them. 

We  shall  not  detain  the  reader  with  a descrip- 


tion of  the  captious  discussions  that  occupied 
the  court  for  the  first  two  hours.  Judge  Temple 
had  impressed  on  the  jury,  in  his  charge,  the 
necessity  for  dispatch  on  their  part,  recommend- 
ing to  their  notice,  from  motives  of  humanity, 
the  prisoners  in  the  jail,  as  the  first  objects  of 
their  attention.  Accordingly,  after  the  period 
we  have  mentioned  had  elapsed,  the  cry  of  the 
officer  to  “clear  the  way  for  the  grand  jury,”  an- 
nounced the  entrance  of  that  body.  The  usual 
forms  were  observed,  when  the  foreman  handed 
up  to  the  bench  two  bills,  on  both  of  which  the 
Judge  observed,  at  the  first  glance  of  his  eye, 
the  name  of  Nathaniel  Bumppo.  It  was  a leisure 
moment  with  the  court;  some  low  whispering 
passed  between  the  bench  and  the  sheriff,  who 
gave  a signal  to  his  officers,  and  in  a very  few 
minutes  the  silence  that  prevailed  was  interrupt- 
ed by  a general  movement  in  the  outer  crowd, 
when  presently  the  Leather-stocking  made  his 
appearance,  ushered  into  the  criminal’s  bar  under 
the  custody  of  two  constables.  The  hum  ceased, 
the  people  closed  into  the  open  space  again,  and 
the  silence  soon  became  so  deep  that  the  hard 
breathing  of  the  prisoner  was  audible. 

Natty  was  dressed  in  his  buckskin  garments, 
without  his  coat,  in  place  of  which  he  wore  only 
a shirt  of  coarse  linen-check,  fastened  at  his 
throat  by  the  sinew  of  a deer,  leaving  his  red 
neck  and  weather-beaten  face  exposed  and  bare. 
It  was  the  first  time  that  he  had  ever  crossed 
the  threshold  of  a court  of  justice,  and  curiosity 
seemed  to  be  strongly  blended  with  his  personal 
feelings.  He  raised  his  eyes  to  the  bench,  thence 
to  the  jury-boxes,  the  bar,  and  the  crowd  with- 
out, meeting  everywhere  looks  fastened  on  him- 
self. After  surveying  his  own  person,  as  search- 
ing the  cause  of  this  unusual  attraction,  he  once 
more  turned  his  face  around  the  assemblage,  and 
opened  his  mouth  in  one  of  his  silent  and  remark- 
able laughs. 

“Prisoner,  remove  your  cap,”  said  Judge 
Temple. 

The  order  was  either  unheard  or  unheeded. 

“ Nathaniel  Bumppo,  be  uncovered,”  repeated 
the  Judge. 

Natty  started  at  the  sound  of  his  name,  and, 
raising  his  face  earnestly  toward  the  bench,  he 
said : 

“ Anan ! ” 

Mr.  Lippet  arose  from  his  seat  at  the  table, 
and  whispered  in  the  ear  of  the  prisoner ; when 
Natty  gave  him  a nod  of  assent,  and  took  the 
deer-skin  covering  from  his  head. 

“ Mr.  District  Attorney,”  said  the  Judge,  “ the 
prisoner  is  ready ; we  wait  fer  the  indictment.” 


158 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  duties  of  public  prosecutor  were  dis- 
charged by  Dirck  Yan  der  School,  who  adjusted  his 
spectacles,  cast  a cautious  look  around  him  at  his 
brethren  of  the  bar,  which  he  ended  by  throwing 
his  head  aside  so  as  to  catch  one  glance  over  the 
glasses,  when  he  proceeded  to  read  the  bill  aloud. 
It  was  the  usual  charge  for  an  assault  and  bat- 
tery on  the  person  of  Hiram  Doolittle,  and  was 
couched  in  the  ancient  language  of  such  instru- 
ments, especial  care  having  been  taken  by  the 
scribe  not  to  omit  the  name  of  a single  offensive 
weapon  known  to  the  law.  When  he  had  done, 
Mr.  Van  der  School  removed  his  spectacles,  which 
he  closed  and  placed  in  his  pocket,  seemingly 
for  the  pleasure  of  again  opening  and  replacing 
them  on  his  nose.  After  this  evolution  was  re- 
peated once  or  twice,  he  handed  the  bill  over  to 
Mr.  Lippet,  with  a cavalier  air,  that  said  as  much 
as  “Pick  a hole  in  that  if  you  can.” 

Natty  listened  to  the  charge  with  great  atten- 
tion, leaning  forward  toward  the  reader  with  an 
earnestness  that  denoted  his  interest ; and,  when 
it  was  ended,  he  raised  his  tall  body  to  the  ut- 
most, and  drew  a long  sigh.  All  eyes  were  turned 
to  the  prisoner,  whose  voice  was  vainly  expected 
to  break  the  stillness  of  the  room. 

“You  have  heard  the  presentment  that  the 
grand  jury  have  made,  Nathaniel  Bumppo,”  said 
the  Judge ; “ what  do  you  plead  to  the  charge  ? ” 

The  old  man  dropped  his  head  for  a moment 
in  a reflecting  attitude,  and  then,  raising  it,  he 
laughed  before  he  answered  : 

“ That  I handled  the  man  a little  rough  or 
so,  is  not  to  be  denied ; but  that  there  was  occa- 
sion to  make  use  of  all  the  things  that  the  gentle- 
man has  spoken  of,  is  downright  untrue.  I am 
not  much  of  a wrestler,  seeing  that  I’m  getting 
old ; but  I was  out  among  the  Scotch-Irishers — 
lets  me  see — it  must  have  been  as  long  ago  as 
the  first  year  of  the  old  war — ” 

“ Mr.  Lippet,  if  you  are  retained  for  the  pris- 
oner,” interrupted  Judge  Temple,  “ instruct  your 
client  how  to  plead ; if  not,  the  court  will  assign 
him  counsel.” 

Aroused  from  studying  the  indictment  by  this 
appeal,  the  attorney  got  up,  and  after  a short 
dialogue  with  the  hunter  in  a low  voice,  he  in- 
formed the  court  that  they  were  ready  to  pro- 
ceed. 

“ Do  you  plead  guilty  or  not  guilty  ? ” said 
the  Judge. 

“ I may  say  not  guilty,  with  a clean  con- 
science,” returned  Natty ; “ for  there’s  no  guilt 
in  doing  what’s  right ; and  I’d  rather  died  on  the 
spot,  than  had  him  put  foot  in  the  hut  at  that 
moment.” 


Richard  started  at  this  declaration,  and  bent 
his  eyes  significantly  on  Hiram,  who  returned  the 
look  with  a slight  movement  of  his  eyebrows. 

“ Proceed  to  open  the  cause,  Mr.  District  At- 
torney,” continued  the  Judge.  “ Mr.  Clerk,  enter 
the  plea  of  not  guilty.” 

After  a short  opening  address  from  Mr.  Van 
der  School,  Hiram  was  summoned  to  the  bar  to 
give  his  testimony.  It  was  delivered  to  the  let- 
ter, perhaps,  but  with  all  that  moral  coloring 
which  can  be  conveyed  under  such  expressions 
as,  “ thinking  no  harm,”  “feeling  it  my  bounden 
duty  as  a magistrate,”  and  “ seeing  that  the  con- 
stable was  back’ard  in  the  business.”  When  he 
had  done,  and  the  district  attorney  declined  put- 
ting any  further  interrogatories,  Mr.  Lippet  arose, 
with  an  air  of  keen  investigation,  and  asked  the 
following  questions : 

“ Are  you  a constable  of  this  county,  sir  ? ” 

“No,  sir,”  said  Hiram,  “I’m  only  a justice- 
peace.” 

“ I ask  you,  Mr.  Doolittle,  in  the  face  of  this 
court,  putting  it  to  your  conscience  and  your 
knowledge  of  the  law,  whether  you  had  any  right 
to  enter  that  man’s  dwelling  ? ” 

“ Hem ! ” said  Hiram,  undergoing  a violent 
struggle  between  his  desire  for  vengeance  and 
his  love  of  legal  fame ; “I  do  suppose — that  in 
— that  is — strict  law — that  supposing — maybe  I 
hadn’t  a real — lawful  right ; but  as  the  case  was 
— and  Billy  was  so  back’ard — I thought  I might 
come  for’ard  in  the  business.” 

“ I ask  you  again,  sir,”  continued  the  lawyer, 
following  up  his  success,  “ whether  this  old,  this 
friendless  old  man,  did  or  did  not  repeatedly 
forbid  your  entrance  ? ” 

“Why,  I must  say,”  said  Hiram,  “that  he 
was  considerable  cross-grained ; not  what  I call 
clever,  seeing  that  it  was  only  one  neighbor  want- 
ing to  go  into  the  house  of  another.” 

“ Oh  ! then  you  own  it  was  only  meant  for  a 
neighborly  visit  on  your  part,  and  without  the 
sanction  of  law.  Remember,  gentlemen,  the 
words  of  the  witness,  ‘ one  neighbor  wanting  to 
enter  the  house  of  another.’  Now,  sir,  I ask  you 
if  Nathaniel  Bumppo  did  not  again  and  again  or- 
der you  not  to  enter  ? ” 

“ There  was  some  words  passed  between  us,” 
said  Hiram,  “but  I read  the  warrant  to  him 
aloud.” 

“ I repeat  my  question ; did  he  tell  you  not  to 
enter  his  habitation  ? ” 

“ There  was  a good  deal  passed  betwixt  us — 
but  I’ve  the  warrant  in  my  pocket ; maybe  the 
court  would  wish  to  see  it  ? ” 

“ Witness,”  said  Judge  Temple,  “answer  the 


THE  VERDICT. 


159 


question  directly  ; did  or  did  not  the  prisoner  for- 
bid your  entering  his  hut  ? ” . 

“ Why,  I some  think — ” 

“Answer  without  equivocation,”  continued 
the  Judge,  sternly. 

“ He  did.” 

“And  did  you  attempt  to  enter  after  this 
order  ? ” 

“ I did  ; but  the  warrant  was  in  my  hand.” 

“Proceed,  Mr.  Lippet,  with  your  examination.” 

But  the  attorney  saw  that  the  impression  was 
in  favor  of  his  client,  and,  waving  his  hand  with 
a supercilious  manner,  as  if  unwilling  to  insult 
the  understanding  of  the  jury  with  any  further 
defence,  he  replied : 

“No,  sir ; I leave  it  for  your  honor  to  charge ; 
I rest  my  case  here.” 

“ Mr.  District  Attorney,”  said  the  Judge, 
“ have  you  any  thing  to  say  ? ” 

Mr.  Van  der  School  removed  his  spectacles, 
folded  them,  and,  replacing  them  once  more  on 
his  nose,  eyed  the  other  bill  which  he  held  in  his 
hand,  and  then  said,  looking  at  the  bar  over  the 
top  of  his  glasses  : 

“I  shall  rest  the  prosecution  here,  if  the 
court  please.” 

Judge  Temple  arose  and  began  the  charge. 

“ Gentlemen  of  the  jury,”  he  said,  “ you  have 
heard  the  testimony,  and  I shall  detain  you  but  a 
moment.  If  an  officer  meet  with  resistance  in 
the  execution  of  a process,  he  has  an  undoubted 
right  to  call  any  citizen  to  his  assistance ; and 
the  acts  of  such  assistant  come  within  the  pro- 
tection of  the  law.  I shall  leave  you  to  judge, 
gentlemen,  from  the  testimony,  how  far  the  wit- 
ness in  this  prosecution  can  be  so  considered, 
feeling  less  reluctance  to  submit  the  case  thus 
informally  to  your  decision,  because  there  is  yet 
another  indictment  to  be  tried,  which  involves 
heavier  charges  against  the  unfortunate  prisoner.” 

The  tone  of  Marmaduke  was  mild  and  insinu- 
ating, and,  as  his  sentiments  were  given  with  such 
apparent  impartiality,  they  did  not  fail  of  carry- 
ing due  weight  with  the  jury.  The  grave-looking 
yeomen  who  composed  this  tribunal,  laid  their 
heads  together  for  a few  minutes,  without  leaving 
the  box,  when  the  foreman  arose,  and,  after  the 
forms  of  the  court  were  duly  observed,  he  pro- 
nounced the  prisoner  to  be 

“ Not  guilty.” 

“You  are  acquitted  of  this  charge,  Nathaniel 
Bumppo,”  said  the  Judge. 

“ Anan!  ” said  Natty. 

“You  are  found  not  guilty  of  striking  and 
assaulting  Mr.  Doolittle.” 

“ No,  no,  I’ll  not  deny  but  that  I took  him  a 


little  roughly  by  the  shoulders,”  said  Natty,  look- 
ing about  him  with  great  simplicity,  “ and  that 

“ You  are  acquitted,”  interrupted  the  Judge, 
“ and  there  is  nothing  further  to  be  said  or  done 
in  the  matter.” 

A look  of  joy  lighted  up  the  features  of  the 
old  man,  who  now  comprehended  the  case,  and, 
placing  his  cap  eagerly  on  his  head  again,  he 
threw  up  the  bar  of  his  little  prison,  and  said, 
feelingly : 

“ I must  say  this  for  you,  Judge  Temple,  that 
the  law  has  not  been  so  hard  on  me  as  I dreaded. 
I hope  God  will  bless  you  for  the  kind  things 
you’ve  done  to  me  this  day.” 

But  the  staff  of  the  constable  was  opposed  to 
his  egress,  and  Mr.  Lippet  whispered  a few  words 
in  his  ear,  when  the  aged  hunter  sank  back  into 
his  place,  and,  removing  his  cap,  stroked  down 
the  remnants  of  his  gray  and  sandy  locks,  with 
an  air  of  mortification  mingled  with  submission. 

“ Mr.  District  Attorney,”  said  Judge  Temple, 
affecting  to  busy  himself  with  his  minutes,  “ pro- 
ceed with  the  second  indictment.” 

Mr.  Van  der  School  took  great  care  that  no 
part  of  the  presentment,  which  he  now  read, 
should  be  lost  on  his  auditors.  It  accused  the 
prisoner  of  resisting  the  execution  of  a search- 
warrant,  by  force  of  arms,  and  particularized,  in 
the  vague  language  of  the  law,  among  a variety 
of  other  weapons,  the  use  of  the  rifle.  This  was 
indeed  a more  serious  charge  than  an  ordinary 
assault  and  battery,  and  a corresponding  degree 
of  interest  was  manifested  by  the  spectators  in 
its  result.  The  prisoner  was  duly  arraigned,  and 
his  plea  again  demanded.  Mr.  Lippet  had  anti- 
cipated the  answers  of  Natty,  and  in  a whisper  ad- 
vised him  how  to  plead.  But  the  feelings  of  the 
old  hunter  were  awakened  by  some  of  the  expres- 
sions of  the  indictment,  and,  forgetful  of  his  cau- 
tion, he  exclaimed : 

“ ’Tis  a wicked  untruth  ; I crave  no  man’s 
blood.  Them  thieves,  the  Iroquois,  won’t  say  it 
to  my  face,  that  I ever  thirsted  after  man’s  blood. 
I have  fou’t  as  a soldier  that  feared  his  Maker 
and  his  officer,  but  I never  pulled  trigger  on  any 
but  a warrior  that  was  up  and  awake.  No  man 
can  say  that  I ever  struck  even  a Mingo  in  his 
blanket.  I believe  there’s  some  who  thinks 
there’s  no  God  in  a wilderness ! ” 

“Attend  to  your  plea,  Bumppo,”  said  the 
Judge  ; “ you  hear  that  you  are  accused  of  using 
your  rifle  against  an  officer  of  justice  ? are  you 
guilty  or  not  guilty  ? ” 

By  this  time  the  irritated  feelings  of  Natty 
had  found  vent ; and  he  rested  on  the  bar  for  a 


160 


THE  PIONEERS. 


moment,  in  a musing  posture,  when  he  lifted  his 
face,  with  bis  silent  laugh,  and,  pointing  to  where 
the  wood-chopper  stood,  he  said : 

“ Would  Billy  Kirby  be  standing  there,  d’ye 
think,  if  I had  used  the  rifle  ? ” 

“ Then  you  deny  it,”  said  Mr.  Lippet ; “ you 
plead  not  guilty  ? ” 

“ Sartain,”  said  Natty ; “ Billy  knows  that  I 
never  fired  at  all.  Billy,  do  you  remember  the 
turkey  last  winter  ? ah ! me ! that  was  better  than 
common  firing;  but  I can’t  shoot  as  I used  to 
could.” 

“ Enter  the  plea  of  not  guilty,”  said  Judge 
Temple,  strongly  affected  by  the  simplicity  of  the 
prisoner. 

Hiram  was  again  sworn,  and  his  testimony 
given -on  the  second  charge.  He  had  discovered 
his  former  error,  and  proceeded  more  cautiously 
than  before.  He  related  very  distinctly,  and,  for 
the  man,  with  amazing  terseness,  the  suspicion 
against  the  hunter,  the  complaint,  the  issuing  of 
the  warrant,  and  the  swearing  in  of  Kirby ; al[ 
of  which,  he  affirmed,  were  done  in  due  form  of 
law.  He  then  added  the  manner  in  which  the 
constable  had  been  received ; and  stated,  dis- 
tinctly, that  Natty  had  pointed  the  rifle  at  Kirby? 
and  threatened  his  life,  if  he  attempted  to  execute 
his  duty.  All  this  was  confirmed  by  Jotham,  who 
was  observed  to  adhere  closely  to  the  story  of 
the  magistrate.  Mr.  Lippet  conducted  an  artful 
cross-examination  of  these  two  witnesses,  but, 
after  consuming  much  time,  was  compelled  to  re- 
linquish the  attempt  to  obtain  any  advantage,  in 
despair. 

At  length  the  district  attorney  called  the 
wood-chopper  to  the  bar.  Billy  gave  an  ex- 
tremely confused  account  of  the  whole  affair, 
although  he  evidently  aimed  at  the  truth,  until 
Mr.  Van  der  School  aided  him,  by  asking  some 
direct  questions : 

“ It  appears  from  examining  the  papers,  that 
you  demanded  admission  into  the  hut  legally ; so 
you  were  put  in  bodily  fear  by  his  rifle  and 
threats  ? ” 

“ I didn’t  mind  them  that,  man,”  said  Billy, 
snapping  his  fingers ; “ I should  be  a poor  stick 
to  mind  old  Leather-stocking.” 

“ But  I understood  you  to  say  (referring  to 
your  previous  words  (as  delivered  here  in  court) 
in  the  commencement  of  your  testimony)  that 
you  thought  he  meant  to  shoot  you  ? ” 

“ To  be  sure  I did ; and  so  would  you  too, 
Bquire,  if  you  had  seen  the  chap  dropping  a muz- 
zle that  never  misses,  and  cocking  an  eye  that 
has  a natural  squint  by  long  practice.  I thought 
there  would  be  a dust  on’t,  and  my  back  was  up  at 


once ; but  Leather-stocking  gi’n  up  the  skin,  and 
so  the  matter  ended.” 

“Ah!  Billy,”  said  Natty,  shaking  hia  head, 
“ ’twas  a lucky  thought  in  me  to  throw  out  the 
hide,  or  there  might  have  been  blood  spilt ; and 
I’m  sure,  if  it  had  been  yourn,  I should  have 
mourned  it  sorely  the  little  while  I have  to  stay.” 

“Well,  Leather-stocking,”  returned  Billy,  fac- 
ing the  prisoner  with  a freedom  and  familiarity 
that  utterly  disregarded  the  presence  of  the  court, 
“as  you  are  on  the  subject,  it  may  be  that  you’ve 
no — ” 

“ Go  on  with  your  examination,  Mr.  District 
Attorney.” 

That  gentleman  eyed  the  familiarity  between 
his  witness  and  the  prisoner  with  manifest  dis- 
gust, and  indicated  to  the  court  that  he  was 
done. 

“ Then  you  didn’t  feel  frightened,  Mr.  Kirby  ? ” 
said  the  counsel  for  the  prisoner. 

“ Me ! no,”  said  Billy,  casting  his  eyes  over  his 
own  huge  frame  with  evident  self-satisfaction; 
“ I’m  not  to  be  sheared  so  easy.” 

“ You  look  like  a hardy  man ; where  were  you 
born,  sir  ? ” 

“ V armount  State ; ’tis  a mountaynious  place, 
but  there’s  a stiff  soil,  and  it’s  pretty  much 
wooded  with  beach  and  maple.” 

“I  have  always  heard  so,”  said  Mr.  Lippet, 
soothingly.  “You  have  been  used  to  the  rifle 
yourself,  in  that  country?” 

“ I pull  the  second  best  trigger  in  this  coun- 
ty. I knock  under  to  Natty  Bumppo  there,  sin’ 
he  shot  the  pigeon.” 

Leather-stocking  raised  his  head,  and  laughed 
again,  when  he  abruptly  thrust  out  a wrinkled 
hand,  and  said : 

“You’re  young  yet,  Billy,  and  hav’nt  seen 
the  matches  that  I have ; but  here’s  my  hand ; I 
bear  no  malice  to  you,  I don’t.” 

Mr.  Lippet  allowed  this  conciliatory  offering 
to  be  accepted,  and  judiciously  paused,  while  the 
spirit  of  peace  was  exercising  its  influence  over 
the  two  ; but  the  Judge  interposed  his  authority. 

“This  is  an  improper  place  for  such  dia- 
logues,” he  said ; “ proceed  with  your  examination 
of  this  witness,  Mr.  Lippet,  or  I shall  order  the 
next.” 

The  attorney  started,  as  if  unconscious  of  an? 
impropriety,  and  continued : 

“ So  you  settled  the  matter  with  Natty  amica- 
bly on  the  spot,  did  you  ? ” 

“ He  gi’n  me  the  skin,  and  I didn’t  want  to 
quarrel  with  an  old  man ; for  my  part,  I see  no 
such  mighty  matter  in  shooting  a buck  1 ” 

“And  you  parted  friends?  and  you  would 


JUDGE  TEMPLE’S  SENTENCE. 


161 


never  have  thought  of  bringing  the  business  up 
before  a court,  hadn’t  you  been  subpoenaed  ? ” 

“I  don’t  think  I should ; he  gi’n  the  skin,  and 
I didn’t  feel  a hard  thought,  though  Squire  Doo- 
little got  some  affronted.” 

“ I have  done,  sir,”  said  Mr.  Lippet,  probably 
relying  on  the  charge  of  the  Judge,  as  he  again 
seated  himself,  with  the  air  of  a man  who  felt 
that  his  success  was  certain. 

When  Mr.  Yan  der  School  arose  to  address 
the  jury,  he  commenced  by  saying  : 

“ Gentlemen  of  the  jury,  I should  have  inter- 
rupted the  leading  questions  put  by  the  prisoner’s 
counsel  (by  leading  questions  I mean  telling  him 
what  to  say),  did  I not  feel  confident  that  the  law 
of  the  land  was  superior  to  any  advantages  (I 
mean  legal  advantages)  which  he  might  obtain  by 
his  art.  The  counsel  for  the  prisoner,  gentlemen, 
has  endeavored  to  persuade  you,  in  opposition  to 
your  own  good  sense,  to  believe  that  pointing  a 
rifle  at  a constable  (elected  or  deputed)  is  a very 
innocent  affair;  and  that  society  (I  mean  the 
commonwealth,  gentlemen)  shall  not  be  endan- 
gered thereby.  But  let  me  claim  your  attention, 
while  we  look  over  the  particulars  of  this  heinous 
offence.”  Here  Mr.  Yan  der  School  favored  the 
jury  with  an  abridgment  of  the  testimony,  re- 
counted in  such  a manner  as  utterly  to  confuse 
the  faculties  of  his  worthy  listeners.  After  this 
exhibition  he  closed  as  follows : “ And  now,  gen- 
tlemen, having  thus  made  plain  to  your  senses 
the  crime  of  which  this  unfortunate  man  has  been 
guilty  (unfortunate  both  on  account  of  his  igno- 
rance and  his  guilt),  I shall  leave  you  to  your  own 
consciences;  notin  the  least  doubting  that  you 
will  see  the  importance  (notwithstanding  the  pris- 
oner’s counsel  (doubtless  relying  on  your  former 
verdict)  wishes  to  appear  so  confident  of  success) 
of  punishing  the  offender,  and  asserting  the  dig- 
nity of  the  laws.” 

It  was ’now  the  duty  of  the  Judge  to  deliver 
his  charge.  It  consisted  of  a short,  comprehen- 
sive summary  of  the  testimony,  laying  bare  the 
artifice  of  the  prisoner’s  counsel,  and  placing  the 
facts  in  so  obvious  a light,  that  they  could  not 
well  be  misunderstood.  “ Living  as  we  do,  gen- 
tlemen,” he  concluded,  “ on  the  skirts  of  society, 
it  becomes  doubly  necessary  to  protect  the  min- 
isters of  the  law.  If  you  believe  the  witnesses, 
‘n  their  construction  of  the  acts  of  the  prisoner, 
it  is  your  duty  to  convict  him  ; but  if  you  believe 
that  the  old  man,  who  this  day  appears  before 
you,  meant  not  to  harm  the  constable,  but  was 
acting  more  under  the  influence  of  habit  than  by 
the  instigations  of  malice,  it  will  be  your  duty  to 
iudge  him,  but  to  do  it  with  lenity.” 

50  11 


As  before,  the  jury  did  not  leave  their  box ; 
but,  after  a consultation  of  some  little  time,  their 
foreman  arose,  and  pronounced  the  prisoner : 

“ Guilty.” 

There  was  but  little  surprise  manifested  in  the 
court  room  at  this  verdict,  as  the  testimony,  the 
greater  part  of  which  we  have  omitted,  was  too 
clear  and  direct  to  be  passed  over.  The  judges 
seemed  to  have  anticipated  this  sentiment,  for  a 
consultation  was  passing  among  them  also,  dur- 
ing the  deliberation  of  the  jury,  and  the  prepara- 
tory movements  of  the  “ bench  ” announced  the 
coming  sentence. 

“ Nathaniel  Bumppo,”  commenced  the  Judge, 
making  the  customary  pause. 

The  old  hunter,  who  had  been  musing  again, 
with  his  head  on  the  bar,  raised  himself,  and 
cried,  with  a prompt,  military  tone : 

“ Here.” 

The  Judge  waved  his  hand  for  silence,  and 
proceeded : 

“ In  forming  their  sentence,  the  court  have 
been  governed  as  much  by  the  consideration  of 
your  ignorance  of  the  laws,  as  by  a strict  sense 
of  the  importance  of  punishing  such  outrages  as 
this  of  which  you  have  been  found  guilty.  They 
have  therefore  passed  over  the  Obvious  punish- 
ment of  whipping  on  the  bare  back,  in  mercy  to 
your  years  ; but,  as  the  dignity  of  the  law  requires 
an  open  exhibition  of  the  consequences  of  your 
crime,  it  is  ordered,  that  you  bo  conveyed  from 
this  room  to  the  public  stocks,  where  you  are  to 
be  confined  for  one  hour : that  you  pay  a fine  to 
the  State  of  one  hundred  dollars  ; and  that  you  be 
imprisoned  in  the  jail  of  this  county  for  one  calen- 
dar month,  and,  furthermore,  that  your  imprison- 
ment do  not  cease  until  the  said  fine  shall  be  paid. 
I feel  it  my  duty,  Nathaniel  Bumppo — ” 

“ And  where  should  I get  the  money  ? ” inter- 
rupted the  Leather-stocking,  eagerly ; “ where 
should  I get  the  money  ? you’ll  take  away  the 
bounty  on  the  painters,  because  I cut  the  throat 
of  a deer  ; and  how  is  an  old  man  to  find  so  much 
gold  or  silver  in  the  woods?  No,  no,  Judge; 
think  better  of  it,  and  don’t  talk  of  shutting  me 
up  in  a jail  for  the  little  time  I have  to  stay.” 

“ If  you  have  any  thing  to  urge  against  the 
passing  of  the  sentence,  the  court  will  yet  hear 
you,”  said  the  Judge,  mildly. 

“ I have  enough  to  say  ag’in  it,”  cried  Natty, 
grasping  the  bar  on  which  his  fingers  were  work- 
ing with  a convulsed  motion.  “ Where  am  I to 
get  the  money  ? Let  me  out  into  the  woods  and 
hills,  where  I’ve  been  used  to  breathe  the  clea*' 
air,  and  though  I’m  threescore  and  ten,  if  you’ve 
left  game  enough  in  the  country,  I’ll  travel  night 


162 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  day  but  I’ll  make  you  up  the  sum  afore  the 
season  is  over.  Yes,  yes — you  see  the  reason  of 
the  thing,  and  the  wickedness  of  shutting  up  an 
old  man,  that  has  spent  his  days,  as  one  may  say, 
where  he  could  always  look  into  the  windows  of 
heaven.” 

“ I must  be  governed  by  the  law — ” 

“ Talk  not  to  me  of  law,  Marmaduke  Temple,” 
interrupted  the  hunter.  “ Did  the  beast  of  the 
forest  mind  your  laws,  when  it  was  thirsty  and 
hungering  for  the  blood  of  your  own  child  ? She 
was  kneeling  to  her  God  for  a greater  favor  than 
I ask,  and  he  heard  her  ; and  if  you  now  say  no 
to  my  prayers,  do  you  think  he  will  be  deaf?  ” 

“My  private  feelings  must  not  enter  into — ” 

“ Hear  me,  Marmaduke  Temple,”  interrupted 
the  old  man,  with  melancholy  earnestness,  “and 
hear  reason.  I’ve  travelled  these  mountains 
when  you  was  no  judge,  but  an  infant  in  your 
mother’s  arms  ; and  I feel  as  if  I had  a right  and 
a privilege  to  travel  them  ag’in  afore  I die.  Have 
you  forgot  the  time  that  you  come  on  to  the  lake- 
shore,  when  there  wasn’t  even  a jail  to  lodge  in  ; 
and  didn’t  I give  you  my  own  bear-skin  to  sleep 
on,  and  the  fat  of  a noble  buck  to  satisfy  the 
cravings  of  your  hunger  ? Yes,  yes — you  thought 
it  no  sin  then  to  kill  a deer ! And  this  I did, 
though  I had  no  reason  to  love  you,  for  you  had 
never  done  any  thing  but  harm  to  them  that  loved 
and  sheltered  me.  And  now,  will  you  shut  me 
up  in  your  dungeons  to  pay  me  for  my  kindness  ? 
A hundred  dollars ! where  should  I get  the 
money?  No,  no — there’s  them  that  says  hard 
things  of  you,  Marmaduke  Temple,  but  you  an’t 
so  bad  as  to  wish  to  see  an  old  man  die  in  a 
prison,  because  he  stood  up  for  the  right.  Come, 
friend,  let  me  pass  ; it’s  long  sin’  I’ve  been  used 
to  such  crowds,  and  I crave  to  be  in  the  woods 
ag’in.  Don’t  fear  me,  Judge — I bid  you  not  to 
fear  me  ; for  if  there’s  beaver  enough  left  on  the 
streams,  or  the  buckskins  will  sell  for  a shilling 
apiece,  you  shall  have  the  last  penny  of  the  fine. 
Where  are  ye,  pups ! come  away,  dogs  ! come 
away ! we  have  a grievous  toil  to  do  for  our 
years,  but  it  shall  be  done — yes,  yes,  I’ve  promised 
it,  and  it  shall  be  done ! ” 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  the  movement 
of  the  Leather-stocking  was  again  intercepted  by 
the  constable ; but,  before  he  had  time  to  speak, 
a bustling  in  the  crowd,  and  a loud  hem,  drew 
all  eyes  to  another  part  of  the  room. 

Benjamin  had  succeeded  in  edging  his  way 
through  the  people,  and  was  now  seen  balancing 
his  short  body,  with  one  foot  in  a window  and 
the  other  on  a railing  of  the  jury-box.  To  the 
amazement  of  the  whole  court,  the  steward  was 


evidently  preparing  to  speak.  After  a good  deal 
of  difficulty,  he  succeeded  in  drawing  from  his 
pocket  a small  bag,  and  then  found  utterance. 

“ If-so-be,”  he  said,  “ that  your  honor  is 
agreeable  to  trust  the  poor  fellow  out  on  another 
cruise  among  the  beasts,  here’s  a small  matter 
that  will  help  to  bring  down  the  risk,  seeing  that 
there’s  just  thirty-five  of  your  Spaniards  in  it ; 
and  I wish,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  that 
they  was  raal  British  guineas,  for  the  sake  of  the 
old  boy.  But  ’tis  as  it  is  ; and  if  Squire  Dickens 
will  just  be  so  good  as  to  overhaul  this  small 
bit  of  an  account,  and  take  enough  from  the  bag 
to  settle  the  same,  he’s  welcome  to  hold  on  upon 
the  rest,  till  such  time  as  the  Leather-stocking 
can  grapple  with  them  said  beaver,  or,  for  that 
matter,  forever,  and  no  thanks  asked.” 

As  Benjamin  concluded,  he  thrust  out  the 
wooden  register  of  his  arrears  to  the  “ Bold  Dra- 
goon ” with  one  hand,  while  he  offered  his  bag 
of  dollars  with  the  other.  Astonishment  at  this 
singular  interruption  produced  a profound  still- 
ness in  the  room,  which  was  only  interrupted  by 
the  sheriff,  who  struck  his  sword  on  the  table, 
and  cried : 

“ Silence ! ” 

“ There  must  be  an  end  to  this,”  said  the 
Judge,  struggling  to  overcome  his  feelings. 
“ Constable,  lead  the  prisoner  to  the  stocks.  Mr. 
Clerk,  what  stands  next  on  the  calendar  ? ” 

Natty  seemed  to  yield  to  his  destiny,  for  he 
sank  his  head  on  his  chest,  and  followed  the  offi- 
cer from  the  court-room  in  silence.  The  crowd 
moved  back  for  the  passage  of  the  prisoner,  and 
when  his  tall  form  was  seen  descending  from  the 
outer  door,  a rush  of  the  people  to  the  scene  of 
his  disgrace  followed. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

11  Ha ! ha ! look  1 he  wears  cruel  garters ! ” Leak. 

The  punishments  of  the  common  law  were 
still  known,  at  the  time  of  our  tale,  to  the  people 
of  New  York  ; and  the  whipping-post,  and  its 
companion,  the  stocks,  were  not  yet  supplanted 
by  the  more  merciful  expedients  of  the  public 
prison.  Immediately  in  front  of  the  jail  those 
relics  of  the  elder  times  were  situated,  as  a les- 
son of  precautionary  justice  to  the  evil-doers  of 
the  settlement. 

Natty  followed  the  constables  to  this  spot, 
bowing  his  head  with  submission  to  a power  that 
he  was  unable  to  oppose,  and  surrounded  by  the 
crowd  that  formed  a circle  about  his  person,  ex 


BENJAMIN’S 

hibiting  in  their  countenances  strong  curiosity. 
A constable  raised  the  upper  part  of  the  stocks, 
and  pointed  with  his  finger  to  the  holes  where 
the  old  man  was  to  place  his  feet.  Without 
making  the  least  objection  to  the  punishment, 
the  Leather-stocking  quietly  seated  himself  on 
the  ground,  and  suffered  his  limbs  to  be  laid  in 
the  openings,  without  even  a murmur;  though 
he  cast  one  glance  about  him,  in  quest  of  that 
sympathy  that  human  nature  always  seems  to 
require  under  suffering.  If  he  met  no  direct  mani- 
festations of  pity,  neither  did  he  see  any  unfeel- 
ing exultation,  or  hear  a single  reproachful  epi- 
thet. The  character  of  the  mob,  if  it  could  be 
called  by  such  a name,  was  that  of  attentive 
subordination. 

The  constable  was  in  the  act  of  lowering  the 
upper  plank,  when  Benjamin,  who  had  pressed 
close  to  the  side  of  the  prisoner,  said,  in  his 
hoarse  tones,  as  if  seeking  for  some  cause  to 
create  a quarrel : 

“ Where  away,  master  constable,  is  the  use 
of  clapping  a man  in  them  here  bilboes  ? it  nei- 
ther stops  his  grog  nor  hurts- his  back;  what  for 
Is  it  that  yon  do  the  thing  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  the  sentence  of  the  court,  Mr.  Penguil- 
liurn,  and  there’s  law  for  it,  I s’pose.” 

“ Ay,  ay,  I know  that  there’s  law  for  the 
thing ; but  where  away  do  you  find  the  use,  I 
say  ? it  does  no  harm,  and  it  only  keeps  a man 
by  the  heels  for  the  small  matter  of  two  glasses.” 

“ Is  it  no  harm,  Benny  Pump,”  said  Natty, 
raising  his  eyes  with  a piteous  look  in  the  face 
of  the  steward — “ is  it  no  harm  to  show  off  a 
man  in  his  seventy-first  year,  like  a tame  bear, 
for  the  settlers  to  look  on ! Is  it  no  harm  to  put 
an  old  soldier,  that  has  sarved  through  the  war 
of  ’fifty-six,  and  seen  the  inimy  in  the  ’seventy- 
six  business,  into  a place  like  this,  where  the 
boys  can  point  at  him  and  say,  I have  known  the 
time  when  he  was  a spectacle  for  the  county ! 
Is  it  no  harm  to  bring  down  the  pride  of  an 
honest  man  to  be  the  equal  of  the  beasts  of  the 
forest ! ” 

Benjamin  stared  about  him  fiercely,  and  could 
he  have  found  a single  face  that  expressed  con- 
tumely, he  would  have  been  prompt  to  quarrel 
with  its  owner;  but  meeting  everywhere  with 
looks  of  sobriety,  and  occasionally  of  commiser- 
tion,  he  very  deliberately  seated  himself  by  the 
side  of  the  hunter,  and,  placing  his  legs  in  the 
iwo  vacant  holes  of  the  stocks,  he  said : 

“ Now  lower  away,  master  constable,  lower 
away,  I tell  ye ! If-so-be  there’s  such  a thing  here- 
abouts as  a man  that  vants  to  see  a bear,  let 
him  look  and  be  d — d,  and  he  shall  find  two  of 


GENEROSITY.  163 

them,  and  mayhap  one  of  the  same  that  can  bit© 
as  well  as  growl.” 

“ But  I have  no  orders  to  put  you  in  the 
stocks,  Mr.  Pump,”  cried  the  constable ; “ you 
must  get  up,  and  let  me  do  my  duty.” 

“ You’ve  my  orders,  and  what  do  you  need 
better  to  meddle  with  my  own  feet  ? so  lower 
away,  will  ye,  and  let  me  see  the  man  that  chooses 
to  open  his  mouth  with  a grin  on  it.” 

“ There  can’t  be-  any  harm  in  locking  up  a 
creater  that  will  enter  the  pound,”  said  the  con- 
stable, laughing,  and  closing  the  stocks  on  them 
both. 

It  was  fortunate  that  this  act  was  executed 
with  decision,  for  the  whole  of  the  spectators, 
when  they  saw  Benjamin  assume  the  position  he 
took,  felt  an  inclination  for  merriment,  which  few 
thought  it  worth  while  to  suppress.  The  steward 
struggled  violently  for  his  liberty  again,  with  an 
evident  intention  of  making  battle  on  those  who 
stood  nearest  to  him ; but  the  key  was  already 
turned,  and  all  his  efforts  were  vain. 

“ Hark  ye,  master  constable,”  he  cried,  “just 
clear  away  your  bilboes  for  the  small  matter  of  a 
log-glass,  will  ye,  and  let  me  show  some  of  them 
there  chaps  who  it  is  they  are  so  merry  about.” 

“ No,  no,  you  would  go  in,  and  you  can’t  come 
out,”  returned  the  officer,  “ until  the  time  has  ex- 
pired that  the  Judge  directed  for  the  keeping  of 
the  prisoner.” 

Benjamin,  finding  that  his  threats  and  his 
struggles  were  useless,  had  good  sense  enough  to 
learn  patience  from  the  resigned  manner  of  his 
companion,  and  soon  settled  himself  down  by  the 
side  of  Natty,  with  a contemptuousness  expressed 
in  his  hard  features,  that  showed  he  had  sub- 
stituted disgust  for  rage.  When  the  violence  of 
the  steward’s  feelings  had  in  some  measure  sub- 
sided, he  turned  to  his  fellow-sufferer,  and,  with  a 
motive  that  might  have  vindicated  a worse  ef- 
fusion, he  attempted  the  charitable  office  of  con- 
solation. 

“ Taking  it  by  and  large,  Master  Bump-ho,  ’tis 
but  a small  matter  after  all,”  he  said.  “ Now, 
I’ve  known  very  good  sort  of  men,  aboard  of  the 
Boadishey,  laid  by  the  heels,  for  nothing,  mayhap, 
but  forgetting  that  they’d  drunk  their  allowance 
already,  when  a glass  of  grog  has  come  in  their 
wa y.  This  is  nothing  more  than  riding  with  two 
anchors  ahead,  waiting  for  a turn  in  the  tide,  or 
a shift  of  wind,  d’ye  see,  with  a soft  bottom  and 
plenty  of  room  for  the  sweep  of  your  hawse.  Now 
I’ve  seen  many  a man,  for  over-shooting  his  reck, 
oning,  as  I told  ye,  moored  head  and  stam, 
where  he  couldn’t  go  much  as  heave  his  broadside 
round,  and  mayhap  a stopper  clapt  on  his  tongue 


164 


THE  PIONEERS. 


too,  in  the  shape  of  a pump-bolt  lashed  athwart- 
ghip  his  jaws,  all  the  same  as  an  out-rigger  along- 
side of  a taffrel-rail.” 

The  hunter  appeared  to  appreciate  the  kind 
intentions  of  the  other,  though  he  could  not  un- 
derstand his  eloquence ; and,  raising  his  humbled 
countenance,  he  attempted  a smile,  as  he  said — 

“ Anan ! ” 

“ ’Tis  nothing,  I say,  but  a small  matter  of  a 
squall  that  will  soon  blow  over,”  continued  Ben- 
jamin. “ To  you  that  has  such  a length  of  keel, 
it  must  be  all  the  same  as  nothing ; tho’f,  seeing 
that  I’m  a little  short  in  my  lower  timbers,  they’ve 
triced  my  heels  up  in  such  a way  as  to  give  me  a 
bit  of  a cant.  But  what  cares  I,  Master  Bump- 
ho,  if  the  ship  strains  a little  at  her  anchor ; its 
only  for  a dog-watch,  and  dam’me  but  she’ll  sail 
with  you  then  on  that  cruise  after  them  said  beaver. 
I’m  not  much  used  to  small-arms,  seeing  that  I 
was  stationed  at  the  ammunition-boxes,  being 
sum’mat  too  low-rigged  to  see  over  the  hammock- 
cloths  ; but  I can  carry  the  game,  d’ye  see,  and 
mayhap  make  out  to  lend  a hand  with  the  traps ; 
and  if-so-be  you’re  any  way  so  handy  with  them 
a3  ye  be  with  your  boat-hook,  ’twill  be  but  a short 
cruise  after  all.  I’ve  squared  the  yards  with 
Squire  Dickens  this  morning,  and  I shall  send  him 
word  that  he  needn’t  bear  my  name  on  the  books 
again  till  such  time  as  the  cruise  is  over.” 

“ You’re  used  to  dwell  with  men,  Benny,” 
said  Leather-stocking,  mournfully,  “ and  the  ways 
of  the  woods  would  be  hard  on  you,  if — ” 

“ Not  a bit — not  a bit,”  cried  the  steward  ; 
“I’m  none  of  your  fair-weather  chaps,  Master 
Bump-ho,  as  sails  only  in  smooth  water.  When 
I find  a friend,  I sticks  by  him,  d’ye  see.  Now, 
there’s  no  better  man  a-going  than  Squire  Dickens, 
and  I love  him  about  the  same  as  I loves  Mistress 
Hollister’s  new  keg  of  Jamaiky.”  The  steward 
paused,  and  turning  hrs  uncouth  visage  on  the 
hunter,  he  surveyed  him  with  a roguish  leer  of 
hi3  eye,  and  gradually  suffered  the  muscles  of  his 
hard  features  to  relax,  until  his  face  was  illumi- 
nated by  the  display  of  his  white  teeth,  when  he 
dropped  his  voice,  and  added — “ I say,  Master 
Leather-stocking,  ’tis  fresher  and  livelier  than 
any  Hollands  you’ll  get  in  Garnsey.  But  we’ll 
send  a hand  over  and  ask  the  woman  for  a taste, 
for  I’m'  so  jamb’d  in  these  here  bilboes,  that  I be- 
gin to  want  sum’mat  to  lighten  my  upper  works.” 

Natty  sighed,  and  gazed  about  him  on  the 
crowd,  that  already  began  to  disperse,  and  which 
had  now  diminished  greatly,  as  its  members  scat- 
tered in  their  various  pursuits.  He  looked  wist- 
fully at  Benjamin, .'but  did  not  reply;  a deeply- 
seated  anxiety  seaming  to  absorb  every  other 


sensation,  and  to  throw  a melancholy  gloom  ovei 
his  wrinkled  features,  which  were  working  with 
the  movements  of  his  mind. 

The  steward  was  about  to  act  on  the  old  prin- 
ciple, that  silence  gives  consent,  when  Hiram  Doo- 
little attended  by  Jotham,  stalked  out  of  the  crowd, 
across  the  open  space,  and  approached  the  stocks. 
The  magistrate  passed  by  the  end  where  Benja- 
min was  seated,  and  posted  himself,  at  a safe  dis- 
tance from  the  steward,  in  front  of  the  Leather- 
stocking. Hiram  stood,  for  a moment,  cowering 
before  the  keen  looks  that  Natty  fastened  on  him, 
and  suffering  under  an  embarrassment  that  was 
quite  new ; when,  having  in  some  degree  recov- 
ered himself,  he  looked  at  the  heavens,  and  then 
at  the  smoky  atmosphere,  as  if  it  were  only  an 
ordinary  meeting  with  a friend,  and  said  in  his 
formal,  hesitating  way  : 

“ Quite  a scurcity  of  rain  lately ; I some  think 
we  shall  have  a long  drought  on’t.” 

Benjamin  was  occupied  in  untying  his  bag  of 
dollars,  and  did  not  observe  the  approach  of  the 
magistrate,  while  Natty  turned  his  face,  in  which 
every  muscle  was  working,  away  from  him  in 
disgust,  without  answering.  Rather  encouraged 
than  daunted  by  this  exhibition  of  dislike,  Hiram, 
after  a short  pause,  continued : 

“ The  clouds  look  as  if  they’d  no  water  in 
them,  and  the  earth  is  dreadfully  parched.  To 
my  judgment,  there’ll  be  short  crops  this  season, 
if  the  rain  doesn’t  fall  quite  speedily.” 

The  air  with  which  Mr.  Doolittle  delivered 
this  prophetical  opinion  was  peculiar  to  his  species. 
It  was  a jesuitical,  cold,  unfeeling,  and 'selfish 
manner,  that  seemed  to  say,  “ I have  kept  within 
the  law,”  to  the  man  he  had  so  cruelly  injured. 
It  quite  overcame  the  restraint  that  the  old  hun- 
ter had  been  laboring  to  impose  on  himself,  and 
he  burst  out  in  a warm  glow  of  indignation. 

“ Why  should  the  rain  fall  from  the  clouds,” 
he  cried,  “ when  you  force  the  tears  from  the  eyes 
of  the  old,  the  sick,  and  the  poor  ! Away  with 
ye — away  with  ye ! you  may  be  formed  in  the 
image  of  the  Maker,  but  Satan  dwells  in  your 
heart.  Away  with  ye,  I say  1 I am  mournful,  and 
the  sight  of  ye  brings  bitter  thoughts.” 

Benjamin  ceased  thumbing  his  money,  and 
raised  his  head  at  the  instant  that  Hiram,  who 
was  thrown  off  his  guard  by  the  invectives  of  the 
hunter,  unluckily  trusted  his  person  within  reach 
of  the  steward,  who  grasped  one  of  his  legs,  with 
a hand  that  had  the  grip  of  a vice,  and  whirled 
the  magistrate  from  his  feet,  before  he  had  either 
time  to  collect  his  senses  or  to  exercise  the 
strength  he  did  really  possess.  Benjamin  wanted 
neither  proportions  nor  manhood  in  his  • head^ 


A BREACH  OF  THE  PEACE. 


165 


shoulders,  and  arms,  though  all  the  rest  of  his 
frame  appeared  to  be  originally  intended  for  a 
very  different  sort  of  a man.  He  exerted  his 
physical  powers  on  the  present  occasion,  with 
much  discretion ; and,  as  he  had  taken  his  antag- 
onist at  a great  disadvantage,  the  struggle  re- 
sulted, very  soon,  in  Benjamin  getting  the  magis- 
trate fixed  in  a posture  somewhat  similar  to  his 
own,  and  manfully  placed  face  to  face. 

“ You’re  a ship’s  cousin,  I tell  ye,  Master  Doo- 
but-little,”  roared  the  steward ; “ some  such  mat- 
ter as  a ship’s  cousin,  sir.  I know  you,  I do,  with 
your  fair-weather  speeches  to  Squire  Dickens,  to 
his  face,  and  then  you  go  and  sarve  out  your 
grumbling  to  all  the  old  women  in  the  town,  do 
ye.  An’t  it  enough  for  any  Christian,  let  him 
harbor  never  so  much  malice,  to  get  an  honest 
old  fellow  laid  by  the  heels  in  this  fashion,  without 
carrying  sail  so  hard  on  the  poor  dog,  as  if  you 
would  run  him  down  as  he  lay  at  his  anchors  ? 
But  I’ve  logged  many  a hard  thing  against  your 
name,  master,  and  now  the  time’s  come  to  foot  up 
the  day’s  work,  d’ye  see ; so  square  yourself,  you 
.ubber,  square  yourself,  and  we’ll  soon  know  who’s 
the  better  man.” 

“ Jotham  ! ” cried  the  frightened  magistrate — 
“Jotham!  call  in  the  constables.  Mr.  Penguil- 
lium,  I command  the  peace — I order  you  to  keep 
the  peace.” 

“ There’s  been  more  peace  than  love  atwixt 
us,  master,”  cried  the  steward,  making  some  very 
unequivocal  demonstrations  toward  hostility ; “ so 
mind  yourself!  square  yourself,  I say!  do  you 
smell  this  here  bit  of  a sledge-hammer  ? ” 

“ Lay  hands  on  me  if  you  dare  ! ” exclaimed 
Hiram,  as  well  as  he  could  under  the  grasp  which 
the  steward  held  on  his  throttle — “ lay  hands  on 
me  if  you  dare ! ” 

“ If  you  call  this  laying,  master,  you  are  wel- 
come to  the  eggs,”  roared  the  steward. 

It  becomes  our  disagreeable  duty  to  record 
here,  that  the  acts  of  Benjamin  now  become  vio- 
lent ; for  he  darted  his  sledge-hammer  violently 
on  the  anvil  of  Mr.  Doolittle’s  countenance,  and 
the  place  became  in  an  instant  a scene  of  tumult 
and  confusion.  The  crowd  rushed  in  a dense 
circle  around  the  spot,  while  some  ran  to  the 
court-room  to  give  the  alarm,  and  one  or  two  of 
the  more  juvenile  part  of  the  multitude  had  a 
desperate  trial  of  speed  to  see  who  should  be  the 
happy  man  to  communicate  the  critical  situation 
of  the  magistrate  to  his  wife. 

Benjamin  worked  away,  with  great  industry 
and  a good  deal  of  skill,  at  his  occupation,  using 
one  hand  to  raise  up  his  antagonist,  while  he 
knocked  him  over  with  the  other  ; for  he  would 


have  been  disgraced  in  his  own  estimation,  had 
he  struck  a blow  on  a fallen  adversary.  By  this 
considerate  arrangement  he  had  found  means  to 
hammer  the  visage  of  Hiram  out  of  all  shape,  by 
the  time  Richard  succeeded  in  forcing  his  way 
through  the  throng  to  the  point  of  combat.  The 
sheriff  afterward  declared  that,  independently  of 
his  mortification,  as  preserver  of  the  peace  of  the 
county,  at  this  interruption  to  its  harmony,  he 
was  never  so  grieved  in  his  life,  as  when  he  saw 
this  breach  of  unity  between  his  favorites.  Hiram 
had  in  some  degree  become  necessary  to  his 
vanity,  and  Benjamin,  strange  as  it  may  appear, 
he  really  loved.  This  attachment  was  exhibited 
in  the  first  words  that  he  uttered. 

“ Squire  Doolittle ! Squire  Doolittle ! I am 
ashamed  to  see  a man  of  your  character  and  office 
forget  himself  so  much  as  to  disturb  the  peace, 
insult  the  court,  and  beat  poor  Benjamin  in  this 
manner ! ” 

At  the  6ound  of  Mr.  Jones’s  voice,  the  steward 
ceased  his  employment,  and  Hiram  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  raising  his  discomfited  visage  toward  the 
mediator.  Emboldened  by  the  sight  of  the  sheriff, 
Mr.  Doolittle  again  had  recourse  to  his  lungs. 

“ I’ll  have  law  on  you  for  this,”  he  cried,  des- 
perately ; “ I’ll  have  the  law  on  you  for  this.  I 
call  on  you,  Mr.  Sheriff,  to  seize  this  man,  and  I 
demand  that  you  take  his  body  into  custody.” 

By  this  time  Richard  was  master  of  the  true 
state  of  the  case,  and,  turning  to  the  steward,  he 
said,  reproachfully: 

“Benjamin,  how  came  you  in  the  stocks? 
I always  thought  you  were  mild  and  docile  as  a 
lamb.  It  was  for  your  docility  that  I most  es- 
teemed you.  Benjamin ! Benjamin  ! you  have  not 
only  disgraced  yourself,  but  your  friends,  by  this 
shameless  conduct.  Bless  me ! bless  me ! Mr. 
Doolittle,  he  seems  to  have  knocked  your  face  all 
of  one  side.” 

Hiram  by  this  time  had  got  on  his  feet  again, 
and  without  the  reach  of  the  steward,  when  he 
broke  forth  in  violent  appeals  for  vengeance.  The 
offence  was  too  apparent  to  be  passed  over,  and 
the  sheriff,  mindful  of  the  impartiality  exhibited 
by  his  cousin  in  the  recent  trial  of  the  Leather- 
stocking, came  to  the  painful  conclusion  that  it 
was  necessary  to  commit  his  major-domo  to  prison. 
As  the  time  of  Natty’s  punishment  was  expired, 
and  Benjamin  found  that  they  were  to  be  con- 
fined, for  that  night  at  least,  in  the  same  apart- 
ment, he  made  no  very  strong  objections  to  the 
measure,  nor  spoke  of  bail,  though,  as  the  sheriff 
preceded  the  party  of  constables  that  conducted 
them  to  the  jail,  he  uttered  the  following  remon- 
strance : 


166 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ As  to  being  berthed  with  Master  Bump-lio 
for  a night  or  so,  it’s  but  little  I think  of  it, 
Squire  Dickens,  seeing  that  I call3  him  an  honest 
man,  and  one  as  has  a handy  way  with  beat- 
hooks  and  rifles  ; but  as  for  owning  that  a man 
desarves  any  thing  worse  than  a double  allow- 
ance, for  knocking  that  carpenter’s  face  a-one- 
side,  as  you  call  it,  I’ll  maintain  it’s  ag’in  reason 
and  Christianity.  If  there’s  a bloodsucker  in  this 
’ere  county,  it’s  that  very  chap.  Ay ! I know 
him ! and  if  he  hasn’t  got  all  the  same  as  dead 
wood  in  his  head-works,  he  knows  sum’mat  of 
me.  Where’s  the  mighty  harm,  squire,  that  you 
take  it  so  much  to  heart  ? It’s  all  the  same  as 
any  other  battle,  d’ye  see,  sir,  being  broadside  to 
broadside,  only  that  it  was  fout  at  anchor,  which 
was  what  we  did  in  Port  Praya  roads,  when  Suff’- 
ring  came  in  among  us  ; and  a suffering  time  he 
had  of  it,  before  he  got  out  again.” 

Richard  thought  it  unworthy  of  him  to  make 
any  reply  to  this  speech  ; but  when  his  prisoners 
were  safely  lodged  in  an  outer  dungeon,  ordering 
the  bolts  to  be  drawn  and  the  key  turned,  he 
withdrew. 

Benjamin  held  frequent  and  friendly  dialogues 
with  different  people,  through  the  iron  gratings, 
during  the  afternoon ; but  his  companion  paced 
their  narrow  limits,  in  his  moccasins,  with  quick, 
impatient  treads,  his  face  hanging  on  his  breast 
in  dejection,  or  when  lifted,  at  moments,  to  the 
idlers  at  the  window,  lighted,  perhaps,  for  an  in- 
stant, with  the  childish  aspect  of  aged  forgetful- 
ness, which  would  vanish  directly  in  an  expres- 
sion of  deep  and  obvious  anxiety. 

At  the  close  of  the  day,  Edwards  was  seen  at 
the  window,  in  earnest  dialogue  with  his  friend  ; 
and  after  he  departed  it  was  thought  that  he  had 
communicated  words  of  comfort  to  the  hunter, 
who  threw  himself  on  his  pallet,  and  was  soon  in 
a deep  sleep.  The  curious  spectators  had  ex- 
hausted the  conversation  of  the  steward,  who 
had  drunk  good  fellowship  with  half  of  his  ac- 
quaintance, and,  as  Natty  was  no  longer  in  mo- 
tion, by  eight  o’clock,  Billy  Kirby,  who  was  the 
last  lounger  at  the  window,  retired  into  the 
“ Templeton  Coffee-house,”  when  Natty  rose  and 
hung  a blanket  before  the  opening,  and  the 
prisoners  apparently  retired  for  the  night. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

“And  to  avoid  the  foe’s  pnreuit, 

With  spurring  put  tteir  cattl6  to’t; 

And  till  all  four  were  out  of  wind. 

And  danger  too,  ne’er  looked  behind.” 

Hpdibbab. 

As  the  shades  of  evening  approached,  the  ju- 
rors, witnesses,  and  other  attendants  on  the  court, 
began  to  disperse,  and  before  nine  o’clock  the 
village  was  quiet,  and  its  streets  nearly  deserted. 
At  that  hour  Judge  Temple  and  his  daughter, 
followed  at  a short  distance  by  Louisa  Grant, 
walked  slowly  down  the  avenue,  under  the  slight 
shadows  of  the  young  poplars,  holding  the  fol- 
lowing discourse : 

“You  can  best  soothe  his  wounded  spirit, 
my  child,”  said  Marmaduke ; “ but  it  will  be  dan- 
gerous to  touch  on  the  nature  of  his  offence ; the 
sanctity  of  the  laws  must  be  respected.” 

“ Surely,  sir,”  cried  the  impatient  Elizabeth, 
“ those  laws  that  condemn  a man  like  the  Leath- 
er-stocking to  so  severe  a punishment,  for  an  of- 
fence that  even  I must  think  very  venial,  cannot 
be  perfect  in  themselves.” 

“ Thou  talkest  of  what  thou  dost  not  under- 
stand, Elizabeth,”  returned  her  father.  “ Society 
cannot  exist  without  wholesome  restraints.  Those 
restraints  cannot  be  inflicted,  without  security 
and  respect  to  the  persons  of  those  who  adminis- 
ter them ; and  it  would  sound  ill  indeed  to  re- 
port, that  a judge  had  extended  favor  to  a con- 
victed criminal,  because  he  had  saved  the  life  of 
his  child.” 

“ I see — I see  the  difficulty  of  your  situation, 
dear  sir,”  cried  the  daughter ; “ but,  in  apprecia- 
ting the  offence  of  poor  Natty,  I cannot  separato 
the  minister  of  the  law  from  the  man.” 

“ There  thou  talkest  as  a woman,  child ; it  is 
not  for  an  assault  on  Hiram  Doolittle,  but  for 
threatening  the  life  of  a constable,  who  was  in 
the  performance  of — ” 

“ It  is  immaterial  whether  it  be  one  or  the 
other,”  interrupted  Miss  Temple,  with  a logic 
.that  contained  more  feeling  than  reason ; “ I 
know  Natty  to  be  innocent,  and,  thinking  so,  I 
must  think  all  wrong  who  oppress  him.” 

“ His  judge  among  the  number  ! thy  father, 
Elizabeth  ? ” 

“ Nay,  nay,  nay ; do  not  put  such  questions 
to  me ; give  me  my  commission,  father,  and  let 
me  proceed  to  execute  it.” 

The  Judge  paused  a moment,  smiling  fondly 
on  his  child,  and  then  dropped  his  hand  affec- 
tionately on  her  shoulder,  as  he  answered  : 

“ Thou  hast  reason,  Bess,  and  much  of  it  too., 


THE  YOUNG  LADIES’  VISIT. 


167 


but  thy  heart  lies  too  near  thy  head.  But  lis- 
ten : in  this  pocket-book  are  two  hundred  dol- 
lars. Go  to  the  prison — there  are  none  in  this 
place  to  harm  thee — give  this  note  to  the  jailer, 
and,  when  thou  seest  Bumppo,  say  what  thou 
wilt  to  the  poor  old  man ; give  scope  to  the  feel- 
ings of  thy  warm  heart ; but  try  to  remember, 
Elizabeth,  that  the  laws  alone  remove  us  from 
the  condition  of  the  savages ; that  he  has  been 
criminal,  and  that  his  judge  was  thy  father.” 

Miss  Temple  made  no  reply,  but  she  pressed 
the  hand  that  held  the  pocket-book  to  her  bosom, 
and,  taking  her  friend  by  the  arm,  they  issued  to- 
gether from  the  enclosure  into  the  principal  street 
of  the  village. 

As  they  pursued  their  walk  in  silence,  under 
the  row  of  houses,  where  the  deeper  gloom  of 
the  evening  effectually  concealed  their  persons, 
no  sound  reached  them,  excepting  the  slow  tread 
of  a yoke  of  oxen,  with  the  rattling  of  a cart, 
that  were  moving  along  the  street  in  the  same 
direction  with  themselves.  The  figure  of  the 
teamster  was  just  discernible  by  the  dim  light, 
lounging  by  the  side  of  his  cattle  with  a listless 
air,  as  if  fatigued  by  the  toil  of  the  day.  At  the 
corner,  where  the  jail  stood,  the  progress  of  the 
ladies  was  impeded,  for  a moment,  by  the  oxen, 
who  were  turned  up  to  the  side  of  the  building, 
and  given  a lock  of  hay,  which  they  had  carried 
on  their  necks,  as  a reward  for  their  patient  labor. 
The  whole  of  this  was  so  natural,  and  so  common, 
that  Elizabeth  saw  nothing  to  induce  a second 
glance  at  the  team,  until  she  heard  the  teamster 
speaking  to  his  cattle  in  a low  voice: 

“ Mind  yourself,  Brindle  ; will  you,  sir  ! will 
you  ! ” • 

The  language  itself  was  unusual  to  oxen,  with 
which  all  who  dwell  in  a new  country  are  famil- 
iar ; but  there^was  something  in  the  voice  also, 
that  startled  Miss  Temple.  On  turning  the  cor- 
ner, she  necessarily  approached  the  man,  and  her 
look  was  enabled  to  detect  the  person  of  Oliver 
Edwards,  concealed  under  the  coarse  garb  of  a 
teamster.  Their  eyes  met  at  the  same  instant, 
and,  notwithstanding  the  gloom,  and  the  envelop- , 
ing  cloak  of  Elizabeth,  the  recognition  was  mu- 
tual. 

“ Miss  Temple  ! ” “ Mr.  Edwards ! ” were  ex- 
claimed simultaneously,  though  a feeling  that 
seemed  common  to  both  rendered  the  words  near- 
ly inaudible. 

“ Is  it  possible  ! ” exclaimed  Edwards,  after 
the  moment  of  doubt  had  passed  ; “ do  I see  you 
so  nigh  the  jail ! but  you  are  going  to  the  recto- 
ry ; I beg  pardon,  Miss  Grant,  I believe ; I did 
not  recognize  you  at  first.” 


The  sigh  which  Louisa  uttered  was  so  faint, 
that  it  was  only  heard  by  Elizabeth,  who  replied 
quickly : 

“We  are  going  not  only  to  the  jail,  Mr.  Ed- 
wards, but  into  it.  We  wish  to  show  the  Leath- 
er-stocking that  we  do  not  forget  his  services, 
and  that  at  the  same  time  we  must  be  just,  we 
are  also  grateful.  I suppose  you  are  on  a similar 
errand ; but  let  me  beg  that  you  will  give  us 
leave  to  precede  you  ten  minutes.  Good-night, 
sir;  I — I — am  quite  sorry,  Mr.  Edwards,  to  see 
you  reduced  to  such  labor  ; I am  sure  my  father 
would — ” 

“ I shall  wait  your  pleasure,  madam,”  inter- 
rupted the  youth,  coldly.  “ May  I beg  that  you 
will  not  mention  my  being  here  ? ” 

“ Certainly,”  said  Elizabeth,  returning  his  bow 
by  a slight  inclination  of  her  head,  and  urging  the 
tardy  Louisa  forward.  As  they  entered  the  jail- 
er’s house,  however,  Miss  Grant  found  leisure  to 
whisper : 

“ Would  it  not  be  well  to  offer  part  of  your 
money  to  Oliver  ? half  of  it  will  pay  the  fine  of 
Bumppo ; and  he  is  so  unused  to  hardships  ! I 
am  sure  my  father  will  subscribe  much  of  his  lit- 
tle pittance,  to  place  him  in  a station  that  is  more 
worthy  of  him.” 

The  involuntary  smile  that  passed  over  the 
features  of  Elizabeth  was  blended  with  an  expres- 
sion of  deep  and  heartfelt  pity.  She  did  not  re- 
ply, however,  and  the  appearance  of  the  jailer 
soon  recalled  the  thoughts  of  both  to  the  object 
of  their  visit. 

The  rescue  of  the  ladies,  and  their  consequent 
interest  in  his  prisoner,  together  with  the  infor- 
mal manners  that  prevailed  in  the  country,  all  unit- 
ed to  prevent  any  surprise,  on  the  part  of  the 
jailer,  at  their  request  for  admission  to  Bumppo. 
The  note  of  Judge  Temple,  however,  would  have 
silenced  all  objections,  if  he  had  felt  them,  and  he 
led  the  way  without  hesitation  to  the  apartment 
that  held  the  prisoners.  The  instant  the  key  was 
put  into  the  lock,  the  hoarse  voice  of  Benjamin 
was  heard,  demanding — 

“ Yo  ! hoy  ! who  comes  there  ? ” 

“ Some  visitors  that  you’ll  be  glad  to  see,”  re- 
turned the  jailer.  “What  have  you  done  to  the 
lock,  that  it  won’t  turn  ? ” 

“ Handsomely,  handsomely,  master,”  cried  the 
steward  ; “ I have  just  drove  a nail  into  a berth 
alongside  of  this  here  bolt,  as  a stopper,  d’ye  see, 
so  that  Master  Do-but-little  can’t  be  running  in 
and  breezing  up  another  fight  atwixt  us  ; for,  to 
my  account,  there’ll  be  but  a ban-yan  with  me 
soon,  seeing  that  they’ll  mulct  me  of  my  Span, 
iards,  all  the  same  as  if  I’d  over-flogged  the  lub* 


168 


THE  PIONEERS. 


her.  Throw  your  ship'  into  the  wind,  and  lay  by 
for  a small  matter,  will  ye  ? and  I’ll  soon  clear  a 
passage.” 

The  sounds  of  hammering  gave  an  assurance 
that  the  steward  was  in  earnest,  and  in  a short 
time  the  lock  yielded,  when  the  door  was  opened. 

Benjamin  had  evidently  been  anticipating  the 
seizure  of  his  money,  for  he  had  made  frequent 
demands  on  the  favorite  cask  at  the  “ Bold  Dra- 
goon,” during  the  afternoon  and  evening,  and  was 
now  in  that  state  which  by  marine  imagery  is 
called  “ half-seas-over.”  It  was  no  easy  thing  to 
destroy  the  balance  of  the  old  tar  by  the  effects 
of  liquor,  for,  as  he  expressed  it  himself,  “ he  was 
too  low-rigged  not  to  carry  sail  in  all  weathers  ; ” 
but  he  was  precisely  in  that  condition  which  is  so 
expressively  termed  “muddy.”  When  he  per- 
ceived who  the  visitors  were,  he  retreated  to  the 
side  of  the  room  where  his  pallet  lay,  and,  regard- 
less of  the  presence  of  his  young  mistress,  seated 
himself  on  it  with  an  air  of  great  sobriety,  plac- 
ing his  back  firmly  against  the  wall. 

“ If  you  undertake  to  spoil  my  locks  in  this 
manner,  Mr.  Pump,”  said  the  jailer,  “I  shall  put 
a stopper,  as  you  call  it,  on  your  legs,  and  tie  you 
down  to  your  bed.” 

“ What  for  should  ye,  master  ? ” grumbled 
Benjamin  ; “ I’ve  rode  out  one  squall  to-day  an- 
chored by  the  heels,  and  I wants  no  more  of 
them.  Where’s  the  harm  of  doing  all  the  same 
as  yourself?  Leave  that  there  door  free  out- 
board, and  you’ll  find  no  locking  inboard,  I’ll 
promise  ye.” 

“ I must  shut  up  for  the  night  at  nine,”  said 
he  jailer,  “and  it’s  now  forty-two  minutes  past 
eight.”  He  placed  the  little  candle  on  a rough 
pine-table,  and  withdrew. 

“ Leather-stocking!  ” said  Elizabeth,  when  the 
key  of  the  door  was  turned  on  them  again,  “ my 
good  friend  Leather-stocking ! I have  come  on  a 
message  of  gratitude.  Had  you  submitted  to  the 
search,  worthy  old  man,  the  death  of  the  deer 
would  have  been  a trifle,  and  all  would  have  been 
well — ” 

“ Submit  to  the  sarch ! ” interrupted  Natty, 
raising  his  face  from  resting  on  his  knees,  without 
rising  from  the  corner  where  he  had  seated  him- 
self ; “ d’ye  think,  gal,  I would  let  such  a varmint 
into  my  hut  ? No,  no — I wouldn’t  have  opened 
the  door  to  your  own  sweet  countenance  then. 
But  they  are  wilcome  to  sarch  among  the  coals 
and  ashes  now ; they’ll  find  only  some  such  heap 
as  is  to  be  seen  at  every  pot-ashery  in  the  moun- 
tains.” 

The  old  man  dropped  his  face  again  on  one 
6and,  and  seemed  to  be  lost  in  melancholv. 


“The  hut  can  be  rebuilt,  and  made  better 
than  before,”  returned  Miss  Temple ; “ and  it 
shall  be  my  office  to  see  it  done,  when  your  im- 
prisonment is  ended.” 

“ Can  ye  raise  the  dead,  child?  ” said  Natty, 
in  a sorrowful  voice  : “ can  ye  go  into  the  place 
where  you’ve  laid  your  fathers,  and  mothers,  and 
children,  and  gathered  together  their  ashes,  and 
make  the  same  men  and  women  of  them  as  afore  ? 
You  do  not  know  what  ’tis  to  lay  your  head  for 
more  than  forty  years  under  the  cover  of  the  same 
logs,  and  to  look  at  the  same  things  for  the  bet- 
ter part  of  a man’s  life.  You  are  young  yet, 
child,  but  you  are  one  of  the  most  precious  of 
God’s  creaters.  I had  a hope  for  ye  that  it  might 
come  to  pass,  but  it’s  all  over  now  ; this,  put  to 
that,  will  drive  the  thing  quite  out  of  his  mind  for 
ever.” 

Miss  Temple  must  have  understood  the  mean- 
ing of  the  old  man  better  than  the  other  listeners  ; 
for  while  Louisa  stood  innocently  by  her  side, 
commiserating  the  griefs  of  the  hunter,  she  bent 
her  head  aside,  so  as  to  conceal  her  features. 
The  action  and  the  feeling  that  caused  it  lasted 
but  a moment. 

“ Other  logs,  and  better,  though,  can  be  had, 
and  shall  be  found  for  you,  my  old  defender,”  she 
continued.  “ Your  confinement  will  soon  be  over, 
and,  before  that  time  arrives,  I shall  have  a house 
prepared  for  you,  where  you  may  spend  the 
close  of  your  long  and  harmless  life  in  ease  and 
plenty.” 

“ Ease  and  plenty  ! house ! ” repeated  Natty, 
slowly.  “You  mean  well,  you  mean  well,  and  I 
quite  mourn  that  it  cannot  be ; but  he  has  seen  me 
a sight  and  a laughing-stock  for — v 

“ Damn  your  stocks,”  said  Benjamin,  flourish- 
ing his  bottle  with  one  hand,  from  which  he  had 
been  taking  hasty  and  repeated  draughts,  while 
he  made  gestures  of  disdain  with  the  other  ; “ who 
cares  for  his  bilboes?  there’s  a leg  that’s  been 
stuck  up  an  end  like  a jib-boom  for  an  hour,  d’ye 
see,  and  what’s  it  the  worse  for’t,  ha  ! canst  tell 
me,  what’s  it  the  worser,  ha  ! ” 

“ I believe  you  forget,  Mr.  Pump,  in  whose 
presence  you  are,”  said  Elizabeth. 

“Forget  you,  Miss  Lizzy,”  returned  the  stew- 
ard ; “ if  I do,  dam’me ; you  are  not  to  be  forgot, 
like  Goody  Prettybones,  up  at  the  big  house  there. 
I say,  old  sharp-shooter,  she  may  have  pretty 
bones,  but  I can’t  say  so  much  for  her  flesh,  d’ye 
see,  for  she  looks  somewhat  like  an  atomy  with 
another  man’s  jacket  on.  Now,  for  the  skin  of 
her  face,  it’s  all  the  same  as  a new  top-sail  with  a 
taut  bolt-rope,  being  snug  at  the  leaches,  but  alf 
in  a bight  about  the  inner  cloths  ” 


OLIVER’S  PLAN  OF  ESCAPE. 


169 


“ Peace — I command  you  to  be  silent,  sir  ! ” 
said  Elizabeth. 

“ Ay,  ay,  ma’am,”  returned  the  steward.  “ You 
didn’t  say  I shouldn’t  drink,  though.” 

“We  will  not  speak  of  what  is  to  become  of 
others,”  said  Miss  Temple,  turning  again  to  the 
hunter — “ but  of  your  own  fortunes,  Natty.  It 
shall  be  my  care  to  see  that  you  pass  the  rest  of 
your  days  in  ease  and  plenty.” 

“ Ease  and  plenty ! ” again  repeated  the  Leath- 
er-stocking ; “ wThat  ease  can  there  be  to  an  old 
man,  who  must  walk  a mile  across  the  open  fields, 
before  he  can  find  a shade  to  hide  him  from  a 
scorching  sun ! or  what  plenty  is  there  where  you 
hunt  a day,  and  not  start  a buck,  or  see  any  thing 
bigger  than  a mink,  or  maybe  a stray  fox ! Ah  ! 

I shall  have  a hard  time  after  them  very  beavers, 
for  this  fine.  I must  go  low  toward  the  Pennsyl- 
vany  line  in  search  of  the  creators,  maybe  a hun- 
dred mile ; for  they  are  not  to  be  got  here-away. 
No,  no — your  betterments  and  clearings  have 
druv  the  knowing  things  out  of  the  country ; and 
instead  of  beaver-dams,  which  is  the  nater  of  the 
animal,  and  according  to  Providence,  you  turn 
back  the  waters  over  the  low  grounds  with  your 
mill-dams,  as  if  ’twas  in  man  to  stay  the  drops 
from  going  where  He  wills  them  to  go. — Benny, 
unless  you  stop  your  hand  from  going  so  often  to 
your  mouth,  you  won’t  be  ready  to  start  when  the 
time  comes.” 

“ Hark’ee,  Master  Bump-ho,”  said  the  stew- 
ard ; “ don’t  you  fear  for  Ben.  When  the  watch 
is  called,  set  me  on  my  legs,  and  give  me  the  bear- 
ings and  the  distance  of  where  you  want  to  steer, 
and  I’ll  carry  sail  with  the  best  of  you,  I will.” 

“ The  time  has  come  now,”  said  the  hunter, 
listening;  “I  hear  the  horns  of  the  oxen  rubbing 
ag’in  the  side  of  the  jail.” 

“Well,  say  the  word,  and  then  heave  ahead, 
shipmate,”  said  Benjamin. 

“ You  won’t  betray  us,  gal  ? ” said  Natty, 
looking  simply  into  the  face  of  Elizabeth — “ you 
wont  betray  an  old  man,  who  craves  to  breathe 
the  clear  air  of  heaven  ? ” I mean  no  harm  ; and 
if  the  law  says  that  I must  pay  the  hundred  dol- 
lars, I’ll  take  the  season  through,  but  it  shall  be 
forthcoming ; and  this  good  man  will  help  me.” 

“You  catch  them,”  said  Benjamin,  with  a 
sweeping  gesture  of  his  arm,  “ and  if  they  get 
away  again,  call  me  a slink,  that’s  all.” 

“ But  what  mean  you  ? ” cried  the  wondering 
Elizabeth.  “ Here  you  must  stay  for  thirty  days ; 
but  I have  the  money  for  your  fine  in  this  purse. 
Take  it ; pay  it  in  the  morning,  and  summon  pa- 
tience for  your  month.  I will  come  often  to  see  j 
you,  with  my  friend ; we  will  make  up  your  clothes  I 


with  our  own  hands  ; indeed,  indeed,  you  shall  be 
comfortable.” 

“Would  ye,  children?  ” said  Natty,  advancing 
across  the  floor  with  an  air  of  kindness,  and  tak- 
ing the  hand  of  Elizabeth  ; “ would  ye  be  so  kcar- 
ful  of  an  old  man,  and  just  for  shooting  a beast 
which  cost  him  nothing  ? Such  things  doesn’t 
run  in  the  blood,  I believe,  for  you  seem  not  to 
forget  a favor.  Your  little  fingers  couldn’t  do 
much  on  a buckskin,  nor  be  you  used  to  such 
a thread  as  sinews.  But  if  he  hasn’t  got  past 
hearing,  he  shall  hear  it  and  know  it,  that  he  may 
see,  like  me,  there  is  some  who  know  how  to  re- 
member a kindness.” 

“ Tell  him  nothing,”  cried  Elizabeth,  earnestly ; 
“ if  you  love  me,  if  you  regard  my  feelings,  tell 
him  nothing.  It  is  of  yourself  only  I would  talk, 
and  for  yourself  only  I act.  I grieve,  Leather- 
stocking, that  the  law  requires  that  you  should  be 
detained  here  so  long ; but,  after  all,  it  will  be 
only  a short  month,  and — ” 

“ A month ! ” exclaimed  Natty,  opening  his 
mouth  with  his  usual  laugh ; “ not  a day,  nor  a night, 
nor  an  hour,  gal.  Judge  Temple  may  sintence,  but 
he  can’t  keep,  without  a better  dungeon  than  this. 
I was  taken  once  by  the  French,  and  they  put 
sixty-two  of  us  in  a block-house,  nigh  hand  to 
old  Frontinac ; but  ’twas  easy  to  cut  through  a 
pine  log  to  them  that  was  used  to  timber.”  The 
hunter  paused,  and  looked  cautiously  around  the 
room,  when,  laughing  .again,  he  shoved  the  stew- 
ard gently  from  his  post,  and,  removing  the  bed- 
clothes, discovered  a hole  recently  cut  in  the  logs 
with  a mallet  and  chisel.  “ It’s  only  a kick,  and 
the  outside  piece  is  off,  and  then — ” 

“ Off!  ay,  off!  ” cried  Benjamin,  rousing  from 
his  stupor ; “ well,  here’s  off*.  Ay ! ay ! you  catch 
’em,  and  I’ll  hold  on  to  them  said  beaver-hats.” 

“ I fear  this  lad  will  irouble  me  much,”  said 
Natty ; “ ’twill  be  a hard  pull  for  the  mountain, 
should  they  take  the  scent  soon,  and  he  is  not  in 
a state  of  mind  to  run.” 

“ Run !”  echoed  the  steward;  “no,  sheer 
alongside,  and  let’s  have  a fight  of  it.” 

“ Peace ! ” ordered  Elizabeth. 

“ Ay,  ay,  ma’am.” 

“You  will  not  leave  us,  surely,  Leather-stock- 
ing,” continued  Miss  Temple : “ I beseech  you,  re- 
flect that  you  will  be  driven  to  the  woods  entirely, 
and  that  you  are  fast  getting  old.  Be  patient  for 
a little  time,  when  you  can  go  abroad  openly,  and 
with  honor.” 

“ Is  there  beaver  to  be  catched  here,  gal  ? ” 

“ If  not,  here  is  money  to  discharge  the  fine,  and 
in  a month  you  are  free.  See,  here  it  is  in  gold.” 

“ Gold ! ” said  Natty,  with  a kind  of  childish 


170 


THE  PIONEERS. 


curiosity ; “ it’s  long  sin’  I’ve  seen  a gold-piece. 
We  used  to  get  the  broad  joes,  in  the  old  war,  as 
plenty  as  the  bears  be  now.  I remember  there 
was  a man  in  Dieskau’s  army,  that  was  killed, 
who  had  a dozen  of  the  shining  things  sewed  up 
in  his  shirt.  I didn’t  handle  them  myself,  but  I 
seen  them  cut  out  with  my  own  eyes ; they  was 
bigger  and  brighter  than  them  be.” 

“ These  are  English  guineas,  and  are  yours,” 
said  Elizabeth ; “ an  earnest  of  what  shall  be  done 
for  you.” 

“ Me ! why  should  you  give  me  this  treasure  ? ” 
said  Natty,  looking  earnestly  at  the  maiden. 

“ Why  ! have  you  not  saved  my  life  ? did  you 
not  rescue  me  from  the  jaws  of  the  beast  ? ” ex- 
claimed Elizabeth,  veiling  her  eyes,  as  if  to  hide 
some  hideous  object  from  her  view. 

The  hunter  took  the  money,  and  continued 
turning  it  in  his  hand  for  some  time,  piece  by 
piece,  talking  aloud  during  the  operation. 

“ There’s  a rifle,  they  say,  out  on  the  Cherry 
Valley,  that  will  carry  a hundred  rods  and  kill. 
I’ve  seen  good  guns  in  my  day,  but  none  quite 
equal  to  that.  A hundred  rods  with  any  sartainty 
is  great  shooting  ! Well,  well — I’m  old,  and  the 
gun  I have  will  answer  my  time.  Here,  child, 
take  back  your  gold.  But  the  hour  has  come ; 
I hear  him  talking  to  the  cattle,  and  I must  be 
going.  You  won’t  tell  of  us,  gal — you  won’t  tell 
of  us,  will  ye  ? ” 

“ Tell  of  you  ! ” echoed  Elizabeth.  “ But  take 
the  money,  old  man ; take  the  money,  even  if 
you  go  into  the  mountains.” 

“ No,  no,”  said  Natty,  shaking  his  head  kindly ; 
“ I would  not  rob  you  so  for  twenty  rifles.  But 
there’s  one.  thing  you  can  do  for  me,  if  ye  will, 
that  no  other  is  at  hand  to  do.” 

“ Name  it — name  it.” 

“ Why,  it’s  only  to  buy  a canister  of  powder 
— ’twill  cost  two  silver  dollars.  Benny  Pump  has 
the  money  ready,  but  we  daren’t  come  into  the 
town  to  get  it.  Nobody  has  it  but  the  French- 
man. ’Tis  of  the  best,  and  just  suits  a rifle.  Will 
you  get  it  for  me,  gal  ? — say,  will  you  get  it  for 
me?” 

“ Will  I ? I will  bring  it  to  you,  Leather- 
stocking, though  I toil  a day  in  quest  of  you 
through  the  woods.  But  where  shall  I find  you, 
and  how  ? ” 

“ Where  ? ” said  Natty,  musing  a moment — 
“ to-morrow,  on  the  Vision ; on  the  very  top  of 
the  Vision,  I’ll  meet  you,  child,  just  as  the  sun 
gets  over  our  heads.  See  that  it’s  the  fine  grain ; 
you’ll  know  it  by  the  gloss  and  the  price.” 

“ I will  do  it,”  said  Elizabeth,  firmly. 

Natty  now  seated  himself,  and,  placing  his 


feet  in  the  hole,  with  a slight  effort  he  opened  a 
passage  through  into  the  street.  The  ladies 
heard  the  rustling  of  hay,  and  well  understood 
the  reason  why  Edwards  was  in  the  capacity  of  a 
teamster. 

“Come,  Benny,”  said  the  hunter ; “’twill  be 
no  darker  to  night,  for  the  moon  will  rise  in  an 
hour.” 

“ Stay ! ” exclaimed  Elizabeth ; “ it  should  not 
be  said  that  you  escaped  in  the  presence  of  the 
daughter  of  Judge  Temple.  Return,  Leather- 
stocking, and  let  us  retire,  before  you  execute 
your  plan.” 

Natty  was  about  to  reply,  when  the  approach- 
ing footsteps  of  the  jailer  announced  the  neces- 
sity of  his  immediate  return.  He  had  barely 
time  to  regain  his  feet,  and  to  conceal  the  hole 
with  the  bed  clothes,  across  which  Benjamin  very 
opportunely  fell,  before  the  key  was  turned,  and 
the  door  of  the  apartment  opened. 

“ Isn’t  Miss  Temple  ready  to  go  ? ” said  the 
civil  jailer:  “it’s  the  usual  hour  for  locking  up.” 

“ I follow  you,  sir,”  returned  Elizabeth ; 
“ good-night,  Leather-stocking.” 

“It’s  a fine  grain,  gal,  and  I think  ’twill  carry 
lead  further  than  common.  I am  getting  old,  and 
can’t  follow  up  the  . game  with  the  step  that  I 
used  to  could.” 

Miss  Temple  waved  her  hand  for  silence,  and 
preceded  Louisa  and  the  keeper  from  the  apart- 
ment. The  man  turned  the  key  once,  and  ob- 
served that  he  would  return  and  secure  his  prison- 
ers, when  he  had  lighted  the  ladies  to  the  street. 
Accordingly,  they  parted  at  the  door  of  the  build- 
ing, when  the  jailer  retired  to  his  dungeons,  and 
the  ladies  walked,  with  throbbing  hearts,  toward 
the  corner. 

“Now  the  Leather-stocking  refuses  the 
money,”  whispered  Louisa,  “ it  can  all  be  given 
to  Mr.  Edwards,  and  that  added  to — ” 

“ Listen ! ” said  Elizabeth  ; “ I hear  the  rust- 
ling of  the  hay  ; they  are  escaping  at  this  moment. 
Oh  ! they  will  be  detected  instantly  ! ” 

By  this  time  they  were  at  the  corner,  where 
Edwards  and  Natty  were  in  the  act  of  drawing 
the  almost  helpless  body  of  Benjamin  through  the 
aperture.  The  oxen  had  started  back  from  their 
hay,  and  were  standing  with  their  heads  down 
the  street,  leaving  room  for  the  party  to  act  in. 

“ Throw  the  hay  into  the'  cart,”  said  Edwards, 
“ or  they  will  suspect  how  it  has  been  done 
Quick,  that  they  may  not  see  it.” 

Natty  had  just  returned  from  executing  this  or- 
der, when  the  light  of  the  keeper’s  candle  shone 
through  the  hole,  and  instantly  his  voice  was 
heard  in  the  jail,  exclaiming  for  his  prisoners. 


THE  VILLAGE  ALARMED. 


171 


“ What  is  to  be  done  now  ? ” said  Edwards — 
“ this  drunken  fellow  will  cause  our  detection, 
and  we  have  not  a moment  to  spare.” 

“Who’s  drunk,  ye  lubber!”  muttered  the 
steward. 

“ A break-jail ! a break-jail ! ” shouted  live  or 
tix  voices  from  within. 

“We  must  leave  him,”  said  Edwards. 

“ ’Twouldn’t  be  kind,  lad,”  returned  Natty ; 
“ he  took  half  the  disgrace  of  the  stocks  on  him- 
self to-day,  and  the  creater  has  feeling.” 

At  this  moment  two  or  three  men  were  heard 
issuing  from  the  door  of  the  “Bold  Dragoon,” 
and  among  them  the  voice  of  Billy  Kirby. 

“ There’s  no  moon  yet,”  cried  the  wood-chop- 
per; “but  it’s  a clear  night.  Come,  who’s  for 
home  ? Hark ! what  a rumpus  they’re  kicking 
up  in  the  jail — here’s  go  and  see  what  it’s  about.” 

“We  shall  be  lost,”  said  Edwards,  “ if  we  don’t 
drop  this  man.” 

At  that  instant  Elizabeth  moved  close  to  hin^ 
and  said  rapidly,  in  a low  voice  : 

“ Lay  him  in  the  cart,  and  start  the  oxen ; no 
one  will  look  there.” 

“ There’s  a woman’s  quickness  in  the  thought,” 
said  the  youth. 

The  proposition  was  no  sooner  made  than 
executed.  The  steward  was  seated  on  the  hay, 
and  enjoined  to  hold  his  peace,  and  apply  the 
goad  that  was  placed  in  his  hand,  while  the  oxen 
were  urged  on.  So  soon  as  this  arrangement  was 
completed,  Edwards  and  the  hunter  stole  along 
the  houses  for  a short  distance,  when  they  dis- 
appeared through  an  opening  that  led  into  the 
rear  of  the  buildings.  The  oxen  were  in  brisk  mo- 
tion, and  presently  the  cries  of  pursuit  were  heard  in 
the  street.  The  ladies  quickened  their  pace,  with 
a wish  to  escape  the  crowd  of  constables  and 
idlers  that  were  approaching,  some  execrating, 
and  some  laughing  at  the  exploit  of  the  prisoners. 
In  the  confusion,  the  voice  of  Kirby  was  plainly 
distinguishable  above  all  the  others,  shouting  and 
swearing  that  he  would  have  the  fugitives,  threat- 
ening to  bring  back  Natty  in  one  pocket,  and  Ben- 
jamin in  the  other. 

“Spread  yourselves,  men,”  he  cried,  as  he 
passed  the  ladies,  his  heavy  feet  sounding  along 
the  street  like  the  tread  of  a dozen;  “spread 
yourselves ; to  the  mountains ; they’ll  be  in  the 
mountain  m a quarter  of  an  hour,  and  then  look 
out  for  a long  rifle.” 

His  cries  were  echoed  from  twenty  mouths, 
for  not  only  the  jail,  but  the  taverns  had  sent 
forth  their  numbers,  some  earnest  in  the  pursuit, 
and  others  joining  it  as  in  sport. 

As  Elizabeth  turned  in  at  her  father’s  gate, 


she  saw  the  wood-chopper  stop  at  the  cart,  when 
she  gave  Benjamin  up  for  lost.  While  they  were 
hurrying  up  the  walk,  two  figures,  stealing  cau- 
tiously but  quickly  under  the  shades  of  the  trees, 
met  the  eyes  of  the  ladies,  and  in  a moment  Ed- 
wards and  the  hunter  crossed  their  path. 

“ Miss  Temple,  I may  never  see  you  again,” 
exclaimed  the  youth ; “ let  me  thank  you  for  all 
your  kindness ; you  do  not,  cannot  know,  my 
motives.” 

“ Ely  ! fly ! ” cried  Elizabeth : “ the  village  is 

alarmed.  Do  not  be  found  conversing  with  me  at 
such  a moment,  and  in  these  grounds.” 

“ Nay,  I must  speak,  though  detection  were 
certain.” 

“ Your  retreat  to  the  bridge  is  already  cut  off ; 
before  you  can  gain  the  wood  your  pursuers  will 
be  there. — If — ” 

“If  what?”  cried  the  youth.  “Your  advice 
has  saved  me  once  already;  I will  follow  it  to 
death.” 

“ The  street  is  now  silent  and  vacant,”  said 
Elizabeth,  after  a pause ; “ cross  it,  and  you  will 
find  my  father’s  boat  in  the  lake.  It  would  be  easy 
to  land  from  it  where  you  please  in  the  hills.” 

“But  Judge  Temple  might  complain  of  the 
trespass.” 

“ His  daughter  shall  be  accountable,  sir.” 

The  youth  uttered  something  in  a low  voice, 
that  was  heard  only  by  Elizabeth,  and  turned  to 
execute  what  she  had  suggested.  As  they  were 
separating,  Natty  approached  the  females,  and 
said : 

“You’ll  remember  the  canister  of  powder, 
children.  Them  beavers  must  be  had,  and  I and 
the  pups  be  getting  old;  we  want  the  best  of 
ammunition.” 

“ Come,  Natty,”  said  Edwards,  impatiently. 

“ Coming,  lad,  coming.  God  bless  you,  young 
ones,  both  of  ye,  for  ye  mean  well  and  kindly  to 
the  old  man.” 

The  ladies  paused  until  they  had  lost  sight  of 
the  retreating  figures,  when  they  immediately 
entered  the  mansion-house. 

While  this  scene  was  passing  in  the  walk, 
Kirby  had  overtaken  the  cart,  which  was  his  own, 
and  had  been  driven  by  Edwards,  without  asking 
the  owner,  from  the  place  where  the  patient  oxen 
usually  stood  at  evening,  waiting  the  pleasure  of 
their  master. 

“Woa  — come  hither,  Golden,”  he  cried; 
“ why,  how  come  you  off  the  end  of  the  bridge, 
where  I left  you,  dummies  ? ” 

“ Heave  ahead,”  muttered  Benjamin,  giving  a 
random  blow  with  his  lash,  that  alighted  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  other. 


172 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ Who  the  devil  be  you  ? ” cried  Billy,  turn- 
ing round  in  surprise,  but  unable  to  distinguish, 
in  the  dark,  the  hard  visage  that  was  just  peering 
over  the  cart-rails. 

“Who  be  I?  why  I’m  helmsman  aboard  of 
this  here  craft,  d’ye  see,  and  a straight  wake  I’m 
making  of  it.  Ay,  ay ! I’ve  got  the  bridge  right 
ahead,  and  the  bilboes  dead-aft ; I calls  that  good 
steerage,  boy.  Heave  ahead.” 

“ Lay  your  lash  in  the  right  spot,  Mr.  Benny 
Pump,”  said  the  wood-chopper,  “ or  I’ll  put  you 
in  the  palm  of  my  hand,  and  box  your  ears. 
Where  be  you  going  with  my  team  ? ” 

“ Team ! ” 

“ Ay,  my  cart  and  oxen.” 

“Why,  you  must  know,  Master  Kirby,  that 
the  Leather-stocking  and  1 — that’s  Benny  Pump 
— you  knows  Ben  ? — well,  Benny  and  I — no,  me 
and  Benny ; dam’me  if  I know  how  ’tis ; but 
gome  of  us  are  bound  after  a cargo  of  beaver- 
skins,  d’ye  see,  and  so  we’ve  pressed  the  cart  to 
ship  them  ’ome  in.  I say,  Master  Kirby,  what  a 
lubberly  oar  you  pull — you  handle  an  oar,  boy, 
pretty  much  as  a cow  would  a musket,  or  a lady 
would  a marling-spike.” 

Billy  had  discovered  the  state  of  the  steward’s 
mind,  and  he  walked  for  some  time  alongside  of 
the  cart,  musing  with  himself,  when  he  took  the 
goad  from  Benjamin  (who  fell  back  on  the  hay 
and  was  soon  asleep),  and  drove  his  cattle  down 
the  street,  over  the  bridge,  and  up  the  mountain, 
toward  a clearing,  in  which  he  was  to  work  the 
next  day,  without  any  other  interruption  than  a 
few  hasty  questions  from  parties  of  the  con- 
stables. 

Elizabeth  stood  for  an  hour  at  the  window  of 
her  room,  and  saw  the  torches  of  the  pursuers 
gliding  along  the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  heard 
their  shouts  and  alarms ; but,  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  the  last  party  returned,  wearied  and  dis- 
appointed, and  the  village  became  as  still  as  when 
she  issued  from  the  gate  on  her  mission  to  the 
jail. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

“ And  I could  weep  ” — th’  Oneida  chief 
His  descant  wildly  thus  begun — 

“But  that  I may  not  stain  with  grief 
The  death-song  of  my  father’s  son.” 

Gektbxtde  of  Wyoming. 

It  was  yet  early  on  the  following  morning, 
when  Elizabeth  and  Louisa  met  by  appointment, 
and  proceeded  to  the  store  of  Monsieur  Le  Quoi, 
in  order  to  redeem  the  pledge  the  former  had 


given  to  the  Leather-stocking.  The  people  were 
again  assembling  for  the  business  of  the  day,  but 
the  hour  was  too  soon  for  a crowd,  and  the  ladies 
found  the  place  in  possession  of  its  polite  owner, 
Billy  Kirby,  one  female  customer,  and  the  boy 
who  did  the  duty  of  helper  or  clerk. 

Monsieur  Le  Quoi  was -perusing  a packet  of 
letters  with  manifest  delight,  while  the  wood-chop- 
per, with  one  hand  thrust  in  his  bosom,  and  the 
other  in  the  folds  of  his  jacket,  holding  an  axe 
under  his  right  arm,  stood  sympathizing  in  the 
Frenchman’s  pleasure  with  good-natured  interest. 
The  freedom  of  manners  that  prevailed  in  the 
new  settlements  commonly  levelled  all  difference  in 
rank,  and  with  it,  frequently,  all  considerations 
of  education  and  intelligence.  At  the  time  the 
ladies  entered  the  store,  they  were  unseen  by  the 
owner,  who  was  saying  to  Kirby  : 

“ Ah ! ha ! Monsieur  Beel,  dis  lettair  mak  me 
de  most  happi  of  mans.  Ah  ! ma  chere  France  ! 
I vill  see  you  aga’n.” 

“ I rejoice,  monsieur,  at  any  thing  that  con- 
tributes to  your  happiness,”  said  Elizabeth,  “ but 
hope  we  are  not  going  to  lose  you  entirely.” 

The  complaisant  shopkeeper  changed  the  lan- 
guage to  French,  and  recounted  rapidly  to  Eliza- 
beth his  hopes  of  being  permitted  to  return  to 
his  own  country.  Habit  had,  however,  so  far 
altered  the  manners  of  this  pliable  personage, 
that  he  continued  to  serve  the  wood-chopper,  who 
was  in  quest  of  some  tobacco,  while  he  related  to 
his  more  gentle  visitor  the  happy  change  that  had 
taken  place  in  the  dispositions  of  his  own  coun- 
trymen. 

The  amount  of  it  all  was,  that  Mr.  Le  Quoi, 
who  had  fled  from  his  own  country  more  through 
terror  than  because  he  was  offensive  to  the  rul- 
ing powers  in  France,  had  succeeded  at  length  in 
getting  an  assurance  that  his  return  to  the  West 
Indies  would  be  unnoticed  ; and  the  Frenchman, 
who  had  sunk  into  the  character  of  a country 
shopkeeper  with  so  much  grace,  was  about  to 
emerge  again  from  his  obscurity  into  his  proper 
level  in  society. 

We  need  not,  repeat  the  civil  things  that 
passed  between  the  parties  on  this  occasion,  nor 
recount  the  endless  repetitions  of  sorrow  that  the 
delighted  Frenchman  expressed,  at  being  com- 
pelled to  quit  the  society  of  Miss  Temple.  Eliza- 
beth took  an  opportunity,  during  this  expendi- 
ture of  polite  expressions,  to  purchase  the  pow- 
der privately  of  the  boy,  who  bore  the  generic 
appellation  of  Jonathan.  Before  they  parted, 
however,  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  who  seemed  to  think  that 
he  had  not  said  enough,  solicited  the  honor  of  a 
private  interview  with  the  heiress,  with  a gravity 


MISS  TEMPLE’S  PROMISE. 


173 


In  his  air  that  announced  the  importance  of  the 
subject.  After  conceding  the  favor,  and  appoint- 
ing a more  favorable  time  for  the  meeting,  Eliza- 
beth succeeded  in  getting  out  of  the  store,  into 
which  the  countrymen  now  began  to  enter,  as 
usual,  where  they  met  with  the  same  attention 
And  bienseance  as  formerly. 

Elizabeth  and  Louisa  pursued  their  walk  as 
far  as  the  bridge  in  profound  silence ; but  when 
they  reached  that  place,  the  latter  stopped,  and 
appeared  anxious  to  utter  something  that  her 
diffidence  suppressed. 

“ Are  you  ill,  Louisa  ? ” exclaimed  Miss  Tem- 
ple ; “ had  we  not  better  return,  and  seek  anoth- 
er opportunity  to  meet  the  old  man  ? ” 

“ Not  ill,  but  terrified.  Oh  ! I never,  never 
can  go  on  that  hill  again  with  you  only.  I am 
not  equal  to  it,  indeed  I am  not.” 

This  was  an  unexpected  declaration  to  Eliza- 
beth, who,  although  she  experienced  no  idle  ap- 
prehension of  a danger  that  no  longer  existed, 
felt  most  sensitively  all  the  delicacy  of  maiden 
modesty.  She  stood  for  some  time,  deeply  re- 
flecting within  herself;  but,  sensible  it  was  a 
time  for  action  instead  of  reflection,  she  strug- 
gled to  shake  off  her  hesitation,  and  replied 
firmly : 

“Well,  then  it  must  be  done  by  me  alone. 
There  is  no  other  than  yourself  to  be  trusted,  or 
poor  old  Leather-stocking  will  be  discovered. 
Wait  for  me  in  the  edge  of  these  woods,  that  at 
ieast  I may  not  be  seen  strolling  in  the  hills  by 
myself  just  now.  One  would  not  wish  to  create 
remarks,  Louisa — if — if — You  will  wait  for  me, 
dear  girl  ? ” 

“ A year,  in  sight  of  the  village,  Miss  Tem- 
ple,” returned  the  agitated  Louisa,  “ but  do  not, 
do  not  ask  me  to  go  on  that  hill.” 

Elizabeth  found  that  her  companion  was 
really  unable  to  proceed,  and  they  completed 
their  arrangement  by  posting  Louisa  out  of  the 
observation  of  the  people  who  occasionally  passed, 
but  nigh  the  road,  and  in  plain  view  of  the  whole 
valley.  Miss  Temple  then  proceeded  alone.  She 
ascended  the  road  which  has  been  so  often  men- 
tioned in  our  narrative,  with  an  elastic  and  firm 
step,  fearful  that  the  delay  in  the  store  of  Mr. 
Le  Quoi,  aud  the  time  necessary  for  reaching  the 
summit,  would  prevent  her  being  punctual  to  the 
appointment.  Whenever  she  passed  an  opening 
m the  bushes,  she  would  pause  for  breath,  or, 
perhaps,  drawn  from  her  pursuit  by  the  picture 
at  her  feet,  would  linger  a moment  to  gaze  at 
the  beauties  of  the  valley.  The  long  drought 
had,  however,  changed  its  coat  of  verdure  to  a 
hue  of  brown,  and,  though  the  same  localities 


were  there,  the  view  wanted  the  lively  and  cheer 
ing  aspect  of  early  summer.  Even  the  heavens 
seemed  to  share  in  the  dried  appearance  of  the 
earth,  for  the  sun  was  concealed  by  a haziness 
in  the  atmosphere,  which  looked  like  a thin  smoke 
without  a particle  of  moisture,  if  such  a thing 
were  possible.  The  blue  sky  was  scarcely  to  be 
seen,  though  now  and  then  there  was  a faint 
lighting  up  in  spots,  through  which  masses  of 
rolling  vapor  could  be  discerned  gathering  around 
the  horizon,  as  if  nature  were  struggling  to  col- 
lect her  floods  for  the  relief  of  man.  The  very 
atmosphere  that  Elizabeth  inhaled  was  hot  and 
dry,  and,  by  the  time  she  reached  the  point  where 
the  course  led  her  from  the  highway,  she  experi- 
enced a sensation  like  suffocation.  But,  disre- 
garding her  feelings,  she  hastened  to  execute  her 
mission,  dwelling  on  nothing  but  the  disappoint- 
ment, and  even  the  helplessness,  the  hunter  would 
experience,  without  her  aid. 

On  the  summit  of  the  mountain  which  Judge 
Temple  had  named  the  “Vision,”  a little  spot 
had  been  cleared,  in  order,  that  a better  view 
might  be  obtained  of  the  village  and  the  valley. 
At  this  point  Elizabeth  understood  the  hunter 
she  was  to  meet  him  ; and  thither  she  urged  hex 
way,  as  expeditiously  as  the  difficulty  of  the  as- 
cent, and  the  impediment  of  a forest,  in  a state 
of  nature,  would  admit.  Numberless  were  the 
fragments  of  rocks,  trunks  of  fallen  trees,  and 
branches,  with  which  she  had  to  contend ; but 
every  difficulty  vanished  before  her  resolution,  and, 
by  her  own  watch,  she  stood  on  the  desired  spot 
several  minutes  before  the  appointed  hour. 

After  resting  a moment  on  the  end  of  a log, 
Miss  Temple  cast  a glance  about  her  in  quest  of 
her  old  friend,  but  he  was  evidently  not  in  the 
clearing ; she  arose  and  walked  around  it3  skirts, 
examining  every  place  where  she  thought  it  prob- 
able Natty  might  deem  it  prudent  to  conceal  him- 
self. Her  search  was  fruitless;  and,  after  ex- 
hausting not  only  herself,  but  her  conjectures,  in 
efforts  to  discover  or  imagine  his  situation,  she 
ventured  to  trust  her  voice  in  that  solitary  place. 

“ Natty ! Leather-stocking  ! old  man ! ” she 
called  aloud,  in  every  direction ; but  no  answer 
was  given,  excepting  the  reverberations  of  her 
own  clear  tones,  as  they  were  echoed  in  the 
parched  forest. 

Elizabeth  approached  the  brow  of  the  moun- 
tain, where  a faint  cry,  like  the  noise  produced 
by  striking  the  hand  against  the  mouth,  at  the 
same  time  that  the  breath  is  strongly  exhaled,  was 
heard  answering  to  her  own  voice.  Not  doubting 
in  the  least  that  it  was  the  Leather-stocking  lying 
in  wait  for  her,  and  who  gave  that  signal  to  indi- 


174 


THE  PIONEERS. 


cate  the  place  where  he  was  to  be  found,  Eliza- 
oeth  descended  for  near  a hundred  feet,  until  she 
gained  a little  natural  terrace,  thinly  scattered 
with  trees,  that  grew  in  the  fissures  of  the  rocks, 
which  were  covered  by  a scanty  soil.  She  had 
advanced  to  the  edge  of  this  platform,  and  was 
gazing  over  the  perpendicular  precipice  that 
formed  its  face,  when  a rustling  among  the  dry 
leaves  near  her  drew  her  eyes  in  another  direc- 
tion. Our  heroine  certainly  was  startled  by  the 
object  that  she  then  saw,  but  a moment  restored 
her  self-possession,  and  she  advanced  firmly,  and 
with  some  interest  in  her  manner,  to  the  spot. 

Mohegan  was  seated  on  the  trunk  of  a fallen 
oak,  with  his  tawny  visage  turned  toward  her, 
and  his  eyes  fixed  on  her  face  with  an  expression 
of  wildness  and  fire,  that  would  have  terrified  a 
less  resolute  female.  His  blanket  had  fallen  from 
his  shoulders,  and  was  lying  in  folds  around  him, 
leaving  his  breast,  arms,  and  most  of  his  body 
bare.  The  medallion  of  Washington  reposed  on 
his  chest,  a badge  of  distinction  that  Elizabeth 
well  knew  he  only  ptoduced  on  great  and  solemn 
occasions.  But  the  whole  appearance  of  the  aged 
chief  was  more  studied  than  common,  and  in  some 
particulars  it  was  terrific.  The  long  black  hair 
was  plaited  on  his  head,  falling  away,  so  as  to 
expose  his  high  forehead  and  piercing  eyes.  In 
the  enormous  incisions  of  his  ears  were  entwined 
ornaments  of  silver,  beads,  and  porcupine’s  quills, 
mingled  in  a rude  taste,  and  after  the  Indian  fash- 
ions. A large  drop,  composed  of  similar  materi- 
als, was  suspended  from  the  cartilage  of  his  nose, 
and,  falling  below  his  lips,  rested  on  his  chin. 
Streaks  of  red  paint  crossed  his  wrinkled  brow, 
and  were  traced  down  his  cheeks,  with  such  va- 
riations in  the  lines  as  caprice  or  custom  suggest- 
ed. His  body  was  also  colored  in  the  same  man- 
ner; the  whole  exhibiting  an  Indian  warrior, 
prepared  for  some  event  of  more  than  usual  mo- 
ment. 

“John!  how  fare  you,  worthy  John?  ” said 
Elizabeth,  as  she  approached  him  ; “ you  have  long 
been  a stranger  in  the  village.  You  promised  me 
a willow  basket,  and  I have  long  had  a shirt  of 
calico  in  readiness  for  you.” 

The  Indian  looked  steadily  at  her  for  some 
time  without  answering,  and  then,  shaking  his 
head,  he  replied,  in  his  low,  guttural  tones  : 

“ John’s  hand  can  make  baskets  no  more — he 
wants  no  shirt.” 

“ But  if  he  should,  he  will  know  where  to  come 
for  it,”  returned  Miss  Temple.  “Indeed,  old 
John,  I feel  as  if  you  had  a natural  right  to  order 
what  you  will  from  us.” 

“Daughter,”  said  the  Indian,  “listen:  Six 


times  ten  hot  summers  have  passed  6ince  John 
was  young ; tall  like  a pine ; straight  like  the  bullet 
of  Hawk-eye ; strong  as  a buffalo ; spry  as  the  cat 
of  the  mountain.  He  was  strong,  and  a warrior  like 
the  Young  Eagle.  If  his  tribe  wanted  to  track  the 
Maquas  for  many  suns,  the  eye  of  Chingachgook 
found  the  print  of  their  moccasins.  If  the  people 
feasted  and  were  glad,  as  they  counted  the  scalps 
of  their  enemies,  it  was  on  his  pole  they  bung.  If 
the  squaws  cried  because  there  was  no  meat  for 
their  children,  he  was  the  first  in  the  chase.  His 
bullet  was  swifter  than  the  deer. — Daughter,  then 
Chingachgook  struck  his  tomahawk  into  the 
trees ; it  was  to  tell  the  lazy  ones  where  to 
find  him  and  the  Mingoes — but  he  made  no 
baskets.” 

“ Those  times  have  gone  by,  old  warrior,”  re- 
turned Elizabeth ; “ since  then  your  people  ha<*» 
disappeared,  and,  in  place  of  chasing  your  ene- 
mies, you  have  learned  to  fear  God  and  to  live  at 
peace.” 

“ Stand  here,  daughter,  where  you  can  see  the 
great  spring,  the  wigwams  of  your  father,  and  the 
land  on  the  crooked  river.  John  was  young  when 
his  tribe  gave  away  the  country,  in  council,  from 
where  the  blue  mountain  stands  above  the  water, 
to  where  the  Susquehanna  is  hid  by  the  trees.  All 
this,  and  all  that  grew  in  it,  and  all  that  walked 
over  it,  and  all  that  fed  there,  they  gave  to  the  Fire- 
eater — for  they  loved  him.  He  was  strong,  and 
they  were  women,  and  he  helped  them.  No  Dela- 
ware would  kill  a deer  that  ran  in  his  woods,  nor 
stop  a bird  that  flew  over  his  land ; for  it  was  his. 
Has  John  lived  in  peace  ? Daughter,  since  John 
was  young,  he  has  seen  the  white  man  from  Fron- 
tinac  come  down  on  his  white  brothers  at  Albany 
and  fight.  Did  they  fear  God  ? He  has  seen  his 
English  and  his  American  fathers  burying  their 
tomahawks  in  each  other’s  brains,  for  this  very 
land.  Did  they  fear  God,  and  live  in  peace  ? He 
has  seen  the  land  pass  away  from  the  Fire-eater, 
and  his  children,  and  the  child  of  his  child,  and  a 
new  chief  set  over  the  country.  Did  they  live  in 
peace  who  did  this  ? did  they  fear  God  ? ” 

“Such  is  the  custom  of  the  whites,  John.  Do 
not  the  Delawares  fight,  and  exchange  their  lands 
for  powder,  and  blankets,  and  merchandise  ? ” 

The  Indian  turned  his  dark  eyes  on  his  com  • 
panion,  and  kept  them  there  with  a scrutiny  thai 
alarmed  her  a little. 

“Where  are  the  bankets  and  merchandise 
that  bought  the  right  of  the  Fire-eater  ? ” he  re- 
plied, in  a more  animated  voice ; “ are  they  with 
him  in  his  wigwam?  Did  they  say  to  him, 
Brother,  sell  us  your  land,  and  take  this  gold,  this 
silver,  these  blankets,  these  rifles,  or  even  this 


INTERVIEW  WITH  INDIAN  JOHN. 


175 


rum?  No;  they  tore  it  from  him,  as  a scalp  is 
torn  from  an  enemy ; and  they  that  did  it  looked 
not  behind  them,  to  see  whether  he  lived  or  died. 
Do  such  men  live  in  peace,  and  fear  the  Great 
Spirit  ? ” 

“But  you  hardly  understand  the  circum- 
stances,” said  Elizabeth,  more  embarrassed  than 
she  would  own,  even  to  herself.  “ If  you  knew  our 
laws  and  customs  better,  you  would  judge  differ- 
ently of  our  acts.  Do  not  believe  evil  of  my 
father,  old  Mohegan,  for  he  is  just  and  good.” 

“ The  brother  of  Miquon  is  good,  and  he  will 
do  right.  I have  said  it  to  Hawk-eye — I have 
said  it  to  the  Young  Eagle,  that  the  brother  of 
Miquon  would  do  justice.” 

“Whom  call  you  the  Young  Eagle?”  said 
Elizabeth,  averting  her  face  from  the  gaze  of  the 
Indian,  as  she  asl^d  the  question;  “whence 
comes  he,  and  what  are  his  rights  ? ” 

“ Has  my  daughter  lived  so  long  with  him  to 
ask  this  question  ? ” returned  the  Indian  warily. 
“ Old  age  freezes  up  the  blood,  as  the  frosts  cover 
the  great  spring  in  winter ; but  youth  keeps  the 
streams  of  the  blood  open  like  a sun  in  the  time 
of  blossoms.  The  Young  Eagle  has  eyes ; had  he 
no  tongue  ? ” 

The  loveliness  to  which  the  old  warrior  alluded 
was  in  no  degree  diminished  by  his  allegorical 
speech ; for  the  blushes  of  the  maiden  who  listen- 
ed covered  her  burning  cheeks,  till  her  dark  eyes 
seemed  to  glow  with  their  reflection  ; but,  after 
struggling  a moment  with  shame,  she  laughed,  as 
If  unwilling  to  understand  him  seriously,  and  re- 
plied in  pleasantry : 

“Not  to  make  me  the  mistress  of  his  secret. 
He  is  to  much  of  a Delaware  to  tell  his  secret 
thoughts  to  a woman.” 

“ Daughter,  the  Great  Spirit  made  your  father 
with  a white  skin,  and  he  made  mine  with  a red  ; 
but  he  colored  both  their  hearts  with  blood. 
When  young,  it  is  swift  and  warm ; but  when  old, 
it  is  still  and  cold.  Is  there  difference  l-  elow  the 
skin?  No.  Once  John  had  a woman.  She  was 
the  mother  of  so  many  sons” — he  raised  his  hand 
with  three  fingers  elevated — “ and  she  had  daugh- 
ters that  would  have  made  the  young  Delawares 
happy.  She  was  kind,  daughter,  and  what  I said 
she  did.  You  have  different  fashions ; but  do  you 
think  John  did  not  love  the  wife  of  his  youth — 
the  mother  of  his  children  ? ” 

“ And  what  has  become  of  your  family,  John, 
your  wife  and  your  children? ” asked  Elizabeth, 
touched  by  the  In  lian’s  manner. 

“ Where  is  the  ice  that  covered  the  great 
spring  ? It  is  melted,  and  gone  with  the  waters. 
John  has  lived  till  all  his  people  have  left  him  for 


the  lands  of  spirits  ; I is  time  fias  come,  and  he  is 
ready.” 

Mohegan  dropped  his  head  in  his  blanket,  and 
sat  in  silence.  Miss  Temple  knew  not  what  to 
say.  She  wished  to  draw  the  thoughts  of  the  old 
warrior  from  his  gloomy  recollections,  but  there 
was  a dignity  in  his  sorrow,  and  in  his  fortitude, 
that  repressed  her  efforts  to  speak.  After  a long 
pause,  however,  she  renewed  the  discourse  by 
asking : 

“Whei'e  is  the  Leather-stocking,  John?  I 
have  brought  this  canister  of  powder  at  his  re- 
quest; but  he  is  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Will  you 
take  charge  of  it,  and  see  it  delivered  ? ” 

The  Indian  raised  his  head  slowly,  and  looked 
earnestly  at  the  gift,  which  she  put  into  his 
hand. 

“ This  is  the  great  enemy  of  my  nation.  With- 
out this,  when  could  the  white  men  drive  the 
Delawares  ? Daughter,  the  Great  Spirit  gave 
your  fathers  to  know  how  to  make  guns  and 
powder,  that  they  might  sweep  the  Indians  from 
the  land.  There  will  soon  be  no  red-skin  in  the 
country.  When  John  has  gone,  the  last  will  leave 
these  hills,  and  his  family  will  be  dead.”  The 
aged  warrior  stretched  his  body  forward,  leaning 
an  elbow  on  his  knee,  and  appeared  to  be  taking 
a parting  look  at  the  objects  of  the  vale,  which 
were  still  visible  through  the  misty  atmosphere, 
though  the  air  seemed  to  thicken  at  each  moment 
around  Miss  Temple,  who  became  conscious  of  an 
increased  difficulty  of  respiration.  The  eye  of 
Mohegan  changed  gradually  from  its  sorrowful 
expression  to  a look  of  wildness  that  might  be 
supposed  to  border  on  the  inspiration  of  a 
prophet,  as  he  continued — “ But  he  will  go  to  the 
country  where  his  fathers  have  met.  The  game 
shall  be  plenty  as  the  fish  in  the  lakes.  No  woman 
shall  cry  for  meat;  no  Mingo  can  ever  come. 
The  chase  shall  be  for  children ; and  all  just  red 
men  shall  live  together  as  brothers.” 

“John!  this  is  not  the  heaven  of  a Chris- 
tian,” cried  Miss  Temple ; “ you  deal  now  in  the 
superstition  of  your  forefathers.” 

“ Fathers ! sons  ! ” said  Mohegan  with  firm- 
ness— “ all  gone — all  gone ! — I have  no  son  but 
the  Young  Eagle,  and  he  has  the  blood  of  a white 
man.” 

“ Tell  me,  John,”  said  Elizabeth,  willing  to 
draw  his  thoughts  to  other  subjects,  and  at  the 
same  time  yielding  to  her  own  powerful  interest  in 
the  youth ; “ who  is  this  Mr.  Edwards  ? why  are 
you  so  fond  of  him,  and  whence  does  he  come  ? ” 

The  Indian  started  at  the  question,  which 
evidently  recalled  his  recollection  to  earth. 
Taking  her  hand,  he  drew  Miss  Temple  to  a seat 


176 


THE  PIONEERS. 


beside  him,  and  pointed  to  the  country  beneath 
them : 

“ See,  daughter,”  he  said,  directing  her  looks 
toward  the  north ; “ as  far  as  your  young  eyes 
can  see,  it  was  the  land  of  his — ” 

But  immense  volumes  of  smoke  at  that  mo- 
ment rolled  over  their  heads,  and,  whirling  in  the 
eddies  formed  by  the  mountains,  interposed  a 
barrier  to  their  sight,  while  he  was  speaking. 
Startled  by  this  circumstance,  Miss  Temple  sprang 
on  her  feet,  and,  turning  her  eyes  toward  the  sum- 
mit of  the  mountain,  she  beheld  it  covered  by  a 
similar  canopy,  while  a roaring  sound  was  heard 
in  the  forest  above  her  like  the  rushing  of  winds. 

“What  means  it,  John!”  she  exclaimed; 
“ we  are  enveloped  in  smoke,  and  I feel  a heat 
like  the  glow  of  a furnace.” 

Before  the  Indian  could  reply,  a voice  was 
heard  crying  in  the  woods  : 

“John!  where  are  you,  old  Mohegan ! the 
woods  are  on  fire,  and  you  have  but  a minute  for 
escape.” 

The  chief  put  his  hand  before  his  mouth,  and, 
making  it  play  on  his  lips,  produced  the  kind  of 
noise  that  had  attracted  Elizabeth  to  the  place, 
when  a quick  and  hurried  step  was  heard  dash- 
ing through  the  dried  underbrush  and  bushes, 
and  presently  Edwards  rushed  to  his  side,  with 
horror  in  every  feature. 


CHAPTER  XXXYII. 

“ Love  rules  the  court,  the  camp,  the  grove.” 

Lay  op  the  Last  Mtsstrel. 

“ It  would  have  been  sad,  indeed,  to  lose  you 
in  such  a manner,  my  old  friend,”  said  Oliver, 
catching  his  breath  for  utterance.  “TTp  and 
away ! even  now  we  may  be  too  late  ; the  flames 
are  circling  round  the  point  of  the  rock  below, 
and,  unless  we  can  pass  there,  our  only  chance 
must  be  over  the  precipice.  Away ! away ! shake 
off  your  apathy,  John  ; now  is  the  time  of  need.” 

Mohegan  pointed  toward  Elizabeth,  who,  for- 
getting her  danger,  had  sunk  back  to  a projec- 
tion of  the  rock  as  soon  as  she  recognized  the 
sounds  of  Edwards’s  voice,  and  said  with  some- 
thing like  awakened  animation : 

“ Save  her — leave  John  to  die.” 

“ Her  ! whom  mean  you  ? ” cried  the  youth, 
turning  quickly  to  the  place  the  other  indicated  ; 
but  whm  he  saw  the  figure  of  Elizabeth  bend- 
ing toward  him  in  an  attitude  that  powerfully 
spoke  terror,  blended  with  reluctance  to  meet 
him  in  such  a place,  the  shock  deprived  him  of 
speech. 


“ Miss  Temple ! ” he  cried,  when  he  found 
words  ; “ you  here ! is  such  a death  reserved  for 
you ! ” 

“ No,  no,  no — no  death,  I hope,  for  any  of  us, 
Mr.  Edwards,”  she  replied,  endeavoring  to  speak 
calmly  : “ there  is  smoke,  but  no  fire  to  harm  us. 
Let  us  endeavor  to  retire.” 

“ Take  my  arm,”  said  Edwards  ; “ there  must 
be  an  opening  in  some  direction  for  your  retreat. 
Are  you  equal  to  the  effort  ? ” 

“ Certainly.  You  surely  magnify  the  danger, 
Mr.  Edwards.  Lead  me  out  the  way  you  came.” 

“ I will — I will,”  cried  the  youth,  with  a kind 
of  hysterical  utterance.  “ No,  no — there  is  no 
danger — I have  alarmed  you  unnecessarily.” 

“ But  shall  we  leave  the  Indian — can  we  leave 
him,  as  he  says,  to  die  ? ” 

An  expression  of  painfi^  emotion  crossed  the 
face  of  the  young  man ; he  stopped,  and  cast  a 
longing  look  at  Mohegan ; but,  dragging  his 
companion  after  him,  even  against  her  will,  he 
pursued  his  way  with  enormous  strides  toward 
the  pass  by  which  he  had  just  entered  the  circle 
of  flame. 

“ Do  not  regard  him,”  he  said,  in  those  tones 
that  denote  a desperate  calmness ; “ he  is  used 
to  the  woods,  and  such  scenes ; and  he  will  es- 
cape up  the  mountain — over  the  rock — or  he  can 
remain  where  he  is  in  safety.” 

“ You  thought  not  so  this  moment,  Edwards  ! 
Do  not  leave  him  there  to  meet  with  such  a 
death,”  cried  Elizabeth,  fixing  a look  on  the 
countenance  of  her  conductor  that  seemed  to  dis- 
trust his  sanity. 

“ An  Indian  burn ! who  ever  heard  of  an  In- 
dian dying  by  fire?  an  Indian  cannot  burn;  the 
idea  is  ridiculous.  Hasten,  hasten,  Miss  Temple, 
or  the  smoke  may  incommode  you.” 

“ Edwards  ! your  look,  your  eye,  terrifies  me  ! 
tell  me  the  danger  ; is  it  greater  than  it  seems  ? 
I am  equal  to  any  trial.” 

“If  we  reach  the  point  of  yon  rock  before 
that  sheet  of  fire,  we  are  safe,  Miss  Temple  ! ” 
exclaimed  the  young  man,  in  a voice  that  burst 
without  the  bounds  of  his  forced  composure. 
“ Fly  ! the  struggle  is  for  life ! ” 

The  place  of  the  interview  between  Miss  Tem- 
ple and  the  Indian  has  already  been  described  as 
one  of  those  platforms  of  rock,  which  form  a 
sort  of  terrace  in  the  mountains  of  that  country, 
and  the  face  of  it,  we  have  said,  was  both  high 
and  perpendicular.  Its  shape  was  nearly  a natu- 
ral arc,  the  ends  of  which  blended  with  the  moun- 
tain, at  points  where  its  sides  were  less  abrupt  in 
their  descent.  It  was  round  one  of  these  termi- 
nations of  the  sweep  of  the  rock  that  Edwards 


THE  WOODS  ON  FIRE. 


177 


had  ascended,  and  it  was  toward  the  same  place 
that  he  urged  Elizabeth  to  a desperate  exertion 
of  speed. 

Immense  clouds  of  white  smoke  had  been 
pouring  over  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and 
had  concealed  the  approach  and  ravages  of  the 
element ; but  a crackling  sound  drew  the  eyes  of 
Miss  Temple,  as  she  flew  over  the  ground,  sup- 
ported  by  the  young  man,  toward  the  outline  of 
smoke,  where  she  already  perceived  the  waving 
flames  shooting  forward  from  the  vapor,  now 
flaring  high  in  the  air,  and  then  bending  to  the 
earth,  seeming  to  light  into  combustion  every 
stick  and  shrub  on  which  they  breathed.  The 
sight  aroused  them  to  redoubled  efforts ; but, 
unfortunately,  a collection  of  the  tops  of  trees, 
old  and  dried,  lay  directly  across  their  course ; 
and,  at  the  very  moment  when  both  had  thought 
their  safety  insured,  the  warm  currents  of  the  air 
swept  a forked  tongue  of  flame  across  the  pile, 
which  lighted  at  the  touch;  and,  when  they 
reached  the  spot,  the  flying  pair  were  opposed 
by  the  surly  roaring  of  a body  of  fire,  as  if  a 
furnace  were  glowing  in  their  path.  They  re- 
coiled from  the  heat,  and  stood  on  a point  of  the 
rock,  gazing  in  a stupor  at  the  flames,  which 
were  spreading  rapidly  down  the  mountain,  whose 
side  soon  became  a sheet  of  living  fire.  It  was 
dangerous  for  one  clad  in  the  light  and  airy  dress 
of  Elizabeth  to  approach  even  the  vicinity  of  the 
raging  element;  and  those  flowing  robes,  that 
gave  such  softness  and  grace  to  her  form,  seemed 
now  to  be  formed  for  the  instruments  of  her  de- 
struction. 

The  villagers  were  accustomed  to  resort  to 
that  hill  in  quest  of  timber  and  fuel ; in  procur- 
ing which,  it  was  their  usage  to  take  only  the 
bodies  of  the  trees,  leaving  the  tops  and  branches 
to  decay  under  the  operations  of  the  weather. 
Much  of  the  hill  was,  consequently,  covered  with 
such  light  fuel,  which,  having  been  scorched  un- 
der the  sun  for  the  last  two  months,  was  ignited 
with  a touch.  Indeed,  in  some  cases,  there  did 
not  appear  to  be  any  contact  between  the  fire 
and  these  piles,  but  the  flames  seemed  to  dart 
from  heap  to  heap,  as  the  fabulous  fire  of  the 
temple  is  represented  to  reillume  its  neglected 
lamp. 

There  was  beauty  as  well  as  terror  in  the  sight, 
and  Edwards  and  Elizabeth  stood  viewing  the 
progress  of  the  desolation,  with  a strange  mixture 
of  horror  and  interest.  The  former,  however, 
shortly  roused  himself  to  new  exertions,  and,  draw- 
ing his  companion  after  'him,  they  skirted  the 
edge  of  the  smoke,  the  young  man  penetrating 
frequently  into  its  dense  volumes  in  search  of  a 

51  12 


passage,  but  in  every  instance  without  success. 
In  this  manner  they  proceeded  in  a semicircle 
around  the  upper  part  of  the  terrace,  until,  arriv- 
ing at  the  verge  of  the  precipice,  opposite  to  the 
point  where  Edwards  'had  ascended,  the  horrid 
conviction  burst  on  both,  at  the  same  instant,  that 
they  were  completely  encircled  by  the  fire.  So 
long  as  a single  pass  up  or  down  the  mountain 
was  unexplored,  there  was  hope ; but,  when  retreat 
seemed  to  be  absolutely  impracticable,  the  horror 
of  their  situation  broke  upon  Elizabeth  as  power- 
fully as  if  she  had  hitherto  considered  the  danger 
light. 

“ This  mountain  is  doomed  to  be  fatal  to  me ! ” 
she  whispered ; “ we  shall  find  our  graves  on 
it ! ” 

“ Say  not  so,  Miss  Temple ; there  is  yet  hope,” 
returned  the  youth,  in  the  same  tone,  while  the 
vacant  expression  of  his  eye  contradicted  his 
words : “ let  us  return  to  the  point  of  the  rock ; 
there  is — there  must  be — some  place  about  it 
where  we  can  descend.” 

“ Lead  me  there,”  exclaimed  Elizabeth ; “ let 
us  leave  no  effort  untried.”  She  did  not  wait  for 
his  compliance,  but,  turning,  retraced  her  steps 
to  the  brow  of  the  precipice,  murmuring  to  her- 
self, in  suppressed,  hysterical  sobs,  “ My  father ! 
my  poor,  my  distracted  father ! ” 

Edwards  was  by  her  side  in  an  instant,  and 
with  aching  eyes  he  examined  every  fissure  in  the 
crags,  in  quest  of  some  opening  that  might  offer 
facilities  for  flight.  But  the  smooth,  even  surface 
of  the  rocks  afforded  hardly  a resting-place  for  a 
foot,  much  less  those  continued  projections  which 
would  have  been  necessary  for  a descent  of  nearly 
a hundred  feet.  Edwards  was  not  slow  in  feeling 
the  conviction  that  this  hope  was  also  futile,  and, 
with  a kind  of  feverish  despair  that  still  urged 
him  to  action,  he  turned  to  some  new  expedient. 

“ There  is  nothing  left,  Miss  Temple,”  he  said, 
“but  to  lower  you  from  this  place  to  the  rock 
beneath.  If  Natty  were  here,  or  even  that  Indian 
could  be  roused,  their  ingenuity  and  long  practice 
would  easily  devise  methods  to  do  it ; but  I am  a 
child  at  this  moment  in  every  thing  but  daring. 
Where  shall  I find  means  ? This  dress  of  mine 
is  so  light,  and  there  is  so  little  of  it — then  the 
blanket  of  Mohegan ; we  must  try — we  must  try 
— any  thing  is  better  than  to  see  you  a victim  to 
such  a death  ! ” 

“ And  what  will  become  of  you  ? ” said  Eliza- 
beth. “Indeed,  indeed,  neither  you  nor  John 
must  be  sacrificed  to  my  safety.” 

He  heard  her  not,  for  he  was  already  by  the 
side  of  Mohegan,  who  yielded  his  blanket  without 
a Question,  retaining  his  seat  with  Indian  dignity 


178 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  composure,  though  his  own  situation  was 
even  more  critical  than  that  of  the  others.  The 
blanket  was  cut  into  shreds,  and  the  fragments 
fastened  together ; the  loose  linen  jacket  of  the 
youth,  and  the  light  muslin  shawl  of  Elizabeth, 
were  attached  to  them,  and  the  whole  thrown 
over  the  rocks,  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning; 
but  the  united  pieces  did  not  reach  half-way  to 
the  bottom. 

“ It  will  not  do — it  will  not  do  ! ” cried  Eliza- 
beth ; “ for  me  there  is  no  hope  ! The  fire  comes 
slowly,  but  certainly.  See,  it  destroys  the  very 
earth  before  it ! ” 

Had  the  flames  spread  on  that  rock  with  half 
the  quickness  with  which  they  leaped  from  bush 
to  tree,  in  other  parts  of  the  mountain,  our  pain- 
ful task  would  have  soon  ended  ; for  they  would 
have  consumed  already  the  captives  they  inclosed. 
But  the  peculiarity  of  their  situation  afforded 
Elizabeth  and  her  companion  the  respite  of  which 
they  had  availed  themselves  to  make  the  efforts 
we  have  recorded. 

The  thin  covering  of  earth  on  the  rock  sup- 
ported but  a scanty  and  faded  herbage,  and  most 
of  the  trees  that  had  found  root  in  the  fissures 
had  already  died,  during  the  intense  heats  of  pre- 
ceding summers.  Those  which  still  retained  the 
appearance  of  life  bore  a few  dry  and  withered 
leaves,  while  the  others  were  merely  the  wrecks 
of  pines,  oaks,  and  maples.  No  better  materials 
to  feed  the  fire  could  be  found,  had  there  been  a 
communication  with  the  flames ; but  the  ground 
was  destitute  of  the  brush  that  led  the  destruc- 
tive element,  like  a torrent,  over  the  remainder 
of  the  hill.  As  auxiliary  to  this  scarcity  of  fuel, 
one  of  the  large  springs  which  abound  in  that 
country  gushed  out  of  the  side  of  the  ascent  above, 
end,  after  creeping  sluggishly  along  the  level  land, 
saturating  the  mossy  covering  of  the  rock  with 
moisture,  it  swept  around  the  base  of  the  little 
cone  that  formed  the  pinnacle  of  the  mountain, 
and,  entering  the  canopy  of  smoke  near  one  of 
the  terminations  of  the  terrace,  found  its  way  to 
the  lake,  not  by  dashing  from  rock  to  rock,  but 
by  the  secret  channels  of  the  earth.  It  would 
rise  to  the  surface,  here  and  there,  in  the  wet 
seasons,  but  in  the  droughts  of  summer  it  was  to 
be  traced  only  by  the  bogs  and  moss  that  an- 
nounced the  proximity  of  water.  When  the  fire 
reached  this  barrier,  it  was  compelled  to  pause, 
until  a concentration  of  its  heat  could  overcome 
the  moisture,  like  an  army  waiting  the  operations 
of  a battering  train,  to  open  its  way  to  desolation. 

That  fatal  moment  seemed  now  to  have  ar- 
rived, for  the  hissing  steams  of  the  spring  ap- 
peared to  be  nearly  exhausted,  and  the  moss  of  the 


rocks  was  already  curling  under  the  intense  heat* 
while  fragments  of  bark,  that  yet  clung  to  the 
dead  trees,  began  to  separate  from  their  trunks, 
and  fall  to  the  ground  in  crumbling  masses.  The 
air  seemed  quivering  with  rays  of  heat,  which 
might  be  seen  playing  along  the  parched  stems 
of  the  trees.  There  were  moments  when  dark 
clouds  of  smoke  would  sweep  along  the  little  ter- 
race ; and,  as  the  eye  lost  its  power,  the  other 
senses  contributed  to  give  effect  to  the  fearful 
horror  of  the  scene.  At  such  moments,  the  roar- 
ing of  the  flames,  the  crackling  of  the  furious  ele- 
ment, with  the  tearing  of  falling  branches,  and, 
occasionally,  the  thundering  echoes  of  some  fall- 
ing tree,  united  to  alarm  the  victims.  Of  the 
three,  however,  the  youth  appeared  much  the 
most  agitated.  Elizabeth,  having  relinquished 
entirely  the  idea  of  escape,  was  fast  obtaining 
that  resigned  composure  with  which  the  most 
delicate  of  her  sex  are  sometimes  known  to  meet 
unavoidable  evils ; while  Mohegan,  who  was  much 
nearer  to  the  danger,  maintained  his  seat  with 
the  invincible  resignation  of  an  Indian  warrior. 
Once  or  twice  the  eye  of  the  aged  chief,  which 
was  ordinarily  fixed  in  the  direction  of  the  distant 
hills,  turned  toward  the  young  pair,  who  seemed 
doomed  to  so  early  a death,  with  a slight  indica- 
tion of  pity  crossing  his  composed  features,  but 
it  would  immediately  revert  again  to  its  former 
gaze,  as  if  already  looking  into  the  womb  of  futu- 
ity.  Much  of  the  time  he  was  chanting  a kind  of 
low  dirge,  in  the  Delaware  tongue,  using  the  deep 
and  remarkable  guttural  tones  of  his  people. 

“At  such  a moment,  Mr.  Edwards,  all  earthly 
distinctions  end,”  whispered  Elizabeth  ; “ persuade 
John  to  move  nearer  to  us — let  us  die  together.” 

“I  cannot — he  will  not  stir,”  returned  the 
youth,  in  the  same  horridly  still  tones.  “ He  con- 
siders this  as  as  the  happiest  moment  of  his  life. 
He  is  past  seventy,  and  has  been  decaying  rapid- 
ly for  some  time : he  received  some  injury  in  chas- 
ing that  unlucky  deer,  too,  on  the  lake.  Oh! 
Miss  Temple  that  was  an  unlucky  chase  indeed  ! 
it  has  led,  I fear  to  this  awful  scene.” 

The  smile  of  Elizabeth  was  celestial.  “Why 
name  such  a trifle  now — at  this  moment  the  heart 
is  dead  to  all  earthly  emotions ! ” 

' “ If  any  thing  could  reconcile  a man  to  this 
death,”  cried  the  youth,  “ it  would  be  to  meet  it 
in  such  company ! ” 

“ Talk  not  so,  Edwards,  talk  not  so,”  inter- 
rupted Miss  Temple.  “ I am  unworthy  of  it ; and 
it  is  unjust  to  yourself.  Wetnustdie;  yes — yes 
— we  must  die — it  is  the  will  of  God,  and  let  us 
endeavor  to  submit  like  his  own  children.” 

*Die!”  the  youth  rather  shrieked  than  ex« 


A PERILOUS  SITUATION. 


179 


claimed,  “ no — no — no — there  must  yet  be  hope 
— you  at  least  must  not,  shall  not  die.” 

“ In  what  way  can  we  escape  ? ” asked  Eliza- 
beth, pointing  with  a look  of  heavenly  composure 
toward  the  fire.  “ Observe ! the  flame  is  crossing 
the  barrier  of  wet  ground  — it  comes  slowly, 
Edwards,  but  surely. — Ah ! see  ! the  tree ! the 
tree  is  already  lighted  ! ” 

Her  words  were  too  true.  The  heat  of  the 
conflagration  had  at  length  overcome  the  resist- 
ance of  the  spring,  and  the  fire  was  slowly  steal- 
ing along  the  half-dried  moss ; while  a dead  pine 
kindled  with  the  touch  of  a forked  flame,  that, 
for  a moment,  wreathed  around  the  stem  of  the 
tree,  as  it  whirled,  in  one  of  its  evolutions,  under 
the  influence  of  the  air.  The  effect  was  instan- 
taneous. The  flames  danced  along  the  parched 
trunk  of  the  pine,  like  lightning  quivering  on  a 
chain,  and  immediately  a column  of  living  fire 
was  raging  on  the  terrace.  It  soon  spread  from 
tree  to  tree : and  the  scene  was  evidently  drawing 
to  a close.  The  log  on  which  Mohegan  was  seated 
lighted  at  its  further  end,  and  the  Indian  appeared 
to  be  surrounded  by  fire.  Still  he  was  unmoved. 
As  his  body  was  unprotected,  his  sufferings  must 
have  been  great : but  his  fortitude  was  superior 
to  all.  His  voice  could  yet  be  heard  even  in  the 
midst  of  these  horrors.  Elizabeth  turned  her 
head  from  the  sight,  and  faced  the  valley.  Furi- 
ous eddies  of  wind  were  created  by  the  heat,  and, 
just  at  the  moment,  the  canopy  of  fiery  smoke 
that  overhung  the  valley  was  cleared  away,  leav- 
ing a distinct  view  of  the  peaceful  village  beneath 
them. 

“ Hy  father ! — my  father  1 ” shrieked  Eliza- 
beth. “ Oh ! this — surely  might  have  been  spared 
me — but  I submit.” 

The  distance  was  not  so  great  but  the  figure  of 
Judge  Temple  could  be  seen,  standing  in  his  own 
grounds,  and  apparently  contemplating,  in  perfect 
unconsciousness  of  the  danger  of  his  child,  the 
mountain  in  flames.  This  sight  was  still  more 
painful  than  the  approaching  danger ; and  Eliza- 
beth again  faced  the  hill. 

“ My  intemperate  warmth  has  done  this ! ” 
cried  Edwards,  in  the  accents  of  despair.  “ If  I 
had  possessed  but  a moiety  of  your  heavenly 
resignation,  Miss  Temple,  all  might  yet  have  been 
well.” 

“Name  it  not — name  it  not,”  she  said.  “It 
is  now  of  no  avail.  We  must  die,  Edwards,  we 
must  die — let  us  do  so  as  Christians.  But — no — 
you  may  yet  escape,  perhaps.  Your  dress  is  not 
so  fatal  as  mine.  Fly  ! Leave  me.  An  opening 
may  yet  be  found  for  you,  possibly — certainly  it 
Is  worth  the  effort.  Fly ! leave  me — but  stay ! ' 


You  will  see  my  father;  my  poor,  my  bereaved 
father  ! Say  to  him,  then,  Edwards,  say  to  him, 
all  that  can  appease  his  anguish.  Tell  him  that  I 
died  happy  and  collected ; that  I have  gone  to 
my  beloved  mother ; that  the  hours  of  this  life 
are  as  nothing  when  balanced  in  the  scales  of  eter- 
nity. Say  how  we  shall  meet  again.  And  say,” 
she  continued,  dropping  her  voice,  that  had  risen 
with  her  feelings,  as  if  conscious  of  her  worldly 
weaknesses,  “ how  dear,  how  very  dear,  was  my 
love  for  him  ; that  it  was  near,  too  near,  to  my 
love  for  God.” 

The  youth  listened  to  her  touching  accents, 
but  moved  not.  In  a moment  he  found  utterance, 
and  replied : • 

“ And  is  it  me  that  you  command  to  leave  you ! 
to  leave  you  on  the  edge  of  the  grave ! Oh ! Miss 
Temple,  how  little  have  you  known  me!”  he  cried, 
dropping  on  his  knees  at  her  feet,  and  gathering 
her  flowing  robe  in  his  arms  as  if  to  shield  her 
from  the  flames.  “ I have  been  driven  to  the  woods 
in  despair  ; but  your  society  has  tamed  the  lion 
within  me.  If  I have  wasted  my  time  in  degrada- 
tion, ’twas  you  that  charmed  me  to  it.  If  I have 
forgotten  my  name  and  family,  your  form  sup- 
plied the  place  of  memory.  If  I have  forgotten 
my  wrongs,  ’twas  you  that  taught  me  charity. 
No — no — dearest  Elizabeth,  I may  die  with  you, 
but  I can  never  leave  you ! ” 

Elizabeth  moved  not,  nor  answered.  It  was 
plain  that  her  thoughts  had  been  raised  from  the 
earth.  The  recollection  of  her  father,  and  her 
regrets  at  their  separation,  had  been  mellowed  by 
a holy  sentiment,  that  lifted  her  above  the  level 
of  earthly  things,  and  she  was  fast  losing  the 
weakness  of  her  sex  in  the  near  view  of  eternity. 
But  as  she  listened  to  these  words  she  became 
once  more  woman.  She  struggled  against  these 
feelings,  and  smiled,  as  she  thought  she  was  shak- 
ing off  the  last  lingering  feeling  of  nature,  when 
the  world,  and  all  its  seductions,  rushed  again  to 
her  heart,  with  the  sounds  of  a human  voice,  cry- 
ing in  piercing  tones : 

“ Gal ! where  be  ye,  gal ! gladden  the  heart 
of  an  old  man,  if  ye  yet  belong  to  ’arth  ! ” 

“ List ! ” said  Elizabeth,  “ ’tis  the  Leather- 
stocking  ; he  seeks  me!” 

“’Tis  Natty!”  shouted  Edwards,  “and  we 
may  yet  be  saved  ! ” 

A wide  and  circling  flame  glared  on  their  eyes 
for  a moment,  even  above  the  fire  of  the  woods, 
and  a loud  report  followed. 

“ ’Tis  the  canister ! ’tis  the  powder,”  cried  the 
same  voice,  evidently  approaching  them.  “ ’Tis 
the  canister,  and  the  precious  child  is  lost ! ” 

At  the  next  instant  Natty  rushed  through  the 


L80 


THE  PIONEERS. 


steams  of  the  spring,  and  appeared  on  the  ter- 
race, without  his  deer-skin  cap,  his  hair  burnt  to 
his  head,  his  shirt,  of  country  check,  black  and 
filled  with  holes,  and  his  red  features  of  a deeper 
color  than  ever,  by  the  heat  he  had  encountered. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

“ Even  from  the  land  of  shadows,  now, 

My  father’s  awful  ghost  appears.” 

Gertrude  of  Wyoming. 

For  an  hour  after  Louisa  Grant  was  left  by 
Miss  Temple,  in  the  situation  already  mentioned, 
she  continued  in  feverish  anxiety,  awaiting  the 
return  of  her  friend.  But,  as  the  time  passed  by 
without  the  reappearance  of  Elizabeth,  the  terror 
of  Louisa  gradually  increased,  until  her  alarmed 
fancy  had  conjured  every  species  of  danger  that 
appertained  to  the  woods,  excepting  the  one  that 
really  existed.  The  heavens  had  become  obscured 
by  degrees,  and  vast  volumes  of  smoke  were 
pouring  over  the  valley ; but  the  thoughts  of 
Louisa  were  still  recurring  to  beasts,  without 
dreaming  of  the  real  cause  for  apprehension. 
She  was  stationed  in  the  edge  of  the  low  pines 
and  chestnuts  that  succeed  the  first  or  large 
growth  of  the  forest,  and  directly  above  the  angle 
where  the  highway  turned  from  the  straight 
course  to  the  village,  and  ascended  the  mountain, 
laterally.  Consequently,  she  commanded  a view, 
not  only  of  the  valley,  but  of  the  road  beneath 
her.  The  few  travellers  that  passed,  she  observed, 
were  engaged  in  earnest  conversation,  and  fre- 
quently raised  their  eyes  to  the  hill,  and  at  length 
she  saw  the  people  leaving  the  court-house,  and 
gazing  upward  also.  While  under  the  influence 
of  the  alarm  excited  by  such  unusual  movements, 
reluctant  to  go,  and  yet  fearful  to  remain,  Louisa 
was  startled  by  the  low,  cracking,  but  cautious 
treads  of  some'  one  approaching  through  the 
bushes.  She  was  on  the  eve  of  flight,  when  Nat- 
ty emerged  from  the  cover,  and  stood  at  her  side. 
The  old  man  laughed  as  he  shook  her  kindly  by 
a hand  that  was  passive  with  fear. 

“ I am  glad  to  meet  you  here,  child,”  he  said  ; 
“ for  the  back  of  the  mountain  is  a-fire,  and  it 
would  be  dangerous  to  go  up  it  now,  till  it  has 
been  burnt  over  once,  and  the  dead  wood  is  gone. 
There’s  a foolish  man,  the  comrade  of  that  var- 
mint who  has  given  me  all  this  trouble,  digging 
for  ore  on  the  east  side.  I told  him  that  the 
kearless  fellows,  who  thought  to  catch  a practys’d 
hunter  in  the  woods  after  dark,  had  thrown  the 
lighted  pine-knots  in  the  brush,  and  that  ’twould 


kindle  like  tow,  and  warned  him  to  leave  the  hill 
But  he  was  set  upon  his  business,  and  nothing 
short  of  Pi’ovidence  could  move  him.  If  he  isn’t 
burnt  and  buried  in  a grave  of  his  own  digging, 
he’s  made  of  salamanders.  Why,  what  ails  the 
child  ! you  look  as  skeary  as  if  you’d  see’d  more 
painters ! I wish  there  were  more  to  be  found ; 
they’d  count  up  faster  than  the  beaver.  But 
where’s  the  good  child  with  a bad  father  ? did 
she  forget  her  promise  to  the  old  man  ? ” 

“ The  hill ! the  hill ! ” shrieked  Louisa  ; “ she 
seeks  you  on  the  hill  with  the  powder ! ” 

Natty  recoiled  several  feet  at  this  unexpected 
intelligence. 

“ The  Lord  of  Heaven  have  mercy  on  her ! 
She’s  on  the  Vision,  and  that’s  a sheet  of  fire 
ag’in  this.  Child,  if  ye  love  the  dear  one,  and 
hope  to  find  a friend  when  ye  need  it  most,  to  the 
village,  and  give  the  alarm.  The  men  are  used  to 
fighting  fire,  and  there  may  be  a chance  left.  Fly  ! 
I bid  ye  fly ! nor  stop  even  for  breath.” 

The  Leather-stocking  had  no  sooner  uttered 
this  injunction,  than  he  disappeared  in  the  bushes, 
and,  when  last  seen  by  Louisa,  was  rushing  up  the 
mountain,  with  a speed  that  none  but  those  who 
were  accustomed  to  the  toil  could  attain. 

“ Have  I found  ye  ! ” the  old  man  exclaimed, 
when  he  burst  out  of  the  smoke  ; “ God  be  praised 
that  I have  found  ye ; but  follow  — there’s  no 
time  for  talking.” 

“My  dress  ! ” said  Elizabeth  ; “ it  would  be 
fatal  to  trust  myself  nearer  to  the  flames  in  it.” 

“ I bethought  me  of  your  flimsy  things,”  cried 
Natty,  throwing  loose  the  folds  of  a covering  of 
buckskin  that  he  carried  on  his  arm,  and  wrap- 
ping her  form  in  it,  in  such  a manner  as  to  en- 
velop her  whole  person ; “ now  follow,  for  it’s  a 
matter  of  life  and  death  to  us  all.” 

“But  John!  what  will  become  of  John?” 
cried  Edwards  ; “ can  we  leave  the  old  warrior 
here  to  perish  ? ” 

The  eyes  of  Natty  followed  the  direction  of 
Edwards’s  finger,  where  he  beheld  the  Indian  still 
seated  as  before,  with  the  very  earth  under  his 
feet  consuming  with  fire.  Without  delay  the 
hunter  approached  the  spot,  and  spoke  in  Dela- 
ware-: 

“ Up  and  away,  Chingachgook ! will  ye  stay 
here  to  burn,  like  a Mingo  at  the  stake  ? The  Mo- 
ravians have  teached  ye  better,  I hope ; the  Lord 
preserve  me  if  the  powder  hasn’t  flashed  atween 
his  legs,  and  the  skin  of  his  back  is  roasting.  Will 
ye  come,  I say ; will  ye  follow  me  ? ” 

“ Why  should  Mohegan  go  ? ” returned  the 
Indian,  gloomily.  “ He  has  seen  the  days  of  an 
eagle,  and  his  eye  grows  dim.  He  looks  on  ths 


NATTY  RESCUES  HIS  FRIENDS. 


181 


valley ; he  looks  on  the  water ; he  looks  in  the 
hunting-grounds  — but  he  sees  no  Delawares. 
Every  one  has  a white  skin.  My  fathers  say, 
from  the  far-off  land,  Come.  My  women,  my 
young  warriors,  my  tribe,  say,  Come.  The  Great 
Spirit  says,  Come.  Let  Mohegan  die.” 

“But  you  forget  your  friend,”  cried  Ed- 
wards. 

“ ’Tis  useless  to  talk  to  an  Indian  with  the 
death-fit  on  him,  lad,”  interrupted  Natty,  who 
seized  the  strips  of  the  blanket,  and  with  wonder- 
ful dexterity  strapped  the  passive  chieftain  to  his 
own  back  ; when  he  turned,  and  with  a strength 
that  seemed  to  bid  defiance,  not  only  to  his  years, 
but  to  his  load,  he  led  the  way  to  the  point  whence 
he  had  issued.  As  they  crossed  the  little  terrace 
of  rock,  one  of  the  dead  trees,  that  had  been  tot- 
tering for  several  minutes,  fell  on  the  spot  where 
they  had  stood,  and  filled  the  air  with  its  cinders. 

Such  an  event  quickened  the  steps  of  the  party, 
who  followed  the  Leather-stocking  with  the  urgen- 
cy required  by  the  occasion. 

“ Tread  on  the  soft  ground,”  he  cried,  when 
they  were  in  a gloom  where  sight  availed  them 
but  little,  “ and  keep  in  the  white  smoke  ; keep 
the  skin  close  on  her,  lad ; she’s  a precious  one, 
another  will  be  hard  to  be  found.” 

Obedient  to  the  hunter’s  directions,  they  fol- 
lowed his  steps  and  advice  implicitly;  and,  al- 
though the  narrow  passage  along  the  winding  of  the 
spring  led  amid  burning  lo^s  and  falling  branches, 
they  happily  achieved  it  in  safety.  No  one  but  a 
man  long  accustomed  to  the  woods,  could  have 
traced  his  route  through  the  smoke,  in  which  res- 
piration was  difficult,  and  sight  nearly  useless ; 
but  the  experience  of  Natty  conducted  them  to  an 
opening  through  the  rocks,  where,  with  a little 
difficulty,  they  soon  descended  to  another  terrace, 
and  emerged  at  once  into  a tolerably  clear  atmos- 
phere. 

The  feelings  of  Edwards  and,  Elizabeth  at 
reaching  this  spot  may  be  imagined,  though  not 
easily  described.  No  one  seemed  to  exult  more 
than  their  guide,  who  turned,  with  Mohegan  still 
lashed  to  his  back,  and,  laughing  in  his  own  man- 
ner, said : 

“ I know’d  ’twas  the  Frenchman’s  powder, 
gal ; it  went  so  all  together ; your  coarse  grain 
will  squib  for  a minute.  The  Iroquois  had  none 
of  the  best  powder  when  I went  ag’in  the  Canada 
tribes,  under  Sir  William.  Did  I ever  tell  you  the 
story,  lad,  consaming  the  scrimmage  with — ” 

“For  God’s  sake,  tell  me  nothing  now,  Natty, 
until  we  are  entirely  safe.  Where  shall  we  go 
next  ? ” 

“ Why,  on  the  platform  of  rock  over  the  cave, 


to  be  sure  ; you  will  be  safe  enough  there,  or  we’ll 
go  into  it,  if  you  be  so  minded.” 

The  young  man  started,  and  appeared  agitat- 
ed ; but,  looking  around  him  with  an  anxious  eye, 
said  quickly : 

“ Shall  we  be  safe  on  the  rock  ? cannot  the 
fire  reach  us  there,  too  ? ” 

“ Can’t  the  boy  see  ? ” said  Natty,  with  the 
coolness  of  one  accustomed  to  the  kind  of  danger 
he  had  just  encountered.  “ Had  ye  stayed  in  the 
place  above  ten  minutes  longer,  you  would  both 
have  been  in  ashes,  but  here  you  may  stay  for  ever, 
and  no  fire  can  touch  you,  until  they  burn  the 
rocks  as  well  as  the  woods.” 

With  this  assurance,  which  was  obviously 
true,  they  proceeded  to  the  spot,  and  Natty  de- 
posited his  load,  placing  the  Indian  on  the  ground 
with  his  back  against  a fragment  of  the  rocks. 
Elizabeth  sank  on  the  ground,  and  buried  her  face 
in  her  hands,  while  her  heart  was  swelling  with  a 
variety  of  conflicting  emotions. 

“ Let  me  urge  you  to  take  a restorative,  Miss 
Temple,”  said  Edwards  respectfully ; “ your  frame 
will  sink  else.” 

“ Leave  me,  leave  me,”  she  said,  raising  her 
beaming  eyes  for  a moment  to  his  ; “ I feel  too 
much  for  words  ! I am  grateful,  Oliver,  for  this 
miraculous  escape ; and  next  to  my  God  to  you.” 

Edwards  withdrew  to  the  edge  of  the  rock, 
and  shouted — “ Benjamin ! where  are  you,  Ben- 
jamin? ” 

A hoarse  voice  replied,  as  if  from  the  bowels 
of  the  earth,  “ Hereaway,  master ; stowed  in  this 
here  bit  of  a hole,  which  is  all  the  same  as  hot  as 
the  cook’s  coppers.  I’m  tired  of  my  berth,  d’ye 
see,  and  if-so-be  that  Leather-stocking  has  got 
much  over-hauling  to  do  before  he  sails  after  them 
said  beaver,  I’ll  go  into  dock  again,  and  ride  out 
my  quarantine  till  I can  get  prottick  from  the 
law,  and  so  hold  on  upon  the  rest  of  my  ’spa- 
niolas.” 

“ Bring  up  a glass  of  water  from  the  spring,” 
continued  Edwards,  “ and  throw  a little  wine  in  it ; 
hasten,  I entreat  you  ! ” 

“ I knows  but  little  of  your  small  drink,  master 
Oliver,”  returned  the  steward,  his  voice  issuing 
out  of  the  cave  into  the  open  air,  “and  the 
Jamaikey  held  out  no  longer  than  to  take  a part- 
ing kiss  with  Billy  Kirby,  when  he  anchored  me 
alongside  the  highway  last  night,  where  you  run 
me  down  in  the  chase.  But  here’s  sum’mat  of  a 
red  color  that  may  suit  a weak  stomach,  mayhap. 
That  Master  Kirby  is  no  first-rate  in  a boat ; but 
he’ll  tack  a cart  among  the  stumps,  all  the  same  as 
a Lon’on  pilot  will  back  and  fill  through  the  col 
liers  in  the  Pool.” 


182 


THE  PIONEERS. 


As  the  steward  ascended  while  talking,  by  the 
time  he  had  ended  his  speech,  he  appeared  on  the 
rock  with  the  desired  restoratives,  exhibiting  the 
worn-out  and  bloated  features  of  a man  who  had 
run  deep  in  a debauch,  and  that  lately. 

Elizabeth  took  from  the  hands  of  Edwards 
the  liquor  which  he  offered,  and  then  motioned  to 
be  left  again  to  herself. 

The  youth  turned  at  her  bidding,  and  ob- 
served Natty  kindly  assiduous  around  the  person 
of  Mohegan.  When  their  eyes  met,  the  hunter 
said  sorrowfully . 

“ His  time  has  come,  lad  ; I see  it  in  his.  eyes ; 
— when  an  Indian  fixes  his  eye,  he  means  to  go  but 
to  one  place ; and  what  the  wilful  creatures  put 
their  minds  on,  they’re  sure  to  do.” 

A quick  tread  prevented  the  reply,  and  in  a 
few  moments,  to  the  amazement  of  the  whole 
party,  Mr.  Grant  was  seen  clinging  to  the  side  of 
the  mountain,  and  striving  to  reach  the  place 
where  they  stood.  Oliver  sprang  to  his  assist- 
tance,  and  by  their  united  efforts  the  worthy 
divine  was  soon  placed  safely  among  them.” 

“ How  came  you  added  to  our  number  ? ’’ 
cried  Edwards.  “ Is  the  hill  alive  with  people  at 
a time  like  this  ? ” 

The  hasty  but  pious  thanksgivings  of  the 
clergyman  were  soon  ejaculated ; and,  when  he 
succeeded  in  collecting  his  bewildered  senses,  he 
replied : 

“ I heard  that  my  child  was  seen  coming  to 
the  mountain ; and,  when  the  fire  broke  over  its 
summit,  my  uneasiness  drew  me  up  the  road, 
where  I found  Louisa,  in  terror  for  Miss  Temple. 
It  was  to  seek  her  that  I came  into  this  danger- 
ous place ; and  I think,  but  for  God’s  mercy, 
through  the  dogs  of  Natty,  I should  have  per- 
ished in  the  flames  myself.” 

“ Ay ! follow  the  hounds,  and  if  there’s  an 
opening  they’ll  scent  it  out,”  said  Natty;  “their 
noses  be  given  them  the  same  as  man’s  reason.” 

“ I did  so,  and  they  led  me  to  this  place ; 
but,  praise  be  to  God,  that  I see  you  all  safe  and 
well.” 

“ No,  no,”  returned  the  hunter ; “ safe  we  be, 
but  as  for  well,  John  can’t  be  called  in  a good 
way,  unless  you’ll  say  that  for  a man  that’s  tak- 
ing his  last  look  at  ’arth.” 

“ He  speaks  the  truth ! ” said  the  divine,  with 
:he  holy  awe  with  which  he  ever  approached  the 
dying ; “ I have  been  by  too  many  death-beds, 

not  to  see  that  the  hand  of  the  tyrant  is  laid  on 
this  old  warrior.  Oh ! how  consoling  it  is  to 
know  that  he  has  not  rejected  the  offered  mercy 
in  the  hour  of  his  strength  and  of  worldly  temp- 
tations ! The  offspring  of  a race  of  heathens,  he 


has  in  truth  been  ‘ as  a brand  plucked  from  the 
burning.’  ” 

*“  No,  no,”  returned  Natty,  who  alone  stood 
with  him  by  the  side  of  the  dying  warrior,  “it’s 
no  burning  that  ails  tim,  though  his  Indian  feel, 
ings  made  him  scorn  to  move,  unless  it  be  the  burn- 
ing of  man’s  wicked  thoughts  for  near  fourscore 
years ; but  it’s  nater  giving  out  in  a chase  that’s 
run  too  long. — Down  with  ye,  Hector ! down, 
I say! — Flesh  isn’t  iron,  that  a man  can  live 
for  ever,  and  see  his  kith  and  kin  driven  to  a far 
country,  and  he  left  to  mourn,  with  none  to  keep 
him  company.” 

“John,”  said  the  divine,  tenderly,  “do  you 
hear  me  ? do  you  wish  the  prayers  appointed  by 
the  church,  at  this  trying  moment?” 

The  Indian  turned  his  ghastly  face  toward  the 
speaker,  and  fastened  his  dark  eyes  on  him, 
steadily,  but  vacantly.  No  sign  of  recognition 
was  made  ; and  in  a moment  he  moved  his  head 
again  slowly  toward  the  vale,  and  began  to  sing, 
using  his  own  language,  in  those  low,  guttural 
tones,  that  have  been  so  often  mentioned,  his 
notes  rising  with  his  theme,  till  they  swelled  so 
loud  as  to  be  distinct. 

“ I will  come ! I will  come  ! to  the  land  of  the 
just  I will  come ! The  Maquas  I have  slain ! — I 
have  slain  the  Maquas  ! and  the  Great  Spirit  calls 
to  his  son.  I will  come ! I will  come ! to  the 
land  of  the  just  I will  come ! ” 

'“  What  says  he,  Leather-stocking  ? ” inquired 
the  priest,  with  tender  interest ; “ sings  he  the 
Redeemer’s  praise  ? ” 

“ No,  no — ’tis  his  own  praise  that  he  speaks 
now,”  said  Natty,  turning  in  a melancholy  manner 
from  the  sight  of  his  dying  friend  ; “ and  a good 
right  he  has  to  say  it  all,  for  I know  every  word 
to  be  true.” 

“May  Heaven  avert  such  self-righteousness 
from  his  heart ! Humility  and  penitence  are  the 
seals  of  Christianity ; and,  without  feeling  them 
deeply  seated  in  the  soul,  all  hope  is  delusive,  and 
leads  to  vain  expectations.  Praise  himself ! when 
his  whole  soul  and  body  should  unite  to  praise 
his  Maker ! John  ! you  have  enjoyed  the  bless- 
ings of  a gospel  ministry,  and  have  been  called 
from  out  a multitude  of  sinners  and  pagans,  and, 
I trust,  for  a wise  and  gracious  purpose.  Do  you 
now  feel  what  it  is  to  be  justified  by  our  Sav- 
iour’s death,  and  reject  all  weak  and  idle  depend- 
ence on  good  works,  that  spring  from  man’s  pride 
and  vainglory  ? ” 

The  Indian  did  not  regard  his  interrogator, 
but  he  raised  his  head  again,  and  said  in  a low, 
distinct  voice  : 

“ Who  can  say  that  the  Maquas  know  the 


THE  DYING  MOHEGAN. 


183 


sack  of  the  Mohegan  ? What  enemy  that  trust- 
ed in  him  did  not  see  the  morning?  What 
Mingo  that  he  chased  ever  sang  the  song  of  tri- 
umph ? Did  Mohegan  ever  lie  ? No ; the  truth 
lived  in  him,  and  none  else  could  come  out  of 
him.  In  his  youth  he  was  a warrior,  and  his  moc- 
casins left  the  stain  of  blood.  In  his  age,  he  was 
wise ; his  words  at  the  council  fire  did  not  blow 
away  with  the  winds.” 

“ Ah ! he  has  abandoned  that  vain  relic  of  pa- 
ganism, his  songs,”  cried  the  divine;  “what 
says  he  now  ? is  he  sensible  of  his  lost  state  ? ” 

“ Lord ! man,”  said  Natty,  “ he  knows  his  end 
is  at  hand  as  well  as  you  or  I ; but,  so  far  from 
thinking  it  a loss,  he  believes  it  to  be  a great  gain. 
He  is  old  and  stiff,  and  you  have  made  the  game 
so  scarce  and  shy,  that  better  shots  than  him  find 
it  hard  to  get  a livelihood.  Now  he  thinks  he 
shall  travel  where  it  will  always  be  good  hunting ; 
where  no  wicked  or  unjust  Indians  can  go ; and 
where  he  shall  meet  all  his  tribe  together  ag’in. 
There’s  not  much  loss  in  that,  to  a man  whose 
hands  are  hardly  fit  for  basket-making.  Loss ! 
if  there  be  any  loss,  ’twill  be  to  me.  I’m  sure, 
after  he’s  gone,  there  will  be  but  little  left  for  me 
but  to  follow.” 

“ His  example  and  end,  which,  I humbly  trust, 
shall  yet  be  made  glorious,”  returned  Mr.  Grant, 
“ should  lead  your  mind  to  dwell  on  the  things  of 
another  life.  But  I feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to 
smooth  the  way  for  the  parting  spirit.  This  is 
the  moment,  John,  when  the  reflection  that  you 
did  not  reject  the  mediation  of  the  Redeemer,  will 
bring  balm  to  your  soul.  Trust  not  to  any  act  of 
former  days,  but  lay  the  burden  of  your  sins  at 
his  feet,  and  you  have  his  own  blessed  assurance 
that  he  will  not  desert  you.” 

“ Though  all  you  say  be  true,  and  you  have 
scripter  gospels  for  it,  too,”  said  Natty,  “ you  will 
make  nothing  of  the  Indian.  He  hasn’t  seen  a' 
Moravian  priest  sin’  the  war ; and  it’s  hard  to 
keep  them  from  going  back  to  their  native  ways. 
I should  think  ’twould  be  as  well  to  let  the  old 
man  pass  in  peace.  He’s  happy  now  ; I know  it 
by  his  eye ; and  that’s  more  than  I would  say  for 
the  chief,  sin’  the  time  the  Delawares  broke  up 
from  the  head-waters  of  their  river,  and  went  west. 
Ah’s  me ! ’tis  a grievous  long  time  that,  and 
many  dark  days  have  we  seen  together  sin’ 
it.” 

“ Hawk-eye  ! ” said  Mohegan,  rousing  with  the 
last  glimmering  of  life.  “ Hawk-eye ! listen  to 
Vhe  words  of  your  brother.” 

“Yes,  John,”  said  the  hunter,  in  English, 
6trongly  affected  by  the  appeal,  and  drawing  to 
his  side ; “ we  have  been  brothers ; and  more  so 


than  it  means  in  the  Indian  tongue.  What  would 
ye  oave  with  me,  Chingachgook  ? ” 

“ Hawk-eye ! my  fathers  call  me  to  the  happy 
hunting-grounds.  The  path  is  clear,  and  the 
eyes  of  Mohegan  grow  young.  I look — but  I see 
no  white-skins;  there  are  none  to  be  seen  but 
just  and  brave  Indians.  Farfewell,  Hawk-eye — 
you  shall  go  with  the  Fire-eater  and  the  Young 
Eagle,  to  the  white  man’s  heaven  ; but  I go  after 
my  fathers.  Let  the  bow,  and  tomahawk,  and 
pipe,  and  the  wampum  of  Mohegan  be  laid  in  his 
grave ; for  when  he  starts  ’twill  be  in  the  night, 
like  a warrior  on  a war-party,  and  he  cannot  stop 
to  seek  them.” 

“ What  says  he,  Nathaniel  ? ” cried  Mr.  Grant, 
earnestly,  and  with  obvious  anxiety ; “ does  he 
recall  the  promises  of  the  mediation  ? and  trust 
his  salvation  to  the  Rock  of  Ages  ? ” 

Although  the  faith  of  the  hunter  was  by  no 
means  clear,  yet  the  fruits  of  early  instruction 
had  not  entirely  fallen  in  the  wilderness.  He  be- 
lieved in  one  God,  and  one  heaven ; and  when 
the  strong  feeling  excited  by  the  leave-taking  of 
his  old  companion,  which  was  exhibited  by  the 
powerful  working  of  every  muscle  in  his  weather- 
beaten face,  suffered  him  to  speak,  he  replied  : 

“ No — no — he  trusts  only  to  the  Great  Spirit 
of  the  savages,  and  to  his  own  good  deeds.  He 
thinks,  like  all  his  people,  that  he  is  to  be  young 
ag’in,  and  to  hunt,  and  be  happy  to  the  end  of 
etarnity.  It’s  pretty  much  the  same  with  all  col- 
ors, parson.  I could  never  bring  myself  to  think, 
that  I shall  meet  with  these  hounds,  or  my  piece, 
in  another  world ; though  the  thoughts  of  leav- 
ing them  for  ever  sometimes  brings  hard  feelings 
over  me,  and  makes  me  cling  to  life  with  a greater 
craving  than  beseems  three-score-and-ten.” 

“ The  Lord  in  his  mercy  avert  such  a death 
from  one  who  has  been  sealed  with  the  sign  of 
the  cross  ! ” cried  the  minister,  in  holy  fervor. 
“John — ” 

He  paused  for  the  elements.  During  the  pe- 
riod occupied  by  the  events  which  we  have  related, 
the  dark  clouds  in  the  horizon  had  continued  to 
increase  in  numbers  and  magnitude ; and  the 
awful  stillness  that  now  pervaded  the  air,  an- 
nounced a crisis  in  the  state  of  the  atmosphere. 
The  flames,  which  yet  continued  to  rage  along  the 
sides  of  the  mountain,  no  longer  whirled  in  uncer- 
tain currents  of  their  own  eddies,  but  blazed  high 
and  steadily  toward  the  heavens.  There  was 
even  a quietude  in  the  ravages  of  the  destructive 
element,  as  if  it  foresaw  that  a hand,  greater  than 
even  its  own  desolating  power,  was  about  to  stay 
its  progress.  The  piles  of  smoke  which  lay  above 
the  valley  began  to  rise,  and  were  dispelling  rap 


L84 


THE  PIONEERS. 


idly ; and  itreaks  of  vivid  lightning  were  dan- 
cing through  the  masses  of  clouds  that  impended 
over  the  western  hills.  While  Mr.  Grant  was 
speaking,  a flash,  which  sent  its  quivering  light 
through  the  gloom,  laying  bare  the  whole  opposite 
horizon,  was  followed  by  a loud  crash  of  thunder, 
that  rolled  away  among  the  hills,  seeming  to 
shake  the  foundations  of  the  earth  to  their  centre. 
Mohegan  raised  himself,  as  if  in  obedience  to  a 
signal  for  his  departure,  and  stretched  his  wasted 
arm  toward  the  west.  His  dark  face  lighted  with 
a look  of  joy ; which,  with  all  other  expression, 
gradually  disappeared ; the  muscles  stiffening  as 
they  retreated  to  a state  of  rest ; a slight  convul- 
sion played,  for  a single  instant,  about  his  lips  ; 
and  his  arm  slowly  dropped  by  his  side ; leaving 
the  frame  of  the  dead  warrior  reposing  against  the 
rock  with  its  glassy  eyes  open,  and  fixed  on  the 
distant  hills,  as  if  the  deserted  shell  were  tracing 
the  flight  of  the  spirit  to  its  new  abode. 

All  this  Mr.  Grant  witnessed  in  silent  awe ; 
but,  when  the  last  echoes  of  the  thunder  died  away, 
he  clasped  his  hands  together,  with  pious  energy, 
and  repeated,  in  the  full,  rich  tones  of  assured 
faith : 

“ 0 Lord ! how  unsearchable  are  thy  judg- 
ments ; and  thy  ways  past  finding  out ! ‘ I know 
that  my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand 
at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth : and  though  after 
my  skin,  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh 
shall  I see  God ; whom  I shall  see  for  myself,  and 
mine  eyes  shall  behold,  and  not  another.’  ” 

As  the  divine  closed  this  burst  of  devotion,  he 
bowed  his  head  meekly  to  his  bosom,  and  looked 
all.  the  dependence  and  humility  that  the  inspired 
language  expressed. 

When  Mr.  Grant  retired  from  the  body,  the 
hunter  approached,  and,  taking  the  rigid  hand  of 
his  friend,  looked  him  wistfully  in  the  face  for 
some  time  without  speaking,  when  he  gave  vent 
to  his  feelings  by  saying,  in  the  mournful  voice  of 
one  who  felt  deeply  : 

“ Red  skin  or  white,  it’s  all  over  now ! He’s 
to  be  judged  by  a righteous  Judge,  and  by  no 
laws  that’s  made  to  suit  times,  and  new  ways. 
Well,  there’s  only  one  more  death,  and  the  world 
will  be  left  to  me  and  the  hounds.  Ah’s  me.!  a 
man  must  wait  the  time  of  God’s  pleasure,  but  I 
begin  to  weary  of  life.  There  is  scarcely  a tree 
standing  that  I know,  and  it’s  hard  to  find  a face 
that  I was  acquainted  with  in  my  younger  days.” 

Large  drops  of  rain  began  now  to  fall,  and 
diffuse  themselves  over  the  dry  rock,  while  the 
approach  of  the  thunder  shower  was  rapid  and 
certain.  The  body  of  the  Indian  was  hastily  re- 
moved into  the  cave  beneath,  followed  by  the 


whining  hounds,  who  missed  and  moaned  for  the 
look  of  intelligence  that  had  always  met  their  sal- 
utations to  the  chief. 

Edwards  made  some  hasty  and  confused  excuse 
for  not  taking  Elizabeth  into  the  6ame  place, 
which  was  now  completely  closed  in  front  with 
logs  and  bark,  saying  something  that  she  hardly 
understood  about  its  darkness,  and  the  unpleas 
antness  of  being  with  the  dead  body.  Miss  Tem- 
ple, however, , found  a sufficient  shelter  against 
the  torrent  of  rain  that  fell,  under  the  projection 
of  a rock  which  overhung  them.  But  long  before 
the  shower  was  over,  the  sounds  of  voices  were 
heard  below  them  crying  aloud  for  Elizabeth,  and 
men  soon  appeared,  beating  the  dying  embers  of 
the  bushes,  as  they  worked  their  way  cautiously 
among  the  unextinguished  brands. 

At  the  first  short  cessation  in  the  rain,  Oliver 
conducted  Elizabeth  to  the  road,  where  he  left 
her.  Before  parting,  however,  he  found  time  to 
say,  in  a fervent  manner,  that  his  companion  was 
now  at  no  loss  to  interpret : 

“The  moment  of  concealment  is  over,  Miss 
Temple.  By  this  time  to-morrow,  I shall  remove 
a veil  that  perhaps  it  has  been  weakness  to  keep 
around  me  and  my  affairs  so  long.  But  I have 
had  romantic  and  foolish  wishes  and  weaknesses : 
and  who  has  not,  that  is  young  and  torn  by  con- 
flicting passions  ? God  bless  you ! I hear  your 
father’s  voice ; he  is  coming  up  the  road,  and  I 
would  not,  just  now,  subject  myself  to  detention. 
Thank  Heaven,’  you  are  safe  again;  that  alone 
removes  the  weight  of  a world  from  my  spirit ! ” 

He  waited  for  no  answer,  but  sprang  into  the 
woods.  Elizabeth,  notwithstanding  she  heard  the 
cries  of  her  father  as  he  called  upon  her  name, 
paused  until  he  was  concealed  among  the  smok- 
ing trees,  when  she  turned,  and  in  a moment  rush- 
ed into  the  arms  of  her  half-distracted  parent. 

A carriage  had  been  provided,  into  which 
Miss  Temple  hastily  entered ; when  the  cry  was 
passed  along  the  hill,  that  the  lost  one  was  found 
and  the  people  returned  to  the  village  wet  and 
dirty,  but  elated  with  the  thought  that  the  daugh- 
ter of  their  landlord  had  escaped  from  so  horrid 
and  untimely  an  end.* 


* The  probability  of  a fire  in  the  woods,  similar  to' that 
here  described,  has  been  questioned.  The  writer  can  only 
say  that  he  once  witnessed  a fire  in  another  part  of  New 
York  that  compelled  a man  to  desert  his  wagon  and  horses 
in  the  highway,  and  in  which  the  latter  were  destroyed. 
In  order  to  estimate  the  probability  of  sueh  an  event,  it  is 
necessary  to  remember  the  effects  of  a long  drought  in  that 
climate,  and  the  abundance  of  dead  wood  which  is  found  in 
a forest  like  that  described.  The  fires  in  the  American  for- 
ests frequently  rage  to  such  an  extent  as  to  produce  a sen- 
sible effect  on  the  atmosphere  at  the  distance  of  fifty  miles 


THE  TEMPLETON  LIGHT-INFANTRY. 


185 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

“Sellctar!  unsheathe  then  our  chiefs  scimitar ; 
Tambourgi ! thy  ’larum  gives  promise  of  war ; 

Ye  mountains  1 that  see  us  descend  to  the  shore, 

Shall  view  us  as  victors,  or  view  us  no  more.” 

Bykon. 

The  heavy  showers  that  prevailed  during  the 
remainder  of  the  day  completely  stopped  the  prog- 
ress of  the  flames ; though  glimmering  fires  were 
observed  during  the  night,  on  different  parts  of 
the  hill,  wherever  there  was  a collection  of  fuel 
to  feed  the  element.  The  next  day  the  woods, 
for  many  miles,  were  black  and  smoking,  and 
were  stripped  of  every  vestige  of  brush  and  dead 
wood;  but  the  pines  and  hemlocks  still  reared 
their  heads  proudly  among  the  hills,  and  even  the 
smaller  trees  of  the  forest  retained  a feeble  ap- 
pearance of  life  and  vegetation. 

The  many  tongues  of  rumor  were  busy  in 
exaggerating  the  miraculous  escape  of  Elizabeth  ; 
and  a report  was  generally  credited,  that  Mohe- 
gan  had  actually  perished  in  the  flames.  This  be- 
lief became  confirmed,  and  was  indeed  rendered 
probable,  when  the  direful  intelligence  reached 
the  village  that  Jotham  Riddell,  the  miner,  was 
found  in  his  hole,  nearly  dead  with  suffocation, 
and  burnt  to  such  a degree  that  no  hopes  were 
entertained  of  his  life. 

The  public  attention  became  much  alive  to 
the  events  of  the  last  few  days ; and,  just  at  this 
crisis,  the  convicted  counterfeiters  took  the  hint 
from  Natty,  and,  on  the  night  succeeding  the  fire, 
found  means  to  cut  through  their  log  prison  also, 
and  to  escape  unpunished.  When  this  news  be- 
gan to  circulate  through  the  village,  blended  with 
the  fate  of  Jotham,  and  the  exaggerated  and  tor- 
tured reports  of  the  events  on  the  hill,  the  popu- 
lar opinion  was  freely  expressed,  as  to  the  pro- 
priety of  seizing  such  of  the  fugitives  as  remained 
within  reach.  Men  talked  of  the  cave  as  a secret 
receptacle  of  guilt ; and,  as  ttie  rumor  of  ores 
and  metals  found  its  way  into  the  confused  med- 
ley of  conjectures,  counterfeiting,  and  everything 
else  that  was  wicked  and  dangerous  to  the  peace 
of  society,  suggested  themselves  to  the  busy  fan- 
cies of  the  populace. 

While  the  public  mind  was  in  this  feverish 
state,  it  was  hinted  that  the  wood  had  been  set 
on  fire  by  Edwards  and  the  Leather-stocking, 
and  that,  consequently,  they  alone  were  responsi- 
ble for  the  damages.  This  opinion  soon  gained 
ground,  being  most  circulated  by  those  who,  by 
their  own  heedlessness,  had  caused  the  evil ; and 

Houses,  barns,  and  fences,  are  quite  commonly  swept  away 
In  their  course. 


there  was  one  irresistible  burst  of  the  common 
sentiment,  that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to 
punish  the  offenders.  Richard  was  by  no  means 
deaf  to  this  appeal,  and  by  noon  he  set  about  in 
earnest  to  see  the  laws  executed. 

Several  stout  young  men  were  selected,  and 
taken  apart  with  an  appearance  of  secrecy,  where 
they  received  some  important  charge  from  the 
sheriff,  immediately  under  the  eyes,  but  far  re- 
moved from  the  ears,  of  all  in  the  village.  Pos- 
sessed of  a knowledge  of  their  duty,  these  youths 
hurried  into  the  hills,  with  a bustling  manner,  as 
if  the  fate  of  the  world  depended  on  their  dili- 
gence, and,  at  the  same  time,  with  an  air  of  mys- 
tery, as  great  as  if  they  were  engaged  on  secret 
matters  of  the  state. 

At  twelve  precisely,  a drum  beat  the  “long 
roll”  before  the  “Bold  Dragoon,”  and  Richard 
appeared,  accompanied  by  Captain  Hollister,  who 
was  clad  in  his  vestments  as  commander  of  the 
“ Templeton  Light-Infantry,”  when  the  former 
demanded  of  the  latter  the  aid  of  the  posse  comi- 
tatus,  in  enforcing  the  laws  of  the  country.  We 
have  not  room  to  record  the  speeches  of  the  two 
gentlemen  on  this  occasion,  but  they  are  pre- 
served in  the  columns  of  the  little  blue  news- 
paper, which  is  yet  to  be  found  on  the  file,  and 
are  said  to  be  highly  creditable  to  the  legal  for- 
mula of  one  of  the  parties,  and  to  the  military 
precision  of  the  other.  Every  thing  had  been 
previously  arranged,  and,  as  the  red-coated  drum- 
mer continued  to  roll  out  his  clattering  notes, 
some  five-and-twenty  privates  appeared  in  the 
ranks,  and  arranged  themselves  in  the  order  of 
battle. 

As  this  corps  was  composed  of  volunteers, 
and  was  commanded  by  a man  who  had  passed 
the  first  five-and-thirty  years  of  his  life  in  camps 
and  garrisons,  it  was  the  nonpareil  of  military 
science  in  that  country,  and  was  confidently  pro- 
nounced, by  the  judicious  part  of  the  Templeton 
community,  to  be  equal  in  skill  and  appearance 
to  any  troops  in  the  known  world ; in  physical 
endowments  they  were,  certainly,  much  superior ! 
To  this  assertion  there  were  but  three  dissenting 
voices,  and  one  dissenting  opinion.  The  opinion 
belonged  to  Marmaduke,  who,  however,  saw  no 
necessity  for  its  promulgation.  Of  the  voices,  one, 
and  that  a pretty  loud  one,  came  from  the  spouse 
of  the  commander  himself,  who  frequently  re- 
proached her  husband  for  condescending  to  lead 
such  an  irregular  band  of  warriors,  after  he  had 
filled  the  honorable  station  of  sergeant-major  to 
a dashing  corps  of  Virginian  cavalry  through 
much  of  the  recent  war. 

Another  of  these  skeptical  sentiments  was  in- 


186 


THE  PIONEERS. 


variably  expressed  by  Mr.  Pump,  whenever  the 
company  paraded,  generally  in  some  such  terms 
as  these,  which  were  uttered  with  that  sort  of 
meekness  that  a native  of  the  island  of  our  fore- 
fathers is  apt  to  assume,  when  he  condescends 
to  praise  the  customs  or  character  of  her  truant 
progeny : 

“ It’s  mayhap  that  they  knows  sum’mat  about 
loading  and  firing,  d’ye  see  ; but  as  for  working 
ship ! why  a corporal’s  guard  of  the  Boadishey’s 
marines  would  back  and  fill  on  their  quarters  in 
such  a manner  as  to  surround  and  captivate  them 
all  in  half  a glass.”  as  there  was  no  one  to  deny 
this  assertion,  the  marines  of  the  Boadicea  were 
held  in  a corresponding  degree  of  estimation. 

The  third  unbeliever  was  Monsieur  Le  Quoi, 
who  merely  whispered  to  the  sheriff,  that  the 
corps  was  one  of  the  finest  he  had  ever  seen, 
second  only  to  the  Mousquetaires  of  Le  Bon 
Louis ! However,  as  Mrs.  Hollister  thought  there 
was  something  like  actual  service  in  the  present 
appearances,  and  was,  in  consequence,  too  busily 
engaged  with  certain  preparations  of  her  own,  to 
make  her  comments ; as  Benjamin  was  absent,  and 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi  too  happy  to  find  fault  with 
any  thing,  the  corps  escaped  criticism  and  com- 
parison altogether  on  this  momentous  day,  when 
they  certainly  had  greater  need  of  self-confidence 
than  on  any  other  previous  occasion.  Marmaduke 
was  said  to  be  again  closeted  with  Mr.  Yan  der 
School,  and  no  interruption  was  offered  to  the 
movements  of  the  troops.  At  two  o’clock  pre- 
cisely the  corps  shouldered  arms,  beginning  on 
the  right  wing,  next  to  the  veteran,  and  carrying 
the  motion  through  to  the  left  with  great  regu- 
larity. When  each  musket  was  quietly  fixed  in 
its  proper  situation,  the  order  was  given  to  wheel 
to  the  left,  and  march.  As  this  was  bringing  raw 
troops,  at  once,  to  face  their  enemy,  it  is  not  to 
be  supposed  that  the  manoeuvre  was  executed 
with  their  usual  accuracy ; but  as  the  music 
struck  up  the  inspiring  air  of  Yankee-doodle,  and 
Richard,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Doolittle,  preceded 
the  troops  boldly  down  the  street,  Captain  Hollis- 
ter led  on,  wdth  his  head  elevated  to  forty-five 
degrees,  with  a little,  low  cocked-hat  perched  on 
his  crown,  carrying  a tremendous  dragoon  sabre 
at  a poise,  and  trailing  at  his  heels  a huge  steel 
scabbard,  that  had  war  in  its  very  clattering. 
There  was  a good  deal  of  difficulty  in  getting  all 
the  platoons  (there  were  six)  to  look  the  same 
way,  but,  by  the  time  they  reached  the  defile  of 
the  bridge,  the  troops  were  in  sufficiently  com- 
pact order.  In  this  manner  they  marched  up  the 
hill  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  no  other  al- 
teration taking  place  in  the  disposition  of  the  for- 


ces, excepting  that  a mutual  complaint  was  made, 
by  the  sheriff  and  the  magistrate,  of  a failure  in 
wind,  which  gradually  brought  these  gentlemen 
to  the  rear.  It  wilj  be  unnecessary  to  detail  the 
minute  movements  that  succeeded.  We  shall 
briefly  say,  that  the  scouts  came  in  and  reported, 
that,  so  far  from  retreating,  as  had  been  antici- 
pated,  the  fugitives  had  evidently  gained  a knowl- 
edge of  the  attack,  and  were  fortifying  for  a 
desperate  resistance.  This  intelligence  certainly 
made  a material  change,  not  only  in  the  plans  of 
the  leaders,  but  in  the  countenances  of  the  sol- 
diery also.  The  men  looked  at  one  another  with 
serious  faces,  and  Hiram  and  Richard  began  to 
consult  together,  apart. 

At  this  conjuncture,  they  were  joined  by  Billy 
Kirby,  who  came  along  the  highway,  with  his  axe 
under  his  arm,  as  much  in  advance  of  his  team  as 
Captain  Hollister  had  been  of  his  troops  in  the 
ascent.  The  wood-chopper  was  amazed  at  the 
military  array,  but  the  sheriff  eagerly  availed  him- 
self of  this  powerful  reinforcement,  and  com- 
manded his  assistance  in  putting  the  laws  in  force. 
Billy  held  Mr.  Jones  in  too  much  deference  to  ob- 
ject ; and  it  was  finally  arranged  that  he  should 
be  the  bearer  of  a summons  to  the  garrison  to 
surrender,  before  they  proceeded  to  extremities. 
The  troops  now  divided,  one  party  being  led  by 
the  captain,  over  the  Vision,  and  were  brought  in 
on  the  left  of  the  cave,  while  the  remainder  advanced 
upon  its  right,  under  the  orders  of  the  lieutenant. 
Mr.  Jones  and  Dr.  Todd — for  the  surgeon  was  in 
attendance  also — appeared  on  the  platform  of 
rock,  immediately  over  the  heads  of  the  garrison, 
though  out  of  their  sight.  Hiram  thought  this 
approaching  too  near,  and  he  therefore  accom- 
, panied  Kirby  along  the  side  of  the  hill,  to  within 
a safe  distance  of  the  fortifications,  where  he  took 
shelter  behind  a tree.  Most  of  the  men  discov- 
ered great  accuracy  of  eye  in  bringing  some  object 
in  range  between  them  and  their  enemy,  and  the 
only  two  of  the  besiegers,  who  were  left  in  plain 
sight  of  the  besieged,  were  Captain  Hollister  on 
one  side,  and  the  wood-chopper  on  the  other. 
The  veteran  stood  up  boldly  to  the  front,  support- 
ing his  heavy  sword,  in  one  undeviating  posi- 
tion, with  his  eye  fixed  firmly  on  his  enemy, 
while  the  huge  form  of  Billy  was  placed  in 
that  kind  of  quiet  repose,  with  either  hand 
thrust  into  his  bosom,  bearing  his  axe  under  his 
right  arm,  which  permitted  him,  like  his  own 
oxen,  to  rest  standing.  So  far,  not  a word 
had  been  exchanged  between  the  belligerents. 
The  besieged  had  drawn  together  a pile  of  black 
logs  and  branches  of  trees,  which  they  had 
formed  into  a chevaux-de-frise,  making  a little 


THE  POSSE  COMITATUS. 


187 


circular  abatis  in  front  of  the  entrance  to  the 
cave.  As  the  ground  was  steep  and  slippery  in 
every  direction  around  the  place,  and  Benjamin 
appeared  behind  the  works  on  one  side,  and  Natty 
on  the  other,  the  arrangement  was  by  no  means 
contemptible,  especially  as  the  front  was  suffi- 
ciently guarded  by  the  difficulty  of  the  approach. 
By  this  time,  Kirby  had  received  his  orders,  and 
he  advanced  coolly  along  the  mountain,  picking 
his  way  with  the  same  indifference  as  if  he  were 
pursuing  his  ordinary  business.  When  he  was 
within  a hundred  feet  of  the  works,  the  long  and 
much  dreaded  rifle  of  the  Leather-stocking  was 
seen  issuing  from  the  parapet,  and  his  voice  cried 
aloud : 

“ Keep  off!  Billy  Kirby,  keep  off ! I wish  ye 
no  harm ; but  if  a man  of  ye  all  comes  a step 
nigher,  there’ll  be  blood  spilt  atwixt  us.  God  for- 
give the  one  that  draws  it  first,  but  so  it  must 
be.” 

“ Come,  old  chap,”  said  Billy,  good-naturedly, 
“ don’t  be  crabb’d,  but  hear  what  a man  has  got 
to  say.  I’ve  no  consarn  in  the  business,  only  to 
see  right  ’twixt  man  and  man ; and  I don’t  kear 
the  valie  of  a beetle  ring  which  gets  the  better ; 
but  there’s  Squire  Doolittle,  yonder  behind  the 
beech  sapling,  he  has  invited  me  to  come  in  and 
ask  you  to  give  up  to  the  law — that’s  all.” 

“ I see  the  varmint ! I see  his  clothes  ! ” cried 
the  indignant  Natty ; “ and  if  he’ll  only  show  so 
much  flesh  as  will  bury  a rifle  bullet,  thirty  to  the 
pound,  I’ll  make  him  feel  me.  Go  away,  Billy,  I 
bid  ye : you  know  my  aim,  and  I bear  you  no 
malice.” 

“You  over-calculate  your  aim,  Natty,”  said 
the  other,  as  he  stepped  behind  a pine  that  stood 
near  him ; “ if  you  think  to  shoot  a man  through 
a tree  with  a three-foot  butt.  I can  lay  this  tree 
right  across  you  in  ten  minutes,  by  any  man’s 
watch,  and  in  less  time,  too ; so  be  civil — I want 
no  more  than  what’s  right.” 

There  was  a simple  seriousness  in  the  counte- 
nance of  Natty,  that  showed  he  was  much  in 
earnest ; but  it  was  also  evident  that  he  was  re- 
luctant to  shed  human  blood.  He  answered  the 
taunt  of  the  wood-chopper,  by  saying : 

“ I know  you  drop  a tree  where  you  will,  Billy 
Kirby ; but  if  you  show  a hand,  or  an  arm,  in  do- 
ing it,  there’ll  be  bones  to  be  set,  and  blood  to 
staunch.  If  it’s  only  to  get  into  the  cave  that  ye 
want,  wait  till  a two  hours’  sun,  and  you  may 
enter  it  in  welcome ; but  come  in  now  you  shall 
not.  There’s  one  dead  body  already,  lying  on 
the  cold  rocks,  and  there’s  another  in  which  the 
life  can  hardly  be  said  to  stay.  If  you  will  come 
in,  there’ll  be  dead  without  as  well  as  within.” 


The  wood-chopper  stepped  out  fearlessly  from 
his  cover,  and  cried : 

“That’s  fair;  and  what’s  fair  is  right.  He 
wants  you  to  stop  till  it’s  two  hours  to  sundown ; 
and  I see  reason  in  the  thing.  A man  can  give 
up  when  he’s  wrong,  if  you  don’t  crowd  him  too 
hard ; but  you  crowd  a man,  and  he  gets  to  be 
like  a stubborn  ox — the  more  you  beat,  the  worse 
he  kicks.” 

The  sturdy  notions  of  independence  main- 
tained by  Billy  neither  suited  the  emergency  nor 
the  impatience  of  Mr.  Jones,  who  was  burning 
with  a desire  to  examine  the  hidden  mysteries  of 
the  cave.  He  therefore  interrupted  this  amicable 
dialogue  with  his  own  voice. 

“ I command  you,  Nathaniel  Bumppo,  by  my 
authority,  to  surrender  your  person  to  the  law,” 
he  cried.  “ And  I command  you,  gentlemen,  to 
aid  me  in  performing  my  duty.  Benjamin  Pen- 
guillan,  I arrest  you,  and  order  you  to  follow  me 
to  the  jail  of  the  county,  by  virtue  of  this  war- 
rant.” 

“ I’d  follow  ye,  Squire  Dickens,”  said  Benja- 
min, removing  the  pipe  from  his  mouth  (for  dur- 
ing the  whole  scene  the  ex-major-domo  had  been 
very  composedly  smoking) ; “ ay  ! I’d  sail  in  your 
wake,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  if-so-be  that  there 
was  such  a place,  where  there  isn’t,  seeing  that 
it’s  round.  Now  mayhap,  Master  Hollister,  hav- 
ing lived  all  your  life  on  shore,  you  isn’t  acquainted 
that  the  world,  d’ye  see — ” 

“ Surrender ! ” interrupted  the  veteran,  in  a 
voice  that  startled  his  hearers,  and  which  actually 
caused  his  own  forces  to  recoil  several  paces ; 
“surrender,  Benjamin  Pengullum,  or  expect  no 
quarter.” 

“ Damn  your  quarter ! ” said  Benjamin,  rising 
from  the  log  on  which  he  was  seated,  and  taking 
a squint  along  the  barrel  of  the  swivel,  which 
had  been  brought  on  the  hill  during  the  night, 
and  now  formed  the  means  of  defence  on  his  side 
of  the  works.  “ Look  you,  master  or  captain, 
thof  I questions  if  ye  know  the  name  of  a rope, 
except  the  one  that’s  to  hang  ye,  there’s  no  need 
of  singing  out,  as  if  ye  was  hailing  a deaf  man  on 
a top-gallant  yard.  Mayhap  you  think  you’ve 
got  my  true  name  in  your  sheep-skin  ; but  what 
British  sailor  finds  it  worth  while  to  sail  in  these 
seas,  without  a sham  on  his  stern,  in  case  of  need, 
d’ye  see.  If  you  call  me  Penguillan,  you  calls 
me  by  the  name  of  the  man  on  whose  land,  d’ye 
see,  I hove  into  daylight ; and  he  was  a gentle- 
man ; and  that’s  more  than  my  worst  enemy  will 
say  of  any  of  the  family  of  Benjamin  Stubbs.” 

“ Send  the  warrant  round  to  me,  and  I’ll  put 
in  an  alias,”  cried  Hiram,  from  behind  his  cover. 


188 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“Put  in  a jackass,  and  you’ll  put  in  yourself, 
Mister  Doo-but-little,”  shouted  Benjamin,  who 
kept  squinting  along  his  little  iron  tube,  with 
great  steadiness. 

“ I give  you  but  one  moment  to  yield,”  cried 
Richard.  “Benjamin!  Benjamin!  this  is  not  the 
gratitude  I expected  from  you.” 

“I  tell  you,  Richard  Jones,”  said  Natty,  who 
dreaded  the  sheriff’s  influence  over  his  comrade  ; 
“though  the  canister  the  gal  brought  be  lost, 
there’s  powder  enough  in  the  cave  to  lift  the  rock 
you  stand  on.  I’ll  take  off  my  roof  if  you  don’t 
hold  your  peace.” 

“ I think  it  beneath  the  dignity  of  my  office  to 
parley  further  with  the  prisoners,”  the  sheriff 
observed  to  his  companion,  while  they  both  re- 
tired with  a precipitancy  that  Captain  Hollister 
mistook  for  the  signal  to  advance. 

“ Charge  baggonet ! ” shouted  the  veteran ; 
“march!”  • 

Although  this  signal  was  certainly  expected, 
it  took  the  assailed  a little  by  surprise,  and  the 
veteran  approached  the  works,  crying,  “ Courage, 
my  brave  lads  ! give  them  no  quarter  upless  they 
surrender  ; ” and  struck  a furious  blow  upward 
with  his  sabre,  that  would  have  divided  the  stew- 
ard into  moieties,  by  subjecting  him  to  the  pro- 
cess of  decapitation,  but  for  the  fortunate  inter- 
ference of  the  muzzle  of  the  swivel  As  it  was, 
the  gun  was  dismounted  at  the  critical  moment 
that  Benjamin  was  applying  his  pipe  to  the  prim- 
ing, and,  in  consequence,  some  five  or  six  dozen 
of  rifle  bullets  were  projected  into  the  air,  in 
nearly  a perpendicular  line.  Philosophy  teaches 
us  that  the  atmosphere  will  not  retain  lead ; and 
two  pounds  of  the  metal,  moulded  into  bullets  of 
thirty  to  the  pound,  after  describing  an  ellipsis 
m their  journey,  returned  to  the  earth  rattling 
among  the  branches  of  the  trees  directly  over  the 
heads  of  the  troops  stationed  in  the  rear  of  their 
captain.  Much  of  the  success  of  an  attack,  made 
by  irregular  soldiers,  depends  on  the  direction  in 
which  they  are  first  got  in  motion.  In  the  present 
Instance,  it  was  retrograde,  and,  in  less  than  a 
minute  after  the  bellowing  report  of  the  swivel 
among  the  rocks  and  caverns,  the  whole  weight 
of  the  attack  from  the  left  rested  on  the  prowess 
of  the  single  arm  of  the  veteran.  Benjamin  re- 
ceived a severe  contusion  from  the  recoil  of  his 
gun,  which  produced  a short  stupor,  during 
which  period  the  ex-steward  was  prostrate  on  the 
ground.  Captain  Hollister  availed  himself  of 
this  circumstance  to  scramble  over  the  breast- 
work, and  obtain  a footing' in  the  bastion — for 
such  was  the  nature  of  the  fortress,  as  connected 
with  the  cave.  The  moment  the  veteran  found 


himself  within  the  works  of  his  enemy,  he  rushed 
to  the  edge  of  the  fortification,  and,  waving  his 
sabre  over  his  head,  shouted  : 

“ Victory  ! come  on,  my  brave  boys,  the  work’s 
our  own ! ” 

All  this  was  perfectly  military,  and  was  such 
an  example  as  a gallant  officer  was  in  some  meas- 
ure bound  to  exhibit  to  his  men ; but  the  outcry 
was  the  unlucky  cause  of  turning  the  tide  of  suc- 
cess. Natty,  who  had  been  keeping  a vigilant  eye 
on  the  wood-chopper,  and  the  enemy  immediately 
before  him,  wheeled  at  this  alarm,  and  was  ap- 
palled at  beholding  his  comrade  on  the  ground, 
and  the  veteran  standing  on  his  own  bulwark, 
giving  forth  the  cry  of  victory  ! The  muzzle  of 
the  long  rifle  was  turned  instantly  toward  the 
captain.  There  was  a moment  when  the  life  of 
the  old  soldier  was  in  great  jeopardy ; but  the 
object  to  shoot  at  was  both  too  large  and  too  near 
for  the  Leather-stocking,  who,  instead  of  pulling 
his  trigger,  applied  the  gun  to  the  rear  of  his 
enemy,  and  by  a powerful  shove  sent  him  outside 
of  the  works  with  much  greater  rapidity  than  he 
had  entered  them.  The  spot  on  which  Captain 
Hollister  alighted  was  directly  in  front,  where,  as 
his  feet  touched  the  ground,  so  steep  and  slippery 
was  the  side  of  the  mountain,  it  seemed  to  recede 
from  under  them.  His  motion  was  swift,  and  so 
irregular  as  utterly  to  confuse  the  faculties  of  the 
old  soldier.  During  its  continuance,  he  supposed 
himself  to  be  mounted,  and  charging  through  the 
ranks  of  his  enemy.  At  every  tree  he  made  a blow, 
of  course,  as  at  a foot-soldier  ; and  just  as  he  was 
making  the  cut  “ St.  George  ” at  a half-burnt 
sapling,  he  landed  in  the  highway,  and,  to  his 
utter  amazement,  at  the  feet  of  his  own  spouse. 
When  Mrs.  Hollister,  who  was  toiling  up  the  hill, 
followed  by  at  least  twenty  curious  boys,  leaning 
with  one  hand  on  the  staff  with  which  she  ordi- 
narily walked,  and  bearing  in  the  other  an  empty 
bag,  witnessed  this  exploit  of  her  husband,  indig- 
nation immediately  got  the  better,  not  only  of 
her  religion,  but  of  her  philosophy. 

“ Why,  sargeant ! is  it  flying  ye  are  ? ” she 
cried — “ that  I should  live  to  see  a husband  of 
mine  turn  his  back  to  an  inimy  ! and  such  a one ! 
Here  I have  been  telling  the  b’ys,  as  we  come 
along,  all  about  the  saige  of  Yorrektown,  and  how 
ye  was  hurted ; and  how  ye’d  be  acting  the 
same  ag’in  the  day  ; and  I mate  ye  retracing  jist 
as  the  first  gun  is  fired.  Och  ! I may  trow  away 
the  bag ! for  if  there’s  plunder,  ’twill  not  be  the 
wife  of  sich  as  yeerself  that  will  be  privileged  to 
be  getting  the  same.  They  do  say,  too,  there  is  a 
power  of  goold  and  silver  in  the  place — the  Lord 
forgive  me  for  setting  my  heart  on  worrldly  things ; 


MAJOR  EFFINGHAM. 


189 


but  what  falls  in  thebatt.e,  there’s  scripterfor  be- 
lieving, is  the  just  property  of  the  victor.” 

“ Retreating  ! ” exclaimed  the  amazed  veter- 
an ; “ where’s  my  horse  ? he  has  been  shot  under 
me — I — ” 

“ Is  the  man  mad  ? ” interrupted  his  wife — 
“ divil  the  horse  do  ye  own,  sargeant,  and  ye’re 
nothing  but  a shabby  captain  of  malaishy.  Oh  ! 
If  the  ra’al  captain  was  here,  ’tis  the  other  way 
ye’d  be  riding,  dear,  or  you  would  not  follow  your 
laider ! ” 

While  this  worthy  couple  were  thus  discussing 
events,  the  battle  began  to  rage  more  violently 
than  ever  above  them.  When  Leather-stocking 
saw  his  enemy  fairly  under  headway,  as  Benja- 
min would  express  it,  he  gave  his  attention  again 
to  the  right  wing  of  the  assailants.  It  would 
have  been  easy  for  Kirby,  with  his  powerful 
frame,  to  have  seized  the  moment  to  scale  the 
bastion,  and,  with  his  great  strength,  to  have 
sent  both  of  its  defenders  in  pursuit  of  the  vet- 
eran ; but  hostility  appeared  to  be  the  passion 
that  the  wood-chopper  indulged  the  least  in  at 
that  moment,  for,  in  a voice  that  was  heard  by 
the  retreating  left  wing,  he  shouted  : 

“ Hurra ! well  done,  captain  ! keep  it  up  ! how 
he  handles  his  bush-hook ! he  makes  nothing  of  a 
sapling ! ” and  such  other  encouraging  exclama- 
tions to  the  flying  veteran,  until,  overcome  by 
mirth,  the  good-natured  fellow  seated  himself  on 
the  ground,  kicking  the  earth  with  delight,  and 
giving  vent  to  peal  after  peal  of  laughter. 

Natty  stood  all  this  time  in  a menacing  atti- 
tude, with  his  rifle  pointed  over  the  breastwork, 
watching  with  a quick  and  cautious  eye  the  least 
movement  of  the  assailants.  The  outcry  unfor- 
tunately tempted  the  ungovernable  curiosity  of 
Hiram  to  take  a peep  from  behind  his  cover  at 
the  state  of  the  battle.  Though  this  evolution 
was  performed  with  great  caution,  in  protecting 
his  front,  he  left,  like  many  a better  commander, 
his  rear  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  his  enemy.  Mr. 
Doolittle  belonged  physically  to  a class  of  his 
countrymen,  to  whom  Nature  has  denied,  in  their 
formation,  the  use  of  curved  lines.  Every  thing 
about  him  was  either  straight  or  angular.  But 
his  tailor  was  a woman  who  worked,  like  a regi- 
mental contractor,  by  a set  of  rules  that  gave  the 
same  configuration  to  the  whole  human  species. 
Consequently,  when  Mr.  Doolittle  leaned  forward 
in  the  manner  described,  a loose  drapery  appeared 
behind  the  tree,  at  which  the  rifle  of  Natty  was 
pointed  with  the  quickness  of  lightning.  A less 
experienced  man  would  have  aimed  at  the  flowing 
robe,  which  hung  like  a festoon  half-way  to  the 
earth  ; but  the  Leather-stocking  knew  both  the 


man  and  his  female  tailor  better ; and  when  the 
(iftiait  report  of  the  rifle  was  heard,  Kirby,  who 
watched  the  whole  manoeuvre  in  breathless  ex- 
pectation, saw  the  bark  fly  from  the  beach,  and 
the  cloth,  at  some  distance  above  the  loose  folds, 
wave  at  the  same  instant.  No  battery  was  ever 
unmasked  with  more  promptitude  than  Hiram 
advanced  from  behind  the  tree  at  this  sum- 
mons. 

He  made  two  or  three  steps,  with  great  pre- 
cision, to  the  front,  and,  placing  one  hand  on  the 
afflicted  part,  stretched  forth  the  other,  with  a 
menacing  air  toward  Natty,  and  cried  aloud  : 

“ Gawl  darn  ye ! this  sha’nt  be  settled  so  easy ; 
I’ll  follow  it  up  from  the  ‘ common  pleas  ’ to  the 
‘ court  of  errors.’  ” 

Such  a shocking  imprecation,  from  the  mouth 
of  so  orderly  a man  as  Squire  Doolittle,  with  the 
fearless  manner  in  which  he  exposed  himself,  to- 
gether with,  perhaps,  the  knowledge  that  Natty’s 
rifle  was  unloaded,  encouraged  the  troops  in  the 
rear,  who  gave  a loud  shout,  and  fired  a volley 
into  the  tree-tops,  after  the  contents  of  the  swivel. 
Animated  by  their  own  noise,  the  men  now 
rushed  on  in  earnest ; and  Billy  Kirby,  who 
thought  the  joke,  good  as  it  was,  had  gone  far 
enough,  was  in  the  act  of  scaling  the  works,  when 
Judge  Temple  appeared  on  the  opposite  side,  ex- 
claiming : 

“ Silence  and  peace ! why  do  I see  murder  and 
bloodshed  attempted  ? is  not  the  law  sufficient  to 
protect  itself,  that  armed  bands  must  be  gath- 
ered, as  in  rebellion  and  war,  to  see  justice  per- 
formed  ? ” 

“ Tis  the  posse  comitatus,”  shouted  the  sheriff, 
from  a distant  rock,  “who — ” 

“Say  rather  a posse  of  demons.  I command 
the  peace.” 

“ Hold ! shed  not  blood  ! ” cried  a voice  from 
the  top  of  the  Vision,  “ Hold,  for  the  sake  of 
Heaven,  fire  no  more  ! all  shall  be  yielded  ! you 
shall  enter  the  cave ! ” 

Amazement  produced  the  desired  effect. 
Natty,  who  had  reloaded  his  piece,  quietly  seated 
himself  on  the  logs,  and  rested  his  head  on  his 
hand,  while  the  “ Light  Infantry  ” ceased  their 
military  movements,  and  waited  the  issue  in  sus- 
pense. 

In  less  than  a minute  Edwards  came  rushing 
down  the  hill,  followed  by  Major  Hartmann  with 
a velocity  that  was  surprising  for  his  years.  They 
reached  the  terrace  in  an  instant,  from  which 
the  youth  led  the  way,  by  the  hollow  in  the  rock, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  into  which  they  both 
entered ; leaving  all  without  silent,  and  gazing 
after  them  with  astonishment. 


190 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ I am  dumb. 

Were  you  the  doctor,  and  I knew  you  not  ? ” 

Shakespeaeb. 

During  the  five  01  six  minutes  that  elapsed 
before  the  youth  and  Major  reappeared,  Judge 
Temple  and  the  sheriff,  together  with  most  of  the 
volunteers,  ascended  to  the  terrace,  where  the 
latter  began  to  express  their  conjectures  of  the 
result,  and  to  recount  their  individual  services  in 
the  conflict.  But  the  sight  of  the  peace-makers 
ascending  the  ravine  shut  every  mouth. 

On  a rude  chair,  covered  with  undressed  deer- 
skins, they  supported  a human  being,  whom  they 
seated  carefully  and  respectfully  in  the  midst  of 
the  assembly.  His  head  was  covered  by  long, 
smooth  locks  of  the  color  of  snow.  His  dress, 
which  was  studiously  neat  and  clean,  was  com- 
posed of  such  fabrics  as  none  but  the  wealthiest 
classes  wear,  but  was  threadbare  and  patched ; 
and  on  his  feet  were  placed  a pair  of  moccasins, 
ornamented  in  the  best  manner  of  Indian  inge- 
nuity. The  outlines  of  his  face  were  grave  and 
dignified,  though  his  vacant  eye,  which  opened 
and  turned  slowly  to  the  faces  of  those  around 
him  in  unmeaning  looks,  too  surely  announced 
that  the  period  had  arrived  when  age  brings  the 
mental  imbecility  of  childhood. 

Natty  had  followed  the  supporters  of  this  un- 
expected object  to  the  top  of  the  cave,  and  took 
his  station  at  a little  distance  behind  him,  lean- 
ing on  his  rifle,  in  the  midst  of  his  pursuers, 
with  a fearlessness  that  showed  that  heavier  in- 
terests than  those  which  affected  himself  were  to 
be  decided.  Major  Hartmann  placed  himself  be- 
side the  aged  man,  uncovered,  with  his  whole 
soul  beaming  through  those  eyes  which  so  com- 
monly danced  with  frolic  and  humor.  Edwards 
rested  with  one  hand  familiarly  but  affectionate- 
ly on  the  chair,  though  his  heart  was  swelling 
with  emotions  that  denied  him  utterance. 

All  eyes  were  gazing  intently,  but  each  tongue 
continued  mute.  At  length  the  decrepit  stranger, 
turning  his  vacant  looks  from  face  to  face,  made 
a feeble  attempt  to  rise,  while  a faint  smile 
crossed  his  wasted  face,  like  an  habitual  effort 
at  courtesy,  as  he  said,  in  a hollow,  tremulous 
voice : 

“ Be  pleased  to  be  seated,  gentlemen.  The 
council  will  open  immediately.  Each  one,  who 
loves  a good  and  virtuous  king,  will  wish  to  see 
these  colonies  continue  loyal.  Be  seated — I pray 
you,  be  seated,  gentlemen.  The  troops  shall 
halt  for  the  night.” 


“ This  is  the  wandering  of  insanity ! ” said 
Marmaduke  ; “ who  will  explain  this  scene  ? ” 

“ No,  sir,”  said  Edwards,  firmly,  “ ’tis  only 
the  decay  of  nature ; who  is  answerable  for  its 
pitiful  condition,  remains  to  be  shown.” 

“ Will  the  gentleman  dine  with  us,  my  son  ? ” 
said  the  old  stranger,  turning  to  a voice  that  he 
both  knew  and  loved.  “ Order  a repast  suitable 
for  his  Majesty’s  officers.  You  know  we  have 
the  best  of  game  always  at  command.” 

“ Who  is  this  man  ? ” asked  Marmaduke,  in  a 
hurried  voice,  in  which  the  dawnings  of  conjec- 
ture united  with  interest  to  put  the  question. 

“ This  man  ! ” returned  Edwards  calmly,  his 
voice,  however,  gradually  rising  as  he  proceeded ; 
“ this  man,  sir,  whom  you  behold  hid  in  caverns, 
and  deprived  of  every  thing  that  can  make  life 
desirable,  was  once  the  companion  and  counsel- 
lor of  those  who  ruled  your  country.  This  man, 
whom  you  see  helpless  and  feeble,  was  once  a 
warrior,  so  brave  and  fearless,  that  even  the  in- 
trepid natives  gave  him  the  name  of  the  Fire- 
eater.  This  man,  whom  you  now  see  destitute 
of  even  the  ordinary  comfort  of  a cabin,  in  which 
to  shelter  his  head,  was  once  the  owner  of  great 
riches — and,  Judge  Temple,  he  was  the  rightful 
proprietor  of  this  very  soil  on  which  we  stand. 
This  man  was  the  father  of — ” 

“ This,  then,”  cried  Marmaduke,  with  a power- 
ful emotion,  “ this,  then,  is  the  lost  Major  Effing- 
ham ! ” 

“ Lost  indeed,”  said  the  youth,  fixing  a pierc- 
ing eye  on  the  other. 

“ And  you ! and  you ! ” continued  the  Judge, 
articulating  with  difficulty. 

“ I am  his  grandson.” 

A minute  passed  in  profound  silence.  All 
eyes  were  fixed  on  the  speakers,  and  even  the 
old  German  appeared  to  wait  the  issue  in  deep 
anxiety.  But  the  moment  of  agitation  soon 
passed.  Marmaduke  raised  his  head  from  his 
bosom,  where  it  had  sunk,  not  in  shame,  but  in 
devout  mental  thanksgivings,  and,  as  large  tears 
fell  over  his  fine,  manly  face,  he  grasped  the  hand 
of  the  youth  warmly,  and  said  : 

“ Oliver,  I forgive  all  thy  harshness — all  thy 
suspicions.  I now  see  it  all.  I forgive  thee 
every  thing,  but  suffering  this  aged  man  to  dwell 
in  such  a place,  when  not  only  my  habita- 
tion, but  my  fortune,  were  at  his  and  thy  com- 
mand.” 

“He’s  true  as  ter  steel!”  shouted  Major 
Hartmann  ; “ titn’t  I tell  you,  lat,  dat  Marmatuke 
Temple  vast  a frient  dat  woult  never  fail  in  ter 
dime  as  of  neet  ? ” 

“ It  is  true,  Judge  Temple,  that  my  opinions 


OLIVER’S  EXPLANATION. 


191 


of  your  conduct  have  been  staggered  by  what 
this  worthy  gentleman  has  told  me.  When  I 
found  it  impossible  to  convey  my  grandfather 
back  whence  the  enduring  love  of  this  old  man 
brought  him,  without  detection  and  exposure,  I 
went  to  the  Mohawk  in  quest  of  one  of  his  for- 
mer comrades,  in  whose  justice  I had  dependence. 
He  is  your  friend,  Judge  Temple,  but,  if  what  he 
says  be  true,  both  my  father  and  myself  may 
have  judged  you  harshly.” 

“ You  name  your  father  ! ” said  Marmaduke, 
tenderly — “ was  he,  indeed,  lost  in  the  packet  ? ” 

“He  was.  He  had  left  me,  after  several 
years  of  fruitless  application  and  comparative 
poverty,  in  Nova  Scotia,  to  obtain  the  compensa- 
tion for  his  losses  which  the  British  commission- 
ers had  at  length  awarded.  After  spending  a 
year  in  England,  he  was  returning  to  Halifax,  on 
his  way  to  a government  to  which  he  had  been 
appointed,  in  the  West  Indies,  intending  to  go 
to  the  place  where  my  grandfather  had  sojourned 
during  and  since  the  war,  and  take  him  with  us.” 

“ But  thou ! ” said  Marmaduke,  with  powerful 
interest ; “ I had  thought  that  thou  hadst  perished 
with  him.” 

A flush  passed  over  the  cheeks  of  the  young 
man,  who  gazed  about  him  at  the  wondering  faces 
of  the  volunteers,  and  continued  silent.  Marma- 
duke turned  to  the  veteran  captain,  who  just  then 
rejoined  his  command,  and  said  : 

“ March  thy  soldiers  back  again,  and  dismiss 
them ; the  zeal  of  the  sheriff  has  much  mistaken 
his  duty. — Dr.  Todd,  I will  thank  you  to  attend 
to  the  injury  which  Hiram  Doolittle  has  received 
in  this  untoward  affair. — Richard,  you  will  oblige 
me  by  sending  up  the  carriage  to  the  top  of  the 
hill. — Benjamin,  return  to  your  duty  in  my 
family.” 

Unwelcome  as  these  orders  were  to  most  of 
the  auditors,  the  suspicion  that  they  had  some- 
what exceeded  the  wholesome  restraints  of  the 
law,  and  the  habitual  respect  with  which  all  the 
commands  of  the  Judge  were  received,  induced  a 
prompt  compliance. 

When  they  were  gone,  and  the  rock  was  left 
to  the  parties  most  interested  in  an  explanation, 
Marmaduke,  pointing  to  the  aged  Major  Effingham, 
said  to  his  grandson : 

“ Had  we  not  better  remove  thy  parent  from 
liis  open  place,  until  my  carriage  can  arrive  ? ” 

“ Pardon  me,  sir,  the  air*  does  him  good,  and 
he  has  taken  it  whenever  there  was  no  dread  of 
a discovery.  I know  not  how  to  act,  Judge  Tem- 
ple ; ought  I,  can  I,  suffer  Major  Effingham  to  be- 
come an  inmate  of  your  family  ? ” 

“ Thou  shalt  be  thyself  the  judge,”  said  Mar- 


maduke. “ Thy  father  was  my  early  friend.  He 
intrusted  his  fortune  to  my  care.  When  wc  sepa- 
rated, he  had  such  confidence  in  me,  that  he 
wished  no  security,  no  evidence  of  the  trust,  even 
had  there  been  time  or  convenience  for  exacting 
it.  This  thou  hast  heard  ? ” 

“ Most  truly,  sir,”  said  Edwards,  or  rather 
Effingham,  as  we  must  now  call  him. 

“ We  differed  in  politics.  If  the  cause  of  this 
country  was  successful,  the  trust  was  sacred  with 
me,  for  none  knew  of  thy  father’s  interest.  If  the 
crown  still  held  its  sway,  it  would  be  easy  to 
restore  the  property  of  so  loyal  a subject  as  Colonel 
Effingham.  Is  not  this  plain  ? ” 

“ The  premises  are  good,  sir,”  continued  the 
youth,  with  the  same  incredulous  look  as  be- 
fore. 

“Listen  — listen,  poy,”  said  the  German. 
“ Dere  is  not  a hair  as  of  ter  rogue  in  ter  het  of 
her  Tchooge.” 

“ We  all  know  the  issue  of  the  struggle,”  con- 
tinued Marmaduke,  disregarding  both.  “ Thy 
grandfather  was  left  in  Connecticut,  regularly 
supplied  by  thy  father  with  the  means  of  such  a 
subsistence  as  suited  his  wants.  This  I well  knew, 
though  I never  had  intercourse  with  him,  even  in 
our  happiest  days.  Thy  father  retired  with  the 
troops  to  prosecute  his  claims  on  England.  At  all 
events,  his  losses  must  be  great,  for  his  real 
estates  were  sold,  and  I became  the  lawful  pur- 
chaser. It  was  not  unnatural  to  wish  that  he  might 
have  no  bar  to  its  just  recovery.” 

“ There  was  none,  but  the  difficulty  of  pro- 
viding for  so  many  claimants.” 

“ But  there  would  have  been  one,  and  an  in- 
superable one,  had  I announced  to  the  world  that 
I held  these  estates,  multiplied,  by  the  times  and 
my  industry,  a hundred-fold  in  value,  only  as  his 
trustee.  Thou  knowest  that  I supplied  him  with 
considerable  sums,  immediately  after  the  war.” 

“You  did,  until — ” 

“My  letters  were  returned  unopened.  Thy 
father  had  much  of  thy  own  spirit,  Oliver ; he  was 
sometimes  hasty  and  rash.”  The  Judge  continued, 
in  a self-condemning  manner  : “ Perhaps  my  fault 
lies  the  other  way ; I may  possibly  look  too  far 
ahead,  and  calculate  too  deeply.  It  certainly  was 
a severe  trial  to  allow  the  man  whom  I moot 
loved,  to  think  ill  of  me  for  seven  years,  in  order 
that  he  might  honestly  apply  for  his  just  remu- 
nerations. But,  had  he  opened  my  last  letters, 
thou  wouldst  have  learned  the  whole  truth. 
Those  I sent  him  to  England,  by  what  my  agent 
writes  me,  he  did  read.  He  died,  Oliver,  knowing 
all.  He  died,  my  friend,  and  I thought  thou  hadat 
died  with  him.” 


192 


THE  PIONEERS. 


“ Our  poverty  would  not  permit  us  to  pay  for 
two  passages,”  said  the  youth,  with  the  extraor- 
dinary emotion  with  which  he  ever  alluded  to  the 
degraded  state  of  his  family  ; “ I was  left  in  the 
Province  to  wait  for  his  return,  and,  when  the 
sad  news  of  his  loss  reached  me,  I was  nearly 
penniless.” 

“ And  what  didst  thou,  boy  ? ” asked  Marma- 
duke  in  a faltering  voice. 

“ I took  my  passage  here  in  search  of  my 
grandfather  ; for  I well  knew  that  his  resources 
were  gone,  with  the  half-pay  of  my  father.  On 
reaching  his  abode,  I learned  that  he  had  left  it 
in  secret ; though  the  reluctant  hireling,  who  had 
deserted  him  in  his  poverty,  owned  to  my  urgent 
entreaties,  that  he  believed  he  had  been  carried 
away  by  an  old  man  who  had  formerly  been  his 
servant.  I knew  at  once  it  was  Natty,  for  my 
father  often — ” 

“ Was  Natty  a servant  of  thy  grandfather  ? ” 
exclaimed  the  Judge. 

“ Of  that  too  were  you  ignorant  ? ” said  the 
youth  in  evident  surprise. 

“ How  should  I know  it  ? I never  met  the 
major,  nor  was  the  name  of  Bumppo  ever  men- 
tioned to  me.  I knew  him  only  as  a man  of  the 
woods,  and  one  who  lived  by  hunting.  Such  men 
are  too  common  to  excite  surprise.” 

“ He  was  reared  in  the  family  of  my  grand- 
father ; served  him  for  many  years  during  their 
campaigns  at  the  West,  where  he  became  attached 
to  the  woods  ; and  he  was  left  here  as  a kind  of 
locum  ienens  on  the  lands  that  old  Mohegan 
(whose  life  my  grandfather  once  saved)  induced 
the  Delawares  to  grant  to  him,  when  they  ad- 
mitted him  as  an  honorary  member  of  their  tribe.” 

“ This,  then,  is  thy  Indian  blood  ? ” 

“ I have  no  other,”  said  Edwards,  smiling — 
“ Major  Effingham  was  adopted  as  the  son  of  Mo- 
hegan, who  at  that  time  was  the  greatest  man  in 
his  nation ; and  my  father,  who  visited  those 
people  when  a boy,  received  the  name  of  the  Eagle 
from  them,  on  account  of  the  shape  of  his  face,  as 
I understand.  They  have  extended  his  title  to  me. 
I have  no  other  Indian  blood  or  breeding ; though 
I have  seen  the  hour,  Judge  Temple,  when  I 
could  wish  that  such  had  been  my  lineage  and  ed- 
ucation.” 

“ Proceed  with  thy  tale,”  said  Marmaduke. 

“ I have  but  little  more  to  say,  sir.  I followed 
to  the  lake  where  I had  so  often  been  told  that 
Natty  dwmlt,  and  found  him  maintaining  his  old 
master  in  secret ; for  even  he  could  not  bear  to 
exhibit  to  the  world,  in  his  poverty  and  dotage,  a 
man  whom  a whole  people  once  looked  up  to  Avith 
respect.” 


“ And  what  did  you  ? ” 

“ What  did  I ! I spent  my  last  monry  In  pur- 
chasing a rifle,  clad  myself  in  a coarse  garb,  and 
learned  to  be  a hunter  by  the  side  or  Leather- 
stocking.  You  know  the  rest,  Judge  Temple.” 

“ Ant  vere  vast  old  Fritz  Hartmann  ? ” said  the 
German,  reproachfully  ; “ didst  never  hear  a name 
as  of  olt  Fritz  Hartmann  from  ter  mout  of  ter 
fader,  lat  ? ” 

“ I may  have  been  mistaken,  gentlemen,”  re- 
turned the  youth;  “but  I had  pride,  and  could 
not  submit  to  such  an  exposure  as  this  day  even 
has  reluctantly  brought  to  light.  I had  plans 
that  might  have  been  visionary  ; but,  should  my 
parent  survive  till  autumn,  I purposed  taking  him 
with  me  to  the  city,  where  we  have  distant  rela- 
tives, who  must  have  learned  to  forget  the  Tory 
by  this  time.  He  decays  rapidly,”  he  continued, 
mournfully,  “ aijd  must  soon  lie  by  the  side  of 
old  Mohegan.” 

The  air  being  pure,  and  the  day  fine,  the  party 
continued  conversing  on  the  rock,  until  the  wheels 
of  Judge  Temple’s  carriage  were  heard  clattering 
up  the  side  of  the  mountain,  during  which  time 
the  conversation  was  maintained  with  deep  inter- 
est, each  moment  clearing  up  some  doubtful 
action,  and  lessening  the  antipathy  of  the  youth 
to  Marmaduke.  He  no  longer  objected  to  the  re- 
moval of  his  grandfather,  who  displayed  a childish 
pleasure  when  he  found  himself  seated  once  more 
in  a carriage.  When  placed  in  the  ample  hall  of 
the  mansion-house,  the  eyes  of  the  aged  veteran 
turned  slowly  to  the  objects  in  the  apartment,  and 
a look  like  the  dawn  of  intellect  would,  for  mo- 
ments, flit  across  his  features,  when  he  invariably 
offered  some  useless  courtesies  to  those  near  him, 
wandering  painfully  in  his  subjects.  The  exercise 
and  the  change  soon  produced  an  exhaustion  that 
caused  them  to  remove  him  to  his  bed,  where 
he  lay  for  hours,  evidently  sensible  of  the  change 
in  his  comforts,  and  exhibiting  that  mortifying 
picture  of  human  nature,  which  too  plainly  shows 
that  the  propensities  of  the  animal  continue  even 
after  the  nobler  part  of  the  creature  appears  to 
have  vanished. 

Until  his  parent  was  placed  comfortably  in 
bed,  with  Natty  seated  at  his  side,  Effingham  did 
not  quit  him.  He  then  obeyed  a summons  to  the 
library  of  the  Judge,  where  he  found  the  latter, 
with  Major  Hartmann,  waiting  for  him. 

“ Read  this  papef,  Oliver,”  said  Marmaduke  to  * 
him,  as  he  entered,  “and  thou  wilt  find  that,  so 
far  from  intending  thy  family  wrong  during  life,  it 
has  been  my  care  to  see  that  justice  should  be 
done  at  even  a later  day.” 

The  youth  took  the  paper,  which  his  first 


THE  JUDGE’S  WILL. 


193 


fiance  told  him  was  the  will  of  the  Judge.  Hur- 
ried and  agitated  as  he  was,  he  discovered  that 
the  date  corresponded  with  the  time  of  the  un- 
usual depression  of  Marmaduke.  As  he  proceed- 
ed, his  eyes  began  to  moisten,  and  the  hand  which 
held  the  instrument  shook  violently. 

The  will  commenced  with  the  usual  forms, 
spun  out  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Van  der  School ; 
but,  after  this  subject  was  fairly  exhausted,  the  pen 
of  Marmaduke  became  plainly  visible.  In  clear, 
distinct,  manly,  and  even  eloquent  language,  he 
recounted  his  obligations  to  Colonel  Effingham,  the 
nature  of  their  connection,  and  the  circumstances 
in  which  they  separated.  He  then  proceeded  to 
relate  the  motives  of  his  long  silence,  mentioning, 
however,  large  sums  that  he  had  forwardde  to  his 
friend,  which  had  been  returned  with  the  letters 
unopened.  After  this,  he  spoke  of  his  search  for 
the  grandfather,  who  had  unaccountably  disap- 
peared, and  his  fears  that  the  direct  heir  of  the 
trust  was  buried  in  the  ocean  with  his  father. 

After,  in  short,  recounting  in  a clear  narrative, 
the  events  which  our  readers  must  now  be  able  to 
connect,  he  proceeded  to  make  a fair  and  exact 
statement  of  the  sums  left  in  his  care  by  Colonel 
Effingham.  A devise  of  his  whole  estate  to  cer- 
tain responsible  trustees  followed ; to  hold  the 
same  for  the  benefit,  in  equal  moieties,  of  his 
daughter,  on  one  part,  and  of  Oliver  Effingham, 
formerly  a major  in  the  army  of  Great  Britain, 
and  of  his  son  Edward  Effingham,  and  of  his  son 
Edward  Oliver  Effingham,  or  to  the  survivor  of 
them,  and  the  descendants  of  such  survivor,  for- 
ever, on  the  other  part.  The  trust  was  to  endure 
until  1810,  when,  if  no  person  appeared,  or  could 
be  found,  after  sufficient  notice,  to  claim  the  moi- 
ety so  devised,  then  a certain  sum,  calculating  the 
principal  and  interest  of  his  debt  to  Colonel  Ef-' 
fingham,  was  to  be  paid  to  the  heirs-at-law  of  the 
Effingham  family,  and  the  bulk  of  his  estate  was 
to  be  conveyed  in  fee  to  his  daughter,  or  her 
heirs. 

The  tears  fell  from  the  eyes  of  the  young  man, 
as  he  read  this  undeniable  testimony  of  the  good 
faith  of  Marmaduke,  and  his  bewildered  gaze  was 
still  fastened  on  the  paper,  when  a voice,  that 
thrilled  on  every  nerve,  spoke  near  him,  saying  : 

“ Do  you  yet  doubt  us,  Oliver  ? ” 

“ I have  never  doubted  you  / ” cried  the  youth, 
recovering  his  recollection  and  his  voice,  as  he 
sprang  to  seize  the  hand  of  Elizabeth ; “ no,  not 
one  moment  has  my  faith  in  you  wavered.” 

“ And  my  father — ” 

“ God  bless  him ! ” 

“ I thank  thee,  my  son,”  said  the  Judge,  ex- 
changing a warm  pressure  of  the  hand  with  the 
52  13 


youth ; “ but  we  have  both  erred  : thou  hast  been 
too  hasty,  and  I have  been  too  slow.  One  half  of 
my  estates  shall  be  thine  as  soon  as  they  can  be 
conveyed  to  thee  ; and,  if  what  my  suspicions  tell 
me  be  true,  I suppose  the  other  must  follow 
speedily."  He  took  the  hand  which  he  held,  and 
united  it  with  that  of  his  daughter,  and  motioned 
toward  the  door  to  the  major. 

“ I telt  you  vat,  gal ! ” said  the  old  German, 
good-humoredly ; “ if  I vast  as  I vast  ven  I servit 
mit  his  grandfader  on  ter  lakes,  ter  lazy  tog 
shouldn’t  vin  ter  prize  as  for  nottin.” 

“ Come,  come,  old  Fritz,”  said  the  Judge ; 
“ you  are  seventy,  not  seventeen  ; Richard  waits 
for  you  with  a bowl  of  eggnog,  in  the  hall.” 

“ Richart ! ter  duyvel ! ” exclaimed  the  other, 
hastening  out  of  the  room ; “ he  makes  ter  nog 
ast  for  ter  horse.  I vilt  show  ter  sheriff  mit  my 
own  hants ! Ter  duyvel ! I pelieve  he  sweetens 
mit  ter  Yankee  melasses ! ” 

Marmaduke  smiled  and  nodded  affectionately 
at  the  young  couple,  and  closed  the  door  after 
them.  If  any  of  our  readers  expect  that  we  are 
going  to  open  it  again,  for  their  gratification,  they 
are  mistaken. 

The  iete-d-tete  continued  for  a very  unreason- 
able time — how  long  we  shall  not  say ; but  it  was 
ended  by  six  o’clock  in  the  evening,  for  at  that 
hour  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  made  his  appearance 
agreeably  to  the  appointment  of  the  preceding 
day,  and  claimed  the  ear  of  Miss  Temple.  He 
was  admitted  ; when  he  made  an  offer  of  his  hand, 
with  much  suavity,  together  with  his  “ amis  beeg 
and  leet’,  his  pere,  his  mere,  and  his  sucre-boosh.” 
Elizabeth  might,  possibly,  have  previously  entered 
into  some  embarrassing  and  binding  engagements 
with  Oliver,  for  she  declined  the  tender  of  all,  in 
terms  as  polite,  though  perhaps  a little  more 
decided,  than  those  in  whith  they  were  made. 

The  Frenchman  soon  joined  the  German  and 
the  sheriff  in  the  hall,  who  compelled  him  to  take 
a seat  with  them  at  the  table,  where,  by  the  aid 
of  punch,  wine,  and  eggnog,  they  soon  extracted 
from  the  complaisant  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  the  nature 
of  his  visit.  It  was  evident  that  he  had  made  the 
offer,  as  a duty  which  a well-bred  man  owed  to  a 
lady  in  such  a retired  place,  before  he  left  the 
country,  and  that  his  feelings  were  but  very  little, 
if  at  all,  interested  in  the  matter.  After  a few 
potations,  the  waggish  pair  persuaded  the  exhila- 
rated Frenchman  that  there  was  an  inexcusable 
partiality  in  offering  to  one  lady,  and  not  extend- 
ing a similar  courtesy  to  another.  Consequently, 
about  nine,  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  sallied  forth  to  the 
rectory,  on  a similar  mission  to  Miss  Grant,  which 
proved  as  successful  as  his  first  effort  in  love. 


194 


THE  PIONEERS. 


When  he  returned  to  the  mansion-house,  at 
ten,  Richard  and  the  major  were  still  seated  at 
the  table.  They  attempted  to  persuade  the  Gaul, 
as  the  sheriff*  called  him,  that  he  should  next  try 
Remarkable  Pettibone.  But,  though  stimulated 
by  mental  excitement  and  wine,  two  hoftrs  of  ab- 
struse logic  were  thrown  away  on  this  subject ; 
for  he  declined  their  advice,  with  a pertinacity 
truly  astonishing  in  so  polite  a man. 

When  Benjamin  lighted  Monsieur  Le  Quoi 
from  the  door,  he  said,  at  parting : 

“If-so-be,  Mounsheer,  you’d  run  alongside 
Mistress  Pettybones,  as  the  Squire  Dickens  was 
bidding  ye,  ’tis  my  notion  you’d  have  been  grap- 
pled ; in  which  case,  d’ye  see,  you  mought  have 
been  troubled  in  swinging  clear  again  in  a hand- 
some manner ; for  thof  Miss  ’Lizzy  and  the  par- 
son’s young’un  be  tidy  little  vessels,  that  shoot  by 
a body  on  a wind,  Mistress  Remarkable  is  sum’mat 
of  a galliot  fashion  ; when  you  once  takes  ’em  in 
tow,  they  doesn’t  like  to  be  cast  off  again.” 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

“ Yes,  sweep  ye  on  l— We  will  not  leave, 

For  them  who  triumph  those  who  grieve. 

With  that  armada  gay 
Be  laughter  loud,  and  jocund  shout — 

—But  with  that  skiff 
Abides  the  minstrel  tale.” 

Lord  of  the  Isles. 

The,  events  of  our  tale  carry  us  through  the 
summer ; and  after  making  nearly  the  circle  of 
the  year,  we  must  conclude  our  labors  in  the  de- 
lightful month  of  October.  Many  important  inci- 
dents had,  however,  occurred  in  the  intervening 
period ; a few  of  whi^i  it  may  be  necessary  to 
recount. 

The  two  principal  were  the  marriage  of  Oliver 
and  Elizabeth,  and  the  death  of  Major  Effingham. 
They  both  took  place  early  in  September ; and 
the  former  preceded  the  latter  only  a few  days. 
The  old  man  passed  away  like  the  last  glimmering 
of  a taper ; and,  though  his  death  cast  a melancholy 
over  the  family,  grief  could  not  follow  such  an 
end. 

One  of  the  chief  concerns  of  Marmaduke  was 
to  reconcile  the  even  conduct  of  a magistrate  with 
the  course  that  his  feelings  dictated  to  the  crimi- 
nals. The  day  succeeding  the  discovery  at  the 
cave,  however,  Natty  and  Benjamin  reenteied 
the  jail  peaceably,  where  they  continued,  well  fed 
and  comfortable,  until  the  return  of  an  express  to 
Albany,  who  brought  the  governor’s  pardon  to 


the  Leather-stocking.  In  tL.e  mean  time,  proper 
means  were  employed  to  satisfy  Hiram  for  the 
assaults  on  his  person ; and  on  the  same  day  the 
two  comrades  issued  together  into  society  again, 
with  their  characters  not  at  all  affected  by  the 
imprisonment. 

Mr.  Doolittle  began  to  discover  that  neither 
architecture  nor  his  law  was  quite  suitable  to 
the  growing  wealth  and  intelligence  of  the  settle- 
ment ; and  after  exacting  the  last  cent  that  was 
attainable  in  his  compromises,  to  use  the  language 
of  the  country,  he  “ pulled  up  stakes,”  and  pro- 
ceeded farther  west,  scattering  his  professional 
science  and  legal  learning  through  the  land ; ves- 
tiges of  both  of  which  are  to  be  discovered  there 
even  to  the  present  hour. 

Poor  Jotham,  whose  life  paid  the  forfeiture  of 
his  folly,  acknowledged,  before  he  died,  that  his 
reasons  for  believing  in  a mine  were  extracted 
from  the  lips  of  a sibyl,  who,  by  looking  in  a magic 
glass,  was  enabled  to  discover  the  hidden  treasures 
of  the  earth.  Such  superstition  was  frequent  in 
the  new  settlements  ; and,  after  the  first  surprise 
was  over,  the  better  part  of  the  community  forgot 
the  subj ect.  But,  at  the  same  time  that  it  removed 
from  the  breast  of  Richard  a lingering  suspicion 
of  the  acts  of  the  three  hunters,  it  conveyed  a 
mortifying  lesson  to  him,  which  brought  many 
quiet  hours,  in  future,  to  his  cousin  Marmaduke. 
If  may  be  remembered  that  the  sheriff  confidently 
pronounced  this  to  be  no  “visionary ” scheme, 
and  that  word  was  enough  to  shut  his  lips,  at  any 
time  within  the  next  ten  years. 

Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  who  has  been  introduced 
to  our  readers  because  no  picture  of  that  country 
would  be  faithful  without  some  such  character, 
found  the  island  of  Martinique,  and  his  “ suere- 
' boosh,”  in  possession  of  the  English  ; but  Marma- 
duke and  his  family  were  much  gratified  in  soon 
hearing  that  he  had  returned  to  his  bureau,  in 
Paris ; where  he  afterward  issued  yearly  bulletins 
of  his  happiness,  and  of  his  gratitude  to  his  friends 
in  America. 

With  this  brief  explanation,  we  must  return 
to  our  narrative.  Let  the  American  reader  ima- 
gine one  of  our  mildest  October  mornings,  when 
the  sun  seems  a ball  of  silvery  fire,  and  the  elas- 
ticity of  the  air  is  felt  while  it  is  inhaled,  impart- 
ing vigor  and  life  to  the  whole  system ; the  weather, 
neither  too  warm  nor  too  cold,  but  of  that  happy 
temperature  which  stirs  the  blood,  without  bring- 
ing the  lassitude  of  spring.  It  was  on  such  a 
morning,  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  that 
Oliver  entered  the  hall  where  Elizabeth  was  issu- 
ing her  usual  orders  for  the  day,  and  requested 
her  to  join  him  in  a short  excursion  to  the  lake- 


EFFINGHAM’S  GENEROSITY. 


196 


side.  The  tender  melancholy  in  the  manner  of 
her  husband  caught  the  attention  of  Elizabeth, 
who  instantly  abandoned  her  concerns,  threw  a 
light  shawl  across  her  shoulders,  and,  concealing 
her  raven  hair  under  a gypsy,  she  took  his  arm, 
and  submitted  herself,  without  a question,  to  his 
guidance.  They  crossed  the  bridge,  and  had 
turned  from  the  highway,  along  the  margin  of 
the  lake,  before  a word  was  exchanged.  Eliza- 
beth well  knew,  by  the  direction,  the  object  of 
the  walk,  and  respected  the  feelings  of  her  com- 
panion too  much  to  indulge  in  untimely  conversa- 
tion. But  when  they  gained  the  open  fields,  and 
her  eye  roamed  over  the  placid  lake,  covered  with 
wild-fowl  already  journeying  from  the  great  north- 
ern waters  to  seek  a warmer  sun,  but  lingering 
to  play  in  the  limpid  sheet  of  the  Otsego,  and 
to  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  which  were  gay  with 
the  thousand  dyes  of  autumn,  as  if  to  grace  their 
bridal,  the  swelling  heart  of  the  young  wife  burst 
out  in  speech. 

“ This  is  not  a time  for  silence,  Oliver ! ” she 
said,  clinging  more  fondly  to  his  arm;  “every 
thing  in  Nature  seems  to  speak  the  praises  of  the 
Creator ; why  should  we,  who  have  so  much  to  be 
grateful  for,  be  silent  ? ” 

“ Speak  on ! ” said  her  husband,  smiling  ; “ I 
love  the  sounds  of  your  voice.  You  must  antici- 
pate our  errand  hither : I have  told  you  my  plans : 
how  do  you  like  them  ? ” 

“I  must  first  see  them,”  returned  his  wife. 
“ But  I have  had  my  plans  too ; it  is  time  I should 
begin  to  divulge  them.” 

“ You ! It  is  something  for  the  comfort  of 
my  old  friend  Natty,  I know.” 

“ Certainly  of  Natty ; but  we  have  other  friends 
besides  the  Leather-stocking  to  serve.  Do  you 
forget  Louisa,  and  her  father  ? ” 

“ No,  surely ; have  I not  given  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  county  to  the  good  divine  ? As  for 
Louisa,  I should  wish  you  to  keep  her  always 
near  us.” 

“You  do  ! ” said  Elizabeth,  slightly  compress- 
ing ner  lips ; “ but  poor  Louisa  may  have  other 
views  for  herself;'  she  may  wish  to  follow  my  ex- 
ample, and  marry.” 

“ I don’t  think  it,’*  said  Effingham,  musing  a 
moment ; “ I really  don’t  know  any  one  here- 
abouts goed  enough  for  her.” 

“ Perhaps  not  here ; but  there  are  other  places 
besides  Templeton,  and  other  churches  besides 
‘ New  St.  Paul’s.’  ” 

“ Churches,  Elizabeth  ! you  would  not  wish  to 
lose  Mr.  Grant,  surely ! Though  simple,  he  is  an 
excellent  man.  I shall  never  find  another  who 
has  half  the  veneration  for  my  orthodoxy.  You 


would  humble  me  from  a saint  to  a very  common 
sinner.” 

“It  must  be  done,  sir,”  returned  the  lady, 
with  a half-concealed  smile,  “though  it  degrades 
you  from  an  angel  to  a man.” 

“But  you  forget  the  farm.” 

“ He  can  lease  it,  as  others  do.  Besides 
would  you  have  a clergyman  toil  in  the  fields  ? ” 

“ Where  can  he  go  ? You  forget  Louisa.” 

“No,  I do  not  forget  Louisa,”  said  Elizabeth, 
again  compressing  her  beautiful  lips.  “You 
know,  Effingham,  that  my  father  has  told  you 
that  I ruled  him,  and  that  I should  rule  you. 
I am  now  about  to  exert  my  power.” 

“Any  thing,  anything,  dear  Elizabeth,  but  not 
at  the  expense  of  us  all ; not  at  the  expense  of 
your  friend.” 

“How  do  you  know,  sir,  that  it  will  be  so 
much  at  the  expense-  of  my  friend  ? ” said  the 
lady,  fixing  her  eyes  with  a searching  look  on  his 
countenance,  where  they  met  only  the  unsuspect- 
ing expression  of  manly  regret. 

“ How  do  I know  it?  why,  it  is  natural  that 
she  should  regret  us.” 

“ It  i3  our  duty  to  struggle  with  our  natural 
feelings,”  returned  the  lady ; “ and  there  is  but 
little  cause  to  fear  that  such  a spirit  as  Louisa’s 
will  not  effect  it.” 

“ But  what  is  your  plan  ? ” 

“ Listen,  and  you  shall  know.  My  father  has 
procured  a call  for  Mr.  Grant,  to  one  of  the  towns 
on  the  Hudson,  where  he  can  live  more  at  his  ease 
than  in  journeying  through  these  woods ; where 
he  can  spend  the  evening  of  his  life  in  comfort 
and  quiet ; and  where  his  daughter  may  meet  with 
such  society,  and  form  such  a connection,  as 
may  be  proper  for  one  of  her  years  and  char- 
acter.” • 

“ Bess  ! you  amaze  me ! I did  not  think  you 
had  been  such  a manager ! ” 

“ Oh  ! I manage  more  deeply  than  you  imagine, 
sir,”  said  the  wife,  archly  smiling  again  ; “ but  it 
is  my  will,  and  it  is  your  duty  to  submit — for  a 
time  at  least.” 

Effingham  laughed ; but,  as  they  approached 
the  end  of  their  walk,  the  subject  was  changed  by 
common  consent. 

The  place  at  which  they  arrived  was  the  lit- 
tle spot  of  level  ground  where  the  cabin  of  the 
Leather-stocking  had  so  long  stood.  Elizabeth 
found  it  entirely  cleared  of  rubbish,  and  beau- 
tifully laid  down  in  turf,  by  the  removal  of 
sods,  which,  in  common  with  the  surrounding 
country,  had  grown  gay,  under  the  influence  of 
profuse  showers,  as  if  a second  spring  had  passed 
over  the  land.  This  little  place  was  surrounded 


196 


THE  PIONEERS. 


by  a circle  of  mason-work,  and  they  entered  by  a 
small  gate,  near  which,  to  the  surprise  of  both, 
the  rifle  of  Natty  was  leaning  against  the  wall. 
Hector  and  the  slut  reposed  on  the  grass  by  its 
side,  as  if  conscious  that,  however  altered,  they 
were  lying  on  the  ground,  and  were  surrounded  by 
objects  with  which  they  were  familiar.  The  hunt- 
er himself  was  stretched  on  the  earth,  before  a 
head-stone  of  white  marble,  pushing  aside  with 
his  fingers  the  long  grass  that  had  already  sprung 
up  from  the  luxuriant  soil  around  its  base,  appar- 
ently to  lay  bare  the  inscription.  By  the  side  of 
this  stone,  which  was  a simple  slab  at  the  head  of 
a grave,  stood  a rich  monument,  decorated  with 
an  urn,  and  ornamented  with  the  chisel. 

Oliver  and  Elizabeth  approached  the  graves 
with  a light  tread,  unheard-  by  the  old  hunter, 
whose  sunburnt  face  was  working,  and  whose  eyes 
twinkled  as  if  something  impeded  their  vision. 
After  some  little  time,  Natty  raised  himself  slowly 
from  the  ground,  and  said  aloud : * 

“Well,  well — I’m  bold  to  say  it’s  all  right! 
There’s  something  that  I suppose  is  reading ; but 
I can’t  make  any  thing  of  it ; though  the  pipe  and 
the  tomahawk,  and  the  moccasins,  be  pretty  well 
— pretty  well,  for  a man  that,  I dares  to  say, 
never  seed  ’ither  of  the  things.  Ah’s  me  ! there 
they  lie,  side  by  side,  happy  enough ! Who  will 
there  be  to  put  me  in  the  ’arth  when  my  time 
comes  ? ” 

“ When  that  unfortunate  hour  arrives,  Natty, 
friends  shall  not  be  wanting  to  perform  the  last 
offices  for  you,”  said  Oliver,  a little  touched  at  the 
hunter’s  soliloquy. 

The  old  man  turned,  without  manifesting  sur- 
prise, for  he  had  got  the  Indian  habits  in  this 
particular,  and,  running  his  hand  under  the  bot- 
tom of  his  nose,  seemed  to  wipe  away  his  sorrow 
with  the  action. 

“You’ve  come  out  to  see  the  graves,  children, 
have  ye  ? ” he  said ; “ well,  well,  they’re  whole- 
some sights  to  young  as  well  as  old.” 

“ I hope  they  are  fitted  to  your  liking,”  said 
Effingham ; “ no  one  has  a better  right  than  your- 
self to  be  consulted  in  the  matter.” 

“ Why,  seeing  that  I an’t  used  to  fine  graves,” 
returned  the  old  man,  “ it  is  but  little  matter  con- 
sarning  my  taste.  Ye  laid  the  major’s  head  to  the 
west,  and  Mohegan’s  to  the  east,  did  ye,  lad  ? ” 

“ At  your  request  it  was  done.” 

“It’s  so  best,”  said  the  hunter;  “they  thought 
they  had  to  journey  different  ways,  children ; 
though  there  is  One  greater  than  all,  who’ll  bring 
the  just  together,  at  his  own  time,  and  who’ll 
whiten  the  skin  of  a black-moor,  and  place  him  on 
a footing  with  princes.” 


“ There  is  but  little  reason  to  doubt  that,”  said 
Elizabeth,  whose  decided  tones  were  changed  to 
a soft,  melancholy  voice ; “ I trust  we  shall  all 
meet  again,  and  be  happy  together.” 

“ Shall  we,  child,  shall  we  ? ” exclaimed  the 
hunter,  with  unusual  fervor , “ there’s  comfort  in 
that  thought  too.  But  before  I go,  I should  like 
to  know  what  ’tis  you  tell  these  people,  that  be 
flocking  into  the  country  like  pigeons  in  the  spring, 
of  the  old  Delaware,  and  of  the  bravest  white 
man  that  ever  trod  the  hills.” 

Effingham  and  Elizabeth  were  surprised  at  the 
manner  of  the  Leather-stocking,  which  waB  un- 
usually impressive  and  solemn ; but,  attributing 
it  to  the  scene,  the  young  man  turned  to  the  mon- 
ument, and  read  aloud : 

“ ‘Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Oliver  Effingham, 
Esquire,  formerly  a Major  in  his  B.  Majesty’s  60th 
Foot;  a soldier  of  tried  valor;  a subject  of  chiv- 
alrous loyalty ; and  a man  of  honesty.  To  these 
virtues  he  added  the  graces  of  a Christian.  The 
morning  of  his  life  was  spent  in  honor,  wealth,  and 
power ; but  its  evening  was  obscured  by  poverty, 
neglect,  and  disease,  which  were  alleviated  only 
by  the  tender  care  of  his  old,  faithful,  and  upright 
friend  and  attendant,  Nathaniel  Bumppo.  His 
descendants  rear  this  stone  to  the  virtues  of  the 
master,  and  to  the  enduring  gratitude  of  the  ser- 
vant.’ ” 

The  Leather-stocking  stared  at  the  sound  of 
his  own  name,  and  a smile  of  joy  illumined  his 
wrinkled  features,  as  he  said  : 

“ And  did  ye  say  it,  lad  ? have  you  then  got 
the  old  man’s  name  cut  in  the  stone,  by  the  side 
of  his  master’s  ? God  bless  ye  , children ! ’twas  a 
kind  thought,  and  kindness  goes  to  the  heart  as 
life  shortens.” 

Elizabeth  turned  her  back  to  the  speakers. 
Effingham  made  a fruitless  effort  before  he  suc- 
ceeded in  saying : 

“ It  is  there  cut  in  plain  marble ; but  it  should 
have  been  written  in  letters  of  gold ! ” 

“ Show  me  the  name,  boy,”  said  Natty,  with 
simple  eagerness;  “let  me  see  my  own  name 
placed  in  such  honor.  ’Tis  a’  gin’rous  gift  to  a 
man  who  leaves  none  of  his  name  and  family  be- 
hind him,  in  a country  where  he  has  tarried  so 
long.” 

Effingham  guided  his  finger  to  the  spot,  and 
Natty  followed  the  windings  of  the  letters  to  the 
end  with  deep  interest,  when  he  raised  himself 
from  the  tomb,  and  said : 

“I  suppose  it’s  all  right;  and  it’s  kindly 
thought,  and  kindly  done ! But  what  have  ye 
put  over  the  red-skin  ? ” 

“You  shall  hear : 


AMONG  THE  GRAVES. 


197 


“ ‘ This  stone  is  raised  to  the  memory  of  an 
Indian  Chief,  of  the  Delaware  tribe,  who  was 
known  by  the  several  names  of  John  Mohegan; 
Mohican—’  ” 

“ Mo-hee-can,  lad,  they  call  theirselves  ! ’he- 
can.” 

“ Mohican ; and  Chingagook — ’ ” 

“ ’Gach,  boy ; — ’gach-gook ; Chingachgook, 
which,  intarpreted,  means  Big-sarpent.  The  name 
should  be  set  down  right,  for  an  Indian’s  name 
has  always  some  meaning  in  it.” 

“ I will  see  it  altered.  He  was  the  last  of  his 
people  who  continued  to  inhabit  this  country ; and 
it  may  be  said  of  him  that  his  faults  were  those 
of  an  Indian,  and  his  virtues  those  of  a man.” 

“ You  never  said  truer  word,  Mr.  Oliver ; ah’s 
me ! if  you  had  know’d  him  as  I did,  in  his  prime, 
in  that  very  battle  where  the  old  gentleman,  who 
sleeps  by  his  side,  saved  his  life,  when  them 
thieves,  the  Iroquois,  had  him  at  the  stake,  you’d 
have  said  all  that,  and  more  too.  I cut  the 
thongs,  with  this  very  hand,  and  gave  him  my 
own  tomahawk  and  knife,  seeing  that  the  rifle  was 
always  my  fav’rite  weapon.  He  did  lay  about 
him  like  a man ! I met  him  as  I was  coming  home 
from  the  trail,  with  eleven  Mingo  scalps  on  his 
pole. — You  needn’t  shudder,  Madam  Effingham, 
for  they  was  all  from  shaved  heads  and  warriors. 
When  I look  about  me,  at  these  hills,  where  I 
used  to  could  count  sometimes  twenty  smokes, 
curling  over  the  tree-tops,  from  the  Delaware 
camps,  it  raises  mournful  thoughts,  to  think  that 
not  a red-skin  is  left  of  them  all ; unless  it  be  a 
drunken  vagabond  from  the  Oneidas,  or  them 
Yankee  Indians,  who,  they  say,  be  moving  up 
from  the  sea-shore ; and  who  belong  to  none  of 
God’s  creaters,  to  my  seeming,  being,  as  it  were, 
neither  fish  nor  flesh — neither  white  man  nor  sav- 
age. Well,  well ! the  time  has  come  at  last,  and 
I must  go — ” 

“ Go  ! ” echoed  Edwards,  “ whither  do  you 
go  !” 

The  Leather-stocking,  who  had  imbibed,  un- 
consciously, many  of  the  Indian  qualities,  though 
he  always  thought  of  himself  as  of  a civilized  be- 
ing, compared  with  even  the  Delawares,  averted 
his  face  to  conceal  the  workings  of  his  muscles, 
as  he  stooped  to  lift  a large  pack  from  behind 
the  tomb,  which  he  placed  deliberately  on  his 
shoulders. 

“ Go ! ” exclaimed  Elizabeth,  approaching  him 
with  a hurried  step  ; “ you  should  not  venture  so 
far  in  the  woods  alone,  at  your  time  of  life,  Nat- 
ty ; indeed,  it  is  imprudent. — He  is  bent,  Effing- 
ham, on  some  distant  hunting.” 

u What  Mrs.  Effingham  tells  you  is  true,  Leath- 


er-stocking,” said  Edwards;  “there  can  be  no 
necessity  for  your  submitting  to  such  hardships 
now.  So  throw  aside  your  pack,  and  confine 
your  hunt  to  the  mountains  near  us,  if  you  will 
go.” 

“ Hardship  ! ’tis  a pleasure,  children,  and  the 
greatest  that  is  left  me  on  this  side  the  grave.” 

“ No,  no ; you  shall  not  go  to  such  a dis- 
tance,” cried  Elizabeth,  laying  her  white  hand  on 
his  deerskin  pack — “ I am  right ! — I feel  his  camp- 
kettle,  and  a canister  of  powder  ! He  must  not 
be  suffered  to  wander  so  far  from  us,  Oliver  ; re- 
member how  suddenly  Mohegan  dropped  away.” 

“ I know’d  the  parting  would  come  hard, 
children  — I kuow’d  it  would ! ” said  Natty, 
“ and  so  I got  aside  to  look  at  the  graves  by  my- 
self, and  thought  if  I left  ye  the  keepsake  which 
the  major  gave  me,  when  we  first  parted  in  the 
woods,  ye  wouldn’t  take  it  unkind,  but  would 
know  that,  let  the  old  man’s  body  go  where  it 
might,  his  feelings  stayed  behind  him.” 

“ This  means  something  more  than  common,” 
exclaimed  the  youth.  “Where  is  it,  Natty,  that 
you  purpose  going  ? ” 

The  hunter  drew  nigh  him  with  a confident, 
reasoning  air,  as  if  what  he  had  to  say  would  si- 
lence all  objections,  and  replied  : 

“ Why,  lad,  they  tell  me,  that  on  the  Big-lakes, 
there’s  the  best  of  hunting,  and  a great  range,  with- 
out a white  man  on  it,  unless  it  may  be  one  like  my- 
self. I’m  weary  of  living  in  clearings,  and  where 
the  hammer  is  sounding  in  my  ears  from  sunrise 
to  sundown.  And  though  I’m  much  bound  to 
ye  both,  children — I wouldn’t  say  it  if  it  was 
not-  true — I crave  to  go  into  the  woods  ag’in — 
I do.” 

“Woods!”  echoed  Elizabeth,  trembling  with 
her  feelings ; “ do  you  not  call  these  endless  for- 
ests woods  ? ” 

“ Ah ! child,  these  be  nothing  to  a man  that’s 
used  to  the  wilderness.  I have  took  but  little 
comfort  sin’  your  father  come  on  with  his  settlers ; 
but  I wouldn’t  go  far,  while  the  life  was  in  the 
body  that  lies  under  the  sod  there.  But  now  he’s 
gone,  and  Chingachgook  is  gone ; and  you  be 
both  young  and  happy.  Yes  ! the  big  house  has 
rung  with  merriment  this  month  past ! And  now. 
I thought,  was  the  time  to  try  to  get  a little  com- 
fort in  the  close  of  my  days.  Woods  ! indeed  ! 
I doesn’t  call  these  woods,  Madam  Effingham, 
where  I lose  myself  every  day  of  my  life  in  the 
clearings.” 

“ If  there  be  any  thing  wanting  to  your  com- 
fort, name  it,  Leather-stocking ; if  it  be  attainable 
it  is  yours.” 

“ You  mean  all  for  the  best,  lad  : I know  it ; and 


198 


THE  PIONEERS. 


so  does  madam,  too  ; but  your  ways  isn’t  my  ways. 
'Tis  like  the  dead  there,  who  thought,  when  the 
breath  was  in  them,  that  one  went  east,  and  one 
went  west,  to  find  their  heavens  ; but  they’ll  meet 
at  last ; and  so  shall  we,  children.  Yes,  ind  as 
you’ve  begun,  and  we  shall  meet  in  the  land  of 
the  just  at  last.” 

“ This  is  so  new ! so  unexpected ! ” said  Eliza- 
beth, in  almost  breathless  excitement ; “ I had 
thought  you  meant  to  live  with  us  and  die  with 
us,  Natty.” 

“ Words  are  of  no  avail,”  exclaimed  her  hus- 
band ; “ the  habits  of  forty  years  are  not  to  be 
dispossessed  by  the  ties  of  a day. — I know  you 
too  well  to  urge  you  further,  Natty;  unless  you 
will  let  me  build  you  a hut  on  one  of  the  distant 
hills,  where  we  can  sometimes  see  you,  and  know 
that  you  are  comfortable.” 

“ Don’t  fear  for  the  Leather-stocking,  children ; 
Gcd  will  see  that  his  days  be  provided  for,  and 
his  ind  happy.  I know  you  mean  all  for  the  best, 
but  our  ways  doesn’t  agree.  I love  the  woods, 
and  ye  relish  the  face  of  man ; I eat  when  hungry, 
and  drink  when  a-dry ; and  ye  keep  stated  hours 
and  rules : nay,  nay,  you  even  over-feed  the  dogs, 
lad,  from  pure  kindness ; and  hounds  should  be 
gaunty  to  run  well.  The  meanest  of  God’s  crea- 
tures be  made  for  some  use,  and  I’m  formed  for 
the  wilderness.  If  ye  love  me,  let  me  go  where 
my  soul  craves  to  be  ag’in  ! ” 

The  appeal  was  decisive;  and  not  another 
word  of  entreaty  for  him  to  remain  was  then 
uttered ; but  Elizabeth  bent  her  head  to  her  bosom 
and  wept,  while  her  husband  dashed  away  the 
tears  from  his  eyes  ; and,  with  hands  that  almost 
refused  to  perform  their  office,  he  produced  his 
pocket-book,  knd  extended  a parcel  of  bank-notes 
to  the  hunter. 

“ Take  these,”  he  said,  “ at  least  take  these ; 
secure  them  about  your  person,  and  in  the  hour 
of  need  they  will  do  you  good  service.” 

The  old  man  took  the  notes,  and  examined 
them  with  a curious  eye. 

“ This,  then,  is  some  of  the  new-fashioned  mon- 
ey that  they’ve  been  making  at  Albany,  out  of  pa- 
per ! It  can’t  be  worth  much  to  they  that  hasn’t 
laming ! No,  no,  lad—  take  back  the  stuff;  it  will 
do  me  no  sarvice.  I took  kear  to  get  all  the 
Frenchman’s  powder  afore  he  broke  up,  and 
they  say  lead  grows  where  I’m  going.  It  isn’t  even 
fit  for  wads,  seeing  that  I use  none  but  leather ! — 
Madam  Effingham,  let  an  old  man  kiss  your  hand, 
and  wish  God’s  choicest  blessings  on  you  and 
your’n.” 

“ Once  more  let  me  beseech  you,  stay ! ” cried 


Elizabeth.  “ Do  not,  Leather-stocking,  leave  me 
to  grieve  for  the  man  who  has  twice  rescued  me 
from  death,  and  who  has  served  those  I love  so 
faithfully.  For  my  sake,  if  not  for  your  own, 
stay.  I shall  see  you  in  those  frightful  dreams  that 
still  haunt  my  nights,  dying  in  poverty  and  age, 
by  the  side  of  those  terrific  beasts  you  slew. 
There  will  be  no  evil,  that  sickness,  want,  and 
solitude  can  inflict,  that  my  fancy  will  not  conjure 
as  your  fate.  Stay  with  us,  old  man,  if  not  for 
your  own  sake,  at  least  for  ours.” 

“Such  thoughts  and  bitter  dreams,  Madam 
Effingham,”  returned  the  hunter,  solemnly,  “ will 
never  haunt  an  innocent  parson  long.  They’ll 
pass  away  with  God’s  pleasure.  And  if  the  cat-a- 
mounts be  yet  brought  to  your  eyes  in  sleep,  ’tis 
not  for  my  sake,  but  to  show  you  the  power  of  Him 
that  led  me  there  to  save  you.  Trust  in  Goa> 
madam,  and  your  honorable  husband,  and  the 
thoughts  for  an  old  man  like  me  can  never  be  long 
nor  bitter.  I pray  that  the  Lord  will  keep  you  in 
mind — the  Lord  that  lives  in  clearings  as  well 
as  in  the  wilderness — and  bless  you,  and  all  that 
belong  to  you,  from  this  time  till  the  great  day 
when  the  whites  shall  meet  the  red-skins  in  judg- 
ment, and  justice  shall  be  the  law,  and  not 
power.” 

Elizabeth  raised  her  head,  and  offered  her 
colorless  cheek  to  his  salute,  when  he  lifted  his  cap 
and  touched  it  respectfully.  His  hand  was  grasped 
with  convulsive  fervor  by  the  youth,  who  con- 
tinued silent.  The  hunter  prepared  himself  for 
his  journey,  drawing  his  belt  tighter,  and  wasting 
his  moments  in  the  little  reluctant  movements  of 
a sorrowful  departure.  Once  or  twice  he  essayed 
to  speak,  but  a rising  in  his  throat  prevented  it. 
At  length  he  shouldered  his  rifle,  and  cried  with 
a clear  huntsman’s  call  that  echoed  through  the 
woods : 

“ He-e-e-re,  he-e-e-re,  pups — away,  dogs,  away ! 
— ye’ll  be  foot-sore  afore  ye  see  the  ind  of  the 
journey ! ” 

The  hounds  leaped  from  the  earth  at  this  cry, 
and  scenting  around  the  graves  and  the  silent  pair, 
as  if  conscious  of  their  own  destination,  they  fol- 
lowed humbly  at  the  heels  of  their  master.  A 
short  pause  succeeded,  during  which  even  the 
youth  concealed  his  face  on  his  grandfather’s 
tomb.  When  the  pride  of  manhood,  however, 
had  suppressed  the  feelings  of  nature,  he  turned 
to  renew  his  entreaties,  but  saw  that  the  cemetery 
was  occupied  only  by  himself  and  his  wife. 

“He  is  gone  ! ” cried  Effingham. 

Elizabeth  raised  her  face,  and  saw  the  old 
hunter  standing,  looking  back  for  a moment,  on 


NATTY’S  DEPARTURE. 


199 


the  verge  of  the  wood.  As  he  caught  their 
glances,  he  drew  his  hard  hand  hastily  across  his 
eyes  again,  waved  it  on  high  for  an  adieu,  and, 
uttering  a forced  cry  to  his  dogs,  who  were 
crouching  at  his  feet,  he  entered  the  forest. 

This  was  the  last  that  they  ever  saw  of  the 


Leather-stocking,  whose  rapid  movements  pre- 
ceded the  pursuit  which  Judge  Temple  both  or- 
dered and  conducted.  He  had  gone  far  toward 
the  setting  sun — the  foremost  in  that  band  of 
pioneers  who  are  opening  the  way  for  the  march 
of  the  nation  across  the  continent 


THE  BHD. 


THE 


PRAIRIE 


BY 

JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER. 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS. 


“A  series  of  masterly  and  rapid  evolutions  with  the  horses  now  commenced. 


THE  PRAIRIE 


A TALE. 


BY 

J.  FEN  I MORE  COOPER. 


“ Mark  his  condition,  and  th’  event ; then  tell  me, 
If  this  might  be  a brother.” — Tempest, 


ILLUSTRATED  FROM  DRAWINGS  BY  F.  0.  G.  DARLEY 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY, 

1,  3,  and  5 BOND  STREET. 

18  8 1. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 
D.  APPLETON  & COMPANY, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


INTRODUCTION, 


The  geological  formation  of  that  portion  of  the  American  Union  which  lies  between 
the  Alleghanies  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  has  given  rise  to  many  ingenious  theories. 
Virtually,  the  whole  of  this  immense  region  is  a plain.  For  a distance  extending  nearly 
fifteen  hundred  miles  east  and  west,  and  six  hundred  north  and  south,  there  is  scarcely 
an  elevation  worthy  to  he  called  a mountain.  Even  hills  are  not  common,  though  a 
good  deal  of  the  face  of  the  country  has  more  or  less  of  that  “rolling”  character  which 
is  described  in  the  opening  pages  of  this  work. 

There  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  the  territory  which  now  composes  Ohio,  Illi- 
nois, Indiana,  Michigan,  and  a large  portion  of  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi,  lay 
formerly  under  water.  The  soil  of  all  the  former  States  has  the  appearance  of  an  allu- 
vial deposit ; and  isolated  rocks  have  been  found,  of  a nature  and  in  situations  which 
render  it  difficult  to  refute  the  opinion  that  they  have  been  transferred  to  their  present 
beds  by  floating  ice.  This  theory  assumes  that  the  Great  Lakes  were  the  deep  pools  of 
one  immense  body  of  fresh  water,  which  lay  too  low  to  be  drained  by  the  irruption  that 
laid  bare  the  land. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  French,  when  masters  of  the  Canadas  and  Louisiana, 
claimed  the  whole  of  the  territory  in  question.  Their  hunters  and  advanced  troops  held 
the  first  communications  with  the  savage  occupants,  and  the  earliest  written  accounts 
we  possess  of  these  vast  regions  are  from  the  pens  of  their  missionaries.  Many  French 
words  have,  consequently,  become  of  local  use  in  this  quarter  of  America,  and  not  a few 
names  given  in  that  language  have  been  perpetuated.  When  the  adventurers,  who  first 
penetrated  these  wilds,  met,  in  the  centre  of  the  forests,  immense  plains  covered  with 
rich  verdure  or  rank  grasses,  they  naturally  gave  them  the  appellation  of  meadows.  As 
the  English  succeeded  the  French,  and  found  a peculiarity  of  Nature,  differing  from  all 
they  had  yet  seen  on  the  continent,  already  distinguished  by  a word  that  did  not  express 
any  thing  in  their  own  language,  they  left  these  natural  meadows  in  possession  of  their 
title  of  convention.  In  this  manner  has  the  word  “ prairie  ” been  adopted  into  the 
English  tongue. 

The  American  prairies  are  of  two  kinds.  Those  which  lie  east  of  the  Mississippi  are 
comparatively  small,  are  exceedingly  fertile,  and  are  always  surrounded  by  forests.  They 
are  susceptible  of  high  cultivation,  and  are  fast  becoming  settled.  They  abound  in 
Ohio,  Michigan,  Illinois,  and  Indiana.  They  labor  under  the  disadvantages  of  a scarcity 
of  wood  and  water — evils  of  a serious  character,  until  art  has  had  time  to  supply  the 


i 


INTRODUCTION. 


deficiencies  of  Nature.  As  coal  is  said  to  abound  in  all  that  region,  and  wells  are  gen- 
erally successful,  the  enterprise  of  the  immigrants  is  gradually  prevailing  against  these 
difficulties. 

The  second  description  of  these  natural  meadows  lies  west  of  the  Mississippi,  at  a 
distance  of  a few  hundred  miles  from  that  river,  and  is  called  the  Great  Prairies.  They 
resemble  the  steppes  of  Tartary  more  than  any  other  known  portion  of  the  world  ; be- 
ing, in  fact,  a vast  country,  incapable  of  sustaining  a dense  population,  in  the  absence 
of  the  two  great  necessaries  already  named.  Rivers  abound,  it  is  true ; but  this  region 
is  nearly  destitute  of  brooks  and  the  smaller  water-courses,  which  tend  so  much  to  com- 
fort and  fertility. 

The  origin  and  date  of  the  Great  American  Prairies  form  one  of  Nature’s  most  majes- 
tic mysteries.  The  general  character  of  the  United  States,  of  the  Canadas,  and  of 
Mexico,  is  that* of  luxuriant  fertility.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  another  portion  of  the 
world,  of  the  same  extent,  which  has  so  little  useless  land  as  the  inhabited  parts  of  the 
American  Union.  Most  of  the  mountains  are  arable;  and  even  the  prairies,  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  republic,  are  of  deep  alluvion.  The  same  is  true  between  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  the  Pacific.  Between  the  two  lies  the  broad  belt  of  comparative  desert,  which 
is  the  scene  of  this  tale,  appearing  to  interpose  a barrier  to  the  progress  of  the  American 
people  westward.  Since  the  original  publication  of  this  book,  however,  the  boundaries 
of  the  republic  have  been  carried  to  the  Pacific,  and  “the  settler,”  preceded  by  the 
“.trapper,”  has  already  established  himself  on  the  shores  of  that  vast  sea. 

The  Great  Prairies  appear  to  be  the  final  gathering-place  of  the  red  men.  The  rem 
nants  of  the  Mohicans  and  the  Delawares,  of  the  Creeks,  Choctaws,  and  Cherokees,  are 
destined  to  fulfil  their  time  on  these  vast  plains.  The  entire  number  of  the  Indians 
within  the  Union  is  differently  computed  at  between  one  and  five  hundred  thousand 
souls.  Most  of  them  inhabit  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi.  At  the  period  of  the 
tale,  they  dwelt  in  open  hostility,  national  feuds  passing  froip  generation  to  generation. 
The  power  of  the  republic  has  done  much  to  restore  peace  to  these  wild  scenes,  and  it  is 
now  possible  to  travel  in  security  where  civilized  man  did  not  dare  to  pass  unprotected 
five-and- twenty  years  ago. 

Recent  events  have  brought  the  Grand  Prairies  into  familiar  notice,  and  we  now  read 
of  journeys  across  them  as,  half  a century  since,  we  perused  the  narratives  of  the  emi- 
grants to  Ohio  and  Louisiana.  It  is  a singular  commentary  on  the  times  that  places  for 
railroads  across  these  vast  plains  are  in  active  discussion,  and  that  men  have  ceased  to 
regard  the  project  as  chimerical. 

This  book  closes  the  career  of  Leather-stocking.  Pressed  upon  by  time,  he  had 
ceased  to  be  the  hunter  and  the  warrior,  and  has  become  a trapper  of  the  Great  "West. 
The  sound  of  the  axe  has  driven  him  from  his  beloved  forests  to  seek  a refuge,  by  a 
species  of  desperate  resignation,  on  the  denuded  plains  that  stretch  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. Here  he  passes  the  few  closing  years  of  his  life,  dying  as  he  had  lived,  a philoso- 
pher of  the  wilderness,  with  few  of  the  failings,  none  of  the  vices,  and  all  the  nature 
and  truth  of  his  position. 


THE  PRAIRIE 


CHAPTER  I. 

“ I pray  thee,  shepherd,  if  that  love,  or  gold, 

Can  in  this  desert  place  buy  entertainment, 

Bring  us  where  we  may  rest  ourselves  and  feed.” 

As  YOU  LIKE  IT. 

Much  was  said  and  written,  at  the  time,  con- 
cerning the  policy  of  adding  the  vast  regions  of 
Louisiana  to  the  already  immense  and  but  half- 
tenanted  territories  of  the  United  States.  As  the 
warmth  of  controversy,  however,  subsided,  and 
party  considerations  gave  place  to  more  liberal 
views,  the  wisdom  of  the  measure  began  to  be 
generally  conceded.  It  soon  became  apparent  to 
the  meanest  capacity  that,  while  Nature  had  placed 
a barrier  of  desert  to  the  extension  of  our  popu- 
lation in  the  West,  the  measure  had  made  us  the 
masters  of  a belt  of  fertile  country,  which,  in  the 
revolutions  of  the  day,  might  have  become  the 
property  of  a rival  nation.  It  gave  U3  the  sole 
command  of  the  great  thoroughfare  of  the  interior, 
and  placed  the  countless  tribes  of  savages,  who 
lay  along  our  borders,  entirely  within  our  control ; 
it  reconciled  conflicting  rights,  and  quieted  na- 
tional distrusts ; it  opened  a thousand  avenues  to 
the  inland  trade,  and  to  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  ; 
and,  if  ever  time  or  necessity  shall  require  a peace- 
ful division  of  this  vast  empire,  it  assures  us  of  a 
neighbor  that  will  possess  our  language,  our  reli- 
gion, our  institutions,  and,  it  is  also  to  be  hoped, 
our  sense  of  political  justice. 

Although  the  purchase  was  made  in  1803,  the 
spring  of  the  succeeding  year  was  permitted  to 
open  before  the  official  prudence  of  the  Spaniard, 
who  held  the  province  for  his  European  master,  ad- 
mitted the  authority  or  even  the  entrance  of  its  new 
proprietors.  But  the  forms  of  the  transfer  were 
no  sooner  completed,  and  the  new  government  ac- 
knowledged, than  swarms  of  that  restless  people 
which  is  ever  found  hovering  on  the  skirts  of 
American  society,  plunged  into  the  thickets  that 


fringed  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  with  the 
same  careless  hardihood  that  had  already  sus- 
tained so  many  of  them  in  their  toilsome  progress 
from  the  Atlantic  States  to  the  eastern  shores  of 
the  “ Father  of  Rivers.”  * 

Time  was  necessary  to  blend  the  numerous 
and  affluent  colonists  of  the  lower  province  with 
their  new  compatriots : but  the  thinner  and  more 
humble  population  above,  was  almost  immediately 
swallowed  in  the  vortex  which  attended  the  tide 
of  instant  emigration.  The  inroad  from  the  East 
was  a new  and  sudden  outbreaking  of  a people 
who  had  endured  a momentary  restraint,  after 
having  been  rendered  nearly  resistless  by  suc- 
cess. The  toils  and  hazards  of  former  under- 
takings were  forgotten,  as  these  endless  and  un- 
explored regions,  with  all  their  fancied  as  well  as 
real  advantages  were  laid  open  to  their  enterprise. 
The  consequences  were  such  as  might  easily  have 
been  anticipated  from  so  tempting  an  offering, 
placed,  as  it  was,  before  the  eyes  of  a race  long 
trained  in  adventure,  and  nurtured  in  difficulties. 

Thousands  of  the  elders,  of  what  were  then 
called  the  new  States, f broke  up  from  the  enjoy- 
ment of  their  hard-earned  indulgences,  and  were 
to  be  seen  leading  long  files  of  descendants,  born 
and  reared  in  the  forests  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky, 
deeper  into  the  land,  in  quest  of  that  which 
might  be  termed,  without  the  aid  of  poetry,  their 
natural  and  more  congenial  atmosphere.  The 
distinguished  and  resolute  forester  who  first  pen- 
etrated the  wilds  of  the  latter  State,  was  of  the 


* The  Mississippi  is  thus  termed  in  several  of  the  Indian 
languages.  The  reader  will  gain  a more  just  idea  of  the 
importance  of  this  stream,  if  he  recalls  to  mind  the  fact  that 
the  Missouri  and  the  Mississippi  are  properly  the  same 
river.  Their  united  lengths  cannot  be  greatly  short  of  four 
thousand  miles. 

t All  the  States  admitted  to  the  American  ynion,  since 
the  Eevolution,  are  called  new  States,  with  the  exception  ol 
Vermont ; that  had  claims  before  the  war,  which  were  not 
however,  admitted  until  a later  day. 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


6 

number.  This  adventurous  and  venerable  pa- 
triarch was  now  seen  making  his  last  remove; 
placing  the  endless  river  between  him  and  the 
multitude  his  own  success  had  drawn  around  him, 
and  seeking  for  the  renewal  of  enjoyments  which 
were  rendered  worthless  in  his  eyes  when  tram- 
melled by  the  forms  of  human  institutions.* 

In  the  pursuit  of  adventures  such  as  these, 
men  are  ordinarily  governed  by  their  habits  or 
deluded  by  their  wishes.  A few,  led  by  the  phan- 
toms of  hope  and  ambitious  of  sudden  affluence, 
sought  the  mines  of  the  virgin  territory ; but  by 
far  the  greater  portion  of  the  emigrants  were  sat 
isfied  to  establish  themselves  along  the  margins  of 
the  larger  water-courses,  content  with  the  rich 
returns  that  the  generous,  alluvial  bottoms  of  the 
rivers  never  fail  to  bestow  on  the  most  desulto- 
ry industry.  In  this  manner  were  communities 
formed  with  magical  rapidity  ; and  most  of  those 
who  witnessed  the  purchase  of  the  empty  empire, 
have  lived  to  see  already  a populous  and  sover- 
eign State  parcelled  from  its  inhabitants,  and  re- 
ceived into  the  bosom  of  the  national  Union  on 
terms  of  political  equality. 

The  incidents  and  scenes  which  are  connected 
with  this  legend  occurred  in  the  earliest  periods 
of  the  enterprises  which  have' led  to  so  great  and 
so  speedy  a result. 

The  harvest  of  the  first  year  of  our  possession 
had  long  been  passed,  and  the  fading  foliage  of  a 
few  scattered  trees  was  already  beginning  to  ex- 
hibit the  hues  and  tints  of  autumn,  when  a train 
of  wagons  issued  from  the  bed  of  a dry  rivulet,  to 
pursue  its  course  across  the  undulating  surface 
of  what,  in  the  language  of  the  country  of  which 
we  write,  is  called  a “ rolling  prairie.”  The  ve- 
hicles, loaded  with  household  goods  and  imple- 
ments of  husbandry,  the  few  straggling  sheep 
and  cattle  that  were  herded  in  the  rear,  and  the 
rugged  appearance  and  careless  mien  of  the 
sturdy  men  who  loitered  at  the  3ides  of  the 
lingering  teams,  united  to  announce  a band  of 
emigrants  seeking  for  the  El  Dorado  of  the  West. 
Conti'ary  to  the  usual  practice  of  the  men  of 
their  caste,  this  party  had  left  the  fertile  bot- 
toms of  the  low  country,  and  had  found  its 
way,  by  means  only  known  to  such  adventurers, 
across  glen  and  torrent,  over  deep  morasses  and 
arid  wastes,  to  a point  far  beyond  the  usual  limits 
of  civilized  habitations.  In  their  front  were 
stretched  those  broad  plains  which  extend,  with 


* Colonel  Boone,  the  patriarch  of  Kentucky.  This  ven- 
erable and  .hardy  pioneer  of  civilization  emigrated  to  an 
estate  three  hundred  miles  west  of  the  Mississippi,  in  his 
ninety-second  year,  because  he  found  a population  of  ten  to 
the  square  mile  inconveniently  crowded ! 


so  little  diversity  of  character,  to  the  bases  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  and,  many  long  and  dreary 
miles  in  their  rear,  foamed  the  swift  and  turbid 
waters  of  La  Platte. 

The  appearence  of  such  a train  in  that  bleak 
and  solitary  place  was  rendered  the  more  remark- 
able by  the  fact  that  the  surrounding  country  of- 
fered so  little  that  was  tempting  to  the  cupidity 
of  speculation,  and,  if  possible,  still  less  that  was 
flattering  to  the  hopes  of  an  ordinary  settler  of 
new  lands. 

The  meagre  herbage  of  the  prairie  promised 
nothing  in  favor  of  a bard  and  unyielding  soil, 
over  which  the  wheels  of  the  vehicles  rattled  as 
lightly  as  if  they  travelled  on  a beaten  road; 
neither  wagons  nor  beasts  making  any  deeper  im- 
pression than  to  mark  that  bruised  and  withered 
grass  which  the  cattle  plucked  from  time  to  time, 
and  as  often  rejected  as  food  too  sour  for  even 
hunger  to  render  palatable. 

Whatever  might  be  the  final  destination  of 
these  adventurers,  or  the  secret  causes  of  their 
apparent  security  in  so  remote  and  unprotected  a 
situation,  there  was  no  visible  sign  of  uneasiness, 
uncertainty,  or  alarm,  among  them.  Including 
both  sexes,  and  every  age,  the  number  of  the 
party  exceeded  twenty. 

At  some  little  distance  in  front  of  the  whole, 
marched  the  individual  who,  by  his  position  and 
air,  appeared  to  be  the  leader  of  the  band.  He  was 
a tall,  sunburnt  man,  past  the  middle  age,  of  a dull 
countenance  and  listless  manner.  His  frame  ap- 
peared loose  and  flexible ; but  it  was  vast,  and  in 
reality  of  prodigious  power.  It  was  only  at 
moments,  however,  as  some  slight  impediment 
opposed  itself  to  his  loitering  progress,  that  his 
person,  which  in  its  ordinary  gait  seemed  so 
lounging  and  nerveless,  displayed  any  of  those 
energies  which  lay  latent  in  his  system,  like  the 
slumbering  and  unwieldy,  but  terrible,  strength 
of  the  elephant.  The  inferior  lineaments  of  his 
countenance  were  coarse,  extended,  and  vacant ; 
while  the  superior,  or  those  nobler  parts  which  are 
thought  to  affect  the  intellectual  being,  were  low, 
receding,  and  mean. 

The  dress  of  this  individual  was  a mixture  of 
the  coarsest  vestments  of  a husbandman,  with  the 
leathern  garments  that  fashion  as  well  as  use  had 
in  some  degree  rendered  necessary  to  one  engaged 
in  his  present  pursuits.  There  was,  however,  a 
singular  and  wild  display  of  prodigal  ana  ill-judged 
ornaments  blended  with  his  motley  attire.  In 
place  of  the  usual  deerskin  belt,  he  wore  around 
his  body  a tarnished  silken  sash  of  the  most  gaudy 
colors ; the  buckhorn  haft  of  his  knife  was  pro- 
fusely decorated  with  plates  of  silver ; the  marten’s 


A COMPANY  OF  EMIGRANTS. 


fur  of  his  cap  was  of  & fineness  and  shadowing 
that  a queen  might  covet;  the  buttons  of  his 
rude  and  soiled  blanket-coat  were  of  the  glitter- 
ing coinage  of  Mexico ; the  stock  of  his  rifle  was 
of  beautiful  mahogany,  riveted  and  banded  with 
the  same  precious  metal ; and  the  trinkets  of  no 
less  than  three  worthless  watches  dangled  from 
different  parts  of  his  person.  In  addition  to  the 
pack  and  the  rifle  which  were  slung  at  his  back, 
together  with  the  well-filled  and  carefully-guarded 
pouch  and  horn,  he  had  carelessly  cast  a keen 
and  bright  wood-axe  across  his  shoulder,  sustain- 
ing the  weight  of  the  whole  with  as  much  appar- 
ent ease  as  if  he  moved  unfettered  in  limb,  and  free 
from  encumbrance. 

A short  distance  in  the  rear  of  this  man  came 
a group  of  youths  very  similarly  attired,  and  bear- 
ing sufficient  resemblance  to  each  other,  and  to 
their  leader,  to  distinguish  them  as  the  children 
of  one  family.  Though  the  youngest  of  their  num- 
ber could  not  much  have  passed  the  period  that, 
in  the  nicer  judgment  of  the  law,  is  called  the  age 
of  discretion,  he  had  proved  himself  so  far  worthy 
of  his  progenitors  as  to  have  reared  already  his 
aspiring  person  to  the  standard  height  of  his  race. 
There  were  one  or  two  others,  of  different  mould, 
whose  descriptions  must,  however,  be  referred  to 
the  regular  course  of  the  narrative. 

Of  the  females,  there  were  but  two  who  had 
arrived  at  womanhood;  though  several  white- 
headed,  olive-skinned  faces  were  peering  out  of 
the  foremost  wagon  of  the  train,  with  eyes  of  live- 
ly curiosity  and  characteristic  animation.  The 
elder  of  the  two  adults  was  the  sallow  and  wrinkled 
mother  of  most  of  the  party ; and  the  younger  was 
a sprightly,  active  girl  of  eighteen,  who  in  figure, 
dress,  and  mien,  seemed  to  belong  to  a station  in 
society  several  gradations  above  that  of  any  one 
of  her  visible  associates.  The  second  vehicle  was 
covered  with  a top  of  cloth  so  tightly  drawn  as 
to  conceal  its  contents  with  the  nicest  care.  The 
remaining  wagons  were  loaded  with  such  rude 
furniture  and  other  personal  effects  as  might  be 
supposed  to  belong  to  one  ready  at  any  moment 
to  change  his  abode,  without  reference  to  season 
or  distance. 

Perhaps  there  was  little  in  this  train,  or  in  the 
appearance  of  its  proprietors,  that  is  not  daily  to 
be  encountered  on  the  highways  of  this  changeable 
and  moving  country.  But  the  solitary  and  pe- 
culiar scenery,  in  which  it  was  so  unexpectedly 
exhibited,  gave  to  the  party  a marked  character 
of  wildness  and  adventure. 

In  the  little  valleys  which,  in  the  regular  for- 
mation of  the  land,  occurred  at  every  mile  of  their 
progress,  the  view  was  bounded  on  two  of  the 


sides  by  the  gradual  and  low  elevations  whicl 
give  name  to  the  description  of  prairie  we  have 
mentioned  ; while  on  the  others  the  meagre  pros- 
pect ran  off  in  long,  narrow,  barren  perspectives, 
but  slightly  relieved  by  a pitiful  show  of  coarse 
though  somewhat  luxuriant  vegetation.  From 
the  summits  of  the  swells,  the  eye  became  fatigued 
with  the  sameness  and  chilling  dreariness  of  the 
landscape.  The  earth  was  not  unlike  the  ocean, 
when  its  restless  waters  are  heaving  heavily,  after 
the  agitation  and  fury  of  the  tempest  have  begun 
to  lessen.  There  was  the  same  waving  and  regu- 
lar surface,  the  same  absence  of  foreign  objects, 
and  the  same  boundless  extent  to  the  view.  In- 
deed, so  very  striking  was  the  resemblance  between 
the  water  and  the  land,  that,  however  much  the 
geologist  might  sneer  at  so  simple  a theory,  it 
would  have  been  difficult  for  a poet  not  to  have 
felt  that  the  formation  of  the  one  had  been  pro- 
duced by  the  subsiding  dominion  of  the  other. 
Here  and  there  a tall  tree  rose  out  of  the  bottoms, 
stretching  its  naked  branches  abroad,  like  some 
solitary  vessel ; and,  to  strengthen  the  delusion, 
far  in  the  distance  appeared  two  or  three  rounded 
thickets,  looming  in  the  misty  horizon  like  islands 
resting  on  the  waters.  It  is  unnecessary  to  warn 
the  practised  reader  that  the  sameness  of  the 
surface,  and  the  low  stands  of  the  spectators,  ex- 
aggerated the  distances ; but,  as  swell  appeared 
after  swell,  and  island  succeeded  island,  there  was 
a disheartening  assurance  that  long  and  seemingly 
interminable  tracts  of  territory  must  be  passed 
before  the  wishes  of  the  humblest  agriculturist 
could  be  realized. 

Still,  the  leader  of  the  emigrants  steadily  pur- 
sued his  way,  with  no  other  guide  than  the  sun, 
turning  his  back  resolutely  on  the  abodes  of  civil- 
ization, and  plunging  at  each  step  more  deeply 
if  not  irretrievably  into  the  haunts  of  the  barba- 
rous and  savage  occupants  of  the  country.  As  the 
day  drew  nigher  to  a close,  however,  his  mind, 
which  was,  perhaps,  incapable  of  maturing  any 
connected  system  of  forethought,  beyond  that 
which  related  to  the  interests  of  the  present  mo- 
ment, became  in  some  slight  degree  troubled  with 
the  care  of  providing  for  the  wants  of  the  hours 
of  darkness. 

On  reaching  the  crest  of  a swell  that  was  a 
little  higher  than  the  usual  elevations,  he  lingered 
a minute,  and  cast  a half-curious  eye  on  either 
hand,  in  quest  of  those  well-known  signs  which 
might  indicate  a place  whei’e  the  three  grand 
requisites  of  water,  fuel,  and  fodder,  were  to  be 
obtained  in  conjunction. 

It  would  seem  that  his  search  was  fruitless ; 
for,  after  a few  moments  of  indolent  and  listless 


8 


THE  PRAIRIE 


examination,  he  suffered  his  huge  frame  to  de- 
scend the  gentle  declivity,  in  the  same  sluggish 
manner  that  an  over-fatted  beast  would  have 
yielded  to  the  downward  pressure. 

His  example  was  silently  followed  by  those 
who  succeeded  him,  though  not  until  the  young 
men  had  manifested  much  more  of  interest,  if  not 
of  concern,  in  the  brief  inquiry  which  each  in 
his  turn  made  on  gaining  the  same  lookout.  It 
was  now  evident,  by  the  tardy  movements  both 
of  beasts  and  men,  that  the  time  of  necessary 
rest  was  not  far  distant.  The  matted  grass  of 
the  lower  land  presented  obstacles  which  fatigue 
began  to  render  formidable,  and  the  whip  was 
becoming  necessary  to  urge  the  lingering  teams 
to  their  labor.  At  this  moment,  when,  with  the 
exception  of  the  principal  individual,  a general 
lassitude  was  getting  the  mastery  of  the  travellers, 
and  every  eye  was  cast,  by  a sort  of  common  im- 
pulse, wistfully  forward,  the  whole  party  was 
brought  to  a halt,  by  a spectacle  as  sudden  as  it 
was  unexpected. 

The  sun  had  fallen  below  the  crest  of  the 
nearest  wave  of  the  prairie,  leaving  the  usual  rich 
and  glowing  train  on  its  track.  In  the  centre  of 
this  flood  of  fiery  light  a human  form  appeared, 
drawn  against  the  gilded  background  as  distinctly, 
and  seemingly  as  palpable,  as  though  it  would  come 
within  the  grasp  of  any  extended  hand.  The 
figure  was  colossal ; the  attitude  musing  and  mel- 
ancholy ; and  the  situation  directly  in  the  route 
of  the  travellers.  But  embedded,  as  it  was,  in  its 
setting  of  garish  light,  it  was  impossible  to  dis- 
tinguish its  just  proportions  or  true  character. 

The  effect  of  such  a spectacle  was  instantane- 
ous and  powerful.  The  man  in  front  of  the  emi- 
grants came  to  a stand,  and  remained  gazing  at 
the  mysterious  object  with  a dull  interest,  that 
soon  quickened  into  superstitious  awe.  His  sons, 
so  soon  as  the  first  emotions  of  surprise  had  a 
little  abated,  drew  slowly  around  him,  and  as  they 
who  governed  the  teams  gradually  followed  their 
example,  the  whole  party  was  soon  condensed  in 
one  silent  and  wondering  group.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  impression  of  a supernatural  agency  was 
very  general  among  the  travellers,  the  ticking  of 
gun-locks  was  heard,  and  one  or  two  of  the  bolder 
youths  cast  their  rifles  forward,  in  readiness  for 
service. 

“ Send  the  boys  off  to  the  right,”  exclaimed 
the  resolute  wife  and  mother,  in  a sharp,  dis- 
sonant voice ; “ I warrant  me  Asa  or  Abner  will 
give  some  account  of  the  creature  ! ” 

“ It  may  be  well  enough  to  try  the  rifle,”  mut- 
tered a dull-looking  man,  whose  features,  both  in 
outline  and  expression,  bore  no  small  resemblance 


to  the  first  speaker,  and  who  loosened  the  stock 
of  his  piece  and  brought  it  dexterously  to  the 
front,  while  delivering  this  opinion  ; “ the  Pawnee 
Loups  are  said  to  be  hunting  by  hundreds  in  the 
plains  ; if  so,  they’ll  never  miss  a single  man  from 
their  tribe.” 

“ Stay ! ” exclaimed  a soft-toned  but  alarmed 
female  voice,  which  was  easily  to  be  traced  to  the 
trembling  lips  of  the  younger  of  the  two  women  ; 
t{  we  are  not  all  together  ; it  may  be  a friend ! ” 

“ Who  is  scouting  now  !*  ” demanded  the  father, 
scanning,  at  the  same  time,  the  cluster  of  his  stout 
sons  with  a displeased  and  sullen  eye.  “ Put  by 
the  piece,  put  by  the  piece,”  he  continued,  di- 
verting the  other’s  aim  with  the  finger  of  a 
giant,  and  with  the  air  of  one  it  might  be  danger- 
ous to  deny.  “ My  job  is  not  yet  ended ; let  us 
finish  the  little  that  rejnains  in  peace.” 

The  man  who  had  manifested  so  hostile  an  in- 
tention appeared  to  understand  the  other’s  allu- 
sion, and  suffered  himself  to  be  diverted  from  his 
object.  The  sons  turned  their  inquiring  looks  on 
the  girl  who  had  so  eagerly  spoken,  to#  require  an 
explanation ; but,  as  if  content  with  the  respite 
she  had  obtained  for  the  stranger,  she  sank  back 
in  her  seat,  and  chose  to  affect  a maidenly  si- 
lence. 

In  the  mean  time  the  hues  of  the  heavens  had 
often  changed.  In  place  of  the  brightness  which 
had  dazzled  the  eye,  a gray  and  more  sober  light 
had  succeeded,  and,  as  the  setting  lost  its  brillian- 
cy, the  proportions  of  the  fanciful  form  became 
less  exaggerated,  and  finally  distinct.  Ashamed 
to  hesitate,  now  that  the  truth  was  no  longer 
doubtful,  the  leader  of  the  party  resumed  his 
journey,  using  the  precaution,  as  he  ascended  the 
slight  acclivity,  to  release  his  own  rifle  from  the 
strap,  and  to  cast  it  into  a situation  more  conven- 
ient for  sudden  use. 

There  was  little  apparent  necessity,  nowever, 
for  such  watchfulness.  From  the  moment  when  it 
had  thus  unaccountably  appeared,  as  it  were, 
between  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  the  stranger’s 
figure  had  neither  moved  nor  given  the  smallest 
evidence  of  hostility.  Had  he  harbored  any  such 
evil  intention,  the  individual  who  now  came 
plainly  into  view  seemed  but  little  qualified  to 
execute  them. 

A frame  that  had  endured  the  hardships  of 
more  than  eighty  seasons  was  not  qualified  to 
awaken  apprehension  in  the  breast  of  one  as  pow- 
erful as  the  emigrant.  Notwithstanding  his  years, 
and  his  look  of  emaciation,  if  not  of  suffering, 
there  was  that  about  this  solitary  being,  however, 
which  said  that  Time,  and  not  disease,  had  laid 
his  hand  heavily  on  him.  His  form  had  withered. 


AN  OLD  INHABITANT. 


9 


but  it  was  not  wasted. % The  sinews  and  muscles, 
which  had  once  denoted  great  strength,  though 
shrunken,  were  still  visible ; and  his  whole  figure 
had  attained  an  appearance  of  induration  which, 
if  it  were  not  for  the  well-known  frailty  of  humani- 
ty, would  have  seemed  to  bid  defiance  to  the  fur- 
ther approaches  of  decay.  His  dress  was  chiefly 
of  skins,  worn  with  the  hair  to  the  weather ; a 
pouch  and  horn  were  suspended  from  his  shoul- 
ders - and  he  leaned  on  a rifle  of  uncommon  length, 
but  which,  like  its  owner,  exhibited  the  wear  of 
long  and  hard  service. 

As  the  party  drew  nigher  to  this  solitary  being, 
and  came  within  a distance  to  be  heard,  a low 
growl  issued  frem  the  grass  at  his  feet,  and  then 
a tall,  gaunt,  toothless  hound  arose  lazily  from 
his  lair,  and,  shaking  himself,  made  some  show  of 
resisting  the  nearer  approach  of  the  travellers. 

“ Down,  Hector,  down,”  said  his  master,  in.  a 
voice  that  was  a little  tremulous  and  hollow  with 
age.  “ What  have  ye  to  do,  pup,  with  men  who 
journey  on  their  lawful  callings  ? ” 

“ Stranger,  if  you  are  much  acquainted  in  this 
country,”  said  the  leader  of  the  emigrants,  “ can 
you  tell  a traveller  where  he  may  find  necessaries 
for  the  night  ? ” 

“ Is  the  land  filled  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Big  River  ? ” demanded  the  old  man,  solemnly, 
and  withoyt  appearing  to  hearken  to  the  other’s 
question ; “ or  why  do  I see  a sight  I had  never 
thought  to  behold  again  ? ” 

“ Why,  there  is  country  left,  it  is  true,  for 
such  as  have  money,  and  ar’  not  particular  in  the 
choice,”  returned  the  emigrant ; l<  but,  to  my  taste, 
it  is  getting  crowdy.  What  may  a man  call  the 
distance  from  this  place  to  the  nighest  point  on 
the  main  river  ? ” 

“ A hunted  deer  could  not  cool  his  sides  in 
the  Mississippi,  without  travelling  a weary  five 
hundred  miles.” 

“ And  what  may  you  name  the  district  here- 
away ? ” 

“ By  what  name,”  returned  the  old  man,  point- 
ing significantly  upward,  “ would  you  call  the 
spot  where  you  see  yonder  cloud  ? ” 

The  emigrant  looked  at  the  other  like  one  who 
did  not  comprehend  his  meaning,  and  who  half 
suspected  he  was  trifled  with  ; but  he  contented 
himself  by  saying : 

“You  ar’  but  a new  inhabitant,  like  myself,  I 
reckon,  stranger,  or  otherwise  you  would  not  be 
backward  in  helping  a traveller  to  some  advice ; 
words  cost  but  little,  and  sometimes  lead  to 
friendships.” 

“ Advice  is  not  a gift,  but  a debt  that  the  old  owe 
:o  the  young.  What  would  you  wish  to  know  ? ” 
53 


“ Where  I may  camp  for  the  night.  I’m  no 
great  difficulty-maker  as  to  bed  and  board ; but 
all  old  journeyers  like  myself  know  the  virtue  of 
sweet  water,  and  a good  browse  for  the  cattle.” 

“ Come,  then,  with  me,  and  you  shall  be  mas- 
ter of  both ; and  little  more  is  it  that  I can  offer 
on  this  hungry  prairie.” 

As  the  old  man  was  speaking,  he  raised  his 
heavy  rifle  to  his  shoulder  with  a facility  a little 
remarkable  for  his  years  and  appearance,  and 
without  further  words  led  the  way  over  the  ac- 
clivity to  the  adjacent  bottom. 


CHAPTER  II. 

“ Up  with  my  teat : here  will  I lie  to-night, 

But  where,  to-morrow  ? — Well,  all’s  one  for  that.” 

Richard  III. 

The  travellers  soon  discovered  the  usual  and 
unerring  evidences  that  the  several  articles  neces- 
sary to  their  situation  were  not  far  distant.  A 
clear  and  gurgling  spring  burst  out  of  the  side  of 
the  declivity,  and,  joining  its  waters  to  . those  of 
other  similar  little  fountains  in  its  vicinity,  their 
united  contributions  formed  a run,  which  was 
easily  to  be  traced  for  miles  along  the  prairie,  by 
the  scattering  foliage  and  verdure  which  occasion- 
ally grew  within  the  influence  of  its  moisture. 
Hither,  then,  the  stranger  held  his  way,  eagerly* 
followed  by  the  willing  teams,  whose  instinct  gave 
them  a prescience  of  refreshment  and  rest. 

On  reaching  what  he  deemed  a suitable  spot, 
the  old  man  halted,  and,  with  an  inquiring  look, 
he  seemed  to  demand  if  it  possessed  the  needed 
conveniences.  The  leader  of  the  emigrants  cast 
his  eyes  understandingly  about  him,  and  examined 
the  place  with  the  keenness  of  one  competent  to 
judge  of  so  nice  a question,  though  in  that  dila- 
tory and  heavy  manner  which  rarely  permitted 
him  to  betray  precipitation. 

“ Ay,  this  may  do,”  he  said,  when  satisfied 
with  his  scrutiny. — “ Boys,  you  have  seen  the  last 
of  the  sun ; be  stirring.” 

The  young  men  manifested  a characteristic 
obedience.  The  order,  for  such  in  tone  and  man- 
ner it  was,  in  truth,  was  received  with  respect ; 
but  the  utmost  movement  was  the  falling  of  an  axe 
or  two  from  the  shoulder  to  the  ground,  while 
their  owners  continued  to  regard  the  place  with 
listless  and  incurious  eyes.  In  the  mean  time,,  the 
elder  traveller,  as  if  familiar  with  the  nature  of  the 
impulses  by  which  his  children,  were  governed, 
disencumbered  himself  of  his  pack  and  rifle,  and, 
assisted  by  the  man  already  mentioned  as  disposed 


10 


THE  PRAIRIE 


to  appeal  so  promptly  to  the  rifle,  he  quietly  pro- 
ceeded to  release  the  cattle  from  the  gears. 

At  length  the  eldest  of  the  sons  stepped  heav- 
ily forward,  and,  without  any  apparent  effort,  he 
buried  his  axe  to  the  eye  in  the  soft  body  of  a 
cotton-wood  tree.  He  stood  a moment  regarding 
the  effect  of  the  blow,  with  that  sort  of  contempt 
with  which  a giant  might  be  supposed  to  contem- 
plate the  puny  resistance  of  a dwarf,  and  then, 
flourishing  the  implement  above  his  head,  with 
the  grace  and  dexterity  with  which  a master  of 
the  art  of  offence  would  wield  his  nobler  though 
less  useful  weapon,  he  quickly  severed  the  trunk 
of  the  tree,  bringing  its  tall  top  crashing  to  the 
earth  in  submission  to  his  prowess.  His  compan- 
ions regarded  the  operation  with  indolent  curi- 
osity, until  they  saw  the  prostrate  trunk  stretched 
on  the  ground,  when,  as  if  a signal  for  a general 
attack  had  been  given,  they  advanced  in  a body 
to  the  work ; and  in  a space  of  time,  and  with  a 
neatness  of  execution,  that  would  have  astonished 
an  ignorant  spectator,  they  stripped  a small  but 
suitable  spot  of  its  burden  of  forest,  as  effectually, 
and  almost  as  promptly,  as  if  a whirlwind  had 
passed  along  the  place. 

The  stranger  had  been  a silent  but  attentive 
observer  of  their  progress.  As  tree  after  tree 
came  whistling  down,  he  cast  his  eyes  upward  at 
the  vacancies  they  left  in  the  heavens,  with  a 
melancholy  gaze,  and  finally  turned  away,  mut- 
■ tering  to  himself  with  a bitter  smile,  like  one  who 
disdained  giving  a more  audible  utterance  to  his 
discontent.  Pressing  through  the  group  of  active 
and  busy  children  who  had  already  lighted  a 
cheerful  fire,  the  attention  of  the  old  man  became 
next  fixed  on  the  movements  of  the  leader  of  the 
emigrants  and  of  his  savage-looking  assistant. 

These  two  had  already  liberated  the  cattle, 
which  were  eagerly  browsing  the  grateful  and 
nutritious  extremities  of  the  fallen  trees,  and  were 
now  employed  about  the  wagon,  which  has  been 
described  as  having  its  contents  concealed  with  so 
much  apparent  care.  Notwithstanding  this  par- 
ticular conveyance  appeared  to  be  as  silent  and  as 
tenantless  as  the  rest  of  the  vehicles,  the  men  ap- 
plied their  strength  to  its  wheels  and  rolled  it, 
apart  from  the  others,  to  a dry  and  elevated  spot 
near  the  edge  of  the  thicket.  Here  they  brought 
certain  poles,  which  had  seemingly  been  long  em- 
ployed in  such  a service,  and,  fastening  their 
larger  ends  firmly  in  the  ground,  the  smaller  were 
attached  to  the  hoops  that  supported  the  cover- 
5 of  the  wagon.  Large  folds  of  cloth  were  next 
drawn  out  of  the  vehicle,  and,  after  being  spread 
around  the  whole,  were  pegged  to  the  earth  in 
such  a manner  as  to  form  a tolerably  capacious 


and  an  exceedingly  convenient  tent.  After  sur- 
veying their  work  with  inquisitive  and  perhaps 
jealous  eyes,  arranging  a fold  here,  and  driving 
a peg  more  firmly  there,  the  men  once  more  ap- 
plied their  strength  to  the  wagon,  pulling  it  by  its 
projecting  tongue  from  the  centre  of  the  canopy 
until  it  appeared  in  the  open  air,  deprived  of  its 
covering,  and  destitute  of  any  other  freight  than 
a few  light  articles  of  furniture.  The  latter  were 
immediately  removed  by  the  traveller  into  the  tent 
with  his  own  hands,  as  though  to  enter  it  were  a 
privilege  to  which  even  his  bosom  companion  was 
not  entitled. 

Curiosity  is  a passion  that  is  rather  quickened 
than  destroyed  by  seclusion,  and  the  old  inhab- 
itant of  the  prairies  did  not  view  these  precau- 
tionary and  mysterious  movements  without  expe- 
riencing some  of  its  impulses.  He  approached 
the  tent,  and  was  about  to  sever  two  of  its  folds, 
with  the  very  obvious  intention  of  examining  more 
closely  into  the  nature  of  its  contents,  when  the  man 
who  had  once  already  placed  his  life  in  jeopardy, 
seized  him  by  the  arm,  and  with  a rude  exercise  of 
his  strength  threw  him  from  the  spot  he  had  se- 
lected as  the  one  most  convenient  for  his  object. 

“It’s  an  honest  regulation,  friend,”  the  fellow 
dryly  observed,  though  with  an  eye  that  threatened 
volumes,  “ and  sometimes  it  is  a safe  one,  which 
says,  ‘ Mind  your  own  business.’  ” 

“ Men  seldom  bring  any  thing  to  be  concealed 
into  these  deserts,”  returned  the  old  man,  as  if  will- 
ing and  yet  a little  ignorant  how  to  apologize  for 
the  liberty  he  had  been  about  to  take,  “ and  I had 
hoped  no  offence  in  examining  your  comforts.” 

“ They  seldom  bring  themselves,  I reckon. 
Though  this  has  the  look  of  an  old  county,  to 
my  eye  it  seems  not  to  be  overly  peopled.” 

“ The  land  is  as  aged  as  the  rest  of  the  works 
of  the  Lord,  I believe ; but  you  say  true  concern- 
ing its  inhabitants.  Many  months  have  passed 
since  I have  laid  eyes  on  a face  of  my  own 
color  before  your  own.  I say  again,  friend,  I 
meant  no  harm ; I did  not  know  but  there  was 
something  behind  the  cloth  that  might  bring  for- 
mer days  to  my  mind.” 

As  the  stranger  ended  his  simple  explanation 
he  walked  meekly  away,  like  one  who  felt  the 
deepest  sense  of  the  right  which  every  man  has 
to  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  his  own,  without  any 
troublesome  interference  on  the  part  of  his  neigh- 
bor ; a wholesome  and  a just  principle  that  he  had 
also  most  probably  imbibed  from  the  habits  of  his 
secluded  life.  As  he  passed  toward  the  little  en- 
campment of  the  emigrants,  for  such  the  place 
had  now  become,  he  heard  the  voice  of  the  leader 
calling  aloud  in  its  hoarse  tones,  tf*e  name  of — 


THE  ENCAMPMENT. 


11 


“Ellen  Wade!”  % 

The  girl,  who  has  been  already  introduced  to 
the  reader,  and  who  was  occupied  with  the  others 
of  her  sex  around  the  fires,  sprang  willingly  for- 
ward at  this  summons ; and,  passing  the  stranger 
with  the  activity  of  a young  antelope,  she  was  in- 
stantly lost  behind  the  forbidden  folds  of  the  tent. 
Neither  her  sudden  disappearance,  nor  any  of  the 
arrangements  we  have  mentioned,  seemed,  how- 
ever, to  excite  the  smallest  surprise  among  the 
remainder  of  the  party.  The  your.g  men,  who 
had  already  completed  their  tasks  with  the  axe, 
were  all  engaged,  after  their  lounging  and  listless 
manner : some  in  bestowing  equitable  portions  of 
the  fodder  among  the  different  animals  ; others  in 
plying  the  heavy  pestle  of  a movable  hominy- 
mortar  ; * and  one  or  two  in  wheeling  the  remain- 
der of  the  wagons  aside,  and  arranging  them  in 
such  a manner  as  to  form  a sort  of  outwork  for 
their  otherwise  defenceless  bivouac. 

These  several  duties  were  soon  performed,  and, 
as  darkness  now  began  to  conceal  the  objects  on  the 
surrounding  prairie,  the  shrill-toned  termagant, 
whose  voice  since  the  halt  had  been  diligently 
exercised  among  her  idle  and  drowsy  offspring, 
announced,  in  tones  that  might  have  been  heard 
at  a dangerous  distance,  that  the  evening  meal 
waited  only  for  the  approach  of  those  who  were 
to  consume  it.  Whatever  maybe  the  other  qual- 
ities of  a border-man,  he  is  seldom  deficient  in 
the  virtue  of  hospitality.  The  emigrant  no  sooner 
heard  the  sharp  call  of  his  wife,  than  he  cast  his 
eyes  about  him  in  quest  of  the  stranger,  in  order 
to  offer  him  the  place  of  distinction  in  the  rude 
entertainment  to  which  they  were  so  unceremoni- 
ously summoned. 

“ I thank  you,  friend,”  the  old  man  replied  to 
the  rough  invitation  to  take  a seat  nigh  the  smok- 
ing kettle ; “ you  have  my  hearty  thanks ; but  I 
have  eaten  for  the  day,  and  am  not  one  of  them 
who  dig  their  graves  with  their  teeth.  Well ; as 
you  wish  it,  I will  take  a place,  for  it  is  long  sin’ 
I have  seen  people  of  my  color  eating  their  daily 
bread.” 

“ Youar’  an  old  settler  in  these  districts,  then?” 
the  emigrant  rather  remarked  than  inquired,  with 
a mouth  filled  nearly  to  overflowing  with  the  deli- 
cious hominy,  prepared  by  his  skilful  though  re- 
pulsive spouse.  “ They  told  us  below,  we  should 
find  settlers  something  thinnish  hereaway,  and  I 
must  say  the  report  was  mainly  true  ; for,  unless 
we  count  the  Canada  traders  on  the  big  river,  you 
ar’  the  first  white  face  I have  met  in  a good  five 


* Hominy  is  a dish  composed  chiefly  of  cracked  corn, 
•r  maize. 


hundred  miles ; that  is,  calculating  according  to 
your  own  reckoning.” 

“ Though  I have  spent  some  years  in  this 
quarter,  I can  hardly  be  called  a settler,  seeing 
that  I have  no  regular  abode,  and  seldom  pass 
more  than  a month  at  a time  on  the  same  range.” 

“ A hunter,  I reckon  ? ” the  other  continued, 
glancing  his  eyes  aside,  as  if  to  examine  the  equip- 
ments of  his  new  acquaintance ; “ your  fixen  seem 
none  of  the  best  for  such  a calling.” 

“ They  are  old,  and  nearly  ready  to  be  laid 
aside,  like  their  master,”  said  the  old  man,  regard- 
ing his  rifle  with  a look  in  which  affection  and 
regret  were  singularly  blended;  “ and  I may  say 
they  are  but  little  needed,  too.  You  are  mistaken, 
friend,  in  calling  me  a hunter ; I am  nothing  better 
than  a trapper.”  * 

“ If  you  ar’  much  of  the  one,  I’m  bold  to  say 
you  ar*  something  of  the  other ; for  the  two  call- 
ings go  mainly  together  in  these  districts.” 

“ To  the  shame  of  the  man  who  is  able  to  fol- 
low the  first  be  it  so  said  ! ” returned  the  trapper, 
whom  in  future  we  shall  choose  to  designate  by 
his  pursuit ; “for  more  than  fifty  years  did  I carry 
my  rifle  in  the  wilderness,  without  so  much  as 
setting  a snare  for  even  a bird  that  flies  the 
heavens  ; much  less  a beast  that  has  nothing  but 
legs  for  its  gifts.” 

“ I see  but  little  difference  whether  a man  gets 
his  peltry  .by  the  rifle  or  by  the  trap,”  said  the 
ill-looking  companion  of  the  emigrant,  in  his 
rough  manner.  “The  ’arth  was  made  for  our 
comfort ; and,  for  that  matter,  so  ar’  its  creatur’s.” 

“You  seem  to  have  but  little  plunder, f stran- 
ger, for  one  who  is  far  abroad,”  bluntly  interrupted 
the  emigrant,  as  if  he  had  a reason  for  wishing  to 
change  the  conversation.  “ 1 hope  you  ar’  better 
off  for  skins.” 

“ I make  but  little  us.e  of  either,”  the  trapper 
quietly  replied.  “At  my  time  of  life,  food  and 
clothing  be  all  that  is  needed;  and  I have  little 
occasion  for  what  you  call  plunder,  unless  it  may 
be  now  and  then  to  barter  for  a horn  of  powder 
or  a bar  of  lead.” 

“You  ar’  not,  then,  of  these  parts  -by  natur’, 


* It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  this  American 
word  means  one  who  takes  his  game  in  a trap.  It  is  of 
general  use  on  the  frontiers.  The  beaver,  an  animal  too 
sagacious  to  be  easily  killed,  is  oftener  taken  in  this  way 
than  in  any  other. 

t The  cant  word  for  luggage  in  the  Western  States  of 
America  is  “ plunder.”  The  term  might  easily  mislead  one 
as  to  the  character  of  the  people,  who,  notwithstanding  their 
pleasant  use  of  so  expressive  a wor4,  are,  like  the  inhabitants 
of  all  new  settlements,  hospitable  and  honest.  Knavery  oi 
the  description  conveyed  by  “plunder,”  is  chiefly  found  ir 
i cgions  more  civilized. 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


12 

friend,”  the  emigrant  continued,  having  in  his 
mind  the  exception  which  the  other  had  taken  to 
the  very  equivocal  word,  which  he  himself,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  country,  had  used  for 
“ baggage,”  or  “ effects.” 

“ I was  born  on  the  sea-shore,  though  most  of 
my  life  has  been  passed  in  the  woods.” 

The  whole  party  now  looked  up  at  him,  as 
men  are  apt  to  turn  their  eyes  on  some  unexpected 
object  of  general  interest.  One  or  two  of  the 
young  men  repeated  the  words  “ sea-shore ; ” and 
the  women  tendered  him  one  of  those  civilities 
with  which,  uncouth  as  they  were,  she  was  little 
accustomed  to  grace  her  hospitality,  as  if  in  def- 
erence to  the  travelled  dignity  of  her  guest. 
After  a long  and  seemingly  a meditating  silence, 
the  emigrant,  who  had,  however,  seen  no  appar- 
ent necessity  to  suspend  the  functions  of  his  mas- 
ticating powers,  resumed  the  discourse. 

“ It  is  a long  road,  as  I have  heard,  from  the  wa- 
ters of  the  West  to  the  shores  of  the  main  sea  ? ” 

“ It  is  a weary  path,  indeed,  friend  ; and  much 
have  I seen,  and  something  have  I suffered,  in 
journeying  over  it.” 

“ A man  would  see  a good  deal  of  hard  travel 
in  going  its  length ! ” 

“ Seventy-and-five  years  have  I been  upon  the 
road ; and  there  are  not  half  that  number  of 
leagues  in  the  whole  distance,  after  you  leave  the 
Hudson,  on  which  I have  not  tasted  venison  of 
my  own  killing.  But  this  is  vain  boasting.  Of 
what  use  are  former  deeds,  when  time  draws  to 
an  end  ? ” 

“ I once  met  a man  that  had  boated  on  the 
river  he  names,”  observed  the  eldest  son,  speak- 
ing in  a low  tone  of  voice,  like  one  who  distrusted 
his  knowledge,  and  deemed  it  prudent  to  assume 
a becoming  diffidence  in  the  presence  of  a man 
who  had  seen  so  much ; “ from  his  tell,  it  must 
be  a considerable  stream,  and  deep  enough  for  a 
keel-boat  from  top  to  bottom.” 

“ It  is  a wide  and  deep  water-course,  and  many 
sightly  towns  are  there  growing  on  its  banks,” 
returned  the  trapper ; “ and  yet  it  is  but  a brook 
to  the  waters  of  the  endless  river  ! ” 

“ I call  nothing  a stream  that  a man  can  travel 
round,”  exclaimed  the  ill-looking  associate  of  the 
emigrant ; “ a real  river  must  be  crossed ; not 
headed,  like  a bear  in  a county  hunt.”  * 


♦There  is  a practice  in  the  new  countries,  to  assemble 
the  men  of  a large  district,  sometimes  of  an  entire  county, 
to  exterminate  the  beasts  of  prey.  They  form  themselves 
into  a circle  of  several  miles  in  extent,  and  gradually  draw 
nearer,  killing  all  before  them.  The  allusion  is  to  this  cus- 
tom, in  which  tho  hunted  beast  is  turned  from  one  to 
another. 


“ Have  you  been  far  toward  the  sundown, 
friend  ? ” interrupted  the  emigrant,  as  if  he  desired 
to  keep  his  rough  companion  as  much  as  possible 
out  of  the  discourse.  “ I find  it  is  a wide  tract 
of  clearing  this,  into  which  I have  fallen.” 

“ You  may  travel  weeks  and  you  will  see  it 
the  same.  I often  think  the  Lord  has  placed  this 
barren  belt  of  prairie  behind  the  States,  to  warn 
men  to  what  their  folly  may  yet  bring  the  land  ! 
Ay,  weeks,  if  not  months,  may  you  journey  in 
these  open  fields,  in  which  there  is  neither  dwell- 
ing nor  habitation  for  man  or  beast.  Even  the  i 
savage  animals  travel  miles  on  miles  to  seek  their 
dens ; and  yet  the  wind  seldom  blows  from  the 
east,  but  I conceit  the  sound  of  axes  and  the 
crash  of  falling  trees  are  in  my  ears.” 

As  the  old  man  spoke  with  the  seriousness 
and  dignity  that  age  seldom  fails  to  communicate 
even  to  less  striking  sentiments,  his  auditors  were 
deeply  attentive,  and  as  silent  as  the  grave.  In- 
deed, the  trapper  was  left  to  renew  the  dialogue 
himself,  which  he  soon  did  by  asking  a question, 
in  the  indirect  manner  so  much  in  use  by  the 
border  inhabitants. 

“ You  found  it  no  easy  matter  to  ford  the 
water-courses,  and  to  make  your  way  so  deep  into 
the  prairies,  friend,  with  teams  of  horses  and  herds 
of  horned  beasts  ? ” 

“ I kept  the  left  bank  of  the  main  river,”  the 
emigrant  replied,  “ until  I found  the  stream  lead- 
ing too  much  to  the  north,  when  we  rafted  ourselves 
across  without  any  great  suffering.  The  woman 
lost  a fleece  or  two  from  the  next  year’s  shearing, 
and  the  girls  had  one  cow  less  to  their  dairy.  Since 
then,  we  have  done  bravely,  by  bridging  a creek 
every  day  or  two.”  ' 

“ It  is  likely  you  will  continue  west  until  you 
come  to  land  more  suitable  for  a settlement  ? ” 

“ Until  I see  reason  to  stop,  or  to  turn  ag’in,” 
the  emigrant  bluntly  answered,  rising  at  the  same 
time,  and  cutting  short  the  dialogue  by  the  sud- 
denness of  the  movement.  His  example  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  trapper,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the 
party ; and  then,  without  much  deference  to  the 
presence  of  their  guest,  the  travellers  proceeded 
to  make  their  dispositions  to  pass  the  night, 
Several  little  bowers,  or  rather  huts,  bad  already 
been  formed  of  the  tops  of  trees,  blankets  of 
coarse  country  manufacture,  and  the  skins  ot 
buffaloes,  united  without  much  reference  to  any 
other  object  than  temporary  comfoit.  Into  these 
covers  the  children,  with  their  mother,  soon  drew 
themselves,  where,  it  is  more  than  possible,  they 
were  all  speedily  lost  in  the  oblivion  of  sleep. 
Before  the  men,  however,  could  seek  their  rest, 
they  had  sundry  little  duties  to  perform ; such  as 


ELLEN  WADE. 


13 


completing  their  works  of  defence,  carefully  con- 
cealing the  fires,  replenishing  the  fodder  ef  their 
cattle,  and  setting  the  watch  that  was  to  protect 
the  party  in  the  approaching  hours  of  night. 

The  former  was  effected  by  dragging  the  trunks 
of  a few  trees  into  the  intervals  left  by  the  wagons, 
and  along  the  open  space  between  the  vehicles  and 
the  thicket,  on  which,  in  military  language,  the 
encampment  would  be  said  to  have  rested  ; thus 
forming  a sort  of  chevaux  de  frise  on  three  sides 
of  the  position.  Within  these  narrow  limits  (with 
the  exception  of  what  the  tent  contained),  both 
man  and  beast  were  now  collected ; the  latter  be- 
ing far  too  happy  in  resting  their  weary  limbs  to 
give  any  undue  annoyance  to  their  scarcely  more 
intelligent  associates.  Two  of  the  young  men 
took  their  rifles ; and,  first  renewing  the  priming, 
and  examining  the  flints  with  the  utmost  care, 
they  proceeded,  the  one  to -the  extreme  right,  and 
the  other  to  the  left  of  the  encampment,  where 
they  posted  themselves  within  the  shadows  of  the 
thicket ; but  in  such  positions  as  enabled  each  to 
overlook  a portion  of  the  prairie. 

The  trapper  loitered  about  the  place,  declining 
to  share  the  straw  of  the  emigrant,  until  the  whole 
arrangement  was  completed ; and  then,  without  the 
ceremony  of  an  adieu,  he  slowly  retired  from  the 
spot. 

It  was  now  in  the  first  watch  of  the  night ; 
and  the  pale,  quivering,  and  deceptive  light  from 
a new  moon  was  playing  over  the  endless  waves 
of  the  prairie,  tipping  the  swells  with  gleams  of 
brightness,  and  leaving  the  interval  land  in  deep 
shadow.  Accustomed  to  scenes  of  solitude  like 
the  present,  the  old  man,  as  he  left  the  encamp- 
ment, proceeded  alone  into  the  waste,  like  a 
bold  vessel  leaving  its  haven  to  enter  on  the  track- 
less field  of  the  ocean.  He  appeared  to  move  for 
some  time  without  object,  or,  indeed,  without  any 
apparent  consciousness  whither  his  limbs  were 
carrying  him.  At  length,  on  reaching  the  rise  of 
one  of  the  undulations,  he  came  to  a stand ; and, 
for  the  first  time  since  leaving  the  band  who  had 
caused  such  a flood  of  reflections  and  recollections 
to  crowd  upon  his  mind,  the  old  man  became  aware 
of  his  present  situation.  Throwing  one  end  of  his 
rifle  to  the  earth,  he  stood  leaning  on  the  other, 
again  lost  in  deep  contemplation  for  several  miu- 
utes,  during  which  time  his  hound  came  and 
crouched  at  his  feet.  A deep,  menacing  growl 
from  the  faithful  animal  first  aroused  him  from  his 
musing. 

“ What  now,  dog  ? ” he  said,  looking  down  at 
his  companion,  as  if  he  addressed  a being  of  an 
intelligence  equal  to  his  own,  and  speaking  in  a 
voice  of  great  affection.  “ What  is  it,  pup  ? ha ! 


Hector ; what  is  it  nosing  now  ? It  won’t  do,  dog ; 
it  won’t  do  ; the  very  fa’ans  play  in  open  view  of 
us,  without  minding  so  worn-out  curs  as  you  and  I. 
Instinct  is  their  gift,  Hector  ; and  they  have  found 
out  how  little  we  are  to  be  feared,  they  have  ! ” 

The  dog  stretched  his  head  upward,  and  re- 
sponded to  the  words  of  his  master  by  a long  and 
plaintive  whine,  which  he  even  continued  after  he 
had  again  buried  his  head  in  the  grass,  as  if  he 
held  an  intelligent  communication  with  one  who 
so  well  knew  how  to  interpret  dumb  discourse. 

“ This  is  a manifest  warning,  Hector ! ” the 
trapper  continued,  dropping  his  voice  to  the  tones 
of  caution,  and  looking  warily  about  him.  “ What 
is  it,  pup  ; speak  plainer,  dog  ; what  is  it  ? ” 

The  hound  had,  however,  already  laid  his  nose 
to  the  earth,  and  was  silent ; appearing  to  slumber. 
But  the  keen,  quick  glances  of  his  master  soon 
caught  a glimpse  of  a distant  figure,  which  seemed, 
through  the  deceptive  light,  floating  along  the 
very  elevation  on  which  he  had  placed  himself. 
Presently  its  proportions  became  more  distinct, 
and  then  an  airy  female  form  appeared  to  hesitate, 
as  if  considering  whether  it  would  be  prudent  to 
advance.  Though  the  eyes  of  the  dog  were  now 
to  be  seen  glancing  in  the  rays  of  the  moon,  open- 
ing and  shutting  lazily,  he  gave  no  further  signs 
of  displeasure. 

“ Come  nigher ; we  are  friends,”  said  the  trap- 
per, associating  himself  with  his  companion  by 
long  use,  and  probably  through  the  strength  of 
the  secret  tie  that  connected  them  together ; “we 
are  your  friends ; none  will  harm  you.” 

Encouraged  by  the  mild  tones  of  his  voice,  and 
perhaps  led  on  by  the  earnestness  of  her  purpose, 
the  female  approached  until  she  stood  at  his  side ; 
when  the  old  man  perceived  his  visitor  to  be  the 
young  woman  with  whom  the  reader  has  already 
become  acquainted  by  the  name  of  “ Ellen 
Wade.” 

“ I had  thought  you  were  gone,”  she  said, 
looking  timidly  and  anxiously  around.  “They 
said  you  were  gone ; and  that  we  should  never  see 
you  again.  I did  not  think  it  was  you ! ” 

“ Men  are  no  common  objects  in  these  empty 
fields,”  returned  the  trapper,  “ and  I humbly  hope, 
though  I have  so  long  consorted  with  the  beasts 
of  the  wilderness,  that  I have  not  yet  lost  the  look 
of  my  kind.” 

“ Oh ! I knew  you  to  be  a man,  and  I thought 
I knew  the  whine  of  the  hound  too,”  she  answered 
hastily,  as  if  willing  to  explain  she  knew  not  what, 
and  then  checking  herself,  like  one  fearful  of  hav- 
ing already  said  too  much. 

“ I saw  no  dogs  among  the  teams  of  your  fa 
ther,”  the  trapper  remarked. 


14 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“Father!”  exclaimed  the  girl,  feelingly,  “I 
have  no  father ! I had  nearly  said  no  friend.” 

The  old  man  turned  toward  her  with  a look 
of  kindness  and  interest  that  was  even  more 
conciliating  than  the  ordinary  upright  and  benev- 
olent expression  of  his  weather-beaten  counte- 
nance. 

“ Why  then  do  you  venture  in  a place  where 
none  but  the  strong  should  come  ? ” he  demanded. 
“Did  you  not  know  that  when  you  crossed  the 
big  river  you  left  a friend  behind  you  that  is 
always  bound  to  look  to  the  young  and  feeble  like 
yourself?  ” 

“ Of  whom  do  you  speak  ? ” 

“ The  law — ’tis  bad  to  have  it,  but  I some- 
times think  it  is  worse  to  be  entirely  without  it. 
Age  and  weakness  has  brought  me  to  feel  such 
weakness  at  times.  Yes — yes,  the  law  is  needed 
when  such  as  have  not  the  gifts  of  strength  and 
wisdom  are  to  be  taken  care  of.  I hope,  young 
woman,  if  you  have  no  father,  you  have  at  least  a 
brother.” 

The  maiden  felt  the  tacit  reproach  conveyed 
in  this  covert  question,  and  for  a moment  she 
remained  in  an  embarrassed  silence.  But,  catch- 
ing a glimpse  of  the  mild  and  serious  features  of 
her  companion  as  he  continued  to  gaze  on  her 
with  a look  of  interest,  she  replied  firmly  and  in 
a manner  that  left  no  doubt  she  comprehended 
his  meaning : 

“Heaven  forbid  that  any  such  as  you  have 
seen  should  be  a brother  of  mine,  or  any  thing 
else  near  or  dear  to  me ! But,  tell  me,  do  you 
then  actually  live  alone  in  this  desert  district,  old 
man ; is  there  really  none  here  besides  yourself?  ” 

“ There  are  hundreds,  nay,  thousands  of  the 
rightful  owners  of  the  country,  roving  about  the 
plains ; but  few  of  our  own  color.” 

“ And  have  you  then  met  none  who  are  white 
but  us  ? ” interrupted  the  girl,  like  one  too  im- 
patient to  await  the  tardy  explanations  of  age  and 
deliberation. 

“ Not  in  many  days. — Hush,  Hector,  hush  !”  he 
added,  in  reply  to  a low  and  nearly  inaudible 
growl  from  his  hound.  “ The  dog  scents  mischief 
In  the  wind ! The  black  bears  from  the  moun- 
tains sometimes  make  their  way  even  lower  than 
this.  The  pup  is  not  apt  to  complain  of  the 
harmless  game.  I am  not  so  ready  and  true  with 
the  piece  as  I used-to-could-be,  yet  I have  struck 
even. the  fiercest  animals  of  the  prairie  in  my 
time ; so  you  have  little  reason  for  fear,  young 
woman.” 

The  girl  raised  her  eyes  in  that  peculiar 
manner  which  is  so  often  practised  by  her  sex 
when  they  commence  their  glances,  by  examining  I 


the  earth  at  their  feet,  and  terminate  them  by 
noting  every  thing  within  the  power  of  human 
vision ; but  she  rather  manifested  the  quality  of 
impatience  than  any  feeling  of  alarm. 

A short  bark  from  the  dog,  however,  soon 
gave  a new  direction  to  the  looks  of  both,  and 
then  the  real  object  of  his  second  warning  became 
dimly  visible. 


CHAPTER  IIL 

“Come,  come,  thou  art  as  hot  a Jack  in  thy  mood,  as 
any  in  Italy ; and  as  soon  moved  to  be  moody,  and  as  soon 
moody  to  be  moved.” 

Romeo  and  Juliet. 

Though  the  trapper  manifested  some  surprise 
when  he  perceived  that  another  human  figure  was 
approaching  him,  and  that,  too,  from  a direction 
opposite  to  the  place  where  the  emigrant  had 
made  his  encampment,  it  was  with  the  steadiness 
of  one  long  accustomed  to  scenes  of  danger. 

“ This  is  a man,”  he  said ; “ and  one  who  has 
white  blood  in  his  veins,  or  his  step  would  be 
lighter.  It  will  be  well  to  be  ready  for  the  worst, 
as  the  half-and-halfs  * that  one  meets  in  these  dis- 
tant districts  are  altogether  more  barbarous  than 
the  real  savage.” 

He  raised  his  rifle  while  he  spoke,  and  assured 
himself  of  the  state  of  its  flint,  as  well  as  of  the 
priming,  by  manual  examination.  But  his  arm 
was  arrested,  while  in  the  act  of  throwing  forward 
the  muzzle  of  the  piece,  by  the  eager  and  trem- 
bling hands  of  his  companion. 

“ For  God’s  sake  be  not  too  hasty,”  she  said ; 
“ it  may  be  a friend — an  acquaintance — a neigh- 
bor!” 

“ A friend ! ” the  old  man  repeated,  deliber- 
ately releasing  himself  at  the  same  time  from  her 
grasp.  “ Friends  are  rare  in  any  land,  and  less 
in  this,  perhaps,  than  in  another  : and  the  neigh- 
borhood is  too  thinly  settled  to  make  it  likely  that 
he  who  comes  toward  us  is  even  an  acquaintance.” 

“ But,  though  a stranger,  you  would  not  seek 
his  blood ! ” 

The  trapper  earnestly  regarded  her  anxious  and 
frightened  features,  and  then  he  dropped  the  butt 
of  his  rifle  on  the  ground,  like  one  whose  purpose 
had  undergone  a sudden  change. 

“No,”  he  said,  speaking  rather  to  himself 
than  to  his  companion,  “ she  is  right ; blood  is 
not  to  be  spilt,  to  save  the  life  of  one  so  useless, 

* Half-breeds ; men  born  of  Indian  women  by  white 
fathers.  This  race  has, much  of  the  depravity  of  civilization 
without  the  virtues  of  the  savage. 


THE  TRAPPER  AND  HIS  NEW  FRIENDS. 


15 


and  so  near  his  time.  Let  him  come  on ; my 
skins,  my  traps,  and  even  my  rifle,  shall  be  his,  if 
he  sees  fit  to  demand  them.” 

“ He  will  ask  for  neither : he  wants  neither,” 
returned  the  girl ; “ if  he  be  an  honest  man,  he  will 
surely  be  content  with  his  own,  and  ask  for  nothing 
that  is  the  property  of  another.” 

The  trapper  had  not  time  to  express  the  sur- 
prise he  felt  at  this  incoherent  and  contradictory 
language,  for  the  man  who  was  advancing,  was 
already  within  fifty  feet  of  the  place  where  they 
stood.  In  the  mean  time  Hector  had  not  been  an 
indifferent  witness  of  what  was -passing.  At  the 
sound  of  the  distant  footsteps,  he  had  arisen  from 
his  warm  bed  at  the  feet  of  his  master ; and  now, 
as  the  stranger  appeared  in  open  view,  he  stalked 
. slowly  toward  him,  crouching  to  the  earth  like  a 
panther  about  to  take  his  leap. 

“ Call  in  your  dog,”  said  a firm,  deep,  manly 
voice,  in  tones  of  friendship  rather  than  of  men- 
ace ; “ I love  a hound,  and  should  be  sorry  to  do 
an  injury  to  the  animal.” 

“ You  hear  what  is  said  about  you,  pup  ? ” the 
trapper  answered ; “ come  hither,  fool.  His  growl 
and  his  bark  are  all  that  is  left  him  now  ; you  may 
come  on,  friend  ; the  hound  is  toothless.” 

The  stranger  profited  by  the  intelligence.  He 
sprang  eagerly  forward,  and  at  the  next  instant 
stood  at  the  side  of  Ellen  Wade.  After  assuring 
himself  of  the  identity  of  the  latter  by  a hasty  but 
keen  glance,  he  turned  his  attention,  with  a quick- 
ness and  impatience  that  proved  the  interest  he 
took  in  the  result,  to  a similar  examination  of  her 
companion. 

“ From  what  cloud  have  you  fallen,  my  good 
old  man  ? ” he  said,  in  a careless,  off-hand,  heed- 
less manner,  that  seemed  too  natural  to  be  as- 
sumed ; “ or  do  you  actually  live,  hereaway,  in  the 
prairies  ? ” 

“ I have  been  long  on  earth,  and  never  I hope 
nigher  to  heaven  than  I am  at  this  moment,”  re- 
turned the  trapper ; “ my  dwelling,  if  dwelling  I 
may  be  said  to  have,  is  not  far  distant.  Now 
may  I take  the  liberty  with  you,  that  you  are  so 
willing  to  take  with  others  ? Whence  do  you 
come,  and  where  is  your  home  ? ” 

“Softly,  softly;  when  I have  done  with  my 
catechism,  it  will  be  time  to  begin  with  yours. 
What  sport  is  this  you  follow  by  moonlight  ? ” 
You  are  not  dodging  the  buffaloes  at  such  an 
hour ! ” 

“ I am,  as  you  see,  going  from  an  encampment 
of  travellers,  which  lies  over  yonder  swell  in  the 
land,  to  my  own  wigwam ; in  doing  so,  I wrong 
no  man.” 

“All  fair  and  true.  And  you  got  this  young 


woman  to  show  you  the  way,  because  she  knows 
it  so  well,  and  you  know  so  little  about  it  your- 
self ! ” 

“ I met  her,  as  I have  met  you,  by  accident. 
For  ten  tiresome  years  have  I dwelt  on  these  open 
fields,  and  never,  before  to-night,  have  I found 
human  beings  with  white  skins  on  them,  at  this 
hour.  If  my  presence  here  gives  offence,  I am 
sorry,  and  will  go  my  way.  It  is  more  than  likely 
that,  when  your  young  friend  has  told  her  story, 
you  will  be  better  given  to  believe  mine.” 

“ Friend ! ” said  the  youth,  lifting  a cap  of 
skins  from  his  head,  and  running  his  fingers 
leisurely  through  a dense  mass  of  black  and 
shaggy  locks,  “if  I have  ever  laid  eyes  on  the 
girl  before  to-night,  may  I — ” 

“You’ve  said  enough,  Paul,”  interrupted  the 
female,  laying  her  hand  on  his  mouth,  with  a fa- 
miliarity that  gave  something  very  like  the  lie 
direct  to  his  intended  asseveration.  “ Our  secret 
will  be  safe  with  this  honest  old  man.  I know  it 
by  his  looks  and  kind  words.” 

“ Our  secret.  Ellen,  have  you  forgot — ” * 

“ Nothing.  I have  not  forgotten  any  thing  1 
should  remember.  But  still  I say  we  are  safe 
with  this  honest  trapper.” 

“ Trapper ! is  he  then  a trapper  ? Give  me 
your  hand,  father ; our  trades  should  bring  us 
acquainted.” 

“There  is  little  call  for  handicrafts  in  this 
region,”  returned  the  other,  examining  the  ath- 
letic and  active  form  of  the  youth,  as  he  leaned 
carelessly  and  not  ungracefully  on  his  rifle ; “ the 
art  of  taking  the  cretur’s  of  God  in  traps  and  nets, 
is  one  that  needs  more  cunning  than  manhood ; 
and  yet  am  I brought  to  practise  it  in  my  age ! 
But  it  would  be  quite  as  seemly  in  one  like  you 
to  follow  a pursuit  better  becoming  your  years 
and  courage.” 

“Ill  never  took  even  a slinking  mink  or  a 
paddling  muskrat  in  a cage ; though  I admit  hav- 
ing peppered  a few  of  the  dark-skin’d  devils,  when 
I had  much  better  have  kept  my  powder  in  the 
horn  and  the  lead  in  its  pouch.  Not  I,  old  man 
nothing  that  crawls  the  earth  is  for  my  sport.” 

“ What  then  may  you  do  for  a living,  friend  ? 
— for  little  profit  is  to  be  made  in  these  districts, 
if  a man  denies  himself  his  lawful  right  in  the 
beasts  of  the  fields.” 

“I  deny  myself  nothing.  If  a bear  crosses 
my  path,  he  is  soon  the  mere  ghost  of  Bruin. 
The  deer  begin  to  nose  me ; and  as  for  the  buffalo, 

I have  killed  more  beef,  old  stranger,  than  the 
largest  butcher,  in  all  Kentuck.” 

“You  can  shoot,  then!”  demanded  the  trap- 
per, with  a glow  of  latent  fire  glimmering  aboui 


16 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


his  eyes ; “ is  your  hand  true  and  your  look 
quick  ? ” 

“ The  first  is  like  a steel  trap,  and  the  last 
nimbler  than  a buck-shot.  I wish  it  was  hot 
noon  now,  grand’ther ; and  that  there  was  an  acre 
or  two  of  your  white  swans  or  of  black-feathered 
ducks  going  south,  over  our  heads ; you  or  Ellen 
here  might  set  your  heart  on  the  finest  in  the 
flock,  and  my  character  against  a horn  of  pow- 
der, that  the  bird  would  be  hanging  head  down- 
ward in  five  minutes,  and  that  too  with  a single 
ball.  I scorn  a shot-gun ! No  man  can  say  he 
ever  knew  me  carry  one  a rod.” 

“ The  lad  has  good  in  him ! I see  it  plainly 
by  his  manner ,”  said  the  trapper,  turning  to  Ellen 
with  an  encouraging  air  ; “ I will  take  it  on  my- 
self to  say,  that  you  are  not  unwise  in  meeting 
him  as  you  do. — Tell  me,  lad  ; did  you  ever  strike 
a leaping  buck  atwixt  the  antlers  ? — Hector  ; 
quiet,  pup  ; quiet ! — The  very  name  of  venison 
quickens  the  blood  of  the  cur. — Did  you  ever  take 
an  animal  in  that  fashion  on  the  long  leap  ? ” 

• “ You  might  just  as  well  ask  me,  ‘Did  you  ever 

eat  ? ’ There  is  no  fashion,  old  stranger,  that  a 
deer  has  not  been  touched  by  my  hand,  unless  it 
was  when  asleep.” 

“ Ay,  ay ; you  have  a long  and  a happy — ay, 
and  an  honest  life  afore  you ! I am  old,  and,  I sup- 
pose I might  also  say,  worn  out  and  useless ; but 
if  it  was  given  me  to  choose  my  time  and  place 
again — as  such  things  are  not  and  ought  not  ever 
to  be  given  to  the  will  of  man — though  if  such  a 
gift  was  to  be  given  me,  I would  say,  twenty  and 
the  wilderness ! But  tell  me ; how  do  you  part 
with  the  peltry  ? ” 

“ With  my  pelts  ! I never  took  a skin  from  a 
buck  nor  a quill  from  a goose  in  my  life ! I 
knock  them  over  now  and  then  for  a meal,  and 
sometimes  to  keep  my  finger  true  to  the  touch'; 
but  when  hunger  is  satisfied  the  prairie-wolves 
get  the  remainder.  No — no — I keep  to  my  call- 
ing ; which  pays  me  better  than  all  the  fur  I 
could  sell  on  the  other  side  of  the  big  river.” 

The  old  man  appeared  to  ponder  a little ; but, 
shaking  his  head,  he  soon  continued  : 

“ I know  of  but  one  business  that  can  be  fol- 
lowed here  with  profit — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  youth,  who  raised 
a,  small  cup  of  tin  which  dangled  at  his  neck  be- 
fore the  other’s  eyes,  and,  springing  its  lid,  the 
delicious  odor  of  the  finest-flavored  honey  dif- 
fused itself  over  the  organs  of  the  trapper. 

“A  bee-hunter ! ” observed  the  latter,  with  a 
readiness  that  proved  he  understood  the  nature 
of  the  occupation,  though  notf  without  some  little 
surprise  at  discovering  one  of  the  other’s  spirited 


mien  engaged  in  so  humble  a pursuit.  “ It  pays 
well  in  the  skirts  of  the  settlements,  but  I should 
call  it  a doubtful  trade  in  the  more  open  districts.” 

“ You  think  a tree  is  wanting  for  a swarm  to 
settle  in  ! But  I know  differently ; and  so  I have 
stretched  out  a few  hundred  miles  farther  west 
than  common  to  taste  your  honey.  And  now  I 
have  bated  your  curiosity,  stranger,  you  will  just 
move  aside  while  I tell  the  remainder  of  my  story 
to  this  young  woman.” 

“ It  is  not  necessary,  I’m  sure  it  is  not  neces- 
sary, that  he  should  leave  us,”  said  Ellen,  with  a 
haste  that  implied  some  little  consciousness  of  the 
singularity  if  not  of  the  impropriety  of  the  request. 
“You  can  have  nothing  to  say  that  the  whole 
world  might  not  hear.” 

“ No  ! well,  may  I be  stung  to  death  by  drones 
if  I understand  the  buzzings  of  a woman’s  mind  ! 
For  my  part,  Ellen,  I care  for  nothing  nor  any- 
body ; and  am  just  as  ready  to  go  down  to  the 
place  where  your  uncle,  if  uncle  you  can  call  one 
who  I’ll  swear  is  no  relation,  has  hoppled  his  teams, 
and  tell  the  old  man  my  mind  now,  as  I shall  be 
a year  hence.  You  have  only  to  say  a single 
word,  and  the  thing  is  done ; let  him  like  it  or 
not.” 

“ You  are  ever  so  hasty  and  rash,  Paul  Hover, 
that  I seldom  know  when  I am  safe  with  you. 
How  can  you,  who  know  the  danger  of  our  being 
seen  together,  speak  of  going  before  my  unole 
and  his  sons  ? ” 

“ Has  he  done  that  of  which  he  has  reason  to 
be  ashamed  ? ” demanded  the  trapper,  who  had 
not  moved  an' inch  from  the  place  he  first  occu- 
pied. 

“ Heaven  forbid ! But  there  are  reasons  why 
he  should  not  be  seen  just  now,  that  could  do  him 
no  harm  if  known,  but  which  may  not  yet  be  told. 
And  so  if  you  will  wait,  father,  near  yonder  wil- 
low-bush, until  I have  heard  what  Paul  can  pos- 
sibly have  to  say,  I shall  be  sure  to  come  and 
wish  you  a good-night  before  I return  to  the 
camp.” 

The  trapper  drew  slowly  aside,  as  if  satisfied 
with  the  somewhat  incoherent  reason  Ellen  had 
given  why  he  should  retire.  When  completely 
out  of  ear-shot  of  the  earnest  and  hurried  dialogue 
that  instantly  commenced  between  the  two  he  had 
left,  the  old  man  again  paused,  and  patiently 
awaited  the  moment  when  he  might  renew  his 
conversation  with  beings  in  whom  he  felt  a grow- 
ing interest,  no  less  from  the  mysterious  charac- 
ter of  their  intercourse  than  from  a natural  sym- 
pathy in  the  welfare  of  a pair  so  young,  and  who, 
as  in  the  simplicity  of  his  heart  he  was  also  fain 
to  believe,  were  also  so  deserving.  He  was  ac 


PAUL  HOVER,  THE  BEF-HUNTER. 


17 


eompanied  by  his  indolent  but  attached  dog,  who 
once  more  made  his  bed  at  the  feet  of  his  master, 
and  soon  lay  slumbering  as  usual,  with  his  head 
nearly  buried  in  the  dense  fog  of  the  prairie-grass. 

It  was  a spectacle  so  unusual  to  see  the  human 
form  amid  the  solitude  in  which  he  dwelt,  that 
the  trapper  bent  his  eyes  on  the  dim  figures  of  his 
new  acquaintances  with  sensations  to  which  he 
had  long  been  a stranger.  Their  presence  awak- 
ened recollections  and  emotions  to  which  his 
sturdy  but  honest  nature  had  latterly  paid  but 
little  homage,  and  his  thoughts  began  to  wander 
over  the  varied  scenes  of  a life  of  hardships  that 
had  been  strangely  blended  with  scenes  of  wild 
and  peculiar  enjoyment.  The  train  taken  by  his 
thoughts  had  already  conducted  him  in  imagina- 
tion far  into  an  ideal  world,  when  he  was  once 
more  suddenly  recalled  to  the  reality  of  his  situa- 
tion by  the  movements  of  the  faithful  hound. 

The  dog,  who,  in  submission  to  his  years  and 
infirmities,  had  manifested  such  a decided  pro- 
pensity to  sleep,  now  arose  and  stalked  from  out 
the  shadow  cast  by  the  tall  person  of  his  master, 
and  looked  abroad  into  the  prairie,  as  if  his  in- 
stinct apprised  him  of  the  presence  of  still  another 
visitor.  Then  seemingly  content  with  his  exam- 
ination, he  returned  to  his  comfortable  post,  and 
disposed  of  his  weary  limbs  with  the  deliberation 
and  care  of  one  who  was  no  novice  in  the  art  of 
s elf-p  reservation. 

“ What ! again,  Hector  ? ” said  the  trapper  in 
a soothing  voice,  which  he  had  the  caution,  how- 
ever, to  utter  in  an  under-tone  ; “what  is  it,  dog? 
tell  it  all  to  his  master,  pup ; what  is  it  ? ” 

Hector  answered  with  another  growl,  but  was 
content  to  continue  in  his  lair.  These  were  evi- 
dences of  intelligence  and  distrust,  to  which  one 
as  practised  as  the  trapper  could  not  turn  an  inat- 
tentive ear.  He  again  spoke  to  the  dog,  encour- 
aging him  to  watchfulness  by  a low,  guarded 
whistle.  The  animal,  however,  as  if  conscious 
of  having  already  discharged  his  duty,  obstinately 
refused  to  raise  his  head  from  the  grass. 

“ A hint  from  such  a friend  is  far  better  than 
man’s  advice  ! ” muttered  the  trapper,  as  he  slowly 
moved  toward  the  couple  who  were  yet  too  earnest- 
ly and  abstractedly  engaged  in  their  own  discourse 
to  notice  his  approach ; “ aud  none  but  a con- 
ceited settler  would  hear  it  and  not  respect  it 
as  he  ought. — Children,”  he  added,  when  nigh 
enough  to  address  his  companions,  “ we  are  not 
alone  in  these  dreary  fields ; there  are  others 
stirring,  and  therefore,  to  the  shame  of  our  kind 
be  it  said,  danger  is  nigh.” 

“ If  one  of  the  lazy  sons  • of  Skirting  Ishmael 
is  prowling  out  of  his  camp  to-night,”  said  the 
s. 


young  bee-hunter,  with  great  vivacity,  and  in 
tones  that  might  easily  have  been  excited  to  a 
menace,  “ he  may  have  an  end  put  to  his  journey 
sooner  than  either  he  or  his  father  is  dreaming ! ” 

“ My  life  on  it  they  are  all  with  the  teams,” 
hurriedly  answered  the  girl.  “ I saw  the  whole 
of  them  asleep  myself,  except  the  two  on  watch ; 
and  their  natures  have  greatly  changed  if  they  too 
are  not  both  dreaming  of  a turkey-hunt  or  a court- 
house fight  at  this  very  moment.” 

“ Some  beast  with  a strong  scent  has  passed 
between  the  wind  and  the  hound,  father,  and  it 
makes  him  uneasy ; or  perhaps  he  too  is  dream- 
ing. I had  a pup  of  my  own  in  Kentuck,  that 
would  start  upon  a long  chase  from  a deep  sleep ; 
and  all  upon  the  fancy  of  some  dream.  Go  to  him 
and  pinch  his  ear,  that  the  beast  may  feel  the  life 
within  him.” 

“ Not  so — not  so,”  returned  the  trapper,  shak- 
ing his  head  as  one  who  better  understood  the 
qualities  of  his  dog..  “Youth  sleeps,  ay,  and 
dreams  too ; but  age  is  awake  and  watchful. 
The  pup  is  never  false  with  his  nose,  and  long' 
experience  tells  me  to  heed  his  warnings.” 

“ Did  you  ever  run  him  upon  the  trail  of  car- 
rion?” 

“ Why,  I must  say  that  the  ravenous  beasts 
have  sometimes  tempted  me  to  let  him  loose,  for 
they  are  as  greedy  as  men  after  the  venison,  in  its 
season ; but  then  I know  the  reason  of  the  dog 
would  tell  him  the  object!  No — no, Hector  is  an 
animal  known  in  the  ways  of  man,  and  will  never 
strike  a false  trail  'when  a true  one  is  to  be  fov- 
fowed ! ” 

“ Ay,  ay,  the  secret  is  out ! you  have  run  the 
hound  on  the  track  of  a wolf,  and  his  nose  has  a 
better  memory  than  his  master ! ” said  the  bee- 
hunter,  laughing. 

“ I have  seen  the  creatur’  sleep  for  hours  •with 
pack  after  pack  in  open  view.  A wolf  might  eat 
out  of  his  tray  without  a snarl,  unless  there  was 
a scarcity  ; then,  indeed,  Hector  would  be  apt  to 
claim  his  own.” 

“ There  are  panthers  down  from  the  moun- 
tains ; I saw  one  make  a leap  at  a sick  deer,  as 
the  sun  was  setting.  Go — go  you  back  to  the  dog, 
and  tell  him  the  truth — father  ; in  a minute,  I — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  a long,  loud,  and  pite- 
ous howl  from  the  hound,  which  rose  on  the  air  of 
the  evening,  like  the  wailing  of  some  spirit  of  the 
place,  and  passed  off  into  the  prairie,  in  cadences 
that  rose  and  fell  like  its  own  undulating  surface. 
The  trapper  was  impressively  silent,  listening  in- 
tently. Even  the  reckless  bee-hunter  was  struck 
with  the  wailing  wildness  of  the  sounds.  After  a 
short  pause  the  former  whistled  the  dog  to  his 


18 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


side,  and,  turning  to  his  companions,  he  said  with 
the  seriousness  which  in  his  opinion  the  occasion 
demanded : 

“ They  who  think  man  enjoys  all  the  knowledge 
of  the  creatur’s  of  God,  will  live  to  be  disappointed, 
if  they  reach,  as  I have  done,  the  age  of  fourscore 
years.  I will  not  take  upon  myself  to  say  what 
mischief  is  brewing,  nor  will  I vouch  that  even 
the  hound  himself  knows  so  much  ; but,  that  evil 
is  nigh,  and  that  wisdom  invites  us  to  avoid  it,  I 
have  heard  from  the  mouth  of  one  who  never  lies. 
I did  think  the  pup  had  become  unused  to  the 
footsteps  of  man,  and  that  your  presence  made 
him  uneasy ; but  his  nose  has  been  on  a long  scent 
the  whole  evening,  and  what  I mistook  as  a notice 
of  your  coming  has  been  intended  for  something 
more  serious.  If  the  advice  of  an  old  man  is,  then, 
worth  hearkening  to,  children,  you  will  quickly  go 
different  ways  to  your  places  of  shelter  and 
safety.” 

“ If  I quit  Ellen  at  such  a moment,”  exclaimed 
the  youth,  “may  I — ” 

“ You’ve  said  enough  ! ” the  girl  interrupted, 
by  again  interposing  a hand  that  might,  both  by 
its  delicacy  and  color,  have  graced  a far  more  ele- 
vated station  in  life ; “ my  time  is  out,  and  we 
must  part  at  all  events — so  good-night,  Paul — fa- 
ther— good-night.” 

“ Hist ! ” said  the  youth,  seizing  her  arm,  as 
she  was  in  the  very  act  of  tripping  from  his  side. 
“ Hist ! do  you  hear  nothing  ? There  are  buffa- 
1 loes  playing  their  pranks  at  no  great  distance. 
That  sound  beats  the  earth  like  a herd  of  the 
mad,  scampering  devils  ! ” 

His  two  companions  listened,  as  people  in  their 
situation  would  be  apt  to  lend  their  faculties  to 
discover  the  meaning  of  any  doubtful  noises, 
especially  when  heard  after  so  many  and  such 
startling  warnings.  The  unusual  sounds  were  un- 
equivocally, though  still  faintly,  audible.  The 
youth  and  his  female  companion  had  made  several 
hurried  and  vacillating  conjectures  concerning 
their  nature,  when  a current  of  the  night  air 
brought  the  rush  of  trampling  footsteps  too  sensi- 
bly to  their  ears,  to  render  mistake  any  longer 
possible. 

“Iam  right ! ” said  the  bee-hunter ; “ a pan- 
ther is  driving  a herd  before  him ; or,  may  be, 
there  is  a battle  among  the  beasts.” 

“Your  ears  are  cheats,”  returned  the  old  man, 
who,  from  the  moment  his  own  organs  had  been 
able  to  catch  the  distant  sounds,  stood  like  a 
statue  made  to  represent  deep  attention ; “ the 
leaps  are  too  long  for  the  buffalo,  and  too  regu- 
lar for  terror.  Hist ! now  they  are  in  a bottom 
where  the  grass  is  high,  and  the  sound  is  deadened ! 


Ay,  there  they  go  on  the  hard  earth ! and  now 
they  come  up  the  swell,  dead  upon  us ; they  will 
be  here  afore  you  can  find  cover ! ” 

“ Come,  Ellen,”  cried  the  youth,  seizing  his 
companion  by  the  hand,  “ let  us  make  a trial  for 
the  encampment.” 

“ Too  late  ! too  late ! ” exolaimed  the  trapper, 
“ for  the  creatur’s  are  in  open  view ; and  a bloody 
band  of  accursed  Siouxes  they  are,  by  their  thiev- 
ing look,  and  the  random  fashion  in  which  they 
ride ! ” 

“ Siouxes  or  devils,  they  shall  find  us  men  ! ” 
said  the  bee-hunter,  with  a mien  as  fierce  as  if  he 
led  a party  of  superior  strength,  and  of  a courage 
equal  to  his  own.  “You  have  a piece,  old  man, 
and  will  pull  a trigger  in  behalf  of  a helpless 
Christian  girl ! ” 

“ Down,  down  into  the  grass — down  with  ye 
both ! ” whispered  the  trapper,  intimating  to  them 
to  turn  aside  to  the  tall  weeds,  which  grew  in  a 
denser  body  than  common  near  the  place  where 
they  stood.  “ You’ve  not  the  time  to  fly,  nor  the 
numbers  to  fight,  foolish  boy.  Down  into  the 
grass,  if  you  prize  the  young  woman,  or  value  the 
gift  of  life ! ” 

His  remonstrance,  seconded  as  it  was  by  a 
prompt  and  energetic  action,  did  not  fail  to  pro- 
duce the  submission  to  his  order  which  the  occa- 
sion seemed,  indeed,  imperiously  to  require.  The 
moon  had  fallen  behind  a sheet  of  thin,  fleecy 
clouds,  which  skirted  the  horizon,  leaving  just 
enough  of  its  faint  and  fluctuating  light  to  render 
objects  visible,  dimly  revealing  their  forms  and 
proportions.  The  trapper,  by  exercising  that 
species  of  influence  over  his  companions  which 
experience  and  decision  usually  assert  in  cases  of 
emergency,  had  effectually  succeeded  in  couf  eal- 
ing  them  in  the  grass ; and,  by  the  aid  of  the  fee- 
ble rays  of  the  luminary,  he  was  enabled  to  scan 
the  disorderly  party  which  was  riding,  like  so 
many  madmen,  directly  upon  them. 

A band  of  beings,  who  resembled  demons 
rather  than  men,  sporting  in  their  nightly  revels 
across  the  bleak  plain,  was  in  truth  approaching 
at  a fearful  rate,  and  in  a direction  to  leave  little 
hope  that  some  one  among  them,  at  least,  would 
not  pass  over  the  spot  where  the  trapper  and  hi3 
companions  lay.  At  intervals,  the  clattering  of 
hoofs  was  borne  along  by  the  night  wind,  quite 
audibly  in  their  front,  and  then  again  their  prog- 
ress through  the  fog  of  the  autumnal  grass  was 
swift  and  silent ; adding  to  the  unearthly  appear- 
ance of  the  spectacle.  The  trapper,  who  had 
called  in  his  hound,  and  bidden  him  crouch  at  his 
side,  now  kneeled  in  the  cover  also,  and  kept  a 
keen  and  watchful  eye  on  the  route  of  the  band. 


A BAND  OF  MOUNTED  SIOUX. 


19 


soothing  the  fears  of  the  girl  and  restraining  the 
impatience  of  the  youth  in  the  same  breath. 

“If  there’s  one,  there’s  thirty  of  the  mis- 
creants ! ” he  said,  in  a sort  of  episode  to  his  whis- 
pered comments.  “ Ay,  ay  ; they  are  edging  tow- 
ard the  river. — Peace,  pup,  peace. — No,  here  they 
come  this  way  again — the  thieves  don’t  seem  to 
know  their  own  errand  ! If  there  were  just  six  of 
us,  lad,  what  a beautiful  ambushment  we  might 
make  upon  them,  from  this  very  spot ! — it  won’t  do, 
it  won’t  do,  boy ; keep  yourself  closer,  or  your 
head  will  be  seen — besides,  I’m  not  altogether 
strong  in  the  opinion  it  would  be  lawful,  as  they 
have  done  us  no  harm.  There  they  bend  again 
to  the  river — no ; here  they  come  up  the  swell. 
Now  is  the  moment  to  be  as  still  as  if  the  breath 
had  done  its  duty  and  departed  the  body.” 

The  old  man  sank  into  the  grass  while  he  was 
speaking,  as  if  the  final  separation  to  which  he 
alluded  had  in  his  own  case  actually  occurred  ; 
and,  at  thg  next  instant,  a band  of  wild  horsemen 
whirled  by  them,  with  the  noiseless  rapidity  in 
which  it  might  be  imagined  a troop  of  spectres 
would  pass.  The  dark  and  fleeting  forms  were  al- 
ready vanished,  when  the  trapper  ventured  to 
raise  his  head  to  a level  with  the  tops  of  the  bend- 
ing herbage,  motioning  at  the  same  time  to  his 
companions  to  maintain  .their  positions  and  their 
silence. 

“ They  are  going  down  the  swell  toward  the 
encampment,”  he  continued,  in  his  former  guarded 
tones ; “ no,  they  halt  in  the  bottom,  and  are  clus- 
tering together  like  deer  in  council.  By  the  Lord, 
they  are  turning  again,  and  we  are  not  yet  done 
with  the  reptiles ! ” 

Once  more  he  sought  his  friendly  cover,  and 
at  the  next  instant  the  dark  troop  were  to  be  seen 
riding,  in  a disorderly  manner,  on  the  very  summit 
of  the  little  elevation  on  which  the  trapper  and 
his  companions  lay.  It  was  now  soon  apparent 
that  they  had  returned  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
height  of  the  ground,  in  order  to  examine  the  dim 
horizon. 

Some  dismounted,  while  others  rode  to  and 
fro,  like  men  engaged  in  a local  inquiry  of  much 
interest.  Happily  for  the  hidden  party,  the  grass 
in  which  they  were  concealed  not  only  served  to 
screen  them  from  the  eyes  of  the  savages,  but  op- 
posed an  obstacle  to  prevent  their  horses,  which 
were  no  less  rude  and  untrained,  than  their  riders, 
from  trampling  on  them,  in  their  irregular  and 
wild  paces. 

At  length  ah  athletic  and  dark-looking  Indian, 
who,  by  his  air  of  authority,  would  seem  to  be 
the  leader,  summoned  his  chiefs  about  him,  to  a 
consultation,  which  was  held  mounted.  This  body 


was  collected  on  the  very  margin  of  that  mass  of 
herbage  in  which  the  trapper  and  his  companions 
were  hid.  As  the  young  man  looked  up  and  saw 
the  fierce  aspect  of  the  group,  which  was  increas- 
ing at  each  instant  by  the  accession  of  some  coun- 
tenance and  figure  apparently  more  forbidding 
than  any  which  had  preceded  it,  he  drew  his  rifle, 
by  a very  natural  impulse,  from  beneath  him,  and 
commenced  putting  it  in  a state  for  service.  The 
female  at  his  side  buried  her  face  in  the  grass, 
by  a feeling  that,  was,  possibly,  quite  as  natural 
to  her  sex  and  habits,  leaving  him  to  follow  the 
impulses  of  his  hot  blood ; but  his  aged  and  more 
prudent  adviser  whispered  sternly  in  his  ear: 

“ The  tick  of  the  lock  is  as  well  knowm  to  the 
knaves  as  the  blast  of  a trumpet  to  a soldier ! lay 
down  the  piece — lay  down  the  piece — should  the 
moon  touch  the  barrel,  it  could  not  fail  to  be  seen 
by  the  devils,  whose  eyes  are  keener  than  the 
blackest  snake’s ! The  smallest  motion,  now, 
would  be  sure  to  bring  an  arrow  among  us.” 

The  bee-hunter  so  far  obeyed  as  to  continue 
immovable  and  silent.  But  there  was  still  suffi- 
cient light  to  convince  his  companion,  by  the  con- 
tracted brow  and  threatening  eye  of  the  young 
man,  that  a discovery  would  not  bestow  a blood- 
less victory  on  the  savages.  Finding  his  advice 
disregarded,  the  trapper  took  his  measures  accord- 
ingly, and  awaited  the  result  with  a resignation 
and  calmness  that  were  characteristic  of  the  indi- 
vidual. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Sioux  (for  the  sagacity 
of  the  old  man  was  not  deceived  in  the  character 
of  his  dangerous  neighbors)  had  terminated  their 
council,  and  were  again  dispersed  along  the  ridge 
of  land  as  if  they  sought  some  hidden  object. 

“ The  imps  have  heard  the  hound  ! ” whispered 
the  trapper,  “ and  their  ears  are  too  true  to  be 
cheated  in  the  distance.  Keep  close,  lad,  keep 
close;  down  with  your  head  to  the  very  earth, 
like  a dog  that  sleeps ! ” 

“ Let  us  rather  take  to  our  feet,  and  trust  to 
manhood,”  returned  his  impatient  companion. 

He  would  have  proceeded ; but,  feeling  a hand 
laid  rudely  on  his  shoulder,  he  turned  his  eyes 
upward,  and  beheld  the  dark  and  savage  counte- 
nance of  an  Indian  gleaming  full  upon  him.  Not- 
withstanding the  surprise  and  the  disadvantage  of 
his  attitude,  the  youth  was  not  disposed  to  become 
a captive  so  easily.  Quicker  than  a flash  of  his 
own  gun  he  § prang  upon  his  feet,  and  was  throt- 
tling his  opponent  with  a power  that  would  soon 
have  terminated  the  contest,  when  he  felt  the 
arms  of  the  trapper  thrown  around  his  body,  con- 
fining his  exertions  by  a strength  very  little  infe- 
rior to  his  own.  Before  he  had  time  to  reproach 


20 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


his  comrade  for  this  apparent  treachery,  a dozen 
Sioux  were  around  them,  and  the  whole  party 
were  compelled  to  yield  themselves  as  prisoners. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

“ — With  much  more  dismay 
I view  the  fight,  than  those  who  make  the  fray,'’ 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

The  unfortunate  bee-hunter  and  his  compan- 
ions had  become  the  captives  of  a people  who 
might,  without  exaggeration,  be  called  the  Ishriia- 
elites  of  the  American  deserts.  From  time  imme- 
morial the  hands  of  the  Sioux  had  been  turned 
against  their  neighbors  of  the  prairies ; and  even 
at  this  day,  when  the  influence  and  authority  of 
a civilized  government  are  beginning  to  be  felt 
around  them,  they  are  considered  a treacherous 
and  dangerous  race.  At  the  period  of  our  tale, 
the  case  was  far  worse  ; few  white  men  trusting 
themselves  in  the  remote  and  unprotected  regions 
where  so  false  a tribe  was  known  to  dwell. 

Notwithstanding  the  peaceable  submission  of 
the  trapper,  he  was  quite  aware  of  the  character 
of  the  band  into  whose  hands  he  had  fallen.  It 
would  have  been  difficult,  however,  for  the  nicest 
judge  to  have  determined  whether  fear,  policy,  or 
resignation,  formed  the  secret  motive  of  the  old 
man,  in  permitting  himself  to  be  plundered  as  he 
did,  without  a murmur.  So  far  from  opposing 
any  remonstrance  to  the  rude  and  violent  manner 
in  which  his  conquerors  performed  the  customary 
office,  he  even  anticipated  their  cupidity,  by  ten- 
dering to  the  chiefs  such  articles  as  he  thought 
might  prove  the  most  acceptable.  On  the  other 
hand,  Paul  Hower,  who  had  been  literally  a con- 
quered man,  manifested  the  strongest  repugnance 
to  submit  to  the  violent  liberties  that  were  taken 
with  his  person  and  property.  He  even  gave 
several  exceedingly  unequivocal  demonstrations 
of  his  displeasure  during  the  summary  process,, 
and  would,  more  than  once,  have  broken  out  in 
open  and  desperate  resistance,  but  for  tRe  admo- 
nitions and  entreaties  of  the  trembling  girl,  who 
clung  to  his  side  in  a manner  so  dependent  as  to 
show  the  youth  that  her  hopes  were  now  placed 
no  less  on  his  discretion  than  oa  iis  disposition 
to  serve  her. 

The  Indians  had,  however,  no  sooner  deprived 
the  captives  of  their  arms  and  ammunition,  and 
stripped  them  of  a few  articles  of  dress  of  little 
use,  and  perhaps  of  less  value,  than  they  appeared 
disposed  to  grant  them  a respite.  Business  of 
greater  moment  pressed  on  their  hands,  and  re- 


quired their  attention.  Another  consultation  of 
the  chiefs  was  convened,  and  it  was  apparent,  by 
the  earnest  and  vehement  manner  of  the  few  who 
spoke,  that  the  warriors  conceived  their  success 
as  yet  to  be  far  from  complete. 

“ It  will  be  well,”  whispered  the  trapper,  who 
knew  enough  of  the  language  he  heard  to  compre- 
hend perfectly  the  subject  of  the  discussion,  “ if 
the  travellers  who  lie  near  the  willow-brake  are 
not  awoke  out  of  their  sleep  by  a visit  from  these 
miscreants.  They  are  too  cunning  to  believe  that 
a woman  of  the  ‘ pale-faces  ’ is  to  be  found  so  far 
from  the  settlements,  without  having  a white  man’s 
inventions  and  comforts  at  hand.” 

“If  they  will  carry  the  tribe  of  wandering 
Ishmael  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,”  said  the  young 
bee-hunter,  laughing  in  his  vexation  with  a sort 
of  bitter  merriment,  “ I may  forgive  the  rascals.” 

..“Paul!  Paul!”  exclaimed  his  companion  in 
a tone  of  reproach,  “ you  forget  all ! Think  of 
the  dreadful  consequences  ! ” 

“ Ay,  it  was  thinking  of  what  you  call  conse- 
quences, Ellen,  that  prevented  me  from  putting 
the  matter,  at  once,  to  yonder  red-devil,  and  mak- 
ing it  a real  knock-down  and  drag-out ! — Old 
trapper,  the  sin  of  this  cowardly  business  lies  on 
your  shoulders ! But  it  is  no  more  than  your 
daily  calling,  I reckon,  to  take  men,  as  well  a3 
beasts,  in  snares.” 

“ I implore  you,  Paul,  to  be  calm — to  be  pa- 
tient.” 

“Well,  since  it  is  your  wish,  Ellen,”  returned 
the  youth,  endeavoring  to  swallow  his  spleen,  “ I 
will  make  the  trial;  though,  as  you  ought  to 
know,  it  is  part  of  the  religion  of  a Kentuckian 
to  fret  himself  a little  at  a mischance.” 

“ I fear  your  friends  in  the  other  bottom  will 
not  escape  the  eyes  of  the  imps ! ” continued  the 
trapper,  as  coolly  as  though  he  had  not  heard  a 
syllable  of  the  intervening  discourse.  “They 
scent  plunder ; and  it  would  be  as  hard  to  drive  a 
hound  from  his  game,  as  to  throw  the  varmints 
from  its  trail.” 

“ Is  there  nothing  to  be  done  ? ” asked  Ellen, 
in  an  imploring  manner,  which  proved  the  sinceri- 
ty of  her  concern. 

“ It  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  call  out  in  so 
loud  a voice  as  to  make  old  Ishmael  dream  that 
the  wolves  were  among  his  flock,”  Paul  replied ; 
“ I can  make  myself  heard  a mile  in  these  open 
fields,  and  his  camp  is  but  a short  quarter  from 
us.” 

“ And  get  knocked  on  the  head  for  your 
pains,”  returned  the  trapper.  “ No,  no  ; cunning 
must  match  cunning,  or  the  hounds  will  murder 
the  whole  family,” 


AMONG  THE  INDIANS. 


21 


“Murder!  no — no  murder.  Ishtnael  loves 
travel  so  well,  there  would  be  no  harm  in  his  hav- 
ing a look  at  the  other  sea,  but  the  old  fellow  is 
in  a bad  condition  to  take  the  long  journey ! I 
would  try  a lock  myself  before  he  should  be  quite 
murdered.” 

“ His  party  is  strong  in  number,  and  well 
armed  ; do  you  think  it  will  fight  ? ” 

“ Look  here,  old  trapper : few  men  love  Ish- 
mael  Bush  and  his  seven  sledge-hammer  sons  less 
than  one  Paul  Hover  ; but  I scorn  to  slander  even 
a Tennessee  shot-gun.  There  is  as  much  of  the 
true  stand-up  courage  among  them  as  there  is  in 
any  family  that  was  ever  raised  in  Kentuck  itself. 
They  are  a long-sided  and  a double-jointed  breed  ; 
and  let  me  tell  you,  that  he  who  takes  the  measure 
of  one  of  them  on  the  ground,  must  be  a workman 
at  a hug.” 

“Hist!  The  savages  have  done  their  talk, 
and  are  about  to  set  their  accursed  devices  in  mo- 
tion. Let  us  be  patient ; something  may  yet  offer 
in  favor  of  your  friends.” 

“Friends!  call  none  of  the  race  a friend  of 
mine,  trapper,  if  you  have  the  smallest  regard  for 
my  affection ! What  I say  in  their  favor  is  less 
from  love  than  honesty.” 

“ I did  not  know  but  the  young  woman  was  of 
the  kin,”  returned  the  other,  a little  dryly — “ but 
no  offence  should  be  taken  where  none  was  in- 
tended.” 

The  mouth  of  Paul  was  again  stopped  by  the 
hand  of  Ellen,  who  took  upon  herself  to  reply,  in 
her  conciliating  tones  : “We  should  be  all  of  a 
family,  when  it  is  in  our  power  to  serve  each  other. 
We  depend  entirely  on  your  experience,  honest 
old  man,  to  discover  the  means  to  apprise  our 
friends  of  their  danger.” 

“ There  will  be  a real  time  of  it,”  muttered  the 
bee-hunter,  laughing,  “ if  the  boys  get  at  work, 
in  good  earnest,  with  these  red-skins  !” 

He  was  interrupted  by  a general  movement 
which  took  place  among  the  band.  The  Indians 
dismounted  to  a man,  giving  their  horses  in  charge 
to  three  or  four  of  the  party,  who  were  also  in- 
trusted with  the  safe  keeping  of  the  prisoners. 
They  then  formed  themselves  in  a circle  around  a 
warrior  who  appeared  to  possess  the  chief  authori- 
ty ; and  at  a given  signal  the  whole  array  moved 
slowly  and  cautiously  from  the  centre  in  straight 
and  consequently  in  diverging  lines.  Most  of 
their  dark  forms  were  soon  blended  with  the 
brown  covering  of  the  prairie;  though  the  cap- 
tives, who  watched  the  slightest  movement  of 
their  enemies  with  vigilant  eyes,  were  now  and 
then  enabled  to  discern  a human  figure  drawn 
against  the  horizon,  as  some  one,  more  eager  than 


the  rest,  rose  to  his  greatest  height  in  order  tc 
extend  the  limits  of  his  view.  But  it  was  not 
long  before  even  these  fugitive  glimpses  of  the 
moving  and  constantly-increasing  circle  were  lost, 
and  uncertainty  and  conjecture  were  added  to 
apprehension.  In  this  manner  passed  many  anx- 
ious and  weary  minutes,  during  the  close  of  which 
the  listeners  expected  at  each  moment  to  hear 
the  whoop  of  the  assailants  and  the  shrieks  of  the 
assailed,  rising  together  on  the  stillness  of  the 
night.  But  it  would  seem  that  the  search,  w hich 
was  so  evidently  making,  was  without  a sufficient 
object ; for  at  the  expiration  of  half  an  hour  the 
different  individuals  of  the  band  began  to  return 
singly,  gloomy  and  sullen,  like  men  who  were  dis- 
appointed. 

“ Our  time  is  at  hand,”  observed  the  trapper, 
who  noted  the  smallest  incident,  or  the  slightest 
indication  of  hostility  among  the  savages  ; “ we 
are  now  to  be  questioned;  and,  if  I know  any 
thing  of  the  policy  of  our  case,  I should  say  it 
would  be  wise  to  choose  one  among  us  to  hold 
the  discourse,  in  order  that  our  testimony  may 
agree.  And,  furthermore,  if  an  opinion  from  one 
as  old  and  as  worthless  as  a hunter  of  fourscore 
is  to  be  regarded,  I would  just  venture  to  say, 
that  man  should  be  the  one  most  skilled  in  the 
natur’  of  an  Indian,  and  that  he  should  also  know 
something  of  their  language.  Are  you  acquainted 
with  the  tongue  of  the  Siouxes,  friend  ? ” 

“ Swarm  your  own  hive,”  returned  the  discon- 
tented bee-hunter.  “ You  are  good  at  buzzing, 
old  trapper,  if  you  are  good  at  nothing  'Ase.” 

“ ’Tis  the  gift  of  youth  to  be  rash  and  heady,” 
the  trapper  calmly  retorted.  “ The  day  has  been, 
boy,  when  my  blood  was  like  your  own,  too  swift 
and  too  hot  to  run  quietly  in  my  veins.  But 
what  will  it  profit  to  talk  of  silly  risks  and  foolish 
acts  at  this  time  of  life?  A gray  head  should 
cover  a brain  of  reason,  and  not  the  tongue  of 
a boaster.” 

“ True,  true,”  whispered  Ellen ; “ and  we 
have  other  things  to  attend  to  now  ! Here  comes 
the  Indian  to  put  his  questions.” 

The  girl,  whose  apprehensions  had  quickened 
her  senses,  was  not  deceived.  She  was  yet  speak- 
ing when  a tall,  half-naked  savage  approached  the 
spot  where  they  stood,  and,  after  examining  the 
whole  party  as  closely  as  the  dim  light  permitted, 
for  more  than  a minute  in  perfect  stillness,  he 
gave  the  usual  salutation  in  the  harsh  and  gut- 
tural tones  of  his  own  language.  The  trapper  re- 
plied as  well  as  he  could,  which  it  seems  was 
sufficiently  well  to  be  understood.  In  order  to 
escape  the  imputation  of  pedantry,  we  shall  render 
the  substance,  and,  so  far  as  it  is  possible,  the 


22 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


form  of  toe  dialogue  that  succeeded,  into  the 
English  tongue. 

“ Haye  the  pale-faces  eaten  their  own  buffa- 
loes,  and  taken  the  skins  from  all  their  own  bea- 
vers,” continued  the  savage,  allowing  the  usual 
moment  of  decorum  to  elapse,  after  the  words  of 
greeting,  before  he  again  spoke,  “ that  they  come 
to  count  how  many  are  left  among  the  Pawnees  ? ” 

“ Some  of  us  are  here  to  buy,  and  some  to 
eell,”  returned  the  trapper  ; “but  none  will  follow, 
if  they  hear  it  is  not  safe  to  come  nigh  the  lodge 
of  a Sioux.” 

“ The  Siouxes  are  thieves,  and  they  live  among 
the  snow ; why  do  we  talk  of  a people  who  are  so 
far,  when  we  are  in  the  country  of  the  Pawnees  ? ” 

“ If  the  Pawnees  are  the  owners  of  this  land, 
then  white  and  red  are  here  by  equal  right.” 

“ Have  not  the  pale-faces  stolen  enough  from 
the  red  men,  that  you  come  so  far  to  carry  a lie  ? 
I have  said  that  this  is  a hunting-ground  of  my 
tribe.” 

“ My  right  to  be  here  is  equal  to  your  own,” 
the  trapper  rejoined,  with  undisturbed  coolness; 
“ I do  not  speak  as  I might — it  is  better  to  be 
silent.  The  Pawnees  and  the  white  men  are 
brothers,  but  a Sioux  dare  not  show  his  face  in 
the  village  of  the  Loups.” 

“ The  Dahcotahs  are  men ! ” exclaimed  the 
savage,  fiercely ; forgetting  in  his  anger  to  main- 
tain the  character  he  had  assumed,  and  using  the 
appellation  of  which  his  nation  was  most  proud ; 
“ the  Dahcotahs  have  no  fear  ! Speak  ; what 
brings  you  so  far  from  the  villages  of  the  pale- 
faces ? ” 

“ I have  seen  the  sun  rise  and  set  on  many  coun- 
cils, and  have  heard  the  words  of  wise  men.  Let 
your  chiefs  come,  and  my  mouth  shall  not  be  shut.” 

“ I am  a great  chief!  ” said  the  savage,  affect- 
ing an  air  of  offended  dignity.  “ Do  you  take  me 
for  an  Assiniboine?  Weucha  is  a warrior  often 
named,  and  much  believed ! ” 

“Am  I a fool  not  to  know  a burnt-wood 
Teton  ? ” demanded  the  trapper,  with  a steadiness 
that  did  great  credit  to  his  nerves.  “ Go  ; it  is 
dark,  and  you  do  not  see  that  my  head  is  gray  ! ” 

The  Indian  now  appeared  convinced  that  he 
had  adopted  too  shallow  an  artifice  to  deceive  one 
so  practised  as  the  man  he  addressed,  and  he 
was  deliberating  what  fiction  he  should  next 
invent,  in  order  to  obtain  his  real  object,  when  a 
slight  commotion  among  the  band  put  an  end  at 
once  to  all  his  schemes.  Casting  his  eyes  behind 
him,  as  if  fearful  of  a speedy  interruption,  he  sai'd, 
in  tones  much  less  pretending  than  those  he  had 
8ist  resorted  to  : 

“ Give  Weucha  the  milk  of  the  Long-knives. 


and  he  will  sing  your  name  in  the  ears  of  the 
great  men  of  his  tribe.” 

“ Go,”  repeated  the  trapper,  motioning  him 
away,  with  strong  disgust.  “ Your  young  men 
are  speaking  of  Mahtoree.  My  words  are  for  the 
ears  of  a chief.” 

The  savage  cast  a look  on  the  other,  which, 
notwithstanding  the  dim  light,  was  sufficiently  in- 
dicative of  implacable  hostility.  He  then  stole 
away  among  his  fellows,  anxious  to  conceal  the 
counterfeit  he  had  attempted  to  practise,  no  less 
than  the  treachery  he  had  contemplated  against  a 
fair  division  of  the  spoils,  from  the  man  named 
by  the  trapper,  whom  he  now  also  knew  to  be 
approaching,  by  the  manner  in  which  his  name 
passed  from  one  to  another,  in  the  band.  He  had 
hardly  disappeared  before  a warrior  of  powerful 
frame  advanced  out  of  the  dark  circle,  and  placed 
himself  before  the  captives,  with  that  high  and 
proud  bearing  for  which  a distinguished  Indian 
chief  is  ever  so  remarkable.  He  was  followed  by 
all  the  party,  who  arranged  themselves  around 
his  person,  in  a deep  and  respectful  silence. 

“ The  earth  is  very  large,”  the  chief  com- 
menced, after  a pause  of  that  true  dignity  which 
his  counterfeit  had  so  miserably  affected ; “ why 
can  the  children  of  my  great  white  father  never 
find  room  on  it  ? ” 

“Some  among  them  have  heard  that  their 
friends  in  the  prairies  are  in  want  of  many 
things,”  returned  the  trapper;  “and  they  have 
come  to  see  if  it  be  true.  Some  want,  in  their 
turns,  what  the  red  men  are  willing  to  sell,  and 
they  come  to  make  their  friends  rich  with  powder 
and  blankets.” 

“ Do  traders  cross  the  big  river  with  empty 
hands  ? ” 

“ Our  hands  are  empty  because  your  young 
men  thought  we  were  tired,  and  they  have  light- 
ened us  of  our  load.  They  were  mistaken ; I am 
old,  but  I am  still  strong.” 

“ It  cannot  be.  Your  load  has  fallen  in  the 
prairies.  Show  my  young  men  the  place,  that 
they  may  pick  it  up  before  the  Pawnees  find  it.” 

“ The  path  to  the  spot  is  crooked,  and  it  is 
night.  The  hour  is  come  for  sleep,”  said  the 
trapper,  with  perfect  composure.  “Bid  your 
warriors  go  over  yonder  hill ; there  is  water  and 
there  is  wood ; let  them  light  their  fires  and  sleep 
with  warm  feet.  When  the  sun  comes  again  1 
will  speak  to  you.” 

A low  murmur,  but  one  that  was  clearly 
indicative  of  dissatisfaction,  passed  among  the 
attentive  listeners,  and  served  to  inform  the  old 
man  that  he  had  not  been  sufficiently  wary  in 
proposing  a measure  that  he  intended  should  no- 


MAHTOREE,  THE  DAHCOTAH  CHIEF. 


23 


lily  the  travellers  in  the  brake  of  the  presence  of 
their  dangerous  neighbors.  Mahtoree,  however, 
without  betraying  in  the  slightest  degree  the  ex- 
citement which  was  so  strongly  exhibited  by  his 
companions,  continued  the  discourse  in  the  same 
lofty  manner  as  before. 

“I  know  that  my  friend  is  rich,”  he  said} 
“ that  he  has  many  warriors  not  far  off,  and  that 
horses  are  plentier  with  him  than  dogs  among  the 
red -skins.” 

“You  see  my  warriors  and  my  horses.” 

“ What ! has  the  woman  the  feet  of  a Dah- 
cotah,  that  she  can  walk  for  thirty  nights  in  the 
prairies,  and  not  fall  ? I know  the  red  men  of 
the  woods  make  long  marches  on  foot,  but  we, 
who  live  where  the  eye  cannot  see  from  one  lodge 
to  another,  love  our  horses.” 

The  trapper  now  hesitated,  in  his  turn.  He 
was  perfectly  aware  that  deception,  if  detected, 
might  prove  dangerous ; and,  for  one  of  his  pur- 
suits and  character,  he  was  strongly  troubled  with 
an  unaccommodating  regard  for  the  truth.  But 
recollecting  that  he  controlled  the  fate  of  others 
as  well  as  of  himself,  he  determined  to  let  things 
take  their  course,  and  to  permit  the  Dahcotah 
chief  to  deceive  himself,  if  he  would. 

“ The  women  of  the  Siouxes  and  of  the  white 
men  are  not  of  the  same  wigwam,”  he  answered, 
evasively.  “Would  a Teton  warrior  make  his 
wife  greater  than  himself?  I know  he  would 
not ; and  yet  my  ears  have  heard  that  there  are 
lands  where  the  councils  are  held  by  squaws.” 

Another  slight  movement  in  the  dark  circle 
apprised  the  trapper  that  his  declaration  was  not 
received  without  surprise,  if  entirely  without  dis- 
trust. The  chief  alone  seemech  unmoved;  nor 
was  he  disposed  to  relax  from  the  loftiness  and 
high  dignity  of  his  air. 

“ My  white  fathers  who  live  on  the  great  lakes 
have  declared,”  he  said,  “ that  their  brothers 
toward  the  rising  sun  are  not  men ; and  now  I 
know  they  did  not  lie ! Go ! — what  is  a nation 
whose  chief  is  a squaw  ? Are  you  the  dog  and 
not  the  husband  of  this  woman  ? ” 

“ I am  neither.  Never  did  I see  her  face  be- 
fore this  day.  She  came  into  the  prairies  because 
they  had  told  her  a great  and  generous  nation 
called  the  Dahcotahs  lived  there,  and  she  wished 
to  look  on  men.  The  women  of  the  pale-faces, 
like  the  women  of  the  Siouxes,  open  their  eyes  to 
see  things  that  are  new ; but  she  is  poor,  like  my- 
self, and  she  will  want  com  and  buffaloes,  if  you 
take  away  the  little  that  she  and  her  friend  still 
have.” 

“ My  ears  listen  to  many  wicked  lies ! ” ex- 
claimed the  Teton  warrior,  in  a voice  so  stern 


that  it  startled  even  his  red  auditors.  “ Am  I a 
woman  ? Has  not  a Dahcotah  eyes  ? Tell  me, 
white  hunter ; who  are  the  men  of  your  color  that 
sleep  near  the  fallen  trees  ? ” 

As  he  spoke,  the  indignant  chief  pointed  in 
the  direction  of  Islimael’s  encampment,  leaving 
the  trapper  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  superior 
industry  and  sagacity  of  this  man  had  effected  a 
discovery  which  had  eluded  the  search  of  the  rest 
of  his  party.  Notwithstanding  his  regret  at  an 
event  that  might  prove  fatal  to  the  sleepers,  and 
some  little  vexation  at  having  been  so  completely 
outwitted  in  the  dialogue  just  related,  the  old  man 
continued  to  maintain  his  air  of  inflexible  com- 
posure. 

“It  may  be  true,”  he  answered,  “ that  white 
men  are  sleeping  in  the  prairie.  If  my  brother 
says  it,  it  is  true  ; but  what  men  thus  trust  to  the 
generosity  of  the  Tetons,  I cannot  tell.  If  there 
be  strangers  asleep,  send  your  young  men  to  wake 
them  up,  and  let  them  say  why  they  are  here; 
every  pale-face  has  a tongue.” 

The  chief  shook  his  head  with  a wild  and 
fierce  smile,  answering  abruptly,  as  he  turned 
away  to  put  an  end  to  the  conference  : 

“ The  Dahcotahs  are  a wise  race,  and  Mah- 
toree is  their  chief!  He  will  not  call  to  the 
strangers,  that  they  may  rise  and  speak  to  him 
with  their  carabines.  He  will  whisper  softly  in 
their  ears.  When  this  is  done,  let  the  men  of 
their  own  color  come  and  awake  them  ! ” 

As  he  uttered  these  words,  and  turned  on  his 
heel,  a low  and  approving  laugh  passed  around 
the  dark  circle,  which  instantly  broke  its  order, 
and  followed  him  to  a little  distance  from  the 
stand  of  the  captives,  where  those  who  might 
presume  to  mingle  opinions  with  so  great  a war- 
rior again  gathered  about  him  in  consultation. 
Weucha  profited  by  this  occasion  to  renew  his 
importunities  ; but  the  trapper,  who  had  discov- 
ered how  great  a counterfeit  he  was,  shook  him 
off  in  displeasure.  An  end  was,  however,  more 
effectually  put  to  the  annoyance  of  this  malignant 
savage,  by  a mandate  for  the  whole  party,  includ- 
ing men  and  beasts,  to  change  their  positions. 
The  movement  was  made  in  dead  silence,  and 
with  an  order  that  would  have  done  credit  to 
more  enlightened  beings.  A halt,  however,  was 
soon  made ; and  when  the  captives  had  time  to 
look  about  them,  they  found  they  were  in  view 
of  the  low,  dark  outline  of  the  copse  near  which 
lay  the  slumbering  party  of  Ishmael. 

Here  another  short  but  grave  and  deliberative 
consultation  was  held. 

The  beasts,  which  seemed  trained  to  such 
covert  and  silent  attacks,  were  once  more  placed 


2-1 


/, 

THE  PRAIRIE. 


under  the  cave  of  keepers,  who,  as  before,  were 
charged  with  the  duty  of  watching  the  prisoners. 
The  mind  of  the  trapper  was  in  no  degree  relieved 
from  the  uneasiness  which  was  at  each  instant 
getting  a stronger  possession  of  him,  when  he 
found  Weucha  was  placed  nearest  to  his  own  per- 
son, and,  as  it  appeared  by  the  air  of  triumph  and 
authority  he  assumed,  at  the  head  of  the  guard 
also.  The  savage,  however,  who  doubtless  had 
his  secret  instructions,  was  content,  for  the  pres- 
ent, with  making  a significant  gesture  with  his 
tomahawk,  which  menaced  death  to  Ellen.  After 
admonishing  in  this  expressive  manner  his  male 
captives  of  the  fate  that  would  instantly  attend 
their  female  companion  on  the  slightest  alarm 
proceeding  from  any  of  the  party,  he  was  content 
to  maintain  a rigid  silence.  This  unexpected  for- 
bearance on  the  part  of  Weucha  enabled  the 
trapper  and  his  two  associates  to  give  their 
undivided  attention  to  the  little  that  might  be 
seen  of  the  interesting  movements  which  were 
passing  in  their  front. 

Mahtoree  took  the  entire  disposition  of  the 
arrangements  on  himself.  He  pointed  out  the 
precise  situation  he  wished  each  individual  to  oc- 
cupy, like  one  intimately  acquainted  with  the 
qualifications  of  his  respective  followers,  and  he 
was  obeyed  with  the  deference  and  promptitude 
with  which  an  Indian  warrior  is  wont  to  submit 
to  the  instructions  of  his  chief  in  moments  of  trial. 
Some  he  dispatched  to  the  right,  and  others  to 
the  left.  Each  man  departed  with  the  noiseless 
and  quick  step  peculiar  to  the  race,  until  all  had 
assumed  their  allotted  stations,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two-  chosen  warriors,  who  remained  nigh 
the  person  of  their  leader.  When  the  rest  had 
disappeared,  Mahtoree  turned  to  these  select  com- 
panions, and  intimated  by  a sign  that  the  critical 
moment  had  arrived  when  the  enterprise  he  con- 
templated was  to  be  put  in  execution. 

Each  man  laid  aside  the  light  fowling-piece 
which,  under  the  name  of  a carabine,  he  earned 
in  virtue  of  his  rank ; and,  divesting  himself  of 
every  article  of  exterior  or  heavy  clothing,  he 
stood  resembling  a dark  and  fierce-looking  statue, 
in  the  attitude,  and  nearly  in  the  garb,  of  nature. 
Mahtoree  assured  himself  of  the  right  position  of 
his  tomahawk,  felt  that  his  knife  was  secure  in  its 
sheath  of  skin,  tightened  his  girdle  of  wampum, 
and  saw  that  the  lacing  of  his  fringed  and  orna- 
mented leggings  was  secure,  and  likely  to  offer  no 
impediment  to  his  exertions.  Thus  prepared  at 
all  points,  and  ready  for  his  desperate  undertak- 
ing, the  Teton  gave  the  signal  to  proceed. 

The  three  advanced  in  a line  with  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  travellers,  until,  in  the  dim  light  by 


which  they  were  seen,  their  dusky  forms  weie 
nearly  lost  to  the  eyes  of  the  prisoners.  Here 
they  paused,  looking  around  them  like  men  who 
deliberate  and  ponder  long  on  the  consequences 
before  they  take  a desperate  leap.  Then,  sinking 
together,  they  became  lost  in  the  grass  of  the 
prairie. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  the  distress  and 
anxiety  of  the  different  spectators  of  these  threat- 
ening movements.  Whatever  might  be  the  rea- 
sons of  Ellen  for  entertaining  so  strong  attach- 
ment to  the  family  in  which  she  has  first  been 
seen  by  the  reader,  the  feelings  of  her  sex,  and, 
perhaps,  some  lingering  seeds  of  kindness,  pre- 
dominated. More  than  once  she  felt  tempted  to 
brave  the  awful  and  instant  danger  that  awaited 
such  an  offence,  and  to  raise  her  feeble,  and,  in 
truth,  impotent  voice  in  warning.  So  strong,  in- 
deed, and  so  very  natural  was  the  inclination, 
that  she  would  most  probably  have  put  it  into 
execution,  but  for  the  often-repeated  though 
whispered  remonstrances  of  Paul  Hover.  In  the 
breast  of  the  young  bee-hunter  himself  there  was 
a singular  union  of  emotions.  His  first  and  chief- 
est  solicitude  was  certainly  in  behalf  of  his  gentle 
and  dependent  companion ; but  the  sense  of  her 
danger  was  mingled,  in  the  breast  of  the  reckless 
woodsman,  with  a consciousness  of  a high  and 
wild,  and  by  no  means  an  unpleasant,  excitement. 
Though  united  to  the  emigrants  by  ties  still  less 
binding  than  those  of  Ellen,  he  longed  to  hear 
the  crack  of  their  rifles,  and,  had  occasion  offered, 
he  would  gladly  have  been  among  the  first  to  rush 
to  their  rescue.  There  were,  in  truth,  moments 
when  he  felt  in  his  turn  an  impulse  that  was  nearly 
resistless,  to  spring  forward  and  awake  the  un- 
conscious sleepers ; but  a glance  at  Ellen  would 
serve  to  recall  his  tottering  prudence,  and  to  ad- 
monish him  of  the  consequences.  The  trapper 
alone  remained  calm  and  observant,  as  if  nothing 
that  involved  his  personal  comfort  or  safety  had 
occurred.  His  ever-moving,  vigilant  eyes  watched 
the  smallest  change,  with  the  composure  of  one 
too  long  inured  to  scenes  of  danger  to  be  easily 
moved,  and  with  an  expression  of  cool  determina- 
tion which  denoted  the  intention  he  actually  har- 
bored, of  profiting  by  the  smallest  oversight  on 
the  part  of  the  captors. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Teton  warriors  had  not 
been  idle.  Profiting  by  the  high  fog  which  grew 
in  the  bottoms,  they  had  wormed  their  way 
through  the  matted  grass,  like  so  many  treacher- 
ous serpents  stealing  on  their  prey,  until  the  point 
was  gained  where  an  extraordinary  caution  became 
necessary  to  their  further  advance.  Mahtoree 
alone  had  occasionally  elevated  his  dark,  grim 


ISHMAEL  S CAMP  IN  DANGER. 


25 


countenance  abot-e  the  herbage,  straining  his  eye- 
balls to  penetrate  the  gloom  which  skirted  the 
border  of  the  brake.  In  these  momentary  glances 
he  gained  sufficient  knowledge,  added  to  that  he 
had  obtained  in  his  former  search,  to  be  the  per- 
fect master  of  the  position  of  his  intended  victims, 
though  he  was  still  profoundly  ignorant  of  their 
numbers  and  of  their  means  of  defence. 

His  efforts  to  possess  himself  of  the  requisite 
knowledge  concerning  these  two  latter  and  essen- 
tial points  were,  however,  completely  baffled  by 
the  stillness  of  the  camp,  which  lay  in  a quiet  as 
deep  as  if  it  were  literally  a place  of  -the  dead. 
Too  wary  and  distrustful  to  rely,  in  circumstances 
of  so  much  doubt,  on  the  discretion  of  any  less 
firm  and  crafty  than  himself,  the  Dahcotah  bade 
his  companions  remain  where  they  lay,  and  pur- 
sued the  adventure  alone. 

The  progress  of  Mahtoree  was  now  slow,  and, 
to  one  less  accustomed  to  such  a species  of  exer- 
cise, it  would  have  proved  painfully  laborious. 
But  the  advance  of  the  wily  snake  itself  is  not 
more  certain  or  noiseless  than  was  his  approach. 
He  drew  his  form,  foot  by  foot,  through  the  bend- 
ing grass,  pausing  at  each  movement  to  catch  the 
smallest  sound  that  might  betray  any  knowledge, 
on  the  part  of  the  travellers,  of  his  proximity. 
He  succeeded,  at  length,  in  dragging  himself  out 
of  the  sickly  light  of  the  moon  into  the  shadows 
of  the  brake,  where  not  only  his  own  dark  person 
was  much  less  liable  to  be  seen,  but  where  the 
surrounding  objects  became  more  distinctly  visi- 
ble to  his  keen  and  active  glances. 

Here  the  Teton  paused  long  and  warily  to 
make  his  observations  before  he  ventured  further. 
His  position  enabled  him  to  bring  the  whole  en- 
campment, with  its  tent,  wagons,  and  lodges,  into 
a dark  but  clearly-marked  profile ; furnishing  a 
clew  by  which  the  practised  warrior  was  led  to  a 
tolerably  accurate  estimate  of  the  force  he  was 
about  to  encounter.  Still  an  unnatural  silence 
pervaded  the  spot,  as  if  men  suppressed  even  the 
quiet  breathings  of  sleep,  in  order  to  render  the 
appearance  of  their  confidence  more  evident.  The 
chief  bent  his  head  to  the  earth  and  listened  in- 
tently. He  was  about  to  raise  it  again,  in  disap- 
pointment, when  the  long-drawn  and  trembling 
respiration  of  one  who  slumbered  imperfectly  met 
his  ear.  The  Indian  was  too  well  skilled  in  all 
the  means  of  deception  to  become  himself  the  vic- 
tim of  any  common  artifice.  He  knew  the  sound 
to  be  natural,  by  its  peculiar  quivering,  and  he 
hesitated  no  longer. 

A man  of  nerves  less  tried  than  those  of  the 
fierce  and  conquering  Mahtoree  would  have  been 
Keenly  sensible  of  ah  the  hazard  he  incurred. 
54 


The  reputation  of  those  hardy  and  powerful  white 
adventurers  who  so  often  penetrated  the  wilds 
inhabited  by  his  people,  was  well  known  to  him  ; 
but  while  he  drew  nigher,  with  the  respect  and 
caution  that  a brave  enemy  never  fails  to  inspire, 
it  was  with  the  vindictive  animosity  of  a red  man, 
jealous  and  resentful  of  the  inroads  of  the  stran- 
ger. 

Turning  from  the  line  of  his  former  route,  the 
Teton  dragged  himself  directly  toward  the  margin 
of  the  thicket.  When  this  material  object  was 
effected  in  safety,  he  arose  to  bis  seat,  and  took 
a better  survey  of  his  situation.  A single  mo- 
ment served  to  apprise  him  of  the  place  where 
the  unsuspecting  traveller  lay.  The  reader  will 
readily  anticipate  that  the  savage  had  succeeded 
in  gaining  a dangerous  proximity  to  one  of  thos* 
slothful  sons  of  Ishmael  who  were  deputed  t<? 
watch  over  the  isolated  encampment  of  the  travel- 
lers. 

When  certain  that  he  was  undiscovered,  the 
Dahcotah  raised  his  person  again,  and,  bending 
forward,  he  moved  his  dark  visage  above  the  face 
of  the  sleeper,  in  that  sort  of  wanton  and  subtle 
manner  with  which  the  reptile  is  seen  to  play 
about  its  victim  before  it  strikes.  Satisfied  at 
length,  not  only  of  the  condition  but  of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  stranger,  Mahtoree  was  in  the  act  of 
withdrawing  his  head  when  a slight  movement  of 
the  sleeper  announced  the  symptoms  of  reviving 
consciousness.  The  savage  seized  the  knife  which 
hung  at  his  girdle,  and  in  an  instant  it  was  poised 
above  the  breast  of  the  young  emigrant.  Then 
changing  his  purpose,  with  an  action  as  rapid  as 
his  own  flashing  thoughts,  he  sank  back  behind 
the  trunk  of  the  fallen  tree  against  which  the 
other  reclined,  and  lay  in  its  shadow,  as  dark,  as 
motionless,  and  apparently  as  insensible,  as  the 
wood  itself. 

The  slothful  sentinel  opened  his  heavy  eyes, 
and,  gazing  upward'  for  a moment  at  the  hazy 
heavens,  he  made  an  extraordinary  exertion,  and 
raised  his  powerful  frame  from  the  support  of  the 
log.  Then  he  looked  about  him,  with  an  air  of 
something  like  watchfulness,  suffering  his  dull 
glances  to  run  over  the  misty  objects  of  the  en- 
campment until  they  finally  settled  on  the  distant 
and  dim  field  of  the  open  prairie.  Meeting  with 
nothing  more  attractive  than  the  same  faint  out- 
lines of  swell  and  interval  which  everywhere  rose 
before  his  drowsy  eyes,  he  changed  his  position 
so  as  completely  to  turn  his  back  on  his  danger- 
ous neighbor,  and  suffered  his  person  to  sink 
sluggishly  down  into  its  former  recumbent  at- 
titude. A long,  and,  on  the  part  of  the  Teton,  an 
anxious  and  painful  silence  succeeded,  before  the 


20 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


deep  breathing  of  the  traveller  again  announced 
that  he  was  indulging  in  his  slumbers.  The  sav- 
age was,  however,  far  too  jealous  of  a counterfeit 
to  trust  to  the  first  appearance  of  sleep.  But  the 
fatigues  of  a day  of  unusual  toil  lay  too  heavy  on 
the  sentinel  to  leave  the  other  long  in  doubt. 
Still  the  motion  with  which  Mahtoree  again  raised 
himself  to  his  knees  was  so  noiseless  and  guarded, 
that  even  a vigilant  observer  might  have  hesitated 
to  believe  he  stirred.  The  change  was,  however, 
at  length  effected,  and  the  Dahcotah  chief  then 
bent  again  over  his  3nemy,  without  having  pro- 
duced a noise  louder  than  that  of  the  cotton-wood 
leaf  which  fluttered  at  his  side  in  the  currents  of 
the  passing  air. 

Mahtoree  now  felt  himself  master  of  the  sleep- 
er’s fate.  At  the  same  time  that  he  scanned  the 
vast  proportions  and  athletic  limbs  of  the  youth, 
in  that  sort  of  admiration  which  physical  excel- 
lence seldom  fails  to  excite  in  the  breast  of  a sav- 
age, he  coolly  prepared  to  extinguish  the  principle 
of  vitality  which  could  alone  render  them  for- 
midable. After  making  himself  sure  of  the  seat 
of  life  by  gently  removing  the  folds  of  the  inter- 
vening cloth,  he  raised  his  keen  weapon,  and  was 
about  to  unite  his  strength  and  skill  in  the 
impending  blow,  when  the  young  man  threw  his 
brawny  arm  carelessly  backward,  exhibiting  in 
the  action  the  vast  volume  of  its  muscles. 

The  sagacious  and  wary  Teton  paused.  It 
struck  his  acute  faculties  that  sleep  was  less  dan- 
gerous to  him,  at  that  moment,  than  even  death 
itself  might  prove.  The  smallest  noise,  the  agony 
of  struggling,  with  which  such  a frame  would 
probably  relinquish  its  hold  of  life,  suggested 
themselves  to  his  rapid  thoughts,  and  were  all 
present  to  his  experienced  senses.  He  looked 
back  into  the  encampment,  turned  his  head  into 
the  thicket,  and  glanced  his  glowing  eyes  abroad 
into  the  wild  and  silent  prairies.  Bending  once 
more  over  the  respited  victim,  he  assured  him- 
self that  he  was  sleeping  heavily,  and  then  aban- 
doned his  immediate  purpose  in  obedience  alone 
to  the  suggestions  of  a more  crafty  policy. 

The  retreat  of  Mahtoree  was  as  still  and 
guarded  as  had  been  his  approach.  He  now  took 
the  direction  of  the  encampment,  stealing  along 
the  margin  of  the  brake,  as  a cover  into  which 
he  might  easily  plunge  at  the  smallest  alarm. 
The  drapery  of  the  solitary  hut  attracted  his 
notice  in  passing.  After  examining  the  whole 
of  its  exterior,  and  listening  with  painful  intensity, 
in  order  to  gather  counsel  from  his  ears,  the  sav- 
age ventured  to  raise  the  cloth  at  the  bottom,  and 
to  thrust  his  dark  visage  beneath.  It  might 
have  been  a minute  before  the  Teton  chief  drew 


back,  and  seated  himself  with  the  whole  of  hie 
form  without  the  linen  tenement.  Here  he  sat, 
seemingly  brooding  over  his  discovery,  for  many 
moments,  in  rigid  inaction.  Then  be  resumed 
his  crouching  attitude,  and  once  more  projected 
his  visage  beyond  the  covering  of  the  tent.  His 
second  visit  to  the  interior  was  longer,  and,  if 
possible,  more  ominous  than  the  first.  But  it  had, 
like  every  thing  else,  its  termination,  and  the  sav- 
age again  withdrew  his  glaring  eyes  from  the 
secrets  of  the  place. 

Mahtoree  had  drawn  his  person  many  yards 
from  the-  spot,  in  his  slow  progress  toward  the 
cluster  of  objects  which  pointed  out  the  centre  of 
the  position,  before  he  again  stopped.  He  made 
another  pause,  and  looked  back  at  the  solitary 
little  dwelling  he  had  left,  as  if  doubtfhl  whether 
he  should  not  return.  But  the  chevaux  de  frise 
of  branches  now  lay  within  reach  of  his  arm,  and 
the  very  appearance  of  precaution  it  presented, 
as  it  announced  the  value  of  the  effects  it  encircled, 
tempted  his  cupidity,  and  induced  him  to  proceed. 

The  passage  of  the  savage,  through  the  tender 
and  brittle  limbs  of  the  cotton-wood,  could  be 
likened  only  to  the  sinuous  and  noiseless  winding 
of  the  reptiles  which  he  imitated.  When  he  had 
effected  his  object,  and  had  taken  an  instant  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  locali- 
ties within  the  enclosure,  the  Teton  used  the  pre- 
caution to  open  a way  through  which  he  might 
make  a swift  retreat.  Then,  raising  himself  on 
his  feet,  he  stalked  through  the  encampment,  like 
the  master  of  evil,  seeking  whom  and  what  he 
should  first  devote  to  his  fell  purposes.  He  had 
already  ascertained  the  contents  of  the  lodge  in 
which  were  collected  the  woman  and  her  young 
children,  and  had  passed  several  gigantic  frames, 
stretched  on  different  piles  of  brush,  which  happily 
for  him  lay  in  unconscious  helplessness,  when  he 
reached  the  spot  occupied  by  Ishmael  in  per- 
son. It  could  not  escape  the  sagacity  of  one  like 
Mahtoree,  that  he  had  now  within  his  power  the 
principal  man  among  the  travellers.  He  stood 
long  hovering  above  the  recumbent  and  Herculean 
form  of  the  emigrant,  keenly  debating  in  his  own 
mind  the  chances  of  his  enterprise,  and  the  most 
•effectual  means  of  reaping  its  richest  harvest. 

He  sheathed  the  knife,  which,  under  the  hasty 
and  burning  impulse  of  his  thoughts,  he  had 
been  tempted  to  draw,  and  was  passing  on,  when 
Ishmael  turned  in  his  lair,  and  demanded  roughly 
who  was  moving  before  his  half-opened  eyes. 
Nothing  short  of  the  readiness  and  cunning  of  a 
savage  could  have  evaded  the  crisis.  Imitating 
the  gruff  tones  and  nearly  unintelligible  sounds  he 
heard,  Mahtoree  threw  his  body  heavily  on  the 


WEUCHA  AND  HIS  CAPTIVES. 


27 


aarth,  and  appeared  to  dispose  himself  to  sleep. 
Though  the  whole  movement  was  seen  by  Ishmael, 
in  a sort  of  stupid  observation,  the  artifice  was 
too  bold  and  too  admirably  executed  to  fail. 
The  drowsy  father  closed  his  eyes,  and  slept  heavi- 
ly, with  his  treacherous  inmate  in  the  very  bosom 
of  his  family. 

It  was  necessary  for  the  Teton  to  maintain 
the  position  he  had  taken  for  many  long  and 
weary  minutes,  in  order  to  make  sure  that  he  was 
no  longer  watched.  Though  his  body  lay  so  mo- 
tionless, his  active  mind  was  not  idle.  He  prof- 
ited by  the  delay  to  mature  a plan  which  he  in- 
tended should  put  the  whole  encampment,  includ- 
ing both  its  effects  and  their  proprietors,  entirely 
at  his  mercy.  The  instant  he  could  do  so  with 
safety,  the  indefatigable  savage  was  again  in  mo- 
tion. He  took  his  way  toward  the  slight  pen 
which  contained  the  domestic  animals,  worming 
himself  along  the  ground  in  his  former  subtle  and 
guarded  manner. 

The  first  animal  he  encountered  among  the 
beasts  occasioned  a long  and  hazardous  delay. 
The  wary  creature,  perhaps  conscious,  through  its 
secret  instinct,  that  in  the  endless  wastes  of  the 
prairies  its  surest  protector  was  to  be  found  in 
man,  was  so  exceedingly  docile  as  quietly  to  sub- 
mit to  the  close  examination  it  was  doomed  to  un- 
dergo. The  hand  of  the  wandering  Teton  passed 
over  the  downy  coat,  the  meek  countenance,  and 
the  slender  limbs  of  the  gentle  creature,  with  un- 
tiring curiosity;  but  he  finally  abandoned  the 
prize,  as  useless  in  his  predatory  expeditions,  and 
offering  too  little  temptation  to  the  appetite.  As 
soon,  however,  as  he  found  himself  among  the 
beasts  of  burden,  his  gratification  was  extreme, 
and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  he  restrained  the 
customary  ejaculations  of  pleasure  that  were  more 
than  once  on  the  point  of  bursting  from  his  lips. 
Here  he  lost  sight  of  the  hazards  by  which  he 
had  gained  access  to  his  dangerous  position ; and 
the  watchfulness  of  the  wary  and  long-practised 
warrior  was  momentarily  forgotten  in  the  exulta- 
tion of  the  savage. 


CHAPTER  V. 

“ Why,  worthy  father,  what  have  we  to  lose  ? 

— The  law 

Protects  us  not.  Then  why  should  we  be  tender 
To  let  an  arrogant  piece  of  flesh  threat  us ! 

Play  judge  and  executioner."'1  Cymbkline. 

While  the  Teton  thus  enacted  his  subtle  and 
characteristic  part,  not  a sound  broke  the  stillness 
of  the  surrounding  prairie.  The  whole  band  lay 


at  their  several  posts,  waiting,  with  the  well-known 
patience  of  the  natives,  for  the  signal  which  was 
to  summon  them  to  action.  To  the  eyes  of  the 
anxious  spectators  who  occupied  the  little  emi- 
nence, already  described  as  the  position  of  the  cap- 
tives, the  scene  presented  the  broad,  solemn  view 
of  a waste,  dimly  lighted  by  the  glimmering  rays 
of  a clouded  moon.  The  place  of  the  encamp- 
ment was  marked  by  a gloom  deeper  than  that 
which  faintly  shadowed  out  the  courses  of  the 
bottoms,  and  here  and  there  a brighter  streak 
tinged  the  rolling  summits  of  the  ridges.  As  for 
the  rest,  it  was  the  deep,  imposing  quiet  of  a 
desert. 

But  to  those  who  so  well  knew  how  much  was 
brooding  beneath  this  mantle  of  stillness  and  night, 
it  was  a scene  of  high  and  wild  excitement.  Their 
anxiety  gradually  increased,  as  minute  after  min- 
ute passed  away,  and  not  the  smallest  sound  of 
life  arose  out  of  the  calm  and  darkness  which  en- 
veloped the  brake.  The  breathing  of  Paul  grew 
louder  and  deeper,  and  more  than  once  Ellen 
trembled  at  she  knew  not  what,  as  she  felt  the 
quivering  of  his  active  frame,  while  she  leaned  de- 
pendency on  his  arm  for  support. 

The  shallow  honesty,  as  well  as  the  besetting 
infirmity  of  Weucha,  had  already  been  exhibited. 
The  reader,  therefore,  will  not  be  surprised  to 
learn  that  he  was  the  first  to  forget  the  regulations 
he  had  himself  imposed.  It  was  at  the  precise  < 
moment  when  we  left  Mahtoree  yielding  to  his 
nearly  ungovernable  delight,  as  he  surveyed  the 
number  and  quality  of  Ishmael’s  beasts  of  burden, 
that  the  man  he  had  selected  to  watch  his  cap- 
tives chose  to  indulge  in  the . malignant  pleasure 
of  tormenting  those  it  was  his  duty  to  protect. 
Bending  his  head  nigh  the  ear  of  the  trapper,  the 
savage  rather  muttered  than  whispered  : 

“If  the  Tetons  lose  their  great  chief  by  the 
hands  of  the  Long-knives,*  old  shall  die  as  well 
as  young !” 

“Life  is  the  gift  of  the  Wahcondah,”  was  the 
unmoved  reply.  “ The  burnt-wood  warrior  must 
submit  to  his  laws,  as  well  as  his  other  children. 
Men  only  die  when  He  chooses ; and  no  Dahcotah 
can  change  the  hour.”. 

“ Look  ! ” returned  the  savage,  thrusting  the 
blade  of  his  knife  before  the  face  of  his  captive. 
“Weucha  is  the  Wahcondah  of  a dog.” 

The  old  man  raised  his  eyes  to  the  fierce  visage 
of  his  keeper,  and,  for  a moment,  a gleam  of  hon- 
est and  powerful  disgust  shot  from  their  deep 
cells;  but  it  instantly  passed  away,  leaving  in  its 


* The  whites  are  so  called  by  the  Indians,  from  their 
swords. 


28 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


place  an  expression  of  commiseration,  if  not  of 
sorrow. 

“ Why  should  one  made  in  the  real  image  of 
God  suffer  his  natur’  to  be  provoked  by  a mere 
effigy  of  reason  ? ” he  said  in  English,  and  in 
tones  much  louder  than  those  in  which  Weucha 
had  chosen  to  pitch  the  conversation.  The  latter 
profited  by  the  unintentional  offence  of  his  cap- 
tive, and,  seizing  him  by  the  thin,  gray  locks 
that  fell  from  beneath  his  cap,  was  on  the  point 
of  passing  the  blade  of  his  knife  in  malignant  tri- 
umph around  their  roots,  when  a long,  shrill  yell 
rent  the  air,  and  was  instantly  echoed  from  the 
surrounding  waste,  as  if  a thousand  demons 
opened  their  throats  in  common  at  the  summons. 
Weucha  relinquished  his  grasp,  and  uttered  a cry 
of  exultation. 

“Now  !”  shouted  Paul,  unable  to  control  his 
impatience  any  longer,  “ now,  old  Ishmael,  is  the 
time  to  show  the  native  blood  of  Kentucky  ! Fire 
low,  boys — level  into  the  swales,  for  the  red-skins 
are  settling  to  the  very  earth ! ” 

His  voice  was,  however,  lost,  or  rather  un- 
heeded, in  the  midst  of  the  shrieks,  shouts,  and 
yells  that  were,  by  this  time,  bursting  from  fifty 
mouths  on  every  side  of  him.  The  guards  still 
maintained  their  posts  at  the  side  of  the  captives, 
but  it  was  with  that  sort  of  difficulty  with  which 
(Steeds  are  restrained  at  the  starting-post,  when 
expecting  the  signal  to  commence  the  trial  of 
speed.  They  tossed  their  arms  wildly  in  the  air, 
leaping  up  and  down  more  like  exulting  children 
than  sober  men,  and  continued  to  utter  the  most 
frantic  cries. 

In  the  midst  of  this  tumultuous  disorder  a 
rushing  sound  was  heard,  similar  to  that  which 
might  be  expected  to  precede  the  passage  of  a 
flight  of  buffaloes,  and  then  came  the  flocks  and 
cattle  of  Ishmael  in  one  confused  and  frightened 
drove. 

“ They  have  robbed  the  squatter  of  his 
beasts ! ” said  the  attentive  trapper.  “ The  rep- 
tiles have  left  him  as  hoofless  as  a beaver  ! ” He 
was  yet  speaking,  when  the  whole  body  of  the  ter- 
rified animals  rose  the  little  acclivity,  and  swept 
by  the  place  where  he  stood,  followed  by  a band 
of  dusky  and  demon-like-looking  figures,  who 
pressed  madly  on  their  rear. 

The  impulse  was  communicated  to  the  Teton 
horses,  long  accustomed  to  sympathize  in  the  un- 
tutored passions  of  their  otvners,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  the  keepers  were  enabled  to  restrain 
their  impatience.  At  this  moment,  when  all  eyes 
where  directed  to  the  passing  whirlwind  of  men 
and  beasts,  the  trapper  caught  the  knife  from  the 
hands  of  his  inattentive  keeper,  with  a power  that 


his  age  would  have  seemed  to  contradict,  and,  at  a 
single  blow,  severed  the  thong  of  hide  which  con- 
nected the  whole  of  the  drove.  The  wild  animals 
snorted  with  joy  and  terror,  and,  tearing  the  earth 
with  their  heels,  they  dashed  away  into  the  broad 
prairies,  in  a dozen  different  directions. 

■Weucha  turned  upon  his  assailant  with  the 
ferocity  and  agility  of  a tiger.  He  felt  for  the 
weapon  of  which  he  had  been  so  suddenly  de- 
prived, fumbled  with  impotent  haste  for  the  handle 
of  his  tomahawk,  and  at  the  same  moment  glanced 
his  eyes  after  the  flying  cattle,  with  the  longings 
of  a W estern  Indian.  The  struggle  between  thirst 
for  vengeance  and  cupidity  was  severe  but  short. 
The  latter  quickly  predominated  in  the  bosom 
of  one  whose  passions  were  proverbially  grovel- 
ling ; and  scarcely  a moment  intervened  between 
the  flight  of  the  animals  and  the  swift  pursuit  of 
the  guards.  The  trapper  had  continued  calmly 
facing  his  foe,  during  the  instant  of  suspense  that 
succeeded  his  hardy  act ; and  now  that  Weucha 
was  3een  following  his  companions,  he  pointed 
after  the  dark  train,  saying,  with  his  deep  and 
nearly  inaudible  laugh : 

“ Red-natur’  is  red-natur’,  let  it  show  itself  on 
a prairie  or  in  a forest ! A knock  on  the  head 
would  be  the  smallest  reward  to  him  who  would 
take  such  a liberty  with  a Christian  sentinel ; but 
there  goes  the  Teton  after  his  horses  as  if  he 
thought  two  legs  as  good  as  four  in  such  a race  ! 
And  yet  the  imps  will  have  every  hoof  of  them 
afore  the  day  sets  in,  because  it’s  reason  ag’in 
instinct.  Poor  reason,  I allow ; but  still  there  is 
a great  deal  of  the  man  in  the  Indian.  Ah’s  me ! 
your  Delawares  were  the  red-skins  of  which 
America  might  boast;  but  few  and  scattered  is 
that  mighty  people,  now!  Well!  the  traveller 
may  just  make  his  pitch  where  he  is ; he  has 
plenty  of  water,  though  Natur’  has  cheated  him 
of  the  pleasure  of  stripping  the  ’arth  of  its  lawful 
trees.  He  has  seen  the  last  of  his  four-footed  crea- 
tures, or  I am  but  little  skilled  in  Sioux  cunning.” 

“Had  we  not  better  join  the  party  of  Ishma- 
el ?”  said  the  bee-hunter.  “ There  will  be  a regu- 
lar fight  about  this  matter,  or  the  old  fellow  has 
suddenly  grown  chicken-hearted.” 

“No — no — no!”  hastily  exclaimed  Ellen. 

She  was  stopped  by  the  trapper,  who  laid  his 
hand  gently  on  her  mouth,  as  he  answered: 

“ Hist ! — hist ! — the  sound  of  voices  might 
bring  us  into  danger. — Is  your  friend,”  he  added, 
turning  to  Paul,  “ a man  of  spirit  enough  ? ” 

“ Don’t  call  the  squatter  a friend  of  mine ! ” 
interrupted  the  youth.  “I  never  yet  harbored 
with  one  who  could  not  show  hand  and  seal  for 
the  land  which  fed  him.” 


A TETON  RAID. 


29 


“ Well — well.  Let  it  then  be  acquaintance. 
Ib  he  a man  to  maintain  his  own,  stoutly,  by  dint 
of  powder  and  lead  ? ” 

“ His  own ! ay,  and  that  which  is  not  his  own 
too  ! Can  you  tell  me,  old  trapper,  who  held  the 
rifle  that  did  the  deed  for  the  sheriffs  deputy, 
that  thought  to  rout  the  unlawful  settlers  who 
had  gathered  nigh  the  Buffalo  lick  in  old  Ken- 
tucky ? I had  lined  a beautiful  swarm  that  very 
day  into  the  hollow  of  a dead  beech,  and  there 
lay  the  people’s  officer  at  its  roots,  with  a hole 
directly  through  the  ‘ grace  of  God  ’ which  he  car- 
ried in  his  jacket-pocket  covering  his  heart,  as  if 
he  thought  a bit  of  sheepskin  was  a breastplate 
against  a squatter’s  bullet!— Now,  Ellen,  you 
needn’t  be  troubled ; for  it  never  strictly  was 
brought  home  to  him ; and  there  were  fifty  others 
who  had  pitched  in  that  neighborhood  with  just 
the  same  authority  from  the  law.” 

The  poor  girl  shuddered,  struggling  powerfully 
to  suppress  the  sigh  which  arose  in  spite  of  her 
efforts,  as  if  from  the  very  bottom  of  her  heart. 

Thoroughly  satisfied  that  he  understood  the 
character  of  the  emigrants,  by  the  short  but 
comprehensive  description  conveyed  in  Paul’s  re- 
ply, the  old  man  raised  no  further  question  con- 
cerning the  readiness  of  Ishmael  to  revenge  his 
wrongs,  but  rather  followed  the  train  of  thought 
which  was  suggested  to  his  experience  by  the 
occasion : 

“ Each  one  knows  the  ties  which  bind  him  to 
his  fellow-creatures  best,”  he  answered.  “ Though 
it  is  greatly  to  be  mourned  that  color,  and  prop- 
erty, and  tongue,  and  l’arning,  should  make  so 
wide  a difference  in  those  who,  after  all,  are  but 
the  children  of  one  Father!  Howsomever,”  he 
continued,  by  a transition  not  a little  character- 
istic of  the  pursuits  and  feelings  of  the  man,  “ as 
this  is  a business  in  which  there  is  much  more 
likelihood  of  a fight  than  need  for  a sermon,  it  is 
best  to  be  prepared  for  what  may  follow. — 
Hush ! there  is  a movement  below ; it  is  an  equal 
chance  that  we  are  seen.” 

“ The  family  is  stirring,”  cried  Ellen,  with  a 
tremor  that  announced  nearly  as  much  terror  at 
the  approach  of  her  friends,  as  she  had  before 
manifested  at  the  presence  of  her  enemies.  “ Go 
Paul,  leave  me.  low,  at  least,  must  not  be  seen ! ” 

“ If  I leave  you,  Ellen,  in  this  desert,  before  I 
see  you  safe  in  the  care  of  old  Ishmael  at  least, 
may  I never  hear  the  hum  of  another  bee,  or,  what 
is  worse,  fail  in  sight  to  line  him  to  his  hive ! ” 

“ You  forget  this  good  old  man.  He  will  not 
leave  me.  Though  I am  sure,  Paul,  we  have 
parted  before,  where  there  has  been  more  of  a 
desert  than  this.” 


“ Never ! These  Indians  may  come  whoeping 
back,  and  then  where  are  you  ? Half-way  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains  before  a man  can  fairly  strike 
the  line  of  your  flight. — What  think  you,  old 
trapper?  How  long  may  it  be  before  these 
Tetons,  as  you  call  them,  will  be  coming  for  the 
rest  of  old  Ishmael’s  goods  and  chattels  ? ” 

“No  fear  of  them,”  returned  the  old  man, 
laughing  in  his  own  peculiar  and  silent  manner  ; 
“ I warrant  me  the  devils  will  be  scampering  after 
their  beasts  these  six  hours  yet ! — Listen ! you 
may  hear  them  in  the  willow-bottoms  at  this  very 
moment ; ay,  your  real  Sioux  cattle  will  run  like 
so  many  long-legged  elks.  Hist ! crouch  again 
into  the  grass,  down  with  ye  both ; as  I’m  a mis- 
erable piece  of  clay,  I heard  the  clicking  of  a gun- 
lock  ! ” 

The  trapper  did  not  allow  his  companions 
time  to  hesitate,  but,  dragging  them  both  after 
him,  he  nearly  buried  his  own  person  in  the  fog 
of  the  prairie,  while  he  was  speaking.  It  was  for- 
tunate that  the  senses  of  the  aged  hunter  re- 
mained so  acute,  and  that  he  had  lost  none  of  his 
readiness  of  action.  The  three  were  scarcely 
bowed  to  the  ground,  when  their  ears  were  sa- 
luted with  the  well  known,  sharp,  short  reports 
of  the  Western, rifle,  and  instantly  the  whizzing 
of  the  ragged  lead  was  heard,  buzzing  within  dan- 
gerous proximity  of  their  heads. 

“Well  done,  young  chips!  well  done,  old 
block  ! ” whispered  Paul,  whose  spirits  no  danger 
nor  situation  could  entirely  depress.  “ As  pretty 
a volley  as  one  would  wish  to  hear  on  the  wrong 
end  of  a rifle  ! What  d’ye  say,  trapper ! here  is 
likely  to  be  a three-cornered  war.  Shall  I give 
’em  as  good  as  they  send  ? ” 

“ Give  them  nothing  but  fair  words,”  returned 
the  other,  hastily,  “ or  you  are  both  lost.” 

“ I’m  not  certain  it  would  much  mend  the 
matter,  if  I were  to  speak  with  my  tongue  instead 
of  the  piece,”  said  Paul,  in  a tone  half  jocular, 
half  bitter. 

“ For  the  sake  of  heaven,  do  not  let  them  hear 
you ! ” cried  Ellen.  “ Go,  Paul,  go ! you  can 
easily  quit  us  now.  ” 

Several  shots  in  quick  ^succession,  each  send- 
ing its  dangerous  messenger  still  nearer  than  the 
preceding  discharge,  cut  short  her  speech,  no  less 
in  prudence  than  in  terror. 

“This  must  end,”  said  the  trapper,  rising 
with  the  dignity  of  one  bent  only  on  the  impor- 
tance of  his  object.  “ I know  not  what  need  ye 
may  have,  children,  to  fear  those  you  should  both 
love  and  honor,  but  something  must  be  done  to 
save  your  lives.  A few  hours  more  or  less  can 
never  be  missed  from  the  time  of  one  who  has 


•30 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


already  numbered  so  many  days ; therefore,  I 
will  advance.  Here  is  a clear  space  around  you. 
Profit  by  it  as  you  need,  and  may  God  bless  and 
prosper  each  of  you,  as  ye  deserve  ! ” 

Without  waiting  for  any  reply,  the  trapper 
walked  boldly  down  the  declivity  in  his  front, 
taking  the  direction  of  the  encampment,  neither 
quickening  his  pace  in  trepidation  nor  suffering 
it  to  be  retarded  by  fear.  The  light  of  the  moon 
fell  brighter  for  a moment  on  his  tall,  gaunt  form, 
and  served  to  warn  the' emigrants  of  his  approach- 
indifferent,  however,  to  this  unfavorable  circum- 
stance, he  held  his  way  silently  and  steadily 
toward  the  copse,  until  a threatening  voice  met 
him  with  the  challenge  of — 

“ Who  comes — friend  or  foe  ? ” 

“ Friend,”  was  the  reply  ; “ one  who  has  lived 
too  long  to  disturb  the  close  of  life  with  quar- 
rels.” 

“ But  not  so  long  as  to  forget  the  tricks  of  his 
youth,”  said  Ishmael,  rearing  his  huge  frame 
from  beneath  the  slight  covering  of  a low  bush, 
and  meeting  the  trapper  face  to  face.  “ Old  man, 
you  have  brought  this  tribe  of  red  devils  upon  us, 
and  to-morrow  you  will  be  sharing  the  booty.” 

“ What  have  you  lost  ? ” calmly  demanded  the 
trapper. 

“Eight  as  good  mares  as  ever  travelled  in 
gears,  besides  a foal  that  is  worth  thirty  of  the 
brightest  Mexicans  that  bear  the  face  of  the  King 
of  Spain.  Then  the  woman  has  not  a cloven  hoof 
for  her  dairy  or  her  loom,  and  I believe  even  the 
grunters,  foot-sore  as  they  be,  are  ploughing  the 
prairie.  And  now,  stranger,”  he  added,  dropping 
the  butt  of  hi3  rifle  on  the  hard  earth,  with  a vio- 
lence and  a clatter  that  would  have  intimidated 
one  less  firm  than  the  man  he  addressed,  “ how 
many  of  these  creatures  may  fall  to  your  lot  ? ” 

“ Horses  have  I never  craved,  nor  even  used  f* 
though  few  have  journeyed  over  more  of  the  wide 
lands  of  America  than  myself,  old  and  feeble  as  I 
seem.  But  little  use  is  there  for  a horse  among 
the  hills  and  woods  of  York — that  is,  as  York 
was,  but  as  I greatly  fear  York  is  no  longer. — As 
for  woollen  covering  and  cow’s-milk,  I covet  no 
such  womanly  fashion^ ! The  beasts  of  the  field 
give  me  food  and  raiment.  No,  I crave  no  cloth 
better  than  the  skin  of  a deer,  nor  any  meat  richer 
than  his  flesh.” 

The  sincere  manner  of  the  trapper,  as  he  ut- 
tered this  simple  vindication,  was  not  entirely 
thrown  away  on  the  emigrant,  whose  dull  nature 
was  gradually  quickening  into  a flame  that  might 
speedily  have  burst  forth  with  dangerous  violence. 
He  listened  like  one  who  doubted,  though*  not  en- 
tirely convinced ; and  he  muttered  between  his 


teeth  the  denunciation,  with  which  a moment  be- 
fore he  intended  to  precede  the  summary  ven- 
geance he  had  certainly  meditated. 

“ This  is  brave  talking,”  he  at  length  grum- 
bled ; “ but,  to  my  judgment,  too  lawyer-like,  for 
a straightforward,  fair-weather  and  foul-weather 
hunter.” 

“ I claim  to  be  no  better  than  a trapper,”  the 
other  meekly  answered. 

“ Hunter  or  trapper — there  is  little  difference. 
I have  come,  old  man,  into  these  districts,  because 
I found  the  law  sitting  too  tight  upon  me,  and  am 
not  over-fond  of  neighbors  who  can’t  settle  a dis- 
pute without  troubling  a justice  and  twelve  men ; 
but  I didn’t  come  to  be  robbed  of  my  plunder, 
and  then  to  say  thank’ee  to  the  man  who  did 
it!” 

“He  who  ventures  far  into  the  prairie  must 
abide  by  the  ways  of  its  owners.” 

“ Owners  ! ” echoed  the  squatter  ! “ I am  as 
rightful  an  owner  of  the  land  I stand  on  as  any 
governor  of  the  States  ! Can  you  tell  me,  stran- 
ger, where  the  law  or  the  reason  is  to  be  found, 
which  says  that  one  man  shall  have  a section,  or 
a town,  or  perhaps  a county  to  his  use,  and  an- 
other have  to  beg  for  earth  to  make  his  grave  in  ? 
This  is  not  nature,  and  I deny  that  it  3 law  1 
that  is,  your  legal  law.” 

“ I cannot  say  that  you  are  wrong,”  returned 
the  trapper,  whose  opinions  on  this  important 
topic,  though  drawn  from  very  different  prem- 
ises, were  in  singular  accordance  with  those 
of  his  companion,  “ and  I have  often  thought  and 
said  as  much,  when  and  where  I have  believed 
my  voice  could  be  heard.  But  your  beasts  are 
stolen  by  them  who  claim  to  be  masters  of  all 
they  find  in  the  deserts.” 

“They  had  better  not  dispute  that  matter 
with  a man  who  knows  better,”  said  the  other  in 
a portentous  voice,  though  it  seemed  deep  and 
sluggish  as  he  who  spoke.  “I  call  myself  a fair 
trader,  and  one  who  gives  to  his  chaps  as  good 
as  he  receives.  You  saw  the  Indians  ? ” 

“ I did — they  held  me  a prisoner,  while  they 
stole  into  your  camp.” 

“ It  would  have  been  more  like  a white  man 
and  a Christian  to  let  me  have  known  as  much 
in  better  season,”  retorted  Ishmael,  casting  another 
ominous,  sidelong  glance  at  the  trapper,  as  if  still 
meditating  evil.  “I  am  not  much  given  to  call 
every  man  I fall  in  with  cousin,  but  color  should  be 
something,  when  Christians  meet  in  such  a place 
as  this.  But  what  is  done,  is  done,  and  cannot 
be  mended  by  words. — Come  out  of  your  ambush, 
boys ; here  is  no  one  but  the  old  man : he  has 
eaten  of  my  bread,  and  should  be  our  friend, 


ISHMAEL  BUSH  AND  THE  TRAPPER. 


31 


though  there  is  such  good  reason  to  suspect  him 
of  harboring  with  our  enemies.” 

The  trapper  made  no  reply  to  the  harsh  suspi- 
cion which  the  other  did  not  scruple  to  utter  with- 
out the  smallest  delicacy,  notwithstanding  the  ex- 
planations and  denials  to  which  he  had  just  lis- 
tened. The  summons  of  the  unnurtured  squatter 
brought  an  immediate  accession  to  their  party. 
Four  or  five  of  his  sons  made  their  appearance 
from  beneath  as  many  covers,  where  they  had  been 
posted,  under  the  impression  that  the  figures  they 
had  seen,  on  the  swell  of  the  prairie,  were  a part 
of  the  Sioux  band.  As  each  man  approached, 
and  dropped  his  rifle  into  the  hollow  of  his  arm, 
he  cast  an  indolent  but  inquiring  glance  at  the 
stranger,  though  none  of  them  expressed  the  least 
curiosity  to  know  whence  he  had  come  or  why  he 
was  there.  This  forbearance,  however,  proceeded 
only  in  part  from  the  sluggishness  of  their  common 
temper ; for  long  and  frequent  experience  in  scenes 
of  a similar  character  had  taught  them  the  virtue 
of  discretion.  The  trapper  endured  their  sullen 
scrutiny  with  the  steadiness  of  one  as  practised 
as  themselves,  and  with  the  entire  composure  of 
innocence.  Content  with  the  momentary  exami- 
nation he  had  made,  the  eldest  of  the  group,  who 
was  in  truth  the  delinquent  sentinel  by  whose 
remissness  the  wily  Mahtoree  had  so  well  profited, 
turned  toward  his  father,  and  said  bluntly : 

“ If  this  man  is  all  that  is  left  of  the  party  I 
saw  on  the  upland,  yonder,  we  haven’t  altogether 
thrown  away  our  ammunition.” 

“ Asa,  you  are  right,”  said  the  father,  turning 
suddenly  on  the  trapper,  a lost  idea  being  recalled 
by  the  hint  of  his  son. — “ How'  is  it,  stranger  ? 
there  were  three  of  you,  just  now,  or  there  is  no 
virtue  in  moonlight.” 

“ If  you  had  seen  the  Tetons  racing  acl-oss  the 
prairies,  like  so  many  black-looking  evil  ones,  on 
the  heels  of  your  cattle,  my  friend,  it  would  have 
been  an  easy  matter  to  have  fancied  them  a thou- 
sand.” 

“ Ay,  for  a town-bred  boy  or  a skeary  woman  ; 
though,  for  that  matter,  there  is  old  Esther ; she 
has  no  more  fear  of  a red-skin  than  of  a suckling 
cub  or  of  a wolf-pup.  I’ll  warrant  ye,  had  your 
thievish  devils  made  their  push  by  the  light  of  the 
sun,  the  good  woman  would  have  been  smartly  at 
work  among  them,  and  the  Siouxes  would  have 
found  she  was  not  given  to  part  with  her  cheese 
and  her  butter  without  a price.  But  there’ll 
come  a time,  stranger,  right  soon,  when  justice 
will  have  its  dues,  and  that,  too,  without  the  help 
of  what  is  called  the  law.  We  ar’  of  a slow  breed, 
it  may  be  said,  and  it  is  often  said,  of  us ; but 
glow  is  sure ; and  there  ar’  few  men  living  who 


can  say  they  ever  struck  a blow,  that  they  did  not 
get  one  as  hard  in  return,  from  Ishmael  Bush.” 

“ Then  has  Ishmael  Bush  followed  the  instinct 
of  the  beasts,  rather  than  the  principle  which 
ought  to  belong  to  his  kind,”  returned  the  stub- 
born trapper.  “ I have  struck  many  a blow  my- 
self, but  never  have  I felt  the  same  ease  of  mind 
that  of  right  belongs  to  a man  who  follows  his 
reason,  after  slaying  even  a fawn  when  there  was 
no  call  for  his  meat  or  hide,  as  1 have  felt  at  leav- 
ing a Mingo  unburied  in  the  woods,  when  follow- 
ing the  trade  of  open  and  honest  warfare.” 

“ What ! you  have  been  a soldier  have  you, 
trapper  ? I made  a forage  or  two  among  the 
Cherokees,  when  I was  a lad,  myself ; and  I fol- 
lowed Mad  Anthony,*  one  season,  through  the 
beeches  ; but  there  was. altogether  too  much  tat- 
tooing and  regulating  among  his  troops  for  me ; 
so  I left  him,  without  calling  on  the  paymaster  to 
settle  my  arrearages.  Though,  as  Esther  after- 
ward boasted,  she  had  made  such  use  of  the  pay- 
ticket,  that  the  States  gained  no  great  sum  by  the 
oversight.  You  have  heard  of  such  a man  as 
Mad  Anthony,  if  you  tarried  long  among  the 
soldiers.” 

“ I fou’t  my  last  battle,  as  I hope,  under  his 
orders,”  returned  the  trapper,  a gleam  of  sunshine 
shooting  from  his  dim  eyes,  as  if  the  event  was 
recollected  with  pleasure,  and  then  a sudden  shade 
of  sorrow  succeeding,  a3  though  he  felt  a secret 
admonition  against  dwelling  on  the  violent  scenes 
in  which  he  had  so  often  been  an  actor.  “ I was 
passing  from  the  States  on  the  sea-shore  into  these 
far  regions,  when  I crossed  the  trail  of  his  army, 
and  I fell  in,  on  his  rear,  just  as  a looker-on  ; but 
when  they  got  to  blows,  the  crack  of  my  rifle  was 
heard  among  the  rest,  though,  to  my  shame  it  may 
be  said,  I never  knew  the  right  of  the  quarrel,  as 
well  as  a man  of  threescore  and  ten  should  know 
the  reason  of  his  acts  afore  he  takes  mortal  life, 
which  is  a gift  he  never  can  return  ! ” 

“ Come,  stranger,”  said  the  emigrant,  his 
rugged  nature  a good  deal  softened  when  he  found 
that  they  had  fought  on  the  same  side  in  the  wild 
warfare  of  the  West,  “ it  is  of  small  account  what 
may  be  the  groundwork  of  the  disturbance,  when 
it’s  a Christian  ag’in  a savage.  We  shall  hear 
more  of  this  horse-stealing  to-morrow  ; to-night 
we  can  do  no  wiser  or  safer  thing  than  to  sleep.” 


* Anthony  Wayne,  a Pennsylvanian  distinguished  in  the 
war  of  the  Eevolution,  and  subsequently  against  the  Indians 
of  the  West,  for  his  daring  as  a general,  by  which  he  gained 
from  his  followers  the  title  of  Mad  Anthony..  General 
Wayne  was  the  son  of  the  person  mentioned  in  the  life  of 
West,  as  commanding  the  regiment  which  excited  hia 
military  ardor. 


32 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


So  saying,  Ishmael  deliberately  led  the  way 
back  toward  his  rifled  encampment,  and  ushered 
the  man,  whose  life  a few  minutes  before  had  been 
in  real  jeopardy  from  his  resentment,  into  the 
presence  of  his  family.  Here,  with  a very  few 
words  of  explanation,  mingled  with  scarce  but 
ominous  denunciations  against  the  plunderers,  he 
made  his  wife  acquainted  with  the  state  of  things 
on  the  prairie,  and  announced  his  own  determina- 
tion to  compensate  himself  for  his  broken  rest, 
by  devoting  the  remainder  of  the  night  to  sleep. 

The  trapper  gave  his  ready  assent  to  the  meas- 
ure, and  adjusted  his  gaunt  form  on  the  pile  of 
brush  that  was  offered  him,  with  as  much  com- 
posure as  a sovereign  could  resign  himself  to 
sleep,  in  the  security  of  his  capital,  and  surrounded 
by  his  armed  protectors.  The  old  man  did  not 
close  his  eyes,  however,  until  he  had  assured  him- 
self that  Ellen  Wade  was  among  the  females  of 
the  family,  and  that  her  relation,  or  lover,  which- 
ever he  might  be,  had  observed  the  caution  of 
keeping  himself  out  of  view ; after  which  he  slept, 
though  with  the  peculiar  watchfulness  of  one  long 
accustomed  to  vigilance,  even  in  the  hours  of 
deepest  night. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

“ He  is  too  picked,  too  spruce,  too  affected,  too  odd, 

As  it  were  too  peregrinate,  as  I may  call  it.” 

Shakespeare. 

The  Anglo-American  is  apt  to  boast,  and  not 
without  reason,  that  his  nation  may  claim  a de- 
scent more  truly  honorable  than  that  of  any  other 
people  whose  history  is  to  be  credited.  What- 
ever might  have  been  the  weaknesses  of  the  origi- 
nal colonists,  their  virtues  have  rarely  been  dis- 
puted. If  they  were  superstitious,  they  were 
sincerely  pious,  and  consequently  honest.  The 
descendants  of  these  simple  and  single-minded 
provincials  have  been  content  to  reject  the  ordinary 
and  artificial  means  by  which  honors  have  been  per- 
petuated in  families,  and  have  substituted  a stand- 
ard which  brings  the  individual  himself  to  the  or- 
deal of  the  public  estimation,  paying  as  little  def- 
erence as  may  be  to  those  who  have  gone  before 
him.  This  forbearance,  self-denial,  or  common- 
sense,  or  by  whatever  term  it  may  be  thought 
proper  to  distinguish  the  measure,  has  subjected 
the  nation  to  the  imputation  of  having  an  ignoble 
origin.  Were  it  worth  the  inquiry,  it  would  be 
found  that  more  than  a just  proportion  of  the 
renowned  names  of  the  mother-country  are,  at 
this  hour,  to  be  found  in  her  ci-devant  colonies ; 


and  it  is  a fact  well  known  to  the  few  who  have 
wasted  sufficient  time  to  become  the  masters  of 
so  unimportant  a subject,  that  the  direct  descend- 
ants of  many  a failing  line,  which  the  policy  of 
England  has  seen  fit  to  sustain  by  collateral  sup- 
porters, are  now  discharging  the  simple  duties  of 
citizens  in  the  bosom  of  this  republic.  The  hive 
has  remained  stationary,  and  they  who  flutter 
around  the  venerable  straw  are  wont  to  claim  the 
empty  distinction  of  antiquity,  regardless  alike  of 
the  frailty  of  theif  tenement  and  of  the  enjoy- 
ments of  the  numerous  and  vigorous  swarms  thai 
are  culling  the  fresher  sweets  of  a virgin  world. 
But,  as  this  is  a subject  which  belongs  rather  tt> 
the  politician  and  historian  than  to  the  humblts 
narrator  of  the  home-bred  incidents  we  are  about 
to  reveal,  we  must  confine  our  reflections  to  such 
matters  as  have  an  immediate  relation  to  the  sub- 
ject of  the  tale. 

Although  the  citizen  of  the  United  States 
may  claim  so  just  an  ancestry,  he  is  far  from 
being  exempt  from  the  penalties  of  his  fallen  race. 
Like  causes  are  well  known  to  produce  like  effects. 
That  tribute,  which  it  would  seem  nations  must 
ever  pay,  by  way  of  a weary  probation,  around 
the  shrine  of  Ceres,  before  they  can  be  indulged 
in  her  fullest  favors,  is  in  some  measure  exacted, 
in  America,  from  the  descendant  instead  of  the 
ancestor.  The  march  of  civilization  with  us  has 
a strong  analogy  to  that  of  all  coming  events, 
whieh  are  known  to  “ cast  their  shadows  before.” 
The  gradations  of  society,  from  that  state  which 
is  called  refined  to  that  which  approaches  as  near 
barbarity  as  connection  with  an  intelligent  people 
will  readily  allow,  are  to  be  traced  from  the 
bosom  of  the  States,  where  wealth,  luxury,  and 
the  arts,  are  beginning  to  seat  themselves,  to  those 
distant* and  ever-receding  borders  which  mark 
the  skirts  and  announce  the  approach  of  the 
nation,  as  moving  mists  precede  the  signs  of  the 
day. 

Here,  and  here  only,  is  to  be  found  that 
widely-spread  though  far  from  numerous  class 
which  may  be  at  all  likened  to  those  who  have 
paved  the  way  for  the  intellectual  progress  of 
nations  in  the  Old  World.  The  resemblance  be- 
tween the  American  borderer  and  his  European 
prototype  is  singular,  though  not  always  uniform. 
Both  might  be  called  without  restraint — the  one 
being  above,  the  other  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
law — brave,  because  they  were  inured  to  danger 
— proud,  because  they  were  independent — and 
vindictive,  because  each  was  the  avenger  of  his 
own  wrongs.  It  would  be  unjust  to  the  borderer 
to  pursue  the  parallel  much  further.  He  is  irre- 
ligious, because  he  has  inherited  the  knowledge 


ELLEN  WADE’S  DISAPPOINTMENT. 


33 


that  religion  does  not  exist  in  forms,  and  his  rea- 
son rejects  mockery.  He  is  not  a knight,  because 
he  has  not  the  power  to  bestow  distinctions  ; and 
he  has  not  the  power,  because  he  is  the  offspring 
and  not  the  parent  of  a system.  In  what  man- 
ner these  several  qualities  are  exhibited,  in  some 
of  the  most  strongly  marked  of  the  latter  class, 
will  be  seen  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing  narra- 
tive. 

Ishmael  Bush  had  passed  the  whole  of  a life 
of  more  than  fifty  years  on  the  skirts  of  society. 
He  boasted  that  he  had  never  dwelt  where  he 
might  not  safely  fell  every  tree  he  could  view 
from  his  own  threshold ; that  the  law  had  rarely 
been  known  to  enter  his  clearing ; and  that  his 
ears  had  never  willingly  admitted  the  sound  of  a 
church-bell.  His  exertions  seldom  exceeded  his 
wants,  which  were  peculiar  to  his  class,  and  rarely 
failed  of  being  supplied.  He  had  no  respect  for 
any  learning,  except  that  of  the  leech ; because 
he  was  ignorant  of  the  application  of  any  other 
intelligence  than  such  as  met  the  senses.  His 
* deference  to  this  particular  branch  of  science  had 
induced  him  to  listen  to  the  application  of  a 
medical  man,  whose  thirst  for  natural  history  had 
led  him  to  the  desire  of  profiting  by  the  migratory 
propensities  of  the  squatter.  This  gentleman  he 
had  cordially  received  into  his  family,  or  rather 
under  his  protection,  and  they  had  journeyed 
together  thus  far  through  the  prairies,  in  perfect 
harmony : Ishmael  often  felicitating  his  wife  on 
the  possession  of  a companion,  who  would  be 
so  serviceable  in  their  new  abode,  wherever 
it  might  chance  to  be,  until  the  family  were 
thoroughly  “acclimated.”  The  pursuits  of  the 
naturalist  frequently  led  him,  however,  for  days 
at  a time,  from  the  direct  line  of  the  route  of  the 
squatter,  who  rarely  seemed  to  have  any  other 
guide  than  the  sun.  Most  men  would  have 
deemed  themselves  fortunate  to  have  been  absent 
on  the  perilous  occasion  of  the  Sioux  inroad,  as 
was  Obed  Bat  (or,  as  he  was  fond  of  hearing  him- 
self called,  Battius),  M.  D.,  and  fellow  of  several 
cisatlantic  learned  societies — the  adventurous 
gentleman  in  question. 

Although  the  sluggish  nature  of  Ishmael  was 
not  actually  awakened,  it  was  sorely  pricked  by 
the  liberties  which  had  just  been  taken  with  his 
property.  He  slept,  however,  for  it  was  the  hour 
he  had  allotted  to  that  refreshment,  and  because 
he  knew  how  impotent  any  exertions  to  recover 
his  effects  must  prove  in  the  darkness  of  midnight. 
He  also  knew  the  danger  of  his  present  position 
too  well  to  hazard  what  was  left  in  pursuit  of  that 
which  was  lost.  Much  as  the  inhabitants  of  the 
prairie  were  known  to  love  horses,  their  attach- 


ment to  many  other  articles,  still  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  travellers,  was  equally  well  under- 
stood. It  was  a common  artifice  to  scatter  the 
herds,  and  to  profit  by  the  confusion.  But 
Mahtoree  had,  as  it  would  seem,  in  this  particu- 
lar, undervalued  the  acuteness  of  the  man  he  had 
assailed.  The  phlegm  with  which  the  squatter 
learned  his  loss,  has  already  been  seen ; and  it  now 
remains  to  exhibit  the  results  of  his  more  matured 
determinations. 

Though  the  encampment  contained  many  an 
eye  that  was  long  unclosed,  and  many  an  ear 
that  listened  greedily  to  catch  the  faintest  evi- 
dence of  any  new  alarm,  it  lay  in  deep  quiet  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  night.  Silence  and  fa- 
tigue finally  performed  their  accustomed  offices, 
and  before  morning  all  but  the  sentinels  were 
again  buried  in  sleep.  How  well  these  indolent 
watchers  discharged  their  duties  after  the  assault 
has  never  been  known,  inasmuch  as  nothing 
occurred  to  confirm  or  to  disprove  their  subse- 
quent vigilance. 

Just  as  day,  however,  began  to  dawn,  and  a 
gray  light  was  falling  from  the  heavens  on  the 
dusky  objects  of  the  plain,  the  half-startled, 
anxious,  and  yet  blooming  countenance  of  Ellen 
Wade  was  reared  above  the  confused  mass  of 
children,  among  whom  she  had  clustered  on 
her  stolen  return  to  camp.  Arising  warily,  she 
stepped  lightly  across  the  recumbent  bodies,  and 
proceeded  with  the  same  caution  to  the  utmost 
limits  of  the  defences  of  Ishmael.  Here  she  lis- 
tened, as  if  doubting  the  propriety  of  venturing 
further.  The  pause  was  only  momentary,  how- 
ever ; and  long  before  the  drowsy  eyes  of  the  sen- 
tinel, who  overlooked  the  spot  where  she  stood, 
had  time  to  catch  a glimpse  of  her  active  form,  it 
had  glided  along  the  bottom,  and  stood  on  the 
summit  of  the  nearest  eminence. 

Ellen  now  listened,  intently  anxious  to  catch 
some  other  sound  than  the  breathings  of  the 
morning  air,  which  faintly  rustled  the  herbage  at 
her  feet.  She  was  about  to  turn  in  disappoint- 
ment from  the  inquiry,  when  the  tread  of  human 
feet  making  their  way  through  the  matted  grass 
met  her  ear.  Springing  eagerly  forward,  she 
soon  beheld  the  outlines  of  a figure  advancing  up 
the  eminence,  on  the  side  opposite  to  the  camp. 
She  had  already  uttered  the  name  of  Paul,  and 
was  beginning  to  speak  in  the  hurried  and  eager 
voice  with  which  female  affection  is  apt  to  greet 
a friend,  when,  drawing  back,  the  disappointed 
girl  closed  her  salutation  by  coldly  adding  : 

“ I did  not  expect,  doctor,  to  meet  you  at  this 
unusual  hour.” 

“ All  hours  and  all  seasons  are  alike,  my  good 


84 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


Ellen,  to  the  genuine  lover  of  Nature  ” — returned 
a small,  slightly-made,  but  exceedingly  active 
man,  dressed  in  an  odd  mixture  of  cloth  and 
skins,  a little  past  the  middle  age,  and  who 
advanced  directly  to  her  side,  with  the  familiarity 
of  an  old  acquaintance ; “ and  he  who  does  not 
know  how  to  find  things  to  admire  by  this  gray 
light,  is  ignorant  of  a large  portion  of  the  bless- 
ings he  enjoys.” 

“Very  true,”  said  Ellen,  suddenly  recollecting 
the  necessity  of  accounting  for  her  own  appear- 
ance abroad  at  that  unseasonable  hour ; “ I know 
many  who  think  the  earth  has  a pleasanter  look 
in  the  night  than  when  seen  by  the  brightest 
sunshine.” 

“Ah!  Their  organs  of  sight  must  be  too 
convex ! But  the  man  who  wishes  to  study  the 
active  habits  of  the  feline  race,  or  the  variety 
albinos , must  indeed  be  stirring  at  this  hour.  I 
dare  say  there  are  men  who  prefer  even  looking 
at  objects  by  twilight,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
they  see  better  at  that  time  of  the  day.” 

“ And  is  this  the  cause  why  you  are  so  much 
abroad  in  the  night  ? ” 

“ I am  abroad  at  night,  my  good  girl,  because 
the  earth  in  its  diurnal  revolutions  leaves  the 
light  of  the  sun  but  half  the  time  on  any  given 
meridian,  and  because  what  I have  to  do  cannot 
be  performed  in  twelve  or  fifteen  consecutive 
hours.  Now  have  I been  off  two  days  from  the 
family,  in  search  of  a plant  that  is  known  to  exist 
on  the  tributaries  of  La  Platte,  without  seeing 
even  a blade  of  grass  that  is  not  already  enu- 
merated and  classed.” 

“ You  have  been  unfortunate,  doctor,  but — ” 

“ Unfortunate ! ” echoed  the  little  man,  sidling 
nigher  to  his  companion,  and  producing  his  tab- 
lets with  an  air  in  which  exultation  struggled 
strangely  with  an  affectation  of  self-abasement. 
“ No,  no,  Ellen,  I am  any  thing  but  unfortunate ! 
Unless,  indeed,  a man  may  be  so  called  whose 
fortune  is  made,  whose  fame  may  be  said  to  be 
established  forever,  whose  name  will  go  down  to 
posterity  with  that  of  Buffon— Buffon!  a mere 
compiler ; one  who  flourishes  on  the  foundation 
of  other  men’s  labors.  No ; pari  passu  with 
Solander,  who  bought  his  knowledge  with  pain 
and  privations.” 

“ Have  you  discovered  a mine,  Dr.  Bat  ? ” 

“ More  than  a mine ; a treasure  coined,  and  fit 
for  instant  use,  girl. — Listen ! I was  making  the 
angle  necessary  to  intersect  the  line  of  your  uncle’s 
march  after  my  fruitless  search,  when  I heard 
sounds  like  the  explosion  produced  by  fire-arms — ” 

“Yes,”  exclaimed  Ellen,  eagerly,  “we  had 
an  alarm — ” 


“ And  thought  I was  lost,”  continued  the  man 
of  science,  too  much  bent  on  his  own  ideas  to 
understand  her  interruption.  “ Little  danger  of 
that ! I made  my  own  base,  knew  the  length  - • 
the  perpendicular  by  calculation,  and  to  draw  the 
hypothenuse  bad  nothing  to  do  but  to  work  my 
angle.  I suppposed  the  guns  were  fired  for  my 
benefit,  and  changed  my  course  for  the  sounds 
— not  that  I think  the  senses  more  accurate,  or 
even  as  accurate,  as  a mathematical  calculation, 
but  I feared  that  some  of  the  children  might  need 
my  services.” 

“ They  are  all  happily — ” 

“Listen,”  interrupted  the  other,  already  for- 
getting his  affected  anxiety  for  his  patients,  in  the 
greater  importance  of  the  present  subject.  “ I 
had  crossed  a large  tract  of  prairie — for  sound  is 
conveyed  far  where  there  is  little  obstruction — 
when  I heard  the  trampling  of  feet,  as  if  bisons 
were  beating  the  earth.  Then  I caught  a distant 
view  of  a herd  of  quadrupeds,  rushing  up  and 
down  the  swells — animals  which  would  have  still 
remained  unknown  and  undescribed,  had  it  not. 
been  for  a most  felicitous  accident ! One,  and  he 
a noble  specimen  of  the  whole,  was  running  a 
little  apart  from  the  rest.  The  herd  made  an 
inclination  in  my  direction,  in  which  the  solitary 
animal  coincided,  and  this  brought  him  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  spot  where  I stood.  I profited  by 
the  opportunity,  and,  by  the  aid  of  steel  and  taper, 
I wrote  his  description  on  the  spot.  I would  have 
given  a thousand  dollars,  Ellen,  for  a single  shot 
from  the  rifle  of  one  of  the  boys ! ” 

“You  carry  a pistol,  doctor,  why  didn’t  you 
use  it  ? ” said  the  half-inattentive  girl,  anxiously 
examining  the  prairie,  but  still  lingering  where 
she  stood,  quite  willing  to  be  detained. 

“Ay,  but  it  carries  nothing  but  the  most 
minute  particles  of  lead,  adapted  to  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  larger  insects  and  reptiles.  No,  I did 
better  than  to  attempt  waging  a war  in  which  I 
could  not  be  the  victor.  I recorded  the  event ; 
noting  each  particular  with  the  precision  neces- 
sary to  science.  You  shall  hear,  Ellen,  for  you 
are  a good  and  improving  girl ; and  by  retaining 
what  you  learn  in  this  way  may  be  yet  of  great  ser- 
vice to  learning  should  any  accident  occur  to  me. 
Indeed,  my  worthy  Ellen,  mine  is  a pursuit  which 
has  its  dangers  as  well  as  that  of  the  warrior. 
This  very  night,”  he  continued,  glancing  his  eyes 
behind  him,  “ this  awful  night,  has  the  principle 
of  life  itself  been  in  great  danger  of  extinction ! ” 

“ By  what?  ” 

“ By  the  monster  I have  discovered.  It  ap- 
proached me  often,  and,  ever  as  I receded,  it 
continued  to  advance.  I believe  nothing  but 


DR.  BAT  AND  THE  aSS. 


35 


the  little  lamp  I carried  was  mv-  protector.  I 
kept  it  between  us  while  I wrote,  making  it  serve 
the  double  purpose  of  luminary  and  shield.  But 
you  shall  hear  the  character  of  the  beast,  and  you 
may  then  judge  of  the  risks  we  promoters  of 
science  run  in  behalf  of  mankind.” 

The  naturalist  raised  his  tablets  to  the  heavens, 
and  disposed  himself  to  read  as  well  as  he  could, 
by  the  dim  light  they  yet  shed  upon  the  plain, 
premising  with  saying : 

“Listen,  girl,  and  you  shall  hear  with  what  a 
treasure  it  has  been  my  happy  lot  to  enrich  the 
pages  of  natural  history ! ” 

“ Is  it  then  a creature  of  your  forming  ? ” said 
Ellen,  turning  away  from  her  fruitless  examina- 
tion, with  a sudden  lighting  of  her  sprightly  blue 
eyes,  that  showed  she  knew  how  to  play  with  the 
foible  of  her  learned  companion. 

“ Is  the  power  to  give  life  to  inanimate  mat- 
ter the  gift  of  man?  I would  it  were!  You 
should  speedily  see  an  Historia  Naturalis  Ameri- 
cana, that  would  put  the  sneering  imitators  of  the 
Frenchman,  De  Buffon,  to  shame  ! A great  im- 
provement might  be  made  in  the  formation  of  all 
quadrupeds  ; especially  those  in  which  velocity  is 
a virtue.  Two  of  the  inferior  limbs  should  be  on 
the  principle  of  the  lever  ; wheels  perhaps  as  they 
are  now  formed;  though  I have  not  yet  deter- 
mined whether  the  improvement  might  better  be 
applied  to  the  anterior  or  posterior  members, 
inasmuch  as  I am  yet  to  learn  whether  dragging 
cr  shoving  requires  the  greatest  muscular  exertion. 
A natural  exudation  of  the  animal  might  assist  in 
overcoming  the  friction,  and  a powerful  momen- 
tum be  obtained.  But  all  thi3  is  hopeless — at 
least  for  the  present ! ” — he  added,  raising  his 
tablets  again  to  the  light,  and  reading  aloud : 
“ October  6,  1805,  that’s  merely  the  date,  which  I 
dare  say  you  know  better  than  I — mem.  Quad- 
ruped; seen  by  starlight,  and  by  the  aid  of  a 
pocket-lamp,  in  the  prairies  of  North  America — 
see  journal  for  latitude  and  meridian.  Genus — 
unknown ; therefore  named  after  the  discoverer, 
and  from  the  happy  coincidence  of  having  been 
seen  in  the  evening — Vespertilio  horribilis  Ameri- 
canus.  Dimensions  (by  estimation) — Greatest 
length , eleven  feet ; height , six  feet ; head,  erect ; 
nostrils , expansive ; eyes,  expressive  and  fierce  ; 
teeth , serrated  and  abundant;  tail,  horizontal, 
waving,  and  slightly  feline  ; feet,  large  and  hairy ; 
talons,  long,  curvated,  dangerous ; ears,  inconspicu- 
ous ; horns,  elongated,  diverging,  and  formidable ; 
color,  plumbeous-ashy  with  fiery  spots;  voice , 
sonorous,  martial,  and  appalling;  habits,  grega- 
rious, carnivorous,  fierce,  and  fearless.  There,” 
exclaimed  Obed,  when  he  had  ended  this  senten- 


tious but  comprehensive  description,  “ there  is  an 
animal,  which  will  be  likely  to  dispute  with  the 
lion  his  title  to  be  called  the  king  of  the  beasts  ! ” 

“ I know  not  the  meaning  of  all  you  have  said, 
Dr.  Battius,”  returned  the  quick-witted  girl,  who 
understood  the  weakness  of  the  philosopher,  and 
often  indulged  him  with  a title  he  loved  so  well 
to  hear  ; “ but  I shall  think  it  dangerous  to  ven- 
ture far  from  the  camp,  if  such  monsters  are  prowl- 
ing over  the  prairies.” 

“ You  may  well  call  it  prowling,”  returned  the 
naturalist,  nestling  still  closer  to  her  side,  and 
dropping  his  voice  to  such  low  and  undignified 
tones  of  confidence,  as  conveyed  a meaning  still 
more  pointed  than  he  had  intended.  “I  have 
never  before  experienced  such  a trial  of  the  ner- 
vous system;  there  was  a moment,  I acknowl- 
edge, when  the  fortiter  in  re  faltered  before  so 
terrible  an  enemy ; but  the  love  of  natural  science 
bore  me  up  and  brought  me  off  in  triumph  ! ” 

“ You  speak  a language  so  different  from  what 
we  use  in  Tennessee,”  said  Ellen,  struggling  to 
conceal  her  laughter,  “ that  I hardly  know  whether 
I understand  your  meaning.  If  I am  right,  you 
wish  to  say  you  were  chicken-hearted.” 

“ An  absurd  simile  drawn  from  the  ignorance 
of  the  formation  of  the  biped.  The  heart  of  a 
chicken  has  a just  proportion  to  its  other  organs, 
and  the  domestic  fowl  is,  in  a state  of  nature,  a 
gallant  bird.  Ellen,”  he  added,  with  a counte- 
nance solemn  as  to  produce  an  impression  on 
the  attentive  girl,  “ I was  pursued,  hunted,  and  in 
a danger  that  I scorn  to  dwell  on — what’s  that  ? ” 

Ellen  started ; for  the  earnestness  and  simple 
sincerity  of  her  companion’s  manner  had  produced 
a certain  degree  of  credulity,  even  on  her  buoyant 
mind.  Looking  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the 
doctor,  she  beheld,  in  fact,  a beast  coursing  over 
the  prairie,  and  making  a straight  and  rapid  ap- 
proach to  the  spot  they  occupied.  The  day  was 
not  yet  sufficiently  advanced  to  enable  her  to 
distinguish  its  form  and  character,  though  enough 
was  discernible  to  induce  her  to  imagine  it  a 
fierce  and  savage  animal. 

“ It  comes ! it  comes ! ” exclaimed  the  doc- 
tor, fumbling,  by  a sort  of  instinct,  for  his  tablets, 
while  he  fairly  tottered  on  his  feet  under  the 
powerful  efforts  he  made  to  maintain  hi3  ground. 
“ Now,  Ellen,  has  fortune  given  me  an  opportunity 
to  correct  the  errors  made  by  starlight — hold — 
ashy-plumbeous  — no  ears, — horns,  excessive.” 
His  voice  and  hand  were  both  arrested  by  a roar, 
or  rather  a shriek,  from  the  beast,  that  waa 
sufficiently  terrific  to  appall  even  a stouter  heart 
than  that  of  the  naturalist.  The  cries  of  the 
animal  passed  over  the  prairie  in  strange  cadences, 


86 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


and  tlien  succeeded  a deep  and  solemn  silence, 
that  was  only  broken  by  an  uncontrolled  fit  of 
merriment  from  the  more  musical  voice  of  Ellen 
Wade.  In  the  meantime  the  naturalist  stood  like 
a statue  of  amazement,  permitting  a well-grown 
as3,  against  whose  approach  he  no  longer  offered 
his  boasted  shield  of  light,  to  smell  about  his 
person,  without  comment  or  hinderance. 

“It  is  your  own  ass,”  cried  Ellen,  the  instant 
she  found  breath  for  words  ; “ your  own  patient 
hard-working  hack ! ” 

The  doctor  rolled  his  eyes  from  the  beast  to 
the  speaker,  and  from  the  speaker  to  the  beast ; 
but  gave  no  audible  expression  of  his  wonder. 

“ Do  you  refuse  to  know  an  animal  that  has 
labored  so  long  in  your  service  ? ” continued  the 
laughing  girl.  “ A beast,  that  I have  heard  you 
say  a thousand  times,  has  served  you  well,  and 
whom  you  loved  like  a brother  ! ” 

“ Asinus  domesticus  /”  ejaculated  the  doctor, 
drawing  his  breath  like  one  who  had  been  near 
suffocation.  “ There  is  no  doubt  of  the  genus  ; 
and  I will  always  maintain  that  the  animal  is  not 
of  the  species  Equus . This  is  undeniably  Asinus 
himself,  Ellen  Wade  ; but  this  is  not  the  Vesper  - 
tilio  horribilis  of  the  prairies ! Very  different 
animals  I can  assure  you,  young  woman,  and  dif- 
ferently characterized  in  every  important  partic- 
ular. That,  carnivorous,”  he  continued,  glancing 
his  eye  at  the  open  page  of  his  tablets ; “ this, 
granivorous ; habits , fierce,  dangerous ; habits , 
patient,  abstemious ; ears , inconspicuous ; cars, 
elongated ; horns , diverging,  etc. ; horns , none ! ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  another  burst  of  merri- 
ment from  Ellen,  which  served  in  some  measure 
to  recall  him  to  his  recollection. 

“ The  image  of  the  Vespertilio  was  on  the 
retina,”  the  astounded  inquirer  into  the  secrets 
of  Nature  observed,  in  a manner  that  seemed  a 
little  apologetic,  “ and  I was  silly  enough  to  mis- 
take my  own  faithful  beast  for  the  monster. 
Though  even  now  I greatly  marvel  to  see  this  ani- 
mal running  at  large ! ” 

Ellen  then  proceeded  to  explain  the  history  of 
the  attack  and  its  results.  She  described,  with 
an  accuracy  that  might  have  raised  suspicions  of 
her  own  movements  in  the  mind  of  one  less  simple 
than  her  auditor,  the  manner  in  which  the  beasts 
burst  out  of  the  encampment,  and  the  headlong 
speed  with  which  they  had  dispersed  themselves 
over  the  open  plain.  Although  she  forbore  to 
say  as  much  in  terms,  she  so  managed  as  to  pre- 
sent before  the  eyes  of  her  listener  the  strong 
probability  of  having  mistaken  the  frightened 
drove  for  savage  beasts,  and  then  terminated  her 
account  by  a lamentation  for  their  loss,  and  some 


very  natural  remarks  on  the  helpless  condition  m 
which  it  had  left  the  family.  The  naturalist  lis- 
tened in  silent  wonder,  neither  interrupting  her 
narrative,  nor  suffering  a single  exclamation  of 
surprise  to  escape  him.  The  keen-eyed  girl,  how- 
ever, saw  that,  as  she  proceeded,  the  important 
leaf  was  torn  from  the  tablets,  in  a manner  which 
showed  that  their  owner  had  got  rid  of  his  delu- 
sion at  the  same  instant.  From  that  moment  the 
world  has  heard  no  more  of  the  Vespertilio  hor- 
ribilis Americanus , and  the  natural  sciences  have 
irretrievably  lost  an  important  link  in  that  great 
animated  chain  which  is  said  to  connect  earth  and 
heaven,  and  in  which  man  is  thought  to  be  so  famil- 
iarly complicated  with  the  monkey. 

When  Dr.  Bat  was  put  in  full  possession  of 
all  the  circumstances  of  the  inroad,  his  concern 
immediately  took  a different  direction.  He  had 
left  sundry  folios,  and  certain  boxes  well  stored 
with  botanical  specimens  and  defunct  animals, 
under  the  good  keeping  of  Ishmael,  and  it  imme- 
diately struck  his  acute  mind  that  marauders  as 
subtle  as  the  Sioux  would  never  neglect  the  op- 
portunity to  despoil  him  of  these  treasures.  Noth- 
ing that  Ellen  could  say  to  the  contrary  served 
to  appease  his  apprehensions,  and  consequently 
they  separated — he  to  relieve  his  doubts  and 
fears  together,  and  she  to  glide,  as  swiftly  and  si- 
lently as  she  had  just  before  passed  it,  into  the 
still  and  solitary  tent. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

“ What ! fifty  of  my  Mowers,  at  a clap  I ” 

King  Leas. 

The  day  had  now  fairly  opened  on  the  seem- 
ingly interminable  waste  of  the  prairie.  The  en- 
trance of  Obed  at  such  a moment  into  the  camp, 
accompanied  as  it  was  by  vociferous  lamentations 
over  his  anticipated  loss,  did  not  fail  to  rouse  the 
drowsy  family  of  the  squatter.  Ishmael  and  his 
sons,  together  with  the  forbidding-looking  brother 
of  his  wife,  were  all  speedily  afoot ; and  then,  as 
the  sun  began  to  shed  his  light  on  the  place,  they 
became  gradually  apprised  of  the  extent  of  their 
loss. 

Ishmael  looked  round  upon  the  motionless  and 
heavily-loaded  vehicles  with  his  teeth  firmly  com- 
pressed, cast  a glance  at  the  amazed  and  helpless 
group  of  children,  which  clustered  around  their 
sullen  but  desponding  mother,  and  walked  out 
upon  the  open  land,  as  if  he  found  the  air  of  the 
encampment  too  confined.  He  was  followed  by 


THE  TRAPPER’S  REMEMBRANCES. 


3? 


several  of  the  men,  who  were  attentive  observers, 
watching  the  dark  expression  of  his  eye  as  the 
index  of  their  own  future  movements.  The  whole 
proceeded  in  profound  and  moody  silence  to  the 
summit  of  the  nearest  swell,  whence  they  could 
command  an  almost  boundless  view  of  the  naked 
plains.  Here  nothing  was  visible  but  a solitary 
buffalo,  that  gleaned  a meagre  subsistence  from 
the  decaying  herbage,  at  no  great  distance,  and 
the  ass  of  the  physician,  who  profited  by  his  free- 
dom to  enjoy  a meal  richer  than  common. 

“ Yonder  is  one  of  the  creatures  left  by  the 
villains  to  mock  us,”  said  Ishmael,  glancing  his 
eye  toward  the  latter,  “ and  that  the  meanest  of 
the  stock.  This  is  a hard  country  to  make  a crop 
in,  boys ; and  yet  food  must  be  found  to  fill  many 
hungry  mouths ! ” 

“ The  rifle  is  better  than  the  hoe  in  such  a 
place  as  this,”  returned  the  eldest  of  his  sons, 
kicking  the  hard  and  thirsty  soil  on  which  he  stood, 
with  an  air  of  contempt.  “ It  is  good  for  such 
as  they  who  make  their  dinner  better  on  beggars’ 
beans  than  hominy.  A crow  would  shed  tears  if 
obliged  by  its  errand  to  fly  across  the  district.” 

“ What  say  you,  trapper  ? ” returned  the  fa- 
ther, showing  the  slight  impression  his  powerful 
heel  had  made  on  the  compact  earth,  and  laugh- 
ing with  frightful  ferocity.  “ Is  this  the  quality 
of  land  a man  would  choose  who  never  troubles 
the  county  clerk  with  title-deeds  ? ” 

“ There  is  richer  soil  in  the  bottoms,”  returned 
the  old  man,  calmly,  “ and  you  have  passed  mill- 
ions of  acres  to  get  to  this  dreary  spot,  where  he 
who  loves  to  till  the  ’arth  might  have  received 
bushels  in  return  for  pints,  and  that  too  at  the 
cost  of  no  very  grievous  labor.  If  you  have  come 
in  search  of  land,  you  have  journeyed  hundreds 
of  miles  too  far,  or  as  many  leagues  too  little. 

“ There  is  then  a better  choice  toward  the 
other  ocean  ? ” demanded  the  squatter,  pointing 
in  the  direction  of  the  Pacific. 

“ There  is,  and  I have  seen  it  all,”  was  the 
answer  of  the  other,  who  dropped  hi3  rifle  to  the 
earth,  and  stood  leaning  on  its  barrel,  like  one 
who  recalled  the  scenes  he  had  witnessed  with 
melancholy  pleasure.  “I  have  seen  the  waters 
of  the  two  seas ! On  one  of  them  I was  born, 
and  raised  to  be  a lad  like  yonder  tumbling  boy. 
America  has  grown,  my  men,  since  the  days  of 
my  youth,  to  be  a country  larger  than  I once  had 
thought  the  world  itself  to  be.  Near  seventy 
years  I dwelt  in  York,  province  and  State  togeth- 
er. You’ve  been  in  York,  ’tis  like  ? ” 

“ Not  I — not  I ; I never  visited  the  towns  ; 
but  often  have  heard  the  place  you  speak  of 
named.  ’Tis  a wide  clearing  there,  I reckon.” 


“ Too  wide ! too  wide ! They  scourge  the 
very  ’arth  with  their  axes.  Such  hills  and  hunt- 
ing-grounds as  I have  seen  stripped  of  the  gifts 
of  the  Lord,  without  remorse  or  shame ! I tarried 
till  the  mouths  of  my  hounds  were  deafened  by 
the  blows  of  the  chopper,  and  then  I came  West 
in  search  of  quiet.  It  was  a grievous  journey 
that  I made;  a grievous  toil  to  pass  through  fall- 
ing timber,  and  to  breathe  the  thick  air  of  smoky 
clearings,  week  after  week,  as  I did ! ’Tis  a far 
country  too,  that  State  of  York,  from  this ! ” 

“ It  lies  ag’in  the  outer  edge  of  old  Kentuck, 
I reckon ; though  what  the  distance  may  be  I 
never  knew.” 

“ A gull  would  have  to  fan  a thousand  miles 
of  air  to  find  the  Eastern  sea.  And  yet  it  is  no 
mighty  reach  to  hunt  across,  when  shade  and 
game  are  plenty ! The  time  has  been  when  I fol- 
lowed the  deer  in  the  mountains  of  the  Delaware 
and  Hudson,  and  took  the  beaver  on  the  streams 
of  the  upper  lakes,  in  the  same  season : but  my 
eye  was  quick  and  certain  at  that  day,  and  my 
limbs  were  like  the  legs  of  a moose ! The  dam 
of  Hector,”  dropping  his  look  kindly  to  the  aged 
hound  that  crouched  at  his  feet,  “ was  then  a pup, 
and  apt  to  open  on  the  game  the  moment  she 
struck  the  scent.  She  gave  me  a deal  of  trouble, 
that  slut,  she  did  ! ” 

“ Your  hound  is  old,  stranger,  and  a rap  on 
the  head  would  prove  a mercy  to  the  beast.” 

“The  dog  is  like  his  master,”  returned  the 
trapper,  without  appearing  to  heed  the  brutal  ad- 
vice the  other  gave,  “ and  will  number  his  days 
when  his  work  among  the  game  is  over,  and 
not  before.  To  my  eye  things  seem  ordered  to 
meet  each  other  in  this  creation.  ’Tis  not  the 
swiftest-running  deer  that  always  throws  off  the 
hounds,  nor  the  biggest  arm  that  holds  the  truest 
rifle. — Look  around  you,  men ; what  will  the 
Yankee  choppers  say,  when  they  have  cut  their 
path  from  the  Eastern  to  the  Western  waters,  and 
find  that  a hand,  which  can  lay  the  ’arth  bare  at 
a blow,  has  been  here  and  swept  the  country,  in 
very  mockery  of  their  wickedness  ? They  will 
turn  on  their  tracks  like  a fox  that  doubles,  and 
then  the  rank  smell  of  their  own  footsteps  will 
show  them  the  madness  of  their  waste.  How- 
somever,  these  are  thoughts  that  are  more  likely 
to  rise  in  him  who  has  seen  the  folly  of  eighty 
seasons,  than  to  teach  wisdom  to  men  still  bent 
on  the  pleasures  of  their  kind ! You  have  need, 
yet,  of  a stirring  time,  if  you  think  to  escape  the 
craft  and  hatred  of  the  burnt-wood  Indians. 
They  claim  to  be  the  lawful  owners  of  this 
country,  and  seldom  leave  a white  more  than 
the  skin  he  boasts  of.  when  once  they  get  the 


38 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


power,  as  they  alu  ay3  have  the  will,  to  do  him 
harm.” 

“ Old  man,”  said  Ishmael,  sternly,  “ to  which 
people  do  you  belong?  You  have  the  color  and 
speech  of  a Christian,  while  it  sfeems  that  your 
heart  is  with  the  red-skins.” 

“ To  me  there  is  little  difference  in  nations. 
The  people  I loved  most  are  scattered  as  the  sands 
of  the  dry  river-beds  fly  before  the  fall  hurricanes, 
and  life  is  too  short  to  make  use  and  custom  with 
strangers  as  one  can  do  with  such  as  he  has 
dwelt  among  for  years.  Still  am  I a man  with- 
out the  cross  of  Indian  blood  ; and  what  is  due 
from  a warrior  to  his  nation,  is  owing  by  me  to 
the  people  of  the  States ; though  little  need  have 
they,  with  their  militia  and  their  armed  boats,  of 
help  from  a single  arm  of  fourscore.” 

“ Since  you  own  your  kin,  I may  ask  a simple 
question.  Where  are  the  Siouxes  who  have 
stolen  my  cattle  ? ” 

“ Where  is  the  herd  of  buffaloes,  which  was 
chased  by  the  panther  across  this  plain,  no 
later  than  the  morning  of  yesterday!  It  is  as 
•hard — ” 

‘"Friend,”  said  Dr.  Battius,  who  had  hitherto 
been  an  attentive  listener,  but  who  now  felt  a 
Budden  impulse  to  mingle  in  the  discourse,  “ I am 
grieved  when  I find  a Venator  or  hunter  of  your 
experience  and  observation,  following  the  current 
of  vulgar  error.  The  animal  you  describe  is  in 
truth  a species  of  the  Bos  ferus  (or  Bos  sylvestris , 
as  he  has  been  happily  called  by  the  poets) ; but, 
though  of  close  affinity,  it  is  altogether  distinct 
from  the  common  bubulus.  Bison  is  the  better 
word ; and  I would  suggest  the  necessity  of  adopt- 
ing it  in  future,  when  you  shall  have  occasion  to 
allude  to  the  species.” 

“ Bison  or  buffalo,  it  makes  but  little  matter. 
The  creature  is  the  same,  call  it  by  what  name 
you  will,  and — ” 

“ Pardon  me,  venerable  Venator  ; as  classifica- 
tion is  the  very  soul  of  the  natural  sciences,  the 
animal  or  vegetable  must  of  necessity  be  charac- 
terized by  the  peculiarities  of  its  species  which  is 
always  indicated  by  the  name — ” 

“ Friend,”  said  the  trapper,  a little  positively, 
“ would  the  tail  of  a beaver  make  the  worse  din- 
ner for  calling  it  a mink ; or  could  you  eat  of  the 
wolf  with  relish,  because  some  bookish  man  had 
given  it  the  name  of  venison  ? ” 

As  these  questions  were  put  with  no  little 
earnestness  and  some  spirit,  there  was  every  proba- 
bility that  a hot  discussion  would  have  succeeded 
between  two  men,  of  whom  one  was  so  purely 
practical  and  the  other  so  much  given  to  theory, 
had  not  Ishmael  seen  fit  to  terminate  the  dispute, 


by  bringing  into  view  a subject  that  was  mu 
more  important  to  his  own  immediate  interests. 

“Beavers’  tails  and  minks’  flesh  may  do  to 
talk  about  before  a maple-fire  and  a quiet  hearth,” 
interrupted  the  squatter,  without  the  smallest  def- 
erence to  the  interested  feelings  of  the  dispu- 
tants ; “ but  something  more  than  foreign  words, 
or  words  of  any  sort,  is  now  needed. — Tell  me, 
trapper,  where  are  your  Siouxes  skulking  ? ” 

“ It  would  be  as  easy  to  tell  you  the  colors  of 
the  hawk  that  is  floating  beneath  yonder  white 
cloud ! When  a red-skin  strikes  his  blow,  he  is 
not  apt  to  wait  until  he  is  paid  for  the  evil  deed 
in  lead.” 

“ Will  the  beggarly  savages  believe  they  have 
enough,  when  they  find  themselves  masters  of  all 
the  stock  ? ” 

“ Natur’  is  much  the  same,  let  it  be  covered 
by  what  skin  it  may.  Do  you  ever  find  your  long- 
ings after  riches  less  when  you  have  made  a good 
crop,  than  before  you  were  master  of  a kernel  of 
corn  ? If  you  do,  you  differ  from  what  the  ex- 
perience of  a long  life  tells  me  is  the  common 
cravings  of  man.” 

“ Speak  plainly,  old  stranger,”  said  the  squat- 
ter, striking  the  butt  of  his  rifle  heavily  on  the 
earth,  his  dull  capacity  finding  no  pleasure  in  a 
discourse  that  was  conducted  in  so  obscure  allu- 
sions ; I have  asked  a simple  question,  and  one  I 
know  well  that  you  can  answer.” 

“ You  are  right,  you  are  right.  I can  answer, 
for  I have  too  often  seen  the  disposition  of  my 
kind  to  mistake  it,  when  evil  is  stirring.  When 
the  Siouxes  have  gathered  in  the  beasts,  and  have 
made  sure  that  you  are  not  upon  their  heels,  they 
will  be  back  nibbling  like  hungry  wolves  to  take 
the  bait  they  have  left ; or,  it  may  be,  they’ll  show 
the  temper  of  the  great  bears  that  are  found  at 
the  falls  of  the  Long  River,  and  strike  at  once 
with  the  paw,  without  stopping  to  nose  their 
prey.” 

“You  have  then  seen  the  animals  you  men- 
tion ! ” exclaimed  Dr.  Battius,  who  had  now  been 
thrown  out  of  the  conversation  quite  as  long  as 
his  impatience  could  well  brook,  and  who  ap- 
proached the  subject  with  his  tablets  ready 
opened,  as  a book  of  reference.  “ Can  you  tell 
me  if  what  you  encountered  was  of  the  species 
Ursus  horribilis — with  the  ears  rounded — -front, 
arquated — eyes , destitute  of  the  remarkable  sup- 
plemental lid — with  six  incisores,  one  false,  and 
four  perfect  molares — ” 

“ Trapper,  go  on,  for  we  are  engaged  in  rea- 
sonable discourse,”  interrupted  Ishmael.  “You 
believe  we  shall  see  more  of  the  robbers  ? ” 

“ Nay — nay — I do  not  call  them  robbers,  for 


ISHMAEI/S  RESOLUTENESS. 


39 


it  is  the  usage  of  their  people,  and  what  may  be 
called  the  prairie  law.” 

“ I have  come  five  hundred  miles  to  find  a 
place  where  no  man  can  ding  the  words  of  the 
law  in  my  ears,”  said  Ishmael,  fiercely,  “ and  I 
am  not  in  a humor  to  stand  quietly  at  a bar,  while 
a red-skin  sits  in  judgment.  I tell  you,  trapper, 
if  another  Sioux  is  seen  prowling  around  my 
camp,  wherever  it  may  be,  he  shall  feel  the  con- 
tents of  old  Kentuck,”  slapping  his  rifle  in  a 
manner  that  could  not  be  easily  misconstrued, 
“ though  he  wore  the  medal  of  Washington  * him- 
self. I call  the  man  a robber  who  takes  that 
which  is  not  his  own.” 

“ The  Teton,  and  the  Pawnee,  and  the  Konza, 
and  men  of  a dozen  other  tribes,  claim  to  own 
these  naked  fields.” 

“ Natur’  gives  them  the  lie  in  their  teeth. 
The  air,  the  water,  and  the  ground,  are  free  gifts 
to  man,  and  no  one  has  the  power  to  portion  them 
out  in  parcels.  Man  must  drink,  and  breathe, 
and  walk — and  therefore  each  has  a right  to  his 
share  of  ’arth.  Why  do  not  the  surveyors  of  the 
States  set  their  compasses  and  run  their  lines 
over  our  heads  as  well  as  beneath  our  feet  ? Why 
do  they  not  cover  their  shining  sheep-skins  with 
big  words,  giving  to  the  landholder,  or  perhaps 
be  should  be  called  airholder,  so  many  rods  of 
heaven,  with  the  use  of  such  a star  for  a bound- 
ary-mark, and  such  a cloud  to  turn  a mill  ? ” 

As  the  squatter  uttered  his  wild  conceit,  he 
laughed  from  the  very  bottom  of  his  chest,  in 
scorn.  The  deriding  but  frightful  merriment 
passed  from  the  mouth  of  one  of  his  ponderous 
sons  to  that  of  the  other,  until  it  had  made  the 
circuit  of  the  whole  family. 

“ Come,  trapper,”  continued  Ishmael,  in  a 
tone  of  better  humor,  like  a man  who  feels  that 
he  has  triumphed,  “ neither  of  us,  I reckon,  has 
ever  had  much  to  do  with  title-deeds,  or  county 
clerks,  or  blazed  trees;  therefore  we  will  not 
waste  words  on  fooleries.  You  ar’  a man  that 
has  tarried  long  in  this  clearing ; and  now  I ask 
your  opinion,  face  to  face,  without  fear  or  favor, 
if  you  had  the  lead  in  my  business,  what  would 
you  do  ? ” 

The  old  man  hesitated,  and  seemed  to  give  the 
required  advice  with  deep  reluctance.  As  every 
eye,  however,  was  fastened  on  him,  and,  whichever 
way  he  turned  his  face,  he  encountered  a look  riv- 
eted on  the  lineaments  of  his  own  working  coun- 
tenance, he  answered  in  a low,  melancholy  tone  : 

* The  American  Government  creates  chiefs  among  the 
Western  tribes,  and  decorates  them  with  silver  medals 
bearing  the  impression  of  the  different  Presidents.  That 
of  Washington  is  the  most  prized. 


“ I have  seen  too  much  mortal  blood  poured 
out  in  empty  quarrels,  to  wish  even  to  hear  an 
angry  rifle  again.  Ten  weary  years  have  I so- 
journed alone  on  these  naked  plains,  waiting  for 
my  hour,  and  not  a blow  have  I struck  ag’in  an 
enemy  more  humanized  than  the  grizzly  bear.” 

“ Ursus  horribilis ,”  muttered  the  doctor. 

The  speaker  paused  at  the  sound  of  the  other’s 
voice,  but  perceiving  it  was  no  more  than  a sort 
of  mental  ejaculation,  he  continued  in  the  same 
strain : 

“ More  humanized  than  the  grizzly  bear,  or 
the  panther  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  unless 
the  beaver,  which  is  a wise  and  knowing  animal, 
may  be  so  reckoned.  What  would  I advise? 
Even  the  female  butfalo  will  fight  for  her 
young ! ” 

“It  never,  then,  shall  be  said  that  Ishmael 
Bush  has  less  kindness  for  his  children  than  the 
bear  for  her  cubs  ! ” 

“ And  yet  this  is  but  a naked  spot  for  a dozen 
men  to  make  head  in,  ag’in  five  hundred.” 

“ Ay,  it  is  so,”  returned  the  squatter,  glancing 
his  eye  toward  his  humble  camp ; “ but  something 
might  be  done  with  the  wagons  and  the  cotton- 
wood.” 

The  trapper  shook  his  head  incredulously, 
and  pointed  across  the  rolling  plain  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  west,  as  he  answered : 

“ A rifle  would  send  a bullet  from  these  hilla 
into  your  very  sleeping-cabins ; nay,  arrows  from 
the  thicket  in  your  rear  would  keep  you  all  bur- 
rowed, like  so  many  prairie-dogs  ; it  wouldn’t  do, 
it  wouldn’t  do.  Three  long  miles  from  this  spot 
is  a place  where,  as  I have  often  thought  in  pass- 
ing across  the  desert,  a stand  might  be  made  for 
days  and  weeks  together,  if  there  were  hearts  and 
hands  ready  to  engage  in  the  bloody  work.” 

Another  low,  deriding  laugh  passed  among  the 
young  men,  announcing,  in  a manner  sufficiently 
intelligible,  their  readiness  to  undertake  a task 
even  more  arduous.  The  squatter  himself  eagerly 
seized  the  hint  which  had  been  so  reluctantly 
extorted  from  the  trapper,  who,  by  some  singular 
process  of  reasoning,  had  evidently  persuaded 
himself  that  it  was  his  duty  to  be  strictly  neutral. 
A few  direct  and  pertinent  inquiries  served  to 
obtain  the  little  additional  information  that  was 
necessary,  in  order  to  make  the  contemplated 
movement ; and  then  Ishmael,  who  was,  on  emer- 
gencies, as  terrifically  energetic  as  he  was  slug- 
gish in  common,  set  about  effecting  his  object 
without  delay. 

Notwithstanding  the  industry  and  zeal  of  all 
engaged,  the  task  was  one  of  great  labor  and 
difficulty.  The  loaded  vehicles  were  to  be  drawB 


40 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


by  hand  across  a wide  distance  of  plain,  without 
track,  or  guide  of  any  sort,  except  that  which  the 
trapper  had  furnished  by  communicating  his 
knowledge  of  the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass. 
In  accomplishing  this  object,  the  gigantic  strength 
of  the  men  was  taxed  to  the  utmost,  nor  were  the 
females  or  the  children  spared  a heavy  proportion 
of  the  toil.  While  the  sons  distributed  themselves 
about  the  heavily-loaded  wagons,  and  drew  them 
by  main  strength  up  the  neighboring  swell,  their 
mother  and  Ellen,  surrounded  by  the  amazed 
group  of  little  ones,  followed  slowly  in  the  rear, 
bending  under  the  weight  of  such  different  arti- 
cles as  were  suited  to  their  several  strengths. 

Ishmael  himself  superintended  and  directed 
the  whole,  occasionally  applying  his  colossal 
shoulder  to  some  lagging  vehicle  until  he  saw 
that  the  chief  difficulty,  that  of  gaining  the  level 
of  their  intended  route,  was  accomplished.  Then 
he  pointed  out  the  required  course,  cautioning  his 
sons  to  proceed  in  such  a manner  that  they  should 
not  lose  the  advantage  they  had  with  so  much 
labor  obtained,  and,  beckoning  to  the  brother  of 
his  wife,  they  returned  together  to  the  empty 
camp. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  this  movement,  which 
occupied  an  hour  of  time,  the  trapper  had  stood 
apart,  leaning  on  his  rifle,  with  the  aged  hound 
slumbering  at  his  feet,  a silent  but  attentive 
observer  of  all  that  passed.  Occasionally  a smile 
lighted  his  hard,  muscular,  but  wasted  features, 
like  a gleam  of  sunshine  flitting  across  a ragged 
ruin,  and  betrayed  the  momentary  pleasure  he 
found  in  witnessing  from  time  to  time  the  vast 
power  the  youths  discovered.  Then,  as  the  train 
drew  slowly  up  the  ascent,  a cloud  of  thought  and 
sorrow  threw  all  into  the  shade  again,  leaving  the 
expression  of  his  countenance  in  its  usual  state 
of  quiet  melancholy.  As  vehicle  after  vehicle  left 
the  place  of  the  encampment,  he  noted  the  change 
with  increasing  attention  ; seldom  failing  to  cast  an 
inquiring  look  at  the  little  neglected  tent,  which, 
with  its  proper  wagon,  still  remained  as  before, 
solitary  and  apparently  forgotten.  The  summons 
of  Ishmael  to  his  gloomy  associate  had,  however, 
as  it  would  now  seem,  this  hitherto  neglected 
portion  of  his  effects  for  its  object. 

First  casting  a cautious  and  suspicious  glance 
on  every  side  of  him,  the  squatter  and  his  com- 
panion advanced  to  the  little  wagon,  and  caused 
it  to  enter  within  the  folds  of  the  cloth  much  in 
the  manner  that  it  had  been  extricated  the  pre- 
ceding evening.  They  both  then  disappeared  be- 
hind the  drapery,  and  many  moments  of  suspense 
succeeded,  during  which  the  old  man,  secretly 
erged  by  a burning  desire  to  know  the  meaning 


of  so  much  mystery,  insensibly  drew  nigh  to  th« 
place,  until  he  stood  within  a few  yards  of  the 
proscribed  spot.  The  agitation  of  the  cloth  be- 
trayed the  nature  of  the  occupation  of  those  whom 
it  concealed,  though  their  work  was  conducted  in 
rigid  silence.  It  would  appear  that  long  practice 
had  made  each  of  the  two  acquainted  with  hia 
particular  duty ; for  neither  sign  nor  direction  of 
any  sort  was  necessary  from  Ishmael,  in  order  to 
apprise  his  surly  associate  of  the  manner  in  which 
he  was  to  proceed.  In  less  time  than  has  been 
consumed  in  relating  it,  the  interior  portion  of  the 
arrangement  was  completed,  when  the  men  re- 
appeared without  the  tent.  Too  busy  with  hia 
occupation  to  heed  the  presence  of  the  trapper, 
Ishmael  began  to  release  the  folds  of  the  cloth 
from  the  ground,  and  to  dispose  of  them  in  such 
a manner  around  the  vehicle  as  to  form  a sweep- 
ing train  to  the  new  form  the  little  pavilion  had 
now  assumed.  The  arched  roof  trembled  with 
the  occasional  movement  of  the  light  vehicle 
which,  it  was  apparent,  once  more  supported  its 
secret  burden.  Just  as  the  work  was  ended,  the 
scowling  eye  of  Ishmael’s  assistant  caught  a 
glimpse  of  the  figure  of  the  attentive  observer  of 
their  movements.  Dropping  the  shaft,  which  he 
had  already  lifted  from  the  ground,  preparatory 
to  occupying  the  place  that  was  usually  filled  by 
an  animal  less  reasoning  and  perhaps  less  danger- 
ous than  himself,  he  bluntly  exclaimed : 

“I  am  a fool,  as  you  often  say ! But  look  for 
yourself.  If  that  man  is  not  an  enemy,  I will  dis- 
grace father  and  mother,  call  myself  an  Indian, 
and  go  hunt  with  the  Siouxes  ! ” 

The  cloud,  as  it  is  about  to  discharge  the  sub- 
tile lightning,  is  not  more  dark  nor  threatening 
than  the  look  with  which  Ishmael  greeted  the  in- 
truder. He  turned  his  head  on  every  side  of  him, 
as  if  seeking  some  engine  sufficiently  terrible  to  an- 
nihilate the  offending  trapper  at  a blow ; and  then, 
possibly  recollecting  the  further  occasion  he  might 
have  for  his  counsel,  he  forced  himself  to  say, 
with  an  appearance  of  moderation  that  nearly 
choked  him : 

“ Stranger,  I did  believe  this  prying  into  the 
concerns  of  others  was  the  business  of  women  in 
the  towns  and  settlements,  and  not  the  manner  in 
which  men,  who  are  used  to  live  where  each  has 
room  for  himself,  deal  with  the  secrets  of  their 
neighbors.  To  what  lawyer  or  sheriff  do  you  cal- 
culate to  sell  your  news  ? ” 

“ I hold  but  little  discourse  except  with  one, 
and  then  chiefly  of  my  own  affairs,”  returned  the 
old  man,  without  the  least  observable  apprehen- 
sion,  and  pointing  imposingly  upward;  “a  Judge 
and  Judge  of  all.  Little  does  he  need  knowledge 


THE  TRAPPER  AND  PAUL  HOVER. 


41 


from  my  hands,  and  but  little  will  your  wish  to 
keep  any  thing  secret  from  him  profit  you,  even 
in  this  desert.” 

The  mounting  tempers  of  his  untutored  listen- 
ers were  rebuked  by  the  simple,  solemn  manner 
of  the  trapper.  Ishmael  stood  sullen  and  thought- 
ful ; while  his  companion  stole  a furtive  and  in- 
voluntary glance  at  the  placid  sky,  which  spread 
so  wide  and  blue  above  his  head,  as  if  he  expected 
to  see  the  Almighty  eye  itself  beaming  from  the 
heavenly  vault.  But  impressions  of  a serious 
character  are  seldom  lasting  on  minds  long  in- 
dulged in  forgetfulness.  The  hesitation  of  the 
squatter  was  consequently  of  short  duration. 
The  language,  however,  as  well  as  the  firm  and 
collected  air  of  the  speaker,  were  the  means  of 
preventing  much  subsequent  abuse,  if  not  vio- 
lence. 

“ It  would  be  showing  more  of  the  kindness 
of  a friend  and  comrade,”  Ishmael  returned,  in 
a tone  sufficiently  sullen  to  betray  his  humor, 
though  it  was  no  longer  threatening,  “ had  your 
shoulder  been  put  to  the  wheel  of  one  of  yonder 
wagons,  instead  of  edging  itself  in  here,  where 
none  are  wanted  but  such  as  are  invited. 

“ I can  put  the  little  strength  that  is  left  me,” 
returned  the  trapper,  “ to  this,  as  well  as  to  anoth- 
er of  your  loads.” 

“ Do  you  take  us  for  boys ! ” exclaimed  Ish- 
mael, laughing,  half  in  ferocity  and  half  in  deri- 
Bion,  applying  his  powerful  strength  at  the  same 
time  to  the  little  vehicle,  which  rolled  over  the 
grass  with  as  much  seeming  facility  as  if  it  were 
drawn  by  its  usual  team. 

The  trapper  paused,  and  followed  the  depart- 
ing wagon  with  his  eye,  marvelling  greatly  as  to 
the  nature  of  its  concealed  contents,  until  it  had 
also  gained  the  summit  of  the  eminence,  and  in 
its  turn  disappeared  behind  the  swell  of  the  land. 
Then  he  turned  to  gaze  at  the  desolation  of  the 
scene  around  him.  The  absence  of  human  forms 
would  have  scarce  created  a sensation  in  the 
bosom  of  one  so  long  accustomed  to  solitude,  had 
not  the  site  of  the  deserted  camp  furnished  such 
strong  memorial  of  its  recent  visitors,  and,  as  the 
old  man  was  quick  to  detect,  of  their  waste  also. 
He  cast  his  eye  upward,  with  a shake  of  the  head, 
at  the  vacant  spot  in  the  heavens  which  had  so 
lately  been  filled  by  the  branches  of  those  trees 
that  now  lay  stripped  of  their  verdure,  worthless 
and  deserted  logs  at  his  feet. 

“Ay,”  he  muttered  to  himself,  “I  might  have 
know’d  it — I might  have  know’d  it ! Often  have 
I seen  the  same  before ; and  yet  I brought  them 
to  the  spot  myself,  and  have  now  sent  them  to 
the  only  neighborhood  of  their  kind  within  many 
55 


long  leagues  of  the  spot  where  I now  stand. 
This  is  man’s  wish,  and  pride,  and  waste,  and  sin- 
fulness ! He  tames  the  beasts  of  the  field  to  feed 
his  idle  wants : and  having  robbed  the  brutes  of 
their  natural  food,  he  teaches  them  to  strip  the 
’arth  of  its  trees  to  quiet  their  hunger.” 

A rustling  in  the  low  bushes  which  still  grew, 
for  some  distance,  along  the  swale  that  formed 
the  thicket  on  which  the  camp  of  Ishmael  had 
rested,  caught  his  ear  at  the  moment,  and  cut 
short  the  soliloquy.  The  habits  of  so  many  years 
spent  in  the  wilderness  caused  the  old  man  to 
bring  his  rifle  to  a poise,  with  something  like  the 
activity  and  promptitude  of  his  youth  ; but,  sud- 
denly recovering  his  recollection,  he  dropped  it 
into  the  hollow  of  his  arm  again,  and  resumed  his 
air  of  melancholy  resignation. 

“ Come  forth,  come  forth ! ” he  said  aloud ; 
“ be  ye  bird  or  be  ye  beast,  ye  are  safe  from  these 
old  hands.  I have  eaten  and  I have  drunk : why 
should  I take  life,  when  my  wants  call  for  no 
sacrifice?  It  would  not  be  long  afore  the  birds 
will  peck  at  eyes  that  shall  not  see  them,  and 
perhaps  light  on  my  very  bones ; for  if  things 
like  these  are  only  made  to  perish,  why  am  I to 
expect  to  live  forever?  Come  forth,  come  forth; 
you  are  safe  from  harm  at  these  weak  hands.” 

“ Thank  you  for  the  good  word,  old  trapper ! ” 
cried  Paul  Hover,  springing  actively  forward  from 
his  place  of  concealment.  “There  was  an  air 
about  you,  when  you  threw  forward  the  muzzle 
of  your  piece,  that  I did  not  like ; for  it  seemed 
to  say  that  you  were  master  of  all  the  rest  of  the 
motions.” 

“ You  are  right,  you  are  right ! ” cried  the 
trapper,  laughing  with  inward  self-complacency 
at  the  recollection  of  his  former  skill.  “ The  day 
has  been  when  few  men  knew  the  virtues  of  a 
long  rifle  like  this  I carry,  better  than  myself,  old 
and  useless  as  I now  seem.  You  are  right,  young 
man ; and  the  time  was  when  it  was  dangerous 
to  move  a leaf  within  ear-shot  of  my  stand  ; or,” 
he  added,  dropping  his  voice  and  looking  serious, 
“ for  a red  Mingo  to  show  an  eyeball  from  his 
ambushment.  You  have  heard  of  the  red  Min- 
goes  ? ” 

“ I have  heard  of  minks,”  said  Paul,  taking 
the  old  man  by  the  arm,  and  gently  urging  him 
toward  the  thicket  as  he  spoke;  while  at  the 
same  time  he  cast  quick  and  uneasy  glances  be- 
hind him  in  order  to  make  sure  that  he  was  not 
observed — “ of  your  common  black  minks  ; but 
none  of  any  other  color.” 

“ Lord  ! Lord ! ” continued  the  trapper,  shak- 
ing his  head,  and  still  laughing  in  his  deep,  but 
quiet  manner ; “ the  boy  mistakes  a brute  for  a 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


42 

man ! Though  a Mingo  is  little  better  than  a 
beast ; or,  for  that  matter,  he  is  worse  when  rum 
and  opportunity  ar-e  placed  before  his  eyes. 
There  was  that  accursed  Huron  from  the  upper 
lakes,  that  I knocked  from  his  perch  among  the 
rocks  in  the  hills,  back  of  the  Hori — ” 

His  voice  was  lost  in  the  thicket,  into  which 
he  had  suffered  himself  to  be  led  by  Paul  while 
speaking,  too  much  oocupied  by  thoughts  which 
dwelt  on  scenes  and  acts  that  had  taken  place 
half  a century  earlier  in  the  history  of  the  country, 
to  offer  the  smallest  resistance. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

“Now  they  are  clapper-clawing  one  another;  I’ll  go 
look  on.  That  dissembling  abominable  varlet,  Diomed,  has 
got  that  same  scurvy,  doting,  foolish  young  knave  in  his 
helm.” 

Troilus  and  Cressida. 

It  is  necessary,  in  order  that  the  thread  of  the 
narrative  should  not  be  spun  to  a length  which 
might  fatigue  the  reader,  that  he  should  imagine 
a week  to  have  intervened  between  the  scene 
with  which  the  preceding  chapter  closed  and  the 
events  with  which  it  is  our  intention  to  resume  its 
relation  in  this.  The  season  was  on  the  point  of 
changing  its  character;  the  verdure  of  summer 
giving  place  more  rapidly  to  the  brown  and  party- 
colored  livery  of  the  fall.*  The  heavens  were 
clothed  in  driving  clouds,  piled  in  vast  masses 
one  above  the  other,  which  whirled  violently  in  the 
gusts;  opening,  occasionally,  to  admit  transient 
glimpses  of  the  bright  and  glorious  sight  of  the 
heavens,  dwelling  in  a magnificence  by  far  too 
grand  and  durable  to  be  disturbed  by  the  fitful 
efforts  of  the  lower  world.  Beneath,  the  wind 
swept  across  the  wild  and  naked  prairies  with  a 
violence  that  is  seldom  witnessed  in  any  section 
of  the  continent  less  open.  It  would  have  been 
easy  to  have  imagined,  in  the  ages  of  fable,  that 
the  god  of  the  winds  had  permitted  his  subordi- 
nate agents  to  escape  from  their  den,  and  that 
they  now  rioted  in  wantonness  across  wastes 
where  neither  tree,  nor  work  of  man,  nor  moun- 
tain, nor  obstacle  of  any  sort,  opposed  itself  to 
their  gambols. 

Though  nakedness  might,  as  usual,  be  given 
as  the  pervading  character  of  the  spot  whither  it 
is  now  necessary  to  transfer  the  scene  of  the  tale, 
it  was  not  entirely  without  the  signs  of  human 


* The  Americana  call  the  autumn  the  “ fall,’  from  the 
fell  of  the  leaf. 


life.  Amid  the  monotonous  rolling  of  the  prairie, 
a single  naked  and  ragged  rock  arose  on  the  mar- 
gin of  a little  water-course  which  found  its  way, 
after  winding  a vast  distance  through  the  plains, 
into  one  of  the  numerous  tributaries  of  the  Father 
of  Rivers.  A swale  of  low  land  lay  near  the  base 
of  the  eminence,  and,  as  it  was  still  fringed  with  a 
thicket  of  alders  and  sumach,  it  bore  the  signs 
of  having  once  nurtured  a feeble  growth  of  wood. 
The  trees  themselves  had  been  transferred,  how- 
ever, to  the  summit  and  crag3  of  the  neighboring 
rocks.  On  this  elevation,  the  signs  of  man,  to 
which  the  allusion  just  made  applies,  were  to  be 
found. 

Seen  from  beneath,  there  were  visible  a breast- 
work of  logs  and  stones,  intermingled  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  save  all  unnecessary  labor,  a few 
low  roofs  made  of  bark  and  boughs  of  trees,  an 
occasional  barrier,  constructed  like  the  defences 
on  the  summit,  and  placed  on  such  points  of  the 
acclivity  as  were  easier  of  approach  than  the  gen- 
eral face  of  the  eminence ; and  a little  dwelling 
of  cloth,  perched  on  the  apex  of  a small  pyramid 
that  shot  up  on  one  angle  of  the  rock,  the  white 
covering  of  which  glimmered  from  a distance  like 
a spot  of  snow,  or,  to  make  the  simile  more  suit- 
able to  the  rest  of  the  subject,  like  a spotless  and 
carefully-guarded  standard,  which  was  to  be  pro- 
tected by  the  dearest  blood  of  those  who  defended 
the  citadel  beneath.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to 
add  that  this  rude  and  characteristic  fortress  was 
the  place  where  Ishmael  Bush  had  taken  refuge, 
after  the  robbery  of  his  flocks  and  herds. 

On  the  day  to  which  the  narrative  is  advanced, 
the  squatter  was  standing  near  the  base  of  the 
rocks,  leaning  ou  his  rifle,  and  regarding  the  sterile 
soil  that  supported  him  with  a look  in  which  con- 
tempt and  disappointment  were  strongly  blended. 

“ ’Tis  time  to  change  our  natur’s,”  he  observed 
to  the  brother  of  his  wife,  who  was  rarely  far 
from  his  elbow ; “ and  to  become  ruminators, 
instead  of  people  used  to  the  fare  of  Christians 
and  free  men. — I reckon,  Abiram,  you  could 
glean  a living  among  the  grasshoppers ; you  ar’ 
an  active  man,  and  might  outrun  the  nimblest 
skipper  of  them  all.” 

“The  country  will  never ’do,”  returned  the 
other,  who  relished  but  little  the  forced  humor 
of  his  kinsman ; “ and  it  is  well  to  remember  that 
a lazy  traveller  makes  a long  journey.” 

“ Would  you  have  me  draw  a cart  at  my  heels, 
across  this  desert,  for  weeks — ay,  months  ? ” re- 
torted Ishmael,  who,  like  all  of  his  class,  could 
labor  with  incredible  efforts  on  emergencies,  but 
who  too  seldom  exerted  continued  industry  on 
any  occasion  to  brook  a proposal  that  offered  so 


THE  SQUATTER  AND  HIS  BROTHER-IN-LAW. 


43 


little  repose  “ It  may  do  for  your  people,  who 
live  in  settlements,  to  hasten  on  to  their  houses ; 
but,  thank  Heaven ! my  farm  is  too  big  for  its 
owner  ever  to  want  a resting-place.” 

“ Since  you  like  the  plantation,  then,  you  have 
only  to  make  your  crop.” 

“ That  is  easier  said  than  done,  on  this  corner 
of  the  estate.  I tell  you  Abiram,  there  is  need 
of  moving,  for  more  reasons  than  one.  You  know 
I’m  a man  that  very  seldom  enters  into  a bargain, 
but  who  always  fulfils  his  agreements  better  than 
your  dealers  in  wordy  contracts  written  on  rags 
of  paper.  If  there’s  one  mile,  there  ar’  a hundred 
still  needed  to  make  up  the  distance  for  which 
you  have  my  honor.” 

As  he  spoke,  the  squatter  glanced  his  eye  up- 
ward at  the  little  tenement  of  cloth,  which  crowned 
the  summit  of  his  ragged  fortress.  The  look  was 
understood  and  answered  by  the  other ; and  by 
some  secret  influence,  which  operated  either 
through  their  interests  or  feelings,  it  served  to  re- 
establish that  harmony  between  them  which  had 
just  been  threatened  with  something  like  a mo- 
mentary breach. 

“ I know  it  and  feel  it  in  every  bone  of  my 
body.  But  I remember  the  reason  why  I have 
set  myself  on  this  accursed  journey  too  well,  to 
forget  the  distance  between  me  and  the  end. 
Neither  you  nor  I will  ever  be  the  better  for  what 
we  have  done,  unless  we  thoroughly  finish  what  is 
so  well  begun.  Ay,  that  is  the  doctrine  of  the 
whole  world,  I judge  ; I heard  a travelling  preach- 
er, who  was  skirting  it  down  the  Ohio,  a time 
since,  say,  if  a man  should  live  up  to  the  faith 
for  a hundred  years,  and  then  fall  from  his  work 
a single  day,  he  would  find  the  settlement  was  to 
be  made  for  the  finishing  blow  that  he  had  put  to 
his  job,  and  that  all  the  bad,  and  none  of  the  good, 
would  come  into  the  final  account.” 

“ And  you  believed  the  hungry  hypocrite ! ” 

“ Who  said  that  I believed  it  ? ” retorted 
Abiram,  with  a bullying  look,  that  betrayed  how 
much  his  fears  had  dwelt  on  the  subject  he  af- 
fected to  despise.  “ Is  it  believing  to  tell  what 
a roguish — ? And  yet,  Ishmael,  the  man  might 
have  been  honest  after  all ! He  told  us  that  the 
world  was,  in  truth,  no  better  than  a desert,  and 
that  there  was  but  one  hand  that  could  lead  the 
most  learned  man  through  all  its  crooked  wind- 
ings. Now,  if  this  be  true  of  the  whole,  it  may 
be  true  of  a part.” 

“Abiram,  out  with  your  grievances  like  a 
man,”  interrupted  the  squatter,  with  a hoarse 
laugh.  “You  want  to  pray!  But  of  wThat  use 
will  it  be,  according  to  your  own  doctrine,  to 
serve  God  five  minutes  and  the  devil  an  hour  ? 


Harkee,  friend ; I’m  not  much  of  a husbandman, 
but  this  I know  to  my  cost : that  to  make  a right 
good  crop,  even  on  the  richest  bottom,  there 
must  be  hard  labor ; and  your  snufflers  liken  the 
’arth  to  a field  of  corn,  and  the  men,  who  live  on 
it,  to  its  yield.  Now  I tell  you,  Abiram,  that 
you  are  no  better  than  a thistle  or  a mullein ; yea, 
ye  ar’  a wood  of  too  open  a pore  to  be  good  even 
to  burn.” 

The  malign  glance  which  shot  from  the  scowl- 
ing eye  of  Abiram  announced  the  angry  charac- 
ter of  his  feelings ; but,  as  the  furtive  look 
quailed  immediately  before  the  unmoved,  steady 
countenance  of  the  squatter,  it  also  betrayed  how 
much  the  bolder  spirit  of  the  latter  had  obtained 
the  mastery  over  his  craven  nature. 

Content  with  his  ascendency,  which  was  too 
apparent,  and  had  been  too  often  exerted  on  simi- 
lar occasions,  to  leave  him  in  any  doubt  of  its 
extent,  Ishmael  coolly  continued  the  discourse,  by 
adverting  more  directly  to  his  future  plans. 

“ You  will  own  the  justice  of  paying  every  one 
in  kind,”  he  said.  “ I have  been  robbed  of  my 
stock,  and  I have  a scheme  to  make  myself  as 
good  as  before,  by  taking  hoof  for  hoof ; or,  for 
that  matter,  when  a man  is  put  to  the  trouble  of 
bargaining  for  both  sides,  he  is  a fool  if  he  don’t 
pay  himself  something  in  the  way  of  commission.” 

As  the  squatter  made  this  declaration,  in  a 
tone  which  was  a little  excited  by  the  humor  of 
the  moment,  four  or  five  of  his  lounging  sons,  who 
had  been  leaning  against  the  foot  of  the  rock,  came 
forward  with  the  indolent  step  so  common  to  the 
family. 

“ I have  been  calling  Ellen  Wade,  who  is  on 
the  rock  keeping  the  lookout,  to  know  if  there  is 
any  thing  to  be  seen,”  observed  the  eldest  of  the 
young  men;  “and  she  shakes  her  head,  for  an 
answer.  Ellen  is  sparing  of  her  words  for  a 
woman,  and  might  be  taught  manners,  at  least, 
without  spoiling  her  good  looks.” 

Ishmael  cast  his  eye  upward  to  the  place 
where  the  offending  but  unconscious  girl  was 
holding  her  anxious  watch.  She  was  seated  at 
the  edge  of  the  uppermost  crag,  by  the  side  of 
the  little  tent,  and  at  least  two  hundred  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  plain.  Little  else  was  to  be  dis- 
tinguished, at  that  distance,  but  the  outline  of  her 
form,  her  fair  hair  streaming  in  the  gusts  beyond 
her  shoulders,  and  the  steady  and  seemingly  un- 
changeable look  that  she  riveted  on  some  remote 
point  of  the  prairie. 

“ What  is  it,  Nell  ? ” cried  Ishmael,  lifting  his 
powerful  voice  a little  above  the  rushing  of  the 
element.  “ Have  you  got  a glimpse  of  any  thing 
bigger  than  a burrowing  barker  ? ” 


44 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


The  lips  of  the  attentive  Ellen  parted ; she 
rose  to  the  utmost  height  her  small  stature  ad-, 
mitted,  seeming  still  to  regard  the  unknown  ob- 
ject ; but  her  voice,  if  she  spoke  at  all,  was  not 
sufficiently  loud  to  be  heard  amid  the  wind. 

“ It  ar’  a fact  that  the  child  sees  something 
more  uncommon  than  a buffalo  or  a prairie-dog ! ” 
continued  Ishmael.  — “Why,  Nell,  girl,  ar’  ye 
deaf?  Nell,  I say! — I hope  it  is  an  army  of  red- 
skins she  has  in  her  eye ; for  I should  relish  the 
chance  to  pay  them  for  their  kindness,  under  the 
favor  of  these  logs  and  rocks  ! ” 

As  the  squatter  accompanied  his  vaunt  with 
corresponding  gestures,  and  directed  his  eyes  to 
the  circle  of  his  equally  confident  sons  while 
speaking,  he  drew  their  gaze  from  Ellen  to  him- 
self; but  now,  when  they  turned  together  to  note 
the  succeeding  movements  of  their  female  sentinel, 
the  place  which  had  so  lately  been  occupied  by 
her  form  was  vacant. 

“ As  I am  a sinner,”  exclaimed  Asa,  usually 
one  of  the  most  phlegmatic  of  the  youths,  “ the 
girl  is  blown  away  by  the  wind ! ” 

Something  like  a sensation  was  exhibited 
among  them,  which  might  have  denoted  that  the 
influence  of  the  laughing  blue  eyes,  flaxen  hair, 
and  glowing  cheeks  of  Ellen,  had  not  been  lost 
on  the  dull  natures  of  the  young  men  ; and  looks 
of  amazement,  mingled  slightly  with  concern, 
passed  from  one  to  the  other  as  they  gazed,  in 
dull  wonder,  at  the  point  of  the  naked  rock. 

“ It  might  well  be  ! ” added  another ; “ she  sat 
on  a slivered  stone,  and  I have  been  thinking  of 
telling  her  she  was  in  danger  for  more  than  an 
hour.” 

“ Is  that  a ribbon  of  the  child,  dangling  from 
the  corner  of  the  hill  below  ? ” cried  Ishmael ; 
“Ha!  who  is  moving  about  the  tent?  Have  I 
not  told  you  all — ” 

“Ellen!  ’tis  Ellen!”  interrupted  the  whole 
body  of  his  sons  in  a breath,  and  at  that  instant 
she  reappeared,  to  put  an  end  to  their  different 
surmises,  and  to  relieve  more  than  one  sluggish 
nature  from  its  unwonted  excitement.  As  Ellen 
issued  from  beneath  the  folds  of  the  tent,  she  ad- 
vanced with  a light  and  fearless  step  to  her  for- 
mer giddy  stand,  and  pointed  toward  the  prairie, 
appearing  to  speak  in  an  eager  and  rapid  voice 
to  some  invisible  auditor. 

“ Nell  is  mad ! ” said  Asa,  half  in  contempt, 
and  yet  not  a little  in  concern.  “The  girl  is 
dreaming  with  her  eyes  open;  and  thinks  she 
sees  some  of  them  fierce  creatur’s,  with  hard 
names,  with  which  the  doctor  fills  her  ears.” 

“ Can  it  be  that  the  child  has  found  a scout 
of  the  Siouxes  ? ” said  Ishmael,  bending  his  look 


toward  the  plain ; but  a low,  significant  whispei 
from  Abiram  drew  his  eyes  quickly  upward  again, 
where  they  were  turned  just  in  time  to  perceive 
that  the  cloth  of  the  tent  was  agitated  by  a mo- 
tion very  evidently  different  from  the  quivering 
occasioned  by  the  wind.  “ Let  her,  if  she  dare ! ” 
the  squatter  muttered  in  his  teeth.  “Abiram, 
they  know  my  temper  too  well  to  play  the  prank 
with  me ! ” 

“ Look  for  yourself!  If  the  curtain  is  not  lift- 
ed, I can  see  no  better  than  the  owl  by  daylight.” 

Ishmael  struck  the  breech  of  his  rifle  violently 
on  the  earth,  and  shouted  in  a voice  that  might 
easily  have  been  heard  by  Ellen,  had  not  her  at- 
tention still  continued  rapt  on  the  object  which  so 
unaccountably  attracted  her  eyes  in  the  distance. 

“ Nell ! ” continued  the  squatter,  “ away  with 
you,  fool ! Will  you  bring  down  punishment  on 
your  own  head  ? Why,  Nell ! — She  has  forgotten 
her  native  speech ; let  us  see  if  she  can  under- 
stand another  language.” 

Ishmael  threw  his  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  and  at 
the  next  moment  it  was  pointed  upward  at  the 
summit  of  the  rock.  Before  time  was  given  for  a 
word  of  remonstrance,  it  had  sent  forth  its  con- 
tents, in  its  usual  streak  of  bright  flame.  Ellen 
started  like  the  frightened  chamois,  and,  uttering 
a piercing  scream,  she  darted  into  the  tent  with  a 
swiftness  that  left  it  uncertain  whether  terror  or 
actual  injury  had  been  the  penalty  of  her  offence. 

The  action  of  the  squatter  was  too  sudden 
and  unexpected  to  admit  of  prevention  ; but,  the 
instant  it  was  done,  his  sons  manifested,  in  an  un- 
equivocal manner,  the  temper  with  which  they 
witnessed  the  desperate  measure.  Angry  and 
fierce  glances  were  interchanged,  and  a murmur 
of  disapprobation  was  uttered  by  the  whole,  in 
common. 

“What  has  Ellen  done,  father,”  said  Asa,  with 
a degree  of  spirit  which  was  the  more  striking 
from  being  unusual,  “ that  she  should  be  shot  at 
like  a straggling  deer  or  a hungry  wolf?  ” 

“Mischief,”  deliberately  returned  the  squat- 
ter ; but  with  a cool  expression  of  defiance  in  his 
eye,  that  showed  how  little  he  was  moved  by  the 
ill-concealed  humor  of  his  children.  “Mischief, 
boy — mischief!  Take  you  heed  that  the  disorder 
don’t  spread ! ” 

“ It  would  need  a different  treatment  in  a man 
than  in  yon  screaming  girl.” 

“ Asa,  you  ar’  a man,  as  you  have  often  boast- 
ed ; but  remember,  I am  your  father,  and  your 
better.” 

“ I know  it  well ; and  what  sort  of  a fa- 
ther ? ” 

“Harkee,  boy:  I more  than  half  believe  that 


THE  FEMALE  SENTINEL. 


45 


your  drowsy  head  let  in  the  Siouxes.  Be  modest 
in  speech,  my  watchful  son,  or  you  may  have  to 
answer  yet  for  the  mischief  your  own  bad  con- 
duct has  brought  upon  us.” 

“I’ll  stay  no  longer,  to  be  hectored  like  a 
child  in  petticoats.  You  talk  of  law,  as  if  you 
knew  of  none,  and  yet  you  keep  me  down  as 
though  I had  not  life  and  wants  of  my  own.  I’ll 
stay  no  longer  to  be  treated  like  one  of  your 
meanest  cattle ! ” 

“The  world  is  wide,  my  gallant  boy,  and 
there’s  many  a noble  plantation  on  it,  without  a 
tenant.  Go ; you  have  title  - deeds  signed  and 
sealed  to  your  hand.  Few  fathers  portion  their 
children  better  than  Ishmael  Bush;  you  will 
say  that  for  me  at  least,  when  you  get  to  be  a 
wealthy  landholder.” 

“ Look  ! father,  look  1 ” exclaimed  several 
voices  at  once,  seizing  with  avidity  an  opportu- 
nity to  interrupt  a dialogue  which  threatened  to 
become  more  violent. 

“ Look  ! ” repeated  Abiram,  in  a voice  which 
sounded  hollow  and  warning ; “ if  you  have  time 
for  any  thing  but  quarrels,  Ishmael,  look ! ” 

The  squatter  turned  slowly  from  his  offend- 
ing son,  and  cast  an  eye  that  still  lowered  with 
deep  resentment  upward ; but  which,  the  instant 
it  caught  a view  of  the  object  that  now  attracted 
the  attention  of  all  around  him,  changed  its  ex- 
pression to  one  of  astonishment  and  dismay. 

A female  stood  on  the  spot  from  which  Ellen 
had  been  so  fearfully  expelled.  Her  person  was 
of  the  smallest  size  that  is  believed  to  comport 
with  beauty,  and  which  poets  and  aRists  have 
chosen  as  the  beau  ideal  of  female  loveliness. 
Her  dress  was  of  a dark  and  glossy  silk,  and 
fluttered  like  gossamer  around  her  form.  Long, 
flowing,  and  curling  tresses  of  hair,  still  blacker 
and  more  shining  than  her  robe,  fell  at  times 
about  her  shoulders,  completely  enveloping  the 
whole  of  her  delicate  bust  in  their  ringlets ; or 
at  others  streaming  in  the  wind.  The  elevation 
at  which  she  stood  prevented  a close  examina- 
tion of  the  lineaments  of  a countenance  which, 
however,  it  might  be  seen  was  youthful,  and,  at 
the  moment  of  her  unlooked-for  appearance, 
eloquent  with  feeling.  So  young,  indeed,  did 
this  fair  and  fragile  being  appear,  that  it  might 
be  doubted  whether  the  age  of  childhood  was 
entirely  passed.  One  small  and  exquisitely- 
moulded  hand  was  pressed  on  her  heart,  while 
with  the  other  she  made  an  impressive  gesture, 
which  seemed  to  invite  Ishmael,  if  further  vio- 
lence was  meditated,  to  direct  it  against  her 
bosom. 

The  silent  wonder  with  which  the  group  of 


borderers  gazed  upward  at  so  extraordinary  a 
spectacle,  was  only  interrupted  as  the  person  of 
Ellen  wa3  seen  emerging  with  timidity  from  the 
tent,  as  if  equally  urged  by  apprehensions  in  be- 
half of  herself*  and  the  fears  which  she  felt  on 
account  of  her  companion,  to  remain  concealed 
and  to  advance.  She  spoke,  but  her  words  were 
unheard  by  those  below,  and  unheeded  by  her  to 
whom  they  were  addressed.  The  latter,  however, 
as  if  content  with  the  offer  she  had  made  of  her- 
self as  a victim  to  the  resentment  of  Ishmael, 
now  calmly  retired,  and  the  spot  she  bad  so 
lately  occupied  became  vacant,  leaving  a sort  of 
stupid  impression  on  the  spectators  beneath,  not 
unlike  that  which  it  might  be  supposed  would 
have  been  created  had  they  just  been  gazing  at 
some  supernatural  vision. 

More  than  a minute  of  profound  silence  suc- 
ceeded, during  which  the  sons  of  Ishmael  still 
continued  gazing  at  the  naked  rock  in  stupid 
wonder.  Then,  as  eye  met  eye,  an  expression 
of  novel  intelligence  passed  from  one  to  the  other, 
indicating  that  to  them,  at  least,  the  appearance 
of  this  extraordinary  tenant  of  the  pavilion  was  as 
unexpected  as  it  was  incomprehensible.  At  length 
Asa,  in  right  of  his  years,  and  moved  by  the 
rankling  impulse  of  the  recent  quarrel,  took  on 
himself  the  office  of  interrogator.  Instead,  how- 
ever, of  braving  the  resentment  of  his  father,  of 
Whose  fierce  nature,  when  aroused,  he  had  had  too 
frequent  evidence  to  excite  it  wantonly,  he  turned 
upon  the  cowering  person  of  Abiram,  observ- 
ing with  a sneer : 

“ This,  then,  is  the  beast  you  were  bringing 
into  the  prairies  for  a decoy  ! I know  you  to  be 
a man  who  seldom  troubles  truth  when  any  thing 
worse  may  answer,  but  I never  knew  you  to  outdo 
yourself  so  thoroughly  before.  The  newspapers 
of  Kentuck  have  called  you  a dealer  in  black  flesh 
a hundred  times,  but  little  did  they  reckon  that 
you  drove  the  trade  into  white  families.” 

“ Who  is  a kidnapper  ? ” demanded  Abiram, 
with  a blustering  show  of  resentment.  “ Am  I 
to  be  called  to  account  for  every  lie  they  put  in 
print  throughout  the  States  ? Look  to  your  own 
family,  boy  ; look  to  yourselves.  The  very 
stumps  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  cry  out  agin 
ye.  Ay,  my  tonguey  gentleman,  I have  seen 
father  and  mother  and  three  children,  yourself 
for  one,  published  on  the  logs  and  stubs  of  the 
settlements,  with  dollars  enough  for  reward  to 
have  made  an  honest  man  rich,  for — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  a back-handed  but  vio- 
lent blow  on  the  mouth  that  caused  him  to  totter, 
and  which  left  the  impression  of  its  weight  in  the 
starting  blood  and  swelling  lips. 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


40 

“ Asa,”  said  the  father,  advancing  with  a por- 
tion of  that  dignity  with  which  the  hand  of 
Nature  seems  to  have  invested  the  parental  char- 
acter, “ you  have  struck  the  brother  of  your 
mother  ! ” 

“ I have  struck  the  abuser  of  the  whole  family,” 
returned  the  angry  youth  ; “ and,  unless  he 
teaches  his  tongue  a wiser  language,  he  had  bet- 
ter part  with  it  altogether,  as  the  unruly  member. 
I’m  no  great  performer  with  the  knife,  but  on  an 
occasion  could  make  out,  myself,  to  cut  off  a 
slande — ” 

“ Roy,  twice  have  you  forgotten  yourself  to- 
day. Be  careful  that  it  does  not  happen  the 
third  time.  When  the  law  of  the  land  is  weak, 
it  is  right  the  law  of  Nature  should  be  strong. 
You  understand  me,  Asa  ; and  you  know  me. 
— As  for  you,  Abiram,  the  child  has  done  you 
wrong,  and  it  is  my  place  to  see  you  righted. 
Remember,  I tell  you  justice  shall  be  done ; it  is 
enough.  But  you  have  said  hard  things  ag’in  me 
and  my  family.  If  the  hounds  of  the  law  have 
put  their  bills  on  the  trees  and  stumps  of  the 
clearing,  it  was  for  no  act  of  dishonesty,  as  you 
know,  but  because  we  maintain  the  rule  that 
’arth  is  common  property.  N o,  Abiram ; could 
I wash  my  hands  of  things  done  by  your  advice, 
as  easily  as  I can  of  the  things  done  by  the  whis- 
perings of  the  devil,  my  sleep  would  be  quieter 
at  night,  and  none  who  bear  my  name  need  blush 
to  hear  it  mentioned. — Peace,  Asa,  and  you  too, 
man ; enough  has  been  said.  Let  us  all  think 
well  before  any  thing  is  added  that  may  make 
what  is  already  so  bad  still  more  bitter.” 

Ishmael  waved  his  hand  with  authority,  as  he 
ended,  and  turned  away  with  the  air  of  one  who 
felt  assured  that  those  he  had  addressed  would 
not  have  the  temerity  to  dispute  his  commands. 
Asa  evidently  struggled  with  himself  to  compel 
the  required  obedience,  but  his  heavy  nature 
quietly  sank  into  its  ordinary  repose,  and  he  soon 
appeared  again  the  being  he  really  was — danger- 
ous only  at  moments,  and  one  whose  passions 
were  too  sluggish  to  be  long  maintained  at  the 
point  of  ferocity.  Not  so  with  Abiram.  While 
there  was  an  appearance  of  a personal  conflict 
between  him  and  his  colossal  nephew,  his  mien 
had  expressed  the  infallible  evidences  of  engross- 
ing apprehension  ; but  now  that  the  authority  as 
well  as  gigantic  strength  of  the  father  were  inter- 
posed between  him  and  his  assailant,  his  counte- 
nance changed  from  paleness  to  a livid  hue,  that 
bespoke  how  deeply  the  injury  he  had  received 
rankled  in  his  breast.  Like  Asa,  however,  he 
acquiesced  in  the  decision  of  the  squatter ; and 
the  appearance,  at  least,  of  harmony  was  restored 


again  among  a set  of  beings  who  were  restrained 
by  no  obligations  more  powerful  than  the  frail 
web  of  authority  with  which  Ishmael  had  been 
able  to  envelop  his  children. 

One  effect  of  the  quarrel  had  been  to  divert 
the  thoughts  of  the  young  man  from  their  recent 
visitor.  With  the  dispute  that  succeeded  the 
disappearance  of  the  fair  stranger,  all  recollec- 
tion of  her  existence  appeared  to  have  vanished. 
A few  ominous  and  secret  conferences,  it  is  true, 
were  held  apart,  during  which  the  direction  of 
the  eyes  of  the  different  speakers  betrayed  theii 
subject ; but  these  threatening  symptoms  soon 
disappeared,  and  the  whole  party  was  again  seen 
broken  into  its  usual,  listless,  silent,  and  loung- 
ing groups. 

“ I will  go  upon  the  rock,  boys,  and  look 
abroad  for  the  savages,”  said  Ishmael,  shortly 
after,  advancing  toward  them  with  a mien  which 
he  intended  should  be  conciliating,  at  the  same 
time  that  it  wag  authoritative.  “If  there  is 
nothing  to  fear,  we  will  go  out  on  the  plain  ; the 
day  is  too  good  to  be  lost  in  words,  like  women 
in  the  towns  wrangling  over  their  tea  and  sugared 
cakes.” 

Without  waiting  for  approbation  or  dissent, 
the  squatter  advanced  to  the  base  of  the  rock, 
which  formed  a sort  of  perpendicular  wall,  nearly 
twenty  feet  high,  around  the  whole  acclivity 
Ishmael,  however,  directed  his  footsteps  to  a point 
where  an  ascent  might  be  made  through  a narrow 
cleft,  which  he  had  taken  the  precaution  to  fortify 
with  a breastwork  of  cotton-wood  logs,  and  which, 
in  its  turi^  was  defended  by  a chevaux-de-frise  of 
the  branches  of  the  same  tree.  Here  an  armed 
man  was  usually  kept,  as  at  the  key  of  the  whole 
position,  and  here  one  of  the  young  men  now 
stood,  indolently  leaning  against  the  rock,  ready 
to  protect  the  pass,  if  it  should  prove  necessary, 
until  the  whole  party  could  be  mustered  at  the 
several  points  of  defence. 

From  this  place  the  squatter  found  the  ascent 
still  difficult,  partly  by  nature,  and  partly  by  arti- 
ficial impediments,  until  he  reached  a sort  of  ter- 
race, or,  to  speak  more  properly,  the  plain  of  the 
elevation,  where  he  had  established  the  huts  in 
which  the  whole  family  dwelt.  These  tenements 
were,  as  already  mentioned,  of  that  class  which 
are  so  often  seen  on  the  borders,  and  such  as  be- 
longed to  the  infancy  of  architecture ; being  sim- 
ply formed  of  logs,  bark,  and  poles.  The  area 
on  which  they  stood  contained  severed  hundred 
square  feet,  and  was  sufficiently  elevated  above 
the  plain  greatly  to  lessen,  if  not  to  remove,  all 
danger  from  Indian  missiles.  Here  Ishmael  be* 
lieved  he  might  leave  his  infants  in  comparative 


ESTHER  AND  HER  FAMILY. 


47 


security,  under  the  protection  of  their  spirited 
mother ; and  here  he  now  found  Esther  engaged 
Li  her  ordinary  domestic  employments,  sur- 
rounded by  her  daughters,  and  lifting  her  voice, 
in  declamatory  censure,  as  one  or  another  of  the 
idle  fry  incurred  her  displeasure,  and  far  too 
much  engrossed  with  the  tempest  of  her  own  con- 
versation to  know  any  thing  of  the  violent  scene 
which  had  been  passing  below. 

“ A fine  windy  place  you  have  chosen  for  the 
camp,  Ishmael ! ” she  commenced,  or  rather  con- 
tinued, by  merely  diverting  the  attack  from  a 
sobbing  girl  of  ten,  at  her  elbow,  to  her  husband. 
“ My  word  ! if  1 haven’t  to  count  the  young  ones 
every  ten  minutes,  to  see  they  are  not  flying  away 
among  the  buzzards  or  the  ducks.  Why  do  ye 
all  keep  hovering  round  the  rock,  like  lolloping 
reptiles  in  the  spring,  when  the  heavens  are  be- 
ginning to  be  alive  with  birds,  man  ? D’ye  think 
mouths  can  be  filled,  and  hunger  satisfied,  by  lazi- 
ness and  sleep  ? ” 

“ You’ll  have  your  say,  Eester,”  said  the  hus- 
band, using  the  provincial  pronunciation  of 
America  for  the  name,  and  regarding  his  noisy 
companions  with  a look  of  habitual  tolerance 
rather  than  of  affection.  “ But  the  birds  you 
shall  have,  if  your  own  tongue  don’t  frighten 
them  to  take  too  high  a flight.  Ay,  womaD,” 
he  continued,  standing  on  the  very  spot  whence 
he  had  so  rudely  banished  Ellen,  which  he  had 
by  this  time  gained,  “and  buffalo,  too,  if  my 
eye  can  tell  the  animal  at  the  distance  of  a Span- 
ish league.” 

“ Come  down ; come  down,  and  be^doing,  in- 
stead of  talking.  A talking  man  is  no  better  than 
a barking  dog.  Nell  shall  hang  out  the  cloth,  if 
any  of  the  red-skins  show  themselves,  in  time  to 
give  you  notice.  But,  Ishmael,  what  have  you 
been  killing,  my  man  ? — for  it  was  your  rifle  I 
heard  a few  minutes  agone,  unless  I have  lost  my 
skill  in  sounds.” 

“ Pooh ! ’twas  to  frighten  the  hawk  you  see 
sailing  above  the  rock.” 

“ Hawk,  indeed ! at  your  time  of  day  to  be 
shooting  at  hawks  and  buzzards,  with  eighteen 
open  mouths  to  feed.  Look  at  the  bee,  and  at 
the  beaver,  my  good  man,  and  learn  to  be  a pro- 
vider. Why,  Ishmael ! I believe  my  soul,”  she 
continued,  dropping  the  tow  she  was  twisting  on 
a distaff,  “ the  man  is  in  that  tent  ag’in ! More 
than  half  his  time  is  spent  about  the  worthless, 
good-for-nothing — ” 

The  sudden  reappearance  of  her  husband 
closed  the  mouth  of  the  wife ; and,  as  the  former 
descended  to  the  place  where  Esther  had  resumed 
her  employment,  she  was  content  to  grumble  forth 


her  dissatisfaction,  instead  of  expressing  it  in  more 
audible  terms. 

The  dialogue  that  now  took  place  between  the 
affectionate  pair  was  sufficiently  succinct  and  ex- 
pressive. The  woman  was  at  first  a little  brief 
and  sullen  in  her  answers,  but  care  for  her  family 
soon  rendered  her  more  complaisant.  As  the 
purport  of  the  conversation  was  merely  an  en- 
gagement to  hunt  during  the  remainder  of  the 
day,  in  order  to  provide  the  chief  necessary  of 
life,  we  shall  not  stop  to  record  it. 

With  this  resolution,  then,  the  squatter  de- 
scended to  the  plain  and  divided  his  forces  into 
two  parts,  one  of  which  was  to  remain  as  a guard 
with  the  fortress,  and  the  other  to  accompany  him 
to  the  field.  He  warily  included  Asa  and  Abiram 
in  his  own  party,  well  knowing  that  no  authority 
short  of  his  own  was  competent  to  repress  the 
fierce  disposition  of  his  headlong  son,  if  fairly 
awakened.  When  these  arrangements  were  com- 
pleted, the  hunters  sallied  forth,  separating  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  rock,  in  order  to  form  a 
circle  about  the  distant  herd  of  buffaloes. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

“ Priscian  a little  scratched ; 

'Twill  serve.” 

Love’s  Labor’s  Leer. 

Having  made  the  reader  acquainted  with  the 
manner  in  which  Ishmael  Bush  had  disposed  of 
his  family,  under  circumstances  that  might  have 
proved  so  embarrassing  to  most  other  men,  we 
shall  again  shift  the  scene  a few  short  miles  from 
the  place  last  described,  preserving,  however,  the 
due  and  natural  succession  of  time.  At  the  very 
moment  that  the  squatter  and  his  sons  departed 
in  the  manner  mentioned  in  the  preceding  chap- 
ter, two  men  were  intently  occupied  in  a swale 
that  lay  along  the  borders  of  a little  run,  just  out 
of  cannon-shot  from  the  encampment,  discussing 
the  merits  of  a savory  bison’s  hump,  that  had  been 
prepared  for  their  palates  with  the  utmost  atten- 
tion to  the  particular  merits  of  that  description 
of  food.  The  choice  morsel  had  been  judiciously 
separated  from  the  adjoining  and  less  worthy 
parts  of  the  beast,  and,  enveloped  in  the  hairy 
coating  provided  by  Nature,  it  had  duly  under- 
gone the  heat  of  the  customary  subterraneous 
oven,  and  was  now  laid  before  its  proprietors  in 
all  the  culinary  glory  of  the  prairies.  So  far  as 
richness,  delicacy  and  wildness  of  flavor,  and  sub- 
stantial nourishment  were  concerned,  the  viand 


48 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


might  well  have  claimed  a decided  superiority 
over  the  meretricious  cookery  and  labored  com- 
pounds of  the  most  renowned  artist ; though  the 
service  of  the  dainty  was  certainly  achieved  in  a 
manner  far  from  artificial.  It  would  appear  that 
the  two  fortunate  mortals,  to  whose  happy  lot  it 
fell  to  enjoy  a meal  in  which  health  and  appetite 
lent  so  keen  a relish  to  the  exquisite  food  of  the 
American  deserts,  were  far  from  being  insensible 
of  the  advantage  they  possessed. 

The  one  to  whose  knowledge  in  the  culinary 
art  the  other  was  indebted  for  his  banquet, 
seemed  the  least  disposed  of  the  two  to  profit  by 
his  own  skill.  He  ate,  it  is  true,  and  with  a 
relish ; but  it  was  always  with  the  moderation 
with  which  age  is  apt  to  temper  the  appetite. 
No  such  restraint,  however,  was  imposed  on  the 
inclination  of  his  companion.  In  the  very  flow- 
er of  his  days  and  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  the 
homage  that  he  paid  to  the  work  of  his  more 
aged  friend’s  hands  was  of  the  most  profound  and 
engrossing  character.  As  one  delicious  morsel 
succeeded  another  he  rolled  his  eyes  toward  his 
companion,  and  seemed  to  express  that  gratitude 
which  he  had  not  speech  to  utter,  in  looks  of  the 
most  benignant  nature. 

“ Cut  more  into  the  heart  of  it,  lad,”  said  the 
trapper,  for  it  was  the  venerable  inhabitant  of 
those  vast  wastes  who  had  served  the  bee-hunter 
with  the  banquet  in  question;  “cut  more  into 
the  centre  of  the  piece ; there  you  will  find  the 
genuine  riches  of  natur’ ; and  that  without  need 
from  spices,  or  any  of  your  biting  mustard,  to 
give  it  a foreign  relish.” 

“ If  I had  but  a cup  of  metheglin,”  said  Paul, 
stopping  to  perform  the  necessary  operation  of 
breathing,  “I  should  swear  this  was  the  strong- 
est meal  that  was  ever  placed  before  the  mouth 
of  man ! ” 

“Ay,  ay,  well  you  may  call  it  strong!”  re- 
turned the  other,  laughing  after  his  peculiar 
manner,  in  pure  satisfaction  at  witnessing  the 
infinite  contentment  of  his  companion ; “ strong 
it  is,  and  strong  it  makes  him  who  eats  it ! — Here, 
Hector,”  tossing  the  patient  hound,  who  was 
watching  his  eye  with  a wistful  look,  a portion  of 
the  meat,  “ you  have  need  of  strength,  my  friend, 
in  your  old  days  as  well  as  your  master. — Now, 
lad,  there  is  a dog  that  has  eaten  and  slept  wiser 
and  better,  ay,  and  that  of  richer  food,  than 
any  king  of  them  all ! and  why  ? because  he  has 
used  and  not  abused  the  gifts  of  his  Maker.  He 
was  made  a hound,  and  like  a hound  has  he 
feasted.  Them  did  He  create  men ; but  they 
have  eaten  like  famished  wolves  ! A good  and 
prudent  dog  has  Hector  proved,  and  never  have  I 


found  one  of  his  breed  false  in  nose  or  friendship. 
Do  you  know  the  difference  between  the  cookery 
of  the  wilderness  and  that  which  is  found  in  the 
settlements  ? No ! I see  plainly  you  don’t,  by 
your  appetite ; then  I will  tell  you.  The  one 
follows  man,  the  other  Natur’.  One  thinks  he 
can  add  to  the  gifts  of  the  Creator,  while  the 
other  is  humble  enough  to  enjoy  them ; therein 
lies  the  secret.” 

“ I tell  you,  trapper,”  said  Paul,  who  was  very 
little  edified  by  the  morality  with  which  his  asso- 
ciate saw  fit  to  season  their  repast,  “ that  every 
day  while  we  are  in  this  place,  and  they  are  likely 
to  be  many,  I will  shoot  a buffalo  and  you  6hall 
cook  his  hump  ! ” 

“ I cannot  say  that,  I cannot  say  that.  The 
beast  is  good,  take  him  in  what  part  you  will, 
and  it  was  to  be  food  for  man  that  he  was  fash- 
ioned ; but  I cannot  say  that  I will  be  a witness 
and  a helper  to  the  waste  of  killing  one  daily.” 

“ The  devil  a bit  of  waste  shall  there  be,  old 
man.  If  they  all  turn  out  as  good  as  this,  I will 
engage  to  eat  them  clean  myself,  even  to  the 
hoofs. — How  now,  who  comes  here ! some  one 
with  a long  nose,  I will  answer ; and  one  that  has 
lecl  him  on  a true  scent,  if  he  is  following  the 
trail  of  a dinner.” 

The  individual  who  interrupted  the  conversa- 
tion, and  who  had  elicited  the  foregoing  remark 
of  Paul,  was  seen  advancing  along  the  margin 
of  the  run  with  a deliberate  pace,  in  a direct 
line  for  the  two  revellers.  As  there  was  noth- 
ing formidable  nor  hostile  in  his  appearance,  the 
bee-huut<#,  instead  of  suspending  his  operations, 
rather  increased  his  efforts,  in  a manner  which 
would  seem  to.  imply  that  he  doubted  whether 
the  hump  would  suffice  for  the  proper  entertain- 
ment of  all  who  were  now  likely  to  partake  of 
the  delicious  morsel.  With  the  trapper,  however, 
the  case  was  different.  His  more  tempered 
appetite  was  already  satisfied,  and  he  faced  the 
new-comer  with  a look  of  cordiality  that  plainly 
evinced  how  very  opportune  he  considered  his 
arrival. 

“ Come  on,  friend,”  he  said,  waving  his  hand, 
as  he  observed  the  stranger  to  pause  a moment, 
apparently  in  doubt.  “ Come  on,  I say  ; if  hun- 
ger be  your  guide,  it  has  led  you  to  a fitting 
place.  Here  is  meat,  and  this  youth  can  give  you 
corn,  parched  till  it  be  whiter  than  the  upland 
snow;  come  on,  without  fear.  We  are  not  rav- 
enous beasts,  eating  of  each  other,  but  Christian 
men,  receiving  thankfully  that  which  the  Lord 
hath  seen  fit  to  give.” 

“Venerable  hunter,”  returned  the  doctor,  for 
it  was  no  other  than  the  naturalist  on  one  of  his 


AN  OFFENDED  NATURALIST. 


49 


daily  exploring  expeditions,  “I  rejoice  greatly 
at  this  happy  meeting ; we  are  lovers  of  the  same 
pursuits,  and  should  be  friends.” 

“ Lord,  Lord ! ” said  the  old  man,  laughing, 
without  much  deference  to  the  rules  of  decorum, 
in  the  philosopher’s  very  face,  “it  is  the  man 
who  wanted  to  make  me  believe  that  a name 
could  change  the  natur’  of  a beast!  Come, 
friend,  you  are  welcome,  though  your  notions  are 
a little  blinded  with  reading  too  many  books. 
Sit  yc  down,  and,  after  eating  of  this  morsel, 
tell  me,  if  you  can,  the  name  of  the  creatur’  that 
has  bestowed  on  you  its  flesh  for  a meal  ? ” 

The  eyes  of  Dr.  Battius  (for  we  deem  it 
decorous  to  give  the  good  man  the  appellation 
he  most  preferred) — the  eyes  of  Dr.  Battius 
sufficiently  denoted  the  satisfaction  with  which 
he  listened  to  this  proposal.  The  exercise  he 
had  taken,  and  the  sharpness  of  the  wind,  proved 
excellent  stimulants  ; and  Paul  himself  had 
hardly  been  in  better  plight  to  do  credit  to  the 
trapper’s  cookery,  than  was  the  lover  of  Nature, 
when  the  grateful  invitation  met  his  ears.  In- 
dulging in  a small  laugh,  which  his  exertions  to 
repress  reduced  nearly  to  a simper,  he  took  the 
indicated  seat  by  the  old  man’s  side,  And  made 
the  customary  dispositions  to  commence  his  meal 
without  further  ceremony. 

“ I should  be  ashamed  of  my  profession,”  he 
said,  swallowing  a morsel  of  the  hump  with  evi- 
dent delight,  slyly  endeavoring  at  the  same  time 
to  distinguish  the  peculiarities  of  the  singed  and 
defaced  skin,  “I  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  my 
profession,  were  there  beast  or  bird,  on  the  con- 
tinent of  America,  that  I could  not  tell  by  some 
one  of  the  many  evidences  which  science  has 
enlisted  in  her  cause.  This — then — the  food  is 
nutritious  and  savory — a mouthful  of  your  corn, 
friend,  if  you  please  ? ” 

Paul,  who  continued  eating  with  increasing 
industry,  looking  askant  not  unlike  a dog  when 
engaged  in  the  same  agreeable  pursuit,  threw  him 
his  pouch,  without  deeming  it  at  all  necessary  to 
suspend  his  own  labors. 

“You  were  saying,  friend,  that  you  have 
many  ways  of  telling  the  creatur’  ? ” — observed 
the  attentive  trapper. 

“ Many — many  and  infallible.  Now,  the  an- 
imals that  are  carnivorous  are  known  by  their 
incisores.” 

“ Their  what  ? ” demanded  the  trapper. 

“ The  teeth  with  which  Nature  has  furnished 
them  for  defence,  and  in  order  to  tear  their  food. 
Again — ” 

“ Look  you  then  for  the  teeth  of  this  crea- 
tur’,” interrupted  the  trapper,  who  was  bent  on 

4 


convicting  a man  who  had  presumed  to  enter  in- 
to competition  with  himself,  in  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  wilds,  of  gross  ignorance ; “ turn  the 
piece  round  and  find  your  inside-overs.” 

The  doctor  complied,  and  of  course  without 
success;  though  he  profited  by  the  occasion  to 
take  another  fruitless  glance  at  the  wrinkled 
hide. 

“Well,  friend,  do  you  find  the  things  you 
need,  before  you  can  pronounce  the  creatur’  a 
duck  or  a salmon  ? ” 

“ I apprehend  the  entire  animal  is  not  here  ? ” 

“You  may  well  say  as  much,”  cried  Paul, 
who  was  now  compelled  to  pause  from  pure  re- 
pletion ; “ I will  answer  for  some  pounds  of  the 
fellow,  weighed  by  the  truest  steelyards  west  of 
the  Alleghanies.  Still  you  may  make  out  to  keep 
soul  and  body  together  with  what  is  left,”  reluc- 
tantly eying  a piece  large  enough  to  feed  twenty 
men,  but  which  he  felt  compelled  to  abandon 
from  satiety ; “ cut  in  nigher  to  the  heart,  as  the 
old  man  says,  and  you  will  find  the  riches  of  the 
piece.” 

“ The  heart ! ” exclaimed  the  doctor,  inwardly 
delighted  to  learn  there  was  a distinct  organ  to 
be  submitted  to  his  inspection.  “Ay,  let  me  see 
the  heart — it  will  at  once  determine  the  charac- 
ter of  the  animal — certes  this  is  not  the  cor — 
ay,  sure  enough  it  is — the  animal  must  be  of  tho 
order  Belluce , from  its  obese  habits  ! ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  a long  and  hearty,  but 
still  a noiseless  fit  of  merriment,  from  the  trap- 
per, which  was  considered  so  ill-timed  by.  the  of- 
fended naturalist,  as  to  produce  an  instant  cessa- 
tion of  speech,  if  not  a stagnation  of  ideas. 

“ Listen  to  his  beasts’  habits  and  belly  orders,” 
said  the  old  man,  delighted  with  the  evident  em- 
barrassment of  his  rival ; “ and  then  he  says  it  is 
not  the  core ! Why,  man,  you  are  further  from 
the  truth  than  you  are  from  the  settlements,  with 
all  your  bookish  laming  and  hard  words  ; which 
I have,  once  for  all,  said  cannot  be  understood 
by  any  tribe  or  nation  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. Beastly  habits  or  no  beastly  habits,  the 
creatur’s  are  to  be  seen  cropping  the  prairies  by 
tens  of  thousands,  and  the  piece  in  your  hand 
is  the  core  of  as  juicy  a buffalo-hump  as  stomach 
need  crave ! ” 

“My  aged  companion,”  said  Obed,  struggling 
to  keep  down  a rising  irascibility  that  he  conceived 
would  ill  comport  with  the  dignity  of  his  charac- 
ter, “ your  system  is  erroneous,  from  the  premises 
to  the  conclusion  ; and  your  classification  so 
faulty,  as  utterly  to  confound  the  distinctions  of 
science.  The  buffalo  is  not  gifted  with  a hump 
at  all ; nor  is  his  flesh  savory  and  wholesome,  as 


50 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


I mu3t  acknowledge  it  would  seem  the  subject 
before  us  may  well  be  characterized — ” 

“There  I’m  dead  agamst  you,  and  clearly 
with  the  trapper,  ” interrupted  Paul  Hover. 
“ The  man  who  denies  that  buffalo-beef  is  good, 
should  scorn  to  eat  it ! ” * 

The  doctor,  whose  observation  of  the  bee- 
hunter  had  hitherto  been  exceedingly  cursory, 
stared  at  the  new  speaker  with  a look  which  de- 
noted something  like  recognition. 

“ The  principal  characteristics  of  your  coun- 
tenance, friend,”  he  said,  “are  familiar;  either 
you,  or  some  other  specimen  of  your  class,  is 
known  to  me.” 

“ I am  the  man  you  met  in  the  woods  east  of 
the  big  river,  and  whom  you  tried  to  persuade  to 
line  a yellow  hornet  to  his  nest;  as  if  my  eye 
was  not  too  true  to  mistake  any  other  animal  for 
a honey-bee,  in  a clear  day  ! We  tarried  to- 
gether a week,  as  you  may  remember ; you  at 
your  toads  and  lizards,  and  I at  my  high  holes 
and  hollow  trees : and  a good  job  we  made  of  it 
between  us ! I filled  my  tubs  with  the  sweetest 
honey  I ever  sent  to  the  settlements,  besides 
housing  a dozen  hives ; and  your  bag  was  near 
bursting  with  a crawling  museum.  I never  was 
bold  enough  to  put  the  question  to  your  face, 
stranger,  but  I reckon  you  are  a keeper  of  curi- 
osities ? ” f 

“ Ay  ! that  is  another  of  their  wanton  wicked- 
nesses ! ” exclaimed  the  trapper.  “ They  slay  the 
buck,  and  the  moose,  and  the  wild-cat,  and  all  the 
beasts  that  range  the  woods,  and  stuffing  them 
with  worthless  rags,  and  placing  eye3  of  glass  in- 
to their  heads,  they  set  them  up  to  be  stared  at, 
and  call  them  the  creatur’s  of  the  Lord ; as  if 
any  mortal  effigy  could  equal  the  works  of  his 
hand ! ” 

“ I know  you  well ! ” returned  the  doctor,  on 
whom  the  plaint  of  the  old  man  produced  no 
visible  impression.  “I  know  you,”  offering  his 
hand  cordially  to  Paul ; “ it  was  a prolific  week, 

* It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  tell  the  reader  that  the 
animal  so  often  alluded  to  in  this  book,  and  which  is  vul- 
garly called  the  buffalo,  is  in  truth  the  bison;  hence  so 
many  contre-temps  between  the  men  of  the  prairies  and  the 
men  of  science. 

t The  pursuit  of  a bee-hunter  is  not  uncommon,  on  the 
skirts  of  American  society,  though  it  is  a little  embellished 
here.  "When  the  bees  are  seen  sucking  the  flowers,  their 
pursuer  contrives  to  capture  one  or  two.  He  then  chooses 
a proper  spot,  and,  suffering  one  to  escape,  the  insect  in- 
variably takes  its  flight  toward  the  hive/  Changing  his 
ground  to  a greater  or  less  distance,  according  to  circum- 
stances, the  bee-hunter  then  permits  another  to  escape. 
Having  watched  the  courses  of  the  bees,  which  is  techni- 
cally called  lining,  he  is  enabled  to  calculate  the  intersecting 
angle  of  the  two  lines,  which  is  the  hive. 


as  my  herbal  and  catalogues  shall  one  day  prove. 
Ay,  I remember  you  well,  young  man.  You  are 
of  the  class , mammalia;  order , primates;  genus , 
homo ; species , Kentucky.”  Pausing  to  smile  at 
his  own  humor,  the  naturalist  proceeded  : “ Since 
our  separation,  I have  journeyed  far,  having  en- 
tered into  a compactum  or  agreement  with  a cer- 
tain man  named  Ishmael — ” 

“ Bush  ! ” interrupted  the  impatient  and  reck- 
less Paul.  “ By  the  Lord,  trapper,  this  is  the 
very  bloodletter  that  Ellen  told  me  of ! ” 

“ Then  Nelly  has  not  done  me  credit  for  what 
I trust  I deserve,”  returned  the  single-minded 
doctor,  “ for  I am  not  of  the  phlebotomizing 
school  at  all;  greatly  preferring  the  practice 
which  purifies  the  blood  instead  of  abstracting  it.” 

“ It  was  a blunder  of  mine,  good  stranger ; 
the  girl  called  you  a skilful  man.” 

“ Therein  she  may  have  exceeded  my  merits,” 
Pr.  Battius  continued,  bowing  with  sufficient 
meekness.  “But  Ellen  is  a good,  and  a kind, 
and  a spirited  girl,  too.  A kind  and  a sweet  girl 
I have  ever  found  Nelly  Wade  to  be  ! ” 

“ The  devil  you  have ! ” cried  Paul,  dropping 
the  morsel  he  was  sucking,  from  sheer  reluctance 
to  abandon  the  hump,  and  casting  a fierce  and 
direct  look  into  the  very  teeth  of  the  unconscious 
physician.  “ I reckon,  stranger,  you  have  a mind 
to  bag  Ellen,  too ! ” 

“The  riches  of  the  whole  vegetable  and  ani- 
mal world  united  would  not  tempt  me  to  harm 
a hair  of  her  head!  I love  the  childe,  with 
what  may  be  called  amor  naturalis — or  rather 
paternus — the  affection  of  a father.” 

“ Ay — that,  indeed,  is  more  befitting  the  dif- 
ference in  your  years,”  Paul  coolly  rejoined, 
stretching  forth  his  hand  to  regain  the  rejected 
morsel.  “ You  would  be  no  better  than  a drone, 
at  your  time  of  day,  with  a young  hive  to  feed 
and  swarm.” 

“Yes,  there  is  reason,  because  there  is  natur’, 
in  what  he  says,”  observed  the  trapper;  “but, 
friend,  you  have  said  you  were  a dweller  in  the 
camp  of  one  Ishmael  Bush  ? ” 

“ True ; it  is  in  virtue  of  a compactum — ” 

“ I know  but  little  of  the  virtue  of  packing, 
though  I follow  trapping,  in  my  old  age,  for  a 
livelihood.  They  tell  me  that  skins  are  well  kept 
in  the  new  fashion ; but  it  is  long  since  I have 
left  off  killing  more  than  I need  for  food  and  gar- 
ments. I was  an  eye-witness,  myself,  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  Siouxes  broke  into  your 
encampment,  and  drove  off  the  cattle  ; stripping 
the  poor  man  you  call  Ishmael  of  his  smallest 
hoofs,  counting  even  the  cloven  feet.” 

“ Asinus  excepted,”  muttered  the  doctor,  who 


A VAGARY  OF  NATURE. 


51 


by  this  time  was  discussing  his  portion  of  the 
hump,  in  utter  forgetfulness  of  all  its  scientific 
attributes — “ asinus  domesticus  Americanus  ex- 
cepted.” 

“ I am  glad  to  hear  that  so  many  of  them  are 
saved,  though  I know  not  the  value  of  the  animals 
you  name;  which  is  nothing  uncommon,  seeing 
how  long  it  is  that  I have  been  out  of  the  settle- 
ments. But  can  you  tell  me,  friend,  what  the 
traveller  carries  under  the  white  cloth  he  guards 
with  teeth  as  sharp  as  a wolf  that  quarrels  for 
the  carcass  the  hunter  has  left  ? ” 

“You’ve  heard  of  it!”  exclaimed  the  other, 
dropping  the  morsel  he  was  conveying  to  his 
mouth  in  manifest  surprise. 

“ Nay,  I have  heard  nothing ; but  I have  seen 
the  cloth,  and  had  like  to  have  been  bitten  for  no 
greater  crime  than  wishing  to  know  what  it  cov- 
ered.” 

“ Bitten ! then,  after  all,  the  animal  must  be 
carnivorous ! It  is  too  tranquil  for  the  Ursus 
horridus ; if  it  were  the  Canis  latrans , the  voice 
would  betray  it.  Nor  would  Nelly  Wade  be  so 
familiar  with  any  of  the  genus  Ferce.  Venerable 
hunter!  the  solitary  animal  confined  in  that 
wagon  by  day,  and  in  the  tent  at  night,  has  oc- 
casioned me  more  perplexity  of  mind  than  the 
whole  catalogue  of  quadrupeds  besides ; and  for 
this  plain  reason : I did  not  know  how  to  class 
it.” 

“ You  think  it  a ravenous  beast  ? ” 

“ I know  it  to  be  a quadruped : your  own  dan- 
ger proves  it  to  be  carnivorous.” 

During  this  broken  explanation  Paul  Hover 
had  sat  silent  and  thoughtful,  regarding  each 
Bpeaker  with  deep  attention.  But,  suddenly 
moved  by  the  manner  of  the  doctor,  the  latter 
had  scarcely  time  to  utter  his  positive  assertion, 
before  the  young  man  bluntly  demanded — 

“ And  pray,  friend,  what  may  you  call  a quad- 
ruped ? ” 

“ A vagary  of  Nature,  wherein  she  has  dis- 
played less  of  her  infinite  wisdom  than  is  usual. 
Could  rotary  levers  be  substituted  for  two  of  the 
limbs,  agreeably  to  the  improvement  in  my  new 
order  of  phalangacrura,  which  might  be  rendered 
into  the  vernacular  as  lever-legged,  there  would 
be  a delightful  perfection  and  harmony  in  the 
construction.  But,  as  the  quadruped  is  now 
formed,  I call  it  a mere  vagary  of  Nature  ; no 
other  than  a vagary.” 

“ Harkee,  stranger ! in  Kentucky  we  are  but 
gmall  dealers  in  dictionaries.  Vagary  is  as  hard 
a word  to  turn  into  English  as  quadruped.” 

M A quadruped  is  an  animal  with  four  legs — a 

beast.” 


“ A beast ! Do  you  then  reckon  that  Ishmael 
Bush  travels  with  a beast  caged  in  that  wagon  ? ” 
“I  know  it;  and  lend  me  your  ear — not  lit- 
erally, friend,”  observing  Paul  to  start  and  look 
surprised;  “but  figuratively — through  its  func- 
tions, and  you  shall  hear.  I have  already  made 
known  that,  in  virtue  of  a compactum,  I journey 
with  the  aforesaid  Ishmael  Bush ; but  though  I am 
bound  to  perform  certain  duties  while  the  journey 
lasts,  there  is  no  condition  which  says  that  the 
journey  shall  be  sempiternum,  or  eternal.  Now, 
though  this  region  may  scarcely  be  said-  to  be 
wedded  to  science,  being  to  all  intents  a virgin  terri- 
tory as  respects  the  inquirer  into  natural  History, 
still  it  is  greatly  destitute  of  the  treasures  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom.  I should,  therefore,  have  tar- 
ried some  hundreds  of  miles  more  to  the  east- 
ward, were  it  not  for  the  inward  propensity  that  I 
feel  to  have  the  beast  in  question  inspected  and 
suitably  described  and  classed.  For  that  matter,” 
he  continued,  dropping  his  voice  like  one  who  im- 
parts an  important  secret,  “ I am  not  without  hopes 
of  persuading  Ishmael  to  let  me  dissevt  it.” 

“ You  have  seen  the  creature  ? ” 

“ Not  with  the  organs  of  sight ; but  with  much 
more  infallible  instruments  of  vision : the  conclu- 
sions of  reason,  and  the  deductions  of  scientific 
premises.  I have  watched  the  habits  of  the  ani- 
mal, young  man;  and  can  fearlessly  pronounce, 
by  evidence  that  would  be  thrown  away  on  ordi- 
nary observers,  that  it  is  of  vast  dimensions,  inac- 
tive, possibly  torpid,  of  voracious  appetite,  and, 
as  it  now  appears  by  the  direct  testimony  of  this 
venerable  hunter,  ferocious  and  carnivorous  ! ” 

“ I should  be  better  pleased,  stranger,”  said 
Paul,  on  whom  the  doctor’s  description  was  mak- 
ing a very  sensible  impression,  “ to  be  sure  the 
creature  was  a beast  at  all.” 

“ As  to  that,  if  I wanted  evidence  of  a fact, 
which  is  abundantly  apparent  by  the  habits  of  the 
animal,  I have  the  word  of  Ishmael  himself.  A 
reason  can  be  given  for  my  smallest  deductions. 
I am  not  troubled,  young  man,  with  a vulgar  and 
idle  curiosity,  but  all  my  aspirations  after  knowl- 
edge, as  I humbly  believe,  are,  first,  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  learning,  and,  secondly,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  my  fellow-creatures.  I pined  greatly  in  se- 
cret to  know  the  contents  of  the  tent,  which  Ish- 
mael guarded  so  carefully,  and  which  he  had 
covenanted  that  I should  swear  (jurare  per  deos ) 
not  to  approach  nigher  than  a defined  number  of 
cubits  for  a definite  period  of  time.  Your  jusju- 
randum,  or  oath,  is  a serious  matter,  and  not  to 
be  dealt  in  lightly;  but,  as  my  expedition  de- 
pended on  complying,  I consented  to  the  act,  re- 
serving to  myself  at  all  times  the  power  of  distant 


52 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


observation.  It  is  now  some  ten  days  since  Ish- 
mael,  pitying  the  state  in  which  he  saw  me,  a 
humble  lover  of  science,  impo^d  the  fact  that 
the  vehicle  contained  a beast,  which  he  was  carry- 
ing into  the  prairies  as  a decoy,  by  which  he  in- 
tends to  entrap  others  of  the  same  genus,  or  per- 
haps species.  Since  then  my  task  has  been  re- 
duced simply  to  watch  the  habits  of  the  animal, 
and  to  record  the  results.  When  we  reach  a 
certain  distance,  where  these  beasts  are  said  to 
abound,  I am  to  have  the  liberal  examination  of 
the  specimen.” 

Paul  continued  to  listen,  in  the  most  profound 
silence,  until  the  doctor  concluded  his  singular 
but  characteristic  explanation  ; then  the  incredu- 
lous bee-hunter  shook  his  head,  and  saw  fit  to  re- 
ply by  saying : 

“ Stranger,  old  Ishmael  has  burrowed  you  in 
the  very  bottom  of  a hollow  tree,  wrhere  your  eyes 
will  be  of  no  more  use  than  the  sting  of  a drone. 
I,  too,  know  something  of  that  very  wagon,  and  I 
may  say  that  I have  lined  the  squatter  down  into 
a flat  lie.  Harkee,  friend;  do  you  think  a girl 
like  Ellen  Wade  would  become  the  companion  of 
a wild  beast  ? ” 

“ Why  not  ? why  not  ? ” repeated  the  natu- 
ralist ; “ Nelly  has  a taste,  and  often  listens  with 
pleasure  to  the  treasures  that  I am  sometimes 
compelled  to  scatter  in  this  desert.  Why  should 
she  not  study  the  habits  of  any  animal,  even 
though  it  were  a rhinoceros  ? ” 

“ Softly,  softly,”  returned  the  equally  positive, 
and,  though  less  scientific,  certainly  on  this  sub- 
ject better-instructed  bee-hunter;  “Ellen  is  a 
girl  of  spirit,  and  one  too  that  knows  her  own 
mind,  or  I’m  much  mistaken ; but,  with  all  her 
courage  and  brave  looks,  she  is  no  better  than  a 
woman  after  all.  Haven’t  I often  had  the  girl 
crying — ” 

“You  are  an  acquaintance,  then,  of  Nelly’s?” 

“The  devil  a bit.  But  I know  woman  is 
woman ; and  all  the  books  in  Kentucky  couldn’t 
make  Ellen  Wade  go  into  a tent  alone  with  a 
ravenous  beast ! ” 

“It  seems  to  me,”  the  trapper  calmly  ob- 
served, “ that  there  is  something  dark  and  hidden 
in  this  matter.  I am  a witness  that  the  traveller 
likes  none  to  look  into  the  tent,  and  I have  proof 
more  sure  than  what  either  of  you  can  lay  claim 
to,  that  the  wagon  does  not  carry  the  cage  of  a 
beast.  Here  is  Hector,  come  of  a breed  with 
noses  as  true  and  faithful  as  a hand  that  is  all- 
powerful  has  made  any  of  their  kind,  and,  had 
there  been  a beast  in  the  place,  the  hound  would 
long  since  have  told  it  to  his  master.” 

“ Do  you  pretend  to  oppose  a dog  to  a man  ? 


brutality  to  learning  ? instinct  to  reason  ? ” ex- 
claimed the  doctor,  in  some  heat.  “ In  what 
manner,  pray,  can  a hound  distinguish  the  habits, 
species,  or  even  the  genus  of  an  animal,  like  rea- 
soning, learned,  scientific,  triumphant  man  ? ” 

“ In  what  manner ! ” coolly  repeated  the  vet- 
eran woodsman.  “ Listen ; and  if  you  believe  that 
a school-master  can  make  a quicker  wit  than  the 
Lord,  you  shall  be  made  to  see  how  much  you’re 
mistaken.  Do  you  not  hear  something  move  in 
the  brake  ? it  has  been  cracking  the  twigs  these 
five  minutes.  Now  tell  me  what  the  creatur’ 
is?” 

“ I hope  nothing  ferocious ! ” exclainled  the 
doctor,  who  still  retained  a lively  impression  of 
his  rencounter  with  the  Vespertilio  horribilis. 
“ You  have  rifles,  friends ; would  it  not  be  pru- 
dent to  prime  them  ? for  this  fowling-piece  of 
mine  is  little  to  be  depended  on.” 

“ There  may  be  reason  in  what  he  says,”  re- 
turned the  trapper,  so  far  complying  as  to  take 
his  piece  from  the  place  where  it  had  lain  during 
the  repast,  and  raising  its  muzzle  in  the  air. 
“ Now  tell  me  the  name  of  the  creatur’  ? ” 

“ It  exceeds  the  limits  of  earthly  knowledge  S 
Buffon  himself  could  not  tell  whether  the  animal 
was  a quadruped,  or  of  the  order  serpens  ! a sheep, 
or  a tiger ! ” 

“ Then  was  your  Buffoon  a fool  to  my  Hector ! 
— Here ; pup ! What  is  it,  dog  ? shall  we  run  it 
down,  pup,  or  shall  we  let  it  pass  ? ” 

The  hound,  which  had  already  manifested  to 
the  experienced  trapper,  by  the  tremulous  motion 
of  his  ears,  his  consciousness  of  the  proximity  of 
a strange  animal,  lifted  his  head  from  his  fore- 
paws and  slightly  parted  his  lips,  as  if  about  to 
show  the  remnants  of  his  teeth.  But,  suddenly 
abandoning  his  hostile  purpose,  he  snuffed  the  air 
a moment,  gaped  heavily,  shook  himself,  and 
peaceably  resumed  his  recumbent  attitude. 

“ Now,  doctor,”  cried  the  trapper,  triumphant- 
ly, “ I am  well  convinced  there  is  neither  game 
nor  ravenous  beast  in  the  thicket ; and  that  I call 
substantial  knowledge  to  a man  who  is  too  old  to 
be  a spendthrift  of  his  strength,  and  yet  who 
would  not  wish  to  be  a meal  for  a panther  ! ” 

The  dog  interrupted  his  master  by  a growl, 
but  still  kept  his  head  crouched  to  the  earth. 

“ It  is  a man ! ” exclaimed  the  trapper,  rising. 
“ It  is  a man,  if  I am  a judge  of  the  creatur’s 
ways.  There  is  but  little  said  atwixt  the  hound 
and  me,  but  we  seldom  mistake  each  other’s 
meaning ! ” 

Paul  Hover  sprang  to  his  feet  like  lightning ; 
and,  throwing  forward  his  rifle,  he  cried  in  a voio* 
of  menace : 


INTERVIEW  WITH  A STRANGER. 


53 


“ Come  forward  if  a friend ; if  an  enemy, 
stand  ready  for  the  worst ! ” 

“ A friend,  a white  man,  and,  I hope,  a Chris- 
tian,” returned  a voice  from  the  thicket ; which 
opened  at  the  same  instant,  and  at  the  next  the 
speaker  made  his  appearance. 


CHAPTER  X. 

“ 60  apart,  Adam,  and  thou  shalt  hear 
How  he  will  shake  me  up.” 

As  YOU  LIKE  IT. 

It  is  well  known  that,  even  long  before  the 
immense  regions  of  Louisiana  changed  their  mas- 
ters for  the  second,  and,  it  is  hoped,  to  be  for  the 
last  time,  its  unguarded  territory  was  by  no  means 
safe  from  the  inroads  of  white  adventurers.  The 
semi-barbarous  hunters  from  the  Canadas,  the 
same  description  of  population,  a little  more  en- 
lightened, from  the  States,  and  the  metifs  or  half- 
breeds,  who  claimed  to  be  ranked  in  the  class  of 
white  men,  were  scattered  among  the  different  In- 
dian tribes,  or  gleaned  a scanty  livelihood  in  soli- 
tude, amid  the  haunts  of  the  beaver  and  the  bison ; 
or,  to  adopt  the  popular  nomenclature  of  the 
country — of  the  buffalo.* 

It  was,  therefore,  no  unusual  thing  for  stran- 
gers to  encounter  each  other  in  the  endless  wrastes 
of  the  west.  By  signs  which  an  unpractised  eye 
would  pass  unobserved,  a borderer  knew  when 
one  of  his  fellows  was  in  his  vicinity,  and  he 
avoided  or  approached  the  intruder  as  best  com- 
ported with  his  feelings  or  his  interests.  Gener- 
ally these  interviews  were  pacific  ; for  the  whites 
had  a common  enemy  to  dread,  in  the  ancient  and 
perhaps  more  lawful  occupants  of  the  country; 
but  instances  were  not  rare  in  which  jealousy  and 
cupidity  had  caused  them  to  terminate  in  scenes 
of  the  most  violent  and  ruthless  treachery.  The 
meeting  of  two  hunters  on  the  American  Desert, 
as  we  find  it  convenient  sometimes  to  call  this  re- 
gion, was  consequently  somewhat  in  the  suspi- 
cious and  wary  manner  in  which  two  vessels  draw 
together  in  a sea  that  is  known  to  be  infested  with 
pirates.  While  neither  party  is  wolfing  to  betray 
its  weakness  by  exhibiting  distrust,  neither  is  dis- 
posed to  commit  itself  by  any  acts  of  confidence, 
from  which  it  may  be  difficult  to  recede. 

Such  was,  in  some  degree,  the  character  of  the 

* In  addition  to  the  scientific  distinctions  which  mark 
the  two  species,  it  may  be  added,  with  due  reference  to  Dr. 
Battius,  that  a much  more  important  particular  is  the  fact 
that,  while  the  former  of  these  animals  is  delicious  and  nour- 
ishing food,  the  latter  is  scarcely  edible. 


present  interview.  The  stranger  drew  nigh  de- 
liberately ; keeping  his  eyes  steadily  fastened  on 
the  movements  of  the  other  party,  while  he  pur- 
posely created  little  difficulties  to  impede  an  ap- 
proach which  might  prove  too  hasty.  On  the 
other  hand,  Paul  stood  playing  with  the  lock 
of  his  rifle,  too  proud  to  let  it  appear  that 
three  men  could  manifest  any  apprehension  of  a 
solitary  individual,  and  yet  too  prudent  to  omit, 
entirely,  the  customary  precautions.  The  princi- 
pal reason  of  the  marked  difference  which  the  two 
legitimate  proprietors  of  the  banquet  made  in  the 
receptions  of  their  guests,  was  to  be  explained  by 
the  entire  difference  which  existed  in  their  respec- 
tive appearances. 

While  the  exterior  of  the  naturalist  was  decid- 
edly pacific,  not  to  say  abstracted,  that  of  the  new- 
comer was  distinguished  by  an  air  of  vigor,  and  a 
front  .and  step  which  it  would  not  have  been  diffi- 
cult to  have  at  once  pronounced  to  be  military. 

' He  wore  a forage-cap  of  fine  blue  cloth,  from 
wffiich  depended  a soiled  tassel  in  gold,  and  which 
was  nearly  buried  in  a mass  of  exuberant,  curling, 
jet-black  hair.  Around  his  throat  he  had  negli- 
gently fastened  a stock  of  black  silk.  His  body 
was  enveloped  in  a hunting-shirt  of  dark  green, 
trimmed  with  the  yellow  fringes  and  ornaments 
that  were  sometimes  seen  among  the  border- 
troops  of  the  Confederacy.  Beneath  this,  how- 
ever, were  visible  the  collar  and  lappels  of  a jack- 
et, similar  in  color  and  cloth  to  the  cap.  His 
lower  limbs  were  protected  by  buckskin  leggings, 
and  his  feet  by  the  ordinary  Indian  moccasins. 
A richly-ornamented  and  exceedingly  dangerous 
straight  dirk  was  stuck  in  a sash  ct  red-silk  net- 
work ; another  girdle,  or  rather  belt,  of  uncolored 
leather  contained  a pair  of  the  smallest-sized  pis- 
tols, in  holsters  nicely  made  to  fit,  and  ncross  his 
shoulder  was  thrown  a short,  heav  military  rifle ; 
its  horn  and  pouch  occupying  the  usual  places  be- 
neath his  arms.  At  his  back  he  bore  a knapsack, 
marked  by  the  well-known  initials  that  have  since 
gained  for  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
the  good-humored  and  quaint  appellation  of  Un- 
cle Sam. 

“I  come  in  amity,”  the  stranger  said,  like  one 
too  much  accustomed  to  the  sight  of  arms  to  be 
startled  at  the  ludicrously  belligerent  attitude 
which  Dr.  Battius  had  seen  fit  to  assume — “I 
come  as  a friend ; and  am  one  whose  pursuits  and 
wishes  will  not  at  all  interfere  with  your  own.” 

“ Harkee,  stranger,”  said  Paul  Hover,  bluntly ; 
“ do  you  understand  lining  a bee  from  this  open 
place  into  a wood,  distant,  perhaps  a dozen  miles  ? ” 

“ The  bee  is  a bird  I have  never  been  compelled 
to  seek,”  returned  the  other,  laughing ; “ though 


54 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


[ have,  too,  been  something  of  a fowler  in  my 
time.” 

“ I thought  as  much,”  exclaimed  Paul,  thrust- 
ing forth  his  hand  frankly,  and  with  the  true  free- 
dom of  manner  that  marks  an  American  borderer. 
“Let  us  cross  fingers.  You  and  I will  never 
quarrel  about  the  comb,  since  you  set  so  little 
store  by  the  honey.  And  now,  if  your  stomach 
has  an  empty  corner,  and  you  know  how  to  relish 
a genuine  dew-drop  when  it  falls  into  your  very 
mouth,  there  lies  the  exact  morsel  to  put  into  it. 
Try  it,  stranger ; and,  having  tried  it,  if  you  don’t 
call  it  as  snug  a fit  as  you  have  made  since — 
How  long  are  you  from  the  settlements,  pray ? ” 

“ ’Tis  many  weeks,  and  I fear  it  may  be  as 
many  more  before  I can  return.  I will,  however, 
gladly  profit  by  your  invitation,  for  I have  fasted 
since  the  rising  of  yesterday’s  sun,  and  I know  too 
well  the  merits  of  a bison’s  hump  to  reject  the  food.” 

“ Ah ! you  are  acquainted  with  the  dish ! 
Well,  therein  you  have  the  start  of  me,  in  setting 
out,  though  I think  I may  say  we  could  now  start 
on  equal  ground.  I should  be  the  happiest  fellow 
between  Kentucky  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  if 
I had  a snug  cabin,  near  some  old  wood  that  was 
filled  with  hollow  trees,  just  such  a hump  every 
day  as  that  for  dinner,  a load  of  fresh  straw  for 
hives,  and  little  El — ” 

“ Little  what  ? ” demanded  the  stranger,  evi- 
dently amused  with  the  communicative  and  frank 
disposition  of  the  bee-hunter. 

“ Something  that  I shall  have  one  day,  and 
which  concerns  nobody  so  much  as  myself,”  re- 
turned Paul,  picking  the  flint  of  his  rifle,  and 
beginning  very  cavalierly  to  whistle  an  air  well 
known  on  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi. 

During  this  preliminary  discourse  the  stranger 
had  taken  his  seat  by  the  side  of  the  hump,  and 
was  already  making  a serious  inroad  on  its  relics. 
Dr.  Battius,  however,  watched  his  movements 
with  a jealousy  still  more  striking  than  the  cordial 
reception  which  the  open-hearted  Paul  had  just 
exhibited. 

But  the  doubts,  or  rather  apprehensions,  of 
the  naturalist  were  of  a character  altogether  dif- 
ferent from  the  confidence  of  the  bee-hunter. 
He  had  been  struck  "with  the  stranger’s  using  the 
legitimate  instead  of  the  perverted  name  of  the 
animal  off  which  he  was  making  his  repast ; and 
as  he  had  been  among  the  foremost  himself  to 
profit  by  the  removal  of  the  impediments  which 
the  policy  of  Spain  had  placed  in  the  way  of  all 
explorers  of  her  transatlantic  dominions,  whether 
bent  on  the  purposes  of  commerce,  or,  like  him- 
self, on  the  more  laudable  pursuits  of  science, 
he  had  a sufficiency  of  every-day  philosophy  to  feel  * 


that  the  same  motives  which  had  so  powerfully 
urged  himself  to  his  present  undertaking  might 
produce  a like  result  on  the  mind  of  some  other 
student  of  Nature.  Here,  then,  was  the  prospect 
of  an  alarming  rivalry,  which  bade  fair  to  strip 
him  of  at  least  a moiety  of  the  just  rewards  of  all 
his  labors,  privations,  and  dangers.  Under  these 
views  of  his  character,  therefore,  it  is  not  at  all 
surprising  that  the  native  meekness  of  the  nat- 
uralist’s disposition  was  a little  disturbed,  and 
that  he  watched  the  proceedings  of  the  other 
with  such  a degree  of  vigilance  as  he  believed 
best  suited  to  detect  his  sinister  designs. 

“ This  is  truly  a delicious  repast,”  observed 
the  unconscious  young  stranger,  for  both  young 
and  handsome  he  was  fairly  entitled  to  be  con- 
sidered; “either  hunger  has  given  a peculiar 
relish  to  the  viand,  or  the  bison  may  lay  claim  to 
be  the  finest  of  the  ox  family ! ” 

“Naturalists,  sir,  are  apt,  when  they  speak 
familiarly,  to  give  the  cow  the  credit  of  the  genus,” 
said  Dr.  Battius,  swelling  with  secret  distrust,  and 
clearing  his  throat  before  speaking,  much  in  the 
manner  that  a duellist  examines  the  point  of  the 
weapon  he  is  about  to  plunge  into  the  body  of 
his  foe.  “ The  figure  is  more  perfect ; as  the  bos, 
meaning  the  ox,  is  unable  to  perpetuate  his  kind ; 
and  the  bos,  in  its  most  extended  meaning,  or 
vacca,  is  altogether  the  nobler  animal  of  the  two.” 

The  doctor  uttered  this  opinion  with  a cer- 
tain air,  that  he  intended  should  express  his  readi- 
ness to  come,  at  once,  to  any  of  the  numerous 
points  of  difference  which  he  doubted  not  existed 
between  them  ; and  he  now  awaited  the  blow  of 
his  antagonist,  intending  that  his  next  thrust 
should  be  still  more  vigorous.  But  the  young 
stranger  appeared  much  better  disposed  to  par- 
take of  the  good  cheer  with  which  he  had  been  pro- 
videntially provided,  than  to  take  up  the  cudgels 
of  argument  on  this  or  on  any  other  of  the  knotty 
points  which  are  so  apt  to  furnish  the  lovers  of 
science  with  the  materials  of  a mental  joust. 

“ I dare  say  you  are  very  right,  sir,”  he  re- 
plied, with  a most  provoking  indifference  to  the 
importance  of  the  points  he  conceded.  “ I dare 
say  you  are  quite  right ; and  that  vacca  -would 
have  been  the  better  word.” 

“ Pardon  me,  sir ; you  are  giving  a very 
wrong  construction  to  my  language,  if  you  suppose 
I include,  without  many  and  particular  quali- 
fications, the  Bibulus  Americanus,  in  the  family 
of  the  vacca.  For,  as  you  well  know,  sir — or,  as 
I presume  I should  say,  doctor— you  have  the 
medical  diploma,  no  doubt  ? ” 

“You  give  me  credit  for  an  honor  I cannot 
claim,”  interrupted  the  other. 


CAPTAIN  MIDDLETON. 


55 


“ An  under-graduate  ! — or  perhaps  your  de- 
grees have  been  taken  in  some  other  of  the  lib- 
eral sciences  ? ” 

“ Still  wrong,  I do  assure  you.” 

“ Surely,  young  man,  you  have  not  entered  on 
this  important — I may  say,  this  awful  service, 
without  some  evidence  of  your  fitness  for  the  task  ! 
some  commission  by  which  you  can  assert  an  au- 
thority to  proceed,  or  by  which  you  may  claim  an 
affinity  and  a communion  with  your  fellow-work- 
ers in  the  same  beneficent  pursuits  ! ” 

“ I know  not  by  what  means,  or  for  what  pur- 
poses, you  have  made  yourself  master  of  my  ob- 
jects ! ” exclaimed  the  youth,  reddening  and  ris- 
ing with  a quickness  which  manifested  how  little 
he  regarded  the  grosser  appetites,  when  a subject 
nearer  his  heart  was  approached.  “Still,  sir, 
your  language  is  incomprehensible.  That  pursuit, 
which  in  another  might  perhaps  be  justly  called 
beneficent,  is,  in  me,  a dear  and  cherished  duty ; 
though  why  a commission  should  be  demanded 
or  needed  is,  I confess,  no  less  a subject  of  sur- 
prise.” 

“ It  is  customary  to  be  provided  with  such  a 
document,”  returned  the  doctor,  gravely ; “ and, 
on  all  suitable  occasions,  to  produce  it,  in  order 
that  congenial  and  friendly  minds  may  at  once 
reject  unworthy  suspicions,  and,  stepping  over 
what  may  be  called  the  elements  of  discourse, 
comfe  at  once  to  those  points  which  are  desiderata 
to  both.” 

“ It  is  a strange  request ! ” the  youth  muttered, 
turning  his  frowning  eye  from  one  to  the  other, 
as  if  examining  the  characters  of  his  companions, 
with  a view  to  weigh  their  physical  powers.  Then, 
putting  his  hand  into  his  bosom,  he  drew  forth  a 
small  box,  and,  extending  it  with  an  air  of  dignity 
toward  the  doctor,  he  continued : “ You  will  find 
by  this,  sir,  that  I have  some  right  to  travel  in  a 
country  which  is  now  the  property  of  the  Ameri- 
can States.” 

“ What  have  we  here  ? ” exclaimed  the  natu- 
ralist, opening  the  folds  of  a large  parchment, 
“Why,  this  is  the  sign-manual  of  the  philosopher 
Jefferson ! The  seal  of  state ! Countersigned  by 
the  minister  of  war ! Why,  this  is  a commission 
creating  Duncan  Uncas  Middleton  a captain  of 
artillery ! ” 

“ Of  whom  ? of  whom  ? ” repeated  the  trapper, 
who  had  sat  regarding  the  stranger,  during  the 
whole  discourse,  with  eyes  that  seemed  greedily  to 
devour  each  lineament.  “ How  is  the  name  ? did 
you  call  him  Uncas  ? — Uncas  ! Was  it  Uncas  ? ” 

“ Such  is  my  name,”  returned  the  youth,  a 
little  haughtily.  “ It  is  the  appellation  of  a native 
chief,  that  both  my  uncle  and  myself  bear  with 


pride ; for  it  is  the  memorial  of  an  important  ser- 
vice done  my  family  by  a warrior  in  the  old  wars 
of  the  provinces.” 

“ Uncas  ! did  ye  call  him  Uncas  ? ” repeated 
the  trapper,  approaching  the  youth  and  parting 
the  dark  curls  which  clustered  over  his  brow, 
without  the  slightest  resistance  on  the  part  of 
their  wondering  owner.  “ Ah  ! my  eyes  are  old, 
and  not  so  keen  as  when  I was  a warrior  myself ; 
but  I can  see  the  look  of  the  father  in  the  son ! 
I saw  it  when  he  first  came  nigh ; but,  so  many 
things  have  since  passed  before  my  failing  sight, 
that  I could  not  name  the  place  where  I had  met 
his  likeness ! Tell  me,  lad,  by  what  name  is  your 
father  known  ? ” 

“ He  was  an  officer  of  the  States  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  and  of  my  own  name  of  course ; 
my  mother’s  brother  was  called  Duncan  Uncas 
Heyward.” 

“ Still  Uncas  ! still  Uncas  ! ” echoed  the  other, 
trembling  with  eagerness.  “ And  his  father  ? ” 

“ Was  called  the  same,  without  the  appellation 
of  the  native  chief.  It  was  to  him,  and  to  my 
grandmother,  that  the  service  of  which  I have  just 
spoken  was  rendered.” 

“ I know’d  it ! I know’d  it ! ” shouted  the 
old  man,  in  his  tremulous  voice,  his. rigid  features 
working  powerfully,  as  if  the  names  the  other 
mentioned  awakened  some  long-dormant  emotions 
connected  with  the  events  of  an  anterior  age.  “ I 
know’d  it ! son  or  grandson,  It  is  all  the  same  ; 
it  is  the  blood,  and  ’tis  the  look  ! Tell  me,  is  he 
they  called  Duncan,  without  the  Uncas — is  he  liv- 
ing ? ” 

The  young  man  shook  his  head  sorrowfully, 
as  he  replied  in  the  negative. 

“ He  died  full  of  days  and  of  honors.  Beloved, 
happy,  and  bestowing  happiness  ! ” 

“ Full  of  days  ! ” repeated  the  trapper,  looking 
down  at  his  own  meagre  but  still  muscular  hands. 

“ Ah  ! he  lived  in  the  settlements,  and  was  wise 
only  after  their  fashions.  But  you  have  often 
seen  him  ; and  you  have  heard  him  discourse  of 
Uncas,  and  of  the  wilderness  ?” 

“ Often ! he  was  then  an  officer  of  the  king ; 
but,  when  the  war  took  place  between  the  crown 
and  her  colonies,  my  grandfather  did  not  forget 
his  birthplace,  but  threw  off  the  empty  allegiance 
of  names,  and  was  true  to  his  proper  country ; he 
fought  on  the  side  of  liberty.” 

“ There  was  reason  in  it,  and,  what  is  better, 
there  was  natur’ ! Come,  sit  ye  down,  and  tell 
me  what  your  grand’ther  used  to  speak  when  his 
mind  dwelt  on  the  wonders  of  the  wilderness.” 

The  youth  smiled,  no  less  at  the  importunity 
than  at  the  interest  manifested  by  the  old  man 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


56 

but,  as  ho  found  there  was  no  longer  the  least  ap- 
pearance of  any  violence  being  contemplated,  he 
unhesitatingly  complied. 

“ Give  it  all  to  the  trapper,  by  rule,  and  by 
figures  of  speech,”  said  Paul,  very  coolly  taking 
his  seat  on  the  other  side  of  the  young  soldier. 
“ It  is  the  fashion  of  old  age  to  relish  these  ancient 
traditions,  and  for  that  matter  I can  say  that  I 
don’t  dislike  to  listen  to  them  myself.” 

Middleton  smiled  again,  and  perhaps  with  a 
slight  air  of  derision  ; but,  good-naturedly  turning 
to  the  trapper,  he  continued : 

“ It  is  a long,  and  might  prove  a painful  story. 
Bloodshed  and  all  the  horrors  of  Indian  cruelty 
and  of  Indian  warfare  are  fearfully  mingled  in  the 
narrative.” 

“Ay,  give  it  all  to  us,  stranger,”  continued 
Paul ; “ we  are  used  to  these  matters  in  Kentuck, 
and  I must  say  I think  a story  none  the  worse  for 
having  a few  scalps  in  it.” 

“ But  he  told  you  of  Uncas,  did  he  ? ” resumed 
the  trapper,  without  regarding  the  slight  inter- 
ruptions of  the  bee-hunter,  which  amounted  to  no 
more  than  a sort  of  by-play.  “ And  what  thought 
he  and  said  he  of  the  lad,  in  his  parlor,  with  the 
comforts  and  ease  of  the  settlements  at  his 
elbow?  ” 

“ I doubt  not  he  used  a language  similar  to 
th^t  he  would  have-  adopted  in  the  woods,  and 
had  he  stood  face  to  face  with  his  friend — ” 

“Did  he  call  the  savage  his  friend;  the  poor, 
naked,  painted  warrior  ? He  was  not  too  proud, 
then,  to  call  the  Indian  his  friend?  ” 

“ He  even  boasted  of  the  connection  ; and,  as 
you  have  already  heard,  bestowed  a name  on  his 
first-born,  which  is  likely  to  be  handed  down  as 
an  heir-loom  among  the  rest  of  his  descendants.” 

“ It  was  well  done  ! like  a man ; ay ! and  like 
a Christian,  too  ? He  used  to  say  the  Delaware 
was  swift  of  foot — did  he  remember  that  ? ” 

“ As  the  antelope ! Indeed,  he  often  spoke 
of  him  by  the  appellation  of  Le  Cerf  Agile,  a name 
he  had  obtained  by  his  activity.” 

“ And  bold,  and  fearless,  lad ! ” continued  the 
trapper,  looking  into  the  eyes  of  his  companion, 
with  a wistfulness  that  bespoke  the  delight  he 
received  in  listening  to  the  praises  of  one  whom 
it  was  so  very  evident  he  had  once  tenderly 
loved. 

“ Brave  as  a blooded  hound  ! Without  fear  ! 
Ue  always  quoted  Uncas  and  his  father,  who  from 
his  wisdom  was  called  the  Great  Serpent,  as 
models  of  heroism  and  constancy.” 

“ He  did  them  justice ! he  did  them  justice ! 
Truer  men  were  not  to  be  found  in  tribe  or  nation, 
be  their  skins  of  what  color  they  might.  I see 


your  grand’ther  was  just,  and  did  hi3  duty,  too, 
by  his  offspring  ! ’Twas  a perilous  time  he  had 
of  it,  among  them  hills,  and  nobly  did  he  play  hia 
own  part ! Tell  me,  lad,  or  officer,  I should  say, 
— since  officer  you  be — was  this  all  ? ” 

“ Certainly  not ; it  was,  as  I have  said,  a fear- 
ful tale  full  of  moving  incidents,  and  the  memo- 
ries both  of  my  grandfather  and  of  my  grand- 
mother— ” 

“ Ah  ! ” exclaimed  the  trapper,  tossing  a hand 
into  the  air  as  his  whole  countenance  lighted  with 
the  recollections  the  name  revived.  “ They  called 
her  Alice ! Elsie  or  Alice  ; ’tis  all  the  same.  A 
laughing,  playful  child  she  was,  when  happy ; and 
tender  and  weeping  in  her  misery ! Her  hair  was 
shining  and  yellow,  as  the  coat  of  the  young  fawn, 
and  her  skin  clearer  than  the  purest  water  that 
drips  from  the  rock.  Well  do  I remember  her! 
I remember  her  right  well ! ” 

The  lip  of  the  youth  slightly  curled,  and  he 
regarded  the  old  man  with  an  expression  which 
might  easily  have  been  construed  into  a declara- 
tion that  such  were  not  his  own  recollections  ol 
his  venerable  and  revered  ancestor,  though  it 
would  seem  he  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  say 
as  much  in  words.  He  was  content  to  answer  : 

“ They  both  retained  impressions  of  the  dan- 
gers they  had  passed,  by  far  too  vivid  easily  tc 
lose  the  recollection  of  any  of  their  fellow- 
actors.”  • 

The  trapper  looked  aside,  and  seemed  to 
struggle  with  some  deeply  innate  feeling;  then, 
turning  again  toward  his  companion,  though  his 
honest  eyes  no  longer  dwelt  with  the  same  open 
interest  as  before,  on  the  countenance  of  the 
other,  he  continued : 

“ Did  he  tell  you  of  them  all  ? Were  they  all 
red-skins,  but  himself  and  the  daughters  of 
Munro  ? ” 

. “No.  There  was  a white  man  associated 
with  the  Delawares.  A scout  of  the  English 
army,  but  a native  of  the  provinces.” 

“ A drunken,  worthless  vagabond,  like  most 
of  his  color  who  harbor  with  the  savages,  I war- 
rant you ! ” 

“ Old  man,  your  gray  hairs  should  caution  you 
against  slander.  The  man  I speak  of  was  of 
great  simplicity  of  mind,  but  of  sterling  worth. 
Unlike  most  of  those  who  live  a border  life,  he 
united  the  better  instead  of  the  worst  qualities 
of  the  two  people.  He  was  a man  endowed  with 
the  choicest  and  perhaps  rarest  gift  of  Nature — 
that  of  distinguishing  good  from  evil  His  vir 
tues  were  those  of  simplicity,  because  such  were 
the  fruits  of  his  habits,  as  were  indeed  his  very 
prejudices.  In  courage  he  was  the  equal  of  his 


THE  TRAPPER  IN  HIS  EARLIER  DAYS. 


57 


red  associates ; in  warlike  skill,  being  better  in- 
structed, their  superior.  ‘ In  short,  he  was  a 
noble  shoot  from  the  stock  of  human  nature, 
which  never  could  attain  its  proper  elevation  and 
importance,  for  no  other  reason  than  because  it 
grew  in  the  forest : ’ such,  old  hunter,  were  the 
very  words  of  my  grandfather,  when  .speaking  of 
the  man  you  imagine  so  worthless  ! ” 

The  eyes  of  the  trapper  had  sunk  to  the 
earth,  as  the  stranger  delivered  this  character  in 
the  ardent  tones  of  generous  youth.  He  played 
with  the  ears  of  his  hound,  fingered  his  own  rus- 
tic garment,  and  opened  and  shut  the  pan  of  his 
rifle,  with  hands  that  trembled  in  a manner  that 
would  have  implied  their  total  unfitness  to  wield 
the  weapon.  When  the  other  had  concluded,  he 
hoarsely  added  : 

“ Your  grand’ ther  didn’t,  then,  entirely  forget 
the  white  man  ! ” 

“So  far  from  that,  there  are  already  three 
among  us  who  have  also  names  derived  from  that 
scout.” 

“ A name,  did  you  say  ? ” exclaimed  the  old 
man,  starting ; “ -what,  the  name  of  the  solitary, 
unl’arned  hunter  ? Do  the  great,  and  the  rich, 
and  the  honored,  and,  what  is  better  still,  the 
just,  do  they  bear  his  very,  actual  name  ? ” 

“It  is  borne  by  my  brother,  and  by  two  of 
my  cousins,  whatever  may  be  their  titles  to  be 
described  by  the  terms  you  have  mentioned.” 

“Do  you  mean  the  actual  name  itself;  spelt 
with  the  very  same  letters,  beginning  with  an  N 
and  ending  with  an  L ? ” 

“Exactly  the  same,”  the  youth  smilingly 
replied.  “No,  no,  we  have  forgotten  nothing 
that  was  his.  I have  at  this  moment  a dog 
brushing  a deer,  not  far  from  this,  who  is  come 
of  a hound  that  very  scout  sent  as  a present  after 
his  friends,  and  which  was  of  the  stock  he  always 
used  himself ; a truer  breed,  in  nose  and  foot,  is 
not  to  be  found  in  the  wide  Union.” 

“Hector!”  said  the  old  man,  struggling  to 
conquer  an  emotion  that  nearly  suffocated  him, 
and  speaking  to  his  hound  in  the  sort  of  tones 
he  would  have  used  to  a child,  “ do  ye  hear  that, 
pup  ! your  kin  and  blood  are  in  the  prairies ! A 
name — it  is  wonderful — very  wonderful ! ” 

Nature  could  endure  no  more.  Overcome  by 
a flood  of  unusual  and  extraordinary  sensations, 
and  stimulated  by  tender  and  long-dormant  recol- 
lections, strangely  and  unexpectedly  revived,  the 
old  man  had  just  self-command  enough  to  add, 
in  a voice  that  was  hollow  and  unnatural,  through 
the  efforts  he  made  to  command  it : 

“Boy,  I am  that,  scout;  a warrior  once,  a 
miserable  trapper  now ! ” when  the  tears  broke 
56 


over  his  wasted  cheeks,  out  of  fountains  that  had 
long  been  dried,  and,  sinking  his  face  between  his 
knees,  he  covered  it  decently  with  his  buckskin 
garment,  and  sobbed  aloud. 

The  spectacle  produced  correspondent  emo- 
tions in  his  companions.  Paul  Hover  had  ac- 
tually swallowed  each  syllable  of  the  discourse  as 
they  fell  alternately  from  the  different  speakers, 
his  feelings  keeping  equal  pace  with  the  increas- 
ing interest  of  the  scene.  Unused  to  such  strange 
sensations,  he  was  turning  his  face  on  every  side 
of  him,  to  avoid  he  knew  not  what,  until  he  saw 
the  tears  and  heard  the  sobs  of  the  old  man, 
when  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  aud,  grappling  his 
guest  fiercely  by  the  throat,  he  demanded  by 
what  authority  he  had  made  his  aged  companion 
weep.  A flash  of  recollection  crossing  his  brain 
at  the  same  instant,  he  released  his  hold,  and, 
stretching  forth  an  arm  in  the  very  wantonness 
of  gratification,  he  seized  the  doctor  by  the  hair, 
which  instantly  revealed  its  artificial  formation, 
by  cleaving  to  his  hand,  leaving  the  white  and 
shining  poll  of  the  naturalist  with  a covering  no 
warmer  than  the  skin. 

“ What  think  you  of  that,  Mr.  Bug-gatherer  ? ” 
he  rather  shouted  than  cried;  “is  not  this  a 
strange  bee  to  line  into  his  hole  ? ” 

“ ’Tis  remarkable  ! wonderful  ! edifying  ! ” 
returned  the  lover  of  Nature,  good-humoredly  re- 
covering his  wig,  with  twinkling  eyes  and  a husky 
voice.  “ ’Tis  rare  and  commendable ! Though  I 
doubt  not  in  the  exact  order  of  causes  and 
effects.” 

With  this  sudden  outbreaking,  however,  the 
commotion  instantly  subsided,  the  three  specta- 
tors clustering  around  the  trapper  with  a species 
of  awe  at  beholding  the  tears  of  one  so  aged. 

“ It  must  be  so,  or  how  could  he  be  so  familiar 
with  a history  that . is  little  known  beyond  my 
own  family,”  at  length  the  youth  observed,  not 
ashamed  to  acknowledge  how  much  he  had  been 
affected  by  unequivocally  drying  his  own  eyes. 

“ True  ! ” echoed  Paul  ; “ if  you  want  any 
more  evidence  I will  swear  to  it ! I know  every 
word  of  it  myself  to  be  true  as  the  gospel ! ” 

“ And  yet  we  had  long  supposed  him  dead  ! ” 
continued  the  soldier.  “ My  grandfather  had 
filled  his  days  with  honor,  and  he  had  believed 
himself  the  junior  of  the  two.” 

“ It  is  not  often  that  youth  has  an  opportu- 
nity of  thus  looking  down  on  the  weakness  of 
age ! ” the  trapper  observed,  raising  his  head, 
and  looking  around  him  with  composure  and 
dignity.  “ That  I am  still  here,  young  man,  is  the 
pleasure  of  the  Lord,  whs  has  spared  me  until  I 
have  seen  fourscore  long  and  laborious  years,  fo/ 


58 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


his  own  secret  ends.  That  I am  the  man  I say, 
you  need  not  doubt ; for  why  should  I go  to  my 
grave  with  so  cheap  a lie  in  my  mouth  ? ” 

“I  do  not  hesitate  to  believe ; I only  marvel 
that  it  should  be  so ! But  why  do  I find  you, 
venerable  and  excellent  friend  of  my  parents, 
in  these  wastes,  so  far  from  the  comforts  and 
safety  of  the  lower  country  ? ” 

“ I have  come  into  these  plains  to  escape  the 
sound  of  the  axe ; for  here,  surely,  the  chopper 
can  never  follow ! But  I may  put  the  like  ques- 
tion to  yourself.  Are  you  of  the  party  which  the 
States  have  sent  into  their  new  purchase,  to  look 
after  the  natur’  of  the  bargain  they  have  made  ? ” 
“ I am  not.  Lewis  is  making  his  way  up  the 
river,  some  hundreds  of  miles  from  this.  I come 
on  a private  adventure.” 

“ Though  it  is  no  cause  of  wonder  that  a man 
whose  strength  and  eyes  have  failed  him  as  a 
hunter,  should  be  seen  nigh  the  haunts  of  the 
beaver,  using  a trap  instead  of  a rifle,  it  is  strange 
that  one  so  young  and  prosperous,  and  bearing 
the  commission  of  the  Great  Father,  should  be 
moving  among  the  prairies,  without  even  a camp- 
colorman  to  do  his  biddings  ! ” 

“ You  would  think  my  reasons  sufficient  did 
you  know  them,  as  know  them  you  shall,  if  you 
are  disposed  to  listen  to  my  story.  I think  you 
all  honest,  and  men  who  would  rather  aid  than 
betray  one  bent  on  a worthy  object.” 

“ Come,  then,  and  tell  us  at  your  leisure,” 
said  the  trapper,  seating  himself,  and  beckoning 
to  the  youth  to  follow  his  example.  The  latter 
willingly  complied ; and,  after  Paul  and  the  doc- 
tor had  disposed  of  themselves  to  their  several 
likings,  the  new-comer  entered  into  a narrative  of 
the  singular  reasons  which  had  led  him  so  far 
into  the  deserts. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

“ So  foul  a sky  clears  not  without  a storm.1 

King  John. 

In  the  mean  time  the  industrious  and  irreclaim- 
able hours  continued  their  labors.  The  sun, 
which  had  been  struggling  through  such  masses  of 
vapor  throughout  the  day,  fell  slowly  into  a streak 
of  clear  sky,  and  thence  sank  gloriously  into  the 
gloomy  wastes,  as  he  is  wont  to  settle  into  the 
waters  of  the  ocean.  The  vast  herds  which  had 
been  grazing  among  the  wild  pastures  of  the 
prairies,  gradually  disappeared,  and  the  endless 
Socks  of  aquatic  birds,  that  were  pursuing  their 
customary  annual  journey  from  the  virgin  lakes 


of  the  north  toward  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  ceased 
to  fan  that  air  which  had  now  become  loaded 
with  dew  and  vapor.  In  short,  the  shadows  of 
night  fell  upon  the  rock,  adding  the  mantle  of 
darkness  to  the  other  dreary  accompaniments  of 
the  place.. 

As  the  light  began  to  fail,  Esther  collected 
her  younger  children  at  her  side,  and  placing  her- 
self on  a projecting  point  of  her  insulated  for- 
tress, she  sat  patiently  awaiting  the  return  of  the 
hunters.  Ellen  Wade  was  at  no  great  distance, 
seeming  to  keep  a little  aloof  from  the  anxious 
circle,  as  if  willing  to  mark  the  distinction  which 
existed  in  their  characters. 

“ Your  uncle  is,  and  always  will  be,  a dull 
calculator,  Nell,”  observed  the  mother,  after  a 
long  pause  in  a.  conversation  that  had  turned  on 
the  labors  of  the  day ; “ a lazy  hand  at  figures 
and  foreknowledge  is  that  said  Ishmael  Bush ! 
Here  he  sat  lolloping  about  the  rock  from  light 
till  noon,  doing  nothing  but  scheme — scheme — 
scheme — with  seven  as  noble  boys  at  his  elbows 
as  woman  ever  gave  to  man  ; and  what’s  the  up- 
shot ? Why,  night  is  setting  in,  and  his  needful 
work  not  yet  ended.” 

“ It  is  not  prudent,  certainly,  aunt,”  Ellen 
replied,  with  a vacancy  in  her  air,  that  proved 
how  little  she  knew  what  she  was  saying  ; “ and 
it  is  setting  a very  bad  example  to  his  sons.” 

“ Hoity  toity,  girl ! who  has  reared  you  up  a 
a judge  over  your  elders,  ay,  and  your  betters, 
too ! I should  like  to  see  the  man  on  the  whole 
frontier  who  sets  a more  honest  example  to  his 
children  than  this  same  Ishmael  Bush!  Show 
me,  if  you  can,  Miss  Fault-finder,  but  not  fault- 
mender,  a set  of  boys  who  will,  on  occasion, 
sooner  chop  a piece  of  logging  and  dress  it  for 
the  crop,  than  my  own  children ; though  I say  it 
myself,  who,  perhaps,  should  be  silent;  or  a 
cradler  that  knows  better  how  to  lead  a gang  of 
hands  though  a field  of  wheat,  leaving  a cleaner 
stubble  in  his  track,  than  my  own  good  man! 
Then,  as  a father,  he  is  as  generous  as  a lord ; for 
his  sons  have  only  to  name  the  spot  where  they 
would  like  to  pitch,  and  he  gives  ’em  a deed  of 
the  plantation,  and  no  charge  for  papers  is  ever 
made ! ” 

As  the  wife  of  the  squatter  concluded,  she 
raised  a hollow,  taunting  laugh,  that  was  echoed 
from  the  mouths  of  several  juvenile  imitators, 
whom  she  was  training  to  a life  as  shiftless  and 
lawless  as  her  own;  but  which,  notwithstanding 
its  uncertainty,  was  not  without  its  secret  charms. 

“ Holloa ! old  Eester,”  shouted  the  well-known 
voice  of  her  husband,  from  the  plain  beneath 
“ ar’  you  keeping  your  junkets,  while  we  are 


ISHMAEL’S  CITADEL. 


59 


finding  you  in  venison  and  buffalo-beef?  Come 
down — come  down,  old  girl,  with  all  your  young, 
and  lend  us  a hand  to  carry  up  the  meat ; why, 
what  a frolic  you  ar’  in,  woman ! Come  down, 
come  down,  for  the  boys  are  at  hand,  and  we  have 
work  here  for  double  your  number.” 

Ishmael  might  have  spared  his  lungs  more 
than  a moiety  of  the  effort  they  were  compelled 
to  make  in  order  that  he  should  be  heard.  He 
had  hardly  uttered  the  name  of  his  wife,  before 
the  whole  of  the  crouching  circle  rose  in  a body, 
and,  tumbling  over  each  other,  they  precipitated 
themselves  down  the  dangerous  passes  of  the 
rock  with  ungovernable  impatience.  Esther  fol- 
lowed the  young  fry  with  a more  measured  gait ; 
nor  did  Ellen  deem  it  wise,  or  rather  discreet,  to 
remain  behind.  Consequently,  the  whole  were 
soon  assembled  at  the  base  of  the  citadel,  on  the 
open  plain. 

Here  the  squatter  was  found,  staggering  under 
the  weight  of  a fine,  fat  buck,  attended  by  one  or 
two  of  his  younger  sons.  Abiram  quickly  ap- 
peared, and,  before  many  minutes  had  elapsed, 
most  of  the  hunters  dropped  in,  singly  and  in 
pairs,  each  man  bringing  with  him  some  fruits 
of  his  prowess  in  the  field. 

“ The  plain  is  free  from  red-skins,  to-night  at 
least,”  said  Ishmael,  after  the  bustle  of  reception 
had  a little  subsided ; “ for  I have  scoured  the 
prairie  for  many  long  miles,  on  my  own  feet,  and 
I call  myself  a judge  of  the  print  of  an  Indian 
moccasin.  So,  old  woman,  you  can  give  us  a 
few  steaks  of  the  venison,  and  then  we  will  sleep 
on  the  day’s  work.” 

“ I’ll  not  swear  there  are  no  savages  near  us,” 
said  Abiram.  “I,  too,  know  something  of  the 
trail  of  a red-skin ; and,  unless  my  eyes  have  lost 
some  of  their  sight,  I would  swear,  boldly,  that 
there  ar’  Indians  at  hand.  But  wait  till  Asa 
comes  in.  He  passed  the  spot  where  I found  the 
marks,  and  the  boy  knows  something  of  such  mat- 
ters, too.” 

“ Ay,  the  boy  knows  too  much  of  many  things,” 
returned  Ishmael,  gloomily.  “ It  will  be  better 
for  him  when  he  thinks  he  knows  less. — But 
what  matters  it,  Hetty,  if  all  the  Sioux  tribes 
west  of  the  big  river  are  within  a mile  of  us  ? they 
will  find  it  no  easy  matter  to  scale  this  rock  in 
the  teeth  of  ten  bold  men.” 

“ Call  ’em  twelve  at  once,  Ishmael ; call  ’em 
twelve ! ” cried  his  termagant  assistant.  “ For  if 
your  moth-gathering,  bug-hunting  friend  can  be 
counted  a man,  I beg  you  will  set  me  down  as 
two.  I will  not  turn  my  back  to  him  with  the 
rifle  or  the  shot-gun ; and  for  courage ! — the 
yearling  heifer,  that  them  skulking  devils  the 


Tetons  stole,  was  the  biggest  coward  among  us 
all,  and  after  her  came  your  drivelling  doctor 
Ah  ! Ishmael,  you  rarely  attempt  a regular  trade 
but  you  come  out , the  loser ; and  this  man,  I 
reckon,  is  the  hardest  bargain  among  ihem  all ! 
Would  you  think  it,  the  fellow  ordered  me  a 
blister  around  my  mouth,  because  I complained 
of  a pain  in  the  foot  ? ” 

“ It  is  a pity,  Eester,”  the  husband  coolly  an- 
swered, “ that  you  did  not  take  it ; I reckon  that 
it  would  have  done  considerable  good. — But,  boys 
if  it  should  turn  out  as  Abiram  thinks,  that  there 
are  Indians  near  us,  we  may  have  to  scamper  up 
the  rock,  and  lose  our  suppers,  after  all ; therefore, 
we  will  make  sure  of  the  game,  and  talk'over  the 
performances  of  the  doctor  when  we  have  nothing 
better  to  do.” 

The  hint  was  taken ; and  in  a few  minutes  the 
exposed  situation  in  which  the  family  was  col- 
lected, was  exchanged  for  the  more  secure  eleva- 
tion of  the  rock.  Here  Esther  busied  herself, 
■working  and  scolding  with  equal  industry,  until 
the  repast  was  prepared ; when  she  summoned 
her  husband  to  his  meal  in  a voice  as  sonorous  as 
that  with  which  the  imaum  reminds  the  faithful 
of  a more  important  duty, 

When  each  had  assumed  his  proper  and  cus- 
tomary place  around  the  smoking  viands,  the  squat- 
ter set  the  example  by  beginning  to  partake  of  a de- 
liciou  svenison-steak,  prepared  like  the  hump  of  the 
bison,  with  a skill  that  rather  increased  than  con- 
cealed its  natural  properties.  A painter  would 
gladly  have  seized  the  moment  to  transfer  the  wild 
and  charateristic  scene  to  the  canvas. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  the  citadel  of 
Ishmael  stood  insulated,  lofty,  ragged,  and  nearly 
inaccessible.  A bright,  flashing  fire  that  was 
burning  on  the  centre  of  its  summit,  and  around 
which  the  busy  group  was  clustered,  lent  it  the 
appearance  of  some  tall  Pharos  placed  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  deserts,  to  light  such  adventurers  as 
wandered  through  their  broad  wastes.  The  flash- 
ing flame  gleamed  from  one  sunburnt  counte- 
nance to  another,  exhibiting  every  variety  of  ex- 
pression, from  the  juvenile  simplicity  of  the  chil- 
dren, mingled,  as  it  was,  with  a shade  of  the  wild- 
ness peculiar  to  their  semi-barbarous  lives,  to  the 
dull  and  immovable  apathy  that  dwelt  on  the  feat- 
ures of  the  squatter  when  unexcited.  Occasionally 
a gust  of  wind  would  fan  the  embers  ; and,  as  a 
brighter  light  shot  upward,  the  little  solitary  tent 
was  seen  as  it  were  suspended  in  the  gloom  of  the 
upper  air.  All  beyond  was  enveloped,  as  usual  at 
that  hour,  in  an  impenetrable  body  of  darkness. 

“ It  is  unaccountable  that  Asa  should  choose 
to  be  out  of  the  way  at  such  a time  as  this,”  Es- 


60 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


tlier  pettishly  observed.  “ When  all  is  finished 
and  to  rights,  we  shall  have  the  boy  coming  up, 
grumbling  for  his  meal,  and  hungry  as  a bear 
after  his  winter’s  nap.  His  stomach  is  as  true  as 
the  best  clock  in  Kentucky,  and  seldom  wants 
winding  up  to  tell  the  time  whether  of  day  or 
night.  A desperate  eater  is  Asa,  when  a-liun- 
gered  by  a little  work  ! ” 

Ishmael  looked  sternly  around  the  circle  of  his 
silent  sons,  as  if  to  see  whether  any  among  them 
would  presume  to  say  aught  in  favor  of  the  absent 
delinquent.  But  now,  when  no  exciting  causes  ex- 
isted to  rouse  their  slumbering  tempers,  it  seemed 
to  be  too  great  an  effort  to  enter  on  the  defence 
of  their  rebellious  brother.  Abiram,  however, 
who,  since  the  pacification,  either  felt  or  affected 
to  feel  a more  generous  interest  in  his  late  adver- 
sary, saw  fit  to  express  an  anxiety  to  which  the 
others  were  strangers : 

“ It  will  be  well  if  the  boy  escaped  the  Te- 
tons  ! ” he  muttered.  “ I should  be  sorry  to  have 
Asa,  who  is  one  of  the  stoutest  of  our  party,  both 
in  heart  and  hand,  fall  into  the  power  of  the  red 
devils.” 

“ Look  to  yourself,  Abiram  ; and  spare  your 
breath,  if  you  can  use  it  only  to  frighten  the  wom- 
an and  her  huddling  girls.  You  have  whitened 
the  face  of  Ellen  Wade,  already ; who  looks  as 
pale  as  if  she  was  staring  to-day  at  the  very  In- 
dians you  name,  when  I was  forced  to  speak  to 
her  through  the  rifle,  because  I couldn’t  reach  her 
ears  with  my  tongue. — How  was  it,  Nell  ? you 
have  never  given  the  reason  of  your  deafness?  ” 

The  color  of  Ellen’s  cheek  changed  as  sudden- 
ly as  the  squatter’s  piece  had  flashed  on  the  occa- 
sion to  which  he  alluded,  the  burning  glow  suffus- 
ing her  features,  until  it  even  mantled  her  throat 
with  its  fine,  healthful  tinge.  She  hung  her  head 
abashed,  but  did  not  seem  to  think  it  needful  to 
reply. 

Ishmael,  too  sluggish  to  pursue  the  subject, 
or  content  with  the  pointed  allusion  he  had  just 
made,  rose  from  his  seat  on  the  rock,  and,  stretch- 
ing his  heavy  frame,  like  a well-fed  and  fattened 
ox,  he  announced  his  intention  to  sleep.  Among 
a race  who  lived  chiefly  for  the  indulgence  of  the 
natural  wants,  such  a declaration  could  not  fail  of 
meeting  with  sympathetic  dispositions.  One  after 
another  disappeared,  each  seeking  his  or  her  rude 
dormitory ; and,  before  many  minutes,  Esther, 
who  by  this  time  had  scolded  the  younger  fry  to 
sleep,  found  herself,  if  we  except  the  usual  watch- 
man below,  in  solitary  possession  of  the  naked 
rock. 

Whatever  less  valuable  fruits  had  been  pro- 
duced in  this  uneducated  woman  by  her  migratory 


habits,  the  great  principle  of  female  nature  was 
too  deeply  rooted  ever  to  be  entirely  eradicated. 
Of  a powerful,  not  to  say  fierce  temperament,  hei 
passions  were  violent  and  difficult  to  be  smoth- 
ered. But,  however  she  might  and  did  abuse  the 
accidental  prerogatives  of  her  situation,  love  for 
her  offspring,  while  it  often  slumbered,  could  nev- 
er be  said  to  become  extinct.  She  liked  not  the 
protracted  absence  of  Asa.  Too  fearless  herself 
to  have  hesitated  an  instant  on  her  own  account 
about  crossing  the  dark  abyss,  into  which  she  now 
sat  looking  with  longing  eyes,  her  busy  imagina- 
tion, in  obedience  to  this  inextinguishable  senti- 
ment, began  to  conjure  nameless  evils  on  account 
of  her  son.  It  might  be  true,  as  Abiram  had 
hinted,  that  he  had  become  a captive  to  some  of 
the  tribes  who  were  hunting  the  buffalo  in  that 
vicinity,  or  even  a still  more  dreadful  calamity 
might  have  befallen.  So  thought  the  mother, 
while  silence  and  darkness  lent  their  aid  to  the  se- 
cret impulses  of  Nature. 

Agitated  by  these  reflections,  which  put  sleep 
at  defiance,  Esther  continued  at  her  post,  listen- 
ing with  that  sort  of  acuteness  which  is  termed  in- 
stinct in  the  animals  a few  degrees  below  her  in 
the  scale  of  intelligence,  for  any  of  those  noises 
which  might  indicate  the  approach  of  footsteps. 
At  length,  her  wishes  had  an  appearance  of  being 
realized,  for  the  long-desired  sounds  were  distinct- 
ly audible,  and  presently  she  distinguished  the  dim 
form  of  a man  at  the  base  of  the  rock. 

“ Now,  Asa,  richly  do  you  deserve  to  be  left 
with  an  earthen  bed  this  blessed  night ! ” the  wom- 
an began  to  mutter,  with  a revolution  in  her  feel- 
ings that  will  not  be  surprising  to  those  who  have 
made  the  contradictions  that  give  variety  to  the 
human  character  a study.  “ And  a hard  one  I’ve 
a mind  it  shall  be  ! Why,  Abner  I Abner ; you 
Abner ! do  you  sleep  ? Let  me  not  see  you  dare 
to  open  the  hole  till  I get  down.  I will  know  who  it 
is  that  wishes  to  disturb  a peaceable,  ay,  and  an  hon- 
est family  too,  at  such  a time  in  the  night  as  this ! ” 

“ Woman  I ” exclaimed  a voice,  that  intended  to 
bluster,  while  the  speaker  was  manifestly  a little 
apprehensive  of  the  consequences — “ woman,  I 
forbid  you  on  pain  of  the  law  to  project  any  of 
your  infernal  missiles.  I am  a citizen,  and  a free- 
holder, and  a graduate  of  two  universities ; and  I 
stand  upon  my  rights ! Beware  of  malice  pre- 
pense, of  chance-medley,  and  of  manslaughter.  It 
is  I — your  amicus  ; a friend  and  inmate.  I — Dr. 
Obed  Battius.” 

“ Who  ? ” demancred  Esther,  in  a voice  thai 
nearly  refused  to  convey  her  words  to  the  ears  of 
the  anxious  listener  beneath.  “ Did  you  say  it  wai 
not  Asa  ? ” 


MRS.  BUSH  AND  THE  DOCTOR. 


61 


“ Nay,  I am  neither  Asa,  nor  Absalom,  nor  any 
of  the  Hebrew  princes,  but  Obed,  the  root  and 
stock  of  them  all.  Have  I not  said,  woman,  that 
you  keep  one  in  attendance  who  is  entitled  to  a 
peaceable  as  well  as  an  honorable  admission  ? Do 
you  take  me  for  an  animal  of  the  class  amphib- 
ia, and  that  I can  play  with  my  lungs  as  a black- 
smith does  with  his  bellotrs  ? ” 

The  naturalist  might  have  expended  his  breath 
much  longer  without  producing  any  desirable  re- 
sult, had  Esther  been  his  only  auditor.  Disap- 
pointed and  alarmed,  the  woman  had  already 
sought  her  pallet,  and  was  preparing,  with  a sort 
of  desperate  indifference,  to  compose  herself  to 
sleep.  Abner,  the  sentinel  below,  however,  had 
been  aroused  from  an  exceedingly  equivocal  sit- 
uation by  the  outcry ; and,  as  he  had  now  regained 
sufficient  consciousness  to  recognize  the  voice  of 
the  physician,  the  latter  was  admitted  with  the 
least  possible  delay.  Dr.  Battius  bustled  through 
the  narrow  entrance  with  an  air  of  singular  im- 
patience, and  was  already  beginning  to  mount  the 
difficult  ascent,  when,  catching  a view  of  the  por- 
ter, he  paused  to  observe,  with  an  air  that  he  in- 
tended should  be  impressively  admonitory  : 

“Abner,  there  are  dangerous  symptoms  of 
somnolency  about  thee  ! It  is  sufficiently  exhib- 
ited in  the  tendency  to  hiation,  and  may  prove 
dangerous  not  only  to  yourself,  but  to  all  thy 
father’s  family.” 

“ You  never  made  a greater  mistake,  doctor,” 
returned  the  youth,  gaping  like  an  indolent  lion ; 
“ I haven’t  a symptom,  as  you  call  it,  about  any 
part  of  me ; and  as  to  father  and  the  children,  I 
reckon  the  small-pox  and  the  measles  have  been 
thoroughly  through  the  breed  these  many  months 
ago.” 

Content  with  his  brief  admonition,  the  natural- 
ist had  surmounted  half  the  difficulties  of  the  as- 
cent before  the  deliberate  Abner  ended  his  justi- 
fication. On  the  summit,  Obed  fully  expected  to 
encounter  Esther,  of  whose  linguacious  powers  he 
had  too  often  been  furnished  with  the  most  sinis- 
ter proofs,  and  of  which  he  stood  in  an  awe  too 
salutary  to  covet  a repetition  of  the  attacks.  The 
reader  can  foresee  that  he  was  to  be  agreeably 
disappointed.  Treading  lightly,  and  looking  tim- 
idly over  his  shoulder,  as  if  he  apprehended  a show- 
er of  something  even  more  formidable  than  words, 
the  doctor  proceeded  to  the  place  which  had  been 
allotted  to  himself  in  the  general  disposition  of  the 
dormitories. 

Instead  of  sleeping,  the  worthy  naturalist  sat 
ruminating  over  what  he  had  both  seen  and  heard 
that  day,  until  the  tossing  and  mutterings  which 
proceeded  fvom  the  cabin  of  Esther,  who  was  his 


nearest  neighbor,  advertised  him  of  the  wakeful 
situation  of  its  inmate.  Perceiving  the  necessity 
of  doing  something  to  disarm  this  female  Cerberus, 
before  his  own  purpose  could  be  accomplished, 
the  doctor,  reluctant  as  he  was  to  encounter  her 
tongue,  found  himself  compelled  to  invite  a col- 
loquial communication. 

“You  appear  not  to  sleep,  my  very  kind  and 
worthy  Mrs.  Bush,”  he  said,  determined  to  com- 
mence his  applications  with  a plaster  that  was 
usually  found  to  adhere ; “ you  appear  to  rest 
badly,  my  excellent  hostess ; can  I administer  to 
your  ailings  ? ” 

“ What  would  you  give  me,  man  ? ” grumbled 
Esther ; “ a blister  to  make  me  sleep  ? ” 

“ Say  rather  a cataplasm.  But  if  you  are  in 
pain,  here  are  some  cordial  drops,  which,  taken 
in  a glass  of  my  own  cognac,  will  give  you  rest, 
if  I know  aught  of  the  materia  m^ica.” 

The  doctor,  as  he  very  well  knew,  had  as- 
sailed Esther  on  her  weak  side ; and,  as  he  doubted 
not  of  the  acceptable  quality  of  his  prescription, 
he  set  himself  at  work,  without  unnecessary  delay, 
to  prepare  it.  When  he  made  his  offering,  it  was 
received  in  a snappish  and  threatening  manner, 
but  swallowed  with  a facility  that  sufficiently  pro- 
claimed how  much  it  was  relished.  The  woman 
muttered  her  thanks,  and  her  leech  reseated  him- 
self in  silence,  to  await  the  operation  of  the  dose. 
In  less  than  half  an  hour  the  breathing  of  Esther 
became  so  profound,  and,  as  the  doctor  himself 
might  have  termed  it,  so  very  abstracted,  that  had 
he  not  known  how  easy  it  was  to  ascribe  this  new 
instance  of  somnolency  to  the  powerful  dose  of 
opium  with  which  he  had  garnished  the  brandy, 
he  might  have  seen  reason  to  distrust  his  own 
prescription.  With  the  sleep  of  the  restless  wom- 
an, the  stillness  became  profound  and  general. 

Then  Dr.  Battius  saw  fit  to  arise,  with  the  si- 
lence and  caution  of  the  midnight  robber,  and  to 
steal  out  of  his  own  cabin,  or  rather  kennel,  for 
it  deserved  no  better  name,  toward  the  adjoining 
dormitories.  Here  he  took  time  to  assure  him- 
self that  all  his  neighbors  were  buried  in  deep 
sleep.  Once  advised  of  this  important  fact,  he 
hesitated  no  longer,  but  commenced  the  difficult 
ascent  which  led  to  the  upper  pinnacle  of  the  rock. 
His  advance,  though  abundantly  guarded,  was  not 
entirely  noiseless ; but  while  he  was  felicitating 
himself  on  having  successfully  effected  his  object, 
and  he  was  in  the  very  act  of  placing  his  foot  on 
the  highest  ledge,  a hand  was  laid  upon  the  skirts 
of  his  coat,  which  as  effectually  put  an  end  to  his 
advance  as  if  the  gigantic  strength  of  Ishmael 
himself  had  pinned  him  to  the  earth. 

“ Is  there  sickness  in  the  tent,”  whispered  a 


62 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


soft  voice  in  his  very  ear,  “ that  Dr.  Battius  is  called 
to  visit  it  at  such  an  hour  ? ” 

So  soon  as  the  heart  of  the  naturalist  had  re- 
turned from  its  hasty  expedition  into  his  throat, 
as  one  less  skilled  than  Dr.  Battius  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  animal  would  have  been  apt  to  have 
accounted  for  the  extraordinary  sensation  with 
which  he  received  this  unlooked-for  interruption, 
he  found  resolution  to  reply ; using,  as  much  in 
terror  as  in  prudence,  the  same  precaution  in  the 
indulgence  of  his  voice. 

“ My  worthy  Nelly  ! I am  greatly  rejoiced  to 
find  it  is  no  other  than  thee.  Hist,  child,  hist ! 
Should  Ishmael  gain  a knowledge  of  our  plans, 
he  would  not  hesitate  to  cast  us  both  from  this 
rock,  upon  the  plain  beneath.  Hist ! Nelly, 
hist ! ” 

As  the  doctor  delivered  his  injunctions  be- 
tween the  interns  of  his  ascent,  by  the  time  they 
were  concluded,  both  he  and  his  auditor  had  gained 
the  upper  level. 

“ And  how,  Dr.  Battius,”  the  girl  gravely  de- 
manded, may  I know  the  reason  why  you  have 
run  so  great  a risk  of  flying  from  this  place,  with- 
out wings,  and  at  the  certain  expense  of  your 
neck  ? ” 

“ Nothing  shall  be  concealed  from  thee,  worthy 
and  trusty  Nelly — but  are  you  certain  that  Ish- 
mael will  not  awake  ? ” 

“No  fear  of  him ; he  will  sleep  until  the  sun 
scorches  his  eyelids.  The  danger  is  from  my 
aunt.” 

“ Esther  sleepeth ! ” the  doctor  sententiouslv 
replied.  “ Ellen,  you  have  been  watching  on  this 
rock  to-day  ? ” 

“ I was  ordered  to  do  so.” 

“ And  you  have  seen  the  bison,  and  the  ante- 
lope, and  the  wolf,  and  the  deer,  as  usual ; ani- 
mals of  the  orders  Pecora , Pellulce , and  Ferce .” 

“ I have  seen  the  creatures  you  named  in 
English,  but  I know  nothing  of  the  Indian  lan- 
guages.” 

“ There  is  still  an  order  that  I have  not  named, 
which  you  have  also  seen.  The  primates — is  it 
not  true  ? ” 

“I  cannot  say.  I know  no  animal  by  that 
name.” 

“ Nay,  Ellen,  you  confer  with  a friend.  Of  the 
genus  Homo , child  ? ” 

“ Whatever  else  I may  have  had  in  view,  I 
have  not  seen  the  Vespertilio  horribi — ” 

“ Hush,  Nelly,  thy  vivacity  will  betray  us  ! 
Tell  me,  girl,  have  you  not  seen  certain  bipeds , 
called  men , wandering  about  the  prairies  ? ” 

“ Surely.  My  uncle  and  his  sons  have  been 
hunting  the  buffalo,  since  the  sun  began  to  fall.” 


“ I must  speak  in  the  vernacular,  to  be  com- 
prehended. Ellen,  I would  say  of  the  species  Ken- 
tucky.” 

Though  Ellen  reddened  like  the  rose,  her  blush- 
es were  concealed  by  the  darkness.  She  hesitated 
an  instant,  and  then  summoned  sufficient  spirit  to 
say  decidedly: 

“ If  you  wish  to  speak  in  parables,  Dr.  Bat- 
tius, you  must  find  another  listener.  Put  your 
questions  plainly  in  English,  and  I will  answer 
them  honestly  in  the  same  tongue.” 

“ I have  been  journeying  in  this  desert,  as 
thou  knowest,  Nelly,  in  quest  of  animals  that  have 
been  hidden  from  the  eyes  of  science,  until  now. 
Among  others,  I have  discovered  a primates , of 
the  genus  Homo  ; species , Kentucky ; which  I term 
Paul—” 

“ Hist,  for  the  sake  of  mercy  ! ” said  Ellen  ; 
“ speak  lower,  doctor,  or  we  shall  be  ruined.1’ 

“ Hover:  by  profession  a collector  of  the  apes, 
or  bee,”  continued  the  other.  “Do  I use  the 
varnacular  now — am  I understood  ? ” 

“Perfectly,  perfectly,”  returned  the  girl, 
breathing  with  difficulty,  in  her  surprise.  “ But 
what  of  him  ? did  he  tell  you  to  mount  this  rock  ? 
— he  knows  nothing,  himself ; for  the  oath  I gave 
my  uncle  has  shut  my  mouth.” 

“ Ay,  but  there  is  one  that  has  taken  no  oath, 
who  has  revealed  all.  I would  that  the  mantle 
which  is  wrapped  around  the  mysteries  of  Nature, 
were  as  effectually  withdrawn  from  its  hidden 
treasures  ! Ellen ! Ellen ! the  man  with  whom  I 
have  unwittingly  formed  a compactum,  or  agree- 
ment, is  sadly  forgetful  of  the  obligations  of  hon- 
esty ! Thy  uncle,  child.” 

“ Youmean  Ishmael  Bush,  my  father’s  brother’s 
widow’s  husband,”  returned  the  offended  girl,  a 
little  proudly.  “Indeed,  indeed,  it  is  cruel  to 
reproach  me  with  a tie  that  chance  has  formed, 
and  which  I would  rejoice  so  much  to  break  for- 
ever ! ” 

The  humbled  Ellen  could  utter  no  more,  but, 
sinking  on  a projection  of  the  rock,  she  began  to 
sob  in  a manner  that  rendered  their  situation  doubly 
critical.  The  doctor  muttered  a few  words,  which 
he  intended  as  an  apologetic  explanation,  but,  be- 
fore he  had  time  to  complete  his  labored  vindica- 
tion, she  arose  and  said  with  decision : 

“ I did  not  come  here  to  pass  my  time  in  fool- 
ish tears,  nor  you  to  try  to  stop  them.  What, 
then,  has  brought  you  hither?  ” 

“ I must  see  the  inmate  of  that  tent.” 

“You  know  what  it  contains  ? ” 

“I  am  taught  to  believe  I do  ; and  I bear  a 
letter  which  I must  deliver  with  my  own  hands. 
If  the  animal  prove  a quadruped,  Ishmael  is  a 


THE  MISSING  ASA. 


63 


true  man — if  a biped,  fledged  or  unfledged,  I care 
not,  he  is  false,  and  our  compactum  at  an  end  ! ” 
Ellen  made  a sign  for  the  doctor  to  remain 
where  he  was,  and  to  be  silent.  She  then  glided 
into  the  tent,  where  she  continued  many  minutes, 
that  proved  exceedingly  weary  and  anxious  to  the 
expectant  without ; but,  the  instant  she  returned, 
she  took  him  by  the  arm,  and  together  they  en- 
tered beneath  the  folds  of  the  mysterious  cloth. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

“ Pray  God  the  Duke  of  York  excuse  himself ! ” 

Kino  Heney  VI. 

The  mustering  of  the  borderers  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  was  silent,  sullen,  and  gloomy.  The 
repast  of  that  hour  was  wanting  in  the  inharmo- 
nious accompaniment  with  which  Esther  ordina- 
rily enlivened  their  meals ; for  the  effects  of  the 
powerful  opiate  the  doctor  had  administered  still 
muddled  her  intellects.  The  young  men  brooded 
over  the  absence  of  their  elder  brother ; and  the 
brows  of  Ishmael  himself  were  knit,  as  he  cast  his 
scowling  eyes  from  one  to  the  other,  like  a man 
preparing  to  meet  and  to  repel  an  expected  assault 
on  his  authority.  In  the  midst  of  this  family  dis- 
trust, Ellen  and  her  midnight  confederate,  the 
naturalist,  took  their  usual  places  among  the  chil- 
dren, without  awakening  suspicion  or  exciting 
comment.  The  only  apparent  fruits  of  the  adven- 
ture in  which  they  had  been  engaged  were  occa- 
sional upliftings  of  the  eyes,  on  the  part  of  the 
doctor,  which  were  mistaken  by  the  observers  for 
some  of  his  scientific  contemplations  of  the  heav- 
ens, but  which,  in  reality,  were  no  other  than  fur- 
tive glances  at  the  fluttering  walls  of  the  pro- 
scribed tent. 

At  length  the  squatter,  who  had  waited  in  vain 
for  some  more  decided  manifestation  of  the  ex- 
pected rising  among  his  sons,  resolved  to  make  a 
demonstration  of  his  own  intentions. 

“Asa  shall  account  to  me  for  his  undutiful 
conduct,”  he  observed.  “ Here  has  the  livelong 
night  gone  by,  and  he  outlying  on  the  prairie, 
when  his  hand  and  his  rifle  might  both  have  been 
wanted  in  a brush  with  the  Siouxes,  for  any  right 
he  had  to  know  the  contrary.” 

“Spare  your  breath,  good  man,”  retorted  his 
wife  ! “ be  saving  of  your  breath ; for  you  may 
have  to  call  long  enough  for  the  boy  before  he 
will  answer ! ” 

“ It  ar’  a fact  that  some  men  be  so  womanish 
as  to  let  the  young  master  the  old ! But  you, 


old  Eester,  should  know  better  than  to  think  such 
will  ever  be  the  nature  of  things  in  the  family  of 
Ishmael  Bush.” 

“ Ah ! you  are  a hectorer  with  the  boys  when 
need  calls  ! I know  it  well,  Ishmael ; and  one  of 
your  sons  have  you  driven  from  you  by  your 
temper;  and  that,  too,  at  a time  when  he  is  most 
wanted.” 

“ Father,”  said  Abner,  whose  sluggish  nature 
had  gradually  been  stimulating  itself  to  the  exer- 
tion of  taking  so  bold  a stand,  “ the  boys  and  I 
have  pretty  generally  concluded  to  go  out  on  the 
search  of  Asa.  We  are  disagreeable  about  his 
’camping  on  the  prairie,  instead  of  coming  into 
his  own  bed,  as  we  all  know  he  would  like  to  do.” 

“Pshaw!”  muttered  Abiram;  “the  boy  has 
killed  a buck ; or  perhaps  a buffalo ; and  he  is 
sleeping  by  the  carcass  to  keep  off  the  wolves 
till  day ; we  shall  soon  see  him,  or  hear  him  bawl- 
ing for  help  to  bring  in  his  load.” 

“ ’Tis  little  help  that  a son  of  mine  will  call 
for,  to  shoulder  a buck  or  to  quarter  your  wild- 
beef,”  returned  the  mother.  “ And  you,  Abiram, 
to  say  so  uncertain  a thing  ! you  who  said  your- 
self that  the  red-skins  had  been  prowling  around 
this  place,  no  later  than  yesterday — ” 

“ I ! ” exclaimed  her  brother,  hastily,  as  if 
anxious  to  retract  an  error ; “ I said  it  then,  and 
I say  it  now ; and  so  you  will  find  it  to  be.  The 
Tetons  are  in  our  neighborhood,  and  happy  will 
it  prove  for  the  boy  if  he  is  well  shut  of  them.” 

“ It  seems  to  me,”  said  Dr.  Battius,  speaking 
with  the  sort  of  deliberation  and  dignity  one  is 
apt  to  use  after  having  thoroughly  ripened  his 
opinions  by  sufficient  reflection — “ it  seems  to  me 
— a man  but  little  skilled  in  the  signs  and  tokens 
of  Indian  warfare,  especially  as  practised  in  these 
remote  plains,  but  one  who,  I may  say  without 
vanity,  has  some  insight  into  the  mysteries  of 
Nature — it  seems,  then,  to  me,  thus  humbly  quali- 
fied, that  when  doubts  exist  in  a matter  of  mo- 
ment, it  would  always  be  the  wisest  course  to  ap- 
pease them.” 

“ No  more  of  your  doctoring  for  me ! ” cried 
the  grum  Esther;  “no  more  of  your  quiddities 
in  a healthy  family,  say  I ! Here  was  I doing 
well,  only  a little  out  of  sorts  with  over-instruct- 
ing the  young,  and  you  dosed  me  with  a drug  that 
hangs  about  my  tongue  like  a pound-weight  on  a 
humming-bird’s  wing ! ” 

“Is  the  medicine  out?  ” dryly  demanded  Ish- 
mael ; “ it  must  be  a rare  dose  that  gives  a heavy 
feel  to  the  tongue  of  old  Eester ! ” 

“ Friend,”  continued  the  doctor,  waving  his 
hand  for  the  angry  wife  to  maintain  the  peace, 
“ that  it  cannot  perform  all  that  is  said  of  it  the 


64 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


very  charge  of  good  Mrs.  Bash  is  a sufficient  proof. 
But  to  speak  of  the  absent  Asa.  There  is  doubt 
as  to  his  fate,  and  there  is  a proposition  to  solve 
it.  Now,  in  the  natural  sciences  truth  is  always 
a desideratum ; and  I confess  it  would  seem  to 
be  equally  so  in  the  present  case  of  domestic  un- 
certainty, which  may  be  called  a vacuum,  where, 
according  to  the  laws  of  physic,  there  should 
exist  some  pretty  palpable  proofs  of  materiality.” 

“ Don’t  mind  him,  don’t  mind  him,”  cried 
Esther,  observing  that  the  rest  of  his  auditors 
listened  with  an  attention  which  might  proceed 
equally  from  acquiescence  in  his  proposal,  or 
ignorance  of  its  meaning.  “ There  is  a drug  in 
every  word  he  utters.” 

“ Dr.  Battius  wishes  to  say,”  Ellen  modestly 
interposed,  “that  as  some  of  us  think  Asa  is  in 
danger,  and  some  think  otherwise,  the  whole 
family  might  pass  an  hour  or  two  in  looking  for 
him.” 

“Does  he?”  interrupted  the  woman;  “then 
Dr.  Battius  has  more  sense  in  him  than  I be- 
lieved ! She  is  right,  Ishmacl ; and  what  she 
says  shall  be  done.  I will  shoulder  a rifle  my- 
self ; and  woe  betide  the  red-skin  that  crosses  my 
path  ! I have  pulled  a trigger  before  to-day ; ay, 
and  heard  an  Indian  yell,  too,  to  my  sorrow.” 

The  spirit  of  Esther  diffused  itself,  like  the 
stimulus  which  attends  a war-cry,  among  her  sons. 
They  arose  in  a body,  and  declared  their  deter- 
mination to  second  so  bold  a resolution.  Ishmael 
prudently  yielded  to  an  impulse  he  could  not  re- 
sist, and  in  a few  minutes  the  woman  appeared, 
shouldering  her  arms,  prepared  to  lead  forth,  in 
person,  such  of  her  descendants  as  chose  to 
follow. 

“ Let  them  stay  with  the  children  that  please,” 
she  said,  “ and  them  follow  me  who  are  not 
chicken-hearted ! ” 

“ Abiram,  it  will  not  do  to  leave  the  huts  with- 
out some  guard,”  Ishmael  whispered,  glancing  his 
eye  upward. 

The  man  whom  he  addressed  started,  and 
betrayed  extraordinary  eagerness  in  his  reply. 

“ I will  tarry  and  watch  the  camp.” 

A dozen  voices  were  instantly  raised  in  objec- 
tion to  this  proposal.  He  was  wanted  to  point 
out  the  places  where  the  hostile  tracks  had  been 
seen,  and  his  termagant  sister  openly  scouted  at 
the  idea,  as  unworthy  of  his  manhood.  The 
reluctant  Abiram  was  compelled  to  yield,  and 
Ishmael  made  a new  disposition  for  the  defence 
of  the  place ; which  was  admitted,  by  every  one, 
to  be  all-important  to  their  security  and  comfort. 

He  offered  the  post  of  commandant  to  Dr. 
Gattius,  who,  however,  peremptorily  and  some- 


what haughtily,  declined  the  doubtful  honor ; 
exchanging  looks  of  intelligence  with  Ellen  as 
he  did  so.  In  this  dilemma  the  squatter  was 
obliged  to  constitute  the  girl  herself  castellan ; 
taking  care,  however,  in  deputing  this  important 
trust,  to  omit  no  words  of  caution  and  instruc- 
tion. When  this  preliminary  point  was  settled, 
the  young  men  proceeded  to  arrange  certain 
means  of  defence,  and  signals  of  alarm,  that 
were  adapted  to  the  weakness  and  character  of 
the  garrison.  Several  masses  of  rock  were  drawn 
to  the  edge  of  the  upper  level,  and  so  placed  as 
to  leave  it  at  the  discretion  of  the  feeble  Ellen 
and  her  associates  to  cast  them  or  not,  as  they 
might  choose,  on  the  heads  of  any  invaders,  who 
would,  of  necessity,  be  obliged  to  mount  the  emi- 
nence by  the  difficult  and  narrow  passage  already 
so  often  mentioned.  In  addition  to  this  formi- 
dable obstruction,  the  barriers  were  strengthened 
and  rendered  nearly  impassable.  Smaller  mis- 
siles, that  might  be  hurled  even  by  the  hands  of 
the  younger  children,  but  which  would  prove, 
from  the  elevation  of  the  place,  exceeding  dan- 
gerous, were  provided  in  profusion.  A pile  of 
dried  leaves  and  splinters  was  placed,  as  a beacon, 
on  the  upper  rock,  and  then,  even  in  the  jealous 
judgment  of  the  squatter,  the  post  was  deemed 
competent  to  maintain  a creditable  siege. 

The  moment  the  rock  was  thought  to  be  in  a 
state  of  sufficient  security,  the  party  who  com- 
posed what  might  be  called  the  sortie,  sallied 
forth  on  their  anxious  expedition.  The  advance 
was  led  by  Esther  in  person,  who,  attired  in  a 
dress  half  masculine,  and  bearing  a weapon  like 
the  rest,  seemed  no  unfit  leader  for  the  group  of 
wildly -clad  frontier-men  that  followed  in  her 
rear. 

“ Now,  Abiram ! ” cried  the  Amazon,  in  a 
voice  that  was  cracked  and  harsh,  for  the  simple 
reason  of  being  used  too  often  on  a strained  and 
unnatural  key,  “ now,  Abiram,  run  with  your  nose 
low ; show  yourself  a hound  of  the  true  breed, 
and  do  some  credit  to  your  training.  You  it  was 
that  saw  the  prints  of  the  Indian  moccasin,  and 
it  behooves  you  to  let  others  be  as  wise  as  your- 
self. Come ; come  to  the  front,  man ; and  give 
us  a bold  lead.” 

The  brother,  who  appeared  at  all  times  to 
stand  in  awe  of  his  sister’s  authority,  complied  ■ 
though  it  was  with  a reluctance  so  evident  as  to 
excite  sneers  even  among  the  unobservant  and 
indolent  sons  of  the  squatter.  Ishmael,  himself, 
moved  among  his  tall  children,  like  one  who  ex- 
pected nothing  from  the  search,  and  who  was 
indifferent  alike  to  its  success  or  failure.  In  this 
manner  the  party  proceeded  until  their  distant 


ESTHER  IN  SEARCH  OF  HER  SON. 


65 


fortress  had  sunk  so  low  as  to  present  an  ob- 
ject no  larger  nor  more  distinct  than  a hazy  point 
on  the  margin  of  the  prairie.  Hitherto  their 
progress  had  been  silent  and  somewhat  rapid, 
for  as  swell  after  swell  was  mounted  and  passed, 
without  varying,  or  discovering  a living  object 
to  enliven  the  monotony  of  the  view,  even  the 
tongue  of  Esther  was  hushed  to  increasing  anxiety. 
Here,  however,  Ishmael  chose  to  pause,  and,  cast- 
ing the  butt  of  his  rifle  from  his  shoulder  to  the 
ground,  he  observed : 

“This  is  enough.  Buffalo-signs  and  deer- 
signs  are  plenty ; but  where  are  thy  Indian  foot- 
steps, Abirara  ? ” 

“ Still  farther  west,”  returned  the  other,  point- 
ing in  the  direction  he  named.  “ This  was  the 
spot  where  I struck  the  tracks  of  the  buck ; it 
was  after  I took  the  deer  that  I fell  upon  the 
Teton  trail.” 

“ And  a bloody  piece  of  work  you  made  of  it, 
man,”  cried  the  squatter,  pointing  tauntingly  to 
the  soiled  garments  of  his  kinsman,  and  then 
directing  the  attention  of  the  spectators  to  his 
own,  by  the  way  of  a triumphant  contrast. 
“ Here  have  I cut  the  throats  of  two  lively  does, 
and  a scampering  fawn,  without  spot  or  stain; 
while  you,  blundering  dog  as  you  are,  have  made 
as  much  work  for  Eester  and  her  girls,  as  though 
butchering  was  your  regular  calling.  Come, 
boys — it  is  enough.  I am  too  old  not  to  know 
the  signs  of  the  frontiers;  no  Indian  has  been 
here  since  the  last  fall  of  water.  Follow  me ; and 
I will  make  a turn  that  shall  give  us  at  least  the 
beef  of  a fallow  cow  for  our  trouble.” 

“ Follow  me  ! ” echoed  Esther,  stepping  un- 
dauntedly forward.  “ I am  leader  to-day,  and  I 
will  be  followed.  Who  so  proper,  let  me  know, 
as  a mother,  to  head  a search  for  her  own  lost 
child  ? ” 

Ishmael  regarded  his  intractable  mate  with  a 
smile  of  indulgent  pity.  Observing  that  she  had 
already  struck  out  a path  for  herself,  different 
both  from  that  of  Abiram  and  the  one  he  had 
seen  fit  to  choose,  and,  being  unwilling  to  draw 
the  cord  of  authority  too  tight  just  at  that  mo- 
ment, he  submitted  to  her  will.  But  Dr.  Battius, 
who  had  hitherto  been  a silent  and  thoughtful 
attendant  on  the  woman,  now  saw  fit  to  raise  his 
feeble  voice  in  the  way  of  remonstrance. 

“ I agree  with  thy  partner  in  life,  worthy  and 
gentle  Mrs.  Bush,”  he  said,  “in  believing  that 
some  ignis  fatuus  of  the  imagination  has  deceived 
Abiram,  in  the  signs  or  symptoms  of  which  he 
has  spoken.” 

'Symptoms,  yourself ! ” interrupted  the  ter- 
magant “This  is  no  time  for  bookish  words, 

5 


nor  is  this  a place  to  stop  and  swallow  medicines. 
If  you  are  a-leg- weary,  say  so,  as  a plain-speaking 
man  should : then  seat  yourself  on  the  prairie, 
like  a hound  that  is  foot-sore,  and  take  your  natu  - 
ral rest.” 

“I  accord  in  the  opinion,”  the  naturalist 
calmly  replied,  complying  literally  with  the  opinion 
of  the  deriding  Esther,  by  taking  his  seat  very 
coolly  by  the  side  of  an  indigenous  shrub ; the 
examination  of  which  he  commenced  on  the 
instant,  in  order  that  science  might  not  lose  any 
of  its  just  and  important  dues.  “ I honor  your 
excellent  advice,  Mistress  Esther,  as  you  may 
perceive.  Go  thou  in  quest  of  thy  offspring, 
while  I tarry  here,  in  pursuit  of  that  which  is 
better ; viz.,  an  insight  into  the  arcana  of  Nature’s 
volume.” 

The  woman  answered  with  a hollow,  unnat- 
ural, and  scornful  laugh ; and  even  her  heavy 
sons,  as  they  slowly  passed  the  seat  of  the  already 
abstracted  naturalist,  did  not  disdain  to  manifest 
their  contempt  in  smiles.  In  a few  minutes  the 
train  mounted  the  nearest  eminence,  and,  as  it 
turned  the  rounded  acclivity,  the  doctor  was  left 
to  pursue  his  profitable  investigations  in  entire 
solitude. 

Another  half-hour  passed,  during  which  Es- 
ther continued  to  advance  on  her  seemingly  fruit- 
less search.  Her  pauses,  however,  were  becom- 
ing frequent,  and  her  looks  wandering  and  uncer- 
tain, when  footsteps  were  heard  clattering  through 
the  bottom,  and  at  the  next  instant  a buck  was 
seen  to  bound  up  the  ascent,  and  to  dart  from 
before  their  eyes,  in  the  direction  of  the  naturalist. 
So  sudden  and  unlooked-for  had  been  the  passage 
of  the  animal,  and  so  much  had  he  been  favored 
by  the  shape  of  the  ground,  that,  before  any  one 
of  the  foresters  had  time  to  bring  his  rifle  to  his 
shoulder,  it  was  already  beyond  the  range  of  a 
bullet. 

“ Look  out  for  the  wolf  1 ” shouted  Abner, 
shaking  his  head  in  vexation,  at  being  a single 
moment  too  late.  “ A wolf’s  skin  will  be  no  bad 
gift  in  a winter’s  night ; ay,  yonder  the  hungry 
devil  comes ! ” 

“ Hold ! ” cried  Ishmael,  knocking  up  the 
levelled  weapon  of  his  too  eager  son.  “ ’Tis  noi 
a wolf,  but  a hound  of  thorough  blood  and  bottom. 
Ha ! we  have  hunters  nigh  : there  ar’  two  of  them.” 

He  was  still  speaking,  when  the  animals  in 
question  came  leaping  on  the  track  of  the  deer, 
striving  with  noble  ardor  to  outdo  each  other. 
One  was  an  aged  dog,  whose  strength  seemed  to 
be  sustained  purely  by  generous  emulation,  and 
the  other  a pup,  that  gambolled  even  while  he 
pressed  most  warmly  on  the  chase.  They  both 


66 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


ran,  however,  with  clean  and  powerful  leaps, 
carrying  their  noses  high,  like  animals  of  the 
most  keen  and  subtile  scent.  They  had  passed  ; 
and  in  another  minute  they  would  have  been  run- 
ning open-mouthed  with  the  deer  in  view,  had 
not  the  younger  dog  suddenly  bounded  from  the 
course,  and  uttered  a cry  of  surprise.  His  aged 
companion  stopped  also,  and  returned  panting 
and  exhausted  to  the  place  where  the  other  was 
whirling  around  in  swift  and  apparently  in  mad 
evolutions,  circling  the  spot  in  his  own  footsteps, 
and  continuing  his  outcry,  in  a short,  snappish 
barking.  But,  when  the  elder  hound  had  reached 
the  spot,  he  seated  himself,  and,  lifting  his  nose 
high  into  the  air,  he  raised  a long,  loud,  and  wail- 
ing howl. 

“ It  must  be  a strong  scent,”  said  Abner,  who 
had  been,  with  the  rest  of  the  family,  an  admiring 
observer  of  the  movements  of  the  dogs,  “that 
can  break  off  two  such  creatur’s  so  suddenly  from 
their  trail.” 

“ Murder  them  ! ” cried  Abiram;  “I’ll  swear 
to  the  old  hound;  ’tis  the  dog  of  the  trapper, 
whom  we  now  know  to  be  our  mortal  enemy.” 

Though  the  brother  of  Esther  gave  so  hostile 
advice,  he  appeared  in  no  way  ready  to  put  it  in 
execution  himself.  The  surprise  which  had  taken 
possession  of  the  whole  party,  exhibited  itself  in 
his  own  vacant,  wondering  stare,  as  strongly  as 
in  any  of  the  admiring  visages  by  whom  he  was 
surrounded.  His  denunciation,  therefore,  not- 
withstanding its  dire  import,  was  disregarded ; and 
the  dogs  were  left  to  obey  the  impulses  of  their 
mysterious  instinct,  without  let  or  hinderance. 

It  was  long  before  any  of  the  spectators  broke 
the  silence ; but  the  squatter  at  length  so  far 
recollected  his  authority  as  to  take  on  himself  the 
right  to  control  the  movements  of  his  children. 

“ Come  away,  boys  ; come  away,  and  leave  the 
hounds  to  sing  their  tunes  for  their  own  amuse- 
ment,” Ishmael  said,  in  his  coldest  manner.  “ I 
scorn  to  take  the  life  of  a beast,  because  its  mas- 
ter has  pitched  himself  too  nigh  my  clearing; 
come  away,  boys,  come  away ; we  have  enough  of 
our  own  work  before  us,  without  turning  aside  to 
do  that  of  the  whole  neighborhood.” 

“ Come  not  away ! ” cried  Esther,  in  tones  that 
sounded  like  the  admonitions  of  some  sibyl.  “ I 
say,  come  not  away,  my  children.  There  is  a 
meaning  and  a warning  in  this ; and  as  I am  a 
woman  and  a mother,  wid  I know  the  truth  of  it 
all.” 

So  saying,  the  awakened  wife  brandished  her 
weapon,  with  an  air  tnat  was  not  without  its 
wild  and  secret  influence,  and  led  the  way  toward 
the  snot  where  the  dogs  still  remained,  filling 


the  air  with  their  long-drawn  and  piteous  com- 
plaints. The  whole  party  followed  in  her  steps, 
some  too  indolent  to  oppose,  others  obedient  to 
her  will,  and  all  more  or  less  excited  by  the  un- 
common character  of  the  scene. 

“ Tell  me,  you  Abner — Abiram — Ishmael ! ” 
the  woman  cried,  standing  over  a spot  where  the 
earth  was  trampled  and  beaten,  and  plainly 
sprinkled  with  blood ; “ tell  me.  you  who  ar’ 
hunters ! what  sort  of  animal  has  here  met  his 
death? — Speak!  Ye  ar’  men,  and  used  to  the 
signs  of  the  plains ; is  it  the  blood  of  wolf  or 
panther  ? ” 

“ A buffalo — and  a noble  and  powerful  crea- 
tur’  has  it  been ! ” returned  the  squatter,  who 
looked  down  calmly  on  the  fatal  signs  which  so 
strangely  affected  his  wife.  “ Here  are  the  marks 
of  the  spot  where  he  has  struck  his  hoofs  into 
the  earth,  in  the  death-struggle ; and  yonder  he 
has  plunged  and  torn  the  ground  with  his  horns. 
Ay,  a buffalo-bull  of  wonderful  strength  and 
courage  has  he  been  ! ” 

“ And  who  has  slain  him  ? ” continued  Es- 
ther ; “man  ! where  are  the  offals  ? — Wolves  ! — 
They  devour  not  the.  hide ! Tell  me,  ye  men  and 
hunters,  is  this  the  blood  of  a beast  ? ” 

“ The  creatur’  has  plunged  over  the  hillock,” 
said  Abner,  who  had  proceeded  a short  distance 
beyond  the  rest  of  the  party.  “ Ah ! there  you 
will  find  it,  in  yon  swale  of  alders.  Look ! a thou- 
sand carrion-birds  ar’  hovering  above  the  car- 
cass.” 

“ The  animal  has  still  life  in  him,”  returned 
the  squatter,  “ or  the  buzzards  would  settle  upon 
their  prey  ! By  the  action  of  the  dogs  it  must  be 
something  ravenous : I reckon  it  is  the  white  bear 
from  the  upper  falls.  They  are  said  to  cling  des- 
perately to  life ! ” 

“ Let  us  go  back,”  said  Abiram  ; “ there  may 
be  danger,  and  there  can  be  no  good  in  attacking 
a ravenous  beast.  Remember,  Ishmael,  ’twill  be 
a risky  job,  and  one  of  small  profit ! ” 

The  young  men  smiled  at  this  new  proof  of 
the  well-known  pusillanimity  of  their  uncle.  The 
oldest  even  proceeded  so  far  as  to  express  his 
contempt,  by  bluntly  saying : 

“ It  will  do  to  cage  with  the  other  animal  we 
carry ; then  we  may  go  back  double-handed  into 
the  settlements,  and  set  up  for  showmen,  around 
the  court-houses  and  jails  of  Kentucky.” 

The  threatening  frown  which  gathered  on  the 
brow  of  his  father  admonished  the  young  man  to 
forbear.  Exchanging  looks  that  were  half  rebel- 
lious with  his  brethren,  he  saw  fit  to  be  silent. 
But  instead  of  observing  the  caution  recommended 
by  Abiram,  they  proceeded  in  a body,  until  they 


A SAD  DISCOVERY. 


67 


again  came  to  a halt  within  a few  yards  of  the 
matted  cover  of  the  thicket. 

The  scene  had  now,  indeed,  become  wild  and 
striking  enough  to  have  produced  a powerful  ef- 
fect on  minds  better  prepared,  than  those  of  the 
unnurtured  family  of  the  squatter,  to  resist  the 
impressions  of  so  exciting  a spectacle.  The  heav- 
ens were,  as  usual  at  the  season,  covered  with 
dark,  driving  clouds,  beneath  which  interminable 
flocks  of  aquatic  birds  were  again  on  the  wing, 
holding  their  toilsome  and  heavy  way  toward  the 
distant  waters  of  the  South.  The  wind  had  risen, 
and  was  once  more  sweeping  over  the  prairie  in 
gusts,  which  it  was  often  vain  to  oppose ; and 
then  again  the  blasts  would  seem  to  mount  into 
the  upper  air,  as  if  to  sport  with  the  drifting  va- 
por, whirling  and  rolling  vast  masses  of  the  dusky 
and  ragged  volumes  over  each  other,  in  a terrific 
and  yet  grand  disorder.  Above  the  little  brake, 
the  flocks  of  birds  still  held  their  flight,  circling 
with  heavy  wings  about  the  spot,  struggling  at 
times  against  the  torrent  of  wind,  and  then,  fa- 
vored by  their  position  and  height,  making  bold 
swoops  upon  the  thicket,  away  from  which,  how- 
ever, they  never  failed  to  sail,  screaming  in  terror, 
as  if  apprised,  either  by  sight  or  instinct,  that  the 
hour  of  their  voracious  dominion  had  not  yet  fully 
arrived. 

Ishmael  stood  for  many  minutes,  with  his  wife 
and  children  clustered  together,  in  an  amazement, 
with  which  awe  was  singularly  mingled,  gazing  in 
death-like  stillness  on  the  sight.  The  voice  of  Es- 
ther at  length  broke  the  charm,  and  reminded  the 
spectators  of  the  necessity  of  resolving  their 
doubts  in  some  manner  more  worthy  of  their 
manhood  than  by  dull  and  inactive  observation. 

“ Call  in  the  dogs  ! ” she  said ; “ call  in  the 
hounds,  and  put  them  into  the  thicket ; there  ar’ 
men  enough  of  ye,  if  ye  have  not  lost  the  spirit 
with  which  I know  ye  were  born,  to  tame  the  tem- 
pers of  all  the  bears  west  of  the  big  river.  Call  in 
the  dogs,  I say,  you  Enoch  ! Abner ! Gabriel ! has 
wonder  made  ye  deaf  ? ” 

One  of  the  young  men  complied ; and,  having 
succeeded  in  detaching  the  hounds  from  the  place, 
around  which,  until  then,  they  had  not  ceased  to 
hover,  he  led  them  down  to  the  margin  of  the 
thicket. 

“ Put  them  in,  boy  ; put  them  in,”  continued 
the  woman  ; “ and  you,  Ishmael  and  Abiram,  if 
any  thing  wicked  or  hurtful  comes  forth,  show 
them  the  use  of  your  rifles,  like  frontier-men.  If 
ye  ar’  wanting  in  spirit,  before  the  eyes  of  my 
children  will  I put  ye  both  to  shame  ! ” 

The  youths  who,  until  now,  had  detained  the 
hounds,  let  slip  the  thongs  of  skin  by  which  they 


had  been  held,  and  urged  them  to  the  attack  with 
their  voices.  But  it  would  seem  that  the  elder 
dog  was  restrained  by  some  extraordinary  sensa- 
tion, or  that  he  was  much  too  experienced  to  at- 
tempt the  rash  adventure.  After  proceeding  a 
few  yards  to  the  verge  of  the  brake,  he  made  a 
sudden  pause,  and  stood  trembling  in  all  his  aged 
limbs,  apparently  as  unable  to  recede  as  to  ad- 
vance. The  encouraging  calls  of  the  young  men 
were  disregarded,  or  only  answered  by  a low  and 
plaintive  whining.  For  a minute  the  pup  also 
was  similarly  affected;  but  less  sage,  or  more 
easily  excited,  he  was  induced  at  length  to  leap 
forward,  and  finally  to  dash  into  the  cover.  An 
alarmed  and  startling  howl  was  heard,  and,  at  the 
next  minute,  he  broke  out  of  the  thicket,  and  com- 
menced circling  the  spot,  in  the  same  wild  and  un- 
steady manner  as  before. 

“ Have  I a man  among  my  children  ? ” de- 
manded Esther.  “ Give  me  a truer  piece  than  a 
childish  shot-gun,  and  I will  show  ye  what  the 
courage  of  a frontier-woman  can  do  ! ” 

“Stay,  mother,”  exclaimed  Abner  and  Enoch ; 
“ if  you  will  see  the  creatur’,  let  us  drive  it  into 
view.” 

This  was  quite  as  much  as  the  youths  were 
accustomed  to  utter,  even  on  more  important  oc- 
casions ; but,  having  given  a pledge  of  their  inten- 
tions, they  were  far  from  being  backward  in  re- 
deeming it.  Preparing  their  arms  with  the  ut- 
most care,  they  advanced  with  steadiness  to 
the  brake.  Nerves  less  often  tried  than  those  of 
the  young  borderers  might  have  shrunk  before 
the  dangers  of  so  uncertain  an  undertaking.  As 
they  proceeded,  the  howls  of  the  dogs  became 
more  shrill  and  plaintive.  The  vultures  and  buz- 
zards settled  so  low  as  to  flap  the  bushes  with 
their  heavy  wings,  and  the  wind  came  hoarsely 
sweeping  along  the  naked  prairie,  as  if  the  spirits 
of  the  air  had  also  descended  to  witness  the  ap- 
proaching development. 

There  was  a breathless  moment,  when  the  blood 
of  the  undaunted  Esther  flowed  backward  to  her 
heart,  as  she  saw  her  sons  push  aside  the  matted 
branches  of  the  thicket  and  bury  themselves  in  its 
labyrinth.  A deep  and  solemn  pause  succeeded. 
Then  arose  two  loud  and  piercing  cries,  in  quick 
•succession,  which  were  followed  by  a quiet  still 
more  awful  and  appalling. 

“ Come  back,  come  back,  my  children ! ” cried 
the  woman,  the  feelings  of  a mother  getting  the 
ascendency. 

But  her  voice  was  hushed,  and  every  faculty 
seemed  frozen  with  horror,  as  at  that  instant  the 
bushes  once  more  parted,  and  the  two  adventur- 
ers reappeared,  pale,  and  nearly  insensible  them- 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


selves,  and  laid  at  her  feet  the  stiff  and  motion- 
less body  of  the  lost  Asa,  with  the  marks  of  a vio- 
lent death  but  too  plainly  stamped  on  every  pal- 
lid lineament. 

The  dogs  uttered  a long  and  closing  howl,  and 
then,  breaking  off  together,  they  disappeared  on 
the  forsaken  trail  of  the  deer.  The  flight  of  birds 
wheeled  upward  into  the  heavens,  filling  the  air 
with  their  complaints  at  having  been  robbed  of  a 
victim  which,  frightful  and  disgusting  as  it  was, 
still  bore  too  much  of  the  impression  of  humanity 
to  become  the  prey  of  their  obscene  appetites. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

“ A pickaxe,  and  a spade,  a spade, 

For — and  a shrouding  sheet : 

O,  a pit  of  clay  for  to  he  made 
For  such  a guest  is  meet.” 

Song-  in  Hamlet. 

“ Stand  back ! stand  off,  the  whole  of  ye  ! ” 
said  Esther,  hoarsely  to  the  crowd,  which  pressed 
too  closely  on  the  corpse ; “ I am  his  mother,  and 
my  right  is  better  than  that  of  ye  all ! Who  has 
done  this  ? Tell  me,  Ishmael,  Abirara,  Abner ! 
open  your  mouths  and  your  hearts,  and  let  God’s 
truth  and  no  other  issue  from  them.  Who  has 
done  this  bloody  deed  ? ” 

Her  husband  made  no  reply,  but  stood,  leaning 
on  his  rifle,  looking  sadly,  but  with  an  unaltered 
eye,  at  the  mangled  remains  of  his  son.  Not  so 
the  mother ; she  threw  herself  on  the  earth,  and, 
receiving  the  cold  and  ghastly  head  into  her  lap, 
she  sat  contemplating  those  muscular  features, 
on  which  the  death-agony  was  still  horridly  im- 
pressed, in  a silence  far  more  expressive  than  any 
language  of  lamentation  could  have  proved. 

The  voice  of  the  woman  was  frozen  in  grief. 
In  vain  Ishmael  attempted  a few  words  of  rude  con- 
solation ; she  neither  listened  nor  answered.  Her 
sons  gathered  about  her  in  a circle,  and  expressed, 
after  their  uncouth  manner,  their  sympathy  in  her 
sorrow,  as  well  as  their  sense  of  their  own  loss  ; 
but  she  motioned  them  away,  impatiently,  with 
her  hand.  At  times  her  fingers  played  in  the 
matted  hair  of  the  dead,  and  at  others  they  light- 
ly attempted  to  smooth  the  painfully  expressive' 
muscles  of  its  ghastly  visage,  as  the  hand  of  the 
mother  is  seen  lingering  fondly  about  the  features 
of  her  sleeping  child.  Then,  starting  from  their  re- 
volting office,  her  hands  would  flutter  around  her, 
and  seem  to  seek  some  fruitless  remedy  against  the 
violent  blow  which  had  thus  suddenly  destroyed 
the  child  in  whom  she  had  not  only  placed  her 
greatest  hopes,  but  so  much  of  her  maternal  pride. 


While  engaged  in  the  latter  incomprehensible  man- 
ner,  the  lethargic  Abner  turned  aside,  and,  swal- 
lowing the  unwonted  emotions  which  were  rising 
in  his  own  throat,  he  observed  : 

“ Mother  means  that  we  should  look  for  the 
signs,  that  we  may  know  in  what  manner  Asa 
has  come  by  his  end.” 

“We  owe  it  to  the  accursed  Siouxes!”  an- 
swered Ishmael ; “ twice  have  they  put  me  deeply 
in  their  debt ! The  third  time  the  score  shall  be 
cleared ! ” 

But,  not  content  with  this  plausible  explana- 
tion, and  perhaps  secretly  glad  to  avert  their  eyes 
from  a spectacle  which  awakened  so  extraordinary 
and  unusual  sensations  in  their  sluggish  bosoms, 
the  sons  of  the  squatter  turned  away  in  a body 
from  their  mother  and  the  corpse,  and  proceeded 
to  make  the  inquiries  which  they  fancied  the  for- 
mer bad  so  repeatedly  demanded.  Ishmael  made 
no  objections ; but,  though  he  accompanied  his 
children  while  they  proceeded  in  the  investigation, 
it  was  more  with  the  appearance  of  complying 
with  their  wishes,  at  a time  when  resistance  might' 
not  be  seemly,  than  with  any  visible  interest  in 
the  result.  As  the  borderers,  notwithstanding 
their  usual  dulness,  were  well  instructed  in  most 
things  connected  with  their  habits  of  life,  an  in- 
quiry, the  success  of  which  depended  so  much  on 
signs  and  evidences  that  bore  so  strong  a resem- 
blance to  a forest-trail,  was  likely  to  be  conducted 
with  skill  and  acuteness.  Accordingly,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  melancholy  task  with  great  readi- 
ness and  intelligence. 

Abner  and  Enoch  agreed  in  their  accounts  as 
to  the  position  in  which  they  had  found  the  body. 
It  was  seated  nearly  upright,  the  back  supported  by 
a mass  of  matted  brush,  and  one  hand  still  grasp 
ing  a broken  twig  of  the  alders.  It  was  most  prob- 
ably owing  to  the  former  circumstance  that  the 
body  had  escaped  the  rapacity  of  the  carrion-birds, 
which  had  been  seen  hovering  above  the  thicket, 
and  the  latter  proved  that  life  had  not  yet  entirely 
abandoned  the  hapless  victim  when  he  entered  the 
brake.  The  opinion  now  became  general  that  the 
youth  had  received  his  death-wound  in  the  open 
prairie,  and  had  dragged  his  enfeebled  form  into 
the  cover  of  the  thicket  for  the  purpose  of  conceal- 
ment. A trail  through  the  bushes  confirmed  this 
opinion.  It  also  appeared,  on  examination,  that 
a desperate  struggle  had  taken  place  on  the  very 
margin  of  the  thicket.  This  was  sufficiently  appar- 
ent by  the  trodden  branches,  the  deep  impressions 
on  the  ihoist  ground,  and  the  lavish  flow  of  blood. 

“ He  has  been  shot  in  the  open  ground  and 
come  here  for  a cover,”  said  Abiram;  “these 
marks  would  clearly  prove  it.  The  bov  has  been 


TEE  TRAPPER  SUSPECTED. 


69 


get  upon  by  the  savages  in  a body,  and  has  fou’t 
like  a hero  as  bo  was,  until  they  have  mastered 
his  strength,  and  then  drawn  him  to  the  bushes.” 

To  this  probable  opinion  there  was  now  but 
one  dissenting  voice,  that  of  the  slow-minded  Ish- 
mael,  who  demanded  that  the  corpse  itself  should 
be  examined  in  order  to  obtain  a more  accurate 
knowledge  of  its  injuries.  On  examination,  it  ap- 
peared that  a rifle-bullet  had  passed  directly 
through  the  body  of  the  deceased,  entering  be- 
neath one  of  his  brawny  shoulders,  and  making  its 
exit  by  the  breast.  It  required  some  knowledge 
in  gunshot-wounds  to  decide  this  delicate  point, 
but  the  experience  of  the  borderers  was  quite 
equal  to  the  scrutiny ; and  a smile  of  wild  and 
certainly  of  singular  satisfaction  passed  among 
the  sons  of  Ishmael,  when  Abner  confidently  an- 
nounced that  the  enemies  of  Asa  had  assailed  him 
in  the  rear. 

“ It  must  be  so,”  said  the  gloomy  but  atten- 
tive squatter.  “ He  was  of  too  good  a sfock,  and 
too  well  trained,  knowingly  to  turn  the  weak  side 
to  man  or  beast ! Remember,  boys,  that  while  the 
front  of  manhood  is  to  your  enemy,  let  him  be 
who  or  what  he  may,  you  ar’  safe  from  cowardly 
surprise. — Why,  Eester,  woman ! you  ar’  getting 
beside  yourself  with  picking  at  the  hair  and  the 
garments  of  the  child ! Little  good  can  you  do 
him  now,  old  girl.” 

“See!”  interrupted  Enoch,  extricating  from 
the  fragments  of  cloth  the  morsel  of  lead  which 
had  prostrated  the  strength  of  one  so  powerful ; 
“ here  is  the  very  bul’et ! ” 

Ishmael  took  it  in  his  hand  and  eyed  it  long 
and  closely. 

“ There’s  no  mistake,”  at  length  he  muttered 
through  his  compressed  teeth.  “It  is  from  the 
pouch  of  that  accursed  trapper.  Like  many  of 
the  hunters,  he  has  a mark  in  his  mould,  in  order 
to  know  the  work  his  rifle  performs ; and  here  you 
see  it  plainly — six  little  holes  laid  crossways.” 

“ I’ll  swear  to  it,”  cried  Abiram,  triumphantly. 
“ He  show’d  me  his  private  mark,  himself,  and 
boasted  of  the  number  of  deer  he  had  laid  upon 
the  prairies  with  these  very  bullets.  Now,  Ish- 
mael, will  you  believe  me  when  I tell  you  the  old 
knave  is.  a spy  of  the  red-skins  ? ” 

The  lead  passed  from  the  hand  of  one  to  that 
of  another;  and,  unfortunately  for  the  reputation 
of  the  old  man,  several  among  them  remembered 
also  to  have  seen  the  aforesaid  private  bullet-marks 
during  the  curious  examination  which  all  had  made 
of  his  accoutrements.  In  addition  to  this  wound, 
however,  were  many  others  of  a less  dangerous 
nature,  all  of  which  were  deemed  to  confirm  the 
supposed  guilt  of  the  trapper. 


The  traces  of  many  different  struggles  were  to 
be  seen  between  the  spot  where  the  first  blood 
was  spilt  and  the  thicket  to  which  it  was  now  gen- 
erally believed  Asa  had  retreated  as  a place  of  ref- 
uge. These  were  interpreted  into  so  many  proofs 
of  the  weakness  of  the  murderer,  who  would  have 
sooner  dispatched  his  victim,  had  not  even  the 
dying  strength  of  the  youth  rendered  him  formi- 
dable to  the  infirmities  of  one  so  old.  The  danger 
of  drawing  some  others  of  the  hunters  to  the  spot, 
by  repeated  firing,  was  deemed  a sufficient  reason 
for  not  again  resorting  to  the  rifle  after  it  had  per- 
formed the  important  duty  of  disabling  the  victim. 
The  weapon  of  the  dead  man  was  not  to  be  found, 
and  had  doubtless,  together  with  many  other  less 
valuable  and  lighter  articles  that  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  carry  about  his  person,  become  a prize 
to  his  destroyer. 

But  what,  in  addition  to  the  telltale  bullet,  ap- 
peared to  fix  the  ruthless  deed  with  peculiar  cer- 
tainty on  the  trapper  was  the  accumulated  evi- 
dence furnished  by  the  trail ; which  proved,  not- 
withstanding his  deadly  hurt,  that  the  wounded 
man  had  still  been  able  to  make  a long  and  des- 
perate resistance  to  the  subsequent  efforts  of  his 
murderer.  Ishmael  seemed  to  press  this  proof 
with  a singular  mixture  of  sorrow  and  pride : sor- 
row at  the  loss  of  a son  whom,  in  their  moments 
of  amity,  he  highly  valued ; and  pride  at  the  cour- 
age and  power  he  had  manifested  to  his  last  and 
weakest  breath. 

“He  died  as  a son  of  mine  should,  die,”  said 
the  squatter,  gleaning  a hollow  consolation  from 
so  unnatural  an  exultation — “ a dread  to  his  en- 
emy to  the  last,  and  without  help  from  the  law ! 
Come,  children ; we  have  the  grave  to  make,  and 
then  to  hunt  his  murderer.” 

The  son  of  the  squatter  set  about  their  melan- 
choly office  in  silence  and  in  sadness.  An  exca- 
vation was  made  in  the  hard  earth  at  a great 
expense  of  toil  and  time,  and  the  body  was 
wrapped  in  such  spare  vestments  as  could  be  col- 
lected among  the  laborers.  When  these  arrange- 
ments were  completed,  Ishmael  approached  the 
seemingly  unconscious  Esther,  and  announced  his 
intention  to  inter  the  dead.  She  heard  him,  and 
quietly  relinquished  her  grasp  of  the  corpse,  ris- 
ing in  silence  to  follow  it  to  its  narrow  resting- 
place.  Here  she  seated  herself  again  at  the  head 
of  the  grave,  watching  each  movement  of  the 
youths  with  eager  and  jealous  eyes.  When  a 
sufficiency  of  earth  was  laid  upon  the  senseless 
clay  of  Asa  to  protect  it  from  injury,  Enoch  and 
Abner  entered  the  cavity,  and  trod  it  into  a solid 
mass  by  the  weight  of  their  huge  frames,  with  an 
appearance  of  a strange,  not  to  say  savage,  mix- 


70 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


ture  of  care  and  indifference.  This  well-known 
precaution  was  adopted  to  prevent  the  speedy 
exhumation  of  the  body  by  some  of  the  carniv- 
orous beasts  of  the  prairie,  whose  instinct  was 
sure  to  guide  them  to  the  spot.  Even  the  rapa- 
cious birds  appeared  to  comprehend  the  nature 
of  the  ceremony,  for,  mysteriously  apprised  that 
the  miserable  victim  was  now  about  to  be  aban- 
doned by  the  human  race,  they  once  more  began 
to  make  their  airy  circuits  above  the  place, 
screaming  as  if  to  frighten  the  kinsmen  from  their 
labor  of  caution  and  love. 

Ishmael  stood,  with  folded  arms,  steadily 
watching  the  manner  in  which  this  necessary 
duty  was  performed,  and,  when  the  whole  was 
completed,  he  lifted  his  cap  to  his  sons,  to  thank 
them  for  their  services,  with  a dignity  that  would 
have  become  one  much  better  nurtured.  Through- 
out the  whole  of  a ceremony  which  is  ever  solemn 
and  admonitory,  the  squatter  had  maintained  a 
grave  and  serious  deportment.  His  vast  features 
were  visibly  stamped  with  an  expression  of  deep 
concern ; but  at  no  time  did  they  falter,  until  he 
turned  his  back,  as  he  believed  forever,  <?n  the 
grave  of  his  first-born.  Nature  was  then  stirring 
powerfully  within  him,  and  the  muscles  of  his 
stern  visage  began  to  work  perceptibly.  His 
children  fastened  their  eyes  on  his,  as  if  to  seek 
a direction  to  the  strange  emotions  which  were 
moving  their  own  heavy  natures,  when  the  strug- 
gle in  the  bosom  of  the  squatter  suddenly  ceased, 
and,  taking  his  wife  by  the  arm,  he  raised  her  to 
her  feet  as  if  she  had  been  an  infant,  saying  in  a 
voice  that  was  perfectly  steady,  though  a nice 
observer  would  have  discovered  that  it  was  kind- 
er thap  usual : 

“ Eester,  we  have  now  done  all  that  man  and 
woman  can  do.  We  raised  the  boy,  and  made 
him  such  as  few  others  were  like,  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  America ; and  we  have  given  him  a grave. 
Let  us  go  our  way.” 

The  woman  turned  her  eyes  slowly  from  the 
fresh  earth,  and,  laying  her  hands  on  the  shoulders 
of  her  husband,  stood,  looking  him  anxiously  in 
the  eyes. 

“ Ishmael ! Ishmael ! ” she  said,  “ you  parted 
from  the  boy  in  your  wrath  ! ” 

“ May  the  Lord  pardon  his  sins  freely  as  I 
have  forgiven  his  worst  misdeeds ! ” calmly  re- 
turned the  squatter.  “Woman,  go  you  back 
to  the  rock  and  read  your  Bible ; a chapter  in 
that  book  always  does  you  good.  You  can 
read,  Eester ; which  is  a privilege  I never  did 
enjoy  ” 

“Yes,  yes,”  muttered  the  woman,  yielding  to 
bis  strength,  and  suffering  herself  to  be  led, 


though  with  strong  reluctance,  from  the  spot. 
“ I can  read ; and  how  have  I used  the  knowledge ! 
But  he,  Ishmael,  he  has  not  the  sin  of  wasted 
l’arning  to  answer  for.  We  have  spared  him 
that , at  least ! whether  it  be  in  mercy  or  in  cruelty 
I know  not.” 

Her  husband  made  no  reply,  but  continued 
steadily  to  lead  her  in  the  direction  of  their 
temporary  abode.  When  they  reached  the  sum- 
mit of  the  swell  of  land,  which  they  knew  was 
the  last  spot  from  which  the  situation  of  the 
grave  of  Asa  could  be  seen,  they  all  turned,  as 
by  common  concurrence,  to  take  a farewell  view 
of  the  place.  The  little  mound  itself  was  not 
visible ; but  it  was  frightfully  indicated  by  the 
flock  of  screaming  birds  which  hovered  above. 
In  the  opposite  direction  a low,  blue  hillock,  in 
the  skirts  of  the  horizon,  pointed  out  the  place 
where  Esther  had  left  the  rest  of  her  young,  and 
served  as  an  attraction  to  draw  her  reluctant  steps 
from  the  last  abode  of  her  eldest  born.  Nature 
quickened  in  the  bosom  of  the  mother  at  the 
sight ; and  she  finally  yielded  the  rights  of  the 
dead  to  the  more  urgent  claims  of  the  living. 

The  foregoing  occurrences  had  struck  a spark 
from  the  stern  tempers  of  a set  of  beings  so  sin- 
gularly moulded  in  the  habits  of  their  unculti- 
vated lives,  which  served  to  keep  alive  among  them 
the  dying  embers  of  family  affection.  United  to 
their  parents  by  ties  no  stronger  than  those  which 
use  had  created,  there  had  been  great  danger,  as 
Ishmael  had  foreseen,  that  the  overloaded  hive 
would  swarm,  and  leave  him  saddled  with  the  diffi- 
culties of  a young  and  helpless  brood,  unsupport- 
ed by  the  exertions  of  those  whom  he  had  already 
brought  to  a state  of  maturity.  The  spirit  of 
insubordination  which  emanated  from  the  unfor- 
tunate Asa,  had  spread  among  his  juniors ; and 
the  squatter  had  been  made  painfully  to  remem- 
ber the  time  when,  in  the  wantonness  of  his  youth 
and  vigor,  he  had,  reversing  the  order  of  the 
brutes,  cast  off  his  own  aged  and  failing  parents, 
to  enter  into  the  world  unshackled  and  free.  But 
the  danger  had  now  abated,  for  a time  at  least ; 
and,  if  his  authority  was  not  restored  with  all  its 
former  influence,  it  was  admitted  to  exist,  and  to 
maintain  its  ascendency  a little  longer. 

It  is  true  that  his  slow-minded  sons,  even 
while  they  submitted  to  the  impressions  of  the 
recent  event,  had  glimmerings  of  terrible  distrust 
as  to  the  manner  in  which  their  elder  brother  had 
met  with  his  death.  There  were  faint  and  indis- 
tinct images  in  the  minds  of  two  or  three  of  the 
oldest,  which  portrayed  the  father  himself  as 
ready  to  imitate  the  example  of  Abraham,  with- 
out the  justification  of  the  sacred  authority  which 


RETURNING  TO  THE  FORTRESS. 


71 


commanded  the  holy  man  to  attempt  the  revolt- 
ing office.  But  then  these  images  were  so  tran- 
sient, and  so  much  obscured  in  intellectual  mists, 
as  to  leave  no  very  strong  impressions  ; and  the 
tendency  of  the  whole  transaction,  as  we  nave 
already  said,  was  rather  to  strengthen  than  to 
weaken  the  authority  of  Ishmael. 

In  this  disposition  of  mind  the  party  contin- 
ued their  route  toward  the  place  whence  they  had 
that  morning  issued  on  a search  which  had  been 
crowned  with  so  melancholy  a success. 

» The  long  and  fruitless  march  which  they  had 
made  under  the  direction  of  Abiram,  the  dis- 
covery of  the  body  and  its  subsequent  interment, 
had  so  far  consumed  the  day  that,  by  the  time 
their  steps  were  retraced  across  the  broad  tract 
of  waste  which  lay  between  the  grave  of  Asa  and 
the  rock,  the  sun  had  fallen  far  below  his  merid- 
ian altitude.  The  hill  had  gradually  risen  as 
they  approached,  like  some  tower  emerging  from 
the  bosom  of  the  sea,  and,  when  within  a mile, 
the  minuter  objects  that  crowned  its  height  came 
dimly  into  view. 

“ It  will  be  a sad  meeting  for  the  girls  ! ” said 
Ishmael,  who,  from  time  to  time,  did  not  cease  to 
utter  something  which  he  intended  should  be 
consolatory  to  the  bruised  spirit  of  his  partner. 
“ Asa  was  much  regarded  by  all  the  young,  and 
seldom  failed  to  bring  in  from  his  hunts  some- 
thing that  they  loved.” 

“ He  did,  he  did,”  murmured  Esther  ; “ the 
boy  was  the  pride  of'  the  family.  My  other  chil- 
dren are  as  nothing  to  him ! ” 

“ Say  not  so,  good  woman,”  returned  the  fa- 
ther, glancing  his  eye  a little  proudly  at  the 
athletic  train  which  followed  at  no  great  distance 
in  the  rear.  “ Say  not  so,  old  Eester ; for  few 
fathers  and  mothers  have  greater  reason  to  be 
boastful  than  ourselves.” 

“ Thankful,  thankful,”  muttered  the  humble 
woman ; “ ye  mean  thankful,  Ishmael ! ” 

“ Then  thankful  let  it  be,  if  you  like  the  word 
better,  my  good  girl — but  what  has  become  of 
Nelly  and  the  young  ? The  child  has  forgotten 
the  charge  I gave  her,  and  has  not  only  suffered 
the  children  to  sleep,  but  I warrant  you  is  dream- 
ing of  the  fields  of  Tennessee  at  this  very  moment. 
The  mind  of  your  niece  is  mainly  fixed  on  the  set- 
tlements, I reckon.” 

“ Ay,  she  is  not  for  us  ; I said  it,  and  thought 
it,  when  I took  her,  because  death  had  stripped  her 
of  all  other  friends.  Death  is  a sad  worker  in  the 
bosom  of  families,  Ishmael ! Asa  had  a kind  feel- 
ing to  the  child,  and  they  might  have  come  one 
day  into  our  places  had  things  been  so  ordered.” 

“ Nay,  she  is  not  gifted  for  a frontier  wife,  if 


this  is  the  manner  she  is  to  keep  house  while  the 
husband  is  on  the  hunt. — Abner,  let  off  your  rifle, 
that  they  may  know  we  ar’  coming.  I fear  Nelly 
and  the  young  ar’  asleep.” 

The  young  man  complied  with  an  alaci’ity  that 
manifested  how  gladly  he  would  see  the  rounded, 
active  figure  of  Ellen  enlivening  the  ragged  sum- 
mit of  the  rock.  But  the  report  was  succeeded  by 
neither  signal  nor  answer  of  any  sort.  For  a mo- 
ment the  whole  party  stood  in  suspense,  awaiting 
the  result,  and  then  a simultaneous  impulse  caused 
the  whole  to  let  off  their  pieces  at  the  same  instant, 
producing  a noise  which  might  not  fail  to  reach 
the  ears  of  all  within  so  short  a distance. 

“ Ah ! there  they  come  at  last ! ” cried  Abiram, 
who  was  usually  among  the  first  to  seize  dn  any 
circumstance  which  promised  relief  from  disagree- 
able apprehensions. 

“It  is  a petticoat  fluttering  on  the  line,”  said 
Esther  ; “ I put  it  there  myself.” 

“You  are  right;  but  now  she  comes;  the 
jade  has  been  taking  her  comfort  in  the  tent ! ” 

“ It  is  not  so,”  said  Ishmael,  whose  usually 
inflexible  features  were  beginning  to  manifest  the 
uneasiness  he  felt.  “ It  is  the  tent  itself  blowing 
about  loosely  in  the  wind.  They  have  loosened 
the  bottom,  like  silly  children  as  they  ar’,  and,  un- 
less care  is  had,  the  whole  will  come  down  ! ” . 

The  words  were  scarcely  uttered  before  a rush- 
ing blast  of  wind  swept  by  the  spot  where  they 
stood,  raising  the  dust  in  little  eddies,  in  its  prog- 
ress ; and  then,  as  if  guided  by  a master-hand, 
it  quitted  the  earth,  and  mounted  to  the  precise 
spot  on  which  all  eyes  were  just  then  riveted. 
The  loosened  linen  felt  its  influence  and  tottered ; 
but  regained  its  poise,  and  for  a moment  it  became 
tranquil.  The  cloud  of  leaves  next  played  in  cir- 
cling revolutions  around  the  place,  and  then  de- 
scended with  the  velocity  of  a swooping  hawk, 
and  sailed  away  into  the  prairie  in  long  straight 
lines,  like  a flight  of  swallows  resting  on  their  ex- 
panded wings.  They  were  followed  for  some  dis- 
tance by  the  snow-white  tent,  which,  however, 
soon  fell  behind  the  rock,  leaving  its  highest  peak 
as  naked  as  when  it  lay  in  the  entire  solitude  of 
the  desert. 

“The  murderers  have  been  here!”  moaned 
Esther.  “ My  babes ! my  babes  ! ” 

For  a moment  even  Ishmael  faltered  before  the 
weight  of  so  unexpected  a blow.  But,  shaking 
himself  like  an  awakened  lion,  he  sprang  forward, 
and  pushing  aside  the  impediments  of  the  barrier 
as  if  they  had  been  feathers,  he  rushed  up  the  as- 
cent with  an  impetuosity  which  proved  how  for- 
midable  a sluggish  nature  may  become  when  thor- 
oughly aroused. 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


*2 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

'*  Whose  party  do  the  townsmen  yet  admit?  ” 

King  John. 

In  order  to  preserve  an  even  pace  between 
the  incidents  of  the  tale,  it  becomes  necessary  to 
revert  to  such  events  as  occurred  during  the  ward 
of  Ellen  Wade. 

For  the  first  few  hours  the  cares  of  the  honest 
and  warm-hearted  girl  were  confined  to  the  simple 
offices  of  satisfying  the  often-repeated  demands 
which  her  younger  associates  made  on  her  time 
and  patience,  under  the  pretences  of  hunger,  thirst, 
and  all  the  other  ceaseless  wants  of  captious  and 
inconsiderate  childhood.  She  had  seized  a mo- 
ment from  their  importunities  to  steal  into  the 
tent,  where  she  was  administering  to  the  comforts 
of  one  far  more  deserving  of  her  tenderness,  when 
an  outcry  among  the  children  recalled  her  to  the 
duties  she  had  momentarily  forgotten. 

, “ See,  Nelly,  see  ! ” exclaimed  half  a dozen 
eager  voices ; “ yonder  ar’  men  ; and  Phoebe  says 
that  they  ar’  Sioux  Indians  ! ” 

Ellen  turned  her  eyes  in  the  direction  in  which 
so  many  arms  were  already  extended,  and  to  her 
consternation  beheld  several  men  advancing  mani- 
festly and  swiftly  in  a straight  line  toward  the 
rock.  She  counted  four,  but  was  unable  to  make 
out  any  thing  concerning  their  characters,  except 
that  they  were  not  any  of  those  who  of  right  were 
entitled  to  admission  into  the  fortress.  It  was  a 
fearful  moment  for  Ellen.  Looking  around  at  the 
juvenile  and  frightened  flock  that  pressed  npon 
the  skirts  of  her  garments,  she  endeavored  to  re- 
call to  her  confused  faculties  some  one  of  the 
many  tales  of  female  heroism  with  which  the  his- 
tory of  the  Western  frontier  abounded.  In  one 
a stockade  had  been  successfully  defended  by  a 
single  man,  supported  by  three  or  four  women,  for 
days,  against  the  assaults  of  a hundred  enemies. 
In  another,  the  women  alone  had  been  able  to 
protect  the  children,  and  the  less  valuable  effects 
of  their  absent  husbands ; and  a third  was  not 
wanting,  in  which  a solitary  female  had  destroyed 
her  sleeping  captors  and  given  liberty  not  only  to 
herself,  but  to  a brood  of  helpless  young.  This 
was  the  case  most  nearly  assimilated  to  the  situa- 
tion in  which  Ellen  now  found  herself;  and,  with 
flushing  cheeks  and  kindling  eyes,  the  girl  began 
to  consider,  and  to  prepare  her  slender  means  of 
defence. 

She  posted  the  larger  girls  at  the  little  levers 
that  were  to  cast  the  rocks  on  the  assailants ; the 
Brnaller  were  to  be  used  more  for  show  than  any 
positive  service  they  could  perform ; while  like 


any  other  leader  she  reserved  her  own  person  as 
a superintendent  and  encourager  of  the  whole. 
When  these  dispositions  were  made,  she  endeav- 
ored to  await  the  issue  with  an  air  of  composure 
that  she  intended  should  inspire  her  assistants 
with  the  confidence  necessary  to  insure  success. 

Although  Ellen  was  vastly  their  superior  in 
that  spirit  which  emanates  from  moral  qualities, 
she  was  by  no  means  the  equal  of  the  two  eldest 
daughters  of  Esther,  in  the  important  military 
property  of  insensibility  to  danger.  Reared  in 
the  hardihood  of  a migrating  life  on  the  skirts  of 
society,  where  they  had  become  familiarized  to 
the  sights  and  dangers  of  the  wilderness,  these 
girls  promised  fairly  to  become,  at  some  future 
day,  no  less  distinguished  than  their  mother  for 
daring,  and  for  that  singular  mixture  of  good  and 
evil  which,  in  a wider  sphere  of  action,  would 
probably  have  enabled  the  wife  of  the  squatter  to 
enroll  her  name  among  the  remarkable  females 
of  her  time.  Esther  had  already,  on  one  occa- 
sion, made  good  the  log  tenement  of  Ishmael 
against  an  inroad  of  savages ; and,  on  another, 
she  had  been  left  for  dead  by  her  enemies,  after 
a defence  that,  with  a more  civilized  foe,  would 
have  entitled  her  to  the  honors  of  a liberal  capitu 
lation.  These  facts,  and  sundry  others  of  a simi 
lar  nature,  had  often  been  recapitulated  with 
suitable  exultation  in  the  presence  of  her  daugh- 
ters, and  the  bosoms  of  the  young  Amazons  were 
now  strangely  fluctuating  between  natural  terror 
and  the  ambitious  wish  to  do  something  that 
might  render  them  worthy  of  being  the  children 
of  such  a mother.  It  appeared  that  the  oppor- 
tunity for  distinction  of  this  wild  character  was 
no  longer  to  be  denied  them. 

The  party  of  strangers  was  already  within  a 
hundred  rods  of  the  rock.  Either  consulting  their 
usual  wary  method  of  advancing,  or  admonished 
by  the  threatening  attitude  of  two  figures,  who 
had  thrust  forth  the  barrels  of  as  many  old  mus- 
kets from  behind  the  stone  intrenchment,  the  new 
comers  halted,  under  favor  of  an  inequality  in  the 
ground,  where  a growth  of  grass  thicker  than 
common  offered  the  advantage  of  concealment. 
From  this  spot  they  reconnoitred  the  fortress  for 
several  anxious,  and,  to  Ellen,  interminable  min- 
utes. Then  one  advanced  singly,  and  apparently 
more  in  the  character  of  a herald  than  of  an  as- 
sailant. 

“ Phoebe,  do  you  fire,”  and  “ No,  Hetty,  you ,” 
were  beginning  to  be  heard  between  the  half- 
frightened  and  yet  eager  daughters  of  the  squatter, 
when  Ellen  probably  saved  the  advancing  stranger 
from  some  imminent  alarm,  if  from  no  greater 
danger,  by  exclaiming — 


THE  DOCTOR’S  SUMMONS. 


73 


“ Lay  down  the  muskets  ; it  is  Dr.  Battius ! ” 

Her  subordinates  so  far  complied  as  to  with- 
draw their  hands  from  the  locks,  though  the 
threatening  barrels  still  maintained  the  portentous 
levels.  The  naturalist,  who  had  advanced  with 
sufficient  deliberation  to  note  the  smallest  hostile 
demonstration  of  the  garrison,  now  raised  a white 
handkerchief  on  the  end  of  his  fusee,  and  came 
within  speaking  distance  of  the  fortress.  Then, 
assuming  what  he  intended  should  be  an  imposing 
and  dignified  semblance  of  authority,  he  blustered 
forth,  in  a voice  that  might  have  been  heard  at  a 
much  greater  distance : 

“ What,  ho ! I summon  ye  all,  in  the  name  of 
die  Confederacy  of  the  United  Sovereign  States 
.:f  North  America,  to  submit  yourselves  to  the 

iu  WS.” 

“ Doctor  or  no  doctor,  he  is  an  enemy,  Nelly. 
Hoar  him ! hear  him  ! He  talks  of  the  law.” 

‘ Stop  ! stay  till  I hear  his  answer ! ” said  the 
neaj  iy  breathless  Ellen,  pushing  aside  the  danger- 
ous weapons  which  were  again  pointed  in  the 
direction  of  the  shrinking  person  of  the  herald. 

“I  admonish  and  forewarn  ye  all,”  continued 
the  staitled  doctor,  “ that  I am  a peaceful  citi- 
zen of  the  before-named  Confederacy,  or,  to  speak 
with  greater  accuracy,  Union,  a supporter  of  the 
social  compact,  and  a lover  of  good  order  and 
amity ; ” then,  perceiving  that  the  danger  was  at 
least  temporarily  removed,  he  once  more  raised 
his  voice  to  the  hostile  pitch  : “I  charge  ye  all, 
therefore,  to  submit  to  the  laws.” 

“ I thought  you  were  a friend,”  Ellen  replied, 
“ and  that  you  travelled  with  my  uncle,  in  virtue 
of  an  agreement — ” 

“ It  is  void ! I have  been  deceived  in  the 
very  premises,  and  I hereby  pronounce  a certain 
compactum,  entered  into  and  concluded  between 
Ishmael  Bush,  squatter,  and  Obed  Battius,  M.  D., 
to  be  incontinently  null  and  of  non-effect. — Nay, 
children,  to  be  null  is  merely  a negative  property, 
and  is  fraught  with  no  evil  to  your  worthy  par- 
ent ; so  lay  aside  the  fire-arms,  and  listen  to  the 
admonitions  of  reason.  I declare  it  vicious — null 
— abrogated. — As  for  thee,  Nelly,  my  feelings 
toward  thee  are  not  at  all  given  to  hostility ; 
therefore  listen  to  that  which  I have  to  utter,  nor 
turn  away  thine  ears  in  the  wantonness  of  secu- 
rity. Thou  knowest  the  character  of  the  man 
with  whom  thou  dwellest,  young  woman,  and  thou 
also  knowest  the  danger  of  being  found  in  evil 
company.  Abandon,  then,  the  trifling  advantages 
of  thy  situation,  and  yield  the  rock  peaceably  to 
the  will  of  those  who  accompany  me — a legion, 
young  woman — I do  assure  you  an  invincible  and 
powerful  legion  ! Render  therefore,  the  effects 
57  . 


of  this  lawless  and  wicked  squatter — nay,  chil- 
dren, such  disregard  of  human  life  is  frightful  in 
those  who  have  so  recently  received  the  gift,  in 
their  own  persons ! Point  those  dangerous 
weapons  aside,  I entreat  of  you ; more  for  your 
own  sakes  than  for  mine. — Hetty,  hast  thou  for- 
gotten who  appeased  thine  anguish,  when  thy 
auricular  nerves  were  tortured  by  the  colds  and 
damps  of  the  naked  earth  ? — And  thou,  Phoebe, 
ungrateful  and  forgetful  Phoebe ! but  for  this  very 
arm,  which  you  would  prostrate  with  an  endless 
paralysis,  thy  incisores  would  still  be  giving  thee 
pain  and  sorrow  ! Lay,  then,  aside  thy  weapons, 
and  hearken  to  the  advice  of  one  who  has  always 
been  thy  friend. — And  now,  young  woman,”  still 
keeping  a jealous  eye  on  the  muskets  which  the 
girl  had  suffered  to  be  diverted  a little  from  their 
aim — “ and  now,  young  woman,  for  the  last,  and 
therefore  the  most  solemn  asking : I demand  of 
thee  the  surrender  of  this  rock,  without  delay  or 
resistance,  in  the  joint  names  of  power,  of  justice, 
and  of  the — ” law,  he  would  have  added ; but, 
recollecting  that  this  ominous  word  would  again 
provoke  the  hostility  of  the  squatthr’s  children, 
he  succeeded  in  swallowing  it  in  good  season,  and 
concluded  with  the  less  dangerous  and  more  con- 
vertible term  of  “reason.” 

This  extraordinary  summons  failed,  however, 
of  producing  the  desired  effect.  It  proved  utterly 
unintelligible  to  his  younger  listeners,  with  the 
exception  of  the  few  offensive  terms,  already 
sufficiently  distinguished ; and,  though  Ellen  bet- 
ter comprehended  the  meaning  of  the  herald,  she 
appeared  as  little  moved  by  his  rhetoric  as  her 
companions.  At  those  passages  which  he  intend- 
ed should  be  tender  and  affecting,  the  intelligent 
girl,  though  tortured  by  painful  feelings,  had  even 
manifested  a disposition  to  laugh,  while  to  the 
threats  she  turned  an  utterly  insensible  ear. 

“ I know  not  the  meaning  of  all  you  wish  to 
say,  Dr.  Battius,”  she  quietly  replied,  when  he 
had  ended ; “ but  I am  sure,  if  it  would  teach  me 
to  betray  my  trust,  it  is  what  I ought  not  to  hear. 
I caution  you  to  attempt  no  violence,  for,  let  my 
wishes  be  what  they  may,  you  see  I am  surround- 
ed by  a force  that  can  easily  put  me  down,  and 
you  know,  or  ought  to  know,  too  well  the  temper 
of  this  family,  to  trifle  in  such  a matter  with  any 
of  its  members,  let  them  be  of  what  sex  or  age 
they  may.” 

“ I am  not  entirely  ignorant  of  human  char- 
acter,” returned  the  naturalist,  prudently  reced- 
ing a little  from  the  position  which  he  had  until 
now  stoutly  maintained  at  the  very  base  cf  the 
hill.  “But  here  comes  one  who  may  know  its 
secret  windings  still  better  than  I.” 


74 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“Ellen!  Ellen  Wade,”  cried  Paul  Hover,  who 
had  advanced  to  his  elbow,  without  betraying 
any  of  that  sensitiveness  which  had  so  manifestly 
discomposed  the  doctor ; “ I didn’t  expect  to  find 
an  enemy  in  you  ! ” 

“ Nor  shall  you,  when  you  ask  that  which  I 
can  grant  without  treachery.  You  know  that  my 
uncle  has  trusted  his  family  to  my  care,  and  shall 
I so  far  betray  the  trust  as  to  let  in  his  bitterest 
enemies  to  murder  his  children,  perhaps,  and  to 
rob  him  of  the  little  which  the  Indians  have 
left  ? ” 

“Am  I a murderer — is  this  old  man — this 
officer  of  the  States,”  pointing  to  the  trapper  and 
his  newly-discovered  friend,  both  of  whom  by 
this  time  stood  at  his  side,  “ is  either  of  these 
likely  to  do  the  things  you  name  ? ” 

“ What  is  it  then  you  ask  of  me  ? ” said  Ellen, 
wringing  her  hands,  in  excessive  doubt. 

“ The  beast ! nothing  more  nor  less  than  the 
squatter’s  hidden,  ravenous,  dangerous  beast ! ” 

“Excellent  young  woman,”  commenced  the 
young  stranger,  who  had  so  lately  joined  himself 
to  the  party  on  the  prairie — but  his  mouth  was 
immediately  stopped  by  a significant  sign  from 
the  trapper,  who  whispered  in  his  ear : 

“Let  the  lad  be  our  spokesman.  Natur’  will 
work  in  the  bosom  of  the  child,  and  we  shall  gain 
our  object  in  good  time.” 

“The  whole  truth  is  out,  Ellen,”  Paul  con- 
tinued, “ and  we  have  lined  the  squatter  into  his 
most  secret  misdoings.  We  have  come  to  right 
the  wronged  and  to  free  the  imprisoned ; now,  if 
you  are  the  girl  of  a true  heart,  as  I have  always 
believed,  so  far  from  throwing  straws  in  our  way, 
you  will  join  in  the  general  swarming,  and  leave 
old  Ishmael  and  his  hive  to  the  bees  of  his  own 
breed.” 

“ I have  sworn  a solemn  oath — ” 

“ A compactum  which  is  entered  into  through 
ignorance,  or  in  duresse,  is  null  in  the  sight  of  all 
good  moralists,”  cried  the  doctor. 

“ Hush,  hush  ! ” again  the  trapper  whispered  ; 
“ leave  it  all  to  Natur’  and  the  lad  ! ” 

“ I have  sworn  in  the  sight  and  by  the  name 
of  Him  who  is  the  founder  and  ruler  of  all  that 
is  good,  whether  it  be  in  morals  or  in  religion,” 
Ellen  continued,  “ neither  to  reveal  the  contents 
of  that  tent  nor  to  help  its  prisoner  to  escape. 
W e are  both  solemnly,  terribly  sworn  ; our  lives 
perhaps  have  been  the  gift  we  received  for  the 
promises.  It  is  true  you  are  masters  of  the 
secret,  but  not  through  any  means  of  ours  ; nor 
do  I know  that  I can  justify  myself  for  even  be- 
ing neutral,  while  you  attempt  to  invade  the 
dwelling  of  my  uncle  in  this  hostile  manner.” 


“ I can  prove  beyond  the  power  of  lefuta- 
tion,”  the  naturalist  eagerly  exclaimed,  “ by 
Paley,  Berkeley,  ay,  even  by  the  immortal  Binker- 
shoeck,  that  a compactum,  concluded  while  one 
of  the  parties,  be  it  a state  or  be  it  an  individual, 
is  in  durance — ” 

“ You  will  ruffle  the  temper  of  the  child  with 
your  abusive  language,”  said  the  cautious  trapper, 
“while  the  lad,  if  left  to  human  feelings,  will 
bring  her  down  to  the  meekness  of  a fawn.  Ah  ! 
you  are  like  myself,  little  knowing  in  the  natur’ 
of  hidden  kindnesses ! ” 

“ Is  this  the  only  vow  you  have  taken,  Ellen  ? ” 
Paul  continued,  in  a tone  which,  for  the  gay,  light- 
hearted bee-hunter,  sounded  dolorous  and  re- 
proachful. “ Have  you  sworn  only  to  this  ? are 
the  words  which  the  squatter  says  to  be  as  honey 
in  your  mouth,  and  all  other  promises  like  so 
much  useless  comb  ? ” 

The  paleness  which  had  taken  possession  of 
the  usually  cheerful  countenance  of  Ellen  was 
hid  in  a bright  glow  that  was  plainly  visible  even 
at  the  distance  at  which  she  stood.  She  hesitated 
a moment,  as  if  struggling  to  repress  something 
very  like  resentment,  before  she  answered  with 
all  her  native  spirit : 

“ I know  not  what  right  any  one  has  to  ques- 
tion me  about  oaths  and  promises,  which  can 
only  concern  her  who  has  made  them,  if,  indeed, 
any  of  the  sort  you  mention  have  ever  been 
made  at  all.  I shall  hold  no  further  discourse 
with  one  who  thinks  so  much  of  himself,  and 
takes  advice  merely  of  his  own  feelings.” 

“ Now,  old  trapper,  do  you  hear  that  ? ” said 
the  unsophisticated  bee-hunter,  turning  abruptly 
to  his  aged  friend.  “ The  meanest  insect  that 
skims  the  heavens,  when  it  has  got  its  load,  flies 
straight  and  honestly  to  its  nest  or  hive,  accord- 
ing to  its  kind ; but  the  ways  of  a woman’s  mind 
are  as  knotty  as  a gnarled  oak,  and  more  crooked 
than  the  windings  of  the  Mississippi ! ” 

“ Nay,  nay,  child,”  said  the  trapper,  good- 
naturedly  interfering  in  behalf  of  the  offending 
Paul,  “ you  are  to  consider  that  youth  is  hasty, 
and  not  overgiven  to  thought.  But  then  a prom- 
ise is  a promise,  and  not  to  be  thrown  aside  and 
forgotten,  like  the  hoofs  and  horns  of  a buffalo.” 

“ I thank  you  for  reminding  me  of  my  oath,” 
said  the  still  resentful  Ellen,  biting  her  pretty 
nether  lip  with  vexation;  “I  might  else  have 
proved  forgetful ! ’ 

“ Ah!  female  natur’  is  awakened  in  her,”  said 
the  old  man,  shaking  his  head  in  a manner  to 
show  how  much  he  was  disappointed  in  the  result ; 
“ but  it  manifests  itself  against  the  true  spirit.” 

“Ellen ! ” cried  the  young  stranger,  who  until 


STORMING  THE  CITADEL. 


75 


now  had  been  an  attentive  listener  to  the  parley, 
“ since  Ellen  is  the  name  by  which  you  are 
known — ” 

“ They  often  add  it  to  another.  I am  some- 
times called  by  the  name  of  my  father.” 

“Call  her  Nelly  Wade  at  once,”  muttered 
Faui;  “it  is  her  rightful  name,  and  I care  not  if 
she  keeps  it  forever ! ” 

“ Wade,  I should  have  added,”  continued  the 
youth.  “You  will  acknowledge  that,  though 
bound  by  no  oath  myself,  I at  least  have  known 
how  to  respect  those  of  others.  You  are  a wit- 
ness yourself  that  I have  forborne  to  utter  a 
single  call,  while  I am  certain  it  could  reach  those 
ears  it  would  gladden  so  much.  Permit  me,  then, 
to  ascend  the  rock,  singly;  I promise  a perfect 
indemnity  to  your  kinsman,  against  any  injury 
his  effects  may  sustain.” 

Ellen  seemed  to  hesitate,  but  catching  a 
glimpse  of  Paul,  who  stood  leaning  proudly  on  his 
rifle,  whistling,  with  an  appearance  of  the  utmost 
indifference,  the  air  of  a boating-song,  she  recov- 
ered her  recollection  in  time  to  answer : 

“ I have  been  left  the  captain  of  the  rock, 
while  my  uncle  and  his  sons  hunt,  and  captain 
will  I remain  till  he  returns  to  receive  back  the 
charge.” 

“ This  is  wasting  moments  that  will  not  soon 
return,  and  neglecting  an  opportunity  that  may 
never  occur  again,”  the  young  soldier  gravely  re- 
marked. “ The  sun  is  beginning  to  fall  already, 
and  many  minutes  cannot  elapse  before  the  squat- 
ter and  his  savage  brood  will  be  returning  to  their 
huts.” 

Dr.  Battius  cast  a glance  behind  him,  and 
took  up  the  discourse,  by  saying : 

“Perfection  is  always  found  in  maturity, 
whether  it  be  in  the  animal  or  in  the  intellectual 
world.  Reflection  is  the  mother  of  wisdom,  and 
wisdom  the  parent  of  success.  I propose  that  we 
retire  to  a discreet  distance  from  this  impregnable 
position,  and  there  hold  a convocation,  or  council, 
to  deliberate  on  what  manner  we  may  sit  down 
regularly  before  the  place ; or,  perhaps,  by  post- 
poning the  siege  to  another  season,  gain  the  aid 
of  auxiliaries  from  the  inhabited  countries,  and 
thus  secure  the  dignity  of  the  laws  from  any  dan- 
ger of  a repulse.” 

“A  storm  would  be  better,”  the  soldier  smil- 
ingly answered,  measuring  the  height  and  scan- 
ning all  its  difficulties  with  a deliberate  eye; 
“ ’twould  be  but  a broken  arm  or  a bruised  head 
at  the  worst.” 

“Then  have  at  it!”  shouted  the  impetuous 
bee-hunter,  making  a spring  that  at  once  put  him 
out  of  danger  from  shot,  by  carrying  him  beneath 


the  projecting  ledge  on  which  the  garrison  was 
posted.  “ Now  do  your  worst,  young  devils  of  a 
wicked  breed  ; you  have  but  a moment  to  work 
your  mischief ! ” 

“ Paul ! rash  Paul ! ” shrieked  Ellen ; “ anoth- 
er step  and  the  rocks  will  crush  you  ! they  hang 
but  by  a thread,  and  these  girls  are  ready  and 
willing  to  let  them  fall ! ” 

“Then  drive  the  accursed  swarm  from  the 
hive ; for  scale  the  rock  I will,  though  I find  it 
covered  with  hornets.” 

“ Let  her  if  she  dare  ! ” tauntingly  cried  the 
eldest  of  the  girls,  brandishing  a musket  with  a 
mien  and  resolution  that  would  have  done  credit 
to  her  Amazonian  dam.  “ I know  you,  Nelly 
Wade;  you  are  with  the  lawyers  in  your  heart, 
and,  if  you  come  a foot  nigher,  you  shall  have 
frontier  punishment. — Put  in  another  pry,  girls ; 
in  with  it ! I should  like  to  see  the  man  of  them 
all  that  dare  come  up  into  the  camp  of  Ishmael 
Bush,  without  asking  leave  of  his  children ! ” 

“ Stir  not,  Paul ; for  your  life  keep  beneath 
the  rock ! ” 

Ellen  was  interrupted  by  the  same  bright  vis- 
ion, which  on  the  preceding  day  had  stayed  an- 
other scarcely  less  portentous  tumult,  by  exhibit- 
ing itself  on  the  same  giddy  height  where  it  was 
now  seen. 

“ In  the  name  of  Him  who  commandeth  all,  I 
implore  you  to  pause — both  you,  who  so  madly 
incur  the  risk,  and  you,  who  so  rashly  offer  to 
take  that  which  you  never  can  return ! ” said  a 
voice,  in  a slightly  foreign  accent,  that  instantly 
drew  all  eyes  upward. 

“ Inez  ! ” cried  the  officer,  “ do  I again  see  you  ? 
mine  shall  you  now  be,  though  a million  devils 
were  posted  on  this  rock.  Push  up,  brave  woods- 
man, and  give  room  for  another ! ” 

The  sudden  appearance  of  the  figure  from  the 
tent  had  created  a momentary  stupor  among  the 
defenders  of  the  rock,  which  might,  with  suitable 
forbearance,  have  been  happily  improved ; but, 
startled  by  the  voice  of  Middleton,  the  surprised 
Phoebe  discharged  her  musket  at  the  female, 
scarcely  knowing  whether  she  aimed  at  the  life 
of  a mortal  or  at  some  being  which  belonged  to 
another  world.  Ellen  uttered  a cry  of  horror, 
and  then  sprang  after  her  alarmed  or  wounded 
friend,  she  knew  not  which,  into  the  tent. 

During  this  moment  of  dangerous  by-play,  the 
sounds  of  a serious  attack  were  very  distinctly 
audible  beneath.  Paul  had  profited  by  the  com- 
motion over  his  head  to  change  his  place  so  far 
as  to  make  room  for  Middleton.  The  latter  was 
followed  by  the  naturalist,  who,  in  a state  of  men- 
tal aberration,  produced  by  the  report  of  th« 


76 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


musket,  had  instinctively  rushed  toward  the  rocks  i 
for  cover.  The  trapper  remained  where  he  was 
last  seen,  an  unmoved  but  close  observer  of  the 
several  proceedings.  Though  averse  to  enter  into 
actual  hostilities,  the  old  man  was,  however,  far 
from  being  useless.  Favored  by  his  position,  he 
was  enabled  to  apprise  his  friends  of  the  move- 
ments of  those  who  plotted  their  destruction  above, 
and  to  advise  and  control  their  advance  accord- 
ingly. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  children  of  Esther  were 
true  to  the  spirit  they  had  inherited  from  their 
redoubtable  mother.  The  instant  they  found 
themselves  delivered  from  the  presence  of  Ellen 
and  her  unknown  companion,  they  bestowed  an 
undivided  attention  on  their  more  masculine  and 
certainly  more  dangerous  assailants,  who  by  this 
time  had  made  a complete  lodgment  among  the 
crags  of  the  citadel.  The  repeated  summons  to 
surrender,  which  Paul  uttered  in  a voice  that  he 
intended  should  strike  terror  into  their  young 
bosoms,  were  as  little  heeded  as  were  the  calls  of 
the  trapper  to  abandon  a resistance  which  might 
prove  fatal  to  some  among  them,  without  offering 
the  smallest  probability  of  eventual  success.  En- 
couraging each  other  to  persevere,  they  poised  the 
fragments  of  rocks,  prepared  the  lighter  missiles 
for  immediate  service,  and  thrust  forward  the 
barrels  of  the  muskets  with  a business-like  air, 
and  a coolness  that  would  have  done  credit  to  men 
practised  in  warfare. 

“Keep  under  the  ledge,”  said  the  trapper, 
pointing  out  to  Paul  the  manner  in  which  he 
should  proceed  ; “ keep  in  your  foot  more,  lad — 
ah  ! you  see  the  warning  was  not  amiss  ! had  the 
stone  struck  it,  the  bees  would  have  had  the 
prairies  to  themselves.  Now,  namesake  of  my 
friend ; Uncas,  in  name  and  spirit ! now,  if  you 
have  the  activity  of  Le  Cerf  Agile,  you  may  make 
a fair  leap  to  the  right,  and  gain  twenty  feet  with- 
out danger.  Beware  the  bush — beware  the  bush  ! 

’ twill  prove  a treacherous  hold  ! Ah ! he  has  done 
it ; safely  and  bravely  has  he  done  it ! — Your 
turn  comes  next,  friend,  that  follows  the  fruits  of 
Natur’.  Push  you  to  the  left,  and  divide  the  at- 
tention of  the  children. — Nay,  girls,  fire — my  old 
ears  are  used  to  the  whistling  of  lead  ; and  little 
reason  have  I to  prove  a doe-heart,  with  fourscore 
years  on  my  back.”  He  shook  his  head  with  a 
melancholy  smile,  but  without  flinching  in  a mus- 
cle, as  the  bullet,  which  the  exasperated  Hetty 
fired,  passed  innocently  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  spot  where  he  stood.  “ It  is  safer  keeping 
ill  your  track  than  dodging  when  a weak  finger 
pulls  the  trigger,”  he  continued ; “ but  it  is  a sol- 
emn sight  to  witness  how  much  human  natur’  is 


inclined  to  evil,  in  one  so  young  ! — Well  done,  my 
man  of  beasts  and  plants ! Another  such  leap, 
and  you  may  laugh  at  all  the  squatter’s  bars  and 
walls.  The  doctor  has  got  his  temper  up  ! I see 
it  in  his  eye,  and  something  good  will  come  of  him ! 
— Keep  closer,  man — keep  closer.” 

Tiie  trapper,  though  he  was  not  deceived  as 
to  the  state  of  Dr.  Battius’s  mind,  was,  however, 
greatly  in  error  as  to  the  exciting  cause.  While 
imitating  the  movements  of  his  companions,  and 
toiling  his  way  upward  with  the  utmost  caution, 
and  not  without  great  inward  tribulation,  the  eye 
of  the  naturalist  had  caught  a glimpse  of  an  un- 
known plant,  a few  yards  above  his  head,  and  in  a 
situation  more  than  commonly  exposed  to  the  mis- 
siles which  the  girls  were  unceasingly  hurling  in 
the  direction  of  the  assailants.  Forgetting,  in  an 
instant,  every  thing  but  the  glory  of  being  the 
first  to  give  this  jewel  to  the  catalogues  of  science, 
he  sprang  upward  at  the  prize  with  the  avidity 
with  which  the  sparrow  darts  upon  the  butterfly. 
The  rocks,  which  instantly  came  thundering  down, 
announced  that  he  was  seen  ; and  for  a moment, 
while  his  form  was  concealed  in  the  cloud  of  dust 
and  fragments  which  followed  the  furious  descent, 
the  trapper  gave  him  up  for  lost ; but  the  next 
instant  he  was  seen  safely  seated  in  a cavity, 
formed  by  some  of  the  projecting  stones  which 
had  yielded  to  the  shock,  holding  triumphantly 
in  his  hand  the  captured  stem,  which  he  was  al- 
ready devouring  with  delighted  and  certainly  not 
unskilful  eyes.  Paul  profited  by  the  opportuni- 
ty. Turning  his  course,  with  the  quickness  of 
thought,  he  sprang  to  the  post  which  Obed  thus 
securely  occupied,  and  unceremoniously  making 
a footstool  of  his  shoulder,  as  the  latter  stooped 
over  his  treasure,  he  bounded  through  the  breach 
left  by  the  fallen  rock,  and  gained  the  level.  He 
was  followed  by  Middleton,  who  joined  him  in 
seizing  and  disarming  the  girls.  In  this  manner 
a bloodless  and  complete  victory  was  obtained 
over  that  citadel  which  Ishmael  had  vainly  flat- 
tered himself  might  prove  impregnable. 


CHAPTER  XV 

“ So  smile  the  heavens  upon  this  holy  act, 

That  after-hours  of  sorrow  chide  us  not  1” 

Shakespeare. 

It  is  proper  that  the  course  of  the  narrative 
should  be  stayed  while  we  revert  to  those  causes 
which  have  brought  in  their  train  of  consequences 
the  singular  contest  just  related.  The  interruption 
must  necessarily  be  as  brief  as  we  hope  it  may 


INEZ,  THE  SPANISH  HEIRESS. 


prove  satisfactory  to  that  class  of  readers  who 
require  that  no  gap  should  be  left  by  those  who 
assume  the  office  of  historians,  for  their  own  fer- 
tile imaginations  to  fill. 

Among  the  troops  sent  by  the  Government  of 
the  United  States,  to  take  possession  of  its  newly- 
acquired  territory  in  the  West,  was  a detachment 
led  by  the  young  soldier  who  has  become  so  busy 
an  actor  in  the  scenes  of  our  legend.  The  mild 
and  indolent  descendants  of  the  ancient  colonists 
received  their  new  compatriots  without  distrust, 
well  knowing  that  the  transfer  raised  them  from 
the  condition  of  subjects  to  the  more  enviable  dis- 
tinction of  citizens  in  a government  of  laws.  The 
new  rulers  exercised  their  functions  with  discre- 
tion, and  wielded  their  delegated  authority  with- 
out offence.  In  such  a novel  intermixture,  how- 
ever, of  men  born  and  nurtured  in  freedom,  and 
the  compliant  minions  of  absolute  power,  the 
Catholic  and  the  Protestant,  the  active  and  the  in- 
dolent, some  little  time  was  necessary  to  blend  the 
discrepant  elements  of  society.  In  attaining  so 
desirable  an  end,  woman  was  made  to  perform 
her  accustomed  and  grateful  office.  The  barriers 
of  prejudice  and  religion  were  broken  through  by 
the  irresistible  power  of  the  master-passion ; and 
family  unions,  ere  long,  began  to  cement  the  po- 
litical tie  which  had  made  a forced  conjunction 
between  people  so  opposite  in  their  habits,  their 
educations,  and  their  opinions. 

Middleton  was  among  the  first  of  the  new  pos- 
sessors of  the  soil  who  became  captive  to  the 
charms  of  a Louisianian  lady.  In  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  post  he  had  been  directed  to  occu- 
py, dwelt  the  chief  of  one  of  those  ancient  colo- 
nial families  which  had  been  content  to  slumber 
for  ages  amid  the  ease,  indolence,  and  wealth  of 
the  Spanish  provinces.  He  was  an  officer  of 
the  crown,  and  had  been  induced  to  remove  from 
the  Floridas,  among  the  French  of  the  adjoining 
province,  by  a rich  succession  of  which  he  had  be- 
come the  inheritor.  The  name  of  Don  Augustin 
de  Certavallos  was  scarcely  known  beyond  the  lim- 
its of  the  little  town  in  which  he  resided,  though 
he  found  a secret  pleasure  himself  in  pointing  it 
out,  in  large  scrolls  of  musty  documents,  to  an 
only  child,  as  enrolled  among  the  former  heroes 
and  grandees  of  Old  and  of  New  Spain.  This  fact, 
so  important  to  himself  and  of  so  little  moment  to 
anybody  else,  was  the  principal  reason  that,  while 
his  more  vivacious  Gallic  neighbors  were  not  slow 
to  open  a frank  communion  with  their  visitors,  he 
chose  to  keep  aloof,  seemingly  content  with  the 
society  of  his  daughter,  who  was  a girl  just  emerg- 
ing from  the  condition  of  childhood  into  that  of  a 
woman. 


7 1 

The  curiosity’ of  the  youthful  Inez,  however, 
was  not  so  inactive.  She  had  not  heard  the  mar- 
tial music  of  the  garrison  melting  on  the  evening 
air,  nor  seen  the  strange  banner  which  fluttered 
over  the  heights  that  rose  at  no  great  distance 
from  her  father’s  extensive  grounds,  without  ex- 
periencing some  of  those  secret  impulses  which  are 
thought  to  distinguish  the  sex.  Natural  timidity, 
and  that  retiring  and  perhaps  peculiar  lassitude 
which  forms  the  very  groundwork  of  femal  fasci- 
nation in  the  tropical  provinces  of  Spain,  held  her  in 
their  seemingly  indissoluble  bonds ; and  it  is  more 
than  probable  that,  had  not  an  accident  occurred, 
in  which  Middleton  was  of  some  personal  service 
to  her  father,  so  long  a time  would  have  elapsed 
before  they  met,  that  another  direction  might 
have  been  given  to  the  wishes  of  one  who  was 
just  of  an  age  to  be  alive  to  all  the  power  of  youth 
and  beauty. 

Providence — or,  if  that  imposing  word  is  too 
just  to  be  classical,  fate — had  otherwise  decreed, 
The  haughty  and  reserved  Don  i^ugustin  was  by 
far  too  observant  of  the  forms  of  that  station  on 
which  he  so  much  valued  himself,  to  forget  the 
duties  of  a gentleman.  Gratitude  for  the  kind- 
ness of  Middleton  induced  him  to  open  his  doors 
to  the  officers  of  the  garrison,  and  to  admit  of  a 
guarded  but  polite  intercourse.  Reserve  gradual- 
ly gave  way  before  the  propriety  and  candor  of 
their  spirited  young  leader,  and  it  was  not  long 
ere  the  affluent  planter  rejoiced  as  much  as  his 
daughter,  whenever  the  well-known  signal  at  the 
gate  announced  one  of  these  agreeable  visits  from 
the  commander  of  the  post. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  on  the  impression 
which  the  charms  of  Inez  produced  on  the  soldier, 
to  delay  the  tale  in  order  to  write  a wire-drawn 
account  of  the  progressive  influence  that  elegance 
of  deportment,  manly  beauty,  and  undivided  assi- 
duity and  intelligence,  were  likely  to  produce  on  the 
sensitive  mind  of  a romantic,  warm-hearted,  and 
secluded  girl  of  sixteen.  It  is  sufficient  for  our 
purpose  to  say  that  they  loved,  that  the  youth  was 
not  backward  to  declare  his  feelings,  that  he  pre- 
vailed with  some  facility  over  the  scruples  of  the 
maiden,  and  with  no  little  difficulty  over  the  ob- 
jections of  her  father,  and  that,  before  the  prov- 
ince of  Louisiana  had  been  six  months  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  States,  the  officer  of  the  latter  was 
the  affianced  husband  of  the  richest  heiress  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

Although  we  have  presumed  the  reader  to  be 
acquainted  with  the  manner  in  which  such  re- 
sults are  commonly  attained,  it  is  not  to  be  sup- 
posed that  the  triumph  of  Middleton,  either  over 
the  prejudices  of  the  father,  or  over  those  of  the 


78 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


daughtei,  was  achieved  without  difficulty.  Reli- 
gion formed  a stubborn  and  nearly  irremovable 
obstacle  with  both.  The  devoted  young  man  pa- 
tiently submitted  to  a formidable  essay  which  Fa- 
ther Ignatius  was  deputed  to  make  in  order  to 
convert  him  to  the  true  faith.  The  effort  on  the 
part  of  the  worthy  priest  was  systematic,  vigor- 
ous, and  long  sustained.  A dozen  times  (it  was  at 
those  moments  when  glimpses  of  the  light,  sylph- 
like form  of  Inez  flitted  like  some  fairy  being  past 
the  scene  of  their  conferences)  the  good  father 
fancied  he  was  on  the  eve  of  a glorious  triumph 
over  infidelity;  but  all  his  hopes  were  frustrated 
by  some  unlooked-for  opposition  on  the  part  of 
the  subject  of  his  pious  labors.  So  long  as  the  as- 
sault on  his  faith  was  distant  and  feeble,  Middle- 
ton,  who  was  no  great  proficient  in  polemics,  sub- 
mitted to  its  effects  with  the  patience  and  humil- 
ity of  a martyr ; but  the  moment  the  good  father, 
who  felt  such  concern  in  his  future  happiness,  was 
tempted  to  improve  his  vantage-ground  by  calling 
in  the  aid  of  some  of  the  peculiar  subtilties  of  his 
own  creed,  the  young  man  was  too  good  a soldier 
not  to  make  head  against  the  hot  attack.  He  came 
to  the  contest,  it  is  true,  with  no  weapons  more 
formidable  than  common-sense,  and  some  little 
knowledge  of  the  habit3  of  his  country  as  con- 
trasted with  that  of  his  adversary ; but  with  these 
home-bred  implements  he  never  failed  to  repulse 
the  father  with  something  of  the  power  with 
which  a nervous  cudgel-player  would  deal  with  a 
skilful  master  of  the  rapier,  setting  at  naught  his 
passados  by  the  direct  and  unanswerable  argu- 
ments of  a broken  head  and  a shivered  weapon. 

Before  the  controversy  was  terminated,  an  in- 
road of  Protestants  had  come  to  aid  the  soldier. 
The  reckless  freedom  of  such  among  them  as 
thought  only  of  this  life,  and  the  consistent  and 
tempered  piety  of  others,  caused  the  honest  priest 
to  look  about  him  in  concern.  The  influence  of 
example  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  contamination 
of  too  free  an  intercourse  on  the  other,  began  to 
manifest  themselves  even  in  that  portion  of  his 
own  flock  which  he  had  supposed  to  be  too  thor- 
oughly folded  in  spiritual  government  ever  to  stray. 
It  was  time  to  turn  his  thoughts  from  the  offen- 
sive, and  to  prepare  his  followers  to  resist  the 
lawless  deluge  of  opinion  which  threatened  to 
break  down  the  barriers  of  their  faith.  Like  a 
wise  commander  who  finds  he  has  occupied  too 
much  ground  for  the  amount  of  his  force,  he  be- 
gan to  curtail  his  outworks.  The  relics  were  con- 
cealed from  profane  eyes ; his  people  were  admon- 
ished not  to  speak  of  miracles  before  a race  that 
not  only  denied  their  existence,  but  who  had  even 
the  desperate  hardihood  to  challenge  their  pr  oofs ; 


and  even  the  Bible  itself  was  prohibited  with  ter- 
rible denunciations,  for  the  triumphant  reason  that 
it  was  liable  to  be  misinterpreted. 

In  the  mean  time  it  became  necessary  to  re- 
port to  -Don  Augustin  the  effects  his  arguments 
and  prayers  had  produced  on  the  heretical  dispo- 
sition of  the  young  soldier.  No  man  is  prone  to 
confess  his  weakness  at  the  very  moment  when 
circumstances  demand  the  utmost  efforts  of  his 
strength.  By  a species  of  pious  fraud,  for  which 
no  doubt  the  worthy  priest  found  his  absolution 
in  the  purity  of  his  motives,  he  declared  that,  while 
no  positive  change  was  actually  wrought  in  the 
mind  of  Middleton,  there  was  every  reason  to  hope 
the  entering  wedge  of  argument  had  been  driven 
to  its  head,  and  that  in  consequence  an  opening 
was  left  through  which  it  might  rationally  be 
hoped  the  blessed  seeds  of  a religious  fructifica- 
tion would  find  their  way,  especially  if  the  subject 
was  left  uninterruptedly  to  enjoy  the  advantage 
of  Catholic  communion. 

Don  Augustin  himself  was  now  seized  with 
the  desire  of  proselyting.  Even  the  soft  and 
amiable  Inez  thought  it  would  be  a glorious  con- 
summation of  her  wishes  to  be  a humble  instru- 
ment of  bringing  her  lover  into  the  bosom  of  the 
true  Church.  The  offers  of  Middleton  were 
promptly  accepted  ; and,  while  the  father  looked 
forward  impatiently  to  the  day  assigned  for  the 
nuptials  as  to  the  pledge  of  his  own  success,  the 
daughter  thought  of  it  with  feelings  in  which  the 
holy  emotions  of  her  faith  were  blended  with  the 
softer  sensations  of  her  years  and  situation. 

The  sun  rose,  the  morning  of  her  nuptials,  on 
a day  so  bright  and  cloudless  that  Inez  hailed  it 
as  a harbinger  of  future  happiness.  Father  Igna- 
tius performed  the  offices  of  the  Church  in  a little 
chapel  attached  to  the  estate  of  Don  Augustin ; 
and,  long  ere  the  sun  had  begun  to  fall,  Middleton 
pressed  the  blushing  and  timid  young  creole  to 
his  bosom,  his  acknowledged  and  unalienable  wife. 
It  had  pleased  the  parties  to  pass  the  day  of  the 
wedding  in  retirement,  dedicating  it  solely  to  the 
best  and  purest  affections,  aloof  from  the  noisy 
and  heartless  rejoicings  of  a compelled  festivity. 

Middleton  was  returning  through  the  grounds 
of  Don  Augustiu,  from  a visit  of  duty  to  his  en- 
campment, at  that  hour  in  which  the  light  of  the 
sun  begins  to  melt  into  the  shadows  of  evening, 
when  a glimpse  of  a robe  similar  to  that  in  which 
Inez  had  accompanied  him  to  the  altar,  caught  his 
eye  through  the  foliage  of  a retired  arbor.  He 
approached  the  spot  with  a delicacy  that  was 
rather  increased  than  diminished  by  the  claim  she 
had  perhaps  given  him  to  intrude  on  her  private 
moments  ; but  the  sounds  of  her  soft  voice  which 


CAPTAIN  MIDDLETON  AND  HIS  BRIDE. 


79 


was  offering  up  prayers  in  which  he  heard  himself 
named  by  the  dearest  of  all  appellations,  over- 
came his  scruples,  and  induced  him  to  take  a 
position  where  he  might  listen  without  fear  of 
detection.  It  was  certainly  grateful  to  the  feel- 
ings of  a husband  to  be  able  in  this  manner  to  lay 
bare  the  spotless  soul  of  his  wife,  and  to  find  that 
his  own  image  lay  enshrined  amid  its  purest  and 
holiest  aspirations.  His  self-esteem  was  too  much 
flattered  not  to  induce  him  to  overlook  the  immedi- 
ate object  of  the  petitioner.  While  she  prayed 
that  she  might  become  the  humble  instrument  of 
bringing  him  into  the  flock  of  the  faithful,  she 
petitioned  for  forgiveness  on  her  own  behalf,  if 
presumption  or  indifference  to  the  counsel  of  the 
Church  had  caused  her  to  set  too  high  a value  on 
her  influence  and  led  her  into  the  dangerous  error 
of  hazarding  her  own  soul  by  espousing  a heretic. 
There  was  so  much  of  fervent  piety  mingled  with 
so  strong  a burst  of  natural  feeling,  so  much  of 
the  woman  blended  with  the  angel  in  her  prayers, 
that  Middleton  could  have  forgiven  her  had  she 
termed  him  a pagan,  for  the  sweetness  and  inter- 
est with  which  she  petitioned  in  his  favor. 

The  young  man  waited  until  his  bride  arose 
from  her  knees,  and  then  he  joined  her,  as  if  en- 
tirely ignorant  of  what  had  occurred. 

“ It  is  getting  late,  my  Inez,”  he  said,  “ and 
Don  Augustin  would  be  apt  to  reproach  you  with 
inattention  to  your  health,  in  being  abroad  at  such 
an  hour.  What,  then,  am  I to  do,  who  am  charged 
with  all  his  authority,  and  twice  his  love  ? ” 

“ Be  like  him  in  every  thing,”  she  answered, 
looking  up  in  his  face,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  and 
speaking  with  emphasis  ; “ in  every  thing.  Imi- 
tate my  father,  Middleton,  and  I can  ask  no  more 
of  you.” 

“ Nor  for  me,  Inez  ? I doubt  not  that  I should 
be  all  you  can  wish,  were  I to  become  as  good  as 
the  worthy  and  respectable  Don  Augustin.  But 
you  are  to  make  some  allowances  for  the  infirmi- 
ties and  habits  of  a soldier.  Now  let  us  go  and 
join  this  excellent  father.” 

“ Not  yet,”  said  his  bride,  gently  extricating 
herself  from  the  arm  that  he  had  thrown  around 
her  slight  form,  while  he  urged  her  from  the  place. 

“ I have  still  another  duty  to  perform,  before  I 
can  submit  so  implicitly  to  your  orders,  soldier 
though  you  are.  I promised  the  worthy  Inesella, 
my  faithful  nurse,  she  who,  as  you  heard,  has  so 
long  been  a mother  to  me,  Middleton — I promised 
her  a visit  at  this  hour.  It  is  the  last,  as  she 
thinks,  that  she  can  receive  from  her  own  child, 
and  I cannot  disappoint  her.  Go  you,  then,  to 
Don  Augustin ; in  one  short  hour  I will  rejoin  you.” 

“ Remember  it  is  but  an  hour ! ” i 


“ One  hour,”  repeated  Inez,  as  she  kissed  her 
hand  to  him ; and  then  blushing,  ashamed  at  her 
own  boldness,  she  darted  from  the  arbor,  and  was 
seen  for  an  instant  gliding  toward  the  cottage  of 
her  nurse,  in  which  at  the  next  moment  she 
disappeared. 

Middleton  returned  slowly  and  thoughtfully 
to  the  house,  often  bending  his  eyes  in  the  direc- 
tion in  which  he  had  last  seen  his  wife,  as  if  he 
would  fain  trace  her  lovely  form,  in  the  gloom  of 
the  evening,  still  floating  through  the  vacant 
space.  Don  Augustin  received  him  with  warmth, 
and  for  many  minutes  his  mind  was  amused  by 
relating  to  his  new  kinsman  plans  for  the  future. 
The  exclusive  old  Spaniard  listened  to  jiis  glow- 
ing but  true  account  of  the  prosperity  and  happi- 
ness of  those  States  of  which  he  bad  been  an  ig- 
norant neighbor  half  his  life,  partly  in  wonder 
and  partly  with  that  sort  of  incredulity  with  which 
one  attends  to  what  he  fancies  are  the  exagger- 
ated descriptions  of  a too  partial  friendship. 

In  this  manner  the  hour  for  which  Inez  had 
conditioned  passed  away  much  sooner  than  her 
husband  could  have  thought  possible,  in  her  ab- 
sence. At  length  his  looks  began  to  wander  to 
the  clock,  and  then  the  minutes  were  counted,  as 
one  rolled  by  after  another,  and  Inez  did  not  ap- 
pear. The  hand  had  already  made  half  of  an- 
other circuit  around  the  face  of  the  dial,  when 
Middleton  arose  and  announced  his  determination 
to  go  and  offer  himself  as  an  escort  to  the  absen- 
tee. He  found  the  night  dark  and  the  heavens 
charged  with  threatening  vapor,  which  in  that 
climate  was  the  infallible  forerunner  of  a gust. 
Stimulated  no  less  by  the  unpropitious  aspect  of 
the  skies  than  by  his  secret  uneasiness,  he  quick- 
ened his  pace,  making  long  and  rapid  strides  in 
the  direction  of  the  cottage  of  Inesella.  Twenty 
times  he  stopped,  fancying  that  he  caught  glimpses 
of  the  fairy  form  of  Inez,  tripping  across  the 
grounds  on  her  return  to  the  mansion-house,  and 
as  often  he  was  obliged  to  resume  his  course  in 
disappointment.  He  reached  the  gate  of  the  cot- 
tage, knocked,  opened  the  door,  entered,  and 
even  stood  in  the  presence  of  the  aged  nurse, 
without  meeting  the  person  of  her  he  sought. 
She  had  already  left  the  place  on  her  return  to 
her  father’s  house  ! Believing  that  he  must  have 
passed  her  in  the  darkness,  Middleton  retraced 
his  steps  to  meet  with  another  disappointment. 
Inez  had  not  been  seen.  Without  communicating 
his  intention  to  any  one,  the  bridegroom  proceeded 
with  a palpitating  heart  to  the  little  sequestered 
arbor,  where  he  had  overheard  his  bride  offering 
T7D  those  petitions  for  his  happiness  and  conver- 
sion. Here,  too,  he  was  disappointed  ; and  then 


80 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


all  was  afloat  in  the  painful  incertitude  of  doubt 
and  conjecture. 

For  many  hours  a secret  distrust  of  the  mo- 
tives of  his  wife  caused  Middleton  to  proceed  in 
the  search  with  delicacy  and  caution.  But  as 
day  dawned,  without  restoring  her  to  the  arms  of 
her  father  or  her  husband,  reserve  was  thrown 
aside,  and  her  unaccountable  absence  was  loudly 
proclaimed.  The  inquiries  after  the  lost  Inez 
were  now  direct  and  open ; but  they  proved  equally 
fruitless.  No  one  had  seen  her  or  heard  of  her, 
from  the  moment  that  she  left  the  cottage  of  her 
nurse. 

Day  succeeded  day,  and  still  no  tidings  reward- 
ed the  search  that  was  immediately  instituted, 
until  she  was  finally  given  over  by  most  of  her 
relations  and  friends,  as  irretrievably  lost. 

An  event  of  so  extraordinary  a character  was 
not  likely  to  be  soon  forgotten.  It  excited  specu- 
lation, gave  rise  to  an  infinity  of  rumors,  and  not 
a few  inventions.  The  prevalent  opinion  among 
such  of  those  immigrants  who  were  overrunning 
the  country,  as  had  time  in  the  multitude  of  their 
employments  to  think  of  any  foreign  concerns, 
was  the  simple  and  direct  conclusion  that  the 
absent  bride  was  no  more  nor  less  than  a felo  de 
sc.  Father  Ignatius  had  many  doubts  and  much 
secret  compunction  of  conscience;  but,  like  a 
wise  chief,  he  endeavored  to  turn  the  sad  event  to 
some  account  in  the  impending  warfare  of  faith. 
Changing  his  battery,  he  whispered  in  the  ears  of 
a few  of  his  oldest  parishioners  that  he  had  been 
deceived  in  the  state  of  Middleton’s  mind,  which 
he  was  now  compelled  to  believe  was  completely 
stranded  on  the  quicksands  of  heresy.  He  began 
to  show  his  relics  again,  and  was  even  heard  to 
allude  once  more  to  the  delicate  and  nearly-for- 
gotten subject  of  modern  miracles.  In  conse- 
quence of  these  demonstrations  on  the  part  of  the 
venerable  priest,  it  came  to  be  whispered  among 
the  faithful,  and  finally  it  was  adopted  as  part  of 
the  parish  creed,  that  Inez  had  been  translated 
to  heaven. 

Don  Augustin  had  all  the  feelings  of  a father, 
but  they  were  smothered  in  the  lassitude  of  a 
creole.  Like  his  spiritual  governor,  he  began  to 
think  that  they  had  been  wrong  in  consigning 
one  so  pure,  so  young,  so  lovely,  and  above  all  so 
pious,  to  the  arms  of  a heretic ; and  he  was  fain 
to  believe  that  the  calamity  which  had  befallen 
his  age  was  a judgment  on  his  presumption  and 
want  of  adherence  to  established  forms.  It  is  true 
that,  as  the  whispers  of  the  congregation  came  to 
his  ears,  he  found  present  consolation  in  their 
belief;  but  then  Nature  was  too  powerful,  and 
had  too  strong  a hold  of  the  old  man’s  heart,  not 


to  give  rise  to  the  rebellious  thought  that  the 
succession  of  his  daughter  to  the  heavenly  inheri 
tance  was  a little  premature. 

But  Middleton,  the  lover,  the  husband,  the 
bridegroom — Middleton  was  nearly  crushed  by 
the  weight  of  the  unexpected  and  terrible  blow. 
Educated  himself  under  the  dominion  of  a simple 
and  rational  faith,  in  which  nothing  is  attempted 
to  be  concealed  from  the  believers,  he  could  have 
no  other  apprehensions  for  the  fate  of  Inez  than 
such  as  grew  out  of  his  knowledge  of  the  super- 
stitious opinions  she  entertained  of  his  own 
Church.  It  is  needless  to  dwell  on  the  mental 
tortures  that  he  endured,  or  all  the  various  sur- 
mises, hopes,  and  disappointments,  that  he  was 
fated  to  experience  in  the  first  few  weeks  of  his 
misery.  A jealous  distrust  of  the  motives  of 
Inez,  and  a secret,  lingering  hope  that  he  should 
yet  find  her,  had  tempered  his  inquiries,  without, 
however,  causing  him  to  abandon  them  entirely. 
But  time  was  beginning  to  deprive  him  even  of 
the  mortifying  reflection  that  he  was  intentionally 
though  perhaps  temporarily  deserted,  and  he  was 
gradually  yielding  to  the  more  painful  conviction 
that  she  was  dead,  when  his  hopes  were  suddenly 
revived  in  a new  and  singular  manner. 

The  young  commander  was  slowly  and  sorrow- 
fully returning  from  an  evening  parade  of  his 
troops  to  his  own  quarters,  which  stood  at  some 
little  distance  from  the  place  of  the  encampment, 
and  on  the  same  high  bluff  of  land,  when  his  vacant 
eyes  fell  on  the  figure  of  a man,  who  by  the  regula- 
tions of  the  place  was  not  entitled  to  be  there  at 
that  forbidden  hour.  The  stranger  was  meanly 
dressed,  with  every  appearance  about  his  person 
and  countenance  of  squalid  poverty  and  of  the 
most  dissolute  habits.  Sorrow  had  softened  the 
military  pride  of  Middleton,  and,  as  he  passed  the 
crouching  form  of  the  intruder,  he  said,  in  tones 
of  great  mildness,  or  rather  of  kindness  : 

“You  will  be  given  a night  in  the  guard- 
house, friend,  should  the  patrol  find  you  here; 
there  is  a dollar — go  and  get  a better  place  to 
sleep  in,  and  something  to  eat.” 

“I  swallow  all  my  food,  captain,  without 
chewing,”  returned  the  vagabond,  with  the  low 
exultation  of  an  accomplished  villain,  as  he 
eagerly  seized  the  silver.  “Make  this  Mexican 
twenty,  and  I will  sell  you  a secret.” 

“ Go,  go,”  said  the  other,  with  a little  of  a 
soldier’s  severity  returning  to  his  manner.  “ Go, 
before  I order  the  guard  to  seize  you.” 

“Well,  go  I will;  but  if  I do  go,  captain,  1 
shall  take  my  knowledge  with  me ; and  then  you 
may  live  & widower  bewitched  till  the  tattoo  of 
life  is  beat  off.” 


THE  KIDNAPPER  AND  HIS  SECRET. 


81 


“ What  mean  you,  fellow  ? ” exclaimed  Middle- 
ton,  turning  quickly  toward  the  wretch,  who  was 
already  dragging  his  diseased  limbs  from  the  place. 

“ I mean  to  have  the  value  of  this  dollar  in 
Spanish  brandy,  and  then  come  back  and  sell  you 
my  secret  for  enough  to  buy  a barrel.” 

“If  you  have  anything  to  say,  speak  now,” 
continued  Middleton,  restraining  with  difficulty 
the  impatience  that  urged  him  to  betray  his  feel- 
ings. 

“I  am  a-dry,  and  I can  never  talk  with  ele- 
gance when  my  throat  is  husky,  captain.  How 
much  will  you  give  to  know  what  I can  tell  you  ? 
Let  it  be  something  handsome — such  as  one  gen-, 
tleman  can  offer  to  another.” 

“I  believe  it  would  be  better  justice  to  order 
the  drummer  to  pay  you  a visit,  fellow.  To  what 
does  your  boasted  secret  relate  ? ” 

“ Matrimony — a wife  and  no  wife ; a pretty 
face  and  a rich  bride.  Do  I speak  plain  now, 
captain  ? ” 

“ If  you  know  any  thing  relating  to  my  wife, 
say  it  at  once ; you  need  not  fear  for  your  re- 
ward.” 

“ Ay,  captain,  I have  drove  many  a bargain 
in  my  time,  and  sometimes  I have  been  paid  in 
money,  and  sometimes  I have  been  paid  in  prom- 
ises ; now  the  last  are  what  I call  pinching  food.” 

“ Name  your  price.” 

“ Twenty — no,  damn  it,  it’s  worth  thirty  dol- 
lars, if  it’s  worth  a cent ! ” 

“Here,  then,  is  your  money;  but  remember, 
if  you  tell  me  nothing  worth  knowing,  I have  a 
force  that  can  easily  deprive  you  of  it  again,  and 
punish  your  insolence  into  the  bargain.” 

The  fellow  examined  the  bank-bills  he  received, 
with  a jealous  eye,  and  then  pocketed  them,  ap- 
parently well  satisfied  of  their  being  genuine. 

“ I like  a Northern  note,”  he  said,  very  coolly ; 
“ they  have  a character  to  lose  like  myself.  No 
fear  of  me,  captain  ; I am  a man  of  honor,  and  I 
shall  not  tell  you  a word  more  nor  a word  less 
than  I know  of  my  own  knowledge  to  be  true.” 

“ Proceed  then  without  further  delay,  or  I 
may  repent,  and  order  you  to  be  deprived  of  all 
your  gains;  the  silver  as  well  as  the  notes.” 

“Honor,  if  you  die  for  it ! ” returned  the  mis- 
creant, holding  up  a hand  in  affected  horror  at  so 
treacherous  a threat.  “ Well,  captain,  you  must 
know  that  gentlemen  don’t  all  live  by  the  same 
calling;  some  keep  what  they’ve  got,  and  some 
get  what  they  can.” 

“ You  have  been  a thief.” 

“I  scorn  the  word.  I have  been  a humanity- 
hunter.  Do  you  know  what  that  means?  Ay, 
it  has  many  interpretations.  Some  people  think 


the  woolly-heads  are  miserable,  working  on  hot 
plantations  under  a broiling  sun — and  all  such  sorts 
of  inconveniences.  Well,  captain,  I have  been,  in 
my  time,  a man  who  has  been  willing  to  give  them 
the  pleasures  of  variety,  at  least,  by  changing  the 
scene  for  them.  You  understand  me?  ” 

“You  are,  in  plain  language,  a kidnapper.” 

“ Have  been,  my  worthy  captain — have  been  ; 
but  just  now  a little  reduced,  like  a merchant  who 
leaves  off  selling  tobacco  by  the  hogshead,  to  deal 
in  it  by  the  yard.  I have  been  a soldier,  too,  in 
my  day.  What  is  said  to  be  the  great  secret  of 
our  trade,  can  you  tell  me  that  ? ” 

“ I know  not,”  said  Middleton,  beginning  to  tire 
of  the  fellow’s  trifling— “courage  ? ” 

“No,  legs — legs  to  fight  with,  and  legs  to  run 
away  with — and  therein  you  see  my  two  callings 
agreed.  My  legs  are  none  of  the  best  just  now, 
and  without  legs  a kidnapper  would  carry  on  a 
losing  trade ; but  then  there  are  men  enough  left, 
better  provided  than  I am.” 

“Stolen ! ” groaned  the  horror-struck  husband. 
“ On  her  travels,  as  sure  as  you  are  standing 
still ! ” 

“ Villain,  what  reason  have  you  for  believing 
a thing  so  shocking  ? ” 

“ Hands  off — hands  off — do  you  think  my 
tongue  can  do  its  work  the  better,  for  a little 
squeezing  of  the  throat  ? Have  patience,  and  you 
shall  know  it  all ; but  if  you  treat  me  so  ungen- 
teelly  again,  I shall  be  obliged  to  call  in  the  as- 
sistance of  the  lawyers.” 

“ Say  on ; but  if  you  utter  a single  word  more 
or  less  than  the  truth,  expect  instant  vengeance ! ” 
“Are  you  fool  enough  to  believe  what  such  a 
scoundrel  as  I am  tells  you,  captain,  unless  it  has 
probability  to  back  it  ? I know  you  are  not ; 
therefore  I will  give  my  facts  and  my  opinions, 
and  then  leave  you  to  chew  on  them,  while  I go 
and  drink  of  your  generosity.  I know  a man  who 
is  called  Abiram  White — I believe  the  knave  took 
that  name  to  show  his  enmity  to  the  race  of 
blacks ! But  this  gentleman  is  now,  and  has  been 
for  years,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  a regular  trans- 
lator of  the  human  body  from  one  State  to  anoth- 
er. I have  dealt  with  him  in  my  time,  and  a 
cheating  dog  he  is  ! No  more  honor  in  him  than 
meat  in  my  stomach.  I saw  him  here  in  this 
very  town,  the  day  of  your  wedding.  He  was  in 
company  with  his  wife’s  brother,  and  pretended 
to  be  a settler  on  the  hunt  for  new  land.  A noble 
set  they  were,  to  carry  on  business — seven  sons, 
each  of  them  as  tall  as  your  sergeant  with  his  cap 
on.  Well,  the  moment  I heard  that  your  wife 
was  lost,  I saw  at  once  that  Abiram  had  laid  hia 
hands  on  her.” 


■32 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“ Do  you  know  this — can  this  be  true  ? What 
eason  have  you  to  fancy  a thing  so  wild  ? ” 

“Reason  enough;  I know  Abiram  White. 
Now,  will  you  add  a trifle  just  to  keep  my  throat 
from  parching  ? ” 

“ Go,  go  ; you  are  stupefied  with  drink  already, 
miserable  man,  and  know  not  what  you  say.  Go ; 
go,  and  beware  the  drummer ! ” 

“Experience  is  a good  guide’5 — the  fellow 
called  after  the  retiring  Middleton ; and  then  turn- 
ing with  a chuckling  laugh,  like  one  well  satisfied 
with  himself,  he  made  the  best  of  his  way  toward 
the  shop  of  the  sutler. 

A hundred  times  in  the  course  of  that  night 
did  Middleton  fane/ that  the  communication  of 
the  miscreant  was  entitled  to  some  attention,  and 
as  often  did  he  reject  the  idea  as  too  wild  and  vi- 
sionary for  another  thought.  He  was  awakened  ear- 
ly on  the  following  morning,  after  passing  a restless 
and  nearly  sleepless  night,  by  his  orderly,  who  came 
to  report  that  a man  was  found  dead  on  the  pa- 
rade, at  no  great  distance  from  his  quarters. 
Throwing  on  his  clothes,  he  proceeded  to  the  spot, 
and  beheld  the  individual  with  whom  he  had  held 
the  preceding  conference,  in  the  precise  situation 
in  which  he  had  first  been  found. 

The  miserable  wretch  had  fallen  a victim  to 
his  intemperance.  This  revolting  fact  was  suffi- 
ciently proclaimed  by  his  obtruding  eyeballs,  his 
bloated  countenance,  and  the  nearly  insufferable 
odors  that  were  even  then  exhaling  from  his  car- 
cass. Disgusted  with  the  odious  spectacle,  the 
youth  was  turning  from  the  sight,  after  ordering 
the  corpse  to  be  removed,  when  the  position  of  one 
of  the  dead  man’s  hands  struck  him.  On  examina- 
tion, he  found  the  forefinger  extended,  as  if  in  the 
act  of  writing  in  the  sand,  with  the  following  incom- 
plete sentence,  nearly  illegible,  but  yet  in  a state  to 
be  deciphered  : “ Captain,  it  is  true,  as  I am  a gen- 
tle— ” He  had  either  died,  or  fallen  into  a sleep, 
the  forerunner  of  his  death,  before  the  latter  word 
was  finished. 

Concealing  this  fact  from  the  others,  Middle- 
ton  repeated  his  orders  and  departed.  The  per- 
tinacity of  the  deceased,  and  all  the  circumstances 
united,  induced  him  to  set  on  foot  some  secret  in- 
quiries. He  found  that  a family  answering  the  de- 
scription which  had  been  given  him,  had  in  fact 
passed  the  place  the  day  of  his  nuptials.  They 
were  traced  along  the  margin  of  the  Mississippi 
for  some  distance,  until  they  took  boat  and  as- 
cended the  river  to  its  confluence  with  the  Mis- 
souri. Here  they  had  disappeared,  like  hundreds 
of  others,  in  pursuit  of  the  hidden  wealth  of  the 
interior.  # 

Furnished  with  these  facts,  Middleton  detailed 


a small  guard  of  his  mest  trusty  men,  took  leave 
of  Don  Augustin  without  declaring  his  hopes  or 
his  fears,  and  having  arrived  at  the  indicated  point 
he  pushed  into  the  wilderness  in  pursuit.  It  was 
not  difficult  to  trace  a train  like  that  of  Ishmael 
until  he  was  assured  its  object  lay  far  beyond  the 
usual  limits  of  the  settlements.  This  circumstance 
in  itself  quickened  his  suspicions  and  gave  addi- 
tional force  to  his  hopes  of  final  success. 

After  getting  beyond  the  assistance  of  verbal 
directions,  the  anxious  husband  had  recourse  to 
the  usual  signs  of  a trail,  in  order  to  follow  the 
fugitives.  This  he  also  found  a task  of  no  diffi- 
• culty,  until  he  reached  the  hard  and  unyielding 
soil  of  the  rolling  prairies.  Here,  indeed,  he 
was  completely  at  fault.  He  found  himself,  at 
length,  compelled  to  divide  his  followers,  appoint- 
ing a place  of  rendezvous  at  a distant  day,  and  to 
endeavor  to  find  the  lost  trail  by  multiplying,  as 
much  as  possible,  the  number  of  his  eyes.  He 
had  been  alone  a week,  when  accident  brought 
him  in  contact  with  the  trapper  and  the  bee-hunt- 
er. Fart  of  their  interview  has  been  related,  and 
the  reader  can  readily  imagine  the  explanations 
that  succeeded  the  tale  he  recounted,  and  which 
led,  as  has  already  been  seen,  to  the  recovery  of 
his  bride. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

“ These  likelihoods  confirm  her  flight  from  hence ; 
Therefore,  I pray  you,  stay  not  to  discourse, 

But  mount  you  presently.” 

SlIAKESFEAKE. 

An  hour  had  slid  by  in  hasty  and  nearly  inco- 
herent questions  and  answers,  before  Middleton, 
hanging  over  his  recovered  treasure  with  that  sort 
of  jealous  watchfulness  with  which  a miser  would 
regard  his  hoards,  closed  the  disjointed  narrative 
of  his  own  proceedings  by  demanding : 

“And  you,  my  Inez — in  what  manner  were 
you  treated  ? ” 

“ In  every  thing,  but  the  great  injustice  they 
did  in  separating  me  so  forcibly  from  my  friends, 
as  well,  perhaps,  as  the  circumstances  of  my  cap- 
tors  would  allow.  I think  the  man  who  is  cer- 
tainly the  master  here,  is  but  a new  beginner  in 
wickedness.  He  quarrelled  frightfully  in  my  pres- 
ence with  the  wretch  who  seized  me,  and  then 
they  made  an  impious  bargain,  to  which  I was 
compelled  to  acquiesce,  and  to  which  they  bound 
me  as  well  as  themselves,  by  oaths.  Ah  ! Middle- 
ton,  I fear  the  heretics  are  not  so  heedful  of  their 
vows  as  we  who  are  nurtured  in  the  bosom  ®f  the 
true  Church ! ” 


THE  RECOVERY  OF  INEZ. 


83 


“ Believe  it  not ; these  villains  are  of  no  reli- 
gion ! Did  they  forswear  themselves  ? ” 

“No,  not  perjured;  but  was  it  not  awful  to 
call  upon  the  good  God  to  witness  so  sinful  a 
compact  ? ” 

“ And  so  we  think,  Inez,  as  truly  as  the  most 
virtuous  cardinal  of  Rome.  But  how  did  they 
observe  their  oath,  and  what  was  its  purport  ? ” 
“They  conditioned  to  leave  me  unmolested, 
and  free  from  their  odious  presence,  provided  I 
would  give  a pledge  to  make  no  effort  to  escape ; 
and  that  I would  not  even  show  myself  until  a 
time  that  my  masters  saw  fit  to  name.” 

“ And  that  time  ? ” demanded  the  impatient 
Middleton,  who  so  well  knew  the  religious  scruples 
of  his  wife — “ that  time  ? ” 

“ It  is  already  passed.  I was  sworn  by  my 
patron  saint,  and  faithfully  did  I keep  the  vow, 
until  the  man  they  call  Ishmael  forgot  the  terms 
by  offering  violence.  I then  made  my  appear- 
ance on  the  rock,  for  the  time  too  was  passed ; 
though  I even  think  Father  Ignatius  would  have 
absolved  me  from  the  vow,  on  account  of  the 
treachery  of  my  keepers.” 

“ If  he  had  not,”  muttered  the  youth  between 
hi3  compressed  teeth,  “I  would  have  absolved 
him  forever  from  his  spiritual  care  of  your  con- 
science ! ” 

“ You,  Middleton  I ” returned  his  wife,  look- 
lug  up  into  his  flushed  face,  while  a bright  flush 
suffused  her  own  sweet  countenance ; “ you  may 
receive  my  vows,  but  surely  you  can  have  no  power 
to  absolve  me  from  their  observance  ! ” 

“No,  no,  no.  Inez,  you  are  right.  I know 
but  little  of  these  conscientious  subtilties,  apd  I 
am  any  thing  but  a priest : yet  tell  me,  what  has 
induced  these  monsters  to  play  this  desperate 
game — to  trifle  thus  with  my  happiness  ? ” 

“You  know  my  ignorance  of  the  world,  and 
how  ill  I am  qualified  to  furnish  reasons  for  the 
conduct  of  beings  so  different  from  any  I have 
ever  seen  before.  But  does  not  love  of  money 
drive  men  to  acts  even  worse  than  this?  I 
believe  they  thought  that  an  aged  and  wealthy 
father  could  be  tempted  to  pay  them  a rich  ran- 
som for  his  child ; and,  perhaps,”  she  added, 
stealing  an  inquiring  glance  through  her  tears  at 
the  attentive  Middleton,  “ they  counted  something 
on  the  fresh  affections  of  a bridegroom.” 

“ They  might  have  extracted  the  blood  from 
my  heart,  drop  by  drop ! ” 

“ Yes,”  resumed  his  young  and  timid  wife, 
instantly  withdrawing  the  stolen  look  she  had 
hazarded,  and  hurriedly  pursuing  the  train  of  the 
discourse,  as  if  glad  to  make  him  forget  the  liberty 
6he  had  just  taken,  “ I have  been  told  there  are 


men  so  base  as  to  perjure  themselves  at  the  altar 
in  order  to  command  the  gold  of  ignorant  and 
confiding  girls ; and,  if  love  of  money  will  lead  to 
such  baseness,  we  may  surely  expect  it  will  hurry 
those  who  devote  themselves  to  gain  into  acts  of 
lesser  fraud.” 

“ It  must  be  so ; and  now,  Inez,  though  I am 
here  to  guard  you  with  my  life,  and  we  are  in  pos 
session  of  this  rock,  our  difficulties,  perhaps  ou 
dangers,  are  not  ended.  You  will  summon  all  youi 
courage  to  meet  the  trial,  and  prove  yourself  a 
soldier’s  wife,  my  Inez  ? ” 

“ I am  ready  to  depart  this  instant.  The  let- 
ter you  sent  by  the  physician  had  prepared  me 
to  hope  for  the  best,  and  I have  every  thing  ar- 
ranged for  flight  at  the  shortest  warning.” 

“ Let  us,  then,  leave  this  place  and  join  our 
friends.” 

“ Friends  ! ” interrupted  Inez,  glancing  her 
eyes  around  the  tent  in  quest  of  the  form  of 
Ellen.  “ I,  too,  have  a friend  who  must  not  be 
forgotten,  but  who  is  pledged  to  pass  the  remain- 
der of  her  life  with  us.  She  is  gone  ! ” 

Middleton  gently  led  her  from  the  spot,  as  he 
smilingly  answered : 

“ She  may  have  had,  like  myself,  her  own 
private  communications  for  some  favored  ear.” 

The  young  man  had  not,  however,  done  jus- 
tice to  the  motives  of  Ellen  Wade.  The  sensitive 
and  intelligent  girl  had  readily  perceived  how  lit- 
tle her  presence  was  necessary  in  the  interview 
that  has  just  been  related,  and  had  retired  with 
that  intuitive  delicacy  of  feeling  which  seems  to 
belong  more  properly  to  her  sex.  She  was  now 
to  be  seen  seated  on  a point  of  the  rock,  with  her 
person  so  entirely  enveloped  in  her  dress  as  to 
conceal  her  features.  Here  she  had  remained  for 
near  an  hour,  no  one  approaching  to  address  her, 
and,  as  it  appeared  to  her  own  quick  and  jealous 
eyes,  totally  unobserved.  In  the  latter  particular, 
however,  even  the  vigilance  of  the  quick-sighted 
Ellen  was  deceived. 

The  first  act  of  Paul  Hover,  on  finding  him- 
self the  master  of  Ishmael’s  citadel,  had  been  to 
sound  the  note  of  victory,  after  the  quaint  and 
ludicrous  manner  that  is  so  often  practised  among 
the  borderers  of  the  West.  Flapping  his  sides 
with  his  hands,  as  the  conquering  game-cock  is 
wont  to  do  with  his  wings,  he  raised  a loud  and 
laughable  imitation  of  the  exultation  of  this  bird ; 
a cry  which  might  have  proved  a dangerous  chal- 
lenge had  any  one  of  the  athletic  sons  of  the  squat- 
ter been  within  hearing. 

“ This  has  been  a regular  knock-down  and 
drag-out,”  he  cried,  ‘^and  no  bones  broke  ! — How 
now,  old  trapper ! you  have  been  one  of  your 


84 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


training,  platoon,  rank-and-file  soldiers  in  your 
day,  and  have  seen  forts  taken  and  batteries 
stormed  before  this — am  I right  ? ” 

“Ay,  ay,  that  have  I,”  answered  the  old  man, 
who  still  maintained  his  post  at  the  foot  of  the 
rock,  so  little  disturbed  by  what  he  had  just  wit- 
nessed as  to  return  the  grin  of  Paul  with  a hearty 
indulgence  in  his  own  silent  and  peculiar  laughter ; 
14  you  have  gone  through  the  exploit  like  men  ! ” 

“ Now  tell  me,  is  it  not  in  rule  to  call  over  the 
names  of  the  living,  and  to  bury  the  dead  after 
every  bloody  battle  ? ” 

“ Some  did  and  other  some  didn’t.  When  Sir 
William  pushed  the  German,  Dieskau,  through  the 
defiles  at  the  foot  of  the  Hori — ” 

“ Your  Sir  William  was  a drone  to  Sir  Paul, 
and  knew  nothing  of  regularity.  So  here  begins 
the  roll-call — by-the-by,  old  man,  what  between 
bee-hunting  and  buffalo-humps,  and  certain  other 
matters,  I have  been  too  busy  to  ask  your  name ; 
for  I intend  to  begin  with  my  rear-guard,  well 
knowing  that  my  man  in  front  is  too  busy  to 
answer.” 

“ Lord,  lad,  I’ve  been  called  in  my  time  by  as 
many  names  as  there  are  people  among  whom  I’ve 
dwelt.  Now  the  Delawares  named  me  for  my 
eyes,  and  I was  called  after  the  far-sighted  hawk. 
Then,  ag’in,  the  settlers  in  the  Otsego  hills  chris- 
tened me  anew  from  the  fashion  of  my  leggings ; 
and  various  have  been  the  names  by  which  I have 
gone  through  life  ; but  little  will  it  matter  when 
the  time  shall  come  that  all  are  to  be  mustered, 
face  to  face,  by  what  titles  a mortal  has  played  his 
part ! I humbly  trust  I shall  be  able  to  answer  to 
any  of  mine  in  aloud  and  manly  voice.” 

Paul  paid  little  or  no  attention  to  this  reply, 
more  than  half  of  which  was  lost  in  the  distance, 
but,  pursuing  the  humor  of  the  moment,  he  called 
out  in  a stentorian  voice  to  the  naturalist  to  an- 
swer to  his  name.  Dr.  Battius  had  not  thought 
it  necessary  to  push  his  success  beyond  the  com- 
fortable niche  which  accident  had  so  opportunely 
formed  for  his  protection,  and  in  which  he  now 
reposed  from  his  labors  with  a pleasing  conscious- 
ness of  security,  added  to  great  exultation  at  the 
possession  of  the  botanical  treasure  already  men- 
tioned. 

“ Mount,  mount,  my  worthy  mole-catcher ! 
come  and  behold  the  prospect  of  skirting  Ishmael ; 
come  and  look  Nature  boldly  in  the  face,  and  not 
go  sneaking  any  longer  among  the  prairie-grass 
and  mullein-tops,  like  a gobbler  nibbling  for  grass- 
hoppers.” 

The  mouth  of  the  light-hearted  and  reck’ess 
hoe-hunter  was  instantly  closed,  and  he  was  ren- 
dered as  mute  as  he  had  just  been  boisterous 


and  talkative,  by  the  appearance  of  Ellen  Wade. 
When  the  melancholy  maiden  took  her  scat  on 
the  point  of  the  rock  as  mentioned,  Paul  affected 
to  employ  himself  in  conducting  a close  inspection 
of  the  household  effects  of  the  squatter.  Ho 
rummaged  the  drawers  of  Esther  with  no  delicate 
hands,  scattered  the  rustic  finery  of  her  girls  on 
the  ground  without  the  least  deference  to  its 
quality  or  elegance,  and  tossed  her  pots  and  ket- 
tles here  and  there  as  though  they  had  been  ves- 
sels of  wood  instead  of  iron.  All  this  industry 
was,  however,  manifestly  without  an  object.  He 
reserved  nothing  for  himself,  not  even  appearing 
conscious  of  the  nature  of  the  articles  which  suf- 
fered by  his  familiarity.  When  he  had  examined 
the  inside  of  every  cabin,  taken  a fresh  survey 
of  the  spot  where  he  had  confined  the  children, 
and  where  he  had  thoroughly  secured  them  with 
cords,  and  kicked  one  of  the  pails  of  the  woman 
like  a foot-ball  fifty  feet  into  the  air  in  sheer  wan- 
tonness, he  returned  to  the  edge  of  the  rock,  and, 
thrusting  both  his  hands  through  his  wampum 
belt,  he  began  to  whistle  the  “ Kentucky  Hunters  ” 
as  diligently  as  if  he  had  been  hired  to  supply  his 
auditors  with  music  by  the  hour.  In  this  manner 
passed  the  remainder  of  the  time  until  Middleton, 
as  has  been  related,  led  Inez  forth  from  the  tent, 
and  gave  a new  direction  to  the  thoughts  of  the 
whole  party.  He  summoned  Paul  from  his  flour- 
ish of  music,  tore  the  doctor  from  the  study  of 
his  plant,  and,  as  acknowledged  leader,  gave  the 
necessary  orders  for  immediate  departure. 

In  the  bustle  and  confusion  that  were  likely 
to  succeed  such  a mandate,  there  was  little  oppor- 
tunity to  indulge  in  complaints  or  reflections.  As 
the  adventurers  had  not  come  unprepared  for  victo- 
ry, each  individual  employed  himself  in  such  offices 
as  were  best  adapted  to  his  strength  and  situa- 
tion. The  trapper  had  already  made  himself 
master  of  the  patient  Asinus,  who  was  quietly 
feeding  at  no  great  distance  from  the  rock,  and 
he  was  now  busy  in  fitting  his  back  with  the 
complicated  machinery  that  Dr.  Battius  saw  fit 
to  term  a saddle  of  his  own  invention.  The  nat- 
uralist himself  seized  upon  his  portfolios,  herbals, 
and  collection  of  insects,  which  he  quickly  trans- 
ferred from  the  encampment  of  the  squatter  to 
certain  pockets  in  the  aforesaid  ingenions  inven- 
tion, and  which  the  trapper  as  uniformly  cast 
away  the  moment  his  back  was  turned.  Paul 
showed  his  dexterity  in  removing  such  light  arti- 
cles as  Inez  and  Ellen  had  prepared  for  their 
flight  to  the  foot  of  the  citadel ; while  Middleton, 
after  mingling  threats  and  promises  in  order  to 
induce  the  children  to  remain  quietly  in  their 
bondage,  assisted  the  females  to  descend.  As 


ABANDONING  THE  FORTRESS. 


85 


time  began  to  press  :*pon  them,  and  there  was 
great  danger-of  Ishmael’s  returning,  these  several 
movements  were  made  with  singular  industry  and 
dispatch. 

The  trapper  bestowed  such  articles  as  he  con- 
ceived were  necessary  to  the  comfort  of  the 
weaker  and  more  delicate  members  of  the  party, 
in  those  pockets  from  which  he  had  so  uncere- 
moniously expelled  the  treasures  of  the  uncon- 
scious naturalist,  and  then  gave  way  for  Middle- 
ton  to  place  Inez  in  one  of  those  seats  which  he 
had  prepared  on  the  back  of  the  animal  for  her 
and  her  companion. 

“ Go,  child,”  the  old  man  said,  motioning  to 
Ellen  to  follow  the  example  of  the  lady,  and  turn- 
ing his  head  a little  anxiously  to  examine  the 
waste  behind  him.  It  cannot  be  long  afore  the 
owner  of  this  place  will  be  coining  to  look  after 
his  household ; and  he  is  not  a man  to  give  up 
his  property,  however  obtained,  without  com- 
plaint ! ” 

“ It  is  true,”  cried  Middleton ; “ we  have  wasted 
moments  that  are  precious,  and  have  the  utmost 
need  of  industry.” 

“ Ay,  ay,  I thought  it ; and  would  have  said  it, 
captain ; but  I .remembered  how  your  grand’ther 
used  to  love  to  look  upon  the  face  of  her  he  led 
away  for  a wife,  in  the  days  of  his  youth  and  his 
happiness.  ’Tis  natur’,  ’tis  natur’,  and  ’tis  wiser 
to  give  way  a little  before  its  feelings,  than  to  try 
to  stop  a current  that  will  have  its  course.” 

Ellen  advanced  to  the  side  of  the  beast,  and 
seizing  Inez  by  the  hand,  she  said,  with  heart-felt 
warmth,  after  struggling  to  suppress  an  emotion 
that  nearly  choked  her : 

“ God  bless  you,  sweet  lady  ! I hope  you  will 
forget  and  forgive  the  wrongs  you  have  received 
from  my  uncle — ” 

The  humbled  and  sorrowful  girl  could  say  no 
more,  her  voice  becoming  entirely  inaudible  in  an 
ungovernable  burst  of  grief. 

“ How  is  this  ? ” cried  Middleton ; “ did  you 
not  say,  Inez,  that  this  excellent  young  woman 
was  to  accompany  us,  and  to  live  with  us  for  the 
remainder  of  her  life ; or,  at  least,  until  she  found 
somQ  more  agreeable  residence  for  herself?  ” 

“ I did ; and  I still  hope  it.  She  has  always 
given  me  reason  to  believe  that,  after  having 
shown  so  much  commiseration  and  friendship  in 
my  misery,  she  would  not  desert  me,  should  hap- 
pier times  return.” 

“ I cannot — I ought  not,”  continued  Ellen, 
getting  the  better  of  her  momentary  weakness. 
“ It  has  pleased  God  to  cast  my  lot  among  these 
people,  and  I ought  not  to  quit  them.  It  would 
be  adding  the  appearance  of  treachery  to  what 


will  already  seem  bad  enough,  with  one  of  his 
opinions.  He  has  been  kind  to  me,  an  orphan, 
after  his  rough  customs,  and  I cannot  steal  from 
him  at  such  a moment.” 

“ She  is  just  as  much  a relation  of  skirting 
Ishmael  as  I am  a bishop ! ” said  Paul,  with  a 
mud  hem,  as  if  his  throat  wanted  clearing.  “ If 
the  old  fellow  has  done  the  honest  thing  by  her, 
in  giving  her  a morsel  of  venison  now  and  then, 
or  a spoon  around  his  hominy-dish,  hasn’t  she 
payed  him  in  teaching  the  young  devils  to  read 
their  Bible,  or  in  helping  old  Esther  to  put  her 
finery  in  shape  and  fashion  ? Tell  me  that  a drone 
has  a sting,  and  I’ll  believe  you  as  easily  as  I will 
that  this  young  woman  is  a debtor  to  any  of  the 
tribe  of  Bush  ! ” 

“ It  is  but  little  matter  who  owes  me  or  where 
I am  in  debt.  There  are  none  to  care  for  a girl 
who  is  fatherless  and  motherless,  and  whose 
nearest  kin  are  the  offcasts  of  all  honest  people. 
No,  no ; go,  lady,  and  Heaven  forever  bless  you ! 
I am  better  here,  in  this  desert,  where  there  are 
none  to  know  my  shame.” 

“ Now,  old  trapper,”  retorted  Paul,  “ this  is 
what  I call  knowing  which  way  the  wind  blows  ! 
You  ar’  a man  that  has  seen  life,  and  you  know 
something  of  fashions  ; I put  it  to  jour  judgment 
plainly,  isn’t  it  in  the  nature  of  things  for  the 
hive  to  swarm  when  the  young  get  their  growth, 
and,  if  children  will  quit  their  parents,  ought  one 
who  is  of  no  kith  or  kin — ” 

“ Hist !”  interrupted  the  man  he  addressed, 
“ Hector  is  discontented. — Say  it  out  plainly,  pup ; 
what  is  it,  dog — what  is  it  ? ” 

The  venerable  hound  had  risen,  and  was 
scenting  the  fresh  breeze  which  continued  to 
sweep  heavily  over  the  prairie.  At  the  words  of 
his  master  he  growled  and  contracted  the  muscles 
of  his  lips,  as  if  half  disposed  to  threaten  -with 
the  remnants  of  his  teeth.  The  younger  dog, 
who  was  resting  after  the  chase  of  the  morning, 
also  made  some  signs  that  his  nose  detected  a 
taint  in  the  air,  and  then  the  two  resumed  their 
slumbers,  as  if  they  had  done  enough. 

The  trapper  seized  the  bridle  of  the  ass,  and 
cried,  urging  the  beast  onward  : 

“ There  is  no  time  for  words.  The  squatter 
and  his  brood  are  within  a mile  or  two  of  this 
blessed  spot ! ” 

Middleton  lost  all  recollection  of  Ellen  in  the 
danger  which  now  so  imminently  beset  his  recov- 
ered bride ; nor  is  it  necessary  to  add  that  Dr. 
Battius  did  not  wait  for  a second  admonition  to 
commence  his  retreat. 

Following  the  route  indicated  by  the  old  man, 
they  turned  the  rock  in  a body,  and  pursued  theii 


86 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


way  as  fast  as  possible  across  the  prairie  under 
the  favor  of  the  cover  it  afforded. 

Paul  Hover,  however,  remained  in  his  tracks, 
sullenly  leaning  on  his  rifle.  Near  a minute  had 
elapsed  before  he  was  observed  by  Ellen,  who  had 
buried  her  face  in  her  hands  to  conceal  her  fan- 
cied desolation  from  herself. 

“ Why  do  you  not  fly?  ” the  weeping  girl  ex- 
claimed, the  instant  she  perceived  she  was  not 
alone. 

“ I’m  not  used  to  it.” 

“ My  uncle  will  soon  be  here  ! you  have  noth- 
ing to  hope  from  his  pity.” 

“ Nor  from  that  of  his  niece,  I reckon.  Let 
him  come  ; he  can  only  knock  me  on  the  head ! ” 
“ Paul,  Paul,  if  you  love  me,  fly  1 ” 

“Alone ! — if  I do,  may  I be — ” 

“ If  you  value  your  life,  fly ! ” 

“ I value  it  not  compared  to  you.” 

“ Paul ! ” 

“Ellen!” 

She  extended  both  her  hands,  and  burst  into 
another  and  a still  more  violent  flood  of  tears. 
The  bee-hunter  put  one  of  his  sturdy  arms  around 
her  waist,  and  in  another  moment  he  was  urging 
her  over  the  plain,  in  rapid  pursuit  of  their  flying 
friends. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

“ Approach  the  chamber,  and  destroy  your  sight 
With  a new  Gorgon. — Do  not  hid  me  speak; 

See,  and  then  speak  yourselves.” 

Shakespeare. 

The  little  run  which  supplied  the  family  of 
the  squatter  with  water,  and  nourished  the  trees 
and  bushes  that  grew  near  the  base  of  the  rocky 
eminence,  took  its  rise  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  latter,  in  a small  thicket  of  cottonwood  and 
vines.  Hither,  then,  the  trapper  directed  the 
flight,  as  to  the  place  affording  the  only  available 
cover  in  so  pressing  an  emergency.  It  will  be  re- 
membered that  the  sagacity  of  the  old  man, 
which,  from  long  practice  in  similar  scenes, 
amounted  nearly  to  an  instinct  in  all  cases  of 
sudden  danger,  had  first  induced  him  to  take  this 
course,  as  it  placed  the  hill  between  them  and  the 
approaching  party.  Favored  by  this  circumstance, 
he  succeeded  in  reaching  the  bushes  in  sufficient 
time ; and  Paul  Hover  had  just  hurried  the  breath- 
less Ellen  into  the  tangled  brush  as  Ishmael 
gained  the  summit  of  the  rock  in  the  manner 
already  described,  where  he  stood  like  a man 
momentarily  bereft  of  sense,  gazing  at  the  con- 
fusion which  had  been  created  among  his  chattels, 


or  at  his  gagged  and  bound  children,  who  had 
been  safely  bestowed,  by  the  forethought  of  the 
bee-hunter,  under  the  cover  of  a bark  roof,  in  a 
sort  of  irregular  pile.  A long  rifle  would  have  • 
thrown  a bullet  from  the  height  on  which  the 
squatter  now  stood  into  the  very  cover  where  the 
fugitives  who  had  wrought  all  this  mischief  were 
clustered. 

The  trapper  was  the  first  to  speak,  as  the  man 
on  whose  intelligence  and  experience  they  all  de- 
pended for  counsel,  after  running  his  eye  over  the 
different  individuals  who  gathered  about  him,  in 
order  to  see  that  none  were  missing. 

“Ah  ! natur’  is  natur’,  and  has  done  its 
work ! ” he  said,  nodding  to  the  exulting  Paul, 
with  a smile  of  approbation.  “I  thought  it 
would  be  hard  for  those  who  had  so  often  met  in 
fair  and  foul,  by  starlight  and  under  the  clouded 
moon,  to  part  at  last  in  anger.  Now  is  there 
little  time  to  lose  in  talk,  and  every  thing  to  gain 
by  industry ! It  cannot  be  long  afore  some  of 
yonder  brood  will  be  nosing  along  the  ’arth  for 
our  trail,  and  should  they  find  it,  as  find  it  they 
surely  will,  and  should  they  push  us  to  stand  on 
our  courage,  the  dispute  must  be  settled  with  the 
rifle ; which  may  He  in  heaven  forbid ! — Captain, 
can  you  lead  us  to  the  place  where  any  of  your 
warriors  lie  ? For  the  stout  sons  of  the  squatter 
will  make  a manly  brush  of  it,  or  I am  but  little 
of  a judge  in  warlike  dispositions ! ” 

“ The  place  of  rendezvous  is  *many  leagues 
from  this,  on  the  banks  of  La  Platte.” 

“ It  is  bad — it  is  bad.  If  fighting  is  to  be 
done,  it  is  always  wise  to  enter  on  it  on  equal 
terms.  But  what  has  one  so  near  his  time  to  do 
with  ill  blood  and  hot  blood  at  his  heart ! Listen 
to  what  a gray  head  and  some  experience  have 
to  offer,  and  then  if  any  among  you  can  point  out 
a wiser  fashion  for  a retreat,  we  can  just  follow 
his  design  and  forget  that  I have  spoken.  This 
thicket  stretches  for  near  a mile  as  it  may  be 
slanting  from  the  rock,  and  leads  toward  the  sun- 
set instead  of  the  settlements.” 

“Enough,  enough,”  cried  Middleton,  too  im- 
patient to  wait  until  the  deliberate  and  perhaps 
loquacious  old  man  could  end  his  minute  explana- 
tion.  “ Time  is  too  precious  for  words.  Let  us 
fly.” 

The  trapper  made  a gesture  of  compliance, 
and  turning  in  his  tracks  he  led  Asinus  across 
the  trembling  earth  of  the  swale,  and  quickly 
emerged  on  the  bard  ground  on  the  side  opposite 
to  the  encampment  of  the  squatter. 

“ If  old  Ishmael  gets  a squint  at  that  highway 
through  the  brush,”  cried  Paul,  casting,  as  he 
left  the  place,  a hasty  glance  at  the  broad  trail 


SEEKING  A SAFE  ROUTE. 


87 


the  party  had  made  through  the  thicket,  “ he’ll 
need  no  finger-board  to  tell  him  which  way  his 
road  lies.  But  let  him  follow  ! I know  the  vaga- 
bond would  gladly  cross  his  breed  with  a little 
honest  blood,  but  if  any  son  of  his  ever  gets  to 
be  the  husband  of — ” 

'‘Hush,  Paul,  hush  1”  said  the  tern  died  young 
won^n,  who  leaned  on  his  arm  for  support; 
“ your  voice  might  be  heard.” 

The  bee-hunter  was  silent,  though  he  did  not 
cease, to  cast  ominous  looks  behind  him  as  they 
flew  along  the  edge  of  the  run,  which  sufficiently 
betrayed  the  belligerent  condition  of  his  mind. 
As  each  one  was  busy  for  himself,  but  a few 
minutes  elapsed  before  the  party  rose  a swell  of 
the  prairie,  and,  descending  without  a moment’s 
delay  on  the  opposite  side,  they  were  at  once  re- 
moved from  every  danger  of  being  seen  by  the 
sons  of  Ishmael,  unless  the  pursuers  should  hap- 
pen to  fall  upon  their  trail . The  old  man  now 
profited  by  the  formation  of  the  land  to  take  an- 
other direction  with  a view  to  elude  pursuit,  as  a 
vessel  changes  her  course  in  fogs  and  darkness 
to  escape  from  the  vigilance  of  her  enemies. 

Two  hours  passed  in  the  utmost  diligence  en- 
abled them  to  make  a half  circuit  around  the 
rock,  and  to  reach  a point  that  was  exactly  oppo- 
site to  the  original  direction  of  their  flight.  To 
most  of  the  fugitives  their  situation  was  as  en- 
tirely unknown  as  is  that  of  a ship  in  the  middle 
of  the  ocean  to  the  uninstructed  voyager : but 
the  old  man  proceeded  at  every  turn,  and  through 
every  bottom,  with  a decision  that  inspired  his 
followers  with  confidence,  as  it  spoke  favorably 
of  his  own  knowledge  of  the  localities.  His 
hound,  stopping  now  and  then  to  catch  the  ex- 
pression of  his  eye,  had  preceded  the  trapper 
throughout  the  whole  distance  with  as  much  cer- 
tainty as  though  a previous  and  intelligible  com- 
munion between  them  had  established  the  route 
by  which  they  were  to  proceed.  But,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  time  just  named,  the  dog  suddenly 
came  to  a stand,  and  then,  seating  himself  on  the 
prairie,  he  snuffed  the  air  a moment,  and  began  a 
low  and  piteous  whining. 

“Ay — pup — ay.  I know  the  spot — I know 
the'spot,  and  reason  there  is  to  remember  it  well ! ” 
said  the  old  man,  stopping  by  the  side  of  his  un- 
easy associate,  until  those  who  followed  had  time 
to  come  up.  “ Now,  yonder  is  a thicket  before 
us,”  he  continued,  pointing  forward,  “ where  we 
may  lie  till  tall  trees  grow  on  these  naked  fields 
afore  any  of  the  squatter’s  kin  will  venture  to 
molest  us.” 

“This  is  the  spot  where  the  body  of  the 
dead  man  lay ! ” cried  Middleton,  examining  the 


place  with  an  eye  that  revolted  at  the  recollec- 
tion.” 

“ The  very  same.  But  whether  his  friends 
have  put  him  in  the  bosom  of  the  ground  or  not, 
remains  to  be  seen.  The  hound  knows  the  scent, 
but  seems  to  be  a little  at  a loss,  too. — It  is  there- 
fore necessary  that  you  advance,  friend  bee-hunt- 
er, to  examine,  while  I tarry  to  keep  the  dogs 
from  complaining  in  too  loud  a voice.” 

“ I ! ” exclaimed  Paul,  thrusting  his  hand  into 
his  shaggy  locks,  like  one  who  thought  it  prudent 
to  hesitate  before  he  undertook  so  formidable  an 
adventure.  “ Now,  hark’ee,  old  trapper  ; I’ve 
stood  in  my  thinnest  cottons  in  the  midst  of  many 
a swarm  that  has  lost  its  queen-bee,  without  wink- 
ing, and  let  me  tell  you  the  man  who  can  do  that 
is  not  likely  to  fear  any  living  son  of  skirting  Ish- 
mael ; but  as  to  meddling  with  dead  men’s  bones, 
why  it  is  neither  my  calling  nor  my  inclination ; 
so,  after  thanking  you  for  the  favor  of  your  choice, 
as  they  say  when  they  make  a man  corporal  in 
Kentucky,  I decline  serving.” 

The  old  man  turned  a disappointed  look 
toward  Middleton,  who  was  too  much  occupied 
in  solacing  Inez  to  observe  his  embarrassment, 
which  was,  however,  suddenly  relieved  from  a 
quarter,  whence,  from  previous  circumstances, 
there  was  little  reason  to  expect  such  demonstra- 
tion of  fortitude. 

Dr.  Battius  had  rendered  himself  a little  re- 
markable throughout  the  whole  of  the  preced- 
ing retreat,  for  the  exceeding  diligence  with  which 
he  had  labored  to  effect  that  desirable  object. 
So  very  conspicuous  was  his  zeal,  indeed,  as  to 
have  entirely  got  the  better  of  all  his  ordinary 
predilections.  The  worthy  naturalist  belonged 
to  that  species  of  discoverers  who  make  the  worst 
possible  travelling-companions  to  a man  who  has 
reason  to  be  in  a hurry.  No  stone,  no  bush,  no 
plant,  is  ever  suffered  to  escape  the  examination 
of  their  vigilant  eyes,  and  thunder  may  mutter, 
and  rain  fall,  without  disturbing  the  abstraction 
of  their  reveries.  Not  so,  however,  with  the  dis- 
ciple of  Linnseus,  during  the  momentous  period 
that  it  remained  a mooted  point  at  the  tribunal 
of  his  better  judgment,  whether  the  stout  descend- 
ants of  the  squatter  were  not  likely  to  dispute 
his  right  to  traverse  the  prairie  in  freedom.  The 
highest-blooded  and  best-trained  hound,  with  his 
game  in  view,  could  not  have  run  with  an  eye 
more  riveted  than  that  with  which  the  doctor  had 
pursued  his  curvilinear  course.  It  was  perhaps 
lucky  for  his  fortitude  that  he  was  ignorant  of 
the  artifice  of  the  trapper  in  leading  them  around 
the  citadel  of  Ishmael,  and  that  he  had  imbibed 
the  soothing  impression  that  every  inch  of  prairie 


THE  PRAIllIE. 


he  traversed  was  just  so  much  added  to  the  dis- 
tance between  his  own  person  and  the  detested 
rock.  Notwithstanding  the  momentary  shock  he 
certainly  experienced  when  he  discovered  this 
error,  he  now  boldly  volunteered  to  enter  the 
thicket  in  which  there  was  some  reason  to  believe 
the  body  of  the  murdered  Asa  still  lay.  Perhaps 
the  naturalist  was  urged  to  show  his  spirit  on  this 
occasion,  by  some  secret  consciousness  that  his 
excessive  industry  in  the  retreat  might  be  liable 
to  misconstruction ; and  it  is  certain  that  what- 
ever might  be  his  peculiar  notions  of  danger  from 
the  quick,  his  habits  and  his  knowledge  had 
placed  him  far  above  the  apprehension  of  suffer- 
ing harm  from  any  communication  with  the 
dead. 

“ If  there  is  any  service  to  be  performed 
which  requires  the  perfect  command  of  the  ner- 
vous system,”  said  the  man  of  science,  with  a look 
that  was  slightly  blustering,  “you  have  only  to 
give  a direction  to  his  intellectual  faculties,  and 
here  stands  one  on- whose  physical,  powers  you 
may  depend.” 

“ The  man  is  given  to  speak  in  parables,”  mut- 
tered the  single-minded  trapper ; “ but  I conclude 
there  is  always  some  meaning  hidden  in  his  words, 
though  it  is  as  hard  to  find  sense  in  his  speeches 
as  to  discover  three  eagles  on  the  same  tree. — It 
will  be  wise,  friend,  to  make  a cover,  lest  the 
sons  of  the  squatter  should  be  out  skirting  on 
our  trail,  and,  as  you  well  know,  there  is  some 
reason  to  fear  yonder  thicket  contains  a sight 
that  may  horrify  a woman’s  mind.  Are  you  man 
enough  to  look  death  in  the  face ; or  shall  .1  run 
the  risk  of  the  hounds  raising  an  outcry,  and  go 
in  myself?  You  see  the  pup  is  willing  to  run  in 
with  an  open  mouth  already.” 

“ Am  I man  enough  ! Venerable  trapper,  our 
communications  have  a recent  origin,  or  thy  in- 
terrogatory might  have  a tendency  to  embroil  us 
in  angry  disputation.  Am  I man  enough  ! I 
claim  to  be  of  the  class , mammalia  ; order , pri- 
mates ; genus , homo  ! Such  are  my  physical  at- 
tributes ; of  my  moral  properties  let  posterity 
speak  ! it  becomes  me  to  be  mute.” 

“ Physic  may  do  for  such  as  relish  it ; to  my 
taste  and  judgment  it  is  neither  palatable  nor 
healthy  ; but  morals  never  did  harm  to  any  living 
mortal,  be  it  that  he  was  a sojourner  in  the  forest, 
or  a dweller  in  the  midst  of  glazed  windows  and 
smoking  chimneys.  It  is  only  a few  hard  words 
that  divide  us,  friend  ; for  I am  of  opinion,  that 
with  use  and  freedom  we  should  come  to  under- 
stand one  another,  and  mainly  settle  down  into 
the  same  judgments  of  mankind,  and  of  the  ways 

the  world. — Quiet,  Hector,  quiet ; what  ruffles 


your  temper,  pup  ; is  it  not  used  to  the  scent  of 
human  blood  ? ” 

The  doctor  bestowed  a gracious  but  commiser- 
ating smile  on  the  philosopher  of  Nature,  as  he 
retrograded  a step  or  two  from  the  place  whither 
he  had  been  impelled  by  his  excess  of  spirit,  in 
order  to  reply  with  less  expenditure  of  breath,  and 
with  a greater  freedom  of  air  and  attitude.  . 

“ A homo  is  certainly  a homo,”  he  said,  stretch- 
ing forth  an  arm  in  an  argumentative  manner ; 
“ so  far  as  the  animal  functions  extend,  thgre  are 
the  connecting  links  of  harmony,  order,  conform- 
ity, and  design,  between  the  whole  genus ; but 
there  the  resemblance  ends.  Man  may  be  de- 
graded to  the  very  margin  of  the  line  which  sep- 
arates him  from  the  brute,  by  ignorance ; or  he 
may  be  elevated  to  a communion  with  the  great 
Master-spirit  of  all,  by  knowledge ; nay,  I know 
not,  if  time  and  opportunity  were  given  him,  but 
he  might  become  the  master  of  all  learning,  and 
consequently  equal  to  the  great  moving  principle.” 

The  old  man,  who  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle 
in  a thoughtful  attitude,  shook  his  head  as  he 
answered  with  a native  steadiness  that  entirely 
eclipsed  the  imposing  air  which  his  antagonist 
had  seen  fit  to  assume : 

“ This  is  neither  more  nor  less  than  mortal 
wickedness  ! Here  have  I been  a dweller  on  the 
earth  for  fourscore-and-six  changes  of  the  sea- 
sons, and  all  that  time  have  I looked  at  the  grow- 
ing and  the  dying  trees,  and  yet  do  I not  know  the 
reasons  why  the  bud  starts  under  the  summer 
sun,  or  the  leaf  falls  when  it  is  pinched  by  the 
frosts.  Your  l’arning,  though  it  is  man’s  boast, 
is  folly  in  the  eyes  of  Him  who  sits  in  the  clouds, 
and  looks  down  in  sorrow  at  the  pride  and  van- 
ity of  his  creatur’s.  Many  is  the  hour  that 
I’ve  passed  lying  in  the  shades  of  the  woods,  or 
stretched  upon  the  hills  of  these  open  fields,  look- 
ing up  into  the  blue  skies,  where  I could  fancy 
the  Great  One  had  taken  his  stand,  and  was  sol- 
emnizing on  the  waywardness  of  man  and  brute 
below,  as  I myself  had  often  looked  at  the  ants 
tumbling  over  each  other  in  their  eagerness, 
though  in  a way  and  a fashion  more  suited  to  His 
mightiness  and  power.  Knowledge  ! It  is  his 
plaything.  Say,  you  who  think  it  so  easy  to 
climb  into  the  judgment-seat  above,  can  you  tell 
me  any  thing  of  the  beginning  and  the  end  ? Nay, 
you’re  a dealer  in  ailings  and  cures : what  is  life, 
and  what  is  death  ? Why  does  the  eagle  live  so 
long,  and  why  is  the  time  of  the  butterfly  so 
short  ? Tell  me  a simpler  thing  why  is  this 
hound  so  uneasy,  while  you  who  have  passed 
your  days  in  looking  into  books  can  see  no  reason 
to  be  disturbed  ? ” 


THE  DOCTOR’S  DISCOVERY. 


89 


The  doctor,  who  had  been  a little  astounded 
by  the  dignity  and  energy  of  the  old  man,  drew 
a long  breath,  like  a sullen  wrestler  who  is  just 
released  from  the  throttling  grasp  of  his  antago- 
nist, and  seized  on  the  opportunity  of  the  pause 
to  reply — 

“ It  is  his  instinct.” 

“ And  what  is  the  gift  of  instinct  ? ” 

“ An  inferior  gradation  of  reason.  A sort  of 
mysterious  combination  of  thought  and  matter.” 

“ And  what  is  that  which  you  call  thought?  ” 
“Venerable  Venator,  this  is  a method  of  rea- 
soning which  sets  at  naught  the  uses  of  definitions, 
and  such  as  I do  assure  you  is  not  at  all  tolerated 
in  the  schools.” 

“ Then  is  there  more  cunning  in  your  schools 
than  I had  thought,  for  it  is  a certain  method  of 
showing  them  their  vanity,”  returned  the  trapper, 
suddenly  abandoning  a discussion  from  which  the 
naturalist  was  just  beginning  to  anticipate  great 
delight,  by  turning  to  his  dog,  whose  restlessness 
he  attempted  to  appease  by  playing  with  his  ears. 
“This  is  foolish,  Hector;  more  like  an  untrained 
pup  than  a sensible  hound  ; one  who  has  got  his 
education  by  hard  experience,  and  not  by  nosing 
over  the  trails  of  other  dogs,  as  a boy  in  the  settle- 
ments follows  on  the  track  of  his  masters,  be  it 
right  or  be  it  wrong.  Well,  friend,  you  who  can  do 
so  much,  are  you  equal  to  looking  into  the  thicket ; 
or  must  I go  in  myself?  ” 

The  doctor  again  assumed  his  air  of  resolution, 
and  without  further  parlance  proceeded  to  do  as 
desired.  The  dogs  were  so  far  restrained  by  the 
remonstrances  of  the  old  man  as  to  confine  their 
noise  to  low  but  often-repeated  winnings.  When 
they  saw  the  naturalist  advance,  the  pup,  how- 
ever, broke  through  all  restraint  and  made  a swift 
circuit  around  his  person,  scenting  the  earth  as 
he  proceeded,  and,  returning  to  his  companion,  he 
howled  aloud. 

“ The  squatter  and  his  brood  have  left  a strong 
scent  on  the  earth,”  said  the  old  man,  watching 
as  he  spoke  for  some  signal  from  his  learned  pio- 
neer to  follow  ; “ I hope  yonder  school-bred  man 
knows  enough  to  remember  the  errand  on  which 
I have  sent  him.” 

Dr.  Battius  had  already  disappeared  in  the 
bushes,  and  the  trapper  was  beginning  to  betray 
additional  evidences  of  impatience  when  the  per- 
son of  the  former  was  seen  retiring  from  the 
thicket  backward,  with  his  face  fastened  on  the 
place  he  had  just  left,  as  if  his  look  was  bound 
in  the  thraldom  of  some  charm. 

“ Here  is  something  skeary,  by  the  wildness 
of  the  creatur’s  countenance ! ” exclaimed  the 
old  man,  relinquishing  his  hold  of  Hector,  and 
58 


moving  stoutly  to  the  side  of  the  totally  uncon« 
scious  naturalist.  “ How  is  it,  friend  ; have  you 
found  a new  leaf  in  your  book  of  wisdom  ? ” 

“ It  is  a basilisk ! ” muttered  the  doctor, 
whose  altered  visage  betrayed  the  utter  confusion 
which  beset  his  faculties.  “ An  animal  of  the 
order , serpens.  I had  thought  its  attributes  were 
fabulous,  but  mighty  Nature  is  equal  to  all  that 
man  can  imagine ! ” 

“ What  is’t  ? what  is’t  ? The  snakes  of  the  • 
prairies  are  harmless,  unless  it  be  now  and  then 
an  angered  rattler,  and  he  always  gives  you  notice 
with  his  tail  afore  he  works  his  mischief  with  his 
fangs.  Lord,  Lord,  what  a humbling  thing  is 
fear  ! Here  is  one  who  in  common  delivers  words 
too  big  for  a humble  mouth  to  hold,  so  much  be- 
side himself  that  his  voice  is  as  shrill  as  the  whis- 
tle of  the  whippoorwill ! Courage  ! — what  is  it, 
man  ? — what  is  it  ? ” 

“ A prodigy ! a lusus  naturae  ! a monster  that 
Nature  has  delighted  to  form  in  order  to  exhibit 
her  power ! Never  before  have  I witnessed  such 
an  utter  confusion  in  her  laws,  or  a specimen  that 
so  completely  bids  defiance  to  the  distinctions  of 
class  and  genera.  Let  me  record  its  appearance,” 
fumbling  for  his  tablets  with  hands  that  trem- 
bled too  much  to  perform  their  office,  “while 
time  and  opportunity  are  allowed — eyes,  enthrall- 
ing ; color , various,  complex,  and  profound — ” 

• “One  would  think  the  man  was  crazed  with 
his  enthralling  looks  and  piebald  colors!”  inter- 
rupted the  discontented  trapper,  who  began  to 
grow  a little  uneasy  that  his  party  was  all  this 
time  neglecting  to  seek  the  protection  of  some 
cover.  “ If  there  is  a reptile  in  the  brush, 
show  me  the  creatur’,  and  should  it  refuse  to 
depart  peaceably,  why  there  must  be  a quarrel  for 
the  possession  of  the  place.” 

“ There ! ” said  the  doctor,  pointing  into  a 
dense  mass  of  the  thicket,  to  a spot  within  fifty 
feet  of  that  where  they  both  stood.  The  trapper 
turned  his  look  with  perfect  composure  in  the 
required  direction,  but,  the  instant  his  practised 
glance  met  the  object  which  had  so  utterly  upset 
the  philosophy  of  the  naturalist,  he  gave  a start 
himself,  threw  his  rifle  rapidly  forward,  and  as 
instantly  recovered  it,  as  if  a second  flash  of 
thought  convinced  him  he  was  wrong.  Neither 
the  instinctive  movement  nor  the  sudden  recol- 
lection was  without  a sufficient  object.  At  the 
very  margin  of  the  thicket  and  in  absolute  con- 
tact with  the  earth,  lay  an  animate  ball  that 
might  easily,  by  the  singularity  and  fierceness  of 
its  aspect,  have  justified  the  disturbed  condition 
of  the  naturalist’s  mind.  It  were  difficult  to  de- 
scribe the  shape  or  colors  of  this  extraordinary 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


dO 

substance,  except  to  say,  in  general  terms,  that 
it  was  nearly  spherical,  and  exhibited  all  the  hues 
of  the  rainbow,  intermingled  without  reference  to 
harmony,  and  without  any  very  ostensible  design. 
The  predominant  hues  were  a black  and  bright 
vermilion.  With  these,  however,  the  several  tints 
of  white,  yellow,  and  crimson,  were  strangely  and 
wildly  blended.  Had  this  been  all,  it  would  have 
been  difficult  to  have  pronounced  that  the  object 
was  possessed  of  life,  for  it  lay  motionless  as  any 
stone ; but  a pair  of  dark,  glaring,  and  moving 
eyeballs,  which  watched  with  jealousy  the  small- 
est movements  of  the  trapper  and  his  companion, 
sufficiently  established  the  important  fact  of  its 
possessing  vitality. 

“Your  reptile  is  a scouter,  or  I’m  no  judge 
of  Indian  paints  and  Indian  deviltries  ! ” muttered 
the  old  man,  dropping  the  butt  of  his  weapon  to 
the  ground,  and  gazing  with  a steady  eye  at  the 
frightful  object,  as  he  leaned  on  its  barrel,  in  an 
attitude  of  great  composure.  “ He  wants  to  face 
us  out  of  sight  and  reason,  and  make  us  think  the 
head  of  a red-skin  is  a stone  covered  with  the 
autumn  leaf;  or  he  has  some  other  devilish  arti- 
fice in  his  mind ! ” 

“ Is  the  animal  human  ? ” demanded  the  doc- 
tor, “ of  the  genus  homo  ? I had  fancied  it  a 
nondescript.” 

“ It’s  as  human,  and  as  mortal  too,  as  a warrior 
of  these  prairies  is  ever  known  to  be.  I have  se*n 
the  time  when  a red-skin  would  have  shown  a 
foolish  daring  to  peep  out  of  his  ambushment  in 
that  fashion  on  a hunter  I could  name,  but  who 
is  too  old  now,  and  too  near  his  time,  to  be  any 
thing  better  than  a miserable  trapper.  It  will  be 
well  to  speak  to  the  imp,  and  to  let  him  know  he 
deals  with  men  whose  beards  are  grown. — Come 
forth  from  your  cover,  friend,”  he  continued,  in 
the  language  of  the  extensive  tribes  of  the  Dah- 
cotahs ; “ there  is  room  on  the  prairie  for  another 
warrior.” 

The  eyes  appeared  to  glare  more  fiercely  than 
before;  but  the  mass  which,  according  to  the 
trapper’s  opinion,  was  neither  more  nor  less  than 
a human  head,  shorn,  as  usual  among  the  warriors 
of  the  West,  of  its  hair,  still  continued  without 
motion  or  any  other  sign  of  life. 

“It  is  a mistake!”  exclaimed  the  doctor. 
’*  The  animal  is  not  even  of  the  class  mammalia , 
much  less  a man.” 

“So  much  for  your  knowledge!”  returned 
the  trapper,  laughing  with  great  exultation.  “ So 
much  for  the  l’arning  of  one  who  has  looked  into 
so  many  books,  that  his  eyes  are  not  able  to  tell 
a moose  from  a wild-cat ! Now,  my  Hector,  here, 

dog  of  education  after  his  fashion,  and,  though 


the  meanest  primer  in  the  settlements  would  puz- 
zle his  information,  you  could  not  cheat  the  hound 
in  a matter  like  this.  As  you  think  the  object  no 
man,  you  shall  see  his  whole  formation,  and  then 
let  an  ignorant  old  trapper,  who  never  willingly 
passed  a day  within  reach  of  a spelling-book  in 
his  life,  know  by  what  name  to  call  it.  Mind,  3 
mean  no  violence  ; but  just  to  start  the  devil  from 
his  ambushment.” 

The  trapper  very  deliberately  examined  the 
priming  of  his  rifle,  taking  care  to  make  as  great 
a parade  as  possible  of  his  hostile  intentions,  in 
going  through  the  necessary  evolutions  with  the 
weapon.  When  he  thought  the  stranger  began 
to  apprehend  some  danger,  he  very  deliberately 
presented  the  piece,  and  called  aloud  : 

“Now,  friend,  I am  all  for  peace,  or  all  for 
war,  as  you  may  say.  No ! well  it  is  no  man,  aa 
the  wiser  one  here  says,  and  there  can  be  no  harm 
in  just  firing  into  a bunch  of  leaves.” 

The  muzzle  of  the  rifle  fell  as  he  concluded, 
and  the  weapon  was  gradually  settling  into  a 
steady,  and  what  would  easily  have  proved  a fatal 
aim,  when  a tall  Indian  sprang  from  beneath  that 
bed  of  leaves  and  brush,  which  he  had  collected 
about  his  person  at  the  approach  of  the  party,  and 
stood  upright,  uttering  the  exclamation — 

“ Wagh ! ” 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

“ My  visor  is  Philemon’s  roof;  within  the  house  is  Jove.” 

Shakespeabe. 

The  trapper,  who  had  meditated  no  violence, 
dropped  his  rifle  again,  and,  laughing  at  the  suc- 
cess of  his  experiment,  with  great  seeming  self- 
complacency,  he  drew  the  astounded  gaze  of  the 
naturalist  from  the  person  of  the  savage  to  him- 
self, by  saying : 

“ The  imps  will  lie  for  hours,  like  sleeping  al- 
ligators, brooding  their  deviltries  in  dreams  and 
other  craftiness,  until  such  a time  as  they  see  some 
real  danger  is  at  hand,  and  then  they  look  to 
themselves  the  same  as  other  mortals.  But  this  is 
a scouter  in  his  war-paint ! There  should  be  more 
of  his  tribe  at  no  great  distance.  Let  us  draw  the 
truth  out  of  him ; for  an  unlucky  war-party  may 
prove  more  dangerous  to  us  than  a visit  from  the 
whole  family  of  the  squatter.” 

“ It  is  truly  a desperate  and  a dangerous  spe* 
cies ! ” said  the  doctor,  relieving  his  amazement 
by  a breath  that  seemed  to  exhaust  his  lungs  of 
air ; “ a violent  race,  and  one  that  it  is  difficult  to 
define  or  class,  within  the  usual  boundaries  of 


A YOUNG  PAWNEE  WARRIOR. 


91 


iefinitions.  Speak  to  him,  therefore ; but  let  thy 
words  be  strong  in  amity.” 

The  old  man  cast  a keen  eye  on  every  side  of 
him,  to  ascertain  the  important  particular  wheth- 
er the  stranger  was  supported  by  any  associates, 
and  then  making  the  usual  signs  of  peace,  by  ex- 
hibiting the  palm  of  his  naked  hand,  he  boldly 
advanced.  In  the  mean  time,  the  Indian  betrayed 
no  evidence  of  uneasiness.  He  suffered  the  trap- 
per to  draw  nigh,  maintaining  by  his  own  mien 
and  attitude  a striking  air  of  dignity  and  fear- 
lessness. Perhaps  the  wary  warrior  also  knew 
that,  owing  to  the  difference  in  their  weapons,  he 
should  be  placed  more  on  an  equality,  by  being 
brought  nearer  to  the  strangers. 

As  a description  of  this  individual  may  furnish 
some  idea  of  the  personal  appearance  of  a whole 
race,  it  may  be  well  to  detain  the  narrative,  in 
order  to  present  it  to  the  reader,  in  our  hasty  and 
imperfect  manner.  Would  the  truant  eyes  of 
Allston  or  Greenough  turn,  but  for  a time,  from 
their  gaze  at  the  models  of  antiquity,  to  contem- 
plate this  wronged  and  humbled  people,  little 
would  be  left  for  such  inferior  artists  as  ourselves 
to  delineate. 

The  Indian  in  question  was  in  every  particu- 
lar a warrior  of  fine  stature  and  admirable  propor- 
tions. As  he  cast  aside  his  mask,  composed  of 
such  party-colored  leaves  as  he  had  hurriedly  col- 
lected, his  countenance  appeared  in  all  the  grav- 
ity, the  dignity,  and,  it  may  be  added,  in  the  ter- 
ror of  his  profession.  The  outlines  of  his  linea- 
ments were  strikingly  noble,  and  nearly  approach- 
ing to  Roman,  though  the  secondary  features  of 
his  face  were  slightly  marked  with  the  well-known 
traces  of  his  Asiatic  origin.  The  peculiar  tint  of 
the  skin,  which  in  itself  is  so  well  designed  to  aid 
the  effect  of  a martial  expression,  had  received  an 
additional  aspect  of  wild  ferocity  from  the  colors 
of  the  war-paint.  But,  as  if  he  disdained  the  usual 
artifices  of  his  people,  he  bore  none  of  those 
straqge  and  horrid  devices  with  which  the  chil- 
dren of  the  forest  are  accustomed,  like  the  more 
civilized  heroes  of  the  mustache,  to  back  their 
reputation  for  courage,  contenting  himself  with  a 
broad  and  deep  shadowing  of  black,  that  served 
as  a sufficient  and  an  admirable  foil  to  the  bright- 
er gleamings  of  his  native  swarthiness.  His  head 
was,  as  usual,  shaved  to  the  crown,  where  a large 
and  gallant  scalp-lock  seemed  to  challenge  the 
grasp  of  his  enemies.  The  ornaments  that  were 
ordinarily  pendent  from  the  cartilages  of  his  ears 
had  been  removed,  on  account  of  his  present  pur- 
suit. His  body,  notwithstanding  the  lateness  of 
the  season,  was  nearly  naked,  and  the  portion 
which  was  clad  bore  a vestment  no  warmer  than 


a light  robe  of  the  finest  dressed  deer-skin,  beau- 
tifully stained  with  a rude  design  of  some  daring 
exploit,  and  which  was  carelessly  worn,  as  if  more 
in  pride  than  from  any  unmanly  regard  to  comfort. 
His  leggings  were  of  bright  scarlet  cloth,  the  only 
evidence  about  his  person  that  he  had  held  com- 
munion with  the  traders  of  the  pale-faces.  But 
as  if  to  furnish  some  offset  to  this  solitary  submis- 
sion to  a womanish  vanity,  they  were  fearfully 
fringed,  from  the  gartered  knee  to  the  bottom  of 
the  moccasin,  with  the  hair  of  human  scalps.  He 
leaned  lightly  with  one  hand  on  a short  hickory 
bow,  while  the  other  rather  touched  than  sought 
support  from  the  long,  delicate  handle  of  an  ash- 
en lance.  A quiver  made  of  the  cougar-skin,  from 
which  the  tail  of  the  animal  depended,  as  a char- 
acteristic ornament,  was  slung  at  his  back  ; and 
a shield  of  hides,  quaintly  emblazoned  with  anoth- 
er of  his  warlike  deeds,  was  suspended  from  his 
neck  by  a thong  of  sinews. 

As  the  trapper  approached,  this  warrior  main- 
tained his  calm  upright  attitude,  discovering  nei- 
ther an  eagerness  to  ascertain  the  character  of 
those  who  advanced  upon  him,  nor  the  smallest 
wish  to  avoid  a scrutiny  in  his  own  person.  An 
eye  that  was  darker  and  more  shining  than  that  of 
the  stag,  was  incessantly  glancing,  however,  from 
one  to  another  of  the  stranger  party,  seemingly 
never  knowing  rest  for  an  instant. 

“ Is  my  brother  far  from  his  village  ? ” de- 
manded the  old  man,  in  the  Pawnee  language, 
after  examining  the  paint  and  those  other  little 
signs  by  which  a practised  eye  knows  the  tribe 
of  the  warrior  he  encounters  in  the  American  des- 
erts, with  the  same  readiness,  and  by  the  same 
sort  of  mysterious  observation,  as  that  by  which 
the  seaman  knows  the  distant  sail. 

“ It  is  farther  to  the  towns  of  the  Big-knives,” 
was  the  laconic  reply. 

“ Why  is  a Pawnee-Loup  so  far  from  the  fork 
of  his  own  river,  without  a horse  to  journey  on, 
and  in  a spot  empty  as  this  ? ” 

“ Can  the  women  and  children  of  a pale-face 
live  without  the  meat  of  the  bison  ? There  was 
hunger  in  my  lodge.” 

“ My  brother  is  very  young  to  be  already  the 
master  of  a lodge,”  returned  the  trapper,  looking 
steadily  into  the  unmoved  countenance  of  the 
youthful  warrior ; “but  I dare  say  he  is  brave, 
and  that  many  a chief  has  offered  him  his  daugh- 
ters for  wives.  But  he  has  been  mistaken,”  point- 
ing to  the  arrow,  which  was  dangling  from  the 
hand  that  held  the  bow,  “in  bringing  a loose  and 
barbed  arrow-head  to  kill  the  buffalo.  Do  the 
Pawnees  wish  the  wounds  they  give  their  game 
to  rankle  ? ” 


02 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“ It  is  good  to  be  ready  for  the  Sioux. 
Though  not  in  sight,  a bush  may  hide  him.” 

“ The  man  i3  a living  proof  of  the  truth  of 
his  words,”  muttered  the  trapper  in  English, 
“and  a close-jointed  and  gallant-looking  lad  he 
is ; but  far  too  young  for  a chief  of  any  impor- 
tance. It  is  wise,  however,  to  speak  him  ir 
fora  single  arm  thrown  into  either  pari  we 
come  to  blows  with  the  squatter  and  his  brood, 
may  turn  the  day. — You  see  my  children  are 
weary,”  he  continued  in  the  dialect  of  the  prai- 
ries, pointing,  as  he  spoke,  to  the  rest  of  the 
party,  who  by  this  time  were  also  approaching. 
“We  wish  to  camp  and  eat.  Does  my  brother 
claim  this  spot  ? ” 

“ The  runners  from  the  people  on  the  big 
river  tell  us  that  your  nation  have  traded  with 
the  tawny-faces  who  live  beyond  the  salt-lake, 
and  that  the  prairies  are  now  the  hunting  grounds 
of  the  Big-knives  ! ” 

“ It  is  true,  as  I hear  also  from  the  hunters 
and  trappers  on  La  Platte.  Though  it  is  with 
the  Frenchers,  and  not  with  the  men  who  claim 
to  own  the  Mexicos,  that  my  people  have  bar- 
gained.” 

“ And  warriors  are  going  up  the  Long-river  to 
see  that  they  have  not  been  cheated  in  what  they 
have  bought  ? ” 

“ Ay,  that  is  partly  true,  too,  I fear ; and  it 
will  not  be  long  before  an  accursed  band  of 
choppers  and  loggers  will  be  following  on  their 
heels,  to  humble  the  wilderness  which  lies  so 
broad  and  rich  on  the  western  banks  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  then  the  land  will  be  a peopled  desert, 
from  the  shores  of  the  main  sea  to  the  Toot  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains  ; filled  with  all  the  abomi- 
nations and  craft  of  man,  and  stripped  of  the  com- 
forts and  loveliness  it  received  from  the  hands  of 
the  Lord  ! ” 

“ And  where  were  the  chiefs  of  the  Pawnee- 
Loups  when  this  bargain  was  made  ? ” suddenly 
demanded  the  youthful  warrior,  a look  of  startling 
fierceness  gleaming,  at  the  same  instant,  athwart 
his  dark  visage.  “ Is  a nation  to  be  sold  like  the 
skin  of  a beaver  ? ” 

“ Right  enough — right  enough,  and  where 
vvere  truth  and  honesty  also  ? But  might  is  right, 
according  to  the  fashions  of  the  ’arth  ; and  what 
the  strong  choose  to  do,  the  weak  must  callj'us- 
tice.  If  the  law  of  the  Wahcondah  was  as  much 
hearkened  to,  Pawnee,  as  the  laws  of  the  Long- 
knives,  your  right  to  the  prairies  would  be  as 
good  as  that  of  the  greatest  chief  in  the  settle- 
ments to  the  house  which  covers  his  head.” 

“ The  skin  of  the  traveller  is  white,”  said  the 
young  native,  laying  a finger  impressively  on  the 


hard  and  wrinkled  hand  of  the  trapper.  “ Does 
his  heart  say  one  thing  and  his  tongue  another  ? ” 

“ The  Wahcondah  of  a white  man  has  ears, 
and  he  shuts  them  to  a lie.  Look  at  my  head ; 
it  is  like  a frosted  pine,  and  must  soon  be  laid  in 
the  ground.  Why  then  should  I wish  to  meet 
the  Great  Spirit  face  to  face,  while  his  counte- 
nance is  dark  upon  me.” 

The  Pawnee  gracefully  threw  his  shield  over 
one  shoulder,  and,  placing  a hand  on  his  chest, 
he  bent  his  head,  in  deference  to  the  gray  locks 
exhibited  by  the  trapper ; after  which  his  eye 
became  more  steady,  and  his  countenance  less 
fierce.  Still  he  maintained  every  appearance  of 
a distrust  and  watchfulness  that  were  rather  tem- 
pered and  subdued  than  forgotten.  When  this 
equivocal  species  of  amity  was  established  be- 
tween the  warrior  of  the  prairies  and  the  expe- 
rienced old  trapper,  the  latter  proceeded  to  give 
his  directions  to  Paul  concerning  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  contemplated  halt.  While  Inez  and 
Ellen  were  dismounting,  and  Middleton  and  the 
bee-hunter  were  attending  to  their  comforts,  the 
discourse  was  continued,  sometimes  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  natives,  but  often,  as  Paul  and  the 
doctor  mingled  their  opinions  with  the  two  princi- 
pal speakers,  in  the  English  tongue.  There  was  a 
keen  and  subtle  trial  of  skill  between  the  Pawnee 
and  the  trapper,  in  which  each  endeavored  to  dis- 
cover the  obj'ects  of  the  other,  without  betraying 
his  own  interest  in  the  investigation.  As  might 
be  expected,  when  the  struggle  was  between  ad- 
versaries so  equal,  the  result  of  the  encounter  an- 
swered the  expectations  of  neither.  The  latter 
had  put  all  the  interrogatories  his  ingenuity  and 
practice  could  suggest  concerning  the  state  of  the 
tribe  of  the  Loups,  their  crops,  their  store  of  pro- 
visions for  the  ensuing  winter,  and  their  relations 
with  their  different  warlike  neighbors,  without  ex- 
torting any  answer  which  in  the  slightest  degree 
elucidated  the  cause  of  his  finding  a solitary 
warrior  so  far  from  his  people.  On  the  other 
hand,  while  the  questions  of  the  Indian  were  far 
more  dignified  and  delicate,  they  were  equally  in 
genious.  He  commented  on  the  state  of  the 
trade  in  peltries,  spoke  of  the  good  or  ill  success 
of  many  white  hunters,  whom  he  had  either  en- 
countered, or  heard  named,  and  even  alluded  to  the 
steady  march  which  the  nation  of  his  great 
father,  as  he  cautiously  termed  the  government 
of  the  States,  was  making  toward  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  tribe.  It  was  apparent,  however, 
by  the  singular  mixture  of  interest,  contempt, 
and  indignation,  that  were  occasionally  gleaming 
through  the  reserved  manner  of  this  warrior,  that 
he  knew  the  strange  people,  who  were  thus  tre& 


INEZ  AND  THE  INDIAN. 


93 


passing  on  his  native  rights,  much  more  by  report 
than  by  any  actual  intercourse.  This  personal 
ignorance  of  the  whites  was  as  much  betrayed  by 
the  manner  in  which  he  regarded  the  females,  as 
by  the  brief  but  energetic  expressions  which  occa- 
sionally escaped  him. 

While  speaking  to  the  trapper  he  suffered  his 
wandering  glances  to  stray  toward  the  intellect- 
ual and  nearly  infantile  beauty  of  Inez,  as  one 
might  be  supposed  to  gaze  upon  the  loveliness  of 
an  ethereal  being.  It  was  very  evident  that  he 
now  saw,  for  the  first  time,  one  of  those  females, 
of  whom  the  fathers  of  his  tribe  so  often  spoke, 
and  who  were  considered  of  such  rare  excellence 
as  to  equal  all  that  savage  ingenuity  could  ima- 
gine in  the  way  of  loveliness.  His  observation  of 
Ellen  was  less  marked,  but,  notwithstanding  the 
warlike  and  chastened  expression  of  his  eye, 
there  was  much  of  the  homage  which  man  is 
made  to  pay  to  woman,  even  in  the  more  cursory 
look  he  sometimes  turned  on  her  maturer  and 
perhaps  more  animated  beauty.  This  admiration, 
however,  was  so  tempered  by  his  habits,  and  so 
smothered  in  the  pride  of  a warrior,  as  com- 
pletely to  elude  every  eye  but  that  of  the  trapper, 
who  was  too  well  skilled  in  Indian  customs,  and 
was  too  well  instructed  in  th,e  importance  of 
rightly  conceiving  the  character  of  the  stranger, 
to  let  the  smallest  trait,  or  the  most  trifling  of  his 
moyements,  escape  him.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
unconscious  Ellen  herself  moved  about  the  feeble 
and  less  resolute  Inez,  with  her  accustomed  assi- 
duity and  tenderness,  exhibiting  in  her  frank 
features  those  changing  emotions  of  joy  and 
regret  which  occasionally  beset  her,  as  her  active 
mind  dwelt  on  the  decided  step  she  had  just  taken, 
with  the  contending  doubts  and  hopes,  and  pos- 
sibly with  some  of  the  mental  vacillation,  that 
was  natural  to  her  situation  and  sex. 

Not  so  Paul ; conceiving  himself  to  have  ob- 
tained the  two  things  dearest  to  his  heart,  the  pos- 
session of  Ellen  and  a triumph  over  the  sons  of 
Ishmael,  he  now  enacted  his  part  in  the  business 
of  the  moment  with  as  much  coolness  as  though 
he  was  already  leading  his  willing  bride,  from 
solemnizing  their  nuptials  before  a border  ma- 
gistrate, to  the  security  of  his  own  dwelling. 
He  had  hovered  around  the  moving  family, 
during  the  tedious  period  of  their  weary  march, 
concealing  himself  by  day,  and  seeking  interviews 
with  his  betrothed  as  opportunities  offered,  in  the 
manner  already  described,  until  fortune  and  his 
own  intrepidity  had  united  to  render  him  success- 
ful, at  the  very  moment  when  he  was  beginning  to 
despair,  and  he  now  cared  neither  for  distance, 
nor  violence,  nor  hardships.  To  his  sanguine 


fancy  and  determined  resolution  all  the  rest  was 
easily  to  be  achieved.  Such  were  his  feelings,  and 
such  in  truth  they  seemed  to  be.  With  his  cap 
cast  on  one  side,  and  whistling  a low  air,  he 
thrashed  among  the  bushes,  in  order  to  make  a 
place  suitable  for  the  females  to  repose  on,  while, 
from  time  to  time,  he  cast  an  approving  glance  at 
the  agile  form  of  Ellen,  as  she  tripped  past  him, 
engaged  in  her  own  share  of  the  duty. 

“And  so  the  Wolf-tribe  of  the  Pawnees  have 
buried  the  hatchet  with  their  neighbors  the  Kon- 
zas  ? ” said  the  trapper,  pursuing  a discourse 
which  he  had  scarcely  permitted  to  flag,  though 
it  had  been  occasionally  interrupted  by  the  differ- 
ent directions  with  which  he  occasionally  saw 
fit  to  interrupt  it.  (The  reader  will  remem- 
ber that,  while  he  spoke  to  the  native  war- 
rior in  his  own  tongue,  he  necessarily  addressed 
his  white  companions  in  English.)  “ The  Loups 
and  the  light-faced  red-skins  are  again  friends. — 
Doctor,  that  is  a tribe  of  which  I’ll  engage  you’ve 
often  read,  and  of  which  many  a round  lie  has 
been  whispered  in  the  ears  of  the  ignorant  peo- 
ple who  live  in  the  settlements.  There  was  a 
story  of  a nation  of  Welshers,  that  lived  here  away 
in  the  prairies,  and  how  they  came  into  the  land 
afore  the  uneasy-minded  man  who  first  let  in  the 
Christians  to  rob  the  heathens  of  their  inheri- 
tance, had  ever  dreamt  that  the  sun  set  on  a coun- 
try as  big  as  that  it  rose  from.  And  how  they 
knew  the  white  ways  and  spoke  with  white 
tongues,  and  a thousand  other  follies  and  idle 
conceits.” 

“Have  I not  heard  of  them?  ” exclaimed  the 
naturalist,  dropping  a piece  of  jerked  bison’s 
meat,  which  he  was  rather  roughly  discussing,  at 
the  moment.  “I  should  be  greatly  ignorant  not 
to  have  often  dwelt  with  delight  on  so  beautiful 
a theory,  and  one  which  so  triumphantly  estab- 
lishes two  positions,  -which  I have  often  main- 
tained are  unanswerable,  even  without  such  living 
testimony  in  their  favor — viz.,  that  this  continent 
can  claim  a more  remote  affinity  with  civilization 
than  the  time  of  Columbus,  and  that  color  is  the 
fruit  of  climate  and  condition,  and  not  a regulation 
of  Nature. — Propound  the  latter  question  to  this 
Indian  gentleman,  venerable  hunter  ; he  is  of  a 
reddish  tint  himself,  and  his  opinion  may  be  said 
to  make  us  masters  of  the  two  sides  of  the  dis- 
puted point.” 

“ Do  you  think  a Pawnee  is  a reader  of  books, 
and  a believer  of  printed  lies,  like  the  idlers  in  the 
towns  ? ” retorted  the  old  man,  laughing.  “ But 
it  may  be  as  well  to  humor  the  likings  of  the 
man,  which,  after  all,  it  is  quite  possible,  are  nei- 
ther more  nor  less  than  his  natural  gift,  and  there- 


u 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


fore  to  be  followed,  although  they  may  be  pitied. 
What  does  my  brother  think  ? all  whom  he  sees 
here  have  pale  skins,  but  the  Pawnee  warriors 
are  red ; does  he  believe  that  man  changes  with 
the  season,  and  that  the  son  is  not  like  his 
father  ? ” 

The  young  warrior  regarded  his  interrogator 
for  a moment  with  a steady  and  deliberating  eye ; 
then,  raising  his  finger  upward,  he  answered  with 
dignity : 

“The  Wahcondah  pours  the  rain  from  his 
clouds ; when  he  speaks,  he  shakes  the  hills ; and 
the  fire,  which  scorches  the  trees,  is  the  anger  of 
his  eye  ; but  he  fashioned  his  children  with  care 
and  thought.  What  he  has  thus  made,  never 
alters ! ” 

“ Ay,  ’tis  in  the  reason  of  natur’  that  it  should 
be  so,  doctor,”  continued  the  trapper,  when  he 
had  interpreted  this  answer  to  the  disappointed 
naturalist.  “ The  Pawnees  are  a wise  and  a great 
people,  and  I’ll  engage  they  abound  in  many  a 
wholesome  and  honest  tradition.  The  hunters 
and  trappers  that  I sometimes  see,  speak  of  a 
great  warrior  of  your  race.” 

“ My  tribe  are  not  women.  A brave  is  no 
stranger  in  my  village.’’ 

“ Ay ; but  he  they  speak  of  most  is  a chief 
far  beyond  the  renown  of  common  warriors,  and 
one  that  might  have  done  credit  to  that  once- 
mighty  but  now-fallen  people,  the  Delawares  of 
the  hills.” 

“ Such  a warrior  should  have  a name  ? ” 

“They  call  him  Hard-heart,  from  the  stout- 
ness of  his  resolution ; and  well  is  he  named,  if 
all  I have  heard  of  his  deeds  be  true.” 

The  stranger  cast  a glance  which  seemed  to 
read  the  guileless  soul  of  the  old  man,  as  he  de- 
manded— 

“Has  the  pale-face  seen  the  partisan  of  my 
people  ? ” 

“ Never.  It  is  not  with  me  now  as  it  used  to 
be  some  forty  years  ago,  when  warfare  and  blood- 
shed were  my  calling  and  my  gifts  ! ” 

A loud  shout  from  the  reckless  Paul  interrupt- 
ed his  speech,  and  at  the  next  moment  the  bee- 
hunter  appeared,  leading  an  Indian  war-horse  from 
the  side  of  the  thicket  opposite  to  the  one  occu- 
pied by  the  party. 

“ Here  is  a beast  for  a red-skin  to  straddle ! ” 
he  cried,  as  he  made  the  animal  go  through  some 
of  its  wild  paces.  “ There’s  not  a brigadier  in  all 
Kentucky  that  can  call  himself  master  of  so  sleek 
and  well-jointed  a nag  ! A Spanish  saddle,  too, 
like  a grandee  of  the  Mexicos ! and  look  at  the 
mane  and  tail  braided  and  plaited  down  with 
little  silver  balls,  as  if  it  were  Ellen  herself  get- 


ting her  shining  hair  ready  for  a dance  or  a husk- 
ing frolic ! Isn’t  this  a real  trotter,  old  trapper, 
to  eat  out  of  the  manger  of  a savage  ? ” 

“Softly,  lad,  softly.  The  Loups  are  famou3 
for  their  horses,  and  it  is  often  that  you  see  a 
warrior  on  the  prairies  far  better  mounted  than  a 
Congressman  in  the  settlements.  But  this,  in- 
deed, is  a beast  that  none  but  a powerful  chief 
should  ride ! The  saddle,  as  you  rightly  think, 
has  been  sat  upon  in  its  day  by  a great  Spanish 
captain,  who  has  lost  it  and  his  life  together  in 
some  of  the  battles  which  this  people  often  fight 
against  the  southern  provinces.  I warrant  me, 
I warrant  me  the  youngster  is  the  son  of  a great 
chief;  maybe  of  the  mighty  Hard-heart  him- 
self!” 

During  this  rude  interruption  to  the  discourse, 
tne  young  Pawnee  manifested  neither  impatience 
nor  displeasure ; but  when  he  thought  his  beast 
had  been  the  subject  of  sufficient  comment,  he 
very  coolly,  and  with  an  air  of  one  accustomed  to 
have  his  will  respected,  relieved  Paul  of  the 
bridle,  and,  throwing  the  reins  on  the  neck  of  the 
animal,  he  sprang  upon  his  back  with  the  activity 
of  a professor  of  the  equestrian  art.  Nothing 
could  be  finer  or  firmer  than  the  seat  of  the  sav- 
age. The  highly- wrought  and  cumbrous  saddle 
was  evidently  more  for  show  than  use.  Indeed, 
it  impeded  rather  than  aided  the  action  of  limbs 
which  disdained  to  seek  assistance  or  admit  of 
restraint  from  so  womanish  inventions  as  stirrups. 
The  horse,  which  immediately  began  to  prance, 
was,  like  its  rider,  wild  and  untutored  in  all  its 
motions,  but  while  there  was  so  little  of  art  there 
was  all  the  freedom  and  grace  of  Nature  in  the 
movements  of  both.  The  animal  was  probably 
indebted  to  the  blood  of  Araby  for  its  excellence, 
through  a long  pedigree  that  embraced  the  steed 
of  Mexico,  the  Spanish  barb,  and  the  Moorish  . 
charger.  The  rider,  in  obtaining  his  steed  from 
the  provinces  of  Central  America,  had  also  ob- 
tained that  spirit  and  grace  in  controlling  him 
which  unite  to  form  the  most  intrepid  and  per- 
haps the  most  skilful  horseman  in  the  world. 

Notwithstanding  this  sudden  occupation  of  his 
animal,  the  Pawnee  discovered  no  hasty  wish  to 
depart.  More  at  his  ease,  and  possibly  more  in- 
dependent, now  that  he  found  himself  secure  of  the 
means  of  retreat,  he  rode  back  and  forth,  eying 
the  different  individuals  of  the  party  with  far 
greater  freedom  than  before.  But,  at  each  ex- 
tremity of  his  ride,  just  as  the  sagacious  trapper 
expected  to  see  him  profit  by  his  advantage  and 
fly,  he  would  turn  his  horse  and  pass  over  the 
same  ground,  sometimes  with  the  rapidity  of  the 
flying  deer,  and  at  others  more  slowly  and  with 


- THE  PAWNEE’S  DEPARTURE. 


95 


greater  dignity  of  mien  and  attitude.  Anxious 
to  ascertain  such  facts  as  might  have  an  influence 
on  his  future  movements,  the  old  man  determined 
to  invite  him  to  a renewal  of  their  conference. 
He  therefore  made  a gesture  expressive  at  the 
same  time  of  his  wish  to  resume  the  interrupted 
discourse,  and  of  his  own  pacific  intentions.  The 
quick  eye  of  the  stranger  was  not  slow  to  note 
the  action,  but  it  was  not  until  a sufficient  time 
had  passed  to  allow  him  to  debate  the  prudence 
of  the  measure  in  his  own  mind,  that  he  seemed 
willing  to  trust  himself  again  so  near  a party 
that  was  so  much  superior  to  himself  in  physical 
power,  and  consequently  one  that  was  able  at  any 
instant  to  command  his  life,  or  control  his  per- 
sonal liberty.  When  he  did  approach  nigh 
enough  to  converse  with  facility,  it  was  with  a 
singular  mixture  of  haughtiness  and  of  distrust. 

“It  is  far  to  the  village  of  the  Loups,”  he 
said,  stretching  his  arm  in  a direction  contrary  to 
that  in  which  the  trapper  well  knew  the  tribe 
dwelt,  “and  the  road  is  crooked.  What  has  the 
Big-knife  to  say  ? ” 

“ Ay,  crooked  enough  ! ” muttered  the  old  man 
in  English,  “if  you  are  to  set  out  on  your  jour- 
ney by  that  path,  but  not  half  so  winding  as  the 
cunning  of  an  Indian’s  mind. — Say,  my  brother, 
do  the  chiefs  of  the  Pawnees  love  to  see  strange 
faces  in  their  lodges  ? ” 

The  young  warrior  bent  his  body  gracefully, 
though  but  slightly,  over  the  saddle-bow,  as  he 
replied : 

“ When  have  my  people  forgotten  to  give  food 
to  the  stranger  ? ” 

“ If  I lead  my  daughters  to  the  doors  of  the 
Loups,  will  the  women  take  them  by  the  hand  ; 
and  will  the  warriors  smoke  with  my  young  men  ? ” 
“ The  country  of  the  pale-faces  is  behind  them. 
Why  do  they  journey  so  far  toward  the  setting 
sun  ? Have  they  lost  the  path,  or  are  these  the 
women  of  the  white  warriors  that  I hear  are  wad- 
ing up  the  river  of  the  troubled  waters  ? ” 

“ Neither.  They  who  wade  the  Missouri  are 
the  warriors  of  my  great  father,  who  has  sent 
them  on  his  message ; but  we  are  peace-runners. 
The  white  men  and  the  red  are  neighbors,  and 
they  wish  to  be  friends. — Do  not  the  Omahaws 
visit  the  Loups  when  the  tomahawk  is  buried  in 
thp  path  between  the  two  nations  ? ” 

“ The  Omahaws  are  welcome.” 

“ And  the  Yanktons,  and  the  burnt-wood  Te- 
tons,  who  live  in  the  elbow  of  the  river  ‘ with 
muddy  water ; ’ do  they  not  come  into  the  lodges 
of  the  Loups  and  smoke  ? ” 

“ The  Tetons  are  liars  ! ” exclaimed  the  other. 
“ They  dare  not  shut  their  eyes  in  the  night. 


No ; they  sleep  in  the  sun.  See,”  he  added, 
pointing  with  fierce  triumph  to  the  frightful  orna- 
ments of  his  leggings,  “ their  scalps  are  so  plenty 
that  the  Pawnees  tread  on  them ! Go ; let  a 
Sioux  live  in  banks  of  snow  ; the  plains  and  buf- 
faloes are  for  men ! ” 

“ Ah  ! the  secret  is  out,”  said  the  trapper  to 
Middleton,  who  was  an  attentive  because  a deep- 
ly-interested observer  of  what  was  passing. 
“ This  good-looking  young  Indian  is  scouting  on 
the  track  of  the  Siouxes — you  may  see  it  by  his 
arrow-heads  and  his  paint ; ay,  and  by  his  eye, 
too ; for  red-skin  lets  his  natur’  follow  the  busi- 
ness he  is  on,  be  it  for  peace  or  be  it  for  war. — 
Quiet,  Hector,  quiet ! Have  you.  never  scented  a 
Pawnee  afore,  pup  ? — keep  down,  dog — keep  down. 
— My  brother  is  right.  The  Siouxes  are  thieves. 
Men  of  all  colors  and  nations  say  it  of  them,  and 
say  it  truly.  But  the  people  from  the  rising  sun 
are  not  Siouxes,  and  they  wish  to  visit  the  lodges 
of  the  Loups.” 

“The  head  of  my  brother  is  white,”  returned 
the  Pawnee,  throwing  one  of  those  glances  at  the 
trapper  which  were  so  remarkably  expressive  of 
distrust,  intelligence,  and  pride ; and  then  point- 
ing, as  he  continued,  toward  the  eastern  horizon, 
“ and  his  eyes  have  looked  on  many  things — can 
he  tell  me  the  name  of  what  he  sees  yonder — is 
it  a buffalo  ? ” 

“ It  looks  more  like  a cloud  peeping  above  the 
skirt  of  the  plain  with  the  sunshine  lighting  its 
edges.  It  is  the  smoke  of  the  heavens.” 

“ It  is  a hill  of  the  earth,  and  on  its  top  are 
the  lodges  of  pale-faces  ! Let  the  women  of  my 
brother  wash  their  feet  among  the  people  of  their 
own  color.” 

“ The  eyes  of  a Pawnee  are  good  if  he  can  see 
a white-skin  so  far.” 

The  Indian  turned  slowly  toward  the  speaker, 
and  after  a pause  of  a moment  he  sternly  de- 
manded : 

“ Can  my  brother  hunt  ? ” 

“ Alas ! I claim  to  be  no  better  than  a miser- 
able trapper ! ” 

“ When  the  plain  is  covered  with  the  buffaloes, 
can  he  see  them  ? ” 

“ No  doubt,  no  doubt — it  is  far  easier  to  see 
than  to  take  a scampering  bull.” 

“ And  when  the  birds  are  flying  from  the  cold, 
and  the  clouds  are  black  with  their  feathers,  can 
he  see  them  too  ? ” 

“ Ay,  ay,  it  is  not  hard  to  find  a duck  or  a 
goose  when  millions  are  darkening  the  heavens.” 

“ When  the  snow  falls  and  covers  the  lodges 
of  the  Long-knives,  can  the  stranger  see  flakes  in 
the  air  ? ” 


96 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“ My  eyes  are  none  of  the  best  now,”  returned 
the  old  man,  a little  resentfully,  “ but  the  time 
has  been  when  I had  a name  for  my  sight ! ” 

“ The  red-skins  find  the  Big-knives  as  easily 
as  the  strangers  sees  the  buffalo,  or  the  travelling 
birds,  or  the  falling  snow.  Your  warriors  think 
the  Master  of  life  has  made  the  whole  earth  white. 
They  are  mistaken.  They  are  pale,  and  it  is 
their  own  faces  that  they  see.  Go  ! a Pawnee  is 
not  blind,  that  he  need  look  long  for  your  peo- 
ple ! ” 

The  warrior  suddenly  paused  and  bent  his 
face  aside,  like  one  who  listened  with  all  his'  facul- 
ties absorbed  in  the  act.  Then,  turning  the  head 
of  his  horse,  he  rode  to  the  nearest  angle  of  the 
thicket,  and  looked  intently  across  the  bleak 
prairie,  in  a direction  opposite  to  the  side  on 
which  the  party  stood.  Returning  slowly  from 
this  unaccountable,  and,  to  his  observers,  star- 
tling procedure,  he  riveted  his  eyes  on  Inez,  and 
paced  back  and  forth  several  times  with  the  air 
of  one  who  maintained  a warm  struggle  on  some 
difficult  point  in  the  recesses  of  his  own  thoughts. 
He  had  drawn  the  reins  of  his  impatient  steed,  and 
was  seemingly  about  to  speak,  when  his  head 
again  sank  on  his  chest,  and  he  resumed  his  for- 
mer attitude  of  attention.  Galloping  like  a deer 
to  the  place  of  his  former  observations,  he  rode 
for  a moment  swiftly  in  short  and  rapid  circles,  as 
if  still  uncertain  of  his  course,  and  then  darted 
away  like  a bird  that  had  been  fluttering  around 
its  nest  before  it  takes  a distant  flight.  After 
scouring  the  plain  for  a minute,  he  was  lost  to  the 
eye  behind  a swell  of  the  land. 

The  hounds,  who  had  also  manifested  great 
uneasiness  for  some  time,  followed  him  for  a little 
distance,  and  then  terminated  their  chase  by  seat- 
ing themselves  on  the  ground  and  raising  their 
usual  low,  whining,  and  warning  howls. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

“ How  if  he  will  not  stand  ? ” 

Shakespeaee. 

The  several  movements  related  in  the  close 
of  the  preceding  chapter  had  passed  in  so  short  a. 
space  of  time,  that  the  old  man,  while  he  neg- 
lected not  to  note  the  smallest  incident,  had  no 
opportunity  of  expressing  his  opinion  concerning 
the  stranger’s  motives.  After  the  Pawnee  had 
disappeared,  however,  he  shook  his  head  and 
muttered,  while  he  walked  slowly  to  the  angle  of 
the  thicket  that  the  Indian  had  just  quitted  : 

“ There  are  both  scents  and  sounds  in  the  air, 


though  my  miserable  senses  are  not  good  enough 
to  hear  the  one  or  to  catch  the  taint  of  the 
other.” 

“ There  is  nothing  to  be  seen,”  cried  Middle- 
ton,  who  kept  close  at  his  side.  “ My  eyes  and 
my  ears  are  good,  and  yet  I can  assure  you  that 
I neither  hear  nor  see  any  thing.” 

“ Your  eyes  are  good.!  and  you  are  not  deaf!  ” 
returned  the  other,  with  a slight  air  of  contempt ; 
“ no,  lad,  no ; they  may  be  good  to  see  across  a 
church,  or  to  hear  a town-bell,  but  afore  you  had 
passed  a year  in  these  prairies  you  would  find 
yourself  taking  a turkey  for  a buffalo,  or  con- 
ceiting fifty  times  that  the  roar  of  a buffalo-bull 
was  the  thunder  of  the  Lord ! There  is  a decep- 
tion of  Natur’  in  these  naked  plains  in  which  the 
air  throws  up  the  images  like  water,  and  then  it 
is  hard  to  tell  the  prairies  from  a sea.  But  yon- 
der is  a sign  that  a hunter  never  fails  to  know ! ” 

The  trapper  pointed  to  a flight  of  vultures  that 
were  sailing  over  the  plain  at  no  great  distance,  and 
apparently  in  the  direction  in  which  the  Pawnee 
had  riveted  his  eyes.  At  first,  Middleton  could 
not  distinguish  the  small,  dark  objects  that  were 
dotting  the  dusky  clouds ; but,  as  they  came  swift, 
ly  onward,  first  their  forms  and  then  their  heavy, 
waving  wings  became  distinctly  visible. 

“ Listen,”  said  the  trapper,  when  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  making  Middleton  see  the  moving  col- 
umn of  birds.  “Now  you  hear  the  buffaloes,  or 
bisons,  as  your  knowing  doctor  sees  fit  to  call 
them,  though  buffaloes  is  their  name  among  all 
the  hunters  of  these  regions.  And  I conclude  that 
a hunter  is  a better  judge  of  a beast  and  of  its 
name,”  he  added,  winking  to  the  young  soldier, 
“ than  any  man  who  has  turned  over  the  leaves  of 
a book  instead  of  travelling  over  the  face  of  the 
’arth,  in  order  to  find  out  the  natur’s  of  its  inhab- 
itants.” 

“ Of  their  habits,  I will  grant  you,”  cried  the 
naturalist,  who  rarely  missed  an  opportunity  to 
agitate  any  disputed  point  in  his  favorite  studies. 
“ That  is,  provided  always  deference  is  had  to  the 
proper  use  of  definitions,  and  that  they  are  con- 
templated with  scientific  eyes.” 

“ Eyes  of  a mole ! as  if  any  man’s  eyes  were 
not  as  good  for  names  as  the  eyes  of  any  other 
creatur’ ! Who  named  the  works  of  His  hand  ? 
can  you  tell  me  that,  with  your  books  and  college 
wisdom  ? W as  it  not  the  first  man  in  the  Garden, 
and  is  it  not  a plain  consequence  that  his  children 
inherit  his  gifts  ? ” 

“That  is  certainly  the  Mosaic  account  of  the 
event,”  said  the  doctor ; “ though  your  reading  is 
by  far  too  literal ! ” 

“ My  reading ! nay,  if  you  suppose  that  I have 


A STRIKING  SPECTACLE. 


97 


wasted  ray  time  in  schools,  you  do  such  a wrong 
to  my  knowledge  as  one  mortal  should  never  lay 
to  the  door  of  another  without  sufficient  reason. 
If  I have  ever  craved  the  art  of  reading,  it  has 
been  that  I might  better  know  the  sayings  of  the 
book  you  name,  for  it  is  a book  which  speaks  in 
every  line  according  to  human  feelings,  and  there- 
in according  to  reason.” 

“ And  do  you  then  believe,”  said  the  doctor,  a 
little  provoked  by  the  dogmatism  of  his  stubborn 
adversary,  and  perhaps  secretly  too  confident  in 
his  own  more  liberal  though  scarcely  as  profitable 
attainments — “ do  ypu  then  believe  that  all  these 
beasts  were  literally  collected  in  a garden  to  be 
enrolled  in  the  nomenclature  of  the  first  man  ? ” 

“ Why  not  ? I understand  your  meaning;  for 
it  is  not  needful  to  live  in  towns  to  hear  all  the 
devilish  devices  that  the  conceit  of  man  can  in- 
vent to  upset  his  own  happiness.  What  does  it 
prove,  except  indeed  it  may  be  said  to  prove  that 
the  garden  He  made  was  not  after  the  miserable 
fashions  of  our  times,  thereby  directly  giving  the 
lie  to  what  the  world  calls  its  civilizing  ? No,  no ; 
the  garden  of  the  Lord  was  the  forest  then,  and 
is  the  forest  now,  where  the  fruits  do  grow  and 
the  birds  do  sing,  according  to  his  own  wise  or- 
dering.— Now,  lady,  you  may  see  the  mystery  of 
the  vultures ! There  come  the  buffaloes  them- 
selves, and  a noble  herd  it  is ! I warrant  me  that 
Pawnee  has  a troop  of  his  people  in  some  of  the 
hollows  nigh  by ; and,  as  he  has  gone  scampering 
after  them,  you  are  about  to  see  a glorious. chase. 
It  will  serve  to  keep  the  squatter  and  his  brood 
under  cover,  and  for  ourselves  there  is  little  rea- 
son to  fear.  A Pawnee  is  not  apt  to  be  a mali- 
cious savage.” 

Every  eye  was  now  drawn  to  the  striking  spec- 
tacle that  succeeded.  Even  the  timid  Inez  hastened 
to  the  side  of  Middleton  to  gaze  at  the  sight,  and 
Paul  summoned  Ellen  from  her  culinary  labors  to 
become  a witness  of  the  lively  scene. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  those  moving  events 
which  it  has  been  our  duty  to  record,  the  prairies 
had  lain  in  the  majesty  of  perfect  solitude.  The 
heavens  had  been  Blackened  with  the  passage  of 
the  migratory  birds,  it  is  true ; but  the  dogs  of 
the  party  and  the  ass  of  the  doctor,  were  the  only 
quadrupeds  that  enlivened  the  broad  surface  of 
the  waste  beneath.  There  was  now  a sudden  ex- 
hibition of  animal  life  which  changed  the  scene  as 
it  were  by  magic,  to  the  very  opposite  extreme. 

A few  enormous  bison -bulls  were  first  ob- 
served, scouring  along  the  most  distant  roll  of  the 
prairie,  and  then  succeeded  long  files  of  single 
beasts,  which,  in  their  turns,  were  followed  by  a 
dark  mass  of  bodies,  until  the  dun-colored  herb- 
7 


age  of  the  plain  was  entirely  lost  in  the  deeper 
hue  of  their  shaggy  coats.  The  herd,  as  the  col- 
umn spread  and  thickened,  was  like  the  endless 
flocks  of  the  smaller  birds  whose  extended  flanks 
are  so  often  seen  to  heave  up  out  of  the  abyss  of 
the  heavens,  until  they  appear  as  countless  as  the 
leaves  in  those  forests  over  which  they  wing 
their  endless  flight.  Clouds  of  dust  shot  up  in 
little  columns  from  the  centre  of  the  mass,  as  some 
animal,  more  furious  than  the  rest,  ploughed  the 
plain  with  his  horns,  and,  from  time  to  time,  a 
deep  hollow  bellowing  was  borne  along  on  the 
wind,  as  if  a thousand  throats  vented  their  plaints 
in  a discordant  murmuring. 

A long  and  musing  silence  reigned  in  the 
party,  as  they  gazed  on  this  spectacle  of  wild  and 
peculiar  grandeur.  It  was  at  length  broken  by 
the  trapper,  who,  having  been  long  accustomed  to 
similar  sights,  felt  less  of  its  influence,  or,  rather, 
felt  it  in  a less  thrilling  and  absorbing  man- 
ner, than  those  to  whom  the  scene  was  more 
novel. 

“ There  go  ten  thousand  oxen  in  one  drove, 
without  keeper  or  master,  except  Him  who  made 
them,  and  gave  them  these  open  plains  for  their 
pasture!  Ay,  it  is  here  that  man  may  see  the 
proofs  of  his  wantonness  and  folly ! Can  the 
proudest  governor  in  all  the  States  go  into  his 
fields  and  slaughter  a nobler  bullock  than  is  here 
offered  to  the  meanest  hand ; and  when  he  has 
gotten  his  sirloin  or  his  steak,  can  he  eat  it  with 
as  good  a relish  as  he  who  has  sweetened  his  food 
with  wholesome  toil,  and  earned  it  according  to 
the  law  of  Natur’,  by  honestly  mastering  that 
which  the  Lord  hath  put  before  him  ? ” 

“ If  the  prairie  platter  is  smoking  with  a buf- 
falo’s hump,  I answer,  No,”  interrupted  the  lux- 
urious bee-hunter. 

“ Ay,  boy,  you  have  tasted,  and  you  feel  the 
genuine  reasoning  of  the  thing  ! But  the  herd  is 
heading  a little  this:a-way,  and  it  behooves  us  to 
make  ready  for  their  visit.  If  we  hide  ourselves 
altogether,  the  horned  brutes  will  break  through 
the  place  and  trample  us  beneath  their  feet,  like 
so  many  creeping  worms ; so  we  will  just  put  the 
weak  ones  apart,  and  take  post,  as  becomes  men 
and  hunters,  in  the  van.” 

As  there  was  but  little  time  to  make  the  ne- 
cessary arrangements,  the  whole  party  set  about 
them  in  good  earnest.  Inez  and  Ellen  were  placed 
in  the  edge  of  the  thicket  on  the  side  farthest 
from  the  approaching  herd.  Asinus  was  posted 
in  the  centre,  in  consideration  of  his  nerves ; and 
then  the  old  man,  with  his  three  male  companions, 
divided  themselves  in  such  a manner  as  they 
thought  would  enable  them  to  turn  the  head  of 


98 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


the  rushing  column,  should  it  chance  to  approach 
too  nigh  their  position.  By  the  vacillating  move- 
ments of  some  fifty  or  a hundred  bulls  that  led 
the  advance,  it  remained  questionable,  for  many 
moments,  what  course  they  intended  to  pursue. 
But  a tremendous  and  painful  roar,  which  came 
from  behind  the  cloud  of  dust  that  rose  in  the 
centre  of  the  herd,  and  which  was  horridly  an- 
swered by  the  screams  of  the  carrion-birds  that 
were  greedily  sailing  directly  above  the  flying 
drove,  appeared  to  give  a new  impulse  to  their 
flight,  and  at  once  to  remove  every  symptom  of 
indecision.  As  if  glad  to  seek  the  smallest  signs 
of  the  forest,  the  whole  of  the  affrighted  herd  be- 
came steady  in  its  direction,  rushing  in  a straight 
line  toward  the  little  cover  of  bushes  which  has 
already  been  so  often  named. 

The  appearance  of  danger  was  now,  in  reality, 
of  a character  to  try  the  stoutest  nerves.  The 
flanks  of  the  dark,  moving  mass,  were  advanced 
in  such  a manner  as  to  make  a concave  line  of 
the  front,  and  every  fierce  eye,  that  was  glaring 
from  the  shaggy  wilderness  of  hair  in  which  the 
entire  heads  of  the  males  were  enveloped,  was 
riveted  with  mad  anxiety  on  the  thicket.  It 
seemed  as  if  each  beast  strove  to  outstrip  his 
neighbor,  in  gaining  this  desired  cover ; and,  as 
thousands  in  the  rear  pressed  blindly  on  those  in 
front,  there  was  the  appearance  of  an  imminent 
risk  that  the  leaders  of  the  herd  would  be  precipi- 
tated on  the  concealed  party,  in  which  case  the  de- 
struction of  every  one  of  them  was  certain.  Each 
of  our  adventurers  felt  the  danger  of  his  situation 
in  a manner  peculiar  to  his  individual  character 
and  circumstances. 

Middleton  wavered.  At  times  he  felt  inclined 
to  rush  through  the  bushes,  and,  seizing  Inez, 
attempt  to  fly.  Then  recqllecting  the  impossi- 
bility of  outstripping  the  furious  speed  of  an 
alarmed  bison,  he  felt  for  his  arms,  determined  to 
make  head  against  the  countless  drove.  The 
faculties  of  Dr.  Battius  were  quickly  wrought  up 
to  the  very  summit  of  mental  delusion.  The 
dark  forms  of  the  herd  lost  their  distinctness,  and 
then  the  naturalist  began  to  fancy  he  beheld  a 
wild  collection  of  all  the  creatures  of  the  world, 
rushing  upon  him  in  a body,  as  if  to  revenge  the 
various  injuries  which,  in  the  course  of  a life  of  in- 
defatigable labor  in  behalf  of  the  natural  sciences, 
he  had  inflicted  on  their  several  genera.  The 
paralysis  it  occasioned  in  his  system  was  like  the 
effect  of  the  incubus.  Equally  unable  to  fly  or 
to  advance,  he  stood  riveted  to  the  spot,  until  the 
infatuation  became  so  complete,  that  the  worthy 
naturalist  was  beginning,  by  a desperate  effort  of 
scientific  resolution,  even  to  class  the  different  I 


specimens.  On  the  other  hand,  Paul  shouted 
and  called  on  Ellen  to  come  and  assist  hinl  in 
shouting,  but  his  voice  was  lost  in  the  bellowing9 
and  trampling  of  the  herd.  Furious,  and  yet 
strangely  excited  by  the  obstinacy  of  the  brutes 
and  the  wildness  of  the  sight,  and  nearly  madden- 
ed by  sympathy  and  a species  of  conscious  appre- 
hension, in  which  the  claims  of  Nature  were 
singularly  mingled  with  concern  for  his  mistress, 
he  nearly  split  his  throat  in  exhorting  his  aged 
friend  to  interfere. 

“ Come  forth,  old  trapper,”  he  shouted,  “ with 
your  prairie  inventions  ! or  we  shall  be  all  smoth- 
ered under  a mountain  of  buffalo-humps  ! ” 

The  old  man,  who  had  stood  all  this  while 
leaning  on  his  rifle,  and  regarding  the  movements 
of  the  herd  with  a steady  eye,  now  deemed  it 
time  to  strike  his  blow.  Levelling  his  piece  at 
the  foremost  bull,  with  an  agility  that  would  have 
done  credit  to  his  youth,  he  fired.  The  animal 
received  the  bullet  on  the  matted  hair  between  his 
horns,  and  fell  to  his  knees  : but  shaking  his  head 
he  instantly  arose,  the  very  shock  seeming  to  in- 
crease his  exertions.  There  was  now  no  longer 
time  to  hesitate.  Throwing  down  his  rifle,  the 
trapper  stretched  forth  his  arms,  and  advanced 
from  the  cover  with  naked  hands,  directly  toward 
the  rushing  column  of  the  beasts. 

The  figure  of  a man,  when  sustained  by  the 
firmness  and  steadiness  that  intellect  can  only  im- 
part, rarely  fails  of  commanding  respect  from  all 
the  inferior  animals  of  the  creation.  The  lead- 
ing bulls  recoiled,  and  for  a single  instant  there 
was  a sudden  stop  to  their  speed,  a dense  mass 
of  bodies  rolling  up  in  front,  until  hundreds  were 
seen  floundering  and  tumbling  on  the  plain. 
Then  came  another  of  those  hollow  bellowings 
from  the  rear,  and  set  the  herd  again  in  motion. 
The  head  of  the  column,  however,  divided  ; the 
immovable  form  of  the  trapper  cutting  it,  as  it 
were,  into  two  gliding  streams  of  life.  Middle- 
ton  and  Paul  instantly  profited  by  his*  example, 
and  extended  the  feeble  barrier  by  a similar  ex- 
hibition of  their  own  persons. 

For  a few  moments,  the  new  impulse  given  to 
the  animals  in  front  served  to  protect  the  thicket. 
But,  as  the  body  of  the  herd  pressed  more  and 
more  upon  the  open  line  of  its  defenders,  and  the 
dust  thickened,  so  as  to  obscure  their  persons, 
there  was,  at  each  instant,  a renewed  danger  of 
the  beasts  breaking  through.  It  became  neces- 
sary for  the  trapper  and  his  companions  to  be- 
come still  more  and  more  alert ; and  they  were 
gradually  yielding  before  the  headlong  multitude, 
when  a furious  bull  darted  by  Middleton  so  near 
as  to  brush  his  person,  and,  at  the  next  instant. 


THE  SIOUX. 


99 


swept  through  the  thicket  with  the  velocity  of 
the  wind. 

“ Close,  and  die  for  the  ground ! ” shouted  the 
old  man,  “ or  a thousand  of  the  devils  will  be  at 
his  heels  ! ” 

All  their  efforts  would  have  proved  fruitless, 
however,  against  the  living  torrent,  had  not  Asi- 
nus,  whose  domains  had  just  been  so  rudely  en- 
tered, lifted  his  voice  in  the  midst  of  the  uproar. 
The  most  sturdy  and  furious  of  the  bulls  trembled 
at  the  alarming  and  unknown  cry,  and  then  each 
individual  brute  was  seen  madly  pressing  from 
that  very  thicket,  which  the  moment  before  he 
had  endeavored  to  reach,  with  the  eagerness  with 
which  the  murderer  seeks  the  sanctuary. 

As  the  stream  divided,  the  place  became  clear ; 
the  two  dark  columns  moving  obliquely  from  the 
copse,  to  unite  again,  at  the  distance  of  a . mile,  on 
its  opposite  side.  The  instant  the  old  man  saw 
the  sudden  effect  which  the  voice  of  Asinus  had 
produced,  he  coolly  commenced  reloading  his  rifle, 
indulging  at  the  same  time  in  a heart-felt  fit  of  his 
silent  and  peculiar  merriment. 

“ There  they  go,  like  dogs  with  so  many  half- 
filled  shot-pouches  dangling  at  their  tails,  and  no 
fear  of  their  breaking  their  order ; for  what  the 
brutes  in  the  rear  didn’t  hear  with  their  own  ears, 
they’ll  conceit  they  did ; besides,  if  they  change 
their  minds,  it  may  be  no  hard  matter  to  get  the 
Jack  to  sing  the  rest  of  his  tune  ! ” 

“ The  ass  has  spoken,  but  Balaam  is  silent ! ” 
cried  the  bee-hunter,  catching  his  breath  after  a 
repeated  burst  of  noisy  mirth,  that  might  possibly 
have  added  to  the  panic  of  the  buffaloes  by  its 
vociferation.  “ The  man  is  as  completely  dum- 
foundered  as  if  a swarm  of  young  bees  had  set- 
tled on  the  end  of  his  tongue,  and  he  not  willing 
to  speak,  for  fear  of  their  answer.” 

“ How  now,  friend,”  continued  the  trapper, 
addressing  the  still  motionless  and  entranced 
naturalist — “how  now,  friend;  are  you,  who 
make  your  livelihood  by  booking  the  names  and 
natur’s  of  the  beasts  of  the  field  and  the  fowls  of 
the  air,  frightened  at  a herd  of  scampering  buf- 
faloes ? Though,  perhaps,  you  are  ready  to  dis- 
pute my  right  to  call  them  by  a word  that  is  in 
the  mouth  of  every  hunter  and  trader  on  the 
frontier ! ” 

The  old  man  was,  however,  mistaken  in  sup- 
posing he  could  excite  the  benumbed  faculties  of 
the  doctor,  by  provoking  a discussion.  From 
that  time,  henceforth,  he  was  never  known,  except 
on  one  occasion,  to  utter  a word  that  indicated 
either  the  species  or  the  genus  of  the  animal. 
He  obstinately  refused  the  nutritious  food  of  the 
whole  ox  family ; and  even  to  the  present  hour, 


now  that  he  is  established  in  all  the  scientific  dig- 
nity and  security  of  a savant  in  one  of  the  mari- 
time towns,  he  turns  his  back  with  a shudder  on 
those  delicious  and  unrivalled  viands,  that  are  so 
often  seen  at  the  suppers  of  the  craft,  and  which 
are  unequalled  by  any  thing  that  is  served  under 
the  same  name,  at  the  boasted  chop-houses  of 
London,  or  at  the  most  renowned  of  the  Parisian 
restaurants.  In  short,  the  distaste  of  the  worthy 
naturalist  for  beef  was  not  unlike  that  which  the 
shepherd  sometimes  produces,  by  first  muzzling 
and  fettering  his  delinquent  dog,  and  then  leaving 
him  as  a stepping-stone  for  the  whole  flock  to  use 
jn  its  transit  over  a wall,  or  through  the  opening 
of  a sheepfold ; a process  which  is  said  to  pro- 
duce in  the  culprit  a species  of  surfeit,  on  the 
subject  of  mutton,  forever  after.  By  the  time 
Paul  and  the  trapper  saw  fit  to  terminate  the 
fresh  bursts  of  merriment  which  the  continued 
abstraction  of  their  learned  companion  did  not 
fail  to  excite,  he  commenced  breathing  again,  a? 
if  the  suspended  action  of  his  lungs  had  been  re 
newed  by  the  application  of  a pair  of  artificia 
bellows,  and  was  heard  to  make  use  of  the  ever- 
afterward  proscribed  term,  on  that  solitary  occa 
sion  to  which  we  have  just  alluded. 

“ Boves  Americani  horridi  ! ” exclaimed  the 
doctor,  laying  great  stress  on  the  latter  word ; 
after  which  he  continued  mute,  like  one  who  pon- 
dered on  strange  and  unaccountable  events. 

“Ay,  horrid  eyes  enough,  I will  willingly  al- 
low,” returned  the  trapper  ; “ and  altogether  the 
creatur’  has  a frightful  look,  to  one  unused  to 
the  sights  and  bustle  of  a natural  life ; but  then 
the  courage  of  the  beast  is  in  no  way  equal  to  its 
countenance.  Lord,  man,  if  you  should  once  get 
fairly  beset  by  a brood  of  grizzly  bears,  as  hap- 
pened to  Hector  and  I,  at  the  great  falls  of  the 
Miss — Ah,  here  comes  the  tail  of  the  herd,  and 
yonder  goes  a pack  of  hungry  wolves,  ready  to 
pick  up  the  sick,  or  such  as  get  a disjointed  neck 
by  a tumble.  Ha ! there  are  mounted  men  on 
their  trail,  or  I’m  no  sinner ! — Here,  lad  ; you  may 
see  them  here-away,  just  where  the  dust  is  scat- 
tering afore  the  wind.  They  are  hovering  around 
a wounded  buffalo,  making  an  end  of  the  surly 
devil  with  their  arrows  ! ” 

Middleton  and  Paul  soon  caught  a glimpse  of 
the  dark  group  that  the  quick  eye  of  the  old  man 
had  so  readily  detected.  Some  fifteen  or  twenty 
horsemen  were,  in  truth,  to  be  seen  riding  in 
quick  circuits,  about  a noble  bull  which  stood  at 
bay,  too  grievously  hurt  to  fly,  and  yet  seeming 
to  disdain  to  fall,  notwithstanding  his  hardy  body 
had  already  been  the  target  for  a hundred  arrows. 
A thrust  from  the  lance  of  a powerful  Indian,  how- 


100 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


ever,  completed  his  conquest,  and  the  brute  gave 
up  his  obstinate  hold  of  life  with  a roar  that 
passed  bellowing  over  the  place  where  our  adven- 
turers stood,  and,  teaching  the  ears  of  the  af- 
frighted herd,  added  a new  impulse  to  their  flight. 

“ How  well  the  Pawnee  knew  the  philosophy 
of  a buffalo-hunt ! ” said  the  old  man,  after  he  had 
stood  regarding  the  animated  scene  for  a few  mo- 
ments with  evident  satisfaction.  “ You  saw  how 
he  went  off  like  the  wind  before  the  drove.  It 
was  in  order  that  he  might  not  taint  the  air,  and 
that  he  might  turn  the  flank  and  join — Ha ! how 
is  this  ! yonder  red-skins  are  no  Pawnees ! The 
feathers  in  their  heads  are  from  the  wings  an4 
tails  of  owls. — Ah ! as  I am  but  a miserable  half- 
sighted  trapper,  it  is  a band  of  the  accursed 
Siouxes ! To  cover,  lads,  to  cover ! A single  cast 
of  an  eye  this-away  would  strip  us  of  every  rag 
of  clothes,  as  surely  as  the  lightning  scorches  the 
bush,  and  it  might  be  that  our  very  lives  would 
be  far  from  safe.” 

Middleton  had  already  turned  away  from  the 
spectacle  to  seek  that  which  pleased  him  better — 
the  sight  of  his  young  and  beautiful  bride.  Paul 
seized  the  doctor  by  the  arm ; and,  as  the  trap- 
per followed  with  the  smallest  possible  delay,  the 
whole  party  was  quickly  collected  within  the  cov- 
er of  the  thicket.  After  a few  short  explanations 
concerning  the  character  of  this  new  danger,  the 
old  man,  on  whom  the  whole  duty  of  directing 
their  movements  was  devolved  in  deference  to  his 
great  experience,  continued  his  discourse  as  fol- 
lows : 

“ This  is  a region,  as  you  must  all  know,  where 
a strong  arm  is  far  better  than  the  right,  and  where 
the  white  law  is  as  little  known  as  needed.  There- 
fore does  every  thing  now  depend  on  judgment  and 
power.  If,”  he  continued,  laying  his  finger  on  his 
cheek  like  one  who  considered  deeply  all  sides  of  the 
embarrassing  situation  in  which  he  found  himself 
— “ if  an  invention  could  be  framed  which  would 
set  these  Siouxes  and  the  brood  of  the  squatter 
by  the  ears,  then  might  we  come  in,  like  the  buz- 
zards after  a fight  atween  the  beasts,  and  pick  up 
the  gleanings  of  the  ground — there  are  Pawnees 
nigh  us,  too  ! It  is  a certain  matter,  for  yonder 
lad  is  not  so  far  from  his  village  without  an  errand. 
Here  are  therefore  four  parties  within  sound  of  a 
cannon,  not  one  of  whom  can  trust  the  other. 
All  which  makes  movement  a little  difficult  in  a 
district  where  covers  are  far  from  plenty.  But 
wo  are  three  well-armed,  and  I think  I may  see 
three  stout-hearted  men — ” 

“ Four,”  interrupted  Paul. 

“ Anan,”  said  the  old  man,  looking  up  simply 
at  hi9  companion. 


“ Four,’t  repeated  the  bee-hunter,  pointing  tc 
the  naturalist. 

“ Every  army  has  its  hangers-on  and  idlers,” 
rejoined  the  blunt  border-man. — “ Friend,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  slaughter  this  ass.” 

“ To  slay  Asinus  ! Such  a deed  would  be  au 
act  of  supererogatory  cruelty.” 

“ I know  nothing  of  your  words,  which  hide 
their  meaning  in  sound ; but  that  is  cruel  which 
sacrifices  a Christian  to  a brute.  This  is  what  I 
call  the  reason  of  mercy.  It  would  be  just  as 
safe  to  blow  a trumpet  as  to  let  the  animal  raise 
his  voice  again,  inasmuch  as  it  would  prove  a 
manifest  challenge  to  the  Siouxes.” 

“ I will  answer  for  the  discretion  of  Asinus, 
who  seldom  speaks  without  reason.” 

“ They  say  a man  can  be  known  by  the  com- 
pany he  keeps,”  retorted  the  old  man,  “ and  why 
not  a brute  ? I once  made  a forced  march  and 
went  through  a great  deal  of  jeopardy  with  a com- 
panion who  never  opened  his  mouth  but  to  sing ; 
and  trouble  enough  and  great  concern  of  mind 
did  the  fellow  give  me.  It  was  in  that  very  busi- 
ness with  your  grand’ther,  captain.  But  then  he 
had  a human  throat,  and  well  did  he  know  how  to 
use  it,  on  occasion,  though  he  didn’t  always  stop 
to  regard  the  time  and  seasons  fit  for  such  out- 
cries. Ah’s  me ! if  I was  now  as  I was  then,  it 
wouldn’t  be  a band  of  thieving  Siouxes  that 
should  easily  drive  me  from  such  a lodgment  as 
this  ! But  what  signifies  boasting  when  sight  and 
strength  are  both  failing  ? The  warrior  that  the 
Delawares  once  saw  fit  to  call  after  the  hawk  for 
the  goodness  of  his  eyes,  would  now  be  better 
termed  the  mole ! In  my  judgment,  therefore,  it 
will  be  well  to  slay  the  brute.” 

“ There’s  argument  and  good  logic  in  it,”  said 
Paul;  “music  is  music,  and  it’s  always  noisy, 
whether  it  comes  from  a fiddle  or  a jackass. 
Therefore  I agree  with  the  old  man,  and  say,  kill 
the  beast.” 

“ Friends,”  said  the  naturalist,  looking  with  a 
sorrowful  eye  from  one  to  another  of  his  bloodily- 
disposed  companions,  “ slay  not  Asinus ; he  is  a 
specimen  of  his  kind  of  whom  much  good  and 
little  evil  can  be  said.  Hardy  and  docile  for  his 
genus  ; abstemious  and  patient  evpn  for  his  hum- 
ble species.  We  have  journeyed  much  together, 
and  his  deatfii  would  grieve  me. — How  would  it 
trouble  thy  spirit,  venerable  Venator,  to  separate 
in  such  an  untimely  manner  from  your  faithful 
hound  ? ” 

“ The  animal  shall  not  die,”  said  the  old  man, 
suddenly  clearing  his  throat  in  a manner  that 
proved  he  felt  the  force  of  the  appeal ; “ but  his 
voice  must  be  smothered.  Bind  his  jaws  with 


A COUNCIL  OF  WAR. 


101 


the  halter,  and  then  I think  we  may  trust  the 
rest  to  Providence.” 

With  this  double  security  for  the  discretion 
of  Asinus,  for  Paul  instantly  bound  the  muzzle 
of  the  ass  in  the  manner  required,  the  trapper 
seemed  content.  After  which  he  proceeded  to 
the  margin  of  the  thicket  to  reconnoitre. 

The  uproar  which  attended  the  passage  of  the 
herd  was  now  gone,  or  rather  it  was  heard  roll- 
ing along  the  prairie,  at  the  distance  of  a mile. 
The  clouds  of  dust  were  already  blown  away  by 
the  wind,  and  a clear  range  was  left  to  the  eye  in 
that  place  where  ten  minutes  before  there  existed 
a scene  of  so  much  wildness  and  confusion. 

The  Sioux  had  completed  their  conquest, 
and,  apparently  satisfied  with  this  addition  to  the 
numerous  previous  captures  they  had  made,  they 
now  seemed  content  to  let  the  remainder  of  the 
herd  escape.  A dozen  remained  around  the  car- 
cass, over  which  a few  buzzards  were  balancing 
themselves  with  steady  wings  and  greedy  eyes, 
while  the  rest  were  riding  about  in  quest  of  Such 
further  booty  as  might  come  in  their  way  on  the 
trail  of  so  vast  a drove.  The  trapper  measured 
the  proportions  and  scanned  the  equipments  of 
such  individuals  as  drew  nearer  to  the  side  of  the 
thicket  with  careful  eyes.  At  length  he  pointed 
out  one  among  them  to  Middleton  as  Weucha. 

“Now  know  we  not  only  who  they  are,  but 
their  errand,”  the  old  man  continued,  deliberately 
shaking  his  head.  “ They  have  lost  the  trail  of 
the  squatter,  and  are  on  its  hunt.  These  buffa- 
loes have  crossed  their  path,  and  in  chasing  the 
animals  bad  luck  has  led  them  in  open  sight  of 
the  hill  on  which  the  brood  of  Ishmael  have  har- 
bored. Do  you  see  yon  birds  watching  for  the 
offals  of  the  beast  they  have  killed  ? Therein  is 
a moral  which  teaches  the  manner  of  a prairie- 
life.  A band  of  Pawnees  are  outlying  for  these 
very  Siouxes,  as  you  see  the  buzzards  looking 
down  for  their  food ; and  it  behooves  us,  as  Chris- 
tian men  who  have  so  much  at  stake,  to  look  down 
upon  them  both.  Ha ! what  brings  yonder  two 
skirting  reptiles  to  a stand  ? As  you  live,  they 
have  found  the  place  where  the  miserable  son  of 
the  squatter  met  his  death  ! ” 

The  old  man  was  not  mistaken.  Weucha,  and 
a savage  who  accompanied  him,  had  reached  that 
spot  which  has  already  been  mentioned  as  fur- 
nishing the  frightful  evidences  of  violence  and 
bloodshed.  There  they  sat  on  their  horses,  ex- 
amining the  well-known  signs  with  the  intelligence 
that  distinguishes  the  habits  of  Indians.  Their 
scrutiny  was  long,  and  apparently  not  without 
distrust.  At  length  they  raised  a cry  that  was 
scarcely  less  piteous  and  startling  than  that  which 


the  hounds  had  before  made  over  the  same  fatal 
signs,  and  which  did  not  fail  to  draw  the  whole 
band  immediately  around  them,  as  the  fell  bark 
of  the  jackal  is  said  to  gather  his  comrades  to 
the  chase. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

“Welcome,  ancient  Pistol.” 

Shakespeare. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  trapper  pointed 
out  the  commanding  person  of  Mahtoree  as  the 
leader  of  the  Sioux.  This  chief,  who  had  been 
among  the  last  to  obey  the  vociferous  summons 
of  Weucha,  no  sooner  reached  the  spot  where  his 
whole  party  was  now  gathered,  than  he  threw 
himself  from  his  horse,  and  proceeded  to  examine 
the  marks  of  the  extraordinary  trail  with  that  de- 
gree of  dignity  and  attention  which  became  his 
high  and  responsible  station.  The  warriors,  for 
it  was  but  too  evident  that  they  were  to  a man 
of  that  fearless  and  ruthless  class,  awaited  the  re- 
sult of  his  investigation  with  patient  reserve ; 
none  but  a few  of  the  principal  braves  presuming 
even  to  speak  while  their  leader  was  thus  gravely 
occupied.  It  was  several  minutes  before  Mahto- 
ree seemed  satisfied.  He  then  directed  his  eyes 
along  the  ground  to  those  several  places  where 
Ishmael  had  found  the  same  revolting  evidences 
of  the  passage  of  some  bloody  struggle,  and  mo- 
tioned to  his  people  to  follow. 

The  whole  band  advanced  in  a body  toward 
the  thicket,  until  they  came  to  a halt  within  a few 
yards  of  the  precise  spot  where  Esther  had  stimu- 
lated her  sluggish  sons  to  break  into  the  cover. 
The  reader  will  readily  imagine  that  the  trapper 
and  his  companions  were  not  indifferent  observers 
of  so  threatening  a movement.  The  old  man 
summoned  all  who  were  capable  of  bearing  arms 
to  his  side,  and  demanded  in  very  unequivocal 
terms,  though  in  a voice  that  was  suitably  lowered 
in  order  to  escape  the  ears  of  their  dangerous 
neighbors,  whether  they  were  disposed  to  make 
battle  for  their  liberty  or  whether  they  should  try 
the  milder  expedient  of  conciliation.  As  it  was 
a subject  in  which  all  had  an  equal  interest,  he 
put  the  question  as  to  a council  of  war,  and  not 
without  some  slight  exhibition  of  the  lingering 
vestiges  of  a nearly  extinct  military  pride.  Paul 
and  the  doctor  were  diametrically  opposed  to 
each  other  in  opinion ; the  former  declaring  for 
an  immediate  appeal  to  arms,  and  the  latter  was 
warmly  espousing  the  policy  of  pacific  measures. 
Middleton,  who  saw  that  there  was  great  danger 


102 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


uf  a hot  verbal  dispute  between  two  men  who 
were  governed  by  feelings  so  diametrically  op- 
posed, saw  fit  to  assume  the  office  of  arbiter ; or 
rather  to  decide  the  question,  his  situation  mak- 
ing him  a sort  of  umpire.  He  also  leaned  to  the 
side  of  peace,  for  he  evidently  saw  that,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  vast  superiority  of  their  enemies, 
violence  would  irretrievably  lead  to  their  destruc- 
tion. 

The  trapper  listened  to  the  reasons  of  the 
young  soldier  with  great  attention  ; and,  as  they 
were  given  with  the  steadiness  of  one  who  did 
not  suffer  apprehension  to  blind  his  judgment, 
they  did  not  fail  to  produce  a suitable  impres- 
sion. 

“It  is  rational,”  rejoined  the  trapper,  when 
the  other  had  delivered  his  reasons  ; “it  is  very 
rational,  for,  what  man  cannot  move  with  his 
strength,  he  must  circumvent  with  his  wits.  It 
is  reason  that  makes  him  stronger  than  the  buf- 
falo and  swifter  than  the  moose.  Now,  stay  you 
here  and  keep  yourselves  close.  My  life  and  my 
traps  are  but  of  little  value  when  the  welfare  of 
so  many  human  souls  is  concerned ; and,  moreover, 
I may  say  that  I know  the  windings  of  Indian 
cunning.  Therefore  will  I go  alone  upon  the 
prairie.  It  may  so  happen  that  I can  yet  draw 
the  eyes  of  a Sioux  from  this  spot,  and  give  you 
time  and  room  to  fly.” 

As  if  resolved  to  listen  to  no  remonstrance, 
the  old  man  quietly  shouldered  his  rifle,  and,  mov- 
ing leisurely  through  the  thicket,  he  issued  on 
the  plain  at  a point  whence  he  might  first  appear 
before  the  eyes  of  the  Sioux  without  exciting 
their  suspicions  that  he  came  from  its  cover. 

The  instant  that  the  figure  of  a man  dressed 
in  the  garb  of  a hunter,  and  bearing  the  well- 
known  and  much-dreaded  rifle,  appeared  before 
the  eyes  of  the  Sioux,  there  was  a sensible  though 
a suppressed  sensation  in  the  band.  The  arti- 
fice of  the  trapper  had  so  far  succeeded  as  to 
render  it  extremely  doubtful  whether  he  came 
from  some  point  on  the  open  prairie  or  from  the 
thicket;  though  the  Indians  still  continued  to 
east  frequent  and  suspicious  glances  at  the  cover. 
They  had  made  their  halt  at  the  distance  of  an 
arrow-flight  from  the  bushes  ; but  when  the 
stranger  came  sufficiently  nigh  to  show  that  the 
deep  coating  of  red  and  brown  which  time  and 
exposure  had  given  to  his  features,  was  laid  upon 
the  original  color  of  a pale-face,  they  slowly  re- 
ceded from  the  spot  until  they  reached  a distance 
that  might  defeat  the  aim  of  fire-arms. 

In  the  mean  time  the  old  man  continued  to 
advance,  until  he  had  got  nigh  enough  to  make 
himself  heard  without  difficulty.  Here  he  stopped, 


and,  dropping  his  rifle  to  the  earth,  he  iaised  hia 
hand  with  the  palm  outward,  in  token  of  peace. 
After  uttering  a few  words  of  reproach  to  his 
hound,  who  watched  the  savage  group  with  eyes 
that  seemed  to  recognize  them,  he  spoke  in  the 
Sioux  tongue : 

“My  brothers  are  welcome,”  he  said,  cun- 
ningly constituting  himself  the  master  of  the 
region  in  which  they  had  met,  and  assuming  the 
offices  of  hospitality.  “ They  are  far  from  their 
villages,  and  are  hungry.  Will  they  follow  to 
my  lodge,  to  eat  and  sleep  ? ” 

No  sooner  was  his  voice  heard,  than  the  yell 
of  pleasure  which  burst  from  a dozen  mouths, 
convinced  the  sagacious  trapper  that  he  also  was 
recognized.  Feeling  that  it  was  too  late  to  retreat 
he  profited  by  the  confusion  which  prevailed 
among  them,  while  Weucha  was  explaining  his 
character,  to  advance,  until  he  was  again  face  to 
face  with  the  redoubtable  Mahtoree.  The  second 
interview  between  these  two  men,  each  of  whom 
was  extraordinary  in  his  way,  was  marked  by  the 
usual  caution  of  the  frontiers.  They  stood,  for 
nearly  a minute,  examining  each  other  without 
speaking. 

“ Where  are  your  young  men  ? ” sternly  de- 
manded the  Teton  chieftain,  after  he  found  that 
the  immovable  features  of  the  trapper  refused 
to  betray  any  of  their  master’s  secrets,  under  his 
intimidating  look. 

“ The  Long-knives  do  not  come  in  bands  to 
trap  the  beaver  ! I am  alone.” 

“Your  head  is  white,  but  you  have  a forked 
tongue.  Mahtoree  has  been  in  your  camp.  He 
knows  that  you  are  not  alone.  Where  is  your 
young  wife,  and  the  warrior  that  I found  upon 
the  prairie?” 

“I  have  no  wife.  I have  told  my  brother 
that  the  woman  and  her  friend  were  strangers. 
The  words  of  a gray  head  should  be  heard,  and 
not  forgotten.  The  Dahcotahs  found  travellers 
asleep,  and  they  thought  they  had  no  need  of 
horses.  The  women  and  children  of  a pale-face 
are  not  used  to  go  far  on  foot.  Let  them  be 
sought  where  you  left  them.” 

The  eyes  of  the  Teton  flashed  fire  as  he 
answered — 

“They  are  gone:  but  Mahtoree  is  a wise 
cfiief,  and  his  eyes  can  see  a great  distance ! ” 

“ Does  the  partisan  of  the  Tetons  see  men  on 
these  naked  fields?”  retorted  the  trapper,  with 
great  steadiness  of  mien.  “ I am  very  old,  and 
my  eyes  grow  dim.  Where  do  they  stand  ? ” 

The  chief  remained  silent  a moment,  as  if  he 
disdained  to  contest  any  further  the  truth  of  a 
fact,  concerning  which  he  was  already  satisfied. 


MAHTOREE,  THE  TETON  CHIEF. 


108 


Then,  pointing  to  the  traces  on  the  earth,  he  said, 
with  a sadden  transition  to  mildness  in  his  eye 
and  manner : 

“ My  father  has  learned  wisdom  in  many  win- 
ters ; can  he  tell  me  whose  moccasin  has  left  this 
trail  ? ” 

“There  have  been  wolves  and  buffaloes  on 
the  prairies  ; and  there  may  have  been  cougars 
too.” 

Mahtoree  glanced  his  eye  at  the  thicket,  as  if 
he  thought  the  latter  suggestion  not  impossible. 
Pointing  to  the  place,  he  ordered  his  young  men 
to  reconnoitre  it  more  closely,  cautioning  them  at 
the  same  time,  with  a stern  look  at  the  trapper,  to 
beware  of  treachery  from  the  Big-knives.  Three 
or  four  half-naked,  eager-looking  youths  lashed 
their  horses  at  the  word,  and  darted  away  to  obey 
the  mandate.  The  old  man  trembled  a little  for 
the  discretion  of  Paul,  when  he  saw  this  demon- 
stration. The  Tetons  encircled  the  place  two  or 
three  times,  approaching  nigher  and  nigher  at 
each  circuit,  and  then  galloped  back  to  their 
leader  to  report  that  the  copse  seemed  empty. 
Notwithstanding  the  trapper  watched  the  eye  of 
Mahtoree,  to  detect  the  inward  movements  of  his 
mind,  and  if  possible  to  anticipate,  in  order  to 
direct  his  suspicions,  the  utmost  sagacity  of  one 
so  long  accustomed  to  study  the  cold  habits  of 
the  Indian  race  could,  however,  detect  no  symp- 
tom or  expression  that  denoted  how  far  he  cred- 
ited or  distrusted  this  intelligence.  Instead  of 
replying  to  the  information  of  his  scouts,  he 
spoke  kindly  to  his  horse,  and  motioning  to  a 
youth  to  receive  the  bridle,  or  rather  halter,  by 
which  he  governed  the  animal,  he  took  the  trap- 
per by  the  arm,  and  led  him  a little  apart  from 
the  rest  of  the  band. 

“ Has  my  brother  been  a warrior  ? ” said  the 
wily  Teton,  in  a tone  that  he  intended  should  be 
conciliating. 

“ Do  the  leaves  cover  the  trees  in  the  season 
of  fruits?  Go.  The  Dahcotahs  have  not  seen 
as  many  warriors  living  as  I have  looked  on  in 
their  blood ! But  what  signifies  idle  remembran 
cing,”  he  added,  in  English,  “ when  limbs  grow 
stiff  and  sight  is  failing  ? ” 

The  chief  regarded  him  a moment  with  a se- 
vere look,  as  if  he  would  lay  bare  the  falsehood 
he  had  heard  ; but,  meeting  in  the  calm  eye  and 
steady  mien  of  the  trapper  a confirmation  of  the 
truth  of  what  he  said,  he  took  the  hand  of  the 
old  man,  and  laid  it  gently  on  his  head  in  token 
of  the  respect  that  was  due  to  the  other’s  years 
and  experience. 

“ Why,  then,  do  the  Big-knives  tell  their  red 
brethren  to  bury  the  tomahawk,”  he  said,  “ when 


their  own  young  men  never  forget  that  they  are 
braves,  and  meet  each  other  so  often  with  bloodj 
hands  ? ” 

“ My  nation  is  more  numerous  than  the  buf- 
faloes on  the  prairies  or  the  pigeons  in  the  air. 
Their  quarrels  are  frequent;  yet  their  warriors 
are  few.  None  go  out  on  the  war-path  but  they 
who  are  gifted  with  the  qualities  of  a brave,  and 
therefore  such  see  many  battles.” 

“It  is  not  so — my  father  is  mistaken,”  re- 
turned Mahtoree,  indulging  in  a smile  of  exult- 
ing penetration  at  the  very  instant  he  corrected 
the  force  of  his  denial  in  deference  to  the  years 
and  services  of  one  so  aged.  “ The  Big-knives  are 
very  wise,  and  they  are  men  ; all  of  them  would 
be  warriors.  They  would  leave  the  red-skins  to 
dig  roots  and  hoe  the  corn.  But  a Dahcotah  is 
not  born  to  live  like  a woman ; he  must  strike  the 
Pawnee  and  the  Omahaw,  or  he  will  lose  the 
name  of  his  fathers.” 

“ The  Master  of  Life  looks  with  an  open  eye 
on  his  children  who  die  in  a battle  that  is  fought 
for  the  right ; but  he  is  blind  and  his  ears  are 
shut  to  the  cries  of  an  Indian  who  is  killed  when 
plundering  or  doing  evil  to  his  neighbor.” 

“ My  father  is  old,”  said  Mahtoree,  looking  at 
his  aged  companion  with  an  expression  of  irony 
that  sufficiently  denoted  he  was  one  of  those  who 
overstep  the  trammels  of  education,  and  who  are 
perhaps  a little  given  to  abuse  the  mental  liberty 
they  thus  obtain.  “ He  is  very  old : has  he  made 
a journey  to  the  far  country ; and  has  he  been  at 
the  trouble  to  come  back  to  tell  the  young  men 
what  he  has  seen?  ” 

“ Teton,”  returned  the  trapper,  throwing  the 
breech  of  his  rifle  to  the  earth  with  startling 
vehemence,  and  regarding  his  companion  with 
steady  serenity,  “I  have  heard  that  there  are 
men  among  my  people  who  study  their  great 
medicines  until  they  believe  themselves  to  be 
gods,  and  who  laugh  at  all  faith  except  in  their 
own  vanities.  It  may  be  true.  It  is  true ; for  I 
have  seen  them.  When  man  is  shut  up  in  towns 
and  schools  with  his  own  follies,  it  may  be  easy 
to  believe  himself  greater  than  the  Master  of 
Life ; but  a warrior  who  lives  in  a house  with  the 
clouds  for  its  roof,  where  he  can  at  any  moment 
look  both  at  the  heavens  and  at  the  earth,  and 
who  daily  sees  the  power  of  the  Great  Spirit, 
should  be  more  humble.  A Dahcotah  chieftain 
ought  to  be  too  wise  to  laugh  at  justice.” 

The  crafty  Mahtoree,  who  saw  that  his  free- 
thinking  was  not  likely  to  produce  a favorable 
impression  on  the  old  man,  instantly  changed  his 
ground,  by  alluding  to  the  more  immediate  sub- 
ject of  their  interview.  Laying  his  hand  gently 


104 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


on  the  shoulder  of  the  trapper,  he  led  him  for- 
ward until  they  both  stood  within  fifty  feet  of  the 
margin  of  the  thicket.  Here  he  fastened  his 
penetrating  eyes  on  the  other’s  honest  counte- 
nance, and  continued  the  discourse  : 

“ If  my  father  has  hid  his  young  men  in 
the  bush,  let  him  tell  them  to  come  forth.  You 
see  that  a Dahcotah  is  not  afraid.  Hahtoree  is  a 
great  chief!  A warrior  whose  head  is  white,  and 
who  is  about  to  go  to  the  Land  of  Spirits,  cannot 
hare  a tongue  with  two  ends,  like  a serpent.” 

“ Dahcotah,  I have  told  no  lie.  Since  the 
Great  Spirit  made  me  a man  I have  lived  in  the 
wilderness,  or  on  these  naked  plains,  without  lodge 
or  family.  I am  a hunter,  and  go  on  my  path 
alone.” 

“ My  father  has  a good  carabine.  Let  him 
point  it  in  the  bush  and  fire.” 

The  old  man  hesitated  a moment,  and  then 
slowly  prepared  himself  to  give  this  delicate  as- 
surance of  the  truth  of  what  he  said,  without 
which  he  plainly  perceived  the  suspicions  of  his 
crafty  companion  could  not  be  lulled.  As  he 
lowered  his  rifle,  his  eye,  although  greatly  dimmed 
and  weakened  by  age,  ran  over  the  confused 
collection  of  objects  that  lay  embedded  amid  the 
party-colored  foliage  of  the  thicket,  until  it  suc- 
ceeded in  catching  a glimpse  of  the  brown  cov- 
ering of  the  stem  of  a small  tree.  With  this 
object  in  view,  he  raised  the  piece  to  a level  and 
fired.  The  bullet  had  no  sooner  glided  from  the 
barrel  than  a tremor  seized  the  hands  of  the 
trapper,  which,  had  it  occurred  a moment  sooner, 
would  have  utterly  disqualified  him  for  so  hazard- 
ous an  experiment.  A frightful  silence  succeeded 
the  report,  during  which  he  expected  to  hear  the 
shrieks  of  the  females  ; and  then,  as  the  smoke 
whirled  away  in  the  wind,  he  caught  a view  of 
the  fluttering  bark,  and  felt  assured  that  all  his 
former  skill  was  not  entirely  departed  from  him. 
Dropping  the  piece  to  the  earth,  he  turned  again 
to  his  companion  with  an  air  of  the  utmost  com- 
posure, and  demanded : 

“ Is  my  brother  satisfied  ? ” 

“Mahtoree  is  a chief  of  the  Dahcotahs,”  re- 
turned the  cunning  Teton,  laying  his  hand  on  his 
chest,  in  acknowledgment  of  the  others  sincerity. 
“ He  knows  that  a warrior,  who  has  smoked  at 
so  many  council-fires,  until  his  head  has  grown 
wliite,  would  not  be  found  in  wicked  company. 
But  did  not  my  father  once  ride  on  a horse,  like 
a rich  chief  of  the  pale-faces,  instead  of  travelling 
on  foot  like  a hungry  Konza  ? ” 

“ Never ! The  Wahcondah  has  given  me  legs, 
and  he  has  given  me  resolution  to  use  them.  For 
sixty  summers  and  winters  did  I journey  in  the 


woods  of  America,  and  ten  tiresome  years  have 
I dwelt  on  these  open  fields,  without  finding  need 
to  call  often  upon  the  gifts  of  the  other  creatur’s 
of  the  Lord  to  carry  me  from  place  to  place.” 

“ If  my  father  has  so  long  lived  in  the  shade, 
why  has  he  come  upon  the  prairies  ? The  sun 
will  scorch  him.” 

The  old  man  looked  sorrowfully  about  for  a 
moment,  and  then,  turning  with  a confidential  air 
to  the  other,  he  replied  : 

“ I passed  the  spring,  summer,  and  autumn  of 
life  among  the  trees.  The  winter  of  my  days  had 
come,  and  found  me  where  I Joyed  to  be,  in  the 
quiet — ay,  and  in  the  honesty  of  the  woods! 
Teton,  then  I slept  happily,  where  my  eyes  could 
look  up  through  the  branches  of  the  pines  and 
the  beeches,  to  the  very  dwelling  of  the  Good 
Spirit  of  my  people.  If  I had  need  to  open  my 
heart  to  him,  while  his  fires  were  burning  above 
my  head,  the  door  was  open  and  before  my  eyes. 
But  the  axes  of  the  choppers  awoke  me.  For  a 
long  time  my  ear-s  heard  nothing  but  the  uproar 
of  clearings.  I bore  it  like  a waiTior  and  a man; 
there  was  reason  that  I should  bear  it : but  when 
that  reason  was  ended,  I bethought  me  to  get 
beyond  the  accursed  sounds.  It  was  trying  to 
the  courage  and  to  the  habits,  but  I had  heard  of 
these  vast  and  naked  fields,  and  I come  hither  to 
escape  the  wasteful  temper  of  my  people.  Tell 
me,  Dahcotah,  have  I not  done  well  ? ” 

The  trapper  laid  his  long,  lean  finger  on  the 
naked  shoulder  of  the  Indian  as  he  ended,  and 
seemed  to  demand  his  felicitations  on  his  inge- 
nuity and  success  with  a ghastly  smile,  in  which 
triumph  was  singularly  blended  with  regret.  His 
companion  listened  intently,  and  replied  to  the 
question  by  saying,  in  the  sententious  manner  of 
his  race : 

“ The  head  of  my  father  is  very  gray  ; he  has 
always  lived  with  men  and  he  has  seen  every  thing. 
What  he  does  is  good  ; what  he  speaks  is  wise. 
Now  let  him  say  is  he  sure  that  he  is  a stranger 
to  the  Big-knives,  who  are  looking  for  their  beasts 
bn  every  side  of  the  prairies  and  cannot  find 
them  ? ” 

“ Dahcotah,  what  I have  said  is  true.  I live 
alone,  and  never  do  I mingle  with  men  whose 
skins  are  white,  if — ” 

His  mouth  was  suddenly  closed  by  an  inter- 
ruption that  was  as  mortifying  as  it  was  unexpect- 
ed. The  words  were  still  on  his  tongue,  when 
the  bushes  on  the  side  of  the  thicket  where  they 
stood  opened,  and  the  wrhole  of  the  party  whom 
he  had  just  left,  and  in  whose  behalf  he  was  en- 
deavoring to  reconcile  his  love  of  truth  to  tha 
necessity  of  prevaricating,  came  openly  into  view. 


STRANGE  PARTIES. 


105 


A pause  of  mute  astonishment  succeeded  this  un- 
looked-for spectacle.  Then  Mahtoree,  who  did 
not  suffer  a muscle  or  a joint  to  betray  the  won- 
der and  surprise  he  actually  experienced,  mo- 
tioned toward  the  advancing  friends  of  the  trap- 
per with  an  air  of  assumed  civility,  and  a smile 
that  lighted  his  fierce,  dark  visage,  as  the  glare 
of  the  setting  sun  reveals  the  volume  and  load  of 
the  cloud,  that  is  charged  to  bursting  with  the 
electric  fluid.  He,  however,  disdained  to  speak, 
or  to  give  any  other  evidence  of  his  intentions  than 
by  calling  to  his  side  the  distant  band,  who  sprang 
forward  at  his  beck,  writh  the  alacrity  of  walling 
subordinates. 

In  the  mean  time  the  friends  of  the  old  man 
continued  to  advance.  Middleton  himself  was 
foremost,  supporting  the  light  and  aerial-looking 
figure  of  Inez,  on  whose  anxious  countenance  he 
cast  such  occasional  glances  of  tender  interest, 
as,  in  similar  circumstances,  a father  would  have 
given  to  his  child.  Paul  led  Ellen,  close  in  their 
rear.  But,  while  the  eye  of  the  bee-hunter  did 
not  neglect  his  blooming  companion,  it  scowled 
angrily,  resembling  more  the  aspect  of  the  sullen 
and  retreating  bear  than  the  soft  intelligence  of 
a favored  suitor.  Obed  and  Asinus  came  last,  the 
former  leading  his  companion  with  a degree  of 
fondness  that  could  hardly  be  said  to  be  exceeded 
by  any  other  of  the  party.  The  approach  of  the 
naturalist  was  far  less  rapid  than  that  of  those 
who  preceded  him.  His  feet  seemed  equally 
reluctant  to  advance  or  to  remain  stationary  ; his 
position  bearing  a great  analogy  to  that  of  Mo- 
hammed’s coffin,  with  the  exception  that  the  qual- 
ity of  repulsion  rather  than  that  of  attraction 
held  him  in  a state  of  rest.  The  repulsive  power 
in  his  rear,  however,  appeared  to  predominate ; 
and,  by  a singular  exception,  as  he  would  have 
said  himself,  to  all  philosophical  principles,  it 
rather  increased  than  diminished  by  distance. 
As  the  eyes  of  the  naturalist  steadily  maintained 
a position  that  was  the  opposite  of  his  route, 
they  served  to  give  a direction  to  those  of  the  ob- 
servers of  all  these  movements,  and  at  once  fur- 
nished a sufficient  clew  by  which  to  unravel  the 
mystery  of  so  sudden  a debouchement  from  the 
. cover. 

Another  cluster  of  stout  and  armed  men  wras 
seen  at  no  great  distance,  just  rounding  a point 
of  the  thicket,  and  moving  directly  though  cau- 
tiously toward  the  place  where  the  band  of  the 
Sioux  was  posted,  as  a squadron  of  cruisers  is 
often  seen  to  steer  across  the  waste  of  waters 
toward  the  rich  but  well-protected  convoy.  In 
short,  the  family  of  the  squatter,  or  at  least  such 
among  them  as  were  capable  of  bearing  arms,  ap- 
59 


peared  in  view,  on  the  broad  prairie,  evidently 
bent  on  revenging  their  wrongs. 

Mahtoree  and  his  party  slowly  retired  from 
the  thicket,  the  moment  they  caught  a view  of 
the  strangers,  until  they  halted  on  a swell  that 
commanded  a wide  and  unobstructed  view  of  the 
naked  fields  on  which  they  stood.  Here  the  Dah- 
cotah  appeared  disposed  to  make  his  stand,  and 
to  bring  matters  to  an  issue.  Notwithstanding 
this  retreat,  in  which  he  compelled  the  trapper 
to  accompany  him,  Middleton  still  advanced  until 
he  too  halted  on  the  same  elevation,  and  within 
speaking  distance  of  the  warlike  Sioux.  The 
borderers  in  their  turn  took  a favorable  posi- 
tion, though  at  a much  greater  distance.  The 
three  groups  now  resembled  so  many  fleets  at  sea, 
lying  with  their  topsails  to  the  masts,  with  the 
commendable  precaution  of  reconnoitring,  before 
each  could  ascertain  who  among  the  strangers 
might  be  considered  as  friends,  and  who  as  foes. 
During  this  moment  of  suspense,  the  dark,  threat- 
ening eye  of  Mahtoree  rolled  from  one  of  the 
strange  parties  to  the  other,  in  keen  and  hasty  ex- 
amination, and  then  it  turned  its  withering  look 
on  the  old  man,  as  the  chief  said,  in  a tone  of 
high  and  bitter  scorn  : 

“ The  Big-knives  are  fools  ! It  is  easier  to 
catch  the  cougar  asleep  than  to  find  a blind  Dah- 
cotah.  Did  the  white-head  think  to  ride  on  the 
horse  of  a Sioux  ? ” 

The  trapper,  who  had  found  time  to  collect  hia 
perplexed  faculties,  saw  at  once  that  Middleton, 
having  perceived  Ishmael  on  the  trail  by  which 
they  had  fled,  preferred  trusting  to  the  hospital- 
ity of  the  savages  than  to  the  treatment  he  would 
be  likely  to  receive  from  the  hands  of  the  squat- 
ter. He  therefore  disposed  himself  to  clear  the 
way  for  the  favorable  reception  of  his  friends, 
since  he  found  that  the  unnatural  coalition  be- 
came necessary  to  secure  the  liberty,  if  not  the 
lives,  of  the  party. 

“ Did  my  brother  ever  go  on  a war-path  to 
strike  my  people  ? ” he  calmly  demanded  of  the 
indignant  chief,  who  still  awaited  his  reply. 

The  lowering  aspect  of  the  Teton  warrior  so 
far  lost  its  severity  as  to  suffer  a gleam  of  pleas- 
ure and  triumph  to  lighten  its  ferocity,  as,  sweep- 
ing his  arm  in  an  entire  circle  around  his  person, 
he  answered : 

“ What  tribe  or  nation  has  not  felt  the  blows 
of  the  Dahcotahs  ? Mahtoree  is  their  partisan.” 

“ And  has  he  found  the  Big-knives  women,  or 
has  he  found  them  men  ? ” 

A multitude  of  fierce  passions  were  struggling 
in  the  tawny  countenance  of  the  Indian.  For  a 
moment  inextinguishable  hatred  seemed  to  hold 


106 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


the  mastery,  and  then  a nobler  expression,  and 
one  that  better  became  the  character  of  a brave, 
got  possession  of  his  features,  and  maintained 
itself  until,  first  throwing  aside  his  light  robe  of 
pictured  deer-skin,  and  pointing  to  the  scar  of  a 
bayonet  in  his  breast,  he  replied  : 

“ It  was  given  as  it  was  taken,  face  to  face.” 

“It  is  enough.  My  brother  is  a brave  chief, 
and  he  should  be  wise.  Let  him  look : is  that 
a warrior  of  the  pale-faces  ? Was  it  one  such  as 
that  who  gave  the  great  Dahcotah  his  hurt  ? ” 

The  eyes  of  Mahtoree  followed  the  direction 
of  the  old  man’s  extended  arm,  until  they  rested 
on  the  drooping  form  of  Inez.  The  look  of  the 
Teton  was  long,  riveted,  and  admiring.  Like 
that  of  the  young  Pawnee,  it  resembled  more  the 
gaze  of  a mortal  on  some  heavenly  image,  than 
the  admiration  with  which  man  is  wont  to  con- 
template even  the  loveliness  of  woman.  Start- 
ing, as  if  suddenly  self-convicted  of  forgetfulness, 
the  chief  next  turned  his  eyes  on  Ellen,  where 
they  lingered  an  instant  with  a much  more  intelli- 
gible expression  of  admiration,  and  then  pur- 
sued their  course  until  they  had  taken  another 
glance  at  each  individual  of  the  party. 

“ My  brother  sees  that  my  tongue  is  not 
forked,”  continued  the  trapper,  watching  the  emo- 
tions the  other  betrayed,  with  a readiness  of  com- 
prehension little  inferior  to  that  of  the  Teton 
himself.  “ The  Big-knives  do  not  send  their 
women  to  war.  I know  that  the  Dahcotahs  will 
sinoke  with  the  strangers.” 

“ Mahtoree  is  a great  chief  i The  Big-knives 
are  welcome,”  said  the  Teton,  laying  his  hand  on 
his  breast  with  an  air  of  lofty  politeness  that 
would  have  done  credit  to  any  state  of  society. 
“The  arrows  of  my  young  men  are  in  their 
quivers.” 

The  trapper  motioned  to  Middleton  to  ap- 
proach, and  in  a few  moments  the  two  parties 
were  blended  in  one,  each  of  the  males  having 
exchanged  friendly  greetings,  after  the  fashions 
of  the  prairie  warriors.  But,  even  while  engaged 
in  this  hospitable  manner,  the  Dahcotah  did  not 
fail  to  keep  a strict  watch  on  the  more  distant 
party  of  white  men,  as  if  he  still  distrusted  an 
artifice,  or  sought  further  explanation.  The  old 
man,  in  his  turn,  perceived  the  necessity  of  be- 
ing more  explicit,  and  of  securing  the  slight  and 
equivocal  advantage  he  had  already  obtained. 
While  affecting  to  examine  the  group  which  still 
lingered  at  the  spot  where  it  had  first  halted,  as 
if  to  discover  the  characters  of  those  who  com- 
posed it,  he  plainly  saw  that  Ishmael  contemplated 
immediate  hostilities.  The  result  of  a conflict  on 
the  open  prairie  between  a dozen  resolute  border- 


men  and  the  half-armed  natives,  even  though 
seconded  by  their  white  allies,  was,  in  his  experi- 
enced judgment,  a point  of  great  uncertainty  ; 
and,  though  far  from  reluctant  to  engage  in  the 
struggle  on  account  of  himself,  the  aged  trapper 
thought  it  far  more  worthy  of  his  years  and  his 
character,  to  avoid  than  to  court  the  contest.  His 
feelings  were,  for  obvious  reasons,  in  accordance 
with  those  of  Paul  and  Middleton,  who  had  fives 
still  more  precious  than  their  own  to  watch  over 
and  protect.  In  this  dilemma  the  three  consulted 
on  the  means  of  escaping  the  frightful  consequences 
which  might  immediately  follow  .a  single  act  of 
hostility  on  the  part  of  the  borderers ; the  old 
man  taking  care  that  their  communication  should, 
in  the  eyes  of  those  who  noted  the  expression  of 
their  countenances  with  jealous  watchfulness,  bear 
the  appearance  of  explanations  as  to  the  reason 
why  such  a party  of  travellers  was  met  so  far  in 
the  deserts. 

“I  know  that  the  Dahcotahs  are  a wise  and 
great  people,”  at  length  the  trapper  commenced, 
again  addressing  himself  to  the  chief ; “ but  does 
not  their  partisan  know  a single  brother  who  is 
base  ? ” 

The  eye  of  Mahtoree  wandered  proudly  around 
his  band,  but  rested,  a moment  reluctantly  on 
Weucha,  as  he  answered — “ The  Master  of  life 
has  made  chiefs,  and  warriors,  and  women ; ” con- 
ceiving that  he  thus  embraced  all  the  gradations 
, of  human  excellence  from  the  highest  to  the  low- 
est. 

“And  he  has  also  made  pale-faces  who  are 
wicked.  Such  are  they  whom  my  brother  sees 
yonder.” 

“ Do  they  go  on  foot  to  do  wrong  ? ” demanded 
the  Teton,  with  a wild  gleam- from  his  eyes,  that 
sufficiently  betrayed  how  well  he  knew  the  reason 
why  they  were  reduced  to  so  humble  an  expe- 
dient. 

“ Their  beasts  are  gone.  But  their  powder, 
and  their  lead,  and  their  blankets,  remain.” 

“ Do  they  carry  their  riches  in  their  hands, 

. like  miserable  Konzas  ? or  are  they  brave,  and 
leave  them  with  the  women,  as  men  should  do, 
who  know  where  to  find  what  they  lose  ? ” 

“ My  brother  sees  the  spot  of  blue  across  the 
prairie ; look,  the  sun  has  touched  it  for  the  la3t 
time  to-day.” 

“ Mahtoree  is  not  a mole.” 

“ It  is  a rock ; on  it  are  the  goods  of  the  Big- 
knives.” 

An  expression  of  savage  joy  shot  into  the 
dark  countenance  of  the  Teton  as  he  listened ; 
turning  to  the  old  man  he  seemed  to  read  his  soul, 
as  if  to  assure  himself  he  was  not  deceived.  Then 


INDIAN  TACTICS. 


be  bent  his  look  on  the  party  of  Ishmael,  and 
counted  its  number. 

“ One  warrior  is  wanting,”  he  said. 

“ Does  my  brother  see  the  buzzards  ? there  is 
his  grave.  Did  he  find  blood  on  the  prairie  ? It 
was  his.” 

“ Enough ! Mahtoree  is  a wise  chief.  Put 
your  women  on  the  horses  of  the  Dahcotahs : we 
shall  see,  for  our  eyes  are  open  very  wide.” 

The  trapper  wasted  no  unnecessary  words  in 
explanation.  Familiar  with  the  brevity  and 
promptitude  of  the  natives,  he  immediately  com- 
municated the  result  to  his  companions.  Paul 
was  mounted  in  an  instant,  with  Ellen  at  his  back. 
A few  more  moments  were  necessary  to  assure 
Middleton  of  the  security  and  ease  of  Inez.  While 
he  was  thus  engaged,  Mahtoree  advanced  to  the 
side  of  the  beast  he  had  allotted  to  this  service, 
which  was  his  own,  and  manifested  an  intention 
to  occupy  his  customary  place  on  its  back.  The 
young  soldier  seized  the  reins  of  the  animal,  and 
glances  of  sudden  anger  and  lofty  pride  were  ex- 
changed between  them. 

“No  man  takes  this  seat  but  myself,”  said 
Middleton,  sternly,  in  English. 

“ Mahtoree  is  a great  chief ! ” retorted  the 
eavage ; neither  comprehending  the  meaning  of 
the  other’s  words. 

“ The  Dahcotah  will  be  too  late,”  whispered 
the  old  man  at  his  elbow;  “see!  the  Big-knives 
are  afraid,  and  they  will  soon  run.” 

The  Teton  chief  instantly  abandoned  his 
claim,  and  threw  himself  on  another  horse,  direct- 
ing one  of  his  young  men  to  furnish  a similar  ac- 
commodation for  the  trapper.  The  warriors  who 
were  dismounted  got  up  behind  as  many  of  their 
companions.  Dr.  Battius  bestrode  Asinus ; and, 
notwithstanding  the  brief  interruption,  in  half  the 
time  we  have  taken  to  relate  it  the  whole  party 
was  prepared  to  move. 

When  he  saw  that  all  wefe  ready,  Mahtoree 
gave  the  signal  to  advance.  A few  of  the  best 
mounted  of  the  warriors,  the  chief  himself  in- 
cluded, moved  a little  in  front,  and  made  a threat- 
ening demonstration,  as  if  they  intended  to  attack 
the  strangers.  The  squatter,  who  was  in  truth 
slowly  retiring,  instantly  halted  his  party,  and 
showed  a willing  front.  Instead,  however,  of 
coming  within  reach  of  the  dangerous  aim  of  the 
Western  rifle,  the  subtle  savages  kept  wheeling 
about  the  strangers  until  they  had  made  a half 
circuit,  keeping  the  latter  in  constant  expectation 
of  an  assault.  Then,  perfectly  secure  of  their  ob- 
ject, the  Tetons  raised  a loud  shout,  and  darted 
across  the  prairie  in  a line  for  the  distant  rock, 
with  the  directness  and  nearly  with  the  velocity 


107 

of  the  arrow  that  has  just  been  shot  from  its 
bow. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

“ Dally  not  with  the  gods,  but  get  thee  gone.” 

Shakespeam. 

Mahtoree  had  scarcely  given  the  first  intima- 
tion of  his  real  design,  before  a general  discharge 
from  the  borderers  proved  how  well  they  under- 
stood it.  The  distance  and  the  rapidity  of  the 
flight,  however,  rendered  the  fire  harmless.  As  a 
proof  how  little  he  regarded  the  hostility  of  their 
party,  the  Dahcotah  chieftain  answered  the  report 
with  a yell ; and,  flourishing  his  carabine  above  his 
head,  he  made  a circuit  on  the  plain,  followed  by  his 
chosen  warriors,  in  scorn  of  the  impotent  attempt 
of  his  enemies.  As  the  main  body  continued  the 
direct  course,  this  little  band  of  the  elite , in  re- 
turning from  its  wild  exhibition  of  savage  con- 
tempt, took  its  place  in  the  rear,  with  a dexteri- 
ty and  a concert  of  action  that  showed  the  ma- 
noeuvre had  been  contemplated. 

Yolley  swiftly  succeeded  volley,  until  the  en- 
raged squatter  was  reluctantly  compelled  to  aban- 
don the  idea  of  injuring  his  enemies  by  means  so 
feeble.  Relinquishing  his  fruitless  attempt,  he 
commenced  a rapid  pursuit,  occasionally  discharg- 
ing a rifle  in  order  to  give  the  alarm  to  the  garrison, 
which  he  had  prudently  left  under  the  command  of 
the  redoubtable  Esther  herself.  In  this  manner  the 
chase  was  continued  for  many  minutes,  the  horse- 
men gradually  gaining  on  their  pursuers,  who 
maintained  the  race,  however,  with  an  incredi- 
ble power  of  foot. 

As  the  little  speck  of  blue  rose  against  the 
heavens,  like  an  island  issuing  from  the  deep,  the 
savages  occasionally  raised  a yell  of  triumph. 
But  the  mists  of  evening  were  already  gathering 
along  the  whole  of  the  eastern  margin  of  the  prai- 
rie, and  before  the  band  had  made  half  of  the 
necessary  distance  the  dim  outline  of  the  rock  had 
melted  into  the  haze  of  the  background.  Indiffer- 
ent to  this  circumstance,  which  rather  favored  than 
disconcerted  his  plans,  Mahtoree,  who  had  again 
ridden  in  front,  held  on  his  course  with  the  ac- 
curacy of  a hound  of  the  truest  scent,  merely 
slackening  his  speed  a little,  as  the  horses  of  his 
party  were  by  this  time  thoroughly  blown.  It 
was  at  this  stage  of  the  enterprise  that  the  old 
man  rode  up  to  the  side  of  Middleton,  and  ad- 
dressed him  as  follows  in  English  : 

“ Here  is  likely  to  be  a thieving  business, 
and  one  in  which  I must  say  I have  but  little 
wish  to  be  a partner.” 


108 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“ What  would  you  do  ? It  would  be  fatal  to 
trust  ourselves  in  the  hands  of  the  miscreants  in 
our  rear.” 

“ Tut  for  miscreants,  be  they  red  or  be  they 
white  ! Look  ahead,  lad,  as  if  ye  were  talking  of 
our  medicines,  or  perhaps  praising  the  Teton 
beasts.  For  the  knaves  love  to  hear  their  horses 
commended,  the  same  as  a foolish  mother  in  the 
settlements  is  fond  of  hearing  the  praises  of  her 
wilful  child.  So — pat  the  animal,  and  lay  your 
hand  on  the  gewgaws  with  which  the  red-skins 
have  ornamented  his  mane,  giving  your  eye  as  it 
were  to  one  thing,  and  your  mind  to  another. 
Listen:  if  matters  are  managed  with  judgment 
we  may  leave  these  Tetons  as  the  night  sets  in.” 

“ A blessed  thought ! ” exclaimed  Middleton, 
who  retained  a painful  remembrance  of  the  look 
of  admiration  with  which  Mahtoree  had  contem- 
plated the  loveliness  of  Inez,  as  well  as  of  his 
subsequent  presumption  in  daring  to  wish  to  take 
the  office  of  her  protector  on  himself. 

“ Lord,  Lord ! what  a weak  creatur’  is  man, 
when  the  gifts  of  Natur’  are  smothered  in  bookish 
knowledge  and  womanly  manners  ! Such  another 
start  would  tell  these  imps  at  our  elbows  that  we 
were  plotting  against  them,  just  as  plainly  as  if 
it  were  whispered  in  their  ears  by  a Sioux  tongue. 
Ay,  ay,  I know  the  devils ; they  look  as  innocent 
as  so  many  frisky  fawns,  but  there  is  not  one 
among  them  all  that  has  not  an  eye  on  our  small- 
est motions.  Therefore,  what  is  to  be  done  is  to 
be  done  in  wisdom,  in  order  to  circumvent  their 
cunning. — That  is  right ; pat  his  neck  and  smile, 
as  if  you  praised  the  horse,  and  keep  the  ear  on 
my  side  open  to  my  words.  Be  careful  not  to 
worry  your  beast,  for,  though  but  little  skilled  in 
horses,  reason  teaches  that  breath  is  needful  in  a 
hard  push,  and  that  a weary  leg  makes  a dull  race. 
Be  ready  to  mind  the  signal,  when  you  hear  a 
whine  from  old  Hector.  The  first  will  be  to  make 
ready ; the  second,  to  edge  out  of  the  crowd ; 
and  the  third,  to  go — am  I understood  ? ” 

“ Perfectly,  perfectly,”  said  Middleton,  trem- 
bling in  his  excessive  eagerness  to  put  the  plan  in 
instant  execution,  and  pressing  the  little  arm, 
which  encircled  his  body,  to  his  heart.  “ Perfect- 
ly. Hasten,  hasten ! ” 

“ Ay,  the  beast  is  no  sloth,”  continued  the 
trapper  in  the  Teton  language,  as  if  he  continued 
the  discourse,  edging  cautiously  through  the 
dusky  throng  at  the  same  time,  until  he  found 
himself  riding  at  the  side  of  Paul.  He  communi- 
cated his  intentions  in  the  same  guarded  manner 
a3  before.  The  high-spirited  and  fearless  bee- 
hunter  received  the  intelligence  with  delight,  de- 
claring his  readiness  to  engage  the  whole  of  the 


savage  band,  should  it  become  necessary  to  effect 
their  object.  When  the  old  man  drew  off  from 
the  side  of  this  pair  also,  ho  cast  his  eyes  about 
him  to  discover  the  situation  occupied  by  the 
naturalist. 

The  doctor,  with  infinite  labor  to  himself  and 
Asinus,  had  maintained  a position  in  the  very 
centre  of  the  Sioux,  so  long  as  there  existed 
the  smallest  reason  for  believing  that  any  of  the 
missiles  of  Ishmael  might  arrive  in  contact  with 
his  person.  After  this  danger  had  diminished,  or 
rather  disappeared  entirely,  his  own  courage  re- 
vived, while  that  of  his  steed  .began  to  droop. 
To  this  mutual  but  very  material  change  was  ow- 
ing the  fact  that  the  rider  and  the  ass  were 
now  to  be  sought  am®ng  that  portion  of  the  band 
who  formed  a sort  of  rear-guard.  Hither,  then, 
the  trapper  contrived  to  turn  his  steed,  without 
exciting  the  suspicions  of  any  of  his  subtle  com- 
panions. 

“ Friend,”  commenced  the  old  man,  when  he 
found  himself  in  a situation  favorable  to  discourse, 
“ should  you  like  to  pass  a dozen  years  among 
the  savages  with  a shaved  head,  and  a painted 
countenance,  with,  perhaps,  a couple  of  wives  and 
five  or  six  children  of  the  half-breed  to  call  you 
father  ? ” 

“ Impossible  ! ” exclaimed  the  startled  natu- 
ralist. “Iam  indisposed  to  matrimony  in  general, 
and  more  especially  to  all  admixture  of  the  varie- 
ties of  species , which  only  tend  to  tarnish  the 
beauty  and  to  interrupt  the  harmony  of  Mature. 
Moreover,  it  is  a painful  innovation  on  the  order 
of  all  nomenclatures.” 

“Ay,  ay,  you  have  reason  enough  for  your 
distaste  to  such  a life ; but  should  these  Siouxes 
get  you  fairly  into  their  village,  such  would  be 
your  luck,  as  certain  as  that  the  sun  rises  and 
sets  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord.” 

“ Marry  me  to  a woman  who  is  not  adorned 
with  the  comeliness  of  the  species  ! ” responded  the 
doctor.  “ Of  what  crime  have  I been  guilty,  that 
so  grievous  a punishment  should  await  the  offence? 
To  marry  a man  against  the  movements  of  his 
will,  is  to  do  a violence  to  human  nature ! ” 

“ Now,  that  you  speak  of  natur’,  I have  hopes 
that  the  gift  of  reason  has  not  altogether  deserted 
your  brain,”  returned  the  old  man,  with  a covert 
expression  playing  about  the  angles  of  his  deep- 
set  eyes,  which  betrayed  he  was  not  entirely  des- 
titute of  humor.  “Nay,  they  may  conceive  you 
a remarkable  subject  for  their  kindness,  and  for 
that  matter  marry  you  to  five  or  six.  I have 
known,  in  my  days,  favored  chiefs  who  had  num- 
berless wives.” 

“But  why  should  they  meditate  this  ven- 


THE  TRAPPER’S  PLANS  OF  ESCAPE. 


109 


yeance  ? ” demanded  the  doctor,  whose  hair  began 
to  rise,  as  if  each  fibre  was  possessed  of  sensibility ; 
“ what  evil  have  I done  ? ” 

“ ft  is  the  fashion  of  their  kindness.  When 
they  come  to  learn  that  you  are  a great  medicine, 
they  will  adopt  you  into  the  tribe,  and  some 
mighty  chief  will  give  you  his  name,  and  perhaps 
his  daughter,  or  it  may  be  a wife  or  two  of  his 
own,  who  have  dwelt  long  in  his  lodge,  and  of 
whose  value  he  is  a judge  by  experience.” 

“ The  Governor  and  Founder  of  natural  har- 
mony protect  me  ! ” ejaculated  the  doctor.  “ I 
have  no  affinity  to  a single  consort,  much  less  to 
duplicates  and  triplicates  of  the  class ! 1 shall 
certainly  essay  a flight  from  their  abodes  before 
I mingle  in  so  violent  a conjunction.” 

“ There  is  reason  in  your  words  ; but  why  not 
attempt  the  race  you  speak  of  now  ? ” 

The  naturalist  looked  fearfully  around,  as  if 
he  had  an  inclination  to  make  an  instant  exhibi- 
tion of  his  . desperate  intention ; but  the  dusky 
figures  who  were  riding  on  every  side  of  him  seemed 
suddenly  tripled  in  number,  and  the  darkness  that 
was.  already  thickening  on  the  prairie  appeared 
n his  eyes  to  possess  the  glare  of  high-noon. 

“ It  would  be  premature,  and  reason  forbids 
it,”  he  answered.  “ Leave  me,  venerable  Venator, 
to  the  counsel  of  my  own  thoughts,  and,  when  my 
plans  are  properly  classed,  I will  advise  you  of 
my  resolutions.” 

' “ Resolutions  ! ” repeated  the  old  man,  shak- 
ing his  head  a little  contemptuously  as  he  gave 
the  rein  to  his  horse,  and  allowed  him  to  mingle 
with  the  steeds  of  the  savages.  “ Resolution  is  a 
word  that  is  talked  of  in  the  settlements,  and  felt 
on  the  borders. — Does  my  brother  know  the  beast 
on  which  the  pale-face  rides  ? ” he  continued,  ad- 
dressing a gloomy-looking  warrior  in  his  own 
tongue,  and  making  a motion  with  his  arm  that 
at  the  same  time  directed  his  attention  to  the 
naturalist  and  the  meek  Asinus. 

The  Teton  turned  his  eyes  for  a minute  on  the 
animal,  but  disdained  to  manifest  the  smallest  por- 
tion of  that  wonder  he  had  felt  in  common  with  all 
his  companions,  on  first  viewing  so  rare  a quad- 
ruped. The(trapper  was  not  ignorant  that,  while 
asses  and  mules  were  beginning  to  be  known  to  those 
tribes  who  dwelt  nearest  the  Mexicos,  they  wrere 
not  usually  encountered  so  far  north  as  the  waters 
of  La  Platte.  He  therefore  managed  to  read  the 
mute  astonishment  that  lay  so  deeply  concealed 
in  the  tawny  visage  of  the  savage,  and  took  his 
measures  accordingly. 

“ Does  my  brother  think  that  the  rider  is  a 
warrior  of  the  pale-faces  ? ” he  demanded,  when 
he  believed  that  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for  a 


full  examination  of  the  pacific  mien  of  the  natu- 
ralist. 

The  flash  of  scorn  which  shot  across  the  feat- 
ures of  the  Teton  was  visible  even  by  the  dim 
light  of  the  stars. 

“Is  a Dahcotah  a fool? ” was  the  answer. 

. “ They  are  a wise  nation,  whose  eyes  are  never 
shut ; much  do  I wonder  that  they  have  not  seen 
the  great  medicine  of  the  Big-knives ! ” 

“Wagh!”  exclaimed  his  companion,  suffer- 
ing the  whole  of  his  amazement  to  burst  out  of 
his  dark,  rigid  countenance  at  the  surprise,  like  a 
flash  of  lightning  illuminating  the  gloom  of  mid- 
night. 

“ The  Dahcotah  knows  that  my  tongue  is  not 
forked.  Let  him  open  his  eyes  wider.  Does  he 
not  see  a very  great  medicine  ? ” 

The  light  was  not  necessary  to  recall  to  the 
savage  each  feature  in  the  really  remarkable  cos- 
tume and  equipage  of  Dr.  Battius.  In  common  with 
the  rest  of  the  band,  and  in  conformity  with  the 
universal  practice  of  the  Indians,  this  warrior, 
while  he  had  suffered  no  gaze  of  idle  curiosity  to 
disgrace  his  manhood,  had  not  permitted  a single 
distinctive  mark  which  might  characterize  any 
one  of  the  strangers  to  escape  his  vigilance.  He 
knew  the  air,  the  stature,  the  dress,  and  the  feat- 
ures, even  to  the  color  of  the  eyes  and  of  the 
hair,  of  every  one  of  the  Big-knives  whom  he 
had  thus  strangely  encountered,  and  deeply  had 
he  ruminated  on  the  causes  which  could  have  led 
a party  so  singularly  constituted  into  the  haunts 
of  the  rude  inhabitants  of  his  native  wastes.  He 
had  already  considered  the  several  physical  pow- 
ers of  the  whole  party,  and  had  duly  compared 
their  abilities  with  what  he  supposed  might  have 
been  their  intentions.  Warriors  they  were  not, 
for  the  Big-knives,  like  the  Sioux,  left  their 
women  in  their  villages  when  they  went  out  on 
the  bloody  path.  The  same  objections  applied  to 
them  as  hunters,  and  even  as  traders,  the  two 
characters  under  which  the  white  men  commonly 
appeared  in  their  villages.  He  had  heard  of  a 
great  council  at  which  the  Menahashah,  or  Long- 
knives,  and  the  Washsheomantiqua,  or  Spaniards, 
had  smoked  together,  when  the  latter  had  sold  to 
the  former  their  incomprehensible  rights  over 
those  vast  regions  through  which  his  nation  had 
roamed  in  freedom  for  so  many  ages.  His  simple 
mind  had  not  been  able  to  embrace  the  reasons 
why  one  people  should  thus  assume  a superiority 
over  the  possessions  of  another ; and  it  will 
readily  be  perceived  that,  at  the  hint  just  re- 
ceived from  the  trapper,  he  was  not  indisposed  to 
fancy  that  some  of  the  hidden  subtlety  of  that 
magical  influence  of  which  he  was  so  firm  a be- 


no 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


liever,  was  about  to  be  practised  by  the  unsuspect- 
ing subject  of  their  conversation,  in  furtherance 
of  these  mysterious  claims.  Abandoning,  there- 
fore, all  the  reserve  and  dignity  of  his  manner 
under  the  conscious  helplessness  of  ignorance, 
he  turned  to  the  old  man,  and,  stretching  forth 
his  arms,  as  if  to  denote  how  much  he  lay  at  his 
mercy,  he  said : 

“ Let  my  father  look  at  me.  I am  a wild  man 
of  the  prairies ; my  body  is  naked ; my  hands 
empty;  my  skin  red.  I have  struck  the  Paw- 
nees, the  Konzas,  the  Omahaws,  the  Osages,  and 
even  the  Long-knives.  I am  a man  amid  war- 
riors, but  a woman  among  the  conjurers.  Let 
my  father  speak  : the  ears  of  the  Teton  are  open. 
He  listens  like  a deer  to  the  step  of  the  cougar.” 

“ Such  are  the  wise  and  uns’archable  ways  of 
One  who  alone  knows  good  from  evil ! ” exclaimed 
the  trapper,  in  English  ; “ to  some  he  grants  cun- 
ning, and  on  others  he  bestows  the  gift  of  man- 
hood ! It  is  humbling  and  it  is  afflicting  to  see 
so  noble  a creatur’  as  this,  who  has  fou’t  in  many 
a bloody  fray,  truckling  before  his  superstition 
like  a beggar  asking  for  the  bones  you  would 
throw  to  the  dogs.  The  Lord  will  forgive  me  for 
playing  with  the  ignorance  of  the  savage,  for  he 
knows  I do  it  in  no  mockery  of  his  state,  or  in 
idle  vaunting  of  my  own ; but  in  order  to  save 
mortal  life,  and  to  give  justice  to  the  wronged, 
while  I defeat  the  deviltries  of  the  wicked! 
— Teton,”  speaking  again  in  the  language  of  the 
listener,  “I  ask  you,  is  not  that  a wonderful 
medicine?  If  the  Dahcotahs  are  wise,  they  will 
not  breathe  the  air  he  breathes,  nor  touch  his 
robes.  They  know,  that  the  Wahconshecheh 
(bad  spirit)  loves  his  own  children,  and  will  not 
turn  his  back  on  him  that  does  them  harm.” 

The  old  man  delivered  this  opinion  in  an 
ominous  and  sententious  manner,  and  then  rode 
apart  as  if  he  had  said  enough.  The  result,  jus- 
tified his  expectations.  The  warrior  to  whom  he 
had  addressed  himself  was  not  slow  to  communi- 
cate his  important  knowledge  to  the  rest  of  the 
rear-guard,  and  in  a very  few  moments  the  natu- 
ralist was  the  object  of  general  observation  and 
reverence.  The  trapper,  who  understood  that  the 
natives  often  worshipped,  with  a view  to  propi- 
tiate, the  evil  spirit,  awaited  the  workings  of  his 
artifice  with  the  coolness  of  one  who  had  not 
the  smallest  interest  in  its  effects.  It  was  not 
long  before  he  saw  one  dark  figure  after  another 
lashing  his  horse,  and  galloping  ahead  into  the 
centre  of  the  band,  until  Wcucha  alone  remained 
nigh  the  persons  of  himself  and  Obed.  The  very 
dulness  of  this  gro veiling-minded  savage,  who 
continued  gazing  at  the  supposed  conjurer  with 


a sort  of  stupid  admiration,  opposed  now  the 
only  obstacle  to  the  complete  success  of  his 
artifice. 

Thoroughly  understanding  the  character  of 
this  Indian,  the  old  man  lost  no  time  in  getting 
rid  of  him  also.  Riding  to  his  side  he  said,  in 
an  affected  whisper : 

“Has  Weucha  drunk  of  the  milk  of  the  Big- 
knives  to-day  ? ” 

“ Hugh  ! ” exclaimed  the  savage,  every  dull 
thought  instantly  recalled  from  heaven  to  earth 
by  the  question. 

“Because  the  great  captain. of  my  people, 
who  rides  in  front,  has  a cow  that  is  never  empty. 
I know  it  will  not  be  long  before  he  will  say,  ‘ Are 
any  of  my  red  brethren  dry  ? ’ ” 

The  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  before  Weu- 
cha, in  his  turn,  quickened  the  gait  of  his  beast, 
and  was  soon  blended  with  the  rest  of  the  dark 
group,  who  were  riding,  at  a more  moderate  pace, 
a few  rods  in  advance.  The  trapper,  who  knew 
how  fickle  and  sudden  were  the  changes  of  a 
savage  mind,  did  not  lose  a moment  in  profiting 
by  this  advantage.  He  loosened  the  reins  of  his 
own  impatient  steed,  and  in  an  instant  he 'was 
again  at  the  side  of  Obed. 

“ Do  you  see  the  twinkling  star,  that  is,  may- 
be, the  length  of  four  rifles  above  the  prairie— 
hereaway  to  the  north,  I mean  ? ” 

“ Ay,  it  is  of  the  constellation — ” 

“ A tut  for  your  constellations,  man  l do  you 
see  the  star  I mean  ? Tell  me  in  the  English  of 
the  land,  yes  or  no.” 

“ Yes.” 

“ The  moment  my  back  is  turned,  pull  upon 
the  rein  of  your  ass,  until  you  lose  sight  of  the 
savages.  Then  take  the  Lord  for  your  depend- 
ence, and  yonder  star  for  your  guide.  Turn 
neither  to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left,  but  make 
diligent  use  of  your  time,  for  your  beast  is  not 
quick  of  foot,  and  every  inch  of  prairie  you  gain 
is  a day  added  to  your  liberty,  or  to  your  life.” 

Without  waiting  to  listen  to  the  queries  which 
the  naturalist  was  about  to  put,  the  old  man  again 
loosened  the  reins  of  his  horse,  and  presently  he 
too  was  blended  with  the  group  in  front. 

Obed  was  now  alone.  Asinus  willingly  obeyed 
the  hint  which  his  master  soon  gave,  rather  in 
desperation  than  with  any  very  collected  under- 
standing of  the  orders  he  had  received,  and 
checked  his  pace  accordingly.  As  the  Tetons, 
however,  rode  at  a hand-gallop,  but  a moment  of 
time  was  necessary,  after  the  ass  began  to  walk, 
to  remove  them  effectually  from  before  the  vision 
of  his  rider.  Without  plan,  expectation,  or  hope 
of  any  sort,  except  that  of  escaping  from  his 


THE  DOCTOR’S  DISAPPEARANCE. 


Ill 


dangerous  neighbors,  the  doctor,  first  feeling  to 
assure  himself  that  the  package  which  contained 
the  miserable  remnants  of  his  specimens  and  notes 
was  safe  at  his  crupper,  turned  the  head  of  the 
beast  in  the  required  direction,  and,  kicking  him 
with  a species  of  fury,  he  soon  succeeded  in  ex- 
citing the  speed  of  the  patient  animal  into  a smart 
run.  He  had  barely  time  to  descend  into  a hol- 
low and  ascend  the  adjoining  swell  of  the  prairie 
before  he  heard,  or  fancied  he  heard,  his  name 
shouted  in  good  English  from  the  throats  of 
twenty  Tetons.  The  delusion  gave  a new  im- 
pulse to  his  ardor ; and  no  professor  of  the  sal- 
taut  art  ever  applied  himself  with  greater  indus- 
try than  the  naturalist  now  used  his  heels  on  the 
ribs  of  Asinus.  The  conflict  endured  for  several 
minutes  without  interruption,  and  to  all  appear- 
ances it  might  have  continued  to  the  present  mo- 
ment had  not  the  meek  temper  of  the  beast  be- 
come unduly  excited.  Borrowing  an  idea  from 
the  manner  in  which  his  master  exhibited  hi3 
agitation,  Asinus  so  far  changed  the  application 
of  his  own  heels  as  to  raise  them  simultaneously 
with  a certain  indignant  flourish  into  the  air,  a 
measure  that  instantly  decided  the  controversy 
in  his  favor.  Obed  took  leave  of  his  seat  as  of 
a position  no  longer  tenable,  continuing,  how- 
ever, the  direction  of  his  flight ; while  the  ass, 
like  a conqueror,  took  possession  of  the  field  of 
battle,  beginning  to  crop  the  dry  herbage  as  the 
fruits  of  victory. 

When  Dr.  Battius  had  recovered  his  feet 
and  rallied  his  faculties,  which  were  in  a good 
deal  of  disorder  from  the  hurried  manner  in  which 
he  had  abandoned  his  former  situation,  he  re- 
turned in  quest  of  his  specimens  and  of  his  ass. 
Asinus  displayed  enough  of  magnanimity  to  ren- 
der the  interview  amicable,  and  thenceforth  the 
naturalist  continued  the  required  route  with  very 
commendable  industry,  but  with  a much  more 
tempered  discretion. 

In  the  mean  time  the  old  trapper  had  not  lost 
sight  of  the  important  movements  that  he  had 
undertaken  to  control.  Obed  had  not  been  mis- 
taken in  supposing  that  he  was  already  missed’ 
and  sought,  though  his  imagination  had  corrupt- 
ed certain  savage  cries  into  the  well-known 
sounds  that  composed  his  own  Latinized  name. 
The  truth  was  simply  this  : The  warriors  of  the 
rear-guard  had  not  failed  to  apprise  those  in  front 
of  the  mysterious  character  with  which  it  had 
{.  leased  the  trapper  to  invest  the  unsuspecting  nat- 
uralist. The  same  untutored  admiration  which 
on  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence  had  driven  those 
in  the  rear  to  the  front,  now  drove  many  of  the 
front  to  the  rear.  The  doctor  was  of  course  ab- 


sent, and  the  outcry  was  no  more  than  the  wild 
yells  which  were  raised  in  the  first  burst  of  sav- 
age disappointment. 

But  the  authority  of  Mahtore®  was  prompt  to 
aid  the  ingenuity  of  the  trapper  in  suppressing 
these  dangerous  sounds.  When  order  was  restored 
and  the  former  was  made  acquainted  with  the  rea- 
son why  his  young  men  had  betrayed  so  strong  a 
mark  of  indiscretion,  the  old  man,  who  had  taken 
a post  at  his  elbow,  saw  with  alarm  the  gleam  of 
keen  distrust  that  flashed  in  his  swarthy  visage. 

‘‘  Where  is  your  conjurer  ? ” demanded  the 
chief,  turning  suddenly  to  the  trapper,  as  if  he 
meant  to  make  him  responsible  for  the  reappear- 
ance of  Obed. 

“ Can  I tell  my  brother  the  number  of  the 
stars  ? The  ways  of  a great  medicine  are  not  like 
the  ways  of  other  men.” 

Listen  to  me,  gray -head,  and  count  my 
words,”  continued  the  other,  bending  on  his  rude 
saddle-bow  like  some  chevalier  of  a more  civilized 
race,  and  speaking  in  the  haughty  tones  of  ab- 
solute power ; “ the  Dahcotahs  have  not  chosen  a 
woman  for  their  chief.  When  Mahtoree  feels  the 
power  of  a great  medicine,  he  will  tremble  ; until 
then  he  will  look  with  his  own  eyes,  without  bor- 
rowing sight  from  a pale-face.  If  your  conjurer 
is  not  with  his  friends  in  the  morning,  my  young 
men  shall  look  for  him.  Your  ears  are  open. 
Enough.” 

The  trapper  was  not  sorry  to  find  that  so  long 
a respite  was  granted.  He  had  before  found 
reason  to  believe  that  the  Teton  partisan  was 
one  of  those  bold  spirits  who  overstep  the  limits 
which  use  and  education  fix  to  the  opinions  of 
man  in  every  state  of  society,  and  he  now  saw 
plainly  that  he  must  adopt  some  artifice  to  de- 
ceive him,  different  from  that  which  had  succeed- 
ed so  well  with  his  followers.  The  sudden  ap- 
pearance of  the  rock,  however,  which  hove  up,  a 
bleak  and  ragged  mass,  out  of  the  darkness  ahead, 
put  an  end  for  the  present  to  the  discourse,  Mah- 
toree giving  all  his  thoughts  to  the  execution  of 
his  designs  on  the  rest  of  the  squatter’s  movables. 
A murmur  ran  through  the  band,  as  each  dark 
warrior  caught  a glimpse  of  the  desired  haven, 
after  which  the  nicest  ear  might  have  listened  in 
vain  to  catch  a sound  louder  than  the  rustling  of 
feet  among  the  tall  grass  of  the  prairie. 

But  the  vigilance  of  Esther  was  not  easily  de- 
ceived. She  had  long  listened  anxiously  to  the 
suspicious  sounds  which  approached  the  rock 
across  the  naked  waste,  nor  had  the  sudden  out- 
cry been  unheard  by  the  unwearied  sentinels  of 
the  rock.  The  savages,  who  had  dismounted  at 
some  little  distance,  had  not  time  to  draw  around 


112 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


the  base  of  the  hill  in  their  customary  silent  and 
insidious  manner,  before  the  voice  of  the  Amazon 
was  raised,  demanding — 

“ Who  is  beneath  ? Answer  for  your  lives  ! 
Siouxes  or  devils,  I fear  ye  not ! ” 

No  answer  was  given  to  this  challenge,  every 
warrior  halting  where  he  stood,  confident  that  his 
dusky  form  was  blended  with  the  shadows  of  the 
plain.  It  was  at  this  moment  that  the  trapper 
determined  to  escape.  He  had  been  left,  with  the 
rest  of  his  friends,  under  the  surveillance  of 
those  who  were  assigned  to  the  duty  of  watching 
the  horses,  and,  as  they  all  continued  mounted, 
the  moment  appeared  favorable  to  his  project. 
The  attention  of  the  guards  was  drawn  to  the 
rock,  and  a heavy  cloud,  driving  above  them  at 
that  instant,  obscured  even  the  feeble  light  which 
fell  from  the  stars.  Leaning  on  the  neck  of  his 
horse,  the  old  man  muttered  : 

“ Where  is  my  pup  ? Where  is  it — Hector — 
where  is  it,  dog  ? ” 

The  hound  caught  the  well-known  sounds, 
and  answered  by  a .whine  of  friendship,  which 
threatened  to  break  out  into  one  of  his  piercing 
howls.  The  trapper  was  in  the  act  of  raising 
himself  from  this  successful  exploit,  when  he  felt 
the  hand  of  Weucha  grasping  his  throat,  as  if 
determined  to  suppress  his  voice  by  the  very 
unequivocal  process  of  strangulation.  Profiting 
by  the  circumstance,  he  raised  another  low 
sound,  as  in  the  natural  effort  of  breathing,  which 
drew  a second  responsive  cry  from  the  faithful 
hound.  Weucha  instantly  abandoned  his  hold 
of  the  master  in  order  to  wreak  his  vengeance  on 
the  dog.  But  the  voice  of  Esther  was  again 
heard,  and  every  other  design  was  abandoned  in 
order  to  listen. 

“ Ay,  whine  and  deform  your  throats  as  you 
may,  ye  imps  Of  darkness,”  she  said,  with  a 
cracked  but  scornful  laugh  ; “ I know  ye  ; tarry, 
and  ye  shall  have  light  for  your  misdeeds. — Put 
in  the  coal,  Phoebe  ; put  in  the  coal ; your  father 
and  the  boys  shall  see  that  they  are  wanted  at 
home,  to  welcome  their  guests.” 

As  she  spoke,  a strong  light,  like  that  of  a 
brilliant  star,  was  seen  on  the  very  pinnacle  of 
the  rock ; then  followed  a forked  flame,  which 
curled  for  a moment  amid  the  windings  of  an 
enormous  pile  of  brush,  and,  flashing  upward  in 
a united  sheet,  it  wavered  to  and  fro,  in  the  pass- 
ing air,  shedding  a bright  glare  on  every  object 
within  its  influence.  A taunting  laugh  was  heard 
from  the  height,  in  which  the  voices  of  all  ages 
mingled,  as  though  they  triumphed  at  having  so 
successfully  exposed  the  treacherous  intentions 
»f  the  Tetons. 


The  trapper  looked  about  him  to  ascertain  in 
what  situations  he  might  find  his  friends.  True 
to  the  signals,  Middleton  and  Paul  had  drawn  a 
little  apart,  and  now  stood  ready,  by  every  ap- 
pearance, to  commence  their  flight  at  the  third 
repetition  of  the  cry.  Hector  had  escaped  his 
savage  pursuer,  and  was  again  crouching  at  the 
heels  of  his  master’s  horse.  But  the  broad  cir- 
cle of  light  was  gradually  increasing  in  extent 
and  power,  and  the  old  man,  whose  eye  and  judg- 
ment so  rarely  failed  him,  patiently  awaited  a 
more  propitious  moment  for  his  enterprise. 

“Now,  Ishmael,  my  man,  if  sight  and  handar’ 
true  as  ever,  now  is  the  time  to  work  upon  these 
red-skins,  who  claim  to  own  all  your  property, 
even  to  your  wife  and  children  ! Now,  my  good 
man,  prove  both  breed  and  character ! ” 

A distant  shout  was  heard  in  the  direction  of 
the  approaching  party  of  the  squatter,  assuring 
the  female  garrison  that  succor  was  not  far  dis- 
tant. Esther  answered  to  the  grateful  sounds  by 
a cracked  cry  of  her  own,  lifting  her  form,  in  the 
first  burst  of  exultation,  above  the  rock  in  a man- 
ner to  be  visible  to  all  below.  Not  content  with 
this  dangerous  exposure  of  her  person,  she  was 
in  the  act  of  tossing  her  arms  in  triumph,  when 
the  dark  figure  of  Mahtoree  shot  into  the  light 
and  pinioned  them  to  her  side.  The  forms  of 
three  other  warriors  glided  across  the  top  bf  the 
rock,  looking  like  naked  demons  flitting  among 
the  clouds.  The  air  was  filled  withthe  brands  of 
the  beacon,  and  a heavy  darkness  succeeded,  not 
unlike  that  of  the  appalling  instant  when  the  last 
rays  of  the  sun  are  excluded  by  the  intervening 
mass  of  the  moon.  A yell  of  triumph  burst 
from  the  savages  in  their  turn,  and  was  rather 
accompanied  than  followed  by  a long,  loud  whine 
from  Hector. 

In  an  instant  the  old  man  was  between  the 
horses  of  Middleton  and  Paul,  extending  a hand 
to  the  bridle  of  each,  in  order  to  check  the  impa- 
tience of  their  riders. 

“ Softly,  softly,”  he  whispered,  “ their  eyes 
are  as  marvellously  shut  for  the  minute  as  if  the 
Lord  had  stricken  them  blind  ; but  their  ears  are 
open.  Softly,  softly ; for  fifty  rods,  at  least,  we 
must  move  no  faster  than  a walk.” 

The  five  minutes  of  doubt  that  succeeded  ap 
peared  like  an  age  to  all  but  the  trapper.  As 
their  sight  was  gradually  restored,  it  seemed  to 
each  that  the  momentary  gloom  which  followed 
the  extinction  of  the  beacon  was  to  be  replaced 
by  as  broad  a light  as  that  of  noonday.  Grad- 
ually the  old  man,  however,  suffered  the  animals 
to  quicken  their  steps,  until  they  had  gained  the 
centre  of  one  of  the  prairie-bottoms.  Then. 


CAPTAIN  MIDDLETON  AND*  THE  FUGITIVES. 


113 


.aughing  in  his  quiet  manner,  he  released  the 
reins,  and  said : 

“ Now  let  them  give  play  to  their  logs ; but 
keep  on  the  old  fog  to  deaden  the  sounds.” 

It  is  needless  to  say  how  cheerfully  he  was 
obeyed.  In  a few  more  minutes  they  ascended 
and  crossed  a swell  of  the  land,  after  which  the 
flight  was  continued  at  the  top  of  their  horses’ 
speed,  keeping  the  indicated  star  in  view,  as  the 
laboring  bark  steers  for  the  light  which  points 
the  way  to  a haven  and  security. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

“ The  clouds  and  sunbeams  o’er  his  eye, 

That  once  their  shades  and  glories  threw, 

Have  left,  in  yonder  silent  sky, 

Ho  vestige  where  they  flew.” 

Montgomery. 

A stillness,  as  deep  as  that  which  marked 
tbe  gloomy  wastes  in  their  front,  was  observed 
by  the  fugitives  to  distinguish  the  spot  they  had 
just  abandoned.  Even  the  trapper  lent  his  prac- 
tised faculties,  in  vain,  to  detect  any  of  the  well- 
known  signs  which  might  establish  the  important 
fact  that  hostilities  had  actually  commenced  be- 
tween the  parties  of  Mahtoree  and  Ishmael ; but 
their  horses  carried  them  out  of  the  reach  of 
sounds,  without  the  occurrence  of  the  smallest 
evidence  of  the  sort.  The  old  man,  from  time  to 
time,  muttered  his  discontent,  but  manifested  the 
uneasiness  he  actually  entertained  in  no  other 
manner,  unless  it  might  be  in  exhibiting  a grow- 
ing anxiety  to  urge  the  animals  to  increase  their 
speed.  He  pointed  out,  in  passing,  the  deserted 
swale  where  the  family  of  the  squatter  had  en- 
camped, the  night  they  were  introduced  to  the 
reader,  and  afterward  he  maintained  an  ominous 
silence — ominous,  because  his  companions  had 
already  seen  enough  of  his  character  to  be  con- 
vinced that  the  circumstances  must  be  critical  in- 
deed which  possessed  the  power  to  disturb  the 
well-regulated  tranquillity  of  the  old  man’s  mind. 

“ Have  we  not  done  enough  ? ” Middleton 
demanded,  in  tenderness  to  the  inability  of  Inez 
and  Ellen  to  endure  so  much  fatigue,  at  the  end 
of  some  hours ; “ we  have  ridden  hard,  and  have 
crossed  a wide  tract  of  plain.  It  is  time  to  seek 
a place  of  rest.” 

“ You  must  seek  it,  then,  in  heaven,  if  you  find 
yourselves  unequal  to  a longer  march,”  murmured 
the  old  trapper.  “ Had  the  Tetons  and  the 
squatter  come  to  blows,  as  any  one  might  see  in 
the  natur’  of  things  they  were  bound  to  do,  there 
8 


would  be  time  to  look  about  us,  and  to  calculate 
not  only  the  chances  but  the  comforts  of  the 
journey ; but,  as  the  case  actually  is,  I should 
consider  it  certain  death,  or  endless  captivity,  to 
trust  our  eyes  with  sleep  until  our  heads  are  fairly 
hid  in  some  uncommon  cover.” 

“ I know  not,”  returned  the  youth,  who  re- 
flected more  on  the  sufferings  of  tbe  fragile  being 
he  supported,  than  on  the  experience  of  his  com- 
panion— “ I know  not ; we  have  ridden  leagues, 
and  I can  see  no  extraordinary  signs  of  danger : 
if  you  fear  for  yourself,  my  good  friend,  believe 
me  you  are  wrong,  for — ” 

“ Your  gran’ther,  were  he  living  and  here,” 
interrupted  the  old  man,  stretching  forth  a hand, 
and  laying  a finger  impressively  on  the  arm  of 
Middleton,  “ would  have  spared  those  words.  He 
had  some  reason  to  think  that,  in  the  prime  of 
my  days,  when  my  eye  was  quicker  than  the 
hawk’s,  and  my  limbs  were  as  active  as  the  legs 
of  the  fallow-deer,  I never  clung  too  eagerly  and 
fondly  to  life : then  why  should  I now  feel  such  a 
childish  affection  for  a thing  that  I know  to  be 
vain,  and  the  companion  of  pain  and  sorrow  ? 
Let  the  Tetons  do  their  worst ; they  will  not  find 
a miserable  and  worn-out  trapper  the  loudest  in 
his  complaints  or  his  prayers.” 

“Pardon  me,  my  worthy,  my  inestimable 
friend,”  exclaimed  the  repentant  young  man, 
warmly  grasping  the  hand  which  the  other  was  in 
the  act  of  withdrawing;  “I  knew  not  what  I 
said — or  rather  I thought  only  of  those  whose 
tenderness  we  are  most  bound  to  consider.” 

“ Enough.  It’s  natur’,  and  it  is  right.  There- 
in your  gran’ther  would  have  done  the  very  same. 
Ah’s  me ! what  a number  of  seasons,  hot  and 
cold,  wet  and  dry,  have  rolled  over  my  poor  head, 
since  the  time  we  worried  it  out  together,  among 
the  red  Hurons  of  the  lakes,  back  in  those  rug- 
ged mountains  of  Old  York ! and  many  a noble 
buck  has  since  that  day  fallen  by  my  hand ; ay, 
and  many  a thieving  Mingo  too ! Tell  me,  lad, 
did  the  general,  for  general  I know  he  got  to  be, 
did  he  ever  tell  you  of  the  deer  we  took,  that 
night  the  outliers  of  the  accursed  tribe  drove  us 
to  the  caves  on  the  island,  and  how  we  feasted 
and  drunk  in  security  ? ” 

“ I have  often  heard  him  mention  the  smallest 
circumstance  of  the  night  you  mean  ; but — ” 

“ And  the  singer ; and  his  open  throat ; and 
his  shoutings  in  the  fights  ! ” continued  the  old 
man,  laughing  joyously  at  the  strength  of  his  own 
recollections. 

“ All — all — he  forgot  nothing,  even  to  the 
most  trifling  incident.  Do  you  not — ” 

“ What ! did  he  tell  you  of  the  imp  behind  the 


114 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


log — and  of  the  miserable  devil  who  went  over 
the  fall — or  of  the  wretch  in  the  tree  ? ” 

“ Of  each  and  all,  with  every  thing  that  con- 
cerned them.*  I should  think — ” 

“ Ay,”  continued  the  old  man,  in  a voice  which 
betrayed  how  powerfully  his  own  faculties  re- 
tained the  impression  of  the  spectacle,  “ I have 
been  a dweller  in  forests  and  in  the  wilderness  for 
threescore  and  ten  years,  and  if  any  can  pretend 
to  know  the  world,  or  to  have  seen  scary  sights, 
it  is  myself ! But  never,  before  nor  since,  have  I 
seen  human  man  in  such  a state  of  mortal  despair 
as  that  very  savage ; and  yet  he  scorned  to  speak, 
or  to  cry  out,  or  to  own  his  forlorn  condition ! 
It  is  their  gift,  and  nobly  did  he  maintain  it ! ” 

“ Harkee,  old  trapper,”  interrupted  Paul,  who, 
content  with  the  knowledge  that  his  waist  was 
grasped  by  one  of  the  arms  of  Ellen,  had  hither- 
to ridden  in  unusual  silence ; “ my  eyes  are  as 
true  and  as  delicate  as  a humming-bird’s  in  the 
day,  but.  they  are  nothing  worth  boasting  of  by 
starlight.  Is  that  a sick  buffalo  crawling  along 
in  the  bottom  there,  or  is  it  one  of  the  stray  cat- 
tle of  the  savages  ? ” 

The  whole  party  drew  up,  in  order  to  examine 
the  object  which  Paul  had  pointed  out.  During 
most  of  the  time  they  had  ridden  in  the  little 
vales  in  order  to  seek  the  protection  of  the 
shadows,  but  just  at  that  moment  they  had 
ascended  a roll  of  the  prairie  in  order  to  cross  in- 
to the  very  bottom  where  this  unknown  animal 
was  now  seen. 

“ Let  us  descend,”  said  Middleton ; “ be  it 
beast  or  man,  we  are  too  strong  to  have  any  cause 
of  fear.” 

“ Now,  if  the  thing  was  not  morally  impos- 
sible,” cried  the  trapper,  who  the  reader  must 
have  already  discovered  was  not  always  exact  in 
the  use  of  qualifying  words,  “if  the  thing  was 
not  morally  impossible,  I should  say  that  was  the 
man  who  journeys  in  search  of  reptiles  and  in- 
sects— our  fellow-traveller,  the  doctor.” 

“ Why  impossible  ? did  you  not  direct  him  to 
pursue  this  course,  in  order  to  rejoin  us  ? ” 

“ Ay,  but  I did  not  tell  him  to  make  an  ass 
outdo  the  speed  of  a horse.  You  are  right— you 
are  right,”  said  the  trapper,  interrupting  himself, 
as,  by  gradually  lessening  the  distance  between 
them,  his  eyes  assured  him  it  was  Obed  and  Asi- 
.ius  whom  he  saw — “ you  are  right,  as  certainly  as 
the  thing  is  a miracle.  Lord,  what  a thing  is  fear ! 
— How  now,  friend ; you  have  been  industrious  to 


* They  who  have  read  the  preceding  books,  in  which  the 
trapper  appears  as  a hunter  and  a scout,  will  readily  under- 
stand the  allusions. 


have  got  so  far  ahead  in  so  short  a time.  I mar- 
vel  at  the  speed  of  the  ass ! ” 

“ Asinus  is  overcome,”  returned  the  naturalist, 
mournfully.  “ The  animal  has  certainly  not  been 
idle  since  we  separated,  but  he  declines  all  my 
admonitions  and  invitations  to  proceed.  I hope 
there  is  no  instant  fear  from  the  savages  ? ” 

“I  cannot  say  that — I cannot  say  that;  mat- 
ters are  not  as  they  should  be  atween  the  squat- 
ter and  the  Tetons,  nor  will  I answer  as  yet  for 
the  safety  of  any  scalp  among  us.  The  beast  is 
broken  down ; you  have  urged  him  beyond  his 
natural  gifts,  and  he  is  like  a worried  hound. 
There  is  pity  and  discretion  in  all  things,  even 
though  a man  be  riding  for  his  life.” 

“You  indicated  the  star,”  returned  the  doctor, 
“ and  I deemed  it  expedient  to  use  great  diligence 
in  pursuing  the  direction.” 

“ Did  you  expect  to  reach  it  by  such  haste  ? 
Go,  go ; you  talk  boldly  of  the  creatur’s  of  the 
Lord,  though  I plainly  see  you  are  but  a child  in 
matters  that  concern  their  gifts  an,d  instincts. 
What  a plight  would  you  now  be  in,  if  there  was 
need  for  a long  and  a quick  push  with  our 
heels ! ” 

“The  fault  exists  in  the  formation  of  the 
quadruped,”  said  Obed,  whose  placid  temper  be- 
gan to  revolt  under  so  many  scandalous  imputa- 
tions. “ Had  there  been  ^rotary  levers  for  two  of 
the  members,  a moiety  of  the  fatigue  would  have 
been  saved,  for  one  item — ” 

“That,  for  your  moiety’s  and  rotaries  and 
items,  man ; a jaded  ass  is  a jaded  ass,  and  he 
who  denies  it  is  but  a brother  of  the  beast  itself. 
Now,  captain,  are  w'e  driven  to  choose  one  of  two 
evils.  We  must  either  abandon  this  man,  who 
has  been  too  much  with  us  through  good  and  bad 
to  be  easily  cast  away,  or  we  must  seek  a cover  to 
let  the  animal  rest.” 

“Venerable  Venator!”  exclaimed  the  alarmed 
Obed,  “ I conjure  you  by  all  the  secret  sympa- 
thies of  our  common  nature,  by  all  the  hidden — ” 
“ Ah,  fear  has  brought  him  to  talk  a little  ra 
tional  sense ! It  is  not  natur’,  truly,  to  abandon  a 
brother  in  distress,  and  the  Lord  he  knows  that  3 
have  never  yet  done  the  shameful  deed.  You  are 
right,  friend,  you  are  right ; we  must  all  be  hid- 
den, and  that  speedily.  But  what  to  do  with  the 
ass  1 Friend  doctor,  do  you  truly  value  the  life 
of  the  creatur’  ? ” 

“He  is  an  ancient  and  faithful  .servant,”  re- 
turned the  disconsolate  Obed,  “and  with  pain 
should  I see  him  come  to  any  harm.  Fetter  his 
lower  limbs,  and  leave  him  to  repose  in  this  bed 
of  herbage.  I will  engage  he  shall  be  found 
where  he  is  left,  in  the  morning.” 


OBED’S  REAPPEARANCE. 


115 


* And  the  Siouxes  ? What  would  become  of 
the  beast  should  any  of  the  red  imps  catch  a peep 
at  his  ears,  growing  up  out  of  the  grass  like  two 
mullein  - tops  ? ” cried  the  bee -hunter.  “They 
would  stick  him  as  full  of  arrows  as  a woman’s 
cushion  is  full  of  pins,  and  then  believe  they  had 
done  the  job  for  the  father  of  all  rabbits  ! My 
word  for  it,  but  they  would  find  out  their  blunder 
at  the  first  mouthful ! ” 

Middleton,  who  began  to  grow  impatient  under 
the  protracted  discussion,  interposed,  and,  as  a 
good  deal  of  deference  was  paid  to  his  rank,  he 
quickly  prevailed  in  his  efforts  to  effect  a sort  of 
compromise.  The  humble  Asinus,  too  meek  and 
too  weary  to  make  any  resistance,  was  soon 
tethered  and  deposited  in  his  bed  of  dying  grass, 
where  he  was  left,  with  a perfect  confidence  on  the 
part  of  his  master  of  finding  him  again,  at  the 
expiration  of  a few  hours.  The  old  man  strong- 
ly remonstrated  against  this  arrangement,  and 
more  than  once  hinted  that  the  knife  was  much 
more  certain  than  the  tether ; but  the  petitions 
of  Obed,  aided  perhaps  by  the  secret  reluctance 
of  the  trapper  to  destroy  the  beast,  were  the 
means  of  saving  its  life.  When  Asinus  was  thus 
secured,  and  as  his  master  believed  secreted,  the 
whole  party  proceeded  to  find  some  place  where 
they  might  rest  themselves,  during  the  time  re- 
quired for  the  repose  of  the  animal. 

According  to  the  calculations  of  the  trapper, 
they  had  ridden  twenty  miles  since  the  commence- 
ment of  their  flight.  The  delicate  frame  of  Inez 
began  to  droop  under  the  excessive  fatigue,  nor 
was  the  more  robust  but  still  feminine  person  of 
Ellen  insensible  to  the  extraordinary  effort  she 
had  made.  Middleton  himself  was  not  sorry  to 
repose,  nor  did  the  vigorous  and  high-spirited 
Paul  hesitate  to  confess  that  he  should  be  all  the 
better  for  a little  rest.  The  old  man  alone  seemed 
indifferent  to  the  usual  claims  of  Nature.  Al- 
though but  little  accustomed  to  the  unusual  de- 
scription of  exercise  he  had  just  been  taking,  he 
appeared  to  bid  defiance  to  all  the  usual  attacks 
of  human  infirmities.  Though  evidently  so  near 
its  dissolution,  his  attenuated  frame  still  stood 
like  the  shaft  of  seasoned  oak,  dry,  naked,  and 
tempest-riven,  but  unbending  and  apparently  iu- 
durated  to  the  consistency  of  stone.  On  the  pres- 
ent occasion  he  conducted  the  search  for  a rest- 
ing-place, which  was  immediately  commenced, 
with  all  the  energy  of  youth,  tempered  by  the  dis- 
cretion and  experience  of  his  great  age. 

The  bed  of  grass  in  which  the  doctor  had 
been  met,  and  in  which  his  ass  had  just  been 
left,  was  followed  a little  distance  until  it  was  found 
that  the  rolling  swells  of  the  prairie  were  melt- 


ing away  into  one  vast  level  plain,  that  was  cov 
ered,  for  miles  on  miles,  with  the  same  species  of 
herbage. 

“Ah,  this  may  do,  this  may  do,”  said  the  old 
man,  when  they  arrived  on  the  borders  of  this 
sea  of  withered  grass.  “ I know  the  spot,  and 
often  have  I lain  in  its  secret  holes,  for  days  at  a 
time,  while  the  savages  have  been  hunting  the 
buffaloes  on  the  open  ground.  We  must  enter- it 
with  great  care,  for  a broad  trail  might  be  seen, 
and  Indian  curiosity  is  a dangerous  neighbor.” 

Leading  the  way  himself,  he  selected  a spot 
where  the  tall,  coarse  herbage  stood  most  erect, 
growing  not  unlike  a bed  of  reeds,  both  in  height 
and  density.  Here  he  entered,  singly,  directing 
the  others  to  follow  as  nearly  as  possible  in  his 
own 'footsteps.  When  they  had  passed  for  some 
hundred  or  two  feet  into  the  wilderness  of  weeds, 
he  gave  his  directions  to  Paul  and  Middleton,  who 
continued  a direct  route  deeper  into  the  place, 
while  he  dismounted  and  returned  on  his  tracks 
to  the  margin  of  the  meadow.  Here  he  passed 
many  minutes  in  replacing  the  trodden  grass,  and 
in  effacing,  as  far  as  possible,  every  evidence  of 
their  passage. 

In  the  mean  time  the  rest  of  the  party  con- 
tinued their  progress,  not  without  toil,  and  con- 
sequently at  a very  moderate  gait,  until  they  had 
penetrated  a mile  into  the  place.  Here  they 
found  a spot  suited  to  their  circumstances,  and, 
dismounting,  they  began  to  make  their  disposi- 
tions to  pass  the  remainder  of  the  night.  By  this 
time  the  trapper  had  rejoined  the  party,  and 
again  resumed  the  direction  of  their  proceed- 
ings. 

The  weeds  and  grass  were  soon  plucked  and 
cut  from  an  area  of  sufficient  extent,  and  a bed 
for  Inez  and  Ellen  was  speedily  made,  a little 
apart,  which  for  sweetness  and  ease  might  have 
rivalled  one  of  down.  The  exhausted  females, 
after  receiving  some  light  refreshments  from  the 
provident  stores  of  Paul  and  the  old  man,  now 
sought  their  repose,  leaving  their  more  stout  com- 
panions at  liberty  to  provide  for  their  own  neces 
sities.  Middleton  and  Paul  were  not  long  in  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  their  betrothed,  leaving  the 
trapper  and  the  naturalist  still  seated  around  a 
savory  dish  of  bison’s-meat,  which  bad  been 
cooked  at  a previous  halt,  and  which  was,  as  usual, 
eaten  cold. 

A certain  lingering  sensation,  which  had  so 
long  been  uppermost  in  the  mind  of  Obed,  tempo- 
rarily banished  sleep ; and  as  for  the  old  man,  his 
wants  were  rendered,  by  habit  and  necessity,  as 
seemingly  subject  to  his  will  as  if  they  altogether 
depended  on  the  pleasure  of  the  moment.  Like 


i 16 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


his  companion,  he  chose,  therefore,  to  watch  in- 
stead of  sleeping. 

“ If  the  children  of  ease  and  security  knew  the 
hardships  and  dangers  the  students  of  Nature 
encounter  in  their  behalf,”  said  Obed,  after  a mo- 
ment of  silence  when  Middleton  took  his  leave  for 
the  night,  “ pillars  of  silver  and  .statues  of  brass 
would  be  reared  as  the  everlasting  monuments  of 
their  glory  ! ” 

“ I know  not — I know  not,”  returned  his  com- 
panion ; “ silver  is  far  from  plenty,  at  least  in  the 
wilderness,  and  your  brazen  idols  are  forbidden  in 
the  commandments  of  the  Lord.” 

“ Such,  indeed,  was  the  opinion  of  the  great  law- 
giver of  the  Jews,  but  the  Egyptians  and  the  Chal- 
deans, the  Greeks  and  the  Romans,  were  (wont 
to  manifest  their  gratitude  in  these  types  of  the 
human  form.  Indeed,  many  of  the  illustrious 
masters  of  antiquity  have,  by  the  aid  of  science 
and  skill,  even  outdone  the  works  of  Nature,  and 
exhibited  a beauty  and  perfection  in  the  human 
form  that  are  difficult  to  be  found  in  the  rarest  liv- 
ing specimens  of  any  of  the  species ; genus  homo.” 

“ Can  your  idols  walk  or  speak,  or  have  they  the 
glorious  gift  of  reason  ? ” demanded  the  trapper 
with  some  indignation  in  his  voice . “ Though  but 
little  given  to  run  into  the  noise  and  chatter  of  the 
settlements,  yet  have  I been  into  the  towns  in  my 
day  to  barter  the  peltry  for  lead  and  powder,  and 
often  have  I seen  your  waxen  dolls  with  their  taw- 
dry clothes  and  glass  eyes — ” 

“Waxen  dolls!”  interrupted  Obed;  “it  is 
profanation  in  the  view  of  the  arts  to  liken  the 
miserable  handiwork  of  the  dealers  in  wax  to  the 
pure  models  of  antiquity  ! ” 

“ It  is  profanation  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,” 
retorted  the  old  man,  “ to  liken  the  works  of  his 
creatures  to  the  power  of  his  own  hand.” 

“ Venerable  Venator,”  resumed  the  naturalist, 
clearing  his  throat  like  one  who  was  much  in  ear- 
nest, “ let  us  discuss  understandingly  and  in  amity. 
You  speak  of  the  dross  of  ignorance,  whereas  my 
memory  dwells  on  those  precious  jewels  which  it 
was  my  happy  fortune  formerly  to  witness  among 
the  treasured  glories  of  the  Old  World.” 

“ Old  World  ! ” retorted  the  trapper,  “ that  is 
the  miserable  cry  of  all  the  half-starved  miscreants 
that  have  come  into  this  blessed  land  since  the  days 
of  my  boyhood  ! They  tell  you  of  the  Old  World, 
as  if  the  Lord  had  not  the  power  and  the  will  to 
create  the  universe  in  a day ; or  as  if  he  had  not 
bestowed  his  gifts  with  an  equal  hand,  though  not 
with  an  equal  mind  or  equal  wisdom  have  they 
been  received  and  used.  Were  they  to  say  a worn- 
out,  and  an  abused , and  a sacrilegious  world,  they 
might  not  be  so  far  from  the  truth  ! ” 


Dr.  Battius,  who  found  it  quite  as  arduous 
task  to  maintain  any  of  his  favorite  positions  with 
so  irregular  an  antagonist,  as  he  would  have  found 
it  difficult  to  keep  his  feet  within  the  hug  of  a West- 
ern wrestler,  hemmed  aloud,  and  profited  by  the 
new  opening  the  trapper  had  made  to  shift  the 
grounds  of  the  discussion : 

“By  Old  and  New  World,  my  excellent  asso- 
ciate, ” he  said,  “ it  is  not  to  be  understood  that 
the  hills  and  the  valleys,  the  rocks  and  the  rivers 
of  our  own  moiety  of  the  earth  do  not,  physically 
speaking,  bear  a date  as  ancient  as  the  spot  on 
which  the  bricks  of  Babylon  are  found.  It  merely 
signifies  that  its  moral  existence  is  not  coequal 
with  its  physical  or  geological  formation.” 

“ Anan ! ” said  the  old  man,  looking  up  inquir- 
ingly, into  the  face  of  the  philosopher. 

“ Merely  that  it  has  not  been  so  long  known  in 
morals  as  the  other  countries  of  Christendom.” 

“ So  much  the  better,  so  much  the  better.  I 
am  no  great  admirator  of  your  old  morals,  as  you 
call  them  ; for  I have  ever  found,  and  I have  lived 
long  as  it  were  in  the  very  heart  of  Natur’,  that 
your  old  morals  are  none  of  the  best.  Mankind 
twist  and  turn  the  rules  of  the  Lord,  to  suit  their 
own  wickedness,  when  their  devilish  cunning  has 
had  too  much  time  to  trifle  with  his  commands.” 

“ Nay,  venerable  hunter,  still  am  I not  compre- 
hended. By  morals  I do  not  mean  the  limited  and 
literal  signification  of  the  term,  such  as  is  con- 
veyed in  its  synonyme,  morality,  but  the  practices 
of  men,  as  connected  with  their  daily  intercourse, 
their  institutions,  and  their  laws.” 

“ And  such  I call  barefaced  and  downright 
wantonness  and  waste,”  interrupted  his  sturdy 
disputant. 

“Well,  be  it  so,”  returned  the  doctor,  aban- 
doning the  explanation  in  despair.  “Perhaps  I 
have  conceded  too  much,”  he  then  instantly  added, 
fancying  that  he  still  saw  the  glimmerings  of  an 
argument  through  another  chink  in  the  discourse. 
“ perhaps  I have  conceded  too  much  in  saying 
that  this  hemisphere  is  literally  as  old  in  its  for- 
mation as  that  which  embraces  the  venerable 
quarters  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa.” 

“ It  is  easy  to  say  a pine  is  not  so  tall  as  an 
alder,  but  it  would  be  hard  to  prove.  Can  you 
give  a reason  for  such  a belief?  ” 

“The  reasons  are  numerous  and  powerful,” 
returned  the  doctor,  delighted  by  this  encouraging 
opening.  “ Look  into  the  plains  of  Egypt  and 
Arabia ; their  sandy  deserts  teem  with  the  monu- 
ments of  their  antiquity : and  then  we  have  also 
recorded  documents  of  their  glory,  doubling  the 
proofs  of  their  former  greatness,  now  that  they  lie 
stripped  of  their  fertility,  while  we  look  in  vain  for 


AN  INTERESTING  DISCUSSION. 


117 


similar  evidences  that  man  has  ever  reached  the 
summit  of  civilization  on  this  continent,  or  search, 
without  our  reward,  for  the  path  by  which  he  has 
made  the  downward  journey  to  his  present  condi- 
tion of  second  childhood.” 

“And what  see  you  in  all  this  ? ” demanded  the 
trapper,  who,  though  a little  confused  by  the 
terms  of  his  companion,  seized  the  thread  of  his 
ideas. 

“A  demonstration  of  my  problem,  that  Nature 
did  not  make  so  vast  a region  to  lie  an  uninhabited 
waste  so  many  ages.  This  is  merely  the  moral 
view  of  the  subject;  as  to  the  more  exact  and 
geological — ” 

“ Your  morals  are  exact  enough  for  me,”  re- 
turned the  old  man ; “ for  I think  I see  in  them 
the  very  pride  of  folly.  I am  but  little  gifted  in  the 
fables  of  what  you  call  the  Old  World,  seeing  that 
my  time  has  been  mainly  passed  looking  Natur’ 
steadily  in  the  face,  and  in  reasoning  on  what  I’ve 
seen  rather  than  on  what  I’ve  heard  in  traditions. 
But  I have  never  shut  my  ears  to  the  words  of  the 
good  book ; and  many  is  the  long  winter  evening 
that  I have  passed  in  the  wigwams  of  the  Dela- 
wares, listening  to  the  good  Moravians,  as  they 
dealt  forth  the  history  and  doctrines  of  the  elder 
times  to  the  people  of  the  Lenape  ! It  was  pleas- 
ant  to  hearken  to  such  wisdom  after  a weary 
hunt ! Right  pleasant  did  I find  it,  and  often  have 
I talked  the  matter  over  with  the  Great  Serpent 
of  the  Delawares,  in  the  more  peaceful  hours  of 
our  outlyings,  whether  it  might  be  on  the  trail  of 
a war-party  of  the  Mingoes,  or  on  the  watch  for  a 
York  deer.  I remember  to  have  heard  it,  then 
and  there,  said,  that  the  Blessed  Land  was  once 
fertile  as  the  bottoms  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
groaning  with  its  stores  of  grain  and  fruits  ; but 
that  the  judgment  has  since  fallen  upon  it,  and 
that  it  is  now  more  remarkable  for  its  barrenness 
than  any  qualities  to  boast  of.” 

“ It  is  true ; but  Egypt,  nay  much  of  Africa, 
furnishes  still  more  striking  proofs  of  this  exhaus- 
tion of  Nature.” 

“ Tell  me,”  interrupted  the  old  man ; “ is  it  a 
certain  truth  that  buildings  are  still  standing  in 
that  land  of  Pharaoh,  which  may  be  likened,  in 
their  stature,  to  the  hills  of  the  ’arth  ? ” 

“ It  is  as  true  as  that  Nature  never  refuses  to 
bestow  her  incisores  on  the  animals , mammalia  ; 
genus,  homo — ” 

“It  is  very  marvellous ; and  it  proves  how 
great  He  must  be,  when  his  miserable  creatur’s  can 
accomplish  such  wonders  ! Many  men  must  have 
been  needed  to  finish  such  an  edifice  ; ay,  and 
men  gifted  with  strength  and  skill  too  ! Does 
tne  land  abound  with  such  a race  to  this  hour  ? ” 


“ Far  from  it.  Most  of  the  country  is  a desert, 
and  but  for  a mighty  river  all  would  be  so.” 

“ Yes,  rivers  are  rare  gifts  to  such  as  till  the 
ground;  as  any  one  may  see  who  journeys  far 
atween  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Mississippi. 
But  how  do  you  account  for  these  changes  on  the 
face  of  the  ’arth  itself,  and  for  this  downfall  of 
nations,  you  men  of  the  schools  ? ” 

“It  is  to  be  ascribed  to  moral  cau — ” 

“ You’re  right — it  is  their  morals ; their  wick- 
edness and  their  pride,  and  chiefly  their  waste, 
that  has  done  it  all.  Now,  listen  to  what  the 
experience  of  an  old  man  teaches  him.  I have 
lived  long,  as  these  gray  hairs  and  wrinkled  hands 
will  show,  even  though  my  tongue  should  fail  in 
the  wisdom  of  my  years.  And  I have  seen  much 
of  the  folly  of  man  ; for  his  natur’  is  the  same, 
be  he  born  in  the  wilderness,  or  be  he  born  in  the 
towns.  To  my  weak  judgment  it  hath  ever 
seemed  that  his  gifts  are  not  equal  to  his  wishes. 
That  he  would  mount  into  the  heavens,  with  all 
his  deformities  about  him,  if  he  only  knew  the 
road,  no  one  will  gainsay,  that  witnesses  his  bit- 
ter strivings  upon  ’arth.  If  his  power  is  not  equal 
to  his  will,  it  is  because  the  wisdom  of  the  Lord 
hath  set  bounds  to  his  evil  workings.” 

“ It  is  much  too  certain  that  certain  facts  will 
warrant  a theory,  which  teaches  the  natural  de- 
pravity of  the  genus;  but,  if  science  could  be 
fairly  brought  to  bear  on  a whole  species  at  once, 
for  instance,  education  might  eradicate  the  evil 
principle.” 

“That,  for  your  education!  The  time  has 
been  when  I have  thought  it  possible  to  make  a 
companion  of  a beast.  Many  are  the  cubs,  and 
many  are  the  speckled  fawns,  that  I have  reared 
with  these  old  hands,  until  I have  even  fancied 
them  rational  and  altered  beings — but  what  did 
it  amount  to  ? the  bear  would  bite,  and  the  deer 
would  run,  notwithstanding  my  wicked  conceit  in 
fancying  that  I could  change  a temper  that  the 
Lord  himself  had  seen  fit  to  bestow.  Now,  if  man 
is  so  blinded  in  his  folly  as  to  go  on,  ages  on  ages, 
doing  harm  chiefly  to  himself,  there  is  the  same 
reason  to  think  that  he  has  wrought  his  evil  here 
as  in  the  countries  you  call  so  old.  Look  about 
you,  man  ; where  are  the  multitudes  that  once  peo- 
pled these  prairies ; the  kings  and  the  palaces ; 
the  riches  and  the  mightinesses  of  this  desert?  ” 
“ Where  are  the  monuments  that  would  prove 
the  truth  of  so  vague  a theory  ? ” 

“ I know  not  what  you  call  a monument.” 

“ The  works  of  man  ! The  glories  of  Thebes 
and  Balbec— -columns,  catacombs,  and  pyramids — 
standing  amid  the  sands  of  the  East,  like  wrecks 
on  a rocky  shore,  to  testify  to  the  storms  of  ages ! ” 


118 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“They  are  gone.  Time  has  lasted  too  long 
for  them.  For  why?  Time  was  made  by  the 
Lord,  and  they  were  made  by  man.  This  very 
spot  of  reeds  and  grass,  on  which  you  now  sit, 
may  once  have  been  the  garden  of  some  mighty 
king.  It  is  the  fate  of  all  things  to  ripen,  and 
then  to  decay.  The  tree  blossoms,  and  bears  its 
fruit,  which  falls,  rots,  withers,  and  even  the  seed 
is  lost ! Go  count  the  rings  of  the  oak  and  of  the 
sycamore  ; they  lie  in  circles,  one  about  another, 
until  the  eye  is  blinded  in  striving  to  make  out 
their  numbers  ; and  yet  a full  change  of  the  • sea- 
sons comes  round  while  the  stem  is  winding  one 
of  these  little  lines  about  itself,  like  the  buffalo 
changing  his  coat,  or  the  buck  his  horns;  and 
what  does  it  all  amount  to  ? There  does  the 
noble  tree  fill  its  place  in  the  forest,  loftier,  and 
grander,  and  richer,  and  more  difficult  to  imitate, 
than  any  of  your  pitiful  pillars,  for  a thousand 
years,  until  the  time  which  the  Lord  hath  given  it 
is  full.  Then  come  the  winds,  that  you  cannot 
see,  to  rive  its  bark ; and  the  waters  from  the 
heavens,  to  soften  its  pores ; and  the  rot,  which 
all  can  feel  and  none  can  understand,  to  humble 
its  pride  and  bring  it  to  the  ground.  From  that 
moment  its  beauty  begins  to  perish.  It  lies  an- 
other hundred  years,  a mouldering  log,  and  then 
a mound  of  moss  and  ’arth,  a sad  effigy  of  a hu- 
man grave.  This  is  one  of  your  genuine  monu- 
ments, though  made  by  a very  different  power 
than'such  as  belongs  to  your  chiselling  masonry  ! 
and,  after  all,  the  cunningest  scout  of  the  whole 
Dahcotah  nation  might  pass  his  life  in  searching 
for  the  spot  where  it  fell,  and  be  no  wiser  when 
his  eyes  grew  dim,  than  when  they  were  first 
opened.  As  if  that  was  pot  enough  to  convince 
man  of  his  ignorance,  and,  as  though  it  were  put 
there  in  mockery  of  his  conceit,  a pine  shoots  up 
from  the  roots  of  the  oak,  just  as  barrenness  comes 
after  fertility,  or  as  these  wastes  have  been  spread, 
where  a garden  may  have  been  created.  Tell  me 
not  of  your  worlds  that  are  old  ! it  is  blasphemous 
to  set  bounds  and  seasons,  in  this  manner,  to  the 
works  of  the  Almighty,  like  a woman  counting  the 
ages  of  her  young.” 

“Friend  hunter,  or  trapper,”  returned  the 
naturalist,  clearing  his  throat  in  some  intellectual 
confusion  at  the  vigorous  attack  of  his  compan- 
ion, “ your  deductions,  if  admitted  by  the  world, 
would  sadly  circumscribe  the  efforts  of  reason, 
and  much  abridge  the  boundaries  of  knowledge.” 

“ So  much  the  better — so  much  the  better ; 
for  I have  always  found  that  a conceited  man 
never  knows  content.  All  things  prove  it.  Why 
have  we  not  the  wings  of  the  pigeon,  the  eyes  of 
the  eagle,  and  the  legs  of  the  moose,  if  it  had 


been  intended  that  man  should  be  equal  to  all  hi* 
wishes  ? ” 

“ There* are  certain  physical  defects,  venerable 
trapper,  in  which  I am  always  ready  to  admit  great 
and  happy  alterations  might  be  suggested.  For 
example,  in  my  own  order  of  Phalangacru — ” 

“ Cruel  enough  would  be  the  order  that  should 
come  from  miserable  hands  like  thine ! A touch 
from  such  a finger  would  destroy  the  mocking 
deformity  of  a monkey ! Go,  go ; human  folly  is 
not  needed  to  fill  up  the  great  design  of  God. 
There  is  no  stature,  no  beauty,  no  proportions,  nor 
any  colors  in  which  man  himself- can  well  be  fash- 
ioned, that  is  not  already  done  to  his  hands.” 

“ That  is  touching  another  great  and  much- 
disputed  question,”  exclaimed  the  doctor,  who 
seized  upon  every  distinct  idea  that  the  ardent 
and  somewhat  dogmatic  old  man  left  exposed  to 
his  mental  grasp,  with  the  vain  hope  of  inducing 
a logical  discussion,  in  which  he  might  bring  his 
battery  of  syllogisms  to  annihilate  the  unscien- 
tific defences  of  his  antagonist. 

It  is,  however,  unnecessary  to  our  narrative 
to  relate  the  erratic  discourse  that  ensued.  The 
old  man  eluded  the  annihilating  blows  of  his  ad- 
versary, as  the  light-armed  soldier  is  wont  to  es- 
cape the  efforts  of  the  more  regular  warrior,  even 
while  he  annoys  him  most ; and  an  hour  passed 
away  without  bringing  any  of  the  numerous  sub- 
jects, on  which  they  touched,  to  a satisfactory 
conclusion.  The  arguments  acted,  however,  on 
the  nervous  system  of  the  doctor  like  so  many 
soothing  soporifics ; and,  by  the  time  his  aged 
companion  was  disposed  to  lay  his  head  on  his 
pack,  Obed,  refreshed  by  his  recent  mental 
joust,  was  in  a condition  to  seek  his  natural  rest, 
without  enduring  the  torments  of  the  incubus,  in 
the  shapes  of  Teton  warriors  and  bloody  toma- 
hawks. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

“ Save  you,  sir.” 

Shakespeare. 

The  sleep  of  the  fugitives  lasted  for  several 
hours.  The  trapper  was  the  first  to  shake  off  its 
influence,  as  he  had  been  the  last  to  court  its  re- 
freshment. Rising,  just  as  the  gray  light  of  day 
began  to  brighten  that  portion  of  the  studded 
vault  which  rested  on  the  eastern  margin  of  the 
plain,  he  summoned  his  companions  from  their 
warm  lairs,  and  pointed  out  the  necessity  of  their 
being  once  more  on  the  alert.  While  Middleton 
attended  to  the  arrangements  necessary  to  the 


FIRE  ON  THE  PRAIRIE. 


119 


comforts  of  Inez  and  Ellen,  in  the  long  and  pain- 
ful journey  which  lay  before  them,  the  old  man 
and  Paul  prepared  the  meal,  which  the  former 
had  advised  them  to  take  before  they  proceeded 
to  horse.  These  several  dispositions  were  not 
long  in  making,  and  the  little  group  was  soon 
seated  about  a repast  which,  though  it  might  want 
the  elegances  to  which  the  bride  of  Middleton 
had  been  accustomed,  was  not  deficient  in  the 
more  important  requisites  of  savor  and  nutri- 
ment. 

“ When  we  get  lower  into  the  hunting-grounds 
of  the  Pawnees,”  said  the  trapper,  laying  a mor- 
sel of  delicate  venison  before  Inez,  on  a little 
trencher  neatly  made  of  horn,  and  expressly  for 
his  own  use,  “ we  shall  find  the  buffaloes  fatter 
and  sweeter,  the  deer  in  more  abundance,  and  all 
the  gifts  of  the  Lord  abounding  to  satisfy  our 
wants.  Perhaps  we  may  even  strike  a beaver, 
and  get  a morsel  from  his  tail  * by  way  of  a rare 
mouthful.” 

“ What  course  do  you  mean  to  pursue,  when 
you  have  once  thrown  these  bloodhounds  from 
the  chase?”  demanded  Middleton. 

“If  I might  advise,”  said  Paul,  “ it  would  be 
to  strike  a water-course,  and  get  upon  its  down- 
ward current  as  soon  as  may  be.  Give  me  a cot- 
ton-wood, and  I will  turn  you  out  a canoe  that 
shall  carry  us  all,  the  jackass  excepted,  in  perhaps 
the  work  of  a day  and  a night.  Ellen,  here,  is  a 
lively  girl  enough,  but  then  she  is  no  great  race- 
rider  ; and  it  would  be  far  more  comfortable  to 
boat  six  or  eight  hundred  miles,  than  to  go  loping 
along  like  so  many  elks  measuring  the  prairies ; 
besides,  water  leaves  no  trail.” 

“ I will  not  swear  to  that,”  returned  the  trap- 
per ; “ I have  often  thought  the  eyes  of  a red- 
skin would  find  a trail  in  air.” 

“ See,  Middleton,”  exclaimed  Inez,  in  a sud- 
den burst  of  youthful  pelasure,  that  caused  her  for 
a moment  to  forget  her  situation,  “ how  lovely  is 
that  sky ; surely  it  contains  a promise  of  happier 
times  ! ” 

“ It  is  glorious ! ” returned  her  husband. 
“ Glorious  and  heavenly  is  that  streak  of  vivid 
red,  and  here  is  a still  brighter  crimson ; rarely 
have  I seen  a richer  rising  of  the  sun.” 

“ Rising  of  the  sun ! ” slowly  repeated  the  old 
man,  lifting  his  tall  person  from  its  seat  with  a 
deliberate  and  abstracted  air,  while  he  kept  his 
eye  riveted  on  the  changing  and  certainly  beauti- 
ful tints  that  were  garnishing  the  vault  of  heav- 
en— “ rising  of  the  sun  ! I like  not  such  risings 


* The  American  hunters  consider  the  tail  of  the  beaver 
•he  most  nourishing:  of  all  food. 


of  the  sun.  Ah’s  me  ! the  imps  have  circumvent- 
ed us  with  a vengeance.  • The  prairie  is  on  fire  ! ” 

“ God  in  heaven  protect  us ! ” cried  Middle- 
ton,  catching  Inez  to  his  bosom,  under  the  instant 
impression  of  the  imminence  of  their  danger. 
“ There  is  no  time  to  lose,  old  man ; each  instant 
is  a day.  Let  us  fly  ! ” 

“ Whither  ? ” demanded  the  trapper,  motion 
ing  him,  with  calmness  and  dignity,  to  arrest  his 
steps.  “ In  this  wilderness  of  grass  and  reeds, 
you  are  like  a vessel  in  the  broad  lakes  without 
a compass.  A single  step  on  the  wrong  course 
might  prove  the  destruction  of  us  all.  It  is  sel- 
dom danger  is  so  pressing  that  there  is  not  time 
enough  for  reason  to  do  its  work,  young  officer  ; 
therefore  let  us  wait  its  biddings.” 

“ For  my  own  part,”  said  Paul  Hover,  looking 
about  him  with  no  equivocal  expression  of  con- 
cern, “ I acknowledge  that,  should  this  dry  bed 
of  weeds  get  fairly  in  a flame,  a bee  would  have 
to  make  a flight  higher  than  common  to  prevent 
his  wings  from  scorching.  Therefore,  old  trap- 
per, I agree  with  the  captain,  and  say  mount  and 
run.” 

“Ye  are  wrong — ye  are  wrong;  man  is  not  a 
beast  to  follow  the  gift  of  instinct,  and  to  snuff 
up  his  knowledge  by  a taint  in  the  air,  or  a rum- 
bling in  the  sound  ; but  he  must  see  and  reason, 
and  then  conclude.  So  follow  me  a little  to  the 
left,  where  there  is  a rise  in  the  ground,  whence 
we  may  make  our  reconnoitrings.” 

The  old  man  waved  his  hand  with  authority, 
and  led  the  way  without  further  parlance  to  the 
spot  he  had  indicated,  followed  by  the  whole  of 
his  alarmed  companions.  An  eye  less  practised 
than  that  of  the  trapper  might  have  failed  in  dis- 
covering the  gentle  elevation  to  which  he  alluded, 
and  which  looked  on  the  surface  of  the  meadow 
like  a growth  a little  taller  than  common.  When 
they  reached  the  place,  however,  the  stinted  grass 
itself  announced  the  absence  of  that  moisture 
which  had  fed  the  rank  weeds  of  most  of  the 
plain,  and  furnished  a clew  to  the  evidence  by 
which  he  had  judged  of  the  formation  of  the 
ground  hidden  beneath.  Here  a few  minutes 
were  lost  in  breaking  down  the  tops  of  the  sur- 
rounding herbage,  which,  notwithstanding  the 
advantage  of  their  position,  rose  even  above  the 
heads  of  Middleton  and  Paul,  and  in  obtaining  a 
lookout  that  might  command  a view  of  the  sur- 
rounding sea  of  fire. 

The  frightful  prospect  added  nothing  to  the 
hopes  of  those  who  had  so  fearful  a stake  in  the 
result.  Although  the  day  was  beginning  to  dawn, 
the  vivid  colors  of  the  sky  continued  to  deepen, 
as  if  the  fierce  element  were  bent  on  an  impious 


120 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


rivalry  of  the  light  of  the  sun.  Bright  flashes 
of  flame  shot  up  here  and  there  along  the  margin 
of  the  waste,  like  the  nimble  coruscations  of  the 
north,  but  far  more  angry  and  threatening  in 
their  color  and  changes.  The  anxiety  on  the 
rigid  features  of  the  trapper  sensibly  deepened, 
as  he  leisurely  traced  these  evidences  of  a confla- 
gration, which  spread  in  a broad  belt  about  their 
place  of  refuge,  until  he  had  encircled  the  whole 
horizon. 

Shaking  his  head,  as  he  again  turned  his  face 
to  the  point  where  the  danger  seemed  nighest  and 
most  rapidly  approaching,  the  old  man  said  : 

“ Now,  have  we  been  cheating  ourselves  with 
the  belief  that  we  had  thrown  these  Tetons  from 
our  trail,  while  here  is  proof  enough  that  they  not 
only  know  where  we  lie,  but  that  they  intend  to 
smoke  us  out,  like  so  many  skulking  beasts  of 
prey.  See  ! they  have  lighted  the  fire  around  the 
whole  bottom  at  the  same  moment,  and  we  are  as 
completely  hemmed  in  by  the  devils  as  an  island 
by  its  waters.” 

“ Let  us  mount  and  ride  ! ” cried  Middleton  ; 
“ is  life  not  worth  a struggle  ? ” 

“ Whither  would  you  go  ? Is  a Teton  horse 
a salamander,  that  can  walk  amid  fiery  flames 
unhurt,  or  do  you  think  the  Lord  will  show  his 
might  in  your  behalf,  as  in  the  days  of  old,  and 
carry  you  harmless  through  such  a furnace  as  you 
may  see  glowing  beneath  yonder  red  sky  ? There 
are  Siouxes,  too,  hemming  the  fire  with  their 
arrows  and  knives  on  every  side  of  us,  or  I am 
no  judge  of  their  murderous  deviltries.” 

“ We  will  ride  into  the  centre  of  the  whole 
tribe,”  returned  the  youth,  fiercely,  “ and  put  their 
manhood  to  the  test.” 

“ Ay,  it’s  well  in  words,  but  what  would  it 
prove  in  deeds  ? Here  is  a dealer  in  bees,  who  can 
teach  you  wisdom  in  a matter  like  this.” 

“ Now,  for  that  matter,  old  trapper,”  said  Paul, 
stretching  his  athletic  form  like  a mastiff  con- 
scious of  his  strength,  “ I am  on  tfye  side  of  the 
captain,  and  am  clearly  for  a race  against  the  fire, 
though  it  line  me  into  a Teton  wigwam.  Here 
is  Ellen,  who  will — ” 

“ Of  what  use,  of  what  use  are  your  stout 
hearts,  when  the  element  of  the  Lord  is  to  be 
conquered  as  well  as  human  men  ? Look  about 
you,  friends  : the  wreath  of  smoke,  that  is  rising 
from  the  bottoms,  plainly  says  that  there  is  no 
outlet  from  the  spot  without  crossing  a belt  of  fire. 
Look  for  yourselves,  my  men ; look  for  yourselves  • 
*f  you  can  find  a single  opening,  I will  engage  to 
follow.” 

The  examination,  which  his  companions  so 
instantly  and  so  intently  made,  rather  served  to 


assure  them  of  their  desperate  situation  than  tc 
appease  their  fears.  Huge  columns  of  smoke 
were  rolling  up  from  the  plain,  and  thickening  in 
gloomy  masses  around  the  horizon ; the  red  glow 
which  gleamed  upon  their  enormous  folds  now 
lighting  their  volumes  with  the  glare  of  the  con- 
flagration, and  now  flashing  to  another  point,  as 
the  flame  beneath  glided  ahead,  leaving  all  behind 
enveloped  in  awful  darkness,  and  proclaiming  loud- 
er than  words  the  character  of  the  imminent  and 
approaching  danger. 

“ This  is  terrible ! ” exclaimed  Middleton,  fold- 
ing the  trembling  Inez  to  his  heart — “ at  such  a 
time  as  this,  and  in  such  a manner  ! ” 

“ The  gates  of  heaven  are  open  to  all  who 
truly  believe,”  murmured  the  pious  devotee  in 
his  bosom. 

“ This  resignation  is  maddening  ! But  we  are 
men,  and  will  make  a struggle  for  our  lives ! — 
How  now,  my  brave  and  spirited  friend  ; shall  we 
yet  mount  and  push  across  the  flames,  or  shall 
we  stand  here,  and  see  those  we  most  love 
perish  in  this  frightful  manner,  without  an 
effort  ? ” 

“ I am  for  a swarming-time,  and  a flight  be- 
fore the  hive  is  too  hot  to  hold  us,”  said  the  bee- 
hunter,  to  whom  it  will  be  at  once  seen  that  Mid- 
dleton addressed  himself. — “ Come,  old  trapper, 
you  must  acknowledge  this  is  but  a slow  way  of 
getting  out  of  danger.  If  we  tarry  here  much 
longer,  it  will  be  in  the  fashion  that  the  bees  lie 
around  the  straw  after  the  hive  has  been  smoked 
for  its  honey.  You  may  hear  the  fire  begin  to 
roar  already,  and  I know  by  experience  that, 
when  the  flame  once  gets  fairly  into  the  prairie- 
grass,  it  is  no  sloth  that  can  outrun  it.” 

“ Think  you,”  returned  the  old  man,  pointing 
scornfully  at  the  mazes  of  the  dry  and  matted 
grass  which  environed  them,  “ that  mortal  feet 
can  outstrip  the  speed  of  fire  on  such  a path? 
If  I only  knew,  now,  on  which  side  these  miscre- 
ants lay ! ” 

“ What  say  you,  friend  doctor,”  cried  the  be- 
wildered Paul,  turning  to  the  naturalist  with  that 
sort  of  helplessness  with  which  the  strong  are 
often  apt  to  seek  aid  of  the  weak  when  human 
power  is  baffled  by  the  hand  of  a mightier  being, 
“what  say  you  ? have  you  no  advice  to  give  away 
in  a case  of  life  and  death  ? ” 

The  naturalist  stood,  tablets  in  hand,  looking 
at  the  awful  spectacle  with  as  much  composure 
as  if  the  conflagration  had  been  lighted  in  order 
to  solve  the  difficulties  of  some  scientific  prob- 
lem. Aroused  by  the  question  of  his  companion, 
he  turned  to  his  equally  calm  though  differently- 
occupied  associate,  the  trapper,  demanding,  with 


A SIMPLE  EXPEDIENT. 


121 


the  most  provoking  insensibility  to  the  urgent 
nature  of  their  situation  : 

“Venerable  hunter,  you  have  often  witnessed 
similar  prismatic  experiments — ” 

He  was  rudely  interrupted  by  Paul,  who  struck 
the  tablets  from  his  hands  with  a violence  that 
betrayed  the  utter  intellectual  confusion  which 
had  overset  the  equanimity  of  his  mind.  Before 
time  was  allowed  for  remonstrance,  the  old  man, 
who  had  continued  during  the  whole  scene  like  one 
much  at  a loss  how  to  proceed,  though  also  like 
one  who  was  rather  perplexed  than  alarmed,  sud- 
denly assumed  a decided  air,  as  if  he  no  longer 
doubted  on  the  course  it  was  most  advisable  to 
pursue. 

“ It  is  time  to  be  doing,”  he  said,  interrupting 
the  controversy  that  was  about  to  ensue  between 
the  naturalist  and  the  bee-hunter ; “ it  is  time  to 
leave  off  books  and  moanings,  and  to  be  doing.” 

“You  have  come  to  your  recollections  too 
late,  miserable  old  man ! ” cried  Middleton ; “ the 
flames  are  within  a quarter  of  a mile  of  us,  and 
the  wind  is  bringing  them  down  in  this  quarter 
with  dreadful  rapidity.” 

“ Anan  ! the  flames  ! I care  but  little  for  the 
flames.  If  I only  knew  how  to  circumvent  the 
cunning  of  the  Teton  s as  I know  how  to  cheat 
the  fire  of  its  prey,  there  would  be  nothing 
needed  but  thanks  to  the  Lord  for  our  deliver- 
ance. Do  you  call  this  a fire  ? If  you  had  seen 
what  I have  witnessed  in  the  Eastern  hills,  when 
mighty  mountains  were  like  the  furnace  of  a 
smith,  you  would  have  known  what  it  was  to  fear 
the  flames,  and  to  be  thankful  that  you  were 
spared. — Come,  lads,  come  ; ’tis  time  to  be  doing 
now,  and  to  cease  talking ; for  yonder  curling 
flame  is  truly  coming  on  like  a trotting  moose. 
Put  hands  upon  this  short  and  withered  grass 
where  we  stand,  and  lay  bare  the  ’arth.” 

“ W ould  you  think  to  deprive  the  fire  of  its 
victims  in  this  childish  manner  ? ” exclaimed  Mid- 
dleton. 

A faint  but  solemn  smile  passed  over  the  feat- 
ures of  the  old  man,  as  he  answered  : 

“ Your  gran’ther  would  have  said  that,  when 
the  enemy  was  nigh,  a soldier  could  do  no  better 
than  to  obey.” 

The  captain  felt  the  reproof,  and  instantly 
began  to  imitate  the  industry  of  Paul,  who  was 
tearing  the  decayed  herbage  from  the  ground  in 
a sort  of  desperate  compliance  with  the  trapper’s 
direction.  Even  Ellen  lent  her  hands  to  the  labor, 
nor  was  it  long  before  Inez  was  seen  similarly 
employed,  though  none  among  them  knew  why 
or  wherefore.  When  life  is  thought  to  be  the 
reward  of  labor,  men  are  wont  to  be  industrious. 

60 


A very  few  moments  sufficed  to  lay  bare  a spot 
of  some  twenty  feet  in  diameter.  Into  one  edge 
of  this  little  area  the  trapper  brought  the  females, 
directing  Middleton  and  Paul  to  cover  their  light 
and  inflammable  dresses  with  the  blankets  of  the 
party.  So  soon  as  this  precaution  was  observed, 
the  old  man  approached  the  opposite  margin  of 
the  grass  which  still  environed  them  in  a tall 
and  dangerous  circle,  and,  selecting  a handful  of 
the  driest  of  the  herbage,  he  placed  it  over  the 
pan  of  his  rifle.  The  light  combustible  kindled 
at  the  flash.  Then  he  placed  the  little  flame  in  a 
bed  of  the  standing  fog,  and,  withdrawing  from 
the  spot  to  the  centre  of  the  ring,  he  patiently 
awaited  the  result. 

The  subtile  element  seized  with  avidity  upon 
its  new  fuel,  and  in  a moment  forked  flames  were 
gliding  among  the  grass,  as  the  tongues  of  rumi- 
nating animals  are  seen  rolling  among  their  food, 
apparently  in  quest  of  its  sweetest  portions. 

“ Now,”  said  the  old  man,  holding  up  a finger, 
and  laughing  in  his  peculiarly  silent  manner, 
“ you  shall  see  fire  fight  fire ! Ah’s  me ! many 
is  the  time  I have  burnt  a smooty  path,  from 
wanton  laziness  to  pick  my  way  across  a tangled 
bottom.” 

“ But  is  .this  not  fatal  ? ” cried  the  amazed 
Middleton ; “ are  you  not  bringing  the  enemy 
nigher  to  us  instead  of  avoiding  it  ? ” 

“ Do  you  scorch  so  easily  ? your  gran’ther 
had  a tougher  skin.  But  we  shall  all  live  to 
see — we  shall  all  live  to  see.” 

The  experience  of  the  trapper  was  in  the  right. 
As  the  fire  gained  strength  and  heat,  it  began  to 
spread  on  three  sides,  dying  of  itself  on  the 
fourth,  for  want  of  aliment.  As  it  increased,  and 
the  sullen  roaring  announced  its  power,  it  cleared 
every  thing  before  it,  leaving  the  black  and  smok- 
ing soil  far  more  naked  than  if  the  scythe  had 
swept  the  place.  The  situation  of  the  fugitives 
would  have  still  been  hazardous  had  not  the  area 
enlarged  as  the  flame  encircled  them.  But  by 
advancing  to  the  spot  where  the  trapper  had  kin- 
dled the  grass,  they  avoided  the  heat,  and  in  a 
very  few  moments  the  flames  began  to  recede  in 
every  quarter,  leaving  them  enveloped  in  a cloud 
of  smoke,  but  perfectly  safe  from  the  torrent  of 
fire  that  was  still  furiously  rolling  onward. 

The  spectators  regarded  the  simple  expedient 
of  the  trapper  with  that  species  of  wonder  with 
which  the  courtiers  of  Ferdinand  are  said  to 
have  viewed  the  manner  in  which  Columbus  made 
his  egg  stand  on  its  end,  though  with  feelings  that 
were  filled  with  gratitude  instead  of  envy. 

“ Most  wonderful ! ” said  Middleton,  when  he 
saw  the  complete  success  of  the  means  by  which 


[22 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


they  had  been  rescued  from  a danger  that  he  had 
conceived  to  be  unavoidable.  “ The  thought  was 
a gift  from  Heaven,  and  the  hand  that  executed 
it  should  be  immortal ! ” 

“ Old  trapper,”  cried  Paul,  thrusting  his  fin- 
gers through  his  shaggy  locks,  “ I have  lined 
many  a loaded  bee  into  his  hole,  and  know  some- 
thing of  the  nature  of  the  woods,  but  this  is  rob- 
bing a hornet  of  his  sting  without  touching  the 
insect ! ” 

“ It  will  do — it  will  do,”  returned  the  old  man, 
who  after  the  first  moment  of  his  success  seemed 
to  think  no  more  of  the  exploit ; “ now  get  the 
horses  in  readiness.  Let  the  flames  do  their  work 
for  a short  half-hour,  and  then  we  will  mount. 
That  time  is  needed  to  cool  the  meadow,  for  these 
unshod  Teton  beasts  are  as  tender  on  the  hoof  as 
a barefooted  girl.” 

Middleton  and  Paul,  who  considered  this  un- 
looked-for escape  as  a species  of  resurrection, 
patiently  awaited  the  time  the  trapper  mentioned 
with  renewed  confidence  in  the  infallibility  of  his 
judgment.  The  doctor  regained  his  tablets,  a lit- 
tle the  worse  from  having  fallen  among  the  grass 
which  had  been  subject  to  the  action  of  the 
flames,  and  was  consoling  himself  for  this  slight 
misfortune  by  recording  uninterruptedly  such  dif- 
ferent vacillations  in  light  and  shadow  as  he 
chose  to  consider  phenomena. 

In  the  mean  time  the  veteran,  on  whose  experi- 
ence they  all  so  implicitly  relied  for  protection, 
employed  himself  in  reconnoitring  objects  in  the 
distance,  through  the  openings  which  the  air  oc- 
casionally made  in  the  immense  bodies  of  smoke, 
that  by  this  time  lay  in  enormous  piles  on  every 
part  of  the  plain. 

“ Look  you  here,  lads,”  the  trapper  said,  after 
a long  and  anxious  examination,  “ your  eyes  are 
young  and  may  prove  better  than  my  worthless 
sight — though  the  time  has  been  when  a wise 
and  brave  people  saw  reason  to  think  me  quick 
on  a lookout  ; but  those  times  are  gone,  and 
many  a true  and  tried  friend  has  passed  away 
with  them.  Ah’s  me  ! if  I could  choose  a change 
in  the  orderings  of  Providence — which  I cannot, 
and  which  it  would  be  blasphemy  to  attempt, 
seeing  that  all  things  are  governed  by  a wiser 
mind  than  belongs  to  mortal  weakness — but  if  I 
were  to  choose  a change,  it  would  be  to  say,  that 
such  as  they  who  have  lived  long  together  in 
friendship  and  kindness,  and  who  have  proved 
their  fitness  to  go  in  company,  by  many  acts  of 
suffering  and  daring  in  each  other’s  behalf,  should 
be  permitted  to  give  up  life  at  such  times,  as  when 
the  death  of  one  leaves  the  other  but  little  reason 
to  live.” 


Is  it  an  Indian  that  you  see  ? ” demanded  tha 
impatient  Middleton. 

“ Red-skin  or  white-skin,  it  is  much  the  same. 
Friendship  and  use  can  tie  men  as  strongly  to- 
gether in  the  woods  as  in  the  towns — ay,  and  for 
that  matter,  stronger.  Here  are  the  young  war- 
riors of  the  prairies.  Often  do  they  sort  them- 
selves in  pairs,  and  set  apart  their  lives  for  deeds 
of  friendship ; and  well  and  truly  do  they  act  up  to 
their  promises.  The  death-blow  to  one  is  com- 
monly mortal  to  the  other  ! I have  been  a soli- 
tary man  much  of  my  time,  if  he  can  be  called 
solitary  who  has  lived  for  seventy  years  in  the 
very  bosom  of  Natur’,  and  where  he  could  at  any 
instant  open  his  heart  to  God,  without  having  to 
strip  it  of  the  cares  and  wickednesses  of  the  settle- 
ments— but,  making  that  allowance,  have  I been 
a solitary  man ; and  yet  have  I always  found  that 
intercourse  with  my  kind  was  pleasant,  and  pain- 
ful to  break  off,  provided  that  the  companion  was 
brave  and  honest — brave,  because  a skeary  com- 
rade in  the  woods,”  suffering  his  eyes  inadvertent- 
ly to  rest  a moment  on  the  person  of  the  ab- 
stracted naturalist,  “ is  apt  to  make  a short  path 
long ; and  honest,  inasmuch  as  craftiness  is  rather 
an  instinct  of  the  brutes,  than  a gift  becoming  the 
reason  of  a human  man.” 

“ But  the  object  that  you  saw — was  it  a 
Sioux  ?” 

“ What  the  world  of  America  is  coming  to, 
and  where  the  machinations  and  inventions  of  its 
people  are  to  have  an  end,  the  Lord,  he  only 
knows.  I have  seen  in  my  day  the  chief  who,  in 
his  time,  had  beheld  the  first  Christian  that 
placed  his  wicked  foot  in  the  regions  of  York ! 
How  much  has  the  beauty  of  the  wilderness  been 
deformed  in  two  short  lives  ! My  own  eyes  were 
first  opened  on  the  shores  of  the  Eastern  sea,  and 
well  do  I remember  that  I tried  the  virtues  of  the 
first  rifle  I ever  bore,  after  such  a march,  from  the 
door  of  my  father  to  the  forest,  as  a stripling 
could  make  between  sun  and  sun  ; and  that  with- 
out offence  to  the  rights  or  prejudices  of  any  man 
who  set  himself  up  to  be  the  owner  of  the  beasts 
of  the  field.  Natur’  then  lay  in  its  glory  along 
the  whole  coast,  giving  a narrow  stripe,  between 
the  woods  and  the  ocean,  to  the  greediness  of  the 
settlers.  And  where  am  I now  ? Had  I the  wings 
of  an  eagle,  they  would  tire  before  a tenth  of  the 
distance,  which  separates  me  from  that  sea,  could 
be  passed;  and  towns  and  villages,  farms  and 
highways,  churches  and  schools,  in  short,  all  the 
inventions  and  deviltries  of  man,  are  spread 
across  the  region.  I have  known  the  time  when 
a few  red-skins,  shouting  along  the  borders,  could 
set  the  provinces  in  a fever ; and  men  were  to  bs 


ELUDING  THE  TETONS. 


123 


armed  ; and  troops  were  to  be  called  to  aid  from 
a distant  land ; and  prayers  were  said,  and  the 
women  frighted,  and  few  slept  in  quiet,  because 
the  Iroquois  were  on  the  war-path,  or  the  accursed 
Mingo  had  the  tomahawk  in  hand.  How  is  it 
now  ? The  country  sends  out  her  ships  to  for- 
eign lands  to  wage  their  battles;  cannon  are 
plentier  than  the  rifle  used  to  be ; and  trained  sol- 
diers are  never  wanting,  in  tens  of  thousands,  when 
need  calls  for  their  services.  Such  is  the  dif- 
ference atween  a province  and  a State,  my  men  ; 
and  I,  miserable  and  worn  out  as  I seem,  have 
lived  to  see  it  all ! ” 

“ That  you  must  have  seen  many  a chopper 
skimming  the  cream  from  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  many  a setiler  getting  the  very  honey  of 
Nature,  old  trapper,”  said  Paul,  “no  reasonable 
man  can,  or,  for  that  matter,  shall  doubt.  But 
here  is  Ellen  getting  uneasy  about  the  Siouxes, 
and  now  you  have  opened  your  mind  so  freely 
concerning  these  matters,  if  you  will  just  put  us 
on  the  line  of  our  flight,  the  swarm  will  make  an- 
other move.” 

“ Anan ! 

“ I say  that  Ellen  is  getting  uneasy ; and  as  the 
smoke  is  lifting  from  the  plain,  it  may  be  prudent 
to  take  another  flight.” 

“ The  boy  is  reasonable.  I had  forgotten  we 
were  in  the  midst  of  a raging  fire,  and  that 
Siouxes  were  round  about  us  like  hungry  wolves 
watching  a drove  of  buffaloes.  But  when  memory 
is  at  work  in  my  old  brain,  on  times  long  past,  it 
is  apt  to  overlook  the  matters  of  the  day.  You 
say  right,  my  children  ; it  is  time  to  be  moving, 
and  now  comes  the  real  nicety  of  our  case.  It  is 
easy  to  outwit  a furnace,  for  it  is  nothing  but  a 
raging  element ; and  it  is  not  always  difficult  to 
throw  a grizzly  bear  from  his  scent,  for  the  creat- 
ur’  is  both  enlightened  and  blinded  by  his  in- 
stinct ; but  to  shut  the  eyes  of  a waking  Teton  is 
a matter  of  greater  judgment,  inasmuch  as  his 
deviltry  is  backed  by  reason.” 

Notwithstanding  the  old  man  appeared  so  con- 
scious of  the  difficulty  of  the  undertaking,  he  set 
about  its  achievement  with  great  steadiness  and 
alacrity.  After  completing  the  examination,  which 
had  been  interrupted  by  the  melancholy  wander- 
ings of  his  mind,  he  gave  the  signal  to  his  compan- 
ions to  mount.  The  horses,  which  had  continued 
passive  and  trembling  amid  the  raging  of  the  fire, 
received  their  burdens  with  a satisfaction  so  very 
evident  as  to  furnish  a favorable  augury  of  their 
future  industry.  The  trapper  invited  the  doctor 
to  take  his  own  steed,  declaring  his  intention  to 
proceed  on  foot. 

“ I am  but  little  used  to  journeying  with  the 


feet  of  others,”  he  added,  as  a reason  for  the 
measure,  “ and  my  legs  are  a weary  of  doing  noth- 
ing. Besides,  should  we  light  suddenly  on  an  am- 
busliment,  which  is  a thing  far  from  impossible, 
the  horse  will  be  in  a better  condition  for  a hard 
run  with  one  man  on  his  back  than  with  two.  As 
for  me,  what  matters  it  whether  my  time  is  to  be 
a day  shorter  or  a day  longer  ? Let  the  Tetons 
take  my  scalp,  if  it  be  God’s  pleasure  : they  will 
i find  it  covered  with  gray  hairs  ; and  it  is  beyond 
the  craft  of  man  to  cheat  me  of  the  knowledge  and 
experience  by  which  they  have  been  whitened.” 

As  no  one  among  the  impatient  listeners 
seemed  disposed  to  dispute  the  arrangement,  it 
was  acceded  to  in  silence.  The  doctor,  though  he 
muttered  a few  mourning  exclamations  on  behalf 
of  the  lost  Asinus,  was  by  far  too  well  pleased  in 
finding  that  his  speed  was  likely  to  be  sustained 
by  four  legs  instead  of  two,  to  be  long  in  com- 
plying ; and,  consequently,  in  a very  few  moments 
the  bee-hunter,  who  was  never  last  to  speak  on 
such  occasions,  vociferously  announced  that  they 
were  ready  to  proceed. 

“Now  look  off  yonder  to  the  east,”  said  the 
old  man,  as  he  began  to  lead  the  way  across  the 
murky  and  still  smoking  plain ; “ little  fear  of 
cold  feet  in  journeying  such  a path  as  this:  but 
look  you  off  to  the  east,  and  if  you  see  a sheet 
of  shining  white,  glistening  like  a plate  of  beaten 
silver  through  the  openings  of  the  smoke,  why, 
that  is  water.  A noble  stream  is  running  there- 
away, and  I thought  I got  a glimpse  of  it  a while 
since;  but  other  thoughts  came,  and  I lost  it. 
It  is  a broad  and  swift  river,  such  as  the  Lord  has 
made  many  of  its  fellows  in  this  desert.  For 
here  may  Natur’  be  seen  in  all  its  richness,  trees 
alone  excepted.  Trees,  which  are  to  the  ’arth  as 
fruits  are  to  a garden;  without  them  nothing 
can  be  pleasant  or  thoroughly  useful.  Now 
watch  all  of  you,  with  open  eyes,  for  that  stripe 
of  glittering  water : we  shall  not  be  safe  until  it 
is  flowing  between  our  trail  and  these  sharp-sight- 
ed Tetons.” 

The  latter  declaration  was  enough  to  insure  a 
vigilant  lookout  for  the  desired  stream,  on  the 
part  of  all  the  trapper’s  followers.  With  this  ob- 
ject in  view,  the  party  proceeded  in  profound 
silence,  the  old  man  having  admonished  them  of 
the  necessity  of  caution,  as  they  entered  the 
clouds  of  smoke,  which  were  rolling  like  masses 
of  fog  along  the  plain,  more  particularly  over 
those  spots  where  the  fire  had  encountered  occa- 
sional pools  of  stagnant  water. 

They  travelled  near  a league  in  this  manner, 
without  obtaining  the  desired  glimpse  of  the  riv- 
er. The  fire  was  still  raging  in  the  distance,  and, 


124 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


as  the  air  swept  away  the  first  vapor  of  the  con- 
flagration, fresh  volumes  rolled  along  the  place, 
limiting  the  view.  At  length  the  old  man,  who 
had  begun  to  betray  some  little  uneasiness,  which 
caused  his  followers  to  apprehend  that  even  his 
acute  faculties  were  beginning  to  be  confused,  in 
the  mazes  of  the  smoke,  made  a sudden  pause, 
and,  dropping  his  rifle  to  the  ground,  he  stood, 
apparently  musing  over  some  object  at  his  feet. 
Middleton  and  the  rest  rode  up  to  his  side,  and 
demanded  the  reason  of  the  halt. 

“Look  ye  here,”  returned  the  trapper,  point- 
ing to  the  mutilated  carcass  of  a horse,  that  lay 
more  than  half  consumed  in  a little  hollow  of  the 
ground ; “ here  may  you  see  the  power  of  a prairie 
conflagration.  The  ’arth  is  moist,  hereaway,  and 
the  grass  has  been  taller  than  usual.  This  mis- 
erable beast  has  been  caught  in  his  bed.  T ou 
see  the  bones,  the  crackling  and  scorched  hide, 
and  the  grinning  teeth.  A thousand  winters 
could  not  wither  an  animal  so  thoroughly  as  the 
element  has  done  it  in  a minute.” 

“ And  this  might  have  been  our  fate,”  said 
Middleton,  “ had  the  flames  come  upon  us  in  our 
sleep  ! ” 

“ Nay,  I do  not  say  that,  I do  not  say  that. 
Not  but  that  man  will  burn  as  well  as  tinder ; but 
that,  being  more  reasoning  than  a horse,  he  would 
better  know  how  to  avoid  the  danger.” 

“ Perhaps  this,  then,  has  been  but  the  carcass 
of  an  animal,  or  he  too  would  have  fled  ?” 

“See  you  these  marks  in  the  damp  soil? 
Here  have  been  his  hoofs,  and  there  is  a moccasin- 
print,  as  I’m  a sinner  ! The  owner  of  the  beast 
has  tried  hard  to  move  him  from  the  place,  but  it 
is  in  the  instinct  of  the  creatur’  to  be  faint-heart- 
ed and  obstinate  in  a fire.” 

“ It  is  a well-known  fact.  But  if  the  animal 
has  had  a rider,  where  is  he  ? ” 

“ Ay,  therein  lies  the  mystery,”  returned  the 
trapper,  stooping  to  examine  the  signs  in  the 
ground  with  a closer  eye.  “Yes,  yes,  it  is  plain 
there  has  been  a long  struggle  atween  the  two. 
The  master  has  tried  hard  to  save  his  beast,  and 
the  flames  must  have  been  very  greedy,  or  he 
would  have  had  better  success.” 

“Harkee,  old  trapper,”  interrupted  Paul, 
pointing  to  a little  distance,  where  the  ground 
was  drier,  and  the  herbage  had,  in  consequence, 
been  less  luxuriant ; “just  call  them  two  horses. 
Yonder  lies  another.” 

“ The  boy  is  right ! Can  it  be  that  the  Tetons 
have  been  caught  in  their  own  snares  ? Such 
things  do  happen ; and  here  is  an  example  to  all 
evil-doers.  Ay,  look  you  here : this  i3  iron  ; there 
nave  been  some  white  inventions  about  the  trap- 


pings of  the  beast — it  must  be  so — it  must  be  so 
— a party  of  the  knaves  have  been  skirting  in 
the  grass  after  us,  while  their  friends  have  fired 
the  prairie,  and  look  you  at  the  consequences ; 
they  have  lost  their  beasts,  and  happy  have  they 
been  if  their  own  souls  are  not  now  skirting  along 
the  path  which  leads  to  the  Indian  heaven.” 

“ They  had  the  same  expedient  at  command 
as  yourself,”  rejoined  Middleton,  as  the'  party 
slowly  proceeded,  approaching  the  other  carcass 
which  lay  directly  on  their  route. 

“ I know  not  that.  It  is  not  every  savage  that 
carries  his  steel  and  flint,  or  as  good  a .rifle-pan 
as  this  old  friend  of  mine.  It  is  slow  making  a 
fire  with  two  sticks,  and  little  time  was  given  to 
consider  or  invent  just  at  this  spot,  as  you  may 
see  by  yon  streak  of  flame,  which  is  flashing  along 
afore  the  wind,  as  if  it  were  on  a trail  of  powder. 
It  is  not  many  minutes  since  the  fire  has  passed 
hereaway,  and  it  may  be  well  to  look  at  our 
primings  ; not  that  I would  willingly  combat  the 
Tetons,  God  forbid  ! but,  if  a fight  needs  be,  it  is 
always  wise  to  get  the  first  shot.” 

“ This  has  been  a strange  beast,  old  man,” 
said  Paul,  who  had  pulled  the  bridle,  or  rather 
halter  of  his  steed,  over  the  second  carcass,  while 
the  rest  of  the  party  were  already  passing,  in 
their  eagerness  to  proceed;  “ a strange  horse  do 
I call  it ; it  had  neither  head  nor  hoofs ! ” 

“ The  fire  has  not  been  idle,”  returned  the 
trapper,  keeping  his  eye  vigilantly  employed  in 
profiting  by  those  glimpses  of  the  horizon  which 
the  whirling  smoke  offered  to  his  examination. 
« It  would  soon  bake  you  a buffalo  whole,  or  for 
that  matter  powder  his  hoofs  and  horns  into  white 
ashes. — Shame,  shame,  old  Hector ! As  for  the 
captain’s  pup,  it  is  to  be  expected  that  he  would 
show  his  want  of  years,  and  I may  say,  I hope 
without  offence,  his  want  of  education  too ; but 
for  a hound,  like  you,  who  have  lived  so  long  in 
the  forest  afore  you  came  into  these  plains,  it  is 
very  disgraceful,  Hector,  to  be  showing  your 
teeth,  and  growling  at  the  carcass  of  a roasted 
horse,  the  same  as  if  you  were  telling  your  master 
that  you  had  found  the  trail  of  a grizzly  bear.” 

“ I tell  you,  old  trapper,  this  is  no  horse ; nei- 
ther in  hoofs,  head,  nor  hide.” 

“ Anan ! Not  a horse  ? your  eyes  are  good 
for  the  bees  and  for  the  hollow  trees,  my  lad,  but 
—bless  me,  the  boy  is  right ! That  I should 
mistake  the  hide  of  a buffalo,  scorched  and  crim- 
pled  as  it  is,  for  the  carcass  of  a horse ! Ah’s 
me ! The  time  has  been,  my  men,  when  I would 
tell  you  the  name  of  a beast,  as  far  as  eye  could 
reach,  and  that  too  with  most  of  the  particular? 
of  color,  age,  and  sex.” 


THE  YOUNG  PAWNEE’S  ESCAPE. 


125 


“ An  inestimable  advantage  have  you  then  en- 
joyed, venerable  Venator ! ” observed,  the  atten- 
tive naturalist.  “ The  man  who  can  make  these 
distinctions  in  a desert,  is  saved  the  pain  of  many 
a weary  walk,  and  often  of  an  inquiry  that  in  its 
result  proves  useless.  Pray  tell  me,  did  your  ex- 
ceeding excellence  of  vision  extend  so  far  as  to 
enable  you  to  decide  on  their  order  or  genus  ? ” 

“ I know  not  what  you  mean  by  your  orders 
of  genius.” 

“ No ! ” interrupted  the  bee-hunter,  a little 
disdainfully  for  him,  when  speaking  to  his  aged 
friend ; “ now,  old  trapper,  that  is  admitting  your 
ignorance  of  the  English  language,  in  a way  I 
should  not  expect  from  a man  of  your  experience 
and  understanding.  By  order,  our  comrade  means 
whether  they  go  in  promiscuous  droves,  like  a 
swarm  that  is  following  its  queen-bee,  or  in  sin- 
gle file,  as  you  often  see  the  buffaloes  trailing 
each  other  through  a prairie.  And  as  for  genius, 
I’m  sure  that  is  a word  well  understood,  and  in 
everybody’s  mouth.  There  is  the  Congressman 
in  our  district,  and  that  tonguey  little  fellow  who 
puts  out  the  paper  in  our  country,  they  are  both  so 
called,  for  their  smartness;  which  is  what  the 
doctor  means,  as  I take  it,  seeing  that  he  seldom 
speaks  without  some  considerable  meaning.” 

When  Paul  finished  this  very  clever  explana- 
tion he  looked  behind  him  with  an  expression, 
which,  rightly  interpreted,  would  have  said— 
“ You  see,  though  I don’t  often  trouble  myself  in 
these  matters,  I am  no  fool.” 

Ellen  admired  Paul  for  any  thing  but  his 
learning.  There  was  enough  in  his  frank,  fearless, 
and  manly  character,  backed  as  it  was  by  great 
personal  attraction,  to  awaken  her  sympathies, 
without  the  necessity  of  prying  into  his  mental 
attainments.  The  poor  girl  reddened  like  a rose, 
her  pretty  fingers  played  with  the  belt  by  which 
she  sustained  herself  on  the  horse,  and  she  hur- 
riedly observed,  as  if  anxious  to  direct  the  atten- 
tions of  the  other  listeners  from  a weakness  on 
which  her  own  thoughts  could  not  bear  to  dwell — 
“ And  this  is  not  ahorse,  after  all  ? ” 

“ It  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  hide  of 
a buffalo,”  continued  the  trapper,  who  had  been 
no  less  puzzled  by  the  explanation  of  Paul  than 
by  the  language  of  the  doctor;  “the  hair  is  be- 
neath ; the  fire  has  run  over  it  as  you  see ; for,  be- 
ing fresh,  the  flames  could  take(nohold.  The 
beast  has  not  been  long  killed,  and  it  may  be  that 
eome  of  the  beef  is  still  hereaway.” 

“Lift  the  corner  of  the  skin,  old  trapper,” 
said  Paul,  with  the  tone  of  one  who  felt  as  if  he 
had  now  proved  his  right  to  mingle  his  voice  in 
any  counsel ; “ if  there  is  a morsel  of  the  hump 


left,  it  must  be  well  cooked,  and  it  shall  be  wel- 
come.” 

The  old  man  laughed  heartily  at  the  conceit 
of  his  companion.  Thrusting  his  foot  beneath 
the  skin,  it  moved.  Then  it  was  suddenly  cast 
aside,  and  an  Indian  warrior  sprang  from  its  cover 
to  his  feet,  with  an  agility  that  bespoke  how  ur 
gent  he  deemed  the  occasion. 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 

“ I would  it  were  bedtime,  Hal,  and  all  well.” 

Shakespeaee. 

A second  glance  sufficed  to  convince  the  whole 
of  the  startled  party  that  the  young  Pawnee, 
whom  they  had  already  encountered,  again  stood 
before  them.  Surprise  kept  both  sides  mute,  and 
more  than  a minute  was  passed  in  surveying  each 
other  with  eyes  of  astonishment,  if  not  of  distrust. 
'The  wonder  of  the  young  warrior  was,  however, 
much  more  tempered  and  dignified  than  that  of 
his  Christian  acquaintances.  While  Middleton 
and  Paul  felt  the  tremor  which  shook  the  persons 
of  their  dependent  companions  thrilling  through 
their  own  quickened  blood,  the  glowing  eye  of  the 
Indian  rolled  from  one  to  another  as  if  it  could 
never  quail  before  the  rudest  assaults.  His  gaze, 
after  making  the  circuit  of  every  wondering  coun- 
tenance, finally  settled  in  a steady  look  on  the 
equally  immovable  features  of  the  trapper.  The 
silence  was  first  broken  by  Dr.  Battius,  in  the 
ejaculation  of — 

“ Order , primates ; genus , homo ; species , prai- 
rie ! ” 

“ Ay — ay — the  secret  is  out,”  said  the  old 
trapper,  shaking  his  head,  like  one  who  congratu- 
lated himself  on  having  mastered  the  mystery  of 
some  knotty  difficulty.  “ The  lad  has  been  in  the 
grass  for  a cover  ; the  fire  has  come  upon  him  in 
his  sleep,  and,  having  lost  his  horse,  he  has  been 
driven  to  save  himself  under  that  fresh  hide  of  a 
buffalo.  . No  bad  invention,  when  powder  and  flint 
were  wanting  to  kindle  a ring.  I warrant  me, 
now,  this  is  a clever  youth,  and  one  that  it  would 
be  safe  to  journey  with*!  I will  speak  to  him 
kindly,  for  anger  can  at  least  serve  no  turn  of 
ours. — My  brother  is  welcome  again,”  using  the 
language  which  the  other  understood  ; “ the  Te- 
tons  have  been  smoking  him,  as  they  would  a 
raccoon.” 

The  young  Pawnee  rolled  his  eye  over  the 
place,  as  if  he  were  examining  the  terrific  danger 
from  which  he  had  just  escaped,  but  he  disdained 
to  betray  the  smallest  emotion  at  its  imminency. 


126 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


His  brow  contracted  as  he  answered  to  the  re- 
mark of  the  trapper  by  saying : 

“ A Teton  is  a dog.  When  the  Pawnee  war- 
whoop  is  in  their  ears,  the  whole  nation  howls.” 

“It  is  true.  The  imps  are  on  our  trail,  and  I 
am  glad  to  meet  a warrior,  with  the  tomahawk  in 
his  hand,  who  does  not  love  them.  Will  my 
brother  lead  my  children  to  his  village  ? If  the 
Siouxes  follow  on  our  path,  my  young  men  shall 
help  him  to  srtike  them.” 

The  young  Pawnee  turned  his  eyes  from  one 
to  another  of  the  strangers,  in  a keen  scrutiny, 
before  he  saw  fit  to  answer  so  important  an  inter- 
rogatory. His  examination  of  the  males  was 
shQrt,  and  apparently  satisfactory.  But  his  gaze 
was  fastened  long  and  admiringly,  as  in  their 
former  interview,  on  the  surpassing  and  unwonted 
beauty  of  a being  so  fair  and  so  unknown  as  Inez. 
Though  his  glance  wandered,  for  moments,  from 
her  countenance  to  the  more  intelligible  and  yet 
extraordinary  charms  of  Ellen,  it  did  not  fail  to 
return  promptly  to  the  study  of  a creature  who, 
in  the  view  of  his  unpractised  eye  and  untutored 
imagination,  was  formed  with  all  that  perfection 
with  which  the  youthful  poet  is  apt  to  endow  the 
glowing  images  of  his  brain.  Nothing  so  fair,  so 
ideal,  so  every  way  worthy  to  reward  the  courage 
and  self-devotion  of  a warrior,  had  ever  before 
been  encountered  on  the  prairies,  and  the  young 
brave  appeared  to  be  deeply  and  intuitively  sen- 
sible to  the  influence  of  so  rare  a model  of  the 
loveliness  of  the  sex.  Perceiving,  however,  that 
his  gaze  gave  uneasiness  to  the  subject  of  his 
admiration,  he  withdrew  his  eyes,  and,  laying  his 
hand  impressively  on  his  chest,  he  modestly  an- 
swered : 

“ My  father  shall  be  welcome.  The  young 
men  of  my  nation  shall  hunt  with  his  sons  ; the 
chiefs  shall  smoke  with  the  gray-head.  The  Paw- 
nee girls  will  sing  in  the  ears  of  his  daughters.” 

“ And  if  we  meet  the  Tetons  ? ” demanded  the 
trapper,  who  wished  to  understand,  thoroughly, 
the  more  important  conditions  of  this  new  alli- 
ance. 

“ The  enemy  of  the  Big-knives  shall  feel  the 
blow  of  the  Pawnee.” 

“It  is  well.  Now,  lefrmy  brother  and  I meet 
in  counsel,  that  we  may  not  go  on  a crooked  path, 
but  that  our  road  to  his  village  may  be  like  the 
flight  of  the  pigeons.” 

The  young  Pawnee  made  a significant  gesture 
af  assent,  and  followed  the  other  a little  apart,  in 
order  to  be  removed  from  all  danger  of  interrup- 
tion from  the  reckless  Paul  or  the  abstracted 
naturalist.  Their  conference  was  short,  but,  as 
it  was  conducted  in  the  sententious  manner  of 


the  natives,  it  served  to  make  each  of  the  parties 
acquainted  with  all  the  necessary  information  of 
the  other,  When  they  rejoined  their  associates, 
the  old  man  saw  fit  to  explain  a portion  of  what 
had  passed  between  them  as  follows : 

“ Ay,  I was  not  mistaken,”  he  said ; “ this 
good-looking  young  warrior — for  good-looking 
and  noble-looking  he  is,  though  a little  horrified 
perhaps  with  paint — this  good-looking  youth,  then, 
tells  me  he  is  out  on  the  scout  for  these  very 
Tetons.  His  party  was  not  strong  enough  to 
strike  the  devils,  who  are  down  from  their  towns 
in  great  numbers  to  hunt  the  buffalo,  and  runners 
have  gone  to  the  Pawnee  villages  for  aid.  It 
would  seem  that  this  lad  is  a fearless  boy,  for  he 
has  been  hanging  on  their  skirts  alone,  until,  like 
ourselves,  he  was  driven  to  the  grass  for  a cover. 
But  he  tells  me  more,  my  men,  and  what  I am 
mainly  sorry  to  hear,  which  is,  that  the  cunning 
Mahtoree,  instead  of  going  to  blows  with  the 
squatter,  has  become  his  friend,  and  that-  both 
broods,  red  and  white,  are  on  our  heels,  and  out- 
lying around  thi3  very  burning  plain  to  circum- 
vent us  to  our  destruction.” 

“ How  knows  he  all  this  to  be  true  ? ” de- 
manded Middleton. 

“ Anan ! ” 

“ In  what  manner  does  he  know  that  these 
things  are  so  ? ” 

“ In  what  manner  ! Bo  you  think  newspapers 
and  town-criers  are  needed  to  tell  a scout  what  is 
doing  on  the  prairies,  as  they  are  in  the  bosom 
of  the  States  ? No  gossiping  woman,  who  hurries 
from  house  to  house  to  spread  evil  of  her  neigh- 
bor, can  carry  tidings  with  her  tongue  so  fast  as 
these  people  will  spread  their  meaning,  by  signs 
and  warnings  that  they  alone  understand.  ’Tis 
their  Taming,  and,  what  is  .better,  it  is  got  in  the 
open  air,  and  not  within  the  walls  of  a school.  I 
tell  you,  captain,  that  what  he  says  is  true.” 

“For  that  matter,”  said  Paul,  “I’m  ready  to 
swear  to  it.  It  is  reasonable,  and  therefore  it 
must  be  true.” 

“ And  well  you  might,  lad — well  you  might. 
He  furthermore  declares  that  my  old  eyes  for  once 
were  true  to  me,  and  that  the  river  lies,  hereaway, 
at  about  the  distance  of  half  a league.  You  see 
the  fire  has  done  most  of  its  work  in  that  quarter, 
and  our  path  is  clouded  in  smoke.  He  also 
agrees  that  it  is  needful  to  wash  our  trail  in  water. 
Yes,  we  must,  put  that  river  atween  us  and  the 
Sioux  eyes,  and  then,  by  the  favor  of  the  Lord, 
not  forgetting  our  own  industry,  we  may  gain  the 
village  of  the  Loups.” 

“ Words  will  not  forward  us  a foot,”  said  Mid- 
dleton ; “ let  us  move.” 


CROSSING  THE  RIVER. 


121 


The  old  man  assented,  and  the  party  once 
more  prepared  to  renew  its  route.  The  Pawnee 
threw  the  skin  of  the  buffalo  over  his  shoulder 
and  led  the  advance,  casting  many  a stolen 
glance  behind  him  as  he  proceeded,  in  order  to 
fix  his  gaze  on  the  extraordinary  and,  to  him,  un- 
accountable loveliness  of  the  unconscious  Inez. 

An  hour  sufficed  to  bring  the  fugitives  to  the 
bank  of  the  stream,  which  was  one  of  the  hun- 
dred rivers  that  serve  to  conduct,  through  the 
mighty  arteries  of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi, 
the  waters  of  that  vast  and  still  uninhabited 
region  to  the  ocean.  The  river  was  not  deep, 
but  its  current  was  troubled  and  rapid. 

The  flames  had  scorched  the  earth  to  its  very 
margin,  and  as  the  warm  streams  of  the  fluid 
mingled,  in  the  cooler  air  of  the  morning,  with 
the  smoke  of  the  raging  conflagration,  most  of 
its  surface  was  wrapped  in  a mantle  of  moving  va- 
por. The  trapper  pointed  out  the  circumstance 
with  pleasure,  saying,  as  he  assisted  Inez  to  dis- 
mount on  the  margin  of  the  water-course  : 

“ The  knaves  have  outwitted  themselves  ! I 
am  far  from  certain  that  I should  not  have  fired 
the  prairie,  to  have  got  the  benefit  of  this  very 
smoke  to  hide  our  movements,  had  not  the  heart- 
less imps  saved  us  the  trouble.  I’ve  known  such 
things  done  in  my  day,  and  done  with  success. 
Come,  lady,  put  your  tender  foot  upon  the 
ground — for  a fearful  time  has  it  been  to  one  of 
your  breeding  and  skeary  qualities.  Ah’s  me ! 
what  have  I not  known  the  young,  and  the  deli- 
cate, and  the  virtuous,  and  the  modest,  to  undergo, 
in  my  time,  among  the  horrifications  and  circum- 
ventions of  Indian  warfare  ! Come,  it  is  a short 
quarter  of  a mile  to  the  other  bank,  and  then  our 
trail,  at  least,  will  be  broken.” 

Paul  had  by  this  time  assisted  Ellen  to  dis- 
mount, and  he  now  stood  looking,  with  rueful 
eyes,  at  the  naked  banks  of  the  river.  Neither 
tree  nor  shrub  grew  along  its  borders,  with  the 
exception  of  here  and  there  a solitary  thicket  of 
low  bushes,  from  among  which  it  would  not  have 
been  an  easy  matter  to  have  found  a dozen  stems 
of  a size  sufficient  to  make  an  ordinary  walking- 
stick. 

“ Harkee,  old  trapper,”  the  moody-looking 
bee-hunter  exclaimed  ; “ it  is  very  well  to  talk  of 
the  other  side  of  this  ripple  of  a river,  or  brook, 
or  whatever  you  may  call  it,  but  in  my  judgment 
it  would  be  a smart  rifle  that  would  throw  its 
lead  across  it — that  is,  to  any  detriment  to  Indian 
or  deer.” 

“ That  it  would — that  it  would  ; though  I 
tarry  a piece,  here,  that  has  done  its  work,  in 
time  of  need,  at  as  great  a distance.” 


“ And  do  you  mean  to  shoot  Ellen  and  the 
saptain’s  lady  across ; or  do  you  intend  them  to 
go,  trout-fashion,  with  their  mouths  under  wa- 
ter ? ” 

“ Is  this  river  too  deep  to  be  forded  ? ” asked 
Middleton,  who,  like  Paul,  began  to  consider  the 
impossibility  of  transporting  her,  whose  safety 
he  valued  more  than  his  own,  to  the  opposite 
shore. 

“ When  the  mountains  above  feed  it  with 
their  torrents,  it  is,  as  you  see,  a swift  and  power- 
ful stream.  Yet  have  I crossed  its  sandy  bed, 
in  my  time,  without  wetting  a knee.-  But  we 
have  the  Sioux  horses;  I warrant  me  that  the 
kicking  imps  will  swim  like  so  many  deer.” 

“ Old  trapper,”  said  Paul,  thrusting  his  fingers 
into  his  mop  of  a head,  as  was  usual  with  him, 
when  any  difficulty  confounded  his  philosophy,  “ I 
have  swum  like  a fish  in  my  day,  and  I can  do  it 
again,  when  there  is  need ; nor  do  I much  regard 
the  weather;  but  I question  if  you  get  Nelly  to  sit 
a horse,  with  this  water  whii'ling  like  a mill-race 
before  her  eyes ; besides,  it  is  manifest  the  thing  is 
not  to  be  done  dry  shod.” 

“ Ah,  the  lad  is  right.  We  must  to  our  inven- 
tions, therefore,  or  the  river  cannot  be  crossed.’’ 
Then,  cutting  the  discourse  short,  he  turned  to  the 
Pawnee,  and  explained  to  him  the  difficulty  which 
existed  in  relation  to  the  women.  The  young 
warrior  listened  gravely,  and,  throwing  the  buf- 
falo-skin from  his  shoulder,  he  immediately  com- 
menced, assisted  by  the  occasional  aid  of  the  un- 
derstanding old  man,  the  preparations  necessary 
to  effect  his  desirable  object. 

The  hide  was  soon  drawn  into  the  shape  of  an 
umbrella  top,  or  an  inverted  parachute,  by  thongs 
of  deer-skin,  with  which  both  the  laborers  were 
well  provided.  A few  light  sticks  served  to  keep 
the  parts  from  collapsing,  or  falling  in.  When  this 
simple  and  natural  expedient  was  arranged,  it  was 
placed  on  the  water,  the  Indian  making  a sign 
that  it  was  ready  to  receive  its  freight.  Both 
Inez  and  Ellen  hesitated  to  trust  themselves  in  a 
bark  of  so  frail  a construction,  nor  would  Middle- 
ton  or  Paul  consent  that  they  should  do  so,  until 
each  had  assured  himself,  by  actual  experiment, 
that  the  vessel  was  capable  of  sustaining  a load 
much  heavier  than  it  was  destined  to  receive. 
Then,  indeed,  their  scruples  were  reluctantly  over- 
come, and  the  skin  was  made  to  receive  its  pre- 
cious burden. 

“Now  leave  the  Pawnee  to  be  the  pilot,”  said 
the  trapper ; “ my  hand  is  not  so  steady  as  it  used 
to  be ; but  he  has  limbs  like  toughened  hickory. 
Leave  all  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Pawnee.” 

The  husband  and  lover  could  not  well  do  oth- 


128 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


erwise,  and  they  were  fain  to  become  deeply  in- 
terested, it  is  true,  but  passive  spectators  of  this 
primitive  species  of  ferrying.  The  Pawnee  se- 
lected the  beast  of  Mahtoree  from  among  the 
three  horses,  with  a readiness  that  proved  he  was 
far  from  being  ignorant  of  the  properties  of  that 
noble  animal,  and,  throwing  himself  upon  its  back, 
he  rode  into  the  margin  of  the  river.  Thrusting 
an  end  of  his  lance  into  the  hide,  he  bore  the  light 
vessel  up  against  the  stream,  and,  giving  his  steed 
the  rein,  they  pushed  boldly  into  the  current. 
Middleton  and  Paul  followed,  pressing  as  nigh  the 
bark  as  prudence  would  at  all  warrant.  In  this 
manner  the  young  warrior  bore  his  precious  car- 
go to  the  opposite  bank  in  perfect  safety,  with- 
out the  slightest  inconvenience  to  the  passengers, 
and  with  a steadiness  and  celerity  which  proved 
that  both  horse  and  rider  were  not  unused  to  the 
operation.  When  the  shore  was  gained,  the 
young  Indian  undid  his  work,  threw  the  skin  over 
his  shoulder,  placed  the  sticks  under  his  arm,  and 
returned,  without  speaking,  to  transfer  the  remain- 
der of  the  party,  in  a similar  manner,  to  what  was 
very  justly  considered  the  safer  side  of  the  river. 

“ Now,  friend  doctor,”  said  the  old  man,  when 
he  saw  the  Indian  plunging  into  the  river  a sec- 
ond time,  “ do  I know  there  is  faith  in  yonder 
red-skin.  He  is  a good-looking,  ay,  and  an  hon- 
est-looking youth,  but  the  winds  of  heaven  are 
not  more  deceitful  than  these  savages,  when  the 
devil  has  fairly  beset  them.  Had  the  Pawnee 
been  a Teton,  or  one  of  them  heartless  Mingoes 
that  used  to  be  prowling  through  the  woods  of 
York,  a time  back,  that  is,  some  sixty  years  agone, 
we  should  have  seen  his  back  and  not  his  face 
turned  toward  us.  My  heart  had  its  misgivings 
when  I saw  the  lad  choose  the  better  horse,  for  it 
would  be  as  easy  to  leave  us  with  that  beast,  as  it 
would  for  a nimble  pigeon  to  part  company  from  a 
flock  of  noisy  and  heavy-winged  crows.  But  you 
see  that  truth  is  in  the  boy,  and,  make  a red-skin 
once  your  friend,  he  is  yours  so  long  as  you  deal 
honestly  by  him.” 

“ What  may  be  the  distance  to  the  sources  of 
this  stream?”  demanded  Dr.  Battius,  whose 
eyes  were  rolling  over  the  whirling  eddies  of  the 
current,  with  a very  portentous  expression  of 
doubt.  “ At  what  distance  may  its  secret  springs 
be  found  ? ” 

“ That  maybe  as  the  weather  proves.  I war- 
rant me  your  legs  would  be  a-weary  before  you 
had  followed  its  bed  into  the  Rocky  Mountains  ; 
but  then  there  are  seasons  when  it  might  be  done 
without  wetting  a foot.” 

“ And  in  what  particular  divisions  of  the  year 
do  these  periodical  seasons  occur  ? ” 


“ He  that  passes  this  spot  a few  months  from 
this  time,  will  find  that  foaming  water-course  a 
desert  of  drifting  sand.” 

The  naturalist  pondered  deeply.  Like  most 
others  who  are  not  endowed  with  a superfluity  of 
physical  fortitude,  the  worthy  man  had  found  the 
danger  of  passing  the  river,  in  so  simple  a man- 
ner, magnifying  itself  in  his  eyes  so  rapidly,  as 
the  moment  of  adventure  approached,  that  he 
actually  contemplated  the  desperate  effort  of  go- 
ing round  the  river  in  order  to  escape  the  hazard 
of  crossing  it.  It  may  not  be  necessary  to  dwell 
on  the  incredible  ingenuity  with  which  terror  will 
at  any  time  prop  a tottering  argument.  The 
worthy  Obed  had  gone  over  the  whole  subject 
with  commendable  diligence,  and  had  just  arrived 
at  the  consoling  conclusion  that  there  was  nearly 
as  much  glory  in  discerning  the  hidden  sources 
of  so  considerable  a stream,  as  in  adding  a plant 
or  an  insect  to  the  lists  of  the  learned,  when  the 
Pawnee  reached  the  shore  for  the  second  time. 
The  old  man  took  his  seat  with  the  utmost  delib- 
eration, in  the  vessel  of  skin  (so  soon  as  it  had 
been  duly  arranged  for  his  reception),  and,  having 
carefully  disposed  of  Hector  between  his  legs,  he 
beckoned  to  his  companion  to  occupy  the  third 
place. 

The  naturalist  placed  a foot  in  the  frail  vessel, 
as  an  elephant  will  try  a bridge,  or  a horse  is 
often  seen  to  make  a similar  experiment  before 
he  will  trust  the  whole  of  his  corporeal  treasure 
on  the  dreaded  flat,  and  then  withdrew  just  as 
the  old  man  believed  he  was  about  to  seat  him- 
self. 

“Venerable  Venator,”  he  said,  mournfully, 
“ this  is  a most  unscientific  bark.  There  is  an 
inward  monitor  which  bids  me  distrust  its  secu- 
rity ! ” 

“ Anan ! ” said  the  old  man,  who  was  pinching 
the  ears  of  the  hound,  as  a father  would  play 
with  the  same  member  in  a favorite  child. 

“ I incline  not  to  this  irregular  mode  of  ex- 
perimenting on  fluids.  The  vessel  has  neither 
form  nor  proportions.” 

“ It  is  not  as  handsomely  turned  as  I have 
seen  a canoe  in  birchen  bark,  but  comfort  may  be 
taken  in  a wigwam  as  well  as  in  a palace.” 

“ It  is  impossible  that  any  vessel  constructed 
on  principles  so  repugnant  to  science  can  be  safe. 
This  tub,  venerable  hunter,  will  never  reach  the 
opposite  shore  in  safety.” 

“ You  are  a witness  of  what  it  has  done.” 

“ Ay ; but  it  was  an  anomaly  in  prosperity. 
If  exceptions  were  to  be  taken  as  rules  in  the 
government  of  things,  the  human  race  would 
speedily  be  plunged  in  the  abysses  of  ignorance 


THE  TETONS  IN  PURSUIT. 


129 


Venerable  trapper,  this  expedient  in  which  you 
would  repose  your  safety,  is,  in  the  annals  of  reg- 
ular inventions,  what  a Itmis  natures  may  be 
termed  in  the  lists  of  natural  history — a mon- 
ster ! ” 

How  mnch  longer  Dr.  Battius  might  have  felt 
disposed  to  prolong  the  discourse  it  is  difficult  to 
say,  for,  in  addition  to  the  powerful  personal  con- 
siderations which  induced  him  to  procrastinate 
an  experiment  which  was  certainly  not  without 
its  dangers,  the  pride  of  reason  was  beginning  to 
sustain  him  in  the  discussion.  But,  fortunately 
for  the  credit  of  the  old  man’s  forbearance,  when 
the  naturalist  reached  the  word  with  which  he  ter- 
minated his  last  speech,  a sound  arose  in  the  air 
that  seemed  a sort  of  supernatural  echo  to  the 
idea  itself.  The  young  Pawnee,  who  had  awaited 
the  termination  of  the  incomprehensible  discus- 
sion with  grave  and  characteristic  patience,  raised 
his  head  and  listened  to  the  unknown  cry,  like  a 
stag  whose  mysterious  faculties  had  detected  the 
footsteps  of  the  distant  hounds  in  the  gale.  The 
trapper  and  the  doctor  were  not,  however,  entire- 
ly so  uninstructed  as  to  the  nature  of  the  extraor- 
dinary sounds.  The  latter  recognized  in  them 
the  well-known  voice  of  his  own  beast,  and  he 
was  about  to  rush  up  the  little  bank  which  con- 
fined the  current,  with  all  the  longings  of  strong 
affection,  when  Asinus  himself  galloped  into  view, 
at  no  great  distance,  urged  to  the  unnatural  gait 
by  the  impatient  and  brutal  Weucha,  who  bestrode 
him. 

The  eyes  of  the  Teton  and  those  of  the  fugi- 
tives met.  The  former  raised  a long,  loud,  and 
piercing  yell,  in  which  the  notes  of  exultation 
were  fearfully  blended  with  those  of  warning. 
The  signal  served  for  a finishing  blow  to  the  dis- 
cussion on  the  merits  of  the  bark,  the  doctor 
stepping  as  promptly  to  the  side  of  the  old  man, 
as  if  a mental  mist  had  been  miraculously  re- 
moved from  his  eyes.  In  another  instant  the 
steed  of  the  young  Pawnee  was  struggling  with 
the  torrent. 

The  utmost  strength  of  the  horse  was  needed 
to  urge  the  fugitives  beyond  the  flight  of  arrows 
that  came  sailing  through  the  air,  at  the  next 
moment.  The  cry  of  Weucha  had  brought  fifty 
of  his  comrades  to  the  shore,  but  fortunately, 
among  them  all,  there  was  not  one  of  a rank  suf- 
ficient to  entitle  him  to  the  privilege  of  bearing  a 
fusee.  One-half  the  stream,  however,  was  not 
passed,  before  the  form  of  Mahtoree  himself  was 
seen  on  its  bank,  and  an  ineffectual  discharge  of 
fire-arms  announced  the  rage  and  disappointment 
of  the  chief.  More  than  once  the  trapper  had 
raised  his  rifle,  as  if  about  to  try  its  power  on  his 


enemies,  but  he  as  often  lowered  it,  without  fir- 
ing. The  eyes  of  the  Pawnee  warrior  glared  like 
those  of  the  cougar,  at  the  sight  of  so  many  of  the 
hostile  tribe,  and  he  answered  the  impotent  effort 
of  their  chief,  by  tossing  a hand  into  the  air  in 
contempt,  and  raising  the  war-cry  of  his  nation. 
The  challenge  was  too  taunting  to  be  endured. 
The  Tetons  dashed  into  the  stream  in  a body,  and 
the  river  became  dotted  with  the  dark  forms  of 
beasts  and  riders. 

There  was  now  a fearful  struggle  for  the 
friendly  bank.  As  the  Dahcotahs  advanced  with 
beasts  which  had  not,  like  that  of  the  Pawnee, 
expended  their  strength  in  former  efforts,  and  as 
they  moved  unincumbered  by  any  thing  but  their 
riders,  the  speed  of  the  pursuers  greatly  out- 
stripped that  of  the  fugitives.  The  trapper,  who 
clearly  comprehended  the  whole  danger  of  their 
situation,  calmly  turned  his  eyes  from  the  Tetons 
to  his  young  Indian  associate,  in  order  to  examine 
whether  the  resolution  of  the  latter  began  to  falter, 
as  the  former  lessened  the  distance  between  them. 
Instead  of  betraying  fear,  however,  or  any  of 
that  concern  which  might  so  readily  have  Ijeen 
excited  by  the  peculiarity  of  his  risk,  the  brow  of 
the  young  warrior  contracted  to  a look  which  in- 
dicated high  and  deadly  hostility. 

“ Do  you  greatly  value  life,  friend  doctor  ? ” 
demanded  the  old  man,  with  a sort  of  philosophic 
cal  calmness,  which  made  the  question  doubly  ap- 
palling to  his  companion. 

“Not  for  itself,”  returned  the  naturalist,  sip- 
ping some  of  the  water  of  the  river  from  the 
hollow  of  his  hand,  in  order  to  clear  his  husky 
throat — “not  for  itself,  but  exceedingly,  inas- 
much as  natural  history  has  so  deep  a stake  in 
my  existence.  Therefore — ” 

“ Ay ! ” resumed  the  other,  who  mused  too 
deeply  to  dissect  the  ideas  of  the  doctor  with  his 
usual  sagacity,  “ ’tis  in  truth  the  history  of  natur’, 
and  a base  and  craven  feeling  it  is  ! Now  is  life 
as  precious  to  this  young  Pawnee,  as  to  any  gov- 
ornor  in  the  States,  and  he  might  save  it,  or  at 
least  stand  some  chance  of  saving  it,  by  letting 
us  go  down  the  stream ; and  yet  you  see  he  keeps 
his  faith  manfully,  and  like  an  Indian  warrior. 
For  myself,  I am  old,  and  willing  to  take  the  for- 
tune that  the  Lord  may  see  fit  to  give,  nor  do  I 
conceit  that  you  are  of  much  benefit  to  mankind ; 
and  it  is  a crying  shame,  if  not  a sin,  that  so  fine 
a youth  as  this  should  lose  his  scalp  for  two  be- 
ings so  worthless  as  ourselves.  I am  therefore 
disposed,  provided  that  it  shall  prove  agreeable  to 
you,  to  tell  the  lad  to  make  the  best  of  his  way, 
and  to  leave  us  to  the  mercy  of  the  Tetons.” 

“ I repel  the  proposition,  as  repugnant  to  na- 


130 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


ture,  and  as  treason  to  science  ! ” exclaimed  the 
alarmed  naturalist.  “ Our  progress  is  miraculous ; 
and,  as  this  admirable  invention  moves  with  so 
wonderful  a facility,  a few  more  minutes  will 
serve  to  bring  us  to  land.” 

The  old  man  regarded  him  intently  for  an  in- 
stant, and  shaking  his  head  he  said  : 

“ Lord,  what  a thing  is  fear ! it  transforms 
the  creatur’s  of  the  world  and  the  craft  of  man, 
making  that  which  is  ugly,  seemly  in  our  eyes,  j 
and  that  which  is  beautiful,  unsightly  ? Lord, 
Lord,  what  a thing  is  fear ! ” 

A termination  was,  however,  put  to  the  dis-  I 
cussion,  by  the  increasing  interest  of  the  chase,  j 
The  horses  of  the  Dahcotahs  had  by  this  time 
gained  the  middle  of  the  current,  and  their  riders  j 
were  already  filling  the  air  with  yells  of  triumph.  I 
At  this  moment  Middleton  and  Paul,  who  had  led  ! 
the  females  to  a little  thicket,  appeared  again  on 
the  margin  of  the  stream,  menacing  their  enemies 
with  the  rifle. 

“ Mount,  mount,”  shouted  the  trapper,  the 
instant  he  beheld  them  ; “ mount  and  fly,  if  you 
value  those  who  lean  on  you  for  help  ! Mount, 
and  leave  us  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord.” 

“ Stoop  your  head,  old  trapper,”  returned  the 
voice  of  Paul,  “down  with  ye  both  into  your 
nest.  The  Teton  devil  is  in  your  line;  down 
with  your  heads,  and  make  way  for  a Kentucky  ! 
bullet ! ” 

The  old  man  turned  his  head,  and  saw  that 
the  eager  Mahtoree,  who  preceded  his  party  some 
distance,  had  brought  himself  nearly  in  a line  j 
with  the  bark  and  the  bee-hunter,  who  stood  per- 
fectly ready  to  execute  his  hostile  threat.  Bend- 
ing his  body  low,  the  rifle  was  discharged,  and 
the  swift  lead  whizzed  harmlessly  past  him,  on  its 
more  distant  errand.  But  the  eye  of  the  Teton 
chief  was  not  less  quick  and  certain  than  that  of 
his  enemy.  He  threw  himself  from  his  horse  the 
moment  preceding  the  report,  and  sank  into  the 
water.  The  beast  snorted  with  terror  and  anguish, 
throwing  half  his  form  out  of  the  river  in  a des- 
perate plunge.  Then  he  was  seen  drifting  away 
in  the  torrent,  and  dyeing  the  turbid  waters  with 
his  blood. 

The  Teton  chief  soon  reappeared  on  the  sur- 
face, and,  understanding  the  nature  of  his  loss,  he 
swam  with  vigorous  strokes  to  the  nearest  of  the 
young  men,  who  relinquished  his  steed,  as  a mat- 
ter of  course,  to  so  renowned  a warrior.  The  in- 
cident, however,  created  a confusion  in  the  whole 
of  the  Dahcotah  band,  who  appeared  to  await  the 
intention  of  their  leader,  before  they  renewed 
their  efforts  to  reach  the  shore.  In  the  mean  time 
the  vessel  of  skin  had  reached  the  land,  and  the  ! 


fugitives  were  once  more  united  on  the  maigin  of 
the  river. 

The  savages  were  now  swimming  about  in  indc* 
cision,  as  a flock  of  pigeons  is  often  seen  to  hov- 
er in  confusion  after  receiving  a heavy  discharge 
into  its  leading  column,  apparently  hesitating  on 
the  risk  of  storming  a bank  so  formidably  de- 
fended. The  well-known  precaution  of  Indian 
Warfare  prevailed,  and  Mahtoree,  admonished  by 
his  recent  adventure,  led  his  warriors  back  to  the 
shore  from  which  they  had  come,  in  order  to  re- 
lieve their  beasts,  which  were  already  becoming 
unruly. 

“Now,  mount  you  with  the  tender  ones,  and 
ride  for  yonder  hillock,”  said  the  trapper  ; “ be- 
yond it  you  will  find  another  stream,  into  which 
you  must  enter,  and,  turning  to  the  sun,  follow  its 
bed  for  a mile,  until  you  reach  a high  and  sandy 
plain ; there  will  I meet  you.  Go ; mount ; this 
Pawnee  youth  and  I,  and  my  stout  friend  the  phy- 
sician, who  is  a desperate  warrior,  are  men  euough 
to  keep  the  bank,  seeing  that  show  and  not  use 
is  all  that  is  needed.” 

Middleton  and  Paul  saw  no  use  in  wasting 
their  breath  in  remonstrances  against  this  pro- 
posal. Glad  to  know  that  their  rear  was  to  be  cov- 
ered, even  in  this  imperfect  manner,  they  hastily 
got  their  horses  in  motion,  and  soon  disappeared 
on  the  required  route.  Some  twenty  or  thirty 
minutes  succeeded  this  movement,  before  the  Te- 
tons  on  the  opposite  shore  seemed  inclined  to  en- 
ter on  any  new  enterprise.  Mahtoree  was  dis- 
tinctly visible*  in  the  midst  of  his  warriors,  issu- 
ing his  mandates  and  betraying  his  desire  for  ven- 
geance, by  occasionally  shaking  an  arm  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  fugitives ; but  no  step  was  taken 
which  appeared  to  threaten  any  further  act  of  im- 
mediate hostility.  At  length  a yell  arose  among 
the  savages,  which  announced  the  occurrence  of 
some  fresh  event.  Then  Ishmael  and  his  sluggish 
sons  were  seen  in  the  distance,  and  soon  the  whole 
of  the  united  force  moved  down  to  the  very  lim- 
its of  the  stream.  The  squatter  proceeded  to  ex- 
amine the  position  of  his  enemies  with  his  usual 
coolness,  and,  as  if  to  try  the  power  of  his  rifle, 
he  sent  a bullet  among  them,  with  a force  suf- 
ficient to  do  execution,  even  at  the  distance  at 
which  he  stood. 

“Now  let  us  depart!”  exclaimed  Obed,  en- 
deavoring to  catch  a furtive  glimpse  of  the  lead, 
which  he  fancied  was  whizzing  at  his  very  ear ; 
“ we  have  maintained  the  bank  in  a gallant  man- 
ner for  a sufficient  length  of  time;  quite  as  much 
military  skill  is  to  be  displayed  in  a retreat  as  in 
an  advance.” 

The  old  man  cast  a look  behind  him,  and,  see. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  FUGITIVES. 


131 


log  that  the  equestrians  had  reached  the  cover  of 
the  hill,  he  made  no  objections  to  the  proposal. 
The  remaining  horse  was  given  to  the  doctor, 
with  instructions  to  pursue  the  course  just 
taken  by  Middleton  and  Paul.  When  the  natu- 
ralist was  mounted  and  in  full  retreat,  the  trapper 
and  the  young  Pawnee  stole  from  the  spot  in  such 
a manner  as  to  leave  their  enemies  for  some  time 
in  doubt  as  to  their  movements.  Instead,  how- 
ever, of  pi'oceeding  across  the  plain  toward  the 
hill,  a route  on  which  they  must  have  been  in 
open  view,  they  took  a shorter  path,  covered  by 
the  formation  of  the  ground,  and  intersected  the 
little  water-course  at  the  point  where  Middleton 
had  been  directed  to  leave  it,  and  just  in  season 
to  join  his  party.  The  doctor  had  used  so  much 
diligence  in  the  retreat  as  to  have  already  over- 
taken his  friends,  and  of  course  all  the  fugitives 
were  again  assembled. 

The  trapper  now  looked  about  him  for  some 
convenient  spot  where  the  whole  party  might  halt, 
as  he  expressed  it,  for  some  five  or  six  hours. 

“ Halt ! ” exclaimed  the  doctor,  when  the 
alarming  proposal  reached  his  ears  ; “ venerable 
hunter,  it  would  seem  that,  on  the  contrary,  many 
days  should  be  passed  in  industrious  flight.” 

Middleton  and  Paul  were  both  of  this  opinion, 
and  each  in  his  particular  manner  expressed  as 
much. 

The  old  man  heard  them  with  patience,  but 
shook  his  head  like  one  who  is  unconvinced,  and 
then  answered  all  their  arguments  in  one  general 
and  positive  reply. 

“ Why  should  we  fly  ? ” he  asked.  “ Can  the 
legs  of  mortal  men  outstrip  the  speed  of  horses  ? 
Do  you  think  the  Tetons  will  lie  down  and  sleep  ; 
or  will  they  cross  the  water  and  nose  for  cur  trail  ? 
Thanks  be  to  the  Lord  we  have  washed  it  well  in 
this  stream,  and  if  we  leave  the  place  with  discre- 
tion and  wisdom  we  may  yet-  throw  them  off  its 
track.  But  a prairie  is  not  a wood.  There  a man 
may  journey  long,  caring  for  nothing  but  the 
prints  his  moccasin  leaves,  whereas  on  these  open 
plains  a runner  placed  on  yonder  hill,  for  instance, 
could  see  far  on  every  side  of  him,  like  a hover- 
ing hawk  looking  down  on  his  prey.  No,  no ; 
night  must  come  and  darkness-  be  upon  us  afore 
we  leave  this  spot.  But  listen  to  the  words  of  the 
PaM'nee ; he  is  a lad  of  spirit,  and  I warrant  me 
many  is  the  hard  race  that  he  has  run  with  the 
Sioux  bands — Does  my  brother  think  our  trail  is 
long  enough  ? ” he  demanded  in  the  Indian  tongue. 

“ Is  a Teton  a fish,  that  he  can  see  it  in  the 
river  ? ” 

“But  my  young  men  think  we  should  stretch 
it  until  it  reaches  across  the  prairie.” 


“ Mahtoree  has  eyes ; he  will  see  it.” 

“ What  does  my  brother  counsel  ? ” 

The  young  warrior  studied  the  heavens  a mo- 
ment, and  appeared  to  hesitate.  He  mused  some 
time  with  himself,  and  then  he  replied,  like  one 
whose  opinion  was  fixed  : 

“ The  Dahcotahs  are  not  asleep,”  he  said ; 
“ we  must  lie  in  the  grass.” 

“ Ah ! the  lad  is  of  my  mind,”  said  the  old 
man,  briefly  explaining  the  opinion  of  his  compan- 
ion to  his  white  friends.  Middleton  was  obliged 
to  acquiesce,  and,  as  it  was  confessedly  dangerous 
to  remain  upon  their  feet,  each  one  set  about  as- 
sisting in  the  means  to  be  adopted  for  their  secu- 
rity! Inez  and  Ellen  were  quickly  bestowed  be- 
neath the  warm  and  not  uncomfortable  shelter  of 
the  buffalo-skins,  which  formed  a thick  covering, 
and  tall  grass  was  drawn  over  the  place  in  such 
a manner  as  to  evade  any  examination  from  a 
common  eye.  Paul  and  the  Pawnee  fettered  the 
beasts  and  cast  them  to  the  earth,  where,  after 
supplying  them  with  food,  they  were  also  left 
concealed  in  the  fog  of  the  prairie.  No  time  was 
lost,  when  these  several  arrangements  were  com- 
pleted, before  each  of  the  others  sought  a place 
of  rest  and  concealment,  and  then  the  plain  ap- 
peared again  deserted  to  its  solitude. 

The  old  man  had  advised  his  companions  of 
the  absolute  necessity  of  their  continuing  for 
hours  in  this  concealment.  All  their  hopes  of 
escape  depended  on  the  success  of  the  artifice. 
If  they  might  elude  the  cunning  of  their  pur- 
suers by  this  simple  and  therefore  less  suspected 
expedient,  they  could  renew  their  flight  as  the 
evening  approached,  and,  by  changing  their  course, 
the  chance  of  final  success  would  be  greatly  in- 
creased. Influenced  by  these  momentous  consid- 
erations the  whole  party  lay  musing  on  their  situa- 
tion, until  thoughts  grew  weary,  and  sleep  finally 
settled  on  them  all,  one  after  another. 

The  deepest  silence  had  prevailed  for  hours, 
when  the  quick  ears  of  the  trapper  and  the  Paw- 
nee were  startled  by  a faint  cry  of  surprise  from 
Inez.  Springing  to  their  feet,  like  men  who  were 
about  to  struggle  for  their  lives,  they  found  the 
vast  plain,  the  rolling  swells,  the  little  hillock, 
and  the  scattered  thickets,  covered  alike  in  one 
white,  dazzling  sheet  of  snow. 

“ The  Lord  have  mercy  on  ye  all ! ” exclaimed 
the  old  man,  regarding  the  prospect  with  a rue- 
ful eye.  “ Now,  Pawnee,  do  I know  the  reason 
why  you  studied  the  clouds  so  closely ; but  it  is 
too  late;  it  is. too, late!  A squirrel  would  leave 
his  trail  on  this  light  coating  of  the  ’arth.  Ha  ! 
there  come  the  imps  to  a certainty.  Down 
with  ye  all,  down  with  ye  ; your  chance  is 


132 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


but  small,  and  yet  it  must  not  be  wilfully  cast 
away.” 

The  whole  party  was  instantly  concealed  again, 
though  many  an  anxious  and  stolen  glance  was 
directed  through  the  tops  of  the  grass,  on  the 
movements  of  their  enemies.  At  the  distance 
of  half  a mile,  the  Teton  band  was  seen  riding 
in  a circuit,  which  was  gradually  contracting 
itself,  and  evidently  closing  upon  the  very  spot 
where  the  fugitives  lay.  There  was  but  little 
difficulty  in  solving  the  mystery  of  this  move- 
ment. The  snow  had  fallen  in  time  to  assure 
them  that  those  they  sought  were  in  their  rear, 
and  they  were  now  employed,  with  the  unwearied 
perseverance  and  patience  of  Indian  warriors,  in 
circling  the  certain  boundaries  of  their  place  of 
concealment. 

Each  minute  added  to  the  jeopardy  of  the 
fugitives.  Paul  and  Middleton  deliberately  pre- 
pared their  rifles,  and  as  the  occupied  Mahtoree 
came,  at  length,  within  fifty  feet  of  them,  keep- 
ing his  eyes  riveted  on  the  grass  through  which 
he  rode,  they  levelled  them  together  and  pulled 
the  triggers.  The  effort  was  answered  by  the 
mere  snapping  of  the  locks. 

“ Enough,”  said  the  old  man,  rising  with 
dignity ; “ I have  cast  away  the  priming ; for 
certain  death  would  follow  your  rashness.  Now 
let  us  meet  our  fates  like  men.  Cringing  and 
complaining  find  no  favor  in  Indian  eyes.” 

His  appearance  was  greeted  by  a yell  that 
spread  far  and  wide  over  the  plain,  and  in  a mo- 
ment a hundred  savages  were  seen  riding  madly 
to  the  ^pot.  Mahtoree  received  his  prisoners 
with  great  self-restraint,  though  a single  gleam 
of  fierce  joy  broke  through  his  clouded  brow, 
and  the  heart  of  Middleton  grew  cold  as  he 
caught  the  expression  of  that  eye,  which  the 
chief  turned  on  the  nearly  insensible  but  still 
lovely  Inez. 

The  exultation  of  receiving  the  white  captives 
was  so  great,  as  for  a time  to  throw  the  dark  and 
immovable  form  of  their  young  Indian  compan- 
ion entirely  out  of  view.  He  stood  apart,  dis- 
daining to  turn  an  eye  on  his  enemies,  as  motion- 
less as  if  he  were  frozen  in  that  attitude  of  dig- 
nity and  composure.  But  when  a little  time  had 
passed,  even  this  secondary  object  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  Tetons.  Then  it  was  that  the 
trapper  first  learned,  by  the  shout  of  triumph 
and  the  long-drawn  yell  of  delight,  which  burst 
at  once  from  a hundred  throats,  as  well  as  by  the 
terrible  name  which  filled  the  air,  .that  his  youth- 
ful friend  was  no  other  than  that  redoubtable  and 
hitherto  invincible  warrior,  Hard-Heart. 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

“ What,  are  ancient  Pistol  and  you  friends,  yet?  ” 
SlL4jrEfiPEi.BH. 

The  curtain  of  our  imperfect  drama  must 
fall  to  rise  upon  another  scene.  The  time  is  ad- 
vanced several  days,  during  which  very  material 
changes  had  occurred  in  the  situation  of  the  actors. 
The  hour  is  noon,  and  the  place  an  elevated  plain, 
that  rose,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  water, 
somewhat  abruptly  from  a fertile  bottom  which 
stretched  along  the  margin  of  one  of  the  number- 
less water-courses  of  that  region.  The  river  took 
its  rise  near  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  after  washing  a vast  extent  of  plain  it  min- 
gled its  waters  with  a still  larger  stream,  to  be- 
come finally  lost  in  the  turbid  current  of  the  Mis- 
souri. 

The  landscape  was  changed  materially  for  the 
better ; though  the  hand  which  had  impressed  so 
much  of  the  desert  on  the  surrounding  region, 
had  laid  a portion  of  its  power  on  this  spot.  The 
appearance  of  vegetation  was,  however,  less  dis- 
couraging than  in  the  more  sterile  wastes  of  the 
rolling  prairies.  Clusters  of  trees  were  scattered 
in  greater  profusion,  and  a long  outline  of  ragged 
forest  marked  the  northern  boundary  of  the  view. 
Herb  and  there  on  the  bottom  were  to  be  seen 
the  evidences  of  a hasty  and  imperfect  culture 
of  such  indigenous  vegetables  as  were  of  a quick 
growth,  and  which  were  known  to  flourish  with- 
out the  aid  of  art  in  deep  and  alluvial  soils.  On 
the  very  edge  of  what  might  be  called  the  table- 
land, were  pitched  the  hundred  lodges  of  a horde 
of  wandering  Sioux.  Their  light  tenements  were 
arranged  without  the  least  attention  to  order. 
Proximity  to  the  water  seemed  to  be  the  only  con- 
sideration which  had  been  consulted  in  their  dis- 
position, nor  had  even  this  important  convenience 
been  always  regarded.  While  most  of  the  lodges 
stood  along  the  brow  of  the  plain,  many  were  to 
be  seen  at  greater  distances,  occupying  such 
places  as  had  first  pleased  the  capricious  eyes  of 
their  untutored  owners.  The  encampment  was 
not  military,  nor  in  the  slightest  degree  protected 
from  surprise  by  its  position  or  defences.  It  was 
open  on  every  side,  and  on  every  side  as  accessi- 
ble as  any  other  point  in  those,  wastes,  if  the  im- 
perfect and  natural  obstruction  offered  by  the 
river  be  excepted.  In  short,  the  place  bore  the 
appearance  of  having  been  tenanted  longer  than 
its  occupants  had  originally  intended,  while  it  was 
not  wanting  in  the  signs  of  readiness  for  a hasty 
or  even  a compelled  departure.  * 


A SIOUX  ENCAMPMENT. 


133 


Tlii3  was  the  temporary  encampment  of  that 
portion  of  his  people  who  had  long  been  hunting  j 
under  the  direction  of  Mahtoree,  on  those  grounds  j 
which  separated  the  stationary  abodes  of  his  na- 
tion from  those  of  the  warlike  tribes  of  the  Paw- 
nees. The  lodges  were  tents  of  skin,  high,  con- 
ical, and  of  the  most  simple  and  primitive  con- 
struction. The  shield,  the  quiver,  the  lance,  and 
the  bow  of  its  master,  were  to  be  seen  suspended 
from  a light  post  before  the  opening  or  door  of 
each  habitation.  The  different  domestic  imple- 
ments of  his  one,  two,  or  three  wives,  as  the 
brave  was  of  greater  or  lesser  renown,  were  care- 
lessly thrown  at  its  side,  and  here  and  there  the 
round,  full,  patient  countenance  of  an  infant 
might  be  found  peeping  from  its  comfortless 
wrappers  of  bark,  as,  suspended  by  a deer-skin 
thong  from  the  same  post,  it  rocked  in  the  pass- 
ing air.  Children  of  a larger  growth  were  tum- 
bling over  each  other  in  piles,  the  males,  even  at 
that  early  age,  making  themselves  distinguished 
for  that  species  of  domination  which,  in  after-life, 
was  to  mark  the  vast  distinction  between  the 
sexes.  Youths  were  in  the  bottom,  essaying 
their  juvenile  powers  in  curbing  the  wild  steeds 
of  their  fathers,  while  here  and  there  a truant 
girl  was  to  be  seen  stealing  from  her  labors  to 
admire  their  fierce  and  impatient  daring. 

Thus  far  the  picture  was  the  daily  exhibition 
of  an  encampment  confident  in  its  security.  But  j 
immediately  in  front  of  the  lodges  was  a gather- 
ing that  seemed  to  forebode  some  movements  of  j 
more  than  usual  interest.  A few  of  the  withered 
and  remorseless  crones  of  the  band  were  cluster- 
ing together,  in  readiness  to  lend  their  fell  voices, 
if  needed,  to  aid  in  exciting  their  descendants  to 
an  exhibition  which  their  depraved  tastes  coveted, 
as  the  luxurious  Roman  dame  witnessed  the  strug- 
gles and  the  agony  of  the  gladiator.  The  men 
were  subdivided  into  groups,  assorted  according 
to  the  deeds  and  reputations  of  the  several  indi- 
viduals of  whom  they  were  composed. 

They  who  were  of  that  equivocal  age  which 
admitted  them  to  the  hunts,  while  their  discretion  j 
was  still  too  doubtful  to  permit  them  to  be  trusted  j 
on  the  war-path,  hung  around  the  skirts  of  the 
whole,  catching  from  the  fierce  models  before  them 
that  gravity  of  demeanor  and  restraint  of  man- 
ner  which  in  time  was  to  become  so  deeply  in- 
grafted in  their  own  characters.  A few  of  the  still 
older  class,  and  who  had  heard  the  whoop  in  anger, 
were  a little  more  presuming,  pressing  nigher  to 
the  chiefs,  though  far  from  presuming  to  mingle 
in  their  councils,  sufficiently  distinguished  by  be-  | 
ing  permitted  to  catch  the  wisdom  which  fell  from 
lips  so  venerated.  The  ordinary  warriors  of  the 


band  were  still  less  diffident,  not  hesitating  to 
mingle  among  the  chiefs  of  lesser  note,  though  far 
from  assuming  the  right  to  dispute  the  sentiments 
of  any  established  brave,  or  to  call  in  question  the 
prudence  of  measures  that  were  recommended  by 
the  more  gifted  counsellors  of  the  nation. 

Among  the  chiefs  themselves  there  was  a sin- 
gular compound  of  exterior.  They  were  divided 
into  two  classes ; those  who  were  mainly  indebted 
for  their  influence  to  physical  causes  and  to  deeds 
in  arms,  and  those  who  had  become  distinguished 
rather  for  their  wisdom  than  for  their  services  in 
the  field.  The  former  was  by  far  the  most  numer- 
ous and  the  most  important  class.  They  were  men 
of  stature  and  mien,  whose  stern  countenances  were 
rendered  doubly  imposing  by  those  evidences  of 
their  valor  which  had  been  roughly  traced  on  their 
lineaments  by  the  hands  of  their  enemies.  That 
class  which  had  gained  its  influence  by  a moral 
ascendency  was  extremely  limited.  They  were 
uniformly  to  be  distinguished  by  the  quick  and 
lively  expression  of  their  eyes,  by  the  air  of  distrust 
that  marked  their  movements,  and  occasionally 
by  the  vehemence  of  their  utterance  in  those  sud- 
den outbreakings  of  the  mind  by  which  their 
present  consultations  were  from  time  to  time 
distinguished. 

In  the  very  centre  of  a ring  formed  by  these 
chosen  counsellors  was  to  be  seen  the  person 
of  the  disquieted  but  seemingly  calm  Mahtoree. 
There  was  a conjunction  of  all  the  several  qual- 
ities of  the  others  in  his  person  and  character. 
Mind  as  well  as  matter  had  contributed  to  estab- 
lish his  authority.  His  scars  were  as  numerous 
and  deep  as  those  of  the  whitest  head  in  his  nation ; 
his  limbs  were  in  their  greatest  vigor  ; his  cour- 
age at  its  fullest  height.  Endowed  with  this  rare 
combination  of  moral  and  physical  influence,  t;  3 
keenest  eye  in  all  that  assembly  was  wont  to  lower 
before  his  threatening  glance.  Courage  and  cun- 
ning had  established  his  ascendency,  and  it  had 
been  rendered  in  some  degree  sacred  by  time.  He 
knew  so  well  how  to  unite  the  powers  of  reason 
and  force,  that,  in  a state  of  society  which  admit- 
ted of  a greater  display  of  his  energies,  the  Teton 
would  in  all  probability  have  been  both  a con- 
queror and  a despot. 

A little  apart  from  the  gathering  of  the  band 
was  to  be  seen  a set  of  beings  of  an  entirely  dif- 
ferent origin.  Taller  and  far  more  muscular  in 
their  persons,  the  lingering  vestiges  of  their  Saxon 
and  Norman  ancestry  were  yet  to  be  found  be- 
neath the  swarthy  complexions  v.  hich  had  been  be- 
stowed by  an  American  sun.  It  would  have  been 
a curious  investigation  for  one  skilled  in  such  an 
inquiry,  to  have  traced  those  points  of  difference 


134 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


by  which  the  offspring  of  the  most  western  Euro- 
pean was  still  to  be  distinguished  from  the  descend- 
ant of  the  most  remote  Asiatic,  now  that  the  two, 
in  the  revolutions  of  the  world,  were  approxi- 
mating in  their  habits,  their  residence,  and  not  a 
little  in  their  characters.  The  group  of  whom  we 
write  was  composed  of  the  family  of  the  squatter. 
They  stood  indolent,  lounging,  and  inert,  as  usual, 
when  no  immediate  demand  was  made  on  their 
dormant  energies,  clustered  in  front  of  some  four 
or  five  habitations  of  skin,  for  which  they  were 
indebted  to  the  hospitality  of  their  Teton  allies. 
The  terms  of  their  unexpected  confederation  were 
sufficiently  explained  by  the  presence  of  the  horses 
and  domestic  cattle  that  were  quietly  grazing  on 
the  bottom  beneath,  under  the  jealous  eyes  of  the 
spirited  Hetty.  Their  wagons  were  drawn  about 
the  lodges  in  a sort  of  irregular  barrier,  which  at 
once  manifested  that  their  confidence  was  not 
entirely  restored,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  their 
policy  or  indolence  prevented  any  very  positive 
exhibition  of  distrust.  There  was  a singular 
union  of  passive  enjoyment  and  of  dull  curiosity 
slumbering  in  every  dull  countenance,  as  each  of 
the  party  stood  leaning  on  his  rifle,  regarding  the 
movements  of  the  Sioux  conference.  Still  no 
sign  of  expectation  or  interest  escaped  from  the  ! 
youngest  among  them,  the  whole  appealing  to 
emulate  the  most  phlegmatic  of  their  savage  allies 
in  an  exhibition  of  patience.  They  rarely  spoke  ; 
and,  when  they  did,  it  was  in  some  short  and  con- 
temptuous remark,  which  served  to  put  the  phys- 
ical superiority  of  a white  man  and  that  of  an 
Indian  in  a sufficiently  striking  point  of  view.  In 
short,  the  family  of  Ishmael  appeared  now  to  be  i 
in  the  plenitude  of  an  enjoyment  which  depended  ( 
on  inactivity,  but  which  was  not  entirely  free 
from  certain  confused  glimmerings  of  a perspec- 
tive in  which  their  security  stood  in  some  little 
danger  of  a rude  interruption  from  Teton  treach- 
ery. Abiram  alone  formed  a solitary  exception 
to  this  state  of  equivocal  repose. 

After  a life  passed  in  the  commission  of  a 
thousand  mean  and  insignificant  villanies,  the 
mind  of  the  kidnapper  had  become  hardy  enough 
to  attempt  the  desperate  adventure  which  has 
been  laid  before  the  reader  in  the  course  of  the 
narrative.  His  influence  over  the  bolder  but  less  I 
active  spirit  of  Ishmael  was  far  from  great ; and  ! 
had  not  the  latter  been  suddenly  expelled  a fer-  i 
tile  bottom,  of  which  he  had  taken  possession  ! 
with  intent  to  keep  it  without  much  deference  to 
the  forms  of  law,  he  would  never  have  succeeded  i 
in  enlisting  the  husband  of  his  sister  in  an  enter- 
prise that  required  so  much  decision  and  fore- 
thought. Their  original  success  and  subsequent 


disappointment  have  been  seen  ; and  Abiram 
now  sat  apart  plotting  the  means  by  which  he 
might  secure  to  himself  the  advantages  of  his  un- 
dertaking, which  he  perceived  were  each  moment 
becoming  more  uncertain,  through  the  open  ad- 
miration of  Mahtoree  for  the  innocent  subject  of 
his  villany.  We  shall  leave  him  to  his  vacillat- 
ing and  confused  expedients,  in  order  to  pass  to 
the  description  of  certain  other  personages  in 
the  drama. 

There  was  still  another  corner  of  the  picture 
that  was  occupied.  .On  a little  bank  at  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  encampment  lay  the  forms  of 
Middleton  and  Paul.  Their  limbs  were  painfully 
bound  with  thongs  cut  from  the  skin  of  a bison, 
while,  by  a sort  of  refinement  in  cruelty,  they 
were  so  placed  that  each  could  see  a reflection 
of  his  own  misery  in  the  case  of  his  neighbor. 
Within  a dozen  yards  of  them  a post  was  set 
firmly  in  the  ground,  and  against  it  was  bound 
the  light  and  Apollo-like  person  of  Hard-Heart. 
Between  the  two  stood  the  trapper,  deprived  of 
his  rifle,  his  pouch,  and  his  horn,  but  otherwise 
left  in  a sort  of  contemptuous  liberty.  Some 
five  or  six  young  warriors,  however,  with  quivers 
at  their  backs  and  long  tough  bows  dangling  from 
their  shoulders,  who  stood  with  grave  watchful- 
ness at  no  great  distance  from  the  spot,  suf- 
ficiently proclaimed  how  fruitless  any  attempt  to 
escape,  on  the  part  of  one  so  aged  and  so  feeble, 
might  prove.  TTnlike  the  other  spectators  of  the 
important  conference,  these  individuals  were  en- 
gaged in  a discourse  that  for  them  contained  an 
interest  of  its  own. 

“ Captain,”  said  the  bee-hunter,  with  an  ex- 
pression of  comical  concern  that  no  misfortune 
could  depress  in  one  of  his  buoyant  feelings,  “ do 
you  really  find  that  accursed  strap  of  untanned 
leather  cutting  into  your  shoulder,  or  is  it  only 
the  tickling  in  my  own  arm  that  I feel  ? ” 

“ When  the  spirit  suffers  so  deeply,  the  body 
is  insensible  to  pain,”  returned  the  more  refined, 
though  scarcely  so  spirited  Middleton  ; “ would 
to  Heaven  that  some  of  my  trusty  artillerists 
might  fall  upon  this  accursed  encampment ! ” 

“ You  might  as  well  wish  that  these  Teton 
lodges  were  so  many  hives  of  hornets,  and  that 
the  insects  would  come  forth  and  battle  with  yon- 
der tribe  of  half-naked  savages.”  Then,  chuck' 
ling  with  his  own  conceit,  the  bee-hunter  turned 
away  from  his  companion,  and  sought  a moment- 
ary relief  from  his  misery  by  imagining  that  so 
wild  an  idea  might  be  realized,  and  fancying  the 
manner  in  which  the  attack  would  upset  even  the 
well-established  patience  of  an  Indian. 

Middleton  was  glad  to  be  silent ; but  the  old 


THE  INDIANS  IN  COUNCIL. 


135 


man,  who  had  listened  to  their  words,  drew  a lit- 
tle nigher,  and  continued  the  discourse. 

“ Here  is  likely  to  be  a merciless  and  a hellish 
business ! ” he  said,  shaking  his  head  in  a manner 
to  prove  that  even  his  experience  was  at  a loss 
for  a remedy  in  so  trying  a dilemma.  “ Our 
Pawnee  friend  is  already  staked  for  the  torture, 
and  I well  know,  by  the  eye  and  the  countenance 
of  the  great  Sioux,  that  he  is  leading  on  the  tem- 
per of  his  people  to  further  enormities.” 

“ Harkee,  old  trapper,”  said  Paul,  writhing  in 
his  bonds  to  catch  a glimpse  of  the  other’s  melan- 
choly face ; “ you  ar’  skilled  in  Indian  tongues 
and  know  somewhat  of  Indian  deviltries.  Co  you 
to  the  council,  and  tell  their  chiefs  in  my  name, 
that  is  to  say,  in  the  name  of  Paul  Hover,  of  the 
State  of  Kentucky,  that  provided  they  will  guar- 
antee the  safe  return  of  one  Ellen  Wade  into  the 
States,  they  are  welcome  to  take  his  scalp  when 
and  in  such  manner  as  best  suits  their  amuse- 
ments ; or,  if  so  be  they  will  not  trade  on  these 
conditions,  you  may  throw  in  an  hour  or  two  of 
torture  beforehand,  in  order  to  sweeten  the  bar- 
gain to  their  damnable  appetites.” 

“Ah!  lad,  it  is  little  they  wrould  hearken  to 
such  an  offer,  knowing,  as  they  do,  that  you  are 
already  like  a bear  in  a trap,  as  little  able  to  fight 
as  to  fly.  But  be  not  downhearted,  for  the  color 
of  a white  man  is  sometimes  his  death-warrant 
among  these  far  tribes  of  savages,  and  sometimes 
his  shield.  Though  they  love  us  not,  cunning  of- 
ten ties  their  hands.  Could  the  red  nations  work 
their  will,  trees  would  shortly  be  growing  again 
on  the  ploughed  fields  of  America,  and  woods 
would  be  whitened  with  Christian  bones.  No  one 
can  doubt  that,  who  knows  the  quality  of  the  ' 
love  which  a red-skin  bears  a pale-face ; but  they 
have  counted  our  numbers  until  their  memories 
fail  them,  and  they  are  not  without  their  policy. 
Therefore  is  our  fate  unsettled ; but  I fear  me 
there  is  small  hope  left  for  the  Pawnee ! ” 

As  the  old  man  concluded,  he  walked  slowly 
toward  the  subject  of  his  latter  observation,  tak- 
ing his  post  at  no  great  distance  from  his  side. 
Here  he  stood,  observing  such  a silence  and  mien 
as  became  him  to  manifest,  to  a chief  so  renowned 
and  so  situated  as  his  captive  associate.  But  the 
eye  of  Hard-Heart  was  fastened  on  the  distance, 
and  his  whole  air  was  that  of  one  whose  thoughts 
were  entirely  removed  from  the  present  scene. 

“ The  Siouxes  are  in  council  on  my  brother,” 
the  trapper  at  length  observed,  when  he  found  he 
^ould  only  attract  the  other’s  attention  by  speak- 
ing. 

The  young  partisan  turned  his  head  with  a 
calm  smile  as  he  answered : 


“ They  are  counting  the  scalps  over  the  lodge 
of  Hard-Heart ! ” 

“No  doubt,  no  doubt;  their  tempers  begin  to 
mount,  as  they  remember  the  number  of  Tetons 
you  have  struck,  and  better  would  it  be  for  you 
now,  had  more  of  your  days  been  spent  in  chas- 
ing the  deer,  and  fewer  on  the  war-path.  Then 
some  childless  mother  of  this  tribe  might  take 
you  in  the  place  of  her  lost  son,  and  your  time 
would  be  filled  in  peace.” 

“ Does  my  father  think  that  a warrior  can 
ever  die  ? The  Master  of  Life  does  not  open  his 
hand  to  take  away  his  gifts  again.  When  he 
wants  his  young  men  he  calls  them,  and  they  go. 
But  the  red-skin  he  has  once  breathed  on  lives 
forever.” 

“Ay,  this  is  a more  comfortable  and  a more 
humble  faith  than  that  which  yonder  heartless 
Teton  harbors ! There  is  something  in  these 
Loups  which  opens  my  inmost  heart  to  them ; 
they  seem  to  have  the  courage,  ay,  and  the  hon- 
esty, too,  of  the  Delawares  of  the  hills.  And 
this  lad — it  is  wonderful,  it  is  very  wonderful ; 
but  the  age,  and  the  eye,  and  the  limbs,  are  as  if 
they  might  have  been  brothers  ! Tell  me,  Paw- 
nee, have  you  ever  in  your  traditions  heard  of  a 
mighty  people  who  once  lived  on  the  shores  of  the 
Salt-lake,  hard  by  the  rising  sun  ? ” 

“ The  earth  is  white,  by  people  of  the  color 
of  my  father.” 

“Nay,  nay,  I speak  not  now  of  any  strollers 
wrho  have  crept  into  the  land  to  rob  the  lawful 
owners  of  their  birthright,  but  of  a people  who 
are,  or  rather  were,  what  with  nature  and  what 
with  paint,  red  as  the  berry  on  the  bush.” 

“ I have  heard  the  old  men  say  that  there 
were  bands  who  hid  themselves  in  the  woods  un- 
der the  rising  sun,  because  they  dared  not  come 
upon  the  open  prairies  to  fight  with  men.” 

“ Do  not  your  traditions  tell  you  of  the  great- 
est, the  bravest,  and  the  wisest  nation  of  red-skins 
that  the  Wahcondah  has  ever  breathed  upon  ? ” 

Hard-Heart  raised  his  head,  with  a loftiness 
and  dignity  that  even  his  bonds  could  not  repress, 
as  he  answered : 

“ Has  age  blinded  my  father ; or  does  he  see 
so  many  Siouxes  that  he  believes  there  are  no 
longer  any  Pawnees  ? ” 

“ Ah  ! such  is  mortal  vanity  and  pride  ! ” ex- 
claimed the  disappointed  old  man,  in  English ; 
“ Natur’  is  as  strong  in  a red-skin  as  in  the  bosom 
of  a man  of  white  gifts.  Now  would  a Delaware 
conceit  himself  far  mightier  than  a Pawnee,  just 
as  a Pawnee  boasts  himself  to  be  of  the  princes 
of  the  ’arth.  And  so  it  was  atween  the  French- 
ers  of  the  Canadas  and  the  red-coated  English, 


136 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


that  the  king  did  use  to  send  into  the  States, 
when  States  they  were  not,  but  outcrying 
and  petitioning  provinces ; they  fou’t  and  they 
fou’t,  and  what  marvellous  boastings  did  they  give 
forth  to  the  world  of  their  own  valor  and  victories, 
while  both  parties  forgot  to  name  the  humble  sol- 
dier of  the  land  who  did  the  real  service,  but  who, 
as  he  was  not  privileged  then  to  smoke  at  the 
great  council-fire  of  his  nation,  seldom  heard  of 
his  deeds,  after  they  were  once  bravely  done.” 

When  the  old  man  had  thus  given  vent  to  the 
nearly  dormant  but  far  from  extinct  military  pride 
that  had  so  unconsciously  led  him  into  the  very 
error  he  deprecated,  his  eye,  which  had  begun  to 
quicken  and  glimmer  with  some  of  the  ardor  of 
his  youth,  softened  and  turned  its  anxious  look 
on  the  devoted  captive,  whose  countenance  was 
also  restored  to  its  former  cold  look  of  abstraction 
and  thought. 

“Young  warrior,”  he  continued,  in  a voice 
that  was  growing  tremulous,  “ I have  never  been  fa- 
ther or  brother.  The  Wahcondah  made  me  to  live 
alone.  He  never  tied  my  heart  to  house  or  field, 
by  the  cords  with  which  the  men  of  my  race  are 
bound  to  their  lodges ; if  he  had,  I should  not 
have  journeyed  so  far,  and  seen  so  much.  But  I 
have  tarried  long  among  a people  who  lived  in 
{hose  woods  you  mention,  and  much  reason  did  I 
find  to  imitate  their  courage  and  love  their  hon- 
esty. The  Master  of  Life  has  made  us  all,  Pawnee, 
with  a feeling  for  our  kind.  I never  was  a father, 
but  well  do  I know  what  is  the  love  of  one.  You 
are  like  a lad  I valued,  and  I had  even  begun  to 
fancy  that  some  of  his  blood  might  be  in  your 
veins.  But  what  matters  that  ? You  are  a true 
man,  as  I know  by  the  way  in  which  you  keep 
your  faith  ; and  honesty  is  a gift  too  rare  to  be 
forgotten.  My  heart  yearns  to  you,  boy,  and  glad- 
ly would  I do  you  good.” 

The  youthful  warrior  listened  to  the  words 
which  came  from  the  lips  of  the  other  with  a force 
and  simplicity  that  established  their  truth,  and  he 
bowed  his  head  on  his  naked  bosom,  in  testimony 
of  the  respect  with  which  he  met  the  proffer. 
Then,  lifting  his  dark  eye  to  the  level  of  the  view, 
he  seemed  to  be  again  considering  of  things  re- 
moved JYora  every  personal  consideration.  The 
Wrapper,  who  well  knew  how  high  the  pride  of  a 
Warrior  would  sustain  him,  in  those  moments  he 
believed  to  be  his  last,  awaited  the  pleasure  of 
his  young  friend,  with  a meekness  and  patience 
Lhat  he  had  acquired  by  his  association  with  that 
■emarkable  race.  At  length  the  gaze  of  the  Paw- 
nee began  to  waver;  and  then  quick,  flashing 
glances  were  turned  from  the  countenance  of  the 
old  man  to  the  air,  and  from  the  air  to  his  deeply- 


marked  lineaments  again,  as  if  the  spirit,  which 
governed  their  movements,  was  beginning  to  be 
troubled. 

“ Father,”  the  young  brave  finally  answered, 
in  a voice  of  confidence  and  kindness,  “I  have 
heard  your  words.  They  have  gone  in  at  my 
ears,  and  are  now  within  me.  The  white-headed 
Long-knife  has  no  son ; the  Hard-Heart  of  the  Paw- 
nees is  young,  but  he  is  already  the  oldest  of  his 
family.  He  found  the  bones  of  his  father  on  the 
hunting-ground  of  the  Osages,  and  he  has  sent 
them  to  the  prairies  of  the  Good  Spirits.  No 
doubt  the  great  chief,  his  father,  has  seen  them, 
and  knows  what  is  a part  of  himself.  But  the 
Wahcondah  will  soon  call  to  us  both;  you,  be- 
cause you  have  seen  all  that  is  to  be  seen  in  this 
country  ; and  Hard-Heart,  because  he  has  need  of 
a warrior  who  is  young.  There  is  no  time  for 
the  Pawnee  to  show  the  pale-face  the  duty  that  a 
^son  owes  to  his  father.” 

“ Old  as  I am,  and  miserable  and  helpless  as 
I now  stand,  to  what  I once  was,  I may  live  to  see 
the  sun  go  down  in  the  prairie.  Does  my  son 
expect  to  do  as  much  ? ” 

“ The  Tetons  are  counting  the  scalps  on  my 
lodge ! ” returned  the  young  chief,  with  a smile 
whose  melancholy  was  singularly  illuminated  by 
a gleam  of  triumph. 

“ And  they  find  them  many — too  many  for 
the  safety  of  its  owner,  while  he  is  in  their 
revengeful  hands.  My  son  is  not  a woman,  and 
he  looks  on  the  path  he  is  about  to  travel  with  a 
steady  eye.  Has  he  nothing  to  whisper  in  the 
ears  of  his  people  before  he  starts  ? These  legs 
are  old,  but  they  may  yet  carry  me  to  the  forks 
of  the  Loup  River.” 

“ Tell  them  that  Hard-Heart  has  tied  a knot  in 
his  wampum  for  every  Teton ! ” burst  from  the 
lips  of  the  captive,  with  that  vehemence  with 
which  sudden  passion  is  known  to  break  through 
the  barriers  of  artificial  restraint ; “ if  he  meets 
one  of  them  all  in  the  prairies  of  the  Master  of 
Life  his  heart  will  become  Sioux ! ” 

“ Ah  ! that  feeling  would  be  a dangerous  com- 
panion for  a man  with  white  gifts  to  start  with  on 
so  solemn  a journey,”  muttered  the  old  man  in 
English.  “ This  is  not  what  the  good  Moravians 
said  to  the  councils  of  the  Delawares,  nor  what 
is  so  often  preached  to  the  white-skins  in  the 
settlements,  though,  to  the  shame  of  the  color  be 
it  said,  it  is  so  little  heeded. — Pawnee,  I love  you ; 
but,  being  a Christian  man,  I cannot  be  the  run- 
ner to  bear  such  a message.” 

“ If  my  father  is  afraid  the  Tetons  will  hear 
him,  let  him  whisper  it  softly  to  our  old  men.” 

“As  for  fear,  young  warrior,  it  is  no  more  the 


HARD-HEART  AND  THE  TRAPPER. 


137 


shame  of  a pale  face  than  of  a red-skin.  The 
Wahcondah  teaches  us  to  love  the  life  he  gives  ; 
but  it  is  as  men  love  their  hunts,  and  their  dogs, 
and  their  carabines,  and  not  with  the  doating  that 
a mother  looks  upon  her  infant.  The  Master  of 
Life  will  not  have  to  speak  aloud  twice  when  he 
calls  my  name.  I am  as  ready  to  answer  to  it 
now  as  I shall  be  to-morrow,  or  at  any  time  it  may 
please  his  mighty  will.  But  what  is  a warrior 
without  his  traditions  ? Mine  forbid  me  to  carry 
your  words.” 

The  chief  made  a dignified  motion  of  assent, 
and  here  there  was  great  danger  that  those  feel- 
ings of  confidence  which  had  been  so  singularly 
awakened,  would  as  suddenly  subside.  But  the 
heart  of  the  old  man  had  been  too  sensibly  touched, 
through  long  dormant  but  still  living  recollections, 
to  break  off  the  communication  so  rudely.  He 
pondered  for  a minute,  and  then,  bending  his  look 
wistfully  on  his  young  associate,  again  contin- 
ued: 

“ Each  warrior  must  be  judged  by  his  gifts. 
I have  told  m^  son  what  I cannot,  but  let  him 
open  his  ears  to  what  I can  do.  An  elk  shall  not 
measure  the  prairie  much  swifter  than  these  old 
legs,  if  the  Pawnee  will  give  me  a message  that  a 
white  man  may  bear.” 

“ Let  the  pale-face  listen,”  returned  the  other, 
after  hesitating  a single  instant  longer,  under  a 
lingering  sensation  of  his  former  disappointment. 
“ He  will  stay  here  till  the  Siouxes  have  done 
counting  the  scalps  of  their  dead  warriors.  He 
will  wait  until  they  have  tried  to  cover  the  heads 
of  eighteen  Tetons  with  the  skin  of  one  Pawnee ; 
he  will  open  his  eyes  wide,  that  he  may  see  the 
place  where  they  bury  the  bones  of  a warrior.” 

“All  this  will  I,  and  may  I,  do,  noble  boy.” 

“ He  will  mark  the  spot,  that  he  may  know 
it.” 

“ No  fear,  no  fear  that  I shall  forget  the  place,” 
interrupted  the  other,  whose  fortitude  began  to 
give  way  under  so  trying  an  exhibition  of  calmness 
and  resignation. 

“ Then  I know  that  my  father  will  go  to  my 
people.  His  head  is  gray,  and  his  words  will  not 
be  blown  away  with  the  smoke.  Let  him  get  on 
my  lodge,  and  call  the  name  of  Hard-Heart  aloud. 
No  Pawnee  will  be  deaf.  Then  let  my  father  ask 
for  the  colt  that  has  never  been  ridden,  but  which 
is  sleeker  than  the  buck,  and  swifter  than  the 
elk.” 

“ I understand  you,  boy,  I understand  you,” 
interrupted  the  attentive  old  man ; “ and  what 
you  say  shall  be  done,  ay,  and  well  done  too,  or 
I’m  but  little  skilled  in  the  wishes  of  a dying 
Indian.” 

61 


“And  when  my  young  men  have  given  my 
father  the  halter  of  that  colt,  he  will  lead  him  by 
a crooked  path  to  the  grave  of  Hard-Heart  ? ” 

“ Will  I ! ay,  that  I will,  brave  youth,  though 
the  winter  covers  these  plains  in  banks  of  snow, 
and  the  sun  is  hidden  as  much  by  day  as  by  night. 
To  the  h«ad  of  the  holy  spot  will  I lead  the  beast, 
and  place  him  with  his  eyes  looking  toward  the 
setting  sun.” 

“ And  my  father  will  speak  to  him,  and  tell 
him  that  the  master  who  has  fed  him  since  he  was 
foaled  has  now  need  of  him.” 

“ That,  too,  will  I do ; though  the  Lord  he 
knows  that  I shall  hold  discourse  with  a horse, 
not  with  any  vain  conceit  that  my  words  will  be 
understood,  but  only  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of 
Indian  superstition. — Hector,  my  pup,  what  think 
yow,  dog,  of  talking  to  a horse  ? ” 

“ Let  the  gray-beard  speak  to  him  with  the 
tongue  of  a Pawnee,”  interrupted  the  young  vic- 
tim, perceiving  that  his  companion  had  used  an 
unknown  language  for  the  preceding  speech. 

“ My  son’s  will  shall  be  done.  And  with 
these  old  hands,  which  I had  hoped  had  nearly 
done  with  bloodshed,  whether  it  be  of  man  or 
beast,  will  I slay  the  animal  on  your  grave ! ” 

“ It  is  good,”  returned  the  other,  a gleam  of 
satisfaction  flitting  across  his  features.  “ Hard- 
Heart  will  ride  his  horse  to  the  blessed  prairies, 
and  he  will  come  before  the  Master  of  Life  like  a 
chief!” 

The  sudden  and  striking  change  which  instant- 
ly occurred  in  the  countenance  of  the  Indian, 
caused  the  trapper  to  look  aside,  when  he  per- 
ceived that  the  conference  of  the  Sioux  had 
ended,  and  that  Mahtoree,  attended  by  one  or 
two  of  the  principal  warriors,  was  deliberately 
approaching  his  intended  victim. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

“ I am  not  prone  to  weeping,  as  our  sex 
Commonly  are.  . . . 

“ — But  I have  that  honorable 
Grief  lodged  here,  which  burns  worse  than 
Tears  drown.” 

Shakespeare. 

When  within  twenty  feet  of  the  prisoners,  the 
Tetons  stopped,  and  their  leader  made  a sign  to 
the  old  man  to  draw  nigh.  The  trapper  obeyed, 
quitting  the  young  Pawnee  with  a significant  look, 
which  was  received,  as  it  was  meant,  for  an  ad. 
ditional  pledge  that  he  would  never  forget  his 
promise.  So  soon  as  Mahtoree  found  that  the 


138 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


other  had  stopped  within  reach  of  him,  he 
stretched  forth  his  arm,  and,  laying  a hand  upon 
the  shoulder  of  the  attentive  old  man,  he  stood 
regarding  him  a minute,  with  eyes  that  seemed 
willing  to  penetrate  the  recesses  of  his  most  se- 
cret thoughts.  • 

“Is  a pale-face  always  made  with  two 
tongues  ? ” he  demanded,  when  he  found  that,  as 
usual  with  the  subject  of  this  examination,  he 
was  as  little  intimidated  by  his  present  frown,  as 
moved  by  any  apprehensions  of  the  future. 

“ Honesty  lies  deeper  than  the  skin.” 

“ It  is  so.  Now  let  my  father  hear  me.  Mah- 
toree  has  but  one  tongue,  the  gray-head  has  many. 
They  may  be  all  straight,  and  none  of  them 
forked.  A Sioux  is  no  more  than  a Sioux,  but  a 
pale-face  is  every  thing ! He  can  talk  to  the  Paw- 
nee, and  the  Konza,  and  the  Omahaw,  and  he  can 
talk  to  his  own  people.” 

“ Ay,  there  are  linguisters  in  the  settlements 
that  can  do  still  more.  But  what  profits  it  all  ? 
The  Master  of  Life  has  an  ear  for  every  lan- 
guage ! ” 

“ The  gray-head  has  done  wrong.  He  has 
said  one  thing  when  he  meant  another.  He  has 
looked  before  him  with  his  eyes,  and  behind  him 
with  his  mind.  He  has  ridden  the  horse  of  a 
Sioux  too  hard  ; he  has  been  the  friend  of  a Paw- 
nee, and  the  enemy  of  my  people.” 

“Teton,  I am  your  prisoner.  Though  my 
words  are  white,  they  will  not  complain.  Act 
your  will.” 

“ No.  Mahtoree  will  not  make  a white  hair 
red.  My  father  is  free.  The  prairie  is  open  on 
every  side  of  him.  But  before  the  gray-head 
turns  his  back  on  the  Siouxes,  let  him  look  well 
at  them,  that  he  may  tell  his  own  chief  how 
great  is  a Dahcotah ! ” 

“ I am  not  in  a hurry  to  go  on  my  path.  You 
see  a man  with  a white  head,  and  no  woman, 
Teton ; therefore  shall  I not  run  myself  out  of 
breath,  to  tell  the  nations  of  the  prairies  what 
the  Siouxes  are  doing.” 

“ It  is  good.  My  father  has  smoked  with  the 
chiefs  at  many  councils,”  returned  Mahtoree,  who 
now  thought  himself  sufficiently  sure  of  the 
other’s  favor  to  go  more  directly  to  his  object. 
“ Mahtoree  will  speak  with  the  tongue  of  his  very 
dear  friend  and  father.  A young  pale-face  will 
listen  when  an  old  man  of  that  nation  opens  his 
mouth.  Go ; my  father  will  make  what  a poor 
Indian  says  fit  for  a white  ear.” 

“ Speak  aloud  ! ” said  the  trapper,  who  readi- 
ly understood  the  metaphorical  manner  in  which 
the  Teton  expressed  a desire  that  he  should  be- 
come an  interpreter  of  his  words  into  the  English 


language  ; “ speak ; my  young  men  listen. — Now 
captain,  and  you  too,  friend  bee-hunter,  prepare 
yourselves  to  meet  the  deviltries  of  this  savage 
with  the  stout  hearts  of  white  warriors.  If  you 
find  yourselves  giving  way  under  his  threats,  just 
turn  your  eyes  on  that  noble-looking  Pawnee, 
whose  time  is  measured  with  a hand  as  niggardly 
as  that  with  which  a trader  in  the  towns  gives 
forth  the  fruits  of  the  Lord,  inch  by  inch,  in 
order  to  satisfy  Ills  covetousness.  A single  look 
at  the  boy  will  set  you  both  up  in  resolution.” 

“ My  brother  has  turned  his  eyes  on  the  wrong 
path,”  interrupted  Mahtoree,  with  a complacency 
that  betrayed  how  unwilling  he  was  to  offend  his 
intended  interpreter. 

“The  Dahcotah  will  speak  to  my  young 
men  ? ” 

“ After  he  has  sung  in  the  ear  of  the  flower 
of  the  pale-faces.” 

“ The  Lord  forgive  the  desperate  villain  ! ” ex- 
claimed the  old  man,  in  English.  “There  are 
none  so  tender,  or  so  young,  or  so  innocent,  as 
to  escape  his  ravenous  wishes.  But  hard  words 
and  cold  looks  will  profit  nothing  ; therefore  it 
will  be  wise  to  speak  him  fair. — Let  Mahtoree 
open  his  mouth.” 

“Would  my  father  cry  out  that  the  women 
and  children  should  hear  the  wisdom  of  chiefs  ? 
We  will  go  into  the  lodge,  and  whisper.” 

As  the  Teton  ended,  he  pointed  significantly 
toward  a tent,  vividly  emblazoned  with  the  history 
of  one  of  his  own  boldest  and  most  commended 
exploits,  and  which  stood  a little  apart  from  the 
rest,  as  if  to  denote  it  was  the  residence  of  some 
privileged  individual  of  the  band.  The  shield 
and  quiver  at  its  entrance  were  richer  than  com- 
mon, and  the  high  distinction  of  a fusee  attested 
the  importance  of  its  proprietor.  In  every  other 
particular  it  was  rather  distinguished  by  signs  of 
poverty  than  of  wealth.  The  domestic  utensils 
were  fewer  in  number  and  simpler  in  their  forms 
than  those  to  be  seen  about  the  openings  of  the 
meanest  lodges,  nor  was  there  a single  one  of 
those  highly-prized  articles  of  civilized  life,  which 
were  occasionally  bought  of  the  traders,  in  bar- 
gains that  bore  so  hard  on  the  ignorant  natives. 
All  these  had  been  bestowed,  as  they  had  been 
acquired,  by  the  generous  chief,  on  his  subordi- 
nates, to  purchase  an  influence  that  might  render 
him-  the  master  of  their  lives  and  persons ; a 
species  of  wealth  that  was  certainly  more  noble 
in  itself,  and  far  dearer  to  his  ambition. 

The  old  man  well  knew  this  to  be  the  lodge 
of  Mahtoree,  and,  in  obedience  to  the  sign  of 
the  chief,  he  held  his  way  toward  it  with  slow 
and  reluctant  steps.  But  there  were  others  pres- 


PAUL  HOVER’S  CURSE. 


139 


ent  who  were  equally  interested  in  the  approach- 
ing conference,  whose  apprehensions  were  not  to 
be  so  easily  suppressed.  The  watchful  eyes  and 
jealous  ears  of  Middleton  had  taught  him  enough 
to  fill  his  soul  with  horrible  forebodings.  With 
an  incredible  effort  he  succeeded  in  gaining  his 
feet,  and  called  aloud  to  the  retiring  trapper : 

“ I conjure  you,  old  man,  if  the  love  you  bore 
my  parents  was  more  than  words,  or  if  the  love 
you  bear  your  God  is  that  of  a Christian  man, 
utter  not  a syllable  that  may  wound  the  ear  of 
that  innocent — ” 

Exhausted  in  spirit  and  fettered  in  limbs,  he 
then  fell  like  an  animate  log  to  the  earth,  where 
he  lay  like  one  dead. 

Paul  had,  however,  caught  the  clew,  and  com- 
pleted the  exhortation  in  his  peculiar  manner  : 

“ Harkee,  old  trapper,”  he  shouted,  vainly  en- 
deavoring at  the  same  time  to  make  a gesture  of 
defiance  with  his  hand ; “ if  you  ar’  about  to  play 
the  interpreter,  speak  such  words  to  the  ears  of 
that  damnable  savage  as  becomes  a white  man 
to  use  and  a heathen  to  hear.  Tell  him,  from 
me,  that  if  he  does  or  says  the  thing  that  is  un- 
civil to  the  girl  called  Nelly  Wade,  that  I’ll  curse 
him  with  my  dying  breath  ; that  I’ll  pray  for  all 
good  Christians  in  Kentucky  to  curse  him  ; sitting 
and  standing ; eating  and  drinking ; fighting,  pray- 
ing, or  at  horse-races ; in-doors  and  out-doors ; 
in  summer  or  winter,  or  in  the  month  of  March  ; 
in  short,  I’ll — ay,  it  ar’  a fact,  morally  true — I’ll 
haunt  him,  if  the  ghost  of  a pale-face  can  con- 
trive to  lift  itself  from  a grave  made  by  the  hands 
of  a red-skin ! ” 

Having  thus  ventured  the  most  terrible  de- 
nunciation he  could  devise,  and  the  one  which,  in 
the  eyes  of  the  honest  bee-hunter,  there  seemed 
the  greatest  likelihood  of  his  being  able  to  put  in 
execution,  he  was  obliged  to  await  the  fruits  of 
his  threat  with  that  resignation  which  would  be 
apt  to  govern  a Western  borderman  who,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  prospects  just  named,  had  the  advan- 
tage of  contemplating  them  in  fetters  and  bond- 
age. We  shall  not  detain  the  narrative  to  relate 
the  quaint  morals  with  which  he  next  endeavored 
to  cheer  the  drooping  spirits  of  his  more  sensi- 
tive companion,  or  the  occasional  pithy  and  pecul- 
iar benedictions  that  he  pronounced  on  all  the 
bands  of  the  Dahcotahs,  commencing  with  those 
whom  he  accused  of  stealing  or  murdering,  on 
the  banks  of  the  distant  Mississippi,  and  conclud- 
ing, in  terms  of  suitable  energy,  with  the  Teton 
tribe.  The  latter  more  than  once  received  from 
his  lips  curses  as  sententious  and  as  complicated 
as  that  celebrated  anathema  of  the  Church,  for 
a knowledge  of  which  most  unlettered  Protestants 


are  indebted  to  the  pious  researches  of  the  worthy 
Tristram  Shandy.  But  as  Middleton  recovered 
from  his  exhaustion,  he  was  fain  to  appease  the 
boisterous  temper  of  his  associate,  by  admonish- 
ing him  of  the  uselessness  of  such  denunciations, 
and  of  the  possibility  of  their  hastening  the  very 
evil  he  deprecated,  by  irritating  the  resentments 
of  a race  who  were  sufficiently  fierce  and  lawless, 
even  in  their  most  pacific  moods. 

In  the  mean  time  the  trapper  and  the  Sioux 
chief  pursued  their  way  to  the  lodge.  The  former 
had  watched  with  painful  interest  the  expression 
of  Mahtoree’s  eye,  while  the  words  of  Middleton 
and  Paul  were  pursuing  their  footsteps  ; but  the 
mien  of  the  Indian  was  far  too  much  restrained 
and  self-guarded  to  permit  the  smallest  of  his 
emotions  to  escape  through  any  of  those  ordinary 
outlets  by  which  the  condition  of  the  human 
volcano  is  commonly  betrayed.  His  look  was 
fastened  on  the  little  habitation  they  approached ; 
and,  for  the  moment,  his  thoughts  appeared  to 
brood  alone  on  the  purposes  of  this  extraordinary 
visit. 

The  appearance  of  the  interior  of  the  lodge 
corresponded  with  its  exterior.  It  was  larger 
than  most  of  the  others,  more  finished  in  its  form, 
and  finer  in  its  materials ; but  there  its  superiority 
ceased.  Nothing  could  be  more  simple  and 
republican  than  the  form  of  living  that  the  ambi- 
tious and  powerful  Teton  chose  to  exhibit  to  the 
eyes  of  his  people.  A choice  collection  of  weap- 
ons for  the  chase,  and  three  or  four  medals,  be- 
stowed by  the  traders  and  political  agents  of  the 
Canadas  as  a homage  to,  or  rather  as  an  ac- 
knowledgment of,  his  rank,  with  a few  of  the  most 
indispensable  articles  of  personal  accommodation, 
composed  its  furniture.  It  abounded  in  neither 
venison  nor  the  wild-beef  of  the  prairies;  its 
crafty  owner  having  well  understood  that  the 
liberality  of  a single  individual  would  be  abun- 
dantly rewarded  by  the  daily  contributions  of  a 
band.  Although  as  preeminent  in  the  chase  as 
in  war,  a deer  or  a buffalo  was  never  seen  to  enter 
whole  into  his  lodge.  In  return,  an  animal  was 
rarely  brought  into  the  encampment,  that  did  not 
contribute  to  support  the  family  of  Mahtoree. 
But  the  policy  of  the  chief  seldom  permitted  more 
to  remain  than  sufficed  for  the  wants  of  the  day, 
perfectly  assured  that  all  must  suffer  before  hun- 
ger, the  bane  of  savage  life,  could  lay  its  fell  fangs 
on  so  important  a victim. 

Immediately  beneath  the  favorite  bow  of  the 
chief,  and  encircled  in  a sort  of  magical  ring  of 
spears,  shields,  lances,  and  arrows,  all  of  which 
had  in  their  time  done  good  service,  was  suspended 
the  mysterious  and  sacred  medicine-bag.  It  was 


140 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


highly  wrought  in  wampum,  and  profusely  orna- 
mented with  beads  and  porcupines’  quills,  after 
the  most  cunning  devices  of  Indian  ingenuity. 
The  peculiar  freedom  of  Mahtoree’s  religious  creed 
has  been  more  than  once  intimated,  and,  by  a sin- 
gular species  of  contradiction,  he  appeared  to 
have  lavished  his  attentions  on  this  emblem  of  a 
supernatural  agency  in  a degree  that  was  precisely 
inverse  to  his  faith.  It  was  merely  the  manner  in 
which  the  Sioux  imitated  the  well-known  expe- 
dient of  the  Pharisees,  “ in  order  that  they  might 
be  seen  of  men.” 

The  tent  had  not,  however,  been  entered  by 
its  owner  since  his  return  from  the  recent  expedi- 
tion. As  the  reader  has  already  anticipated,  it 
had  been  made  the  prison  of  Inez  and  Ellen.  The  * 
bride  of  Middleton  was  seated  on  a.  simple  couch 
of  sweet-scented  herbs  covered  with  skins.  She 
had  already  suffered  so  much,  and  witnessed  so 
many  wild  and  unlooked-for  events,  within  the 
short  space  of  her  captivity,  that  every  additional 
misfortune  fell  with  a diminished  force  on  her  seem- 
ingly devoted  head.  Her  cheeks  were  bloodless, 
her  dark  and  usually  animated  eye  was  contracted 
in  an  expression  jof  settled  concern,  and  her  form 
appeared  shrinking  and  sensitive,  nearly  to  extinc- 
tion. But,  in  the  midst  of  these  evidences  of 
natural  weakness,  there  were  at  times  such  an 
air  of  pious  resignation,  such  gleams  of  meek  but 
holy  hope  lighting  her  countenance,  as  might  well 
have  rendered  it  a question  whether  the  hapless 
captive  was  most  a subject  of  pity  or  of  admira- 
tion. All  the  precepts  of  Father  Ignatius  were 
riveted  in  her  faithful  memory,  and  not  a few  of 
his  pious  visions  were  floating  before  her  imagi- 
nation. Sustained  by  so  sacred  resolutions,  the 
mild,  the  patient,  and  the  confiding  girl  was  bow- 
ing her  head  to  this  new  stroke  of  Providence, 
with  the  same  sort  of  meekness  as  she  would  have 
submitted  to  any  other  prescribed  penitence  for 
her  sins,  though  Nature,  at  moments,  warred 
powerfully  with  so  compelled  a humility. 

On  the  other  hand,  Ellen  had  exhibited  far 
more  of  the  woman,  and  consequently  of  the  pas- 
sions of  the  world.  She  had  wept  until  her  eyes 
were  swollen  and  red.  Her  cheeks  were  flushed 
and  angry,  and  her  whole  mien  was  distinguished 
by  an  air  of  spirit  and  resentment,  that  was  not 
a little,  however,  qualified  by  apprehensions  for 
the  future.  In  short,  there  was  that  about  the 
eye  and  step  of  the  betrothed  of  Paul,  which  gave 
a warranty  that,  should  happier  times  arrive,  and 
the  constancy  of  the  bee-hunter  finally  meet  with 
its  reward,  he  would  possess  a partner  every  way 
worthy  to  cope  with  his  own  thoughtless  and 
buoyant  temperament. 


There  was  still  another  and  a third  figvie  in 
that  little  knot  of  females.  It  was  the  youngest 
the  most  highly-gifted,  and,  until  now,  the  most 
favored  of  the  wives  of  the  Teton.  Her  charms 
had  not  been  without  the  most  powerful  attrac- 
tion in  the  eyes  of  her  husband,  until  they  had  so 
unexpectedly  opened  on  the  surpassing  loveliness 
of  a woman  of  the  pale-faces.  From  that  hapless 
moment  the  graces,  the  attachment,  the  fidelity 
of  the  young  Indian,  had  lost  their  power  to 
please.  Still  the  complexion  of  Tachechana, 
though  less  dazzling  than  that  of  her  rival,  was, 
fbr  her  race,  clear  and  healthy.  Her  hazel  eye 
had  the  sweetness  and  playfulness  of  the  ante- 
lope’s ; her  voice  was  soft  and  joyous  as  the  song 
of  the  wren,  and  her  happy  laugh  was  the  very 
melody  of  the  forest.  Of  all  the  Sioux  girls, 
Tachechana  (or  the  fawn)  was  the  lightest-hearted 
and  the  most  envied.  Her  father  had  been  a dis- 
tinguished brave,  and  her  brothers  had  already 
left  their  bones  in  a distant  and  dreary  war-path. 
Numberless  were  the  warriors  who  had  sent  pres- 
ents to  the  lodge  of  her  parents,  but  none  of 
them  were  listened  to  until  a messenger  from  the 
great  Mahtoree  had  come.  She  was  his  third 
wife,  it  is  true,  but  she  was  confessedly  the  most 
favored  of  them  all.  Their  union  had  existed  but 
two  short  seasons,  and  its  fruits  now  lay  sleeping 
at  her  feet,  wrapped  in  the  customary  ligatures 
of  skin  and  bark,  which  form  the  swaddlings  of 
an  Indian  infant. 

At  the  moment  when  Mahtoree  and  the  trap- 
per arrived  at  the  opening  of  the  lodge,  the  young 
Sioux  wife  was  seated  on  a simple  stool,  turning 
her  soft  eyes  with  looks  that  varied,  like  her  emo- 
tions, with  love  and  wonder,  from  the  unconscious 
child  to  those  rare  beings  who  had  filled  her  youth- 
ful and  uninstructed  mind  with  so  much  admira- 
tion and  astonishment.  Though  Inez  and  Ellen 
had  passed  an  entire  day  in  her  sight,  it  seemed 
as  if  the  longings  of  her  curiosity  were  increasing 
with  each  new  gaze.  She  regarded  them  as  be- 
ings of  an  entirely  different  nature  and  condition 
from  the  females  of  the  prairie.  Even  the  mys- 
tery of  their  complicated  attire  had  its  secret  in- 
fluence on  her  simple  mind,  though  it  was  the 
grace  and  charms  of  sex,  to  which  Nature  has 
made  every  people  so  sensible,  that  most  attracted 
her  admiration.  But  while  her  ingenuous  disposi- 
tion freely  admitted  the  superiority  of  the  strangers 
over  the  less  brilliant  attractions  of  the  Dahcotah 
maidens,  she  had  seen  no  reason  to  deprecate 
their  advantages.  The  visit  that  she  was  now 
about  to  receive  was  the  first  which  her  husband 
had  made  to  the  tent  since  his  return  from  the 
recent  inroad,  and  he  was  ever  present  to  hei 


MAHTOREE  AND  HIS  FAVORITE  WIFE. 


141 


thoughts  as  a successful  warrior,  who  was  not 
ashamed  in  the  moments  of  inaction  to  admit  the 
Bofter  feelings  of  a father  and  a husband. 

We  have  everywhere  endeavored  to  show 
that  while  Mahtoree  was  in  all  essentials  a warrior 
of  the  prairies,  he  was  much  in  advance  of  his 
people  in  those  acquirements  which  announce  the 
dawnings  of  civilization.  He  had  held  frequent 
communion  with  the  traders  and  troops  of  the 
Canadas,  and  the  intercourse  had  unsettled  many 
of  those  wild  opinions  which  were  his  birthright, 
without  perhaps  substituting  any  others  of  a na- 
ture sufficiently  definite  to  be  profitable.  His 
reasoning  was  rather  subtle  than  true,  and  his 
philosophy  far  more  audacious  than  profound. 
Like  thousands  of  more  enlightened  beings  who 
fancy  they  are  able  to  go  through  the  trials  of  hu- 
man existence  without  any  other  support  than 
their  own  resolutions,  his  morals  were  accommo- 
dating and  his  motives  selfish.  These  several 
characteristics  will  be  understood  always  with 
reference  to  the  situation  of  the  Indian,  though 
little  apology  is  needed  for  finding  resemblances 
between  men  who  essentially  possess  the  same 
nature,  however  it  may  be  modified  by  circum- 
stances. 

Notwithstanding  the  presence  of  Inez  and  El- 
len, the  entrance  of  the  Teton  warrior  into  the 
lodge  of  his  favorite  wife  was  made  with  the  tread 
and  mien  of  a master.  The  step  of  his  moccasin 
was  noiseless,  but  the  rattling  of  his  bracelets  and 
of  the  silver  ornaments  of  his  leggings,  sufficed  to 
tnnounce  his  approach  as  he  pushed  aside  the 
thin  covering  of  the  opening  of  the  tent,  and 
atood.in  the  presence  of  its  inmates.  A faint  cry 
ot  pleasure  burst  from  the  lips  of  Tachechana  in 
the  suddenness  of  her  surprise,  but  the  emotion 
was  instantly  suppressed  in  that  subdued  demean- 
or which  should  characterize  a matron  of  her 
tribe.  Instead  of  returning  the  stolen  glance  of 
his  youthful  and  secretly- rejoicing  wife,  Mahtoree 
moved  to  the  couch  occupied  by  his  prisoners,  and 
placed  himself  in  the  haughty,  upright  attitude  of 
an  Indian  chief  before  their  eyes.  The  old  man 
had  glided  past  him  and  already  taken  a position 
suited  to  the  office  he  had  been  commanded  to  fill. 

Surprise  kept  the  females  silent  and  nearly 
breathless.  Though  accustomed  to  the  sight 
of  savage  warriors  in  the  horrid  panoply  of  their 
terrible  profession,  there  was  something  so  star- 
tling in  the  entrance,  and  so  audacious  in  the  inex- 
plicable look  of  their  conqueror,  that  the  eyes  of 
both  sank  to  the  earth  under  a feeling  of  terror 
and  embarrassment.  Then  Inez  recovered  her- 
self. and.  addressing  the  tranoer  she  demanded, 
with  the  dignity  of  an  offended  gentlewoman, 


though  with  her  accustomed  grace,  to  what  cir- 
cumstance they  owed^this  extraordinary  and  un- 
expected visit.  The  old  man  hesitated ; but,  clear- 
ing his  throat  like  one  who  was  about  to  make  an 
effort  to  which  he  was  little  used,  he  ventured  on 
the  following  reply : 

“ Lady,”  he  said,  “ a savage  is  a savage,  and 
you  are  not  to  look  for  the  uses  and  formalities 
of  the  settlements  on  a bleak  and  windy  prairie. 
As  these  Indians  would  say,  fashions  and  courte- 
sies are  things  so  light  that  they  would  blow  away. 
As  for  myself,  though  a man  of  the  forest,  I have 
seen  the  ways  of  the  great  in  my  time,  and  I am 
not  to  learn  that  they  differ  from  the  ways  of  the 
lowly.  I was  long  a serving-man  in  my  youth, 
not  one  of  your  beck-and-nod  runners  about  a 
household,  but  a man  that  went  through  the  ser- 
vitude of  the  forest  with  his  officer,  and  well  do  I 
know  in  what  manner  to  approach  the  wife  of  a 
captain.  Now,  had  I the  ordering  of  this  visit,  I 
would  first  have  hemmed  aloud  at  the  door  in  or- 
der  that  you  might  hear  that  strangers  were  com- 
ing, and  then  I — ” 

“ The  manner  is  indifferent,”  interrupted  Inez, 
too  anxious  to  await  the  prolix  explanations  of 
the  old  man  ; “'why  is  this  visit  made  ? ” 

“ Therein  shall  the  savage  speak  for  him- 
self.— The  daughters  of  the  pale-faces  wish  to 
know  why  the  great  Teton  has  come  into  his 
lodge  ? ” 

Mahtoree  regarded  his  interrogator  with  a 
surprise  which  showed  how  extraordinary  he 
deemed  the  question.  Then  placing  himself  in  a 
posture  of  condescension,  after  a moment’s  delay, 
he  answered : 

“ Sing  in  the  ears  of  the  dark-eye.  Tell  her 
the  lodge  of  Mahtoree  is  very  large,  and  that  it 
is  not  full.  She  shall  find  room  in  it,  and  none 
shall  be  greater  than  she.  Tell  the  light-hair  that 
she  too  may  stay  in  the  lodge  of  a brave,  and  eat 
of  his  venison.  Mahtoree  is  a great  chief.  His 
hand  is  never  shut.” 

“Teton,”  returned  the  trapper,  shaking  his 
head  in  evidence  of  the  strong  disapprobation  with 
which  he  heard  this  language,  “ the  tongue  of  a 
red-skin  must  be  colored  white,  before  it  can 
make  music  in  the  ears  of  a pale-face.  Should 
your  words  be  spoken,  my  daughters  would  shut 
their  ears,  and  Mahtoree  would  seem  a trader  to 
their  eyes.  Now,  listen  to  what  comes  from  a 
gray  head,  and  then  speak  accordingly.  My  peo- 
ple is  a mighty  people.  The  sun  rises  on  their 
eastern  and  sets  on  their  western  border.  The 
land  is  filled  with  bright-eyed  and  laughing  girls, 
like  these  you  see — ay,  Teton,  I tell  no  lie,”  ob- 
i serving  his  auditor  to  start  with  an  air  of  distrust 


142 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


— “ bright  eyed  and  pleasant  to  behold,  as  these 
before  you.” 

“ Has  my  father  a hundred  wives  ? ” inter- 
rupted the  savage,  laying  his  finger  on  the  shoul- 
der of  the  trapper,  with  a . look  of  curious  interest 
in  the  reply. 

“ No,  Dahcotah.  The  Master  of  Life  has  said 
to  me,  Live  alone ; your  lodge  shall  be  the  forest ; 
the  roof  of  your  wigwam,  the  clouds.  But,  though 
never  bound  in  the  secret  faith  which,  in  my 
nation,  ties  one  man  to  one  woman,  often  have 
I seen  the  workings  of  that  kindness  which  brings 
the  two  together.  Go  into  the  regions  of  my  peo- 
ple ; you  will  see  the  daughters  of  the  land  flut- 
tering through  the  towns  like  many-colored  and 
joyful  birds  in  the  season  of  blossoms.  You  will 
meet  them  singing  and  rejoicing  along  the  great 
paths  of  the  country,  and  you  will  hear  the  woods 
ringing  with  their  laughter.  They  are  very  excel- 
lent to  behold,  and  the  young  men  find  pleasure 
in  looking  at  them.” 

“ Hugh  ! ” ejaculated  the  attentive  Mahtoree. 

“ Ay,  well  may  you  put  faith  in  what  you  hear, 
for  it  is  no  lie.  But  when  a youth  has  found  a 
maiden  to  please  him,  he  speaks  to  her  in  a 
voice  so  soft  that  none  else  can  hear.  He  does 
not  say,  My  lodge  is  empty  and  there  is  room  for 
another ; but,  Shall  I build,  and  will  the  virgin 
show  me  near  what  spring  she  would  dwell  ? His 
voice  is  sweeter  than  honey  from  the  locust,  and 
goes  into  the  ear  thrilling  like  the  song  of  a wren. 
Therefore,  if  my  brother  wishes  his  words  to  be 
heard,  he  must  speak  with  a white  tongue.” 

Mahtoree  pondered  deeply,  and  in  a manner 
that  he  did  not  attempt  to  conceal.  It  was  re- 
versing all  the  order  of  society,  and,  according  to 
his  established  opinions,  endangering  the  dignity 
of  a chief  for  a warrior  thus  to  humble  himself 
before  a woman.  But  as  Inez  sat  before  him,  re- 
served and  imposing  in  air,  utterly  unconscious  of 
his  object,  and  least  of  all  suspecting  the  true 
purport  of  so  extraordinary  a visit,  the  savage 
felt  the  influence  of  a manner  to  which  he  was 
unaccustomed.  Bowing  his  head  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  error,  he  stepped  a little  back,  and, 
placing  himself  in  an  attitude  of  easy  dignity,  he 
began  to  speak  with  the  confidence  of  one  who 
had  been  no  less  distinguished  for  eloquence  than 
for  deeds  in  arms.  Keeping  his  eyes  riveted  on 
the  unconscious  bride  of  Middleton,  he  proceeded 
in  the  following  words  : 

“lama  red-skin,  but  my  eyes  are  dark.  They 
have  been  open  since  many  snows.  They  have 
seen  many  things — they  know  a brave  from  a cow- 
ard. When  a boy,  I saw  nothing  but  the  bison 
and  the  deer.  I went  to  the  hunts,  and  I saw 


the  cougar  and  the  bear.  This  made  Mahtoree 
a man.  He  talked  with  his  mother  no  more.  Hia 
ears  were  open  to  the  wisdom  of  the  old  men. 
They  told  him  every  thing — they  told  him  of  the 
Big-knives.  He  went  on  the  war-path.  He  was 
then  the  last — now  he  is  the  first.  What  Dahco- 
tah  dare  say  he  will  go  before  Mahtoree  into  the 
hunting-grounds  of  the  Pawnees  ? The  chiefs  met 
him  at  their  doors,  and  they  said,  My  son  is  with- 
out a home.  They  gave  him  their  lodges,  they 
gave  him  their  riches,  and  they  gave  him  their 
daughters.  Then  Mahtoree  became  a chief,  as  his 
fathers  had  been.  He  struck  the  warriors  of  all  the 
nations,  and  he  could  have  chosen  wives  from  the 
Pawnees,  the  Omahaws,  and  the  Konzas  : but  he 
looked  at  the  hunting-grounds,  and  not  at  his  vil- 
lage. He  thought  a horse  was  pleasanter  than  a 
Dahcotah  girl.  But  he  found  a flower  on  the 
prairies,  and  he  plucked  it  and  brought  it  into  his 
lodge.  He  forgets  that  he  is  the  master  of  a single 
horse.  He  gives  them  all  to  the  stranger,  for 
Mahtoree  is  not  a thief ; he  will  only  keep  the 
flower  he  found  on  the  prairie.  Her  feet  are  very 
tender.  She  cannot  walk  to  the  door  of  her  fa- 
ther ; she  will  stay  in  the  lodge  of  a valiant  war- 
rior forever.” 

When  he  had  finished  this  extraordinary  ad- 
dress, the  Teton  awaited  to  have  it  translated, 
with  the  air  of  a suitor  who  entertained  no  very 
disheartening  doubts  of  his  success.  The  trapper 
had  not  lost  a syllable  of  the  speech,  and  he  now 
prepared  himself  to  render  it  into  English  in  such 
a manner  as  should  leave  its  principal  idea  even 
more  obscure  than  in  the  original.  But,  as  his  re- 
luctant lips  were  in  the  act  of  parting,  EllenJifted 
a finger,  and,  with  a keen  glance  from  her  quick 
eye  at  the  still  attentive  Inez,  she  interrupted 
him : 

“ Spare  your  breath,”  she  said ; “ all  that  a 
savage  says  is  not  to  be  repeated  before  a Chris- 
tian lady.” 

Inez  started,  blushed,  and  bowed  with  an  air 
of  reserve,  as  she  coldly  thanked  the  old  man  for 
his  intentions,  and  observed  that  she  could  now 
wish  to  be  alone. 

“ My  daughters  have  no  need  of  ears  to  under- 
stand what  a great  Dahcotah  says,”  returned  the 
trapper,  addressing  himself  to  the  expecting 
Mahtoree.  “ The  look  he  has  given,  and  the 
signs  he  has  made,  are  enough.  They  understand 
him;  they  wish  to  think  of  his  words;  for  the 
children  of  great  braves,  such  as  their  fathers  are, 
do  nothing  without  much  thought.” 

With  this  explanation,  so  flattering  to  the 
energy  of  his  eloquence,  and  so  promising  to  his 
future  hopes,  thg  Teton  was  every  way  content 


TACHECHANA  AND  HER  SON. 


143 


He  made  the  customary  ejaculation  of  assent,  and 
prepared  to  retire.  Saluting  the  females  in  the 
cold  but  dignified  manner  of  his  people,  he  drew 
his  robe  about  him,  and  moved  from  the  spot 
where  he  had  stood  with  an  air  of  ill-concealed 
triumph. 

But  there  had  been  a stricken  though  a 
motionless  and  ^unobserved  auditor  of  the  fore- 
going scene.  Not  a syllable  had  fallen  from  the 
lips  of  the  long  and  anxiously  expected  husband 
that  had  not  gone  directly  to  the  heart  of  his  un- 
offending wife.  In  this  manner  had  he  wooed  her 
from  the  lodge  of  her  father,  and  it  was  to  listen 
to  similar  pictures  of  the  renown  and  deeds  of 
the  greatest  brave  in  her  tribe  that  she  had  shut 
her  ears  to  the  tender  tales  of  so  many  of  the 
Sioux  youths. 

As  the  Teton  turned  to  leave  his  lodge  in  the 
manner  just  mentioned,  he  found  this  unexpected 
and  half-forgotten  object  before  him.  She  stood 
in  the  humble  guise  and  with  the  shrinking  air  of 
an  Indian  girl,  holding  the  pledge  of  their  former 
love  in  her  arms,  directly  in  his  path.  Starting, 
the  chief  regained  the  marble-like  indifference  of 
countenance  which  distinguished  in  so  remark- 
able a degree  the  restrained  or  more  artificial  ex- 
pression of  his  features,  and  signed  to  her  with 
an  air  of  authority  to  give  place. 

“ Is  not  Tachechana  the  daughter  of  a chief?  ” 
demanded  a subdued  voice,  in  which  pride  strug- 
gled with  anguish : “ were  not  her  brothers 
braves  ? ” 

“ Go  ; the  men  are  calling  their  partisan.  He 
has  no  ears  for  a woman.” 

“No,”  replied  the  supplicant;  “it  is  not  the 
voice  of  Tachechana  that  you  hear,  but  this  boy, 
speaking  with  the  tongue  of  his  mother.  He  is 
the  son  of  a chief,  and  his  words  will  go  up  to  his 
father’s  ears.  Listen  to  wrhat  he  says.  When 
was  Hahtoree  hungry,  and  Tachechana  had  not 
food  for  him  ? When  did  he  go  on  the  path  of 
the  Pawnees  and  find  it  empty,  that  my  mother 
did  not  weep  ? When  did  he  come  back  with  the 
marks  of  their  blows,  that  she  did  not  sing  ? What 
Sioux  girl  has  given  a brave  a son  like  me  ? Look  at 
me  well,  that  you  may  know  me.  My  eyes  are  the 
eagle’s.  I look  at  the  sun  and  laugh.  In  a little 
time  the  Dahcotahs  will  follow  me  to  the  hunts 
and  on  the  war-path.  Why  does  my  father  turn 
his  eyes  from  the  woman  that  gives  me  milk  ? 
Why  has  he  so  soon  forgotten  the  daughter  of  a 
mighty  Sioux  ? ” 

There  was  a single  instant,  as  the  exulting 
• father  suffered  his  cold  eye  to  wander  to  the  face 
of  the  laughing  boy,  that  the  stern  nature  of  the 
Teton  seemed  touched.  But,  shaking  off  the  grate- 


ful sentiment,  like  one  who  would  gladly  be  rid 
of  any  painful  because  reproachful  emotion,  he 
laid  his  hand  calmly  on  the  arm  of  his  wife,  and 
led  her  directly  in  front  of  Inez.  Pointing  to  the 
sweet  countenance  that  was  beaming  on  her  own, 
with  a look  of  tenderness  and  commiseration,  he 
paused,  to  allow  his  wife  to  contemplate  a loveli- 
ness which  was  quite  as  excellent  to  her  ingenuous 
mind  as  it  had  proved  dangerous  to  the  character 
of  her  faithless  husband.  When  he  thought  abun- 
dant time  had  passed  to  make  the  contrast  suf- 
ficiently striking,  he  suddenly  raised  a small  mir- 
ror that  dangled  at  her  breast,  an  ornament  he 
had  himself  bestowed,  in  an  hour  of  fondness,  as 
a compliment  to  her  beauty,  and  placed  her  own 
dark  image  in  its  place.  Wrapping  his  robe 
about  him,  the  Teton  motioned  the  trapper  to  fol- 
low, and  stalked  haughtily  from  the  lodge,  mut- 
tering as  he  went : 

“ Mahtoree  is  very  wise ! What  nation  has  so 
great  a chief  as  the  Dahcotahs  ? ” 

Tachechana  stood  frozen  into  a statue  of 
humility.  Her  mild  and  usually  joyous  counte- 
nance worked,  as  if  the  struggle  within  was  about 
to  dissolve  the  connection  between  her  soul  and 
that  more  material  part  whose  deformity  was  be- 
coming so  loathsome.  Inez  and  Ellen  were  ut- 
terly ignorant  of  the  nature  of  her  interview  with 
her  husband,  though  the  quick  and  sharpened 
wits  of  the  latter  led  her  to  suspect  a truth  to 
which  the  entire  innocence  of  the  former  furnished 
no  clew.  They  were  both,  however,  about  to 
tender  those  sympathies  which  are  so  natural  to 
and  so  graceful  in  the  sex,  when  their  necessity 
seemed  suddenly  to  cease.  The  convulsions  in 
the  features  of  the  young  Sioux  disappeared,  and 
her  countenance  became  cold  and  rigid,  like 
chiselled  stone.  A single  expression  of  subdued 
anguish,  which  had  made  its  impression  on  a brow 
that  had  rarely  before  contracted  with  sorrow, 
alone  remained.  It  was  never  removed,  in  all  the 
changes  of  seasons,  fortunes,  and  years,  which,  in 
the  vicissitudes  of  a suffering,  female,  savage  life, 
she  was  subsequently  doomed  to  endure.  As  in 
the  case  of  a premature  blight,  let  the  plant 
quicken  and  revive  as  it  may,  the  effects  of  that 
withering  touch  were  always  present. 

Tachechana  first  stripped  her  person  of  every 
vestige  of  those  rude  but  highly-prized  orna- 
ments, which  the  liberality  of  her  husband  had 
been  wont  to  lavish  on  her,  and  she  tendered 
them  meekly,  and  without  a murmur,  as  an  offer- 
ing to  the  superiority  of  Inez.  The  bracelets 
were  forced  from  her  wrists,  the  complicated 
mazes  of  beads  from  her  leggings,  and  the  broad 
silver  band  from  her  brow.  Then  she  paused,  long 


144 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


and  painfully.  But  it  would  seem  that  the  resolu- 
tion she  had  once  adopted  was  not  to  be  con- 
quered by  the  lingering  emotions  of  any  affection, 
however  natural.  The  boy  himself  was  next  laid 
at  the  feet  of  her  supposed  rival,  and  well  might 
the  self-abased  wife  of  the  Teton  believe  that  the 
burden  of  her  sacrifice  was  now  full. 

While  Inez  and  Ellen  stood  regarding  these 
several  strange  movements  with  eyes  of  wonder, 
a low,  soft,  musical  voice  was  heard,  saying,  in  a 
language  that  to  them  was  unintelligible  : 

“ A strange-  tongue  will  tell  my  boy  the  man- 
ner to  become  a man.  He  will  hear  sounds  that 
are  new,  but  he  will  learn  them,  and  forget  the 
voice  of  his  mother.  It  is  the  will  of  the  Wah- 
condah,  and  a Sioux  girl  should  not  complain. 
Speak  to  him  softly,  for  his  ears  are  very  little ; 
when  he  is  big,  your  words  may  be  louder.  Let 
him  not  be  a girl,  for  very  sad  is  the  life  of  a 
woman.  Teach  him  to  keep  his  eyes  on  the  men. 
Show  him  how  to  strike  them  that  do  him  wrong, 
and  let  him  never  forget  to  return  blow  for  blow. 
-When  he  goes  to  hunt,  the  flower  of  the  pale- 
faces,” she  concluded,  using  in  bitterness  the 
metaphor  which  had  been  supplied  by  the  imagi- 
nation of  her  truant  husband,  “ will  whisper 
softly  in  his  ears  that  the  skin  of  his  mother  was 
red,  and  that  she  was  once  the  Fawn  of  the  Dah- 
cotahs.” 

Tachechana  pressed  a kiss  on  the  lips  of  her 
son,  and  withdrew  to  the  farther  side  of  the  lodge. 
Here  she  drew  her  light  calico  robe  over  her  head, 
and  took  her  seat,  in  token  of  humility,  on  the 
naked  earth.  All  efforts  to  attract  her  attention 
were  fruitless.  She  neither  heard  remonstrances 
nor  felt  the  touch.  Once  or  twice  her  voice  rose, 
in  a sort  of  wailing  song,  from  beneath  her  quiver- 
ing mantle,  but  it  never  mounted  into  the  wild- 
ness of  savage  music.  In  this  manner  she  re- 
mained unseen  for  hours,  while  events  were  occur- 
ring without  the  lodge  which  not  only  materially 
changed  the  complexion  of  her  own  fortunes,  but 
left  a lasting  and  deep  impression  on  the  future 
movements  of  the  wandering  Sioux. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

“ I’ll  no  swaggerers : I am  in  good  name  and  feme  with 
the  very  best : — shut  the  door ; — there  come  no  swaggerers 
here.  I have  not  lived  all  this  while,  to  have  swaggering 
now : 6hut  the  door,  I pray  you.” 

Shakespeare. 

Mahtoree  encountered,  at  the  door  of  his 
lodge,  Ishmael,  Abiram,  and  Esther.  The  first 
glance  of  his  eye  at  the  countenance  of  the 


heavy-moulded  squatter  served  to  tell  the  cun. 
ning  Teton  that  the  treacherous  truce  he  had 
made  with  these  dupes  of  his  superior  sagacity 
was  in  some  danger  of  a violent  termination. 

“ Look  you  here,  old  gray-beard,”  said  Ishmael, 
seizing  the  trapper  and  whirling  him  round  as  if 
he  had  been  a top ; “ that  I am  tired  of  carrying 
on  a discourse  with  fingers  and  thumbs,  instead 
of  a tongue,  ar’  a natural  fact ; 'so  you’ll  play 
linguister,  and  put  my  words  into  Indian,  without 
much  caring  whether  they  suit  the  stomach  of  a 
red-skin  or  not.” 

“Say  on,  friend,”  calmly  returned  the  trapper; 
“ they  shall  be  given  as  plainly  as  you  send  them.” 

“ Friend  ! ” repeated  the  squatter,  eying  the 
other  for  an  instant  with  an  expression  of  indefin- 
able meaning.  “ But  it  is  no  more  than  a word, 
and  sounds  break  no  bones  and  survey  no  farms. 
Tell  this  thieving  Sioux,  then,  that  I come  to 
claim  the  conditions  of  our  solemn  bargain,  made 
at  the  foot  of  the  rock.” 

When  the  trapper  had  rendered  his  meaning 
into  the  Sioux  language,  Mahtoree  demanded, 
with  an  air  of  surprise  : 

“ Is  my  , brother  cold  ? Buffalo-skins  are 
plenty.  Is  he  hungry  ? Let  my  young  men  carry 
venison  into  his  lodges.” 

The  squatter  elevated  his  clinched  fist  in  a 
menacing  manner,  and  struck  it  with  violence  on 
the  palm  of  his  open  hand,  by  way  of  confirming 
his  determination,  as  he  answered : 

“ Tell  the  deceitful  liar  I have  not  come  like 
a beggar  to  pick  his  bones,  but  like  a freeman 
asking  for  his  own;  and  have  it  I will.  And, 
moreover,  tell  him  I claim  that  you,  too,  miser- 
able sinner  as  you  ar’,  should  be  given  up  to  jus- 
tice. There’s  no  mistake.  My  prisoner,  my  niece, 
and  you — I demand  the  three  at  his  hands,  accord- 
ing to  a sworn  agreement.” 

The  immovable  old  man  smiled  with  an  ex- 
pression of  singular  intelligence,  as  he  answered : 

“Friend  squatter,  you  ask  what  few  men 
would  be  willing  to  grant.  You  would  first  cut 
the  tongue  from  the  mouth  of  the  Teton,  and  then 
the  heart  from  his  bosom.” 

“ It  is  little  that  Ishmael  Bush  regards  who 
or  what  is  damaged  in  claiming  his  own.  But 
put  you  the  questions  in  straight-going  Indian; 
and,  when  you  speak  of  yourself,  make  such  a 
sign  as  a white  man  will  understand,  in  order  that 
I may  know  there  is  no  foul  play.” 

The  trapper  laughed  in  his  silent  fashion,  and 
muttered  a few  words  to  himself  before  he  ad- 
dressed the  chief : 

“ Let  the  Dahcotah  open  his  ears  very  wide,” 
he  said,  “ that  big  words  may  have  room  to  enter. 


AN  AUDACIOUS  PROPOSAL. 


145 


His  friend,  the  Big-knife,  comes  with  an  empty 
hand,  and  he  says  that  the  Teton  must  fill  it.” 

“Wagh!  Mahtoree  is  a rich  chief.  He  is 
master  of  the  prairies.” 

“ He  must  give  the  dark-hair.” 

The  brow  of  the  chief  contracted  in  an  omi- 
nous frown,  that  threatened  instant  destruction 
to  the  audacious  squatter ; but,  as  suddenly  re- 
collecting his  policy,  he  craftily  replied  : 

“ A girl  is  too  light  for  the  hand  of  such  a 
brave.  I will  fill  it  with  buffaloes.” 

“ He  says  he  has  need  of  the  light-hair,  too, 
who  has  his  blood  in  her  veins.” 

“ She  shall  be  the  wife  of  Mahtoree ; then  the 
Long-knife  will  be  the  father  of  a chief.” 

“And  me,”  continued  the  trapper,  making  one 
of  those  expressive  signs  by  which  the  natives 
communicate  with  nearly  the  same  facility  as  with 
their  tongues,  and  turning  to  the  squatter  at  the 
same  time,  in  order  that  the  latter  might  see  he 
dealt  fairly  by  him ; “ he  asks  for  a miserable  and 
worn-out  trapper.” 

The  Dahcotah  threw  his  arm  over  the  shoul- 
der of  the  old  man  with  an  air  of  great  affection, 
before  he  replied  to  this  third  and  last  demand  : 

“My  friend  is  old,”  he  said,  “and  cannot 
travel  far.  He  will  stay  with  the  Tetons,  that 
they  may  learn  wisdom  from  his  words.  What 
Sioux  has  a tongue  like  my  father  ? No  : let  his 
words  be  very  soft,  but  let  them  be  very  clear. 
Mahtoree  will  give  skins  and  buffaloes.  He  will 
give  the  young  men  of  the  pale-faces  wives,  but 
he  cannot  give  away  any  who  live  in  his  own 
lodge.” 

Perfectly  satisfied  himself  with  this  laconic 
reply,  the  chief  was  moving  toward  his  expecting 
counsellors,  when,  suddenly  returning,  he  inter- 
rupted the  translation  of  the  trapper,  by  adding : 

“ Tell  the  Great  Buffalo  ” (a  name  by  which 
the  Tetons  had  already  christened  Ishmael) 
“ that  Mahtoree  has  a hand  which  is  always  open. 
See,”  he  added,  pointing  to  the  hard  and  wrin- 
kled visage  of  the  attentive  Esther,  “ his  wife  is 
too  old  for  so  great  a chief.  Let  him  put  her  out 
of  his  lodge.  Mahtoree  loves  him  as  a brother. 
He  is  his  brother.  He  shall  have  the  youngest 
wife  of  the  Teton.  Tachechana,  the  pride  of  the 
Sioux  girls,  shall  cook  his  venison,  and  many 
braves  will  look  at  him  with  longing  minds.  Go  ; 
a Dahcotah  is  generous.” 

The  singular  coolness  with  which  the  Teton 
concluded  this  audacious  proposal  confounded 
even  the  practised  trapper.  He  stared  after  the 
retiring  form  of  the  Indian  with  an  astonishment 
he  did  not  care  to  conceal ; nor  did  he  renew  his 
attempt  at  interpretation  until  the  person  of  Mah- 
10 


toree  was  blended  with  the  cluster  of  warriors 
who  had  so  long  and  with  so  characteristic  pa- 
tience awaited  his  return. 

“The  Teton  chief  has  spoken  very  plainly,” 
the  old  man  continued ; “ he  will  not  give  you  the 
lady,  to  whom  the  Lord  in  heaven  knows  you 
have  no  claim,  unless  it  be  such  as  the  wolf  has 
to  the  lamb.  He  will  not  give  you  the  child  you 
call  your  niece ; and  therein  I acknowledge  that 
I am  far  from  certain  he  has  the  same  justice  on 
his  side.  Moreover,  neighbor  squatter,  he  flatly 
denies  your  demand  for  me,  miserable  and  worth- 
less as  I am ; nor  do  I think  he  has  been  unwise 
in  so  doing,  seeing  that  I should  have  many  rea- 
sons against  journeying  far  in  your  company. 
But  he  makes  you  an  offer,  which  it  is  right  and 
convenient  you  should  know.  The  Teton  says 
through  me,  who  am  no  more  than  a mouth-piece, 
and  therein  not  answerable  for  the  sin  of  his 
words,  but  he  says,  as  this  good  woman  is  getting 
past  the  comely  age,  it  is  reasonable  for  you  to 
tire  of  such  a wife.  He  therefore  tells  you  to  turn 
her  out  of  your  lodge,  and  when  it  is  empty  he 
will  send  his  own  favorite,  or  rather  her  that  was 
his  favorite,  the  ‘ Skipping  Fawn,’  as  the  Siouxes 
call  her,  to  fill  her  place.  You  see,  neighbor, 
though  the  red-skin  is  minded  to  keep  your  prop- 
erty, he  is  willing  to  give  you  wherewithal  to 
make  yourself  some  return  1 ” 

Ishmael  listened  to  these  replies  to  his  several 
demands  with  that  species  of  gathering  indigna- 
tion with  which  the  dullest  tempers  mount  into 
the  most  violent  paroxysms  of  rage.  He  even  af- 
fected to  laugh  at  the  conceit  of  exchanging  hia 
long-tried  partner  for  the  more  flexible  support 
of  the  youthful  Tachechana,  though  his  voice  was 
hollow  and  unnatural  in  the  effort.  But  Esther 
was  far  from  giving  the  proposal  so  facetious  a 
reception.  Lifting  her  voice  to  its  most  audible 
key,  she  broke  forth,  after  catching  her  breath 
like  one  who  had  been  in  some  imminent  danger 
of  strangulation,  as  follows  : 

“ Hoity-toity ! Who  set  an  Indian  up  for  a mak- 
er and  a breaker  of  the  rights  of  wedded  wives  ? 
Does  he  think  a woman  is  a beast  of  the  prairie, 
that  she  is  to  be  chased  from  a village  by  dog  and 
gun  ? Let  the  bravest  squaw  of  them  all  come 
forth  and  boast  of  her  doings  ; can  she  show  such 
a brood  as  mine  ? A wicked  tyrant  is  that  thieving 
red-skin,  and  a bold  rogue  I warrant  me.  He 
would  be  captain  in-doors  as  well  as  out ! An  hon- 
est woman  is  no  better  in  his  eyes  than  one  of  your 
broomstick-jumpers.  And  you,  Ishmael  Bush, 
the  father  of  seven  sons  and  so  many  comely 
daughters,  to  open  your  sinful  mouth,  except  to 
curse  him ! Would  ye  disgrace  color,  and  family( 


146 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


and  nation,  by  mixing  white  blood  with  red,  and 
would  ye  be  the  parent  of  a race  of  mules ! The 
devil  has  often  tempted  you,  my  man,  but  never 
before  has  he  set  so  cunning  a snare  as  this.  Go 
back  among  your  children,  friend ; go,  and  re- 
member that  you  are  not  a prowling  bear,  but  a 
Christian  man,  and  thank  God  that  you  ar’  a law- 
ful husband ! ” 

The  clamor  of  Esther  was  anticipated  by  the 
judicious  trapper.  He  had  easily  foreseen  that 
her  meek  temper  would  overflow  at  so  scandalous 
a proposal  as  repudiation,  and  he  now  profited  by 
the  tempest  to  retire  to  a place  where  he  was  at 
least  safe  from  any  immediate  violence  on  the 
part  of  her  less  excited  but  certainly  more  dan- 
gerous husband.  Ishmael,  who  had  made  his  de- 
mands with  a stout  determination  to  enforce  them, 
was  diverted  by  the  windy  torrent,  like  many  a 
more  obstinate  husband,  from  his  purpose ; and,  in 
order  to  appease  a jealousy  that  resembled  the 
fury  with  which  the  bear  defends  her  cubs,  was 
fain  to  retire  to  a distance  from  the  lodge  that 
was  known  to  contain  the  unoffending  object  of 
the  sudden  uproar. 

“ Let  your  copper-colored  minx  come  forth 
and  show  her  tawny  beauty  before  the  face  of  a 
woman  who  has  heard  more  than  one  church-bell, 
and  seen  a power  of  real  quality  ! ” cried  Esther, 
flourishing  her  hand  in  triumph,  as  she  drove  Ish- 
mael and  Abiram  before  her,  like  two  truant  boys, 
toward  their  own  encampment.  “ I warrant  me, 
I warrant  me,  here  is  one  who  would  shortly  talk 
her  down ! Never  think  to  tarry  here,  my  men ; 
never  think  to  shut  an  eye  in  a camp,  through 
which  the  devil  walks  as  openly  as  if  he  were  a 
gentleman,  and  sure  of  his  welcome. — Here,  you 
Abner,  Enoch,  Jesse,  where  ar’  ye  gotten  to  ? 
Put  to,  put  to ; if  that  weak-minded,  soft-feeling 
man,  your  father,  eats  or  drinks  again  in  this 
neighborhood,  we  shall  see  him  poisoned  with  the 
craft  of  the  red-skins.  Not  that  I care,  I,  who 
comes  into  my  place,  when  it  is  once  lawfully 
empty — but,  Ishmael,  I never  thought  that  you, 
who  have  had  one  woman  with  a white  skin, 
would  find  pleasure  in  looking  on  a brazen — ay, 
that  she  is  copper  ar’  a fact ; you  can’t  deny  it, 
and,  I warrant  me,  brazen  enough  is  she  too  ! ” 

Against  this  ebullition  of  wounded  female 
pride,  the  experienced  husband  made  no  other 
head  than  by  an  occasional  exclamation,  which 
he  intended  to  be  the  precursor  of  a simple  assev- 
eration of  his  own  innocence.  The  fury  of  the 
woman  would  not  be  appeased.  She  listened  to 
nothing  but  her  own  voice,  and  consequently 
nothing  was  heard  but  her  mandates  to  depart. 

The  squatter  had  collected  his  beasts  and 


loaded  his  wagons,  as  a measure  of  precaution, 
before  proceeding  to  the  extremity  he  contem- 
plated. Esther  consequently  found  every  thing 
favorable  to  her  wishes.  The  young  men  stared 
at  each  other,  as  they  witnessed  the  extraordinary 
excitement  of  their  mother,  but  took  little  inter- 
est in  an  event  which,  in  the  course  of  their  ex- 
perience, had  found  so  many  parallels.  By  com- 
mand of  their  father,  the  tents  were  thrown  into 
the  vehicles  as  a sort  of  reprisal  for  the  want  of 
faith  in  their  late  ally,  and  then  the  train  left  the 
spot,  in  its  usual  listless  and  sluggish  order. 

As  a formidable  division  of  well-armed  bor- 
derers protected  the  rear  of  the  retiring  party,  the 
Sioux  saw  it  depart  without  manifesting  the 
smallest  evidence  of  surprise  or  resentment.  The 
savage,  like  the  tiger,  rarely  makes  his  attack  on 
an  enemy  who  expects  him  ; and,  if  the  warriors 
. of  the  Teton  s meditated  any  hostility,  it  was  in 
the  still  and  patient  manner  with  which  the  feline 
beasts  watch  for  the  incautious  moment,  in  order 
to  insure  the  blow.  The  counsels  of  Mahtoree, 
however,  on  whom  so  much  of  the  policy  of  his 
people  depended,  lay  deep  in  the  depository  of  his 
own  thoughts.  Perhaps  he  rejoiced  at  so  easy  a 
manner  of  getting  rid  of  claims  so  troublesome  ; 
perhaps  he  awaited  a fitting  time  to  exhibit  his 
power ; or  it  even  might  be  that  matters  of  so 
much  greater  importance  were  pressing  on  his 
mind,  that  it  had  not  leisure  to  devote  any  of  its 
faculties  to  an  event  of  so  much  indifference. 

But  it  would  seem  that,  while  Ishmael  made 
such  a concession  to  the  awakened  feelings  of  Es- 
ther, he  was  far  from  abandoning  his  original  in- 
tentions. His  train  followed  the  course  of  the 
river  for  a mile,  and  then  it  came  to  a halt  on  the 
brow  of  the  elevated  land,  and  in  a place  which 
afforded  the  necessary  facilities.  Here  he  again 
pitched  his  tents,  unharnessed  his  teams,  sent  his 
cattle  on  the  bottom,  and,  in  short,  made  all  the 
customary  preparations  to  pass  the  night,  with  the 
same  coolness  and  deliberation  as  if  he  had  not 
hurled  an  irritating  defiance  into  the  teeth  of  his 
dangerous  neighbors. 

In  tha  mean  time  the  Tetons  proceeded  to  the 
more  regular  business  of  the  hour.  A fierce  and 
savage  joy  had  existed  in  the  camp,  from  the  in- 
stant when  it  had  been  announced  that  their  own 
chief  was  returning  with  the  long-dreaded  and 
hated  partisan  of  their  enemies.  For  many  hours 
the  crones  of  the  tribe  had  been  going  from  lodge 
to  lodge,  in  order  to  stimulate  the  tempers  of  the 
warriors  to  such  a pass  as  might  leave  but  little 
room  for  mercy.  To  one  they  'spoke  of  a son, 
whose  scalp  was  drying  in  the  smoke  of  a Pawnee 
lodge.  To  another,  they  enumerated  his  own 


THE  CHIEFS  IN  SOLEMN  COUNCIL. 


147 


scars,  his  disgraces  and  defeats;  with  a third, 
they  dwelt  on  his  losses  of  skins  and  horses  ; and 
a fourth  was  reminded  of  vengeance  by  a signifi- 
cant question  concerning  some  flagrant  adventure 
in  which  he  was  known  to  have  been  a suffer.er. 

By  these  means  the  men  had  been  so  far  ex- 
cited as  to  have  assembled,  in  the  manner  already 
related,  though  it  still  remained  a matter  of  doubt 
how  far  they  intended  to  carry  their  revenge.  A 
variety  of  opinions  prevailed  on  the  policy  of  ex- 
ecuting their  prisoners ; and  Mahtoree  had  sus- 
pended the  discussions,  in  order  to  ascertain  how 
far  the  measure  might  propitiate  or  retard  his 
own  particular  views.  Hitherto  the  consultations 
had  merely  been  preliminary,  with  a design  that 
each  chief  might  discover  the  number  of  support- 
ers his  particular  views  would  be  likely  to  obtain 
when  the  important  subject  should  come  before  a 
more  solemn  council  of  the  tribe.  The  moment 
for  the  latter  had  now  arrived,  and  the  prepara- 
tions were  made  with  a dignity  and  solemnity  suited 
to  the  momentous  interests  of  the  occasion. 

With  a refinement  in  cruelty  that  none  but  an 
Indian  would  have  imagined,  the  place  selected 
for  this  grave  deliberation  was  immediately  about 
the  post  to  which  the  most  important  of  its  sub- 
jects was  attached.  Middleton  and  Paul  were 
brought  in  their  bonds,  and  laid  at  the  feet  of  the 
Pawnee  ; then  the  men  began  to  take  their  places, 
according  to  their  several  claims  to  distinction. 
As  warrior  after  warrior  approached,  he  seated 
himself  in  the  w'ide  circle  with  a mien  as  com- 
posed and  thoughtful  as  if  his  mind  were  actually 
in  a condition  to  deal  out  justice,  tempered,  as  it 
should  be,  with  the  heavenly  quality  of  mercy. 
A place  was  reserved  for  three  or  four  of  the 
principal  chiefs ; and  a few  of  the  oldest  of  the 
women,  as  withered  as  age,  exposure,  hardships, 
and  lives  of  savage  passions  could  make  them, 
thrust  themselves  into  the  foremost  circle  with  a 
temerity  to  which  they  were  impelled  by  their  in- 
satiable desire  for  cruelty,  and  which  nothing  but 
their  years  and  their  long-tried  fidelity  to  the  na- 
tion could  have  excused. 

All,  but  the  chiefs  already  named,  were  now 
in  their  places.  These  had  delayed  their  appear- 
ance, in  the  vain  hope  that  their  own  unanimity 
might  smooth  the  way  to  that  of  their  respec- 
tive factions;  for,  notwithstanding  the  superior 
influence  of  Mahtoree,  his  power  was  to  be  main- 
tained only  by  constant  appeals  to  the  opinions 
of  his  inferiors.  As  these  important  personages 
at  length  entered  the  circle  in  a body,  their  sul- 
len looks  and  clouded  brows,  notwithstanding  the 
time  given  for  consultation,  sufficiently  pro- 
claimed the  discontent  which  reigned  among 


them.  The  eye  of  Mahtoree  was  varying  in  its 
expression,  from  sudden  gleams,  that  seemed  to 
kindle  with  the  burning  impulses  of  his  soul,  to 
that  cold  and  guarded  steadiness  which  was 
thought  more  peculiarly  to  become  a chief  in 
council.  He  took  his  seat  with  the  studied  sim- 
plicity of  a demagogue ; though  the  keen  and 
flashing  glance  that  he  immediately  threw  around 
the  silent  assembly  betrayed  the  more  predomi- 
nant temper  of  a tyrant. 

When  all  were  present,  an  aged  warrior  lighted 
the  great  pipe  of  his  people,  and  blew  the  smoke 
toward  the  four  quarters  of  the  heavens.  So 
soon  as  this  propitiatory  offering  was  made,  he 
tendered  it  to  Mahtoree,  who,  in  affected  humil- 
ity, passed  it  to  a gray-headed  chief  by  his  side. 
After  the  influence  of  the  soothing  weed  had  been 
courted  by  all,  a grave  silence  succeeded,  as  if 
each  was  not  only  qualified  to,  but  actually  did, 
think  more  deeply  on  the  matters  before  them. 
Then  an  old  Indian  arose,  and  spoke  as  follows  : 

“ The  eagle,  at  the  falls  of  the  endless  river, 
was  in  its  egg,  many  snows  after  my  hand  had 
struck  a Pawnee.  What  my  tongue  says,  my  eyes 
have  seen.  Bohrecheena  is  very  old.  The  hills 
have  stood  longer  in  their  places  than  he  has  been 
in  his  tribe,  and  the  rivers  were  full  and  empty 
before  he  was  bom;  but  where  is  the  Sioux  that 
knows  it  besides  myself?  What  he  says,  they 
will  hear.  If  any  of  his  words  fall  to  the  ground, 
they  will  pick  them  up  and  hold  them  to  their 
ears.  If  any  blow  away  in  the  wind,  my  young 
men,  who  are  very  nimble,  will  catch  them.  Now 
listen.  Since  water  ran  and  trees  grew,  the  Sioux 
has  found  the  Pawnee  on  his  war-path.  As  the 
cougar  loves  the  antelope,  the  Dahcotah  loves 
his  enemy.  When  the  wolf  finds  the  fawn,  does 
he  lie  down  and  sleep  ? When  the  panther  sees 
the  doe  at  the  spring,  does  he  shut  his  eyes  ? 
You  know  that  he  does  not.  He  drinks  too ; but  it 
is  of  blood ! A Sioux  is  a leaping  panther,  a Paw- 
nee a trembling  deer.  Let  my  children  hear  me. 
They  will  find  my  words  good.  I have  spoken.” 

A deep  guttural  exclamation  of  assent  broke 
from  the  lips  of  all  the  partisans  of  Mahtoree, 
as  they  listened  to  this  sanguinary  advice  from 
one  who  was  certainly  among  the  most  aged  men 
of  the  nation.  That  deeply-seated  love  of  ven- 
geance,  which  formed  so  prominent  a feature  in 
their  characters,  was  gratified  by  his  metaphori- 
cal allusions  ; and  the  chief  himself  augured  favor- 
ably of  the  success  of  his  own  schemes,  by  the 
number  of  supporters  who  manifested  themselves 
to  be  in  favor  of  the  counsels  of  his  friend.  But 
still  unanimity  was  far  from  prevailing.  A long 
and  decorous  pause  was  suffered  to  succeed  the 


148 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


words  of  the  first  speaker,  in  order  that  all  might 
duly  deliberate  on  their  wisdom,  before  another 
chief  took  on  himself  the  office  of  refutation. 
The  second  orator,  though  past  the  prime  of  his 
days,  was  far  less  aged  than  the  one  who  had 
preceded  him.  He  felt  the  disadvantage  of  this 
circumstance,  and  endeavored  to  counteract  it,  as 
far  as  possible,  by  the  excess  of  his  humility. 

“ I am  but  an  infant,”  he  commenced,  looking 
furtively  around  him,  in  order  to  detect  how  far 
his  well-established  character  for  prudence  and 
courage  contradicted  his  assertion.  “ I have 
lived  with  the  women  since  my  father  has  been  a 
man.  If  my  head  is  getting  gray,  it  is  not  be- 
cause I am  old.  Some  of  the  snow  which  fell  on 
it  while  I have  been  sleeping  on  the  war-paths 
has  frozen  there,  and  the  hot  sun  near  the  Osage 
villages  has  not  been  strong  enough  to  melt  it.” 
A low  murmur  was  heard,  expressive  of  admira- 
tion of  the  services  to  which  he  thus  artfully 
alluded.  The  orator  modestly  awaited  for  the  feel- 
ing to  subside  a little,  and  then  he  continued,  with 
increasing  energy,  encouraged  by  their  commen- 
dations : “ But  the  eyes  of  a young  brave  are 
good.  He  can  see  very  far.  He  is  a lynx.  Look 
at  me  well.  I will  now  turn  my  back,  that  you 
may  see  both  sides  of  me.  Now  do  you  know  I 
am  your  friend,  for  you  look  on  a part  that  a 
Pawnee  never  yet  saw.  Now  look  at  my  face — 
not  in  this  seam,  for  there  your  eyes  can  never 
see  into  my  spirit.  It  is  a hole  cut  by  a Konza. 
But  here  is  an  opening  made  by  the  Wahcon- 
dah,  through  which  you  may  look  into  the  soul. 
What  am  I ? A Dahcotah,  within  and  without. 
You  know  it.  Therefore  hear  me.  'The  blood 
of  every  creature  on  the  prairie  is  red.  Who 
can  tell  the  spot  where  a Pawnee  was  struck, 
from  the  place  where  my  young  men  took  a bison  ? 
It  is  of  the  same  color.  The  Master  of  Life 
made  them  for  each  other.  He  made  them  alike. 
But  will  the  grass  grow  green  where  a pale-face 
is  killed  ? My  young  men  must  not  think  that 
nation  so  numerous  that  it  will  not  miss  a war- 
rior. They  call  them  over  often,  and  say,  ‘Where 
are  my  sons ?’  If  they  miss  one,  they  will  send 
into  the  prairies  to  look  for  him.  If  they  cannot 
find  him,  they  will  tell  their  runners  to  ask  for 
him  among  the  Sioux.  My  brethren,  the  Big- 
knives  are  not  fools.  There  is  a mighty  medi- 
cine of  their  nation  now  among  us ; who  can 
tell  how  loud  is  his  voice,  or  how  long  is  his 
arm  ? — ” 

The  speech  of  the  orator,  who  was  beginning 
to  enter  into  his  subject  with  warmth,  was  cut 
short  by  the  impatient  Mahtoree,  who  suddenly 
arose,  and  exclaimed,  in  a voice  in  which  author- 


• ity  was  mingled  with  contempt,  and  at  the  close 
with  a keen  tone  of  irony  also  : 

“ Let  my  young  men  lead  the  evil  spirit  of  the 
pale-faces  to  the  council.  My  brother  shall  see 
his  medicine  face  to  face  ! ” 

A death-like  and  solemn  stillness  succeeded 
this  extraordinary  interruption.  It  not  only  in- 
volved a deep  offence  against  the  sacred  courtesy 
of  debate,  but  the  mandate  was  likely  to  brave 
the  unknown  power  of  one  of  those  incompre- 
hensible beings  whom  few  Indians  were  enlight- 
ened enough  at  that  day  to  regard  without  rever- 
ence, or  few  hardy  enough  to  oppose:  The  sub- 
ordinates, however,  obeyed,  and  Obed  was  led 
forth  from  the  lodge  mounted  on  Asinus,  with  a 
ceremony  and  state  which  was  certainly  intended 
for  derision,  but  which  nevertheless  was  greatly 
enhanced  by  fear.  As  they  entered  the  ring,  Mah- 
toree, who  had  foreseen  and  had  endeavored  to 
anticipate  the  influence  of  the  doctor  by  bring- 
ing him  into  contempt,  cast  an  eye  around  the 
assembly  in  order  to  gather  his  success  in  the 
various  dark  visages  by  which  he  was  encircled. 

Truly  Nature  and  art  had  combined  to  produce 
such  an  effect  from  the  air  and  appointments  of 
the  naturalist,  as  might  have  made  him  the  sub- 
ject of  wonder  in  any  place.  His  head  had  been 
industriously  shaved,  after  the  most  approved 
fashion  of  Sioux  taste.  A gallant  scalp-lock,  which 
would  probably  not  have  been  spared  had  the 
doctor  himself  been  consulted  in  the  matter,  was 
all  that  remained  of  an  exuberant,  and,  at  that 
particular  season  of  the  year,  far  from  uncomfort- 
able head  of  hair.  Thick  coats  of  paint  had  been 
laid  on  the  naked  poll,  and  certhin  fanciful  designs 
in  the  same  material  had  even  been  extended  into 
the  neighborhood  of  the  eyes  and  mouth,  lending  to 
the  keen  expression  of  the  former  a look  of  twin- 
kling cunning,  and  to  the  dogmatism  of  the  latter 
not  a little  of  the  grimness  of  necromancy.  He  had 
been  despoiled  of  his  upper  garments,  and  in  their 
stead  his  body  was  sufficiently  protected  from  the 
cold  by  a fantastically  painted  robe  of  dressed 
deerskin.  As  if  in  mockery  of  his  pursuit,  sundry 
toads,  frogs,  lizards,  butterflies,  etc.,  all  duly  pre- 
pared to  take  their  places  at  some  future  day  in 
his  own  private  cabinet,  were  attached  to  the  soli- 
tary lock  on  his  head,  to  his  ears,  and  to  various 
other  conspicuous  parts  of  his  person.  If,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  effect  produced  by  these  quaint 
auxiliaries  to  his  costume,  we  add  the  portentous 
and  troubled  gleamings  of  doubt  which  rendered 
his  visage  doubly  austere,  and  proclaimed  the 
misgivings  of  the  worthy  Obed’s  mind  as  he  beheld 
his  personal  dignity  thus  prostrated,  and,  what 
was  of  far  greater  moment  in  his  eyes,  himself  led 


OBED  IN  DANGER. 


149 


forth,  as  he  firmly  believed,  _to  be  the  victim  of 
some  heathenish  sacrifice,  the  reader  will  find  no 
difficulty  in  giving  credit  to  the  sensation  of  awe 
that  was  already  excited  by  his  appearance  in  a 
band  already  more  than  half  prepared  to  worship 
him  as  a powerful  agent  of  the  evil  spirit. 

Weucha  led  Asinus  directly  into  the  centre  of 
the  circle,  and,  leaving  them  together  (for  the  legs 
of  the  naturalist  were  attached  to  the  beast  in  such 
a manner  that  the  two  animals  might  be  said  to 
be  incoi’itorated,  and  to  form  a new  order),  he  with- 
drew to  his  proper  place,  gazing  at  the  conjurer, 
as  he  retired,  with  a wonder  and  admiration  that 
were  natural  to  the  grovelling  dulness  of  his  mind. 

The  astonishment  seemed  mutual  between 
the  spectators  and# the  subject  of  this  strange  ex- 
hibition. If  the  Tetons  contemplated  the  mysteri- 
ous attributes  of  the  medicine  with  awe  and  fear, 
the  doctor  gazed  on  every  side  of  him  with  a mix- 
ture of  quite  as  many  extraordinary  emotions,  in 
which  the  latter  sefisation,  however,  formed  no 
inconsiderable  ingredient.  Everywhere  his  eyes, 
which  just  at  that  moment  possessed  a secret 
magnifying  quality,  seemed  to  rest  on  several 
dark,  savage,  and  obdurate  countenances  at  once, 
from  none  of  which  could  he  extract  a solitary 
gleam  of  sympathy  or  commiseration.  At  length 
his  wandering  gaze  fell  on  the  grave  and  decent 
features  of  the  trapper,  who,  with  Hector  at  his  feet, 
stood  in  the  edge  of  the  circle,  leaning  on  that  rifle 
which  he  had  been  permitted,  as  an  acknowledged 
friend,  to  resume,  and  apparently  musing  on  the 
events  that  were  likely  to  succeed  a council  marked 
by  so  many  and  such  striking  ceremonies. 

“Venerable  Venator,  or  hunter,  or  trapper,” 
said  the  disconsolate  Obed,  “ I rejoice  greatly  in 
meeting  thee  again.  I fear  that  the  precious  time 
which  had  been  allotted  me,  in  order  to  complete 
a mighty  labor,  is  drawing  to  a premature  close, 
and  I would  gladly  unburden  my  mind  to  one 
who,  if  not  a pupil  of  science,  has  at  least  some 
of  the  knowledge  which  civilization  imparts  to  its 
meanest  subjects.  Doubtless  many  and  earnest 
inquiries  will  be  made  after  my  fate,  by  the 
learned  societies  of  the  world,  and  perhaps  expe- 
ditions will  be  sent  into  these  regions  to  remove 
any  doubt  which  may  arise  on  so  important  a sub- 
ject. I esteem  myself  happy  that  a man  who 
speaks  the  vernacular  is  present,  to  preserve  the 
record  of  my  end.  You  will  say  that  after  a well- 
spent  and  glorious  life,  I died  a martyr  to  science, 
and  a victim  to  mental  darkness.  As  I expect 
to  be  particularly  cairn  and  abstracted  in  my  last 
moments,  if  you  add  a few  details  concerning  the 
fortitude  and  scholastic  dignity  with  which  I met 
my  death,  it  may  serve  to  encourage  future  aspi- 


rants for  similar  honors,  and  assuredly  give  of- 
fence to  no  one.  And  now,  friend  trapper,  as  a duty 
I owe  to  human  nature,  I will  conclude  by  demand- 
ing if  all  hope  has  deserted  me,  or  if  any  means 
still  exist  by  which  so  much  valuable  information 
may  be  rescued  from  the  grasp  of  ignorance,  and 
preserved  to  the  pages  of  natural  history.” 

The  old  man  lent  an  attentive  ear  to  this 
melancholy  appeal,  and  apparently  he  reflected 
on  every  side  of  the  important  question,  before 
he  would  presume  to  answer. 

“ I take  it,  friend  physicianer,”  he  at  length 
gravely  replied,  “that  the  chances  of  life  and 
death,  in  your  particular  case,  depend  altogether 
on  the  will  of  Providence,  as  it  may  be  pleased  to 
manifest  it  through  the  accursed  windings  of  In- 
dian cunning.  For  my  own  part,  I see  no  great 
difference  in  the  main  end  to  be  gained,  inasmuch 
as  it  can  matter  no  one  greatly,  yourself  excepted, 
whether  you  live  or  die.” 

“ Would  you  account  the  fall  of  a corner-stone 
from  the  foundations  of  the  edifice  of  learning,  a 
matter  of  indifference  to  contemporaries  or  to  pos- 
terity ? ” interrupted  Obed.  “ Besides,  my  aged 
associate,”  he  reproachfully  added,  “ the  interest 
that  a man  has  in  bis  own  existence  is  by  no 
means  trifling,  however  it  may  be  eclipsed  by  his 
devotion  to  more  general  and  philanthropic  feel- 
ings.” 

“ What  I would  say  is  this,”  resumed  the  trap- 
per, who  was  far  from  understanding  all  the  sub- 
tle distinctions  with  which  his  more  learned  com- 
panion so  often  saw  fit  to  embellish  his  discourse  ; 
“there  is  but  one  birth  and  one  death  to  all 
things,  be  it  hound  or  be  it  deer  ; be  it  red  skin 
or  be  it  white.  Both  are  in  the  hands  of  the 
Lord,  it  being  as  unlawful  for  man  to  strive  to 
hasten  the  one,  as  impossible  to  prevent  the  oth- 
er. But  I wall  not  say  that  something  may  not  be 
done  to  put  the  last  moment  aside,  for  a while  at 
least,  and  therefore  it  is  a question,  that  any  one 
has  a right  to  put  to  his  own  wisdom,  how  far  he 
will  go,  and  how  much  pain  he  will  suffer,  to 
lengthen  out  a time  that  may  have  been  too  long 
already.  Many  a dreary  winter  and  scorching 
summer  has  gone  by  since  I have  turned  to  the 
right  hand  or  to  the  left,  to  add  an  hour  to  a life 
that  has  already  stretched  beyond  fourscore  years. 
I keep  myself  as  ready  to  answer  to  my  name  as 
a soldier  at  evening  roll-call.  In  ray  judgment, 
if  your  cases  are  left  to  Indian  tempers,  the  pol- 
icy of  the  Great  Sioux  will  lead  his  people  to  sac- 
rifice you  all ; nor  do  I put  much  dependence  on 
his  seeming  love  for  me  ; therefore  it  becomes  a 
question  whether  you  are  ready  for  such  a jour- 
ney ; and  if,  being  ready,  whether  this  is  not  as 


150 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


good  a time  to  start  as  another.  Should  my  opin- 
ion be  asked,  thus  far  will  I give  it  in  your  favor ; 
that  is  to  say,  it  is  my  belief  your  life  has  been 
innocent  enough,  touching  any  great  offences  that 
you  may  have  committed,  though  honesty  com- 
pels me  to  add,  that  I think  all  you  can  lay  claim 
to,  on  the  score  of  activity  in  deeds,  will  not 
amount  to  any  thing  worth  naming  in  the  great 
account.” 

Obed  turned  a rueful  eye  on  the  calm,  philo- 
sophic countenance  of  the  other,  as  he  answered 
with  so  discouraging  a statement  of  his  case,  clear- 
ing his  throat,  as  he  did  so,  in  order  to  conceal 
the  desperate  concern  which  began  to  beset  his 
faculties,  with  a vestige  of  that  pride  which  rarely 
deserts  poor  human  nature,  even  in  the  greatest 
emergencies. 

“ I believe,  venerable  hunter,”  he  replied, 
“ considering  the  question  in  all  its  bearings,  and 
assuming  that  your  theory  is  just,  it  will  be  the 
safest  to  conclude  that  I am  not  prepared  to  make 
so  hasty  a departure,  and  that  measures  of  pre- 
caution should  be  forthwith  resorted  to.” 

“ Being  in  that  mind,”  returned  the  deliberate 
trapper,  “ I will  act  for  you  as  I would  for  myself ; 
though  as  time  has  begun  to  roll  down  the  hill 
with  you,  I will  just  advise  that  you  will  look  to 
your  case  speedily,  for  it  may  so  happen  that 
your  name  will  be  heard  when  quite  as  little  pre- 
pared to  answer  to  it  as  now.” 

With  this  amicable  understanding,  the  old 
man  drew  back  again  into  the  ring,  where  he 
stood  musing  on  the  course  he  should  now  adopt, 
with  the  singular  mixture  of  decision  and  resig* 
nation  that  proceeded  from  his  habits  and  his  hu- 
mility, and  which  united  to  form  a character  in 
which  excessive  energy,  and  the  most  meek  sub- 
mission to  the  will  of  Providence,  were  oddly 
enough  combined. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

“ The  witch,  in  Smithfield,  shall  be  burned  to  ashes, 
And  you  three  shall  be  strangled  on  the  gallows.” 


The  Sioux  had  awaited  the  issue  of  the  fore- 
going dialogue  with  commendable  patience.  Most 
of  the  band  were  restrained  by  the  secret  awe 
with  which  they  regarded  the  mysterious  charac- 
ter of  Obed ; while  a few  of  the  more  intelligent 
chiefs  gladly  profited  by  the  opportunity  to  ar- 
range their  thoughts  for  the  struggle  that  was 
plainly  foreseen.  Mahtoree,  influenced  by  neither 
of  these  feelings,  was  content  to  show  the  trapper 
how  much  he  conceded  to  his  pleasure ; and  when 


the  old  man  discontinued  the  discourse,  he  re- 
ceived from  the  chief  a glance  that  was  intended 
to  remind  him  of  the  patience  with  which  he  had 
awaited  his  movements.  A profound  and  motion- 
less silence  succeeded  the  short  interruption. 
Then  Mahtoree  arose,  evidently  prepared  to  speak. 
First  placing  himself  in  an  attitude  of  dignity, 
he  turned  a steady  and  severe  look  on  the  whole 
assembly.  The  expression  of  his  eye,  however, 
changed  as  it  glanced  across  the  different  coun- 
tenances of  his  supporters  and  of  his  opponents. 
To  the  former  the  look,  though  stern,  was  not 
threatening,  while  it  seemed  to  tell  the  latter  all 
the  hazards  they  incurred,  in  daring  to  brave  the 
resentment  of  one  so  powerful. 

Still  in  the  midst  of  so  muclj  hauteur  and  con- 
fidence, the  sagacity  and  cunning  of  the  Teton  did 
not  desert  him.  When  he  had  thrown  the  gaunt- 
let, as  it  were,  to  the  whole  tribe,  and  sufficiently 
asserted  his  claim  to  superiority,  his  mien  became 
more  affable  and  his  eye  less  angry.  Then  it  was 
that  he  raised  his  voice,  in  the  midst  of  a death- 
like stillness,  varying  its  tones  to  suit  the  chang- 
ing character  of  his  images  and  of  his  eloquence. 

“ What  is  a Sioux  ? ” the  chief  sagaciously  be- 
gan ; “ he  is  ruler  of  the  prairies,  and  master  of 
its  beasts.  The  fishes  in  the  ‘ river  of  troubled 
waters  ’ know  him,  and  come  at  his  call.  He  is 
a fox  in  counsel;  an  eagle  in  sight;  a grizzly 
bear  in  combat.  A Dahcotah  is  a man  ! ” After 
waiting  for  the  low  murmur  of  approbation  which 
followed  this  flattering  portrait  of  his  people  to 
subside,  the  Teton  continued : “ What  is  a Paw- 
nee ? A thief,  who  only  steals  from  women ; a 
red-skin  who  is  not  a brave  ; a hunter  that  begs 
for  his  venison.  In  council  he  is  a squirrel,  hop- 
ping from  place  to  place ; he  is  an  owl,  that  goes 
on  the  prairies  at  night : in  battle  he  is  an  elk, 
whose  legs  are  long.  A Pawnee  is  a woman.”  An- 
other pause  succeeded,  during  which  a yell  of  de- 
light broke  from  several  mouths,  and  a demand 
was  made  that  the  taunting  words  should  be  trans- 
lated to  the  unconscious  subject  of  their  biting 
contempt.  The  old  man  took  his  cue  from  the 
eyes  of  Mahtoree,  and  complied.  H^rd-Heart  lis- 
tened gravely,  and  then,  as  if  apprised  that  his 
time  to  speak  had  not  arrived,  he  once  more  bent 
his  look  on  the  vacant  air.  The  orator  watched 
his  countenance  with  an  expression  that  mani- 
fested how  iuextinguishable  was  the  hatred  he 
felt  for  the  only  chief,  far  and  near,  whose  fame 
might  advantageously  be  compared  with  his  own. 
Though  disappointed  in  not  having  touched  the 
pride  of  one  whom  he  regarded  as  a boy,  he  pro- 
ceeded— what  he  considered  as  far  more  impor- 
taut  to  quicken  the  tempers  of  the  men  of  his 


INDIAN  ELOQUENCE. 


151 


own  tribe,  in  order  that  they  might  be  prepared 
to  work  his  savage  purposes.  “ If  the  earth  was 
covered  with  rats,  which  are  good  for  nothing,” 
he  said,  “there  would  be  no  room  for  buffaloes, 
which  give  food  and  clothes  to  an  Indian.  If  the 
prairies  were  covered  with  Pawnees,  there  would 
be  no  room  for  the  foot  of  a Dahcotah.  A Loup 
is  a rat,  a Sioux  a heavy  buffalo  : let  the  buffaloes 
tread  upon  the  rats,  and  make  room  for  them- 
selves.” 

“ My  brothers,  a little  child  has  spoken  to 
you.  He  tells  you  his  hair  is  not  gray,  but  fro- 
zen ; that  the  grass  will  not  grow  where  a pale-face 
has  died ! Does  he  know  the  color  of  the  blood 
of  a Big-knife  ? No  ! I know  he  does  not ; he 
has  never  seen  it.  What  Dahcotah  besides  Hah- 
toree  has  ever  struck  a pale-face?  Not  one. 
But  Mahtoree  must  be  silent.  Every  Teton  will 
shut  his  ears  when  he  speaks.  The  scalps  over 
his  lodge  were  taken  by  the  women.  They  were 
taken  by  Mahtoree,  and  he  is  a woman.  His 
mouth  is  shut ; he  waits  for  the  feasts,  to  sing 
among  the  girls ! ” 

Notwithstanding  the  exclamations  of  regret 
and  resentment  which  followed  so  abasing  a dec- 
laration, the  chief  took  his  seat,  as  if  determined 
to  speak  no  more.  But  the  murmurs  grew  louder 
and  more  general,  and  there  were  threatening 
symptoms  that  the  council  would  dissolve  itself 
in  confusion  ; and  he  arose  and  resumed  his 
speech,  by  changing  his  manner  to  the  fierce  and 
hurried  enunciation  of  a warrior  bent  on  re- 
venge. 

“ Let  my  young  men  go  look  for  Tetao  ! ” he 
cried  ; “ they  will  find  his  scalp  drying  in  Paw- 
nee smoke.  Where  is  the  son  of  Bohrecheena  ? 
His  bones  are  whiter  than  the  faces  of  his  mur- 
derers. Is  Mahhah  asleep  in  his  lodge?  You 
know  it  is  many  moons  since  he  started  for  the 
blessed  prairies ; would  he  were  here,  that  he 
might  say  of  what  color  was  the  hand  that  took 
his  scalp  ! ” 

In  this  strain  the  artful  chief  continued  for 
many  minutes,  calling  those  warriors  by  name 
who  were  known  to  have  met  their  deaths  in 
battle  with  the  Pawnees,  or  in  some  of  those  law- 
less frays  which  so  often  occurred  between  the 
Sioux  bands  and  a class  of  white  men  who  were 
but  little  removed  from  them  in  the  qualities  of 
civilization.  Time  was  not  given  to  reflect  on 
the  merits,  or  rather  the  demerits,  of  most  of 
the  different  individuals  to  whom  he  alluded,  in 
consequence  of  the  rapid  manner  in  which  he  ran 
over  their  names  ; but  so  cunningly  did  he  time 
his  events,  and  so  thrillingly  did  he  make  his 
appeals,  aided  as  they  were  by  the  power  of  his 


deep-toned  and  stirring  voice,  that  each  of  them 
struck  an  answering  chord  in  the  breast  of  some 
one  of  his  auditors. 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  one  of  his  highest 
flights  of  eloquence,  that  a man,  so  aged  as  to 
walk  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  entered  the 
very  centre  of  the  circle,  and  took  his  stand 
directly  in  front  of  the  speaker.  An  ear  of  great 
acuteness  might  possibly  have  detected  that  the 
tones  of  the  orator  faltered  a little,  as  his  flash- 
ing look  first  fell  on  this  unexpected  object ; 
though  the  change  was  so  trifling,  that  none  but 
such  as  thoroughly  knew  the  parties  would  have 
suspected  it.  The  stranger  had  once  been  as  dis- 
tinguished for  his  beauty  and  proportions  as  had 
been  his  eagle  eye  for  its  irresistible  and  terrible 
glance.  But  his  skin  was  now  wrinkled  and  his 
features  furrowed  with  so  many  scars  as  to  have 
obtained  for  him,  half  a century  before,  from  the 
French  of  the  Canadas,  a title  which  has  been  borne 
by  so  many  of  the  heroes  of  France,  and  which 
had  now  been  adopted  into  the  language  of  the 
wild  horde  of  whom  we  are  writing,  as  the  one 
most  expressive  of  the  deeds  of  their  own  brave. 
The  murmur  of  “ Le  Balafre  ! ” that  ran  through 
the  assembly  when  he  appeared,  announced  not 
only  his  name  and  the  high  estimation  of  his  char- 
acter, but  how  extraordinary  his  visit  was  con- 
sidered. As  he  neither  spoke  nor  moved,  how- 
ever, the  sensation  created  by  his  appearance 
soon  subsided,  and  then  every  eye  was  again 
turned  upon  the  speaker,  and  every  ear  once 
more  drank  in  the  intoxication  of  his  maddening 
appeals. 

It  would  have  been  easy  to  have  traced  the 
triumph  of  Mahtoree  in  the  reflecting  counte- 
nances of  his  auditors.  It  was  not  long  before  a 
look  of  ferocity  and  of  revenge  was  to  be  seen 
seated  on  the  grim  visages  of  most  of  the  war- 
riors, and  each  new  and  crafty  allusion  to  the 
policy  of  extinguishing  their  enemies  was  fol- 
lowed by  fresh  and  less  restrained  bursts  of  ap- 
probation. In  the  height  of  this  success  the  Te- 
ton closed  his  speech  by  a rapid  appeal  to  the 
pride  and  hardihood  of  his  native  band,  and  sud- 
denly took  his  seat. 

In  the  midst  of  the  murmurs  of  applause 
which  succeeded  so  remarkable  an  effort  of  elo- 
quence, a low,  feeble,  and  hollow  voice  was  heard 
rising  on  the  ear,  as  if  it  rolled  from  the  inmost 
cavities  of  the  human  chest,  and  gathered  strength 
and  energy  as  it  issued  into  the  air.  A solemn 
stillness  followed  the  sounds,  and  then  the  lips  of 
the  aged  man  were  first  seen  to  move. 

“ The  day  of  Le  Balafre  is  near  its  end,”  were 
the  first  words  that  were  distinctly  audible.  “ He 


152 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


is  like  a buffalo  on  whom  the  hair  will  grow  no 
longer.  He  will  soon  be  ready  to  leave  his  lodge, 
to  go  in  search  of  another  that  is  far  from  the  vil- 
lages of  the  Sioux  ; therefore,  what  he  has  to  say 
concerns  not  him,  but  those  he  leaves  behind  him. 
His  words  are  like  the  fruit  on  the  tree,  ripe,  and 
fit  to  be  given  to  chiefs. 

“ Many  snows  have  fallen  since  Le  Balafrd  has 
been  found  on  the  war-path.  His  blood  has  been 
very  hot,  but  it  has  had  time  to  cool.  The  Wah- 
condah  gives  him  dreams  of  war  no  longer ; he 
sees  that  it  is  better  to  live  in  peace. 

“My  brothers,  one  foot  is  turned  to  the  happy 
hunting-grounds,  the  other  will  soon  follow,  and 
then  an  old  chief  will  be  seen  looking  for  the 
prints  of  his  father’s  moccasins,  that  he  may 
make  no  mistake,  but  be  sure  to  come  before  the 
Master  of  Life  by  the  same  path  as  so  many  good 
Indians  have  already  travelled.  But  who  will 
follow  ? Le  Balafre  has  no  son.  His  oldest  has 
ridden  too  many  Pawnee  horses ; the  bones  of 
the  youngest  have  been  gnawed  by  Konza  dogs  ? 
Le  Balafre  has  come  to  look  for  a young  arm  on 
which  he  may  lean,  and  to  find  a son,  that  when 
he  is  gone  his  lodge  may  not  be  empty.  Tache- 
cana,  the  skipping  fawn  of  the  Tetons,  is  too  weak 
to  prop  a warrior  who  is  old.  She  looks  before 
her,  and  not  backward.  Her  mind  is  in  the 
lodge  of  her  husband.” 

The  enunciation  of  the  veteran  warrior  had 
been  calm,  but  distinct  and  decided.  His  declara- 
tion was  received  in  silence  ; and  though  several 
of  the  chiefs,  who  were  in  the  counsels  of  Mah- 
toree,  turned  their  eyes  on  their  leader,  none  pre- 
sumed to  oppose  so  aged  and  so  venerated  a 
brave,  in  a resolution  that  was  strictly  in  con- 
formity to  the  usages  of  the  nation.  The  Teton 
himself  was  content  to  await  the  result  with  seem- 
ing composure,  though  the  gleams  of  ferocity 
that  played  about  his  eye,  occasionally  betrayed 
the  nature  of  those  feelings  with  which  he  wit- 
nessed a procedure  that  was  likely  to  rob  him  of 
that  one  of  all  his  intended  victims  whom  he 
most  hated. 

In  the  mean  time  Le  Balafre  moved  with  a 
slow  and  painful  step  toward  the  captives.  He 
stopped  before  the  person  of  Hard-Heart,  whose 
faultless  form,  unchanging  eye,  and  loftly  mien, 
he  contemplated  long,  with  high  and  evident  sat- 
isfaction. Then  making  a gesture  of  authority, 
he  awaited  until  his  order  had  been  obeyed,  and 
the  youth  was  released  from  the  post  and  his 
bonds  by  the  same  blow  of  the  knife.  When  the 
young  warrior  was  led  nearer  to  his  dimmed  and 
failing  sight,  the  examination  was  renewed  with 
strictness  of  scrutiny,  and  that  admiration  which 


physical  excellence  is  • so  apt  to  excite  in  the 
breast  of  a savage. 

“It  is  good,”  the  wary  veteran  murmured, 
when  he  found  that  all  his  skill  in  the  requisites 
of  a brave  could  detect  no  blemish  ; “ this  is  a 
leaping  panther ! — Does  my  son  speak  with  the 
tongue  of  a Teton  ? ” 

The  intelligence  which  lighted  the  eyes  of  the 
captive,  betrayed  how  well  he  understood  the 
question,  but  still  he  was  far  too  haughty  to  com- 
municate  his  ideas  through  the  medium  of  a lan- 
guage that  belonged  to  a hostile  people.  Some 
of  the  surrounding  warriors  explained  to  the  old 
chief  that  the  captive  was  a Pawnee-Loup. 

“ My  son  opened  his  eyes  on  the  ‘ waters  of 
the  wolves,’  ” said  Le  Balafr6,  in  the  language  of 
that  nation,  “ but  he  will  shut  them  in  the  bend 
of  the  ‘ river  with  a troubled  stream.’  He  was 
bom  a Pawnee,  but  he  will  die  a Dahcotah.  Look 
at  me.  I am  a sycamore  that  once  covered  many 
with  my  shadow.  The  leaves  are  fallen  and  the 
branches  begin  to  drop.  But  a single  sucker  is 
springing  from  my  roots ; it  is  a little  vine,  and 
it  winds  itself  about  a tree  that  is  green.  I have 
long  looked  for  one  fit  to  grow  by  my  side.  Now 
have  I found  him.  Le  Balafre  is  no  longer  with- 
out a son ; his  name  will  not  be  forgotten  when 
he  is  gone ! — Men  of  the  Tetons,  I take  this 
youth  into  my  lodge.” 

No  one  was  bold  enough  to  dispute  a right 
that  had  so  often  been  exercised  by  warriors  far 
inferior  to  the  present  speaker,  and  the  adoption 
was  listened  to  in  grave  and  respectful  silence. 
Le  Balafr6  took  his  intended  son  by  the  arm,  and, 
leading  him  into  the  very  centre  of  the  circle,  he 
stepped  aside  with  an  air  of  triumph,  in  order 
that  the  spectators  might  approve  of  his  choice. 
Mahtoree  betrayed  no  evidence  of  his  intentions, 
but  rather  seemed  to  await  a moment  better 
suited  to  the  crafty  policy  of  his  character.  The 
more  experienced  and  sagacious  chiefs  distinctly 
foresaw  the  utter  impossibility  of  two  partisans  so 
renowned,  so  hostile,  and  who  had  so  long  been 
rivals  in  fame,  as  their  prisoner  and  their  native 
leader,  existing  amicably  in  the  same  tribe.  Still 
the  character  of  Le  Balafre  was  so  imposing,  and 
the  custom  to  which  he  had  resorted  so  sacred, 
that  none  dared  to  lift  a voice  in  opposition  to 
the  measure.  They  watched  the  result  with  in- 
creasing interest,  but  with  a coldness  of  demean- 
or that  concealed  the  nature  of  their  inquietude. 
Prom  this  state  of  embarrassment,  and,  as  it 
might  readily  have  proved,  of  disorganization,  the 
tribe  was  unexpectedly  relieved  by  the  decision  of 
the  one  most  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
aged  chiefs  designs. 


HARD-HEART  AND  HIS  BENEFACTOR. 


153 


Daring  the  whole  of  the  foregoing  scene  it 
would  have  been  difficult  to  have  traced  a single 
distinct  emotion  in  the  lineaments  of  the  captive. 
He  had  heard  his  release  proclaimed,  with  the 
same  indifference  as  the  order  to  bind  him  to  the 
Btake.  But  now  that  the  moment  had  arrived 
when  it  became  necessary  to  make  his  election,  he 
spoke  in  a way  to  prove  that  the  fortitude  which 
had  brought  him  so  distinguished  a name,  had  in 
no  degree  deserted  him. 

“ My  father  is  very  old,  but  he  has  not  yet 
looked  upon  every  thing,”  said  Hard-Heart,  in  a 
voice  so  clear  as  to  be  heard  by  all  in  presence. 
“ He  has  never  seen  a buffalo  change  to  a bat ; 
he  will  never  see  a Pawnee  become  a Sioux.” 

There  was  a suddenness,  and  yet  a calmness, 
in  the  manner  of  delivering  this  decision,  which 
assured  most  of  the  auditors  that  it  was  unalter- 
able. The  heart  of  Le  Balafre,  however,  was 
yearning  toward  the  youth,  and  the  fondness  of 
age  was  not  so  readily  repulsed.  Reproving  the 
burst  of  admiration  and  triumph  to  which  the 
boldness  of  the  declaration  and  the  freshened 
hopes  of  revenge  had  given  rise,  by  turning  his 
gleaming  eye  around  the  band,  the  veteran  again 
addressed  his  adopted  child,  as  if  his  purpose  was 
not  to  be  denied. 

“ It  is  well,”  he  said ; “ such  are  the  Avords  a 
brave  should  use,  that  the  warriors  may  see  his 
heart.  The  day  has  been  Avhen  the  voi(/e  of  Le 
Balafre  was  loudest  among  the  lodges  of  the 
Konzas.  But  the  root  of  a white-hair  is  wisdom. 
My  child  will  shoAV  the  Tetons  that  he  is  a brave 
by  striking  their  enemies. — Men  of  the  Dahcotahs, 
this  is  my  son ! ” 

The  Pawnee  hesitated  a moment,  and  then, 
stepping  in  front  of  the  chief,  he  took  his  hard 
and  wrinkled  hand,  and  laid  it  with  reverence 
on  his  head,  as  if  to  acknowledge  the  extent  of 
his  obligation.  Then,  recoiling  a step,  he  raised 
his  person  to  its  greatest  elevation,  and  looked 
upon  the  hostile  band  by  whom  he  was  environed, 
with  an  air  of  loftiness  and  disdain,  as  he  spoke 
aloud  in  the  language  of  the  Sioux  : 

“ Hard-Heart  has  looked  at  himself  within  and 
without.  He  has  thought  of  all  he  has  done  in 
the  hunts  and  in  the  Avar3.  Everywhere  he  is  the 
same.  There  is  no  ehange.  He  is  in  all  things 
a Pawmee.  He  has  struck  so  many  Tetons  that 
he  could  never  eat  in  their  lodges.  His  arrowrs 
Avould  fly  backward  ; the  point  of  his  lance  Avould 
De  on  the  wrong  end ; their  friends  would  Aveep 
at  every  whoop  he  gave ; their  enemies  would 
laugh.  Do  the  Tetons  know  a Loup  ? Let  them 
ook  at  him  again.  His  head  is  painted ; his  arm 
£ flesh ; his  heart  is  rock.  When  the  Tetons  see 

62 


the  sun  come  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
move  toward  the  land  of  the  pale-faces,  the  mind 
of  Hard-Heart  will  soften,  and  his  spirit  Avill 
become  Sioux.  Until  that  day  he  will  live  and 
die  a Pawnee.” 

A yell  of  delight,  in  Avhich  admiration  and 
ferocity  were  strangely  mingled,  interrupted  the 
speaker,  and  but  too  clearly  announced  the  charac- 
ter of  his  fate.  The  captive  awaited  a moment  for 
the  commotion  to  subside,  and  then,  turning  again 
to  Le  Balafre,  he  continued,  in  tones  conciliating 
and  kind,  as  if  he  felt  the  propriety  of  soften- 
ing his  refusal,  in  a manner  not  to  wound  the  pride 
of  one  who  would  so  gladly  be  his  benefactor  : 

“ Let  my  father  lean  heavier  on  the  fawn  of 
the  Dahcotahs,”  he  said  ; “ she  is  weak  now,  but 
as  her  lodge  fills  Avith  young,  she  will  be  stronger. 
See,”  he  added,  directing  the  eyes  of  the  other  to 
the  earnest  countenance  of  the  attentive  trapper ; 
“ Hard-Heart  is  not  without  a gray-head  to  shoAV 
him  the  path  to  the  blessed  prairies.  If  he  ever 
has  another  father,  it  shall  be  that  just  warrior.” 

Le  Balafre  turned  aAvay  in  disappointment 
from  the  youth,  and  approached  the  stranger  who 
had  thus  anticipated  his  design.  The  examina- 
tion between  these  two  aged  men  was  long,  mu- 
tual, and  curious.  It  was  not  easy  to  detect  the 
real  character  of  the  trapper,  through  the  mask 
which  the  hardships  of  so  many  years  had  laid 
upon  his  features,  especially  when  aided  by  his 
wild  and  peculiar  attire.  Some  moments  elapsed 
before  the  Teton  spoke,  and  then  it  was  in  doubt 
whether  he  addressed  one  like  himself,  or  some 
wanderer  of  that  race  Avho,  he  had  heard,  were 
spreading  themselves  like  hungry  locusts  through- 
out the  land. 

“ The  head  of  my  brother  is  very  white,”  he 
said ; “ but  the  eye  of  Le  Balafre  is  no  longer 
like  the  eagle’s.  Of  what  color  is  his  skin  ? ” 

“ The  Wahcondah  made  me  like  these  you  see 
waiting  for  a Dahcotah  judgment ; but  fair  and 
foul  has  colored  me  darker  than  the  skin  of  a fox. 
What  of  that?  though  the  bark  is  ragged  and 
riven,  the  heart  of  the  tree  is  sound.” 

“ My  brother  is  a Big-knife ! Let  him  turn 
his  face  toward  the  setting  sun,  and  open  his  eyes. 
Does  he  see  the  salt  lake  beyond  the  moun- 
tains ? ” 

“The  time  has  been,  Teton,  when  few  could 
see  the  white  on  an  eagle’s  head  farther  than  I ; 
but  the  glare  of  fourscore-and-seven  winters  has 
dimmed  my  eyes,  and  but  little  can  I boast  of 
sight  in  my  latter  days.  Does  the  Sioux  think  a 
pale-face  is  a god,  that  he  can  look  through 
hills!” 

“ Then  let  my  brother  look  at  me.  I am  nigh 


154 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


him,  and  he  can  see  that  I am  a foolish  red-man. 
Why  cannot  his  people  see  every  thing,  since  they 
crave  all  ? ” 

“ I understand  you,  chief,  nor  will  I gainsay 
the  justice  of  your  words,  seeing  that  they  are 
too  much  founded  in  truth.  But,  though  born  of 
the  race  you  love  so  little,  my  worst  enemy,  not 
even  a lying  Mingo,  would  dare  to  say  that  I ever 
laid  hands  on  the  goods  of  another,  except  such 
as  were  taken  in  manful  warfare  ; or  that  I ever 
coveted  more  ground  than  the  Lord  has  intended 
each  man  to  fill.” 

“And  yet  my  brother  has  come  among  the 
red-skins  to  find  a son  ? ” 

The  trapper  laid  a finger  on  the  naked  shoul- 
der of  Le  Balafre,  and  looked  into  his  scarred 
countenance  with  a wistful  and  confidential  ex- 
pression, as  he  answered : 

“ Ay  ; but  it  was  only  that  I might  do  good  to 
the  boy.  If  you  think,  Dahcotah,  that  I adopted 
the  youth  in  order  to  prop  my  age,  you  do  as  much 
injustice  to  my  good-will  as  you  seem  to  know 
little  of  the  merciless  intentions  of  your  own 
people.  I have  made  him  my  son,  that  he  may 
know  that  one  is  left  behind  him. — Peace,  Hector 
peace  ! Is  this  decent,  pup,  when  gray-heads  are 
counselling  together,  to  break  in  upon  their  dis- 
course with  the  whinings  of  a hound  ? — The  dog 
is  old,  Teton  ; and,  though  well  taught  in  respect 
to  behavior,  he  is  getting,  like  ourselves,  I fancy, 
something  forgetful  of  the  fashions  of  his  youth.” 

Further  discourse,  between  these  veterans, 
was  interrupted  by  a discordant  yell,  which  burst 
at  that  moment  from  the  lips  of  the  dozen  with- 
ered crones  who  have  already  been  mentioned  as 
having  forced  themselves  into  a conspicuous  part 
of  the  circle.  The  outcry  was  excited  by  a sudden 
change  in  the  air  of  Hard-Heart.  When  the  old 
men  turend  toward  the  youth,  they  saw  him  stand- 
ing in  the  very  centre  of  the  ring,  with  his  head 
erect,  his  eye  fixed  on  vacancy,  one  leg  advanced 
and  an  arm  a little  raised,  as  if  all  his  faculties 
were  absorbed  in  the  act  of  listening.  A smile 
lighted  his  countenance  for  a single  moment,  and 
then  the  whole  man  sai;k  again  into  his  former 
look  of  dignity  and  coldness,  suddenly  recalled 
to  self-possession.  The  movement  had  been  con- 
strued into  contempt,  and  even  the  tempers  of 
the  chiefs  began  to  be  excited.  Unable  to  re- 
strain their  fury,  the  women  broke  into  the  circle 
in  a body,  and  commenced  their  attack  by  load- 
ing the  captive  with  the  most  bitter  revilings. 
They  boasted  of  the  various  exploits  which  their 
sons  had  achieved  at  the  expense  of  the  different 
tribes  of  the  Pawnees.  They  undervalued  his 
own  reputation,  and  told  him  to  look  at  Mahtoree, 


if  he  had  never  yet  seen  a warrior.  They  accused 
him  of  having  been  suckled  by  a doe,  and  of  hav- 
ing drunk  in  cowardice  with  his  mother’s  milk. 
In  short,  they  lavished  upon  their  unmoved  cap- 
tive  a torrent  of  that  vindictive  abuse  in  which 
the  women  of  the  savages  are  so  well  known  to 
excel,  but  which  has  been  too  often  described  to 
need  a repetition  here. 

The  effect  of  this  outbreaking  was  inevitable. 
Le  Balafre  turned  away  disappointed,  and  hid 
himself  in  the  crowd ; while  the  trapper,  whose 
honest  features  were  working  with  inward  emo- 
tion, pressed  nigher  to  his  young  friend,  as  those, 
who  are  linked  to  the  criminal  by  ties  so  strong 
as  to  brave  the  opinions  of  men,  are  often  seen 
to  stand  about  the  place  of  execution  to  support 
his  dying  moments.  The  excitement  soon  spread 
among  the  inferior  warriors,  though  the  chiefs 
still  forbore  to  make  the  signal  which  committed 
the  victim  to  their  mercy.  Mahtoree,  who  had 
awaited  such  a movement  among  his  fellows,  with 
the  wary  design  of  concealing  his  own.  jealous 
hatred,  soon  grew  weary  of  delay,  and,  by  a 
glance  of  his  eye,  encouraged  the  tormentors  to 
proceed. 

Weucha,  who,  eager  for  this  sanction,  had 
long  stood  watching  the  countenance  of  the  chief, 
bounded  forward  at  the  signal  like  a bloodhound 
loosened  from  the  leash.  Forcing  his  way  into 
the  centre  of  the  hags,  who  were  already  proceed- 
ing from  abuse  to  violence,  he  reproved  their  im- 
patience, and  bade  them  wait  until  a warrior  had 
begun  to  torment,  and  then  they  should  see  their 
victim  shed  tears  like  a woman. 

The  heartless  savage  commenced  his  efforts 
by  flourishing  his  tomahawk  about  the  head  of 
the  captive,  in  such  a manner  as  to  give  reason 
to  suppose  that  each  blow  would  bury  the  weapon 
in  the  flesh,  while  it  was  so  governed  as  not  to 
touch  the  skin.  To  this  customary  expedient, 
Hard-Heart  was  perfectly  insensible.  His  eye 
kept  the  same  steady,  riveted  look  on  the  air, 
though  the  glittering  axe  described  in  its  evolu- 
tions a bright  circle  of  light  before  his  counte- 
nance. Frustrated  in  this  attempt,  the  callous 
Sioux  laid  the  cold  edge  on  the  naked  head  of  his 
victim,  and  began  to  describe  the  different  man- 
ners in  which  a prisoner  might  be  flayed.  The 
women  kept  time  to  his  cruelties  with  their  taunts, 
and  endeavored  to  force  some  expression  of  the 
fingerings  of  nature  from  the  insensible  features 
of  the  Pawnee.  But  he  evidently  reserved  him- 
self for  the  chiefs,  and  for  those  moments  of  ex- 
treme anguish,  when  the  loftiness  of  his  spirit 
might  evince  itself  in  a manner  better  becoming 
his  high  and  untarnished  reputation. 


DEATH  OF  WEUCHA. 


155 


The  eyes  of  the  trapper -followed  every  move- 
ment of  the  tomahawk  with  the  interest  of  a real 
father,  until  at  length,  unable  to  command  his 
indignation,  he  exclaimed : 

“ My  son  has  forgotten  his  cunning.  This  is  a 
low-minded  Indian,  and  one  easily  hurried  into 
folly.  I cannot  do  the  thing  myself,  for  my  tra- 
ditions forbid  a dying  warrior  to  revile  his  per- 
secutors, but  the  gifts  of  a red-skin  are  different. 
Let  the  Pawnee  say  the  bitter  words,  and  pur- 
chase an  easy  death.  I will  answer  for  his  suc- 
cess, provided  he  speaks  before  the  grave  men  set 
their  wisdom  to  back  the  folly  of  this  fool.” 

The  savage  Sioux,  who  heard  his  words  with- 
out comprehending  their  meaning,  turned  to  the 
speaker  and  menaced  him  with  death  for  his  te- 
merity. 

“ Ay,  work  your  will,”  said  the  unflinching 
old  man ; “lam  as  ready  now  as  I shall  be  to- 
morrow. Though  it  would  be  a death  that  an 
honest  man  might  not  wish  to  die.  Look  at  that 
noble  Pawnee,  Teton,  and  see  what  a red-skin  may 
become,  who  fears  the  Master  of  Life,  and  follows 
his  laws.  How  many  of  your  people  has  he  sent 
to  the  distant  prairies  ! ” he  continued,  in  a sort 
of  pious  fraud,  thinking  that,  while  the  danger 
menaced  himself,  there  could  surely  be  no  sin  in 
extolling  the  merits  of  another;  “how  many 
howling  Siouxes  has  he  struck  like  a warrior  in 
open  combat,  while  arrows  were  sailing  in  the  air 
plentier  than  flakes  of  falling  snow ! Go  ! will 
Weucha  speak  the  name  of  one  enemy  he  has 
ever  struck  ? ” 

“ Hard-Heart ! ” shouted  the  Sioux,  turning 
in  his  fury  and  aiming  a deadly  blow  at  the  head 
of  his  victim.  His  arm  fell  into  the  hollow  of  the 
captive’s  hand.  For  a single  moment  the  two 
stood,  as  if  entranced,  in  that  attitude,  the  one 
paralyzed  by  so  unexpected  a resistance,  and  the 
other  bending  his  head,  not  to  meet  his  death, 
but  in  the  act  of  the  most  intense  attention.  The 
women  screamed  with  triumph,  for  they  thought 
the  nerves  of  the  captive  had  at  length  failed  him. 
The  trapper  trembled  for  the  honor  of  his  friend ; 
and  Hector,  as  if  conscious  of  what  was  passing, 
raised  his  nose  into  the  air,  and  uttered  a piteous 
howl. 

But  the  Pawnee  hesitated  only  for  that  mo- 
ment. Raising  the  other  hand  like  lightning, 
the  tomahawk  flashed  in  the  air,  and  Weucha 
sank  to  his  feet,  brained  to  the  eye.  Then  cut- 
ting a way  with  the  bloody  weapon,  he  darted 
through  the  Opening  left  by  the  frightened  wom- 
en, and  seemed  to  descend  the  declivity  at  a sin- 
gle bound. 

Had  a bolt  from  heaven  fallen  in  the  midst 


of  the  Teton  band,  it  would  not  have  occasioned 
greater  consternation  than  this  act  of  desperate 
hardihood.  A shrill,  plaintive  cry  burst  from  the 
lips  of  all  the  women,  and  there  was  a moment 
that  even  the  oldest  warriors  appeared  to  have 
lost  their  faculties.  This  stupor  endured  only 
for  the  instant.  It  was  succeeded  by  a yell  of 
revenge  that  burst  from  a hundred  throats,  while 
as  many  warriors  started  forward  at  the  cry,  bent 
on  the  most  bloody  retribution.  But  a powerful 
and  authoritative  call  from  Malitoree  arrested  ev- 
ery foot.  The  chief,  in  whose  countenance  disap- 
pointment and  rage  were  struggling  with  the  af- 
fected composure  of  his  station,  extended  an  arm 
toward  the  river,  and  the  whole  mystery  was 
explained. 

Hard-Heart  had  already  crossed  half  the  bot- 
tom which  lay  between  the  acclivity  and  the 
water.  At  this  precise  moment  a band  of  armed 
and  mounted  Pawnees  turned  a swell,  and  gal- 
loped to  the  margin  of  the  stream,  into  which  the 
plunge  of  the  fugitive  was  distinctly  heard.  A 
few  minutes  sufficed  for  his  vigorous  arm  to  con- 
quer the  passage,  and  then  the  shout  from  the 
opposite  shore  told  the  humbled  Tetons  the  whole 
extent  of  the  triumph  of  their  adversaries. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

“If  that  shepherd  he  not  in  hand-fast,  let  him  fly;  tho 
curses  he  shall  have,  the  tortures  he  shall  feel,  will  break 
the  back  of  man,  the  heart  of  monster.” 

Shakespeare. 

It  will  readily  be  seen  that  the  event  just  re- 
lated was  attended  by  an  extraordinary  sensation 
among  the  Sioux.  In  leading  the  hunters  of  the 
band  back  to  the  encampment,  their  chief  had 
neglected  none  of  the  customary  precautions  of 
Indian  prudence,  in  order  that  his  trail  might 
escape  the  eyes  of  his  enemies.  It  would  seem, 
however,  that  the  Pawnees  had  not  only  made  the 
dangerous  discovery,  but  had  managed  with  great 
art  to  draw  nigh  the  place  by  the  only  side  on 
which  it  was  thought  unnecessary  to  guard  the 
approaches  with  the  usual  line  of  sentinels.  The 
latter,  who  were  scattered  along  the  different  lit- 
tle eminences  which  lay  in  the  rear  of  the  lodges, 
were  among  the  last  to  be  apprised  of  the  dan- 
ger. 

In  such  a crisis  there  was  little  time  for  delib- 
eration. It  was  by  exhibiting  the  force  of  his 
character  in  scenes  of  similar  difficulty,  that 
Mahtoree  had  obtained  and  strengthened  hia 
ascendency  among  his  people,  nor  did  he  seem 


156 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


likely  to  lose  it  by  the  manifestation  of  any  in- 
decision on  the  present  occasion.  In  the  midst 
of  the  screams  of  the  young,  the  shrieks  of  the 
women,  and  the  wild  howlings  of  the  crones, 
which  were  sufficient  of  themselves  to  have  created 
a chao3  in  the  thoughts  of  one  less  accustomed 
to  act  in  emergencies,  he  promptly  asserted  his 
authority,  issuing  his  orders  with  the  coolness  of 
a veteran. 

While  the  warriors  were  arming,  the  boys 
were  dispatched  to  the  bottom  for  the  horses. 
The  tents  were  hastily  struck  by  the  women,  and 
disposed  of  on  such  of  the  beasts  as  were  not  deemed 
fit  to  be  trusted  in  combat.  The  infants  were 
cast  upon  the  backs  of  their  mothers ; and  those 
children  who  were  of  a size  to  march  were  driven 
to  the  rear,  like  a herd  of  less  reasoning  animals. 
Though  these  several  movements  were  made  amid 
outcries  and  a clamor  that  likened  the  place  to 
another  Babel,  they  were  executed  with  incredi- 
ble alacrity  and  intelligence. 

In  the  mean  time,  Mahtoree  neglected  no  duty 
that  belonged  to  his  responsible  station.  From 
the  elevation  on  which  he  stood,  he  could  com- 
mand a perfect  view  of  the  force  and  evolutions 
of  the  hostile  party.  A grim  smile  lighted  his 
visage,  when  he  found  that,  in  point  of  numbers, 
his  own  band  was  greatly  the  superior.  Notwith- 
standing this  advantage,  however,  there  were 
other  points  of  inequality,  which  would  probably 
have  a tendency  to  render  his  success  in  the  ap- 
proaching conflict  exceedingly  doubtful.  His 
people  were  the  inhabitants  of  a more  northern 
and  less  hospitable  region  than  their  enemies,  and 
were  far  from  being  rich  in  that  species  of  prop- 
erty, horses  and  arms,  which  constitutes  the 
most  highly-prized  wealth  of  a Western  Indian. 
The  band  in  view  was  mounted  to  a man ; and,  as 
it  had  come  so  far  to  rescue,  or  to  revenge,  their 
greatest  partisan,  he  had  no  reason  to  doubt  its 
being  composed  entirely  of  braves.  On  the  other 
hand,  many  of  his  followers  were  far  better  in  a 
hunt  than  in  a combat ; men  who  might  serve  to 
divert  the  attention  of  his  foes,  but  from  whom  he 
could  expect  little  desperate  service.  Still,  his  flash- 
ing eye  glanced  over  a body  of  warriors  on  whom  he 
had  often  relied,  and  who  had  never  deceived  him ; 
and  though,  in  the  precise  position  in  which  he 
found  himself,  he  felt  no  disposition  to  precipi- 
tate the  conflict,  he  certainly  would  have  had  no 
intention  to  avoid  it,  had  not  the  presence  of  his 
women  and  children  placed  the  option  altogether 
in  the  power  of  his  adversaries. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Pawnees,  so  unexpect- 
edly successful  in  their  first  and  greatest  object, 
manifested  no  intention  to  drive  matters  to  an  is- 


sue. The  river  was  a dangerous  barrier  to  pass, 
in  the  face  of  a determined  foe,  and  it  would  now 
have  been  in  perfect  accordance  with  their  cau- 
tious policy,  to  have  retired  for  a season,  in  order 
that  their  onset  might  be  made  in  the  hours  of 
darkness  and  of  seeming  security.  But  there  was 
a spirit  in  their  chief  that  elevated  him,  for  the  mo- 
ment, above  the  ordinary  expedients  of  savage  war- 
fare. His  bosom  burned  with  the  desire  to  wipe  out 
that  disgrace  of  which  he  had  been  the  subject ; 
and  it  is  possible  that  he  believed  the  retiring 
camp  of  the  Sioux  contained  a prize  that  began 
to  have  a value  in  his  eyes  far  exceeding  any  that 
could  be  found  in  fifty  Teton  scalps.  Let  that  be 
as  it  might,  Hard-Heart  had  no  sooner  received 
the  brief  congratulations  of  his  band,  and  com- 
municated to  the  chiefs  such  facts  as  were  impor- 
tant to  be  known,  than  he  prepared  himself  to  act 
such  a part  in  the  coming  conflict  as  would  at 
once  maintain  his-  well-earned  reputation  and 
gratify  his  secret  wishes.  A led  horse,  one  that 
had  been  long  trained  in  the  hunts,  had  been 
brought  to  receive  his  master,  with  but  little  hope 
that  his  services  would  ever  be  needed  again  in 
this  life.  With  a delicacy  and  consideration  that 
proved  how  much  the  generous  qualities  of  the 
youth  had  touched  the  feelings  of  his  people,  a 
bow,  a lance,  and  a quiver,  were  thrown  across 
the  animal,  which  it  had  been  intended  to  immo- 
late on  the  grave  of  the  young  brave ; a species 
of  care  that  would  have  superseded  the  necessity 
for  the  pious  duty  that  the  trapper  had  pledged 
himself  to  perform. 

Though  Hard-Heart  was  sensible  of  the  kind- 
ness of  his  warriors,  and  believed  that  a chief, 
furnished  with  such  appointments,  might  depart 
with  credit  for  the  distant  hunting-grounds  of  the 
Master  of  Life,  he  seemed  equally  disposed  to 
think  that  they  might  be  rendered  quite  as  useful 
in  the  actual  state  of  things.  His  countenance 
lighted  with  stern  pleasure,  as  he  tried  the  elas- 
ticity of  the  bow,  and  poised  the  well-balanced 
spear.  The  glance  he  bestowed  on  the  shield  was 
more  cursory  and  indifferent ; but  the  exultation 
with  which  he  threw  himself  on  the  back  of  his 
favored  war-horse  was  so  great  as  to  break 
through  the  forms  of  Indian  reserve.  He  rode  to 
and  fro  among  his  scarcely  less  delighted  warriors, 
managing  the  animal  with  a grace  and  address 
that  no  artificial  rules  can  ever  supply;  at  times 
flourishing  his  lance,  as  if  to  assure  himself  of  his 
seat,  and  at  others  examining  critically  into  the 
condition  of  the  fusee,  with  which  he  had  also 
been  furnished,  with  the  fondness  of  one  who  was 
miraculously  restored  to  the  possession  of  treas- 
ures that  constituted  his  pride  and  his  happiness, 


THE  HOSTILE  BANDS. 


At  this  particular  moment,  Hahtoree,  having 
completed  the  necessary  arrangements,  prepared 
to  make  a more  decisive  movement.  The  Teton 
had  found  no  little  embarrassment  in  disposing 
of  his  captives.  The  tents  of  the  squatter  were 
still  in  sight,  and  his  wary  cunning  did  not  fail  to 
apprise  him  that  it  was  quite  as  necessary  to 
guard  against  an  attack  from  that  quarter  as  to 
watch  the  motions  of  his  more  open  and  more  ac- 
tive foes.  His  first  impulse  had  been  to  make  the 
tomahawk  suffice  for  the  men,  and  to  trust  the 
females  under  the  same  protection  as  the  women 
of  his  band ; but  the  manner  in  which  many  of 
bis  braves  continued  to  regard  the  imaginary 
medicine  of  the  Long-knives,  forewarned  him  of 
the  danger  of  so  hazardous  an  experiment  on  the 
eve  of  a battle.  It  might  be  deemed  the  omen 
of  defeat.  In  this  dilemma  he  motioned  to  a su- 
perannuated warrior,  to  whom  he  had  confided 
the  charge  of  the  non-combatants,  and,  leading 
him  apart,  he  placed  a finger  significantly  on  his 
shoulder,  as  he  said,  in  a tone  in  which  authority 
was  tempered  by  confidence : 

“ When  my  young  men  are  striking  the  Paw- 
nees, give  the  women  knives.  Enough ; my  fa- 
ther is  very  old ; he  does  not  want  to  hear  wis- 
dom from  a boy.” 

The  grim  old  savage  returned  a look  of  fero- 
cious assent,  and  then  the  mind  of  the  chief  ap- 
peared to  be  at  rest  on  this  important  subject. 
From  that  moment  he  bestowed  all  his  care  on 
the  achievement  of  his  revenge,  and  the  mainte- 
nance of  his  martial  character.  Throwing  himself 
on  his  horse,  he  made  a sign,  with  the  air  of  a 
prince,  to  his  followers,  to  imitate  his  example,  in- 
terrupting, without  ceremony,  the  war-songs  and 
solemn  rites  by  which  many  among  them  were 
stimulating  their  spirits  to  deeds  of  daring. 
When  all  were  in  order,  the  whole  moved  with 
great  steadiness  and  silence  toward  the  margin  of 
the  river. 

The  hostile  bands  were  now  separated  by  the 
water.  The  width  of  the  stream  was  too  great  to 
admit  of  the  use  of  the  ordinary  Indian  missiles, 
but  a few  useless  shots  were  exchanged  from  the 
fusees  of  the  chiefs,  more  in  bravado  than  with 
any  expectation  of  doing  execution.  As  some 
time  was  suffered  to  elapse  in  demonstrations  and 
abortive  efforts,  we  shall  leave  them,  for  that  pe- 
riod, to  return  to  such  of  our  characters  as  re- 
mained in  the  hands  of  the  savages. 

We  have  shed  much  ink  in  vain,  and  wasted 
quires,  that  might  possibly  have  been  better  em- 
ployed, if  it  be  necessary  now  to  tell  the  reader 
that  few  of  the  foregoing  movements  escaped  the 
observation  of  the  experienced  trapper.  He  had 


1 57 

been,  in  common  with  the  rest,  astonished  at  the 
sudden  act  of  Hard-Heart ; and  there  was  a single 
moment  when  a feeling  of  regret  and  mortifica- 
tion got  the  better  of  his  longings  to  save  the  life 
of  the  youth.  The  simple  and  well-intentioned 
old  man  would  have  felt,  at  witnessing  any  failure 
of  firmness  on  the  part  of  a warrior  who  had  so 
strongly  excited  his  sympathies,  the  same  species 
of  sorrow  that  a Christian  parent  would  suffer  in 
hanging  over  the  dying  moments  of  an  impious 
child.  But  when,  instead  of  an  impotent  and  un- 
manly struggle  for  existence,  he  found  that  his 
friend  had  forborne,  with  the  customary  and  dig- 
nified submission  of  an  Indian  warrior,  until  an 
opportunity  had  offered  to  escape,  and  that  he 
had  then  manifested  the  spirit  and  decision  of  the 
most  gifted  brave,  his  gratification  became  nearly 
too  powerful  to  be  concealed.  In  the  midst  of 
the  wailing  and  commotion  which  succeeded  the 
death  of  Weucha  and  the  escape  of  the  captive, 
he  placed  himself  nigh  the  persons  of  his  white 
associates,  with  a determination  of  interfering,  at 
every  hazard*  should  the  fury  of  the  savages  take 
that  direction.  The  appearance  of  the  hostile 
band  spared  him,  however,  so  desperate  and  prob- 
ably so  fruitless  an  effort,  and  left  him  to  pursue 
his  observations  and  to  mature  his  plans  more  at 
leisure. 

He  particularly  remarked  that,  while  by  far 
the  greater  part  of  the  women,  and  all  the  chil- 
dren, together  with  the  effects  of  the  party,  were 
hurried  to  the  rear,  probably  with  an  order  to  se- 
crete themselves  in  some  of  the  adjacent  woods, 
the  tent  of  Mahtoree  himself  was  left  stand- 
ing, and  its  contents  undisturbed.  Two  chosen 
horses,  however,  stood  near  by,  held  by  a couple 
of  youths,  who  were  too  young  to  go  into  conflict, 
and  yet  of  an  age  to  understand  the  management 
of  the  beasts.  The  trapper  perceived  in  this  ar- 
rangement the  reluctance  of  Hahtoree  to  trust 
his  newly-found  “flowers  ” beyond  the  reach  of 
his  eye ; and,  at  the  same  time,  his  forethought, 
in  providing  against  a reverse  of  fortune.  Nei- 
ther had  the  manner  of  the  Teton,  in  giving  his 
commission  to  the  old  savage,  nor  the  fierce 
pleasure  with  which  the  latter  had  received  the 
bloody  charge,  escaped  his  observation.  From 
all  these  mysterious  movements,  the  old  man  was 
aware  that  a crisis  was  at  hand,  and  he  sum- 
moned the  utmost  knowledge  he  had  acquired,  in 
so  long  a life,  to  aid  him  in  the  desperate  con- 
juncture. While  musing  on  the  means  to  be  em- 
ployed, the  doctor  again  attracted  his  attention 
to  himself  by  a piteous  appeal  for  assistance. 

“ Venerable  trapper  or,  as  I may  now  say,  lib- 
erator,” commenced  the  dolorous  Obed,  “it would 


158 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


seem  that  a fittiqg  time  has  at  length  arrived  to 
dissever  the  unnatural  and  altogether  irregular 
connection  which  exists  between  my  inferior  mem- 
bers and  the  body  of  Asinus.  Perhaps  if  such  a 
portion  of  my  limbs  were  released  as  might  leave  me 
master  of  the  remainder,  and  this  favorable  oppor- 
tunity were  suitably  improved,  by  making  a forced 
march  toward  the  settlements,  all  hopes  of  pre- 
serving the  treasures  of  knowledge,  of  which  I am 
the  unworthy  receptacle,  would  not  be  lost.  The 
importance  of  the  results  is  surely  worth  the  haz- 
ard of  the  experiment.” 

“ I know  not,  I know  not,”  returned  the  delib- 
erate old  man ; “ the  vermin  and  reptiles,  which 
you  bear  about  you,  were  intended  by  the  Lord  for 
the  prairies,  and  I see  no  good  in  sending  them 
into  regions  that  may  not  suit  their  natur’s.  And, 
moreover,  you  may  be  of  great  and  particular  use 
as  you  now  sit  on  the  ass,  though  it  creates  no 
wonder  in  my  mind  to  perceive  that  you  are  ig- 
norant of  it,  seeing  that  usefulness  is  altogether  a 
new  calling  to  so  bookish  a man.” 

“ Of  what  service  can  I be  in  this  painful 
thraldom,  in  which  the  animal  functions  are  in  a 
manner  suspended,  and  the  spiritual  or  intellect- 
ual blinded  by  the  secret  sympathy  that  unites 
mind  to  matter  ? There  is  likely  to  be  blood  spilt 
between  yonder  adverse  hosts  of  heathens  : and, 
though  but  little  desiring  the  office,  it  would  be 
better  that  I should  employ  myself  in  surgical 
experiments,  than  in  thus  wasting  the  precious 
moments,  mortifying  both  soul  and  body.” 

■l  It  is  little  that  a red-skin  would  care  to  have 
a physician  to  his  hurts,  while  the  whoop  is  ring- 
ing in  his  ears.  Patience  is  a virtue  in  an  Indian, 
and  can  be  no  shame  to  a Christian  white  man. 
Look  at  these  hags  of  squaws,  friend  doctor ; I 
have  no  judgnent  in  savage  tempers,  if  they  are 
not  bloody-minded,  and  ready  to  work  their  ac- 
cursed pleasures  on  us  all.  Now,  so  long  as  you 
keep  upon  the  ass,  and  maintain  the  fierce  look 
which  is  far  from  being  your  natural  gift,  fear  of 
so  great  a medicine  may  serve  to  keep  down  their 
courage.  I am  placed  here,  like  a general  at  the 
opening  of  the  battle,  and  it  has  become  my  duty 
to  make  such  use  of  all  my  force  as,  in  my  judg- 
ment, each  is  best  fitted  to  perform.  If  I know 
these  niceties,  you  will  be  more  serviceable  for 
your  countenance  just  now  than  in  any  more  stir- 
ring exploits.” 

“ Harkee,  old  trapper,”  shouted  Paul,  whose 
patience  could  no  longer  maintain  itself  under  the 
calculating  and  prolix  explanations  of  the  other, 
“ suppose  you  cut  two  things  I can  name,  short 
off?  That  is  to  say,  your  conversation,  which  is 
agreeable  enough  over  a well-baked  buffalo’s 


hump,  and  these  damnable  thongs  of  hide, 
which,  according  to  my  experience,  can  be  pleas- 
ant nowhere.  A single  stroke  of  your  knife 
would  be  of  more  service,  just  now,  than  the  long- 
est speech  that  was  ever  made  in  a Kentucky 
court-house.” 

“ Ay,  court-houses  are  the  ‘ happy  hunting- 
grounds,’  as  a red-skin  would  say,  for  them  . that 
are  bom  with  gifts  no  better  than  such  as  lie  in 
the  tongue.  I was  carried  into  one  of  the  lawless 
holes  myself  once,  and  it  was  all  about  a thing  of 
no  more  value  than  the  skin  of  a deer.  The  Lord 
forgive  them ! — the  Lord  forgive  them ! — they  knew 
no  better,  and  they  did  according  to  their  weak 
judgments,  and  therefore  the  more  are  they  to  be 
pitied  ; and  yet  it  was  a solemn  sight  to  see  an 
aged  man,  who  had  always  lived  in  the  air,  laid 
neck  and  heels  by  the  law,  and  held  up  as  a 
spectacle  for  the  women  and  boys  of  a wasteful 
settlement  to  point  their  fingers  at ! ” 

“ If  such  be  your  opinions  of  confinement, 
honest  friend,  you  had  better  manifest  the  same 
by  putting  us  at  liberty  with  as  little  delay  as  pos- 
sible,” said  Middleton,  who,  like  his  companion, 
began  to  find  the  tardiness  of  his  often-tried 
companion  quite  as  extraordinary  as  it  was  disa- 
greeable. 

“ I should  greatly  like  to  do  the  same  ; espe- 
cially in  your  behalf,  captain,  who,  being  a soldier, 
might  find  not  only  pleasure  but  profit  in  examin- 
ing, more  at  your  ease,  into  the  circumventions 
and  cunning  of  an  Indian  fight.  As  to  our 
friend,  here,  it  is  of  but  little  matter  how  much 
of  this  affair  he  examines,  or  how  little,  seeing 
that  a bee  is  not  to  be  overcome  in  the  same 
manner  as  an  Indian.” 

“ Old  man,  this  trifling  with  our  misery  is  in- 
considerate, to  give  it  a name  no  harsher — ” 

“ Ay,  your  gran’ther  was  of  a hot  and  hurry- 
ing mind,  and  one  must  not  expect  that  the  young 
of  the  panther  will  crawl  the  arth  like  the  litter 
of  a porcupine.  Now  keep  you  both  silent,  and 
what  I say  shall  have  the  appearance  of  being 
spoken  concerning  the  movements  that  are  going 
on  in  the  bottom  ; all  of  which  will  serve  to  put 
jealousy  to  sleep,  and  to  shut  the  eyes  of  such  as 
rarely  close  them  on  wickedness  and  cruelty.  In 
the  first  place,  then,  you  must  know  that  I have 
reason  to  think  yonder  treacherous  Teton  has  left 
an  order  to  put  us  all  to  death,  so  soon  as  he 
thinks  the  deed  may  be  done  secretly,  and  with- 
out tumult.”  f 

“ Great  Heaven  ! will  you  suffer  us  to  be  butch- 
ered like  unresisting  sheep  ? ” 

“ Hist,  captain,  hist ! a hot  temper  is  none 
of  the  best,  when  cunning  is  more  needed  than 


RELEASE  OF  THE  BEE-HUNTER. 


159 


blows. — Ah,  the  Pawnee  is  a noble  boy ! it  would 
do  your  he^rt  good  to  see  how  he  draws  off  from 
the  river,  in  order  to  invite  his  enemies  to  cross  ; 
and  yet,  according  to  my  failing  sight,  they  count 
two  warriors  to  his  one ! — But  as  I was  saying, 
little  good  comes  of  haste  and  thoughtlessness. 
The  facts  are  so  plain  that  any  child  may  see  their 
wisdom.  The  savages  are  of  many  minds  as  to 
*he  manner  of  our  treatment.  Some  fear  us  for 
Dur  color,  and  would  gladly  let  us  go,  and  other 
some  would  show  us  the  mercy  that  the  doe  re- 
ceives from  the  hungry  wolf.  When  opposition 
gets  fairly  into  the  councils  of  a tribe,  it  is  rare 
that  humanity  is  the  gainer.  Now,  see  you  these 
wrinkled  and  cruel-minded  squaws — no,  you  can- 
not see  them  as  you  lie,  but  nevertheless  they  are 
here,  ready  and  willing,  like  so  many  raging  she- 
bears,  to  work  their  will  upon  us  so  soon  as  the 
proper  time  shall  come.” 

“ Harkee,  old  gentleman  trapper,”  interrupted 
Paul,  with  a little  bitterness  in  his  manner ; “ do 
you  tell  us  these  matters  for  our  amusement,  or 
for  your  own  ? If  for  ours,  you  may  keep  your 
breath  for  the  next  race  you  run,  as  I am  tickled 
nearly  to  suffocation,  already,  with  my  part  of  the 
fun.” 

“ Hist ! ” said  the  trapper,  cutting  with  great 
dexterity  and  rapidity  the  thong  which  bound 
one  of  the  arms  of  Paul  to  his  body,  and  drop- 
ping his  knife  at  the  same  time  within  reaeh  of 
the  liberated  hand.  “Hist,  boy,  hist ! that  was  a 
lucky  moment ! The  yell  from  the  bottom  drew 
the  eyes  of  these  blood-suckers  in  another  quar- 
ter, and  so  far  we  are  safe.  Now  make  a proper 
use  of  your  advantages ; but  be  careful  that  what 
you  do  is  done  without  being  seen.” 

“ Thank  you  for  this  small  favor,  old  delibera- 
tion,” muttered  the  bee-hunter,  “though  it  comes 
iilce  a snow  in  May,  somewhat  out  of  season.” 

“ Foolish  boy  ! ” reproachfully  exclaimed  the 
other,  who  had  moved  to  a little  distance  from 
his  friends,  and  appeared  to  be  attentively  regard- 
ing the  movements  of  the  hostile  parties,  “ will 
you  never  learn  to  know  the  wisdom  of  patience? 
— And  you,  too,  captain ; though  a man  myself 
that  seldom  ruffles  his  temper  by  vain  feelings,  I 
see  that  you  are  silent  because  you  scorn  to  ask 
favors  any  longer  from  one  you  think  too  slow  to 
grant  them.  No  doubt  ye  are  both  young,  and 
filled  with  the  pride  of  your  strength  and  man- 
hood, and  I dare  say  you  thought  it  only  needful 
to  cut  the  thongs  to  leave  you  masters  of  the 
ground.  But  he  that  has  seen  much  is  apt  to 
think  much.  Had  I run  like  a bustling  woman 
to  have  given  you  freedom,  these  hags  of  the 
Siouxes  would  have  seen  the  same,  and  then 


where  would  you  both  have  foand  yourselves  ? 
Under  the  tomahawk  and  the  knife,  like  helpless 
and  outcrying  children,  though  gifted  with  the 
size  and  beards  of  men.  Ask  our  friend,  the  bee- 
hunter,  in  what  condition  he  finds  himself  to 
struggle  with  a Teton  boy,  after  so  many  hours 
of  bondage ; much  less  with  a dozen  merciless 
and  blood-thirsty  squaws  ! ” 

“ Truly,  old  trapper,”  returned  Paul,  stretch- 
ing his  limbs,  which  were  by  this  time  entirely 
released,  and  endeavoring  to  restore  the  sus- 
pended circulation,  “ you  have  some  judgmatical 
notions  in  these  matters.  Now  here  am  I,  Paul 
Hover,  a man  who  will  give  in  to  few  at  wrestle 
or  race,  nearly  as  helpless  as  the  day  I paid  my 
first  visit  to  the  house  of  old  Paul,  who  is  dead 
and  gone — the  Lord  forgive  him  any  little  blun- 
ders he  may  have  made  while  he  tarried  in  Ken- 
tucky ! Now  there  is  my  foot  on  the.  ground,  so 
far  as  eyesight  has  any'  virtue,  and  yet  it  would 
take  no  great  temptation  to  make  me  swear  it 
didn’t  touch  the  earth  by  six  inches.  I say, 
honest  friend,  since  you  have  done  so  much,  have 
the  goodness  to  keep  these  damnable  squaws,  of 
whom  you  say  so  many  interesting  things,  at  a 
little  distance,  till  I have  got  the  blood  of  this 
arm  in  motion  and  am  ready  to  receive  them.” 

The  trapper  made  a sign  that  he  perfectly 
understood  the  case ; and  he  walked  toward  the 
superannuated  savage,  who  began  to  manifest  an 
intention  of  commencing  his  assigned  task,  leav- 
ing the  bee-hunter  to  recover  the  use  of  his  limbs 
as  well  as  he  could,  and  to  put  Middleton  in  a 
similar  situation  to  defend  himself. 

Mahtoree  had  not  mistaken  his  man  in  select- 
ing the  one  he  did  to  execute  his  bloody  purpose. 
He  had  chosen  one  of  those  ruthless  savages, 
more  or  less  of  whom  are  to  be  found  in  every 
tribe,  who  had  purchased  a certain  share  of  mili- 
tary reputation,  by  the  exhibition  of  a hardihood 
that  found  its  impulses  in  an  innate  love  of  cruel- 
ty. Contrary  to  the  high  and  chivalrous  senti- 
ment which  among  the  Indians  of  the  prairies 
renders  it  a deed  of  even  greater  merit  to  bear 
off  the  trophy  of  victory  from  a fallen  foe  than  to 
slay  him,  he  had  been  remarkable  for  preferring 
the  pleasure  of  destroying  life  to  the  glory  of 
striking  the  dead.  While  the  more  self-devoted 
and  ambitious  braves  were  intent  on  personal 
honor,  he  had  always  been  seen,  established  be- 
hind some  favorable  cover,  depriving  the  wounded 
of  hope,  by  finishing  that  which  a more  gallant 
warrior  had  begun.  In  all  the  cruelties  of  the 
tribe  he  had  ever  been  foremost ; and  no  Sioux 
was  so  uniformly  found  on  the  side  of  merciless 
counsels. 


160 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


He  had  awaited  with  an  impatience  which  his 
long-practised  restraint  could  with  difficulty  sub- 
due, foi  the  moment  to  arrive  when  he  might 
proceed  to  execute  the  wishes  of  the  great  chief, 
without  whose  approbation  and  powerful  protec- 
tion he  would  not  have  dared  to  undertake  a step 
that  had  so  many  opposers  in  the  nation.  But 
events  had  been  hastening  to  an  issue  between 
the  hostile  parties ; and  the  time  had  now  arrived, 
greatly  to  his  secret  and  malignant  joy,  when  he 
was  free  to  act  his  will. 

The  trapper  found  him  distributing  knives  to 
the  ferocious  hags,  who  received  the  presents, 
chanting  a low,  monotonous  song,  that  recalled  the 
losses  of  their  people  in  various  conflicts  with 
the  whites,  and  which  extolled  the  pleasures  and 
glory  of  revenge.  The  appearance  of  such  a 
group  was  enough  of  itself  to  have  deterred  one, 
less  accustomed  to  such  sights  than  the  old  man, 
from  trusting  himself  within  the  circle  of  their 
wild  and  repulsive  rites. 

Each  of  the  crones,  as  she  received  the 
weapon,  commenced  a slow  and  measured,  but 
ungainly  step,  around  the  savage,  until  the  whole 
were  circling  him  in  sort  of  magic  dance.  The 
movements  were  timed,  in  some  degree,  by  the 
words  of  their  songs,  as  were  their  gestures  by 
the  ideas.  When  they  spoke  of  their  own  losses, 
they  tossed  their  long  straight  locks  of  gray  into 
the  air,  or  suffered  them  to  fall  in  confusion  upon 
their  withered  necks  ; but,  as  the  sweetness  of  re- 
turning blow  for  blow  was  touched  upon  by  any 
among  them,  it  was  answered  by  a common  howl, 
as  well  as  by  gestures  that  were  sufficiently  ex- 
pressive of  the  manner  in  which  they  were  ex- 
citing themselves  to  the  necessary  state  of  fury. 

Into  the  very  centre  of  this  ring  of  seeming 
demons  the  trapper  now  stalked,  with  the  same 
calmness  and  observation  as  he  would  have 
walked  into  a village  church.  No  other  change 
was  made  by  his  appearance  than  a renewal  of 
the  threatening  gestures,  with,  if  possible,  a still 
less  equivocal  display  of  their  remorseless  inten- 
tions. Making  a sign  for  them  to  cease,  the  old 
man  demanded — 

“ Why  do  the  mothers  of  the  Tetons  sing  with 
bitter  tongues  ? The  Pawnee  prisoners  are  not 
yet  in  their  village ; their  young  men  have  not 
come  back  loaded  with  scalps  ! ” 

He  was  answered  by  a general  howl,  and  a 
few  of  the  boldest  of  the  furies  even  ventured  to 
ipproach  him,  flourishing  their  knives  within 
& dangerous  proximity  of  his  own  steady  eye- 
balls. 

“ It  is  a warrior  you  see,  and  no  runner  of  the 
Long-knives,  whose  face  grows  pale  at  the  sight 


of  a tomahawk,”  returned  the  trapper,  without 
moving  a muscle.  “ Let  the  Sioux  women  think  : 
if  one  white-skin  dies,  a hundred  spring  up  where 
he  falls.” 

Still  the  hags  made  no  other  answer  than  by 
increasing  their  speed  in  the  circle,  and  occasion- 
ally raising  the  threatening  expressions  of  their 
chant  into  louder  and  more  intelligible  strains. 
Suddenly  one  of  the  oldest  and  the  most  ferocious 
of  them  all  broke  out  of  the  ring,  and  skirred  away 
in  the  direction  of  her  victims,  like  a rapacious 
bird  that,  having  wheeled  on  poised  wings  for  the 
time  necessary  to  insure  its  object,  makes  the 
final  dart  upon  its  prey.  The  others  followed,  a 
disorderly  and  screaming  flock,  fearful  of  being 
too  late  to  reap  their  portion  of  the  sanguinary 
pleasure. 

“ Mighty  medicine  of  my  people ! ” shouted  the 
old  man,  in  the  Teton  tongue;  “lift  your  voice 
and  speak,  that  the  Sioux  nation  may  hear. 

Whether  Asinus  had  acquired  so  much 
knowledge  by  his  recent  experience  as  to  know 
the  value  of  his  sonorous  properties,  or  the 
strange  spectacle  of  a dozen  hags  flitting  past 
him,  filling  the  air  with  such  sounds  as  were  even 
grating  to  the  ears  of  an  ass,  most  moved  his 
temper,  it  is  certain  that  the  animal  did  that 
which  Obed  was  requested  to  do,  and  probably 
with  far  greater  effect  than  if  the  naturalist  had 
striven  with  his  mightiest  effort  to  be  heard.  It 
was  the  first  time  the  strange  beast  had  spoken, 
since  his  arrival  in  the  encampment.  Admon- 
ished by  so  terrible  a warning,  the  hags  scattered 
themselves  like  vultures  frightened  from  their 
prey,  still  screaming,  and  but  half  diverted  from 
their  purpose. 

In  the  mean  time  the  sudden  appearance,  and 
the  imminency  of  the  danger,  quickened' the  blood 
in  the  veins  of  Paul  and  Middleton,  more  than  all 
their  laborious  frictions  and  physical  expedients. 
The  former  had  actually  risen  to  his  feet,  and  as- 
sumed an  attitude  which  perhaps  threatened  more 
than  the  worthy  bee-hunter  was  able  to  perform, 
and  even  the  latter  had  mounted  to  his  knees,  and 
shown  a disposition  to  do  good  service  for  his 
life.  The  unaccountable  release  of  the  captives 
from  their  bonds  was  attributed,  by  the  hags,  to 
the  incantations  of  the  medicine ; and  the  mistake 
was  probably  of  as  much  service  as  the  miracu 
lous  and  timely  interposition  of  Asinus  in  theii 
favor. 

“Now  is  the  time  to  come  out  of  our  ambush- 
ment,”  exclaimed  the  old  man,  hastening  to  join 
his  friends,  “ and  to  make  open  and  manful  war. 
It  would  have  been  policy  to  have  kept  back  the 
struggle  until  the  captain  was  in  better  condition 


THE  CHALLENGE. 


1G1 


to  join,  but  as  we  have  unmasked  our  battery,  why, 
we  must  maintain  the  ground — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  feeling  a gigantic  hand 
on  his  shoulder.  Turning,  under  a sort  of  con- 
fused impression  that  necromancy  was  actually 
abroad  in  the  place,  he  found  that  he  was  in  the 
hands  of  a sorcerer  no  less  dangerous  and  power- 
ful than  Ishmael  Bush.  The  file  of  the  squatter’s 
well-armed  sons,  that  was  seen  issuing  from  be- 
hind the  still  standing  tent  of  Mahtoree,  explained 
at  once  not  only  the  manner  in  which  their  rear 
had  been  turned,  while  their  attention  had  been 
so  earnestly  bestowed  on  matters  in  front,  but  the 
utter  impossibility  of  resistance. 

Neither  Ishmael  nor  his  sons  deemed  it  neces- 
sary to  enter  into  prolix  explanations.  Middleton 
and  Paul  were  bound  again,  with  extraordinary 
silence  and  dispatch,  and  this  time  not  even  the 
aged  trapper  was  exempt  from  a similar  fortune. 
The  tent  was  struck,  the  females  placed  upon  the 
horses,  and  the  whole  were  on  the  way  toward  the 
squatter’s  encampment,  with  a celerity  that  might 
well  have  served  to  keep  alive  the  idea  of  magic. 

During  this  summary  and  brief  disposition  of 
things,  the  disappointed  agent  of  Mahtoree  and 
his  callous  associates  were  seen  flying  across  the 
plain,  in  the  direction  of  the  retiring  families; 
and,  when  Ishmael  left  the  spot  with  his  prisoners 
and  his  booty,  the  ground  which  had  so  lately 
been  alive  with  the  bustle  and  life  of  an  extensive 
Indian  encampment  was  as  still  and  empty  as  any 
other  spot  in  those  extensive  wastes. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

41  Is  this  proceeding  just  and  honorable  ? ” 

Shakespeare. 

During  the  occurrence  of  these  events  on  the 
upland  plain,  the  warriors  on  the  bottom  had  not 
been  idle.  We  left  the  adverse  bands  watching 
one  another  on  the  opposite  banks  of  the  stream, 
each  endeavoring  to  excite  its  enemy  to  some  act 
of  indiscretion,  by  the  most  reproachful  taunts 
and  revilings.  But  the  Pawnee  chief  was  not 
slow  to  discover  that  his  crafty  antagonist  had  no 
objection  to  waste  the  time  so  idly,  and,  as  they 
mutually  proved,  in  expedients  that  were  so  entire- 
ly useless.  He  changed  his  plans,  accordingly,  and 
withdrew  from  the  bank,  as  has  been  already  ex- 
plained through  the  mouth  of  the  trapper,  in  or- 
der to  invite  the  more  numerous  host  of  the  Sioux 
to  cross.  The  challenge  was  not  accepted,  and 
the  Loups  were  compelled  to  frame  some  other 
method  to  attain  their  end. 

11 


Instead  of  any  longer  throwing  away  the  pre- 
cious moments  in  fruitless  endeavors  to  induce 
his  foe  to  cross  the  stream,  the  young  partisan  of 
the  Pawnees  led  his  troops,  at  a swift  gallop, 
along  its  margin,  in  quest  of  some  favorable  spot 
where  by  a sudden  push  he  might  throw  his  own 
band  without  loss  to  the  opposite  shore.  The  in- 
stant his  object  was  discovered,  each  mounted 
Teton  received  a footman  behind  him,  and  Mah- 
toree was  still  enabled  to  concentrate  his  whole 
force  against  the  effort.  Perceiving  that  his  de- 
sign was  anticipated,  and  unwilling  to  blow  his 
horses  by  a race  that  would  disqualify  them  for 
service,  even  after  they  had  succeeded  in  outstrip- 
ping the  more  heavily-burdened  cattle  of  the  Si- 
oux, Hard-Heart  drew  up,  and  came  to  a dead 
halt  on  the  very  margin  of  the  water-course. 

As  the  country  was  too  open  for  any  of  the 
usual  devices  of  savage  warfare,  and  time  was  so 
pressing,  the  chivalrous  Pawnee  resolved  to  bring 
on  the  result  by  one  of  those  acts  of  personal 
daring  for  which  the  Indian  braves  are  so  remark- 
able, and  by  which  they  often  purchase  their 
highest  and  dearest  renown.  The  spot  he  had 
selected  was  favorable  to  such  a project.  The 
river,  which  throughout  most  of  its  course  was 
deep  and  rapid,  had  expanded  there  to  more  than 
twice  its  customary  width,  and  the  rippling  of  its 
waters  proved  that  it  flowed  over  a shallow  bot- 
tom. In  the  centre  of  the  current  there  was  an 
extensive  and  naked  bed  of  sand,  but  a little 
raised  above  the  level  of  the  stream,  and  of  a col- 
or and  consistency  which  warranted,  to  a prac- 
tised eye,  that  it  afforded  a firm  and  safe  founda- 
tion for  the  foot.  To  this  spot  the  partisan  now 
turned  his  wistful  gaze,  nor  was  he  long  in  mak- 
ing his  decision.  First  speaking  to  his  warriors 
and  apprising  them  of  his  intentions,  he  dashed 
into  the  current,  and  partly  by  swimming,  and 
more  by  the  use  of  his  horse’s  feet,  he  reached 
the  island  in  safety. 

The  experience  of  Hard-Heart  had  not  de- 
ceived him.  When  his  snorting  steed  issued  from 
the  water,  he  fourfd  himself  on  a tremendous  but 
damp  and  compact  bed  of  sand,  that  was  admi- 
rably adapted  to  the  exhibition  of  the  finest  pow- 
ers of  the  animal.  The  horse  seemed  conscious 
of  the  advantage,  and  bore  his  warlike  rider  with 
an  elasticity  of  step  and  a loftiness  of  air  that 
would  have  done  no  discredit  to  the  highest 
trained  and  most  generous  charger.  The  blood 
of  the  chief  himself  quickened  with  the  excite- 
ment of  his  situation.  He  sat  the  beast  as  if  con- 
scious that  the  eyes  of  two  tribes  were  on  his 
movements ; and  as  nothing  could  be  more  ac- 
ceptable and  grateful  to  his  own  band  than  this 


162 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


display  of  native  grace  and  courage,  so  nothing 
could  be  more  taunting  and  humiliating  to  their 
enemies. 

The  sudden  appearance  of  the  Pawnee  ou  the 
sands  was  announced  among  the  Tetons  by  a gen- 
eral yell  of  savage  anger.  A rush  was  made  to 
the  shore,  followed  by  a discharge  of  fifty  ar- 
rows and  a few  fusees,  and  on  the  part  of  several 
braves  there  was  a plain  manifestation  of  a desire 
to  plunge  into  the  water  in  order  to  punish  the 
temerity  of  their  insolent  foe.  But  a call  and  a 
mandate  from  Mahtoree  checked  the  rising  and 
nearly  ungovernable  temper  of  his  band.  So  far 
from  allowing  a single  foot  to  be  wet,  or  a repeti- 
tion of  the  fruitless  efforts  of  his  people  to  drive 
away  their  foe  with  missiles,  the  whole  of  the  par- 
ty was  commanded  to  retire  from  the  shore,  while 
he  himself  communicated  his  intentions  to  one  or 
two  of  his  most  favored  followers. 

When  the  Pawnees  observed  the  rush  of  their 
enemies,  twenty  warriors  rode  into  the  stream; 
but  so  soon  as  they  perceived  that  the  Tetons  had 
withdrawn,  they  fell  back  to  a man,  leaving  the 
young  chief  to  the  support  of  his  own  often-tried 
skill  and  well-established  courage.  The  instruc- 
tions of  Hard-Heart  on  quitting  his  band  had 
been  worthy  of  the  self-devotion  and  daring  of 
his  character.  So  long  as  single  warriors  came 
against  him  he  was  to  be  left  to  the  keeping  of 
the  Wahcondah  and  his  own  arm  ; but,  should  the 
Sioux  attack  him  in  numbers,  he  was  to  be  sus- 
tained man  for  man,  even  to  the  extent  of  his 
whole  force.  These  generous  orders  were  strict- 
ly obeyed ; and,  though  so  many  hearts  in  the 
troop  panted  to  share  in  the  glory  and  danger  of 
their  partisan,  not  a warrior  was  found  among 
them  all  who  did  not  know  how  to  conceal  his 
impatience  under  the  usual  mask  of  Indian  self- 
restraint.  They  watched  the  issue  with  quick  and 
jealous  eyes,  nor  did  a single  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise escape  them  when  they  saw,  as  will  soon  be 
apparent,  that  the  experiment  of  their  chief  was 
as  likely  to  conduce  to  peace  as  to  war. 

Mahtoree  was  not  long  in  communicating  his 
plans  to  his  confidants,  whom  he  as  quickly  dis- 
missed to  join  their  fellows  in  the  rear.  The  Te- 
ton entered  a short  distance  into  the  stream  and 
halted.  Here  he  raised  his  hands  several  times, 
with  the  palms  outward,  and  made  several  of 
those  other  signs  which  are  construed  into  a 
pledge  of  amicable  intentions  among  the  inhabi- 
tants of  those  regions.  Then,  as  if  to  confirm 
the  sincerity  of  his  faith,  he  cast  his  fusee  to  the 
shore  and  entered  deeper  into  the  water,  where  he 
again  came  to  a stand  in  order  to  see  in  what  man- 
ner the  Pawnee  would  receive  his  pledge  of  peace 


The  crafty  Sioux  had  not  made  his  calculations 
on  the  noble  and  honest  nature  of  his  more  youth- 
ful rival  in  vain.  Hard-Heart  had  continued  gal- 
loping across  the  sands  during  the  discharge  of 
missiles  and  the  appearance  of  a general  onset,  with 
the  same  proud  and  confident  mien  as  that  with 
which  he  had  first  braved  the  danger.  When  he 
saw  the  well-known  person  of  the  Teton  partisan 
enter  the  river,  he  waved  his  hand  in  triumph,  and 
flourishing  his  lance  he  raised  the  thrilling  war-cry 
of  his  people  as  a challenge  for  him  to  come  on. 
But  when  he  saw  the  signs  of  a truce,  though  deep- 
ly practised  in  the  treachery  of  savage  combats, 
he  disdained  to  show  a less  manly  reliance  on  him- 
self than  that  which  his  enemy  had  seen  fit  to  ex- 
hibit. Riding  to  the  farthest  extremity  of  the 
sands  he  cast  his  own  fusee  from  him,  and  re 
turned  to  the  point  whence  he  had  started. 

The  two  chiefs  were  now  armed  alike.  Each 
had  his  spear,  his  bow,  his  quiver,  his  little  battle- 
axe,  and  his  knife ; and  each  had  also  a shield  of 
hides,  which  might  serve  as  a means  of  defence 
against  a surprise  from  any  of  these  weapons.  The 
Sioux  no  longer  hesitated,  but  advanced  deeper  in 
to  the  stream,  and  soon  landed  on  a point  of  the  isl 
and  which  his  courteous  adversary  had  left  free 
for  that  purpose.  Had  one  been  there  to  watch  the 
countenance  of  Mahtoree  as  he  crossed  the  water 
that  separated  him  from  the  most  formidable  and 
the  most  hated  of  all  his  rivals,  he  might  have 
fancied  that  he  could  trace  the  gleamings  of  a se- 
cret joy  breaking  through  the  cloud  which  deep 
cunning  and  heartless  treachery  had  drawn  before 
his  swarthy  visage ; and  yet  there  would  have 
been  rqoments  when  he  might  have  believed  that 
the  flashings  of  the  Teton’s  eye  and  the  expansion 
of’ his  nostrils  had  their  origin  in  a nobler  senti- 
ment and  one  more  worthy  of  an  Indian  chief. 

The  Pawnee  awaited  the  time  of  his  enemy 
with  calmness  and  dignity.  The  Teton  made  a 
short  turn  or  two  to  curb  the  impatience  of  his 
steed  and  to  recover  his  seat  after  the  effort  of 
crossing,  and  then  he  rode  into  the  centre  of  the 
place  and  invited  the  other,  by  a courteous  gesture, 
to  approach.  Hard-Heart  drew  nigh  until  he 
found  himself  at  a distance  equally  suited  to  ad 
vance  or  to  retreat,  and,  in  his  tuna,  he  came  to  a 
stand,  keeping  his  glowing  eye  riveted  on  that  of 
his  enemy.  A long  and  grave  pause  succeeded  this 
movement,  during  which  these  two  distinguished 
braves,  who  were  now  for  the  first  time  confronted 
with  arms  in  their  hands,  sat  regarding  each  other 
like  warrioi'S  who  knew  how  to  value  the  merits 
of  a gallant  foe,  however  hated.  But  the  mien 
of  Mahtoree  was  far  less  stern  and  warlike  than 
that  of  the  partisan  of  the  Loups.  Throwing  his 


THE  CONFERENCE. 


1613 


shield  over  his  shoulder,  as  if  to  invite  the  con- 
fidence of  the  other,  he  made  a gesture  of  saluta- 
tion, and  was  the  first  to  speak. 

“ Let  the  Pawnees  go  upon  the  hills,”  he  said, 
“ and  look  from  the  rporning  to  the  evening  sun, 
from  the  country  of  snows  to  the  land  of  many 
flowers,  and  they  will  see  that  the  earth  is  very 
large.  Why  cannot  the  red-men  find  room  on  it 
for  all  their  villages  ? ” 

“ Has  the  Teton  ever  known  a warrior  of  the 
Loups  come  to  his  towns  to  beg  a place  for  his 
lodge  ? ” returned  the  young  brave,  with  a look 
in  which  pride  and  contempt  were  npt  attempted 
to  be  concealed ; “ when  the  Pawnees  hunt  do 
they  send  runners  to  ask  Mahtoree  if  there  are  no 
Sioux  on  the  prairies  ? ” 

“ When  there  is  hunger  in  the  lodge  of  a war- 
rior, he  looks  for  the  buffalo,  which  is  given  him 
for  food,”  the  Teton  continued,  struggling  to  keep 
down  the  ire  excited  by  the  other’s  scorn.  “ The 
Wahcondah  has  made  more  of  them  than  he  has 
made  Indians.  He  has  not  said,  ‘ This  buffalo 
shall  be  for  a Pawnee,  and  that  for  a Dahcotah  ; 
this  beaver  for  a Konza,  and  that  for  an  Omahaw.’ 
No;  he  said,  ‘There  are  enough.  I love  my  red 
children,  and  I have  given  them  great  riches. 
The  swiftest  horse  shall  not  go  from  the  villages 
of  the  Tetons  to  the  village  of  the  Loups  in  many 
suns.  It  is  far  from  the  towns  of  the  Pawnees 
to  the  river  of  the  Osages.  There  is  room  for  all 
that  I love.  Why,  then,  should  a red-man  strike 
his  brother  ? ’ ” 

Hard-Heart  dropped  on£  end  of  his  lance  to 
the  earth,  and,  having  also  cast  his  shield  across 
his  shoulder,  he  sat  leaning  lightly  on  the  weapon, 
as  he  answered  with  a smile  of  no  doubtful  ex- 
pression : 

“ Are  the  Tetons  weary  of  the  hunts  and  of 
the  war-path  ? Do  they  wish  to  cook  the  venison, 
and  not  to  kill  it  ? Do  they  intend  to  let  the  hair 
cover  their  heads,  that  their  enemies  shall  not 
know  where  to  find  their  scalps  ? Go  ; a Pawnee 
warrior  will  never  come  among  such  Sioux  squaws 
for  a wife  ! ” 

A frightful  gleam  of  ferocity  broke  out  of  the 
restraint  of  the  Dahcotah’s  countenance,  as  he 
listened  to  this  biting  insult ; but  he  was  quick 
in  subduing  the  telltale  feeling,  in  an  expression 
much  better  suited  to  his  present  purpose. 

“ This  is  the  way  a young  chief  should  talk 
of  war,”  he  answered,  with  singular  composure  ; 
“ but  Mahtoree  has  seen  the  misery  of  more  win- 
ters tjaan  his  brother.  When  the  nights  have 
been  long,  and  darkness  has  been  in  his  lodge, 
while  the  young  men  slept,  he  has  thought  of  the 
hardships  of  his  people.  He  has  said  to  himself, 


“ Teton,  count  the  scalps  in  your  smoke.  They 'are 
all  red  but  two  ! Does  the  wolf  destroy  the  wolf 
or  the  rattler  strike  his  brother  ? You  know  they 
do  not ; therefore,  Teton,  are  you  wrong  to  go  on 
a path  that  leads  to  'the  village  of  a red-skin,  with 
a tomahawk  in  your  hand.’  ” 

“The  Sioux  would  rob  the  warrior  of  his 
fame  ! He  would  say  to  his  young  menf  ‘Go,  dig 
roots  in  the  prairies,  and  find  holes  to  bury  your 
tomahawks  in ; you  are  no  longer  braves  ! ’ ” 

“ If  the  tongue  of  Mahtoree  ever  says  thus,” 
returned  the  crafty  chief,  with  an  appearance  of 
strong  indignation,  “ let  his  women  cut  it  out,  and 
burn  it  with  the  offals  of  the  buffalo.  No,”  he 
added,  advancing  a few  feet  nigher  to  the  immov- 
able Hard-Heart,  as  if  in  the  sincerity  of  confi- 
dence ; “ the  red-man  can  never  want  an  enemy  : 
they  are  plentier  than  the  leaves  on  the  trees,  the 
birds  in  the  heavens,  or  the  buffaloes  on  the 
prairies.  Let  my  brother  open  his  eyes  wide: 
does  he  nowhere  see  an  enemy  he  would  strike  ? ” 

“How  long  is  it  since  the  Teton  counted 
the  scalps  of  his  warriors,  that  were  drying  in 
the  smoke  of  a Pawnee  lodge  ? The  hand  that 
took  them  is  here,  and  ready  to  make  eighteen, 
twenty.” 

“ Now,  let  not  the  mind  of  my  brother  go  on 
a crooked  path.  If  a red-skin  strikes  a red-skin 
forever,  who  will  be  masters  of  the  prairies,  when 
no  warriors  are  left  to  say,  ‘ They  are  mine  ? ’ 
Hear  the  voices  of  the  old  men.  They  tell  us  that 
in  their  days  many  Indians  have  come  out  of  the 
woods  under  the  rising  sun,  and  that  they  have 
filled,  the  prairies  with  their  complaints  of  the 
robberies  of  the  Long-knives.  Where  a pale- 
face comes,  a red-man  cannot  stay.  The  land  is 
too  small.  They  are  always  hungry.  See,  they 
are  here  already  ! ” 

As  the  Tetpn  spoke,  he  pointed  toward  the 
tents  of  Ishmael,  which  were  in  plain  sight,  and 
then  he  paused,  to  await  the  effect  of  his  words 
on  the  mind  of  his  ingenuous  foe.  Hard-IIeart 
listened  like  one  in  whom  a train  of  novel  ideas 
had  been  excited  by  the  reasoning  of  the  other. 
He  mused  for  a minute  before  he  demanded  : 

“What  do  the  wise  chiefs  of  the  Sioux  say 
must  be  done  ? ” 

“ They  think  that  the  moccasin  of  every  pale- 
face should  be  followed,  like  the  track  of  the 
bear.  That  the  Long-knife,  who  comes  upon  the 
prairie,  should  never  go  back.  That  the  path 
shall  be  open  to  those  who  come,  and  shut  to 
those  who  go.  Yonder  are  many.  They  have 
horses  and  guns.  They  are  rich,  but  we  are  poor. 
Will  the  Pawnees  meet  the  Tetons  in  council  ? 
and  when  the  sun  is  gone  behind  the  Rocky  Moun- 


164 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


tains,  they  will  say,  ‘ This  is  for  a Loup  and  this 
for  a Sioux.’  ” 

“ Teton — no  1 Hard-Heart  has  never  struck 
the  stranger.  They  come  into  his  lodge  and  eat, 
and  they  go  out  in  safety.  A mighty  chief  is 
their  friend ! When  my  people  call  the  young 
men  to  go  on  the  war-path,  the  moccasin  of  Hard- 
Heart  is  the  last.  But  his  village  is  no  sooner 
hid  by  the  trees,  than  it  is  the  first.  No,  Teton  ; 
his  arm  will  never  be  lifted  against  the  stranger.” 

“ Fool ; die,  with  empty  hands  ! ” Mahtoree 
exclaimed,  setting  an  arrow  to  his  bow,  and  send- 
ing it,  with  a sudden  and  deadly  aim,  full  at  the 
naked  bosom  of  his  generous  and  confiding  enemy. 

The  action  of  the  treacherous  Teton  was  too 
quick  and  too  well-matured  to  admit  of  any  of 
the  ordinary  means  of  defence  on  the  part  of  the 
Pawnee.  His  shield  was  hanging  at  his  shoulder, 
and  even  the  arrow  had  been  suffered  to  fall  from 
its  place,  and  lay  in  the  hollow  of  the  hand  which 
grasped  his  bow.  But  the  quick  eye  of  the  brave 
had  time  to  see  the  movement,  and  his  ready 
thoughts  did  not  desert  hirm  Pulling  hard  and 
with  a jerk  upon  the  rein,  his  steed  reared  his  for- 
ward legs  into  the  air,  and,  as  the  rider  bent  his 
body  low,  the  horse  served  for  a shield  against 
the  danger.  So  true,  however,  was  the  aim,  and 
so  powerful  the  force  by  which  it  was  sent,  that 
the  arrow  entered  the  neck  of  the  animal,  and 
broke  the  skin  on  the  opposite  side. 

Quicker  than  thought  Hard-Heart  sent  back 
an  answering  arrow.  The  shield  of  the  Teton 
was  transfixed,  but  his  person  was  untouched. 
For  a few  moments  the  twang  of  the  bow  and  the 
glancing  of  arrows  were  incessant,  notwithstand- 
ing the  combatants  were  compelled  to  give  so 
large  a portion  of  their  care  to  the  means  of  de- 
fence. The  quivers  were  soon  exhausted  ; and, 
though  blood  had  been  drawn,  it  was  not  in  suffi- 
cient quantities  to  impair  the  energy  of  the  com- 
bat. 

A series  of  masterly  and  rapid  evolutions  with 
the  horses  now  commenced.  The  wheelings,  the 
charges,  the  advances,  and  the  circuitous  retreats, 
were  like  the  flights  of  circling  swallows.  Blows 
were  struck  with  the  lance,  the  sand  was  scat- 
tered in  the  air,  and  the  shocks  often  seemed  to 
be  unavoidably  fatal  ; but  still  each  party  kept 
his  seat,  and  still  each  rein  was  managed  with  a 
steady  hand.  At  length  the  Teton  was  driven  to 
the- necessity  of  throwing  himself  from  his  horse, 
to  escape  a thrust  that  would  otherwise  have 
proved  fatal.  The  Pawnee  passed  his  lance 
through  the  beast,  uttering  a shout  of  triumph  as 
he  galloped  by.  Turning  in  his  tracks,  he  was 
about  to  push  the  advantage,  when  his  own  met- 


tled steed  staggered  and  fell,  under  a burden 
that  he  could  no  longer  sustain.  Mahtoree  an- 
swered his  premature  cry  of  victory,  and  rushed 
upon  the  entangled  youth  with  knife  and  toma- 
hawk. The  utmost  agility ^of  Hard-Heart  had  not 
sufficed  to  extricate  himself  in  season  from  the 
fallen  beast.  He  saw  that  his  case  was  desperate. 
Feeling  for  his  knife,  he  took  the  blade  between 
a finger  and  thumb,  and  cast  it  with  admirable 
coolness  at  his  advancing  foe.  The  keen  weapon 
whirled  a few  times  in  the  air,  and  its  point  meet- 
ing the  naked  breast  of  the  impetuous  Sioux,  the 
blade  was  buried  to  the  buck-horn  haft. 

Mahtoree  laid  his  hand  on  the  weapon,  and 
seemed  to  hesitate  whether  to  withdraw  it  or  not. 
For  a moment  his  countenance  darkened  with 
the  most  inextinguishable  hatred  and  ferocity,  and 
then,  as  if  inwardly  admonished  how  little  time  he 
had  to  lose,  he  staggered  to  the  edge  of  the  sands, 
and  halted  with  his  feet  in  the  water.  The  cunning 
and  duplicity  which  had  so  long  obscured  the 
brighter  and  nobler  traits  of  his  character  were 
lost  in  the  never-dying  sentiment  of  pride,  which 
be  had  imbibed  in  youth. 

“ Boy  of  the  Loups ! ” he  said,  with  a smile 
of  grim  satisfaction,  “ the  scalp  of  a mighty  Dah- 
cotah  shall  never  dry  in  Pawnee  smoke ! ” 

Drawing  the  knife  from  the  wound,  he  hurled 
it  toward  the  enemy  in  disdain.  Then  shaking 
his  arm  at  his  successful  foe,  his  swarthy  counte- 
nance appearing  to  struggle  with  volumes  of  scorn 
and  hatred,  that  he  could  not  utter  with  the 
tongue,  he  cast  hims&lf  headlong  into  one  of  the 
most  rapid  veins  of  the  current,  his  hand  still 
waving  in  triumph  above  the  fluid,  even  after  his 
body  had  sunk  into  the  tide  for  ever.  Hard-Heart 
was  by  this  time  free.  The  silence,  which  had 
hitherto  reigned  in  the  bands,  was  suddenly  broken 
by  general  and  tumultuous  shouts.  Fifty  of  the 
adverse  warriors  were  already  in  the  river,  hast- 
ening to  destroy  or  to  defend  the  conqueror,  and 
the  combat  was  rather  on  the  eve  of  its  commence- 
ment than  near  its  termination.  But  to  all  these 
signs  of  danger  and  need,  the  young  victor  was 
insensible.  He  sprang  for  the  knife,  and  bounded 
with  the  foot  of  an  antelope  along  the  sands,  look- 
ing for  the  receding  fluid  which  concealed  his 
prize.  A dark,  bloody  spot  indicated  the  place, 
and,  armed  with  the  knife,  he  plunged  into  the 
stream,  resolute  to  die  in  the  flood,  or  to  return 
with  his  trophy. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  sands  became  a scene 
of  bloodshed  and  violence.  Better  mounted  and 
perhaps  more  ardent,  the  Pawnees  had,  however, 
reached  the  spot  in  sufficient  numbers  to  force 
their  enemies  to  retire.  The  victors  pushed  their 


A DEADLY  STRUGGLE. 


165 


success  to  the  opposite  shore,  and  gained  the  solid 
ground  in  the  melee  of  the  fight.  Here  they  were 
met  by  all  the  unmounted  Tetons,  and,  in  their 
turn,  they  were  forced  to  give  way. 

The  combat  now  became  more  characteristic 
tnd  circumspect.  As  the  hot  impulses  which  had 
driven  both  parties  to  mingle  in  so  deadly  a strug- 
gle, began  to  cool,  the  chiefs  were  enabled  to  ex- 
ercise their  influence,  and  to  temper  the  assaults 
with  prudence.  In  consequence  of  the  admoni- 
tions of  their  leaders,  the  Sioux  sought  such 
covers  as  the  grass  afforded,  or  here  and  there 
some  bush  or  slight  inequality  of  the  ground, 
and  the  charges  of  the  Pawnee  warriors  ne- 
cessarily became  more  wary,  and  of  course  less 
fatal. 

In  this  manner  the  contest  continued  with  a 
varied  success,  and  without  much  loss.  The  Sioux 
had  succeeded  in  forcing  themselves  into  a thick 
growth  of  rank  grass,  where  the  horses  of  their 
enemies  could  not  enter,  or  where,  when  entered, 
they  were  worse  than  useless.  It  became  neces- 
sary to  dislodge  the  Tetons  from  this  cover,  or  the 
object  of  the  combat  must  be  abandoned.  Several 
desperate  efforts  had  been  repulsed,  and,  the  dis- 
heartened Pawnees  were  beginning  to  think  of  a 
retreat,  when  the  well  known  war-cry  of  Hard- 
Heart  was  heard  at  hand,  and  at  the  next  instant 
the  chief  appeared  in  their  cehtre,  flourishing  t^e 
scalp  of  . the  great  Sioux,  as  a banner  that  would 
lead  to  victory. 

He  was  greeted  by  a shout  of  delight,  and  fol- 
lowed into  the  cover  with  an  impetuosity  that, 
for  the  moment,  drove  all  before  it.  But  the 
bloody  trophy  in  the  hand  of  the  partisan  served 
as  an  incentive  to  the  attacked,  as  well  as  to  the 
assailants.  Hahtoree  had  left  many  a daring 
brave  behind  him  in  his  band,  and  the  orator  who 
in  the  debates  of  that  day  had  manifested  such 
pacific  thoughts,  now  exhibited  the  most  generous 
self-devotion,  in  order  to  wrest  the  memorial  of  a 
man  he  had  never  lo^ed,  from  the  hands  of  the 
avowed  enemies  of  his  people. 

The  result  was  in  favor  of  numbers.  After  a 
severe  struggle,  in  which  the  finest  displays  of 
personal  intrepidity  were  exhibited  by  all  the 
chiefs,  the  Pawnees  were  compelled  to  retire  upon 
the  open  bottom,  closely  pressed  by  the  Sioux, 
who  failed  not  to  seize  each  foot  of  ground  ceded 
by  tjieir  enemies.  Had  the  Tetons  stayed  their 
efforts  on  the  margin  of  the  grass,  it  is  probable 
that  the  honor  of  the  day  would  have  been  theirs, 
notwithstanding  the  irretrievable  loss  they  had 
sustained  in  the  death  of  Mahtoree.  But  the 
more  reckless  braves  of  the  band  were  guilty  of 
an  indiscretion  that  entirely  changed  the  fortunes 


of  the  fight,  and  suddenly  stripped  them  of  their 
hard-earned  advantages. 

A fawnee  chief  had  sunk  under  the  numer- 
ous wounds  he  had  received,  and  he  fell,  a target 
for  a dozen  arrows,  in  the  very  last  group  of  his 
retiring  party.  Regardless  alike  of  inflicting  fur- 
ther injury  on  their  foes,  and  of  the  temerity  of 
the  act,  the  Sioux  braves  bounded  forward  with 
a whoop,  each  man  burning  with  the  wish  to  reap 
the  high  renown  of  striking  the  body  of  the  dead. 
They  were  met  by  Hard-Heart  and  a chosen  knot 
of  warriors,  all  of  whom  were  just  as  stoutly  bent 
on  saving  the  honor  of  their  nation  from  so  foul 
a stain.  The  struggle  was  hand  to  hand,  and 
blood  began  to  flow  more  freely.  As  the  Paw- 
nees retired  with  the  body,  the  Sioux  pressed 
upon  their  footsteps,  and  at  length  the  whole  of 
the  latter  broke  out  of  the  cover  with  a common 
yell,  and  threatened  to  bear  down  all  opposition 
by  sheer  physical  superiority. 

The  fate  of  Hard-Heart  and  his  companions, 
all  of  whom  would  have  died  rather  than  relin- 
quish their  object,  would  have  been  quickly 
sealed,  but  for  a powerful  and  unlooked-for  inter- 
position in  their  favor.  A shout  was  heard  from 
a little  brake  on  the  left,  and  a volley  from  the 
fatal  Western  rifle  immediately  succeeded.  Some 
five  or  six  Sioux  leaped  forward  in  the  death- 
agony,  and  every  arm  among  them  was  as  sud- 
denly suspended,  as  if  the  lightning  had  flashed 
from  the  clouds  to  aid  the  cause  of  the  Loups. 
Then  came  Ishmael  and  his  stout  sons  in  open 
view,  bearing  down  upon  their  late  treacherous 
allies,  with  looks  and  voices  that  proclaimed  the 
character  of  the  succor. 

The  shock  was  too  much  for  the  fortitude  of 
the  Tetons.  Several  of  their  bravest  chiefs  had 
already  fallen,  and  those  that  remained  were  in- 
stantly abandoned  by  the  whole  of  the  inferior 
herd.  A few  of  the  most  desperate  braves  still 
lingered  nigh  the  fatal  symbol  of  their  honor,  and 
there  nobly  met  their  deaths,  under  the  blows  of 
the  reencouraged  Pawnees.  A second  discharge 
from  the  rifles  of  the  squatter  and  his  party  com- 
pleted the  victory. 

The  Sioux  were  now  to  be  seen  flying  to 
more  distant  covers,  with  the  same  eagerness  and 
desperation  as,  a few  moments  before,  they  had 
been  plunging  into  the  fight.  The  triumphant 
Pawnees  bounded  forward  in  chase,  like  so  many 
high-blooded  and  well-trained  hounds.  On  every 
|ide  were  heard  the  cries  of  victory,  or  the  yell 
of  revenge.  A few  of  the  fugitives  endeavored 
to  bear  away  the  bodies  of  their  fallen  warriors, 
but  the  hot  pursuit  quickly  compelled  them  to 
abandon  the  slain,  in  order  to  preserve  the  -living. 


166 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


Among  all  the  struggles  which  were  made  on  that 
Dccasion,  to  guard  the  honor  of  the  Sioux  from 
the  stain  which  their  peculiar  opinions  attached 
to  the  possession  of  the  scalp  of  a fallen  brave, 
but  one  solitary  instance  of  success  occurred. 

The  opposition  of  a particular  chief  to  the 
hostile  proceedings  in  the  councils  of  that  morn- 
ing has  been  already  seen.  But,  after  having 
raised  his  voice  in  vain  in  support  of  peace,  his 
arm  was  not  backward  in  doing  its  duty  in  the 
war.  His  prowess  has  been  mentioned ; and  it 
was  chiefly  by  his  courage  and  example  that  the 
Tetons  sustained  themselves  in  the  heroic  manner 
they  did,  when  the  death  of  Mahtoree  was 
known.  This  warrior,  who,  in  the  figurative  lan- 
guage of  his  people,  was  called  “the  Swooping 
Eagle,”  had  been  the  last  to  abandon  the  hopes 
of  victory.  When  he  found  that  the  support  of 
the  dreaded  rifle  had  robbed  his  band  of  the 
hard-earned  advantages,  he  sullenly  retired,  amid 
a shower  of  missiles,  to  the  secret  spot  where  he 
had  hid  his  horse,  in  the  mazes  of  the  highest 
grass.  Here  he  found  a new  and  an  entirely  un- 
expected competitor,  ready  to  dispute  with  him 
for  the  possession  of  the  beast.  It  was  Bohre- 
cheena,,  the  aged  friend  of  Mahtoree ; he  whose 
voice  had  been  given  in  opposition  to  his  own 
wiser  opinions,  transfixed  with  an  arrow,  and  evi- 
dently suffering  under  the  pangs  of  approaching 
death. 

“ I have  been  on  my  last  war-path,”  said  the 
grim  old  warrior,  when  he  found  that  the  real 
owner  of  the  animal  had  come  to  claim  his 
property ; “ shall  a Pawnee  carry  the  white  hairs 
of  a Sioux  into  his  village,  to  be  a scorn  to  his 
women  and  children  ? ” 

The  other  grasped  his  hand,  answering  to  the 
appeal  with  a stern  look  of  inflexible  resolution. 
With  this  silent  pledge,  he  assisted  the  wounded 
man  to  mount.  So  soon  as  he  had  led  the  horse 
to  the  margin  of  the  cover,  he  threw  himself  also, 
on  its  back,  and,  securing  his  companion  to  his 
belt,  he  issued  on  the  open  plain,  trusting  entirely 
to  the  well-known  speed  of  the  beast  for  their 
mutual  safety.  The  Pawnees  were  not  long  in 
catching  a view  of  these  new  objects,  and  several 
turned  their  steeds  to  pursue.  The  race  con- 
tinued for  a mile  without  a murmur  from  the  suf- 
ferer, though,  in  addition  to  the  agony  of  his 
body,  he  had  the  pain  of  seeing  his  enemies  ap- 
proach at  every  leap  of  their  horses. 

“ Stop,”  he  said,  raising  a feeble  arm  to  check 
the  speed  of  his  companion ; “ the  Eagle  of  my 
tribe  must  spread  his  wings  wider.  Let  him 
carry  the  white  hairs  of  an  old  warrior  into  the 
burnt-wood  village ! ” 


Few  words  were  necessary  between  men  who 
were  governed  by  the  same  feelings  of  glory,  and 
who  were  so  well  trained  in  the  principles  of  their 
romantic  honor.  The  Swooping  Eagle  threw  him- 
self from  the  back  of  the  horse,  and  assisted  the 
other  to  alight.  The  old  man  raised  his  totteriug 
frame  to  its  knees,  and  first  casting  a glance  up- 
ward at  the  countenance  of  his  countryman,  as  if 
to  bid  him  adieu,  he  stretched  out  his  neck  to  the 
blow  he  himself  invited.  A few  strokes  of  the 
tomahawk,  with  a circling  gash  of  the  knife,  suf- 
ficed to  sever  the  head  from  the  less-valued  trunk. 
The  Teton  mounted  again,  just  in  season  to  es- 
cape a flight  of  arrows  which  came  from  his  eager 
and  disappointed  pursuers.  Flourishing  the  grins 
and  bloody  visage,  he  darted  away  from  the  spot 
with  a shout  of  triumph,  and  was  seen  scouring 
the  plains,  as  if  he  were  actually  borne  along  on 
the  wings  of  the  powerful  bird  from  whose  quali- 
ties he  had  received  his  flattering  name.  The 
Swooping  Eagle  reached  his  village  in  safety. 
He  was  one  of  the  few  Sioux  who  escaped  from 
the  massacre  of  that  fatal  day ; and  for  a long 
time  he  alone  of  the  saved  was  able  to  lift  his 
voice  in  the  councils  of  his  nation,  with  undi- 
minished confidence. 

The  knife  and  the  lance  cut  short  the  retreat 
of  the  larger  portion  of  the  vanquished.  Even 
the  retiring  party  of  the  women  and  children  were 
scattered  by  the  conquerors;  and  the  sun  had 
long  sunk  behind  the  rolling  outline  of  the  west- 
ern horizon,  before  the  fell  business  of  that  dis- 
astrous defeat  was  entirely  ended. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

“ Which  is  the  merchant  here,  and  which  the  Jew?  ” 

SlIAKESPEABE. 

The  day  dawned,  the  following  morning,  on  a 
more  tranquil  scene.  The  work  of  blood  had  en- 
tirely ceased ; and,  as  the  sun  arose,  its  light  was 
shed  on  a broad  expanse  of  quiet  and  solitude. 
The  tents  of  Ishmael  were  still  standing  where 
they  had  been  last  seen,  but  not  another  vestige 
of  human  existence  could  be  traced  in  any  other 
part  of  the  waste.  Here  and  there  little  flocks 
of  ravenous  birds  were  sailing  and  screaming 
above  those  spots  where  some  heavy-footed  Teton 
had  met  his  death,  but  every  other  sign  of  the  re- 
cent combat  had  passed  away.  The  river  was  to 
be  traced  far  through  the  endless  meadows,  by  its 
serpentine  and  smoking  bed ; and  the  little  silvery 
clouds  ofwapor,  which  hung  above  the  pools  and 
springs,  were  beginning  to  melt  in  air,  as  they 


ISHMAEL  BUSIES  COURT. 


167 


felt  the  quickening  Warmth,  which,  pouring  from 
the  glowing  sky,  shed  its  bland  and  subtle  influ- 
ence on  every  object  of  the  vast  and  unshadowed 
region.  The  prairie  was  like  the  heavens  after 
the  passage  of  the  gust — soft,  calm,  and  soothing. 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  such  a scene  that  the 
family  of  the  squatter  assembled  to  make  their 
final  decision  concerning  the  several  individuals 
who  had  been  thrown  into  their  power  by  the 
fluctuating  chances  of  the  incidents  related.  Ev- 
ery being  possessing  life  and  liberty  had  been 
afoot,  since  the  first  streak  of  gray  had  lighted 
the  east ; and  even  the  youngest  of  the  erratic 
brood  seemed  conscious  that  the  moment  had  ar- 
rived when  circumstances  were  about  to  occur 
that  might  leave  a lasting  impression  on  the  wild 
fortunes  of  their  semi-barbarous  condition. 

Ishmael  moved  through  his  little  encampment, 
with  the  seriousness  of  one  who  had  been  unex- 
pectedly charged  with  matters  of  a gravity  ex- 
ceeding any  of  the  ordinary  occurrences  of  his 
irregular  existence.  His  sons,  however,  who  had 
so  often  found  occasions  to  prove  the  inexorable 
severity  of  their  father’s  character,  saw,  in  his 
sullen  mien  and  cold  eye,  rather  a determination 
to  adhere  to  his  resolutions,  which  usually  were 
as  obstinately  enforced  as  they  were  harshly  con- 
ceived, than  any  evidences  of  wavering  or  doubt. 
Even  Esther  was  sensibly  affected  by  the  impor- 
tant matters  that  pressed  so  heavily  on  the  inter- 
ests of  her  family.  While  she  neglected  none  of 
those  domestic  offices  which  would  probably 
have  proceeded  under  any  conceivable  circum- 
stances, just  as  the  world  turns  round  with  earth- 
quakes rending  its  crust  and  volcanoes  consuming 
its  vitals,  yet  her  voice  was  pitched  to  a lower 
and  more  foreboding  key  than  common,  and  the 
still  frequent  chidings  of  her  children  were  tem- 
pered by  something  like  the  milder  dignity  of  pa- 
rental authority. 

Abiram,  as  usual,  seemed  the  one  most  given 
to  solicitude  and  doubt.  There  were  certain  mis- 
givings, in  the  frequent  glances  that  he  turned  on 
the  unyielding  countenance  of  Ishmael,  which 
might  have  betrayed  how  little  of  their  former 
confidence  and  good  understanding  existed  be- 
tween them.  His  looks  appeared  to  be  vacillating 
between  hope  and  fear.  At  times,  his  countenance 
lighted  with  the  gleamings  of  a sordid  joy,  as  he 
bent  his  look  on  the  tent  which  contained  his  re- 
covered prisoner,  and  then,  again,  the  impression 
seemed  unaccountably  chased  away  by  the  shad- 
ows of  intense  apprehension.  When  under  the 
influence  of  the  latter  feeling,  his  eye  never  failed 
to  seek  the  visage  of  his  dull  and  impenetrable 
kinsman.  But  there  he  rather  found  reason  for 


alarm  than  grounds  of  encouragement,  for  the 
whole  character  of  the  squatter’s  countenance 
expressed  the  fearful  truth  that  he  had  redeemed 
his  dull  faculties  from  the  influence  of  the  kidnap- 
per, and  that  his  thoughts  were  now  brooding  only 
on  the  achievement  of  his  own  stubborn  intentions. 

It  was  in  this  state  of  things  that  the  sons  of 
Ishmael,  in  obedience  to  an  order  from  their  fa- 
ther, conducted  the  several  subjects  of  his  contem- 
plated decisions  from  their  places  of  confinement 
into  the  open  air.  No  one  was  exempted  from 
this  arrangement.  Middleton  and  Inez,  Paul  and 
Ellen,  Obed  and  the  trapper,  were  all  brought 
forth  and  placed  in  situations  that  were  deemed 
suitable  to  receive  the  sentence  of  their  arbitrary 
judge.  The  younger  children  gathered  around 
the  spot  in  momentary  but  engrossing  curiosity, 
and  even  Esther  quitted  her  culinary  labors  and 
drew  nigh  to  listen. 

Hard-Heart  alone,  of  all  his  band,  was  present 
to  witness  the  novel  and  far  from  unimposing 
spectacle.  He  stood  leaning  gravely  on  his  lance, 
while  the  smoking  steed  that  grazed  nigh  showed 
that  he  had  ridden  far  and  hard  to  be  a spectator 
on  the  occasion. 

Ishmael  had  received  his  new  ally  with  a 
coldness  that  showed  his  entire  insensibility  to 
that  delicacy  which  had  induced  the  young  chief 
to  come  alone,  in  order  that  the  presence  of  his 
warriors  might  not  create  uneasiness  or  distrust. 
He  neither  courted  their  assistance  nor  dreaded 
their  enmity,  and  he  now  proceeded  to  the  busi- 
ness of  the  hour  with  as  much  composure  as  if 
the  species  of  patriarchal  power  he  wielded  was 
universally  recognized. 

There  is  something  elevated  in  the  possession 
of  authority,  however  it  may  be  abused.  The 
mind  is  apt  to  make  some  efforts  to  prove  the  fit- 
ness between  its  qualities  and  the  condition  of  its 
owner,  though  it  may  often  fail,  and  render  that 
ridiculous  which  was  only  hated  before.  But  the 
effect  on  Ishmael  Bush  was  not  so  disheartening. 
Grave  in  exterior,  saturnine  by  temperament, 
formidable  by  his  physical  means,  and  dangerous 
from  his  lawless  obstinacy,  his  self-constituted 
tribunal  excited  a degree  of  awe  to  which  even 
the  intelligent  Middleton  could  not  bring  himself 
to  be  entirely  insensible.  Little  time,  however, 
was  given  to  arrange  his  thoughts  ; for  the  squat- 
ter, though  unaccustomed  to  haste,  having  pre- 
viously made  up  his  mind,  was  not  disposed  to 
waste  the  moments  in  delay.  When  he  saw  that 
all  were  in  their  places,  he  cast  a dull  look  over 
his  prisoners,  and  addressed  himself  to  the  cap- 
tain, as  the  principal  man  among  the  imaginary 
delinquents. 


168 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


“ I am  called  upon  this  day  to  fill  the  office 
which  m the  settlements  you  give  unto  judges, 
who  are  set  apart  to  decide  on  matters  that  arise 
between  man  and  man.  I have  but  little  knowl- 
edge of  the  ways  of  the  courts,  though  there  is  a 
rule  that  is  known  unto  all,  and  which  teaches 
that  ‘ an  eye  must  be  returned  for  an  eye,’  and  1 a 
tooth  for  a tooth.’  I am  no  troubler  of  county- 
houses,  and  least  of  all  do  I like  living  on  a plan- 
tation that  the  sheriff  has  surveyed  ; yet  there  is 
a reason  in  such  a law  that  makes  it  a safe  rule 
to  journey  by,  and  therefore  it  ar’  a solemn  fact 
that  this  day  shall  I abide  by  it,  and  give  unto 
all  and  each  that  which  i3  his  due  and  no 
more.” 

When  Ishmael  had  delivered  his  mind  thus 
far,  he  paused  and  looked  about  him  as  if  he 
would  trace  the  effects  in  the  countenances  of  his 
hearers.  When  his  eye  met  that  of  Middleton  he 
was  answered  by  the  latter : 

“ If  the  evil-doer  is  to  be  punished,  and  he 
that  has  offended  none  to  be  left  to  go  at  large , 
you  must  change  situations  with  me,  and  become 
a prisoner  instead  of  a judge.” 

“ You  mean  to  say  that  I have  done  you 
wrong  in  taking  the  lady  from  her  father’s  house, 
and  leading  her  so  far  against  her  will  into  these 
wild  districts,”  returned  the  unmoved  squatter, 
who  manifested  as  little  resentment  as  he  be- 
trayed compunction  at  the  charge.  “ I shall  not 
put  the  lie  on  the  back  of  an  evil  deed  and  deny 
your  words.  Since  things  have  come  to  this  pass 
between  us  I have  found  time  to  think  the  matter 
over  at  my  leisure,  and  though  hone  of  your  swift 
thinkers,  who  can  see,  or  who  pretend  to  see,  into 
the  nature  of  all  things  by  a turn  of  the  eye,  yet 
am  I a man  open  to  reason,  and,  give  me  my  time, 
one  who  is  not  given  to  deny  the  truth.  There- 
fore have  I mainly  concluded  that  it  was  a mis- 
take to  take  a child  from  its  parent,  and  the  lady 
shall  be  returned  whence  she  has  been  brought, 
as  tenderly  and  as  safely  as  man  can  do  it.” 

“ Ay,  ay,”  added  Esther,  “ the  man  is  right. 
Poverty  and  labor  bore  hard  upon  him,  especially 
as  county-officers  were  getting  troublesome,  and 
in  a weak  moment  he  did  the  wicked  act;  but  he 
has  listened  to  my  words,  and  his  mind  has  got 
round  again  into  its  honest  comer.  An  awful  and 
a dangerous  thing  it  is  to  be  bringing  the 
daughters  of  other  people  into  a peaceable  and 
well-governed  family ! ” 

“ And  who  will  thank  you  for  the  same  after 
what  has  been  already  done  ? ” muttered  Abiram, 
with  a grin  of  disappointed  cupidity,  in  which 
malignity  and  terror  were  disgustingly  united ; 
“ when  the  devil  has  once  made  out  his  account, 


you  may  look  for  your  receipt  in  full  only  at  his 
hands.” 

“ Peace  ! ” said  Ishmael,  stretching  his  heavy 
hand  toward  his  kinsman  in  a manner  that  in- 
stantly silenced  the  speaker.  “ Your  voice  is 
like  a raven’s  in  my  ears.  If  you  had  never 
spoken,  I should  have  been  spared  this  shame.” 

“ Since,  then,  you  are  beginning  to  lose  sight  of 
your  errors  and  to  see  the  truth,”  said  Middleton, 
“do  not  things  by  halves,  but  by  the  generosity 
of  your  conduct  purchase  friends  who  may  be  of 
use  in  warding  off  any  future  danger  from  the 
law — ” 

“ Young  man,”  interrupted  the  squatter,  with 
a dark  frown,  “ you , too,  have  said  enough.  If 
fear  of  the  law  had  come  over  me,  you  would  not 
be  here  to  witness  the  manner  in  which  Ishmael 
Bush  deals  out  justice.” 

“ Smother  not  your  good  intentions ; and  re- 
member, if  you  contemplate  violence  to  any  among 
us,  that  the  arm  of  that  law  you  affect  to  despise 
reaches  far,  and  that,  though  its  movements  are 
sometimes  slow,  they  are  not  the  less  certain ! ” 

“ Yes,  there  is  too  much  truth  in  his  words, 
squatter,”  said  the  trapper,  whose  attentive  ears 
rarely  suffered  a syllable  to  be  utterly  unheeded 
in  his  presence.  “A  busy  and  a troublesome 
arm  it  often  proves  to  be  here  in  this  land  of 
America ; where,  as  they  say,  man  is  left  greatly 
to  the  following  of  his  own  wishes,  compared  to 
other  countries;  and  happier,  ay,  and  more  manly 
and  more  honest  too,  is  he  for  the  privilege  ! — 
Why,  do  you  know,  my  men,  that  there  are  re- 
gions where  the  law  is  so  busy  as  to  say,  ‘ In  this 
fashion  shall  you  live,  in  that  fashion  shall  you 
die,  and  in  such  another  fashion  shall  you  take 
leave  of  the  world,  to  be  sent  before  the  judg- 
ment-seat of  the  Lord  ! ’ A wicked  and  a trouble-' 
some  meddling  is  that,  with  the  business  of  One 
who  has  not  made  his  creatures  to  be  herded  like 
oxen,  and  driven  from  field  to  field  as  their  stupid 
and  selfish  keepers  may  judge  of  their  need  and 
wants.  A miserable  land  must  that  be  where 
they  fetter  the  mind  as  well  as  the  body,  and 
where  the  creatures  of  God,  being  born  children, 
are  kept  so  by  the  wicked  inventions  of  men  who 
would  take  upon  themselves  the  office  of  the 
great  Governor  of  all ! ” 

During  the  delivery  of  this  pertinent  opinion, 
Ishmael  was  content  to  be  silent,  though  the  look 
with  which  he  regarded  the  speaker  manifested 
any  other  feeling  than  that  of  amity.  When  the 
old  man  had  done,  he  turned  to  Middleton,  and 
continued  the  subject  which  the  other  had  inter- 
rupted. 

“ As  to  ourselves,  young  captain,  there  has 


LIBERATION  OF  MIDDLETON,  INEZ,  AND  DR.  BATT. 


169 


beeD  wrong  on  both  sides.  If  I have  borne  hard 
upon  your  feelings  in  taking  away  your  wife  with 
an  honest  intention  of  giving  her  back  to  you 
when  the  plans  of  that  devil  incarnate  were  an- 
swered, so  have  you  broken  into  my  encampment, 
aiding  and  abetting,  as  they  have  called  many  an 
honester  bargain,  in  destroying  my  property.” 

“But  what  I did  was  to  liberate — ” 

“ The  matter  is  settled  between  us,”  inter- 
rupted Ishmael,  with  the  air  of  one  who,  having 
made  up  his  own  opinion  on  the  merits  of  the 
question,  cared  very  little  for  those  of  other  peo- 
ple ; “ you  and  your  wife  are  free  to  go  and  come 
when  and  how  you  please. — Abner,  set  the  cap- 
tain at  liberty  ; and  now,  if  you  will  tarry  until  I 
am  ready  to  draw  nigher  to  the  settlements,  you 
shall  both  have  the  benefit  of  carriage ; if  not, 
never  say  that  you  did  not  get  a friendly  offer.” 

“ Now,  may  the  strong  oppress  me,  and  my 
sins  be  visited  harshly  on  my  own  head,  if  I for- 
get your  honesty,  however  slow  it  has  been  in 
showing  itself!  ” cried  Middleton,  hastening  to  the 
side  of  the  weeping  Inez  the  instant  he  was  re- 
leased ; “ and,  friend,  I pledge  you  the  honor  of 
a soldier  that  your  own  part  of  this  transaction 
shall  be  forgotten,  whatever  I may  deem  fit  to 
have  done  when  I reach  a place  where  the  arm 
of  government  can  make  itself  felt.” 

The  dull  smile  with  which  the  squatter  an- 
swered to  this  assurance  proved  how  little  he 
valued  the  pledge  that  the  youth,  in  the  first  re- 
vulsion of  his  feelings,  was  so  free  to  make. 

“Neither  Tear  nor  favor,  but  what  I call  jus- 
tice, has  brought  me  to  this  judgment,”  he  said ; 
“ do  you  that  -which  may  seem  right  in  your  eyes, 
and  believe  that  the  world  is  wide  enough  to  hold 
us  both,  without  our  crossing  each  other’s -path 
again ! If  you  ar’  content,  well ; if  you  ar’  not 
content,  seek  to  ease  your  feelings  in  your  own 
fashion.  I shall  not  ask  to  be  let  up,  when  you 
once  put  me  fairly  down. — And  now,  doctor, 
have  I come  to  your  leaf  in  my  accounts.  It  is 
time  to  foot  up  the  small  reckoning  that  has  been 
running  on  for  some  time  atwixt  us.  With  you, 
I entered  into  open  and  manly  faith;  in  what 
manner  have  you  kept  it  ? ” 

The  singular  felicity  with  which  Ishmael  had 
contrived  to  shift  the  responsibility  of  all  that 
had  passed  from  his  own  shoulders  to  those  of 
his  prisoners,  backed  as  it  was  by  circumstances 
that  hardly  admitted  of  a very  philosophical  ex- 
amination of  any  mooted  point  in  ethics,  was  suf- 
ficiently embarrassing  to  the  several  individuals 
who  were  so  unexpectedly  required  to  answer  for 
a conduct  which,  in  their  simplicity,  they  had 
deemed  so  meritorious.  The  life  of  Obed  had 
63 


been  so  purely  theoi’etic,  that  his  amazement  was 
not  the  least  embarrassing  at  a state  of  things 
which  might  not  have  proved  so  very  remarkable, 
had  he  been  a little  more  practised  in  the  ways 
of  tho  world.  The  woi'thy  naturalist  was  not  the 
first,  by  many,  who  found  himself,  at  the  precise 
moment  when  he  was  expecting  praise,  suddenly 
arraigned,  to  answer  for  the  very  conduct  on 
which  he  rested  all  his  claims  to  commendation. 
Though  not  a little  scandalized  at  the  unexpected 
turn  of  the  transaction,  he  was  fain  to  make  the 
best  of  circumstances,  and  to  bring  forth  such 
matter  in  justification  as  first  presented  itself  to 
his  disordered  faculties. 

“ That  there  did  exist  a certain  compactum, 
or  agreement,  between  Obed  Batt,  M.  D.,  and 
Ishmael  Bush,  viator,  or  erratic  husbandman,” 
he  said,  endeavoring  to  avoid  all  offence  in  the 
use  of  terms,  “ I am  not  disposed  to  deny.  I will 
admit  that  it  was  therein  conditioned,  or  stipu- 
lated, that  a certain  journey  should  be  performed 
conjointly,  or  in  company,  until  so  many  days 
had  been  numbered.  But,  as  the  said  time  was 
fully  expired,  I presume  it  fair  to  infer  that  the 
bargain  may  now  be  said  to  be  obsolete.” 

“ Ishmael ! ” interrupted  the  impatient  Esther, 
“ make  no  words  with  a man  who  can  break  your 
bones  as  easily  as  set  them,  and  let  the  poisoning 
devil  go  ! He’s  a cheat,  from  box  to  phial.  Give 
him  half  the  prairie,  and  take  the  other  half 
yourself.  He  an  acclimator!  I will  engage  to 
get  the  brats  acclimated  to  a fever-and-ague  bot- 
tom in  a week,  and  not  a word  shall  be  uttered 
harder  to  pronounce  than  the  bark  of  a cherry- 
tree,  with  perhaps  a drop  or  two  of  Western  com- 
fort. One  thing  ar’  a fact,  Ishmael:  I like  no 
fellow-travellers  who  can  give  a heavy  feel  to  an 
honest  woman’s  tongue,  I — and  that  without 
caring  whether  her  household  is  in  order  or  out 
of  order.” 

The  air  of  settled  gloom  which  had  taken 
possession  of  the  squatter’s  countenance  lighted 
for  an  instant  with  a look  of  dull  drollery,  as  he 
answered : 

“Different  people  might  judge  differently, 
Esther,  of  the  virtue  of  the  man’s  art.  But  sin’ 
it  is  your  wish  to  let  him  depart,  I will  not  plough 
the  prairie  to  make  the  walking  rough. — Friend, 
you  are  at  liberty  to  go  into  the  settlements,  and 
there  I would  advise  you  to  tarry,  as  men  like  me, 
who  make  but  few  contracts,  do  not  relish  the 
custom  of  breaking  them  so  easily.” 

“ And  now,  Ishmael,”  resumed  his  conquering 
wife,  “in  order  to  keep  a quiet  family  and  to 
smother  all  heart-burnings  between  us,  show 
yonder  red-skin  and  his  daughter,”  pointing  to 


170 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


tiie  aged  Le  Balafre  and  the  widowed  Tachechana, 
“ the  way  to  their  village,  and  let  us  say  to  them, 
‘ God  bless  you,  and  farewell,’  in  the  same  breath  1 ” 

“ They  are  captives  of  the  Pawnee,  according 
to  the  rules  of  Indian  warfare,  and  I cannot 
meddle  with  his  rights.” 

“ Beware  the  devil,  my  man ! He’s  a cheat 
and  a tempter,  and  none  can  say  they  ar’  safe 
with  his  awful  delusions  before  their  eyes ! Take 
the  advice  of  one  who  has  the  honor  of  your 
name  at  heart,  and  send  the  tawny  Jezebel 
away.” 

The  squatter  laid  his  broad  hand  on  her 
shoulder,  and,  looking  her  steadily  in  the  eye,  he 
answered  in  tones  that  were  both  stern  and 
solemn: 

“Woman,  we  have  that  before  us  which  calls 
our  thoughts  to  other  matters  than  the  follies  you 
mean.  Remember  what  is  to  come,  and  put  your 
silly  jealousy  to  sleep.” 

“It  is  true,  it  is  true,”  murmured  his  wife, 
moving  back  among  her  daughters ; “ God  for- 
give me  that  I should  forget  it ! ” 

“ And  now,  young  man — you  who  have  so 
often  come  into  my  clearing  under  the  pretence 
of  lining  the  bee  into  his  hole,”  resumed  Ishmael, 
after  a momentary  pause,  as  if  to  recover  the 
equilibrium  of  his  mind — “ with  you  there  is  a 
heavier  account  to  settle.  Hot  satisfied  with 
rummaging  my  camp,  you  have  stolen  a girl  who 
is  akin  to  my  wife,  and  whom  I had  calculated  to 
make  one  day  a daughter  of  my  own.” 

A stronger  sensation  was  produced  by  this 
than  by  any  of  the  preceding  interrogations. 
All  the  young  men  bent  their  curious  eyes  on 
Paul  and  Ellen,  the  former  of  whom  seemed  in 
no  small  mental  confusion,  while  the  latter  bent 
her  face  on  her  bosom  in  shame. 

“ Harkee,  friend  Ishmael  Bush,”  returned  the 
bee-hunter,  who  found  that  he  was  expected  to 
answer  to  the  charge  of  burglary  as  well  as  to 
that  of  abduction ; “ that  I did  not  give  the  most 
civil  treatment  to  your  pots  and  pails  I am  not 
going  to  gainsay.  If  you  will  name  the  price  you 
put  upon  the  articles,  it  is  possible  the  damage 
may  be  quietly  settled  between  us  and  all  hard 
feelings  forgotten.  I was  not  in  a church-going 
humor  when  we  got  upon  your  rock,  and  it  is 
more  than  probable  there  was  quite  as  much 
kicking  as  preaching  among  your  wares ; but  a 
hole  in  the  best  man’s  coat  can  be  mended  by 
money.  As  to  the  matter  of  Ellen  Wade,  here, 
it  may  not  be  got  over  so  easily.  Different 
people  have  different  opinions  on  the  subject  of 
matrimony.  Some  think  it  is  enough  to  say  yes 
and  no  to  the  questions  of  the  magistrate  or  of 


the  parson,  if  one  happens  to  be  handy,  in  order 
to  make  a quiet  house ; but  I think  that,  where  a 
young  woman’s  mind  is  fairly  bent  on  going  in  a 
certain  direction,  it  will  be  quite  as  prudent  to 
let  her  body  follow.  Not  that  I mean  to  say 
Ellen  was  not  altogether  forced  to  what  she  did, 
and  therefore  she  is  just  as  innocent  in  this  mat- 
ter as  yonder  jackass,  who  was  made  to  carry 
her,  and  greatly  against  his  will,  too,  as  I am 
ready  to  swear  he  wmuld  say  himself  if  he  could 
speak  as  loud  as  he  can  bray.” 

“ Nelly,”  resumed  the  squatter,  who  paid  very 
little  attention  to  what  Paul  considered  a highly- 
creditable  and  ingenious  vindication,  “Nelly, this 
is  a wide  and  a wicked  world  on  which  you  have 
been  in  such  a hurry  to  cast  yourself.  You  have 
fed  and  you  have  slept  in  my  camp  for  a year, 
and  I did  hope  that  you  had  found  the  free  air 
of  the  borders  enough  to  your  mind  to  wish  to 
remain  among  us.” 

“ Let  the  girl  have  her  will,”  muttered  Esther, 
from  the  rear ; “ he  who  might  have  persuaded 
her  to  stay  is  sleeping  in  the  cold  and  naked 
prairie,  and  little  hope  is  left  of  changing  her 
humor ; besides,  a woman’s  mind  is  a wilful  thing 
and  not  easily  turned  from  its  waywardness,  as 
you  know  yourself,  my  man,  or  I should  not  be 
here  the  mother  of  your  sons  and  daughters.” 

The  squatter  seemed  reluctant  to  abandon  his 
views  on  the  abashed  girl  so  easily ; and,  before 
he  answered  to  the  suggestion  of  his  wife,  he 
turned  his  usual  dull  look  along  the  line  of  the 
curious  countenances  of  his  boys,  as  if  to  see 
whether  there  was  not  one  among  them  fit  to  fill 
the  place  of  the  deceased.  Paul  was  not  slow  to 
observe  the  expression,  and,  hitting  nigher  than 
usual  on  the  secret  thoughts  of  the  other,  he  be- 
lieved he  had  fallen  on  an  expedient  which  might 
remove  every  difficulty. 

“It  is  quite  plain,  friend  Bush,”  he  said,  “that 
there  are  two  opinions  in  this  matter  ; yours  for 
your  sons,  and  mine  for  myself.  I see  but  one 
amicable  way  of  settling  this  dispute,  which  is  as 
follows : do  you  make  a choice  among  your  boys 
of  any  you  will,  and  let  us  walk  off  together  for 
the  matter  of  a few  miles  into  the  prairies ; the 
one  who  stays  behind  can  never  trouble  any 
man’s  house  or  his  fixin’,  and  the  one  who  comes 
back  may  make  the  best  of  his  way  he  can,  in 
the  good  wishes  of  the  young  woman.” 

“Paul,”  exclaimed  the  reproachful  but  smoth- 
ered voice  of  Ellen. 

“ Never  fear,  Nelly,”  whispered- the  literal  bee- 
hunter,  -whose  straight-going  mind  suggested  no 
other  motive  of  uneasiness  on  the  part  of  his  mis- 
tress than  concern  for  himself ; “ I have  taken  the 


ELLEN  WADE’S  CHOICE. 


m 


measure  of  them  all,  and  you  may  trust  an 
eye  that  has  seen  to  line  many  a bee  into  his 
hole! 

“ I am  not  about  to  set  myself  up  as  a ruler 
of  inclinations,”  observed  the  squatter.  “ If  the 
heart  of  the  child  is  truly  in  the  settlements,  let 
her  declare  it ; she  shall  have  no  let  or  hinderance 
from  me. — Speak  Nelly,  and  let  what  you  say  come 
from  your  wishes,  without  fear  or  favor.  Would 
you  leave  us  to  go  with  this  young  man  into  the 
settled  countries,  or  will  you  tarry  and  share  the 
little  we  have  to  give,  but  which  to  you  we  give  so 
freely  ? ” 

Thus  called ' upon  to  decide,  Ellen  could  no 
longer  hesitate.  The  glance  of  her  eye  was  at  first 
timid  and  furtive.  But,  as  the  color  flushed  her 
features,  and  her  breathing  became  quick  and  ex- 
cited, it  was  apparent  that  the  native  spirit  of  the 
girl  was  gaining  the  ascendency  over  the  bashful- 
ness of  sex. 

“You  took  me  a fatherless,  impoverished,  and 
friendless  orphan,”  she  said,  struggling  to  com- 
mand her  voice,  “when  others,  who  live  in  what 
may  be  called  affluence  compared  to  your  state, 
chose  to  forget  me ; and  may  Heaven  in  its  good- 
ness bless  you  for  it ! The  little  I have  done,  will 
never  pay  you  for  that  one  act  of  kindness.  I 
like  not  your  manner  of  life ; it  is  different  from 
the  ways  of  my  childhood,  and  it  is  different  from 
my  wishes ; still,  had  you  not  led  this  sweet  and 
unoffending  lady  from  her  friends,  I should  never 
have  quitted  you  until  you  yourself  had  said,  ‘ Go, 
and  the  blessing  of  God  go  with  you ! ’ ” 

“ The  act  was  not  wise,  but  it  is  repented  of ; 
and,  so  far  as  it  can  be  done  in  safety,  it  shall  be 
repaired.  Now,  speak  freely,  will  you  tarry,  or  will 
you  go  ? ” 

“ I have  promised  the  lady,”  said  Ellen,  drop- 
ping her  eyes  again  to  the  earth,  “ not  to  leave 
her ; and,  after  she  has  received  so  much  wrong 
from  all  hands,  she  may  have  a right  to  claim  that 
I keep  my  word.” 

“ Take  the  cords  from  the  young  man,”  said 
Ishmael.  When  the  order  was  obeyed,  he  motioned 
for  all  his  sons  to  advance,  and  he  placed  them  in 
a row  before  the  eyes  of  Ellen.  “ Now  let  there  be 
no  trifling,  but  open  your  heart.  Here  ar’  all  I 
have  to  offer,  besides  a hearty  welcome.” 

The  distressed  girl  turned  her  abashed  look 
from  the  countenance  of  one  of  the  young  men  to 
that  of  another,  until  her  eyes  met  the  troubled 
and  working  features  of  Paul.  Then  Nature  got 
the  better  of  forms.  She  threw  herself  into  the 
arms  of  the  bee-hunter,  and  sufficiently  proclaimed 
her  choice  by  sobbing  aloud.  Ishmael  signed 
to  his  sons  to  fall  back,  and,  evidently  mortified, 


though  perhaps  not  disappointed  by  the  result,  he 
no  longer  hesitated. 

“Take  her,”  he  said,  “and  deal  honestly  and 
kindly  by  her.  The  girl  has  that  in  her  which 
should  make  her  welcome  in  any  man’s  house,  and 
I should  be  loath  to  learn  that  she  ever  came  to 
harm. — And  now  I have  settled  with  you  all,  on 
terms  that  I hope  you  will  not  find  hard,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  just  and  manly.  I have  only  another 
question  to  ask,  and  that  is  of  the  captain. — Do 
you  choose  to  profit  by  my  teams  in  going  into  tho 
settlements,  or  not  ? ” 

“ I hear  that  some  soldiers  of  my  party  are 
looking  for  me  near  the  villages  of  the  Pawnees,” 
said  Middleton,  “ and  I intend  to  accompany  this 
chief,  in  order  to  join  my  men.” 

“ Then  the  sooner  we  part  the  better.  Horses 
are  plenty  on  the  bottom.  Go  ; make  your  choice, 
and  leave  us  in  peace.” 

“ That  is  impossible,  while  the  old  man,  who 
has  been  a friend  of  my  family  near  half  a century, 
is  left  a prisoner.  What  has  he  done  that  he  too 
is  not  released  ? ” 

“ Ask  no  questions  that  may  lead  to  deceitful 
answers,”  sullenly  returned  the  squatter ; “ I have 
dealings  of  my  own  with  that  trapper,  that  it  may 
not  befit  an  officer  of  the  States  to  meddle  with. 
Go,  while  your  road  is  open.” 

“ The  man  may  be  giving  you  honest  counsel, 
and  that  which  it  concerns  you  all  to  hearken  to,” 
observed  the  old  captive,  who  seemed  in  no  un- 
easiness at  the  extraordinary  condition  in  which  he 
found  himself.  “ The  Siouxes  are  a numberless  and 
bloody-minded  race,  and  no  one  can  say  bow  long 
it  may  be  afore  they  will  be  out  again  on  the  scent 
of  revenge.  Therefore,  I say  to  you,  go,  also  ; 
and  take  especial  heed,  in  crossing  the  bottoms, 
that  you  get  not  entangled  again  in  the  fires,  for 
the  honest  hunters  often  burn  the  grass  at  this 
season,  in  order  that  the  buffaloes  may  find  a 
sweeter  and  a greener  pasturage  in  the  spring.” 

“ I should  forget  not  only  my  gratitude,  but 
my  duty  to  the  laws,  were  I to  leave  this  prison- 
er in  your  hands,  even  by  his  own  consent,  with- 
out knowing  the  nature  of  his  crime,  in  which  we 
may  have  all  been  his  innocent  accessaries.” 

“Will  it  satisfy  you  to  know  that  he  merits 
all  he  will  receive  ? ” 

“ It  will  at  least  change  my  opinion  of  his 
character.” 

“ Look,  then,  at' this,”  said  Ishmael,  placing 
before  the  eyes  of  the  captain  the  bullet  that  had 
been  found  about  the  person  of  the  dead  Asa ; 
“ with  this  morsel  of  lead  did  he  lay  low  as  fine  a 
boy  as  ever  gave  joy  to  a parent’s  eyes  ! ” 

“ I cannot  believe  that  he  has  done  this  deed, 


£72 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


unless  in  self-defence,  or  on  some  justifiable  prov- 
ocation. That  he  knew  of  the  death  of  your  son, 
I confess,  for  he  pointed  out  the  brake  in  which 
the  body  lay,  but  that  he  has  wrongfully  taken 
his  life,  nothing  but  his  own  acknowledgment 
shall  persuade  me  to  believe.” 

“ I have  lived  long,”  commenced  the  trapper, 
who  found  by  the  general  pause  that  he  was  ex- 
pected to  vindicate  himself  from  the  heavy  impu- 
tation, “ and  much  evil  have  I seen  in  my  day. 
Many  are  the  prowling  bears  and  leaping  panthers 
that  I have  met,  fighting  for  the  morsel  which  has 
been  thrown  in  their  way;  and  many  are  the 
reasoning  men  that  I have  looked  on  striving 
against  each  other  unto  death,  in  order  that  hu- 
man madness  might  also  have  its  hour.  For 
myself,  I hope  there  is  no  boasting  in  saying 
that,  though  my  hand  has  been  needed  in  putting 
down  wickedness  and  oppression,  it  has  never 
struck  a blow  of  which  its  owner  will  be  ashamed 
to  hear,  at  a reckoning  that  shall  be  far  mightier 
than  this.” 

“ If  my  father  has  taken  life  from  one  of  his 
tribe,”  said  the  young  Pawnee,  whose  quick  eye 
had  read  the  meaning  of  what  was  passing,  in  the 
bullet  and  in  the  countenances  of  the  others,  “ let 
him  give  himself  up  to  the  friends  of  the  dead, 
like  a warrior.  He  is  too 'just  to  need  thongs  to 
lead  him  to  judgment.” 

“ Boy,  I hope  you  do  me  justice.  If  I had  done 
the  foul  deed  with  which  they  charge  me,  I should 
have  manhood  enough  to  come  and  offer  my  head 
to  the  blow  of  punishment,  as  all  good  and  honest 
red-men  do  the  same.”  Then  giving  his  anxious 
Indian  friend  a look,  to  reassure  him  of  his  inno- 
cence, he  turned  to  the  rest  of  his  attentive  and 
interested  listeners,  as  he  continued  in  English, 
“ I have  a short  story  to  tell,  and  he  that  believes 
it  will  believe  the  truth,  and  he  that  disbelieves  it 
will  only  lead  himself  astray,  and  perhaps  his 
neighbor  too. — We  were  all  out-lying  about  your 
camp,  friend  squatter,  as  by  this  time  you  may 
begin  to  suspect,  when  we  found  that  it  contained 
a wronged  and  imprisoned  lady,  with  intentions 
neither  more  honest  nor  dishonest  than  to  set  her 
free,  as  in  nature  and  justice  she  had  a right  to 
be.  Seeing  that  I was  more  skilled  in  scouting 
than  the  others,  while  they  lay  back  in  the  cover, 
I was  sent  upon  the  plain,  on  the  business  of  the 
reconnoitrings.  You  little  thought  that  one  was 
so  nigh,  who  saw  into  all  the  circumventions  of 
your  hunt ; but  there  was  I,  sometimes  flat  be- 
hind a bush  or  a tuft  of  grass,  sometimes  rolling 
down  a hill  into  a bottom,  and  little  did  you 
dream  that  your  motions  were  watched  as  the 
panther  watches  the  drinking  deer.  Lord,  squat- 


ter, when  I was  a man  in  the  pride  and  strength 
of  my  days,  I have  looked  in  at  the  tent-door  of 
the  enemy,  and  they  sleeping,  ay,  and  dreaming, 
too,  ^ of  being  at  home  and  in  peace.  I wish 
there  was  time  to  give  you  the  partic — ” 

“ Proceed  with  your  explanation,”  interrupted 
Middleton. 

“ Ah  ! and  a bloody  and  wicked  sight  it  was  ! 
There  I lay  in  a low  bed  of  grass,  as  two  of  the 
hunters  came  nigh  each  other.  Their  meet- 
ing was  not  cordial,  nor  such  as  men  who  meet 
in  a desert  should  give  each  other;  but  I thought 
they  would  have  parted  in  peace,  until  I saw  one 
put  his  rifle  to  the  other’s  back,  and  do  what  -I 
call  a treacherous  and  sinful  murder.  It  was  a 
noble  and  a manly  youth,  that  boy  ! Though  the 
powder  burnt  his  coat,  he  stood  the  shock  for 
more  than  a minute  before  he  fell.  Then  was 
he  brought  to  his  knees,  and  a desperate  and 
manful  fight  he  made  to  the  brake,  like  a 
wounded  bear  seeking  a cover  ! ” 

“ And  why,  in  the  name  of  heavenly  justice, 
did  you  conceal  this  ? ” cried  Middleton. 

“What!  think  you,  captain,  that  a man  who 
has  spent  more  than  threescore  years  in  the  wil- 
derness has  not  learned  the  virtue  of  discretion  ? 
What  red  warrior  runs  to  tell  the  sights  he  has 
seen,  until  a fitting  time  ? I took  the  doctor  to 
the  place,  in  order  to  see  whether  his  skill  might 
not  come  in  use : and  our  friend,  the  bee-hunter, 
being  in  company,  was  knowing  to  the  fact  that 
the  bushes  held  the  body.” 

“ Ay,  it  ar’  true,”  said  Paul ; “ but  not  know- 
ing what  private  reasons  might  make  the  old 
trapper  wish  to  hush  the  matter  up,  I said  as  lit- 
tle about  the  thing  as  possible ; which  was  just 
nothing  at  all.” 

“ And  who  was  the  perpetrator  of  this  deed  ? ” 
demanded  Middleton. 

“ If  by  perpetrator  you  mean  him  who  did  the 
act,  yonder  stands  the  man  ; and  a shame  and  a 
disgrace  is  it  to  our  race,  that  he  is  of  the 
blood  and  family  of  the  dead.” 

“ He  lies  ! he  lies ! ” shrieked  Abiram.  “ I did 
no  murder  ; I gave  but  blow  for  blow.” 

The  voice  of  Ishmael  was  deep,  and  oven  aw- 
ful, as  he  answered : 

“It  is  enough.  Let  the  old  man  go. — Boys, 
put  the  brother  of  your  mother  in  his  place.” 

“ Touch  me  not ! ” cried  Abiram.  “ I’ll  call 
on  God  to  curse  ye  if  you  touch  me!" 

The  wild  and  disordered  gleam  of  his  eye  at 
first  induced  the  young  men  to  arrest  their  steps ; 
but  when  Abner,  older  and  more  resolute  than 
the  rest,  advanced  full  upon  him,  with  a counte- 
nance that  bespoke  the  hostile  state  of  his  mind. 


ASA’S  MURDERER. 


173 


the  affrighted  criminal  turned,  and,  making  an 
abortive  effort  to  fly,  fell  with  his  face  to  the  earth, 
to  all  appearance  perfectly  dead.  Amid  the  low 
exclamations  of  horror  which  succeeded,  Ishmael 
made  a gesture  which  commanded  his  sons  to  bear 
the  body  into  a tent. 

“ Now,”  he  said,  turning  to  those  who  were 
strangers  in  his  camp,  “ nothing  is  left  to  be  done 
but  for  each  to  go  his  own  road.  I wish  you  all 
well — and  to  you,  Ellen,  though  you  may  not 
prize  the  gift,  I say,  God  bless  you  ! ” 

Middleton,  awe-struck  by  what  he  believed  a 
manifest  judgment  of  Heaven,  made  no  further  re- 
sistance, but  prepared  to  depart.  The  arrange- 
ments were  brief,  and  soon  completed.  When 
they  were  all  ready,  they  took  a short  and  silent 
leave  of  the  squatter  and  his  family ; and  then  the 
whole  of  the  singularly  constituted  party  were 
seen  slowly  and  silently  following  the  victorious 
Pawnee  toward  his  distant  villages. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

“And  I beseech  you, 

Wrest  once  the  law,  to  your  authority : 

To  do  a great  right,  do  a little  wrong.” 

Shakespeare. 

Ishmael  awaited  long  and  patiently  for  the 
motley  train  of  Hard-Heart  to  disappear.  When 
his  scout  reported  that  the  last  straggler  of  the 
Indians,  who  had  joined  their  chief  so  soon  as  he 
was  at  such  a distance  from  the  encampment  as 
to  excite  no  jealousy  by  their  numbers,  had  gone 
behind  the  most  distant  swell  of  the  prairie,  he 
gave  forth  the  order  tc  strike  his  tents.  The 
cattle  were  already  in  the  gears,  and  the  mov- 
ables were  soon  transferred  to  their  usual  places 
in  the  different  vehicles.  When  all  these  arrange- 
ments were  completed,  the  little  wagon,  which 
had  so  long  been  the  tenement  of  Inez,  was  drawn 
before  the  tent  into  which  the  insensible  body 
of  the  kidnapper  had  been  borne,  and  prepara- 
tions were  evidently  made  for  the  reception  of 
another  prisoner.  Then  it  was,  as  Abiram  ap- 
peared, pale,  terrified,  and  tottering  beneath  a 
load  of  detected  guilt,  that  the  younger  members 
of  the  family  were  first  apprised  that  he  still  be- 
longed to  the  class  of  the  living.  A general  and 
superstitious  impression  had  spread  among  them 
that  his  crime  had  been  visited  by  a terrible  retri- 
bution from  Heaven;  and  they  now  gazed  at  him, 
as  at  a being  who  belonged  rather  to  another 
world,  than  as  a mortal,  who,  like  themselves, 
had  still  to  endure  the  last  agony  before  the 
great  link  of  human  existence  could  be  broken. 


The  criminal  himself  appeared  to  be  in  a state  in 
which  the  most  sensitive  and  startling  terror  was 
singularly  combined  with  total  physical  apathy. 
The  truth  was  that,  while  his  person  had  been 
numbed  by  the  shock,  his  susceptibility  to  appre- 
hension kept  his  agitated  mind  in  unrelieved  dis- 
tress. When  he  found  himself  in  the  open  air, 
he  looked  about  him  in  order  to  gather,  if  pos- 
sible,  some  evidences  of  his  future  fate,  from  the 
countenances  of  those  gathered  round.  Seeing 
everywhere  grave  but  composed  features,  and 
meeting  in  no  eye  any  expression  that  threatened 
immediate  violence,  the  miserable  man  began  to 
revive;  and,  by  the  time  he  was  seated  in  the 
wagon,  his  artful  faculties  were  beginning  to  plot 
the  expedients  of  parrying  the  just  resentment 
of  his  kinsmen,  or,  if  these  should  fail  him,  the 
means  of  escaping  from  a punishment  that  his 
forebodings  told  him  would  be  terrible. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  these  preparations, 
Ishmael  rarely  spoke.  A gesture,  or  a glance  of 
the  eye,  served  to  indicate  his  pleasure  to  his 
sons,  and  with  these  simple  methods  of  coipmuni- 
cation  all  parties  appeared  content.  When  the 
signal  was  made  to  proceed,  the  squatter  threw 
his  rifle  into  the  hollow  of  his  arm  and  his  axe 
across  his  shoulder,  taking  the  lead  as  usual. 
Esther  buried  herself  in  the  wagon  which  con- 
tained her  daughters  ; the  young  men  took  their 
customary  places  among  the  cattle  or  nigh  the 
teams;  and  the  whole  proceeded,  at  their  ordi- 
nary dull  but  unremitted  gait. 

For  the  first  time  in  many  a day  the  squatter 
turned  his  back  toward  the  setting  sun.  The 
route  he  held  was  in  the  direction  of  the  settled 
country,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  moved  suf- 
ficed to  tell  his  children,  who  had  learned  to  read 
their  father’s  determinations  in  his  mien,  that 
their  journey  on  the  prairie  was  shortly  to  have 
an  end.  Still  nothing  else  transpired  for  hours, 
that  might  denote  the  existence  of  any  sudden  or 
violent  revolution  in  the  purposes  or  feelings  of 
Ishmael.  During  all  that  time  he  marched  alone, 
keeping  a few  hundred  rods  in  front  of  his  teams, 
seldom  giving  any  sign  of  extraordinary  excite- 
ment. Once  or  twice,  indeed,  his  huge  figure  was 
seen  standing  on  the  summit  of  some  distant 
swell,  with  the  head  bent  toward  the  earth,  as  he 
leaned  on  his  rifle ; but  then  these  moments  of 
intense  thought  were  rare,  and  of  short  continu- 
ance. The  train  had  long  thrown  its  shadows 
toward  the  east,  before  any  material  alteration 
was  made  in  the  disposition  of  their  march. 
Water-courses  were  waded,  plains  were  passed, 
and  rolling  ascents  risen  and  descended,  without 
producing  the  smallest  change.  Long  practised 


m 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


in  the  difficulties  of  that  peculiar  species  of  travel- 
ling in  which  he  was  engaged,  the  squatter  avoid- 
ed the  more  impracticable  obstacles  of  their  route 
by  a sort  of  instinct,  invariably  inclining  to  the 
right  or  left  in  season,  as  the  formation  of  the 
land,  the  presence  of  trees,  or  the  signs  of  rivers, 
forewarned  him  of  the  necessity  of  such  move- 
ments. 

At  length  the  hour  arrived  when  charity  to 
man  and  beast  required  a temporary  suspension 
of  labor.  Ishmael  chose  the  required  spot  with 
his  customary  sagacity.  The  regular  formation 
of  the  country,  such  as  it  has  been  described  in 
the  earlier  pages  of  our  book,  had  long  been  in- 
terrupted by  a more  unequal  and  broken  surface. 
There  were,  it  is  true,  in  general,  the  same  wide 
and  empty  wastes,  the  same  rich  and  extensive 
bottoms,  and  that  wild  and  singular  combination 
of  swelling  fields  and  of  nakedness,  which  gives 
that  region  the  appearance  of  an  ancient  country, 
incomprehensibly  stripped  of  its  people  and  their 
dwellings.  But  these  distinguishing  features  of 
the  rolling  prairies  had  long  been  interrupted  by 
irregular  hillocks,  occasional  masses  of  rock,  and 
broad  belts  of  forest. 

Ishmael  chose  a spring  that  broke  out  of  the 
base  of  a rock  some  forty  or  fifty  feet  in  eleva- 
tion, as  a place  well  suited  to  the  wants  of  his 
herds.  The  water  moistened  a small  swale  that 
lay  beneath  the  spot,  which  yielded,  in  return  for 
the  fecund  gift,  a scanty  growth  of  grass.  A 
solitary  willow  had  taken  root  in  the  alluvion,  and, 
profiting  by  its  exclusive  possession  of  the  soil, 
the  tree  had  sent  up  its  stem  far  above  the  crest 
of  the  adjacent  rock,  whose  peaked  summit  had 
once  been  shadowed  by  its  branches.  But  its 
loveliness  had  gone  with  the  mysterious  principle 
of  life.  As  if  in  mockery  of  the  meagre  show  of 
verdure  that  the  spot  exhibited,  it  remained  a 
noble  and  solemn  monument  of  former  fertility. 
The  larger,  ragged,  and  fantastic  branches  still 
obtruded  themselves  abroad,  while  the  white  and 
hoary  trunk  stood  naked  and  tempest-riven.  Not 
a leaf  nor  a sign  of  vegetation  was  to  be  seen 
about  it.  In  all  things  it  proclaimed  the  frailty 
of  existence,  and  the  fulfilment  of  time. 

Here  Ishmael,  after  making  the  customary 
signal  for  the  train  to  approach,  threw  his  vast 
frame  upon  the  earth,  and  seemed  to  muse  on  the 
deep  responsibility  of  his  present  situation.  His 
sons  were  not  long  in  arriving  ; for  the  cattle  no 
sooner  scented  the  food  and  water  than  they 
quickened  their  pace,  and  then  succeeded  the 
usual  bustle  and  avocations  of  a halt. 

The  impression  made  by  the  scene  of  that 
morning  was  not  so  deep  or  lasting,  on  the  chil- 


dren of  Ishmael  and  Esther,  as  to  induce  them  t« 
fqrget  the  wants  of  Nature.  But  while  the  son3 
were  searching  among  their  stores  for  something 
substantial  to  appease  their  hunger,  and  the 
younger  fry  were  wrangling  about  their  simple 
dishes,  the  parents  of  the  unnurtured  family  were 
differently  employed. 

When  the  squatter  saw  that  all,  even  to  the 
reviving  Abiram,  were  busy  in  administering  to 
their  appetites,  he  gave  his  downcast  partner  a 
glance  of  his  eye,  and  withdrew  toward  a distant 
roll  of  the  land,  which  bounded  the  view  toward 
the  east.  The  meeting  of  the  pair  in  this  naked 
spot  was  like  an  interview  held  above  the  grave 
of  their  murdered  son.  Ishmael  signed  to  his 
wife  to  take  a seat  beside  him  on  a fragment  of 
rock,  and  then  followed  a space  during  which 
neither  seemed  disposed  to  speak. 

“We  have  journeyed  together  long,  through 
good  and  bad,”  Ishmael  at  length  commenced : 
“ much  have  we  had  to  try  us,  and  some  bitter 
cups  have  we  been  made  to  swallow,  my  woman ; 
but  nothing  like  this  has  ever  before  lain  in  my 
path.” 

“ It  is  a heavy  cross  for  a poor,  misguided, 
and  sinful  woman  to  bear!”  returned  Esther, 
bowing  her  head  to  her  knees,  and  partly  con- 
cealing her  face  in  her  dress.  “ A heavy  and  a 
burdensome  weight  is  this  to  be  laid  upon  the 
shoulders  of  a sister  and  a mother ! ” 

“ Ay ; therein  lies  the  hardship  of  the  case. 
I had  brought  my  mind  to  the  punishment  of  that 
houseless  trapper,  with  no  great  strivings,  for  the 
man  had  done  me  few  favors,  and  God  forgive 
me  if  I suspected  him  wrongfully  of  much  evil ! 
This  is,  however,  bringing  shame  in  at  one  door 
of  my  cabin  in  order  to  drive  it  out  at  the  oth- 
er. But  shall  a son  of  mine  be  murdered,  and  he 
who  did  it  go  at  large  ?— the  boy  would  never 
rest ! ” 

“ Oh  ! Ishmael,  we  pushed  the  matter  far ! 
Had  little  been  said,  who  would  have  been  the 
wiser?  Our  consciences  might  then  have  been 
quiet.” 

“ Eest’er,”  said  the  husband,  turning  on  her 
a reproachful  but  still  a dull  regard,  “ the  hour 
has  been,  my  woman,  when  you  thought  another 
hand  had  done  this  wickedness.” 

“I  did,  I did ! the  Lord  gave  me  the  feeling 
as  a punishment  for  my  sins  ! but  his  mercy  was 
not  slow  in  lifting  the  veil ; I looked  into  the 
book,  Ishmael,  and  there  I found  the  words  of 
comfort.” 

“ Have  you  that  book  at  hand,  woman  ? it  may 
happen  to  advise  in  such  a dreary  business.” 

Esther  fumbled  in  her  pocket,  and  was  not 


ESTHER’S  BIBLE. 


115 


long  in  producing  the  fragment  of  a Bible  which 
had  been  thumbed  and  snioke-dried  till  the  print 
was  nearly  illegible.  It  was  the  only  article  in 
the  nature  of  a book  that  was  to  be  found  among 
the  chattels  of  the  squatter,  and  it  had  been  pre- 
served by  his  wife  as  a melancholy  relic  of  more 
prosperous,  and  possibly  of  more  innocent  days. 
She  had  long  been  in  the  habit  of  resorting  to  it 
under  the  pressure  of  such  circumstances  as  were 
palpably  beyond  human  redress,  though  her  spirit 
and  resolution  rarely  needed  support  under  those 
that  admitted  of  reparation  through  any  of  the 
ordinary  means  of  reprisal.  In  this  manner 
Esther  had  made  a sort  of  convenient  ally  of  the 
word  of  God ; rarely  troubling  it  for  counsel,  how- 
ever, except  when  her  own  incompetency  to  avert 
an  evil  was  too  apparent  to  be  disputed.  We 
shall  leave  casuists  to  determine  how  far  she  re- 
sembled any  other  believers  in  this  particular, 
and  proceed  directly  with  the  matter  before  us 

“There  are  many  awful  passages  in  these 
pages,  Ishmael,”  she  said,  when  the  volume  was 
opened,  and  the  leaves  were  slowly  turning  under 
her  finger,  “ and  some  there  ar’  that  teach  the  rules 
of  punishment.” 

Her  husband  made  a gesture  for  her  to  find 
one  of  those  brief  rules  of  conduct  which  have 
been  received  among  all  Christian  nations  as  the 
direct  mandates  of  the  Creator,  and  which  have 
been  found  so  just,  that  even  they  who  deny  their 
high  authority,  admit  their  wisdom.  Ishmael 
listened  with  grave  attention  as  his  companion 
read  all  those  verses  which  her  memory  suggested, 
and  which  were  thought  applicable  to  the  situa- 
tion in  which  they  found  themselves.  He  made 
her  show  him  the  words,  which  he  regarded  with 
a sort  of  strange  reverence.  A resolution  once 
taken  was  usually  irrevocable  in  one  who  was 
moved  with  so  much  difficulty.  He  put  his  hand 
upon  the  book  and  closed  the  pages  himself;  as 
much  as  to  apprise  his  wife  that  he  was  satisfied. 
Esther,  who  so  well  knew  his  character,  trem- 
bled at  the  action,  and,  casting  a glance  at  his 
steady  eye,  she  said  : 

“ And  yet,  Ishmael,  my  blood  and  the  blood 
of  my  children  is  in  his  veins  ! cannot  mercy  be 
shown  ? ” 

“ Woman,”  he  answered,  sternly,  “ when  we 
believed  that  miserable  old  trapper  had  done  this 
deed,  nothing  was  said  of  mercy  ! ” 

Esther  made  no  reply,  but,  folding  her  arms 
upon  her  breast,  she  sat  silent  and  thoughtful  for 
many  minutes.  Then  she  once  more  turned  her 
anxious  gaze  upon  the  countenance  of  her  hus- 
band, where  she  found  all  passion  and  care  ap- 
parent v buried  in  the  coldest  apathy.  Satisfied 


now  that  the  fate  of  her  brother  was  sealed,  and 
possibly  conscious  how  well  he  merited  the  pun- 
ishment that  was  meditated,  she  no  longer  thought 
of  mediation.  No  more  words  passed  between 
them.  Their  eyes  met  for  an  instant,  and  then 
both  ^rose  and  walked  in  profound  silence  toward 
the  encampment. 

The  squatter  found  his  children  expecting  his 
return  in  the  usual  listless  manner  with  which 
they  awaited  all  coming  events.  The  cattle  were 
already  herded,,  and  the  horses  in  their  gears  in 
readiness  to  proceed,  so  soon  as  he  should  indi- 
cate that  such  was  his  pleasure.  The  children 
were  already  in  their  proper  vehicle,  and,  in  short, 
nothing  delayed  the  departure  but  the  absence  of 
the  parents  of  the  wild  brood. 

“Abner,”  said  the  father,  with  the  delibera- 
tion with  which  all  his  proceedings  were  charac- 
terized, “ take  the  brother  of  your  mother  from 
the  wagon,  and  let  him  stand  on  the  ’arth.” 

Abiram  issued  from  his  place  of  concealment, 
trembling,  it  is  true,  but  far  from  destitute  of 
hopes  as  to  his  final  success  in  appeasing  the  just 
resentment  of  his  kinsman.  After  throwing  a 
glance  around  him  with  the  vain  wish  of  finding 
a single  countenance  in  which  he  might  detect  a 
solitary  gleam  of  sympathy,  he  endeavored  to 
smother  those  apprehensions  that  were  by  this 
time  reviving  in  their  original  violence,  by  for- 
cing a sort  of  friendly  communication  between 
himself  and  the  squatter : 

“ The  beasts  are  getting  jaded,  brother,”  he 
said ; “ and  as  we  have  made  so  good  a march 
already,  is  it  not  time  to  ’camp  ? To  my  eye  you 
may  go  far  before  a better  place  than  this  is  found 
to  pass  the  night  in.” 

“ ’Tis  well  you  like  it.  Your  tarry  here  ar’ 
likely  to  be  long. — My  sons,  draw  nigh  and  listen. 
— Abiram  White,”  he  added,  lifting  his  cap,  and 
speaking  with  a solemnity  and  steadiness  that 
rendered  even  his  dull  mien  imposing,  “ you  have 
slain  my  first-born,  and  according  to  the  laws  of 
God  and  man  must  you  die  ! ” 

The  kidnapper  started  at  this  terrible  and  sud- 
den sentence,  with  the  terror  that  one  would  ex- 
hibit who  unexpectedly  found  himself  in  the 
grasp  of  a monster  from  whose  power  there  was 
no  retreat.  Although  filled  with  the  most  serious 
forebodings  of  what  might  be  his  lot,  his  courage 
had  not  been  equal  to  look  his  danger  in  the  face, 
and,  with  the  deceitful  consolation  with  which 
timid  tempers  are  apt  to  conceal  their  desperate 
condition  from  themselves,  he  had  rather  courted 
a treacherous  relief  in  his  cunning,  than  prepared 
himself  for  the  worst. 

“ Die  ! ” he  repeated,  in  a voice  that  scarcely 


176 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


issued  from  his  chest ; “ aman  is  surely  safe  among 
his  kinsmen  ? ” 

“ So  thought  my  boy,”  returned  the  squatter, 
motioning  for  the  team  that  contained  his  wife 
and  the  girls  to  proceed,  as  he  very  coolly  exam- 
ined the  priming  of  his  piece.  “ By  the  ri|le  did 
you  destroy  my  son ; it  is  fit  and  just  that  you 
meet  your  end  by  the  same  weapon.” 

Abiram  stared  about  him  with  a gaze  that  be- 
spoke an  unsettled  reason.  He  even  laughed,  as 
if  he  would  not  only  persuade  himself  but  others 
that  what  he  heard  was  some  pleasantry  intended 
to  try  his  nerves.  But  nowhere  did  his  frightful 
merriment  meet  with  an  answering  echo.  All 
around  was  solemn  and  still.  The  visages  of  his 
nephews  were  excited,  but  cold  toward  him,  and 
that  of  his  former  confederate  frightfully  deter- 
mined. This  very  steadiness  of  mien  was  a 
thousand  times  more  alarming  and  hopeless  than 
any  violence  could  have  proved.  The  latter  might 
possibly  have  touched  his  spirit  and  awakened 
resistance,  but  the  former  threw  him  entirely  on 
the  feeble  resources  of  himself. 

“Brother,”  he  said,  in  a hurried,  unnatural 
whisper,  “ did  I hear  you  ? ” 

“ My  words  are  plain,  Abiram  White : thou 
hast  done  murder,  and  for  the  same  must  thou 
die  ? ” 

“ Esther ! sister,  sister,  will  you  leave  me ! 
0 sister  ! do  you  hear  my  call  ? ” 

“ I hear  one  speak  from  the  grave!  ” returned 
the  husky  tones  of  Esther,  as  the  wagon  passed 
the  spot  where  the  criminal  stood.  “ It  is  the 
voice  of  my  first-born  calling  aloud  for  justice! 
God  have  mercy,  God  have  mercy  on  your  soul ! ” 

The  team  slowly  pursued  its  route,  and  the 
deserted  Abiram  now  found  himself  deprived  of 
the  smallest  vestige  of  hope.  Still  he  could  not 
summon  fortitude  to  meet  his  death,  and,  had  not 
his  limbs  refused  to  aid  him,  he  would  yet  have 
attempted  to  fly.  Then,  by  a sudden  revolution 
from  hope  to  utter  despair,  he  fell  upon  his  knees, 
and  commenced  a prayer  in  Avhich  cries  for  mercy 
to  God  and  to  his  kinsman  were  wildly  and  blas- 
phemously mingled.  The  sons  of  Ishmael  turned 
away  in  horror  at  the  disgusting  spectacle,  and 
even  the  stern  nature  of  the  squatter  began  to 
bend  before  so  abject  misery. 

“ May  that  which  you  ask  of  Him  be  granted,” 
he  said,  “ but  a father  can  never  forget  a mur- 
dered child.” 

lie  was  answered  by  the  most  humble  appeals 
for  time.  A week,  a day,  an  hour,  were  each  im- 
plored with  an  earnestness  commensurate  to  the 
value  they  receive  when  a whole  life  is  compressed 
into  their  short  duration.  The  squatter  was  trou- 


bled, and  at  length  he  yielded  in  part  to  the  peti- 
tions of  the  criminal.  His  final  purpose  was  not 
altered,  though  he  changed  the  means.  “ Abner,” 
he  said,  “ mount  the  rock  and  look  on  every  side, 
that  we  may  be  sure  none  are  nigh.” 

While  his  nephew  was  obeying  this  order, 
gleams  of  reviving  hope  were  seen  shooting 
across  the  quivering  features  of  the  kidnapper. 
The  report  was  favorable,  nothing  having  life,  the 
retiring  teams  excepted,  was  to  be  seen.  A mee  • 
senger  was,  however,  coming  from  the  latter  in 
great  apparent  haste.  Ishmael  awaited  its  arrival. 
He  received  from  the  hands  of  one  of  his  wonder- 
ing and  frightened  girls  a fragment  of  that  book 
which  Esther  had  preserved  with  so  much  care. 
The  squatter  beckoned  the  child  away,  and  placed 
the  leaves  in  the  hands  of  the  criminal. 

“ Eest’er  has  sent  you  this,”  he  said,  “ that  in 
your  last  moments  you  may  remember  God.” 

“ Bless  her,  bless  her ! a good  and  kind  sister 
has  she  been  to  me ! But  time  must  be  given 
that  I may  read  ; time,  my  brother,  time  ! ” 

“Time  shall  not  be  wanting.  You  shall  be 
your  own  executioner,  and  this  miserable  office 
shall  pass  away  from  my  hands.” 

Ishmael  proceeded  to  put  his  new  resolution 
in  force.  The  immediate  apprehensions  of  the 
kidnapper  were  quieted  by  an  assurance  that  he 
might  yet  live  for  days,  though  his  punishment 
was  inevitable.  A reprieve  to  one  abject  and 
wretched  as  Abiram,  temporarily  produced  the 
same  effects  as  a pardon.  He  was  even  foremost 
in  assisting  in  the  appalling  arrangements,  and, 
of  all  the  actors  in  that  solemn  tragedy,  hi3  voice 
alone  was  facetious  and  jocular. 

A thin  shelf  of  the  rock  projected  beneath  one 
of  the  ragged  arms  of  the  willow.  It  was  many 
feet  from  the  ground,  and  admirably  adapted  to 
the  purpose  which,  in  fact,  its  appearance  had 
suggested.  On  this  little  platform  the  criminal 
was  placed,  his  arms  bound  at  the  elbows  behind 
his  back,  beyond  the  possibility  of  liberation, 
with  a pi-op  er  cord  leading  from  his  neck  to  the 
limb  of  the  tree.  The  latter  was  so  placed,  that 
when  suspended  the  body  could  find  no  foothold. 
The  fragment  of  the  Bible  was  placed  in  his 
hauds,  and  he  was  left  to  seek  his  consolation  as 
he  might  fVom  its  pages. 

“ And  now,  Abiram  White,”  said  the  squatter, 
when  his  sons  had  descended  from  completing 
this  arrangement,  “ I give  you  a last  and  solemn 
asking.  Death  is  before  you  in  two  shapes. 
With  this  rifle  can  your  misery  be  cut  short,  or 
by  that  cord,  sooner  or  later,  must  you  meet  your 
end.” 

“ Let  me  yet  live ! 0 Ishmael.  you  know  not 


DEATH  OF  ABIRAM. 


177 


how  sweet  life  is  when  the  last  moment  draws  so 
nigh ! ” m 

“ ’Tis  done,”  said  the  sq&itter,  motioning  for 
his  assistants  to  follow  the  herds  and  teams.  “ And 
now,  miserable  man,  that  it  may  prove  a consola- 
tion to  your  end,  I forgive  you  my  wrongs  and 
leave  you  to  your  God.” 

Ishmael  turned  and  pursued  his  way  across 
the  plain  at  his  ordinary  sluggish  and  ponderous 
gait.  Though  his  head  was  bent  a little  toward 
the  earth,  his  inactive  mind  did  not  prompt  him 
to  cast  a look  behind.  Once,  indeed,  he  thought 
he  heard  his  name  called  in  tones  that  were  a lit- 
tle smothered,  but  they  failed  to  make  him  pause. 

At  the  spot  where  he  and  Esther  had  con- 
ferred he  reached  the  boundary  of  the  visible  ho- 
rizon from  the  rock.  Here  he  stopped,  and 
ventured  a glance  in  the  direction  of  the  place  he 
had  just  quitted.  The  sun  was  near  dipping  into 
the  plains  beyond,  and  its  last  rays  lighted  the 
naked  branches  of  the  willow.  He  saw  the  rag- 
ged outline  of  the  whole  drawn  against  the  glow- 
ing heavens,  and  he  even  traced  the  still  upright 
form  of  the  being  he  had  left  to  his  misery.  Turn- 
ing the  roll  of  the  swell,  he  proceeded  with  the 
feelings  of  one  who  had  been  suddenly  and  vio- 
lently separated  from  a recent  confederate  forever. 

Within  a mile  the  squatter  overtook  his  teams. 
His  sons  had  found  a place  suited  to  the  encamp- 
ment for  the  night,  and  merely  awaited  his 
approach  to  confirm  their  choice.  Few  words 
were  necessary  to  express  his  acquiescence. 
Every  thing  passed  in  a silence  more  general  and 
remarkable  than  ever.  The  chidings  of  Esther 
were  not  heard  among  her  young,  or,  if  heard, 
they  were  more  in  the  tones  of  softened  admoni- 
tion than  in  her  usual  upbraiding  key. 

No  questions  nor  explanations  passed  between 
the  husband  and  his  wife.  It  was  only  as  the 
latter  was  about  to  withdraw  among  her  children 
for  the  night,  that  the  former  saw  her  taking  a 
furtive  look  at  the  pan  of  his  rifle.  Ishmael  bade 
his  sons  seek  their  rest,  announcing  his  intention 
to  look  to  the  safety  of  the  camp  in  person.  When 
all  was  still,  he  walked  out  upon  the  prairie  with 
a sort  of  sensation  that  he  found  his  breathing 
among  the  tents  too  straitened.  The  night  was 
well  adapted  to  heighten  the  feelings  which  had 
been  created  by  the  events  of  the  day. 

The  wind  had  risen  with  the  moon,  and  it  was 
occasionally  sweeping  over  the  plain  in  a manner 
that  made  it  not  difficult  for  the  sentinel  to  im- 
agine strange  and  unearthly  sounds  were  mingling 
in  the  blasts.  Yielding  to  the  extraordinary  im- 
pulses of  which  he  was  the  subject,  he  cast  a 
glance  around  to  see  that  all  were  slumbering  in 


security,  and  then  he  strayed  toward  the  swell  o 
land  already  mentioned.  Here  the  squatter  found 
himself  at  a point  that  commanded  a view  to  the 
east  and  to  the  west.  Light,  fleecy  clouds  were 
driving  before  the  moon,  which  was  cold  and 
watery,  though  there  were  moments  when  its 
placid  rays  were  shed  from  clear  blue  fields, 
seeming  to  soften  objects  to  its  own  mild  loveli- 
ness. 

For  the  first  time,  in  a life  of  so  much  wild 
adventure,  Ishmael  felt  a keen  sense  of  solitude. 
The  naked  prairies  began  to  assume  the  forms  of 
illimitable  and  dreary  wastes,  and  the  rushing  of 
the  wind  sounded  like  the  whisperings  of  the  dead* 
It  was  not  long  before  he  thought  a shriek  was 
borne  past  him  on  a blast.  It  did  not  sound  like 
a call  from  earth,  but  it  swept  frightfully  through 
the  upper  air,  mingled  with  the  hoarse  accompa- 
niment of  the  wind.  The  teeth  of  the  squatter 
were  compressed,  and  his  huge  hand  grasped  the 
rifle,  as  if  it  would  crush  the  metal.  Then  came 
a lull,  a fresher  blast,  and  a cry  of  horror  that 
seemed  to  have  been  uttered  at  the  very  portals 
of  his  ears.  A sort  of  echo  burst  involuntarily 
from  his  own  lips,  as  men  shout  under  unnatural 
excitement,  and,  throwing  his  rifle  across  his 
shoulder,  he  proceeded  toward  the  rock  with  the 
strides  of  a giant. 

It  was  not  often  that  the  blood  of  Ishmael 
moved  at  the  rate  with  which  the  fluid  circulates 
in  the  veins  of  ordinary  men ; but  now  he  felt  it 
ready  to  gush  from  every  pore  in  his  body.  The 
animal  was  aroused,  in  his  most  latent  energies. 
Ever  as  he  advanced  he  heard  those  shrieks, 
which  sometimes  seemed  ringing  among  the  clouds, 
and  sometimes  passed  so  nigh  as  to  appear  to 
brush  the  earth.  At  length  there  came  a cry  in 
which  there  could  be  no  delusion,  or  to  which  the 
imagination  could  lend  no  horror.  It  appeared 
to  fill  each  cranny  of  the  air,  as  the  visible  hori- 
zon is  often  charged  to  fulness  by  the  dazzling 
flash  of  the  electric  fluid.  The  name  of  God  was 
distinctly  audible,  but  it  was  awfully  and  blasphe- 
mously blended  with  sounds  that  may  not  be  re- 
peated. The  squatter  stopped,  and  for  a moment 
he  covered  his  ears  with  his  hands.  When  he 
withdrew  the  latter,  a low  and  husky  voice  at  his 
elbow  asked  in  smothered  tones — 

“ Ishmael,  my  man,  heard  ye  nothing  ? ” 

“ Hist ! ” returned  the  husband,  laying  a power- 
ful arm  on  Esther,  without  manifesting  the  small- 
est  surprise  at  the  unlooked-for  presence  of  hia 
wife.  “ Hist,  woman ! if  you  have  the  fear  ol 
Heaven,  be  still ! ” 

A profound  silence  succeeded.  Though  the 
wind  rose  and  fell  as  before,  its  rushing  was  no  Ion- 


L 78 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


gcr  mingled  with  those  fearful  cries.  The  sounds 
were  imposing  and  solemn,  but  it  was  the  solem- 
nity and  majesty  of  Nature. 

“ Let  us  go  on,”  said  Esther ; “ all  is  hushed.” 

“ Woman,  what  has  brought  you  here  ? ” de- 
manded her  husband,  whose  blood  had  returned 
into  its  former  channels,  and  whose  thoughts  had 
already  lost  a portion  of  their  excitement. 

“ Ishmael,  he  murdered  our  first-born : but 
it  is  not  meet  that  the  son  of  my  mother  should  lie 
upon  the  ground,  like  the  carrion  of  a dog.” 

“ Follow  ! ” returned  the  squatter,  again  grasp- 
ing his  rifle,  and  striding  toward  the  rock.  The 
distance  was  still  considerable;  and  their  ap- 
proach, as  they  drew  nigh  the  place  of  execution, 
was  moderated  by  awe.  Many  minutes  had 
passed  before  they  reached  a spot  where  they 
might  distinguish  the  outlines  of  the  dusky  ob- 
jects. 

“ Where  have  you  put  the  body  ? ” whispered 
Esther.  “ See,  here  are  pick  and  spade,  that  a 
brother  of  mine  may  sleep  in  the  bosom  of  the 
earth  ! ” 

The  moon  broke  from  behind  a mass  of  clouds, 
and  the  eye  of  the  woman  was  enabled  to  follow 
the  finger  of  Ishmael.  It  pointed  to  a human 
form  swinging  in  the  wind,  beneath  the  ragged 
and  shining  arm  of  the  willow.  Esther  bent  her 
head  and  veiled  her  eyes  from  the  sight.  But  Ish- 
mael drew  nigher,  and  long  contemplated  his 
work  in  awe,  though  not  in  compunction.  The 
leaves  of  the  sacred  book  were  scattered  on  the 
ground,  and  even  a fragment  of  the  shelf  had  been 
displaced  by  the  kidnapper  in  his  agony.  But 
all  was  now  in  the  stillness  of  death.  The  grim 
and  convulsed  countenance  of  the  victim  was  at 
times  brought  full  into  the  light  of  the  moon,  and 
again,  as  the  wind  lulled,  the  fatal  rope  drew  a 
dark  line  across  its  bright  disk.  The  squatter 
raised  his  rifle  with  extreme  care,  and  fired.  The 
cord  was  cut,  and  the  body  came  lumbering  to 
the  earth,  a heavy  and  insensible  mass. 

Until  now  Esther  had  not  moved  nor  spoken. 
But  her  hand  was  not  slow  to  assist  in  the  labor 
of  the  hour.  The  grave  was  soon  dug.  It  was 
instantly  made  to  receive  its  miserable  tenant. 
As  the  lifeless  form  descended,  Esther,  who  sus- 
tained the  head,  looked  up  into  the  face  of  her 
husband  with  an  expression  of  anguish,  and  said : 

“ Ishmael,  my  man,  it  is  very  terrible ! I can- 
not kiss  the  corpse  of  my  father’s  child  ! ” 

The  squatter  laid  his  broad  hand  on  the 
bosom  of  the  dead,  and  said : 

“Abiram  White,  we  all  have  need  of  mercy; 
from  my  soul  do  I forgive  you ! May  God  in 
heaven  have  pity  on  your  sins  ! ” 


The  woman  bowed  her  face,  and  imprinted  Let 
lips  long  and  fervently  on  the  pallid  forehead  of 
her  brother.  Aftef-Jfchis  came  the  falling  clods  and 
all  the  solemn  sounds  of  filling  a grave.  Esther 
lingered  on  her  knees,  and  Ishmael  stood  uncov- 
ered while  the  woman  muttered  a prayer.  All  was 
then  finished. 

On  the  following  morning  the  teams  and  herds 
of  the  squatter  were  seen  pursuing  their  course 
toward  the  settlements.  As  they  approached  the 
confines  of  society,  the  train  was  blended  among 
a thousand  others.  Though  some  of  the  numer- 
ous descendants  of  this  peculiar  pair  were  re- 
claimed from  their  lalewss  and  semi-barbarous 
lives,  the  principals  of  the  family  themselves  were 
never  heard  of  more. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

“ —No  leave  take  I ; for  I will  ride, 

As  far  as  land  will  let  me,  by  your  side.” 

Shakespeaek. 

The  passage  of  the  Pawnee  to  his  village  was 
interrupted  by  no  scene  of  violence.  His  ven- 
geance had  been  as  complete  as  it  was  summary. 
Not  even  a solitary  scout  of  the  Sioux  was  left  on 
the  hunting-grounds  he  was  obliged  to  traverse, 
and  of  course  the  journey  of  Middleton’s  party 
was  as  peaceful  as  if  made  in  the  bosom  of  the 
States.  The  marches  w'ere  timed  to  meet  the 
weakness  of  the  females.  In  short,  the  victors 
seemed  to  have  lost  every  trace  of  ferocity  \Yith 
their  success,  and  appeared  disposed  to  consult 
the  most  trifling  of  the  wants  of  that  engrossing 
people  who  were  daily  encroaching  on  their  rights, 
and  reducing  the  red-men  of  the  West  from  their 
state  of  proud  independence  to  the  condition  of 
fugitives  and  wanderers. 

Our  limits  will  not  permit  a detail  of  the  tri- 
umphal entry  of  the  conquerors.  The  exultation 
of  the  tribe  was  proportioned  to  its  previous  de- 
spondency. Mothers  boasted  of  the  honorable 
deaths  of  their  sons  ; wives  proclaimed  the  honor 
and  pointed  to  the  scars  of  their  husbands  ; and 
Indian  girls  rewarded  the  young  braves  with 
songs  of  triumph.  The  trophies  of  their  fallen  en- 
emies were  exhibited,  as  conquered  standards  are 
displayed  in  more  civilized  regions.  The  deeds  of 
former  warriors  were  recounted  by  the  aged  men, 
and  declared  to  be  eclipsed  by  the  glory  of  this 
victory ; while  Hard-Heart  himself,  so  distin- 
guished for  his  exploits  from  boyhood  to  that  hour, 
as  unanimously  proclaimed  and  reproclaimed  the 
worthiest  chief  and  the  stoutest  brave  that  the 


HARD-HEART’S  FAREWELL  SPEECH. 


1 79 


Wahcondah  h id  ever  bestowed  on  his  most  fa. 
vored  children,  the  Pawnees  of  the  Loups. 

Notwithstanding  the  comparative  security  in 
which  Middleton  found  his  recovered  treasure,  he 
was  not  sorry  to  see  his  faithful  and  sturdy  artil- 
lerists standing  among  the  throng  as  he  entered 
in  the  wild  train,  and  lifting  their  voices  in  a mar- 
tial shout  to  greet  his  return.  The  presence  of 
this  force,  small  as  it  was,  removed  every  shadow 
of  uneasiness  from  his  mind.  It  made  him  mas- 
ter of  his  movements,  gave  him  dignity  and  im- 
portance in  the  eyes  of  his  new  friends,  and  would 
enable  him  to  overcome  the  difficulties  of  the  wide 
region  which  still  lay  between  the  village  of  the 
Pawnees  and  the  nearest  fortress  of  his  country- 
men. A lodge  was  yielded  to  the  exclusive  pos- 
session of  Inez  and  Ellen ; and  even  Paul,  when  he 
saw  an  armed  sentinel  in  the  uniform  of  the  States 
pacing  before  its  entrance,  was  content  to  stray 
among  the  dwellings  of  the  “ red-skins,”  prying 
with  but  little  reserve  into  their  domestic  econo- 
my, commenting  sometimes  jocularly,  sometimes 
gravely,  and  always  freely,  on  their  different  ex- 
pedients, or  endeavoring  to  make  the  wondering 
housewives  comprehend  his  quaint  explanations 
of  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  better  customs  of 
the  whites. 

This  inquiring  and  troublesome  spirit  found 
no  imitators  among  the  Indians.  The  delicacy  and 
reserve  of  Hard-Heart  were  communicated  to  his 
people.  When  every  attention  that  could  be  sug. 
gested  by  their  simple  manners  and  narrow  wants 
had  been  fulfilled,  no  intrusive  foot  presumed  to 
approach  the  cabins  devoted  to  the  service  of 
the  strangers.  They  were  left  to  seek  their  re- 
pose in  the  manner  which  most  comported  with 
their  habits  and  inclinations.  The  songs  and  re- 
joicings of  the  tribe,  however,  ran  far  into  the 
night,  during  the  deepest  hours  of  which  the  voice 
of  more  than  one  warrior  was  heard,  recounting, 
from  the  top  of  his  lodge,  the  deeds  of  his  people 
and  the  glory  of  their  triumphs. 

Every  thing  having  life,  notwithstanding  the 
excesses  of  the  night,  was  abroad  with  the  appear- 
ance of  the  sun.  The  expression  of  exultation, 
which  had  so  lately  been  seen  on  every  counte- 
nance, was  now  changed  to  one  better  suited  to 
the  feeling  of  the  moment.  It  was  understood 
by  all,  that  the  pale-faces,  who  had  befriended 
their  chief,  were  about  to  take  their  final  leave  of 
the  tribe.  The  soldiers  of  Middleton,  in  anticipa- 
tion of  his  arrival,  had  bargained  with  an  unsuc- 
cessful trader  for  the  use  of  his  boat,  which  lay 
in  the  stream  ready  to  receive  its  cargo,  and  noth- 
ing remained  to  complete  the  arrangements  for 
the  long  journey. 


Middleton  did  not  see  this  moment  arrive  en- 
tirely without  distrust.  The  admiration  with 
which  Hard-Heart  regarded  Inez  had  not  escaped 
his  jealous  eye,  any  more  than  had  the  lawless 
wishes  of  Mahtoree.  He  knew  the  consummate 
manner  in  which  a savage  could  conceal  bis  de- 
signs, and  he  felt  that  it  would  be  a culpable 
weakness  to  be  unprepared  for  the  worst.  Secret 
instructions  were  therefore  given  to  his  men, while 
the  preparations  they  made  were  properly  masked 
behind  the  show  of  military  parade  with  which 
it  was  intended  to  signalize  their  departure. 

The  conscience  of  the  young  soldier  reproached 
him  when  he  saw  the  whole  tribe  accompanying 
his  party  to  the  margin  of  the  stream,  with  un- 
armed hands  and  sorrowful  countenances.  They 
gathered  in  a circle  around  the  strangers  and 
their  chief,  and  became  not  only  peaceful  but 
highly -interested  observers  of  what  was  passing. 
As  it  was  evident  that  Hard-Heart  intended  to 
speak,  the  former  stopped,  and  manifested  their 
readiness  to  listen,  the  trapper  performing  the 
office  of  interpreter.  Then  the  young  chief  ad- 
dressed his  people,  in  the  usual  metaphorical  lan- 
guage of  an  Indian.  He  commenced  by  alluding 
to  the  antiquity  and  renown  of  his  own  nation. 
He  spoke  of  their  successes  in  the  hunts  and  on 
the  war-path ; of  the  manner  in  which  they  had 
always  known  how  to  defend  their  rights  and  to 
chastise  their  enemies.  After  he  had  said  enough 
to  manifest  his  respect  for  the  greatness  of  the 
Loups,  and  to  satisfy  the  pride  of  the  listeners, 
he  made  a sudden  transition  to  the  race  of  whom 
the  strangers  were  members.  He  compared  their 
countless  numbers  to  the  flights  of  migratory 
birds  in  the  season  of  blossoms,  or  in  the  fall  of 
the  year.  With  a delicacy  that  none  knew  better 
how  to  practise  than  an  Indian  warrior,  he  made 
no  direct  mention  of  the  rapacious  tempers  that 
so  many  of  them  had  betrayed,  in  their  dealings 
with  the  red-men.  Feeling  that  the  sentiment  of 
distrust  was  strongly  engrafted  in  the  tempers  of 
his  tribe,  he  rather  endeavored  to  soothe  any  just 
resentment  they  might  entertain,  by  indirect  ex- 
cuses and  apologies.  He  reminded  the  listeners 
that  even  the  Pawnee  Loups  had  been  obliged  to 
chase  many  unworthy  individuals  from  their  vil- 
lages. The  Wahcondah  sometimes  veiled  his 
countenance  from  a red-man.  No  doubt  the 
Great  Spirit  of  the  pale-faces  often  looked  darklj 
on  his  children.  Such  as  were  abandoned  to  the 
worker  of  evil  could  never  be  brave  or  virtuous, 
let  the  color  of  the  skin  be  what  it  might.  He 
bade  his  young  men  look  at  the  hands  of  the  Big- 
knives.  They  were  not  empty,  like  those  of  hun- 
gry beggars.  Neither  were  they  filled  with  goods, 


180 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


like  those  of  knavish  traders.  They  were,  like 
themselves,  warriors,  and  they  carried  arms 
which  they  knew  well  how  to  use — they  were 
worthy  to  be  called  brothers  ! 

Then  he  directed  the  attention  of  all  to  the 
chief  of  the  strangers.  He  was  a son  of  their 
great  white  father.  He  had  not  come  upon  the 
prairies  to  frighten  the  buffaloes  from  their  pas- 
tures, or  to  seek  the  game  of  the  Indians.  Wicked 
men  had  robbed  him  of  one  of  his  wives;  no 
doubt  she  was  the  most  obedient,  the  meekest, 
the  loveliest  of  them  all.  They  had  only  to  open 
their  eyes  to  see  that  his  words  must  be  true. 
Now  that  the  white  chief  had  found  his  wife,  he 
was  about  to  return  to  his  own  people  in  peace. 
He  would  tell  them  that  the  Pawnees  were  just, 
and  there  would  be  a line  of  wampum  between 
the  two  nations.  Let  all  his  people  wish  the 
strangers  a safe  return  to  their  towns.  The  war- 
riors of  the  Loups  knew  both  how  to  receive 
their  enemies,  and  how  to  clear  the  briers  from 
the  path  of  their  friends. 

The  heart  of  Middleton  beat  quick  as  the  young 
partisan  * alluded  to  the  charms  of  Inez,  and  for 
an  instant  he  cast  an  impatient  glance  at  his 
little  line  of  artillerists ; but  the  chief  from  that 
moment  appeared  to  forget  he  had  ever  seen  so 
fair  a being.  His  feelings,  if  he  had  any  on  the 
subject,  were  veiled  behind  the  cold  mask  of 
Indian  self-denial.  He  took  each  warrior  by  the 
hand,  not  forgetting  the  meanest  soldier,  but  his 
cold  and  collected  eye  never  wandered  for  an 
instant  toward  either  of  the  females.  Arrange- 
ments had  been  made  for  their  comfort,  with  a 
prodigality  and  care  that  had  not  failed  to  excite 
some  surprise  in  his  young  men,  but  in  no  other 
particular  did  he  shock  their  manly  pride,  by 
betraying  any  solicitude  in  behalf  of  the  weaker 
sex. 

The  leave-taking  was  general  and  imposing. 
Each  male  Pawnee  was  sedulous  to  omit  no  one 
of  the  strange  warriors  in  his  attentions,  and  of 
course  the  ceremony  occupied  some  time.  The 
only  exception,  and  that  was  not  general,  was  in 
the  case  of  Dr.  Battius.  Not  a few  of  the  young 
men,  it  is  true,  were  indifferent  about  lavishing 
civilities  on  one  of  so  doubtful  a profession,  but 
the  worthy  naturalist  found  some  consolation  in 


* The  Americans  and  the  Indians  have  adopted  several 
words,  which  each  believe  peculiar  to  the  language  of  the 
others.  Thus  “ squaw,”  “ papoose,”  or  child,  wigwam,  etc., 
etc.,  though  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  belonged  at  all 
to  any  Indian  dialect,  are  much  used  by  both  white  and 
red  men  in  their  intercourse.  Many  words  are  derived 
from  the  French,  in  this  species  of  prairie  nomaic.  Par- 
tisan, brave,  etc.,  are  of  the  number. 


the  more  matured  politeness  of  the  old  men,  who 
had  inferred  that,  though  not  of  much  use  in  war, 
the  medicine  of  the  Big-knives  might  possibly  bo 
made  serviceable  in  peace. 

When  all  of  Middleton’s  party  had  embarked, 
the  trapper  lifted  a small  bundle,  which  had  lain 
at  his  feet  during  the  previous  proceedings,  and, 
whistling  Hector  to  his  side,  he  was  the  last  to 
take  his  seat.  The  artillerists  gave  the  usual 
cheers,  which  were  answered  by  a shout  from 
the  tribe,  and  then  the  boat  was  shoved  into  the 
current,  and  began  to  glide  swiftly  down  its 
stream. 

A long  and  a musing,  if  not  a melancholy 
silence,  succeeded  this  departure.  It  was  first 
broken  by  the  trapper,  whose  regret  was  not  the 
least  visible  in  his  dejected  and  sorrowful  eye: 

“ They  are  a valiant  and  an  honest  tribe,”  he 
said  ; “ that  will  I say  boldly  in  their  favor  ; and 
second  only  do  I take  them  to  be  to  that  once 
mighty  but  now  scattered  people,  the  Delawares 
of  the  Hills.  Ah’s  me,  captain,  if  you  had  seen 
as  much  good  and  evil  as  I have  seen  in  these 
nations  of  red-skins,  you  would  know  of  how 
much  value  was  a brave  and  simple-minded  war- 
rior. I know  that  some  are  to  be  found,  who 
both  think  and  say  that  an  Indian  is  but  little 
better  than  the  beasts  of  these  naked  plains. 
But  it  is  needful  to  be  honest  in  one’s  self,  to  be 
a fitting  judge  of  honesty  in  others.  No  doubt,  no 
doubt,  they  know  their  enemies,  and  little  do  they 
care  to  show  to  such  any  great  confidence  or 
love.” 

“ It  is  the  way  of  man,”  returned  the  captain  ; 
“ and  it  is  probable  they  are  not  wanting  in  any 
of  his  natural  qualities.” 

“ No,  no ; it  is  little  that  they  want,  that  Na- 
tur’  has  had  to  give.  But  as  little  does  he  know 
of  the  temper  of  a red-skin,  who  has  seen  but 
one  Indian,  or  one  tribe,  as  he  knows  of  the  color 
of  feathers  who  has  only  looked  upon  a crow. 
— Now,  friend  steersman,  just  give  the  boat  a 
sheer  toward  yonder  low  sandy  point,  and  a favor 
will  be  granted  at  a short  asking.” 

“ For  what  ? ” demanded  Middleton  ; “ we  are 
now  in  the  swiftest  of  the  current,  and  by  draw- 
ing to  the  shore  we  shall  lose  the  force  of  the 
stream.” 

“ Your  tarry  will  not  be  long,”  returned  the 
old  man,  applying  his  own  hand  to  the  execution 
of  that  which  he  had  requested.  The  oarsmen 
had  seen  enough  of  his  influence  with  their  leader 
not  to  dispute  his  wishes,  and,  before  time  was 
given  for  further  discussion  on  the  subject,  the 
bow  of  the  boat  had  touched  the  land. 

“ Captain,”  resumed  the  other,  untying  his  lit- 


THE  TRAPPER’S  REQUEST. 


181 


tie  wallet  with  great  deliberation,  and  even  in  a 
mahner  to  show  he  found  satisfaction  in  the  delay, 
“ I wish  to  offer  you  a small  matter  of  trade. 
No  great  bargain,  mayhap ; but  still  the  best 
•that  one,  of  whose  hand  the  skill  of  the  rifle  has 
taken  leave,  and  who  has  become  no  better  than 
a miserable  trapper,  can  offer  before  we  part.” 

“ Part ! ” was  echoed  from  every  mouth,  among 
those  who  had  so  recently  shared  his  dangers,  and 
profited  by  his  care. 

“ What  the  devil,  old  trapper ! do  you  mean 
to  foot  it  to  the  settlements,  when  here  is  a boat 
that  will  float  the  distance  in  half  the  time  that 
the  jackass  the  doctor  has  given  the  Pawnee, 
could  trot  along  the  same  ? ” 

“Settlements,  boy!  It  is  long  sin’  I took 
my  leave  of  the  waste  and  wickedness  of  the  set- 
tlements and  the  villages.  If  I live  in  a clearing, 
here,  it  is  one  of  the  Lord’s  making,  and  I have  no 
hard  thoughts  on  the  matter;  but  never  again 
shall  I be  seen  running  wilfully  into  the  danger 
of  immoralities.” 

“ I had  not  thought  of  parting,”  answered 
Middleton,  endeavoring  to  seek  some  reliff  from 
the  uneasiness  he  felt,  by  turning  his  eyes  on  the 
sympathizing  countenances  of  his  friends ; “ on 
the  contrary,  I had  hoped  and  believed  that  you 
would  have  accompanied  us  below,  where,  I give 
you  a sacred  pledge,  nothing  shall  be  wanting  to 
make  your  days  comfortable.” 

“Yes,  lad,  yes;  you  would  do  your  endeav- 
ors ; but  what  are  the  strivings  of  man  against 
the  working  of  the  devil  ? Ay,  if  kind  offers  and 
good  wishes  could  have  done  the  thing,  I might 
have  been  a Congress-man,  or  perhaps  a governor, 
years  agone.  Your  gran’ther  wished  the  same, 
and  there  are  them  still  living  in  the  Otsego 
mountains,  as  I hope,  who  would  gladly  have 
given  me  a palace  for  my  dwelling.  But  what 
are  riches  without  content  ? My  time  must  now 
be  short,  at  any  rate,  and  I hold  it’s  no  mighty 
sin  for  one  who  has  acted  his  part  honestly  near 
ninety  winters  and  summers,  to  wish  to  pass  the 
few  hours  that  remain  in  comfort.  If  you  think 
I have  done  wrong  in  coming  thus  far  to  quit  you 
again,  captain,  I will  own  the  reason  of  the  act, 
without  shame  or  backwardness.  Though  I have 
seen  so  much  of  the  wilderness,  it  is  not  to  be 
gainsaid  that  my  feelings,  as  well  as  my  skin,  are 
white.  Now,  it  would  not  be  a fitting  spectacle 
that  yonder  Pawnee  Loups  should  look  upon  the 
weakness  of  an  old  warrior,  if  weakness  he  should 
happen  to  show  in  parting  forever  from  those  he 
has  reason  to  love,  though  he  may  not  set  his 
heart  so  strongly  on  them  as  to  wish  to  go  into 
the  settlements  in  their  company.” 


“Harkee,  old  trapper,”  said  Paul,  clearing  his 
throat  with  a desperate  effort,  as  if  determined  to 
give  his  voice  a clear  exit,  “ I have  just  one  bar- 
gain to  make,  since  you  talk  of  trading,  which  is 
neither  more  nor  less  than  this : I offer  you,  as 
my  side  of  the  business,  one  half  of  my  shanty, 
nor  do  I much  care  if  it  be  the  biggest  half ; the 
sweetest  and  the  purest  honey  that  can  be  made 
of  the  wild-locust;  always  enough  to  eat,  with 
now  and  then  a mouthful  of  venison,  or,  for  that 
matter,  a morsel  of  buffalo’s  hump,  seeing  that  I 
intend  to  push  my  acquaintance  with  the  animal, 
and  as  good  and  as  tidy  cooking  as  can  come  from 
the  hands  of  one  like  Ellen  Wade,  here,  who  will 
shortly  be  Nelly  somebody-else,  and  altogether 
.such  general  treatment  as  a decent  man  might  be 
supposed  to  pay  to  his  best  friend,  or,  for  that 
matter,  to  his  own  father ; in  return  for  the  same, 
you  ai'’  to  give  us  at  odd  moments  some  of  your 
ancient  traditions,  perhaps  a little  wholesome  ad- 
vice on  occasions,  in  small  quantities  at  a time, 
and  as  much  of  your  agreeable  company  as  you 
please.” 

“It  is  well — it  is  well,  boy,”  returned  the  old 
man,  fumbling  at  his  wallet ; “ honestly  offered, 
and  not  unthankfully  declined — but  it  cannot  be ; 
no,  it  can  never  be.” 

“Venerable  Venator,”  said  Dr.  Battius,  “ there 
are  obligations  which  every  man  owes  to  society 
and  to  human  nature.  It  is  time  that  you  should 
return  to  your  countrymen,  to  deliver  up  some  of 
those  stores  of  experimental  knowledge  that  you 
have  doubtless  obtained  by  so  long  a sojourn  in 
the  wilds,  which,  however  they  may  be  corrupted 
by  preconceived  opinions,  will  prove,  acceptable 
bequests  to  those  whom,  as  you  say,  you  must 
shortly  leave  forever.” 

“Friend  physicianer,”  returned  the  trapper, 
looking  the  other  steadily  in  the  face,  “ as  it  would 
be  no  easy  matter  to  judge  of  the  temper  of  the 
rattler  by  considering  the  fashions  of  the  moose, 
so  it  would  be  hard  to  speak  of  the  usefulness  of 
one  man  by  thinking  too  much  of  the  deeds  of 
another.  You  have  your  gifts  like  others,  I sup- 
pose, and  little  do  I wish  to  disturb  them.  But 
as  to  me,  the  Lord  has  made  me  for  a doer  and  not 
a talker,  and  therefore  do  I consider  it  no  harm 
to  shut  my  ears  to  your  invitation.” 

“It  is  enough,”  interrupted  Middleton;  “I 
have  seen  and  heard  so  much  of  this  extraordinary 
man,  as  to  know  that  persuasions  will  not  change 
his  purpose. — First,  we  will  hear  your  request, 
my  friend,  and  then  we  will  consider  what  may 
be  best  done  for  your  advantage.” 

“ It  is  a small  matter,  captain,”  returned  the 
old  man,  succeeding  at  length  in  opening  hia 


182 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


Dundle.  “ A small  and  trifling  matter  is  it,  to 
what  I once  used  to  offer  in  the  way  of  bargain ; 
but  then  it  is  the  best  I have,  and  therein  not  to 
be  despised.  Here  are  the  skins  of  four  beavers, 
that  I took,  it  might  be  a month  afore  we  met, 
and  here  is  another  from  a raccoon,  that  is  of  no 
great  matter  to  be  sure,  but  which  may  serve  to 
make  weight  atween  us.” 

“And  what  do  you  propose  to  do  with 
them  ? ” 

“ I offer  them  in  lawful  barter.  Them  knaves 
the  Siouxes — the  Lord  forgive  me  for  ever  believ- 
ing it  was  the  Konzas  ! — have  stolen  the  best  of 
my  traps,  and  driven  me  altogether  to  make-shift 
inventions,  which  might  foretell  a dreary  winter 
for  me  should  my  time  stretch  into  another  sea- 
son. I wish  you  therefore  to  take  the  skins,  and 
to  offer  them  to  some  of  the  trappers  you  will  not 
fail  to  meet  below,  in  exchange  for  a few  traps, 
and  to  send  the  same  into  the  Pawnee  village  in 
my  name.  Be  careful  to  have  my  mark  painted 
on  them  ; a letter  N,  with  a hound’s  ear,  and  the 
lock  of  a rifle.  There  is  no  red-skin  who  will  then 
dispute  my  right.  For  all  which  trouble  I have 
little  more  to  offer  than  my  thanks,  unless  my 
friend,  the  bee-hunter  here,  will  accept  of  the 
raccoon,  and  take  on  himself  the  special  charge 
of  the  whole  matter.” 

“ If  I do  may  I be — ! ” The  mouth  of  Paul 
was  stopped  by  the  hand  of  Ellen,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  swallow  the  rest  of  the  sentence,  which 
he  did  with  a species  of  emotion  that  bore  no 
slight  resemblance  to  the  process  of  strangula- 
tion. 

“Well,  well,”  returned  the  old  man,  meekly, 
“ I hope  there  is  no  heavy  offence  in  the  offer.  I 
know  that  the  skin  of  a raccoon  is  of  small  price, 
but  then  it  was  no  mighty  labor  that  I asked  in 
return.” 

“You  entirely  mistake  the  meaning  of  our 
friend,”  interrupted  Middleton,  who  observed  that 
the  bee-hunter  was  looking  in  every  direction  but 
the  right  one,  and  that  he  was  utterly  unable  to 
make  his  own  vindication.  “ He  did  not  mean  to 
say  that  he  declined  the  charge,  but  merely  that 
lie  refused  all  compensation.  It  is  unnecessary, 
however,  to  say  more  of  this  ; it  shall  be  my  office 
to  see  that  the  debt  we  owe  is  properly  discharged, 
and  that  all  your  necessities  shall  be  antici- 
pated.” 

“ Anan  ! ” said  the  old  man,  looking  up  inquir- 
ingly into  the  other’s  face,  as  if  to  ask  an  expla- 
nation. 

“ It  shall  all  be  as  you  wish.  Lay  the  skins 
with  my  baggage.  We  will  bargain  for  you  as  for 
ourselves.” 


“ Thankee,  thankee,  captain  ; your  gran’thet 
was  of  a free  and  generous  mind.  So  much  so, 
in  truth,  that  those  just  people,  the  Delawares, 
called  him  the  ‘ Open-hand.’  I wish,  now,  I was 
as  I uaed  to  be,  in  order  that  I might  send  in  the 
lady  a few  delicate  martens  for  her  tippets  and 
overcoats,  just  to  show  you  that  I know  how  to 
give  courtesy  for  courtesy.  But  do  not  expect  the 
same,  for  I am  too  old  to  give  the  promise ! It 
will  all  be  just  as  the  Lord  shall  see  fit.  I can 
offer  you  nothing  else,  for  I haven’t  lived  so  long 
in  the  wilderness  not  to  know  the  scrupulous 
ways  of  a gentleman.” 

“ Harkee,  old  trapper,”  cried  the  bee-hunter, 
striking  his  own  hand  into  the  open  palm  which 
the  other  had  extended,  with  a report  but  little 
below  the  crack  of  a rifle,  “ I have  just  two  things 
to  say : firstly,  that  the  captain  has  told  you  my 
meaning  better  than  I can  myself ; and,  secondly, 
if  you  want  a skin,  either  for  your  private  use  or 
to  send  abroad,  I have  it  at  your  service ; and 
that  is  the  skin  of  one  Paul  Hover  1 ” 

The  old  man  returned  the  grasp  he  received, 
and  oj%ned  his  mouth  to  the  utmost,  in  his  ex- 
traordinary, silent  laugh. 

“ You  couldn’t  have  given  such  a squeeze,  boy. 
when  the  Teton  squaws  were  about  you  with  theii 
knives  ! Ah  ! you  are  in  your  prime,  and  in  youi 
vigor  and  happiness,  if  honesty  lies  in  your  path.’’ 
Then  tbe  expression  of  his  rugged  features  sud- 
denly changed  to  a look  of  seriousness  ana 
thought.  “ Come  hither,  lad,”  he  said,  leading 
the  bee-hunter  by  a button,  to  the  land,  and  speak- 
ing apart  in  a tone  of  admonition  and  confidence ; 
“ much  has  passed  atween  us  on  the  pleasures 
and  respectableness  of  a life  in  the  woods  or  on 
the  borders.  I do  not  now  mean  to  say  that  all 
you  have  heard  is  not  true ; but  different  tempers 
call  for  different  employments.  You  have  taken 
to  your  bosom,  there,  a good  and  kind  child,  and 
it  has  become  your  duty  to  consider  her,  as  well 
as  yourself,  in  setting  forth  in  life.  You  are  a 
little  given  to  skirting  the  settlements ; but  to  my 
poor  judgment  the  girl  would  be  more  like-  a 
flourishing  flower  in  the  sun  of  a clearing,  than  in 
the  winds  of  the  prairie.  Therefore  forget  any 
thing  you  may  have  heard  from  me,  which  is 
nevertheless  true,  and  turn  your  mind  on  the  ways 
of  the  inner  country.” 

Paul  could  only  answer  with  a squeeze  that 
would  have  brought  tears  from  the  eyes  of  most 
men,  but  which  produced  no  other  effect  on  the 
indurated  muscles  of  the  other  than  to  make  him 
laugh  and  nod,  as  if  he  received  the  same  as  a 
pledge  that  the  bee-hunter  would  remember  hia 
advice.  The  trapper  then  turned  away  from  his 


THE  JOYFUL  RETURN. 


183 


rough  but  warm-hearted  companion,  and,  having 
called  Hector  from  the  boat,'  he  seemed  anxious 
still  to  utter  a few  words  more. 

“ Captain,”  he  at  length  resumed,  “ I know 
when  a poor  man  talks  of  credit  he  deals  in  a 
delicate  word,  according  to  the  fashions  of  the 
world ; and  when  an  old  man  talks  of  life,  he 
speaks  of  that  which  he  may  never  see ; never- 
theless, there  is  one  thing  I will  say,  and  that  is 
not  so  much  on  my  own  behalf  as  on  that  of 
another  person.  Here  is  Hector,  a good  and 
faithful  pup,  that  has  long  outlived  the  time  of  a 
dog;  and,  like  his  master,  he  looks  more  to 
comfort,  now,  than  to  any  deeds  in  running.  But 
the  creatur’  has  his  feelings  as  well  as  a Christian. 
He  has  consorted  latterly  with  his  kinsman,  there, 
in  such  a sort  as  to  find  great  pleasure  in  his 
company,  and  I will  acknowledge  that  it  touches 
my  feelings  to  part  the  pair  so  soon.  If  you  will 
set  a value  on  your  hound,  I will  endeavor  to 
send  it  to  you  in  the  spring,  more  especially 
should  them  same  traps  come  safe  to  hand ; or, 
if  you  dislike  parting  with  the  animal  altogether, 
I will  just  ask  you  for  his  loan  through  the  winter. 
I think  I can  see  my  pup  will  not  last  beyond 
that  time,  for  I have  judgment  in  these  matters, 
since  many  is  the  friend,  both  hound  and  red- 
skin, that  I have  s.een  depart  in  my  day,  though 
the  Lord  hath  not  yet  seen  fit  to  order  his  angels 
to  sound  forth  my  name.” 

“ Take  him,  take  him,”  cried  Middleton ; “ take 
all,  or  any  thing ! ” 

The  old  man  whistled  the  younger  dog  to  the 
land  ; and  then  he  proceeded  to  the  final  adieux. 
Little  was  said  on  either  side.  The  trapper  took 
each  person  solemnly  by  the  hand,  and  uttered 
something  friendly  and  kind  to  all.  Middleton 
was  perfectly  speechless,  and  was  driven  to  af- 
fect busying  himself  among  the  baggage.  Paul 
whistled  with  all  his  might,  and  even  Obed  took 
bis  leave  with  an  effort  that  bore  the  appearance 
of  desperate  philosophical  resolution.  When  he 
had  made  the  circuit  of  the  whole,  the  old  man, 
with  his  own  hands,  shoved  the  boat  into  the  cur- 
rent, wishing  God  to  speed  them.  Not  a word 
was  spoken,  nor  a stroke  of  the  oar  given,  until 
the  travellers  had  floated  past  a knoll  that  hid  the 
trapper  from  their  view.  He  was  last  seen  stand- 
ing on  the  low  point,  leaning  on  his  rifle,  with 
Hector  crouched  at  his  feet,  and  the  younger  dog 
frisking  along  the  sands,  in  the  playfulness  of 
youth  and  vigor. 


CHAPTER  XXXI V. 

“ — Methought  I heard  a voice.” 

Shakespeare, 

The  water-courses  were  at  their  height,  and 
the  boat  went  down  the  swift  current  like  a bird. 
The  passage  proved  prosperous  and  speedy.  In 
less  than  a third  of  the  time  that  would  have  been 
necessary  for  the  same  journey  by  land,  it  was 
accomplished  by  the  favor  of  those  rapid  rivers. 
Issuing  from  one  stream  into  another,  as  the 
veins  of  the  human  body  communicate  with  the 
larger  channels  of  life,  they  soon  entered  the 
grand  artery  of  the  Western  waters,  and  landed 
safely  at  the  very  door  of  the  father  of  Inez. 

The  joy  of  Don  Augustin,  and  the  embarrass- 
ment of  the  worthy  Father  Ignatius,  may  be  ima- 
gined. The  former  wept  and  returned  thanks  to 
Heaven ; the  latter  returned  thanks  and  did  not 
weep.  The  mild  provincials  were  too  happy  to 
raise  any  questions  on  the  character  of  so  joyful 
a restoration ; and,  by  a sort  of  general  consent, 
it  soon  came  to  be  an  admitted  opinion  that  the 
bride  of  Middleton  had  been  kidnapped  by  a vil- 
lain, and  that  she  was  restored  to  her  friends  by 
human  agency.  There  were,  as  respects  this  be- 
lief, certainly  a few  skeptics,  but  then  they  enjoyed 
their  doubts  in  private,  with  that  species  of  sub- 
limated and  solitary  gratification  that  a miser  finds 
in  gazing  at  his  growing  but  useless  hoards. 

In  order  to  give  the  worthy  priest  something 
to  employ  his  mind,  Middleton  made  him  the 
instrument  of  uniting  Paul  and  Ellen.  The  former 
consented  to  the  ceremony,  because  he  found  that 
all  his  friends  laid  great  stress  on  the  matter ; but 
shortly  after  he  led  his  bride  into  the  plains  of 
Kentucky,  under  the  pretence  of  paying  certain 
customary  visits  to  sundry  members  of  the  family 
of  Hover.  While  there,  he  took  occasion  to  have 
the  marriage  properly  solemnized  by  a justice  of 
the  peace  of  his  acquaintance,  in  whose  ability  to 
forge  the  nuptial  chain  he  had  much  more  faith 
than  in  that  of  all  the  gownsmen  within  the  pale 
of  Rome.  Ellen,  who  appeared  conscious  that 
some  extraordinary  preventives  might  prove  neces- 
sary to  keep  one  of  so*  erratic  a temper  as  hei 
partner  within  the  proper  matrimouial  boundaries, 
raised  no  objections  to  these  double  knots,  and  all 
parties  were  content. 

The  local  importance  Middleton  had  acquired, 
by  hi3  union  with  the  daughter  of  so  affluent  a 
proprietor  as  Don  Augustin,  united  to  his  personal 
merit,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  government 
He  was  soon  employed  in  various  situations  of 
responsibility  and  confidence,  which  both  served 


184 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


to  elevate  his  character  in  the  public  estimation, 
and  to  afford  the  means  of  patronage.  The  bee- 
hunter  was  among  the  first  of  those  to  whom  he 
saw  fit  to  extend  his  favor.  It  was  far  from  dif- 
ficult to  find  situations  suited  to  the  abilities  of 
Paul,  in  the  state  of  society  that  existed  three- 
and-twenty  years  ago  in  those  regions.  The  ef- 
forts of  Middleton  and  Inez  in  behalf  of  her  husband 
were  warmly  and  sagaciously  seconded  by  Ellen, 
and  they  succeeded,  in  process  of  time,  in  work- 
ing a great  and  beneficial  change  in  his  character. 
He  soon  became  a landholder,  then  a prosperous 
cultivator  of  the  soil,  and  shortly  after  a town-offi- 
cer. By  that  progressive  change  in  fortunes,  which 
in  the  republic  is  often  seen  to  be  so  singularly 
accompanied  by  a corresponding  improvement  in 
knowledge  and  self-respect,  he  went  on,  from  step 
to  step,  until  his  wife  enjoyed  the  maternal 
delight  of  seeing  her  children  placed  far  beyond 
the  danger  of  returning  to  that  state  from  which 
both  their  parents  had  issued.  Paul  is  actually  at 
this  moment  a member  of  the  lower  branch  of  the 
Legislature  of  the  State'where  he  has  long  resided ; 
and  he  is  even  notorious  for  making  speeches 
that  have  a tendency  to  put  that  deliberative  body 
n good-humor,  and  which,  as  they  are  based  on 
great  practical  knowledge  suited  to  the  condition 
of  the  country,  possess  a merit  that  is  much 
wanted  in  many  more  subtle  and  fine-spun  theo- 
ries, that  are  daily  heard,  in  similar  assemblies,  to 
issue  from  the  lips  of  certain  instinctive  poli- 
ticians. But  all  these  happy  fruits  were  the 
results  of  much  care,  and  of  a long  period  of 
time.  Middleton,  who  fills,  with  a credit  better 
suited  to  the  difference  in  their  educations,  a seat 
in  a far  higher  branch  of  legislative  authority,  is 
the  source  from  which  we  have  derived  most  of 
the  intelligence  necessary  to  compose  our  legend. 
In  addition  to  what  he  has  related  of  Paul,  and 
of  his  own  continued  happiness,  he  has  added  a 
short  narrative  of  what  took  place  on  a subse- 
quent visit  to  the  prairies,  with  which,  as  we 
conceive  it  a suitable  termination  to  what  has 
gone  before,  we  shall  judge  it  wise  to  conclude 
our  labors. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  that  succeeded  the 
season  in  which  the  preceding  events  occurred, 
the  young  man,  still  in  the  military  service,  found 
himself  on  the  waters  of  the  Missouri,  at  a point 
not  far  remote  from  the  Pawnee  towns.  Released 
from  any  immediate  calls  of  duty,  and  strongly 
urged  to  the  measure  by  Paul,  who  was  in  his 
company,  he  determined  to  take  horse,  and  cross 
the  country  to  visit  the  partisan,  and  to  inquire 
into  the  fate  of  his  friend  the  trapper.  As  his 
train  was  suited  to  his  functions  and  rank,  the 


journey  was  effected,  with  privations  and  hard 
ships  that  are  the  accompaniments  of  all  travel-  1 
ling  in  a wild,  but  without  any  of  those  dangers 
and  alarms  that  marked  his  former  passage  I 
through  the  same  regions.  When  within  a prop-  ] 
er  distance,  he  dispatched  an  Indian  runner,  be- 
longing to  a friendly  tribe,  to  announce  the  ap-  1 
proach  of  himself  and  party,  continuing  his  route 
at  a deliberate  pace,  in  order  that  the  intelligence  i 
might,  as  was  customary,  precede  his  arrival.  ] 
To  the  surprise  of  the  travellers,  their  message  \ 
was  unanswered.  Hour  succeeded  hour,  and  mile 
after  mile  was  passed,  without  bringing  either  the  j 
signs  of  an  honorable  reception,  or  the  more  sim- 
ple assurances  of  a friendly  welcome.  At  length 
the  cavalcade,  at  whose  head  rode  Middleton  and 
Paul,  descended  from  the  elevated  plain,  on  which  1 
they  had  long  been  journeying,  to  a luxuriant 
bottom,  that  brought  them  to  the  level  of  the  vil- 
lage of  the  Loups.  The  sun  was  beginning  to  : 
fall,  and  a sheet  of  golden  light  was  spread  over 
the  placid  plain,  lending  to  its  even  surface  those  ' 
glorious  tints  and  hues  that  the  human  imagina-  , 
tion  is  apt  to  conceive  form  the  embellishment 
of  still  more  imposing  scenes.  The  verdure  of  j 
the  year  yet  remained,  and  herds  of  horses  and  ■ 
mules  were  grazing  peacefully  in  the  vast  natural  ; 
pasture,  under  the  keeping  of  vigilant  Pawnee 
boys.  Paul  pointed  out  among  them  the  well-  { 
known  form  of  Asinus,  sleek,  fat,  and  luxuriating  ^ 
in  the  fulness  of  content,  as  he  stood  with  reclin- 
ing  ears  and  closed  eyelids,  seemingly  musing  on  - 
the  exquisite  nature  of  his  present  indolent  en-  J 
joyment. 

The  route  of  the  party  led  them  at  no  great 
distance  from  one.  of  those  watchful  youths  who 
was  charged  with  a trust  heavy  as  the  principal  { 
wealth  of  his  tribe.  He  heard  the  trampling  of  5 
the  horses,  and  cast  his  eye  aside,  but,  instead  of 
manifesting  curiosity  or  alarm,  his  look  instantly  ^ 
returned  whence  it  had  been  withdrawn,  to  the 
spot  where  the  village  was  known  to  stand. 

“ There  is  something  remarkable  in  all  this,”  '■ 
muttered  Middleton,  half  offended  at  what  he  con-  j 
ceived  to  be  not  only  a slight  to  his  rank,  but 
offensive  to  himself  personally;  “ yonder  boy  has 
heard  of  our  approach,  or  he  would  not  fail  to  <t 
notify  his  tribe ; and  yet  he  scarcely  deigns  to  j 
favor  us  with  a glance.  Look  to  your  arms,  men  ; 
it  may  be  necessary  to  let  these  savages  feel  our  ; 
strength.” 

“ Therein,  captain,  I think  you’re  in  an  error,”  1 | 
returned  Paul ; “ if  honesty  is  to  be  met  on  the 
prairies  at  all,  you  will  find  it  in  our  old  friend 
Hard-Heart ; neither  is  an  Indian  to  be  judged  of 
by  the  rules  of  a white.  See  ! we  are  not  alto- 


MIDDLETON  AND  PAUL  VISIT  THE  PAWNEES. 


185 


gether  slighted,  for  here  comes  a party  at  last  to 
meet  us,  though  it  is  a little  pitiful  as  to  show  and 
numbers.” 

Paul  was  right  in  both  particulars.  A group 
of  horsemen  were  at  length  seen  wheeling  round 
a little  copse,  and  advanciug  across  the  plain 
directly  toward  them.  The  advance  of  this  party 
was  slow  and  dignified.  As  it  drew  nigh,  the 
partisan  of  the  Loups  was  seen  at  its  head,  fol- 
lowed by  a dozen  younger  warriors  of  his  tribe. 
They  were  all  unarmed,  nor  did  they  even  wear 
any  of  those  ornaments  or  feathers  which  are 
considered  testimonials  of  respect  to  the  guest  an 
Indian  receives,  as  well  as  evidence  of  his  own 
importance. 

The  meeting  was  friendly,  though  a little  re- 
strained on  both  sides.  Middleton,  jealous  of 
his  own  consideration,  no  less  than  of  the  author- 
ity of  his  government,  suspected  some  undue  in- 
fluence on  the  part  of  the  agents  of  the  Canadas ; 
and,  as  he  was  determined  to  maintain  the  author- 
ity of  which  he  was  the  representative,  he  felt 
himself  constrained  to  manifest  a hauteur  that  he 
was  far  from  feeling.  It  was  not  so  easy  to  pene- 
trate the  motives  of  the  Pawnees.  Calm,  digni- 
fied, and  yet  far  from  repulsive,  t^ey  set  an  exam- 
ple of  courtesy,  blended  with  reserve,  that  many 
a diplomatist  of  the  most  polished  court  might 
have  striven  in  vain  to  imitate. 

In  this  manner  the  two  parties  continued  their 
course  to  the  town.  Middleton  had  time  during 
the  remainder  of  the  ride,  to  revolve  in  his  mind 
all  the  probable  reasons  which  his  ingenuity  could 
suggest  for  this  strange  reception.  Although  he 
was  accompanied  by  a regular  interpreter,  the 
chiefs  made  their  salutations  in  a manner  that  dis- 
pensed with  his  services.  Twenty  times  the  cap- 
tain turned  his  glance  on  his  former  friend,  en- 
deavoring to  read  the  expression  of  his  rigid  feat- 
ures. But  every  effort  and  all  conjectures  proved 
equally  futile.  The  eye  of  Hard-Heart  was  fixed, 
composed,  and  a little  anxious  ; but,  as  to  every 
other  emotion,  impenetrable.  He  neither  spoke 
himself,  nor  seemed  willing  to  invite  discourse  in 
his  visitors : it  was  therefore  necessary  for  Mid- 
dleton to  adopt  the  patient  manners  of  his  com- 
panions, and  to  await  the  issue  for  the  explana- 
tion. 

When  they  entered  the  town,  its  inhabitants 
were  seen  collected  in  an  open  space,  where  they 
were  arranged  with  the  customary  deference  to 
age  and  rank.  The  whole  formed  a large  circle,  in 
the  centre  of  which  were  perhaps  a dozen  of  the 
principal  chiefs.  Hard-Heart  waved  his  hand  as 
he  approached,  and,  as  the  mass  of  bodies  opened, 
he  rode  through,  followed  by  his  companions. 
64 


Here  they  dismounted  ; and,  as  the  beasts  were 
led  apart,  the  strangers  found  themselves  envi- 
roned by  a thousand  grave,  composed,  but  solici- 
tous faces. 

Middleton  gazed  about  him  in  growing  con- 
cern, for  no  cry,  no  song,  no  shout  welcomed  him 
among  a people  from  whom  he  bad  so  lately 
parted  with  regret.  His  uneasiness,  not  to  say 
apprehensions,  was  shared  by  all  hi3  followers. 
Determination  and  stern  resolution  began  to  as- 
sume the  place  of  anxiety  in  every  eye,  as  each 
man  silently  felt  for  his  arms,  and  assured  himself 
that  his  several  weapons  were  in  a state  for  ser- 
vice. But  there  was  no  answering  symptom  of 
hostility  on  the  part  of  their  hosts.  Hard-Heart 
beckoned  for  Middleton  and  Paul  to  follow,  lead- 
ing the  way  toward  the  cluster  of  forms  that  occu- 
pied the  centre  of  the  circle.  Here  the  visitors 
found  a solution  of  all  the  movements  which  had 
given  them  so  much  reason  for  apprehension. 

The  trapper  was  placed  on  a rude  seat,  which 
had  been  made,  with  studied  care,  to  support  his 
frame  in  an  upright  and  easy  attitude.  The  first 
glance  of  the  eye  told  his  former  friends  that  the 
old  man  was  at  length  called  upon  to  pay  the  last 
tribute  of  Nature.  His  eye  was  glazed,  and  ap- 
parently as  devoid  of  sight  as  of  expression. 
His  features  were  a little  more  sunken  and 
strongly  marked  than  formerly ; but  there,  all 
change,  so  far  as  exterior  was  concerned,  might  be 
said  to  have  ceased.  His  approaching  end  was 
not  to  be  ascribed  to  any  positive  disease,  but 
had  been  a gradual  and  mild  decay  of  the  physi- 
cal powers.  Life,  it  is  true,  still  lingered  in  his 
system ; but  it  was  as  if  at  times  entirely  ready 
to  depart,  and  then  it  would  appear  to  reanimate 
the  sinking  form,  reluctant  to  give  up  the  pos- 
session of  a tenement  that  had  never  been  cor- 
rupted by  vice  or  undermined  by  disease.  It 
would  have  been  no  violent  fancy  to  have  im- 
agined that  the  spirit  fluttered  about  the  placid 
lips  of  the  old  woodsman,  reluctant  to  depart 
from  a shell  that  had  so  long  given  it  an  honest 
and  honorable  shelter. 

His  body  was  placed  so  as  to  let  the  light  of 
the  setting  sun  fall  full  upon  the  solemn  features. 
His  head  was  bare,  the  long,  thin  locks  of  gray 
fluttering  lightly  in  the  evening  breeze.  His  rifle 
lay  upon  his  knee,  and  the  other  accoutrements 
of  the  chase  were  placed  at  his  side,  within  reach 
of  his  hand.  Between  his  feet  lay  the  figure  of 
a hound,  with  its  head  crouching  to  the  earth,  as 
if  it  slumbered ; and  so  perfectly  easy  and  nat- 
ural was  its  position,  that  a second  glance  was 
necessary  to  tell  Middleton  he  saw  only  the  skin 
of  Hector,  stuffed,  by  Indian  tenderness  and  in- 


186 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


genuity,  in  a manner  to  represent  the  living  ani- 
mal. His  own  dog  was  playing  at  a distance  with 
the  child  of  Tachechana  and  Mahtoree.  The 
mother  herself  stood  at  hand,  holding  in  her  arms 
a second  offspring,  that  might  boast  of  a parent- 
age no  less  honorable  than  that  which  belonged 
to  the  son  of  Hard-Heart.  Le  BalafrS  was 
seated  nigh  the  dying  trapper,  with  every  mark 
about  his  person  that  the  hour  of  his  own  depart- 
ure was  not  far  distant.  The  rest  of  those  im- 
mediately in  the  centre  were  aged  men,  who  had 
apparently  drawn  near  in  order  to  observe  the 
manner  in  which  a just  and  fearless  warrior  would 
depart  on  the  greatest  of  his  journeys. 

The  old  man  was  reaping  the  rewards  of  a 
life  remarkable  for  temperance  and  activity,  in  a 
tranquil  and  placid  death.  His  vigor  in  a man- 
ner endured  to  the  very  last.  Decay,  when  it  did 
occur,  was  rapid,  but  free  from  pain.  He  had 
hunted  with  the  tribe  in  the  spring,  and  even 
throughout  most  of  the  summer ; when  his  limbs 
suddenly  refused  to  perform  their  customary  of- 
fices. A sympathizing  weakness  took  possession 
of  all  his  faculties ; and  the  Pawnees  believed 
that  they  were  going  to  lose,  in  this  unexpected 
manner,  a sage  and  counsellor  whom  they  had  be- 
gun both  to  love  and  respect.  But,  as  we  have 
already  said,  the  immortal  occupant  seemed  un- 
willing to  desert  its  tenement.  The  lamp  of  life 
flickered,  without  becoming  extinguished.  On 
the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  Middleton  ar- 
rived there  was  a general  reviving  of  the  powers 
of  the  whole  man.  His  tongue  was  again  heard 
in  wrholesome  maxims,  and  his  eye  from  time  to 
time  recognized  the  persons  of  his  friends.  It 
merely  proved  to  be  a brief  and  final  intercourse 
with  the  world,  on  the  part  of  one  who  had  al- 
ready been  considered,  as  to  mental  communion, 
to  have  taken  his  leave  of  it  forever. 

When  he  had  placed  his  guests  in  front  of  the 
dying  man,  Hard-Heart,  after  a pause,  that  pro- 
ceeded as  much  from  sorrow  as  decorum,  leaned  a 
little  forward,  and  demanded  : 

“Does  my  father  hear  the  words  of  his  son?” 

“ Speak,”  returned  the  trapper,  in  tones  that 
issued  from  his  chest,  but  which  were  rendered 
awfully  distinct  by  the  stillness  that  reigned  in  the 
place.  “ I am  about  to  depart  from  the  villagS  of 
the  Loups,  and  shortly  shall  be  beyond  the  reach 
of  your  voice.” 

“ Lot  the  wise  chief  have  no  cares  for  his 
journey,”  continued  Hard-Heart,  with  an  earnest 
solicitude  that  led  him  to  forget,  for  the  moment, 
that  others  wrere  waiting  to  address  his  adopted 
parent ; “ a hundred  Loups  shall  clear  his  path 
from  briers.” 


“Pawnee,  I die  as  I have  lived,  a Chiistian 
man ! ” resumed  the  trapper,  with  a force  of  voice 
that  had  the  same  startling  effect  on  his  hearers 
as  is  produced  by  the  trumpet,  when  its  blast 
rises  suddenly  and  freely  on  the  air,  after  its  ob- 
structed sounds  have  been  heard  struggling  in  the 
distance ; “ as  I came  into  life  so  will  I leave  it. 
Horses  and  arms  are  not  needed  to  stand  in  the 
presence  of  the  Great  Spirit  of  my  people.  He 
knows  my  color  and  according  to  my  gifts  will  he 
judge  my  deeds.” 

“ My  father  will  tell  my  young  men  how  many 
Mingoes  he  has  struck,  and  what  acts  of  valor 
and  justice  he  has  done,  that  they  may  know  how 
to  imitate  him.” 

“A  boastful  tongue  is  not  heard  in  the  heaven 
of  a white  man ! ” solemnly  returned  the  old  man. 
“ What  I have  done  He  has  seen.  His  eyes  are 
always  open.  That  which  has  been  well  done 
will  he  remember;  wherein  I have  been  wrong 
will  he  not  forget  to  chastise,  though  he  will  do 
the  same  in  mercy.  No,  my  son ; a pale-face 
may  not  sing  his  own  praises,  and  hope  to  have 
them  acceptable  before  his  God ! ” 

A little  disappointed,  the  young  partisan 
stepped  modestly  back,  making  way  for  the  recent 
comers  to  approach.  Middleton  took  one  of  the 
meagre  hands  of  the  trapper,  and,  struggling  to 
command  his  voice,  he  succeeded  in  announcing 
his  presence. 

The  old  man  listened  like  one  whose  thoughts 
were  dwelling  on  a very  different  subject ; but, 
when  the  other  had  succeeded  in  making  him  un- 
derstand that  he  was  present,  an  expression  of 
joyful  recognition  passed  over  his  faded  features. 

“ I hope  you  have  not  so  soon  forgotten  those 
whom  you  so  materially  served ! ” Middleton  con- 
cluded. “ It  would  pain  me  to  think  my  hold  on 
your  memory  was  so  light.” 

“ Little  that  1 have  ever  seen  is  forgotten,”  re- 
turned the  trapper ; “ I am  at  the  close  of  many 
weary  days,  but  there  is  not  one  among  them  all 
that  I could  wish  to  overlook.  I remember  you, 
with  the  whole  of  your  company ; ay,  and  your 
gran’ther,  that  went  before  you.  I am  glad  thal 
you  have  come  back  upon  these  plains,  for  I had 
need  of  one  who  speaks  the  English,  since  little 
faith  can  be  put  in  the  traders  of  these  regions 
Will  you  do  a favor  to  an  old  and  dying 
man  ? ” 

“ Name  it,”  said  Middleton ; “ it  shall  be 
done.” 

“ It  is  a far  journey  to  send  such  trifles,”  re- 
sumed the  old  man,  who  spoke  at  short  intervals, 
as  strength  and  breath  permitted — “ a far  and 
weary  journey  is  the  same ; but  kindnesses  and 


THE  TRAPPER  AND  HIS  DOG. 


m 


friendships  are  things  not  to  be  forgotten.  There 
is  a settlement  among  the  Otsego  hills — ” 

“ I know  the  place,”  interrupted  Middleton, 
observing  that  he  spoke  with  increasing  dif- 
ficulty ; “ proceed  to  tell  me  what  you  would 
have  done.” 

“ Take  this  rifle,  pouch,  and  horn,  and  send 
them  to  the  person  whose  name  is  graven  on  the 
plates  of  the  stock — a trader  cut  the  letters  with 
his  knife — for  it  is  long  that  I have  intended  to 
send  him  such  a token  of  my  love ! ” 

“It  shall  be  so.  Is  there  more  that  you  could 
wish  ? ” 

“ Little  else  have  I to  bestow.  My  traps  I 
give  to  my  Indian  son ; for  honestly  and  kindly 
has  he  kept  his  faith.  Let  him  stand  before  me.” 

Middleton  .explained  to  the  chief  what  the 
trapper  had  said,  and  relinquished  his  own  place 
to  the  other. 

“ Pawnee,”  continued  the  old  man,  always 
changing  his  language  to  suit  the  person  he  ad- 
dressed, and  not  unfrequently  according  to  the 
ideas  he  expressed,  “ it  is  a custom  of  my  people 
for  the  father  to  leave  his  blessing  with  the  son 
before  he  shuts  his  eyes  forever.  This  blessing  I 
give  to  you  ; take  it ; for  the  prayers  of  a Chris- 
tian man  will  never  make  the  path  of  a just  war- 
rior to  the  blessed  prairies  either  longer  or  more 
tangled ! May  the  God  of  a white  man  look  on 
your  deeds  with  friendly  eyes,  and  may  you  nev- 
er commit  an  act  that  shall  cause  him  to  darken 
his  face.  I know  not  whether  we  shall  ever  meet 
again.  There  are  many  t-aditions  concerning 
the  place  of  Good  Spirits.  It  is  not  for  one  like 
me,  old  and  experienced  though  I am,  to  set  up 
my  opinions  against  a nation’s.  You  believe  in 
the  blessed  prairies,  and  I have  faith  in  the  say- 
ings of  my  fathers.  If  both  are  true,  our  parting 
will  be  final ; but,  if  it  should  prove  that  the  same 
meaning  is  hid  under  different  words,  we  shall  yet 
stand  together,  Pawnee,  before  the  face  of  your 
Wahcondah,  who  will  then  be  no  other  than  my 
God.  There  is  much  to  be  said  in  favor  of  both 
religions,  for  each  seems  suited  to  its  own  people, 
and  no  doubt  it  was  so  intended.  I fear  I have 
not  altogether  followed  the  gifts  of  my  color,  in- 
asmuch as  I find  it  a little  painful  to  give  up  for- 
ever the  use  of  the  rifle,  and  the  comforts  of  the 
chase.  But  then  the  fault  has  been  my  own,  see- 
ing that  it  could  not  have  been  His. — Ay,  Hec- 
tor,” he  continued,  leaning  forward  a little,  and 
feeling  for  the  ears  of  the  hound,  “ our  parting 
has  come  at  last,  dog,  and  it  will  be  a long  hunt. 
You  have  been  an  honest,  and  a bold,  and  a faith- 
ful hound. — Pawnee,  you  cannot  slay  the  pup  on 
my  grave,  for  where  a Christian  dog  falls  there 


he  lies  forever ; but  you  can  be  kind  to  him  after 
I am  gone,  for  the  love  you  bear  his  master.” 

“ The  words  of  my  father  are  in  my  ears,”  re- 
turned the  young  partisan,  making  a grave  and 
respectful  gesture  of  assent. 

“ Do  you  hear  what  the  chief  has  promised, 
dog  ? ” demanded  the  trapper,  making  an  effort  to 
attract  the  notice  of  the  insensible  effigy  of  his 
hound.  Receiving  no  answering  look,  nor  hear- 
ing .any  friendly  whine,  the  old  man  felt  for  the 
mouth,  and  endeavored  to  force  his  hand  between 
the  cold  lips.  The  truth  then  flashed  upon  him, 
although  he  was  far  from  perceiving  the  whole  ex- 
tent of  the  deception.  Falling  back  in  his  seat, 
he  hung  his  head,  like  one  who  felt  a severe  and 
unexpected  shock.  Profiting  by  this  momentary 
forgetfulness,  two  young  Indians  removed  the  skin 
with  the  same  delicacy  of  feeling  that  had  induced 
them  to  attempt  the  pious  fraud. 

“ The  dog  is  dead ! ” muttered  the  trapper, 
after  a pause  of  many  minutes ; “ a hound  has  his 
time  as  well  as  a man ; and  well  has  he  filled  his 
days ! — Captain,”  he  added,  making  an  effort  to 
wave  his  hand  to  Middleton,  “ I am  glad  you  have 
come  ; for  though  kind,  and  well  meaning  accord- 
ing to  the  gifts  of  their  color,  these  Indians  are 
not  the  men  to  lay  the  head  of  a white  man  in 
his  grave.  I have  been  thinking,  too,  of  this  dog 
at  my  feet : it  will  not  do  to  set  forth  the  opinion 
that  a Christian  can  expect  to  meet  his  hound 
again;  still  there  can  be  little  harm  in  placing 
what  is  left  of  so  faithful  a servant  nigh  the  bones 
of  his  master.” 

“ It  shall  be  as  you  desire.” 

“I’m  glad  you  think  with  me  in  this  matter. 
In  order,  then,  to  save  labor,  lay  the  pup  at  my 
feet ; or,  for  that  matter,  put  him  side  by  side. 
A hunter  need  never  be  ashamed  to  be  found  in 
company  with  his  dog  ! ” 

“ I charge  myself  with  your  wish.” 

The  old  man  made  a long  and  apparently  a 
musing  pause.  At  times  he  raised  his  eyes  wist- 
fully, as  if  he  would  again  address  Middleton,  but 
some  innate  feeling  appeared  always  to  suppress 
his  words.  The  other,  who  observed  his  hesita- 
tion, inquired,  in  a way  most  likely  to  encourage 
him  to  proceed,  whether  there  was  aught  else  that 
he  could  wish  to  have  done. 

“ I am  without  kith  or  kin  in  the  wide  world ! ” 
the  trapper  answered ; “ when  I am  gone,  there 
will  be  an  end  of  my  race.  We  have  never  been 
chiefs ; but  honest,  and  useful  in  our  way  I hope 
it  cannot  be  denied  we  have  always  proved  our- 
selves. My  father  lies  buried  near  the  sea,  and 
the  bones  of  his  son  will  whiten  on  the  prai- 
ries — ” 


THE  PRAIRIE. 


1 88 

“Name  the  spot,  and  your  remains  shall  be 
placed  by  the  side  of  your  father,”  interrupted 
Middleton. 

“ Not  so,  not  so,  captain.  Let  me  sleep  where 
I have  lived — beyond  the  din  of  the  settlements ! 
Still  I see  no  need  why  the  grave  of  an  honest 
man  should  be  hid,  like  a red-skin  in  his  ambush- 
ment.  I paid  a man  in  the  settlements  to  make 
and  put  a graven  stone  at  the  head  of  my  father’s 
resting-place.  It  was  of  the  value  of  twelve 
beaver-skins,  and  cunningly  and  curiously  was  it 
carved  ! Then  it  told  to  all  comers  that  the  body 
of  such  a Christian  lay  beneath  ; and  it  spoke  of 
his  manner  of  life,  of  his  years,  and  of  his  honesty. 
When  we  had  done  with  the  Frenchers  in  the  old 
war  I made  a journey  to  the  spot,  in  order  to  see 
that  all  was  rightly  performed,  and  glad  I am  to 
say,  the  workman  had  not  forgotten  his  faith.” 

“And  such  a stone  you  would  have  at  your 
grave  ? ” 

“ I ! no,  no,  I have  no  son  but  Hard-Heart,  and 
it  is  little  that  an  Indian  knows  of  white  fashions 
and  usages.  Besides,  I am  his  debtor  already, 
seeing  it  is  so  little  I have  done  since  I have  lived 
in  his  tribe.  The  rifle  might  bring  the  value  of 
such  a thing — but  then  I know  it  will  give  the  boy 
pleasure  to  hang  the  piece  in  his  hall,  for  many 
is  the  deer  and  the  bird  that  he  has  seen  it  de- 
stroy. No,  no,  the  gun  must  be  sent  to  him  whose 
name  is  graven  on  the  lock ! ” 

“ But  there  is  one  who  would  gladly  prove  his 
affection  in  the  way  you  wish ; he  who  owes  you 
not  only  his  own  deliverance  from  so  many  dan- 
gers, but  who  inherits  a heavy  debt  of  gratitude 
from  his  ancestors.  The  stone  shall  be  put  at  the 
head  of  your  grave.” 

The  old  man  extended  his  emaciated  hand, 
and  gave  the  other  a squeeze  of  thanks. 

“ I thought  you  might  be  willing  to  do  it,  but 
I was  backward  in  asking  the  favor,”  he  said, 
“seeing  that  you  are  not  of  my  kin.  Put  no 
boastful  words  on  the  same,  but  just  the  name, 
the  age,  and  the  time  of  the  death,  with  some- 
thing from  the  holy  book ; no  more,  no  more. 
My  name  will  then  not  be  altogether  lost  on  ’arth ; 
I need  no  more.” 

Middleton  intimated,  his  assent,  and  then  fol- 
lowed a pause  that  was  only  broken  by  distant 
and  broken  sentences  from  the  dying  man.  He 
appeared  now  to  have  closed  his  accounts  with 
the  world,  and  to  await  merely  for  the  final  sum- 
mons to  quit  it.  Middleton  and  Hard-Heart 
placed  themselves  on  the  opposite  sides  of  his 
seat,  and  watched  with  melancholy  solicitude  the 
variations  of  his  countenance.  For  two  hours 
there  was  no  very  sensible  alteration.  The  ex- 


pression of  his  faded  and  time-worn  features  was 
that  of  a calm  and  dignified  repose.  From  time  to 
time  he  spoke,  uttering  some  brief  sentence  in  the 
way  of  advice,  or  asking  some  simple  questions 
concerning  those  in  whose  fortunes  he  still  took 
a friendly  interest.  During  the  whole  of  that 
solemn  and  anxious  period  each  individual  of  the 
tribe  kept  his  place,  in  the  most  self-restrained 
patience.  When  the  old  man  spoke,  all  bent 
their  heads  to  listen ; and  when  his  words  were 
uttered,  they  seemed  to  ponder  on  their  wisdom 
and  usefulness. 

As  the  flame  drew  nigher  to  the  socket  his 
voice  was  hushed,  and  there  were  moments  when 
his  attendants  doubted  whether  he  still  belonged 
to  the  living.  Middleton,  who  watched  each  wa- 
vering expression  of  his  weather-beaten  visage  with 
the  interest  of  a keen  observer  of  human  nature, 
softened  by  the  tenderness  of  personal  regard, 
fancied  he  could  read  the  workings  of  the  old 
man’s  soul  in  the  strong  lineaments  of  his  coun- 
tenance. Perhaps  what  the  enlightened  soldier 
took  for  the  delusion  of  mistaken  opinion  did 
actually  occur — for  who  has  returned  from  that 
unknown  world  to  explain  by  what  forms,  and  in 
what  manner,  he  was  introduced  into  its  awful 
precincts  ? Without  pretending  to  explain  what 
must  ever  be  a mystery  to  the  quick,  we  shall 
simply  relate  facts  as  they  occurred. 

The  trapper  had  remained  nearly  motionless 
for  an  hour.  His  eyes  alone  had  occasionally 
opened  and  shut.  When  opened,  his  gaze  seemed 
fastened  on  the  clouds  which  hung  around  the 
western  horizon,  reflecting  the  bright  colors,  and 
giving  form  and  loveliness  to  the  glorious  tints  of 
an  American  sunset.  The  hour — the  calm  beauty 
of  the  season — the  occasion — all  conspired  to  fill 
the  spectators  with  solemn  awe.  Suddenly,  while 
musing  on  the  remarkable  position  in  which  he 
was  placed,  Middleton  felt  the  hand  which  he 
held  grasp  his  own  with  incredible  power,  and  the 
old  man,  supported  on  either  side  by  his  friends, 
rose  upright  to  his  feet.  For  a moment  he  looked 
about  him,  as  if  to  invite  all  in  presence  to  listen 
(the  lingering  remnant  of  human  frailty),  and 
then,  with  a fine  military  elevation  of  the  head, 
and  with  a voice  that  might  be  heard  in  every 
part  of  that  numerous  assembly,  he  pronounced 
the  word — 

“ Here ! ” 

A movement  so  entirely  unexpected,  and  the 
air  of  grandeur  and  humility  which  were  so  re- 
markably united  in  the  mien  of  the  trapper,  to- 
gether with  the  clear  and  uncommon  force  of  his 
utterance,  produced  a short  period  of  confusion 
in  the  faculties  of  all  present.  When  Middleton 


THE  CLOSING  SCENE. 


and  Hard-Heart,  each  of  whom  had  involuntarily 
extended  a hand  to  support  the  form  of  the  old 
man,  turned  to  him  again,  they  found  that  the 
subject  of  their  interest  was  removed  forever 
beyond  the  necessity  of  their  care.  They  mourn- 
fully placed  the  body  in  its  seat,  and  Le  Balafre 
arose  to  announce  the  termination  of  the  scene 
to  the  tribe.  The  voice  of  the  old  Indian  seemed 
a sort  of  echo  from  that  invisible  world  to  which 
the  meek  spirit  of  the  trapper  had  just  de- 
parted. 

“ A valiant,  a just,  and  a wise  warrior,  has 
gone  on  the  path  which  will  lead  him  to  the 
blessed  grounds  of  his  people  ! ” he  said.  “ When 


the  voice  of  the  Wahcondah  called  him,  he  was 
ready  to  answer.  Go,  my  children;  remember 
the  just  chief  of  the  pale- faces,  and  clear  your 
own  tracks  from  briers  ! ” 

The  grave  was  made  beneath  the  shade  of 
some  noble  oaks.  It  has  been  carefuly  watched 
to  the  present  hour  by  the  Pawnees  of  the  Loups 
and  is  often  shown  to  the  traveller  and  the  trader 
as  a spot  where  a just  white  man  sleeps.  In  due 
time  the  stone  was  placed  at  its  head,  with  the 
simple  inscription  which  the  trapper  had  himself 
requested.  The  only  liberty  taken  by  Middleton 
was  to  add — “ May  no  wanton  hand  ever  disturb 
his  remains  ! ” 


“ The  enduring  monuments  of  Fenimore  Cooper  are  his  works.  While  the  love  of 
country  continues  to  prevail , his  memory  will  exist  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  So 
truly  patriotic  and  American  throughout , they  should  find  a place  in  every  American's 
library." — DANIEL  WEBSTER. 

Cooper’s  Novels. 


NEW  ILLUSTRATED  EDITION. 


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COOPER’S 

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f I.  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans. 

\ XI.  The  Deerslayer. 

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/ IV.  The  Pioneers, 
v V.  The  Prairie. 

Complete  in  one  volume,  8vo,  with  Illustrations  by  F.  0.  C.  Darley.  In  cloth,  with 
gilt  side  and  back.  Price,  $2.00. 


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f I.  The  Pilot. 

\ II.  The  I\ed  Plover. 

Five  volumes  ir\  one,  viz. : < III.  The  Water-Witcl\. 

/ IV.  Wing-and-Wing. 

C V.  The  Two  Admirals. 

Complete  in  one  volume,  8vo,  with  Illustrations  by  F.  O.  C.  Darley.  Cloth,  with  gilt 
< side  and  back.  Price,  $2.00. 

V 

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